Variety (March 1918)

18 SHOW REVIEWS COLONIAL Tbe advent of spring was duly proclaimed at the Colonial by the blossoming of daffy- dllls, the touch of a circusy act and the regis- tration of the hottest March day in a score of years. The attendance Tuesday night, however, was good, notwithstanding that the weather was unfavorable to theatregolng In the sense that It was the first Indication that summer was In the offing after the worst old winter Father Knickerbocker has experienced In forty years. The "daffydllls" were Jlmmle Lucaa and Bert Fltzglbbon, and both chalked up Individ- ual hlU. Th«lr familiar style of funmaklnr did not. conflict In the least Each used "plants," Jlmmle having the old Civil War vet touching off the finish with a grand hurrah, while Bert's wife, all togged up In new summery finery, proved more of an as- set to the turn than In previous weeks. Bert was next to closing, while Lucas was on "No. 2." Lucas could nave been moved down on the J>1U, but that would have placed the "nuts" too close together. And while on the subject of "daffydllls," the Colonial's category this week Includes some of the feminine species, namely the "bee haw' 'danclngdlll. Ida May Chadwlck. and the kiddingdill. Kate Ellnore. These women more than held their own In the laugh producing contest. ._ , «. The Colonial bill this week comes close to being the eame that cavorted about the Royal stage. Including Lucas and Co., Mollle King, "Camouflage." and Miss Chadwlck and Dad. Potter and Hartwell started, with the woman doing a lot or talking, unnecessary and un- funny. Lucas and Co. were next, with Dainty Marie third. She has changed her act some- what and gives the folks more time to study her symmetrical outlines. And while compiling "figures," as it were. Miss Marie has Mar- Cirette Meeker as her assistant, and Miss Mker Is there, too. on the shapely propor- tions. Miss Chadwlck and her dad were next They had apparent rough sledding at the get- away, but once the clever Ida swung Into her boobish yokel characterization and began dancing the result was certain. Considerable reliance Is placed on the talk by Ida and dad, but It Is really of secondary Importance. "Camouflage" brought novelty to the bill, more perhaps through the perlscoped Idea be- ing worked by the band or counterfeiters than anything else, as the quick transformation or the stage setting bad been done In the neigh- borhood before. «„.«.•-. After Ellnore and Williams was Mollle King. Allowing that Miss King takes much ror t;ranted, she did well, with the audience warni- ng up to her more appreciably when she told It her brother was Charles King (Brlce and King), and that she was proud that he was fighting for his country. Miss King looka sweetly sweet In her stage attire, works hard and got along nicely despite the yoke that some of her Imitations placed about her girlish neck. After Bert Fltzglbbon had his Inning the Misses Chalfonte closed the show. These sirle ksbored lo hold up the pace of the show running largely to comedy, but they would have undoubtedly fared a whole lot better in a more advantageous position. The ilrli have terplscborean talent, show spirit and work rest, but the spot was mitigating, never- theless. Mark. ROYAL A purely singing Bbow from stsrt to finish at the Royal thU week and a show that the audience fell ror, greeting almost everything on the bill with Impartial applause. There was but one act that was not purely singing and dancing, and even that had a snatch or song. It waB "Submarine F 7," which was headlin- ing and closing the first hair. From an ap- plause standpoint it was the hit or the pro- gram. Intense and gripping throughout the final red fire with the rescue of the men brought practically a cheer from the audi- ence. A switch In the bill substituted George Felix and Dawson Sisters (New Acts) for Arthur Sullivan snd Mercedes Clarke In "A Drawing rrom Life." The newcomers to the ■how held down the third spot, following the Eddie Miller Duo, which wss a distinct hit. The first two acts were run In 22 minutes with "The Girl in the Moon" opening and doing three songs, followed by the Miller boys with more singing, the Felix and Daw- son act also having a ralr share or song. Buster Santos and Jacque Hayes as "The Health Hunters" also contributed their share or song, but their comedy was the long suit In this act, and the audience fairly howled at them. The last hair was singing almost In its entirety. Carmela and Rosa Ponzlllo, who opened this section, were ravorltes. each num- ber getting over, despite the kidding of three youths In a stage box. The laugh bit went to Ryan and Lee In "Hats and Old Shoes." It's a corking vaude- ville offering, and little Miss Lee, despite a severe cold, managed to keep the audience howling, while Ryan's dancing at the finish was sure fire. Closing the show Florrle Mlllershlp and Al. Gerrard, In "The Girl on the Magazine." held the audience to the very last, but two people walking out before the final number or the act. The Hoarst-Pathe Weekly, booked origin- ally to clOBe, was the opening offering. Fred. wards the end, when Morgan and Gray In- jected some much needed n pep." They were followed by Andy Lewis and Co., next to clos- ing, and they ran comedy wild In the spot There had been nothing before them except Morgan and Gray, and the Lewis turn left the house wanting more. The Dancing Cronlns opened, and after four numbers passed on. The lad In the act Is doing a whistling specialty, perhaps the most unnecessary "bit" ever in a routine. Charles Qlbbs followed with Imitations of different In- struments and animals, also doing a little whistling. Mr. Glbbs got away fairly well at the finish. The Cromwell! pleased with Juggling, though the boy made up as a girl Is working too hard to make It get over that way. Austen Stewart, assisted by a girl and boy, passed nicely. Mr. Stewart as a stupid Eng- lishman made 'em laugh here and.there, and as it was V.U5 when he cams on and the first laugh of the evening, he was welcome. McKay's Scotch Revue closed Intermission and did fairly well. The act is nothing but one song after another, seven numbers In 16 minutes. Five girls and two boys make up the cast, working in "three" with a special drop. Norton and Norton opened the second half and It's doubtful If there were more than a handful In the house who knew they were on. The girl worked very much as If she hadn't been oehind the lights for any great length of time, and a ghost song didn't help the turn any. The Kremka Brothers closed. FIFTH AVENUE • It was a rather "hard" audience that filled about two-thirds or the capacity or the Firth Avenue Monday night. All or the acts In the early section or the bill had a more or less difficult task in trying to Interest, and they were conservative In their demonstration of approval for any one or the first four turns. The fifth act was Mack and Vincent, who became the applause hit of the show. The Hear«t-Pathe Weekly started the show, followed by Maestro and Co. The company Is a rather buxom lady who acta as the assist- ant. Maestro does balancing and Juggling feats that should finally place him on the big time. It Is an opening turn that holds Interest and brought a little applause from even the Monday night audience. The Gal- larinl Sisters with a musical offering opened rather slowly and closed about the same. It Is a fair little musical turn ror an early spot ror the smaller shows. » The new act that Fay, 2 Coleys and Fay are presenting Is a corking novelty, and with just a little speeding will be sure fire for this quartet. There Is a lack of punch to the com- edy lines at present, but the idea is "there," and It will work out Into a screamingly funny turn. The Firth Avenue audience did not get the early part,, but the quiet finish went over with them In good shape, all things con- sidered. Mack and Vincent opened with "A Lump of Sugar In Dixie," not getting much or a re- turn. A rather suggestive number was "Grab- bin' 'em AH or the Time." which followed, and It also died a natural death. "That's the Kind of a Baby ror Me" was the first return winner, and arter that the act had smooth sailing. Two parodies at the finish made them practically stop the show. Laurence Grant and Co. In "Efficiency" started rather slowly, and It was not until the remade poldler pulled his speeches at the Kaiser the house rose to the red Are bait handed them. But the playlet went over wltu a bang at the finish. Then the audience was introduced to the novelty of having one clad In the Labilaments of the Emperor or Germany appear before them and make an appeal for the Knights of Columbus War Fund. Parish and Peru following the sketch were unable to get very much applause as their act went along, their reword coming at the end In one bundle, they pulling down the sec- ond biggest bit of the bill up to this point. Arthur Whltelaw was next to closing, and scored with a number of topical verses to his two standby numbers, "Come Over" and "You Can't Get Away from It." Everest's Monkeys finished the vaudeville section with the hou^e walking out, and an (). Henry film, "A Madison Square Arabian Knight," closed the show. Fred. AMERICAN ROOF. It looked like business over at the Ameri- can Monday night, down In the lobby, but the Roof was fairly light when things started. Tbe bill was a reminder of shows that have gone before up there. There wasn't a laugh In the bill until to- HAMILTON. The patrons arrived slowly Tuesday. Nearly three acts were over before the house was seated. The bill held six sets, a semi-weekly news picture, and feature, but In all only drew about enough to fill three-quarters of the theatre. Instead of the customary overture to stnrt the show It was dropped down to the middle of the bill, preceding the news picture, when the Hamilton Orchestra rendered a descriptive overture, entitled "The Allies on the Bottle-Front." The piece was arranged by Stanley W. Lawton, general musical director. The work of the orchestra In this particular piece was exceptionally good and received round arter round or applause. During other Intervals or tbe evening the boys In the pit played so loudly the singing or some or the turns remedied unheard. Rowley and Talntaln opened and did little. Couple look and dress neat, but tbe dancing is nothing extra and the song by the flrl poor. It's n regular early spot turn ror the three-a- day bills. Jack George Duo, the man doing blackface, started as if something was going to happen, but fell off then and there and dragged through the rest of their time. Frank Mullnne bad things his own way. He told bis old Joke*, gnttlng the biggest laughs ror the Hebrew "gags." His popular song In Hebrew settled things, sending him over to tbe biggest hit of the bill. The Schwartz Bros., following the news weekly, in "The Broken Mirror," drew laughs aplenty, sending them over to a good applause finish. Smith and Troy, the colored composers, went over with a bang. The talk employed by the boys la bright, their appearance neat and both have nice singing voices. They were brought back for an encore following the play- ing and singing of their musical compositions. Hill's Comedy Circus closed. The set Is a slow- working affair and gets little until the un- rldable mule la introduced. The live-reel feature, "Shame," cloasd at 11. -• CITY, The spring Monday night played havoc with the attendance at the City. Electric fans were running during the picture periods, but that might nave been to refreshen the air and keep the patrons conscious. After the overture, "William Tell." by the City or- chestra, ten minutes, drawn out to sound like the who|s opera, the Lyons Trio opened, snd passed with a slow routine of acrobatic stunts. The Four Chicks, four young girls In har- mony quartet singing, would hsve wandered by unnoticed If It bad not been for their "barber shop" chords. The sketch on the bill. "After Three Weeks." .passed with the 14th etreet sudlence on the "raw" talk used by the woman doctor. When this piece la censored It will be ready for the shelf. Emms Stevens, following the weekly picture, was the first to do anything worth while. Miss Stevens handled Ave numbers pleasingly. De Haven and Nice started nicely, but the speed fell off atrer their first song and dance. The middle portion could stand strengthening. It now slows up the turn. The boye. however, finished well with s good Jaxs dance. "The New Producer" has a little trouble at first., but when the Ides was explslned the patrons showed appreciation for the good singing. Eddie Foyer, s strong fsvorlte with the City crowd, went over easily. Mr. Foyer Is using one of his own poems, "Comrads." Lady Alice with her rats, cats and pigeons closed, holding 'em In for the flve-reeler. JEFFERSON. The show did not speed along the channels necessary to stimulate the human palms to unwonted activity, and there were sections that went along like a alow freight through Arkansas. Even thouglf a rearrangement might have smoothed matters somewhat the calibre of the show did not furnish the enter- tainment the Jeffersonltes have been getting this winter. The bill started slowly with a combined ex- hibition of sand-drawings and shadowgraphy, Mr. and Mrs. 8tuart Darrow pleasing, how- ever, in a neat act which had Its humorous minutes with the eilhouetted figures on the screen. Leighton snd Kennedy floundered along at the sart with an exchange of patter that almost submarined them, but with their dancing routine pulled up strongly. These blackfaced chaps should borrow a few of Al. O. Fields' old almanacs snd build up s new line of patter. Their dancing takes care of itself. William Trainor and Co., with their com- edy Jail act in "one," did well, some of the salient shirts of stumor anent custody behind the bare drawing large grlne, cackles and guffaws from that downtown bunch. A tenor voice bphbed up at Intervals, tackling the class of selections eschewed by the average vaudeville warbler, and with each number registered most effectively. Clark's Hawallans waa about the best en- joyed turn of the evening. Vernon and Bar- low (New Acts) were followed by Lillian Mortimer and Co. The latter started out at snailllke pace, but once the free-for-all rough house was started by the four participants the house seemingly drew a lot of fun from It. Babe LaTour and Sid Gold (New Acts) were followed by tbe Ishakawa Japs, who went through a neat routine rather slowly. Mark. 23D STREET. Harry and Anna Seymour did the honors down to the 23d Street for tbe first half of the week. It was easy picking for the couple, as tbey were on next to closing, and there hadn't been aythlng ahead to make It diffi- cult. The house was well filled by 8.30, and the spectators were willing enough to laugh, but when It was time to applaud they weren't so willing. The 23d Street is fast acquiring a reputation ror Itself as being one of the toughest houses in the city to get a real "band" out or, and an act has got to be pretty ralr down there before the house will give It a tumble. Bombay Dcerfoot opened In a special In- dian set and did 13 minutes, getting a little at the finish. He was followed by Joe Daniels, who with his imitations did fairly well. Brown, Harris and Brown did the old act, and got over on the strength of the comedian. Tbe audience laughed their heads off at him, but when it came down to the finish they weren't as liberal with their applause. "Uppers and Lowers" (New Acts) held up the interest for a while, but finished the same as the rest—light. Regay and Lorraine Sis- ters presented a nice little dancing act, that with some rearranging should be all right. Tbe boy might help this dancing along by inserting some new steps In his routine. He is doing only one at the present time that is noticeable. The Seymours followed and provided the real treat of the evening, as far as the audi- ence was concerned. Miss Seymour never falls to register with her clowning, and there are two or three other girls playing around that try to copy her style of work with but mediocre success. Her brother does a corking good "straight" for her, making what truth- fully may be called an "act." Odlva and Seal closed the show, and held the majority of the house. SHOW REVIEWS LAST HALF. (March 14-17.) CITY. Taking the City's bill the last half of last week as an Indication the Fox bookers must be shy on new material, for In the entire eight acts there was not a single turn that has not been going the rounds of the other houses. This is rather unusual, as the Fox bouses are looked upon as pretty fair places to try out an act. Without new material that Is break- ing In for the big time those Fox bills will slip. With regulation small tlms material the Fox shows do not stand up with those that the other bookers frame. Thursday night the ehow was draggy and but one real hit developed. That waa the 20th Century Revue, which wao two removed from closing. Up to that time the ehow ran along without any pep or snap. The overture took up seven minutes, start- ing at 8.01, and that was too long. Darto and Rlalto, with their combination comedy Jug- gling, bike and muBic, managed to hold early Interest, but slipped as they went along. Jlm- mle Casson and the Sherlock Sisters were on second to send the show slong, but they had to work hard to do It. There are several new numbers that get over fairly. James Orady and Co. In "At the Toll Gate" Is an old-time standard offering, but It has worn Its novelty off sround New York. In In third spot, preceding the Universal Current Events, the laughs did not register as they would have had the act been new to the audi- ence. Kerr and Ensign, a boy and girl violin offering, started very slowly after the picture, but managed to speed up before the finish, and their violin courtship scored strongly for them. Kramer and Kent, blackface, went along at their usual pace. "Every Little Girlie Loves a Soldier" starts the act fairly well as worked up with the drill gag between the two. The gags between that point and "My Sweetie" are mostly "old boys," though. Next to clos- ing Linton and Lawrence have a new open- ing bit to their act which Is well worked out In a comedy way. The balance of the offer- ing remains the same. . Leonard and Louie with their acrobatics and gags closed. The gags were ordinary, but the acrobatics good. Robert Warwick in the Pathe feature, 'The Mad Lover," closed the show. Fred. AMERICAN ROOF. The show for the second half at the Ameri- can Roof was short and snappy, nine acts taking only two hours. The regular news pictorials of comedy pictures at the end have been dropped, and the feature, shown down- stairs, nut In its place. Attendance waa rather small Thursday night, but the bad weather could be accounted tor that. The bill waa ex- cellent. Morton Brothers opened, getting by easily. Their final paper tearing tricks earned them a good finish. Jesson and Jesson, man and woman, singing and dancing, which Just pulled over. La Toy Brothers, one doing a "souse" and playing a solo on a French horn, following with some acrobatics, were liked, but the "souse" bit Is overdone. Chabot and Dixon opened slowly, but once Chabot got at tbe piano the turn wss sure- fire. Miss Dixon's final song did not go very well. Kitty Francis and Co., In their comedy musical satire. "Mrs. O'Malley's Reception, suited the American patrons, and was sent over to a big applause finish. Following Intermission Florence Rayfleld put * over four numbers in neat style. Mies Ray- fleld Is a pleasant looking little entertainer, has selected good numbers, and knows how to use them. She was brought back for an encore, responding with a war time song. Leila Shaw and Co.. in "The Truthful Liar?' pleased. It Is a clever little playlet, nicely played by three In cast. Davis and Stafford, colored, were a hit. The boys were forced to sing tbe chorus of their closing number four times. Burns and Jose closed and held 'em In. HAMILTON. The hou»e was packed Thursday night of last week. Every act was batting 1,000, with Knapp and Cornelia and Conrad and Jean scoring the home runs. Monroe Bros., opening, did a lot of stalling with their comedy, but their work on the trempolln is good. Earie and Sunshine with their gags, songs and dances got away to a slow start, but finished with everyone ap- plauding. Dorothy Burton and Co., present- ing a sketch, "The Real Thing," did well with a melk-r, and when Miss Burton made her grandstand speech that buffaloed the de- tective the audience ame through Just as tbey used to at tbe Star and Metropolis. A Hearst-Pathe News reel was followed by Conrad and Jean In a classy musical offer- ing. The turn got a hand on its Chinese garden setting. Conrad's two classic selec- tions on the violin were well presented, as was tbe girl's "Brlla of Moscow" on the piano. Finishing with "Baby's Prayer" and "Strutters' Ball" the turn got away to a great band. Knapp and Cornelia do a little of everything, all well done with the exception of their gags at the opening. Perkinoff and Rose with a company of six girls presented a series of high class dances. The audience laughed at their opening, but applauded their efforts at the finish. The best part of the net is the last half. Only a few of the audience left when "The Marionettes," starring Clara Kimball Young, was thrown on tbe screen.