Variety (September 1913)

20 VARIETY (Estimated Cost of Show, $7,000.) The lower floor and the balcony of the Palace were several rows light of capacity Monday night despite the presence of Fritzi Scheff and favor- able theatre weather. Miss Schc£f, ac- companied by Eugene Bernstein re- mains over from last week, topping the bill. Aside from the name there is nothing in the offering to bank upon for a draw. Disappointment among the female contingent when Miss Scheff re- turned after a two or three minute wait (Bernstein soloing meanwhile) wearing the same gown. Horace Goldin, also held over, has a routine of small magic consisting of a long line of mechanical stunts and toy tricks. The progressive magician has long since discarded such penny-ante methods, particularly since the major- ity may be purchased. As a big magi- cal turn, Goldin isn't there now. He is using the creation of the late La- fayette for a finish, calling it "The Ti- ger God." It is rearranged but still is familiar enough to have Lafayette move his tombstone, if he could only see it The Rolandow Brothers, substitut- ing for Matilda and Elvira, opentd the show (New Acts) followed by the Six Americn Dancers (one absent Mon- day). The costumes and patriotic mu- sic still predominate. If ever an act breezed by on appearances, it's this self same sextet. With possibly one exception, the chap who closes the challenge dance, there isn't a good stepper in the lineup. The old stere- otyped steps, seen in every small time routine, pass unnoticed, but the clothes and the national airs carry the number through. They just about got one bow in second spot Joe Jackson came after the dancers, gathering a supply of laughs on his pantomimic efforts, after which Cam- eion and O'Connor, in "one," earned a hit The action drags perceptibly in spots, but this is probably because the turn is still new. It should work into a lively double number and probably will when Cameron gets around to it The opening is novel and Cam- eron's dance is a feature, But the bal- ance of the offering can stand some propping. Lorna and Toots Pounds (New Acts) opened after intermission, a mighty bad arrangement for all con- cerned, followed by Miss Scheff and Moore and Littlefield. Bowers, Walters and Crooker closed, keeping the house in for the finish. Wynn. If jrou don't AdvertiM In VABIETY, don't advertlM at nlL COLONIAL (EsUmated Cost of Show, $4,500.) What about the U. B. O's producing department that promised to create so ' many new acts that all the regulars would be driven out of the two-a-day? Where are all these wonderful acts? And what has happened to all the other producers that were to be en- couraged? Here is the Colonial for the second week in September (two seasons ago Percy Williams' pet New York house), with but one new act, presented by Nora Bayes, and made up principally by a mass of drivel, tak- ing up 50 minutes of only an eight-act bill, and the remainder of the seven turns all here before on innumerable occasions. Is it possible that those in control have abandoned their plans for uplifting two-a-day vaudeville? And the business I It was frightful Monday night the orchestra, including a plentiful sprinkling of familiar dead- heads, was but half filled and the smoking balcony was about a fourth occupied. Inquiry of one of the ush- ers elicited the information that the regular patrons have not yet returned from the country. It was learned Mondiiy the matinee was no better, which would indicate the former Will- iams capacity clientele on opening day has gone away from here. The Stanleys, shadowgraphists, gave the bill a good start, makmg a radical departure from other turns in that field by adding to it mechanical effects and oral and vocal accompaniments, -iiac Eleanor Ball, violiniste, second, was a pretty picture with her "Mar- guerite" braids hanging down the front of her gown. Somebody must have suggested to Miss Ball that in order to succeed as a musical aot in vaude- ville, she should display her teeth con- constantly and make "soulful eyes" during the fiddling. This distortion of her features is not at all necessary. Miss Ball could win out on her ability as a musician. Three Keatons now open with a burlesque "picture" of "The Spirit of '76," standing on the kitchen table. Bus- ter is getting almost too heavy for fa- ther to be tossing him about as he was wont. Hunting and Francis have ex- ceptionally good crossfire talk, but de- liver it poorly. It was also marred by the old one "Are you dining anywhere Tuesday?" Edward Abeles closed the first half with Grant Stewart's clever comedy "He Tried to be Nice." Gould and Ashlyn opened the second part and fared well. Miss Ashlyn has a ke'en sense of travesty and discounted some of the work of Miss Bayes who followed. Nora Bayes (New Acts) is assisted by three men, but one of whom is ac- corded any leeway—Hal Clarke, her husband. Hal will never quality as a matinee idol, but is a fairly competent stage assistant. Lynch and Zeller, club jugglers, were last turn before the small audience. Jolo. FIFTH AVBNUE. (Estimated Cost of Show, $2,850.) The lightest attendance ever seen at the Fifth Avenue was gathered there Monday night to witness a fair sort of a show that might have played better before a full house. The good things in the bill happened late, excepting Doc O'Neill, next to closing, who sht>uld have been higher up. The Doc- tor has prescribed for himeslf some- thing from all the "nuts," ranging from Jamts J. Morton to Felix Adler. If the Doctor has anything of his own ex- cepting the dog he failed to show it And Doc, you had better get some- thing if you want to see your name on the big bills. This "copping" of the "nut stuff" seems to be all right, since most of the "nuts" have done it of late, and O'Neill needs no more chiding than some of the others. The headline was William A. Brady's first vaudeville production, "Beauty Is Only Skin De«p" (New Acts). Edwin Arden and Co. played "The Man from the North" (New Acts), and the Ward iirothers made the hit of the show, in their Eughsli-fop singing and dancing turn, with, comedy and dialog. The Ward Brothers probably grabbed the idea off from the other side, but their talk and business seems new. In eve- ning dress the couple get over and Robert Ward is an especially good Englishman of the "silly ass" type. As a song and dance team, the Wards have gone ahead a mile. Another two-man dancing act was ahead of them on the program, Bissett and Scott, who substituted for Merritt and Douglas. Bissett and Scott did their hard-shoe routine, • then did sin- gles, with Hello George showing us some of his fancy tapping. Our George goes in for natty dressing. They first appeared in cream colored suits of ditterent shades, afterward changing to a bright velveteen coat with a rose in the lapel. It was very, very pretty. Bissett and Scott are the boys with the hard shoes, and don't forget the chair dance, originated by Hello George, who lives in Brooklyn and sometimes admits it Augusta Glose was "No. 5." Miss Glose is a pianologiste, who insists the stage hands lay a strip of carpet for her to tread upon while walking from the first entrance to a concert grand in "one." Uuitc classy, much, but it did look as though someone cheated on the piece of rag. As a pianologiste one could say that if Miss Glose is entitled to salary, Willa Holt Wakefield should ask for $2,^00 a week, and also it might be said that never in New York could Miss Wake- field appear in a theatre and have such a scant crowd before her as greeted Miss Glose, who might pay less at- tention to her carpet, but a great deal ruore to securing a new act The Polzin Brothers did their acro- batics from a spring board, with noth- ing unusual about them, Martinetti and Sylvester closed the performance. De L isle's Manikins and Morrow and Har- ris are under New Acts. Sime. Acts) had a row to hoe following a singing act in "one," but did better than was expected. Buckley and Moore scored with their dancing. Rube Welch and Co. in their bare stage offering gave the bill some strength. Lambert Bros., with a big time Bash of mus- cle development and hand balancing, closed. Mark. 125TH STREET. Eleven acts and a double-reeled movie display of Kinemacolor passed in review between 8 and 11 o'clock Tuesday night, thereby giving the up- towners another long run for their money. For a pop show it shaped up very well and gave big satisfaction. Curtis and Scannell were on around 8 o'clock. Baker and Lynn caused con- siderable laughter, the bursting of the pudding and the powder blowing by Baker giving it a funny finish. The act should be cut down. It ran about 22 minutes Tuesday night. Josephine Clairmont (New Acts) was followed by Hunter's twin statue pos- ing dogs. The act is a neat and ef- fective one for the pop house, although there is too much of a sameness in the subjects offered. Harry Gibson and his dummy were enjoyed. He dresses well and the dummy looks a lot better than some of our well-known small time singles. Gibson sings well. Eleanor Lawson and Co. (New Acts) 'furnished the thrill of the even- ing with its meller finish. Weston and Fields, with their cabarctty turn, were a big hit. Boyle and Byrne (New ST. ONGE'S BALLYHOO. Quite accidentally Fred St Onge struck one of the best ballyhoos New York has seen for many a day. Mr. St. Onge is at the New York theatre this week with his comedy bicycle turn. Among his paraphernalia is a high wheel bicycle, 24 years old. St Onge thought he would try it out on the pavements to see if he were still nimble enough to dodge the traffic regulations. Taking the wheel on the street Fred rode it around Times Square. Perched up high in the saddle, he made a curious picture, and the youth of Broadway who did not recall the former mode of cycle riding, held up St. Onge for examination. The police had to disperse several crowds. St Onge had the most fun when the trafhc cop held up his hand for still work. Instead of dismounting when stopping, Fred simply turned the front wheel, balancing himself, and even the cop came over then to get a closer look. TWO MORE "SUNDAYS." A couple of more Sunday shows will be added Sept 14, when Blaney's Bronx (stock) and the Grand opera house, Brooklyn (legit) will commence giving a variety bill on the seventh day, provided by the Sheedy agency. OBITUARY Mrs. J. Loughran, mother of Mrs. Mildred Rose, wife of Harry Rose, manager of the "Star and Garter Show" died in Utica, N. Y., Aug. 29, of a complication of diseases. Wilmington, Del., Sept 10. James J. Kane, better known as "Por- ky" Kane, of the Garrick theatre staff for years, died last week at the Dela- ware Hospital from a paralytic stroke. Kane was 42 years of age and has been in the employ of W. L. Dockstader for the past 17 years. Mack Gilden, father and manager of the Gilden Sisters, and one of the orig- inal Brobst Brothers, died suddenly in Pittsburgh, Sept. 2. He was buried from his mother's home in Pottsville, Pa. Kitty O'Brien, a member of a Chi- cago company of burlesquers, while playing an engagement in Springfield, 111., died Sept. 4. Paul Brooks, aged 40, stage manager. Temple theatre, Camden, N. J., died in that city last week following an opera- tion. The father of W. S. Butterfield died at his home in Columbus last week. The father of Lew Cantor died in Buffalo last week.