Variety (December 1912)

VARIETY aOBBBBBBBD V DE KALE. All they need at the De Kalb, Brook- lyn, this week to make it perfect are lemonade and peanuts. Circus week has caught on in Brooklyn. Tuesday night Leon Carpenter, who has the arrange- ments under his personal charge, had to squeeze in a New York rube who had traveled all the way to Kosciusko street to see an indoor circus. When they are filling the De Kalb they arc doing something. The house is a wonder. In appointments, layout and ac- oustics it leaves nothing to be desired. The house itself must be an attraction besides the Cunningham & Fluegel- man's vaudeville programs. An all circus bill doesn't sound very promising as a vaudeville entertainment, nor is it, but the idea as a novelty is a big relief which is a great deal. Paly Saunders acted as ringmaster. With the big parade over, Cadieux, the bounding wire man, came in the ring to start the proceedings moving. Cadieux does several stunts on the bound that his size would appear to interfere with ma- terially, but he pleased thoroughly. Rehlander's Animal Kindergarten, 8 pigs, got into the ring after the clowns had cut up some and made the Kiddies giggle with glee. Pigs are not really amusing creatures, but much credit should go to the trainers even if a pig is a pig. The pigs didn't do very well. More clowning and then the Seabert Sisters, billed as "2 beautiful girls and 2 beautiful horses." The billings goes. The girls went through a familiar routine on the backs of the animals and added real circus atmosphere to the surround- ings. The horses weren't accustomed to the stage and it was a little shaky at times for the riders. Mile. Victoria and her animals did splendidly. A nice looking collection of ponies and dogs. Victoria adds to the looks and the act is a good one of its kind. The male assistant might be supressed a bit. The Duffin Redcay Troupe gave the show its thrill. Three times they missed the double twister and once the flyer seemed in imminent peril but they did it finally and then turned off the loop trick in the easiest of fashion. The act does not need the comedy that the flyer is trying for. Ameen Abou Hamad's Arabs made a corking closing turn. No better troupe of these whirlwind acrobats has been seen, and it is doubtful if one as good has been around New York. The Circus week at the De Kalb will prove a big success from early indica- tions. It should, for the management has gone to extreme lengths to give the place the atmosphere of the tent, and they succeed. Dash. ACADEMY OF MUSIC For the Initial introduction of the Academy Into big small time vaudeville. William Fox Is evidently determined to take little or no ^nances on hie show. He seems to be secur- ing as far as possible, the best grade of standard big small time turns. Of tbc nine numbers listed for the second half of Inst week, but one had not been previously re- viewed In VARIETY. It was Lambert and Van (Now Acts), a two-man singing, talking and dancing act. They opened the show. Another singing, dancing and talking turn occupied a place In about the center of the program—a man and woman "settee" act— Lewis and Norton. They are a classy couple, with clever crossfire, smartly put over, with a "somewhat different" neat dance finish, nnd are more than eligible for the two-a-day work. Sketch honors were assigned to William Morrow and Co. and Cl'fford Hippie and Co. Morrow's offering, a coiredy ro- iy skit, FIFTH AVENUE. (Estimated Cost of Show, $2,825.) The current show at the Fifth Avenue is fairly good, well balanced as a whole, but not running to the best amusement of the regular. Tuesday evening the house had a good attendance for this time of the season, when considering no "big name" nor anything very import- ant and new to vaudeville was an at- traction. The headliner of last week, Madame ?, is held over. After seeing the woman who is secreting the upper part of her face under a mask that hides nothing, some one among the Proctor executive staff is entitled to credit for making much out of little. It looks like Gus McCune. Any one who knows Madame ? would easily recognize her through the small transparent lace mask. Also if Madame ? last week caused any one to believe she ever sang in grand opera, some more credit is due. In her two English songs Tuesday evening, the Madame gave no evidence of even a choir qualification with her little thin, parlor soprano that any straight singer in vaudeville has a whole lot on. As an act, Madame ? is almost funny, but for what has been gotten out of it, some one is a wonder. Pat Rooney and Marion Bent were about the big clean up, the encores Pat worked out winning that result. Bert Leslie, with his own native grown slang, made the laughing hit out of "Hogan, the Painter." Since away from New York, Mr. Leslie has invented some new phrases, some of which may be lifted. To protect his best one, it will be mentioned here that when displaying a roll of bills, Mr. Leslie selected a greenback, saying "The Jewish flag." It will hardly be any excuse for any one to claim it though employing a yellowback instead. Mr. Les- lie has no material excepting his own. The comedy skit worked fast with the company of three and gave plenty of amusement. The Lozano Troupe (New Acts) closed the show at 10.30. The La Toy Brothers opened the program well with their acrobatic comedy. Van and Schenck were "No. 2," too early. These boys have a good singing two-act. If the character singer would throw out the "Yiddish" matter and in- sert instead, "Mississippi," for instance, he might notice an immediate improve- ment. He has the voice for "Mississippi," which looks big just now. A Cabaret turn like Van and Schenck should grab off a song like it at once. Porter J. White and Co. in "Scandal" (New Acts) came next, followed by Swor and Mack in blackface, who did very well. The Ber- rens in music and female impersona- tion appeared just before the applause hit of the night Mr. Rooney and Miss Bent put over. Sime. bad "No. 3" position. His laughing song caught the audience just right and made them unbend. Hippie's As Robert Hllllard'e former dramatic sketch. It's played In approved fashion. In the sketch designation might be Included the musical skit formerly employed by Walter and Goorgle Lawrence, now being done by Broughton and Turner, with the open- ing altered a bit to shorten the turn. They have been carefully rehearsed In the "busi- ness" used by their predecessors. Also on the bill was Ruth Becker, a di- minutive soubret, who sings the popular pub- lished Bongs in an acceptable manner. The Stone Wahl Jackson Trio (two men and a woman), did a fast piano act of the rath- skeller variety and "whooped *er up" In good shape. Three Yoscarye had closing position. The fat, good-natured understander Is no longer In tnc act and is succeeded by a rather stolid giant minus his predecessor's sen*e of humor. Kcnney and Hollls next to closing win out strongly on an encore. They are using Barnes and Crawford'* "Mary Roach" *•*■ Jnln. COLONIAL. (Estimated cost of show, $3,825.) Attendance at the Colonial was rather light Monday night. The lower floor and balcony each hit off about the three-quarter mark with only one box and about one-half the lodges paid for. The show is a good one. If it can't do business with Cecilia Loftus at the head then it appears as though it would take a radical change in policy to do it at the house. William Rock and Maud Fulton moved from opening intermission to next to closing, following Miss Loftus (New Acts) were far and away the hit of the evening. The couple have never shown a more interesting and diversi- fied specialty than their present en- gagement. The French drama is a travesty gem. The audience fairly out- did themselves for Rock and Fulton and the couple go down as one of those old time Williams' Colonial hits. Homer B. Mason and Marguerite Keeler closed the first half. The sketch to those familiar and unfamiliar is just as funny as ever. Mr. Mason always has a new line or two that freshens things up, and Miss Keeler looks so well there is no chance of being any- thing but interested. Phina and Picks caught the early running and in "No. 2" position scored a solid success. Away from the usual run of pick acts Phina has selected three wonder ninnies, two girls and a boy, and they do Russian stuff that many of the Russian troupes never heard tell of. Phina is the head of the act at all times and is not dependent upon the pix. It will take a pretty good bill to hold this act in "N". J" position. Dorothy lireniur and Jos. KatclitT were "4," ami only the culi 1 Dorothy Brenner held the act from turning tur- tle. At present "At the Flower Stand" is not an act. It is Miss Brenner and nothing more. The couple made a mis- take to come back into the metropolis with the same material. Miss Brenner might discard the kid dressing after doing the one song and finish in a pretty frock. Kluting's Animals. "No. 3," were very interesting. Animal acts worked on a table seem to home the attention best for some reason. The house mani- fested keen enjoyment in the antics of the dogs and cats, not forgetting the bunny and doves. The basket jumping by the cast is a very good incident. Fred Duprez opened after the inter- mission and fared very well. Lydia and Albino closed the show. They can very nearly claim a record at the Co- lonial. The entire house remained seated, held by the attractive grace- fulness of the woman equilibrist. The couple have a first rate routine with a flash in the scenery that will make it a corking closing number for any vaude- ville program. Wartenburg Bros, gave the show a fitting send off with their pedal jug- gling. Dash. Maritana Resler, known profession- ally as Miss Maritana, and her cousin, Richard Resler, a non-pro, were mar- ried Dec. 1 in Huntington, I,. I. CORRESPONDENCE West otfcfwif ■•ted, the followim reports are for the current week. JOHN J. D'CMIMR CHICAGO VAMET * 8 Chicago office: (WYNN) \JAmmvirm\#vr majestic theatre building Representative MAJESTIC (Lyman B. Glover. mgr. ; agent. Orph).—To the strains of "Marseillaise" and with the house packed from celling to cellar the divine Sarah made her Initial bow to an American vaudeville audience last Monday afternoon, and after thlrty-Beven minute* of divine raving In French she bowed off with a doxen or more curtain calls, some pretty flow- ers, much applause, and vaudeville Jerked it- self up another notch or two. A carload of scenery depicting the ducal palace of Ferrarra and a quartet of excellent actors make Bern- hardt's support worthy of her efforts. Bern- hardt Is pulling packed houses at advanced prices. No one understood the piece she played and no one cared. They rame to Re** Bernhardt. After one look they were satis- fied. Getting back to the vaudeville end of the bill one would pick Claud Golden and his orlelnal idea In the way of a single as the best on the bill. Golden entertained royally throughout his stay. The Four Huntings, with Harry Fern In the cast, were another surprise. The loss of Tony, the former com- edian, has not handicapped the turn. A new theme to Introduce their abilities, supplied by Frank North. Is quite as good If not bet- ter than the original. They wont big. Lydla Nelson and a quartet of dancers held the open- ing spot. With an appreciative audience they earned some large applause although the ma- jority of the audience were moving In during their stay. Josle Heather looked a bit. off un- til she got half way through her specialty and then with some good numbers, some nifty clothes and her usual stock of personality. walked off with a great big hit. Elsa Rueg- ger. a lady cellist, held a spot In "one" while Abe Jacohs prepared the palace of Ferrarra for Sarah, and Cross and Lois, who followed the star, worked hard and made good. Wynn. and was compelled to bow her acknowledg- ments several times. The bill is one of much Interest. Several acts are unusually good. Chick Sale scores. He has Improved some of his work and his conception of a country school entertainment goes with briskness and affords some little wholesome amusement. The Nlchol Sisters are still offering their own especial brand of fun, and it is relished. The Exposition Four hold their own. Their act Is well managed and they are versatile to a de- gree. Rose Crouch and George Welch are billed as a lively pair, and the billing is not wrong. Second on the bill was Ignatius Car- dosh. a pianist, on the order of De Pacbmann. only less so. He has a program containing music that Is popular. Belle Hathaway's ba- boons and monkeys opened the entertainment and created a pleasant diversion. The 1 wo Jonleys, who defy the laws of equilibrium, put a period to the bill and they succeed In hold- ing the Interest pretty well to the final cur- tain. A good audience greeted the bill Mon- day afternoon. The Indications are that the week will be satisfactory from the box office end. Reed. PALACE MUSIC HALL (Mort H. Slnacr. mgr. ; agent. Orpheum).—While Barries "The Twelve-Pound Look" Is not new to Chicago, snd Ethel Parrymore, who Is acting It It In 'hl« house presented It at the Majestic some time ago, It Is a pleasure to note that the piece Is being given with finer feeling and « much better depletion of character than on former occasions. Monday afternoon Miss Barrymore wm received with enthusiasm. AMERICAN MUSIC HALL (Sam IV Gerson. mgr.; Shuberts)—.Tames T Powers in "Two Lltilo Brides." Moderate business. Powers Is the whole show. AUD1TORH M (Bernard Ulrl« h, mgr.; Hid.) . - Chicago Grand Opera Co. offering new and old opera*. Attendance large. BLACKSTONK (Augustus Pii.nu. Jr., mgr : K. 6 E.).-David Warfleld In 'Thi; Return of Peter Grimm" with success. Second time here. CHICAGO OPERA HOUSE (George W Klnguhury, mgr.; K. & El— William Hodge In a return of "The Man From Home," ufter five years. Not much Interest In reappear- ance. GRAND f). H. (Harry Ridings, mgr K. * E.).—"The Little Millionaire" good musical comedy, doing fine business. COLONIAL (James Jay Brfdy, mgr.; K A E. >.— La«t week of Men Hur." whlc 0 ha* had a successful run Next week, "The Rose Maid." CORT (U. J. Hermann msr. , Ind i— Fine Feathers," stl 11 drawing *be crowds. Two more weeks.