New York Clipper (Jul 1923)

10 THE. NEW YORK CLIPPER July 4, 1923 BROADWAY A warm audience at the Broadway dur- ing the first show Monday gave most of the acts a pretty cold reception. No mat- ter vrtiat act came on nor how hard they vorVced, they could not seem to raise the paying customers out of their lethargy and some of the l>est gags and bits in the various turns died almost as soon as they were bom. It seems to be the policy at the Broadway these days to ran bat six acts to a ^ow, a form of summer economy that may or may not be classed as efficien- cy, time will tell. Opening the show 'were Mclinn and Sully, a two-man team that presents a novehy offering which starts slow and fin- ishes fast. The biggest part of the act is made up of a chair-balancing novelty jwr- formed by one of the men, in which eight chairs are precariodsly balanced upon two tables, and he stands on top of the lot This looks and protnbty is pretty danger- ous, and t^es a great deal of dexterity to perfonn, and for that reason the applause IS good. The work on the horizontal bars for a finish is well performed and goes over welL Laura Omsbee, in second position, has an offering that is bonnd_ to please. Her pianist sings an introduction and then she enters and sings a nunAer in a silverdoth cloak and excellent voice The accompan- ist has an excellent voice also and besides this a pleasing personality and good de- livery. The two harmonize several num- bers and get good resnlts all the way. Miss Ormsbee is a talented violinist and makes a irood stage picture in her gypsy costume. Harry B. Toomer and Miss Day have an exceedingly tnie-to-life little sketch that they play well. Of course, the situa- tions and lines are slightly exaggerated for vaudeville purposes, but this merely serves to bring them out forcibly. A man and his wife are evidently set to spend a quiet evening at home iwhen the man begins to sneeze. The wife, seemingly solicitous for his welfare, counts his sneezes, tells him he must have a cold, and proceeds to pre- scribe for him, wrapping him in blankets, putting him over an electric heater and put- ting bis feet in hot water. She puts a. thermometer in his mouth to take his temperature and becomes very angry with him when her mother tells her over the phone 98 6/10, which is his temperature, is normal. He tells her that she insisted he was sick and not himself and when she begins to sneeze he starts to give her the same treatment that she gave him. The sketch is well played and every laugh registers. Tom Smith, assisted at the piano hy^ a yomtg man named Newman, has a hokum act that doesn't get its full mead of ap- plause until the finish. Smith works hard and takes some wonderful falls, doiAiling liimself up in knots and almost breaking his neck. He has some songs that don't mean a thing except for his mugging and clown dancing, at which, however,.he ex- eris. He gives an imitation of a ventrilo- quist for an encore that is very funny and goes over big. Closing die show is the act known as "Flashes from Songland" a thoroughly en- tertaimng offering, in which five singers sing a routine of both modem and old- fa^oned numbers in fine vocal style. The act is prettily set and goes over well. On the bill at the Broadway this week are also Williams and Taylor and the Hanako Japs, but inasmuch as these two acts did not appear at the first show they were not caught. C. C PALACE (Chicago) Ben Bemie and his band ran off with the honors of the show on Sunday after- noon, although he is splitting headline bill- ing with Frank Mclntyre and the Avon Comedy Four, the last being held over for a second week. Bernie has been seen here before with this act and even though the repertoire is essentially the same, the show- manlike way in which all are presented made them as enjoyable as new ones could be. Armand and Perez opened the show with an acrobatic offering of excellent merit Their featured stunt is a new one, and is put over very effectively. Harry and Dennis Du For held the second spot essily with a good routine of singing, dancing and talk bits. The dance work, particularly that of Harry's, put the act over with a bang. Art Henry and Leah Moore offered a very entertaining comedy skit with which they almost stopped the show. Frank Mclntyre and Company appeared in a strong comedy sketch called "Wednes- day At the RiU," which kept th>: laughs coming steadily every minute they were on. Margie Coate delivered a repertoire of published numbers, most of them of the syncopated variety and scored. Miss Coate lias a good delivery and her voice is well adapted to the style of numbers she uses. The Avon Comedy Four offered prac- tically the same act which they presented last week, and appeared in Bemie's act, as did Miss Coate. A travesty on the forth- coming Dcmpsey-Gibbons fight, to be held Wednesday in Shelby was a riot of laughs, a slow-motion picture stunt being done which was a classic. Willie Solar followed the Avon Four, preceding Bemie's act and found it easy going with his un-nuc styFe of comedy. The Philmoras .oscd the show, follow- ing Bcmic and ; i orchestra, with a very good wire act. R. £. R. HARD TO PLEASE IN VAUMVILLE Ethel Barrymore, this week in vaude- ville at the Orpheum theatre, Brooklyn, says that it is easier to please at the Empire or the Plymouth theaters than at the Orpheum. "I want to express myself in as many mediums of the theatre as are open to me," says she. "I really l>elieve titat I would enjoy an engagement in an up- roarious burlesque. "I work in summer because I would rather wear out than rust out and I think an artist shines most when most in use. Rest is all very well for those who need it, but the best tonic for me is the theatre and success and I am glad to say that vaudeville likes me. I do n^ best for the two-a-day and I am quite smcere when I tell you that I regard it as easier to please at the Empire or the Plymouth than at the Orpheum." Miss Barrymore will spend several sum- mer months in the Keith theatres. aLSm AND JOHNSCm GET 3 YEARS Olsen and Johnson were signed by the Keith office last week, imder a contraxrt whidi calls for their appearances in Keith theatres for the- next three years. A route to last that time is- now being laid out for them, which will also include the Orpheum circuit. STATE-LAKE >(Cliicaco) Oibson and Connelli and Walton and Brant were out of the show on the open- ing date, being unable to arrive here on time due to late trains. They were re- placed by Tom Kelly and the Five Lel- lands. both acts being brought over from the Majestic to fill in for them. The bill was topped by Regay and Sheehan, Hal Skelly and Toto, who split headline hon- ors. Will and Harold Browne opened with a novel routine consisting of a series of pic- tures made from various colored rags. Henry Margo, assisted by four girls, pre- sented a series of dance numbers, which went over well considering the earliness of the spot for an act of this sort It is nicely staged and the costumes worn by the girls are attractive. Harry Rappe and his violin went only fair, most of Rappe's comedy being lost, in the third spot. Pearl Regay and Lester Sheehan were the first act on the bill to score any kind of a hit Miss Regay's solo dance was the high spot of the act Grant and Wallace took a bad flop on fifth, with ah offering in which they at- tempted several things and did none of them well. Toto revived the show with his marvel- ous contortion work and scored a big hit with the various novelty bits in his of- fering. Hal Skelly, assisted by Ina Wil- liams, in a skit called "The Mutual Man," was another applause getter. They closed the first show. R. E. R. ACT FOR RAINBO GARDEN Chicago, June 30.—Sherman. Van and Hyman have been engaged by Fred Mann in addition to the regular Ed Beck Revue at the Rainbo Garden to open July 9 for two weeks. SIDNEY REILLY DIVORCED Sidney Reilly, musical director, of Free- port, L. I., was granted a divorce last week by Supreme Court Justice Mitchell May at Mineola, from his wife, Mrs. Ca- mille Reilly. Reilly cliarged his wife with misconduct and she did not contest the actioa Reilly named as correspondent one "Post" and alleged misconduct in the Reilly home between April 2 and April 16 last Mrs. Barbara Boardman, a neighbor, testified to having seen "Post" in the Reilly home and had seen him and Mrs. Reilly in scant attire and had seen them kiss. It was also brought out in the evidence that "Post" frequently left the Reilly house when the whistle oi the train on which Reilly returned home was heard. Mrs. Reilly told her, Mrs. Boardman declared, that she was in love with "Post" The Reillys were married in Philadelphia in 1919 and have no children. IMPERSONATORS TOP BILLS Sak Francisco, July 2.—^Julian Eltinge headlined the Orpheum bill here last wedc and although he was here but a few months ago is again drawing large and enthusiastic audiences. At Pantages, Frances 'Renault is the headliner, and is being exploited by the managers in various ways. A number of his gowns were dis- played in one of the Market street store windows and Renault appeared in person making a change from street clothes to stage attire. BROWN ACT JUMPS TO COAST San Francisco, July 2.—The Six Brown Brothers have completed a two weeks' engagement at the Granada Theatre here, where they played to big business. The act jumped from Chicago to play the date. From here they go to Los Angeles, where they are to play four weeks in the Metropolitan Theatre there, following which they will go to New York to rest up for the reniaindcr of the !;«ason. BIG ACT FOR JOSIE ROONEY Josie Rooney will follow the footsteps of her brother, Pat and will have a pro- duction act of her own next season. It will be called "The Rise of Kitty O'Reilly," but the title will doubtless be chan^d later because of its similarity to the title of George M. Cohan's new musical show, "The Rise of Rosie O'Reilly." The act will be in three scenes and will employ five others besides Miss Rooney. CARSON FOR NEW MITZI SHOW James B. Carson, who formerly appeared in the Zicgfeld "Frolici" "The Girl in the Spotlight" "Flo Flo" and "The Whiri of New York," has been engaged for a prin- cipal part in Mitzi's new show, "Minnie and Me," which Henry W. Savage will present early in the fall. The book of the play is by Zelda Sears and .the score by Harold I^vy. FOUR WEEKS FOR GREENE Chicago, June 30.—Gene Greene is play- ing his fourth and last week at the Ma- jestic, having been originally contracted for a full_ month, although he was advertised as being held over from week to week. He sane new songs after his first week and registered a decided hit. "NORTH AND SOUTH" NEW REVUE "The North and South Revue," a min- strel "flash" act, \\-ent into rehearsal this week and wll shortly open on the Keith Circuit The cast includes Happy Benway, Sonny Dinkins, Rusty Widener, Dolly La Salic, Claire Lewis, .Art Kimby and Cirrie Lewis. 'nPTH AVENUE GARDEN OPENS The summer season was officially ushered in at Proctor's Fifth Avenue Theatre last week, when Manager Quaid opened his aerial greenroom, which has been a feature of this theatre for the past two seasons, and brightened up the foyer of the theatre with festoons of flora and a running fountain in the centre. The greenroom atop the theatre caters to the comfort of the artists playing the Fifth Avenue during the summer months and makes a far better recreation centre be- tween shows than lanquishing in a stuffy dressing room. The artists appearing at the theatre last v/eek forwarded a round robin letter to Manager Quaid congratulating him for the manner in which he has laid out the green- room and informing him that it did won- ders to keep them in trim, especially on those terribly warm nights. BIESE FOR TERRACE GARDENS Chicago, June 30.—Paul Biesc and his champion orchestra now playing at the Ter- race Gardens has been engaged by Fred Mann to open at the Rainbo Garden begin- ning July 16, for an indefinite run. Frank Westphal was recently compelled to leave the Rainbo owing to a nervous breakdown and may not resume active work for some time. TYRRELL OUT OF HOSPITAL Chicago, June 30.—Phil Tyrrell, booking agent, is out of the American hospital where he had an operation for appendicitis, and will resume his work as booker for the picture department of the Gus Sun agency, with headquarters in Chicago. "BRIDE" FARCE CUT TO ACT Beth Varden and Company will shortly make their debut in the local vaudeville houses in "Here Comes the Bride," a tabloid edition of the farce comedy that enjoyed a long run on Broadway several seasons ago. JOHN ROYAL SAIUNG WEDNESDAY John F. Royal, manager of Keith's Palace Theatre, Qeveland, which closed for the summer last week, will sail for Europe on the Leviathan on July 4. Royal will spend two months abroad as his ^-a cation. STORM STOPS BARNES SHOW ;ScRANTON, July 2.—The Bamcs Circus missed its performance here last week on account of the hea\'y wind and rain storm which swept the Park Place show grounds and flooded everything with water. ENID MARKEY IN ACT Enid Markey is the latest of the fihn favorites to succumb to the lure of vaude- ville. She is shortly to be featured over the Keith Circuit in a playlet entitled, "A Misunderstanding."