Variety (Feb 1928)

Wednesday, February 22, 1928 NEW ACTS VARIETY 31 CTHEU CLAYTON with IAN KEITH-MYLES McCARTHY "Clipped" (Comedy) 19 Min«.;. Three (Parlor) Piverside (St. V.) Ethel eiayton, Ian Keith and Mvlea McCarthy from pictures Siared. the biUing. with Miss Clay- ton's name strongly displayed. Alda Woolcott doing a maid bit com- pletes the cast. The playlet is by Tacie May Hanna and labeled a Vone-act dramatic gem," a mis- nomer. It la neither dramatic nor a gem, but farce comedy with little of the drama, to iti: . \ i Miss Gla,yton and Koith are cast as a married pair, each on a long night out, and ieach guilty of pos- sible compUcatlbus from subsequent notoriety or newspaper publiaity. The household newspaper with a cllppe* space showliig, leads each . to believe the other is hep. With tvplcal stage : Tnlsunderstandlng, each supposes that it is the account of the other's escapade. The ob- vious - that It concerns -something else—in this case Myles McCarthy afl Uncle Horace reads a booze re- cipe—never occurs to players in sit uations of this kind. As far as this frame-up is con- cerned, it won't add much to their stock when it's all said and done This week, the Riverside; ne"xt week or week after, the palace,, and then what? •Vo-do-de-o-vodvll. GAYNOR and BYRON Skating 9 Mins.; Full State (V-P) For a simple opening turn by two men, this skating specialty has a world 6f merit; Stage Is draped In sombre-colored hangings. Centre is occupied by a circular platform two feet, from floor and about 18 feet across, covered and fringed In black and gold. Only lighting comes from strong iapots directly overhead which throw lights exactly the circle Of the platform. Two men dressed in Russian cos- tume Of white and black silk and boots are In the nilddle of a swing when curtain' rises. They don't waste a second. . Dizzy spins on the toes, whirling of one by the other, the flyer being in all sorts of acro- batic poses during the flights (once he was swinging around doubled into a back bend). Fpr the finish they announce the feat of the flyer being whirled about, sustained only by one foot tucked in behind the other's neck. Good sight turn, brisk, brief and full of excellent acrobatic display on the rollers. , Rush. Ahel. PAVID ROBINOFF Violinist One Capitol (Pets) New Yor^k. In the production end of the pic- ture theatre bavld Rublnoff is known as a sure show stopper This has been his record since starting as a guest conductor and soloist at Ixjew's Allen, Cleveland, two or three years ago. and he re- peated in the dual capacity at the State, St. Louis, Of late Mr, Rublnoff, with his vio- lin, aeenis to be of more value as a travelihg attraction and as a soloist only. There never h.is been any question of his violin. He knows technique and everything that goes with the strings, but because he knows his public equally as well, is why Rublnoff can stop any plc- PAULlNE GASKIN Dancer . One, Capitol (Pets) New.York. ^ Pauline Gaskih is a nice little kicking dancer, with some pretty side-up kicks. But she is tackling quite a job. trying to make It alone in the big houses^ unless given more attention by the house producer than she received at the Capitol Sunday. „ Brought out .before the band, Miss Gaskin would have done much bet- ter on the platform behind it, and she also could have been aided by lighting. — Filling in fairly for the early po- sition, still the girl was entitled to thei attention all picture house acts requiring it should receive.- BURNS and KISSEN Songs. One Capitol (Pets) New York Burns and Klssen; standard vaude turn for fjeveral years, in the picture houses are doing their two-talk and song act, with the talk merely Inci- dental'.as introduction to the songs.' In the latter is a'lrevival and it's a pipe for picture audiences. It's •the straight : (Joe Burns) singing a verse or chorus of a song, and the comedian (Murray Kissen) doing a parody. Two necessities for a turn of this character are that the parodied lyrics, be bright and understaridable. arid that the par- odies be on current pop song hits. Kissen has poyered both very well: They could have remained iri- deflnitely on the Capitol's stage Sunday aftemoon. In getting oyer parody points, however, there must be a perform- er behind themi. For the benefit of the copy acts, it may be stated that when in vaudeville some years ago, this style of turn, started by Herb Ashley, was somewhat overdone. "The copyists not only killed them- selves, but also the others. Burns arid Kissen in this revival shoul4 be left alone and protected to that extent by the picture house bookers. It will be a faital error if the film act bookers try to do as the Keith-Albee bookers did; book and stand for copy acts because tr-e lifters were cheaper. That smoth- ered vaude so completely it made it possible for plcturis houses to play vaud turns with big results. Unless the picture house Intention Is to bring the yaude houses back, they had better protect all of their novelty turns, and in that classlfl- cation now enter Burns and Kissen. whether revival or not. Previously and after quite a spell as a' two-act, singing as now. but along different lines, Burns and Kls RAE SAMUELS Songs '' 10 Mins.; Full «>tage Chicago (Pets), Chicago Ratf; Sa.muels made her first pic- ture house appearance -at the Chi- cago, headllrlrig a stage band unit and knocking 'em wide-eyed in her favorite city. She's a class name for picture houses... Appearing last of the acts with the Jules Buffano stage bnnd. Miss Samuels brought out her own girl pianist and did five special or new- light ditties in 10 minutes. All numbers had a strong element of comedy and went oyer big .with the racy Samuels delivery.' Chicago Isn't accustomed to the wise type of delivery! showing a distinct dislike for the patronizing eastefrn inanrier w-tiich iisually accompanies, . but they ate it tip as presented by this warbler, who is a strong local fad.. Miss. Samuels is .playing three weeks in. picutre houses—Chicago, Tlvoli and Uptown. . But that bill- ing! Arid that salary! It's bound to educate, (10) (6) MILDRED CREWE GIRLS Dance Revue 14 Mins.; F»l\ State (VP) Principal dancer doing mostly Icgiiiania and Russian routines, sur- rounded with half dozen girls, one an acrobatic contortionist-stepper, two harmonizing singers and the rest vcoryphees for ensembles and filling in with specialty material, . Act runs to-the art. flash in cos- tuming starting and finishing with "THE AMERICAN GIRL" Revue . 24 Mins.; One and Full (Special) 81st St! (V-P). I No inkling as u> who produced.' I Carries, the ' sub-l>illiM(j:,. '.'an aei-o- nautloaL fantasy," but us rolation- .ship to tho subject or thomc of aviation is neprligil)Kv being eon- fine^ to a fow bad gfip.« by thi' juve- nile and. soubrotto while flying in "two." Straight.'iway d.T,nco. revue with vocalizing and talic purely in- ■ ciderital. Dressed and mounted well and with hlghTStepplng talent lihe act. should prosper on Its merits. Joan Page, arid Billy Tnft work together and^ individually. The Slate Brothers, pevor separate. Six chorines constitute the backgrrpund. • Miss Page (Joes toe work,, also other kinds, and sings, for neat im^ pre.ssion. Taft is every inch the juvenile. AVith a ^ little more sub- stance and plus his acrobatic dancing, tills lad would be a bet for musical comedy. The Slate Bros; are crack precision steppers arid big league material. Act has speed as Is and with ragged edges fixed up-Wlir make a. neat number. . Land. LEDOVA and Co. (6) l Oaneesi and Music 19 Mins.; Full Stage (Special) I Coliseum (V-P) Ledova is not a newcomer to vaudeville but is a clever danseuse land each year' brings a new act. Her present turn appears about the [most promising she has ye|t pre- rting and Anj^hljlf^'^liMgented, LedoVa standing out In het* girls all In elaborate crinoline | ^a^„ci„g. dresses of a musical comedy class. Some neat ensenfible numbers are shown, such as artists' easel with girls' heiads showing through, and the dressing of the principal is rich I and elaborate,.a,lthougli shie does not .stand out sensationally as a dancer. girt, with DENIS CHABpt Songs and Music 117 Mins.; One Broadway (V-P) Combination does no.t belie its ovei-.seas billing, the boy being from Belgium and the Girl from I France: Latter is Nonette Tortini, Jiist a pretty, young _ along amerejit Miico, --v-i charm and grace, surrounded by a sen did the Avon Comedy Four skits,J ^^^j^^^.^j^^^ group of asssitants. with Kissen. the Hebe comic ana ^^^^^ four of the girls go Burns the straight. , into a Tiller unison routine, with At present they open with a chink ' number ("Mandarin") slightly mak- ing up by turning^ their heads, ^but thereafter and in straight attire, with dialect by neither, doing the straight and parody thing. They have been in the picture house for .some time and ai-e favorably regard- ture stage performance ■ That he did at the Capitol, Sun- French mannerisms, day afternoon, before an early and Act is mainly Chabot, who fiddles light attendance. They liked him expertly and.plays a piano skm£uii> • from the orchestra to the rear of He clowns most of the way, yanks the balcony, and this de£5pite he the piano around after the fasriion Played the instrument in front of of Herb Williams, and also does a ^ ' - . 'few of the keyboard: didoes that Jimmy Carr.has featured for years. When it comes to the .straight mu- sic, Chabot knows his instruments. Chabot is new, the routine isn't, for picture stages.. a mighty good stage band. ADELPHI TRVO Siniging* Dancing 12 Mins.; Full (Spec) 6th Ave. (V-R) Two men and a girl working full Stage, with one of the men at the t)lano throughout. Act embraces song, dance and some instrumental contributions, the quality of the offerings varies from fair to mid- x>ruiiu«ci, dllng, the act leaving that sort of ^q^q^ jt okay, impression. The girl's toe work is I okay, but her vocalizing is hardly passable. One of the. men also sins against the high notes. The act Is open to Improvement. It should be given- "that" and speeded up morel As presently ar- ranged and geared it wlU not get anywhere. JOHN BOWERS'and MARGUER- ITE De L4 MOTTE (5) "Dear Doctor" .(Comedy) 120 Mins.; Full (Special) ^ Orpheum, Los Angeles (St. Y.) This screen couple, married In LcqI Hf«» venture out In vaudeville Chabot is new, the 7"«ne„isn% real "fe^ v^^^^ ^^^^^^ but he found the going to his liking Paireci^n a ^ incidental. In this at the Broadway. Their comedy-by-J of ^^^^o^^ perpetrated In some ways to felicit snickers. . . John Bowers has done quite a pii of screen playing as a. leadingjnan play will find a. response in most of the house here. Tortini hasn't mucn of a voice, but uses it to help Cha- bot work up his comedy stuff. Broadway audience Monday night Mark, (19) THE DALES (4) Mate Quartette 13 Mins.; One ^8l8t- St.-(V.P) _ . _ _._ Not a strong turn. One man at plana throughout with other three off and on. AH wear tuxes. Pub- lished numbers used entirely with one Effort to work up a number with business a flop so far as realizing on laughs.. Piano player soloes with a ^'Vod-dei-o-db riurinber; own concep- ] tloh and good "but not getting across here> Appears as if someone "staged" the act. That may account for the finish when; four singers are sud FESS WILLIAMS and BAND Stage Band 58 Mins.; Full (Special) Regal, Chicago. f« Pess Williams was brought . to Chicago from New York to open the new Lubllner & Trlnz Regal thea- tre, a house of colored personnel and patronage. It was a fortunate booking, for Williams as a stage band leader and master of cere- monies rates high. band of 18 col- To the naked eye and ear he Is something else again. Appears too flustered arid not altogether sure of himself in spots where it counts. Marguerite De Ia Motte is visibly charming and has a stage edge oh her hubby. Her diction Is audibly precise and she handles some of the more emotional pass- ages witiiout overdoing. Theme, credited to Howard Em- mett Rogers, won't startle tot origi- nality. It has the Doc playing monkey business around his office Instead of doctoring. His better half is wise to what's going on and schemes to straighten things out Miss Crewe working In the centre. Faultlessly done and sure fire for getaway, iapplause. , 2lu*7».- SAMMY WILLIAMS Organist 10 Mins.; Pit Regal, Chicago, Sammy .WHHams is a colored or- ganist, working in the neWly opened Regal theatre, which caters exclu-. slvcly to Chicago's heavy colored quota. He is a natural for the theatre. Opening week Williams worked with song- slides, comparing the old-time stuff to popular tunes. In his manipulation of the manuals and footboards he displayed a thor- ough knowledge of his instrument, especially in its adaptability to modern handling. His Jazz Is hot and cleancuti fumbled not a bit In its rhythm, and for this house that's a flyirig start. . ■ Williams later encouraged com- munity singing, but in too mild a manner to get sizable returns. It takes more than he gave to. awaken response In a house. individualistic style of dancing. She Is graceful, skillful and artis- tic and everything she does she does neatly and impresslonably. There is the musical background that the artiste has always carried and a quartette of male voices heard to good advantage. An effective phase of the new ofr ferlng Is the use of t*vo grand pianos, played by men. The pianos are also used in accompanying Ledova and the Idea as presented here shotjld prove just as attractive m picture houses. A good act, pleasing. In Its en- tirety and capable of hitting any of the picture houses for returns. Not great but supplied sufficient- ly with music and dancing enter- tainment to stand up. Iforfc.' cago, a crack pop outfit heavy on the "lowdown" versibhs. Williams is dispensing the. typfe of music relished by cplored patrons, dress- ing it up considerably, — Handling all announcements and Introductions himself, WilVia-ms shows a likeable persoriality, deliv- ering all stuff huniorously and working with the acts In some in- stances in an unobtrusively comic manner The Regal customers finish when- four singers are sua- ■ ^XlT^^^^niedlate liking for his denly and unsuccessfully converted ^^^^'''^ ... Into dancers. Much clapping of I styie. He is leading a urtv.— -- r- iscnemes w m.nwe."'-'^" - °- orM ifnisicians" assembled In^ Gni- J-^ hands for tempo and working it up falls to disguise the hoofing as faked. Act has .no body and limited use- fulness. Land, the aid of latter'H hubby and, as usual, ^ ^ Ann Sawyer, Rita lA Roy and Kenneth Gibson are In support. Average performance.. , . May get by In cities where these screen nanves niean anything. LO NGTO N, K EN NY and CO. (6) Dance Revue _ .. , 115 Mins.; One and Full (Special) Academy of Music (V-P). Names carded are evidently the 1 mixed dancing team, who have MOONLIGHT FANTASY (7) Revue. 14 Mins.; Three American Roof (V-P) Recommends itself as a suitable offering In the early part of the program because of brevity arid .smooth, swift action. Four of the seven people are mixed vocalists, singing in costume and _doing^ ''Vj.th. classical In- terpretations". A" pair .of" iiobfersV with acrobatic and eccentric num- bers, also plesised. Seventh member, Georg:e Steben- escb, gists over with a wind instru- ment described as similar to the i Pipes of Pan, sfet of hollow wooden tubes. On account of appearance, Stebenesco affects a tramp version of Robin Hood makeup DARRELL and ROBINSON Songs and Talk 10 Mins.; One American (V'P) Familiar type of man- and woman comedy act. Gal with the thin shape who kids her slimness all the way and pulls usual gag about, falling down and ^belng half way home; man usually either a boob or col- legiate.; The woman works hard. Humor approaches the "blue." Some of the lines are pretty broad. The opening with, the woman do- ing the mother of the man dressed as a kid, the latter In accentuated get lip. A aiEimple of the chatter, the woman- says,. "Tour father was a railway iengirieer and you're the first wreck": and, "We don't hav6 to pull the shades down, we're married now." ■ A rough, hokey turn for the most part, the woman carrying the talk all the way. There Is a song or two, inconsequential. For broad-minded clientele Dar- Irell and Robinson fill the bill, but otherwise not so good. Mark. laughs. Closed to strong returns. Spotted fdurth In an eight-act bill here. Mori. LUCILLE BEN8TEAD Soprano 12 Mi ns .; One American (V-P7 j.. \* Lots of voice, plus diction and poise, makes Lucille Bensteod stand out as a straight high range singing single. She should get a-ny audience with the sustained quality of a rich, melodious voice. A popular ballad Is the nearest ^ .Miss Benstead comes to lightness. He drew but on showing at the American ap ELLIS and WEST (2) Comedy, dancing =^^M i ns. ;;=One^..===^^^^^.^i^..=^ American (V-P) Aside from the falls, which rouse- faint, spasmodic giggles, the only laugh is the line, "There's a black spot on your ncfk,"' and the final comeback. "Well, • it's moving." which is a gag used by TUirk and Bubbles. For the cllinux KlUs .I.m-s bur- lesque dance in fern attiro. TAvht. Mori. WILTON CRAWLEY Musician-Contortionist, i 8 Mins.; One, Majestic, Chicago (V-P). Crawley is a colored Ja'!''' cla,rin- I etist with contortion ability. Com- bination of the two makes a noyel I act, especially suited to pictiire mixea uauu.wa* . , SCOTT BROS, arid VERNON augmented themselves with a couple Comedy and Songs far as the present is concerned, there Is nb necqssity for change or modification of material. She cbnr eludes with a negro lament, rather long but effective nevertheless. Land' of dancing boys and another dancer doing an "old boy." The act clicks for a routine dancing flash and is lavishly mounted. ; i Mixed team's best effort te a waltz with adagio trimmings. The girl also does an acceptable toe roses With stage bands. In vaude-. dance that ^^^^^'^iJ^'^^'^T V at. appearing slated -- h«,..J tHhntod when the < nar for deuce spotling for Association time. Crawlry wns rated a good bet in Chicnpo picture houses. Ills cl.'in- not ti.otin.tr i.s hot. and si»'irm' a music-iJin with his foot turned one way and his chest the opposite la unique. Ho play.s without interrup- tion while. working regulation , "snake" twi.sls. Loop. tributod when the "name" members are chatiging. The other member l,rou(,'ht on in oponer as "Grandpa and iiiiuh' up to look the part un- lr-,'i.-<f^s ,'i K'gmnnla dance nVjaUy pliinti.il. A .song introductory prefaces th- (lanc'int; ntul a fast sfepplrig fin;ii" winds up. Went over for usvial. viilM.^' cloJilng this bUL Edba. 12 Mins.; One and Two (Special) American (V-P) Three men. Open in "one" with talk that leads them into "two," where a apeakea-sy provides some c'oniedy by-play that was not only Well worked up for a bunch of RATHBURN TRIO Saxophonists 10 Mins.; Full (Spec) American (V-P) Looks like two gcneration.s. of one wen worKea up .ur a uuuv.„ family with the oKHPVine, yetno^^ haiBh.s, but also ha(Lthe trio doing 'featured and plugged as a virtuoso . some liarbership. c.hox ds . .o n. swoe^ Adeline as stews might do It. Here sr-.voriil ."blt.s" arc employed that are WW, but are laughable,-.<-spr!'cla.lly, j plownlng of the tallest of the . 'i'io. . .■ i I'or the fliii.sh the mon go. into ' ri.ure (-Itise "narniony. This In fact .-•toiui'"! the show. They also used, i stringed instruments that helped; • \ ■ ■ ilarlf. TurFnSiyens^^ effect from luminous paint. Woman at\plano for boy's soloing. •, Other male member toots an over-size bass .sax, doin:? the conventional "Many I5rave IToart.s Are Asleep In tho. Deep." Men in white tuxes for .finish. N^ee act .ill tho way figuring It for the spot It held,. opi=ning., ■I'^i.Ttrf-