Variety (June 1912)

VARIETY 25 Monday night Kelth'a held more than a half house full. Joe Hart's sketch, "An Opening Night." failed to hold up its end be- cause of its lack of running power. What promised to be a corking good little play when it started. Just fell away gradually un- til t hit the bottom with a big bump. George V. Hobart is the author and he must have tired of his task before finishing. The sketch was nicely sandwiched between a couple of big hits so that It really did not affect the bill much. Just ahead of the sketch Claudius and Scarlett had a regular "husking bee" time with their old-time song sheet. The way that Monday night crowd went after "Old Dog Tray" and "My Grandfather's Clock" was worth talking about. It must have warmed the cockles of the hearts of every aged person In the house, and there were many on hand. Claudius and Scarlett certainly hit upon a happy Idea that ought to hit the mark anywhere. It didn't take long to forget the "Opening Night" after Weston. Fields and Carroll reached the plat- form. This trio Juat hit the high spot with their first Jump and stayed right there to the finish and could have kept going on. The boy at the piano is some little enter- tainer all by himself with the Ivories and the three have Jumped Into the very from rank of rathskeller acts. Ryan and Tucker did very nicely with their dancing act for an opener, and Louise Stlckney's circus made an emphatic hit. The work on stilts by the man scored alone. The act goes along on appearances, too. The Three Vagrants passed along slowly until they got down to the • rag numbers and then cleaned up. Next came The Great Howard with his "Toothache Kids" and the Scotchman reaped rich re- ward* He appeared to work faster, or has cut the running time since last seen, at leust his act moved at a good pace and pleased all the way. The Four London* had no trouble holding them In their seats after their first trick. These boy* have a couple of their best tricks at the opening of the act and made thoae In front want to see the act through. It was a dandy closing act for this bill. . ., LIBERTY (M. W. Taylor, mgr.; agent, M. W. Taylor Agency).—The way the bill was laid out this week settled Its fate. This doea not often happen here, but coming with warm wen (.her and following each other'made it a pretty hard combination. It must have been an oversight that brought Charles Nichols and Co. In "Miss Fltt J rom ., B f road - way" and Inman and Wakefield In At the Rail Game" on the same bill. Both are talky sketches with a lot of dialog leading up to the same kind of a finish. In the Nichols sketch there Is a long-lost sister dis- covered working for a moY, 1 "*-^"™ ma *~ nate In a tank town, and In the Inman- Wakeneld sketch, which has been playing in the burlesque houses for some time now. the long-lost son turns up as a ticket-spec at a ball game. The only thing needed to com- plete the picture was a third sketch bringing the ticket spec and the gal together as sweet- hearts. As both have appeared as principals In Eastern Wheel burlesque shows, this mlSM be considered a legitimate climax. The Nich- ols sketch Is a slang skit and there Is Plenty of It. most of which was lost on the Liberty audience, but It had a happv ending which helped at the finish. There Is too much of the story, "but It wll prolnbly do well enough for the small time when placed to better advantage. The other sketch also caught Its reward with the sentimental finish. The Halklngs opened the show with shadow- graphs and then Follette and Wl ks put over a well liked singing and dancing turn with a little talk added. Pearl and Roth, with their former sketch, cut down to a piano net In "one." scored nicely. The change places the Hct in a class which Is pretty well worked out at present, but the boys put their stuff over In Rood shape and have a "one-string" violin duet number which caught the fancy when "Silver Threads" was played. Who- ever Is responsible for reviving this old bal- lad has done a lot for many an act In vaude- ville. Pearl and Roth took away a liberal nharc of the honors. Josephine Fields and the It,una Rama (Jirls had the closing spot and wire well liked. The sketch Is weak on com- ply, except the fun the man must get out of kissing the six girls three or four times a day. The act ought to last as long as the girls will stnnd for the kisses. They have a couple of catchy numbers, but some real live com- edy would help a lot. The Liberty is holding lo Its patronage despite the opposition of "pop" vaudeville at 5 and 10 In the <lraml opera House around the corner. KMPIRE (Sam M. Dawson, mgr.; agent. H. Hart McIIugh). —The lutest change In the policy at the old Ye Park hna brought "pop" LOCKHART *• LEDDY COMEDY ACROBATS In "A BRAVE ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE' 9 ■ BROWN-BARROWS In "THE GIRL AND THE PEARL" (By WILBUR MACK) MEETING WITH SUCCESS ON THE LOEW CIRCUIT Charles DEDIO'S ANIMALS THIS WEEK (May 27) KEITH'S, BOSTON Direction, PAUL DURAND MARION MUNSON Playing five female character* In Hal Forrest'* Protean Offering, "THE KIDN BIANCA." "You Can't Tall From Where You Sit How She Doe* It. DIRECTION JENIE JACOBS PAT CASEY AGENCY KIDNAPPING OF N vaudeville In at the 5-10 scale, three shows daily, eight acts, split. Corse Payton gave th* houae a three weeks' whirl with stock, but quit when It looked aa If he nil«ht atart aome business. The Empire Circuit burlesque shows played the houae laat seaaon. F. O. Nlxon- Nirdllnger was reported to have been after it but It finally went to M. Greenwald, who operates the Great Northern, with Bart Mc- Hugh supplying the acts. Colonel Dawson represented George W. Rife In the deal for the lease and took the relna aa manager fo» the new leasee, proving that the Colonel la some little fixer himself. E. J. Bulkley, who managed the houae for the Empire Circuit last season, waa around to aee the houae get a atart Monday and left for a aummer'a reat somewhere In Michigan. He will probably be back again next season. The patrona were given a good show aa a starter and If the policy of the house remains stationary long enough for the realdenta of the neighborhood to know what la really being played at the house, the Empire may do some business. Reed's Bulldogs, with the little black and white Engllah whippet, which Is a real star, opened and acored. Le Fevre and St. John. In their singing and talking aklt which might be called "Giggles" from the way they laugh at their own gags, did nicely. Whirl's Four Harmonlata pulled down liberal reward ana Raymond, Lelghton and Morse In their trav- esty skit put over a laughing hit. The sec- ond half of the bill was: Stelner Trio, The Mullcrs, George Von Hoff and Tempo Trio. When the Western Wheel Shows played here Inst season "Big Foot Wallace." "The Irish Justice" and a few more of the pieces »vhlch were used by the burlesque companies fairly "knocked them off the seats," so that Colonel Dawson should not have much trouble In getting them coming If given the right kind of bills. VICTORIA (Jay Masthaum. mgr.; agent, Jules E. Aronson).—With the Palace offering straight pictures for the summer season, the Victoria has the vaudeville privilege alone on Market street. The bill did not get above the fair mark this week and with a touch of hot weather and a "dead" bunch In front, the flrat show on Monday didn't atart a thing. Ursone and D'Osta with their musical turn featured and held up their end in good shape. The music and alnging makes this a satisfactory number for the small time, but the act still needs shaping up before the team can reach anything higher. Emily Aga- mar did very nicely for a starter. She aent her songs over in a likable way. Miss Aga- mar made two changea, but the second one detracted rather than helped her ap- pearance. In a boy's suit, she looked natty, but mlaaed something by going to an old ballad. Up-to-date atuff la the thing, but then it must be right to make an Impres- sion on the small time vaudeville patrons, who expect more for their ten cents than the "big time'' habitues. Probably Miss Cad Draper found thla out after the flrat ahow. She started nicely and then faded away by using the wrong kind of songa and a baseball bit, which even the announcement that It was by "Connie Mack" could not help. Miss Draper looked nice in her all- green get-up and with some snappy songs ran do better than she did here. Harvelle and LaBelle were liked for their contortion work in full stage after falling with a alng- ing and dancing number In "one." The lat- ter don't belong, even If it Is used to give the girl a chance to do something In the net. Walsh and Zu Zonne have a singing and dancing turn of fair merit. After a "straight" number, the man does some step- ping, and they finish with a "Rowery" bit. Hart 'ind Neal did as well as usual with their familiar "Hlster act." The girls do dance well In each number. Tanner and Pot- ter offered a piano act which needs a lot to keep It going with some very goo t | acta of the kind now In view. The winger appeared to be suffering with n cold, but this was not the only fault In the act. GET OVER THE SUMMER Send One Dollar for Three Months' Subscription BIJOU (Joseph Dougherty, mgr.; agent, TJ. B. O.).—There waa no room for fault- finding with the show they are giving here for the 5-10 acale of prices since the policy changed back to the contlnuoua for the summer. A good average waa reached by the alx acta this week. The College Trio held up the first half and Lew Brlce and Lillian Gonne did the aame aervlce for the The trio scored ita hit on the work of the piano player and the boy who sings Starting with them, the act soared high and fell off when tiny finished. The masquerade bit la weak. With a little strengthening at each end and aome of the talk cut out, they will have a first-class act for the small big time. Brlce and Gonne also sailed through after a slow start. Brlce might aa well drop the Bert Williams stuff and get down to something on the eccentric line of stepping which is his forte. "Sassy" Gonne livened things up with her whistling, and they kidded themselves through to a good finish. Rossmure and Dilworth presented a sketch called "April 1st," which drew aome good laughs. It is long drawn out and very talky, but baa aome snappy linos and several chancea for altuationa which were not taken full advantage of. It tells of a quarrel between man and wife who took a "nlght-off" without permission of each other. The wife returns and starts things becauae she finds another blonde in her bed where she thinks her huaband waa all night. He knows the blonde la there, but kicks be- cauae his wife gets so fussy about her being there. Strange how fussy one can get over a "blonde." Anyway, the quarrel ia patched up when the "blonde" is found to be a dum- my and placed in the bed aa an April Fool'a ,1oke on the pair. It makes a good sketch for small time. John Healy. the veteran blackface, la now billed aa "Little Johnny." He la doing most of his old stuff and alng- ing one song which he used when he and Nellie did the "What It Ia" aketch In thla same houae. Ha did fairly well. Tom 81- della'a black art pleased as an "opener" and the LaNollea put a likable finish with their aerial act. Several good pictures ware ahown, the "Laat Rltea of the Maine" being received with warm recognition. It Is an excellent film and an appropriate number for this week. Billy Hart senda word that he and Marie will end their successful trip over the Orpheum Circuit thla week and after a week In Chicago will put In the aummer on their farm at Berlin. N. J. He la aendlng out a price liat on what he expecta to grow. Zelaae'a Cafe looka like a regular New York theatrical headquarters now. The cafe haa been turned Into a flower garden, and Dave Kaplin and hla orchestra will be on duty all aummer. Philadelphia Lodge, No. 64, Loyal Order of Moose, haa opened an agreement to pur- chase two properties at 1814-16 North Broad, where a clubhouse is to be opened. The price Is nald to be $47,600, and 160.000 is to be spent In remodeling. e» BOSTON By J. GOOI/TZ. 80 Bummer Street. TREMONT (John Sehoffleld. mgr.; K. A E.) •The Spring Maid" (Christie MacDonald). N< xt wf'k will see the close of the seaaon for the show. PLYMOUTH (Kre,i Wright, mgr.; Lleblers). "Allan Jimmy Valentine" now In the 8th week and can stay as many more. BOSTON (Al Ix>verlng. mgr.; K. A E. ).— "The Fascinating Widow" (Julian Eltlnge). Final week of the seaaon. House will close too. SHUHERT (E. D. Smith, mgr.; Shubert).-- "Il'iiky Pnnky" still going big. Sixth wee U. MAJESTIC (Llndnny Morlson, mgr.). - Stock. CASTLE SQUARE (John Craig, mgr.).— Stock. BOSTON O. H. - "Lamb's Gambol." 31. PARK (W. D. Andrea*, mgr.).—Plctun-H of KulP'-v's Afrlcnn Hunt. Real good business. NATIONAL GARDENS < U. B. O. agent). - "Rolfe ;iod HI* Band. Cabaret. KEITH'S (Harry K. (Justin, mgr.; :igent. IV M. O.).- Although the show was shaken up TOM PAVIESfiTRIO "Motoring in Mid-Air " A REAL SENSATION Vacant for America tram taptsmbor onwards. Near Playlet Variety Theatres CsatrsUiat Cs. Tina ia Essleee 1 . 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