Variety (January 1911)

22 VARIETY =5 I CORRESPONDENCE Uilett otkerwiM Mtftd, tkt foOowkf reports are for tfc# curat wnL WALTER K. HILL (Wsa) Hoy Out ^^ «* ±**** * *~* ^^ VARIETY'S CHICAGO C "SS?LSI C1 4401 Hk Advertisements and News Will Be Aooepted at the Galeae* Ottos, tor the OwNit Ian* of VAHIBTT, Until 10 o'clock Thursday Moraine. MAJESTIC (Lyman B. Glover, mgr.; agent. Orpheum Circuit).—By 4:30 Monday afternoon a large audience bad seen the last of a fast moving, diversified and immensely entertaining bill; tbe best this bouse bas presented in many weeks. Rameses closed tbe show, worked speedily and beld tbe bouse almost intact wltb illusions and bits of legerdemain wblcb brought strong evidence of appreciation. Be- dinl and Gules opened tbe show, finishing their acrobats at 1:45. Two songs and an imita- tion number served to introduce Mary Ann Brown into tbe good graces of the early ar- rivals. This evidently gifted girl InBlde, wltb a turn differently developed, would be a good act. Two songs of palpable English construction precede imitations of Fay TempLeton, Vesta Victoria and Geo. M. Cohan. Her idea of Victoria was much tbe best of the three. Tbe Krags Trio displayed an act of surpassing cleverness, "teeth" holds and strength of arms being conspicuous factors. About tbe niftiest acrobatic girl of the period appears in tbe act largely as an assistant. Swer and Mack gave their droll black-face turn to much apprecia- tion and "High Life in Jail," shown for a rather early repeat, again served to bring laughs. Arthur Bowen, possessed of Just the right idea for stage cartooning, sang as he sketched and scored an emphatic hit. When warning came that Chip and Marble were on tbelr way, a new act was promised, but glory be to "lemlng pie" they (urned up in their former sketch classic, "In Old Edam." with only new songs to risk In blending, and a new scenic mounting for tbelr dainty delft diver- sion. For Miss Marble there was "The Beau- tiful Waltz" and with Chip she had a clever duet, with patter trimmings, which fits the act perfectly. Sketch and players slipped past all too quickly and six sincere curtain calls re- warded the dantlest sketch offering In vaude- ville. George McKay and John Cantwell earned one of tbe cleanest bits two men have scored here in many moons. Although a couple of the New York points were too local for best results the cleverness of the Idea was so skill- fully carried out that the skit entire scored heavily. Clarice Mayne's interlude of soug was an ocular and oral treat With the ball mark of "class" its conspicuous embellishment. Chicagoans availed themselves of their first opportunity to make this artistic girl one of tbelr very own favorites and her Bucceas vas unequivocal and abundantly deserved. In the simple elegance of white frocking and nitty bonneting she rendered four songs, three uew here, and then turned to her crinoline to round out her hit with "Longing for Someone to Love Me." Tbe assistant at tbe piano entered Into the proceedings as skillfully as he fingered the "ivories," and that's saying a whole lot. It's a safe bet that his "mirror monocle" will be taken over by tbe copyists before the novelty has reflected the calcium for a week. On the first showing of her act, Miss Mayne placed her shoe-tips at tbe Majestlc's chaik-line of favorites and Bbe bids fair to remain even wltb the most popular singers in American vaudeville for time to come. The Bison City Four cleaned up a laughing hit with brusque comedy and sang tbelr way to a sturdy encore which nearly died on their bands through a poor cholcs of material. WALT. AMERICAN (Wm. Morris, Ice, mgrs.; agent direct).—Although several big names adorn tbe Music Hall program this week very little entertainment is offered In the three long hours of show. The first real applause didn't sound until the Indicator flashed Ross and Fen ton's name away down In the Becond sec- tion. "Just Like a Woman" is the sketch. It turned out to be the real class of the bill. Johnny Ford followed and Just naturally cleaned up. Ford now has Roy Barton at the piano. and between the two tbe bouse re- ceived their money's worth. Tbe first part of tbe bill ran rather draggy. Holding down a good Bpot, Harry Brown and Co. presented what is probably supposed to be a comedy sketch. Alblnl, In his second week, only of- fered half his regular routine, having shipped the best part of his Illusions to New York. Alblnl fell behind his mark of last week, but made good, nevertheless. Al Fields working "single 7 ' scored one of the evening's hits with a monolog that was probably thrown together at a minute's notice. The old familiar red vest, light suit and opera hat were present but Fields might go In for a better routine. However, the comedian went over with flying honors though it seems he doesn't take the single thing serious. Little Alright and wife opened wltb some fairly good balancing and scored. Tbe American flag Is well worked at the close and could Just as well be eliminated. Tyler and Burton made a good Impression with their roller skates, after which Roeco Vocco, a local music plugger, put over two songs without slides. Allen and Lea, opening the second part, sang two parodies, a small hit. Provol, the whistler, was also a hit. Provol begins where his competitors stop. Josle and Willie Barrows with some songs and dances went well. "Pewltt." Interested. The Free- setters Quartet didn't show, three unan- nounced banjolsts substituting. Fields and Coco closed with some corking good strong work. Mabel Johnson, with her "dummy," scored one of the early hits. Miss Johnson could Improve her material In spots, especially the opening, but her work li excellent For an encore she gave a long-distance voice- throwing demonstration that makes a good closer. Miss Johnson can hold her own on any program. At the American she helped kill the monotony. The Four Norins closed the first section with their diving specialty. Too bad the Norins didn't reach America sooner. Their work surpasses everything in vaudeville in the diving line, although it could be presented to better advantage. WYNN. STAR AND GARTER (Wm. Beebe, mgr.)— Under one of the pioneer titles In burlesque, the "Rentx-Santley Show" of this season comes through with a modern complement of scenery, costuming and general embellishment for one of the most consistent and humorous bur- lesque books of the year. In the hands of Tom Robinson and Fred Russell, with Jimmy Connors a close runner-up, the comedy ele- ment predominates throughout both halves of the excellent vehicle. Without resort to any- thing but pure-fun methods the merriment is kept booming by the trio of leading laugh provokers; J. W. Welcks, as the straight, as- sisting In many ways to a desirable consum- mation. More than the usual number of women principals abound. There are Helen Scott, a dainty totty who, though shy on ani- mation, is long on youthrul appearance; Pearl Reid, a vivacious hard-working and altogether creditable soubret, . Morva Williams, the beauty bright of the company; Isabella Miller, who comes closely to turning her role Into a suggeston of character part, and Audrey Lang the prima donna, all ac- tively concerned, and with mutual benefit, in the unfolding plot and the development of entertainment. The only member of the lady chiefs who gets Into tights is Miss Lang, her opportunity coming with the close of the first part. Otherwise it remains for an only fairly good looking group of choristers to display "Aggers" incidental to several changes of cos- tumes which constitute sartorial adornment for most of the doxen or more numbers. In the musical section the women (save Miss Miller) do most of the leading. One of the comedians slipped into the olio for a round of parodies which pleased the gallery, but brought no response from the orchestra floor. "Off colored" material creates an unusual im- pression here for the reason that it is the managerial aim to keep "blue stuff" out of circulation; hence when five parodies out of a selection of six are, to say the least, "edgey," the gallery makes the noise while the orches- tra occupants take their medicine. Nick Long and Idalene Cotton were programed and re- hearsed Sunday morning as "strengtheners" for the, specialty section, but Miss Cotton through sudden illness, was unable to appear Sunday night The audience found poor rec- ompense in the substitution of Martha Russell and Co. in a sketch (New Acts) and the acro- batics of Carpos Bros. The athletes were by far the best outcome of the hurried search for deputies, as their work Is skillful and adroitly accomplished. WALT. FOLLY (John Fennesey, mgr.).—Miner's "Bohemians" don't stand up very well In mid- season as representative of new-departure bur- lesque; too many better shows, in all particu- lars, have preceded it and only the fact that several poorer ones have been thrown In for comparison makes tbe Miner organization rank at all with what a burlesque show really might be. Andy Gardner, the unchanging comedian, will have something on the celebrated brook in due course of time. His most ardent ad- mirers can say little more for him than the fact, which must be admitted, that he Is working hard all the time—but Andy has his limitations, and "rough stuff" seems to mark the confines of his ability. Upon the Valmore Sisters falls a goodly share of the work, a clothes changing, singing and dancing spec- ialty, tbe leading of many of tbe numbers and tbe portrayal of parts which keeps them much in evidence, constituting their contributions throughout first half and burlesque. Tbe best looking girl, In face and form, Is Carrie Young, who flits from chorus work to playing parts so frequently that her statUB Is hard to define—but her stature is an entirely more readily designated. Carrie Is there with what looks like a healthy constitution, forever a thing of Joy. In the olio, Ah-Llng-Foo Is featured for his legerdemain, makes good and butts Into the after-piece for a comic In- terlude of song. Bill Lawrence and Mark Thompson, singer* and talkers; Hugh Ber- nard and Jack Dunham, and the Valmore girls furnish the other specialties and the men also carry roles In "The Belle of tbe Board- ing School" and "Patsy In Paris," which start and finish the program. The numbers are largely introduced upon a semi-darkened stage, but when the lights are up, showing the girls and costumes for full inspection, the dark stage thing may be agreed with aa wis- dom. The "spot" enters largely Into service even to being shed UDon Hugh Bernard, made up black-face, who drags a property stump Into the center of the stage that he may sit and bask in Its glare the while he leads a number; and again in his specialty the same stump and the same "spot" serves a like purpose as Bernard pumps the fleeting breath from "Mandy." Dunham makes a couple of not very gorgeous costume changes to repre- sent the "culled lady" in question, continuing the impersonation into "one" where the act ends with some pretty forceful physical con- tortions In "The Beautiful Rag." Ida Nlcolai has too little concern lor her task albeit she is not ovsriy well supplied with roles in either piece; but she did not seem to be working, last Monday night, with her accustomed vigor. U anally Ida is as industrious as a beaver. WALT. KEDZ1E (W. B. Malcolm, mgr.; agent W. V. A.)—That cold waves have no effect upon denlsens of Kedsle entertainment was proven when this house was well filled for tbe last show on ons of last week's coldest evenings. Pictures open and close these bills, the in- troductory film being "Tne Death and Resur- rection of Lasarus." Musical Director Chas. J. Smith asserted either hie Irreverence or his thoughtlessness by offering a medley of popular airs as the photograph of biblical history was unreeled; but his heedless action was more pardonable than the effrontery of the people who posed and pictured the incident or tne bad taste of a vaudeville manager in renting such a subject for entertainment The Naxarene approached the home of Mary Magdalene to the strains ol a "coon" song, the boay of Lasarus was borne into its tomb while the brasses and drums welted out a ripping Scotch air, and the miracle, as photographed, of the actual resurrection transpired while Smith's harmon- ists played "To the End of the World With You/' This audience, usually applauding films, had the good sense to remain undemonstra- tive at the end of the graceless exhibition. Sutton and Sutton opened the show with a neat rural sketch, specially set and propertied, under the caption, "The Pumpkin Girl." Good acrobatics, excellent comeay, and several In- teresting novelties in sketch demonstrations made nice entertainment Costume changes helped, and the finish disclosed Kitty Sutton as a nifty looking and very supple contortion- ist. The Barrows-Lancaster Co., direct from the Majestic, were the feature. Walman, vio- linist, and Watson and Dryer, clever comedi- ans, provided interludes in "one," to assist tbe running routine of the show. Billy "Swede" Hall and Jennie Colburn, assisted by Horace Weston, offered "Made Good" as Hall's idea of what sketches should be. Miss Colborn impersonates a chorus girl and the scene is a hotel bedroom which for action has much on anything the good old Saranac ever, in its liveliest days, advanced. Surely a chorus girl was never so mortal beset Firstly an Oriental rug peddler enters, trys to barter his wares for real kale and when nothing else seems to be doing offers to swap a $4.50 kimona for a kiss. For this affront na is thrown out of the window by the indignant chorister. Enters next a red-uniformed bell-boy who, on re- quest tells the lady that the town went dry last election and that her order cannot be filled. Later, however, he comes across with a tea-pot filled with beer, demonstrating what every traveler knows, that the stuff can be had if life or death, or something less, de- pends, no matter how temperate the town. Thirdly comes a raw-boned and droll Swede to the room of the chorus girl, the character being probably introduced to make tbe "Swede" in Hall's billing stand up. Finally comes a rather tough sort of a customer who proves to be the chorus girl's brother, bent upon mak- ing a touch. His actions prove that he, too, Is a wobbly demonstration that "dry" towns are not always what they are touted. She is able to stand off his assault upon her bank roll, estimated (by tbe girl herself) to amount to something like two hundred ace notes, but tbe scrimmage attracts the bell-boy to settle tbe disturbance and also catch a greedy "yen-yen" for the poor girl's money. Brother and bell-boy having mutually rid the room by their conbimed efforts, of one and other, the chorus girl takes to the folding bed for a nerve-quieting cry. Through the open window, where the rug peddler had made his quick exit, climbs tbe bell-boy to burglarize tbe Bavings-of-yearB; but the chorus girl, having cried her pretty eyes red, put up a hlt-ln-the- cllncbes protest which, with her perfectly wbopplng screams, sobers up the brother in his room, four doors down the hall. Brother gets to the center of action Just In time to put the bell-boy burglar to the bad and tbe curtain falls. The encore shows the bell-boy sitting up, rubbing his head and sharing in the bows Incited by enthusiastic love of protean accomplishments. "Made Good" surely starts something and sees the excitement through to the end. But if the chorus girl heroine should ever tire, lose her voice, run out of slang or have rheumatism, the structure would fall— for she Is In constant action and evidence throughout the entire doings. WALT. KEDZIE (Wm. Malcolm, mgr.; agent, W. V. A.).—Although well equipped with singing acts tbe bill for the last half of tbe last week was so arranged that each succeeding number sur- passed its predecessor in point of quality until it reached perfection with Ernest Rackett and Clara Douglass who appeared next to last. Incldentaly this clever pair walked off with tbe honors of the show. Rackett has perfected a Btyle of work and delivery that easily distin- guished him from the conventional eccentric cemedian, while Miss Douglass, with some pretty costumes and an abundance of mag- netism, makes a charming straight Her open- ing song Is new and could be delivered differ- ently. However, after passing this point the Eair dropped Into their familiar routine and ad tbelr audience with them all the way. Rackett formerly featured his resemblance to Bob Fltzslmmons. This is unnecessary for his ability alone will carry him through without the Impersonation, If It could be called sucb. Rackett should be with a production. There be could show his work. With Miss Douglass he is presenting one of the classiest acts the smaller circuits have offered In a long time. Another pretty nifty turn at the Kedzle is the Belmontes, who opened tbe program with what can be safely called an original gymnastic act. The apparatus Is bell-shaped, which In Itself Is a novelty. The routine of work Is entirely different from that of any similar offering while the costuming Is a feature by Itself. The woman although many pounds lighter than her partner seems to have all the heavy work to do. Opening the show they landed a safe hit Coakley, Hanvey and Dunlevy are wasting their time with the present material. Both the end men are capable of using better comedy. The story of Uncle's farm and the uss of the tin horn has long since been ta- booed. The singing is excellent, Hanvey's especially. This trio can maks any family audience laugh, but the better grade of houses would hardly expect such agod material from a standard act. Ward and Burton In second position passed through the yodellng of the man. The Alpha Troupe closed with a good comedy hoop act. WYNN. WILLARD (J. G. Burch. mgr.; agent Frank Q. Doyle).—This house of consistently good billB maintained its record last week with two feature attractions—Adelaide Kelme and Co. and May Howard and Co.—during the last half. The Four Avalons, in a neat and effec- tive club Juggling turn; the Oriole Trio, sing- ers often commended and still worthy of praise, and Mazsone and Mazzone, rather ordinary singers, furnished the rest of the bill. Miss Kelm was giving the first showings of the best act she has yet presented in vaudeville in Sadie Metcalf's "The Juniper Tree," re- named "The Little Mother." When the writer saw the "try-out" of the sketch at the Dewey, New York, about a year ago, its possibilities as a strong and Impelling vaudeville Interlude were recorded. Basing her faith upon that review Miss Kelm secured the playlet and the Willard audiences, by six hearty curtain calls, endorsed her selection and showed apprecia- tion for artistic handling of a sketch strong in every fiber. The special set now carries an exterior drop for "one" to better indicate the passing time of action; but the interior of the "double house" remains, realistic aa when first seen. Miss Kelm gives a much better per- formance, for vaudeville, than did the girl who "tried it out" The wide range of emotion gives ample play to Miss Kelm's talents and she rises to the occsslon in a succession of artistic passages which better display her abil- ities than anything she has essayed outside of her strictly dramatic engagements. May How- ard returned to the stage after a long ab- sence, included in that time being an illness so serious that her life was dlspalred of. But her work in "On the Boulevard 1 ' gave no in- dication of anything but the sams charming personality, stunning appearance and vivacity which have always signalized her appearance behind tbe footlights. She was handsomely gowned, equalling her unapproached record for wearing and bearing nice clothes, and was in all particulars her old self, fully restored to stage life. Murry J. Simons and Leo Ken- dall assisted her in presenting a burlesque "bit" which served as excellent entertainment, suited to and diverting in vaudeville. Slmonds progressed only fairly In playing his part, but stirred up a riot of applause for his dance at the finish. Kendall played excellently as the Dutchman. Miss Howard intends to appear only In Chicago. If the merit of her offering and her local popularity are given considera- tion she should be kept busy for as long a time as she cares to play. WALT. HAMLIN (Hopklnson Amusement Co., mgrs.) —Headed by "Paris by Night," the bill at the West Side house proved quite up to tbe stand- ard for tbe latter half of last week. The French pantomime is being offered by a com- pany evidently picked for the family houses. Mile. Corio is featured and carries her part through well assisted by Marie Molasso, who proves to be a better spinner than dancer. The soldier who handles the comedy looks like the original. Closing a good show, "Paris by Night" held Its own. Cody and the Merritt Sisters occupied the opening spot with a sing- ing and dancing affair that will stand consid- erable Improvement. Tbe girls need an entire equipment of wardrobe and should eliminate tbe song. Their specialty Is dancing and they do this quite well. Several minutes can be safely cut out foK^the act runs too long at present. Raw son and Clare have developed their Bketch into the real flawless article. The pathos and comedy have been nicely blended, and it stands at the head of the class. Any one with a spark of sentiment In their makeup must appreciate the offering. It is entirely away from the many "kid" acts In vaudeville and belongs on the big time, where It will un- doubtedly make good. Walter Law & Co. pre- sented "At the Threshold," a strong dramatic affair well put over. With a choice position and a good house Law scored a big hit Will Hart, working in blackface, took down laugh- ing honors with a good routine. Chas. Hitch- cock has something a little different from the average "single" and his efforts were well rewarded. Pictures also ran. WYTN. George Holcomb, known previously as a band leader, has opened the Gayety, Ottawa. III., as a two-a-day vaudeville house booked through the W. V. M. A. Tbe house seats 1,100 and has no opposition. Between presenting his "melologue" In vaudeville and promoting prize fights, Chas. E. Conway Is a busy person. He has dug up a new light-weight for Ad Wolgast to go against If he can frame up a match. Leo Forane Is the dark horse In Conway's stable and he Is credited with having whipped three heavy-weights without turning a hair. The Morris office has Issued a "franchise" to C. G. Waldron, of the Apollo, a new theatre In Jollet, which will have a seating capacity of 1,600 and will play pretty strong bills. The same man is also erecting a 10-20 house at 79th and Halsted Streets, Chicago, which will also play Morris bookings. Jim Matthows did it. Word comes from New York that the mother of the Four Hanlons, now playing the Or- pheum time, died there Monday afternoon. Maybelle Gage, after a prolonged Illness, ex- pects to resume work in local vaudeville In the near future. W»«a aaawtriaf aaw e r t ies s wats Madly ewaMoa YA&1MT7