Variety (April 1918)

18 "All for Democracy" (8). Patriotic. 14 Mins.; Full Stage (Special Set). Palace. "ALL KOIt liKMOCKACV" An Allegor -y or I in- I'rt : i III 1'crsonagis Ht ■ |> r*-.-»-nl ».-ti Our l'r.-^M.-in ...Mr. I'. 11. Wcstphal The Si«iritH of; liiinTjii i . s. i ir.mt. . . Mr. Frank Kcntnoro d-neral ICuln-rr K. Lee. .Mr. IJ rant Foreman Abraham Liueoln Mr. Tony West C<orge W.i lungtou Mr. Aiiiv.1 Clark (Icneral Lalayitte Mr. (Jeorge 1'iteau Joan ol Arc .M u^ Crc.--ie (.'air (ji-ri. John J. 1'crshing. . . Mr. I'liil McChesney The act written and direct*d by llatniltou Coleman and Sylvanus ticorge. Musical set- ting hy Harry Auracher. Orchestra under the direction of Mr. I'liil Welkcr. Impersonations, such as listed above, are, naturally, "sure- tire" tor applau.se, but just how Mirc-lirc seems to ilepend upon the theatre played. At the Pal- ace Monday evening the applause was lixht. very light, considering. The scheme appears to e\p»»>e it sell he-tore, an audience ai'ciistomed to this sort of red tire, atul many audiences have grown accustomed to it of late. There is nothing new in this playlet except- ing the idea til presentation. It is a dream ol President Wilson's, with the notables of the past as programed ap- pearing before him, all declaiming on the past, the war and the President, excepting Lafayette and Joan of Arc. Lafayette appeared for but a moment as Washington mentioned him; Joan of Arc sang. Mr. Wilson, as imper- sonated while seated at a table by P. 11. Wesiphal, bore a striking re- semblance to our President in protiL*. In the Palace lobby afterward the re- semblance was as marked. Frank Ken- more as General Lee could be credited with the next best. For elocution it is a matter of choice. For argument there is no choice —the Sunday editions of the papers and the magazines have covered all the subjects dwelt upon. The one point commendable is the musical arrangement. Mime. SHOW REVIEWS PALACE. The Liberty Loan drive, the weather, or the bill might be the excu-e for the light at- tendance at the I'alace Monday night. Fcr- ha|)H all three should be bunched, fur it needed a reason. The I'alace held its lightest house of months, perhaps years. All over the house, was slim, from the orchestra boxes to up- Htalrs, with live solid rows vacant lu the rear. If the show Is blamed in a way that would be unfortunate, for it held an unbilled act that would make any program if properly ex- ploited. It was the Navy Jazz Hand < New Acts), added to the program Monday morning, the turn doubling at the Kiversidc. The band replaced the Ko-lofT Co. on its hold-over week. Theodore Kosloff having injured his leg .Sun- day night. The program held but little box office at- tractiveness. Then* are several repeats upon It. and while this would not possibly have been so noticeable under normal conditions, a patriotic skit. "All for Democracy" < New ActHi, No. 4. put a damper upon the audi- ence and program that neither could wholly recover from until the baud appeared next to closing, which was shortly after In. Follow- ing the band, the Liberty Loan speaker. Dr. Evans, took the stage. Closing the show was Joe Jackson, brought down from the Colonial to fill that spot, a position Santo- ami Hayes (No. ."» at the matinee) refused to accept at night, leaving the program. The Three Douhys Were sent into the f» Hpot In the evening, to hold up the per- formance and straighten out the dent th" "Democracy" act left there. The Donh-ys could do nothing until Lilly and Gordon readied their two act ectlou. when the lairh stalled. The boy- are <piife funny In this bit and It helped along thrir finish. Opening the show were Finks Mules (New Actsl. the performance starling at H, with the first half of the picture running five min- utes Tie- other half closed the show. After the animal net, which did 1 *» minutes to a slowlv filling orchestra, came Vivian Holt and Lillian Lo-e.lale. on at S. 1 .'•. to the walk ins. doing their uuiet piano situ ing turn that at least called f..r a later position, if anything could be rained bv the two women. They went through the act. hut It wa- far from a fair chance for th.ni on their New York showing, so u!ila : rly that their I'alace turn should not be taU.-n ii.'o account by man agers. agents or t«", jew rrx. No. ."I held Clark and V-t.1I. oft. u at th" Fnlace. who imwl hi\' -oun.'-d verv familiar to the front, for the laughs eanie slowly. After the sketch and the ho.l.y; nhe l.itt.-r Inn freuuent vl itors of late, also appealing at the (YnUirv ('.rove niidnu-bt p. ;■' -r ma '.,<■.■ i ware Maek and Walker, n-p. at in.: '1,. ir "Hair of Tickets" at thi- house, with l.oui-.e Di-•■ s.t pext. Mis:; Dres-.er has two ot three so; i;s, with hep old Hi-s. the old ->ti's heine "My C.,1 Sa!" and "F.ri'- final" Harry De Costa Is at the piano. Mi«s Dresser Is using for billing, 'Song Readings." billing utilized for same years by W ilia Holt Wakefield. Nor. it) Miss Dn ■s>i-r strictly a "song-reader." Sho told a couple of storie-; in between numbers, and for an eueoie sang "We're All lining Call- ing on the Kaiser," a song mentioned by "the ■inger as having been composed by a soldier and made the popular number by the boys at tamp Devens (Mass. i. A "plant" aecatn- paineii Miss Dresser on the chorus of this number. It war, said around the theatre Mi:;:; Dresser carrie. the plant and he was "not specially placed for this lively war song. Miss Dps.; r ha; a much brighter turn just now than she has given vaudeville for a long time, and looks Ju-t as Well as ever sho did, which is miviiik much. The i'alace business should pick Up dur- ing the week. Those Navy .lazzers are going to be talked about on Broadway. Sime. RIVERSIDE. A whale of a show and a long one. Mon- day matinee it was around (i o'clock when it was over. At night two acts went off the bill, and even then it wasn t a lot shortened. The acl.s leaving were Janet Adair and Nina Pay lie. The latter wa* ottered number two spo; for the night performance, but declined. This necessitated a tiller after Jewel's Mani- kins, winch opened well enough, but forgot- ten in the brilliant going that followed. A pertion of the news til in was shown as the tiller to set the stage for the Navy Jazz Land, which turned out to be one of the sea- son a sensational surprises. What a riot the sailor musicians were. At the matinee the lads gave three numbers. At night they had seven or eight and could have kept on going all night from the way the house came through with a continuous broad- side of applause. These twenty-odd navy musician.- came from Charlestown (Mass.) unheralded to aid in the Liberty Loau Drive, they doubling with the Palace. This Navy Ja// Land-*- violins, banjoes, brasses, basses, trombones and drums—and all the «how—at 11.25. Mr. Howard did but lit- tle cutting, although be saved bis singing of past hits until the last, as encores. Working against time be ran tbe major portion of bis revue with considerable speed. Tbe graceful LThclyn Clarke, looking quite nice, was a great help to the bard working and convinc- ing Mr. Howard. The class of the turn was fully demonstrated, for wltb so much sbow ahead to start li'2 minute offering of tbe kind at nearly eleven and keep the bouBe seated until the end, means something. It was only after Howard started singing his old favorites that the house started walking, and then not many left until he had finished. Each encore was an opportunity for Miss Clarke to flash a different gown, she making through the turn ten or more changes. The show was late iu starting, but It may have been that tbe management wished to be sure the big "ace" In tbe form of the Bailor lads were on hand before ringing up. I bee. COLONIAL. The bright particular white spot of Joy on the Colonial stage Monday night was James T. Powers, who though not originally carded fur any part of the entertainment, came on unexpectedly following a brief announcement that Powers was there td Bpeak in behalf of the Liberty Loan. He carries a "plant" (Mrs. Powers), who also worked up from one of the boxes bond-buying enthusiasm when hubby was going after them good and hard—but Monday night had another "sur- prise." "Iiig Pill" Edwards paid a wonder- ful tribute to Powers and Mrs. James T., and remarked that he had heard so much of Jimmy <> loan "monolog" that he had come there especially to "catch" him. Powers is the money-getting man around the theatres, and with all due respect to all tbe others, none works so hard as he does for Liberty Loan subscriptions. He sings one chorus after an- other, taking familiar strains and nutting in words befitting the loan "drive," and through- out jokes, also reciting a mighty good bit of PROTECTED MATERIAL VAIUETY'S Protected Material Department will receive and file all letters addressed to it. The envelopes ure to be sealed upon the back in a manner to prevent opening without detection, unless by permi**i<>n of the owner of the letter. It is suggested all letters be registered, addressed to Protected Material, VARIETY, New York, and receipt requested. VARIETY will acknowledge each letter received. Full particulars of the "Protected Material Department" were published on Page 5 in VARIETY ol lib. 4, PJ10. The following circuits, managements and ugencics have signified a willingness to adopt such means as may be within their power to eliminate "lifted material" from their theatres, when informed of the result of an investigation conducted by VARIETY: MARCUS LOEW CIRCUIT (Jos. M. Schenck) POX CIKCLTT (Edgar Allen) MILES CIRCUIT (Walter F. Keefe) 1TNN-HEIMAN CIRCUIT (Sain Kahl) BERT LEVEY CIRCUIT (liert Levey) SHEA CIRCUIT (Harry A. Shea) I-EIRER-SHEA CIRCUIT (Richard Keurnrv) NIXON-MRDLLNGER CIRCUIT PANTAGES CIRCUIT (Walter F. Keefe) D. S. MOSS CIRCUIT (B. S. Moss) GUS SUN CIRCUIT (Gus Sun) MICHIGAN VAUD. CIRCUIT (W. S. Butterfleld) civ.ckcrjacks, do not confine themselves to any oim style. Tiny opened mode-tly enough and then it was •'let's go." and they sure went. Solos, march number.—then the swaying, syncopated "jazz" with all the furnishings. It was the corking petty-officer leader who finally brought a halt to the encores, and whtn he neatly said that a speaker tor the Liht rty Loan would appear, the curtain was finally allowed the rest, and Chief Capaullcon, iu native costume, came on with a rattling address, which .started with : "Fellow Am- ri- c;iii-." The chief brought forih many a round o! applau.-e, and during the time the loau work-is were operating through the house he s.wig the "Marseillaise," with everyone stand- ing. The Riverside has gone further In the loan than any house in the country thus far. Mon- day night SJVtUMi was subscribed, that push- ing the ho.: ... figure thus far to Sl'imhmi over tin- half million mark. Such a record in nine • lays of the dmo was helped by the sub- si riptions on Thursday night of last week when the West Side Community Club, which includes a ii ii in 1 er of millionaires, held a h« io lit. That evening $'Jl»;i,.ViO wari sub- .sellhed. '1 In- show was a heavy one and the stage line- were chokt d with hanging stuff. Thero wiie songs in every act save the first, and there was a military flavor to the bill. Yet it all worked out to fine rc-ulls. A good deat ei -withing w;is in rr-»;iry Monday night. The Navy jazz Land went In a- an net at number two, though unannounced. It—•was '.•."J i when Norton and Lee (New Act->, originally program'd to open intermission, took up the running in number three spot a!t>r (lie loan dri\e. I nterini -isou was eli- minated. .1 i in in i«- llu/./ey was fourth, switch- ed I mm next to eln-ing (New Act.-1. "Somewhere in Franee," -witehed from three to filth, went ovi r with a bang with it- un- mmil song routine, cleverly gi\en a martial iitmo phefe. I he one dramatic hit. ' l'p There at St. .lulhne." was ;>. <;■], m id hit of re.id- iiiu. The khaki qunrti' wa- followed by Lil- li.-in Shaw, swiiehed from fourth to next to eli) inn i numb.r !\>. and there she was mo t web ■nini' for In r hrk'ht conn dy was in i i!ed. there hav'in.: been p,< other save .lirn- ii.ie llii//ey exei |.t the -tuff the Naval Hand h.:nd'd out. With Mi - Shaw and llu/./iy ein- llnying a similar brand o' V ildi 'i diabet, • here was ;i run;! .Mo:i but It «• ■ on d to work nil hamliiap to Mi-. Shaw. Her new num- b.r bv Hhillihe Mi IT II fitt.d to a tee. es- p- elal'y Mm- wedding song. Tin- vnlentlnu cos- tume worn !or it i -ure a "darb." Miss s>.w- |;ni lung number the mother and kid - 'urnl lieil a li'iip "' '""• .lo i-ph }•:. Howanl with I.Is "Musical World Revue" was the headllner. The turn clo*ed rhyme on "you bet you'll buy" that was worth several Liberty Loan contributions. Towers is headed toward Times square, having previously been at the Riverside, where he said that he had collected more than $<;."»,uoo. and following his Colonial appear- ance something like $£),G50 was subscribed. Lowers hud them laughing one moment and subscribing the next. As to the show proper there wasn't much to garner in the way of attention and ap- plause. When Powers got through succeed- ing dialogues ^ouuded monotonous. William Ferry opened well. Loughlln and West appeared lost with their talk, but danc- ing the results were better. John McGowan and Co. pleased, although tbe act does not yet appear to run on ball-bearings. It could stand a lot of work and improvement. It sags in the middle aud wobbles somewhat at the end. Joe Jackson, as usual, was laughingly lr- r< l-tible. Van and Schenck are In their sec- ond week. After intermission and Powers were Clayton and Lennie, caught iu tbe tow oi the long speech ahead. They had a mighty hard battle. Rut they hung grimly on until their sin cess was apparent through the laugh- ter and applause at the finish. The hour was getting late, the audience somewhat rest- h .-.s, yet it r» numbered that Blanche Ring had subscribed $1.»M) a few minutes previously, (Joe Jackson took $iam worth and Ferry also bought a similar amount) ami the folks were more than attentive from the start." Miss Ring entertained noticeably but the real sure- fir, hit came with her "Hingem on the Rhine," which caught encore after encore and almost h.d Mism Ring exhausted. Coiiroy and LcMaire were brave at a late l.i iir and they went hard at It. There wis little bft for (Jluran and Newell In the closing po-ition and the lateness worked a big hard- ship. Mark. AMERICAN" ROOF. An extremely listless audience Invaded the Ann-Mean Roof Tuesday night, and as the show was :i|s(> Muixwhat shy on "pep" It was a lifeless evening. F.ven Willie Solar, who alway- does well at the American. Just i'1-out passed nicely. It looked like a clean- up for William previous to the time he showed, ns there had oeen nothing on before him that even hinted at making it hard, but he only took one bow, then — finish. Ilanion and Ward started laying down the barrage fire thnt kept the audience under cover throughout the remainder of the show with .heir acrobatic turn. If the boy would do h'-is talking and more work on the rings It would undoubtedly be to their advantage. There is too much "gabbing" throughout the act. It slowing things up considerably amd making the house decidedly restless. Termini aud Sauls, with their "Jaas" playing on a violin and accordion, failed to start anything. though they might have done better If placed farther down. Delmore and Moore got a few laughs In spots and did fairly after finishing with a song In "one." Parsons and Irwin followed with their camouflaged act of starting as a sketch and finishing with songs. The two boys have nice voices, and don't remain forever, each singing a solo, then together and finis. The act went better than any of the others In the first part, and at that they only got across in a half hearted way. "The New Doctor" (New Acts), a girl act, closed the first part The Three Robins started the second section and sang five songs, coming back for an un- called for encore when they should have left well enough alone. There is nothing but sing- ing, tbe two hoys and girls Just standing there and delivering one after another, almost mechanically it seemed. The applause was light after their last number, but they re- turned for a number about the "flag." Anderson and Rean (New Acts) got most of the laughs sprinkled here and there throughout the evening, and came very close to doing nicely at the finish, which Is saying a few when tbe Bplrlt of the audience is taken into consideration. Solar was preceded by an overture that sounded like an introduction the Rivoli gives to its feature picture, and the reason for the big noise remained under cover. Mr. Solar is doing the same act he did when playing the house previously. His dance at the finish brought him the most. De Dio's Circus closed. Earle Foxe, the film star, spoke upon the Liberty Loan after the first act and held the stage for at least ten or twelve minutes. He succeeded in collecting $7,500 in subscriptions, upstairs and down. FIFTHAVENUE. Although the Fifth Avenue held a well filled house Monday night, the audience seem- ed indifferent, as the acts Just came and left, getting little returns for their efforts. The eight turns on the bill tried their hardest, but El Cleve was about the only one to score any- thing resembling a hit. Reddington and Grant opened with their fast bounding mat routine, which earned them a passing score. John W. Ransone, working in evening dress, received a reception follow- ing the slide flashed on the screen telling who he was. Ransone's stories might go with some audiences, but the Fifth Avenue crowd didn't think much of them, passing him with little applause. Jessie Hayward and Co. earned a few good laughs, but the patrons also let her go almost unnoticed. El Cleve with his xylophjone and dressed In Highland garb got the best returns of the evening. Bl Cleve is still doing the same act he did back In 15»11, the only thing new being a few of the late popular songs. He was brought back for an encore, responding with an operatic selec- tion, which in turn forced him to a speech. Following an illustrated song by Msble Burke, Orth and Cody scored. The couple have an act which should do them a while, but at present their work Is overdone and the turn In general could stand cutting down to about fifteen minutes. The woman's facial make- up is poor and mars her appearance consider- ably. Moon and Morris registered a well earned hit with their first rate dancing. Ryan and Lee did not do much, but managed to get by. Bert Crossman and Henrietta Mor- ris wltb their Jazz Band closed to a walk- out. ROYAL With nine acts on the bill at the Royal Monday afternoon, most of them quite lengthy, and the sale of Liberty Bonds at In- termission, the matinee was concluded at GA3. Fay, Two Coleys and Fay. with their delicate miniature musical comedy, "In Featherland," having a tough spot, opening the second half, asked permission, In Justice to themselves, to retire from the program, and aa there was more than enough show, the request was granted. At night, despite the elimination of one act, the show wasn't over unill 11.40, an hour when all good Bronxltes are generally at home. Tbe withdrawal of the Fay, Two Coleys act necessitated tbe rearrangement of the bill. Page, Hack and Mack, acrobats, with clever hand balancing, original combinations and some good comedy, opened and secured big applause for their finish. The next four successive acts used pianos, not dtie to any rearrangement of the bill. As a matter of fact there 1b a fifth turn using the Instrument this week, and the original programing had it succeeding these four, making five consecutive ivory tleklers at the matinee. Nora Kelly, assisted at the piano by Nat Goldstein, sang five numbers with Incisive de- livery and a good sense of values and went will. She lacks, however, a big song hit, which would do more for her than anything else She is separated on the bill from Sophie Tucker by only two acts. There Is a general resemblance in type, and a more con- tracting pair of singing comediennes on one bill might have been more desirable. The Ford Sisters still adhere to their un- attractive, fdeevelees silk "overalls" for their Pillposter dance, but are otherwise gorgeously costumed. For their Msbeldora waits they are a pair of sartorial knockouts with silver tissue skirts with marabout borders, diamante bodices, hats of gold lece and orange feath- ers, and ostrich feather fans. Their triple taps for the finishing number were most warmly applauded. Frank Westphal scored amusingly with his boob monolog, piano playing and "Hunk of