Variety (Dec 1926)

14 VARIETY NEW ACTS THIS WEEK Wednesday, December 1, 1926 DUNCAN 8ISTERS and Co. (4) Songs Full Stage; 20 Mins. T and D, Oakland, Cal. (Pet.) The famous stars of "Topsy and Eva," whose engagement by Weil Coast THeatrefti Inc., at a fabulous salary Is the sensation of the coast, experienced their first picture house audience in Oakland. Incidentally they got a thorough baptism the first two days, with live perfor- mances Saturday and Sunday each. They use three grand pianos. Vivian does a little fingering on the center one. A male accompanist handles one of the others, flanked by a female ditto. The set is just drapes. A couple of pop songs started, fol- lowed by some special numbers, one with Uosetta clowning with a rube chin piece that they ad libbed for a pile of laughs. When fixed, Rosetta will probably have this number one long howl. Her knack for cute stuff gets a chance there. Also funny is Rosetta's panto- mimic opinion of her sister's ukulele playing. Apparently Vivian is one of those mortals who can never tell whether a uke is in tune or not. But It was impossible to tell what was in the act and what just happened. Anyhow, the ukulele gagging is good. The sisters have a way of kidding between themselves under their breath, which, with them, is funny to the audience, although commonly audiences have no great relish for inside stuff that they're not in on. Dressed in rompers as of yore, the girls made themselves right at home and found picture audiences enor- mously appreciative. The Duncans have class. Everything they do is surefire. The customers, figurative- ly hanging from the rafters, went for them hook, line and sinker. The girls are going to be worth the money for West Coast. Bring- ing them into the picture house field was a smart move. They fit In the film houses like ketchup fits in a bottle. The Duncans deserve the limit of topnotch rating. -ANY FAMILY" (5) Sketch 18 Mins.; Full Jefferson (V-P) This condensed version of "The Family Upstairs,'' projected by Al- bert Lewis, makes capital enter- talnment for vaudeville. It is breezy throughout, vihrates with farcical action and is well played by the quintet of players who were un- billed at this showing. They are all splendid types, being capable and worthy of individual mention. If any Delf, author of the original legit piece, is said to have made this adaption. It gives him a great break and an opportunity to retain plenty of comedy in the skit, while also planting his story—something seldom accomplished in abbreviated versions. The episode utilized for vaude- ville depicts the meddlesome mother who adopts a ritzy attitude toward her daughter's beau as a means to gallop the couple into matrimony. Her ritzy idea of putting on the dog when the youth calls, and mythical tales of family wealth, all but scares the youth away. At the crucial moment the daughter, tired of her mother's sham, throws her cards on the table and lets the boy friend know Ma has been four- flushing. Her dad also chips in that thi3 talk about him retiring Is all bunk and that if he ever came home without the weekly pay en- velope he would wind up in the morgue. The skit is breezy and well played. All characterizations are foolproof, with the ingenue slightly over- shadowing the others. Went over big, No. 3, and can hit anywhere. A splendid example that sketches of entertaining quality are far from passe for vaudeville. Edba, MILFORD CAREW and CO. (7) Gi l Act 21 Mins.; Full Stage C.ty (V-P) Fairly good flash girl revue, made Up of five dancing girls, one wom- an dancing principal and a woman singer, presumably Milford Carew. No men in the lot, which does the dance routine no good. Dancing of girls solo, in pairs, four at a time or all together, becomes monoto- nous. The principal dancer is a willing worker and has a nice parlor voice, but several of the girls are better steppers. Miss Carew is a person- able young woman who sings pret- tily and dances neatly enough, but is scarcely impressive enough in either department to carry the turn. Costuming and dance arrangement attractive. Introductory number brings the girls on two by two for ensemble dance. Gilt frame set la back drop opens, disclosing principal dancer for hoop skirt stepping, then Miss Carew in pop number. Four of the girls In acat costume of tights in Pierrette design do a buck and wing, one of the best things. Principal dancer does bit of toe dance and legmania, another girl does a routine of Russian steps, two girls have a jazz dance bit. brings girls on one by one, all in elaborate hoop Rkirt dresses and for the finish, girls' gaily turbaned heads appear through the back drop representing an artist's palette, while Miss Carew does an appro- priate number. They all come on for individual steps leading up to the fast dancing finale. Mild approval from the Citv audi- ence about the middle of the bill. Ruth. MOORE and POWELL Instrumental and Songs 10 Mins.; One 6th Ave. (V-P) Male twosome delivering an old- fashioned turn Indicative of the deuce spot for so long as they hold on to it. Both are in eccentric cos- tume, plus rod noses, for comedy with the routine carrying them from guitars to musical saws, etc. Tho smaller of the two sings, makes clucking noises with his mouth and indulges in an abbre- viated buck. The partner confines himself to instrumentalizlng. For an encore he blows up a toy bal- loon to render a former pop number on it as the air escapes. It got the team its best results. Other- wise the boys were running shy on applause. Yet they took a second encore for a bottle and jug bit, after which even they didn't have a doubt that it was. all over. For Chef intermediates. • Skiff* HERMAN BERREN and FIFI Talk, Song and Piano 17 Mins.; One Broadway (V-P) Herman Berren first explains In an uninteresting little speech that he Is a piano teacher waiting for pupils. The phone rings and Flfi promises to be up in an hour. Be- fore Herman puts down the receiver Fifl blows in, clothed in a smart- looking crimson dress with a snugly fitting hat. Fifi's bad English sounds ficti- tious, but her French Is fast and furious and her snappy, expressive movements—eyes, hands, head and feet—begin to take effect. The professor demands $15 a les- son. Fifi says nothing about price, but smiles meaningly. She smiles again, and continues to smile at 10- second intervals. The titters among the ranks began to swell into gig- gles as the prof softened gradually. Before Flfi walked off the stage Berren was asking whether he didn't owe her any money and where she would like to have him send the piano. The girl puts over a French song with the wild abandon, slangy phraseology and unerring precision of one who has done considerable stage work In La Belle France. While the crowd doesn't understand the lingo, they can't help getting the meaning of the song from Fifi's in- terpretation. Berren formerly did a single with a planolog. This new act opened rather slowly, but once in the swim got along nicely in the deuce spot and finished to warm applause. GUARNER and TOMASINI Singing 11 Mins.; One City (V-P) Tenor and baritone In a straight song cycle of operatic and the more pretentious popular numbers. Wear tuxedos and take their work seri- ously. Foreign looking, probably Italian, and groomed and barbercd as only an Italian singer can be. Both men have robust voices, agreeable In quality, but nothing in the way of showmanship. They grade ns two straight vocalists. No. 2 at tho City and did nicely. Rush. FRANCES snd 8ANFORD (6) Revue Act 20 Mins.; One and Three (Special) 5th Ave. (V-P) The basic appeal In this one is a series of skits spaced by blackouts and songs In "one." It all winds up with a "Florodora" number but tak- ing the boys' angle of that famed sextet. The material evidently has been especially conceived. Its one fault is the scenes all sprout from the same Idea. An opening lyric, split between a trio, which has the boy and girl trying to procure a pair of stubs from a spec and lacks a finish. Not a new angle for the stage, but this audience seemingly accepted it as such. The next was the husband, wife and boarder plus the third man popping up as the first two males exited. Likewise was a tired busi- ness man snatch. Here hubby phones to tell the of- fice of the delay while a girl cov- ers his lap. The missus is on the other end, also with an annexed companion. The third and last has a cop and maid, the inspector searching and upon pulling down a screen finds three of his force lined up. An evenly divided cast of six play these, with some taking their turn in "one." The "Florodora" finale has the women stripping until the last drop switch is from undies to a more conventional length. The yric to this number ranks as about the best. No standouts in the cast other than probably the man of the billed team. He shoulders most of the re- sponsibility and handles dialog nicely. The act is handicapped by that similarity in the sketches. If it can break away it should develop Into a vaude asset. Its scope as now presented is limited. Skig. 14 VIRGINIANS Jazz Orchestra 19 Mins.; Full Stage City (V-P) This is the outfit formerly han- dled by Ace Brigode and operat- ing under his name. The new leader is Joe Friedman, violinist. The frameup is three saxophones, two cornets, two trombones, two ban- jos, piano, traps and sousaphone. Sax trio switch to clarinet and tenor sax. The arrangement throws a good deal of weight on the cornets and trombones which are used to phrase the jazz sharply in a cracking sort of cadence, with the beat of the sousaphone to give the rhythm. For dance music it ought to be a world beater. In the theatre the turn makes its appeal on other grounds. The bandsmen are all young, trim look- ing and of the collegiate type. They vary the distinctly orchestra work with a number of specialties. Fried- man has an agreeable voice, used in several combinations and one number brings a quartet down cen- ter. One of the banjoists does a mouth organ solo for a bit. The drummer comes down for "Baby Face," while all are concerned in one way or another for a lot of low comedy business around the number "Women, Ha!" worked up for laughs at any cost. On its jazz music the outfit can go In better company, but Its com- edy in tho present rough state is paced and gaited for small time. The Virginians are headed for night clubs, where on appearance and dance music they have the goods. Rush. TARIELLA and CLARK Wire Act 8 Mins.; Three Jefferson (V-P) Strength of this turn lies In the slack wire work of the man. Woi..- nppears first in Oriental costume and later does a little toe work ef- fective as far as it went. The man does a number of excellent stunts on the wire, rides a one-wheel con- trivance, does Home nice side-to- side swinging and also balances him atop an eight-rung ladder. Good, little act of its type, • i ' Mark. > HALL and LORETTA Comedy, Talk, Song 14 Mins.; One 58th St. (V-P) This pair have shelved their former turn and seem to be headed In the right direction with the new- one. The man opens monologuing about his experiences at a hotel. The girl, a line looking brunette, walks behind him twice across the stage and then blasts forth with, "Why don't you stop following me." They go to a bench for crossfire, the wohian handling Italian dialect for some results. She tells him she's a countess. He proposes. The gags are well handled, but it is when they come to a double song the act shows its real strength. Both have excellent voices which blend well. More vocalizing should be done. The man attempts a "fly" deliv- ery. He lacks animation but has a fairly smooth delivery, although the material is anemic in Spots. The girl besides her great appearance should develop Into quite a char i ter woman. The turn should work out iptoja standard act from all ap- ponrnntes, • i j ton. GOODEE MONTGOMERY snd Co. (3) Singing, Dancing, Pianos 16 Mins.; One snd Full (Special Set) 58th St. (V-P) Goodee Montgomery is a niece of Dave Montgomery (Montgomery and Stone). She now heads her own act in which she is assisted by three boys. One remains at the piano. Another sings and dances and the third sings and goes to the second instrument for a duet and another number. Miss Montgomery has Inherited much of her famous Uncle's ankle facility. She is a tap dancer par excellence, but not so forte when attempting a black bottom. She and her partner turned in a corking double comedy eccentric prior to the black bottom attempt. The third young chap sings accept- ably and is an excellent musician. The one who sticks to the box is also there on the lingering. The act is nicely produced, a good looking cylorama dressing the stage. Goodee changes to boy's attire for the finish. She also plays a uke and banjo in two other doubles and triples, and all in all turns in an unusually versatile contribution. Goodee and her boys should find no trouble going along In vaudeville and if not, the picture houses will be pleased to greet them. Con. EDDIE HEFF and Co. (4) Comedy Sketch 16 Mins.: One and Full (Special) American (V-P) Eddie Heff has taken the much picked on "lemon bit" and made an attempt to build an act around it. But the "lemon bit" remains the meat of his turn. Opening in "one before a special drop of the battery, he sings an in- troductory for his next scene, a court room set in "three." Dummy jury and judge on the scenery. Heff announces he will plead his own case as the prosecuting wit- ness has won all his jack and he can't afford a mouth piece. They cut back to "one" for the "lemon bit," using a table with a basket under it, similar to that used by- Steppe and O'Neal in burlesque and by several other acts since in musical comedy and vaudeville. All of Steppe's tricks are In and a close study of his method is evi- dent in the routining of the comedy scene. The bit is sure fire for the pop houses but this combination doesn't begin to get the laughs Steppe gleans with the same bit. For a finish they black out and back to the cour room for a four- people syncopated "Charleston" recitation a la Herman Timberg. A blonde girl is included in the quartet and one member attempts comedy, landing fairly well. The act makes them laugh which is all that can be expected. With the "lemon bit" out, it's mashed potatoes. It was built to be peddled at a price and should peddle easily unless they see Steppe first. Con. STANLEY and WALTERS Talk, Songs, Dancnig, Piano 16 Mins.; One American (V-P) Another- one of those "memory" combos. Boy and girl—the latter a sweet looking dish holding plenty. The lad is a "fly" comic with a perfect average of released gags and comedy business. They even pull in the old "sleep walking" gag from burlesque where the girl in- forms him she walks in her sleep, following a bell, especially a dinner hell. Why he muffed giving each one of the musicians a bell Is a mystery. As it the bit doesn't get much and as long as it's going to stay in, why not hoke It up good. With all that the pair are clever and could do a real vaudeville act if they would dig up an author. The girl is a looker, sings well and dances okay. She looked fetching in two changes. For a finish the boy plays piano and clarionet as accompaniment for her Charleston. Yes, he imitates a "player piano" on the box. The smacked 'cm No. 4 on this bill. Con. SHURON DE VRIES REVUE (8) Song snd Dane's 17 Mins.; Three, One 81st St. (V-P) Miss DeVrles, heading this bal- lerina revuette, is a song and toe danca. specialist. She has a femi- nine sextet of toe steppers in sup- port. Eighth member is Frank Bacon, roller skate eccentric dancer who contributes a solo and assists in the flnale as Miss DeVrles* dance partner. It's a nice enough dance act with its chief shortcoming the sameness of the toe dancing. Various set pieces vary the back- ground. Titles of the different mu- sical and other numbers are em- blazoned in tinsel on cardboards, illumined only by the calcium light, which shows up the novelty letter- ing. These and other touches are niceties to brighten the proceedings, otherwise of an even t.nor. The act shapes up as a quiet class flash for the intermediates with a good dance alteo in the filmies. Abel. WALLACE snd MAY Songs and Talk 7 Mins.; One 5th Ave. (V-P) This pair formerly did the old Davis and Darnell act, "Birdseed." The current act may not be new, but W'allace and May are not listed in Variety New Act files since the "Birdseed" incident. As caught at the 5th Avenue the turn is very much of an ad lib af- fair, the boy clowning his way through with not too much assist- ance from his feminine partner. Being a glib youngster he should land, if he procured himself some smart material. A couple of thread- bare gags now in use do him no good at all. One of these goes as far back as the "you may have a dirty look " thing and even tho kids scorn that one these days. Plentiful kidding at the piano, the boy laying all over it, besides taking to a miniature banjo and violin for a versatility display. That he had to immediately follow an- other instrumental act was hardly his fault, but is just another ink- ling of the straights the K-A book- ers are in for material. The girl has a comely appearance as has the boy. Looks like a ques- tion of material for them. Tho present foundation sprinkled with brighter patter should take them into any of the vaude houses. Bkia, "FAMILY ALBUM (5) Song and Dance Revue 15 Mins.; Three (Special) Lincoln Sq. (V-P). One of those small time flash acts palpably the creation of some s. t. agent or producer who decided it was due for him to number an act of this sort on his books, just like the music publisher decides ho should have a "mother" ballad in his catalog. It's an ineffectual flash, the revue idea hinging about the title. The songstress promises to introduce her family tree, and thereafter her antecedents are presented as Rus- sian 'hock" dancers, French Apache hoofers with the man pos- sessed of a deadly purpose to wreck his female partner's shoulder blades, "collegiate" steppers, and others. Three men and two women. Malo dance team the best. Other man and one of the women are a dancing pair and the remaining fenime does a "kid" number in which she pro- fesses to regret her petite stature, although her physical proportions contradict the allegation. Flash for the smallies. Abel. RECORD and CAVERLY Piano and Songs 12 Mins.: One American (V-P) Man and woman in a cycle of single and double songs mostly of (he semi* classical. The girl handles the piano and they are going to get off the doubles. Vocalizes in the doubles. She also contributes a comedy solo starting at thr box and Concluding with the orchestra, The man has the voice of the pair. The doubles harmon- ising just about passes. Man's solo gnt most from the discriminating. Art is a fair early spotteu for thr small tlmo bills. ' -1 con. '■ REILLY and DORAN Talk and Songs 15 Mins.; One 58th St. (V-P) Ted Mo'illy, former producer of night club floor shows, and Sally Doran, attractive blonde, comprise this new combination. With ma- terial at hahd the team is set for its present status, but needs con- siderable punching up and finish before making a better grade. Keilly opens with a waiting song introductory, building up an en- trance for his partner. The latter Cpmes on and outguesses him in flirtation repartee. The chill recep- tion gradually wanes, and the boy and girls warm up for a tropical duet. A subsequent melodramatic travesty concludes the contribution, with the girl inquiring as to how .vith Heilly indulging in a supposed chat with George M. Cohan, who had advised to always leave them laughing when you say goodbye^ Kellly springs a new gag on Peaches" and they sneak out. The finish is the weak point, letting th* act drop. The team sovely needs a ' < l(Cdirtlih»ttf bn'pfrge 15)