Variety (December 1925)

Wednesday, December 28, 1925 WOMEN'S PAGE VA'^TFTV AMONG THE WOMEN By THE SKIRT Th« B««t Or«B»ed Woman of th« W««k JANE COWL ♦■Hasy Virtue." Empire Theatre '\ Mrs. Vand«rt>ilt's Band Act Mra. W. K. Vanderl>Ut, Jr., dropped in to the Palace Monday afternoon to see the act slie ia sponsorinp. Allen Wliilo's CoUeiilana. Mis. Vander- bllt must have been frrsitlfled. The band boys did very well. Alice Gentle, in a white chiffon that scintillated with crystal beads. Bang her repertoire 'vith gu.sto and wa.s eiithusiasticMlly received, but not more so than her accompanist, Frederic Persson. Miss Gentle draped her piano with a white and red shawl, and to make the picture more perfect, carried a red feather fan. ' "Maude Powers In a sketch (with Vernon Wallace) as a bride couldn't Bate chosen a more unbecomlnB outfit. A bride in pink satin made with an old fashioned bodice and full skirt! The skirt had a flounce of irilver lace. lola Kokln (with Fred Galetti) made three changes of coatums. A very nice dancer is this miaa. Her first dress was that of an Italian peasant, after which she changed to a pink ruffled affair over blue. A soldier number was done in a red skirt snd blue jacket. Harriet Hoc- tor (dancing with William Holbrook) did a "Merry Widow Waltz" In fL Mae Murray mak^s-up. She followed closely Miss Murray's black li^tin dress with brilliant trimmed side train. W^lth the body bare ami plothcd in but gold fringe, the second dance was executed. A Uillet number was in white tulle docorated with pink petals. The finish came Jn a short feather skirt of pink with an overdrape of green taffeta. Miss Harriet's dancing is technically perfect but the dancer has sacrificed the looks of her limbs for her art. For a dancer so young, only con- atant practice could have developed her muscles to such a degree. >Joan Franza (with Jimmy Save) has the courage of her convictions «nd appears with her hair in a glorious long plait. Her tan riding l)f^)lt ia the last word In .<<martno8s. C'-. ■•■'■'■■■ ',!,. The English at Taa So you see, as they tjay, that when you say tea and It's tea, it's for the Bngliah, still making xeod on the original tea party. Hope that dueHn't ataxt another revolution, but it may if the English come over to sorve tea. Not a thing ae^inst Sir Thomas' means of livlihood but In Nckt Xork a party Is a party when there's no tea. That's all right in a land Where you can step up and order what you Want,- 'Wfth tea as a'diver- •ional side line on off days. Maybe the bunch o' 'By the Way," the Paul Murray revue crowd that came in on a boat ono day and served tea the next, expected all of the English companies on Broadway to visit them at the Hotel Roo.sevelt last Friday afternoon, for the tea party, alias reception. Anyway they Wece there and sQwas the tea, in the ante rooms, with the ballrooms tor the crowd to look each other pver. Principally attracting were Cicely Courtneldge and Jack Hurlbert, the ■tars of the English success, and also Mr. Murray, whose nationality neT«r will be traced while he hangs onto that mustache. They poured for the outpouring "Vortex," "Thesc^harming People," "Easy Virtue" and Chariot's Revue, while Odette MyrUl, Pert and Ma Kelton, Nella Webb, Dennis King, K'lRenu Kt Icey Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cawthome, young Willie Morris and Marie Saxon were also Around. But tea! And for night club hounds accustomed to the raging poison mt anj-time between midniglit and G a, m.! For Mr. Murray's inf{)rmation if he should wander into a night club, *By the Way" is scheduled to open next Monday night at the Gaiety. What "Let's Qt>" Meant When Fred Clark named his burlesque show "Let's Go," ho must have meant that Manny King should go and help himself to every gag and aituatlon he could find. Mr. King did. He overlooked nothing. The result is "Let's Go" in spite of the lifting la the poorest .show at the Co- lumbia this season. • Mr. Clark not oniy cheated in the book but in the dres.sing of the feminine side. The girl.s wear little or nothing at all times. Nan Palon, a plump miss, handled the singing end in a thin soprano.. Her clothes were nothing out r)f the ordinary but Miss Palon had one velvet dress. It la the same material used for drops in most of our theatres today. Helen Flynn and Babe Healy took care of the dancing with as little clothing as possible. FOR WOMEN ONLY By Dorothy Paddack Unreal Knockout The scenarist and director of *The Knockout' either knew noth- Ips of real lumber camps or have disregarded facts to make a love •tory. ■ . If the timber girl, as Lorna Duveen docs her, had been less sus- ceptible to the attentions of a man irom the opposition camp, the story Would have been bettor. The real timber woman knows that all green •tuff must be cured before it is •ent down the river. The first thing she cures is her own green- ness. A weathered timber girl would t)« too cautious to fall in love with a cane-carrying, tan-spatted hero from a camp which had flagrantly violated the lumberman's code. Miss Duveen is a bit fr.iil for such a role. Clara Bow's Rag Picker Clara Bow Is In "Tlie Lawful Cheater," Gertrude Pedlar also as the wealthy woman who sent tlie little rag-picker to jail. Miss Bow dona boy'a attire and makes every effort to behave as a woman Raf- fles would, but the story is not convincing. Clara's version of a rag-picking heroine is neither Pealiam nor fidelity to fact. Boastful Lovers At Sea Although Ruth Clifford is fea- tured In "The Storm Brealters." *he best performance la by Nina Romano. These two aftord a marked oontrasU Ruth Ip the frail. blonde, cllnging-vine type; Nina the healthy, brunet, fearlea.s, young sea-woman. Gertrude Clahe Is the old woman of the sea but gentle. •Miss Romano Is emotional but not hysterical. The film's interest ia that she and the frail, cultured girl love the same boastful fi.sijorman. Once, in every woman's life there comes a braggart, a would- be superman. To a woman of the sea, he's Just another fisherman trying his .sails; to the Ruth Clif- fords he brings disillusionment. Madge Kennedy Wasted A voice that charms • the moat punprent need of Madge Kennedy in "Beware of Widows." She has Vieen making too many pictures Films subordinate voice to gesture. With this exception, Mian Ken- nedy In nearly perfect In proving the Shavian theory that woman pursues man. Her hero, a dreadful darb, is totally unworthy of her expert vamping. What annoys her audience is the wanton wa.ste of her talents on .such .an uninteresting subject. She is all the things he isn't—amusing, light, .shrewd. Diunlha I'altison, as a more ma- ture and voluptuous widow, is quite entertaining. If one likes extremes, the com- parison of yesterday's and today's .'sfings, as Breiiiinn and Winnie sing tlifm, will plea.ve; l)Ut there Is an opinion that these two women were .stressing the half rests of tiie old song.s and the dotted sixteenths of the new. This Is not accurate, for .some of the newe.st sonjrs ;ire any- thing but lively. This compari.son ideals good when U'a done ritfbt. LADIES OF THE ENSEMBLE Opportunity! Two years mJ;o' little Eileen Car- merty left school and joined the cliorus of the "Top Hole" company. Eileen was In the show a short time when she decided she wanted to reach the top hole. She lost no time in displa>in'g her vocal talent to the producer and was made un- derstudy to the leading role. One day time for overture and no prim.a donna. Eileen hurriedly dressed and went on in the part. She did exceptionally well and was given the part for the rest of the season, only a few weeks. The show closed but Eileen had a hard time trying to convince man- agers of her ability. She finuJly joined the chorus of "Vanities." After the show opened she had the opportunity to play the prima donna rolc. Now she will be prima donna In the road company and Is under contract to appear in next year's New York show. Eileen Is an ac- complished dancer as well as a vo- calist and Is a very hard worker and that's about all she needs. In addition to her pretty face. Ann Wood, In the chorus of "Rose-Marie" for two years, has been given the part of comedienne In one of the road companies. A contest was held recently at the Silver Slipper for chorus girls. EHleen Carmody, understudy for one of the principal principals In "Vani- ties" and who has been active at the job, entered th* contest and won. Imogens Coca, more commonly khbwn as "Cocoa Cola," closed with "When You Smile," but her smile Is still there for she's now appear- ing at the Silver Slipper. Elaine Arden has a new boyish bob and is coming to New York with the "Greenwich Village Fol- lles.T Gladys Pender and Mildred Kelly, formerly of "Vanities," opened at the Lyric with the Marx Brothers' show. Vera O'Brien, sister of tho Boston surgeon, William O'Brien, is now on tour with Ed Wynn's troupe In "The Grab Bag." Rose Stone has left the Jolson show. June Castleton, while returning from Boston last week in her car, was stopped by a motorcycle cop. She was only doing 60 but had to tell It to the judge. Junie laughed her way out and In addition kept the summons for her scrap book. Peggy Shannon believes in start- ing them young. She is devoting most of her spare time to giving her five-year old sister dancing lessons. , * Marion Dale, "Vanities," Is doulding at the Caravan (cabaret). Kiddle Young is recovering nicely from a nervous breakdown she suf- fered a short time ago. Beth Dale, "Gay Parce," has been posing for many artists of late. Her picture Is to adorn many front covers. Estelle Levclle, Caravan Club, is giving a Christmas party in her new apartment this Wednesday. Guests will help dress the tree. Valma Valentine. "Vanities," takes advertising seriously. She finished her Christmas shopping last month. Blo.ssom Vreeland. recently In the "Follies," la now at the Frivolity Club. Sybil Burske gave a tea party at her home recently. Florence Marshall, Marlon Dowllng, Anita Cantan, Dorothy Arden and others were there. Gertrude Crouc;» is recup'rating. Gertie was taken ill with appondi- cllls while playing in "Vanities." Her slater is with the No. 2 "My Girl" company in the south. Rella Harrison has Joined "Cocoa- nuts" at the Lyric. Jane Daniels "shoa am gwlne" buck to Dallas for tho holiday % THE DHESSY SIDE By SALLIE Brilliant "La Juive" ' The most Inspiring some (if not opera*, is ilie seeond act of "I*-* Julve," sun^' tor the nr.st time Friday since Caruso on Clirislnms eve, 19:0, made his last appearance In the role of r:iea::er the UalM. Martinelll made the rule Inmendous. His duet with Rnsa Ponnelle (Rachel) beautifully filled the Met. Miss Ponsello was in American beauty velvet made long en- train, from under which peeped gold and rose bnioail.\ Sleeve.s, half of brocade, half of velvet, were long, tl^ht and becoming. Ponselie wore a graceful (lowing white costume In the first art, an eye ileli,i;ht. Charlotte Ryan (Princess), Is tall and attractive, with a pleasing well placed voice. J-he wore a luscious blue long velvet costume with a deep border In velvet and gold sweeping the floor and a Gain.sborough of same shade to set off her fair hair. "Joanna" Drove Them Out "Joanna" might read well but screens t«dly. Playing around with a million dollars or .jo brought a few clothes and chocks In a dull un- interesting picture with more than slow action. Dorothy Mackaill and Jark, Mulh.tll do their prettiest to keep the pot boiling but the fire is dull. Miss Maekaill wears clothes welL A black velvet blouse tied at side with a velvet flare for skirt and pan collar worn with a small velour turban with pompom Is nice. Her ballroom frock as well as the scene is Joanna's oiggcst, with U»e women dancing in evening clothe.s, very modish, very decollette and extremely short. Miss Mackaill was in a luxurious ermine wr.ip put together oddly, ending in a full flounce the front of wliien has :. band of dark squirrel fur. Neck Is finished in a huge collar of the same. This is lined in velvet from under which a velvet dress with very V front and back may be noticed. I'oarls and Jewelled head dress complete It. Charlotte de Silva is attractive with her slick parted black hair and huge comb. A chiffon dress Is partially concealed under a Spanish em- broidered shawl, giving a dashing colorful touch. Speaking of earrings the Spaniards f>eem to put their money into quantity rather than quality. This picture) towanls the end played to empty seats at the Strand last week. ^ ... Will Rogers' Chswing Stories The artistic mornings with more artistic artists are Immensely popular this season at the Plaxa, on alternate Thursday mornings. Nanette Gull- ford fresh from the Met, who has made the Suzctte of Tosca famous, sang and Ipoked the real prima donna In a French blue velvet, sllghtir draped to centre front and tied with a large boa knot. Her waist cut low sleeveless was trimmed with lace and silver. A small turban of the same shade wltn a trailing plume made this outflt a fetching one, but her hands and arms held in bondage with long white gloves could have been eliminated. Will Rogers did his best to make Wrlgley's famous, fascinated hl« audience in spite of chewing his stories. An Intimate Afternoon A small Intimate afternoon was given at the Embassy Club Tuesday to professionals and lays. Muk de Jarl, of Carroll's "Vanities," and Miss Clark or (Hart), the 'Vanities" leading lady, entertained the guests with gotrd voices and breezy songs. Miss Clark with her attrac- tive manner ai\d well placed youthful voire sang the Shadow Song from "Deborah" in a manner that would do credit to an older artiste, proving that her small role in th^ "Vanities" gives her little opportunity. The little green cliiffbn frock was In good contrast to her well groomed cheat- nut bob and large brown eyes. Tea was served by many of the ladies. Salzinger Draws Tho attractive Valentine Grant on the screen now and then groomed in a boyish bob and red velvet decollette frock wilh gold underdress and shimmerlngs of brilliania topped off with long gold earrings, occupied a box with Sidney Oic;.tt and others, at the Aeolian Tuesday evening. Tliey were there to hear tho rich baritone voice and songs of Marcel Salzinger whose Gerir.an lelders always excel. Miss Robyne, the classic dancer, was chic in a simple white sleeveless gown. The house wa.s an enthusiastic one and capacity. Riverside's Small and Chilly Audience The Riverside this week has Helen HlgRlns, with little or no voice and a goodly lack of grace in dancing, but her dres.sing is the net's one asset, coupled with lOoiid O'Cornell's danelng-and Horace Bentley's snappy piano perform;ng. Mis.-* Hir^'gins' throe classy outfits will satl.^fy the style lovers. Her .silver full hkirt has a border of fur and tight bodice, low neck wilh shoulder sliapa, finished at waist with a smartly tied sash of blu<it velvet lined with silver, a peach chiffon wrap coat with shaded ostrich peach, fle.ih fealhor band and bell slcovos with feather trimming as well as neck fastened to one side with a Jeweled buckle, Is snappy. Concealed behind the coat Is a dancing frock made in small flounces done In bril- liants with a tiny tl;iht basriue of orange satin with pumps and fan of orange. Her ftrlentil costuma Is rich silk of deep cerise fashioned with a border of silver with metal bodice and two roses at either ear. It makes her an attractive stage picture. Irene Riceardo's clothes, like her songs, ate Individual. She is versiidlo. A character outflt (policeman) of blue skirt bound in sliver with jacket flare at waist, belt of black and cnj) of blue is worn wilh Russian boots with or.inge kid cuffs and tlila outfit In detail is complete even to badge and stick. For her Spanish number Bhe has a very full skirt of yellow, blues and cannry, with many roses ornamenting it. The small waist was cut cxtr<'mely low. A huge cerese velvet rosette entirely covered the left car. An elaborate sliver effect princess with extenrled sides of enierald green plumes, silver ulippers and a coronet of rhlnestones place this frock near fashion's head. Clara Khnball Youns Is napping on her screen laurels. Playlet of non-degcript type but in a green velvet with gold apron embroidered front and back cut decollette, she made a neat speech thanking her audi- ence for accepting her. Miss Wilson, tall and slender, looked attractive in a bouse sown. The small audience Monday night offered a chilly response t4) the night's |)ro(;ram. Frances Norton is a little girl from Texas. She has been given a spe- cialty In the new edition of "Vani- ties," and saya "My mother will be fo pr(ju'l .she'll write to Ma Fergu- son about It."* Anlt;i ftariton has been working In a picture for Fox to be called ".Streets of Sin." Agnes O'liOiiKblln received a wire while rehiarsitig with the new "Vnnltle.s" announcing the birth of a little niece. ,., , , ■ ,11., Doreen Glover played Santa Claua to all the girls In thnir dr<^i««ing room at ttie Karl C.irroll liy deco- rating their pKiees with holly wreaths, etc. Jean West attendo<l the opening of the Sana Gene Club and looked very stunning In her new evening clothes. Llda M'le ftml Josephine Duval are now the iimlei-tiidl "s for Ivy .'Jiw- ver and I.ydia D'Ainell in "May- lluwwrs." I . , ' o> .. «i lis 4-;yt ia