Variety (January 1918)

10 BURLESQUE MILE A MINUTE GIRLS. At the blur, Brooklyn, last Thursday night, a braca of * real 11 m bouia followed lb* abow and *b« btg bouaa wa* mora probably at- tracted by ibe "wraaalerii" tban by tbc abow tteelf. Tba bouta ware well wortb walling for, wbicb (be bouae aolldly did. Wreatltug Ota Into burlejque, for inauy tlmea tbe aibletea are belter actora tban tboae In tbe abow. But laat week two young Hercules of repute acroaa tbe bridge "went to It." Of llgbter weight than tboae In tbe recent Lexington A?e. tournament, tbe re waa speed In tbe main bout, in tbla bout were Jobn Kolouie and Bull McCarfby, tbe winner, tbe Greek youtb, In aplte of the fact that be made blmaelf un- popular by planting bla foot on Bull's "map" on several occasions. There mere as many laughs furnished by tbe "star bout" and there certainly waa aa much Interest aa credited for all of the "Mile a Minute Show." Tbla Is a Billy K. Wells production, but It la not the beat of bis burlesque efforts. Tlio show Is taking the place on tne American Wheel of the "High Life Girls," whose franchise was absorbed by Wells and his associates. Harry Bentley Is tbe principal comic, doing a sort of modified Dutch lor the first set and a Hebrew during the second section. He waa not given any too meaty material. One line la a reply to Wilbur Bruun, who explains the meaning of chivalry. Bentley aaylng "Yes, but they don't call fellows like that chivalrous these days. They call them suckers." Harry Jackson plvyed the second comic, doing He- brew throughout but with little results. Very few of tbe soug numbers seemed to catch on, aa evidenced b> tbe failure to ob- tain even tbe meagre applause that generally la excuse for an encore. Nearest to a hit was "California," sung by Jessie Taylor, who, incidentally. 1b the best-looker In the show. Norma Bell got something with "Thi Sun- shine of Your Smile," erslly her best effort. There are aeveral la the feminine section of the caat w'jo looked near tbe age limit, wbicb didn't help in general results. Helen Russell in tbe ingenue role bandied considerable pro- portion oi the dialog and did fairly well, though not apportioned Uiuch in tbe way of good numbers Jimmy budd. who from his dialect appears to be an English comic, handled a olralght bit In tbe brat act and did It very badly. Later on ne appeared a* a "dame comedian," which waa probably wby be Is with the show. It got a little but was lough and tbe bouae didn't seem to know wbat It was all about. 8uggestlve matter was not Infrequent, tbla ■coming from the chorus actions as much aa anything e!se. Lifting of the skirts to show tbe ends o! dinky comblnstlons which needed washing seemed to be a favorite stunt (the "lingerie" was worn over tights). In costumes tbe ones lu tbe bathing num- ber were tue beat of th.* first section. Tbe second act found the wardrobe better but not exceptional. billed as "the fastest speed chorus In captivity," the gtls must have slowed up considerably since thiy earned that title. Looks aj If Wells wlil And It necessary to do lota with the preseut snow for next reason. He may have to abelve tbe whole outfit and evolve an entirely new show. lUee. SHOWS IN NEW ORLEANS. New Orleans, Jan. 2. "Mary's Ankle," highly profitable business at the Tulane. Burlesque stock at the Dauphine is bringing very light returns. Other houses (excepting pictures and vaudeville) dark this week. STOCKS OPENING. A new stock company opened at the Strand, Bayonne, N. J., last week under the management of James Cormican, who is playing the juvenile roles. Lorna Elliott and Robert Le Seur are playing the leads. JOE DIXON DIES. Joe Dixon, brother of Henry P. Dixon, died in New York Dec. 26. He had been ill for the past year. The deceased was 42 years of age and had appeared in his brother's shows during the greater part of his burlesque career. He is survived by a widow and a 10- year-old son. The funeral took place Dec. 28 from the family home in the Bronx and interment was in Mount Carmel Cemetery. Two Pennsylvania Towns Dropped. Shenandoah and Mt. Carmel, Pa., have been dropped from the American Circuit. The two days' time will be taken up at the New Bristol theatre, Bristol. Pa. The American has assigned "Military Maids" at the first show to play the new Bristol date. Academy, Lowell, Leased. Lowell, Mass., Jan. 2. The Academy hts Irtp leased by Archie L. Slicpard and P. F. Shea, who will keep the house open until May. The policy will be hm lcs'jnc tor the first three days and road attractions for the last half. SHOWS IN PHILLY. Philadelphia, Jan. 2. Things broke fine for the legitimate houses as well as for those playing vaudeville, burlesque and pictures throughout the city at the beginning of the New Year. It was too cold for street celebrations and with thou- sands of visitors to the city for the annual Mummer's Parade, the theatres "cleaned up." It is estimated that sev- eral records were broken. It was soft for "Follow the Girl," the new Hitchcock-Goetz production yl.ich had its premiere with the clos- ing of the old year. This is a musical comedy by Henry Blossom and Zoel P.arentena, and the cast contains among others, Dorothy Brunton, Walter Cat- lett, Jobyna Howland, Claude Gilling- water, Tiny Marshall Stevens, Bickel and Watson, Johnny Cantwell and Laura Hamilton. Despite they re- hearsed all day Sunday and up until time to lift the curtain on the first show, the artists gave a smooth per- tormance. The New Year's Eve rol- ltckers, which packed the theatre sent the piece off to a good start, but gave little line upon which to hang its fu- t'tre. The press comments, however, were liberal and favorable. Raymond Hitchcock stepped over from the Lyric, where he is playing, to fair business in "Hitchy Koo," to say that he was very well pleased with everything. "The Show of Wonders" worked in a midnight performance at the Chest- nut Street opera house. This was the cr.ly legitimate house that went after the New Year's crowd, but it divided tie business of the regular show which was good, while the midnight show drew only a fair house and a rough cowd, which according to reports had to be handled by the police. David Warfield in "The Music Mas- ter" is doing very well at the Forrest in his second week. "Turn to the Right" is doing good business at the Garrick, as is Alexandra Carlisle in "The Country Cousin" at the. Broad. Well filled houses, not quite capacity ?.re greeting Chauncey Olcott in his two weeks engagement of "Once Upon a Time" at the Walnut. STOCKS CLOSING. The John W. Vogel Minstrels is re- ported to have closed its season Dec. 22 at Barnesville, O. The Williams stock company, which closed for the holidays, will not reopen, having canceled further time. "The Unborn." management William Patten, received its two weeks' clos- ing notice Christmas eve. OPENING VANDERBILT. "Honor Bright" is the opening at- traction at the Vanderbilt, due for a premiere in February. Grace La Rue is to be starred and Felix Adler has been offered the leading comedy role. The piece was written by Catherine Chisholm Cushing (who did "Polly- anna"). Music has been supplied by Harry Carroll, although the numbers were oiiginally done by him. for an- other show. Carroll and William Sheer are said to be the producers of Honor Bright." The report they had leased the Vander- bilt is incorrect and the show will play on the u: ual sharing terms. Miss LaRue, Carroll and Sheer are concerned in a producing company to the extent of $5,000 each for their initial production. The play was originally written for Blanche King when Frederick McKay a;id K. & E. were jointly to present her. At a iatcr time ii was to have been the vehicle for a legitimate ad- vent for Nan Halpcrin, but the latter's vaudeville contracts precluded the pos- sibility c f her taking the piece. Harry Carroll is to appear in it in a piano playing specialty. Miss LaRue is to play the role of a mannekin who crashes into society. Sheer may do the managing. OBITUARY Joseph Arnold, of Murray Pilcer's Sherro Band, died suddenly of quinsy in Paris, France, Dec. 22. He was buried with Jewish rites at Pantin Cemetery, Dec. 24. The deceased is believed to have been an American. The band was a ragtime or jazz organization, organ- ized by a brother of Harry Pilcer, and opened with the new revue, "Laisse les Tomber," at the Casino de Paris, Dec. 12. Heading the cast of that show are Gaby Deslsys and Harry Pilcer. Loo Ryan, stage manager of the Orpheum at Madison, Wis., was killed Dec. 28 as a result of an auto accident. He was riding with a traveling sales- man, who was seriously injured. The machine is reported to have over- turned after colliding with a fire hy- drant. Ryan was 29 years of age and leaves ?. wife and four small children. IN LOVING MEMORY of My DcT«t«d Husband MORRIS F. CRONIN Who passed iwty In Washington, D. (X* Jon. 8. ISIS. Ho Is font, but not forgotten. May ho rest In pcaee. MME. CRONIN Charles H. Lowry, aged 54, died of heart failure at Freeport on Dec. 16. He was in the employ of the Lights Club at the time of his death, but 20 years ago was a prominent bare back rider. His last engagement under the big top was with the Frank A. Rob- bins show. The body was sent to Bal- timore at the request of relatives. "Baby" Jim Simons, colored, said to be the heaviest man in the world, died in Philadelphia, Dec. 28. He weighed 800 pounds and for years had been with side shows. It was necessary to trans- port the body of Simons to his home in Texas in a freight car. In Loving Memory of My Father SOLON BERRICK Assistant Corporation Counsel of New York Who departed this life Dec. 23. 1917. 2528 Broadway. New York City WILFRED BERRICK (Berrlck and Hart) Richard H. Maddern died Dec. 24 at his home, 2246 Hughes avenue. Bronx, New York, in his 79th year. The de- ceased was for many years leader of the orchestra of the Grand opera house, New York, and other orchestras. Gaston Habroken died in Paris Dec. 10, aged 51. He founded the Divan Japonais, a cafe concert, in vogue 25 years ago, and was once the director of the Ba-Ta-Clan music hall, Paris. Theodora Friobus, 38 years old, of Orange, N. J., in M A Tailor-Made Man," died at the Cohan & Harris theatre, Dec. 26, from heart failure. Maxwell Cutler, head of the Cutler Dental Co. at Boston, and known to the profession, died Dec. 28 at the Bal- timore Hotel, Kansas City. In Loving Memory' Albert J. Spencer Who died Dec. 28, 1117. HIS DtVOTED WIFE AND SOI William G. Kelle, the theatrical tail- or in the Majestic theater building, Chicago, died last week from injuries in an accident on the elevated line. . Mike Duffy (Duffy and Mary) died in Pittsburg, Dec. 22, with hemorrhage cf the stomach. The body was taken to Columbus, the Home of the deceased. Samuel Andrus Brock died at his home in Rutland, Vt., Dec. 31. He was owner of Brock's Broadway Minstrels ?nd for 25 years toured the country. SHOWS IN NEW YORK. "wk)" Bef ° re p,easu ™." EUlme (20th ••rnh!„ d, o ^ ,a y n °"«« I2i« week), week) CW VJ18 '" New Amsterdam (1st F 7£h h weaK"* "«»•«• vTeTcolomblT "Flo Flo • Cort (3d week). .Gypsy Trail," Plymouth (5th week) General Host," Gaiety (2d week) % "Going Up.- Liberty (I'd week Greenwich VlllHge Players (8th week) .Jack O'Lantern." Globe (12lb week) .Leave It to Jane. 1 Longacre (Uifh weak) •iJJ?h °V. 0y :." Park (1 ' ,,n weak" ''L^rd, nd* *&'" u ™?»»"« <M week). ••I.UI; ? :J -• Morosco (lrnh week) „Lady of the Camellias." Empire 12d week) .Madame Sand." Knickerbocker (7ta week) Masqueraaers." Booth UMb week) wee "'* ii^^^wi^^^^rr^rweek) week). * edroom and Bath," Republic (2d "q , ||pn , » ly A W,th .. a Past '" Belasco (18th week) week). lon/ Brauiha » PlayhousI (3d : ?la"e?H a os■e^ l | d0W • ,, Pr, r ce88 (5th week). •■tX?«, m %• ^/ ceum <»4th week). week)* dC MaD '" C0haD aud "*"«» dOth "The King " George M. Cohan (7th week) Uords and Music." Fulton (Jd week) What. Your Husband Doingr^aS'st (8th ;;Yi.8 or No." 48th St. (.Id week) Why Marry?", Astor ,2d week) W weeK, gt ° n « u * re Pliers Comedy (10th John J. Smith, 68 years old, died Dec. 27, at his home, 85 Marion street, Faterson, N. J. The deceased had lived there for many years. He was stage manager at the Bijou until fire de- stroyed it. Karl von Beethoven, journalist, died in Vienna last month, according to in- tormation received in Paris. lie was the last descendant of the composer Beethoven. SHOWS OPENING. The new Liebler show, "Success " i> going out again. It i, understood a toTZ 'J"""' , in ,he Pi"e was sold i°aged i, Par ' y $25,0 ° a Ira Hards . "The Rainbow Girl" started rehears- >«K again this week. It is said only two Maine" "^ ° riginal COB W«« Eddie Eckert, 25 years old. formerly a clown with the Barnum and Bailey circus, was killed in Kansas City hy an unknown man Dec. 25. F. W. Taft, aged 70. the oldest stage manager in Canada, died list week in Montreal lie succumbed to a stroke of paralysis JUDGMENTS. Tho'^T"' 8 fl,t,d ,n the Cou nty Clerk's office the 0 .Sond ,n !nJ" /^ ° f ^ J^'^ent debtoJi Inc'. n $7 , l ( .oL' nvy ~ lil ' i;op A «'°*oblle Station, eWorld Film Corp.-O. A. R„ferty, $120.05 •»ouri Sawyer—J. Rubin. $22.">.40. HANKRT'PTCY PETITIONS Harry F,r.,t, $2,24 .-,. (N o aiieU.) if u „ ATTACHMENTS. Herbert Drrnnn Film Corp.—Qoldwrn Pic- tures Corp., $2,300.23. uoiawyn Fls-