Variety (December 1914)

18 NEW ACTS THIS WEEK NEW ACTS NEXT WEEK Initial Presentation, First Anpaaraaca or Reappearance In or Ars>ws4 New York "Sully's Cabaret Barber Shop" (after- piece), Hammerstein's. Grace Drum, Hammerstein's. Quiroga, Palace. Murphy and Nichols (New Act), Pal- ace. Gregory Troupe, Royal. Burns, Kilmer and Grady, Orpheum. Anne Sutherland considering a sketch. A. H. Van Buren, leading man in stock, petting ready in a new sketch. ■ =^^= Mrs. E. B. Alsop. Songs and Dances. 12 Mins: One. Hammerstein's. It is rather difficult to decide and as provoking also, whether an act like this comes into vaudeville, especially at Hammerstein's, just for the fun of the thing or seriously, or is impelled to take a chance for a week or so on a dare, a bet or by her friends. Mrs. E. B. Alsop was Effie Pope, a southern girl, when she married Edward B. Alsop, a wealthy aged Pittsburgher in 1912. A separation followed, and Mrs. Alsop came to New York, met a circle of people who got out and around often, also received publicity through her mar- riage, with its consequent happenings. All of this made the path to an en- gagement at Hammerstein's easy of ac- cess, especially as the house was short a feature there this week, just before Christmas, and at least there might be placed dependence upon many of the friends Mrs. Alsop seems to possess. They thronged the theatre Monday at both performances. In the afternoon there were some there not over friendly, particularly the Poillon sisters (Kath- eryn and Charlotte), who were barred out of Hammerstein's for the disturb- ance they created while Mrs. Alsop was before the footlights. On the other side of the house was Mrs. "Tom" Pierce and a* larger crowd, evidently drawn there by Mrs. Alsop and took sides with her. With all these sympathizers and those who were not, the front rows of boxes loefked more like a delegation of Suffragists who prefer masculine look- ing clothes, than anything else. For a stage performance Mrs. Alsop, a tall blonde, sings and dances in the latter with the aid of two men, one on either side of her in the Fox trot, this step bringing the trio some applause. But no one would venture to say Mrs. Alsop will attain the title of "professional dancer." nor be known as a "singer," regardless of what her intimate friends may have led her to believe from par- lor exhibitions. If she goes on in vau- deville, it must be for the fun of it or the bet. since if she married a billion- aire and only left him, there is no reas- on why she should need the money un- less Mrs. Alsop selected a motorman for a lawyer. Meanwhile it must be apparent to herself and her friends that by remaining in vaudeville, she will merely occupy the position that one good act could fill. Rime. If you don't adverse In VARIETY don't advertise at all. Chas. Mack and Co. (2). Comedy Sketch. Special Set (Interior). Columbia (Dec. 13). The plot upholding this new comedy played by Charles Mack, another man and woman, has humor in it that the two principal players strongly bring out. Mr. Mack, an elderly Irish- man, calls upon his dearest friend, to cheer him up *.i his illness. Mr. Mack's idea of good cheer is to inform his friend that last night while speaking with O'Brien, O'Bfcen told him his friend hadn't long to live, so he called to make him feel good before passing away. To prove it he started to smoke, bringing several pipes out of his pocket, laying all but one in a cup and saying they might come in handy (for a wake). It's this sort of humor throughout the piece that is laugh-compelling. The contrasted spectacle of one friend call- ing on another to cheer him up and speaking of nothing but funerals and undertakers gives it a funny twist be- fore the dialog fairly starts. Both the male characters are very well taken. A girl is there for a dance to Mr. Mack's bagpipe playing, and very good playing by the way. A stronger finish may be found, but this sketch is like many others, there are so many laughs during the running, it is laughed out at the end. The Mack piece will make a good comedy big time item. Bime. Blanche Parquette Co. (7). Girl Act. 20 Mins.; Full Stage. Harlem O. H. Twenty minutes clipped from a bur- lesque show of the type in vogue on the old Western Wheel. A flip come- dian, a prima donna and a chorus of six girls. The opening by the girls brings to mind the work of the Eng- lish "ponies" of about ten years ago. Then the comedian and the prima ap- pear, indulge in several minutes of talk after which the prima envelopes herself in the spotlight and inflicts a song. Song over, and back comes the comic, also the chorus and "Sea shells" is put on. Each of the six girls has a chance at the number with the result that there are the usual laughs. After this a little more talk and then the closing number, the best thing in the act. The prima donna isn't unpleasing in appearance, reminding one a bit of Lillian Russell, because she is a blonde, but she should break herself of ges- tures. The comedian might either keep his hat on or get a toupee that matches his remaining hair. The act is a flash, but that is all, for the very small bouses. r The Littlejohns. Juggling. 9 Mins.; Three (Interior). Union Square. Man and woman juggle well. Act looks flashy through the use of rhinestones on most of the articles juggled. The pair swing sharp pointed axes, six in all. after the manner of Tndian clubs. They also exchange clubs while each is mounted on a huge, white ball. Good for the pop houses, Sidney Drew and Co. (5). "What the Moon Saw" (Corned* Play- let). 38 Mint.; Two (Drawing room). Vitagraph. "What the Moon Saw" is the first playlet (other than moving picture works) given at the Vitagraph since it came under the control of the Vita- graph Co. Sandwiched in between a single 'reel comedy and a three-part dramatic film, it saved a show that without it would have been impossible. "What the Moon Saw" ought to reach vaudeville. "Big time" has need of such material. It stands up well among the best half dozen sketches the vari- ety entertainment has ever seen. S. Rankin Drew, son of Sidney, wrote it. The playlet is a bit of stage legerde- main proving that the imagination of the playwright is quicker than the eye of the auditor. Surprise follows sur- prise in bewildering succession; the audience is craftily urged along to ex- pect one thing, and presto! something quite unexpected happens. Moment after moment the action trembles on the dizzy edge of bloodshed and is then magically turned to light com- edy. For the climax a situation of utmost dramatic intensity is cun- ningly prepared and for the second time expected • violence is turned off with a startling bit of trickwork and the whole thing capped with a neat line. Mrs. Smith agrees to see the man she loves at midnight in her apartment while her husband is away on a business trip. She leaves the par- lor door unlatched and goes into the adjoining bedroom. Two men enter the darkened room. The one ad- dressed as "Fred" (Mr. Drew) is slightly drunk. From the talk it is ap- parent that he is Smith. The other is his friend, whom he has just prevented from killing his faithless wife. They discuss the morals of the case, the room remaining dark lest the wife be awakened. Fred persuades the other that he should let his eloping wife work out her own punishment, quoting Kipling's line, "Make 'im take 'er and keep 'er. That's Hell for 'em both." Fred departs. Into the darkened room strides the figure of another man. He goes to the door of Mrs. Smith's bed- room, opens it and enters it with "Hello, darling." Mrs. Smith replies in kind. Fred draws a revolver and approaches the bedroom door. Will he kill them, is the question. Sudden- ly from the bedroom come loud voices which make it apparent that a man and wife are in angry argument. Fred stops amazed; switches on the lights and discovers that he is in the wrong flat. He snaps off the light and is just tip-toeing out, when the unlatched door opens again and Mrs. Smith's secret lover stands revealed. For an instant the whole mine threatens again to explode. Fred takes the in- truder's arm and leads him out with the speech "You're in the wrong flat, too, old man." Mr. Drew played in his best style. The others (members of the Vitagraph Players) were mediocre. If you don't advertise In VARIETY don't advsrtlso at all. NEW SHOWS NEXT WEEK laltlal Pr*e«aftatio» of Lafitfasmata Attractions in Now York. "Poor Little Thing," Bandbox (Dec 22). "The Song of Songs," Eltinge (Dec. 22). "Just Herself (Lydia Lopokova), Playhouse (Dec. 23). "Hello Broadway" (George Cohan revue), Astor (Dec. 25). "Tonight's The Night," Shubert (Dec. 24). 'The Lie" (Margaret Illington), Har- ris (Dec. 24). "Lady Luxury," Casino (Dec. 25). Zerah II. Lightning Calculator. 14 Mins.; One. Hammerstein's. Zerah II. is a young English boy, announced on the program as 16 years old. Dressed in an Eton suit, he doesn't appear much more than that. His few quick mathematical examples were performed at Hammerstein's Monday evening, with accompanying laughter, brought about through his an- nouncer asking the audience to submit the examples. Joe Wood, the agent, from a front seat, wanted to know if 14 glasses of beer were equal to a souse, how many drunks were con- tained in a barrel of 740 glasses? The lad quickly answered 52 6-7 drinks, but^ Joe would prol«'>ly have waived the fractional part if the remainder were assured. A stranger propounded this: If a man sentenced to one year for stealing $75,555, how much per hour of the sentence would he work out of the amount. In about two seconds the boy answer 18.62^4. The stranger re- plied the answer was wrong, when the announcer slowly worked the problem out on a large sheet of paper attached to a board. The boy was right. Then Walter Rosenberg, in his stentorian vqice, asked if a fish had 400 scales, how much would it weigh. A young fellow called for a reply to the quan- tity of gasoline a Ford machine would use in 800 miles if consuming a gallon every 32 miles, and the amount it would be at 16 cents a gallon. The boy answered, and the announcer asked the youth in front if that were correct. He said he didn't know as he didn't own a Ford machine. While it is possible some of the examples could be "planted" the boy is a lightning calculator, and the showing at Ham- merstein's suggest the possible comedy through "plants" if necessary. Should the audience catch the spirit as the Hammersteiners did, that would be un- necessary. Zerah II. will puzzle in local territories and as a quick mathemati- cian, runs ahead of the others through his youth. But he might have a lec- turer who is more of a showman than his present one, and the process of working out each complicated exam- ple should be dropped. It requires too much time. The prison example was the first and most difficult. It conclu- sively showed to the audience the boy could figure. The act is worth book- ing. Bime.