Variety (January 1918)

SHOW REVIEWS 21 enoorc aha rendered Pederewskl's minuet It Is purely * conoert act and, aa such, ahonld be surrounded by vaudeville, not lead It off. Lester, fourth, has too long an act for so little action. There la no neossstty for the stretching out of the dialog leading up to the point of hit story. It takes something besides ventriloquism to hold an audience. Jones and Oreenlee have a very smart man and woman lot of oroasflre, seated on suit- cases, of the domestic bickering variety. The man has a very "funny" face and doesn't hesitate to make capital of It, the woman feeding him to good reaulta. It'a oorklng team work. Mary Marble and Co. In new musical com- edy got over. Robert T. Haines and Co., In "The One Way Out," a "serious" sketch, runs 22 min- utes, but It seems an hour. There are three people In It—two men and a woman. They talk and talk and talk. Then they get tired of standing and sit down, resuming talk. Nothing happens excepting that the husband who returned and found his wife about to go away with another man seats himself In a large chair with hla back to the audience, and when they turn it around he's not there and the wife decidea he wasn't there at all and that the whole thing waa lust a warn- ing to her not to fly with her lover until her husband, who has Just been killed in the war, is decently burled and a suitable lapse of time has ensued. The audience ahifted uneasily, not quite understanding, and when it was all over applauded politely. Mr. Haines, in a speech, thanked them and claimed it waa his greateat success, or something of that sort. New York audiences are really quite good-natured. Little Billy, the diminutive entertainer, fared well with his new routine. He Is very graceful and easy and speaks so distinctly for a little chap; he la in a class by himself. But It Is suggested that he omit his opening number, dressed as a full-sised man and ad- here to the "kid" stuff, never once giving the audience the Impression he is a matured Individual. It might enhance his Infantile numbers considerably. Clark and Hamilton, the closing turn, be- gan close to eleven o'clock, but received big applauae sa their card and were still going strong at 11.15, with the act about half through. The new Miss Hamilton Is much Improved since last week. She has more re- pose and also more abandon—in other words, is working much easier. That Clark chap can time a laugh aa closely as anyone on the stage. Jolo. and wlnda It up In a sensible manner. It corralled continuous laugha and tooks like big-time timber aa It standa now. Duffy and Inglia were replaced by Bert and Harry Gordon, and thla combination was a natural hit. Because of their apecle of comedy it waa to be expected at thla house. The "straight" man should wear a shoulder brace or learn to stand erect when "feeding" the comic. Hla "droop" la neither natural nor picturesque and from the front looks all wrong. Klmberly and Arnold were an immense hit. but they overworked. An act of this style never should run beyond 10 minutes, but this couple stretched their affair out to 21. It sagged somewhat In the center and opening, but the finale in "one" ran aluug lo sure-fire laughs. Wltb several mlnutea eliminated the turn should answer. Swift and Kelly In "$3,000" (apparently written by Swift) have speeded up their little skit and it seems salable for any time right now. Swift ahould eliminate the aentence containing the word "punk," for It la not only Impolite but It la unfunny. Besides It earns a ahudder rather than a laugh. The turn carries any number of good comedy anglea and some great dialog and this young chap knows how to handle It. The girl la of that type best explained by the word "aweet." At the Royal the couple earned the second honors, rightly deserved. Morton and Clare, with much of the former Kramer and Morton routine, started off a bit flat, but came to their apeed at the center, and with the finale had the house In laugh- ing hysterics. Then came the Laura Hope Crews presentation of "Dlvoroons," as for- merly done In vaudeville by Alexandria Car- lyle and Co.; carrying a cast of six, it ran somewhat high for the Bronx audience, but carries everything easentlal for big-time pres- entation. Miss Crews waa perfect In the stel- lar role, and Frank Connor, opposite, was excellent, but Harry Redding didn't quite get the value contained In the role of the lover. With some more playing Redding may Im- prove. But right now the skit can claim attention from the big-time bookers. Van and Schenck were next to closing and put a broadside punch over with their songs, some new and others held over from their former vaudeville specialty. The combina- tion Is undoubtedly first In their line and Bronx favorites. They took down all honors and scored a hit second to none they ever registered at this house. In the closing spot the Misses Chalfonte held them In. Wynn. tremor with Its final trick, a clean headstand on the perch about 15 feet off the ground, with the balancer up there playing a guitar. Binut AMERICAN. The bill last half waa a sort of a cross be- tween quality and quantity, giving apparent satisfaction Thursday night to the folks who occupied almost every bit of sitting room up- stairs and down. Magee and Anita (New Acta) opened, fol- lowed by the Three Kashner Girls (New Acta). When the name of Bell and Caron waa flashed there was applause In sections of the house. It waa Johnny Bell's return to the stage. The turn did very well. Simmons and Simmons (New Acts) were fol- lowed by Beatrice Morrell Sextette, which made an emphatic hit. Act looked claasy for the Roof. After Intermission appeared Johnny Dove. More songs. Audience ceemed to like his style very much. The laughter resultant from the John G. Sparks turn sustained the booking. The farcical theme waa easily fol- lowed and played just right by Sparks and cast for the pop audiences. The Bell Boy Trio mixed comedy with songs. Surefire. The andlence didn't seem to care about a lot of aongs having been sung throughout the evening, but applauded vigor- ously for more from the trio. Dainty Irma and Lyle Connor held attention in the clos- ing spot with their wire turn. Mark. HAMILTON it looked aa though some of the Heights people were affected by the fuel-less day from the way they raced Into the house. At 8 the 8. R. O. sign waa over the box office window, but the uptown patrona kept on crowding in until a railing had to be put up. The show was opened by The Randells in their sharp-shooting, and It held attention. Marcella Johnson scored with her high-class singing. The act la programed as Marcella Johnson and Co. but would look better with her billed as a single aud lh« name of her grey-haired accompanist mentioned also. He Is a good pianist, playing her numbers; also hla own selection, coming In for a good bit of applause. Mlaa Johnson opens with an operatic, following with a rag and a ballad. All were liked and ahe returned for an en- core with a war song. The Six International Tourists, third, went big with their harmony singing and slap-atlck comedy. All aix boys take a hand at the comedy with Hebrew and Italian doing the moat of It. With a little more Jasa to the alnglng and the comedy smoothed down in spots this turn will make a corking good act for the popular-priced houses. The Hearst-Pathe News Pictorial split the bill and gave some of the overflow a chance to get a seat left vacant by those who had seen half of the earlier ahow. Saxon and Parrel 1 followed In their aame act but with a new drop, and passed. Foley and O'Noll, next to closing, scored the biggest hit They are some steppers and can sing. The talk is a little weak, but with the singing and ec- centric danolng the team won't have to worry- Burns and Jose closed the show with some clever classical dancing. ROYAL The Initial "Garfield Monday" brought to the Royal, In the Bronx, its first capacity matinee in several months, the S. R. O. sign adorning the box office window aa early as 1 o'clock and, after several thousands had displayed their disappointment by walking away, there was still enough left within to represent at least 10 rows of standees. The mid-winter carnival bill, of course, added some box office value and made the draw more certain, but the "holiday" was undoubtedly the cause of the heavy overflow. During the performance Manager Egan an- nounced from the stage that hereafter, aa long as the Garfield order standa, the Royal will give an additional Monday show, commencing at 5 P. M. This will make the performances practically continual at the Bronx house. The bill ran throughout rather smoothly with no visible confllctions, carrying 11 spe- cialties In all, counting the Hearst-Pathe pic- torial, which was utilized aa an opener. The vaudeville section proper began with the en- trance of Juno Salmo and closed with the Misses Chalfonte, the final curtain touching the stage a short time after five, but that Immense gathering stuck for the very exit march, a silent boost for the show Itself. Salmo has a rather unique novelty around his contortion work, characterizing Mephisto in a setting of Hades. It Is impressive, and with it Salmo did some excellent stunts, partic- ularly on the single rod. His closing twists geve him the expected returns and he closed a safe hit. The second spot was held by Vaughn and Dreams (New Acts), a piano and singing af- fair that marked up a reasonably good score. Then came the Hayward-Stafford Co. sketch, "A Perfect Day," considerably Improved since Its original showing around here. The turn has Innumerable comedy situations, all well handled, and the finale glvea It a neat twist 5TH AVENUE The 5th Avenue gave four ahowa Gar- field's day. It had to to keep the crowd mov- ing, though the night attendance did not come up to the avalanche of the mid-day ap- plications for seats. The third show ended around 8.10. Manager Bill Quald, of the 5th Avenue, la a live one. Hla staff had that crowd In hand like the discipline of a military company, and. while the overflow was ready to swamp the aisles all the time, they were held In strict order. And when about 0:30 the end of the rush waa all over with a probable thinning out of the crowd that had overstayed from the centre or end of the third performance, Mr. Quald had a elide projected aaylng the Courtney Sisters and Rooney and Bent would ' change their acts for the final performance, suggesting those having seen them In the previous show remain, which kept the house almost full right to the finish of the even- ing. The house was good natured. Rooney and Bent had not a bit of trouble with them at any time, doing their "Uptown" act. Whether the fourth show got the Courtney Sisters' regular turn on their reappearance is un- known. It didn't sound so from the songs, several old ones being In the repertoire that contained among others a revival of that be- fore-the-war popular number about "get-your- gun-glve-me-the-gun" that the Melnotte Twins did bo well, when the number was at Its height some years ago. The Courtneys also had "For You a Rose" getting about the most for them, while Fay Courtney did two singles, Florence only getting in the double numbers. They were recognized by the audience when opening, and got annlause then. Another act of Importance was Edwin Stevens and Tiny Marshall (New Acts), show- ing their new sketch layout. Zermaln and Vallal (New Acts) opened, with the Kaufman Brothers second. The Kaufmans have a couple of new songs, both "Dixies," but their talk remains unchanged in any appreciable degree. "No. 2 at the 5th Avenue" should warn these boys a change seems necessary to prolong or advance them on big time. After the sketch was the Man On the Ice Wagon (New Acts), who would have been better off No. 2. If there at all. and Green and Parker were No. 5, with the rather well written blackface turn the man carries so well. He Is a real good comic In cork, and his partner, probably Miss Parker, has greatly Improved since the act waa at the 23rd 8treet. They close with an appropriate number, and were very strong In favor at the finish. JiiRt before them "My Sweetie" was sung by Mabel Burke to an animated sheet, espe- cially posed under the direction of Harry Cohen, with a couple of Bluebird stars the principals of the plcturlzed lyric. It made n nice, lively background for the singer, and the moving action 19 kept up to *.he very last, even on the encore, by the story being pic- tured benenth the chorus of the song on the sheet, a trick first done In this line by Mr. Cohen. The song could have taken another encore. After the Courtneys, with the Rooney-Bent turn next to closing, the Two Arleys closed, doing some perch work from a shoulder balance by the undcrstander that brought a 81ST STREET Takes a holiday to fill the 81st Qt Ordi- narily the business fluctuates like a stock market. Monday night saw everything dis- posed of. The latest Fairbanks feature Is there for the week and that was a headllner not to be denied. Adlon and Co. (New Acts) opened. Bdwln House followed. This splendid singer took his stage time to the manner born and regis- tered with each number. At the piano was Miss Peay, who attended strictly to the ac- companying of House's songs and made no play for any audience approval. House has music in his voice and he knows how to use It. Routine may not be the best Imaginable for vaudeville, yet several of the selections were enthusiastically applauded. The latter part of his program ran to light numbers, wltb his encore of "On the Road to Man- dalay" with orchestra, bringing out the full value of his finely-trained voice. Wilfred Clark and Co. got away slowly but soon had 'em laughing vigorously. At times some of the words slipped under the seats, owing to the bigness of the house and the ■peed the cast worked. Kelso and Arllne made a good Impression, Kelso nuttlcisms and Mlaa Arllne's attractiveness In attractive wardrobe helping their general average. Roalne and Co. (New Acts) closed. One of the biggest laugh-getters of the night waa the Arthur (Bugs) Baer sayings oc the screen. Mark. 23RD STREET No kick at the 23d Street Garfield Day as to the heat. In fact, the crowd kept coming as fast aa Manager Jeff Callan could keep the heat going and the shows running. There waa plenty of comedy In the turns offered, and aa the folks were ripe for that line of stage fodder, the answer was certain. At the Monday mat. the line of standees formed early. The show opened with Belblni and Co. In a mixture of Juggling and acrobatics, while light In variance of routine, found favor. Grant Gardner baa worked his musical and monologlstlc talents up on a new plane by first appearing as the tosatmaster at a sup- posed banquet table, a setting and curtained drop being used to further this Impression. The master of ceremonies then Introduces the speaker of the day. Dr. Grant Gardner, the toaatmaater reappearing without any change In Immaculate attire. Gardner reels off a Bore of 2 In 1 monolog, much of It obtain- ing results at the 23rd Street. Then he goea Into hla musical routine, using a brass Jnstru- Sient as the piece de resistance of the latter alf. Gardner got a heap out of his closing "bit" with the sliver he purloined while at the banquet. Idea not bad and serves well. Mr. Gardner eschews the piano altogether In thla turn. Kahn and Boone accomplished more with their singing. Kahn ahowlng versatility as a singer and whistler. He has a voice and his solo a la McCormack was well received. Blanche Boone works advantageously wltb Kahn. They were a hit downtown. Violet Dale has switched her former turn around but re- tains sections that Included a new version of "War Brides" a la Nazlmova. Sho worked hard but some sort of a hitch occurred at the closing which nettled her, although a spot had been flashed for her unglven encore. Otto Brothers have deviated from their for- mer routine by showing what Is supposed to be a dressing room offstage where the hrothers mnkp up for the different numbers. There are songs and talk, with the men doing a bit of their old German exchange of pat- ter. There Is travesty at the finish, with one brother* affecting the fomale "takeoff," and this hokum hit a comedy spot. The brothers rough It up a bit nnd use some old stage methods that ought to carry them through the pop houses. Mc.Devltt, Kelly and Lucy made the big hit. The dancing and comedy were sure-fire with that holiday crowd. George Yeoman also carried a special stage arrangement to bring his monologlstlc wares u'i to date. Yeoman deserves credit for the way he strides to keep abreast of the times) and la one of the stage's few vaudevllllana who keep even with current events and makes the best of them. Yeoman did not suffer through Gardner being on the same bill, as his style of Joking was delivered in a different manner. Yeoman ahould get a lot of work with his new vehicle that has a number of sure-shot war gaga. The Cycling McNutta closed the show. Good act of Its kind. Baby McNutt, who used to be a creation In brown and waa used only at the close for a "bit" when the law permitted, Is now riding a wheel and putting over stuff worthy of a vet. This kid is a bona-flde atage child and takes to. the work readily. She waa a hit from her opening song. Jforfc. 58TH STREET At 1.30 Monday afternoon the 68th St. waan't wholly filled, but around two o'oloek they began to pile In until there waa no more standing room. Mertens and Arena (New Acts) opened. Nora Kelly, plump and well-gowned, scored well with good songs, and ably assisted by her pianist Her first mas- her, "Don't Do That," is probably the most effective, and while It properly belongs aa an opener, the others are as strong for their respective spots, unless It be "Oh Mama. Wasn't I 8cared," sung third. She registered a healthy hit. B. B. Cllve and Co., In "The Poor Stiff," has a sketch built for uproarious faroioal purposes, excepting for one.brief minute to which he apparently loses his mind, but this Is so momentary It hasn't time to beoome gruesome. Olive's performance of the In- ebriated man who wagers he can sit up all night with a corpse Is well characterised up to the finish. Hs enters shortly after the rise of the curtain, slightly intoxicated. In the succeeding 15 minutes he takes half a dosea more drinks of "liquor," and at the finish becomes "cold sober* to render the tag Una. It worn* be much more oonslstent If ha read the final speech like a man with a "shrewd" Jag—the kind who become wiser and wiser ae they imbibe. Lambert and Fredericks, man and woman singing, dancing and crosstalk, are Indefin- ably "classy." They do nothing out of the ordinary, so It must be the way they do IL The young man seems to be accustomed to wearing evening dress suit and the young women enunciates distinctly without being boisterous. Their danelng le neat and nifty. The audience seemed to feel It Conlln and Glass were liked. International Four, young men in dress suite, do some harmonising, ons at the piano, with amateur- ish comedy. For an encore they sang a Ha- waiian number with ukeleles. White's Com- edy Circus closed the show very neatly. Jolo. LINCOUTSQUARE The first half at the Lincoln Square waa a perfectly acceptable holiday ahow, partic- ularly strong from the picture point of view with the laet Douglas Fairbanks release. Mon- day night, with the regulation scale la effect the house held capacity at 7.4A. By 8 there was a string of standees across the baas of the lower floor. In addition to the film were six sots, a single-reel drama, news weekly and an 111. song. It was the HI. song that started the ahow at 8.10. Heretofore, as far as known, the song plugger with an 111. song le supposed to pound home the lyric as wsll ae the melody In the minds of an audience, but whoever the singer waa that Gilbert 4 Frledland had on the job Monday night, the last thing he thought of waa the lyric. Half way back la the house It was Impossible to understand him. The majority of publishers should go around to a few houeee and see how the audiences take tbe "tills on the ecreen. The set with the "Are You from Heaven" aong le about as much aulted to It as a serlce of comic cartoons would be, and tbe laughe that the audience had at them were ae big aa anything elae in tbe show. Following the song Brown and Oarstens, xylophonlsts, filled In for 10 minutes, opening slow with on operatic selection but finishing strong with a medley of popular ones, with the man syncopating the melodies. Loew and tbe Sterling Bisters presenting a rather novel three-act held the next spot and scored. Tbe opening, utilising a couple of lines from recent populsr songs, fitted together so as to tell a story wltb all three members working in the numEer, Is novel. Leo Beers has been using an Idea that Is similar, but not Just In the same way, and on the strength of the manner In which thla trio Is putting It over they are good enough for the smaller big- tlme houses In an early spot. Loew manages to put over "Meet Me at the Station," and the girl follow* It with a double version of "Fol- low the Boys" that wins out. The later num- bers In the act might be replaced as they do not hold the apeed. The current Hearst-Pathe split the bill here. After the picture, Duncan and Holt (New ActH), then "The Mollycoddle," an old Idea. rather well played for pop houses. Tbe sketch wnn followed by a single-reel U. drama. Willie Solar, next to closing, was tbe bit of the snow with three number*. He Is using h Hlide announcing that be la direct from the Cneoanut Grove. Century theatre, and Zleg- fold Frolic, and It plants him with tbe audi- ence. The Stephan Sisters, three, with an aerial offering, principally mouth holde. closed the show, their work pulling several rounds of applause. Falrbanka waa tbe fin- ishing touch. Fred.