Variety (September 1921)

fVtday, 8<plemWr 23, 19>1 ■■ «ii wi i r- » now iii r j a wTCTii-y „ «jjBi'' NEW SHOWS THIS WEEK r — XT • ^HC3"M WV ■•WTJ. .K-* r**! COLONIAL The season opened at tlM ^6t]i .* *et home with a near eapadtj at- Srdance Monday nifht. A few cmp- ^ in the laat nm s spoiled a sail- ^'A^'n'hel* of a nine-act bm with MMsedy predominating ii«it the early M^ away 4aikinf. (iiaUagher and •i«« rleaned tip their usuul and had tt aiai "Mr. CJ^^fnirhrr" nntil the boys M Ue abelf ha(i ineaorixed hal^ of tilt tertes. Hryao Foy, the author af 1^ song. Itaii sore started somethinc with thi» one, for half of New York te uaing it for a aaluUlion. The pair had to i)l*'ad ''no more verses" to get away in time to keep the Palace en- gagement. They were fourth here. Frank Van Hoveii followed, closing the firnt half and dnpliratiag the com- edy riot on ahead. Van Hoveu never went better and never wise-cracked more gibfy. Ilia ad jibbing found a howe before this wise bunch and dicked every lime. The **8piritunlist" trick with the prop hand was the fun- niest bit of illusion in the tarn with the ^ice-boldin?" stunt of the three kids a panic of merriment. The other comedy bangs were Mar- garet Young, who opened after inter- BiiaaioB and whammed over six num- bers to a apee<'h and flowers. Miss Young has fallen for the pianist-on- the-stage this season, and it helps her trick Ijmcs. 8he is using a repertoire •f published numbers with oti<! ijiu lui. a sequel to her chorus girl Kong of list season. The new soug coutains aome dever punches and is a pip <«f a lyric for tke chubby comedienne. She was in after her first nbmber be- fore this ^tJiering. Robert Kmmett Kcone and Claire Whitney in "The Go.ssipy Sox" were aext. T^c gallery was a trifle rest- less during the development of the dialog, but Keane's fimt entrance gripped them. The sketch is one of the best of comedy gems of its kiud. with n surprise finish. Keane as n trouble-making male gossip, who has all the *'bondoir" honnds hished to the mast, turnn in a riean-cut charac- terisation. It is a distinct departure from his former monologistic efforts. Miss \Miitney in a role that i..ant » few emotional or dramtaic demands. does well and looks bewitching nt all times. The third member does not ful- fill the advance billing the author has attributed to him in the dialog. lie is the exact opposite to the reformed 'Voue" and *'ln«h" tiie gossiper whis- pers he was. The act was thoronghly enjoyed here. Stan Stanley (New Acts^ was the ■ext of the comedy entries in the next to closing spot ^be "audience" worker never went bigger. A new opening and a new finish helped the turn considerably. Chief Blue Cloud and Winoni made an interesting novelty opener. The redskin is. an expert wKh the spinning lariat, and has given his turn a big time production with « full stage JiJ«<^'«J^ «Pt and appropriate props. The Princeas possesses a cultured sepraao voice of considerable range. A slow curtain to a trombone and totce dnet closed them strongly. The Gilbert Sisters, two youngsters Who have just vaulted into the two- a-day from the intermediate circuits, were second. The girls have im- Jjroved quite some, hut still need •ome overhauling. The harmony sing- JJg and dancing are big league, but the duik»g doesn't fit their pcnionaH- uHL'^ *■ unfunny. All of the cos- tnming looked O. K,, except the last ««ttngc to low neck dresses, ^'hey •re youthful enough to capitalise it in U .1'2'*""m5 Rfhcme. They did nice- JL^ ^'^'l' ?■"" •" "^ ^^^^y spot on the best of the bills. Y.IS-ii'^*"*''*''^' ♦'»•"'• Js showing gudevilU a marvelous little dancer in wfrh i,"°"®0' his partner. Kankoflf, \Y^\Sr "»»«> showmanship, allows 1„ *Sl ^"^ **' *he spot, and wisely of'.r.n! "t/° «y«^-fi"''r and the acme tinf V« • "t*" ^'^'^ ^'^^^ ^^'■'^ a revela- SaSlrnJ- *„hoof-hardt.ned gathering. tJ?ly '^"'•■" doubles were mas- erl?"i.f "** J'^u'ine opened to a gen- uith H ^ « n»ajority of the walkouts ^•tU their first effort. (j^j^ ^ RIVERSIDE Plav n.i'*^'lf """"l^ *''is week but they Tari,.rv ^'^^'^•. ^*»e show is built for orch^tr^ standard Monday night, the able^^L T\. , ^'howing unmistak- '* wgns ^of "dressing**. in tbo''''^^'^ ^''^'"'''' ""^ l'«n«.^ Norton (Vow a7? *'P?* ■*•« °«w in the east iVrodl-ti^n ^.'^r *''*^ ^'^'^^ Taliaferro ion hi„^".-'" ^''*' "*'^t to shut posi- Leio *}''?'"«/^^ show. It fell to snir.K.''^''''^ ^'^<>^ 'n*! '*'"ow con- XsiM? ^" '''^«' «" the honors one dJ?2j1^ »>"•. Sberwin K^^lly intro- slow hn?* VJ"*?^'"* "^t'on starting whn« » Kathcnng momentum all the gotJ^^ 0 speedy finish when she ^L^^A /** ***^'" hike work. The not bJ /^"°^^ thing introducing is the\rJ2«.'*J'**"«^ ""'^ ^^'hilc there for •tro^l"^' *' lho"'d either be built np it an?.- f' -hopp,^ in half and spare Arch«/'"'''' **/ ^■^""K- I'O" >n<i •»«''»" ••TiiW M . I."^* ^••^ »howed Uieir on fh. '"1'^ re^uette that daules the strength of ita sartorial splendor. Mi«i Arcber wears dothes iike a regular Winter Garden girl an(i doea her nun^bers rippiagly. Mr. Artui:i M liucd forceless somehow on this particular evenina. The house didn*t take to him. Lvric lines call for a cerUin display of hia personal abOity aa a sartorial creator but Archer inserted an overdose of enthusiasm in the interpretations and .'.*L,vJ-.gaf.*SiL^.^U,^_!:!itti".Y»f1 ^ h imsplf towards the close in the "Howery^'^ number. The spotting too was not just right for the tenio which usually coses or reopens after intermission. Joe Cook pedd!ed hokum for some 20 or more minutes to brisk aales and had the house tied up after the first few minutes. His couple boob assist- ants are artists in their lines and worthy of special mention. Later with the Alexander Urothers and Kvelyn turn, imuiediatoly following, they assisted, similarly although here, it was Cook who assumed the boob foolery. The Witon Sisters reopened after intermission and after singiug, playing and blues-ing for some 17 minutes were unwillingly permitted to depart. The girls nrc versatile entertainers with intelligent knowledge as to vaudeville salesmanship. The routine is splendid y arranged and p!ay8 msgicnlly for them. Edith Taliaferro (New Acts) was followed by Rome oOd Gaut, the diminutive and elongated entertainers. The physical contrast plants the atmosphere immediately and no further proof of their ability is required than the fact thfy held 'era in fair proportion, oomin^ 9n at 11 and clofang the show. In an earlier spot they wou'd and do wow any audience. Abel. BROADWAY The final show Monday night had seven of the regular nine octs on the bill. It was good entertainment and appreciated by about three-quarters of a house. The arrangement at the Broadway where there are nine acts booked and all but two work but three shows (four iierforBaaaces a day) makes it impossible to catch two of the turns. Joe Towle and one other act, the billing for which cuu.u not be learned from the front of the house,* were missed. Tn addition there was also a feature picture, "ril^jiiiiiij of the Night." * The orchestra at the Broadway at this time is a mixed affair, containing men and women. Musically it is ala4i a mixed affair, for practically every act on the bill was compelled to pull the orchestra aloug instead of the musicians being an aid to them. The Musical Hunters opened at 8:20, following the feature film. The team is using a novelty drop and the dressing is mew for the man and the woman. This act was the first to have difficulty with the orchestra, bat they managed to combat it sue. cessfuUy, getting away to a nice ap- plause finish with their work on the brasses. Ilalsey Mohr and Charlotte Vermont (New Acts), the latter a new partner, fared very well in the second spot The first real laugh wallop was present in Hoy and Arthur. This team seemingly proves that there still is considerable kick left in the com- edy acts that were the,bright spots in vaudevil'e of more than a decade ago, liaugh after laugh in the falling and smashing crockery and the turn will bring a tear of fonil remembrance to those who recall tho old days on IlammerHteiri 8 itOoi. Thv soft C'hink music and chatter offstage with the lights low with the advent of the straight and the black face comic bring n laugh at the opening and from that point on there wasn't a moment but their work brought giggles and guffaws. Cunningham and Bennett with their nonsensical honeymoon stuff followed with popular numbers and scored nicely. The act goes along like wild fire up to the point where a number is logically the end of tlie turn. This is followed by the an- nouncement of the song-writing abil- ities of the man and then he slips over a couple of his old numbers ns well as a new one. The Four Marks Rros. got a great deal more out of their act in .S4 min- utes here than they did nt the Pnl- nce a fow weeks ago. The laughs come fa.ster and the entire uct seemed to have greater speed. The harp bit by llarpo was missed, and the npolopy he made at the fini.sli that the instrument was smashed got by with the audience. Uanders and Millis. next to clos- ing, were a real npplau.se hit at the finish, although the boys had a hard time making tho.se in front believe it during the reg\ilar ninniug of the act. A couple of tinios they repeated on tricks to force tUcm over on the au- dience. Kdith Clasper and her two dnaring partners, Nolson Snow and Charles CoUnnbns. hold the closing spot, get. ting a fair rettirn. The act is con- structed along linos made familiar by Krancca Pritchard ond her dancing br>ys. The ge««ral idea is identical, hut Miss <'lasp<' ir n corking stop- per, straight and in toe work, and the boys hamllo tliomsplves cleverly. Closing the show, tlioy got all that could be <lesired. The feature fini>lied the bill. Fred. AMERICAN ROOF The Qaof had ita cnitwary qaota Monday evening with weather coiktt- tions f)i .^.^ indoor entertalmiaeiit. The lower floor was comfortably flRed, tb« balcony holding ita own with the remainder of the h->--^ ^e bill with nothing in the way of a feature turn framed up as a con- 4:JAi&Sit v«j»>'i''v:"" entertainment. Brown's Dogs opened. The canine routine ein4>loyed displayed s'^veral tricks worked out to a nicety thai furnish a good working basis for an opening turn. Harry Bente'l with xylophone work and dancing held down No. 2 in a capable style. This chap possesses conaiderable ability as an acr()bati<> dancer and has advisably cliininatod iho vocal work. His niusioal ability with the dances com- bined make him a satisfactory candi- (Into for an eariy spot on any of the three-a-day bills. Martin and Conrtney, a man and woman combination, with an o'd style travesty turn gave the show its first comedy and songs. The male mem- ber has a novel delivery getting mnch out of his numbers with the facial manipulations used for good comedv returns. No. 3 proved a poaition well suited to this couple. Eddie ("assidy opening with restricted comedy num- ber followed it up with fast talk. This boy shows possitulities as n monologist. He possesses a fast delivery and enunciates we'l, getting over the points in his chatter in clever style. Cassidy could work up a stronger finish, the present "Mother" idea being rather passe and not up to a standard with the rest of his material. Fred La Reine and Co. with a hokum electrical tarn closed the first half. The La Reine act employs several plants from the audience fot the coraikly business. At the Amer- ican they enjoyed the antics of the plants, the hokum of * the turn ap- parently Tiavin<£ n certain nppea\ The second half consisted of Lillian Price. Rilla WiUard and Co., Kmith and Neiman and the Andrieff Trio, all under New Acts. Miss Price started proceedings slowly with the Rilla Wilard sketch holding up nicely second after intermission. Smith and Neiman next and Andrieff Trio closi:;^ the show. FIFTH AVE. A long and good show the first half at fhe 5fch Avenue. The bill carried c ass in its varied entertainment. ^ £nough comedy was there to satisfy anyone and it held right down to next to closing, where Tom Smith, playing another return date acored more strongly than ever with his nut bits, chief among which is rapidly becoming the backward flop fall as also done by Bill Demerest Smith is doing this more frequently than, formerly and it is a howl each time. Another return was for Jay Veille with his four fiHs in *'MifBon«tte." The act doesn't play aa brightly for some reason as when first shown in the same theatre. There doesn't ap- pear to be any material change. It IS possible the act does not stand repeating very well. A big laugh was Harry Adler, who. with Grace Dunbar, did his mimicry and mugging. Adler makes it just a bit too evident he is in the turn after reaching the stage from the audience but that does not seem to hurt hin> any. Tuesday night he kept repeating on the stage, "going with (New Acts) Dillingham" undier his breath, referring to a speech made by Hob Ne son just ahead. Nelson with much contlecension of manner and speech had inforihed the house he only played a few weeks in vaude- ville during the summer after ap- pearing in productions, and was go- ing to join Dillingham show next week. The bunch behind stage might have thought Nelson was lordrng it a bit. To the lay people the speech meant nothing and to the wise ones, it was just funny. Three new acts in a row started the show. They were T.vrell and Mock, a couple of immature hoofers, the next was F'oreuce Rrady, as im- mature >s a singer, and then a new playlet of some heft, played by Ijarry Keilly. with Mary Ilampton, an ac- tress of rc))ute, featured in the sec- ondary role. After Smith came Resista, closing the show, still introduced and an- nounced by May Ward Smith, who should secure a substitute for her m)rtion of the net. The girl seems all right and the rest seems all wrong, for Mrs. Smith is not a spiel- er in any way nor a showwoman. Shoved into the bill was Frederick Ro'and (New Acts), through whom the house secured some publicity on an alleged tale told Rill (juaid, the house manager, by Roland. Rill says it's on the level and it may bo. hut it's one of those good ones either way. House held 'ess standees than usual in regular season at this theatre. Sime. STATE Marcus TiOew's new State theatre was not absolute capacity Monday evening and one cannot help thinking that perhaps the close proximity of the 44th Street house where the Shuberts wrre inaugurating their vaudeville at dollar top may have had soinethiog to do with it. A compari- son of the program at the 44th Street with that at the State, with the State char^iag 75 cents and the Shubert vaudeville at dollar top, might tempt the seeker after enterCaiuaeat to in- vest that additional'quarter. This reviewer drappiBd into the 44th Street at lO.dO Monday eTeninc, after aittiBff throosih Che 8t«to ahow. He failed to detect any alBiUrity in the audiences. Three-a-dty andieacea are notoriously slow to ffraap a subtle point of humof. dark and Arcaro were An at the Shabert hoase and the lolks in iLc audience seemed to cntch quickly tbe slightest omedy intent of Rert Clark. Throughout the State show the closest approach i > i;enuiu« enthusiasm was displayed when Ar- thur DeagoD, next to aoaifif, finished with his travesty Spaniah aong and dance. Even then it wasn't spontane- ous, being apparently cumulative rathei' than involuntary. Preceding the overture at the State there was flashed motion pictures of the celebrities who attended the iaau- ration of the honse, ranging from Jack Dempsey to Raymond Hitchcock. For the overture the excellent orchestra rendered a ffclection mode"' of bits from ''Sally." Gypsy Tma two men and a wom- an, with special drop, Li'ii .i the vaudeville section of the bill with a Tery anappy dancing act of a high order, which includes "Russians," the woman doing premiere ballet work. They have lots of "life" and "xip" and scored oiiongly. Armstrong and Tyson, man and woman, a soug and dance teaiu, opened with a prolonged ballad, which might be matcPiiUly chopped or entirely, eliminated, in- asmuch as the pair are not especially gifted vocalists. Then the man sings a number about the girls he met all over the world, introducing them, in the person of his partner, who make a scries of costume changes for fe- male types of various nationalities. The first is an Irish lassie, necessarily attired in green, but with an orange- colored petticoat Some day, or even- ing, she will be hissed for this com- bination of colors, and when she doe«, if she reads this, she'll know the rea- son. Her other types are respectively, a Holland girl, a "wop" and *'an American beauty from the II. S. A." the latter attire being tights. Oillen and Mulcahy, two men, Gil- len a piano accompanist to Mulcahy's ballad vocaliaing, and also rendering via the ivories "My Old Ktritucky Home" with 'variations for an inter- lude between songs. Mulcahy offers an -mitation of John McCormack sing- ing Your Eyes Have ToW Me So'-- with gestures. For his information it can be stated that the famous Irish tenor never employs a single gesture while singing. Mulcahy wound up with a recitation set to music. AVhat is there about this overweening de- sire on the part of vaudcvillians to re- cite? Some of them are apparently unable to resist it. In justice to Mr. Mulcahy it should be h*»ro r*»oorded that he does it mnch better thaa the average. "A Telephone Taiwie,'* featuring Joe Rennett aa "Abe Kabibble/' ia an excellcBt comedy idea for a skit. Be- sides beiag a novelty it haa an under- lying heart intereat atory. Arthur Deagon, with monolog« aiaging and dancing, is a bit too sahtle at times for "small time." His broader com- edy was a riot, while oilier portions of hia act aeemed to be uaintelligible to the Bpectatora. Ha worked all through the cloalng act—Wheeler Trio—three gymnaata, kidding it and performing a number of acrobatic stunts that showed him to be far from an anuUenr in that field. One of the best hicks of the Wheelers is a back someraanlt from three-high to two high. The feature picture is Constance Rinney In "Room and Board," which resembles in plot Buth Chatterton's starring vehicle In the legitimate a couple of years ago, called "Come Out of the Kitchen." j^/o. takes his place on the atage. The b*rt pi* tut a strong ain^e flaiah tlMfe took the houae by storm. Thejr adgM insert more of the vocal l»iialMit earlier in thoofferlng Jack Maitia aai Company (New Acta), doaad fhe show with a good flash. 23rd ST. Some sort of booking mix-n^ hro"j:V,t n«-rhJ:_::rt^ to t»»i.'Jftd Street the first half. Ordinariiy the house Is running six acts each half, or seven at most tbls time of year. The laat half show, while long on QuentitTf was not particularly hefty on qualiC^, playing dreggiiy ia a loug drawuo«U fashion that made ita two-hour length oeem much longer. Thos J Ryan and Oo» (New Acts); Ray Perkins, and Lang and Vernon were tlui pick of the entries, Perkins leadins; tJic field in applause rctarca, with Tom Ryun and J^ng and Ver- non, both comedy wows, cose up. JuRsio o.Tid Osele, .ncrobats and juj- ^'lers opened, pleasing the early bird«. Mills and Smith, double robe turn* v.ere sti oiiii. The spot was a bit eari/ for talking, but they made the grade all right securiu;; (he sought for lauRhs ond gettius away with tho liandivap rreditcbly. Tho sliiging finish sent them off nicely. Oscar Nicn.stro and Co. (Ne^ Acts) third, with the rtynn act. "Meg Hnggcrty'a Reception." folowiuf:. Uay Perkins, a youthful songwriter and plauologist, uncovered • a dj:n(ly routine of pop numbers, mcstly of the character type, some his own compo- sitions and others net, a fact men- tioned, which discloncs that Mr. Per- kins is a square shooter .nlid willing to give credit where it belongs. He handles wop, yiddish, Swedish and Irish dialects very well, all withoat exaggeration giving each number a* likeable touch of charartrrlr.>tion. Shining likewise ns a pianist. Mr. Perkins needs nothing more than hia entertaining talents to i)ut him over in an early spot in the big show. He has the goods and known how to de* liver them. Mason and Cole (New Acts) sixth, and Lang and Vernon next to clos- ing, li.nng and Vernon are recently out of burlesque. They are a sn^m, a)id woman combination, with the man handling; the comedy and m.'tking it stand np. The material in use Imn evidently boen put tocother with i^n eye to pleasing the small time clientele. It fills its mission perfectly. Harry Lang, however, is above his present turn, especially the first part of the talk which incidentslly knocked 'era silly at the 2.1d Street. Miss Vor- non makes an rxeeVent straight The pntr have real poftsibHitics as a com- edy team and should develop rapidly into a standard act with playiag and the rigltt material. Eleanor Pierce and Co. (New Acts) closed. The 2W Street took a bn»ee in business Tuesday night, reaching near capacity in the orchestra around nine o'clock. Bell. GREELEY SQ, Loew's CSreeley Sq. la getting its share of the business with. Tuesdsy night's attendance all that could be asked for. The general mnning plan of the first half bill had three male acta, one after the hther, enough to put a dent in any pop vaudeville show. Vee and Tully opened with acrobatics. One of the members appears In fe- male attire, while from physical ap- pearance one would be led to^believe It is a man especially with the strong- man feats attempted. The turn is a good opener and gathered in its share of applause. Joe and Mattie Ross with knock- about comedy nnearthefl several 'aughs. The manner in which s Ross is oft'times stretched out upon the stage isn't becoming and could be eliminated without afferting the strength of the act. This turn has comedy value for the smaller houses in the No. 2 ajot. .Johnny Dove, the first of the male acts, had Scotch stories and dancing doing exceedingly we4l. Dove talked and stepped. La Fol ette and Company, with a magic turn, scored one of the ap- plause hits of the evening. This chap has several clever ideaa which he works oiit in expert style. The quick change btisinesa at the ofiening cre- ates considerable comedy providing a good leadoff for the magical work. Weber and Elliott were next to closing. The turn gained speed with Weber's entrance from the audience creating considerable comedy, con- tinued along the right lines when he NEW A0T8 Frank Farnum ami June Aator In a new act by Cliff Hess. Eddie Raye Is to feature a musical "Harmony Hounds.^' tab with a company of Mi. Saxi Holsworth, Gypsey Bekl aai David Schooler in ^'Mnalc Hath Charms." with Ix>retU NaHy. Ulleft Boyle, Ina Fanikoff and Miss Van. George Mayo (Allman and Mayol In a nine-person tarn called *Tht Bridal Sweet." Jack Marvin in a sketch of four scenes, with Dorothy Bcardsley. Ks* leUc Uichmond. Edward P. Wade* Augustus NVvHIo In supporL Elmer Thompson and Lorretta fving in "How They Met." Willa Willard in comedy sketch with four people. Smith and Uelman, two men. Andrletr Trio, dancing two men and a woman. Ada Jaffee is taking out the for- nier James R. Carson act, "To Be or Not to Re." Mrs. Jaffee formerly played the mother part In the skit and will now assume the stcflar role. Sylvia Little In a new song cyde. Miss Little has Just returned from a foreign lour. Dick "Rube" Norton In a "Farma- log.** Joe Fields and Al Barton have Joined the "Kings of Mbistrelsy." Joe NIcmeyer featured In a five- people vaudeville turn by William B. Friedlander and L. liawrence Weber. Igor's Ballet Rnsse (0 people)* 5Iabel Berra, with 4 people, play* let with music. George Neville in comedy sketdk with four people. Arthur Donsldson and Co. in skit. "The Swag", comedy draraatte sketch with tliree people including J. B. t^ook and Dan McCarthy. Six Stellas, European girl act. Darby Brown andXharlie Barrow, Darby Brown and Charlie Barrow, "The liove Book." Grace Bishop In "Pep," by Harry Holman. Enos Frazier In a new act with music by Al Fox. Neck Basil (Basil and Allen) awd Frank Frahito (Bums and Frabito). Paul Bennett (Winter Garden Four) and Rmelle Culver, two act. Frank Leah and Margie Catlim, two-act. Harry Tighe, with three girls. Burt Green, the screen cartoonist first time in raudevlUe* J '■If J "1^ i