Variety (January 1922)

Fri day, January 87, 1922 NEW SHOWS THIS WEEK 23 PALACE * was like a holiday around the JLce Monday night. Guard* were 1 Jouncing no seats were available ZL«t boxes a few minutes past *££♦ Every niche In the house S occupied, and th > rtandee line ••1^ dense as the law allows. m *• JJ" a ten-act bill on tap. eight o'clock starter, perhaps open- ing ahead of that hour, with the crowd pouring in out of the cold. It was a bit too much to expect the girlish Lura and the exceptionally clever Billy Dreyer to hold the house at 11.10. Half of the lower floor started walking when Gallagher and Shean escaped. Yet the dancers held a good percentage in all, and their work won its reward. ibco. 3*S only had length but power— l \ "Slmes and sure-fire comedy in- *K5eT-and it ran in holiday Srft the house being generousi al- "S to a fault. There were three "Shictlon acts in the going, as ^v comedy successes, and there !£S\wo male singing stars. Times VHn being lessened by one vaude- ^X house (41th Street) may have Iffsdtothe Palace draw, but it is S» likely the weight of the show SS5 accounted for the crush. Ed Gallagher and Al Shean. away A«*n next to closing, tore through forthe smash of the evening. When K card bearing the name of the Survivors of the "Mister" song was gSJi there was a big hand. For fh« present repeat the comedians «*r* loaded with new choruses that ££ at the close. These lines touched on the topics of the day. with every one good for a laugh. The team encored wiih these spe- cial chorusey a doxen times, or near- ly that. Betwoen the exit and Mitrauces the orchestra romped lion* with a different melody, that in itself a comic touch. "Mr. Gal- laiher and Mr. Sh«an" is doubtless the most cU-veiiy developed vaude- ville souk of the times. It's a twin six perfectly geared, and Its exploit- ers keep it in racing form by the expedient of fresh material. Directlv ahead was Charles Par- cel! (Xew Acts), who has caught the vaudeville idea at last, and the spirit with which he performed well earned the bell-ringing succe.s acored. _, _ ., In the early section Vernon Stilcn, with Tom Hughes as the accom- panist, was the first of the two tenor turns. Mr. Stiles found plenty of favor. One of his numbers sounded a hit risque, its lyric getting more dangerous as he proceeded. It is called "I Kissed Her." and there was tittering throughout the house, the number being quite a surprise. But the final lines squared everything, because the object of the kisses was his six-months' baby strl. Majestically Valeska Suratt made her entrance closing intermission (six acts in the first portion) for the first Palace showing of Jack Lalt's "The White Way." It's a playlet made to order for her, just like the other playlet delivered to her by the same author. Miss Suratt is so melodramatic she makes the "White Way" all that way. Put the moral of the turn perhaps tickles her as much as anything. That is, after her Pittsburgh appearance. Six policewomen of the smoky burg wrote a letter to the captain of de- tectives giving a report on the turn and highly recommending it for its moral teaching. A reproduction of the letter was made into a throw- away and used at the Riverside last week "The White Way" Isn't all drama. There are half a dozen laughs, per- haps the best when Miss Suratt says "I was 17—and not so many years •go.* Mr. Roselle, chief in support, was permitted to express merri- ment at that, which 'helped the bouse laugh, too. It's a cinch that the script did not call for the two expensive wraps laying about the apartment, but discovery and use of them is the player's perogatlve. Besides the fur affair is good to look upon. "The White Way" ran over 30 minutes. It should have occupied about five minutes less. But as Miss Suratt has hitched her star to Bthel Barrymore there can be no snapping up. The stage is dressed With a richness that is typical of Miss Suratt. Hand painted linen colored baby blue gives the interior a class appearance, with exquisite Wet lace and a hung tapestry pro- viding other costly touches. And tbe house liked "The White Way" without question. Glenn and Jenkins made No. 4 a comedy wow. At the opening it Jooked like the colored boys had left the routine untouched. Certainly they have retained the best of the cross-fire, for it was a succession of kughs. Half way through the musical section In revised form sup- plied an evenness of pace that was lacking before, despite their ability to land last season. A banjo solo was inserted. It was played by a [bird member, but that was not no- ticed until Glenn and Jenkins ap- peared from the opposite wings. he new "boy" was out for the name cards, which brought Ha"ry| They clicked on all cylinders. The Jolson with a song recital, assisted Quixy Four held down tho "ace" WINTER GARDEN The banner unit of the Shubert vaudeville circuit is at the Winter Garden, New York, this week. It is the Jean Bedini "Chuckles of 1921." It may be called the "Chuckles of 1922," for the laughs are there this year as last. To the studious—and this takes in the Shuberts as well as their booa- ing office—"Chuckles''as a box-office power should make tliem think. It is in line with the Hussey show and the "Whirl of New York," but with a difference. The. "Chuckles" was made up by Bedini with its own acts. Some time the Shuberts inserted extra attractions as this week at the Garden, where there are three ex- tra acts. "The Whirl, 1 * extracted by the Shuberts out of that legit at- traction, has more real vaudeville acts than the Bedini show, but it's a question if it has a better revue or burlesque portion. Tho "Chu:kles" end now runs 80 minutes instead of 150, an in bur- lesque. It makes tho show faster and funnier. "Chuckles" is the sec- ond Bedini prize-winner for the Columbia theatre, New York, sum- mer season. The Bedini manage- ment wanted to send its show on the road to make money. The Co- lumbia people objected, throwing Bedini and his show ofi' the wheel. That wus tho Columbia's short- sightedness and misfortune. The Shuberts got Bedini on a 60-10 per- centage of the gro:s. And that made the Shuberts think. What it may lead to must have the Colum- bia hunch also thinking, for it's in the air. There's no better vaudeville com- bination policy at $1 top thaii this burlesque and variety show? It's just a matter of balancing the vaudeville with the afterpiece. In the Bedini show the afterpiece i~ far ahead of the vaudeville. Still, Bedini can afford to come into the Garden on a guarantee of $4,500 (waiving his percentage for this week) and knowing he is to make a profit. "Chuckles" has the same princi- pals, with a chorus of 18 as pretty young girls as could be seen at any Broadway house, in that quantity. The vaudeville is opened by Selma Braatz, who seems to have substi- tuted for the Musical Spillers. The latter were in the revue, but not In the olio. No. 2 held the White Way Trio, a singing act from tho show. Joe Jackson was next, another of his many return dates, but he seems to be Joe Jackson anywhere. The Klein Brothers had the house from the outset Monday night. The Garden held a party from the Israel Hospital, with Judge Hartman tm» big moment. Instead of the usual News Weekly, the space was given to a film of the Judge and the hos- pital. The hospital bought the house at a price and sold at its own scale, with the box-office top $1.65 for that evening. After Lucille Chalfante had sold her high notes for their best value and lost out on her lower register, came intermission; then Bert Han- lon. Soft for Hanlon. His "Lee- beer-tee" bond speech did the trick, forcing Hanlon to respond with the removal of his new fedora hat. After that came "Chuckles" with all of its best laughs and numbers. The house held nearly capacity all over. Bime, COLONIAL Displayed as a "Midwinter Car- nival" in lights outside the theatre, the show at the Colonial for the cur- rent week Is taking up considerable time, three full hours, and a bit more, to be exact. Belle Baker was scheduled to head the program for the occasion and was so billed, but a card in the lobby stated that "due to sudden illness, etc.," which al- lowed for the appearance of Her- man Tlmberg and D. D. H.? in the second half. As laid out the con- cluding portion of the evening had a distinct "edge" on its predecessor, with Tlmberg, Loavltt and I.ock- wood. 1>. D. H.? and Samaroff and Sonia following each other in the order named. Intermission came" at 10.0"» after a fair enough opening portion ?o far in- by a "plant," that just about eased by. Jolson impressed as being at a loss what to do with himself while singing with a continuous repetition of gestures carrying out the impres- sion. Also his habit of singing with his eyes closed is harmful. The "plant's" voice doesn't give Jolson any of the best of it, either. "Parlor, Bedroom and Bath" took up a considerable amount of time, but pleased with its spicy theme. Eda Luke and Sager Midgley do nicely with the skit though the whole suffers in comparison with either the show or the picture that was made of it. Tho length it takes to get the general story across per- mits a decided slowing up in the action, though once under way the laughs come frequently and loud enough. Sheila Terry (new acts) concluded tho opening portion with her "May and December" offering that registered substantially on her looks and dancing. The two boys assisting work easily while gaining their quota of recognition. With the finish bringing forth all that could be expected. Timberg ushered in after the in- terval with his liddle. dancing and a piece of business with a partner, done for an encore, that placed him as being "in" long before he finished. They wanted more but he let it go at that opening tho way for Leavitt and Lock wood who dug in and en- trenched themeselves for consider- able appreciation. Its a corking act that has Leavitt clowning all the way to results, with Miss Lockwood doing equally as well with the as- sets of beauty and voice. It was rather late for D. D. H.? but the monologist caught attention promptly, held 'em, and walloped across at the finish, around 11.15, to a solid outburst. Samaroff and Sonia held the closing spot topping off a second half that registered four successive times and made up for any deficiency that was apparent during the two hour duration of the initial stanza. Rkig. spot of the first section, doing straight harmony work in straight Tux get-up and finished with banjo, sax and piano ensemble. The quar- tet has gauged its stuff to a nicety, with the result they stopped pro- ceedings for an extra bend and a getaway speech. / Mclntyre's sketch closed intermis- sion. Following "Topics" and Aesop's Fables, came Miss Vane, a prim little lady with a prima donna set of pipes. She was the first hit of the trio of hit acts the last half boasted. Williams and Wolfus fol- lowed, and Leon and Co. with a "magic" routine closed. Leon's act is fast and snappy, not to say mys- tifying, running principally to cabi- net illusions, making Edith Packard, his subject, disappear and reappear in various cabinets and casks. The act is a fast one of its kind, includ- ing several effects thnt are truly mystifying. As a closing act it is certain cf not losing a soul under ordinary circumstances. Abel. RIVERSIDE The cokl snap Monday night evi- dently kept a goodly, portion of the neighbors off the street, with the re- sult the Riverside attendance was fully ?5 per cent, under par. How- ever what they lacked in nur ers they balanced with enthusiasm. The audience was in good humor, and the show nice and serene, excepting for a display of pianist's tempera- ment—or was it temper?—in the course of the Syvll Vane act, re- opening after intermission. Leon Domque, presiding at tho grand, in- dicated that the pedal extension was awry, but instead of smoothing over the matter bowed off at the end of the singer's operatic selection, so that when she returned for her rou- tine encore with a "mammy" song she had to wait at the piano until her accompanist made his reappear- ance. For a second encore Miss Vane thanked the audience and re- marked casually about something having gone wrong with the grand, but that she will call on Neville Fleeson, the song-writer, to render one of his newest compositions, an- other "mammy" number, reading the lyric off a paper. It may have all been a frame at that, since Fleeson, 81 ST STREET The show starts off with a bang at the 8lst St. this week. After the Pathe Weekly and "Topics of the Day," the opening turn is the Eight Blue Demons, an "Arab" act of the familiar pyramiding, somersaulting, handstands, whirlwind spins, etc. it is a lovely act, full of life. It is in extreme contrast to Mar- celle Faliet. who has a slide telling she is a French refugee who played her fiddle while war raged. She is a legitimate, straight musician, play- ing her violin with orthodox cor- rects udo for a couple of classical numbers, thereby revealing her dex- terity, following it up with a medley of popular ditties, and for an encore "Dear Old Pal of Mine," with a splendid orchestral arrangement for accompaniment, finishing with a sure fire international patriotic medley. * Erwin and Jane Connolly have re- vived their comedy skit. "The Tale of a Shirt." with all references to the war deleted. The story runs along the lines of the plot of the Mary Pickford photoplay "Suds," and if there is any charge of plagi- arism or infringement, the blame is with the film, as the Connelly sketch antedates the photoplay. The act went over neatly. That cheery comedienne, Stella Maybew, with an admirablo selec- tion of ditties and chatter, written for her by Paul Gerard -Smith, is a treat to the vaudeville patron. She is blessed with what, for want of another word, must be described as "personality." She put over a good- sized hit in a not very well filled auditorium. Fa? and away the applause hit of the evening (Monday) were Holmes and La Vere, with their comedy skit, "Themselves," marred only by two very ancient jokes—"Y/ou'll go blind if you keep on drinking"—"I've seen enough," and "You talk in your sleep"—"That's the only chance I get." Otherwise it i« a genuinely original act—real vaudeville novel- ty—something entirely different. It is corking hokum. * Bert Errol is a female imperson- ator who doesn't attempt to deceive his audience, slightly burlcsqueing tho impersonation and resorting to his natural male voice early in the show plenty of timber where it was needed. Carl MeCnllough, next to .losing. did very well with stories, imitations and songs. With an appearance suggesting that he had just stepped out of the proverbial bandbox, Mr. McCullough lent class to tho show that helped a lot. He is still telling the same two decrepit Irish stories, with the same unconvincing brogue, that he used at the 44th St. a couplo of weeks ago. The 'phone bit was Just as big a wow at the Crescent as at tho other Shubert houses around New York. He handh < it in great shape, squeezing every ounce of comedy possible out of it. The imi- tations of Lauder, Warfield and Jol- son also landed. McCullough closed to heavy applause, but miscalcu- lated by stepping back for an en- core, a published pop song, well done, but dragging out the turn a bit too long. Marie Stoddard went over solidly No. 4 with her travesty bits, the house according her marked appre- ciation for each of the numbers. Ben Linn, second, pleased with a singing turn, with some stepping interpo- lated, and the Leach Wallin Trio, a classily costumed and produced wire walking act, opened. The Joe Boganny Bakers were third, with acrobatics and clowning. A burlesque boxing bout between two of the dwarfs stood out among the comedy stuff. The fast acrobat- ics, always sure as done by the Bo- gannys, were characterized with the pep that is a Qoganny trade mark. Vardon and Perry opened the second half with double songs, the rube cross fire featuring the routine. They landed their usual quota, pleasing the whole house. Horllck and Sar- ampa Sisters closed with their ar- tistic dancing turn, holding 'em splendidly. Business was about four-fifths capacity Monday night, a theatre party helping to swell the total of Monday regulars. BeVL although in street clothes, came out of the opposite side of the stage on act - Hc now changes to male at ire o 0 „™r,H'„ „,»»<*.<»• K„f it ,iwi i«,.v for a song in his natural tenor voice. finish with his instrument, accom-- as entertainment goes, though in panying the team for a new version cllncd to drag at Intervals, in of the sweeping song and dance that ■ better than before. Applause continued after the lights were out, no Vernon Stiles was forced to JJ>e colored team made a reappear- ance and how. Billy Wayne and Ruth Warren «nh their "gentle" routine, "The *jast Car," supplied the humorous •Jj»rt for the second section. Not the Wise talk landed, but the Jjam had landed by the tirtK; the aanclng lesson close arrived, and wi;it bit p m them across. .Jcan.rt.. Hackett and Harrv Del- mar and Co. with The Dance Shop" J*ew Acts) furnished a big flash on lnl - Dive Roth singled on second ""h I'i.iiio, Kong and dance, with a *»na '•• ot h mi a sustained hand the next Thalero's Circus was an absence of Miss Baker, noted in the hilling, may have caused the some- what disappointing patronage. The box office spaced the ticket holders femain in the entrance until one of, nicely, but it couldn't cover upj the vacancies towards the rear or down the Bides. . . The house was friendly, with tin- gang in the gallery making their presence felt through remarks on two occasions. Powers and Wallace, No. 4, did about as well as itiy- thing that ^preceded or followed. Wallace's personality was response ble for most 61 it. though Miss Powers lent Impetus t.» the jurn through Iter appearance and idng- ina Morton Jewell and company fol- lowed the film weekly to a re ii>onsc that was only stopped by th< ow- ing of ihe lights and Ibe sw. > I] oi a second's notice; but it did look genuine. Williams and Wolfus co-toplined with Miss Vane, the former breez- ing away with the honors. The two- act has expanded its original "Hark! Hark!" stuff into a number ot scenco and bits that total some 25 minutes of solid laughs. Williams is a euper-hoke artist of the purest ray serene, who exacts more honest- to-goodness wows from the most inconsequential props than any of his confreres. , The remaining highlight of the bill was Frank Mclntyre's sketch, "Wed- nesday at the Ritz." The star es- tablishes a precedent for debutting legit comedies through the selection of his vehicle. Gordon Bostock, who wrote and staged it, has fitted the corpulent comedian with a piece that could hardly be surpassed con- sidering the star's style of work, with not a little thought for physi- cal limitations. Mclntyre is capi- tally assisted by Joan Storm and throe men, one of whom is ducked in the practical bathtub as part of the business. The skit is not bed- room farce or racy comedy, but car- ries a certain snap and zest that is bound to interest. Kay, Hamlin And Kay (Now Acts) opened. I'eggie Carhart deuced with her "concert violinists" routine, its only fault being it is too much "concert." Concert and vaude- ville are far from synonymous, and .Miss Carhart could really please the popular taste so much the better by .forgetting 4 rhc was ever with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra and Just fiddle nicely for the vaudeville customers. There is no\Ienylitg she . a capital Instrumentalist, but her present ropcftolro frames up only for polite n turns, l?l • \\ ■• •« nicely with the pop nvd.<y for tiff f"p - well, but her three, bo ero forced. Howard Langford nud Ina Fred- erick Went •Shopping" in No, :\ and nnnexed a nice ccJI'/ctlon if Biggies, lutigha and applau '- with their talk ad stepping. La ngford has w»it- t n himself s ne.it line of airy per*!- fl re. topping it off hand ;omc!y with 11 travesty and itralght stepping, »g - While his female characterizations are good, there is no suggestion of absence of masculinity. His finish is the announcement that the little danseuse is his wife. Aesop's Fables, animated cartoon, followed, and the second part was consumed with a screen presenta- tion of Hobart Bosworth in "The Sea IJon." Jolo. CRESCENT rieaslng show at the Shubert- Cresce/vt this week, with strategic- ally placed comedy values working wonders for the ensemble effect. Six of tho nine acts have played the Crescent before this season since the Shuberts started with vaude- ville. Tho repeaters were Ben Linn, Joe Boganny, hero last with the Billposters, but offering the lainatie Bakers this time; Marie Stoddard. McConncll and Slmpron, Vardon and Perry and Horlick and Sarampa Sisters. El I'.rendel and Flo Bert, second after Intermission, whooped things up in the second hah'. Here's a real vaudeville not Brondel is a corking character comic, his Swede being as natural as it is funny. Additionally. he's a dandy hoofer. Miss Bert cashes in strong on appearance and, beside* stepping niftily. owns a con- trallo voice that has genuine quality. The singing of counter harmony by Miss Bert while » phonograph rec- ord no - her singing the melody of the same song makes a unioJtTs bit of entertainment. A double stepping bit gOSled 'OIH tiear the finish. Heal In lent marks, everything the pair offer. Tin y were a deserved hit. Lulu McConncll and Grant Blmp- ■i ■-) worn n comedy wow with their familiar farcical skit, "At Home," J i tfl M< Conned is o:.o of the few women In vaudeville who can secure laughs without Mtaitiiu'; for them. \ nattn al comedh nne, v ht need * nothing to >«• ik<- hoi mark In the ;« -it but the i.yht opportune y. The McConnell -SinvpVofi lui n r.l i e<1 the in st hull nnd gavt the middl • <o the HAMILTON This week marks a change of pol- icy at the Hamilton with a straight vaudeville bill of ten acts Instead of the former six acts and a feature picture. The opening bill showed a strong assemblage of acta that played aa smoothly as silk. Not an act In the lino-up failed to draw heavy ap- plause. It was one of the best bills ever put together at this house. The Sensational Valentines opened with a pretty aerial routine featui - ing a loop-the-loop on a special ap- paratus that started things swiftly. Herbert Brooks, second, did nicely with his card tricks and chatter. Brooks descends into the audience on two occasions, extracting consid- erable comedy thereby without of- fending. His palming, passing ana manipulating measure up to any of the "stripper'' stunts. Brooks has a likable personality and is an excel- lent showman In addition. He oiled his way to nice returns. Hall, Ermine and Brie. (New Acts), third, In a novelty singing, unicycle, dancing and musical turn, picked up the tempo and landed sol- idly. James B. Donovais and Marie I-co followed and tied the show into bow knots. Miss Lee hooked them with her opening song and "cake" move- ments, and Donovan put on the pad- lock with his__roonolog and Irish stories following. The cross-lire kidding and Miss 1>e's Irish jig at the finish mlled them out for u speech. Clarence Oliver and Georgie Olp (New Acts) next in a sketch, "Wire Collect," by William Anthony Mc- Ouire^were away from the conven- tional and found instant favor with their fresh human interest playlet. It Is a welcome addition to the local bills. Beth Berl, assisted by Oil Squires and William McLeod, danced her way to an artistic hit. Miss Berl has developed wonderfully since first seen around here, both artis- tically and physically. She is a rani beauty and as graceful as a panther. Not since Dorothy Dixon set the present fashion for the dancing sis- terhood has such a favored daugh- ter of tcrpslchoro flashed across tho local stages. She was accorded an ovation at the finish. Davis and Darnell opened after Intermission and added a large sties to the evening's total in "Birdseed." The act is an admirable vehicle for Frank Davis' light comedy person- ality and Miss Darnell's charming opposite. Davis is a fluent exponent of the rapid persiflage and can han- dle this style of dialog with cny one. They breezed through on the lunge rein. ' Dc Lyle Alda (New Acts), former prima donna of Ziegfeld's Follies, assisted by Tierney and Donnelly and four other priori pals, was fol- lowed by Frankle Heath (NeW Acts), who did remarkably in a late spot, getting on about 11:1"» nnd holding the house unanimously. koma Duo held the walk-out with their opening "skating" dance per- formed in realistic fashion without. the skates. The Kussian dance fol- lowing failed td grip, and the march Oil the exits began. It's a corking turn when it has a chance, but was wasted <»n this long bill. The house did just under capacity with the new policy, which is a con- siderable improvement over last Monday night*s attendance, accord* in-; to the management. Cnn.