Variety (March 1922)

Friday, March 3, 1922 NEW ACTS THIS WEEK 21 |K)UY SISTERS luina and D«ncM Jl Mint.; Full SUfle (Special Cyc.) PaUc« The Polly Slaters in their second ^eek at the Palace are showlngr a jrand new act that has been thor- oughly Americanized and speeded up. The only holdover is the open- ing double song, "It Must Be You." Five musicians In Jazz band for- mation plugged up the Interludes, ;while the girls changed between dances. The second number was a straight dancing aflfalr with a tinge of Jazz, with the girls In fetching ahort-skirted Gypsy costumes. Fol- lowing this the band did a number, proving an excellent stop gap. The third number was another dance and the fini.sh a fast trio bit of stepping with Kuy Kendall, the third entry. Last week Kendall did three soIoh, only ono of which cliokeJ. This week he appears only at the finish, which worked out sat- isfactorily. The Dollys "went" Monday nishl and now give promise of remaining at thq Palace for the full live week.s they were booked for. In .1 brief speech in "one" at the completion of the turn tho girls an- nounced that next week they would show new dunces and costumes. . The act played faster and amoothcr than the initial one, hav- ing all the drags I'limiiuiiod and pep and i>unch insi'rtfd. Con. PHILLIPS and WHITE Talk and Songs 15 Mins.; One 68th St. Miss White is a l>ruuei of a'.erago size. Joey Phillips r:ay have been born under a bureau and he'.s a bit bald. Ilaltrd, he about reached his partn»'r's .';houldcr. The tlisparity In heiv;lits provides a comedy handi- cap in tljeir favor. The opening song numbers are light in lyric, dialog over their en- gageuM ni. Another comedy num- ber. "You Shouldn't." works out that she'll marry him anyway. Phillips is then "introduced" to the house, Miss White saying ho is really an accomplished musician of the Phila- delphia Symphony—in fact, he Is the "head simp"—and her explana- tion of the delayed introduction be- ing she is "forgetful of trifles" got the best laugh of the routine. . An adaptation of the vcntriloquial comedy bit with the diminutive comic playing the dummy also got across, the team working the stunt along their own lines. One bright bit pulled by Phillips as the dummy came when the spot light was changed from white to cream, and he called out "Not yet; don't change the color until I get dirty." The girl sings an Oriental song. While Phillips steps to bare-legged Grecian rig. After skipping about he flopg to a mat, which Is pulled off, carrying him. That v as a finale that possesses greater comedy pos- sibilities. This duo is a good threc- a-(lay turn. Jbee» JACK DEMPSriY and Co, (2) Talk, Pictures, Sparring. 20 Mins.; One and Full Staga. Hippodrome, New York. The opening at Monday matinee, when a very good afternoon house was In, at the Hippodrome, of the world's heavyweight boxing cham- pion, counts as the most unusual booking ever made by the Hip. The big house faced a slowing of box office pace with the start of Lent and the management doubtless con- sidered only something out of the ordinary could revive interest. Jack ("Doc") Kearns, Dempsey's manager, gave a rather logical ex- planation of the booking. He said "the world" was interested In the art of self-defence nowadays, where- as in former days people regarded the prize ring and boxing as things of "horror." (He probably did not Include the low-brow fans.) Box- ing as a part of the physical routine in schools and colleges had done much to counteract the old ideas about the squared-circle sport. He mentioned John L. Sullivan boxing for the late Theodore Roosevelt at the White House and that the Pres- lilent had engaged Mike Donovan to instruct his two sons. Kearns also touched on Anne Morgan's management of the Leonard- Mitchell bout at Madison Square Carden for the benefit of the poor children of France. As a matter of fact "Doc" had as much to do in the act as Demj)- sey. He introduced the champ. gi\'- ing liis age as 26 years, heisht.six fe'>. t)ne inch, and weight about iCOO pounds, and said Dejppsey was a "thorough gentleman in and out of the ring." Jack entranced in street clothes. Instead of doing his stuff, ho and Kearns went into dialog; in fact, there was about seven minutes of cross-liro talk. Chuck lleisner is given credit for the "act" portion TEXAS GUINAN and Co. (4) "Two Gun Taxaa*' (Comedy) 22 Mint.; FuH Staga (Special Interior) 23d. St. It's a novel vehicle that Texas Gulnan, late of "Western" pictures, has chosen for the twice daily, written by Jack Lait. It sUirts out as a Western melo-drama with a "bad" Mexican villain, a heroic Texas RAnger, a comedy cowboy and a Western plains bartender. From that as a flying start, not to speak of Texas herself in riding breeches and a .44 .nx shoo, r mak- ing her entrance on a real horse, there develops a dime novel story about a holdup of the mails. The heroic ranger beats up and subdues the Mexican terror and throws him out. There is an In- terval filled in with inconsequential comedy while Texas changes Ircm riding boots to a spectacular ball- room dress of vehement crimson. It wasn't clear how this change was accomplished in a side-room off the bar, but when returning re- splendant, she sang a number al- ternately addressing the various characters as "Sweetheart" as part of the lyrics and working up inci- dental business of making every- body jealous of evei-ybody el.se. Then the plot began to thicken. It appeared that the Ranger be- lieved the beauijiful Texas (they call her that in the sketch, too) had robbed the mail the day before. Texas pulled a gun on him and held him during a long colloquy with arms upraised. Then the Ranger took Te:cas' gun away from her and he'd lier up with his impressive looking weapon. While the pair ftood posed in this fashion, the Mexk'an (who had been mauled and, tlirov»ii out) slipped up behind the LITTLE BILLY Songa and Dancea 18 Mins.: Full Staga (Special Set) Riverside Little JJilly's metropolitan return to profcssivnal activity is celebrated this week at the Riverside with a special array of scenery, a pianist accompanist in James T. Rurke, and a repertoire of special songs. Selected for the third hole and fol- lowing a singing combination, Rilly had a tough row to hoe, but he manipulated his way to a smash- ing hit before a capacity audience with little or no struggle. For hla opening number Pilly is doing a female impersonation, a cuty little "miss" who might bo con- strued as a baby vamp. The ac- companying number i.s "Ta Ta," a catchy affair that Billy handles ex- ceptionally well. It gave him a fly- ing start. The succeeding char- {jcterlzatlon shows a skyline view of New York harbor with Billy awakening on the wharf in a packing box in a make-up that suggested Jackie Coogan's kid Impersonation. It is opened with a recitation about his pal (a dog) and Billy here haa a splendid opportunity to display his versatility. Ho follows In the same make-up with a number en- titled "Avenue A." a semi-slang lyric made to order for Billy. It brought him a brace of bows. Dur- ing Iho ensuing change the time l« taken up by Burke with a one-hand piami solo. lUily next appears In tuxedo and offers a comedy number, "I'm Look- ing for a Wife." In the clothes Billy delights the feminine portion of the house for hla personality would penetrate a stone wall. This "THANK YOU, DOCTOR* Dramatic Farca 20 Mins.; Full Staga H. O. H. This comedy dramatic sketch is* usually cast for vaudeville. All t»f the people are hlMh class. It's .i Lewis & (lordon prt)ductlon, writ- ten by CJilhort Kmery around tho "swindling" of a Jewelers messen- ger out of diamond necklace by a female adventuress. She has the clerk deliver the necklace at tho ofllce of a brain specialist whom she had previously intrlRued, telling him her brother, who labors under hallucinations he has been robbed of a necklace, will call for treat- ment. Tho clerk delivers the necklace to the adventuress, supposing she is the doctor's niece. She steps into an adjoining room. When the clerk becomes uneasy and demanda his jewelry, the doctor and nurse force- fully restrain him, thinking he has a brain attack. The scene where the adventuress tries to quiet her supposed brother by endearing terms and affection, only to be re- pulsed by the fear-maddened clerk, was unusually well acted. A "nut," who wanders in and out. Is a detective and apprehends the "cheater" after she haa made a get-away. The nurse discovers the case W^hich contained the necklace after the thief had left. It's one of the best sketches wit- nessed In seasons and will prove a distinct asset for any bill. The situations arc unusually funny and natural, and the cast exceptional. Con. GREAT BLACKSTONE Magic is followed with his closinB effort. 23 Mins.; Full Staga (Special Set) a dance, carrying a rumber of In- j g^j^ Ave. wonderful tricate steps th.it look as han«Ued by Billy. In this act he has a novelty, far Ranger with knife upraised. P.ut I Doi- and Jack threw verbal bou(iuet.yl just in the knick of time, Texas, at each other, loadinr to a "situa-1 producing another revolver miracu-! better than any he has previously tion" that had l^earns something of lously fioni somewhero about the offered, and ono that should keep WILL STANTON and Co. "Now and Then" (Skit) 15 Mins.; One and Three 68th St. A corking good comedy act.. Some of the falls Stanton takes with his *'sousc" personation are worth tho admission. Stanton opens in "one" with a number telling the world It is "my night out." A stick-up guy tries a little Jessejames stufC and Reeves snatches the gat away. The yegg exits and Stanton pulls a pint . of liquid reinforcements from his hip pocket, remarking, "It's the third time that guy has been trying to get this." A woman representative of the Temperance League enters for a pro and con debate In rhyme With Stanton on prohibition, Stanton showing how whLskey has done Its duty to mankind in medicine, saved wore sick than killed and Is far less harmful than narcotics which pro- nibition has brought on. The wom- »n gives her side of it, the house ■waying with the anti-prohibi- tionist. Stanton says he'll show lier what an old-time cabaret used to look 'Ike, This brings their stuff to the cabaret interior, where Rosalind May is the felmale entertainer and Burt Reeves doubles in a waiter ftnd fiddling entertainer role. Grace Gould, the Temperance leaguer, a(*ts as Stanton's wife. The star of the J'ompaiiy pulls hla inebriated role "KG in the old vehicle, ending with * chaso l.y the waiter after Stanton >f»to the audieiue and back on the «"ORtrnni. i}F^^^ ^ixlitneo Kerenmed, ond if \^^l HiOMii^ .in\ thing Stajjton ought 1^ he hf.ldin- forth in rotrnlar rom- ^^'^r- Ahcl a boxer "himself at ono time. Hut Dempsey dex-lared the only thing Due ever whipped was whipped cream and the best punch was punching street car transfers. Kearns then steered tho talk to the feminine, asking about the girl Jack was reported engaged to marry. .lack said: "You mean all girls. They call me honey; I get stung so often." Dempsey fmished that bit with the comment that any- way he had the most wonderful girl in the world—his mother. A "wire" from Dillingham was read by 1 Kearns, the manager being supposed to send word that If Jack made good at the Hip, "he 11 send you a'broad'." Dempsey thereupon told Kearns he would see that a blonde was saved for Doc. The final section of the dialog came with mention of the battle with Carpentler, Kearns asking Dempsey to say something about the second round. The champion explained ho was kept busy during that round and that Carpentler was celebrating, "but we Americans all celebrate the Fourth." (Tho Frenchman was knocked otit In that round.) While Dempsey changed to tights, a picture reel gave views of his training stunts. Into full stage, with a roped ring, Dempsey boxed three short rounds with Larry Wil- liams (brother of Battling Levin- sky), a Bridgeport heavy who has been traveling with Jack as his sparring partner. Williams was wide open, with Dempsey slashing in with heavily padded gloves. The rounds were not more than 30 sec- onds each, about enough to give Williams a rosy complexion. The Hip date is soft money for tho champ, who has been quoted as saying laying off was too heavy a drain on his bankroll. It was probably Kearns' Idea to do the chatter with Jack, which made It an act and at the same time saved tho expense of carrying an actor. So far as the Ilip is concerned, it Is experimenting, and at a time when It will do no harm. It's all a matter of whether Dempsey can outdraw the S.'i.OOO weekly guarantee, Ihrc. gorgeous red dress, shot him (the .Mexican) dead and saved the Ran- ger's life. What could any Ranger do but seize her in his at^s? That's what this one did as the curtain fell on the romantic tableau, although it previously had been made plain that Texas wasn't the mail robber at a'.!, but a secret service operative in the employ of the postofflce, sent to run down the stagecoach holdup. And who should the desperado be but yonder shot and dying Mexican. And tliat isn't everytliing. You'd think this situation would be suf- ficiently complicated to get over In 22 minutes. Not at all. On the rise of the curtain in response to large applause, Texas is wielding a mega- phone, a picture camera has been set up and is being cranked and the dramatic action is where it started originally—the Idea being that the whole business was a rehearsal for a film. Ruth, hlin continually busy. Rut Billy be- longs in the second section of a big time hill. He demonstrated his ability to occupy a better spot by his Iliverslde showing. Wi/nn. HARRY ELLIS Songs IIMins.; One In a Tuxedo H.irry Kills niake<' his entrance to Introduce a cycle of songs Hint .«mack, possibly, of his having been the author of sornc of them. Tiie numbers are of the semi-ballad an'l sob tyr delivered hy means of a soniowh it <i\er- powerful vol( e. No. 2 th«' .^^inser conforni'd to tlK' straight .-^inpfing. introdtu-lng a quartet of mclndi-s. which tufal-d a response ecjual to an eneur . Tiie act is of suflici-tit m^rit «<> nie.t with approval in a neisliboj hood v/heie they cit. up .'oft lyrics, but ]q deslin'^'l • ' ^ pnn«i««tont early r-;p('tte« f<klo. CLIFF FRIEND Pianolog 10 Mins.; Ona H. O. H. Young clean cut blond chap of good appearance goes to piano open- ing with a popular comedy pub- lished number. A couple of gag lyrics that sound homemade fol- low, one based on the bro- mide story of the man holding the baby and responding "I'm not dry now." A new twist Is given when the singer sings a verse lead- ing up to the "dry" Incident, and leaves the rest to the Imagination of the audience. A popular song which Friend claims author.'^hlp of and a new one not yet published completed the cycle. For an encore he sings an- other announcing that it is Eddie Cantor's late.st. Friend remains at the piano throughout. It's a light early spotter for the three-a-day bills. Friend has a likeable smile and a fair voice but needs variety and a more varied do- livery to get into fast company. ' Con. ROYAL SIDNEYS Jugglers 8 Mins.; Full Stage American. A blonde, pretty atid plump, opmn with a sont,', "On Zo Houle\arde." presenting those in front rowa with what app<*ars to bo photos, ^r.in enters and proceeds through jug- gling atop \chicle, tho latter con- .'^iriicted of various portions of .'Jtiii^e settings, t.bJjlfe'S, platters, etc. R illi*. bottles and pans are ju^Kl'd. A belt c.'jrrying three bil!i;ird T>o'kel-« with billiard ball ju^'gling follows, the finale .'showing the »'ui astri«le a uniryde riding around with a tray ."^pinning ul«»p his hrad. lis a f.tir . J-ma'l tin^ f.pfTier, nothii.g ♦.Xf^ i»lioiuil .^i^.owH, the novelty 1.'. iT:? in the unirvrles and Iheiu- il.^'.v Wytin. HARRIET MARLOTTE an</ CO. Playlet 20 Mins.; Two (Special Set) City. Harriet Marlotte Is assisted by a company of three, juvenile. Ingenue and character man. Miss Marlotte does a legitimate spinster type of tho gossipy sort, natural .and capn- bly characterized. The playlet she is appearing in treats of the love affairs of two couiiles, one a youth and a flapper, and the other a 23- year-old romance between Miss Marlotte and tho character man. The act haa been produced unu- sually as regards scenery, a drop in "two" showing a typical Phila- delphia sldo street with the little two-story brick dwelling houses, which the Quaker City is dotted with, including tho white steps, green window blinds and similar atmospheric details. A character talked of, but who does not appear during tho action, it seem.^i. broke up the affair of the .«<plnster and character man through Inciting the Jealou.sy of each more than a score of years ago. The same woman, as a result of spiteful feeling held throughout the years for the spinster (Miss Marlotte), endeavors to create a break In the affair of tho younger couple, be- cause of the ingenue being tho spinster's niece. Miss Marlotte, however, senses the attempt at revenge of the mis- chief maker and succeeds In out- smarting her, not only bringing the younger couple together, but re- newing her old love affair through superior generalship. The sketch Is a bit crude, but It has a likeable whimsical tone that counts as an asset. As somewhat different, Miss Marlottc's playlet shotild make a veiy acceptable turn for the pop houses. Bvll. Tho Great Blackstone has . been touring with his own full evenings magical entertainment. He has re- duced that performance to a vaude- ville act's size, making it quick and snappy in 23 minutes. Five or six assistants are carried, two of them young women. His two best Illu- sions are nt the end of the turn. Ono is a Ku Klux Klan disappear- ance with each assistant In the white regalia and Blackstone him- self at the naish on the white clad horse, after ho had been encased in a bag. then hauled up high on the stage. The other was the appear- ance of a full bedroom set of fur- niture with a young woman in the bed. In a cabinet, after the cabinet had been exhibited perfectly bare but a moment before. The Ku Klux dressing Is the first of that sort, though Us disappearance portion la not new. Nor Is there anything of conse- quence In tho actual tricks i>er- formed by Blackstone actually new. He places a lot of dependence upon appearing and disappearing livn ducks. Some of his tricks are labeled and were probably pro- gramed for the full show. Blackstone presents a dapper ap- pearance, looking more youthfiil than the customary magician who can manage himself, wears a neat little mustache, has a natty style, whistles often while working, and gives more the impression of u Broadway leading juvenile than a trickster. Ono of his best tricks for vaude- ville audiences, as It Is also of otiwr magicians. Is the netting of chick- ens, in this case out of the nir, while In "one." Catching the chi( li- ens In tho air Is Inexplicable. The assistants arc c'>*tumed, tho settings have some appearance and the apparatus in general Is bright. Where good magic Is wanted, Blackstone can give It, but for vaudeville he should select ono of hlu tricks and work it up for sensa- tionalism, in billing and advertising, as well as on tho stage. Otherwise, he will have diiTlculty in becoming a dr.nw urdeSM his turn Is intended for the sa..ie stoeks where he playe<l as .a whole show. »Sfmc. FEIN and TENNYSON Songs 15 Mins.; One (Special Drop) State. IJotli members were formerly ns- sociited with the San Carlos Opr-r.-i company as the tenor an«l prirn i donna of tint organization. As a two-aet, they are preventing a Ftraij^iit Rinsing turn devuled to standaid and opfi «tic niunbers. rhil I'ein aiul Flo Tennyson are well voiced. The present routine in ronij)rise(l of doubh and so!o num- bers, tn*<''ti\rly han<l!od. Til'* act has been fiam«d for the three-a-day hou.-^es wiiieh auract a cia..-s { lientele. At the Slate Sn. L' the ,1 t nut reipjii 'inet.t'. It Is a qui*' .•'•iiii'lng tiirn avA c.ju tiU th'- bill li: liou.'JOH thnt cjxn u.v. n..i of tho i!«/Uuni variety. H'ni. CRAFTS and HALEY Songa and Talk 12 Mins.; One State. Two boys neatly dre.s.hej In busi- ness suits, presenting a routine <.»C numbers and chatter. The custom- ary i»op number Is used for tli" opening, followe(i by chatter deal- ing mo'^tly with women. One of th» bo;, .-I liijndies tho comedy with ius partner worldng straight. Tliere is TiO great amount of'cimiedy devej. •^"Ptd. duo to the lack of matcriil -V (b»ul»le imvelty numbrr i.< (jUC of f lie be-'t br tS of the act. Thi-< team divpl tys chanc**-' f )r <Ie\elof»nient. Tli. rb.an-cut .'tj»pear- anee- f.f both i'i i\ tiaturfll n-^et wi'ii theif ucii.ual Id' I of S'-n^ dcli\'.">' .•Tid 111" li.'»ud..n« of talk .^uffieb'; fo >4''. !t in .-oniewhfre ANirh lb'' 4 ".J 'a ■ll ju'-jK-r n»utei'iai. linr,^.