Variety (August 1921)

18 NFW MHOWS THIS WEEK Friday, Aufrust l!i, 1H21 PALACE Quea at both box offices Monday were informed that only box seats and standing room were to be securt'd, Bhowins that It is Just a malter of weather at the Palace. The third week in Aufust started off cool as to temperature, making it perfect for theatret*. The new orchestra Iook<>d augmented over that of last weok, with Feveral lady playi-rH. One pla:»'ed a violin and two more were handling brasses and gettiiiK rcKultH equal to male musiciann. Only onco did the orchestra stragsic and it was of no importance. Cues were per- fectly bandied. Vttlo.-ka Huratt, the hondliner, with Jack Alliuan leading the support in "Jade." pulled an exceptional gather- ing of regulars in for a i>eck. Closing intorr.rHsion it supplied the lobby critics wit.il frco opportunity to ex- )'<rr.ss o])inions, and they did. The act luustorcd scattered and feeble ap- plnusc. •Jr.do** is glittering That nboiit lets it out. Hut doul»led with the Hurntt name it pr<)l)ably jneana a roptc. ('onMructively it i.s rnnkly mnal(Miii.sh. The enide attempts to infuse comedy lines into what may h:5ve been n drnn>ati<' try make it worse, for laughter is an unknown quantity. 'Korty-serond street and JJro.idway'' is mentioned no less than three times, which may mean a boost or a knock for that famous corner. The art ran 20 minute.s, showing that 7 minutes had been cut from the first showing at Brighton last week. If "Jade" is to be whipped into somft- thinj; worthy there is still much cut- ting to be done. Miss Suratt has a line describin?? herself as *']40 pounds of American femininity." If she de- sires to make atidiencos believe that Jior first costume should go out, for in it slie loolied 20 pounds or more over tin* weight. Hoth of tin* otln-r . <.'()slunies looked excellent. Alhnan's soni* was needed for the«set change.-', though his solo alt(>m))t Monday sounded away off forn). The settings and general dressing are the two hruht sr|)ots in Miss Suratt's playlet. Of the eight Hct^ making up the phow, Ciladys Clark and Henry Herg- ni.an ntid Oallagher and Shean, ap- [•earing in the order named after in- termission, were tlie evening's suc- cesses. Miss Clark was forced to withdraw from the stage last spring through an ankle injury, Ilergman go- ing it alone for a time. She still fa- vors the hurt, trying no dancing. In ro\itine the act is not nmcli changed over last season, but it has been brightened. Ilergman is chattering and singing snatches of nulodies to the dancing of the Crisp Sisters and it adds much to the girls' part. Again with a box plant, afterward mentioned as Mr. liondau. Bergman lifted the a''t with his ihalter. The pair talked i'l what they believed was Swedish dialecr, but it melted into "Dutch." llergmar.'s liue. "Take it ea.sy, IWin- nie." (one of the Crisps) was made a tag line. Mis.s Clark looked well and was in good vocal trim. The billing "Mr. (iallagher and Mr. Slieau" will become standard for the teuru, it being taken from their song of that name tliat is regarded as on*' (if the ',)est lyrics Korung in a flock of reasons. The numner was sure fire. A'crscrt started by Shean's funny little "Mr. Callagher" alw;<ys wrung so hearty a laugh that there was a forcetl pnu.^.e before the ]dayers continued. The reunited teaiu is good for in- flefiuiti* bookings. An interesting angle of the come back is tlie value of Sli.'an's modified' Dntch dialect, ll Hnun(Ie<l funny, as aTways. showing Stanley and Co., v.ho closed, haviui the walkouts tu (ontend with. The placing of the Stanley turn on the end of the bill bears out the rumor that tU<> Iveitu bookers were going to experiment this Kcason by placing strong Comedy turns in the .good night spot to try and cure the vaudeville public of the parade habit. It didn't work here but is worth a trial "The Love Hace." headlining closed tlie tirst half. Thoy liked the lloaglund-Carroll act at this hou!K', where it seemed to be in much bet- ter Hhtti»e than formerly. The num- bers aiti girls oou!>".'d witli the danc- ing of Mihired Keats. Harry White and the Love Si.slers will get it o«rer despite the familiarity and resem- blance of the situations and book to iMimerous other race track acts. Tonnny (jordon, the juvenile, is ini'^ I)rov'.r.g with work and is getting many njore laug'is t.'itn on his other niet''ojH>liiau appe.iranees. Klly, billed as the youngest f.mi- nine juggler in the world, could prob- ably vote without drawing a challenge l)ut has nn interesting juggling and b:ilancing turn that made a decided impression. The girl works like a madcap and exude.s pep all over the place, ller flash trick was the jug- gling un<l balancing of seven articles Kimultaueously. She opened. Nate Leipzig held the dunce spot and mystified eons-istently with the best assortment of card tricks yet lent comedy acrobatic offering to a 8olid hit. Coulin and Glass were rather nn- fortunate. The act wai^ going along smoothly and looked to be another bit when right in the punch spot Myrtle GlasH lost her voice almost complete- ly. It was a peculiar incident. 8h« seemed to be singing at her best and in a second the voice was gone. The couple have a neat arrangwnent with scenic effe<ts. songs, dances and com- edy. There is a spot or two that drags but thig may have been becau(<e of the accident. The arrangement Is different from the general run of man and woman acts and all the songs and material are of the restricted brand. Properly placed, this team should be a welcomed period in any vaudeville program. Miss (llasa Is showing some very nifty costumes, which she carries in a smart and gingery manner. Jimmy Conlin uses the piano only incidentally. Victor Moore and Kmma Llttlefield arc doing '(Miange Yonr Act." still full of good wholesome laughs. The act was badly placed here, closing the show. AMERICAN ROOF srMii. Ai<led by a "coujniittec" the iiiiigician cb.anged the s^»o(s of vari- oi:< selecficns. topping it off with a bow when he wrap[)ed a deck in a piece of paper tiiul then inserted a knife, cutting the cards previotisly selected. Leipzig has n habit of drop- ping hiM voice at times which makes liis patter and announcements dilK- ciilt to bear. lie closed a strong favorite. The ('aits Ilrothera followed in their d.tnelng turn. The audience en- trance is about played out ar.d con- dieted with Stanley later on. No vaudeville audier-e is ever fooled now by the bou><e commotions. These boys could get the same effect and use the same dialog and business without it. The s»)!o and double d.inees got over, botJi being glib hoofers. A dancing mat may I)e use<l. the taps sounding clearer than usual. .\fter interiuisslou and "Toj^ics." .\e.sop*s Vables (opp^wl the hit of the picture dfjiartment. They are a wel- come «!iver.-;i(tn an<l novelty. Arthur West in ."What the Criti«s Slid." ba< k in va\»deville after an <M);r;»j:eincnt in a le^^timate produc- tion, rung up the fu'st <-onii'«ly bit with vrvy little competition before biin. W«'st fonnd tiie 8|)ot to bin lik- i ing and hooked llieiu with his open- ing soi\g. Most of bis stories sound- ed new. One of the gags nbo\it a tlelicaff'ssm :.»ore and the prices hn home here, lie was the comedy hit of the l)il!. NoiM'tte followcil and copped .all the artistic honors with her violining singing iind sweet personality. She is an artist. A leader was wisely e.Trried to lend the now orchestra through the nia/es <»f her vocal and violin numbe;'j witli vpriations-. She (•lose;| villi 'Pear Old Ta! of Mine" in the di'^solvlug b iby spot as form- erlv to :\u ovation. Stanley cot as fnueh as could be expected in n <li(ricnlt spot. l^illv Dodje has r«Mil.'HTd the former male member and hetry Maurice is reliev- inir Mrs. Stanley. The new n>au ""trenglh'us the turn through de- livery. They went as usual at llji-^ li<nise. wiprc S'an'iey is a prime f.ivoiile. Con. th-e !v..".!*'v "f diH!»''^'ts i«i itnpersoi^:i! atnl \H rciilly a woven bit of tl>< Aniercan comedy style. 1). IK 11. wejit over for the hit of llie early p;irl. uppeaiin*.; fourth. The enr ycIop"<li;i "s;itesman" tarrie<l for 1*'J minutes, incliiiliiig :\ tiny spe«'(h. in which he sa'd this was his initial Pal- ace showing. His sallies of a profes- sional natui'c drew the biggest lanulis - tie line that puttiiig ou the Kit/. w;is a thr(e-a-<Iay turn getting a showing at the Hoy.-il. "I'll gel you the last half," being des''rib«'d as a bit of bunk, also landed on fertile ground. William r.ra<'k and (^>. have a new opening, the scene showing the men as artists. Tliis dab of "dressing" the turn resulted ii» it getting spotted No. .'{ for a f'ue score. The a«'robatic routine appears about th.- same, but given the chance the act looked its best, with the pedal jugglery the scor- ing feature. .. Fd VvM»M;in nn»1 Tiill N;i.s1i »loliverj'd a well rewarded No. 2. Several fresli^ sorigs Won attention. The pnneli cann« with a m<'(Hey duel, the sptxial lyrif being along |)aro<ly lines. That earned the I earn an encore bit 81st ST. "^rhe three comedy ac tl of the 81st St. bill Mond.jy weie in a row at the linisli of the six -act show. One of those acts could li.'i\e been moved info the first half. IN>rhaps tliere was the <pjcstiou of going on No. 2. but OU4' of the acfs No. JI would have hel|ied. 'I'he business Mondaiy night was not good and it was not warm. The bill was tojuied off witli an ordinary fe;iii:;e pirtnre. Individually the acts were all right and there was a hit or two but the show played slow. Melva Sisters op<'hed. Two nice looking young girls who hammerfd liv«'Iy tuTies out of the xylophone and got a laugh with their bottle arrange- ment. When they had fir)ish(>d (Jeorge atid •May La Fevre opened the yhow (une more with their dancing specialty. nrt'ssint' ami srene^y ._i^re the ...otit standing features, although juucji (»f! the dressing runs iQ glitter and is nmio fl.-.Mliy than artistic. The danc- inir is fair. Cecil Orey sings three or fnnr .»ongs, it seemed like eight in The first nighters liked tJieir Scot«h j thi-; arrangemei-.t. and at the finish " sure, most remaining throuclioiil ! l;:Kes off a ^^ig arid gives the imprt'<- sion she is n female im|»ersonator. Thi.c; she does very well and has the walk and manner of the im;i<M's<»n:ii - ors to a nicety. She also shows soi k supporters. It takes about SO see- <tn(is. Twelve or I.", minutes of sing- inu vbi«-h nn';t)i«* noihing is lhroii,':h before it. if Miss (Jrey can get Ptunething entertaining to go be- fore the finish she will be able to bold a spot in big bills but with the present layout ji'«<f that one bit is another of acts for . .Tack Wyatt and his Scotch Lads and Tinssies, who closed th« show. The bagi)ipc band with all the girls ])ar- ticipatlng made quite a showing. Villa and Pan(dio (New Acts> supplied a strong opening RIVERSIDE The cool weather and t.ie bill :ii tbi.'. Keith house wert" t'(»ndu.-i\e U> generous attendance by the neighbor; ar.il the neighbors' chil(h( u Mouilav niebL Jlie hIiow held plenty of eutert.'iin nier.t, being a good variety assort ment of arts with but two comedy entiles present in Ai^thur West, who opened after intei mission and Stan h.irdly eiunigb. IN-rhaps in bill with some different sfyl» ahead she ^^oMld look better. ^^'iH am and .Toe Mandel did cattb them right awav. uhieh The summer Is waning: Labor Day ia in sight and with that holiday reg- ular bills return to the vaudeville theatres. The summer is the hard- est of all theatre times, and in vaude- ville the summer booking man is the safety check on the circuit'e bank ac- count. During the summer when the Locw bills arc framed for hot weather business, it may be all right to kid the shows A bit, with those aware of the conditions understanding that, but on the other hand there is a certain cred- it due for ski ful booking. Summer booking is an art, with a headache probably concerned, for the conscien- tious booking man. Big time bookers with an expansive salary limit could do a lot with even liberal restric- tions, but the small timer who must figure close in any season ia skimp- ing some when able to cut down in the summer and still make a showing. That is why credit should go to Jake Lubin, the TiOew general booking manager, who has saved his circuit .thousands of dollars in this hot sum- mer, as he bus in summers gon*^. Mr. Tjubin gnmbles with the weather an<l \isnallv wins, for at least he olways has a* bill that looks all right to the fans, disregarding what a few regu- lars and some disap|)ointed agents may think of it. whilst what is a most (Mpinlly as important. Lubin can clip down a show, saving an act or I two that way. nnd still make it satis- I factory. Quite a guy. that Lubin. ' when he's booking or wheti he's not. The observation is caused, as it was recalled, through the first half show this week at the American Roof. If .lake framed that bill t. beat the weather, he should have the champ booking medal pinned right on to his shirt waist. It was a break. The show played as we'l as though it were November, with Callahan and IJIiss sending it to KX) per cent next to closing. The two men stopped the performance so completely that the drop, raised for the closing acrobatic turn, with the a<robals about to en- ter, had to be lowered again while th* show stoppers reappeared foV nn en- core. "Attaboy Tice. old boy! Attaboy, oh Hee, oh boyl" said one of Cal- lahan and Hliss to the other, and he repeated it often, ^ringing a swe l- ing howl of laughter each time. The way he sa> s it is inimitable. One of the men tells the other to get ready to think, he's going to pull a ridille. "On t!;e hi!! tb.ere !••'•, mW). Arroind the mill there is a wa k. OtJ the walk there is a key. Now what city is it." Ilis partner makes an effort to think. I lis thinking mr.y ahnost be seen. When it grows painful, the partner enc«uirages him with itie "Attaboy" line. 'i'hi> <uie little bit", sounding foolish in piint. is held to for three minutes of laughter by this act. Why |iay big money foj- material? liut it can't be done by everyone, so keep on juiyiug. for almost anyone else would ruin it. A'niost as much is gotten from one of the partners ask- ing the other to guess what mimber lie is thinking of between one and five. The partner mumbles one. two, three, fuwv. five several tiujes. always thinking with a vacant stare at the audience then guesses "three." The otiK'r says. "Attaboy" again, and re- marks. "S<e how cbise you g<it, Hee, <dd bov! It uas two!" Callahan and llliss are billed as "'!'wj.>. Sitorts fr<un Michigan.'', A viuiil.'tr turn is done by the Innis r.rotht'rs and perhaps others, a re- vision in a w:iy from the old variety days when that famous male team. Lcste and Allen, of "Two Hot Sports in Town" fame were a regular attrac- tion. Callahan and I'liss were in a burles(p!e slh)W for a seasrui. but did not show as well there as they do in a vaudeville program, and [irobably have reframecf the routine. They could reframe it again, to cut down the singing, but not cutting it out. and gt.r.e doing more talk, for in talk and such pantomiming as goes with the char- acters they excel —and are big time. Another good act passed nj). The bi I held a novelty skit in "Marriage vs. Divorce." a morality playlet in a way with the od«iity through interi)olated songs and dances. It's a shdrt story with osides. with Marriage starting and Divorce the four playera, while Rath and Garren present. It's a feature turn for the amoJl time. Opening after intermission and fol- lowing the skit, Norton and Wilson, a mixed team, had to start their bridal outfit and resembled the previ- ous turn so much the man mentioned It to «quare themselves. They did badly accordingly, but that could not be helped, although the team's draggy Chinatown finish will never get (hem much in the better small timers. They should stick to singing uops more and talk less, for if they do anything at all well, it is the singing. A dramatic sketch in the second part did not make the show too sketchy. It was a playlet with Phylis Gilmore and Co. (New Acts) that did quite well, and can go along on this time without trouble. Perhaps a small time novelty were Nakae and Co., Japs, No. 3, in jiii jitau demonstrations. The work is cleanly performed by the three men, but is made too rapid ail of the time. Some of the eluding tricks could be repeated with the slow motion idea fo give the auditors a chance to grasp the intricacies of that self-defeusc style. While familiar on big time, it may be new to small, and if so. will prove decidedly interesting there. The bill was opened by Hart and E aine, with Fred Uoberta in black- face second, Ghallis pnd I^ombert, re- turning here, were fourth, and well liked, while Siegrist aud Harrell. a neat turn of its sort, closed the shov.-. AMth the opening of Loew's new State, Broadway, thot wi 1 be the most important house from every angle on the Loew Circuit, it is said. Gene Meyers, the Amer- ican's manager, may have charge of it. iMr. Meyers has been noticed around the State, arranging for the opening, and logica'ly he seems to be the selection, for bis handling of the American has kept that theatre up to pitch. A permanent improvement was the fixing of the lobby, something that had darkeneil the American's en- trance for years, while Monday night on tho Hoof it was noticed that those awful "roses" on the trellis work un- derneath the balcony ceiliug had been removed, beautifying the r.tmosphere around there. The Hoof orchestra had a full com- I)len:ent of H) men Mon<Iay. the band l>la\ing extreme y well. Downstairs in the fl-eafre the orcluv:tra was lim- ited to four pieces, through two of the first six having walked. Husine.-s Monday night was about SO per cent capacity; very good. Siinc. not natural. Tiny did at all. and finished well to get them there most excel- WHS ^interloper until a baby's garment <'hases Divorce away. George ITsher and Luci Huki are featured among the FIFTH AVE. Ideal theatre weather anri the ex- tra attractions of the regular Mon- da.v night (tan<e contest and the exhi- bition of a movie reel in which some four scor« <'ontestants took part in comedy and dramatic" acting, nil tended to bring them flocking to the extent of a S. H. O. house by the time the first act came on. The female orchestra. Iieaded bv Miss Georgia Sande overtured at S.!;"» and w«>n a fair hand both on merits as well as good natured "kidding" later deporting themselves with gen- uine professional sMlI. <'arpos brothers opened with a banjo solo and closed with a musico-acrobatic head to head perch although their main (fforts are limited to the .•straight cranium to cranium stunts, both men being ab<»ut efpuilly built , whirh means that much more to the understajider's credit. Jewell nnd Raymond in the deuce spot had a cute little kid act. One is in kni«kers and the gal in kot and : jiViMiiie f roi k. Toward the clo» e of . the turn, the girl confides to the audi- I ence seriously her partner Is really a girl and not a hoy. If so. the r"- I verse Kltinge impprsonafor fooled the house completely because th^y re- fused to believe it even after tWe sup- posed disclosure. To bear out his partner's statement, the "boy" affects an unnatural falsetto to lend the fem- inine efTect although "his" voice is of natural deep-throated masculine tim- ber. That matters little, for the act is a good one on its merits, other than if it is a bona fide iiiipervona- tion it ought to be more tangiblv de- noted to reflect favorably on the im- personator: it is done so faithftilly that any efTort to prove that fact only appears to be a desire to hoax the audience—and any niob of near-intel- ligent humans hates to commit itself irrevocably where it is not sure for fear of falling into the .vokel class. Th;it s what happened and the hous<» took the conservative course of re- maining respectfully quiet with a col- lective noncommital look on their col- lective countenances. "Indoor Sports" walloped them ?i> the three spot and proved its claim to vaudeville fame ns a comedy clas- sic of no mean calibre. Th.it line from a lav neighbor %hnt the cast particularly the unwilling boob and vamp half of the quartet, belong in legit is worthy of recording In print only for the fact it would mean the disrupting of a sterling aggregation of vaudeville players. The house was laughing from curtain to curtain —why sav more? Patricols came on to a good na- tured audience and left them better nalured after reeling off a quintet of pat, Patricolnesque ditties. She can chirp a tune straight with the best of em: she knows it but proves her wisdom still further by incorporating histronicr interpolations of her own that .lust enact the lyrics to the house —and then thev go craiy for more! Miss Patrlrola bowed off mnnlficentlj Monday night, ezdted, the annund.. tor for Princeton and Watson went on but the clamor was that great akZ came out, booded a few more time. and only ransomed her liberty aft-! she dehvered a blues. " The two-act that followed had litUs *TS**i5f"*^. ?*^l "Hrownderby. viUe" skit wiurted wher "■ the wisJ cracking, slangy p. a. for a "i ooeh* artist (Princeton) runs up «Kain«» Mr.^-v Johnson, (Miss Watson) lat. of the "Koad to Huin ' company which came to its destination in this tank town. The advance man offers to stake the gal for a return sleeper to the Main stem which leads up soai. bromidic sob slush that saves the performers only when the femmes in the orchestra trench give a r^ispberrv salvo of applause and thus iftu the hokum into the travesty class It was done so seriously at first the house for the main almost accepted the hcarts-and-owers chin music seri* ously although quite a few were in- solently sootting. For a tag that got them off big he promises Hosle a house on top of the bilk minus any doors and windows to which she quer- iously retorts, punningly. **Theu whit will we do for son and heir." Dave Harris ond Band (New Acta) Pistel and Johnson in cork had a slow time getting started with their cross talk due in part to poor accous- tics but got to 'em after a time. Edith Olasper and Hoys closed with a neat terp act, the girl's two male assist- ants as rivals for her hand. One brags a big bank account and the other the possession of four quarts so that evens matters with the deci- sion that the only way would be for one or the other to dance his way into her heart which serves as the theme of the introductory ditty. This the hoys proceed to do to an evident dead heat. It's nn excellent No. 8 turii for nnybt.dy's theatre capable of dos- ing and doubtlessly holding them in, as at this house The dau'.o and movie contests and a Sennett slapstick reel closed in the order named. Ahcl, 58th ST. This house had a layout of two- acts the first half, with a sir-act bdl, each cor.sisting of two mcmbera. Mouday night found the attendance near to capacity with the coolest Aug. ir» iu 110 years drawing them i^ The new orchestra at thiK house is worthy of n:euli<»n. The six bovg in the pit are handling (heir job man- fully. The volume attained from the small number of instriiincnls is re- ni:irkcblc. wiih the ability of the mu- sicians in vaudeviUc playing pro- nounced. James and I'ess Aiken opened the shov.'. The turn has two vocal num- bers by the male members. Tho in- trodu( Lory opj; nhould be clipped and the other dropped. Ilis coutortion work is the act's best feature. Miss Aiken skates well but needs new siuut.s. Andy and l>ouise Karlow, No. 2, have a dance offering that caught on. The male impersonation bit by the girl has its best value in the steiming. The vocal effortH fall short. A tough character dance left the audience in the right frame of mind. Kspe and Dutton are reunited, do- ing their former variety offering. Kspe recently tried out a three-act with a girl and male partner. The revival <»f the two-Hct is advisable. It abounds with come«ly with the can- non ball business sure t'jvc. Dora Hilton, with Fred Ahl at the piano, displa.\e<l a voii-e rbovc the average on the small tli»ie. Miss Hilton goes in for straight singing, showing <onsidcrabIe range v.itli her voi-e \\hi<'h has e\(rpfi«Kta^ sweet- ness. Tlic ballad \\<v(\ for an «'oeore was not up to par with the reinain- <ler. King and Irwin, witli the former ('omf<Mt arul King turn, weie a com- edy hit next to closing, .lohn King secure<l laugh after laugh with bii '•wench" impersonation, the :.trong- est asset. T.erk and Sawn (NeW Acts) closed the sh«w. 2.3rd ST. A well put together pop show the first half, running to straight vari- ety. The cool weather Monday night acted as a first-rate business booster, the house filling up much earlier than usual. Hill and Sanders opened with a cycle turn that included some cleverly done tricks by Hili and an old-time high bike. Other tricks brought forth a unicyde and cart- wheel. In calling attention to the liigh biUr, Mr. Hill sai^l it was krowli years ago as a velocepede. Not ei- iictly accurate, as a velocepede wsi a three-wheeled affair, not two. Ac- ,cording to an old-timer whose mem- ory covers the "Ask Dad" period of ancient theatrical history, the high two-wheeler was always known as OA "ordinary." An interesting turn, thiif which sent the show away to an ex- cellent start. Carroll and Oorman. No. 2 (New Acts) gave the proceedings another boost. Nick Long and Idaiene Cotton and Co. were third. (N« w Acts). Keegan and O'Hourke slij)ped over • neat hit^ fourth, with a nicely roo* fined singing, dancing and talkinf turn. Hoth are adepts at handliof "blues," each with a distinrtive styls that gets right over the foots. George Yeoman, next to closiDf» flashed a bunch of new talking n)»* terial in his monolog. making tbt most of an interruption. Bdl.