Variety (February 1921)

Friday, February 11, 1921 SHOW REVIEWS ALHAMBRA. Considerable shifting around of ♦he eight acta at the Alhambru this week occurred after the Monday matinee and considerable more will C required to get the meat out of the sequence before Saturday night. The show warmed up alowly with Samstnd and Marion, a physical rulturist and woman assistant, with near-act draped around a bach- elor's dream following his reading an advertisement anent a girl who wants to marry a man with the form of an Apollo, etc. This is excuse enough for a black out, with the eirl appearing, following with some interesting stunts of lifting and pos- ing and back In the arm chair for "It must have been a dream." Edwin George, the missing jug- gler, with a continuous line of chat- ter of about how the tricks would look if he did them and oceans of other wise, cracking comment about being paid to practice, extracted considerable laughter in the deuce spot. The Mabel Taliaferro sketch moved up from fifth to third, open* ed importantly with the picture synopsis of the star's career, but proved only mildly entertaining fol- lowing her actual appearance. Mr. Mbytes us Griggs, an Irish btltler, and Mr. Soraghan, as the neurotic woman hater that they arc framing to cure, gave a satisfactory per- formance in a playlet replete with long speeches and a w&ik finish. Hilton and Norton (New Acts) were fourth and gave the show a real start, with Hebrew comedy and crosslire dialog, with Kiggs nmi Wltchie redeeming the lirst halt' in their sterling dancing specialty. •Topics" followed an intermission and crabbed a couple of standard gags for acts that have yet to read] the Alhambra, but pulled more laughter than usual. Jack Inglis was mis •spotted with Ids "nut" comedy closely following tin deaf and dumb picture monolog. Inglis got something with his •hats" recitation, but suffered a let down before anil after, despite herculean efforts and the wildest of "nutting." He could have switched places With Hilton and Norton to the advantage of both turns and the bill. * Nat Nazarro Jr. (New Acts) pick- ed the show again, following and softening it up for Gallagher and Roller, who goaled them in their "Palm Beach/* routine following. This team comprise one of the strongest combinations in vaude- ville and what they did to that Al- hambra bunch was a shame. The dancing finish and the harmonica '•blues" of Joe Bailey, following the continuous outbursts at the dialog, almost stranded the closing act, the Lind Brothers, in their ladder bal- ancing with a novelty opening, hav- ing the sacrificial duty of entertain- ing Don Bruno's orchestra, the ush- ers and a handful of the faithful Business, capacity. Con. terpolations for the finish. A beau- tiful scenic setting aids the general air of class which characterizes the turn. Bowers. "WalfeYs and Ci-ocker opened the second, half, with the same comedy acrobatic and dancing turn they have been doing since high bicycles were the reigning craze. A good old standard act, this, that needs no silken drops and other "modern" trappings to get it over. The finish has been seen of- ten enough to be familiar to every vaudeville fan In America, but it tickled the Jefferson just as much Monday night as it has hem doing other audiences since father was a boy. Gus Edwards' current song revue la one of the best he ever did. The first part runs to the class thing, with tight of the cutest ponies seen outside of a Broadway show this season baeking up Mr. Edwards' sony numbers. But, after all, it was the old song'cycle that put the turn over. This include! "Roste O'- Gr.idy," "Two Little Girls in Blue," and other pop favorites of the 90's, with a scenic background snowing a section of the old Bast side as it looked around 1900 or thereabouts, lending a touch of atmosphere that Was Kekiscoesque in its fidelity to tie- original. The Edwards' turn has a couple of finds in a youthful dancer and a sailor-clad five-year- old who is a genuine comic. Mr. Edwards was forced to beg off after ■inging himself out. The names of the youthful entertainers wen- not billed. Two songs. ".Partners" and 'Morning. Noon and Night," have the earmarks of pop hits, the latter holding a melody that while re- mindful of a standard opera still has the essentials of the type of song that falis into quick popularity. Tinner and (Jrace closed, with juggling, the woman doing most »,f the latter, and her partner trying for laughs with a routine of famil- iar comedy stuff. The act had a battle Monday night, most of tin- house walking, following the Kd - wards turn. Attendance was slight- ly under capacity. i/, //. marking at the opening, "What are you talking nbout '.'" with Kramer responding. "What do you care as long as they laugh." Kraraer Isn't dancing any more—at least he didn't Monday evening. Eleanor Pierce and Go. offer a dancing act for the closing spot, augmented by a special drop and cyelorama. The "Co." consists of a singing pianist and a loose-legged eccentric stepper. Miss Pierce seems more occupied with displaying her physical charms than with any gen- uine terpsichorean artistry. Her dancing consists more of ]>osturinR than in actual stepping. She is a buxom, physically-alluring young woman, but evidently has a lot still to learn in the way of dancing be- fore she can hope for better than the small time. Jolo. 81 ST ST. BROADWAY. JEFFERSON. An eight-act show at the Jefferson thin week, with James J. Morton an- nouncing Gus Edwards' Song Re* vup of 1921 headlining. It was the Edwards act that saved the show Monday night, running about 48 minutes, next to closing and placing a punch right where it was needed. The bill started off badly, through an accident putting tho apparatus of The Weldanos out of commission. A fuse blew out shortly after the aerialists started whirling around on the mechanical contrivance which features their act and the curtain was- rung down. Jim Mor- ton idled in for a second or two with his likable nonsense, but there was a short stage wait before Bernard and Garry made their appearance. These two boys are n<>\v in a brown chocolate make up. instead of In white face, it is a big improve- ment, one still uses an unneces- sarily long "ah" after every second Word while singing. The act is prac- tically the same as when at the iTospect recently, the impersona- tions introduoed in a double called "The Actors' Hall." sending the team over for a hit that held up the show for a minute. Toio, the acrobat ie clown. w;is third, making 'em langh with his mechanical comedy stuff, .and draw- ing plenty of applause with his eon tort Inn Ism. One bit of the latter .viands out. TotO, Who appears to be about five feet ten oi taller, suc- ceeding in placing himself in a tiny bed, scarcely two feel long and pos- sibly a loot and a half wide. The 1'avlowa burlesque with three-foot shoes also landed heavily. '!'!:■• show WSS m->\ ir-:* nlong hh»«»!J llOW, and I'iuiis htm! rr.«bi:>. cmtshl em on the wing with their comedy conversational exchanges and m strumental music. The balloon smashing business registered for a series of howls and the house could n't !«.,. tn t () K ,. { enough ot the man dolin and guitar duel I mg at the finish. It must have been a big temptation for th«- team to pull u I'd of Italian pl^.i • during tlwir ' I ' at t»is hOtlSe, as it hi-: a III] I •ntellc of that natiomM't: but they n (rained, sticking to tie hrol • n Knglisli' diale< I ful tie- gl .• it»«i ]• !•■! of tla- ae1 da UCing i uric f.Juj •! ■' li .1 the first h with fl phouogr; m itsie, a nd Includ ■ • . ■ i, 1 . . 1 d.i 111 • I • u ii.i i \.\-/./. riumln i •i.i s whirlwind hi - With Tin exception of a farcical sketch, ''Breakfast for Three." every act on the bill at the Broadway the first half of the current week is de- signed to command encores and is capable of unlimited expansion. A sketch must necessarily have a fin- ish which is led up to.* and "Break- fast for Three" is an old timer, well worked out for its points. "\ sub- urbanite returns home at daylight after playing poker all night and is pretty well intoxicated. Wife comes down to make the breakfast, as the servant had left the previous after- noon. Policeman On beat mistakes wife for new servant and tells her what sapheads the boss and wife are. how he horns in for his meals and boose, etc. Bread throwing. slapstick ad lib and full of roaring farcical situations calculated to de- light any and all three-a-day audi- ences. Barring the closing act. failed to hold Yin in. though not yet 10.30, and the opening turn. a dumb act. all the others were more or less blatantly noisy ami are Well chosen for the type of audi- ence patronizing the Broadway. The dumb act—Samoya, a turn full of action—reveals a graceful man on a slack rope and rings, who goes through a rapid routine that earned him a full share of applause. Matty lee Lippard and Co, Consists of a male pianist and woman vocal- ist. She Is an attractive blonde with a pleasing high not* and clear enun- ciation—also a special drop, im- pressive costume flash, they sing to- gether, he planalogs f^y the changes of dress and they finish with art instrumental medley duet, she hav- ing • merged with a saxaphonc for her final costume change. Llbonatl, xylophonist, makes a violent attack on his instrument at the opening thai wins him his audi- ence from the Jump; then rhapso- dizing and ragging effectively. He did well Wl»h the S. xttf from 'Lu- cia" with padded hammers, but they liked him best when he made the most noise with the uncompromising hardwood hammers and the band playing very forte. The house was all for him when he shook his hair while ragging and prancing, and when he threw in ;■ few variat'ons white nigging he scored a riot. They could have stood for h playing the entire i vctilng 1-Mdio K.iy and the yoUngcr I "<»v - are criticism-proof n« an net. They entertain Joyously, bringing happt- n< ss t<> the audit nee. It I* a i • »H> ^ . n.|. i t ui ruriv. tha • tin! i .tie p.*rent i-. • n joy It ho tniiVh selvi s thai one is forci d to conclude j tli;it they » Ither fe< 1 it or at • good .i<■ io;s. Rth'lie had to m.'I.i his u - n >\ spec li of thanks In order lo be permitted lo depart. .1 ill! Mil I Sett) Moi :' li, phi no An extremely lengthy show at the 81st St., though only six acts pro- gramed. Three turns consumed very close to an hour and a half, with Will Ward and Girls the main rea- son for the overtime, holding tin- stage for 33 minutes, which, if cut in half, would have been much bet- ter. Eight songs were offered and half of those were ballads sung by one of the girls possessing a bass voice that lacked any exceptional quality, though she did two more solo numbers following her initial attempt, prompted by applause,thai sounded suspiciously. Nevertheless she stalled everything for about 10 minutes, later repeating with the same routine of taking an unnec* s- sary encore. The Whole act could stand cutting, with the quartet of stories told by Ward one of Jhc Items that should go. Instrumen- tally, when all five pianos are occu- pied, the turn is at its best, but there's too much time employed and it does more than take the edge off the work on the keys. Maxine Brothers and Bobby gave thf? show its start, having Jed Dooley succeeding, who bad no trouble in registering with his mon- olog while busying hihisclf with tin- rope and his other implements. The "Co." continues to be a corker for looks and easy on the ryes. The Great Lester, ventriloquist, had the spot following the lull sup- plied by Ward and Girl:*, but over- came it with his crossfire between himself and the dummy, which Jn turn was helped along by the catch- line "(lee Whiz!" and the telephone bit. There are plenty of laughs de- spite the act Is running rather long. Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Barry were placed next to closing, walking on to a reception and off to another of no less dimension. The rube character as done by Barry more than pleased, with his song gathering above its usual supply of laughter. Karyl Norman, name out in lights, ended the first half, aping his regu- lar routine, and pulled a gasp from the house upon disclosing his sex. which seemed to he unsual when considering tho applause bis en« trance called forth. The clothes got to the feminine contingent out front, | while the songs pleased and the im- Which Ipersonator returned for tho "vamp" it was , encore, which costume brought forth another sigh from the women. Business was good Monday night, though soma of jtho neighborhood must have been a. w. o. 1., as the b;ick portion of house was almost, solidly vacant. that takes UP the better part of the sketch. It's the "Taming of the Shrew.'' of course, but nicely mod- ernized and brimming over with comedy punches. Vnughan Comfort V^HNew Acts) was sixth holding the shot perfectly and keeping the show running along up to concert pitch. It's pretty bard to dig up anything new in the line of hand-to-hand acrobatics, but Franklin Charles A Co. have accomplished the seeming Impossible with a couple of tricks that are corkers. One has the mounter I alanced perpendicularly on the arm of the understander. The other is hack bent over a chair with the understander lifting the mounter to a hand-to-hand above his head. There is a woman with a tuneful voice, playing the piano well and tilling in the stage picture handily. A burlesque Apache with the two men costumed for it, and the heavier chap tossing the lighter one about the stage as if he were a load of junk shaped up as one of funniest travesty ideas seen around for sev- eral seasons. A black union suit costuming for the acrobatic stbff and special settings combined with the men's athletic feats make the turn an exceptional one of its kind, .lames Thornton is a favorite at the Fifth Avenue, and, while most of the house apparently knew his monolog by heart, they even antici- pated the point of many of his gags, smiling when he started to tell tin m and when he had finished, laughing just as hard as audiences did at HydS & Behman's and l*a«- tor's when Jim toiii almost iden- tically the same routine 28 years ago. "The Irish Jubilee." one of the first songs to be based on wheezes, pent the veteran off to a legitimate hit. Do Vitro and Zemater opened with a bar act, working in black faee ind executing the regulation ;is Well as several stunts of the thriller type. Buey Bruch, second, with violin playing pleased, but mild attention. Jones and Greenlee. thirdi with a conversation skit got some laugh* and entertained with a couple of comedy doubles. The general make up of the skit used suggest* McMahon and Chappelle's old time classic, "How Hubby Missed the Train," Jones and Greenlee sitting on a suit case and exchange get backs for the first few minutes of the turn. The Reynolds, a male dancer and sister team combination, closed with singing, dancing and costume Oharigi 8. The nan is an expert soft shoe stepper, adding value through this talent. The girls have dancer's voices, hut put their simple num- bers over effectively, dancing neatly and scoring on appearance. Tuesday night the Fifth Avenue lujd capacity before the vaudeville Suction got under way, with the Standee* crovding the rails hv 8:80 o'clock. Hrll section. The Newmans (New Acts) started the show off with a snap, dates and Malay with their neat skit created an excellent impression on second. The girl Is a vivacious blonde, crisp in enunciation and sweet in manner. One or two new laughs may have been inserted since last seen. One came when she re- marked he once wore short pants and be replied HltS hadn't changed much. Bart Boyle. a globe trotting single, found the going very much to his liking, opening Intermission. Boyle tells stories. Boms may be h s. A majority may belong to him. Practically all have been told by others' and either the matter was lifted from him or he is a good chooser. English and Irish stories are his forte. In relating the yarn of the Irishman who worked on a sight-seeing bus, he mentioned the Singer Building as not having been there the night before. Originally told it was the Woolworth Building. (Also told at the l'alaco this week.) A poem he said he picked up in Australia used at tho close drew appreciation. It is called "The Whitest Man I Know ' and was well delivered. Boyle encored, giving his impression of a man just about to be married and using CJeorge l^ash- wood's "My Latch-Key," which he announced. Boyle went off a hit. James Kyrlc McCurdy and Co. with "His Daughter's Husband" were placed sixth. The turn Is a comedy playlet along rather familiar lines of a youth wanting to marry the daughter of a rich dad, who ad- vised the young man to make good. Business of putting over a deal on father. It amused. The youth play- ing the lover looked very youthful, too much so. Berate* Lo Rarr and Beaux (New Acts) closed Intermission. On just ahead, Luckie and Harris; did well with comedy and songs. The men caught on with topical numbers late in tho act. One came after they exited to secure prop concertinas. Carrying the instruments out wMh them, one or two extra bows were grabbed. Hanlon and Clifton closed nicely. It is a new combination, Clifton now being out with an act of similar idea. The new "Clifton" with Hanlon is an eccentric dancer, hoof- ing to purpose at the opening and The acrobatic portion is cut but frervod well enough, was in the bill downstairs close, down Parmo only. I bee 23D ST. 5TH AVE. Having supply of Weeks" and simi for a vaudeville exhausted the available Anniversary," "<>id Home ar nom de plumes show the current week's shows at tlu- ll ive the flossy title Carnival." The first acts, playing a bit s Fifth Avenue of "Midwinter halt' held nine owlv Tuesday inv wlill i:i lrumen i oh i ■ Willi ti • ■• of ri • ... ..f ||1M | I • 11 •! rivil ■■ :i hard* I > • of -.. . hi i • i. ; ,i .. c i M «:•. Ie\ ;.' is < "lil ' \ , . > i ■ ■. C11 in ■ : al prelt.il; (i " ' HK, With the Viri. ,1 \ t \ », r 11 g 11 «• i I I! i- . ,. , ■ ■' ^ I; h-| iVllho :t mak ; m; i ik -a-M !'...-:<' H !h< Id .' i eomm i l»> I r •• i ice t.tk' up lie i, i v i »urn I • ■ i night, until Wilbur Sweat man, the colored jazz clarinetist, broke the ice and walloped over a home run with his collection of reed Instru- ments. Just whether Mr. Sweat man was the first to play the type ot music that has conn- to be known as jazz is a question that might DC harder to decide than who owns the biggest saxophone In vaudeville, but Sweatman was playing jazz at bast ten years ago, and longer, before it had been dignified by a name. The two male musicians assisting him formerly In the pit, now work on the stage throughout the turn, w h« ii playing Jasa Mr. Sweatman »s at his best, getting lltU ueirdest sort of tenses imaginable out of hi.-, reeds. The slower tempo stuff is only fairly well played, the instru* ments d« veloping a harshness at I me s. The plaj ing o^ t hit e clarinets at ohce makes a showy trick, but it isn't music. After bowing off to a wave oi up plan se that shook the ;:•!.. Hw-eaUnaj) carr.o bacl* fo> an .•,,. oi f ■■ nd uni i e -i a "blues" with the aid of tile bass driuunnr that can stand c a model for Its da.-s of melody, K.c.iii on top of Hweatmon's lo I'.il!\ Hibson and lleglnu Council! jiiit < \. r another that brought the turn 1 '.i k for n speech Tli it's ■ I fell ;■ light ,d at I he lil !h A v - I'" i. h Colli •! > nue. T till rd '•. 1 lie db ic.tin :■ ■ • till pla 'Th< l|orn . oi- h simply can t fail w men In the nudte <■■ Tu»»s- ■ . ' : i ■ Iron « 1, itigh< d ' I • I il I. h a • . ' I • hthi •) ami ..:>.•.■'. • Ion kvhc n lil . 'til o i parlicu IP- |. • , ,.,, hUM nig bush AMERICAN ROO^. A little over •'» month ago the Roof show was again framed to include the feature picture of the down- stairs show. That cut one act from the upstairs line-up, but the film addition, designed to strengthen patronage, appears to have been the right idea. Attendance Monday night was very good—not capacity, but that is rarely attained on the lirst night of the week here. The performance is timed to begin at X:L'f> and with the intermission cut to live minutes consumes just two hours with the feature then start- ing. Wallace Keid in "The Charm School' was the tilm. The bill shaped tip well better than the average for the roof. i'elix Adler made his tir.st appear- ance al tin- American. At the mati- nee downstairs* he tied up the show, repeated in the evening and came upstairs for the same score, on next to closing. Adler got started with 1 nutty lyric, then breezed into his stride, getting the laughs from both tiie regulars and the wise ones out front. The latter detected the In- tent Of a snatch of song, "Softly the Agents are Calling." He went into some operatic bunk and they laughed anew. It was not the oper- atic stuff of the real kind. He flashed that later but dared not continue the difficult succession of Italian l>wes. He permitted it to lizzie Into a comedy end—perhaps I he r ight l<b a here. Just prior to that ho tickled the front row hunch by saying he thought la- detected a booze-hound tittering. Topical stuff with the en- trance of the girl now supporting him. \\<r crying In- thought prob- abl\ meant that tie eight-cent fart- had gone through. He walked her i a.'i. •ir.d. forth, saying ?bat now! ihev were playing lor E*oew they'd better get used to walking Asked whether lie was a highbrow or low- brow he refilled he was a "lb-brow from the liofbrau," then said he was a tough guv. the type who would ■ .VI ui o' w av" for I'l'i- • AdU-j ved his good ,1 i »• 1 • hoi liol I • III > ip iiiv" ntrll ■. rout ■ I thai t» !, Adiei I hall singing Voice "YoU Are th< joining for the n(|ulst bli wax 1 n. \t\ < •■ .■ ,••!■. i • i me and coii'i • he c in ult. a speedy ami i- Hit onl> icccplcd kVit ii Loew being book<i| ,,i tin Ifi us —=•*•-•• lire 111 rid looks l.ki tin ; t ore B< < 1.1 ed in tOHie itHins throu • I ■ 1 • - r .1111 i 11 g first The show for the first half held several newcomers, for showing here .ind there was a good proportion of comedy present, but the house was cold Tuesday night. What amounted to a succession of three singles early in the show didn't help the run- ning. A thrill "not on the program oam*» with the Rios, who opened the show with a ring act. It is a man and woman combination, the man being remarkably muscled, that held him In good stead, He was swinging head down with a one foot purchase on one ring, the conclusion of the feat being a leap landing him en his feet. The "hop* in the arch of the foot holding (lie ring caught when lie tried for a release and he f'll luckily on his side, facing back stage. Miss Rio bent over him but the man signaled her to continue, and she immediately mounted Un- rigging. He arose, excused himself for a few moments, reappeared and went through with the turn. Him work after the fall was done With difficulty, only discerned by his facial expression, and it was later Verified he had Sprained bis arm. II was excellent showmanship, how- ever, in continuing the act. and 1 h«» audience never knew the fall wax ac- tually on the level. Paul Morton and Naomi Class marked the show's strength on No. ii. They offered their "lt81-196e" si- tire instead of the new turn. Th»'r* Were SOnM new hits present.;. They opened in one with "Milk and Honey Time." nicely harmonized, then going into tho bungalow scene. "Irish Baby Blues" with a "Comealya" hit th* house right, and there was plenty of laughing response to the baby car- riage comedy. The clever dance on the steps took them off to the best returns to that point and even then the house was not unduly enthus- iast ic Art Henry and Lea Moore, with then- versatile skit, "Escorts Sup- plied," were in the next to closing spot. They remained 22 mlnn 1 with about four minutes unneces- sary. Speeding both at the start and finish should strengthen it. Rut there 1* real corned) v.ihe- present. Henry's work on the fiddle tickled the house tt) the full. He started off doing nut pi ying, saying he and i-'rit/. Kreish r had the sine- trouble. When he got doWh to playing, how- ever. In- gave . one sweet musii oil the then runted violin, ami was «•.* 11 - ei| to t ike the ] r t »TUU|. lit Ollt Of its ... three or four t lines. I U nry's "l opi< ■ of t he da> " bit u Idle M li < Motire changed i- U funny bit. The IK 11 '1 ken fl um 1 he film hut oppo el to he read from "The l.ii'i u> Digest/' which i 1 • way ... 1 i.ick at the Rim. Tie- Spanish bit at the close .overs too much ter- ritory* The bull bit did get laitglui .ni lie- turn might have taken tho •til then Henrj und his violin will H'oniitiUed On l*?«ge 26.)