Variety (September 1919)

SHOW ., ..,. / i ' ■•>£ •- • -. 'f I '■:■ .-i.-V '•.•■ and a big one of 12 people that be opens with boos.' If he essayed to remain with bis present offering be wouldn't have any trouble, for it la about toe best thing Pat bas attempted in many many seasons. It consists of several well handled published songs with the In- imitable Rooney dancing, and able assistance from Bastly, who also handles a solo. J. Francis is making them like him again up here and Is ably assisted by Miss Sales. Sbe is easily one of the cleverest foils in the business. Dooley is using a new song, "I Can't Get A Chicken," and it gets over big. The salve speech had to be pulled to Insure a get-a-way. Herminshone, Jack Denny and Co. followed In their comedy sketch, "Peggy O'Brien." The act has been slightly improved by dropping the finish In "one," but there is still some- thing lacking. Both of the two male assist- ants to Denny seem to be excess. Neither in reading lines Is convincing. Miss Shone talks her songs and Denny struggles valiantly to register as a "hick" vaudevilllan, but doesn't get much until he goes to the piano. They went much better bere than at any of the other metropolitan houses, but the act can stand lota of revision. Miller and Bradford moved down from second opened after intermission pulled down quite a bit In the latter spot Miss Bradford has plenty of personality and knows how to sell a number. Lou Miller has a rich bari- tone voice and.in "Don't You Remember The Day" and "I Dove You Just The Same" they harmonize In effective fashion. He is a clever dancer and features some high kicking in one solo. Both have appearance and it Is a el assy act tor any bill. Olsen and Johnson followed in their nut specialty and pulled down the bit of the bill. It's a two-man singing act with the piano player going in heavy for nut effect with shim- ming and clowning. One funny piece of busi- ness la the use of the telephone by the non- musical member, travlstlelng the Present ser- vice and ventriloquising his answers. An- other Is a medley of popular numbers anent matrimonial experiences, winding up with "Sweet Adeline," and using two members'of the stage crew to complete a quartette pulling bum harmony. , „ Valerre Berg ere and Co. (New Acta) was next to closing and Pat Rooney was last up in the ninth. Nora Jane and Co. (New Acts) opened and Emily Darrell was moved up to the duce spot, doing exceptionally well in the early position. Tim and Kitty O'Meara in "Memories Of The Dance" held down third position In greet style. It's one of the best dancing acts in vaudeville. - Con. R E V I E W w ■ ■ - - 25 .- • KEENEY'S BROOKLYN. A smooth running show of seven acts and an entertaining 5 reel feature picture at Keeney's the first half. The house is doing business against heavy neighborhood competition, for the simple reason Keeney is giving a great show for the money. Roman and Haney opened and romped away with a hit. It's one of those pleasing small time man and woman combinations, with a good routine of songs and patter, capably handled. Rose and Austin landed one of the big hits of the evening with their wire walking special- ty. The man is a daring performer. A toe dance, somersault, and "souse" bit are all of 'big time calibre. The womsn is a good wire walker and presents an attractive appearance. Leon Stanton ft Co. hit up a lively pace with an up to date comedy sketch. The central character (Stanton) Is a Civil War veteran, and a remarkably well done characterization. Isabelle D'Armond filled in 16 minutes ac- ceptably with songs and comedy talk. The Egyptian bit grabbed off the honors of the routine. Miss D'Armond would Improve her turn, however, by eliminating the song plug- ging, at' the finish. Greene and Parker never went better with their blackface talking skit. The man la a clever delineator of the negro character, his impersonation being strictly legitimate and far removed from the conventional burnt cork black face comic, familiar to vaudeville. Larimer, Hudson and Co., a bicycle turn, containing two clever women performers, a male straight and comic, would easily class as a big time closing act, If the comedian would drop his un-announced imitation of Joe Jackson. The regulation formations are all well done. « Lew Brown, assisted by Arthur Franklin, warbled his entire catalogue of song hits both ancient and modern, with good results. It's a pleasing act, as it stands for Pop time. Bell. KEITH'S, PHILADELPHIA. Philadelphia, Sept. 24. "Bee" Palmer, from Broadway, Just flew right up and stung these Philadelphians good and forte with her "shimmy" and her Jaiz- boys. The blonde girl, who has been shimmy- ing herself into favor over "where the White Lights shine, came bere with a lot of advance publicity and they must bave looked for something pretty warm from "Bee," for the house was crowded Monday. The "shimmy" champ didn't startle anyone with the way she wriggled her shoulders. Ag a matter of fact, Margaret Toung, who was earlier on the bill, did a bit more of tbe wriggle than Miss Pal- mer, .but maybe It looked more because Miss Young is a little more abundant than "Bee." At any rate Miss Palmer made good from the start and unless all signs on Monday failed, Philadelphia will be talking considerably about Mies Palmer and her "shimmy" before the week is out. What Miss Palmer needs mostly is a couple of new numbers. One of her songs has been done several times and Is getting worn and she needs a new ballad tor her piano special- ty. She might get away with these songs had she been round before, but coming in as a brand new star from Broadway, sbe ought to at least bave new songs. Everything else Is right. The act looks like a million dollars and tbe jazz band is the beat that bas been heard along this way, and there have been sev- eral. "Bee" Palmer will do "on the road as well as on Broadway and she certainly got a fine start here. The beadllner was well surrounded with singing acts so that by the time they' got down to the' U. S. Glee Club, which was given the closing position for tbelr second week, the sailor boys had it rather hard going. They - made themselves solid here last week, how- ever, and proved It by holding the house until after about half of their program, and then' lost only a few. Some new songs were glveu and with a couple of lively numbers for the finish, the boys closed to a big hand. Eddie Band* and Florence Clark -showed a distinct novelty called "Columbia and Victor." If tbe talking machine companies produced this act, it could not. be a better booster, for the two which give the act its title, though no effort has been made by the two principals to overwork this bit. What strikes the keynote In this act Is that it is entirely- new in con- struction and In the working out of ideas, even if some old jokes are used. They have a couple of catchy songs and some good step- ping is done by both, the girl adding a very nitty appearance. Margaret Toung does a very nice singing turn along familiar lines. All her songs are not new, but she gets them over in good shape and was very well liked. For an encore she did a "shlmmle*' that got her an extra hand and it looked as if she was taking a bit of a chance using It ahead) of MlssvPalmer, who was heavily featured for this kind of work. It was not enough to cause a clash, however, and gave Miss Toung a very good number to finish, with. A couple of "nut" comedy turns divided the laughs. Smith and Austin were tbe first, keeping the house going with their familiar hokem comedy, that they have not changed much In several seasons. Whether new or old it got lots of laughs and it did not hurt Wil- liams and Wolfus, who were next to closing, one bit. There is no change In the latter act since last seen and there seemed to be just as many laughs coming to them. Williams Is one of the-funniest and most original of the "nut" comedians and adds to the tun by his quiet way of working. • Charles Irwin told some stories, Bang a song and recited something. It Is a question ■whether Irwin is trying to Imitate Clifton Crawford or is like htm naturally, but there certainly is a strong resemblance in the two men, not only in the material used, but the way it is used. As seen bere within a few weeks of each other, both are using a sort of souse character to open with and close with a recitation. Irwin was well liked and got several very big laughs for his best stories. Chappelle and Stlnette are a colored pair with voices and the girl does very well with her songs. The man, who is equally good as a vocalist, spoils his songs by the way he sings them. He makes a bad effort at imitating Eddie Leonard's "wafcwah" stuff and ruins a song which he ought to do well If sung straight. They got over fairly well and with their songs shaped up right, ought to do much better and can fill In early spots. Herberts dogs were a good opening number, the Jump- ing of the animals getting a warm hand. KEITH'S BOSTON. Boston, Sept 24. Although the years may be rolling up upon the head of Lew Dockstader, his drawing ability certainly is far from' on the wane. Monday night was as bad a plght for vau- deville as could be imagined, not, sticky and drizzling rain. Despite this and a bill that had no particularly popular appeal on paper with the exception of Dockstader tbe. bouse had a heavy turnaway. It was a generous audience despite the sweltering heat and every act received a big 'band for even mediocre offerings. . I '_ ,„ The bill fortunately waB light and built ap- parently for purposes of economy and summer entertainment, running heavily to song, dance, comedy and singles. The only sketch on the bill was that old fashioned and sure fire bit of domestic life in a Jewish family that Is one of the best things that the Shlpman-Llp- man combination has ever turned out. Mr. Dockstader with his new alcoholic mon- olog entitled "An Earful," got the house the moment he wandered on to the tune of a dirge and minus his historic cork and proceeded to weep copious tears into a black bordered hand- kerchief. When he finally stated that our President had been in Europe so long that when he landed at Hoboken he thought he was In America the house howled and was ready to forgive him almost anything. Billed equally prominently were the Cam- eron Sisters, but possibly because It may have been a house of old timers that turned out to see Dockstader they failed to carry their 1 place on the bill. There had been some speedy dancing ahead and they found tbe bouse so listless, It apparently disheartened them. They are doing no solo work at all. Dave Dryer at tbe piano was credited on tbe program with having arranged the entire musical portion of their program. Dryer in bis first specialty covering the really nifty changes In costume of this new Cameron Sisters' act caught tbe house Instantly with an Imitation of a pianola. But when Dryer later on did some of his own stuff he apparently still had the pianola in mind. • Elizabeth M. Murray, using her customary versatile range, wandered out in good voice with a couple of new songs and a number of rather aged stories that were sure fire and undeniably tickled the risibilities of some of the octogenarians who bad turned out to wel- come Dockstader. Plelert and Ecofleld opened, Pielert being the nearest to a bald-headed juggler that ever played Boston. He' had an extraordinarily f leasing personality and bis partner, a sweet aced little; woman with genuine ability as a legitimate comedienne, scored an instantaneous hit. The hit 'that the act made should teach some of the Jugglers a lesson. They will find a warm welcome always waiting for them in Boston. Harry and Denis Du-Fer did not look strong until tbe last nve minutes when one did tome specialty dancing that brought the house down with a crash and closed them in a blaze of glory. The Jazxland Naval Octet proved to be a riot. Apparently they are not long out of service and are probably as clever k com- bination of syncopated versltallty in the form of white men that has hit the stage since the signing of the armistice. If they are -not careful, however, they are apt to stub their toes by becoming too professional. Already one or two are beginning to lose the aggres- sive masculinity that marks tbe service man and It would be unfortunate if they lost that "happy go lucky" abandon that is expected by the public of the United States sailor. Their trombone player, an awkward and lanky six foot natural born comedian with a voice like en undertaker is a show in himself. Harry and Anna Seymour in an act that was 90 per cent Anna made a big hit Camilla's Birds, staged from a scenic point of view as cleverly as any act of its kind that has ever played here, had the unwelcome task of closing a late show after Dockstader. Ven Liblfu. NEWS OF THE DAILIES. Adolph Klauber has accepted another com- edy by the author of "Nightie Night" Tbe new play by Zoe Aklns, with which Ethel Barrymore will open the regular season at the Empire shortly, is entitled "Declassee." The Shnberts will start rehearsals next week of "In the Night Watch" and "The Hood of the Moon." Mrs. Walter Wanger (Justine Johnstone) la to be starred by her husband this season la "Profane Love," founded on a story by Balzac. "Too Many Husbands" will open In Wash- ington. Sept 21 and will be seen In New York a week later. - i ■ .■•: ■ ■ ■■■r? Bessie MvCoy has left the "Greenwich VII- . lage Follies'' and will shortly enter vaude- ' vllle. ' George Monroe after a year's absence from the stage will return In 'The Passing Show of 1910." _^_ Bertha Kalicb, in "The Riddle: Woman,* will open In Springfield, Mass., Oct 6. Charles Mil.lward will be Miss Kallch's leading man. Suit for $1,010 for professional services al- leged to have been rendered Mrs. Katherlne Shubert, divorced wife of J. J. Bbubert has been filed la the Supreme Court, ot White Georgette Cohan, daughter ot George VL - Cohan and Ethel Levy Cohan, will oome to this country from England to appear in pic* tures under the direction of F. P.-L. . HIPPODROME. ' - Los Angeles, Sept 24. There were a number of clever turns on the Hippodrome bill this week. Among them. The Three Fishers, who were at the Casino last week. Their well presented contortion offering found big favor. "Whipped," an in- tensely funny sketch of domestic life was Ross and Binowe's offering which was gen- erously received. They were followed by a male singing trio with excellent voices. Their comical stuff was clever In spite of many ot their gags being on the chestnut order. The Puppetts, a mixed team singing behind miniature figures pleased with the novelty of the idea and went over big. The Shrapnel Dodgers, a quartet of wounded returned sol-' dlers, closed and scored a big hit with their entertaining accounts of trench life. "Our Better Selves," with Fannie Ward featured, was the film feature. Claude King and Julian Royce, English acton, have arrived here to play important parts in "Declasse," in which Ethel Barrymore .will open the season at the Empire next month. "Tbe Girl in the Limousine" will be pre- sented for tbe first time In Washington Sept 28, and its local premiere will take place a ■ week later. "The Bon. Sam Davis" with Barney Ber- nard* in the stellar role, will open at the Adelphia, Philadelphia, Sept 29. The play is being staged by Wlllard for A. H. Wood*. .-V. -■'. PANTAGES. Los Angeles. Sept 24. The bill *at Pantages this week. was well balanced, although there were no ^particular stars, the numbers were all well received and the audience appeared to be satisfied with the entertainment "Perhaps You're Right," a musical 'comedy episode in two acts in which the plot deals with a girl's boarding school was the head- line attraction on the new bill. The turn is along stereotyped, lines although there are a number of good voices In the cast, Tbe Pro- fessor, or head of the school. Injected a lot of fun into tbe aet with some eccentric danc- ing wjiich was really the redeeming feature. A couple of the Imperial Quintet gave an excellent rendition of Faust's prison scene. Both have fine voices and drew big applause the remainder of the quintet appeared un- necessary, except tor the choruses. Roy and Emma Dean are an entertaining young couple endowed with all the attributes of comedy produced a clever little sketch en- titled "Let Me Alone Darn You." They have a lot of amusing conversation. And the girl has many striking costumes which she wears well. Other acts on the bill were well re- ceived. A feature picture closed the show. ORPHEUM. * Los Angeles, Sept 24. N The Orpheum matinee business fell off the pnBt week wbich Is unusual for here, neither did the audience display Its customary en- thusiasm and no blta were registered, al- though the show carried a good collection ot acts with plenty of variety. - The headllners were Alice Els and James Templeton who scored nicely in novelty dances wbich were skillfully presented. Miss Els' program this season is of much wider range, comprising five songs and dances and these extend from the nursery to one of the legends of India. Temploton showed himself to be a dancer of, intelligence and ability. Julia Nash and H. C. O'Donnell appeared In a comedy sketch entitled "Three G. M." which Is quaint and original In Idea and sparkling and entertaining In dialogue. They received many big laughs and tbe turn went over big. William Dunham and Grace O'Mal- ley were seen In songs and patter which they successfully put across. Ted Doner bas some Jazzy songs, hut scored the biggest hit with his superior line of dancing. Doner 1b better fitted for a big act or production or with a partner. George Kelly and Co. In "The Flattering Word" was one of the holdovers from last week. Ray Snow assisted by Narlne Velmar held sixth spot on the bill and they were quite in the right place with some good style of smart talk. Snow Introduces a brief and witty mon- logue and a recitation of his own composi- tion entitled "A Regular Fellow." The Rosa King Trio closed exceptionally, well with some unusually attractive wire stunts. Hearst Weekly and a feature picture closed the bill. Jack JoMpht. William Caryl bas been engaged as head casting director tor the Shuberts. He will Immediately begin casting for the new Olevcp Kinkead play "The Mood of the Moon." ' Alma Kruger will play Olivia in "Twelfth Night" and the queen In "Hamlet" daring the forthcoming engagement of E. H. Sothern and Julia Marlowe at one of the Snubert houses. ■;.-..i..- ■ 1 ■ Cosmo Hamilton has been commissioned by Walter Hast to write a starring vehicle for Franclne Larrlmore. Mr. HamlJ ton will dramatize hli novel "Who Cares" to fill Miss Larrlmore's requirements,: , ■ ■ ■•■ Ernest Glendlnning Is directing the re- hearsals for Martin Brown's new farce, "An Innocent Idea," which will be entries Emer- son Cook's second production and which will open in Baltimore Oct. 6. Walter Hast will present at the Bijou, Sept 22, a new comedy by Cosmo Hamilton, entitled "An Exchange of Wives." . The cast will In- clude Lee Baker, Forrest Winant, Margaret Dale, Stanley Harrison, Miriam Doyle. A contest tor perfect figures was held Tues- day nlgbt at the Bayei Theatre, with the' girls of the "Greenwich Village Follies" com- J peting. George Grey Barnard, the sculptor, wanted a model for Eve, hence the contest W. D. Hepenstall and Wilford Kane's comedy of Irish life, entitled "Dark Rcialeen," at the Manhattan Opera House, Sept 29, wltb .Eileen Huban and others of the cast seen at the Belasco last season. ■ Unless a subscriber, this season's patrons ot the Metropolitan opera will pay 17 plus a war tax of 70 cents for an orchestra seat Subscribers will continue to pay 16 plus the tax. Laurlllard & Grosmith have made an offer to the Shuberts to transfer tbe present com- pany playing "Ob What a Glrl' r to London. If the offer is accepted the show will open In England in the spring. Morris Green and John Murray Anderson. the producers of 'The Greenwich Village Fol- lies," are to produce a new revue which wilt be produced about Dec. 1, It will be entltloi "What's In a NameT" '^ :rt3 Stewart & Morrison have decided to' change the. title of their new musical comedy by Harry B. Smith and Hugo Rlesen'eld which was originally called "The Love Lamp" to "Betty, Behave." The production Is being staged under the direction of Charles Sinclair and Vaughn Godfred. The production will open out of town Oct 20. A group of French singers will be brought to the U. 8. by the management of the now Theatre Parlslen, which is to be opened at the theatre now known as the Belmont. They will interpret the chansons Montmartre which will be a feature of the French program at this theatre during tbe season. Robert Casa- desus, brother to Henri Casadesus, founder of the Society of Ancient Instruments, Is the art director. L, \ &m m