Variety (January 1915)

NEW ACTS THIS WLEK 17 Meyako Sisters. Japanese "Two-Act n 14 Mint.; Full Stage (Special Set). Palace. The Meyako Sisters are two cute Japanese girls, and versatile, for a vaudeville turn. They twist and con- tort at the opening on a platform and on pedestals in a pretty oriental draped set. An announcer, with a slight attempt at comedy, in a speech says the girls will sing American songs or songs in English, which they do with little trace of accent. A "Tokio" song (new) was one, and fitted in nice- ly. But they put the Japanesy jerky ' manner into their actions, singing en- joyably, for there is some humor in the young women trying ragtime without any voices to speak of. In answer to the applause one of the young women writes upside down on a blackboard a full sentence of thanks. That sug- gests they might repeat the Kajiyama handwriting turn if sufficient time re- mained. The girls were placed "No. 3" for the night show after program- ed as opening, and the act, as an act. will be a novelty number for any vaudeville program, also standing a much more important position. Sime. "The Bungalow Girls." Singing Act % 12 Mint.; Three (Interior Setting; Transparent Drop, Exterior). Academy. No head nor tail to this act. Setting all wrong and programing misleading. Three people of foreign appearance go through a routine of songs, mostly alien, that received more applause in the 14th street neighborhood than they would elsewhere with the present arrangement. A transparent drop, sup- posed to be bungalowian in decoration, was shown in a dim light, a woman ap- pearing back of it in what was sup- posed to be interior of the bungalow. Voices fairly good. Could have been heard just as well if not better in "one" without the business with the easel and supposed bungalow setting. The act has two men, young in appearance and dressed in Bohemian attire, and a woman. Where "the girls" were Tues- day night is still unknown. Small time crudeness. Mark. »» "Six Song Birds.' Songs. 15 Min.; Full Stage. Harlem O. H. As youthful singers there are few on the big or any time who excel the "Six Song Birds," four boys and two girls. One of the boys is at the piano during the act. His work there war- rants him a specialty of his own which is not given him in the present frame- up. The turn opens with the kids sit- ting on the piano warbling. One girl leads a number and a boy sings from a box. This little chap has a sweet soprano voice. The other juveniles fill in with songs here and there with some dancing also. As a youthful singing act these six youngsters should prosper, for they really are kids with maybe the girls a little older than the boys. Diane D* Aubrey. Songs. 15 Mint,; One. Hammerstein's. Since last in vaudeville Diane D'Au- brey has had the benefit of musical comedy experience and it has done the little Parisienne a world of good. Her present act consists of a series of songs sung to piano accompaniment and some gowns. The gowns are decidedly pretty and worn in manner most chic. The songs are a mixture of restricted and popular, and Diane has enough voice with a few top notes to get them over. It is quite as much her French mannerisms, assisted by skillful use ot her eyes, that make her a pleasing sin- gle. Four songs comprise Mile. D'Au- brey's repertoire. Her accent makes it tather difficult to follow the lyric a! times. The opening number was some- thing about her recent arrival in this country. This was followed by "I'll be There," and "The Little House Upon the Hill." The closing song, while very familiar as to strain, was quite impossible to catch because of the accent. She received two im- mense bunches of roses, which sh<; shared with her audience. Fred. The Magyfyes. "Human Salamander." 10 Min.; Full Stage. Harlem O. H. The Magyfyes, a man and woman, are garbed in red, the man as Mephisto. The young woman is only the assistant. Her partner is the act. The work con- sists of putting hot things on the man's tongue. The two appear under a red spot. A bit is the placing of a posi- tive and a negative on the man's tongue, without the tongue quivering. The act is different, but it is difficult to see its value for vaudeville. In a side show or circus, it would better fit. Freddy James. Juggler. 11 Mins.; One. Freddy James is one of those jug- glers who admits he is bad, the billing reading "The World's Worst Juggler." James has the routine and talk of Ed- win George, whether with permission or not. Freddy uses hats, cigar 4joxes and balls for his juggling work, doing a burlesque routine. He does not im- press with his talk, which proved good for another juggler, and it would not be a bad idea for James to get entire- ly new material. The chance it would make good is worthy trying, anyway. Basy Troupe. Instrumental and Dancing. 12 Mins.; Full Stage. Two girls and four men arc on the stage while apparently the boss of the aggregation is in the orchestra pit. The troupe opens by playing a few selec- tions on Russian string instruments, which they do very well. This is fol- lowed by Russian dancing. The danc- ing is weak, and stamps the act for a few places on the small time. Angelo Patricolo. Pianist 11 Mins.; One. Palace. "The Great Italian Piano Virtuoso* is the billing for Angelo Patricolo, a l<ianist of unquestioned technical skill at the instrument. He played two se- lections Monday evening that called for technique. His third and final num- ber was "The Dixie Patrol," arranged Ly himself, which resolved itself into another medley of national airs. But Patricolo secured applause before reaching the third number, and as there are piano players scattered broadcast, his mastery of the keys should always be assured of ready recognition. If grand pianists and grand opera sing- ers, with other grand acts that vaude- ville may yet bring to light as a "turn," are showing a leaning toward a high- er and a better vaudeville that means the best element of entertainment be- fore an audience in search of variety, and which best element will also bring up and out the best there is in all standard vaudeville that can compete, then Patricolo, his cloth and kind that include genius and class should al- ways be welcome. But—Jeff Davis, the King of the Hoboes, is at Ham- merstein's this week receiving $350 for the engagement. How much is Signor Patricolo, who spent a lifetime study- ing as Jeff did loafing, receiving? Sime. "Be Game." Dramatic Sketch. 20 Mins.; Full Stage (Special Set). In this sketch two of the old melo- dramatic types are shown and played well. They are hero and villain. The story is worn, though worked to a good climax, by three of the principals. The plot deals with the usual man who has married the usual woman with the usual past, but as usual, did not know of this past when he mar- ried her. The man who comes to stop the night at their cabin is the man of the past. An attempt to win the wife away from her husband and the wife's refusal leads up to the tale told by the man to the husband, but the girl interrupts and, in very plain language, denounces the villain. A struggle for about four seconds and the villain is out. Curtain. The sketch finished very strong at the Harlem house, and should prove valuable on the small time. There is also an Irish character woman in the piece who does well. Sidney Phillips. Songs. 12 Mins.; One. American Roof. Sidney Phillips is a nice appearing young man who does not allow his looks to interfere with him. The only trouble with Sidney is that he attempts too much. Monday night lie used seven numbers, one verse and chorus of each. This may work out. but it might be just as well to cut a couple and extend the remainder. A pianist helps in the encore number, a Hebrew baseball recitative song. A better closer might be scented, if the Roof reception for it is a true guide. George White and Isabelle Jason. Songs and Dances. 13 Mins.; Full Stage. Hammerstein's. George White and Isabelle Jason were one of the real hits of this week's bill at "the Corner." George ha.« changed from opening in "one" to pre- senting an act entirely in full stage but he still sings! One of his songs is "Winter Nights," and by dancing the second chorus he got it over. The opening of the act has a double num- ber, "Come Dance with Me," quite catchy. There are two dances in the turn that will make it a hit anywhere. The first is a combination of the trot tango-maxixe, done in exceedingly fast time. It was worth the encore re- ceived. The eccentric version of the Fox Trot is the other sure-fire. One slight fault is the dressing by Miss Jason. Her gowns worn Monday night would have been more impressive if she had visited O'Hearn, but at the couple just reached New York Sun- day from a long trip west, there's even an excuse for that. Fred. "Red Cross Mary" (4). Comedy Drama. 22 Min.; Pull Stage (Special Set). Harlem O. H. The small time can boast of a war sketch with plenty of local color and shots. Red Cross Mary is an Ameri- can nurse in Belgium. Her brother, a doctor, is killed mysteriously, while car- ing for soldiers on the field. The girl is in a small wine room when a man of the nondescript kind enters. He has a couple of drinks and feels buoyant. The proprietor is out. He goes after Mary, and tries to kiss her. She slaps his face, then learns he is one of the army followers, who takes money from the dead bodies and killing if they thought a man had money on him. She decides to get his story. He agrees to take a drink. She learns he is the man who killed her brother, and shoots him. The proprietor comes in and sees what has happened. He is a German-American naturalized in Hoboken. The girl tells her story. He gives her his ticket back to the States. He calls' up the police and tells of the dead man he shot be- cause he had the plans of the Belgium forts in his possession. The plans were found by him sometime before in his place and he had not known what to do with them. A sudden bombardment makes kindling of the wine room and so brings the sketch to a close. The German comedian has some comedy, diolog, getting his work over more eas- ily than the others do the heavy dram- atic. The girl is youthful and attrac- tive and plays well. The rest of the cast filled in well enough. Good fee* a time at least. » "Miss U. S. A. H (9). Musical Tabloid. 28 Mins.; Pull Stage (Special). Grand O. H. (Jan. 24). One of the usual girl acts intended for small time. Three principals and chorus of six. The girls work hard and make a number of changes. The act got over with a "pop" audience on the Sunday showing. Fred,