Variety (November 1922)

Friday, November 10, 1922 NEW ACTS THIS WEEK 10 BETTY MORGAN and Co, (1) Songs 10 Mint.; On% fifth Aynum - Betty* Morgan was formerly of Jim and Betty Morgan. Now she's a Bingle in "one" with a woman planiste, and a song cycle, con- spicuous for exclusive numbers that are corking speclmeats of the type of lyric writing that counts in vaudeville. Introductory for opening which says Miss Morgan would like to have a Jazz band, but best she can do Is planiste. "How a Sailor Can liove," another about a girl who worked in a 10-cent store and yearned to be a "Follies" chorister, and a couple of the ballad type make a well rounded repertoire. All of the songs are ejy>ertly de- livered. The planiste plays a poIoc- tion and helps out witl: a bit :,t harmony singing. Entertaining act. with spleiulid material. iJell. ROSE'3 ROYAL MIDGETS (28) 45 Mi.rs^ Full Stage T3pec al Set- ting) Empro30, Chicago Chioag-). Oct. 25. • Rose's Royal Midgets, whi h seems to b? a combination cf mid- get actd which are ao numerous in foreign cauntrlcs. is havin;? ita llrat Chfcago ihovviny: at the Kmpres.^ as an <::tr.i feature with Di.n Cole- man .<» Amer can Girls (bur enque). There ftro twcjnty-four m dg^»ts ami thrr-f people of natural size a;)- pearinj; in the act, and a l.?idor in thj i»i . The mldffct3 ar? perfecty formrd liltle folki». There i.» cna wee It ic^ woman whD r.ttracts a Kreal cl.^al of attention, and lyveral little fL'!!ov.-3 figure even .avo Im- portar.t y in ih? ertertainment than the larger midgets. Thia rppoara to be a combirwitlon of throe fore gn midgv^t ac s irom an a:i.':Tr:rr.ont at the c'.ose of the oftering. It is probably a combina- tion cf n rix little men ofporin?. a musical r.rt and an acrobatic trf>upe. The attendant is a tail fellow whoae size rmphaaizes the Hmallness cf the artist.^. In the acrobatic act a big fellow f.gures very Importantly, and a woman of average s'.ze is promi- nent. From a stardpoin'' of vaude- ville cn'crtainment it is to be re- gretted that these two normal sized folk musc appear in the exhibition, but the work accomplished by one little head balancer in head-to-head work with the big fellow Is so good it could hardly be eliminated. The woman assists in the tumbling. In which the little chaps do the aclual somersaulting. A musical act (brass, dnims. xylophonea and chimes), in which eight midgets flgare. runs too long, as is the acrobatic act. A magician does some interesting tricks, assisted by a midget comic. A little clown acrobat also provides comedy. One little woman does some excellent work on a rolling globe, going through hoops balanced on the tee- ter-board. Rose's Royal Midgets came from Europe to Toronto for a fair en- gagement, then went to Omaha, from there to Pantages, at Mem- phis, where the act Is said to have done record business. After that the offering was a feature at the Texas State fair at Dallas. It Is said the Greenwich Village Follies had an option on the act, which ex- pired October 16. The Empress is reported paying $2,500 for the turn. The act runs 45 minutes, and Includes two or three special set«. The midgets can be made a great feature. Loop. MAUDE FEALY with Milton Byron "The Answered Question" (Playlet) 20 Mine.; One and Full Stage (Seven Scenes; Special Drops) Palace, Newark Newark, N. J., Nov. 8. Although no credit is given. Miss Fealy wrote this fanta.sy herself. It tells a pleasing story with much sentimental appeal. It is produced an;l enacted in good taste. Miss Fealy and Byron enter in "one" as an actress and actor nerv- ously anticipating a first night. He a.sks her to marry him, but fthc insists upon waiting until after the performance. In full stage the play begins in 1870 with the two as boy and girl. He awkwardly makes his first avowal, but is interrupted. In 1880 he finds her again, and once more propo.'es, only to find that .'^he has married an Englishman. We .see her next ten years later as a world-weary duchesswho gets only a faint thrill from his~1ove. In 1920. as a loney old woman, she has real- ized at last what love is. but too late, for as he makes his last pro- pocal, .she dies without being able to anj'.vcr. Two years later the old lover appear.5. broken down, hope- less and di.'<ilIusioned. To him. however, comes th? spirit cf his lost love, who gently leads him over the thre-^^ld of death to eUr.nr.l happi- ness. I; BacT: In one again corr.e the aclor and r.ctrcs* flurhed v.-.th the >u:- ceaa^ of their performance. He :\San prerncr? his quration. but f-"hr> nttcn^pt.^ to put bin cff. Crjlng that he v.'.3n t v.-alt fifty year.-, ho in.ist:; upon and receives a favor- able reply. Th? pry gives oppcrtuniries fcr a v/ido ran^fo of ch.iracterlz-U'ons all of v.'hich r.re v.cll c'.orie. Mi.cr Kea'y r. J the tired old dL;c\c£:? v.r.5 i:nrcrp"cltablc. • WILLIAM GREW and GWENDO- LYN PATES Comedy Talking 16 Mins.; Two 23d St. A cro.<ising fire conver.s.Uional pa^r that manage to get a number of laughH. Mi.ss Pates at the opening dresses her flaming red hair severely and is atlired likewise. The arrival of Gnnv. in a state of intoxication starts her tirade, and .she givo.s the impression that she is wound ut) for thr> evening. Grew oountor.s with acid retf>rt and the two battle to the state whore the wife finally walk.s out on liim. In her .iliseneo the phone rin;?.s .nnd the mforrjiation i.s Imparted that mother-in-liw ha.^ been pinched for beating ui» a cop, and then Mi.-s Pate.s re'urn.": in •1 charminv; litiJo evening ^jown. with her hair nuffod. and the two reach ^ hnppy understaiulitit? before the fini.sh, 5^he t.ilk prineipally i.s tb- sure- fl p o s tu f f that hns^ trmrr ii . 'tetl b e f ore In the matrimonial quarrel .stakes, but it i.s still good Tliere nre niomonl.s in the earlier portion of the act wliero Miss Pates give.s the Impres.sion she must have either Worked nt some time or other with ^r watched the Ardell "Surferagette" Act. Fred. MADDERN and WARD "Msk.ng Movies" 1 30 Mir.'j.: Full Ctago \: Fifty-eighth Street The act has played cctensivcly in the West, and has earned the* repu- tation of a business getter The ap- pearance en the Fifty-eighth Street late last week made it evident that it does draw. By 8 o'clock they were stand ng two deep behind the orchestra rail and every seat was taken. They were selling o;;ly ad- missitns out.side. The .'^ct it.'^elf Is a dingy affair. The stage is set with the/back of flat.s. To one side there is a rough bar to give atmosphere oJ mining camp saloon. A score of ama- teurs, recruited by announcement to the audience the previous week, stand about. A lecturer goes over his speech that a scene of a film drama will be shot, the actor^ be- ing volunteers. The picture will be shown the following week. As a pre- liminary half a dozen Klieg lights are turned on the audience and a camera man grinds a hundred feet or so of the audience, which also is promised as an exhibition the fol- lowing week. * ;. Then they rehearse a scene be- tween a Western cow girl, a bad man and a dance hall vamp and finally the scene is shot. At all times the score or so of extras dance about in couples. Several more brief scenes are rehearsed and then shot. No great amount of comedy is se- cured from the actions of the ama- teurs and It does seem that a regu- lar comedian might be rung in to work this up for laughs. With only volunteers working the comedy Is Indefinite. The whole thing Is crude, but It unquestionably does arouse local interest and brings people In. Rush, VERA GORDON and Co. (4) "America" (Playlet) ,» 22 Mine.; Full Stage (Special Set) Palace, Newark Newark. N. J., Nov. 8. This dramatic sketch by Edgar Allan Woolf is a smash. How much is due to the extraordinary acting of the picture star and how much to the author would be hard to say, but both are at their very best. The scene is laid In the Kills Island Immigration Office, where a society woman Is making a plea for a Jewish immigrant who Is to be deported, as there Is no one to sup- port her. The official in charRC finally admits the immigrant and she comes in. baggage and all. The re.st of the .sketch is taken up chiefly by her varied appeals tj he allowed to enter and find her son, whom she has not seen for years. As played by Mi.'s Cordon this scene is a veritable tour de force. She runs through all the emotions, and car- ries her hearers with her spellbound. Against her the part of the clficial seems a bit wooden and mechanical at times', but perhaps this was inev- itable. At last, with the official re- maining obdurate, the society womao brings in the missing son, whom she has found. Here punch follows punch, for the son baa lost his cye- .sight in his country's service. This his mother, overcome with joy nt the icunion, does not notice, and wb.cn f he doc'^ observe his loss she breaks down in a scene that leaver- Cc-.v Cvy oycr^ in the audience. After this outburst the recovers hcrnc-lf and re;iclics her highest point emo- t:o;ially in a surge of pride over her hey".- sacrifice for his country. The .^ketch has a few toucher, of ho'.ium., but most of* It is eincerc. honcf t-to-goodnets heart rtuff. The ft.'>r'. Eut port is not altogether per- fect, but her superb acting more than atones fjr any Buch slight de.lcicncies. To praise her work at length ferms futile; one would rather .^ay ihat she is a very fine aclres'. Before a cold Mondiy afternoon audience the play was a l;no:l:out. LEE and BEERS Juvenile''Singing and Dancing 12 Mins.; One American Boy and girl open arguing with imaginary electrician .about ar- rangement of lights. They fall to their knees for a hymn parody punctuated with the tag line "Amen." powdered wilii a few re- leased gags. A tough number by the girl in short skirts follows. "All for the I..ove of Mike." a well-done waltz clog. He Is back for "Ha Ha Ha" a la lOddio Cantor and a Rood .«:oft .shoe eccentric dance. "(live Me Ba<'k," a song, is doubleil with pat- tor .'ind cro.'^sflre topped off by a double I'ccentric dance well Ijainred. l-'ast buck stf'ps conclude. The kids .ii*e clever without precocious- nr . ^w . — Th ey hn ve b»g ftnve-p«>*^' ities which .should be realized when they are properly outfitted with material. The boy hius a pleasing, inffratiatini; personality. I'olh nre clever .steppers and can handle vocalizing. It's a strong early spot- ter for thp pop bills in its present shape. Con. "HATS OFF" (6) Comedy 17 ft^ins.; Full Stage 55lh Street Roughest kind of low come(Jy .sketch framed for small-time au- diences of the most unsophisticated Ivind. Set tibows business office and dialog makes it plain it is a vaude- ville agent's establishment. Agent enters briskly, passing time of day with stenographer "Patsy" comedian applies for job as office boy. He is hired and in- structed that actors will apply for job&. When the agent raises his hat office boy is to throw out ap- plicant. Italian tenor asks for en- gagemejit and is told to give a sam- ple of hU work. Cue for solo, fair. Agent unintentionally lifts hat; of- fice boy starts to roughhouse, but Is recalled. "Didn't mean it this time," says agent. Identical business is repeated a dozen times. Doesn't mean a thing. "Ham" actor next tries and does recitation, accompanied by office boy's clowning. Next singing and dancing girl does her specialty. Dur- ing all this time office boy keeps up continuous mugging and clowning of crudest kind. The only thing in the sketch that had any excuse was the singing and dancing girl, who occupied four minutes. The rest Is rubbish. Jiush. SPLENDID and PARTNER Roller Skating ' . 6 Mine.; Full Stage - .' .. ,;' Fifth Avenue This turn Is presented In an odd manner, the skaters working entire- ly upon a table, which is of circular construction and perhaps eight feet in circumference. Man and woman form the turn. The man Is the strength In the exhibition. His graceful evolution in and out of slender vases was pretty, while some "hock" stepping looked difficult. Several of the double stunts were not easy of ac- complishment either, A neck swing for the finale drew a hand and the limited space permitted for the Hkatii;g held attention at .all times. The act is a novelty and fits well for opening. Ibcr. CHESTER and HANLEY Bicycling and Dancing 9 Mins.; Full Stage ~M;in and woman who ot>^n with some acrobatic feats and alnio.st immediately switch to a bicycling routine. Thp woman offers several dancing bits which permits the man to make a change. The act Is neatly dressed and Wf'Il framed for the pop houses. rrcd. IRVING EDWARDS Talk, Songs, Dance \: 15 Mins.; One American This y^ungyter seems to have all the requirements of a good "single." Including personality, ability, voice and nimble legs, but lacks the Im- portant essential, material. liis present collection o' quips lacks the punch, not a laugh resulting from bis rather lengthy raonolog, the periodical singing efforts being the sole relief from an otherwise quiet session. And Edwards, barring his closing number, could improve the vocal division. The alphabetical song lo a bit novel tut brought no returns, nor did his opening song. His dince will stand the acid t«»st anywhere » a..d Kdwards, with a good routine, should register, for his delivery is likable, his personality is magnetic and he looks promising in every other angle. His American show- ing should not discourage him, or he will eventually make the grade. What he needs Is proper guidance, a new routine of Calk *and .longs and a little patience. IVi/ini. ZUTHUS (2) Juggling, Wire 10 Mins.; Three - ■• ^ Locw's State Zuthu.«, work in:; as a "stooge* in evening dreys, is assisted by a girl doing maid. The drunk stuff is introduced Ui^ a number of reclining props spring f»om the floor into an upright piano, a settee, chairs, table, etc. It makes for a weird effect coupled with Zuthus' souse reeling. A snatch of juggling fo'lows, topped off with some corking wire work. No balancing pole is employed, Zuthus being perfectly at home aloft. A wide arc swing in pendu- lum fashion concludes the routine na.«:hlly. Zuthus is a novelty opener for any bill. He works with ussurunce and probably is not strictly a "new act." Abel. ROSE BENNETT ^.* Ventriloquist ;.'^'* 10 Mins.; On« -:■'• ' /' ' 23d St. ■ ' Itose Bennett opens us a single, doing a number of the bl\ies variety. As she comi)lete8 she is called from off stage and informed that there la a boy there to see her. The boy proves to be the dummy for tho ventrlloquial portion of her offering. As a ventriloquist she proves a clever entertainer, although to those in front clo.se-up there is a percep- tible lip movement. The dummy, however. Is a clever mechanical ar- rangement, working cigarette .smok- ing and flicking of the ashes, as well as taking a handkerchief, wiping his nose and replacing the wiper. The offering is neat enough for an early spot on the small big time bills. . . rvcd. CHARLOTTE MEYERS Songs 12 Mins.; One ./.".:»■ ^^'.■' American "■■.,.••.•■'/.-'■ A pretty blonde with a great de- livery and voice for popular songs. Miss Meyers, opening the second half of the American Koof show, did exceptionally well. The opening is an introductory number, well con- structed and cleverly delivered. Miss Meyers wore a rhlnestoned wrap for thi^ ditty, discarding it later to reveal a beautiful light spangled gown. A popular number, a ballad, a coon song and a "blues" number made up her repertoire. The open«^ Ing song could be Improved. The ballad went very well, as did the closing song. This girl can handle a. popular number with the average and seems better than the average Loew "single" in her line of work. She could improve the routine in spots and might go after some good comedy numbers. She seems capa- ble of handling such a song to ad- vtantage. Miss Meyers makes a good specialty for the Loew circuit and will hold a spot on any of their pro*^ VERA BURT, SAXI HOLTS-> WORTH and BAND Songs and Jazz 19 Mins.; One (4); Full (15) Although Vera Burt Is billed ahead of Saxi Holtsworth. he is the act. The pair have a four-piece Jazz band. Holtsv/orth could either work with Vera Burt, alone or with the band, and the act world be just as big a hit as it is at preseiit with the six-people combination. Saxl, through his association In vaudeville with Roscoe Ails, has adapted a lot of the Ails manner- Isms. He has a world of assurance and a manner of putting over his playing and strutting that is effec- tive. At one time he tries for a little comedy with a kissing num- ber. This alone displays the fact that he Is lacking vocally, other- wise there would bo no holding tho boy. ,, •, Miss Burt opens with Holtsworth In the orchestra pit, ho climbing on •the stage after an Introductory bit. A number In "one" with a saxa- phone accompaniment gets by fairly well. Then into full stage for a mixed routine of playing and songs. Miss Burt falls to deliver vocally on the "My Man" number, but with the ordinary everyday variety of blues and Jazz stuff she Is strong enough for the small time. The band com- bination is about on a par with Miss Burt, which leaves Saxl as the sole outstanding figure as a big time possibility. For small time, however, the offering Is a good flash as It stands. > Fred. grams anc*. make good. Wynn. HENRY mnd MAYE and Co. (2) "A Ring Tangle" (Musical Skit) 17 Mins.; Full (Special) Jack Henry and Edith Mayo were last features of the George Choos act, "Two Little I'als." This is also a Choos act, book and lyrics by Darl MacBoyle and music by Walter Uosemont. Harry Myers and Estello McMeal, who appeared In the "pals" turn, ajo In support here. The act Is laid In a, gardr»n or arbor. Miss McMeal Is confiding to her maid, Juliet (Miss Maye). that she has been proposed to, but Is superstitious about accepting a first proposal. She encourages the baker's boy (Henry) to get mushy. Intending to evoke a proposal which she will reject and thus accept her beau (Myers) without any supersti- tious qualms. This leads Into ob- vious, though none the less pleas- ing, complications, Interspersed with specialties by tho featured players. Miss Moyr does her "Juliet of tho Kitchenette" song and dance, a re- mainder from "Two Little I'als." A ring changmg bit, remini.scent of tho "money changing" hok*-. ac- counts for tiie 'ring tanfrle" title The act Is compactly i.ro<hne(l and Fhould d(j nicely In tiie trey 0!i the better bills. J.lcl. 8AILA BROS. ^ Gymnasts 7 Mins.; Full Stage '■^ *= - Two men enter in guise of tour- ist and porter carrying luggage. Por- ter is in comedy getup. They go into a few hand-to-hand and head* to-head feats, smoothly and easily done. Understander does few Jug- gling tricks with hat, gloves and boutonniere, while comedian does tricks with a sailor's hat. using It like a hoop. Comedian scoots abross stage on a "pongo stick.'* -* Understander h.'^ half a minutii on the Roman rli^s: top mounter follows with like display, showing remarkable strength feats. For the finish they have a succession of oddities. Brief business of quarrel and top mounter leaps at under- stander, planting one foot in his midriff, hooking the other around his' neck and In this queer position squaring off to flght. Understander juggles lighter partner with light- ning speed under his arms, around his shoulders, over his back and under his legs In astonishing man- ner for a great novelty getaway. They don't say a word or try for hoke comedy from start to finish. Used the full stage here, but could Just as well work in "one." Neat dumb novelty; great for opening anybody's bill. Ru^h. LIND and STARR . Songs 16 Mins.; One Two girls whose forte Is harmony. Garbed in light, attractive costumes, they proceed through the stereo- typed form of double singing spe- cialty, alternating with solos after a pair of duets and closing with a melod}^ of operatic and ballad melo- dies. They encored with a light Dixie ballad, which would have been better used as the finish proper, dropping the medley. Both girls look good, sing musically and har- monize perfectly. Tho diction of both deserves mention. It's a nice, classy "sister" act for the small timo, deserving of a bet- ter spot than No, 2, where It passed safely at the Roof. 1Vi/nn. RING and NORVAL Comedy Skit 11 Mins.; Full A man and woman combln I'.lon offering a skit based on tha usual quarreling man and wif«^ Tii« ma usu if«^ T offering is crudely constructed and small tlmey. Probably it is entitled "I Wouldn't Be Surprised," as that expression occurs at least a half dozen time.«< in the course of the act. The couple walk In after a lantnnr slide Introduction which Informs tho audience In verse that they have Just been married and with a son|? start to battle. It.is battle all th« way to the finish with a few laughs. The act. can be built up from the present ground work and eventually It rnigl t do. . rrrd.