Variety (August 1913)

VARIETY Next Week (Sept. 1) Teck Theatre Buffalo wu another big applause winner. The Mu- sical Art Three, excellent The Aerial Bart- letts. pleased. EMPRESS (Dana Hayes, mgr.).—The Bracks, pleased, making one of the few acro- batic numbers that have topped a bill here. They scored the applause hit of the show. "When Women Rule" was a hit. Medlln. Tet- her and Townes were well received. Barly and Byall were popular. Aubrey Pringle and Violet Allen were among friends. Lee Broth- era opened nloely. PHILADELPHIA By GEORGE M. TOUNO. KEITH'S (H. T. Jordan, mgr.; agent, U. B. O.).—There wasn't a particularly big hit on the bill this week, the show moving along at an even gait with each of the acts getting over nicely without stirring up any noise. Edwards' "Song Revue" closed the show and up until the last few numbers did very well, the cute youngsters doing a great deal to help things along. It seemed those In front were looking for something new, but Edwards Is sticking to nearly all the old routine and it Is not wearing well. The act dragged badly toward the finish and closed lightly. 11c- Drvltt, Kelly and I-ucey had a nice spot for their "Piano Movers" act and scored solidly, the eccentric stepping of the two boys get- ting the laughs and Miss Lucey the looks when she appeared In her soldier suit. They have a good finishing bit that sends them oft with a laugh. Something new In poslngs was shown by the Castlllans, and the posers were accorded liberal returns for their work. Pos- ing acts have been pretty well done, but the coloring In this Is new and gives a new bit of life to this sort of an act. Howard, Rat- llff and Hayden were a little bit too far down on the bill to secure the best results with their comedy turn. Charley Howard Is a capital comedian and Ratllff a first rate straight man. Most of the material used Is familiar to patrons of burlesque, but new to the big time vaudeville devotees and most of It went over with excellent results, Howard's "souse" going fine. Miss Hayden looks well and does a "Tango" with Howard. Working In "one" Is a sort of handicap, but the bit Is well worked up. Slgnor Angelo Patrlrolo, billed as "The great Italian pianist," made his Initial appearance here. Patrlcolo Is a good musi- cian so far as technique Is concerned, and those who understood his music liked, him as much as those who didn't and tried to make others believe they knew he was play- ing classy stuff. Slgnor Pat has a lot to learn about vaudeville audiences and will find that he will get a lot more with popular stuff than by dallying wfth Intricate compositions. There are many good pianists In vaudeville and 8lgnor Pat has shown us nothing new. but he can play the piano. McRae and Clegg were well liked In a "bike" act. Al Carlton didn't do much In an early spot, laughs com- ing lightly. His material Is not as good as In the past and he Isn't so funny looking as a "skinny guy" as he used to be. especially with Joe McDevItt aji the same bill. "Dalesslo" opened the show and got all there was to be had out of the spot. There Is still something to he Rotten out of the "twin" acrobatic stunts if it Is worked up a little more. METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE (Eu- gene Myers, mgr.; agent, Loew).—Without n name feature to follow Chlng Ling Foo and James K. Hackett. business held up fine this week and the bill reached a good average. The "Every Husband" sketch, played over the big time by Joe Hart, was the headliner. holding over for the full week. Joe Maxwell has the act on the Loew time and is pre- senting the act with a cast which gives a good performance. Several of the orlglnnl members are with It. Among the new mem- bers the work of Mercedes Alvin stands out distinctly. Her treatment of the role of "Jeal- ousy" Is better than the original's and she makes a stunning appearance In a flashy green gown. Some of the others fall a bit short, but It's a capable cast for the popular price houses and the sketch registered a sub- stantial hit. Undine Andrews with her "kid" stuff was one of the best liked acts. Miss Andrews hHB the knack of knowing how to get her stories over. If her songB were equal to her stories she would be a sure-fire hl» inywhorp, The whirlwind finish to the Kchrodi- anil Mnlvoy act took them off to a Mr hand The early portion Is the weakest. There Is JiiBt r suxRostlon of the stepping that Llz/li- Mulvey did years ago with Pearl Inman. and sh<- Is a wonderful worker In that knockabout finish. The act went big. Grant Gardner was very well treated. The one trouble with Gard- ner Is that he takes himself too seriously as a comedian. He Is a good musician and this part of his act went through on Its merlta His efforts to comedo were not so good and his bawling out of his cues to stags crew and orchestra was very bad. Gardner ought to build up a good act. Lyons and Cullun opened nicely with a mixture of dancing, whistling and Imitations. Some of the latter by the man were unusually good and won warm favor. The bike act of the Three Newmans gave the hill a nice finish. The boxing on wheels gives a new twist for a wheel act. The pictures go as well as anywhere In town and Manager Myers Is giving his patrons a good lot of first run films each weak. TROCADERO (Robert Morrow, mgr.).—The promoters and officials of the new Progressive Burlesque Circuit could not have been any- thing else but elsted over the stsrt of the new Wheel In this city. No doubt the theatre has much to do with It. for the Trocadero is the best located burlesque house In town and with an even break on shows will do business. This was proven years ago and it was not until the Western Wheel shows be- gan to go back that business began to go with It. The new lessees of the house have made a good beginning. The entire front of the theatre has been rebuilt with new stair- ways leading to the balcony on each side of the big lobby and Improvements have been made, bringing the house up to the full re- quirements of the Fire Commission lawa It Is said the owners of the property spent $15,- 000 fixing It up and the house looks spick and span throughout. An excellent orchestra of s«v«n pieces has been Installed with William Sheppard in the director's chair. All the musicians were at the Gaiety for several sea- sona "Putt" Foster, stage manager. Is also from the Gaiety. Bobby Morrow, formerly treasurer of the Gaiety. Is manager and the box office has been widened to permit Jimmy Kenny to hold down his regular Job as treas- urer. Capacity business greeted Charles Tay- lor's "Tango Girls" the Initial show, at the Saturday night opening and Monday night was almost as big. Tuesday night, when the show was seen, the house was almost filled with the weather so warm that many of the occupants of the lower floor seats removed their coats. It Is said that the receipts for the first five shows promised as big a week as the house ever played to, with chances for a new record. The "Tango Girls," the first of the Progressive shows to be seen here, made a good Impression. Where It will not come In close competition with some of the better shows of the merged burlesque wheel, the Tango show will stand up all right. Its weakest part Is the comedy and this can be remedied without trouble. It may cost some money, but If the show meets with much business like It did here, Taylor can afford to loosen up. The show probably did not cost TO THE PROFESSION As you all know I have had fifteen years' experience in dealing with you as proprietor of Mandel's Restaurant, I hereby announce that I have leased the Inter Ocean Hotel and Annex 338 to 3S6 South State Street (N. W. Corner Van Buren Street) (Opposite Rothschild's Big Store) Chicago, Baths Steam Heat European Professional Rates $3.50 Single. Weekly. $5.00 Double and Up Phones, Harrison 2606—Automatic, 68-310 N. B.—Agents of Burlesque Shows should not fail to stop here, as we have made new arrangements to take care of whole troupes, furnish* ing breakfast free of charge, in rooms if desired. (This also Includes entire profession). IF YOU STOP HERE ONCE YOU WILL STOP HERE ALWAYS S. MANDEL, Proprietor a great deal for mounting and costamtng. but the settings are new and attractive looking and will do. The dressing looks well, but not expensive, and some care has been taken In picking out stuff that looks the best for the outlay of money. Two or three sets of cos- tumes were pretty and the chorus of 20 girls made a nice appearance In most of the dress- ing. Tights are In evidence several times, but don't help any, though It Is no faalt of the girls, who average up very well on looks and conformation. Some good use has been made of the girls In the numbers and It would not hurt to keep them In view more often, for they are a hsndy bunch and work all the time. Once when the girls looked badly was In the Tango number, which closed the first part. This Is a very weak closing. A medley opened both parts and both were well done. The "Normandy" number led by Mile. Veola and the "Sesslde" song with Oladys Sears In tights snd the girls In cheap looking union suits were the best liked. Tony Kennedy if chief comedian and works conscientiously to get laughs with rather light material. He Is generally quiet In method, but overworks the "son-of-o-gun" and "wallop In the puss" speeches until there Isn't a laugh left In them. The first part Is a well-worn skit about the man who spends a night away from home and Is visited by some of the girls he saw during his jamboree. Its old and weak. The talk Is draggy, and Kennedy has little help from the other men. The second part Is all "bits." There are too many and all too long. Ken nedy gets all there Is to be had, but could do better with better material to work with. Eddie Boyd, Charles Collins, Al Fyne and Sam Hawley have small parts, feeding Kennedy at all times. Several times the talk goes a bit wild, but It Is not a raw show. The women principals get a chance. Mile. Veola has the most to do and does most of It well. She leads several numbers and gets them over. She might dress more becomingly and there is no sense in wearing tights, for Veola Is at her worst In them. Maybe it was poor un- derdresslng In the white fleshings or maybe Veola wears symmetrlcala Anyway, she looked much better In dresses, changing sev- eral times. A new headdress Is needed for the red costume. Miss Sears Is a late arrival, but keeps busy afterwards and gives the show a boost several times when It begins to lag Miss Sears Is also credited with putting on the numbers with H. Fletcher Rivera, and If so she did enough .for the show without any thing else. Mis* Sears dresses the "daughter" role In the second part poorly. Bertha Rich Is also much In evidence. Bertha has a prom- inent speaking part In the first part, wearing a black costume with white band over the chest. The white band was a happy thought for Bertha, being worn more as a precaution than for modesty, for Bertha Is some plump girl. She's a lively worker for a big girl and goes after everything she does with a will. She might tone down a bit to advantage and stay out of the Tango number. She has not a good speaking voice, but takes her time in deliv- ering her lines ayd makes herself heard. Ber- tha worked hard Tn the Irish number, which was her best. Clo. Lamphlre had a small part as "Maggie Murphy In the opener and Clo Is some child. Otherwise she is Just a chorus girl. The old style of first part, olio and burlesque, Is In order, three acts separat- ing the two burlesques. Boyd and Veola in a straight singing turn; Collins and Hawley. who talk, dance and do some burlesque boxing and Gladys Sears are the acta Miss Sears carried off the honors and has one song she can work up for big results on account of Its catch line. Miss Sears also did well with the baseball song. The "Tango Girls" show Is a good average entertainment and can b* whipped Into a first rate show. BOSTON By J. OOOLTZ. 80 Rummer Street. KEITH'S (Harry E. Gustln. res. mgr.. agent, U. B. O.).—Perhaps the, arrival of Chlng Ling Foo at Loews St. James hart nothing to do with, hut nevertheless the prominent acts In the bill this week are bet |er than offered In months. Victor Moore succeeded In getting ahout everyone on th« bill working with him In his clannlc comedy. "Change Your Act or Puck to the Woods." Doc. C) Nell even volunteering and when asked by Moore If he doesn't remember him, hesi- tates u sreond and then suys cordially. "Oh. yef., you're Harry Thaw." Act brought ths