Variety (April 1925)

Wednesday, April 29. 1025 VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS z_ VARIETY 11 '^ HIPPODROME ThlB week's show In the big botue ■lined for comedr *«»d 'or the most aTrt delivered in that reapect. But liuih tum« wer» not lacking, the BM-forniance being good entertain- ment thougl* It did wind up lamely. Jjonday night the Hip looked well piled downstairs. Arthur West, who appeared aa an U V A. entertainer three weekii MO was held over regularly and Snounced la«t week and this week's show. His purpose is to kill off wait?, and while a set was be- ing struck he warbled a number. j-lorence Mills (New Acts) made her vaudeville debut, along with Will Vodery's band. The combina- tion traveled ail night from Cincin- nati where "Dixie to Broadway" closed and the colored songbird was tired and nervous at the matinee, though winning the bill's honors, as gbe did at nijKbt. The'flrst of the comedy features waslwe AVon Comedy Four, spotted tourtH. The turh won plenty of laughx but knowing the hcruae es- sayed but one quartet song aumber. The ditty selected seemed a poor eholock perhaps by design to. keep dowi^ the act's running time, Willie, West, and McGlnty opened Intermlssif-n and were sure-fire with their roughhouSo "House Builders," entirely In i>urtt6mlme. "Joe Mendl," the little chimpaniee, followed quite milclly. As an act the monk Is for the kids, the routine being little dif- ferent than colorful monks of the past "Joe" Is but 18 months old, however, and his training is prob- ably creditable. Japk Itoae, who may somej day .be pensioned by the straw hat manu- tectiirers, was spotted tiext to clos- ing, the posltfon being fixed becaiise of a scene chance between the )t>f ills turn and the finale. Rose amused only the first half of the house, be- ing entirely too confidential. Pa- trons ii), the, rear section started walking on hli^. One of Rose's best laughs canie when he doffed his toup^. He asked the hat carrier In the wings to meet him half way —a laugh for the talent. The class of the show was fur- nished by Clifton Webb and'Mary Hay with the Club Ciro orchestra, led by Dave Bernle, the dance turn closing intermission. Webb was worried about playing the big house but that was a wasted squawk, for the clever couple copped sis well as at the Palace recently. The nov- elty of the Webb and Hay numbers alone assures them a stage welcome anywhere. Dillon Ober, doing a nance xylophone bit, attracted at- tention and shared a bow. The Klkuta Japs have one of the finest all around exhibitions on the atage. Juggling and somersaulting are only part of the work. The Rialey demonstration Is the real punch. Nayon's Birds opened, supplying a pretty and effective flash. On sec- ond were Bob, Bobby and Bob, who for the Hip showing were dolled up as clowns and a circus drop was provided by the house. Frldkin and Rhoda were in the center of the closing feature billed as "Crystal IV>untalns." Foster's Hip girls really caught the eye, especially ttuxie posed on the second and third step* of the fountain, because the spray- ing water wet the fleshings and lent the Impression of bare skin. The fountain Idea (held over from last week) was used early in the ■eason and Is a darn good effect for all who like to lamp the femlotne torm. . , Jhee. lowed by the garden wall ensemble after which the Idea was to duck back to the office to see if that guy wan in the midst of another fever and about to put us kids on the pan again for our ideas of smalltime reviewing. Skig. STATE The State held a half and half bill this week, dragging In the first half, but more than picking up with the advent of Toney and Norman, fifth on the six-act bill. Toney and Norman, one of the best man and wom^n comedy acts in ttie vaudeville world, and playing a repeat engagement at the house, rang up one of the season's hits, and rightly. Jim Toney's comedy, nut- ting, falls and dancing, are the quin- tessence of fun making with Miss Norman as always a corking straight and foil. This turn, logically big time next to closers, are being overlooked by the musical comedy scouts. They would fit perfectly In a production. Toney has several new gags In the cross-fire and IS closing with his slow fall. He was forced to enCore with the knock-^ kneed dance.' Just ahead Cardo and Noll, In what passes on the sniall time for a vocal class act, built up to at>out two healthy bows from a slow start, but,spoiled by the man's "stealing" and working In an undemanded en- core. The turn opens with the man and woman In Italian get up for a double song and some mildly funny talk. . Ooing to full stage, both are In evening clothes for a Carmen ex- cerpt. A second tiresome bit was the speech. The closing song should be incorporated Into the reg- ular routine without the Obvious stalling. The deuce act was Clifford and Bailey, two hard-working colored dancing Iwys. Well routined solo and doubles put them away safely. The perennial Yip Yip Yaphank- ei;s closed the vaudeville section and never went better. Joe Mellno's comedy acrobatics and foolery re- main the high light. The act is a hokum classic for the small time and will develop Into an acrobatic "Abie's Irish Rose." It's been click- ing along steadily to the tune of about 40 weeks or more a season since It was formed during the late war. Three Walters opened on the bars, giving the show an orthodox start. The other comedy entry was Dalton and Craig, siwtted third in their famlllas small time turn. The lyrics sound the same as when last heard and if not home made were written by a rhymeless comiwser. The one big number Is the melodramatic travesty. The male is a good dancer and the turn has been given a nice production. In construction it fol- lows well worn paths with the de- liveries of the principals ditto. They went safely. The bill, barring the last three acts, looked as though the usual summer retrefnchmenta were on. Con. AMERICAN ROOF Kver since the "big time" tight- ened up against bow stealing and limited responses to legitimate en- cores the littler brother and sister artists of the smaU time seem to have cornered the angle and are working the "please recall us" tac- tics to a farethewell, possibly be- lieving they can fool the bookers when In reality they are only fool- ing themselves and detracting from a possible meritorious finish through stalling tactics. Several of the performers on the first half bills here resorted to the practice. The worst violator got a fair start but took a dive because of poor material. Attendance on the Roof Monday night was much below par. un- doubtedly due to the first Monday of the Daylight Saving schedule. The show was an average small time bill, holding little above the ordinary save for the first appear- ance here of F'rank Wright and Frank Besslnger, better known to ether fans as "Radio Franks." The boys held the next to shut assign- ment nicely. They harmonized W^Il and were received with more enthus- iasm than anything else offered. Chester and Devere, colored boys, were a close runner up with fast dancing that hit In No. S. The Stewart Sisters And a girl band of seven provided a likeable flash in preceding spot, the band accompany- ing the dancers and also' sending' across several Instrumentals on their own. A neat contribution by the sisters was a flirtation diver- tissement witli one as a flower girl and the other a newsboy, which seemed to cMek best of their rep- ertoire, although the preceding dances were equally well done. Withal the bill was light on com- edy, having but two legitimate com- edy turns spotted, Baxley and Porter, No. 8, and Harris and Vaughn, on No. 6. The former of- fered a more or less conventional mixed team talking act with the man as a hick comic and the woman doing some vocalizing that went over fairly well. The latter gleaned whatever laughs that were lying about with another mixed team duolog woven around a simp assist- ant being put through the paces bm an aid to the doctor and, of course, getting things all mixed up for com- edy purposes. The girl doubled as a nurse and later as a prospective patient. The latter act got the best of. it from a palm-slammlng stand- point- and neither were above the routine small time two acts. Lydia Harris deuced it to good re- sults with a repertoire of pop num- bers (New Acts). The Novelty Clintons opened with some good tumbling and acrobatics, while Palermo's Canines closed with the performing dogs being put through the traces of the usual rou- tine of balancing and jumping. "Man and Maid," feature. Edba. with Watts and Hawley and even billed over them outside was the Holland-Dockrlll circus riding turn which closed the bill. For some reason it proved to be disappoint- ing, particularly when one consid- ers how long the act has t>een standard In vaudeville and the out- door fleld. The beginning of the turn with posing and other action- less tricks is too alow. "Code of the West" was the fllm. with six girls, of original construc- tion. Paulo and Florlan are two fine performers, wearing all whit* tighta Marga Nina Is a cute Slov- enlc dancer of nice presence, and did well. The Four Arconis on the spring- board, with a comedian, did well, Willie Antonet and Beby In their ec- centric musical act, were the laugh hit of the evening. Antonet, for- merly was the partner of Crock, the C'.own. w 5TH AVE. Reduced to six acta because of the longevity attached to the Qua Ed- Jnu-ds exhibition the first half bill Jonred through with a comedy ob- Jactive. According to the house that pinnacle was reached with Senator Murphy's 15 minutes pro- viding tiie firreater share of the tlKgles. Incidentally, the Senator tnust have had some of his cross Word puzzlers out front for he Walked on to a reception. However, the Senator has got to be terribly funny to make a variety guy laugh tight now and hell never be funny enough for one to laugh off those 18 puzzle winners. Three of the six turns come under the heading of New Acts. Namely, the trio as Bob and Lucy Gillette, opening; Charles DIckerson, No. 2 »nd Marion Murray, No. 8. Follow- «i«r that broadside of newly turned out material came Edwards and Gardiner with their nut antics. The boys started rlgbt out with the hew.spaper socking and hoked It through as far as the Tom Patrlcola Wt of having the orchestra answer their shouts. No rhyme, reason or anything else to the act during which the semi-straight man In- dulges in a short snatch of hooting •8 the single legitimate passage In the routine. The boys did very nicely arid should equal the score In any of the pop houses. V\yT the bigRrr emporiums the hodHe-podge being niTered doesn't lnclud» sufll- cient clevprnese to shape It as tnoto than n doubtful possibility. Collator Murphy amused plentl- 'Ulb witli his monologue and even retiiiiK,! to "gag" a few words oi api>ip"l.Ttion. Tlip I'.ilw.irds' pot pourri opened ^vith the biographical "drop" fol- CITY When It came to apportioning vaudeville honors at the City Mon- day night from an applause stand- point two single turns and a colored band copped everything in sight. It was a quiet evening with nothing sensational or Away from the well worn trails. . Bob Nelson stopped the show and Julia Kelety, on ahead of Nelson, was a big favorite with her songs. Danny Small and Creole Cry Babies (New Acts! filled in a happy spot. The opener was Futton and Mack, who held attention with their physi- cal feats while Sellg and Kirk did fairly well In the second position: Saxton and Farrell, with their lit- tle skit and Its surprise finale, gave the bin Its first comedy moment and there was spontaneous laughter at the finish. The special exterior, the Idea and the climax helped the bill Im- measurably. Russ, Dock and Pete work in "one" and dish up a song, dances and some verbal chatter with their rough and tumble acrobatics the big feature. Doesn't matter much that the opening Is a little slow, the ground acrobatic work brings them to the fore. Julia Kelety was next. Miss Kelety carries her years well and her voice still retains much of Its former lustre. She appeared to be hoarse, her high notes suffering as a result. Mias Kelety was beau- tifully gowned and displayed her vocal range In an old medley. After the Small act came Nelson for one of the quickest hits on rec- ord. He had the house, upstairs and down, with him all the way and his routine, with songs that have a 'double meaning." riding on all cyl- inders. The Jewels, the act formerly billed as the Jewel Box Revue, with some changes, all for the better, closed. The dancing, especially the work of the principal woman, un- derstood to be Eileen Schofleld, but not carded, stood out like a house afire. This young woman Is a cork- ing, fast, oontortlonlstic dancer. The feature film was Laemmle's "Let 'Or Buck" (Hoot Olbson). Mark. 58TH ST. It wouldn't be fair to label this a good small-time show, because at least five and possibly all of the six acts have played the two-a-day extensively in the past. First-rate intermediate entertainment would be more like It. Monday night's business was exceptional. The Gregory Troupe opened with a hoop act colorful and unique In some ways. A maximum of pace crowds a long routine inib a few momenta. The deuce went to Caatletoo and Mack, whose eccentric hoofing has already won their way for them into the fastest company. The start Is unforgivably slow, but once they hit the trick steps and acrobatic travesties It's duck soup for them. The Russian floor stuff of one of the men first on one foot and then with, his partner on hlS' shoulders, presents something new In the way of difflculties. Third, Archer and Belford, amassed a heavy laugh score with their "plano-movlng" skit. This is "Bozo" Archer, expert pantomimic comedian. His work is clever in the extreme, but he handicaps himself at the finish by giving 'em too much Intentionally sour clarinet playing. Miss Belford feeds well, looks well if somewhat hefty, and sings Just fairly well. Charles Althoff was next, labor- ing under a slight disadvantage at first because his clowning with the violin followed so closely on Archer's equally unmelodlous work with the clarinet. But once Althoff played the straight pieces, which he does so well, there was nothing to retard him from becom- ing the applause hit of the bill. Next, the clever team of Watts and Hawley, probably as much a "cinch" as any act the house has had In weeks. George Watts' first song hardly got over, but then he sang the new "Lulu" number which threatens to become nearly as pop- ular with vaudeville audiences as a more famous and older "Lulu" song was with such less genteel outfits as the A. E. F.. He did one more number. Miss Hawley did one In that sweet, straightforward soprano of hers, and finally they did a duet. All this as prepared by the team Is a very sound formula for success. Sharing the headline honors GRAND OPERA HOUSE This Eighth avenue (at 23d street) house proves that Independent vaudeville Is a paying proposition, even when bucking Keith-Proctor bills. The answer Is that Proctor's 23d Street, an avenue away, had to abandon Its vaudeville policy In favor of stock and In turn gave that up, with straight pictures inaugu- rating Monday. Obviously location has much to do with It. For the neighborhood, figuring to draw strictly from the West Chelsea dis- trict, the O. O. H. is more cen- trally located for that purpose. The scale, which is a few jits under the Proctor house's par, also ftgrures. As a show, the Proctor theatre at all times topped the G. O. H., al- though this house dishes up a likely brand of vaudeville for the 40-60- cent admlsh. Holden and Graham, with their shadowgraph comedy, were corking openers. Loney Nace is a likely singing female for the deuce. Miss Nace might be commented on for the sameness of her routine as to song types, bat that must also be discounted considering her vocal pe- culiarity. She features a contralto that is strong for the rags only. **0 Sole Mlo" for the opener (off-stage) Is but an effect offering and suc- cessful In fooling some of the 'cus- tomers. Burke. Barton and Burke Is an unadulterated hoke trio of comic, straight and prima, both alternating In feeding Johnny Burke, who dishes out the Tenth avenue slang with considerable gusto and sure-fire de- livery What price glory on the big time for this trio if they agreed to polishing up their stuff when they can continue working and wham- ming 'em on the three-a-dayers with the same deadly effect dis- played Monday night? Like so many of the small timers, the fact they are working and smiling Is suffi- cient. Clifford Wayne and Co. Is the same Indian family turn featuring young Clifford. His parents dress the stage, the man acting as under- stander and spieling effectively. The woman should give up the vocaliz- ing idea. Roy La Pearl was the comedy hit of the show. Lee Marshall Revue, four men and a woman (colored), start their leg- mania where the others leave off. It's probably the fastest dance act of Its kind seen around, the cap- tious comment only being that the same tornado speed makes tor flat returns as the act progresses. Lack- ing contrast, with the climax antici- pated, tha wow finish Is lost. This could be readily remedied with some attention. The elimination of the Proctor house on 23d street as opposition also eliminates the necessity for some of the acts featuring "phoney" noms-de-stage. so the Grand O. H. management avers. The assumed name was not an unknown dodge at this house formerly. Apropos of nothing, excepting for a stray memo on this reporter's pad, is the house trench orchestra which distinguishes Itself quite favorably. It Is probably one of the best of its kind and size around town, co-operating thoroughly with the acts, shifting tempos with re- markable precision, and pleasant re- sults to meet any requirements. Abel. Wintergarten, Berlin Berlin, April 14. At the Wintergarten for April (entire month), the bill Is far above the program for March. At the top Is Enrico Rastelli, billed as the best juggler of the present, and he got the hit oC the show. This U Rastelli's first BerUn appearance, with his work keeping the closest attention. The Five Poncherrys on the tight wire have greatly Improved since their return from the States. They may now be classed among the leaders in their line of work. The two women In the turn have looks besides, and are well attired, vrltb the act meeting with certain suc- cess. A turn that got Into the big ap- plause are the 13 Romanos, 10 wom- en and two inen. Well built and of appearance, flressed as gladiators, they do balancing and strong-man feats. For a Spanish female imperson- ator Derkas Is striking. He has ability and personality. Doing nice- ly when singing he has a well ar- ranged turn for further assistance and got over splendidly. Of course, those who have seen Eltlnge, Re- nault and the Creole Fashion Plate visualize a comparison, end those cannot set up Derkas aa of e4)ual rank, but he may be classed as among the leading fentures of this bill, with the SpanlHh twist pos- sibly of acute value In Amerlr.-x If exploitation were decided upon. Marta Western has a posing turn VniAGE IS "THROUGH" (Continued from page 1) elsewhere. They seldom visit the . haunts once looked upon as "art's meeting places." although possibly a few with long leases are still suf- fering down there amid the rabbla. Shutters Going Up A number of Village cabarets will put up the shutters at the end oC May, i>ermanently, rather than ac- quiesce to what they claim to ba exorbitant terms of their landlords who are attempting to jack up the rents 60 per cent, on renewals of leasea. With rents currently scaled sky high and business none toe good la ' the VlUagak proprietors can't see - their way clear to stand for the ti'w > Lahdiords have figured themaelve*'' reasonably secure In makiac the boost believing that alnce most of the proprietors have spent consider- able sums In fixing up the places they would stand for anything rather than vacate. The landlords have figured an- other out In being able to rent tl« places as they are fully equipped If the present tenants should vacate which would be practical since most of the leases do not contain trans- ■ fer clauses which would permit the ' present owners selling to others not aware of the present slump. Boom for Ten Years The conversion of this residential section into an amusement center blew up a harvest for landlords and real estate promoters. It has lasted over a period of 10 years. Cellars which rented to coal dealers and shoemakers for from flO to $12 a month are now bringing $76 and 1100 in addition to the cabaret men expending several thousands of dollars on the places maklns them habitable. Back in the days that the Village operated spooky joints and sawdust dumps the Village prospered. Since they have attempted to ape Broad- way, business has taken a tamble. Spenders hit the Village becauae it was something different flrom a steady diet of glided palaces. Prices were lower, too, and a phono- graph sufficed for dance music. While the Village was booming cabaret men took their cue from carnival gyps and sized up every patron as 4 simp, figuring that transit trade would keep them go- ing Indefinitely. Carnivals get away with It through keeping constantly on the hop but the Villagers forgot they are at the same stand for 305 days a year. Many cleaned up while It last'ed but few have bank balances and the rent list Is causing them much consternation. A large number cf places will be affected by the Increased rental with most going on record that they will close rather than operate for the benefit of the landlord . The Passing of Greenwich Village and It was thought to be and nearly was at one time, will eradicate the biggest Bunk New York ever held and the hinterland fell for. "Green- wich Village" has attracted from all over the country, until the Village became known as the land of the long and short hairs. Everything was staked down there for the yokels and at one time the graft was workins ao well that grifters from the lot picked on the Village instead aa more lucrative with less Intrigue and troubto. "Greenwich Village" la atin a mecca to a great many youth of both sexea, especially those who have not the money to make tha trip so content themselves with the phoney stories in the "lively" mag- azines. HOUSES CLOSING Chauteau. Chicago, closes for tJM summer. May 9. Aldlne's, Wilmington, Del., witk summer stock next week. Palmer Hlnes Players. If yon don't Ad?ertise in Don't Advertiae