Variety (April 1920)

yABBTTfl SAN FKANCHOO OFFICI an PANTA6S8 THBATBI BUILDING m--: it::' ' ORPHEUM, SAN FRANCISCO. San FranotBco. March 81. The Orpheuin had a well balanced ihow with ffoad entertaining qualitlei and pro- vided Bolid entertainment throuKhoui. Laufrhs were plenty, with fraqnant ■howls. The Fonr Marx Brothers employ (the same surface and business aettinm as before but with much brightened up dialog. They were a biff hit. Sarah Padden and Co. In "Betty Behave." a mediocre farce presented with a capable east assisting, secured laughs. Miss Padden displays excellent emotional qualities that scored most emphatically. Ben K. Kenny did wpII considering the late spot, next to closing, following the Marx Brothers. His likable personality, smart talk and Addling got htm away with good applause, Mahoney and Auburn opened the show, deriving laughs with croasflre talk, Interpersed - through nifty club Juggling. They fin- ished to good applause. Bostock's Riding School again closed the sh0W4 doing well for a holdjover. Walkouts were naturally expected due to late show. Basil Lynn and Row- land were a big hit Lynn Is a perfect JSngllsh characterisation and Howland an excellent straight man. Their talk routine was a big lanarhlng success. Howland ' displays excellent singing qualities with 'TDaddy" and "Rainbows." 'Billle Shaw and Co. repeated surpris- ingly well. The gallery started after White's early efforts, but he won out vrith his good eccentrld stepniner. Th« Alexander KIda had bottom billing, pro- gramed next to cloising, but appeared " fifth, scoring a hit with the smallest ' kfd's hula and Chaplin winning howls, while the larger gtrl's good dancing aided resulta ... /oek/ctsphs. LOEWS HIPPbiDROME. San Francisco, March 81. The Pelst Trio, with powerful voices, started the show very successfully plug- ging "Peggy" and '^Chlngallng." This has been the b'est show at the Hlppo- ' drome for some time. Business was oft Palm Sunday. The Spartans opened the show with a very good series of physical feats and hand to hand balancing. Han- ley and Frits have a neat manner of delivering talk and songs. The follow la tall and the girl short and the contrast In stse aided the comedy end, They went big. Oeo. li. Graves and Co., presenting . "A Woman of a Thousand Secrets." a ■ travesty fortune telling sketch'capably presented, found big favor. The double surprise finish makes the applause cer- tain. Knight and Sawtelle, a mixed team , working along nut lines, scored with their comedy and excellent dance-efforts. The man's eccentric' acrobatic dance finish, assisted by the girl was a hit Six Royal Hussars headlined the bill. They are a sextet of stunning girls, and made an excellent closing number, get- ting a big hit for their brass selections. There were several attractive costume oliahges, one member displaying an ex- cellent contralto. "A Woman of Pleaa- . ure," with Blanche Sweet, was the feature picture. .« . Jock JostpTu. PAMTAGES; si^FRANCISCO. ' San Francisco, March 31*. Paatages had one pretentious dance spectacle headlining with a good sup- ■ porting bill which gave the show a high average. Denlshawn Dancers, a danoe' drama story based on Arabian nights, with a prolog and pretty settings repre- senting the Sha's palace, the bottom of a sea and a slave market In an Oriental (Oity. Lillian Powell headed half a.^dozen ' eiris- and a quartet of men. The en- aemble shows good direction but lacks Individual dance talent. It makes a big flash and was .well received. Klaurlce Samuels and Co. in "A Day at Bills Island" pleased Immensely, and got num- bers of laughs. It holds the Intereat throughout. The Boscov's violin selec- tions scored Individually. Jones and Sylvester got good'laughs with their talk and business,'their singing bringing the hit. "Muffs" opened the show to good re- sults, showing something different In canine capers. Oreen and Pugh, a col- ored team, went big with their varied comedy and singing, routine. The tallest did some clever dancing. They finished ■ with a medley parody. ^Tou Will Como Back With an Empty Flask." They were a hit. Dave Jamison, who was added to the bill, appeared fourth with a neat arrangement. Introducing dances, with' dance request finish showing versatility. He scored big. Jaoh .fotepht. lOEwTcASINO. San Francisco, March 31, ' The Bingham Four, In the closing spot of the vaudeville section, took the honors of the flve-act bill of which three of the acts employed more or less acrobatics. The Bingham Four, a pair of mixed couples with a sort of a prblog opening and an explanatory finish, went over big. Dancing Is featured, the male mem- bora doing some good stepping In the soft shoe and eccentric lines also dls- glaying good team work. The girls old up their end nicely and while not very strong In the singing department do very well with their dancing. They are attractive and make pretty costume ^changes. Coney Booth, who was with the act last season on the Pan lime, showed considerable improvement in her work, and at the rate she Is going should shortly be eligible for bigger things. Violet and Lewis opened the show, the female member cutting Up on the rings and her partner dolpg some f round acrobatic stunts and also assist-, ng on the rings, The routine contains, nothing out of the ordinary but the act pleased through the really good appejir-'. ance of the girl. Marjorle Barnum and Capt. Walter Tant are billed "Fron» the Movies to Vaudeville." The talk t^kesi. place In front of a drop representing back stage with the man as a stage hand and the woman breaking into vaudeville. Both are energetic workers > especially the woman who shouts her lines. In the double voice singing she displays a powerful deep baritone that gets good applause. The man is a g>^nd comedian of his kind. The routine needs rearranging and B better Hire of chatter. Cooper and.Valll, a mixed team, start with some nonsense which t» followed by the man putting over a nifty acroba- tic, danced The girl gives evidencejof an excellent coon shouting voice in a'sousa- number that she does quite well. Laughs are obtained, from' business Injected .'n- eluding jman slapping her back. The team handle what talk they have to best advantage. Willis Gilbert and Company are two men and a woman, the latter does a ^ cornet solo'havlr.g little else to do. The hand to hand lifts and balancing feats of the men are way above the average and their stt/nts, especially their final one, wherein one of the men lying face downward on a table lifts the other who- I^ doing a hand stand on the lylngt man's heMs. The stunt won a hit Harold Raymond preceded the regular vaudo- ville, slnnng_J'When My Baby Smiles The SAN FRANCISCO BUSINESS. , San Pranclsco, March 31. Le^timate business is considered ei^- ceptionally good for Lent Margaret Anglin, with "The .Woman in Bronze^ at the! Columbiai four weeks ending last Saturday reached $48,000 without giving Sunday performances and re- mains foUr weeks more presenting *'Lady Windermere's Fan"'and "Trial of Joan 'of Arc." "The Georgia Min- strels" were surprisingly good at the Savoy last week getting $J,000. "Bring- ,ing Up.pather" opened light <his week. Comic Opera at the Curran drew around $11,000 ]ast week maintaining same average this week. The Alcazar •stock and the Casino with King con- tinuje at a good pace. Ackerman & Harris, who are to sign contracts Thursday with Anderson, are 'now here with the "Frivolities" with Irene Fr'anKlin mentioned as the fea- ture The Casino opening June 20 with "Gaities" and "Monte Cristo" following tach for three weeks. at Me." le King Show closed. SAN FRANCISCO NOTES. Sail Francisco, March 81. . U. O. Van Pelt, feature picture ex- ploiter connected with the Hugh B. Dier- ker productions, was in San Francisco last week to arrange for the showing of :!'When DawA Came," s seven reeler just completed. ' 7 ' George MeUord and a company of 4S, Including Milton StUs. were in San Fran- cisco last week taking scenes for "The Savage." Al Llohtman, general exchange mana- ger for F. P.-L. who is pn a visit to' the various branch offices, was In San Francisco lagt week. Herbert directed and staged the vaude- ville entertainment at the Exposition Au- ditorium last Saturday night,'given In celebration of Naval Day. Among the acts wore Buckner's Revue; Teohau STav- ern Revue; Adolph, Delmore and Moore; Leo Feist Trio: Morris Circus; Ives and Famsworth; Cooper and Yallt; Two Johnsons ,and Andrieflr'Trio.. Cecil A. Qrlzell, assistant manager of the StrAnd, became the father of an elRht pound baby girl last week. ! A Fashion Show comprising 18 beauti- ful models wearing late creations con- tributed by. a local shop foi* its adver- tising values is an added attraction at the California this week. J. Sky Clark, of Los Angeles," Joined the Worthnian-Waughs Alma shows that opens in Portland, Ore., April 6. Sky's War Exhibit will be one of the featured a^ractlons for the entire season. J. E. McCormack, who for the past week has been doing the publicity work at the Curt-an for Barnett Franklin who is. on a vacation, left for Los Angeles last week where he has accepted a posl- • ' tion with Sol Lesser as exploitation rep- resentative, Harold Reid replaced Mc- Cormack at the Curran pending the re- turn of Franklin. Lillian Teece sailed on the Sonoma for Australia, March 20. Miriam Elkus, prominent in society here, made her professional debut Sun- day wlthathe Gallo Comic Opera Com- pany at tne Curran. Carl La Mont, representing Harry Von Tllser returned from a trip tp Los An- geles last week. Elizabeth Plavel, who has been on the Gilbert and Prledland staff, has switched to the Irving Berlin forces. MRS. SMELTZER WINS. ■ San Fraricisco, March Si- Mrs. Irma Smeltzer was granted an interlocutory decree of divorce last week from William Smeltzer, former manager oi the Savoy. \' BECKON COAST. San Francisco, March 31. . Martin Beck accompanied by Mort .Singer arrived from Los Angeles Sat- urday and will remain tintil a site is selected for a Junior Orpheum Circuit theatre sometime this we'ek. Beck an- nounced new'theatres to be named after intersecting streets on which they will be located,, with continuous from eleven to eleven at popular prices. Acts will first .play the regular Orpheum, then doubling back-on Jt^ior circuit where seats will not be reserved. . The location hei'e not disclosed, seating capacity mentioned between three and four thousand.' j Beck is considering prohibiting smok- ing in the present house, this being the only circuit theatre thus far retaining the privil^e. ARREST ARTHUR BUCKNER. San Francisco, Ms^rch 31. Artha^ Buckner, whose successful production of girl revues at the Por,tola Odeon earned him quittr some reputa- tion for good sho'wmanship since his . arrival here, was arrested I^st Sunday on a warrant accusing him of obtain- ing $2,000 under false pretenses from a San Mateo man claiming he was per- suaded to invest The hearing is'set for April 8. . i • "FRIVOLITIES" IN ^FRISCO. San Francisco, March 31. I Negotiations have practically been completed for the opening of Ander- son's "Frivolities" at the Casino about the middle of May. "Monte Cristo" and "The Gaieties of 1919," two Shubert productions', are scheduled tt> follow the Anderson show. Ida Samuels Back. San Francisco, March 31. Ida Samuels, 'returned to the stage after a four years' absence,. opening with Maurice Samuels in "A Day at Ellis Island" at Pantages this week. ORPHEUBi; NEW ORLEANS. New Orleans, March 81. Real variety at the Orpheum this week, with dogs, sea lions, dancers and what not The show played smoothly,, gaining strength as It proceeded. Herbert that venerable trainer of dogs, sent his collection through their paces to frequent outbursts, the leapers as of yore assuring conclusive appreciation. Libontai spanked his xylophone until beads of perspiration dotted his fore- head, averaging about hla*' customary Score. He had Archie Lloyd singing from a box, the song demonstrator mak- ing up for this appearance. Jean Adair was royally welcomed In "Ella's Come to Town," her supporting company being above the average. Miss Adair's winsomenesB and restraint 'im- mured In delightful manner. Nash and Holmes began well but seemed to strike a snag about midway the end, finding the auditors unresponsive. The talk was liked more than the singing. Giuran and Marguerite, easily the best dancers seen here this season, gathered the hit of the performance. So many bunk dancers have been around lately the Monday nlghters were evasive the first few minutes, but went to the duo with both hands after being offlced to their ability. Lambert and Ball were thoroughly at home, worked easily and registered un- deniably, but may have gotten more with Ball assuming more dignity. Winston's sea lions made the best closer of the year, holding them enrapt and qeated, many Meming loath to leave. Bamuelt. PAUCE, NEW pRLEANS. ' . New Orleans, March 31. J[nclement weather Tuesday night, but the Palace held elx rows of standees. The bill was colorfulwlth an essential modi- cum of dash and sparkle. Manager Piazza had a couple of ac- cordeonlsts tlMit he picked up on the streets opening the ihow. They proved 'better than some of the acts of the type playing about Earl and Sunshlner both of whom are growing stout sent their matter across to achieve the best re- sults. Holmes and Wells ran through their stuff, which is growing familiar now with repetition. Some show of ap- Jrecatlon during the unfolding, but very ittle at the finish. The act needs prod- ding there. - Russell and Oreenwald presented the eleventh schoolroom act here this sea- son. This one Is labeled "Frolics of Touth." Mayme Remington Is doing an audience plant with the outfit -whiclx had some bright moments and several dull ones. Martelle, with scintillating costumes, swamped everytjiing else, stopping the show and proving aa unauspected sur- prise to the Palace habitues. This fe- male impersonator has fully arrived. Paul Levan and Miller kept their acro- batics on high, getting frequent out- bursts of the athletic endeavors. The act should be'classed up. BamueU. RENOVATING YE LIBERTY. . ^an Francisco, March 31. The Ye Liberty theatre m Oakland is being completely renovated. The/front and back including the dressing rooms will be generally overhauled. TPhe Ye Liberty has a large seating capacity and the largest revolving stage in this country. For the first time since the quake a season of comic opera will be inaug- uiated, the .Gallo company opening a five weeks engagement here April 19 in a series of Gilbert- and Sullivan pieces a^$liOtop. CRESCENT, NEW ORLEANS. New Orleans, March 81. Plenty of entertainment at t!he Cres- cent the first part of the week. The photoplay section held May Allison in rrhe Walk Offs." Kennedy and Kremer gave the show a flying start with vigorous stepping that ultimately resulted fn success. TTnlverslty Trio found them cool at first but they gradually wanned to the boys, who are pleasant appearing and harmonize well. Jeff Healey and Co. offered "A Business Proposal," which has seen big time ^service, doing well with the playlet Halley and Noble elicited much laugh- ter through the buffoonery of the comic. They,work like recruits from musical comedy, using matter that has seen serv- ice In that field. Barnold's Dogs was the big flash, the drurik still leading the other canines in the matter of approbation. Notwith- standing Holy Week business was the usual capacity. Bamuelt. ABBIE MITCHELL ABROAD. Chicago, March 31. Abbie Mitchell, the colored star who put the Avenue Theatre stock on the map here, has closed, leaving for Paris to join her husband, "Will Marion Cooke, who is successfully leading his American orchestra there. Chicago Box Office Changes. Chicago, March 31. Fred Emde has been made treasurer of the Garrick Theatre, Albert Stetson, first assistant. Eddie Saunders, as- sistant treasurer of the Studebaker, was replaced by Dick McCoy.