Variety (March 1908)

16 VARIETY ■■.-' .K. . , NEW ACTS NEXT WEEK bitial Pretentation, Fitit Appearanoe or Reappearance in. Hew York City. . Zelie de Lusaan, Fifth Avenue. Apollo Quartet, Pastor's. Fermier and Marion, Pastor's. William H. Chate and Company, Fias- tor's. '■'■ Jane Whitbeck, Novelty, Brooklyn. William Rock and Maude Fulton. Songs and Dances. •7 Mins.; Open Full Stage (6), Full Stage (ai). ■■^-■''■-■:H/r Colonial. Unmistakably the hit of the Colonial show this week, the pair make good on their merits and without the glamor of their Broadway musical comedy successes. They are a very busy pair of young peo- ple, potting over four songs with a like number of widely different dances and costume changes, not to speak of three or four amusing feats by way of encores. The Boy Who Stuttered and the Girl Who Lisped" was as neat a number as the title suggests, and started them off splen- didly. Three other numbers, "When Rip Van Winkle Strikes the Great White Way," from "The Orchid"; "Gee! I Wish I Was a Lady" and "The Lady or the Ship," from "Funabashi," served to clinch their popularity. The capital dances, with Rock in evening clothes and Miss Fulton in a wondrous frock of black and white, a ▼ery quick change, by the way, did the rest. Rock has some new eccentric steps that are worth watching, and their bur- lesque of the "Merry Widow" waltz was the best produced by the present epidemic. Ruth, Jack Hazard. Monologue. 13 Mins.; One. xa5th Street. Jack Hazard is not new to vaudeville. This is a reappearance after a long ab- sence. The comedian works in conven- tional evening clothes. He tells a number of dialect stories, mostly of a recent vin- tage. His dialects are all extremely good, his darky stories being especially well told and entertaining. His story of the German calling up the garage and explain- ing what he thought was the matter with his automobile tickled the Harlemites im- mensely. Mr. Hazard did very well in a frominent position on Tuesday night. Dath. Bailey and Girard. Acrobatics. II Mins.; Full Stage. Piaator's. Cliff Bailey might drop all attempts at talking until he can make himself heard more than two rows back. It would prob- ably be well to stick to the silent method at all times. Barrel jumping by Mr. Bailey forms the mainstay of the act, al- though Jennie Girard contributes several •ongs in a shrill soprano. The usual routine of barrel jumping tricks are shown without anything new. The pair make a good appearance, although it would prob- ably do as well were Mr. Bailey to work "straight" rather than in Chinese makeup. The act is a long way ahead of the usual opening acts at Pastor's. Dath. [ NEW ACTS or THE WEEK ) Billy Court. ''Impersonations of Harry Lauder*' (Not BiUed). ..^^^^^ 21 liina.; One. ':.'■■■:;;;/"::'";■■'• Pastor'a. ■:'•■>■•■ v-- ■] Billy Court has picked out what to his mind is the best of Harry Lauder's ma- terial and is making his local vaudeville debut with it at Pastor's this week. Mr. Court gave his present offering, or part of it, in "The Gay White Way" as an imi- tation of Harry Lauder. In his present offering no mention is made of the Scotch comedian. Just why anyone is permitted to take Mr. Lauder's material, use as much or as little of it as desired without the faintest sound of "pirate" being heard is hard to fathom. If Mr. Court were to tell the story about the chicken crossing the road there would be an immediate cry of "stop thief" from forty different sources. The dressing also has not been overlooked and is copied to its minutest detail. For the opening song Mr. Court selected "My Bonnie Daisy," rendering it with the accompanying monologue without change. The Scotch dialect does not suf- fer in the hands of Mr. Court. At times he is very close to the original, but for the most part his voice, an excellent singing one, is not heavy enough to warrant a good imitation. It is in the second song, •The Softest of the Family," that Court springs a surprise. It is a difficult bit, and the singer made away with it beauti- fully. It was surprising how well the Pastor audience took to the number. They do not as a rule take kindly to things as high or as quiet nor had many seen the original in all probability. The last num- - her is the poorest and should be replaced. "I Love a Lassie" would be more suitable if the change must also come from Mr. Lauder's repertoire. The wig worn in the second number should be improved. With rearran^ng and a quantity of chopping "Billy Court 'in impersonations of Harry Lauder,'" will make most satisfactory en- tertainment in any house. Mr. Court can play a great deal of time which may safe- ly be said will never see Mr. Lauder. When Lauder does reappear here the chances are he will have an entirely new routine. With the now national fame of the Scotchman and these circumstances in mind there is no reason why anyone should not travel as his imitator if he can uphold himself in the midst of those who know not Lauder in person, but no one should attempt to present, himself without acknowledgment of the founda- tion given him by the other. It is an in- justice to the public, which is entitled to obtain a gleam of Lauder in this way, and an imposition as well to which the man- agement becomes an accessory when per- mitting it. Daih. 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. With a record of having been conducted under the same management for the last half-century, Atlantic Gardens on May 8, next will celebrate its 50th anniversary in an impressive manner. William Kramer's Sons manage the re- sort. Charles Eschert, the booking man- ager and partner, has in charge the ex- tensive arrangements befitting the event. Brothers Byrne. Comedy Acrobats. "Eight BeUs." ^^ ^ ' Fifth Avenue. :■,■■•/:'■ ,,The whole first act of ''Eight Bells'* is given, with the elimination of a few minor incidents. For their entrance into vaude- ville the brothers have provided them- selves with some new dressing. The quar- tet of^show girls that made up part of the company which they recently had on the road is absent. The knockabout moves swiftly and with clockwork pre- cision and the falls were greeted with fre- quent laughs, particularly at the finish, where the ridiculous horse and trick coach were well worked for a rousing close. The specialty made a capital finish to a splendid bill. Rush. Tippel and Kliment. Musical. •; 16 Mins.; Full Stage (13); One (3). Pastor's. •- Tippel and Kliment, a comedy musical Western act, are playing their -first East- em date this week. The comedy is the weak spot. It should be either bolstered up and allowed more place in the offering or discarded. The "hat gag," which near- ly every comedy musical act playing Pas- tor's this season has used, at least could be dispensed with. The music, really the greater part of the offering, is very well handled. Both men seem to be musicians of more than average ability. One or two new selections would help materially. This is especially true at the finish. With both men good performers on the brasses, this should be their strong point. A medley of popular airs, not patriotic, could easily earn several recalls, which the present finish does not get. The act was liked at Pastor's and with attention should find good time. Daah, RUPPELTS' JUDGMENT ONE WEEK. Judgment has been rendered in the Municipal Court in the action brought by the Ruppelts, a foreig^n act, through M. Strassman, their attorney. Two weeks* salary, together with a claim for trans- portation, was denmaded through the courts. - ^^- —^ "==^ Maurice Goodman, who appeared for the United, which had assumed the suit, ad- mitted a valid claim for one week's sal- ary, with transportation, would lie ai^ainst his client, and in the decision, as rendered, this was allowed the foreigners PIECE FOR IMPERSONATOR. New Orleans, March 19. For the first time in any theatre the music of "Little Sallie Walters" was played by the Orpheum orchestra last Sat- urday after the matinee. It is a new musi- cal comedy \vritten around Willy Zimmer- man, the impersonator of composers. Mr. Zimmerman will commence his star- ring tour at Seattle, in June. He will be seen in the role of "Oswald Augerstein," the counterpart of Oscar Hammerstein. The lyrics are by Franklin Bernard, music by Max Zimmerman. "Little Sally Walters" will be produced by Alex. Pan- tages. I^ater the show will be under the direction of Nixon & Zimmerman. OBITUrtRY.-^ Indianapolis, March 19. Joseph Barrett, manager of "Pat White's Gaiety Girls," on the Western Burlesque Wheel, died here during the en- gagement of that organization. He was 42 years old, and death was due to pneu- monia. Before he became a manager Mr. Bar- rett was a well known newspaper writer in New York. At one time he was man- ager of the Folly, Chicago, and before that handled the Century, Kansas City. ' •. ' '. London, Eng., March 9. Mrs. Paul Cuaqueralli, wife of the jug- gler, died at her' liome, Mostyn Road, Brixton. Death followed an unsuccessful operation. Mrs. Cinquevalli was noted as a brilliant high school rider and ap- peared by command before the late Queen Victoria in 1885, being at that time a member of Henler's Circus in London. She retired in 1887, when she married the juggler. A 12-year-old daughter survives. Philip H. Gotthold, of Kine and Gott- hold, died March 16, after a long illness, at Asheville, N. C. Mr. Gotthold played the part of Dr. Bisenbardt in "A Med- ical Discovery." He leaves a widow; a son, P. Mortimer; a mother; two broth- ers, as well as a host of friends and rela- tives to mourn his untimely demise. The funeral was held from his late residence, 71 West 116th street. New York, Thurs- day, March 19. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery. George Smirl, father of Harry Smirl (Smirl and Kessner) died March 10 at Providence, R, I. POSED IN LOBBY. At the Colonial this week, where Cap- tain Jack Auger, who stands seven feet seven .inches in height, is playing "Jack, the Giant Killer," Manager Dave Robinson had the captain exhibit hin lankiness in tho lobby before and after each per- formance. For company the giant had Ernest Rommell, 34 inches in height and who plays with him in the sketch. VAUDEVILLE IN DEPARTMENT STORE. Baltimore, March 19. On the fourth floor of Bemheimer Bros.' new store a continuous vaudeville per- formance is given daily. Admission is 6 and 10 cents. The show commences at noon, continu- ing without cessation until 6 o'clock. Six shows are played during the after- noon. Seating capacity is 300. House packed all the time. Seven acts make up this week's program. PICTURES IN "SHEEDY'S." ' ' ' ■ ■' ■ ■ ■'■ ^^ Fall River, March 19. The Bijou, formerly "Shecdy's," in this city, has been purchased by the Bijou "Amusement Company, of New York, and will become a moving picture house. No date of opening set. M. R. Sheedy is now playing vaudeville at the Savoy, a Julius Cahn theatre. Harry Houdini is the feature of the Hammerstein bill, week March 30. He sails for Europe in July.