Variety (Jan 1930)

Wednesday, January. 1, ~ PALACE (St. Vaude) 1980 Running along unrestricted Sat urday afternoon this collection was. ‘TMghtened it "oO. almost too much. ‘be a customer's holiday. Saturday. -_ of topnotch vaudeville. aa Al Trahan, the battling pianist, is foremost ‘among its representatives ‘Attacking |. the box with enough vigor to.make it bleed, Trahan makes orgy out of Lady. Yukona Cameron's. boisterous interpretation of:a -primadonna in the rough. So. much.. in the rough. that she necks Trahan ‘with’ ‘the tenderness of a clothes ‘wringer caMr. Trahan’s ressing a wet. shirt... value to the best vaudeville is typified by Jack Benny’s employment as a gag the announcement that this is Trahan’ Ss first appearance at the Palace. .Benny Iater said he enjoyed évery hour of Trahan’s act, which is simply. the viewpoint of an. m. ¢, growing bunions in the wings. | “Trahan was fourth. between acts, master of ceremonies,” fas. RKO (Vaudfilm) Los Angeles, Dec, 27. Although .vaude is hela down thig week the RKO show ‘runs over | three hours, as usual,. with’ the lengthy picture “Plight” (Col). Three acts, with Leavitt and | Lockwood’s flash going over 30 min utes. Turn carries nine brass. bandsmen, seven girls in line, two more girls and a male dancer.. It clicks solely on the comedy ’team-work of: Douglas Leavitt and Ruth -Lockwood. Their. deaf-mute | skit ‘and their Garbo-Gilbert burlesque make powerful fodder... The girl numbers are a dead weight and the act is overmanned, . built up as ride home. -. -Two Daleys, Australian eccentric |. jugglers, open and warm up quickly “with the house. going: strong for Daley’s music-hall type of chatter. Hal Yates and Cooper Lawler ‘fol‘low, nice boys with. piano and song routine. that could headline any ‘YMCA entertainment. Sugary, their roughest . number “We're. the Sunday Drivers,” and balance verges: toward the classical. aa The crowd liked ’em. “Benny. was eighth, besides saying a word or.two: ‘Billed as “the cine,he inserted several . plugs for his picture. work on’ the. coast. Incidentally orie-week vaude return for Benny,: as‘he's returning to: Hollywood for. For the one] week he-has thé regular. skeleton of. more klieg klownine. it’s a his ‘standard easy-going chatter routine, . -pleasantly stuffed with newer: sassy sayings’ and gossip. | Benny is. one .of. those. rare light] comedians who drift in and out with .the. knowledge ‘that what they have to say.is furiny but doesn’t really | The’ few who have the|. . matter.. . ‘knack aren’t bothered by. one-night jumps. ; ‘Of some dr awing power. this week ig Estelle Taylor, from pictures. To mention ‘that’ Mi@s Taylor is a knockout in. two revealingly tight gowns is just about describing her act. Her talk, done with an unbilled. ineffectual. male :planist, is the ‘comeding of: a swell-looking lady not. meant to be funny, and her spe ‘eial'songs are fair in delivery.. Peo -Ple will like it because Miss Taylor is in it. No mention of her husband, Jack -Dempsey, Was made in pilling or.talk here (New Acts). ‘The: Great Rolle opened: with..a. ‘novel all-midget combination of illu-. sions and song-and-dance special ties. Rolle is.a debonair Lilliputian,: m, cing the clever specialties of his cute trio of assistants with bright -and easy patter, besides: bulwarking the. structure with three illusions—. eabinet, “floating’’. lady. disappearing woman and Ralle’s' skill as a ‘magician rests in the efficiency of His props,, but everything is highly. entertaining. because of the minia ture performers, Second .wasBoyd "Senter, clarinetist, who. also plays numerous ‘other instruments effectively. supported by-a dancing fiddler and Senter js agreeable in an early spot. iffor no other reason . than his blazing “St. Louis Blues.” The Janette’ Hackett dance act, With song. and a “progressive Succession of dances it tells the story of a girl who chose a ‘money playboy iristead of a poor but sincere lover and comes to tragedy in a frenzied dance of death. There ‘is considerablé.tension, reaching. its ‘peak when Miss Hackett breaks free trom’ her *skull-masked partner and topples down a high staircase. pianist. third, is ‘a wow. jazz He ts One of vaudeville’s best builds may be more than glinibsed in this act. Her good support includes Jose Shalita, dancer} Dan Hurwyn, singer, and Wally ‘Davis, who takes a period ‘before the curtains with nimble ac robatic dancing. ‘Al Trahan and Miss Taylor fol‘lowed-in suécession., First half was closed by .Charles Ruggles, legit | “comedian, in a sketch based on his -attempts to find out what girl he married. during .a Previous night. stew ‘party the ae. looks like two, but turns out to be his nurse, whom -he really loved all along. Comedy isprimary but ‘nice -as played by Ruggles. . ‘Benny announced-Ruggles -has ‘an independent .incéme from real estate and therefore unworriea whether the act is liked .or not; Troupe’ includes Anita. Booth, Ne Ville Westman, Alyce Johnstone ‘and Lester Elliott. Stretch, with newer “impressions” of H elen Kané, Maurice Chevalier’ and the late Jeanne Eagels in a bit from “The Letter” :(film). Tiety patrons. As in. the ‘Windup. is of Libby Holmah from “The Little Show,” exceptionally hét for va show, -there’s a male p. 1. getting hot and Vulgar in a dance that can’t ‘be even described. <All.of Miss Gould’s Iimicry -is concentrated: accuracy. Reception... flowers, mass ao 2wery—_big,---including. Finish of. the long bill was Art Landry and-his band,. wih a small and sweet version of Helen Kane Zoing under the name of. Frances. McCoy. | Pensive for da closer. Much Value was lost inthe spot. Good ‘act ard rather. ex of its _ _ One act could be eliminated withOut hurting. The bill is more than . bargain, Nicked for $10, 000. Palace budget was Bang. \hot love and drama, “The River" .Venita Gould started the second Seven minutes: between the vaude ‘and the picture is handed over to the local U. S. Marine. Reserves drill: as tieup on Marine. co-opera-: tion in. producing “Flight.” Twominute spiel by a Heut, followed by ‘a squad. inspection and a routine of ‘gunhandling. . Not. entertainment, ‘Besides the feature wére Pathe sound. news..and a comedy, “Old Bill's: Xmas.” Uneven sound pro-. ;duetion still marring the. feature, a MET, BROOKLYN ~ _ (Vaudfilm) , Fair. bill, hardly strong enough to draw,’ only two out of. the. five. acts rating better than pop.’ “Mysterious. Island” (Metro) ‘feature. Saturday at first -night: show, but ‘off later, = 7: Audiencés here have a rep of being the most. enthusiastic and. appre: ‘ciative vaude' viewers this. side of the Boston Post Road. Everything gets 4 generous hand slam. All matured turns on the bill except for a nev act. Best bets on bill were Benny Davis and Lillian Shaw, : dia» ‘lectician, character. comedy. performer. «Setup planted practically all the .comedy. second and third, leaving two musical and dance acts on the tail. “Lights and Shadows,” closing, is cut from its: original per‘sonnel of 18 people to 10—four men -and_ six women—doing. same routine _but not, nearly as smooth and hardly. as cohésive as bigger ‘act. Ballet of. three .girls .was okay, but the: girl’ ‘cake for performance. hand. Davis, sohewriter-entertainer, for-. merly had a flash revue of 21 people, ‘Now carries:one male .pianistand two. girl dancers—Ruby. Shore and Margie Green. .Dayis is 85% of the act and 85% good. Customers qui .vived to him with gusto, (New Acts.) . ; Opener, -Bentell and Gould, man. and: woman musicians ‘and: dancers, dance well and present good novelty act with xylophone and sole dances. .Girl's' rope tap socked the house. Lillian Shaw had to make curtain speech. Knocked ’em out of. seats with. her characterizing | and dialect monologs. ‘Three numbers — Italian housewife, Jewish bride, and the bride a year later. All good stuff. George. Darmoride and. Partner (blonde) occupied the second spot -with their cycle polo comedy. Darmonde plays a drunk tramp cyclist: His partner is weak. Act looked fair, but lammed over here for. more laughs than a tickled hyena, ACADEMY " (Vaudfilm) Seven acts, often better than the average in other Fox or opposition neighborhoods, and usually good 'pictures showing for the first time ‘ground: .14th street, coupled with luxuriousness of this pop. vaudfilmer, makes the Academy an ideal. spot ° for. show-Shoppers .to. spend their money most every week, This Act got fair The new program has so few weak spots they are hardly worth notic‘ing, and the picture is that tale of (Fox). Playing to.a near ly filled house at the second show Saturday, the seven. yaude. acts got breaks that must have warmed their hearts after the pre-Christmas slump. Taking -the first six minutes of the 91 consumed by vaude, the Uyeno Japs opened In. slick tumbling and risley which has ored drop resembling the Oriental art work on tea sets.. Smoothness performance by the Uyenos. ' On second, May Wynn and Buddy, recently at the Hippodrome under the now defunct stage band policy, made the most of eight minutes in dance routines, .Clever hoofers, this pair, All things going by comparison, Wynn and Buddy's fast act and able stenping should place them in demand for No. 2 spots anywhere, and that includes the Palace. Miss Wynn's military tap, given special . though’ to ‘give. x ‘Tot of people a Opener | is. the next-to-closirng niche and man -ballroom number with singing. ac-. -Biz good | ‘act here, all capable... -hours flat. Benny Davis, next to Closing, with |. -out.at this upper east side Keith flashes still opening shows and often ‘wotth's”. (FN). member of the adagio trio took :the | week . is. no exception. to the. rule.. ‘the close. for atmospheric effect a highly-col|’ -andlack:~of:—stalling--characterize: tious.’ “oo . . announcement, closing, surety. Smith ' and ‘Barker, long around vaude, followed in an act that clicks all the time. ‘This is the unique offering in which .a pitchman, spieling against marriage, unfolds a Mttle drama in front of your = eyes, talking all the time it goes on, and at the last minute, when about to ‘sell: his ‘books, exhorting against connubial’ adventures, himself falls with a thud. Act plays 19. minutes but hasn’t a dull. moment.. Dolly Kay, queen of “ syncopation and working on the’ little platform. sticking. out over. the pit here, did three numbers ‘and walked, refusing despite a good-sized hand to ‘do an encore or even deign. to take a couple bows. . Held ‘over “from. Yast ‘week, Duke Ellington‘ and his’ Cotton Club: Orchestra of-11, aided and abetted by several specialty entertainers from. the Hariem night -club, proved the biggest hit. of all, doing encore because of repeated. demand. Could have .done two, after ‘playing “St. and. the double, sent this” act over with Louis Blues” hot as hot can be, but | time apparently didn’t permit. . Norton and Haley (New Acts). got aged to survive it rather satisfac-. torily, a few_nip gags helping. In a nicely staged and mounted revue offering, Virginia. Rucker and Co. brought -the’seven-acter toa fitting. finish but could have heightened the effect by. cutting the 16 minutes a little, Routining, due. to length, is’ too: conventional ° ‘in: some: respects,. with the. male team reappearing twice early in the act to do: har-|* ‘mony numbers. ‘If 16 minutes must be done, there seems. to. be: plenty. | material. here to consunie that. time. Miss. Rucker could:do .more in’ the act than she does ‘if ghe: cared to. A very attractive young dancer, she appears early in a nicely done companying and later in a toe spe-clalty. Reversal of spotting of both numbers should be. beneficial to the act. Five people supporting head of: Fox-Movietone. ‘News on screen besides feature, Show = men oar | ” var, “86TH | STREET (Vaudfilm) entertainment. as has been ladled house. The usual five acts, with one of the’ best. acts in the Jayout. Screen -had “The Girl from Wool-. Holiday: shopping over * and’ ‘Santa. Claus .something of the past, the 86th Street had. its lower floor nearly: filled at the first show Saturday afternoon. Apparently. in better. spirits ‘than’ recently, the. audience actually encouraged the actors when they did anything worth -while, oe Lane, Osborne: and Chicco,.a fourpeople musical and .dance. offering, beautifully staged, were on ‘first, and ‘found the early spot and early hour, not against them, their efforts reap-ing the deserved .rrewards. Lane ani Osborne, who.sometime ago. did an act-alone, but areenowbacked by ‘planists who.double for harp num bers, are’ unusually adept dancers. Their toy soldier number toward the ‘finish rates strongest ‘and is:one of the best ‘specialties of its kind ever seen, Paul ‘Sydell and Spotty, a an animal abt without a word from Sydell or eyen a bark from his Nttle terriers, held the deuce spot nicely. This is one of the ¢lassfest’little dog acts in the business. A remarkable feature. of the turn is its smoothness. and ‘the uricommon .alacrity. with which Spotty does his stuff without any. apparent cueing. * ’ Bill Farrell's skit, “Back Home.” Four-péople offering, which takes: argumentative hubby and wife into the former’s home, where. pa and ma also do a little expostulating now and then. The.old' man does oldtime song and dance numbers, clogs, etc., while mother tries her’ hand. at ‘a song, most of this stuff being palatable entertainment but not of the best. Scoring best and outstanding. are Bill Farrell's eccentric dance and the clog double he and pa do for’ Some of the comedy material and clowning on Farrell’s part .@arlier in the act are atlly and. almost laughiess. . Sylvia Clark, ‘Interesting little comedienne long in: vaude, was in: next to closing. Same act she has done for some time, but now billed for the sake of timeliness as “100% Talkie.” Closing, Att Landry and his Victor Recording Orchestra of 11 men, doubling from the’ Palace, discov-ered=-the~going--particularly—-propl-They liked: Landry and his act heaps here, with as big applause act on the bill. Generous amount of comedy and novelties in the offering takes it out of the regular band rating, only one number,. and that opening, being played straight. Pathe Sound ‘News, a _ special Christmas trailer, organ number by Jim Thomas and orchestra overture the rest of the show. Char, Satisfying. bill‘.with fair vaudeshow:-and pictures, but not ds strong. . Center. of the bill, brought additional dancing and some comedy in returns collected as by any. other. VAUDE HOUSE REVIEWS (St. Vaude) . A ‘good show at the Riverside but none too ostentatious. for its swan |. song week as a big timer. RIVERSIDE House. goes. three-a-day. next week. ‘George Jessel, back ‘from the chirping tintypes, is here for the week as topliner through courtesy of John Golden. | Jessel's valde ex cursion is for this week only, after which he begins rehearsals of his: new ‘legit “P..S... He Got tke Job,”. which Golden will produce. copped: ‘the show all the way. Winslow. Four, three men and girl, pacemade with a skatorial.act which: had two. of the men doing the clown stuff -on rollers and the mixed team contrasting with ‘legitimate and fancy ‘stuff.. Combo. blended neatly. and put. it ‘over. tions. ‘Colleano Family, featuring Mau| ‘Mitchell Brothers, two boys with. banjos;. followed and. whooped. ‘things ‘up with. some good. harmony ‘singing. and. banjo ‘selec-. rice Colleano; also satisfied-in a big way .with. a mixturé of acrobatics and ‘dancfng. Maurice Colleano’s acrobatic dancing. was standout, ag ‘usual, although. his trio. of: sisters gave ‘plenty. good account of. them selves; especially thé one contrib uting’ the acrobatic oriental. Good act all the way through, Plenty of. diversity and speed. put It: over for merited returns. . Howard | and: Newton, femmes, ‘were okay in next niche with com ‘edy gab and songs. disappointed’. bridal” ‘packed’ most, ‘aughs, ° oye “Kitchen Pirates” proved ah ‘ate tractive production buildup for an’ ‘The “Wedding ‘Bells” number. which’ both gals as |: candidates ; adagio foursome that went across big and neared show stopper, «The act, produced -by: Myer Golden, features: Pegey and Gary, ‘with ‘Warner and. Lawrence supporting. | The ‘dance {s. handled as cat and mouse ‘affair in an attractive kitchen set. Peggy,'as the mouse, is trapped by. the three. in cat costumes and tossed’ all over’ the place in.the ensuing adagio. . edy,.. diminutive. Miss ‘Wiliams’ other divisions of the. act.. ‘George Jessel, “At the Telephone,” ing sentimental—real . everything—in day.” “Pages ~ of booked by -his broker. : The girl contributes some. corking work both in..postures and bends, andeasily cops: honors of the The buffoon '.lery. kept them. in roars throughout, with Delaney. also. sharing in. the. ' next. toshut, grabbed the show from walk-on with @ breezy monologue interpolating ‘and Jater. wax‘tears. and Yester He rolled them. with his first crack about being cleaned in Wall Street and-that this date had been [ He: said he. hada lot of inside: gab. on Holly got -his -next. check. | ‘wood that ‘he couldn’t spill. until he A ballad . for-|‘ getaway after.a.couple of previous vocala spacing -the gab -set Jessel | pretty..as hit of the ‘show . with a]. -eall back for a -bow-oiff ‘speech. ; . Van. Loane and Veronica,-: mixed, | closed with sand pictures‘and yoeal-. izing, sung. HAMILTON (Vaudfilm) Miss Veronica handled the numbers, with: her: partner. creating | the,.sand pictures, colored, on Huge frames to typify numbers being Novel and: got over. _ ‘Biz light Saturday afternoon. dba. Scores of youths in for the Saturday afternoon show to turn loose the unmistakable. Bronx cheer. rather feeble,’ turned on full force. from. the stage. and couyageously finished. ‘to efiffhusiastic applause. ~-Youngster’ of ‘today’ .doesn’t care -two whoops ‘for -vocal solos, from and explosive -At times they were. but at others were Show finally got through with only one calldown. This from. Lillian. ‘Morton, who knew her stage onions her act ‘the Jadies, no: matter how good they are or how much they spent on the ‘voice ‘training. Vaude . called. for much house darkening and tossing of spots. to’ the stage, which gave-. the” ‘under-cover razzers a chance to pull their stuff. Gave show a: dandy start. ia a hard-working boy, dances well ‘and tosses in enough acrobatics to The little femme enliven his score. partner is a corking tapper and one who: does thatsort of stepping. gracefully and skillfully. Dorothy. Douglas and Johnny Wright Co.. were made to: order for the juvs, Prop Spark Plug horse put some low comedy into the show, Wright and. his assistant: doing. the -hoss do some nifty team work. Paul Mohr and Co. (New Acts) pleasing in a way. . Lillian Morton igs a talented single whose rum sick Arab’ ko. stairs, large-sized hit. dogs. <A youtine along. a staridout. On the: screen Woolworth’s” (FN). aly ers... run..Jargely...to. comedy,..with.. that characterization of the seaRazzing from upbut downstairs she was a -In the closing spot was Mechan’s: familar lines, with the leaping greyhounds “The Girl From Biz immense, with standees around 4 p.m. Bark. with ‘Emmett J essel ‘the first show. the steps, and working fast all the ‘way through, sticking almost. entire ‘Palaces, VARIETY 99 PALACE (St. Vaude) Chicago, Dec, 28., Real. vaude of all around entertainment playing to exceptional | business. . Five acts stopped the show: Wal. ter Wahl, the comic handbalancer, Oldfield,.: riding the . No. 2. spot in kingly ‘fashion; Bilt’ Robinson, . held over from the previous. week; Nellie and Sara Kouns, | the singing . ‘sisters; ° Ledova, and Chick Sale. Sale was the ‘main attraction and in: ‘next... to closing: ‘whooped: it up ‘merrily..Doubtless the backyard au-. thor was . partly. responsible for the brisk trade... Paulo-Paquita. ‘ana: Chikita, danc~ ng and song trio, after an unsteady. . start by the dancing team caught with a Mexican’ song by. the pian iste and rolled. up speed with their. . fast castanet finish. : ’ Wahl and Oldfield, following: with eight.. minutes: of. hand-to-hand . strugeling in attempts at acrobatics,: .. found such favor with the eccentric © flavor of their’ ‘work ‘ theywere ‘piled for a four-minute . encore, rounded to a topping. finish with two. ‘straight lifts. . For this house the: dancing’. bite ‘by Sonny Jarvis interposed in the crossfire of the skit, “Elevated Love” with Jarvis and Hatrison,.the. boy's: . ‘|parents, gave welght.to.something just passing. above the. ayerage. Kid's impersonations of various tapdancers: went: exceptionally. well. “BI Robinson; having won a -mo--ral‘ victory over, racketéers: trying. to shake. him .down, was elation ~ personified when’ he stepped out for A new: routine. on ly to. legwork, Robinson : spilled . them, By way .of innovation. he ‘worked a..double dance with: Fred. Cone, the Palace prop, boy, on the. steps; Fred,.all pride, showed Rob: {nson is a good teacher. . -Vlosing before intermission the Kouns sisters; with: dignity‘ in their manner and renditions, were:a cinch. with their classical program. of ac. {songs, using splendid arrangement: “Williams. and Delaney followed : and tickled ‘aplenty with nut com-. singing: anddancing. of “I Kiss: Your: Hand. Madame” to < clinch. ; Not having appeared. here | in over a. year,. these ‘two favorites | Were accorééd 4 great reception, _ Happily ‘for ‘this ‘good. bill, ‘the: ~ late section had. plenty of quality, After any number of slides plugging future Palace acts, Ledova sent the show back to high tide, .Her opens . ing adagio with Ivan Luttman, set a normal pace. that.grew with two —. nicely timed spirituals. by. the. cole. ored chorus of: six men ‘and ‘two girls, . winding ‘upin: that...bizarre | blues finish and holding the house: firmly. Ledova all the way:through, Chick ‘Sale -niftied. the. matinee’ audience with his: enaétment. of a either club mass meeting; .. Mijares, the wire ® walker, was not caus. ht, Loy LOR. _ ALBEE, BKLYN.. -(Vaudfilm) | ; Tea Lewis and william Boyd. for. . the ‘*Albee’s: canopy, Lewis .on’ the’ stage with. his.. high-priced, band and . Boyd . screened as star. of. Pathe’s “His First Command." | | Build-up for Boyd.in Brooklyn and” the Lewis. draw over. the bridge © :-|gives the house-something_ to work on besides something to sell New: ° Year's Eve... Leading up to, Lewis. on the stage” is a four-act ‘bill of standards,:noneunfamiliar, the bookers not, chance. ing a*bloomer in this holiday week. From Felovis, opening, to Sol Gould, .next to. shut, things run. smaothly . and produce ‘entertainment, but all. the while it’s'a question of how long before Lewis gets on. A*good. Saturday matinee house knew what it. wanted.,. Felovis juggles the: pill. and stick -with great finesse, though much -of., hig bill opening. success.rests with his manner of selling. -As a salegman. of anti-gravity stunting,’ Fe-lovis, with Rastelli and Serge Flash, completes'.a triumvirate of. Continental. jugglers who have made good. over here. All are capable of ‘spotting late on a.=straight. vaude : bill. .-And all are jugglers who. just Jack Hunter‘and Monty. ‘opened: {Juggle and. don’t talk, Hunter | Dixie..Four, deucing and later stepping into Lewis's act, probably. going. with Lewis . bookings: |. By’ themselves, No, °2,. without an at-. tempt’ that early to reveal-their aft. fillation, the four colored men-make. good with. song material that’s. standard for their sort of turn. until dancing off. es The Cansinos in their new fla. sh, . tightened up now and looking bet| tery, were full stage: mid-spotters, . providing the: show ‘with Its first dash of: flash and .its first woman. . Bill gets its’ comedy almost as late as its’ women, for nothing funny until. the semi-finalist, Sol Gould, -Newness~ of “anything “in-the-laugh =~ line on this bill. gave Gould an edge at his entrance. . The first line indialect (Hehe) was. very. much wel-' comed. by . the audience and :appeared to them to sound as funny: as: anything that followed. © Gould: looks a lot better at Albees than at’ But. he should ish kabish* —there’s only one Palace. — ; Lewis was: a solid halfhour (Continued on page 40)