Variety (January 1926)

Wednesday, January 27, 1M6 VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS VARIETY 17 PALACE Another weak unJt here this week. It revealed a lack of punch, for the Mandela were back to do 'The Wager" as an afterpiece, doubling from the Hip. And the nhow needed 'em. Not that it was a bad running bill, but it was shy of a definite kick, hence the brothers trotted out at 11:02 to burlesque the McGlveney skit. A program meant nothing Mon- day night. According to the printed schedule, this one must t>e the champ scrambled bill of all time. The Tlvoli Girls (New Acts), listed to close the show, were No. 2, the Boganny Troupe, slated to deuce, were sixth, and Poodles Hanneford, who might have come and gone No. 3, never showed until next to clos- ing. Minus the match to explode any comedy fireworks the show played along nicely, with both Ada r.eeve and Horbort Clifton going to speeches, and all of the remaining turns keeping their heads above water. Clifton, Just ahead of the Man- dels" fr^ic, did very well with his travesty female impersonating. The free use of his natural and falsetto ranges made for spotted laughs, and working himself free in 10 minutes, he was very much on velvet. How- ever, he weakened in favor of the applause, made a speech and obliged with another number that con.sumed an additional and hazardous four minutes .which hurt more than they aided. The act remains very much as when Clifton was last here in '28. The bellboy and bis gong con- tinue to assist, while the layout is about the same. With the "Wager" thing behind him, giving Clifton a chance to introduce Joe Mandel. It eased the former off without em- barrassment. The Four Clovelly Oirls (New Acts) opened, leading into the Tivoli Girls, after which was placed Du Calion, originally spotted behind in- termission. The latter found an up- hill flght on his hands, due to the use of an exaggerated British ac- cent, but made the grade and con- cluded well this side of any doubt. His patter brightened up soon after the start. Ada Reeve was No. 4, doing Ave songs, the last as an earned encore, and going to a speech and flowers. Miss Reeve's sons registered in sequence. McGlveney terminated the first half with his veteran quick change vehicle. Walking on to a reception, he went immediately to work and finally bowed off to applause that delayed interralsaion. The Boganny Troupe caught 'em walking down the aisles after the interim, but took hold with their lightning acrobatics for corking re- tiults. This marks a return trip for tlie foreign baiters. Although they've been playing In the east the past CHA8. K. HARRIS (6) Old Songs 18 Mins.; Full Stage and One Hippodrome (St. Vaude) Chas. K. Harris with his auto- biography running serially In the "Saturday Evening Post" was fig- ured a good bet for the Hippodrome. His act, heavily augmented by the addition of a pianist, a male quar- tet and Frances Kane, a splendid contralto, proved one of the high lights of the bill, due to the remin- iscent array of former song hits thrown upon a scrim mounted on an easel. Harris contributed but slightly, vocally, to the rendition. He pref- aced his opening song with a few remarks about his old songs and led the audience in orchestra leader fashion when they sang with him. The songs in order were "Would You Care?" "Hello Central. Give Me Heaven"; "Somewhere," "Break the News to Mother," "I'm Wearing My Heart Away for You," "Always in the Way" and "After the Ball." "Hello Central" had an effect when the jcrim Illuminated showing » girl climbing to the telephone while daddy is obviously registering sorrow. "After the Ball" also had an effect A "girl is shown reclining on a couch. Just what the Intent was hero was a trifle vague, but It went over Just the same. Harris steps into "one" for an en- core to "After the Ball' and an- nounces the elided will hand the au- dience a few laughs. The charac- acters posed 35 years ago. The styles wore good for some laughs. The Harris turn before it reached the Hippodrome held Chas. K. alone. Just how ho gets the lyrics over all by himself is puzzling. His ■InKing voice In not robust at best and was decidedly outpointed at the Hippodrome. Augmented as it was. the act undinibtedly Interested them here and was greeted as a novelty by the present generation. The nkays also acclaimed it and sang the choru.ies with great gusto. Harris Is credited with pulling considerable business into the house. The turn ought to be a geod picture house bet also if puV 'Ity can be pushed hard. Con* few weeks. Tbo act la as good aa it ever was, and it was always classed with the best of its kind. Craig Campbell, an American, split the two "dumb" acts. Poodles Hanneford being next, and worked up an ImiMsing appreciation total with a quartet of songs. Campbell, probably interpolated, as the Eng- lish are ail working, put an abund- ance of gusto into his initial ren- dering, perhaps too much, but it evi- dently served the purpose of gaining attention. After that the tenor toned down to float along minus queries. Poodles Hanneford and his ring act of six people provided welcome comedy, with Poodles' riding draw- ing a few gasps as well aa laughs. Plenty of nerve wrapped up in this boy and he doesn't waste anything. It's strictly business all the way with him and the manner in wtUch he goes after his rputine speaks of all the assurance in the world. A "sweet" act and always welcome. Adela Verne was out of tbo show Monday night, whieb may have been the reason for adding any there not English. 8kig. HIPPODROME Business at the Hippodromo capacity downstairs Monday night and healthy on the shelf, deservedly so, for the big house is acting as host to one of the best and most colorful shows po.ssible to recruit from the slowly thinning ranlcs of vaudeville. The Hippodrome, more than any other house on the Keith circuit, has felt the inroads of outside amuse- ments in snaring away attractions, without which the house Is whip- sawed. Added to this is the fact the Hip is a "cut" salary weok. which means It must flght for "new acts" while they are taking the slap from the "ofllce" and before they get groggy and leave the circuit flat. Therefore, it is unusual that a Une up like the current one can bo as- sembled. The bill was slightly switched around Monday night. Chas. K. Harris (New Acts) was moved up third from opening intermission; William, and Joe Mandel from sec- ond after intermission to fourth; Yorke and King f^-om fourth to nszt to closing, and tbs Rieffenach Fam- ily from third to closing. Mel Kle« moved up from next to shut to open the second half and Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland Bronner from closing to second after intermission. The retailored layout played to much better advantage. It was nec- essary to split up the singing and give Chas. K. Harris the flrst vocal- istic salvo. The Harris turn features his old song hits with Hairls down front doing lip service. The tct got over on reminiscence and on the Hip presentation, which staked it to a male quartet, a :3iano pl^er and a girl soloist. The hit of the flrst half went to Rae Samuels with the Mandels Just ahead copping the comedy honors. Miss Samuels went at the huge Hip- podrome open spaces i ■ her best drawing room manner and had them begging for more after her first number. In "A Certain Party" she used Julius Lenzborg, the orchestra leader, to sing comedy responses to her song and Julius qualified for a star dressing room on th "gargle" circuit with his Dutch pronunciation of Williamsburg. After exhausting her pop and comedy repertoire Rae cro.ssed them by her rendit.on of a ballad with a patter version, all about the tough time a trooper has of it. The peasants listened wide- eyed, and although none had ever heard of cut weeks, their sympathies were all with the lyric. The Mandels, with their funn > ac- robatic travesty, are still showing the way for the novelty athletic comedy turns. The pair have a real novelty. They are doing more stuff on the trampoline than before, /.te them up here and they were ideally spotted No. 4, giving the flrrt half a noeded comedy punch, following the Harris turn. The Disappearing Diving Oirls, who will disappear from the I-.Ippo- drome after this week, closed the flrst half. Augmented by Alan Fos- ter's Hippodrome Girls, It gave the first half of the show a corking flash. Mr. and Mrs. Clevelatid Bronner, opening after intermission, /ere the class and flash ot the show. The act in coni-eption and production is far and away the best thing that Bronner has ever done. It is beau- tiful in costuming am lighting ef- fects and holds a real novelty in "I'liollics," an ensemble dance num- ber with the »)allet twinkling in seml-darknoHS. Broimer's "Dual Na- tures" dance, in which he makps a transformation liange, is a terpsl- chorean Jekyll and Hyde. "The Moth and the Flame," with Mrs. Bronner as the Moth, was another a.tistic triumph. "The Valley of Drenins," at the opening, w.is most effective. White drapes plv** !%. cloistered ef- fect, enhanced by two kItIs in nun- like robt-H, po.slng. Their position Is symbolical of a cross. The en- trances, due to the hanKli. i, three In nnniber, are cathedral .-i ffect, due to pcraperllve. Bronner's own ballot of six Rlrl.s dance K.acofully ttirougliout. and when augmented by the Hip fJirls, doubly efteetlvo. It's a corking cIhhh l>.)sh nnd a three- star special for tiie lar>,'e picture house.i. In conipari.son with a re- cotit clasMical dance Importation bust, which cost plenty, ths Bronnsr act tops it considerably. Mel Klee. who has dlscardsd the wig, changed his costume to modern flash get up and purcbased consid- erable new material, walked on next, still doing Al Herman. If Herman were a bachelor he would have all the pleasures of paternity so long as Klee and Buddy Walker are about. Kle* has gained la showmanship and a.^surance since his song plug- ging days, and bad no trouble with the Hippodrome audience. He is still talking intimately about the acts on the bill, although this portion of his single has been cut down con- siderably. KIe« passed nicely. Charles Kellog, who makes annual pilgrimages to the Hippodrome from the woods, turned la one of the most interesting specialties of the eve- ning. The nature singer, in addition to his "singing" of bird calls, showed a couple of Interesting experiments in "tone" work when he put out a gas Jet in a glass tube by whis- tling and turned another into a tungsten by the same method. Kel- log has visited the Fiji Islands since last seen. Fiji dancers were pro- grammed, but failed to appear. Kel- log's rapid Are discourse on his ex- periences could stand a bit of clari- fying. His flnish, having SO or more Vlctrolas played simultaneously, had something to do with the size of the house, and sounded like hun- dreds of birds, but the explanation was vague. Torke and King coppod tbs hit of the bill next with their comedy sing- ing and danco turn. They have a new encore, introducing their sons from college. The sons are "boob" types and form a quartet. It is a strong getaway. The Famous Rieffenack Family from Rlngllng circus dosed. The act Includes three handsome girls who are sure Are to cure the rest- lessness of any commuter. One peek at the beauties, and not s soul left the hall. The girls, la addition to being candidates for beauty prises of both face and form, can ride. The act is finely staged and mounted in black and white, sad made a strong closing turn. Con. Champs Elysees Musichall Paris, Jan. II. Rolf de Mare, with A. Daven as his general manager, bas made a tremendous effort to put this opera bouse on a paying basis «« a vaude- ville theatre. His bills have been the most expensive of any Paris music halL In any event, he has adequately succeeded from aa ar- tistic angle. The progriun runnlag this week consists of Loie Puller's school in a series of dances. The act meets with praise at this highbrow es- Ubllshment and this engagement is i>erhaps one of the most notable Lole has on record. Jenny Colder is also heard to ad- vantage on this program in her songs by Panso. Bhe ts assisted by Kennedy's Collegiate Six, from New York. Chris Richards pleases, as usual, with his eccentric dancing, while Cortex and Peggy, accom- panied by an Argentine orchestra, constitute another terpsichorean treat which warrants the return date. Other acts are Hermanos Will- iams. "Ungo acrot>atIC8." already seen at this house twice since It opened with vaudeville a year ago; Mile. Lowskaya, classical vocalist; Two Malss. cycling-wire perform- ers; Albert Ouy. artistic acrobatics; Omero Troupe, athletic exercises; George Narrow Co., cycling act, and a new troupe of girls replacing the 1« here for the past year. M. Rolf de Mare states he intends to continue this expensive experi- ment during 192», notwithstanding his recent bills are of a more gen- eral order than those previously provided by him. Kendrew. STATE Flash and novelty are the faiUors i in the week's bill which k^I off to a capacity start Monday night when the crowd was In early. There wa.s little laughter measure, one very good reason being that talking turns are held to a minimum In so large a theatre. Besides many of the so-called bigger and more ex- pensive shows are comedy shy, too. Leon's "The Death Ray Gun" (New Acts) recently at Keith's Palace, headlined, (not reviewed at that time because Variety went to press on Monday of that week). Plorcnze Tempest and Homer Dick- inson on next to closing had the comedy pretty nearly all to them- selves. For a quiet act it went over surprisingly well. They were a bit slow in getting Dickinson's kidding. but the act w.as on 24 minutes and won the applause honors, which shows that the State bunch likes a dash of class. Dickinson spoke about having a bad cold, one he's had for nine years. Yet he sang a Florida ditty. The house program cards got Jammed, and Qilbert and Avery's revue (New Acta) was carded while Tempest and Dickinson were on. The revue closed the show to the entire satisfaction. Jack Goldle third, was not able to grab much reward until the ballad warbling and whistlin? flnale. Goldle sticks to puns in his monolog and they are not so mirthful. It seemed the com- edy operatic bit could have been built up more effectively for Qoldie has a voice. A pippin of a casting act opened the show—Four Aces and a Queen One of the fivers is a star perform- er. His flnish trick is a double somersault and full twister. Ulls and Clark on second made the grade but the coui>le should be able to work out a more effective song routine for both know what it's all about. The sixe of the house may have interfered as indicated when the girl's "Down Yonder" was none too well heard half way back. Per- haps her Jazxy style was the cause. Joseph Jordan's orchestral spe- cialty was called "A Memory Test," the audience not being called on to sing but recall the tunes used for various types of vaudeville acts and some stellar pictures. Plain slides were thrown on the front curtain. The number was not quite up to Jordan's previous novelties and cer- tainly not as amusing. The number concluded with a plug for a theme song accompanying "Mike," next week's feature picture. The cur- rent fllm is Raymond Orifllth in "Hands Up." fbe«- SCALA Berlin, Jan. 6. This month's program is not quite up to standard although there are good acts on the bill. Honors were carried off by Charles Pereioff Co., a Jupgling act of four people. Charles, especially. Is a first rate Juggler. The act Is well arranged and has a comedy finish. The Five Carras, athletes, do a picturesque posing act of merit. Made Mlnty, assisted by George Spanover and Pepi Ptazlnfiky, are dancers. It seems as if the style of Oriental and classic dancing is not appreciated so well any more by the public. Pepi Patzinsky, a young girl with toe dancing and a Hungarian dance, met with better fiucce.ss than Mlnty. DoUle and Billie, billed as Amer- ican sister team, were a comedy hit while Breeker'e Bears comprise one of the best acts In that line. Sybil Vane, billed aa Amt^ican prima donna and headlined, did not have the .success a headllner should, although her repertoire of popular American songs was liked. iler aecompanist, Leo Douke, was well received. I'erni.ine Ilros, a good trampolln act, were followed by the Wind.'or Troupe, contortionists. Norman Telnia, Ch.vrton's Marionettes, and the Three linrbcs, motorcyclt- racers, make up the balance of the bill. Attendance eood. team and the other by the girl and other unbilled man. The fourtk member handled the piano accom* paaiment. The act Is tastefullr dre.xsed, well presented and oozes cLass. Dooley and Sales were the usual panic in next to shut, and the out- and-out comedy show stopper of the bill. This team improves with age (ihouKh far from the veteran class except in method of manipulation) and has that indefinable a-ssurance which makes anything they do an ac<-ompltshment. The rotund Dooley continues as a good-natured butt for the attractive Corlnne, with both clewing .all over tlie lot. Mi.<« Sales' vocal was well placed, and pleased. It also served as a good work-up for Dooley's later attempt at McCormacklsing, as he put It, Both walked off to a panic, and left them that way. Good showmanship. Signer Frlscoe, xylophonlst, backed by a seven-piece marimba band, held them In in the closer with instrumentations that were well worth remaining for. Friscoe is practically doing his old routine, embracing the phonograph stunt, la which he plays "The Rosary" with a gradual fadeout and the remainder played from a record on dark stage, gradually relighting and showing Frlscoe seated aside the music box and enjoying a smoke. The pop numbers of the remainder of his program clicked better than the seml-ciasslos attempted, not through mlsmanlptilatlon, but because of • strictly Jazz mob out front. Frlscoe announced several better grade num- bers for selection by audience, but was .shouted out by demands for pop stuff. Otherwise the act got over neatly. The bedlam occasioned from the upper tiers when Friscoe had asked for choice seletclons was carried to a point of rowdyism Monday night, and seemingly without effort on part of attaches to restrain this disor- derly conduct of the gallery gods. Kdbo, BROADWAY nie average seven-act brace that comes as near to striking the happy medium between big and small time as any at the house this season. The combination is designed to make the yokel.s flgurs they are getting a Palace show for their 86 megs. "The wiser ones brag they're on, but come Just the sam.e And as long as the shows click Danny Simmons will have less demand for Orangene pow- ders. The show played to a good house Monday night, with Stroebel nnd Martins, male gymnasts, providing a lively opener with a routine of hand-to-hand balancing and perch work. The beginning of their rou- tine was commonplace, but their get- away stunt of the teeth grip while balancing on perch lifted it plenty. Coward, Brad darn & Co. followed with a combination of vocalizing and dancing that was pleasing. Mis.s Coward is a sightless soprano of medium voice who gets over on her affliction more than her4one quali- ties. Braddam handles accompani- ment for the vocals on piano and also for the unbilled dancer who was easily the outstander of the trio, although Hraddam's banjo vocal solo was well liked. Charles Uuggles and Co. were al- lotted the usual sketch spot position for "Wives, Etc.," an abbreviated comedy by Roy Briant. Ruggles struggles valiantly throughout, and manages to regl.ster with individual mannerisms rather than the mate- rial at hand. His support, compris- ing three girls and a man. is nothing to wave any flags about, and the Rrlant playlet least of all. Ruggles, or whomever else Is sponsoring, evi- dently did not think it worth the speculation of a special set, since It I)Iayed here in a house setting. The playlet contains some humorous numbers, hut these are not suffi- ciently bunched to make it anything, despite the herculean efforts ad- vanced by the star to put It over. The Kxposltion Jubilee Four, col- ored quartet, grabbed the flrst real applause hon(>rs thus far in No. 4. Their Iiartnoiiizini; was a treat, their dancing nothing to be sneezed at and their feline opera travesty a comedy howl. The combination had thorn from the very start, and Uosorvedly so. Snow and Columbus, asslste<1 by two other men unbilled, provided rc.il class nnd terpsichorean contil- hiitlons, contrast in(? the pt''\iou.s turn's .qtuff .'lud r«>,'i:<tfrin;r lic.ivy in both ecc>'iitiic acroh.'itic. find h.illfl sfiifT. Tho prlnclpiil's S'do.s }i;\i\ 'be finish and ^Taco of k'ood tr^iirilnc. Two of the df>nhlc.s were espeel-illy aiatly liaadied, one i» the nan.e KEITH'S, BOSTON Boston. Jan. M. This btU is strong oa the song- and-dance business. Feature acts all go in for this sort of thin*, and the four that carry the show along are of this character. With the ex- ception of un acrobatio tlci featured In fourth position the show has lit- tle except those four acts. It starts off about as slow aa any bill so far this season, and the house was all primed for the waking up when It did come. It is one of the few times when the show did not come through as programed. A rearrangement put Edith Clifford, programed for No. •, into the spot next to closing. Bhe seemed to like the position, and put her wares over in a most entertain- ing manner. She closed very strong after following three acts far above the standard, and during which the house had listened to plenty o( singing. The real hit, figured from ap- plause, was the Rva Puck and Sara White act. Rilled for the house sev- eral weeks ago, but did not get hero, they lost nothing on the way, and stopped the show. Despite the reg- ular business of turning down the lights and starting the music for the next act, the house persisted in ap- plauding the pair, and they took numerous bows that wore wa>- ranted. Hal Rkelley In his comedy skit, "Tlie, Chump," had the house fol- lowing him eagerly. They liked Skeiley's dancing and that of the two girls who are with him, and once again hung on anxiously for the "Charleston"' bit which Peggy Hope gave them. The local audiences have to get their Charleston educa- tion by bits, mostly In the form of encores to regular acts. Whiting and Burt have an act that is not in the least conventional and which they work up to the limit. The back drops used for their songs are novel and the selection of num- bers Is also unusual and worth while. "WTiat Price liove" proved to be the bipgest thing they had in the song line, even if a ballad. It was put over so well that an audible gasp was heard from the gallery at its conclusion. And that isn't an easy thing to accomplish these days. Next In Importance to this ciuartet of fast acts wore the Vardel Bros., acrobats, who, after some clever n<!rob'itlc work, furnished a thrill by their climax In the slide down the chute from far above the stage, with the trick catch for the flnl.«h, Perez and Marguerite, with .a Jug- gling act, rather conventional, open the show, followed by the Versritlle Trio (colored), which registered, due to the bard work of all thiee of the hoys. Frnnk Rose and nilve Thorne are in n.;xl position with their com- edy skit. "Sold." and l«ert Melrose, ilw clown, clo.-ed the show. Lihbfy. If you don't advertise in ■ ill'l .\'\\ ilti^C