Variety (May 1918)

10 VARIETY CABARE.TS "The 1918 Shelburpe Girl/' as shown at i In- Hotel Shclburne, Brighton I'.cach, for 'hi' first time Tuesday even- ing, is imi as modern as the title might proclaim. There are enough people in tin Oiow. aht'iii 2H, and of them 18 are (Ik. nis ^irls. hut the producers appear id have placed more reliance on "the girls" than production or material ( -ta^e and cloth). The first part runs fairly, to a corking good linale numher, non-patriotic and called "The Horse Show." In this the girls ride papier machc horse cover- ings that are a part of the costumes. Some good husiuess is secured and the numher well put on, in decided con- tra-t to the other numbers, one of which in the second part, called "The Baby Show." is quite too amateurish in idea and execution to he placed so late in the performance. The finale of the show, also a produced number and non -patriotic, is likewise very weak. The revue as run the opening night should have its halves reversed, or the second part rearranged. There is nothing striking in the personnel excepting Cleo Cascogne, the little prima donna-soubret, who carries so much class and a voice she wholly smothers the other principals, of which there are several, mostly men. Miss (iascogne in her ensemble appear- ances is doing soubrettish business even if she doesn't know it. If Miss hihcn:.'in- had had all the numbers in- Me.oi ..; none, the show would have looked hitter. \iiiong the men are the Big Four, a male quartet, who sing; Karl Gates siiu-... so does Kya Lynn, and the sing- inr. nearly all of it "straight," either s..i-i -viliiv or solo, becomes very weari- some. For one turn Miss Lynn whistles. That at hast is different, but still it's \\ h i s 111 ii s ■. Other male principals are Schrodc and Harris, but no one ever sees them, as they also have papier tnache cover- ings, oik e in a hull. There is a papier mat Ik ostrich, and papier machc seems to have been the most expensive item ii. the production end. Another princi- pal is the I'.oyle. formerly of Boyle and l'ra/il. He dances around, sometimes around the girls and often by himself. A c<>uple of the choristers, Lillian ( Jgden and Jesse Regge, are given a douMe dance in one number, but it's on'y a time killer or filler. I he thiee numbers in the second part h'i\e the impression the management ir:ed ih I'l'iiiimiiy M'lu'tiic on clothes, toi ihe \i w N oik Town" number, also the "( iiulmv" ensemble, closing, dis- play \ « l.e.'.p costumes. The opcti- :!.:■ mi' : ». i of t he first part is the best , i am: ii'o ; i \jiensi-. id\- dressed. Still the ik >' d. ii in show is not a cheap one h\ .Hi' means. |«ir the house. It would he es r.i.iied a! about .SI. 700 weekly '"■.'■ :i. • KiLKnit i!. tins including an 1 , ",;i! l - ,s urW t..r a weekly appor- '. !■•■ •■ :" o! the pri iduct ion inve. tment. I.', i »s were written by Kdward Mad- 1 'i i'. ! invsie by Louis Silvers, while !■ ■ ".ii I' I'.ower staged the pcrforin- \ ; . I ' ( . . o i; ivin -iris are a few ■ |! , i,i r. I he\- have youth in ■■ \ "• < \ en ii no style. The Shcl- • i < ■ ''lev I sland all to itself this ii '»iii the out look, for a big 'i"A. and while the management fl.... i ■■ ■ i i■'< d v. ilium i.. pay tor at least a ''-' '■ mp,in\. tlmv don't seein to have '■ . . 1 . , i ||,||, h . I . ■ value lor their expen- \: :■• r Hyde 1 ., ■ beell . engageil to • ■' ■ ! '.'.<■ tic it \ ue for t he ' ! - " '■'■' ' ■ in . i,t d Tim the summer iVI.-ixiin'R mi West .iSth Street appears I o h.i.. i..kui an initiative in War Sav- ings Stamps. It is disposing of not less than $25 nightly in \V. S. S. by giving one at least in change for every check paid during the night. Seldom is there an objection by a guest. When one is raised, the waiter usually murmurs that if the patron doesn't save the stamps, he (the waiter) does. IN AND OUT. Keine Da vies left the Riverside bill after the Monday matinee, through loss of special music. Miss Davies tried her restricted songs at the first per- formance without the music, but found i ttoo hard. Booth and Leander en- tered the Riverside show on Tuesday evening, in the opening position, de- layed baggage causing Kdward Mar- shall to open program Monday. Christie MacDonald was compelled to cancel her Buffalo engagement at Shea's Buffalo this Week owing to throat trouble. She resumes her vaudeville tour at the Orpheum, Brook- lyn, next Monday. The Courtney Sisters did not open at Albany Monday. Fay Courtney re- ported ill. Marcella Johnson replaced them, also for Troy the last half this week. Grace Field was out of "The Kiss Burglar" at the Cohan for a day last week. Zoc Bamctt replaced her, but the next day Miss Field was sent for and returned to the cast. The Frichcrs did not open at the Royal Monday, through one of the act having injured her ankle in Albany late last week. Dancing Lavarrs substituted. After one showing. Davis and Walter left McVickcr's because of unsatisfac- tory delivery and material. They were replaced by Bogert & Nelson. Green and Parker left the bill at Chester, Pa., Monday. Miss Green's mother died. NEW ACTS. Florence Bell and Co. in "Badger Crossed." a dramatic sketch by Lester Fountain, manager of the Casino the- atre. San Francisco. Willie Archie and Paul Byron, in a talking, singing and dancing, at the Orpheum, Oakland, this week. Ibmita. in a "single." assisted by Fail Starly at piano, "breaking in" around San Francisco. Mahi-llc K-telle and - Co., new coinedv -dramatic sketch. "2 Lac for Rehearsal." featuring Tony Cornelia ( Rush Jcnnon). Gordon and lolice, sketch (Ralph T. ki tiering); two men and a woman. kharuium, piano, formerly known as (sinned. II- ur\ Ileudler. with girl, formerly He: ...hel Ileudler. Imperial Otiintct. vocal, five former jiincipals of Mine. Doree's Celebrities. 1-eiim and I low ell in blackface. They are oui of burlesque. (I. Micheals.) MOVES IN CHICAGO. Chicago. May 2 l K Sa'.ui."..'.v Blanche Bates an 1 Hol- brook I'.'inn close at the Garrick in "Gel ting T methet." Business was very poor iiwiiii, to the Red I ross henelit p!av "i )ut Id.ere" ai the I '.lackst one. Sundae lack N'orworth's iliinimiv re- \iew. "<)dds and F.nds of l'M7." which has been doing a good business at the Si udtd)aker. will ino\ e into the Gar- -. :, k. \l the Siudebaker Sunday "A Pair of I'ettieoals" will uio\e in to replace tin Xoiworth show. Show of Wonders Closes. "The >ho\\ of Wonders" wh'ch re- « ( nt 'y c 1 ' • ed a ft m .V' weeks of p'a\iiiy . w ;'! be m nt on lour a: am next seas'Uj b\ i lit- Shuberts. The lour will .-tail in \iilikI, wohout Willie and "Gene How .u d and sc\ eral others. BURLESQUE MEN AND LEGIT. One burlesque manager, also one who was identified with burlesque, have tried the legitimate production field lately, but they seemed to be out of luck. Barney Gerard essayed to get into Broadway, with Eddie Clarke's "Bruised Wings," which is now in the store house. The piece lasted one week, alter which Gerard declared himself out just $5,000. Arthur k. Pearson struck a stormy path with "Yours Truly," which was out several weeks and was withdrawn after one week in Chicago. However, that play was given a fine production and it is planned to send it out in the fall. Pearson is said to have had as backer, one Muldoon, who fell heir to some money lately and was a former treasurer of the Murray Hill theatre. "Yours Truly" is reported to repre- sent an outlay of $35,000. A third burlesque man in the person of Max Spiegel has been more fortu- nate. He bought "Furs and Frills" from Arthur Hammcrstein in the middle of the season and the piece is still out. It will have completed 30 weeks before the season is over and is going out again in August, aimed for the coast, and with Richard Carle again starred. BERNSTEIN'S "FOLLIES." Although Rube Bernstein is subject to military service in Canada, and has been placed in Class A No. 1 in Toronto, which he claims as his home, he is making arrangements to again send out his burlesque show, "The Follies of )918," and has re-engaged three of his principals with the "Fol- lies" this past season. Clyde Bates, principal comedian, is among those under contract. Frank Wakefield has been commis- sioned to write brand new book for Bernstein's show. Meanwhile, Rube has orders from the Ontario Registrar to report Aug. 18 and was only able tp come to New York last week by obtaining a special passport from the Canadian authorities. MAKING DIXON WHISPER. Frank Taimchill and Felix Adler have agreed to write a burlesque show for Henry Dixon next season. The au- thors made but one condition, that there be a whispering scene during the performance, with no one allowed to press his voice beyond a breath—and th:ii !>i\on is to take actual part in thai scene at least three times weeklv. MAKCAKKT YOl'XC; \'<rs;ililc sin-ir ol' character and comedy M.ll S. ! I i.li i v.,ii's, (.iiir\ Island. this week i\!m :>:>. y ':i in I.- ni, i:>di\ ii|n i|i|y and ]H'ise, cniii- li,;n l wah a splendid \oice and a distinctive |i( !-si,'ialil\ . nsni'i a repert'ire of exclusive coined', and character iiumhers. hirecti.m. MAX 11AMT. ILL AND INJURED. J. Frank Myers, for many years the district passenger agent for the New York Central Railroad, whose special duty was to handle the theatrical transportation business, is a victim of overwork and is ill at Saranac Lake, where he has gone for the summer at the advice of his physician. Axel Mirano, badly r injured at the Hippodrome when the airship device collapsed last month, left Bellevue Hospital Wednesday. He expressed gratitude over the treatment while confined, Charles Dillingham having continued his salary and paid all expenses. Gerald Griffin, the veteran actor, was removed May 24 to the Misercordia Hospital on East 86th street, following a stroke of paralysis. He has been ill for some time and recently went to a rest cure for a few weeks. Max Hayes, who underwent a seri- ous intestinal operation three weeks ago, appeared in the Palace building on Alonday. although it will be some time before he will actively attend to his office. Earl Bonner (Armstrong Folly Co.), Seattle, who was ill at Sheboygan, Wis., was moved to the American Hos- pital, Chicago, where he will undergo an operation. Mrs. Andy Williams (Mercedes Al- vin, Alvin and Williams) was operated upon last week, at the Hattiesburg Hospital, Hattiesburg, Miss. She is slowly recovering. Lieut. James Barton, managing the Liberty theatre, Camp Meade, Balti- more, is off duty, owing to illness and another man has been assigned to handle the house until Barton's return. Lou Lesser ,thc burlesque advance agent, who has been il| for weeks in Baltimore, continues to improve slowly. Adeline Francis is ill of typhoid fever at Dr. Stern's Sanitarium, 365 West End avenue. She is being attended by Dr. Herbert Constable. Mrs. Sydney Smith, ill in St. Eliza- •beth's hospital, New York, is improv- ing. Mrs. Alex. Pantages, operated upon in a Los Angeles hospital, is improved. STROUSE & FRANKLYN MOVE. The Gaiety has lost another of its burlesque tenants. The Strous & Franklyn offices have followed Charles Baker across the street to the Colum- bia Building, where they will here- after be stationed in Suite 605-606. St rouse & Franklyn plan to keep iheir summer slock. Howard, Boston, going as long as the business keeps up. The roster to date includes Fred balls Binder. Billy Grogan Spencer, Harry Van. Billy Carlcton, Bert Leigh- ton. May Barlow, Anna Armstrong, Ib-ibe Lavita, Fay Shirley, with regular house olio of six acts. Spencer is handling the books, while Teddy Rus- sell is producing the numbers, with 28 girls in the chorus. CARNIVALS PANNED. Newark, N. J., May 29. The Victoria Shows, a carnival out- lit, played Bloomficld, N. J., two weeks ago and directly afterward the local newspaper editorially "panned" car- nivals in general, suggesting to the town council to pass a law prohibiting such and rescinding any licenses which may have been issued for them. Carnival men say that the shows which played Bloomfield weren't any worse than any place else, and that perhaps the editorial writer failed to connect on any of the wheels. Any- how another carnival show is slated for liiiiomlicld next week. MAJOR CHARLES RICE DYING. Major Charles Rice, brother of Kdward E. Rice, and himself a well- Known figure in theatricals a genera- tion ago, is reported to be dying at his country home; age, 82.