The Billboard 1918-02-16: Vol 30 Iss 7 (1918-02-16)

FEBRUARY 16, 1918 The Billboard _— Vaudeville Reviews By Speci al Wire Chicago Palace (Reviewed First Show Monday, February 11) Chicaqo, Feb. 11.—Today’s bill at the Palace was particularly appreciated because each act represented a type of entertainment separate and distinet from other presentations on the same pill. That the enforced Monday holiday folks like vaudeville was indicated by the fact that the extra matinee at which this review was compiled was favored with good attendance, end the first regular show was sold out well in advance. No. 1—Fink’s Mules started the bill off in fine fashion. They did everything from dancing to comedy stunts, with a retinue of dogs, monkeys and comedy riders in attendance. Ten minutes, in full stage. No. 2—Fred Berrens, a master of the violin, relieved the monotony usually found in violin acts by incorporating a reproducing piano. Possessed of somewhat more stage presence than similar musicians, he told the story of his musical training via a medley, involving dexterous use of the violin. Fifteen minutes, in one; two bows. No. 8—George Nash and Julia Hay, with Walter Moya playing a minor role, have a playlet of constant surprises, terminating with a dramatic climax cleverly turned into a comedy finish in The Unexpected, built around a refreshing angle of crook playology. Twentythree minutes, in interior three. No, 4—Lloyd and Wells, remarkable eccentrio dancers, start out as hoboes and end up in dress suits, but their costumes only serve to accentuate their ability as fancy steppers. Their entrance in box cars is especially interesting, as the illusion of tramp life is complete. Ten minutes, in one; four bows, No. 5—Le Maire and Gallagher, as a blackface orderly and a general, spring old and new comedy war gags in a spirited manner, getting wholesome rounds of applause. The trench scene opening is very impressive and forms a good background for the goodnatured give and take. Fifteen minutes, in interior three. No. 6—Percy Bronson and Winnie Baldwin are well supplied with effective songs along the comedy order. Percy's drunk is very clever, his little recitation on prohibition getting’ an exceptionally big hand. Winnie makes a refreshing appearance and shows herself to be possessed of great versatility. Seventeen minntes, in one; four bows. No. 7—Nan Halperin, than whom no more artistic lady single has yet been unearthed, gives us a glimpse of the important rounds in a young girl’s life from baby days to maturity. As heretofore, she is armed with well-written special songs, which she interprets in her own inimitable manner. Her bedtime farewell to past beaus on the eve of her wedding forms a wonderful picture, which she is forced to interrupt in order to finish with her syncopated wedding song. Too bad she can’t scheme out some way of concluding with the retiring scene. It would make the artistic nature of her wonderful work far mor impressive. Twenty-three minutes, in interior three, No. 8—Bailey and Cowan get much tune out of many instruments in their cabaret act, presenting all kinds of songs with much spirit and dash. The banjo work is especially meritorious. They certainly had the audience going some. and were rewarded with four bows. Twelve minutes, in one. No. 9—Jack Clifford, with Agnes Dunn and Gertrude Kerpin, has a dancing act backed up with beantiful special sets. His scarecrow entrance is so surprising that the act gets a good start. the the shift back to the first scene after the ballroom bit tends to make it monotonous. Straight singing is indulged in during shifts. Fifteen minutes, opening in exterier three.— CASPER. FRANK BIXBY DIES New York, Feb. 9,—Frauk Bixby, 68, a veteran theatrical manager, producer and director, died yesterday at his home, West 105fh street. The funeral will be Monday morning at 11 clock at the Campbell Funeral Chapel, Broadway and Sixty-sixth street, and will be in charge of the Actors’ Fund, Mr. Bisby was born here, and had been for more than forty years engaged ip theatrical enterprises. @le was at one time manager and director of the Madison Square Stock Company. He leaves his wife. CC _—_——_—_—_—_— EE ———_—_———_—_——_—_— (Co SE T Union Sults, Symmetricals FOOTLITE Tmt oatetauteal sapstles Write for Catalogue No. 4 .WALTER G. BRETZFIELD CO., INC., 37th Street '.0? Broadway, New York, Corner B.F RELT Fl oS PALACE THEATER Mienyoutiveplyad the Pula you have nade Broadway (Reviewed First Show Monday, February 11) New York, Feb. 11.— he beautiful sunshine today, combined with the belief that this will be the ‘ast of the blue days, served to eliminate some of the gloom and depression so noticeable the last few Mondays. The program at the Palace was composed almost wholly of stars, and the entertainment was thoroly enjoyed. The show as a whole was above the usual Palace standard, if such a thing is possible. There was an abundance of dancing; in fact, there was dancing in nearly ever act. The sensation of the afternoon was created by the Gliding O’Mearas in Bessie Clayton’s act. Just as they had started to dance they somehow misjudged the front of the stage, and both, locked in each other’s arms, fell headforemost into the orchestra pit. Luckily neither was hurt, and when they limped back onto the stage and finished their dance they were the recipients of the loudest applause of the show. No. 1—Palace Orchestra played When You Come Back under the leadership of Frederick F. Daab. No. 2—Hearst-Pathe News Weekly showed a series of educational features. No. 3—Sylvia Loyal and her Pierrot, in one of the most artistic and graceful opening acts seen here yet. It is more than an act—it is a miniature revue. The lady has trained dogs, walks a wire, juggles and has a whole flock of trajned pigeons, while the setting is fully in keeping with the rest of the number. Ten minutes, in full stage, with three curtains. No. 4—Sam Hearn got over in good shape with the assistance of his closing number. He plays the violin well, but the rube character does not seem to fit in somehow. His imitation of two violins playing at one time and his burclar and the vampire number were excellent. In one for eleven minutes, \.ta two bows. No. 5—Clark and Hamilton, with the atmosphere of the English music hall, scored heavily. Clark is a very clever English comedian, and his particular stvle of comedy seemed to be greedily devoured by the Palace audience. Miss Hamilton is very charming, and the happy combination makes a vaudeville offering de luxe. In full stage for twenty-three minutes, with three bows. 429099990000009990990099909909 9990999009989 9909 0900, No. 6—Elizabeth Brice was accorded a reception on her appearance. Never has this charming little lady looked or sung better than today. She tzkes high rank as a single entertainer. She sang about King being in the ravy. Her best numbers were probably That’s the Kind of a Baby for Me, Love and Other Things. Her finishing song, Hurry Back, brought her rounds and rounds of applause. She was assisted at the piano by Will Donaldson. Mics Brice entertained for twenty-five minutes, in one, and No. 7—Bessie Clayton repeated her Intimate Dance Revue of 1918 as produced here a few weeks ago. There are two changes in the act—Louis Mosconi is dancing alone and the Gliding O’Mearas have been added. Miss Clayton still reigns supreme as America’s dancing queen. Twenty-five minutes, in full stage; seven curtains and bows. received many bows. No, 8—Ryan and Lee, in a comedy skit which they call Hats and Shoes, and never probably before have two people got such results from material appertaining to these articles. They were a perpetual laugh, but they are both real comedians. In one for nineteen minutes; three bows. No. 9—Carter DeHaven and Flora Parker, in a singing fashion show all of their own. Miss Parker makes six different changes of wardrobe and DeHaven makes three. This fashion plate musical comedy couple earned many plaudits by their classy singing. In fact, they breathe elegance in all that they do. DeHaven sang many songs, the knitting interlude being specially cleverly arranged with a special drop. Edwin Weber was at the piano. Twenty-two minutes, in full stage and in one; special sets; five curtains. ) No. 10—George White and Emma Haig. This versatile dancing pair literally cleaned up. White’s imitations of different celebrated dancers asked for by the audience were a near riot. He enlisted the services of Ben Ryan, who used to be his dancing partner, also when White was called upon to mimic Louis Mosconi, the latter himself did the dance. Altogether it was a great afternoon for George White and little Miss Haig. Twenty-five minutes, in special settings; applause, encores and speech. . AN ? W No. 11—Gladys Hanson, in the patriotic spectacle, Liberty Aflame, closed the show. Miss Hanson is an actress of great talent, and as the Statue of Liberty addressing the universe has great opportunities for her declamatory powers. Most of the audience remained until the finish—HILLIAR. © Majestic, Chicago (Reviewed First Show Monday, February 11) Chicago, Feb. 11.—The three-a-day at the big-time houses is working out all right on heatless Mondays, anil at the Majestic there was every assurance that each performance would be a sellout. The first house was packed and the crowds awaiting aamittance for the second completely blocked Monroe street on the opposite side of the street. The bill this week is a very exceptional one. No, 1—Orpheum Circuit Travel Weekly. No, 2—Buck Pielert and Abbie Scofield opened with their comedy offering, Helping Hubby. Miss Scofield is a dainty little singing comedienne, who lends assistance to Pielert whilst he entertains with a juggling novelty. Miss Scofield’s incessant line of comedy chatter kept the andience interested. Thirteen minutes; three curtains, No. 3—Harry and Grace Elsworth enter in a rural comedy character make-up, singing and dancing to fit their interpretation. Both are excellent dancers, and in the single dance Harry got a shower .of well-deserved applause. Eleven minutes, in one; two bows, No. 4—Sam Mann and a very good company of six people appear in Aaron Hoffman's new philosophical farce, The Question. The plot is a clever one. Staged in a richly appointed drawing reom of a country bome. The rich man lures a girl to bis bome, only to find that she and a confederate plan to blackmail him on the grounds of violating the Mann Act. The male confederate is also playing the game from another angle, pretending to be in love with the rich man's wife. Love letters, jewels, false love, bribery and what not are a part of the interesting action of the play. The blackmailer’s scheme is folled by an unknown party, who bappens in on the seene, straightens a terrible tangle, and after all have departed he is found by the searching party from a neighboring insane asylum, from where he had wandered. The plot has a deep moral, with plenty of humor, and at times {mpressive and touching. Thirty-eight minutes, in full; five curtains. No. 5—Dainty and demure Bessie Wynn offered her irresistible talents in song and prose. Several del'gbtful melodies were welcomed enthusiastically. Miss Wyun Is a finished artist, who sings her well-selected songs very effectively. Twenty minutes, in one; four bows. No, 6—The Seven Honeyboys are seen again in their blackface minstrel, which always meets with popular approval. Songs, comedy and dancing are offered in a refreshing manner, and to big applause. Twenty minutes, in two and one; four bows, No, T—Sallie Fisher scored a big success with The Choir Rehearsal, a tale of the 60s, of a hooped-skirted lassie in a quiet hamlet, who bas a heart hungry for love and a desire for excitement. Miss Fisher captivated her audfence with song, and the story is a very interesting one. Twenty-three minutes, in three; five curtains. No. 8—Walter C. Kelly, the Virginian Judge. occupies an imaginary judicial bench of a courtroom in the black belt of Virginia. He speaks the parts of the Irish judge and colored characters brought before him and brings down a riot of hearty laughter with every remark. Eighteen minutes, in one; two bows. No, 9—Louis Hart closed the bill with one of the best of posing and strong man acts in vandeville. He closed by performing the remarkable feat of supporting seven men on his frame. Eleven minutes, in three; two curtains, —ZIN. COMMENDS S. W. W. R, New York, Peb. 9.—District Attorney Swann examined the books and purpose of the Stage Women's War Relief on Wednesday at the request of a committee from the organization. He then sent a letter to its president, Miss Rachel Crotbers, saying the investigation bad given him an opportunity to observe the very thoro method that the organization had adopted to safeguard and protect the public contributin, to this very worthy war relief. LIEUT. HARRY CLAY BLANEY The title “Lieutenant” will hereafter precede the name of Harry Clay Bianey, the wellknown New York theatrical player, playwright and producer. Mr. Blaney has just received ap appointment from Washington, and <“ll become the manager of the big Liberty Theat=r at Camp Merritt, N. J. ADDITIONAL REVIEWS ON PAGE 8