Variety (Feb 1929)

Wednesday, February 13, 1929 VAUDE-BURLESQUE VARIETY 41 Dark After Clean-Up . Cleveland, Feb. 12. Sammy Manhelm's Empress, a burlesque emporium on hot-doe fQyf downtown, cloaed Saturday as the result of poor biz and a clean- up campaign. Theatre first ran wide open •hows. After the cops stepped In and tlireatened, the management toned down the shows until they •^(^ere too ta^ie to draw. The Empress, formerly a dra- matic little show that brodled, Is jianheim's second burlesque house to go Clark In recent months. His Alhambra enterprise out in the neighborhood district also flopped after thi-ee weeks, due to a strict police censorship. Columbia is the only one now open. Burlesque at Lyric, Bridgeport Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 12. Fox-Poll Globe, silent films, closed Sunday for renovation. It will reopen In a lew weeks, play- ing burlesque, transferred from the Lyric. MUSICALLY SPEAKING c OSCIA lever .•\ND V ERD I ersatile Are Kay Oh-lag'' It Over the R-K-O Circuit Burlesque Routes Weeks Feb. 11 and 18 Bivre Fac'ta-Cfldlllae, Detroit; If, Em- pire, Tolptlo. Bunt . Show In Town—L. O.; 18, Lyric, BvldReport. Bohemians—nrand. llartfora; 18, I*. Bowery Hurleefiuers—llaymarket. Chicago; 18, Kinpri'SB, Cbloat'O. Burlesque Revlcw-^Irvlng PI., N. T; C.; 18, limpire, ■providence. ■ Dainty DoUe-Gayety, Montreal; 18, How- ard, Boston. Dimpled DarllnRS—Garrlck, St. liOUle; 18, Gayely, Kansas City. ^Dixon's Big Bevue^MaJeatlc, Albany ; 18, Colonial, Utlca. Flapper Polllefr-Strand, Washington; 18, Academy, Pittsburgh. French Modole-Columbia, N. T. C.; 18, Gayety, Brooklyn. Frlvolitloa-Gayety, Baltinfiore; 18, 3tra;nd, Washington.. ■ Ginger Glrle—Trocadero, Philadelphia; 18, Gayety, Baltimore. Girls from Huppyland—Grand, Akron; 18, Gayety, Buffalo. Girls fronri the rolllei>—Emprees, Cincin- nati; 18, Gayety, LoulevlUe. Girls in Blue—11-13, Lyric, Allentown; 14-16, Palace, Trenton; 18, Empire, New- ark. Girls of the U. S. A.—Columbus, Cleve- land; 18, Jj. O. Hello Paree—Howard, Boston; 18, Colum- bia, N. T. C. High Flyers—Gayety, Buffalo; 18, Temple, Syracuse. • , Hindu Belles—EJmplre, Newark; 18. Star, Brooklyn, ■ Jazztlme Hevue—Academy, Pittsburgh; 18, Lyceum, Columbua, Kuddlin^ Kutle's—Empire, Toledo; 18, Columbia, Cleveland. ' Laftln'.Thru—L. O.; 18, Trocadero, Phila- delphia. Lid Lifters—Empress, Chicago; 18, Cadil- lac. Detroit. Merry Whirl—Orpheum, PaterBon; 18, Hudqon, Union City. Mischief Makers—Cryetal, .St. joe; 18, Qayety, Milwaukee. Moonlight Molds-Hudson, Union City; 18, Irving PI., N. Y. C. Moulin Rouge Girls—11-13, Geneva; 14-lC, Schenectady; 18, Majestic, Albany. Naughty Nifties—Gayety, Wllkes-Barre; 18-20. Lyric, Allentown; 21-22, Palace, Tren.^ ton. Nite Club Glrls-Gayety, Milwaukee; 18, Haymarket, Chicago. NIto Life in P.nrls—State,, Springfield; 18, Grand, Hartford. Parisian Flapper.s—Mutual, Indianapolis; 18. Garrick, St. Ixjuis. Puss Pus.1—Lyric, Bridgeport; 18, H & S Apollo, n; t, c. Radium Queens-Empire, Providence; 18, Gayety, Boston. . Record Breakers—Gayety, Kansas City; 18. Bristol, St. Joe: Red Hots—Gayety, Boston; 18, State, Springfield. . Round the Town—Temple, Syracuse; 18- 20, Geneva; 21-23, Schenectady. Social Maids—Lfc C; 18, Grand, Akron. Speed Girls--H & S Apollo. N. T. C; 18 L. O. ■Sporty Widows—Gayety, Scran ton; 18, Gayety, Wilkes-^Barre, Step Along—Gayety, Louisville; 18, Mu- tual, Indianapolifi, Step Lively (iris—Star, Brooklyn; 18 Orpheum, Pater.son. Step On It—Gayety, Brooklyn; 18, Gayety, Scrantbn. Stolen Sweets—Lyric, Dayton; 18, Em- press, Cincinnati. Sugar Babies-Colonial, Utlca; 18, Gayety Montreal. Wine, Woman and Song-Lyceum, Colum bus; 18, Lyric. Dayton. ACME BOOKING OFFICES, INC. nooklbg All Ttaeatres Controlled by STANLEY COMPANY OF AMERICA A rovte of IS weeks wltliln 200 miles of New York Artists Invited to book direct Plaster Doesn't Stick Chicago, Feb, 12. Attachment for ?1,200 was filed apaliiet P3d Daley'.s ."Bare Facts," Mutual show at the Empres.s last week, by the Chicago Showprlnt Co,, for a bill I>aley ia alleged to have Incurred while handling "Ttang Tang" here. Sheriff couldn't levy, however, as the Mutual show was proven aii in- dividual Incorporation under title of Ed. E. Daley Attractions. Houses Qpening State, ytica, has changed from a picture policy to vaudfllm, with, six acts each half. A. H. Blank will add another theater to his chain at Clinton, la., house to seat 1,800. No details on construction: New Pltchburg (Mass.) theatre, seatiner 1,760, wired; playing vaud- fllm booked by Keith's, opened Feb. 7. Frank W. HoUis, formerly of Kenny and Hollls (yaude team) is manager. "Arizon.T." (Fox-O) first picture. Le Maire Out of Bankruptcy Rufus Le Maire has been given his discharge In bahkruptcy. Le Maire went Into voluntary bank- ruptcy following the flop of his sec- ond edition of Le Maire's "Affairs." . He has been agenting and other- wise since then, with a coritehti- plated comeback as an Indie. pro- ducer In view. For Australia Blanche and Jimmy Creighton and Kenosan liave signed for 10 weeks in Australia. Tfhey leave Around April 1. ' . Playing here for RKO In the east. Going a.broad for WIUlamson-Talt. Gardner in Dance Dept. Edga,r Gardner has been, engaged as dancing director of Keith's pro- duction department. He was a membier of the Gardner Trio years ago. FRENCH MODELS (MUTUAL) Two. Moiult's drenched with ap- peal and. a C'H.ijilc uf, brumus up to thoir .ui" k>< ill dYiKumit' nus.'-iliilHics pi-o.<t>i*\ Oil A\ li.iti \ IT t!;.iM O is dc Miln. at tluv <-'''H.inUii;i, w hen ilie iuu.>h flauntod Lit lie A'ci.ius I'ailcd to sub.-, atanliato otlu'v tlian h>'r . n\ailio- matical ctaiii^s billed or.tsiilo, I'ati-ons i'ail«.\l to iro for tho torso of tho btr'.-ariucd ol.issic, ^vlioso iiiaji' out.slKnio ail verse-ly the fairly eoiu- menduble uiulerslunf^ lis.^ue and bono. ■ IMeiity of iiiriioekets la the chorus, Entire. onpcMnblo an Itnino- hile aRgrro.iralion of:inanitu;'ition, ex- copt one danic whose isvuK.»rroharp:pd carcass only amplified the lisllcss- riess of her sisters. ' . They can take the "i" out of the "riot of comedy." True to the pres- ent proclivities of the burlesque- producers, clean lauRii.s are s.^crl- flced for a flash of calves and lower halves. Not a cooch in the lot, nor a new laugh. No reason for such a wholesale injection of ribaldry as inducted into "French Models." \yhen they learn that the contin- uous introduction of the banana is one of the prime causes of Bur- lesk's critical s1ippii\pr, the business may feasibly itourksh. Georpre. Grafe, tenor lead, lent a ray of tone to the m;xlea. Natural voice, Gxcellently placed. Wins 'em with amiability and virile propor- tions. Childish skits. One called "Fe- male Justice" with feminine jur>-. judge and attorneys might have been molded into a masterpiece had It been polished. When the male prisoner in the pei-son of Geore;e, Hart, ti'amp comic, enters the courtroom and hears the mollS chirping from the jury box "Of course he's guilty" befoi-e having laid an optic on him, it's Inlrlnsicr ally ftlnny. A good flnlsh would have laid them in the aisle. Viola Elliott, heading the cast as Little Venus, though a physiological disappointment, carried on favor- ably In the featured bits requiring an iota of hlstrlonism. . Nothing to cause the tobacco patronage to; burn their weeds faster than u.sual, except the afore- mentioned extrenjely well rounded figures of the two blondes and two brunets. Chi Academy Stock Oliieayo, Fel.i. U. KofTotiatioiis are pendinir to con- vert tlie Ae.uletny, oldest Yaii<leviile hini«e ill rhi'.'as.»,o, Into a sii^elc biirbviiiie lio;i<e. ?ilrs,- Jsohl is owner. Atttiriiey ^forris Si Haeffrr l.s aot- iiiK fi^r uniilctuiruil lessi-c. COLORED. MUSICAL STOCK , t;'rlti;ri<in, r.rooklyn, • eloscd for si veral inuritlis. reopens nevl week, Keb. IS, wi.th entored Jnusii-a! slock. Sam lluptor Is iiislvUHn.u: a company to opei.vto on sciui-weokly cliaiitr.e basis, ■ : Company includes ■Frank Bailey, Maybelle Jones. Sarah Carraway, Frank Gunthor, Florence Mack^ Grace Livingston, Kiitii May berry, Evelyn Clare, Mairiie Smith, Lew Carmody, Lillian Smythe, Elwood Erigelhart, Thomas Jones, Rufus Blair. - ■ William Nigh, en route to Chlaigo with staff of cameramen to film preilminary scenes of Chicago rail- road terminals for. use in "Thun- der," starring Chancy. M-G. VANESSI NOW PlJVyiNO R-k-O CIRCUIT WEEK OF FEB. 16 OBrHKVM, OAKLAND, OAIm PIrertioB SAM KIIANNOW 1560 Broadway New York City A VAUDEVILLK AOBTVCT WHICH PRODrCES MORK THAN IT PROMISES CONSISTENT, EFFICIENT SERVICE SINCE 1913 Astor Theatre BIdg., N. W. Cor. 45th St. and Broadway Lackawanna 7876 New York City RADIO- KEITH-ORPHEUM Circuit of Theatres (Kelth-Albee-OrpheDin) Vaudeville Exchange Oeoeral Booklns OfBce* PALACE THEATRE BUILDING 1684 Broa4lw»T N^.W TOBK CITY CORPORATION 1560-1564 Broadway, New York Cable AddrsHs: "RADIOKEITH" R-K-0 PRODUCTIONS, INC. (Formerly FBO) rrodiicm and DJMtrlbaton •( First Run Screen Attractions SHORT SUBJECTS NOVELTIES Stlent and -whh Sound 1660 Broudway NEW YORK CITY 44 STOPPED SHOW AT BOOKED VARIETY January 23, 1929. "Sketch called "The TJndercurrent' was tremendous ... It was the prize winner of one of the Little Theatre Toumahienta and manages to create its own atmosphere." THE NEW YORK SUN Jan-uary 22, 1929. " . . . ■ This, observer, who baa eat and squirmed throuerh mahy 4 dull playlet on the Orpheum boarda, found himself . (with the rest of the audience), .rigorously ap- . plaudlng a one-acter that has not a laugh In it. . /. IV gripped the attention of an audience th.at bad expected the worst. The cast took six curtain calls, en amazing thing for unknown players In an unknown playlet. The play comes to New York after a einilliar success over the whole R-K-O route, and if vaudeville's new moguls have any lingering doubts that Palace audlimces will appreciate worthy sketches the reccp-' tion to. Mrs. Khlert'a work should clear their minds."—CARL. HELM. THE NTEW YORK TIMES January 21, 1929. ".The Undercurrent* turned out yesterday afternoon to be quite good. It Is written sincerely and observantly, and tells Us not overburdening story with effectlvo elm- plicity. .. ." 11 THE PALACE, NEW YOJRK, WEEK JAN. 20 SOLID, RADIO-KEITH-ORPHEUM THE MORNlNti TELEGRAPH January 21, 1929. " . . . If you can be thrilled by as perfectly written and presented a one. act ■ playlet as has ever been offered to a Taude- ville audience. . . ... For its first New .York showing the. Palace theatre wa« se- lected. The Palace, has many times shown a restlessncNs .during dramatic acts .of this type. Sunday afternoon, that .same audi.-, once seemed to sit spellbouhd. Mrs.. Ehlert has not only shown herself a word character painter of ability, but ,she has also proved her adeptnesn In staging the playlet which she has done herself." —.H. DAVID STRAUSS THE NEW YORK TEL SO BAM January 22, 1929. "It's an excellent one-acter, sharp, aure, unexpectedly etrective, and nicely acted, too."—ROBERT GARLAND, TIIE HORNING WOBIJD January 22. "Occupying an Important apot at kba Pal- ace this week Is a sketch atralghtly dra- matic and singularly dilfereiit from the gen- eral run of sketches ... a hideous, cruel picture that Mrs. Ehlert baa drawn with Ho OTnall amount of skill . . . an *x- traordinarlly sincere . and effective one-act play . . .CEFrERY HOLMESDAX.B. NEW YORK ilBRALD-TmiinDNiC January 22. "The author has captured the brutal at- mosphere of a family . . and hoH ar-' ranged the wJiole Id. a few deft niluutions." NEW YOBK AMERICAN January 22. "An Incident in the lives of the poverty haunted mftmbers of a God-foarinp.Janitor's ■family, Is the feature arhong featuren at tho Palace, , . . Tremchdous' ai)pl!iu.>'e -was awarded ..the characters of Pa and Ma Fisbyer , . '. who madp a fitroriK Im- prewlon upon the emotions of the audic-nce." THE BDLLEtOAltD January 26. - •* The Undercurrent,' Fay Ehlfn'H prisse- wlnnlng playlet, worth all,, and many times more, the clamor set up about its merit from coast to coast. Is here for its ddbut engagement. In. the fourth Hpot It not only caught on but hit the auilience between the eyes. A concerns TAudeville it is the sketch supreme. ... . The piece Is as well cast aii It Is written, which can mean naught else but excelipnt. . . The players came in for Hu<'h a turnuliuous re- ception at the bowH that the show apjiean-d permanently crippled."—EL1A8 E, 3UOAR- MAN. FAY EHLERT FIRST EASTERN APPEARANCE LAST WEEK (JAN. 31), KEITH'S RIVERSIDE, N. Y. BEN FRANK and FORMAN MAC **TAPLANiyS FLEET-FOOTED SONS' Th..„ks to >ho„ Axaidnmn THIS WEEK: KEITH'S REGENT (Feb. 10-13) } KEITH'S PROSPECT. BROOKLYN (Feb. 14-16) ii.vrry w.ber wnoee