Variety (Sep 1931)

42 VARIETY VAQDE HOaSE REVIEWS Tuesday, September 29, 1931 PALACE NANCY ROSS (1) Bortgs 10 -Mins.; One 88th St. Nancy Ross was' formerly Nancy Itocker, She Is stilr doing a single of songs with a male pianist (un- billed). Miss Ross retains the freshness of young girlhood while adding to her stage experience. This. Is a valuable combination. Epedally today when bookers are supercritical and believe a woman around the stage over two years Is old. This may be the reason of the change of name from Decker to Ross. Still, the vaude . initiate who knows his talent, would know Miss Dec|i,er through the Ross disguise. The mannerisms are Imbedded and ..pUU there. Miss Ross opened with 'Moan Tou Sinners,' a hot torch. Second was a special called 'Toiti Boy,' and last a medley around the word love. .E^ch different and well sold by . the petite . blonde songstress ■who was given excellent support byi the . pianist Oa second . her^ she left no doubts as to faer being ac- cepted'by the audience In pea'cl^y stylo. ilarl WERNER. PAGE and HENRI Musio anci Comedy 14. Mine.; Two Jefferson A trio of hoke comedy musicians, ilit the finale they get completely away from their musical start and go in- for burlesque Juggling which put them over strong for the JeS fiQdIence. Plenty of musical talent but soft pedalled in .effort to get laughs. They - use a radio - opening, with Buddy Page acting ad announcer and one of the other men In comedy makeup ' for bit with bass fiddle, The third menib^ appears as a eoncert musician. The three get iBome pleasing harmony out of the J^ikno, .TloUn and cello. The act scored roundly here and Kot away to a laughing finish. . Mark. EVA OUVOTTI Songs 11 Mins.: One RKO, L. A. Kva OllvottI has been sliiglng on the coast for some time, and of late has been a stafC artists wlth'KFI, Lios Angeles; The coloratura so- prano wore a striking costume, a long gown of blue material and orange ostrich fan: - Sang three songs and drew two encores. Miss OUybtt.l V did one .-pop tune accompanied with leg and hip move- ments. Miss OUvottl's hips should be kept dignified. Her .voice Is good, and she puts enough Are Into the operatic num- bers to make them' Interesting. She will fit in almost any type-of bllL BLUE RHYTHM BANb Sengs and Dances 30 Mms.; Full Coliseum Blue Rhythm band earned some- thing of a local rep by an engage- ment at the Cotton Club. For vaude this orchestra of 12 men Is aug- mented by Johnny Hiidgins, Alma Smith and Wells, Mordecal and Taylor. . On routine the act assumes every proportion of a vaude natural. Band is not given to too much brass. Stand out Is the piano player, Edgar Hayes, - Leader la a young ster displaying plenty, of esrotlsm and taking too much -iter granted. The specialties give the act its proper vaude stance and balance. Miss Smith Is .vivacious and did very well both with her song and strutting, Hudgtns scores with his pantomimic dancing alid eccentric skating bit while the hoofing trio also connected.. Jfork. (») 'Alan RENO and Qanig Comedy Band lis Mins.; . One and Full Jefferaon Alan Reno has landed in the ultra tioke class by usliig a comedy band -which messes up the stage like no body's business. For the finish the men stoiash chairs and destroy props- In general, Including a bass drum and a violin-and Reno emerges as the victor with all hla men sprawled around on the floor.. Reno opens alone In one..' Gives ian Impression of how an English- man would do George - M. Cohcui Meat bit of tapping here. Small value In the Coban reference, To full stage Reno goes to direct his baiid. The musicians ia.re all in nondescript rube attire and no seri- ous eCtort' at real music, intent being hHogether for comedy; AU: to the custard pie, but will ride In vaude The Frank and Milt Brltton band of similar roughouse routine is with the •Follies.* Reno, steps out for an Imitation tot Ted Liewls. It's the hoke that counts here. The Jeff audience which likes Its hoke hot, heavy find low, plainly enjoyed the num bar. <8. 8. MALARIA' (5) Revue ei Mine.; One and Full Stajle Audubon Tears ago 'vaude was chockful of nttle revues like this one where a ' pair of low comedians would per- colate In and out, making mince- meat of English. This 'Malaria' has two of the Potash and Perlmut ter types who are closing up their hlz' to take a trip to Paris. In between their talk with the passport officer and two girls are specialties by the three supporting people; mainly dancing. The finale Is on the deck of the hoat with a little flirtation scene. It's llghttrelght stuff, mildly en- tertaining. The comics B.ppear old hands yet the substance here 'was pretty thin material and lacking in consistent laughmaking ingredients. As framed^ it's not for the big city survey but may fit In where the budgets are low and the audi lences not so exacting.' Mark, ■— MACAIL KING Aerialist 7 Mins.; Full Stage Jefferson Diminutive aerialist recalls the late IilUlan Leltzel instantly. To follow up that impression her work In midair where she does a series of body swings suspended by her 'wrlst ('planches'). Indicates she alms to succeed the famous circus 'name.' Miss King has plenty In her fa- tor; she appears young, buoyantly BO, has a neat symmetrical figure and an animated style of working. She's attractive to look at and .gives an interesting performance. Mark, JEANNE and LINTON REVUE (9) Dance Flash 18 Mins.; Full (Special) Loew's OrpheMm For;mlxed neighborhood audiences at moderate scale combination housesi the Jeanne and Linton Re vue passes. It does no more, either wholly or on strength of individual specialties. Only one singleton, an- acrobatlc dance, approaches a higher standard. Jeanne and ■ Linton, heading act, appear three times. Their first Is a waltz that falls to impress and in which the man Is very stagey. Number with the girl demonstrating her contortion, man working over her in a dance as one w^uld over an Inanimate doll, bending and twisting her. Is novel in that the girl shows plenty of flexibility. Six girls do group numbers, ranging from romantic ballets to toy doll routines, while the specialty dancer carries flgures mainly in acrobatic type solo work. In no way does act deliver as big.. It's fairly nicely mounted, -with some money having been spent in that direction, but at 18 minutes Is too long. Dld-mildly up here. Char. With Eat* Smith In her 10th week and two other acta holding over for' the second chapter, the layout doesn't look especially fresh. Regardless of which It plajrs like a house aflre and might go Into an- other run on merit, did not pertain minor difficulties Interpfere. Element thint puts this one over is the. strong comedy values sup-, plied by RIchy Craig, Jr„ working with E. G. Robinson, and playing his first vaude week (not counting picture .house assignments) as master of ceremonies. Two distinguishing points In the show are the neW style m. c.'lng of Craig and the astonishing adapt- ability to the two-a-day technlciue of Robinson; Of the two the Rob- inson angle Is probably the more striking. The. tough guy from Hollywood, it is to be remembered, comes to vaudeville on the crest of a wave of fan' popularity. His backgtound, except for a short time In pictures, 'Is strictly legit. Tradltlonallyi he ought to be up- stage and' haughtily aloof In the vaudeville environment. Instead of that, he snaps into the happy-go- lucky spirit of the. Palace and roughs it .up for; ai great comedy scene with the rest of-the rough and tumble boys and girls. It never liappehed before and maybe the Pulitzer award commltteo ought to be told about It.' Craig brings a new twist to the moribund m. c. Institution and may give It a brief new lease of lite. Here la a free hand comedian with ah Insidious slant of wit, entirely legitimate and full of etCectlve sur- prise. He achieves his points with- out ribbing lip the other turns on the bill and never once wins a laugh at another performer's ex- pense. Most of all, he Is never smart also and,, unique among comic stage toastmasters, he recog- nizes the 'value of himself playing personalities. Their mistake Is In riot bringing the lad oh during the first 10 minutes. They landed lightly here and had to force the encore to bring the little brother on. The brother' has a nice .boy so- prano voice. The trick of using kids Is being worn down a little this year. It has been done and done. However, It puts this act over. Baii, FRED SANBORN (2) Comedy 15 Mins.; One Hippodrome Fred Sanborn used to be the boy with Ted Healy and later with Jack Mcliallen. He went out on his own and hELS built up a comedy act in the modem dizzy mode that is aces. He is assisted by a straight- man and girl, both unbilled. His wife also comes out of the audience for a gag and retires to her seat again. . The act is hoke. Sanborn never speaks, but yanks deep tummy yells from the audience with ease. He plays, a xylophone better than most performers who just do that, and nothing more. . He has planted all sorts of laughs around the Instru- ment, including the niarshmaUow gag and the banana bit. Welcome in his own-right as a comedian. Earh CARITA (2) Songs 12 Mine.; One Loew's Orpheum Carita has everything to make her a vaude success but manner-: Isms. Toung lady Is tall, dark and a looker. Wears clothes like a model and her voice is a clear so- prano with plenty of ranges Con- trol evety minute, but to'the -vaude audience the faces she makes and overemphasis ot;gestures Is a giggle signal. Songstress has a nice routine of .various types of tunes, and If not for the grimaces would have landed with them. Looks like a legit mu- sical. bet it properly coached. Is assisted by ah unbilled girl planlste. Earl. PELLE and COLE Acrobatic 7 Mins.; Full Loew's Orpheum Two man acrobatic team, doing- a routine that was well worn In the past but is almost a'' novelty today. Act opened here and was^ a. decided sock. Pelle reminds of the half of the former Davis and Pelle aero duo. Boys work slowly and neatly; Tricks connect through eftortless handling by the understander. A one-arm lift from a prone position is .a pip. Mu- sical accompaniment nicely selected and aids in this dizzy age of face slapping acrobats. Karl. THREE RYANS (1) Songs IS Mins.; One Hippodrome Two boys and a girl with, a sfhall piano, doing harmony songs of pop variety, constitute the flrst-10 min- utes of this act. The last, five min- utes Is taken iip with a tiny lad In- troduced as their little brother. He sings three solo pops for the punch of the act. The Three Ryans them- selves sing nicely and have pleasing Betty and Tommy WONDER Songs and Dances 13 Mine.; One Jefferson Betty and Tommy. Wonder devote most of their turn to old timey routines. A song or two as though practiced In a musio house and some mechanical gestures and manner- Isms make up most of the mate- rial. The boy and girl, brother and sis- ter, sing a little and dance a little. At this performance the iact was close to a end when Tommy did a dance with a femme dummy at- tached to his .feet that put them out of danger. The old device made them unquestioned hit at this house. . It was the boy's travesty waltz that turned the trick. They need something to go with It. Mark. BERT MATHEWS c6. (2) Comedy Novelty ' ■■ 12 Mine., Two (Special) Loew's Orpheum Too talky and lacks comedy punches outside of ofC-coIor gags, As It stands now act Is Just an'op- portunity for an old man to bring out a performing; dog and to give Mathews' a chance to limber legs through an eccentric dance. ' No one billed but Mathews. Sup port holds a personable girl who sings and dances besides, aiding and abetting Mathews In putting over the drowsy conversation. Not good vaude in. Its present shai>e. Earl. CARNEY and SEVILLE Songs, Comedy • 15 Mins.; Two RKO, L. A. Mediocre pair who could, slip by In small stands. Jack Carney, comic, hasn't any material, the few gags he tried hardly bringing a snicker. Girl's singing Just fair, but could get over if her partner shows some life. Carney comes on as a stooge froni the orchestra, interrupting the girl's singing. Act should be cut to 10 minutes. the . part of the comic goat, a touch of shrewdness that few other m. c.'s have so for recognized. 'Whatever the future ha? In store for Craig, he can always go back to this week at the 47th street cor- ner and tell 'em that he once rolled a Palace audience over with a clean blackout, and also that he'took the closing spot away-from, the acro- bats, ' filled It himself and made it the laughing :climax of a first rate comedy program, . It wouldn't be fair to tip oft here what he does or how he does It, but that finale is a gem of smart vaudeville clown- ing. ■ :- The obstacles to making a run of this bill come from the character of the two feature acts, the Robin- son number which doesn't bear too much repetition, and difficulty of making a continuous feature of the Dorothy - Stone act with her new husband, capital for an appearance on the strength of newspaper ex- ploitatlon. of her surprise wedding to Charles Collins in London, but scarcely the type of act that can! hold up next to closing Indefinitely. The current bill has three hold- overs, Kate Smith, who presently will make It an anniversary, Craig ai>d Roblnsoii: both playing the Sec- ond chapter of a - fortnight, Craig having merely contributed his regular 16 minutes to the previous bill, minus the chairman function. ' Rest of the layout Is not remark- able, but Just solid-vaudeville spe-. cialty that would, always make satisfactory entertainment, but, ex- cept by the happy chance of blend- ing,' would: not be looked upon as especially distinguished. Here, It's the comedy dressing up It gets. Its Intimately Palace atmospheris, that makes it exceptional. Prosper and Maret, : hand to hand acrobats, open. Two men are de- void of. parade or accessories, but. score on perfection of gymnastic form. Routine of slow lifts and strength balances look slmpile, but Impress by - their seeming ease as- being quite extraordinary. Bemlce and Emily, couple of per- sonable girls who display , the last word in contortion dance feats, with such... things as slow front- overs down a filght of steps,' hand- stand, upside down splits and rows and rows of neat nlp-ups, all merged Into legmahla routines. The Palace, with its childlike love of glorified show-off, went for this Item. Two boys, Wally Crlsham and liCe Murray, round out the turn with song and mild comedy..- Norman Thomas Quintette, col- ored niuslc and dance unit, did well on their reappearance after their, return from Europe. Nicely paced turn involving quality JazZ music from piano, banjo iind drums, with genuine Negro vocal blues, comedy antics - of the drummer, and top notch stepping by two boys. 'Whole group reflect the grand time they're having so completely that you must react to the same spirit whether you want to or not. They wanted to here, Robinson was on to a surprising reception—surprising because you wouldn't mispect the supposedly Jaded Palace mob would go for gang pictures and the usual fan reaction. However, they do just that. Little Caesar held them com- pletely with the house coming to attention briskly in preparation for that epic kicking sequence from 'Smart Money' as it was projected on the screen. Flock of bends at the finish with the 'Little Ceasar' film clip and the usual speech. In passing, remember that Craig Is in and out, each time for a tell- ing point and a strictly straight formal Introduction of the turn to follow. It was promptly on the heels of the Robinson turn, for In- stance, that he sprang that memor- able clean black-out that scored an ace. ' Kate Smith closed into<-ml3s.(on, singing three songs, and fo.-. an ein- core out in 'ohe,' with incidental joshing from Craig, discovering brand new possibilities in-the ren- dering of 'St. Louis Blues.' Shaw and Lee picked up the run- ning, leaving none too soft a spot for Miss Stone with a straight dance display to follow- an after- noon of laughs. Miss Stone is no stranger to the Palace where they know their Who's Who In Show- dom, but this time she comes with a special Interest, accompanied by Charles Collins, last time only a partner, but now bridegroom under romantic circumstances. . It was a typical Palace situation, with Fred Stone and the rest of the stepping Stones all ranged in the center of 'C row and papa ris- ing In his place to make the most of the occasion, taking a load ofC the public's mind by assuring them the, new son-in-law was ,one hundred per cent. American,' whatever that lias to do with it. ■ More to the point, young Collins is ;100% dancing Juvenile and he did' the full duty as the head of the house In holding up the present act which is far from prodigal In ma- terial outside the charming pres- ence of Miss Stone and the couple's quite exceptional dancing. Craig, OS related, filled the clos- ing spot, using his girl fojl for her dance blf and a moment of chatter as preliminary to the'surprise gag that topped tho performance. HIPPODROME The Hipp has blossomed out this week with a vaude show of mid- winter caliber. The shows hero have been rather lightweight oil summer with nothing outstanding This one is good and plays ilka greased lightning. It leans strongly to comedy with four out of eight acts, going after laughs with the possible addition -of the dog act opener. TheriB are several nisw faces In the shoWi Including Fred Sanborn Three Ryans and Benny Ross (all New Acts). They bring to vaude a little of the freshness It needs. Tho show' runs exactly two houre and with the addition of 'Merely Mary Ann' .(Fox) and other screen stufL Is another Hipp bargain for show shoppers. ' Harry J. Conley and company. Including his wife, Ethel, and two men, topped. Most of Conley's ma- terial shot over their heads and I'ald in the lobby. This because Conley has some bright laughs around his red hot bucolic boy that takes a smaller house to catch. 'Wliat laughs landed, did S(t 'with a roar. Conley has the: wise cracking rube field al* most all to himself In vaiide. Dolores Farrls, with her unbilled four boys among whom can bo rec- ognized Sammy Ostrbw, Billy Duval and 'Scotty,' danced and sang her* self Into hefly applause. Miss Far* rls Is p'retty and has boundless pep<' The boys are excellent support. A turn of considerable distinction. Earl Le'Vere was a comedy bright spot. Comedian with hl»'accordion and. clgar^ assisted by a nice girl, (unbilled) foil, left no doubt about his score. Le'Vere has been around for a long time. In various ways. This present act.Is the best he lias ever done. He knows all the tricks, and backs them up wlth:,a nonchol- - ant style of comedy that can't -mlss. . Morlnoft's : Russian Canines opened. Things went a bit wrong at the first show Saturday mat and dampened results. It Is a good en-. tertalnlng act, however, and has. been seen under, more favorable conditions. The Two White Flashes closed with ft roller skating bit which they sold to an audience changing seats and walking out. Those that'looked and sat still, liked itl The neck spin while playing a violin is sensational. When the stage show started business was in the cellar. It built up before the: fourth act and at tha dose the big house was nearly fulL In passing mention must be mads about the poorly lighted-stage here. Performers look, dim at times even In what passes for a spotlight In this theatre. Barl. LOEW'S ORPHEUM ' 'Whether it's "This Modem Afio* (Metro) from, the can, the flve-act vaude show of moderate quality, the low 35c. top o;t mats or Inclement weather on Saturday,. that after* noon this uptowner was standing 'em up. The mixed neighborhood, patronage up here includes, a fair sprinkling of low-agers. From these, up to the adolescents they, seem mostly concerned over the vaude^ almost fighting for seats as far down front as fIndable; The Loew scale Is 16c below that of the opposition, RKO's 86th Street, which gets 60c For kids, Orpheum takes 26c for any part of the houser ' It's, an old house (once the York- - vllle), nowhere comparing with the more modern 86th Street, but its show In gauged for the nelghboir* hood' attendance sought after. Five- act stage bill Is diversified enough to please the low admission payees. In ho way dishing out class. It en* tertains. The Marlnelll Girls, sextet. Inau- gurated affairs on the rostrum in their fast acrobatic and gymnastic goulash. A healthy-looking, athletic bunch of young ladles, their appear*, ance is equalled only by the smooth- ness that goes Into execution of their tricks. Intermittently came mitts here and there during the act. No. 2 spot Is a trifle shalty with Harry Foster Welsh, Its aspen-like chracteristics. occurring In fore part of the routine. The imitation of a Metropolitan opera band and a trio of voices intermingled, carries him- away safely further down the line. Most all of Welsh's ImlUUons are of musical instruments, with a couple sounding like gazoos. More steam behind the voice at the t«* ginning, if it's going to carry fur* ther than lower rows, would help. The veteran comedy Juggling PPt pourrl of Jean Bedlni's is working better than when seen'recently, reg- istering its laughs more securely. Also, Nana Bedlnt, the daughter, does much better In her solo spot with a number as Chevalier might essay it. , Tho penultimate selection W Francis and Wally, hoke comedy and legger duo. It's low stuff oU the way through excepting the gin a creditable tap In male Impersonnto^i. awallow-talls, but it hits the ribs with surety. Particularly loughy are the comedy dances of the man, once as a Spanish senor, and the k"OCK- aliout wrestling stuff between tne two. Brought resonably good re- turns'at Saturday's mat. At the end of the march Jeanne and Linton Revue (New Acts, a medium-grade flash that tarries top long. ^ho''-