Variety (December 1907)

32 VARIETY ■ • -■■■■ ■ ADVANCED BURLESQUE By ROGER IMHOF (Of The Empire Show"). In those days of "Advanced" ideas, "Ad- vanced Vaudeville," etc., it may be well to mention that burlesque too has ad- vanced. True, the step has been a grad- ual one, but step by step, Burlesque has advanced. Today it is probably the most popular form of amusement. When one thinks back to old time burlesque, with its .minstrel first part, composed of a dozen women and two end men, the then called "leading boy" doing interior ator, ihere iR quite some difference to burlesque in its present form. Burlesque productions of modern times are quite pretentious. Large sums of money are expended in beautiful ward- robe, scenery and accessories. A person who cannot at some time during one of these entertainments find something to amuse him is very exacting. Burlesque is a composite form of amusement, composed of vaudeville, musical numibers, gaudy cos- tumes, fantastic scenery with some comedy and pathos. Certain parts of it must cer- tainly appeal to an audience. An olio of five or six acts, and a company of thirty, two-thirds of whom are females, should certainly be capable of entertaining at letst a little. The chief fault of the average burlesque show, however, is its utter disregard for consistency. Probably for that reason it is called burlesque. In the larger cities burlesque caters to quite as many women as men. In olden times a woman auditor was a curiosity. This proves burlesque has been laun- dered. The greatest handicap to the bur- lesque artist is the idea of the fossiled manager, who is positive he knows ex- ROGER IMHOF AND SUZANNE CORINNE. Roger Imhof mid Suzanne Corlnne have Ion? been known in their Joint efforts, having worked in eon junction for the pant ten years. Mr. Itn- hof'h character Irish impersonation, together with Miss (fortune's valuahle assistance, have earned for them an enviable place among the sketch artists. At present they are the featured act In the olio of the "Empire llurlesquers," having served In that capacity for the past three seasons, or since the "Umpire Show's" Inception. Their offer- ing. "In a Strange Hotel," Is highly amusing. Mr. Imhof In the author of many burlesques and plays, and has written numerous acts for artists. actly what a burlesque audience wants. And when these shows continue to make money (there never has been a failure since the Wheel started) it is pretty hard to convince a manager he is wrong. It is for this reason that the antiquated ideas and by-plays are rejuvenated and one sees occasional evidences of primitive burlesque. Much money is expended each stason for new burlesque and first parts. After a short hearing they are finally con- signed to the archives and a "bit" bur- lesque is produced. He stiys "This was always a knockout. We did it with the 'Rentz-Santley' show." ("The Rentz-Sant- ley" was the first of all burlesque shows). At that time I was with "Bob" Man- chester and "Gus" Hill. On hearing of the success of the "Night On Broadway" show I suggested to my manager, Mr. Manchester, that he let me concoct a like piece? in either two or three acts, omitting the olio, and sandwiching the specialties throughout the piece. As a final climax to my argument, I cited the pnecess of the "Night On Broadway" show. Mr. Manchester smiled and said, "Very good idea, Roger, but where are we going to get another Harry Morris?" My performance was once criticised by n prominent manager, who said, "Yon are exhibiting an oil painting, and your audi- ence wants to look at a chromo." It is a universal idea that burle f s;jne audiences are like hard boiled eggs. It is not so. If you have something entertaining they will appreciate it as much in bur- lesque as anywhere else. Some people be- Tom—BARRETT AND BELLE—May Two regulars in a skit entitled "Only a Volunteer." Working In "one." singing, talking and ilanelng. Making four changes and carrying their own drop. Miss Belle is a capahle souhrette and Mr. Barrett is a producer of burlesques and musical numbers. Third season with "The New Centurv Girls" Company. THIS WEEK, DEWEY THEATRE, NEW YORK CITY. Merry Xtnas to Friends. So the good material that has been paid for is cast out, for the "water in the hat," "siphon bottle" and "slap stick." Iti many instances where a really well- written piece lulls for a minute, someone injects one of those old time bits and makes the entire offering commonplace. The late Harry Morris was one of the first to rake a course out of the beaten burlesque path with his "Night On Broad- v ay." When his views were made known, all the wiseacres of the burlesque world Immediately put their heads together and forecast terrible disaster. They pre- dicted utter failure. The success of that show is too well known to make mention of again here. Suffice to say, it was one of the record money takers in burlesque his- tory. lieve to have a joke understood in bur- lesque it must be illustrated. Neither is that so. Burlesque audiences are "rounders." They have seen and heard nearly every- thing. You must offer something new. A burlesque show among amusements likens itself to a quick lunch room, as compared to the six course meal. The food is, or should be of the same class, but it must Ik served quicker, and at a cheaper price. You may ask, "how can the same food be served at a cheaper rate?" Because half the expense is in the service and garnish. Burlesque has no Broadway names to lure the people. In most cases, the burlesque stars have just as much tal- ent. It is not the side dressings, but the meal proper they want. JOHNSTON AND BUCKLEY. Tie above clever entertainers hare been meet- ing with universal success for the past number of years with the leading burlesque companies of the different circuits. They were five seasons with T. w. Miner's attractions, and for the pa«t two seasons have been one of the big features of the "Empire Show," where their act always proves a decided hit. When the dialogue is long and tiresome, audiences become uneasy and impatient. They will not wait through a six course affair like a dinner in a French restaurant. Burlesque has never been consid- ered elevating. Neither is it now. Any coarse methods resorted to must be sanctioned by the management, otherwise they would not be tolerated. So il is to the management that one must look, and not to the artist, for any eleva- tion coming to future burlesque. Many well known Broadway names have risen from the ranks of burlesque. Not "Advanced Burlesque" either, but old fash- ioned burlesque of the coarser kind. Sam Bernard. Billy B. Van, Sam Collins, Junie McCree, Alex Carr, Montgomery and Sio. e and many others have been con- l ected with shows of this kind. Burlesque will ever be a popular form of amusement, provided it is kept on its dignity and not allowed again to degen- erate. The price is within the reach of all and the entertainment often excels the much heralded "Musical Shows" with the Broadway name. CRUET AND CRUET In their famlllnr burlesque knife throwing act. entitled "Sam's Substitute," have appeared In all the leading vaudeville and burlesque theatres in the United States. At present they are with Williams' "Ideals."