Variety (December 1907)

VARIETY A FEW REMARKS ON BURLESQUE By ACTON (Dramatic Critic Last year when, after an unusually pros- perous career on the burlesque circuit, to which it belonged, "Wine, Woman and Song" came to Broadway, and at the Circle Theatre drew delighted audiences for the greater part of the entire season, theatrical wiseacres who make a practice of keeping in touch with all the productions of the burlesque houses simply shrugged their shoulders and exclaimed, "What did we al- ways tell you? There are more real wit, more original ideas, and more clever artists in the burlesque shows to-day than you will find in the general run of Broadway musical productions." When one stops to think of some of "wit," "originality," and "artists" that have appeared in many of the recent Broadway shows this remark of the wiseacres doesn't seem such a great compliment to the bur- lesquers after all. But in order to get a fair idea of how much truth there was in this statement the writer recently devoted . his afternoons for one solid week to mak- ing a round of the variety theatres from the Bowery to Harlem, and from Harry Min- er's Eighth Avenue to East Fourteenth Street Dewey. He saw the Tiger Lilies to their bitter end, watched the High School Girls graduate, stood sober and dry eyed while The Champagne Girls drove stronger and thirstier men to take refuge in lager beer, and absolutely refused to fall asleep in the presence of The Dreamland Bur- lesquers. And after each of these perform- ances had been duly digested the idea, which the writer had held from the first, became more firmly lodged than ever in his mind —namely, that "Wine, Woman and Song," both as a production and a performance, was so far ahead of all its competitors that the success it scored with the general New York public was not to be marvelled at at all. It was merely the result of offering a first rate dollar and a half show for half the money. The mere fact that none of the elaborate productions which have been put on at the Circle since has stood the test proves again how superior this production of Mr. Thiese's was. If there is any performer now play- ing on the burlesque circuit who is as clever as Mr. Alex. Carr was in "Wine, Woman and Song"—and i$ not in his present sur- roundings at the Casino—he has yet to be heard from. The only artist that the writer has seen in these burlesque performances this season whose work shows distinct originality is Mr. Dave Marion, and as ho is about the most prominent figure tied to the burlesque wheel to-day no one for proclaim- ing his fine qualities can hope to rank as a new Columbus. Mr. Marion's work as an artist and playwright, combined with his stage management, makes the Dreamland Burlesquers in "Newport" an uncommonly diverting and jolly show. It stands a head and shoulders above the other burlesque offerings of this season, because it has a comedian at its head whose work is not only eccentric and clever, but far out of the common run. As Lord Buxton he gave an admirable "straight" performance, and as "Snuffy," the irascible cabman, he had one bit of business, a trick of pounding his mangey old high hat down over his ears with both hands when anyone insulted him, which is as side-splitting as anything we DAVIES. 'Evening Sun.") have seen on any stage in years. But, as we said before, Dan Marion is already an established star in his own line. Among the lesser lights in these burlesque shows we saw no signs of a coming genius. Young Harry Fox, who does a specialty with Mr. Marion called "Something Quite Different," is agile, good looking and clever, but he seems content to follow so closely in Mr. George Cohan's footsteps that until he starts out on more original lines he is not likely to make much lasting fame for him- self. In fact, all of the burlesque perform- ances seemed suffering fmn Cohan mania. At every opportunity songs from his vari- ous pieces were dragged in and the stage business of many of the numbers he created were followed slavishly. This lent the performances a considerable amount of ginger, it is true, and it was all very flattering to Mr. Cohan no doubt, but it certainly did not enhance the claim of those who maintain so stoutly that the bur- lesque shows of to-day are bristling with original features. In the matter of costumes, stage man- agement, ensemble work and a general air of greater refinement in the jokes and dia- logue these performances have unquestion- ably taken a long step forward, but outside of Mr. Marion we have yet to see one of their performers whose work was sufficient- ly original to guarantee his success in a wider field. HASTINGS ORGANIZES NEW BUR- LESQUE. Harry Hastings is organizing a big bur- lesque production which will have its first showing week of Dec. 30. The an- nouncement does not carry any informa- tion except that the piece will travel under the title of "The French Maids," and will have a chorus of 20 beside the principals. WOLFF WESTERN'S AGENT. The new booking agent for the Empire Circuit (Western Burlesque Wheel) is Paul H. Wolff, who replaced Walter J. Plimmer. Mr. Wolff is occupying the same offices on the seventh floor of the Knickerbocker Theatre Building Annex. Mr. Plimmer has taken offices in another part of the building, where he will con- tinue his booking business. MANAGERS GET TWO YEARS' GRACE. San Francisco, Dec. 13. Representatives from the numerous the- atres in the city which do not come up to the requirements of the new building laws met in conference with a committee from the city's governing board recently and an agreement was reached whereby the show- men will be given until January, 1910, to complete Class A structures. Certain al- terations designed to further safeguard the public were agreed upon, and it was further decided that each theatre should be guarded by two firemen always on duty. Owing to a minor defect in the exits, the Empire was ordered closed. The house re- mained dark for one matinee, but re- opened for the evening performance with the defects corrected. TORONTO GAYETY OPENS. Toronto, Ont., Dec. 13. The new Gayety Theatre, the property of the Columbia Amusement Company, which is to be the local home of the East- ern Burlesque Wheel show?, opened here Monday night with Rice & Barton's Big Gaiety Company. The house is a model of modern theatre architecture, and its interior decorative scheme a splendid example of richness and good taste. The furniture is of crimson, in a warm, cosy shade, relieved in the color scheme of the decorations by deli- cate ivory tinting. The proscenium arch is worked out into a beautiful design in- volving these colors. A huge, enthusiastic audience greeted the opening performance, filling the the- atre, which has a capacity of 1,500. The building, inside and out, is a blaze of light after dark. Light and airy dressing rooms with every modern convenience are provided back of the stage, and spacious cloak rooms with attendants are features for the comfort of women patrons. A smoking room is attractively placed for the men. The color scheme is prettily FIXING UP "LADY BIRDS." Alf Herrington's "Lady Birds" (West- ern Burlesque Wheel), which was to have played the Trocadero, Philadelphia, this week, is "laying off" in New York instead. It was decided some weeks ago that the show needed fixing, and this week, preced- ing the entrance into New York, was chosen. George Kraus is said to have expressed unwillingness to play the show in its old form. Kraus' "20th Century Maids," which was laying off, was transferred to the Trocadero this week in place of "The Lady Birds," and that show came to New York to be fixed up under the direction of Mr. Herrington and Dan Dody, the Em- pire Circuit Company's official arranger. "The Lady Birds" comes Into the Dewey next week. BROKE RECORDS AT LONDON. "The Broadway Gaiety Girls," Jas. H. Curtin's burlesque company, broke two records at" the London Theatre last week, of which Mr. Curtin is also the proprietor. The previous high figure for the week and matinee was held by Miner's "Dream- lands," made last season. It w.is $3,300 GAYETY THEATRE. The New Eastern Wheel Burlesque House which opened In Toronto Monday which carried out in the broad lobby faces Richmond Street, on which fronts the imposing face of the theatre. F. W. Stair, manager of the Star The- atre (Western Burlesque Wheel), the bur- lesque opposition, brought "The Briga- diers" into his house and had Joe Gans. the pugilist, as the added attraction. Among the out-of-town managers who attended the Gayety opening were Sam A. Scribner, general manager of the Co- lumbia Amusement Company; Leon Laski, counsel; Gus Hill, H. B. Denny and Ru- dolph Hynicka. gross for the entire twelve shows, and $304 for a matinee (Monday). Mr. Curtin's show played to $3,700 on the week, and broke the afternoon receipts of "The Dreamlands" twice, playing to $313 at the Monday matinee and $311 on Saturday afternoon. The house was packed to the doors at each performance. Millie De Leon ("The Girl in- Blue") was the extra attraction with the Curtin show, playing the engage- ment under a percentage agreement for her share of the gross takings, which netted her a big figure. The "house" and "show" each bore one-half Miss De Leon's share. BILL POSTER ABSORBED. Youngstown, O., Dec. 13. The bill-posting plant formerly operated here by Eugene Rook has been absorbed by the Bryan Company of Cleveland, which controls the business in several cities in this locality. J. H. ("Doc") Lane, a vet- eran theatrical manager, will have charge of the local office. CAICEDO INJURED. Greene and Werner are playing at the New York this week, having jumped into the place on the bill left vacant by the non-appearance of Caicedo, the wire artist. Caicedo injured himself while playing at the Shubert, Milwaukee, last week.