Variety (April 1920)

• ■ '-'^w?^?^!^^w^'V'^^y^^^^^ 18 VARIBT AMONG THE WOMEN XL By ASACB MAC After witnessing Theda Bara in 'The Blue Flame," one come away very sur- prised, and the surprise is Theda her- self. Miss Bara has a clear speaking voice and one can hear every word' spoken by her. It is not until nearly the end of the first act that one sees Miss Bara as a "Vamp," but when yon do she is some Vamp, Hell and D'kmn meaning nothing in her young life. Her gowns for vamping are -all mag- nificent. In a silver cloth creation Miss Bara looked stunning; this was per- haps my favorite. Sleeveless high neck, the collar of chinchilla fur. A straight panel bung in front caught round the feet ending in a train at the back with a large royal blue tassel at the end. Blt^ ornaments trimmed one side of the dress. Another gown that was pleasing to the eye, was gold and green brocade draped in front with green ohiff;>n flowing at the back, sort of a cloak effect, one end attached to th^ wrist Miss Bara's boudoir where all sorts of bad wicked things occur was very vampish, of orange and blue draperies with the furniture of orange. Just a few remarks about the gentlemen. Mr. Dinehart wotild look better for a visit to the barber. And Mr. Donald Gallagher's piece Of acting as the dope was one of the best things* in the show. ^ The picture, "Youthful Folly,* not only has Olive Thomas as the star, but author as well A charming story, nothing new, but it suits Miss Thomas. Under Mr. Crosland's direction Miss Thomas proves herself to be an artiste of no small dramatic abilities. Miss Thomas is sweetly gowned throughout the picture. For the first part of the film Miss Thomas is seen in ginghams« all on the simple style, but later she ' has an opportunity to wear dainty frocks. A black chiSon (semi-even-, it(g) was charming, having the much favored short sleeve, the front of the bodice was trimmed in black chenille, with monkey fur running up each side of the full skirt. A blue serge that would win fafor anywhere was made , very girlish, quite plain, with round neck and short sleeves edged in nar- row flowered ribbon ruching. A band of the ruching trimmed the hips. In a negligee of stripped jerse;r silk, Miss Thomas really looked exquisite. Made on loose lines with a train continuing from the back, the collar was of long straight willow plumes. Miss Hekn Gill, the "Vamp" of the picture wore one gown that was stunning, having the long waisted bodice .of silver with the skirt of black jet,-a ruffle of net separated the two materials. .'The Road to Divorce" was spoiled \ by being run slowly, it removed all interest. Mary MacLaren gave a per- formance of a wife who neglects ner- yself for her children. The picture is a good leson to newly married folks. As a bride Miss MacLaren looked sweet. Her gown was very plain with . a full skirt, the train hanging from the shoulder. Her gingham frock was dainty flowered material with} wide lawn collar and turned back cuffs. The hem was caught at the bottom with a row of ruching. Bonnie Hill was well gowned. An evening dress of black net was handsome. Spotted in silver, a wide band of silver was around the waist Another becoming frock was of white chiffon with ruffles of taffeta on the skirt, with the sash brocaded. The storm at seat was well produced in this film. La Follette, at the American (first half) is a jolly little person with an extensive wardrobe. Htr first entrance is made in a French blue velvet cloak, collar and cuffs of ermine. Her next was a dainty crinoline of blue taffeta, trimmed in mauve. Small wreaths of flowers adorned the hem of the skirt, while the bodice was a'combination of silver lace and blue. The pantelets were blue with ruffles of maure chif- fon half way up the leg. A poke bbn- net was blue with a large bonnet of mauve in froiit A chic costume was of silver lace with draperies of salmon pink chiffon at the sides and green feathers were bunched at the-back. The Lee Kiddies at the Riverside are wonderful and yet that seems hardly the word for them, as their acting ability is really amazing. Their diction is splendid which is more than can be said of a great many artistes appear- ing in vaudeville. The scene where Katherine is supposed to die is really marvelous, the children crying as if it were real, white many of the women in the audience were>doing their share, too. The Riverside were, loathe to see them go Monday night Miss Roland (Roland and Ray) wore a pretty silk dress of cerise very full, with two rows of ruching on the skirt < A basket was worked in gold on the left side. Sash was of f^old cloth. Her first dress was not so pretty. It was of pale pink velvet trimmed in black buttons up the back of the dress. The velvet was draped on one side of the skirt and edged in deep white fringe. . Green and Blyer, not programed, were well liked. The woman wearing a very handsome frock of black jet with wide bands of dull silver on the skirt The bodice was of lace with brown tulle forming shoulder straps the ends flowing at the sides. A nar- row sash was of black silk flowered in silver. Tulle was swathed round the head, caught at .the back with a diam- ond pin. Even Boston is not without a little excitement these days. A dance was held at the Copley Plaza Hotel, admis- sion, being ten dollars or more. Dur- ing the festivities, the police raided the ball room, four or five men being arrested and chargred with drunkeness. During the raid the receipts for the dance were stolen. Some live place I should say. The woman in the Johnson and Crane' act looked smart in a police uni- form of French blue. Ethel Keller, a petite miss, wore a charming frock of white satin puffed at the hack. Spotted lace was drapped on the sides, bodice of silver. The girl chum dress of blue net over a foundation of silver was good looking. The White Steppers were white all through their act, as their name sug- gests. The girl looked nice in a full dresa with tiny tucks up the front Sleeves were bell shaped and of chif- fon. ■ Dorothy Van is wearing a new dress since last seen, white chiffon hip hoop shape, daintily trimmed in glass beads, with a scolloped hem. Silk flowers were worn at the waist. Percy Williams, who has been enjoy- ing the gentle breezes of Palm Beach and not forgetting Havana, returns to Long Island April 17, in time to cele- brate his 61st birthday. No matter how often one hears a song, when sung by Belle Baker it sounds entirely different Miss Baker is wearing the same frock as when at the Palace. The Earies have a very novel open- ipg, but hardly a word was heard of their singing. They displayed shapely figures in suits of pale yellow tights to match. R. R.'S INVADING BROADWAY. There is a report on Broadway that the 45th street corner of the Astor Ho- tel is to be remodeled into store space, and that a bank in which several prominent showmen are interested will take the place of the present space. Another realty proposition made with* the new Loew theatre building (former site of Vabibtt) calls for store space by the New York Central, indicating a tendency on the part of the railroads ( to place themselves centrally on Broad- way with a view of getting the theat- rical business more expeditiously than heretofore. The importance of theatrical busi- ness to the railroads was emphasized early in the week whep representa- ' tives of the New York Central, Lehigh Valley, Santa Fe^ Southern and North- ern Pacific and Pennsylvania called on the booking heads of various organi- zations and discussed business with them. The office at 110 West 42nd street on the sixth floor, where all of the theatrical movements were arranged will in the future be devoted only to the representatives of the New Jersey Central, with P. W. Henry, G.KP./i, and Alfred Kubli, C. P. A. present and s the Erie representatives, Jos. Bucklin, G. E. P. A. and F. H. Rice, C P. A. William B. Lindsay, Eastern Pas- senger Agent of the Lehigh Valley will move to the 5th floor and in the same office will be J. Floyd Andrews, Asst. G. P. A. and Alfred Kittler, P. A. Lindsay is making a survey of the field at present and with his locating in the new ofiices will again take up the ' handling of through service for acts jumping west and playing the circuits out of Chicago. 'He has for years handled all of the Orpheum Circuit business as well as a major portion of the burlesque movements out of this city. Advance agents of legitimate attrac- tions will also be able to locate Lind- say in his new quarters for the drawing up of itineraries out of New York. DES MOINES THREE DATS STAND. Des Moines, March 31. Des Moines hopes to get permanently into the three day stand class next sea- son as a result of this year's legitimate showing. . Practically all the big at- tractions .this year have played the Berchel^ three days with an extra matinee and most of them have done capacity. The few two nighters among the big shows could easily have played one or two more performances. This city is now pretty certainly hooked up with Omalva on a split-week booking proposition. The Nebraska city gets the shows the first three days and Des Moines the last three each week. NEXT SEASON JAMMED. Booking managers are already having - troubles for next season and there have been several "jams" because of alleged conjestion. • The^ pumber of Broadway successes is blamed for the continued mixup-in the booking situa- tion. - Producers are seeking either side of the fence to secure routes. One in- stance of a switdfa is for next season's routes for two companies of George Broadhurst's 'The Storm." Thait this • attraction, considered one of the strongest of the dramas, should slip from the Shuberts fo the K & K books caused surprise. The Shuberts could only offer 'The Storm" four weeks at the Princess in Chicago, but with the , stage there too small to hold the pro- duction, the booking was declineq,.;..' . A VILLAGE WONDER. Boston, March 3L All the musical critics in town jour- neyed to Symphony Hall last week to hear the latest musical wonder, Sammy Kramer, seven years, a violinist, per- form. AH agreed that he more than fulfilled their expectations. He claims Greenwich Village,- New York, as his home, and is said to have shown signs of being a genius with the violin while suffering from a severe attack of illness a few years ago. Un- like most of the musical youthful prod- igies the boy is said to be normal in every respect SECOND "SHAVINGS" ON ROAD. Henry W. Savage is assembling a No.' 2 "Shavings." It will begin rehearsals in a few days, to open in Chicago ^r a run about April IS. ■jf- \y NAMES A CHORISTER. A decree of divorce was granted Gertrude Gray from Clarence Welling- ton Gray in New York last week. The husband was formerly treasurer of the Shubert and is now business manager of the Little. A former Winter Garden and "Fol- lies" chorister was named as co- respondant WANT 2 STARS FOR "BLUE EYES." Walter Hast, in association with Morris Rose, will present in August a musical piece called "Blue Eyes." The book is by Leon Lardon and Le Roy Clemens, with music and lyrics by Zak^ Meyers and I. B. Korenblum. They are now negotiating for two stars to play ^e leads. A. P. Keiy« N«w Play. Philadelphia, March<31. Anthony Paul Kelly is in hiding here, industrfously pegging away at a new "society" play, which has been order- ed by the Selwyns. Further than that it is a farce, notjiing else is known about it SEASON'S FAILURES. (Continued from page 12) ' return to New York this summer. 'The Cat-Bird" was not a success but was : hampered by a limited engagement at the start ''Boys Will Be Boys"-was . even more a victim of similar arrange- ments. "For the Defence" was liked but that attraction must class with the ■ unsuccessful because of its short run. "The Five Million" started with prom- ise as one •of the earliest of the new shows, then flopped which siirprised .' some showmen. The fault as with "Dere Mabel," which.recently stopped, lief in the public being tired of war- stuff. , • r Only a partial list of shows tried out ; of town and who went from there di- rect to the store house is available. Some of these plays have a chance to. ■' bob up again next season in rewritten' form and with other titles. Quite a number of the out of town trys liever . , even drew attention. Some of those v/hich did and were kept from - New York through weakness of the attrac- tion are: ; - . ■ "Lust of Gold." "Jacques Duval." ' . "Quick Work." ' - > •- ^ "Blind Man's Bluff." . • . -• "The Haunted Violin." .; . ■ " "Made of Money." "Petroleum Prince." ' ■ ■ ■ * ■ " •.. "The Gibson Upright" • "Rollo's Wild Oat." ' = 'The Critical Moment." ' *'• "Piccadilly Jim." "Eve and the Man." , • - "All the King's Horses." "Fair Helen." "Bucking the Tiger." "Mood of the Moon." "Zip Goes a Million." ". "Scarlet and White." "PrisontT of the World." 'The Dream Song." "The Purple Slipper." "The Wonderful Workshop." "Stand from Under." "Lady Kitty." "Seven Miles to Arded." "I'll Say She Does." "Every Little Movement." "Some Night." "Merry Marv Brown." "Double Harness."