Variety (June 1911)

VARIETY 19 Fields and Lewis. Talk. 20 Mins.; One; Three; One. Colonial. Fields and Lewis are & new act be- cause this is a brand new Lewis; Jack, formerly with Ed Wynn. The act re- mains the same as when Al worked with Dave Lewis. It was funny then; it is just as funny now. The "base- ball mine," the "sugar feeler" and the "tea taster" are all there and they are just as mirth provoking as when first heard. The cab horse mustn't be forgotten, and for the enlightenment of the woman who sat behind, Fields and Lewis used the cab and horse business before the Winter Garden had the old riding ring torn out of its center. Jack Lewis makes a corking straight for Fields. He has worked into the comedian's ways wonderfully well for so short a time. The two are whooping it up together as though they never had any other partners. Jack gets a little percentage on ap- pearance, which means a whole lot. The new Fields and Lewis will do. They have a corking comedy act and can hold down th e next to closing po- sition on any bill. Dash. Chester's Canines De Luxe. Dop Poses. 12 Mins., Full Stage (Special Set). Brighton Theatre. About six dogs of an English hunt- ing breed are used in poses surrounded by special scenery. In a few, reliefs are shown in which the dogs are posed in a frame against a white back- ground. A few of these poses are broken up at times, evidently to prove that the dogs pose themselves. The other pictures depicting hunting scenes and the like, produce much better effects and are better received by the audience. The act will have to be worked much faster than at present. The waits in between each picture take more time than the ac- tual scenes. The turn did very well in the closing program position. Jess. Jennie Curtis. Singing and Talking. 1<> Mins.; One. Wearing an exaggerated harem out- fit, which secures a laugh on her first appearance, Jennie Curtis offers sev- eral songs with much talk on women's rights that is getting recognition in the "pop" houses. Some of her suffra- gette smattering is genuinely funny. If some of the other "pop singles" don't "copy," she will get time anywhere. Miss Curtis closes with "There Are None in Vaudeville Like Me," in which she shows off her harem dress to good advantage. Mark. Anna Lehr. Songs. » Mins.; One. Anna Lehr differs only in style to the general run of "girl singles" now playing on and off the small time. This stylo of hers is pleasing, and while the girl sings the usual routine of popular songs, she is good to look at and has a cute little voice. Miss Lehr ought to be busy on the small time if only for the reason of refine- ment. Jess. Joe Jackson. Pantomimic Bicyclist. 10 Mins.; Poll Stage. Fifth Avenue. All the billing used by Joe Jackson is a question mark. But there is no question of the man's originality and artistic ability as a comedy pantomim- 1st. Arrayed in an old-fashioned tramp make-up he appears on the stage and does a full minute of silly pantomime that at once "gets" his audience. He then discovers a dilapidated looking bi- cycle. After a few moments of furtive "reconnoitering" proceeds to steal it. The wheel is equipped with a bicycle horn which Immediately becomes de- tached, necessitating more pantomime in the tramp's futile efforts to reattach it or dispose of it. Jackson then has a lot of comedy, also of the panto- mimic sort, in an endeavor to separate himself from one cuff, one end of which is tied to his right wrist. Even- tually he mounts the wheel and does a lot of good riding, the different parts of the bicycle breaking away, all in comedy, all apparently by accident. His efforts to readjust the machine result in more comedy. In fact, it Is comedy, comedy all the way through. Joe Jackson brings to the metropolis "something new." He is a foreigner. He would fit nicely in a roof garden program—he would fit nicely any- where. Jolo. The Burkes. Songs, Dance, and Talk. 12 MJn.; One. The Burkes start away like the usu- al Rathskeller acts but get away from the general routine after the first few minutes. A young boy handles the piano end. While doing well enough, as an accompanist he cannot compare with the many "rag" piano players who have bobbed up with the craze. The boy, however, has a good idea of handling talk and with the older member of the team playing "straight" for him should develop into a good light comedian. The Burkes should start making changes with their name. There are so many Burkes, that some- thing less familiar might be adopted, even though their name is Burke. The piano should be the second thing to go. A good line of talk with the singing and the dancing of the younger member and the good appearance of both should place the pair in the bet- ter houses after a few weeks of play- ing. As the act is framed up now the boys can play the small time without any chance of advancement. Dash. May Bush. Songs. 8 MJn.; One. National. May Bush is a very nice looking girl, who dresses becomingly and sings three songs under the spotlight. The spot is alright for a song or two, but May should have the lights up for at least one of her numbers. As it is, the audience is so much in the dark, they never get much lighted up any- way, and consequently do not applaud over much. May does not make a change of costume, although removing her hat. A better arrangement of songs might be tried. For the present May will do very nicely. Dash. Valentine and Bell. Cycling. 10 Mins.; Full Stage. Hammeroteln's. Valentine and Bell are probably a foreign trick bicycle turn. At Ham- merstein's this week, closing the show, the man and woman are impossibly placed, and were particularly unfortu- nate Monday evening in appearing be- fore the meagre crowd left at 11.30. The woman (a girl rather) dresses in bathing tights, a la Lalla Selbini. The man is a "straight" rider, who could improve his dressing to be more in harmony with the costuming of his partner. He is a good trick rider, has a couple of brand new bicycle tricks to finish the turn with, and starts it well by riding a "giraffe," with the young woman astride his shoulders. In do- ing singles around the handle bars he is adept, but in attempting a triple, he assists himself by touching the front bar. It is effective nevertheless. The team would make a better opening than closing turn. In the first position they will do well on tne big time. All "stalling" should be eschewed. Proper study of the relative importance of the couple should bring the girl out as the most prominent. She looks nice In the tights. 8ime. Asaki Brothers. Roller Skating and Juggling. Hammersteln's. The Asaki Brothers are Jap jugglers and one is an expert fancy roller skat- er as well. On the skates he also jug- gles, accomplishing many of the tricks while on the rollers that Jap jugglers heretofore have been content to per- form with their feet on the ground. The combination work (special skat- ing floor used) is attractive, and the turn is a nice opener for any pro- gram. 8ime. Dido's Animals. 10 Min.; Full Stage. National. Dido has a good animal offering of the circus variety for the pop houses. The show is made up of monks, ponies and dogs, with a mule thrown in for good measure. The act is worked alternately by a man and woman. A little comedy is sought after through the use of the mule, but It Is not well enough worked up to attract attention. A better result is obtained from one of the dogs chasing a toy balloon about, banging it all over the place until he finally smashes it. The animals are well groomed, and the whole act makes a very fine number for their present surroundings. Dash. Feplno. Accordionist. 10 Mins.; One. American Hoof. If the Loew agents can hold this young olive-skinned musician to its circuit, well and good, but he dis- played sufllcii-nt talem with the ac- cordion Monday night on the Ameri- can Hoof to anchor in big time some of these days. His present arrange- ment of pieces appears to have been mapped out to hit the 'small timers," his "rag playing" getting him the ap- plause returns. Mark. Blanche Holt and Co. (3). "The Star Boarder" (Comedy). 22 Mins.; Four (Interior). Of splendid farcical construction, "The Star Boarder", with Blanche Holt as the talkative, corpulent board- ing house keeper, is a capital mirth- provoker. Its humorous lines would create laughter on any bill. All the fun hinges on Miss Holt's loquacity; her longing to cut into real society and speak French as it "should be spoke". A mystery surrounds the star boarder, an old man named Jones. Mrs. Bradley has a board bill against the aged codger. She sur- mises he Is not the man his clothing and actions belie. Mrs. B's daughter receives an unexpected call from a rich young broker who had run her down with his auto. Though not in- juring her, he calls to further the chance acquaintance with a pretty young woman. Mrs. B. helps her daughter land the visitor by giving a dinner, pressing Jones into service as the butler. Jones is the boy's father, and makes known his identity to Mrs. B. The boy and girl become engaged; Mrs. B. takes Jones for bet- ter or for worse, and there is also a lot of good slang. Some minutes off the skit would add to its value. Mark. Dorothy De Schelle and Co. (2) Sketch. 21 Mins. Dorothy De Schelle and Co. are of- fering rather a talky sketch without action, until the very last minute. A team, man and woman, are up against it. They have not had an engagement for six months. The ac- tion takes place in a hall bedroom. The landlady wants her rent, and will not be "stalled." The man gets a Job but Is handed the go-by after three days of rehearsing. When things look darkest, a wire from their former manager says "Join at once." They Jump at It, but there is the land- lady. Down the fire escape they go, carrying their belongings in a bed cover. The landlady Just mlBses them but sits triumphantly on the empty trunk, without knowing that she is once more the goat. The piece is too talky. It needs action in the centre. Three to five minutes might be chopped off. The sketch is fairly well played and will do nicely for the "pop" houses. Dash. Basil llrady. KongM uixl Talk. 14 Mins.; One. Basil Brady has a new idea in his talk which should advance^ him if he nurses the manner of delivery Brady explains to the audience how a mono- log is written, telling just what the writer expects of the audience as the talk is reeled off. He sort of rehears- es his audience, getting plenty of good, clean fun out of it without un- covering anything new in the matter of stories. Mrady is wrong with his songs. He does three, all of the talky (leorge Cohan type. One would suf- lii•■•. The talk should be extended. The audi- rice liked the monologist immensely and with working he should be heard from. Dash. (Continued on page '11.)