Variety (November 1911)

30 VARIEtV headline act and closed the show. There have been several changes made since the' last visit Charley Dooln, the Phillies' man- aver, and James McCool and a popular list were also featured. "The Police Inspector" slowed things up a bit. It is the poorest one of the several good things Harrison Arm- strong has presented, the over-acting of the role of the Inspector, played by Scott Hig- glns being its principal fault. There is prob- ably no character so badly portrayed, gen- erally, as a stage police official and in this sketch it stands out. The sketch was one of the first five on the bill, all here for- the first time. H. T. MacConnell put over a good sized hit with his monolog built up into a three-act through two "plants" In the audi- ence. MacConnell started things nicely and the house "fell" hard for the interruption. It's a pretty good way to offer a "single." MacConnell drew his share of the honors. He went pretty far back for that parody on "Call Ma Rack Again." The Four Bards made their first appearance In a long time and got away nicely. It is the first acrobatic act that has not closed the show here In a considerable period. La Mont's Cockatoos made a pleasing act for the opener. The birds are well trained. As a matter of com- parison there is an act at the Victoria—a picture house—using almost the identical rou- tine with one bird, the same tricks and the same finish being used. If It isn't a "copy," it is difficult to understand how the routine could be so nearly alike. Paul Nevins and Ruby Erwood moved slowly until they hit the danolng. This girl can do things with the wooden shoes and the man, who works In blackface, helps with an eccentric bit of stepping. Hlckey's ponies and a couple of "bsd" mules caught the house In the right spot. BIJOU (Joseph Dougherty, mgr.; agent, U. B. O.).—It was Just twenty-two years ago Nov. 4 when the Keith policy of continuous vaudeville was first offered in Philadelphia. The initial bill then contained Charles and Llllle Weston; Kelly and Ashby; Ray Wil- son; Jules Kellar; Charles Duncan; McBride and Goodrich; Reed Family; The Darrows and Mike J. Fenton. This bill as given in con- junction with Milton Avorn's Gaiety Opera Co. "Princess of Treblsonde" being the offer- HARRY TATE S <& FISHING MOTORING New York England Australia Africa BESSIE WYNN IN VAUDEVILLE RAWSON and CLARE IN "KIDS OF YESTERDAY" (A delightful *>ry of youth) NEXT WEEK (NOV.ll), EMPRESS. SPOKANB. ExchiHve Management, CHRIS O. BROWN Maude Ed Muller and Stanley B09KEI SOLID 41 WEEKS UNTIL JULY, 1112 Westers VMfeviOt Ml lattrstatt Tim ing and Mike Fenton wn the first act to step upon the Bijou stage. This week the anni- versary week Is being celebrated with a bill of old-timers. McBride and Goodrich, the only one of the original acts bill to appear, cancelled owing to Illness, and John F. Clark was called upon to fill In. Clark worked here last week and In addition to his monolog this week he announced each act from the stage. Clark opened and was followed by Whitman and Davis; Charles R. Bweet; Mr. and Mrs. Perkins Fisher; Col. Bam Holdsworth; Golden and Hughes and The Four Lukens. All the acts scored strongly, some of the old songs and comedy getting just aa big laughs as they did twenty years ago. The only thing miss- ing to make the celebration complete was Louis Lesure, now with a New York music concern, at the piano. Lesure played the piano for the vaudeville when the Bijou open- ed, and Dave Fltaglbbon, a brother of Bert, played for the opera, no orchestra being used. The Bijou has offered everything In the line of entertainment since then, ezceplng a cir- cus, and in now the only small time house In town playing two shows a day. VICTORIA (Jay Mastbaum, mgr.; agent, H. Bart McHugh).—The Four Adlers with their good corking juggling act held down the feature position in good shape. The boys have worked out a routine with plenty of novelty In It and this makes the act new In Its class. That the old style of comedy acts still holds good In the picture houses was evidenced by the way Ross and Shaw and Marlowe and Plunkett were received. Both are musical acts, though the latter uses a banjo and the former several Instruments. There Is a lot of slap stick comedy In the former and It landed a lot of laughs, and the banjo act pulled a number of old gags and sprung Mose Gumble as a snapper. Clarlene Moore did nicely with a singing turn. She wears some pretty clothea Gates and Blake were well liked and the Webb Duo won favor with their hand to hand work. Wallace's Cockatoos proved a good show act, one of the birds being unusually well trained. PALACE (Al Rains, mgr.; agent. H. Bart McHugh).—Blamphln and Hehr Trio fea- tured the week's bill and made a very favor- able Impression with their high class singing act. Grimm and Satchel pleased with slng- Whm otmc e r im g advertUtmenta kindly mmUon VARIETY*