Variety (Sep 1926)

NEW ACTS THI& W££K GRANT MITCHELL and Co. (4) *'ThrM Flights Up" (8k«toh) 18 Mint.: Full (Special) Mao« (ti Vautf«) ^ Ora at liltaitll ■Mlrontod by mUmts Kuabblisc fanrilar comptos. Altar wMtBff «F in of the Family^ th« toffit atax la back in vaudeville, OOBfronted practically with almilar •ituations in "Three Fli^hta Up^ credited to Mark Swan and Maurice Freeman. From all elanta it's a case of out of the frylngr pan Into the fire for the star, since It's a toss up be- tween tbla ana nla fcyrmer legit Tehicla as to whloh !• tba Mthlar. It slvea MItchen th« rola of a moderately paid spouse whose wife works out to enhance the family •zobeqttor and to provide comforts tor an ungrrateful sister with a hoa- band too healthy to work. As If the leeches weren't getting a break by "bdhig permitted to stick around, they aggravate conditlona by chronic fault-finding, which bids fair to wreck the marital bllaa of the bread- winning couple. This is averted when Mitcbell traces the theft of his wife's watch to the Ingrate brother-in-law. and hoUUng possible criminal jM-osecu- tioQ as a trump card In making the couple make themselves useful about the place and imbedding a fcoen deaire of the brother-in-law for Industry. Mitchell does well in a none too fat role and anything accomplished by the thin vehfclo wtU depend en- tirely upon the star and his per- sonality. Mitchell's sardonic humor prevails throufhout, but possibly aot In anSeiont nbrnidaBoa to anH his admirers. At the Monday night showing Mitcheirs reception far outdistanced the reaponao at the flnalo, although anoiigli for two fast curtains. The support Is adequate, including Helen Ifurdock. Dorothy Dudgeon ant Bdward Harlfortf. tho tetter being given the best chance of the support trio in a character of the "show off" typok yf/hich ho iiandled From all slants very thin and tiMie too meaty for either star or support. Nothing more than a per* •dnality TfhSDte. JANET OP PRANCI Ga (H Sketch 23 Mine.} Full (Special) Broadway (V-P) Jaaal oC naaoa has a m$w ing somewhat along the lines, concerns general theme, of sketch of a conplo of years ago. . «... Janet haa thNO mm With taw in "^r and vartety. Ward owns up to the offering. « Tl years, with his partner having The scene is laid in Fhuics in ^^^'•^ iJ* i^** *^ front of a wins ahop. whtca two mnar A. B. F buddlaa mttl €Hie|°^^ timers clicks heav- has remained.in France after thel»~* <>» with Diamond's VAIOBTY WARD and DIAMOND Singing* Dancing and I 15 Mina.) Ono and Thrao Palaot {9L Vawdab) The newest of old-timer turns, consisting of "Hf* Tom Ward and li^ I Charles Diamond, favorites of iO war and married a French widow with eight kida. Ho has donnod a French uniform and Is mai l in g his living by posing as a Frog and act- ing as a guide to the battlefields. Ths other is an American who la a harp danoo undoubtsdty a BOVoHy for this genoratlon. Ward** war- bling of "Maggie" also held up con- sidering the ago of the singer, and land ahM waat OW bi« with the Palace moh at tha MMay sight London repreaentativo for an Amer-I* w ^ ' With the veteran build-up- and paasabla rontiao offirad It eaa stand upon Hi awa aa a dsaoar la any of lean firm, he having fallen In love with the little French girl that ran the xirlne shop dnring war days. The girl has become a famous music! hall artist, but returns to the old home town once a week to visit the I KEO-TAKI and YOKI foUii. 8ha rotara^ and Instead of Novelty Song and Dancing recogaislpg her former lover passes I ^7 M|fM.i Ons him up entirely. As the two bud- American (V-P) dies start rehaahing; there is a cut- | AltogetHer an engaging novelty baA ta tha war, whsra It la rotetod | inyolving two rare creatures, how the one Tank saved the girl japaaass eomedlaB% and a girl from the advances of a fresh M. P. singer and dancei^-^pparenUy Tokl. and how she in turn saved him although she does not look as when ha waa up on chargea for orlenUl as her name. 6he alnga striking the M. P. nitmbar or two la aa igraaablii In the end the boy and girl are ^ght voice without trace of brought together for the grand and does a Charleston. cUneh, and aU ends happily. But it U the men who furnish «ha Janet has a chance at a aovple of novelty. Both hava a numbers, and manages to land with j^y humor In their comedy, the "My Man" in French. It U fairly pi^^Qo player being a really unctuous good atal^ doalgnod for tha »op | comedii^n. At the opening aU three houses principally, and with that| type of aiidiences it will land. Frtd, the audience expects them to go into juggling or hand balancing. Instead, one of the men sits at the piano and does a jaaa aaariMr, wUh appropriate clowning. The gtrl doea her number, aittlng on the piano and the aecoad and oldar Oriental makea a comedy an- nouncement. This' leads to more comedy busineaa at the piano. A "Rlaley^ pad is plaeed on the piano after the comic has done some more clowning with a uke, and the older man has a bit of pedal iuggling who will make his mark as a hoofer, ^^mw ^ karv^ tA sjuin i n"■ m liiiln 1 irf a •! " awBn ga a^^ma a aa^ aaa^a^waaaa^aa^saaag^^aaw The. glrW Include two dancingj^^^ pretending teams, one handling the prima donna nervousness at the whirling barrel. BAIINttr and THOMAS REVUE (5) Singing and Daaaiag It Mine.; Full Amariaaa Roa^ CV** P*^ ▲ w^-framsd amall-tUaa flaah act of fou^ glrla and throe men. Barnett and Thomas, a six-footer and a midget, are the featured Tho other la a yomigstsr «'PfTTBfl-PATTKfl RKVUV (7) Girl Tab 19 Mine.; One and Full Staga American (V-P) The personnel, all girls. Is made ap of foar ehorlatora, probably the most inexpert that have essayed this summer type of vaudeville number, a sUter act and a solo dancer. OC that aambar there is one who has real weight. She is the un identified ballad singer, who does a solo number oallod "Rosa Colorad Olassas," mada affective by her agreeable mezzo or female baritone voice. She shows all the marks of an experienced performer. The other end of ths alatsr act is a blonde soprano who doea fairly as a number leader and supplements tho first mentioned girl with har- inony in a double song. The details mentioned are the whole act. Tho» four dancing nympha ma awkward, Eatfooted iplappei'W, allhoue^h they try hard and earnestly enough. But trying hard isn't always enouglu Tho American erawd was disposed to guy the namber, particularly when It became evident that they were having a difference of opinion with tho time of tha mnsle and weren't trying to conceal their an- ger gracefully. The costuming was mostly worn and shabby. Buah, EDNA TORRENCE and Co. O aa a a and Mwaioal It Mina.| Two and Ona American Roof (V-P) Act pVobably carries some pro- duction not disclosed on the Roof. Mlaa^ Torr^oo la aa acrobatie dance specialist and very good. Her "Brther Johnnie" (from the down- atairs three-sheets) is In support, arith Joaeph Coba at • tho baby grand. Both are capable. Johnnie opens as her dance partner In a corking waits daring which tha pianist evi- dences unusual ezpertness in main- taining orchestral tempos. The brother later essays a violin solo satlafactorfly. Tho pianiat, too, whips the ivoriea on his ownsome for a personal score. In betwe en. Miss Torrence deliv- ter^stlhg redakin oance conception in native Indian regalia. She tops it with a 8#>ssion of un- usual acrobatic stepping. The act Is above average and best suited for the pitcure houses. It Will find favor in that field. AheU Girt returns changing from kimona to tights for tha Charles- ton; there Is more talk and josh ing by the uke player who does a oatchy bit of Hawaiian playing with romaffmbia flagariag. It is the unexpected * smooth comedy of the two Japanese that furnishes the surprise and puts them across for a riot. Monday night they held up the ahow and the begging-olf, apaaob waa lagiti- nuite. JACK PRINCETON CO. (S) Talk and Sengs If Mina.| One (Spaclal) AmaHaan, Chfaaga (V*P> Jack Princeton Ineorporatea a novel Idea with poor materiaL He appears aa maater of caremoniea In Kelly's mak,* aIgM aMh. €N«s in that directloa are fatlle. A girl aingo throe numbers and does straight for prlaceton, using a syathatla VMfih aaaaaA. Ftrat appearlag la atraac dreaa. ahe changes to eveaing gawa and then back to tho original otraot dreaa for ttM ebMIi. ▲ mm mtfrnm for the flniah waaM bo amaa gawahle. Her voice la pleaalng. Princeton gaga wall arith a weak layout, but ihoaM oNp an attempted tear-jerker recitatioa about a jock- ey. Spokea to crying music, it la rather odoroua* A boy la aap wait- er amkeap steala tha play from Princeton, dancing in the eaoora. With hla Idea, Prhiceton ahould go aa far aa vaudeville can take hiav bal ha waa*t gai thara la the act'a rdo anfll tho iaiali, whaa aha hope into a Charleston. The featured n>en "Contribute two double dances, an "essence" and an '^seesafrle,'* both framed for com edy on th sizes of the pair. The opening number is an ensemble with all in ante-bellum costume ^or tho prima'a aoag aad a brief aila uet by the other girls. The act runs along in standard fashion un tU the boy and one of the girls turn la aomathing now la buck dance double. The taps are all loud and clear without sacrific- ing of the Charleston steps. Tha aister duo haadia a l(leklng| ARTHUR DE VOY aa4 Oe. ($) duet and later an acrobatic dance, | Comedy Sketch with all on fo^ a surefire Charles- I 14 Mins.; Full ton finish in which the midget in 1 American Roof (V.-P.) tuxedo tlea ai^ tha aot Qaoi aotl Arthur Do Voy la a Tataiaa small of tia JeML ^IIMI» I Ume sketch aaiar. His lataat. like its predecessor, is authored by tmm^m^m .Emmet Do Voy. He ia aupported JEROME aad RYAM Bvotya Vaber aad aa anpre- fa'Vi* n j gramed boy and girl. 16 Mina.| One The act Is baaed upon the aver Stata (V.-P.) ^^^^ chUdren to the atep- Two boya aaaompaaylng tham- father thair BMthar la bringing aelves on atrtng instruments dur- home. Do Voy. ag th9 father, wine Ing pop airs. Their voices blend the children by collusion with the averagely and appearance is okay, I mother. They plan to have her op It bataig mostly a matter of aonglpoaa hla aftorta to giva tho young selection. I sters everything they wiah. Nothing brilliant about the rendl-» j The boy wants to go west, while tions, with the boys revealing an 1 the girl yearns lor her own car and aptltttdo for ^ilklng^ when It | a mvateal odacatloa abroad. Daddy comes time for bows. Not good | promlscg everything and the kids showmanship, despite their Monday switch to his side. Mother then pro night stalling taking them to three i fesses to weaken and allow pop to encores, aqualling tho regular rou-1 decide auch Important mattara In the future. Two vocal solos by De Voy are woriced into the skit It's light and of fragile construetiea, but all right for intermediate consumption. The boy's enunciation will bear watch- ing; some of his lines were lost al- together whea ha lowarad his votee. Con, r " HILL and MARM Novelty Artieta. > i Mina.| Ono 68th St. (V.P) NIoa-loofcing, paraoaaMa ama and good-looking young woman, working a new style of quick sketch act Two eaaola are in poaition at tho riae of tha eurtaia. Bach board haa tho piaAia af a girl akotchad oa it. The act conaiata of changing the hata on the glrdla by a faw swift pea aaa with a apoago. By a faw Uaaa tha alMraatar af tha chorus. faces are changed. - An elaborate headdreaa become a boyifh bob with ona swaap af tha haad. Aaabaada movement givea the flapper'a face a double chin and It becomea the portrait of a matron. They go through twenty yearn af a haaglag styles In hata and hair arrange- ments, from "raU" and pancake hata to tho modem cloche bonnet and tha ahtegM haa*. aR aM a simple atroka or twi^ The woman makea a particularly agreeable plctura la her artist's amock of yellow aOk. Thay hava littia talk, atlcking ta thair specialty, a noval as handled. NAT AVER and MAROAUBT WILSON Songs 16 Mina; Piano* In Oaa ( Sp ao fa l) Palaee (St. Vaude.) Nat Ayer and Margaret Wilson are a new combination for vaude- viilai offeHag t^^a roatfaa plaao act in a somewhat differeni way. Ayar ia a composer handling accompani- ment on the piano, while Miss Wil- son la a looker with a plcdaing so* prano voice. Ayer also handlea vo- calising in several duets with Miss Wilson, and haa a comedy number all hla own. Six numbers are incorporated In the song routine^ evenly distributed and providing aoopa for throe at- tracti^ co atam a ahaagaa far Miaa Wilson. Oood teamwork sold it for good returps here In No. 7. A daaa act that can althor stay ia vaudavUla or swing over to tha halter grada plctara houaea. tine. The final item is a tune med- ley of special prohibition lyrics. This was introduced by asking the audience who waa for aad who aeralnst Volstead. The team has a Journey before it if company ^n the fast set is to be attainadr but as currenUy apottod thay ELINE and KATHLEEN MURRAY Songa and Uka 14 Mine.; One American Roof (V. P.) Two personable wholesome girls in an azeallant routine, all doubloa and harmonized. Opening with a pop In which one falsettos an obbll- gato. They return, the taller one with uke. for a routine of doublea which click on delivery and person- ality. A Spanish double comedy song waa tne iigntail of the routine. They sang six or eight numbers here before they would let them Ko. A Hawaiian dance by one using a lamp shade for the coatume, put them awaqr aotldly. Good act of its kind for anywharok Coa. PAULA AYRESl Songs 15 Mint.; Ona 81st. (V-P) Contralto in good singing voice with group of dramatic character songs, assisted by Oliver Scott at the piano. Likeable personality, and well i;elected numbers for the typo of turn. IntroduoiriK with "Captain of My S oul," setting olt her voice to splen- d advanUge. Miaa Ayrea followed with "JuMt for Tonight,** alao well received. A Spanish love song and "Dinah" for contrast rounded out. Suitable for vaudaviOa or picture houaea. Uhad harob Ko. 2 HARRY BREUER 6 Mlna.| Oaa Mark Strand, Bktyn, N. Y. (Pet.) Harry Breuer is regularly of the Mark Strand orchaatra* his xylo- phone spaelalty alaailag oat aaaaag hla other dutiee at the trapa. Ehrer and anon young Mr. Brouer la pressed into sarvloa aa a aololat and hla ever-lncreaalng popularity for Itself aa tha gvaptSaf Ha accorded. An ''around tha wtrM** aycla waa a novelty Idea, atartlag aS with Good-bye, Broadway; Hello. France!" which ha hanunored out aa latroduetloa ta a maalcal globa- trot embracing vMl^-.'mmti:'''-'9HmKkt popular song hits. A corking novelty, utilising noth- ing but serosa annouaaameats (not slides, but regularly prolaeted film), enhanced by Breuer's poraonallty and skillful xylo haauaarlag. Abtk FRANK M'CONVILLR IS Mina.| Oaa Amirlaaa McConvllIe, a young lad. doea a little bit of everything. He has routined hia turn to hold variety froni tha playing of a agaapbona ap to the imitation of Charlia Chaplin. He sings, plays a uke. dances, uses prcpa for laughs, and wlae- craoka beaidaa. Ha eloaas with the Chaplin imitation, doing about five minutes of It. In makeup he la about the neareat approach poaatbla to the screen man. A osaiady dance In the Chaplin outfit scores. McConville ia fine for tho small eireulta. 9lg things ara aul with preoaat arraagamaat. EDDIE EDWARDS and Hia Southomera (11) Dance Orchestra Silver Slipper, New York Eiddie Edwards, the leader of thla 11, ia one of the Original Dixieland Jaaa Baad, which waa tha Aral "name" or ''attraction'* band In tha business, aa far back as 1917 when Max Hart brought U^lwarda to Ralaaawehar^a Bubaequeatly tha band stayed two years and eight montha at tha Coluoibaa CIrola cafe. Kdwarda la tha tramboalat at tha outfit and featurea tha aama atyla of staccato dance-compelling syn- ^ copation Uuit made tho Original Diaialaad Jaaa Baad a fhanai ar^ ganlzation. At the Silver Slipper, BVlwarda has been clicking heavy, coming in on spec aad gattlag avar aininit hn* mediately. Badlb activity further helped impress the Bdwards* brand of dance music, and already the ma- jor dMc taoords ara after tha Boath- emers. The Southerners' billing ia a derivation from the Divieland cognomen, although the leader alona ia from that famoaa outfit whleh haa since split up, Tha fonaar Dixieland's Victor recordings ara unique in that dancq tunea "canned** aa far badk aa ItlT ara aUtl aiBlag on the Victor and royaltfeo ara be- ing collected by Feist. Inc., as for- mer publisher of most of tho Dixie* land BaiBd'a aoaipoaltlaaai Eddie EMwarda personnel has himself at the trombone, directing; Carl Oauper, Billy King and Wally LHtlawaod. reads; Johaay BItraatir, Elite Evans and Edwards, brass; Bernard PInella, violin; iJouls Do Fabbia, banjo; Iiarry Rosanatock* piaao; am ■rac kamid ga^ haaat Frank Horscroft. drums. The Silver Slipper Is unique in that It haa been through tha hotteat Mad of Now York weafliig, Tha cafe Is becoming somewhat of a popular New York institution, get- ting a forking play on aloMMt aay sort af alght aader aMat aaaaHSIa weather conditlona. and no amall part of thla la due to the Edwards^ dance muaic. AU of wliich may or may BOt figura ImpanaaCir 9m re- cording purpoaea. Obvioualy, tha reaction impressea aa favorahla tm potential disk aalea. Bdwards aad hla Raalhataaia ara clicking in the cafe and ahould prove unlveraally popular for any style of dance place, carara^ hatal ar aiaawhara. ANTHONY and MAIietttI Musical 14 Mine.; One SSth St. (V-P) Youthful appearing ailxed offering a pleasant routiaa of la* strumentals featuring the accor dlon and get over nicely aa an early spotter for tho thraa*a-daya. Trifle more class in manlpuhttlOB would help the couple further. A double acco rdion medley by both serves as < opanor with girl hnnKing on to the accordion throuf^hout and with her partner changing to several other Instru- menta vis sax ahd dajrlnet for the subsequent numbers of the routine. LJkad here in tha dauca. J£4ba» JIMMY RYAN and 60. (H Ten DoHara" (SHIt) 16 Mine.; Two Amarican (V P) Jimmy Ryan has dona * wider raaga of aharactar work, fiara ha playa a curioua type of "tough.** using a loose sketch structure ta carry comedy talk with aa intar- polatad aambar m twa. The talk needs bolstering up. Oa a guesA the vehicle is new and needs playing. It la one of thoae thinga that haa .to ba built up. If tt la ta amount to anything. Tha aktt ra* calla an old type that haa aJmoat disappeared. There ia a thread of atory, but tha playara da aot hold to it any mora thaa thay chooae. The blonde girl fa a flower vendor on the street. The cup on the beat makea Idva to har, but aba la trua to her lovar who la juat dua baeh from Jail. In the unfolding of thla pra- Ilmlnary altuatloa tha gift and tha cop do a duct. Then Jimmy cntera and Kof s Into comedy talk with the poik't'man. Xhaca—la lalic uX going straight; tha. aop ahakaa hlaa down for his lant |10 thoa threatena to nrrrst him, thia dramatic action being the excuse for wise cracking by the orook and la^fgnaat'fipbrald- IHRH hy tha ^P'-. Tha top lg off and tha girl rotuma Ml