The Billboard 1915-02-06: Vol 27 Iss 6 (1915-02-06)

FEBRUARY 6, 1915. The Billboard Vaudeville Reviews By Special Wire Hammerstein’s Reviewed Monday Matinee, Feb. 1.) New York, Feb. 1.—It is understood in «ai codeville houses that it is necessary, in order » present a show, that the outlay of money for talent be the main consideration, The first tour ots te appear Monday afternoon could hardly be termed as high-class material, This hal » tendency to make the early part of the show drag. No. 1—Keystone comedy picture, culled Patty's New Role, is just passable, Fifteen win utes, No. 2-—The Stillings, one man, one woman, baujo players of wmerit. The announcement should be eliminated, and a faster routine would help considerably. Thirteen minutes, in one; one bow, No. 3—Hiarry Rose no doubt tad wany friends in the audience. Theyapplauded at tue wrong time. Rese has a good voice, but his kidding with the audience did not get hina very Yen minutes, in one; three bows. i No. 4-—Jobnny Stanley and Company, two men, one woman, offered a crudely put together skit, ealled At the Blevator. Stanley can a,» much better, as hae been proven in seasons past. It ig safe to say that the present not stand much of a test. Twelve special drop, two curtains, No. 5—Alick Lauder was one of the bigvest fivvers that has ever stepped upon an American After his firet appearance ne <hovla have packed his baggage, put musi¢e at the bottom of his trunk and sailed for Bonnie Seotland. He offered two songs and told «a few gags that had been heard hereabouts ten years The best part about Alick is his brotocr Harry. Eleven minutes, in two; No. 6—Col. Diamond and Mme. Grant seord the first real hit of the show with an excellent balimom dancing act. The old-timers receive? ipplause for their earnest endeavors, Nine inutes, in three; four bows. No. 7-—-Robins, the queer musician, imitated several musical ijustruments with an ample supply of good comedy. Bight minutes in one, three bows, No. S—Claire Rochester scored substantially with four numbers, three of which are of the variety. Miss Rochester's wonderful jonble volee wae never heard to better adyentage. That smile she wears is a valuable sset to the beautiful singer. Twelve minutes in one, five bows, No, 9—Al Shean and.Charles Warren presented their side-splitting absurdity, Quo Vadis Upside Down, which brought forth hearty laughter, Shean’s Dutch characterization won individual honors and Warren's heavy displayed to the limit. Seventeen minutes, open in two, far vehicle can minutes, in two; stage have is ago one bow, raneh popular ‘lose fall stage, two special drops, three curtains. 2 INTPRMISSION. No. 10—Joe Cook added some new bits to his always amusing novelty, a one-man vaudeville show. This Cook boy is a wonder and his talent is unlimited. Sixteen minutes, open in one, sees to two, closes in one with a phoney whisting specialty after the next number is announced to convey to the audience that it is anether number on the progratn. No. 11—Grace La Rue returns with the best act she bas ever presented in vaudeville. Her style of delivery and wonderful grace and poise ‘re a revelation. The audience applauded loud and long and permitted Miss La Rue to retire eoly after two encores were given. Her assistant at the piano is @ corker. Twenty-one minutes in two, five bows, No, 12—Bernard Granville. There is only one thing that can be said in justice to Granville and that is he is the peer of single male entertainers, Following Mias Le Rue, which ‘must be considered is not a seft spot, Gran ville came out and captured, sharing the hit of the performance with Miss Le Rue, Seven teen minutes, in one, five bows and a speech. No, 13—Artbur Barat, an extraordinary equilbrist, showing many daring feats high up in the alr, Seven minutes, in three, two bows No. 14—Pathe’a Daily News presented interesting subjects. Fifteen minutes. Length of show three bours and twenty-five minutes Mosiness good.JACK, AN ERROR. 'n the first paragraph of Mr. Grau's column ‘st week “Winthrop Ames” should have read “Mr. Henry Rogers Winthrop.’’"—The Editors. PRICE AS MARKED ON PACKAGE , IM LA ee _ >) SOLD EVERYWHERE. NO WAR PRICES The Topmost Rung. ft DALACE Here Genius not Birth your Rank insures (Reviewed Monday Matinee, February 1.) New York, Feb. 1.—Whether Nazimova drew them in as the manage ment claims or whether the rain drove them in as might be naturally surmised, matters little in the resultant capacity business Monday afternoon. There was tremendous money’s worth for the ticket purchaser. Regulation vaudeville acts more than held their own in a bill of unusual particulars, No. 1—The Hearst-Selig pictures were interesting to the early arrivals. No. 2—About 2:30 the bill started with Joseph Cole and Gertrude Denehay, billed as San Francisco's favorite dancers. The folks at Golden Gate show excellent judgment, as this classy pair could hold their own with tango footers who have had lots more boosting. Their lightning-fast Texas Tommy finish brought them three bows within their own set and two more in front of the drop. The audience applauded them enthusiastically. and artistically. No. 3—Van and Schenck gave easily the best vaudeville act of the afternoon. They readily won the palms for showmanship. Each man is an individual artist, their team work is faultless and their style unapproachable. They linked their songs in a continuity of harmony that put every item over clearly, cleverly No. 4—Moran and Wiser offered an oddity in hat spinning and hat jug gling. From an easy start they worked up to an applauding finish, with laughs coming thick and fast through the cleverness of the red-nosed member of the team. No. 5—Fanny Brice was in good humor and fine fettle and her audience appreciated all of her flippancy and clowning, giving her laugh for laugh and much applause. No. 6—Nazimova was favored with the best spot on the bill, closing be fore intermission. In the interest of the standard vaudeville act waiting for their turn to play the Palace it would be interesting to know how she would hold her audience, absolutely closing the show. She has been retained for a second week to play War Brides because she drew money into the house last week. One good reason is enough. INTERMISSION. be ey be Be be ey I= > Be pr open after intermission, wittily written sketch. No. 7—Comfort and King brought something new in blackface to Vaughan Comfort’s beautiful voice was heard with splendid result in two popular ballads and he likewise added vastly to the worth of the act through his clever straight work. of comedy are refreshing and original. that is just as good as his comedy coon and was.funny enough to keep W the Palace audience in roars every line he read. ‘They have reason to W congratulate themselves upon the merit of their work in Junie McCree’s 4, King’s ideas He does a wench impersonation No. 8—Carolina White, backed by an excellent grand opera reputation, conferred her majestically beautiful brunette physical perfections upon vaudeville in becoming attire, sang with rare skill and should readily become a standard vocal number in the big bills. Annie Laurie, her closing number, was popular from orchestra to gallery and sent her away completely success ful. No. 9—Billy McDermott drew next to closing and fared very well indeed. His best results came from his corking good singing voice, his talk being still unworthy of a chap so abundantly able to handle good material. His grand opera burlesque was rich in tones and comedy and his bandmaster burlesquing closed him off tumultuously. No. 10—Neptune’s Garden of living statuary would have been a dandy swap for Nazimova in position, The entrancing sight features, the physical charms of the divers and the pretty artistry of the dancers, the singer and the violin player should have been enjoyed by the full attendance, the early travelers leaving the house well emptied for them.—WALTHILL. J. D. WILLIAMS ARRIVES IN NEW YORK. New York, Feb. 1.—J. D. Williams, the world traveled and world known moving picture promoter, reached New York Sunday, coming from Australia, via London. He has arranged to enter moving picture renting and has secured theaters in Calcutta, Bombay, Singapore and Colombo, He will remain in New York a*vut two weeks, and then travel west through Sen Francisco for Australia and India. STORK VISITS THE STERLINGS. The stork visited Mr. and Mrs, W. T. Sterling at Orange, Tex., January 17, and left a baby girl, weighing eight pounds. GLAD TIDINGs. Carry the News to Ruth, Spokane, Wash., Jan, 26, 1915. The Billboard, Cincinnati, Ohio. Gentlemen—I have in my possession $112, which belongs to Ruth Albricht, who is 4 vaudeville actress. It is a part of an estate which is coming to her through her grandfather's death. If you know of any means ty which I ean reach her would you do me the courtesy to advise and oblige? Yours very truly, A. C. SHAW. 421-2-3 Peyton Bldg., Spokane, Wash. Chicago Palace (Reviewed Monday Matinee, Feb, 1.) Chicago, Feb. 1.—A e6trong, well-balanced bill is on for the current week at the Palace. ‘The only improvement that could even be suggested would be in the arrangement of one or two acts. No. 1—The opening number is a novelty dancing aet, and Louis Stone proves conclusively that he is an adept, whether dancing right side up, sideways or upside. down The swinging platform arrangement was an attractive .ovelty. The act closes in one, with Stone harnessed to a small cart, walking on his hands and dancing on the seat. Ten minutes, open in three. No. 2—Maude Kochez and her Night in a Monkey Music Hall. A small stage is wsed and a number of acts by monkey performers are shown. The monkey orchestra is one f the features of the act. The director Saining especial applause. Twelve minutes, full stage. Well received. No. 3—Grace Wilson was welcomed when she appeared, and kept the enthusiasm up to concest pitch all the way. She uses about the sine numbers as formerly, but all are favorites 2» rendered by this charming lady. To Whom Are You Speaking To Whem scored the >diggest. One encore, seven bows. Thirteen minutes, in one No. 4—Gertrude Coghlan, assisted by J. H. Gilmore and John Osgood, present a ‘ravesiy on the high cost of living, entitled Food. It is well staged and cleverly handled, and the ¢comscores nicely. Fourteen minutes, in hree, to three curtains. No. 5—Stan Stanley, billed as the “‘Bouncing Fellow,’’ assisted by his relatives, opens in with an assistant posing as a magician. Stanley is seated in the body of the house aad annoys the magician by talking. A good Ine vf comedy is pulled that scores heavily, and he ig finally invited to the stage. The act goes to full stage, and Stanley makes gowd on his claim of a ‘‘bouncing fellow’’ by civing a fast and novel example of trampoline work. Tie act scores all the way and is a hit. Twentyeight minutes, closing in one. No. 6—Music lovers will find no cause for complaint when Theodore Bendix and his sym phony players are holding down «a spot on the bill. These gentlemen received an ovation teday that is likely to continue all week. With Mr. Bendix at the piano, a number of classical selections and solos were rendered, followed by a Scotch potpourri composed of Within a Mile of Edinburgh Town, Loch Lomond and Coming Through the Rye. Repeated applause gained in encore. Twenty minutes, in three. No. 7—Herbert Ashley and Al Canfield open with a line of chatter and follow this with popular songs and parodies. Canfield singing straight, ang Ashley doing the parodies, They are a strong team, and the audience holds them for eighteen minutes, with a hankering for more, In one. No. S—Adelaide and Hughes sing a bit, then dance, and each dance calls for another. This sprightly and magnetic little lady and her graceful partner are a wonderfyl combination and deserve all the applause they received, and the measure of this was full and running over. During a change of costume for the closing number, Edw. Davis, personal director, held tle audience nicely with a violin solo. Twenty minutes, a full stage, a hit. No. 9—Dainty Marie, with grace and charm of both face and form and an attractive voice, opens in one, then goes to full stage, offering an interesting and thrilling act with the rings, closing with peautiful poses on the web. During her work she keeps up a fast line of chatter and song that keeps her audience smiling. Seventeen minutes.—WALTER. y ADDITIONAL REVIEWS ON PAGES 11, 55 and 58 edy one, SCENERY DROP CURTAINS LEE LASH STUDIOS 308 to 316 East 48thStreet Broadway Offices LONGACRE AUILDING