Variety (December 1924)

'-:Vi'. _,;Rjiivy,7r .:,,'w^>'; 1. ■jF'^c^ WT- ^^ VARIETY NEW ACTS ffRS WEEK .\*«- "feff,^ " '^V ■" ; . - l Wednesday, December 17, 1921 c - MARY NASH and C«. (Dl ., "P**!* (Dnimatic> ;-■'v< ik *; It MiM.| OiM (OffiM), r«ur (Lfvlno floom) IC^ry Masta'a Uat vaudeviUe ap- p«armtie« according to Variety's N«w ▲et fllea was in 1114. Of recent 7MTa alie luui b«en starring in tasit Mary Naah In the legit la a "name" that should mean something to vaudeville as well. For her TaUdeville vehicle, under Ziewis A Gordon direction, Elaine Sterne has Authored "Fear," a drama. Howard Xandsay I* credited for the staging. The playlet affords Mlsg Nash ample opportunity for several mln- tites of solo dramatic histrionics that only a capable artiste of her ««libre could carry. To lead up to It, the plot must be briefly sketched. Her husband, John Burchell (Kdwln Stanley), Is the district at- torney. It Is f:tO, 'The setting in "one" Is Itis offlce. He is working late' with his stenographer (Con- stance Bb«w). The oallloiM whistle warning «< a prisoner's eso<tpe is heacrd. The stenog expresMs fear. The D, A. takes It lightly. He-tele- phones his wife (Hiss Kash), he will be tied aj> watU midnight «r kter. When he learns the escaped con- Tict Is Denby. a i>artlcularly vicious •rtmln&l whom be put away and who In turn has threatened revenge on the P. A., Burchell decides to dismiss his impatient amanuensis and return to his wife. The aeoond scene Is the living room of' the Burchell home. Mrs. Burchell has learned that Denby is the man. She Uvqs in fear ha will return to do her. or hei- husband harm. The drawn curtains (jnlver suspiciously. She thinks Denby Is hiding behind them. In a frensy of fear she spiUs out the secret of her love affair with Denby. who was her former husband. She pleads 'yUh Denby to come from behind the curtains and speak. His silence only pftehes her nervousness to an imcontrollalde climax. She bares tlM secrets «t bsr sdol sn^l then fires the con she has been holding In her kand through the ««rtalns. Tho Misband bursts la at this point, parts the curtains, finds no one there, and explains that Denby had been shot through the heart on the stated borderline while trying to effect his escape. The tear- gripped wife having confessed all, then realizes It wasn't niee^ssary, but the D. A.-husbaiid explains he has known everything all the while. ^, The -dramatic moment when the Ittf^i^^peidu m terror of the menace she conjures up as luiicing behind >he curtains is the punch. Miss Nash carries it. It Is acceptable variety for the better grade bills, nicely east and excellently played, ta ibUl, how- ever, it is rather Uihtwelght but sulBping for onee-around for the name. . Abel. MEREDITH* - -c . ■>^; Danelng Team 16 MIna.| Throe (•peclal) Youthful mixed duo offering a subdued and tasteful dance assort- ment that normaUy totals three numbers, but Is augmented by one more upon demand. The appearance of the couple is In harmony with the routine. It concludes a tango, an old ftuihloned interlude and a waits. The act Is given a certain degree of novelty and a comedy twist through George Rockwell, pre- viously liAving . done a monolog, working from a box and filling in during costume changes. Rockwell takes charge of affairs by means of a traffic whistle, but doesn't en- Urely confine himself to Ulking In the waits, breaklnfr in during the action as well. An encore took the form of a de- pletion of the manner in which the modem college bunch are navigat- ing the dance fioors. While enough to draw returns it was neverthe- less too professional,to cash in on tho announced mlmlclng. How- ever, the idea is there, and re the coupl^ to actually adopt the col- legiiui stylo with some authenticity, while exaggerating for their own purposes, the number should work into a much more important Item than as it now stands. There Is as. suredly plenty of material to te jrlsaned from the gyrations of the vndergradaates vpoa various local daaoo floors. The turn has a certain "class," and with Rockwell supplying a comedy angle, provides an enter- taining vaudeville addition that should find little trouble in being placed. It was much appreciated at tks upper Broadwajr bouse. ^t-. CYCLING CHAMFION« Prof. Biks Riders ^ 2S Mine.) Pull ttaos Hippodrome Bobby Walthour, Jr.. Kddie Mad- den and Reggie McNamara. 'the bike riders and participants in the last six-day race, are the trio In this turn. The act consists of the usual racing against each othor on home trainers. A novelty is introduced by Unk- ing up the home trainers wHh a miniature race track between the trainers, showing the position of the riders' rollers. Madden and Walthour ride a one- mile match race, 20 laps on the trainers, with Walthour announced as the winner. McNam.'-ra. the partner of Pete Van Kempen (win- ners of the last Garden grind) is then Introduced. Reggie was very wobbly on the tralnerst which are a private racket and now obsolete for training purposes. A three-cornered match race was "awarded" to McNamara, although he had a hard time maintaining balance. The Hippodrome chorus in sweaters and gym costumes were draped about for "atmosphere" and J?Yank Fay subbed for the regular announcer. The set helu Chree replicas of the training cots used at the Garden during the last race. It's an interesting novelty and a draw wherever bike fans congre- gate. . Con. '■'>'%• KITTY tlBOLER and HER SYN- COPATED ENTERTAINERS (7) Senas, Danes and Band 16 Mins.; Two 6tth SL Miss Kitty is eolored and so are the entertainers. There are six men in the band, the seventh going In for dancing. This act was seen in an uptown theatre in a eolored neighborhood where the dancing of Miss Siegler and the Jazs numbers of the band put them over to big results. ' r Miss Kitty is a cute UtUe trick, shapely and possessing pep and ▼ivact^. tout doesnt accomplish much With her voice. The little lady displays her nether extrem- ities to advantage and has a step- ping routine that helps &er average. The band does fairly well in its way, going in for numbers that are foautred by the larger Jass outflU In New TOrk. The piano, two saxo- phones, slide trombone, comet and druHM are used, with the drummer going in for some of (he didoes used by Battle-Ax in days gone- by. The musicians go in strong (or brass and offer litUe of the quieter. more subdued music. Short of reeds, naturally the band has to step on the instruments. They played "The Stwm" aad did as w^l as they could under the conditions. It was reported this band came la from tb^olored T. O. B. A. cir- cuit and i^roing back there. On comparison with some of the recog- nised bands around here It suffers. Where the folks are not so exacting and bands not so common and the sprightly Miss Kitty is stopping lively to Jav. this band wlU be ae cepted accordingly. JTorfc. O'DONNEIpL AND BMIR (2) *niie Plasterers* (Comedy) • Mlns.| Full suae (SpssMli ••«) HIppedrams Charles O'Donnell ' anS Xthel Blair, alwa}^ Identified with low •comedy and knockabout acts, have gone la heavily on production and props and have surpassed them- selves In tbehr latest ttura. O'Donnell as a plasterer makes an entrance driving a wagon pulled by. a prop horse. After some scream- ing comedy business with the ani- mal he manhandles the mistress of the house (Miss Blair) at.d then proceeds to break everything be touches. A gate which he bunks into swings vxound on a pivot and catches him for a ride. The imita- tion of a merry-go-rotutd is per- fect when an arm drops and he reaches for the brass ring on each revolution. Slapstick and knockabout comedy follow fast. O'Donnell's manipula- tion of a ladder with which he crowns a male assistant, similar to Chaplin's early handling of similar articles is another comedy bit. A shower of bricks is another and a funny practical comedy elevator which descends like a pile driver to divide on the haed of the comic and then lift him Is another. For a finish he tips the elevator side- ways, is thrown onto the practical balcony of the house and does a back fall, sitting on a chair into the midst of the debris.' 'TThe Plasterers" Is a decided novelty for vaudeville. It is Euro- peaii in its mechanical perfection and a sure-fire laughing turn for th«i six minutes It operates. A riotous hit at this house. Con. NORIN SISTERS and Co. (1) Musical and Dancing IS Mine.; Full Stage (Special Cyc) City Two of these girls have been around some time, but the oldest introduces the younger sister, mak- ing three Norins in all. They're assisted by a pianist who counts for little. As a starter they do a combo dance in pink plume cos- tumes with the kid following in a Rusa costume of blue and dolMg a conglomeration of steps that are good but out of place with the cos- tuming. There's probably a rea- son, however, for Monday night this girl's ^ knee was bandaged and that visible through the tights. One of the other girls does a protesque scarecrow dance that has seme good Jelly-Jointed work among Its other attributes. Then the older sister does an Irish clog which went solidly. As a sudden change of pace, the young girl comes in in a cadet oostiune with a big drum and cards announce her rep. She does all the army drum calls and Is Joined by the older sisters, one with Irish bagpipes and the other with a^ass drum which she handles Scotch style. This makes an old fashioned finish that is good. The turn Is ample for the better three-a-days. Biak, KANDY K ROOKS (8) , - Musical Fares iO Mins.) One and Full (Special) A small-time musical fares, the plot concerning the finding of a pocket book containing a letter, giv- ing one Billy Walker sole possession of a candy company. The letter in- cident occurs in "ttne." The act goes to a full stage, where the finders are ensconced running the candy business. Four girls sing a verse each about their duties, which is the tip off they are phone girl, typist, filing clerk and book- keeper. The turn follows familiar Unes from here on. One of the partners Is se- riously inclined, the other likes the ladles and Is always late for bus- iness. He has comedy bits with the four girls, now applicants for posi- tion of private secretary. "I'm In Love with the Girl on the Candy Box." by one. with the girls making solo entrances, and "In- structions" by the other male were the musical numbers. The fifth girl In an Ingenue role was the looker of the'cast, and danced acceptably. The finish finds a stout imposter rather vaguely shown up by the ->- genue, who Is the real Billy Walker. A typical small-time girl act. with a light comedian, who lifts It from the rut. With materUl Uils chap would fit In anywbere. He has unction, appearance aod pe sonallty. Con, CREIQHTON and BYRON Centedy Skit 16 Mine.; One (Special Drop; Ex- terior) Youthful pair try (or comedy skit results with theme and material evidently written to order. The man, dressed as an aviator, drops Into a strange place, where he meets a miss who feigns utter ignorance of the outside world, human beings, etc. Bxohange of dialog, with comedy target the girl's enlightenment by the man. A song or two, with the girl throwing aside her overdress and revealing a ballet or chorus- girl outfit. A light affair and best suited for the pop houses. Aviator's scheme only new thing to idea. Marh. CARLISLE AND LAMAL Talk 16 Mins.t Two (Special) Middle aged mixed couple Imper- sonating the stroke of a college varsity crew and a society reporter from a newspaper. The conversa- tion la principally confined to puns regarding each other's physical qualifications. The man Is an elon- gated individual and the woman hinting at plumpness. A change to skin ti^ht apparel by the man, while his partner vocalizes, heightened the bid for laughs through the contrasting figures but doesn't offset the vulnerable cross- fire. The finish la In need of bolstering and even so the act will cleave a direct path for^ the smaller houses. I Bkie. ODETTE LAUDNBR <t} Singing •"«• Piana ■'^*;| ■" " 16 Mins.| One * 'j -— Riverside Odette Laudner is a Parlslenne operatic and concert soprano. In appearance she Is of tlie wholesome type, with a lovely complexion, a well-nourished figure, and a pink evening dress that is not as becom- ing as it migdt be. Monday night she appeared to he extremely ner- vous and at times ill at ease. This condition was heightened by the apparent fact that her pianists, a distinguished looking white-halrcd woman, was not as familiar with the music and the routina as she might have been. The accompanist was unbilled and It is very possible she was a late selection. Of Miss Laudner's vocal abltlty there can be no doubt. li«r soprino is clear, sweet and moderately strong in volume. At times theie Is a strained quality that takes the edge off slightly, but usually the tone is most gratifying. She opened with the aria from Puc- cini's "Tosca," an operatic selec- tion' that is familiar and not too heavy. Her second number was an American pop fox trot tune. Thlii was not a wise choice, as it seem-.-d an obvious concession to Jazs and Mile. Laudner was ut a loss as to how to sell it properly. It should be replaced by one of the better- class ballads, in English, used by concert artists In and out of vaude- ville. A coloratura selection brought some results and then an Imitation of Raquel Meller singing cer fa- mous "Vlo'.etera" song announced A change of costume followed and then Mile. Laudner for the first time displayed she had Mere than a little personality. T'lib v.as a charming number and It brougrht a short encore In English from the artiste. Mile. Laudner nee.ls considerable training in American vaudeville poise and methods. Her *lts are wrong and her bowing unnatural. With her voice she should have lit- tle trouNe with any audience, but to bring her act to dernlte hit pro- portions a good deal of sagacious coaching is called Cor. CHIEF KATATI and PRINCESS ELONA "Iroquois Songbirds^J • ' ,^ "" 16 Mins.; One (Spsslat Orop) Ex- •terior) 66th Sir A man and woman Indian com- bination. Routine somewhat similar to others used by Indlaqs in vaude- ville. The duo are dressed in tribal fashion. The Chief and Princess start tSie act off with vocal duos, with the former briefly staUng his sister can sing In six tongues, but that a cycle of songs of only four would be offered. First the Princess Sings a Span- ish number and in succession offers Italian, French and one in her own tongue (Iroquois). She has skill and accomplishment and was ap- plauded. The Princess announced her brother is the only Indian writing white men's music and in his vocal demonstration would render one of his own numbers. For the finale they give "our Im- pression of paleface Jazz," using a popular number that got results.. For an encore they sang "Awake" (semi-classic) as a duet. Mark. THREE SILVERS - Acrobats 7 Mlhs.| Two ' , City Three young men costumed in regulation trousers and whlta shirts, the monotony being broken with sashes at the waist. The routine Includes hand balancing and some Arab tumbling, but the snap of it is In a series of hand-to-hand catches made 'jy (he nnderstander, with the youi-ge of the tro-jpa, who Is thrown several times by another understander across the stage. The receiving understander Is on one side of the sUge. The filer runs to the other man. i^ boosted by the feet and sent hurtling through the air to the hanu-catch. They Con't miss once and this feat sends the turn off fo a great hand. Three Silvers were a big hit, opening the show. That's inusual, for most acrobatic turns receive applause that is as purely perfunc- tory, suk. THEODORE WKBTMaN, JR_ Md CO. ((t) ^ '^ "So This Is Dlvores^ (Comedy) IS . Mins.| Ftdl Stags (8peoi4 Dmpss) Riverside This Lewis A Gordoa sketch, writ« 1 ten by Bert Robinson, is one of ths j poorest that author has ever turned out. Except for a few laughs thers' there is little merit., and the merri. ■ ment is not suffldent to bring btg« t time bookings. ' It tells of a divorced couple re«'' united through Uie plans of thalr 17« ■■■ year-old, wise-cracking son. Mother and son are living in Den* ^ ver. Father and. daughter in ths ' east. After four years' separation t the latter p&Ir go west and visit the 'i rest of the family. The boy con< i trives to jcet his father Jealous by • describing sundry;' imaginary suitors of his niother'a The old boy realizes : he still loves ber. and proposes 'a ] second marriage. Robinson has entirely muffed his ' chances for sentimental or emotional appeal. The meeting petween mother and daughter, which mlght'have been effective. Is burled under-cheap com- edy cracks made by the son. Per- haps the only legitimate comedy situation comes when the precocious boy, puffing a huge cigar, Is forced to sit on his dad's lap, presenting a most ludicrous spectacle. Some of the lines are comical, but most with- out point and humor. Westman, son of an old vaudeville actor, plays the son in an exagger- , ated but fairly appealing manner. The balance of the cast is hardly , satisfactory. Th-> turn was the dull ; spot of the Riverside's long show, l and It ranks as abqut the weakest -; L. & Q. act seen in a couple of years. .' JULES JORDAN ahd Co. (3) * ' Sketch ^ . ■. 19 Mine.; (Office Interior) ' -.,"\ City It was evident the scenery used at the City for the Jordan sketch was purely makeshift, but even against great odds, this actor and his company of . t^ree (another man, boy and woman), put over a Potash and Perlmutterlsh sort o( comedy that drew laughs and ap- plause. Two partners (Hebrew) are hav- ing business troubles and they're worrying because their chief sales- lady is getting Independent They decide to fire her, but they're faked into taking her back by a phoney phone call. So Instead of working hardship on the girl titcy get stock themselves. Jordan i>revlousIy bas been a monologist. In this ^sketch, how- ever, once it is shortened and peppOd up in spots, he has some- thing good at least (or the three- a-day all around. When he gets into a house where they can give him' good scenery, an lo^rovement should be noted. Bi*k. '■it BOBA Instrumental 8 Mins.! Ona Riverside V * BolMi is a young Bsthonian bof'!■ native outfit, resembling' the Riis- sian costumes. His hair looks tot all the world like a flapper's boyish bob, but he has a manly bearing i»d smile. / He plays the violin, eoncertina aind xylophone, the latter blindfolded goring one of his numbenk The Se- lections range from standards to tb* national airs of Esthonii^ At Saoli Instrument he Is adept without star- tllngly talented. Daring one of his pieces hs sings a peculiar accompa- niment, not concentrating on the vocal side enough to get anything out of It Deucing at the Riverside, Boba was liked. The spot was plenty big enough, however, and the turn is not of much more than intermediate caliber. ,>*i ^ MAY MORIN and CO. (2) Dancing snd Instruments! Ons snd Full Stsge 23rd St. May Morin in the present (rams- up can be only considered as set for (he weaker bills. Miss Morin and an unbUIed male partner open with the usual Bowery dance. A Spanish solo by Miss Morin and an eccentric specialty by her assistant are both better. TheT finish with Jazz hoofing and old- fashioned tap stepping that (wt them over at the final curtain ntod- erately well. The second assistant is a young man of more versatility than talent He dances, plays piano, violin and saxophone, concentrating chiefly on the last to meagre results. The act needs a heavy dose of class and pep. '^.ud