Variety (August 1915)

12 NEW ACTS THIS NEW ACTS NEXT WEEK Initial Pm«nUtion, First App**ran«« •r Reappearance in or Around Now York Gertrude Hoffmann and Co., Brighton. Fred and Edith Bijou, Henderson's. William McKey and Co. (3). "Ten Thousand Dollars." 17 Mins.; Full Stage. 81st Street. Supposed to be a comedy sketch, but before the action has run its course the offering has become so talky one loses all interest. A hackneyed mis- taken identity theme, with a young married couple about to separate be- cause the husband drinks. A wire ar- rives from an uncle of the husband, informing the couple 'Unc" is on his way to visit them and to decide which of his two nephews is to receive a part- nership in the firm and a bonus of $10,000. The other nephew is more or less of the studious rube type. On his arrival the uncle mistakes the rube for the husband of the girl. He quizzes him and is not at all satisfied with the answers. The real married nephew arrives and it develops he was out with the old man the niVht before showing him the town but did not realize who he had with him. There is a mutual recognition and the uncle slips the ten thou and the partnership to his com- panion souse. The action could have been gotten through with about half the dialog. Because one bit of busi- ness gets a laugh is no reason why it should be repeated time and again as is done in the act. The cast, which in- cludes Evelyn Forbes and two other men, in addition to Mr. McKey, is quite capable of putting the vehicle over. In its present shape the act just about fits on the small time. Fred. La Belle and Williams. Songs and Acrobats. 12 Mins.; One. Harlem O. H. Man and woman. Rope hanging is the woman's specialty, the man doing singing only. Nothing out of the or- dinary is attempted while going through her routine. The woman, while hanging on a rope, disrobes, which might be discontinued if the turn wants the high grade houses. All it got was a few remarks from the wom- en. The man's singing is fair, but a more popular number could be used instead of the one at present. A whirl- wind acrobatic dance for a final just put them over. Small timers. Nizzo Bros. Acrobatics. 10 Mins.; Full Stage. Hamilton. Two men in head-to-head balancing as their best. A little ground tumbling is done with plenty of speed. The opening could be dropped, going right into the balances instead. A novelty finish that placed them over in good style is new and also risky, but it was the one section in the act well received. The men should go more after speed kiid when this is attained the better small time houses belong to them. Weber and Fields. "Mike and Meyer" (Comedy). 35 Mins.; Full Stage. Palace. From a standpoint of popular inter- est, the reunion of Joe Weber and Lew Fields as a vaudeville team, after a lapse of 18 years, overshadows any similar professional event in which New York's Palace has figured, the popularity of the couple undergoing the acid test during matinee and eve- ning demonstrations when the house carried a gathering that practically "hung from the rafters," despite the intense heat. ' The Monday night ova- tion eclipsed that of the afternoon, the evening attendance rising to express its joy in shouts and cheers, while the applause of the more conservative kept the couple bowing shyly but joyfully for several minutes. Their vehicle is a conglomeration of their familiar and famous bits. The "company," a man and woman, hold the stage until the comics change to marble white for a statue scene. The tension drops slightly during their absence from the stage, although the support is entirely capable; but the subsequent comedy more than rewards for the slight pause, and the finish arrives with a climaxing laugh that rounds out the vehicle to a nicety. The principal interest in the turn is naturally focussed on the popu- larity and prominence of the principals. The action is timed nicely throughout, but one must remember Welder and Fields could gallop through on low speed, while two less prominent char- acters of equal ability would have to break speed laws to get the same re- sults from the same vehicle. The box office report is the main stem of the engagement and, taking Monday's re- sult as a criterion, one could confident- ly predict a record for the week. As a vaudeville attraction Weber and Fields are in a separate and distinct class. They added another triumph to their enviable record this week. Com- ment on Weber and Fields in a return trip to the varieties would not be com- plete without a reference to their orig- inality and their imitators. But com- ment otherwise would be superfluous, for, as Weber and Fields were in the lead of all German funmakers in vaude- ville, so have remained in the lead of them all while out of it. Wynn. Norma. Violinist 8 Mins.; On*. American. Norma has not been a vaudevillian for long, it seems. She made an im- pression at the start with her fresh, girlish looks, fairness of face, slender- ness of form and a youthful manner. Her violin playing is ordinary and somewhat similar to other girl violin acts. Norma needs experience neces- sary to work her way to the bigger houses. And Norma, with her very dark hair and flashing dark eyes, might try a simple frock of white occasionally. In her present "single" she does well, all things considered. Mark. Mme. Pauline Donalda. Operatic Prima Donna, 16 Mins.; One. Palace. EEK Reporting the debuts of prima don- nas, particularly those coming from the operatic field with the programed rec- ords of previous engagements, be- comes a decidedly simple task with ex- perience, merely requiring the use of stock phrases, for the primas are most- ly alike, generally accompanied by a serious looking pianist and, as a rule, offering much the same material. Mme. Donalda comes under the stereo- typed classification, rendering four se- lections with an encore, the artistic pianist in this instance being Signor Bimboni, a nervously inclined individu- al, who has forgotten more about his instrument than he will ever learn about vaudeville. The opening number was an operatic selection, after which "Lit- tle Playmates," an exceptionally good ballad, was sung. "Carmen" came next, costumed appropriately, and then the prima's old standby, "Comin' Through the Rye." The latter earned Mme. Donalda an encore and a ballad was returned. There are two classes pat- ronizing the better grade houses who will always support the operatic singer, the one the genuine lover of class vocal material, the other applauding vigor- ously to cover up misunderstanding. Combined, the two grades sent Mme. Donalda off to a big applause hit Mon- day night and, considering she preced- ed Weber and Fields on the bill, that deserves extra praise. Wynn- Langton Trio. Songs. 14 Mins.; One. City. These three boys may have been in cabarets before venturing upon the stage. They sing popular songs, put over in fair style, with one member trying for comedy. The boys har- monize well, and should have no trouble holding down an early spot in the smaller houses. George Coleman. Songs and Talk. 14 Mins.; One. Hamilton. A single who should improve. Cut- ting some of the talk and replacing it with songs, he should be a fixture for the better small time houses. When Mr. Coleman starts to do more sing- ing and less talking, there will be noth- ing to it. Vio and Lynn. Music and Dancing. 14 Mins.; One. Fifth Avenue. These two boys are violinists, but in attempting comedy they have ruined their chances. Both resort to comedy "make-up. " They open with a medley of d iSsical numbers, with one playing his instrument upsidedown, done throughout. The finish might also be ♦ouched up. NEW SHOWS NEXT WEEK Rolling Stones," Harris (Aug. 16). Some Baby/* Fulton (Aug. 16). «« Marino and Sterling. Talk and Songs. 14 Mins.; One. Harlem O. H. Italian comedians, one straight and other handling comedy. Old familiar bit of pushing piano upon stage used for an opener and brought laughs. The talk at times is good but runs to same- ness. The comedian works well, but the straight loses his dialect continual- ly. After the talk is completed, the straight sang "A Little Grey Mother," which was well received, although his singing of it did not warrant the ap- plause. The turn needs speeding up quite a bit and after working together for a while they should find little trouble securing bookings for the bet- ter small time houses. Ethel Hopkins. Songs. 10 Mins.; One. Harlem O. H. Ethel Hopkins, of dainty appearance, looked a winner when opening, but this could not be said when she had reached half way of her turn. Although the closing number, "Kentucky Home," was her best applause gainer and also her best delivered number (through more suitable to her style), the remain- der of the songs were poorly selected. Miss Hopkins has a sweet soft voice, but not strong enough for the opera number. When rearranging the rou- tine, selecting nothing but rags, Miss Hopkins will see a decided change in the way she is received. HOT WEATHER RECORD. If accomplishing nothing else in the way of records this week at the Palace, New York, Weber ahd Fields got away with a couple Monday, when at both performances during one of the warmest days of this lurid period the German comedians pulled two of the largest crowds the Palace has ever held in the summer time. Both performances at the opening day brought a horde of professionals and professional "first-nighters" to wit- ness the return of Weber and Fields to vaudeville. A remarkably good advance sale had foretold the interest in the re- «'ppcarance, and it was on the strength of this belief in the box office value of the Weber and Fields name the man- agers gave the comedians a route of 19 weeks at one of the largest salaries ever paid an act. While Joe Weber is touring with his partner, Lew Fields, the Weber Music Hall on Broadway near 28th street will be turned over to Joe's brother, Mock, for Mock to do with it as he will, even to paying the rent. Mock expects to surprise the neighborhood down here with a big feature film, at low prices. The proposed tour of the George (Honey Boy) Evans Minstrels by Lew Sully has been reported as being aban- doned for the m^ ;ni.