Variety (April 1916)

VAUDEVILLE WITH THE WOMEN By The Skirt At the Palace this week Nan Hal- perin is securing the most applause while Sam Bernard gets the laughs. Nora Bayes is doing very well with some new and old songs. Miss Bayes is wearing a grey taffeta coat trimmed in fitch. The dress underneath has a panel front with side draperies oi bronze and green tulle. Nan Halperin depicting the ages first wears a child's Russian dress of pink and white striped satin. A graduate's dress was of white dotted swiss made in three flounces. The sash was blue. A bridesmaid dress was of lemon taffeta with a silver panel crossed in yellow ruchings. A huge basket of flowers was utilized as a chair by her, making a pretty picture. The bridal costume was of white tulle hooped at the hips and cut in points, edged in narrow silver braid. Miss Halperin's last frock was of black moire. The bodice was a straight band while the skirt had alternate bands of the moire and black lace. Nonette looked so nice in a white lace dress with orchid draperies it was a pity she changed to her gypsy costume. Edith Spearl (with William Gaxton) was neatly dressed in black satin made in one piece. Frankie Rice's name should be in electric lights for the work she is do- ing at the Columbia this week. Frank Hunter, also with "The Globe Trot- ters," does well, especially as the Italian. In the second part, as the negro, Mr. Hunter has helped himself liberally of others' material. The chorus is quite ordinary in looks and dress. Only one set of costumes were in the mention class. They were sou- bret in style, of black velvet. The girls were their best in boys' suits. Miss Rice wore a red velvet, ingenious in its construction. The skirt was in three flounces, wired to form a square. After the first encore, Miss Rice dropped the lowest flounce, and so on until all three flounces were discarded, leaving her in red tights and bodice. Sarah Hayatt, in the same production, is a poor dresser. One costume only looked good, and that was due to its oddity. Black tights were worn under a three-quarter coat of black velvet and fur. Red leather adorned the sleeves, also the shoes. "The Heart of Paula" with Lenore Ulrich disclosed this miss in a new role. Miss Ulrich at times suggested a rare coquette. The scenes laid in Mexico were realistic and the Spanish dress- ing most becoming to her. Edna May lias succumbed to the screen, and in the picture, "The Salvation of Joan," she reassumes her old role in "The Belle of New York." The story is well put together and while Miss May hasn't a strenuous role she does the society girl and mission mother to perfection. As youthful and beautiful as ever, Miss May is going to delight millions. Sev- eral handsome evening frocks are worn by her. One is white satin made to fit the hips closely, flaring at the hem. Another is of tulle and wide gold trim- ming forming the edge of the bodice. A negligee was of chiffon and^ fur. In the close ups Miss May's profile was as chiseled as marble. In the film is Miss May's sister, Marguerite, and Mrs. Isabel West. Syracuse will go wild over this Edna May feature. "Captain Brassbound's Conversion" may not be Shaw's cleverest play, but as done by Grace George and her ad- mirable company at the Playhouse, is very enjoyable. Miss George as the talkative Lady Cicely was charming, though as a rule a'gabby woman is a nuisance. Robert Warwick, now known as a film star, surprised everyone with his acting. Miss George in the first act wore a simple white frock. The bodice was of embroidery over blue. Her hat was a large sailor with a flow- ered wreath. In the mountain trip a natural colored shantung suit had trim- mings of red buttons. A sport hat had a band of leather. High brown Rus- sian boots were also worn. The last act saw Miss George in a white skirt and middie, trimmed prettily in pale blue. A tammy rested on her golden hair. Jack Barrymore making one weep? In "Justice" opening at the Candler theatre Monday night sympathy is with Mr. Barrymore from the very first. Heaven knows we haven't many fore- most actors in America, but Mr. Barry- more ranks among the few. The en- tire production is a work of genius. To be sure it gives one the creeps but there isn't a boring moment in the piece. Why does Frank Keenan allow so many close ups to be used in his pic- tures? "The Stepping Stone" is a weak picture play and was made more so as most of the time was devoted to close ups. Mary Boland, taking the hint from Mr. Keenan, also dragged her performance. Her one evening dress was of tulle, made very full, with a proper waist line. "The Saleslady" with Hazel Dawn tells a film feature story that might happen to any girl coming to New York seeking eirtployment. The de- tail is perfect. Little dressing beyond some tailored suits in which Miss Dawn looked very well. .As a chorus girl, a soubrct costume with a fan effect was worn. Madame Kahn's shop, at 148 West 44th street, is fitted up in ivory wood- work and blue hangings. A pretty background for the numerous cos- tumes hanging about. There are even- ing, afternoon, and dancing frocks galore. The Paramount is showing pictures of meat carving. The lesson derived is beneficial. LEVY ENTERTAINING CHILDREN. The Alhambra Harlem bill lost Bert Levy for last Saturday and Sunday, he leaving New York Friday night for Providence, where Mr. Levy spoke be- fore the children of the city Saturday morning at Keith's. The performance was under the auspices of E. F. Albee, who donated the proceeds to the Hebrew sufferers in the war zone. The mornjitg entertainment consist- ed of Mr. Levy in the films (practical- ly doing his vaudeville act on the sheet), his film cartoons and a talk of his world-wide travels, after which the kiddies were entertained by the artist who demonstrated how moving pic- tures are made. Mr. Levy is the first vaudeville artist of prominence to do this sort of indi- vidual entertaining. He has given "Mornings" at many of the Keith houses this season, and his success at instructively entertaining the young- sters prompted the United Booking Offices officials to have Mr. Levy con- tinue the entertaining while on its cir- cuits. During the coming season Mr. Levy will make use of a very extensive col- lection of picture material he gathered some years ago when collecting the pictures in conjunction with an amuse- ment enterprise J. J. Murdock was then also interested in with him. GERARD'S SECOND SHOW. Next season Barey Gerard will have two shows on the Columbia Amuse- ment Co. circuit. Another franchise for that big wheel has been secured by Mr. Gerard, who will name the new production "Town Talk." He will write the book, words and music for the show. *y In last week's VARIETY was a picture of FRANK VAN HOVEN wearing a monocle. IIi<t lie.irl was Ijent as if ashamed. Hut «aze at this <.ne, taken in I-on •Ion. He looks straight at you ami oven has the audacity t>> smile as if he gloried in his fall from grace. COLORED SHOW STRANDS. Washington, April 5. "The Darktown Follies of 1916," stranded here March 24, after the show had played a week at the Howard, a colored theatre on the outskirts of the town. The members were helped out of dif- ficulties by Andrew Thomas, manager of the theatre, who paid board bills as well as railroad fares, he in turn taking a lien upon the scenery and costumes. Afterwards it was learned the property had not been paid for and the people from whom it had been secured started action to secure it. J. Leubric Hill, connected with the show, is confined to a local hospital. FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICE. The several members of the "Lights" who own motor launches have organ- ized an auxiliary motor club and will arrange for an indirect affiliation with , the Federal Reserve organization, being licensed to equip for naval duty should the United States declare war. The "Lights" power boat owners in- clude Frank Tinney, Victor Moore, Max Hart, Chas. Middleton, Paul Morton, Jim Diamond, M. S. Bentham, Coit Albertson, Frank O'Hricn. The necessary applications have already been attended to and the Fed- eral co-operation essential to such a move has been assured the motoring members. SIDESHOWMAN ARRESTED. Cincinnati, April 5. Robert T. Williams, sideshowman, has been arrested at Hamilton, O., at the instance of Mrs. Rose Honnenlaw, of Cincinnati, on a charge of convert- ing her property to his own use. She claims to have employed Williams to take charge of the "fish pond" at the recent Court Street Carnival in this city, and charges he kept $100 security, which was to have been returned to her after the carnival closed. Author Given an Injunction. Cleveland, April 5. After several years' litigation, Justice Ford of the Supreme Court granted an injunction last week restraining Ilessic and Harriet Rcmpel from playing or producing "When We Grow Up," a skit written by Kdward Clark, who was tlie complainant. (lark had a royalty arrangement with the- Renipcl Sisters and claimed they padded expense accounts, failing to give him his share of the income* as arranged. Lewis-Fischer Settlement. The action for commission brought by Clifford C. Fischer against Henry Lewis was settled just before the re trial of the case was about to com- mence last week. Lewis paid Fischer $250. The claim was $700. A former jury trial of the action re- sulted in a disagreement. Commission was claimed by Fischer on an unful- filled contract Lewis held with the Shuberts. If you don't advertise in VAkJ£TV, don't advertise