Variety (June 1907)

12 VARIETY Shows of the Week NEW YORK ROOF. Two thousand eight hundred electrics si nd a buffet bar will be permanent fea- tures on the New York Theatre Roof this summer. The bar is on the roof proper, in the northwest corner. . After the sea- son is fairly started, that liquid dispen- sary will be the best judge of the acts. This is the first week of the New York's f MOD Monday night was chilly enough to have invited attendance upon an ice carnival instead of a roof garden, but the "Jardin de Paris" was packed by a crowd, who came to note improvements and see the only novelty on the program, the "Empire Pic- tures" (New Acts). The brilliant light effect, new flooring of concrete and a slightly rearranged seat- ing plan are the noticeable differences from "the New York" of a year ago. Rows of colored lights are stretched across the auditorium, and the window panes are in colors also. For the opening bill several acts car- ried special settings, which were promptly handled by the stage crew in the cramped quarters behind the footlights. "The Pic- tures" closed the intermission, and Staley's New Transformation opened immediately after. There is an addition of a boy to the Staley piece. The trans- formations were worked quickly, although a little delay in starting was the result of the first show. It makes a good roof act, and for that reason could stand cut- ting in the time limit, reaching the changes more quickly. Geo. Evans followed the Four Mortons, just preceding the Florenz Troupe at the, close. Both comedy acts scored, the Mor- tons making themselves the hit of the bill, and Geo. Evans following closely, al- though Greene and Werner, in the No. 2 IHjsition (for the place) were an equal sec- ond favorite with the audience. Had they been on later, the Mortons would have been crowded for the first choice. "Tip in the air" is difficult for any talking act. That the Mortons, and more espe- cially Evans, passed through safely is the more to their credit. Upon Evans re- covering his assurance, he "handed" the house his old-time laugh-getters." It is barely possible, however, at the opposite sides of the garden to catch distinctly what is spoken on the stage. This may have had an effect upon Harry Cooper's comedy in the Empire City Quartet. The Quartet did not go as well as usual. As a matter of record, it re- ceived a 'bump." Perhaps if Harry would believe he was more of a comedian and less of a singer the audience would re- ceive the same impression, and he would win as a comedian the benefit of a doubt removed. There is really clever juggling by W. C. Fields to help along his comedy efforts, but he misses more than is bargained for, and persists in continuing the attempts after the house has lost interest. The Clemenso Brothers are billed as "from the Olympia, Paris." They opened the show in a musical act, with comedy inci- dentals. Opening the show was a task too big for the brothers. There are fourteen pieces in the or- chestra, under the direction <.f Frederick Soloman. HAMMERSTEIN'S. William Hammerstein ran no risk on the weather in making up his bill for the last week of the regular season at the Victoria. As a result there is playing at the house the cheapest show, from the salary end, that has been at the theatre since it opened last fall. And a further result may be due to the unseasonableuess of the weather, that this, the final week, may be the best in receipts. Up to Tuesday evening the rec- ord had been closely pressed. Doubtless the weather had much to do with it, but Lewis and Ryan (New Acts) and "The 'Original' Pony Ballet" drew some of the money. The "ponies" of the ballet are grown- ups now. They sing and dance much as any other sextet of«girls on the stage would, but they skip rope better. What the name amounts to sums up the value of the act. The dressing is neat and pretty; it should be for the salary re- ceived. Gallagher and Barrett supplied the com- edy sketch with their travesty "The Bat- tle of Too Soon." There is lots of good fun, the apex being reached when Mr. Barrett, as the Irish private, returns to inquire of his superior officer, who has thrillingly described to the audience his soldier's perilous ride into the camp of the enemy, how to place the saddle on the horse. The sketch might be worked up to a finale at this point, which is the legiti- mate place for it. It is a first-class com- edy act, well played by both. The Elinore Sisters, far down on the bill, played to their usual reception de- spite the position, and Ernest Hogan was liked, although hurting himself by using the "Abe Lincoln's Birthday" song. This unquestionably injures the finish, but af- fords Mr. Hogan an opportunity to do some character acting, which may be the reason it is retained. Hogan may return to vaudeville again some time; you can't be too sure these days, and it's better to be known in the varieties as a "good act" than as a good actor. The same monologue and Kipling reci- tation are employed by Clifton Crawford, which bring the customary demonstration, and Lester and Quinn in a neat song and dance turn open the show. The boys dress and look well also. The Yamamoto Brothers, Japanese, closed. Lind is at Hammerstein's this week. Judging by the applause, and the Ham- merstein system of booking, Lind will play a return date very shortly. He is making an unqualified hit this week. As a female impersonator Lind has always been deceptive, and at the Victoria he is completely deceiving the audience. The house is not backward in admitting and admiring it. They called Lind back four times Tuesday, the last after the cards for the next act were displayed. Mr. Lind has been a long time reaching Broadway and Forty-second street by the stage route, but the reception that "wise" sec- tion of the citv extended to him should be recompense. - By Sime TWENTY-THIRD STREET. When the calm settled down on the bill at the Twenty-third Street theatre this week after the eruption caused by the book- ing office tearing it to pie^srnSe^lWSSgTam was one short of the usual number, leaving a fair short show. The down-town Keith-Proctor house is doing business of a daily capacity extent so a program somewhat below the average for a week will not harm. The headliner is Nat M. Wills in his old tramp make-up, and some new parodies besides a little strange talk that is being tried out. Mr. Wills is evidently trans- forming his monologue by slow stages, not wishing to risk too much at any one time. They held Wills on the stage for 23 minutes Wednesday evening, which would speak well any place, and especially at the "ice- house." "The Traveling Man," containing Searl and Violet Allen, with a company of three, made a big laughing success. The humor is not so obvious as in the other similar piece Mr. Allen wrote, and disposed of. In. this, the fun is more legitimate, and all the players do nice work. Jimmie Lane and William Keller are given large opportunity, which is not abused and the act pleased mightily from the raise of the "drop" in "one." It is truly peculiar that a music pub- lisher will allow a singer to leave his es- tablishment with an orchestration unfitted for her voice, but this has happened with Emma Francis, and the song is "Good-bye, Little One, Good-bye." It is pitched so high that both the selection and Miss Fran- cis suffer. One of the best march numbers of the season, the girl could well take care of it had the arranger or whoever attends to this duty listened to her while she sang it in the publisher's office—if she did. Miss Francis is growing lively, even more so than is customary with her, and she looks so very nice on the stage that one almost begrudges the time taken up by the tum- bling Arabs. The final encore by the boys could be forsaken ,The Three Roses play their string instru- ments, and there is just a trifle too much of the music. All strings, with no relief, grows dull. The trios, duets and solos are stretched out, although there is a piano accompaniment, with singing. The audience appreciated the playing and looks of the girls. They can brighten up the act though by devising a change in routine. Ed. F. Reynard's ventriloquial offering" could be watched and listened to often. The colpr effects in the act are extremely pretty. The finale, a change from daylight to night, is very effective when the lights nre proper- ly blended, and they are this week. For solid applause, Mr. Reynard led the bill. The audience and the Chadwick Family liked LeRoy and Woodford. Little Ida May Chadwick, in the stage box, nearly laughed her head off at the sallies of Nat LeRoy. The audience kept up with the youngster, with a happy ending for the act. As a conversation turn, it is show- ing up finely these days, when this exact style is growing obsolete in vaudeville. The DeVoie Trio on the rings opened, and La Veen and Cross in hand balancing and feats of strength closed. SUES AGENT FOR $2,000. Margot Stuttenheim, a "high-school" rider, has cited Charles D. Sasse, the agent, to defend a suit for $2,000 in the New York City courts. She alleges that the agent represented to her that he was au- thorized to sign contracts for one Vincente Alba, operating a variety theatre in Havana, and was booked by him for a fourteen weeks' engagement there at $125 weekly, half transportation charges being paid. Upon her arrival there, she says, she discovered that Sasse had no such authority and the contract was never ful- filled. In defending the action, Sasse declares that he sent the rider to Havana under a contract which expressly stipulated that should her first performance be unsatis- factory she might be closed upon two weeks' notice. Miss Stuttenheim has also taken her case before the License Commissioner. A heai- inj; was had Wednesdav and decision re- served. "THE PHAYS" APPEAL. Following the Supreme Court decision last week enjoining Chauncey Herbert and Louis Granat from using the name "The Phays*' or the descriptive caption "Fazing the Fays," House, Grossman & Vorhaus, acting for Herbert and Granat, filed on Friday a notice of appeal from the ruling. It is believed they will have the matter of the appeal before the Ap- pellate Division for a decision before the end of June. In his ruling the court expressly stated that the injunction granted did not cover the rights of the respondents to present the expose of The Fays (John T. and Eva) act. The court decided that there was ground for the conten- tion of The Fays that the public might be led into the belief that Herbert and Granat were The Fays by the use of such a name as "The Phays," and granted the restraining order for this reason. The expose act is playing Jersey City this week. Pending the final ad- judication, the "copy" name may be con- tinued in use. SULLIVAN-CONSIDINE WORRIED. Judging from the reports spread broad- cast by the New York representative of the Sullivan-Considine Circuit, that cir- cuit is much worried over the opposition it is having from the Western States Vaudeville Association, booked by Louis Pincus from the New York end. Mr. Pincus' lawyer, Gus Dreyer, is said to hold two affidavits from artists to whom Freeman Bernstein (the S.-C. New York representative) addressed remarks deroga- tory to the opposition. The Western States, through Pincus, this week booked Milton and Dolly Nobles to play over its time; also Geo. C. Davis, and is now negotiating for "Bob" Fitz simmons at the largest salary ever paid in the cheaper priced houses. Mr. Pincus remarks that the quality of the acts his circuits plays is the best answer. Daisy Harcourt was offered 40 weeks of the United time last week, but did not sign. She will sail for London shortly.