Variety (October 1917)

22 w w PALACE. The Palace wasu t Uie r-alace Tuesday night, In alieuuauce or ayyroval by the house of tbe turu* uyou uie yiu*raw. The business was off. It looked it. And the audience seemed off au»o. it wiu aiiuoet a uoutiuued succes- •iou ol deaUia, even beiore the Liberty bond sale euort cuuuueucod working, which it did iue rai*c« made the Liberty Loan sale an act. ouyi. ui-aeuiga, *uu ^rtuur rieius aud ii«uu *i*».ew, till ui unuuiui, were ou tne bW4 «, t uo t,«yuk*u uoiii* tuu unguis aud aeiliug Luo wouua, utBitifUivu iu me auuieuce oy Cuiel b*ic»iu«*u *.mery uaa ui* loice ol luuu. in betwevu U*e ua^UiU li iciuui*8—UUd eaies-— A^i. * muo* **u. •—*** wnue -" r - « ,talu * P"»y*» lue u^uu. i**e imue uuiioriued luuu w«re m U*e .x.i ttec»uit»u» i».ct tuut *yyeureu at tue 1-aiac* 101 a w«»»ie ol wewaa. luwaid vue Lu^mu, wueu uie e»»*uy on Uie eiage CoUiU have Immm nwuwu 01 mu. yiu»»»n*. u ui«y wars uui u*«*» ior boud-eumug pui-posee, a Utile boy aua gin, an»o in aoiejki, were called beiore tue iwoUiftuia to repeat several tuuee me cuuiue ui i-e aaiue eou*. k ^«h- t.i«« lue palace aoiu »1.iaaj worth of bond* Tues- day mguu iu uie louuy wa* a youug man at a uee*., aud Ue receiveu several e-b-cr»yuoua. •me «-aiau«, Jiouuuy, »ecui«u uu»l« a sale ol bouua luiuuau C»»i~ or-euiaa uiayoaiug or tue *ou eefi.ucuU. at *+». *"• uaigaiu was seuuisu tui-wu*u tue Caytaiu uiiuaeii ouering tTuouaie uuo uouar to auy yuicuaaer oi a £*, uu^u, luaaiug tue net ***. utuera in the Kuee vuiuutee.eu a douar each uutiI there wae uuite a uuuiber ol dollar bnia on Uie S!ie waiting i«r tue otuei lorty-uiue. which aW a*yeai*u, tue *a*s.uua ueing »Uiyyed out* turJuau press ol lm*e. The bond-seliiiig ^ofueui utm tue enure houae seated, witn uie luiiowiug r«*uur luieiiuieaiou cut down S^rmSJyT.aituluan tne raiace show Tuea- u«»j eveumg ettuea eariy. „«„.i« ior tue niet uiue aa iar aa known •vaude- ville tueaire aynt iu» yictoriai weekiy this woe* n waa tue Faiace. hiuuer ttoaera, iU IVruaaer, amueU tne *-aiue weeaiy into two Scuoi. oi aut uiiuute. eacn. one to oyen and Uie otuer to cioae uie yerioi uiauce. it brougnt Uie oy«uiug act ou Uiat mucu «»"ter. baiu i>eiuaid ia tue faUce w^ 1 ^'-,^* w^I aoiua uia '•aiugle." lie cioaed tne turn lun n^a oia ,u%era^u»uon oi Fagin in -Oliver TSir l2a uiaut beiore Kagiiii wa. to jump on Uie end oi a roye. According to Mr. 4»er- naru Vaa»u cbokeU nimaeii to UeaU luatead. ft ma> be niaioncally or Cbariea ulckenaaiiy correct. It wouid bave been mtereeling at ieaai £ nave aeeu Faain die II ao many anead it^im on uie eanie bill had not done tne aaine thiua. If Mr. bernard ia going to choke FaaTu twice daily, he ahould do It with a ■traighl toiugliau or Hebrew acceut, to be con- viucing. Utuerwlae bam did well enough In the yauic. aitnouKb he did much better wlui mucn oi the aauie uiking material when at the Ceutury laal aeaaon. There were two bngnt spote on the pro- gram, both comedy. One waa John B. H7 m « r ' wan hia "Tom Walker in Dixie.' ctoaing the ahow aud playing a "turn date In Ue house. It wa»u t ueceaaary to wait to And out wnat that act did to them, lor it waa certain. Tbe ouier comedy turn was tirendel and bert, poy and girl, in the No. 4 poaition. They enter Immediately among the beat of vaudeville s mixed comedy two-acts. Brendel does a Swede character In his own way, baa every- thiua new, irom dialog to business and drees- IngTand with his partner. Flo bert. cani go against any two-act that can get a date. Miss bert as a atnger of aouga is going to attract a lot of attention. She baa Uie knack of put- Ung tbem over, and drea^cj well teaides, al- though her blue or green riding habit at uie oyeuiug would never prove that. It waa the other gown that set her off. Mr. Brendel has two bits of business he should protect at any ooet. One la his n'nish, the other is the kissing. There are really two good •singles" in this double turn, and two good singles as a rule should make a good two-act. Brendel and Bert are better tban that. They are Phlla- delphlans snd were in a vaudeville produc- tion starting out from there some time ago. Around the Palace it was said the turn was a Bart Mcllugb act. Another turn new to the Palace waa a sketch, "Bonfire of Old Empires" (New Acts), Intended for a war playlet, but being too Indefinite, dragging along for 30 minutes or so, wearing out the audience's patience. It will hardly do for any big time. Opening the performance the Boyarr Com- pany of Russian singers and dancers seemed to be liked, from the closing applause, and then came Lockett aud Brown, who also sing and dance, much as Waldron and Young do. These two two-acts were formerly two-acts also, but with the men and women of each together. Now they are "mixed" In persons, but not In acts, for th« two turns appear to be tbe same. They should do differently by mutual agreement, If they can't do It other- wise. Mr. Lockett sang "Mason and Dixon Line" Tuesday night. He did It Monday af- ternoon also, and at that time Miss Bert, two numbers ahead of him, repeated the song, but by Tuesday night she must have heard about Lockett using the same number. She omitted It. Lockett and Brown are doing a fair double, Just about passable enough to make the No. 2 spot at the Palace before an or- dinary audience. They didn't do well at all before the Tuesday evening assemblage, but that was nothing particularly against tbem, as ♦hoy only started the rush. Nonette, next (New Acta), got a little some- thing but fell away toward the finish, partly because of the number played then and the gradual slownes* In tempo all through the turn. Opening after IntennlsHlon woul<l have been better for the show and Nonette, but the bill sou Id not stand that arrangement. After Intermission oams Marie Nordstrom, with her old routine, perhaps one nsw number. opening, In "The Love of the Hook and Jays." Miaa Nordstrom spoils one of bar bast oils now, as she always has, ths phons bit, by sucking on sob stuff at ths finals of it. No one but Miss Nordstrom ever seamed to oars for that. Her "Suffrage" finish got soma lsughs. There seems to be a nsw boy iu it who doesn't compare with another Miss Nord- strom had at ons Urns. Following Ue Lib- erty Loan display, not too much oould have been looked for by Miss Nordstrom, but she kept on looking for applause through bows, "stealing" all of them, which meant about three. Ths second one seemed as though she had lost her way to ths dressing room and walked on the stage by mistake, while, when jumping out for ths third. It may have been Miss Nordstrom was prompted by curiosity to see If ths audlenos was still there. Bin*. RIVERSIDE. The Riverside bill experienced a severe shafting up after ths Initial performance Mon- day, Uie night show carrying a brand-nsw running order for ths acts scheduled witn one missing entirely through scenery delay. Thla, "Creation," waa scheduled to doss the show, but McLallan and Carson appeared in that spot. The shift brought Creasy and Dayns (New Acts) up to an early position In Uie first part from a lats one in ths sesond and gavs Robert ttmmett Ksans ths arducus task of opening after intermission. Ths re- arrangement was of soms benefit apparently for Uie show, while somewhat light- In com- parison with others, played reasonably well and seemed to thoroughly satisfy the gath- ering. Following ths Paths pictorial, the Gliding O'Mearaa danced through a routine that en- tailed soms corking whirls, a nsatly executed waltx and a speedy dance that evoked ap- plause. They mlgnt procure something new in the way of orcheatraUons, particularly lor ths closing number, the one now utilised being a bit old for thla section. They gavs ths Dill a speedy atart and retired a safs hit. The Three O Gorman Qlrla are pretty and talented musically to a degree, but their pres- ent ouering will get them but little attention aa big time candidates. Ths affair Is poorly arranged, Uie single "bit" bow used carrying any value being the trombone dust. A neat drop is carried and the girls aparkle with peraonallty, but they need a routine. Ths medley of patriotic airs, used for an encore, sent them over the Una. Duffy and Inglls took their bows at the Riverside, quite a few. They were grejted with a receyUon and found the going *aay. The instruments^ bits cinched their Lit snd they were enUUed to a fair division of ths comedy spoils at ths finish. Mr. Keane, opening the second part, was a valuable acquisition to the program. Ilia English stories went over with a resounding bang. (The two oldest gathered ths most laughs.) He tells the one about the King diving for gold coins and the other anent Uie baseball score which Impressed ths Eng- lishman as being up In ths millions. Thote two were long sines "released" through age and use, but there seems no reason why Keane should eliminate them If they connect everywhere as they did at the Riverside. His rendlUon of "Blighty" and 'The British Sol- dier" ensured his success. Ws still maintain, howsver, "Blighty" Is a poor selection for stage use, although Ksans sxplalns It well. Brendel and Burt .next to closing spot, tied the show up in a knot with their comic specialty and cornered the honors of the evening with little or no competition, bren- del has a unique style of cbsractsrlslng a funny-Swede and Introduce several novel hits of busineaa. The finals Is sure firs anywhere. Miss Burt's solo singing provides the con- trast and her numbers show good musical taste. Florence Tempest and Evelyn Nesblt and Co. (New Acts) while McLallen and Carson, skatera, closed the bill. Wyms. COLONIAL The Colonial waa turned over to Liberty Loan solicitors Monday night with the Mlases Meinken and Gordon from ths Wilfred Clarke act assisting In getting bond signers. An- nouncement was Ister made the evenlng'e work had netted $19,000, $10,000 being offered by a certain person If the audience raised a similar amount. Tbe loan appeal caused the show to run later than usual, and saturated It with con- siderable talk, as there were a number of sketches. The bill was given a nice start by the Sylvia Loyal act with the trained dog and pigeons. Mable Russell and Marty Ward Co. were No. 2, doing fairly well, but needing material. Miss Russell looked well and worked hard, but several of her numbers with the boys weren't productive of the applause expected. After the Wilfred Clarke (New Acts) sketch appeared Hallen and Hunter. Ths opening could be discarded, as It slows up the act more than giving them a good open- ing. Hallen was at his beat on Irish dialect stories or least that part obtained ths big- gest laughter at tbe Colonial. Hallen hews closely to stage mannerisms familiar to some of our best-known stage comics snd really doesn't need to, as he shows a natural apti- tude for comedy that should win on merits alone. Miss Hunter doesn't do much, but Is a comely girl tod handles ths "straight" work as a filler. The act runs largely to Hallen's nutticlsma. He's droll, unctuous type and on drollery best adapted to hla style should hitch his wagon. At ths Colonial they got over nicely. , ._ The Eddls Leonard minstrel turn closed ths first part. As Eddis Is aoms favorite in the neighborhood, there never waa any doubt aa to ths returns. . , Jack LaVler never had a tougher spot, fol- lowing ths Liberty Loan appsal, ths solicitors still being down In the audience collecting bond signatures when he started his qulel opening. LaVler has worked his trapeseturn up to a valuable bit of stags property and aa It now unfolds plus ths accompsnying talk makes him ths Bert Melrose of the trspeie bar. His hit waa unquestioned. Two of hi* tricks are corkers. Janst Adair is a light-haired comedienne who dependa more on the recitative style and change of delivery for her vaudeville nuc- ceaa tban anything else snd st ths Colonial shs was notlcsably successful. Miss Adair la capably assisted by a nice-looking young woman at the piano (Miss Adelphl). wno knows how to dresa and fix her hair to catch the boys out in front. Miss Adair has sev- eral numbers that outshine the remainder of her routine. "Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide" waa capitally enacted and jurehre. Miss Adair seems to grow on an aud'?nce tha longer shs stays on view and that character- istic "bit" (with feeling) of the old friends slaying pals unto death was well received. Following Miss Adair appeared Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Barry (New Acts) with "Makers of History" closing the show. The idea of this posing act held everybody in and it holds interest in the manner in which the pedestal "figures" are presented. Mark. BUSUWICK. « Reported dlasatlBfactlon among several acts caused considerable switching, in fact there waa posiuon changing up to and Including Tueaday night. On mat evening Sarah Pad- den was changed irom No. 5 to third, Joseph E. Bernard was sent from No. 3 to seventh, and the Dolly Sisters (headlining) were moved up from seventh to cioalug intermis- sion. 'iuesday night found the house In early with a sell-out claimed at eight o'clock. Yet seats wsre to be had, even with Uie fumb- ling at Uie box omce, and there was room in the boxes unsold lor Uie night. In syite of Uie early crowd the final cur- tain did not tail until almost 11.20, the cause of the lengthy show being the lallure to get Uie news mm started uutll tt.lo. 'the Liberty Loan apeaaer hardly figured in the lengthy ahow, for his dehniteiy brief re- marks consumed but five minutes. The first part of the bill (up to intermis- sion j seemed possessed of speed and uie bouse waa Inclined to be enthusiastic. Evelyn aud Dolly with their pleaaaut show of versatile stunts won good ayylauae. the bike work be- ing taken to eayeclally. Eddie aud Lou Miller followed, Ui'b ia excellent voice, and they walked od with an easy bll. Mies Pad- den with "The Clod" furnished amusement for the Brooklynltes. They laughed at lines, which In other places only lent color to her characterisation of the farm drudge. The act, therefore, lost soms of iu dramatic power, but that waa counterbalanced by the manner of lie acceptance. Lyons aud Yoaco, uie reunited "wop" duo, succeeded in making themselves favorites, getting fine reiurus, with "Macarronl Joe," a comic war lyric, used as an encore. The Dolly sisters wound up intermission, right up in Uie van for re- turns. The after intermission portion of the bill failed to hold the speed of the earlier sec- tion, for the first two turns aud tbe Liberty Loan apeaker took up almoat 60 minutea. Charlotte Parry (New Acta) opened the In- termission. Following was Beruards turn, "Who la She?" by W11 lard Mack. Here ia one of the beat acted of tarce comedies. There la a deal of action, many bright and some funny ilnea and the playing is toy claaa. Bernard la assisted by Niulia Urlstow, whose work aa the very Jealous "hot and cold" bride surely earns her ths honor of equal billing. Al and Fanny Steadman with their peppery capers showed next to closing, goiug tor a bit, though it was five minutes past eleven when they were doing their on and off finish. Howard'a Animala succeeded In holding the houae, comparatively few walking. I bee. 1 ROYAL It was several minutes past eleven when Belle Baker appeared to close tbe show Mon- day night and It was 10 minutes past tbe hour when ahe finished her encore with her only pub- lished number, "Joan of Arc." Being a prime Bronx favorite, Miss Baker bad no trouble In holding the fairly good house intact. The show was very slow In starting, and the first section (up to intermission) never did hit Its proper stride. This may have partly been due to the Liberty Loan speech, delivered by a local orator after tbe fourth turn and consuming about 15 minutes. At in- tervals during the war all entertainments are bound to be Interrupted on matters of na- tional Import, since public gathering places furnish a medium of direct appeal. Still, time allotted to such addresses might be standardized. There were several other favorites on the bill. Tbe De Wolf Girl*, who really fur- nished tbe only bright dlver«lon before Inter- mission, were one, and L. Wolfo Gilbert and Anatol Frledland. who opened after Inter- mission, were another. It was after Intermission that whatever punch the show had was delivered. The composers offered three war numbers for a starter, with "After ths Boys Corns March- ing Home" ths applause getter. Planted to a box a girl with an excellent voice helped considerably here. A medlsy of their form- er compositions followed snd won for them tbe applause honors of the evening. Ben Rysn and Harrlette Lee (New Acts) were seventh, with "Hsta snd Shoes," Dorothy and Madsltns Cameron with their nsw danc- ing act, were next to closing. This mads two classy sister turns on ths program (De Wolfs), both scoring strongly. Ths Cameron girls bave some wonderful wordrobe, but they, too, show something In ths dsnclng line, es- pecially at the finish, with ths sisters doing toe work. ^ The news film was switched from last to first snd was followed by Burdella Patterson, who. wltb her Illuminated poslngs, held the quiet pace. Prank and Garcia De Mont won little for their efforts In second spot even though the man's dsnclng gavs promlss of starting something. On third the youthful T)e Wolf girls In their dainty, clever offering. "Clothes, Clothes, Clothes." went over very nicely. Rather a nifty Idea of Marlon Sunshine, who Is re- sponsible for the turn. The settings ars in excellent teste. After each costume change the girls sing a chorus about "Clothes make girls beautiful," and then a bit of neat step- ping. Harry Cooper, assisted by Jim Reaney, was fourth, getting fair laughter, the Illustrated comic husband bit going over best. More singing was looked for from Cooper, but he may be saving his voice. After the Liberty Loan address, Fred J. Ardath and Co. closed the first half with "Tbe Decorator." Looks like a minute or two had been cut from the running time and, if so, some of the paste slinging was eliminated. However, tbe act suited the Royalltes, ^for they laughed quits some. AMERICAN ROOF. Mabel Normand started tbe show on the American Roof Monday night with a plea for the purchase of Liberty Bonds. Miss Normand looked exceptionally well upon the stage, but It was impossible to hear her*in the rear of tbe bouse. Belle Onrl commenced the show with her aerial act and did nicely. Miss Onrl la going through her routine In seven minutes and le- serves credit for her haste. It's a good open- ing turn. Gainee and Brown (New Acta) were No. 2. The Gordon Highlanders pleased with music and made It easy for Weber and Elliot, who followed. The two boys kept tbe bouse Isugh- lng for 15 minutes snd wsre called back after the lights had been turned out. Tbe come- dian Is doing some straight singing that I* hurting the act more than aiding It He tries to warble with "feeling" Instead of singing straight, something that may be learned by study. Wills Ho!*. Wakefield received a reception and after doing five numbers, it was evident the audience was pelased to see her back on tbe Roof. Miss Wakefield announced that It was her first time there In two years. Warner and Aster (New Acts) opened after Intermission with the Ryan-Rlchfleld Co. coming after. Thomas J. Rysn Is still as funny as he ever was. This set Is "there" on any bill it plays. They'll laugh at the sketch as long as Mr. Ryan Is with It. Demarest and Doll got away nicely, with the boy act Thla lad certainly can make a piano talk and he might do better aa a alngls. As s comedian be isn't so good, but on ths music box—he's there a mile Leddy and Leddy closed. One of ths boys Is doing some fells that are beauts. It's ons of the best closing acts around in soms time. It was a good bill at tbe Roof the first half, much better than the previoua week. HARLEM 0. H. Despite Its Increased capacity ths Harlem house was taxed to capacity Tuesday night, with the war song contest the special event of the evening. Thla affair apparently pulled business, for by 'the number of walkouts after the contest It was evident many bad come for this particular number alone. It was staged in a central spot and gave a little tone of variety to an otherwise slow running pro- gram. Ollle Young and April opened, following a run of pictures, and with their dainty little offering gave the bill a nifty start. It's a cleverly constructed turn, somewhat differ- ent, and entertaining throughout, making an especial appeal to the women and children. Joe and Vera White (New Acts) followed, after which came John T. Ray and Co. In a rather weak skit in "two." It Is built around a good theme, showing a coat room scene In a cabaret, but the dialog and vocal depart- ment Is somewhat light. Tbe two numbers could be Improved upon lyrically, the present pair dragging the affair out to a dangerous point. The encore dance earned some sp- plause, but the act Is badly In need of Im- mediate doctoring. Hallen and Fuller with their "Corridor of Time" earned a popular hit, although few, if any, of the Harlem patrons could remember sufficiently far back to connect tbem with theatricals during their heyday. The vehicle carries a touch of sentiment that practically fore** tlM-m over, with the entertaining fea- tures Ka'.herlng sufficient returns to warrant the billing and spot. After the song contest came Leroy, Lytton and Co. with their comedy sketch, followed by Gertrude Graves (New Acts) and Margaret Edwards and Co., who closed tbe vaudeville section. A Chaplin feature was listed as an added attraction with several comedy and dramatic films added aa fillers. Wynn.