Variety (March 1923)

,-r.<;...*.^,y.riSj^;-;.',~. r*' 34 NEW SHOWS THIS WEEK Tlhureday, March 29, 1923 ALHAMBRA Tip top vaudovJIJo tliis wrok with Vincfiit Lopez lioaviJv fo;!fur.'«i as the "Kirif,' of Ilarmony" and 'Ui- i(cl from 13 wrpks at the I'alart','" the marquee siii)poitinpr a replira of iho leader rCRally ariayed witli a • Town an<l s» pulclnf for a ltat(»n. The billing had its effect j„ excell.ni business Tuesday niKlit. witli etjually as good tlie day preceding. I.oi)e"z \va?r spotted to reopen aftor tlie stretch period and did l'« minutes to ron.^tant attention. The hand, to iisc the Coue bromide, reallv seems . to be petting' better an.l better eaeli time seen. J5ill Hamilton, the first saxophonist, still lias eoiisiderable latitude for oomed\-, of whieli he seems capable. Wliat littTe he es- sayed connected. 8e\eial new pro- duction back-ups to illustrate the various selections nie ilashv. "Fate" and the 'Xatehez and Koherl K. Lee' l>oat race part icularlj-. Waiter and Emily Walters, suc- ceeding, huuK lip a n( at score with their romedy ventriIo(|uial ofTcriuK. The puppets are skillfully manip- ulated which, coupled witii the K«*nu- ine comedy values of tlio crosshre. distingui.she.s the act amon« others of its type. .lust preccdini: the sie.sfa was I^illle Shaw's Hevue, one of the tightest little (;fterings of its kind. Miss Khaw has tastefully moJinted her stuff and wisely not ••ho,\'gcd" it '<ut but has given tlie siiapely iianscuse aiul h<r two male prin- • •ipals sunicient leeway to scintillate. The act has seemingly UMdcr-..,M)nc <-onsideral.le revision and building up since last seen, until now it has almost lost its former identity. A .-tag* box plar.t is »nii)!oycd now for the introductittn to (losstalk with the female Ujigc in rln ru<> tli.it he would like to see something new. He introduces a ' I'.ombo' and Ann Pennington iiumlx^r, also Miss Shaw bi'fore i-eturniiig to the si.ige. A satirical Valentino numb*fj- is .1 high light with the usual Spanish trimmings, the j)ersonatoi' lifrating the M;tp))ers for theii' attention, c(»n- chiding thai 'Tin in love with—my- self." Joscjjliine I^a\*oie's "iiot" IWues stepping and stabbn alterna- (icij to 1 (larded tempo a la "shtw motion piciuie" effect is a Jiovelty .ind as sncii wa.s <]iity a<<'Iainn<i. -Miss La\'oie figured prr>ii.inentiy throughout, a contoriiiMiist ic acro- ti.itic dance in al)breviated King Tut TMMiimlTig ■ ■^ tMiding ^hHt M ittn fullouhifi: the clowning, iiicidental to liany yioddaid's band. Will -\la- boiiey bounctd into the ban«1 for two ■onga and a dance that knocked then). At the conchislon of the rjiUSical turn the curt:ii!i wn« low- ered. This stalled a stampede of the ones who d:dn"t know about the clowning. Mahoney stopped thenj ^ith a comedy a«ldi'« .>^s in diale.-t »nd held tliem .solid thereafter. Tho bill ran until w<ll after II. Opening with the Fantiro Sisf-rs 4ind Co.. the hIiow m(>\ ed speedily. The act is a ring turn with a diear\ |>anton)imic dan e op(.ning ihat iloesn I belong, 'i'he r.\c< Ih-iit i.nn tvork that followed was tolitl nour- Jshnu m an<l jticked up afn;r a tlragg\ start. ArtlUM- Stanley (New Acts) deuc<'d nicely, followed by Thomas P. Jackson and Co. in "Tlie New Stenographer," a sketch that was around in 1917 titled "Onee a Thief." The a<t.has a doub'e sur- prise finish. Jackson pl.iy<'il inter- estingly, with the woman an ac- t eptable opposite for this small-time playlet. Lydell and Macey following to<»k the comedy honors of the e\cning The old men character ttam have several new lines, one of whi.h \\as a "wow" and will be. Macey (akrs out a bit of embroidery, antl as his needle flies is questioned by L.\delJ, "Do you know any fairy stories." Thomas and Akers <New A(>ts) were an artistic diversion following. The girls danced themsehes into Itistant favor and can duplicate any- where. Merino and Martin, a two-man t\op dialect team, argued their way to big- returns, then crabbed it bv their painful stalling for bows. This pair are the worst offenders in this direction caught In some time. They take three legitimate bows when the larceny begins. An entirely un- called for and unfunny curtain speech wound up an otherwise i-x- cellent comedy turn that is hurting it.self by poor showmanship and ego Firpo, the Argentine heavyweight, was introduced in person by Merino. Firpo ppeaks no English. but through his interpreter said he hoped we liked him better and bet- ter, showing that he got the vaude- ville Idea right off the reel. His modesty and refinement are distinct a.«<.setg and will make the big fellow many friends. He witnessed the balance of the bill from a stagr- box. Harry Stoddard and Band, back after a seven-week absence, were given a big reception. The musl- cian.s did 28 minutes of their own routine, then clowned with iri'em- bers of the bill for another spell. They arc a versatile crowd. This is their ninth week at the Broadway this season. Con Shaw's South Se 1 Ivjrs d.mce s»lo \\ith pretty Itf-.'id cosHinie in lieu of the usual s<awet»d was good rx- ciise for some torrid wiggling lor extra spice. Santos and H.iyes. No. 4. dirked per usual, I'aisf*r and Ja<kie hav*- Stored their fofmrr iiretr ntiii.s re- vue and have ■somo corking dialogu*' credited to .John 1*. Mulgrcw. In prose and in rhyme each "pans" the other for her ample girth or slen- (h rness, making for a merry quarter of an hour. (Jiaee Huff and Co. in John Ti. Invnur's excellently wiitten playlet, i • Thw Trimmer." almost plays itself on the strength of the situation and lines, although it wouhl be ha id to dujilicate .Miss Huffs not-so-dumb manicure role, \fithout bordering on being ;tititic:aliy blase tho lead im(>r«ss«'s as knowing a thing or two, at the same tim* steering clear of unple.isantness. The supi)ort is well-nigh perfect. Kmil iJoico. a cMitinenlal singing comedian heralded \ ia a si.de as pre.sontc«l by CJu.s Kdwards, fareii but fairly No. 2. Jlis -mugging* .-tauds hiiii in goo«l stead where the lani;uaire is unl'anj!li:ir. S|toor and Paisons, d;!ncers, opened. ISessye Clifior*!, with her slandanl posing turn, elo. eil. Ah(l. STATE When it conns to putting to.jethcr a liigh cla.^s pop vaudev-llo thaw the fiist h.ilf bill at the Stn.e this lit serve as a st;ui.ling week mig njoilel. A great show Tor ine mor.ey and technically well arranged so that each of the tlvc act; got a 1 reak. Alex Hyde's Band close.l. It's pretty hard to say anv one of the better grade of jazz orchestras tliat have hit vaudeville sin«-_» llu craze started is the best—but Hvi^e's band is as good as the best and belter than most, and for obvious reasons. The brass section, for instance, and the reeds are perfectly balanced. That's a condition that more than (UG of the top line band organiza- tions might well be glad to brag of. The ensemble pl»e>'ing is smooth and exhibits j)erfect team work. Alex Hyde's violin solo, unlike most in- strumerital solos in jazz <ombina- tions, is an asset of the first water. The Itands anangements are also up to the minute. The harmonists played a tlock of pop selections with a (lassie or two for variety. They could have occui)ied the platform for two hours had they wanted to. Marie Drew and Co. opened with hand to hand stuff of an unusual na- ture thiH)ugli the understander in the turn being a woman. A one-handed lift of her two assistants by Miss Drew compelled sincere applause re- turns. The dressing is foreign in style and ihe music used as inciden- tal stulT is about 20 years behind f r America. With the act's gymnastic ability o^ such ti high order, it makes the old fashioned dressing and music all the more noticeable. Hobliy Higgins and Co., No. 3, with Oh. Chetney," and the big au- ditorium didn't bother them half a» much as Mr. Higgins probably thought it did. The house got every syllable spoken, the dialog carrying to the tojunost part of the balcony. Fvery time IHjjgins murmured "It's gettin' 1 .te." they yelled. The sketch went Just as well here as it ever did anywhere. It's exceptional, this sketch, in that it has the kick of spice without the spice. Betty Fierce, a jnetty ingenue, figures impor- tantly with Mr. Higgins in putting th<' sketch over. Al H. ^Vilson, next to closing, with a bun< h of standardized hoke—just what th«'y want at the State, inci- dent.illy, and capitally handled by Mr. Wilson, a monologist who knows his business. He seemed to think they couldn't hear him a" over the house also, but they did. He clicked for a speech after a little jockeying and talk about bows that was nicely caYnouflaged througli good show- manship. King an«l Beatty. a two man piano and singing combination replacing iJoyle and Bennett, were No. 2. The turn is a simple arrangement of singer and i>ianologist and enter- t.lined pl( .isantly. Some pantomimic stuff by r.eatty a la Bert Williams was exct Uent. The vocal suggestion of Williams in a number evidently intentled to be an imit.ition of the late color<'(l comedian lacked consid- erable. The team have ability. It's all a (lueslion of material. That which they are now using i satis- factory, but lacks anything that constitutt's a jjunch. ".Vdam's Uib" was tho feature picture. nusine.-is verj- good, considering Holy We«'k. ItcU. AMERICAN ROOF 'I'he bill on tin- roof the first half was as spotty as a njeasles victim, due t'* fW(» of the turns Utting the show tlou 11 to unplumbeil depths. Hoih acts on after inteiinission gave the »econd half a black «ye. only sa\ed by Cla\ton and J.,ennie. who shouUh led a whale of a load in the next tf> closing spot and following prob.'ibly the thcariest comedy sketch in Aaude\ille in Jack Hallen and Co. The sketch wouldn't fMiter- tain an .issemblage of nu)rons, and though tile lUiof crowds arc not fas- ti<lious. iluy are ncvtr that. It car- ries a wisjt of a phtf about a lacing driver injurrd. so the comic is sub- stituted by his friend and rival. Two sor.g .-Mill daii'e dints l)y the unprogramed menrtK is and llallois o wn t'c e r ntrie dH tH^^* >>«-re the only bright sp<>ts, and tluy shone by c<in- trast to the unfuiuiy str;iinrd com- edy efforts of the principal anrt his wrestling with the hackneyed, poinl- hss dialog. It died standing up. Anoth«r act that didii't get any- where was Nita Johnson, the double- voiced girl, who held the opining after intermlsh. Miss Johnson opens with a Chinese song in costume, changes to evening attire for an- other song, then to the piano for a fake<l introduction followed by a violin imitation, using a real instru- ment as a prop. Tli«; act <ndcd here to all intent and purpose, but in- stead an off-stage song tips the double voice revelation. She returns after anoth<r change for an operatic duct in both tones. Miss Johnson's straight singing attempts are so weak" nothing short of a niira<'le could lift the act out of the bog it wanders into before the double- voiced thing. She lacks personality, voice, deliver.v and enun-iation. Chas. Beeder. an acc»pta)>le x>lo- phone player, opened in a fain"liar routine. Hieder is an «)vermodest youth. an<l in one number was no- ticeably flat, but he pa.ssed. nc\er- theless. Cordon and Delmar picked things up a bit next in their piano and tonjr routine of singles and doubles. The girl handles the jazz delivery best Her "wop " comedy song was not a dialect triumph. The man straights nicely at the piano and alsi> holds his end up in the doubles. The act worked fast, hard and landed. Barry and Lancaster were third. This team, originally from bur- lesque, have been with a Shubert unit part of the season. They are a big time act, but not with the pres- ent Material. The cross-fire in its entirety is more than familiar. The restaurant bit has been picked up by every burlesque show on both circuits and has also been lifted by various vaudeville turns. Barry is a good eccentlfcc comedian and a first-class eccentric dancer. Lan- caster is a top-notch straight of un- usual appearance. He can read lines: in fact, the pair have every- thing needed for the best of vaude- ville but an act. The earlv spot hurt them a bit on the Roof, but their retinns were far from anemic. Alexander Girls and Co. (New Acts) closed the first half of wliat started out to be -a darn good show, and the Three Antrims wound up and held up what Clayton and Len- nie managed to pave from the sec- ond-half wreckage. The Antrims held nearly all for the picture with novel hand-to-hand risley lifts working atop a table and twin ped- estals and doing their lifts from a body bridge mostly two high with the top mounter handstanding. i'vii. FIFTH AVE. There were new things in this house for the first half of the week and the bill was made up of a rather wide variety. With comedy hold- ing its own the performance rated well as a three-a-day show. A surprise in slang dramatics, entitled "Compliments of the Sea- son" (New Acts), was a No. 3 heavy scorer and helped the going con- siderably. ILirry Richman (New Acts), who was one spot ahead of it, went over well enough. Rome and Dunn came on fourth for fair returns fbr their song efforts. The team has been appearing in the Lit- tle Club. During the winter they teamed with the Original Memphis Five, a live jazz band from Healy's. But the latter elected to stick to their cabaret job instead of plaving dates. The songsters were best with a ballad and that type of number appeared suited to them. They let it go with four numbers but might have encored. _ iLew Dockstader was next to clos- ing, having one orticr comedy talk- ing act ahead. He keeps his aerial telephone monolog up to date and instead of "ringing" the white hou.se "got" St. Augustine for his chat with President Harding. There was mention of golf for a laugh when Lew agreed 76 was not so worse for nine holes. The 1924 nomination Is "in the basket," according to what Dockstader got over the wireless. The talk with the "Ku Klux Klams" is alFo made funnj*. So far as want- ing 100 per cent. Ameriians. he ad- vised the clucks they were cookoo !f they thought they < ould be.it the Hebrews in a percentage argument. The encore bit is an "obituary of John Barleycorn, given in such sfvie that it became a sort of autobiog- rai)hy. Walter Clinton and Julia Rooney. with Harry MacDonald's C.ili- fornians, a jazz band, were^spoite«l sixth. The act was recently ex- tendcil fiom the three-act tried by the couple. The material principallv is out of the Clinton and Ruonev two-act, and the high light is n t tlie band but .Miss Rooney's excellent dan«^ing. The turn wa.s I>n too long. A curtain was taken after l»; mii - utes. btit encores thereafter exti nd- played, there being a bit toa much of the personal i)ronotui. The re- sult wap that none of the com- position bits gut a hand. The girls looked peachy as ever. They are using a new fltuile, togged out in Rus-sian dres.*—the result of Morris Gest's importations. But their duds are so much better looking than the "Chauve-SouriH" girls there is no comparison. The number put the act over to corking returns. AVhite, Black and Useless pro- vided a good comedy opening. The routine is »i clever disguise and use of a kicking mule, taking it out of the I'lasa of just an animal act. Ibec. JEFFERSON The r<'gulaLion bill of eight acts for Holy Week with the Monday night attendance well up to the usual standard for this house. The Five Leiands with acrobatii.'S started the bill, with the slrt»ng woman gaining attention. The work is snappily routined and tlie act in its general makeup is a good show *«taru'r. Maikeil and Gay, a mixed dancing team iii "one," appeared No. 2. Starling with the ^girl's capable buck and wing work, the act moves easily, the male member coming in for his share of the re- turns with acrobatic stepping. His style is different and worthwhilei The spot did not hinder the couple in securing applause. Frank Wilcox and Co. in a comedy skeKh held forth No. 3. The Jef- ferson managenient i«i not often in- clined 10 play Mketchea. The Wilcox vehicle ajipeared to fit the bill. It produced several laughs and al- though away from the style of comedy relished by the down- towners it appeared to entertain. Pauli and (Joss took tlie No. 4 as- signment, proving a refreshing bit with their newlywed skit. Tlie couple aire mat and arti.xtic work- ei\i, their efforts meeting with approval. Jack "Rube* Clifford with Russell Hvrd appetired No. o. Clifford with his rube comedy provided several laughs, with Hird at the piano a capable feeder. The basic idea for the major portioa of the comedy is a hard of hearing affectation em- ployed by Clifford. It is well done with Hird. doing straight, bringing out the fine points to a nicety. The team entertained creditably. The work, mostly qu.et. registered, with the audience attentive from start to lini.-h. May Wirlh and Phil, headlining with tlieir riding turn, appeared No. 5. The top-notch riding by the two featured members brougjit round after round of applause, with one of the comedy hits of the bill credited to Phil. In the equestrian line this turn tops the list. The riding* is of the highest calibre and the knockabout comedy a rare treat. The act was among the applause winners of the evening. Erneet Ball with his piano work and vocal selections appeared next to closing. The difllculi spot for a single man at the Jefferson, unless fortified with slapstick comedy, was held up ni«ely by the singer-com- poser. The Irish numbers came in for their *;hare of attention, with the general layout meeting require- ments easily. l>aura and Billy Dreyer closed the show with their dance routine. The Dreyers are neat workers and have provided themselves with a vehicle which can keep them going indefinitely. They held the audience with ease. JIart. ed the running time to 2r» minute. Aft«r Miss Fiooney's ln»ofing the bal- ance held little of real value, for ih jazzers are not an outstanding <r« a Redmond and Wells with iheit comedy skit, "The Fortune Teller.* held the No. 5 spot well. The l.meji.- came early, the mans 'sap biisi ness" turning the trick. At the tlj*- closure, when the giil exji'ains siu is out for thrills, he pulled a fi'nn\ line, saying, "it s odd h.ow all w'e crap shooters get toireiiir.i- - 1^ ^y.)., his eccentric dan«-ing th.it put th- Rtuff into the elos.'ng section. The Mellette Sisters furnished jli-. class of the .show, closing, with Lew Pollock at the piano, but whf'ii they came on nearly half the lowf r fiooV had walked. Pollock might revise the announcements of the iiumbeis 23rd STREET Six acts and a couple of tryouts, together with a feature picture, "The Fourth Musketeer," did business Monday night. The house fiiled uji early, and it was ea.^y to see that it was a comedy audience the way the bunch fell for the old gags in the Topics film. The Vanderbilts, a hand-to-hand balancing team with a comedy framework, opened. Tlie comedy got laughs and the legitimate tricks registered for full value The final lift, which has the understander raising tho mounter from the floor oi>e handed by the belt, registered solidly. Tiiree .»^yncopa;ed .Misses, secoinl, with harmony singing. Tlic girl.s use piano, w!i:<li could better be left backstage. The vocalizing, running to pop songs, is pUasing. and «<lie girls inaKe a nii-e jippe.ir.mce. They It fed the deuce spot snugly. Jedinnv .Ncff next with a monolo- tiiat h:ul him threaiening to play a f dillc, bu: i':.ver getting to it f •.roUL'hou! t'le act. Tiiis business j tu-iginal w;i!i .\i I'f, ]\>- inx lug ,i,,m( i som«- L'rt \; Mrs ,,!• mor«', l>ack with <;ne of tlie big niinsli-el organi;:;i- ide.t has liad m.m;.- imi- .NV,T makes it look new. merrily wl:h his gags. ^ ome have h* en used once or twice il-l! tile L'lM ,v;;. \ e!l. d al the oldcs! IMS. F.fhvjii Stanley and Co. with :\ J >\elty sketch an;nigement, fourih. t at h.id a marked touch of ilv Kitiiical. It w.is extremely well p.iyed. but a bit .'ibovo the dom«\s of t I" Che!s«a v i!Iag»'rs. —W »Uth| . VIealy and — ^ loiii i onn n e\I 1' closing and a wow wiih So-e.nn AVelcirs gab. Tl'ie .i crobat ics gc.aled '.in and the talk |>:iralyi:ed "em. It's a pleasure to watch an experieneed ( -mbination like this:. They «lon't waste a second, but m.ike cveiy- f ling count for .v:ometiiing. l{;own i isiers clo.sed. 77, // It r.^. Tile 1 itors. but i3 e ciickc.l 58TH ST. Normal entertainment doing nice* ly Is explanatory of the first half show. Six acts flupplemente<l witli a 65-minute picture were the tempt- Ing morsels offered. Not develop- ing any special kick the bill ran iia coiirse to shape us a proverbial thrice-dally structure that satisfied a not too exacting audience. Mucr and Giller and Tilyou an«l Rogers are under New Acts, be- side.s which Downey and Claridge opened. The latter pair, a mixt.i team, rely mainly on the tramj* comic and a breakaway bicycle for returns with the initialing being ac- complished through a song dilivered by the girl, a bit that evidently ha.s been added and something that should immediately be thrt)wn out. It means nothing and the tlelivery is minus both voice and u sufMei«!i"t s<«nse of interpretajion. It may bo said that through this opening mel- ody, a ballad, it's readily perceived the girl is not a singer. The <i.m- cdy suffices to lift the act above the handicaj) and to the point where it registers as a capable beginner for any of the pop houses. Johnny Murphy held the next to ch>.»ing spot and frolicked through to goodly returns. One line .-^eemed to appnmvh the perilous, although it was not particularly new and has been included in a comedy lyric offered by others. A pleasing ap- pearance and a semblance of per- sonality are of material aid to ihl^ youth. Following, and closing, came "Fp- town and Downtown" lor a full 20 minutes that caused no outstandiiig enthusiasm outside of an acrobat c dancing effort by one of the boys. The act looks to be .a more or less hodge-iwdge of the standard small time ensemble turn with none of the individuals predominating and all of mediocre calibre. It impressed accordingly. Harty L. Cooper split the before- mentioned —acts and 'hok»d' it through to appreciation albeit the butler continues to take more than a fair share of attention v» henever he is present. .s'.V.'tf. LINCOLN SQ. A good vaudeville show and a bet- ter than average picture, "The White Flower,' were responsible for ca- pacity business Monday at this house. The chap who plays on tho organ the incidental music for the picture deserves mention. He is f.ir more satisfactory from a musical standpoint than the orchestra, which .seemed to lack teamwork, especially in dance numbers. Dancing acts not r-arrying a special conductor should by all means invest in a metronome which would obviate 90 per cent, of the troubles Incidental to false temjio. The Duponts, a mixed team of comedy jugglers, open<^d, with some good tricks of ball manipulation, leading up to a doufile routine on kettle-drum heads. The woman fol- lows with the devilsticks. handled cleverly, and the act finishes with the pair juggling battle-axes. No one will deny that Marcelle Fallet and Mother are good musi- cians. Maicelle on the violin and Mother on the piano. But why at this late day bill themselves as "French refugees who lost all in the war and came here to carve out a career," as also announced on the picture sheet ahead of their act'.' Judging by Marcelles flashing dia- monds, the refugees are "carving* pretty well, and. in addition to the 07 varieties of flag waving our own artists have shown us, here's a Mar- celle wave. The act itself pleased this audience and will please others, but the girl should visit a hair- dresser and both give a good cos- tumer an order. Reed and Bernard, two men and a woman (one man not billed, al- though important), in a comedy sketch of the familiar brand, involv- ing a country school teacher incur- ring the enmity of the village Simon Legree, and the fresh traveling salesman, who puts Simon in the clear with a guess and grabs the girl, with her rapturous consent, after an acquaintance of l.') minute.«. N'o wonder George Washington fell ofT the wall! Abe Lincoln's picture was there also. Gcoige Morton. "The Mlack Dot." hung up the show w^th songs, gags and d.mcing. He only did enough djncing to let the audience know he '"iHd, but as good a dancer as Mor- ton should make more use of this valuable as.set and eliminate a few of his jokes. s<.me of which are older than himself. His songs, with and without the like, also his d.-uicinc. are sure-fire, ;ind he left the big audience wanting. Th" Skcllv-1 lei,, revue closed the vaudeville with a smash. Any vaudeville f.m .seeing this act will wonder what it is doing on th" small time. Skellv is a g.u.d '•oniedi.in. dancer and ad lib down. His nil-Ill., (Is are clean and he does not o\erdo .-inything. Miss licit is a stately blonde with a good v«)ice a capable foil for Skellys com»'d>. They are supporte<l by three clever Kills, a balladist. a blues singer and a yiMing ccuitortioni.4t toe d.incer and high ki<-ker. who, with pr.ictice and a little more exiterieiire, will make Iht* Jf^st look to their laurt-bti—*4+« singers put their nutnbers i»ver with gratifyin.',' repults, ;nvl the act is so constructed there is not a dr.iggV moment in it. Skellv «lowns a.I throu.^h and does it well. The act is 20 minutes of cleverness and clean comedy, besides being a Mash. Tlu; picture ended a very cnnlitable ."liow.