Variety (November 1910)

VARIETY 31 on the bill that could not be cut In running time. The "cutting" of acts down to a maximum time limit seems absolutely necessary for the speed a vaudeville show should have. The intermission was brief, but to have a vaudeville per- formance commence at 7:30 running to nearly twelve seems too much show. The question of eighteen acts is a matter besides this. The point with the Morris idea appears to simmer down to the time table and the char- acter of the turns, without too many "sketches." In a bill of this magnitude there appears no reason for the usual ar- rangement, an act in "one" or open or close in "one" to permit a setting being made. If four acts on the pres- ent week's bill followed each other in "one" it would make no particular difference, were they fast enough, keeping up with the speed of a bili that should be run for speed only. The laughing hit this week is Rice and Cohen (New Acts). Their sketch is named "The Path of the Primroses," with dancing at the finale of it. Immediately following is Qeorge Primrose and his Dancing Boys, a somewhat odd coincident. Mr. Prim- rose attested his ever faithful follow- ing and popularity. While boisterous- ly encored, he kept his act down with- in a nice time limit. Willa Holt Wakefield was loudly applauded and responded with one en- core. Miss Wakefield could have eas- ily taken more. Appearing at 8:33 with the people still "walking in" the pianiste Was somewhat ruffled. While plainly an annoyance, it did not Injure her stage worth. She sang three new numbers, "Is You?" at the opening being exceptionally well rendered. "Old Polks at Home," with a pretty arrangement, required a quiet house, which, though not receiving, got over splendidly nevertheless. Clarice Vance, another "single" woman, suffered, but from a different cause. Third after intermission, Miss Vance had to walk out on the subsid- ing tumult occasioned by the unfriend- ly attitude of the gallery to Arnold Daly in "The Van Dyck." What had been really a disturbance was Miss Vance's lot to follow. The house was not in a receptive mood, still restless from the momentary excitement. Clarice has a nicely worded philiso- phical sort ot a song about the stub- borness of a mule and a woman; also a good "coon" number in "The Funny Rag." "I Just Came Back From Paree" doesn't fit Miss Vance. The lyrics could not have been writ- ten with her in mind. "Lord, How He Can Love," opened and helped to sooth the audience. In "The Van Dyck" Mr. Daly is all wrong. He has been in and out of vaudeville often enough to know it It was dollars to doughnuts before the act had progressed eight minutes that the gallery would drive him off the stage. It almost happened. "The Van Dyck" has a point, way at the end. Before it is reached there is a great mass of single handed dialog, which Daly seemed perfectly content to tackle. Mr. Daly's voice, with its inflections if not affections, is built for short sentences. "The Van Dyck" is a continuous vocal resume of some- thing the audience finds it difficult to understand. The point is like a man going to Brooklyn for a drink on Sun- day. The result wouldn't be worth the trip. For vaudeville as it is now "The Van Dyck" is a waste of time and money. Mr. Daly first played it where it belonged, afterward Harrison Hun- ter presented the piece on the variety stage. Mr. Hunter may have handled it differently. He also might have had a qualified actor for assistance. "The Fadettes" are there. Whoever let them slip over on the "opposition" lost a good act. Disregarding the mu- sic, there are twenty young women who don't look badly at all, and that in itself, with the musical end for support, make up a first-class turn. The audience liked it greatly. Caro- line B. Nichols is still On the job, with the same dress, and perhaps the same wand. The cornetist is retained from the former collection, but all the other girls look strange. The drum- mer young woman, who is the chief centre, takes her work too lightly. As a matter of fact, in "The Strike" where she should have done consider- able, she did very little. "The Star Bout," with Taylor Gran- ville, closed the first part very well, working up the audience through the fight. The act is finely stage man- aged, even if leeway is taken in sev- eral directions. One of the best turns in the show is Maxini and Bobby (New Acts) held over from last week. An- other good one and also a holdover is Garcia, the shadowgraphist. He throws the figures on the sheet differ- ently—from in front. The play of his fingers is as interesting as his shad- ows are that, and amusing. Mr. Jolson came after The Fadettes and did a "clean up" in applause. The house certainly took to Jolson, who now has dropped "Pittsburg" for some other town, with the same "plump" before the pronunciation. Otherwise his act is improved through less talk in it. A couple of small acts opened and a couple closed. In between were sev- eral New Acts in that department. An illustrated song singer was use- less. Tuesday night he had but one song. That should have been stopped at the first verse. The song is not "dirty," but has been adapted from one of the filthiest stories told. fsime. MANHATTAN. Five acts and pictures were the Thanksgiving week vaudeville menu served at Gane's Manhattan, relished for the most part by crowded houses. The bill was made up of acrobats, singing, dancing and a comedy sketch in which Walton and Vivian caused considerable laughter. Hallet and Stack, Jennie Gerard, Richard Brothers and Bigelow and Campbell (New Acts). Mark. Truly Shattuck will return to vaude- ville as a single, opening Dec. 12 at the Manhattan O. H., placed by M. S. Bentham. CORRESPONDENCE UbJcm otherwise ■oteb\ tfct foBowfaf reports are for the cones* week. WALTER K. HILL *~ w « « *~ - ~^ ~^ VARIETY'S <•*- CHICAGO '"■SSLuS 6 " Hots! Gnat 'Pass* 4401 aas News Win Be Aeaepud at the Ghleags Offloe, fer the Carres* Iarae ef VABUBTT, Until 10 e'eleek Taarsday Hernia* MAJESTIC (Lyman B. Qlover, mgr.; agent, Orpheum Circuit).—Splendid vaudeville Is on view here this week. The bill la diversified and the show runs smoothly, without waits, and gathers strength as it advances. Daz'le (New Acta) is the feature. Monday night's audience took kindly to the entire bill, giving special volumes of applause to the Avon Com- edy Four, the Nichols Sisters, Dazle, and Jane Courtbope and Co. Although inconspicuously placed (second) the Ballots exhibited gym- nastic cleverness to applause which was con- tributed by practically everybody present at the early hour they were on the stage. Fur- ther down their merits would have brought them even greater reward. The girl does some really astonishing work, her "teeth holds" being marvels of skill and strength. The man la likewise expert, but the work of the girl overshadows his efforts and amounts to prac- tically the burden of the whole act. Areola and Co. opened with their scenic and costume musical act, ornate to behold and pleasing In points of melody. Herbert Clifton, a foreign female impersonator, was moved up from fifth to third position for the night show, having failed to Impress. Hayward and Hayward reg- istered every point in their confidential exhibit of the inside life of professionals, scoring laughs and applause for their clevernesa both as playera and inventors of stage tricks for comedy purposes. They won five curtains. The Malones danced their way into the good graces. The man is clever on his feet and 80 is the girl; but good looks count for more than stepping in her case. Jane Courthope's "Lucky Jim" proved to be a sketch of holding power and entertaining quality, played to the fineness of a hair-spring, staged realistically and altogether worthy of the numerous cur- tains which were finally Involved. The two laughing hits of the bill were the Nichols Sisters and the Avon Comedy Four. The "dusky" belles proceeded the quartet and the audience was ripe for laughter. The girls worked In the aame Joyous spirit which always characterizes their efforts and the audience met them more than half way. The Avons handed out an entirely different style of work, sent their points home with rough and tumble enthusiasm and the audience came back with roars of laughter. Following Dazle's pretty act James Thornton found himself "next to closing" and practically voJceles9. He was compelled to omit all singing and talked with an effort; but hie brains were working and his hearers were in sympathy, and the result was an old time Thorntonlan revival which must have been as pleasing to Jim as it was edify- ing and Jubilant for his hearers. Alonzo- Bracco Troupe (New Acts) closed the show. WALT. Bernardl reopens on the United time Monday at Pittsfleld, Mass., book- ed for an eastern route by the Marln- elll agency. AMERICAN (Wm. Morris, Inc., mgr. and agent).—With Count De Beaufort and his dandy dog, "Bob," making a Joint debut In vaudeville Monday afternoon, as part of a HAMMERSTEIN'S ROOF. With the departure of Yvette, who had been a big card for a fortnight, the Roof regulars heaved a sigh of regret for the bill this week suffered when compared with those on which the clever little violiniste had played. And it also suffered when stacked up against those on which she didn't play. It was the noisest show the Roof has had since it opened with "pop" vaudeville. Between the bedlam the Fritz! Haubel and Co. (New Acts), turned loose and the rattling of the stage boards by the male member of the colored team of Gordon and Keys during his chicken dancing "bit," the audience resumed normal conditions when the pictures were on the screen. Kathleen Kay looked rather nice in her stage costume and sang well. She did well between uproars. The illustrated song man Tuesday had a big night. His friends were there in a bunch and gave him a hand that must have made the regular en- tertainers behind the scenes turn sev- eral shades of green. The pictures ran well. The attend- ance is picking up on the Roof. Frederic and Venita, (New Acts). Mark. splendid vaudeville show, there were enough of the curious and Interested present to com- pletely fill the seats and boxes. The Count (New Acts) was followed by the Four Mortons, who cleaned up the applause hit of the show. Sam Morton won a bid scream when he made his entrance with a toy dog attached to a string, and sang his opening song from man- uscript in imitation of the Count. Their "bathing scene" preceded a similar drop which was used by La Belle Nello in closing the show. In that position the beautiful gym- nastic act was practically wasted as half the house was on Its feet, departing, before her song opening in "one" had been completed. Miss Nello presents an artistic act of skilful development and she would have been of vast benefit to an already excellent show had she been placed where her act could have been fully enjoyed. Richards and Montrose opened the last half with their songs, dances and acrobatics and won a splendid showing of ap- plause. Kara's skilful Juggling was the sec- ond number after recess and his deftness car- ried him along to a pronounced success. Lee Tong Foo opened the show and registered a hit with his baritone voice, costuming and hu- morous Idea of framing up his act. Plnlay and Burke In second position won favor for their routine of patter and song, and pulled down three encores on their final number. Bdouard Jose held the audience at strict attention throughout bis overly long speeches. His art was manifest with every line and his finish resulted In repeated curtain calls. Tom and Stacia Moore were a hit. To close the first half the beauties of Arvi's Illusion were dis- closed. The act Is easily the most sightly and artistic living picture formation this theatre has harbored. From end to one, save in the case of the Count, the show rated high class, building up gradually In merit and applause and ranking among the really good vaudeville bills of the local season. WALT. TREVITT (S. W. Quinn, mgr.; agent, W. V. A.).—There Is enough good and bad In the show at the Trevltt this week to give any one either Impression, but fortunately the best part follows Intermission and those who didn't give their pass-out checks to the neighborhood kiddles went home satisfied that the manage- ment didn't have any the best of the deal on the whole. Reisner and Cook, a comedy Jug- gling turn opened proceedings with a fair offering that lacks original comedy more than anything else. The comedian has the right idea, but the wrong material. If Cook would inject something original and up to date In the way of laughs the boys would fare much better. At the Trevltt they did very well. May Taylor held down second position, a poor spot for her singing specialty. Nevertheless Miss Taylor succeeded, her closing number, taken from "Jumping Jupiter," earning her a big hand. The Era Quartet (colored). fol- (Continued on Page 22.) MOORE'S RAH RAH BOYS." Moore's "Rah Rah Boys," Lorna Jackson featured, are now playing in and around Chicago, headlined at the outlying houses. They are play- ing full weeks in the split week houses and were featured at the Ju- lian week before last and at the Pres- ident the past week. The act is a rollicking musical frivolity of learn- ing days entitled "On The College Campus," and is staged with elab- orate special scenery. Miss Jackson is supported by a splendid singing and typical appearing quartet of "Rah Rah Boys," composed of Frank Ther- iac, Paul Rahn, Tom Kershaw and Harry Rahn. At the finale Miss Jackson makes a flight over the audience in an air- ship which is generally conceded to be the best effect of its kind yet pro- duced. The production was staged by Hamilton Coleman, and has been working continuously since last June, when it opened. The act is owned by M. E. Moore, and is under the direction of Norman Frledewald.