Variety (July 1924)

VARIETY NEW ACTS THIS WEEK Wednesday. July 9, I984 MARTHA HEDMAN and CO. (3) Comedy Sketch 18 Mint.; Full Palace For a number of aoasonH Miai Hedman has been featured in the leKilinvtte tield, receiving attention When she first came to New York In « Helasco production. Lewis and Cordon are presenting Miss Hed- man, who Im makinj; her first ap- pearim-e In vaudeville. Rdwin Rurke wrote the very light playlet offered. It is programmed under the title oi "Just Like a ■Woniin." A skit of the same titio ha.s lief^n presented in one of the little theatre.s downtown, but was of different author.^hip. When the matter was called to the attention of Lewis and Gordon, a chanse wa.s made, and the Rurke act is now Called "You Can't Beat Them." The playlet employs the dome.stic fluarrel idea so often u.sed. At the opening. Miss Hcdnian, as the wife. Is bickering with hubby (Charles Laite) over expenses. He complains «tie constantly annoys him by ask- ing for money, she replying that was nothing to worry about since 8h» never got any. She twits him with hemg senerous cnoiigh with one of her women friends, Mrs. Bronnell (Helen Holcomb), who, it .seems. finds it easy to coax money from him on the pretext of charit. . The wife, after being refused money for * wrap, calmly opens a box and displays one she lias purchased. Hi.s question as to where she will get the money to pay for it meets with -i refusal to divulge the source. A bit worried over that, he turns to Mrs. Bronnell, with whom the wife is supposed to be vexed with. The viHitor has no trouble in touching him tor $600 for her "charity." Wit- entor.s. orders husband out of the room and the two women hug each other. Friend gives, wife the dou£;h and hubby returning "gets" the trick. K comes out that the women helji each other by crossing their husbands with the charity racket. "You Can't Beat Them" Is an or- dinary vehicle, merely an excuse for Miss Hedman's showing in vaude- ville. She is most attractive and any sort of playlet would sufllce, MlsB Hedman being a name attrac- tion. For contrast to Miss Hedman's blonde type, the other woman is a brunette, but so plain that the ease with which the husband gives her ready money makes the act seem Inconsistent. Ihef. 8WADE and RANO -Talk and Songs . . 10 Mins.; One Z3rd St. (July 7) Just a misguided couple on for a try-out Monday, trying to step out with nothing but nerve and the slightest thread of an ^dea. He is ft college boy ma.squeradlng as a Btreet cleaner, and she, even more romantically, a never-kissed little girl direct from the country. Flirtation hits and an attempt or two at vocalizing follow. Then it Is announced that a year has pas.sed. This time she is r. t .so countrified in the city, and she tried to show what one year of Rroadw.iy can do to an innocent little maiden. Tlic (inly laugh came when he, after being asked who hp was, rc.s|iot\<Ied, "Just a tired delegate." Otherwise the talk is ghastly and the Singing about as bad. The roil pic make a neat appearance but as y<'t don't know how to put their best feet forward. Nut a chance for them at present anywhere HILLIER and GREEN Talk In One; 19 Mm*. City. This team Is a straight out and out <o|>y of T'ard Tnd I'earl, even to Hiime of the dialog. Their method Is exactly the same, the variation being the introduction of a couple of soims. The straight man is fur ..itid the squeeze-face comic, doing the comedy work, excellent--though not Up to the I'e.irl st.andard. Tlieir material is good, Ivjt the «ct is too long. Cut five minutes ond a few go'vl jokes s'ibstituted. this ftirn would he set for lh» good s[>ot8 in the intermediary time. RICHARD BENNETT and Co. (3) Sketch, Comedy-drama 15 Mint., in "two"; houM t«l Palace Tills in Richard Bennett's vaude- ville debut, according to the records. Years ago he wan widely known for a curtain raiser, "Twenty Days in the Shade," at which time the youthful I'auline Frederick sup- ported him. Rut that was not vaudeville. Mr. Uennett, known for taking the legitimate very seriously, as a result of which he rarely selects anything but foreign plays by mor- bid author.s anc' scolds audiences when they fill to react to such pro- found preachments as are wrapped up in "Damaged Goods." "Beyond the Horizon," "He Who Gets #ilap- |)ed" and the like, takes his vaude- ville very 11,'jhtly—one might al- nuist ».iy contemptuously. "Siiuce for the Gander," his ve- hicle, i.s thin and tawdry, and at its best no vehicle for Bennett, who is known a.s a suave "parlor" lead- ing man, a player »f powerful dra- matic roles and ,i creator of color- ful character roles. This is a part which a Willie Collier might play —but wouldn't, being the frothiest kind of patter strung through a tlire.idbare situation—that of the husband acting lackadaisical when his wife chooses another, and kid- ding her back to him. The accredited author is Arllne Ludovici, to this scribe unknown. She (or he—Arline goes two ways) sets the comedy in the corner of a private dining room, ar»d Bennett sets it in an angle of a hoube in- terior. The wife enters with a sllly- ass lover with whom we are asked to believe »k>e elofted. She la a liery, temiieramental and brainless girl. The husband follows. He .says he wants to help the elope- ment, but makes a chump out of what la already a lunkhead, and when the "lover" walks out on the check, the wife comes back to the hu.tband, who wears a tux and has enough money to buy her a $15,000 string of pearls. That is it in a nutshell, but the shell as it pluys f«>r 15 minutes is a very big nut. so big that the scant bright Unea rattle around in it. Bennett, seeming ill . t ease, as well he might be in such a wit- less and insignificant role in awch a pointless and inconsequential script, comes forth for a speech after two curtains, shows the cham- pagne bottle, says it is the genuine stuff and at the end of the week It will be given to the patron who guesses nearest the number of words in the act.. The winning guess .should be "Too many." For a raconteur of note, a cur- tain-speaker of front-page fame, an actor of undoubtful and undeniable rank and accomplishment, Mr. Bennett should be heartily a.shamed of himself f»r the whole affair. If it registers his opinion of vaude- ville, it Indicates that he not only ha^ not recently ,)l;.yed in that branch, but hasn't ivatroni/.ed It on his non-matinee days Mr. Ilcnnett will do, but not In thi.s .skit or with that speech. He should discard it at once or sell it to T,ouis Atberini, who, i'* the waiter, gives what vaudeville value it attain.^. And Mr. Bennett should play a .scene from one of his opuses, or get a one-acter worthy of him and the mighty theatrical institu- tion In which he now finds him- self. - I.ait. _ Do You Want Work? BARRY DANFORTB 302 Loop End BIdg., CHICAGO Can Get You Plenty of It BookitiK K\>r1uftlvely »l(h Wonlrm Ofllcr H. F. Keitli ICxclunsr. Urphrum muJ '. Mftatrm Vnad^vlU* Mammtm' Am'o WRITE, WIRE, CALL ROYE AND MAYS (5) Dancas 16 Mint.; Full (SpMial) Palaca Harry Roye and Bllleo Maye, out- standing dancers, who have been coming for several seasons, have reached close to the vaudeville top with their new production act. Carrying a director and four dancing girls, exceptionally trained, the fresh offering made an Impres- sive score closing intermission. One of the girls. Margie Finley, looks especially good. She appeared in one with a routine that was as clever as It was varied. Miss Fin- ley will doubtless be on her own tit- fore long. The other girls are Con- stance Cowell. Penelope Rowland and Kvelyn Joyce. After a graceful opening by the supporting dancers. Miss Maye and Roye appear with a sort of aerial waits designed along original Unea. Both had specialties, Roye's being an eccentric and acrobatic routine. Miss Maye'a single is a corking toe novelty, her supple ankles permit- ting tricky stunts distinctly beyond the average. For the finale there was a con- certed Spanish number, the ward- roiie mistress and i>erhaps the act's carpenter entrancing for at- mosphere. Miss Maye. bare-legged, symbolized a bull, two little golden horns being visible. Roye as the toreador handled her cleverly. At the close he spun with her. Miss Roye being supported by a sort of sling which passed over the small of her back, the two ends being gripped in Roye's hands. An Identic feat has not been noticed before. The score for the act is credited to Vincent Valentini, Ralph Met- calf being the conductor. The act was staged by Roye. The dance production acts for the new vaudeville season start appear- ing about this time. It is certain Roye and Maye's wlU be rated among the best. Ittee. BEUTELL and GOULD Xylophone and Dance* 11 Mins.; On« Coliaeum The names on the program were Harry Beutell and lUta Uould (not the same Rita Gould, "single"), and the billing describes them as "danc- ing xylophonists." BeuteTl wears a dinner Jacket. From his performance on the xylo- phone he gives evidence of having done a "single" with the instru- ment. He also dances well, using some acrobatic turns that help. Ml.ss Gould is a dark-haired,. little woman, with considerable pep and vivacity, flapperLsh In appearance and wears abbreviated outfits titat are attractive. • The two open with a duet on the xylophone and also work In steps at the finish. After Beutell dem- onstrates hla skill with four sticks on the Instrument, Miss Gould does a dance with a skipping rope. Beu- tell does a "bit" at the xylophone, using hats to denote Impressions synchronize*! by the music, effective In the main. He whipped this number up for laughter and ap- pl.iu.se. For the finish the team goes Into dancing vvlUch Included the naan's acrobatic didoes and some cartwheels by Miss Gould. They closed strong and to big applause at the Coliseum. A bully good act of Its kind. Mark. MERCURE BALLET 8oir«M da Paris CiflaU, Paris Paris, Juns S4. Tha new ballet of Massine, with sets by the Spanish artist Ptcasao, la a freak (or esthetes, taking Greek mythology as an excuse to present a ridiculous entertainment. We are supposed to witness the birth of Mercury In the first act, but no one understood it. Then we see the bath of the Three Graces. The latter being represented by rotund figures mounted on immense frames. The whole is singularly ugly. These blzarrerios did not even please the guests of Comte Ktlenne de Beau- mont at his dress rehearsal at the Cigale. which he has hired at a high rental from Max Vlterbo for six weeks. Tile mixed audience ap- plauded and jeered, realizing the organizers were feeling Just how far they could go with the new school of acting without causing ,i riot. They could hardly feel the pulse of the paying public, for only a few strangers turned up at the box office. Picasso and company evidently wished to adopt the same square and perpendicular antics to dance as Copteau tried on classical drama here the previous week. Ma.ssine. a talented dancer when he like.s. jumped about in most un- graceful gestures, often assuming a boxing attitude. In his role of Mer- cury. This new cubic "art" is the acme of ludicrousness, and as for the mounting, it is simply nonsense. However, the music of Krik Satie is agreeable. The program includes another "Premier Amour" ballet by Krlk Satie, the score of whfth was pub- lished a qu.irter of a century ago un- der the title of "Musique en Forme de Poires." Then Satie was in ad- vance of his time. But it is insig- nificant as a book, telling of a child's doll.s coming to life. It is d.anced well by Idxlkowski, Mmes. Lopo- kowa and Pietro. "Les Roses," also in the bill, i.s, on the other hand, old-fashioned but charming, with the girls in greon skirts. The motive from the fam- ous waltz of Olivier Metr;» is ar- ranged by Henri Sauguet. The hand of the cubist Is not apparent in this ballet. On the whole, the Soirees de Paris efforts are not of a category to at- tract the real paying playgoer, and some of the angles must have been dropped a bit daring the spe- cial season at the Cigale by private enterprise. Kmdmo. BABY HENDERSON Dance and Song 3 Mins.; One (Special) Globe, Atlantic City Atlantic City, July 5. A 5H y<?.ar youngster who does dance. This is the child's second appearance. having opened at Keith's, VVasliington, last week. Labor laws prevent this baby from taking any kind of route. The curt.iin oi>ens and a si>eci,il drop is shown with a hat box placed in the centre of the stage. After a few b.irs of musiV, Baby Henderson emerges from the box and goes into a ballet dance, with all the vigor and fire of a seasoned performer. The child makes three changes in as many dances. Her swan d.mce is sure fire. In her Jazz number, she does cart wheels, back bends and twists. She follows here with a few pop choruses, and this is where the child Is in error. Tired after the dances, her voice is weak. The turn could be strengthed either by eliminating the singing or opening with a special number as a starter. The. child oan be u««d wherever they permit h«r to appear. TOM McCRAE and ADELE MOTT Comedy Dialog 14 Mins.; One 23d St. Tom MtCrae Is a good comedian 111 a "Snuf^" character at the open- ing in clean but funny makeup, with .1 peculiar comely method of his own which Is efTecti.ve. Adele Mott is a dandy straight for him and also has a pleasing voice. Their di.ilog has been arrangeil to get laughs In continuity and succeeds. A .song leads up to several funny bits. lIlustB|ting "How They Do It In the Movies." The deserted wife ind child meet the vill.iinous father who (aat them off; how to swell the l>ankroll in the gooil old blackjack way; the l^lind man, to whom the sympathetic lady gives $10,0i)0,000, all she has in the world, because he needs it more than she does, and the woman is shot becau.se she is loo good to live, while all of the genus Hokum kept the audience in l>ois- terous laughter. It Is the kind of entertainment that wJlL-produce the same results anywhere. It la a cinch next to closing act for the 3-a-day circuits, and an early spot on big time bills can bo safely entrusted to MpCrs»e and Mott. VclU i SCOVILLE DANCERS (8) Intvrprctive Dancing 17 Mins.; Full Stage (Special) City Aesthetic dancing is the forte. Opening they do one of those humpty-dumpty dances that re- quire bare feet, legs, and some drap- ery. It also takes in a IHtle postur- ing and a few leaps. To a small- time audience, and the act is def- initely of that calibre, it means nothing. A solo contortion dance, followe^l with a lot of floor work in it, this being done by one of the girls of the company. It registered. Then came a toe dance, set to unsuitable music, by two of the young girls of the troupe. The work was good and would have gone over much better h.ad it been routined to a suitable tune. A .Siianish dance with the flowing dresses and the tambourines fol- lowed and closed. It was well done, though somewhat amateurishly worked out, but, nevertheless, sent the act oft well. A musical director held the pit for the act. With some common sense applied to the music and the routine, as well as a few co.stumes not so seedy looking, the act would stand a cork- ing chance on the intermediate time. Despite its present handicap, the talent is there, for the young girls In the troupe have looks and figure enough to enable them to get away with murder once they get a seiii- htance of an .act. Si»k. VENDETTA (4) Dramati« Sketch 25 Mine.; FuH Victoria Palace^ Lendoik LKmdon. June K Some M years ago there was a big boom In sketches. Bverybody had one and everybody hunted round tor an opening date. This opening date, when achieved, was generally the only one pUyed. Most of tha shetches were bad, but few of the worst were as bad as this dramatia sketch written by William l« Qu,, and presented by Nancy Price. Preliminary presswork spoke of the remarkable Insight It gave of JournalKsm and espionage in Italy Its plot is supposed to be an actual tact. It might have been possib'e to give an opinion on this statement had the plot become apparent. Close concentration failed to find any- thing but a jumble of incidenti which became more confusing as the skit ran on. Signor Volpe Is a newspaper pro prietor and a bad lot. So bad indeed that a mysterious woman makes a mysterious entrance and swings » doped cigai on him. This temper- arily puts him out of action and gives the woman a chance to pur- loin a paper. Volpe recovers In due course and strangles this peraoa whom, so it appear.s. Is the mother of a girl who had been ruined, hut had later had the luck to become the Countess Montelupo. The Count hai Just been murdered and Volpe'i "sub" has got a >lg story out of It This rattles the great man who gives orders for the machines to be stopped. The curtain falls on the Countes* trying to the chief to let her oot. Throughout, there i- some mention oC Volpe's unfair dealing with the seduced peu.sant girl-Conntese's male parent, but what had redlly been the trouble Is not clear. Nothing more rubbishy than this sketch has ever been seen. Played by an unknown actress it wowM have been given "the bird." but friendship for Nancy Price obtained a fair hearing. As the Countess, she plays in approve' West End fash- ion; in other wuida it is difficult to hear most of wtiat she has to say. Her support is equal to the needs of the subject. The staging Is ordinary, but proves In what lururious surround- ings editors write articles which wreck governments. One week will probably suffice to bring this to the end of its life, al- though a call was snatched and the customary botiqoet handed up. Oore. MINER, ROBBINS and BROWN ••••9«> Talk and DancM 16 Mins.; One American Roof This trio, two men and a wonMui, do much better with their danciac than with their talk, which i» die* jointed and immaterial, or their singing, which does not matttr etther. If the three would jret down t». cases and devote some time to de- veloping their terpsichore, mean- while getting some competeat vaudeville author to take In thsir CTipabUitles and write something to fit them, they might reasonably look for better results all round. With their present act they an due for the customary bumpa OB the "on again, oft again" circuit* AMAZON and NILE Contortionists 11 Mins.; Full (Special) 5th Ave. This turn has iirobilily been around for some time, although no record of it is included in Variety's files. It is a neat contortion act, the couiile opening in alligator skins in a woodland setting. They shed the animal get-up and com- plete their act, working in full- length tights. Home of their "Iwneless" dem- onstr.ations vary from the usual, which pl.aces the turn near the toj) of the heap in Us field. The act is a good opener and could lit In neatly m a production. Abel. "THE MOVIE MASQUE" (4) Singing and Dancing 18 Mins.; Full Stage (Special Drapes) American Roof A novel opening is the radio a^" paratus with loud speaker, througli which the annotmcements appar- ently issue, although they are really made, and a song sung by one of the men with a fine lnrltc)ne voice and good announcing tone. A man and two women masked do a series of dances (all cleverly ex- ecuted) ia the characters made fa- mous by Movie .Stars, hence th« title. Not only the dances, but the impersonations are creditable. The dancers ire capable and the act Is well presented, with speed no small i)art of the a.ssets. It is * good flash act to headline these houses, with talent to back it. Ade- quate also for No. 2 or 4 on better progr.-ims. VAUDEVILLE SCENERY Painted Drops Fabric or Drapery Drop* Productions P. Dodd Ackerman Scenic Studios, Inc. 140 WEST 39th STREET