Variety (October 1914)

VARIETY 19 23D STREET. The bill at the 23d Street the first half would please any small time au- dience and even pass with some of the big timers. Monday night the house was crowded by a holiday audience and the show ran like wildfire from a few minutes after 8 until almost 11 o'clock. Opening the show, Harry Leander with his comedy cycling turn started nicely. He was followed by Marie Don- oghue, who presented a pleasing little single that will fit nicely on small time. "The Million Dollar Bride," a Komic film, split the show here and got a number of laughs. Pesci and Terni and Joe Raymond (New Acts) followed in order, with a Pathe Weekly between. From 9 o'clock to 10:30 six acts fol- lowed one another without picture in- terruption. They were Clara Williams and company (New Acts), Hayes and Wynn (New Acts), and then W. S. Harvey and company. The heavyweight juggler is presenting the same act that he has been doing for years and is cleaning up with the small time audi- ences. The comedy bits are as effective as ever and the real heavyweight stuff gets over well with the small time au- diences. The act had to come back for an encore and at the finish there were several curtains. Tommy Van and the Ward Girls down next to closing spot had the au- dience right from the opening. The turn has been speeded up considerably and is working very smoothly. The laughs came fast from the start and at the finish the act went over strongly. Mr. Van has cut the credit line that is due to Ralph Herz for the devil recita- tion from "The Soul Kiss." A big act\ "The Haberdashery" (New Acts), was the closing feature. It is a big flash turn for a small time bill and filled the spot most capably. "The Eugenic Girl" (Selig) and "The Mys- tery of the Glass Tubes" (Edison) were the two pictures that finished off the program. AMERICAN ROOF. Crowd only fair for a holiday night. The show released no floodgates of laughter nor tears. The show for some reason ran along provokingly slow and it was after 11 o'clock when the last act finished. In the nine acts there was little that was new. The turn of W r alter James proved the best liked. James is now doing a "tramp," and while some of his gags had a new ring, the act is fash- ioned too closely to that of Nat Wills. James was next to closing and had little trouble in holding up his end. A little farcical offering by Moore and Elliott went very well. It is the same sketch Mr. and Mrs. Gene Hughes used for a long time. The comedy hinges upon a young woman rristak-ing a baby grand piano for her future hus- band. Moore and Elliott play it well for the pop folks. Acrobatics closed the show, the Pichianni Troupe being handicapped by the small stage. This outfit wore a conglomeration of suits and most of the men appeared to be working in their street clothes. A more uniform style would help. Arthur and Emma Cody (New Acts) opened quietly. The Shrodcs and Chap- pelle turn pleased. The woman is strictly dramatic in her work, but that style appears to be relished in the pop houses. The man has an inclination to mush his words and some of the es- sential comedy points were lost as a result. The Phillippi Quartet (New Acts) was followed by Barney Gilmore. It's the same old Barney, but he goes through his little speech mechanically. Barney had to laugh when the curtain puller yanked up his sheet just at the moment he was going to tug at the Heartstrings with his sentimental ref- erence to the lakes of Xillarney. Per- haps they were helping Barney speed his act up a bit. Gilmore goes through the "recitation" about the bravery of D'Arcy, the actor, at the fire, as though he had done a bit of thespian work in his time. Willard and Bond had t nigh going, but finally rounded up some big laughs. The old afterpiece style of skit is well handled by the men and there's an amusing comedy finish. After intermis- sion Goelet, Storts and La Fayette opened up like a minstrel trio aid then dipped into the piano cabaret stuff. Ihe act was riding quietly when the boys pulled a baseball number with tefer- ence to individual Braves, and that ripped the audience wide open. In suc- cession came Moore and Ell.ott, Walter James and the Pichiannis. PROSPECT, BROOKLYN. Give 'em a lot of comedy and give it to 'em cheap and they will fall. That seems to be the "dope" of the man- agement at the Prospect and judging from results in the way of audiences, it seems to be the right idea. Tues- day night at eight o'clock there was a line in front of the window of the box office where the 15-25-35 cei.t seats are sold that reached far up into 9th street, while on the other side of the lobby at the window where the 50-75 centers were on sale, there was a dearth of prospective patrons. When time to ring up the lower floor was well filled in the rear, but there was a noticeable gap between the sections where the 50 and 35 cent seats are located. The front rows at 75 cents got a fair play, but the big balcony was jammed. The show was a good one and got away to a good start with Gobert Belling as the opening act. The first part of his turn gets over effectively but the bull-fight finish is a little lack- ing and could be strengthened. How- ever he had the audience laughing. The "No. 2" spot was held down by Frank Whitman, no relation to the District Attorney, but a clever per- former with the violin. He is billed as "The Dancing Violinist" and more than makes good as such. His finish, playing while executing a Russian dance was sure-fire with the Brook- lynites. Marion Murray and Co. in "A Mod- ern Prima Donna" (New Acts) by Ed- gar Allan Woolf followed and did nice- ly. Hazel Cox (New Acts) had the next spot and likewise fared nicely at the hands of the audience. Closing the first part was the William A. Brady's vaudeville presentation of the beauty parlor act from "The Lady from Ok- lahoma" under the title of "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep." The skit brought screams of laughter from the audience, especially from the women. The first applause hit came along with the opening of the second half oi the show with Ryan and Tierney. The boys got away with more than a do/en bows and were forced to do two en- core numbers. Following the two-act Chip and Marble had a rather hard fight to get to the audience, but when they even- tually did there was nothing to it. The act, entitled "The Land of Dykes," ac- quires the greater part of the comedy from modern slang expressions. Down next to closing were Dooley and Sales and Robbie Gordone held the audience in nicely closing. ACADEMY OF MUSIC William Fox's Academy of Music on 14th street has at last seemed to have found a policy that is going to be a money-maker. The three-ring vaude- ville stock and picture show drew a fcood-sized audience Tuesday night and the people seemed to enjoy the per- formance throughout. The trouble with the present idea is that it may draw from Fox's City, directly across the street. Tuesday night at eight o'clock the Academy held almost twice as many as the other house. The show consisted of six acts, well selected and made a fast running bill that was well liked. The Moffett and Clare Trio opened with dancing. The underdressing of the girl when she whirls around is not especially attrac- tive and should be improved upon. The fast dance at the finish is the best, the costuming being rather loud in coloring but good for the number. One boy did some good soft-shoe step- ping. The spot was rather against these three for any big returns. Winifred and Martin were "No. 2," waking the audience up. Following the colored comedians the stock part of the program came along as a dra- matic sketch entitled "The Shoplifter," with six people. It has some effective points but several of the lines, espe- cially by the detective, sounded ama- teurish. The cast did well enough. The sketch would need some changing before venturing into vaudeville. William O'Clare and his Dublin Daisies were fourth following a week- ly that had some good war maneuver pictures. The O'Clare act is a little different from the usual Irish singing turn and the girls know how to grace the stage without getting in the way. The act did very well in this house. Brierre and King put over the big- gest hit of the show. The couple showed Fourteenth streeters some- thing different in the way of a mixed double, and left when the people were wishing for more. The show closed with Orville Stamm (New Acts). The Academy has done away with the Strand effect in showing its pic- tures and the orchestra is now in the pit. Formerly with the musicians on the stage a small platform was placed in the rear and on this the acts had to work. The present scheme is much the best, as the audience is enabled to see the faces of the artists. JEFFERSON. The show at the Jefferson the first half was a good all around small time entertainment. It started with mc Marvellous Richard, who follows the general strong man routine of lilting iron balls and other heavy articles The opening was well liked by the audience. The show had three singing mixed doubles. The first was Leonard & Williard in the second spot. They did well enough for the position. The sec- ond was Kenny and Walsh, with as nice a routine as can be found on the small time. The two should do more danc- ing. Wilson and Le Nore (New Acts) was the other two-act. Captain George Auger and company, headline, did what was expected in putting over a nice hit. The big man works hard and gets some genuine comedy from his throwing of the little fellow around. The children in the house roared at this fairy tale sketch and many of the grownups still unable to talk the English tongue were greatly pleased. The Lelliott Brothers were No. 3 and put over a good hit with their mu- sical work. There is enough comedy to make the turn enjoyable. The violin work by the straight man shows up well. A good act for the house. Fros- tic, Norbach and Evans (New Acts). The show closed with the Three Zechs, who did their familiar work on the rings and trapese. FLATBUSH. The Flatbusb, Brooklyn, has George McDer- mlt as manager. This Is Important, for the theater booked by the Loew office, got ovor trom tbe start, flight acta play twice dally. The evening performance starts at 8.80, with an hour of pictures preceding. The bill the latter part of last week was International. Six different countries were representee Bunth and Rudd, burlesque Hngllsh magi- cians, opened. They have a good Idea of burlesque magic and put over a surprising hit for such an early spot. David Kallkoa, the Hawaiian musician, was next and played on his guitar, which the audience enjoyed. The Lester Trio put over one of the dis- tinct hits of the bill with their comedy sketoh. James Callahan and Bernard Daly scored handily with their Irish wit and songs. Viola Du Val went from opera to ragtime and the people took more kindly to the latter. Too much talk about how she Is trying to please does not help any. Oracle Emmett and Co. followed the inter- mission and put over one of the laughing hits. The sketch had ths audience in hys- terics most of the time. Sandy Shaw, billed as "Harry Lauder's Only Rival," was given the headline spot Shaw's work, although much en the imita- tor's style, was well liked by those not fa- miliar with the Scotch comedian. Mme. Cecile, Bldred and Carr closed with an act consisting of seversl lines. The dano- ing at times is all right and the comedian gels laughs. A single reel closed. The dressing of the usherettes In Quaker girl attire at the Flatbusb is very attractive. Mr. McDermitt has put over a number of wise stunts. The business Friday night was great, boxen and orchestra filled to capacity, with only a few vacant seats in the rear of the balcony. The bouse Is having light mati- nees with the exception of Saturday and Sun- day, when business picks up, but night busi- ness continuously prosperous. It's the only two-a-day theater on the Loew circuit, and for a "neighborhood" house McDermitt ap- pears to have the right idea. 81ST STREET. Business almost capacity last Friday night. Show of small time calibre Pictures ordi- nary. One film stood out, a comedy. Tbe house placed much dependence upon Its war picture, but not equal to the emerg- ency. The film appeured to be the worse for wear. Johnnie Stanley and Efllo Lawrence were programed. They didn't appear. In their stead an "Extra" card was shown and a "bench net" appear.•(]. Stnnley and Lawrence worked one show at the 81st and withdrew. The "Extra" prov«<l to be Williams snd Wells, very much "brnchy," having two benches. The art with Its patter and songs pleased. Jeanette Mozart and her Merry Maids (New ActH) found favor. After Stone and Hughes (New A<"tHt. Ham Ash, billed as a ■sonologist, np pea red In a routine of songs. Ash goes through his songs mechanically, but sings well. After the Farjeons (New Acts) had finished their weak act the Six Musical Oormans made the rafters shake with brass musio.