Variety (May 1923)

TM*sd#, MiJ- 17,'1923 NEW AOTSrTMBSWEiEK^ NOLAN LEARY and Co. ♦•Ye* Means No" (Comedy Sketch) 18 Min«.; Full 8t«ge (Special), fifth Avenue The plot of this comedy aketch Is based on an agreement entered into toy a youth and his father to the effect the youth will receive $100 for every time he replies "no'' to a proposition or propositions that may be presented to him during the course of a half hour. The youth is an irresponsible, carefree chap who refuses to take business seriously until the father, a typical self-made, drritable business man, decides to put the son to test. A conveniently arranged farcical story has a series of telephone calls coming In with son answering "no" to everything propounded Indiscrim- inately as soon as father leaves of- fice. Youth rolls up some 50 "no's" in a half hour without difficulty, at same time getting business in series of complications by .informing a cus- tomer that his father's check is no good in order to say "no," etc Finish finds youth winning $5,000 and the girl, with father congratu- lating boy on ability to say "no." Scene between girl and youth also provides comedy complications simi- lar to the check Incident. Characters appearing in sketch are juvenile, ingenue and three male characters, father, clerk ami cus- tomer. All play with a certain finish. the acting being legitimate and much above that of the regulation comedy sketch. The sketch holds an abundance of laughs arising from the farcical situations and business. It is well produced with a special background of an office that really looks like one. The act got over surely at the Fifth Avenue. BeR. GIBSON SISTERS and GRADY (3) Dances and Songs 10 Mine.; Full Stage (Spectal) Majestic, Chicago Chicago, May 16. Audrey and Eva Clibson are girls who appear to he in their teens, at- tractive and clever dancers. They have the assistance of a young man (Al Grady) at the piano. It is an Jde^J method of presenting the tal- ent of these two dancing girls. The pianist sings the prolog stuff, which is so common In vaudeville nowa- days, at the start of the act and later sings "Barney Google," final- ly giving some more announcements done in song of the peppy finish of the girls. The sisters first do an old-time minuet. Later one does classic dancing and the other toe dancing, individual' specialties. The closing is some jazz steps, neatly executed. The stage setting is classy, the cos- tumes of the girls pretty, and it makes the offering as a whole well worth a spot on any bill. The sing- ing of Grady at piano is a strong feature when compared to the ordi- nary pianist, whose only contribu- tion to a revue of this kind is ac- companiment and possibly a piano soI °- Loop. MALEY and SINGER Italian and Dutch 14 Mine.; One American Roof A two-man combination built for small time exclusively. The be«jt they have to offer is the finish of their act, a parody on "Mr. Galla- gher-Mr. Shean." Maley and Singer, after slipping over a mixed dialect gag routine that amounts to little at the open- ing of the act and followed by a small-time rendition of a ballad by the wop character, which aleo In- cludes an unannounced but poorly done imitation of what George Bebap used to do years ago, the pair make a change. The Dutch returns In a comedy Swiss cos- tume and announces that he is Max Oser. That name means nothing to the greater part of the small-time audiences, even though the riding master of Switzerland did manage to cop off the McCormick girl. The wop comedian returns in a Spanish costume as the two go into th^ir "Valentino-Mr. Oser" number that has the same melody its "Gallagher and Shean" with about six or seven verses. The "G. & S." idea is the only thing in the act. Frtd. ARTIE NOLAN Songs, Talk, Dances 11 Mine.; One American Roof Nolan is a juvenile In appearance. He enters in tuxedo and straw hat for a pt>p song, which Is followed by a monolog of released Irish stories. Another popular song, well de- livered, Is followed by a tough song with extra verses. Another song and a buck and wing dance conclud- ed a good pop single of the stereo- typed classification. Con. PALACE * The Calliphones are still working outside the Palace and prospective patrons are warned against buying tickets elswhere than the box office. There ie a rider now attached to the news weekly film in the same tenor. Ticket agents are not men- tioned, but the film reading matter relates the presence of counterfeit tickets, and the danger of buying any place but the theatre. The Palace held its usual approximate capacity Monday night. The bill held several turns of high standing which have been out of town for some time and something good in the way of a contribution from the legitimate. Comedy Strength was the outstanding fea- ture and two of the hardest work- ing acts of that class on the boards were present—Tom Patricola and Olsen and Johnson. The latter "di- rected"! an afterpiece with Patricola, Lytell and Fant and Harriet te Townc. The afterpiece was given in "one," and really was merged into the Olsen and Johnson routine. As a matter of fact, the five men were running irp and down the aisles a good deal of the time. It all was very rough, yet screamingly funny. When Johnson tossed out bananas. Patricola, with one of his "fancy" shirts, rushed on and threw out eggs For the "April Showers" non- sense he was on again as a dame with an umbrella and a boy behind spiking a water sprinkler. A bit later Tom and Miss Towne were announced as Anna Pennington and Brooke Johns. The girl stepped to. it, showing even more than in the regular Patricola routine. Lyt«?U and Fant had an extra chance with a song and dance and several times a colored dancer from May Yohe's act "wtnt wild," the hoofing pro- viding a change of pace from the comedy stunts. A kicking bit was one of the roughest in the after- piece, tut it did what was expected in producing laughter. The m^n played' hide and «eek along the aisles, with Johnson "finding" some false teeth and wanting to return them to anybody as his partner rushed front with an artificial leg, also found. Sidney Gibson, an en- tertainer from Chicago and a song- write:, was "discovered" in the house .ind took to the stage to sing. The "Barney Google" number which concluded and the "Spark Plug" horse down the aisle may start something, as the idea for show purpose.- is protected by copyright and is announced for show produc- tion next season. Patricola with Miss Towne were on fourth, following Miss Yohe'.' at. and Tom dropped his_jron lid as an excuse to say something about finding the Ho*pe diamond again. He is scheduled to join the new "Scandals" George "White is re- hearsing, and that engagement will doubtless include the cute Mies Towne She is an excellent dancer, and, besides "looks." flashes all kinds of pep. Patricola pulled .1 bear of a fire-water stunt, then pro- ceeded to cinch his score with a small guitar-like instrument. Helen Ware in "Her Dearest FrienVl" (New Act«), supported by players who were with her In "Within Four Walls." a recent Broadway try from which the play- let comes, was spotted in the late section of the show directly before the Olsen and Johnson affair. The Marion Morgan Dancers, with Jose- phine McLean and Charles Haver- lin featured, furnished a most im- pressive termination to the first sec- tion. The orchestra was a bit be- fuddled during the early part of the Egyptian number despite the special leader at the piano. It Is tricitv^ music for the most part. The dan 20 of the archers was the prettiest and the most graceful of the numbers. Louise Riley, at first one of the Asiatic slaves, appeared as a faun later. As a dance drama "Helen of Troy," like other productions by Miss Morgan, is the class of classic dance offerings. Karyl Norman, the "Creole Fashion Plate," led off the second section of the show with large suc- cess. Norman's first frock did not fit well, but attention was drawn to its beautiful yellow lace. The "Daisy Days" song retained from last season landed as well as ever. It probably gave Norman the Idea of extending his double voice sing- ing, which he does with no less than three numbers. Edwin Weber again in the pit teamed with Norman in the wilting of a new song. "I'm Through Shedding Tears Over You," a blues number that aided In win- ning returns. An encore was earned, it, too ; being of the blues variety and also double-voiced in rendition. M'ij Yohc, back again at the Pal- ace after years of obscurity, was greeted cordially. The one-time Lady Francis J lope is being pre- sented by her present husband, Captain Jan Smulte, and she is sup- ported by a band of nine musician*, billed as "sheii-o-tone iyncopators" because "of concave devices fixed to the back of their chairs. A dark ribbon was worn obliquely across her chest upon her first appearance and may refer to her former titled standing. Bill she looked ever so much better in a frock of gold later. Her songs are those formerly sung here and abroad. "Dear Old Georgia" at the finish was ragged by the band, and a colored acro- batic dancer entered and drew atten- tion. On the name the turn is worth something in the big bouses, but needs support. Billy Lytell and Tom Fant car- ried a fast pads on second, splitting their efforts between song and dance. The hoofing is the feature of the routine, with the "knee drops" counting among the most difficult of dance ."steps." Lytell is credited with having originated the stunt, something not likely to be much copied. When a big hand rewarded their efforts, one said: "Mother will be glad." Les Splendide, roller skaters, whose routine is confined to the top of an eight-foot circular table opened. The girl's brief cos- tume did not become her plum little figure, and she wa« too prone In taking bows. The act, however, distinctly landed. Ibce. ' COLONIAL The Colonial inaugurated its sum- mer policy Monday, changing from a full to split week and a reduction in the bill from ten to six acts. In addition to the vaudeville a feature picture will be shown during the summer and a revised scale of prices i> -tailed. The matinee scale dur- ing the week is topped at 35 cents, and the night prices 75 cents. The Saturday and Sunday night scale 1 inches a dollar, with the matinees Ya cents. Tuesday night business was not strong. The lower floor held about two-thirds capacity with the re- mainder of the house hitting about the same average. The bill was made up of standard acts, five out of six workfng in "one," with two using the piano coming together. The Closing turn was the only full stage offering of the evening. The Rupert Hughes feature, "Souls for Sale," held up the picture end ac- ceptably. Foster and "Peggy" opened the show. Foster has a well-trained canine with marked intelligence. The little animal kept the audience interested during the entire routine, with the feats attempted all working out with a telling effect. Lexey and O'Connor appeared No. 2. Their dancing caught on, with Celia O'Con- nor coming In for the best returns with her comedy stepping. The couple kept the show moving in the right direction, with Leavitt and LocKwood coming forth for comedy honors No. 3. The rotund comedian gathered laughs easily, the comedy wcrk appealing strongly. The mar- riage idea developed by this couple is not new but proved productive f >r tnem all the while. They met the requirements of the spot with little difficulty. Mary Haynes, with songs, proved one of the bright spots of the even- ing No. 4. Miss Haynes has a well laid out routine and discloses herself as a capable handler of character numbers. The applause necessitated an encore which was given in the way of a satire on "Dan McGrew," which met with instant favor. Gordon and Ford held the next to closing spot. The laughs came easily for the comedian's efforts. His neat appearing partner works in nicely with the comedy work. They filled the bill easily for comedy re- sults. The Lomas Troupe closed the show with a knockabout com- edy offering that held up in a com- edy way. Hart. seems destined to tour the better houses indefinitely. Qrette Ardine in "The French Model" closed the first half in bang- up fashion, the applause lasting until the intermlssionltes began leaving. Miss Ardine has a corking pair of dancing assistants in John Tyrel and Tom Mack. One af tho boys whammed them in an acro- batic Russian solo. The trio step- ping is high class, also the Apache acrobatic. The swing in the first dance remains the flashiest bit of acrobatic work seen in any of the new dancing combos. Miss Ardine works like a Trojan, so hard it is a mystery where she gets her wind to sing the lyrics which introduce each number and follow on in rapid fash- ion. After "Topics" amL"-Esop's Fa- bles," Herbert Clifton opened the second half. Thfc female Imperson- ator has revised his turn since last caught at the Palace and improved it immeasurably. The artist is now doing a straight burlesque, which is the right idea. Bert Errol first made this type of female characterization popular, going after laughs rather than the sex illusion. Clifton has one or two new gowns that made the females»gasp. His assistant's /role has also been edited in the proper direction and the song from the stage box deleted. Clifton is now set for anywhere. Healy and Cross held down the next to shut spot with a routine of popular songs delivered in snappy fashion. The non-piano playing member got results with his dialect contributions, the other boy sticking to the instrument and harmonizing in a pleasing tenor. A good closing number was a pop song sung with the boys weariirg old G. A. R. hats, etc. They went heavy. The Four American Aces, one of the best casting acts in the business, closed and held. A slight mishap occurred when one of the flyers was muffed by a caster due to a too strong toss. Otherwise the routine' proceeded smoothly up ^to the loop the loop over»the bar. • Cos. and Shean ,the Lopes bunch also having a O. and 8. number. The wop act went uproariously, and de- servedly so. Daley, Mac and Daley closed with roller skating and held 'em well. News weekly preceded vaudeville and Topics at Intermis- sion. H< U. RIVERSIDE A good vaudeville show of nine •acts at the Riverside, with about half a houseful on Monday night despite good weather. The bill was headlined by the Fairbanks Twins assisted by Richard Keene in a kid song and dance review of light plot. The twins dance gracefully and are youthful, but beyond that the act belongs to Keene, who is the only member of the trio who can read lines Intelligently. The act is.limited by the talents of the girls. It has narrowed down to almost a succession of music cues. The tran- sition from childhood days to grown- up land contains a piece of business that was first done by strolling players during the Elizabethan pe- riod. It is the business of a lover mistaking a twin for her sister. The turn pleased here, but was far from a riot. The first half of the bill contained plenty of strength. Tim and Kitty O'Meara opened with fast double dancing that landed despite a noisy incoming house. Roxy La Rocca, the harpist, scored heavily deucing. La Rocca jumped into the Riverside from Eddie Mack's window. Mack is the Times Square clothier in whose establishment Roxy staged a harp marathon last week. The mu- sician inveigled the house into whis- tling his accompaniments, and after that it was write your own ticket. Eve Lynn-Claude HiJson and Co. (New Acts) next made them laugh with their farce comedy musical ^ketth, "The Awkward Age." The players have evidently been playing the turn for a long time, but not In the east. Frank Dixon in Paul Ge- rard Smith's "Lonesome Manor," which hn* eome to be known aa the "out of town newsstand" act, hit tin ro where they lived here with his "hick" character and local cracks. Dixon evidently had a theatre party in. for several of his cracks con- vulsed one portion of the house. Dixon is an excellent type for the turn and is neatly assisted by an unprogramed girl. Smith has fitted him with a corking vehicle, which BRIGHTON The Brighton started its 14th sea- son Monday. This year the house opened a week earlier than usual because of the new Coney Island Boardwalk having its official open- ing this week with the consequent possibilities of catching customers from the new promenade. George Robinson controls and manages the Brighton as In past seasons, and the same policy of two a day big time vaudeville obtain* as 1»hh been the custom since the house started in 1909. Lawrence Goldle is sup- plying the bills this year through the Keith office. Monday night the Brighton was sold out to an association of Brook- lyn park employees. The show went over well, especially the acts hold- ing broad comedy like the knock- about tumbling or the Brlants, the wop conversational exchanges of Freda and Anthony and the tough dancing bit in the Millard and Mar- fin act. The big hit of the evening went to the Vincent Lopez Band. Tho harmonists were spotted clos- ing the first half. That was prob- ably so the band could get to the Pennsylvania Roof on time. Plac- ing the Lopez band in the middle of the show as it was did not help the running of the bill any, how- ever. The Llttlejohns opened with jug- gling, backed up by a beautiful stage setting featured with count- less rhlneatonea. The woman of the act does an Oriental dance that is gracefully executed and artistically costumed. There isn't so much to the costume, but that's what makes it attractive. The act made an ex- cellent opener. Millard and Martin second totaled their best score with the Bowery danclm? bit at the fin- ish. It's been done thousands of times in vaudeville, but the team make It appear fresh and new through capable handling. The girl is cuteness personified. The make- up could be modified to advantage. The talk made the house yell and the dancing topped off nicely. The Brlants surprised the cus- tomers with their opening. "When the larger of the two men started tossing the smaller chap around the sta«e as if ho were a dummy the house sat back and roared with delight. It was the second silent turn of the bill, but the audience wasn't silent by any means. Kdna Leedom and Dave Stamper didn't have a particularly easy time of it fourth. The smart cracks were a bit too wipe seemingly for the unsophisticated Brooklynites, and quite a f'-w of the snappy retorts rolled out through the exits. A remark about Altoona didn't mean a thing to the house. If Canarsle had been substituted for that local it would have been a wow. The clowning of Miss Leedom hit 'em in more spots than It missed 'em. but the act was apparently a trifle too Ritzy for the Monday night au- dience. Several bows at the finish, but the stopping of the bow music put a quick finish to tin lends. Outran and Marguerite did nicely, opening aft. t Intermission. The va- rious doubles are finely executed. and Miss Marguerite's toe dame and Gniran's single both clicked neatly, Following and next to clos- ing, Freda and Anthony were made to order for the first nighters. Freda plays the guitar rcmarkabry. In fact he makes a musical instru- ment out of it. No faking, but in- telligent execution, marked with ex- pression. The team were the sec- ond to do an imitation of Gallagher 81 ST ST. Business Monday evening was about 50 per cent, off, perhaps due to absence of a "name.'' lbach's Kn- tertainers, a fair jazz band, seemed to bo the featured attraction, or maybe Rita Gould was what in old- fashioned vaudeville vernacular would be called the "headliner. - ' Whatever advantages the wise and far-seeing vaudeville magnates vis- ualize In the program type of billing, there can be no doubt that vaude- ville has lost a psychological some- thing in banning the old system. A headline name looked like a head- liner even if it wasn't one when it was smeared over all In preponder- ant type; it made one feel that it was his own error or ignorance If he didn't knoWj or knew and didn't like, an act so conspicuously presented. Now if one doesn't know the acts the fashion of advertising them en- courages the default. At any rate, there was nothing in this bill that seemed to be awaited with advance eagerness. One by one the turns came on and did their rou- tines. They got laughs when they were funny and applause when they finished, but they weren't met coming. Rockwell and Fox took all the honors worth, recording. This surc- flro pah* of witty satirists have a bunch of bananas that they drag Into view with the promise of presenting them to those who appladd. Several were given out and were fruitful of great results. The old material is crowded up to the start of the se- quence now, and still goes big. The banana episode filled In the middle and the burlesque music held dandy and took these whacking comics off to salvos. Miss Gould did not fare so well. She worked hard and was well taken at several junctures, but her blues encore petered out. She reappeared later with the Ibach act and was not urged to prolong her stay, aa her business was practically a repetition of earlier maneuvers, and the whole thing seemed without call or justifi- cation. Miss Gould here did an old song that can hardly get over any longer, and while that type of work is her best It cannot overcome pro- hibitive odds. Chung Hwa Trio (formerly Chung IIwa Comedy Four) is the same small-time deuce act It always seemed to be cast for. The singing was shrill and without harmony in threesome and meaningless in the singles. The Scotch finish for com- edy niuffed because it was neither Chinese nor Scotch—neither a good Imitation nor a wise burlesque. Per- haps no one else in the house got the same reaction, but this reviewer gleaned one smile all his own when the Celestials did two "I want to go home to Dixie" ballads; that was about what that school of lyrics needed to make them as ridiculous as they really are. When Chinese sing that they, want their Southern mammies—and do It "with feeling," and the audience takes it seriously, too—that's the tip-off on a lot of show-stoppers. Nihla, In a neat slide-shifting pos- ing turn on a pedestal, in white silk Kellermanns, opened as befitted a mild, milk-and-water starter with nothing that one can rail against but nothing that a critic anxious to be a good scout can rave about, either. Miss Nihla has a nice figure, and that lets her in and out. McLaughlin and Evans, that up- and up East Side couple with the low-down stuff by Benny Ryan that always scores (at least In Manhat- tan), were well liked, but didn't tip anything over here. In more int.- mate theatres they goal 'em. if Rockwell and Fox had any rivals, 1 however, this was the runner Up. lbach's jazzers are about as good as the next small vaudeville band. There is also a boy who steps out and dances, with no sensational ef- fect, and the principal sax player does an effective solo and stand* forth in the ensemhle work. Ibach will never cause Whiteman or Lopes any insomnia, though for a lf« minute bit it is snappy, fast enter- tainment. It would be a great band If It were the only one doing it. ami is a fair band as it is. Lmt. FIFTH AVE. The first half layout wax shy « n singing with but one of the eight acts bringing forth any vocal work. Talking predominated with the ».«.«i\ of the bill being r.i\*n over almost entirely to talk of various styles, Jennhr Brothers opened the show with their fast acrobatic work on the double trapeze. The two men are capable and snappy. Their ap- pearance in golf togs is In their favor, and the work up to a high standard. They made way for tin- Browne Slaters, two girls playing Rccordtone. The sisters presented a varied routine of numbers dis- playing genuine musical ability. Their efforts met with Immediate approval with the audience Monday evening demanding the** return al- ter the lights had been Towered f"i the next act. "Just Out of Knickers." A Jhw- nile sketch, held forth No. 3. The sketch Is up to the minute and con- tains a direct appeal through the style of characters It employs. It is a laugh-producing vehicle and nicely handled by the present play-