Variety (February 1921)

22 SHOW REVIEWS Jpriday, February 13, 1921 and the band here helps. It ha9 something new In jazz playing, the trombone and cornet playing against each other, much as you hold the *>pen end of a phone transmitter to the open part of the receiver. It gave a peculiar effect and al- most ranks with the laughing trom- bone for jazzing novelty. The turn in all did well and it shoul1 *ave In the spot, for the people in front had been waiting for something to happen for quite a while. "The Bye* of Buddha" < No. 3) as a production is decidedly there, but so much so as an entertainment. The dialog is flat, the general idea appears to have beet! taken from comic opera, and while there is a musical Star in that finds liking, there is not enough entertainment for the 31 minutes consumed. Nace Murray is featured and probably is the "Police Commissioner No. 1." A couple of dancers do well in a way, with the girl having the high kicking plan of greater or less de- velopment, but missing that grace- fulness in high kicking that is es- sential. Howard's Animals opened the show. Si me. men were ringing wet when they finished but the house insisted on the leverage lift they use for en- coring. The understander is using a hankerchief over his jersey for the feat. A silken or colored cover- ing would look better. William Kent and Co. (New Acts) made his vaudeville debut in a com- edy skit called "A Little Atmos- phere." The success of Kent's first try makes him look like a regular for the two-a-day. Frank Hurst sang and told stories No. 2. He acted with "It's All Over Now" and got lots with a new Irish freedom song. At that his chatter was as well liked if not bettrr that) his songs, with several of which he strained. He had Lea Poe at the piano. Kate and Wiley closed the show classily. Valda Lynn Bruno accom- I*anying, showed her one person dance revue in the opening spot. A lively Spanish number drew atten- tion and she trotted off to nice ap- preciation. J bee. ALHAMBRA. I COLONIAL. Business here since the holidays shown considerably better at- tendance over that of the /all. Monday night the upper floors were Clean a little after eight o'clock and the lower floor was spotted by but few empty seats in the rear by the time the show started. A healthy line extended well onto the pave- ment with the box office enjoying a brisk sale. The second half of the show with two of the three name attractions present held to form and worked out to much better advantage than the "before intermission section. William Rock headlined, showing his revue "1-2-3-4-5 Girls and Two More" In the sixth spot. Hock had the present act last spring, shelving it to produce "Silks and Satins," a revue which had a box office scale of $3.50 in New York. The show didn't start much on Broadway, but on the road made quite a stay of it, closing but two weeks ago. Hock's vaudeville revue still re- mained fresh, for it was not over- played, and it was a simple trick for this showman to quickly put it back on the boards. He certainly worked fast and the rather smooth way it played showed Rock to be still there in directing. He has with one exception a new bunch of girls. One only is doing a single specialty outside of his own hits. That is Hazel Webb. On her first appearance she sure looked a peach, decorated only in a little lingerie thing that started far above the knees. Her number was "Jasse- mova." She later had the roue num- ber with Rock and was the grandma at the close. That was after Rock's "I'm Eighty, but I'm Young" with the girls in a costume flash. Rock's English Tommy number hit the house right. He has extended the finale bit in "one," calling his "actresses" to act for the Fifteenth Letter in the Alphabet," a kissing bit. Counting that the act ran about 38 minutes. When the "company" shimmied off there was concerted applause but Rock did not take a bow. He was peeved because of the dropping of some props being placed for Van Hoven's act which followed. Van Hoven brought his straw lid and his lily white arms into view at about three minutes to eleven. He was a howl all the way. Tney haven't seen Van at the Colonial for so long, if he were ever there, that most of his stuff was new. But they didn't forget some things and when he asked the leader "Don't tell Annie, for Cod's sake," it brought hearty laughter. One thing was no- ticed about his kids—the handshak- ers, ice holders and such, all wore the same kind of ribbed black stock- ings. Van Hoven probably has gone shopping and bought hose for the kids by the dozen. By changing that detail, there might he less of the plant to the gathering of the youngsters. Van was aimed to de- liver the comedy punch and he sure delivered. Another act just back from Eng- land was Muriel Hudson and Dave Jones who opened intermission. Vhey have been abroad for about a season. "The Moth and The Flame," by which they tab their routine, appeared a combination of former acts b> Jones, with several new bits inserted. They carry a painted drop showing the "Green Beetle," a road house. Jones in tux plays a "baron," plus the same slight dia- lect. Miss Hudson still possessed with the flery hair is a seeker for the baron's title, that is, until he declares himself to be just a bar- ber. Miss Hudson alone was in- trusted with what singing there was. Jones was serious with a reci- tation "That Street Called Broad- way." They danced off to good re- turns. The first half saw the piano pres- ent in every act, the instrument be- ing played in four of the turns, and used for a laugh in the other. With Ruth Roye falling out of the bill. Billy Montgomery, Minnie Allen with , iittle M Elmer came doubling up from'the palace, on fourth ;tt the Colonial they pulled .« cold flop, the abrupt ending of the act figur- ing. . _ , . Franklin. Charles 6 Co. .losing Intermission easily took down the applause honors of the evening and matched Kock in the seorinfc A weak first half bill at the Har- lem house ruined the show and it never got going thereafter. There was enough strength in the nine acts to satisfy the usual Alhambra audience, but the lay out was oft. Charles L. Gill in a maudlin sketch, "The Christmas Letter.'' held third position and took the edge off Duffy and Sweeney, following. The latter duo labored valorously to lift the sagging show up and only partially succeeded. . They pulled hearty laughs with the low comedy falls and slap-stick, but most of Duffy's irony was muffed. The Gill sketch is not big time. The*Harlem house with a notorious- ly "soft" audience snickered at some of the splashingly sentimental pas- sages. Marmein Sisters and David Schooler closed the first half. It is a first class dancing and pianolog offering, but at this particular spot the show needed comedy. Jay Dil- lon and Betty Parker, in the second after intermission spot, could have switched positions to the advantage of the bill. The second half held all the strength and comedy. Leo Carillo, with practically the same act he showed around 10 years ago, started the last half off in great shape. Carillo had no trouble after his opening, and got big results with his Chinese dialect stories, auto pan- tomime, "wop" speech and recitation. He was called back for a few re- marks. Dillon and Parker followed in one of the prettiest and cleverest song and dance conceits of the season. They are a personable couple with oceans of class and personality. The production helps the stage dressing, being in exceptionally good taste. The dialog and songs were new and sparkling, delivered with a polish that insured them one of the hits of the program. Margaret Young next and cleaned up with her song cycle. Miss Young was forced to hold the stage until after 11. This girl is improving all the tithe and has an excellent reper- toire of numbers in her present array. Among her best were the chorus girl impression, a wailing lament about the depleted crop of Johns. "Ohio," a new song and an I excellent negro character song, "Ctoin" Out the Way You Came Back,'* finished in high favor. Jess Libonati deucing it with his xylophoning. shadow boxing and un- controllable hair, ran into a couple of accidents. He broke a hammer on the last run of a complicated syncopation, and after apologizing in a brief speech, missed the leader's cue and had to office the orchestra to keep going until he picked up the tempo and melody. The mis- haps didn't affect the appreciation with which the Harlemites received Lib's efforts, for there was his usual recognition at the finish. The Reynolds Trio, a fast danc- ing act, opened. It is a two-girl- and-boy combination. The latter is a corking acrobatic eccentric step- per. The girls look nicely in a couple of changes, and are nimble afoot. It makes a nice evening starter for the big bills. The Marie Cenl Trio closed to a handful. The younger of the three girls, before doing some "perch" stunts, pulled laughs by asking in dialect. "Please are you all going out." There was enough show but too much dancing and too little comedy in the first half. With the second halt playing like wildfire. Business was off a trifle, the back of the lower flour and bo.xes showing vacant patches. Co»> Th< JEFFERSON. An anniversary bill was offered this week with ten acts in the show Instead of the customary nine. Bus- iness has been good here but the hig orchestra floor was not capacity Tuesday night. The front two- thirds Which holds the higher priced seats (83 cents Including war i.-ix) looked capacity, with the rear third having some empty spaces. (Seats in the rear are $8 cents). six acta were placed before Inter- mission, several withdrawals finding names carded not on the program. Mabel Burke was compelled to with- draw- before the matinee Monday when Gertrude Sears, assisting, was suddenly taken ill. Miss Burke had already hung her act. Burt Oordon and Jean Ford were called in to fill and spotted fifth, and scored a clean hit. The "crank you" comic and his brunette partner came doubling down from the Riverside, and it was said they had a third assignment Tuesday night at the Palace. The net was given in total apparently, though fJordon dodged one or two high notes, which made no differ- ence, and the team did not attempt encoring. Frank Gaby was another withdrawal, and Mary and Ann Clarke filled. No. 3. With the Near East collection current the turn of the Misses Clarke fitted better than ever. The house was surprised and was in doubt even after the come- dienne said she "had been married to a tank for 15 years." The collection for the starving children in Kurope between Jack Conway and Company (New Acts) moved to No. 4, with the addition of the Clarkes. and Gordon and Ford. Closing intermission came Donald Kerr and his "Lady Friends" (New Acts). Before the latter turn there were three comedy turns in succes- sion, with the first part of the bill turning in a high registering laugh score. The show in total was strangely free of singing, but ran < along smoothly and entirely satis- factorily, applause winners ranging throughout the performance. Virginia Pearson and Sheldon L*wis and Company In Mr. Lewis' dramatic playlet, "The Second Chance," headlined. It was offered No. 8 and took a flock of curtains, with Miss Pearson making a little speech. She is set on addressing her audiences as "friends," which seemed true enough but sounded funny. "The Second Chance" is quite ap improvement over the sketch offered by the couple last fall ("Jealously"), and is cleverly written and up-to- date. Some of his statements anent criminology sound logical and true, markedly one about the rogue's gal- lery. His role as a criminologist and friend of the district attorney is not consistent with the later develop- ment that he was a former crook. There is sustained dramatic interest especially for the first half of it. Miss Pearson was queenly in ap- pearance and Mr. Lewis was im- maculate. The second section, like the first. was rich in comedy, with an ad- mirable change of pace from the dramatics of "The Second Chance." Davis and Darnell in "Bird Seed," originally programed for fifth, opened intermission. The spot was programed for Frank Gaby, rather a coincidence, because of the gabby, witty and clever style of Davis. The turn worked at a bit of disadvan- tage. Arriving late the stage lines, especially in front, were all taken up, which compelled the act to work with a make-shift, because of the necessity of a practical door in one. Ed Gallagher and Joe Rolley showed their new skit, "At Palm Beach" on next to closing. They are using an excellent painted drop for the act, which is entirely in one. Some of the lines sounded as derived from more or less familiar bits, given a fresher application, with the general result being quite successful. There is little doubt but that the turn was devised for apron presen- tation, where a late spot is always possible. It is running ten minutes and a little extension would be of value. Following the wealth of com- edy ahead of them Gallagher and Rolley went over for a real score, Rolley's business with the mouth organ and his hoofing being about the right finale. The Four Ortons opened the show with as fine a tight-wire act as seen in years. One of the younger men is a marvel making turns of sensa- tional kind. The routine on the wire is classy and the comedy is made to par with it. The comic is made up a la "A. Mutt." His business with the duck at the finish is a scream, flying back and forth with the duck in his out-stretched arms as though pulling him through the air. It looks like the cream of wire turns. Marcelle Fallet. the little French girl violinist, made a very pleasing No 2, with her white-haired mother as accompanist. Interest attains through the playing of the maiden during the war for the French re- fugees and the A. E. A. Mme. Fallet is exceptionally accomplished with the violin. Her playing of a gypsy number indicated she was qualified for the concert platform. The act was given nice appreciation. Eleanor Pierce, with her dance frolic closed the show, holding in a good'percentage- The turn has Gil Squires and Jerry Benson in sup- port the latter at the piano. Ivan Bankoft staged the act . n>cc. BROADWAY. A corking good show at the Broadway for the current seven days that reeeived unusual atten- tion from the Monday night gather- ing, not quite capacity. Two or three of the acts could have de- layed proceedings had they so willed but begged off with the pro- verbial alibis. A good natured audience that at* 1 up any semblance of a morsel that was thrown to it and was always generous with ap- preciation. Dugan and Raymond headed the billing but there was many a suc- cessful bit that came both before and after them Which brought all the nemea down, or up, to an even parallel. The material in -the sketch is pie for Dugan who con- tinues to make the least possibility register for laughs, and with the falling apples in addition they a a Iked in. Ruth Budd, who held the No. 4 spot, probably provided the most genuine entertainment that the show held with her work* upon the rings and rope. What a "whale* this gal Is on the swaying round irons and the swing she hi doing that takes her out of sight up in the flies and comes back to carry her out over the orchestra pit. From there to the rope with a foot- hold slide head downwards, for a finish, to a "one finger stand" that's a delight. Added to the gymnastics Is her opening in "one" with a piano player, waq incidentally re- mains throughout the entire rou- tine, with the miss making her en- trance from a lamp placed along- side the keyboard to deliver two songs and a short dance, thence to an insert where she delivers an ab- breviated melody on a mandolin with the athletic portion following. It's 16 minutes of action, with Miss Budd possessing an abundance of personality and a good sense of showmanship besides her natural ability and the "pep" to work her head off. A great girl, this, who can show in any house and make 'em like it—if she has to. Starting off were Maxlne Bros, and Bobby who did more than the average "opener" by really supply- ing the schedule with momentum, and were followed by Bartram and Saxton who sang their way across easily to the tune of much applause which forced them to return and offer excuses. They've eliminated the Jap number which certainly hasn t done any harm. Also it seems as if different little bits, that were formerly there, have gone, which has added Improvement to the act. They deserved the returns as the quality of their voices is above par and the less 'acting" the two men attempt goes to add to their entertaining value. Hugh Herbert and Co. rounded out the initial trio of acts to many a chuckle. The sketch holds a large source of amusement made more prominently so by Herbert. Came, in turn. Miss Budd, then Jack Inglis with his "nut" offering, who had some difficulty in getting under way, but after once getting a fair start came through nicely with his clowning . and miscella- neous recitations. Dugan and Raymond held the sixth position with Sylvia Clark next to closing. Miss Clark built up as she went along, topping off with a Russian number that took her away to an acknowledgement that left room for more if she had so desired. A nice "single" holding up with the best, Yvette, the vio- linist, was in the closing spot and held 'em with the first flash at the stage picture. Very pretty. The two boys continue to aid materially with the saxaphone player having the edge in this respect. A good show, all told, that was strong on comedy and honest to goodness entertainment throughout with the whole resembling more of what a vaudeville bill is expected to contain than the usual trend of affairs has led one to believe of late. sz. on the piano and violin also was , « r>n III .v::r f<T successful, with thp t an encore. Bobby J-conard and Co. were allotted three-quarters of the comedy the evening contained and proved more than equal to It. Mr. Leonard's heavy co-worker is do- ing a great straight for him and scores individually, despite the comedian holds all the humorous values which the sketch contains. The opening portion, of the house- keeper relating weird details as to what has previously happened in the room occupied by the "drummer," hss been retained, though there doesn't seem to be any evident rea- son for t. Bobby Heath and Adelo Sperling were placed next to closing and the former experienced some difficulty in getting under way as the in- habitants seemed unfamiliar with his melodies of former times which he delivered ensemble. The pair strengthened, as they proceeded, with the finale of the youth assist- ing from a side box building it up Tor substantial returns. Miss Sperl- ing flashed a particularly pleasing- appearance and stepped forth in a doo of costumes that brought forth favorable comment from all sec- tions of the -theatre. Wlnnifred Oilralne, with her male partner and quartet of girls, brought the first half to a close. The dancing pleased, though the -girls aren't routining any too smoothly and some touching up as to unlsqn be- tween them should help. 81 ST STREET The bill framed up was a pleas- ing show for the Tuesday night regulars and they were out in force that evening. Even unto the Cheese Club, the gathering that sponsored the "overall" propaganda when the prices, for exclusive raiment were hitting the high spots. Its members occupied the foremost chairs on the lower floor. A bit of reading matter was also flashed upon the screen, between two pf the acts, that hal exclusively to do with that organization, and in addition Charles Leonard Fletcher commented on it in a short speech after he had finish- ed. Quite a night for the "cheese" boys and girls. No particular name out front to take credit for the draw that was connected with the vaudeville half of the program, so it must have been the film (George Arliss in "The Devil') for filling the house both down and up. The sextet of turns ran along easily with all gathering their share from the pat- rons. Reck and Recktor initialed in with an acrobatic novelty that took them away well up in the running with anything that followed. Both men are in the conventlona Le-vcn intr at- tire with the routine crflhng for a one-foot hold from a loop suspended Just below^. the front border, the other half of the team laboring be- low. A fast spin, with the lad on the bottom, doing the turning while spaced from his partner by the length of a stand lamp took the pair away to more than favorable re- turns. A good novelty opener. Mr. Fletcher held the No. 2 spot and Offered four studies hji that posi- tion. His final characterisation, of a "tramp*" brought him more in the way of acknowledgement than the Others, while his comedy reci- tation that held a prohibition theme, and for. which he return, d to de- liver added to the response. Mae and Hose Wilton scored With their VOCaliting. The girls rung well together, while one steps out of the picture long enough to ren der a solo Which put her In solid minus tbf harmony. The selection AMERICAN ROOF. Nothing startling in the bill at the American Roof the first half, nor was it an especially attractive program. It opens with Wilbur and Adams (New Acts), followed by j LaRue and Craham, a mixed two- act, with the man playing a police- man feeder to three characters t essayed by the woman. He con- duets himself like a seasoned legit, opening with a number, "The Cop of the Old Kast Side," in the midst of which a "swell" woman rushes on frantically bewailing the loss of feeV "baby," which turns out to be Fifi, her dog. In the end Fifl is discov- ered in her handbag. She goes off and he does another number, after which she returns as a fierce Italian woman, who wants to kill her sweetheart because she loves him so. While he offers another talking song she changes to a soused female of the east side, and they hold a comedy conversation. Acceptable three-a- day offering. Tappan and Armstrong are two women who open with harmonizing, one singing straight throughout while the other does strenuous "nut" and clowning stuff. The "nut" essays a coon number minus all dialect. She might fare much better with a high class male straight as a foil. They miss the twice-daily designation by a very narrow margin, but scored a big hit at the American. Closing the first part was the Rose Revue, a young man in a Tuxedo and straw hat filling in with vocal numbers in a good voice, while the two girls change costumes, of which there were quite a few, and all of them neat and apparently expensive. They do several styles of dancing • and do it quite well. But their exits after each number are crude and lacking in class and speed. Pasquale and Bowers, followed by Pealson and Wallace (New Acts). Artie Mehlinger with Billy Griffith at the piano, was next to closing. Artie still adheres to his style of backing up three steps and then marching forward, repeating this bit of business continually. He wallops over his numbers emphatically and iatersperses them with brief stories and gags. Leonard Brothers, a neat pair of hand-to-hand and trapeze workers, with a teeth-hold for the finish, closed the show. Join. KEENEYS. A good specialty show at Keeney's, Brooklyn, the first half, seven acts, with more than enough old favor- ites included to have warranted billing it as a "young old-timer's festival." Maybe it's good luck, or perhaps good management, or rather a combination of both, with the latter figuring about 90 per cent, in the arrangement, but some- how or other Keeney manages to gee 'em week In and week out con- sistently, regardless of the limited ' scope of his single week "circuit" or j any of the other numerous diffi- culties, that bejie,t .rjie independent. l.ouis 1'incus is booking the Keeney houses (Newark and Brook- lyn) now through the Amalgamated office's, having succeeded Fred Cur- tis several weeks ago. The first half show evidenced that Mr. Pincus knows his business, can frame a small time show with the best of 'em, and furnishes the answer to the "good management" part of the conundrum as to how Keeney does it. Crumbley and Brown, a two-man colored singing and talking com- bination, started off the works. The comic corks Up, deepening his natural brunet eomph-xion. pos- sesses a knowledge of small time comedy values and gets a good average fo laughs, with familiar material, well handled. The straight sings pleasingly, A song about a checker gain*?, with good comedy business, held considerable novelty. Hill and Samhrs < N< w Aeta)