Variety (May 1930)

52 VARIETY VAUDE HOUSE REVIEWS Wednesday, May 14, 1930 PALACE (St. Vaude.) Nothing to write about here this ■week unless It's to say that Clay- ton, Jackson and Durante are back again on a repeat and the number of times here can't be remembered. Any layman telling: the folks about thi show would probably report it's paJiatable and enjoyable in many respects but not characteristic Pal- ace entertainment. Distinction and punch are the main quaJlties in which the show is lacking. Clayton, Jacklon and Du- rante, closing; the Berkoffs, dancers; Joseph Regan, tenor, opening sec- ond half, and Charles Kuggles put in the most punch, some of the "filler" not coming up to the Palace grade. Show seems more likely a motley collection of acts, not well selected and spotted, acts that blend indif- ferently and all in all fail to leave a good composite show impression. The bookers are apparently going In for singing headliners in a big way. Without a rest after three weeks of Peter Higgins, in comes another tenor, Regan. Regan stopped the show, but that is beside the point as a booking matter. Instead of waiting a couple weeks to put in Began, if that was advisable, he may now be held over for a second week and in that e;ase the Palace would be tenor-ing 'em to death. Nothing at fault at all in using Re- gan except the time, running him in on top of Higgins. "Were he not an aCe performer, selling his songs remarkably well, there might be a different story to tell. Opening Madam Olympia's Prize Winners, leaping greyhound act for- merly billed as Olympia Jules' Dogs, Good little act of Its kind, nicely presented and over o. k. at the Saturday mat. Dogs are beauties to behold; On No. 2 Paul Kirland and Co., which has played here before and all around. Did well, the cone balanc- ing and chair bits standing up satis- factorily for laughs, but f£u: from a wow. Only flash on the show lent by The Berkoffs (New Acts), here with a fresh Russian dance offering char- acO^ized by uncommon speed and entertainment value. Ensemble of six girls, lookers and with sightly curves to satisfy the new taste of that's what it's running to, dress • up .the act with class. Fast special- ties by the Berkoff trio the big punch. Strong applause finish. Steve Freda and Johnny Palace, wop comedians, fared favorably next without having anyone In the aisles. 'Not a fast act nor a strong one on either laughs or song numbers but passable for Palace. « Charles Buggies' first comedy wallop in his well-known sketch, "Wives, Etc.," by Boi Briant, As- sisted ably by Dorothy Lord, June Clayworth, Neville Westman and Lester Elliott, -jvho play up to Bug- gies, effectively. This is the rollick- ing ffirce playlet in which a souse wakes up the next morning to learn he has married the night before, but doesn't know to whom. Efforts to learn who the bride is furnish rich material for Buggies. Got a big han4. The surprise of the afternoon was Began, opening intermission. He stopped the show partly through an excellent performance and partly through showmanship. That he was aware of the dilficulties of coming In after three weeks of another tenor was clearly indicated when he answered requests by saying he wanted to stay' away from the "done-to-death" Irish numbers, ■ one of which was sung here the past two weeks by Higgins. Singing pops, including melodies from pic- tures, he avoided the "Smiling Irish Eyes" and "My Wild Irish Bose" until nothing else could be done, tleing the show up In great fashion. Began has a fine tenor voice of force and quality which sells with certainty even though the singer early in the act is Inclined to be a trifle stiff. Did eight different num- bers, with Larry Walker acquitting ^ himself creditably as accompanist, ^ going to the pit for the last three I songs. r Buster West In next to closing. While West Is a clever dancer and clown he doesn't seem to have the best pace to his act. Impression Is that instead it's merely a few bits loosely strung together, with West and the two others (John West and Marjorie De Haven) trusting com- edy Inspiration for effect. Material Is tomfoolery In main, plus hoofing which is relied on to smash through. Miss De Haven, who hasn't much to^^o, but attempts a song and dance specialty to moderate returns. Is a cute thing looking like Clara Bow except that she Is smaller of stature. Clayton, Jackson and Durante started out like a house afire and had the audience with them all the way. Were on only 29 minutes, probably dufe to spotting last. Next to closing is the spot for the schnozzle. Instead of spotting Pathe Sound News following intermission. Palace Is now playing it on the tall-end of the layout when most people are walking. Unless the programs are closely watched, thei^^e's a little strategy In this move, house re- maining lighted and orchestra on the Job at end, this possibly leading some to believe another act Is com- Qhari STATE (Vaudfilm) Sophie Tuckier making her first trip over the Loew Circuit walked away with the show here Saturday afternoon. A packed house at the second performance gave Soph a reception befitting a Queen and she gave them plenty in return. Madame Tucker was in perfect form and gave them everything. They wanted more but the four show schedule interfered. Good surrounding bill and Harry Rlchman in "Puttin' On the Ritz" (UA) as screen feature. Chapelle and Carlton, mixed, opened with corking acrobatics, featuring balancing and with the roll upstairs while balancing girl partner the punch of the act and provoking well . deserved palm whacking. Winifred and Mills got the first crack at comedy in follow on with their .<;kit, "In China." One of the men does a gob under cork and the other. Chink. Their lingo is sure fire and topped off with some war- bling at finish makes a perfect com- edy act. Then Miss Tucker, with Ted Sha- piro manipulating the ivories, came and conquered with her songs and wisecracks. "Last of the Red Hot Mammas," for opener with the comedienne going right on through remainder of her repertoire, includ- ing some new songs and old favor- ites and getting plenty out of all, especially "Cottage For Sale," which was the show stopper of thia lot. Senator Murphy was another valuable aid to the comedy division with his typical monolog on prohi- bition as well as other fads and foibles of the hour. Murphy's talk ticRled and set the monologlst for a solid hit. "Porcelain Romance," picturesque dance offering enlisting three men and three women, made a classy closer. The flash is a splendid build up for the adagio foursome with two other girls dressing and harmoniz- ing while the dancers are doing their stuff. Neatly costumed and well mounted. JBdbo. mania support by a shapely femme, probably Dorothy Coudy. Otherwise It is one long parade of girls in dif- ferent costumes. After a few of these it becomes Irksome, and the audience grows restless. They could chop 15 to 20 minutes. Apparently the girls are only poseurs, and were chosen simply because of their good looks. When it comes to ensemble dancing, which they are caJled upon to do frequently, they are a com- plete flop, and go through their rou- tines in the listless manner of a burlesque troupe, showing no co- ordination whatever. Blackouts are fairly effective, with the majority getting chuckles but a few proving unfunny. .Comedy octet was oke. Small chap who comedos in this is one of the few members of this troupe who appears to know what it's all about. Good laugh- getter and could be given more time instead of using it all with the girlie parades. One good bit was a toe dance, delivered by a girl somewhat heavily built, but remarkably light on her toes and adept at pirouettes and spins. Others featured beside the Coudys were Loon Muller,; Tommy Mullaly and Maria Fokineu MILLION DOLLAR (Vaudfilm) Los Angeles, May 8. Evidence of the local demand for vaudeville was emphasized this week when this house, seating 2,600, cashed Iq on a full house for its second dhow opening night of the new bill. They came to see fi.ve acts which would fit as openers on any circuit. The theatre, however, being a first (when they can get It) and second-run house, puts its film attractions in top position and lets the vaude speak for itself. This week it was "Honey" (Par), news- reel, trailer and 60 minutes of stage. Show started with DePInas, troupe of four tumblers who go into action with rlsley work. It was okay with the gallery, filled with high school shleks and shebas, who generally pick the week-end nights to make whoopee In a theatre. June and Bud followed, doing taps. Couple showed some class in selling their wares. Trey spot brought on Nlles Marsh, female im- personator, who reveals his sex at the beginning. The boy did all right. Next-to-closing marked the re- turn of the Four Covans. Act has been a permanent fixture In local vaude circles. It's & mixed quartet of colored hoofers who know how. Finale was labeled "The Harpists." Opens with seven gals, whose looks were killed by poor lighting. Sev eral classical numbers were res cued by a Spanish songbird. Do lores Lopez, who was followed by Everts and Lowry, recently of Fan- chon-Marco units, who wowed with ballroom dancing. S8TH ST. (Vaudfilm) Three acts only here,one less than current at the other R-K-O Proctor eastsider, the 86th street. As at the YorkvIUe spot the headllner Is a money act, however. This is Rose's Lilliputians, a revue of 25 midgets. Not only cute and en- tertaining, but a turn that may reasonably be accorded .some ca- pacity to arouse curiosity. Lobby plastered with interesting publicity stills. Audbrey Wykoff and Co. have the same turn that has been around imder the name "Three Genera- tions." It's billing explains ever- thlng. Girl dancer Is the daughter and BTand-daughter of the two older male hoofers. Fast and on the supposed family relationship good vaudeville. Jerry Smith and Marie Hart pre- sent a skit with special scenery. It's a type of vaudeville of which there Is a diminishing supply' al- though the usefulness as a variant from the more slapstick methods Is evident. Not that Mlsa Hart Is a comediene of any overwhelming sublety. She makes her points aud- ible to the last row, and she makes them with seasoned trouper cer- tainty. Same feature, "Fu Manchu" (Par) as at the 86th street. Ditto on ''Songs of Mother" short. During the latter the sound reproduction was ver-' faulty the second show Satur- day: House won a ribbon or some- thing last season for havilng per- fect reproduction. Land. ACADEMY (Vaudfilm) A late shift in bookings gave this house the A. B. Marcus revue, "Youth and Beauty," which was originally slated to go in Fox's Brooklyn this week. With the Mar- cus revue running to almost an hour and Fox's "High Society Blues," feature, running to 100 minutes, the Academy this week has one of the longest running bills in a long time. Entire bill takes In about three hours and a half. Vaude, only three acta, including the long-running Marcus revue, used up 80 minutes. Gus and Will, dancers, were only so-so. This type of act would have Ijeen better In deuce than opening, but at this house it was necessary for them to open. Mute hoofing duo, starting with duo tap work. Later go to straight tumbling and comedy acrobatics. >; Frances Arms was forced to make a curtain speech, begging off be- cause there was no time for more. Did Imitations of a Ylddisher flap- per, Italian and Irish femtne. Closed with a souse number, which was liked best Her manner of delivery, making herself right at home with the audience, was a large factor In putting her across. Marcus revue is cleverly framed, and the cast, about 40, Is expensive- ly costumed. It appeals to the phys-- Ical sense, but intrinsically It con- tains little. There is barely any genuine vaude entertainment, ex- cept, perhaps, some corking hoofing delivered by a young chap, probably EHmer Coudy, who is given oke leg- ALBEE, BROOKLYN (Vaudfilm) - This week's drawing must be ac- complished by the stage, that de- partment having Maurice Schwartz as Its possible attraction. Feature talker Is Badlo's "Alias French Gertie." The Albee should .be a strategic spot for Schwartz. Following In Brooklyn for the Yiddish dramatic star is reported large, and if that drawing is done, those who get seats far enough in front to hear the dialog should be satlsfled. Schwartz' Shylock was hardly built for thea- tres as large sls the Albee. Here his lines were clear to the first half of the orchestra, indistinct further back and in the distant ares main- ly half an hour of pantomime. Bill Is in reverse, opening on full stage and closing in "one." An example of bad spotting that ran two piano-singing turns consecu- tively, didn't help a bit, while one oJT these two. Club Abbey Croonaders (New Acts), never reaches the class of good vaude. It was the single fiop turn on the five-act show. Don Lee and Louise and Co., dance fiash, opener. Good looking, with some fair enough talent and a better than average idea of pro- duction. A fiash like this makes all the bad ones look so much worse. Abbey quartet, musical. No. 2. Edith Evans and Bay Mayer, one of vaude's sock mixed teams, socked SiS usual in the mid-siM>t, never fall- ing except at the start when the crowd saw another piano coming on and didn't warm immediately. Mayer's piano work and mugging is hard. to resist, however, and so are the vocal slants from Miss Evans, a dresser and singer with little competlsh In either line In vaude. Miss Evans Is remindful of Buth Etting. Schwartz and his big set were next-to-close, the bill ending with Fritz and Jean Hubert the brother- sister knockabout combination. This is a smash act all the "way and double at the finish when the girl reveals her sex. As far as anyone not having seen the act before Is concerned she's a boy up to then and taking as much punishment in falls OS her brother. Something like this could have been used earlier on the show for speed might have quickened the pace up ahead. Well spotted bills around New York are becoming as rare as OuIJa boards. Business very weak Saturday aft. Bige. STATE-LAKE (Vaudfilm) Chicago, May 10. It must be pretty heartbreaking for the performers at this house to see themselves almost Ignored by the R-K-O press departreient. This house is established in this town as a vaude spot primarily. Pictures are secondary, with the house repeatedly getting inferior product, mainly Publlx-B. & K. re- fusals. State-Lake gets some ex- cellent vaude names, names that are unmistakable draws; yet the press- men week after week spread in the dailies about the flicker, and leave the vaude angle to shift for itself. Two big names on the good bill this week, and both solid socks. Karyl Norman comes back from Australia and got a reception on his first appearance in many months and two encores. Boutlne the sarae as ever, over big. Sylvia Clark, the other name, was also big, but was also tired, refus- ing an encore and cutting two num- bers from her regular diaracter- portralts routine. Bexola Bros, opened in full with a nifty skating turn. Joe E. Stanley and company, company being three girls, followed in full, making it rather tough backstage. Some fair comedy talk and some nice hoofing from the tall femme. Block and Sully have some great material, and sold It nicely to this afternoon crowd. Have smooth, easy delivery that can't miss. Karyl Norma and Sylvia Clark followed in order. "Lights and Shadows," nine-person dancing act, closed. Turn delivered every type of danc- ing, and made a fine flash. Opens with silhouette stepping , on a Mis- sissippi levee; then dome Colonial and ballet dancing, some good tap, acrobatics. Oriental adagio, mixed with plain and fancy tumbling. "Murder Will Out" (FN) feature. Business only fair. Loop. JEFFERSON (Vaudfilm) For this type of neighborhood a fair but far from a strong show. Lineup of six acts represent plenty of variety, material running from elephant stunts to skits. Good flavoring of comedy will please fans after In, but In lineup there's noth- ing to draw especially. Headlining acts given mazda credits are May Usher, Irvln O'Dunn and Maud Henry's Elephants. How the pachy- derm attraction happened to get this billing is a question. Manage- ment must figure that type of act will draw around here. Feature on screen "Betum of Dr. Fu Manchu" (Par), sequel to "Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu" and likely to Inveig.'.o a bit of coin In JefTs b. o. Vaude opened by Garry Owen and Salesladies (New Acts), saved from crumbling by two specialty dan- cers, both specializing in acrobatic. A five-people turn done as a flash, but without much flash. Herman Berrens, who has been around for yeahs and yeahs has a three-people hoke piano turn that limps rfiost of the way, some of the material suffering badly. Berrens stayed on 17 minutes Saturday afternoon, long for an act of his type. Fact that it moves slowly, stalling around a lot where it should zip is partly responsible. Smith, Gardner and Co. (New Acts) a four-people offering doing "Waiting At the Church," recently played by Miller, Velie and Co. Worthwhile neighborhood act, nicely staged and played. Contains enough good laughs and novel situations to prove serviceable anywhere. Starting the second half of the layout of six, Irvin O'Duhn scored nicely but only after dogged efforts to' get his gags across. When he saw that they were apparently not registering, he tried another method, finally winning out. O'Dunn has a free and easy style. He is top clever a performer for tho material he has here. Over nicely, Mary Daye assisting capably. May Usher stayed for only 11 minutes on the second show, doing three numbers and calling It quits. She didn't get over as strongly as usual, which is strange in view of the class of patronage here. Crowd ought to go for Miss Usher's type of stuff, always well sold and with enough Yiddish dialect comedy to be meat most anywhere. Closing, Maud Henry's Elephant's, baby pachyderms working on the style of the Weir bunch. Walking over trainer, one-step by the small- est of trio, drunk bit, and the shimmy all gathered the laughs, putting act over. Well behaved animals working with alacrity. Jeff formerly played seven acts. That was the same number offered as a general rule at the Academy, its big opposition on 14th street. Now' both are apparently satisfied to try for biz with show of only six turns. Considering features, news- reel and filler^ that should be enough. Newsreel as usual Fathe Sound News. Business at second Saturday performance considerably off, only about a half a house in evidence. Char, PALACE (St. Vaude) Chicago, May 10. Three cgptlpedes could hava counted this house on their toes, opening matinee. Therefore Olsen and Johnson, whose psychology de- mands a substantial audience, were not the customary riot, but in the riot neighborhood, closing the show. The bill, a seven-act arrangemeni, is another example of just hanging on until this house goes vaudfilm, when there will be much revamping for a five act $6,000 layout Among the booklnfir office! don'ts, they could in the future Include not booking Loma Worth and Anna Sey- mour on the same bill (within two acts of each other), and likewise Jack Pepper and Olsen and John- son. The opening layout had five acts preceding recess and two after- wards, the O-J unit, as mentioned; closing with 40 minutes of comedy. It was an all-male show after in- termission, which doesn't need fur- ther comment. Opening, the Six American Bel- fords and their unusual rlsley, with double tosses and catches, gave the small audience a chance to warm up. A fast eight minutes. Loma Worth, in the deuce, got started slowly, with her dark opening. The feminine Boyd Senter overworked five minutes, anti-climaxing an act which, following the Belfords, could have gone big on mere contrast of novelty. Jack Pepper crooned two num- bers, and Paul Gamer Interrupted, as billed, at the little piano. Their sailor suits and one's long hair are very funny. Deno and Bochelle, following the southern slapstlckers,» are the sort of art Palace audiences have always liked, and although Helen Manning's songs and clances are not amazing, ' she paces the act, helped by the un- billed pianist. The whirlwind rack- eteer dance was the proper finish. Anna Seymour followed, with an unbilled man partner and pianist. Miss Seymour is a charming sales- woman. She stopped the show, but she was^i't giving them their money's worth. Her dumb girl at the base- ball game Is older than the Palace around here. Partner's soft-tap dance while she changes costume was a quiet spot and pretty long. Intermission, Pathe News, and then the first punch since the open- ing act in Bob Bipa, the boy juggler. This lad's amazing repertoire with balls, sticks and horns defies be- lief. Working- alone, before a black drop in "full," his youthful person- ality Is set oft well, and an asset. He shows the old-timers how it's done. Then Olson and Johnson, using Jack Pepper, their nine or 10 extra men, including Moore and' Child» and two girls, for a series of up- roarious blackouts, gun shots, ex- plosions and affrights, challenging everything but the St Valentine Day massacre. Need business be mentioned? Loop. RKO (Vaudfilm) Los Angeles, May 8. It's funny about opening and clos*. Ing acts. Or maybe it isn't funny. Once there was a novitiate re« viewer who panned a small-time acrobatic opener. He just said it wasn't any good, which is a pan any way you look at it Later an agent spoke to the reviewer. He told him he ought to be ashamed of himself for picking on an opening act especially when it was full of acrobats. "Do you know," he asked, "tliat those poor guys have to train for years before they can do those things?" "They weren't any good," retorted the neophyte stoutly. F'don't care if they train 100 years. If they're still t^Ible after 100 years, it is my duty to say so. I have my public to think of, like Louella Parsons. If I say a poor act Is good, just because the act Is full of acrobats, I am be- traying that great public." "Were you ever an actor?" asked the agent, rather accusingly. "No," said the young reviewer. "Why?" "Oh. nothing," said the agent, mumbling "public" under his breath several times.. As time wore on the reviewer slowly absorbed the ethics of show business. When an opening act or closing act was lousy, he just men- tioned that the act opened or closed the bill. He fell In line with the great unwritten code of show busi- ness : "Never pan an'« acrobat." Sometimes he becs^me what is known in the trade as "daring,"' and reported that the act played to aisles, full of backs. Opening and closing acts took on a mystic protective covering of an- other world. They .were strange creatures, such as might be found on the moon or stars. Nobody knew where they lived or what they did with their spare time. There were rumors that they knitted beaded bags between shows. On the EKO bill this week Is Tom Lomas and Co., a novelty stilt act that has played everywhere. It's a good act In any house, but to some It carries that mystic aura. What does It do nights? Tom Lomas Is an Englishman, (Continued on page 53)