Variety (Jan 1929)

Wednesday, January 30. 1929 VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS VARIETY 43 DAVIS (St. Vande) Pittsburgh, Jan. 28. PALACE (St. Vaude) Well arranged vaudeville show, ^ tuia TvoAk looks sureflr= notable for its. slir.Qwd running ovilor BilL^!'t.*^L«.^.\^JJ°f° to cuJk I Biving first . rate, change _ o£ puoo. thry ronlly ended the proceedings, Club Kendezvous orchestra again prosont. • JL^ieas arid Lillian, apparently Lvicas with a hew .girl, functioned in that sppt in a neat gymnastic sightly contortion slliii girl In a this spot thoy fu?lRks^a"ctloS.*'^'A?a^^^ the l <^re hurt by a duiropcning.in talk vouldn out lacks action. A fast < ^,,1/1 n't have gone amiss , rtnwnstalrs a little more than half would stand up; It did and that \.n?rM?nday afternoon. With eight set the show throughout. ft. running just over two hours. The Schnozzie trio are oft rc- nMirris wero all short, arid another peaters at the Palace. Maybe that let could have been used to advan- took something off the edge but this faee Bookers evidently did an threesome hiappeinfe to be the one «^oiit face from two weeks ago, Und only Broadway Iristitution re- when nine acts were sent in, and pej^t-proof. The tost is that: at . show ran almost three hours. this show (Suriday afternoon) they • Vime act wias Lita Grey Chaplin .35 minutes, ending within a 4ri''A Musical Treat," with Rowland few minutes of 6 and still left them Becker and Pat Casey M the plcinos. laughing, calling foi- more, Lita Is a personable Of the other features, Clifton ^^ly taller than ^er pictures would ^^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^ Indicate, and reveals a pieasam ■ only question whether the early half for a . useless planting of situation before tUo girl strips to trunks and jorscy and gets down to the osscnoo of the specialty. They hold then, but tho exodus had started. ' JiiixTi. ACADEMY (Vaudfilm-Wired) Another . long one for first .half I but'a good shdw. Plenty of vtii-ioiy on the seven-act bill which van about two hours or bettor. Also "Rdhiance of Underworld" and Fox sound news on the sheet. Fox is indicate, *na ^^^''^^^^^ Us possi- week holdover, shifted to closing certainly giving plenty at this down enough voice, ^fh^^knows^us poasi intermission this week, a spotting towner. ^a"1"1^ ouSS elaboSy^^ and Allan Prior, light r Eugene Costello and Girls opene Girl I that nejpea, ana Aiian trior, ngni 1 Eugene Costello and C3iris opened •^*^lo*^hrPe'numbeT37'a''couple : of .opera tenor, who fitted into the ^jth a routine d.ance flash, enlist- ^ Sf«>, KnlTi a fluegestion or two of. framcup, opening intermission for another chap in addition to the ^nicn nom .,jjj^^*|j.jgg^ intpntibnaV a fine 'bit of straight musical en- four girl.s. Pretentious on (lash and htHprwlse A few hushed titters tertainment calculated to. whet, the acceptable, as a routiner of the typo, or omeiw -ou^ „i„o«.il if« fr.r. tho Schnozzie frolic! and Dexter, mixed, followed , iu , and^ wliizbanged them on comedy, strength was | ^^^^ jg practically doing two STATE (Vaudfilm-Wircd) Unusually good show here, this week; notwithstanding one or two slight flaws duo to hou.se operation more than the booking oftice. More Important than the vaudo bill, the feature picture, "The Awak- ening" (U.A;) and the capacity at- tendance Monday evening, wa.s th'" appearance here of Conrad ami Eddie after ii month or so.ago at tlie Palace, showing vaudovillo's non-^oppositlon declarations, work both ways. Though the State, de- spite it is following the Palace, has the edge in . soiling the Palace's J2 .•ict foi" 50 cents. . . The faults were the .out .Mid out plug Qt a .Brunswick photograph record and permitting the Conrad turn to run 30 minutes. Fonui'r was accompanied by'soi-oon slides, fol- lowing the same idea in an organ soib by Billy . Bai'nos, with music from an offstage phonograph. Tho record played was Al Jolson'? "Mother of Mine," identilled by RIVERSIDE ■(Vaudfilm) . v. But t\\o .a<'t.« here tho i;r.>-i half, one, llnglii-^ Clark's hand unit cNe.-v Acts), running two nunut".=( more than an hour, and the oilier ori;i« Price, on for abnut 'jn nihniti-■ Phil Fahello's o.Ko<>llont pit .oyi-ture brought the ilosU ent< i-t.'il?unci,{ time to.about an lunir and a.h.ilf. »isua:i allotment fm* fivo-ain.hil'- ., Clark .unit, douiniossiy ;i.n uiox-' pensive aiTair from .\ ^ai:ay \ ieW- polnt, is a good. one. .P.'ftly rou- tined with plenty of poppy nepple. Price made hi.-? second . niisiake in two weeks by u.slrig that, so.noo peo- ple gag in bis first show. It was ordered out at, the Palace and H should havo' been.out at the Kiver- , side. If thov dicln't like, it i.t .47th street, no roasori why they should at 96th. This one unnccossaiy gag helped (Jeorgle flop at .tln^ . finish. Until slipping in the raw (mc lie was going top speed. Immodiately tiie response grew weaker until (Jeorgle barely got enough .for a final bow. And what a spot! Thf only inaKe, name and number. If tbe .j,inpip t]-,<, v>fil, clostnc,- and State was presented with the nui- [topping. fiweDt'over the audience. She closed appetite for the cnild and for an encore did "Sonny to follow immediately. T?ov" which she "dedicated to my . A fourth point of s ^^^^ ^ ^ . _ two'little boys back in California.' the happy placing of two ^l^P^y acts, plantirij; their forn^er two-act customers ate this up, and Lita had 1 fercnt turns close together, Karyl .^^ ^^.^^ spot;and. sticking for follow- to I'cr off. Norman's de luxe fernale Imperson- ^ another on6 with the band.' Nine Allisons, all youngsters, eight ations, all flash and little comedy. latter billed as Julian Hall and ■ boys and a girl, opened with a crack and the remarkable^ ^1"°$^?°°"^^ Hid Entertainers. . The cross .fire tumbling act. Kids work like Tro- specialty of Joe and Pete Michon, L ^^^^^ j the pi-ecedirig double went •"'-^'"f'^- . „,,o„ij S and do a flash close at a breath- probably the nearest approach to a than ever, through bavingi slow monients. all of which should less pace, giving a .ferrla wheel Im- comedy acrobatic feature since Ripe K^^g^. materially gag-strengthened presslon for well-deserved applause, and Prevost. ■.■ since -last around. Could even have been placed In a The booker got one of ^those sorrel-topped Miss bfetter spipt. Ray Rogers, single, fol- breaks likewise In the No. 2 spot Defter Is the clown of the outfit, lowed, doing a drunk. ^ A little sing- Uv^h a newcomer that came through K^^gy^^jj^ attitude of an over-sub- ine, couple of eccentric dances and ^ells on In Gus and Will (New |„ ^ „ manner that tickles I comic _ . , t-/i^„. JSme hoke patter, most of which was j^^^^y ^j^at the bccaslori was ^^^fJ'* .^ff^^J S^fJSJ^j^j^^^ ^Uh straight woman n Marion I^ddy; a littleofe color for this house. Too l^ ^^ppy ^ne all around, with re-| f^f J^; J^i^^Vl'^t stately and talented, many gin gags an audience that cpnsiBn;!* | new material: that delivered ana a 11; - ^-^^ j , 3^ ^ dolns ±o .lin.u.vo v.* I /Aiinw witVi hiq band show, of women. • :„ running order that blended agree- ^^^-^'J^^^Jt^/rt^^^^ dancing in "one" with nothing but to follow wi^^^ h^s «'^^,^Yr Buster Shaver's "Tiny Town R^- ably while it was building up . to ^^^^^ trotted IVarik Hunter, Wop his own director for atmosphei e. ^ uj^l^^onff spel? conBldering what .Tue" of five midgets, two femmes t^e"^ strong finale. \^ cbS "suppbrted by Miss Percival Dixon might be new to ^o^f^^'^^J^" J^^^^^^^^ SoaSwa; a few and three men. one o£_whom ai^-^ .^^^ ^9""^*'- for ci^oss-flre that had 'em rolling goers today, but he s ^"'"^ about P^^^^^^ ^ occupied the ros- peared with Ghaney In The Unholy working alone now except for again Hunter's explanatory eri- the same turn as at his pi evlous period, but served Three," have e clever turn but the ^ '^^^^^ ^„ assistant, made a S^meSHf ta king's lingo fur- return to v^^ '^^o,,,. And edge was off-d^e to «ie recent date opening, saved by the ^nov- SshelTcol^edy motif that's a clas- a couple of ^n^"^, ""'"J^^. Sot the best of mental work to book Little br^^^^^^^ of dressing and idea. Act takes J, «^. Miss- Percival is an attractive S:^.^^^^?^,^ &h °orjg^ R°ch here so soon after the Broad- "^"'JLP^itl^^Wlth^^^^^ fnaffne with to BuSlb'' & where he played to tOjout the with^tne oiners ao b | objects are toys, such as | j^^^g Anollon Revue, next. In a I l^.-il'd'^jf* ioH^^^^^ same audience. It was evident here chino and tht record liy the Hruns wick company, for tho plug, the ehoapenlng effect wasn'.t Avortlv It. If on and off in a shorter space of tlnw; Conrad might have boon a big- ger comedy hit th.-in he proved to be. Tnrii reaped: snfilcient response for its 25. minutes to allow a five-, minute vocal encore by Mi.ss Eddy, The 25- minutes of the act, proper numerous excruciatingly Sunday m.iiinee bu.««lni'«ss nfi'. Nice, • day and they wore out walking, most carrying eauvs. "T)ie • .'^liopworn Ang. r; (Par'>, film. Kiffe- HIPPODROME (Vaudfilm) Letdown to normal hero this week after 14 days of exceptional busi- nos.s, fir,st with "Wings," then witlii dTalccticiunybut norw^^^^ . foV well nigh half an hour. , Little, or no drawing power on the .Overlooking the superfluous time ?i^/V;,fj;f'"""SynSetic Sin." Last two spots In tho five-act bill baton for a real hot band. I Dixon, doing 18 minutes ^_or_ soio | follow with his band show- In be tbSf?ed out. Conrad is a funny all the objects are toys, sucn as jj Apollon Revue, next. In a "J,*:' fi,.I^'^ series of national same audience. It was evident nere toy baby carriages, rocking^ horse. L^i^auve Souris'- but with other out- oj'?^' "^^^wi^^^ DbcoT manL? The U^^^^ notwithstanding, the high which are held in balance while the Uiae stuff to knock off the Russe^ ^{^P^J^^^^^ Rich turn. . , - In, rompers, juggles smaller fl^yor. Apollon has backed himself PjJf ^J^^ gbod des6i^iptivc chatter. Jimmy Burcllill and his four girl i five at a time. _ with a Filipino male string orches- Ij^ ^ the act is mostly Dixon dancing, assistants, all.dancing, were the full rry Lang and Bernice Haley, t^^^ Dixon illustrated how his groat stage fiash opener. The blonde motif , are the families type of mixed gg^t Hanlon, next to shut,, had it grandfather, his grandfather and his attained by the girls at tho sUrt "Good News ^^A^i^thonv and Rowland followed I wnicn are nem in uai«.if.;|T= ".y i side stunc to KnocK oir me ^^usse i- „^ ■ ..^ ^ ^ inferior gags with Matter thitkeS the house in girl. In, rompers, juggles smaller ^^^^^^ Apollon has backed himself h^^^J^^^^^^^^ an uproar. Anthony does Pat props five at a time, I _t,4„-.^^ —1« v^,.^v,«.,^ I f. .. „. •Rooney!s. "Rosle- O'Grady"- .dance.-. Harry' and Howland's vocalizing is oke. but No. 3, are mc laumic. ^j ^^ . j^ert nanion, nexi lo snui.,, naa 1 grandfather . ^ . - .. -..^ ..«„<.«t..in I . . .. .. . ced the same step, how he should not be shelved as at pres- and how his son will do cnt, when after the blondine start un. 1= v«« . .- ,i I — . - . ' - 111 II lie lias a son. And previously two or three appear sing y and un- in Which Anthony displays his Hn- the "Watt street" order, but well jg satirical expose of vaude whlcb hg sho\ved how to return from Buf- wigged.,. The switch in head-drees gulstic ability, could be replaced, handled for laughs. Feature is j^^j^jg jy,^ny jaugh shots and a sbng f^lo after going 6ft that way. | almost makes it seem there are more Bob Keane and Glaire Whitney kj^an's whistlirtg in a flute^like note .^^^ closed the first half with their great volume. This makes the "Room 909." Purely a class act. ^so- [ finish for a dandy getaway^ A Libby Dancers, repeat here with- in several weeks, clo.sed with a novel 58TH ST. (Vaudfilm) liniste, deuced. Franklyn D'Amore, his acrobatics disguised at the start, but not for long, by some cross-fire and a bur- phl.sticated and clover, ^ost oi it ^ynj^^ of applause for the old stuff ^jj^^^g^gy^jng to various riiodcs went over the heads of the Monday of sports. Kdba. mat mob. One of vaude s bette. Gorman has been away frona the ' acts and should reap in front oi i,^^,^^^^ j^^, ^ j^^^^ ^j^ne ^,ut his card night gatherings. raised a stir, making it plain that Mrs. Chaplin opened intermission, Kj^g Palace regulars remembered placing Stan Stanley next to closing. itindly. The old number "Daisy .Stanley is assisted by two femmes jj^ys" still holds good as his best, i ^j^g Queensborough bridge eec- Julia and Ann Keller, the former ^^^^ several with a new Uo^.s g^anky 3,000-seater is still shy working oh the stage, with Ann as Sentimental nuriiber on the of its RCA Photophone Installa- the plant. Excellent turn, but ms . ^ ^„ jg ..pm Lfi^e That," tlon, to have been Inaugurated last i .j,,,,. ,, ^„ ir^i'^rmoMito snot finish down the center aJsle left the l^^y^^^^^ change of pace. An-, week for "Wings." It wa.sn't In | With it lie s_an intermediate spot audience bewildered. Didn t Know ^^^^ different in delivery and | work this week for Par's off or not, _wnicn ^ Ar^-^„A-^ -l A:crobatic opener was Les Jardys. I than fouiv girls, but ^t^fer- : mixed perch ^m while Madeline Uour are on atjie finish. Other^ Patrice (New Acts), smging vlo- wjs,e^lt^s^ a featuring BurchlU's eccentric hoofing. Emmett O'Mara, Irish tenor with not too robust a voice, was at a disadvantage in this big place,, par- whether he was ofl: or not, wnicn ^ comedy value. Called "The worn Angel," projected silent. Lob cut the applause. Explanation of e^^,^ has the boy In typical by heralds .announce "Syntheti Stunt for the finish and bowed each .^"J^i^^^^^^ s"cctlns i;;auguraieri^t I wot.,d ^rate as a ^f^ tirne gymna^^^^^ P£?,n'g"S f'ir^nTrei^onl XS There It wa.sn't In With it l?os ^n ^^"termedlate "P^t- tomg^l^ ^^^^^^ suited to his Shop- tor. yet still an acrobat. *^e^^ "Ylddlsha Mama" if ho Dixon and Conrad-Eddy followed ^^^^ close with a Yld tune. One or c successively in front of the closer, ^^^^ ballads, retaining his .nied- Dolan and Bonger Revue (9), Lut- ' . .. , one tan and one black shoe that i ^ "She didn't tell ;^me^ anyone was ollsk^^ Having cut down to three acts tor bears great resemblance to the home'- might bo deleted, but othei cracks^ana in^ Did two encore for "Win^s," the BSth Street is Bob and CJale .Sherwood musical act, thau that the patter never failed to that >go with It. uia iwo ein-uic | ^ .e, _ ^ „ _....u.| ^, click ley opening and the one Irish song now used, would suit O'Mara infin- numbSsStretching^he tu^nlo^'i? | Mck agauT' on "fullei- ration with I aUhoUgh the Sherwopds are con.sid- I ^harUs "Hlim" Timblinal.so struck S.'il?!,*!" «If "w" nfl oLtuminir ar^ It is still one shy under the ] erably .stronger. The "pvelty mus-| ^ Char^e^s .!^um^ ^^^^ a s.far aw the,- back was concerned Tlml.lin was doing pantomime a majority of the time. Too good.a comedy act to toss into a hopeless week at tlie Hip, Dei Ortos closed, doing Spanish minutes.^ Set^^^ f'l Clual quota. uuiiiB I "'''^"^ fhe I usual quota, ileal xtuartot nymbers in both are dances. Two men and a girl. Re- typical of this smart snowman, ini. ^^^^ Katherino Lee. are top- identical, while the Dolan and Bon- ' vealed nothing out of the ordinary, stage further dressed "y^^^^^^^Y' lining, Introducing a. new opening gor turn follows the Sherwopds' and thcuse who remained deemed it pianists, Floy f^anz ana number, of which they were badly piosely in .style. Difforcnce is the just po-so. More ptinch would have Burke, one blonde and t"® oxnei ^^^^.^ ^^^^ ^.^^^ ^f ^j,g,,.o„tjne 1^.,^.^^^^^^,^ left a better impropsion of the bill. Cohen, AMERICAN (Vaudfilm) Bix ImmcnRe atop the American, Monday night. Maybe the cold drove the boys in and again it might have been Chaney in "West of Zan- zibar" (M-G). ^ Not a great vaude show but good enter:tainment, typical vaude, and they liked it. Canary Cottage opened. George Choos had an act of that title some years ago. But no revue here, just a fancy name for an aerial act. Girl Introduces her ma and pa In a circusy routine. The y. 1. took a lot for granted, sang a number, then came back with a rope for some lariat spinning arid a few gags. Gags were a dud, and into the dance as the means of rescue. Konosan was No. 2, had a tough inning but finally won When she showed familiarity W^ith the King's English. Also astonished the crowd with her Yiddish bit. Japanese girl is a,nifty saleslady and has a dash of novelty. Robinson and Pierce, '^"man"^^iDlnir"^^"^=barker=^"before=--hls femme partner shows up, were very big and had a timely spot. Jack Sylvia's Gambols (New Acts) closed the first part. After Intermission Jackson and Taye (New Acts) were followed by O'Neil and Manners (New Acts) Show going big g^ns now, and Val ,entine Vox and Miss Walters, ven triloquial act, mopped. Plenty of comedy. Five Lelands closed. Act worked 'ast and held. Mark. brunet. " , I can also stand refurbishing. The The Michons in sailor togs and Leg Qirls, billing themselves as the with rowdy -comedy were made to j^j^^j^ star-s "now grown up," should order for the following spot. They never lose sight of the fact that they were a continuous riot up to that have a rep arid a certain unique astonishing finish of theirs with the giancjing to suistain. As the act now understander Juggling the „lighter [ shapes up.'lf's but little: better than difference hotwoen mg ana inierm--- -r:"a» ,jtikers need megaphones diate cla.<?Rifira<ion. Dolan-Bongcr where an laiKtrs Ti^ijjin a ean't follow the .'^herwoods in. the l^Jown front thcj thougnt ^'"^ ^ biggi''.s, but Ib'-y'll .•'uffiee elsewhere. Jtige. wow. No n<'W aeis. tumbler like a drum major's baton Thfe Webb and Hay item follow- ing in here was just a thought of a lot down, quiet and polite dance and song arrangement having .some- thing of a handicap following on fast coriiedy and flash. , But. they gained as they went along, and fin- ished for a full score. Tenors from the light opera; stage could learn a lot from the style many> another sister act.which es says some semblance of comedy. Not that th6 Lees are the trite s. and d.. vo-do-de-o performers, but as headllner.s and comediennes they h.ave been doinig the same stuff a bit too long. Jane also, is permit- ting herself to take on a little hef* BUt STREET (Vaudfilm) ' JEFFERSON : (Vaudfiim- Wired) PU'nty of diversity on the first- Good routine show for the lirsi ^.^-.v, half, with five avts on vaude section i,^jf here and plenty o£ laughs, and "The .Shopworn Angel" (Par; on ls<'llout and .standees .Sunday nient. 'screen. Business off at flr.st show k^j^j autn. on this brace instead ol .Sunday, With-scarcely more than a jiy^. .as formerly and usual screen immedTa'tely 'fonowing "the Lee I half house. Nico weather. features, topped, by "Shopworn An- Glrls, and closing, was Paddy Cliff - Ed and Jenny Rooncy, youthful' gel." Altogether a good snow ai (not Laddie), solely billed, with .a appearing gymna.stH, opened with a any price. girl band behind him. Cliff is, a lively aerial routine on double tra-| Blomberg's Alaskan Dogs, with of Allan Prior, both in his easx L^amboyant conductor, gcgtlculatlng pczo. and registered. Two Blos.som.-i Romberg cracking the whi \ opened demeanor before a vaudfeville audi^ waving about in snakercharmer foijowed and over in a neat singing contributed the usual canine once, and his Judgment in numbers, fashion, and just a bit too theatri- and dancing sister act. Roughnecit jpoy^j^g ^f )iurdle Jumping and other Nothing could be simpler than his cai; so much so that some (?f the Uolo and tough dance clicked heav- U^ynt^ helped somewhat fiir good re- clean cut delivery of familiar musi- mannerisms got hiim a. few giggles jcst for the girls. suits through the trainer's, introduc- cal comedy standards, some like in the wrong spots. Otherwise, per- Kenneth McKenna and Catherine tory plecfi that this was the oniy -■ " • - '—' ' - . . 1 - . of the species. loose- ay in oHomo vorite.s. They liked it.- Bud Harris I^'^' hri.s )jf.f,'n around, not fxcepting and Radcllff, colored, tema, were L<,i„i.f.d duos. The boys do aerobatio legitlm.'ite show stopper.'?. Boys L,ni tap jn a manner convlni-lng iii«y .sff^n-d with clowning and warbling, know their onions on both. and.^.than;«.tr(^Cid^.jaill^JlflJ^ brother Paul, who Bf.wcd things up ^^7jj „(.xt niche with th< lr re- wlth some corking taps. ^'JofJ'i "'-Mvulsh trappaigs. They open with rinywhere. UjonJuring, snaek of jimgli"K and Carl Freed's band added material ■ vvinding up with the strong man ly to the comedy division In closing \nuift in po.scs. They regMterea Freed has backed hlm.sclf with a he.avy. A .si.stor t'-ain '--i^'^'ti;'! nar- good mu.«lcal combination of elj-'lir ,nony numbers in b'-twe'u and aiso boys and a dancing girl. Freed. on dref-H 'tnd b-ilan'-". of it fresh for the occasion anu f,jnny banc all high speed clowning. Numbers (,if.an-ups. are "Potato Romp," "Turn Again \ (.inn is a ea and "Heart of the World,' al.<?o 1^ great troi regit'^ingers vi.slt vaudeville^ , lldUhjVla-rsom (New_Acts). deiiced Then the gclVno^.zre:fracas, tnOTJlr hrightlv. ]VIanny" Kln^ wTfh his of It fresh for the occasion and f^^j^j^y 'j^anco Hebe skit, comedy , youthful dlalectir anny performer and ha« troupe lii support. "Be.st Dressed Man." But Jimmy I -William J. Gilroy, organI.<5t, dls- has' a new one. When tho a.sf-:ault tlngulf-hed himself during the ind battery on the noble beak get.s .crrernlng of "Shopworn Angel, too he starts off with the line. Uore than satisfactorily Imprpvl.-- •^can Vway.s work for Chin Lee" ing the mudcal accompaniment which ticked tho Palace mob In- during the orcheptra's S'lrP'"^ ^rdlnate y JbS were on the rec- scnee David I>ove Is th.^ house ord as next, to closing, but as usual I maestro. however, carries the brunt of the act. leaping all over the lot for com- edy; and tossing In the .-^poon play- ing shortly before lag. Hdba. Ronle liiano. f-c<;cntrlc duncinff ■fini-'-'ll'-riric, wlnjmmed iht^m witn (Continued on page 44)