Variety (September 1921)

VARIETY 8 CHI0A60 OFFICE ■'.?n' ■•icu««i3Mt:^^r«' 'i^T""*".' mt^trago '■^•M^-'JW^ (^•-^|P>C<'"-»>-^ ■ I vM" -»• • »•.':. ^ PHdaj, September 2, 1&21 STATS-LAKE THEATRE BUILDllit CHICAGO VAUDEVILLE SHOWS PALACE, CHICAQO Ohioaso, Autf. 31. After beins dark for the pa;it .tw« mouths tfais bouse opened ita vaude> >il1e 8€«Aon with a typical ChicE^o vaudrvillc bill. Many of the acts are legiilar staodbyK, aaost of tbcio bav- ins been Meen at lea^t twice labt year. This did not 9top the recalar me- tomers from applaudiof, and it was like old times to see the show i^o over. The waHow ntarted with inob- :ibly the hotteHl day iu Au£U8t, but rveryone waH happy the l^alaoe is opru again. Ivitty Doner with her KJnter UoHC and brother Ted were the headlinerH, and lived up to cxpeota- liou^. The uet ^as never in bcttt>r rhapo, and th«* way the trio worked ebamed the nwingera of fans and ker- rM% into wiM applause. The show wuh opened with an act %k 4M10, Two Sternards, xylophonints. a dean*cut mixed team, with the girl making two classy changes snd using colored mallctM to correspond with lier clothes. They started the show off in high and were forced to come back for an encore. Bart ram and S«*xton sang tbeir way into an easy early bit. The boys have a lot of riflss, and wear tuxes a.v if to the manner born. Dorothea Sadler and <*o. were th# weak spot of the show, although the cast is not to blame, as thcAf put over the piffle giv^n to them. WilHam C. DeMille had an idea, but faile<1 to write up to it. The sketch is laid in 'IfyjO;' still all the props used are of the 1921 vinUge, and some of tbem could d»te back further than that, for example, an old-fash* ioned phonograph playing "Margie." It is the triangle, only reversed with the man paying. The entire thing was IndlcrouiP. and for a minute it Iookc<1 as if the sketch would never finish, as there was a cold laugh from tbe liudicnoe that spelled calamity. Hnt the ''ourage of the players polled it through. William Gaston and Helen Rapport are the supporting cast. Jack Joyce came back with a new act. As soon as Joyce finds a few stronger stories It will sail along very smoothly, as it has all the acquirements of a big- t1m> single of merit. Harry I^ngdcn and Co. in the tried and proved vehicle didn't miss, but time is telling, the laughs are getting weaker. Lloyd and Rubin with their funny talk goaled 'em for a sure fire «iM-time Palace hit. The boys then <'aroe back for individual dances that brought another salvo of applause. Tlw Doner Family followed all this dancing, but it^ npver phased theioQ one bit. With Kitty Doner as the nu «Ien9, this act was built for vaudeville consumption, ami vaudeville took them to her heart. Sinre laKt seen here the act has added a Bowery ilnn#»<». with M!<»s Kittv taking a cou- AARON JONES TIES UP PICTURES FOR LOOP EUGENE COX SCENERY 1734 Ogden Ave. Phone Beeley 3801 Chicago A3K ERNC8T EVANS ELI," The Jeweler TO THB PROFESSIOM Special Discount to Performer* WHEN IN CIIICAaO (%tate-I.Ake Tbrntrr Biilf. GroHiMt Floor ART EIER & HENRY ULLIVAN MERCHANT TAILORS TO rUF riCOFf^'SiON 610 State-Lake B«da- - Chicago, IU, I>le of "Dooleyft" that were darbi*. Tbe aet tinisbed with everylkinf tht gBjag eouhl offer, including a apeeeb of thanks. (jene Greene, untft^'i6ted outride *ft a few sons pluggirs who sat iu the audience, trwept along and never lost a soul until be came to bis stories, and tben patrons hesitated* wondering nbetber they should hear the ro«t of the HtoHes and miss their aubin'ban trains or hear Greene finish. Most of them decided to make tbe train; they wore right. Greene i<i singing one new song that sounds like n winner. Fivck and Penny coukl give lessens to a lot of dumb acts, speed, action with showmanKbip. every minute crowded with a thrill, and no let up vn account of the Iiert or the ;>i)aaU tiowd. After the bcjs got •started they in:.de th«ni wait in tbe aisles for the finish. STATELAKE, CHICAGO / Chicago, August 31. The crowds were in a hlippy-go* Incky mood and the bill was "the more you see, the more you want.** The bill did not hold any big draw- ing card, yet the people came, even stdoil in line, knowing that this honst gives value. It was a good test on the drawing power of tbe house, and not the bill. Tbe boraing stiii couldn't keep them away. This ia all in the face of tbe Palace. Just around the corner, opening this Monday, an4 even when the Apollo enters its vaude^ ville regime this comfortable, ei^ery; t>ody's pet house will keep them wait- ing outside. As long as tbe State-" Lake has been open, a pretty girl appeared on the stage with a large sign, having the act's name upon it. This week tbe annunciator was put into operation. It is a spool-like de- vice, with the bill printed on a roll, and operate<l back stage. The roll turns until it comes to the name of the aet appearing. Al Wohlman was the "Big Squeeze"* of the bill and held up the show. He sang himself into a show stopper, and very few shows have been 8toj)pe(| the way he did it. -Wohlman has a little history behind him. For a very long time he warbled in local cafes, and toured the small time. His latest appearance was with tbe Fan- ebon-Marco revue, in which he was one of the principals. It took big time a long time to realize that they were overlooking something worth' whil«> and now they have him and should keep him. Many years of Rrae- tice have put a fine polish to Wohl- man's style and it is a legitimate and welcome one. Mr. Wohlman enters in a sdiool graduate's frock, offering a few highly amusing specialty songs of how the I. O. S. had trained him. Then he goes into a number about a chap who chased W>bster off the map, when it came to speaking English, but when be ate, the peas kept rolling off his knife. Each of these ditties brings smashing applause. Thei) be doffs the graduate's garb, mngs popu- lar numbers, encoring with an Al Jolson impression. He slips into each number with prose. The Uayolites have fitted up an easel with light effects and when the man completes a painting it is mad^ much more attractive by electrical ef- fects. The subjects of tbe paintjng^ are well chosen. They opened the the show in a novel fashion. The Two Rozellas cauie Ncoond. The act is the same as before with a few changes in the popular selections. As usual the man's drunk character and playing brought the applauR**, while tbe woman is excellent at the harp. Bernice Howard and Jack White showed a comedy sketch, the plot of which has to do with a man caught slipping out at night. His wife de- mands nn explanation, and he wants to know why she is fully dressed. The man wanted to play poker, the womnn wante«l to danro. Thoy decide to go to their separate beds, which havr a screen between them. When both think the other i« asleep, they slip out. A fow slides ar»' then '»» "ST. REGIS" HOTELS "MARION 516 N. Clark Street CHICAGO 505 W. Madison St. PROFESSIONAL WEEKLY RATES CnANC:K OF KATKH Pincle. without hntli f8.00 und fO.OA y>oiiblr. without bnth. .tlO.M and Sit.oa 8inirle. with bath |I0..'>0 and $12.00 l>oubl«>, with bath $14.00 and 916.09 Tborooahly mcdern. Newly farnishrd. Convenient t4> all theatre*. Free rehenronl holl. WE SOLICIT YOUR PATRONAGE HAZEL RENE HATS -GOWNS- COSTUMES Sf>fi :U»H Shilc I.uK" I'liihlintf. t I» « :mn ii{i:m: di lit ()i k TrI. Cent. 1H09 ilA/i;i. HA vol < I'l rnwrly n ilFi »^«lith si.Hkliiid Secures First Run for Roosevdl Theatre to Shut Out New Chicago Obie«tOf Aug. 31. Aaron Jmmb, of Jones, Linick A tSii>tt^it-i, hofl 6«T«loiMd to be the tboru in tbe aide of B^laban & Katz with respect to thtir obtaiDiDg a va- riety of progrMD mud special pic- tures for B«lab«n A Katx' new $3.- 000,000 tbestre. tb« Chicago, due tf open ?ery shortly. The ebicago will B«at 5,000 and is lecftted diafonally acroaa tbe street from J. L. & S's Randolph theatre, which holds the key to tbe picture situation in the loop. Half f block below the Randolph on State street is Ascher Brothers* new |1,* 000,000 Luust, Roosevelt. Tbe Chicago would be direct oppo^ sition to tb^ Roosevelt, as Ihe poK- cies no doubt would be similar. Pitted in betwrpn thr<;r two the RaJidolph might have been smothered as far as revenue were eoncenied, as its price of admission is the same as charged at tbe Rooi>eveit. To spike any efforts which Balaban 41 Katz might make toward obtaining tbe Paramount program for the Obi- cago, Jones made an agreement with the AKrhrr Brothers whereby be would arrange to get for them tho first ruB of ParamoDDt pictures in tbe loop at the Boooselt. He then prevailed upon Adolph Zukor to give Ascher Brother'^ the Paramount fran- chise for lirnt run in the loop. In making thia deal Mr. Jones did not overlook he had six small pic- ture boBses downtown which <on]d alCord to run tbe Paramount picture subsequeBt to their showing at the Roosevelt. He arranged with Ascher Brothers immediately after a picture couciiiiita its engagepent at the Roosevelt it would be shown at the Orpheum, a J. L & S. house down the street, and subsequently at the other J. Ij. & 8 theatres. After putting over tbe Paramount deal with Ascher Brothers. Jones bad the latter "sewed up" as far a^ tbeir desire for big features could be sat- isfied, and then began to intrench himself with respect to the produc- tion which the Randolph would get to combat the Balaban k. Katx policy. He has signed up for the output of the Associated Artists, Metro, Fox, Patbe and numerous other independ- ent producers. Besides these he has contracted to play all of the big ^'spedais,** which include "Way Down Bast," "Over the Hills." 'The Four Horsemen** and Douglas Fairbanks in "The Three Musketeer^;.*' Tbe latter has opened an unlimited engaferaeat Bven though the Randolph plays the soper productions there is no presentation in conjunction with them, nor is there an augmented orchestra used. The rental for this house in nominal, and an admission charge of GO cents is made. The Aseber Brothern also have an "ace" in the hole by being able to have first call on tbe Goldwyn product in Chicago. Goklwyn is financially in- terested in tbe Ascher Brothers en- terprises. thrown on the olio drop, telling how the man had won at poker. The curtain rising shows the hubby and wife stealing in. Cross fire talk takes place, they find each other out, and decide to discard tbe twin beds and screen. It has many funny situa- tions, but not so clever lines. "Blue" Bert Kenny, with the as- sistance of I. R. Nobo<l3', fed his fa- miliar talk abQut an argument. Kenny's material i > standard, and is always appropriate. He is a cork artist of a type and class by himself. "I?ubblcH." a miniature revue, fea- twrinf; Jack Norton and Queenie Smith, was welcomed with open arms. Then came Al Wohlman. Wayne Beeman and Alma Grace roller skated thcmfiolves into high favor. Applause often interrupted their feats. Olsen and Johnson and Miss Robbie Gor- don not seen at this show. doors after having theas eloecd for a few months. Tbe real treat on the euUre bill was Ralph Whitehead. 8uiall time crowds here have been showered with motion picture stars, appearing ib person. But it has been a vevy long tim« since a musical comedy star entertaided. Perhaps this had its influence on tbe succestt of Whitehead. Nevertheless, Whitehead worked with a glossy polish, art, nonchalant, care-free manner and presented bis cbaracteri- sationn appropriately. The stories, depicting each character, were highly amusing, and did not overnhadow th*" tricks Whitehead employed in making each character real Ib every sense he must have felt that the approba> tion accorded him was just as sin- cere and voluminous as he would have received in a two-a-day house. Tbe Lampinis opened with their "magic." Both the nuua and woman handle tbe hoak of dmng a tnea and showing how it is faked. Kneeland and Powers have an offering which meets tbe No. 2 demands here. The miss hos a lot of appearances and plays the violin pleasingly. Her male I>artuer does some singing, talking and a litC)% dancing. The torn looked as though time will remove the rough edges. G. Swayne Gordon, with' bis cast of another aoan and woman, nerved his sketch of a druDken fellow who spoils everything by talking too much. Gordon is great Bud bis vehicle af- fords the opportunity to bring out many good situations. The only sug- gestion is that the other man with the act enunciate more clearly. Peggy Vincent came fourth, leaving the heaviest work of tbe act to a male plant, who is hefty and has a hearty laugh. The plant interrupts Miss Vinc«9at. crossfires and comes on the stage, to sing upon a dare. The man's singing drew the act back for B^ny bows. Herman and Briscoe start o«t with great possibilities, slow down, and then pick np on tbeir final song, a parody. The men appear in one, wearing mohair soits. One is a Heb conic, to tbe other's straight. Jim and Irene Mariein had the flys full of hangings, drops and drapes. The senery caused a lot of connnent, and was enough for a rainiuiurt* re- vue. The settings were in one, two, three and full stage, and showed a heavy draft on tbe exchequer. The man aad woman vary their act with singing, violin playing and dancing. The girl is a whixz at manipulating the four 'Stringed box, and got lots of attention on her playing. Once she played a few bars of music on tho piano. Tbe man did a few 'tx^rn to allow the girl to change to flashy gowns. The team is light, and tbe wardrobe and scenery meant moch in putting them over. Ralph Whitehead followed and left the crowd in a good frame of nuBd for the foUowiBg act. Three MeWins. This trio has shown ita lumdsprlngs and aerobatics on the better time bills, and had bo trouble in making the doaiag act as important as the next to closiag. Howland, IrwiB sad Rowland and Haverly and Rogers not seea at this show. HARETTA KALLY 8TBIKE8 Chicago, Aog. SI. Maretta Nally, comedienne with Ike Bloom's "Midnite Frolic.** hopped out OB the eve of the stag- ing of tbe new ahow, breaking a six- week contract. The morning before the new riiow was to open she phoned Bloom that she was leaving for New York. Ike tokl her she had a contract and he would hold her to it. fihe failed to appear at the opening performance. Miss Nally formerly appeared with Jack Allttan in vaudeville. Jot Erktr 8«Ns at BalivHIo Chicago, Aug. 31. , Joe Erber has sold tbe Wash- ington Airdrome, and tbe Lyric at Bellville. Itl., to the Mullen Building Corporation. Erber is said to have received $100.000 for the property. SINGER'S FIRST STEPi BOXOFFICE CHANGM Cleans Up Condition at Majestie and Pala Good Seats Always Ghieago, Aag. 31. Harry Siofer, reeoBtly put {^ charge of the Orpheum Cirevit houses here—Majestic, Palace, Statt* Lake—has started house'cleaning As usual, the new broon sw into the box ofllce, and tins i>iuger at the Palace and Majestic box oilce aituation id tho Maje uud Palace waii that patrons not fot de sirabl e seats at the oflce \viutit>tv, but Qoukl be accon dated at nearby brokers. A number of tbe employees at Majestic have been with the thea for many years an4 have been looks upon as house "fixtures," The ^ meanor and actions of these persoi instead of adding caste and pres to the bouse have brovght about flection and in some ways injured business. Mr. Singer is investigi ing and may asake changes. A«oii9 t*o sovan principals in tM new edition of Ike Bloom's ''Hi! nite Frolics,** in Chicago, two ha| from tbe largest city in An»erifg One, tbe girl, frolicked with Ziegfel|, heretofore, while the other, the n hoofed in vaudeville and New Toj pflf^c With an entire new choruQ ensemble looked g9Qd and w very well and hard. Charles the director, is training Lloyd By the ingenue, in an efficient mann Miss Byron, taken from tbe chor ia a good bet and it time her poi sibilities will blossom forth. Burton, prima donba, is a holdevet and so is Ralph Bart, tenor. BoUl are reliables and their warbling drew concentrated attention from the crowds. A new face to the Ktnb patrons of Bloom's place is that H Gloria Hildebrand, soiibrette. who ii familiar locally. Miss iiiuu:braQd III a typical coon shouter, and every ar>| tion and number of hers bears eiil this impression. She is a black hairdi miss, and quite a live wire. Martha Wood, buck dancer, is tibi ''Follies'* miss, who was ' importsi from New Torfc. Miss Wood sta«|i up to 2Uegfeld's choice, being tall aa4 willowy. Her style of working addd a welcome color to the show. 4^ times she does double dances wifij her eastern, friend. Charley Calvertj billed as a juvenile, while In realittj ho is an eccentric, clever dancer^ Calvert brings an atmosphere aboti bis work, wbi<^ la noMr to the dmf jority o( pafrOAs, h^ce they af- plauded bim heavily. By* bis work he shows he knows how to get at tbi dioer. Helen Hnj^h^lui, dansuese, c«B- tributes a variigty of stepping, il which the toe ^(rog||jw«i|::hLer the uosi Miss Hughes i^Ki'iSdliscientiously, and is rewarded alS^t^ffilgly. Maretii Nally was billed hot jumped her eeil^ tract. Tbe eight to bhie numbers l| each of tbe four frolics held attea* tion, and the cherM** <»o«fi}?»»ng wfl attractive. The new chorus addd goo4l looks, and talent to tbe revm. Again DoU can. p^^jblipsdf ob b«il>q ing his kg^ revue. -^ |j Roger Grabaip. who retired froil the music piiKlUhitig business hef« last March, is now a department manager in tbe Mandel Brotheri Ntore. HYATrS BOOKING EXCHANGE Booking Better Tabloids-36 W. Randolph :St^ CHICACK -A NEW FEATTRE El^KRY WKmr»t ? .' -^ Fritzers Friars Jnn I McVICKER'S, CHICAGO Chicago, Aug. 31. Somotimrs a crowd shows its ap- preciation by laughing without ap- plauding. That is the sort that I witness* (1 wlmt is terincd th«' open- ' inp of the H)*21-1i)U2 season. The bill proprp hehl a few high lightn. LilH'ly in this housr, operating year round, tlio romin* ncing of tho now f>r;iso?i did rntf nienn «<; n)Ufh as to , fho h»n>si v! whuli fliT (tjK King thrir KsrtbosAt Corner Wabash and Van Bwren, ■ZCE1.LENT CV181NB, SKKVICE AND nANTING—PK01^£8^0i(A|^ MOfi'i^ EVERY WElX ' ' :\M^-'..^i^ * - ' ' "v^ M. J. FRITZEL, PROP. Wabttri 6815. t'.^j::::^,^.: CHICAftft n tJ 8 S E L. li.^ PHOTOGRAPHED' BHADOW PICTURES A SPECTAL^f v: Special rates to the professioll' 209 SOUTH STATE STREET' ^ REPUBLIC BUILDING CHICAGO PHONE HARRISON f)36l NIVERSAL CENic Artist YOUR CREDIT IS GOOD TU5lOS 'i 1 ar writ^. 91$ STATE-LAKE Btrkt,l>lVC5. * MM'AfiO