Variety (December 1922)

irri;'-.r«Tv-.»^ — r^S'-^t-^- ,_i ,', '. .'T*:' ■ '■." •■■■»"?, •^.4'^jvf *.»"A#.*.'.-' ".ta 1 90 NEW ACTS THIS WEEK Friday, December 15, 1922 s^ BERNARD GRANVILLE (4) R«vu* 26 Mint.; Full Stag* (Special set) Palace. Granville was lifted for n musical , show this season but likely got tired waiting for it. With him in the present turn which is along re- vue lines of an intimate type are "four girlies" who arc mostly con- cerned in warbling 6ut also con- tribute to the stepping section. They are Inez and Florence Court- ney (two sorrel tops), Kathleen Hichens and Kathleen Robinson. The glr:s in part worlt as sister *teanis, that going for the specialties entrusted them. By far the best worker and the longest on youth and appearance Is Inez Courtney, dressing in frocks but minus stock- ing or tisht.<'. She has two Rood reason.s. This Miss Courtney danced with Granville shortly after he entranced and she paired with him at the close with some pretty acrobatic work that sent the curtain down to good returns. At the oi)cning the aides entered girl by girl joining In a lyric that hJBul as its idea the whereabouts of -Bunny" (Granville). The Misses Kitchens and Robinson duetted with a semi-ballad called *My Buddy'. - The Courtncys changed to kid clothes to sing 'Who Wants a Red- head to be a Clinging Vine" and one as a parting shot warbed a^ >UJat was said about redheads was true. Granville's specialty dan e was preluded with a drunk lyric "I'm Sober" which cued Into his "stew ■tepping". A song number by all four girls followed, it turning off )nto a partial audience song. On Bunny's re«entrance, the gals 'taunted him with being able to do , nothing' but dance. He replied he could recite iind would do "The Vil- lage Blacksmith". He started but the girls weren't interested, one's loud comments about someone try- ing to sell her a "dirty dog" for $10 • leading up to comic complications In the poem. The bit was fairly well done and the possibilities of making it an exceptional laughing hit are there. >■ • : X Arthur Swanstrom supplied the lyrics, Carey Morgan the score and the staging was in the care of Bert French. The dressing was but fair. the girl's frocks not being a taste- ful selection. The new Granville turn is good entertainment however, and will •erve nicely for the balance of the season. Ihee. (2) TOTO and Co Clowning 15 Mins. One, Three, One (All Spe- cial) Colonial Toto Is a progressive clown- artist. He is - onstantly building and enhanfing his tdrn. The act starts with a few hundred feet of animated cartoons (film) with a clown performing the usual Impos- sible screen antics. The screen Is raised and discloses a special drop with water spouting irom the foun- tain; a copper smoking a cigar; tho painted nurse-gi 1 knitting, and the other characters mechanically ani- mated in one form or another. Toto enters in his familiar miniature "auto." Although one knows from past performances that the artistic clown not only is hidden in the two-by-four interior but that a live canine is also camouflaged some- heres within, the wondering In- t<?rest is sustained as ever as to how he can contract to that extent. His two assistants In coppers' uniforms enter to manhandle him f(»r comedy returns, Toto perform- ing some of his marvellous head bridging. To "three." A slide her- alds the presentation of Toto's French dolls. They are really life- size marionettes working before a black back-up. The effect is spooky and novel. . ' Toto reclining on the baby-size bed is still retained. A new bit with a shower has been added. A prop alcove which Toto enters has a sliding panel. The silhouette dis- closes the shedding of outer rai- ment. Toto exits from the shower alcove in Tux for a snappy dance. One of his as-sistants followed with a eorking hock number, he probably being the "Toots" who is pro- grammed in the support, Toto used only his red wig and passed up the mask as formerly. This "new exhibition In the art of clowning" (acts billing) is worthy of a body of the bill position. It closed intermission at the Colonial and was splendidly received. Ahel. > GU8 KING'S MELODY LAND (5) Musical 16 Mins.; Full Stage (Special Drapes) 23rd St. This appears to be a family act. It la a mixed qulnt«t of musicians, three men and tw^o wom'en. It may be mother, father and youngsters. The star of the turn is a boy who handles the piano unusually well, plays several brass instruments and leads the recitation of "The. Three Trees", origin.'Uly done over here by Tom MacNaughton and then copied by H#nry Santrey. A special or- chestration accompanies the recita- Uon. The rest of the act la rout!n«»d in double and single brass and piano duets with two ensembles of all brass running to popular selections. The kid is given p. bit too much to do. His forte is music not comedy although he handles his portions well considering his youth. The quintet are ail good musicians although sounding flat on two oc- casion.?. The act is a sure fire "flash" for the pop houses^ but lacks the novelty or finish for two a day bills. At this house they cleaned up In third position. The pantomime of the boy (count- ing bflttons) during the recitation Is objectionable and should be elim- inated. Con. HANK, MATILDA and HIRAM Roller Skating c • Mins.; Full Stage 68th St. All in rube makeup and on skates, the trio consisting of two men and a very stout woman. She must tip the scale pretty close to the 300- pound mark. * Nothing bej-ond the ordinary in the maneuvering of t!.o men on the ^ rollers, while the woman is simply ^used for comedy purposes. The act seems to be mostly one fall after ^nother until It becomes tiresome, to say the least. " The bit of the woman sticking her tongue out at the audience should be eliminated. It neither appeared well nor did It gain a laugh. Eight minutes Impressed as be- ing too long under present condi- ^tIons, and If not changed the con- sumed tln\e can stand cutting. Hkiff. KENNEDY and MASON 89ngs 14 Mins.; One \ Fifth Ave. A man in tux and a goodly sized brunette woman in a black velvet gown enter together. She takes the piano and without any stalling they go right into a ballad, double. And another. The woman has an excel- lent vaudeville soprano, which drowns the man's thin tenor, and at the end of each song she hits a series of high and quavering notes th.'\t are the goods. She accompanies the man while he sings an Irish song, not so forte, and departs. She ripes, which is a mistake, and proceeds with the or- chestra. She is far more effective at the piano, as she does not handle herself with easy grace at the foot- lights. However, her last notes get h«r over again, the man returns and they sing a semi-classic, leaving to fair applause. The woman has some valuable vaudeville assets worth a more ad- vant.igcous staging. Lacking in di- ^ect theatrical technique and appar- ently accustomed to lyceum or con- cert manners, she appears a trifle lost as to how to use her hands, her eyes and her shoulders, things far more telling in vaudeville than mere display of vocal talent. Her partner is weak all throufjh and never has an important moment. If she would remain at the piano until the encore, then do a single, with the man perhaps returning to harmonize in the last few bars, she would get along bettef and faster. Also, she should be led aside and advised that grey shoes are not worn with solid black formal gowns. Also, one light number would re- lieve the routine of unbroken som- ber song themes. As the turn is now constituted. It was where it belonged, No. 2 on a medium-time bill. Lait. SHIRLEY KELLOGQ and Co. (3) Songs and Talk 17 Mins., in Ona and Full Sfage (Special) Broadway Shirley Kellogg Is an American girl who went to London about nine years ago and was a sensation there as a beauty In the revues. She married Albert de Courville, the London producer. She had ap- peared in musical comedy on this side before her British plunge, and once in vaudeville, in 1912, without attracting much notice except through her extraordinary facial and physical attractions. Her voice was cultivated abroad and she now sings a high If metallic soprano, not always true but at times Im- pressive. She Is very presentable, gowns beautifully and fegisters thoroughly "hat across the foot- lights Is accepted as the patrician type. Her talents are not fairly pre- sented in the vehicle she showed here, a Jumble of illiterate lyrics and tawdry melodrama idc .s. She employs two men, both Incom- petent, to carry the plot. That plot in itself Is like a flea, jumping about and never landing. The rhymes In the lyrical portions are ludicrously amateurish. For the finish there is a pathetic drama that is far more sad than even the anonymous author ever foresaw. It seemed banal to handicap a personality like Miss Kellogg's, un- mistakable instantly and surviving even the drivel she s^ng and talked and acted, beneath a truckload of such literary muck. She could scarcely have missed a triumph had she confined herself to four songs before a house drop. As it was she confused the Issue by clumsy help and asinine material so that in- stead of a clean hit which she could so easily have commanded she has a product that needs apologizing for. When the audience thinks the act is over it is only getting started. A back drop must have been painted by Tommy Gray or some- one with a broad sense of humor, chough it aims at realism. How- ever, the drop might be forgiven. But the drama—and the acting! Not since "For Pity's Sake" has a more brutal piece of dramatic writ- ing been sold to an unsuspecting stranger. Even the common peo- ple, for whom It must )\ave been Intended, snickered. Al Woods wouldn't have stood for It In the days of "The Fatal Wedding." The curtain rings down on the three holdings hands. Miss Kellogg steps forth and gets reasonable ap- plause. She is now In a street frock after all the gorgeous clothes she has revealed, and is now a re- formed street-walker, after being a Cleopatra, a, Chinese goddess and other lovely things. Of course, the anti-climax is deadly. Aliss Kellogg will do well to throw away all her "assistance," and do a series of sane songs in the at- tractive costumes. Vaudeville will accept her heartily. In this vehicle, with its many absurtlltles, she will have hard sledding, needWssly car- rying tons of dead weight and prejudicing her natural assets in an apparent attempt to make her act important and impressive. She has a fascinating personality and tal- ent. If she can keep her songs keyed within an easy range and lilt through a few with appropriate changes she will find a welcome in the two-a-day over here, ' With her present incumbrances it is pre- carious, ^Jjait. WILSON and JEROME Talking and Dancing ' 14 Mins.; One American Two men in comedy routine, with Wilson going through the "nut" an- tics, and the straight man acrobatic dancing. The main asset revolves around the comedy falls, though the haphazard and oft-repeated and In- ter r u pted^recltatlons^galn^th^^ quotfC] ''~~' Jerome's stepping Is done on the level, minus any kidding. Thpre is nothing particularly recent concern- ing any part of the routine, but the boys "sell" It for appreciation. A matinee gathering at the Amer- ican ate It up, which would Indicate that rtiis duo toe the" mark for the Lu«xw houses. . , Skig. HAL and HAZEL LANGTON "Shopping" 15 Mins.; One (Special) 23d St ' , A special drop has Dr. I. Crown- em's shingle on one end and Skin- em's butcher shop on the other. Shrieking noises emanate from the teeth yanker's place. The dentist comes out with a brace-and-bit in his hand and Iv^oking upstairs re- marks that the new tenant's con- tinual battUng is spoiliag his busi- ness. The woman comes to view from the butcher store door. A prop chicken figures in the flirtation opening. She loses it. He finds it. He audibly admlre.s Its skin, swan- like neck, color, etc., to which the woman beams gratefully. The D. D. S. remarks he thinks he will take a bite of the chicken's leg. The Woman shrieks. That starts the cross-fire, rather bright, mixed up with three songs, all published but with new verses to fit the action The act name, "Shopping," sounds like one used by some other turn before them, but that m.ntters little. The couple have appearance r.nd a fair X sense of vaudeville values whicn they make the most of in their delivery. They were spotted No. 2 on a fast bill at the 23d St. and were roundly applauded. Abel. ROSE'S ROYAL MIDGETS (24) Singing* Dancing, Music, Acrobatic 63 Mins.; Special Drapas and Sets Loew's Metropolitan, Brooklyn. Ike Rose assembled this troupe of little foreign folk. The act holds 24 midgets composed of three dis- tinct groups, one singing and danc- ing, another made up of musicians and the third acrobats. Besides the midgets a full grown mam and a woman appear. "* The turn starts in "two" with all on for an ensemble singing num- ber. Evening dress for this. Nine of the midgets are women and 15 men. One of the women Lucy Wil- liams, is about the tiniest creature and incidentally the cutest seen. She measures about 19 inches. Her brother is about two Inches taller. The pair make a great team. Following the opening a male midget is on for a bjt of magic, with a brief routine of simple tricks. The one of turning water Into wine has another of the male midgets helping out In a comedy way. A burglar number next on full stage with nine male midgets equipped with lanterns and stepping softly about stage after fashion of Gus Edwards' old Jimmy Valentine song number. Two women midgets in double dance, sort of folk dance, with women clad in peasant cos- tumes, following. Eight midgets form brass band on full stage for next specialty, with tiny leader putting over some great triple tongue cornet soloing. Six men and two women in band. An all brass combination except two drums. Four xylophones and steel b.ars (chimes) two women and three men fpr encore of band bit. Xylophone stuff Is good, the four playing a standard overture and handling it very well. Male midget In spangled suit in violin specialty, interrupted by an- other midget as "august" sort of misfit clothes clown. Hand to hand acrobatic routine follows. Woman midget, full stage" on re- volving sphere on sea saw. Good balancing act. Two males In one. clad in high hats and dress suits, in double song aSid hard shoe dance.' Neat little steppers. Acrobatic t»oupe now gets full stage for regulation ground tum- bling j routine such as Continental acrobats have presented for years. Fast ground work, with grown man, six foot and 200 pounds or so, act- ing as understander for some un- usual head balancing by very small midget. This head to head ..tuff stands out. j Perch act in one. with big fellow a^ perch holder and midget atop pole. Single dancing bit by male midget, introducing son^e well done Jazz stepping. Minuet by six women afid six men, "prettily costumed and competently staged number. Band on for finish. The midgets when singing exhibit quaint Teutonic accent that would make any burlesque comic doing "Dutch". The troupe arrived over here in July. When it comes to talent the Rose troupe is there ihdivldually and col- lectively. Production Is lacking at present. By degrees the older style songs should be* eliminated and modern stuff substituted. The band also should get wise to the Amer- ican Jazz muted stuff, and 0rop the conventional tooting. The troupe win undoubtedly modernize rapidly as It goes along. IRlght now It's a great feature turn for the neighborhood houses, especially In regard to its appeal for women and children. Bell. CLARK and SHAW Songs 11 Mins.; Ona 58th St. Just a straight song routine. Some published numbers, others not. A medley, carrying appropriate tunes to the special lyric, closes. Both boys are in tuxedos, which do nicely for appearance, but the act, as It stands, needs more than that before it will be ready for successive engagements as an early spotter. The duo try for comedy, which mori or less gains recognition. It may rest entirely with the sort of audience confronted. Tuesday night the couple did well enough following the opener. Gestures of Iho two men appear actually amateurish at times and same might be corrected to nd- v.intnpe. A better choice in mate- rial should also be of assistance. As showing now, the act has the ♦ndelible stamp of the small house early position, which may or may not prove satisfactory In the as- signment. . Skiff. "STARS OF THE FUTURE" (5) Revue 27 Mina.| Two and On« : ii Palace. ',; ■ . ■/•':* The idea of "Stars of the Fu'luio" is the contrast with "Stars of Yes- terday" which act like the present was produced and written by MIU ton Hockey and Howard J. Green. It la quite an established fact that the players in the "^Yesterday " act were vaudeville names ofliast gen* erations, stars in their field. Any- one who can pluck choristers from the choruses of current attractfons and say they will be the stars of tomorrow, will gain fame and for- tune. Perhaps the producers did not Intend to convey the impres- sion they possessed such perception but just to supply the contrast and In so doing evolve a bit of enter- tainment. That much they have done and the turn brightly titled. Five of the six girls Is given a specialty, the sextette singing the opening lyric from slots in the cur- tain. That was after a legend was visible on the pages of a large book, to the effect that girls of the chorus if given a chance might often be- come stars and there was a list of famous stage women, who It ia claimed rose from the chorus rank?^. The lyric had it that the girls could do as well as the stars even though the directors don't believe It. The "stars of the future" should not take that too seriously. Though they are nice enough girls, the pres- ent stars have nothing to worry about. The scene in t^o showed each girl in her dressing roont; with dialogue bits affording a change of pace from the specialties, for which a curtain ip dropped. On either side of the stage slgnrf appeared giving each girl's name as the spe- cialty was given and the show from which she came. Helen Schroeder was "discovered" In the '"Follies". She appeared in very short rompers and sung "How Would You Like to Be a Kid Again". Miss Schroeder is a good looker, in fact the best of the bunch with Joan Page out of "musical stock" and Betty Moore who came from the Marigold Garden. Chicago, the runners-up. The others will at- tract no flood of mash notes. Miss Moore had "Spanish Blues" which she sang very well and followed it with a lively dance. Pearl Hamil- ton, also a stepper. Is out of bur- lesque. She displayed special ability as a high kicker knd won a re- ward. The singing lead was Jessie Fordyco, claimed to have come from "The Gingham Girl" though the chorus of that show is virtually only a handful of clever dancers. Miss p-ordyce gave an Imitation of Belle Baker singing a Yiddish num- ber, then "Katie" In several dialects and a la grand opera. That drew a big hand. Miss Page had a dance specialty. Miss Fordyc» led the flnale number that-brought each girl out, fop another bit. There isn't hnuch chance that l)ro- duction managers will Tob "Stars of Yesterday" of any of Its complement but the turn serves its purpose as a flash girl act for big time. \ tbee. i * ■ WILLIAM RAND and CO. (3) Comedy Sketch ' 20 Mins.; One and Full Stags (Special) , . American. An Indifferent attempt to stage a talking sketch in the style of the old Howard and North combina- tion. Opens In "one" before a drop representing a stage entrance. Girl enters and goes into theatre after word or two to man In overalls as "property man'. Hick team of men comedians next, one wise guy and other boob. Wise guy talks about "knocking 'em dead ' In New York and the rest of the hick actor argot^ Decide to re-A hearse the act before they go in. Into routine of bum material. Into full stage, where recess at back has row of (ootlights. Girl does short routine of poor dance, followed by hick team which gets off stage Va.spberry. Wise guy tries to make a speech, but they ring •lown on them. Back to the street drop where they talk over being canned. Boob is broken hearted because he needed money to get his baby when his di- vorce case comes up. For the finish it develops that, they were not canned at all. It \^as the girl single who got the go-bye, and It turns out that she Is the boob's wife. Re- conciliation for the flnale curtain. The hick actors are fairly good characterizations, but the four peo- ple and the 20 minutes of running tJmo are scarcely justified for the amount of meat In the layout. The act has no specialty matter to give It substance, it becomes a rather heavy talking affairs before the flnleh. . , .' Rush. ,.,