Variety (July 1924)

M VARIETY NEW ACTS THIS WEEK V■;***<-.J^i* ■ '-Mf . ■*.. Wednesday, July 16, 1824 BEN MEROFF and BAND (11) Comady Band Act S5 Mint.; Full Staga Palaea Before this act had progressed far tba first question that auto-aug- Sested Itself was "where have they been hiding all this while?" MerofC la not unknown to vaudeville. He haa been with his mother, Luba Meroft, for a time; his sister, Sonla, latar branching out as a single, with Ben also essaying a solo turn. With tha t>and, he has been in burlesque tor a season at an unusual salary, according to published reports, and the reason, thereAlre, becomes evi- dent with a review of the turn. It ■ttU Is a mystery, however, why thejr remained burled In burlesque W> long, althot'gh they have played tha outlying Keith houses for a time subsequently. Am a band act, It tops anything. In 1 . class. For vaudeville, Its best recommendation Is the comedy. It la not an out and out "symphonic band" turn, as the billing has it. MeroS's stepping Is sensational, the mualo worthy, but the comedy by- play la what places a stamp of dis- tinction on the jntlre offering. Ob Analysis It nhapes up as a •oupla of acta. The band opens "atralght" with "Shine," the 10 men Including Meroft in gray trousers and smart dark Jackets. A girl pian- ist completes the personnel, which consists of two comets, trombone, tuba, two saxes, violin, drums and banjo, with MeroflC up front, doubling on all aorta of Instruments and Im- preesInK with his versatility. A. Tocal paraphrase on "Dancing Dan," entitled "Dancing Ben," leads Into his snappy legmanla solo that whammed 'em. This waa followed bjr Frank and Milt Brltton doubling trooi trumpet and trombone to a xylophone and portable organ spe- cialty pf "Rlgoletto." The Brittons ara aub-featured with MerofC's name. This number, played with four hammers on the zylo, Intro- ducea a novelty horn attachment to tha violin In accompaniment and Meroir perfoimin^ on the 'cello. Maroff foUowa with bis "Ice skating" danee number that left no further doubt about the act's favorable im- pression. The comedy "brown derby" busi- ness, from which the act derives Ita title, followed. Meroft place: the d. b. on each Instrumentalist's re- apectlve cranium, the cue for a spe- cialty up front. Kach, in turn, made the most of his opportunity, the sax soloist, banjolst, violinist, tuba player (performing the unusual of rendering a aolo on the mammoth horn) and the Brittona all clicking In sequence. Thla cued for Bennle Roberts, the Palace orchestra leader. being discovered In a brown derby, followed by the rest ol the tr< nch boys donning similar top-pieces. A switch of cards disclosed one bearing an Inscription in Hebrew with the entire band in crepe and whiskers and derbies (the make-up la not offensive) with the attendant business of considerable gesti-cula- tlon by the troupe en masse, which bit Is open to question. It Is alto- gether harmless, however, and is heightened when the band vamps oft with "Ireland Must be Heaven," leading into a corking "hock" spe- cialty by Meroff. They tied It up completely once again and came back for another comedy Interlude that defies description becau.<)e of Its manifold bits. The act has everything desirable, and, with proper handling, is he.aded for headline honors of proportions. They opened in the deuce at the matinee and made such impression It necessitated a complete switch about of the show to permit a choice spotting second after intcrmiaslon HENRY HULL and EDNA HIB- BARD and Co. (1) Comedy Playlet 21 Mins.; Ona and Thraa (Specials) Palace Both of the featured players, with Frank MacDonald In support, are from legit. Both have been iden- tified with production successes and It Is probably Miss Hibbard's first vaudeville try. Mr. Hull essayetl a sketch offering last March With mediocre results owing to the qual- ity of the vehicle. This new sketch titled "Five Minutes From the Sta- tion" and credited to Elaine Sterne, a magazine flctionlst. Is a more like- ly vehicle. Like the first attempt, it's a Lewis & Gordon production, staged by Howard Lindsay. The stars are In the roles of a young married couple. Bert Adams is telephoning Carrie that he is bringing Mr. Mason, "the big boss," out to their suburban home for dinner. Carrie Is vexed at the sud- den visit, and the first scene has her "bawling" Bert over the 'phone while he, shown in Mason's office at the other end, is trying to cover up. The second scene is the Adams' home. The rest of the plot con- cerns itself with a question of Ini- tiative and a business promotion, human Interest topics and Interest- ingly presented. It plays itself smoothly in a man- ner to the liking of the auditor, who is whollyl in sympathy with the charming Mrs. Adams and her hus- band. The bright dialog and delightful little story impress most, however, through the cast's eftorta, not the least of which Is Miss Hibbard, who Is quite natural. Mr. Hull is similarly effective and Mr. Mac~ Donald contributes his little mite to the sum total. It's a worthy big time sketch. Abel. THE MIKU8 (2) Aerial Act 9 Mina; Thraa Jaffaraon Man and woman team, evidently foreign. The man acta as under- stander, w^ile the woman does the work atop of a fairly high ladder arrangement with a special bit of construction at the top. It la In reality a combination balancing and gymnast! turn, the man balancing the ladder on his shoulders during the entli ■> act, the woman doing tricks Just below the borders. At first the woman appeara In an evening gown which ahe dis- cards when reaching the top of the apparatus, revealing herself In the usual tights and a blouse effect above the waist. The tricks, while not startling, proved novel to the 14th street audience and the turn earn«d fair applause in the closing spot. It la essentially a small time opening or closing turn. Fred. at night. AbcU HELEN and MACK Songs and Dances 1 12 Mins.; Full Stage 23rd St. (July 14) This young mixed couple ap- peared as one of the tryout acta Monday night A song and dance by Helen did not get very far, and the Spanish dance with the other double routinee are poor copies of other dance teams, who are so much better, It Is advisable to ad- ▼Ise Helen and Mack to try some- thing else. If they must go on the ■tage. y<i^- '^Do You Want Work? ~HARRY DANF08TH 302 Loop End BIdg., CHICAGO Can Oat You Plenty of It Bookinc ExxahulTAir with Wmiern Offlce B. r. Keith Bxehanse, Orpheum and Wmti-ra VaadcTlll* Manacen' Ah'b WRITE, WIRE, CALL MARGARET and GADDE Piano and Violin 11 Mins.; Ona American Roof Two girls, blonde and brunet Latter enters going straight to piano. Blonde girl likewise with violin, the first number being a clas.slcal on piano and violin. A peml-classical with variations \ry the violinist. A piano solo next, then another classical duet, the vio- linist playing pizzicato winds up a turn that was heavily applauded as most musical acts with classical programs are in the pop houses. The girls should inject one or two semi-popular or musical comedy numbers into their routine. In its present arrangement it's a small time "class" act and will remain so although they are both fair musi- cians. Thpy were second on an eight-act bill here. MANN and STRONG "Oarage Love" 20 Mina., Thraa (Spaeial) RiVaraida Hazel Mann, a former songstress, and Eugene Btronf, a former film and vaudevilla and legit leading man of the two-flsted type, engage here In a light-comedy skit, thin as gossamer, by Will M- Hough. Just why they stray ao far from their accustomed lanea is not clear. A drape interior showing a garage, containing a flivver and some household furniture, sets Strong to be discovered In sport togs, awaiting bis wife and making clear that he ip a doctor with no patients, who Is secretly acting as an "extra" in the movlea to buy her expensive flowers. - She enters, he breaks the newa to her, there is some patter about a former hus- band and some one-way telephone gagging. The electrlc-Ilght company turns oft the current Just after he is noti- fied that Pola Negri wants to see him In evening clothes to Judge his fitness to be her leading man. He was to have reported on the lot as an Arab at 6 In the morning. So he turns up with evening coat and the desert pants and ahe with one red stocking and one yellow-one, and he tells her it is all a Joke and he has struck oil and they are mil- lionaires. ' That'a pretty rich, but for H^xel Mann and Eugene Strong it's rather poor. In picking a Ford for a vehicle they miscast themselves and each other strikingly. Only two cuch ex- perienced and gifted persons could carry so much handicap, and that they do by ahe^ personality, ao that "Garage tiov^" lan't at all hard to take. There are numerous hearty laughs, and Strong, aa always, la the personified matinee hero who gets the flappera on alghL Miss Mann has a staccato attack, which, with her animated individuality and fem- inine attractlveneaa, makea her a valuable atraight to Strong'a situa- tion and wheeae laugha. But she should sing and he ahould have something weightier to do, if this pair la at all vaudeville- matched. Strong la a romantto "hero" who has few equals. With any kind of luck he should ba a "name" In the native legltimata drama. He has proven It. E^ran in vaudeville he has done wortta-whila and out- standlni^ things^ This Hough hokum Is very well in ita place, with a song and dance and low comics la character. For Strong it seema scarcely to be ap- propriate, and avaa If the results were all that tha author and the pla!yera hoped for. It would still be a sorry .waste of a potential star, may- be two. "As a vaudeville sketch this act ahould be booked along, for the two players will austaln IL But they will not advance their careers in it. The vehicle might be of use to Ernest Truex and Flavla Arcaro or some other combination which can make It eccentrle. For a good- looking, vibramt girl of regulation mold and a handsome big-time sheik, both established and stand- ardized quantitiea. It la an act, but not a triumph. Lait. PANTHEON 8INQER8 (S) Singing, Piano and Violin 16 Mina.) Full Stage (Special) Fifth Avanua Credit la due a mualcal turn that successfully combines high-class vocal selection with pops. Without pretensions toward the real high- brow which doesn't belong on the two-a-day, these Ave performers present operatic and semi-classical numbers in delightful fashion. The setting, blue and red drapes, with delicately shaded lighting ef- fects, la in tune with the reat of the act, harmonloua and tsMteful. The vocalista are four, tenor, bari- tone, soprano and contralto, all of refinement and well balanced poise, and all except the l>aritone are given opportunities for solo work, but it is during the singing by all four together that the be«t results are achieved. Thus their rendition of Verdi's quartet from "Rlgoletto," in spite of a certain lack of robustness on the part of the tenor, is one ot the best things of ita kind ever heard in vaudeville, and it won prolonged applause. Later they slng^ the "Italian Street Song" with its stir- ring "Zing Zing" to almost as strong an effect. An extremely good-looking blonde Is at the piano, handling the keys in noteworthy style. She surprises by bringing out a vloUn and play- ing "Roses of PIcardy" with a depth of sincerity and tonal beauty. To clinch her versatility she har- monizes a selection with the con- tralto in a soprano that makea up In aweetness for what it lacks in volume. This particuK.r song, however, sounds like a pop waltz and might be replaced with some- thing more In keeping with the comparatively high quality of the act. The turn fortunately has been staged with an eye on vaudeville and not for the Chautauqua plat- form, thus avoiding a common error. It Is a certainty for the best bills, any time, any place, anywhere and almost any spot. ALICE BRADY AND CO. (1) "Marriaga-A-La-Moda" (Comadvt 14 Minai Full Stage '^ Ooldan Oata, San Franciaco San Franclaoo, July n Alice TJrady at the Qoiden Qau tried out a new sketch writtenli Brander Matthewa entitled "M^ rlage-A-La-Mode." The piece hari been put on for several days at tha 8:16 supper show only. "Marriage-A-La-Mode" la i. reality a monologue with Miss Brady doing practically all of the Ulking The two characters are husband and wife. The husband has no linea until tha finish. The skit got over very well with Golden Gate au> diences and appears a satisfactory vehicle for Miss Brady. The plot concerns a wife left alone until midnight on her birth- day. When the husband enters aha' begins a tirade^. She weeps and walla, resorts to sarcasm, tfien' pathos, tries to be funny, savage and satiric. All the while the husband vainly seeks to say something, but is cut short each time by his irate spouse. When she finally gets out of breath the husband quickly pulls a plush Jewel case from his pocket coi\. taining the birthday present he haa brought her. At sight of the Jewel her rago melts Instantly. S le coos like a dove and blandly says to her hus- band In the best "dumb bell" faih- Ion. "Darling, why didn't you t*U me before?" Miss Brady ran the gamut of tha different emotions in true art and looked dlstractlngly pretty in a dar- ing pajama negligee of brick dust color and ecru lace. The husband was nicely taken by Charles A. Blckford. His pantomime was ex- cellent. Rivert. Con. BARRY AND ROLLO Singing and Piano 15 Mins.; Ona City Two nice-looking girls, blonde and brunet, with good voices, who have a good idea for their opening, a medley of popular songs with a comedy twist in thb lines, making It a parodied medley. The girl at the piano pufs over a good synco- pated solo, showing ability in exe- cution and rhythm. Single and double vocal numbers follow, each receiving its share of applause and the finish of the act saw them forced to an encore. The girls should have no trouble in securing the intermediate time and with a bit less self-confidence should reach better company. Reatrlcted material ^ould also be advisable. RIALTO FOUR Singera 14 Min^.; Ona 23rd St. Four young fellowa in tuxedos, each the possessor of a good sing- ing voice, waste a little time on Individual entrances, each singing a few bars of the usual "what we are going to do" stuff. This can be eliminated without injury. When they get down to their solos and harmony numbers, very few quartets have anything on, them. Their voices are clear, so- norous, and each distinctly audible in the harmony. The tenor Is a treasure, not only as a soloist, but in the concerted numbers. He Is really a top tenor and easily tops the quartet every time, with emi- nently satisfactory results from and to the audience. They are evidently a new com- bination,- but with a little more work, that confidence in each other will be gained, necessary for the smooth functioning of any quartet, and the signa (apparent to the practiced eye) of nervousness will disappear.— They are a clean-cut foursome, and on their singing alone should get plenty of bookings on the in- termediate time, or without much hazard an early apot on some of the better programs might be. en- trusted to thopn. SHEAN and PHILLIPS Songa and Talk 18 Mina.; On* I Fifth Ave. Two young men who were In supi>ort of Ona Munson have framed a routine and are on their own. They affect the college type, opening with a medley ot which the lyrlo is primary, though not suc- cessful in humorous purpose. A bl^ of chatter with the tag line "that's What I think" led to another light lyric dually sung as with the first number, the second ditty being "Hip, Hip, Hooray for Father." BSt- Itlng the boys returned with ukeo. Injecting some further Ulk along the w. k. path: "Thafa good." "Oh, no. It waa bad." The best of the routine came with the last number, "Boola. Boola," dolled up with special choruses. The tag linea got some- thing and the youths used an odd way of marching on for added choruses, which counted. At the close they told It themselves: "Some of our Jokes are very old and some are new, but it's al- Boola Boola" They were on second. Looks like they would have to bo- content with pop time for a season or two when they might got a better slant on material values. Ihea. CHARLES FOLEY and Co. (1) Comedy Acrobata 13 Mins.; Full Stage (Special Set) 23rd St. A set cottage backing used In some of the stunts looks very well ' at the opening, in which the two men do about the usual routines of comedy kinkers, all leading up to the finishing trick, a variation of the Bert Melrose table drop. Tha comic, with a Chester Conklln^ makeup, big moustache and all, ' mounts the table, on which is fixed a tall stepladder. With the ortho- dox sllpst stumbles and false foot- holds that goes with the stunt, ho proceeds to sway the ladder oa which he haa gained the top with the inevitable back drop and roll over climax. This never fails to draw screams of apprehension from the younger of the gentler se^ which unconsciously works thO reat of the audience up to a certain share in the apprehension and la thereby surefire for applause when the fallee Is seen to rise none tha worse, In. fact grinning as If he enjoyed the trip. For (this reas6n Poloy and C* will fit on any of the amall tlm* programs, and return satisfactory* dividenda for whatever tha outla# may be. "^^ VERA COLE Songa 12 Mins.; One 23d St. Vera Cole is very young, very good-looking, and ha« a very good voice, a natural one. With these assets she can continue Indefinitely on the small time. Experience may lead to better things. But she can save the weary heart-breaking route by taking a course from a vocal teacher, who will help her to place her voice and show her the correct method of attacking high notes. This win eliminate the strain now ap- parent in her efforts. It is only fair to say that Miss Cole haa a true voice of good range, reaching her high notes easily enough, bu^too brusquely. Her rep- ertoire also needs revision by some- one with vaudeville knowledge. The prima donna costume, with the enormous feather fan, Is much too old for her. A less pretentious gown. In keeping with her size and evident youth, would set oft her prettlness to better advantage and appeal more pleasantly tc> her audi- ences. The young lady need not be dis- cour' ted, for in any case, with ex- pert 4«a, Mlu Colo win arrive. 7al. DARE and WAHL Comedy Acrobats 14 Mina.; Ona Broadway Male couple going through a hoko acrobatic routine In rube attire and effecting unsmiling countenance* throughout. The proverbial missing and awkward entanglements are in- cluded, with the flnlshlftg trick straightening Itself into a legltimata hand-to-hand balance, with the un- der man doing two complete body twists that constitutes Itself as a corking effort and receiving its Just due at this house. Both men sell the act for fuU value, with, perhaps, the only fault lying in the time consumed. Placed fourth the duo had no difficulty In upholding the assignment and can easily take their place within the confines of any of the middle-class theatres. About the only thing the boys need look after is as the company grows faster they'll have to cut down the 14 minutes, and on that basis the act looks well able to un- dertake an early responsibility with the best. BMg- VAUDEVILLE SCENERY Painted Drops Fabric or Drapery Drop* Productions P. Dodd Ackerman Scenic Studios, Inc. 140 WEST 3»th STREET