Variety (January 1918)

SHOW REVIEWS PALACE. The Palaoe didn't need "Niw YearV for business. It has bssa a holiday thsrs every day since Bernhardt opened almost three weeks, ago. Remarkable what this grand old lady can do In the varieties as against her drawing pcwer on the mad at the head of her own company. It must be deduced that In vaudeville at lower prices end with an entertaining bill surrounding her, It's just the people who went to see Bernhardt rather than to see her play who are drawn In. And Bernhardt does draw a:different crowl from the customary vaudeville ft tendance. The bills at the Palace during, Bernhardt'* stay have discovered r that. Some of the acts must have had a little heart suffering the way they have gone and two turns or eu that thought them- selves guaranteed against a "flop In New York" nicely turned right over But they blame It on tfc* laok of understanding or mis- understanding by the strange audience. They will blame It upon something. Bernhardt Is playing "Jeanne D'Arc," the trial scene or second set from the play by M. Bmlle Moreau. this week. It runs 24 minutes. Last week llerLhardt did "Camilla" In 88 m Inn tea. Although she wouldn't play the third show the day before New Year'e, what this wonderful woman will do In the theatre would drive rome Lead liners and stars into hysterics If they were called upon for a similar route—to play tanks, two shows a day. one-day stands, put up with everything and keep on playing away from home, and with the physical Inconvenience Bernhardt suf- fers with. Bernhardt It 73 now, but Sue doesn't look It upon the rtago, and played the 18-year-old "Joan" without apolllog th\ Illu- sion of the young girl, that arising, no doubt, because Bernhardt was doing It. A company of several principals and about a dozen supers were In r.ae scene with her. The current bill sround the French star Is featured by Harry Pox. doing hla new single with s male pianist, the added vocal assist- ance of the orchestra and a stage-band Inter- ruption. Fox doea very tig In hla new style of work, for he bss rid himself of so many old mannerisms It might be surpilslng to find snother young man of so long associa- tion with old habits getting so far away from them and still getting over. Thla provea quite a good deal for Fox as an artist and doesn't leave any question open aa to why he makes good. His songs are several, and well sung by him. Among them Is the "Baby" number that scored particularly. Hla accompanist Is Lew Pollock. Ho plays the piano with ease but doesnt laugh the aame way, and Mr. Pollock, since his prop lnugh Is quite a por- tion of the comedy end of the turn, should go In training for naturalness. What Is known as * hollow laugh neema to have been Pollock's model, but a pianist In an act laugh- ing at his prlnclpsl must be like expecting the musicians In the pit to laugh by Tueaday night. Foi followed liernhardt. It might be said that If an act thinks Its good, It could follow Bernbsrdt snd safely find out. That Is why that position hap pretty nearly be- come an honor spot during the Bernbsrdt engagement. Drendel and Bert, Bell Baker (second week) and Fos have occupied the spot, each one holding it up. and It needed some holding, not alone to keep them In but to keep them from going out before they remained In. The next turn of Importance on the bill la Paul Dickey and Co. In "The Lincoln High- wayman.' a melo playlet by Mr. Dickey, with the roughest road In the country aa Ita source snd a Stuti car as the plot. Of all the Im- probabilities In the piece police looking for a 8tuti In toe country Ih the most Impossible. All you nave to do to And out when ou the road If '.herj Is a 8tulz within 20 miles Is to stand still snd listen. Mr. Dickey wrote s decidedly marketable playlet for vaudeville when compiling this one. If he Is leaving the twice-daily he should leave the sketch behind him. It wou!.'. call for very little change to have Ines Plummer started In the piece, and Miss Plummer would he most welcome In vaudeville at the head of an act. 8he Is too capable a pla/er and too pretty a young woman for vaudeville to willingly lose her. Mies Plummer attests to all three by ber presence In the Llncnla Highway skit, that is set In a typical Lincoln Highway garage, with nothing In It but rubbish. The story, however, tells of only one robber on the highway and thla one was caught. A hit equal to any was captured by Robert Emmet Kean*> In the No. 4 position In his second week, the same position he had last week. Mr. Kear.e Is also sppearlng In "The Grass Widow" at the Princess. Doing four a day his time must be sdju ted. Mr. Keane tells stories, humorous snd war (also humorous), with s couple of bis old ones getting as much ss any of the others, and all getting a lot. lie followed these with two recitations, bis first, Kipling's "Young Rrhlsh 8oldler" becom- ing most effective as related by Keane, and another of Servlss In cockney dialect giving the monologlst an excellent finish. Mr. Keane is doing a very good act. Opening the second part were Rooney and Bent In their latest i^t, "Up Town," which has not been Improve*! to any noticeable ex'.rnt. except by ellmlnuJfon. nJnce first shown, and the audience didnt seem to take to It. Pat did but one encore, his "Gazolaky" dance, and let It go nt that. Opening the bill were Parish and Peru, who did much and got much for an opening turn, dancing, bt>rrel-Jumplng and acrobatics, with- al danclnrf all the time, and doing every- thing well, some better tbsn others who have done the aame thing, principally because In barrel-Jumping they do nothing others have done, hut that la not the meet Important for they have new stuff la serobatlos and aero* batle dancing. If the act Is being held to the opening spot because It sure oaa give a show a fine shove-off tbst may be One for the bill, but the turn has enough In It to Justify a later position. Donahue and Stewart were second, Miss Stewart having grown to be the greater portion of the act. Donahue does some eccentric dancing as of yore snd tsllu a little. Haruko Onukl. the Chinese singer, was third, wuh ber voice and olothee, one vising with the other In oolorfuloess. Mme. Jewell's "Circus Day la Toy land" (New Acts). Bime. WVERSTOL It wag New Tesr's Jubilee weak with tea gets making up a satisfactory bllL For the second time In six weeks or so Bessie Clayton waa a Riverside feature. The turn closed intermission and pulled down the first hit on Now Tear's matinee. In feet It scored even more strongly thaa In the November appearance. Mlas Clay- ton's set waa not the only hlgh-acorlsf point, for the Net Naxarro Troupe and Eddie Dow I log earned hit honors, with the latter having the Individual returns shaded. The Nasarrs est started after Intermission with * bang. The youngster cams away a big favorite and his work slons In "one" sfter the regular turn hit the house Just right Quits a future for that versatile lad If Naxarro ever decides to place him In the legit I mate. Bddle Dowllng followed and kept up the pace. They even fell for hla serious recltetlou. hut his finish was the punch —the views of various nationalities on the war. Dowllng ranks well up with toe newer mono- logtats. Robert Edesen headlined In a new sketch, "Pearls" (New Acts), the playlet earning fair enough returns Car It ton t a tarn built for applause-bringing. Dooley and Nelson opened the show with their eoentrlc routine. The hoys are using a new snlsh, both dressed In Oriental garb and working to a number about "Cleo- patra had a Jans band In her palace on the Nile." There Is a comic dance for the oleee, and It brought down big applause. Dooley neglected to mention that hla first dance was an imitation of Bernard Qranvllle'a "spirits" The two acts en the same bill, separated only by a short Intermission, Invite comparison. The Ferber Qlrls opened the second part with Constance carrying off the honors snd the act scoring the first solid hit of the evening. The Edjwarda "Bong Revue." with Olga Cook and Dan Hea|y featured, was the big punch of .the evening. The act with Ita lightness of spirit was In keeping with the hoi Ids y at- mosphere, and every number waa well re- ceived. The Hsarst-Pathe Weekly was the finish, the show closing about 10.15, the house at that time being about three-quarters fulL AUMMBRA. The first show at the Alhambra Monday nfght (New Year's eve) must hsve started about 7:80. ».: 7;M tho second torn, Francis and Rosa, two men, simultaneous comedy steppers, were finishing. Evidently there were others who did not know the show would start at such sn early hour for the house, waa less than half filled and It wss considerably after eight before fully occupied. The theatre was entirely sold out. even the boxes on a level with the gallery being peopled. As might reaaonnbly have been expected, the first few turns suffered by the lets arrivals. Beaumonte and Arnold. In "The Sergeenteene,' on third, only tended npplause with their srtlstlo dnrclng finish. They concluded at 8:08 making way for Herman Timber*, "a local boy,' w*w> was given a hearty welootne. After his opening song, Ttmbarg landed a wsllop of a laugh by starting a classical violin solo. He had hardly oeecteqed In quieting the nudlenee shea he remarked: Thts'll he over In a mlneto." Prom then on. with his Rus- sian dancing, Imltstlono of Lew Fields end Al Joleon and riotous dsree finish, he had things pretty much his own way. "The Corner Store," a rural esmedy with seven people* all bueollo types, ssoreu vsry strongly, erpeelslly with counter pointing scene. Patbe Weekly was run off where the Intermission usually comes, to ssve time and permit the the first show to be over by 10. Dugan and Raymond, with their farcical PROTECTED MATERIAL VARIETY'S Protected Material to it. The envelopes are to he without detection, unless by rtsnent will receive and file all letters sddreasod bosom the baa* la a manner to prsvsut opeulug of the owner of the letter. eddresssd to Protected Material, VARIETY, ledge each letter received, were published on Page 5 It ia suggested all loiters he register ed, e ddre s ssd to Pi New York, and receipt requested. VAJUETY will asknewU Full particulars of the "Protected Material Department VARIETY of Feb. 4, lfilfi. The following circuits, managements and agencies have signified a willingness to opt such menus as may be within their power to elkminete "lifted material** from sir theatres, wheu infermed of the result of an Investigation conducted by VARIETY: ad their MARCUS LOEW CIRCUIT (Jos. M. Schenck) FOX CIRCUIT (Edgar Allen) Ml LPS CIRCUIT (Walter F. Keofe) FINN-HEIMAN CIRCUIT (Sum Kuhl) BERT LEVEY CIRCUIT A Bert Levey) EA CIRCUIT (Harry A. Shea) FEIBER-ShEA CIRCUIT (Richard Kearney) ALOZ CIRCUIT (J. H. Aloz) PANTAGES CIRCUIT (Walter F. Keefe) B. S. MOSS CIRCUIT (R. S. Moss) GUS SUN CIRCUIT (Gus Sun) MICHIGAN VA1JD. CIRCUIT (W. S. Butterflcld) stepping, which he generally does. Perhops that was because Mlgnon also amotions Oran- vllle In a boofflng bit Chief Caupollcan did nicely eecond. What sounded like s new number for blm Is excel- lently fitted for his voice. He finished with the "Marseilles." Cole. Russell snd Davis with their skit, "Yeggs." were slso well plsced third. The "yegg" Is Ik furnished amusement. They hsve ellmlnsted the silverware bit and Inatead walk off to the lock atep when Mlas Russell finds her brooch gone and whistles for the cop. George Pancrort and Octavla Dro*ke (New Acta), switched from ninth to fourth, made themselves well liked, with the fine appearance of the couple helping. M Ignon was moved down next to closing, Just after the Rdeaon turn. 8be could do but fslrly in the hard spot with her Impersonations. "Fantasia" closed the show (New Acts), most of the house staying In. /bee. COLONIAL With a program of only alx acta the Colonial gave a show New Year's Eve tbst lasted a little over two hours. Seven acts booked, but the hesdllne was the Ous Ed- wards Revue, which runs over an hour. Ade- line Francis failed to appear for the matinee, and for the nlgtb ahow no turn waa added. The double show did not seem to work out very well New Year's Eve. At 7,30, the ad- vertised hour for starting the first perform- ance, there were less than 100 people In, and when the overture waa finally rung In at 7.45 there were about 2TjO on the lower floor. The front rows of the upper floors, however, seemed to be filled. Lohse and Sterling opened the program, do- ing nine minutes and pulling considerable ap- plause considering the size of house they were working to. Harry Cooper, assisted by Jim Resney, was moved up to the second spot, re- placing the Francis act In that position. Cooper worked bard for laughs, but the audi- ence was too cold to be easy. The song at the finale finally got them. The Uoganny Troupe got some laughs with their slapstick/end the Mt-.seu Ltghtner snd Newton Alexander closed the first part. The trio ia doing five number*, with the come- dienne bearing the brunt of the work. The booking of this act on the aame bill with the Far ber Girls did not seem like good policy. One Ih a sister act and the other a trio, but the two girls In the latter set really work ss a sister team. The comedienne of the Llghtaers and Constance Faxber clank. skit, "They Auto Know Better." hove changed much of the dialog for the hotter. Mies Raymond, however, should give more attention to her enunciation. Cummlngs snd Mltohell, In "one." were the big "riot" of the show. Roy Cummlngs' "nut" stuff and general nonsensicallties are excru- ciatingly funny. At times be suggests Johnny Dooley with his acrobatic falls, though quite different end far from a copy. He yodels sweetly *nd dances ludicrously snd bis busi- ness with their own drop Is s scream. Miss Mitchell mskes s dainty foil. The team would fit nicely into a Broadway musical produc- tion. Owing io the Indisposition of Eva Tanguay. the headline position was given to Valeska Suratt and Co. In a powerful Russian melo- drama. "The Purple Poppy." Miss 8uratt was a revelation to the residents of Harlem— not In the manner famlllsr to them, but as a legitimate actress of force and power She has a supporting company of five exception- ally competent artists, all recruited from the picture atage. Even the producer, C. V. Do Vonde, who Is also programed ss part author with Paul M. Potter, la a picture director. You've got to hand It to Suratt for blsarre stage settings at all times and sensational gowns. Dut in this Instance she goes msny steps farther and reveals herself ss a strongly emotional actress. 8be plays the role of a woman who aa a child saw her family mas- sacred in Russia by a brutal representative of the ex-csar. and who lurea blm Into a liaison In a private dining room in "Little Italy" for the purpose of wreaking vengeance. Jolo. AMERICAN. Tuesday afternoon the American was as cold on the lower floor as the Interior of a cold storage plant and the audience looked an though they had oeen laid In their seats for safe keep- ing, all except a little kid, who eat In the gallery box and laughed at everything on the bill. The house filled slowly and It was almost three before the 9cats on tb« orchestra floor were taken. At that the audience seemed to warm up slightly. De Armo snd Marguerite with a Juggling turn of the stereotyped order opened the show with Utile reHult. snd Csbli! and Roruaine, who followed, did not fare much better. Although the high falttetto of one of the boys did aevsa to Impress. Tbe first real act of the »bow was tbs Douglas Family, with a routine of Scotch and Irish numbers which warn tn the Hktng of the bouse. Williams snd Mltsbell with their nnvettv comedy skit with Its rather clever Idea tn n drop won some laughs. The act la one of Mats* where the comedy (s obtained he a mssniT of situations, with the same lines kalan %a> ployed by the opposite characters, but nailMnjst less It Is good ten and the song touch align finish wins a hand. Jeanne with a routine of songs aid * male Impersonation managed to win applsuss with an eccentric dance finish. LUIIan Klngebury and Co. In "The C h a i n* ch offering and assaaifi so bnvn g to closing when Sherman, Van and Hi am gave tbe bill eosse very much neons*} snaiadf. This trio Is about aa good aa any of the rejhakelier acts of letter years and the manner In watch they handle a "nanee" number makes It aaujs> Closing went The Renellas, asmetknea fctfthf; as Red snd Bloody, with sn acrobatic rosj tlh n, A two-reel comedy and the cu r r e n t Patbe Weekly filled out tho HAMILTON. Only one thing to expect on New fear's eve. and that was a capacity attendance*. That the Hamilton hsld and It waa aa uguount elgM for tbe hones this season. The pfngrnat ems somewhat thrown together la allsej a ton additional tares to fin out the liana, bus ens oonfllcsJon was Be*Jeeabl*--that eausfsahaa The hones gave two showo Monday, startlag the evening) neiformanos at t;30 and running until midnight light acta and plctnm Isaac up the entertainment. T who get their share with their i They started the shew nicely i let up thereafter. The NInax Acta) fellowcu, with Murray the Regent), going through his nusshera With- out an orchestra rehearsal. Bennett tent a number of stories In addition hi his gangs, hla entire repertoire proving splendid eniertenv ment. "A Woodland Romance" (New Asset anil attention with Countess NardlnJ nrnsian g good addition. Perhaps aha wag another of tbe turon hurriedly pieced, for aha aan better uader normal conditions, A ly then broke la, with Dunbar (man aad wonsaa) nexL This Immediate recognition but through entirely too much, aapeolally the • ra% gradually lost out toward* elosTag, Int across nicely with aa eccentric double Frank Psrron was next fn tilonliss testing "gaga." new ead old. hut reJytagapen h5 pleasing voles et the finish. Parrel graeneUy puts htmeslf lato a position where tan fianUv ence really enjoys his take. With ^^ rlence aa a single, he will nl his present defect—that of ohai^ of talk. He carries a good Sent.. and proves Ita worth during bin ■euthern ditties, but ether than that Perron bring about a change for the hotter. Telephone Tangle" oreecnted by and Co. kept tbe eotlre house unusually we.l cloning. imm aright stter. *2S5 vOe nvsjaonj AUDUBON. The Audubon was packed Monday njkjtg. Tbe show started nicely with the Aeyfal DO Ooffs. but efter their turn the speed fell oft Fabre snd Tsyler snd Brenda Pbwlef end Co. had t hard time. The tatter, bx the "Spirit of '76. did little until the last couple of minutes. Tbe tslk Is dry and drawn eat and the comedy tried for misses. A film eaav edy split lbs bill. Bcho-.ler end Dlohrueon, fourth, went big with their high-class alanine; and piano playing. Heury Cllve, sasajtfiesv registered with hie comedy talk and trisam. The nhow was cloeed by Qulgley and Pkn> gerald. and tbe eccentric dancing mas Inn beat liked. A five-reel feature oftseed at 1L HARLEM a R. What looked like an ordinary pi^».„^, __ paper Tu3sdsy turned out to be oas of the best shows the H. O. H. held la sossw liana The Mystic Hsaeon Trio opened as a eeatht filled house, going through singing and " ^nghrfa ing, but or pending mostly upon a number el mystifying trleke to gsln results. Their dnv sires were completely fulfilled up to tm» time the male members dragged flags shout aad decors ted the stags as though N were some anniversary. That seemed to obese whatever chances thoy bad, but at the ctoss they over- came the barm. It Is a beat appealing rem but needs to he speeded up, while (he sank) member could curtail some of hie He Is ssslsted by two women. and West were next. Cameron, demons and Co. then plenred a passing score with their comedy sketch, "Don't Lose Your Nerve," that fits a small-time pro gram splendidly. A news weekly was In- serted, followed by Fred Oerren (New Acts). Sol Levoy song to sn ill. Blm that held about the most Interesting Introduction of the many already ahown. Fay, Two Cooleya and Fay preceded the Russell Quintet and cbhIIj gglnsd laughs aad applause with their comedy efforts en* vsri- ous bltr. Harry sod Bert Gordon were In the closing position, a rather hard spot, Out the outcome proved to be about the blggtat re- ceived during the afternoon. Frank Finney is of 'The Boston fans'* ir.Ftead of Frank Tinney as mentioned in the Anniversary Number*