Variety (June 1913)

14 VARIETY AMERICAN. A fairly good show, strictly within the small time limits, seemed to please the capacity audience that attended the Roof Tuesday evening, when ideal the- atre weather prevailed. The show opened with an illustrated song singer, who came without his slides to popu- larize a ballad. The opening spot was held down by the Cullen Brothers, the stereotyped double dancing team who open with a song and dance, go to the single routines and close with duet dancing. As singers, the boys are fair- ly good dancers. As dancers they measure up to the rank and file of this particular brand of amusement. Open- ing the show they suffered from the usual circumstances. Maybelle McDonald (New Acts) held the second period, and then the Petit Family of ground and shoulder gym- nasts went through a routine of circus work that was irreparably slaughtered by an orchestration which entailed some expert bass drum work and pre- sented half the houseful with an incur- able headache. The music evidently came from the circus with the family. It should be relegated to the ash heap instanter. Otherwise the act looked sufficiently strong to travel the small time route. Hilton and Mallon were one of the evening's hits with the act formerly presented by Hilton and Lewis. In Mallon, Hilton has a good straight man, but his impersonation of Lauder sing- ing "Daisy" could be greatly improved. As a foil for Hilton's comedy, Mallon does splendidly. The act carefully fussed up a little will gradually hop to the front. "Circumstantial Evidence" closed the first section, the dramatic finish corrall- ing a safe hit. While the skit is a wonderful bit of dramatic construction, it is going back and looks good for a permanent life on the smaller circuits. Felix opened the second half with his series of drawings, the subjects of which have been carefully chosen, but his fingers are quite crude in compari- son to the other cartoonists in vaude-. ville. The last picture brought him safely past the danger mark. The headliner, Daisy Harcourt, held the spot next to closing and cleaned up with plenty to spare. Her eccentric wardrobe ran second only to her reper- toire. The closing number, "God Save the King," is one of the best comedy songs ever imported. It could stand a few extra verses. John Higgins held the last number on the indicator, offering his novel jumping turn. Higgins belongs on the big time. His specialty, which is pre- sented with a touch of showmanship, is strong enough to close any bill, espe- cially since it is so different from the many silent acts. He held every audi- tor in for the pictures. Wynn. ACT MAKING PICTURES. Los Angeles, June 11. Bert Howard and EHic Lawrence, formerly together in vaudeville, are now picture makers, appearing in Fred Mace's "One Round O'Brien Comes Back," which will be released in about three weeks. Howard is the trainer to Mace (O'Brien) in the film. NBW YORK. Standees, two rows deep, Tuesday night proved the pop ihows at the New York theatre are still there with the drawing power on Broadway. The house's thick-cushioned seats, which stick closer than a brother in the summer time, especially when the heat is guzzling from the asphalt out- side, have been covered with light wrap- pers for the warm weather crowds. They start the shows at the New York so early one must gulp down his sinkers in a hurry to catch the starting acts. Getting in after eight Tuesday night found the "Nathan Hale" (Kinemacolor) feature picture running full blast. It is a multiple reel with a historic setting and a dash of 1776 coloring (the encampment of two armies). The reel is nothing more than the showing in colors by the camera of the tragic ending of the famous Revolutionary spy. It's an educational meal for the kids with the grown-ups liking the pretty field set- tings. Blanche Huntington, with Burt Schader at the piano, sang several numbers with costume changes, aided and abetted by several special exte- rior drops in "one." The act is of pop house calibre. It lacks life and a change of program would be beneficial. Williams and Weston got along nicely, notwithstanding that the German come- dian worked as though his vocal chords were frosted with cold. They have gone better in other pop houses. "A Day at the Circus" was a big hit. Between the didoes of a trained donkey, an acrobatic dog, a wire-walk- ing monkey, and an "unridable" mule the act went over for big returns at the New York. It never fails to land 'em on the big small time. More com- edy was handed out by Warren and Brockaway, who have an act that should get all the time it wants around here. They could have stayed on ten minutes longer and not half tried. The Althea Twins work hard enough to get applause anywhere they hit the pop audiences. Their dancing and acro- batics were well received. Maurice Wood, with her Eva Tanguay imper- sonation, the best thing she does and her main support, appeared just ahead of the Altheas and took several en- cores. Maurice had better have a strong bodyguard with her in some houses when doing that kissing of the baldhcad in the audience. Mark. ROYALTIES ATTACHED. Hans Bartsch, play broker, June 4 served an attachment on Joseph W. Stern & Co., tying up the royalties due from the firm to Victor Hollaender, the composer, on a claim of $2,000 al- leged to be due for acting as his agent in America. Hollaender is at present in Berlin. UNION SOUAKB. A reasonably good eight-act bill,'mi- nus the squawking pictures, together with an even break from the weather nian gave a new lease of life to the Square Monday night, for a well-filled house attended and left pretty well pleased. The first half of the show had come and gone before any signs of a return showed in sight, but with the arrival of Chinko and the succeed- ing numbers, the action quickened and the bill got away to a big finish. Minnie Kaufman was delegated to open the entertainment with a cycle routine, well constructed and when properly presented, one that should carry her through in an early spot on any bill. Unfortunately her showing Monday night was marred with several misses. After several attempts to do a whirl around the handle bars she de- cided to give up. It looked like a stall at first. Those who arrived in time to see the finish handed her sufficient ap- plause to warrant a few well earned bows. After the Rice Brothers (New Acts) had completed their revival specialty the indicator announced "The Villain Still Pursued Her," one of those trav- esties with a laugh in every speech. Brice and Gonne replaced Jeannette Dupree and aside from the man's ec- centric dance and the girl's whistling solo, the act failed to register. A tight- ening up of the routine and a little more speed would help. Chinko juggled his way to popular- ity, style and speed counting more than his routine. Melville and Hig- gins followed and started things for the evening, gathering laughs with each sentence. They earned an en- core, several bows and a "good night" before making way for Valerie Berg- ere and Co. in the late Victor Smal- Icy's "Judgment" which managed to fit like a glove in the short bill. With the house in a receptive mood the dra- matic turn found no trouble in scor- ing heavily. Fred. Bowers and Co., closed the show. "Toots" Davis, the colored dan- cer, introduced a few new ones with both feet. Ada Ripel offered some good work with Bowers, and between the trio they kept the house seated to the finish. Wpnn. Leopold Kohls, the violinist who conducts the Cabaret at the Rudolph Hotel, Atlantic City, was in town look- ing over the various shows and talent. He says the Cabarets in Atlantic City are giving wonderfully big and sensa- tional shows this season. PIERROTS AT THE ZOO. Cincinnati, June 11. June 22 at the Zoological Gardens will commence a run of eight weeks for "The Pierrots," an organization of eight people headed by Harrison Brockbank now appearing in "The Purple Road" at the Liberty, New York. A constant change of program is promised in the advance press matter, with comedy songs, sketches, ballads, duets and operatic selections also list- ed. The title of the show is Harrison Brockbank's Concert Co. Mr. Brockbank leaves the cast of "The Purple Lady" tomorrow night He says there is no resemblance be- tween the performance by his "Pier- rots" and that given by the English "Follies" some time ago at Weber*!. 23RDaiTREET. From 7.30 P. M. until 8.55 but one act was offered at Proctor's 23d Street Tuesday evening, the entertainment running on with Kinemacolor and black and white pictures. A special drop is now used for the colored films, set in "three" with the stage masked. The act used to break the continuous picture run was Paulinetti and Piquo, with their three-headed, four-legged dancing, comedy boxing and wire acro- batics. At first glance one is given to wondering why this team does not play the bigger circuits, as they seem to be full of comedy and novelty ideas. But personally they themselves aren't so funny. Empire State Quartet, three straight and a Hebrew comedian (the latter offering a very poor characterization), go through the usual comedy efforts, solo and concerted numbers. The bass is exceptional, in that he breathes cor- rectly while singing, thereby getting 'the full value out of his vocal efforts. Gertie Gilson is still using her sister's best numbers, but Tuesday evening didn't get enough applause to warrant a return with "Little Willie." Luigi Dell 'Oro, Emma DeCastro and Co., The Modern Svengali, and McCauley and Connell—New Acts. House entirely filled once during the evening. /o'o- AMERICAN. Ju8t what drew them in nobody knew as there was nothing worth raving about in the bills outside and the weather was conducive for park promenading. But there were few empty seats in the Roof auditorium last Thurs- day night when the last half of the "split" bill was placed in review. It was more of a comedy show than the one displayed the first half. There was plenty of singing and with the comedy end well sup- ported the show was declared worth the money. Aldro and Mitchell opened. These two men. one working in clownface, perform on the re- volving ladder. The act, while circusy, pleased and gave the show a good start. Harry Rose was second and he departed with credit. Rose might start right now and display some new clothes. George Leonard and Margaret Meredith work hard and did fairly well with their offering, which needs some patching up with newer, brighter and funnier material. And while the talk is being improved the cigar stand drop they carry might be Introduced to Mr. Paint and Miss Brush. They got over on their song and dance number at the close. Louise Mayo (New Acts) met with imme* diate favor. Another of Jesse Lasky's former "big time" acts, the second to appear In the same week at the American, namely "The Houseboat Party," was on Just before the intermission. The act is right at home In the pop houses where there is not so much expected of it. After Intermission. Mason and Mason (New Acts) showed to good advantage. Walsh- Lynch and Co.. with the familiar rustic, slangy sketch, "At Huckln's Run," proved the hit of the evening. The act has some new slang which went like a house afire. There's a new girl In It. but as the character runs third her work passed muster. Joe Cook was next to closing. He has a new opening and for the finish sports a brand new drop patterned along the lines of the old one. Joe opens by giving a vaudeville show as he sees It. He has a funny Idea well worked up. His old finish got the usual re- sults. It wouldn't be a bad little Idea for Joe to take that "I Thank You" curtain over to London. If not seen there before this Its bound to get a big laugh. La Deodlma and her Illuminated poses closed. This act Is classy and artistic for pop time. Mark. ELMER TENNY DEAD. Spokane, June 11. Word was received here today that Elmer Tenny died in El Paso, where he went to regain his health after leaving the act of Waterbury Bros, and Tenny. The deceased was a sufferer from consumption. His home is in this city- Mr. Tenny was the blackface come- dian with the musical turn named above.