Variety (June 1924)

M NEW ACTS THIS WEEK We^oeadtoy. June ig. ^^ 18ANTLEY and SAWYER (S) *n^a LittI* Ravu*" 27 Mins-i Full Staga (Special) Pa I AC* Joe Santlej and Ivy Sawyer. b«- tweea production engagcraeiita, have fomid time to give vaudeville ' come of ita moat intereatins and ' welt prepared rerue noreltlea. Their ' laat vaudeville revue appearance • waa In "KUck Klick" with the cur- ' rent one their latest and up to their usual standard, aa regstrds - «oatumlns, acenery and IlKhting affects. The act gets under war la "three" ' with a special drop of Times tquare. It la A bit of traTestjr on the t traflic congestion. Joe and Ivr are On their way to see "The Little ■ Revue.T but are held «p bjr Wil- ' Ham Clifton, a trafltc policeman who - Informs them it Is a one-way street , and advises them how to reach the theatre via Statea Island. Joe • Anallf blackjacks the copper. "The Opening Chorus" aext sung i by Jean Ia liarr and Carat Oood> ner has a chorus of four girl* ' painted on a drop with the humaas - holding the ends. "The Love Song," a duet by ° Santley and Sawyer, taltea the scene back to full stage and a sight flash la a rose arbor. A graceful . waltz tops off the auoiber. "One Word." aa eillcieBcy draata, . ts proioged by Saatley's latroduc- : tion la "one." and la a full stage _' playlet, funny and trite, all the ' characters sticking to edited [ speeches of oie word. "Dorothy Verno.i of Uaddon [ Hali' Is a novel idea. A drop dupU- . eating the exterior of the Criterion. . New York, where the Pickford pic- : ture is on a run. l>»ekgrounds for 1 the song duet Miss Sawyer is leaning from the balcony In cos- . tume. Santley pleads his cause vocaUy from below, aiso in. period attire. Neville Fleeson Is program cred- ited with the song, while Tracy Hammond Lewta recaires credit for ' "WOR," a radio et>i8ode that follows, a funny travesty on the ether flend who allows the house to be robbed and remains oblivious to other calamities, only to shoot himftelf when he gets Newark In- stead of Singapore. A Miss Vernille Interjected a mild dancing specialty following, while they set for "Book Loveis," a fan- tawy. Peter Pan, Alice In Wonder- land and Cinderella entrance from the backs of the prop iMOks. Sant- ley and Sawyer in Colonial cos- tumes carrying the theme song, a "dream" Idea. The principals step into "one" tor a "good-bye" version of the same song completing a delightful and diverting vaudeville reviie, artistic- ally produced In a lavish manner. Santley and Sawyer have always kept faith with their vaudeville liences and always are welcomed when returning. They went gen- ■ erously closing the first half of the Palace bill Monday night Ooa. R08C0E "FATTY" ARBUCKI.6 Monoiofl 15 Miaa.; On* PsNtatsa. Sat« Franetaeo Ban Fyanclaeo, June 14. Roscoe "ITatty" Arbuckle. opened as the featured headliner at Paa- tages this week and did a "come- back" »a emphatic he broke all existing house records for the open- ing day and caused the manage- ment to rearrknge its schedule so eui to crowd in an extra perform- ance. At the Sunday matinee Ar- bvckle's reception turned Into an ovation. He precedes his actual appear- ance with a picture showing him arriving at the stage door where he la handed mail by the doorkeeper. 6a his way to the dressing room he enooantera two stage hands, played toy At St. John and Buster Keaton. Here A.rbuckle' goes into several comedy "gag" atunts reminiooent of his Keystone days and Anally geta to his dressing room. He proceeds to make-up, the next film scene showing him attired in the "country boob" costume, a feature of his Keystone films: the loose, baxgy trousers, suspenders over shirt and funny little derby hat. As he walks from the dressing room towards the stage the picture ends, the lights cone up and "Patty" walks into view of the audience. His monolog material contains much that is really funny. It is timely, dealing chiefly with gags on topics such as the bonus, picture stars, etc.. and It kept the Pan- tages audience laughing heartily and continuously. Arbuckle's delivery seems a bit hesitant, as It he were not quite sure ot himself or his material. There is alno an air <S( diffidence; evidently the result of his trying experiences. \DeHpite these handicaps he made his points effectively, showing that he is no amatetir in vaadeville. Rivert. ETHEL LEVEY AND CO. 22 Mins.; Fall (Spacial) Victoria Palaeat Landan London, June S. Departing from her uMial act. but retaining tli« sanM class of song she invaria,bly sings. Ethel Levey has now the assistance of a lass band and a male vocaltet wtio singa from tiM front of the hause at the end of one number. The act consists of four numbers, tha most original of which is the one sung from a bed. This is on the acknowledged lines »f the "My Sweetie's Left Me" song, and the final verse Is interrupted by the en- trance of the sweetie down the cen- tre aisle of the house. He pleads to be forgiven, and in the end the damsel tells him shell forgive any- thing providing he'll let her go to sleep. Another number is a mourn- ful ditty descriptive ot the fate in store for' a girt seen on the streets at midnight. A little dancing is in- troduced at the end of the act, aad throughout the act the "All British Ploskett Jazs Band" struggles hard to make as much noise as possible. The act had a fine reception, which a crowd of enthusiasts attempted to turn into an ovation. a ore. it JOHANNES J08EF8S0N (3) Athletic Novelty 10 Mins.; Full Stags (Special) Palace Josetsson has constructed a corking novelty around the na- tional sport of Iceland, similar to Jtu jitsu, inasmuch as it consists of defending one's self with trick arm locks and throws. Tha turn is given a logical ^,_^ background by a special set of altJ^ht Blues! ILLUSIONIST 8 Mins.; Full Victoria Palace, London London, June 3. A v.irlant of the old-ta.shioned iMbinet trick which will doubtless become a popular vaudeville act. At the opening a full set Is di.sclosed. In the centre of which stands a heavy table bearing a huge glass casket. After the prellmln;iry ex- planation that there are no traps. etc., the casket or tank is tilled with water. This part of the act, iccomplished by passing bucket.s from hand to hand, wants (;in<;ering up badly and the Introduction f a little comedy ^ould liven It. Having filled the tank, the illusion- ist ancf his assistant cover it with a heavy pall. This Is whisked away and the body of a girl In one-piece bathing costume la seen at the bot- tom of the tank. She is helped out and stands dripping while the cur- tain falls. The illusionist then pre- tends he hears someone In the audience say he knows how it Is done. He then volunteers to explain the trick and, going throuRh the whole process again, produces an- other girl. The act Is somewhat marred by the poor showmanship of the il- lusionist, Melllnl. aore. woodland scene. Josetsson, as a hunter, is captured and tied to a stake by three Indians. He works himself tree and then begins the athletic exhibition, the hunter sav- ing his scalp and preventing the savages from scalping and stab- bing hun by throwing them in vari- ous formations as they attack him one at a time. At the conclusion one approaches him with two re- volvers and is disarmed in the same manner, the pistols discharging harmleKsly in the air. The act is a corking novelty and will fit on the best of the bills at either end or in a spot. The throws are done with lightning rapidity and no stalling, the finish finding all three piled up on top ot each other with the white man posing above them victoriously. It held up the walkout at the- Palace on a long biU. Co*. SANTLEY and SIMPSON Song Revue IS Mins; "Two" (Spscial Of-op> Psises Fred Santley is a brother of Joe. Santley. He is assisted In his present turn by Marion Simpson, a personable girl with a fair sing- ing voice. Santley wrote the pres- ent act himself, but like most artist-authors, has failed to prop- erly equip hinaself. The act carries a special drop, j exterior of a cattage. Santley en- ters in auto togs. He has had an accident. Misa Simpson lives in the cottage. Usual flirtation fol- lowed by unfunny dialog passages during the getting acquainted pe- riod. "Miss Smith, Meet Mr. Brown' is the introductory song. After the girl enters the house « scrim drop shows the Interior of tha living room and a colonial era Idea ia used in the costuming of the next num- ber, soloed by the giri, ir<th Santley entering tor a mifluet. "Memory Lane" next, a solo by Miss Simpson, after a quick change to gingham summery dress; "Gh>od Night, Ladies." by Santley, followed by another chsinge for her t« at- tractive whlta dress for "Good doubled with a mild dance duet. "Journey's End." a forced en- core carrying aa announcement that Santley sang the soag in a musical production, was not Justified by the reception given. The weakness at present lies io the delivery given the dialog. The songs are adequate and tha voices passable. It's a cream puff No. t turn as Is. Caw. "EVENiDM DRESS INDISPENSABLE- (S| Oamady Skatoii SB Mins.; Full Colisaun^ London Ziondon. June S. Slight th«««h this vehida is about !♦• par ©e«L bettar than those usually used to exploH Well- known stage stars in vandevltla. Roland Pert wee, the author, has turned out an infinitely better work than that seen rooently at the same houiw. His theme Is by tM means original, but is deftly handled, and the many humoroos lines kept the house In laughter. Alice Waybury ha* a highltrow daughter and also a lover. Cieorge Connaught. George is persistanUy proposing and being refused, as Alice thinks it is her duty to push the interests ot her daughter. This young lady, although engrossed In art, has an asinine lover, CJeoffrey Chandler, whom she ia leadimc oa and then dropping. Seeing tha^ his only chance of petting the mother is to get rid ot the daughter, George ln.strucU Geoffrey In the art of cave man rough stuff when he calls to' take the girl to a tlieatre. He tries it. and gets more severely turned down than usual. This moves Alice to say .she will go her.selt, and, de- spite Georpre'e nngrry protests, she rushes off to dre«a and returns a radiantly beautiful woman. Geof- frey shows signs of throwing over the daughter for the mother, which by no means pleases the girl. who< discards her hiRhbrowism and carts the gibbering CVeoffrey off In tri- umph. This leaves George tree to claim his heart's desire. The action runs quickly and smoothly, without the Klight?&t sign of a hitch, and Is played as a tsst- moving farce. Kvery one of the lines is given point, without being in the least forced. On the whole, the acting ia very good, with the exception of Pru- dence Vanbrugh, who seems to have lest much ot the "school theatrical" atmosphere ^ which she revealed while playing In her own show a few weeks ago. Violet 'Vanbrugh is capital as the mother, and so is Tom Shelford as George. Leslie Perrln gives a good performance as Geoffrey and appears to thoroughly appreciate what vaudeville audi- ences require. The playlet had a rousing recep- tion from one of the best houses this theatre has held for some weeks. Ckwa. QEOROe MacFARLANK and lii (2) ^H S a wai Pianat Oanoaa 32 mm.t PM Stasa (Spaald) Oaorgs MacFarlans, vstscaa ^i, tone, has aMad a danear. Wirmj Walkar, a purpla cychx^M^ ooupla a< flossy looking baok dmai aad caatumed hlmsaU la astia knickers and rufAed shirt. The in, novatioxas ara a distinct improvt! meat, breaking up the stralgkt singing of MacK'arlane aad addiw a dash oC color ia addition to giv- ing a flash at the voluptuous beauty of Miss Walker and her dancfaig. MacParlane opens, Assisted at th« piano by Herbert C. Lowe, with "June Brought the Rose," «' baliat made to order tor his sympathctio range, toliowed by "Waiting for th« Sunrise." another sure-fire far %!m. MLss Walker, in a fetching yetlov dress and hat, is next in a daac* featuring kicks and splits. A piano solo. "MiRlity Lnk, a Rose." f»»t- uring right hand technique, and then "Dorothy," sung by MacFnrljne, the girl entering in white, long drtn costume, paraaol to match and black' hat. iihe dolts the skirts for a Jan dance that toliowed a load of danc- ing and got results. "Marchet.i." sung by MacFar- lane. the girl in stunning Spanish costume and headdress, was fol- lowed by an ennre "Forget Sle Not Mean» Remenibcr Tou." M.rcK.Trlane is a coikitig ahew- man. His new t<irn will p^ase the high xni the low brow and la nsdl ence proof. Cyn. Do You Want Work? HARRY DANFORTH 302 Loop End BIdg., CHICAGO Can Get You Plenty of It Bookinc Eixclaalvply with Waatrm OMoe B. r. Keith Kuhonso, OnMit^na and i^ W«a«ra VaadevlU* HaaiwarH' A**** ^'^' WRITE, WiRE, CALL HARRY LA MORE A CO. (I) Slack Wire Novelty Nine Mins.; Full (Special) 5th Ave. The ."^et shows five ruRs on the floor, which, on La More's entrance, he stpp.s on in rot.ation. In doing so releasing springs, which transform the rugs Into a dining table, couch, piano and two chairs, respectively, thu.<t completely furnishing a room which before had been bare except for the rugs. The bit received a round of applause. A cute a.H.sistant flits In and out. handing; I^a More articles to Jug- gle, which he does indifferently. His real strength is ability on the slack wire. What others do on the tight wire La More duplicates on the swinging thread with comparative ease. For a finish he swing.s the limit ot the arc, facing the audience, standing flat-footed on the wire, and drops off gracefully when the swing- ing wire is at Its extreme height. Opening the show at this hou.ie. La More did exceptionally well, and if ho will speed up a bit. discarding his present m,ake-up tor a neat morning suit, he will easily qualify for the same spot on big time pro- grams. The juggling can be eliminated entirely to the benefit ot the spe- cialty, none of the tricks being new. which, fact might neutralize the THE LIME TRIO Comedy Contortions 8 Mins.; Full 5th Ave. Two men In nondescript make- up, apparently baggaga men, enter, carrying a long box. and outside of doing an abundance of pantomimic stalling, do nothing but open the box. A limber contortionist is doubled up in this and assumes to t>e a dummy, being handled as such in a crude and undecided manner by the others. The contortioniiit is a front bender only, with which he combines legmania in a set of dances, one a loose leg dance on a platform white hung up by a strap around the col- lar. If the act Is English, as dress- ing and style suggest. It stiould be Americanized, with the two assist- ants dressed more neatly as rail- road porters, working soiartly In- «Ae&d of pantomiming slowly. The contortionist's work Is good enough to carry the act as an opener for the betfer bouses, but ,as It stands the act Is just a smaOl time offering. FaJ. elaha of ti»««lty which tlia baiaoM I t'4k> ot the act is ontitled to. VaX. TENNEY snd WHITE Piano and Songs 14 Mins.; Ona S8th St. Two men dressed in dinner coats. Both sing. Tha piano man also does a ballad fo good returns. The other man mixes his routine, hi..i style being breesy ;ind along tho swing, familiar ta devotees of cab- arets Another number that drew favor was a pop lyric, with different countries used for dialect. The mpii finished strong and could have taken an encore. 5 OIQALTANOS Dances and Songs 15 Mins.; Full Stage (Special) Apollo, Atlantic City Thia tura undoubtedly could prove to be tha sensation of dancing acts were It not for tha "ehHd tabor law." However, without tha two youngsters (about S and 8) the other three present soota sensational work which should warrant as tea a daac- ing act t« be seen. They open before a special patent leatlter drop with the glH taking some sensational leaps, and the boy handling her with apparent ease. He whirls the girl around with load^ of grace. Following is a youngster about five, dressed a la Jackie Coogan. and he goals them out front with a pop song and dance. Two sisters da a dance act, a kicking turn that is perfect unison. The kid follows again in evening dress and wows them. A girl does a dancing single. Tha older boy and girt follow with a fine Apache dance aad without the usual cigarette gag they put over a sweet piece of work. Then the two youngsters follow and do a bur- lesque Apache which has the bunch in front in hysterics. Were It not for the youthtulness ot the tot.s the act could fit anjc. bill. The three, however, aJona should never be short ot finding work. -NERElOE- (3) SYLVAN LEVIN CONCERT TRIO 15 Mins.: One (special drop) Maryland, Baltimore Under the Impresartoshlp of J. A. Helprln, this muisical offering is premieriiig here While the de- meanor ot the artists is more in harn\ony with the concert hail than .the less restrained atmosphere of the two-a-day. the act ts satisfy- ing and lends a distinct air to a vaudeville bill. Banirig a momentary tonal un- certainty ot the violin the trio per- form well a program ranging from Lisxt's "Rigoletto Fantasy" through Herberts "Kiss in the Dark" to '"The Limehouse Blues." Ju>«« Sims, the 'cdliat. is tea- tiu'cd by a uniqus lighting arrange- ment In the "foots." Sylvan Le\in is at the piano. Leon Frengut iB MISS FARHEIO "Strong Woman" 27 Mins.: Full Stage (Special Sst> ting; Exterior) 5th Ave. MiKs Karheid traiU into .the Nev York houses soon .after Marta Fwra had made her appearance here with an ntt similar to it. r>e8i)lte th» samene«s ot teats and routine. ttlM Karheid made a good imijression. She has an exterior setting wltfc the little blacksmith shop torg* at one side of the stage and makes tiir entrance astride a horse. She Is blonde and slender with her ikta smooth and white. She did njlfc seem the least bit perturl>ed wh*«.; her first trick failed ot completion? although she had the iron bar an-. nounced as bending into hdrsertios shape with her hands started oa lU curved way. Her announcer, t stout man with a good voice, stall* Miss P'arheld had been doing tos many shows to accomplish hw opaning feat. Ska want to her next stunt accomplishing it successfuUy to appUusa. Miss Fartaeid laid «• a backraat whicb had n^U pelnti protrudii« with aa aavil placed oa her cheat and two of her male «t- tetMlaats striking it with it*'**^ Tha announcer said tha sum weighed 200 pounds and the sledf** 2fi each. Mias Farheld than m aa n **< « platform and lifted * »latfarm bj- low upon which ataod a h aras.JM announcer saying tha boraa •"^J* between t.40« and l.WO paun4* dc »• •a* act Tha hold waa tiriafly madn Im press lonabla. Sha than took an Iron bar, nounced as being 1% by H «"" in dimensiooa, which aha •»••* '"12 spiral form, highly applaudad^l" Far^eld, with her hands, *"*" ' chain and then drove a natt »» a 2-inch board which h»* "•*J passed through tha front '<**•* the house far inspactioa before tm drive started. Miss Farheld tM« extracted tha nail with her teeW. Tha big strong-arm climax e*»» with her finale, which the announcw said would be her closing feat, tw» of sustaining a bridge weighing W» pounds acro.ss which would P»* threa horses with leaders »"• riders. Mi.is Farheld put thl8J.tuw over effectively. By way of a llt«» showmanship perhaps tha ""^ nounccr .xhked the audience n«« " excite the horses but save *''* *^ plause until the finish of the ttV. Thi.s routine, liko Marta Pa''" *'^ fitsliloned after that of BreltbWJ and Kronas. each an importeo "stront; man" act. Jfor*. (Continued on page 38) De^ipers and Makers ^ of kligoest Class Vaad€|iIIe ProductioBS p. DODD ACKERMAN