Variety (July 1917)

18 SHOW REVIEWS PALACE. One of the best variety shows ever seen any- where Is nt the Palace this week. It is an ideal hot weather entertainment, full of com- edy, with but a Lrivi drumatlo skotch for vuriution. 'I lie house wu» packed Monday night, about . ane-thlrd of tho attendance coining lull*, undoubtedly attracted by the headliner, Elsie Jnnls (New Acta). Opening with Fathe Weekly, the nrst vaude- ville is Dunne Fantasies, which consists of four artist It: dnnces by Stewart Qerbart and Florence McNally. They worked so hard In the heat the audience appreciated their ef- forts by giving them prolonged applause at the conclusion, much more so than 1b usually accorded an opening act at that house. Dona- hue and Stewart—Jack Stewart and Alice Marion—in "nut" chatter and eccentric step- ping, followed with another very big hit. Dona- hue Is a wnderful eccentric dancer and both are funny. Dorothy Shoemaker and Co. New Acts). Duffy and lnglls are held over from last week and went as strongly as the previous Monday. They had the gallery In a constant roar with their nonsensical Instrumental dis- cords. Emma Carus and Larry Comer plant their crossfire Incisively by facing the audi- ence every time they put over a wheeze. Miss Carus had a new song, tho wordB of which she was still unfamiliar with. She also has a new Irish ditty, employing the familiar bits of characterizing with which she has scored fre- quently In the past. Comer has a new Jtory comedy song to the melody of "Pinafore" and other classic and popular music. They dance together at the finish, eventuating into Emma ' falling "dead." For an encore Miss Cams did a patriotic number. They were a riot. Tho Misses Campbell opened the second half with plantation and other songs, remain- ing on for 10 minutes without a break and quitting strongly without attempting to take an encore. Very entertaining and classy pair of girls, who pleased Immensely. Bennett and Richards, blackfaced comedians, have a unique opening in the dark that suggests, as docs also the programing, a heavy dramatic sketch. When the lights are flashed the appearance of the two men in blackface la good for a big laugh. After which they go Into a corking routine of "foolishness" and eccentric danc- ing. As delineations of coon types the pair are excellent. Miss Janls was followed by Burdella Pat- terson in a series of poses with slides pro- jected upon her fleshings. Tho woman la much more artistic than the majority of such acts, In that she puts expression In her face for the respective pictures and her poslngs are In keeping with the ideas the slides are designed to convey. Jolo. HENDERSON'S. Business at Henderson's was not particu- larly good Monday night, the oppressive heat of the day probably accounting for the lack of Indoor patronage for the Island's outdoor at- tractions wero worked to a capacity limit. And the show was only entertaining In spots, the absence of comedy being conspicuous. What comedy prevailed was not sufficient to offset the other Ingredient and the program suffered accordingly. Enthusiasm wan at low ebb through the show, another sign which might be accredited to the heat. Adelaide and Hughes (New Acts) top-lined the program with their latest dancing ar- rangement, holding a central spot on the bill and running 31 minutes, they gathered in top honorB with no outside contenders. The show, starting at 8.30, introduced In the opening spot the Fantlno Troupe, a quartet of aerlal- Ists who combine ring and brr work with some exceptional strength feats In which the teeth were utilized to their utmost extent. A woman does the majority of heavy work from a top bar. One of the striking stunts was a series of revolutions on the horizontal bar with the two men balancing the rod In their teeth. It's sufficiently good In Its own line to open or closo any of the modern big time bills. Fox and Ingraham were second, replacing Brltt Wood, who failed to appear. The pair have vocal nnd musical ability, but should brush up their repertoire for the coming sea- son. The two closing numbers could be re- placed to advantage. The opening mediy Is nicely arranged nnd fits well, but otherwise n new routine Is advisable. They scored strictly on ability and might have fared far better with new numbers. Howard and Fields were third with their dining enr specialty In which the vocal depart- ment stands out as the main asset. The Swede characterization by Oscar Lee, used for an encore, wns quite the best pnrt, although the harmony Is tuned nicely nnd brings re- sults. Harry On en nnd Co., In "The Cherry Tree." found a responsive audience for the comedy contained In the skit nnd not n point escaped without carrying away n laueh. Tt broke up the monotony of the "straight" work and gnve the bill Its second wind. Whiting and Burt came next and with their quiet manner of ddlverv found n handicap here. Miss Burt, under ordinary circumstances, n guaranteed hit with her solos, failed to register beyond the f»w front rows and the double singing suffered accordingly. This combination does not lit In a Henderson bill for the require- ments fur their brand of entertainment In- clude quietness and the Bowery walk with Its "hlirh pitch" merchants Interferes. F'-.'!."i win™ the hcndMncrs enr^e KeVy rind fl;il\ In. who nl-T» n'dfh d «o;r..-- v.i'u.-- throueb comedy litws. The )noKhs were continuous through their repertoire of "gab" nnd thev closed a hit by n snfe margin. The Five of C'lhs a turn thnt deserves credit for Its staging kept everyone aeated for the finale and were frequently interrupted by a volley of applause. They went as good as anything on the bill, Insofar as applause goes, the croup work earning especial commendation. Wynn. ROYAL Topheavy with songs and noticeably shy on comedy, the Royal bill was hopelessly against it Monday night. The applause was absent and it remained for one act well up on the bill to haul down the hit of the evening. The show also suffered through one of Its expected comedy hits falling down and with five acts out of the seven using songs It can be readily surmised what a mighty heavy tall the Royal kite had. It never had a chance to balance as It passed In review. The audience was only a half-audience as far as audiences go at the Royal. The roal alibi up the Bronxway was the heat. Manager Eagan was missing from his man- ' agerial haunts and operating the house dur- ing his absence was H. C. Pelrce. Twas re- ported at the close of the show that Jlmmey Hussey, who was offering a new act, had been requested to put on his old act during the re- mainder of the Royal engagement, and that a rearrangement of the bill was also being planned. The Great Johnson opened. Not "great," hut an act that proved Interesting through the man's ability to perform on the swinging trapeze while doubled Into a knot. Good act of Its kind. Marguerite Farrell was second. Rather a hard spot for her apparently, yet she did fairly well with It. No changes from former appearances In the New Terk houses. The first hang-up hit was recorded when Oolet, Harris and Morey showed. A lot of pepper, plus personality and a willingness to cut loose on a hot night, with vocal harmony that was surefire, the results were never In doubt. Act should hare been further down, as nothing else came within a stone's throw of the score It registered. The audience brought the hoys hack for several encores and had them working overtime. Much of the rou- tine Is of the sort that enabled the trio to keep the snap-tempo In the right groove. "The Night Boat" rocked In spots, with the scene on the boat pulling the act out of the mire, the finale In particular causing laughter. The players all worked hard and succeeded In keeping the comedy above par. After Inter- mission appeared Moore and Gerald, a male combination of dancing and acrobatic pro- clivities, who persisted In trying the song thing. The younger of the men also atteront- ed a number that had been worked as a cork- ing double number bv members of the Oolet. Harris and Morev trio. Seemed suicidal, but the boy was loudly applauded just the same. Perhaps It sounded like a different song. The Jlmmle Hussey Co. In fourth position (New Acts). Harry Gerard and Co. closed the show. Mark. BRIGHTON THEATRE. The bill and the 14th Regiment completely filled the Brighton theatre Monday night. The orchestra looked like a military camp on visiting day. And the soldier boys with their girls liked the show, one of the best all- around and laid out bills the Brighton has had this season. Belle Baker Is the big card, and that her draw- ing power at the beach Is of no mean propor- tions was attested to by the reception for her. Tt seemed also as If the expectation of seeing Belle Paker, which was accountable for the business perhaps, affected somewhat the ap- plause rewards for the remaining turns, Miss Raker running ahead of all of them, with Santly and Norton second and Morton and Olnss third. These three turns were bunched together In the second half, Santly and Norton first. Mortan and Glass next with Miss Baker next to closing. In the first part Harry Lang- don and Co., In "Johnny's New Car," got off the best and stayed In front, althoueh some- thing happened to Mr. Langdon's lights at the finish, and apparently Interrupted a return bow, for the house wanted more of him. Mul- len nnd Coogan In that section also got some laughs, while A. Roblne, opening the second part, with his "Walking Music Store," was one of the evening hit contenders. Miss Baker opened extremely well with her "naker" song, written by that cleverest of women lyrical and specialty writers. Blanche Merrill. She next did a new Yiddish num- ber, "Solomon," thnt depends upon a couple of lines near the finish and Isn't strong enough up to that point, although the "point" brought a howl, following that with the Ttallan num- ber thnt has a very broad "Hell" In It nnd Is another point song. Miss Baker then going Into "Joan of Arc" for contrast. Tt was Just suited to the position, also giving her everv vocal chance she wanted and the "Joan" song registered very big. Following was a new Hawaiian number with more points and nn unusunllv Inappropriate lyric for the stage regordlng Hawaiian women, since the stage has welcomed those women, especially of late, but the second point sent the number over with a bang. Miss Baker's following song was also new. a ballad parody, starting and ending with "Sweet Sixteen." bringing In sev- eral other popular ballad airs meantime. Belle closing to Insistent applause with "Nathan" that never grows old ns she does It. although conflicting here with "Solomon." Tt wns 11.2." when Miss Paker finished, the late hour caus- ing the omission of the proposed three act be- tween her«"»1f nnd Santly nnd Norton. Tho '"how started at *>.'«». Tt contained a couple over tho rUAioinary number uf tnrna on the program. The disappointment were the Kouns Sisters, closing tho first half, and the fault was solely the girls' vaudeville Inexperience. They did nicely enough in an applause way, guaged only by that, but not what they should have done, because the sisters seemingly knew not what the closing spot cf the first half meant, and arrangod their routine for the spot as though In another position. They were Inter- fered with by the house starting to move when It thought their act had ended, and the applause also died down for this reason, whereupon the girls returned to sing «\ slow old time ballad, which, under the circum- stances, could not get any more than It did. The audience appreciated, however, the high grade of the Kouns act. There Is nothing better In Its line In vaudeville or elsewhere, for these girls have everything all other sim- ilar turns have tried for and plenty no other act of Its kind could get. They have youth, appearance, voice, presence and training, a remarkable combination to find in vaudeville and vaudeville had better hold on to them. Their "Echo" song guarantees them anywhere and the higher class the patronage the more the Kouns girls will be liked. If comparisons were the basis of salary altogether in the varieties, there are one or two other acts com- posed In the same manner who would be re- legated immediately to small time when ana- lyzed alongside the Kouns. Theirs is a most attractive vaudeville number and one of the very, very few concert turns that can endure upon the vaudeville stage. "1917-1050" remains the Morton-Glass act, with Its bright repartee and good dancing besides singing. Paul Morton Is always re- vising the dialog and It was bound for the mark of approvel It found, even In Its posi- tion, a tough one. Santly and Norton, after they got started, which did not take them long, went right through to a clean-up and a stop-the-show finish. The boys stuck In a little of everything aiiu It, all got over. That seems to be their best specialtv. "getting It over," and they can do It. "Stick a Little Green In the old Red, White and Blue" was about their biggest, while a -new gag they Introduced proved a riot of laughter. Tt was about a Hebrew's wish if ordered to the front line trenches. They have a new Frenchy "La La" number that hardly seems worth the effort expended upon It. Also there Is another "Dixie" song. "Mother Dixie and You." that seems pretty late now In the "Dixie" line and can't command attention probably for that reason. The show was opened by Mae Aubrey and Bstelle Rlche, who have In their black and white closing number something that might have carried them along to a bigger ending In a better spot- They ran through the open- ing position fairly, however, followed by the Caltes Brothers, who might speed up the opening, although the entire act Is ehort, through the fast dancing later Indulged In. They did very big so early. McCarty and Faye, In the third position, also scored un- mistakably, getting their most toward the ending. The Brighton bill has plenty of comedy this week and much of It In the singing turns or* variety acts. The show should draw record business with a weather break, for. to the Brighton public, It's a corking performance from curtain to curtain, Scrnnton, Bell and Scranton, on the wire and doing acrobatics, finishing the program. Bime. AMERICAN ROOF. Slow moving show the first half, lacking In "pep." The first half of the bill held but one turn that managed to get as much as a ripple of applause from the audience, and It wasn't an audlenco that was sweltering In heat either, for there was a delightful breeze blowing from the south that swept the roof from end to end. so much so that the lemo. kid complained It was too cool for business. There was about half a house present when Anthony Brlglow started off his tribe of musicians at 8.25, and there were but few late comers. The Woods Musical Trio opened the show with xylophones, after which the two girls offered a violin double. The finish was entire- ly brass with one of the girls handling the drums. The trio play well enough, but there Is something lacking as to finish to the num- bers. There Isn't that snap at the close of each selection that compels applause. Show- manship Is needed. Jim nnd Flo Boyar (New Acts), In the second position, tried and tried again with their comedv. The house failed to get many of their points through not un- derstanding clearly the remarks. Carl and Francis (New Acts'). In a com- bination musical and acrobatic offering, scored on the strength of one trick only, a foot to foot catch. Harvey and Ashton (New Acts) were the only act In this section to score nt all. Winston, Hoffman and DeMar seem to be another version of the Winston, Rosell and DeMar act. It had a hard spot, close Chat first part. Whatever there was that looked anything like a hit came after the Intermission, where the show ran In the order of Pnm Lawrence and Francis Donegan (New Acts). "The Olrl In the Mask" (New Acts), Lew Wilson. who scored the hit of the show, and Stafford and Ivy (New Acts), who closed. Wilson cleaned up for a bill thnt wns par- ticularly weak, but proved that he Is a very clever entertainer for email time of the semi- nut type. The piano nceordlan nnd the steel guitar nt the close sent him over In great shape with the audience. A current Henrst-Pnthe finished off the show. Fred. inviting In its summery dress, and now has Hob O'Donnell in charge of It, Mr. O'Donnell's first managerial venture. Young and enter- prising, the chances are Mr. O'Donnell will find promotion through his new berth, for he is energetic enough to command attention wherever placed. • It was rather a good fhow for hot times. Two hit came in the next-to-closing spoi, Ed and Lew Miller, brothers, who looked almost as well as they sang, and these two boys certainly can put vocal numbers over the plate. They are clean-cut young fellows and with their appearance, besides voices and air of class about them and their work, Just about take the lead of all male two-singing acts. A flash turn on the bill was "Bon Voyage, a girl act with nine people, six of whom are choristers. There is some dialog not previ- ously done to death, although a couple of sure-fire old boys creep in, and there is a comedian who makes himself liked,, besides a good easy-working Juvenile. The burlesque leader does fairly, and the choristers about the same. The act can do on small big or big small time because it has action and flash, particularly the latter. The story is supposed to take the group around the world, in the revue way, and the story's thread is carried to the finish. The rapid changing of scenes and costumes, though there Is nothing elaborate about either, is what mostly holds up the turn. The show was opened by the O'Nell Twins, two young girls, who did well enough In the spot on a warm night, but the girls might help themselves In several ways. The most Important Is enunciation. No one knows what they are singing about, when they sing. The shorter of the two sisters could make up for an Impersonation of Frances White and get away with it very nicely. If they ever reacn the point where they can afford to imi- tate one of Miss White's dresses, they can at the same time Improve their entire wardrobe. These girls could develop Into a corking good little and young sister act if properly di- rected. Next were Cantwell and Walker with John- ny Cantwell's kidding carrying over the turn without any trouble at all. Mr. Cantwell will find himself some day, for he Is there as a performer, able to do comedy or straight, besides singing and dancing. "The Recruit" (New Acts) was a sketch. Following were a comic film and an illustrated song, then "Bon Voyage," with the Millers after, and Barlow's Circus closing the show. 8ime. HARLEM 0. H. Tho first half bill Tuesday night played to hnlf a house, which was good attendance in face of the weather. The opera house looks CITY. Show at the City the first half lightweight. Hot weather and a slump In the attendance probably responsible for a cheaper show be- ing booked in, the acts running mostly to songs and routines In "one." There was noth- ing heavy on the bill except a few makeups. The audience didn't wax very enthusiastic over the show, although several turns re- ceived more applause than others. The big- gest laugh came when one act, man and woman, used the following: Woman—"Don't you like to look at a pretty ankle.'" Man— "Does a hungry iran like to look at a ham sandwich?" No. 2 the Burnham and Bu- chanan (New Acts) turn appeared. Next were Harrison and Roberts in the mall- carrier act formerly done by Harry Cooper. The man doing the Hebrew letter carrier In the Irish neighborhood did very well, but bottles up his personality in his serious en- deavor to get too much out of it. The straight singe well. Jimmy Flynn was next. Several songs ahead didn't feaze him. This young man, who has seen active service in the "song- plugging trenches" and has quite a repertoire of topical numbers, mostly of the ballad va- riety, sang sweetly and effectively. Has a good voice of a musical tone. Jimmy had several new aongs and made an excellent Im- pression. Hallen and Rose (names assumed for the City date) were Harry (Dutch) Ward and Miss Pryor, and their comedy proved more amusing than anything that had preceded them. That ankle-sandwich query of theirs got the biggest laugh of the show. A little wriggle by Miss Pryor on the closing num- ber was also surefire. Helen Smith and Co., which appeared to be Mrs. Arthur Kappelln playing the principal feminine role, offered a farcical sketch, crude of structure, farfetched but intended for laughmaklng purposes only, that seemed to pleased them at the City. "Miss Smith" as the woman, who thinks her husband Is dead. Is quarreling with her new llfemate, gets In hot wnter when the suposed dead hubby comes to life, being a booblshly-made up gink with a Swedish dialect. As the wife was a former Hon tamer she has her hubbies growl- ing and roaring at each other off stage. Cur- tain falls ns Ole, supposed to commit suicide In the wings, returns and ejaculates to query : "Did you kill yourself?" "No, I missed." Ooettler and Cox returned to the City within a month, but offored several numbers that were not Included In their former routine. The boys saved the "songs we wrote" medley for the finish, and the popularity applause wns there. Leddy and Leddy closed the show. Some- times It appears to be Lockhart and Leddy and then again the Lockhart Brothers. No doubt a member from each of the other turns In the present Leddy and Leddy com- bination. Comedy makeups. Ground acro- batics. One man has a funny slide over a tnble that Is not In the other fellows' routine. Sureflie (hi* trlik. A travesty on a Tlawatlar. dnnc» war u?ed a? a f)r>9\r>fr "bit" *nd re- ceived both laughter and applause. The pic- ture feature was "The Upper Crust." with Call Kane ns the principal figure. Mark.