Variety (October 1922)

. r '-I Friday, October 6, 1928 BURLESQUE a'Min. i 'i I .Zm 11. BURLESQUE REVIEWS CHUCKLES OF 1923 ' Producetl by Jean Botllnl, Bpunsored by r<huckl«a. Inc. (Bedlnl Intereata and Miner ICiiUte). <"*«l Cliff Br&fdon. Coo-Coo Mor- Hfey GeorKC Snyder. Irving Reeves, Joseph < itf*i«on Hurry Permaino, A. Cocrla. Emmett n^r'c. Valerio. Billy Well*. Elaine lieas- Uv JAiic May. Norma Barry. Betty Bur- mlii Eclair Twin*. Mualc by Harry Archer. ??_• by P V. Cook, book by Billy K. Wells sn.l Paul McCullouich. Dances by Seymour Te'l* an d A. Co ccla. No tougher assignment for a bur- lesque comic, or* any other kind of comeJian for that matter, can be thought of than that of following others. Cliff Bragdon inherited the 'lob here, and does very well; but ' there'.s quite a dlflTerence. Not that t. Bragilon i.sn't capable. He's all of that and clever, too, not to say ver- gatlle. He plays the cornet—plays It not at it—dances well and works easily, with plenty of unction. Be- sldo.?. he can sing. Toppfhg all of that he's ^Iso a real comic. Had Ift'ftgdon gone into the new show this season without the handi- cap his pwformanoc would bo rated as excellent. As it is. it i« vevry good. Coo-Coo Morrisoy was form rly a . drummer in the Lopez bard. He f works in an almost clown-white facial make up. looks funny and gels as many laughs us the part calls for. All <»f '!''' sure-fire bits of the oris' nal • Chuckle.s" arc retahu'd in ■ the currcni ver.sion. There:-* the iion bit, with a ntw lion and a b':»ttcr one appaivntiy than the first king of the jungle, for thi.s one roar;i at the right ilmo and generrlly fc^m.s t > take an interest in b.ir'.esque. ni again.^-t the bored attitude of his preleci'Kor. t'he prize'rint bit and the bedr.)oin scor.c. with the mani- curing bu.^lnoes coming in that Hcene. were proilurtive tf Ict.s oi lauk,'li?< at the Columbia Tuo.-dav night before :ti- hard-boi'.ed an audi- ence a:< the Columbia has held in many tt week. A minstrel bit in one. with Ctcorge Snyder doing a dope character that stood out like a sore thumb, landed heavily in the second part of the show." Thifc! chap Snyder is a (Ind for l.urle.'ifiue. His dope copies no- body and he's a flrst-rate all-round comedian with ideas. An acrobatic travesty with the male members of the cast as comedy rlsley workers, but all doing far more shouting and Irindkerchief wielding than tumbling, was a keen bit of satire that would do credit to any of the Brojvlway revue.*; that is to say. if it hasn't ever been done in a Broadway revue. A specialty by Bragdon. Morrisey and Emmett Baker, one of the Ster- ling Saxo Four, clicked merrily In the first part. This could easily have Btopped the show with a bit of ma- > nipulation and Jockeying. The Ster- ling Four, playing saxophones, were on twice—once in tlie first part finale (the bridal number) and again near the closo of the show. They're ^ood musicians^ getting real har- mony and Jazz out of their Instru- nents. The weakness of the show is In the fact it has no woman with a voice. Norma Barry sings a couple of songs in a scene in one as a single that should be eliminated. Later Sfiss Barry does a specialty with Jos. Nelson, both singing. In this Miss Barry discloses her forte. It's character songs. She does a Yiddish number with a dialect that is flaw- less and mannerisms that are cor- rect. Straight vocal numbers are not for Miss Barry. She should se- cure a routine of character songs at once and seek assistance in direc- tion. As a character artist she holds real promise. As a straight warbler She just holds back the show. But if the gals in the show can't jitng they can dance, and dance Im- mensely. Betty Burnett, for in- Chtancc, who would probably class as the aoubret, is a clever kicker and legamania artist, scoring in one of the numbers as leader. Eliane Beaa- ley also dances acceptably. The Eclair Twins are also dancers. They shouldn't sing at all. Billy Wells (not the burlesque librettist, but another Billy Wells) and the Eclair Twins do a specialty In the second part that is filled with great step- ping, but it's too long. The meat retained would make it a corking act for any type of house. One of the Eclair Twins is a cojitortlonist, using that In her dancing to great advantage. "Chuckles" is an entertaining show this year, much better than most of the rank and file of the Columbia shows. Bell NELSON'S ALIMONY AREEST Joseph Nelson of "Chuckles" at the Columbia. New York, this week, was arrested Tuesday night on com- plaint of lii.s wife in alimony litiga- tion. Wednesday afternoon Jean J5edini .worn into the sh<.w. takii\'.; N«-:son*s role. Joseph (;rimn suhstltnted. doing a specialty to replace Xcl- Hon'ci specialty. EMERSON'S MUTUAL SHOW Haijy Kinerson has been granle<l a franchise on the Miitu.il burle.squc wheel, iiiid uill prodine a show called "The Limit (^.irls." It win op(.n Oct. 2.*^, at the Olym- pic, New Voik. following a we.-lc of break in stands in New KntflanU. BROADWAY BELLES (MUTUAL BURLESQUE) AI Coon Al Barlow Myrtle Cheatem Myrtle AndrewH l>ut Lovee:old..., Dot Lolghton Art Diamond Art Marfleld Anna Joy , Anna Toebo Herman iitchults I>w I.edcrer LudwlK KtutE Billy Hagan DO POP SUNDAYS HURT? So Oliver Baily Says—Court RuUt for Sax* in Republic Cass For discriminating burle.sque audi- ences "The Broadway BelleH" at the Olympic this week is a lot of boloney. For the patrons of the Mutual Cir- cuit it's a fair sliow. The two comedians went after the "blue" stuff on every possible occa- sion, which was good showmanship on account of their own limitations and the non-presence of anything resembling a book. The show averaged 100 per cent, for released gags and old bits, which were never any too well done. The comics, Billy Hagan and Lew Led- erer, both dolnj? dirty putty-nosed "Dutch." ran neck and neck for the end book hoitors. with the female contingent not much stronger. Of that portion Anna Toebe. the soubrtt. walked away with the hon- or.s. This chubby henna-haired, bare-legged baby had knees to match. Her dimpled lower appen- dages were made up as carefully as her face and attracted amiost as much attention, but when Anna turned loose th.e s'him it was a stand uff between the upper and lower portions of her anatomy so far as the male attention went. Mls.s Toebe led peveral numbers, which pulled encores rolely on account of hc'r dancing and quivery technique. Dot I.,ci«hton," the prima donoja. aimed gallantly at top notes but ^^ls off the taiget due to low visibility ;ihd uncertain tonsils. It may have been a cold, for it is hardly possible that the most courageous of pro- ducers would allot six or more num- bers to Miss Leightoii on her vocal showing at the Olympic. The other woman. Myrtle An- drews, had the voice of the i>voduc- tion. getting goml distance though slicing considerably. She is a stout girl, who reminded of Hose t3ydell in one number wearing tights. She led another, in which the sixteen girls wore one-piece union Fuits enveloped in capes, which they opened. Riving the boys a flash as they each contributed a line to the lyric. This'is an old piece of bur- lesque hokum but always effective. When the last girl unfolds the comics swoon, which is stu-e fire. One of the bluest portions was a trio song by Hagan, Lederer and Al Barlow, heavily encored. The cho- ruses each had a punch which built up into a crescendo of daring. The comics ad libbed heavily anent the chances they were taking, which is going some for 14th street. The show carried, three full stage sets and a couple of drops. The girls made about eight changes, all short skirted and bare legged. They are an average looking bunch, but all apparently youtiiful. The "cakie" dance, which has supplanted the former marking of time by the bur- lesque choruses, was on tap in 6very dance from ballads to Jazz. The book, which is programed as a conglomerated mixture of comedy and music, consists of bits and busi- ness that have been seen around for the past ten years. A messy white- wash touch by the two comics got most. A quiet tip would be to let the comics cut loose with more low comedy rough stuff and can some of the dialog passages. Hagan and Miss Toebe held the stage tor 16 minutes in one crossfire specialty turn when six would have sufficed. Art Mayfleld appeared to advantage In several minor and character bits, and Al Bartow was a neat appear- ing hard working straight. It's a Joe Oppenhelmer. Con. The S. R. F. Amusement Co., Inc., was successful In its motion for a temporary Injunction to restrain Oliver D. Bally, lessee of the Re- public, New York, from Interfering with their continuance of Sunday vaudeville performances. Baily sought to cancel an agreement for the Sunday concert privilege for a term. Sept, 1, 1922, to April 30. 1924, which involves a $10,000 considera- tion, on the theory "pop vaudeville," as he terms it, does not constitute high-class entertainment as was covenanted. He also contends a proposed picture i>ollcy does not mean "high-class entertainment." Justice Wasservogel's decision provides for the furnishing of a bond by the plaintiff in a sum to be fixed. The defendant, too, has the privilege of electing an Imme- diate trial before a referee. Max H. Saxe, who made the orig- inal' contract, assigned it to the plaintiff corporation, of which Je- rome Rosenberg is president. Baily ojajected to the assignment. He also alleged that the receipts of "Abie's Irish Rose." the regular at- traction at the Republic, have fallen off because of the Sunday vaudeville. The S. R. F. Co. has filed a $5,000 bond. Bailey, through O'Brien, Malevinsky & DrLscoll. his attor- neys, has eknited to a sp'^edy trial before a referee in compliance with the court's a'ternative. OBITUARY "JAZZ REVUE" OFF Manhcim Show Leaving Wheel ' Mutual "The Jazz Time Revue" sponsored by the Manheim interests will drop off the Mutual wheel route the week of Oct. 9. The Manhelms controlling several middle western houses have three other shows on the Mutual wheel. which will remain. It was stated at Mutual head- quarters the reason for taking off the "Jazz Time Revue" was be- cause of the circuit having lost a couple of weeks recently, which necessitated changes in the route. The show was not taken off because of not being up to standard, it was stated. -Mutual in Park, Utica The Mutual wheel will start play- ing its attractions at the Park, Utica. beginning Oct. 16. The house played 'the Shubert unit shows for a couple of weeks this season. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Morris, at the4r home in New York, Sept. 26, daughter. The father is of Morris & Fell, the vaudeville agents. , Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Sherwood, Sept^ 26. at the Lying-In hospital. New York, a daughter. Mr. Sher- wood is general manager of the eastern division of the McKiidey Mu.'^ic Co. Mr. and Mr.<. Lew VVil.son, Sept. son. oo MARRIAGES • : Jaric (Smoke) Cr.iy to Alma .\i- lis.'^. .«■•• i.t L'.'. at INoria. III. Mr. r.r.iv i.; u Ith thP X p II O ' I ' .i mmi^ Mi streli^: hi.s wife is of th-- Mis'jes Bt-ll and Ai'isy, in vaudeville. ILL AND INJURED J. A. Lacy who is ahead of "Take It From Me" now in California, is suffering from an infected hand. He remains on duty. DuTil and Covey, with the "As You Were" unit, were in an auto accident in Hartford, Conn., whe e the show was playing, last Thurs- day, but continued in the perform- ance through the week. Mr. DuTil suffered a bruised hand and Miss Covey a sprained back. Riding in a car with friends, their auto was hit by another, in which later two bot- tles of *'hootch" were found. The other driver was convicted of reck- less driving. Mart Fuller Golden was slightly Injured Tuesday, when a Loft de- livery wagon backed into the curb in front of the Central theatre, New York, and dislodged part of the electric sign, which fell on the actor's head. He was taken Into the theatre and his injury dressed by Dr. William Frleder. Tom Duray, formerly of the act, "For Pity Sake," underwent an operation for appendicitis at the Illinois General Hospital, Chicago. The operation was of such a serious nature that his life hung In balance for several days. He is gradually recovering. At the time of his Ill- ness. Duray was rehearsing an act for the Orpheum Circuit, written by J. Brandon Walsh. Eddie Shubert is in the Private Hospital, Scranton, Pa., recovering from an Illness that attacked him while his show, "Flashlights of 1922" was playing in the city. WILLIAM H. McELFATRICK. William H. Mcfcllfatrick died at his home in Brooklyn. Sept. 28. Deatii was due to complications following a bronchial attack. He was ill but a short time. The de- ceased was born in Fort Wayne, fnd., and was 68 years old. He was widely known as a theatre architect, having designed countless houses during a long career in architecture, all of whcih was devoted to special- ization in theatre construction. Among the New York theatres which Mr. McElfatrlck drew the plans for were the Manhattan and I^xlngton opera houses for Oscar Hammerstein. He also superln- /?: ;\ BURLESQUE ROUTES WILL BE FOUSD ON PAGB lliiit ii-Ci'tht u; 'I hi: T'i\'tr. ^. NEW ACTS Maile Walsh (Wabh uwl Ed- wards), with two boys. Harry Von Tilzer is framing an act for vaudeville. He opens next week. A piano player will as.sist the velfiaii soni,om:th. nho will h.'indle the voeal woik. "Haipy Days." 10 pe>)i>le. 2 men. S Riiis. I'" tank Sti!l\v<M; and Jaclc I-'raze.-. jiano and trinnin?^ (Char lie Morri- r.on). A C'-^m'tly playlet. »Th<> N'.itural Born Liar." with Fiatii^s Winter'* a; I L Z7.:e i:. i:.i j n'..;iil «S. Co. ENGAGEMENTS Snov . (.'■,«!i;nil>M: aird Hi( tut", Har- ris" Duncan Slslcra show. IN MKMOBY OF "Little" NORA McGINNIS Aeed 10 Died September 2d. 1923 London. Bngland Ooiw- t'.< Join he^mama and papa in their heavenly home Mrs. PHOEBE McGINNIS tended the reconstruction of the Metropolitan^opera house following the fire which destroyed it in 1898. Other theatres designed by the deceased were all the Percy Wil- liams houses in Greater New York, now controlled by the Keith people. He also designed Keith's Fordham, the Philadelphia opera house for Oscar Hammerstein, and Columbia theatre building and theatre, New York. He was the son of the late John B. McElfatrick, a noted theatre architect in his day. A wife, Margaret McElfatrlck, survives. , • SIR CHARLES 8ANTLEV. Sir Charles Santloy. one of tho world's foremost baritones, died Sept. 21 in London, aged 88. He was born in Liverpool In humble circumstances and at the ago of 1.1 entered an office, being indentured for five years at a salary of £10 a year but at the age of 25 he had already come to the front as a singer. He made his first London appearance in 1857 and his first great success came With the pro- duction of the opera, "Dlnorah," Covent Garden, 1859. Later he toured all over the world with Patti and Albanl. He married a grand- daughter of the great tragedian Charles Kemble and was a close personal friend of Charles Dickens. King Edward conferred the honour of knighthood on him In 1907. Re- cently he received the blessing of the Pope and was able to receive his personal friends and enjoyed a smoke up to the last. EMMA 8. NORTON Emma 8. Norton, 64 years old, widow of John Norton, died at the Broad Street Hospital, New York, on Sept. 30 after a long illness. She was prominent 80 years ago in the profes.slon. .•<•,; . The father of Mrs. Jack M. Welch died of heart disease Oct. 3 in New York city. Several of the five daughters surviving were known I.N I.OVINO MEMORY of vny husband ALBERT McGINNIS I tied May ISth. 1922 Gone but not foricottf n PHOEBE McGINNIS Walter M. Johnson, member of the stage hands' union at Duluth. who won out at the primaries re- JOSEPHINE KELLY Sacred to the memory of our beloved aunt and sister, who passed away Sept. 12th, 1922. FREDDY KELLT A MOTHEBl professi(jnally including Dorothy Whiteford. at present on the stage. The others are Mrs. Jack Klendon. Mrs. Jame.s Malcom and CounteiflB de Boutieller. Frank M. McDermit, 61 years, a well known Newark attorney and brother of (leorge McDermit. the hou.Me manager, dropped dead of heart trouble Oct. 4 at his summer home at Kockledge Lake, Denville, V T ' cently In his race for sheriff, died suddenly last week after a short atflick of pneumonia. Mr. Juhnson had been active in politics far 15 years and came within a few voIp.h of winning the sheriffs position at the last general election. His funeral was conducted by the Masonic lodge. Nora McGinnis, died Sept. 2 at the age of 10 of scarlet fever and diphtheria in a London (England» hospital. She was the daughter of the late Albert Innis (Innls Brcdh- eis) who was killed May 15 last In St. Louis. The little girl had beeo taken care of in a financial way fol- lowing her father's death, by her step-mo; her, Mrs. Phoebe Mclnnls. Ths father of Ted Lewis, aged 73. died at a hotel in I'ittsburgh Oct. 2. Mary ANNULMENT SUIT A. Cost Serves Convicted Husband in Jail Mt. Vernon, N. Y., Oct. 4. Benjamin Myers, convicted of sfealinK two diamond rings from the home of S.-S. Santmyer, in this city, and whose wife is Mary A. Goss in vaudeville, was given a suspension of a year's penitentiary sentence Monday by County Judge Bleakely, as he had informed the warden of the county Jail at Wtflte Plains of a plan for a Jail delivery. His information lee' to the dis- covery of two guns and an ammonia gun in the possession of Roy Sul- livan and Harvey Nash. The former was sentenced to 17 years for high- way robbery and the latter for 10 years for assaulting a New Ro- chelle policeman. According to Attorney J. Edward Quinn, counsel for Myers, his wife served him with papers in an an- nulment action while he was in Jail. Myers claimed he stole to obtain money to purchase a vaudeville playlet for his wife. He was form- erly employed at the While House as a ( hauffeur. Richard R. Fisher, formerly with Thuri-:t'»n.. is now managing fJeorge, a magiciatr, playing the smaller ptnnds in the ini'hile west. The (Jeori;*' show carrie.s Ift peojilp and a carloui ftf props, with a Hon, idive ' • , On the list of per.'^onal a.^sess- ineni.s a;- puhlislu'd in lii>' dMille.s. tor AVeW Vork**rH im.^» ' .s.':eii..u^ 1 50.000 '•r nii»!»' .\. T... I!rl;iii,';»T w.is li.st»*d f..:- $LM)(»,(>Of», \Villi:im Ko.\ for $100.- uyo aiul Charles Dillii ghim $r>u,i»'M). UNirS PAMPHLET Shubert Vaudeville Getting Out 19 Page Booklet of Information The Shubert vaudeville circuit va getting out a belated 16-page pam- phlet, de.scribing the circuit, the nature of the combination etUer- talnment. with pictures of the (efi- tured players on the chain, and also mentioning each unit by title with its acts and principals. It Is Intended to print 300.000 and distribute 3,000 In each city on thn circuit. - The Afllliated Theatres Corpora- tion, which operates the unit e-ir- cult, has ordered a weekly appro- priation of $1,000 for several citlen oh the tmlt list, to more fully ad- vertise the units, with the extra ad- vertising to be divided between th« theatre and attraction. The adver- tl.slng is being done with the con- sent of the unit producers playing those cities. Jimmy Hanlon is leaving San l'rai:cis«<> thi.s month f'lr New Vork on a businesri Irip. JUDGMENTS (First name It Judgment debtor; creditor and amount follow): Edyth Totten Film Co., Inc.; fit/ of N. Y.; 1163.86. Lew Fields, Inc.; same; same Paul Armstrong Co.; same; same. Hickton. Inc.; W. H. H. Hule He Co., Ine.: I100S8. Louis T. Roger* and Rialto Prods., Inc.; Erl)ograi>h Co.; $1,030.90. Rialto Prods., Inc.; sarno; $;j1:j.67. Evan Burrows Fontaine; A. SauH ; %C,() 60. George V. Hobart; Mr L. Lanki; $:;:!7 70. Walter Donaldson; A. H. Mandt;!- TTJTT: |:.'« 1 «;'i I Ned Wayburn Prods., Inc.; City of N. Y.; $;;ii 7'). Photo Play Coupon Corp.: same; s;tm>'. Syndco Photoplay Corp.; same; .s.Trnt'. Photo Play Production*, Inc.; same; sume.