Variety (Jun 1928)

42 VARIETY NEW ACTS Wednesday, June 20, 1928 LOUISE QROODY Bits From Musicals 18 Min9.; Full Stage Palace (St. V) Wltih H. Hupfeld at the piano and JSdward Allan from "Hit the Dfeclc" In support, Louiae Groody made an auspicuou3 vaudeville debut at the Palace this w-eek. : Opening with ."My. Ideal Boy," alie quickly ihgratiated herself with the Palace gathering-. "In Love With You," as a double with Hup- feld vocalizing and handling the plaino, followed; . . ' ' Allan, in gob's uhifoi-n>, is next and soloed, "Good Night," a near- blue lyric. His excellent eccentric ■legmaniix stuiff. followed, while Miss Groody was changing to a fetching yellow syjnmery dress to rejoin him in "Tea for Two" from "No, No, Nanette." They duplicated the num- ber as they did it in the show, and she- followed as a. French girl and a Chicago cabaret baby, doing the same number. The cabaret's frail's version was a bull's-eye, as wks the . double dance that followed. It pulled Miss Groody out for one of those "I think you're adorable" things. She said slie was nervous, but didn't appear to be. Miss Groody found vaudeville a aet-up and can remain as long as she cares to. Con. ROSS and COSTELUO Comedy 17 Mins.; One Lincoln Sq. (V-.P) Clean cut man and. woman in talking and singing turn. Do nice v,iy with well worn material. Work 'like experienced troupers, probably representing new teaming of sea- soned workers. . Open with cross Are,/man han dlihg nut stuff to woman's straight feeding. Smart wise cracks, but de livered smoothly and with effortless ease, innocent of that over-emphasis that often spoils this ,style of com edy gab. Man sings one number In ^^air voice and with moderate effect, while girl,, good looker, Is Changing to slashed skirt frock that reveals a good deal of leg and they then get away to singing and mild stepping finale for applause.' Neighborhood. croWd liked their grade of talk which haa plenty of the mothor-iri-iaw and family wrangle hokum. Next to closing here and held It, but wouldn't rate that spot with a wiser clientele. a former, vafide- a mezzo soprano" CARMELA PONSELLE Songs 20 Mins.; One Palace (St. V.) Miss Ponselle, villain but now from the Metropolitan Opera Co., is back for a brief tour at $1,500 weekly. y ', . . Her. repertoire consists of an aria of three; operatic excerpts plus a piano solo by her accom- panist -W^hich was given recogni- tion. .^-^ Miss Ponselle wias one of the ap- plause hits here although she wasn't credited with being a draw: Operatic turns for vaude seern to gather considerable, applause and entertain, but on top of a show, out front, that's something else again. Con, HICKS an<;i HART Sister Act 14 Mins.; One Lincoln Sq. (V-P) Very blonde and intense brunette. Blonde is perfect 36 plus. Other is petite. , ^ Harmonize' in mild opening wear- ing evening frocks and bare legs Run to jazzy selections < and coon shouting. Fair vocal turn. Strip to blouses and trunks and finish In jazz, taps, black bottom and : acro- batic routines, for lively finish. ijikeable, good humored pair of femmes, nice appearance, filled No, 2 here. satisfactorily and that about fixes their rating. Rush. ROBINSON and CONNIE Songs and Talk • 17 Mint.; Full Stage American :(V-P) Robinson and Connie have been on the stage' since kiddies. The stage training stands them in good atead when it comes to registering comedy as this is an out and out comedy turn and something a little different fr&m the rest. The girls go in for wise chatter and laugh-getters at the American Connie, the blonde, has a decidedly effective way of gagging her lines that are made all tho more effective with heir sister sending every point over, her speaking voice in particu- lar proving a valuable asset. , The girls are assisted by a tall, young man who^ also goes in for a bit of vocalizing. The flippant cross- fire is built around a date the girls are making with •the same boy, who Is sweetie to each, unknown to the other. An idea for a bit. of comedy byplay that grew_ in^ laugh propor- tions .as It went alb^^ ' Singing finale by the three but it ia thie laughs that make this turn a corking bit of stage property at this time. Surefire and big at the American. Mark. MARTY DUPREE and CO. (18) "MUSICAL FOLLIES" (Unit) 63 Min.; One and Full Stage Fifth Ave. (V-P) ■ Mildly entiertaining burlesque tab depending mainly on a big shoe putty-nosed comic for laughs. Lat- ter Is on greater pacrt of the time with a flock of released gags, bur- lesque bits and blackouts. He scores heavily with his rubber faced coin edy chatteir. Company c&nsists of eight chorines, six boys, prima, two comics, and Miss Dupree, soubret Costuming neat but not lavish for ail numbers. . • Rearranging of routine inlght help as act at present has two or more comedy bits followed by a similar number of liooflng turns. Quartet uses the sure-fire burlesque songs to advantage and finale has all on with Miss Dupree leading a wedding bells number with her ,brldal train comfhg from the flies. Nothing hew or novel about the turn, which Is Inexpensively mount- ed. A little fixing will make It ac- ceptable as a flash In the .neighbor- hood vaudfllm houses. TRACY and GLECKLER "The Decision" (Sketch) 14 Mins.j Full Palace (SL V.) Lee Tracy and Robert Qleckler, both, from "Broadway," are fea- tured in this sketch from the pen of John Dilson. Joseph Crehan is in 'suppoVt as a butler. The act, after a* brief opening be- tween the butler arid Gleckler, be- comes a two man affair. , Jeft (Gleckler) arrives hoihe and de- cides to wait ujp for his younger brother, a black sheep. Will (Tracy) aririvea, , plastered. Jeff upbraids him, reminding .him that he saved, him from: Jail by using his influence and thatfihe had promised to stop drinking. Wiii. defies him and refuses. Jeff tells him he's through and orders him from the house. Will says If he goes "Mary goes to'o." , , , Jeff is startled and says he won't allow her to go. Will says she loves him. Jeff salys he isn't fit to have her. • They decide to leave It to her. Previously, they had cut cards. Will had lost but., refused to abide by the gamble. Will agrees to let her decide It. They look offstage. and Will calls, "Mary, Mary," and. an Irish terrior bounds b'n for the blackout. Just a waste of talent and 14 minutes of mediocre gab for one laugh. Pai^ play the thing for all it's worth, but the material fails. Suspense, aimed for a build iip to the cOniedy finish. Isn't always there.' Tracy's drunk stands out and Gleckler la as convincing as the dialog warrants. Butler also is burdened with some early Inane dialog in which he tells Gleckler he would like tbtaorrow oft to get married. He Is. even given an aside, before Gleckler's, entrance. "The Dedlsion" Is just an alibi to keep Tracy and Gleckler talking for 14 minutes. Con. -TAMBOURINE GIRLS" (14) Dancing Revue 10 Mins.; Full Stage (Cyc.) Palace (St. V) This is a- Leo de Valery and I. Tarasof production. They are said to be pupils of the producers. At any rate they're a credit to some- body. The 10 girls in the line are excellent dancers, all pretty and well formed. Opening in a Spanish dance with castlriet accompaniment they are nicely costumed in red fringe cos- tumes. This Is followed by a solo dance of spins and cuts by Effem Geersh, also in Spanish get up.. Gay Nell, the other principal, next siells a V.O do dee do song and jazz tap dance. She's another looker and dancer. The girls are bjack for an oriental ballet that clicks. Miss Nell plugs fhe next costuine change gap with an excellent tap dance. The closing ballet and the one the act gets its name froin Is a kicking routine to tanibpurine ac- companiihent. ; The girls handle the tambos like end men. Their ballet work Is smooth and the kicks have plenty of distance. The tambs are phosporescent and used In a Ijlack out, showing up illumined, A chu chu. exit of taps with the male dancer as the caboose, emiting puffs of smoke from his collar, yasn't original but fitted nicely; ' Corking turn for anywhere on a bill. Ideal opener here. Con. THE AGEMOS Risley Ladder. 10 Mins.; Two Palace (St. V.) Two male athletes In an Interest- ing routine b¥ ladder balancing and risley work! Top mounter works with the ladder balanced on the im- derstander'a feeL Comparea favorably with any acts of It'a kind. Oqn. DON CUMMINGS Rope Spinner 12 Mins.; Full Broadway (V-P) Cummlnga Is announced as 18 years of age, looka It, and hia stage presence is good. He hasn't, de^ veloped a ■ style In gab as yet, but what talk he uses he manages to handle w.ith helpful ease. Might be suggested he tone down on apolo gizing for the gags. Let "^em lay where they fall or get better ones. Cummlngs* performance with the lariat Is topnotch. He is entitled to that time w'om adjective, "sensa- tional." Particularly Impressive Is the smallness of .,ti^e loop he jumps through. And he la a big guy. Doesn't wear cowboy costume or use anything suggestive of the open country except the ropes. With good sense and proper pilot- ing "Cummlngs should ' hayei ' no trouble In vaudeville Indefinitely.. '^AT THE SUPPER CLUB" (6) Comedy . 18 Minsl; One and Full Stage American (V-P) An afterpiece preceded by Harry Steppe and Lola Pierce ia ~ their comedy turn. in "one." It tecalla the burleaque days of Steppe aa he occupiea the center of the atage In the little club acene that foUowa. Two . girla with aeveral. numbers vocally, strumming ukea aa ac- companiment. Effective. Tall young man straight for Steppe and another man as an old bird who feigne deafness, enabling Steppe to clown with him.' Harry uses a big layout of celery, taking a bunch time and aeraih for a slam at the old man's bald pate (wig). Miss Pierce worka throughout and in an abbreviated outfit at the finale comes on for a song and hot bit of blackbottoming that waa ap- plauded. It's all hoke stuff, burleaquey ,but a sure laughgetter. Mark. IRVING'S FLAPPER FRESHIES Girl Act 25 Mins.; Full: Stage Lincoln Sq. (V-P) Cheapest kind of a production turn. Six girls merely forin a back- ground for what amounts to a mon- olog by young juvenile, perhaps Mr, Irving himcelf. Setting is a- schoolrborii of six cheap benches and a back drop Girls wear kid dresses and make no changes. Overhead for stockings nothing. Irving Is the teacher who wise cracks and gets hot replies from pupils. From time to time they come down front arid do a few mild steps, taps, simple kicks and black bottom. Breaking the nionotony of cross- fire, teacher blows" whistle to get silence. Midway of the routine they hold everything, while teacher steps down Into "one"^ and does several silly tricks of msigic accompanied by more talk. Fair sniail time laughs In. some of the lines/ but the act ia inerely a cheap and shabby pickup in produc tlon way; Here closed a flve-act bill, where Its number of people and hard worked gaiety got It past , the neighborhood audience. For a wise mob. It would be sunk n an Important spot. . R'ush. MISS ITALY (2) Songs 10 Mins.; One Academy (V-P) Miss Italy, artiong the Interna- tional Beauty Contest winners, ap- peared here No. 6 on an e^ight-act bill, Greeted, by applause from a considerable number of her nation- ality. > Operi^ing with "Sole Mio," Miss Italy's voice was a little too high pitched and uneven. She followed with a novelty number entirely un- BUited to her style of delivery but recovered for a strong finish with "'T:;ai>gHr"tJToyv'h~La^^ polish In delivery and substitution of another nuniber In place of the novelty number should give this girl a just claim on average pro- grams. . Makes dignified and impressive appearance despite clumsily tailored evening gown. Poses and walks across the atage iri a. bathing suit, as she appeared in the beauty con- test, for the finish. Mori. "YOUTH and PERSONALITY^ (8) Revue 17 Mins.; One and Three Acadetny (V-P) Songs cinly in Introductions aiid betwee# changes. Hoofing , la of every variety, with aolos' from vari- ous members of the act. Includes seven girla arid a boy, the Ipitier furnishing most, of the spectacular stepping. Codtumes neat, but routining of familiar type . and doesn't rate higher than the deuce, as appearing here. Mori. THREE FANS Juggling 8 Mins.; Full Stage. American (V-P) Two men and a woman. Act has tH6"b6ys=-dr6sS6d^a9"^bag«iyaii-"piay- ers. Open In "one," gets away slowly as the girls sings a topical number. Men handle clubs and wind up with hat exchanges. Girl does a little of the juggling and goes'in the hat routine for some comedy stuff.. Neat act. Not exceptional, but pleasing in what they do with the clubs and hats. Mark. WALTER NILSSON Comic .Unicyclist. 8 Mins.; Two . Senate (Pets), Chieago Yery funny. Comes on wearing knee breeches, jgreen frock coat with black fui: collar and a bald- headplece with tuft of black hair In center and black fringe at nape of neck. Comic map .made to order. Enters on a apllt bicycle;: discards front half, making It a iirilcycle. Going Into his atuff, lie removea the coat. Cavorting aJboUt the stage on the one-wheeler, he laugha and gigglea infectiously. Hia chatter, in effeminate voice, and hia skilled clumsinesa carry him over 100 per cent. He introduces yarloUs single wheels of various deacrlptlona. Nilsson's own laughter la so con taglous hia value aa a laugh-getter Is undisputed. Good for the beat houses. Loop. DALTON and LaMARR (2) Tumbling" 10 Mins.; One Academy (V-P) One is a tumbler with a dlfflcult and flashy routine that sends him over during the flrat 80 aeconds. Does some complicated and seem Ingly dangerous balancing for the climax with chairs perched on four bottles placed on top of three tables. Comedy La light. Mori, HACK and MACK * Acrobatic . 11 Mins.; Full Stage Lincoln Sq. (V-P) Two men doing a novel routine of hand-to-hand and equilibristic stuff who could open anybody's bill. Open In parlor set, one at home and the other entering for pantomimic greeting. Go Immediately into series of those slow llfta to hand-to-hand, done with acrobatic perfection of style. Understander is handsome young giant of good deportment. Does striking feats, of strengrth with ap pearance'of ease. Back bend over apparatus, tiaking mounter In hand stand on floor and straightens up to standing position. ~ ~ For finish much silent- comedy by-play of building high pedestal of boxes, from which top mounter does thrill leap to ..harfd-to-hand. They use another man for comedy assist- ant here, but there la no talk. WILLIAM BOYD and Co. (2) "One of the Finest" (Dramatic) '4 Mins.; Full Palace (St. V.) Bill Boyd, of Sergeant Quirt fame, is featured in this, sketch, originally a Robert Warwick vaude vehicle and later elaborated Into the three act melodrama "The Night Stick." In support is John Wray, who collaborated in authoring the sketch and. play, with Elslne Sterne Carringtoni Wray plays /"Lefty" Williams; Geraldlne Wall is a pip of a gun . moll as "Min" and Ed- ward Soreghan an all right harness bull. ; Lefty is: packing up. for a fade out after having killed a copper. Min is trying to Induce him to take her with him, but he's travelling single. Boyd, as the pal of the dead copper, steps in as L-efty reaches the door. He chases Min and then proceeds on the theory that Lefty is yellow, tells him he's going to get him with the dead of- ficer's gun. Lefty dogs it and wilts. He pleads for the. chair, anything that will delay his finish. His plea fall- ing, he 'dashes for the window as Glennon (Boyd) fires two shots at him.w He falls. It develops the shots vfere blanks and Lefty has fainted. The uniformed cop arrives, hearing the shots arid as Lefty re- gains consciousness, kids him in baby talk about ' being , ifrightened. by the big bad policeinan. . He driags Lefty off to the can, as Glen?- nori reads some lines abbut "You can rest easy now," or something of the sort.. This was the only let down. Even the telephone would have made a more pl£iuslble, finish. Boyd could have phoned his chief the sanie message. , - Act scoretL strongly. . Excellently played by the sjpiendid cast. Wray made , the rat bandit convincing and Boyd had copper. written all over himi. He played with a repression that was commendable and rose to the heights at just the proper* al- titude. Great vaude act and spotted perfectly on this bill." Con. H U B E RT KIN N EY CO. (3) Dances , 12 Mins.: FuH Audubon (V-P) Kinney has been around some time. About three years ago 'he staged , a flash turn. His present layout Includes a pianist and two girls, who Kinney declares are of Ihis former revue. Kinney and the girla feature dancing, from soloa to trios. One blonde does a nifty tap. , Kinney dlshea up his usual stepping and toward the finish goes in for high JcLcks^and-spllta.^He's.a-hard^workec and brought a quick applause re- sponse. Mark. Harry Dull, who managed Loew's New Rochelle, N. T., theatre for several years, is now a representa- tive of P. J. Tierney Sons., Inc., dining car builders, with factory in New Rochelle. Dull also has four of the Tierney cars in operation on a concessionaire basis. AMERICAN ROOF (Contlriued from palge 41) nell, who had tough sledding at first, as the boys were slow getting back to their seats after the stretching period. He did very well, Jtud on hia closing selection used a topical song that ia quite a favorite here- abouts, closing to a hit. Aifter O'Donnell came a pleasing comedy turn offered by Robinson and Con-- nie (New Acta). Harry and Bert Seampn, which appears to be the former Seamen and Harmon rough comedy acro- batic team, had things their own way with their hoke routine. Some funny biz with the big, baggy, loose pants and the entire act surefire III this house. That big boy certainly gets some rough manhandling by his partner. Nathane iand Sully closed. Pleas- ing in a way, but the , act has its, best moments with th&'man doing- his fast ground acrobatics. On screen, "The Garden of Eden" (UA). Afarfc. ACADEMY OF MUSIC (WIRED) (Vaudfilm) A three-hour show with the only act on the prograrii approaching big time classification Joe Rae's 12-pIece band, including a collapsible hoofer and a likeable songster. Among seven other acts practi- cally all of which got across for^ good returns," Teroirie M£nri,;' a" youthful lad doing impersonations of Cantor, Leonard, Lewis* Jolson and Rooriey, seexned to click easiest and quickest, Follbwing Dalton and La Majr (New Acts), comedy acrobats, In the opening spot. Tough and Per- sonality (New , Acts), a dancing flash including seven girls, filled for over a quarter of an hour. Next to closing Weston and Lyons, eccentric, comics, were hardly strong enough for the spot. First half of act la barren of surefire laughs, though the girt dlsplaya some ability as a nut comedienne. With the impersonation of Nick Lucas the girl puts the balance of the time to good use. . Emmy's Pets, doga. Were No. * and okay, followed by Miss Italy (New Acta), who evidently attract- ed quite a following from her own nationality here. Rigoletto Bros., magicians, with a couple of blondes doing a song and dance, closed lightly. , , ^^I?eature^film,:..'!DQmes,tic^Tmuwe (W. B.) and about 12 minutes of Movietone newsreel completed pro- gram. Speech by Senator Moses at the convention, on the screen, very effective. Business nearly capacity. Mori. "The Alinmaniacs," by Dan Ru- ben, rewritten, will reopen Aug. 6 at Asbury Park. Producer Sam Lowett has engaged Licstcr Lonergan to direct