Variety (September 1925)

14 VARIETY NEW ACTS THIS WEEK Wednesday, September 2, 1923 MAX FISCHER'S ORCHESTRA (11) Music 23 Min*.; FuM Wect Coast, Long Beach Uing Hcach, Cal., Aug. 25. Uax Fischer, known as one ot the foremost orcheaira men on the Coast, cornea forth with an ideal combination. He ha.s an organiza- tion of 10 men besides himself, all o< whom are youthful and have a knowledKe of harmony and rhythm. The act la assembled primarily for stage presentation. The ar- ranKements are so made as to give a novel impression, far superior In rhythm to that of the majority of dance bands In vaude houses. For the opening they have a "soft" ar- rangement of Wagner's Tannhauser which commands attention. The second number was a pop novelty. One saxophonist, with a pleasant tenor voice, renders a chorus. Fol- lowing was a special arrangement of the "No, No, Nanette" score. Here Fischer does a little solo work. Next came a hot number in which all the boys have an opportunity to show their solo ability. Follow- ing this was "Minnetonka. This was one of the features of the for- mer act. It is a classic In arrange- ment and rendition. To close Fis- cher uses "Moonlight and Roses," the arrangement including all of the various rose type songs that have been popular. Fischer has an aggregation which will have no trouble In being able to acclimate itself to a dance floor and give as good terpslchorean melody .is they do for the stage, where they rank among the top notchers. Vng. FLORENCE ENRIGHT, (3) Comedy Sketch 17 Min.; Two The revue Idea of Snap icenes with Florence Enrlght titling her playlet, "Embarrassing Moments." Preceded by a film showing Miss CAPMAN BOYS and BAND (7) Singing, Dancing and Instrumen- tals 18 Mins.; One and Full (Special) 5th Avenue Two corkiiiK ilnnccifl supjwrted by a feminine band. "The Fashion- ettes" have gotten awi»y from the beaten path of sterotyped dance flashes. The boys are there with the foetwork, shining especially In acrobatic stuff, wiih the band ren- dering adequate acompanlment for the dancing, and also giving a good account of Itself In several Instru- mental selections spacing the danc- ing. The boys open the turn In "one" In grotesque make-up and carrot wigs for an old-fashioned solo, and later trotting on the girl In ante- quated costumes for an 1860 "Fol-' lies" ensemble. The boys go Into a dance with a gradual fadeout, and the girls having changed to attrac- tive plerouette costumes and wigs, playing behind a scrim and gradual- ly becoming visible. The scrim Is raided with the band going Into tor- rid jazz as a preceder for a neat, soft shoe dance by the Capmans, in blue jeans, white stiirta and blue caps. In this one of the boys showed some i^markably clever ankle steps, especially appreciated by the upper tiers customers who are generally better Judges of hoof- ing than the downstairs crowd. The band followed with a selection vo- calizing the chorus, with the boys returning for a "hop dance" set to Chinatown arias, and with one as a Chink and the other an addict. An- other selection by "The Fashion- ettes" bridged a costume change for the dancers, with the latter return- ing for some speedy stepping for a finish. Got over for one of the outstand- ing hits In the No. 2 spot. Prob- ably spotted there because of an over-abundance of full stage acts. Enright obtaining an embarrass- . . » , ,. ^ , Ing moment story from Will Rogers^^ neat turn for anywhere and de- the drop Koos up and the supposedl^erving of a better position. Rogers' yarn Is played. In se-^ Edia. quence follows Mickey "Walker, welter-weight champ and Babe Ruth, each telling their stories to be played by Miss Wright. Neither of the Itimln.-irles meant anything to the American Roof bunch on a last half showing. The finlshinir skit Is a bedroom bit with a mistaken room cause for a Jam with the husband. Miss Kn- rlght plays a maid and a scrub girl in the two previous episodes, each of which Is a fair enough exponent of comedy where they aren't too particular. The Idea seems to be there and. In fact, is superior to the material written into it. A likeable hiter- lade for the intermediate houses but with no claim beyond that. Two men are In support of Miss Enrlght. Skiff. THE RALL8T0NS (2) Acrobatics and Posing 10 Mint.; Full (Special) The Rallstons open with about half a dozen balancing poses, to- bustly built man serving as under- stander for his pretty partner. Her costume Is a one piece white gym- nastic outfit, apparently almost transparent, but she Is blessed with the sort of figure that makes such a costume appropriate. The poses are graceful and unusual. The couple then go Into a routine of more active stunts, spnoothly per- formed. The big surprise comes when the woman, who looks far from muscular, t«comes the under- stander and balances her husky partner with ease. For a closing trick is bidlyhooed. MABEL WALZER and BOY FRIENDS (10) Singing, Dancing and Comedy, 22 Mins.; One and Full (Special) Broadway. This act looks money. Yet dough alone hasn't made it the great en- tertainment buy it is. It has in ad- dition, Ideas, clever staging, that peculiar quality known as "pace," and above all, talented people. Miss Walzer was formerly of Walzer and Dyer. She is a diminu- tive and eccentric comedienne with a comical little figure that she uses to great advantage in her dancing. At the beginning of the turn her eight "boy friends" are discovered waiting for her "tn one" on street where she has promised to meet each of them. They seem to be y lungsters for the most part, neat In tuxes and work with an° enthusi- asm and confidence that put to shame the chorus boys In Broadway musicals. The second scene Is Miss Wal- zer's lavish apartment where she has Invited the boys. A second woman has a bit here as her aunt in some comedy dialogue bat does not make an appearance afterwards. The third girl, a delectable blonde with long curls, la the maid. The boys are, given opportunity for their specialties and go Into a series of first-class stuff that Includes piano and uke playing, singing, :i comic version of "Sally" with appropriate gestures and hoofing of every de- scription. The third scene, "in one" again, features a comedy duet by Miss Walzer and one of the boys, als^ to big returns. The fourth and last is a wooden soldier scene with spe- cially painted drop and curtains. The little blonde appears for an ex- cellent military tap dance. She then serves as captain of the "army" of Miss Walzer and her eight boys, each dressed in different and mlsflt uniforms. After a fair share of com- edy, one of the few parts of the act that might be improved, the whole troupe goes into a series of clog dances that strike the high note of the turn. For precision, not even the Tiller Girls" have anything on this group of agile steppers. A sizzling Charleston winds tip. The coatumea and set are hand- some. In tact khe whole turn sug- gests class. The very novelty of the boy en-semble Instead of the usual girls will Impress sinoe It Is so well done. The act can successfully MANN'S SYNCOPATOR8 (7) Band 14 Mins.; Full Chateau. Chicago Seven boys from the Northwest, with a pleasant brand of harmony, but not as "hot" as Chicago and points East are used to. With more zip they will be okay. Each of the four boys in the brass section play several Instruments. The singing, featured in the bill- ing. Is not played up particularly. It is about as good as most of the warbling done by Jass bands. Mann, assuming he is in the act. Is never identified. Suspicion would centre on one of the horn-blowers, who also sings and contributes a clog dance with the drummer. The turn, as It stands, is hardly suitable for moving picture pFCsen- tations, or big-time vaudeville, al- though there is ho doubt the boys are competent and versatile mu- sicians. Hal. "HITLAND- Songs and Pianos 23 Mins.; One and Full The idea of grouping a number of topical song writers Into an act isn't new yet this coasbhiatlon has only been together about two or three weeks. Che present group haa tacked on an entertainer, not Intro- duced as a songwriter, who helps Immensely in putting some of the songs over. This Is Al Kranz, lately of Kranz and White. In addition to Kranz, the act com- prises Bernle Grossman, Abe Olman, Jack Stanley and Mitzl Richards. The newest songwrltlng acquisition appears to be Miss Richards, who presides at the center piano, three being used, the other two played by Stanley and Olman. It was almost at the finish of the act that Gross- man, acting as announcer and sort of a seml-comic, stated that the monkey jubilee number Just ren- dered was by Miss Richards and her first number. The act opens with snatches from former hits by the Stanley. Cross- man and Olman trio, with Grossman and Kranz handling moat of the vocalizing. On solo work, however, Stanley flashed a most acceptable voice, running to the tenor range. kranz put over a single number and he was heard to good advantage In other numbers, a double with Gross- man also scoring. The act should Improv. and as a THE GLAD-VAN8 (4) Singing, Dancing and Acrobatics 17 Mins.; One and Full Stage (Special) Two men make up the backbone of this act and seem to be foreign^ while the sister team assisting then are as YanI.ee as the pop tunes they attempt to warble. The men ar« primarily acrobats although they try their hands, as well as their feell and lungs, at the Jack-of-all-trades stuff. The girts open In "one" with m brief vocal introduction, leading to the. entrance of their male partnersi The latter play a saxophone duet that has little to be recorded 1q Its favor except it is not too loud. The feminine contingent returns for a harmony number, also endur> able because the squeaky vocal ae« robats are soft-pedaled. The men follow with a travesty toe dance with one of them as » "dame." It is rough and inclined to be blue >n gesture and motion occasionally, but good for laughs with any cheaper house audience. The girls then bring on their ukes for a number. One really playS while the other apparently fakes, but the latter makes up for It by executing a short but snappy Jazs toe dance. The finish has the men going through the conventional balancing and risloy routine, but it is set oft neatly bj<clever staging. The light* Ing effects are good and the ath« letlc costumes effective while off- stage one of the girls sings a waits, sounding much better than she did in the harmony attempts. Nicely set and dressed as It Is, the turn makes a satisfactory If not sensational closer for most small time bllld. hold down late spots in the best ^•»^°'« ^^^" modem entertainment. ' Mark. houses. I FOUR CHOCOLATE DANDIES, Colored Quartet 9 Mins.; One, — Placed right behind another four- some and showing No. 2 these col- ored boys were on and off with an encore in nine minutes witl> double the applause total of the white unit which they trailed and which di4 MACK and TEMPEST Talk and Songs 15 Mins.; One Neat looking couple ' who are ■apalilc of advancement. They have wisely chosen some choice restricted 13 minutes. One member throws in It "is" fl'a.sh^and "dangerous "enough ! TT., T*i!* *"*_*"? stepping t- ef- looking for any audience. Balanc- i '^^^^ '"iL'^* principal forte Is sing- ing himself vertically by one hand. \ '"«' ^« numbers reveal a ten- Rallston leaps along a series of bars, ! ' f"^^ toward .the Negro-eplrltual each about a foot and a half apart. 1 '^'"l*'"' N*»* ^^^ either. The stage set Is attractive and I ^'^^ voices are as what might be , the itghting effects carefully plan- j ^*Pected, no more no less, but blend material, reeled off snapplly on a ned. The act scored soundly and i favorably In Uie routine of numbers street bench, opening with the is ready for the best of the big i w*»'ch parry each other. A piano Is ■ used by one o< the quartet while at the time of the dancing another strums a banjo for added zest A certainty and a spot holder for Hie small bouses and an early place on tly^-Wrger bills not Impossible. Nothing but a standard and well flirtation idea. She is a recently divorced actress, the news of her divorce still being more or less fresh ink on the latest e<lition. The town boy whom she classifies as a hick at snap judgement does good "straight" for her nifties. He_ devctails two pop numbers Into the routine. ITiey fit well enough although rather old as far as pop songs go. The published material also tends to detract from the otherwise generally favorable Impression. They stopped the show and begged o* with a neat line. Abeh time. PICCADILLY FOUR Male Quartet 14 Mine.; Oae Four nun dressed tastefully in business suits. Tlicir routine Is so well set it i^sost touches that rat- ing of heiuK surefire. The men haji- dle it with skill and into the pop, ballads and other numbers have worked a comedy song or two which assures of appreciation. Spotted after Intermission, the boys were nn .npplause hit. In even better houses their results would probably be the same. Sisk. NORMAN and OLSEN Songs, Talks, Dancing 13 Mins.; One Two you»g chaps in conventional attire opening with a lukewarm comedy song followed by an eccen- tric waltz clog, much better, cross- fire of ancient nxiterial, a "military drill" tap dance, more released dia- log, a solo Russian eccentric by the str.aight and a double eccentric con- cluding. They al.so p«l) an un- earned and unasked,for encore of an 'old burlesque recitation bit. Neither handles dialogue with any degree of poise or 'smoothness, both ffp|>earlng amateurish when talking and gesturing. Thi comedy mem- ber has an unconscious natural dia- lect which smacks of the great open spaces around Milwaukee, al- though he obviously tries to dis- guise It. In har.ncter and with the dialect exaggerated they could build up the talking portion. In Its present shape the dancing is the only p.ait thiit measures up to small time specifications. They deuced here. Con. WILSON AND GOrtMAN (4) STongs, Dance, Magic 10 Mins.; Three and Full (Special) Billed as'a two-act, this turn is in reaMty a male magician, a girl specialty dancer, who also double in the cabinets, another girl assis- tant and a fourth male who assists the magician. An effort at novelty, to get away from the stereotyped magic acts, is discerned throughout. Opening in "three," the man in Chinese garb makes a "flash" entrance through a special drop. The t\^o girls are concealed in prop flowers which open at the command of the magi- cian to allow the girls in oriental costumes to sinp. The act goes to full, wliere a red cycle closes in the magician. He runs through a series of "box" il- lusions, producing pigeons, etc. For disappearances he uses a giant cube with the subject, later running down an aisle. Another good illu- THREE SILVERS Acrobats 10 Mins.; One Chateau, Chicago This acrobatic threesome is so far superior to the average run as to preclude comparisons. They are absolutely big time. With practiced grace and pro- fesslonal unconcern they go through a fast routine of daring hand-to- hand leaping and similar stunts with any one of their tricks, the kind many another act of the class would close with. The Slivers work entirely In one except at the flnisb, when the curtain goes up to permit- the bringing out of an apparatus. This finishing trick, strangely enough, is the least impressive, and the trio at this point substitutes hokum for dignity and merit. For the sake of a laugh or two they spoil the neatness of their turn. This Is the one false note In a sensa- tional acrobatic act. The boys are from Europe. Ha\ established act lopped them on the «ion\vas a variation of the cabinet first half bill at this theatse. 8kig. I: FOR MANAGERS WHO OESIRE THE BEST MwwKmm &Wsi]u. IMCORPORATCO mmmm M PHILADRI.PHIA: tktukm Tmiit Bids'— WaI. KSSu' NKW YORK riTT: 588 W. 48rd flt.—ChlrkrHag Z»M ADVERTISING CURTAINS—DROPS—SCENERY EDWARDS AND LILYAN Songs 12 Mins.; One The big thing about this act Is the voice of the womai). As it 1«» framed now it IS smalltime and nothing more, for the man (tenor) is on too much and too conspicuously. But his partner possesses a soprano voice of magnitude, quality and brilliance. She has what many haven't, a register that is even and capable of going dow^ into Uie con- tralto for a spell without losing .any strength. And when she outs It loose on those high notes sho not only fills the theatre but thrills her .auillence. The act opens with a duet, then ;» ballad by the tenor, after wl.ich the woman sings an unfamiliar solo with authority and magnificence. Another duct closed. Handling a piano capably in one number, It would seem that 1 ilyan (she uses no other n.ime) Is Intended for the better houses. Carrying an obllgato In one duet wa.i proof enough sho could handle most any of the operatic arias In a fine vaude- ville fashion. Her voloe to ito flash. Uitk. One of the Illusions serves Ss put tlie girl on for a well-handled buck dance. The act Is a decided novelty for the Intermediate houses. It Is tastefully produced and entertain- ing all the way, without a draggy moment. Wilson, or whoever the magician is, works fast without stalling and is probably the only magician living who doesn't bally- hoo at least one trick with an an- nouncement. Con. GENARO GIRLS (2) Acrobats 9 Mins.; Full Marie and 1*omah Genaro are youBg, agile and shapely. Eloquent proof to the last-named quality Is borne by their costumes, first white acrobatic outfits and th^n purple tights, form-fitting and resembling: the current mode in bathing suits. Their acrobatic routine consists chiefly of cartwheels, splits, mild contortions and various kinds ot back bends. All are performed with skill and ease, anok there is plenty of variety exhibited. Most of the tricks are done Individually, but for two_ or three of the more diffi- cult ones the girls work together. These include the picking of a hand- l«erchlef and the drinking ot Tlquld by one of the women wWle her partner is supporting her over the back of a chair In a most hazardous looking position. Aside from the pretty flguse dis- play the act stands on Its merit as a seat opener or closer for most bills. BERNARD and KELLER Comedy 14 Mins.; One (Special) Majestic, Chicago. This is one of tho.se husband and wife things. The man does Dutch, evidently because he considers char- acter ot some .sort es«entlal to the c.itate of a comedian. The scene is in front of a hotel where a masked ba:: ,a being held. The hu.sband ar- riving late starts .i flirtation with his own wife vho Is masked. The rest of the act an exchange of verbal slams. Nothing here that has not been done before and much bet- ter. The act's next to clo.iing honors were groundless. It left the hiuse cold and unmoved. Uak "PALS AND THE GIRL" Comedy Sketch 14 Mins; Full (parlor) Majestic, Chicago The youngsters give a very com- mendnble interpretation of this tid- bit about adolescent love. The thinK has been written In the Booth T.'irklngton vein only mnch broader, but iKtt broad enough for the maj- estirltes who muffed much of the dialog- It is rapid in tempo, tells a simple story and grades way above the normal typo of the small time 8ket(h. That it should find con- sistent bookings seems assured. A Ixishful boy, coy girl and an- other boy, (quite tho man about town with a. book full of telephone numbers) about tells the whole thiuK. As light as air and not very original but good enough gri-st for for the three-a-day mill. Loop.