Variety (November 1924)

Wednesday, November 19, IMf VAUDEVnULE REVIEWS VARIETY f^^'' •*■ PALACE' ■-■^-' '- P}«nty of color and novelty in ttie V'curroit bin. bunched Into the final ««ctloii 7«t withal « cmootb and «ven running show. Busin«Bs •(! Monday nicbt downstairs, although . the top deck was a sell-out before curtain time. The 14-act brace held eight fa- miliars and the return of J. C. Nu- gent from the legit and Margaret Young, singing comedienne, neither new to vaut^eviUe (New Acts). Alice Brady held stelUr billing in z' the closing spot of the first half "with "Cassle Cook," culled from a I former legit vehicle, "Drifting," and rv a return date here. She registered '. as one of the hits. Miss Brady gave ^ a capital Cassle, a bit of driftwood '-. .who had wandere- Into Shanghai ', to barter herself with whites and r Chinlcs alllce. She had sneered at p- love but finds It in Bad LAnds ^f McKiniiey, also a moral derelict. ^ The attempt of b)Hh to conceal their 1^ Identities and have each other be- ^ tleve they are decent furnishes the i ineat of this abbreviated drama. ^; In loreceding spot Ward and Van, ^ Instrmnentltllsts. sounded the first ;' }iowls of the evening mainly ifi. through' the comedy antics of the ^' violinist with a penchant to play ^;, ,9ff key and at the same time to •ontrol his dropping trousers. Ernest Evans, surrounded by six , girls. In the trey spot did as de- ;.' llghtful a revue as ever concocted << tor "vaudeville. (Miss) Lee Morse deuced It to splendid result* with Southern V melodies linked up for a cycle. It ,'; gave her sbope to display varied :i.. singing tones. ij Quiran and Marguerite opened the V second section with their classy ■ dancing and registered as heavily 1 bs before, both In solo work and h doubles. J. C. Nugent held follow- C' up spot and wowed them with a .. line of topical chatter in- his in- ' Imltable style. William Morris and Family reg- .' istered heavily In the yell depart- '\ ment with a neat skit, "All the Hor- . rors of Home," a clever satire de- pleting that home is anything but a haven where the tired bread- winner may seek diversion. It was f>layed in a tempo almost too natural for vaudeville and thanks to the skillful playing was one of -the high spots of the show. Mar- ,4 garet Toung cleaned up in the »> follow-on with her songs. >; Yong Wong Brothers introduc- ,. toried with fast acrobatics, balanc- :^ ing and plate spinning, while Cooke, * Mortimer and Harvey closed with a *' basket-batl Contest On bicycles. Mdha.' COLISEUM, LONDON I" London, Nov. lO. A house packed to capacity M«n- 1;.: day greeted one of the finest vaude- c- viUe programs seen in the West ^ find of London for many a long day. There was only one exception to the general excellence of the acts, V Roy Barton and Leo Deslys. De- ^' scribed as "The Famous American ,fy Society Entertainers," these men '''.' presented a "cabaret" act with old "' material. As a single turn, or with another partner. Barton would probably have got away with It, but no British audience would stand the falsetto of his partner and this V,, speedily got the "bird" and the- act %' was rung down on. s Ringing tfown Is a rarity at the i Coliseum, one of the few previous >;, occasions being during a famous % American comedienne's act. This, ti however, was caused by the rowdi- '' nesa of medical students and not !!i through any lack of popularity on the part of the artist. Rebla presented his Juggling, which never loses its Interest, and H Is as popular in vaudeville houses H< aa in revue. Will Fyfte returned f with two old numbers and was as I .successful as ever. Fyfte stands high in the front rankb of per- ' formers and as a true Scottish "' comedian has no equal. The Charles Pernrose duo~ pre- '': Bented their "quarreling" act. which is a certain hit at any time. One of the important things in . the show was the return of the Lole Fuller Ballet in the Danse Fantas- * tiques. This grotesque application of shadowgraphy to ballet is one of, the most delightful Items to be found in modem vaudeville and Is all too short. Other dances pre- - vented by the troupe were the Fountain, "Naila" and "The Water Sprites," the latter giving the cre- ator an opportunity for the use of her famous color effects. Marguerite and Gill are new- comers to London vaudeville, but were made very welcome in their dance creations. They will do well here. Fay Coropton plays a slight sketch with a pilot founded on mis- understanding. There is nothing '■ particularly humorous in the show, which depends greatly on the lady's ;° name. The Three Appalonas are a typioa) Continental acrobatic act of high merit. Other acts are Viva Daron and the Kedroft Vocal Quar- tet. The entire program was perfectly balanced except the unfortunate In- ;. ddent mentioned, but Will Fyffe ' . fltands out jtead and shoulders * aboT* the others for artistry and popularity. HIPPODROME =ff WILUS Rather flat performance at the Hip thia week. With the big fea- ture fkilling over, the bill sagged right where it should have stood up. Comedy, and not any too much of it, came in unexpected Bpots, and that only after the bill had been changed at night from the Monday matinee. Charles Kellogg, the bird singer, was the most interesting, more so than the Imported Siamese troupe of 2S people, m^n and women (New Acts). Borne help was given to the foreigners through the announcing, but they still need a great deal more to be pt extraordinary Interest in vaudeville, though they will be in- teresting enough to the in'.ellect. Mr. Kellogg was handsomely set, closing the first part. His - turn brought out what could be done here in building up an act. But his own work and much of It along sci- entific lines. It would seem, was In the first place far oVer the heads, of all laymen, and, secondly. Inter- estingly curious through that. Mr. Kellogg gave i»ome demonstrations to the effect of the vibrating bird notes that defied his own explana- tion, as he confessed. Truly a fine act for vaudeville of much ele- gance In Itself and Impressive deliv- ery, with Mr. Xollogg'B command- Tng stage presence not to^be under- estimated. Closing the first part were Donald Brian, Virginia O'Brien and Lieut. Gits-Rice (the latter billed without his title). Nice easy variety turn, of no value here other than what the names might have meant. Mr. Brian's stories got a snicker, his dancing attention and the singing was pleasant. Gaston Palmer with his* Juggling, not much changed, worked up the best laughs of the first half of the bill. He did it with the oomody of his Juggling, making laughlngiy good almost the entire way. Not the least app'.ause of the uro- gram either went to the opening act, the Four Costing Kt'irs. Thc-y (lid a complete fly over ti'e bar for their finish. The Gallettl-Kokin turn has Fred Galletti and lola Kok:n, who lool< like the children of the original, do- Ing a somewhat s^Ltila- turn. The monkeys carry the act for comedy In the barber nhop buaine.ss and «h«! dance by the monkey, also Its strut- ting exit, nrtade a good finish. Leitsel, out of the Rlnj;lii^ Cir- cus, was nicely mounted ^ for Ine aerial bit, with the circus drop and all of Toyland marching over the stage. L«itzet got her customary heavy ending with the 100 consecu- tive overhand swings on the rope. -She did her work at an elevation cf about 35 feet. Lou Holts got In on the m-mey through his "Solo Mio" guitar sing- ing finish. He needed it. The Hip was pretty wide for his thin gags all clean, however, and Lou nearly lost them with the long-winded "pants" Joke ttiat had no Joke to end with after playing for a laugh so long. Though leaving to a huge laugh on the best gag in the "Sole Mlo" thing he could use here, Lou did not return for an encore. The Mabel Ford Revue closed the show, the Slam bunch baving been moved up at night from that spot to the second half. Simc. T BROADWAY 5TH AVE. Ordinary split week layout with two acts throwing a stop sign on during the evening. BUly^House and his comedy playlet lighted so well In the midst of the running the fonswlng outburst was solid enough to retard matters, while Moss and Frye, next to closing, also eased through to equal results. An- other act that did make a speech, but might have missed the after- math had the* lights been dimed was Moore. Mil'.er and Peterson. The lower Broadway domicile held Its proverbial quota. After a ^low start the show finally seemed to have an objective with Ray Hulins; and Co., trained seal (New Acts), showing No. 3. Previously Lura Bennett and an assisting trio went through an athletic routine of wres- tling, fencing and boxing that regis- ters as being In need of smoothing and can delete the singing without suffering a fatality. Haig and La- vere, deucing it, aroused the same meager response with a haphazard schedule among which was the whistling of the "Stars and Stripes." Both acts defined themselves as purely for the smaller houses. House was No. 4 and did nicely all the way, while having the ad- vantage of being the first real com- edy act. House's soloing was par- ticularly liked. Trailing immediately behind came Sam Hearn issuing his veteran single that even Included the Identical duo of encores. At that Hearn plm«ed, although edging a trifle to get one of additions across. Moore, Miller and Peterson ranjr the bell without a blemish with their fl.ish act that Is particularly well suited to this type of house. The cadet six-pl e band makes for appearance, while the boys cut loose with some energetic hoofing and the girl handled her vocalising re- sponsibilities for appropriate re- turna Moss and Frye worked so easily as t« make some of the pre- ceding acts look fooll«h, and actu- ally cleaned up everything that was The Willis, at ISSth street and Willis avenue, in the fironz, is a ,COO-seater. The house has been play- ing Independent vaudeville and pic- tures since opening last December, with business satisfactory. The vaudeville is booked by Jack Linder's independent agency, the house ordi- narily playing six acts and a feature picture to a 40-cent top at night. This week the Willis h/m some- thing new for the house. Judging by Monday night's three-quarters ca- pacity, it should get the money. It Is a 'JClrcus Week," recently In- novated on the Loew Circuit at New- ark and probably due to be given the same kind of a play by the vaudeville houses as the other special and business-getting novelty weeks. The Willis has gone in heavy for atmosphere. The outside is dressed for the occasion, also the lobby. Two cages, one with a prop lion and the other housing a chimpanzee, are In the lobby. The ushers are in clown costumes and the house orchestra dressed similar to a circus band. The show is labeled the "Willis Society Circus," and was staged un- der the direction of Gilbert P. Jo- sephson, manager of the house. It runs about one hour and a half, and consists of seven "dumb" acts, with five clowns In "one" or on the apron. The clowns are Nemo, Rice and three others. They do several old bits, such as the water spitting bit, "Let 'er go!" etc. Nenu> also burlesques catching apples on a fork. The other act in "one" is two freaks—Baby Doll, the fat girl, and Sir Robinson, the skeleton. Robinson plays two har- monicas. Baby Doll sings a pop song and dances, lectures on Robin- son and Joins htm In a funny one- step for a finish. "The show proper runs Rogers, Sully and Rogers, corking casting turn working above a trampoline. Zyron Sisters, two girls, in a fair routine on the trapeze and rings. No. 2. Beckwith's Lions, three. The lions are one lion, a remarkably tame animal, who permits his train- er to ride him, wrestles with him, etc. This turn opens with the girl giving a brief but Interesting exhi- bition of sharpshooting. Beckwlth handles the targets and the Hon, the tatter working In a strafi^ht fence cage without a "preventive" top. George Cahill followed the freaks, with a thrilling routine ef stunts on the trapeze. His two closing tricks are a back drop to an ankle catch and a forward dive to a one-knee catch on the bar. It's a corking act. The Deooe Troupe, three men in hand-to-hand balancing, followed. The odd member, in clown make up, does a bit of ground tumbling. His comedy efforts went for the end book. A balloon trick was gummed up when the balloon exploded pre- maturely. Hill's Circus, a well-trained pony and dog act. concluded an ordinary entertainment which got over, due to the novelty of the presentation and the novelty of the entertainment Itself, new to an aullience educated to straight vaudeville. "The Alaskan" and a Jack Demp- sey two>reeler oonclnded the total, averaging as plenty of entertainment for the price. The house receives a heavy local play, situated in the midst of a thickly populated neigh- borhood. It is the only house In the vicinity selling vaudeville and pic- tlires at the prices charged, and has been cleaning up since tfie opening of this season. Con. The show Monday night did not run true to form. Looked goo<| on paper only. Stanley and Donuui opened with contortions and acrobatics. The strength of the turn is largely in the '"boneless" work of the man. The woman does exceptional stuff in bending for one of her propor- tions. The act keeps abreast for its style, nature and routine. Clara Barry, assisted by Ocvllle Whit- ledge at the piano, kidded through a routine that took in several songs. Hall, Brmlnle and Brice pleased mainly through the man on a unl- cycle at the close. The routine is so laid out the act cannot hit up speed and maintain it. this fact not deterring the young women from disp;aylDg their musical skill and accomplishments. It was delightful and refreshing comedy that Will J. Kennedy offered in the amusing skit, "Pinch Me." An emphatic hit was the result. The Jay Dillon-Betty Parker "Little Revue" followed. It is the act they fell heir to wlien Santley and Sawyer left It. It could not have dropped into better hands. Mr. Dillon and Miss Parker have youth, vtalent and a happy faculty of making their duets and "bits" Impressionable. Fenton and Fields In cork had their own way next to closing. While the audience was a little Slow taking to them, the latter section of the turn got the laughing results. The Griffin Twins closed and not In a long while has a closer made such an Impression as these two kiddles. There was speculation whether the twins were boys or girls but that didn't matter, as they go through their dances with mar- velous skill, being beautifully trained like expert Zouaves and showing decided grace and match- less rhythm In every movement. A corking act of its kind. The picture was "The Midnight Express" (Columbia), one of the first of the lesser Independeat films to play this house. As its title Indi- cated, it runs wild with melodrama. Mark. act. uM tw specials «ropa "in one," took care of the scenery de- partment, all of the hanging pieces and flats looking new and bright. A pick-out number by Weber, giving each chorister a chance to do sonMthIng solo, was the lieavlest applause number of the evening. During the number Weber unleashes his wild German accent on *.he girls and the leader and never falls to pull laughs. A drill by the chorus, led by Miss Raynor, was well staged, as were the rest of the dances, none of which called for much Intricacy f movement but allowed for plenty of Jazs stuff, which the girls hopped to early and often on and off the runway. All the runway numbers were heavily recalled, the choristers copping comebacks with Intimate shimmying right over the heads of the rail Mrds. "Kandy Kids" is a strong Mutual In every department and shonld prove a favorite anl a money- maker around the wheel. It's clean enough to salt any but the aoet prudish and holds plenty of enter- tainment at the prices. ■;-"•' ■:: ■ con. STATE- Vaudeville above the pop average is at the Loew ace bouse this week, with Lewis and Body headlining. "Dorothy Vernon" la' the film, yet, with this euper in, business didn't respond as it haa with some of the others. The Monday night house, however, was comfortably filled for the late show. The Bird Cabaret, one of the re- liable openers, led off, with the per-. forming parrots getting the applause and the repartee between their wom- an trainer and several of the birds knocking off neat laugh scores. Fur- man and Evans, man and woman, around a lot, were No. 2, and did moderately well with a novelty song routine that held Its most effective punch in a'song medley of many rag songs pieced together with their con- tinuity running in an especially con- structed lyric. Charlie Abeam and his Millionaire Band, on next, working In "one," full stage, "one" again, and then back to full, got heavy laughs all the way. They were followed by Lewis and Dody, who were responsible for stopping the show and holding It stopped. Eclair Twins and Billy Wells (New Acts) closed with a dance revue that was fair in spots, poor in others and at times funny. The whole bill, however, was above the State average, with the T.«wlfi and Dody and the Ahearn acta chiefly re.xponsible. BUk. In sight. A few new insertions brighten the dialog for those who have seen the duo quite often, while the basic wordings continue to di- vulge a wealth of entertainment. Berrena and Foster (New Acts) closed. Skig, BURLESQUE REVIEWS (Continued from page 41) all that could be desired, but it is Nlblo's mugging, dancing, person- ality and artistry that Jump the show Into one of the best on the wheel, always remembering the miracle perforn;ed by Joe Kurtlg and Allen Tenny dpon the booli. Con. KANDY KIDS (MUTUAL) Prima Donna RUIr Riynor Instnue Mattle D« I.e«e« Soubrcl Srd Burk* Juvenile Billy Hera 8tml(bt Warrvn Boy4 CsmMlan Sammx Spaara Comedian Johnny Waber Bita aaarfa Bray Jake Pptar's Mutual "Kandy Kids," featuring Johnny Weber, the veteran Dutch comic, and Sapimy SpearS) the youthful Hebrew cut- up. Is a real good old-fashioned bur- lesque show with a modem pro- duction and a fastf peppy, Jazsy chorus of 18 warm mammas. Three good, principal women and Billy Reed, a fast moving eccentric and acrobatic dancing Juvenile, round out a splendid cast. The show predominates In com- edy, Weber's Dutch accent being as old school and funny as ever, and. Judging by the laughter of this audi- ence, a thoroughly modern one. The producers are taking a great deal for granted when they pooh-pooh the' old schoo: Dutch comedians, than whom there are no funnier characters In any branch of amuse- ments. The comedy scenes are all con- structed around familiar bita Weber has been identified with In other shows and Include an "Interrup- tion," "poison fhilk,- "find the lemon," "slow train through Arkan- sas," and "kiss the mummy," all big laugh-getters for Weber and Spears. " Spears. In addition to doing a likable Hebrew throughout, turns In a good talking specialty in one, "The Recruit," with Warren Boyd. an excellent straight, aa the top sergeant. The talk here is 100 per cent released gags but got over, mainly through delivery. Billy Reed stops the first act cold' with an excellent assortment of soft-shoe eccentric and acrobatic dancing. He also handles a Juvenile role. Elsie Raynor, the prima, has a good singing voice, commanding carriage and wears clothes well. The sonbret, Syd Burke, haa fair pipes, dances acceptably. Jazzes heavy and ooks cute. Mottle De Leecc, Ingenue, Is a well-formed, good-looking girl of statuesque pro- portions. She has considerable per- sonality and delivers a pop song In big league fashion. The prod- otlon Is up to Mutual averages, also the costuming, which was not elaborate but fresh look- ing, neat and colorful, the choristers and Boubret running to bare-legged, short-skirted or one-piece aelec- tlona. Four full stage sets, two In each THEATRICAL FIREWORKS (Continued from page S) trolled by Kqulty, had decided it oould not afford the expense 'of over one delegate to this ^ntbem point. Uillmore was aaslgned. What They Heard Accord^g to the story here, noth- ing more was done until Mountford and Fltapatrlck are reported to have been informed In New York that QUlmore while before the conven- tion would petition that the powers new held by the American Artists' Federation (vaudeville) In the Votir A's be turned over to BQuity. Tliat U the MoonUord and PlUpatriek Vaudeville Branch of the Fodr A'a. It would mean If succesafat that Bkiulty could then start to orsanlse vaudeville aa of Ekiulty Instead of the Vaodeville Branch as at present. Upon learning of this intention. It ^is said, Mountford had himaelf appointed as an Independent dele- gate by the A. A. F., and Fitapatrick Jumped over to his home town, Waterbury, Conn., explained the situation, and the Bookkeepera and Stenographers' Union of Waterbury duly appointed James W. Fltapat- rlck its authorised representativs at the convention. These appofaitmenta permit. sach to appear upon the floor, and also to allow either or both to anaver Glilmere. Alleged injuatice by Equity Provided Olllmore dees not take the offensive. It Is reported tlie skeleton 'iias been laid for Fltapat- rlck to gain the floor and proceed to bring to the attention of the lalior delegates the alleged injustice hy Equity In attempting to aecnrs tbe upper hand of tbe Vauderlllo Branch. In addition to the allsca- tlons Fitapatrick ntay make (and Mountford Join in). It is stated they wilt also present a claim against Equity In reference to the duea \he Vaudeville Branch clalma as due it from E>iulty through legits going into vaudeville. , This Is said to amount to a ooiislderable sum, ac- cording to computation by the Vaudeville Branch — aometbing around fZS,0OO. An argument to be advanced by Mountford, according to the story. Is that the present posltlMf Equity holds In the theatrical world and labor field was gained through the di^iact assistance of the Vaudeville "Branch, then the White Rats, m loaning the A. F.. of L. charter of the Rate to the Four A's, and tak- ing In Equity. Mountford will also charge that Hugh Franey, New York. State organiser. Is working hand In glove with Equity in ail of Equity's movements against the V^audevllle Branch. Opposition to Qompers Another movement of interest in this convention Is believed to be the warm opposition Samuel Gompers will >ncounter against his re-elec- tion as president of the Federation. He will be opposed by John W. Lewis, president of the Coal Miners' Union of Illinois. Lewis has a high standing and much prestige among the delegates. The convention la expected to end Nov. 29. Archer Whitford, publisher of the only theatrical paper in Australia. is visiting over here. In conjunc- tion with his publishing buslneaa, Mr. Whitford handles the principal , theatre programs, with his plant In Sydney. Some years^ago three the- atrical puUicatlona were meagerly supported by the show business of the antipodes. Tbsy-were combined by Mr. Whitford In the amgie weekly publication, whlfb alto givea some attention t« the t0ortn of tha coustry. J ■I ^ 'H =1