Variety (Jan 1930)

Wednesday, January 29, 1930 ~ — — HARRIMAN, SWAN and LUCILLE Dance Revue 13 Mins.; Full (Special) Palace (St. V) Snappy three-person, dance ‘turn employing acrobatic, taps and adaglo. at Palace opening matinee, possibly because of show being late. relaxation would make smoother performance. . .for a ’ Better gowning might be aug: gested, too; especially.a replacement |. of the unbecoming: lace skirt. used ’ for jazz adagio. start. However, on general pace and indubitable skill, "rates aS @ food opener “OY closer. :Probably stronger, as. “opener bee “cause of speed. Lard. FF. & M. “WEIRD RHYTHM 9) _. | Presentation 45. Mins. . Fox (Pres.), Brooklyn’ a This: Idea appeared’. embellished: The’ Coast| for the Brooklyn. date.. produced stage. shows ‘as a’‘rule ‘aren’t néarly .so heavy in people ‘py the time they reach the east. Quite likely some..‘talent. was ‘added at the Fox. _ it not, “Weird Rhythm”. must be ‘way over the. At one time on the stage there were 32 girls. in line, or else |. The bill-: fng advertised only 24,with even. ‘Title de-. . pudget. . they did {t with mirrors. ~ 24 not expected. to show. rived from a number done by a bal“Jad singing girl and the ballet.. The ‘ginger also: inserted a, bit of polite “eooch and later on, in “one,” tossed. over.a ballad very. much ‘fin’ the Helen Morgan ‘manner | and “Janded. . Among. familiars in the “unintro: _-a@uced . specialty. ‘section, one whose name could be recalled ‘was Betsy Rees, who does a. crack-: ‘erjack tap dance and after. that.a jazz number on-her toes.° the ‘turns, mixed trampoline: pair and the tramp: bicycle paritomimist, ‘are from vaudeville. .Latter is such a motion-for-motion mimic. of Joe }. Jackson that At must beby: per mish: ' High. kicking and: ‘acrobatic danc‘ing girl and-a comedy dancing lad ‘who. passes but:arrived too late. to|: _successfully follow Ben Blue, Hal Sherman,.Cy Landry and all of thé others with all of their stuff. . Chorus goes ‘through the usual motions: most of the while. Their . tapping on individual. drums is the -best:.baljJet item. '" Rube Wolf, house m. ‘c., delivered’ _ the between‘number sermons. ; Bige. “THE RANGERS” @ ", Singing ; , 11 Mins.;. One a " 86th. St. (V-P) Novelty harmony offering’ passing ‘the test for. pop neighborhoods, with chances of slight draw at box office from name, and playable in all lo calities. Act has seven: ‘men: in cowpuncher apparel, including ' three ‘tenors: (Harry ‘Furney, James Riddel, Emmett Casey); two baritones (Raymond Toole, Ben Young), and two basses (Jim ‘Forstner, J. “Delos ‘Jewkes). .Excelling fh harmony, voices of septet t™make. decided. impression, but singing “off stage” behind drop on opening a little -prolonged and second number, “Hello, Bluebird, Hello,” not as suited to _ talent of Rangers as some that could be found. Replacement. here would strengthen act in its only outstanding weak spot. Amber spot ballad number and ragtime’ opera selection following ‘with latter used as an encore, determine | entertainment. value -of : act. Only instance where. seven men break up is for the “Bluebird” number, started by five and finished by ‘all.. An’ individual ‘solo or two ‘ would’ relieve sameness of. routine, Registered encouragingly at this _ better class vaudfilm on evening . show caught. — Char. “DIZZY BUSINESS” (7) Girl Flash 42 Mins.: Fuil vipa) Hippodrome (V Seven. girl. cach ontaining a few lightweight specialties, Not’ strong | enough for important spotting and ” -petering out in the trey at the Hipp. If a‘ house wants: girls in an act, . here they are, That’s all. Helen Shampain opens warbling nursery rhymes with a sex angle. Girls are. brought out as Jack ‘and Jill, etc., hold: hands -for a while, then dance off. Weak. Then fol .low the specialties... Hillard Triplets. ‘song and dance. have a fair come about galoshes.-"‘Other numbers, a succession of singing and dancing, are mediocre, Barton Twins and Caroline Trexler complete’ the . troupe, The expected jazzy_ finale is Present. ang. ‘McDONALD = and PARADISE :; Talk, Songs, Dancing 10 Mins.: One Belmont (V-P), Chicago Man and girl dancers in a ‘ sweet act for the better family houses. ee work rapiay starting with the, ‘act is an ordinary specialty brought above ordinary by keen showmanship. .The man, in police ' garb, tap dances as a copper trying to date a nursemaid wheeling a baby carriage. . Toop. Working at terrific speed. More At). the ' only. Two of: Time needs slicing. lon its hoofing. And as the strength ~|Hes-in=stepping;~a--stronger-opening Second half ofcould ‘be arranged. ee = a LEWIS ARMSTRONG and i OR. .CHESTRA (13) Orchestra 18 Mins.: Full (Special) a. State (V-P) ; . Colored orchestra offering of above average merit, with Peg ‘Bates, one-legzed_ dancer lately do ing a single, its strongest asset. Ought to score satisfactorily in all neighborhoods, from. best class down. Armstrong fs from “Hot Chocolates.” He heads a good 10-piece orchestra playing torrid’ tunes.‘Speed, plus neatness, among the ele while. .Armstrong has a very ineratiating manner.: ‘Bobby. De Leon, who sings and dances, and Peg Bates are the specialty people. With one -wooden. a lot of two-limbed. contemporaries. “St, Louis ‘Blues” closed, and. the act scored’ solidly. . ‘Char. — LIAZEED and ‘DENNATI Troupe ‘Acrobatic 7 Mins.;. Three s (Special) Hippodrome (V. When an understander can ‘eluster 10 people on. him and -bear up under the weight, the act he’s in has merit. That's the outstanding bit in this act and enough of a sensation, together with novelty sur‘rounding troupe and routine, to in sure booking in better class neigh, borhoods. ' Various. ° ‘novel forinations which endurance ‘and tumbling ‘comprise work done, 7 women . members of company, dressed in the conventional” manner of: haremites,doing their. bit from Start to finish. . ‘Opened show here and oyer okay, ‘with speed” dominant: note, Char ar. “RAYNOR. ‘LEHR (2) _ Comedy, -‘Songs..and Dances 19 Mins.: One ‘Jéfferson (V-P): _ Class act, Lehr, reported from tabs, brings. with. him Southern ac cent,. brunette looker and a colored. boy. .All do well: Turn played next to. ‘closing on seven-act “bill ‘and knocked ‘em. Altogether : about: five ‘numbers. Opens: against. soft drop with song, “Sadie Green.” Shirley Dah! . follows with high hat. song and ‘dance.. Lehr pulls fan letter gag and does medley of steps, each “by request.” Puts. over. many laughs here and shows. good dancing ideas. ” Credits ‘and pulls the Ken Murray waltz on the reverse, with Miss Dahl giving him the throw. Latter does “Futuristic Rhythm” :song and danct. Soft: shoe by: Lehr, then colored kid trots on for dance. BABY, BOBBY ‘and BUSTER ‘Dances, Songs 11 Mins.;. One. Academy (V Colored trio, in just fair routines. Two. boys and a girl, with best rating: No. 2.0on a pop bill. Open in song. and then breakaway. for. dance,. Costumes are Buster Brown. outfits with tiles to match. Straight legmania is mediocre. Al-. together about five numbers, going in single, double and trio, it is acrobatic dancing. © Trio are youngsters and this takes them over hurdles for hand. ALICE LOUISE and Co. (3). Songs, Dancing, Comedy (Special) 18 Mins.;. Full Belmont (V-P), Chicago’ ~ Just passable...Miss Louise, a tiny brunette with a good singing voice and fair at dancing, needs another act or better assistance | from. her three boys. — ' Turn isa series of. dances, mostly double routines.’ One of the boys alternates with Miss Louise, while the other two accompany with piano and xylophone. Satire on'a wedding ceremony brought some (paughs. ELAVIO PLASENCIA | 3 ‘Mins.: Full. o ‘Belmont (V-P), Chicago is a Chicago radio byword was s0 painfully self-conscious he couldn't sing with a spotlight glaring on him. Act is straight songs, with a male date outside of spots where Plasencia is known for his ether work. Plasenéla has a good tenor voice, but. must build up stage composure as he goes along. Better estimate of his ability would come Tater. . oop. BERNICE and HORAN Songs, Talk and Dances 12:Mins.; One Hamilton (V-P) . ‘There have been several Bernices in yaude acts, but the youth of this one indicates her present frame with Horan (man) is a new one, ‘Although the talk and vocal efforts don’t stand out, the act gets over The pair went in for novelty with its football bit, sending them off ta applause. Miss Bernice does most of her work In abbreviated outfits, giving her a cute appearance. | ke ar ‘ments-3vhich-make-the band worth-_ Former did not.catch. ‘fon at theState. ‘leg, Bates executes. several routines, including a tap dance, which top. in. with two! SI wILLs Most of Personable young man whose name | accompanist atthe piano, but is no-. Dances 10 Mins.; One. Palace (St. V). semi-sensational stepping to underwrite a. probable click this white-spatted threesome will have at least a once-around utility. They carry a dancing mat. Act suggests Three Kings, although not. following routine of Jatter act. Ability of the Kings to tie things up with straight hoofing done /at breakneck speed from start .to finish, with ‘no leaving of -the..stage until how-o aut” a flock. of this type of turn, Land, .. Everett SANDERSON. Revue (4) evue 21 Mins.; Foll (Special) | Academy of Music’ Ww ~P). -Hodge-podge. -of:: instrumental “numbers, ‘novelty bits, ’ Singing and. dancing. Hardly man ages to make the gtade demanded by bookers of better class vaudfilms. “Act’s length and spotty ‘entertainment against it. Sanderson plays. almost’ everything in: the instrument. line and does characters: besides, opening as a hick, then becoming a music professor, a German. comedian, ‘boy, etc. Depending to a large ex tent on his instrumental versatility, : -he plays two. saxophones ‘and later three clarinets.at the same time.. ‘Made: up almost entirely of: bits, act is often: tiresome, . in song’ and dance numbers, ; Char... Comedy . 9 Mins,; -One Loew’s Orpheum (V-P)~ Familiar -type of: single. eageer,. best appreciated by neighborhood audiences... Gab lacks a solid punch. Goes in for some comedy instru ‘|ment playing on what appears to be a prop instrument. Looks “lke -a.small oboe and sounds ike a bag-— pipe. Also does hoke crystal gazing, looking into. a. gray, balloon’ while repeating and answering comedy questions. _— CHARLES. DANE, ALVIN Sis 8) Songs and Dances: . 14 Mins.; Four Jefferson (V-P). -Dane and. the three. “Alvin: ‘Slaters work hand. in hand ‘for’ some harmony bits ‘and dancing. Should get by_early.in-the intermediates. . . Dane ' takes the solo twice for a hard shoe .tap -number. ‘and, later with a drunk dance. Latter. number was done oke but is tod long. Alvin Sisters also take the spot Intermit-. tently for sugar toned’ harmony, which is more entertaining than their dancing. . Ade DUVAL (2) Magician — 11 Mins.; Full L (Special) Jefferaon (V-P ,Good pop. opener. Routines. are sleight-of-hand. and prop dllusions. Duval uses two assistants, a blonde and a boy dressed in Eton jackets. and trousers, Handkerchief palming. opens.’ Then stage is decorated with vari-colored silk streamers drawn, from tubes and other vessels. reveal silk colored drapes. . pleasantly through act, and works smooth and. fast. BRINKLEY Sisters Songs 10 Mins.; One Lincoln Sq. (VP). Ordinary sister ‘singing team, best suited for the neighborhood houses. Girls goin for the usual harmony. Open dueting a pop, followed by the smaller. girl soloing “Love” in a pleasing voice but spoiling it by a stereotyped smile which doesn’t fit the lyrics. Another .pop is, then warbled by both through one meg with two mouthpieces. -~whetherjazz tunes .or classics are ‘tled in. song. Petty REAT and BROTHER (1) Novelty. Musical 11 Mins.; Full Lincoln. Sq. (V-P). Apparently: an experienced ‘turn though not. listed in Variety's New Act file: Small.time musical novelty featuring tunes which Petty Reat plays on bottles. .” Pops are well played, Second Hungarian Rhapsody used as strong closer. Brother supports at the Piano and xylophone. Also does two mild‘ dance numbers. panies with xylophone and. accordion. JIM McDONALD and Co. (2) Comedy Talk 12 Mins.; One Englewood (V-P), Chicago McDonald and Dayton having ple, man and girl, to his act. hoke -with possibilities," New man is Leo Russo, w dead pan straight, taking a lot of punishment from McDonald for the low laughs. As turn stands now set for the family houses, where ‘they'll go. for the. loud nonsense, Fast in pace and with enough anywhere, . w-off, may bring: comedy,: cow-: and. with. the long running time, | Girl assists. |to.. agents. | | playing, second. fiddle. to; you. Last bit brings on vase-shaped container which has inside raised to Later reveals ‘girl assistant in. hoop skirt. -1Duval himself is personable, chatters Last bit is a familiar. argument, |: best liked, with: the. discussion set~ "Spotted deuce here and went fair. “A girl accom-. spHt, McDonald has added two peo~. ; e 4s.now. delivering noisy roughhouse who plays , 58th St. NEW ACTS—REVIEWS | Teen -| THREE SMALL E BROTHERS. ———— EE VEY SS eee, OO CN Oe te hee HIPPODROME (Continued from page 69) comedy talk, some of which was cut at the Saturday. matinee, got. lost in the cavernous house. On next, Ada Brown registered fair returns in a routine of songs.. Negro spiritual in the middle’ of that act is not only in line with the song stress's character. but. is uncom-monly well rendered:., Miss Brown | wears the spotted handkerchief effects. of Aunt Jemima... With an excellent ptanist-to: “~gecompany—her, the act she offers .is clicking material. Hot “Real Estate Papa” ‘{number toward the .close, though. not so new,. carries*things to a good anti-climax, and a ‘brief en core number with dance steps added. does ‘the rest: 9 + In the. -penultimate. spot’ Williams and. ‘Delaney. were up against. bad odds. Theirs is the sort of. inti-. mate act that suffers when parts of the material don’t. have the benefit of a microphone to carry it, as. needed here by certain types of attractions.. .Only Ina Williamg, clowning, and the ventriloquism bits are. distinguishable. ‘Toto. was} picked to close the show. Here's an ideal attraction for the Hipp, everything being de pendent upon “the pantomime. Running as smoothly as it could ‘Pose |. sibly. be. . ~ } Though doing 21 minutes, there was no letdown .Pathe Sound News, gram, ' ‘Cliar, 58TH ST. ‘(Vaudfilm): ~ “Rio. Rita”. may be great for the |. box office but it’s a ‘pain in the neck Anyone would: think RKO is,in' business to make money instead /of to please the agénts.: “Rio |... Rita,”. you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Three acts. at .the 58th Street, not. to mention the: other |. theatres. And for a full week, ‘where five acts. ordinarily are play-. Willie, West and MoGinty, a aure ‘ 7 ‘ = ed and changed twice. weekly.. Rudell and Dunigan,Kitchen ‘Pi rates. and: Robles. and . Hamilton; And merely entree... ‘usual length, and playing to. ‘an impatient: audience. — talking. ‘picture, you. .Capacity audience. “Rio. Rita.”. “Rio, Rita,” but you make the agents sad. .. “Rio Rita,” you “mergenary. thing! Bige. 81 ST STREET (Vaudfilm). | “Rio Rita’”-as screen feature, Run ning time of the latter occasioned. the chop on stage show. Flicker had them standing three. rows deep’ Saturday night. A, good laugh show. throughout with the film grabbing its share and the three-act, brace. sustaining as mirth \ provokers. .Leo Beers and Helen a big way with a potpour! of nifty gab and songs. Miss Ely handled most of the warbling, wfth Beers thumping the ivories and wisecracking. Charles Bennington and his. newsboy .harmonica band followed and wowed with torrid melodies: on jmouth organ, topped off by a peg leg acrobatic by: Bennington. For’ encore’ Bennington brought :the. mob on for. peg leg ensemble that also went over big. ‘Harry Cardiff and Mary Wales, closing, fit the spot as rib ticklérs. Gab spotted on marital difficulties, Action outside the Domestic Rela a“ ‘FORD and WATSON Songs, Comedy Patter 12 Mins.; One Jefferson (V-P) Girl comedy and song ‘duo; ‘good anywhere for second spot. Fifth spot on seven-act bill here. Both’ brunettes, the short. ‘girl -playing Yiddish.“comedienne. while |: tall girl plays refined straight. Trot ted out easily here but gave evidence that if pressed this pair can |shove: into high with real acting. _ Do four special song, numbers, with chatter. intervening. All clicked. SZITA and ANIS |. Songs. and. Dances, 15 Mins; Full” 58th St. (V-P).. Song and dance program by two girls and a man. Not exceptional, but generally pleasing. Szita and Anis apparently com| prise the adagio team,. which has as its standout 8, Russian SBounte her time at the piano and in Songs! her voice is of high range and good quality. Act did well fn closing spot at the Mark. -with..Bobbie Grice. organ ‘solo. and pit overture rounded out, pro-' Running: half their You’: naughty All there: ‘to. see a lot of vaudeville-and getting | & And all of those “poor people ‘(not agenfs) standing there ‘behind the ropes, waiting: for. seats, you do such bysiness,: -/posed to be the builders, Ely opened and got over in’ |is.the vaude. “with VARIETY 71 —--— — a uses” ‘Couit’ Where the ean: rat —~ gone to toss off her.n.g. spouse: At Jthe finish, when the court attend~ ant socks hubby on the lamp, the jfrau tears up the divorce and takes him home to nurse the bad peeper. Plenty of laughs in this one and perfect for any man' s opera saben Qs MET, BROOKLYN . (Vaudfilm). Okay bill of four acts” instead of tare six owing to length of fea« ture, (Metro). Picture filled. the house . ‘Saturday matinee: — even and canservatiye layout.. Feature took 113 minutes against vaude's .62, -newsreel and’ trailer raising. the show's ante to 188 min-.} utes, All for 40 cents... Program in. order of presentation was Five Nelsons, -Mary’ Haynes, . Walter C. ‘Kelly and ‘14° Bricktops ‘Mary Haynes ‘with her. song patter’. and character. layouts rated the house wow, Four | nunibers, and each clicked. Opens in w.one witha -male pianist .who ° doesn't .solo, with imitation ‘of ./a: wife pinched for auto parking; then a snooping housewife, hicl« tourist, . and closes with a burlesque on seagoing entertainers, . Kelly clicked easy on ‘his, “Virginfan Judge,” working 15° minutes o.a strong exit. -Five Nelsons in opener with hoop. juggling: and. diablo: stuff that ran a fast 8 minutes against a. colorful setting in “three.” Closer ‘was 14 Bricktops with Bobbie Grice, femme. musicians who. spot their orchestra. tions with songs and. some. faint dance steps. Harpist and: cellist .: .|are included in group. A wired. drop. with female punch-judy ‘dolls. danc ‘jing in spotlight in imitation: of sev-leral-of the musicians was: a. ‘stand. out novelty. Customers: mostly adults, House is one of the best money makers of the Loew. Cireult, . 86TH. ST. : (Vaudfilm) . Three acts here. for this. ‘week with two ‘moderate and the thit a fire laugh turn, Radio's “Rio Rita’ . the big: attrastion and got ‘all the: attention.. tle less. than, three: hours; took 40 minutes. . Colored’ song and dance ‘turn, ‘Danny’ Small and Co., opened. Too . much -time spent: in: "warbling and’ gagging. here... Both. Danny | ‘Small .and ‘his high yellow femme ‘partner are: primarily’ hoofers and pleased. best when dishing that type of work: ' Next were Willie; West and Mc . Vaude |Ginty, three’ nen: doing pantomime ' throughout, Set is of a bungalow in construction, with the men ‘supNumerous . mishaps which appear as though oc.curring spontaneously are good for laughs anywhere, Hayes and Cody closed, Two: oe ‘Three acts instead’ of the: iisual Lone a Heftig blondé and the othe ‘six for first. half.here, and Radio's brunette of opposite. bulla... Laug come from the verbal. thrusts: each \gal takes’ at her partner's -shape. Dragged-out a bit too much ‘and the. response ‘was.spotty. “ ' JEFFERSON (Vaudfilm) _. .. Well filled house here for the sup. per show Saturday to witness “Rio Rita” (Radio), in on a week's run as Four acts‘ this week instead of the usual seven, and take. ing-up 65 minutes. Charles Dané and. Alvin Sisters. (New Acts) opened with singing and dancing,. Joe Mendi, the monk. billed. as having human intellect, deuced and wasn’t in good spirits | when caught, ‘troublesome’ to, man working him,, and. was cuffed . frequently. Fielder, Harriet and ‘Co. trouped . on next with their low comedy flirtation bit and went well. Boys, | garbed: ag sailors, work: nicely, and their manner of squaring off helped. . Smaller chap, apparently Fielder, de ‘| }Mivered well and took. the solo once for a whistling. number, Drew. .— ‘Boyle and Della, two men ‘with |wop dialect “and another playing straight, were in their prime here. « ‘| One of the dialecticilans works from @ box. Also vary with straight, and comedy banjo playing. playing. . HAMILTON | ‘(Vaudfilm) .. Vaude didn’t cut much ice here, © due .to the feature, “Rio Rita”: (Radio). Only three acts working. The bill thua presented. included ‘Bernice and Horan (New Acts), Paulo, Paquito and Chikita, « ‘and | | Corinne Tilton. Little comedy in the paper’ lay-. out, barring the talk In Bernice and Horan’s act in “one,” which wasn’t much, and the souse bit Miss Tilton ‘does as her standout. Biz immense. Evening saw a complete sellout, with several rows of standees.. Bernice and Horan went along quietly and would have faded to a whisper but-for the pickup in ae = novelty. dancing....Panlo.and. Paquit offered a series of Mexican dances, -Chikita singing “. between, | Pleased. Miss Tilton closed the, show. Pathe sound news was on screen. with “Rita.” ark. “2, “Hollywood Revue of 1929" ~ V¥auite: “was an— Whole bill runs to a lt