Variety (March 1921)

84 VARIETY (/ Friday, tlarcir v.,it y * \ ■ 5 . age 2m£ THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN, BUT THERE IS ANKU A YLV THE ORIGINAL FOX-TROT ACROBATS"—Are a Brand New Act to New York SEE US NEXT WEEK, Masch 14, 15, 16. at PROCTOR'S 58TH ST. Direction PETE MACK, Pat Casey Office " t * * H i 'I , ***> •• *' " :■.'■•■".v: rnv a. im ..... ~...a c -«'', u .■ ^ u J,,t i 4 fcMt. =3 ———« »-nr T* 1 TT" VAUDE EEVIEWS (Continued from page 19.) BROADWAY. A slow punchlcss show at the Broadway this week, running rather draggedly due in the main because of a monotonous repetition of double acts all in "one." with the exception of the opening and closing turns. Then, too, for an act that's featured In the lights, Gallagher and Martin were too early, in the trey spot. They could have easily exchanged positions with Hughes and DeBrow, next to closing, to advantage. The management evidently counted on "The Kid" for the drawing cards and made the show subsidiary to it. Ollie Young and April opened Tuesday evening to a capacity.house and blew bubbles and juggled bub- bles and did tricks with bubbles to the evident delight of the audience. In No. 2 Arthur Lloyd card manipu- lated tor a spell to interested atten- tion and response. Skeets Gallagher and Irene Martin found exceedingly hearty favor in No. 3 with their "Smlthie" vehicle (New Acts). "The Night Boat." a Lewis and Gordon production writ- ten by John B. Hyraer, entertatned fairly in lieu of the usual sketch playlet. The piece is a novelty In production, although running three or four minutes too slow, a thing that can be easily remedied. The plot concerns a pseudo-merry widow who unconsciously has annexed three swains ranging in age from twenty to sixty, with the trio for a finale discovering the "widow" to fr* a married woman. The conclud- ing business with the various pitched beckoning bells to lure the somnambulistic heroine, also served as a piece of impromptu business to introduce Kane and Herman, a couple of staggering stags who eventually walked off with the com- edy and applause honors of the evening. The boys still feature their "ragtime cocktail" number, although they have a rejuvenated line of crossfire that hit the bulls-eye throughout. The comedian is working very Kdwynn and proved effective withal. The straight still showed the effects of a cold. Lee Rose and Kathryn Moon, with Jess Sutton at-the piano, stepped into high favor with the attendance with a cycle of dances, although the turn could stand speeding up by several minutes, a thing easily ac- complishable by the elimination of one of the accompanist's two soloes. A tripping double dance number scored as did the "Arabian Nights" One-step finish. Hughes and DeBrow, blackfaced, crossfired for their alloted time to a flock of laughs concluding with a practical chicken crop prop for a comedy finish in which the duo are pinched by the stagehand-copper in the act of making away with the prop chanticleers. Lohse and Sterling Rhowed an in- teresting acrobatie routine deservant of a spot on either end of big time lay-outs. "Topics of the Day" and the Chap- lin film comprised the concluding flicker program. FIFTH AVE. A very good eight-act vaudevttyt bill at the Fifth Avenue, the first half, three of the turns newcomers, and the others standard recruits from the big and near big-time fields. Business on the lower fit or was capacity, with the logos and upper boxes a trifle off Tuesday night. George Kosner and Gallagher and Rolley took down the honors, show- ing just what comedy means to a variety bill. Rosener's character studies blasted over to big returns, each one getting its share and build- ing up to the big punch with the old G. A. R. Veteran, who is full of rheumat'sm and wise cracks. Rosener's only serious contribution, the half-witted boy, is a fine piece of dramatic business. Next were Koyco and Rydac, (new acts), with Gallagher and Rolley followed, with their sterling comedy talking skit, and also de- livered, in large bucket fulls, after a quiet start. The clever crossfire quickly thawed- out the hard-boiled attendants, and they had them wrapped before Rolley cleaned off the bases with his harmonica play- ing and loose dantv». Daly, Mac and Daly, the fast roll- er skating, mixed combination, opened and dashed through their routine without stalling. The girl makes a couple of changes, while the males attend to some difficult figure and solo spinning. The com- edian takes numerous falls, making them lcok realistic and funny. The opening is from a box containing a monster roller skate with the fe- male seated thereon. They were liked.. Mile. Cleo, (new act), was second and passed, doing about nine min- utes of piano and vocalizing. She was followed by George Holland in "Fixing the Furnace." The low comedy hit the Fifth Avenue bunch right. Holland's kidding and abuse of his English accented "stooge" partner was good for laughs at all times. It's a real funny turn, de- spite its_length of service. Edd and Mae Ernie, (new acts), were third and got over strongly. The man Is a monopedic dancer, and Is assisted by a girl who helps. Dippy Diers and Bennett closed just before the feature picture, and held most all with their acrobatic knockabouts, the women's shovel dance and Diers table fall did the trick for them. A screen announcement during the show informed all aspiring Chaplins that they would learn something to their advantage by calling at the coat room on their way out. It was rumored that this had some connection with the Daily News Contest for the funnicst-face-in- New-York. Con. The Chaplin starting screening shortly after 11:20. The Al Golem Troupe was the fea- tured act, closing intermission, but not to full satisfaction. The usual perch flash finish was not given, there being insufficient height. Only the first perches were used. When Golem lofted the longer perch it stretched beyond the border lights and he walked off signaling the cur- tain down. No attempt at explana- tion was made. , > The hit of the show easily went to Moore and Fields a colored team down next to closing. The chatter employed was mediocre, but the dancing of one of the men drew a gale of applause. There are few tap dancers who have anything on this chap. Also he has some steps of his own that are extremely difficult. His first waltz number was a graceful exhibition, with his finale eccentric work bringing a demand encore. The miniature comic Jimmy. Rosen and his crisply frocked part- ner amused with the farce "Call Me Papa" in the usual sketch position after intermission. They were tickled when wifle wanted It known if the women her husband had been arrestee with, ware white, and they howled when he told her to tell her mother to go to hell. The days have gone when getting wet goods was just & matter, of calling up the grocer's, but it seemed natural enough for the lines' in the Rosen turn. - i Vincent and Franklyn. a mixed song writing team, opened intermis- sion very well (New Acts). A bou- quet was sent over the footlights to Miss Franklyn... It was the second, as some flowers too went to the girl in the Newsboys Sextette (New Acts) a sort of revived turn. Davis and McCoy did w-ell enough on third (New Acts). The Moore, Mortn Trio (New Acts) were second. Mykoff and Vanity closed . the show with a dasn of a good dancing, , especially so on the part of the woman. The dressing of the pair starting with the pirouette costumes was fresh and it aided considerably. Chuck Overfield on the slack wire opened. He appeared in two. The balance of the first section down to Golem's appearance was in one. Ibee. AMERICAN ROOF. "The Kid," Chaplin's latest com- edy, was looked forward to by ex- hibitors and others to "put th? pic- ture business back on its feet." It looked as though it would not only live up to prediction, but provide whale size business for vaudeville houses, too, this week when it was generally released in New York. Many of the Keith and Locw houses are showing the fllm this week, in- serted as an extra attraction. The picture is bringing back to the box office, its cost many fold judged from the business at the American Monday. All day the house was a sell wit. and at night the crowd for the roof stretched all the way down the long lobby to the street. At 7:15 the sale for the balcony was stopped and the up- stairs theatre has not been so com- pletely filled except on a holiday for many moons. Douglas Fairbanks in "The Mark of Zorro" pulled about the same kind of business here and stayed a week, but it had not such general exhibition as accorded "The Kid" this week. Because of that only the first half was booked at the American. That the Chaplin could have stood up with equal strength was not doubted. An exceptionally strong show was offered on the roof, the performance starting at eight o'clock with a two- reel comedy. With the full nine act bill is being regularly shown now on the roof regardless of the feature. youthful and classy dancing girl who lines as chief of Ford's support, is one of the As tor Sisters. She is said to be but fifteen years of age. The lass resembles Marilynn Miller in a way. The Bullet Proof Lady provided a good opener. There was no trouble getting a committee on the stage for the final stunt, which gives the act its name. Shooting a . bullet "through the living body of a lady" sounds terrifying, but the lady seemed more concerned at the early marksmanship, closing her eyes for all of the shooting in which she was concerned. Whether the house be- lieved the marksman's careful ex- planation that regulation ammuni- tion was used for the body stunt or not, the work drew solid attention. Al Weston, Irene Young nC Co. revived a former skit, now called "What's the Idea" (New Acts), and it made a good No. 2. George Ran- dall and Co.. with "Mr. Wise," fol- lowed. The woman in the turn can stand freshened wardrobe, and the assisting male player might be a bit more careful in make-up. The sketch amused. Smith and Troy, a colored song writing to. m, was fourth. The "lion liar" chatter got laughter, but some of the other talk was not so successful. For song- smiths they have Pot an overplus of vocal offering In the routine. They drew good returns with the medley of numbers written by them and of- fered at the finish. Ibcc. "V 11 . n jnrgg.m jingggTM Sii SBBRBSi u >. -UJ-u-iui groggy plants her lines with good empha- sis. They give every indication they can do better. Jolo. 23RD ST. Mild weather has not materially affected business here. Tuesday night a rather good house was in. Next week, with Charlie Chaplin's "The Kid" on for the first half, the management looks for the same I over-capacity business that the comedy afforded the uptown thea- tres this week. The show was made up of six acts instead of the usual .seven, ex- tended running time of several turns and a long feature fllm being the reason. In spite of novelt> here and there the performance was an extremely talky one. That, perhaps. Was one reason why the audience started walking when Edwin George entranced next to closing. George remarked that he would have to work fast as they were walking out on him. but felt tha"t It was bo* >r to have tht>m going than to have them coming in on him. His chatty style amused, and his "I wouldn't be bothered with it" jugglinp stirred the giggles, George walking off to the most legitimate applause of the evVning. The new Max Ford Revue was the class of the show, assigned to lose. In that spot It will probably reach the big houses. There is little in the routine over the showing re- cently at the Fifth Ave. A new song has been allotted the sister team, which works after the en- semble. The girls are now doing "Missin' Mammy's Kissin.*" The !l«aul!fut Props, painted or plain ku Sateens. VclvrU flrxl ftufltteC T'niqu? in rotor and desisu. Ertttuuiiitib prietS. 'HNNTAI. ritlVU.KCK AM.OWK1* NOVELTY SCENIC STUDIOS BRYANT 5408 DROP CURTAINS — "BEYOND COMPARE" 220 WEST 46th STREET NEW YORK GREELEY SQ. Six acts, a picture, a comedy and a news weekly comprised the pro- gram at the Greeley Square the first half of the week. The vaude- ville portion is headed by Odiva and Seals, an act that would seem toi be well worth while in the pop- ular priced variety houses. It closed the show, preceding the fea- ture picture and Just ahead of Odiva was Jarrow, who seems to have grown better-looking. At least he looked so, clad In an im- maculate Tuxedo suit. Jarrow has just as strong a dialect as he had 15 years ago and still closes with his "lemon" trick. Starting slowly the Greeley audience did not "get" him at first, but warmed up as he progressed. • The firBt two turns—Milo and Herman. Beulah Pearl (New Acts), after which Fisher and Hurst, mixed couple with crossfire, the woman doing wholesome "straight" to Fisher's "yiddish" character. They open with the rubway en- trance bit originally employed by Fisher and Green. Fisher's bur- lesque political harangue fed by his partner, is an excellent start toward what seems to be capable of vast elaboration, which should be made the basis of the entire act instead of being Incidental thereto. Conners and Boyne, man and woman, with special drop, following Fisher and Hurst, was not the best arrangement possible for a variety bill. Here is a couple with more than the nucleus of an idea. They are magnetic, open up smartly with a comedy song poking fun at de- partment store shopping and carry- ing the scheme through to the fin- ish of legitimate sequence. But they flop woefully in the middle with some old time crosstalk, even resuscitating the "married men live longer" gag. The few steps done by the man Indicate he is a good eccentric stepper and the woman NEWS OF THE DAILIES (Continued from page 17.) attorney, who sustained a black eye when he attempted to stop a phy- sical argument between Mrs. Carroll and a woman relative of her hus- band. "Caprice" will be the name of "Tangerine" when it opens, in New York. "The Right Girl" has suc- ceeded "Maid to Love" as the title of the Gleerich Productions show slated for the Times March 14. Margaret Anglln will present "Iphigenia in Aulis" at the Man- hattan opera house April 4. Sho will appear as Clytemnestra instead of Iphigenia. Her support will in- clude Sidney Mather, Mary Fowler. Ralph Roeder, Eugene Powers, Harry Barfoot and Moroni Olsen. A large consignment of wild ani- mals arrtve'd last week from Hagen- beck's. Hamburg, for the Rihgling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey phew. "The Good Old Days," a play by Capsar Dunn, will be producer. In Chicago this Summer by H. H. Fjyi- zee and brought to New York next season. The New York Velodrome Co., against which bankruptcy proceed- ings were started some weeks ago, has filed schedules showing liabili- ties of $49,568 and assets valued at $117,019, of which $38,519 Is Involved in stock sales. Marc Klaw and John Golden have come to bat against the Actors* Equity bill proposing a $250 bond to cover actors on the road. Klaw says it is discriminatory against the theatre, and Golden declares if' it passes "it will complete the dis- aster brought about by increased railroad rates, and virtually elim- inate touring companies." Ben-Ami will wind up his run In "Samson and Delilah" at the 39th street about March 19. Princess White Deer, appearing in the Ziegfeld "Frolics," has been granted an injunction against the Pictorial Review, restraining the publishers thereof from distributing its March issue. She declares the cover is a portrait of herself, used without her consent. Nina Morgana, soprano in the Metropolitan Opera company, and Bruno Zirato, secretary to Enrico Caruso, are engaged to be married. They will wed just as soon as the tenor is well enough to participate in the wedding festivities, which may be some months hence. Reversing the spelling of their name, the Shuberts, under the nam* of the Trebuhs Realty Co. have pur* chased a plot 50 by 200 feet, adjoin* ing the Century theatre on Central Park West and extending from W< 62d to W. 63d street. It is not known If the Ir.nd will be used for LOST Antique Jad*» Earring, between fltranrt Bid*., and St. Margaret Hotel, West 47th St., Wednesday, about 2:20 P. M. Liberal reward Finder plea.se return to EVELYN 8INTAE. 162 West 49th Street, New YorlC City; Apt. C. Rear; Phone Bryant 8116. MR. MARTIN BECK lists asked for more novelties on his bills, therefor*-- BOOTH and NINA presenting "A 20TH CEN- TURY NOVELTY." Immediately booked. Thank* to GEORGE GOTTLIEB and SAM KAHL. ARTHUR GOLDSMITH (Bentham Office) in East and CHARLES CROWL in the West. the This Week (March 7), Moline and American, Chicago. Next Week (March 14), State-Lake. Chicago. ________ Week March 21 Majestic, Milwaukee. NEW TO NEW YOR£ AND MARJORIE in "VARIETY A LA CARTE" BOOKED SOLIP NOW PLAYING PROCTOR'S 58TH STREl iMrecckm—JACK LEWIS