Variety (April 1912)

VARIETY 15 Weber and Wilson. Dapcee, IX Mini.; Four (Interior). Academy of Mnalc (April 21). Featuring "Turkey Trot" and "Texas Tommy" dancing, Weber and Wilson are a young man and wo- man. . who reach the stage from the audience, dressed as a bride and groom. The entrance is made with the orchestra playing a wedding march. Then the couple proceeds to dance the "Panama Pacific Rag." fol- lowed by what their annunciator la- bels the "1915 Waltz." For the fin- ish the "Texas Tommy" is carded. Weber and Wilson do their best work and get the biggest applause on the last dancing number. Their wedding folderol hampers the turn from the start. The first dance displays little foot grace or agility. The waltz routine was gracefully done. Weber and Wilson are hard workers and good dancers. They should place the act into better shape. Cabaret teams are doing much of their stepping night after night. By working up fast to the "Texas Tommy" dance, the team can command an opening spot on a big bill and get away with it satisfac- torily. Mark. Four Harmonic Girls. Musical. 16 Mlns.; Two. Columbia (April 21). The Four Harmonic Girls would create more demand for themselves if working in "one." This can and should be done, since there is a pian- ist with the turn. She sings also, and the piano portion is not nearly promi- nent enough. Two of the girls have rather a dressy appearance, and are good lookers. Various musical instru- ments are played upon. A violin solo late in the turn dragged it percepti- bly. It is not needed, and the young woman who played on the piccolo meanwhile could have worked that instrument in elsewhere. The act is too long, but it is a very nice one, restful in a way, and should be wortl while on the small big time. Sim* "La Bate" (Pantomime). One Hour (Six Tableaux). Moulin'Rouge, Paris. A gorilla enraged by the sight of a woman escapes from a fair, and hides on the roofs of some Paris houses. The trainer follows, but missing his foothold, falls into the street. The beast sleeps, and dreams of its in- fancy, in the forest. The fifth act is a ball at the home of the pretty woman (Mile. Kerf). After this divertise- ment she retires for the night. The gorilla enters the room, and strangles her. A lover in the house is accused, but proves the culpability of the beast by the imprint of its paws on the pil- low. The animal is shot by the per- sons who have been chasing it on the roofs. The idea of this mimodrame is good, but the action is far too slow, and the waits between the sets too long. Cut down by half it would make a good act, but in its present form would not be suitable for the majority of vaudeville theatres. The accompanying music is appropriate. Swor and Westarook. 8on#s and Dances. 18 Mine.; One. Swor was formerly of Swor and Mack. In the new act (with his wife) he is "breaking in" on the "pop" cir- cuits. While Miss Westbrook has a pleasing voice and seems at home with "coon" songs, it is Swor's damp- ing that does the business. Their pat- ter should be changed. The present smattering may cause the team dam- age in the bigger houses. Swop's dancing would demand attention any- where. For the finish they use the farewell song which Billy Farnum worked up with the Clark sisters by walking out through the audience. Mark. Henry Lewis. Songs. 11 Mlns.; One. American Roof. Henry Lewis is the former German comedian of Browning and Lewis. The men had been a big hit over the New York "pop" circuits, but Lewis is go- ing the team's results one better. With his German boy make-up, funny laugh, parodies and a few dance steps, he was a veritable riot on the Roof Monday night. He has some rattling good parodies (one too "blue," how- ever, for any kind of an audience), and puts them over nicely. Lewis is a natural entertainer. At the rate he's going he's bound to land in the bigger houses. Mark. New Ads in "Pop" Houses Anna Jordon and Co. (2). "Ladyville" (Farcical). 18 Mine.; Three (Interior). In a suffragette town the female political boss and her niece, the sheriff, are discussing local condi- tions. A man hasn't been in the town for six months. The boss posts a no- tice in her own office which is a re- ward for Oklahoma Ike, a desperado, who has killed seven men, shot two Chinks and robbed stage coaches ano express trains galore. It's up to the sheriff to nab the man. A drummer hits the town and creates consterna- tion. He falls for the sheriff and to win out palms himself off as Ike. Everything ends smoothly for him. The act is preposterously absurd, yet it is causing laughter on the "pop" circuits. Mark. I>e Grant and McLellan. Hongs and Talk. 18 Mlns.; One. Two young men who feature songs with a little "gagging" on the side. The voices, of the parlor calibre, are best displayed in the closing num- ber. For the finish they announce an Impersonation of operatic singers. On the "pop" circuit the boys are being well received. Mark. May Wolf. Songs. 9 Mins.; One. When May Wolf opened with a classical song a severe cold manifest- ed itself. Even the audience pitied her. Rut she showed traces of a strong, well trained soprano voice, and went over big. Mark. Paul Strong Act. 0 Mlns.; Three (Exterior). American Roof. Paul Perry is a strong-armed, strong-jawed young man. He has an act of the Paul Conches type. Perry has some very nifty heavyweight lifts. He catches a heavy ball on the back of his neck shot across the stage from a trap, and claims he Is the smallest heavyweight lifter handling the giant car wheels. Perry is at home with the wheels. He is inclined to let his act drag. With showmanship Perry would not drift long in the 'pop" houses. Mark. Baker and Murray. Songs and Dances. 12 Mins.; One. City. Baker and Murray do the best work with their feet. To make their act look more typical they sing and sand- wich in some patter. The talk is the weakest of the three. On dancing, especially waltz clogging, the young man and woman will be able to weather the "pop" time. Mark. The Gregsons. Singing and Dancing. 12 Mins.; One. Man and woman, first with man in evening dress and woman in short si irt. Woman changes to evening gown and does a solo, while man pre- pares for his entrance in Colonial at- tire, while woman changes quickly to another abbreviated skirt. Then they sing and dance together some more. Rather difficult to classify the act oth- er than to set it down as a small timer. Jolo. Chantrell, Schuyler and Green. Travesty Sketch. 17 Mins.; Full Stage. Two "tramps" enter the grounds of a Eociety woman, about to give "pri- vate theatricals." The tramps are drafted into service. All three go through a burlesque scene from "Nero," made up of a series of very old "gags." The woman reads her lines fairly well, the men do the op- posite with theirs. They finish with a grand opera burlesque. Suitable for small time only. Jolo. Jeanette Spellman. Songs. 9 Mins.; One. City. Jeanette Spellman looks better than she sings. Her voice is heard to best advantage in "I Want To Be." This song has been sung about every day at the City for some weeks past. On looks alone, the "small time" houses should give Miss Spellman attention. Mark. Cam in and Theria. Yentriloquial. 10 Mins.; One. Columbia (April 21). As a ventrlloquial turn, with a wo- man added for the •picture," Cainm and Ther.'a become a good small timer. The man is a fair ventriloquist, with good handling of the pintfle dummy." Si mi "Sonny." Dramatic Sketch. 22 Ulna.; Five (Interior). •Young woman and her youthful brother come to New York to carve out careers, she as an actress, the boy as a musician. She had refused to listen to words of love from a man In her home town. He also reaches New York and becomes a detective. The brother ("Sonny") becomes a thief. He has "copped" a necklace and, realising that he is being watch- ed, comes to his sister's hotel late at night, bringing the "swag" with him. The detective calls. Brother is con- cealed In adjoining room. Seeing it is his former sweetheart, he arrives at the conclusion he has made a mis- take. Asks girl to marry him, not knowing her brother Is the thief. He discovers necklace in possession of the girl, thinks she Is a party to the theft and believes she is concealing another sweetheart. He lays neck- lace on table and departs, telling her to send it back next day. Brother emerges, promises to go straight, leaving sister in possession of the stage, saying, referring to her suitor: "I wonder if he'll come back." Un- satisfactory ending to a fairly well written and played melodramatic ve- hicle for three people, for small time. In a way this sketch is not very dis- s mllar from "The Stick-Up Man," and may have been suggested by that piece. Either one inspired the other, there is no doubt, and neither could well follow the other. Jolo. White, Pllcer and White. Songs and Parodies. 14 Mine.; One. . Columbia (April 21). As a singing trio, with comedy, White. Pilcer and White do not get very far until striking parodies at the end of the turn. These parodies at the Columbia brought the only ap- plause received. A couple were off- color in a pleasant way. The come- dian adopts female garb with exag- gerated articles of feminine wearing apparel for laughter, but the attempt at fun-making Is too obvious. For the small time, however, the parodies will throw them across. A more pop- ular line of music in the opening would be of material assistance. Sime. Hrown and Law son. Songs and Talk. 13 Mins.; One. A colored man and woman. The man is the act. His facial contor- tions and dancing are bringing the team popularity in the "pop" houses. The woman has a good appearanco only. Mark. Musical Alvinos. Banjos an/1 Piano. 8 Mins.; One. Popular and classical selections in medley form, are first played on the banjos by a man and woman. Then comes a trick banjo and pi.iii < In>t with banjo swinging followi'itr. S<mim« lively thrnnim1:iK is ofl»r<'d mi. 11 i • - clos«-. The Auiiiaii tM.s a i»• • i s 1111 -. sta^e .'ipp« \ii atu«' 'Pir .i'-l is a goo'l one for it "po;/' h n and should do nicely on a "biK .iiiiaH tiiii.-r." Mark.