Variety (March 1915)

NEW ACTS THIS WEEK 15 Burke's "Tango Shoe*.* Dancing. 17 Mine.; 14 (One); 3 (Two). Prospect Billie Burke is presenting this act entitled "Tango Shoes." It is more or less of a freak that seems too distinct- ly small timey. At the opening an an- nouncer appears and relates something regarding the marvelous invention, "the tango shoes," which can be worn by anyone and after they have been put on can be forced to follow any musical rhythm by the pressing of cer- tain buttons on the shoes./ He asks for volunteers from the audience to ex- amine the shoes. Two men, both rather aged, step to the stage. The moment that they are sighted it is evi- dent they have been planted. One tries on the shoes, after which he of- fers a clog that got some applause. The second man meantime remains perfectly still until the music starts an Irish reel, and then he leaps to his feet and without the aid of tango shoes or any other device puts the first dancer to shame. In addition to the two men there are three women plant- ed in the audience and as the an- nouncer tries to lead the men into the wings the women shout an objection from their seats and start for the stage when an impromptu dancing contest is arranged in which the modern dances are burlesqued for comedy effect. I¥ee\ Great Hockney Co. (5). Acrobatic Cyclists. 10 Mine.; Full Stage. Victoria Palace, London. Billed as a "Belgian Novelty," the Hockney troupe, consisting of two mixed couples and a boy, made their London premiere at the Victoria Pal- ace. They opened with the conven- tional "restaurant scene," making their entrance in evening clothes. After a few somersaults and hand-to-hand tosses, one of the women stripped to tights and rode on a tandem with a man. Then some two-high single wheel riding, a "drunk" on a single wheel and finish with a "ride for life" down a flight of steps in a cartwheel. Elimi- nating the opening and working faster, the Hockneys would make a good three-a-day closing turn, but not worth importing, even for that purpose. Jolo. Bradley and Norris, "In Loveland." 18 Mms.; Pull Stage. Prospect. Wallace Bradley and Nevena Norris have appropriated Henry Lewis' bill- ing and are presenting what they term "A Vaudeville Cocktail." The team feel that they are entitled to this bill- ing because they are presenting some songs and dances and a bit of trick bicycling. In their songs and dances the couple do exceedingly well and seemed more or less of a surprise in the opening spot. The boy looks and works more like a performer. He has a couple of good tricks on the wheel. The numbers used in the act are a lit- tle aged and could be improved upon. The act, however, is one that will fit nicely in an early spot on big time bills. r red < Chas. Zimmerman, Tank Act 16 Mins.; Pull Stage. Hammerstein's. Chas. Zimmerman is a freak act, the exhibition of necessity in the matter of a legless man. Mr. Zimmerman is announced by a .spieler who doesn't talk too much, and the legless one him- self is preceded by a reel of film show- ing his activities in propelling and tak- ing care of himself through rollers attached. After the sheet is taken up, a small-sized tank appears, with Mr. Zim- merman rolling in, taking the rollers off, going up to the top of the tank, and after that doing the usual tricks in the water. One that was not of the usual kind was the imitation of a man drowning through cramps. It wasn't edifying. The program said Mr. Zim- merman held the world's record for remaining under water and would at- tempt to beat it at each performance. The record was printed as 4 mins. 15 sees; Mr. Zimmerman remained under water on the try Monday night for 2 mins. 10 sees. The turn is purely a freak one. It's up to the manager of a strictly vaudeville theatre whether he plays it. Zimmerman closed the show at Hammerstein's. Sime. Anthony and Adele. Accordionists. 11 Mins.; One. Jefferson. This couple form a likeable combina- tion and should not find it hard in se- curing real work. Opening the two go through a few rag selections, both playing accordions. Their manipula- tions of the rags is not of the best, and when they have perfected themselves more in that line they may find things easier for them. They seem much bet- ter at the heavy melodies, but show bad judgment by not doing more of it. A whistling number by the man is about the best bit and brings the best returns. Later, he is joined by the girl playing the accordion. Goettler and Green. Songs. 11 Mins.; One. 86th Street This turn carries an appearance that should bring good bookings in the bet- ter small time houses. Charjic Goett- ler, the song writer, and Belle Dixon, formerly a small time single, comprise the act. Some of the numbers arc original, but bad judgment is used with the spot, employed throughout the en- tire act. If Miss Dixon could find it possible to clarify her enunciation, there would be no fault to find with the couple. Marquis Bros. Musical. 11 Mins.; One. 86th Street. It would be a miracle to see one of these musical acts die on the small time. These two boys, one in black- face, who tries for comedy, handle the instruments well. Tfic bov in blackface has nothing of a voice and should elim- inate the solo. Geo. P. Murphy and Jane Lawrence. "Admiring an Admirer" (Comedy). 15 Mins.; Five (Parlor). Hammerstein's. The new act Geo. P. Murphy, the German comedian, has brought to vau- deville, contains some of his own ma- terial and some by somebody else, un- programed. The turn opens with Murphy mistaken by a young woman for a Count she would like to wed. Granting that that handicaps Mr. Mur- phy at the beginning, the visible inex- perience of his assistant, Jane Law- rence, in hahdling a role makes it more difficult. And at the finish, with a song called "It Isn't on the Level" that permits of a burlesque by the two principals, the result is still more dubi- ous. Mr. Murphy does his "Dutch" to laughs for his favorite expressions, while Miss Lawrence's best claims are for appearance and singing "My Bird of Paradise," a new swaying ballad that sounds very good. Sime. John Pawell and Co. Comedy Acrobats. 10 Mins.; Pull Stage (Special Set). Jefferson. In a set resembling a kitchen this trio try for knockabout comedy and tumbling, which they do very poorly. One impersonates a waitress, while the other two dress as chefs. This allows them to go through double tumbling while the waitress goes into the din- ing-room for her orders. For a finish they throw pails at each other, and jump through holes in the wall, ending with one sitting in the stove, another in the pantry and the third failing down on top of the dish closet which comes down with a smash. Dunn and Stevens. Song, Talk and Imitations. 12 Mins.; One. 58th Street. With so many "side walk" turns on the small time, this couple will find things rather hard. Their routine con- tains 1 nothing original. The woman opened with a song, followed by the man arriving, to meet the girl in the center of the stage. Talk follows about neither having worked for some time. The man, then supposed to be under hypnotic influence, goes through a series of imitations. Some of the talk could be omitted. The line, "Have you a thin dime about you, so we can pet a pint?" is a bad boy now even for small time. Opening the show Tues- day night, the act did rather nicely. Johnson's Dogs. 12 Min., Full Stage. Academy of Music. Johnsnn employs but two doRS. using both to good advantage. One is a fox terrier, carefully trained. The other looks pretty much like a mut bulldog. This animal fills in once in a while, the other doing most of the work. No special set is used but the dogs have a good routine of tricks that will please r»n the small time and that is where the act is meant for. A man handles them. Sam Hearn and Helen Eley. "Wanted, an Angel" (Comedy). 13 Mins.; One. Hammerstein's. Sam Hearn and Helen Eley, in a double act, have a sketch foundation called "Wanted, an Angel," written by Aaron Hoffman. Hearn is the Sam Bernard type of dandified German and Miss Eley the very good looking red head she is. After some preliminary dialog, besides the opening song ("Dixieland") by Miss Eley, there is violin playing by Hearn, and he is later joined by Miss Eley for the finale. Their duet is "Love Me or Leave Me Alone." For a two-act starting as they do, the couple received the hard- est position on the program, opening after intermission. They would have looked and fared better in another spot, but did quite well with the violin- playing finish. 8im$. Pour Corcos. Acrobatic 10 Mins.; Pull Stage. Academy of Music. The Four Corcos have a fast risley routine that can fit into any bill In the closing spot. Three men and an at- tractive young woman make up the quartet. They are dressed in orange, black and white which makes a pleas- ing combination as worked out by these people. The men do some greet shoulder catching with the female member also coming in for some good work. The closing trick is very well framed up. A decidedly pleasing act that runs just long enough not to lose any of its attractiveness. Warren and Frost Songs and Talk. 14 Mins.; Full Stage (Special 8et). 58th Street. In a set representing a parlor, man* and wife have talk that is snappy and wholesome. The woman can sing, which is something else, too. "No. 2," the act was one of the hits of the bill. Good small timers. The Asimas. Aerial. 18 Mins.; Full Stage. 58th Street Two men go through a routine of balancing in two large hoops, attached to a large axle. The act runs rather long, due to the difficult position the men have to work in. For a finish the two rapidly revolve around the axle. Tf worked faster, this act would be an important one. LEFT 'EM BEHIND. A stock muddle came to light this week when a stranded company of stock players found their way back to New York. It had been organized by Robert L. Gillis to play a split week between Rahway and Keyport, N. J. After the first three days at Rahway and two days at Keyport, Gillis disap- peared. The company was penniless hut with the aid of the house manager at Rahway gave a performance Satur- day niffht which enabled them to get back to New York. The baggage was held by the Keyport sheriff.