Variety (Jun 1928)

44 VARIETY VAUDEVILLE REVIEW Wecjnesday, June 13, 1988 PALACE , (St. Vaud) A Irio of strnnprerH, accompanied fry ii Ij.itul, socin to b(.> the his s>hot this wfck's bill. T?hey are pro- RTnnimod as. CIayton-Jackspii-Du- ranto. bill tlvore i.s no way of tcllinfi: which is ^vho.'. Th(» one with the prominent fechnozzle i.s probably . Oiayton, since lie is the moat con- spicuouK and. therefore, mo-st likely id named fir.st. He's ffood, to6. He mention.s -yariety In, a lyric, prob- ably, for protection;. And on a Keith staere, too! Thc.dai li-hiiired'.pnfe does a couple of dances, one'a; sand effect, which comi)rise.s the "talent" of the. tr^o. .The little' chunky fellow sihgs loudly throupli a. megaphbhe and has little trouble being heard without it. They gro in largely for comedy, and the comic mak«s several changes, espe- . cially. one wliere he slngS' "Jimmy, the Well Dressed Man," at which ( time he reveals a handsome rat-fur behhy. This outfit must have been well advertised in a^dvance or something, because they got a . warm reception and some of the customers, seemed to-know them. On their showing they 6ould be held; over without hurting busineisSi The screams vfei'e terrific and the hand-clapping grew as they went on, though they didn't do very rhuch except s6me singing and less, dancing. This threesome should click in a night club. They could take the band along, just as it is, and would be a novelty as against all the girl shows now prevalent in the coyer- charge joints. While hot Exactly humorous, they certainly are funny. And they would go even better to an audience, not ias sober as the Palace mob. That is only a sug- gestion, .since they do 6. k. In vaude-. . ville also. In. tact, next to closing, they had the '. hou-^ie goofy with laughing and applauding. A real riot. They are herewith authorized to use that line in an ad. "A real riot—Variety." . . . The rest of. the bill- was mainly William .Holbrook and Barbat-a Newberry. If there lives a peachier . Wonde than Barbara, she is put i-^lh the wide open-spaces; Athletic, .shapely, feminine and bristling with a. a., she danced with agility and "grace that had-the njob sitting for- ward. ' Bfolbrook is lio dunce at -Stepping himself, and the two make a powerful: and handsome ■ combo. Here Is a perfect two-act for the presentation houses, and can stand any amount of surrounding and building up because the . quality is there for a start. Carmella Ponselle, one of the operatic sisters of that surnathe, showing little except a grreat so- prano, voice shading tpward the mezzo, ran a routine, of semf-pop- ular classics and scored the con- ventional success .that goes with the type. Nothing- extvaordinary, but quite bearable. : Miss Ponselle might do well to take some vaude- ville lessons from performers who ■ follow the raclcet. She is too ly- ceum. Torino, with a blonde cutie as- sisting, opened the show with diffl- oult juggling, featuring his billiard cue nrianeuvers, and. getting oyer. The Dufor ]BPys, light songs and dances that didn't get far, deuced. Lee Tracy; who immortalized him- self as the. song and dance man In "Broadway!" assisted by Kobert Gle'«^kle^, murdered 13 precious min- utes with an awful sketch by John Dllson, called "The Decision," Tracy was out of character com- pletely, and did nothing but give a few answers; none important. The whole thing was based on a gag, two brothers arguing about ."Mary," who turned out to be a dog and not a gal. The finish flopped except for a giggle. Better things might have been anticipated from Tracy after what he accom- plished in the legit. Harry Holmes ran his familiar single, got laughs here and there and departed without protest. Prank and Towne opened the second- por tion to the usual comedy results. Then came the Parody Club trio, working next to closing in full stage for an unbroken continuity of roars and hands. They took their bow In "one" an^ the Agemos, closing, opi?ned there with the. white ladders. It then ,being 11:16,.closing the show to wallcouts. Lait. with their vocal fling the .stronge.it part. They did very well third. Iticliy Cralgr, Jr., fourth. He chats in a wisecracking way witli a few "Oli> to hell.witji it" lines-tlirown in. Jeanne Fuller Dancens clo.sed. 'Colorful hu-n that with tlie State stage more than adequate to per- niit their electrical elfect.s; lOntlre impre.ssion to. act'.^ ad.vantage. This a<>t, both with its Voutine of dance-^ and ,the two solos, of the pi'ima dbnna (Elsa Latig), should be just as effective In the picture houses. Mis^ I>ang*s voice is of high range, vibrant, and noticeably youthful. The dances, are prettily and skill- fully staged. A .splendid closer here. Mark. STATE , (Vaudfilm) On paper perhaps the .show didn't >, ,160k so good but in running dis- played unusUal strength for a six- act bill. On screen; "The ttarden of Eden" (U. A.), . Comedy wds more satisfactory than It has been at the State in several weeks with one act stopping the show cold, Morris and Camp- bell. They were next to clo.sing. Robbins Trio (New Acts) opened. . Flashy roller skating trio... Four -^aies=.seeondv=^traight-.slnginff-.tuun that : goes in fur a characteristic \>it with two men quarreling, effec- tive but ordinary. There arcv three men in the turn wlio go in for close harmony and dp pretty well W-ith topical stuff. The piano man has an . fnning alone, using a uke. Niclt and Gladys Vtn-g.a are using some.crossfire that i.s pretty ancient. ACADEMY (Vaudfilm) The scene is a gentlemen's louogie. TheWell dressed chai)pie entei's, se- lects a seat, is about to unfold the New York "Times" when who should toddle in biit his old college chum. They decide to do a few hand-balancing stunts. It develops that they-are Hack and Mack, ex- ponents of elegant equilibrism. • After that- come tvvo rliiore hatty guys, Bud and Buddie (New Acts) whose shiny hair arid bad voices quickly spot theiri as hoofers. Third is Paul Tisen, his orchestra, and Burhes and Stolces. man and wonian ballroom team: For a finale the dancers whoop It up for Uncle Sam and the navy. In the whirling it is discovered that, the lady is w'earlrig patriotic bloomers of red and white urider a star-spangled skirt. Finally, fourth, comes, the bill's first comiedy, Clayton and Newmath, the sarhe act, syllable for syllable, that Clayton formerly.: did with, the late Francis Lerinie;' "I^he cliocoiafe, sundae routine has aged badly as humor. It will have, to be riEfpTaced or brightened ,up considerably befoVe many, more seasons. Newman is better than okay. It's the material, A short 10 minutes and a scant two bows. •" , - . Walter Walters and Co., an old routine with a new drop. The drop is tropical. Walters wears, a helmet to carry, out the motif and packs a h61sl6r and pistol for reasons too obscure for off-hand guessing. An- other example of senile gags. Up to this point the show has failed to work Up, one half , of-one per cent, of anything:. An imitation Warihg'-s Pennsylvanians called the Raccoon- ers iis pon-combustible, also, and runs into a gale of yawns before finally finishing. Dorothy Bergere, the original "Nell Brihkiey Girl," is in the turn and gives a nice account- ing of herself. The orchestra is very i?o6r with blaring brasses and: Un- rhythmic saxes. By the time Collins and Peterson hove into view with their energetic hokum the audience was acutely de- pressed. , They responded to treat- ment,, however. The boys squeezed a lot of laughs and ratied the spot. Closing, Post's California Buds (New Acts) was an odd jiimble of cheap tab and suggestions of real class, "Thief in the Night" (Fox) on screen.- Away below the Academy average for, the past Season. Bill is a flopo and not calculated to help hold or build trade for the summer. Land. AMERICAN ROOF (Vaudfilm) First half opera is a slipshod af- fair, accelerating only in its get- away lap. ■ Opening half of show, holding the.topliner, Mildred Andre and Co., a violin quintet of feinmes and a male pair of hoofers, was a frost. Second half, with Russell and Hayes, Brown and Birmingham (New Acts), Joyner and Foster, and Al Gordon's Dogs closing, was a faster sequence and could have lent one of its components to bolster the front part. Brown and Birmingham" and Joyrier and Foster both mopped. The latter colored team, under cork, in- troduces a new augmentation in a lilcfly pair of juv ,bu.ck-and,-wlngers, pulling the familiar applause com- petition Idea. The lank and gaunt Joyner is in on appearance alone, the stockier visrl-vis verbally anni- hilating his partner on the poly- syllabic slanguage.. Russell and Hayes, reopening after the exter^ded intermission now that the weather gives the conces- sionaire a break, pulled one of those phoney song openings.- going into difficult hand-to-hand acrobatics in business clothes. Almost every trick is a feature flash" but done with such ease. it almost handicaps, although the customers were prone to extend recognition fiilsomely. Fir.st half closed with Mildred .\ndre Co;, the act probably holding some production not disclo.sed on the Roof performance. . Number leader in, the quint(>t fiddle ensembles seemed overly chatty and confiden- tial with the house niaestro and off- set h(>r inipres.sion. Rl.-Ue hoofers are interval fillers' and sustained their, burden effcctivelv for the grade. Tli.e girls feature abbreviated -lire till'-eloLli=c 0 stu mill g--fo ii-th e=fi naUi, several not being capal^le of stand- ing up undi'r the generous southern exposure. • '' lAmoros and .Tanet cli(>ked. Jack Birchl":V .and Hicks and JKart were one-two. ■ Gordon's Dogs clo.sed, "Aero.ss to .Singapore" (M-G) screen fenturo. Uiz good consider- ing the weather. , Abel. BROADWAY (Vaudfilm) Maybe it just happene<l so, or maybe it i.s a manifestation of a new booking influence In the Keith pfliee, but this bill was distinctly different from the Broadway theatre routine. Most con.spicuous was the prominence of women entertainers. From start to finish every single turn had something of feminine In- terest. For the rest the show had good comedy values and moved briskly. Overwhelming hit went to Dave Bernie and his orchestra. Bob Hall la still doing his rhymes, and who will , he report to now? If he ever pulls "Dear Mr. Kennedy". . J! Jordan and Grace (Newr. Acts) opened nicely with a novelty act. Roberts. Sisters, harmonizing turn (New Acts) No. 2. Two unknown quantities served as light hut pleas- ing enough introduction, Sol GPiild, with two women . assistants, had first go at the comedy, and broke the ice in worlcmanllke style. Gould does eccentric Dutch opposite Ama- zonian straight woman doing the nagging wife, with a second woman playing Spanish flirt. Domestic wrangle cross talk opens, based on wife's anger at flirtatious husband. He wise cracks, with girl. Amusing low comedy with all concerned in a singing, finalei with more laughing business. Femnies aire Florence Page and Harriet Harbaugh. Ann Garrison Co. (New Acts) should , bill the "Co.,'.' two boys who shoulder at least half the responsi- bility and do at least 50 per cent of; the effective work.: . This put Dave Bernie. No. 5, the precise Spot wliere he. could put his best fpbt forward. The jazzlsts and the monologing leader took 25 minute^ to deliver and they didn't oyerstay an instant. This even dozen of players strike a nice medium of ex- hilarating miisic and frolicsome comedy without ever going into tlie grotesque stuff or having- recourse to knockabout. Bernie himself Is a suave m. c, a genial presiding leader with a certain gracious bear^ ing, always at ease and creating ease in his a.udlence. Singing as well as instrumental talent In the organization of 11 men, not to speak of a . graceful, hlgfh . kicking girl dancer introduced at the finish. Aeri_al DeGroffs, man and wonian trapeze performers who have been playing ifor years, closed. Woman ls a strong asset, doing some striking acrobatic stu.ff. Couple make fine appearance in Immaculate white gym tights, woman being..a striking Amazon. Screen feature,', "A Thief In the Dark" (Fox). Z . Rush. FIFTH AVENUE (Vaudfilm) Just a routine five-act show, and nothing more for the first half. Slim attendance Monday nighty ; with house probably depending some- what for a draw* through a series, of "Discovery Nights" spotted Mon- days for summer. Just "oppOrtun-r ity night" recaptiohed and with the iisual six' contestants, this. time equally divided as to sex. Clarence Downey Co. opened with black art. It's trapped up for a spooky affair with the objects in white enamel against black back- ground Cavorting through the air and occasionally bringing laughter. Man and woman cbmpi:ise support, hut iiave little to do. Marie Vero, girl soprano, \yho has been clean- ing up with her varied song routine of operatics and ballads, continued the pace in the deuce here. So much so that she walked away with the show. * McCall, Keller Co., two men and girl, offered a likeable routine of foolery and songs with the girl handling comedy. Two laugh songs counted heavier than the lingo, which could stand tightening up and surer spotting. Ray and Har- rison, mixed team, were okay next to shut, but are not, sufficiently lieavy for the spot. Femme comic handles the brunt of the aet and works hard- A_he^ty_lass With a big "vdrce," wliile the paftTiiF i3^'"Of the sheik type. "Stepping Along," six people dance flash, closed the vaude section. Three girls and. man are the dancing contingent, tw:o other girls accompanying on piano and violin. None are given bill- ing,' but the girl solo dancer cops honors with a corking acrobatic. Other girls click also in their nurii- ber.s, especially in a triple adagio with the riian. .Diverting and has class. "If I Weire Single" (W. B.). film feature. - Edba. ROBERT SISTERS Song and Dance 11 Minsf.; One Broadway (V-P) Couple of cute kids, cuteness be- ing their big asset. Look strikingly alike, botii pretty and conveying a feeling of youth and animation. Harmonize agfoeably enough and finish with a neat, but not ifnpr.cs- •il ^G^iinLlQIL AO^ILCe^ tries to monologuo herself tlirougli" a change for her partner, succeed- ing indifferently. Anything else would be better to fill the gap. . Just a pair of charming' young- sters whose future is mostly before theiri. No. 2 and did no harm. Rush. ANN GARRISON and Co. (2) Song and Dance -■- 15 Mins.; Three and One Broadway (V*P) Neither the enunciator nor the out.side billing" gave a hint of the identity of the two boys who sup- port the soubret. Injustice and a mistake. *The boys tire very much present and VJ^^te notice. Turn opens with boy In a theatre box ofnpe booth, face send shoulders yi.sible thrpugh front. Booth Is twice as high as ordinary structure. Pony size Miss Garrison, ^in, and into conversation with boy, asking for pass to the shpw. During introductory talk boy pro- duces a dummy and there is trick ventriloquial bit, Says he can dance oh stilts and conies out, mak- ing a figure about 11 feet high.-Bit of ,comecly stepping w:hen he col- lapses, disclosing that he Is stand-: ing on shoulders of an enormously tall second boy, This young giant turns out to be the comedy asset. Big, awkward kid has the comedy gift in a nat- ural way. . Miss Garrison do^s a coy fragment of recitation modeled on the-idea ;of the late Tom Mc- NaUghton's "Three Trees," Tall boy does cbrnedy lariat manipulation witli amusing burlesque of Will Rogers and,,the trio go into a danc- ing finish,. All three can sing a little. The smaller boy is. a whale of an ec- qentric dancer , and Miss Gafrison does extremely well with several tap routines, besides being a charming talking soubret. ~ Here spotted .No. 4, did well. : JORDAN and GRACE Novelty 7 Mins.; Full Stage Broadway (V-P) An iriconsequential Idea, but made to apipear valuable beyond its real worth by fast working and sho^v- manly presentation; Man does jug- gling of drum major's baton and other- such objects, while, woman plays banjo and later piano-accor- ,dion. Opens in parlor setr wltli girl in snappy evening dress strumming banjo. Man on and.goes right to work, while girl is off -fpr ah Instant "to strip, to tights, returning to 'act as assistant. Man juggles musket, bird cage stand, etc. He is off wiiile girl in another sprightly costume change plays aqcordion and for fin- ish man balances heavy truck wheel on his head and jumps a rope, oh dark stage with costume and ap- paratus standing out in luminous paint. ■ ■ / 3* . { Away from r.outine;4)penei's where it serves nicely. ' ; : Rush. 3 BENNET BROS. . Dancing and Singing 10 Mins.; (Unit) Senate, Chicago (Picts) Collegiate hoofing trio, with. ""Top o' the World" Publlx unit produced in Chicago, and propf of a growing belief that Chicago producers aren't getting half the quality they pay for. The act is a w^eakly routined affair that wouldn't last a split week in vaude. There's nothing to recommend it for picture houses. Working in baggy, pants, red.- ties and small hats, the boys start Wth a college ditty to identify them- selves and then break into some tap and eccentric dancing that's purely primary stuff; An attempt at com- edy in ma.keup and steps misses en- tirely. The trio's Publlx booking is a break, but a mystery. One of the weakest acts- eyer seen on the. cir- cuit Hal. O'DUNN AND DAYE (2) Comedy, Songs and Dancing 11 Mins.; One ... Lincoln Sq. (V-P) Young mixed team with a good line , of comedy which, If a little fariiiliari is handled in a breezy manner which sends it across. Fast routining also helps. O'Dunn spasmbdically Incor- pora tes the m, c. Idea. A couple of blackouts used at the opening scored heavily. Closes with a song and dance in fur ; coat makeup. Forced to a speech Monday night. Mori. . ' ROBBINS TRIO Roller Skating 6 Miris.; Full State (V-P) ^Twrr'men'^arid"^^^ short but .swift and flashy. Thrills in the way one man tosses the u:irl ai'ound on the rollers. One man gets fancy stuff, but It's the man-woman wlfirling and swing that does It, Started show off nicely. ' Mark, "THE QOLLEGrANS" (7) Dance Revua 16 Mins.; Three American (V-P) Fairly entertaining hoofing revu,e. Introduced by a tall, slim girl with a likeable voice,, six boys and girls opening with eccentric hoofing pf mixed variety. Costuming neat arid effective in all humberp. Outstanders for applaii.se are a pair of boys dressed alike In khaki- brOwn, doing a team drunk number with . specialty :stepplrig scoring heavily. .• The .girl: m. c.j ; with a comedy spng, does, not do so. .Well because the number fails to please in. cbiri- edy oc time, Tvvo girls, tappirig; filled nicely. An acrobatic hoofer, bpy^ soloed with a surefire routine, while a blond girl, also ; aloa.e, registered •vvelr with taps and acrobatic danc- ing. Moves at a good pace. With, fevf slow spots. . . Mori. BROWN and BIRMINGHAM Comedy .'■'••^ 15, Mins.; One American Roof Unliicely , that this doui>le is a new conibo, working too snioothly and easily to be absolutely fre.sii. Gal ls a .Wow of a looker with a swell chassis which she evidences cutely and charmihgly from the fir.5t flash of the gams. , ,iEIer : partner , i,^ an effective comic and glibly han- dles his libretto in the mealhound-. digger attack by. the vobih-vppm. Besides which he yodels ,a couple effectively; Combo, in toto, "shape up as a ^sweet dick In the body of the: bill.; ■^:'-v";-v - ' : Possibly one, line, depending on whether or not. all audiences receive it. as on the Roof, is worth a little thought. It has to do with the flirta- tion clinch and his response that he was under the jnapressibn; he was sciiiieezing a lernori. Whether it was the business , or the lOth avenoo. mugs who were responsible for thO> ribald 'returns,/-there was no gain- saying, at least, the volume of the ha-haws. Act okay anywhere. . ■". ■ Abel.. SLATER BROS. REVUE (7) Dancing 16 Mins., On© and Three Lincoln Sq^ (V-P) Three boys, neatly costurtied, dis- play some of the smartest specialty stepping flashes seen in nilnot clos- ing or opening acts of this type. But it cOmes after 15; minutes of slow numbers of various^ kinds, none pf which is. especially nevy or effective; Routining top slbW sit present and act has to be timed for better, speed, to click for full value. . Opening in one. four giflS, in brown costumes, hoof for a while. Followed by three boys ;Iii tux coats and wliite trousers. ■ Tap number cold despite nice, delivery. More of similar stuff, including buck , and wing .arid high ; kicking With two changes of scenery. Mori. ' : POST'S CALIFORNIA BUDS (13) Dance Revue 19 Miris.; Full (Special) ^ Academy (V-P) Opens with a meaningless solo by tenor. Chorus romps through line number. Plain black eye arid looks terrible iip to this point. High light of turn is a spider web rigging with 10 girls'doing ac- robatics. Maybe a novelty for vaude although familiar tp picture houses. Session on the rigging is much too long; should be shorter, and with more snap. Girl soprano dresses lip and later costuming of act is great improve-;, ment. Might whip this into a gOod vaude flash but will require tiiought and .some doUgh; i Land. BUD AND BUDDIE Dancing. 5 M in, ; , One . . . Academy (V-P) : Two boys probably new to yaiude as act runs-a scant five minutes arid they rush through things with the characteristic franticness of novices. Pretty fair steppers, but not sen- sational. .Opening song strictly an opening song. Need worlf and ex- perience and they should be able to get It in the lesser stands. Land. PATTI SPARR and Co. (2) Song and Plario - 10 Mins.; One American (V-P) One of tiie usual vocal turns, the gM^^seemiTi^r'ST'lltf IB"^^^ delivery. Bre.oks into violin recital during, two of her numbers without noticeable change for the better for results. Man, accomiianying on piano, falls to draw to any extent on hi.s single solo effort, Mori.