Variety (Apr 1930)

Wednesday, April 23, 1930 REVIEWS VARIETY 53 New Acts Maurice SCHWARTZ and Co. (7) "Merchant of Venice" 25 Mins.; Full Stage (Special) Palace (St. V) Category i.ito which this produc- tion falls limits Its vaude playing field to a few choice spots, but for these few spots, which should be Jewish communities, it has Its points. Maurice Schwartz, leading light of the Yiddish Art Theatre, Is a name around New York m those same spots. It's not so much that he win greatly attract the average vaude patron, but that he will draw from his Yiddish audience, meaning new faces In the vaude houses. Mr. Schwartz does a clean cut job with his Shylock and moments from Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice," but not against expectations. His is an intelligent reading of a part that Is most perfectly suited to him. Staging, credited to Mr. Schwartz, Is fine. Indeed, with Inclusion of the thought that the act was being staged for vaude playing. Set, by Mordecal Gorellck, good looking and well lighted. With tne aftan- un- der the management of Mr. Harry Rogers, aBd don't forget tlie Mr.— follow the billing. Eight people in support: Carl Reld, John Winthrop, Beatrice Miller, AVilli.tm AVarner, Edward Bullis, Charles'Livingstone, Walter Coy, Maurice Cass. Bige. Ray STANTON (6) Revue 18 Mins.; One and Full (Special) 86th Street (V-P) Ray Stanton formerly did a two- aCt. Now he heads a six-people turn pleasantly mixing comedy and singing, dancing specialties. Wh^-e act threatens to slow down, a sur- prise comes along to hold it up. First-rate material making service- able turn anywhere. Act is by William K. Wells. He is the author of several comedy scenes, best of which Is one showing how dumb a copper can be. Another of "Way Down East," with all char- acters Charlestoning, and good for laughs. First at opening showing how a three-act drama would look after an efflciency expert rewrote it o. k., but loses kick because idea has been used before several times, on both stage and screen. Action goes to two, three and full stage for the comedy blackout, all specialties being done in "one" out- side of a comedy ballet number opened by femme dancer and topped by four men as tramps. Weakest part of Stanton's act are the specialties in "one." Acrobatic and eccentric singles near opening fail to stir. Woman's soiig and dance number later, with pleasing voice and topping tap steps, makes stronger bid for a hand. The "Way Down East" travesty closes. ■ Put act over fairly here when reviewed. Spotted third. Char. George GRIFFIN and Rosetta (3) Songs, Dances. 15 Mins.; Full (Special) Lincoln Sq. (V-P) George Griffln is a tenor, in a new turn with a brunet dancer, male pianist, and two boy tappers. Okay for the better class neighbs, early. Closed here for fair reception. Best bet Is the girl dancer who has the face, figure and graceful- ness. Two boys who tap are bet- ter as tumblers, in appearance and routine. Pianist as atmosphere. Griffln dresses in fancy evening clothes which stick throughout the act and put him in the too ornate tribe of entertainers. Girl changes for, each number. Griffln not a strong singer but okay. Usual routine on the alternate with Griffln taking in about every shot. Too much. About five numbers altogether with finale the usual whirl. AZPIAZU'S Havana Orch (12) "Fiesta in a Cuban Sugar Mill" 25 Mins.; Full (Special) 86th Street (V-P) K-K-O Imported this turn from Cuba. Leader Is Don Justo Aziapzu billed as from the Havana Casino. Suggestive of the Mexican TIpica orchestra of a couple of seasons ago and having the same colorful appeal, it may be voted a successful bit of act scouting in foreign climes. Featured are Antonio Machin, Gran- ito de Sal and Garrldo and Chelln. Tempo of act Is slow, reflective of latin music with' Its preoccupation with tangoes. A notable order of artistic merit makes possible and passable several specialties whose lack of speed would be otherwise damaging. This Includes a "pea- nut vender" number, probably comic In Spanish, done by Antonio Machin, ticketed as "Cuba's Own Rudy Val- lee," probably publicity Inspired by his quiet style. Another slow number Is a shawl- twirling stomp by Granito de Sal. Profusion of shawls of varied color combinations makes good flash. Backdrop carries out the billing, "Fiesta in a Cuban Sugar Mill." In other words, a company picnic with everyone in his or her best finery. Finale has Garrldo and Chelin strutting "The Rumba," Cuban equivalent to the Black Bottom. This was hailed with welcoming ap- plause by a liberal sprinkling of Cubans in the audience. Much of the music Is percus- sioned by gourds and other unusual noise-making contraptions. They also play straight American jazz, and do It well, but the native stuff with the glamorous and exotic set- ting is what sells the turn. Excellent vaudeville. Land. Joe B. STANLEY (3) Comdy, Musical Skit 14 Mins.; Three (Special) Jefferson (V-P) Stanley is a former burlesque comic. He doesn't do much but wig- gle around and bend sideways while walking for eccentric comedy effect. Three girls help. One Is a blonde. All lookers. Good for better class neighbs. No. 3 on seven hero and over. Curtain goes qp on beach scene. Action has to do with a phoney taken for a beauty judge by three girls, one a peppy brunet. With th.e others .she attempts to bribe the "judge" to win a beauty contest. Girls make costume changes and Stanley does acrobatic comedy while the girls .shout at him alternately. Dancing finish fair. BURNS, STOKES and LEE Bros. Dance Revue 15 Mins.; Full (Special) 86th Street (V-P) Nice opener. ' Memliert^hip divided between man and woman ballroom find tango pair who alternate witli the Lee boy.s, latter predominating on time and numbers. Lees liave worked out several ex- cellent comedy routine.s, varl.'itlons of things seen before but good as done. Quite a load of grins and a few giggles, an apset for an opener. .•Single vulgar gesture should bf omitted. Land. Lynn CANTER With Frank Jefferson "Song Pictures" 18 Mins.; One. 86th Street (V-P) Miss Canter recently teamed with Al Shean and splitting because act had played everything. New turn is with piano player. Follows song cycle Idea with threaof of connec- tion. As stands-a little too insub- stantial for real responsibility, al- though Miss Canter's troupershlp makes it seem much better than, upon consideration. It actually Is. Act also overboard on running time. Encore, a dramatic affair about a wife whose hubby went gaga when wealth arrived, is okay but probably bett^ for body of act. Miss Canter's diction is excep- tionally clear. Every syllable audi- ble from three-ways back. That is an incalculable advantage for a woman single. All that Miss Canter lacks is a couple of good comedy songs. She has the poise and abil- ity. Nice ivory work by Frank Jeffer- son and some incidental dialog. Land. ALBEE, BROOKLYN (Continued from page 51) booked jointly, there's no telling how far they'd be traveling between towns. When a booker gets panicky, he'll look for a New Y'ork Palace saver in Alaska. Elephant act Is carrying on where the late Miss Henry left off. The three small pachyderms ar© finely trained and labor through a highly entertaining routine. An opener for any bill. The Downs boy should switch his early material. The songs he Is singing are not for him, nor ar© the location stories for the audience, When Downs gets Into the dance it's a lot tietter. A nice looking, typical American kid and a pleasant figure for a stage. Yet he could do better. The trailer of cuts from some "Gang" films, preceding his own entrance, isn't very helpful. It sliows Downs beating up kids half his size, and if the average boy will like him after that, the boys are changing. "Songs and. Steps" features Step- anoff and is best when that dg-ncer is on. Otherwise there Is som© sing- ing and a couple of pantomime bits that were lifted bodily out o£ "Chauve Sourl.s." "Chauve Sourls" it.self couldn't make the grade in the picture houses, which about covers the pantomimic portion of this act. The sort that the agent probably describes as "pretty," with the .booker, agreeing that It is "pretty,'' and then with the audi once, wanting something,' else hn- sidrs just "pretty."' Rose's vestpocket company of 20 or are doing practically the .sanif- routine thoy did when comprising a PubJlx unit a year or so ago, but it has ))t:i-n r-nt down to vaude pro- portions in running time and the futs liave spf'-dod If up. While Rosf's imipiiti;ins arc gflting old'-r and showing It, th^-y still give an interesting pf^rforniance. For a howl, pi-t the tiny couple sin^'ing a . pop love tune in Dntfh dialfft with- i out intending it to bo funny, liiQ':. JEFFERSON (Vaudfilm) House appeared to b© In a groat hurry to get th© vaude over with. Six acts first half running to but 54 minutes in full. Turns tumbled on and off in fast order and didn't even pause for one encore. Not an encore was taken among th© whole six turns. Good neighborhood stuff, this bill, and did well for the undemon- strative Jefferson. Comedy acrobatic duo, I/\SaHe and Mack, shoved off. Boys open with comedy song and dance and drift into trick gag ground tumbling. Smaller of the two is an expert ground tumbler and does a complete somersault in the air from a standing position without showing any effort whatsoever. Boys on only four minutes. Mixed purveyors of hoke, Mitchell and Dove, were an oke deucer. Girl is <a low comedienne, assuming un- gainly poses all over the stage, war- bling in a piping voice. Boy is the feeder. Snappy crossfire between the two, although for the main part they are released gags. "Dance Fables" showed as an- other adagio turn, using three boys ind one girl. It's a substantial specialty act of its type, with its thrilling throws, and catches. Femme used is a cute, petite lass. Turn has been playing around for a long time under other names. This is about the third different handle noted. Another mixed comedy duo. Anger and Fair, on next. Turn has been changed somewhat Binc© last caught by Variety, although it is still using the same pattern. Crossfire between Anger, doing hebe dialect, and Miss Fair came in for giggles. Use an exceptionally tall man for comedy support. Fritz and Jean Hubert, at the Palace last week, were the feature. The duo did only five minutes. Somehow their sous© knockabout comedy didn't do as well as cus- tomary. Didn't even mean anything to this mob when one of the duo doffed her topper and disclosed a feminine head of blond hair. Olympla and Prlz© Winners, dog act, previously billed as Jules Olym- pla's Dogs, drew the final curtain. Usual canine tricks and feats plus a novel twist here and there. "Honey" (Par) featured. Pathe Sound News. his "Hollywood Proteges," includ- ing Armida, closed. Staying 35 minutes, with the six principals. Including Edwards, doing too many numbers each for vaudfilm of this kind, act started to tir© 'em. Col- lette Sisters did so many routines count was lost, and Edwards himself took part in many other nximbers. including introductory and topping bits. Armida, clever singer from films, did five numbers, Including a dance.' Cute and talented, she held her own nicely. Gogo. Delys and Marjorle Moore, doing singing and musical numbers, pleased. ■ Not a! show-stopper, but an agreeable Interlude that would'please more if trimmed down a bit and tightened up. Only -filler usual Fox-Moviotone News. Char. ACADEMY (Vaudfilm) Nothing special her© this week to gather in the big coin, unless Gus Edwards down around 14th street has a larger following than sup- posed, H© heads the vaude layout, with balance of acts (5), regulation material without draw strength at box offlc© that would count. Screen displays "She Had to Say No," (WB) getting here plenty long after its first run on Broadway. It used to be a seven-act bill, probably because th© opposition, R-K-O'a Jell, played that number, or vie© versa. Now both houses haye chopped on© act, bringing it down to what show should be. Cur- rent show her© Is long, however, with Edwards on 35 minutes. Rath Brothers, acrobats long in vaude on big time and small, the opener. A smooth hand-to-hand strength and skill exhibition, but lighting bad. Black tights, use of stage in three and simple white light and nothing else give act a dullness that it .shouldn't have. On second, Wilson, Keppl© and Betty brought out their dance fiash, which though ordinarily routined and containing nothing special In way of dancing, is presented pleas- ingly. Trio has tried to Inject novel touches on opening, closing and blending numbers, this setting it apart from most acts of its Ilk. Sand dance a novelty and well done, but stair biz for close now getting common. This up and downstairs tap routine, with all three taking part, provides fair finl.sh, however. Watson and Cohan still do 13 minutes of nothing at all but talk and, believe it or not, hold atten- tion throughout. Good performers, they make their ability count with surefire material, but cutting It down to 10 minutes or so would add punch. Dodge Twins and Co., four-person flash and another act trying for unique production .stuff, over nicely but not -strongly. There Is too much of the "novelty" Idea for opening, with girls getting to stage from audience and prolonging the apology act. The colored maid who starts a Ilarlem hot number might be al- lowed to finish It, at opening or elsewhere. Seems to have some- thing if allowed a chanre. Love- bird Hc(n\c for clo.se very cffe'/tive., with one: of girls handling tlie <-hiri)lng. Nest set and dodging bad boy'.s air rifle during love seene .'idd.s something^ lioni'; and Oaut, Mutt and Jeff '■(.in»-dy dancing team around vaude many snmmer.s, nearly always do better than they did here S;itin-d;iy aft'rnoon at first show. Tlify got over better than some other a' ts on bill, but far from as strong as they probably expected. Talk Kf enjeii to rnl.---i, dancing going bolter v,'r.\i aiirlienee. G'-js Kdward.s and what l,e <fV.- 86TH ST. (Vaudfilm) Saturday preceding Easter found a lot of Oiibans in the Yorkville output of RKO. Islanders wore at- tracted' by Don Justa Azpiazu (there's a name for your files, Mc- Oaffery). This Is a slightly weird, distinctly novel and generally en- tertaining orchestra of seml-Tiplca instrumentation, Marion Sunshine credited on the program as staging and directing the Havana aggregation. Routining (New Acts) is fairly good, although changes and possibly eliminations could be accommodated. Qualifies easily as good vaudeville on the novelty angle alone. Melino and Davis had the next to closing job and were not quite up to it. They represent the appear- ance rather than the fulfillment of sure-fire comedy. Alex Gerber" is billed as writing and presenting. It's the sort of a hodge-podg© a vaude agent generally concocts In his zeal to be practical. That Is to say, he puts in everything from soapsuds pie to percussion stick. Styles in next-to-closing acts have changed and Melino and Davis can truthfully claim themselves a la mode. Hectic, thrown-together style has a quick reaction, but in the final reckoning Is found not to be entirely an asset. Burns, Stokes and Lee Bros. (New Acts) opened nicely, revealing noth- ing new, but doing their chores com- petently. One of the Le© Bros, is mistaken in the assumption that nosc-dlving Is a comedy gesture. Lynn Canter (New Acts) did nice- ly deucing, but material needs strengthening. Magicians' Society to which In closing the show Chris Charlton made reference, must Issue fran- chises. Almost every magician Is exactly like every other magician so far as tricks ar© concerned. Only personality and showmanship dis- tinguish them. There's hardly a thimble's difference between Charl- ton and Fred Keating, currently at the Capitol. So long as the profcs- sers of bafflement don't get too nu- merous the same old stuff will prob- ably do well, as Charlton did. "Honey" fPar) fOr the screen. Not slighting Will Gllroy, the console- master, who has the Yorkvlllltcs purring delightedly at his singing bee. Land. 81 ST STREET (Vaudfilm) Four lengthy acts here the first half rvmning to well over 70 min- utes. Spotting wasn't so hot, for it appeared as though Tommy Mana- han's Revue was better suited to close than open, while the Tom Brown Brothers were better suited to open than close. However, both tm-ns were Individually pleasing, with the stj'ongest acts spotted Jiumbors two and three. Entire bill was good and went over big with the matinee audience Saturday, which was larger than customary. Tommy ManahaTi and His Co-Kds, seven fair damsels, make a liki-abl© song and danoe affair, b\it 23 min- utes. Is.long; Throe or .four minutes could easily be clipped and th© climax build up for a stronger fin- ish. Manahan m. c's,' Introducing all the girls and gagging and also solos with fast stcpology. His dance routine to "Tea for Two" was a corking rhytlim tap number. Toss Noel on twice for a high klok and split dance followed by an acrobatic dance. Joan Russell for a little tonsil work and a gag collegiate routine. Other girls trouped on and off with dance specialties. A Helen Kane imitation by Marjorie May© also Included. Jack La Vier's sure-fire comedy trapeze work drew pleniy gasps and laughs, especially from the young- ters attending this matinee. La Vler climbs on a small trapeze and sits on the bar without holding onto th© ropes, balances himself on a rocking chair on the bar and weaves comedy chatter and antics through his work. Drew laughs. A short thriller bound to hold attention. Frank De Voe, assisted by James Stelger, Broadway composer, at th© Ivories, featured and held up strong- ly. De Voe is primarily a songster though here frequently weaving- in chatter and crossfire between his tunes. Talk got only a fajr percen- tage of chuckles whil© some of th© gags died. De Vo© has a neat line of song material, a mixture of straight and comedy stuff, with the latter predominant^ Tom Brown, with the Original Six Brown Brothers, saxophone sextet, rounded out. Saxes are of -various tonal gradations. Brown's sax gag- ging went best. Boys wind up play- ing a few pops with Tom Brown taking to the clarinet Turn took two encores -when only one was needed. The smattering of applause which followed their second encore could have been quieted by a bow from Tom Brown, Instead of march- ing the whole troup on again for moro sax work. Par's "Honey," featured. Path© Sound News. LINCOLN SQ. (Vaudfilm) Screen feature, "Anna (^lirlatle," hei'© for first half, was the big draw Saturday night. Su.rroundlng stage show of five acts of vaude held some diver.slty, but nothing In that division for a box offlce draw. Well routined with some acts chop- ping to keep within the four show schedule. Happy Harrison's Circus made th© pace and satisfied for type of act. Collection of ponies, dogs and monks put through routine tricks that get over, but with the leaping hounds a,nd high school pony stunt.s the backbone. Ruth and Grace Moore, attractive sister team with pleasing singing voices, followed with a harmony routine and with dancing that also got over for results. Eurke and Crane, two men and a girl, registered the first stab thus far at comedy with a three-cornered crossfire. The men are dolled up as bridegroom and best man for a contemplated matrimonial leap with the comedy gleaned from the best man's scare off stuff and plot to leave the bride waiting at the church. Latter doesn't, work. .She hops In, has her say and the trio off with a song. Entertaining act with good Idea but needs tiglitening uj) for better results. Much of It missed here, but .'•houldn't when fixed. Joe I);iiv-ey, working under cork and tojjlined, did well In next to shut a.'-signnient with a. mixture of comedy gab and song.x. Tli'; mol) up here went heavily for I)ai;ef.y's iHtifiiate .stuff and .<-.iengerlAind treatment on sevf-ral of the soiig.*^. They liked hlni plenty. Six f;;iy <U)V(1tiii», i) S' ot froupi- j of four men and tv.'o wrimen, i-lo.'-ed I and got over in a nilxtut-e <,t mu- j .'-leal .•■luff and acrobfitics with th<- tumbling aiid jiyi-anndii.;.', s-.'-oiIrig ! v. if h a hang. I "Ar.na Cht .'.vtie'' i .M ';-Mi on • i-ei.-r;, Ldba. AT REHEARSAL (Continued from page 48) th© boys, Julius. A fine couple. W© were on the bill two weeks and what a time. See you later. Good morning men. Play the opening and stop when the two little girls come out. They pull a few lines about being prolog and at cue "We'll show our 1930 revue to you," you go into opening chorus good and lively, on© and^en. Plenty of cymbals, Mr. Drummer. The next Is a ballad by th© prima donna. Pleas© follow her as sh© doesn't know the song very well. It's a new number we're sticking in here, two and two. That's O. K. Walt for her bow. Then sequle Into "High Hat Hattle" good and lively. It's an acrobatic dance—eccentric. And Mr. Drummer, glv© her everything you got on th© splits apd back bends and kicks. Th© rosin can, duck whlstl© and ratchet. That'a fine. Just follo-w her. The next Is tacit. The girls make another announcement for the black out on cue, "I'm waiting for a street car." Walt for a few seconds for the laugh to die down, then right Into th© next number, ".Spring Song." It's a toe dance. Watch her very clos© 'cause she breaks time a little but you'll get It. That's fine. Then another tacit for another blackout. The kids conie out and say and now We will show you and ao and so and so and so, on cue "From Chicago?" Then take that. I shoot a gun. Walt for the laugh before starting next number. "Swallows Remind Me 9f You." It's a harmony number for the two kids. Two and two last chorus Is a patter, just the least bit slower than the other and you stop Ju.st before the la.«t two bars and the kids say, "Houp- de-boup-bu" then take the last two bars good and forte. Thai's fine. AVait for their hand. Then into tlie finale, good and lively. Wi' all do Kpecialties hero land -^vhen I i-mlrie on doing sfjiner- saiilis a'To.-s the st'itje pick It up good ;i)id loud and .Mr. Diummer, l^'ive me jilenty of eynibals anil I .-ivant i)leritv of bi-a,'-s at tiie fini"-li i)>(>y^. Tli.ii'-; it. I K'-i ij fin jil.i: intr .-aT»,e things for |.bons. In.ji'i'V.oi ry about the ttm- ' jios bo.v'--, I'll f'anip mv foot in the I f iiiiajn,';, Tjiic It Iioiu me. Tlicinkfi.