Variety (Sept 1929)

50 VARIETY VAUDE HOUSE REVIEWS We4nesday^ September 18, 192d PALACE (St. Vaude) . Fast 3UO(.;o>ision of sottg and dance /iBpeeialty c'uiuM(;Hi tihc fii'i't halC, Icad-^ ... STATE (Vaudfilm) Plnyinf? "Tlio 13roadvvay Melody" (M-CO • for. ltd .third • ropoiit- on Loow's nVain fjtom house r announcements are repetitious and lack any liumor. He 13 ill-at-eaw facinf? an audience, but is at home, wielding the baton in front of the band, a ten-piece combo, that ron- a hooftnff turn with some specKu 1^^^^^.^^,^ '^^^^^^ «,niiVfi crnt the fe- Band With orchestras PALACE (St. Vaude) Olilcago, Sept 14. bumpinff Into which sectibn, Rciuiral >ffo,et b^ing . good nowhere reaching a aoff3 the knights of AVanng's outfit would. get the_ re ■>jiu<leviiUn •• Wcnty ;o:rn.(?)V .nmlorial U.tri^plu«; • ■ , iu??|rip thai starts thinBs/off i„, ception, and .not co >^ Jid, : to . balance: th^ ccuit^nuatioR . of the ^^Ij- " ^""'r^. :ie.t^re.acpvacexiein^^ • npw--Ih:tlVoliv'-U-lilrd/weeH,'goinff:in-tp :«in6,--S(ime.-p-robably acc.6-unte-d;£or• • .X-bSMSy^sbhe'abdut .ttavcl-- the- audioncp; h.ore started to walk /Palace- SatiiVajvy ppeiVing hasn't pj,^^^^ boUv'life and. tinie sjiver,.^*'*^ . . ir^i^i^^i.''- nffomht ' i3ut the: length of the- show must had: a w'odjhor break all siummer providing: {Satisfactory amV/iunicient. UuP^n^nt^ bovs be^ h>e equally, blamed,.on the Petr.uska ■XilTiVat- "vteraifnment.^^.a^ " ■ • . . , . - , / ,i. v..'nij>id. turnover ."on .,the V after siiltr less; doing ."VVfeathcv f avp.r vrlhter, /. ';. : ; o . .'y ; | ue^tlia spcjedlMnit at the ^tate I jh-: the/third hole;:were: B^^^ wW<v tWpV i^einnir Act as . Newcbmerii to vaUdeVlUe comprise Saturday plenty of chopjnhg .was and Rehee. with: a dandy line oC|i'\ai A.V +wi : ;$even Kelsons. J unipr .purkin and j^^e,, whiou cut froni inaJiimum of I ^oke Comedy artd. song: Cor the .spbt,, /vvholc too .quiet lor tne spox. ■ ■.. ' ~" ' - >;o a bare 30 riiiiiutes,, Put A\'est jetting easily into thie presentation took tlie sevo.rest lop.by leaving .OTJt, idea.: gi Wills, next to •shutk has ,a.l have: opened, .>¥ith/their, wire, turn, all his own spocijiltica and connii- crisp lin.p. of chatter/ his cracks Mother and -dad/.in the ;act,- with ing his activities -tb leading . the. ^i^jiUngi inainly with crystal gazing^ ma. doing nothing, and ;pa .doing a; band dnd .' introducing .the others, P?t«lii»^B .:a -goodly quota o^^^^^^^^ p£ nice bits; - Turn g$ts jxini- About the only thing .v-VV'est: got in laughs.: Final turn brings bh tht bled, everybody dping everything were a few ad- libs between acts, gerova Spanish Beauties, six girls.'Kthey happen: to kiiow. Sonny does. These-were ,snappy enough to score | whom do solo Work : while some tumbling, temarkable only .be- the remaining quartet conflne them- cause he is a;.asO-pounder, The girl^ I——-"1 the wire, squeezes high=-kick bit/ Act to the acrobatic Co.; dnd Oha.rlt',s .Miiri'ay from the flickerij u^<^\v Ac ts).; .- Stage maniigoiv prublVni was ,t<! ..gftjt. Lead,cr Schwarii^ld's- inen from the pit to the. stage :£or'the .Anatol Kriedlarid re.vue and then back again iiv time frtr the: Three' Swifts. Tliey tried to ehsc :the change dur^- ing ■ the .liriiitle applause of the | ea.clv time Friedland very wc coined nice this .calibre eastward ar^d wi,th.npth-. ^ ^ , .^^^^ .are in -Jirie fornhe Third - was Flo Lewis, back here opened nicciy.. . .. . ■, ing to- W-orry -about.v.--Th.is.--nautical: -, -i.-. finite..- aJter-.---the lain-nsha'dft- - after -four -years,- •and--.ovor big with N-o. 2 culled for strong ,comedy. ^» of F., & IVils is a-punch,-cariT- JJinS a^C .but instead Rogers apd /W^'ynpe were oUt-.a,- battleshlp-vdwfc ^.dlspliiy. KnSttbn JSSr piano, should rcmem- spotted. . Quier ppening .tpr the. two | ^ol'minute detail. .:rigging. guns: and; P'^^I^JW^^ When Introducing, bis partner Pip routines,..a;rid .setups from . _ feaiture. with Pathe sound that,her .name. Is/^Miss Le^^^^ ORPHEUM Sit Vaude Los Angeles, Sept. 14. With. Jack Benny- and Bert Wheeler held ovp.r for a second wepk, the five acts leading up- to their spot contributed to a bal- anced program. Show only co.st around /: $(>,500,-. the cheapest for some time, made possible by ro- cruilpd local talent. . / : Oilbert: JBrothery,. a bar isessipii, opened. .iBoys have been trying to -get a spot arPlind tpWn for Weeks; ririally landed; and took advantage by giving the cuatomei's something Out of the ordinary. Doris Canfield . and Jerry White followed With White playing straight for a load b£ chatter fr6.nl the girL .Nice, but. should do morie singing; White :^ah.d .Matinihg/ Were sub- merged .by the Al ':^,am.uels Trio,.. irtale dancers, who know, their rPu- : tines, -ilead , couple followed- the . boys: with .a pantomime burle.sque ,- . OH Spanish dancing, arid other;terj)- sichore'an hoke.: This developed into a,, series of -.pratfalls for the dame,, Who took them gracefully and c'aimei up smiling. / : It took both; Boriny and Wheeler: to introduce Bert- ilanlbn. ^. ;L ■ worked himself, intp a SruPt where they wbuldri't let him/retire de.spite ; that he's s6ni.ewhat fas-t for/ah L;- . A. matinee audiiehce.' Gitz Rice and r his: Mountics: did all right, with .:. Wheeler ' dodging on '/ and oft. throughput the act. : Marylairid Col^ legians,: nincrpiece \ band, \ cut; looi.se ./ some hot. numbers . /oind ■ clp.sed srhartly.: Erfemlnalte I bit by Onis: : member flopped. . :;. ' Ringlihg circus ;:in to.wn: had np effect -oh tlie .u.sual: Saturday -afler- . noon hiisiness.; .' youngsters in, tap routiiies, but tbe Kjj: audieiice wtike up and. responded i":^ c<.)4cialty enseriible of .ihisred danc typical Palace manner with: .the in- ^jv^.^ypp^j.^ the featured-turns. : Of troductioh oE. the. ve.te^ra;n pair and 1 these, &'cptty Westeri, backed: by turn -went nicely td. a strong finish! cnsembie, clicked heavily .with and heavy ' applause. That "dance ^ tear-off of haM shoe stuff that we did at Tony Pastor's for your j^j^j.ifg ,^ijj^ a3 one of . the best grandparenls" stuff. never falls. .paige Sisters, youthful land look- especially at the. Palace. - I ers, copped eaia■iy ^vith their, broken/ screen- feature, with Pathe sound., . . ., .. .. . .„ .. news- ;and a miscellany of :silerit n^^^^^ ... shorts .royiidlhg odt the bill. . . | • Fred. Waring's band next,-Waring has unleashed his. brass, and'getting aw#tjr from.-the soft, crooning man- ner Which first m.a;de .-him pPpular out east. But" he's a fav in this (Vaudfilm): • /. town, and alvvaysvgets acrosp. . ilas Presentation policy. at: thisV Har-1 tWo femriies h'^re:; Dorothy Lee, who 125th iST. Then into the Friedland revue for harmony at a piano. PoWy^I^^?f^®T^I, in the correct Zel 85 minitt' s. Flash is tightened up just a mite artd; chjibby ,«npugh-.tp - ;lem.,.mA>ii -sie.m; libqsei minlatuce V-^^ .^J^baf tra-dilidn;-.bu-t -:shfr'a-- cute- for brief running time and makes contrast with West's :ayoirdufiois, i.^pr6ductlon^o to bring in the noise any- Atg play candidly on the.dancing girl spilled spme of that personality picture palaces along Broad-; where. Evelyri-Nare, the other girl, SSigle. The eight steppers are look- blues around the m..,c. tnat came/ - - - ■ - ei-s and all specialiats. Gi^'" ' * • t.'..*,.^ sprightly night club bacli :i,>iviii& b".^ si.>iiit;vi oyiM<^ — 1-i.f -1.—«TV>i» aime picture pataces-aioiiB oruau-. wnere. iiiveiyn-.XNare, iiie. utuer eiii, 5 are look- blues around^.the m.., c that; *;ame . . -em:into thiS' hPuse Icidks over her head and. calls it $ Gitls and in .handily. Miss Kran»er,;:in tyyf^, WW .inay _.pv.|^ en^..inio ^^'^^ "^^"^J^ viay,^ she's a looker, so what's ickground, is another, of the ill?, whp^re^^pockr this seaspj!i, It.all depends on how ,^^Vaiff.. A Spanish boy; hamcd aided by the orchestra and Fried-I ing up whit Helen Kane/started.^ i ^^^^ both : 'hi3 own land's easy m. c'ing, were sufflcierit, I Fbur Eriipcfors, vcolpred. singing i i - • . . . _ aided by Al Jockers warbling and J quartette; and Jotony.^Asbfcg^^ ^^^^^^^ for/both the 125th St sufficient, Four Empcfors, vc^iorea. ^smbuie j^^^^. ^^o is staging the stage tbngiie arid in English, And Chairley bling and quartette, and Johnny :, ,As.'iio^^^^ band shows for both the 125th St Henderson, pianist, played his own the impressive adagio work of the with a monkey, imitation wetp -battdv. sho^.. tor.- Dottt.. .tne ^^^^^^y "^yV^^^ Iklarcelle trio, standbys. Pickbut liked, as was the toe. specia-lty don^^^^^^ the Regent. / And while act; with a. POmedy number and number with the specialty girls, by Wanda AUen. PP^T^^^ , P/°!\a^ precision motions by however, remains the backbone of Band and line dancpi:s_mied in tpe^it i;night; be wise to see the • boys, all entertaining enough, the alct ' rest that, seemed i>lenty tp cia.mp Uj^a,^ ' Interval to get the plttnen back in into a half l ^our. .. :;^ ^ : ./ pictures,. , : . ; Peter/Higgins began the second position and then the "rhree Swifts, first shot at coniedy. . "These club juggling comedians , have a bland style of clowning, sure and expertly timed, the touch that takes theih out of a No. 1 spot and rhakes them first-class three or four anywhere STATE-LAKE Class all over last, night . Tbe ^ig first run.: picture houses, half. HIggirts has a smooths ef- doWntbwn/Work bn a/policy ,.Pf :'a| fortless delivery that cari!t fail. The strong • show • when the picture . is tienbr iS ripe for the productions, arid (Vaiidfilm) ' : weak and vice versa;. No reason should be grabbed ribw/ '": two or r-Wiontrrt cjeiit 17 . Why the same plan cannot be ap- tbree more years and it'll be toO cv,.« „,na i«c.K on T nki^^^^ propbrtion/tp thesp uptown lviate. :He has a . fine voice, getting Ship was lost on Jja.lCe IVllC.niBa-" \ „„Afii ..WA^^.. X>Vr\ mnnao-ornrint- nl- I j «..I,Wa«,;. r^'..o,«- of •>\ miBslnir. I spbts,. urider RKQ management, aj- Qver even with bia.d- pop numbers. Crew of "^f^^^SlltJiOugh^^ floated to c %uld bave ; be^n | o^^^.atth|^ measure by Ed.gar Allen "Woolf, to | opening stage shpW* beca.use .of spring, made a dull spot with ari in- *v.g crew different playlet, probably made to ^"" . give the youpgsiter an '.'actihg Op-,| thig''Virdlness, w'as more « porturiity," which it did. : hoUr late. Marcus .iinit, a ^ revu Then Charley Murray in a cheer- and Pat Barnes; local radio . a,n.- ful go-as-you-please 15 riiinutes of nouncer, make up the bill. .Audience ur^ay being capacity a^ act stiir getting results, per .-show. ..about - three-quarters - downstairs despite the handicaps bf ,' I^aat ac,t,^; Florence Micareme a; sultry afternoon. and a .house| oHled as dit^ect- from Imperial witbbut a cbolirig' plant. . :.■ Vienna Ballet Classical. Ckprice. Re- Walfer Clinton and his ba-rid sup I view, arid assisted by the Balasi Brothers,:. wa^ ' riot caught. . After stories and chat, unimportant in probably divided equally, for Barneg, uiy the musical setting^ ^7„Vf a"; the' *ir mail is the air mail, — _- -i-.-i .-t i_ j^ii..^.... v - ...--i— .^5,»*,...o. "Rur.TMfews" I not . bill.-that-- composes tne .'Unit i -. -.. - a w , . j substance, but genial in delivery, | and the feature picture, /VBig News''1 act ^ ., . setting up Murray as perhaps the (Pathe), dialog filriv about a news- titled .'Jajiz,^ la Carte.,. friendliest Hollywood visitor of the- paper office murder, :. ■. out; the motive the .bandsmen are recent series Barries, a draw as announcer for | dressed as chefs, with Clinton doing for -ariy : Palace and doesn't -wait ipevIeWs. By the -way; -almost forgot. biz session. Idea is pretty olpse in pat- tern to Harry T.ate's old "Motoring," but different in playing. Comedy is less tough and tumble, but nearly as. funny. .Sappy "Dude" English- man has a brand new midget, auto and tends it like a favorite child, 'Taking his girl for. a ride bririgs on imitations Of Imateur radio talent. I j-qj. ^i^jg typg houSe, making his an- He offered only one reading (and he nounceriients in pleasant style, I ^'*"J'|r■ can do them). More would help; slngirig/ dancing and. clowning a' Marcus revue^ followed, a hodger jjj^^ jj^j. pevier niaking himself Ob^ podge of dazzling- scenery, fair trusive while the band handles pop sbngs, fair dance specialtie.s and hj^neg and iricidental music for "the weak, foggiy coiriic skits. , Chorus yarious tui-ns in approved manner, of 24 attractive skins i.s finely seyeral of the boys Step but for things, can't b^ weather; that's been Loop. LINCOLN SQ. (Vaudfilm) iirkSfdroffSsiav^^^ of I trained ItiiA: Tstrengthens^ the act. I ^n^ng -aJflfd dDmcIhg specialties, and I ; -This bouse .is reputed tO be the them due to ^tinv c^^^^ h Audience was lenient with, the com- everything corisidered, Clinton has .easiest laugh getter around the met riamb./' Iraughs from everywhere, cbmedy 'was 'ii tatlon by.corriic quintet..-. i?aie,jyi:ii-i vx-r^-^ -^^^ before .the.rini.sli. : : tor and, Dbrotby .Cpudy. ^^ith ._soft .^01° * S -Tithout the JE^edford. /and. gladden, jugglers, ;Soe and ;taT>:rout;irie.-:are good, Set^: SlSSfi?n4? YoiStbi^&o^^ a latigh. send-om J^»v.* ^Ai,oiA» ■ <. I Kedfoi-d juggles . and. balances of the "follies", .and "Vanities," was the second acvpbatlc burlesque of the third itinie. matdi-ial thflt shapes up nicely with anything thpy have. - A»^WT>r» done' Capital effect: is .the singing . . ./REGEN * ■of ""!ftow>/Rbw> Row;" With, the scrim J. ^,. , - .• dropped in ti'ont nirid.a-moving piC- : (Vaudnim). ture closeup:of two college shells-, in Second week of stage, bandrpres- :\J-'-Btirrihg. tace. finish.::- They: had:Untation iiOliCy at this Harlem the dbg rehearsed for one number, hOuse . sPcms to be meeting with but Something -went-wroTig arid the. popular approval, judging by the biz. ■ pup was left- but.: It got .into -the -at Saturday's matinee. The Regent, . final bow, however: ■;.This :aggrega.- a 2,200.seater, -held close to. capacity: iiori does get over as' perhaps no flownstairs and the youthful audi- . other similar group.: the feeling of cnco; more than enthusiastic 'in youth and Spirits arid tbat is half Ujpots, .seemed to be enjoying the their charm. I-teidt - .himself is 1 brand Of ehtertuiriment dished out among the best of pbrsbnality lead-l Howard. Kriier.son /and hia Or- - Ara^and_th&J.boys_Jy,p.r lc uft to hi m chcatraVturni.sli/jthe^mu ^ V.'^^-^ 'in great shape. Good comedy bit p,.ound for. the revue, fifled Jazz was impersonatibn Of Well knpwn jcspagriol."' the horn, tobtcrs wearing band leaders, including, an excellent gpanish . garb. The Spanish idea bit of almost straight Valee.. - outside of tiiat and the rostummg Albxander Bros; and Plvelyn., vet- for one daiice J^, P^;^5"^*"^ «ran rubber ball martlpul.'^tors, fprgolten. but as a. whole thp flve- Sd the &. J3xcellerit mixture act bill i.s fairly good vaude despite of expert juggling and the smooth, several. weak spots. comedy of the nluriip I Rmer.son bardly rates as an m, c..- rig within view. Madden coriiic touGb' --by .his. boUe Which even got ^Into his Work as he dropped things JEFFERSON . - (Vaudfilm)'-- The'Reith. bookers of this house aptliai eritly. are atujnped a» to Un- / ing up the kind of a show thiat will turn .those afternoons into: some- : thiner besides; a headache - fbr: the RKO controllers.- ': . A -seven-act. show included El-/, tirige and' Vernon,- CObper and Cav-: anavgh, Ruth Warren and Co, Helen Justa and Charley, California Col- legians, Smith and Hart, and Songs and Steps (New Acts). On ..the screen - "Side Street": (Radio Piet,)/ talker, with , the . three Moore Bi-OtherS, and the . Pathe . spund news--"'-- ■ ■■' ' ■ ■■■ - ' '■■ .The opening, turn got away , to a .- slow, start, pickied bp a little arid finally drew- down, fair applause at the. flriish.: It's a mixed affair, with, acrobatics by the. rrian >: standout Cooper arid Cavariaugh :haye im- proved on their cotnedy, tbeir gags having :more bf a kick than for-: merly. The act did nicely here. / Ruth Warren dOes a lot.of clown- ing in that. "Cross Wires" skit,," purely nonsensical,,; pulling ,a lot Pf : gags and: hokirig up things ,when the two men are On. She succeeded In putting- over heP, laugh-making intenttbris; Aside from sbme tap- T?ing by the man doing the elevator bpy. the whole act is/Miss Warren. Heleri Justa fornlerly worked with two boys, but is nbw . using one, ■ Charley by name.' Samb style Of dancing, with Miss Justa, hbwever, doing an invitation of Bill Robinson ;without the stairs that showed her, a clever bbofer. The; act- has much dancing pep and scored roundly- The California Cbllegians are go- ing in fbr cprisiderable hbrseplay in -: their nunibers; and thereby seem to Win : mbre laughs. . Sticking, -to straight music, the boy? apparently realize they are certain: to bump into comparison with the other and bigger bands with a rep around here. So the dodge of striving for, comedy. Their burlesque on the circus and the riibes seems a good t-easbn why they should be kt'pt working; Anyway, at the Jeff It was - the comedy byplay that put them in favor. ' v . Smith and Mart "gagged, and- dariced arid gagged again to bm- jjhaticj results. Marie Hart iS; ft. cbmedieririe: -whb;; never Tags ■ a'- nt'"-- ute.- A.n arriUsing little act -.a;f>d Pci-tain in the rieighborhbbds. "Songs and Steps'' clo.sed. ^^me., part's good and some not •''O forte. One dancer,: apparently Stcpanoff, . does some exceptional dancinc: ana Whirling.. - Mark- :; i^nTp^ flW"aW?aer wfr at this 'ivo'Usel *h gag-misses. Finish with Mad- S:;Sb'S^^^^ bolding Wide pronged fork in his - mouth and dishing :,applo.<j out bperiing has •Graduates, six .^^^ audience : to throw back at dancing girlS on fOr precision rou-' tines running most to taps; The line girls •Work Well together and ha;ve youth and lobks in their favor. More dancing IS , the offeririgf of Stewart and Gardner,- a rtiixed. couple, the nrtari going in for the bldrfaShioned rbutiries. while tbe ■gii'l cbnftnes ;: herself- to riiodovn stepping. Good, energetic turn for him. : Sure fire tflck froirt yester- year.- •■': . . .■■ ■/ ■.:■ . : :: Fay and: Miiliken (New; Acts), alsjo recei vod: tlijCir tu 11: share of laughs for- small rea.sOn. r/MlUlken ./works in ■ blaciiface arid: holds up the coni edy end; While /Miss Fay !does sti'aighti :, / .. ■ •MOliyVO (New " Acts) spotted third and took an awful brpdie the neighborhoods.: Morton and Turn was slovv and Molly's voice Sally, another mixed team,; warble, didn't seem to please much, besides comedy songs in the small time vvhich she had no comedy, arid no maiinerrone-dealing^wlfeh--tr-ick=hat:ft=|^,^ being about the best., of the lot.. In/ Howard and Newton (New Acts) the trey spot the Three Rah, Rah. t^.p femmcs, followed and stirred Rah Girls clicked with . as.sorted thi„gg up. The stout gal had lots hoofing and .collegiate impreii.sions, fun at the exp'eri.se of her Own stripping .down to ted ti-unks forl ^-hape their tap dance coriipetition. | House full for the supper ..show On the screen "Side Slreet" | Par's, "The Mysterious Dr. Fu Man unforced brother; the plump, , Rush. 1 being a straight band leader whose (Radio), Pathe .sound news miscellaneous silent shprlsi. and| c:hu" :the fetitiire; also Fox Movie lone News. HAMILTON (Vaudfilm): . This ig the champ break in bou.se ; for ft-k-O. Four of the five .turns have , never been caught by . Variety, v;rith Herbert Rawlirison of by-gone Picture fame, here:making his debut iti' the. circuit houses. Honorable Mr. Wu, the fifth, and last, act :P:n the bill, .is presenting alm0.5t an entirely new routine under, the. InU- ing of Chinese Show Boat. Rawlinson and the brientali.st Wu. were heavily billed. Customer!?, were , knee deep Saturday matinee witn sultry, weather outdoor.s. The resc of-the:.Aurna,-an3oW-^comcd^^- J:g-_ reived: plenty , of applause even , though they: followed one- another. In toto, it proved a splendid biu and was riotously received. Baker and Knox (New Acts) coni- menbed the flrewbrks with a sna p- . py hokus-pokuR stage full of wjO<J . brimmed straws which were saileu (Continued on p.igo 53)