Variety (December 1914)

NEW ACTS THIS WEEK 19 Sarah Padden and Co. "The Little Shepherd of Bargain Row" (Comedy Drama). 30 Mine.; Pull Stage (Interior). Columbia, Davenport, la. Davenport, la., Dec. 16. Sarah Padden made her vaudeville debut here Sunday in a condensed piece of the above title, containing all the meat of the original in the vaude- ville version, giving Miss Padden full opportunity for comedy and pathos. She secured many curtains. William Justin McCarthy takes good care of the second principal role. Miriam Doyle, Frank McNellis and Frank Gallagher are the others in the cast. Royal Juggling Gaacoignes (2). 12 Mins.; Full Stage. Hammerstein's. An English turn, with the man, who affects the red nose comedy make up with a painted blotch over one eye, doing all of the juggling. He is very expert at this, using mostly light arti- cles, and the juggling itself contains sufficient comedy for the man to forget his English patter while over here, if he can not Americanize it. Monday night, for the convenience of the stage crew, the act closed in "one," the man scoring there with an acrobatic dog, he finishing the turn by seating the young woman upon a chair, balancing both from his forehead. Previously he had balanced a dozen chairs on one, in the same position. This last trick should have opened the turn, the dog matter put in anywhere, and the other trick also interpolated into the act proper, if it is to be used, with the man closing with his best comedy juggling, that of catching the vegetables upon a knife. It will do better for the act around here, where they would prefer to laugh at the finish. It's a very good comedy juggling act, and will become better after the principal grows more accustomed to this country. At Ham- merstein's in the "No. 4" position, the turn got over easily and could have stood a later spot Sime. Leonardi. Musician. 11 Mine.; One. Alhambra. Leonardi is a nice appearing sort of a chap who performs equally well on the violin and guitar. He is, however, devoid of personality and that is what counts in a great measure when one is doing the ordinary musical routine. Clad in blue coat and white flannels he offers his violin playing at the open- ing of the turn. A semi-classical num- ber comes first and is followed by a rag medley. The latter won sufficient applause to have him return and play the guitar Hawaiian fashion. His first selection was "Where the River Shan- non Flows" which lends itself very well to the instrument, but the rag with which he followed fell short of hitting the mark and let the act down to a weak close. If the player will work up a little confidence in himself and his work and not be afraid of his audience he will do nicely for an early spot on big time bills. Evening clothes or a dinner coat might also help. Juliette Dika. Songs. 18 Mine.; One. Alhambra. If you don't succeed at first try, try again is the motto that Juliette Dika has adopted regarding herself as a vaudeville single and at last she seems to have evolved a single turn in which she will be acceptable. There is no gainsaying that Mile. Dika is a stunning appearing woman and can wear a certain type of clothes. She proved this way back in the days of "The Queen of the Moulin Rouge" and now she has worked up enough voice to put over a number of songs, and managed fairly well with the Alhambra audience Monday night. Her opening number has evidently been written especially for her. The tempo is a little bit too fast for the lyric to get over for its full value because of the singer's French accent, but with the aid of a number of physical contor- tions its meaning is conveyed. Her second number was "Isle D'Amour" sung in French which got it over. Her third selection was "But He Could Love" and here again the singer's body contortions and a slight touch of sug- gestiveness carried the song. For the close she is doing "Beautiful Eggs" which while a little passe is particu- larly suited to her style of delivery and as she made an audience number of it by passing out a number of counter- feit hen fruit it went over nicely. For an encore "Tipperary" was offered in French and this brought a big return. Phasma. Serpentine Dancer. 15 Mine.; Full Stage (Special Set). Broadway. With the aid of the stereopticon Phasma displays a few new effects in the "fire dancing" line. Colored views are thrown on the dancer's gowns and at all times the effect is a pleasing one. The best is called the "Volcano" in which the fire effects are very pretty. The surprise finish where the dancer removes his wig and dress and takes his bow will always bring the applause. Phasma was the Great Martin but since changing his name he has elaborated on his act to such an extent that he should receive some of the big time. Moris Sisters. Dancers. 10 Mine.; One. Harlem O. H. These two girls were the hit of the bill at the Harlem opera house the first half of the week. They open with a rather slow acrobatic waltz which does not get them started. This is fol- lowed by the plumper of the two of- fering a hard shoe dance which earned her the applause hit. The other girl has a comedy dance in which she dis- plays contorting ability. At the finish, doing a double number, the girls got over very big with the audience. All they need is some one to take their act in hand and lay out a routine that will move along smoothly and they will be fit for faster company. If you don't advtrtJM Im VARIETY don't •dvortiM at all Mrs. Bud Fisher. Songs. 21 Mins.; Two. Hammerstein's. Hammerstein's ran Mrs. Bud Fish- er's new act through like a production Monday evening. On the program "Mr. Arthur Hammerstein presented" the former Pauline Welch, who returns to vaudeville, again as a "single," un- der her wedded name, which did not injure her any, as witness the applause when singing 'That's Art" with its ref- erence to "Mutt and Jeff." The drawer of those famous comedy newspaper characters appeared at the finale, to take a bow with his wife, who kissed him sweetly as they were exiting. Then came flowers which Mrs. Fisher surrounded hersell with, and before that Bob Russak had his admirers of "Tip Top Tipperary Mary" in evening clothes marching up and down the aisles singing the choruses of the song, while Herbert Clare nicely presided at the concert grand throughout the turn, working in a Shapiro medley mean- while, as Mrs. Fisher changed gowns, and she changed for each^ of the four songs. The other two were "Let's Help Each Other Along" (opening) and "If I Only Had a Beautiful Baby Like You." Miss Welch was always a good looking girl upon the stage, and her absence from it has not taken her back as a "single." There is hardly any doubt but that as "Mrs. Bud Fisher" she is a desirable card on a vaudeville bill. Sime. Lady Alice's Pets. Animal Act. 13 Mins.; Full Stage. Colonial. If one can consistently reconcile the rather gloomy idea of a herd of trained rodents performing under the imme- diate guidance of an exceptionally stunning woman of the prima donna type, the Lady Alice specialty will im- mediately suggest a very entertaining feature, but to many women the very presence of a rat spells disaster. Lady Alice, a woman of unusual charm, per- sonality and, as her specialty proves, unique ability, has perfected somewhat of a novelty for vaudeville in the as- semblage of a large group of trained rodents who do the usual, such as walking tight ropes in various fash- ions, play with cats, etc. The opening shows a beautiful white cat of the An- gora specie flanked by a dog and a black rat. The cats do little, the bulk of the work falling to the smaller creatures. The finish shows a tread- mill in the rear, behind the back drop opening, the cat chasing several rats with the dog in turn pursuing the cat. It's a novel windup to a novel turn. Closing the Colonial show Lady Alice seemed capable of holding them in and the women seemed to enjoy the spec- tacle as well as their escorts. Wynn. Dorman and Wilson. Songs. 10 Mins.; One. Union Square. Man and woman. Former plays piano and joins in singing. Songs mostly of the "duo conversational" stripe giving act a sameness that doesn't help. Small time at best. "The Dream Pirate." Musical Comedy. 25 Mine.; One; Full Stage {24) (Spe- cial Set). Broadway. This musical production is headlin- ing at the Broadway this week and at the same time getting into shape for a run on the bigger time. A principal girl, a comedian and 10 little girls in the chorus make up the company. The act is opened with the principal girl seated at the window of a house rep- resented by a drop. She is reading pirate stories and falls asleep. The dream that follows is the action of the piece, which takes place on a very well set-up ship scene. Three numbers are done, each led by a different girl, the principal and two choristers. These numbers are lively and well staged. The part that needs freshening is the comedy. The comedian is a clever ec- centric dancer but his attempts at "gagging" are wasted. The principal girl looks and sings well. The chorus is composed of good looking and hard working girls. The finish could be im- proved by the girl of the dream going back to her original position. Now the act is let down at the finish through the lack of a good situation, which might be provided in this way. The act will always do well where "girl acts" are popular. Ethel Kane. Songs. 16 Min.; One. American Roof. Ethel Kane is a looker and has clothes. Those are the two assets that are going to keep her going in vaude- ville. This girl has a number of regu- lar published numbers, a couple really new. She opens in the centre of the stage coming through a purple drop. Her first song is "Last Night Was the End of the World," and although a rather old number, she started off with it very big. Next is "Pauline," and this did not impress, the drummer's traps going from start to finish. Ethel devotes too much time to this song which has been heard around a good bit of late anyway. Third is a new one, "If I Had a Beautiful Baby Like You," a sure winner in the way Miss Kane puts it over and as a catchy little num- ber it is fine. The fourth number is "Cheer Up" that tells you to be op- timistic. "Tipperary" is the closer and was rather forced on the audience Monday night but they liked it. The dressing of this single is something the small time can boast of and if 'The Skirt" catches the American this week she may be baffled describing this young woman's clothes. Ethel Kane is going to do nicely as a single when she has her song routine shaped up. • Lila Barbour. Songs. Pantages, Spokane. Spokane, Dec. 16. Lila Barbour is a local society girl making her first appearance. She ex- pects to go over the Pantages circuit. What she needs just now to get ahead is stage poise and self-confidence, hav- ing appearance, voice and clothes.