Variety (December 1922)

:>-■}■ ■■/■^ 18 NEW SHOWS THIS WEEK -••1 Friday, December 22,U9?2 ;3j nc WALTER 8AYER and PARTNER Equitibritts 9 Mins.; Full Stag* Rivarsida Opening the show, two men were dlacovered on a pedestal in a Roman pose, clad in white tights. They then went into a lift in which the top mounter revealed that he was a contortionist. There followed a series of equilibristic maneuve ; into unusual positions, the feature thereof being the way the double- jointed man twisted and draped himself into odd poses. A feet-to- head stand was marred by too much preparing and a stall while putting a skull cap on the under- Btander. which was not necessary. Throughout the principal criticism found was that the men worked with deadly earnestness and tragic mien, as though either making their stunts too difficult for smooth effect or trying to convince the audience it was hard and dangerous. History has demonstrated that silent acts of this order step along faster wlien they show how simple' their feats are, rather than when they empha- size how they must tug and retch to make their climaxes. Otherwise this la a tiptop act of its sort. It is Just possible that with the contortionist element at leant one surprise com- edy kink could be injected. As It Is. the turn is entirely In the category of hard working stunt exhibits, and will remain where it is at least as long as it remains that Lait. PALACE ROLLAND and RAY Skit. 16 Mina.; One, Three and One (All Special) Broadway This standard combination has a new vehicle since last seen. It may be titled "Outside the Automat." the action opening before a drop of the popular eatery. The man had •*ma<fe" the cigar stand siren earlier In ^he day and Invited her to crash a meal. She is late, and mono- loguing impatiently that no woman can keep him waiting, taglines about eight or ten times, "Well, I'll give her Just one more minute." She finally shows up, formally dressed for dinner. He points to the Auto- mat. She stalls and the crossfire carries the tale and wins comedy returns. To "three," the Automat Interior. Two tables are shown. They are g.iudy with immaculate linen, a prop that would shock the Horn & Har- d.art people if they thought any of their chain restaurants gave such -prvice to ita patrons. Prop food is produ:*ed from some of the slots— the time is New Year's Eve and he has reserved a couple of slots, he says—and coftee flows from another groove. ; Back to "one." The tnan says that if she shows herself a good sport she can work herself up to Childs'. lie is off the swell Joints and ex- plain.s why. They exit with a deci- sion to eat at her house. The man is a glib worker and the wt^man feeds excellently. Ahel. VESTA WALLACE and Co. (3) S<rging, Dancing, Piano 17 Mins.; full stage (special drapes) 58th St. Vesta Wallace was formerly of Wallace and Drew. She is a per- sonable blonde and costumes nicely. A girl pianist and two male dancers are her support. The pianist has a piafio solo between two numbers and later on a vocal number with a double voice finish. It is a much too slow ballad. The piano solo ehould go out, the other specialty replacihg It. The two males do double eccen- tric and buck, both getting nice re- turns. They are clever steppers. Miss Wallace has a couple of double dances and one solo song and dance that pass. The specialists all make their entrances through a divided - allk drop hung in "five." The turn is framed conventionally and aside from the dancing of Mer- rill and Dugan is Just a conventional pop house dancing turn. Con, HOWLAND and DUNSMORE SIS- TERS Singing and Dancing 18 Mins.; Two (Special) 23d St. Sister team and singing Juvenile in routine of songs and dances backed by attractive scenic acces- ^aories. Rube number starts them, one of girls playing uke. Harmony with this. Wt of talk and then one of sisters does single. Trio har- mony well blended following, Man aolos ballad, lllustrattd by one of girls shown in panel one side of drop, and other girl plnyhr; piano other Bide, flood effect. Mor'j har- mony, with sisters d«^incr j:\zzy num- ber, the trio Jazzing it for flniwh. Girls have scvornl costume rhanffcs. r««>tli Bisters cute little ponies who i jii'i. ..■•.<■■. -. . ■. ■ ■••...• A generous allotment of standard, names KprinKled throughout a pro- gram that seems to represent a heavy payroll, shaped up as an average vaudeville schedule Monday night. No particularly evident signs of ex- citement were brought forth until about 11. Previous to that the housa. impressed as being in a receptive mood minus any incentive to become en;..aa.astic. Maybe it was due to the coM snap that was prevalent outdoor?, but a real kick behind the applause ;vas missing. The hesitant policy of leaving tlie name cards .stay at the conclusion of an act with the lights up sponsored tor many a bow supplemented by additional ap- |!lau.«e that could have been pa«sed up if speed in the running order had been desired. It resulted in an un- usually draggy evening's entertain- ' mout not generally on exhibition at this house. The show ran according tc* the printed sequence, with the Mosconl Brothe •«, next to closing, registering for the largest total during the even- ing. That goes for both volume and duration. Louis provided the wallop. tis usual; by means of his ground- covering specialty while working up to the finale, with the remaining trio supplying more action than had been gleaned during the previous two hours and a quarter. It was gravy for the family. A saxophone solo has been inserted into tlie routine, which may or may not be to advan- tage fco f.ir as the act is concerned. If there mu.st be a wait where this bit takes pl.nce It will have to sufTice. of course; but if not it's logical to presume that it could be passed up without any material loss of pres- tige. KIsie Janls. terminating the initial half and a quick return date, of- fered one or two new bits and en- countered little difficulty in carving a separate niche for herself. As always, a sweet performer, this girl. Previously Mliiler and Mack, No. 4, gained the first comedy honors. The boys did exceptionally well without the management's tardiness In giv- ing the following Act the gun which made necessary repeated bows that might possibly have become embar- raa«;ing. Mme! Bradna and her abbreviate! circus offering opened to a half- filled auditorium that evenlua.ly se- cured an abundant population, thougk revealing scattered vacan- cies downstairs and along the upper and lower boxes. Rule and O'Brien entertained with a quintet of songs, one of which was an encore, for pleasing results, followed by Hy- mack, presenting his lightning changes for approval. Ga.nlng in- terest as he continued, the two com- plete changes of costume at the finish took him off to an apprecia- tive reception. Frartkin and Jean Tell preceded Miss Janis. The former, an unques- tlonfible artist, was particularly well received in his violin playing. A most beautiful tone has* his Instru- ment, and tho three solo numbers were certainly tasteful and well ren- dered. Ml.«»s Tell, possessing a charming appearance, sang one mel- ody .' 'one before combining with the violinist. The couple later supplied with two demanded encores. Ten Eyck and Weily followed the interim which held the "Topics' film and then permitted the house to groan on the flashed title of the Aesop Fable release. It was merci- fully cut, with but Just the title showing. The dancers gave a cork- ing performance, supplemented with artistic settings and costuming while permitting their accompanists to specialize. One new wrinkle, in the instance of tho violin solo, was the addition of an organist, who aided materi.illy in the arrangement. The act is especially pleasing to tho eye, and its 22 minutes are espe- cially conducive to vaudeville. Trixle Friganza succeeded the dancers, and after a couple of songs enters upon a monolog that has to do with food as its general topic that may be termed humorous by some, btit nevertheless takes chancoi at times. Miss F'riganza coj>cIudcd well up in the running, thcrtce re- turning for a kid on the previous turns style of work, aided by Welly! who made a change of costume for the comedy episode. Mile. La Toy's Models closed up for the night. The bill was framed this week for names to offset Xmas. Skig. RIVERSIDE The approach and foyer of the Riverside are this week decorated with an enormous bell of pine and evergreen, a panel of Santa Glaus and his reindeer all the way over the main door and yuletide deckings that waft one In out of the cold outer drear Into a charitable and affable holly-day spirit. The house staff did the decorating of its own accord and initiative, and the eilect is timely and great. Business was pretty well up for the Monday before Christmas, and tho show was In keeping—not any- thing to get maudlin over, but u right g-'-! entertainment, with cuAnAtfA of pace and about evpr.\ standard ingredient of the expertly balanced two-a-day program. Chic Sale. th.Mt native artist whose gentle satire on the country schou! carry knickers extremely well. Mar nets away with his stuff satisfac- torily. I'leaslng No. 2 for small timers Bell la one of the foremost classics that vaudeville has contributed to our traditions of American-made com- edy, scored. If there la on$ sugges- tion that might not go amiss with the admirable Sale it is that he change his bits from time to time It sounds hard to ask him to take out any of his beloved moments. Bui even Lauder saw the wisdom of sub- stituting for his—every last one of them—new things in place of the immortals that he had made and that had made him. He runs them in as intermittent encores, and they are welcome. But it is doubtful whether Lauder could have continued year after year had he confined himself to "She's .My Daisy," "Roamln' in the Gloam- in'." "Saftest o' the Fam'ly" and "Stop Yer Ticklin', Jock." though each has been as gigantic a success as any numbers ever done in his- tory. Chic has his teacher, his boy. his girl and his old horn-blower. It would be a pity to lose any, but it would be a pleasure to see him try some new ones, at that. Ah far as his routine went—over tho old ground—it was masterly and rich. There were some added remarks in the teacher introduction, as good as any of it, showing that the man can't miss. Such a vaudeville dream as an entirely new act by Sale would be a sensational event. .* There was considerable interest In the bill that escaped the outsiders. The reappearance of the Curzon Sis- ters, looking as fresh and Juvenile and working as breezily and easily as ever at tho close of the program, meant to most of the seatholders only two well-put-up girls doing a showmanly iron-Jaw flying act around on a revolving apparatus pivoted from a tackle. It was to vaudeville followers who are senti- mental over such things the return of a name that almost a score of years ago was an outstanding va- riety card. The familiar old routine with the Loie Fuller finish recalled at least as early as 1905 with a twinge of not embarrassing mem- ory. The act is as pat and welcome today as It ever was and can step with any of its class—can and does. Jess Libonati, another veteran of the straight vaudeville school, who has hammered a consistent existence out of his xylophone for lo! these many seasons, w.-'s a contrast* Jess changes and embellishes his num- bers with every new quirk of topical and popular melody, and his snappy, never overdone manner gets him in, over and off in a way that com- mands applause and appreciation. A pipo organ imitation with the wool hammers is a novelty and the feature of his present stuff. Freda and Anthony caused a little pang in memory of the unfortunate late partner of Steve Freda. The new combination is nothing like it. and an effort to bang it into a hit with a Gallagher and Shean take-off at the end fizzled woefully. Without it the act had a chance to register as fair. The material is shabby, haphazard, wandering and never solidly there. Only the torturing of conventional English into burlesque Wop gets any recognition. Steve's guitar got over, but he bent to it with so much come-on in every ges- ture and expression that it in a measure defeated itself. Rita Gould, who used to caper about on tlve. Riverside stage some years back' and called it home, seemed almost a stranger. She has been absent from the ranks of the regulars. Her opening lifted a few eyelids. A big, unafraid, up-and-at- It damsel is Rita. She has no marked stage talent of any nature, but she has a lot of nerve and a string of songs that would outfit any kind of single from a coloratura soprano to a knockabout clown. She tries everything and shows almost everything. She went spottily. Madeline Collins, an earlier one- woman singer, did reasonably well (New Acts). American vaudeville is apparently not her forte. The tabasco Canslnos tore off the ap- plause sensation of the bill and, on sheer unmistakable merit that the eye and ear and most humble senses couldn't help grasping, deserved it. Tho sprightly Ellsa grows niftier and lighter every week, and her three stalwart brothers dance like madmen. The turn whizzes with speed, is attractively mounted, has character and class and legitimate dancing amusement. Wellington Cross, now become a parlor comedian in a one-actor, com- ported himself with sounder results and more gratifying effects titan ever he registered thro\fgh all tho years that he wabbled about with meaningless singles, made-to-order doubles, straight for Babe Ruth aVid his other straining efforts to get away from dancing, his natural work. Cross always could wear clothes and always did exude breed- ing. Ills seasons of wasted talk gave him poise, if nothing more, and now we find him blooming—a young John Drew as 'twere. "Wives" is a first-class sketch though not any too deep, and lacking a flninh, even if it has a "surprise twist. It isn't as powerful at th end as It is In the middle; the whole scene of the telephoning and th' revelation about the mother are an'l- llmactlc. However, as vaudeville kits are rated, this one is Immense ly superior to the run of them, and 'ross conveys a distinction and per- sonality considerably above that ♦•' most leading men in such oflferins.* Loila Brooks, a young woman o imazlng physical ch.nrm and a pl- luant individuality of dramatic ex- preasion, la a revelation—wait until I few $3 legit managers see her once! Walter Sayer and Partner (New Acta), In contortions and equil- ibriama, opened all right. Lait. COLONIAL coming Monday The Colonial has them with the ten-act program, night the attendance, with the thermometer flirting with zero,.was just under capacity. The bill was laid out for utility and punch and achieved It without a name on the roster, unless Al Herman qualifle^ as such. The bill held four comedy turn'; in Crafts and Haley (3), Kellam and O'Dare (5). Moore and Freed, open- ing after intermission, and Herman, next to shut. Two flashes were "A Night in Spain," closing the first half, and "Stars of the Future." The "Stars" landed nicely, the appearance of the girls being an asset in addition to the specialties. Moore and Pureed opened the second half strongly with their novelty musical turn. The boys should soft pedal on the dialog. The musical instruments and the make-ups are plenty for now. Neither succeeds in getting a laugh with talk. The specialties on the saws, harmonica, steel guitar, uke and toy balloon will cinch them for anywhere. Al Herman took his usual liber- ties with the audience and got his usual returns. Herman was a toy tornado. His "intimate" stuff about the other members of the program was hot stuff for the shelf occu- pants. Herman is encoring minus his wig. showing a broad band of white skin above the cork. This is unprofessional and destroys his character. A song plugger from a box warbled hoarsely, getting a plug in for a popular ballad. Haney and Morgan, recent grad- uates from the three-a^day, were a neat little song and dance team with a novelty opening in a rolling chair before a special djrop. They are a versatile pair, singing, danc- ing and violinlng. The boy is a pip of a soft shoe stepper, showing buck and wing and eccentric. The girl sings fairly and plays the violin excellently in addition to holding up her end of the dancing. A little more abandon and they will be set for better spots. Crafts and Haley follawed and "wowed" them in the third spot. Both boys register heavy on their clean-cut appearance. The come- dian wears a trick hat and dons "galoshes" and a flapper hat for a real comedy song as they do it, with a corking dance imitation of the "crumb brushers." The cross- fire is a mixture of new and old gags well routined. A comedy reci- tation idea. "Look in the hat," was another big producer. They had to encore twice. The straight's ballad stopped the act cold. Willie Schenk and Co., a novelty hand-balancing imported turn, was spotted Just right, fourth. This act would have been wasted on either end of the bill. Schenk and his fe- male top mounter were one of the hits of the bill with their routine and novelties. Two flashes were the woman, from a hand-to-foot stand, walking the understander's body to a hand-to-hand, he turning to position and balancing her all the way. Another was a lift from a hand-stand supported Iby his el- bow on a table to a one-hand-to- hand. They liked them qiuchly. Pete and Pal, Van Cleve's trained mule turn, opened, with Ma ^Carton and Morrone, a good man and woman daifcing turn, closing with ballroom dancing and an "Apache." The girl is a looker. Her "My Man" imitation of Fannie Brlce would have copped'further up in the show. Con. 5TH AVE. The house got a laugh on its own with the first half bill, during the slide announcement period. One of the slides in connection with the Xmas comment mentioned that mistletoe was har,2:ing in the lobby, "with the cop transferred." A suri)rise happened after the third turn, when a spieler came out stating the Woodrow Wilson Foun- dation, in .seeking to raise $1,000,000 tor the purpose of endowing Ameri- can heroes (of the future) with proper acknowledgement, was en- Joying the courtesy of the Keith- Proctor Circuit to secure popular subscriptions. Tho fun^. said the speaker, was $300,000 short of the total, and New York's quota was $75,000. "Songs would be thrown on the sheet while ushers 'go through you' for contributions." It sounded like the old war days. Such sub- scriptions as were seen were In nickel.s and dimes. The Keith-Proc- tor Circuit may be generously in- clined in matters of this sort, but isn't there any limit? Here strictly is an eijdowment that could only \ppeal to the wealthiest classes. A: a matter of fact on the same day (Monday) an appeal had been scni )ut by the Wilson Foundation to ; .-^elected list of New Yorkers, an( addressed to their home.'^, wliereli a sub.scrlptlon was solicited, Th( amount the fund was then short, ac •ording to the circular, was $200,000 .Vnyone of that list receiving an- replying to the circular would havi lonated more than the entire Fifl Wenue audience did. The show business may be good -learted, but there's no reason for ; venture of this purport, to perpetu- ate the name of one whom hundrida of thousands believe to be a great ' American, to enter a popular prica vaudeville theatre, possibly leaving the Impression with an audlenca that they are apt to witness a repe- tition about something else as for* eign to them the next time nhey visit that house, or others. Previously, also, among the Xmas announcements, was a slide stating if anyone had old toys that had lost their usefulness in their original home and would send them to the theatre the toys would be distrib- uted among the kiddies of institu- tions who would appreciate them. That was a much better thought for Xmas cheer, and a worthy one for this or any other theatre. How much better would it have been in its benefit if the subscription could have been taJten up to purchase new toys for those forlorn kiddies in- stead of having it help the Wood- row Wilson Foundation that really. If it needs that kind of help, never will get over. The first half bill was an ideal week - before - Christmaa program, meaning it amounted to very little, as it.should be with the fading busi- ness for this week. Karly In the first half was "Taxie" (New Acts), a trained bulldog with' a skillful trainer, that provoked much interest. Al and F'anny Stead- man cut up No. 6, much to the satis- faction of the somewhat light house. They were followed by the laughs created through George LeMaire manhandling Joe Phillips In the dentist's ofllce scene. Margaret Young lingered for about 20 min- utes next to closing, having a fly . chorus girl's lament with its theme twisted from the usual, as the best of the turn, to those who like the fly stuff. Miss Young said the girls should cry to their "Johns." that is what gets the "Daddies" much more Quickly and more surely than the baby stuff. Her lyrical plaint was a $2,000 coat and she landed it, to make the test stand up. Miss Young's applause wiw not volumni- ous, but it was persistent. The Rios closed, with Sig Frana and Co. in a peculiarly routined trick cycling turn, opening. After Franx and a young woman had done some straight trick riding, in which the young woman did rather well, for a girl, Franz came out in "one" to sing a ballad, finishing with a run- ning leap to a single cycle wheel held by the girl while she was lying prone on the stage. The act is so odd in construction it looks ama- teurish, although Franz formerly had a comedy bike turn. Unless this is reframed and to better ad- vantage, It will hold him to open- ing the smaTI time bills. The two Follls Sisters, No. 2, with a pianist try hard but mi.ss. They miss mostly, it would seem, because they try to get over what isn't there. It's their hard work more than any- thing else that counts. The girls dance the best they can and sing the satne. while the pianist gets the most with a ballad. Of the girls* dances the "flea" bit still retains its lead. Their harmonizing In a "blues" song will get over where none of the other harmonizers have appeared, but still, on their looks and wardrobe, the turn might bo booked for. the early spot in the in- termediate houses. Pisano and Landauer (New Acts). Bimc. m 23rd STREET Without a name of any particular importance the 23d St. packed 'em in Monday night like the 23d St. hasn't been packing 'em for m.any a long week and month. Two fac- tors accounted for the draw, try- outs and a local amateur act, tho "Greenwich Village Minstrels." The 23d St. was taking a bit of liberty when they called the minstrels tho "Greenwich Village Minstrels.** Greenwich Village, it so .happens, . stops at 14th street. The 23d St. la in the heart of Chelsea Village, However, a little thing like geo- graphical boundaries doesn't mat- ter pai-tieularly, ds long as the act drev,' 'cm in. " I..«1.rry Rellly, professional, who acted as interlocutor, trained tho minstrels, and it is sa'd the house stafL' of the 23d St. also contributed a bit of advice here and there while the a.t was being prepared. , The min.strels, 11 men, were se- lected by mean.s of an elimination contesi. opportunity nights, a week preceding the sta.crlng of the turn. The act disclosed the usual array of balladlsts, a couple of end men and a good dancer. Both end men were good and the dancer was above the average. The vocalists were fair. But the principal thin,'? Is that tho friends and acquaintances of the amateurs pa'd to see th<'m. so their relative degrees of talent do not matt<T. Tho act stays at tho 23d St. the full week, with a change of program Thursday. A jazz seven-piece band, Burton's Orchestra, was Included in tho min- strel show. All of tho minstrels and band are rated as amateurs, but each receives "expense money" for the week. .^ The regular vaudeville bill held five other acts in addition to the amateurs. Fox and ^^arno (New Acts) opened. Carlit.i and Lewis were second with operatic and Jazz inglng. and R6yle atid Bennett third vlth their standard dancing turn. The team wowed 'em without difll- ulty. There wasn't much compe- ition. Correll. Weston and Gardner (Now Acts) fourth and Princeton md Watson next to closing, with a •lang classic that should :.eep them