Variety (November 1919)

3SSte?*i<*Sis^SS«®e^ilS&&8^l; sSW&fBtei >*<•.' agjafl9a?wi''.'^si;' , >(; Till fcst : -v' . ft& §ir$ •B^R^S^E ROSE BYDELL'S LONDON BELIES. (Second review.) TnoHose Sydell show wu reviewed wlien It »Il]re<l the Columbia, New York- That notice jjkppstred In VARIBTY of Oct. 17. It wsj aovero cr It Id era, panning the show without stint. VARIETI received two letters /rom laymen, •tatlnR (he noUco wm an unjust one. On* of ijkfce,writers said be had been seeing the shows • at the Columbia (or several years and did not consider the Sydell attraction below the aver- age of the burlesque shows visiting that the- ■aire (Columbia Wheel). Inquiry around the Columbia building v brought eat that the prevailing opinion was . that the Sydell show had been tod severely . sweated In variety, although no one eon- jected with the show entered any complaint Ao this'paper. One of the burleque men-who knows burlesque, also the show business, said h» believed the reviewer of the Sydell show st the Columbia was someone who had Broad- *»ay musical comedy firmly In his mind and Booked at the burlesque attraction from that ^'cwpoint. Which Is quite likely. ' ' It's a common error of newspaper men to .take the standard of musical comedy for their fcrttlcal review of a burlesque performance, that burlesque is peculiar to itself and must b» looked at In that way! could be made a long story. Boiled down to the fact 'that bur- lesque holds its devotees, who understand it Hits a vaudeville fan knows vaudeville, and Voiding them, It a burlesque show pleases an audience, it is a good show from the audi- ences' standpoint. ..'.. ; Anyone who well knows burlesque could Walk Into any musical comedy now on Broad- way and rip it to pieces in a critical review, oven so far as to compare It with burlesque «n general entertaining lines, but that rip- : slug -would nt' alter the faot tbat that musical show might be a pleasing one to a 12 audience. "The above is why the "London Belles" was ; taught again last Friday at the Empire, New- ark, merely # for observation, to determine . who was right about the show at tbe Coiurn- , bla, VARIETY'S reviewer, or those who pro- tested against that review. Newark Is a long way from Now York on a rainy evening, And last Friday the city was holding some kind of a celebration, doing It in the small time way as might be expected anywhere in Jersey. The rain, the celebration . end other things cost most of the first part of the'Sydell show, up to the time that four / r*o acrobats were singing. Just about this time, the acrobats appeared to be the entire - jbow. They were probably doing their spe- cialty, which Includes, besides singing and dancing,' acrobatics and music. That's quite i combination for acrobats and the quartet Jot away with everything they did. Their acrobatics, at the conclusion brought them a. .'gale of applause The combination of talents, no matter how highly developed here, is enough to attract attention to these boys any- - Where, The only mistake they mode was to .Wear their old Arab acrobatic suits. The management might provide them with some eort of a uniform that Is more showy and ' cleaner. Chester (Bube) Nelson is featured with the show. Ho plays a rube In a conventional style, but.has an excellent Idea of delivery of dialog, never missing with that. Lew Rose Is a Jlobrew comedian of the "Holy Cheese and 'Crackers" type, crepe hair and a'i else tbat goes with it. - But in Newark Mr. Boss seemed to please tbe rather targe house in the show proper. He fell flat, however, with his single Turn In "one," a singing monolog. Anyway. St was placed too far down, nest to the clos- ing scene. There's not enough to It for Boss ♦o make a specialty of It. He had a couple of parodies on current hits, but did little. The best laugh of tbe portion of the per- Tormance seen was when Nelson and Rose ap- propriated some of the Moss and Frye act. little of the"book dialog got a comedy re- turn. It was all handled cleanly, however,. fend there was no offenslveness. Nettie Wilson Is the prima donna, without butting forth any claims for extra attention. She sings as many another prima donna in burlesque does—Just sings. Hasel Hargea is the aoubret, rather a bright girl In work and attractive In appearance. She did a bit of pleading for a diamond pin from each of the two comedians that made It .impressive to a degree,. through the fervent manner of Hiss Hargea' pleading, but that bit was not rough and It went entirely to Miss Hargea' credit. The corned Inns got some fun out of tbe Inci- dent in a legitimate way. The bit waan't new by any' meana and Its use suggested that i much of the comedy of the performance may have been also culled from the burlesque memory-, book, In the numbers the chorus girls showed up Quite well. .They worked with spirit and In unison, one of the young women running ahead of the others In animation. The "Col- onial Days" flnuie to the first part Is rather • good number as done. It's dressy and makes a first rate finale flash. The opening of the second part with the "Maid of the Orient" song amidst harmonious surroundings looked Well from tbe front. No number, bow- Witb «wy snap was heard, and this to be the fault at the producer. The - liveliest number, was "Clap Tour Hands for .that Loving Man," led by Miss Hargea She took an encore on it without a person in tbo house applauding. That appears to be silly showmanship. It the song can't get-anything. Why hold it In after the season haa advanced this farT. It wouldnt' be fair to blame the singer; it's tbe song ■ There are several-scenes with-the Oriental second part, standing out; The show, has a> book, programed as written by Sd Han ford. Mr. Hanford probably laid out the story like a scenario, leaving it to the principals to nil in the laughs. Certainly there are no laughs In the script. Fred S. Rounds la programed as the writer of the music and lyrlca William 8. Campbell, whe has piloted tbe Bose Sydell sbow for many years, is mentioned as the stager. "The London Belles' 'Is not as bad a ahow as VARIBTT'S reviewer said It was, and It Is not as good a performance as the layman claimed for It—what It really Is la an Ameri- can Wheel ahow; it can't bold up with the big majority of the Columbia shows. Sime. REPUDIATES "OH FRENCHY." The National Burlesque Circuit disa- vow any responsibility for the "Oh Frenchy" show which closed in Roch- ester owing salaries to the members of the company. They, declare this at- traction was playing the K. & E. time and that they had booked it for the week in Rochester, with the rest of the circuit to follow providing the show came up to the requirements. It did not do so and the middle of the week the circuit officials told the owners of the production, they say, that the show would not be desired. NAUMANN AT GAYETY, BUFFALO. Chris Nammnn. for the past six years ahead of the Ben Welch show on the Columbia Circuit, has been ap- pointed manager of the Gayety, Buffalo, replacing Ed. Rowland who took charge of the house upon the death of Richard Patten two months ago. Naumann, who left the Welch show last week, was to have gone ahead of the "Pacemak- ers," on the American Circuit, but Thursday Sam Scrlbner of the Colum- bia Circuit sent for him and tendered the Buffalo position. BELFREDGE HUNTING. George Belfredge, owner of "Hip, Hip, Hooray" on the Columbia Circuit hag turned the management of the company over to Al Lubln in Jersey City. Belfredge did this to enable him to take a four-week vacation at his lodge on Lake George, where he intends to do some deer hunting. Minsky Buying Acts. • Billy Minsky, of the firm, Minsky Bros., proprietors pf the National Winter- garden stock burlesque house, has re- tained his "attorney, Abncr Greenberg, to buy up interests in a number of big time acts, one of which Is Irwin Rosen's "Kiss Me." . Chans* of Managers. Charlie Koster has been given the management of Rube Bernstein's Follies of Pleasure" so as to allow Mr. Bernstein a brief respite from his rather strenuous duties since the beginning of the season. Frank Metzger will be In advance of .the show during Mr. Koster's affiliation "back" with" the company. Coaxing the Crowd. To stimulate business the Bijou, Philadelphia, playing American Bur- lesque attractions, is Installing "box- ing" Tuesday night, and "Amateur Night" Friday. This is being done to combat the Gayety, which plays stock burlesque and has added attractions every night. Gives Up Work for Health. Joe Emerson, the burlesque comedian, who retired from the profession to en- ter into commercial business three years ago, baa retired from business and will leave for Log Angeles this week. Emerson ia going there for bis health. 1 M&iii - l - ; ''-' : .-A... .- -■■<.■.■-- , :..:v; Lm±j£. i*iea«3ikj HELLO AMERICA, "Hello America,"ST Hnrtig A SJemon product Ion, Broadway's Columbia summer show In 1918, and ia the attraction this week at the "big .house" of burlesque. "Peek-a-Boo" was the stellar card for tbe summer Just past, and that Is tbe attraction next week. When "Hello America" drew attention tor its general class as the prize show of.the Columbia- wheel, the names of Hurtlg A Bemon Were cred- ited, hut. this year tbe firm name is off and the name of Joe Hurtlg is used. The principal difference at present lies |n the dressing. The great ftaah of the summer show's costuming which brought, many pats en .the backs of the producers was nowhere in. sight. Costumes which were fresh, a year ago looked messy to the election day matinee house, a capacity attendance, and no wonder, with tbe bard usage attendant burlesque. The frocks worn for the opening looked the worst, and the lights never should have been turned up oh them. Of course, there were several sets of new costumes, sad they stood out like beacons." There have been a'number of cost changes, especially among the feminine section, which seems entirely changed from the summer line-up. The stow Is so framed that the soubrette. Mar- ' garet White, is more the principal woman than either Ullile Hill or Elizabeth Berrlnger. Cer- tainly Hiss White has more to do, handling a majority of the numbers. On .appearance she easily shades the others, her many changes of frocks, curly locks and peppery atyle making for a distinct attraction of the. show. Miss White, teamed with Miss Hill, delivered the hit among the song numbers with "Bock to Mammy's Knee," a harmony try that .was successful. The bit was a specialty tor the pair, who started out with "I Ain't Gotten No Time for the Bines," well done, too. Miss Hill showed off her best frock for the specialty, though she looked well in a gown of gold cloth and scarlet a bit earlier. Miss Berrlnger was liked beat With "When the Sun sinks in the West" The ainglng comediana, the "two Sams," again feature "Hello America," and easily bold up their end of the* going. They seemed to be saving most of their "stuff" for tbe second act, and in that section came to the fore in the laugh score. Their ventriloquist bit, which they couldn't do much with in vaudeville, was the bit ot the ahow. Another .bit and better laugh getter was a table scene with Sam Bennett doing the straight. It's the bit' which takes Lewis from captain to colonel and back to corporal. He explained his job in a drug store and how he tasted everything which went Into the win- dow—even tbe castor oil, which he tasted also, then took a vacation. - Lewis and Cody acored with their song spe- cialty in the first act, Lewis still doing tbe "Vegetable Man," but Dody's "wop" number sounded new. It was "If I Catch tbe Man . Who Taught My Wife to Shake the Shimmy." There was also an operatic bit with Miss Ber- rlnger. Down in the second act a comedy quar- tet, with tbe Sams, Joined with Bennett, and Al Shaw was amusing. Four out of tbe five male principals have the front name of Sana. There was Sam Lee, who teamed with ShaW In two dancing specialties which were needed In the show, and the second one of which scored nicely. Sam Bennett ia a valuable straight man.. He added something to the comedy of the early section of the ahow with hla handling of "wise" talk. Bennett la a neat dresser, in fact, one of he neatest in burlesque. He might tip off his tailor to some of the other straights. There isn't much change aside from tbe num- bers in "Hello America." Tbe minstrel port, which was used near the flnlsb, is out altogether and probably for the best, as the show moves along smoothly and delivers, especially in its aecond act . . jr occ< TOM ALLEN DIES. Tom Allen; age 50 years, musical di- rector of the Hastings* "Big Show" on the Columbia Circuit for three seasons, died October 29 in a Boston hospital, after a prolonged illness. Allen was tbe writer of two popular songs, "Any Bones, Any Rags, Any Bottles Today," and "Meet Me Llndy by the Watermelon Vine." He was married and is survived by a widow and one son, now In the United States Army. BAKER DOCTORING "SPORT GIRLS." Chas. M. Baker, who recently obtained the franchise of "The Sport Girls" on the American Burlesque Circuit, was com- pelled to leave on Monday for Toronto, where the show Is playing this week, to do a little "doctoring." When Baker took over the show he made changes in several of the principals, and It is said that some of them do not measure up to tbe standard of the circut. 81XJCK AT NATIONAL HOUSES. Four of the National Burlesque Cir- cuit theatres are being turned into stock houses. The Pershing, Pitts- burgh, Inaugurated tbe new policy this week with "The, French Babies'* as the .permanent attraction. .This show , played the house last week as a wheel attraction. The Gayety, Philadelphia, operated Toy Joe Howard, and the Folly, Balti- more; conducted by Hon. Nickels, are scheduled to abandon the road. shows of the Circuit November 10 and install permanent stock. Wm, Graham's Gar- den, Buffalo, is the ether National house which will also be added to the list of stock theatres. .The show to play there Is "The Whirl-Of Folly," at the Garden last week. This attraction is owned by Graham And was .produced by Ar- thur Lanning;. All .of .the houses will have from seven to ten principals and the chorus used Will range from 16 to 24 girls. The Pershing was formerly known as the Empire and ia located In the East Liberty section Of Pittsburgh; The business there has not warranted the playing of further traveling shows. 1 NAMED THE WRONG CHARMER. Rochester, Nov. S. EHse Burgher Is conducting.a pub- licity campaign by mall from Philadel- phia in the newspapers here. She wants restored to her the thunder she says was stolen from her by May Larimer. When the show opened the erf tie of The Democrat and Chronicle said that Miss Burgher was the only good thing in the show. Later in the week he pub- lished another item saying that he was mistaken and that the praise was in- tended for Miss Lorimer. NoW It seems that this second.Item did not please Miss Burgher half as much as did the first Item and she has written letters to the local papers ask- ing them to run another Item giving the glory to her. The Herald published her request without editorial comment. The Democrat critic says he is of the same opinion he was last week. ■ EMPRESS PLANNING BURLESQUE. Cincinnati, Nov. 6. The Empress opened as a burlesque house Sunday, Nov. 2. It was formerly a pop vaudeville theatre. Moo Messing, of New York, the new manager, took charge last Sunday, and Jake Lavene, of Chicago, the treasurer, installed himself several days ahead of that. Harry Weltzman, of Detroit and New York, Who purchased the Empress from Henry G. Clarke, paid the house a fly* ing visit and approved the numerous Im- provements that have been made. James McArthur, of Cincinnati, was appointed stage manager, and Job Schraer, for 18 y euxa cuatodlan of the Empress, has been retained in that posi- tion. I y; "J '->.-■ ' The first Attraction will be ''Tile Frol- ics of 1919.** ' * ' BURLESQUE CHANGES. . Max Michaels, recently agent of "The Mischief Makers," American Circuit, is now 'in advance of '.'The Pacemakers,'* replacing Chris. Naumann, now mana- ger of the Gayety Theatre, Buffalo.. Jean Worth, prima donna, and Bon- nie- Friedman, Ingenue, "Broadway Bells."' ' •'■.' \ ; ... George Bartlett replaces Sid "Winters.. and Jimmy McDonald takes the place" of George Van Home, with "Tfee Pace- Ernest Mack "Girls of the D. 8. A." Ben Bernard has been engaged by Hurtlg & Seamon to rearrange the numbers and ensembles in the Ed Lee Wrothe 20th Century Maids; Company on the- Columbia circuit. The changes are being made at Miner's theatre, Newark, this week. •V-. : m ■TV ! MORETTE SISTERS TO STAR. Chicago, Nov. 5. Morette Sisters this week signed for next season with Irons & damage, to be featured with full honors in the "All-Jazz Revue." the .first attempt of this.firm as a production on the second burlesque wheel. . ,' .'.