Variety (November 1917)

m * SHOW REVIEWS 21 CENTURY. Tbe first Sunday nlfht veudevtlle show at the Century started off as If It were going to be a oorker, but, due to poor management, It fell down badly toward tbe close. Fred Ward announoed each of tbe 14 acts, and It seemed as tbougb bs was skeptical about being beard throughout the bouse. Most all of the Winter Garden regular Sunday nlghters were there, and seemed well satisfied up to the time Will Rogers came on. It's almost certain every- one else felt the same way. The Blue and White Marimba Band opened, followed by Marconi Brothers. During these two musical acts Winnie Sheehan passed pea- nuts along the row where he was sitting. There was nothing else to do. Flore Revslles sang two numbers, helped along by a piano for her second song. Cecil Lean and Cleo Mayfleld did a telephone number, which went nicely. They were followed by Eddie Cantor, who received a tremendous reception. Mr. Can- tor aang "Dixie Volunteers" and the "Baby" number be does In "The Follies." There Is no doubt this boy Cantor could be to the Century what Al Jolson means to the Garden, If Cantor appears at all of the Century's Sun- day snows. Oeorge White and Ann Pennington did a flirtation dance. It was very good and went big at the finish. Mr. White called upon bis partner to make a speech, as It was her first appearance in vaudeville, or the nearest to It she had ever been. Miss Pennington merely said. "Thank you." Fanny Br Ice received the second big recep- tion of the evening. 8he did two numbers, both from tbe "single" she docs In "The Follies." It's a pleasure to watch KIm Brlce work, and there Is certainly no woman who can get as much out of a Yiddish song ss sho can. Nor does any other woman appear to have as good "Yiddish" songs as Miss Brlce'e. At the finish It was a toss up be- tween her and Eddie Cantor who had gone the best. Van and Schenck were In a tough spot fol- lowing tbe girl "comic," Van singing alone.. His partner had a bad oold, and only played the piano. The closing number they used has been done so much It let them down lightly at the finish. The dsnclng melodrama taken from the show, with Harry Kelly, Andrew Tombes, Oeorge White, Ann Pennington, Vera Max- well, and Keystone Cops, closed the first half. The Horllk Family opened Intermission, and did well despite that they had trouble with the orchestra. Bert Williams came next sing- ing two good songs. Brlce and King sang three numbers, one from the show, and were the hit of the second half. Savoy and Bren- nan, who followed, went fairly well, but noth- ing .exceptional. Then came the surprise of the evening, un- looked sod uncalled for. Will Rogers walked down the aisle and calmly announced be was going to part the house from some of Its coin. He started things off himself by putting $25 In his hat, and offered to tell a joke on any subject for an equal sum. He got $100 from Frank Tlnney. but after that Bill did an awful flop as a collector, his price dropping down to $10 with no takers. The Idea of collecting the money was to give It to any charity the house wanted It to go to. Rogers, not being able, to get any coin on the story thing, started passing the hat. but only worked the left side of the house, tbe rest getting away clear. After the cowboy walked out (he did not go on the stage) there was a atage wait. Ward came out calling for "Will." but no William! Several suggestions from the audience as to his whereabouts, such as "He's trying to cash Tlndey's check." "Maybe he blew with the coin," and so forth. It was poor Judgment, especially on a first Sunday night, to try a "collection" thing without naming a definite charity, and asking the bouse to come through with twenty-five every time they wanted to bear a story. Audi- ences in theatres around New York have had enough "collections" of lade during tbe week, and didn't pay $2 to run Into another. Throughout Rogers' act people were walk- ing out, and during the stage wait the lower floor almost emptied. It gave tbe program an awful wallop Just when It should have held up. Another number from the show closed the bill, It being Stephen D. ORourke with the Century Double Octet. Tbe Century held a good house downstairs, though not capacity. The first balcony was very light. It was also a question as to whether the system of using cards or an- nouncing was best. The general opinion seemed to be in favor of the cards. PALACE. There is not the usual diversity of enter- tainment on the Palace bill ibis week that usually characterizes the shows there. The big head liner is Elsie Janis. Mommy night there was a noticeable lack of box attendnnpe, but this may be readily accounted for by the fact that there were three legitimate theatre premieres and Miss Janis* host of admirers will undoubtedly flock to see her before the week passes. The principal absence of diversity was In placing Beatrice Herford Just ihead of Kittle Janis. Miss Herford offered three clever meno- log characterizations, and while they were good two would have been sufficient. That placed Miss Janis in a series of Imitations, cr (mteraonatioiiA, or imj;r4s««ion?, Immedi- ately following a trio of characterizations. Nevertheless, Amer'ca's foremost imitator did 20 minutes and finished with a speech of thanks, which took the form of a aeroi- apology for not returning with new material. As a matter of fact, she did alter h»>r oitrnng by changing the songs which the various 1ml- t ated stars employed, as the imitato r ulc- tured them vocalising. She opened with fiUiel be; rymore, speaking to tbe liielidy of "Laddie Boy"; 8am Barnard, with "Let** All Be Americans Now'*; Bernhardt, with "Joan of Arc"; Eddie Poy. with "It's Your Coun- try" ; Oeorge Cohan, with "Over Th^n'; Harry Lauder, with "Pack Up Your Trouble* In Your Old Kit Bag," and then the Will Rogers monolog and lariat >lance. On-s of the Rogers gsgs she employs Is the "that'* why they put rubbers on lead pencils" and Is also used by the boy In the Nat Nasarro act ahead of her. For an encore she did an Imi- tation of Charlotte Oreenwood singing and dancing in "So Long Letty." This and tbe Lauder Imitation were not In the act »b«» did at the Palace a short time ago. MIjs Janis ne»er loosed sweeter and seems to be as popular as ever. Three turns ahead of the hesdllntr was Joe Cook, with his one-man vsudcvl*!*? thow. While done In burlesque msnner, hU set is s series 6f Impersonations or characterisa- tions or Imitations, and earned roars of laughter. That travesty stuff never falls and the fact it Is so forcefully successful Is not conducive to paving the way for a headline imltatrlce. Even Ray and Oordon Dooley, Just pre- ceding Joe Cook, finished up with a bur- leaque Imitation of a couple of cabaret per- formers. The Dooleys scored thsir usual big scream. The Palace seems to be getting more like an English music ball every day. Over there they grow accustomed to a come- dian, know exactly what he is going to da, and when he doesn't they are disappointed. Many years ago Nat Wills played a lengthy engagement at the London Palace. After three months be suggested to the manage- ment he would like to change some of bis stories and was told not to do so, as the au- diences were Just becoming familiar witn tne routine. Nat Nasarro and Co. (New Acta) opened after the Paths Weekly with their excellent acrobatic, singing, instrumental and other- wise unique turn. The act finished to big ap- plause, marred by tbe necessity of the boy going out* in "one" with a recitation, to give opportunity for arranging the special drop of Stanley and Blrnes, who followed. Sun ley and Blrnes are male eccentric steppers, with some original and humorous simultaneous movements, and me auu,euce liked them Immensely. Sallle Fisher and Co., in "The Choir Rehearsal," closed the first part. The Clare Kummer musical skit wears well and seems to be able to stand repeating. Wolfe Gilbert and Anatol Frledland are offerelng a new ballad, Juat completed, "plug- ged" by a girl in a stage box. As usual, they score violently with their medley of popular ditties, which Include those written by both librettist and composer with others. In addi- tion to those written together. "Makers of History,'? posing act, closed the show. Jolo. woman doing "lifts," the womsn ss tbe under- sunder ami featuring both pedestal and teeth holds. 8eversl of tbe tricks are out of tbe ordinary and there waa a thrill. A Mack Bennett comedy, with Polly Moran doing some amazing camera work, followed the vaudeville section. Moris. AMERICAN ROOF. The bill on the Roof the first half was distinctly pop house. The returns were not as bad as Imagined from the report going round that the theatre buslnees In general had slumped off since Nov. 1. Tbe audience was of sufficient proportions to keep the box- otbee, custodians busy. _. . . „ Dave Wellington and Sylvia (New Acta) opened the show. Overboil and Young offered a quiet little dancing offering, with the man throwing in a little recitation about flowers Just to fool 'em. 1 he act as constructed shows strength In the dancing and on this made Its Impression. . ^, M Ihree Rozellaa did very well In the third position. It's a musical turn, Introducing ths numbers In a comedy way, with one member of the trio doing a supposed "souse" and using a pipe, cane and a street lamp frame as "blinds'' for instruments. One man and a woman, who plays both the harp and violin, form the othor part of the act A big bit at the American and could have easily taken the encore tbe audience clamored for enthusias- tically. The Rozellas made It pretty hard for the succeeding turns, yet May Elinors and Violet Carleton did surprisingly well. Theee women haven't changed their talk since playing other local houses, yet tbe more ancient some of their tidbits were tbe better received. The crossfire, however, appears to be tne weakest link. Miss Carleton was applauded for her animal imitations. "Miss Hamlet," a travesty, at times Jumped from the ridiculous to the sublime snd back again .although there Is smple room to Inject more burlesque. The time for this act Is also too long. After intermission appeared Marcella John- son not her first time on the Roof, but she appeared to be working at a big disadvantage. Miss Johnson Is a vocalist, having a beautiful voice which she uses flexibly and effectively. On her first number Miss Johnson's throat seemed to tighten perceptibly the moment she attempted her first high note when the cigar and cigarette smoke rolled over the footlights. The orchestra did not seem on harmonious terms with Miss Johnson's voice, but she did the best she could and scored accordingly. Miss Johnson has all the requisites of a cultured singer, plus a pleasing stage appear- ance and enunciation. Her range is high and musical. "Lulu's Friend" (New Acts) wss followed by Murray Livingston, who Is now doing a series of characters a la prot«*.n and doing each type Interestingly. Tbe type* are worked In a sort of recitative soliloquy, "The Dreamer." first offorlng his familiar Italian character and then in turn following It with a "s^use." a Jewish pawnf r">ker an I a miser. Livingston works hard and pleased the Amerl- canites. Margaret and Hanley closed. Man and RIVERSIDE. A show finely fitted to the neighborhood this week, a class bill, not burdened with comedy nor song, but so satlafaotory in other ways and so smoothly running that Tuesday night's nesrly capacity house found muoh to enthuse over. Two feminine favorites—Elsie Jsnls and Bessie Clayton—featured the entertainment. Miss Jania. who divides her time this week between the Palace and Riverside, dashing out of tbe legit every so often to go vaude- villing, closed Intermission with her Imita- tions. Rather a novel Idea of having her characters sing war songs, snd as euun oue Is given a different number, six brands are aired. But Miss Janis' impression of Will Rodgers was tbe pet of the house. No doubt she has selected the best of Will's new stuff and It Is good as most of his lariat-lwlrhug humor always Is. That with a bit of a Fred Stone rope dance earned the headllner plenty for a danolng encore. It was the Beasts Clayton turn, however, that won the edge on applause honors, and rightly, too. On second after Intermission It proved a delight. Last season Miss Clayton oarried a syncopated musical outfit. Now she haa Paisley Noon, the Masoonl Brothers, a pianist, and a Jass oornetlst In the pit. The results are so much better that the old lay- out Is shaded in comparison. Ths pleasing work ~f Mr. Noon Is a factor, but that of Mosconls' approaches the sensational, eepe- clally the smaller one. And Miss Clayton's dancing seeme to stand out. She won a nice measuro of applause with her final toe effort. All In all the act frames up as the best dancing turn of Its type this season. There was plenty of dsnclng, especially in the latter section, if the sliding, slipping,« stepping of Oordon Dooley csn be called dancing. Sister Ray and he held down the next-to-closing spot to a nicety. It Is per- haps a coincidence that the eliding footwork waa present in two other turns, ons of ths Mssconls and Lou Lockett using tbe "step" with good effect. Following tbe Dooleys and closing ths show were Dong Fon Oue and Harry Haw, the classy celestial couple, who, In spite of the wealth of dancing Juet ahead of them, fared well and kept the house In. They eliminated tbe opening song numbers in "one." tbe curtain finding them already in action as It rose. La Veen and Cross, a Roman duce-spot of fun. opened the show with their "Julius and Brutus." Their aorobatlca ere clever but their burlesquelng Is sven better snd tbe turn is going to be In demand. Lockett and Brown proved an ideal No. 2 turn. Tbe combina- tion of Lockett's semi-acrobatic stepping snd Miss Brown's high-kicking comprise a pleasing routine. Meehan e Canines "weut over'* in the No. 3 position with s rush. Tbe high leaping of the greyhounds Is a thing of beauty and audible murmurs of the audience followed every leap over the hurdles. The b^sok dog, which seems to be the champion of tbe lot, waa sent for an encore Jump by Meehan. That Is s rsre thing for dog acta Mr. and Mre. Jlmmle Barry were amusing with "The Burglar," In which Jim retains bis- likeable and funny rube character. His mle of s correspondence school burglsr snd de- tective combined Is a gentle but humorous poke at the "we can raise your salary" Insti- tutions. Vlolinsky opened Intermission snd found enough applause to give his whoje routine. lose. There Is claas snd her playing and singing carry ths turn Into s bit She was also among the- Kpeech makers of the evening. There was s switch In ths second half. McManon, Diamond and Cbaplow opening, in place or Lyons and Yosco. The former turn wss a solid hit on ths dsnclng finish, and too latter, who followed, stopped the show (or too second time Monday nlgnt Dugsn and Raymond, replacing Rockwell and Wood. In the next position with their "Auto Elopement received a great return lo laughtsr. The sudlence Just sent along laugh after laugh when the near-Ford started cot- ting up. Rooney and Bent had the next to closing spot, tsklng the stage at about 16\4o" and finishing aftsr ths hour. That mock ballad thing which the turn Is using did not seem to Impress ths Mondsy night audleneo, and the act would hsvs fared beter had It closed Im- mediately after the scene In "two" nod lot It go st thet Durdella Peterson nut the finish touches on the bill and her series of stereopttcoo poses won applause from those who remained. In the Hearst-Paths which opened the ahow the specie! local section showing the training of ths New Yorkers st Camp Upton stood out like a bouse afire with the audience and brought much comment. It Is a good feature to continue at this tlms, and should have " played up for advertising purposes. COLONIAL. It Is sn Anniversary of something or other at the Colonial, with the lights outalds staling 12 acts. There were 11 progrsmed tnalde. The sign slao carried tbe names of six of the acts, turee to a aide. Tbe snow was a mighty smooth playing one that started with speed, which was maintained right down to the finishing turn. The promise of a 12-act bill failed to at- tract a capacity audience Monday night, the last four rows of the orchestra being prac- tically empty, while further front in the house there were gaps in tbe side sections. The upper floors must have held almost capacity Judging from tbe applause that came from tbone sections. Two genuine hits developed In the bill, Rube Marquard snd William Dooley carrying sway the honors in the lirst part, while L.yuns and Yosco were almost as big a hit after inter- mission. That Colonial gallery can make or break any act and Monday nlgbt they were on tbelr good behavior and plugging for almost every turn. The Gilding O'Mearax, who opened, were given a reception and forced to a speech at the end of the act. That b g >ln« some f»r an opening turn. In "Put Out" Ethel Arnold and Earl Taylor scored with their Blanche Merrill material, winning sufficient applause to warrant another number. Slg. Franz and Co. with tbelr comedy cycling act won a steady stream of laughs, but fell down a little on applause at tbe finish. I^eo Beers van on*> cf the hits of the «*rly Mictlon. He has added a number of the war songs to his story In music and they won applause. Then came the wallop by Marquard and Dooley. Marquard ns a "d'linc" was n HCP'iun and tbe turn held up the «how for a full minute Nor.ette cloned the flrwt part. Her's Isn't sn act, It's a production and is capable o f closing the first part spot on any bill. HARLEM 0. H. Business waa a bit off Tuesday night Too program rounded Into one of the moot enjoy- able bills there for some tlms. It would have been better, from an audience standpoint, wero that special picture about Harlem's leading merchants either cut or tacked on too end. It wss placed in the middle and consumed a lot of time. It govs thsm ample opportunity however, to locate suitable seats. The Closing turns oarried the enow aoross nicely, although compelled to work against the hardships brought about by ths commercial film. The Fantonlo Troupe opened with Thomp- son and Berrl (New Acts) doing well enough In the next spot. Hayward Stafford and Oo. In "A Perfect Day' r (New Acts) proved amusing, with Oottlsr and Oox.Juventle song writers, closing ths first part The boys have framed a repertoire of their own melodies that should bring them the same results wherever they plsy. For a while It looked ae though they were going to tis op proceed- ings. Harlem's leading establishments were thou Introduced, followed by a Triangle weekly. This. In turn; brought on an ill. song, "Just ss Your Mothsr Was," that had thorn singing ths chorus. Jsck Roeelelgh and Co. In a comedy dra- matic sketch entitled "Our Wife" gained re- sults throughout, notwithstanding It had a surprise finish that was not only un ex pected but brought them to a far better close than sketcbee generally find it bore. Mr. Rose lelgh, from his performance, may have eon- fined his efforts to stock engagements. If bo intends continuing In vaudeville with his pi snt vehicle be would soon find they could use him. Toney and Norman were easily among the big guns of ths evening, with their slsng chatter that kept the house roaring. Tony woo In good humor, snd gslned every possible laugb, while Miss Norman was there a mile. Together they banked everything across In ex- pert style. Mllle. Blmlna and Oo. dosed. HAMILTON. Mondsy night ths Hamilton somewhat re- sembled former dsys Ths house was partially filled, with tbe lower floor holding a number of vscanclss In ths rear, but ft was said buslnsss that particular evening wae above the average of lsts. Monday is generally one of the big nights of tbs week, for In con- junction with ths Dsnclng Contest (a godd local draw) tbe regulars are generally there to eee the new bill But n restraining order might be pieced upon them, for the bouse Is Inclined to kid. This, howsvsr, was quickly stopped, slthough It might be sttendsd to la such a manner It does not recur. Tbe clientele patronising the hnuee Is too good for that to happen at any time. A "four-minute-man" opened with a talk upon a subject of national Importance, fol- lowed by Howard and Co. (New Acts). They were followed by Dolly Morrlssey. Mies Mor- rissey evidently thought hsr opening oootume would csrry hsr screen, something which It did st the time, but when dlscsrdsd tbe turn went with It. Miss Morrlssey Just shout passsd with s turn that could stsnd revision. The numbers may be there, but It can hardly be said she bandies them with any degree of success. Miss Morrlssey might engsge some one to Instruct her on s number of vital points which she seems Ignorant of. "When Women Rule" sgsln proved a laugh- ing success. The Lelghtons worked before tbelr speclsl drop In "ons" to s pssslng score, that was nicely gained after delving Into some laugh-producing chntter snd a final sing with s little harmony attached. The closing Hula business is passe now and could be replaced. "arrow with his lemon trick wss nsxt-to- closlng and got away exceptionally well, al- though be took numerous cbancee In pasalng some rather sarcastic remarks about his audi- tors. He often repeated about waking them up while seeking tbelr aid In tricks, but they nrceptod It In good humor with tbe outcome In liU favor. Crewel! Fan ton and Co. In tbelr patriotic acrobatic novelty cloned. The boys utiwhely arc attempting more comedy tbsn before, with tbe result being conspicuous enough to give ihem warning as to the harm it \n doing. Although tbe three attempt comedy ulngle or together, tbey don't msks It, but that doesn't appt'ttr to dlRCurage th«>m. Their Introducto r y speech should b e sufficient • 4 • ;