Variety (May 1922)

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m 18 ae: NEW SHOWS THIS WE^ iV''''-T-'^,V»X^J?''-5» •e? iMPII Friday, May 26, 1022 ^ PALACE ■" Tt has been proven too often for mrgumcni that if the attraction Is wantrtl liroatlway will swinK in at rapacity volume. The Palace is a part of Broadway. AVhonovcr it briuRS in an attraction that in ex- ceptional either In name or merit, neitJier weatlur nor deKJ* t\s of tem- jperatiirc can .stop a • • !1 out. Monday ni^ht w.ih warm, but .Alice lirady was making' her llrst ftppearance at the Talace, and not a nook with ji seat wa.s without a .patron; in fact, n, few extra chairs may have bevn. slipped info the boxes. A flahh at the motors that lined the curb was evidence of the class of whatever added draw was in the house. In a measure the claHs patrons this week may, too, have been attracted by the first vaude- ville appearance of Nicola Z'Mola <New A'^ts), a tenor formerly with the Metropolitan. Then Bessie rlaytOn was present, and the ex- cellence of her performance must count. Yet the appearance of Miss Brady, star of the tllms and the le- ,i;itiniatc figures paramount in a jrather notable line-up. The slender Mi.«!S Brady brings tvith her for the .short vaudeville sea- son intended one of the most color- ful playlets offered in the Palace for \ many months. The atmosphere of the Far P^ast Is caiTied out both in the simple but effective set and characters. The act w^s a part of John Colton and Daisy Andrew's ''Drifting," which, because of Miss Brady's health, was forced to with- draw from the Playhou.se, New York, several months ago. With Kobert Warwick co-starred the piece was given a strong chance to connect. Just an unforeseen inci- dent brought about its demise. The llrst act of "Drifting" was consid- *cred a fine bit, but the epi.sode se- lected and now given the title of **Cassie Cook of the Yellow Sea," certainly has the right appeal. Miss Brady's Cassie, "a cat that walks alone" but is finally overtaken by Jove, "was made interesting at all times. John Cromwell counts as excellent aid in the role of Bad L.ands McKinney. Rose Winter •:,Beemed just right an L^dy Beamish and AVllliam BJaisdell made an un- derworld shadow as Kamirez. The "Cassie" playlet was pro- Cframed to close intermission. In- stead it was moved down two ■ 1 notches to seventh. There were other changes which may have been brought about through the forced cancellation of Gallagher and Shean (through illness). That brought Chic Sale into the show. A slide i*as lowered before the 'flrst act stating that the two-act was off the l)ill and that Sale was present. Some of the programs also had a slip pasted over the Gallagher and Shean name, with Sale's billing given. This was the ninth week this sea- jBon for Bessie Clayton. Only one other turn has equalled the Palace lime since last summer—Paul Whiteman and his band. Miss Clay- ton held over from last week. She look the closing intermission spot, though set down for seventh. Both on the house annunciators, outside billing and program all the names of the assisting artists are present. The Clayton act carries its pac<^ ex- cellently considering the long season which she will bring to an end with- in .a few weeks. Miss Clayton her- Bclf easily outstei)ped her collabo- rating dancers. She earned a whirl- wind of applause several times and was the livest of the party in the "Everybody Step" finale, the melody of which cannot but recall the "Music Box Revue" and its value there. The roster of the company appears exactly as early in the sea- son. Guy and Pearl Magley cam*^ through with^a spinning dance that caught the house. The Templeton brothers (Mercer and James) a??ain Bcored. The Ver.satile Sextet's con- tribution to "The Box Party" was nlightly changed. Al Lentz with "The Shiek of Avenue B' had some- thing new, but not so humorous as "Rockaway." Andy Hamilton's *'Wireless to Heaven" sounded out ©f place in running of this kind, though his other contributions were | given in fine voice. Charles (Chic) .Sale took next to closing for the llrst of a two weeks' ilate. Next week he is slated to offer a new routine. This week his preacher and Sunday school "enter- tainment" was so sure fire that Sale needn't worry about new material .lust now. Many of the little bits have been forgotten by those who know the master of rural comedy. And so here and there the lines Bounded new; perhaps they are. Sale was the comedy punch, and the steady score of laughs provided just what the going needed. .Sale might jiot have been in on the original booking because of the character changes by Owen McGiveney, on third. Hardly a confiiction, though each artist uses a srriea of wigs. Al Herman, listed next to closing, ^as fourth, the spot marked in for <Iallagher and Shean, Herman's routine appeared to be vhort. Rarly ' in the act he "called" a kid plant in an upper box. The lad was leaning over the rail and Herman yelled louder, the hoy acting well, for he appeared badly scared. A few min- utes later the plant was uncovered "When the boy warbled. IltTinnn for his encore song appeared minus his wig, the whiteness of forehead Standing out oddly. Owen McGiveney, tbe protean ■■. ;, BPeed king, always ha^ been sure I poods for i't leost o}-\f> v r< ■ ■.■•■ '!'<>; f. as effective as ever, the five-char- acter playlet winning real returns. Harry and Grace Kllsworth made a cla.ssy No. 2. ■ Miss Ellsworth sported three frocks that looked like real money. The crystal-studded skirt of the first costume made it attractive and was a gold cloth af- fair. For 'her soubret rig she se- lected a beautiful purple shade. Her brother exhibited the longest sus- tained hock-step routine seen this season. Certainly the tempo of his dancing is the fa(,"itcst for that style of work. Monroe and Grant opened with honors. Their truck-trampoline had them doing corking stunts. The full twi.sters of the eomlo and the diving of .the straight brought individual returns. Davis and Pelle closed. They are athletes in appearance and work, .superior both ways. Jbcc. STATE The lirst half show was an ex- cellent example of how a .State bill shouhl not be laid out. Talk ob- tained in each of the six acts, more of it in some than the others, and most inv.iriably missed. To handi- cap this further, the rear seat neighbors, on discovering that the c'natter was intermission to them, made themselves as comfortable as possible and started a little talkfest of their own. Those interested enough found that all their neck craning and leaning forward on their seats helped but little to off- set the noisy, restless patrons. Even for small-time vaudeville it wasn't such by jingo entertainment. Nat Nazarro, Jr., a five-piece jazz b.ind, a girl assistant and a box plant no doubt bit in considerable on the show cost, which may ac- count for the mild supporting show." NazaiTO is staying a full week at this house, in keeping with the StJ^te's new policy of .1 major at- traction all week. Next week they have Paul Specht's Band advertised for a return date. Nazarro closeiJ the ."ihow and did much to alleviate the ennui gradually gripping the audience. A j^ucccssion of four two- acts starting with No. 2 is too much for anybody and when all depend on talk to score in more or less pro- portion, iVa rather trying even in the most Ideal of indoor weather. And the temperature indoors Mon- day was none too ide.1l. The Six Tip Tons, a Cauca.«iian ground tumbling and pyr.imid build- ing aggregation, doing stuff shown heretofore by any number of Arab troupes, opened. Strictly s sight turn, it interested. They essay a little spoken comedy that, strangely enough, was distinguishable, but very mildewed. Davis and Chad- wick, ebony entertainers, twiced. Lui=ty throated, they, too, reached the last rows with their gagging, although the wicked pedal work accounts chiefly for their scoring. The "Jail House' song, also done by Jones and Jones, .inother colored team, is aptly suited to thejr style of delivery . Sos.«man and S|oane, a neat cou- ple with a classy line of crosstalk, have proved themselves before. Here the talk missed on at least three cylinders. Haslam and Wilson, another mixed couple, with a cabin interior and a comedy-meller plot titled "Samson and Delilah" were \ip against it because of acoustics. After they got started, the a<Mion compelled silence even in the rear sections and thpy bowed oft to gooo returns. all things considering. They could hold down the trey in some of the big time houses. Herbert and North didn't start anything until the getaway with the corpulent comedian following the acrobatic dance pace set by his "frenchy" partner. That got them off neatly, the twists and grouiin somersaults displaying the stout chap's agility surprisingly. Nazarro closed. His routine is the same, starting with the introduc- tory patter about his former acts. Natilrally mild-toned, this did not penetrate to the rear at all. His pedal work was a distingutshing feature. The youngster packs everything in the legmania lexicon in the getaway solo, adding a cou- ple stunts of his own. His box plant sounds considerable like a song plupger in the manner In which he sings one publisher's songs only. For a .second encore, Nazarro, Jr., did .1 series of horizontal twists, his head almost touching the floor. T.Mk abo\it pei>, his stuff makes a mid 20-y»'ar-old fc-o] like an A. K? Bert T.ytell in "The Face Be- tween" was the fentnre attr.ietion, letting out at midnight. Aid. BROADWAY .Seven vaudeville acts and two features, also the news weekly, coaxed about half a houseful of transients and neighborhood fans into the Broadway Monday night. The seven acts developed Into real entertainment, the show building up down the line, nicely blended and playing smoothly. It was real va- riety and accorded much more re- sponse than this blase bunch usually apportion. Frank and Beatrice Russell on the trapeze and aerial apparatus started things swiftly. Lynn Cantor and Co, (New Acts), a girl singer with male pianist, pulled a bone not call- ing It .1 night after her third num- ber. The encore api)lause just last- ed until they made the first entrance ■• ■ ■ ■ '' ■^^ I- ■' Started the show following. Monroe is assisted in his sketch by Miami Campbell and Jimmy Cassldy, the latter an old-timer and former mem- ber of Ned Harrigan'a company. Monroe la an actor who has played standard roles. In his vaudeville vehicle he has hit upon the original method of introducing scenes from "Camille." "May Blossom," "Two Orphans" and "The Silver King" all woven about a story of an old legit's reconciliation to his daughter, who has developed into a star. Monroe was pulled out for a speech to ac- knowledge an immense hor.seshoe of roses frorti B. P. O. E. No. 1. Mon- roe explained the flowers were a tribute to the Friars for helping the Klks* charitable activities by a bene- fit performance .Sunday night. Joe Browning was another strong entry, following. The gang th.awed to Browning's toothless grin and his nimble patter. The clerical comic sang two encores, the last of which .seemed a let-down. It's almost too far-fetched to be funny. Franklin ar.d Charles were a riot from the "Apache" to the finish. The hand-to-hand stunts after were an apti-climax. Experience has taught this pair how to sell it, and they have profited. They go to this portion without stalling and finish the season as they started—a real novelty turn on a par witb any of their type. Swartz and Clifford, next.. score<l strongly for this house, although registering less than their other metropolitan house totals. Swartz is a real clever versatile Hebrew comic who lacks only material to lift into the enchanted realms. He has pep, personality and ability. The present act is sure fire for the big small-time houses, and with slight improvement should prove an addi- tion for the consideration of the big- time bookers. Valda and Co. dancers, closed. The company consists of a male pianist and a woman dresser. The dancer has hit upon the scheme of making her changes In view to plug up number waits. It eliminates the piano solos and holds interest. She Is a graceful and versatile danseuse, running the gamut from ballet toe dancing to eccentric and acrobatic toe work. The turn held them solid for the Charles Ray feature. "The Barnstormer." ^o**- AMERICAN ROOF It didn't make much difference what had gone before on the Amer- ican Roof the first half after Bert Walton appeared next to closing. He did 30 minutes with songs and talk, stopping the show even after that. The big time's new reports should be well filled u^ when they reach Walton. He's a fine stage card for small time and could get over any- where with this, turn. It's songs mostly, neatly worked into a routine via telephone, a supposedly two- handed conversation with a girl who has jilted him. The numbers fit the idea. For the finish two plants are disclosed, boy and girl, one in either stage box, who work in on a song in a conversational way, the con- versational thing being the general theme of Walton's throughout. On top of this his appearance, diction and bearing are all big time. He has been on the small time a year or more, this being a return date at the American. Walton means some- thing to the sm.all time. A Walton happens too infrequently there. He formerly appeared with Al Pianta- dosi, the song writer, In a two-act. The other side of the same bill is "Dancing Whirl" (New Acts), a turn with five people and not a reg- ular performer among them—just a waste of time and production, but still playihg. The production could not be used on the roof, but it didn't have to be seen—it co\ild be conced- ed and then it wouldn't help. Marion CUiire, opening the sec- ond half, was another success. The small time is a set-up for lier, but she will have to be conteht with the small time or smaller big time. Miss Claire speaks with a slight forcig.i accent, bulls the audience, but de- pends upon her singing. Her voice is n. double one, and trained, the freak end being in use'but once, that for Tosti's "Good-Bye." She splits the numbers between classicals and pops, sometimes weaving them to- gether and finishing with a vocal display to a Sousa march. Following. Bob Ferns got some comedy In blackface with his skit carrying two other people. The young woman in it looks nice and sings Cjuite well. Ferns knows the small time, too. He had no trouble land- ing. Other acts on the bill not caught were Edwards and Edwards open- ing, Alvin and Kenny closing, Ray- mond and Lyte, Newport, Stirk and Parker and Mack and Lee. Business Tuesday night was bad, upstairs and down, but especially down.stnlrs. The feature film was "The Referee." The roof garden on the 8th avenue side is pow open with the soft drink pai t of it a con- cession. It may be the usual complaint of conditions, the daylight saving, the radio, the weather, rainy, cold or hot, or the show, or the vaudeville, or the picture; but this fact re- mains: that since Loew's State opened it has been the American's opposition, so much so that the American since that opening has not done the business it did before fbero wa« a St.- tr f\\ rrna#!n;'- 5TH AVE. Music publishers say a popular ballad has a much longer life than an ordinary popular song. The pop- ular song may sell itself up and out within six months. With the music selling business now the way they claim it is, maybe it doesn't need six months. But the ballads go on sell- ing and selling. They make what in known as a "catalog" for a music publisher; when he hasn't any pop song selling, the list of the catalog still brings in the order. All of which doesn't mean a thing excepting to music publishers and song writers. But Ernest R. Ball was at the Fifth Ave. the flr^t half of this week. Mr. Ball is a song writer, a dandy and a wise one. He writes ballads, has for years, many ballads and many hits Jimong them. Mr. Ball is Witmark's star balladist. That boy has written some bal- lads that ttick. When he started off the medley of his own hits he had to remark on the first burst of ap- plause, ".Some peopl^ have a great memory. I wrote that one over 20 years ago." The applause came with <jach fresh but old strain, with the biggest hits, of course, getting the biggest noise. The pop song writers when singing medleys of their old ones are lucky to have any recog- nized within the past five years, un- less a b^t of enormous proportions in its day. Perhaps because Mr. Ball's best were all enormou. .sellers is what made them so long and well remembered. And didn't ballads in the old days sell for 30, while the pop song hits Avere Wool worthed at 10? Mr. Ball had a new ballad aN.the Fifth Ave. It was "Time After Time," and very good. Also "Laddy Buck," "Saloon* and others. He put them all over. Mr. Ball can put over anything that has a melody or lyric when he wants to. His single turn has several laughs he makes him- self through kidding remarks, and his long numbers are sure fire. He mopped up No. 4, a cinch position and bill for him. It was a summer show and .1 .sum- mer crowd. The house was quite light even with* the weather. A couple of the turns were new, Vio- let MacMillan and Bert Lahr and Mercedes iboth under New Acts). They were Nos. 2 and 3. The Lahr turn did all right. Its burlesque comedy got something at the finish. The Blue Demons, an Arab tumbling turn, opened, and the Patricks, a hand balancing and perch act, closed, with the woman the under- stander. A nice score was made by Walter and Emily Walters, both ventrilo- quists, one with a walking dummy. It's the idea of the combination, a male ventriloquist with a boy dum- my and a woman with a girl dum- my, with Miss Emily also manipu- lating a baby in the cradle for the be«t returns, this finished off with both yodeling for a strong ending. Miss Emily also is strong on taking bows. She seems to bo the bow di- rector of the party. Mr. Walters did a funny little encore with a figure doing a waltz clog, hand made. Lois Josephine .and Leo Henning are back, with Tom Lucet at the piano. They are the same classy dancing couple, with a pair of new- songs and a pair of old. They don't pride themselves on singing, and admit it. Miller and Mack jazzed it up next to closing, with their nutty work in- cludin.^r dancing. The laughs came often here, especially for the boy in skirts, when he changed to them. They dance in the comedy way all the time, and it's good comedy. Next week a series of amateur nights to plug business. This is the .season when it needs plvigsing. Hlme. CITY Business Is holding up surpris- ingly well at the City for this time of year, with Keith vaudeville oppo- sition at Moss* Jefferson down the street. The Fox house is getting a break with new acts desirous of a .showing. Three of the eight acts on the City's bill Tuesday night were new: Jeanne L,i Forge (.'^econd), Tierney and Donnelly (fourth) and Bennet Twins and Co. (sixth). The fourth spotters took down one of the hits of the evening with dancing. The show held oceans of dancing, seven of the eight turns hopping the buck at some time or other. Hoofing of every description, with the only exception the De Lyons Duo, two hand balancers, who opened. The De Lyons are using the same lift from a buck bend over a chair arm to a hand-to-hand that Franklin and Charles get so much out of. The De Lyons just do it as the trick, while the other pair have built it up with incidental business, so there is no confiiction. "Danny," a good small time sketch constructed around a popular theme, held third spot and pleased the boys. Danny is a boxer with a line of "hick" chatter. His kid sister has begun to run around with a loose crowd and is meeting a swell mug clandestinely. Danny is tipped by the mother and lures the Lothario into the house, then pegs him as "Flash" Murray, a "cheater." The exposure disposes of Murray and takes the flap out of the flapper. It's an acceptable thrcc-a-day of- fering. Donnelly. Goctz and Duffy should be up in fast company, and will b** as soon as they hit upon a compe- tent author. Both have voices, can ^ dance and insert a novelty whis- i tling waltz that hasn't been seen around. They accompany their ov/n waltzing with a whistling duet •' novel inasmuch as they insert the fingers of the right hands in each other's mouth to produce the music An "Italian" double proved the maii an 'adept at dialect. Nothing but material will keep this pair out of the upper (trata. Parish and Peru worked hard In the next to closing spot and scored strongly with their novel offering The acrobatic jump dancing and concertina playing cinched it for them after a mild start. The Four Ro.ses closed. The four girls are ballet dancers of the Eng- lish school, well trained ensemble steppers. Acrobatic dancing with cartwheels and the kicking in uni- son that in the trade mark of this type predominates. A toe solo of one was well and gracefully executed. Con. BRIGHTON Summer? Maybe not ofricially but the Brighton theatre has re- opened, and that eettles it. Coney Isl.ind agrees. This is the 14th season for the Brighton. Its policy remains the same—vaudeville, with the news weekly put In last season continued in place of an act. the shows run- ning eight instead of the former nine turns. A noticeable change around the front of the house is that the for- mer parking space for autos, lo- cated to the left of the entrance, isn't there any more. That is to say it isn't there any more for park- ing autos—it's filled with bunga- lows, and a ten-foot brick wall, with*the top covered with broken glass, has been erected by i;eorge • Robinson to separate the theatre property from the bungalow colony^ It appears the bungalowers are strong for phonographing and uke playing. Mr. Robinson decided that in view of the close proximity it might be a good idea to sidetrack opposition by walling it out from sight and hearing. There is a new I street drop in the theatre, showing a view of the Brighton boardwalk. Nice drop, but it must have been painted on a rainy Monday—or probably most of the boardwalkers were in swimming—there are so few in sight on the walk. The Brighton got off to a hand- ful Monday afternoon, usual for this time of year, but mere than made It up at night with a party that bought out the house. The open- ing show couldn't have been im- v proved on. One of tho.se likable entertainments,composed of straight variety turn.s, with lots of comedy and dancing and moving along In an easy tempo that never halted from the first to the last act. El Rey Sisters, programed to close, changed places with the KI- tara Jfip«. opening. The El Rey turn made a splendid opening num- ber, with the pretty costuming and nifty appearance of the skating girl.s. Murray Mencher fills in with piano selections wardrobe change. He has a peculiar style away from most of the other vaudeville pian- ist.«», featuring his music with a rolling touch that gives it the eound of a pianola. The act gave the show a touch of atmosphere that lifted the running into high speed. Bernard and Garry second with songs. The number, introducing imitations of actors, now includes one of the Creole P'ashien Plate. They drew heavy returns, a usual. Au.^tin and Seed, third, put In a comedy punch that had the bunch yelling thtoughout their- knock- about turn. Seed is a real dancer, with a pair of lege that are limit- less in the comedy possibilities. The hoke is well handled, and the turn breezed along without stop- ping for a second. Frankie Heath next with her songalogue, four numbers. Miss Heath interprets them sulendidly. The opening one with a bit of mel- odrama ie a trifle tricky for vaude- ville, but they ate it up at the Brighton. ".Stars of Yesterday"' closed the first half, and the oldtimers rang the bell. Barney Fagan may not be 72, as announced, but even if three or four years have been added, he still remains a wonder on his feet. When it comes to grace in execut- ing an essence, how many of the younger generation can top this old- timer? The other specialties all landed—Corinne with singing, Liz- zie Wilson with a. Dutch number, and Joe Sullivan with "Where Did You Get That Hat?" Wells, Virginia and West opened the second half,, and rocked 'em wi*h the kid's dancing. Buster has developed considerably as a comic since first shewing around New York three years ago. As an eccen- tric dnnceip, he's a wonder. They couldn't get enough of the spine and fancy Aving and Russian step- ping. Lewis and Dody, next to closing, stopped the show for a speech, the topical song at the opening and closing registering a wow that shook the rafters. The talk sand- wiched in between kept 'em laugh- ^Hg continuously. The "Hello" eong contains six or seven laughs to every verse. Lewis and Dody have «^evelnp«^d Into .t distinctive twj a^