Variety (December 1916)

"■■' r "' .-.__. SHOW REVIEWS 15 !fa RIVERSIDE. The latest big time house on the B. F. eltu vaudeville circuit opened Christmas ight in New York. It's the Riverside at roadway and 96th street, a theatre in a elghborhood that can support $1 vaudeville, the Riverside charges for top prloe. This ves New York five Keith big-time theatres, 11 about a mile and a half or so away from e another, starting with the Palace, Colon- 1, Riverside, Alhambra and Royal. Five houses so located must carry on an lndl- dual struggle for bills and business. There uld be no better vaudeville competition than t. The Colonial and Riverside, also Al- bra, may hold patronage out of the Pal- i, whilt the l'alace must try to draw busi- ess from all sections, Including the neigh- rhoods those three houses are in. Through is it does not seem advisable for the ltiv- ide to advertise as it has done, "Bills lrect from the Falace." The U6th street pop- tion might prefer to believe they are get- all shows first, not at second hand. (The ace has a higher admission scale than e others.) The. initial program given the Riverside, lne acts, was booked by Eddie Darling, and ,'s a beauty. The Riverside bill this week uld be called a perfect blend of vaude- lle. For a new audience and a holiday one idee (present Monday evening), the show If proved enough of an advertisement to y the house is over. That section is already t for the night suows, it's the matinees that require building up. When William Fox had the Riverside with pop vaudeville, while lines would be out from the box office for the nigbj, rformances, one couldn't see an audience at the matinees. The Riverside has been remodeled, fur- nished and equipped in the usual Keith high- rade way i\o regular resident manager has et been assigned. Jimmy Pepper has charge f the box office and Jules Lenzberg is the orchestra leader, with fifteen pieces. Evan Thomas, from the Colonial, is acting as tem- porary stage manager. The Riverside is built In two floors. The orchestra is very large, and the balcony al- . most an ideal one, bringing those up there apparently closer to. the stage than down be- low. Total seating capacity is over l,i*00. I The Harry Green sketch, "Cherry Tree," placed in an exquisite parlor set that looked like the millionaire's home intruded, hit tbe Riverside crowd exactly right. The sketch was placed to close the first part. After that it was ail over as far as-the show went—the house voted it the best they had ever ~een, and many were present who must have saen others, for several of the acts got receptions on their entrance. The class of the bill was indicated by the Melville Ellis-Irene Bordoni turn, opening the second part. Mr. Ellis has done wonders with the Miss Bordoni. As a dresser, she seems to outstep all the other vaudeville dressmak- ing advertisements, for Bordoni wears her clothes as though they were accustomed to her as she is to them. And they are some clothes! The act is in excellent shape, with Mr. Ellis having tacked on a brief monologue in the form of a "speech" that Is very clev- erly constructed. Speeches were called for from several. Ce- cil Cunningham made one. She had to. No. , 4, Miss Cunningham, sang three numbers, mentioning her author without telling any- thing else about him, and had the house al- most cheering her for the "History of the U. S. A." They seemed to "get" that song more quickly and to better end than even the Palace did. Miss Cunningham scored a huge hit and gave the audience a good glimpse of a musical comedy prima donna who has made as big an attraction of herself in vaudeville as she was in musical comedy, for Miss Cun- ningham has something else besides her good r looks. "Rubeville" was the No. 3 turn. It's a mu- ««'-ni net dressed in bucolic costumes—ana built for vaudeville. That's why it geU over so easily. There are any number of sure fires r in It, one or two original, but the combination If as routined is certain. As a musical act for p vaudeville, it's Rolfe & Maddock's best, as | far as an audience may be concerned. Felix if' Rush and Jere Delaney are the featured play- [ ers with the widest opportunities, but the ■"types of the others all help. Ten people in $ all compose the act, which mentions Thurston ' Lewis as its business representative. Mr. Lewis also plays the store keeper and cor- net in it. After Ellis and Bordoni come Aveling and Lloyd, who had the house laughing while they wore walking on. Nothing much else was required from them, for their talk written by Aaron Hoffman Is about guarant3ed anywhere. Rock and White were next to closing, another turn that couldn't fall, while Meehan's Dogs closed the performance. The Five of Clubs gave a picturesque opening to the program, with Phlna and her Picks inter- jecting ginger In the next position. A bettor opening bill for a vaudeville thea- tre has never been put together In New York. Sime. ALHAMBRA. Christmas night is no time to Judge a show on its intrinsic merits, for the reason the holiday spirit is all pervading; hence the audience is full of good cheer and applause. With a house packed with people and an m«v ».-»- - -T»tw. ij-..,i «v< «k f.-».->cV the nrrcrntase Is ^^*v^*^^ ^^sp^» , »*^- - 0 *^t^0f^^tm^, *%ea#^. ta si In favor or tnA .Vrtlxt. Colonel Diamond, the Hl-year-old terpsl- r choreanlst, who trips the "light fantastic'' with his grand-daughter, opened the show, the Patho News Pictorial having been passed up owing to the length of the entertainment. if the Colonel is really that old—and ho about' looks it—he's a wonder, going through his routine without pausing for breath. Ade- line Francis sings duets with her graphonola, also solos, and has a pleasing line of chatter Interspersed. Her method of enunciation is exceptionally distinct. Paul McCarthy and Blsle Faye have a very clever conception In a "musical travesty" sketch, written by Herbert Moore. One num- ber In particular Is original enough to de- serve especial mention—a reoltative duet set to the melody of a funeral dirge, In which the couple decide to commit suicide, the chorus of which parodies "Perfect Day/' the catch line running "We've Come to the Bnd of Out Earthly Stay." Another good number Is a duet, "That's All." Edwin George, a Juggler, with a good line of comedy talk, appealed stronglv to the risibilities of the attendance, but his finish la weak. It seemed a trifle too subtle, having the effect of decreasing rath- than Increasing the applause. A different exit would materially enhance the value of the turn. Alexander Carr and Co., In his "heart In- terest" sketch, "And April Shower/' dosed the first part and registered the usual hit, which he promptly proceeded to mar by stepping out of his Hebrew character and reciting a bit of English pessimism called "Life." It Is one of those ''don't you know, dear old chappie" bits of versification, quite all right In Its way, but utterly out of place when rendered In a "Topliftsky" makeup. Moon and Morris are a most acceptable act to open the second part of any bill with their simultaneous stepping. Their song "They Built Fifth Avenue for Us" is an Americanized version of an English ditty entitled "They Built Piccadilly for Me." The couple have some "nut" talk in the act, the quality of which Is negative. Dolly Connolly, with Percy Wenrlch at the piano, a new set In "two," with a new routine of songs, Is not at her best, owing to the material. She opens with "I Like the Dance," with stepping; then, "I met Him on a Title Page," which describes how she met Wen- rich (an original lyric). She retired to change while Wenrlch offered some of the choruses of his former hits—sure Are—when she emerged once more In an Idealised cowgirl make-up to sing "Way Out Yonder In the Golden West," dancing with a lariat. She changes again, singing "When Dinah Starts *strummln'," a southern ditty with a croon- ing refrain In which Wenrlch Joins In the chorus. She then asks for requests for for- mer hits and offers "Cider Time." For an encore she offers "a song I heard down' south" —a raggy coon ditty of the old style, with dance, which Is the best number of the act, and earned the biggest applause. It Is doubt- ful If any of the melodies will enjoy any general popularity. Hunting and Frances did nicely down next to closing, but sleekened the act materially when, at nearly eleven o'clock, Miss Frances rendered a ballad. It was altogether too lata and the audience was growing weary. That put Roland Travers/ Illusionist, on at 11:10, or thereabouts. He has a bright, flashy set with an attractive woman assistant attired In black tights and velvet knickers. The act consists of "producing" bird cages, lighted stoves, changing kerchief colors, moving goldfish from one bowl to another, the "dis- appearing alarm clock," "producing" fowl from an empty basin, cabinet '"substitutions," etc. He had a hard spot owing to the lengtn of the show. /©Jo. PALACE. Through the failure of Dazie and her new act to get ready In time for the Palace this week, the bill there lost any novelty edge that debut might have given it, leaving a strong semblance of familiarity to steady Palace goers. The holiday audience Monday afternoon held few regulars, it would seem from the manner In which they accepted Dooley and Rugel's new travesty on Ruth St. Denis. Mr. Dooley did it all alone, save for the assistance of his father. It's/a very funny bit. per- haps tho most legitimate laugh Mr. Dooley has ever constructed; To those that find the mummyfled dance funny anyway, It's so much more so. Dooley and Rugel did very well all the way, down next to closing, after following several two-acts, but the Dooley-Rugel team did too much, especially with their Hawaiian sob song finish aftnr a lively number of the same character Just before, also with Miss Rugel using one ballad too many, and trying for that In a look-to-Heaven voice that sounded so unnatural from her own very good tones the audience wouldn't fall. It was enough in itself that Dooley and Rugel were selected for the next-to-dclng position, with Carus and Comer, Blossom Seeley and May- hew and Taylor ahead of them. The Dooley- Rugle act with a couple of new songs in it besides Johnny Dooley'■ funnyisms that aro always funny (oven minus the Scotch) seems to have set Itself for the next-to-closing spot —and a comedy act could ask for nothing bot- • tor as a reward for its work (unless it be salary). Dooley and Rugel held the house In so tight that Merian's Dogs in a new turn, clos- ing the show, kept the house seated before they had a chance to leave, and then held them. The animal act Is called "The Terri- torials Quartered." It Is worked without any human on the stage. There Is no "drunk." It holds some very fine training and as a dog act Is all away from anything yet shown over here. The turn iuay Hose some value closing bills, but It's good value wherever Mr.yln'w and TayifJr" VeTe" The flret of " th*?" conflicting two acts to appear, although they followed (No. 3) what Is virtually a male two-act, Smith and Austin, though the latter team carries a young woman. Miss Mayhew had an opening number and a new gold or yellow colored drees that made the humorous Stella look very nice. One would think they had never played the Palace before, from the way they were received, and the same might also be said for Houdlnl, who was next, doing an act of 25 minutes closing tho first part. If Houdlnl ever gave proof of what a great showman* he Is, It was Monday afternoon, when he lid the 25 minutes In what didn't seem to be over 10. When Inviting the committee upon the stage, Houdlnl spied Les Darcy In the fourth row of the orchestra, announcing him and asking that he form part of the com- mittee. This Darcy very willingly did, get- ting applause at the mention of his name and when walking toward the stage. Houdinl's first was his straight-Jacket escape, in 55 seconds. How Houdini has Improved with the years may be gleaned from the fact that once in Rochester. N. Y., eleven or twelve years ago, Houdini had to work 20 minutes to get out of a similar packet. Though because of Roches- ter he may have stalled 20 or 25 minutes, the difference tells a lot about Houdlnl and the advance of vaudeville, he getting as much for doing it in less than a minute as he got for running it beyond an hour. Houdinl's big trick Monday afternoon was the "Chinese Water Torture Cell." It's a trick he's safe from Imitation in. Its complex, made imposing by the showman and it would have to be a Houdini who could get as much out of it as he does. And as there's only one Houdini with none other in sight, Houdini at last has found something that will protect Itself. He greatly pleased the house which manifested Its approval. Opening the second part was Blossom See- ley with Bill Bailey and Lynn Cowan play- ing musical Instruments for her songs. Bailey and Cowan played several Instruments, and Miss Seeley sang several songs, with a pro- logue written by Cliff Hess (who Is very prominent In vaudeville this week), he play- ing the accompaniment and singing a "Blues" song (he wrote himself) for tho Clark and Bergman act at the Colonial. The applause hit of the Seeley act and of the Palace bill Monday afternoon was BUI Riley's banjo playing. Bailey when with Jimmy Morgan was just as good a banjo player, but in the Seeley act they seem to believe It more easily. Mr. Cowan sang a "Nationality" song with too much expression, otherwise known as working too hard and either one of them played a cello. There was a Honolulu number used here as it was In another act on the bill, and for a finish Miss Seeley did a Japanese number while kneeling on a pillow. The combination looks like a winning one for Miss Seeley, the two boys being of decided help, and there is a Eretty black and white small parlor set to elp out the billing, "Seeley's Syncopated Studio." Next were Emma Carus and Larry Comer, with a new opening song and another medley by Mr. Comer to replace "The Poker OameJ' Their dancing finish was strong as usual, although little In the act could be changed from the short while previously It had been at the Palace, this being the four or more return dates for the act at the Palace this season. Fanehon and Marco with dances opened the show, followed by Scarploff and Leon Var- vara, one of the sympathetic made-up sing- ing turns, with Smith and Austin No. 8. They got the rough stuff over and were a hit without doubt, though also of the familiar class for this week. Sim*. AMERICAN ROOF. A bill of considerable worth—one above the average—afforded holiday entertainment for the first half and therefore the almost capacity crowd Christmas night was bald In to the last minute. The first portion was particularly wall /framed, although there seemed to be no weak points throughout. The Three Norrls Sisters held the opening spot splendidly. These girls not only have a good routine but sing acceptably, dance well and dress very neatly. Sheets and Bldred following were worthy of a beftex spot and could not fall to score. The man mimics things rural excellently and faithfully, while the girl, too. has a tricky voice, well trained. Cook and Stevens, colored comics, one doing a ••Chink," held up the fourth spot excellently. "Prince Charles/ the trained monk, be- haved with unusual docility, while riding the various cycle contrivances, and he only yelped once, when he fell from tbe motor- cycle. Oray and Graham, next to Intermis- sion, had things their own war with their funny instrumental comedy. It might be considered a standard act for the time. F. Kelly Forrest (replacing Jerome and Carson) opened after Intermission and cleaned up the hit honors,. Forrest first gives the Impression of Billy McDermott, but the resemblance Is only In method. His real strength Is his voice, and while he has im- proved, the monologlstlc section of his offer- ing, that Is secondary. With so good a voice it seemed strange that he should sing a ballad from the wings before entrance, and then give two parodies on the same at tb9 finish. Octavla Handworth, formerly featured in pictures, gave, with a supporting company, "Salvation Sue," tho action presumably tak- ing place In a dance hall In the Klondike. The playlet Is crude but got'over. Foster and Loveft, next to closing, won a good measure of laughter and fair applause, while A. S. Ella and Co., an acrobatic turn with a woman understander, closed the show well jnouah. . FIFTH AVENUE. The Fifth Avenue has taken great pains to denote Christmas time. The outride is dec- orated with three giant Christmas trees In vari-colored electrics, and the display was one that could be seen s half a mile away at night. The lobby was redolent with holi- day atmosphere and the bill presented the first half lived up to the expectations raised by the liberal display of reds and greens. After a two-reel Keystone comedy, May Burke, who «e«m* to hsy#» achieved a particu- lar popularity at this house, did a song to animated illustrations, so well received as to necessitate three encores. Harry De Coe opened the vaudeville section and obtained a full share of applause with his balancing feats with chairs and tables. Dave Oenaro and Ann Gold (New Acts) next. Julia Ring and Co. in "Twice a Week," the extremely humorous little playlet in which Bhe has been appearing for the past two sea- sons, proved herself a favorite and obtained any number of laughs. Ward and Wilson are a couple of boys, slowly but neverthe- less surely hitting the right stride to take them on the big time. The talk is good and their numbers get over. With a little more "pep" in the former the big bills will be theirs. Ollmore and Shelly (New Acts) have a turn that will get over in any of the smaller big time houses. Mile. Blanca (New Acts) scored on the strength of the star's work. The scenic environment makes the act a good flash for any bill. The Lelghtonsy next to closing, fared nice- ly. Their closing number, a burlesque on the Hawaiian dance, landed them safely In the applause hit class. Closing the show the Five Browns, with hoop juggling and rolling, did not miss as badly as is their usual, but sufficient to give the house manager a little fear as to their capabilities, -ue girl in the act Is by far the best. A topical weekly closed the show. Fred. JEFFERSON. Although the bill at the Jefferson the first half was not a great show, it was a good show for this house. It contained just the comedy the Jefferson's patrons want, and those present Tuesday night laughed contin- ually. Incidentally the atmosphere about this theatre has taken a decided change for the better of late, All of the former rowdyism apparent a few months ago has disappeared and as a result business seems to have ploked up to a certain extent In the evenings. The program contained the usual sight acts, a news weekly and s feature. Murray and Barry (New Acts), a couple of boys in dances, and a couple of songs opened. Paul Decker and Co. In an exceptionally good comedy sketch for the small time held the second spot (rather an unusual one for a sketch), and had the audience laughing all the way. Decker plays a youthful reporter in a light, broozy manner that gets over, and the girl In the act Is a very good looker. The blustery old show manufacturer fills In the third angle of the story nloely, looking and acting the part very well. Bettv Fields (New Acts) with four song numbers, was a hit In the next spot, bar- nold s Dogs interested and entertained. The 'souse" .animal particularly won laughs. Harry and Hatty Bolden, colored, were prac- tically the applause hit of the bill. The De Pace Opera Company pleased with the vocalizing and were a flash for the pro- gram. O'Connor and Dixon (New AcU), next to closing, carried off, the comedy honors The Buch Brothers, closing the show, with comedy trampoline work, were a laugh, scor- ing strongly also with the acrobatics. Gertrude McCoy In "The Land of Des- tiny (film) concluded the performance. Fred. CITY. The bill for the early portion of tho week was featured by the apWrnnc«"of Oscar ]& a • n . d ^ M • ^ •S? , Vnpuj, the winning team of the !!£ d */ b *<7* 1 * *»£•• ?*• former is a Swiss and the letter a Frenchman. Froddlo Hill, the Boston rider. Is also an Important part of tho turn which framed finish of the show. The man rode their J?!! 1- v°. ro,,#ri » <*•/• »^ng an indicator in the shape of a miniature track with dum- m Zv ^ ! d . e^, • *n« contrivance being hooked up with the roller machines. Two persons from the audience, one plainly a plant tried to match skill with the champions^ before a 20-lap" race between the three riders, Hill winning for the effect on the populace. Hill was also timed to cover a Thaif mile In 24 2-5 seconds. The crowd was late In arriving at the Chrlstmar matinee, but they were jammed in by the time the first show was over. The opening act, the Rose Rentier Trio, wss prevented from going on until tho second show, through baggage delay, but that was not the cause of the first half of the bill lacking lustre. Too much talking and too little comedy with three acts In ,r one," In the early section tended to hold the show below the average, oven though the holiday crowd was Inclined to be generous upon provocation. Kd and Irene Lowry did fairly well through Ed's acrobatic dancing. Mozler and Clark were more successful with their comedy talk Harry Coleman really gave the bill a start with his clever ventrlioqulstal turn, and his "walking" dummy, pulling dowi. a hit. Hilda Thomas and Lou Hall, with their rural skit landed (In temperate fashion)) chiefly through Hall's "l*v'» characterization. )':.-a»'.> mTh'i"* i<!r:~!:'jvo. yvj'n « <"i*t»>f «■■<• talky acts ahead, had 'tiling* Voft with Home fresh comedy and topical numbers, the whole delivered In dialect. The Empire Comedy Four were next to closing and although they art- not particularly strong on voices hsd no trouble. Then came the bike riders.