The Billboard 1924-03-22: Vol 36 Iss 12 (1924-03-22)

QAM MARCH 22, 1924 The Bi liboard 31 Orpheum, St. Louis (Reviewed Sunday Matinee, March 16) Two stage waits of preposterous length made the audience uneasy and this, coupled with the fact that the bill as a whole was below the average which has been the rule here, dampened the spirits of the house, Madame Calliope Charissi, the Greek dancer, and her ten children, made their debut to St. Loulsans this afternoon. About the only thing we can say for the family is that they are different—we bave an untold number of American dancers and dancing acts that are equally fs graceful, but the presentation of the five fantastics is the one thing that puts the offering over. The family fall far below their advance notices The various settings in full stage are exquisite, however. Eighteen minutes, in third position, to a very light hand. Espe and Dutton are a versatile pair of males who among other varied accomplishments sing, dance, play various instruments, juggle and catch fron balls and do some nifty head and hand balancing. Relishable comedy talk and actions are interspersed thruout the elghteen minutes. In one and special in two; four bows. ’ Roy Rice and Mary Werner in blackface present d their well-known “On the Scaffold’ ekit, wich contains numerous comedy situations on their novelty scaffold setting. Thirteen minutes, special in two; three bows, Joe Browning garnered a world of laughter with his ministerial monolog, “A Timely Sermon’. His grotesque makeup and sickly smile are good for laughs in themselves. His comedy songs, ‘I'm a Reformer’, ‘‘Symptoms”’ and “Good Day of Judgment’’ are knockouts. Fifteen minutes, in one; four bows and a thank you. About the best dramatic sketch of the season is “The Last Banquet", and abont the most wonderful piece of dramatic acting in vardeville today is that done in this sketch by Catherine Calvert. Supporting the superb performance of Miss Calver* are Rosalie Wincott, Robert Ross, Bessie Burt, Glen White and Eddie Farrell. Twenty-three minutes, full 6tage; seven curtains. “Fifty Miles From Broadway”, a C. B. Maddock production featuring Harry B. Watson and Reg B. Merville. Watson and Merville ere excellent in thelr portrayal of the smalltown rubes and bave exceedingly funny lines to dispense. Olga Woods sang several numbers with James Young and then gave an admirable dance. Five male brass instrumental’sts and two ladies constitute the balance of the cast. A good act. Thirty-two minutes, specials in one, two and full stage; six curtains. Albert F. Hawthorne and Johnny Cooke are @ couple of bug-house nuts who romped about the stage and surely hold the record of erowding more hokum comedy into twenty-five minutes than any other act can possibly think of. Practically the entire ensemble of the pre ceding turn helped in putting the act over. In one: encore and bows, Yong Wong Brothers are a canny quartet of Oriental contortionists. The elder is a real showman and the boy is a wonder at head and hand balancing. In addition to their wellexecuted contortion work their piate spinning at the finish was the best in this line we have ever witnessed Fourteen minutes, special Gashy setting in full stage; four curtains. F. B. JOERLING., Grand O. H., St. Louis (Reviewed Sunday Evening. March 16) The spring festival bill didn’t contain an exceptional , number of bright or springy spots and didn't come up to some of the lineups which have been on display at this popular house of late. The Parisian Trio opened to good effect with their balancing, juggling and carrying of various pleces of furniture up and down a high ladder, in which work the male comic of the trio excelled. The smallest of the two women danced and executed several flip-flops. Eleven minutes, full stage; three curtains. Melroy Sisters, a likable team, are fast-stepping Misses and expert soft-shoe and clog dancers, They intersperse several songs and make numerous co<trme changes, Eleven minutes, in one; four bows. The Clown Seal, the wonderful comedian of the sea which appeared at the Rialto Theater last week and at the Orpheum two weeks ago, still is, In our mind, the best trained seal in the States. Twelve minutes, in four; four curtains, Marigold Trio, three clean-cut men fn natty attire, harmonized splendidly in “‘Oh, by Gosh °; “Keutucky Sure as You're Born’, a yodel number and innumerable comedy verses of ‘“‘When It's Night Time in Italy". They were the hit of the bill, Fourteen minutes, {np one; encore and bows. Eldridge, Barlow and Eldridge, two women and one male, have only a fair offering. Their traversty on the opening of the small-town picture house with the speech of the manager reminds one much of Charles Withers’ act, but Keith’s, Cincinnati (Reviewed Monday Matinee, March 17) Pathe News, Aesop’ Fable. Toreat and Flor DAliza, man and woman, headed the vandeville bill with their troupe of trained game roosters, which performed various feats such as climbing ladders, balancing themselves on wires, moving ball and hoop, ete. A novel act, enjoyed hy the andience. Twenty minutes, full stage with special set: bows. Bob Carleton and Julie Pallew please in a novelty song act. Miss Rallew sings to her partner's piano Nineteen minutes in one: two bows, return. A one-act comedy with an original plot and eplendid acting is presented by Julia Nash and C. H, O'Donnell. Marjorie Dow in the supperting role contributes much to the success of the sketch ‘‘Almost Single’’. An unusnally good one-act comedy that would bear seeing again. Nineteen minutes, full stage: three curtains Arthur MeWatters and Grace Ty-on, in a series of comic skits entitled ‘“‘There’s Nothing New F funny berond description. entertainingly accompaniment. Under the Sun”, We wish to call especial attention to those eyes of Miss Tyson that just won't behave. Nine minutes, in one; bows. Harry Roye and Billie Maye give several colorful dancing bits that little to be desired—and they exhibit an excellent technique as well. Their Spanish dance was unusua!ly well received. Miss Maye is more than usually attractive. Charles Ember accompanies on the piano. Nine minutes, full stage, special drops aod drapes; three curtains, An excellent singer and a very, very funny comedian are presented in “‘A Recital Classique’’. Florence Schubert is the poxsessor of the voice and Bert Gordon is the funmaker. Needless to say, they were a success and could have had an encore had they so desired. Fourteen minutes In one; bows, Last, but not least, came Siegmund Breitbart in astonishing feats of strength that we wouldn't have believed any human could do if we hadn't seen the act with our own eyes. Bending half are leave inch steel bars with his hands and teeth are mere child's play to this strong man. One feat that scored with the audience was that in which Breitbart permitted a 1.6%-pound horse to walk over his body. In this feature his back was resting on a bed of spikes. A sensation with the audience, CARL G. GOELZ. on an infinitely smaller scale. Seventeen minutes, specials in one and two; three bows. Primrose Seamon and Arthur Conrad are a sneedy, peppery pair who sell their stuff well. They sang, made love, and Miss Seamon gave an excellent impersonation of Eddie Cantor, while Conrad exhibited fast dancing steps. Seventeen minutes. special in one and two; three bows, Evelyn Phillips and Company, the ‘‘company”’’ comprising Eddie Simms and Joe Devany. Theirs is a fifteen-minute snappy dance and song routine in which Miss Phillips stands out over her two male partners. Fifteen minutes, special pretty settings in two and four; three curtains, Four American Beauties are tntrodnved by a slide, at the culmination of which four tramps in gruesome makeup make their appearance thru the center of a@ pretty drop. The pull off some mediocre and then render quartet then talk and actions good song numbers, best among which was “That O!d Gang of Mine’. The singing is excellent and should be made more of. Elevn minutes, in one; encore and bows. Kneeland and Powers, syncopators, the latter a sextet of snappy young jazz musicians. Kneeland directs, sings and trips around the stage and engages in a lot of talk with Miss Powers, who {fs a violinist of ability. Seventeen utes, special in four; four curtains. ° F, B, JOCRLING. Lafayette, New York (Reviewed Sunday Concert, March 16) comedy several min The Romany Life group of tistes, working full stece in the third spot, were the hit of the ev ung. Fifteen minutes of operatic singing. a clever set of dance accompaniments and a remarkable soprano who drew heavy applause is the story The act is presented with a beautiful setting. The Ben Ali Hassan troupe of Arabian tumblers closed the show. They were despite the fact that one an ankle during performance. Frank and Arnte, man and woman, in a series of nice dance offerings, opened the show, They did singly or as Japanese and a rope-skipping number, all properly costumed and with nice scenic effects. A very neat act and one that deserves a better spot. Lucky Johnson, colored single, with three sOngs and some chatter, was the deuce spot offering. He did well. Davenport Grice and Dora Carr, a new combination that includes a recording blues singer, a rattling good dancer and a pianist, the latter two working under cork, was next to closing. The act went well, especially a piano bit between the mer that was unusually novel. six singing ar aceeptable of the number sprained the afternoon doubles sailor, Scetch, B. S. Moss’ Broadway, New York (Reviewed Monday Matines, March 17) The feature picture, ‘‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame”’, assures capacity business for all week. The vaudeville end of the show is composed of excellent comedy turns for the most part, five acts showing instead of the usual six. The Perrettos went thru a novelty rontine of aerial acrobatics preceded by a bit of acrobatic ballroom dancing. Their line of stuff is good, but appears te be done with the air of too much clanking of the props and unnecessarily loud signals. With these eliminated the act would be much smoother. Howard and Lind, two women singers, who have the knack of putting over comedy as well, held down second spot with ease, gathering many laughs and pleasing thruout with their songs. One is small and slim, while partner is large and gets across easily when holds herself up to ridicule, effecting a style of comedy that never seems to miss. Both voices are above the average. she LeMaire and Philips in their double comedy skit, “‘At the Dentist’’, and their osteopath bit as usual proved a sure-fire laugh getter. However, weve seen the act go over much better than it did at this show. which proves that it is quite an art even to successfully do a hoke offering and tie performance must not be let down. Val and Ernie Stanton, another well-known comedy turn, did their stuff not too ambitiously either. The early show here is like the supper show at the average three-a-day house and a languid performance is to be expected. It seems as tho another bit might be substituted in place of the one showing the Salvation Army lassies singing ‘‘Yes, We Have No Bananas” as a hymn. Maurice Golden, late of the Boston Grand Opera Company, closed the show in a novelty dance act headed by himself. This Golden is not to be confused with another sometimes in vaudeville. The act is a sort of radio version of screen stars dancing in various pictures, and Golden stands out as a dancer who pirouettes in marvelous fashion. Dotson not caught at this show. Ss. H. MYER. Palace, Cincinnati (Reviewed Monday Matinee, March 17) Photoplay: “Lights Out”. The Tomlins, man and woman, consume eleven minutes, making scenic and bust portraits with vari-colored rags, levitation and other mystery stunts. Two bows. Russell and Marconi, violinist and piano-accordionist, respectively, were heard in duets and left them begging at the finish. Marconi seemed to be having lots of fun, espec ally when they romp into jazz numbers, while [Russell is of a more serious nature. Their dancing while playing also was a source of enjoyment, and their wooden soldier number sent them away to three bows. Twelve minutes, in one Combe and Nevins, two men, render syncopation and comedy duets and are well to the fore in their line. One accompanies at the piano. Twelve minutes, in one; three bows, Cleveland and Dowry are a_well-matched comedy team. The man, munching a banana, has a droll manner of handling the puncb lines, while the woman does the feeding effectively and renders two song numbers. Thirteen minutes, in one; one bow. ’ “The Awkward played by a Age’’ is a laughable sketch male and two females, who handle their parts commendably. It: concerns the objections of a boy to his mother’s marriage to a whiskered senator and the same feeling of the mother against her son's association with a flapper actress, who contributes a whistling and operatic solo. There is a lit tle love song between the “turtle doves’’. Sixteen minutes, special interior; three curtains, Sully and Thomas supplied fifteen minntes of hokum comedy, and thruout the laughs depended on the man’s nonchalant exposure of ridiculous portions of his otherwise natty apparel. Dane'ng is a strong point of this couple. In one, several bows : Stevers and Lovejoy offer a terpsichorean revue in which four female dancers are a big asset. Stevers and Lovejoy dance in an acceptable manner, probably their best efforts being the whirlwind finish. A saxophone player leads the orchestra thruout. Twenty-two minutes, special interior; three curtains, JIMMIE LONG. ee With the elimination of a line or two that are somewhat sukgestive the act holds great promise of becoming a standard offering. A Renown picture, ‘East Side. West Side’’, completed the program. Mame Smith and Joe Sheftall’s revue tops the week's bil] for the house. a, &. JACESON. SPECHT ANNOUNCES WINNERS In Unknown Songwritere’ Contest New Yorkers Take First Three Prizcs New York, Marck 15.—Psual Specht, musical director of the Alamac Hote) Orchestra, last night announced over WJZ the uwards in his unknown s0ngwriters’ contest conducted over the radio during the past month and which of'cially closed March 1. The awards are: First prize to Mrs. Roslyn ‘lephane and Menlo Mayfield, 114 East Fortieth street, New York City, for @ aovelty song, entitled “Oo, You Luin’. Second prize to Mrs. i. J. Hetfield, of 1149 East Tenth street, Brooklyn, N. Y¥., for ‘“‘Roads of Gappiness’’. The third prize was awarded to Norman Sheldon, 335 Steinway avenue, Astorta, Long Island, and Oliver Baldwyn, of 899 Irvine street, for ‘Dream Man"’. The fourth prize was given to James Gallatly, of 40 Belsize Park, London, Fngland, for ‘‘Mandarin’’, and the fifth award to Wilfred Trayer, of 863 Maitland street, Lon don, Canada, for “Love Light"’. Honorable mention is given to Harold Saliers and Wm. Haid for their song, ‘Hangin’ Around’’; to Chaunce} Moorehouse and Frank Guarente, for ‘“Congoland’’, and to Arthur Schutt for his piano solo, “Jazzology’’. The prizes consisted of credit at Hotel Alamac, a new model Columbia console phonograph, a Fada ‘160° neutrodyne radio set, the Famous Arthur Murray's 99-lesson course in modern ball-room dancing and a dozen autographed Paul Specht records. The radio public was assed to vote with Paul Specht as judge. More than 2,200 manuscripts were submitted. In ennouncing his awards over WJZ last night Paul Specht said among other things: “The results of the recent radio contest of unknown songwriters has convinced me of one outstanding fact and that is that songwriting. just as in the case of musical composition or aby other art, must be thoroly mastered. “Inspiration may count as a most important factor, but unless amateur writers are more careful with their experiments then all labor will be worthless. 1 find that many writers have submitted many novel and interesting song ideas, but 999 out of 1,000 had to be rejected because of poor construction in meter and melody. “I predict that some day bona-fide schools will offer instruction along this line, which naturally will force out of business the ‘song ehark” and those that prey off the credulity of the unknown writer.”’ FILMING “JANICE MEREDITH” Plattsburg, N. Y., Mareh 15.—Work on “Janice Meredith’’, the Cosmopolitan production in which Marion Davies is starred, started here this week. In the company supporting Miss Davies are Harrison Ford, leading man; Holbrook Blinn, well-known character actor; Joseph Kilgour, another well-known character man, who portrays the role of George Washingtoa; Maclyn Arbuckle, comedian, famous for als work in ‘“‘The Roundup’; Oliz Howland. comedian, recently in ‘‘Wildflower’’, and May Vokes, comedienne, who had one of the leads ip ‘“*The Bat’’. E. Mason Hopper is directing the pic ture. William R. Hearst, president of Cosme politan, is also on the scene. Josef Urban is scenic artist. ARYAN GROTTO SOLD Chicago, March 17.—Aryan Grotto, formerly the American Theater, Eightb and South Wabash, has been sold to the Central Trust Company for $280,000, subject to $100,000 incumbrance. The house has beep more or less of a millstone to the owners, being too far out of the Loop to catch good road shows, The grvtto, it is understood, is nuw ip position to take ap options on the property for a oew bome, O'NEILL WILL NOT GO ABROAD New York, Mareb 14.—Eugene O'Neil! wishes it to be known that be has oever contemplated leaving these sheres for ap eSteosive trip around the world, as elseaberé feperted. Now that “‘Welded” is de®nttely set te open next week at the Thirty Ninth Street Theater O'Neill will concentrate bie energies on new plays for the Prosincetowe llayers’ next bill, and “The Fountain”, wich will be a Theacer Guild productiva. LYTLE TAKES LEASE W. J. Lytle, of San Antonio, Tex., in association with G. C. Brabs, nae taken a lease on the Princess Theater at Houston, Tex., and will offer musical comedy and feature pietures. their two Thomas Wilkes, Coast theatrical manager has acquired a dramatie version of Somerset Maugbam’s novel, ‘“‘The Moon and Sixpence’’, which he contemplates presenting to San Francisco with Lionel Atwill in the principal part. Production, however, will not commence antil Atwill has concluded his present engagement with ‘The Outsider” at the ter, New York, “eoiwe = oe cei BMS ee