Variety (October 1922)

so NEW ACTS THIS WEEK Friday, October 13, 1922 HERBERT BARNET and SYNCOPATED FIVE Jazz Band and Songs 81 Mint.; Full 2Srd St. The novelty in this offering lies Jn the fact that Herbert Barnet is A Lilliputian who is putting over jazz melodies of the day In a Cohancsque manner. There Is a mixed jazz bapd with the act, com- prising three men and two women. They offer an introductory num- ber, after which Barnet appears In dinner Jacket, straw hat and han- dling'a cane much after the fashion that George M. formerly did. He Isn't much on voice, but he does manage to get his numbers over fairly well. A Sheik travesty bit In Arabian costume and finally a female Impersonation are also offered by the miniature entertainer. During the changes the band fills In the waits. It is a very good little com- bination for music and the act is rather a novelty. Fred,. SHEARER and HAMILTON Piano Act ' 15 Mine.; One (Special) Jefferson Jimmy Shearer and Marlon Ham- ilton comprise this piano act. It Is « novelty in its selling, for all the conventional description. Paul Ge- rard Smith was reported interested In the authorship, although not billed at this house. In "one" a "Joy and Happiness' drop is dis- closed on practical swinging doors leading to the ^"sample room." Shearer pianoloss the introduction about his being a salesman of these commodities. He is in natty gray suit and presents a winning per- sonality. Shearer in a songwriter and fea- tures several original compositions eschewing the "plugging" angle which is wise, although the songs fit in nicely. The "Pebbles'* num- ber is the first, whiQh lead.^ Into the introduction of Miss Hamilton, a cute blonde miss. In sox for a "hock" dance. The applause shows It is well recelv^, but Shearer naively refuses the plaudits, ex- plaining, "That's Just a sample, and we're not allowed to charge for samples, you know." Following another piano numbed, the girl does a jazz solo, featuring a number of flashy "splits." A ballad is then pro- ductioned fittingly, leading into the cigar box violin specialty Shearer always featured. Miss Hamilton ac- companies on the harp. Shearer ex- plains to the customers that as a premium for the large order (ap- plause) he will do another number, which Is neatly topped off w^ith a piano roll effect by both on the piano. The act was spotted No. 2 at the Jeff, and is good for the groove in fast company, with ascending scal- ing in the intermediaries and small big time. Ahcl. "MAX" and "MORITZ- (3) Monk Specialty 12 Mint.; Ful| Stag* Central This turn has been something of a sensation abroad so far as animal acts go and particularly In England. It is presented by a personable Englishman in white riding togs. He announced that the chimpanzees were captured in Africa In 1920. That means the apes (3) are of ex- ceptional intelligence, their training period being probably less than a year. There ^re two men, also In white, who assist the trainer. The opening has the men and the monks entraining in a prop sedan, one of the animals "helping" steer the car. When they pile out an- other is on roller skates, but they are taken away from him and the trio of monks assemble at the table for an eating bit. All use the knife and fork. "Max", or It may have been "Moritz." dropped a piece of banana on the stage and speared it with his knife, thence to his mouth. That was a laugh. During the bit the bigger monk trotted off, stamped around back of the drop and when he ambled forth *^vas threatened with a spanking. The way he mo- tioned off with his hand was an- other laugh. One of the principal animal performers smoked a ciga- rette and puffed away as if he really enjoyed it. The same monk played cards with the trainer, for laughing purposes, too. The two larger monks doing a dance bit tickled the house. A box- ing bit was novel, though one of the scrappers refused to strike back. He seemed intent on hiding his "pan"—not unknown at Madi- son Square Garden. There were wire work and an orchestra bit, the latter having all three monks and an aid playing "musKj." Bike riding was used for the fini^. That is the stuff monks never tire of. One played the fiddle with one paw and foot, pedaling and steering with the oth«r set. The formation bike rid- ing looked the best of the routine. It had an assistant riding with two of the mon^s. "Max" and "Moritz" is the best animal act of its kind brought aver in many years. These monks play around more like good natured children than any noticed before. Some of the other trained monks worked as if in fear of a beating, but this trio appear to have been trained by kindness. Ibec. BILLY •SINGLE'* CLIFFORD Songs and Talk 15 Mins.; One (Special Drop) Palace, New Orleans New Orleans. Oct. 10. Billy "Single" Clifford returns to vaudeville after a lapse of sev- eral years. In the past he helped popularize the "ohappie" type. Now he is only reviving It for an encore bit. His present offering runs to the "school-room" locale, but is quite varied from the accepted act of the type. Upon the si^ecial drop used there Is a blackboard with matter explained humorously. Clifford as- sumes the role of teacher, advising the auditors they are to become his pupils. He employs a naive man- ner and method, coaxing and jolly- ing in such pleasantly solicitious mien that almost any gathering will readily acquiese in the thought of promoting merriment all 'round. At the Palace the act became a little party in its way with every- body helping to make it a success. Clifford became intimate without suggesting obtrusiveness, a charac- teristic of the old-time vaudevillian. but possessed by few of the young- er generation. In equipment he is much as he was in the former days, with the same poise, surety, deference and polite dignity that helped establish him as a standard in times agone. His present contribution is nicely framed, is studded with many laughs and requires ly playing for essential routining ..i ihe matter of appeal and elimination of the non-productive surplus. Bamuch HOWARD and LEWIS Songs and Talk ' One Fifth Avenue Two-man combination of straight and Yid comic, with slapstick and the very low comedy. Among the lot are a number of laugh-making remarks, while for the finish is a song. Qrobably suggested by the Gal- lagher and Shean number (since it is mentioned) thi|t gets the boys away very strong, but the song re- written to some extent would be stronger. The slapstick Is lace slapping, good for laughs, with the straight singing well enough to pass. It's one of the many similar turns that now seem to be in demand, so there is no telling where it may go in the present time. In other days it would have gone into burlesque or on the small time, but the comedian may be strong enough to send this along, at least ovev the intermediate circuits, if not better. He's not a bad Yiddish comedian, and if some of the dialog Is his own, he has good ideas of comedy. The couple dress in sack suits and straw hats, but didft't smash the hats. Probably forgot about It. ,^ Bime, BROWNING and DAVIS Blackface 14 MiAs.; One American Roof Two men in cork, one a comic, the other seml-comio, offering cross- Are patter, some,old and some new, but all productive of consecutive laughs on the Roof. For a finish they offered a ballad with a verso on ex-President Wilson and another on the bonus. It registered with a bang, but it smacked of the kind applause meter and doesn't belong. And the tin whistle "bit." wherein the comedian plays the same air for several announced selections has been shelved long ago. likewise the encore for similar nature. The comic should dress with more taste and discard the dirty apparel now in use. Both men are good sales- men, tho comic a corking natural dialectician for his character. And the "feeder" is a good performer. They are too clever. In fact, to be identified with such a poorly con- structed vehicle, for, with some new material and a finlsli, they should qualify for better time. As they stand, they will "wow' them on the small lime, but they should aim higher. Wynn. KELLY and BOWER TWINS Singing and Dancing 14 Mins.; One American Roof Kelly appear^ to be a youth of 17 or thereabouts. Bower Twins about the same age or possibly somewhat younger. Three likeable kids of good appearance with girls having a cute way of warbling pop ^sonj:s, K<'lly jfl in knlcker cofttume flrfc.t and loiter in long trousers. Re- pertoiro along conventional lines with dancing of trio easily over- balancing vocal end. Kelly does bit of yodeling that scores. Girls' voices light but tuneful. Act shapes as acceptable No. 2 for pop houses, with possibilities M it goes along. - ^clL WEBER and RIDNOR Song and Dance 15 Mins.; One and Three (Special) Jefferson The combination is not new, but the routine looks new since last seen. Striking blue drapes In "one." depicting a castles-in-the-air effect part to "three." disclosing Weber and Ridnor in eccentric get-up. The couple represent the present-d^y idea of old-fashioned comedy tin- types. His hair is slicked down and he sports a grotesque fall evening dress get-up, which Includes yellow army shoes and ludicrously misfit dress clothes. The woman is In a tight-fitting costume that would would make anyone look horrid ex- cepting for undeniable facial charm which sets it off effectively. A com- edy dance number is executed in this get-up. A tough song and dance double to a "Saturday night" number was fol- lowed by a hard R\\pe dance by the man. She soloed with a neat Jazz solo and finished double with a neat whirling dance. Stepping Is the act's forte and. although neat ahd smooth, it would be Just another hoofing team were it not for the comedy dressing and navel selling. Tne team Is good for a spot m fast company. - Ahcl. -THE CURIO SHOP" (6) Dance Revue 15 Mins.; Full Stage . Special Set and Preps Fifth Ave. "The Curio Shop" Is a dancing revue of ordinary dimensions. Two specialty people register with a classical "adagio." then lead a "Dutch" number backed by three wooden shoed choristers. The "Dutch" number loses all atmo- sphere when ithe male does a Rus- sian routine before a windmill drop. A toe dance soloed sans elevation by one of the girls meant nothing. The dances are prologed into being by one of the cast in an old character. Sitting at the right of the stage In a box set representing the front of the "Curio Shop," he reminisces about different toys and dolls which he holds up to view. The drop divides, showing the orig- inals of the dolls. The opening dance was a minuet by two girls in Colonial costume. This was fol- lowed by a Japanese doll in a sym- bolical danc^. The acts will do for a fla.sh on the pop bills. For the big time houses it has too much to follow. A cou- ple'of vocalists might help. Con. KIYOSE NAKAE Jiu Jitsu 12 Mins.L Full Stage Colonial For an opening turn ,thls Is un- usually well conceived and done. Three Japs, who, in dinner clothes, do not look conspicuously husky, go Into three-cornered jiu Jitsu that is thrilling, as well as illuminating on the subject. Tho work is violent and breathlessly fast. Only one short announcement breaks a treadmill ro\itine of throws, falls, breaks and holds, and the strength, as well as tho skill, are notable. This makes a strong starter, and In smaller houses might be a feature If atmos- phere were provided. As it is the opening, in tho dark, leading to n burglary scene, promi.ses something that doesn't materialize. An artistically lighted street In Chinatown or something similar might, with the excellent action, turn this iiito something better and more valuaMe than a curtain-raiser. Loi(. JANS and WHALEN Comedy, Talk, Songs, Dancing 16 Mins.; One Fifth Ave. Two versatile young chaps open- ing as a straight singing duo with a pop song followed by crossfire. One affects "nut" delivery, getting laughs with a trick handshake made funny by repetition after each gag. Fly material well handled. The comedian sings a popular comedy number, giving it a nerv- ous delivery that proves effective. The comedian next plays "blues" on the uke, to which his partner jazz dances. The method of introducing this and the manner in which it is arranged Is exactly the same as created by Clayton and Edwards. A similar catch line repeated by the dancer is also used by Clayton and Edwards, recently reunited. A "flapper" number with song and crossfire hokum next. Travestied love-making, etc., let them away strongly. The boys are in for spots on the pop bills. They are versatile and should develop into two-a-day entertainers. Con. PIETROFF'S ANIMAL SHOW 11 Mins.; Full Stage Greeley Square Apparently a foreign turn, vUh a pony, dogs, cats, a white rat and a squirrel worked by man In riding togs. Shabby .in some of its ap- paratus and harmed by tiie constant feeding of the animals, but having some novelty. No showmanship In presenting the turn. The perform- ance is loose and ragged, with waits between IrJ' 'i'^ and no effort for briskness, a prime necessity for an act that ordinarily \ will be called uiton to close the show. Tho rat rides on a cat's back and the squir- rel climbs a rope In a race with two cats. Could be made into a valuable novelty, but neither is worked up. i ^ Bush. k . 4 - ^u. • t** ;>-.,..'r. .'I «b .. D. APOLLON (4). Russian Revue. ' 25 Mins. Two and Full Stage (All Special Drops). Jefferson. The billing is D. Apollon In "BI- Ba-r.o" and Is thus announced on the cards. Apollon is the expert baqjo player who attracted atten- tion in the Ford Sisters' dance revue. Apollon has now branched out in an act of his own. He Introduces his fevue by <wplaining the title as meaning, in Russian, "a little bit of everything and maybe nothing." Four people are in the act. Two girls, specialty dancers, Apollon and a male singer who maVes his ap- pear towards the ta'g end of the act. A number of striking miniature drops executed in a futuristic design reminiscent of the wobbly art work in the "Cnliagari" film are part of the act. It's a corking sight back- up. The first number is a Colonial dance number in appropriate cos- tuming, both girls winding up with the stage darkening ni^ disclosing radiana costumes. It didn't mean anything to the Jefferson customers. however, although the gown.'< r- ^-i^'y glowed like phosphorescence in the dark and were not really striking and flashy enough. Apollon introduces his banj^ specialty by explaining he is only two years over from Russia and in a couple more hopes to speak English as well as they will be able to converse in Russian. That sounds .like a line Nlkita Balieff is pulling in "Chauve Souris" at the Century Roof, New York. The act is really a miniature "Chauve Souris" in development. One girl does a ballet dance num- ber, another an archer's dance. Apollon then appears in Spanish costume twanging a guitar, both girls entering in mantillas to fit the picture. One expected to find a girl popping out of the drop on a balcony to suit the serenade, but that did not materialize although it would fit in nicely. The male singer next appeazttd before a futuristic drop of two galleons sailing the turbulent seas, one of the vessels being labeled B. F. Keith's Palace, New York. A jazz dance by the girl followed. The closer is a straight Russian en.semble before a sort of forest drop with citadels in the background. • The singor sports typical Russian alfalfa on fhe chin and face, the girls are in gaudy Russian smock dresjfes on the order of the "Chauve Souris" costuming, and Apollon en- tors in native garo with an accor- dion. That is strong vodka prop- aganda all right and showed Apol- lon is game in taking a chance. It's an expensive production risk to try to sell that sort of thing to vaude- ville fans, but as he explained it in the curtain speech (following the fast hock dance which took them off strong) he had spent millions of rubles staging that scene. Al- though a million rubles equal a dol- lar, he is glad nevertheless, he said, to thinik he has a chance to get his Russian rubles back. It was a naive way of explaining it and really entertainiing which cannot be said for all curtain speechlets. The "hock" dance that closed was cork- ing floor stepping and showed about everything in that line of terpsi- chore. - The act runs too long and could and should stand the axe. It's strictly a class house offering al- though the fact it held the 14th streeters who demand their enter- tainment jazzed, is sulficlent to com- mend its general appeal. Aid. THE CHINA BLUE PLATE" (4) Miniature Operetta 90 Mins.; Two and Four (Special) Jefferson A novelly developed four-people musical skit produced by Milton Aborn. It Is saccharine with % touch of pathos that is an undeni- able combination. Opening in "two," Jimmy is peeved because his gal Siaa been stepping out with a Rolls-Royce speed boy who meets her at the shop 6:30 nights. The scene is laid in a chop suey inte- rior. Jimmy ordered "tea" from the waiter of an alcoholic percentage not approved by Volstead. The girl enters and explains that her John Is harmless; in fact^'haa just given her his key to the big Riverside drive house he owns. The chink waiter butts in here with the re- mark, "bouse ^sometimes have two keys." i^d after being refuse., an order for chop suey takes the Chi- nese blue plate in h! t hand for the story recital. He describes the story of the house across the Bridge of Lost Souls and it is depicted in flash back fashion. », - v . ;' The fit^ge ia darkened and tlie in- terest Is sustained during the scene switching with a striking stercoptl- fon effect of moonlight playing on the waters. Two crimson baby spots at either side of the footlight trench are also illuminated and. fac- ng the audience as they do, tend to blind the eye partially to any scene shifters' duties. The story of the Chi- nese, blue plate is then enacted, telling of the ricefleld worker who Is attracted by the wealthy man- darin'^ treasures as compared to the poor poet-singer's love. She ac- cepts the offer to cross the Bridge of Lost Souls and as the poet and a wayside sage listen without, .In- sinuatingly raucous laughter ema- nates from the mandarin's home. The girl emerges, sings a song and flops into the river. - > Her poet-love Jif does ditto and flash-back to the original chink eat- ing parlor. This time Rosie does not sniff disdainfully at Jimmie's offer of a chow mein meal and the act is ended by the chorus repeti- tion of the "China Moon*" song that is the theme number of the produc- tion. Three men and the girl (doing "Rosie") comprise the cast. Jlm- mie, the juvenile, doubles as the Chinese poet; the chink waiter as the sage and Rosie as the rice field worker. The mandarin "heavy" is not doubled and only introduced in the flash-back scene. The act topped the show at the Jefferson the last half of the week and was well received in the body of the bill. It looks set for the' trey groove Jn the bigger houses. Abel. I i t HARTLEY and PATTERSON "One Night." (Comedy) 17 Mins.; one and three, spl. Colonial Arthur Hartley is a young light comedian with appealing personality and a taking voice and style for ballads. Helen Patterson is a mys- tery-^sho isn't bad to look at. but her "acting" is so palpably bush- league it made a fair vehicle jumpy and counterfeit. There Is a drop in "one" with a cutout, a window. The girl enters as a burglar, masked, and Is sneak- ing through the window when the bachelor, all dressed up and stewed up, sneaks on, sees her limb, whistles and makes a grab for it, misses it as she crawls in, he goes through the door, and we see the Inside of what we just saw out- side. There Is a pretense at a plot, though the cross-fire is just gag- ging, and some of it woeful at that. Two authors are credited, J. Arnold and Kenneth Keith, probably to di- vide th^ responsibility. There are some laugh.s, and there would be others if the young woman had the faintest Idea of how to talk or take lines, and if she had any adapt- ability for spoken stage work at all. It comes to a get-together for no reason and they sing and do a little dance. It sounds like a former vaudeville skit with new principaKs. Miss Patterson, apparently, has had some practise as a dancer. If so. she should go into her dance early and keep on dancing. This way. Hartley hits a good spot with her in a sweet love song, and it looks hunky dory when he starts another, only to have his feminine partner "harmonize" in, only to prove again tluit she should danee. If Miss Patterson will do a little simple straight, mostly silent, the act will thrive better and tr.avel faster. This way. the only sugges- tion available is to cut it. In Its present shape it will get by on rub- ber heels for No. 3, the position it held here. X-o''- V «■