Variety (February 1920)

REVIEWS . - »; •111*4 te falio* and It mi growing late. Jet* .¥*»'SI VV 3u,t &Pw«a of 5 SlfifTi .V??* •*■ toot a elarlnet with Brf:»l Josssrs, and he an* Betty Z!£*/i°Jr5 ed . fcj*f *» oxtra number bj»- a.".i*»o«« la front were satisfied. Nlpa Payne haa a real noretty dance offering SJB * way l nt ± »«*ythlng w« have been VSFl* i* nd • m .°T r " .genuine merit as W *. U \* Ji een originality in the mapping out of the various numbers. She was did nicely with a mixture of songs and crossfire chatter. Martlnette and Sylvester furnished a R?J?v°?, en,n * nj»«nber with'their comedy acrobatics, and Wilson and Larson closed to a strong hand In a spot that was not at all sasy. following all the lhurrah of the Rooney act The Kino- arams were Just about fair this week iut "Topics of the Day- got Its uiuii amount of laughter. * ** KEITH'S, BOSTON. _,,,. '-- L\ •■- • Boston, Feb. 18. Wllkle Bard, who arrived In this city last week with a grand hurrah and who was held over for the second week, this being one of the first times in several Masons that a star has been held over at this house, is the star again this week and easily carries away the honors of the show when It Is viewed from a professional standpoint True, he did not get as much applause at the Monday night performance as would naturally be expected for a headllner such as he Is, but this can be accounted for by the fact that the audience at this perform- ance Is generally about the same, week la and week out, and most of them had seen him the previous week, the act thereby suffering a bit from lack of nov- elty. He Is using "The Scrubwoman" and "By the Sea" for vehicles this week, having used the former last week. In the second one, which Is quite a pre- tentious affair and is really a bit of a "tab," he appears at his best and espe- cially creditable is the performance of the female who assists him In this sketch and whose name does not appear on the program. He has made a Dig hit here without a doubt and It was good busi- ness to hold him over. As'to the balance of the show. It la unique in that there isn't a dreggy place In It, and this despite the fact that more than half the acts depend on music and a bit of dancing for their attraction. But It muet bs said to the credit of these acts that they Introduce new Ideas, and that gets them over well. Cervo, the accordionist opens the show, and this in itself is a departure from the ordinary, full stage being gen- erally the word for the opener. He has been seen here so many times that he Is well known, but still he manages to get across big by a wise selection of numbers, mixing the "Jass" and other numbers as they should be mixed. Following him cornea an act which. It seexne, could be placed higher on the ' bill and hold the spot without difficulty. It is Davigneau'a Celestials, which fea- tures three Chinese, Including "Borro- meo," billed as the Oriental jasz pianist; Miss Men Toy, as a dancer, and Shun Tok Bethe, as a tenor. Using full stage, with Oriental furnishings, this act is nothing more or less* than a modern song,, dance and musical number, well done and well staged. Miss Toy does only two bits, but the closing one, a "shimmy" dance in Chinese costume, with the blouse of that costume Just tight enough to accentuate the shivers of this dance, will not Boon be forgotten by those who say It Monday night She was applauded heartily and could have "shimmied'* for, the balance of the even- ing, to the exclusion of the remainder of the bill, if allowable. This act got the biggest hand of the evening. { Alice Hamilton, in "A Breath of Lav- endar and Old Lace," Is a monologue , with a new twist She discourses on her observations as an old mother while on a trip through the lobster palaces with her son. There are some gems of wit and humor In her act, but unfortu- nately she detracts from It a bit by starting capering about tho stage In Imi- tation of a modern dancer. She would do better to tone this part of her act down to fit in with the balance. One of the prettiest musical novelties of the season is "The Heart, of Annie Wood," with Eleanor Griffith starred. Five persons are In the cast of this "tab," and the idea la new, well given and pleased all. The book and lyrics, by Frances Nordstrom, are well worth while, but the music rather common- place. . Morton and Glass ran away with the show for the 16-mlnute period they were on.. Most of the audience were familiar with them, but that did not detract from their value. They have the class and know how to display their wares. A little extra comedy was injected Into the act when one of the legs of the doll used fell off on the stage. Full advantage of thla incident was taken by Morton and Glass. ^_ Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Bairy are baok again with their old sketch. '♦The Rube." If this pair were not local people It is doubtful If they could continue to get away with this sketch, as. funny as It is, oomtant repetition Is having ita effect ?■ Jt sad everybody known what le oom- isg I*rt. -ir opro .. mn *! Dnprsa •loatd the show with a bicycle aot As the show was Is very good of Its sort "*" b**v^ wcv «vl, /vs VUV mlHJ w fv*a» not a long one and wasn't running very late, when they came on they did not meet the usuaf fate of closing acts at this house—a big walkout Their act Its sort Lea lAMty. 8IST STREET. Mid-winter carnival this week, the program being augmented by the addi- tion of another act, six In all. While the "carnival" title is rather ambitious a its descriptive suggestions, the show is on a high par with good entertain- ment. Two new acts, each corking.and big time material in its respective lines, started the ball rolling In the forms, of John 8. Blondy and Brother with a clever canine, r '8cotty," who ties mat- *?■"■ ?P J or tne act '* success, and Har- riet McConnell, a contralto. Both are reviewed in fuller detail elsewhere. Jack Clifford and Miriam Wells, portraying "hick" station agent and actress char- *£'?'•/. A 0u . n<1 **■/ KOlng on third with their "At Jasper Junction" vehicle, stop- ping the show. The operatic vocalising could be eliminated In' favor of some. JJL'P? 52 0r « orlglnaL Anna Held, Jr.. "with Emmett GUfoyle"—to quote the program—went big. thanks to Mr. Gll- foyle's efforts In the main. Miss Held, Jr., has little to do but sport startllngly expensive creations that raised applause from the women contingent The Le Grohs. an acrobatic trio, which despite Its Undoubted worth and clever- ness Is an opening or closing spot fix- ture, were peculiarly placed next to closing owing to the concluding "Love' Shop" turn, also being a full stage act The Le Grohs went big, the slender gen- tleman/a contortionists work furnishing the wallop. In the following, George Choos production. "The Love Shop," in which Eddie Vogt Is "presented' 7 and starred, are a couple of nifty hoofers in the forms of Harry and Grace Ells- worth. They capably took care of the terpslchorean soloing In the tab. Mr. Vogt is undeniably funny and Is ably fed by the chap essaying the English character. A Katharine McDonald fea- ture film closed the show. S8TH1TREET. The usual capacity house Tuesday night Hector' opened. This Is a dog act in which Hector is the feature mem- ber of a quartet of exceedingly clever canines. The man handling them is a showman arid held up the turn in spots where It might have dragged but for his ad Mbbing. jt■ ?• Three new turns followed In the order named., They are Stewart and Neff, Thomas Sax-o-tette and Holland and Oden. Henry and Moore with the old Pat Rooney-Marlon Bent vehicle, "At the News Stand." followed,and were pleasing on the whole. The "kasotskr dance, however, Is In bad taste and should go out The man also does an "Impression" of Ben Bernle, rendering his "Over There" version. Ward and Van. next to closing, had them In roars with the discordant fid- dling of the comic and his falling breeches bits. When he "accidentally* disclosed his shirt the women actually shrieked with glee. Valentine and Bell closed the show with an out of ths or- dinary cycle routine. The girl Is a capable performer in addition to looking pretty. CITT. William Fox's vaudeville houes on 14th street Is still playing to regular busi- ness. They don't open the top gallery, but barring that the house Was close to capacity Tuesday night Two comedy talking acts and an annual novelty featured the bill and drew the bulk of applause. One was "Senator" Francis Murphy down next to closing with his political monolog. With- out exerting himself Murphy brought forth many laughs and had he tried he might have cleaned up. But since he played the house last month he probably felt It was too quick a repeat to net the best results. Murphy seemed to have new material here and there. He spoke about the early settlers bulling the In- dians out of whole states by exchanging boose for land and argued that Rocke- feller was about doing the same thing —oiling us out of ours. His theory about tbe rent raising thing went over the surest. He believed that Instead of boosting the rents, landlords should re- duce 'em in proportion to the number of children In a family—the more kids the less rent That was based on the Idea that the more children there are, the bigger the demand for homes. It about hit the Cltyites right and they laughed with glee.? Anthony and Rogers, who dress "straight,' but talk "wop" dialect, were on two "spots" ahead of Murphy, where they won the evening's honors. Murphy in the earlier position would have the edge but the two-act would have "col- lected" In any spot. They were at home at the City and the house recognised the numerous Italian expressions. They brought forth a howl in discussion of the limitations of women's work, One elaimed women could do any kind of work a man did, but was stopped by the reply that "no woman could take the partner's Job in "the Turkish baths." Ths men encored strongly and then for a sur- prise exited with an Irish Jig. They waited In the entrances for the rest of the show and tickled the house by call- ing out "push 'em up." one of the ex- pressions used in the routine. • Oautler'a Toy Shop was planted No. 6, providing strength to the going. It Isn't often so clever sn animal novelty reaches this house. At that the Gautler turn Is one of the very best Dixie Norton and Helen Claddings were fourth with a new two girl act It has perhaps been only latterly that Miss Claddings has been billed equally but she deserves It It was reported at the City that the pres- ent duo would spilt on Wednesday. Mlsa Claddings Is a particularly good dancsr, with a "wicked" high kick with either leg. Miss Norton's boy Is excellent es- pecially when she appears in ths regula- tion male sack suit _Rudlnoff went over strongly on third. His smoke paintings and his shadow- graphs amused but the Frenchman Is really an artist with his bird-like mimic- ry. It isn't whistling hs explained, but bird-like singing and perhaps he Is right _The Maxine Dancers (New Acts) clossd tho show; Courtney and Barrett (New Acts) were number two; Ward and Wil- bur Girls opened. ibee. 23D~STREET. The' legitimate "class*' to the bill the first half was Jere Grady and Co. in his well known sketch, "At tbe Toll Bridge." Grady has never been able to find a suc- cessor to his biggest hit in vandevllle, and the playlet Is still as good as ever for the three-a-day. Viewed from the standpoint of modern construction It won't stand analysis, having such In- gredients as soliloquies, which modern stagecraft forbids. His characterization of the old tollgate keeper is a fine piece of character acting, and the girl at pres- ent playing the "kid" is a clever soubret and pretty. The feature picture is Wallace Reld in the Paramount release "Double Speed." This Is followed by "Topics of the Day" and the Klnogram News Weekly. Leddy and Leddy are male eccentric comics Who open In "one," and after some singing, travesty and dancing go to full stage for some ground and table tumb- ling. They are funny enough in a cheap sort of way, and with some modern ma- terial and drilling would be certain to enhance their value and go farther down . the bill. Jack Burdette also Rome and Wager (New Acts). • Charles Conway and Sally Fields are a good singing and crossfire team. Miss Fields making a good strenuous Yiddish soubret She gets a lot out of a Yiddish number formerly used by Belle Baker. In the olden days when women singles were-made over night with special ma- terial and booming Miss Fields might have stood a chance with the others. • "At the Soda Fountain," a "tab," had only five girls Tuesday evening when there should have been six to balance. Perhaps one was 111. But the remaining five are young looking and sprightly. There are also two elderly characters, well played, a Juvenile and Ingenue. The whole thing Is rather well acted for the small time and the story is way above the average of such miniature musical comedies.. It ought to be. for It bears a close resemblance to the plot of "The Fortune Hunter." Brlndamour, the handcuff specialist precedes his act with the announcement that he has been doing that sty!* of turn for the past 24 years. He employs no straight Jackets and Issues no'chal- lenges merely offering a series of hand- cuff releases and removing his coat with his hands tied behind his back, and thereby entertains interestingly and brseslly for a quarter of an hour or so. That's long enough. Jolo. JEFFERSON. There was considerable punch to the first half here, Loralne Evon, a charm- ing violinists, assisted by a trained canary; the Fashion Minstrels with Josle Flynn, and Balsll and Allan In "Recruit- ing" being tbe outstanding features of one of the most enjoyable bill* seen In some time. With street cars running Monday night after a long layoff, the house profited by a large turnout of regular patrons. Those who braved ths cold weather soon "warmed up" when the show got In motion. Sweet Cookie (new), a novelty set, opened the bill. It went over very good, Nelson and Gilbert, In songs and dances, pleased. They are hard workers and al- ways trying. They keep Improving their 1 dancing, and It will not be long before they will be headline™. The laughs came thick and fast with the presentation of a Scotch skit by Stuart, Black and Co. A combination dining- room and parlor were exhibited, the set- ting getting a few handolapa The act- ing, as usual, was above oar. Number 4 was Rutb Holt She anflg two songs and then disappeared. The audience wanted to hear some more, but Miss Holt of whom a blonds remarked. "On a side glance she resembles Blllle Burke," would not respond. She has a good voice but does not study ths right -musical comedy music to fit her "pipes" scores. ■ Balsil and Allen went over Mar In their 22 known "Recruiting" stunt with ap- propriate scenery. Alien, as the Italian Immigrant seeking entrance Into Uncle BHft «■& delighted all with his up- f°«i ftt ?*r rl " ,c,ma . ,n ™» l *. t0 actions from the recruiting captain. They got four encores and they were still clap- ping when the curtain arose for the next act Allen. Is unusually lively, but his partner needs some army pep thrown Into his work. They make a good team at that, and should'be heard B fro5isSon on big time. The tickling part which consumes altogether too much time and Ip.iT eye sore, should be eliminated. Otherwise the act la complete and cleverly portrayed. no The sensation of ths evenina- cama m&m Golden. Bird" w*l2n old not d !"??°f e . the name of the pretty young vlollnlate. In .tho lobby, however/her name was scrolled In large letters— Loralne Evon. That canary she admita she trained is a wonderful bird. Miss Evon had one of the stage hands take the bird In a brass cage to tho orchestra P" and there exblblt It to the audience while the canary replied to Miss Evon's violin playing. Miss Evon requested the names of some bird songs they wished heard and the balcony and gallery gods suggested many. When the. title waa made/ known Miss Evon would nlay strains of the choruses and the bird sure enough replied with beautiful rhythm. This particular act will go like a bouse afire anywhere It Is billed on Wg time. Miss Evon and canary received three encores. Miss Evon sang twd good numbers. Billy Schoen in "His Day Off" (New Acts) made a good male Lillian Shaw. He came out pushing a carriage con- taining triplets. He sang about the hardships of married life, and received ft .5 0 PA man 7. laucha by the manner in which he made the dolls screech In baby fashion. With a little bolstering up the act should go over. He got three en- cores. Then came an Interesting picture showing the cruise of a German subma- rine in the height of tbe Hun atrocity in the water. These pictures were taken to Interest the folks In Berlin. "The ' Fashion Minstrels" clossd the vaudeville part with a corking act It contains eight people, beaded by clever Josle Flynn. in- cluding Mme. Louise Arnolds, Ruth Madison, Mildred Crew, Mildred, Tyson, Sophie Bennett, Estolle Ahrens and Esther Lawton. Every one is a clever dancer, good singers. The show closed with the Walter Hampden picture. "Desert Gold." , ORPHEUM, "NEW ORLEANS. New Orleans, Feb. 18.. , The most universally acclaimed bill of the sesson this week. It catapulted across the tremendous enthusiasm Mon- day night which was Mardl Gras Eve, wtlh an overflow audience attending. The Plckfords whipped their Juggling fare over In splendid fashion when open- ing. Martelle proved a sensation with...:. female Impersoatlon, many wondering why he waa placed second. He was the surprise and hit of the performance, hlr- ravlshtng costumes causing the women to gasp. Homer Miles, adequately supported in his own sketch, "The Roughneck." did excellently. Comfort and King were in a soft spot In their old aklt that has been bright- ened considerably. Comfort's ballad singing kept them applauding for more, whlld Johnny King's nonsenslcalltiea rebounded Into crescendoes of merri- ment ' The United States Jazz Band started rather slowly with a much-used selec- tion, but drifted into favor shortly after getting Into the popular strains. The turn is there from the flash angle and makes a worthy headllner. The Shar- rocks had easy sailing shooting their mind stuff on high at the outset without ever relinquishing a single burst of speed. The Sharrocks work fast and the faster they come the better they are liked by the hard-boiled first nighters. "The Beginning of the World" sent then) out talking about the beautiful, blend- : ing of colors while speculating about how the effects were produced, making an ideal closer. Samuel. PALACE, NEWORLEANS. New Orleans, Feb. 18. '■'■% gB Prepossessing show at the Palace the. ...-.3g; first half, with tbe usual tremendous"- business. Prosper and Moret doing tbelr acro- batio turn In "one" now were generous- ly received. M Robert Dore sang "They Are Hanging v Danny Dever In the Morning" and then ; did himself In the second position. He ; is a stern glum baritone and lends dirge- . ful effect to his really good singing. Dore was assisted by Miss Russek at* ;.;H the piano. . . '?,§§ Harry Bond and Co. have a neat finish : •■; with their sketch and it saved them. Black Face Eddie Ross was the ap- Slause hit with much of the matter ho ..-,-, as been using. . . _ . Rennolds and Donogan lent import- ance to tbe concluding position. Amoet . " ' "'.TOM v.V.'i