Variety (Apr 1930)

Wednesday, April 2, 1930 VAUDE HOUSE REVIEWS VARIETY 51 MILLION DOLLAR (Vaudfilm) Los Angeles, March 27, As an experiment to revive vaude In this town, the Million Dollar, Indie operated by S.. Lazarus, is showing a lot of guts. How a sec- Two"'drop^foT^oafe" scenV'as^palrl ond run picture house, haying its enact tame drinking bout and mar- troubles with even getting the sec- rled couple quarrel. Wide open for P"'^^, can figure on making a go of Herbert Faye and to pull "Smart Tiith small-time vaude, is Lara- Set Revue" for next to closing. ^us worry. _ ^ Vaude ran 65 minutes and picture Since the Orpheum blew Its two end with trailers added 98, giving U-^^y*°^\^ straight grind, dowri Ihovf running time of 153 minutes, I'town Los Angeles stopped as far as Btart all over again, anyway. Use etrange pressure on songs and In- verted methods of handling, but got results. Pair try Alpine yodel song for flat finish. Seymour and Howard, who fol- lowed, could use a lot of help. Mixed pair once used- revue turn, but now double In single and with old gags allowing for four shows over week- end. 81ST STREET (Vaudfilm) Mugg is on a tangent trying to get the house rating angle. Book- general -vaude interest was con cerned. The RICO up to now was the single vaude combination house along the main stem, with uniform bills started recently booked out of New York. If the thought behind the Million Dollar's vaude Inception was to buck the RKO, It might start thinking all over again. Intact unit bills playing the RKO ers still missing. Touted as class represents a cost of t3,000 to $3,500 program, doesn't show it. Two-a- for four acts. Judging from the day and reserved with basis slide- Million Dollar's Initial bill and from In and slide-out for Palace presum"- reports, the six acts on the premiere abiy, but strictly neighb so far as program were spotted at less than programs testify. Biz Saturday $800. That's a mistake right off. change day matinee was off, despite No six acts expected to make a bid C^ood weather. for vaude patrons can be obtained No b.o. on the feature, "The Case for that kind of money, regardless of of Sergeant Grischa" (Radio), In how bad conditions are In this town spite of Jean Hersholt, Betty Comp- and how broke the actors may be, son and Chester Morris, and vaude Under any other circumstances, hold up was Alma Rubens^good act, with the Million Dollar willing to but taken on the curio tip by cua- take a chance and spend some tomers.who applaud at entrance and dough. It would be a break both lack gas on eXlt. Weak surround- ways. Particularly from the actors' ing bill lends little help to Miss angle. Hundreds of them are lay- Hubens. Got to have strong film for Ing around here In tough shape, Saturday biz or no go. First bill here looks anything but Three other acts. Florence Rich- encouraging for all concerned. If ardson and band; Sim Mnore and Uthe reported $800 for the six acts Is Pal (New Acts), comedy aero duo; correct, It Is hard to understand how and Brems, Fitz and Murphy Bros, that hap'pened unless the acts felt On order rating taken on the re- altruistic. Bill booked by Melkel Terse the three turns finished mild, John and Dunn,-and with the agency milder and milder. apparently getting its commlsh from Seven men and one woman In what there is left for the acts is an Richardson act. Woman. Is harpist out-and-out joke, and regular band routine of No. 1 Three Freehands, George To€man, style catalogue Is given. Marion- Empire Comedy Four, Hadji AH, ette theatre bit Interwoven for doll Noodles Fagan and Sonia and Co. is dance, poor stuff. Act is built for the lineup in rotation. Fagan, an hoke Jazz effects and Miss Richard- old-timer, who hasn't changed his son no personality riot. No sator- stuff, acts as m. c. besides his own lal rave either. familiar turn next to shut. Even Edna Sedgwick, toe dancer, with the Freehands, standard hand-to- technique, but little natural knack, hand and perch workers, don't look and Sonny O'Brien, with throaty the same here. Boys do all their tenor, but no culture, rounds out In routines, but much too slow. Richardson act. Toeraan Is another yet, but still Windup is usual finale to per- able to get some laughs with his mit Sim Moore and Pal to trot, spotty monolog. It was a mistake Open with chatter and make throat to pl^ce him No. 2, when directly noises for some laughs, rest In bur- ahead the Empire Four flopped on lesque aero and tumbling to hit off all counts and could Just as well fair. have switched with Toeman to his The two acts left the middle spot benefit Only two men of the orlgi wide open for Miss Rubens, but lat- nal quartet are recognizable In this ter spoiled effect coming on a cou- turn pie of minutes late with no bang HadJl All, styling himself an oft atart to overcome delay. How- Egyptian, cannot pass off an accent over, the act Is straight vaude and that might be taken for anything okay, but customers evidently ex- but the Orient. Same applies to his pected more. Evident Impression femme aid, who does most of the Was that Miss Rubens Is peppy, talking In this magic act. All's ma- ▼Ivaclous and swift type and calm terlal Is Illusionary; working with and grace of the actress caught au- | water, fire and swallowing hard- femmes and two men. The frailest of the quintet weighed at least 250 pounds. Aside from their atti'ac- tion as ultra-heavies, act holds up in entertainment, although when it comes to dancing their weight must be taken Into consideration, for only rudimentary dauclng is attempted. Two women are strong on the pipes, used on pleasing member. Two male hefties warble a bit and Indulge self-consciously in stepology. Lat- ter bit surprise and laugh. Joe Young main funster on this bill. Some snappy crossfire, helped along with Young's cdialky-faced makeup and semi-hebe delivery, promoted laughs. Adele Jason is an able femnje support and diversified with singing two numbers, both ballads. Another male, foiling for Young, and a chick young girl also in support. Young's best moments arrive at the finish. It Is a parody apache. May Wlrth, plus her family, closed. Family consists of three girls and two men. One of the latter two is Phil, the clown, who asks no odds when it comes to bareback riding and Is second only to the best- known member o£,hls troupe. His riding ability Is exhibited while supporting the comedy end, which he does satisfactorily. Miss Wirth is still the ace bareback rider as ever. Her riding is still marveled at, especially when trimmed with equestrienne acrobatics. •Cohens and Kellys In Scotland" (U) on screen. Pathe Sound News. dience unawares. Fault here lies In exploitation and manner of pres cntatlon.' ' - Brems, FItz and Murphy Bros. shelled nuts then bringing up every thing again. Among his feats Is putting, away .50 glasses of water, spurting It back again in fountain closed with their quartet singing, fashion. His best is the fire trick, Hebe character and slapstick cop used for a finish, ■tuff much used' by singing acts Pagan's specialty didn't make any with the aid of a white faced and difference, as he had disposed of the rod nosed tramp In "One." Hebe | same material before reaching his tires with too much talk and sing- ing of lyrics mostly unintelligible. Good hand Just the same. Bhopf went 162 minutes, of which •nly 57 was vaude. ALBEE, BROOKLYN (Vaudfilm) spot. As an afterthought he brings on his daughter Mary, who sings and bucks. Sonla and Co., closing, turns out a meek and mild dance flash of five people. This turn is not to be con fused with the original Countess Sonla. Girl does a little of every thing; two male hoofers fill in the waits, while a piano and cello- ac Nice four-act bill entirely devoted I company, to comedy, and therefore flop-proof. Poor start for the house, and If it Since this Is the goal and aim of all expects to make a real try for vaude vaude booking, it's a bull's-eye. It should by all means get better Family bills are. In fact, much more acts, even if using but three or four ■uccessful with R-K-O than their turns Instead of six inconsequential present Ijooking of the longer bills, ones. Which Is perhaps as good an omen Box office response opening day, as any. Thursday, was normal at two bits Preponderance of comedy was tap. Top at night is 60c., and four doubly useful Saturday to counter- shows dally. Feature, "Dangerous act the rather grim feature. "Ser- | Paradise" (Par). Also Par newsrecl seant Grischa" (Radio) Retter wrestled himself Into a winning decision, giving the bill novelty plus laughs to start with. Havel boys demonstrated that Brooklyn Is no exception. Theirs is •ne of those Infectious compounds of nonsense that can play the Pal Seven-piece orchestra In the pit. Span. HIPPODROME . (Vaudfilm) This week's bill is a surprise due ace one week and Woonsocket the I to the manner received. Usually next. this house is the nemesis of the ma- Jay Bre;nnan and Stanley Rogers jority of all vaude turns. Each, Sat ohatted affably of Margie and other urday, batted a good average in re momentous matters, surrendering ception. One circus attraction on th<j rostrum to Skelly, who was re- the bill. oeived with conspicuous welcome by A fast acrobatic quinfet, Five the DeKalb avenuers, Lelands, shoved off. Four men and Skelly's present skit varies from one woman. Latter as an under- tery good to not-eo. That's not as stander. Two boys are the flyers ▼Ital as it would be had he come to One of the two, the smaller, -took vaude from legit. Coming from a top honors with tumbling. Fast year or more in films, he's an "in opener. , a * ^ person" attraction, and fans will find Mario and Lazarin (New Acts) him so much more finished, easy and deuced with oke warbling. Both versatile than the average Holly- boys. . , .i ^ • woodite on a vaude slumming trip Spcnce and True dldn t got going that Skelly will shiiie by contrast, with any real laugh snatching bu£- Skelly finishes with a rendition of fooncry until midway. Bert bpcnoc "True Blue Lou" in his burlesque is elongated, with a penchant for comic's get-up. For this he puts on taking plenty pratt falls during the putty nose and niake-up in view of delivery. Edith True is a well-bu It the audience. This Is a touch of looker and foils adeptly. Alsa vocals, general Interest to lay people, whose Crossfire missed frequently. How- curloslty about grease paint Is pro- ever, strong flnl.qh put them across, nounced. The next turn carried .Plenty Exceptionally good business Sat- wel«ht, It was "Big Parade,' billed tirday afternoon. Land. I a* "not the picture, FOX, B'KLYN ("Types"—Unit) Indifferent as to chorus and big numbers but sustained by Its prin- cipals and the added talent this Fanchon and Marco unit provides the stage end with reasonably di- verting fare. Warehouse was raided tor a fiock of assorted costumes whence came the opening number and the unit's title referring to types in girls. Someone has neglected to show the California chorines how to walk across the stage. Like a lot of dancing girls they have almost no poise nor carriage when not in drill formation. This matter of strutting flash cos- tumes Is not as easy as upon casual consideration it might seem. Mod- eling Is a technique which some women never master. It requires a slow tempo, rhythmic sway from the hips and a general smoothness. Without It any effect can be spoiled. Clothes horse—number here was pretty bliah because of the absence of grace In most of the girls. Trado Twins acting as joint m. c's besides singing and dancing help a great deal. Carlena Diamond plays the harp and does a dancing imita- tion of her father, Charley Diamond, which is snappy and neat. Harold Sanford with a splendid tenor ac- complished "Pagliacci" with dis- tinction. For the comedy topper, house has Harry Howard from vaude. How- ard is possessed of a keen sense of comedy and is potentially big tim- ber.- Neveir too many funny fellows around. It's only a question of a comedian flndlng himself and step- ping into the fast company. B'way shows are looking for comics. How- ard has done very well and at- tracted much notice In the last year or two, London regardless. He should curb those "hells" in his talk. Rube Wolf directing the band boys in the pit on account of the rostrum being usurped by staircase setting. That more or less had Wolf in eclipse, although a comedy band number preceding the unit scored giggles. "Such Men Are Dangerous" (Fox) on screen. Saturday matinee trade RKO (Vaudfilm) Hollywood. March 27. "Isn't Hollywood." asks a citizen, 'so much different than New York? In climate, like, and things like that, possibly? I mean probably?" But the Six American Belfords still opened the bill. Charlie Freeman's third four-act western unit represents a $3,500 budget, higher than the average be- cause Bill Robinson is imitating himself in a stair dance as headliner. Running only 62 minutes, the lay- out nevertheless; unfolded loosely. But at a time when vaudeville is whistling through its gums out here, No. 3 is not shoving anybody down the toboggan. In order are the Six American Belfords, all-gent, foot-Juggling and tumbling highlights; Howard and Newton, femme song team with a short stretch of dialog; Teck Mur- dock, with three girls and a man in a comedy sketch which proceeds slowly but ends with a punch, and Bill Robinson, the colored proverb. Murdo^, with material about a slick Romeo who calls on three girls one at a time and finally is con- fronted by the trio altogether for an explanation, is not startling audiences with . originality but is entertaining. His trouble is techni- cal; a problem crying for solution Is how the se-veral stage waits might be eliminated. The three girls and man assisting are capable in talk. Singing by the girls should be erased. Howard and Newton need a newer pop to open their 10 minutes, with the rest all right as is. Heavier girl has a booming pair of pipes for effective blues. Robinson was good for a round as soon &s his name was flashed. It's his unit all ways, and placing him in finale gurantees a good- humored audience exit. "Delightful Rogue" (Radio) In this town for the fii'st time although released a couple of months ago. It Is said this house is selling its vaudeville with more vigor than previously, awakening to the fact that it has the piclc of the scant layouts evident hereabouts. Now the Million Dollar nearby has start- ed vaude, and the R-K-O has even more reason to be emphatic In ballyhoo. Business Thursday was good. . Bang. light. Land. with four 86TH STREET (Vaudfilm) Badly spotted bill and lacking in comedy for the first half layout here, through two dumb acts back to back and depending upon Cardiff and Wales to shoulder the comedy bur den of the show alone. This they did nicely, but could not carry the show as a laugh fest. Naro Lockford, acrobat and trav esty dancer, opened with tumbling with Lili Dcmuthe. Acrobatics con flicted somewhat with Paul Kirk land's act in follow up. Kirkland has his ladder dance for opener, and winds up with some comedy balancing with his girl part- ner and with the spills of the gal in a chair balance bit also depending upon falls for laughs. Plenty of the fall stuff in previous act took the edge off the Kirkland's turn, but the rest of his stuff got. over. Marion Harris, with Billy Grimth at piano, clicked as usual with her Bongs, some new but mostly repeats of what the singer has previously recorded. Then Cardiff and Wales. Willard Robln.son and hi.s Deep lUvcr Orchestra other outstander in closer. Robinson, billed as creator of "blues," has had quite a vogue as composer of modern Negro spirit- uals and considerable popular with his tunesters through radio broad- casting, making his first vaude ap- pearance (New Acts). The mob went for the Robinson act plenty. "Sergeant Grlsoha" (RKO) on screen. Edha. had but bowed oft at the finliMl quietly. Lane, ■ Howard and Noble (N«W .^.cts) have the foundation foir • good turn but fail to build enterx tainingly on their foundation. Bb* sentially a comedy turn, but not • ripple of oliuckles was heard at thip performance. • Former burlesque comic, Frank X. Silk, Injected.a^little life into the- house, but not much. Opened with comedy song and went into monologr. Follo-\ved with more comedy song and few gags, better received than his opening. Carroll and Davis (New Acts), mixed dancing and singing coupl6 supported by twp men. Turn is a replica of Jeanette Hacltett's act, Even Miss Carroll's stair role couldn't bring the desired results. ; Jones and Wilson (New Acts), colored boys delivering snappy chat- ter in a lazy manner, fared bette* than most of the others. Act holds plenty laughs. Boy Siamese Twins, Godind Twins, closed show. Filipino band, carried by the band fills In between waits for the twins with oke In- strumentation. Act Is still working in the orlgr- inal manner, with the twins taking the spot Intermittently for roller skating, sax playing, gag patter and dancing with tlielr wives. Latter two girls as much of a curlosltj here with their gowns and manner- isms as were their hubbies. Both the girls do a dance with two boya from the band as partners. The vaude ran to more\than 96 minutes. "Second Wife" ^Radlo), feature. 58TH ST. (Vaudfilm) Will Osbocne, radio crooner, and his recording and ether orchestra runs away with the first half show at this house. Osborne, in closer, gives them practically the same numbers as when at the Fox, Brook- lyn, some months ago when Os- bj^ne was In as m. c. "Glad Rags," nine girls In a well- mounted dancing flash; opened with songs and dances. Latter mainstay and songs merely in as introductory and spacer. Corbett Twins, blo'nde lookers, did a couple of dances that hit, especially the stair' tap, while Arvil Avery snapped across a couple of toe numbers that were corkers. The six remaining girls worked as precision ensemble. En-, tertaining flash. Kennedy and Cohan, tenor and pianist, had songs that also got over In a big way. Kennedy Is an Irish'tenor who has built up a fol- lowing through radio broadcasts as well as recording. He has a pleas- ant singing voice of high range. Pour numbers, all pops, and two Irish In the turn with Kennedy. Wilson and Dobsd!h. mixed team, in a skit on what life in a bungalow is supposed to be but isn't. Old gag of the harrassed head of the house consistently Interrupted during slumber hours. Got a measure of laughs but no panic. The couple got more out of the prefacing song and dance than out of the talk ex- cept for the trick set employed. Ned Norworth, assisted by Wanda Nash, came next with some clown- ing in the conversational line and additional stuff at the piano. "Sergeant Grischa" (RKO) screen. JOdba. LOEW'S GATES (Vaudfilm) (Last Half, 26-28) Brooklyn, March 27. Good bill for type of house but weak on comedy. Only two out of the five acts got laughs. "Thank You Doctor," comedy sketch, No. 3. and Conrad and Eddy in next to shut. Latter duo romped away with, the show though a good meastsHS''^ comedy of the sketch seemed at A loss in the big bouse. PantomimJo stuff got over. Sizing up attendance at this Loew Bushwick (Brooklyn) section neigh> borhood convinces that pictures are a better draw than vaude. Feature was "Not So Dumb" (M-G-M). Scarcely a third of a house In at night show. That's the answer. Nelson's Feline Capers, trained cats, opened with male and female trainer putting them tljrou^h rou- tine animal stunts, but redeeming later with two of the cats engaged In a comedy boxing bout. A wal- lopy finish. Jue Fong, Chinese baritone, satis- fled In follow up. Arias and Irish ballads brought best returns. "Woodland Revelry," . a dance flash, in woodland set and enlisting five men and three girls, mostly dancers, made classy, colorful closer. JEFFERSON (Vaudfilm) Weak vaude offering here this first half. Especially noticeable be cause of the audience's frank leth- argy, refusing to be awakened from It by even those acts which deserved attention. There were not many under the latter category. Supper shows here are weak. Even the male Godlno Siamese twins couldn't pull *cm along. A tepid bill playing to a tepid audience. He suits were as might be expected. Bruno Wclse Trio started off. An acrobatic trio, with the early portion of the turn devoted to straight perch work. For finish, understandfr, on ri.slcy mat, supports a ladder on his feet with the comic doing hoke stunts and then straight acrobatics by the third member of the trio, Old-fashioned comic got nowhere. A mean ivory ticklor, Grace Doro on next, but It meant nothing to this mob. Went through her usual planistic routlnos. own arrangfrnonts of pop tunfs and imitations of bud- ding planlsi.H. .^Iif y_n\H "c-ni all .«he Edla.. ACADEMY (Vaudfilm) John Barrymore's "General Crack" (WB) rates 107 minutes, and the result Is a proportionate cut In the vaudeville. Bill ranges from a fair flash opener. Faye and Bannister Revue (New Acts), to a smash closer. Henry Bergman's Jazzlcal jail turn. R-K-O. office should be spoken to for permitting the latter to slip to the opposition. In between, a couple of standards. Pickard and his finely trained and silky looking seal, "Pal," deuced It, for a reverse frofn, the usual run- ning order; dance flash opening and animal act No. 2 on this bill.- Harry Burns, with the "I think you touch" balloon bit and wop chatter trimmings, still natural for 14th street, made them laugh con- tinuously. Good act qf the old com- edy school and retaining Its effect- iveness in the new competition. As something different, pit over- ture included a megaphone solo by the conductor. Jack Roth. Thumbs down. Saturday night biz good. Bige. ENGLISH GIRLS (Continued from page 1) he has the production rights for U. S. tied up. '^if' Hudson Wonders' juvenile girl turn is a riot, the young.qters being acrobatic speclalista. On too late here to/^get big individual returns, but they-held greatly In building up the finale. The HPfond act of the two-act show Is frankly devoted to nudity in all sorts of manifestations, baldly programmed as "Naughty nudes," "simple nudes" and other varieties qualified as "veiled," "fiociety," "exotic." "suggestive," "lascivious," and each item developed with elaborate stage acce.ssorles. House has put into force a "no tipping" rule, manifesting its efforts to earn public good will. Results are immediately apparent.