Variety (February 1914)

VARIETY 19 ROBIE'S BEAUTY SHOW. If Louis Robie'8 "Beauty Show/' now under the management of John G. Jermon, can go over the Eastern Burlesque Wheel without being badly "kidded" by every local newspaper of the towns the show plays in, it's a lucky organization—or else the local papers are not reviewing the burlesque attractions. When Mr. Robie sold his "franchise" to Mr. Jermon, the burlesque veteran should have restricted the use of his name to a production that would have advanced, not pushed back, its fame. If he had done that, the "Robie" in the title would have been ordered out ere this, for the "Louis Robie's Beauty Show" is about as poor a burlesque performance as one could see. When hearing about some of the Progressive Wheel shows this season being bad, but doing business, this Robie thing can be mentioned as an offset on a Wheel that is supposed to support a capable company, and be- sides the Robie show is not doing busi- ness, judged from the Casino, Brook- lyn, Friday night last week, with an extra attraction in the form of a Tango contest also billed. If Jermon made this troupe over he did nothing beyond dressing it. When "clothes" is mentioned, every- thing that may be said of the Robie show has been spoken. The principals, particularly Libbie Blondelle, and the 20 choristers are well costumed, chang- ing often, the girls having little time for aught but to slip in and out of tights or dresses, and Miss Blondelle has a wealth of wardrobe that might be guessed to have been the collection of several seasons if all of it did not have a new and clean look. Miss Blondelle seems to be the leading woman, although Augusta Lang is billed over her on the one-sheets out- side. Libbie is a red head, if not wigged for that effect. She looks good and leads many of the numbers in a decent enough way until tackling a ballad. All her looks and wardrobe are forgotten while Miss- Blondelle is vocally struggling with the soulful song. Miss Lang slides through, having the im- portant "plot role." Doris Thayer is the third female programed, with a little small voice she does not force, and gets away rather well with num- bers, especially what amounts to a "specialty" with her when she uses a spicy song for the finish of it and is helped out by the comedians. But the comedians seldom commede. That is the main trouble with the Robie show. It's another that hasn't a legitimate laugh in it. Nor is there any material to bring a smirk. The two-act piece is called "Oh, Oh, Jose- phine," and that "Oh" on the title sug- gests something else before the show has been running 25 minutes. Johnnie Walker, James Rowland, Sam Green and two or three minor men players find themselves unable to make fun. Mr. Walker does the best work in an elderly role, altogether unsuited to him, though it aisists in his legmania when he unlimbers. Mr. Green takes the pugilistic part, making it very tough in appearance and speech. There are two or three rough spots in the performance. One is the "Peach" song. Many of the numbers are lively enough, and the finale of the first part is a red fire Amazon in tights, led by Miss Blondelle. This patriotic busi- ness in dress, song and action can be thrown out for next season. It has run its course, not alone in burlesque but everywhere else. The best "production bit" was in connection with "The Little Red Limousine" in which an auto is drawn across the stage. Nellie Templeton, of the chorus, led this song. If there is a Robie show next season it will be a new one, and if the Cen- sors of the Eastern Wheel are still on the job, the improvement should com- mence immediately. Sim9. AMERICAN. Business was big Tuesday night on the Roof. Where the big house came from no one knew. Maurice Samuels and Co. in the Italian sketch, "A Day r-t_.Ellik Island," made a hit with the foreign element. The greatest fault is that it's too long, but on the "small time" they don't seem to mind an addi- tional 15 or 20 minutes. The bill was of pop house calibre although several acts that have seen service in the "big time" ranks helped the show considerably. One of these, "And the Villain Still Pursued Her," didn't get the results one would natur- ally think a travesty of this sort would in the smaller houses. The "burlesque" seemed to go right over their heads as it did often on the big time, greatly pleasing some audiences and too finely drawn for others. Musical Dixon (New Acts) followed an ill. song by a young woman who had a good voice but a draggy selec- tion. Kenny and Strossel were pro- gramed as "No. 2," but in their stead appeared Willie Dunlay and Bessie Merrill (New Acts). Manuel Romaine and Charles Orr with talk, pictures and songs, were favorites and gave the bill a touch of class that did not go amiss. Merlin tricked them with his sleight-of-hand work with the cards and provided some amusement. At times his talk is lost through Merlin's inclination to drop his tones. Harry Besty (New Acts) started the second part. Polly Prim is a new single among the pop houses and, judg ing from the reception, should go right along without any trouble. She has had enough experience to make her a valuable acquisition to any of the three- a-day bills. Miss Prim might rearrange her present act sometime and note the difference. The recitation in the mid die halts her turn. It's full of advice and philosophy and all that's good, but it doesn't seem to fit in. The Escardos gave the bill some corking good tram- poline tricks in the closing spot. A strong act for the pop houses. Mark.. HAMMERSTEIN'S Plenty of good acts at Hammerstein's this week but the show becomes tire- some before half over. Seventeen turns ^re too many for one bill and the audience commenced to walk out on the last three, as even with no inter- mission the show was late. Laddie Cliff, Bert Melrose and Neil McKinley were the three big hits. It was funny how the audience selected these three single men as favorites as there were several women on the bill. Laddie sang four songs and finished with a recitation after taking several bows. The recitation seems to have become a permanent feature with him and the audience greatly enjoyed it. Mr. McKinley sang several popular songs and did "kidding" on the "nut" style that made him popular. He has "personality," without which he would not amount to a great deal. There are so many single men in vaudeville these days who work the same way he does. McKinley uses a step ladder for his last number "Wonderful Girl" so as he can work to the women in the upper boxes. Mr. Melrose was the "veritable riot" with his nerve racking falls. Several women in the audience screamed when he took the well known "Melrose fall." It is a demonstration of a hard way to make a living. All through the act Melrose won much laughter with his chair and kilt business. After these three boys, the honors went to A. Baldwin Sloan and Grace Field with ball room dancing (New Acts). Ray Raymond and Florence Bain did fairly well in a choice spot (seventh) with a comedy sketch entitled "Locked Out," called some seasons ago in vaude- ville "3 A. M." There doesn't seem to be any reason for closing the sketch in "one." It takes away the novelty of the first part. A clever couple with nice appearance, and Miss Bain has a pleas- ing singing voice. Ward and Curran in "The Terrible Judge," were on rather early ("No. 4") but they got at- tention and made the usual hit. Van and Schenk were 14th and held the audience, although late. Every one ap- peared to be growing restless. These boys are good entertainers and each time have new songs to offer. The piano player has a sort of conceited air about him that doesn't bring him any- thing; the other boy is by far the better performer, with a pleasing presence. Birdee Beaumont and Jack Arnold were given a hard spot but worked well and held the crowd in. This couple has improved considerably in work and appearance since last at Hammer- stein's four weeks ago. They did very well "No. 15." Ethel Green is singing the kid song from her old repertoire and two songs heard often of late. It seems a pity Miss Green has taken to singing pub- lished songs. She did much better with exclusive material. The Seven Bracks go through a routine of "Rislcy work" that is astonishing in its speed. Tlicy were on and off again in a very short time, but while there, did sonu' mar- vellous tricks. Bud Fisher is l)ack with his old ;iit, having discarded the turn that caused coninicut tlirough its rcscinl)hiiicc to the one done by Bert Levy. Mr. Fisher drew "Mutt and Jeff," "Tlit 23RD STREET. The attendance at Proctor's 23d Street theatre was rather light the first of this week. The show may have been responsible for the business, as it was not anything to write home about. One cr two good acts helped the audience to forget the rest, so it broke about even. 'The Dutch Courtship" (New Acts) was the headline feature. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet have a comedy sketch that tells the troubles of a mar- ried couple who can't agree. There is so much of that in real life it is a won- der people will pay money to see it on tie stage, but they were a laughing success. Callaway and Roberts, a singing and talking team, did very well in rather an early position. The man is in black- face and the woman in light brown. They have a bright line of talk that wins plenty of laughs. Billy Huehn and Musical Maids have a good small time turn. They play several novel musical arrangements, such as coat racks, din- ner bells and so on, finishing with xylophones, playing a popular rag med- ley that brought applause. The girls need new costumes. Smith and Marino do a talking act i:i "one." They also sing. In fact the sirging is preferred to the talk. One does an Italian, and the other wears evening dress. They use a "bench" for no particular reason as the men stand most of the time. The business that went with the bench (it was the "fourth show," as one remarked) may have been forgotten when the act was seen. A nice turn for the time they are playing. The Two Roeders do some clever tricks on the rings, working fast, and the girl appears to be enjoying it as si e sings all through the act. While the routine is not sensational, the turn is a good opener or closer. The girl wears a cute black satin pantalet suit. The man wears while flannel trousers and a soft white shirt, making a nice, neat looking pair. Rose Marguerite closed the show. With all the three-a-day time in vaudeville it must be a difficult matter to put together a good bill that will appear four times daily. In view of that one could hardly say this show was not good, nor be too severely crit- ical on turns that are playing the final performance of the day. At the same time, however, it might as well be re- marked the Proctor small time houses charge as much as the small timers giving better bills three times daily, and if business has fallen off there lately, it may readily be ascribed to the program, which is plentifully inter- spersed with picture reels. But even so, T don't care. Mary. Mutt family," and finished by sketch- ing fac' s in the audience, r)nc of the sketches was a tiny baby seated in a stage hox. All one could see of hitn was hair and eyes. It was so lifelike, the audience applauded wildly. Lasky's "'Ihree Types" were next to closing and the Bison ('ity Fdur were pro- grammed to clnsi-. 'r«»de.ska and Titdc'^ka. tiii'k i\'rh^ts, opened the ^li >\v. jne Morris was second with \\ liiir .md White third. , josii- De Milo's pn>cs (New Acts). Mary.