Variety (March 1925)

>i M VARIETY NEW ACTS THIS WEEK r^!jP7»?ji!KPP- Wednesday, March 11.1929 1 LEDOVA and CO. (4) ClaMieal and Jazz Dane* Ravua M Mina.: Spacial Hippodroma ▲ daiic9 turn combining the elaaalcal with the modern and the jasx, produced by George Choos, baaded by "Ledova," who la pro- cramed aa "the brilliant danaeuse," while aupporting her are Danny Dare, Rudolph Malinoff and the Ware Siatera. , At the Hippodrome the act haa the assistance of the 20 Foster Girls and the result la that closing the first part It makea a tremendous flaah, aapeclally as the Hip girls make three appearances during the turn, one a chariot parade affair with three sets of girls of four each, arrayed aa a matched quartet of horses, four white, tour brown and four black, making a most formid- able display. Danny Dare offers an Introduc- tory number, all out of place at the Hip where the act was augmented, because the number calls attention to the fact that here la an act that la going to tell what It hasn't got In advance and then the lyric con- tinue to the effect that the come- dians have been taJien away, the •cenery discarded and the chorus girls fired. Right atop of that the 20 Hip girls show. Danny then comes bacl^ for a pantomime bit which brings both Malinoff and Ledova on the scene. It also dis- closes a novelty in scenic effect. Just a few minature sized set pieces done in a futuaristic manner. Iiedova first does an old fashioned number with Malinoff with her back to the audience throughout ignd a false face at the back of her head. At its finish she turns to her Jaax suitor and with the aid pf some stringa lifts her costume and about faces as a Jazx girl. It waa most effective. After the number Dare Is back again with a solo bit and then Liedova and Malinoff offier a claasl- •al number that la remarkable ^s far as some of the leaps and catches are concerned. Malinoff handles the girl very well during all of thia A comedy interlude with one of the Ware SiAters and Dare appear- ing aa a pair of horse back riders In a flirtation got any number o( laughs espeoially the bit of show- ing the placard reading "The Prince HimseU" after Dare does a brodie. For the flniah a fast routine of solo dancing by each .of the trio of prlqcipala and the two aisters is Indulged In with the big chorus ■tapping behind them. It went for a wow. Without the chorus In a smaller bouse the effectiveness of the act could not be Judged as for the same ■pot that it occupied at the Hip but that comedy bit and the fast Jasa atuff In it ahould moke it stand up on almost any bill. Fred. MOLL BROTHERS (2) High Parch Act 0 Mint.; One Hippodroma No queation that this offering is of foreign origin and at the Hip- podrome proved a distinct thriller. The brothers appear In "one," clad in white flannels and sport shoes with silk shirts of the ballet type. They utilize three iwrchea in their offering. The underatander la a rather heavy chap and for the first two routines of tricks he balances first one and then another of two medium sized perches on his head with the top mounter working aloft in rapid manner. For the final run of feats a perch that reachea from the stage to the very edge of the Hip's great proscenium arch ia used. The perch la balanced on the ahoulder and the man aloft runs through a series of very showy tricks, the combination of the height and the bending of the pole holding t)ie audience virtually spellbound until the act is finished. It is a class turn of Its type through the thrillc that it contains. • Frci. MR. and MRS. PAUL FETCHING "Muateal Garden" 10 Mine.; Three (Special) Mh Ave. Paul Patching, atandard vaude- ville aUple, with his "Musical Gar- dta" routine, now has Lis wife it^ support. This Is the first time flie dual billing was employed. The act remains the same smart musical novelty that Is an excep- tionally strong opener for the best of bills and can hold down an early ^■pot on aome layouts. His vocal Interludea are highly appropriate, the 'T>rciamer of Dreama" for^the opening flttlpg the garden picture well. The muaical rake, pear tree, elec- trically musical beds of roses, etc., clicked as' strong as ever. Mrs. Fetching comes on towards the middle of the routine. She contrib- utes a snatch of sax work and also assists l..the operation of some of the props and in the "rose" num- ber. Mrs. Fetching makes a whole- some appearance and adds consid- erably to the picture. RULOFF-ELTON REVUE (•) Dancing 18 Mins.: Full (Special) Broadway Ruloff la formerly of Ruloff and Rulowa. The combination with Miss £lton consummatea a somewhat better than average team so far as their adagio work is concerned. The ensemble consists of a feminine quartet, not too technical in their combined terpsichorean work, but two come out of the line for solo- ing purposes with one particularly ■coring through acrobatic work of the usual aort which ia anything btfl the poetry of motion but always pleases f certain number in the audience. Miss Elton is the outstanding in- dividual through work and appear- ance. She seems at her best when routining on her toes and In the opening adagio number, although a following tango and a fast finale continues to show this miss to ad- vantage. At least ahe Is not at a disadvantage when off her toes be- cause of stockily appearing 4imbs, which may be the discretion of fairly high heels. Ruloff confines himself to going It alone but once and gives the Im- pression of being somewhat top heavy during hla low altitude danc- ing. He looks better when :iandling Miss Elton. Six numbers are Included In the routine with three cortume changes. The act was placed in the closing spot here and might stand a better assignment In the middle class ' houses, ultbough should that be accomplished it will be principally due to Miss Elton. BUg. WEE SANDY McPHERSON Character Songa, Dancing 17 Mine.; On* »th Av«. , ■ ■-> Ous Edwards onca had a yoimg Scotch lad In his vaudeville revue whom he was featuring. This may be the same lad. Wee Sandy McPherson la a youngster and clever, poasessed of stage presence and thoroughly at ease, but somehow lacking a punchy vaudeville routine. He opens with bagpipes and closes with a dance. That's fine and liked. In between he doe.-^ a schoolboy dullard num- ber, a Scotch fishermni and a dole- ful lover's lament, all in Scotch di- alect. That's what makes for the placid reception. Splitting It up somehow, particularly the brogue, might prove happier :or results. Whoever is guiding McPherson can apply some of the w. k. Scotch canniness in whipping the act to suit MARJE McQUARRIE and Harpists (7) "Harpland Fantasy^ 11 Mins.; Full (Special) Hippodrome Marie McQuarrle la billed a» "California's Most Popular Harpist," and with her in her current offer- ing ahe haa aeven young ladies who also play the same Instument to- gether with Margaret McKee, who whiatles. The act would seem to be a musicjil offering with a lot of class. Vut the whistling seems to detract from it. Just the seven harpists alone with their instru- ments making a tremendous stage flash with the proper musical rou- tine, ensembles with a couple of solos would seem to be a better line up. There Is no one that can gainsay the fact that It at least Is a novelty, at least aa far as the east is concerned. It is Just a cork- ing musical act that could be utilised In the. bigger motion picture thea- tres where they are looking for Just this type of entertainment At the opening of the act six young ladies are dlaclosed, three seated either aide of Mias McQuarrle and the flrat selectioa Is programed as Drigo's "Serenade." which achieved but medium success as far aa the audience waa concerned. The whistling of Miss McKee which fol- lowed fared little better. Then an- other number by the epaemble seemed to hit the fancy and finally Miss McKee appeared again In a special set for a final number, this going over very well. Seemingly the fault 1^ that the leader and the girls ^assisting her haven't the proper amount of showmanship to sell their offering to a vaudeville audience. They, as a whole, take' their work far too seriously, with the exception of the vamp type of girl who sat to the left of Miss McQuarrle. She at least teanaged to look at Ihe audience occasionally and favor them wjth a smile. Possibly a rearrangement of the seating might change this fact. A series of steps graduating down from the leader on each side with the girls all tllreetly facing the au- dience might help. Then the mat- ter of the selections played would also help. Something with a little action and ahowmanship, possibly a duet by a pair of the girls or some- thing similar, would take away the seeming aloofness that now seems to pervade the muaiclans. Fre^ BALDWIN and MOORE Sengs, Comedy, Danes 18 Mina.; One 1 Riverside This is a new combination, com- prising Winnie Baldwin (formerly Bronson and Baldwin) and George Moore, comic. The opening is conventional, Moore entering with a silly-assism to interrupt Miss Baldwin, who has started a song. Winnie looked spry and charming in a sweet salmon- pink Boubrette outfit and picture hat. A line of talk about learning to ride horseback, with no clothes or atmosphere harmonizing with the topic, got some laughs on gags, some new and some far from new. After an exit. Miss Baldwin re- turns In a fiowing wrap and does a rapid and disjointed scries of act- ing burlesques. Joined by Moore who clowns. Toward the finish she drops the drape and shows herself in a very scanty frock, in which she looks great, and a Crlef song and simple- dance get them off. Miss Baldwin has proven that She Is worthy of much better things. She has every asset she ever had, including perennial youtfulness and her hoydenish dim- pled knees and thoroughjjred limbs. Her voice is even, richer and her attack freer and more fluent. But the material is neither- sure enough for small time nor smart enough for the best. Moore is a neat, easy comedian. But Miss Baldwin wasn't, born to play straight to him. If he is to get over he needs a pile-driving he- man on that Job. Since he neither dances nor sings, at least in this showing, he needs the more some- one who can spank up his style of .comedy. It is a vaudeville mesalliance in its present shape, and, while it may get time and please, as it did here, it will never rise to the grade worthy of either artist. EAST and DUMKE Songa 10 Mine.; On* Broadway Male team using a straightaway routine around a piano that should see them through the turmlol of the Intermediate houses. Each is in- clined to be somewhat portly, but dinner coats make the general ap- pearance average. The voices blend effectively with the numbers coming within the published categ'ory. Four songs and an encore took them away neatly at this house. A somewhat blue lyrio, spotted as the extra donation, increased the volume of applause, but K Is a questionable item< Showing No. 2 the pair Jogged easily, an4, although coaveiitional, •rs eapab^. MkiO. JIMMY COOPER'S RADIO EN- TERTAINERS (10) Instrumentals and Dancing 20 Mins.; Full (Special) City This is another band combina- tion that might be a wow in a dance hall but has little to recom- mend it for vaudeville. The radio angle is gained through the numbers being announced via a loud speaker at right of stage with the girl enunciator's voice hardly carrying beyond the first few rows. Another seemingly good idea going wrong because of its impracticabil- ity. Six numbers comprised the band's repertoire, with practically all get- ting a good hand and spaced in two inatances by dance contributions by the girl enunciator. Although good musicians, as they Rtand it's Just another band act for Amall tltne, if at all. .^dbo. JAMES DOYLE and MARGUERITE BONNER ^ Talk, songa and dsncss IB Mins.1 On* and Two (Special) City Since dissolving with Harland Dixon Doyle has had more partners than Eddie Foy h8M children. Tlic latest is a petite blonde, there 40 ways as a looker and also the pos- sessor of a pleasant if not particu- larly Impressive slAging voice. Simultaneous with the new al- liance Doyle has passed up his lobby skit for a new one of the four- flusher type. Th* couple meet by way of a flirtation In "one" with a drop of Fifth avenue on a ' usy day. A repartee with both putting on the ritz and posing as children of the rich provides a snappy intro- ductory. Going to "two," Dixon Is a demonstrator of health belts in a pharmacy window adjacent to the furniture store where his charmer is advance agenting the latest thing in vacuum cleanera Alternate comedy chatter regarding their products is relied upon for more comedy but will not achieve Its purpose unless handled more swiftly than at this performance. At closing time they t>oth meet and give each other the low down on tbeis real Identities going Into a neat song and dance finish. Both make nifty appearance and have the ingredients of a good turn which will undoubtedly improve with playing. Edha. BURNS and KANE v Comedy and Singing . .. ', i12 Min*.; On* Stat* Burns and Kane hav*-a fair knowledge of what vaudeville au- diences want, but the trouble with their turn as let is that they are delivering gagsVnd bits that have proven morA or less successful with others, rather than creating their own stuff. Not that the boys deliberately lift anybody's/material or style of work- ing. Their Jokes have probably been gathered from a dozen or more dif- ferent aourees, but the point is they've been gathered and not cul- tivated. The comedian's style is reminiscent of several, yet when he leamtf to Inject more of his own personality he may have to be reck- oned with as a factor In the world of laughs. The straight is djstinguishable from others of his typ* on the small time, only because he doesn't sing a sob ballad and wears a tux, with a stove-pipe lid, instead of the usual double blue-breasted suit and pale grey topper. Some of the comic bits are as old as the one with the Iron cane, getting f, hdwl In spite of its antiquity. A bit of stepping by the boys at the finish means noth- ing, nor does some attempted com- edy with a radio microphone. Aside from the fact that the com- edian will bear watching In the fu- ture, there is little Interest in the act, a tjrpical three-a-day early spotter. RIALTO FOUR Mai* Quart*t 13 Mins.; On* 5th Av*. A likely rathsbeller quartet for the deuce spot on the big bills. They have a fln^ sense of harmony and seem to pay more than casual at- tention to their quartet vocal ar- rangements. With a little brushing up, to make their material a bit more distinctive, they can rank with the best The quartet makes a fine collec- tive appearance in evening attire. They open with "Mandalay." Fol- lowing a specially arranged num- ber featuring a solo snatch by each, the routine encore was their con- ception of "O Sole Mio," as sung by an Italian operatic tenor, a German basso and a Scotchman, the latter in reality doing it in Yid- dish. It was a corking comedy geUway... ..■■.., ^»eJ. HYMAN-MANN CO. (3) Comedy Sketch 18 Mins.; Full Broadway A neglected wife theme permits of comedy through the male boarder she takes in while her traveling salesman-husband Is on the road. The meetifig of the boarder and the husband. Just returned and un- known to the rent-paying male, provides the principal situation. • The dialog is not particularly brilliant, but should appease neigh- borhood audiences albeit the nasal delivery of the maaculine boarder is as much at fault as anything else. One or two grandstand quips, concerning husbands who neglect their wives, are included, with the comedy twist apparent at the finish In the.boarder relating that once his wife took in a roomer, and that's why he's still traveling. The skit plays Itself easily and will encounter little trouble within restricted areas, although an Im- provement in delivery, by each of the participants, would be an en- hancement. < I I ..fii itikiQt I ELMER L. CLEVE (1) Xylophone .and Oanolng M Mins.; On* (Sp*cial Drap*) SUt* Variety's hearltess files dlselosa that El Cleve was reviewed 14 years ago, but to his credit he doesn't look nearly that old. In those days h* was "Just a Scotch xylophonist.T while today he has a turn of de« cidedly high-grade calibre anfl c* that promises even better things for the future. The insignificant "(1)" after El Clove's name means more thad might be supposed. It stands foiq a little colored fellow acting, flrst; as assistant, and then strutting som* of his characteristic racial steps. The turn opens with "Albert," as the young "dark-brown" is called, paging El Cleve, and saying he is wanted on the phone. The mu> siclan enters in Scotch outfit, ^nd on asking what phone, is told th« "xylophone/* ; This brings him into his musical routine, at whiph ho is capable anj talented, if not exceptional. It run^ from "William Toll Overture" an^ "Roses of Picardy," the latter played effectively with padded sticks, tc sizzling present-day Jazz. Durlnfl and in between his selections 1^ Cleve shoots over a couple of nif' ties' and comic bits that could twice as many without becom: tiresome. At the finish Albert is given fi rein, and he "Charlestons" as thougl life depended on it. Then he pi blues on a water glass, accompany^ Ing his "own hot hoofing with it foi a steaming final*. J It's a clean-cut stuff for the raos part, with El Cleve not forced t( rely on overdone Scotch bits fo his laughs. Important spots on thi three-a-day and a crack at the bes houses should come the turn's waj "VOGUES OF STEPS and 80N(M Dance Revue ** 18 Mine.: One and Full (Special) City ^ - A dance fiash featuring Dunn an Lorraine and ostensibly built arouw this mixed dancing teant- who maki neat appearance and are clever ex ponents of modern and classli dancing. , A male duo opens in "one" witi a routine Introductory and^danc< The act goes to full stage wit Dunn and Ix>rratne following oi with an acrobatic which the planted without any trouble. Aa other boy came next with a woodei shoe dance working in some gool taps, succeeded by a girl singer foi a pop ballad which also fit into thi jicheme of things nicely. Dunn and Lorraine returned for an adaglol easily their outstander, with th4 male dancers again obliging with SJ Prince of Wales- song and a strui latter giving way to the soloist foi a comedy song. Contest stuff by the three boyi each showing a varied line o stepping preceeded the feature team in a fast double for Inii thus getting away from the usua ensemble finale of 'moat flash acti Went over neatly in closing. 1 well mounted and costumed an while offering a wealth of fas stepping lacks anything of a r*s punch calibre to elevate it beyon^ the sphere of a medium time danc ing flaah. Bdha. I ARDO BROTHERS Acrobats 12 Mins.; On* City ... ;,.." A male team with one of the m^ doing comedy In a fast routine tumbling, ground work and genert acrobatics. Showing nothing osp* cialty new, the gusto in which the; sent over their routine made then likeable openers here, with few o the followers achieving anythlni near their pace. The comio could shave his chat ter some or insert better gags tha those employed at this ehowini Even on 14th street they have be* occasionally appreciative of ne' puns. FSbCk CHESTER and DcVERE Song and Danc* 10 Min*.; On* 6th Av*. Male colored team. Their lei mania is extraordinary even contls- erlng some of the exceptional hoof ing colored teamn of this natur are wont to display. The toe spin were sensational. The comedian sports a monod for one number, also contrlbutln a vocal effort in alleged Germai It's away from th" regulation rou tinea but open to question. Clicked here in the second hoi . .,„.,., Ahel.