Variety (May 1923)

Thursday, May 24, 1023 NEW ACTS THIS WEEK i «oud1«. with a neat turn, which de Z*rved a better apot. The Luster Brothers opened. Pro- -ram hilling was extensive, perhaps zLort so than any act of the kind. Even stunts were set forth, with arl Luster's back drop from the high pedestal claimed to have taken seven years to accomplish. Jbee. COLONIAL Cool weather and a magnetic bill, with Van and Schenck in the clean- up spot, combined to attract a packed house at the Colonial Mon- day night. Two programed acts Paul Nolan and Co. and Lydla Barry—were out of the bill, replaced by Jackie and Billie and Wayne and Jackie and Billie, a bird act that It a bit different, opened nicely. The Srrot'a dancing is a sure laugh and I animal imitations put many of those attempted by ventriloquists and whistlers in the shade. Barrett and Farnum started slow- er with a vocal effort, but their lancing soon established them as a more-than-acceptable deuce turn. The audience vigorously approved the woman's clog steps and the' man's imitations and eccentric twists. But to obtain a better spot on a big-time bill the act needs a few original touches and some new dialog. This pair of clever perform- ers wasted six or seven minutes with a comedy conversation that netted only two genuine laughs and was, for the rest, senseless and ancient twaddle. Senator Ford delivered one of the wittiest and result-fetching mono- logs in present-day vaudeville. The laughter is never uproarious, but it Is continuous, appreciative and gen- eral throughout the theatre. With- out makeup or costume of any de- scription, Ford depends upon his de- livery and material entirely. Fourth spot was held by Nellie Arnaut Co., a girl and two boys, pre- senting a novelty violin and dancing turn. Good applause was accorded one of the boys after playing the "Meditation" from "Thais'' in an ex- ceptional manner. The rest of the act consisted mainly of dancing and fiddling in unison by all three. The Colonial crowd seemingly enjoyed It. Wayne and Warren have a spar- kling little two-act. The team's work is remindful, but the very diversity of associations demon- strates their ability. It is the type usually content to hold down next- to-closing and quietly rest on their merits for years, but, fired with the proper ambition, they should im- press and pass along. Van and Schenck offered practi- cally the same song routine as at the Palace last month. No taking it away from those boys; they're a couple of show busters. They sang •ix numbers, followed by three en- cores, with Joe Schenck in the pit after the stage piano had been re- moved. However, it cannot be de- nied that their choice of material is not always up to their capabilities. "Quicksands," with Helene Chad- wick and Richard Dlx, was an ac- ceptable feature picture. tine. Is nicely developed from the cafeteria opening with Barton, a vio- linist and stepper, Introducing the specialties as "chicken fricassee" (sister team), "shrimp cocktail" (diminutive Jazz stepper), etc. Bar- ton does an unannounced impression of Herman Timberg's squat dance, including the goggles, derby and short Prince Albert props. The act runs 25 minutes and could stand some cutting. After a while the re- peated alternation of the specialties becomes noticeable. The elimination of one specialty by the sister team and fhe violiniste called Mabel (a peacherino) would accomplish that. Oeorgie Stone (from the lobby bill- ing) is evidently the eccentric step- per, and a pip. Elsie Barton, alias Mabel, displays her shapeliness in becoming abbreviated attire, and Belle and Lillian Dyer, the sister team, work hard and to good pur- pose with their specialties. The St. Louis Serehaders merely accompa- nied throughout. Abel ■ S SSS BROADWAY With the Milk Fund fight pictures to supplement the usual attraction of a snappy vaudeville show and a feature film, the house pulled strong business throughout Monday. Ap- , parently the McAuliffe-Firpo and *h° with a w Willard-Johnson scraps were the prime attraction for a certain ele- ment in the house, which greeted the films with considerable gusto and departed at their conclusion. The pictures become noticeable by the titling, which catered strongly to the popular sympathy for big Jess' comeback and discounted Johnson's gameness in doing all of the leading, only taking cognizance of it in the latter rounds. While Jess looks fit he was comparatively slow alongside the aggressive Floyd. Morelle's Dogs opened. They were known as Morelle's Toy Shop at one time. It would be to the man's ad- vantage to be less energetic in put- ting the canines through their paces. Mis desire for speed, besides de- tracting from the ease and general effect of the tricks, hints strongly of not too gentle rearing of the animals. Morelle was met with some hissing when he swung one little terrier hanging by his two front paws. Dave Koth lifted the show up with his versatile display of piano work, violin and dancing. The closing "dummy" dance, a new number, left no doubt about his favorable im- pression. He stopped the show for an extra bend. "Doubt" (New Acts). A] and Fanny Stedman established themselves with their variegated nonsense and were sen 1, off to a spontaneous farewell. Wilde Schenk and Co., the aristocrat of panto- mimic acrobatic productions, held down the spot effectively. This is no common or garden variety of "dumb act." It exudes class, dis- tinction and cha^m, made so be- cause of its continental mounting. The topmounter, a miss with a mir- sieal comedy figure and the agility of .i \eterun aeu.bat. r!i;I her stuff to excellent effect. Schenk Is a con- summate showman, and that takes AMERICAN ROOF Considerable time elapsed before the Roof show got under way with any degree of success Monday night. Not until the latter portion of the No. 3 act did the audience begin to show any signs of life with what had gone before passed up with practi- cally no notice. Mack and Lane gave It a start. The early portion of the couple's routine, consisting of talk, went for naught. The first signs of returns came with Mack's stepping, with the applause building up from then on. They gathered in one of the applause hits of the even- ing once they got under way. Louis Leo opened the show with balancing work on a ladder. His efforts brought mild returns, with Lockhard and Leahy, No. 2, falling to build up the show, making it difficult for Maok and Lane, following, with their kid- ding work in the early section of their routine. The Jack Connors Revue, a dancing act, with three girls and an equal number of boys, closed the first half. All of the mem- bers are diligent, with the speed of the act proving one of its biggest assets. The team of male steppers took first honors with some excep- tional eccentric work. This act gave the early section a helpful lift. Lillian Morton, singing published numbers, opened after intermission and tied up the show. Miss Morton possesses a likable style and anima- tion which helps her to a marked degree. She has reached the point in the single-woman class where it would be to her advantage to annex a restricted number or two which would always be associated with her. She reaches a high level with pop numbers, and with something of her own, nothing In the way of two-a- day should be out of reach. Carl and Inez followed on the heels of Miss Morton, going along smooth- ly with a nicely routined skit con- taining several worth-while features. Comedy of a quiet nature hit a re- sponsive chord, with the audience greeting the couple's efforts with genuine approval. Collins and Pil- lard, next to closing, were among the laugh winners of the evening. Collins, following closely the bur- lesqus style, garnered laugh after laugh with his low comedy. Pillard, a corking straight, gained several points for the combination. The team held up for 16 minutes in the heavy spot. Sclma Bratz closed the ell-worked-out Jug gling mainder, hut as comedy pan torn im- ists they are superb. Nothing is going to stop this team. Following this riot, Harry Kahne, the mentalist, proceeded to score his owa litt'e hit. His showmanship is improving steadily, and hs is striv- ing more than formerly to have his audience amused as wall as mysti- fied. The neat manner in which he took an unthinking wag upstairs over the coals at this performance demonstrated that his quick think- ing is not merely mechanical. Next to closing is a tough spot for thi* Kind of a turn, but Kahne did more than might be expected. The climax was supplied by Will- iams and Wolfus, with 30 minutes of clowning. This act slowed up a bit when Williams added innovations and new props about two years ago, but now it has recovered all of its' old humor and irresponsibility and is funnier than ever. INSIDE STUFF ON VAUDEVILLE STATE An ordinary bill for a house of the class of Loew's State was not helped by the freak overture, "A Year of Hoi! lays," which the management thought enough of to hill outside with the first half acts. The Three Danoise Sisters gave the show a good start with a gym- nastic exhibition on single and dou- ble trapezes, sustained; by one of the sisters (who works in the high cradle all the time), and also on the Roman rings. The bright apparatus and becoming costumes, with the good looks of the girls, plus speed, qualify the act for the better houses. Ellis and Parsons, a conventional two-men singing act, opened with a harmonized duet. Each did a solo, and they finished with another duet, encoring with a number of choruses of old-time songs. Parsons, a light bass. or heavy baritone, is partial to gestures of the spasmodic variety which might well be eliminated. Both have better than average voices, and this audience gave them plenty of encouragement. Marston and Manley worked apathetically and were so evidently bored the gallery noticed it Nd sophisticated audience will stand for an act beg- ging applause, such as "If I get three bows for this song," etc., and "If I get a lot of applause after this I'll yodel for you." And, regarding the gags, what a memory! Jordan and Saxton Co. (2) got lots of laughs with their comedy sketch and pleased an audience there to be amused. The Morley Sisters (Dorothy and Alice) were the hit with harmony singing and the dialogue along intimate family lines. The comedienne has a nat- ural ease with which she handles her character and material that is without meaningless mugging and superfluous gesture. To allow of more action it might not be a bad idea for the girls to work without the settee during the dialogue. Sit- ting still on the stage is not a good Idea, especially in comedy conversa- tion, where a little action often helps to point a smart remark. With a little more pep the act is a can- didate for the big time. Five Versatile Steppers (also billed outside as the Dance De Luxe) (New Acts), followed, and a Paramount picture, "The*Leopard- ess," Alice Brady, closed the show. Fred Wagner, treasurer of Kelth'e Palace, until a few weeks ago. when the box office was shake i up as the result of the house's battle with nearby ticket speculators, was with the Keith office for 11 years, originally hav- ing been employed in Philadelphia. He was given no notice of dismissal nor was he asked questions by the management regarding "charges" which were that the ticket specs had a $5,000 fund to be given the Palace box office men if they lost their jobs, that he operated an automobile and that his wife was recently robbed of a sable coat. Wagner declared the fund a Joke, that ha bought a second hand car a year ago and that bis wife never had a fur coat. Wagner was known as "hard" in the matter of getting tickets, although plenty of Palace "locations" did reach the specs and it is claimed they still do, despite the box office safeguards. Bill Rldgeway, who was assistant treasurer, was formerly treasurer of Madison Square Garden, and con- ducted the ticket sale for the Dempsey-Carpentier fight at Boyle's "Thirty Acres" two summers ago. An agent whose marital affairs are in the troubled state of pending divorce has found an affinity. She ie a comedienne not so long ago divorced herself. The giff's vaudeville appearances are teamed with a composer who is/said to have been quite courteous, it being customary for him to present her with a bottle of Scotch upon saying goodnight, The liquor Is then consumed by the girl and the agent. Houdinl, in speeches in California during his tour of the Orpheum circuit, has not hesitated to state that, in his opinion, Sir Conan Doyle has encountered fakers in his spiritualistic researches. ft Acts just returned from the Southwest are telling of an ordinance passed by the City Council of Oklahoma City and which is.being agitated throughout the State, for the previntisn of an comedy comment on preachers, priests and others of the cloth. The Oklahoma City regula- tion is called "The Preacher Protection" ordinance, and forbids any dis- respectful mention or allusion to preachers of any denomination, and is being strictly enforced. Capt. Irving O'Hay was approached by a vaudeville agent with the proposition of framing a vaudeville act by cutting down some of his chatter, for which the soldier of fortune has become well known as an after-dinner speaker. O'Hay countered that he couldn't possibly do this unless he cut out a couple of wars. O'Hay fought with several armies for as many nations and his reminiscences go back to his military experi- ences. in considerable territory Gordon and Ford, reunited after 8 hi ef split, strutted ihHr nonsense to unquestionable favor. Burt Gor- don's low comedv mugging and gag- ging 'clicked, as" ever, with Mis* Ford's straighting as *he \< teacher making excellent foil 1 < nny Barton's M< \ >.• s i ln< p» pie tong»danc< jnzz hand 81 ST ST. ^here were few vacant seats at the 81st Street Tuesday night. The strong draw was principally due, no doubt, to the Coogan picture, "Daddy," but the crack-a-Jack vaudeville bill cannot be overlooked as an important factor in the un- usual attendance. All six acts scored heavily, five were forced to encore, four stopped the show, three had to make speeches and two necessitated a relighting of the darkened stage. The succession of hits started with Ben Beyer, a comedy cyclist work- ing European style. His turns and twists on a single wheel are particu- larly well executed, and several of his apparently hazardous stunts had the crowd gasping. It is theatrical psychology that when an audience gasps it inevitably applauds. Count Ferrone and Miss Trix Oll- 'ver, baritone and soprano, with pass- able voices and splendid appearances. bad a carefully selected routine, with- out too much heavy stuff. Thev sang the melodious "Like a Dream," from "Martha," two or three standards, and a light French number that sent them across at the finish with a smash. The woman's voice Is often flat on the. high notes, but the up- town crowd took it all In rapturous- ly, and encores and a speed) were in order. , Laughlln and West In "The Little Speculator" were third. Their danc- ing was appreciated and the hCf»l little skit amused, but not in propor- tion to others on the bill. Clara West has an air of refinement that does much to add distinctiveness and something genteel to the turn. Mnorc rrrtd Fre**l fourth, »i»li* lhc laurels with Williams and WolfUS. These boys could extract harmony from the drinking of a plate of roup on? plays the meanest harmnV' a since the days of'Bennet! and Rich- ards, while the other is the H« if- I •. of the musical saw. They are fool* With a baby i>k»- and a Hawaii. in guitar, and i en g( t re ognlss ble TtTii vj.- from .' toy ha I oon and n i It ' f ns. Some pros' • fir. talk '•■' in< t <•-''■> : ' I up to tin M 23D STREET The summer policy that recently went into effect at the 23d St. has whittled the bills down to five acts, as against the six and seven of the winter. The tryouts for new acts, a feat- ure of the Monday night bills last winter, have been discontinued. The first half bill showed the effect of the scalpel on the salary list. It played pretty slowly Monday night, the first three acts passing without causing any particular commotion. Rubin and Hall, next to closing, picked the show up and lifted it neatly through the clowning and dancing of the comic. The straight man is excellent except when sing- ing. If he has to sing it would be much better to talk the lyrics. He's a good dancer, straight and acro- batic, and handles the talk in a way that feeds the comic competently. That comic is going to be heard from one of these days. It's Just a ques- tion of time and material. His tech- nlc in general is a composite of all the youthful Hebraic comics that have gone before, but ho marks his style with a certain individuality that registers. And when it comes to dancing he doesn't need to worry about *ny of 'em. The act stopped the show Monday night, and that was a feat of legerdemain, for the house was about as lively as a ceme- tery preceding the team's entry. The Blossom Heath Entertainers. Jazz hand (New Acts), closed, and Sig, Franz and the comb? of I he Rubin and Hall combination both did impromptu specialties, building up the act's score. Sig. Franz Troupe opened with a comedy bicycle act that had Franz doing comedy. His talk is passe and iPrans seems to lark the elements of how to handle taik. The panto Stuff in k'immI < nough and the freak wheels- got 'em, as they always do. There arc two comely gals in the act, who appear In bare-legged costumes, and th- v add sight value - ' i ry time they hop Into view. Miller and Capman deuced it with dancing, singing and talk. They're remarkably good dancers, with step- pers' voices. Shine especially well i . . • i .<■ si uff. Will Rogei n would i • ? ui ) : i«eil if he < \er Despite coast reporli: that Fatty Arbuckle Is doing nothing, and will start to professionally dance In Chicago soon, advices from Hollywood nay Fafty is making two-reel comedies with Harry Tighe and Ned Sparks. The first one is well regarded by those who have seen It. Tighe dropped off the P&ntages Circuit after becoming suddenly 111 and going to a hospital. The New York Pantages office up to last week didn't know where he was. Felix Adler Is going to try gagging for the Fox picture people on tha coast. He may also act in some of the Fox comedies. Tom Barnes who returns to vaudeville out there this week with his wife, Bessie Crawford, has but four weeks open before he resumes picture making in "Ruggles of Red Gap." A promotion scheme to secure capital through stock selling campaigns is being worked successfully in the smaller cities by a promoter-architect and a loan company. X ne promoter draws the plans for the theatre and starts the stock selling campaign. His efforts are devoted largely to small Investors, no attempt being made to bring In the money interests of the town. After a certain amount of stock is disposed of the loan company is called In to take the first and possibly the second mortgage after the build- ing has been started, and about half of the amount needed actually secured by the sale of stock. Upon the completion of the house, should it fall to pay immediately, the promoter make* his departure and the stockholders are confronted by the loan company. The latter Is prepared to step in at any time and press its claim if the interest on the mortgage is not paid and perfectly willing to take over the property under foreclosure. The promoter in the mean- time leaves for another location to start a similar project. The Idea was recently worked on Long Island where It is panning out satisfactorily for the promoter and loan company, although the local investors have been up in arms about the matter for some time. About the only piece ot water front property on Coney Island not secured through lease or purchase by new Interesti Investing there is said to be Feltman's restaurant. Even that is being negotiated for, according to the accounts. The United Cigar Stores and Woolworth people are reported heavily Investing on the Island. It has been brought about by the new Boardwalk. Frontage on the walk is getting $350 a foot for rental. Mo?t if th- stores will be about 10 feet wide. Three large hotels are proposed for the Island, one high class, the other moderate, and the third for popula prices. It is expected Coney sooner or later will compete with Atlantic City as an all-year resort. The Coney Islanders expect Surf avenue wit! bt another looking street within a couple of years, and the cheap places of that thoroughfare pushed back to tbf Bowery l ane , if the Howery remains, doubted by some of them. Six years ago Savoy and Brennan last appeared as a vaudeville act at the Palace, New York. At that time they received $350 salary for the week. This week the two boys are back at the Palace at $1,500. In ootween they have appeared In production!"*, going from vaudeville to the Zlegfeld "Follies" at $550, and leaving the "Greenwich Village Follies'' last week at $1,250 to return to vaudeville. . , The legits often have pleasant ways when entering into vaudeville that vaudcvlllians, going through the same routine season after season may overlook. It was l-rought out Monday when Lou Tellegen sent a congratulatory and appreciative wire to his agent, Alf T. Wilton, over the first annhersary of their vaudeville business relations. HV. TelTegen ll playing a icturn date with 'Blind Youth" this week in Pennsylvania. caught that imitation of him done by one of the team. H.»! and Fran I were third (New Acts). "The Lone- ly Road" was the feature, Ilia bill also Including n I<• •»• r< el Ma ' S< n n« u com< dy. Belt. The Music Publishers* Associa- tion of the United States -not to be confused with the Music Publishers' tcctlve Association—meets in convention at the Hotel Astor. New Vnrk. June U'-l3. '- a