Variety (August 1911)

VARIETY 21 Valerie Bergere Player* (8). "A Peculiar Elopement" (Melodra- ma tic). 12 Mini.; Three (Exterior; Special Set). Fifth Avenue (Aug 20). It will take Valerie Bergere's own statement to convince anyone who knows her that she selected "A Pe- culiar Elopement" as a possibility for vaudeville. Rather it is believed that the pieces Miss Bergere has been pro- ducing of late have been thrust upon her, as a producer. As produced, this sketch passes muster, but other- wise, It falls down on all fours. Melo- dramatic, with gun play, thieves, and a love story that brought a girl on an auto-elopement in evening dress, the sketch never had a chance. Be- sides that, it opened the show at the Fifth Avenue. Sime MUe. Olive. Juggler.. 11 Mine.; Full Stage. Fifth A venae. Reviewing MUe. Olive as a new act may be a trifle far-fetched, but the presentment in its new form is the first showing in New York. The basis of the turn is the same, but the woman has two assistants—a clown, (Mr. Harding, late of Harding and Ah Sid) and a boy who intersperses his handl- ing of the various objects to be jug- gled, with a series of cartwheels and somersaults. Mr. Harding's "clown- ing" is neither good nor bad for the reason that he doesn't essay any. The turn itself is fast and furious, but lacks a certain style. The act is well dressed, hut Mile. Olive's efforts to simllate the "chic" and "abandon" which mark the work of most foreign performers, is quite apparent. Jolo. Lewis and Plerson. "Desperate Desmond and Rosamond" (Songs and Talk). 18 Mlns.; One. For the opening of the Lewis and Plerson act, the German comedian of the couple has borrowed from Sam Mann. He first appears in the orches- tra pit. For a few moments, the turn closely resembles Mr. Mann's work In "The New Leader." The comedian then joins the "straight" man on the stage, when a melodramatic travesty is gone through. In the house where the act was seen, a dramatic sketch ahead of it on the program gave a good reason for this, and helped It through. Otherwise the turn goes down as a middling one for the "small time." The "straight" of the couple possesses a pleasant voice. He is wearing a black bow with full evening dress. Sime. Polk and Miles. Banjoist and Comedienne. 14 Mlns., One. The man in the act Is the best hand- ler of a banjo In vaudeville lately. He might drop the first overture. The girl 13 a tall person who sings songs. She sings Marie Dressler's "Working Girl" number In a burleque harem costume. She looks funny. While singing "Lovey Joe" the fellow does some messing around that banjo that's immense. He is a wonder with that Instrument. Jess. John Birch. "The Man With the Map** (Monolog). 12 Mlns.; One (Special Drop). Fifth Avenue (Aug. 20. John Birch has a new idea. The chief trouble Is that Mr. Birch forces his idea to a full act, something it can not stand. A special drop repre- sents the Interior of a railway sta- tion, wth a map of the United States fully outlined. Mr. Birch goes over the country, referring to all states, and mentioning humorous peculiarities of each. It's something monologically new, and well worth developing, but six or seven minutes are plenty. To complete the turn, Mr. Birch will have to find something for the tail end. The talk held several good points, and could stand many more. Formerly Mr. Birch was known as "The Man With the Hats." In "The Map" he has the foundation of a good new act, sprung upon New York before It was ripe. Sime. Tyson, Brown and Co. (8). Singing and Dancing. 14 Mlns.; Full Stage (Special, Exte- rior). Tyson and Brown formerly worked a "double act." With a special farm setting and three men as the company, one doing a farm hand and the other two impersonating a prop, cow, they are now playing the "pop" houses. Tyson and Brown work throughout as "scarecrows." They first do the old "Snowman" song and dance, and later the woman renders "When Broadway Was a Pasture." For the closing they sing "You'd Better Hide from the Cob- web Man," from Elfle Fay's old show, with a downpour of rain for the finale. The dancing and singing got over among the "small timers," but the jokes fell pretty flat. The rain idea, while not new, will scor* in the "pop" houses. The scenic effects are nicely worked up. The act could be improved by the principals omitting their patter and getting one or two new songs. Mark. Farley and Morrison. Songs and Dances. 13 Mlns.; One. What one may say about the "small time" Is true, because Farley and Mor- rison prove it. After eleven minutes of nothingness, these two, boy and girl, sing "Mississippi Dip," an ordi- nary "rag," and dance an ordinary "Grizzly" to It. Immediately there- upon the "small timers" enthuse. They applaud and applaud, sufficient to re- ceive these young people into believing they are offering an act of real merit. Barring several neat changes of dress the girl makes, and some ability on the part of the young man to put over a song, they have nothing, and that goes for the "rag"—but If the small timers welcome them as strongly at the finish as they did Tuesday evening at the New York, Farley and Morrison will be well satisfied with themselves. •Tis the "small time." Sime. Harvard and Cornell. Singing. 11 Mine.; One (8); Two (8) (Exte- rior; Special). The names suggest a college con- test. It beats all how the naming of an act can fool you. This turn gives a man and a woman a chance to display their voices in songs ranging from the topical to the classical. The man first appears as a foppish English man, changes to an Irish costume and for the finish, appears in white behind a pris- on window. The woman solos "You Came Into the World with Nothing and You Won't Take Anything Out." The man's Irish song was well received. For the finish, the prison scene from "11 Trovatore" is used, the team giv- ing their voices full play. The man's is the more conspicuous. The act is receiving considerable attention in the smaller houses. Mark. OCT OP TOWN Kegel and Wlnech. "No Trespassing" (Talk and Songs). 10 mlns. Full Stage; One (4) (Spe- cial Setting and Drops). Young's Pier, Atlantic City. Dorothy Kegel, a handsome brunet, and Louis Winsch, who owns a dandy voice, are presenting a very pretty lit- tle act. "No Trespassing" was writ- ten by George Totten Smith, the mu- sic coming from Leo Edwards. Most of the action takes place in an apple orchard in full bloom. Daisy Day (Miss Kegel) is seated in a tree, studying, for she is a seminary girl. Nearby a sign reads "No Trespassing." The owner, Robert Fair (Mr. Winsch) chances along. When identities are revealed, a quick love story begins. The talk is bright and very well hand- led. Several songs by Mr. Winsch were excellently sung, and as well re- ceived. They finish In "one," before a drop showing the exterior of the Folies Bergere. Miss Regel appears here in a beautiful close-fitting gown of silver cloth, with a little domed hat to match. No expense has been spared for the settings and costumes. Miss Kegel has a pleasing personality that lends charm to her work. There is every reason to believe that they will fare very well. The act scored distinctly here. J. B. Pulaski. Minor alterations to the Broadway theatre, which will enlarge the seating capacity a little, will be made at once. The changes will not necessitate clos- ing. Carrie De Mar. Songs. 21 Mlns.; One and Two. Young's Pier, Atlantic City. In the second week of her engage- ment at Young's Pier, Carrie De Mar put on the new act she intends play- ing over the vaudeville way this sea- son. Four new numbers are sung, with "Three Days on the Ocean" retained from her former repertoire. Each num- ber is newly costumed. Miss De Mar's hats are a feature. The opening song is a "trouserette," followed by "What a Nickel Will Do." "For Sale, a Wid- ow" went very big, and "The Matinee Girl" is excellent. The songs were pyramided for value, each one send- ing the average a little nigher. "Three Days" closing sent Miss De Mar off the stage, a riot. Her vivacious style and charming manner are not the least counts in the score. The present is the best act Miss De Mar has done, and that means much. IB Pulaski MUSICIANS* GRIEVANCES SETTLED Chicago, Aug. 23. The grievances of the local Musi- clans' Union have evidently been sat- isfactorily patched up by the local houses, each acting independent of the Managers' Association and arranging terms for themselves independent of any movement made by the Managers' Association. The Majestic, the only first class vaudeville house in the city, was the only one to come under the ruling which called for fourteen men in the orchestra and a forty per cent, raise. With the engagement of Director Fish- er, formerly of the American Music Hall, the matter was adjusted. Cincinnati, Aug. 23. The Columbia theatre, which threat- ened at one time to place a piano- drum orchestra in the house if the demands of the Musicians' Union were not moderated, has entered Into a corn- tract with the Union at the advanced scale. URGES PROFESSION TO WRITE. Wilkesbarre, Aug. 23. George L. Marlon, convicted of mur- der in the first degree, has been sen- tenced to be hanged Sept. 28. The board of pardons, at Harrisburg, is the only tribunal that can save him from such an awful fate. His attorney, Charles B. Lenahan, of this city, is preparing to take his appeal before that board on Sept. 20. He earnestly requests all members of the theatrical profession to petition the board at once, by mail. Never in the history of the stage has one of its members suffered death on the gallows. Every effort should be made to avert so terrible a calamity. DOLLY VARDEN DEAD. Toronto, Aug. 23. Dolly Varden, the giant negress, weighing 660 pounds, who exhibited with a circus for six years, died here Aug. 18. Her right name was Mrs. Selitla Campbell. SHOT UP A FAMILY. Middlesboro, Ky , Aug. 23. "Mexican Joe" Morgan, owner of a small tent show travelling in this part of the country, was shot dead and his wife and two daughters are not expected to live. The catastrophe occurred during a fracas with some boisterous specta- tors, who are said to have been crazy drunk and took exception to several injunctions to abstain from making so much noise. Some fifty shots were fired during the melee. Two men are in the local lock-up charged with the killing. TOLEDO'S OPENING SHOW. The first program to be seen at the new Keith vaudeville theatre, Toledo (opening Sept. 26), has been booked by E. M. Robinson, of the United Offices. On the bill will be Charlotte Parry and Co., Pouchot's "Flying Ballet," "Old Soldier Fiddlers," Haines and Vidocq, Frank Milton and De Long Sisters, Art Bowen, and two other turnB vet to be selected.