Variety (April 1926)

12 VARIETY liner xets* ffflsr week Wednesday, April 7, 1986 ERIC HAQENLACHER Billiard Champion 10 M ins.I Four Honnopin-Orphoum, Mlfmoapollo (Vaudo. Pet.) How hard up the Orphcum circuit lo for names may be Adduced from the fact that they havo taken tho only time that Erlo Ha«enlacher has available and bookod him for five weeks in the mid-west Mr. HaRenlachcr, the German who re- cently won the world's 18.2 balk line billiard championship from Jak^ Schaefer, opened at tho Hennepln- Orpheum, sharing tho headline position with Jimmy Hussey. Little entertainment value to the Ha-cenlacher act for the many vaudeville patrons who do not un- derstand billiards and cannot ap- preciate the skill required in mak- ing the trick shots which ho ex- hibits. The women patrons, in par- ticular, feel an act of this sort Is a total loss to them. Even many bil- liard enthusiasts expressed the opinion that Mr. Haffenlacher's ex- hibition produced nothing out of the ordinary in* trick shots. The new champion is a good look- ing fellow and makes a nice appear- ance. He goes about his business in workmanlike fashion, but without showmanship. A porsonabl© an- nouncer explains the rarious shots. Tho best of about 10 of these is where the champion Mnes up 80 drinking glasses and makes a four- cmiilon bank, kissing the two balls without touching any of the glasses. Th B won him plenty of opplnuso Monday night when tho house was only fair. The act ran about 10 minutes, closing the show. Tho exhibition is visible to the audience by means of reflection in a large mirror tilted at the proper angle above the billiard table. PAUL RAHN and CO. (5) Musical Sketch 17 Mins.; One and Full (Special) 68th 8t. (V.-P.) Rahn has played with a female partner under tho team name of Rahn and Bock and also by himself. This time he has four fflrls and a young fellow in his support. He plays tho lead in a musical sketch which has as its plot the selection of a wife by a boy who has pro- posed to four girls. His "out" Is to have them each do their best for art's sake, and ho promises to marry the most artistic. In the group is a coloratura so- prano, two dancers, and one girl dressed In mannish raiment, her voice being deep and her manner masculine—in direct distinction to that of Rahn. who nanclfled many lines when letting them go straight would have been better. When the girls did their specialties, the colo- ratura warbled an aria which didn't start any panic, the mannish gal talked a sor.g and also lost out. But the two dancers combined with the young fellow of the turn for real returns. Rahn himself did several songs and some effeminate comedy stuff without getting past first base. The «rst drop used Is In "one" and is the exterior of 'his home, while the second Is nice looking and represents a drawing room. The turn is nicely costumed and well staged, but Rahn is hardly strong enough to be featured over five other people, as at least two of thom. the dancers, came In ahead of him in actual returns. On the strength of Its flash, this one Is good for the intermediates. BUk, JOE FRISCO Comedy* Sonett Dmncm 20 Mln«.| Om Palace Frisco, the original jass daacer. has added Joe to distinguish blm from, other Friscos but after show- ing his new single he won't need any other distinguishing mark. The former Chi king of hoof has developed into a Broadway char- acter and succeeded in projecting that character across the footlights. Somcbcly will some day write & show around thl.«« bird who in more Imitated than any other artist of i this decade and the author of enough wise cracks to fill the Grand Central Terminal. For his single turn Frisco has strung together several original bits of comedy business, one with a trick cigar with mustache on top' that will probably rate as the funniest gag of the season. He uses the cigar with the mustache pointing floorward to play a rube character and by rolling It upward with bis lips, he Is a villain with pointed handle bars. Another pip is his rabbit hand- kerchief. After doing the trick he says he will make an elephant for any woman who will bring a table cloth. Worked in between gags are three dancing routines that stamp the saw-dust king as one of the sweet- est soft shoe dancers in the busi- ijesa but his big shot is a Jewish Charleston which stopped the act cold. Another bit which should develop Into a pip is an impersonation of a street fakir. Donning a false mus- tache Frisco does a corking impres- sion of an old time fakir selling the yokels in a country town. His line "Step In shllls," after making the pitch, is a panic with the wise ones. Opening in overcoat and derby hat he hangs up the heater reveal- ing a funny looking coat. He explains that he qould appear in evening clothes but he likes to dress plaiu. Another gag that clicked was his reference to 'Reel- ing." After stressing the word be suddenly remembers his diamond pin and fans himself, t Frisco Is as refreshing as an ocean voyage. He has everything in his single and is a potential head- liner. A unique product of a h^rd school, he Is as representatively American as a hot dog. If vaudeville lets this fellow get away It will cost plenty to lure him back for spasmodic visits. Cam, •BROADWAY WHIRL- (6) Rovue 15 Mins.; One and Full American (V.-P.) Three girls and three men in this Taudovllle revue offered by Nella 8t. Clair. Designed as a flash turn. It aboj^t makes the grade. A Juvenile sanjf the opening lyric quite confldentially out in one. It was discovered, however, that he was always seeking genius, maybe for Broadway shows. Thereupon in full the girls were Individually pre- sented, coming on with plenty of bare skin in sight. Back Into one, two boys eocentrlrly costumed did very well. In fact they are the Btrcnpth of the act. Ap:ain In full stage, one of the girls danced Spanish. Another performed and did well on her toes for a girl her size. She worke<l In the Charles- . ton in that fashion. The male danc- ing team again was forward with tap work. A valentine song duct by the Juvenile and one of the girls was a flivver. The straight appeared in the flnale, supposed a Russian dance Idea. I {road way Whirl" is well cos- ttjmed and satis/led on fourth. Jbee. FRED ARDATH CO. (12) Band and Comedy. 33 Min8.k0ne and Full (Special) Broadway (V.-P.) New act for Ardath, he personally heading a band of II pieces With a woman also included for vocalizing. Aimed for comedy, the routine has Ardath kidding back and forth with everybody on the stage and intro- ducing the boys by means of an en- semble number at the opening. The band only solos twice instru- mentally, the remainder of the num- bers being split up for laughs. Ar- dath has revived Tom McNaugh- ton's "Three Trees" for one bit (doing It as the "Three Rocks") while a soldier encore bit carries a march ballad titled "My Dream of the Big Parade," sung by the woman. It sounds Just like it reads although a not half bad effect Is gained through a scrim that cuts the boys off at the waist as they tramp Ih unison and seemingly ad- vance as V id or has "shot" the battle stuff In the picture of that name. All this Is done to a woeful and medi- ocre «opy of Kipling's "Boots," not only the stanzas being poor but the woman's conception not any too strong. One of those "hoke" dra- matic finishes sure to clean-up in a pop house. As musicians the boys do well enough. Ardath's kidding lessens their responsibility in this direction while a smart Charleston is pro- vided by one of the youths as a cli- max. Previous to that a tenor solos "The Prisoner's Song," and does it well enough although it seemed out of place here Monday night because of the Gerald Chapman sentence of which the dailies were full. Ardath might drop Into the pic- ture houses to get an Idea on how lo llKht the act. The current illu- lulnation throws too much light into the audience by means of a chande- lier with dimmed foots. Trimming hero and there would help albeit Ardath Is heading a turn that should kce») itself busy (If there's no dlfllculty about money) as it's a meritorious mixture and makes the effort to get away from the con- ventional band act. 8kig. B. A. ROLPE and Orchestra (12) SS Mina^i Thrao SUta (V..P. ) Following all aorta and conditions of t>anda was a pretty tough assign- ment for the B. A. Rolfe dozen, par- ticularly after glowing reports about this band during Its picture house and Sunday concert engak'e- ments at the Winter Garden and Earl Carroll theatres. And because It follows a flock of ultra bands, it shapes up as Just anocher good stage organization. While this is not a glowing summatl'^n, it is not intended in a slighting sense. It compares favorriMy with the good bands around, lacking tho "name" some possess but shaping up as musically fine. It has a thor- ough musician In Rolfe at the helm, his comet virtuosity alone being a distinguishing trade-mark, and as such commanding Important atten- tion when Rolfe was of Vincent Lopez's band. His high register al- ways stopped the proceedings as it does here. The Une-up of 12 (iocludlnj; the leader) Is three r«eds. xylophone, who doubles violin; three brass, bass, drums, banjo and piano. The The xylophone is really a marimba with a Rolfe Imprisonment and known to the profession as a Rolfe- ophone, or something on that order. It Is the leader's theory the per- cussion instrument is exceptionally worthy for rhythmic purposes. None of this is taken advantage of for stage presentation or heralded in any manner. If briefly explained, it might mean something to tfie act. > The routine opens slowly, with a free version in rhythm of Wag- ner's "Melstersingcr." It's a tepid start and could be omitted entirely In favor of the "Always" transcrip- tion for an Introductory, wherein Is featured Rolfe's cornet specialty, a vocal chorus and other incidentals. "Show Me the Way to Go Home" la a novelty entry Introducing va- rious versions such as stooge, Scotch and Bnr^'ah fop. They all clicked. Rolfe In a duet with an- other oometlst was only secondary to his teammate. That instrument- alist featured a sweet mute that merited a recall and was a show- stopper. A "hot** number was the getaway with *^omen!'* the encore, again giving rein to the band's versa- tility. Another encore could have been taken. Rolfe ahould find favor generally. The picture houses particularly will like the musical merits of his pre- sentation although vaudeville, too, will accept him graciously. Abel. WESLEY BARRY and CO. (4) 20 Mins.i Full (SpMial) Slat St. (V. A P.) Wesley Barry la the former freckled faced kid of the movies, grown considerably taller and mak- ing his first eastern vaudeville A]^ pearance in "Jerry Makea Good." written by E. P. Heath and staged by Paul Hurst. The vehicle means little other than a sort of set up for the screen player providing opportunity for some of the Barry kid's stock tricks. But is too Chautauqua even fcr the thrce-a-days unless the curious can be drawn in to grab a peek at the star. As for the substance matter of the act they've dug deep into the archives of ancient melodrama. Jerry (played by Wesley Barry) has saved up |S00 to send his mother to California for her health.' His pal Chick drops in with news that "The Weasel," notorious criminal, has broken jail and there's a price for his capture. Chick has a loaded gat and much comedy Is planted anent what both boys In- tend to do If the bandit crosses their path. The latter slips into the room, gets a flash at Jerry's $200 and holds him up while Chick takes air. Jerry's mother returns and tells the boy that the criminal is his father whom she had told him was dead. She then spins a yarn of desertion and neglect with the father pulling a bank robbery and making off with another woman when Jerry was a kid. Despite loyalty to his Ma the boy atso has a certain respect for the father and turns him loose only to be met at the door by the sheriff who takes him back to prison and splits 11,000 reward between the two boys as the tag. Barry does as well as could be expected with the material at hand although his speaking voice is a triflle thin for the larger houses. His -support is nothing to rave about for a flrst class audience with the exception of Pat Kemp who does well as Chick. Spotted third on this six act bill It went over nxainly on Barry's per- sonality rather than entertaining qualltcs. It will have ■ to depend upon this angle elsewhere. Bdba. ROSE and MOON REVUE Songs and Daneing IS Mine.; Full (Special) Broadway (V.-P.) About the usual conception of this type of act. The principals backed by a mixted octet of which the boys provide most of the leg. mania dynamite through gr.ound work. Moon introduces each of the specialists when it comes time for them to solo, making an attempt for comedy in so doing. The burden actually falls npon the "Co." inasmuch as the name pair limit themselves as to effort. Mlas Rose looks nicely but her partner should see to his appearcnce during tho early portion. This mainly re- volves around the rakish angle at which the straw hat is worn above a tuxedo. It doesn't Jibe. Various styles of dancing are of« fered. the girls going it alone to supply toe work, kicks and acro- batics while the boys adhere to fast hoofing and "hock" stuff. A couple of the latter group are applause winners although the girls found U more difficult to arouse a tremor. The act eventually reaches full stage through two draped drop% the main set also being "hung." The action is fast and some of the step- ping is worthy. In fact, if compared to the effort expended the results aren't all they should be. A re- arrangement of tl c manner in which the individualists are Introduced may aid and the curtailing of the boys' tendency to repeat what Is seemingly a favorite step should eliminate a certain tone of same- ness now present. Closing the show at this house the act held attention all the way. It has a degree of sight value and with attention should Improve. Bkig. DICK LUCKE and Arcadians (6) IS Mine.I Special SeUing (Garden) Sigt <t. (Vaud i '- P ct) This band baa about the best looking boys that have trooped along' Its stage embellishment looks fine and fancy. The stage outfits are Immaulate and the the boys tend strictly to their mu- sical knitting. According to the program the Lucke band la compered t>f Dick liocke. evidently the chap at the Ivories; Waldo Sundsmo. Joe Far- ren. Jimmy Jackson, Maxwell Wil- liams, Walter Lucke and Jimmy Kirkwood. Just how the instru ments are assigned Isn't programed but the makeup is of the usual sax. comet, trombone, drum and piano combination. The band Is seated as though out- doors. In white, half-sleeveless shirts with attached collars. White pants tucked in black boots, they Jook as if they just finished riding '^lo ponies, etc. While the band Impressed and got its numbers over nicely a still better Impression was made through the Introduction of specialties by some of the feminine principals with the "Toytown Revue," used as the finale of the Oi pheum unit show. The addition of the girls display- ing talent creditably presented, helped the band score an emphatic hit I Incidentally this whole turn, the Lucke Band and the Chicago Step- pers, as the girls are called, seems cut to a nicety for the picture houses. The Lucke band has a drummer who does what vocalizing there is done by the band members; he has personality and enough vocal ability to diversify proceedings. The band is pleasing; it doesn't stall and It doesn't go in for a lot of monkcyshines with their instru- ments. And the leader is about the most modest and unassuming band chap Broadwny has seen. JIfor^ "TELL TALES" (4) Comedy Revue 17 Mins.; One and Full Stage (Special) 58th St. (Vaude. Pet.) Rath and Garren, producers of this revue comedy have dug up a new Idea, new to vaudeville at least, in the manner of presentation. Tho revue is construced around two character women, village gossips and scandal mongers, both contrih- utinK .the comedyj- A juvenile ai# ingenue complete the compact cast of four, the latter duo handling all of the double songs and dancing except one number, a well written special song in which the gossips put the neighbors on the pan. The curtain rises on a drop In "one." The center panel Is of a small town residential street. Two cottages, on opposite sides of the drop, .represent the homes of the gossips. What they think they hear and see ia#|old Int full stage by raising the center panel of the drop. A girl rehearsing a love scene is seen by the audience and construed by the gossips as an actress having "an affair" while her husband Is away. In Uke manner they mistake a' nurse's patter about a confine- ment "case" as the lingo of a boot- legger. A wedding number Is worked «ln legitimately when one of the gossips leaves to attend the wedding returning with an armful of apples to tell her crony "There wasn't enough fruit to go around." For a finish the pair sic a cop- per onto the actress whom they accuse of murder. The denouement shows the actress rehearsing her part, using a dressmaker's dummy. When denounced by the actress as a pair of prying scandal mongers they retort they don't want to live In the same street with such no- torious people, whereupon the cop shoots them both. The act has ull the elements for vaudeville success incluvllng a new- slant on the "flash back" idea. The two character women stand out. Both are excellent "types" and con- sistently funny. It's an act that should work consecutively in the Intermediate houses. Con. If you don't advertise In VARIETY don't advertise DAVEY JAMIESON and "RE* VOLTERS" (8) Singing and Dancing 20 Mine.: One and Three (Special) 81st St. (V. A P.) This turn is somewhat of a new slant for an all male combination bound to click both on novelty and intrinsic entertainment value. When the boys come on for the ensemble introductory in one everybody out front is set for another band act but are agreeably fooled when none materiaUzes. Jamieson is a hoofer of marked ability who has grouped the Paul Simmons singera as his support. The latter have quality voices and good harmony. After the opening In one the act goes to three for another vocal en^ semble "Girl C My Dreams'* planted well and topped by sn« other eccentric by Jamieson. Back to one for some more stepping and then to three again with a setting representing the campus of Old Heidelberg with Ihft-bOJLS EtPPerljf costumed and rendering the drink* ing son^. Jamieson comes back for some more hoofing, this time in- viting the avdience to select the sort of dancing they want All on for a vocal reprise of the drink- ing song for an effective tableaux finish. Has plenty of en t t tain ment Went over with a bang as the closer here but deserves a better spot. Good bet for picture houses also. Edba. DONOHUE and LA SALLE Acrobatics and Dancing 8 Mins.; Full Stage American Roof (Vaude.* Pets.) Man and woman, both using plenty of showmanship. Man doee drunk on entrance to' play a solo on a trumpet to quiet returns. Danc- ing by both gets over, this topped by a legitimate "Charleston" by the woman. Man does- several excellent com* plete somersaults from a still po- sition. Good trick leaping. For a yelled-for encore, a double tap dance was done and gotten over- Small time but small time can't ask for a bt*tter opener. DEL ELWOOD Blackface 13 Mins.: One American (Vaude*Pet.) Del Elwood has evidently watch- ed some of the real comlckcrs Judg- ing from the stylo he affects and the old gag about stopping on the piano, asking the folks to come la closer and wisecracking about others on the bill. . This elongated chap sings anfl talks, with his talk of ancient vin- tage and several wheeres that ntta censoring. Del Elwood is a small-time burnt- corker and even there shouW tons down some of his stuff. JfarJfc