Variety (May 1927)

W§dnesd^a^,„May.ll, 1927 REVIEWS VARIETY 27 Attendance Monday nigrht not c& pacity in orchoatrn, and with only 4t few Btandinfi. Siwe, RIVERSIDE (dt. Vau«i> Old-fashioned vaudeville linoup. a novelty at the liivcrsido cmisidfiitiK tlie iiUiuerou3 lieadlincrs recruited Crom radio and ulde shows, con- fronted the patrons this week. Al- most ev«*y act on the bill was warmly received. , PrankJyn Baur, billed as the '•popular" recording artist and radio ••star/* two-apotted to li^llt rt'turns. About the only one on the bill not ft vaudevillian. r.aiir has a lair voice, pool' judKmcnt in sulccling Dumhers and a falsetto that should ^ made more use of. Bill Robinson, who entered rather Inauspiciously, made 'em sit up and howl for more and more before he through with his dancing. A number of spots on the sched- ule were changed. Ned Wayburn's "Buda of 1D27" closed the lirst half instead of closing the bill« as should have been. The "Buds" could have done Just aa well there. Al K. Hall was the one who suf- fered, shot Into closingr from the comfortable niche of fini.slun;; the first half. Al made food, though, keepinpr them there until quite late. Franklyn Ard<'ll failed to show, and Frank Sinclair and Co. doubled Into a mediocre reception. Jerome and Circy. wlio followed, really turned on the laughing gas, and the mob made merry thereafter. Ethel Davis opened the seeond half with chatter, including a ])honey cough and the usual '%ife strike.' Got over to heavy applause. Dextrous Trio, acrobatic bicy- clists, opened. Attendance still off. 81 ST ST. (VAUDE-PICT.) ^_No vai^de name to consider a box- dlnce draw. Probably "Casey at the Bat" (Par.) was expected to pull 'em in. The vatide section, six-act affair, seemed to run unusually fast, duo perhaps to the brevity of several of Hhe turns. Business was nothing to brag about, but the show, of a quiet na- ture, proved highly pleasing. Bee '.lung opened. Her fir.st few tra- pexe swings failed to elicit a hand \bttt the audience took more kindly to her eventually. ^Francis, Ross and Du Ross have m' rather disjointed turn wherein they hoko thin^^a up, reel off a little music and feaiure eccentric diuicing with some acrobatic steps thrown in. Barring the slow start the act closed nicely. Marion Mur- ray, who has been In vaude sketches for some time, appeared to be re- membered as she got a hand on her entrance. Miss Murray jazzes up the present day Knglish and keeps Up a verbal temp that has some good laughs. Miss Murray works hard and fast. She's been in vaude long enough to know her lessons. Kathleen Mullen Is the only femi- nine support and she dresses the daughter plenty. Two men add their mite although the act is Murray all the way. Peter lliggins (New Acts) bowed "Off at the finish by .saying he was eff for a flood benefit. Nelson B. ClifTord and Marie Marion found a spot just ripe for a comedy and ripped tli.v sliow to pieces. Miss Marion is developing intq one of the leading comediennes in vaude jis wo ve coino to know it. This girl {•ears watching. Closing wore ^orothy Kamdln and Co. (New Acts) splendid a(^t of its kind. Mark, STATE (Vaude-Pcts) Biz good Monday, sailor^? turnins: ©ut ff.Mioronsly for the pu- flicker, fi^K*?; ^^^'i"y" (Oix), and a crood life? f ^"t had 'em yell- mg. that linal bout. No que.slion "■Dout It being the real thing, and if irl •'"abl^ Jack Renault and Dix are^friends off s( reen it's a secret wmre the camera. Herbert Clifton, female Im person- M-I:-./'' ^'^^ toi.lin.r. with Billy iM^ orchestra sub-head- tlifton has been over there EIL^H'*.^ * •^"'3 his clown ''riday. who makes tho.se an- no,,noon,,.nis. features r decided cockney dinlect that is a m i (lor of ones ta.stes. That also goes for the \ "^-^'^ entJ'rtainment. He m /f^/" M".''se. hut .strained too n M for circct. Its a peculiar ^'that mo.m all dame impMrN.,.',tor.s overdo b .^^o pro- fundo atTortations ev<.r and anon to r- ir^"^ ""^^'-ulinity. lU.L ' "^'"^^ ^'•f' Hrim- stnS .^napped lliroiiuii tin ir • •' |Vin 1.1 minutes ft)r the how-riff. "1'^'^,"' f..ir»i.-.]v the c.infdv .aMriMt-s;ix;,,,i|,„,,v,( \inc.'nl I.o- mzs ,.!,;.,n;,i orch»-.slra and also • '^•r I.,oj),.-//.s l.nsiness? ns>:oeinfes. anrt for the ' i'in-^fon-" "a _LLjiLi^ii»n-Kh<'*«:i—hoidovtirr warrant generous bookings In the three-a-ady. The elevation and tho "class" will come with smoothing out. The numbers are well chosen, although the koslu-r version of "aO.UOO.OOO Frenchmen" sounds like a special version writer in Dwir- l)f»i*n, Mich., and not in .Slv,piio- r.ernstrin's song factory wrote it. Tliat .sort of comedy is questionable. Hubert Dyer and Co., comedy flying-ring acL teed off the show laughingly. >rincy Decker, follow- ing, was a cute personality who probably has had some revue or production experience. She's a ciite trick and is ;?re,it on the rag nnn;- bei*8. The ballad cylindtMs nu.ss. but the sob song is pernilsslble, con- sidering that it lead.s into the fal- .setto spteialty that ultimately ".sells" the number. Faber and Melntyre. nut comic and straight gal, work conven- tional routine, l^'^ber would heighten his effect by a.s.similat ing repose aJid ease up on his effort.s. Gilbert and Avery Revue Is a fast dance act of seven—live male. The stars' adagio routine is remarkable, as is the woman's toe work. Add. HIPPODROME (VAUDC^PICTS.) The Hip's "symplionie" pit or- chestra is doing an "inturinetivc" overture this week with military effects. On top of an orj^an s(do wit,li slides it ajnio.st seemed like the corner of Broadway and 43d inste.id of in the .shadow of Si.xth avenue's pillared tramway. Jule.s Lenzberg, conducting the orchestra in the i)ereussion orgy, and l''r(Hler- ick Kin.sley, handling the console, both bowed as if they felt they waicn't in the riprht theatre. They are still plyaing vaudeville at the Hip. The outstanding inij)its.-;ion de- rived Irom the five acts was Ned Wayburn's happy faculty for song and dance cntort* inm^ nt. Aft<M' that the thought carried away is tmit^ Seed and Austin need a new routine and need it badly. Paul Remos, with his half-sized and quarter>sized assistants, took lirst crack at the jury and won their case hands down. Smart dumb act. Bard and Avon (New Acts), mixed team of straight sint;ers belonging almost anywhere except at the iiip, clocked nine minutes. The lady re- ceived roses, but instead of handing tliem up over the footlights an usher suddenly stuck himself out of the tormentor and jammed them in- to her arms. The perfect Hippo- drome touch. Ray Ruling's trained soal. Char- lie, was on 16 minutes. All due re- spect to the act's clean-cut enter- tainment qualities and value, but that's too much time for an animal turn. The imagination is a little staggered at the amount of time and paience it must have required to bring Charlie up to be an actor. The obituary on Seed and Austin needs only the remark that they died nghiing and with their boots on. Ned Wayburn's Promenaders closed with a load of class. It's a pipe this act will be around these parts most of the summer with numerous repeats likely. The prin- cipals rate mention. They Include Blanche and Elliott, ada^'io per- formers and wows; John Byam, neat juvenile: Bemice Ackorman, statu«\s(jne prima donna; and Shir- lev Uichards, cute. The film feature was "The Claw" (U). The main floor held capacity. STH AVE Tro "m tlir- I, ,,,,.7^ routin- s. .'ind ox- FlrM,?l ^J'atlon.M while with fH. .. It accounts for tlio iMM.d y rivalry hotween tho two and tt-ri u '^r Any niie.stions over ^1 J' lrnihon hnn built or.' .r.i/i- Plisl. ' T ■ ^■•''•-^'••'tv. .1) I .0- .in- ••••s fu> pnrp.se woll enough to (Vaude Rett) The panic must be on aplmty In the I'roctor neighborhood houses in neral. if not in particular. Tlie fnet is that mimito men are being dispatched to address tho au- diences on alleged quality of com- iiii,' attractions in tho hope of Isct'p- ing them inieiested and holding patronage. A new stunt, even for vandr-ville, this feeble b:ill\hoo. One apueare d on the .stage of this house fPiWIiy^^lght delivering a more or less impassioned plea for continued patroijage. His argument was based tipdn coming feature plc- tur(>s rather than vaU'lcviile. wliich may mean that vaude can't bring them into the Proctor houses or some of the (>th(^r K-A circuit nei^'hborhoods. Tiie ballyhoo fell upon desert air. The slim house was the answer. The show for the fir.st half, how- ever, holds much good entertain- ment and ])lenty of l:nit4lis. Cf)m- 'dv is thore in abnndnnee and well spotted. Frank .Shields, opener, plant<^d Imol'tIis in a mild way, rbnt- tering between his rouie of Kl'jbe- balanclng. ropim? and ladder stuff. The combination K<)t J"i n^k over for bott<'r returns than .an average oprtier. .Marie Silva, dramatic t''n;>r, fojlow^'l v. lib a sori'-: r' p'-r- toiro also well liked (New Acts). Sully and Honirhton. on next, rojtp'Ml tbf s(mw st"ij)))fi' rot'-h tlo'if dt li-:litfnl tab musi< al, "Arms and the f;irl." .Sully reci-ntly hopped out of 'The lianibUrs" to for PRESENTATIONS ''CIRCUS DAYS* Dane* Ensemble 12 Mins.; Full Stage Capitol, New York Colorful spoctacle starred in straight dance production without musical embellishment, i^tage rep- resents A circus marquee in '"one" at the opening, with ballyhoo by clown (John Triesault) and parade of chorus girls into tent, represent- ing oavab ade of borsi'i^. with red- coated property men and other at- taches in attendance. Drop rises^ to disclose tent in- terior. Yama Y.ama girl dance by Cajutol ballet, solo dance by Roland (luerard and Joyce Coles, and then ring maneuvers of Chester Hole girls, bare-legged and plumed like performing hordes, in brisk and in- spiring ensemble number repre- sentinflT liberty drill with unison stepping of great precision. Tliis is done to tho air of "llorst-s-l lorses" and furnislies the kick of the pres- entation. Before the circus display and sep- arated from it by the news re«'l, was a pretty setting for William Kobyn's tenor solo, "Under the Moon." Stairs lead from right to left to pedestal done in black and silver. Stage draped In midnight blue and lighted by futuristic blijie moons. Tenor, dressed as a plerrot, stands upon pedestral strumming guitar and sing.s. while girl;< ap- pear from door in pedestal for ap- propriate maneuvers, ending with the score or so choryphees grouped on double stairways. rietures(iuo setting for attractive number, both pictorially and mu- sically. Rush. **JAZZ BABiea*' <SS) Paul Ash, Band, Specialties 60 Mint.; Full (ThrM Stage*) Oriental, Chicago More entertainment packed Into thd 60 minutes of presentation than in the two hours of any vaude show- in town. Also no curtain waits, as in the latter, and no flops. If they don't aell themselves, Paul Ash endorses and they're sold. Can't miss that way and it's a break besides. If the staging,' production and general layout department of "Jazz Babies" has been beaten around town, this reporter la not aware. EfTect gained by th« triple stage and usual gorgooua trimminga was tremendous. Specialties were performed on the stage proper, the band on a mov- able full-length elevation and the flash finale on a stage 10 feet above the first sUge and 15 above th© or- cheatra floor. A manner of freak- ing and flashing an ordinary blow off number, heretofore used, only in revue production. If theatregoers can se« a pro- duction for 35, 60 and 7.^ cents tliey won't stay away. If they can sec both production and corresponding tfllent for that price they'll come In faster. \nd 35-60-76 against %i.40 tickles the palate. With the Oriental's staging sur- rounding, the acts looked like a million bunks apiece and better by far than they would anywhere else. For instance, Ilomay Bailey wowed and took an encore after two pops. Ilomay is nice looking, lin=? an un- usually sweet and ploa.sing voice and has served with intermediate success in local cabarets this season. Ilomay i.s a Jiice entertainer but no riot, especially in a jticturo house. Paul Ash introduced her as one of his ••discoveries." That set the audlcnro in a better receptive mood than would the classiest talent in the world. If Ilomay sticks to the Oriental, she's great for picture houses. If she moves it had better be into a safe. If any act ticcomplUihed all on Its own. It was Lubin, I«owery and .\ndr<*e. nia>,Ufacd r<»iMic and dancir. Lowery; straight, Lubin. and the girl, looker and toe dancer, omprise the tutn. It wa.s sun' tire earlier in the season in \'audo, was here and would bo anywhere. Lubin's hard shoe work topping off (omedy actually pulled tho audiiMice out of its ciiairs. They stiH)d up and .applauded in the bal- cony. Foot atUff went double for an eiu ore and the fellow w.is i\)ri ed to a speech. Applause continuing, Asli put up his „hunil like a traille cop and that was that. ^ I'illi«> Qerber's two numbers and i-iicore \V(M"e also ai-. oi>!«Ml t!ie j^ilrn on thtir own mirils. Miss cierber has been doing her boy Impersona- tion this many years. She retain.*; tJiat zip and culeness. On stai.;e, Hillio IS a bitter boy than a girl. She is a lit type for her work. Off. iJillio's okay as i.s. I'illoii Obcr. lo;ine<l to Ash by Den J>ernie, who is lioio witii his band on the Congress hotel date, put o\er a fast one with his com- edy xyli.pbone bit. ()l>er does a nance, .^^kiiiping over the bones in that manner. A wow when they know wh;it he's doing and a lauuh anyway. Jl«> e.jrned his iharacter right throuKh to the speech and ceuld have come back to do an- other or more. How he is on straight x\lo was not di-monstrated The eight Abbott <'«lrls, perma- nent "ballet," provided the show's lone .^lovv spot. The girls aro w<dl versed in routine work, a ( redit to themselves, but show nothing now in group dancing, which speaks not so woll for their trainer. If the numbers were not lifted bodily from revues seen this season, they are near enough to be over •sug- gestive. Girls garbed beautifully, as were the rest of the outlit, in accordance with the Paul Ash policy. T mu.^'iv i ix\ .ifter Ktiwleii out by Walked olT in analh«'r soured. I he le;vd©r, rh y disgust. Fln.^ly flili fin'^ for vau'l''\i!i<^' 717171 !71 It fbn ( MUpl.^ ha\e onn of tho rla«»si<»st olT- ! iMi.'y of it'* kind . in \'aud''\'ili'' '.^ully ( irjio.s tho burd*'n, both on comody nnd d in' lnt,'. Mls.«< Ttouch- ton is • 1. :: ro inIhrou'-hout m«i thp bi unt f f tlo' wi.^e-ernckin^ ead^ t'K drolloris .'^ind is In two duet num- l».-r- with birn. I> >bi-it l'i(I:ie, -iK-o iitin b'tfit, louads »>ut tho suiiport and handles the as.signment of the wouM-be hard-boiled army major (Mpably. .*^'ully tied thf-ni in knots with a getaway acrobatic a.id left them wanting more. (Uor^re Wliitin;^ and .^arlie Hurt were cbn.srt runiK-rs-up, on next, .•icorlng easily with their song-say- i;i(-rs. I'riiquo df livery coiints fur- tlif-r than singing voice in thfir plantings, whit'h never mis.s. The with j ui'dding song wa5? a panic lor < nn- edy, as was the IVh xi< .in bit. 'J'wo ballrids, s.nndwlched bctwef-n, al.so rcvi'.'e I h'dpod. At tb<- wir'l if) 11 <■ 1 w mliln ' t tct tht^m fioit mtM V Vb i;-■ "A FANTASY OF INDIA*f (M> Stags Band Presentation 60 Mins.; Full Stage (Special) Granada, Chicago P>erne Grossman slnTring "SJi.ill- mar" before a mosque l)alcony drop, with muted band accompaniment provides the flrst, last and only connection of this show with its title. I'^ull stage set is the standard presentation equipment of the house. Musicians ara coatomed in flashy red, gold and blacik bellboy uniforms. Kaley walks on fast, nods a greeting and right into the first band number, "Following You Around." The eight-girl chorus, called the Tommy Atkins Girls, step in front of Uli MAd f6r the encore. Next Is Dot Sarche, Introduced by Kaley, who sings one numbei and dances a black bottom fisr one chorus which takes her off. Not much voice, })ut good enough to get over jazz and the gal can step with the best of them. Comedy dancing team, Williams and Ross, followed. Very good for laughs and tlieir clown stepping ability is nothing to be sniffed at. Two encores. Pell and Coats, harmony singing team, hoys, pull their own piano on and oflC. Their speed as piano movers is a feature of th« turn. Harmony pleasing, but neither has much vocal i>ower. Knough per- sonality to overcome this and win plenty of applatise. Carolyn TiAltue is a semi-classic, s<*mi-nu<l<> dan- f in!? number, on after Hell ;ind Coats, likf^wise won applause and deserved it ^Yank McC-onnvllIe, doing nut comedy talking and d.in- fing, wa.s flip liit oT the «*vonirn_j. Tliree encoi cs failed to t*atlsfy everybody. ]|\aley, hilled as the singing dl- rerlor, warmed up his pleasing baritone with "It All Depends on You." "Shalimar" again with th« whole com|)any for the finale. Two band number.s. "All I Want Is You" and ' Tigar iiag," balanced the acts and brought out the choristers during the show. Kaley has a great stage appearance and should soon work into solid p<ipularity at the Granada. .Stas'o shows as good as this one will help. Loop, KirM;..!- w.iii loft wi'h only a b\^i* drumm. r to lead, and then with no ono at all. ■The girl chorus was then led by Kos 1 a i;.M,oi il toe artist. After A .v.»l,> i)y Kosa, Kreugor in'ro- du. "d lUrtr.in and Saxton. Tii4 boys hit HoHdly. but only allowed • Tie oiicore. u hat remained to bo dt'Ut^ to pa';i'' thotll u ^^? tblv fur- iiisbfd ill iho iw\l nunii>tr b>' Joo Bennett, eccentric danoer. Mist Hobble Tremaine, in a Sohg-andW d'lnee nMitib'-r, 1':i.«d tlio i>\ The Trado Tvmii.s. dancers, w. iit to three encores bel«)re Uio hiiow con- tinued. Mfss TtehiSlhe"*(iv ieooiid number waji a 'hot** H dance with the chorus. Collins nnd Hart, with their par- rot trick and nut acrobatics, fur« nishod tho niN'ded comedy, furtheP' enhanced In the closing number hv Mazetti and I^'wis, mixed comedy dance team. The entire troupe as- sembled anMiiid^LiiML bftiM fdr- a flnale. A great show, made rather lomr because the crowd insisted on en- core», 140(9^ ''EGYPT" (18) Pubiix Presentation . 18 Mins.; Full Stage Chicago, Chicago Tliis unit if at \ho Paiamoun'. New Vork« was not covered in. Va- riety, ft should have beeA, CiH* U is one of the be.st yet 'dAY^IlMd tO' troopo ttio pi(Mure house circuit. Two full stage sets, brack* ted by an "in one," 18 people, goigeoiiu^ cobtuming and .some eS04p|kHlf|i:t.! dancing and .singing. It waiJI ddlia with finesse at the Chicago. ^ ^ o > Opening in full stage, haring ail .Vgyptlan'jginM'^OOa an expla- nation to a woman tourist, with tho balance of the company grouped to form a I^htroah's walli At th* song's concliuUon, the posing fig- ures do the usual ba( k to life to go into some intricate formation and specialty Work. V^ur i(M tfftfm* peters play in front of li triitfiit dl^» to allow for set change. Of the 18 players, four are prin- ctpal.<<, dancing and isltiglflg divided; four trumpet players and a chorus of 10, all capable with surroundings very beautiful and coinish-looking, as i« the |Nr«MfliUtioa «M Oif wl^e. Boris Mro» li eradt^ ^Itli staciB«, •-VIENNA LIFE," (21), 16 llllltii.rF«ll tlifiii' Paramount, N. Y. Costume presentataion of the Dresden era that includes ttie MiMQuarria hmrp ^nmmhtm M Strings accompanied Kllen Dono- van's singing to open while a ballot of eight girls did a quadrille. Pretty, but without |Nmch« The change of pace was Ambroise Thoma.s vocalizing "The Drum Ma- jor," from "Lie Caid," plus thre* stnAire drummers at the sld# a# th* stag*?. This led into a dance f>y Harold Lander that failed to cirry any particular weight The flnale wm 'The Blue Danube,** with everyT)ody on st.'i.^e and deroraflng tho rr-ntial Ftairway as well aS forming the finishing "picture.". No hig^lighl but wall eoatumi^ sightly and won approirmt. i944* HOUSES CLOSING Kagle, 16th ave.; WlLson, IJdo, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Verona, 2d avo. and lOTth strsaC, "New York. Thi.«f w('« k mark:< the fin.Tl bill of vaiide at tbp T>)if)ife, ,San Antonio, Tex., a I'ublix house which has booked Loe<r-^<|tta thit iMttft thrftft months. It is ,Vili)brted the hous.» will r(;tui n to "grind" and that li. K. C<>rsdoif, manager, has sent in liia resignation. ing bowed nttt with a spe«»f h. ."^haw .irnl r.o© followod .ind did themselves proud. ' The l.»oya ulmj contributed some additional clown- ing in the folh>w-up urxl I »b' r, Allyn Mann and (^o., song and danoe rovue f .\'f'W Af is). "Tho Hrutf " (VV. n.) V' «^ f'i ' screen feature^ LdUiU ^'BENNIE'a BIRTHDAY" (40) Stage Band 60 Mins.: Full t Special) Uptown, Chicago IJermie Kr^u^. r and liN band finlslied their first year at the Up- town in wb.tt mi^ht l>e e.al!«'d a bla/o of .,'lory. A rrood <!' il r»f the . Klory wa.'i furiii.'^hf'd by tbnt rrn< k I I'ublix "Stone Age Kollies" unit. I Charles Irwin, acting as sort of a n'is»er of ( f^r • nionie?«, started fhe sh'»w oiT. A.4 lu' oxit^'d th'» riirt'iiri.^ paru^l, r-'V ilifig (be> band on dif- ferent levels b*'ffire a *<ky-lin*» drop to give a roof-garden effeot. Kreu- ger »rinO'inri..| ^ rl pssic Toirnh' r. and as Iho i>and weal into it 'ino Irene West, of the former ff^nm of l',am«s and West, hae r*H< ntly returned from the Orient, bringing with her two pitKeges, Alda Kawa* kaml. .T ipanose flancer. from .Shaii^cbai, ;ind S.im Kua, Hawaiiafi guitarist, from Honolulu. (Jeorgt* Barnes, Miss West's former,^ part* ner, di< <! in Honolulu soma niontlis ago of tuberculosis. Ahother shift in v?icee«t4ves of I'nify Vaudeville I!x«hani:«». th* second since ortrifiizing a I'-vV jnonths ago ocf 'jrred la.st w^nMc. wlien S'. W. Stephens resigned 1 •* vif o-presid< nl and tts.sistant book- ing mniiagop. CaH Randall and j* ggy .. Corn !( bavo b<en .signed by Albert 1 *'"n-\i!!.> (.1 I.]., n ,tt tho v.'!ub Km- b i.-^y. I.'>nd'»n, ,J i.nf» 1 Lsri^ Lawrence hid l»-".*n ;«ddeil t. ') • biifT of .Sa(n r.illow, Loew