Variety (December 1907)

VARIETY 43 THE GENUINE "ADVANCED VAUDEVILLE" By GEORGE M. YOUNG. Philadelphia, Dec. 9. First impressions are ofttimes interest- ing. Not long ago I was asked if my memory served to recall the acts which made their first impression upon me when I first began to take an interest in that line of entertainment which later became a study. Looking back over a period of, say twenty years, I write to recall the star acts of variety (as it was called then* that made the first impressions. Much of this early history is refreshed .by material which is in use to-day, and it is not necessary for one to attend a vaude- ville or burlesque show to find it, for it is just as frequently found in the high class louses, particularly in musical comedy. Vaudeville has been advancing for many years and will continue to advance in all that the name-implies. The vaudeville oi to-day is nothing more than an elabor- ation of variety'of twenty years ago, pro- gressing like ' all other things with the advancement of the world and its sciences. In those days it was variety of the old school, the theatres being frequented al- most entirely by men; in fact it was al- most worth the reputation of a woman to be seen there. Jiurlesque shows such as "Rents Santley," with George W. I^cderer as its guiding star, the "City Club" and "Night Owls" were among the best known then and were among the attractions which played at the old Central. In later years came Keith's Bijou on North Eighth street where continuous shows, including comic opera by the Aborn Opera Company, and vaudeville were first introduced, if we can exclude the shows given at the Ninth and Arch Street museum. It was in Keith's Bijou that vaudeville was given its (first real advance- ment in Philadelphia. .Women were edu- cated to it and it became so popular that after a period of several years it resulted in vaudeville *being tried on 'Chestnut Street, the main thoroughfare of this city, where to-day the best people of Phil- adelphia are entertained by up-to-date varietv. That is "Advanced Vaudeville." But to go back to the acts which in the advancement have been forgotteen by practically all but the student of vaude- ville or the actor himself who will look back to the days of low salaries, long jumps, poor theatres and hard times. A BERT LEVY. "Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 4, 1907. •'llKUT LEVY, Esq., Keith Theatre, Philadelphia. "Dear Mr. Levy:—I have been for twenty years seeing different 'entertainers'; some from the 'front of the house,' but the majority from back of the footlights. These 'entertainers' have been actors, singers, dancers, lecturers, acrobats, musicians, magicians and the general ensemble going to make up a vaudeville entertainment. "And I want to tell you that in that time I have never seen anyone that more thoroughly met with my idea of a REAL 'entertainer' than you do in your half hour's exhibition of 'the power of mind over a lead pencil.' as I have watched it for twelve straight shows this week. "I think it is the most entertaining 'entertainment' In the vaudeville field to day. "So long may you continue to draw your salary as well as you draw pictures. "Youra sincerely, (Signed) "WILL M. CRESSY." FLORENCE MOORE. In her first season as a principal Florence Moore is gaining recognition rapl.lly while playing with the "Hon Tons," one of Weber & Rush's burlesque organizations. 'Principal hoy" Is the role Mia* Moore is so satisfactorily taking charge of with* the show, and die Is regarded as about the most stunning figure in tights now on the stage. Manag«*ry of houses wiiere the "Ron Tona" have visited so far unite in saying Miss Moore is eclipsing Frankie, Bailey In the palmiest days of the latter famed shapely-limbed. J ■•*, ^ lu addition to Miss Moore's other attractive qualifications for leadership, she is a remarkably handsome girl, as the above photo very plainly indicates. '"'..•'•. *_,— f. have been doing active service>''in bur- lesque, but are gradually being missed from that (field. How few of the single acts do you find in vaudeville to-day like Ella Wesner, 'Sweet Caporal," Annie Hart, Polly Holmes, "The Irish Thrush"; Lottie Bell. Lottie (iilson, "Little Magnet"; and Mag- gie Cline. The latter two are still ringing, but they are only remembered by few of the regular patrons of vaudeville. The numerous big dancing acts now bring memories of such favorites as Howe and Doyle, "statue clog" dancers, who I osed on pedestals during the time the act proceeding theirs occupied the stage, (Continued on page 48) few are still left and many are still enter- taining and sharing the proceeds of the advancement. Probably few who have seen May Irwin at the head of her several big successes in the legitimate will remember when she v as one-half of a "sister act" and gave humorous ideas of married life with the aid of her sister Flo, who impersonated a man returning home from the club with the usual stage "souse." And now Miss Irwin is back in vaudeville as a star. 1 etc Dailey was one of the "American hour"; appeared with Jimmy Powers, May Irwin and later at the head of his own companies; now he is leading a big "girl act" and Jimmy Powers is also in vaude- ville. Ward and Vokes appeared as a pair of acrobatic tramps, starred together, then separated and now are reported to be thinking of joining hands again and re- turning to vaudeville. Weber and rielils, Rogers Brothers, Rosa and Kenton and other vaudeville stars of years ago are still in the legitimate ami may be lost to the field which first gave them prominence on the stage. Vaudeville of to-day has eliminated many stvles of acts which were the best liked in former days. Take for example the blackface acts such as To pack and Steele; Haines and Vidocq; Van Leer and I'arton and one or two others. This class of act is seldom seen outside of burlesque and few remain there. Haines and Vidocq are still in vaudeville, but separated; To- pack and Steele are with Yale's "Devil's Auction," while Van Lee is the comedy end of Martini and Maximillian, the latter graduating to the stage from an ollice boy in a Philadelphia newspaper office. Irish teams such as Sheridan and Flynn, who wrote "Down Went McGinty"; Conroy and Pempsey; John and Harry Kernell and (iilmore and Leonard are also seldom seen. The Irish as well as the CJerman, Hebrew and blackface comedians of the old school SAMMY WAiSUN. Owner iind producer of Vaudeville's moat novel It II i III M I IHt. W tabes all who know Lliu A Merry Ctirlatniaa and a Happy New Year.