Variety (Jul 1927)

W#diiMday, Juljr 20, 1927 NEW ACTS THIS WEEK VARIETY 2t CHANEY and FOX (2) Dane* Rt>vue 14 Mint.; Full Stag* (Orapet) •Uto (V-P). , Thro<» young men and a dancing ^rl offer a particularly a^^eeable flatih turn. It has th« usual silken •0>tttng», pretentious costumtng and gaudy lip:htin^. but it also has a vaHtly more valuable asset In the honest dancing ability and youthful pep of two extraordinary steppers. The billing does not make clear Who the boy danorp Is, but ho has an individual (ttyle In eccentric Stepping tiiat should oftrr|^ htm far. He's a nice looking, long-loffgod youth and specializes In grotes<!ue knee-twisting bits that are entirely his own. He does two solos. The iMTt Is billed as Maria Chaney and jMward Fox, as.sktted by Al Nor- IBAB and Lynn Burns. One of the three boys Is the pianist and the other is the girl's partner In adagio and ballroom st<^pg. The girl gets a new twist into adagio steps. For the finale she app ears In ballroom costume and with her partner does a series of apropos whirlwind dances, mixing In adagio bits of a highly epectacu*' lar sort, made Mpecially effective since she wears a full skirt. She also is a finished dancer In several other departments, doing a good Jockey bit on her toes and executing neat legmania and Span- ish steps, the last the least im- portant. Nice looking* shapely girl and costumed in best taste. Act would make a splendid feat- ure for a floor show and the boy •oeentrlc dancer would be a riot aBjriirhore, JCatk. IRVING GROSSMAN Tenor 11 Mins.; One Audubon (V-P) lo the Audubon lohhy w>*te caivl-* announcing that Milion ii. iiurriii presented Irving Grossman, roman- tic tenor in semi-classical and topical songs. Harris is tiie pub- llci«t for the Fox circuit of vaude houses. Grossman is a New York- er who has been doing his main vocalizing In the Jewisli lious» s. It is suid tliat is where Milt ilarrib saw him and decided he was of vaude timber. He is altlumgh. his present layout of numbers looks too palpably "song house" framing. Grossman has a voice* It is of very high ranpro. more operatic perhaps than anything else. That he has studied was evidenced by his "Pagliacca" number. Grossman used peveml toploal ballads, all leaders by one music firm, but on one pulled a real Rua- siau version that added to the score he made. He was assisted at the piano by Alfred Ellis. Accord- ing to report Grossman is said to have made records for Columbia. Grossman's voire will fit any house. It's strong, fresh and vi- brant, with plenty of man power behind It and it is melodious. Grossman should stick around vaude and picture houses for some time to come. Jfarlh HENRY BERGMAN and Yerkes' Bellhops (6) • Soogs and Music 19 Mint.; Three (Orspes) /Xudubon (V-P) First tlie musicifina, dressed as bellhops in lurid outfits of black and yellow, appear in "one" with a song Introductory and then shift to bigger space where their instru- ments are placed. Henry Bergman saunters on with cane and tho summoriJ^h otitflt with someone wliisperlng, "He's going to do a Harry Richraan.** Correct. So Closely does Mr. Bergman strive for it that he ^announces one of his numbers as hM Impression of Harry Richman. The Terkes six has a drummer, cornetist, pianist, banjolst and two saxes, one of the saxo boys acting as director. The banjo player also switches to IMS. In addition to the accompaniment for the Dorgman songg the band also has its own inning. Not a bad outfit. • Bergman was in good voice and his routine ploa.sed the uptown audience immensely. iBergman wa.s not feased that *'Me and My Shadow" had been done by an act ahead, and tackled It anyway. There must have been a rea.son aa the man ahead sang it in a delight- ful tenor ^-oice of real melody. For the houses where it is be- ing graded this Bergman-Yerkes combo Will suffice nicely. It could also g ain t ' sc ognitlon in the pic- ture lioiisos. The band hus several of tlie boys attempt one number vocally but their forte is muMic. Topical num- bers fouAd the biggest favor. BURT LOWE and Orchestra Statler Hotel, Boston Biirt Lowe rates highly in Bos- ton for his brand of music and sample of it at dinner session at the new Hotel Statler is a sufficient convincer. Lowe has a pleasing style of class syncopation that Is rhythmic to the core and can wax discreetly "dirty" to satiate the most ravenous appetitia .^. tor- rid dansapation. As a result, the new hotel grill gets a great play from the sophisti- cated local youths in addition to the usuat tiransient and cosmo- politan audiences one generally en- counters in any tStatler hostelry. Lowe is also a heavy radio fa- vorite, broTlcasting direct from the grill, making his own announce- ments. He has 1^ men. . LORD and WELLS (2) : Connedy 15 Mins.; One and Two Hippodrome (V-P) Pair of nut comics registering on business and mugging. Delivery rapid all the way through. Fake magician racket played from a new angle and finish with a (larry Lauder bagpipe imitation. Laughs are plaiM|ful liai «<lre- flre, evidently plannid go that no- body can miss .thofn» ;]rinish<^ well In third. ■. ■ ' " BCHRENS and MLLE. FIfl Comedy Talk and Pisno 12 Mins.; One State (V-P). X4ght comedy number consisting Mostly of talk, varied by Behrens' piano playing. Man does Hebe ^aracter with faint dialect, while girl does the effervescent French soubret Btyle. Comedy Is pretty mild, built on the situation of a susceptible music teacher charmed by flirtatlbus girl pupil to glvo her a music lesson for nothing. ^-JWithout ou t s t a n di ng aong or dance incidentals, and depending on mild dialog of no great punch, people work hard—rather too hard at times—and turn serves for early spot in average company on aver- age time of intermediate grade. PAUL BRAUCHARO Troupe (4) Contortionistic Acrobats 6 Mins.; Full stage Anteriean Roof (V-P) - Two men ana two women. Agile at hand-walking, cartwheeling, front-overs and familiar stuff. No highlights. Act needs to bo dressed and staged. Particularly the younger and smaller woman should bo ar- nii^^id more So-so. (2) SHERMAN and McEVEY Comedy 12 Mins.; One American Roof (V-P) 1'' I ing ooni' dy te^tm that got ao ps no aneoptaMy i— Man dnoi pnn tonii?iie tlir(.ui;Iioiit. deriving' langhs; tlirouiih duii.l) play with girl. Stuff fairly bright barrin-r the over-don-' rod necktie ;L,.ig. Ctiri cUte, nlc looking and mi fr'>'ipe. Tliis p.iii ni ylit biul<l a niucli better turn through better dove- tailing and routining, Hut an okay man and woman act as iA. MARGARET and JEAN Songs a«td Instrumantlll 12 Mins.; One Hippodrome (V-P) A couple of girls who ought to make the grade on the small time with more poll.sh and specializing on tho instruments. One plays a baby harmonic* and sings; the other on a flute. Finished to fair returns here. Solo efforts slowed up proceedings slightly. Okay in the deuce spot NEW ACTS Lew Welch, with Moe Lnrkey. also from legit, heading five-people c omedy. Ddra F6rd Is &ll«libllng a 16- peoplo song .and dance ensemble. * FabIes of 1927," vauduvili© revue produced by Oeorge Choos. In- cludes Gomes and Winona. Ched Freel'OupnA, Verna ShaflC, Frank Guild. Dancing Rockets. GautchI and Phelps, dance team, with La Champina Marimba Band- Six Trackcrja. k.s: riifford Gomez, Tn.Mh Ilammid, Ar(hi«! Ware, Hor- ence Perham, Raymond Thomas, Han y Ir<)ti.H. Trtlbert and Fislier, two men, re- TThiteJ. , VICTORIA PAUVCE London,. July 6. The all-Amerl< in bill at the \ ic- toria i^ulaco tins week Is a disup- l>oIntment. Certainly it is not a repi es* utative American program. Ja< k I layman, tho booking man- ager. Is not to blame, nor are tlie acts on the program. Indlvl<lual]y. the majority of them are good, but they do not blend. Ilavman was difuippolnted by the failure of Puster West, "Doctor" liockwell, Val and Kinio Stanum and llandtrj and Milli: ^ to rut in an appearance. Tiien he w.uitod Lester Allen to at t as master oi cerernoTiit M, but at the eleventh hour Allen had an attractive offer to open in Paris. Pert Hanlon was re lul'^'tioned to do the announcing and for the opening performance was so frightened that his presen- tation weakened. Laurie and Riiyne opened, a mixed team of acrobatic ballroom dancers, who have played In Amer- ica, but are In reality Australians, and who were called upon to depu- tize for Tommy Manahan. a loose dancer. Tommy arrived without a labor permit, and told the landing officials he came over on a honey- moon. When he applied to the home ofTlcie for his permit, he was told to keep on honeymooning. Then came Wright and MaHon. a man and wdman in cross-talk, who have also appeared in America, but arc in reality East-enders. The man depends principally for his comedy on breaking his straw hat, a la Jack Rose, handling the woman vulgarly, accompanied by occasionally sug- gestive jokes. They got away nicely. At this juncture Bert Hanlon made his first appearance. He briefly announced Val Harris and Vera Qrlffln, In another cross-fire skit, the man giving a close copy of Al Lydeli's character of the old civil war veteran with young Ideas. The character Is practically un- known here, the only other old rube characterlsatton of recent years be- ing Charles Althoff, who has not been here for a number of years, and prior to that, Chttrle* Withers. Harris and Criffln were on a little too long and the audience wtis be- ginning to get restive. Jlanlon then announced Venlta Gould, who promptly injected "class" into the program awd her impcrsonntons put her over to a very healthy hit, that will make her very much In demand in thl.s cniintry. When she employs more Impersonations that the audh'nces are familiar with in this cotintry. she will be still more valuable. She "did"' Sophie Tucker, Van Hoven, Ted Lewis, then gave a scene from "Lulu Belle," assisted by an actor, which got ove»- on its merits. Probably her most popular one was an imitation of Ella Shields as "Burlington Bertie." She should not have followed this up with Tal- lulah Pankh<-ad In tho "Garden of Eden," with which variety audi- ences are not familiar. Her best impersonation was Florence Mills. For an encore she gave Daphne Pol- lard, excellent. Kimberly and Page, opening after intermission, are popular here, hav- ing played the past four summers in this country. Kimberly took no cliances and went out from the first to score. Helen Pago looked pret- tier than ever, and the team worked so well together that they can re- sort to all kinds of ad-liblng. It si>ealis volumes for Nan Hal- porin's artistry that she was able to open unheralded and unknown here. Sho opens with an Intricate lyrical announcement which held the audience interested and left tlieni expectant. She was handi- capped by having to pantomime musical cues to the leader. Her first r.utnJ or was her Inimitable naughty kjd. followed by Catherine of Rus- sia and tlie girl in bridal gown, vi-liich made the women gasp. Bert Hanlon was next to clo.slng with his "olive" recitation, but did not g. t all out of It that he ordi- narily does, due to his nervousness. Harvard Wj'nifred and Bruce, a man and two women act on the flying rings, were a suitable clos- ing tttm. /Ola. through tl»e harmoni/mg of the in.do support, Pnsa Low, concert star. <^qual4y go'xl With operatic unci ji-'i* s.>Mf.,-<. Hi'llajui and p.nry. niixf.l .iitiu'- ing i<';ui>., r.m away with i'.iul Ti.-cti's act. I>anrin;: -i'l'- .>ho\v stopp.'rs. Their c^p.tn.>li :.i;iul>cr m i waltz wcr»» sent «>\cr for Kcin.'^. I rank Fay. who h:id intt riuitt^'Ul- 1\ uimouncod some ot tho nis re- served for liitnself and •ii l r,icei\. auled by a mixed t«>an\ \^iio t lown- e«l a bit and went Into a black- bottom. Frank was on to« ^ tlu'uugliout when unnouivcing and in tho act. '^^■■:-''"'B4^ HIPPODROME (Vauds-Pcts) Wlu»ever fixed this we«>k'4» pro- gram lor tho Hip sure i.s some fixer. Four grade acts such as the house liasn't seen in months \Nitlj the two others of higlier standard tlian the next to closing of many a preceding week. In any other house Bo^anny's comedy acrobats would have raiaeU the lid. The arenaed boxini; match between the two midgets is a sJiow in itself. I»at Hennlng finally got to them in next to closing. Tiio boy is a wonder. To get an encore out of the frozen-faced bunch who seem- ingly gather for the express purpose ot seeing acts flop an act has to be great. Hennlng peddles the finest, high, high grade, first cl.'iss A soft shoe dancing and buck and winging (hat ever hit this house since it switched from the big time. In addition he plays several instruments, tella the customers funny stories and makea '< m laugh, gets laughs on acrobatics and hands thehi the knockout drops In a HuSfllan black tottont Mr the clincher. Yet this boy. with all his ability and versatility, talks of doing an imitation of l*at llooney for one offering. They made him come back—twlco. Pon/.ini's Monkeys, In closing, can take any spot on tho average bill and fit. The monks go tlirou^li a regular acrobatic and trapeze rou- tine while three are accomplished rnu.Hlcians, Tlie monk with tlx' violin lias been trained to arguo with tho tminer for laugha Left them happy. C»)unteHR Sonia, fl.ash «l,inri!ii; and singing revue, preced«il 1 lean ing Malp songsters fair, doing best in tho comic opera pr4'.s<>nt.'ilion The female tonsil-gai gler actcsl as a dowser for a couple of minutes. Al- though possessed of p.iMsablo ability the f^irl chose a dilllcult and nervo- wr.'u king number. * Margaret and Jean (New Acts), two-spotted. I.fOrd and Weils (New Acts), foilowod wtUi comedy affor- ings. •The Great Mall Robbery," F. B O. film feature, held up the scrt en presentation of the program nicely. PALACE (ST. VAUDE) Somebody called the Palaca the ace house of K-A circuit For Broadway prices it should give a show. Because Charl ey Tuttle who really pullo»l tle^ show otit 'I'lio.s- tiid mitrj?'-< f - •• I Iv 1>. tW- li:iv\'-, l>iil by that Inue h sl it- ity well . xliaiisl* »I their i»OMsile.;,..'V Due of the ^ih^w's f«af ur.-^ M >n« vi.iv niuht wns ;i i-t?ii i ;■ - i M v ^ ..in» plete screen record by int-Mn itifiial News reel of tho s imo day • eere* nionies of welcome tti i "ti .nai.dor Byrd iintl his gallant Atlantic tl>«'ra First rate shots from the air of the l.evi.ithaj'. coining np the b:iv vs.,t- roumbMl with wt lconiing cralt and a eomjdete record of the reoeptioa U (*!' H iM w ' ! •» ^ri -'. rvd at th* early I'Vfning ^h.>w. Tho loaturo was adeiiuaiely hill*>d in front of tha houso an.I jMnl' ibly a.-.-toini cd t'or ."Cine 01 the good-sl/ed crow.l in loT tht» show on a sweltering night. .\n upro ii ions F it Iie-u'hai ley (.'iia.so comeily with pitMil.v «>t pr« ay KirJ.s an«l .i startling: display of l»>krs, ind the feature. "The- World at Her I cet." Paramount release with Flor- enee Vidor, Completed the screen portion. Film show stronger thaa the vaudeville. RumK STATE Arthur SmJth, who has beeapk'jy- iru,' in pi' turo hou.-e.<. routed out oC <;i.i.ai;o. Intends to h av.' for- Bor- deaux. Iranre. tlie iit:»r part of th# we'^k. where he op<^n»i n« m »s- ter of (er. rnonlfs at the l^ilais d Or j for an ind' finite e?.^ i..i« 'nen!. didn't notice the Paiaco la tha tieaet giaft investigation Ig ll<^ glight to vaudeville. Names conspicuous by absence this week. Cnrr Brithcra and Betty opened with fast gymnastlca by the boVs and Petty lending personality and vivaclousness. The act went over far better than usual opener. Harry and Dennis Dufor followed with a song nnd danee routine whleh clicked. Wally Sharpie.*?, with a company '-f .'■•ix nlro refreshing as- s.'t t') tlie comedy dlvl«?h)n, resort- hii? to bMriesotte black*outs but grahblntr 1 iurh«t. Hilly and KIsa N'ewcll were alPO v.iliiahle Hdjurnts to tiie comedy divhir.n Their sriapf»y r^pwrtr" ♦;on f^'lTlel^s and clowning, all wi " J <>'. IT bit*. Ninry rnbbs, from muslrnl fr»i>.-.|. yi \ T t.ahlol*! oporft!.!. i"[>'-\T- I'ttl'- T'.ebeV It was Wfll i lit ct at.'J g r. ov-.-r priP'ip ii;; (Vaude-Picts) A combination of old-stylo vaude- \llle and new style Hash puf.s a good linish on a rattier duU small- time bin at the State. Th« Mm^dy, of course, is supplied by tho old- timers, in this case iiaymopd and Caverly in their ••Diitch*^ sidewalk conversation thrit ha.s done servi^'e for decades. The routine in brushod up for present uses, but it employs all the familiar d< vl( es of twisted dialect speech and blundering mis- understanding that never fall. Chaney and F'ox, daiu e rr vne with four people (New Acts) makes a sightly and lively period. These two were noxt to <'losing and clos- ir'.f?, the earlier «'i)lsr)(|eM of tho even- ing having boon rather jpiift. No- body's special fault. It was Just one of those bills that didn't Jdl. ll<»ri and Co. open.. Novelty to start in an elaborate Japaneso em- b!»(fldered drop In black and gold. At curtnin girl is doing a t<»o dan<;e on a raised platform llko a podestal, except that It is supported by two J.apnnese pedal jug^jrlers lying on risley mats and holding tho plat- form on their feet. They go .into the usual pedal feats and for a linish one of tho jugglers supports on his feet a high perch with a bicycle upon which the mounter rides In upside-down position, pedalling with his hands. Five Ifarmonlac.^, cowboy quin- tet, are an agreeable freak act. They furnish lively jass with banjo; gui- tars and two harmonlc.\H, working in all sorts of bizarre sound effects w ith f r ick d ev ic e s, such as p e w t e r spoons for castanets, handsaws made to vibrate with bass viol bow.s, pouring funnel.^ omployeri ]|ke trum- pets, etc. Cheerful lot of young men who work energetically and create friendly relations. Saxton and Farrcll are still using their "Klopement" sketrh, a n- atly devisofi hit of talk. Tliey liavo been using it now five years or more and they haven't "fattened" it ui» a ;> u - tielo. Ah sketches go It i.'i a /luo enough act, but sketches, cv n when they're well done, don't t'<, .so f ir. Tho Wf.man *-if t)i,. » • ■ , ' t , nrrrwor K for pornt?? on hr-r trwn. where the matcrfal callM for smooti* f'-<ding. i;< iin>ns and Mile. Fin (Suw A' i' > r .'-riother exahipl" of |)ns-hinT )u'm! talk rnaterlMl t ,,, f,,r. In y-j)ftt they \\(rf> rath' I ri 1. ♦ It was Ttayrn"?!'! afid <' i\ to elo ing riTld fo]|<: i ft 'i h I'J !.< . n ,hOt AMERICAN ROOF. (Vsude-Pctt) The magic tliat Is vaudeville! 9 Up on the roof, amid clouds of to* bacco smoke and the monotoned purring of electric fans, it still weaves Its dainty spell. Through open exits come tiic faint noises of .street tratlic and the piercing whines of emergency horns. Some- where, wails a siren, there is a drunk lying In a gutter—or a lire snuifintr out tenement Uvea—or tan- gled bodies caught in the wreck^^ge of overturned automobiles. But vaudeville. Its ears deadened by lusty music, its senses lulled by to- bacco fum»>s, does not notice. Come ltul>in and Malone, two lit- tle girls, with something to show. They are pretty. One Is a blonde, the other a brunette. Which, they ask of tho audience, do men prefer —blonde or brunette? They will ea- hibit their wares and ilnd out. The brunetto sings a song—a bal* \Mi Hot voice is not excellent, but her endf.'ivor is sincere, and she Is rewarded with whiMtlett and shouts. Soniewhere from way up in the right portion of (ho Kalhry cornea an cntiiusiaslic noise made by plac- ing tho tongue between the lips and blowing heartily: hut it Is over- lo(>ked. Tiio l^loiulo api>ears. She is hoavUy clothed and she starts a dance. So<jn .sh'> removes some of tho clothes and does a different dance. Agnin. And again. 81ie ig very liuhlly clothod now, and there aro exi laIllations of delight. Tlia (Igure of a godde.ss! She bn^aks into a hot <lanee, and the figure th.at was of a K«>diless siiivers and gyrates itself into stark reality. There are shrill whistles of approval that al- most split tiie eardi urns. Tit^e are yplls of encouragement. . • ".Shake that Uiing!" Then tho d.aneing Is completed and there is a little song to be sung. Hut the customers don't want it an4 they protest. "Go back into your dance!*^ "Como on, baby—shake I" 8he won't shake. She's throogll with that. Hhe wants to sing. The big bums—why don't they let her sing? Ma^'fe' Later there are Robertson and .Segal. Robertson Rings and Segal I)lavs i)P»no. It Is Very hot and the boys aro wearing tuxedus with stiff conars. As Segal i)layn he nweata, and the customers titke nc»le. "Tdke off your c«»llar!" a vo|oa suggests. Maybe a plant. Voii ran't kid .^ei^.il. He loosens his collar and finishes the act with It Jutting out from his neck as fbout^h he wer(» stewed. The riis- tomers roar appreciation. When Segal comefl hnek for a bow his coat and vest rite off Wln-n lo^ takes his last bow his shirt tails are hanging out and his suspenders ar(^ hang- ing down to Ills kn<'es In dejorted loops. There is a howl of deligiit. More magic. Shlmmery, subtla magic. These two were the wow acta The otliers-^sdme of them wer« (rood, but they couldn't weave .tha spell. There was the Dalllot Troupe^ three girls and a man. Tho girls tossed heavy weights about. One performed oh a bar with a weight .supported In her teeth. Anoth«*r whirled a wardrobe trunk about in the same manner. But It wasn't magic. It was simply entertainment produced after yeara of arduoua pmrt l ce and w i Jeavo r . Clay Croueh and Company—Har- ris and Vaughan—Alice Morley—• Raymond Barrett and Company^ Montambo and Nap—all old timers and on this bill. They did well, but they weren't wows. The reason It sIm tde. They aren't up on tlujlr 192T vaudeville. The new nmglc that is v.i uileville. It's easy to weav»« the flpell. Take r.ut votir shirt tall.s. Show 'em what VfoTvo rrot. H'.w )v. .^fr Ibik. .NO. un i , r.evf h !! iii,.it 1 I . J, ( Eddie Sidlivsn, after leaving ' f ; M '•' ♦ jrnc I to St. T.oei.^. Tt : , , !1 '' 't ho was twiro r'''|u<>sti'd hv v < f.> withdraw his r« ««'.;n.-\- • 1)0 n i r»4-»< w*9 general manager fnr \T' t*!.; bl!^ ■ • HnlMv if - mI'' 'I ]\vu^ in SL Louis, her h I 'I ' • »< I •