Variety (February 1922)

Friday, February 17. 1922 NEW SHOWS THIS WEEK 21 1 SHUBERTS' NEW STYLE OF COMBINATION SHOW ''Midnight Rounders" Opens ''Cold" at Crescent, Brooklyn "Tlib Midnight Rounders," a com- bination vaudeville and revue enter- tainment made up principally of Bkits, bits and numbers from the Century Hoof show of that title in ■U'hich Eddie Cantor toured this sea- son, constitutes the current bill at the Shubcrt-Crescent, lirooklyn. It's an ideal vaudeville show, as re- vamped to meet the requirements of the two-a-day, running like clock- work and with enouph entertain- mc-nt tfi snpply tlirf^e vnudoville .shows. The **Kound?rs" opened cold at the Crescent Mdnday, rehenrsinR until liv*-' o'rlock Suinlay morninK to pet .'^et for Monday nftciMoon. Mon- day niffht it ran from 8:15 to 11:10. There wasn't a dull moment from the ri.se of the curtain until the exit march. "The RounJers," third of cameo series of revues for Shubort vauiK-ville. broke th»* hou.s.» r<M'ord for a matinee at th':» Croscoiit. Mon- day aft«'rnoon (TJticolti's l'.;rt'.:(hi> ). Business wa.s a bit .short of capacity Monday nighty T!ie elimination of stallinj^. joeiv^yinj; «ind all extianr^ous en- cores IS one of the outsUinilin^ fea- ture's of the show. It'.s wonderful what can be acconi)>lished with the tini<*-wasting, needle, s encore and bow iiii; businejs.s out of a vaudeville show. I'ncore.s were taken in the '•Rounders" Monday niRht, but— onl.\ v^hen absolutely calle.l for by tln> house, and then insistently so. at that. ' Foiiowln^ the news reel, which m\\r th" uudience a chance to KCt t:ettled. the ^how proper started with a proIo^T. which plants tlie idea. In this IS irvlufr O'llay. Colin Cameron. Helen Kley. Jane Green, John Keller. Kthel O'lhien, Jean Carroll. Davey White and Lillian Washburn. The proloi? 'ran three minutes. Alice Ridnor and 12 choristers were on next in a number "Land of Blues," with tlie girls in blue costumes. Thi.> was anc^ther three-minute bit. Sam Hcarn, third, with his quaint rube monolog and fiddllnpr, scoring all the way in his quiet effective manner. Helen Eley and John Keller, fourth, with James Blyler at the piano; Harry Hines, In his single, and Jean Carroll, Aiice Ridnor and Davey White, in a brief dancing interlude, in the order named, following. All of the numbers were marked with speed and wero nicely varied for contrast. Closing the first half were Ray Miller's Jazzists and Cliff Ed- wards. The band is a pip, playing mostly in the modern subdued fash- *ion with a variety of instruments and a fine idea of shading and ex- prcs.sion noticeable throughout their program. ClifC Kdwards (Ukelelc Ike) did several numbers between band selections, all landing for woofs. Miller and his Jazz mer- chants just couldn't give 'em enough Monday night. It was the right act in the right spot, making for a per- fect balance in entertainment values. The first half ran till 9:44. During the seven-minute intermission the Orescent orchestra pulled off a spot- lighted overture that was a number In Itself, and as far removed from the regulation Intermission overture fls Harlem is from Coney Island. The Crescent orchestra incidentally did itself proud Monday night, play- ing the unfamiliar musical comedy fttuff throughout the show without a miss. The second half held the comedy rf the show, and it was plenty. There were foift* eklts, "Comedian W'anted." with Irving O'Hay, Harry Hines and Inez Buchanan; "Winter Carden Stage Door," with Sam Hoarn, Charles Wheeler, Jane Green, Helen Eley and six choris- ters; "Life Insurance," with Irving O'Hay, Sam Hearn, Inez Buchanan. Helen Eley, and Lillian Washburn, and "Cafe do la Prix," with Harry Hines, Charles Wheeler, Irving O'Hay, John Keller, Sam Hearn, Alice Ridnor and choristers. The "Comedian Wanted" bit wjis a talk- hig acr, with o'Hay doing straight to Hines. This held a bunch of laughs and seemed to be running along in a sort of impromptu man- ner, with an arrangement that would permit of ad libbing. The "Winter Garden Stage Door" hit gave Sam Hearn and Charles Whoeler an x>pportimity to show Ihey were real comics, who coultl get oceans of laughs with the quiet- <*st and easiest methods imaginable, .lane Green al.so scored on this as a sophisticated chorus girl. "Lif(> Insurance" was one of thos(» secon<l cousins to that good old • •lassie. The Doctor Shoji." with n l''Ui;h a set'ond, good wholesome hoke, splendidly h.mdled. "Caf.> dc la I'rix" was a restaurant exterior, ''ssenti.iUy a table scerc*, with Sam ir»';Jrn. Hines. >Vhoeler and O llax whooping it up for I.iughs that rQckod the house. Alice Ridrioi" panickt^d 'em in this seejie. l":^dii)g a nunih«r aiid iiitjo- ducint? the same conil)incd wiggly ' lltd.i Hul.a" .and .ia/'/.y stejiping that siMpp.Ml the ihow on the open- ing nivht of 'The Biushing Bride." S.tndu ielied in bct\^•e(•n the seconil li'tlf <'om((l^ scerM>s were bri«^f num- bers—"The Heart Breakers," led by Helen Eley, with six choristers In novelty costumes; an eccentric dance by Davey White; an Oriental number by John Keller and girls, with a full stage background show- ing the Pyramids; a beautiful cos- tume number, led by Helen Eley; a fast little stepping bit, led by Jean Carroll; a nursery number, "Coun- try Life," with John Keller, Jean Carroll, Virginia Banks and Alice Ridnor, and Green and Blyler's piano and singing specialty, which arrived at 10:30, and held back the following scene until Miss Green had begged off with a flock of bows. The Green and Blyler turn was one of the real wows of the show and earned every- thing it received. Closing the show was Cleveland Bronner's "Wedding of the Sun and Moon" ballet, ai^ allegorical affair that made a httmg climax for an unusual bill. The 15 choristers are manipulated in this to appear like r.o instead of the smaller number mentioned. The costuming is pic- turesque and in excellent taste. The lightin;T is .-^Iso finely handled. The combination of variety, musi- cal show, revue and burlesque as presented in "The Midnight Round- ers" is a marked advance over the regulation vaudeville shov.*. If the Shuberts can dig up 32 more as gooil as this, Bedinis "Chuckles" and "A\'hirl of Xew York," their \audeville circuit is set. If "The Midnight Rounder.s" unit doe-n't break a record for $1 top at the Crescent in Brooklyn thi.s week, it will be hard to find the reason. PALACE The holiday crowd Monday (Lin- coln's Birthday) matituv> was apa- thetie. l".sually the bunch that gathers on a day off is wound up like a spring to smash hands to- gether. r>ut there were no smashes scored. it was the show's fault more than the humor of tin* audi- ence. ^\hi^.•h left some empty sjiaces in the boxes but tilled the hotjse otherwise. The program billed nine acts but the performance held ten, with many changes noted in the running order as lirst laid out. Anna \Vhe.aton and Il.iiry Carroll (New Acts) reunited, prehably sent in to make up for the absence of Bcllo Baker, who wa.5 listed for the show but was reported out through illness. Miss Baker would have mopped up; the show really needed a wallop. Carroll was recently at the Palace with his revue, but it is possible the reformed Wheaton and Carroll turn may Bhove the revue out for a time. Frank Mc In tyre and Co., whose "Wednesday at the Ritz* farce turned up recently as a novelty at the I'alace, which hadn't had a play- let in many moons, was in the going as a repeat. Tlie Bostock comedy, listed after intermission, was switched into closing intermission. Joan Storm looked excellent as the wife who hated her "fl\'e-cent cigar salesman husband." All the three male assisting roles ore slight, but the chap who takes a ducking In the bathtub at least earns his salary. The house liked the turn, without undue enthusiasm. It was a pretty quick return for this type of sketch- act. Thelma and Marjorle White, Juvenile entertainers, wont on in the fifth spot (six turns before inter- mission) and scored the first of the limited hits of the afternoon. Be- fore them the scoring was negligible. The White kids look tender In years. They are reported hailing from the northwest and were taken on y Flo Ziegfeld for tho "Midnight Frolic" with Will Rogers. They did open with that show in Philadelphia but didn't fit. Several weeks ago the children were tried out in a three-a-day house and big time booking resulted. The little Whites showed them- selves perfectly at home. They have an air of sophistication that is disarming. There was humor in their opening number, "Those Days Are Over," for Thelma and Marjorie are just the age the lyric tells of. The kids surprised with a duet dance that followed, the kicking in particular drawing attention. The eldest singling with "Heeland Mary" In kilts tossed out an astonhshing Scotch burr. Then the smallest trotted forth In all Russian, the dancing not being so difficult ns surprising. The White Sisters are strongest perhaps in their singing, harmonizing finely for children. The eldest works in the harmony por- tions. They are perhaps the future successors to the Duncan Sisters. Tlie kids encored twi<e. Mabel Ford and Co. (New Acts) m.ade a strong follow up of tie- Wheaton-Carroll offering. which opened the late portion of the bill. After Intermission the running was much stronger but y«t did not meas- ure up to the usual standard here. Pressler and Klaiss were down iiext to closing thou.'^h progranied Xo. .'(. Tlio spot was much too late for them on this bill. I'rcssler's mop ef l.Ie.-ichrd hair and his w.-il»hly h^gs stan«<l the laughter, but the vahc of Miss Klaiss* sours contribution was distinctly brouu-ht om. .M.\i\on Vadie and Ot.-i G\gi fur- ni-h'-d the class of tle^ oju'Tiinir sef> ti..:i. Ma:y l7.ant is the piano ur- .niupanist.' but the Cakewalk num- l)»r by Miss \'adie called f..r thf or« hesir.i, v, hieh .•-(•eniod in diireul- lies several tim«\s durini; the djite •. C.vpi caimht th-' matin*-' cro\\d with plaintive melodies, softly ].laved, lb- was not on at the close of the act, which had Miss Vadie and the Por- tia Mansfield Dancers In a classical number, programed "Rondo Capric- closo." The Mansfield dancers are four In number, the girls replacing the special musicians carried last season. The bare-legged contrib- utors are Flavla Waters, Frances Hartsook, Willette Allen, and Jeanne Fuller. Ed Lee Wrothe and Owen Martin, listed on the program to close in- termission, appeared third. The routine, which is billed "Now," might be called "Janitor Higgins at the Track." The spot was too early, the house either not getting the rac- ing slang or not being warmed up yet. The elephant line won a real laugh, but there was little returns at the finale for their first Palace appearance. Few if any present had not seen one version or the other of "Cutting a Woman in Half." Yet virtually no one left the house until it was over. That was a tribute to the showmanship of Horace CJoldin. His film bit in itself is well carried out. Then the details of the ".surgical problem" make it much more of a problem. He proves that the feet projecting through the box are real by removing one shoe and snipping off tlie end of the stocking with scissors. The wiggling toes are a "convincejp," So is liis «.'ompleted "operation," which has h:in i-uwing through the platform entirely. Therefore when the two halves are pulled apart the entire platform is sei>arated. Millicent Mower, evidently from the concert field, was No. 2. while the Cvene Troupe opened. The .set- tings are unusual for a wire act, and at the opening the raised cafe idea looked like the restaurant set- ting in the "Music Box Revue." Ibce. WINTER GARDEN A ragged bill of nine acts that must be costing nearly |6,000 on the week, and with Charles I'lU'cell headlining, drew rather a light audience Monday (»he holiday) night at a $2.L'0 top. With the Pal- ace charging $2.75 top the same evening as its special holiday scale. Broadway vaudeville was out for coin that evening. Tlie Shuberts know their Winter Garden. They played vaudeville no wonder the Shuberts wanted vaudeville as a steady trade, Time often has been when the CJarden did over $3,000 at its single (night) Sunday show. It then built up a Sunday trade that remains to now, with the Shuberts certain that from Friday to Sunday night of any week the Garden will get around $S.OOO, if not more, for Saturday and Sun- day the scale leaps to $2 again. It may or it may not be nows that the Winter Garden has not played un- der $16,000 gross any week since the Shuberts offered vaudeville there, and its top weekly gross in that period has been $23,000. The first part of five acts is what kicked the Garden show Monday. It held five just-mls.sing acts, one after the other, right up to Purcell with his band and specialty people, taking 30 minutes to close the l>e- fore intermission position. The opening three turns were In the "dumb" class, and at least if the Permano and Sholley turn could not be strictly called voiceless, it might better bo that way. To jam a $6,000 bill up this way is not good vaude- ville, and more especially when two of the best known acts, both re- peats, were In the second part. Per- haps one or two of the others were al.so repeats. The Purcell act turns out aver- age entertainment, with the Leroy Smith colored jazz band not the least of that. For value it's merely Purcell's name and what it is worth. Otherwise it has Purcell's singing, his slight attempt at comedy, with dancing by Hubert Kinney and Martha Shelby. The Purcell por- tion is his song hits from the musical shows. It's the same xict Purcell first showed at Keith's I'al- ace about a month ago, but now seems to be loss on principal. The second part was programmed to be opened by Kajlyama, one of the repeaters. It's the position Kajlyama should have had when ho was at the Garden the first time. More easy to attrac* attention to an act on its firt;t appearance than on its second. Likewise the pro- gram is now giving some explana- tory billing to Kajiyama's remark- able mental feats. Then came Hal t'orde and Gitz-Rice, another r<- peater, followed by Mane Nord- strom, with James Watts closing th show. Opening were the Apollo Trio, three men in a gohl bronze, who combine posings with lifts and acrobatics, one doing a nice mu.-^eu- lar dlsfday. Its somelhmg of a sirht turn for the o[»ening si>ot. nnd might be tri^'d some time for the after intermis.«tion position. Ofi"n it i.i a waste of tab'tit imd money Jo figure vaudeville spots a'^cording to salary received. That's the small time booking pysf'-m. Xo. 2 held I'ermane an<l She!i»N'. who h.ave a mixrore of a Mirn whore comedy is striven for early at th^ opcnin-?. iMit doesn't arrive in any bu'k, The two nun appecir to depend upon a violin and con<ortina MU-sical lini: 1». Its hardly enoimh. Alter tli»ni were irorllfkand th" S.uMnuta Si.'^ters, all diricer^, Hor- iie!; (I'ling the Rii.r.^i:in work and w.'l!, but he mu-^t b«'ld up ih'' act Our man standing fer thrt'c on the program assumes quite a task. Still it's an enjoyable turn of that class, for Horlick makes it so. Emily l.)arrell was up against it N >. 4. She had followed the three acts, none with comedy that was. and while at first thought It might be said the spot .vas right for a laugh by that time, it .seemed as though thb holldayers had given up hoi»e. Miss Darrell went after them hard enough, but it was quite a while before they left their shells. When they did. Miss I")arrell re- marked to the bulldog she always carries: "Don't look so surprised 'Oscar' when they laugh." The laugh she got for that indicated some professionals were present, perh.aps to look over Purcell. But even at that Miss Darrell could staml to have new talking material written into her turn. The more the better, and the better the more. It Is some been around, worked his musical in- COLONIAL Tle» Rcner.al query around the Colonial Monday nicjlit was—where are th«'y'.' The holiday h.id no par- ticular effect upon business lor the evening performance e.vcept pos- sibly to make the total attendance below the usual figure. The last six or seven rows, downstairs, were sparingly populated with the vacan- cies along the sides running even further front. Maybe the day off threw 'em into the theatres at the malinee.s. though afternoon business was only reported as being big at inter\als, but the fact remains the usual allotment of Colonlalites were con.spicuous by their absence at tho second show on Lincoln's birthday. The eight act bill played itself out to ai>prociation, being split into portions of five and three respec- tively. John Steel was placed at the bead of the line-ui) an<l ran true to ihc billing by turning in the ap- plause hit of the night. Down next to closing Steel walkcil on to render five sonj;s. Intcisjicrsed by a selec- tion from the accompanist, which failed to appease tho hungry mob and led into a duo of encores that climaxed with the tenor \erbal re(|uests. I'rob.ably sing the best voice in vaudeville, today. Steel delivers it with a neat sense of showmanship besides being profuse in hhs thanks following the numbers which arc short, melodious i and extremely easy to liste.i to. Aj corking headliner, John Steel, with i the audience getting its Initial ear- ful in the lobby upon entering throuyh means of the wax discs. The Lightner Girls and Alexander swltcheil i)laces with Leo Donnelly, thereby closing the first half. Those present doted on Winnie's clowning and responded to her rendering of a ballad plus much enthusiasm which took the act away well up. The remainder of tho cast filled In nicely both as to looks .and work, the Gos- man sisters vocalizing to apprecia- tion and Ramona, the dancer, lend- ing some aid in appearance if not work through being forced to fol- low another feminine dancer who rather took the edge off her efforts. Alexander and the sister are prac- tically buried in the routine to the extent tliat it .seems somewhat ridiculous their ste])ping forth, in front of the drop, to take bows with the comedienne. Donnelly and his p.artner plea.sed with their "Tis and Tisn't" turn wljen getting the second half un<ler way. Miss Hal ley dres.ses the stage above par for the act, also accom- plishing a well perfected "straight." Rule, and O'Brien, No. 2, got away to a nice start by going immediately to work with their schedule of a quartet of songs and were click- ing it off acceptably until they started to stall on bows, thcnc re- turning for a rather long winded encore. Tlie boys shape up as being well able to deuce it but are spoil- ing tho Impression left by tho hesitating methods revealed at the finish. Tlie Melnotte Duo opened the way for the remainder of the run- ning order which had Donegan and Allen (New Acts) placed third, with Fenton and Fields succeeding. The latter two men picked it up in a spot that craved comedy and closed out head, was bewllderinff. time since Glngras has Charles Gibbs has specialty of i tatlng struments down to a fine point. Not an Instant is lost. He walk.«i on carrying a 'cello and instantly goes Into an imitation of the instrument while making tho motions of play- ing it. The 'cello is supported on a tripod like a muslelun's music .stand and from the body of it he takes a dozen other instruments, of which he gives a short imitation. Tho act never pau.-es for an instant. He is from one thing to another, speaks scarcely a ord, but works in capital incidental comedy busi- ness. This is l!ie best iclnd of simple si)ecialty, and the State crowd gave Gbibs a whale of a re- cei)tlon. Zack and Randolph with "Groom- ing the Groom" worked under a handicap. They open Aith a spoken Introduction, delivered from behind a transparency at the extreme back, and not one word was audible. When they came forward into full stage their dainty special set In pink silk won th^m something, and tho girl's vocal number clinched them. The couple have an excep- tionally bright lino of conversa- tional exchanges, all on the matri- monial angle good for laughs any- where, and they both have a fine, smooth comedy way. By their* method of delivering lines and put- ting over numbers they might be a musical comedy pair, so casual and natural is their address. A neat sketch by a clever couple. All they needed were a few steps at tho finish to touch up the offering with action. If they can by any means accomplish this, they are ready for prompt advancement. Four Brown Girls do nothing especially distinctive, but handle the familiar female quartet routine neatly and look trim in their green and white sport clothes. Taylor and Francis have knitted up their routine somewhat by the partial elision of the long recitation the man formerly delivered, but they are still addicted to punning and tho recital of a string of limerick.s singing i at this late day has no place In the pos.scs- material of a bright man and woman cjnver.satlonal turn. It be- longs back with the spreading tan box coats with pearl buttons, turkey red soubret dresses and tho other forgotten things of a generation ago. The girl is a dandy looker and a capital feeder in the familiar sort of flirtation and quarrel bits looks extremely well, first in a trimmed opera cloak and later trim kiddy dress. ' They "Good-By " agreeably with comedy Incidentals for the finish and make a first-rate getaway with a few dancing steps. The man of the learn does a few gag« In Hebr«»w dialect, and there may be comedy possibilities in this direction. Cer- tainly anything is better than the constant labored punning. Paul Barnes has u new partner in Tom Ormsley, succeeding Jack' I'reeman, and the routine is switched somewhat. Along with the others In tho talking division this pair suffered from prolonged laughs that killed their succeeding talk. They were on sixth around 4:15, and there was in addition a good deal of shifting among the audience, with many departures from among tho early comers and the rush of others to occupy tholr .'^oats (the holiday matinee ap- peared to draw two pretty full iiouscs between 1 and 5:15). Barnes' dres.'^es In tight brown clothes now. which Intensify his leanness, and his Hebrew dialect stuff is genu- inely funny. They have a novel opening in the appearance of the trouserless straight mat# and his explanation that he Is waiting for ilio appearance of the clothes pre.«'-er. This lays tho found.itlon for much of tho amuain? conversa- tion later. Andre and Girls (Xew Acts) made an attractive closing turn. The act has good musical quality and at- tra'^ivo sight features. Altogether an excellent show. an«l with the feature "The Fourteentlj I..over," a Metro feature with \'iolii Dana, a bargain at the pric^. Jtu.^h. and fur- Ln a sing STATE All the iomedy of the show for tb.e first half was t.ilk, and lost upon a very consider.!ble portion of the audience. Tlie trouble with n talking act in tlils houso Is that when It raises a good laugh the giggle continu*'M long enough to kill the n« xt laughing point for all but those immediately down front. For this r'-ason th" comedy values w«.'re injured, l>uf th^re w<'re other feat- ures whi'Mi lujlled the bill up. For class in not too pretentious way the arr.mgejn'ut Monday was one of the best the house has had in several W"(ks. It wa.^ fine, clean- cut. stiaii;ht-away spfcialty m.i- leiial. The show went along .'.niooi hi.v and with ex'^elN-nt sp<M'd. IMnrmd Gingra.-;, hc.'ivjwcighi ^^quilibt ist. op» tied. His handlint; oi th.' s»e«'I canon balls is irnpr'v-sive, and se\eral of his feature tricks, .such as FUpporting an Uiirl>:hl ob- ject On each foot, while seit'.d. hf»ld- ing an elaborate pereli in one hand and jug;;fing four balls ui tin- other and at tlie s jnic tini'r keeping a , .«<phi.?re Ivaveluig aiound a track J IIU'- the rim of uliat attatiiMl to hl.-i NEW ACTS Tom Murphy (Primrose I'oui >, single. Roy Harrah, with four girls, Iren^ T^abinl, formerly with Harrah, will rejoin her old partner Rosa as a two act. "Iteel Dream," with 5 people, fea- turing Zfdia Rambeau. Dr. I'escatore-t'isher. a German inventor who has devised a new sound-amplifying body to the or- dinary string instrument, including 'cello, violin or piano, showed his v.iudcville offering at the Wednes- day morning Keith try-on*^ at the Palace Berlin aet, arrived from o]\\^ Kin^ and M.ay (herald, f;•..•»- Dr. Fisher last week. BIRTHS Boeder (Four Rodders), her home in New York. C'ai rnon 1 eb. :j, at daushi'-r. 'i'he act reopena with ih»» .*<elb--l''loto circus next se.Msou. Both ptreiits aie inetnber.s of it. Winifred Verina. a ballet tiie Hippodrome, won the h'ld hy iVilhe to select a for a tutur*^ two-reel serial. girl a*:, '•ontoMt heroino