Variety (February 1920)

'■•' 22 SHOW REVIEWS ',■ IT! ■••":'■ :■■:•■' ; ; '•■■ ■ ■ I. ■...' PALACE. With a 12.60 top holiday scale for the orchestra Monday night, tho Palace held a lot of people and a lot of money. Some of the front seats were slow In filling up, suggesting that specs were holding many of the seats, specs being the bane of this theatre's management. The speculators, and some are close to the Palace entrance, were selling the- 12.50 seats for 18.66 and make a regular prac- tice of asking; one dollar advance on the Palace's forward orchestra Boats. The bill this week contains 10 acts, headlined by Bessie Clayton. Bottoming the billing is Helen Keller (New Acts), the same noted Helen Keller known throughout the world wherever you may find anyone who reads. On the Monday holiday no one Is to be credited with drawing, but the chances are Miss Keller will mean new business for the Palace. If there is anyone left who can draw a first timer to a vaudeville show It is she. Miss Keller closed the first part and another new act opened the second part, May Wlrth and Family (New Acts). The headllner was third after inter-' mission. Miss Clayton has about the same composition for a turn. It is well dressed and stood high with the audience. The Canstnos ranked with the star in favor though James demons scored Individually and while dancing with Miss Clayton. Time means noth- ing to Bessie Clayton's feet. They are as nimble now as they ever were and she's the same acrobatlo toe dancer that no one else has been able to approach. Maybe that's why Miss Clayton can re- main so long and hold up so well—there Is no one else who does her particular and peculiar elevating steps. "The. Love Shop," a George Choos re- Sroductlon of "The Bride Shop." with Iddle Vogt starred, hits the Palace In a new dress. \The production looks like considerable money has been spent to refurnish it since it first came out un- der the new title. Mr. Vogt handles all of the comedy with Harry and Grace Ellsworth doing the dancing-, doing it very well too, according to the applause. Vogt captured many laughs, played well and being a Juvenile of the lanky and personal type, had little trouble in es- tablishing himself. He mentioned "Sloane's Liniment" rapidly becoming as popular for a vaudeville gag nowadays as- have been "Sears-Roebuck" and *Lydle PInkham" in the past A laughing gag nowadays seems to travel faster than a moving picture. The act In the No. S spot got along very nicely. Next were Dickinson and Deagon, with Homer Dickinson playing a great straight for Grade. Deagon's cute kiddle. started to walk out from the tramping ?n the bare boards) but with Miss feel- er's effort to make herself understood while talking the musicians used poor Judgment. Also it seemed as though placing the Wlrth riding act right after intermission the ring pad had been too loosely tacked down (if taoked) to aid in removing it rapidly at the turn's completion, This may have been the, reason for the mus- tang slipping when starting around the ring, although the horse is swift galted anyway and was sent away too fast when brought Into the ring. Otherwise the program averaged up as an enter- taining bill" " m stmt. ALHAMBRA. • There is a whale of a vaudeville show at the Alhambra this week. It is an entertainment that runs like wildfire from start to finish, even though there are but two acts on the bill that do not • use song, and one of these Is Frank Brown, the xylophonlst, who plays melo- dies instead of warbling them. The one exception to the musical rule, therefore, was the Delmore and Lee specialty, which held the closing position of the bill'and went on after II o'clock. Harry Fox and Marguerlta Sylva shared the lights outside the house, aa they also did the top line of the billing. But In addition to the headllners there were enough other acts on the bill of almost headline quality to make the show a mighty pleasing one. The house was so Jammed Monday night that it did not seem possible to squeeze another person Into the theatre without the aid of a shoe horn. At the back of the orchestra there was a triple line of standees, and the .boxes were so filled with extra seats that one had to keep dodging heads to see the stage. Withal the crowding the audience was a good- natured one and out to enjoy Itself. Frank Browne opened the bill and with his Jazzing of the hard wood man- aged to pull down a hit of no mean dimensions. Then Coral Melnotte and Edna Leedom stepped on the stage and In a moment the audience was laugh- ing. Miss Melnotte has shown a sense of contrast In teaming with Miss Lee- dom, and the latter,' a long; lean, but still luscious blonde, is a comedtenno of no mean calibre. The "Quakertown" number used to open Is a little old and It was only the comedy and the sug- gestion of a shimmy shake that got it over. Following It, however, the num- bers that were offered all landed. The first switch in the billing was the placing of the Laura McDermott turn down In the second half and bringing Harry Langdon and his "Johnny's New Car" aot up. The offering got the usual They were over after Miss Deagon's first* lauefhs. Another switch In the proi lines. Miss Deagon's voice, however, didn't make It any too easy for Sadie Burt, who, -with George Whiting, were *next td closing. Miss Burt is there In •HK way on the cute thing and she added to It this week by an opening cos- tume that looked, either from the back or front, as though It had Just arrived from Paris. The Whltlng-Burt combi- nation had some new numbers, a couple of doubles among them, and did the fin- ishing bit without music Mr. Whiting going through the lyric to repeated ques- tions from Miss Burt about, "Then what did you do?" and "What did she do." Whiting also sang quite an applause get- ting new verse of "A Dream of the Past," with the verse based upon what was promised soldiers before they returned and what they have received since re- turning. It struck a popular chord. More recollections of. the war were brought by George Austin Moore, who appeared second after intermission. It Is program mentioned Mr. Moore Went over as an entertainer. He enters the stage In about the furtnlest hybrid mili- tary uniform or costume ever seen. If it Is Intended to convey the uniform Idea, It does that, but dissected the costume consists of a Canadian aviator's coat and hat In part, with **U. S." on the coat's collar, cream colored riding breeches and riding boots, with Moore carrying a crop whip Instead of a swagger stick. He told stories of the other Bide, mostly new, some old, and sang about three songs, his beet being "Swanee." That has a very melodious melody and got the most for htm among numbers, his encore song doing little. Moore seemed to stall quite a bit to get the encore, looking as though he wanted a stop- the-show record but it didn't reach that far, although he did extremely well. Mr. Moore formerly appeared with Cordelia Haager (Moore and Haager). Miss Haager was last reported sb very 111. Through the Gerry Boolety the Nat Nazarro act, billed to close, was unable to appear, the society restraining a couple of colored kldlets In it. ''An Artistic Feat," posing act that has ap- peared under another name In vaudeville, closed the performance. It held atten- tion. Enos Frazere started the performance and Parts and Peru with their variety turn got away well No. 2. Sitting down front points may be noted that could escape those In the rear. Monday night while Miss Keller was on, some of the musicians who had left the pit returned to it while she was Bpeak- ing. Not alone it disturbed many down front (It sounded as though a mob had gramed order brought Dave Kramer and jack Boyle Into the spot originally as- signed to Lane and Moran. Boyle Is do- ing more in this act than he essayed in the.days that he was teamed with Jimmy Hussey. . Kramer, however, 'does not seem to have the ease of manner which comes only after considerable work on the big time. There is something lack- ing In the manner In which he handles the comedy bits that makes his efforts Just fall short of getting over the big laugh punch. Closing the first part Mine. Marguerlta Sylva appeared. The grand opera prima donna looks as pretty today an she did when she appeared in "The French Maid" some years ago, and was the first woman In New York to ride a chalnless bicycle. "Madelon," with a verse and chorus In French and then a chorus In English, was her opening effort. This was followed by "Somebody Loves Me" and then an ana from "Carmen," after which another number, and finally a speech. The latter, did not, however, ring true; there wasn't that tone of sincerity, that Is needed to get to a vaudeville audience, for vaudeville audi- ences get a lot of that speech stuff, espe- cially that "most wonderful audience" line. Following the" "Topics of the Day" the second half of the bill was started by George Lane and Tom Moran. Lane in- cidentally looks very much alive despite his reported death some weeks ago. The duo fairly cleaned up, with the laughs coming fast throughout the act. Loretta McDermott and Eddie Cox with a Jazz < Band (New Acts) followed and slipped over a very njeasing entertainment of hit proportions. Harry For (New Acts), assisted by Edythe Baker, who Is his accompanist, and Beatrice Curtis, as well as his quintet of scrub ladles, prac- tically corralled the hit honors of the night. Fred. RIVERSIDE. All acts of tried and true worth, noth- ing new on the bill, but the Riverside on Monday afternoon held a house that Jammed the theatre from top to bottom. Wllklo Bard headlined. There was a rumor that there was a "frame-up" -to give the English comedian "the bird" at Broadway b uptown house, but If there ever was such a thing nothing came of it. Bard was a veritable riot. All that he did was 'The Scrub Woman" and "The Night Watchman." Both of these hit the audience right where it counted the most, in the belly-laugh section. They laughed their beads off at both of the song productions and at the finish Bard was applauded to such an extent that he held up the show and was forced to a speech. A short reci- tation followed. The show was opened by Myrtle and Jimmy Dunedin. Nelson ancTOronin held the second spot. Bob Nelson's "nut" manner of putting over a song got the audience and the act registered a solid hit. Both of the.boys dress neatly and their manner from the moment that they appeared on the stage Is most Ingrati- ating. Rose Coghlan and Co. in" "Forget Me Not" held the audience. The moment the dramatic star appeared her con- sumate artistry held and forced them . to applaud and at the finish they wanted more and a speech was the only thing that would finally satisfy them. The leading man seems the only weak point In the aot. He does not Impress at first. Later he warms up to a certain extent Dale and Burch In "The Riding Master" were In for a number of laughs next to closing the Intermission. Paul Morton and Naomi Glass closed the first part of the bill scoring solidly. They are still doing their bungalow turn with an open- ing In "one." Talbot O'Farrell opened the second half following "Topics of the Day." He Is billed as an Irish tenor, but dresses as an old-fashioned minstrel man In Earade clothes, a grey topper, a double- reasted blue coat, white kid gloves and shepherd plaid trousers. Incidentally that "Irish Tenor" billing is getting to be somewhat overdone these days. It is one of the things that vaudeville must suffer because McCormlck is one of the biggest drawing cards In the country. .O'Farrell has a voice that Is a corker and he has a lot of personal magnetism and can put over a number. He doesn't need the "I. T." billing tacked on, for he can. make good on his own. Four songs were what he delivered and each one scored, especially "Mary" and "Old Fashioned Mother." Wllkle Bard fol- lowed. Next to closing Margaret Young scored - terrifically with songs and her chorus girl bit. The latter was sure fire with the Riverside audience. The Boyarr Co., six Russians, closed the bill and strange to say they held the audience almost Intact. It Is usually the sign for the Riverside clientele to leave as, soon as the closing act Is on, but It may have been the costume flash at the opening of the Boyarr turn that held them. The turn has six people, five of whom dance almost continuously. Their floor stuff was particularly clever and earned frequent applause. The news' weekly finished. Fred. COLONIAL The current bill Is a comedy and song show,- with the former quality the more predominant, that because Rae Samuels withdrew Monday morning with a bad throat. She was replaced by Dickinson and Deagon who took her spot next to closing. Monday's matinee ran smoothly and - satisfactorily. The house -was Jammed with holiday amueement seek- ers. A pair of two men song acts were Firesent in Krans and La Salle and Meh- lnger and Meyer, but there was no confllctlon and both acts went over for a heavy score. What confllctlon there might be Is* only in type, but the Krans and La Salle turn finishing with dancing, really takes it out of the class of straight song routine. And It was the dancing that brought I forth the bacon, putting them over so well on second that they won an edge on actual applause secured. "Sweethearts In Every Town in the U. S. A." was a good opening song for them and the most amusing was "Oh Doctor, Pull Me Through." The lyric tells of the efforts of some chap to worm out of the doctor a "pass" for drug store boose. In connection with It the boys drew a laugh by saying the number was entitled "George ~ Washington Washed the Country but President Wil- son Dried It." Just the same the house nuffed one of the "Topics of the Day" which said that "Europe is buying up all the booze in the TJ. S.; no wonder they, are broke over there." This Is supposed to be again the last week In vaudeville for Artie Mehllnger and George W. Meyer, the dope being that Artie is to become floor man for Jerome H. Remick. Mehllnger appeared guilty of a lift when he said that Myers was round shouldered from "smelling cellars." This Is Harry nines' bit; at least the latter was the first to use It around here. The beBt returns were gained with an extra chorus of "Like a Dream of YeBterday," the lyric panning those who promised things to the boys In khaki and that made it sure of appre- ciation from ex-service men. Leon Errol headlined and brought forth many chuckles with "The Guest," on number seven. No mean figure in the comedy Is Alf James as the butler. The bit is played splendidly. If it could be done the platter which is broken in the general house-wrecking might bear some kind of decoration. The butler says it is worth all kinds of money and picture of the home's Illustrious ante- cedent Is mentioned as befng burned Into it. A plain white platter Is UBed. At •■..-•-; m. -.- ■■■ ■-■ . .•*■' ■ . - . ■ ■ ■ ■ that In these days even that kind of crockery Is expensive. > w ' Wellington Cross with hie new aot closed Intermission. Cross is going In H2K flS * h «i dance^ thing and has the right idea. When of the team of Cross and Josephine the dancing was the turn's. ■. "ace" feature, but Duke let It slide when appearing as a single for the last few years. All three girls, Marlon Sakl, Mary Allen and Nancy Bell figure In the step- ping as does Jaok Girard (the only un- Programed member for some reason). Ted Shapiro won something with the improvlslon of a popular melody. Cross drew a murmur from the house at the completion of his dance with Miss Sakl, .for he almost dropped her (Miss Sakl leaps to a catch for the finish ). Among . J.m* TOUSi Cr P BB beBt amused with was "Ten Little Bottles," a tale of a badly damaged stock of private liquor.* .. Dickinson and Deagon doubled up from • the Palace. The act shapes up as one , of the truly legitimate comedy duos. Dickinson Ib an exceptionally neat comic and Miss Deagon develops one of the most amusing "kldB" In seasons. Dick- inson excused himself from a song by saying that his voice was in poor shape; He also remarked that there was only one thing worse than larlngytls and that was playing three days in Jersey City, described as being the "original city of unconsciousness.' The team erdbd "?»£ 1l ly , ,n l he late S P°* ar, d registered with the leaders In applause drawn. Howard Langford and Anna Freder- icks were third with their skit "Shop- ping" and there delivered. There 1« little mason fpr the dance bit by Miss Fredericks and It can go out. Most of the chatter registered and with the tele- phone line being the mos"t topical. James Mullen and Anna Francis made astrong comedy spot out of number four; There are some familiar bits that ought to be easy to replace and such substi- tution could not fall to add strength. The best scoring "gag" appearing to be that concerning the plate of dimes. Miss - Francis', pretty smile Is one of the act's . assets. Ryan and Ryan opened the show well (New Acts). Johnson, Baker and John- son closed, holding the house with little trouble. Save for -the club swinging the hat-manlpUlatlon routine Is so simi- lar to that of Moran and Wlser's act that the Impression Is that the latter have commissioned the trio to use It Ibee. KEITH'S, PHILADELPHIA. Philadelphia, Feb. 15. A holiday, and a wet one at that, sent this week's show off with si rush Mon- day, three crowded houses being the record for the day. They were standing up at the first matinee and In the even- ing and the special matinee at 4.80 had only a few of the box seats empty. With Pat Rooney and Marlon Bent and their big revue "Rings of Smoke" held over for a second week, the bill was certain- of success, for nothing that has been offered here in a Ions' time has hit the Quaker City vaudeville fans with so much favor as this melange of mualo, comedy and dancing. Manager Jordan has surrounded the big feature with another good variety bill and it played like a-prize winning combination Mop- . day night despite the fact that Fr«d Berrens overslept himself at the hotel and did not arrive at the theatre in time to go on for his regular turn. This, necessitated a short wait, but the audi- , ence did not peem to mind and the show quickly took up Its regular pace with Berrens filling In later and getting over in fine shape. - •£• The Rooney aot was on Just a little earlier this week, having two acts to follow It Instead of one. Just ahead of the revue were Kate Etroore and Sam Williams, with their latest offering of crossfire chatter and a couple of songs that had the house In laughing mood all the time they were on the stage "and left them fine for the Rooney production. MIsb Bllnore has a lot of new gags to shoot at her partner, who adds liberally to the act through the way he handles the straight part. There were two single singing turns on the bill and both scored. Margaret Ford, a newcomsr here, had the earlier spot and did splen- didly with it. She Is a double-voiced vocalist with excellent expression and made quite a hit 8he might create more of a surprise If she were to finish her first number in soprano instead of drop- ping to the baritone for the last line or two. It would show a better contrast. The other singer was George MacFar- lane, a great favorite here, who had the next-to-closlng spot and put over a big applause hit. MacFarlane has a splendid personality, which with his ex- cellent voice deserves all the recogni- tion shown him. A novelty was pre- sented by Fred Berrens, a violinist, who uses a player-piano for a partner, work- ing it along about the same lines as the talking machine Ib used by one or two vaudeville acts. Berrens works smooth- ly with the Instrument, especially in the duet numbers and his act was very well received. He had a good spot Monday night, appearing fourth Instead of sec- ond. »The clever little comedy sketch; "The Bootshop" with Bdythe and Eddie Adair