Variety (July 1922)

•Domestic Relations," with Kath- arine MucUonald in thia caao; a two-reel comedy, news reel and toDlcal for the acale of 40 cents Hownstaira doesn't leave much room for discussion a« to quality, anyway, ind the show is the bargain of the city That's why it Is nearly always capacity before 8 o'clock. John S. Blondy no longer works with his brother, having substituted • "Co" of one good-looking Ama- ioniaii blonde and a small top- mounter for the hand-to-hand and two high feats. The men work imoothly and with fln« acrobatic -tvle. although they do little away from the familiar design, but the act la neatly costumed, with two changes for the girl, who does a couple of indifferent dances and the boys working in Tuxedos. flaney and Morgan, No. 2, are the average man and woman song-and- dance act. They handle their num- bers in monotonous manner, but this is their worst fault. They have a ••cold' opening, singing a "school- days" song in expressionless style, the girl doing an accompaniment eaually flat on the violin and the man strumming a \ikulele. Once the opening is over they come emphat- ically to life, the girl scoring with a standard composition on the violin, playing with real feeling, and com- mand that come as a surprise after her introductory bow-sawing. Man does a fair solo dance while girl changes to semi-Apache for ballad, the man joining later, also in Apache get-up. They got away to thunder- ous applause with an acrobatic dance arrangement based on the waltz-clog routine. It's a pity they cannot get hold of a lively opening. The present frame-up works agaifist them and t^ets up an obstacle they have to overcome. The fact that they made good against it argues for their worth. It's the other way 'round with Hamilton and Barnes. They have a dandy opening for the flirtation bit, an excellent bit of wiso cracking. The talk is fast give and take of ultra wise repartee, some of it hokum, some of it nov<?1. but all amusingly delivered in suave, non- chalant manner. Lindley's Serenaders. three girl musicians, man and woman dancers, and a girl singer (New Acts) were next, leaving D. D. H.? aext to clos- ing. The high score of this monolo- gist at the Opera house, where they go in more for broad comedy than for philosophical wit of his grade, is a final test of his attainment of classification as a standard number. He has played the Palace and the Intermediate houses and left behind him a record of consistent perform- ance. Now he cleans up at the 12[»th street establishment and can call it a day. RulofP. the Russian dancer, has discarded his backing of dancing girls and his former girl partner is replaced by a newcomer, a rather chunky pony-sized toe dancer, who goes in more for formal legmanla and leaping Into arm holds by Ru- loff. She is billed as Miss Elton. They have a pretty opening, sway- ing on at the extreme back of the stage behind a transparent drop to the soothing strains of "The Spring Song." The drop rises and they come forward Into the full stage for the girl's leaps to her partner's shoulder. While they change the orchestra they carry does a violin •olo from the trench, followed by Miss Elton's toe dance. Ruloflf does his sensational Russian steps first alone and. after a costume change by the girl while the orchestra lead- €r obliges again, makes a double whirlwind finish of the wild gypsy dance at which he excels. The turn Is prettily dressed, both as to cos- tuming, which has that quiet har- mony which is the mark of good taste, and In their stage settings, which are adequate and appropriate without being flashy. Rush, GREELEY SQ. Too much singing overbalanced the first half show at Loew's Gree- ley Square, two of the six acts run- ning entirely to vocalizing and an- other splitting 50-50 between har- monizing and rope spinning. The lay-out could have stood more com- edy. The spotlight worked over- time. Fair business Tuesday night. Armstrong and NevUle (New Acts) got off at a good tempo, with hand-balancing. Flo Ring did well with a singing turn second, featured with some pretty costume changes. These are made In view of the au- dience, the drop parting In the mid- dle and forming an alcove. This improvised dressing room has a dull lighting arrangement. As long as Miss Ring is making her changes In view of the house it would ap- pear logical to have all lights up. The songs were nicely varied, run- ning to ballads, pop and production stuff. A plant was used for the finale, singing from one of the bal- cony boxes. Frank .song plugging, but they liked it. Tuck and Claire, a pair of talking acrolwts with one of the men a re- markable contortionist, roused the hou.so with unusual ground tum- J>»'n>?. With their acrobatics and til" ''<»ntortionlHf.s facility for twi.st- "»;? himself into knots, securing coinody results that count, the tiam ^an m>i by in any company. It does «''ni too bad though for a pair of •ronu.sing tumbh'r.s and liender.s to jH.Id thfm.sclvos bark with the com- monpiu-o talk they are u.sing for comedy purposes. The .ability In "»erM wi(h l)oth; all they need is a prouucor and author, either or both. to set thorn right When properly vehicled, if they must talk, they 11 advance with a rush. "Songs and Scenes'* (New Acts) next, with Lewis and Rogers, a two- man wop combination with likeable sidewalk patter, next to closing. The team do an Irish reel for the finish. It made a good contrast for the wop characters and returned 'em for a flock of bends. Wyoming Trio (New Acts) closed. The fea- ture picture was "Spanish Jade." Bel. 23rd STREET The 23rd St., in common with other Proctor pop houses around New York, has cut its bi-weekly bills to five acts: The first half show was a strictly small-time ar- rangement, but nicely balanced in the picture end by a Chaplin re- issue, "A Dogs Life." and "Do- mestic Relations," a Katherlne Mc- Donald feature. Monday night was cool and pleas- ant—just the sort of unusual July weather that should help a neigh- boriK)od house. But it didn't. Busi- ness was about three-fifths capacity. The Shattucks (New Acts) opened with club juggling and hoop manip- ulation. Al Carp was second with fiddling. Carp pJays his violin on his knee, 'cello fashion mostly. He gets a vibrant tame'out of the in- strument, handling rag and operatic stuff bn an eq\jal basis. The turn went very well. , Jack Collins ahdCo. in a musical Hk4t. -Dear Doctor." filled the- third hole acceptably. The act is one of those small-time tabs, that has frankly been pointed to suit the pop house clientele, tt sTUceeeds. Murray Voelk. fourth, made- 'em yell With the pants-falling comedy of the singing comedian, and en- tertained with some excellent single and double vocalizing. The act went the full distance. Mavon and Ladd (New Act) clpsed. Bell. with a combination of hand to hand balancing and jaw hold stunts closed. David Powell, in the Paramount feature. "The Spanish Jade," waa the feature picture offering. Business rather good for the final show Tuesday night. I'Ved. SPORTS FRANKLIN A,well balanced show, assisted by the "Bronx'FoIlieK," a local attrac- tion made of amat#ur talent, drew half a house at the Franklin Mon- day night. AT K.' Hall and Co., No. 3. stopped the show, getting laughs with his comedy. patter, al^ with his comedy Bowery dance. Gladys and Venus opened the show, giving it a slow start. The contortionist is doing ao iron-Jaw contortion stunt. Lew Wilson fol- lowed and pleased with his comedy songs and patter. Maud Garl. fourth, received ai-.^lau^e with her songs. Morton and Russell, closing the bill, scored in their comedy turn.. Morton's dance and comedy got many laughs. The "Bronx Follies." starring Frank McConville, a young amateur, and assisted by 14 girls, eight of the girls in the chorus and the others handling special songs or dances. The girls were selected from photographs. McConville was the hit. Though lacking in voice, this amateur will make many a pro- fessional take notice when doing his dances. The girls looked neat In their costumes, though not the most beautiful girls in the Bronx, as billed. ^ The chorus made four changes. Each Improved them. Also the girls who handled twp special numbers showed pep the second time, after having been backward upon their initial appearance. The ensemble finale sent the turn away very well. The "Bronx Follies" was put on a business-getter through securing its amateur talent from the section. A similar turn the first half went on at the Regent in Harlem, also a Moss house. Just what it meant in a box offlce way couldn't be de- termined Monday evening at the Franklin, although it was an ideal theatre night for the summertime. James Fotheringham, manager of the Franklin, Is figuring to produce an old-fashioned minstrel show dur- ing the summer, employing local talent only. /J »'.'../ *',(•; LINCOLN SQ. The one good feature of the Lincoln Square g/how the first half was that there was less than an hour of it. The five, acts consumed exactly 61 minutes. That was enough, for the stage offered much less entertainment than did the screen, and the picture was far from being an unusual one. Lewis and Brown (New Acts), a couple of hoofing boys, opened to fair returns on their, eccentric step- ping, after which Coiinne Arbuckle proved to be the one bright spot of the vaudeville, with 8ong.s. This girl opened with a hand spot and put over a good little number, after which her Broadway countt;v girl bit got by nicely,, and she followed with a number in Indian costume, which gave her.an opportunity to (ll.splay so: e of her figure. An Irish number at the clo.se sent her away to the greatest applagse of the night. -- ^ Schaoffer. Weymer and Carr (New Aets). a .singing and talking skit with two men and a girl was rather a weak offering and Armstrong and Jame.s. following that trio, had to work mighty hard at their op»'n- ing to get attention. The burl«>.s«4ue fi'male imper.'^onatlon at the linish of the blackface act. however, man- aged to get to th4» West; .v'Wior.^ to the extent that they laughed. The Aronly Brothers (.sew Acts) i, ^j^Ui^ /bi>() ^ REGENT Whoever thought of the "Harlem Follies" idea pulled a winner for the house. Tuesday night standing room was at a premium to the ex- tent the overflow almost marred part of the entertainment for the seated patrons in the last rows. One would not think an audience of young folks, particularly from a nice neighbor- hood, could be so disorderly. It reached the stage where someone of the house staff other than the female ushers had to come, inside and in- sist on silence. Monday night's business was reported S. R. O., the draw being the amateur revue staged by a couple of Harlem na- tives and a song plugger. The act contains 14 young folks, average age about 18, there for a week's stay without pay. Since most are home glrla or otherwise employed, the show is only put on -nights, although the members themselves are Insisting the management permit them to ap- pear Saturday and Sunday after- noon as w^U. The sho^ itself held five regular acts and a five-reel feature film plus a Chaplin reissue. The Patricks opened with their risley routine, the woman doing understander through- out; The man (topmounter) Is now clad in pink tights. A week ago at a local Proctor house he sported street clothes. The change looks more business-like. Being a sight turn it interested visually. Naturally every talking turn could not be as fully appreciated as it deserved, be- cause of noise in the rear sections. If this Is a regular thing there it is suggested that Tom Gorman, super- vising manager of this and a num- ber of other Harlem, Bronx and Washington Heights houses, had bet- ter install some of the efficient prac- tices through which he accomplished so much at the Jefferson downtown (where he was formerly). The Jeff, drawing a motley ghetto crowd, was notorious for some of its yegg pa- trons, but that is a thing of the past now. Bobby Folsom, a female pinging single, was the first to suffer through lack of attention. She was well re- ceived by the up-front customers but could not be heard beyond the three-quarter mark. A neighboring patron remarked, "She must be good, they're applauding for mure." Anderson and Graves' novel prop, a cross-section of a suspended diri- gible, quieted them for a spell and interested because of the novelty. A couple are living up In the air, the inflated mammoth cigar being di- vided Into a •three-room suite. With such strong prop to base a corking comedy skit on, it's a p4ty that a number of opportunities were neg* lected. The cross talk is snappy as far as it goes but lacks ginger. There's no doubt some vaudeville author had a finger in the pie some- wheres, only it seems that somebody really capable could have taken this small big-time skit and developed it Into an important comedy wow. B. C. Hilllam followed with a planolog, assisted by Jim KIl pat rick on some of the vocalizing. Hilllam has a polite piano routine in which incidental patter is by no means a negligible feature, and he was prob- ably the worst ailected because of the rear restlessness. A good deal of the vocalizing Is in a fast lyric tempo, much of this being indistin- guishable for the same reason. He has cleverly arranged Rach- maninoff's Prelude with comedy lyrics, which Kilpatrlck sang as "WhatvWas the -Matter with Rach- manlri^ff When He Wrote His Pre- lude." Hilllam also got some meas- ure of comedy by announcing his partner as "my son," "my cousin," "my brother-in-law,** etc., at differ- ent periods. Stan Stanley preceded 'the ama- teur act and scored the comedy hit of the evening. Instead of the straight doing a mind reader he now announces himself a prohibition agent, at which Stanley guiltily at- tempts to leave the>iouse. The rest of the routine Is on familiar lines, including the dollar-a-kiss bit, etc. "Harlem Follies" took up the next 35 minutes. Abel. (Continued from pa^e 7) George U. West, superintendent of the Law and Order League, charging that baseball pools and lotteries were operating In Troy on an ex- tensive scale. It is claimed that many of the girls employed in local collar shops and other factories have been among the most consis- tent patrons of the "high run" game. by the Knickerbocker A. C. at Chad- wick Park, Albany. N. Y., Monday night. In the main bout of 12 rounds Tommy Robson of Maiden, Mass., had no trouble gaining the Judges' decision over George Shade of Cali- fornia, lacing the lad from the Pa- i fie coast to a fare-thee-well and badly marking him up. Ollie Stacy, manager of the Majestic theatre. Is the promoter and Dan E. McMahon is the matchmaker. Claude Tibbitts To get Johnny Buff to risk his *^^*'^7J^''!,V^ **i? *:*"**• ^" ^ar- bantamweight title in the ring at roll of the Times-Union Is handling A IS-year lease on a site adjoin- ing the Gaiety, Utlca, N. Y., owned by Wilmer f- Vincent has been se- cured by the Arm. The addition may be used a^ an entrance and lobby for the Gaiety. Gene Howard (Gene and Willie Howard) sailed Saturday for the other side. The Howards will re- appear In the fall at the ht-ad of a Shubcrt musical production. Raleigh Dent, man.iqcr of llu- Lyceum. Memphis, with his wife, i.s in Alaj^ka on a vacation. Harry SHafter herani'' a.^sori.ited with the Sam Fallow otf'K e thi.'^ wct'k. the Velodrome Monday night with Joe Lynch, Eddie Mead, the jirest aider's manager^ had to consent to Buff being guaranteed $30,000 for his end of the purse. Buff was en- titled to take a percentage, but It Is said he chose the guarantee. Ad- mission was 17.70 top and ranged to $1 for the top rows above the saucer track. It was figured 20,000 fans attended but the total gate was only $41,699.30. The boxers re- ceived 50 per cent, of the takings, and Lynch therefore had to pay Buff $9,150 to make up the guaran- tee. He will quickly miake that up in earnings with the title in his hands. It was worth double that to lose the title from Buff's angle. He was terribly battered around the mouth and nose by the incessant left jab- bing of Lynch. He lost a number of teeth—actually punched out of his gums—and his lips were badly split. Doc Bagely, one of his sec- onds, leaped to attendance every time the Jersey boy returned to his corner and his practiced assistance was about all that kept the minia- ture Buff going until flattened in the 14th round. It was Bagely who went through the ropes and ended the flght. the publicity for the Stacy enter- prise. William B. Masterson. known as Bat Masterson, sporting writer, former sheriff of Dodge City, Kan., frontiersman and one of the editors of "The Morning Telegraph." left a net estate of $15,762.96 when he died Oct. 25, 1921, as disclosed in the Surrogate's Court through the flling of an appraisal of his prop- erty. Under his will this passes over to his widow, Emma W. Mas- terson of 300 West 49th street, she being also the executrix. The gross value of the estate left by Mr. Mas- terson amounted to $17^237.51, and this consisted of Liberty bonds, $16,782; gold chain, $15; another gold chain, $7.50; a 14-karat gold watch, $50; and 18-karat gold watch, $50; a gold deputy marshal shield, $50, and dividends from his bonds, $283.01. Two thousand shares of the Northern Texas Oil Company, found in his possession, were classed as of no value. One of Broadway's biggest show- men waa In Boston recently for a number of weeks. The Boston Braves (National League) had just arrived back In town and they looked so good to the manager he remarked If he got five to one he'd bet they would win the next three games. As the club had two games with the Giants and the St. Louis team was next In line, that sort of bet looked like easy money. A bus- iness man whom the manager has known a long time, asked him to repeat the remark. The showman replied If he got 10 to one he'd bet $500. The business man said he heard him the first time and the bet at five to one was made. The Braves won six straight, their best record this season (the team is flirting with last place). However, the man- ager just didn't "have the heart" to take the other fellow's money and he did not. He felt more tickled at picking a live one than the actual money involved meant to him. Al Rogers is back in the orfice of Arthur llorwiir.. While the sporting writers of the dallies in New York are spending their time trying to solve the prob- al>le trade of the temperamental Yankee stars, perhaps the greatest attention should be given the plans now under way to give I'rovidcncr. It. r, ch.ampJonKhip American LeagUf game.s vvtTy Sunday n^xt .M<-ason. The manayemeot (»f the It'jston Ited Sox 1m .striving to put through the right to play Prov- idf-nru every SuniJay. not with ex- hlMtion Kamt»s. but srhefiuled cham- pir)nshlp contc.'^t.s. iN'o doubt the Uravcs would follow » uit if the Red .Sox munaK«'nierit is MurroM.«ful. If th«» IIo.stfJ4i» t«;ims pain this bij,' liranriul help, I'hilad/lphia will l»" the onij- ejub in eithe • lea»jue to b;* withotjt Sunday opp* j-tunltles. More than if.riOO fi^h fans attend- Jim Thorpe Is going like a houae afire in the Eastern League. The famous Indian athlete is hitting at a .400 clip and providing the pwn^ that keeps Hartford on it* sensa- tl jnal spurt for the pennant. Thorpe is supposed to be weak on curve balls, but the pitchers do not seem to have his number In that respect to date. He clouted out two homers in one game last week. Despite his age, he can still get down to first base In fast time and can cover ground In the outfleld. Jim la prov- ing to be a good drawing card *In the Eastern circuit. Declaring he Is tired of stage work and exhibitions. Jack Dempsey, the heavyweight champion, arrived at Saranac Lake Monday to do some light training. The champion has signed to fight Harry Wills, with no date set. Dempsey waa accom- panied by Jack Renault, heavy- weight champion of Canada, who was in the champion's training camp at Atlantic City for the Carpentler fight, and Joe the Greek. Jack saya he Is the best rubber ever. Demu- sey U at the Onondaga Inn. It« owner is John F. Murphy. r Another International swindle waa pulled off in Buffalo within the past month, when three confidence men took over $30,000 from Albert J. McBrlde, Austsalian millionaire, on a fake horse-race scheme. McBrlde, traveling with his wife and family, met the men on an ocean liner coming to this country. A phoney l.'.y-out was planted here for gath- ering advance reports from the tracks. This Is the second time a scheme of the kind has been staged In Buffalo, the last one three years ago Involving over $100,000 with theatrical men mentioned. Carol Shilling, irtar jockey, was arrested during a'street braig^ in Saratoga Springs. When take^ to police headquarters Shilling was found to be suffering from sealp lacerations which required the serv- ices of a physician to close. The oflflcer making the arrest did not ap- pear In court to press the charge and It was dismissed. Thomas Mc- Donald, horse trainer, arrested at the same time as Shilling, charged with fighting In the streeU, pleaded guilty and paid a fine of $10. The Ming Toy Boot Shop. Inc., owned by Abe At tell and E. M. Tausend, had an involuntary peti- tion in bankruptcy filed against it last week. Benjamin Lesser has been appointed receiver under $2,000 bond. Liabilities are alleged to be $20:000, assets $5,000. The Wera Realty Corp. Is one of the creditors, asking $1,033 for rental due. •'Mister Man," a new play by Marlon DeForcst, critic of the I^f- falo "Express" and author of "Llttlo Women" and "Erstwhile Susan," will bo given Its first performance On any stage by the Bonstelle stock next week in Buffalo. e<l the opening outdco. show staged J yally possessing whlsl^y. What is believed to have been the rst prohibition raid as the result of a protest by petition occurred Mon- day, when Henry J. Waldbillig. chief < the federal prohibition enforce- ment office In Albany. N. Y., led a squad of dry sleuths to the Alioe hotels at Sprakcrs, a short distanco from Amsterdam, confiscated whi.sky and arrested Ernest Bundy, tho al- leged proprietor. The petition, .signed by more than 150 residents of Sprakcrs and more than two feet lotig, was sent to the New York cn- ff»r<'»ment office. It waa referred to tho Albany office and* the raid fol- lowed. Bundy will be arraigned be- fore U. S. Commissioner Palmer in .Schenectady on a charge oC iile-