Variety (Aug 1928)

36 VARIETY VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS Wednesday, August 8, 1928 PALACE (St. Vaud) \ Show and biz like old times at tlio i>rtla.c'(.>, the :\londay turnout ox- ccoding by mriny hundreds oC dol- lars uny opening; niglit's intake thi.^ Heason. If x'ather .a belated aiid ill- timed, occasion for such optimistic manil'estatlbn, there is the consola- tion, at least, that it's better late than never. The racks were; clean and the standees three deep, lit- erally proving how smtu't the show shopprrs are-these days, and if you give 'em a good- money's: woi'th they'll 'buy generously. Woatlierly, fine for theatres after a 3-day ■ blister. The-show hut isn't Us- heavy as James Barton on a second week holdover at $2,500 and Van and Sohehck at $3,000 would indicate. . ilouse.' got a break with the nevir turns aiid the; rtioderate priced inter- mediary acts of . which Frank Gaby was outstanding a healthy comedy . Interlude. ■ Lboking^ good oh paper, the pro- gram plays eyeii better, building up from curtain to, curtain on both sections. : Also, almost wholly a masculine frameup, the .boys dis- played their canny showmanship in merchandising their talents, vyith comedy predominating aiid making altogether for an ideal suinmer en- tertainment.. Van : and Schenck and Barton were the financial equations for the heavy patronage. Barton did 40 minutes and'the songsters 37, twice stopping it cold. Van begging off ■ after Sohenck had ducked out through the orchestra. Their re^ course to the trench upright for the two extra/recalls was another . reminder of the ye oM days when vodvil was ^-hat it ain't been of recent years. They'd be there yet responding to the old favs: if the galleryites had their way. It's been three and a half seasons . sirioe the perennial champs on the i gridirdn of song have been. in a . Keith hou.se.- They return at $3,000 net oh a 30-week or so blanket con- . tract, , the bulk . of which , is taken up after their: London eng.ageihents after a couple of moivths. They hold over for next week. The financial quotations oh their salary contrasts to their last. previous high with KSTth's of $2,000 a vyreek with com- missions out; and being let go be" cause of a. $2,500 derriand. Since then ih picture, houses and nite clubs the team has gone as high aS $4,000 and $4,500 a week. . . Barton seems to be a stock com- pany favorite at the Palace. He has'a pair of fascinating feet. Bar- ton can make his dogs bark pretty. "The Pest" skit this week with iCathryn Penman and Lon Haskell in support. The third male outstander is Fi-ank Gaby, billed as the first time at the Palace although probably re- ? fei-rihg to his Broadway debut with his new act,, a routine as was re- cently mentioned in a separate re- view that pars and tops anything the ex-ventriioqulst did in the past. He was a decided wow unto him- self. ■'- For the rest, Ina Williams and George Sweet were out because of the former's throat trouble after the Monday mat: Sinclair and Ford subbed, reopening after the siesta, with their beach chair wise-crack- ing. Because of the sudden impres- sion, the gals were sans their usual boardwalk drop although the prop chairs and the .bfeacK unies suf- ficed for the atmosphere. • .Miss Sinclair, formerly with Marie. Caspar, has a smart looking boyish-bobbed hoyden as her new playmate. They look fly enough for the roles but sqmehowi after a "nice" sequence of variety enter- tainment,' they didn't quite click with the Palaceites. Whether the sophistry wasn't of sufficient depth and heft or whether they were mis- spotted—seemed the latter—they were but passively satisfactory. Opening were Large and Morgnei', monopedic male team (New Acts), marking their American . debut. Royal Gascoignes with -the man's intelligently effective juggling made the deuce spot an early event. Gamble Boys and Bache (New Acts), Gaby and Barton in setiuenco, Louis and .Cherie closed after Van and Schenck's murderous 6ffect on the. customers. The flying rings and trapeze mixed team vycre rudely. t(.'eated by the belated audience al- though flashing .some nice aerial work. Both are heavily built with the femme reversing things by do- ing the heavy anchor work. Ahcl. STATE (Vaudfilm) Weather cool; biz good; bill snap- pvv'audience responsive. Without the semicolons, and. In other words, everything was jakc . Monday at the State, Not a dull turn in the lineup. Ford and Price opened with some kittenish antics on the taut wire. A musical Interlude was contributed by the Three Vagrants. The efforts "af"1cdm^y^ira^^^ effort stage, but the playing Is good. Clarinet, accordion, artd one of those goitre-necked guitars are the in- Btruments. They take a lavish num- ber of bows and earn several ,of them. Bud Harris and Van are a revamp on the former colored team and ma- terial of Harris and Holly. The latter is understood to have been incapucl tated prbfi'ssionally by illness. The present act holds some, smart now chatter and is a laugh wow all the way W-ith the now partner plus in all departments. The act can play any- where and .zowie. , Micis Putricola, lately of the Keith fold and opening a'tour of the Loow houses, had no sales resistance. If it were necessary to describe Tom's sister in one adjective the most ade- quate would unquestionably be "vital." She i.s. above everything else, a strong personality. Patrleola has better material in h.eiv trunlc than she is using, but material seemed rather, minor beside the natural vigor Oi her istyle. Coogan and Casey, old-timers in the hoke division, stimulated the tummy muscles easily with their fa- jmiliar stuff, and elicited, testimo- nials of approbation..and esteem from the customers "The screen. Actress"' - (M-G)' on the Land. AMERICAN ROOF (Vaudfilm) This audience, always a mark for ballad singers, . more than lived up to rep Mondiiy night." ready to go wild over any hillbilly sobbcr and with plenty of opportunity. Aside from tlii.s just a routine .show meas- ured to ,the intelligence of tlie buy- er.s-in. . A1.SO several acts notice- ably playing down to remain within tempo of predecessors and follow- pns. Good house. Breeze and driz- zle probably moi-e: conducive than roofs .And ; stoops, always summer opposition west. of ^!th. Eight acts with Beau Brumm'ell Four No. 5 (New Acts) and "Steam- boat Bill. Jr." on the sci-een. , "Song Fash'ions." draping act with the two girls warbling numbers while the male modiste fashioned go\Vns out of strips of silk, opened, and : clicked on sartorial angle if hot on the vocalizing, which Was about so-so. Strip 'em and dvess 'em alwaj's sure fire on roof. Thompson and Kemp, mixed colored team, livened up in the fol- low-up with some chatter, songs and dancing. The man's dancing arid drum beating at finish main wallopers. Great Maurice, card manipulator,' and usual trick routine got a few laughs with Ills pseudo French ac- cent and manhandling of English. Scmre of the" trlclcs were good. Miller Revue, two boys and three girls, customary stereotyped flash showing nothing new but pleasing the mob. After the Beau Brummell Four, CJary and Baldi, mixed team, who also, got over in a big way. with clowning and" songs. Bobby Van Horn, next to shut, cleaned with fast comedy and songs that had them winging with laugh- ter, resulting in show stopper. Van Horn has scrapped his for- mer cork makeup and has affected a college professor getup. gown and cap, with his routine packing many a worthy gag. good for yells any- where. His songs were also wel- come ahd well spotted. • Osaka Boys closed with the usual Jap balancing turn, showing sev- eral stunts In barrel and body jug- gling with feet that interested them. Edia. GAMBUE BOYS and BACHE (6) Song, Dance, Musical 18 Mins.; One and Three Palace (St. V.) Four Gamble Boys, which billing alone was carried on the annunci- ators, although Violet Bache shares titular honors and Del Fau.st, leg- mania specialist, completes the line- up. . Gamble Boys were formerly a trio 6n their own, now auefmented to a hotsy - totsy vocal - instrumental quartet, . working oh the order of freak v6-do-de-o boys ot the Mound City Blue Blowers and Paul White- man Rhythm Boys' School. .They also remind of the Yacht Club Boys, broadly speaking, although the Gambles have enough distinction in their technic and considerable in their personality, to warrant; the thought that they might have regis- tered stronger by theiiiselves in the class cabarets, two or three seasons back, when smart quartets of floor entertainers were commanding their own figure. If the vbgue returns, as there are indications for the new season.. the Gamble Boys, with the youthful appearance of campus cut-ups arid the manners of bond salesmen, could and should try the class nite club field. V Not that their variety frame-up isn't up to snuff. It is.* They have a nice class terp and song routine all set. Miss Bache, lissonie danseu.se, is the s. a. of the outfit on the femi- nine end, the boys themselves in nobby semi-formal lounge rig-ups, featuring, striped tro'users to con- trasting coats, wing collars and four-.in-liand cravats, instead of the conventional bat ties, looking very Hollywoodish sing4y and in onsemble. The Gamble who probably lends his name to the act, that end man with the, how-de-ow-doiw inhibi- tions and nervous jazzlque, is the ace of the Instruriientallats. A slap tongue bass saxophonist, driimmer and pianist round it out. Del Faust contributes split stuff satisfying. They treyed neatly at the Palace and . are a class flash for the best vaudeville has. For purposes of revenue, the .Yacht Club suggestion still go'es, however. Abel. LARGE AND MORGNER Monopedic Acrobats 6 Mips,; One and Two Palace (St. Vaude) Tliis foreign act bills itself "two "PADL'OCKS OF 1928'^ Musical Comedy Revue 75 Mins. (Special Sets)" Proctor's 86th St. This is programmed as Texa.s men and two feet," each being Guinan's former legit vehicle which minus a leg up to above the knee, had a brief career at the Shubert, The right log of one and the left Tex's name is. used prominently in of the other are missing, this per- | all billing. No producer, author or mitting for a somewhat grotesque formal ovoning attired cffect/Show- ing two heads On seemingly an ab- normally broad body with but tw.O legs sh6\Ving. On their first flash, the effect Is stafte director, is given a tumble, which is ju.st ds well for the black outs are all . familiars and .even "Iri.sh Justice" is dragged out of moth balls, for one scene to serve as a background for Ed West's as if the Siamese-twinned head is very fiinhy judge characterization, a dummy.. Once the animatenesa of West carries the princlpal .com- the heads is established, one .won- ^^(y i^urden. He is active and funny, ders ho.w each has his other leg pougihout. The unit carries a straipped up and. camouflaged under chorus of nine girls, who dance the formal. Invei-nesss cape. With the Lyen j^nd are costumed prettily, ploak donned, their monopedic sta- ^j^^ ^^^^^^ principals are Hazel tures are disclosed. Beamer, Majorie Leach comcdi- Following this they go into » gnne, Harriett HlUiard soubret and brisk and highly effective hand-to- Fj.a;nces Perrone. A male dancing hand routine, packing a couple of ^^^^^ probably Traymorc and Lee, walloping tricks that would credit ^ promirient in "One" plugging any biped team of athletes. All this transpires in a zippy six minutes and makes for a wow opening act. .Stopped the show, de- servedly. , , •^f'*'- up scene changes. Among the blackouts, screamed at here, wafJ the "My God, my hus- band—get under the bed," used by every show on the Mutual iahd Col- umbia burlesque wheels seasons ago. . - Another was the drunk sneaking in at daylight and when ■surprised in the act of removing his shoes, by his wife, says, "I'm BEAU BRUMMEL 4 Songs 14 Mins.; Oiie American Roof (V-P) Male foursome with a mixture of I jy^t getting'up. for ^ork." Also songs and instrumentation handled Uhe girl who wants to die/and is a.s ensemi)les, save for a ballad solo U^ot by the accomodating West, in and connecting for an. acceptable jjjg ^0^.^ room scene. The wit- act for deuce spot. No. 5 here on L^ess who is socked on the head eight-act bill. by the court copper and told, "You The boys make heat appearance hie." everytime.he attempts to. talk. . in sumhiery garb and^handle piano, f^^^ most of the public domain uke, banjo and guitar. Four num- gagg and blackouts, bera in rep with fifth packed for | ^hey ate it; up here, including encore. Clown stuff, strings along .the numbers ,but not enough to harm. Liked thexn here. Edba. CHANDLER BOYS (4) Songs and. Instrumental 14 Mins.; One Hippodrome (V-Pf^ A snappy quartet. In tux outfits, one of the boys at the. piano, two strumming guitars and all contrib uting vopally under t\ie leadership of the fourth and stoutest mem- ber. Several plugs for the Chandler car given quite distinctly, a baseball number in which one member doing a Babe Ruth gallops around the orchestra for a homer. The unit shows considerable pro- duction value, the costumes and scenery looking fresh and new. A flash flnish was the "Blacic Cat Club, N. Y." on New Year's Eve. The specialty dancers hipped to it here and West copped honors with a comedy dance in oversize clothes. "A Million Miles From Nowhere" with some, double entendre lihes, sung by Miss Leach, flopped as a HIPPODROME (Vaudfilm) With the exception of Von Grona, who debutted to recognition as a dancer of an exceptional nature at the Roxy, practically all of the acts on the bill here this week.seem un- familiar in vaudeville as to name while behaving well on the stage". Evidently- new combinations, in some Instances, of vaudevllllans Vfith plenty of past experience. A noteworthy addition is the Eno Troupe (New Acts), closing. It con- sists of four Japanese, two women, one of the latter giving the presen- tations a high rating through expert foot manipulation of a light, wooden umbrella. ChamllCT' Boy.T (New' Acts) ,"• sec-- ond, were greeted affectionately by scattered groups in the audience, to whom they seemed known. Drew considerably more than the usual returns due an act in that .spot. Jarniann and Greene (Now Acts), following, registered well with a strong brarid of comedy, though rat- ing poorly Avith regard to delivery.. Next to closing Morris , and Shaw proved likeable comedy. Also scored with vocal nlimbeps on every count, .and impressed favorably with one of those serious, deep-toned speeches intended to convey a warning, to youth not to .sLrjiy from. home. Von Gvo.na. considering the billing, did not register as strongly here as required for the ace act on a pro- gram. Applause quite strong, but outdrawn by at le.ast other acts on the bill. Though pleasing thi« audi- ence, Von Grona's type of dancinii seems better suited for picture house audiences, Victoria Troupe (New Acts) hold the opening spot. Feature film, "Powder My Back" "(-Wf=B7)f"StTVrring^Irene-"Rirhf^=Jules- Lenzberg led the orchestra in the opening ovei'ture Mondav night. Mori. EDWARDS and MORRIS Comedy , 10 Mins.; One Audubori (V-P) The man appears, reels off a few gags, kids the boys about hooking up fot life with the gals and then says what will follow will show them the big alibi for having re- tained their liberty. He exits and wheels on a carriage with a woman dressed as a baby. The man as dad has a hellrakish time tcying to keep the "infant" pacified, and "baby" keeps socking him on the head with an Inflated hot-water bottle. This baby stufC keeps up until daddy takes her on his knees, and the size of the. "ihfant" Is worked up for laughter through papa, hav- ing all he can do" to hold her. The way he flings her back in the car- riage was a big laft. . The kind of act that Is still ef- fective In the neighborhoods. Mark. JARMANN and GREENE (2) Comedy and Dancing 15 Mins.; One Hippo'drome (V-P) Mixed comedy team handling familiar material but without novel or talented delivery. Went over nicely here in-No. 3 though, un suited for anything except small time. Most of the business has been seen previously in better type of acis. Gr«cne does well in the brief but difficult eccentric acrobatic dance numbers woven in between skits His drunk number is convincing and gets results. Tho. girl's song and dance efforts are mild. She fills ih as straight. Strong flnisOi with a broad satire on the difference between modern and ancient love making. Mori. Drew heavily with a series of I lyric. Many of the gags were blue well chosen and sung numbers. In but. got over when not too vulgar. No 2 but could fill lower, down on "Beautiful Night," sung by Ferd- a sik-act bill. Mori. inand Zegel and Harriet Hilliard in 'one," was an introduction for th© myi^ppi AppC I blackout.in which the late arriving jytAIVlVl/WjriO husband was caught by his wife, Raoui Walsh, Fox director, to After hubby leaves. West is discov- Lorraine Helen Walker, non-pro, at ered ih bed with the frau. That's Tia Juana, Ar.g. 2. Walsh was di- also a lift from one of the revues, vorced a year ago from Miriani "Padlock's of 1928" is said; to Cooper. Bride is a widov/ with one have been produced by the Keith child. , ' P;roduction department as on© oC Eddie Beisenthai, of the Tyson its units. It replaces, th© regular ahd Co. 42nd street ticket agency, vaudeville bill and judging from to'Lea Rochett, at Asbury Park two reactions, at this house, vvill be weeks ago. well liked in the intermediate Percy Grainger, orchestra leader, houses if the rough stuff is Keith- and Ella Viola Strom, English, poet- liked. No names are present except ess, scheduled to be married at a Guinan's, but the unit is fast, en-- public ceremony Aug. 9 in Holly-' tertaining, and for th© a,verage wood Bowl, Los Angeles. | vaudi&ville audience, acceptable as a new form of revue. RIRTHS I "^^^ finish sagged a bit here,: de- DtfVA spite the efforts of the company Mr. and Mrs. Delbridge, son, In ^o spread whoope© contagion but Chicago, Aug. 1. Delbridge is m. c. West hopped out just in time and at the Capitol, Detroit. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Lee Arma, at Pasadena hospital, Pasadena, Cal., July 31, daughter Mother Is Mae Marsh, former screen star. It is their third child. Mr; and Mrs. Jack Hart, July 23, son. The father is a vaude agent Mother professionally known Eugenie- Kern. • - — — - saved it. Con. (6) VICTORIA TROUPE Bicycle Acrobats 10 Mins.; Three Hippodrome (V-P) Several accomplished trick bi- as 1 cycle riders in this sextet with th© two men outstanding in. a serie B of surefire stunts. One of the boys"^ creates laughs in tramp uniform while performing on a bicycle, pro-. Mildred Davis Lloyd, wife of I viding comedy relief for the straight Haro'ld Lloyd, confined to her'home trick rider. ILL AND INJURED Bart McHugh, the Philly vaude agent, who spends so many hours weekly on the Railroad between Quakertown and New York, hoK ro-, turned from Europe.. ENO TROUPE (4) Juggling and Acrobatic 7 Mins.; Three Hippodrome (V-P) Two girl .and two boy Jnp Workers. The girls are responsible mostly for fine showing made as far as results are xoncerncd. One of the girls has'an excellent piovir~"5f^lHrainussr=^bMancing^^ wooden umbrella with hor feet, opening it and then closing It for the finish. The girls also do some fast jug- gling with barrels while the men conline themselves to pole work. Registered as fine clo.<iing turn here. JVforf. with a severe cold and pleurisy in Santa Monica, Cal Hazel Brown, of the Irving Mack office, .(jhicago, recovering from in- juries received in an. auto accident Frank Hooper of Chicago Equity offioo has recovered from a two weeks' illness caused by high blood «revELS" (6) pressure. Dagmar Oakland in a New York hospital for appendicitis. Sonona Carver, of Cravcr's Great- er Shows, injured when tos.sed front a horse at Pleasure Beach, near Bridge|)ort, Conn. Loijter Cole forced out of Los Angeles cast of "Good News," after being kicked by a horse. Four girls appear at intervals for combination routines. Act recomihends itself also be- cause of its speed aind absence of useless, time-killing business, M ori. ^^^^MOTffes^Opening™^^ Regal, Hartford, Conn., opening Sept, 3 will ha.ve Henry L. Needles OS its manager. NEW ACTS Nat Bernard and Lillian West, act by George Holt. Revue with Orchestra 22 Mins.; Full Stage American, Chicago (V-P) Three-piece orchestra, sister .song and dance team, and pop warbler. Running time, too long for .appar- ent talent, and suitable for just tho smaller spots at present. Routine is an alternating of tho three specialties, about six times, here.- Orchestra-Con.';ist s..o f_banjo. - piano and fiddle, with iittle possi- bility for the combination. The femme warbler demonstrates no reason for being in the act. Sis- ter team is the act's forte, snappy in appearance and a certainty for better things when developed. Fair reception hero. Loop.