Variety (July 1923)

2 ?:#»3U^':a^^ff *: ■?»■ *-" t crf .tt' -, .■. ■N.*^«j:f'-.'-".»» •-. i' r *■*"»■ avv •■'."-y ■^' Wednesday, July 4, 1923 NEW SHOWS nils WEEK 'Mr ?R'Pi; K-t-v^. "t: .,4»*^ :' ''■,'.•"'^7"?',,( f .'»■ ■l.,*?^,*. >«i.-— ■» arcc PALACE < TM corrent Palace bill la mori of t^ booflotf TOnteat than a Taudevtlla pbow. Plenty of danolnr—too mnoh bv far—althousrii It waa all rrcat ' iiteDPing, but too UtUe variety, with ^ tfie Inevitable aameness. giving the ^abow a cut-and-dried atmosphere. Nine acts and seven with dancing were about four too many paying their respects to Terpsichore. •T>anclng Week" would fit it nicely. Might be called*kiddles week as a r BUPPlementary title. Probably a follow up on the Singer's Midgets the week before. Five yoangstera appeared throughout the show. An- other item of interest wa.i the start- ing of an Jn<l'.'hnlte engagement by liopez's orchestra. Ideal show weather Monday night brought out a cood crowd—somewhat ocner thm any Monday In the last four or five ' weeks, the boxes scattered vacan- cies showing the only truants. The Hennlngs started it with a hat-and-club Juggling turn that wound up with the boy plant of the : act coming on the stage and wowing •em with Juggling, buck and wing- ing and sax playing. Versatile kid whQ will be heard from as he goes along. The Four Diamonds, No. 2, fur- jiished a real surprise for the Palace. It isn't often they panic 'em on sec- ond at the Palace, but the Diamonds did It, going for a speech. Two kid ' entertainers In the turn are wonders. They harmonize tunefully, both hav- ing sweet voices, and both dance like fiends. The Palace couldn't get enough of the kids Monday night. The man and woman in the act'are also capable performers, the man ~ being an especially good dancer. The act Is set now for anything. This week at the Palace will establish ■ them on the top of the heap. William Kent and Co., third, with bis last season comedy sketch, . "Shivers." The sketch means noth- '. Ing. Just a collection of old gags strung loosely together furnishing an excuse for Kent's souse charac- terization. The latter is well done. The Palace maintained its rep as the champ laughers at old gags by nearly rolling into the aisles at such ancient quips as "A man sold his wife to a blind man for $1.50—that's a dirty trick to stick a blind man," . and others Just as milldewed. Kent's personal popularity carries the act, but he should have a regular vehicle If remaining in vaudeville. Jim McWilliams pianologed bis way into favor with a routine of nifties and familiar piano stuff. It's also a question of knowing how with IfcWilliams. He sells 'em and sells 'em right. The travesty opera stuff landed its usual knockout punch Monday night. McWilliams is an excellent comic with a good style who can make familiars sound new. The Lopez band has a new drop showing the exterior of the Penn- , eylvania Hotel. This Is transparent with a gradual illuminating ar- rangement bringing the band into ' Tlew. The current program is varied and contains a fine balance of selec- tions. An old favorite, "flagging . the Scales." was utilized to show Lopez' piano technic to advantage. Some of the selections are accom- panied by scenic effects, as for- merly. One has a toy shop back- ground and another shows a Red Cross nurse in a military scene. There is Jazz stuff with muted ef- fects and soft croony southern stuff for contrast. The Lopez organiza- tion has worked into a perfectly co- ordinated musical combination. Lo- pez closed the first half and went •ver for his regulation bit of oratory. Seed and Austin, opening the first - half and making the house yell with their knockabout stuff. The danc- ing also scored. A surefire comedy team that can hold any old spot and . get 'em. Williams and Vaneesl. assisted by two mali pianists, next and holding ' the house Interested all the way with songs and dances. Miss Wil- liams has a knack of delivering Jazz songe that will make her In Jlg- tlmc in the east. Miss Vanessi Is a looker and dancer of ability. The act Is a Fanchon and Marco pro- duction, originating on the coast. It's a welcome addition to vaude- ville. Harry Delf next to closing, pre- ceding and Introducing "Sun- showors" (New Acts). Mr. Dclf had his work cut out for him, following All the dancing bofoio, buL lie made the grade nicely. BeJl. RIVERSIDE The best show th.> Riverside has housed in weck.s, probably playing bettor on account of the best Mon- day night turnout since the recent hot switch, but n?orc probably due to the Plover b.'onding of tlie acts .inrl a b.'vng-up fast show, starting with the No 2 act, which usually augers a good start. Combe .and Nevins, .in the deuoo hole, sang their way to unusual re- --lurns and didn't steal any bows or attempt any milking. Kdiia Aug. third in a rather weak sketch, w.\s •leverly Handwiched. The act is spotty. Miss Auk'.«j monolog gel« ovor. but her actlnrr «li.of?n t. The "inr^ing of James M«)orc al.so helps , hold up the turn. It i« a dream idea ^vitb a switch, allowing Mi:!3 Aug to introduce her "scrub woman," «i 'liaracter popular with vatidovillr' ^<in>, of a decade aj^o. <jCorge Austin Moore, as.slsted by Cordelia Ha««r, next; picked the •bow right up again. Mr. Moore's moDolog of eouthern stories in the middle of the act went over big. Mlu Hager made am "audience" en- tranca for some oroaa-flra and three ■onga. all spociala. Neithar has the veatlga of a singing TOioa, 7«t they sell their donblea entertainingly, due to personality and ring generalship. They liked the team immensely here. Karyl Norman closed the first half and was the proverbial riot. Nor- man did two new numbers with gor- geous costumes for each. They were "Midnight Rose" and a mammy song, both plugged In a verbal intro- duction. Eddie Weber conducted from the pit, Norman having dis- pensed with the piano on the stage. Norman unquestionably possesses the \'olce of the Impersonators. Norman sang several of his songs in his double-voiced manner, removing the wig for the male version. A peculiar touch are his arms. When doing his Creole he hasn't any more muscle than a Jellyfish, but In the male character his arms bunch up like a weight lifter. He's a sure-enough feature. A green Spanish costume of crownless hat and fringed skirt pulled a gasp from the women. For "Midnight Rose" he wore a red blouse and vel- vet skirt for an American Apache effect. A couple of speeehes and en- cores In "one" were demanded be- fore they would let'him off. After intermission the house stood and sang patriotic songrs. The Top- ics followed. Just so-so this week, and Fables. Coming attractions next, then Elizabeth Brlce In her song cycle, with Leo Mlnton at the piano. Miss Price's act remains the same, with the exception of two new popular songs she has added to re- place "Whistle" and another one. Jack Wilson, next, did over 30 minutes. After Wilson had milked them dry he trotted out a diminutive mite in bell-hop unle and blacked up for Imitations of Pat Rooney, Jolson and a song and dance that stopped the turn on the encore. Miss Aug was dragged out by Wilson for some cross-fire, also Miss Brlce. Wilson kissed Miss Brlce. leaving her mostly under cork. Wilson had them in the hollow of his hand from his opening crack. His straight man, Chas. Forsythe, is the usual Wilson straight, a type inau- gurated by PYanklyn Batle years back. Forsythe sings well, but strains too much in his efforts to top Wilson for comedy relief. A little more repose and he will have it. Adele Ardsley, the third member, looks well and has a voice. In addi- tion she opposites Wilson In one or two of his comedy bits, reading her lines in bang-up style. Wilson finally started a speech, got a laugh in the middle of It and called it a night. The Sun Fong Lin troupe followed and did a complete act. letting the show run way overtime. The Chi- nese evidently never heard of cut- ting a few minutes or were anxious to show the entire routine of magic, contortlonlng, etc.. to some one opt front, for they were trickling out on them steadily all through. At that it's a real interesting standard Chink turn. Lillian and Henry Zlegler opened with their body-balancing turn, get- ting applause from the stunts atop the table and lamp cover. The clos- ing "walk up" trick with the appa- ratus la a novel and strong finish. Con. STATE A eap^lty audience downstairs and half capacity upstairs (not so bad for this season of the year) got full value for their admission fee with this program tha first half, opening with ' an overture, "The "American Patrol," excellently played by the State orchestra. The Romas Troupe, six men in summer suits, whose acrobatic tricks are big time, followed. But their comedy is decidedly small time. Opening In a pyramid formation, three of the nren next show a fiying pitch to a hand-to-hand stand, a dandy trick, with the edge taken off It by comedy stalling. More of the same follows, with a dance that nfeans nothing. In view of the excel- lent tumbling Immediately after. One of the boys does an exception- ally high layout back and some close side somersaults which made the audience gasp. Both tricks are dan- gerous All are fine acrobats, and if they can be persuaded to cut out the comedy the art can open or clo^jc even betttr bills than this one. Cbadwick and Taylor, a mixed col- ored te.im. sang, danced and talked to the satisfaction of this audience, and can hold this spot (2) on tlie rest of this time. Frazer and Bunoe, two <'h.'u's who look very much alike and dress to accentuate the likenes.s, have a very attractive special drop, the practical comedy results from which {imply iop«Ty Its cost. Their opener is a cleverly written sonK. and sounds iike special material. .A Minait rouiiiio of Wise dialog f? fol- lowed by a solo ballad well sung by the sfraij^bt ?nan, with well-plnred interruptions by the comedian, whi>h get all the laughs without killi >k tin song or disguising the fact th.tt th<' straight niiin has a good voire. •Some more bright dialog, du.in" which the comoili.Tn pulls a real ba- nana from a painted bun<'h of tii ■ same «on the drop), and the pra'^ti- cal letter box into which he drops the peel, aa well a« tha practical window above, bring* laughs and even applause, showing that a spe- cial drop is Justified in aoma oases. An especially clever aong Introduc- ing the better known commodities one sees advertised on bfllboards is a good closing number for an act which ia ripe for the big time. Fred Lindsay and Co. has a pretty woodland scene with a campflre ef- fect which received a big hand at the rise of the curt%ln. With an an- nouncer using punctilious English In his explanations of the different tricks, two well schooled, naity- looklng girls and another man as- sistant, Lindsay gives an expert ex- hibition of the possibilities of the Australian stock whip, with a thong of from 15 to 25 feet long, while the stock or handle is but 18 inches. It Is the same clever act which he did before Joining up with the English army in the Big Quarrel, in which, his announcer states, Lindsay achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. The act went^over big, but his unnecessary speech after nearly spilled the beans for him. Jimmy Savo and Joan Franza (New Acts) were followed by Billy Hughee and Co. and a Famous-Lasky picture, "The Rustle of Silk." slderabla tribute when it Is figured that many of the audience were from New York and adjacent towns. Ellsa, Eduardo. Angel and Jose are the high mark of dancers, doing their type of work, which consists of Spanish symbolic dances, ordi- narily eight In number but cut to conform with the spot and lateness of the hour. The Castle should be a money maker for the far-sighted B. S. Moss, who is accredited one of the best "locaters" In vaudeville. His Judgment In building in growing communities Is uncanny. George HoUoway Is managing the house. Von. CASTLE, LONG BEACH A new B. 8. Moss combination picture and vaudeville house opened Thursday night (June 28) at Long Beach, the fast growing aummer resort on the Atlantic Coast. The house la located on the board- walk, in front of "Castles by the Sea." It is a beautiful l.SOO-seater, with a color scheme in gray and blue. A two-floor house with about 1,100 seats downstairs and no boxes. The acale will be $2.20 top for Saturday and Sunday nights. The policy Is to be straight pictures changed daily Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday, with Keith vaudeville, two shows daily, the last half of the week. The premiere found the house Jammed by a representative summer crowd. An excellent vaudeville bill of seven big time acts and the weekly was enthusiastically re- ceived. Prior to the performance, Al Her- man (In white face) Introduced Mayor William H. Reynolds of Long Beach. The mayor in his speech promised support from the adminis- tration and the residents of Long Beach. The show opened with "An Artistic Treat," one of vaudeville's best posing acts. Elach of the poses received Individual applause. The No. 2 turn. The Diamonds, hung up an applause record that will probably stand for many moons. The four dancers were a riot The two kids stopped the act cold with their vocal number, harmonizing a pop song and then re-stopped it with their double dance. The girls' ballad with the kids as newsboys pantomiming the lyric Is a new bit, replacing "My Man." The act went louder than the breakers. Joe Fejer and his Hungarian Or- chestra followed In a well-selected repertoire, which Included the Hun- garian Rhapsodle No. 2. "Blue Dan- ube Waltz," and his own violin solo, "Chansion Bohemian." "Crinoline Days" and "Bamballna" were en- cores. The orchestra runs to strings and piano, mostly all of the men being finished musicians. Mr. FeJer exhibited considerable temperament when the spotlight man had trouble with his carbons. His exhibition of temper was tmwarranted on a first night. They liked the act here. Bums and Lynn followed with their novel singing and dancing rou- tine. Both are big league steppers. The comedy make-ups of sap and sapollo got them some laughs. One or two familiar bits are sandwiched In, as the removing of a red neck tie when the leader addressed one as "Miss," etc. It's a well-routined act otherwise and bound to ent "tain. Miss Juliet, next, with imitations, opens with a bit of characterizing in which she portrays different peo- ple trying on hats. The treatment reminds of her brother, Harry Delf, credited with authorship of theljTrlc. A metropolitan girl lunching In the D. & D. restaurant was another bit that drew laughs, although a trlfie draggy In spots. Her imitations fol- lowed. A poster lowered from the files with the names of the stars, an old bit of hers, served as the In- .s))iratlon for the "requests." Wil- ton Lackaye was- asked for but dodged. Mr. Lackaye occupied an aisle seat. The Intermission was dispensed with and Morton and Glass followed, '^eoring one of the hits In "April Showers." The pair followed all of the dancing. The act Is an Ideal one for a summer bill. They cashed In heavily. Al Herman, next to closing, prob- ably never went better In his career. The Castle is a great house for dialog. They get everything. Her- m;in milked tbrm dry. Herman has boon accused of purloining material and several other vaudeville crimes, but no one can accuse him of lack of showmanship. What the black- fjice comic doesn't know about working on an audience Isn't worth more than a handful of Cerman !.iarlcs. The Cansiros. more d.Tnring closed a long bill that ended about n..10 ;uid hold them solidly. Thr attention paid the act was u K:on- AMERICAN ROOF Music week is being celebrated a week ahead of time at the Amer- ican, with every act on the bill, first half, except the opener and closer, using at least three pop numbers. The show the first half was palh- fully weak in comedy and dancing, but there is enough Tin Pan Alley product utlllzei' to gladden th« hearts of tbe M. P. P. A., the Song- writers and aU the other organiza- tions that supply the small time with its backbone. The bill holds many unfamiliar names, but new and old alike found It hard sledding with the Monday night audience, which, though large for this house, was particularly un- enthusiastic and tepid. One reason for this may have been the ,poor stage direction. Always bad at this house, it was more exasperating than usual at this performance. Long waits, misdirected pianos and props, shirt-sleeved stage hands In the wings, plainly seen from the side aisles, and that clumsy curtain with the olio lines serve to give the Roof a very amateurish atmosphere. Four new acts on the program: Pete Ortln, opening; White and Grey, second; Morey and Corbin, fifth, and Melrose and Brooks, sixth. Hughic Clark was third with a boisterous but well delivered com- edy song routine. A plant In that box seemingly reserved at this house for song pluggers assists, but Is en- tirely unnecesary as Clark himself has a much better voice. .Some crude talk, concerned chlefiy with the war and with women, gathered a few laughs, and Clark's finishing (^ance, remarkable for a man of liis rotundity, sent him across to a strong hand. Bobby Jarvls and Co. were a dis- appointing headliner. Jarvls has been seen In much brighter vehicles and he needs one now, as his only appreciable personal asset ,1s the ability to perform a fair dance. The present skit concerns his efforts to dodge the wiles of two man-eating fiappers and his final capitulation to a third quiet, unassuming little girl. Not a bad Idea for the tiuree-a- day, but poorly executed, with flat lines and too ludicrous situations. The work of the* leading woman Is the best thing in the turn. She has appearance and personality, can sing and dance, and, eliminating a certain tenaency to Jerklness, should pass along. Barry and Whltledge. next-to- closlng, had a hard time getting started, but finally hit their stride and took the honors of the show. The special numbers used are good, and Miss Barry squeezes them dry. Whltledge, at the piano and feed- ing, ia more of a help than the audi- ence realizes. Daum and Scott closed neatly with a balancing act. These clean- cut looking men show- something new and get all kinds of results. "The Rustle of Silk" with Betty Compson, feature picture, held 'em In. FIFTH AVE. The show the first half was a vast Improvement on the corresponding frame-up the week previous and more nearly approaches the big time mid-season atmosphere that usually obtains and not the pop house speed it 80 strongly suggested the week before. With Al Herman and the Canslnos topping, the show was as- sured of two certain assets, with the support proving right up In the big league clas.siflcation. Amy Dean inaugurated with a versatile routine which has for its kingpin the aerial acrobatics. Miss Dean, a .shapely miss with a wealth of what Is tritely dubbed woman's crowning glory In a long single braid, opens before the olio for a minute of song and dance. Were it not that she was In No. 1 posi- tion it would hardly have suggested a sequel in "three" with gymnastic display. Her versatility embraces song, dance, flying rings, loose tape and conturtive variations on the rings and tape. A male assistant comprises the "and Co." Miss Dean opens .'Ith a song modestly Intro- ducing "I'm a Baby Doll." The lyrics conform with this unassum- ing person.'i] description. Leo Ed- wards and Walter Preston (New Act?') alKO thrust a bit of the ego too much to the fore, with Edwards chiefly to blame. "Hight or Wrung," the Sam Ship- man-Clara LipiTian sketch originally written for Crane Wilbur and Marfhi Mansfield. >*as brightly pre- sented by .'i new fj>nirany heado<l by W'illiatii II. liar«ald. "The farci- <■.-»! roiirt satire hoMs many points of general interest a/Uh a number of psrramiding twists to further diB« tingulsh it. It still haa a once- around wallop to it. Thcr Innia Brothers with their "nut" routlna started snappy, sagged after repeat^ edly perpetrating several Joemilleni and redeemed themselves for tha getaway with the eccentric leg- mania. Cartmell and Harris and Co., the latter an A. K. who pulls some snappy dance work to belle his seeming genuine old age. clicked all the way. The golf dancing is a retainer dressed up. Frank Hurst and Eddie Vogt are comers as big time standards. They still lack distinguishing heft to graduate them Into the chosen few, but Vogt's droll straight and Hurst's sympathetic tenor will take care of that in time. Neither were they immune from delving into the past for puns, such as "Her eyes intoxi- cate me"—"It must be the eyeballa" but they flashed through with t|io stakes contenders. The oloainir hands panto is excruciatingly funny and its finished execution show* painstaking study. The Canslnos preceded Al Her- man, who was in the last slot ao as to embrace everybody for hia whol«-> sale dirt dishing. The Spanish steppers flashed their unique terpal- chore to strict attention. Herman's gagging permits tha audience ample leeway for elaatie interpretation, as usual, and they devoured it. Some of the aura- fires, probably originating with Her- man, have been heard around ao often it is to his detriment Tha Feist plugger in the box olinohad U beyond a doubt A feature film rounded out tha program. ,, Ab0L : 23D STREET - '■■•■«'■.■.' A new summer policy waa placed In effect at the 23d Street this week, with the bill cut from six to five acta for the remainder of tha warm months. In addition to the reduction In the regular bill the profeaalonal tryouts used Monday only for sev- eral months were eliminated. Tha show in its entirety waa drawn ont to its usual length, with the piotnra end taking up the major portion of the time. Roder and Dean, two men. opened with ring work and comedy acro- batics. The turn moved with speed, getting recognition, with Adams and Lllyan (New AcU) No. 2. MolUe Fuller and Co. appeared No. 3. The reel of choruses of old-time songs, flaahed Juat before the curtain rises for the Fuller act, met with instant approval. The well-devised sketch proved a welcome treat, ita dialog bringing genuine response on the strength of the way it is handled. The Bert Savoy name has been de- leted, with Eddie "Mecca" Graham, who does tha Savoy Impersonation, being welcomed by Miss Fuller by his own name and not that of tha deceased female Impersonator. Gra- ham la a bright spot In the turn, hia personation of the well-known im- personator proving a careful study. The downtown audience enjoyed the F'uller offering from start to flniah Monday night Mel Klee drew the next-to-closlag^ assignment, having little difficulty after once under way. A cold hln-^ dered him to a certain extent in the vocal work. Applause waa forth- coming In a satisfactory manner at the finish. Marino Four closed the vaudeville section with "The BroKen Violin" the feature picture. Hart. TICKET OJETICE OBSTACLES Continued from page 11) rated. It is not a theoretical sltu« atlon, but one which has been con- sidered on the advice of counsel by one managerial firm. That ia a problem which led to^ another. It concerns tha right or authority to appoint the person or persons to be placed in charge of the central offlce. There is also a contention tbe proi>08ed central offlce might sup- ply tha basis for a complaint In re- I straint In trade. Though advanced by ticket Interests it may not ba ' an obscure fault to the plan. The many problems of the ticket project have turned attention again to the possibility of the manager* seeking control of the present agen- cies to the extent of preventiay gypping. .. , V ■ :-■ :...„.•;"' /^ T'^y - If It would be possible to have aH existing agencies provide bonds not to sell at excess prices a solution may be arrived at. Managers are wondering whether ' that would not be a more satisfactory procedure than the central offlce experiment It IS assumed that of the approxi- mate 20 brokers most would com- ply to P. Jif. A. regulations, and, if necessary, half of the brokers could bo eliminated. It Is a matter for tliooagencles to regul«te themselves.""" The unpopularity of a monopoly such as the central ticket offlce would be is also recognized as a possibility. That is one feature which j«ay swing away support of the u/oposed offices by some man- aror^. clar^scd as independent the* atrej wn though members of the I'. M. A.