Variety (January 1918)

VAUDEVILLE AMONG THE WOMEN BY "PATSY" SMITH "Les Miserables," featuring William Farnum, is remarkable for the number of clever children in it. Cosette is seen at different ages—five, ten, and twice in her teens—at each age being truly beautiful. Gus Edwards' "Song Revue" is a big offering for vaudeville and has the quality of growing better as it pro- gresses. Olga Cook, the star, affects pink with her blonde beauty. A pink satin brocade with embroidered sil- ver moons, has bustle drapery at sides and back, but a more simple frock of pink georgette worn at the closing is far more effective. Miss Starbuck is another pretty blonde—not a principal —but promising, and Mr. Edwards' eagle eye hat undoubtedly singled her out ere this. Persian silk puff dresses, simple coral pink soubret dresses (worn in the audience number) and the floral basket dresses (from the Hen- derson Review) were the most effective chorus outfits. They wore odd little hats that looked as if the backs had been chopped out of them. Two cute little kiddies made their appearance in the school room bit and in the last act. The Vampire maids and the National costume suggestions were showy bits. The Farber Girls in their artistic silver cloth and silver lace gowns daintily decorated with touches of blue and pink ribbon flowers were the "class" at the Colonial Monday. Irene flashed a rose silk wrap with rhine- stone collar and cuffs over a costume of black net sparkling with rows of brilliants. Constance flashed a sense of real humor and ability to "put it over." The Lightner Sisters, appeared in fresh looking dresses. The larger one looked particularly well in a drapery black crepe de chine brocaded in large cherry designs. This over orange georgette, the whole over a silver lace skirt outlined with a design in bril- liants. The Columbia matinees last week were swollen considerably bv the over- flow from the Palace. Rose Sydell's "London Bells" entertained auditors who had set out to see Sarah Bern- hardtl A barnyard scene with drop showing farm lands in the perspective lifted the company out of the "palace set atmosphere" Titian-haired Kate Pullman, said to be an Eva Tanguay (I), is featuied with the show. She pulled tom-boy stunts (some cartwheels she did were sad), and danced much throughout the show. Whether her manner meant self-satisfaction or in- difference it is hard to say. She was energy without personality. She looked best in the red, purple-lined dress worn at opening. Pretty blonde Dorothy Earle in peach silk and black-haired Frankie Burns made good opposites and should work more together than they do. A novelty worn by the chorus for the "Dixie" number was coarse- knitted wool one-piece bathing suits, looking like sweaters. The belts and collars were of a contrasting color. The girls were most all young and good looking with quantities of hair which they wore becomingly—but all seemed to have hard eyes, which may have been due to their makeups. One of the best workers in the show was a pretty blonde—first row, second from the end. As time tolled out the old year, at the Palace Monday night, Robert Em- mett Keane was in the middle of one of his best stories. After New Year gteetings were exchanged with the audience, Conductor Daab and Pat Rooney (who butted in from one of the wings), Mr. Keane asked the audi- tors to give three cheers for the big- gest man in American history—Wood- row Wilson. This they did right heart- ily. Stella Mayhew replaced Bern- hardt at this performance—looking ex- ceptionally well in black panne vel- vet. The long loose sleeves and front of bodice were of georgette—the lat- ter handsomely embroidered in jet. Two large diamond brooches seemed to hold up the back of bodice and an- other novel touch to the outfit was the white and black embroidered inserts on the insteps of her black silk hose. Miss Mayhew deplored the fact that she had to work alone now and pressed herself as surprised that "Bill" (Billie Taylor) had to go away to learn to fight when he had had so much expe- rience at home. On closer inspection the smart coat-dress worn by Inez Plummer (with Paul Dickey) appears to be sand instead of gray and the "brown fur" is beaver. Marion Bent opened in a white satin one-piece dress, its irregular side pan- els, collar and sleeves trimmed with bands of seal. Many buttons and but- ton holes, edged with emerald green, also trimmed frock. A cerise velvet wrap was worn over a lemon and orange georgette—the full overskirt held up at intervals by strings of col- ored beads. The girdle bodice, sash bustle and little Jap hat were of orien- tal brocade in variegated colors. Tas- sels of the colored beads fell from either side of hat. BY THE SKIRT. The "Cohan Revue of 1918," while not as interesting as other things Mr. Cohan has done in the past, is so well dressed one doesn't mind the lack of snap and dash of other revues by this brilliant writer. What the chorus lacked in voice they made up in style. The first ensemble found the girls in ankle length dresses of all the pastel shades. A Spanish number headed by Fanny Stedman was beautifully dressed in crinolines of orange and yellow, while some of the girls wore lemon and red with black velvet rib- bons and mantels of chiffon with chen- nile balls. Miss Stedman was draped in a handsome white shawl. An effec- tive set of costumes were in shot silk made very short. Mauve net in many luffles was combined with white fur. Modern evening gowns were in excel- lent taste. There was a slave scene in which the costumes were a riot of color. The finale of the first act was done in that most effective combination black and white. Nora Bayes, looking years younger in a blonde wig, chose for her entrance a blue velvet dress c'raped tightly around the ankles. A squirrel cape and hat were also worn. In a red and white dress Miss Bayes looked exceptionally well. For her specialty a green velvet dress had a huge meline bow forming a bustle. For the Florence Reed impersonation Miss Bayes wore a green chiffon with a plum colored chiffon mantle. In a Red Cross costume Miss Bayes looked quite ordi- nary, which may prove fine feathers make fine birds. The girls of the chorus quite outshone her. Mary Garden at the Strand this week was a slim Thais, but not a young one. The picture is done in the best of style aiid spells expensiveness and with a younger star might have created a furore. Miss Garden dresses the role to perfection, as to be expected from her. Had she learned the art of film a«:tinR as well, "Thais" would have been worth while. The many costumes are of the clinging Grecian fashion, show- F */^ il CABARE/T*. ac=3E t— rv the ^aniza- power *>day. ■uch tic, Tke restriction against anyone in U. S. service uniform being served with liquor has been of late enforced upon instructions in the New York restau- rants to the extent that no liquor may be served at a table where a man in uniform is seated, regardless the num- ber of civilians who may be at the same table The favorite plan to obtain^ a drink for one of the boys in service was to order one ginger ale high ball and one straight ginger ale. This often happened where one of the boys was accompanied only by a young woman. Then the drinks were switched. It ex- tended to parties and there was a gen- eral mixing of drinks often until the order was made in its present rigid form. At one restaurant not so long ago a small flock of little decanters such as are served in a buffet car were found beneath a table where ginger ale and soda had been the only drinks ordered from the bar. It has been hard to resist slipping a drink to anyone in the U. S. service on leave when all around a restaurant could be seen men of other allied nations in uniform drinking to their heart's content, the no-drink ukase affecting none but this country's boys. A lariat expert has been added to Healy's Golden Glades entertainers. He is Cuba Crutchfield, who first showed around here in a vaudeville act as The Crutchfields. Such an eminent authority as Will Rogers says Mr. Crutchfield is one of the best ropers the west ever held. He has many little tricks with t he ropes the east has not yet, seen. ing much back and Mary has a real Kittie Gordon back. I have never heard such hearty laughter as that caused by the latest Douglas Fairbanks picture, "The Three Musketeers" at the new Rivoli this week. The audience fairly howl- ed. Mr. Fairbanks was ably assisted by a pretty miss called Marjory Daw, in several well made frocks. Olive Tell, of the legitimate stage and also films, does very well with a rather inane picture called "Her Sis- ter." Miss Tell's exquisite coloring is somewhat lost on the screen and in some close ups she looked rather aged, but that will probably be altered when she is more familiar with the peculiar- ities of picture make up. Tailored things are most becoming to this miss. A strikingly smart costume was a checked skirt with a sleeveless vest and a hard hat. An evening dress was of tulle with a sequin bodice. "The Gown of Destiny," featuring Alma Reuben is a picture of unusual merit. An interesting story and war scenes make it a pleasure to watch. The gown around which the story is woven was well worth the title. The bodice of the sleeveless variety was of heavy lace. The skirt draped tight- ly around the figure was of silk, having a wide stripe. Several well made gewns as worn by Miss Reuben places her almost in a class by herself. What "Parlor, Bedroom and Bath" would have been without Florence Moore at the Republic is difficult to imagine. The farce is quite the raciest here in many a day. Miss Moore is surrounded by a cast (with the ex- ception of John Cumberland), who lore you to extinction. Three costume changes are made by Miss Moore. One a blue velvet and a rose velvet is fol- lowed by an ugly pair of pink satin pajamas. But it mattered not what Miss Moore wore—she has never been funnier than in this play. Crutchfield also talks wfiK through his tricks. It's an expe* at Healy's and the roper will work. the carpet over the ice. Morris Silver of Chicago has placed the following acts in middle west cabarets: Count Peronne and Trix Oliver for the Grand Pacific hotel, Chi- cago, and Beatrice Bosdyn for the same place; Flo Jacobson and Lucille Palmer tor the Green Mill Gardens, Chicago; six acts for the Miami Hotel. Dayton, O.; six acts for the Severn hotel, In- dianapolis. New Year's Eve the New York res- taurants remained open as long at they liked, despite all newspaper talk to the contrary before New Year's. Seme of the Broadway places closed Tuesday morning any time after six. The better known restaurants did a thriving trade with large buying crowds. Tke opening of the new "Midnight Frolic" last Saturday night was little short of a preliminary dress rehearsal The show was being shaped up this week. Realizing the performance was not in perfect condition, it is said Flo Ziegfeld wanted to announce it as a dress rehearsal, but was dissuaded. Jack LaFallotta, Forster representa- tive in San Francisco, appearing nightly at Solari's, boosting his firm's songs, did so well he was made an offer by the management which he could not ac- cept on account of his present affilia- tions. Tke Kenned? Bratkars, who former- ly conducted "Kennedy's" at 38th street and Broadway, have taken over the cafe that adjoins the Amsterdam thea- tre. Tke Moulin Range Gardens, Chicago, has added several new entertainers to the bill. Among them are Thelma Wil- liams, Mae Norton, Olive Morgan and Bud Worth. No liquor was sold in San Francisco cafes after two o'clock New Year's eve in compliance with Chief of Police White's orders. Tka Eastman sisters, '"Florence of Denishawn," the St. Denis dancer and the U. S. Four are at the Edelweiss Gardens, Chicago. Art Penny closed at Levy's, Los An- geles, last week and opened at Solari's, J?un Francisco. Mabal McKinley is singing at the Vogue restaurant. SHOWS IN FRISCO. San Francisco, Jan. 2. "Turn to the Right" at the Columbia drawing big holiday business. The Alcazar, with Harry Corson Ciarke in "Hello Bill," is drawing fairly. Considering a previous run of 10 weeks, "Canary Cottage" is doing well at the Cort in its second week. New AlwoocU Opens Feb. 22. Chicago, Jan. 2. The Alwoods Theatre will not be ready to optrn Feb, 1, as announced, and will probably swing its doors apart to the public Washington's birthday. Woods returned to New York on New Year's eve after patting his O. K. on the final details.