Variety (August 1923)

2S SHOWS THIS WEEK r<»?.. ..•rj.i. , Thursday, August 2, 1823 doln^r nketchcs on the amatl time that can qualify on that acting abil- ity thing. The act Is o. k. for the pop houses, but the couplo are worthy of a hotter vehicle. li'ti a pleasure to watch them even in the trlflinB skit used. Not a badly writ- ten act. but a bit light. Renard and West, next to closing and a laugh from the moment the comedian of the duo uttered the line, "I'll tell the king on you." Good catchline that. The dialog has con- 0lderabIe familiar material, but It wt>rk9 Into the routine naturally In most instances. The team had to come back for a bow after the lights had been doused, which means they killed' em, and they're pretty tough OD the Roof. Adroit Brothers closed with hand- tMklancing and music The team play violin and guitar and violin and ptano In conjunction with head-to- head balancing. A one-handed bal- ance of the mounter by the under- •tander while mounter Is playing Uddle and understander piano Is several excellent tricks The turn held the house BeU. J>ooloy's shrieks. The Yip Yip the vaudeville. falls drew the usual among tho performed. la. Yaphankers closed The quartet niight< contribute something new in place of last season's published numbers which they are now using. The rest of the ofierlng, especially Mellno'e comedy, remain.^ the same as It has been for several seasons, and scored. CITY An In-and-out sort of show the first half at the City, with high and low apots that lifted and dropped It alternately. Closed window* Tues- day night permitted by cool weather gave the talking and singing turns a break by eliminating the distracting street noises abounding in the neigh- bortM>od. In accord with the City's summer policy most of the acts were in "one," six workinf' before the drop, one act in "two", and one in full stage. Business was just about av- erage for the time of year, the weather not helping to any extent, apparently. G«ne Martini, accordionist, opened and did nicely. Good musician, who understands the accordion's limita- tions and grauges his rep according- ly. Pop stuff and the contrasting lilgher class standards, and all well done. Raynor and Butler (New Acts) second and the Two Immigrants (New Acts) third. George P. Wil- son and Co. fourth and going quietly unti the planX In the balcony box got Into action. This woman plant working in the "Wilson turn Is un- usual in that she's so natural while talking and cross-firing with Wilson the audience Is apparently really de~ I time houses celved Into believing her Interrup- tion to be genuine. And In being juet natural as a plant In the audi- ence she's on© In a thousand. Wil- son is an ordinary pianist, but selln his limited musical ability well. The turn secured plenty of laughs. Silvertone Four, a colored male quartet, did songs that held ordinary harmony generally, and in one or two in.'^tances harmony that could hardly be called that. A "spiritual" or camp-meellng number was nicely put over. A trainer In harmony (there are plenty of 'em around the different music publishers) covld find plenty of places to patch up uneven chord ing. Leo Hennlngs and Lillian Akers and a pianist were next with a danc- ing and singing turn notable for class and production. The lightinp is-on a par with a Broadway musical show. Mr. Hennings is shy voice, bnt a good dancer. He sells a song well, however. Miss Akers ecores heavily on appearance and Is a graceful stepper. Good material in the way of songs helps the turn. Sidney Landfleld next to closing GREELEY SQUARE Willie Monday night's attendance could be rated fairly good for this time of the year, that It was great theatre weather made the business appear disappointing. The six-act bill played fast. John S. Blondy and Co got more than the customary single bow, due to an unusual routine of gymnastic stunts offered by the two men and the dog In the offering. Helen Trevette. who formerly used the first name of Irene, may really be Spanish, as she tries to impress on the audience. She does a cycle of published numbers after opening with a Spanish ballad, and singing the second chorus in Knglish. Her voice is pleasing and most of the numbers adapted to her delivery. But the one for an encore is not. Merrlgan and Howard (New Acts) followed, and made way for Hal and JPrancis. who offered a likeable com- edy skit with a bit of drama. The dramatic note ih injected with the news that a l>aby is due. The girl does two vocal solos to good results. Bryant and Stewart were evident- ly kidding the stagehands or some othAr .acta through most of their offering. While it may have -siven ttiemselves a few laughs it didn't mean a thing to the audience. These two boys do a clever nut routine, and if they'd lend their abilities toward entertaining the people out front and not those backstage they'll probably get some place worth while, for they've got the personalities and experience with which to do it. The Four Dancing Demons, two colored couples, closed with some snappy acrobatic, tap. eccentric and any other kind of dancing except clas.sical and toe work which one might think of. They hit solidly. 58TH ST. It's even money tl\e l)cst small- time bill in New York city the first half was at the 58th Street, and it's 8 to & the same bill could have I moved intact into any of the big- mSWS OY DAILIES The romance of Frank AOditore. millionaire etevedor*. and- Irene Wales, one of the many girls for- merly In the "Folllea," ha« appar- ently fait « snag. Audltore and the beauty, upon whom be ahowered 1100,000 worth of gems, which are now being held by customs ofldoials, left together for Europe last AprU, Intending to be married in London. This week they returned, but no longer together, Audltore on the Homeric and tale ez-aweetie on the Leviathan. It wa» reported the mil- lionaire payed marked attention to Irene Hays, a florist, on the boat. Seems to like the name Irene. Some of his diamonds were held by the customs. Paul M. Trebit«(^ personal repre- sentative to this country of Stein- inger. leading producer of Vienna, will make his American managerial debut with "Four-in-Hand." a com- edy of character by Roy Bryant and E. L. Geraten. It will open on Broadway about Labor Day, staged by Victor Morfey. ,;^ *r ' Charles Hackett, American tenor, who has been meeting with remark- a^ble success In Europe recently, has signed to appear with the Chicago Civic Opera Company next season as gueat artist. Among the victims in the fatal railroad crossing accident at Rock- vllle Center, L. I., Sunday were Gladys and Thelma Miller, sisters of 18 and 22, who. according to the dailiee, were formerly on the stage. ^' 15 YEARS AGO (Reprinted from Variety dated Aug, 1, l$Mj '"^^ ':^i i^:^ lierger Ulk was the toadlng topic. All the big theatrical interests wei« reported due for a conference Aug. 4 In New York, at whioli plans wouli ba fana over to discourage sale of theatrea already oparated by tha asaemWed Interests, the too rapid expansion of theatre building and com. petittvt bidding foi atara and "namea." There were reporta of dlaaenslon among tha factiona In the Western State* Managers' Association, with an Intimation that Alexander Pan* togea might withdraw. Tha Orpheum in that territory had entered a deal to leave the amaller houses alone. M. S. Bentham framed the Mike Donlln-Mabel Kite combination. Mies )Uta left "The Merry Qo Round,'' at the Casino, and Donlln was quitting the baseball diamond to start Oct. 19 at Hammersteln's Victoria. EL F. Carruthers resigned as general manager of the Inter-State circuit through Texas and waa aucceeded by B. B. Muckenfuss. up to then Dallas manager for the circuit. Carruthers left the organisation to attend to other interests, which turned out to be the development of an outdoor amusement business. .? ? . .' The Circle, New York, had been on the WllUam Mocrls independent books, but a deal had Just been put through by which it would be re- placed with the Lincoln Square, leased and operated by Charles B. Blaney and playlQg Stair & Havlln attractions. Blaney was In on a percentage arrangement, the poliey to run to the expiration of his lease. It was regarded as opposition to Williams' Colonial, three blocks south on Broadway. •.-■:—..- --j-.^-.--;^^- - .-...-:.■: in Atlantic City and Sam Earle Reynolds and Nellie Anna Lillian of the Irving Place' Theatre Co. was saved from death In the $75,000 Are that destroyed the Whittier Inn, Coney Island, Sunday, when two actors risked their lives to carry her to safety. She ^as sleeping in her room on the second floor, unaware of the flames, when Ludwlg Sacz and Irving Honigman burst in the door and dragged the hysterical woman out. Blaney Beach, wealthy Peoria de- partment store owner, was killed July 26 by a deputy sheriff who had been summoned by a woman to cap- ture a prowler. The shooting took place on the estate of Jane Reming- ton, an actress, who lives in Mor- ris, III. Pauline Hall was a vaudeville feature Shannon was heading a "girl act" . •«:, Donegan had been booked a year solid in their*skating act. Mike Bernard and Blossom Seeley were also booked. . . . "Sheath gowni«" were cceating a sensation on the-streets. One got into the paper when it was worn by Kathrj-n MacDonald, not the picture star, but Percy G. Williams' secretary. ,. . Bert Leslie waa engaged for a musical comedy cafNd 'Fluffy Ruffles," his slang sketch being incorporated into the action. . . . Cal Stewart, "Rube," story-teller, was engaged by the £Mison phonograph people to make records. . . . Mrs. James E. (Lucia) Cooper and Mr. and Mrs. Sam Scribner took 140 hours to motor from Brookville, Pa., to New York, Scribner driving and making his own repairs. I Ted and Betty Healy were the comedy hit, sharing the honors with Mack and Marion (New Acts), two men with a sure-Are small-time or intermediate routine who held down the next to closing notch. The writer wishee to call the at- tention of the bookers of the Keith houses to the fact that Ted and Betty Healy have never played the Palace, New York. Just why an act of this caliber should be over- looked by the bookers of the Palace, where there is an admitted shortage of comedy acts in *one," remains a mystery. Healy has improved muchly and swiftly in the past sea- son. He is one of the niftiest of the ad lib comedians, with a well rou- tined act that would make any assemblage laugh. His partner is a good -«lookinB. well - propor- tioned girl, an excellent foli and a graceful dancer who can and doe« wear attractive wardrobe. Healy hns the assurance that goes with ability, a keen sense of trav- esty and great material. They whammed them here No. 4 and can Oliver Morosco Is contemplating the construction of a theatre with a capacity of 1,200 In the Timee .square vicinity. Edward Margolles Is to build It.. Dave Kraus sold the Dewey and Gotham leases to William Fox, and It was forecast that Empire burlesque shows would play there by a deal with < Fox. Fox was associated with "Big Tim" Sullivan, who was a member of > the Sullivan & Kraus firm. Kraus had takea, over Pastor's and the Gaiety ; in Hoboken and brought them into the Eastern burlesque (Columbia) and this was supposed to have something to do with the Empire transac- tion. . When Cyril Maude was manager of the Playhouse. London, more than ten years ago, he issued a pass to George D. Howard, of a London newspaper. He presented ths to the Brltieh actor one night last week at the Gaiety theatre, and had the plea«?ure of seeing Mr. Maude per- suade the Dillingham representative to honor It. and a wow with wise-cracking and a idupiicate anywhere pianolog that is the best seen around in years. I'crsonality, ability as n comedian and llkewl.se as a song- reader arc a few of LandfirM's handy jittributes as a vaudeville sin- gle. Rut that is no reason why ho should follow an opening style iden- tified with Al Herman and a hun- dred others before him in "talking of the other actors"; nor is it a good reason why Landfleld should be using the gag about the London church bells which Frank Fogarty used so efToctivcly for years. With a wealtli of excellent material, the considerable familiar stuff used by Landfleld wouldn't bo mis.sod by its absence, and the turn would benefit proportionately. Al Llbby and Co. clo.'^cd with a comedy bicycle turn that was there on comedy. "What Am I Bid?" was the fea- ture picture. Bell. 81 ST ST. For a five-act bill good entertain- ment, attended Monday night by goo(l-.slzod audience. Adelaide Bell was responsible for the good beginning, her dance work meeting with sutllcient favor to bring her back for an encore In the vpcning spot. Jessie Reed has improved in the past few seasons, and can liold evo:; a better spot than the deuce on moat bills. She is doing a cyclo of imblished and special "numbers?, those of the "blues" variety being her forte. Mlsa Reed, like a great many other women in vaudeville, has fallen for the bare leg gag. which, while economical, doesn't ijulle suit every type of woman, JWiss Rcod being among them. Gordon Dooley and Martha Mor- ton tied the show in knots, coming tarU for a bow after the lights were cut. aiil then being called back again. MIms Morton is doing a now iiuml><r in place of the "exeiM;;c' Lit. it i.H .more efTeotlve for her. Another act tliat deserves brackets was Jcanetle and Harry Shields. It Is a man and woman full-etage dancing act, backcrounded by a cyclornma, etc. The girl is a ringer for Adelaide (Adelaide and Hughes) In appearance and the closest thing to Adelaide in ability vaudeville has seen since Adelaide broke in. Her conception of 'The Dying Swan' was an artistic treat. Her toe danc- ing i.s flawless, with perfect eleva- tion and grace. Her back kicks and grace in the doubles were on a par with her other work. The boy Is a pip of an acrobatic or eccentric stylo dancer, with front kicks un- usual. The act needs direction at present, but despite that crudity it Is nudipnce proof on the dancing alone. They clo.^ed the ehow, losing no one. Emma Frabelle and Bro. opened in their si>londid wire turn. Emma is a nice-looking bob-haired brunet and there on the wire. Her brother does a Frisco that lands heavily, also other Jazz stepping aloft. The turn Is now all full stage, having formerly opened in "one*' with the customary .effort at dl.'^gulse. Dof«on deuced and delivered. The colored chap Is leaning heavily on talk lately and ha.«> a corking rou- tine which he delivers to an Imag- inary person in the flrst entrance who is accused of calling him "llco- tue" Dotson, among other things, claims his wife can fry chicken that ?mictl5 «i good The kids In his neigh- borhood wipe their broad on the Dots.^r. door. His dancing was the usual .^ure-hre riot. Dotson Is doomed to detiejng. but could move down any thne. Nolan, l.enry and Co. In "Buttons," an all-right sketch, Is headed by a juvenile light i-omedian who Is pro- duction botnid. The eklt is draped around a dissolute son who returns to find his Ij^e giandfallior's busi- nes.«« going to tho dog.i. His love for the Klenogripher spurs him on t^» hetoul'*.iT\ b i^iri'»'*s tex'.-^ and When Jack Pickford appeared to testify before the grand jury last week regarding the alleged Holly- wood bootleg ring, a fl«t fight oc- curred between R. J. Bird, his press agent, and a photographer named Thompson, who had attempted to snap the film star. Pickford apolo- gized for the attack and offered to pay for the camera which had been I broken in the scuffle. He appeared In court with three attorneys and said that he would give the names of several bootleggers with whom he dealt, provided he was granted immunity from all prosecution. Rival burlesque managers claimed the services of Edmund Hayes. "The Wise Guy." Al Reeves had signed him, but J. B. WInpenny of Philadel-' phia served notice he had first call on the comedian. There were half a >Iozen or more stock burlesque companies doing continuous shows at Coney Island beer gardens. The regular burlesque managers had signed most of the desirable girls during the summer, and now that the wheel shows had called rehearsals, the beach shoWa were in a bad way. ;*: ;■•-. ■'.,■■■■'•:■. ■ \.- •' i '- ■ •',"'■ The first whole-season route sheet for a burlesque ipheel was Issued by the Empire (Western) people^ It was in blueprint form and laid out a schedule, of 42 weeks, from Aug. 24 to June 7, although it was assumed that the last three or four weeka would be optional and probably wouldn't be played. The regular close of the wheel came around the first or second week In May. ' -^^ ■ ' : - Jeanne Eagels will give no per- formances of "Rain" at the Maxine Elliott theatre on either Saturday matinee or niglit during the month of August. The Shakespeare Playhouse of Columbia University commences Its summer series of plays In the Co- lumbia gymnasium Aug. 6 with "Hamlet." Others of Shalcesi)eare and the better known plays of Barrie, Shaw and others will be pre- sented under the direction of Frank McEntee. Later In the summer the company will give several perform- ances nt various centers in the east and middle west. There were enough "Salome" dancers scattered around the country to make a whole page of items. There were two "Salomes" at the Fifth Avenue, Eva Tanguay and La Sylphe, and the house was said to have prossed $10,000 on the week, whkh represented maximum standing room. The box office suspended nearly every night at 8 o'clock, and the street wa« blocked with ticket speculators. London cabled that the craze waa begin* ning to fade over there. Will Evans Injected new life into It by staging a travesty of the dance. . • . And Variety asked "WhQpe's Millie De Leon, 'The Girl In Blue'?" for whom the dance seemed to have been made to order. Bedini and Arthur were doing a burlesque over here. Oswald Stoll was actively pf^^sing the English music hall merger, De Frcce had assembled 60 houses and Stoll was campaigning for a con* flolldatlon of 80 per cent, of the vaudeville halls of the country. Elsie Ferguson was granted a divorce from her husband, Thomas Benedict Clarke, Jr., New York banker. July iJ6 by the Seine Tribu- nal of Paris. The grounds were quoted as "extreme indifferonce." rriiey were married In 1918, the actress'a second marital attempt. Paris was in the midst of a moral crusade against stage nudity backed ; by a member of the Senate. One manager was fined $40 and Jailed for three days, and two actresses arrested with him were fined $10 and sentenced to 15 days. ^^ , ■ ; ^.. Germany's chorus girls threatened to strike against oppression by thi* managers and low salaries. A good looking girl, said the Berlin corre« spondent, received $25 a month If she had a good voice. If only pretty and without vocal talent she got as little as $17.60. A lot of them wanted to come to America. A mark was worth about 24 cents in those days. Artie Mehlinger, song writer and vaudevillian, was freed of the charge of biffing a process server outside the Riverside theatre. New York, where he was playing last week. Magistrate Levlne In the (Continued on page 3§> salvation, all played In a delightful light comedy vein, which culminates In a speech to his imaginary work- men off.'Jtage. The act itself is an ordinary vaudeville vehicle that classifies as a good comedy act, but the leading player Is a corking pros- pect for someone needing a light comedian. , Business, was heavy, at thp house Tuesday night, the "lovv^r floor car- rying standees back of th<^ rail all iiiroric^i rhp Vi<* sh<T,v, '*'»»». The Ringling circus proposed making a return to Chicago, playing under canvas Aug. 1-2, although playing the town for three weeks at the beginning of the eeason. The supposition was that they wanted to give Chicago plenty of circus and discourage Wallace-Hagenbeck from coming In during September. Cole. Bros.' circus had trouble with the authorities in Canada when a body was found near the tracks after the train had pulled out. It was routed^ut of Canada Into Vermont. William Redmond Joined "That" quartet, r«»placing Frank Moprel'l. In the picture field the'big news was the resignation of William E. Gilmour as president of the Edison Manufacturing Co., and the elevation of Frank L. Dyer to his position. Carl Wilson became general manager. Reporte ha-J been current of a falling out of Edison and Gilmour. The Inventor was in California and Gilmour was hi T.»ondon when the xesignatlon was accepted. * Cliff Gordon was doing his monolog and had an Interest In several bur- iesliue "shows. He bought the equipment of Eddie Leonards'vaudeville minslrel act and proposed to use it in a wheel show. M. E. Robinson was o:ganI'/.lni? a department In the United BooklM^.' Offices to handle acts for fairs. He got st.arted loo \a.\J^ thst year, 'j"' declared by the following spring h*» would be in a position to bid f'»r all tH«» fnir time east of Cliica5o. \-<