New York Clipper (Apr 1923)

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April 25, 1923 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER PROCTOR'S FIFTH AVE. (Lact Half) A seven act bill, instead of the usual eight, with Wellington Cross in "Wives" and Mollie Fuller in ''Twilight" sharing toplioe honors, ushered in the Ust half here on last Thurs- day aftcmfwn. Powell and Brown proved most adeqnale pace- makers in an artistic novelty captioned "Stun* sand," in which they pattern landscapes and other sketches on huge box frames by tossing colored powders across the surface and ac- complish a result that would be a credit to an old master. In their £nal sketchings they de- picted a volcano in action and a steamer afire, utilizing an electrical effect to provide the flames. , Fred Bernard and Sid Garry, two likeable youths, deuced with a song and dance offering. In their dosing number, "At the Actors Ball," they alternated in giving impressions of Eddie Leonard, Karyl Norman, Eddie Cantor and Al Jolson, all of which were remarkably well done and brought a good finish hand. Mollie Fuller and Company held down third spot with "Twilight," which is a madc-to-order vehicle for the blind actress, yet gives her an opportunity to pack a heart wallop amidst much philosophic buffoonery. Miss Fuller is dis- closed in a hideaway resort in the mountains, where she has gone to rest and to forget the Broadway that seems to have forgotten her. A penurious landlady constantly reminds her that she is several weeks in arrears with her board. Mollie has faith that ber friends will find her and take care of her. Her faith is rewarded when a pseudo Bert Savoy crashes out of an aeroplane and into the scene to in- form her that Ziegfeld wants her for a new ^'Follies." Mollie departs, headed for the Broadway that has not forgotten her. Miss Fuller is particularly splendid throughout. Her recitation "Broadway" and her star gaxtng episode will be sure fire applause stuff in any house, while the Bert Savoy impression and the stage-struck tendencies of the bneoUc land* lady give the piece a proper comedy balance. Jim' McWilliams, the pianist, proved as amos* ing as ever with his line of hokum and piano logue. McWilliams works with a rare degree of case which makes him enjoyable in any- thing he attempts. Of course bis real punch is scored in his travesty on a grand opera in which be mimics the entire cast from the chorus to the leading singers. For an encore he offered bis wordless ditty, "Linger Longer Lou." Wellington Cross, whom vaudeville and musical comedy has previously Imown as a song and dance man. revealed remarkable talent as a farceur in "Wives." Cross essays the role of the author of a risque novel which exposes the romantic side of the married women. Of course all of them have read the book and within the .family circle have denounced the author. But when they meet htm, as the re- sult of a wager, th^ fall into hia arms and agree that he certainly understands women. Santcfi and Hayes, who previously have trod the two-a*day boards replenished with a revnetta or flash act, are going it alone and standing upon their own merits in a happy mixture of comedy and songs. Their act is as pleasing as ever and gets over for a sure-fire bit on any bill. Claude and Marion closed the show with their clowning and songs. Their material and delivery was sufficiently magnetic to hold the crowd in until they bowed off. Marion is an over-siced comic, whose clowning is spontane- ous and who can cause a roar with a single gesture. Claude makes an excellent foil for the fun*making pVoclivities of his partner. E. J. B. FRANKLIN (Lut Half) Five acts for "showings." and a regular bill of six acts comprised the show for Thursday night. The first of the tiyouts wu Williams and Williams, a colored team, whose value even in the pop bouses is doubtful. The John Grabler Revue stopped the show owing to the work of a boy dancer in the act and some very good work by a girl who did toe and RuBsUn work. Her partner also deserves mention. A prima donna sings well. George and Lillian Mitcbd^ ulked through most of^ their act. and did a little in the line of dancing, singing'and harmonica playing. Ruby Gordon,* 'uftsistcd by a girl at the piano, was the hig hit of the tryonts. This young lady has the makings of another Tucker, and if properly developed will make a good single for any bill. At present she works a little too fast, and would also do well to watch her enunciation more carefully. It might also be a good thing to remember that one needn't pronounce words as a caluret coon*shouter genenny does in order to be a successful de- lineator cf synccpated numbers. Dunlay and Merrill will nuke a good act for the small time houses after they speed up their talk and cut some of the draggy spots out. The regular bill was opened by the Australian Woodchoppers, who interested all with their exhibition in the use of the saw and axe. Following the Woodchoppers handicapped La Vine and Ritx slightly, for these boys do some very difficult dance work, which was hindered by the presence of chips left on the stage and which should have been swept off, but were overlooked. However, La Vine and Ritz succeeded in stopping the show cold despite the handicap. Most of the work con- sists of some impersoaations which scored heavily with the audience Holland and O'Den also stopped the show with their comedy offering. The girl is very attractive, and towards the latter half of the act. displays a figure and pair of Fianlde Baileys which are a large factor in the suc- cess of the act. The material uied is aiter- taining, but there are several bits which are too blue for a refined vaudeville boose, such OS the line, "If you look at me like that, you're going to stay out mighty late tonight.'* Joe Frc^d and Al Uarrin^on and Company were the laugh hit of the show. They offered several bits from burlesque which made up a continual scream of laughter. Freed is one of the funniest Dutch comics seen in vaude- ville in a long time, and has excellent support in bis company. Olga Cook, recently oat of "Blossom Time,** also scored a big hit. Min Cook's absence from vaudeville during the past three years or so, which have been spent in productions, have been put to good use and as Ur as develop- ment of personality is concerned, she's a hun- dred per cent improvement on the former Olga Cook in vaudeville. Her repertoire is well-selected and delightfully stuig in good voice. A pianist does well with two solos in addition to accompanying her. Basile's Band, billed outside of the theatre as the Velodrome Band, consisting of twenty- five men, closed the show. They played both the regular style of band selections, and popu- lar numbers. "Crying For You" was well- done in a vocal solo by one of the men. G. J. H. HAMILTON (LutHalO There were only five acts again on the vaudeville for this half of the week, the motion picture feature beic^ "Mighty Lak* a Rose," but these five acts went to make up a better show than a great many six act bilb which have been booked into houses. For the overture, William McElwain and his orchestra played a novelty arrangement of "Old King Tut," which drew a big round of applanie. Booth and Nina opened the show, doing a number of stunts with bicycles, and some unusually good talk for an opening act. The work on the bikes, contained thrills and made a good start for the show. Eddie Miller followed, and rendered a cycle of popular and semi-classical songs. His voice and rendition proved to be more than pleasing to the audience and he was called back for an encore number before he was permitted to leave. A pianist gives good assistance and does well with a solo. The second act of "The Torch-Bearers," by George Kelly, is being presented in vaudeville by Rosalie Stewart and Bert French, and scored a laugh hit here. Alison Skipworth and Mary Boland, who appeared in the original cast, are seen in this company. This act is the part of the play which had most of the. laughs in it, bcinff that part where the amateurs gave their benefit performances for the Seamen's ' Institute, and showing the happenings back- stage while the performance went on. Alison Skipworth is excellent as Mrs. Pampanelli, the directress and is responsible for most of the laughs. The others are perfect in their roles. Mignon gave a good account of herself with a series of impersonations, which included Emma Trentini, Eddie Leonard, Ruth Roye, Nan Hatperin, Bernard Granville and Gallagher and Shean. Vadie and Gygi, assisted by hfary Izant at the piano, and the Portia Mansfield flancers 'closed the show. The four girls included in the latter,''8how to very good advantage in their dance numbers. Maryon Vadie is the very spirit of terpsiehore. with her work, and Gypi's violin playing is in itself worth coming to hear. - Miss Izant is an anusually good piano accompaoist. G. J. H. Moore and Freed have arrived in New York to start their tour of the local Keith houses for nine weeks, at the Royal Theatre. STATE (Lut Hatf) Long Tack Sam and company are heading the vaudeville bill here for the week, having closed on the Keith Circuit a few days ago. The act is probably one of the best offerings of its land ever prcorated in vaudeville, being well staged, elaborate, and competently handled by the company. Long Tack Sam himself dis- plays a style of showmanship tmuaual for an Oriental combining his latent ability with American pep, and offers a variety of Chinese stunts pleasing to both old and young. In the closing position, the act wound up the vaudeville end of the bill with a bang. Others on the bill offered diversified en- tertainment, the Fantasy Dancers, opening the show with some norvelty steps, one of the quartet doing a female impersonatioii as well as dancing. The routine in addition to being a novelty is really fantastic, in a way. A pleasing musical combination Fletcher and Pasquale, one specializing on the saxophone and the other on the concertina, all of their selections being well rendered. Louts London, doing a bit of numotogue, and singing several songs in a powerful tenor voice, proved to be a breezy sort of person, r who' works with assurance and has conifidaice in his ability to make a good impreasioau One of his bits was a dance done with a dummy gathering a few laughs as hf went along. London's voice is far above the average and this alone would sell the act. In addition to this he has a style that is worthy of big time vaudeville. Grey and Byron, have a fair sort of vehicle, the boy doing well as juvenile, and the girl fiAt as a flapper and then in evening gown enlertairting a caller at her home, doing eqtially wdL The act opens in one with the boy doing a song and the girl as a flapper interrupting, etc, which leads into some dialogue. Later calling at her home the comedy picked up a little. The Utter set in "two" was well done and the weak parts of the act seem to be the songs, most of which were offered by the male member of the team. More punch put into the vool numbers would strengthoi the offering considerably. Another comedy offering followed in the next to closing spot in McCoy and Walton man and girl, the former as a comic, but not too pronounced and the latter pUying straight, working in a way that was always good for laughs when she broke loose. Most of the cross-fire on the man and wife argument order was fast and funny, and the girl affected a scrappy style, threatening to lick the man any moment etc., and so worked up many funny bits of business. M. H. S. REGENT (LutHalO The bill at the Regent the last half of this week suffered somewhat becaose of three full- suge acts following each other. This caused an uneomfortablc stage-wait b et w e e n the acts of Ferry Corw'ey and Nathane and Sully and interfered seriously with the latter team's suc- cess. Outside of this the bill was pleasing and went over well. Laster Brothers, two contortionists who have each an excellent routine and indulge in some clean clowning, opened the bill and showed an act that is strong enough to work further down on the bill. , , Ryan, Weber and Ryan followed with a song and dance act. ' This is evidently the Ryan Sisters and a man named Weber, the latter an excellent dancer, doing some giMd clog and eccentric work. The girls have rather ' weak voices but speak distinctly cnoogh to be under- stood and get what special material they use over. They are stronger on the dancing and use some good costumes. Ferry Corwcy, the musical clown, continues to meet with the same success in every house he i^ya. He has by far the finest act of its land on the time, his attention to detail and his comedy bits being finely worked out and put over with a natural comedy that wins all the way. Nathane and Sully, after a long wait, had the curtain pulled on them before they were set but overcame this difficulty by jtmiping right into their opening number, **ftomany Love," and keeping the act going at good speed all the way. They scored heavily. Irene Ricardo, using two special numbers and working at this honse as a single for the first time, was accorded a reception on her open- ing and stopped the show when she closed the act- She nscs-much of her old act and a good deal that is new. We must say, however, *that we do not like the explanation of "dat's how de horse was coming to' me," that she uses now as well .IS the old bit she -used. However sho can get away with anything because of her natural feelinft for comedy and her delivery. Field's Family Ford closed the bill. The act suffers because many of the characters in the sketch are practically inaudible. James Grady» who plays the sorely tried Mr. Fliverton, labors mightily to cany the act through but the rest of the people in the act are inclined to drag, spoiling the spontaneous effect of the act. The finish is still weak, as ft was in the "Follies." evctf weaker, as the sight of Ray Dooley, with legs in the air in the Ziegfeld show was usually good for a laugh. C, C. PROCTOR'S 23RD STREET A nnderille bill of ux acta, aaffielcnllr wiegated to proridc anappy enter^inineBt and the motion picttlre play, "Mighty a' Roae,*' abated honor, oa. the new bill bcic Tbe picture play was nndonbtedly the draw which packed them in deipite tbe balminoa of Thursday erenio, and will tmdonbtly repeat tbe "trick" for tbe (ubacquent peifonnancci. Badali and Nalali, opened the ihow with an artistic <lance noTclty, ahowinff practically ererytbins possible in tbe way of neat atepplns. Their oSerijig is moontcd ai > prodoetion and camcs a pianist, who when not accorapanyinff them for the daneei, renders a aolo or two that is ninally well enjoyed. Tbe dancers open with an acrobatic dno. Nalali follow* with a jau toe dance, while her partner enonters with a clever Rtiaisan dance. They Join forces in another derer donble for a finish. Young and Wbccler, pianist and yiolintst. followed on with a musical offering that found instant appeal with a none too entbnaiaatic audience. Although the gceater part of their repcrtoira ia gird oTcr to classic selecttons, they (losed with a lirdy medley that sot them off to load applause.- Lee and Cranston offered a highly dlvcfting comedy, intenperied with sang, called "Hooey- moon House." Tbe plot rerolyes around .an estranged couple, who meet at the icaie of their fiitt boneynoon, which, by coincidence, both have selected for their second honeymoon. After moch comedy chatter Ihcy d«ide to leave their new niitma waitinc at the cbtuch to re-enter matrimony, with each other. Tbe act is played in pleasing tempo, with tbe songs nicely interwoven and tbe entire affair anf- ficiently well balanced to get over for a bis bit. Morsan Wooky and Company also offered a lively comedietta, "Good Graaons,** which ntillie* the mistakai identity theme and is handled anffieienlly fast and foriow to be- wilder tbe sleepy honse boy of a road honse. who reminds one of tbe half-wit of **Tbe Tavern." Inglis and Winchcsto-, not comics, were alio a boon to the comedy departmat in a pot- pouri of nonsense, which included a goodly portion of the stuff Inglia baa been doing with various partners. Nevertheless it baa not lost its laugh getting qualities and kept tbe andi- ence howling as nsual. The Cbing Ling Hee Troupe, conjnreta and tricksters, dosed tbe bill with a bafliag routine of black art stunts, some clever and a thriller in which one of the men leaped through several knife-edged boopa. This of- fering is one of tbe best of its kind that baa yet been shown in the small time bonso. £. J. B. N. V. A. BENEFIT IN 3 THEATKES The Metropolitan Opera House has been added to the Hippodrome and Manhattan Opera House, for theatres in which the annual National Vaudeville Artists benefit performances will be given on May 13tli. This will be the first time that three houses will have been used for the benefit, and allows for accomniodations of between fifteen and twenty thousand people at "N. V. A. Benefits" this year. With tickets selling at an average price of five dollars a scat (prices range from three dollars to twenty-five), the N. V. A. will probably icoeive almost seventy-five thousand dollars from these three benefit performances and the procwds of the pro- grammes for each. Artists who appear at the benefits will jilay each house. ' AFRICAN DANCER BOOKQ) . Ned Lincoln, Sooth African dancer, ar- rived here after^ being 9 months with the Pin Wheel Review. He is booked on the Keith time by Pat Casey. He led the grand march at the Egyptian Ball, New York, on April 17 in his native costume.