Variety (December 1921)

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Friday,' DeceiWber % 1W1 NEW ACTS THIS WEEK SI IONA WALLACE HOPPER gj Mint.; One Talk* Picture, Songs gjwbort, Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Nov. St. Xn old vaudeville question It -tlMd indirectly by the return, of jaaa. Wallace Hopper, who opened caJShubert time here, Monday, after an absence from the stage of some It years. Can circus side-show jtofr be the main sho in vaude- ville? Can a freak bo a headliner? The audience that viewed Miss Hopper Monday night might have titan better satisfied had she been IgM praised in advance, and therein Ues the answer. Her type of act, decidedly new as to subject-matter, la worthy of a spot in vaudeville. bat shouldn't get too much pub- licity, shouldn't promise so much. The avowed object is to reveal so STIRNARD* MIDGETS (16) Singing, Dancing and Circus 40 Mlnej One and Pull (SpeoJ Empress, Chungs. Jake Bternard has collected an aggregation of midgets—boys, horses and a baby elephant— and la presenting an offering along the lines of the Singer Midgets. This turn was not put together, from ap- pearances, to openly compete with the Singer troupe on the bigger cir- cuits, but probably to be a headline factor for the neighborhood houses. Twelve scones are used, with the midgets doing comedy, acrobatics, circus stunts, equestrienne riding, animal taming, magic, singing and dancing. Then the young elephant goes through a course of stunts with his trainers, in a super-intelligent manner. There Are clever dogs that also go through tricks. The ponies crets of eternal youth, how to iron of the high-school stepping type are out the wrinkles, eie. It simmer a | also un asset. The midgets give the appearance of being quite versatile. When this act is in shape through work and with its rough edges taken off it Hhould make a worthy headline at- traction loi- the smaller houses. Loop. NdEL TRAVERS, IRENE DOUG- LAS and Co. (1) down to an exhibition of an unusual physical state, just as the side- shows were. . Instead of revealing secrets, Corah jtdums appears in "one" to nn- nounce Miss Hopper will be shown on the serpen beforo the facial rem- edy was applied; also, during its application, :uid after. This being show*. Miss Hopper appears, look- ing <hic, nifty and the real flapper, Comedy Sketch with bobbed hair, knee lengths, etc. j 15 Mint.; Full Stage Her entrance is prepossessing. She ruiiH on. talks in lively fashion, good manner, pleasant poise, though she admitted to some stage fright after the protracted, lay-off, tells about her doubling friends who fainted when they saw the rejuvenation. Her song at tin* end is one she sing in "Jumping Jupiter," the last show she appeared in. but this time she decides ratlu r than sings, and ends rather mildly. A little more pep at th on entranee, is needed. Harrison City Noel ^Tra vers has »»elecud :i new comedy * ketch in whty-ii he is sup- I»orted by Irene Douglas and a male player. Tho piece consists of light comedy throughout, with the story containing one or two novel twists of merit. The opening has a young woman entering her home hurriedly with a bottle of whiskey, which she places I on the table. Sae explain:' that sh* e finish, as she seemed to promise L t . j|M , t drlvon intll :m :U itomobiu land wrecked if. This she has «1 J several times before. H»r hush LANE and HARPER "Bits of Wit." Songs and Talk One, Two and One » •1st St. There are several thing could be said about Joe Lane and Pearl Harper as a two»act, but as a two-a-1 they have one idea, Iwand new, that other two-acts will break their hearts over for not having gotten tirst. it's a baseball "scor- ing hoard, with each of the pair act- ing as pitcher, alternately, to throw over the gaga. As the other catches or muffs them, the score Is counted, by strikeouts (for a muff or Inabil- ity to quickly answer), a base hit for a mild laugh, a two-bagger for a hearty laugh, and so on. This bit holds unlimited opportunities for business and gags. It might be stretched out to cover over some of the remainder of the turn, especially the singing. Ames and Wlnthrop wroto "Bits of Wit," according to the program. If they wrote Mies Harper's recita- tion. "How Can I Be Naughty and Still Nice?" they might add to the value of thst witty little bit of verse by writing an answer to it for Mr. Lane. The turn opens In a manicure par- lor In "two" with the girl, the man- icure and the boy the customer. It's the usual here, and also much of the usual In the cross-fire of tbe scoring board, but with the board it doesn't make much difference what is said, since the scoring is the laugh-getter, . For big time the turn Is saved by the scoring board. That plays itself and can't miss. If Lane and Harper can build it up they will Immediate- ly becomo a standard big-time turn. Miss Harper adds something with her attractiveness and a rather well- defined, though possibly coached, manner of dialog delivery. Mr. Lane is the customary male end of a two- act of this calibre. * t&ime. lone s band enters and she is afraid to tell him of th accident, as lie had forbidden her to drive the car. He sees the I whiHkey and logins to drink. Sev things that *' raI shots im ' taken, his spirits ri* SANTIAGO TRIO Hand Balancing and Dancing 12 Mins.; Two 81st St. The Santiago Trio has two men and a woman, the latter starting off the turn with a Spanish dance. Im- mediately following, the men in civ- ilian drrss, do hand lifting, giving a new twist t familiar tricks. The woman takes part in this work to- ward the tlnlsh, being the principal support when holding the two men; also holding one of them in an ingen- iously contrived apparatus that may haw iMM-ii pi.'inned by an areiiiieei. The ucman looks u. II with :i ^iMiii.-di ;ipp< a>';incc in features :• rif 1 ) tf"Wns. while thi» nn-n ■ :«. n afly through their work, which m:i> be SUtlleh nt to hold th.m i.i the nnen- '"^ O"siiio»i on the big time. Tin • 4 «'* .in si iui.--s.es novelty U» bo a- - S HH-.J. '\'\ }t . lViVt -\ty of tlaueiiig. with •h'ti!, !: - i,. -I...-.-I. ris- ing with each, the wife finally get- ting up sutlleieut courage to tell him . of the accident, after which she also explains that she has stolen tho whiskey from tho car she bumped. The owner of the wrecked xna- chlno enters and threatens to take the matter to court. Both men are lawyers who aro opposing each other in a divorce action. The intruder learning of this of- fers to allow the automobile smash- er to escape the courts if her hus- band will give him certain letters which he has to be used as evidence iu the divorce action. The bribe is turned down, with the husband ac- cusing his legal opponent of hav- ing been under the influence of liq- uor while driving his car, as the bot- tle of whiskey he lias as evidence was taken from the smashed auto- mobile. There is an abundance of good, laughable comedy. The players are experienced and carry the piece along at a fast gait A corking good small time comedy vehicle. -FASCINATION" (3) Allegorteal Comedy Skit 19 Mint.; One and Three American Reef The oast consists of the Devil, the Pr lucees of Hall, his prime assistant, and a mere mortal man who brags of his immuneness against woman's charms and fascinations. The Princess of the nether regions, blase and bored, la complaining to the Devil in "one" she is about to quit aim because of the lack of excite- ment in his domain. The Devil, a tall handsome, stately fellow In top hat and formal evening dress, in- cluding cape, beseeches her to Jiang around a little aim" something may turn up. He argues, hasn't he supplied men all these thousand years for her shrewish amusement, and why shoukl she quit when he needs her most. Acquiescing to a trial, they exit and a well "hootched" young fellow, also in evening dress, enters wflh a song about the joys of an "absinthe frappe." Devil and Young Man yngsgc in talk, and the former perceives here is the chap to give the Princess a| real thrill. Ho» arranges a meeting! at Bar Harbor, which carries tin: action to three-quarters stage be- fore a seaside scene. The 1'rlncess of Hades is in bathing suit and the young man in summer sport wear. She attempts a, few preliminaries in the vamping line, but he is ada- mantly prudish* and, as the Devil re- marked on later feeling his pulse, 'Temperature is "one-half of one l>er cent." Vexed, the Princess comes back for a mermaid number, discovered when the huge beach umbrella, on the stage is rolled aside. She asks him for a kixs and Anally agreeing purely out of charity, he performs the task, and according to the Princess' past |»crformar.ccs lie should have been vamp"d. and stayed vamped. >iut no! Instead she is stunned by the ardor of the osculatory performance and the Devil enters wondering what the young Man has done to her. The boy explains that is the way the modern flspper In New York does a clinch, and the Devil opines that a good girl like the Princess of Hell is not safe on earth, and as for him. he is going to join tbe Boy Scouts. The act was a continuous laugh from curtain to curtain. It is cap- itally written and excellently por- trayed. The casting is perfect. The offering has sufficient meat to hold down an early spot on the bigger bills. No. 3 would be ideal for an act of this type. ibrl JOSIE HEATHER and CO. (2). Sengs. Two (8peciat Curtain). Fordham. Josie Heather has a new act for this season, with the numbers se- cured probably while Miss Heather was abroad last summer. His sis- ter. Bobbie Heather, and a male pianist arc the company. Formerly a Heather act has been all songs or recitations. Now thero is cross-Are talk, indulged in by Josio as a young woman learning goli before a special drop and Bob- ble as the caddie. The cross-fire is laugh making with Bobble in a burring Scotch dialect getting the laughs through retorts. The "golf number is tho strong- est but a Dickens bit is well written and philosophical, with Bobble ap- pearing for an instant in the spot as Oliver Twist, giving a sight to it. Miss Heather opens with a "Boys" song that is likely, and closes with a new "Mary simplicity" number, semi-recited. 8 ho strictly sang the "Boys" song and her voice sounded well In it. For an encore Miss Heather did tho former ••wink" sorg. Lit lie Bobbie shows up unusually well in this act. including the Scotch dance both sisters do for u finish. Heretofore Bobbie has been a side picture for a moment or so, now site is part of the turn. Her dialog handling at least says she has been particularly observant in her the- atrical travels, for Bobble has never talked as much before en the stage. The Heathers' curtain is a hand- sonic out and must have been ex- pensive. ISaeh of the girls makes rapid changes with Josie into very pretty gowns. * while the pianist neatly and eeiisibfy whiles away the time 1m tween changes with his piano and the orchestra. The Josie Heather new act will make i he same please nt interlude on a vamhvllle bill as It has always don". ttlme. FRANCES KENNEDY Monolog 19 Mins.; One Fifth Ave. For several seasons Frances Ken- nedy was standard in the big houses, offering with success a routine of exclusive song numbers. A magnetic personality and a flash- ing smile were hers then and now. She has blossomed forth as a monologlst, and the new style of turn seems as natural as was the other. Miss Kennedy lias just two song numbers, but warbling Is sec- ondary. The chatter is primary, and it is brightly devised. Male nomologists havo found a fund of humor in talking about their wives or sweeties. Miss Kennedy reverses the order by talking about her hus- band. She opens with a rhyme, "Things Are Getting Back to NormaJ," in spite of all the blue talk about, ami that made a good opening. A song, "The Rougher You Treat 'Em, the Sweeter They Are," livened tbe pace, and Miss Kennedy using a spot for the moment started kid- ding about the men—daddy espe- cially. She alluded to Montreal aa the Paris of America. For dinner -. she had two kinds of meat, as a rule—hot tongue and cold shoulder. There was, too, something for the ladles to giggle about with a Mt of dress talk. Frances Is off the short-skirt stuff; thinks some girls show everything but their ears and |good judgment Talking about op- erations, she thought if it were not for the women, *e per cent of the doctors would be bootleggers. For tho finals Miss Kennedy bad "Peggy O'Ncll." which she said was written for her. By tbe tune she exited she had the house singing er whistling with her. Mlee Ken- nedy's routine may be a to > Jong, but it Landed for a hit on sixth, and there is no doiibt about her taking a si»ot in the two-a-day as before. Ibrc. i<i- properly CO|. "A MODERN COCKTAIL" (d) Jan Band Combination 14 Mins.; Full Stage Fifth Ave. This turn may have emanated from another colored jaxz turn called "A Creole Cocktail/' There are, however, five boys in the band and a handsome high brown gal do- ing the song numbers. m The girl was out In one for a pro- Iogued explanation of the "eoek- tall," which she said wan made up of jazz and dressings. Into full, with the band In full blast, threo of the men used snxaphones, there be- ing a pianist and^ drummer. The latter's many stunt's caught the at- tention of the house almost as soon as the girl started warbling "Baby Rand." While she exited {pr a change, the musicians changed In- struments, with vlarinet, cr let and trombone the main aids in scat- tering Jazz all over the stage. Back Mga^u. Hie ^irl certainly looked nifty for ;t hi^h brown. She started "Strut. Miss Lizzie," and ended with tho loosest kind of shimmy shakine. Sevenil of the musician 1 -' e;«>f into the ^ning, the drummer darting forth f«>r sunn hooting. 'I'ii" others \\en> in con- stant. a> lion. aial Lite curtain dropp« <l the lu-minut'- rna»l . 'Me for Ml ejn-Ml-f. n . 11 • t i«• 11 had ! 11 • l.i-it »• I i i- k :■», lll'il .- •• T' i e< nil liinal ion ' ! ' 'II. . ' lie < ah.'« •'■■I . ami th. ie eil'lainl.. is son..- . <;lion \\ili> lie- 'a//. I'. 1 ;' I.iat IokIi ' . <•.-. n a; I I u':■ '■ a .Mil ■• Th-. l-.ii'd iiu'ii'ii dniinrm-r w it It had Ml. < I lie.' ni.i'. h.i V r <•' Mi ,«. v. -. / Mclaughlin end evans Talk and 8eng IB Mine.; One (Special) Mth St. Unpretentious in setting, mount- ing and development, this mixed team wowed 'em with good, old- fasbloned homely humor. Before a tenement exterior, the boy Is ^discovered complaining at the variegated style of music ema- nating from within, ranging from the talking jnachine to piano. The new tenant emerges, and the boy Immediately is struck wlfh the now "Jane." Flirtation talk that is neither smart nor fly, but very real- istic, ensues. It convulsed the house. She makes a change to a bur- lesque Bowery get-up. and the boy decides also to doll up for that even- ing's dance, returning in a tight suit and brown derby hat that pro- ductions the lyric of a "Francis Dances" pop song. The house- rocked after that. It may be that the patrons, recruited as they are from a Third avenue district, ap- preciated this skit to its utmost be- cause it sort of hit home, but the comedy should wham; 'cm equally strong most anywhere. \h»-J, LOIS BENNETT (U Songs and Pisno 14 Mint.; One Fifth Ave, Miss Bennett ^as bill'il as u "California Niirhtingale." though her routine is not so ambitious. She is ussbied by 1'hil Sheppurd. he ac- companying her at th- piano and also diietling wild Miss l'liinetl in two number- - . A Japanese 'annher o)M-ned with Mis- |'.«riuet(. tullouinx ♦hat with a brief classical >"M).,. A t^olo by Sii«|.p:r<l an«t Mn i a «I u» '. "Walt- inn t«»r Y.h'." t ' !>i»lli.M effort iu tia routine. Tic i-oup'i- harmonized .okilliilly and iuor< of ir would ad- \..inc<- the turn. Mis.-: Kennrtt had two i.ili.r wini. Ii S'arie,'. both yoiipd- h. thoii;;i« prohal»I.V vnl ex- '|"li« .• ■ M « i< -I with " [\« ep I f ii n i !:i • ■•:• i! n i it !,<■• / •• - GEORGE DRURY HART and CO. (3). x "Any Old Pert." Comedy Playlet. 1§ Mine.; Full Staue- 23d St. Ceorge Drury Hart is assisted by a cast of three.' two character men and an ingenue, In "Any Old Port." It is a comedy playlet, with a mys- tery flavor. Th» piece carries the story of a girl, who meets a stranger at the subway entrance, scrapes an acquaintance, and to tbe stranger's surprise on arriving at the girl's borne, the girl calmly in- forms her father the stranger to Iter husband. Father blusters when In- formed of the marriage, and while three are ("focussing matter another man arrives who says he is from falher'8 bank, and announces some- one has robbed safe of $30,006. Newcomer is detective, and names stranger as bank robber. Stranger convinces detective he did not rob safe, telling latter of recent marriage to banker's daugh- ter. Father and detective exit, and woman explains why she told father she had married stranger. Stranger then tells girl he fooled detective, and he did rob bank. Father back and stranger informs him detective was right, and he is man who com- mitted robbery. Father replies that can't bo so, as real robber was caught in cellar a few minutes pre- viously. Love scene between tranger and girl for finish. Playlet while a bit improbable has more than sufficient laughs to carry It along in the pop houses. Mr. Hart plays the stranger with an experi- enced light comedy touch. Others are capable. Mr. Hart, however, has abilities far above present vehicle. Belt. inc. fre l\ '• MILLER, KLINT and CUBY Hand Balancing and RisUy 12 Mins.; Full Stage State Three men garbed in whit* Jlun- neis open with pyramid formations in body balancing, oiw acting as nuderstander. The underslander then does some Ki.sley balancing, lying on a table, with the other two as Lop mounters iu a thret-hi^h formation, the t .» mounter doing a hand stand on second mans feet. Some head to head stunts with two of the mem- Imm'h sr»» followed by the under- stainler doing n llishy bridge and support ini, other two in a three- high, with top mounter hand tdand- ir:£ or htinii to fiM.t. A one-hand support of two, usictj a brae is next. The feature trick is a brace lift, of one ri-cliuiru:. other standing, on fipparutu. The t<>p mound t* tak<^ hl>" p'»-ifion from a. tr.'ip*'/.'-. • •".■• ll.i .■.. . Tlt-y i.av- an i rl r • • ! • ' , o ,-, i • r inn • 11 •. ' 'if. LOCKETT and LINN Daneee and Sengs It Mine.; FaN Stage (Special Set- rage) C olew t al Lou Lockett is l^ack in vaudeville ! with a new partner. Miss Lian. Lockett has .been la producttoaa lor the past several eeaeona, ceailaw forth In the two a day once witH Emma H^ilg. HU new teammate Is a clever dancer, and the aceYi* a good one, keening away from .groove routines. ^ An opening song nuraWr in "one" with lioth members participating. Mention of a charity baaaar, and a wish for an inspiration for a stunt at the affair. He thinks about the dolls for sale and cra,vea a mystic power to have them dance. Tbe girl suggests they team as. dancers. Into full, as a necromancer, Tx>ck« ott has another exclusive lyric. It is a prelude to a novelty stunt - which has a little golden doll wig- gling upon a small table. Miss IJ mi reappears from tbe folds of a cabi- net attired In Oriental costume, pretty much bare above the waist, and dancing alone. Off for a change. Lockett with another of the doll songs has a second miniature doll" mechanically "dancing" on the ta- S hie, while Miss Linn follows on her toes with a second specially. Lockett then had his dance in* ning, "spreading his stuff'' to good returns, the acrobatic feature and speed sending him sharply across. A song duet about .not being able to fool the people always, gave way ' to a duet stepping number and tho curtain. Novelty was again pres- ent for the encore, both members appearing in masks or "false faces." This added number was not as well worked out as the material in tho act proper, and th©^ Lockett and Linn turn could have closed at the first curtain to better purpose. How- ever, the mask idea has possibili- ties. The new combination is a brightly conceived dancing Interlude, one that belongs with vaudeville class. BENDER and HERR Acrobatic and Flying flings 10 Mins.; Three American Roof Mender may have l*een i\>rno-i \y of Regal and Pender, which premisn Is further ts»rne out by th«» closing ankle to ankle catch which was a feature of the old combination, lien- <1t acts as the nuderstander In tho hand-to-hand stidf that progressed along familiar lines, although met with ready response. On tho flying t Inns cadi does a little porncthlng in th< wny of lifts and twists, flni-hing v\ it h t tie ankle c\toh. .\c> . plahle turn f"t* .'iir. bill, fmo ■ « " 'a >p'ttei|. A hi t.