Variety (December 1907)

48 VARIETY GENUINE ADVANCED VAUDEVILLE. (Continued from page 43) stepping down to the utter amazement of the audience and going through their reg- ular routine. Such a thing to-day would ht a novelty. Then there were Delehanty and Hengler, Clark and Williams, who sang "We Are Two Dandy Coachmen"; Winstanley Brothers; John E. Drew, John Queen, who danced on a pedestal; Harry Sefton, the "Dancing Spider," and others. The rope-dancing now indulged in by the "pony ballets" and in some of the princi- pal "girl acts" will be recalled as being done by such old favorites as Capitola Forrest, Lottie Elliott and Miss Goodrich, of the team of McBride and Goodrich, but in those days they danced for endurance. Musical acta form another class of en- tertainment which has advanced wonder- fully and call to mind such as Wood and 6heppard; Wood, Beasley and the Weston Brothers; Bryant and Saville and Bogart and O'Brien. The wonderful acrobatics now seen in vaudeville show how simple were the tricks used by Charles Guyer, of (Vuyer and Goodwin, now Guyer and Crispi. He was the first one I ever saw throw a twisting somersault from a "jerk" and a row of flips, and now a "double" from the gound is done by Charles Seigrist who works with "Slivers" Oakley. Guyer and Goodwin were exponents of the "kid" cct as were also Sager and Fannie Midge - ly and Eddie and Josie Evans. .With the exception of Miss Goodwin, I think all are still on the stage. The aerial acts working out over the au- dience which years ago were popular and which kept the stage managers in a high fever getting the riggingB in order form another class almost lost to vaudeville. Those of to-day consist mainly of casting and trapeze acts which are shown on the stage, but those missed are such as Stirk and Zeno, the "Eagle Birds"; Austin Sis- ters; and Ami, "the Human Fly." The greatest contortionists of my memory were Marinelli, the "Boneless Wonder," and Baggessen, the "Human Corkscrew," now doing a comedy juggling act. Outside of burlesque few of the old time slapstick acts are allowed to live. What place in present day vaudeville is there for the comedians who stuck hatch- ets in each other's skulls and made leap- ing ticks out of inflated pads? But it was "sure fire" fun years ago. The present day banjoist plays selections from "Will- iam Tell," "Poet and Peasant," and other high class overtures, while old timers like Al Reeves, Ed French, Billy Carter and others of that school were contented with the class of music meant for the banjo. Tommy Glynn, of Hamilton and Glynn, was one of the best of players who offered the higher grade of music on the banjo, and Al Reeves is still using this as part of his specialty with his own bur- lesque show. A few of the old time acts remembered are J. W. Kelly, the "Rolling Mill Man"; J. Francis Brvant. Harrv Richmond. "Dutch" Daly. Tom Hefron. the one-legged dancer; Johnny Barker, the bone soloist; "Lilly Western, musical act; Harry Ken- nedy, the ventriloquist, and Theodore, in the same line, who is now known as "Tro- vollo"; Tony Pastor, who sang " 'Blige a Lady" as one of his big hits; Charles M. Ernest, Charles H. Duncan. Gil Saroney,the "Giddy Old Girl"; George Melville, "Watch the Professor"; Jim Thornton, who with Charles Lawler, made a favorite team sing- ing "Upper Ten and Lower Five"; Crane Brothers, who did a paper tearing and dancing act; Richard Pitrot, who gave im- itations and has since turned agent; James B. Mack, the original "Yankee by Gosh"; Hafford and Mantell, Inman Sisters, Viv- ian Sisters, French Sisters, Sherman and Morrisey and Smith and Lord, two teams who did burlesque acrobatics and strong men acts years ago; John and Edna Vi- docq, "The Toll Gate"; John and Nellie Healey, the former being the originator of the expression "What It Is?" He is now one of the Quaker City Quartet; Frank and Lillian White, Bryant and Richmond, Dave Marion and Minnie Bell, who used to play banjos and warble "As We Sat Beneath the Trees"; Dave Kendal, who sang "Drink Up, Boys," accompanied by shots through a bottle to represent cork popping, and Ruby Marion who could hard- ly make the stunning appearance in tights now that she made then; Brilliant Quar- tet, the best of the straight singing fours; Bison City Quartet, American Four, whose famous restaurant business is being done in a burlesque show this year; New York Four, of which Alf Grant was one; Olym- pia Four, an "Advanced Vaudeville" act at present with what remains of the orig- inals; Le Clair and Russell, afterwards Le Clair and Leslie; Billy Jerome and Julia Mackey; James J. Morton and Maude Revelle, Smith and Campbell, the latter team still together and making good. SV>me in the above list outrank others by many years and probably cannot be classed together, but they are mentioned simply .as they come to mind without the aid of programs or dates to refresh the memory and in the main furnish my first impressions of vaudeville which serves as the best means of realizing just how vaudeville has advanced during a period of twentv vears. CORRESPONDENCE Unless otherwise noted, the following reports are for the current week. SAIN FRAINGISGO By W. ALFRED WILSON. ORPHEUM (Martin Beck, gen. mgr.).— Week 1: Hardly a Hebrew comedian travel* thin way that does not include a sample of Ren Welch's material aa part of his atock in trade, and thla week brought Welch himself, who offered the assort ment in Ita entirety, some of which haa been made familiar to us, thanks to these copylats. None of them, however, can approach tre original in delivery, and Welch scored Immensely. Henri French, with bis entertaining Impersona- tlona, was another number that stood out on the program. Viola Gillette and George Macfarlane in a melange of song and comedy were given the position of prominence, though In reality on a test of hands they did not figure In popular favor with either Welch or French. Rert Leslie still remained. It is doubtful if vaudeville pos- aessea a stronger 'Frisco favorite than this ex- pounder of slang. A significant silence greeted the efforts of the Oklto Family, a display of Old Glory bringing the only aolld response. The Golden Graces, Sisters Weston, Irma Sisters and Rert Leslie were In the second week. NATIONAL (Sid Grauman. mgr.).—Week 2: Ethel Hazel, the child star, re-appeared after a long absence, showing a noticeable improvement over her former good work. Extremely talented, the affected mannerisms that mar many a child act was nowhere In evidence and she won first honors of the bill. Her Impersonation of May Yohe, who appeared at this house the previous week, struck the house strongly, and her George Cohan "take off" approachea the original more closely than the legion of others that have at- tempted it. Polly Hazel still continues with her delineation of the Inebriated servant, a clever hit In Itself, but somewhat out of place for such a tiny mlas. Hugh Emmett. the ventriloquist, rilled a return date and shared popularity with the younger Hazel. Kelly and Dixon utilized the theme of the indigestible cooking of a newlywed In an effort to create mirth, and exceeded to some extent, though Kelly's habit of speaking his lines with a pronounced susplration waa at times rather disagreeable. Ruford, Rennett and Buford formed a triple girl act that was well received. They sang "School Days" ensemble and each offered a solo, the girl in white winning the limit • if applause with "Jealousy." Their closing num- t>er. a chlpcse ragtime, is offered In a chic cos- tuming of red, the catchy melody being lost in the din of their wooden shoe accompaniment. The 8ully Family fared well with their lively skit, "Roys Will Re Boys." One of the youngsters, an effervescent mite of humanity, fitting the "kid" role to a nicety and carrying the act. Will Davis, sonologist, registered fair. Harry Rlckrode opened the bill with a routine of ring contortions. Mike Qulnn and his educated dog, introducing hla feata by the rather novel method of a* aketch, waa well received. WIGWAM (Sam Harris, mgr.).—Week 2: Adgie and her liona appeared aa the featured attraction, ahowing for the first time in the aouth aide of town, and proved one of the heaviest drawing cards that Manager Harris haa had. Rert Page won favorable mention with his acrobatic comedy. Jolly Zeb, with hla tramp specialty, had a choice position. George Wade, blackface monologlat, following shortly after Zeb, had a hard spot. Portions of his humorous talk- feat were rather dense, but the major part struck the mark. H. M. Shaw and Company offered a well constructed one-act playlet, distinguished by some clever acting on the part of a child artist. Phyllis Allen, singer, completed the program. VICTORIA (I. Coleman Levy, mgr.).—Week 2: The aggregation of thla week was decidedly stronger than the combination of the opening. Wlllard and Harker, Roman ring artlata, made their first appearance In thla city, having a good act of ita kind and gaining a favorable reception. Cottrelle and Von Gofre were the other silent feature. Von Gofre will stand comparison with any contortionist seen here up to date. Hia routine of feata handicapped with weights wss novel, and even sensational. "Turkey" Boyd, late of the Primrose show, offered a blackface monologue that had a decided flavor of minstrelsy. He wss well received. Will King, Hebrew comedian, unloaded hla material In an eaay fash- Ion and had a batch of parodies that won a recall. Sterling L. Whitney and Company In- troduces a creation entitled "The Zanzibar Planter." The aketch promised well at the start but the plot disappeared early In the game and It waa a "go aa you please" mixture of legiti- mate and comedy, resulting In a very bad finish. Camp'a "Doomsday," the spectacle, and Delll Francis Domenlco were retained from the previous week. EMPIRE (Hal Curtla, mgr.).—Week 2: The Four Franks played their farewell week with a pleasing sketch made up of comedy and song. The Veldo Trio, novelty acrohats, introducing a small troupe of trained dogs, constituted a pleas- lug feature of the bill. West and Benton, singers and dancers, have a well liked offering. Claude M. Roode offered a comedy wire act. Coccla and Amato. in their novelty dancing aketch. were In the good-night position and did aplendldly. Tim Cronln, who jumped direct from New York to fill this date, waa the featured one of the week, registering a bit. NOTES.—An Incipient panic waa checked by the ready wit of Manager Harris, evening of the 2. A fire broke out In the same block and the clamor of the passing fire engines inclined the audience toward a rush for the exita. Harris, fiom his point of vantage In the rear, announced that there waa no danger and Invited hia guests to file out and witness this added attraction agreeing to hold the show for them. This they did lu good order; the flames extinguished, they returned and the performance proceeded.--The Three Kiilms will appear at the Victory 9 for a two weeks' run. They will lw» the feature.— /.inn's Dancing Girla have just finished their ten weeks on the Sulllvan-Consldlne time.—Freeman Brothers, having finished the S.-C. California time, leave for Denver 11.-- Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kelly are playing the S.-C. houses in Southern California.—Guy Smith, who was for years mana- ger of the Novelty. Oakland, has resigned and will withdraw from the theatrical field entirely. Tony Lubelskl has taken pcrsmal charge of his Oakland house. BOSTON By ERNEST L. WAITT. VARIETY Office, 278A Tremont street. ORPHEUM (S. A. Mowry. mgr.).—Many patrons confirm the writer's opinion that this week's bill Is about the best of the season. Benjamin Cbapin heads It with his Lincoln sketch. "At the White House." a splendid act that gets a good firm grip on people's heart strings and holda their Interest until the finish. It Is greatly changed and bettered from last sea- son. Frank Bush has some new stories, but he Is the same old Rush. Mine. Adelaide Herrmann Is a near-headllner, her "Mystic Cross" being a new trick here. The Four Lukens do a lively acrobatic act, full of good turus. "Jessie, Jack and Jerry" is a bright sketch played by Bradlee Martin and Company, ami is full of laughs. It is acted capitally, and makes good with every- hody. The Empire Quartet got a great recep- tions, many .encores and good applause for each song. They sing better this year than ever before. Ray Cox, the girl from Dixie, made a personal hit. but she aays at every point she made the orchestra leader coughed. He has the "Grippe." The Kronemann Brothers are good comedy acrobats, while Brown ami Nevarro do some really great Impersonations. Business fair. KEITH'S (H. D. Dupee, mgr.).—The Musical Shlrleys open the bill. They are fairly good In- strumentalists. Max York and bis fox terriers have a new act. The animals are very well trained, and the audiences like them. Jack Gard- ner haa an oldish monologue, but some new- parodies that go well, while Sa-Hera does the same old mind-rending stunt that always makes a big audience wonder how. Hawthorne and Burt ("And I Laughed") have the same old act that never gets stale, and some new stories, getting great applause. How that comedian can dance! McKenzle, Shannon and Company return with "A Shine Flirtation," In which the singing is mighty good und the whole act cleverly done. Paul Iji Croix, with the hats, fairly wrings gasps of surprise and delight out of the people. He made good thla week. He has some new tricks, too. Hilda Spong and her company In "Kit" present a breezy aketch, well acted and staged. It has perhaps a little too much monologue at first, bat swings Into rapid action. Marie Lloyd, retained for another week, is the big feature. She made no changes in her act from last week, and got receptions equally big. The Zln- gari Operatic Troupe scored a apeclal triumph. Rice and Prevost and "Bumpty Bumps" follow Marie Lloyd to big applause. De Velda and Zelda, equilibrists; Alexis snd Schall, clever con tortlonlsta, and Chefalo and Capretta complete the bill. Business very good. TREMONT (J. B. Schoeffel, mgr.).—Three headllnera and a bully good bill, In which each act aroused great applause, failed to attract very large houses this week, business dropping off quite materially. It waa one of the best bills of the season. Mile. Montl-Baldlnl and a very fine company, excepting for two supers who had not yet learned their cues, got a number of cur- tain calls and pleased everybody with their re- markable singing in the condensed version of "Carmen." Mile. Llane D'Eve appeared thla week and made good instantly. Her dressing room feature la a decided novelty. Her costume changes are unusually attractive, and she re- minds one much, in voice and manner, of Yvette Gullbert. But the number that got the most, the heartiest and the most spontaneous applause waa the act of the Yuillan Family, eight aero bats that deserve high place on any bill. Their stunts are remarkable In many ways, the act ia cleanly done and the artists are attractive per- sonally. Clifton* Crawford and May Belfort re- turn after but a few weeks' absence with their same acts to equally good applause. Zobodle. equilibrist, opens the bill In good form, and Carroll and Cooke follow bim. The singer might, perhaps, improve hla "Bohemia" song by striking a faster tempo. It seems to be a little alow for vaudeville, but he sings It well. The act ia full of laughs. Charles Baron has a novelty In bis burlesque menagerie, a big feature of which is the cat race. It Is a great finale. The Walthour Troupe of cyclists close the bill with a well arranged and strong act. HOWARD (Jay Hunt, mgr.).—Charmion la back at her old stand, and big houses greeted her this week. Dave Marlon's "Dreamlands" form the main show, with Harry Fox and Dave Marlon at their head. Thla show haa ginger In It and is well liked. The Earl Sisters head the olio with good songs and some new steps. The Liberty Quartet, the Three Hanlons. Dave Marlon and Harry Fox, with Dora Pelletler, complete It. In the Howard's own show are also Ben Morae, "prince of tramps"; Jeff and La Verne Healey In a bright aketch; Belford Brothers, "talk hurl- era" ; Rose Busch. singer; Stone and Windsor, comedians, and Butler and Lamar, eccentrics. Business good. PALACE.—Hyde's Comedlana and "The Blue Ribbon Girls" hold the fort here, putting up a really good ahow, full of sparkle and fun. "The Broken Brokers" la the vehicle. In the olio are Lawrence Crane and Company In an illusion act; Nlemeyer and Odell, blackface comedians; Violet Holmes snd her eight dancing girls; Crawford and Blodgett In a anappy skit; the Weston Sis- ters and Rlchy W. Craig, musical comedian. Dunkhnrst and English Jack O'Brien In wrestling matchea are an added attraction that takes well. In the Palace's own olio are the Demonella Trio, acrobatic comedy; Ted and Clara Steele, a little of everything; HI Tom Ijong. blackface come- dian; Bates and Ernest, good German comedians; A. B. Tenney. comedy juggling. Business good. LYCEUM (Geo. R. Rachellor. mgr.).—Weber & Rush's "Parisian Widows," greatly Improved since the show last played this house, drew good business this week. Fields and Wooley have a good olio position, followed by the Latoy Rrothers. Rowland and Dugan. Jeanne Brooks and Darling and Reynolds. Art studies are a feature of the olio, and the girls really are stunners. COLUMBIA (H. N. Farren. mgr.).-Sam Rice has a mighty good show In his "Merry Maidens" this year, one of the best that has played here so far. It la clean, snappy, full of good looking girls, and the costumes are good. Patti Carney. Lulu Reeson and Myrtle Dale head the female bunch', and are good leaders. Lewis and Thomp son in a singing comedy act open the olio; Miss Carney alngs and "Some Quartet" does a funny skit that la clever. Tralnor and Dale have a good act In which Miss Dale's piano playing is a big feature. Lulu Beeson's dancing should land her. AUSTIN ft STONE'S MUSEUM (Stone ft Shaw, ingrs.).—The two biggest oxen In the world are headlined here, with D'Audln and Fritz. In swal- lowing feats. John Riley, the O. A. R. Fiddler. Chief Tevl'a African village, the Dexters In sec- ond sight, and Musical Hurley and his one man band are other curio hall exhibits. In the theatre are Ed and Bertha Kelley. Wall and Robinson. Kitty Hoffman and the Meadows Comedy Com- pany In "The Wax Statue." Business big. the admissions having pasaed the million mark since February. NOTE.- Robert O. Larson, one of the most popular and most efficient newspaper men In Bos- ton, will be promoted to general press agent of the three Keith houses—Keith's Boston and Orpheum here—now that Carl Lothrop Is to locate permanently In New York. Mr. Lothrop has been doing the books for the houses here and the Sunday concerts. He knows exactly what people here want In vaudeville, and Is one of the most astute theatrical men that ever gradu- ated from Boston. GlilGAGO By FRANK WIE8BERO. VARIETY'S Chicago Office. Chicago Opera House Block, (Phone Main 4.180). MAJESTIC (Lyman B. Glover, manager for Kohl ft Castle. Monday rehearsal 91.—A well- balanced list of celebrities Is provided at the Monroe street house. The artistic characterlza Hon* of Edwin Stevens In "An Evening with Dickens" are worthy of the highest commenda tlon. Kelly and Violette, "The Fashion Plate." have about the same offering as seen on previous occasions, only that they dress more extrava- gantly. Mosher, Houghton and Mosher, recently at the Auditorium, repeated their trick cycle act. The Farrell Taylor Trio have added little