Variety (December 1912)

VARIETY 29 that house was under the management and distributing cigars In appreciation of the rrival of a Bcott heir recently. Mrs. Scott, who was Haiel Baldwin, Identified with many musical comedy companies hereabouts, and the little fellow, are both doing nicely. It seems that again the faculty of feeling the pulse of the public and prescribing ac- cordingly Is going to proTe most efficacious in removing a "hoodoo" from a local house. This Ume it is the Princess recently purchased from Elmer Workman by F. A. Pollock and pot under the management of J. Harry Clem- eat. Since the new policy of one vaudeville act, backed up by a comely chorus, and pic- tures, the new policy, which Mr. Clement in- saturated upon assuming charge, the house has built up wonderfully. Jesse Booth, former secretary to John H. Blackwood, is now associated with the Key- stone Motion Picture Company in Bdendale. Charles Alphln left last week for Portland to Join the Keating and Flood company at the l^rlc theatre. Monte Carter, now at the Century, has been engaged by Ed Armstrong for his company at the American, San Francisco. The Maurice Chick company closed a sea- son of dramatic stock at the Belvedere, Pom- ona, Nov. 23. Gordon Johnson, violinist at the Century, and Flora Stronach, nonprofessional, of Sajita Barbara, were married Nov. 25. Harry Rus- sell acted as witness. Ed. Clisbee. who has been a member of the Ammex company in San Diego, has Joined tne Lyceum stock company here. The Am- mex company has suspended operations for the time being, but Is expected to resume within four or Ave weeks. in Honolulu December 22, according to pres- ent plans. The Forman stock company, consisting of Tom Forman, Hally Mitchell, Violet Neltz. Elisabeth De Witt. Louis Morrison, William Brunton, Caroline Edwards, Albert Edmund- son, William Heater and Eugene Walsh, open at The Elks' theatre, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 5. for a season of dramatic stock. Jack Dolson will have charge of the publicity end of the venture. Ed Lewis, brother of Dave, has Joined the company at the Adolphus. Manager Oliver Morosco seems to have picked another winner In taking over the Lyceum and installing a stock company for the production of melodrama. The opening week proved a record breaker, bumper houses greeting the Hartley Campbell play, "The White Slave," every performance. Maude Le- one and Andrew Bennlson are playing the leads and are surrounded by a competent company. Incidentally it is not expected that Miss Leone will Ion* remain at the Spring street house as It Is said that Mr. Morosco intends switching her over to one of his other companies, in all probability that which will open the new Morosco. (Manager John Griffith Wray Is also said to have made arrangements with the Universal Film Company to send along a camera man and a scenario editor on the trip for a series of film stories with the alluring and seduct- ive atmosphere of the Islands as a suitable setting for same. "Den Hur" Is to be the attraction at the MaHon Christmas week. Tim Virginia Brlssac company, now playing a most successful return engagement at Long Beach, Is to close December 8th and open PHILADBLPIA. By OBOmOsl M. YOUNG. KEITH'S (H. T. Jordan, mgr.; agency, U. B. O.).—This week's bill gathered its speed steadily and being laid out to good advantage played nicely throughout with a big laughing hit down next to cloeing where it did the most good. Victor Moore and Emma Little- field got laughs going early and they grew steadily until the final curtain with honors well distributed. To those who remember the remarkable treatment give a very diffi- cult character role In "Mme. Butterfly" by Valerie Bergere, the sketch, "His Japanese Wife," presented this week with one of the prettiest settings seen In some time, brought welcome memories. The story cf "O Chlcka San" and her wedding to ac American is different from "Mme. Butterfly" only In its happy ending Instead of the pathetic finish of the little Japanese who waited in vain for the return of her Naval hero. Miss Ber- gere is always one of our most welcome vis- itors, an artiste of ability who makes her sketches score through careful and consid- erate treatment and "His Japanese Wife" is one of her very best, ;f not the best we have seen. Henry Cllve has an eye for the artistic. On previous visits Henry dealt out magic tricks and some glib talk, while a petite blonde In tight velvet knickerbockers gath- ered In most of the "looks." The girl In "Knickers" has disappeared and Cllve calls his new act "Spirit Paintings." It's an Il- lusion, and a good one, too. Cllve helped It along considerably by the talk he used and the act held rapt attention, drawing a warm hand at the finish and leaving those in front wrapped in much doubt. The "dis- play" mlssln* from the Cllve act was filled in by Mabel Mario, one of the Mario Trio, who can win some honors for the neatest look- ing athletic girl that vaudeville can boast of. Miss Mario Is some little "bearer" In the bar act of the trio and the two men turn a routine of nifty tricks which recall tbe Mario-Dunham Troupe, a bar act which -t..od at the top some years ago. Armstrong and Ford proved a very likable team, with a singing and talking act that is different. The comedy talk is handled cleanly and with ex- cellent results. Billy Armstrong still re- tains considerable of his ability as a singer. They have an enjoyable act which was much appreciated. Ethel MacDonough, with the charms of the "Divine Myrma" hidden from view, Is doing a "single" without the aid of a drum and doing nicely with It. All but one of her songs have been pretty thoroughly flayed by "singles" and others, but Miss Mac- Donough won her way with them. It seems only fair to herself that Miss MacDonough should put in a couple of "excluslves" to build up a neat little "single" that will continue to get over right along. Havlland and Thorn- ton did nicely with "A Question of Policy." a comedy sketch. Phil Staats played the piano and exhibited his 800 pound* of aver- riupois in an early position, and Wentworth, Besta and the clever dog opened the bill nicely. BIJOU (Joseph Dougherty, mgr.; agent, U. B. 0.).-^Just a fair bill this week, the magio act of Mile. Herrmann and the shoot- ing turn by The Randalls doing a lot to lift the show out of a rut Mme. Herrmann holds to most of her familiar magic tricks, but has added a suit of black tights Instead of ki- mono costume. Her tricks are not in the sensation class, but the act frames up as a good one as a big small timer. The shoot- ing act of the Randalls made a strong closing number. The man does some fancy shots and the woman can handle a rifle cleverly. It's a showy act Jim and Elsie Hasleton got laughs with their comedy talklnr act The Four Harmony Boys, a "rathskeller" act, got by In fair shape with popular songs. The Four Masons offered a "Patsy Bollver" school- room act without using a slapstick, but with some poor comedy, ana Johnny Lyons started things off with a comedy Juggling turn of orcinary merit VICTORIA (Jay Mastbaum, mgr.; booked direct).—Animal acts held sway on Market street this week, the Palace and this house having a big "circus" number to head- line the bill. Lukens' Animals was the card here and proved a big "draw." It's a big showy act for this house and ought to "get 'em" strong during ths early holiday rush. The woman handles the animals In a showy manner. The Parisian Models Is another "show" act but the women posers were too heavily garbed to attract much attention following some of the acts seen here and passed by with light attention. Cooper and Rlcardo did very well with their singing and talking act. Restlvo played popular stuff on his accordion and won a liberal amount of favor. The act will not stand comparison with some of the others seen on the "pop" time, but makes a pleasing number. Nash and Evans won their usual nonors with their "Morning Rehearsal" act. The banjo number is missing and the double stepping will do nicely when the girl's breathing apparatus Is in Its best condition. Shaw and Swan got by with a neat-looking singing and talking act. The talking can stand freshening up and quicker handling. Appearances help this pair a lot. Fanny Fondolier pleased with her wire act. Rockwell and Woods offered a talking act of light calibre and Spencer and Lawton did the usual routine of comedy acro- bats. PALACE (E. L. Perry, mgr.; booked di- rect).— Adgle and her lions was a big card for this house and Monday's audience was the beet noticed for some time. Adgle's act ranks as one of the best "show" acts offered at this house and received its Just reward. Passeri's Band of twelve musicians went over in creat shape. The hit wad so positive that Manager Perry stated that he had engaged the bond Indefinitely. Thlj 1* the first time an arc has done this here. Le Roy, a handcuff expert, did several kinds of "escape" tricks. getting out or a mall bag, straight jacket and irons in view of the audience. Over-zealou* work on the part of a couple of "plants" robbed the act of some of Its value and it was dragged out too long for the bill. Marion Harrison appeared Instead of Anna Brown and pleased with three songs. Miss Harrison etlll ranks among the good dressers among women "singles" and delivers her songs In win- ning fashion. Anna Belmont snng comedy songs and told some of Maggie Cllne'< gnRtv also others used by "fat" girl* of ih« stage. She worked In good-natured style and her audience treated her kindly. Princess Elisa- beth, a tiny singer and dancer, won warm favor. She Is a clever little girl and de- served the laurels awarded her. Abdallah and Abdallah offered a nice-looking acrobatic number. He has several showy tricks of the Arab style of floor tumbling and the %vo work out a useful acrobatlo number. Mile. Paula did nicely with her familiar ring and trapeze act and Arthur Krona sings and Juggles. The Juggling gets over. There is no excuse for the other. EMPIRE (Wash Martin, mgr.).—It was Just 4.35 Monday afternoon when Frankie Rice came on to lead the "Melo Melody" num- ber, the last but one on the program offered by the "Yankee Doodle Qirls." Up to this time nothing else looked like a big hit In either "The Piano Movers" or "Pat the Por- ter," the first part and afterpiece so that Miss Rice simply nailed down the big honors right on the spot. Lillian Keely had ths last number, but the near-cooch number, "Do It In the Dark," couldn't even start a ripple after Miss Rice had finished up. That "Mel- ody" number with the fine clowning by Miss Rice was needed badly to boost up the show, but even then there was no one leaving the theatre tired from laughing. Several times during the afternoon Frankie Rice nearly started something while leading numbers and In the olio with Harry H. Young, she put over a well-liked act, but the "Melo Melody" number Just about saved the burlesque por- tion of the show from doing a fine flop. The "Yankee Doodle" show Is far short on com- edy. Lew Williams, as a Hebrew and Harry McAvoy, Irish, are the leaders In the at- tempt to get laughs, but neither succeeds to any extent They do a bit of "floor" com- edy in the first part which got a few laughs out of the Empire patrons who will laugh at most anything and McAvoy drew a few snickers by repeatedly slipping up and down the hotel stairs, but the laughs were never strong. Joe Mills played a "rube" constable in the usual way throughout the two pieces doing as well as cou a be expected with the material. Tbe best bit in the first part was a travestied "Texas Tommy" number In which a couple of the chorus girls pulled the number through and the best laughs In the burlesque came through the use of a trick elevator. Aside from these "bits" and the big number led by Miss Rice, in which several members of the chorus helped out, there was nothing that really stood nut. Lillian Keely led three numbers In the first part, looking well at all times, but get- ting very little out of her songs, while there was nothing in the lines or business given her to deliver that made her prominent as a leading woman. Miss Keely dressed for the "cooch" number at the flnUth, but attempted no wiggle so passed away very quietly. The numbers would have helped a lot had the girls made as much of their opportunities in the first part as they did in the burlesque T. W. Dlnklns has gathered a good-looking lot of girls who make a nice appearance and can work when In the mood. Several pretty costumes are worn, the black tights outfit with white fur trimming being the pret- tiest. Maybe the girls don't like the other numbers and there nre several for which no one will blame them. One In particular, the Scotch song led by Joe Evans, takes the palm ae the worst of all the Scotch numberg yet seen. Tbt« goes for the leader and chorus. PAT HANLEY CHARLES DOLL JAMES LUM GUS WICKE BROADWAY FOUR With WEBER & FIELDS' "I ■? CHARLES DOLL, Manager, 112 W. 38th St., New York When anrwering advertisement $ kindly mention VARIETY.