Variety (February 1914)

VARIETY 17 Irene Timmoni and Co. (2). **New Stuff** (Dramatic). 25 Mint.; Interior. Brbnx. The essential ingredient for vaude- ville—novelty—is lacking in "New Stuff/' a semi-dramatic sketch in which Irene Timmons, erstwhile stock ac- tress, makes her starring debut in vau- deville. It is a sort of a twist on Mack and Rambeau's "Kick In," though not nearly so well acted. A couple (mar- ried) are stopping at a fashionable ho- tel. The husband is a crook, but had promised his young wife he would go straight. Passing an open door of an- other room he lifts a pearl necklace. Kntcr house detective with a new idea in third degree "sweating" which he terms "the psychology method." Dur- ing the progress the author makes use of a line from "Seven Keys to Bald- pate." The whole affair is long drawn out, and even Miss Timmons, after a rarticularly lenghty harangue by the detective, is given a line by the author as follows: "Go on, I love to hear you talk." It all leads up to a climax that should be the logical endmg of the playlet, and then continues to what stems an interminable bunch of talk. The two men are good types and play their parts intelligently. Miss Tim- mons' performance was keyed alto- gether too high. Jolo. Josie De Mile. Living Statues. 10 Mins.; Special Set Hammerstein's. Josie De Milo is presenting an artistic posing act in platinum, nothing extraordinary except it is a change from the usual white plaster covering. Two men and two women pose singly and in groups. The final picture is the finish of a Roman chariot race, very beautiful, with the two men in a chariot drawn by two horses. At the winning post is a woman holding a laurel wreath. All poses are announced on a picture screen. Mary. Kelley and Catlin. Character Crossfire. 17 Mins.; One (Special Drop). 125th Street. Two men, one blackface, other Chinese. Act built along the lines of a colored team, colored man broke seeking his laundry. Both very well characterized. With the talk cut down a little, a very good small big time act. Jolo. "The Frolicers" (10). Tabloid. 25 Mins.; Full Stage (Special Set). 125th Street. Six chorus girls, a leading woman, straight man, H^'brew comedian, and man for a "bit," probably the indi- vidual who looks after the baggage. Comedy made up of discarded bur- lesque and "Razor Jim" material. Plenty of limb display by the girls. Good small time flash. Jnlo. Jordan and Francis. Singing, Talking, Dancing 11 Mins.; One. 125th Street. Man and woman. RcRulation mixed couple, small time team in "one." Jolo. Willie Dunlay and Bessie Merrill. Songs and Talk. 16 Mins.; One. American. Willie Dunlay was with one of the musical comedy tabs seen at the Ameri- can sometime ago. He affects a Harry Tighe-Harry Fox way of working, al- though he does not go in for the kid- ding as strongly as they do. Dunlay is stout to the point where it affects any dancing he might do and keeps him pretty close to the floor. He has enough assurance to make him the big- gest entertainer of his type in vaude- ville; but one must have something more than personal cockiness to hit 'tm right nowadays. At times Dunlay works up laughter, but Tuesday night the laughs were few and far between Miss Merrill should pay more attention to her stage looks. Her hat and suit were in contrast. Much of the team's talk fell on deaf ears. As the act sums up, it's of pop house construction. Mark. Minerva Courtney and Co. (2). "Bob's Boy-Girl" (Comedy). 20 Mins.; Full SUge (Special Set). 125th Street. Stranded show girl is discovered by cowboy asleep in a barrel in a wild west town, attired as a boy. He doesn't know her sex at first, but.when she faints and he opens her shirt, makes the discovery. Treats her politely as she tries to bluff it through that she's a boy. Half proposes marriage and then reneges, telling her he's already married. Story develops the marriage was one by proxy in Australia, when he married the sister of his dying pal in that manner and had never been able to locate her. Of course she's his wife and everything ends happily. Third character is a comedy Chinese cook. Cowboy has a fine tenor voice, which he uses while woman changes to female attire. Act well pl^ed by a competent cast. Would make a fine "No. 3" turn on any two-a-day pro- gram. Jolo. Nelson. Comedy Juggler. 14 Mins.; Two (Interior). Hamilton. Nelson is one of those slow-work- ing comedy boys with the hats, balls and usual outfit of juggling articles. His routine is somewhat similar to that seen before, but it's the way he handles the stuff that sends h«m over. Nelson was a hit at the Hamilton. Mark. "Cupid's Syndicate" (9). Tabloid. 24 Mins.; Full Stage (Special Set). A special set, six chorus girls, all neatly clad and well drilled; a leading \\oman, who passes nicely; a straight man, better than good, and a comedian working along "nut" lines, who is fine. He would probably stand out in a Broadway show and certainly shine as one-half of a two-act. "Cupid's Syndi- cate" is hardly more than a hi)^ small time oflferinu:. Join. ^^ot^irMrtTulvertTr^n VAKIKTV. don't a<ltrr(l*i« iit till. ' GETTING RID OF TWO. Chicago. Feb. 4. A determined effort is being made by the Columbia Amusement Co. to rid itself of the Folly here. General Man- ager Sam Scribner of the Eastern Bur- lesque Wheel came on this week to see about it. With the Folly out, its place will not be filled before next season. Louisville, Feb. 4. The Eastern Burlesque Wheel is trying to shift its attractions for this city from the Buckingham to the Gay- ety. The latter is now used by the Stair & Havlin shows, which could find a new home at the Walnut, if neces- sary. The Buckingham was the former Western Burlesque Wheel theatre here, but taken over by the Columbia Amuse- ment Co. upon the merger of the West- ern Wheel into it. "The Buck" has proven a poor proposition for the Co- lumbia companies. EASTERN FRANCHISES, $S,000. The figure for rental or lease of an Eastern Burlesque Wheel franchise seems to have gone up for next season, when ^5,000 a piece will be paid for several on a season of 40 weeks, as against $100 weekly, or ROOO, the pres- ent scale. Hurtig & Seamon will pay Harry Bryant $5,000 next season for the use of Mr. Bryant's Eastern agreement; Jake Goldenberg will hand over to Fred Irwin a like amount, and Gordon & North have agreed to $10,000 with L. Lawrence Weber for the two fran- chises Weber leases to the firm. ENDED THE BATTLE. New Orleans, Feb. 4. The stock burlesque company at the Lyric ceased its battle with art Satur- day evening. It was really a burlesque burlesque outfit. House dark this V tek. Manager Abrams announces an- other company will be installed shortly. ^. , OBITUARY. Lionel E. Lawrence died Jan. 29 at St. Marks Hospital, after a general nervous breakdown. He was 51 years old. Lawrence had been in the theat- rical business since his school days, and has been stage director, actor and producer. He is survived by a widow and two brothers, Walter N. Lawrence, the thearical manager, and Percy N. Lawrence, not connected with the amusement business. James Russell, of the famous Rus- sell Brothers, died Jan. 31, at his home in Elmhurst, L. I., aged 59. He was probably the best known female im- personator in the world, appearing with hij brother in their famous "Irish Servant Girls." Maurice Kraus, son of George J. Krans, died at Red Bank, N. J.. Jan. 30, aged 36. He was manager and trc-asurcr of the Olympic. \cw York. Oscar Lewis (Lewis and (irccn) died :\l the home of his inotluT, in Oregon, III., jati. 2*), f)f tiiheriiilo^is of the -toTiiacIi. He is sur\i\(rl l.y his wiiC I May l'"h'iirii,u I. smi and daiiKliter. PROGRESSIVE OFFERED ONE. Hartford, Feb. 4. The Trogrcssive Burlesque Wheel wanted one of the Poli theatres here for shows, but could not seciire it. In- stead, the Wheel was offered ;he Jacques theatre, Waterbury, Conn., a Poli house. It is said the Progressives could have a guarantee for Jacques as a three-day stand. The house has been playing stock for three years and if now about through in that line. SEARL SUING SIM. Sim Williams, the burlesque man- ager, is the defendant in a law suit brought by Searl Allen, who says Sim should pay him $3,000 on an unfulfilled contract he (Allen) signed for the sea- son of 1911-12. Allen, through the O'Brien-Male- vinsky-Driscoll law offices, expects to know by the end of the week whether he stands any show of collecting. MAY YORK HAS DIVORCL May York, soubret with "The Dolly Dimple Girls" (burlesque), obtained a decree of divorce in Chicago last week from her husband, Edward Shelby, manager and producer. HARRY JOLSON'S SHOW. Harry Jolson, blackfaced monologist, a brother of Al Jolson, who has been playing the pop houses hereabouts for some time, is figuring on heading his own burlesque, show over the Progres- sive Circuit next season. Harry's willing if the franchise can be secured. CONFIDENCE IN K. C. Kansas City, Feb. 4. The Willis Wood, now the home of Progressive Burlesque, is accomplish- ing that which the wiseacres said was impossible. It's attracting the women. Last week the Jack Reid show, "Pro- gressive Girls," tacked up the best record in point of having the most women attend on the week. The house IS having a hard time making bur- lesque pay, but the management feels assured next season the house will turn big profit. MATRIMONIAL RECORD. Kansas City, Fch. 4. The Suzanne CaHer Mu.sical CO., a "turk" playing one-night ;rs in Okla- homa, claims a matrimonial record. In three months three couples in the company have married. First, Harry Pepper, Hebrew comedian, married the soubret, Viola Nevada. Then the Irish comedian, Dan Duiuaii, married Maiy Cox, a chorus girl. L ist week the character man. .\l. Hct /;. niarrud a chorus ^'irl, Ha/el Joe. PROGRESSIVE ON CORT TIME. Two companies from the Progressive Rurles(|ue Wheel may troupe through the John Cort houses in the west at the close of the Progressive season. Cort lf>oks with favor upon the idea. It may !•(• other Proi^rcssive inan- ; '^(Ts may decide to tak<' a chance also f)ti the ]»!•' 'lio^ci] ('i);ist trip. .Scv< i.il If Ml l'(•^(•!lr•(■•^ ha\c licen held ; ml ,1 (\rU'.,\c ;i:iii(iiiiice;iicnt is ex- j ■(•( t( (i '(I ',(• iii;m1c sh<»i (ly.