Variety (Sep 1930)

\^;edBesday, geplembey 24, 1930 VARIETY 49 New Acts CUFF EDWARDS (UkuleU Ike) Songs and Talk 1« Mint.: .Om^ Capitol, New Vork - It's a long throwback to Keeean and Edwarfla and 10 years ago when ♦h^team caroe from Chicago for the Zl^teld Boof ^Itn the billing ^jlzf Afl la" and "Ukulele Ike." Latter was then doing Instrumental imltaUons, but he used the uke and the falsetto shouting he continued t6 use and still does iiv his pic- tures. Edwards now Is a stage name for Btage-playlng picture theatres where • the picture audiences know him from his films aqd others from his phonograph disks. Edwards on the reaords a few years ago started a new vogue 'in jazz singing but no one among' many Imitators has caught up to him.. At the: Capitol he's both x>n the stage and in the picture, Metro's "Dough Boys," In the latter featured under the star, Buster Keaton. He's out in front of the traveler before the finale of the stage unit in 16 minutes of songs and talk, mostly songs, through' a microphone. He could have done without the mike here. Three songs with a gag be- tween and another vocal as an en- core. Results of absence from the stage showed when Edwards muffed one gag by spilling the answer before the finish. He admitted the boner and'told another gag to cover up. Edwards is one of the new bunch of talker players who can switch to the stage and entertain, because they've been there before. Bige. BENNY, DAVIS and Co. (9) Specialties 34 Mini.; Three Palace (St V.) The new Benny Davis turn is, like his last one, founded on the dlways sure-fire "discovery" idea. "Always sure-fire" applies to the type only when handled by an actor who is also a showman. Benny Davis Is t'oth. ^ . There are two numbers, both dances by boys, that surprised even the Palace audience, an ^udience ' accustomed most every week to some hew "find." Boys are Buddy Ebson, who dances with a girl, and a younger kid named Hal lieroy. Ebson scored first because he was on first. He does a lowdown so low and far down that it touches the bottom. Leroy, announced as 17 and looking no more, does a loose dance from the knees down, with a long pair of legs and feet to match. Girls are Kathleen Howard, buck dancer and youngest of the bunch; Marguerite Howard, red-haired so- prano, with style and a form, and Vilma Ebson, who dances with the Ebson boy. Latter Is his feminine counterpart in the dance end and a looker for a dancer. Little Jack Heller, the left-handed uke player and miniature ballad singer, is Davis's holdover from the other act, and Heller stops,the show, here as he did there. Entrance of Mrs. Davis (Dorothy Gompert) In street clothes for a song and dance toward the finish was made to look Impromptu, and seemingly was. She did finely, dropping a diamond bracelet en route. No cinch for the missus to follow all those kids. Davis keeps It going with his coaching and chatter, and winds it up with his own string of songs, . sounding like the list of all the song hits ever written. Male piano team Is the back ground In the "three" set. The act should not be permitted to slip away. It can play anywhere and do as well as at the Palace. Bige. MILTON DOUGLAS & CO. (3) Comedy 13 Mine.; One Jefferson Douglas has discarded the band he formerly worked with and he new uses crossfire with his stooge. Two girls are brought on the stage but for a minute. Just for a brief bit' of comedy. Later the girls Join Harry Webb's act, as also does Douglas himself, combination being wsed as an afterpiece. This act is a cinch to get over. It is full of surefire g^s. Douglas at opening attempts lo sing when the stooge, In a box, interrupts Prom then on its a continuous ex- change of gags all funny. Wlrtds up with Douglas warbling "Little White Lies" and doing a bit of dancing. WELLS, MORDECAI and TAYLOR Dancing II Mins.; One Mth St. Colored trio. Singing at opening ■No voices to speak of and unneces- sary once the boys g'o into their Btuft, which Is individual and team hoofing. Routines danced with aplomb and dash. And as each boy goes Into mod ern tapping, the results are certain A good, fast turn of Its type. This trio has been with a col orod band and showed sufllclent strength to set out on their own. /^ney command booking attention on genei-al dancliig ability. Mark. STANLEY TWINS (4) Dancing 16' -Mine; One and Full 86th St. Two girls, assisted by Atlas and LaMar, male hoofers, and two un- billed girls at the baby grands, have a well staged dancing act that starts oft slowly, but gains speed quickly and holds it to the end. Opening has the girls posing In the windows of a fashion shop. After some talk and singing, the boys walk on for a 4ance.- Steps offered by the hoofing quartet show 4;hat they are making some attempt to get away from the beaten track. The Stanleys make a nice appear- ance, wear clothes- well apd show plenty of ability with high kicks and acrobatics done in unison. Boys fill in with a variety ^of legmanla neatly executed, while one of the girls at the piano solo pop num- bers for good results. Act can fill the deuce hole on any of the neighborhood vaude pro- gramd. Joseph GRIFFIN (2) Songs, Piano 12 Mine.; Full (Special) 86th St. (V-P) Irish tenor, accompanied by a twin baby grand accompanied by two lookers, one blond, other brunet. It's a class act but needs finish, for, real big spot. Middle of bill here for fair applause. Forced encore an error, and more so when Griffin pulls wrong type song and goes three minutes on it alone without girl background. Griffin not new. Formerly worked with single malie accompanist. Good voice, swell for crooning ^aod fal- setto. That semi-ballaa stuff doesn't work as well as the croon- ing would. "Chloe," sung early in turn, Is best'number. Just using the girls for atmos- phere Is all wrong, especially since one or the other is turned back to the audience owing to angle at which pianos are placed in full stage, with hangings and open cen- ter. The girls do a double piano solo that's about 30 seconds too long, bringing cuatomer-ennul. Girls are listed as Misses Riat and John- son. One looks like one of the Paige Sisters, who formerly did har- mony act In night club and came from a unit. They ought to do it here to bring contrast. Griffin might also stand closer to gtrls when per- forming, for same reason. George McCLENNON Comedy, Dances, instrumental 17 Mins.; One 86th St. Not new to vaude, this colored boy has class but lacks atmosphere. That way he's half-way between what he could be and what he actu- ally shows. McClennon formerly led a Jazz crew that did well. Here he is alone working in comedy tramp eveniffg outfit and derby plus- white gloves. Beginning with -a. lazy recitation song, he works in and out of spot- light until he goes into a clarinet solo after dancing. The instrumen- tation Is weak and along colored style, "hot" version of "Sweet and Low." Wlndup is a tap eccentric dance that finishes on the floor, business of dancer being all in. Where McClennon affects the lazy attitude he's not lazy enough, and when he attempts speed It Isn't fast enough. Chatter material doesn't matter, muggery pulls over it Spotted No. 2 on five-act bill, re- ception better during the middle biz than at closing. Jimmy ALLARD and Co. (3) "Journey's End" (Comedy) 16 Mins.; Full Stage 68th St. One thing about Jimmy Allard Is that he keeps trying. His new skit is credited aa the work of Billy House. On a" general summarization Allard's presentment Is farcical, rather light and frothy and mildly entertaining. Sort of a hodge-podge In which Allard breezes In and out as props oh a picture set A little theme with the leading woman In love with the director and also accept- ing gaga advances from an old man who later turns out to be an R-K-O agent in disguise. That's new for vaude anyway. A few specialties space Allard s droll remarks, with one of the wom- en doing a pretty nifty bit of tap- ping while Allard sings. As a laugh getter it serves Its purpose, but still too light to be tagged as outstanding. Uark. Harry WEBB'S Entertainers (5) Comedy, Band, Songs, Dances 15 Mine.; Full Jefferson , ^ . , Where Webb formerly had ms own band, he is now using an aug- mented orchestira. Milton Douglas, who does his own act preceding this, has also Joined Webb's act and puts over good laughs. Its fast moving, consisting mainly of com edy dished out by Webb and Doug las. with the latter foiling for Webb. I Webb Is garbed In a huge loose- STATE Five act show with only two com- edy items spotted mid-way of the running' doesn't sound as well as this layout plays. Business Satur- day afternoon of fine weather was close to capacity, attributable prob- ably to "Romance" (M-G-M) with Greta Garbo on screen. Specialty list starts with Large and Morgner, two one-legged acro- bats with a smooth specialty. En- ter with both men, arms locked about each other and their single le(;gednes8 concealed under a long opera cape. Their arm grip makes ir, possible for them to walk nat- urally, making the figure look like a two-headed man. Neat business of lighting cigaret and taking oft gloves. They go to full stage for some remarkable hand-to-hand work in flawless acrobatic form. Finish with the top mounter In a running Jump Into hand-to-hand stand, supported by partner lying' on his back. Tom Fulmer, straight singing sin- gle with male piano accompanist, a quiet No. 2, where strong comedy would have been better. Fulmer has likable personality and does as well as any of the straight war- blers. Sid Marlon and Co., third, had the first shot at comedy and made the best use of it. Works with a girl who foils for amusing cross- fire and also does a song number nicely in a brilliant soprano. Punch is the comic eccentricities of Mar- ion who has an admirable set of laugh tricks. Expertly built up 16 minutes of specialty. Al K. Hall and Co. have expanded the old turn to 20 minutes of well varied entertainment. Hall's fa- miliar style of clowning is the foun- dation. Helped by Alfred Hall, Jr., snappy stepping kid and a dandy feeder for the Senior. Other people are Fred Dale, Babe Carew and Alin Helmnie. Fobter's Xylophonettes made a capital closing number. Novelty opening has the 12 girls and a man together on that many xylophones, for a smashing musical sound en- semble. They close In "one" for solo song and dance specialties by a nip of a little tap stepper and a taller gfrl who does some sightly dance bits with two plumed fans, mostly legmanla. Twelve girls In scantles, black and white, are on for a nice bit of precision stepping and then Into the rousing finish with the girls back at their xylo- phones, dancing as they play and the two girl specialty steppers out in front for whirlwind bits. Act attractively dressed and notable in that It combines the effect of a flash while still featuring a clean-cut spe- cialty layout for the chorus line. Rush. HIPPODROME, N. Y. Sound broke three times during the second show Saturday, change day. Once, might be accident. But three time^ proves sotnething wrong on the top end. Minus this, show fair and biz usual. Quantity angle to perto'rmance is exploitation value. Considering every angle of com- petition In the Times Square dis- trict that four hours Is still too long for one stretch of .entertain- ment. Two reasons: features can't always be depended on and any house using eight acts has to go second choice on vaude turns on the combo attitude. None of the acts carried new faces to mention, although Anger and Fair have what could be cited as new scenery. Plays in "one" in- stead of full flash. Opener, Bob and Lucy Gillette, Juggling comedy turn, well known. Closing was "Land of Clowns" in full stage. Flash danc- Ing act with two meil in grotesque makeup against a special drop. Only one act took an encore but still could have gone without. That was Joseph Griffin, tenor. Only act that might be considered new with Griffin taking too much spot against two girl pianists who accompany him in three numbers. Encore be- ginning to take on like actual act routine in "one" with girl off. If the two girls with him can sing they ought to be given a chance in harmony for contrast. Mellno and Davis next to closing seem to have come along with their blue chatter and ancient gags. Couple still depending on makeup for laughs and quite unconsciously getting them. Included some Jug- gling and dancing. Buster and Shaver and "Tiny Town Revue," on the annunciator called "review," third for a good showing. Nifty pair of steppers, Frank and Forman, but nothing original In No. 2 against a drop and In brown Etons. Break in sound came twice dur- ing the "A Peep in the Deep" (Radio) with Clark and McCulIough and in same spot during the double showing of this short. Third break was in feature. Orchestra overture of five minutes plus waits gave show a running time of 248 min- utes. Feature, 76. Vaude took-98. Eight minutes of trailer. Program heavy on film end. JEFFERSON Well routined bill for first half and a sellout Monday night Seven acts, with comedy and dancing dominating, and "Outside the Law" (U) on screen. "Motoring Meteors," originally carded for opener, had to cancel because of inability to get their stuff up in time for opening Satur- day. McDonald and Paradise, mixed team, substituted with a good hoof- ing act, garnished by comedy chat- ter and songs. A flirtation bit with man as copper and girl as nurse- maid brings them on, with both going into evening dress, the girl In abbreviated togs for the ensuing routines, mostly buck and tap. Bobble Carbone, wop comic, en- livened proceedings In the deuce, assisted by woman and youngster, who Carbone introduced as hla kid brother. Carbone grabs laughs with his awkward stage hand gab for come on. The kid plants a good dance specialty, with the trio Join- ing for additional clowning and songs for wind up. Over big here. Teoman and Lizzie followed and clicked with a new setup of the for- mer "Assassinated Press" act, with Teoman now spotted in a govern- ment radio information bureau and working the wireless phones for his gags and,^wise-cracks as formerly Yeoman's topical chatter and wise- cracks got over in swell shape, keep- ing them laughing throughout with a vocal by unbilled girl introduced half way down, and more yells when Lizzie, the slumbering stenog, wakes up to call it a day at tag. Al Belasco proved an asset to the comedy, assisted by an unbilled stooge from stage and box. Belasco's Jolson Impresh with the stooge play- ing chorus of "Sonny Boy" off stage with Belasco mugging and feigning warbling rolled them with the fol- low-up flght travesty also going over. A sax solo and songs spaced the comedy and were planted in a manner that helped to-send Belasco away to plenty of palm whack- ing. Billy Champ and Co. got plenty of laughs with a haunted house skit supported by three girls and man. Burns and Klssen copped the show in next to shut Harry Glrard's Ensemble okay closing spot. Bdba. fitting suit and plays In chalk face. Comedes all over the stage with Douglas, working for acrobatic comedy. Also engages In a bit of ventriloquial comedy with Douglas. A blond girl leads the band. Also docs some fast hoofing. Another girl sings once, while yet another femme does an Oriental contortion Meat of act lies in Webb's and Douglas's comedy. Theodore-Enrtca-Novello (6) Daneing and Song 17 Mine; Full Palace (St V.) Trio Is from the cafes, a couple of revues and vaude. In the latter Theodore and Enrlca were formerly a team before a band, without No- vello. As a tliree-act now it falls In the dance turn class, and rates pretty high therein. This is due mainly to the triple adagio finish, similar to the slipping group adagio stuff only in basic principle. First number is a splc ballroom by the two men and the girl, and a double (waltz) by Theodore and Enrlca follows. Song by an unbilled soprano who Is on too long fills the wait before the adagio finish. Miss Enrlca takes some mighty difficult swings in the air. Fifth member is a girl at the piano. Costuming in the adagio number needs Improvement. Darned tights, when so obviously darned, are an ugly picture on a well-lighted stage. Otherwise the turi> isBJiltably dressed and mounted. Bige. PALACE, NEW YORK (St. Vaude) There is Benny Davis at the Pal- ace this week, and Benny Davis, and Benny Davis with a new gang of kids (New Acts). Then there are York and King and Harry Ridiman and Marlon Sunshine and Mitchell and Durante, and Benny Davis. The Davis act was the talk of the street after the first Palace show, because of .a couple of the kids in it Heiiny had better have those kids under contract and it's only Monday nights -I>ou Clayton, who is not such a bad dancer himself,, almost fell under bis chair in Row ' 2 when the Davis kids were danc- ing and showing new things and stuff. It looks as though Davis has done a turnaround from songwrltlng after a hit list as long as Jimmy Duraote's schnozzle to a Gus Ed- wards, with It seeming Benny Is showing Gus how to do It. There is plenty of young hot stuff in the new Davis act Harry Richman Is the headliner at $6,260 and rating It for the way he worka With this Richman'a best stand. It's Rlchnian between every act after the deuce and into his own closing spot. He's all over the bill, the most obliging headliner the Pal- ace probably has ever played. Rose King is on and off almost as often, making it a community affair, everyone pitching In. There must be something new backstage at the Palace, or up in the booking office, when headllners are content to stick and work It out from start to flnlsh Instead of only laying It down In their own spot and walking. ^ This week's bill socks all the way. And biz was good Monday night York and King lit the fireworks In the trey with their "Old Family Tintypes," a kingpin among all varie- ty comedy turns. Miss King, at every catching a more glorious come- dienne. Is a lady who can stop a show in anybody's theatre. The Davis turn was a 34-mlnute clober of the first part after York and^ King, with a song and blackout by?-- Richman In between. But seven acts on the show. Ttie between-the-acts interludes stretched It out to full length and things were going along too well for the audience to count 'em. It never looked like cheating. Miss Sunshine opened the second part with her new single and okay on the merits of her aemi-comedy nilnxlcry of UIHc, Ettlng, Kane and Chevalier, as done dpuble when Tempest and Sunshine recently re- united, only . to. split In a short, while. Richman seemed taking the part of Lou Melan, Miss Sunshine's piano accompanist. In the Ulrtc bit, making It a comedy Item Instead of as usually played. The switch didn't hurt There was a peach next-to-clos- Ing smash from Mitchell and Du- rante, the hardest working team in vaude. They put on steam for the two-a-day Palace. Richman, previously on~ with everyone else, closed it up himself in an oxford gray d. b. tux after'all evening In serge. Monday night the girl of the No. 2 dancing act walked on to foil and fall for and with Richman In a rough ;adaglo bur- lesque. Nice start for the show with Bob, Bob and Bobble, the standard two- man Juggling team with a perform- ing dog as the third member. The deudng full stage dance turn, fin- ishing warmly with a tosser by the trio, was Theodore, Ehirica and Novello (New Acts). Bige. 86th ST. Five apt layout the flrst half. The two Pat Rooneys, headlining and closing, found favor, despite the bill was overboard on dancing. Hooflng turns opened and closed, the main props of an otherwise mediocre bill. Carl Freed and his orchestra, with Freed wearing oversized clothes and trying for comedy with pantomime, get away from the usual routine of band acts, fllled the next to closing spot acceptably. Freed's small group of Instrumentalists dish out pleasing Jazzapatlon, but Freed's clowning in front of his boys Just sends the act over. 3obby Pinkus, No. 3, takes 'half a dozen prattfalls, with Isabclle Dawn on the pushing end, and slaps himself on the chin continually with the back of his hand for comedy. Most of the chatter has been heard around before. Pinkus' slapstick got little in the way of apprecia- tion from the adults but clicked with the kids. His impression of a school kid reciting before an audi- ence is a corking bit, while Miss Dwan's high kick dance was her best. Walter NllsBon, unlcycllst, Is a tramp comic and on the high, low and novelty wheels, keeping up chatter, was ,in the deuce spot earning fair returns. On the screen "Outside the Law" (U). Biz at early show Saturday about three-quarters downstairs, good for tills house. Stanley Twins (New Acts) opened R-K-O UNIT (Chester, N. Y.) This latest group of four acts shapes up well for unit purposes. Good, fast entertainment, sufficient- ly diversified to please even the most exacting ticket purchaser. Good vaude all the way and m, packed house'Friday night (19). Chris Charlton, European con- jurer, pacemaker, and clicked with his trickery, Charlton works smqothly, with some accompanying talk for laughs: His magic kettle poura out varlotia drinks, which He paases out on call to the audience. The mystery element la that the small vessel should contain so much liquid of different variety. The handkerchief trick and the bathing beaut's disappearance in mid-air are enough to keep them guessing and put the conjurer over. ^ Rita Burgess Gould, with maYS^ piano accompanist, spotted a char- acter song cycle in follow up that they also went for. The character cycle Is the career of a Russian im- migrant girl, from landing to old age. Miss Gould came out of the drab stuff for a lively coon shout interpretation of "Am I Blue?" whizzed across and setting her pretty. , . Naro Lockford and Co. registered for comedy, with Lockford's'tum- bling and travesty dancing. In opener Lockford and unbilled girl contribute some corking comedy tumbling. Lockford follows with a travesty on an adagio foursome, do- ing dame and being tossed about by (Continued on Page 70)