Variety (Sep 1928)

46 VARIETY VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS Wednesday, September 12, 1928 PALACE (St. Vaude) sist in playlnf? it because It I3 a on as soon as the drapes part for Broadway house. McCullough fjot alonff nicely with 1 one of thesCc No wonder they're crazy ahout At. o«f /,\tv,'^/i„ oo.,^uofo his soncs and his old standUys of the talkers. Where else is there to the ei^t anrS^Mft from Lauder-Jols<,n impressions: so for 50, 75 and *17 . The ^poor- Jfac^CoasT stopSd tl c'Show cotd Sheldon Hoff a;^ Lewis are doin^ | ushers. Nice looking ushers. S^<i, • *\^^ T>oio«« Tii-J^^,i«„ {r. tvio practically the siBnie turn of hve Ko 5 spot So^iuch^so IS^ y^^'^ ^eo offered by Sheldon. Bal- ers haTto phoVe afstaS^ofthe i^S^ ^^^^ :V.?.i^i"Vn"S''mi^'i; ACADEMY (Vaudfilm) With but three acts" at this ace atak and which'had co^^^^^^^ The girl is a graceful Fox downtown house, the ^bill, ^^^^^^^^ nlav miffht nrocGGd dancer.. sented, for the Fourteenth street piay, mignc pioceea.. . I3o6Iey and Sales stepped into a peasants' delight maintains the Comedy . acrobats seldom get I .,0ft spot and there was no question Bpot distinction on the big tmic to their hit. A lot of clowning but and much less actually hold up a perforriiance without petty larceny bows. Morris and Fell dug up this turn and it's In, for. eastern vaude- ville, shows or shorts. the. kind of buffoonery that becomes the'intimate sort tliat reaches those] neighborhood houses. The Brown Derby band, headed j .. ■ by Frank and Milton Britton, with ii„„_q thp slicht Behnie .Bernie .wasn't so. hot ov^r Georgette, dancer, closed. M'^l^y'p^on 6t tl the preceding stoppage that gave strong pn brass, and that seemed to his band on its hold week a weak start start over again. Bennie peasants' standard set here during the sum- moi:, Despite a ,warm. night they were clinging to the rafters eiarly Monday night. McCarthy Sisters ..and Harold Leonard's orchestra are the* head- but substantial the,program, do- ing three numbers to good returas. WILLIAM T. TILDEN, 2ND Monolog 10 Mins.; One Palace (St. V) Should William T. Tilden, J2nd, decide to remain in vaudeville with his present bunch of stories he'd better carry a. tennis net with him. It will be safer for the for- MITCHELL and DURANT "Stick Out Your Hand" (Coinedy Acrobats) 9 Mins.; One Palace (St, V) Frank Mitchell and Jack Durant, from the west coast and new to New York, are comedy acrobats land NO, 5 (one before intermission) mer American national . tennis at the Palace this ^^eek. That po- champion for several years, to also sitlon for acrobats bespeaks more play the stage behind a net. Away from, the Palace, at least, where they don't respect titles like Broad- way, and care less whether an act than a notice could. They must be termed comedy ac- robats for that's trade descriptive, but they are in reality low corne- ls receiving $1,500 weekly on its | dians of the slap stick sort, ^ who athletic rep or for stage talent. . Mr. Tilden has previously played actor, In the legit, a fa,rce or n, use their comedy acrobatic abilities to emphasize the low comedy. It'Si a combination that works out ex- comedy or so, and so so. In yaude tremely V(fell, for these two bpya ijor . the Initial trip, perhaps one are the kind , of variety that vaude- even though he burned, and refused t<y take an encore after doing a, 30 minute straight turn -over Palace nnd plenty of room to turn loose. in J"^. r'n^ns make a nret?/ Dicture week, he just tells stories for 10 ville likes besides needing. . They had to the big State. Band goes along with the°r s<int ^ostum^f^^^^ ipinutes. Mostly about himself and The ."Hold Out .Tour Hand" ^""J! Its routine seen in other dates,, al, ".^helr^^^ himself, excentlng one bjlllng Is the title for the fac. ird's combo holds a couple of spe-I wholly on himself, excepting one cialists, one of whom delivers a pop about "The Star Spangled Banner" ballad In impressive style. Another and Mary Garden. though Georgette- seems new along the street. She Is longlegged but o-... J animated, her best bit be/ng a high 1 , , , ^t. „ ^ „^ Another stopper was Winnie kick she shows to advantage at thd M^^es legmanla that s-a sure ap Lightner, back again, and another close. One of the most pleasing-^ Plause getter, A violin solo by was Shaw and Lee, also back again, things In the entire act is the Leonard tops oft the turn to a as they said in a certa:in speech, marimbaphone number. ;That sound- nicety. j,,^ , 1 qon Winnie did a curtain speech, ed mighty sweet-and. pretty. Reynolds, Donnegan Co. did their | '»v'| two of'em. One.was a. comedy Eng- The travesty oh the old masters skating as an opener that's just llsh single bowing off In a talk and may find some who think it wrong about the last word on rollers, AH sounded as though Big Bill had written them himself, includ- ing the one about Big Bill Thomp- As a sample, thait Mary Garden bit. Tilden ran It along with MlsS sub- ng is the title for the face and head slapping this couple Indulge in, while doing falls or dancing, and with both doing, each. The slapstick stuiT is almost new to the big time. It's, funny the way they do it to nowadays audiences. The face slapping Is employed to start wild sparring between the couple. funny though true, while Shaw and to burlesque when these old musical Nothing that adagio dancers do on Garden to sing "Star Spangled" for tne taiier keeping ore tne otner by Lee's speech was to ask the audi- geniuses were so : serious and their toes is omitted by this pair the Lindbergh reception in Paris a * shoulder hold. They enter Into It ence to wait for the closing .act, straight-laced about their music, yet with another team of femmes year ago. Then she called him up h"-* ®very opportunity and it's always Trelia and Co,, Loop-the-Loopers op the Britton outfit work some of it rounding out the act with ballet L^^jj^ a^sl^g^j for the lyric. This was '^"Sh bikes. for laughing returns. Of .course,-the and waltz bits Oh wheels, Miss Llghtrier sang about six Sousa wallop with the special drop numbers, and here comes in the of the harbor was as sure-fire as a laugh and the finish of that gag. talking shorts.. Two of her stage | the American flag, songs,' "Lallapalosers" and "A Lot to Learn" have been sung by her before the camera. It's an error for an act, even with songs which may be shprt lived, to employ on the shorts any pprtlo of material they Mark, warmly accepted, bringing on two serial, crabbing the^ entire thing. 81ST ST. (Vaudfilm) All kiddin' aside, this play or intend to ust upon the stage. I world's champ house for flash ^icts It will react If in a town where the Every time, all the time. Invariably short was played. . . . on both ends of a five-act bill. It's Otherwise Miss Lightner, opening gotten so an acrobat, juggler or a after intermission, walked away, horse would be welcome. Anything She sang "Melody Out of., the. Sky'r that doesn't dance in front o! drapes, the way it should be sung, with a And how the clientele Is fed up: You Jazzy note and gesture, so good that can spot it while you're half asleep Walter Donaldson, chaperoned by The poor ushers. Nice looking MOse Gumble, walked in just in time ushers. Tough on the girls. They've to catch the girl and miss the gag coffee colored Harlemites for sonie; torrid, hoofing as ah encore, A 10 minute trailer for "Glorious .Betsy" (W, B.) was used and. the] 10 minutes, retiring without an.en Fox silent news was followed by is the Movietone current events with seven Showing he had had an untutored coach or none at all. He also recited and used up the Some familiar bits here and there, such as the hum-hum to start one of them to dance, alohg the James G. Morton idea. of. some years ago, and also the falls in their way. A leg slide is new for that "stuff, al- though later done in a som.ewhat clips. The screen feature is "Four ^^j^ ^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ Sons* (Fox). . I -1 core, speech or stolen bows. Looks ^^"""^"^ manner by Shaw and Lee on the sam.e bill. Mitchell and Durant as a whole good enough behind the foots. Tall PROCTOR'S 86TH St. Strictly a rep act. With the ten- ^IJ^^^^ haven't niuch nis matches this week at Forrest compet tion just now. especially in Hills Tilden 'should dra,w some money to the Palace, if. the tennis fans ever leave Long Island. And yet Tilden with a nice stage presence might do well enough with vaudeville. They are good for al- most any spot in any bill. They make you like slapstick and that niakes laughs. flitne ^ing plug Bernle had givesn Donald- son for another of his latest num-. bers. Miss Lightner sang another ballad and a new comedy-song for an encore, GIBSON, FRISK and STEWARTS Dancing 81st St' (V-P) In," starring Rudolph Schildkraut, a I Probably the only champ ever ap- ' ■ ' trouper who could serve as a model pearing in vaude who didn't suggest ^^^^ team and a pair of 'hoonng for a lot of the deaf and dumbers. his pro vocation in some stage way brothers have teamed. Given some- The vaudeville portion pleased the If that's to his credit foriret the thing other than the opening spot. net. (Vaudfilm) , , They continue to jam'etti in at the •T 'rvi'*^"^ P"^®*^'®^ houige, aiid rightly. Wednesday and next week all week. This week the house is also blessed ,, . ^ . 1 The liouse goes full week starting ^ith a corking program picture from tennis, not doing even a fancy shot, ^. p ,, /soecial) Monday. The poor ushers, Nice the Pathe factory in "A Ship Comes and no tennis set on the stage | ia mins., run vope<?iai/ looking ushers. i- - 1 _ . A * * * *u T. 1 viii *ui<,i A Monday night with a hint of A feature pf the Palace^blU this Uutumn in it Just drew the usual week, a debut., is William T. T lden. edge over half a house. "A Ship Acts) He did a^moffi^'^fi^^l^r^^"^®^ ^^^^^^^ was the picture minutes that sounded home made T^^^^^ don't ^blU the produper-dis- , mooa lor \ne screen opus wniun 2nd hit the house the s^e Tav t^^^^tor of the screen features up followed. Opening with "Circus Pol- and hit the. house the same way. j^^re. Week in and week out maybe Hes," unpro^ammed and billed as a, . rAOPPQ.r enouirh not to tak*' an encore even ^ ^^^^ w®"* ' For a^ reserved vaudeville revue with no names LpOP^'^"'^^^^ CAPERS ttouS he had nrenar^^^ the bill started nicely. Dances A couDle of the nrofframmed turns crossing, the chumps plenty on film "Circus Follies" runs mostly to 17 Mins.; Full Stage ln^SirlieVt''pr''ogr?^^^ "Circus" description Hamilton (V-P) ,_ .sent with auhatitiltlonq evidently " ^"''y ^® to reproduce the resolves from a special drop with a a-..*v,..- ««rv.Ki„«+«^« ^v.a+ ir,,J^„i.,- r^uJ^ „^^^^ made Seen ThursdaV and ^^"'P^ ^ <'°^^ hoofers. huge clown's face painted oh it. The Another dance combination that dancing. The girls kick and bend dav ^ One^ oTthes<r the^^^^ ^^^^ HUdebrand is acting as con- artists make their entrance from the brings nothing new nor sensational, and the boys tap and do a slow ' and Lee turn- another was Wynn between show and a.udl- clown's mouth. The act opens with although the individual efforts of soft shoe eccentric. This latter and Rogers ' ence this half. He shouldn't. Hil- a, "Laugh, Clown, Laugh," solo by a some of the "caperers" hold atten- number, done . under. the guise of Something of a conflict between has a voice and appearance, clever girl who later burglars, needs cutting. Currently Shaw and Lee and Mitchell and Du- ,^"1 ,^®"«e ^1 free verse, such as sity Drag" number in real rah, rah . ^ boy, three principal women it's slowing up the act so much the rant, mostly through the falls, but | this calls for-^An^^^^^^^^^^ .Derickson and Burton and four ckorines. "^Boy's^ ^ finish can't save it Bime. (8) and in a house where they're not. to the heck with flash acts, this quartet might do quite nicely. Here, the spot and the familiarity of the routine made it that much harder. A production song to a special lyric opens after which it's all they didn't stop Shaw and Lee.'next hp ^"*'^°**\!'^® himself put him one ^ —. - 1 i„ K„f i„ f„r to closing from decidedly scoring right away, and he was in Brown stopped the show deuclng. ent is hoofing, but he goes In for They are doing a humorous turn ali ^^^^^^^ trap for the rest of the round. Derickson used to' single. Brown's vocalizing that doesn't belong, es- of the way with plenty of new com- \ 9^^y time he saw fairway .was dur- edy business and considerable fregh- HPS an imitation of Eddie Leonard, ness in their talk. This took place during his specialty Nicely balanced bill this week, after the closing act: Assisted by With near complete capacity Monday a plant, Hildebrand heard the ac- evening. Palace is going in more pompllce. getting what laughs there genesis Is unknown but he can cer- peclally where the act closes the tainly press those keys, Jack Usher and Co, (New Acts) fed them likeable hokum based on the surest fire topic in the wdrldi 'marriage," They loved it show and where good voices have been heard ahead. Two girls do a fairly good eccen- He was I trie routine. Four girls work for the" vaHety"show thar^^ airound and had nothing with I third, throughout as chorus background years, the pretty drapes baing which to top. Anyway, it'ought to Steve Freda and Johnny Palace, for the principals. One of the fern noticeably absient, along with" the be his last public appearance as an double wop, with Freda Playing principals stands out with her bal- Femmes aren't cheating on clothes. Every time they entrance it's a change and heat. Boys stick to tuxedos. Did indifferently here but can I better that report in some other house and if propeNy placed. Sid. bunk and four flushing flash danc- ing turns. It makes for better en- tertainment that anyone can enjoy, and the .same scheme might be tried for the Palace, Chicago^ m. c. It's just not the type for him. guitar, were another push over turn. let work. Audience wasn't hot but it was They haven't changed their talk, , . « ^ - ^, bothered. much since the pair framed the Apparently framed for the film Gibson, Frisk and the. Stewarts double combo, but the material goes houses. Provides special costumes STATE (Vaudfilm) (New Acts) started. Flash. Gas ton and Ahdree, adagio team plus two girls, were the actual closers. Another flash. In between the Houser Boys (New Acts) then Ann \^°^ any kind of vaudeville as well as ever. The double singing I for each of the ensembles, Mark. finish with Palace handling an obbllgatb counter melody, pulled them back three times, A natural Butler and Hal Parker. Neither an CORTELLO'S CIRCUS (2) Animal Act rphnt-A r^n.^, /i^,,K* „o applauso Or entertaining show. Hil- ♦hJ vnn,i^^/.,^!a °ni,,f.Vo.^"^K«i cicbrand a solo afterpiece, the vaude names carrying any box > R„fier "T.r ofl^ce draw of any extent, but it was the urtqualifled opinion of the au Miss Butler sang "Laugh, Cla-. hown, Laugh," to the patter end in Down Home" (New Acts), fea-, ^ _ . turing Josle Carole, Bud and 9 M'"*-; FuH Tommy, "Three Banjo Fiends" and | American (V-P) the "Mindell Twins," was a flashy closer. Con flron^i-^^w^w^^^ midst of her Sayoy and Bren f Jfnw iv^^wF r^inf 5 ^ nan-routine- whFch TTer huW vo-icV fSr tSi.. mnn^l^ i.; ^ade doubly out of place. Does the ment for the money. For a six act m,^ c^i:^, ^.i^^^^f^> AMERICAN bill it was fairly well balanced with sufficient comedy sandwiched in with. instrumentalities (DOWNSTAIRS) (Vaudfilm) ^ ■Way below average bill for the I actor like,to feel sorry for himself? Listen, "be a Pagllacco"—Perfect. The guy who Wrote it knew hls.psy- einoo, fli,v,o fr.^,^ r.„ i.v.,^wfo«t Ichology and is now undoubtedly I American and downtown the f. hV, i>a?{ of thi^We°s^roCTaiS^thS^"^ht"^ Van Duzee, of the although more than tjie usual num- r^ot?ceable slimo whcTthe Picture ^^^y- ^"P*^* ^o hold morning classes ber of. standard v?Ly4evllle people fans to ttand unde^ number, And Miss Butler are involved. Only one New Act in wit^ othera recogn?ze^^^ ^^"Sh. True, she should eight, and that nothing to rave over. Win°«J; t"fJf^ P^^"*^^|have No. 3 with notblng ahead of Not a kick in the balance but for her. but she did. Not always, per- one act, the Charlie Aheaija con- haps, but most of the time. Parker elomeratlon of nut stuff, and Charlie does an eflflcient straight, even has been around before, though he must feel rather foolish | It looked as though sonie booker busin.ess getters The. screen feature. ""The Mysteri- ous Lady" (M-G-M) even with Greta Garbo: and Conrad Nagel. didn^t seem to be holding up its end, Cortello may have been a con- tortionist before turning dog ini- pr^sarIo^_He_exhibits correct form in two' or three mTnufes^of^behds on a table before getting down to the dog act. The pups are cute, clever and well managed. A couple of tricks have not been seen before. Usual wo- man assistant Is present and dl rects one stunt herself. Closed. here, equally good as an opener in the intermediates. . RIOT OF RHYTHM (6) Dance Flash 20 Mins.; Full American (V-P) A speedy flash dancing turn with momentum as its notable virtue. Blonde prima, lone non-dancing member, does her best In the two numbers to provide an unnecessary change of pace. Two comedy leg numbers relieve the monotony much better and without slackening the speed. One, jr.saUrlcal^ada two njen^ based on an old idea but excelleht- as. played here. Fan and acroba,tic solos by two different women also stand out Bige. wifh thP. vaiidp nTtiirailv e^it^^^^^^ the dialog suddenly goes serious had been misled by names, unless ir<!r?s share of SttentUn. the finish for the flnal song. again | the standards didn;t strive here as "Thi> "iroVir "stern1ava"VNew Acts^ I ^Iss Butler. I they did when working for reports ,.«ent the show off to^^^ ^^""^'^ plausible, even in ^fws . a^rSnt three"&S couple of risky leaps and well kiew of the Hst^^^^^^ rnilo qiirnriqinir for an onener at nigh screening the efforts by atro- Fulton and Parker tossed their stuff house Sfe Elinore bIu and <:^ous lighting. Most of the fireworks over Monday night Brother comSed tK%^^^^^^^ un<ier dull, blue .loods l Outside of Bert FItzglbbon, not so not to come back. Spotted No. 2 vloC LrSSs viol Xvirc to e^^^^ by a red bunch light from hpfty Artie Mehllnger. waa prob- on this five-act bill and much like SleSt resuffi^ S B^n ^^^^ the jear drapes, Un-| f^ly^ besj:^ known to_th,^^ Rhythm Boys. Pretty close to often * oopy act outside of the instru HAUSER BOYS (3) Songs and Instrumental 8 Mins.; One 81st St. (V-P) Fast if . nothing else. On and off In eight minutes and smart enough SULLIVAN and BOWMAN Vocal 14 Mins.; One American (V-P) Mainstay of this youthful mixed team Is the girl's admirable ap- . pearance. In her case singing abil- itl Is completely outdistanced by looks. Boy, at piano,' is good showman, but. the present act needs all of his sdlesnrianship and more. Girl ipakes a costume change and looks great. All numbers used are pops. Bipe. rarrnt^rwgh Vnd h^avP'on th^e^rty I le^s the figures happen to be Pil- I ^{[^'3^^° ^j^f , . style, which may be well and good, houetted against the upstage e/ow^^ ^^^^^^ each time ^hat he ments this trio use ,w..i-j.L_i „..ji...,^-.. -K/rys*.>i™.., «io-t,* roc, the action is lost. Fsneciallv on both M"-"^ ^o similar eacn xime tnat ne _ ... -but-that audience^Monday-nightJwasJllieMp^^ not be classed, aa a. new act no looking for her to turn loose on some aides of the house. Getllng^-aw ^" "0^^^^^ auic^the-ryYlcsnibn'tnhmTrr red hot stuff with that fiddle and from A sjbotlight is a noble intention, I «"aiier wiiai ne aoes. j,nis time ic s | quicn tne lyrics aon t mean a Bpyg sing hot and quick. So PAULA and AL BLUM Gymnastic ^9" Mi ns?;-"Twa^ Violin. but someone should Instruct on 11- a single and shows Artie at low Where they like vo-de-o-do this'll American (V-P) The act contains musical worth lumlnatlon. It's cutting 60 per cent pnt'^ t^^^fln^sh^^ One is at a miniature piano, Man and woman equilibrists and but seems a little top straight and off exhibition value. The Misses customers to 3^^^^ warble. The upright pair as- poseurs. Both look neat in white serious for the nelghfiorhoods. How- Jermalne and Mackay, who assist, not Lervwher4 and when s""^® ^^^al burden. Three kids tights. . ever; it was well received. Monday seem adequate. Main couple are ^^^J ^ay "^^ ev^y^^ He needs the girl ushers would probably like Main fault Is stalling with one or night, Carl McCullough. was third. P^one to repeat a^c^^^^^^ have entertain on their front two stunts that don't appear worthy This Jjjlfje _entertalner^m^^^^^^ 11^1^';,^^^"°/..',^';*^I too good to be wlth'iut it"* | porch. If they had a front porch. of the time consumed^Vhlle two Youngsters have that collegiate or three are common to the aver- tinge. Maybe it'll help. Sid. | age adagio team. Jiiff'^- self heard In this big house which has done a lot of turns of a similar liature real harm, yet they'will per- on applause results because of the | morale up here on this type of act. House Is getting so it puts, the chill The Romas, Troupe («), strong (Continued on page 59)