Variety (March 1917)

SHOW REVIEWS 15 ORPHEUM. ^ The Orpbeum had on« of th« ■horlMt ahowt of tho Mason thli woek. The house waf emptied lueeday night by U, the two-reel episode "Patrla" ending before that time to a eomparittlrely filled house, the audlenee re- maining, perhaps, through the early hour. The Four Readings opened the show sfter a news pictorial. Frank Mullane with a few stories and songs found the No. 2 spot none too hard and squeeied over an acceptable hit Dlgby Bell and Co. In "Mind Your Own Business." a comedy sketch by Wlacheil Smith and John L. Oolden, furnished seToral snr- prtses and unlimned laugue. rne p.ece, pro- grammed as "The Turn to the Right" of TaudevUle. llTed up to Its billing as a com- edy ▼ehloie. Frederick Sumner as the son- in-law appears a trifle old for the part and is rather stiff at times. The remainder of the east appears accepuble, with Bell worthy of all the attention given him by the Orpheum audience. Craig Campbell, held OTor from last week, had little trouble in displaying his popularity. He n«a a new reyerioire oi souga, an gra- ciously receiyed. Rolfe and Haddock's "America First," the headline turn, featuring Bruce Weyman, dosed the first half. Applause greeted the act as soon as the cards were fiaahed and lor every patriotic olt, OI wnich tue act nas ^nmuy, the audience went wild with enChusiasm. For a fiash turn "America First," with lu patrloUo aiiuonpuere, Ls sureare. ihe turn nas oeen well framed and its members well drilled. The men are aU capable musician^ with Way- mun, tae lone siDftur, doing excoedlngiy well with his numbers. During the Intermission which followed blanks were pass«td for the audience to sign pledging their aid to Presi- dent Wilson should war be declared. The idea fitted in admirably with the patriotic fervor the people had gotten into with the Rolfe and Haddock act. Daisy Jean, the Belgian refugee, opened af- ter intermiaslon, displaying considerable abil- ity as a musician and vocaiisL Miss Jean doee not limit her work to one Instrument, equally dividing It between a vloiin, 'ceiio, plaiM and harp with a pleasing soprano voles Inclaentaily used, though It Is worth fea- turing. This young woman came In for at- tention and the audience meet heartily ap- proved of her. Allen and Howard In "A Real Pal" had little trouble In scoring a comedy hit. tne audience wmtlng patienuy for sume humor, nothing in that line having been dis- played since the Dlgby Bell sketch In th%No. 8 spot Lillian Shaw, closing the show which brought her on before 10:80, roped In a hit of con- BideraDle sue. For her Italian character number Hies Sbaw is now using an "Bat and Qrow Thin" Idea which has a pundi of con- siderable value. Twi Hebrew charScter num- bers and the familiar baby carriage song round out the routine with a patriotic number used for an encore. The Orpheum has always been a stronKUuid for Mise bnaw, and Mie easily filled the bill In a spot exceedingly bard for a single woman, 'men 9ame "ra- trla" with a train wreck that was good for a laugh, althoagh meant otherwise. The pic- ture appears to have a certain hold upon the people, probably due to lu comedy value. COLONIAL . The entire Colonial bill this week is liked. The Honday night audience fell somewhat short of capacity. The Hearst-Pathe started. The first vaudevUle act was the Husical John- stons, xylophones. T^ej got some applause with a medley of popular airs at the closo. Bd. Morton, in the second spot, went over with seven songs. George Rolland and Co., in "The Vacuum Cleaners," were a laugh from the start. The finish of the act is a little weak as an applause getter, but the laughs come freely throughout the earlier section of the turn, although some of the business and the lines in this act are bold-overa from "Fix- ing the Furnace," which they prevTously did. Jim and Betty Morgan, next to closing the Intermission, had rather a hard time of it at the opening, and It was not until the boy brought his violin into action there was any- thing that resembled applause. The finish, with the boy playing the clarinet and the girl furnishing an accompaniment on the guitar, with a sort of jazz band effect produced, was the eCTort that sent the turn over. Emily Ann Wellman. In "Young Mrs. Stanloru," closed the first part to one of the big hits. .The second half had three turns, with Doris Wilson and Co. opening. The laugh at the finish is not as big now as when the black- face boy was used for the tag. The over- dressed midget doesn't seem to land with the same effect. Then Savoy and Brennon, with a new drop gorgeous in coloring, and a new line of talk Interpolated Into their former routine, had the bouse In screams of laugnter all the way, and were th^ other of the two big hits. "Plnlcie." in the Closing spot, won out on the dancing of the girl, and the singing of the little chap. "Patria" once more proved Itself without a peer as a cbaser. for the opening leader found half the audience un its feet and headed for the door. Fred. ROYAL The Royal, with its cheap price and big bills, must attract in the Bronx neighborhood. This week the program has three surefire feature acts. Marck's Lions (New Avts), Blossom Seeley and Co. and Bennett and Rich- ards. The last turn came into the bill un- expectedW Mondav, doubllne from the Palace, upon Willie Weston not filling the next to cloning position. These three turns by themselves in the sec- ond part, composing that section, together with the Hrs. Castle film, made a show In themselves. In the first part were other new acts, "The Comer Store," Kennedv and Burt, Dooley and Nelson and the Aerial Mitchells (opening). All the new turns made good to a grefiter or lesser extent, with the "store" sketch closing the first half, sending the audience into shouts of laughter with its hokum, slapstick and Jasz. Bennett and Richards took the house en- tirely with surprise through their "dramatic sketch," opening with the audience seeing a couple of "bum niggers" in the centre of the parlor after heavy dramatlo speeches in the dark that looked as though another domestic triangle was to unfold. Besides the opening, which makes It harder for the two blackface men to follow, the shorter of the pair is an eccentric dancer of original steps with comedy feet that seem Jolntlftss from the rapidity of their motions. The dancing alone could hold up the turn. These boys could cut oft Just a bit of thr dialog at the start, to get to the opening more quickly, and it would be Just as well If the audience did not see the parlor set before the pistol shot denouement. Preceding the blackface act and opening the second section were Blossom Seeley and her two corking assitants. Bill Bailey and Lynn Cowan. Cowan Is handling a new song very well, in fact he handles well everything he tackles In this turn, and as for Bill Bailey, if there's another on the banjo who can touch him there should be a hundred Jobs waiting. Miss Seeley sang several numbers to appre- ciation and had to give an ehcore she announced as a song written by a Bronx boy. Miss Seeley withheld his name, but it wouldn't make much difference at the Royal, for, in the Pathe weekly, which showed and men- tioned In a caption a group of Bronx women who were responsible for a charitable bene- fit, no one In the house applauded. Up there they probably care nothing about the B>*onx, Just wanting to see vaudeville "Prom the Palace, New York," and thev are getting it. much cheaper than those who see It at the Palace do. The No. 2 spot was occupied by Bob Yosco. who Is still trying to nut over a big time single without much chance of suc- cess. He has changed the opening, but Mr. Yosco doesn't appear big enough by himself for the big time. He replaced at the Monday night performance Cleve and O'Connor, who retired after the matinee performance. Sime. AMERICAN ROOF. The Roof had Its share of bu^ness Monday night, with a show that fell below the usual standard for that house. The deficiency was the ab8ence of a name headllner, owing to the number of big turns piaying that tlmo at present Del Badie and Jap (New Acts) opened the show slowly, after which Stewart and Keelcy displayed considerable pep in dancing. Their opening talk was completely lost, but the cou- ple came through for a hit with the cowboy dance at the finish. Mile. Therese and Co., a circus turn, the name of which at)pcars ficti- tious, displayed passable acrobatic ability and some well-trained canines. Fred Webber and Co.. in "At the Stage Door," a ventriloquial offering, fared nicely. The act goes along at a good clip, llttlo time being given over to bits that are not produc- tive. Norton and Earl closed the first half with songs and dances. Miss Earl appears considerably stouter than heretofore, but has lost little of ber animation. The couple are at preeent using the Grace La Rue number, "Tango Queen," for an opening, flnisbing with their familiar costume minuet number. The act gave the show the necessary class. Conley and Conrad (New Acts) opened after intermission to one of the real hits of the evening, after which J. K. Emmet and Co., in "The Devil He Did," received considerable at- tention. The act was a bit over the heads of the Roof audience, but they remained atten- tive. Clayton and Lennle. next to closing, took down the comedy hit. These boys have Im- proved Immensely. Howard and Oraff, in a Juggling offering, closed the show. The young woman is given too much time for her ballad number. In which at times her voice falters. FIFTH AVENUE. Nothing very sensational, or even new or startling, at the Fifth Avenue the first half of this week. The first two turns. Gold and Seal, Bob Yates (New Acts) were followed by Jolly. Francis and Wild with their fast three- act "nut" comedy stuff. The trio have some very smart cross-fire material and this, with Jheir exclusive songs, went very well. Loyal's Dogs pleased immensely, though the star canine. "Toque," wasn't at his best, missing several tricks. Billy K. Wells had PROTECTED MATERIAL VAUXTY*! Protected Material Department will receive and file all letters addressed to iL The eavclopes ere to be scaled upon the back in a manner to prevent opening with- out detection, naless by permission of the owner of the letter. !t is suggested all letters be registered, addressed to Protected Material, VARIETY, New York, and receipt requested. VARIETY will acknowledge each letter received. Full particulars of the "Protected Material Department" were published on Page S in VAKIBTY of Feb. 4, 1916. ^ • v • ,* ^ .. . a The following circuits, managements and agencies hsvc signified s willingncsp to sdopt such means as msy be within their power to eliminste "lifted material" fcom their theatres, when informed of the result of an investifstion conducted by VARIETY: MARCUS LOEW CIRCUIT (Jos. M. Schenck) FOX oRCurr BERT LEVEY CIRCUIT (Edgar Allen) ^ MILES CIRCUIT'^ (Walter F. Keele) FINN-HEIMAN CIRCUIT PANTAGES CIRCUIT (Walter F. Keefe) B. s. MOSS QRcfifrr (B. S. Moss) GUS SUN CIR(fUIT SHEA CIRC (Harrv A. Shea) PEIBERSUEA aRCUTT (Richard Kearney) (Gus Sun) ALOZ CIRCUIT MICH. VAUDEVILLE CIRCUIT ~(Saa Kahl) (J. H. Aloi) (W. & Buttcrfield) RICHARDS ORCUrr (AustraUa) U. S. V. M. A. (Chris. O. Brown) (Wslter J. Plimmer) CITY. William Fox's City theatre had a good en- tertainment tor the first half, eight acts and pictures. It opened with Adonis and Dog, the stage dressed with a handsome velvet "eye." MUt Wood, with singing, monolog and wood- en shoe dancing, scored strongest with bis steppmg. He spent so much time in England the past half dosen years or so that he Isn't en rapport with our modern vaudeville, and hence his talk will sund Quickening. Sam Llebert and Co., in the Yiddish comedy pia/- lot, "The Shattered idol." scored as usual on the small'time. Llebert abandons his dia- lect from time to time. The woman who plays the wife is an excellent actress, giving a care- ful and painstaking characterization of a Hebrew matron. Torre* and Verdi (New Acts). The Horllck Family, seven dancers and one singer, dressed as gypsies and with a special back drop, went through a routine of stepping to wild Tzigane music. An Interesting act was coniilbuted by a young man billed as "Escbello Robertb, the clever songstress." It is Bobby iOschelle, and, as he makes no pretense to female impersona- tion, the billing was probably an error. He has a pleasing tenor voice and is backed up by a ponderous wood set ^aced in "two." Eschelle is attired in riding breeches with a cowboy thong about his wrist and most of his vocalizing is in recitative form. Whenever he wishes to emphasize a point he "strangles" the thong and strains his "pipes." Bobby sort of- fancies himself. Ed. Vinton and Buster pleased and enter- tained as usual, making the second trained dog on the same program. The Beatrice Mor- rell Sextet of female singers, with an artistic blue color scheme of costuming and setting and white wings, is a clean vocal offering, but altogether too concerty for general vaude- viie assimilation. Four singers, a 'cellist and a harpist. While some wurk the others move about "artistically." drapn themselves about the piano, adjust the flowor vases and finish with arms about each othttr for a popu- lar medley. Those are the kind of acts that argue—and truthfully—that Ihey sing well, dress neatly and otherwise disport themselves. But it isn't a vaudeville act in the strict sense of the word. Jolo. things pretty much his own way with a clever monolog of corking tangletalk of the Cliff Cordon calibre. Ho now works in a dress suit and minus whiskers, and fares Just as well. Harry Beresford and Co. had the sketch offering in "Twenty Odd Years," capi- tally played by Mr. Beresford and ably as- sisted by a young man and a glrj. American Comedy Four presented the con- ventional comedy quartet act with the "Cissy" growing angry and saying be could crush a grape and the legit bawling out In sepulchral tones a dozen or so "Ye Qods," besides hav- ing his wig knocked off and replacing It back- wards. Also the "Cissy" uses a powder puff, and between these comedy spasms they "har- monize" with popular ballads. No worse than any of the others. Kong Kong Mysteries, a magical act, is richly caparisoned, but the magician's work lacks "snap." He has magnificent settings and a number of excellent materialization and substitution tricks, but doesn't get enough out of them. One of the "Patria" episodes closed the show. Have you ever noticed what an "in and out" worker before the camera the star is? At times she is bright and lively, while at other times she seems to be almost over- powered. Jolo. JEFFERSON. Singing show at the Jefferson the first half. Five of the eight acts had nong and dance, three being man and woman two-acts. It was the sort of the show the rather mixed audi- ence at this bouse likes. Horn and Ferris, Heider and Packer and McDermott and Walker (New Acts). The last of the "Seven Sins" serial was shown. The Corrcllls (AJax, with his wifo) opened the bill with Some piano accordion playing in "one" as a prelude to hin usual stronK-man act. The latter done in full stage was an ap- plause winner. Horn and Ferris filled the next spot, with McDermott and Walkrr following. The Rase Dall Four, major and minor loaguors, offered a ringing ntid comedy com- bination with the nrene Inid in the dressing room of the ball field. These bays had better fix It that they work on some diamond during the ball playing months, otherwise their vau- deville days are over, for their voices are de- cidedly off and the routine Is nothing to brag of.' it is their team uniforms and the bur- lesque bull game at the finish that are the only things worth while. Heider and Packer (working as Howard and Parks) were on Just ahead of the dramatic sketch. "His. Fathers Sun," presented by Walter Born and Co., gave the thrill touch to the bill. The sketcli is still a good one after years of service, but is badly acted. The boy and the policeman are the only two of the cas^ that get over. Linton and Lawrence were one of the hits of the bill. The Quero Troupe, eight men and a boy, the latter doing all the real worx, were the closers, wlnnin^ out with applause on the strength of the frequent doublee and twisters done by the kid. Fred, RATS NEW YORK MEETING. The White Rats held another open meeting in the clubrooms on West 46th street Tuesday night. The week previous had been an open meeting also. Two open meetings in succes- sion aroused conjecture and some pi the Rats present couldn't decide, al- though they did not audibly voice their opinions, whether the open meetings were to avoid having reports read or to have the open meetings bring out a larger attendance. The crowd Tues- day night was about one half in num- ber of the week before. No minutes of preceding meetings were read nor was any kind of a report offered those present. Harry Moutford closed the meeting, speaking his usual hour, and during his remarks stating the mortgage of 15.000, due March 19 on the clubhouse furniture, had been paid the day it fell due, although it seemed to be under- stood during the week in certain cir.- cles that an extension of 30 days was obtained upon the payment of the mortgage through'the Rats paying the accrued interest on the 19th. Mount- ford said the holder of the mortgage had been offered a bonus of %TfiOO for it, but he did not mention who had made that offer. Among remarks made by Mountford was one that Kelso, sentenced to 10 days in jail for being concerned in the disturbance at the Greeley Square theatre, would be liberated the latter part of this week, and the Rats in- tended giving him a reception in the clubhouse Saturday night. -> An admis- sion charge will be made to attend the Kelso reception. Mountford ex- pressed the hope he or President Fitz- Patrick would be arrested, as he said some of the greatest martyrs of his- tory had been jailed. Eddie Clark presided at the meet- ing, first introducing William Henry Hodge, who explained a set of whis- kers spro'uting on his face as a device to deceive Murdock. After that Mac- Inerney, called "The Billy Sunday of the Unions," spoke. Maclnerney is a Rats deputy organizer somewhere in the Middle West. He mentioned he was passing the Orpheum theatre on 86th street that evening (Tuesday) as the disturbance occurred. Maclner- ney had a few other remarks, to make. When Mountford arrived late he said he had just returned from night court, where the Orpheum theatre prisoners had br'*»n nrraignpH Mountford spoke of William Travers Jerome appearing for the prosecution in the Orpheum matter and said the Loew people were paying him $22,000 for his services. When FitzPatrick spoke he mostly defended Mountford, eulogized him and stated that anyone who would ac- cuse Mountford of being dishonest should be placed against a wall and shot. This remark was thought to have been caused by recent discus- sions among members of the Rats, and one member is said to have presented a question that tended toward a sus- picions view. Attention was called to the White Rats "benefit" at the Amsterdam hall Wednesday night. The scale of ad- mission was announced. This, after the Hats hall of last Friday in the same place, tlic cliar>.fe for the "Kelso recep- tion" and the sale of the "Scab List," convinced those present that if they had any money left the Rats leaders were not overlooking any way to get some or all of it.