Variety (December 1922)

Friday, December 15, 1922 NEW SHOWS THIS WEEK rvr^ x. 21 arc QAR0NE8S OE HOLLUB and Hm* 8ongs 12 Mine; One (Special Drop) Palace. Baronesa De Hollub was the for- mer Harriett Lorraine, appearlngr in r vaudeville in both names and that ^ of Lorraine now carried in paren- thesia. The Baroneas'a "sheik" is jiot glv^n pergonal billing:. Attired In the dresa of an Eaat Indian of hlgrh caste he walked down the cen- ter aisle remaining there through- out the act. He warbled while the Baronesa changed and when ahe sang, marked time with the orches- tra, the leader however directing as usual. The "aheik'a" opening number was descriptive of the many typea * of women he had captured in his far off "Araby". He promised to show them which was a bit mis- leading since the Barone.-s jvas the only gal in sight. Her first num- , ber was in the costume of the <,;ainsb6*-ouKh girl and the number was simihirly worded. She changed to an alluring frock of black for one number and then to white for another. For the last numbei^ the Barones.^ and the "sheik' joined. . His individual effort during one change was meritable and won son;o thing. The B:iroAe8s was Im guod voice and sh<» did well in tht number two spot. She should be assigned a •better position on less weighty bills. ' Ibee- WALDRON and, WATSON Comec'y 12 M ns.; Ona ; 23rd street. .,._..,.• ''.'/ •'.".„■ x ■' Two men. One In overall;', as •'pr9ps" open with special song. Partner in ' boob'" make up arfd out- tit entrances carrying clarinet. He Is anxiou.«j to rehearse, Prop.-t orders street drop taken up the act going to two. Boob tells props he is a beginner and will wel- come any suggestions. He starts to aing a song. Props with back turned is ordering fly man to manipulate drop. Singer thinks he is being coached and shrieks top notes as props shouts to fly man "higher •. 'left" etc. This Is a funny bit and well handled, A double song next,.followed by a song and clarinet number, props playing, the latter then ja« danc- ing. A solo acrobatic eccentric Is followed by "Boob's" song "When Mary Anna Plays Piano" with props In "dame" attire playing the piano. They double a dan^^e travesty fol- lowing. Following an unfunny announce- ment aimed at comedy, props In ballet skirts does a tight rope walkr ing travesty on the bare floor that somewhat resembles Nick Altrock's antics on the big league foul lines. The pair are small time at pres- ent, but should develop. They are attempting too much in order to appear versatile. The "dame" bit lacked punch. If kept in a wig and facial make up will help. The tight rope stunt was funny In spots and sagged tn others. The "boob" lacks personality and experience. Work will smooth them out to a good amall time team. Con. JULES BLACK and CO. (7) "Schooldays'" 20 Mins.; Full Stage , 68th St. Comedy in the schoolroom dates back many years, has been good vaudeville property, and apparently Is. Black, who Is not remembered or Identified with the others, but with the main as.slstance of the Yiddish 'boy' has all the "hoke" tricks, his chief prop being a rolled newspaper frequently applied. Black, a gen'^nnisly rounded person. Is the 8chooIma.^ter. The other pupil com«>(lian is a modified nance. There are thioe girts among the scholars for tho purposes of songs ami dances and two other youths. Blacks "Schooldays' (a title once u.'ied by (lus Edwarvis> is more along the linos of a "revue," the presence of tlie .i^irlp .'lidlng in that dirf>ction. Most of the laughs camo from the nonseii«e of the fat Yidelish chap, with tl.e nance stepping out for a minute to play a violin. Tlic girl.^- are youns and both witli their step- ping ixmi .>^o^g number.s provided a change of pnce. Tlio song feature \^ a boy tenor, and fof his seh-rtioii the Uid-lin-? wn' _ off, the boy working in a spot and easily witming the l>est applause o^ the bits. He e.irned on encore, ihfii retired i.» his desk in the roar. liW figuring f:ir.her in the routine. Thee was an eM.^enii)Ie flni.=ili. with F5! irk - reverr.p'l n'igf?ie a yell. That bir goe<5 for threo-a-day, for whicli th; act Is framed. It closed tiio show for the ;a.st half last week, lininc up as the strongest turn on the hill. Ibee. "LONSOME MANOR" COMEDY Frank Dixon and Co. (2) 18 Mins.| On«. (Spocial) 6th Ava. Paul Gerard Smith has turned out a comedy talking skit in "Lonesome Manor" that ranks head and shoul- ders above the general run of that style of act. It's a Pat Casey pro- duction department turn, with Frank Dixon playing a wise crack- ing Broadwaylte, who la but six years removed from Hillside, 111.; a girl in an ingenue role who hails from Kokomo, Ind., and a youth do- ing a typical Times Square news- boy, A Hpecial drop in one which shows the out of town newspaper stand at the north corner of Times building, backs up the action. A consistent plot tells of the Kokomo girl runnlng'away to New York, because of a scrap with her sweetheart, a Kokomo plumber, and the accidental meeting, with the Broadway hick (Mr. Dixon). There's fly dialog as atmospheric of Broad- way as the Times building Itself— slang really the Jargon of llic Main Stem of the Big Town, and action that holds from the opening to the tag line, the sort that convinces and as far removed from the con- ventional hick stuff as Sandy Hook is from the Golden Gate. The people handle it exactly as it should be. No overplaying, no ex- aggeration,, but character studies that would do credit to a Broadway play. Dixon's ox-small towner who has forsaken the buckwheat belt for Gotham is a lifelike type that ex- udes comedy and human interest. The ingenue and nev.sboy are adeptly Interpreted characters, also. Laughs abound, following each other with a precision and regular- ity that seldom happens except in "hoke" sketches. But this isn't hoke. it's legitimate light comedy and it's certain for any type of house, high or low brow. The Times square newstand adds a likable touch of atmosphere, and the skit has generally been pro- duced in high class way that befits the story and players. A conversa- tional song could be eliminated. It doesn't interfere but it isn't needed. The Fifth avenue laughed itself into a frenzy over the comedy slang lines and the turn went over like a house afire. "Lonesome Manor" is wel- come addition to vaudeville' all too small list of sure fire talking skits. "^ ■ '■ . ;. .■ Bel. PALACE "ROLLING ON" Comedy Sketch 20 Mins.; Threa (Special Drop) American. ", Four people are concerned, two young men and two girls. The act starts out as a vociferous talking turn, but goes to a likable finish in a series of songs and dances. A back drop indicates the Atlan- tic City boardwalk. Two young oien in flannels come on wheeling rolling chairs and go into conversa- tion, indicating they are broke by the persistent rolling of twelves In- stead of sevens. Talk is of financing eats. Two girls appear in sum- mery attire and are approached as chair customers. The give and take is boisterously done, the blonde girl having a par- ticularly trying delivery of lines. C!omedy business of the young men trying to get possession of the girls' v.rist bags for a frisk and both pairs of young people pretending they are wealthy. At the end it turns that they are all four of the Ilallroom family on a vacation. At this late moment they go Into fipveral songs and dances and the.'-e are the best Qf the routine. They vtrould have been great strengtheners earlier in the proceedings. The boys both have agreeable voices and all four can dance enough to get p.ist. More songs and stepping and less dialog is the answer. Ruth. RUTH HARVARD, WYNFRED and BRUCE Ring Act 10 Mins.: Full Stage 5th Ave. Man. woman and girl iti her teens. Man wears street clothes and woman ami girl are in tights. Wom- en make attractive appearance in ,i:hlelic costumes. Man in addition to r.'jgulation tricks, which he p«»rforms • X|iortl\, ha.« a thri!;er which lias iiim somerjauiting from rings whilt* r : T king —wi dt' —s wing ji— lu — u.*>i.i»ing Somersault takes him tri edge of footliglits, where webbins is located. It'.*i a breath taker and handily ^.xe- ,;jr<>.« Another trick by man was ■-'»nieisauifing in an- and eritchinK rings while switjgmg «leptii of s'age. 'iirl doe« wind up ai^l other iri«k:- well, (io^d.tidg act for any tim" Beil. Current show not posaessed of particular power, but in unfolding It covered « rather wlda entertain- ment ranga. Four acts out of the ten are back Into vaudeville from other flelds, for the time being any- how. Their appearances, extending from the legitimate stage to the circus, should, on form, mean a house advantage In the way of drawing power. There is Raymond Hitchcock from the revue field and the Duncan Sisters and Bernard Granville, too, from musical comedy, while Lilian Leitzel is whillng away the time between the big top season. Monday night's house was good, but not capacity, the boxes having plenty of empties. It is likely there will be a slight falling off in attendance this side of Christmas. Hitchcock was In much better form than when he tossed his tow head at the Palace last summer. Hltchy mentioned in his little en- core speech that "they told me I played here last summer, some time ih June, but this is really my first appearance. The other time I was unconscious." Hltchy Is a nat- ural comedian and a natural monol- ogist, but like others he is likely to bo dull at •times. At present he is speaking brightly enough for the material at hand. He started off chatting about the new Keith house in Cleveland (after disposing of the weather), saying it was an opera house that beats the world. Hftchy remarked he thought of checking out of his hotel while playing the house and living In the dressing room, it looked so good. That is something others who have seen the Cleveland beauty have said about it. Hitchj' claimed to be lonesome without a lot of girls around him. he being the Sheik's playmate, and mentioned one "Follies" gal with "bobbed hair.' Yet he did very well without the girls and it was with- out them that he did best in the "Follies." He kidded about the re- cent new show in I'hiladelphia. and hoped it was the last there for him. It gave him a good chance to ring in Bugs Baer's Confederate soldier gag. The finale section of his mon- clog was one "freedom." and the best laugh of the section was the observation that the only place in New York where one could posir tively not get a drink was in the five and ten-cent store. The show contained many girls and moat were blonde, or of that typ*', with but one pronounced bru- net. Fairest-haired of all were the Duncan Sisters, who are Jteeplng busy in vaudeville while Sam Har- ris is getting a new musical show rtady for them. They were eighth, just on after Hltchy, In their par- ticularly bright little way, the sis- tPi-s went through what appeared their entire routine, at least three numbers coming as encores and Kung to the tinkle of tho uke. They opened with the Chinese "Slngalou," with "Sunny Jim" and a balled, "Sometime," following. "Carolina in tire Morning" had a specially writ- ten verse. Of the new exclusive numbers, their "Baby Sister Blues" Is the best and is a peach for them. Miss Leitzel, the only woman featured with the Ringlings and Barnum and Bailey outfit last sea- son, opened intermission with her "aerial frolic." She worked on the webbing first and the rings after- ward, reversing the circua routine. Leltzel's stunts Impresses as im- bued with a sort of dynamic force, that atnrK>sphere supplied perhaps by the snap with which she works. There was no stint to the routine as in former appearances and she made GO revolutions In the final trick, winning a volume of applause. Bernard Granville (new acts) closed intermission. He is carrying four girls in tho present turn which has written numbers. "Stars of To- morrow" (new acts), which was third, has six girls, and though the two acts are dissimilar, the girl idea was not so much so and there was a bit too much of it. Jim McWilliams was on next to closing at the matinee, being switched to number four at night, exchanging places with \\'insor Mc- Kay. McWilliams went over for a hit in the evening peiformance. after he ob.served earlier that he was sure he didn't belong on the bill. In looking for the maker's name on the piano ho said he had to poor closelv, as the lettering was small — just like his billing out fr«)nt. The house liked the "Linger longer Lon" melody, though it had a nutty lyric ar\d ho used it for an audience bit for encore. McWilliams' grand opera bit at the i>iano really sent him across for the score. Winsor McKay's new cartoon turn is excellent and an amusing thing for children. That it wa.s equall>' elYectlvo for i?rown-nps was proven \.y its ability to .st.and up iri the Lite spot, the ar*i«t appearing nf five minutes to el- ven. lie entered with ,1 bull whip.' which he cracked in "making" his funny anim.'ils go tlirough their paces on the « ie<'n .McKay sa <1 he h.'id dr.'ivvn 1«»,000 r a <'< *K tH^ <»f 4 b*' riuimaU wbiLii_iici:ia_ e:;ist<-d. but just tli»' sjime wouk' JH rlortn their line of stunts. Si.\ .McKay creations are shown sqtiat- ting on little stands. He calls each oT'.e b;,- n:inii' and cr;tcks the whip to m'ike 'em beha\e. The turn I« alon«,' tlv same lines as his former "CJer- tie," but is better becau.se all th» .McKay conceptions are in action The Baronej^s I>e Hollub (nea H' ts) was on secoitd to elTect. Will:- Schenck and Co. returned to make a clever opening for the Palace. The girl topmounter is a wonder. Her upside-down feats while head to head with Schenck and other demonstratlbns of her exceptional ability forced all eyes on her work. The tinalo trick would do credit to the best of equilibrists. Bostock's "Biding School," with Lillian Dc Leon was the closer. The spot called for an 11:'JO exit curtain, but the turn supplied late laughter and held a good percentage of the house. I bet. COLONIAL Again Ruth Roye and a band turn are on the same bill, this time Lopez's. Last week «% -the Alham- bra it was the Ben Bernie Jazzers. Whether by design or caincldonce this week the songstress also did an Impromptu number to the band's ac- companiment. She was spotted No. 4, next to closing the first half. Lopez was second after intermis- sion. It's Anniversary Week at the Colonial. The nine-act bill Is built for comedy and accomplishes Its purpose to the fullest. Minus the Lopez and Roye "names" the sup- port was a toppy aggregation of standard big time turns. Van Horn and' Inez opened with some dizzy roller skating whirls, winding up with a whirlwind swivel neck spin, the act's trade-mark. McF'arlan and Palace twiced with pop harmonies that clicked. The team built up the tmllad splendidly and were accord- ingly acknowledged. The Old Vaudevilllans. No. 3, were formerly known as "Veterans of Variety" before they broke away from the I-.eroy Rice management. The eight old timers dished up a variegated routine of variety and were honestly entertaining minus the usual a. k. appeal. Eddie Cirard almost tied it up with his specialty, .Annie Hart's low comedy antkr^ col- oring the act in that direction. The business with the beer barrel for the getaway was effective, although a couple of bends overdone. Ruth.Roye, the syncopating come- dienne, aptly illustrated wherein her unique hnd extraordinary abilities to entertain were hidden. It revolves about personality that approaches genuine histrionic ability in the in- terpretation of the various lights and shades of the lyric meanings. If Miss Roye can take that "Lovin' Sam" ditty, a blues that has prob- ably been heard at least once on a Colonial bill for the last few weeks, and get all she does out of lines that are doubtlessly familiar gener- ally, her unusual knack of delivery is solely accountable. She was the first to earn the w. k. concerted "Colonial clap." Toto and Co. (New Acts). "Fables" was* elided Monday be- cause of the late hour. Shaw and Lee reopened with their nut-hoke comedy. They proved bright enter- tainers of the type that appeals to .almost any audience from big time down. Lopez did over 20 minutes and begged off. The routine is prac- tically the same with a couple of new numbers. The "I.rfidy of the Lake" was handsomely staged with the scenic back-up and will be sure- fire several months from now. However, the other scenic effect with the railroad train should be hitched up to a newer number than the one rendered. For local con- sumption the song is passe, and since Lopez must needs stay within the metropolis because of the hotel dates a change would be advisable. The "(Gallagher and Shean" number with the mammoth and baby saxes still is sure-flre for the encore get- away. Bill Hamilton, the first sax- ophonist, hints of possibilities along comedy lines which should be de- veloped as far as possible. Al and Fanny Steadman were spotted next-to-closing with the hybrid piano-comedy routine. The Steadmans (brother and sister) flit from bit to bit in an interesting fashion that diverts and entertains accordingly. The lOarles. with their "Spider's Web" acrobatic routine, clo.<-ed and held them fairly con- sidering the eleventh hour starting. Abel. ,^iitiUAL»i<btti^k-.^J .J^^i:.ii^:' ■•M. BROADWAY The show starts late and runs late. The Roma Duo get on at about 9 o'( lock for the last show, and Paul Hill and company ring down at 10.CO o'clock. This is about 20 min- utes behirid the customary Broad- way schedule, due to '"The Pride of I'jilomar," a long feature, followed by an .\esop. It Isn't an unusually strong bill. Patricola headlines and, as al- ways, mops up. Speed as well as talent and personality symbolizes tho success of this C'bicaj?o girl, who is as strong a single ns vaudeville boasts these days. There Is a zip about her routine that starts in high and never stutters. Kven her bows are quick, snappy, nifty and brief. H]\-- stood alone on thi« program. Shirley Kellogg and company i \'c' . v — \vlsi went for the "class" of the show. The world will tell >o.i the rest wa« homely enough .tnd i'Utrf to the ground. Ther« wa.sn't I'lJlhcr l<U4(:h of feminine daintlnes; oi- anything beyoiid hard-working »io:> vaudeville in sight. lOvery other •>.<»n\an on the bill was either a lew o.^1ic or the foil for One Tho Romas opened In the dark v.Iiich may have been meant to b*- ni' steriou-'i buL was urily invisible. This could Advantageously be dir- pensed wlth^nothlng like lights in vaudeville; people want to see what they are seeing. When the "show- manship" la over It turns into a good act, man and woman of good appearance doing "dry " skating and Russian dancing; went well. Allen and Canfield followed. The girl has an excellent voice for comedy and other favorable comedy points. The man is a quavering tenor, heavy on tho tremolo. The laughs worked an<l the fast uke and double singing finish carried them off O. K. Willie Solar went for a hiughlng hit and didn't press his welcome. ... Mis makeup had him across before he opened his lips and after that hit* parodies and character ditties run on ball bearings to a very decent success. Homer Miles and his com- pany in a somewhat obvious sketch with some fleet lines and a very creditable production, survived on Miles' whimsical delivery of his lines as a Janitor, a character that couldn't miaa 'with tho Broadway outfit. And when he biffed the de- tective and saved the Southern girl who had come to New York after .;:, her folka had lost their money in Leesvllle—well! The sketch needs a tag, and when It gets it. It can play ten years. Paul HIU and company closed. Hill Is an eccentric of the awry false mustache type, assisted by a rough-and-tumble female Imperson- ator and a carefully marcelled blonde incidental lady. The ma- terial is from everywhere and from almost everybody. It bears remin- iscent strains of Duffy and Sweeney. Collins and Hart. Miller and Mack, Clark and Hamilton and Joe Miller. There are a good many laughs, but it seems that It takes considerable business to get at each. One trying baby bit while Hill was lampooning a weeping ballad appeared dragged In and dragged out. Some of the tumbling is corking. The near- Imitatlona are terrible. The routine could stand a lot of cutting and profit by It In Inverse ratio. Lait. ALHAMBRA A sloppy Monday night outdoors and the beginning of the pre-Christ- mas slump combined to slightly dent the attendance at the Alhambra. even though Irene Franklin and George LeMaire In their respective offerings topped the billing outside of the house, and In addition L^wIk and Dody, Joseph Browning and Jane Connelly were all given a place In the lights. The house was about two-thirds filled with an audience that was quite unresponsive during the early part of the show. The first three acts Just about showed and that was all aa far as rousing any enthusiasm among those hi front was concernred. Then for the final two acts of the first part there was some appreciation. After Intermission section held thren comedy turns, one after the other, with men the principals in all of them. One of these acts could have been utilized to greater advantage ! in the first part of thckblH. Opening after the news weekly. Rich Hayes, with the comedy con- tortionist Juggling, got a slight ^ laugh in a couple of spots, and when he tried to repeat on the same bits of business the edge waa off. Rule and O'Brien, with their straight singing and piano turn, managed to get a slight ripple for their efforts. All told, the boya ran through six numbers. Jane Connelly and Co. In "Extrav- agant Wives," failed to rouse any ' undue hilarity until almost the fin- ish. The offering seemed naught * but talk and more talk, with the au- * dience failing to get a kick out of it. Perhaps a little "snapping up" on the part of the two principal ' players might speed It. Moore and Freed, with the novelty musical offering, brought the first stir from the audience, (jpenlnjc with the uke and steel guitar, with Z the slow curtain and the final expose of the two men In comedy makotip. was a laugh; then their blues with * the harmonica and the steel naw won a hand. The spoon bit and the comedy touch with the toy balloon at the finish sent the act away nicely. Miss Franklin, with Jerry Jarna- gin at the piano, closed the first part. She held the stage for 27 min- utes with the audience loathe to let her go. "Spotlight" was her open- ing offering, and with it the mirror cape was used effectively, followed with her commuter characterization in "I Want to Go Back" and next a "•kiddie" number. "I've Lost My Dog." There is no one that can do a "kid" any better than Miss Frank- lin, and she again proved it with this song. A "flapper" and her "Help, Help, Help," followed, after which the encores started. The first was her Chllds' waitress, not quite as effective as when it was don« with the costuming and other littl* character touches, but "Redhead" for the final touch was all that th» audience needed. Joe Browning walked on opening the second section after the "Top- ics* and pulled laugh after Iau£;h, dfdng a double encore and a bri«f ~ Mpfch at the finish. LeMaire and Co. in "At the I^entist" proved an- other comedy howl. One looks at the slight .Too Phillips and wondern how he can stand up under tH« knocking around he gefs 14 timtm % Next to closing, Lewis and D«>d/ •flello-od" their way through and repeated for encorea uatii 11 o'clav-i.