Variety (January 1912)

VARIETY 19 HAMMERSTBIN'S Willie Hammerstein isn't serving up much of a vaudeville show this week. The Monday night audience evidenced something was wrong. The matinee had been capacity, but the evening at- tendance fell off. Whether the un- derground vaudeville secret service tipped the regulars, or whatever the reason, the fact remained the bill didn't warrant anything better. George Lashwood, the Bnglish sing- er, headlined. He appeared in the second half, next to closing, and sang four Bongs in twenty-live minutes. Mr. Lashwood's usual quota is five songs in thirty-four minutes. It was 8.66 before a vaudeville per- formance really commenced. James J. Morton was the starter. He followed Qus BdwardB' "School Boys and Girls," an act that has gone back so far any one of the numerous "small time" "school acts" could give it cards and spades. Nine people ap- peared in the Edward's turn, which made it look very skimpy. Mr. Ed- wards should have known better than to attempt any "cheating" at Ham- mersteln's. The one bright spot in the sketch is Lew Brice, who can sing and dance. Toung Mr. Brice is simply wasting his talents in the present group. He might look for something that would show him up to advantage, instead of being saddled with the im- possible task of pulling this bad act out of a hole twice daily. It was some minutes before Mr. Morton could "get" his audience after the Edwards fluke, but James J. won them out handily, to several recalls. Mr. Morton was one of the laughing hits. Ed. Hayes in "The Wise Guy" was another. Mr. Hayes has speeded up his laughable piano-moving sketch greatly, and to its advantage, reach- ing the finish (also changed for the better) much more quickly than for- merly. He now has an A-l comedy piece. Following the intermission (the Hayes company having closed the first part) "Ideal" in a diving act ap- peared. While this young woman's dives are along the same lines as others, "4deal" (who wiears a red union suit) has a figure that makes you forget those who have dived into tanks before. On her "shape" alone, "Ideal" can be booked. After the act has worked a few big houses at a regular salary, perhaps an investment will be made for the improvement of the setting, especially surrounding the spring boards. The announcer could secure the full day for himself by em- ploying cards and a card boy. Wlnsor McCay needs an announcer, If he won't tell in speech how his mov- ing pictures of drawings, which re- sult in the quaint, humorous and in- teresting films shown by him, were completed. The brief description on the sheet isn't sufficient. Did the audi- ence thoroughly understand the proc- ess, their appreciation would be in- ceased. It's worth while, for these moving pictures presented by Mr. Mc- Cay are distinctly unique. The position of next to last, follow- ing Mr. Lashwood, was returned to the management after the matinee by John and Mae Burke, who retired from the program, not liking the five and COLONIAL. There is a program at the Colonial this week that proves to be about the "classiest" vaudeville entertain- ment offered hereabouts for some time. The show starts with the le- ver in the high speed notch. It re- mains there until the very end. The house was so crowded with the curtain there were standees. The opening was made by The Craigs in a musical offering that sent the bill off nicely. They were followed by Linden -Beckwith, who sang three numbers and scored heavily. Her closing number "Ragtime Goblin Man" in tights and "panties," held the show up. The third spot had "A Night In a Turkish Bath" which scored on com- edy and singing. The act started the laughs and held the audience in that humor to the end. "No. 4" was assigned to Williams and Van Alstyne. The two song- smiths put over one of the biggest hits of the evening, with the aid of a "plant" in the orchestra who sported a "silver king" wig, and one of the boys working "props" In the house, who paused long enough in pushing the piano off the stage to whistle the chorus of "When Tou Were Sixteen and I Was Twenty-One." The boys pulled several new ones on the Colo- niaT*audience. One, a "Father" song, is sure to win out with the comics. "Call Again" and "You'd Never Rec- ognize the Old Place Now" are two other sure fire laughs. Closing the first part Mile. Amato in "The Apple of Paris" earned several curtains for herself and company. The pantomime work of Sig. Coccla during the brief interval between scenes places him in the class with Severln. Martlnetti and Sylvester opened the second part and stopped the show for a few minutes. The comedian has a new fall or two that look fine. He does them so cleanly they earn a lot of applause. Dominick Buckley's gang were up in the loft and they wer* strong for the act, getting together on the applause and keeping the boys on a few additional minutes. Elizabeth Brice and Charles King followed, proving the hit of the show. Mies Brice looked and sang charm- ingly, and the dance at the close of the turn put them over a solid hit. Rube Goldberg had the next to closing spot. His cartoons did the trick. If Rube were not so afraid of himself on the stage, he would win a lot more of applause. "A Romance of the Un- derworld" held the closing position and did well. It was a different sort of an act for that spot. Fred. eleven o'clock plan. The Six Momos Arabs, inclusive of a young woman (and perhaps an Arab) closed the program. It is the usual Arab acro- batic turn, without the formations, of which there are too many, being swift- ly reached in any instance. Moran and Moran, dancers, opened the show. Berton and Stryker, roller skaters (the same act recently known as Tyler and Berton) were "No. 2." Burkes and Richmond, in the next spot, are under New Acts, along with The Three Lelghtons, who were in the second half. SUne. AMERICAN. Exclusive of the illustrated singer and the moving pictures of Cardinal Farley shown during intermission, the American Roof had nine acts the first half of the current week—all accept- able and most excellent for the clien- tele that patronizes the place. Six of the nine acts are under New Acts. They are Pankleb Duo, Mabel De Young, Agnes Mahr and Co., Sanberg and Meeker, Rogers and Mcintosh, Catherine Chaloner and Co. The bill is well laid out, especially so for that establishment, and Indi- cates considerable attention on the part of whoever put it together. The three turns not mentioned above and individually commented upon are the Olivetti Troubadours, Neil McKinley, Mori Brothers. The Ollvettls make a bid for approval by endeavoring to emulate the work of musicians on the big time. The vio- linist essays some rhapsodical gyra- tions while playing and the guitarist attempts to imitate the work of the musician with Toots Paka who plays wierd melodies on the guitar in a horizontal position. He will have to do considerably better before he ap- proaches anywhere near the inimitable artist of Miss Paka's. Neil McKinley works with a pian- ist and gets little out of the first three songs. He finishes with "Rum Turn Tiddle" rushing through the Audi- torium a la Al Jolson. Mr. McKinley injures his work materially by side remarks to the audience between songs, which are anything but funny. Mori Brothers, three Japs, open with a little slack wire work by one and conclude with some excellent comedy "Risley" work. Jolo. TWENTY-THIRD STREET The seven acts on the bill at Proc- tor's 23 rd Street the first half of the week proved a mighty pleasing little show. The pictures at the opening ran to 8.45, making the start a Utile late, but once the program was under way, the acts ran through with but two picture interruptions. There was practically a capacity house through- out the evening. Apollo, the ladder balancer, had the opening spot. His juggling did not get him very much, but his walk- ing up and down the ladder and his ladder "bear dance," the latter used to close, earn applause. May Green (New Acts) followed. The headlining act of the week was the Melnotte Twins and the Waldorf Boys. This singing and dancing me- lange was received with acclaim by the regulars. The act Is suited per- fectly for this time. Dunlap and Folk (New Acts) were followed by Pisano and Bingham, in a singing* and talking offering, the hit of the show. There is a little "rough stuff" by the woman, which might be eliminated. The sketch offering was Chas. A. Loder and Co. The act got over nice- ly, although the "straight" man Is a little weak. He looks well, but his acting might be Improved upon. The closing turn was The Benedettoes (New Acts) aerial. Fred. Kleanore Otis and Co. (9) Sketch. 17 Mina.; Three (Hpeeial Setting). Academy (Jan. 21). Five years ago the Otis presentment would have been regarded as a nov- elty in vaudeville. To-day the best that may be said is that it is an excel- lent replica of many sketches combin- ing mawkish sentimentality and up-to- date slang. The scene is laid in a stage dressing room. One girl, a neo- phyte, is making her debut; the other is an old-timer. The newcomer is nec- essarily unsophisticated, the other bubbling over with slang and wisdom. It is all very heroic and "Chorus Ladylng," but it doesn't ring true, and even if It did, has been done before ever so many times. And, not the least Important thing to be considered, nei- ther of the two women are unduly gifted with histrionic talent. The role of the stage manager is but a "bit." Jolo. Coyne and Lee. Singing end Talking. 14 Mine.; One. Grand O. H. (Jan. 21). A pleasing comedy singing and talk- ing turn that is pleasing. The two men dress nicely and the talk Is rather nifty, although a little too long. Their singing voices are fair and the boys should get some time in the smaller houses. Fred. Bell Cantor Trio. Comedy Singing and Talking. 16 Mlns.; One. Grand O. H. (Jan. 21). Three boys present a singing and talking act. The comedy Is rather weak. The boys dress nicely but the "sissy" stuff could be cut to advan- tage. The singing voices are very good and with the proper laugh mar terial they should find no difficulty In the big "small timers." Fred. Jim Qulnn. Singing Monologlst. 13 Mlns.; One. Grand O. H. (Jan. 21). The audience at the Grand Opera House seemed to know Jim Qulnn. When his card was shown, he was given applause. Jim is blind. The greater part of his talk consists of ex- periences told in a jocular vein. He sings three numbers. As far as the Eighth avenue was concerned, he was a hit. Fred. Hi nea and Fen ton. Hinging and Dancing. 0 Mlns.; One. Grand O. H. (Jan. 21). Two men in an eccentric singing and dancing offering. One follows a make up resembling Dick Carle, while (he other is a genteel tramp. The turn is a fair one from the comedy standpoint, for the smaller houses. Fred. Field Barnes. Xylophonlst. 12 Mlns.; Full. Gruncl O. H. (Jan. 21). Mr. Barnes plays the xylophone fnir- ly well, but should have his Instru- ment tuned before romin^ before an audience. The act will answer in the smaller rlass of ".small timers." Fred.