Variety (April 1924)

Wednesday, April 30, 1924 NEW SHOWS THIS WEEK VARIETY t3 HIPPODROME This week's Hip show la a fuU- • fledged Broadway revue In ecope, etyle and manner of presentation, tut stiU it's vaudeville, and a highly diversified and engrosslngly Interest- ing brand of vaudeville. For this is Bomething new, the "built-up" show, an innovation that's going to revo- lutionize vaudeville as surely and j-adically as the flve-reel pictures changed the film business. Two acts from the "Greenwich Vil- lage Follies" show, which clospd re- cently, are enlisted in the current Hip line-up—Tom Howard and Joe Lyons and William and Joe Man- dell. Howard and Lyons are doing their "African Dodger" talking turn, Mandell Brothers their travesty ac- robatic specialty, and the four men put on Billy K. Wells' "On the Raft," a .skit out of the "Greenwich Village Follies," but not originating in that revue. Howard and Lyons walked on for a few second in the Mandells' tum- bling turn and the Mandells did a bu.le.sque adagio in the "afterpiece" specialties .session, introduced in con- junction with the Sam Lanln Rose- land Orchestra act. That made three appearances for each team during the show. The "African Dodgei-" com- edy skit was on following the com- bined opening turn, the latter hold- ing three separate acts—"Three and a Half Arleys," in perch gymnastics; Bob Anderson's educated pony and the Novelty Clintons. A special cir- cus background lent an authentic tang of the sawdust and big tops to the opening, and the three-ring at- mosphere was logically furtheranced by intelligently blending in Howard and Lyons' conversational interlude, which is nothing else but circus stuff. There's no getting away from the fact of the handicaps Imposed on talking acts at the Hip. Some acts dependent on dialog succeed in over- coming the Hip's wide open spaces, but, notwithstanding that and de- spite voices of average caliber car- rying to the farthermost reaches of the huge auditorium, spoken comedy lines have their own troubles in reg- istering for full value. Howard and Lyons got plenty of laughs with their talking exchanges Monday night. Tom Howard's droll and deliberate comedy style pene- trated the barriers of ozone success- fully, and Joe Lyons also got over surely with his exceptional straight. Lyons is receiving equal billing with Howard at the Hip, and he deserves it. A more Intimate house, however, would bring out a fuller appreciation of that "African Dodger" classic, ■which was billed at the Hip as "Out- side the Big Top." The same obstacle of spaciousness Interfered with "On the Raft" (New Acts). It secured laugh.-;, but not with the frequency nor of the heftl- ness it should have liad it not been forced to combat the difficulties of Joiig-distance communication. Jerry and Her Baby Grands, a sort ©f pocket edition of Jesse Lasky's anciently remembered "Piano- phiends," were third, assisted by •ight of Albertina Rasch's toe-danc- ing coryphees. The four piano girls played some syncopated stuff that was agreeable, but it's pretty pallid •ntertainment on the whole. The ■whistling done by om: of the pianists Monday night sho-.iid be eliminated. It was tuneless and lacking in any- thing above the very ordinary in ■talent. The Baby Grands held over trom ;ast week, and so did the Cleve- land Bronner and Ingrid Solfeng fcallet. which clo.sed the first part. The Bronner act has picturesque •ight values, and is marked with ef- fective color schemes. The dancing discloses little but commoplace ca- pering and the pantomime calls for a vivid imagination to discover what It's all about unless the program •ynopsis is pretty thqjjouphly dis- sected. The stage pictures, however, make up materially for the absence of a terpsichorcan punch. The Mandell Brothers were fourth, and Old nicely with the familiar ex- aggerated trampoline acrobatics, laughs punctuating the routine with •ufficlent repetitiousnees to send the act across safely. Blanche Ring and Charles Wln- ninger were next to closing. The latters comedy stuff clicked unerr- ingly. Miss Ring, looking as slender as a debutante and considerably more agile, did a couple of her old successes and made 'em stick. Wln- ninger's trustv trombone came in iiandy at the Hip. Hes a versatile performtr who knows every trick of the trade. The Ring and Winninger combination closed to sincere returns and the biggest of the night. Dorothy Jardon opened the second naif and did three numbers, a rather brief cycle for a singer of her at- tainments. She was in good voice, singing with a perfect regard for pitch and phi.TKing, but did not nrouse the tntliiisiasm h«r vocal gifts justified. Sam Lnnln's Oirhc^tra clof-ed. A Rood band that jilays as wtil us any jazz organization can. Kstimatiiig the abilities of the various bands is purely a matter of ptrsunal opinion. ■The chance*! are that if a screen __^'tre placed in front of 10 standard Jazz organizations and the various boosters for each were told to pick Out their favorit's the so-called ex- perts Wduld likely as noj pick ime as the other. Jules Levy, trumiHtrr find a <;tJf■^^\flg,^■yil^oi\t:,■^\ oX.iJie "^qf te.'iiiiic, is, jft ^i, di tji^ rclebiiated •lule.s Levy, cionetist, who tiui ing cis career was a topnotchcr of the first water. Young Jules Is ably sus- taining the family rep. The Allen K. Foster girls worked like veritable beavers throughout the show, building up a number of the specialty turns with their competent routine stepping. The "afterpiece" numbers included In the Lanin band act had Miss Jardon doing a current pop waltz song, Blanche Ring war- bling the ever green "Bedelia," Char- lie Winninger clowning, the Baby Grands co-operating In selections with the Lanln band, and the entire ensemble of Hip choristers execut- ing some fast foot work besides some comedy dancing by the Mandell.s. While every turn didn't score as well as Its merits warranted, the show shaped as a good one, with the ■•building-up" mentioned previously giving decidedly helpful assistance. Business was capacity downstairs and nearly that in the balcony, with the gallery sparsely inhabited, the house rating as good. Bel?. PALACE The most important thing at the Palace this week is Clark and Mc- Cullough. Other than that it's just a vaudeville show, and nothing to go into hysterics about. But the current layout marks the vaudeville debut of this pair, who recently completed their second season with the "Music Box" of '22, to which production they jumped direct from burlesque. What they did in the then $4.40 show is sig- nificant of what the couple will do within the confines of the twice dally houses. If there ever wa .i "pushover," this Is it. Beyond that interlude it amounted to simply a straight evening of proverbial routine playing to cork- ing business and bringing forth but three high lights In Cliff Edwards, Clark and McCullough, and Ben Bernie's band. Edwards was on early, No. 2, and alone, through Lou Clayton having quit at. the matinee and th3 No. 2 spot. According to the applause the reduction to a single fi-'.led to Impede the act, as the vocal half strummed and sang a quartet of numbers. Edwards actually tried to get away from a speech but was forced to conversation. He stopped it cold. Bernie's Band, constituting a New York return, following an absence of some months, listens as possessing an improved combination that still remains an act besides simply play- ing dance music. The orchestra, 12 pieces, obliged with seven selections, two of them encores, which arc neatly conceived as to orchestration, efficiently played, and not without a degree of showmanship. Mixed up with Bernie's chatter it pleased all the way. The band Is due to open at the Shelburne, Brighton Beach, the middle of May, and should be a cinch aggregation for a dance floor. The Tom Davies Trio, on motored bicycles circling a bowl, opened, with William Seabury placed after the Edwards holdup. The dancer revealed enough eccentric stepping to easily slip by, while the early position magnified the effect of a swing, in handling the girl, which was later repeated by another act. Assisted by Ina Alcova and a pianist Seabury looks well set for the larger houses. Miss Alcova in- jects an abundance of energy into her work, of which that on her toes gains the most recognition. Trixie Friganza was spotted fourth, providing very much of her previous dialog while emerging from numerous costumes. Doing 19 min- utes brought a lapse that would increase Miss Friganza's value were it eliminated and the running time sliced to not over 15. Toney and Norman fNew Acts) were one ahead of the Bernie band, doing nicely with their crossfire. Only three acts in the after por- tion, started oft by Juliet, who had a hard time of it when the requests started through the house insisting on a Jolson impersonation. The girl dodged, ducked and sidestepped as long as possible but finally was forced to go through with it, when the wliy of the stalling became most apparent. Slipping a bit in an- other Instance, through forgetful- nesa, failed to improve the gener.il performance to the point where the 35 minutes consumed was addition- ally regrettable. Clark and McCullough (New Acts) spaced the closing trio of turns whence came Benson and Massimo. The latter insertion is a straight acrobatic act attempting to break away from conventional through comedy anfl the inclusion of a fem- inine dancer. Before the men couUI reach their athletic work over half the house had departed. The oi)en- ing is doubtful as to merit, but the general idea will probably do for houses other than the l';>laoe. Mon- day night it was hard sledding, the phoney ^et-nvny was of no asslst- tance. and the art ended to a house that was entirely iijion its !• et and in r( treat. !^l^'0- and Ann Gold In fourth place. (New Acts). The bill was a zippy one with the Amaranth Sisters and Co. Introduc- ing with an eyesome flash that was a combination of dancing by the girls and acrobatics by two male partners. The combination of ma- terial may not be entirely new but the arrangement is. The specialties are well set and seem to dovetail with each other Instead of the u.sual thrown together hodge-podge. The girls are attractive and accomplished dancers. Their routines are neat and well executed. The men offer just enough of the acrobatic stuff to make it Interesting without be- ing tiresome. Dan Jarrett and Co., the latter comprising an attactlve blonde gli-1 and another chap, clicked from the start In their tragicomedy on matri- mony. Although somewhat patterned after another skit which also gives an inside slant on the dual person- alities of a married pair It Is abundant with bright lines and brighter situations. It is well cast and had no difficulty in scoring In the third spot. Those ever reliable recruits from the burlesque, "Broomstick" Elliott and "Babe" La Tour goaled them with nifty hoke, dancing and instru- mental numbers and stopped the show next to closing. Elliott's hick type is an excellent contrast to the robust "Babe" and both do excellent team work insofar as selling their material is concerned. "Babe's" tricked up ballyhoo in which she ex- tols the charms of "her daddy" un- doubtedly has the girls all set for the appearance of a sheikish gent when out strolls Elliott with bis misfit suit and hick appearance. The reaction sends them Into howls from which they never get a chance to recover for the remaining 10 minutes. Elliott's comedy eccen- tric Is a gem and "Babe's" slangy Jane type will hit anywhere. After responding to tl ree legitimate en- cores they eased off with some more clowning. The Jolly Cork Minstrels, con- tributed by Eddie Horan, Al. Ed- wards, George Cunningham, Tom English and Horry Armstrong—all old timers—closed with a series of songs, dances and g; ring served up in typical minstrel fashion. The audience here are ever responsive to old-timer turns, but In fairness to this one It may well be said that the boys got over on their merits. "The Galloping Fish" (Thomas Inve) was the screen feature. Business capacity Monday night. act by popular acclaim and was In her dressing room earlier than she has been in months, not be- cau.se she wasn't :ine of the hits of the bill, wli:.."h she was, but be- cause each aet seni^d to be im- bued with the idea of giNiiig it lo them and leaving them. After Tangiiay. the Dora and Ed Kord Revue, witli Bob .^dams, a mean hird-shot- astiistant, hun^ up a dancing hit. Dora is a pip ot a looking blonde with no respect for triple time buck. A double wa: a clog by Lottie and Ed Kord .also clicked, as did Dora and Ed's triple time stuff in "The Toy Soldier" routine. They closed the vaudeville portion before intermission and the feature picture, "Sporting Youth," which was preceded by a presenta- tion, a pal.' ot headlights and loud honking of back stage horns on a darkened stage. Illumination re- vealed a prop racing car with ,a human pilot visible in the driver's seat. Emmett Oilfoyle and P^lsie T.ang, third, took the comedy hit. Gilfoyle has a long memory and knack of selling the hok« sure fire for the pop houses. Hi J advancement Is just a question ot material, for he has unbroken succession of show slop- ping performances In the interme- diate houses. Mi^^s Lang is a good looking, nicely figured foil who flashes musical comedy wardrobe in a one-girl fashion revue, which was padded out this week by the Kasoh ballet of eight. The ballet worked as though ad libblng with the graceful stuff, but got over optically. Three Musical Avolos, billed as making their first American appear- ance, seemed aa familiar a some ot the neighbors' children. They have been around longer than the program printer. They opened speedily. The Dixie Four ran into rough going with theli- usual sure-fire vo- calizing. The "yodeling" and "ca- llope" bits just just laid there and the tenor's tremolo top note pulled snickers during a solo ballad, but the colored boys sure goaled them when thye started to srtrut their stuff. Their usual drawn-out encore was not used. Business wa^. heo'vy, looking like capacity, as It should be, at this house at the prices. This calibre ot show, hopped up with the HIppot drome trimmlPirs. will keep the house filled and seems the right policy. Jack Potter, the new mana- ger. In soup and fish and a two- gallon hat, in the lobby, deserves sartorial brackets. Con. STATE The Four Readings, who have been on the big time for years, are open- ing this program with the same suc- cess and their tricks are just as clever and sensational as ever. Wal.sh. Reed and Walsh, with a straight singing act, got over very nicely on second. They finished with paraphrased opera, which somewhat Interfered with Gould and Rjish, who followed. These, too, are straight singers, who also finish with opera parodies. Both have fine voices, however, and stopped the show with one. of their numbers. They fin- ished strong i*ith their own version of "Rigoletto." Two such similac acts following each other argues a faulty bill. Jean Barrios, female Impersona- tor, has Improved in performance and the production ot his act. His costumes are handsome, especially the rhinestone gown. The set is also in good taste. His Impersona- tions of famous players satisfied the State audience, although they were not too faithful to the originals. He stopped the show, however, and his pianist deserves some of the credit. He is clever, yet unobtrusive. Following him were Lane and Barry, and then "Dreamy Spain" (.New Acts), closed the vaudeville. "A Boy of Flanders," Jackie Coo- gan, was the picture. 58TH ST. One .if I he seasoirv l.p.ct Tnt!'!-trrrf for the fiiKt h.iM. Tyi'ic.il Wiinn weath';- eirierluiiinieiit le.ii.iiif; heavily towards < oTnedy iind fi\c out of the ^lx-a(t br:i< e .li.Uiiu; with l:.iiprh niaiirial, Tlio bill held four faniilli vo and two nriw ofi'cr- Ini;*'. the Litter coiitnluitcii by .Mc- N'Jlty and Mullen, spotted second, 81 ST ST. The gist St., situated between the two Keith big timers, Riverside and Palace, has been playing a six- act and feature picture policy since it opene<l. Throe weelis ago the Keith office announced the house would change policy and use the manner ot presentations so effective at the Hippodrome. The policy is now in its second week and the changes In smooth working order. They arc modified gi'C.atly when coniitared to the lavishness ot the Hii)podromc flashes, but ei(,'ht of the Albertina Hnseh b.'illet gii Is m.ade two en- trances in the Gilfojlc and Lang act, giving it a bit ot a flash, but not s|iotted exactly right. Aside from the presintatlon idea the Jilst St. has hit u)>on an inno- vation tli;il will m.'tke it a popul.ir liou.se wltli the jaded vai:d'.'Vii:e fan who knows all the riirlain speerlies of 'lie "favc'a" by litart. N'o act i.s allowed more than tvio bows un- less legitimately encored ftnlher, no stalling, milking or bow steal- ing is tolerated, with the result the show plays as smoothly and swiftly a^-rr-tnhnptrnn slide. Tlie ".'lieiliile is adlnKd l< slri<t- ly, t.'ie eniinc'iators ciKiii^;Mi .-iftir (lie second b< iirt and no spot lifrlit Iilays on the 'midy first enlr.in'c lo tue the aiidiencu into I'lcaiimg tlie dt)rarted eiiliaiue. .Monday nitilil I'-va Tant.'iiay head- lined in fifth position, did her full ON BROADWAY zi/ (Continued from page 13) he Is broke he decides to kidnap her and take her down to Dawson and sell her. The last two acts take place In a dive, where the girl finally arrives and is offered to the hlKhest bidder, with the result that she is finally made the stakes In a card game. Just as the heavy who has won her Is about to drag her to a room In the upper part of the house a bolt ot lightning strikes him and crashes about halt of the house. In the final act It is all straight- ened out with the girl proven as the daughter of the wandering A. Levy, and she and Pat O'Day, the copper ot the Royal Mounted who sought her out and saved her from the fate that she was lo receive at the hands of the heavy wins her as his own. There Is a lot of good meller In the piece and there likewise is the usual comedy relief. As a whole, however, the piece Isn't what one would caTl sure fire unless It can be put over to the public by some trick. It Is, however, a piece that women will like, and It carries a lot of raw stufi from time to time. As an In- stance, there is the fallen woman of the dance hall who informed the heavy that she thinks "his father was a bachelor" and the conversa- tion of the "boys" who have been on the trail for six months who must have "liquor, dancing and dames." One wants a fat one and the other a "sklnney one." Inez Plummer plays the role ot the "girl," doing It as much alon? the lines of Lenore Ulrlc as she can. Louis Bennlson is the heavy and gives a corking performance, but Robert Strange as the heroic Northwest Mounted seemed a little light for the role. Harry R. Allen In a comedy role In the last two acts scored terrifically, while Adda Gleason as a fallen woman who was a dope fiend managed to score nicely. For a laugh at the kind of meller that you liked as a kid this is wortb seeing, but that is about all. Fred. 5TH AVE. The addition o£ one, good, strictly comic double or single act would have made the first half lineup at the Fifth Avenue this week a show and a half. There were several different sorts of snickers and smiles and even a few howls at the dancing of Miss Williams (Williams and Keene), but no real consistent laughing 8pell.a all evening. Nevertheless it measured up as a bill well above the average. Busi- ness was up to standard, rather sur- prising as no big "name" was fea- tured and the film was the usual makeshift stuff. Following the Wonder Seal and Berry and Rollo (New Acts), both doing nicely, Paul Gerard Smith's semi-dramatic skit "Compliments ot the Season" was third. John Clayton has succeeded Garry Owen as the jail-bird lead. He gives an .idequate performance, more than can.be said for the other three members. W is mediocre acting that keeps this rather novel and appealing sketch from getting over as It should. Artie Mehllnger and George Meyer.s, reunited after the former's various sojourns by himself, fol- lowed and scored heavily enough tor a speech. Mehllnger must have the right songs to sell and at pres- ent there are one or two he Is us- ing that fall to click and slow up the whole act. Meyers' famous medley, reinforced by one of his newest and biggest, ".Slttln' In a Corner," with special lyrics through- out sung by ArtiCf is the punch that kayos them. Fifth, Williams ond Keene proved the hit In a show of hits. Miss Williams' dancing appears to be the best thing in eccentric stepping seen In weeks and as a gill-sized comedienne she is hardly less able. She has niasteied the art of mug- ging as well as expressionism In every movement. Keene, too, has the perfect sense ot liming In his dance work and his ajiiiearance and feeding ;ire hoth in keeping with the turn's general excellence. If the show had had just a tow min- utes more of such roars as resulted from their .all-too-briet ventriloqiiial bit it could b.irdly have been criti- cized .IS lacking in comedy. I'owers and Wallace were next- to-closing, following Ole Olson'.') Hand, !i combination new to vaude- ville but well established in tlie Cleveland cabarets iiiid bidiling fair to duplicate (heir three-encoro hit here anywhrie. (New .\etH ) Powers ;ind W;ill.-ic'(! h;id lough sleddinK at first as t!io crowd v.as (iipectin.'- some of Dip low comedy that li;id (»e«^n forlhcomioK all Kveriii.;.'. liut the rn.'m's .'uleiit ni.iMiii ot d' liver- ing the mild coipiedy and the (-iii- uii.ely funny wedding bit nt the end. landed iheni .••(imHily. "(ioldi.n \ isnviH," ft l.iosiiifj' turn with the ac.riit distlii'^Uy 'on 'thf* vision, <lo:<(l. and iiafii'.iliy fteld e\eiyo?;<. (.\e>v .Acts) ANNUAL EQUny SHOW Five hours of show and five hours of varied entertainment, skilfully put together and admirably pro- jected—that sums up the Equity Special Show given Sunday night at the Metropolitan before an audience that Included the »16.50 seatholders down to the occupants of the top- most Met. balcony. The credit lor much of the show goes to Joe Santley, who, as Its director-general and the moving spirit behind most of the sketches and turns, threw In many new Ideas and disclosed one comic sketch In the first half worthy of a spot In a big revue, the "Romeo, Juliet, Johnny and Jane" skit. George LeGuere was the general manager ot the show, which started .-it 8 o'clock and ran until one. Fritz Williams was chairman of the en- tertainment committee. A long overture with t]ie orchestra tmder the direction of Victor Bara- valle started. Then came a song, "Moon J>ove," words by P. O. Wodc- housc and music by Jerome Kern, sung by Ethelind Terry, supported by a chorus of men and women, all known Broadway names. This was In "two," and Miss Terry sang from a high swing, later descending. Immediately following came the laughing riot of the show, "Do YoJi Remember When?" a caricature on the olden variety shows. The Great La Tour and Co., refined acrobats, first, done by Hansford Wilson and May VokPS, with May as the smirk- ing assistant. Neapolitan Street Singers next, Phil Baker and Arthur West, and both pulled some wise comedy. Then came Bobby Clark and Paul McCullough, as Prof. Mo- hamed Mahoney and Co., expert pa- per tears—old stuff with a line of cross-fire that won terrific applause. When a capacity audience In the Metropolitan begins to applaud, the Verdun bombardment looks sick. W. C. Fields did burleseiue juggling with his Sphinx-faced assistant for more laughs. Harry Kelly and George Rosener next, with Kelly as a phoney dog trainer. Laughs here, too, while Florence Moore following as Mme. I»otta Pipes, oper.a singer, kidded the Met Ktape a little by doing ridicu- lously what Borl, Galll-Ciircl and the olh'rs take seriously. The Oil City Quartet on next to shut, composed of John E. Ilazzard, Robert Woolsey, Frank Mclntyre and Solly Ward, and as Bobby Clark comments, "They didn't sing frood. b'lt they sang loud." Clfi.sliip this show w.TS the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, announced as F.'idel's I>adv Orchestra .nnd pack- ing a laugh when I'aul .ond his boys were disclosed as "damr s.' firent stuff all the w.iv through, ■ind it Is a pity th.it the laughs weien't spread out further Instead of being cone ntinted, ns the second l.ilf need, d etn to male a perfect i-i '. lie. ."^nnlley's sketch, "Romeo, Juliet. Tolvnny and Jane" was next, acted iiv .Stanley HIdges. Ivy Sriw\er. Mrs. Thnrnas Whiffpn, Tfhl Skell.v. Luella <:e.ir .'ind Marjorio Uateson. Onf I Continued on page 88)