Variety (July 1929)

Wednesday. July 3, 1829 VAUDE HOUSE REVIEWS VARIETY 81 PALACE (8t Vaude) Another good bill at the Palacie, where bills should be good. Tend- ency to creep for minutes at'a time was Its fault at the first show. Still going at 6:30 Saturday matinee. With the excess halt an hour out, the bill "w6uld have pleased 'em plenty, and probably is doing so by now. ■ " Enough speed in the Ruth Mix nodeo Revue, opening the show and running 71 minutes into the first part, and more from Mitchell and Durant. Molly Picon (second week) was the first haliC closer, while Vanessl and John Charles Thomas were one- two after Ihtermisslon. In that man- ner the bill's dragging was group- ed,* althdugh the hits registered by Miss Ficon and Jules Bledsoe par- tially made up for the deficiency in pace. Ben Blue hastened it again after Bledsoe, and then Gay nor and By- ron made .the finish fast with their whirlwind skating. Unfortunately, the skating fools couldn't keep them down at so late a time. Jed Dooley, doing his vaude rou- ' tine as a distinct act in the Mix unit, contributed the Mow's only verbal comedy, so Jed was the single contender for comedy talk honors. A 'ew gags later on by Blue and his stooges, but Bluels talk still is secondary to his panto comedy and dancing. Miss Picon is again the potent box office member. She was still drawing Saturday, first day of her second week, and the capacity mat- inee house seemed to hold many re- pealers. Down. on the east side, where Molly Is idolized, they must be talking little else but Molly Picon after last week. For Molly of the Yiddish theatre brought her Yiddish theatre style to the Palace and made Broadway pay attention. Miss Picon, drawing a new audi ence to a strange house, is one of two Important new faces landed by vaude this season. The other was Rudy Vallee's. The two sensat|ona of the year for $1,600 each, with all the' other booking bulls making them so much more prominent. A buy for Keith's, Miss Picon, at $^,600. In certain theatres that $1,- 600 will conie back with a lot more behind It—in other theatres. If the Yiddish star plays where she shouldn''t, she will be as wrong as the booking ofClce. Quite a buy after John Charles Thomas for $4,600 and others, wlUiout Thomas and the rest drawing their salaries into the Pal ace or any other house. Miss Picon is singing all new ' songs this week and again all spe- cial. A bjBtter routine for vaude cur rently, too, for it holds greater gen eral appeal. If through these two weeks at the Palace she learns to differentiate between Broadway and 2d avenue, she'll never miss on either. The Mix unit went from "one" to full stage in accepted vaude fashion . until the roundup climax. lient a new sort of start to a vaude show by sending the Toby Tobias band into the pit for specialty work, in .cowboy garb. Miss Mix, entrancing three or four times to name the coming numbers, was always an eyeful, on her horse "Llndy," on the ground, and as an Indian maid She is a stunning girl. Douglas-Wright Co., two hoofers under a prop hprse outfit and a girl setting the tempo, had the first crack at the customers' ribs. The Rangers, male singing octet, rat the Palace before and very recently, had their own spot next, following, an initial appearance In the full stage opening. • "Legend of the Fire," with the Oamby-Hale girls and some flashy scenery, just ahead of Dooley. Latter is doing his vaude routine unchanged and fitting into the theme with his roping. Audree Evans helps him nicely with her looks and foiling. The band plays alone and back grounds' specialties in the company finale. Unit should look better away from the Palace. It Isn't consistently a Palace act, on a bill with other acts that are perfect Palace. ' Anyway, time they stopped worry ing over the Palace, which is but . one thea,tre and the one theatre of its kind on the circuit. Time they started to worry about others, which is what the producers of thia unit seemed to have done. They were probably on to the contention that the Palace is Just one week against manV when they built it. The Ruth Mix unit is excellent material for Keith's generally. The Mix name is box office with the proper selling, and the entertain inent will easily land anywhere. An exploitation man ahead of the unit would do a world of good out of town. After his work is done, the unit will take care of itself. If the theatres can draw them In, and ^ they ha ve, a head start with the '""MIx"'nathe, the unit wHT'entertoTn them. They are boUnd to*go for the production part while the other de partment won't have to worry. Mitchell and Durant, whamming as usual, were after the unit and ahead of Miss Picon. The boys are real vaude, always certain to wham, because, they are the slam-bang Jtind that never mufta, The question 'Is how long they can stand the falls. ■Vanessl's look offering opened jip the second section. This' one at the Palace before. In the same shape also, with Vanessl's new gowns the only change. Still mostly a sight affair as before, w.lth Vanessl the sllghtliness, apd the nlte «lubbish Iiido Boys In to make It look like an act. Jules Bledsoe (New Acts), next, to stop the show. \He held "Ol' Man River" for encore usage, stopping it that much more, and then repeated a chorus of the "Show Boat" hit to make the click unquestionable. Ben Blue semi-closed after 6.15, with next to shut at that late hour on Saturday . looking tougher than ever before. They stuck, however, most knowing what was coming. They were looking for comedy in the second half and that held them most of all. Blue accomplished a solid score against the handicap, dancing himself and co. over. He now looks like a production comic more than everr Bioe. ACADEMY (Vaudfilm) . Saturday's bill a lot better than the one the Saturday before. That was pretty dull, all singing and dancing and nothing else. This one Is better balanced, shorter courses but heavier rations, faster service, and a range of selections. Much more piquant. Motorcycle riders, Imitations, glee club from Moscow, cowboy rope- spinner in a business suit, roughneck }axz band, inebriation amusingly rendered, and closbical terpsichore. Of these diverse music hall elements the bill was compounded. It was authentic vaudevUe, not presenta tlons. Tom Davies Trio ride the chug chug bikes. Such nerve control would probably have scientific in terest to a neurologist. Three per sons whirring around in a.tub with distance a calc.ulatlon of inches and motors a-roarlng full blast must be 100 proof against absent mlnded- hess, vertigo or fits. Jerome Mann, yesterday's ado lescent, is still doing the same rou- tine, dim and blurry representations of Eddie Iieonard, Ted Lewis and Pat Rooney. Since he manages to keep ti-avellng Hie need for fresh material or expansion may hot ap peal to his sponsors as commercially urgent. Backwash from the cataclysm of 1917, the Russian Imperial Choir is in vaude because of its novelty About 80 persons in rich Russian vestments. Stage full of people will impress the public. Those in the trade will perhaps speculate along the Ilh'es of petty arithmetic to fig- ure how the nwmbers will live on the road. Act is slow to start but- picks mo- mentum as it unwinds. Girl dancer looked like she ml^ht be a ringer. If so, the only. Turn played, the Palace couple of weeks ago under the auspices of Morris Gest who does not own the act. Turn might be greatly strength- ened if given a stronger build-up. A broken dialect comedian like Sar- ry SaranofC would be a great bet and could develop lots of comedy from the situation Itself. Such an m. c. might also raise the salary ante. Don Cummlngs, occupying fourth spot, is an expert rope spinner who scorns leather pants, sombreros, cactus-and-pralrle backdrops and all the conventional accoutrements of hemp manipulators. California Collegians, recently with Harry Carroll unit, noisy, hokey seven-man musical aggrega- tion, did okay. Probably better their way than boring the citizenry with passe jazz. Fred Ardath'S well seasoned drynk' routine and the statuesque Arther Corey with Rose Deering, in artistic adagio, com- pleted the bill. "Redeeming Sin" (WB) on the screen. Land. ORPHEUM (3t. Vaude) Los Angeles, June 29. Lots .of variety and entertainment, topped by Herb Williams, Harry Carroll, Ann Greenway and Mar- celle and Williams, adag1» turn. Txler and St. Clair, plank spank- ers, opened. Just a couple of xylo- phonlsts with an old routine. Billy Chase and Charlotte Latour, help by another couple, in the deuce spot, for comedy sketch. Did all right Glenn and Jenkins next an'd over on energy. Followed by Edythe Marcelle and Ted Williams, George Andre and Salve Gianino, excep- tional adagio turn. Marcelle, as mouse, caught by other three In cat costumes. Very big. Harry Carroll and Ann Greenway closing inter- mission. Carroll Is popular here Emd went over easily, aided by the attractive prima. Closed doing Car- roll's own song version of "Co- quette." Good . melody with kick tag line taking the course oft the tragic stuff. After Intermission, Buster and John West and A da Broadbent. Ne'xE"*"to sfiur came Herb WIl- liams, who hasn't been here In some time and panicked. Did "Romance of A Life Guard" in his misfit bathing suit, used the breakaway piano and played another, which turned out to be.a-beer tap. Any- thing and everything and they raved. Join Halpln, Ronald Field- er and Basil Whitfield helped. Mahgean Troupe, seven spring- board tumblers in western costumes, shut and okay. STATE (Vaudfilm) Rather long show this week, vaude (six acts) needing two hours for Itself, without the feature pic- ture, sound and silent newsreels and an organ solo. Pretty long for a Times Square theatre. Contrary to the generally accepted fact that on the big street a. speedy turnover's most Important of all. William Hoffman, at the console here, is the only theatre organist on Broadway stlil doing the old style slide routine. The Crawfords use the lantern, but in a different way, concert-like. Hoffman gives 'em a chance to sing along, with pub- lishers' slides built for that purpose, and this week has added more per- suasion in form of a song plugger in the fiesh. The full house joined him Monday night. A credit for Vinson and-Relners, new publiclty-agenting combination, cropped up in the Movietone news. Frances AVhite singing her "Missis- sippi" to kids in Bronx Park. When you can crash the sound newsreels with something that isn't news, you can crash anything. They added a little girl .to follow Miss White with the same number, and kids always land In the news pictures, but still a feat by the agents. Confllctlon in two acts of the six both dance fiashes. They are Fra- ternity Square, caught elsewhere under another label, and here with nothing new but the label. No. 4, and "Rainbow Revelries," two spots later. The principal women of both turns do similar numbers on their toes, while the ballets in both are much the same most of the while. Fraternity Square is a fiash with a collegiate Idea and two clever kids In the feminine lead and the Juve, both hoofing. Everything about It seems very youthful, and that will get It over before anything else, "Rainbow Revelries," featuring Charles Myers and Susan Jayne. is a girl act with Myers for relief. His eccentric kick number in "one" is the best single item of the act. The chorus on a net In the rear is in an extraordinary routine of bending, with a seventh girl thrown Into prominence. Miss Jayne sings once before the toe dance and needs the latter to warrant the billing. Her looks rate with the toe work. Jack Wilson and his "and Co." of three naturally grabbed the laughs of the bllL The State audience has favorites of their own, and Wilson stands high among them, and among the State's periodical repeaters. Jack's low comedy in from the start, as is usually the case here, and strongly supported by the work of bis most excellent singing straight man, girl vocalist and foil under cork, and the midget in blackface who is on late to bait a greater finish htmd. Remaining comedy was from Charles Wllkens, the old-fashioned belled shoe stepper, and his blonde I>artner. Why that woman isn't on the billing is hard to figure, and how Wllkens could look as good as he does without her superb support is Just as much a question. Get her ou the proscenium slides, kid, and it her name is too long, shorten It. Jerome and Ryan, harmony boys who accompany themselves on banjo and guitar, were over in the deuce in spite of their own efforts to ruin it. They are the most relentless milkers around in months. ' "Just one more bow" seems to be their Joint thought, and then they take another. Two _ encores Monday night, with a new idea for insuring the second: naming a request song that they wanted, and singing an- other ahead of it Special and top- ical lyrics to pop tunes, apparently home-written, with a gag or two in between. After each blue line, in song or gag, one of the boys off- sides, "Catch on?" to make sure they got it. Showmanship, mister; typical No. 2 showmanship that will keep Jerome and Ryan in No. 2. Feature picture is Par's "Nothing But the Truth" (Richard Dix). Bige. gles aplenty. Nuhn does the gullible farmer Well, supported by a mixed cast of four others. Good hokum here. Robinson ran dway with the sh'pw next to shut, and long before he V. ent into the stair tap. BUI showed them everything there is to know about taps, spilled a few gags be- tween hoofing and mopped up with- out a struggle. They wouldn't let him depart until he encored with "Low Down" and thejskating dance. Even after that had to curtain speech a departing alibi. Meyer Davis's Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra (New Acts) closed and held with harmonious instrumenta- tion that clicked all the way. "Mother's Boy" (Pathe) on screen. ALBEE, BROOKLYN (Vaudfilm) First half here resembled a hoof- ers' convention. Three out of five did pedal Work with Bill Robinson topllning and daddy of them all, as usuaL Nevertheless, a good show all the way and fair biz Monday night. Ankle twisting got its start In the opener from the Zastro and White Revue, with the male team giving them plenty in buck and clog. A harmony sister team spaced the dancing with, acceptable duets in crooning faehion, and two other gals soloing; doubling with the boys on the foottTodc.. A fast act, ade- quately mounted and liked. Ray and Harrison followed with clever clowning, topping with songs and hoofing. The mole member planted a neat acr ooat lc for results with 'HIsTrelty" paflifgr coJRlIif~5n' for a burlesque adagio that slayed 'em. ■ "Blood and Thunder," travesty on yesteryear melos, contributed by William Nunn and Co., held Its own as a laugh getter. It's a hokcy af- fair with the slick City Desperate Desmond trying to outwit the did farm couple when he discovers there's ore on that thar farm. Hero and the rest. Skit is keyed in gen- uine tent rep tempo and grabs gig- S8TH ST. (Vaudfilm) Schmeling fight film aided the till. Nothing magnetic about .the regula- tion five-act vaude layout. "Studio Murder Mystery" (Par), attractive here. Balbanow Five teed off their "Night in Moscow," securing aver- age distance. Three men and two girls with accordions.' Nice Russian dressing for mediocre fare. . Act colorful. Instrumentally not so hot, Good for picture house presentation. Girl toe dancer does fairly well Fair applause. Couple of colored artists in the deuce. Howard "Uke" Joyner and Jimmy Gibbons. Pop songs and piano. Some dancing, with remov Ing a shoe without missing-a tap; replacing the log and.removing the other. Tempo here. No unusual re ceptlon. Trey occupied by Gus Fowler, aided by a page boy and girl. - Time pieces for his legerdemain. Amazed the folks bringing a score of clang ing alarm clocks out of his ^hlgh hat. Turn unified and fast.' Next to shut, Scott Sander. Twenty-years ago stuff with wig, simulating an opera star who used- to-be. Some fair gags. His aged singer is well done, but the charac ter itself is weak. Scotch tinker number finish of his lines haven't the dialect strength he starts wltl>. Well received. Helen Beth Margo wheeled out their "Dancing ^orld." Tommy O'Hare sings well. Another lad skits across the stage displaying a natural backbond with little else. Four girls in black tights open number with Illuminated batons. Miss Margo dances on in pink ensemble, her taste In attire surpassing her terp ability. Nothing strong. Four girls ordinary. ^ JEFFERSON (Vaudfilm) Plenty of laughs the first half bill. Practically every one of the six aots angled for . laughs, getting them. Fair biz at the matinee Saturday. Plenty of stags in for the Schmel- ing-Paullno fight pictures. Lestra La Mont, femme imperson- ator, did well as pacemaker backed by a prima, specialty dancer and six girls in a reviie titled "The Paper Made Girl." Billing Is right since all costumes were made of crepe paper. La Mont, evidently suffering from a cold, gave a raspy delivery of his numbers, with even his imitation of Creole Fashion Plate counting for nil because of the handicap. Gal supporters pulled the turn over with La Mont depending upon his femme creations display as his contribu- tion rather than his warbling. - "Snoozer, Jr.," canine, with male trainer, solid in follow up. George Broadhurst, former bur- lesque comic assisted by mixed team, whooped up the comedy divi- sion aplenty with a hokum skit His boob souse got 'em on the walk-on. Spoon band bit remains the big thing. Canfield and White also hit with nifty chatter and foolery. The gal is a looker and corking nut comic, with White an oke straight Their flippancies rolled them. Freda and Palace sustained the laugh convention next to dloser with Wop crossfire, songs and instrumen- tation. Melody stuff did its. usual services for encores. Four Ortons, three men and girl, closed and satisfied with a novelty turn. "Studio Murder Mystery" (Par), screen-feature. 81ST STREET Vaudfilm) Two venerabies on the blU Satur- day, Casey and. Warren and Mel Klee. And without a change of any essential feature. Two New Acts, Robert Newell, baritone, and Maryon Vadle Danc- -ersrthe-latter-'prctty-veak; Show opened by "Broken Toys," well-staged and deserving acrobatic turn by two men, each minus one leg. They constitute good vaude- ville on intrinsic merit by the meas- ure of their accomplishments against a handicap. Fair matinee turnout Saturday. Adults more numerous than kids, always- a break- for the. actors. "Studio Murder Mystery" (Par), the feature. Land. PALACE Chicago, June 29. A good vaudeville- bill, reported in the running order, A1 Gordon's Canines Gordon's dogs, trained for com- edy r.ather tlinn methodical trick routines, make one of the most en- tertaining animal acts in vaudeville. Gordon has trained his animals to create the Illusion of working con- trary to the master's orders and he has taken the act out of the dumb classification with a good line of talk. Heart'ly received. Ted and Al Waldman Basically a novelty musical team, featuring the harmonica. Running time is padded too obviously with dialog. Boys work blackface to help the comedy attempts. New talk Is needed, and Ted Waldman laughs like a sap at his own stuff. Music Is hot and alibis the turn. Weakest spot in the show. Frank Beaston Beaston played the hoofer in "Ex- cess Baggage" here, and drew quite a. recognition reception. He is doing a sketch titled "Contradiction," by Edwin Burke. It gives him the same type of role he had in the play. Young married man. thrown out of numerous Jobs because of his habit of contradicting everyone. Climaxes his bum breaks by talking himself out of a big Job offered by his father-ln-law. When his wife threatens to leave him he swears reform, but is yell- ing that papa-In-law never got Cuba on a three-tube set as the curtain drops. Beaston Is not rest- ing In vaude; he plays the sketch hard and fast Very well liked, and efficiently supported by Wilva Da- vis and George Spalding. Al Trahan Trahan played a two-week book- ing here in January, but still scor- ing solidly on his return. Talented pianist playing nut comedy .and in a sweat Assisting the hoke Is Lady Marie Duval, who starts several songs,' but winds up in a slugging or -wrestling match with Trahan. Low comedy, powerful as an Italian in the subway. Carter DeHaven Veteran has brought his son^ Junior, and daughter, Marjorle, int<r vaude in an Intimate routining of songs, dance and talk. Not a great act but It has a name, sentiment appearance and a pleasant atmos- phere .of light comedy. The daugh- ter might cover herself with a little more cloth. There Is something about a scantily covered young wo- man working with Iher dad, also the son take off his slave bracelet and quit blowing kisses. He isn't that klhd 6f a kid. Act a sizeable hit Leon and Jean Lee Gail A tall, smooth-muscled dance team, perfectly built for their work, assisted by-two men and two grils In a varied, peppy dance revue. Gals do adagio, and apache, working the latter to a degree of brutality sel- dom seen. For a climax the girl Is hurled several feet in an arc fling which ended in the orchestra pit here. For the big houses. Van and Schenck Numbers with two exceptions new ■to this audience. 'Qua'Ilty of arrange- ments in the two merited their In- clusion. Presentation Is of flrst or- der, with not one sotto voce remark In the whole layout. Naturally the bill's biggest hit Lester and Irving Trie . Two men and girl in hand-to- hand balancing, featuring a double one-arm lift by the underatander. Assisted by Al Trahan, for laughs, in an old bathing suit That Is the bill as it ran, with names, comedy and a flock of talent. And the main floor customers Sat- urday afternoon could have 'been seated within nine rows. Blng. 86TH ST. (Vaudfilm) "What? No .acrobats?" chirped the kid in row F at the middle show Saturday after perusing the pro- gram.. "Shush" admonished the el- derly lady with him. Tlie Impromptu verbal combat provided sound when the screen didn't and there was no chance of throttling the precocious youngster. He'd' missed the circus because of ' mumps and the show was over as far OS he was concerned, even be- fore It started. Another kid, now grown up, used to peg the bad ones for his reviewer pop by walking out for ginger ale on them. Saturday's child -was out of luck since there's no soda pop conces- sion here and no return checks either. . So the kid had to stlclU)^' Grandma ■ partially explained ab- ' sctice of the rlsley workers by claiming they were with the cir- cuses. She seemed to have on In on things and must have been a Clipper reader to be so well posted. Dcj^plte objections of .the juvenile critic, the show began. Chew Ling Ttouper-quintct.ot...MongoIIan..'eon-^ tortipnlsts, fired first and clicked with.fri&t stunts that put 'eih over, but only partially pleased the kid .: critic because none was nhoi through a cannon. It's a good act. Roger Williams, flanked by femme, pleased In follow up with his u^ual sound Imitations, but now carrying a radio set build-up. Williams works'his act around the radio and it fits. . The gal does a neat dance (Continued on'page 83) .