Variety (September 1922)

Friday, septemDer o, ivzn NfcW SHOWS 1HIS WfcfcK. *1 PALACE The current show measured up to the revue type of vaudeville bill but without a specific girl act or revue. What was lacking; in laugh-making comedy was moe than made up In impressiveness and freshness. There were no less than 42 players in the going. Monday's matinee was sold out before curtain time, the only effect of the deluge being to hold •neath the canopy a crowd whoso members tried to decide whether to brave the storm or buy standing room. The going Labor Day mati- nee was certainly made for Broad- way and the taxlcabs. "Yarmark" (New Acts), closing Intermission, was something of a surprise and doubtless was inspired by the Russian novelty, "Chauve- Souris." It was one of the features of a ten-act holiday bill and stood tip strongly with a complement of 15 persons. Ted Lewis and his band in the honor position, next to closing, walked off with the hit of the after- noon. LeSvis is shortly to take to the road with last season's edition of the "Greenwich Village Follies." When thrt show closed its season late in the, spring, the. Palace was the first vaudeville booking for Lewis. At the time he followed a five-week hold-over date of Paul Whiteman and it was not easy for him. The present date happens to follow a month of Vincent Lopez and his crew at the Palace. Any question about Lewis' vaudeville strength was dispelled Monday, but It is pertinent that his band and himself seemed to be working at their best. There wore no less than three encores r.nd there may have been four, with Ted doing the speech stunt on top of that. The bands certainly appear to have filled entirely any gaps left by the girl- act productions of a season or so ago. .lust ahead was Harry Kahne with his demonstration of dextrous men- tal tricks and display of admirable showmanship. Kahne with "upside down, backward" writing and arith- metic on the blackboards drew the absorbed attention of the house. When Kahne came east and made good on the western rep he so soundly built he claimed to do five different things at the same time. The billing now states it is six, but whatever the number his routine at present is without fault. "Stars of Yesterday" got the sec- ond section under way. The turn of old timers looks good for seasons to come, if the players are willing, for they have a lot of territory to cover. All looked in fine shape, with no doubt of appearing again in "va- riety" having a tonic effect. There may be many in present-day audi- ences whose knowledge of Barney Fagan, Lizzie Wilson. Jos. J. Sulli- van, Tony Williams and Corinne is nil. Yet most of the players are at least known as names and there are few who haven't heard the songs. The act was greeted cordially, hold- ing its position surely. .A hit was won by Walter and Emily Walters, on fourth. The team has budded its ventriloquist "fam- ily" into a good novelty, with the entrance of the little girl on skates and the boy on a tricycle an amus- ing start. Walters' boy drew a laugh on the comment that the in- fant's squalling sounded like the radiophone. Miss Walters scored "With the baby crying bit. The re- turns were legitimate, but Walters, carrying forth a board device, raised the house's curiosity, and applause continued until he worked a doll clog by tapping the board with his fingers. The bit looked new, with no way of it creeping into the rou- tine regularly. William and Joe Mandel stood out as the strongest comedy in the show, appearing fifth ("Yarmark" Was sixth, the intermission spot). The smaller Mandel smiles like Charlie Chaplin. Never did lie pull the little tarmpoline hop and mon- key-like lift to the perch that they Were not giggling. The finish Jump Was perfectly timed with the cur- tain and brought the team back for the acrobatic bits in "one." Margaret Severn appeared third with her dance revue, "Maid of Moods," assisted by Antonio and Paco Cansino, with Rube Beckwith at the piano. Like Lewis she was Of the "Greenwich Village Folies," her specialty with that show a sea- son or so ago being with the Benda masks. The latter feature is made important in the vaudeville produc- tion. Miss Severn is at home on her toes, yet the mask dances come first because of the novelty. The mask of fear looked quite ugly and those of the vampire and bnby doll counted the best of that specialty. This is not Miss Severn's first Pal- ace appearance. In 1914 she was in the Ruth St. Denis act, as were Florence O'Denishawn. Ernestine Moycrs and Ada Foreman. All four by themselves have since figured in Broadway productions and vaude- ville. Greenlee and Drayton, on second, call attention in their billing to lvrrsatlon in five different lan- guages/' The men danced them- Ives into favor, both men having unusual finale Steps. One ripped bis trousers in concluding bis spe- cialty. Gordon and Rica were the shove- off act, starting the show very well. The mans 'Sheik" bit was noticed and the bicycle section skilfully put across. Mang and Snyder were asked to close at 5:17. the men Im- mediately going into their hand-to- hand routine in "one. lees. ALHAMBRA Labor Day, the theatrical season's unofficially recognised opening date annually, beat its record of years Monday. It probably gave more money to box offices in the metrop- olis at matinee time than the local theatres ever before held on the holiday afternoon. Naturally with the people held m town through the rain it was a repetition, only more so, at night. The Alhambra, starting another season of Keith's big time for the Harlemites and with Herman Phil- lips again house managing, had near capacity, also a record for that lukewarm early- season uptown house. And a good eight-act bill, very good, made so very good by the George Choos production number that got the worst of the breaks for the opening performance. It had to close the show, the last place for it. and with a program that ran un- til 5:35, with the Choos act going to its fate at 4:47. But it held them, remarkable as it seemed for the home crowd that attends this the- atre. At night it was moved up to close the first half. • There is much more to be talked about in the Choos turn, "The Realm of Fantasie" (New Acts) than may be said in a review, not that it should not be spoken of but because there is so much to it. Firstly, though, the title should be changed. Here is a big production for vaudeville, the costliest vaude- ville has known, and there isn't a thing In the name that would even attract passing attention. After that and when wonderment over the investment has been exhausted, the talk will go to the staging. And then to those English girls, eight of them who dance so well and with their dances put on by Bebe Bari, one of the girls, who dances with her companions. It's lucky Mr. Choos has these girls under a long- term contract and it's fortunate as well for him he has Miss Bari in- cluded, for that girl would bo taken by any producer after they see her staging here. It's reported the Eng- lish girls are receiving $55 weekly. That's high for English dancing girls over here, but they are worth it, and Miss Bari probably receives more, as she Is entitled to. It's quite an act for vaudeville, from any angle, good enough to be booked in for two weeks, especially out of town, for the draw should increase as the turn lingers. The first part ran nicely and with speed, followed by two two-acts after Intermission and just before the production. In the show were acts that used the same material, somewhat altered. A "woman" gag had three hearings in as many turns, and the scar stuff [my wife didn't give me that] came out twice. Perhaps the most enlightening of the entertainment was the abun- dance of prohibition gags, comment and even one "home-brew" song. Either the Keith edict to cut out the prohibition stuff doesn't go or acts have not as yet had sufficient notice to change. As a matter of fact, if the liquor thing should be absolutely barred from vaudeville at the present day at least one-half of the laughs now in vaudeville would go out with them. The usual holiday crowd, as usual, liked everything. They started to laugh when the new orchestra lead- er (Victor Wineburg; also a new orchestra) whipped the huge ball the Garclnettl Brothers' bulldog plavs with, over into the audience behind him, when it bounded his way. It resulted in gales of laugh- ter as the front rows of the orches- tra had fun tossing the ball among themselves. That put the Garcinet- tis over without further worry. Then came Dixie Hamilton, No. 2, a girl who sounds as though she has had cabaret training. Miss Hamil- ton sang a long list of pop songs, stringing out her turn through ap- plause obliging it until the applause began to assume a most suspicious sound. Looking into the orchestra from a balcony box it could be seen the hands there were in perfect re- pose, with the applause appearing to be centered, while In an opposite box a youth appeared to have a couple of boards to assist his boost- ing. Miss Hamilton didn't warrant the generous applause, and more judgment should be exercised. As a No. 2 she will probably get along, but if thero are songs there she much sing she should lump them together. Also there may be more finesse to her work with less ges- turing. Francis X. Donegan and Jul la Steger did a nice little dance num- ber. No. 3, with songs by both. Miss Steger has a kid voice that doesn't mean a thing In a Song way. she being a much better dancer of course, while Donegan insists upon Singing, likely to pad OUt the turn and secure breathing time from the stepping. Mr. •lonegan formerly was In vaudeville with Miss Allen. This may be the Same routine or lng out any Individual. Their ma- terial is high-grade nut stuff, the more seen and heard the more liked, and the two boys secured reception applause, showing they were remem- bered. The new comedy skit, "The Fail- ure" of Harry Holman's, isn't as good as some of his others, but the laughs hold it up. Mr. Holman se- cures his most through the phone conversations. It may be the story plods a bit in the unreeling, but Holman uses enough sure fires to cinch it, and closing the first half the house evidenced a laughing lik- ing for the playlet. Opening after intermission, Moody and Duncan, two girls, did straight and comic, with the turn lacking something. Maybe It was too far down or the comedienne, Mary Dun- can, tries to force her comedy across. Gertrude Moody, the straight, has a voice. It looks like the combination of a singer who did not feel equal to getting across as a single tacking on the funny girl. The house evinced a fondness for them as well, forcing a speech. Following were McLaughlin and Evans, with their tough kid stuff that got to the crowd immediately and never did let go. A couple of new effects with some new dialog seemed to be in the turn, that other- wise is the same the young couple wowed 'em around the circuit last season. It's a good show to start the sea- son with at the Alhambra, the kind of a bill that will make the neigh- bors try it again next week. Eben Thomas remains stage man- ager of the- house with the same crew as last season. Arthur Mc- Quade is treasurer and Joe Gardner ticket taker. tiime. ties were realistic and punchy de- spite the fact no human could pos- sibly far some of the buck and wings. The mechanical contrap- tions, vuch as a man turning Into an aeroplane with a realistically re- volving propeller, and the like, are ingenious to say the least. Joseph K. Watson and William Halllgan (both New Acts) were Nos. 4 and 5. "Topics" and an ani- mated "Aesop's Fable" plugged In following Intermission. Walter and Emily Walters re- opened with their clever ventrilo- quial offering. Although the several dummies employed are intended to detract the eye, from the Walters, one does not overlook the couple's splendid appearance, particularly Miss Walters. Walters encored with what looks like a new bit. a mani- kin clog dancing on a small board extension. Mltty and TUIo (New Acts). Bert and Betty Wheeler closed with their familiar nonsense. Bert sets himself right as soon as he sprawls comfortably on the stage, although, as he ad Uba, it is no cool proposition lying across the foot- lights. Miss Wheeler acts as a cork- ing foil, incidentally sporting-a cou- ple of sartorial creations that even a mere, undiscernlng man took no- tice of. They couldn't be overlooked by anybody endowed with sight. The news pictorial let out at 5 sharp. Abel. JEFFERSON LOEWS VICTORIA Loew's Victoria on 125th street jammed and packed 'em in Monday afternoon (Labor Day) like passen- gers, on a Lenox avenue express in rush hours. The first show was an overflow, with every available spot occupied by a standee, the standing bunch hanging on in the loft by their eyelashes. And it looked as if all of the rest of the shows during the day were going to turn 'em away likewise, for the first performance hadn't finished before a jostling, battling mob were trying to get in to see the second show. The rainy, disagreeable holiday afternoon helped a bit, but the big draw was the feature picture, Ro- dolph Valentino, in "Blood and Sand." Pop audiences seldom ap- plaud a film, but they did this one, and vociferously, Monday afternoon. The five-act bill played well enough, with Frear, Baggett and Frear, club juggling and boomerang hat manipulating, getting it off In workmanlike* style. The comic needs different and better material than that now aimed for laughs. The juggling of baseball bats and hat stuff landed, the latter now a vaudeville standard done by a num- ber of acts and mostly all the same way. Dood and Nelson (New Acts), sec- ond, pleased with a piano and sing- ing turn, and Connors and Boyne, third, held up the middle of the show splendidly with a comedy and singing turn that showed the pair had given the proper attention to the matter of material. A drop of a dry goods store window, worked on the cyclorama principle, carried a double punch, with comedy signs. The conversational exchanges and songs are all in the dry goods at- mosphere, with several numbers holding excellent comedy business, putting solid punches in the routine that counted. The couple must be credited with getting away from the conventional for a mixed two-act. They put it over heftily at the Vic- toria. Klass and Brllant (New Acts), next to closing, stopped the show cold for a couple of minutes, hold- ing back the succeeding act long after the lights had been lowered and the card placed. Kola. Jack- son and Co. (New Acts) closed with a dancing turn. Bell. RIVERSIDE The heavy early afternoon down- pour Labor Day did not deter the neighbors from flocking for the matinee. The advance sale was de- eidedly discouraging but the pay- as-you-enter demand even exceeded the management's expectations in view of the weather. A neat, smooth eight-act show, played according to program excepting for the substitu- tion by Walter and Emily Walters (frotn t* 10 PftI*CS) for the Hegedus Sisters, who jumped in from St. Paul. They were expected to make the evening show and continue all week if everything goes all right. Hobble Gordonc opened with her series of 10 poses that were well Ived, certainly a relief from the cu t and dried acrobatic opener rou- tine j 0 hn Boyle and \ Irginia Ben- netl N<> I showed an entertaining variety of steps and eccentricities ln the course of their "Scrambled - routine. The couple are ec- that thej also kidded with, not pick Complete capacity Monday night at the Jefferson with business ear- lier In the day reported equally strong. An ordinary layout of acts failed to arouse enthusiasm in the large crowd present for the final show, the bill running through in a matter-of-fact way with little life displayed until the appearance of Lewis and Dody, next to closing. These comedians can apparently re- peat at this house every month and still retain their popularity. They were the outstanding hit, taking honors far above any of the other acts. New verses for their well- established special number help to Reep them on top during each en- gagement here. Circus Day in Toyland opened the vaudeville. The mannikin turn Is worked fast, on the strength of which it holds the interest. Frank Bessinger (New Acts) gathered ap- plause No. 2, with Holden and Har- ron placed No. 3 to deliver a comedy punch. They developed little in this respect. The show was'ln need of a good push at this juncture, but this couple failed to start anything. The first real laughs of the eve- ning were brought forth during the action of "A Dress Rehearsal" (also in Choos' act at the Alhambra). Frank Kills with hie antics and re- marks in the orchestra aisle gained the most recognition (if it were Ki- lls and not a new man). The Jef- ferson audience did not appear to grasp the idea of the act as well as some of the more sophisticated audience of the two-a-day houses. Cardo and Noll, following, had lit- tle trouble vocally, but struck snags with the talk. Their chatter fell flat in most instances. While sing- ing the couple had the audience with them continually. Stafford and Louise, with songs and dances, closed the show. The act answers the description of one formerly known as Stafford and de Ross Co. It proved a good flash for the spot and furnished action. The applause given demonstrated the approval of the audience. Hart, AMERICAN ROOF One of the best bills ever seen at the American theatre since the Loew circuit secured that house was there the flr3t half. Nino acts. If Just a break it was a wonder, but if put together for the Labor Day season's opening, it was dandy booking. A couple of roars came together near the finish, one each supplied by two acts following one another. Grace and Kddie Parks, when finishing, egged the applause Into a stop-the-show proceeding through young Parks having evolved one of the best finishing bits around. He continues to do a hop-step while bowing. It's a bow and applause maker. But they finally retired with Weston and Kline entering. When Grace Kline said to Joe Weston right off the reel on tholr entrance: "Will you marry me*?" and Weston whanged her over the head with his cap, chasing her from the stage, the house simply yelled. The two riots were within a minute of one another. That is seldom seen on any vaudeville time. This Grace Kline! What Is she doing on the small time? The girl makes 90 per cent, of all the femi- nine nutty comediennes look foolish. She's production material, a regular performer, wl > can do a lot and do it well. Her finishing bit ln the closing tough scene between herself and the orchestra leader is as good slapstick comedy as ev<-r has been devised. Miss Kline's low comedy throughout, taking in the nut stuff, is of t!i" very highest order. She Is full of i ilent and personality. That «irl had the bouse in a scream when die went into an aisle, talking to net partner on the .<-iac<. and to the patrons around her. While the bit whori she seats herself in the lap of a m.'in on th^ aisl*» with her arm around his neck, saying she came ln with him and she is going to stick with him, is very funny business, it might be looked upon as just a trifle too forward in some houses. Weston and Kline are reported for a Shubert unit show this season. The show getting Miss Kline has a And and should give l&r every op- portunity. The Parks were on the Shubert vaudeville circuit last season. They have youth, probably brother and sister, and make a fine kid team. Closing the first part the Molera Revue, seven people ln operatic singing (New Acts) found favor with the house for their class vocal- izing. Just before them Race and Kdge with a somewhat revised version of the two-man act they were doing three or four years ago, got a good return with their ma- terial. One is an Knglishman, with the other made up as a Tad. The Tad pans the English: an and Eng- lish. It found ready response here, and will anywhere on small or big time. It's quite an idea for the present day. No. 3 held Harry Bentley and Co. (New Acts) in a skit with Mr. Bent- ley as a souse, he starting and securing many laughs. Farrell and Hatch, No. 2, were two colored boys who sang and danced themselves Into the real graces of the capacity audience. George P. Wilson (New Acts) opened the second part, not the best position for him on the roof with an intermission, but he got through flying with the aid of a skillful young woman plant. O'Dierro opened the performance, with the Adroit Brothers closing the vaudeville. "My Dad" was the picture. It's too bad Loew's cannot send a bill like this one over the entire circuit. It would do more good for its vaudeville than any unit ever put together. Simc. 58TH ST. Janet of France headlined, ap- pearing next to closing and easily upholding her feature billing. A male pianist, who figures also as a straight man for Janet's comedy, works in an easy, natural way, and sings occasionally during the turn. It would be better if he would re- cite the vocal numbers, as his voice Isn't equal to ballad requirements. Janet's vivacity and piquant manner of discoursing in French accented English kept the tempo at top speed throughout. A couple of speeches attested the way Ip which the act was received. Macart and Bradford in "Take My Tip" made a good comedy number for the six-act bill. Mr. Macart's grouchy con man character stands out as a well conceived type. A topical song with verses about Irish freedom, the five-cent fare and bo- nus needs newer and fresher verses, those used having been overdone. Miss Bradford and a juvenile and ingenue assist materially in making the skit entertaining. Jack Goldie has a first-rate idea for his blackface turn. Entering with a fur overcoat on, he removes it later, remarking he heard the 58th Street audience was a cold one. Hence the coat. Any time the house failed to rise quickly enough to a gag or a story Goldie either glanced at the coat or put it of?. The idea itself was good for several laughs. Goldie has a voice, whis- tles well and generally shows the qualities that mean something to a blackface ' entertainer. He put it over at the 58th St. and apparently can do it anywhere. Krayona Radio Co. opened with a crayon sketching turn, featured with radio lighting effects that con - stitute a novelty. A sketch of the U. S. S. "Maryland," with shots fired from its guns by some sort of radio arrangement on tho stage sent the turn off to a wow. "The Story Book Revue." a Harry Rogers girl act (New Acts) closed, and Katherine and Anna Kane (New Acts) were second. 'The Masque- rader* was the feature picture. Fair business Tuesday night. Bel. 5TH AVE. Something of a ding-dong bill the first half. Tuesday evening busi- ness was light, following the holi- day rush or through the atmosphere warming up. As the bill was laid out it seemed quite fair for a r.th Ave. performance, but it slumped early. Barring the bright spot oe - cupled by Gallagher and Martin, the show lacked ginger. The Gallagher-Martin duo are a cheery turn, with Skcets Gallagher, a handler of fly talk that is second to vaudeville's none, the way he docs It, while Irene Martin is a pretty little lively opposite, with the freshness of their youth a sufficient recommendation almost by Itself. They open before tho house drop of a corridor, with Miss Martin as a scrubwoman. It may be their former turn, but whether or no, they can migrate to tho Palace for any spot and keep right on If th^y want to and the managers want a two* act that is. Tho golf comedy skit ofl Jack Kennedy and Co. is marked almost a^ mueh by the ex* silence of the company as through tho laughs it forces. Besides Mr. Kennedy as th* bashful judge who can't propose. th^re is a Juvenile, Walter Craig, who looks and works enough liko Joe Santley to be his brother. The ingenue passes and the elder worn- (Continued on page 2$)