Variety (November 1917)

K 24 SHOW REVIEWS I I PALACE. Not a greet show but It rounded oat a pretty lonf evening, with one of thoee vsal-1 ll-be- durned sketches ooneumiof more time then anything Alee, The show wss strong In sec- tions, with some of the comedy Insertions espe- cially wsll received although the song deluge came cloee to swamping everything else. Meehsn's dogs gave the show a good ft tart, the performance of the leaping greyhounds as ususl furnishing the biggest feature. Phlna and pickaninnies did well In the second posi- tion, with the picks doing the best work dancing. Phlna Isn't doing much these days, and Is using the smallest pick to cloee the turn with sn imitation of Nsn Halperta . The new Creeay-Dayne sketch. "A City Cans." probably fares better on the read, as the long stretches of It st the Palace were as dry as the Sahara desert. The Palace folks didn't seem to care much about IL Several women knitted Industriously throughout whlls some of ths men Carried on s war discussion. The days have passed when the oft-used expressions of the goebdtuged denlsena of the rural die- trtcta cause laughter In ths city. The truth seems to be that William Creasy Is sticking around vaudeville on past performances. Milt Collins now devotee his entire monolog to comment on the war and has some very snappy, humorous material. He got away alowly hut soon had 'em. After Collins ap- peared Maurice and Florence Walton and their white orchestra. Usuries was in s uniform of a Preach mold while Miss Walton displayed some wardrobe that looked continental. While the pair showed flaahes of their old dancing routine they also danced the ''Chasseur's Pox Trot," which the program says Msurlos and Miss Wkivua danced for the French and En- glish soldiers. Miss Walton's dressing for this number Is sure to have s lot of our best little Broadway modiste shops out with "copies." It Is not only of becoming daalga but Is classy and neat. Maurice and Walton are not en- deavoring to stretch out their program, but, on the other hand, s eem to be shortening It. After intermission Camel and Kosa Ponslllo sang entertainingly. Nobody seemed to fancy the gestures the girls are using and they might Invest in s nickel's worth mors to make their present repertoire of hand poses s little more varied. The girls go In for distinctive dress- ing with the smaller of ths girls wearing a clinging, shimmering black outfit that had earns of the men forgetting she wss there as a vocalist and not aa a modal of some sort,. The glrla did better with one section of their song routine than with others. 8wor and Avey and their bleckfaeed absurd- ttles had a soft spot and mads the beet of It. Blossom Seelev and bar syncopated studio aa- atatants offered a veritable feast of songs, with Blossom bringing hack vivid reminders of her todelo heydey. The most modest snd unassum- ing worker of the Seeley worker* Is the tall boy at the piano and he sticks strictly to his knit- ting nil the way. Msrquard and Dooley (New Acta) closed the show. Mark. RIVERSIDE. Here's a curious paradox: Every act on the bill Mondsy night was enthusiastically applauded, and when the audience filed out a number of patrons were heard to express themselves tbst ths show wasn't as good as ususl. An analysis of the bill doesn't reveal a solution, yet. somehow, such seemed to he the fact. It may hsve been due to Nora Bnyes. who wss the Isst act. She stayed on but 21 minutes. Including two healthy en- cores, the passing over the footlights of flow- ers snd s speech. Miss Bayes was not at her best Although Irving Fisher was programed to assist her he was not In evidence, and this may have necessltsted the changing of her routine, often ruinous to the successful putting over of an act. Then sirs in her eyes did not seem to be properly msde up. which marred her ususlly sttrsctlve spnesrsnee. She offered "Psullne Revere." "Nlckeleas N'lck." her seri- ous letter song. "I'm Going to Be Brave," "Over There" snd "Dst's de Sweetest Flower dst Grows." s coon ditty. With but three acts in the second art snd the brevity of her turn, the show Including the Pathe Weekly. was over by IOJiO. As sn Instance of how an spparently In- consequent ta I thins, can mar s turn, the first hsir of Milt Collins' turn was msterlslly hurt by the constant moving of one of the tor- mentor* by sumeone off stage. It wasn't left In one ppot until Collins was well Into his tangle talk monolog. and as a result he failed to bold the attention of the audience until he wan well along In his "speech." After a bard pull he got them strongly and they re- sponded nobly. Something was wrong with all three sets In the second half. The Cameron Sinters, who were Brat after Interrelation, were pro- gramed to be anointed by Pave Wallace's Syncopated Orchestra. The only assistant In evidence was Burton Daniel* at the piano. He was attired In s purple Eton Jacket. The art \* patterned efter the etvk. of the Dolly Fifltrr«. but the Cameron girl* are good toe danrrm. and when they finished received seven benlthy rurtaln rail*. Manklchl and Co.. two Japanese men and a woman, opem-d the performance with RIs- ley barrel work and Hplnnlng top Juggling. They up* the barrel «tuff for comedy In a TTv<n"."r ilmlli-r ?o thr.t of o;).er .Lap •«*« tor ••on-ie I'm.'. The 'ampbHI Sinters were sec- ond pnd hfd to mnke a little speech before permitted to deport They *eore<J strongest with a very cute little number. "Nnhodv Kr.nw« Where the Old Man Goes." a splendid ditty n'onu orlp'nnl llgea. 1 eMalre and r,«iineher In "The Dsttle of WVntti-thf-Ne" bftd prett" eaxy Palling In thirl position. They have a npeclal aet- tlnie —;i tr«n,h *r<ne. the ntralght man play. Inn fin officer and the comedian a colored private. It la full of laughable travesty ■tuff, patterned alone tht Hoes of the old flallagnr and Barrett "Battle ef Toe Soon." Billy Gould opened with an original comedy patri- otic song, then some English wsr stories, an- other song glorifying George M. Cohan In which are Incorporated excerpts from Cohan's former song succ ess es, snd finishes with some burlesque imitations of the walks of soldiers from different sections of this country* He went very well. 8sIlls Fisher and Co. In Clare Kummer's "The Choir Rehearsal." closed the drat half. When singing Miss Fisher dlsplsyed tre- mendous volume, hut her speaking voles seems to havs no carrying power. 8lngers are usually not taught to speak, and vice versa. They are two entirely different arts. That's the difference between s "discuss" or" chant- euse" and a vocalists. Miss Bayes Is about the best exemplification that could he men- tioned of the "dlseuse" sty Is of artiste. 8he "tslks" her songs. Most vsudevllllsns have learned the ert of using their voices In both fields of endeavor. Joio. ROYAL The Royal bill this week runs very ragged In its first part and falls to become properly set before the second hslf. where most of the bill's merit hss been crowded. The program Is again headlined with Belle Baker, In her second week at the Keith's Bronx big time house. The Royal lately In- creased Its admission to RO cents top In ths orchestra during the week day a. going to that figure from ftft cents, the former price. Some- thing of an Increase for a neighborhood house, but the Royal appears to have very nicely re- covered. Monday night's attendance was up to the full quote for that evening, always a light one uptown. The popularity of Mies Bnker might be ettiibuted to It. since there wss no other plsustble reason, although the added attraction of the Rooney and Bent asme on the billing could be credited with some of the drswlng power. Mlsa Bsker gave a new angle to her inter- pretation of professional ethics Monday even- ing tbst counts for a great deel In her favor. She appeared Just before Rooney and Bent (New Acts) In the second hslf. The letter team were next to closing, the arrangement ocenrring through Bennett snd Rlchsrds (with dancing) playing second after Intermission, * the two-man act sis© doing the Colonial this week. For her second term at the Roval Miss Bsker selected a repertoire of her old num- bers, with two exceptions, and scored tre- mendously. 8he could have eaally held np s the performance snd Rooney snd BenvS turn If the young women hsd so desired. Mlsa Baker hsd taken several bows snd could hsve been In her dressing room while the snnlsu«e wss holding up the show, but she did not tske advantage of an opportunity thst many another vsndevflllsn won Id hsve grabbed st. *Mlss Bsker reappeared, sang another number by request and retired, leav- ing a nice and easy entrance for Rooney- Bent. Among Miss Baker's newer songs were "Maaon snd Divon Line." opening, snd a new wsr sons hallsd. "There Are a Thousand Feroea In Fverv Corner of the T?. 8. A." The hellad *©nnd« very rood, bnt Belle Bsker can make anv haftad sound like a hit. for there Is no one who excels tbl« alrl st pnt- tinr **rrm* th*t type of number. 8he also u«*d "Pre«k the News to Mother" with a rood result. At the Roval It wss Miss B»ker'» former "Vlddr»h" number*, how- ever th*t cau««d the rleta. Belle B«ker Is In fine ferro now. not alone In her work bnt In a b«nrf«om»» sold dre** worn bv her. She I* 1u«t1frlnr the two week** holdover route given her to head'tne the first week and IsM- tom the next. But the Roys I topped Miss Raker for t>»e two week*. whl"b probably dlrfn't c»ii«e her to ehed snv tears. The Roval nro-r»m !• full of sofa new to that seettnn end New York. The show opened very well with one LsVeen *nd Croaa (New Aet«) that left them laueh'ne at the etsrt, to-h* followed b»/ Or** and Rvron. a mixed d«vihie who taiv«d moatlr, bnt each had a sone or so. The young woman, for her sons-, hsd the drop ro nn for a- psrlor set. seated her-e'f at a concert rrand but n»ver placed a note, tbonrh slnrlnv a song, after- war* the t-trn ro'ng Into "one" sraln. It looked a* though the aecnnd time In "one" wsa for the convenience of the stare crew, to *et. as the en«"<n« dt a 'o«- Indicted a r prlo r woo Htm reoMlred The tslk Is of a lleht catlhro w'th the two-»ct of the fllrta- t'on «ort both m^etlne- on the'«treef before a welehlnr m*eMne w'th the Hrl ssklne the ho T for a nlrVet to wMeh herwetf. The md can h*rd'v do for hie Mm» at nreoent. thoueh It m'~ht hold nn an «»»»rlY wnot on the *mnt1 hi* time N«"t cam* Calti Rro« and Cor'e (New Seta) with n remedy *nee«alW net ooentnr that the thre» plnver* wnllon*»d no hard there was nothing for thl* ae^t'on to do but Hon d«s- mel'v. which It d«d The bova revWed th»m«elve* with d«nrin«r. but they are not actor- and even farther away from being oomrrltpn*. Jn the No 4 epot waa "The P.pr^on nt stohw." m"Vort thore from the c'o*- Ine flr c t hr»'f noaltlon Trenlaced In the letter pr-ot hv Hwrrv Per«'ord and Co ) "The H-rden" firn with C.»rrv MeGsrrv and Co (Vow *rta) d'd not lift up the hhow any. but rmw'ord and Rrodorlek. n*»rt auccesafully (,tt«'d«'rt t" 'hnf important m!"lop. H--U t, y<m.\ f . r *.\ 0 f rnp tt > hm nn i^, olll tinrh promise. Phe haa methoda of her own and a p^nll^r peraonalltv. rem'nd^'H at tlme« of Chnrlotte Or*»enwood. Leater Craw- ford I- e nont 1'tvenMe sln^r and danger Ml«« Proderick alan «ins* and dance* Roth can hand'** tplk. Pome of th.«r material la v#tv rrvod : Home rot worth whMe. but Ml«i Urodfrlck \p worth wntchlng. The net pre- Fent P en'oyahel entertainment and m1*ht caat about for a «ketch «ettln« In "one" that would give them more continuity and oppor- luulty. Closing 4he fleet **H wwe^ «he-I ford company of five* people. In the former Digby Bell sketch, written by Wlnchell Smith and John L. Oolden, "Mind Tour Own Business." Two of Mr. Bersoford's support greatly Injure the net result Mr. Beresford can produce with this comedy playlet. It went very nicely before the Royal crowd, but should be properly east. After Intermission came Joe Cock, fresh from "The Red Clock," thst stopped, with his "one-man vaudeville show," doing real well In the position, although the Intermis- sion held the house well enough through the orchestra In Its overture featuring the trap drummer under the spotlight Bennett and Richards will hsve to look about for a new opening. Their novelty beginning sen hardly stand repeats with the surety thst first greeted It. The remainder of the turn la always In irdsr, for the dsnclng boy Is a wonder on his feet. The first song, although likely re- tained for the dance routine, could also staid changing. After Miss Bsker and Rooney and Bent were Loose and Sterling;,, closing* ths per- formsnee with serlsl work on the bar. The program mentions Nana Sterling as the per- fectly formed woman through medal award- ed, but she Is too thickly disguised by short skirts for proof apparent. Rslph Loans does really a single toward the finish. In much the same manner Jack LaVler la now performing on the trapese, talking and bal- ancing. Who did It first Is not known, but Mr. Lobes does It exceptionally well. One of his balances brought an exclamation of apprehension from the house, and some of his single work secured plenty of lsughs. To- gether they did some very fast performing. At the opening, the lounge suit Mr. Lohee wears does not hsrmonlae with the semi- evening dress of Miss Sterling's. An average should be struck on the clothes end. For full value Loshe and Sterling might he green a program position where Lobee's elngle matter can go to the audience Instead of being obliged to hold them In at the finish, which this turn did solidly at ths Royal. They are a corking good comedy acrobatic act of appearance. Sis**, ALHAMBRA. This Is "Anniversary Week" at the Alham- bra, and there are eleven acta. Manager Harry Bailey celebrated tim event by riding up to the matinee after the regular Tuesday managers' meeting In a tail cab. A huge touring car hit the taxi a wallop, smashing It up pretty badly, but Harry escaped with only hla feelings lacerated and a few brulaea. The ahow started at 8:03 with the Penn Trio, three men, gymnasts, who work on a Ealr of psrrallel bars snd do a grod act of that Ind. Holmea and Buchanan, who sing aonga of bygone days In the costume cf the Colonial period, and usually work In an Interior, had to do their act In "one," owing to the frame- up of the bill. Robert Buchanan scored his usual hit with his fine rendition of "Sally In Our Alley." and Mlsa Holmes looked very sweet In her boopsklrt. Drew and Wallace, with their singing, danc- ing and crossfire skit, "At the Drug Store." registered a strong hit. "Courting Days," a musical comedietta, book by Homer Miles, lyrics by Jean Haves, music by George Boto- ford, Is a clean, breezy singing skit, with four men and three women, all good singers and capable actors. It Is well staged snd mskee s clsssy set for sny vsudevllle bill. John 8wor snd West Avey, In southern negro characterisations, are a felicitous com- bination. Tbeir card game pantomime open- ing Is a most artistic piece of work. 8ome of the old 8wor and Mack act is used, but most of the msterlsl Is new snd contains more "Jen" than the old vsudevllle team used to employ. The finish, with 8wor doing ■ _ H,wa,,an d «ee with a straw skirt. Is hardly strong enough to follow the good work that precedes it. Will J. Ward and his Five Symphony Oirle (New Acts) closed the first part. It's a good set. only marred by the star's persistent "crabbing" of bis girls' singing, through his Interpolation of comedy "asides," designed for comedy—which it isn't. "Creation." deplet- ing "The Birth of the Universe." with scenic and electric effects, reopened the entertain- ment, and were In turn succeeded by Hallen and Hunter. Miss Hunter played s violin and Mr. Hallen did "nut" singing snd talk- ing, which pleased tbe audience Immensely. Jane Connelly and Co. In "Betty's Court- ship." wss accorded Ita due share of appre- ciation, and Lyons and Tosco were given a hearty welcome. The Four Nlgbtons. with their scrobstlcs snd posing, closed. A big show In the matter of qusnttty. but a bit shy on quality, taking It as a whole. Jolo. Dennett and Richards wwre ths~ fl'tt rent M hit of the hill. Their novelty opening brought a laugh and the dancing aent them along. Ths Forest Fire" played alowly up to the COLONIAL. With "The Forest Fire" headlining, the show at the Colonial was only s fair entertainment aa fsr aa vaudeville goee. The Colonial's lower floor Monday night held but half capacity. The balcony wasn't any too strong and tbe gallery had the uaual. evidenced by the ap- plnuee that came from that section at times The bill underwent several shifts In the running order, due to the non-appearance of Al and Fanny 8teadman and the entry of Ben- nett and Rlchnrda. This act went Into the first pari. ne*t lo closing Intermission. Mlgnon switching to the opening after Intermission snd "Tbe Foreat Fire" closing tbe first part, having been moved up from cloalng tbe show. Rohertp. assisted by Bea Verera. In a com- bination of Juegllng t nd slngln*. opened to fair applause return. The Six American Dancers In the aecond apot pulling down atrong ap- plauBe with the red fire flnlab. "The Dance of the Allies." RudlnofT. with hla smoke draw- ings, stsrted slowly and It looked for s mo- ment as though the gallery waa going to give him the bird, but once underway bis work Interested. The whistling finish went big. point of the effect that get something. Mlgnon had tbe audience walking In on her first number, hut looked as though she was going to walk away with nil the honors ee she oame along to her finish. She has sevsrel new Impersonations, Including Frances White, Henry Lewis and Bsrnsrd Omnvllls. using the latter an n eraelng number. Charles Grape- win and Anna Chanee. la "Pougnkeepsie," were a mngh from start to finish. L. Wolfe Otlbert and Aaatol Frtedlaad. clon- ing, were the applause hit of the show, finish- ing no strong that they might have sunt an- other number or two. "Camouflage" brought laugha. but It waa the girl planted In the box who placed the wallop Into "When the Boys Come Marching Home," although the arrange- ment of hits of the past wss ths best received of the ant. The currant Hearst-Pathe cloned the hill, the flnlah coming at 1(X6S. Fnd. AMERICAN ROOF. A lot of comedy In the Roof show Monday night, bat the audience didn't seem to think It so funny/' With one or two exceptions the ecu Just shout passed. Towards the last the people started walking out wholesale. Some didn't come back after Intermission. The Ovandoe (New Acta) opened, while Loins and Oreen (Nsw Acts) followed. Pro- vost and Ooelet were No. 8 and with their acrobatic bit did fairly welL It la a good turn for the small time, but It could bo cut down n little If one of the boyo would stop playing "Tlppsrnry" (?) on the guitar. Laurie Ordway, with her comedy songs, got some lsughs. but shs Is stalling too much. If las Ordway did four numbers. Three st least took five or six minutes to go through. 8chrode and the Beaumont 81stsrs are doing the old Billy Van act. "Prone." If there were over three or four laugha during the aketeh, they weren't heard. This act may not be current for todays vaudeville. It waa all right In lis time. Gertrude Oogut (New Acts) opened after the tea-minute Intermission and waa followed by Gordon Bldiid and Co., doing an old act, a real old boy. The three women are quite ordinary, end Mr. Bldrld could pick up a bit himself. The whole company might benefit by securing a new playlet Cook and 8teveno were In a eoft spot and took full advantage of It. According to the way tbe houes received them st ths finish It waa quite evident they were over by a mile. Helene Trio closed, doing a nloe aerial act, and Played to a house thst waa Boated, what waa left of 'em, the audlenos waiting for the Arbuckle picture. 23D STREET. When that dear old gentleman, Tony Pas- tor, had his Justly famous vaudeville theatre on 14th street. Mike Scott often appeared there. Since Pastor passed away Mike hasn't been around New Tork eo much. The last time heard from he was figuring on how to msks the Jump from Boston to Halifax and havs enough left to return to Boston. Mike said In a letter he was afraid before he could figure It out the week would be gone. Mike Scott was an Irlahman who didn't have to pay royalty to use the name. He waa also a clog dancer. Pedeetnl clog dancer. Mike hade a standing chsllenge of $1,000 to dsnoe at the clog style with anyone In the world, but he didn't have tbe $1,000. When Mike 8cott entered upon the stage appesrlng In "one." he wore at first his busi- ness suit, in case he sbould be suddenly called to fill an emergency elsewhere. It had been his business suit for some time and may be yet. Mike wae very buslnees-llke. but he had then only been In thle country about eight years snd the show business wss commencing to wesr on his temperament. After Informing the sudlence be came from Dublin. Informa- tion thJt always seemed to please snd smuae them, Mike told a few stories. They were very good etories. for they hsd often been tested. Then Mike danced, first stripping down to an Irish setting and afterward doing his clog upon a pedestal. Mike, when pressed, would admit be bad always been a riot at Pastor's, but confidently said it was nothing to wbat bs bad done In other places. Mike often spoke of bis world- wide experience and seemed very familiar with Boston. When ssked how he did at Indian- apolis. Mike replied be left Ireland too young to visit that town. One day Mike hsd an Idea. He was assisted to It with eaae and it obsessed him for a long time. Wny couldn't he headline at Hammer- stein s and catch the Irish vote. Mike con- fessed it hsd been one of bis smbltlons. snd to relieve the management of the usual embar- asstnent Mike stated be wouldn't Insist on any particular time or position. To accommodate Mike, tbe late William Hammersteln had tbe subject broached to blm When Willie recovered he opined It might be w.T orth * wh,,e ■ ch *m«- Willie bad heard about Mike but be had never heard Mike. Willie took to it favorably though and Mike was In- formed of progress. Mike was on the point of buying a new suit and pedestal when Willie concluded that with Mike the riot be was at *.w tor .■• upon opening at Hamrnersteln's. tbe enthualaam for bla act might bring about the destruction of the theatre at tbe Drat show gillie said he thought be ought to think of hla rather first. 8o Mike Scott lost bis great chance because he was such a riot everywhere. M«^2 d a ^ y 1 u we . r * " ,wav " confidential with u«. Mike, tipping Inside stuff about youraelf wherever you are around Boston, here's tha return-thst If you didn't headline at Ham! ? < i™ l . e .« !v? ou cn . u,d have headlined the flret half bill this week at tbe 23d Street and been l^L ■£.' li Mvae old J" ,ot a||a,n - That was somi chow, Mike, poms show. lad. Jluww