Variety (July 1925)

( Wednesday, JvAj §, 1W5 rsiMy-VT 'i' .•'■3'j^«'aL:j?-^i»r.,:i'*"", VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS . H^^ » ."&* ■■* ^ PALACE =5??= juBt about a y«ar ago a band came Into the Palace without any advance heralding or fanfare Us to Its entertaining worth and made everybody alt up and take notice, the comedy element alone being es- neclally noteworthy. That same band iB back at the Palace this week and ties the old show Into a Bailor's knot Ben MerofT Ifl still working his head off between muBl'3 and dancing, and these two assets are sUU a most valuable part of his present turn, although he permits several members of his band to step out and cop Individual honors. The Meroff act was on No. 3 at the Monday matinee, but Its outstand- ing hit resulted In it closing the first part. The Palace show In the rear- rangement had the Albertlna Rasch Ballet In the third position, early for this classy dancing act. Any danc- ing turn that runs to the artistic and depends to any extent Upon class, symmetry of motion and bal- let routine faces a brick wall, as the Basch g|rla run. away with every- thing ij^Slght In this style of terpsl- chorean "endeavor. The ulllettes are not new to Taudevllle. yet they have gone In tor some new stage surroundings, %nd Bob Gillette Is working up his dance for all It is worth. The real Strength Is Miss Gillette's juggUng, retaining some of the tricks she did when she flrst appeared along Broadway some years ago. Miss Rhodes and Miss Watson have been a "sister" team for sev-: eral years, and they did well at the Palace on their general vocalUing, their harmony being musically sweet and |>leaslng. The young ladies have a plain routine and de- pend largely upon a topical num- ber or two to hold up their act. These girls look well und handle themselves well, and It seems strange that they have not laid In a singing routine that they could label "exclusive" Instead of hang- ing on to certain song numbers that have threaded and rethreaded their way through the varieties. It was a cinch that when Miss Wat.<?on an- nounced that her blond friend, Miss Rhodes, was going to Imitate Mary Ellis singing the "Love Song" from "Rose-Marie" that the number wouldn't miss. Miss Rhodes sings well enough to put the number over. Jim McWllltams at flrst didn't go BO good, but between his piano didoes and his running fire of "crnrks" he had the whole house in his favor. After the Meroff band and inter- ^ mission brought a run on the orangeade counter, the show was re- sumed with Jimmy Hussey and Co. The tall comedian has changed his picture opening, this time using a comedy bout with Johnny Dundee which leads up to the motorcycle ch.ise and his subsequent capture. Jimmy Is assisted by Eddie Hlckey as the cop and their exchange dur- ing'the handing of the summons to Jimmy was laugh productive. It may have been the heat, but Jimmy didn't go In for any long'vocal siege. . He sang two comedy humbers and > *rna satisfied to let It ffp at that. Moran and Mack, next to closing, registered with their drollery, the boxing bout at the close getting them away In great shape. Mr. ^nd Mrs. Cleveland Bronner offered, "Memories," which Included ■ a revl-fal of dances that Mr. Bron- inr cononl-.-ert and staged-in tfOxer f^ca^ons in different Broadway pro- .; notions. While they were adequately tjirod nnd haiidsiimely drc.':Be«l. the Bronners would have tared better hud they not bcin :;:uclc on the Rii-iio bin with that crackerjack band ot artistic steppers, the Rasch glrls,who bring their turn to date by having a "Charleston" done on the toes. ihrk. RIVERSIDE 5TH AVE. To sum it up as a flat show is not altogether Just In view of the tepid audience reaction. That has much to do with any show and many a so- so bin has been galvanized Into a million dollar entertainment because the response was sparkling, spon- taneous, smart. On its merits, the Riverside bill is not a world beater. There have been worse, but at best It's just a fair lay-out. That low-comedy was wanted and the only thing capable of resuscitating the perspiring meagre attendance, was evidenced in the Emmett Gilfoyle-Elsle Lange act and in the Herbert Williams hokum. Otherwise, It was blah and even Henry Santrey's jazz music could not command its usual trib- ute and Anna Seymoui-'s adorable antics only passed out the side deors. The M. B. O. Lime Trio, contor- tionist routine, opened well. The "goUywog" is the act, the other two handling him carelessly for the laughs. The pretzel specialist tied himself into some unusual displace- n.ents. Joseph Griffin (New Acts) followed. Emmett Gllfoyle and Elsie Lange showed a wcaUJi of wardrobe and baubles that makes it interesting for the women, while Gllfoyle did every- thing he had and they loved it. The house was primed for comedy of any nature and his "low" funnies were particularly popular. Gilfoyle is probably the.only one on the bill this ^eek who can brag that regard- less of conditions he gets to 'em with a vengeance. The Charles Lovenberg presenta- tion, Irmanette and Vlolette, Is a talented two-act, showing a couple of exceptionally clever girls who vi- olin, step and sing In a manner that qualifies them as "In" for the best houses. " Hert>ert Williams, doing the same Williams and Wolfus routine, was a laugh marathon all the way. There are but' one or two extra additions in the comedy line and they're as ef- fective as the rest. The Seymour-Santrey family com- prised the second halt by them- selves. The sister and brother, Anna and Harry, stepped and clowned a bit, taring passably well, but under par, the paradoxically "cold" house to blame solely. The Henry Santrey jaxzists pepped it up considerably and the surprise after- piece between the band leader and Miss Seymour topped it off smartly. Business Monday night, brutal; even worse at matinee. AbeL STAtE HELEN and ARLINE GARDNER Ringing and Dancing 14 Mins.; On*. ' American Roof '^•?.L- " '''~ A Tteat lister team wHh one regis- tering through vocalizing and the other through hoofing. Opening •With a special Introductory duo which likens a vaudeville show to a borse race the singer remains on for • Gain Cutci impression accom- panied by a Vlctrola record. Her sister counters with a snapj>r**ong »nd neat dance. The soprano re- turns In Indian costume for .\n In- dian song which prefaces an Indian dance by the ot^er girl with both stepping at the finish. Went over neatly In the deuce liere and should get along in this l>oaition in the three-a-days. Edba. JACK and KITTY DEMACO Acrobatic 12 Mins.; Thres (Special) 6th Avs. This mixed team contribute some - clever stunts on the rings which at . the opening are camouflaged as a swing support with the bars also planted behind tree bark. The couple effect a suntan makeup and intro- ductory with flirtation stuft" in pantomime. The man does some clever lifts • and twists worthy of the liberal re- sponse received. The women did somo balancing and a ge i-^ral rou- .. •'lie • ring stui-* Ife'rt their jwn In op-ii'ii;; uto: Can mingle with the best turns of lb IS type. ,.1 rjilbn. k ■:! Ta.tr show at Loew's big house this week. Although it sags in spots it clicks neatly in others and •iToe.s "I'srhty strong in one particular instance. Joseph Jordan's orchestra, which usually renders a good novelty over- ture, 'went tiresome on a plug num- ber. The hit of the bill was taken by Sherman and Ryan, two-man singing team In the deuce spot. Karle.and Roveln. comedy acro- batic act, «pens the show fairly well, with the man working In hick get- up and experiencing the usual dlflfl- 3ulty in mounting his trapeze. The big Point is when Karle walks up- side down acrolBs the stage, his feet catching in straps on a board. Andy and Louise Barlow In their familiar alley talk turn followed, r\nd on the strength of their final dancing went across nicely. George OrilTen and Co. (New Acts), con- .sisting of Griffen, singer and dancer, three girls and another man. Ralph Whitehead followed with a collection ot stories, two of them off color. His speech coitsisted of a "that reminds me of a story," and after that story was over and he got more applause he came back for another speech and told the folks t.hat he had been with Al Jolson in 'Big Boy" and that he had just left Al a few moments before he came into the theatre and that Al had told him to "Look here, Ralph, don't let trouble worry you. Just smile at It," which was a music cue for Jolsons hit song in the "Big Boy" show. Whitehead ^Iso mentioned that the show reopens soon at the 44th Street for an Indefinite run Spotted down on the bill. White- head filled the spot fairly well. Harry Waiman and his Debs, a Kirl Jazz band, closed the show and held their spot well enough. The State is a little big for an act of this kind, but there Is considerable .showmanship displayed by Waiman and with his lighting ofl'ects, etc., he made the headline grade. "Wild Justice" was the fc.iture film, and the bill also held an "Our Gang" comedy and a news reel. The unfortunate thing was that Iht woman who playod the pugiii.slic :rrandmother In tJie comedy w.^^ r-ast a.s ft sweet old lady in the fea- ture. And the audiences recog- nized her and lost considerable of I ho illusion. Hisk. Monday night's buslitestf inay have struck low for the season as only the flrst ten rows were occupied downstairs and they hardly more than sprinkled. The show was stron<; at either end, but sagged badly in two spots in the body. The almost total absence of "names" may have partially accounted for the light draw. The big disappointment came with Rita Mario's Orchestra, fifth and given hcaline billing on its past rep- utation. The Instrumentation has ceen changed and with it undoubt- edly much of the personnel of the 10 women musicians who make up the combination. Most the playing was aided by the house orchestra, who strove valiantly, particularly the drummer, to drown out the vapid strains of this group of perfectly pleasant, but musically unqualified young ladies. Harp and whistling solus were not bad, but a vocal se- lection was woeful in its discords. The band's attempt at Jazz, playing, incidentally, a group of last year's pop ditties, was astoundiogly list- less. Whatever the act has been in the post, it stands now aus about the poorest female Instrumental aggre- gation heard recently on any circuit and it can hardly do otherwise than flop, as It did when reviewed. Another bleak spot of the evening was the new Hayden, Hyman and Mann turn (New Acts) trio ot ex- perienced vaudevillians in a vehicle that unfortunately belongs about as much on an amusement program as a certain long-winded Nebraska ce- lebrity does in an intelligent scien- tific controversy. To come to the bright spots there were, tor instance. Holmes and La Vere, who plastered out the comedy wallop next to closing In their usual sure-footed manner. F'rank Wilson, the veteran cyclist, and the Brack Troupe, almost as .experienced in the acrobatic field, were opener and closer, respectively, both registering as effectively In their line as any- thing on the bin. A sister singing act of unusual merit, Lllyan and Jackson, were an- other beacon light in the deuce spot. This is the type of turn that should go over even bigger in the best houses than the Intermediate time, not necessarily because It is high- brow, but because the women have a quiet, easy-going way of working that is best appreciated by the bet- ter classes. The refinement, voices and attractive routine combined to sell them entirely to everyone's sat- isfaction Monday night. The sister act could have held down fourth spot more adequately tha^ did MoCarthy and Moore, whose place on a bill of this sort should be second. The boys held their own. but because their routine was nearly as inconsistent in its merits as was the whole show, they failed to deliver as they should have. The team has talent and possibili- ties, but needs ooacliJLng by the bucketfull to put their turn in a class with the 6T other similar nut acts in vaudeville. GERMANS SEEK EN< "Das (Continued from page I) Its article was answered by Program" ot Germany. Through the agitation added tu with the arrival of the Germans In London with Gregori and Desterro (editor of "Gas Program") the other members of the delegation, a con- ference was called and held at Variety's London olfice last Friday (July S). Other than the Germans were Monte Bayiey, organizer, and Michael Canning, executive of the English V. A. F., also Mr. Orth and the Variety representative who for- warded to Variety In New York the flrst story on the Codec affair Correctihg an Impression Besides Konorah's objective in enlisting the aid of the V. A. F. for the I. A. L., and German artists at home, the I. A. L. leader wishes to straighten out any feeling existing that toreign artists invading a«r-; many are not welcome. Following the conference and after considerable debate a cable re- port to Variety In New York was agreed upon at the request of the Germans. This cabled version of tbo conference, read by all present, is in pursuance of that understanding. (Variety in New York is not lit- erally following the cabled report. It is rewriting the cable and while not deleting any ot the sense ot the message, it is not following the exact language and phraseology of the cable. "Das Program" in reply to Va- riety's first story, made some very strong statements, against Variety's story and on behalt ot the I. A. Xl and the German members of that order. In the second story published by Variety wherein the gist of the "Das Program" reply was outlined. Va- riety stated it - >uld investigate in London and Berlin, later present- ing the result ot its Investigations, which appears herewith, simulta- neously with this unlooked for story Inserted by Variety in New York.) AMERICAN ROOF A warm night. slUn audTtace and a fair show tor the first half on the roof Monday with those in evidently too languid to get excited over many of the turns and little contained therein to inspire any cheering, al- though not a bad routined Show' tor summer had a little more domedy been incorporated. ' The eight-act bill was evenly di- vided between familiars and new- comers, with the latter having a shade the best of things at (his sea- son and none mopping up. Ed. Gingros and Co., the latter a male assistant, worked hard through a routine of cannon ball manipula- tion and Juggling In the opener and fared reasonably well. Helene and Arline Gardner held the deuce with a song and dance routine, while Eddie Sloane, "blackface" comic and songster, held follow up (New Acts). "Girlies Revels" (New Acts) wereft allotted closer of the first half offer- ing, a singing and dancing fiasb con- tributed by six good lookers with ample opportunity to display their talents both individually and col- lectively. Mary Marlowe, on after intermis- sion, contributed a routine of char- acter songs and imitations (New Acts), with Snow and Narine, mixed team, on next, sounding the first ripples of the evening with a cross- fire flirtation duologue topped off by a double number which woke them up for Bernard and Townes, two men, who spaced their vocals with a line of hokum that the roof mob readily responded to and giv- ing the boys the loudest palm of the evening. Beennan and Grace, mixed team, held the getaway with a combina- tion of instrumental selections and some fast roller skating, the latter being planted for the finish. Edba. It was inadvertently stated in the review of the Palace, New York, show last week that Margie Rooney was with the Gus Edwards act. The name should have read Margery Kwing. Wi.s.s Utjonoy was formerly with the turn, but Miss Ewing has replaced her. , . ., Mr. Konorah says he wrote tho article in "Das Program" which pro- tested against 'he story previously in Variety on the Orth-Codee en- gagement at the Wmtergarten with Konorah alleging the heading on the first Variety story left a wrong Im- pression; that the I. A. L. is friendly toward foreigners in Germany (pro- fessionals), but the Codes eruption (hissing at their flrst performance), was precipitated by German mal- contents present in the Wint«r- gart'en. Konorah claims that ths transla- tion into the German of the Codee (American) act sounded coarse and not worth the large salary paid the act. (Konorah Is neither the man- ager nor financially Interested in the Wlntergarten, Berlin, nor does he book Acts nor does he pay salari^ to native or toreign aeta in German. —Variety. N. T.) ^j4.^' Konorah's Admission Kornorah also said the first story in Variety gave a too plainly writ- ten lmpr.es8lon that all foreign acts might l>e hissed in Germany. In ad- mitting there was some trouble caused in the Wlntergarten the openi-ng night (March 1), by Mal- contents, he stated but one was an' I. A. Ll member. Mr. Orth alleged he had cone out front at the Wlntergarten at in- termission and saw 10 or more I. A. U, buttons in th« crowd pointed out to him as the group of perfumers who had hissed the Codee-Orth turn. Konorah replied by statin? that Variety's second article (May 87), reciting the "Das Progrsm" atory covered the entire Codes matter completely, but be insisted that the I. A. L. never offlcially renuested any member ot the English V. A. F. or other organisation to join the German I. A. L., and it such re- quests were ever made, th?y were uttered without the sanction of the I. A. L. Mr Bayiey thereupon stated that in several instances similar , re- quests to Join the I. A. L. had been made to V. A. F. members. ^JConorah stated that no Ugislatlve enactment was ever attempted to bar foreign acts from Germany. New Yorker Saw Itt Show Ann Codte and Frank Orth (American) played the Wlntergar- ten. Berlin, the month ot March, last, rcmainlnK throughout their en- gagement as contracted for. lip- n returning to I.op'«<in Frank Orth made a statement to Variety's Lon- don ofllce in reference to his aN leged treatment at the Wlntergar- ten. This Included a charge of hiss- ' Ing at the Codee-Orth opening per- formance with the allegation the li'ssing bad been dene by perform- ers who were members of the L A. L. It appeared to be an opinion ot f Mr. Orth's that the hissing also was ' a part of a preconceived plan to ' discourage th" Importation of for- eign vaudeville acts (principally English and American) Into Ger- many, though the variety bills in the principal German clti, j belns mainly comprised of foreign turns. At that time it was estimated that a German vaudeville bin held 80 per cent foreign and 20 per cent na- tive acts. Since, as published In a cab:c to Varie-ty, It was reported the Ge.-man managers had agreed with the I. A. L. that next season the German bills will give at least to Gerndan acts an equal representa- tion with the foreigners According to the investigation by Variety;-^ New York, and its reports from London, Berlin, and New York, the Codee-Orth matter icoks like a "Scotch verdict." Both sides haVe said their stories and will probably stick to them. Two Impartial Reports A reader of both sides is unabi* to deduce a reasonable declsloik. Two of Variety's reports cams trom disinterested persons, although one of them may be prejudice^ uncon- sciously (Variety's German corre- spondent). The other disinterested person Is a New Yorker who was at the Wlntergarten In March but did not witness the premiere. He staled that the Codee-Orth transla- tion into broken English (or German) might have sounded funny in Eng- land or America but was resented by the German audience the night he saw the Codee-Orth performance. He further stated that Orth-Codee could not be called a hit upon the wlntergarten stage the night he witnessed their act and he did not consider M. a good act for Germany. (The New Yorker requested that his name be withheld bat it will be given privately to any of the parties ^ }ncerned who may request it. The New Yorker is a showman who stands well and knows every angle of International vaudeville.) Orth's Statement Pollowlnc Is a statement mad* by Frank Ortb, subsequent to Va- riety's article ot May 27: Editor, Variety; London, June SO. I hope you will pardon delay in my responding to reply of the I. A. It. to an interview which t gave your London office on tM subject ot my treatment In Ber- lin. Tear paper oams duly tii> hand but I was plajrlng In the Engllsli provinces ' and It wa« rather difllcult tor me to gather my data on which to base my denial of their allegations. Yuu and your staff have been well acquainted with me tor a good many years and In all that time I think I can safely claim that you have never luiown ia# to make a misstatement of any Idnd, either personal or in any manner of advertising. In these clrcum&tances your tx>ndon representative felt justi- fied, 1 b£lieve. In accepting my statements to him and maJclng an Interview thereof. Instead ot * repudiating the interview in^py way, I heartily indorse It, and herewith repeat moat emphati- claly that we were a laughing hit during our recent engagement at the Wlntergarten, Berlin, a/t«r the flrst night, and that the Intsr- vlew given your London repre- sentative was not the wail ot a sore-head due to a fiop, as "Daa Program" claims. I append herewith a criticism from one of Berlin's daily news- papers, preferring to send the original and let you have It trans- lated, rather than do so, for fear that It might be misunderstood or exaggerated. Also herewith a letter from*. p:ric Wollheini. who booked u«- there, which is self-explanatory; ' also a letter from Monte Bayiey, national organizer of the Variety Artists Federation of England, In which he says: "Please, for goodness' sake, do not be stam- pedeil to Join the I. A. L-"; also .1 couple of letters from Nathano Urothera, who were standing la the «udlen.-e Just whtre the hiss- (Continued on page 60)