Variety (Feb 1906)

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8 VARIETY Shows of the Week - THE OFFICE BOY ON BURLESQUE. "I've been to see a burlesque .show," said the Office Hoy as I wandered in the Agent 9 ! Office. Asked how ho liked it. the Hoy said apologetically : "It's all right. I don't s«»e where the kiek conies in. What do you want for fifty cents? There's no other show in town where you can sec such freedom on the stage, and you get the real old stuff from the •lays gone by. Hurlesque is all right in its place, and its place is just where it is. "It's keeping a whole lot of joints from doing business. A fellow can go to a bur- lesque show and "see the girls, and suppose he does hear a 'raw' one once in a while. It doesn't hurt him or it doesn't hurt any- body else. If the management will stand for it, that's all that's necessary. "There's people that been going to bur- lesque shows for years, and they don't want any other kind of amusement. They get the girls and vaudeville for one price, and once in a while you strike a real come- dian like Charlie Kobinson in the Colo- nial Helles. There's a fellow that's pulling down a Broadway comedian's salary in a burlesque company, and if they can afford to pay like that, I gues« there's money in the business all right. There's some shows on the road that's making big effort to give a good perform- ance, and they are succeeding. You know there's quite a rivalry between burlesque managers to give the best show. And it's beneficial to the business. Once in a while you strike a company that's so bad you can't sit through the whole of the per- formance, but there's a good many shows out that you are sorry when it's over, and just as leave sit through it again the next night. "There's been a big improvement in the burlesques, too, and the acts in the olio in a good many shows get big money. They paid Delx>ris, the sharp-shooter, $450 a week and transportation. You can't say it's a cheap show that will hand out a bunch of the green like that to one man. Of course, there are two combinations, or 'wheels' which may have something to do with the betterment of the business, but it's got to last now that it has begun, for they will never be able to drop back, and still draw the money. "They are dressing the shows pretty swell nowadays. You can see some cos- tumes that make you sit up and take no- tice. The girls inside the dresses know how to wear them, too. I saw a girl in a burlesque troupe not so long ago wear a dress with a train to it, and as she walked on the stage with a swish, she could have given points to Viola Allen. "The shows are all right. They are getting so good that they are really giv- ing too much for the money. You hear a lot of growls about 'old business' and 'horse play,' but you have got to give it to 'em. Most of the burlesque audiences don't think they are seeing a real show without, it -and the tights. Don't over- look the tights, (m the level now, don't you like it yourself? Let's go up to the Oircle together some night and see the show. You will be surprised to see the swell |K»ople who go there every week. "I wouldn't be surprised to see the bur- SHORT TALKS TO ARTISTS. The Misses Tvce and Jerinon are at Pastor's. Please. Miss Tyce. when the bank account has accumulated sufficiently, purchase a becoming gown, and "stake" Rome masquerader to that hideous one you are now wearing. Adams and Drew should remember, that they are now out of burlesque and tone down their parodies accordingly. .John (>sl>orn, of Osbom and Wallace, you ought to know better than after giving a sketch with no music in it to ap pear in "one" for an encore with musical iMittles. The l>ottles are bad enough in any act. but in yours, they lead the au- dience into the belief that they were mis taken in thinking you a comedian. The World's Trio playing with "The Blue Ribbon Girls" are using the same opening and almost the entire act they have been presenting for ever so long. It is not even new to burlesque. If Mor- ton, Ryan and Wo<m1 can't think out some- thing better, it would be preferable that they copy from some "girl act" now in vaudeville, using that as long as they re- main in the minor division. It is suggested to Klita Proctor Otis that the finale of "Kid-(JIoved Nan" be changed to a reconciliation. In vaude- ville or elsewhere, an audience does not wish a sad ending to a story, and it is harmful to the applause to see a son for- give his mother on the promise that she reform, placing her on probation pending her good behavior. Have the son for- give and forget at once, uttering an ex- clamation of thanks that he has at last i ii I tilled his heartfelt desire in discovering his mother, regardless of who or what she is. That may get a "hand." The present finale may sometimes receive a hiss. Kleanor Falk is appearing at the Twen- ty-third Street house this week, and on Monday afternoon virtually encountered a "fnrst." It was nothing else when com pared to the reception formerly enjoyed by this singer. It has l>een reported in the past. Miss Falk, that you declined to use any song you were not paid for sing- ing by the publisher. Some of the selec- tions you are now giving tend to bear out this statement. You are also growing careless of your dancing, doing very little of it, and that much with no ginger. Al- though second on the bill that is no ex- cuse for the little applause received. If you desire to recover your former prestige in vaudeville, it l>ehooves you to look around a bit. accepting the musical num- bers you know are meritorious. The in- crease reward you will receive weekly will more than recompense b what may l>e lost through music publishers' gifts. During the week someone called up the Commissioner of Licenses to inquire if B. F. Keith had taken out a license as an agent. The Commissioner informed the inquirer that he had not, and to for ward his complaint in writing when it would be investigated. PASTOR'S. After the new acts were separated from this week's bill, not a great many re- mained. Mattie Keene and Co. in "Bam- lM)ozle." Dayman ami Franklin, Backus and Shannon in "The Dress-Suit Case," Theo. and Camille I .a Jess, Parker and Burke ami Ix)vello, all appearing in acts new to town will be found reviewed under New Acts. Of the remainder the Elite Musical Four stood out the most prominent, not by reason of what they did, but because thev were billed as the "Extra Attraction." The only name on the programme is Otto Mesloh, "late cornetist of Sousa's Band." Mr. Mesloh is a musician, so far and away above the others of the quartette that he should be allowed to play the cornet alone at every opportunity. There is a blond young man who plays that instrument in the concerted work. As a matter of re- gard for the audience, the instrument should 1m* taken away from him and hid- den, lie throws the others out of bar mony, and seemingly has no conception of what he is doing or expected to do. The xylophone playing by the four may be likened to a quartette of Hudson River workmen chopping ice. No other descrip- tion is jK>ssihle. The entrance with the Scotch horns is so blatant that it is painful. Accordion playing by one of the members evoked some applause, but "Mike" Bernard on the piano did more for the act than the members themselves. There is a solo on the I>ottles that should l>e dropped forthwith. That and the ac- cordion playing are altogether misplaced in an act of this kind. The final number on the brasses should also lx» dispensed with. It was j>oor judgment to give it after it had Ihhmi played, sung and paro- died by other acts before. The act can be rounded into shape, but will not pass in its present make-up. — John O h Ihuuc a n d Blanche Wallac e lesque shows become a fad, the same as vaudeville. No. I'm not dreaming. I know a whole lot who would like to go more often than they do." fairly with travesty, killing the opinion formed by an encore with music (?) on a row of IMittles. and the three Hesse brothers did some acrolwtic work, the chief comedy of which has been taken from the act of Keno, Welsh and Melrose. The acrobatics are above tin' comedy, the main portion of the latter being the Rice- Prevost work. It is growing very tiresome to note that every acrobatic turn with a comedian in it who can not evolve for himself, falls back on this. Lillian Tyce and Irene .lermon had a position of honor on the programme, and were liked by the audience. Mabel Carew and Gertie Hayes gave the "Derby Race" without any improvement. These girls should note that the audience do not ac- cept, them seriously in the melodramatic" finale. Adams and Drew, "The Bogus Chauf- feurs" in a "conversation," have gone to the automobile shop for an idea, and are working it out in good shape. The talk on the "buzzers" is superior to the stereo- typed sidewalk lingo, although they reach a few of the by-by jokes during the'r time. The "straight" man is very good, and the Dutchman not over much so. Quite a hit was secured with their paro- dies. COLONIAL. The intermission divided the two fea- tures of the bill here this week. Henri l)e Vries (reviewed under New Acts), ap* pears just before, and Paul Cinquevalli im mediately after. Although there is quite some difference in the salary received by the two artists, Mr. IX' Vries having the balance largely in his favor, they receive an equal amount of applause. Mr. Cinque- valli's smooth and difficult juggling ex- tremely pleased, though making two slips, which are believed to have been the first occurring to this sure-handed performer. The billiard cloth coat worn shows wear, and a new one would improve that part of the act. IIoIcoiuIm'. Curtis and Webb gave "A Winter Session," and why Miss Webb isn't satisfied to use her natural singing voice only dropping the "kid" song is probably understood bv herself only. dames .1. Morton can set away with more stuff that some one else would be "roasted" for than any monologist before the public to-day. His method, which is peculiarly his own, never fails to draw a big laugh, and Morton's strongest point is that he understands how to deliver. He doesn't find it necessary to join in the merriment his remarks cause, and the au- dience discovers that it is all the more funny through the serious manner it is handed out. The Four Bards have come back with ono new acrobatic trick, which is good enough, but their other work does not re- quire much aid. 'Hie spring board could Im* used to work out a g r ea t manv new feats. At present it is in operation only once. They were liked as well as ever, and stand well to the front of all acro- batic acts. Lucille. Saunders sang two songs, not because more were not cared for. but rather on account of the length of the bill. Miss Saunders appearing next to last ogram. She has imp popular number, and will And it to her advantage to continue this style of selections. Her "make-up" does not show well under the spot light, and either the light should not Im' used or the coloring of the face toned down. Murphy and Nichols in •From Zaza to Incle Tom" started the house howling. and kept that condition up until the finale. Persons who have seen this sketch for the fourth or fifth time seemingly laugh as much at it now as in the first place. As a laugh getter it has no superior. Avery and Hart, the colored team, ought to drop the opening numl>er. It is old enough to have an obituarv. Mr. Averv wears a diamond outside his irlove when he is "fashionably" dressed, and while he silently criticizes Hart's clothes fay taking imaginary threads off, he should look to the fitting of his own dress coat, which is about the best example of a misfit that has been shown. The Durant Brothers opened the bill in grotesque acrobatics and comedy, the com edy being particularly grotesque from every point of view. The Three Roses, formerly of the Na vaho Girls, will open on the Orpheum