Variety (Jun 1930)

W^dnesdajr, June 18/1930 NEW ACTS VARIETY JACK 68TERMAN Fiir«ca (3t. V). ' Slnelc male entertainers, or single men. In vaud© nowadays who can . entertain as such without assistance A]rie growing rarer and rarer. This week's WU at the Palace holds two— Yack Osterman, who closed the first half, and Will Mahoney, next to clos- mg- Bach seems to be In and at the hSid of his own class, Osterman talking and. singing, with Mahoney • idanclng and comedlng. Jack Osterman gave a 20-mlnute turn on the Palace stage Saturday matinee that was perfect from Its start to its finish. Not a blemish in or on the act in that time, and to real hit If there Is a pop ' Mne delivered among the men iMngles than Osterman, next to j^jolson, he cannot be recalled at ^Is moment. He did two numbers inptoot. ' The next highlight, after his talk, was Osterman leading the orchestra ■Jill a blended medley of several old and new melodies by the pit must ctahs in sections. Th«y again be came an ensemble, whilst still play lug their separate airs, and Oster man singing Into the finale of it with "Happy Days." How many composers that medley accuses Is merely a matter of count. But it's a dandy. In talk Osterman rippled along, getting his laughs easily and crisply, without going afar for them, while his Rudy Vallee travesty is a snap- shot delight in its truly travestied style. .This may b# the turn Jack has been using in the picture houses, minus some of the talk, as 20 min- utes in the fllm crevices might be too long. For vaude, all right In everyway. In that vaudeville to come some day, the sooner the better, In the guise of a music hall, may be, and where entire bills will not be chang- ed every week or three days, a single Osterman. as an m.c. could remain for a month. This Palace week shows young Jack as the real performer, the son of a showman, the late Jake Rosen thai, and his mother, Kathryn Os terman, a trouper and one of the best in her day, who must have watched her boy bowl them over Saturday with much Joy and pride. Jack made his mother stand up, for his final getaway encore, as he did his wife, seated with Miss Os- terman, as well as Sople Tucker, with Soph In the front row trying ^'o .make a musician, besides Fred Stone and' Jack Pearl. Sime. Phylia RAE and AMBASSADOR OCTET (9) Dance Flash 11 Mine.; Full (Special) State (V-P) Ambcissador Octet, male chorus excelling in dai^ce numbers and specialties, makes this a strong act and surefire entertainment for the best time. Phylls Rae or whoever owns this ofCerin.? can thank that fast, competent gang of men. They're not mere chorus men. Each Is a finished dancer, special- izing mostly in hard-shoe and buck. It's punchy stepping, with pleasing dressing provided through Miss Rae's specialties and the production numbers in which she appears with her octet. Miss Rae is a looker but with plenty peers as a dancer. Her grace, however, compensates considerably for the elementary type of routines she offers, giving her work at least that attractive look. Some back somersaults In one of her numbers are smoothly executed and some- what different, but none of the dancing Miss Rae does can compare for punch with that of her men. Excellent teamwork by the octet, plus appearance with more manli- ness than found with most dancing ensembles of its kind, puts the group in a class by itself. Act opened show at this house and scored solidly. Cliar. REVUE D'ART (14) With Prano and Aida Flash 18 Mins. Full (Special) Academy of Music (V-P) Admirably staged Spanish flash, leading almost entirely to dancing, and a pleaser though without an outstanding punch. A cleverly exe- ♦""ted adagio by a trio saves the offering from below average rating. A string orchestra of nine fills the stage nicely, Three men from the outfit double ror singing, in- cluding vocal work during dance routines, and a sister team (vlolin- jump in twice for specialties. They will score fairly well any- where. Prano and Aida, featured team, crter three numbers, two of which ai'e either elementaly or character- ized by stiffness, particularly by the man. Ballroom number flashy put best of specialties the fast jazz toward the finish. The adagio trio (two men and a woman) cop all honors in one of the finest adagio demonstrations seen on bills of this type. The men handle the woman With the utmost smoothness and dJepatch. Running time a trifle long for the entertainment value. Appeared second here, a bad spot for flashes, and down lightly. Char. Eva PUCK and 8am WHITE Comedy 23 Mine.; One and full stage (Special . 8et) Palace (St. V) Returning to vaudeville between musical comedy runs, this return of the couple Is long distanced since their last They were out with Zleg- feld's "Show Boat" for a lengthy en- gagement In New York and on the road. ■ Their hits of the musical show are their hits In this act—the cakewalk and their "Girl Friend." Latter closed the turn rousingly, with It given a big shove through the re- juvenated Cakewalk strut and coon- shouting melody with It Just ahead. Opening, the couple did the dance Instruction In "one," as an intro- ducer, and thehr standard start Pol- lowed a burlesqued meller In a neat- ly built set of a cabin Interior with a curtained front. This got Its laugh, but It was all In the playing, for there's no new material left for that sort of thing. Turn has been playing around two or three weeks to smooth out It opened at the Palace without a hitch. That may or may not be a lesson for others who know they are ripe and; right when they are raw and wrong. Puck and White have a sure-fire act for vaudeville, with each play- ing so well it's their own work If nothing else that's bound to carry it Mr. White might try the cake- walk for a finish, preceding it with "Girl Friend." In the present way, the strut first, he is almost breath- less from the hard stepping to go Into the song, while Miss Puck, tak- ing the second verse, secures a chance to regain her breath. Its probably a pipe either way, and the present way Is certainly a cinch for the couple. Opened after intermission and mopped. Bime. FREDDY CRAIG, JR. Mental. Tests 16 Mins.; Three Academy of Music (V-P) A novelty gamble for best houses, downtown or neighborhood, and one that holds the Interest throughout, Craig, a young, nice-appearing juvenile, oflers a series of Intelli gence tests framed into a show manly act Using a series of blackboards of various sizes, he writes the alpha bet backward and forward, scrlb bling the outlines of the letters backward as welL Also takes four different words, mixes the letters of each and strings all along the blackboard backward, writing the elements that way, then 'picking one of each at a time to spell out the four .words chosen. He talks while doing this. With a large set of figures, Craig does addition by a peculiar process, at the same time writing newspaper headlines backward and naming a half dozen streets .in any cities chosen by the audience. Craig's work is interesting and the young showman sells his stuff fascinatingly. Though on 16 min- utes, he engages the attention to such an extent that one would guess the time at half that. Spotted third here on a slxf-acter. A cozy fit for that spot on such bills or No. 2 on flve-act shows. Char. ROGERS and DONNELLY Songs. 12 Mins.; One. Hipp (V-P). Man of John McCormack appear- ance and an approximation of the Irish tenor's voice, and personably young woman at the piano who also breaks into song once or twice. Act is that unusual thing, a par- lor act that can get over for good returns in vaudeville. There prob- ably are not five of the kind in the show business. The trick is the personality of the two people and the casual, sim- ple way in which they deliver a brisk cycle of popular music, the man's excellent tenor and the girl's class looks counting also in the sum of the good effect Starts with an Irish number, with very brief duet phrases when girl comes in. Goes into one of those 'My Mother Came From There" ballad for only a few bars. Does a whole verse of "Roses of Picardy" and then for the finish breaks into a medley of sure fires, scarcely more than a few bars of each including among other items a phrase of Pagan Love Song," "Singing in the Rain" and finishing w}th a quick swing into a bit of Victor Herbert Off to good returns, on this. Ample to bring them back for a request number in the Maine "Stein Song." Closed to really spirited applause. Rush. CONNIE'8 INN REVUE (17) With Ada Ward. 26 Mint.; FuH (Special). Academy of Music (V-P). Connie's Inn Revue, down from Harlem.and Connie's Inn, resort up there, is more of a band than a revue, with the three specialty people, Ada '^ard and a team of dancers, not permitted to do as much as they could and should. As a result, offering is slow in spots and through routining lacking in the punch that otherwise might have been ac'.ieved. Too much of he blatant Harlem Jazz stuff is against attractions of this type when in vaude engage- ments, with a surplus of tricky low- down music. Allle Ross conducts the 13-piece colored band, playing too many numbers and some of them too long. Only his trumpeter gets the solo privileges, with not enough un- usual shown to warrant as much time as allowed. A fair band, this one and well conducted, but more effective if varying the routine more. Ada Ward does only two num- bers, putting both across with equal finesse. She possesses a fine so- prano voice that can be turned to the blues department with facility and she sells her material capably. Wasn't brought on for the close here, with band number bringing the curtains together. That is a mistake. If that "Monterey" num- ber was retained for the finish with the dancers brought on, it would make a big difference. The dance team, unbilled and un announced, appear first In a double They are snappy steppers and offer a long routine winding up with fast eccentric work. Later one of the combination returns for a good low down Jazz strut but prolongs It too far, taking off the edge. That's aU this teafh has to do. It's a shame considering that both are clever hoofers. Closed performance here, with the hand only fair at the matinee show. Act ought to be re-routined before the engagement Is out with less band material and more spe clalltles. Char. News From the Dain This department contains rewritten theatrical news items as pub* lished during the week in the daily papers of New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Hollywood and London. Variety takes no cr«dit for these news items; each has been rewritten from a daily paper. LONDON Cecil Barth and George Mlnshell will shortly stage "The Fifteenth Night," military play by A. S. Kele- witch. Basil Dean's next talker to be made in association with R-K-O is A. A. Milne's play, "The Fourth Wall." Press reaction has set in against stories of the theatrical slump, with the result saps now Imagine Shaftesbury avenue Is booming. One of the best known popular British song writers, ■Bennett Scott, died May 31. He wrote stuff for all leading vaude stars, ahd authored some of the most memorable war songs Including "Blighty." Bobbie Howes, Gordon Harker, Mlrrelle Perrey, Rosle Moran and Millie Fisher, iftst two newcomers to England, are starred In "Sons o' Guns," due in at the Hippodrome. "EYES OF YOUTH" (10) Dance Revue 16 Mins.; Full Stage JefFerson (V-P) Main strength here Is the dancing layout but a male quartet the Hap py Four, helps with harmony vocal Izing. Two of the four principal dancing girls are the Banks Sisters, who give a good account of them- selves. A pleasing light act An attractive blond girl does sev eral specialty dances while another girl, working with a male partner, does excellent toe dancing on a flight of steps. The standout Is the Banks girls, pretty pair, who show excellent stepping and have neat bit of tap ping to "Puttin* on the Rltz" tune. Happy Four stick to toplcals and don't overstay. Maxlne Henry and her specialty stepping came In for much attention here. Mark. BADGER and MUESLER Songs and Piano 15 Mins.; One Jefferson (V-P) A two-man combo. Bigger man plays piano and sings. Nothing so hot on the harmony, but they make their comedy count. They offer lit- tle bits a la burlesque, which diver- sify their routine which isn't heavy or concerty. Not show stoppers, but offer a brisk, showmanly interlude. Group of current song pops delivered as a clean-cut specialty. Mark. FOX, B'KLYN (Continued from Page 63) ballads and a Jazz Interlude here and there wherein his boys helped out and the crowd smiled applause. Easy entertainment and a good start that couldn't possibly take away color from what might follow —either because Osborne's rep and demeanor showed supremacy that the customers were aware couldn't be overcome but had to be differ- ent. And It was different. The unit came on to spot about six episodes, giving top billing to Will Aubrey, clowji guitarist, with high hat and fat Prince Albert suit. He measured all the way. Aubrey came pretty close to the "queer" sayings boundary, but he handed out the stuff too pleasantly for any- body to be really annoyed, and the audience guffawed. Opener is Betty Lou Webb, slim girl, wearing male attire, and acting as m. c. Husky voice that falls attractively on the ears plus the girl's natural vivaciousness and high kicking make a pleasing turn. Scrim up and 10 girls dance a la Slam. Four High Hatters, male quartet, in white Eton, outfits tap. Brief cameo setting next and Goetz and Duffy step on with their usual marriage bit and cross fire. Still lacking material, buildup is weak but finish strong. Miss Duffy clown- ing and mugging, but nothing to bank the stuff on. Wlndup that won was whistling bit wherein each whistles alone and then twin up with fingers In each other's mouth to whistle together. Hy Meyer, character actor and pianist, also with -unit. First as street merchant and then as pianist in pyramid finale setting where the 10 girls play on miniature uprights against drop in three, and everybody out for the finish. All girls lookers and okay other- wise. A tiny blonde aero dancer, Peggy Carse, also shows but does little and enough as It goes. Her figure and looks take care of all else. Film ran 76 minutes, unit 27. Movietone newsreel took 6 and Os- borne 7, Bob West also going 6. Three minutes for trailers gave show running time of 126 minutes, which did not take overture by Al Lyons "Lilac Time," revival, has felt the strain. Slipping into the reduced price grade. Federal raiders who dislocated a group of six more or less popular restaurants. The feat netted 20 waiters and about one van full of so-called contraband. Anything may happen between England and Arizona—even a wrong phone number. Fellow, Frank J. Gilmore, picked up phone to hear voice questioning him in re Douglas Gilmore-Ruth Mix mar- riage only to find out after every- thing was over that the call was from England and Just a wrong number. That operator gets the long distance record for wrong numbers without'a foul. London to Yuma Is about 6,000 miles. One sailor, member' of the crew of Phil Plant's yacht, "Loleta," was drowned when the boat carrying Claire Windsor and the young heir collided with the yacht of Otis Chat- field Taylor, New Yorker, In Long Island Sound, off Greenwich, Conn. Plant, former husband of Constance Bennett, and Miss Windsor had narrow escape. Plant' was re- ported at the wheel of his cruiser when the collision occurred • "Silver King," Victorian meller, and modernized version of "La Dame aux Camellias" are due for radio playing. The Ill-starred Duchess theatre, which, although newly opened, has had nothing but stage flops. Is up for sale. . Married two months ago ta Betty E^ger. Valentine Were, promising youngster In the Birmingham Rep ertory ranks, has died. Tom Clarke has landed the editor- ship of the "News Chronicle." He was head of the "News" before It took over the other paper. NEW YORK Carl F. Grleshaber collection of theatrical Items was presented to Yale University. Collection is the most comprehensive In the country, comprising programs, publications, relics and letters relating to the his tory of the American theatre from 1766 to date. Mrs. Claire Krieger. sister of Vio- let Mercereau, fllm actress, filed a se. xratlon action against her hus- band, James David Krieger, non pro. She accused him of making life In New York such a terror for her that she was forced to seek the protection of her mother In Los Angeles. She asks that her husband be enjoined from visiting her or threatening her further. The couple were married Sept 14, 1926. Dinorah Castillo, Spanish show girl. Is asking |260,000 from Henry S. Carrlngton, socially prominent for breach of promise. Her mother, Mrs. Anna Castillo,' Is also suing Carrlngton for 160,000, charging loss of her daughter's serv- ices. Miss Castillo, born In Spain, alleges she was playing In "Show Boat" In November, 1928, when Car rington Induced her, under promise of marriage, to leave the Zlegfeld show and her mother. She alleges he took her to a Long Beach cottage and a Maryland hunting lodge. She was unaware at that time, she says, that Carrlngton was married. That stretch on 45th street, between 8th and 9th, was nicked as the "wettest" block In the U. S., by and jazz pit band. Lyons had the night off. Big job that Fox has In rehabili- tating this house is working out expense formula. Hitherto such a thing was unknown or nearly so. Theatre is slated for budget around $30,000, top absolute. Including film rental. Right now it's safe to say Fox is taking it on the chin so far as film rentals are concerned for this house. Pictures show on percentage basis. This percentage goes out of net. No net no fee, so the source goes. The house has got to do $30,000 to show anything. Present stage front expense runs to about $8,000. Biggest slice is the unit Runs to about $3,250 per. Osborne and his band rate a slightly lower price but he's In on a contract with an option for Fox to take up on his fifth week when Oaborne begins to cut in with percentage in addition to salary on house figures if theatre keeps him on. This is his second week and if biz is any criterion that he's plenty worth the dough. Al- though Bob West and Al Lyons fig- ure in for draw credit, too. Biggest individual overhead outside of lease rent, etc., Is advertising, about $5,000 per week. Plenty high but its brought results and thus a wise item even If at present expensive. Though the husband of an Amer- ican citizen, Vlado Kolitsch, de- scribed as a Czecho-Slovaklan radio violinist, was ordered back to his native country under the quota laws. Has been' here six months and must renew Immigration visa, acordlng to law. Wife Is former Louise Prochaska. Belongs to L. A. but clipped In New York. James A. Baclgalupi, v. p. of the Bank of Italy, was once an actor. Poor actor, be says, so he became a banker. Ruth Gilmore, daughter of Frank, heads new department at Bonwlt- Teller shop on Fifth avenue, de- signing dresses. LOS ANGELES ^Ernst Lubltsch, director, was sued for divorce by Helen Lubltsch on charges of nagging. A property settlement has been reached out of court . Mrs. Irene Armltage filed suit for divorce against Merle Armltage, manager of the Los Angeles Grand- Opera association, claiming that her husband made her live In an un- furnished house and completely ignored her. Mae Murray filed suit In Superior Court to collect a Judgment of $32,407 obtained against Jack Don- ovan last year for asserted fraud In selling her a house. Mrs. Thomas Harris, widow of Thomas Harris who was killed Jan. 2 when two airplanes crashed over the ocean, filed a damage suit for $76,000 against James Grainger, Inc., and the Tanner Air Livery Co. Mrs. Rose Gold, widow of Max Gold, killed in the same accident Is ask- ing double Indemnity on an Insiir- ance policy on his llfeL She claims he was a passenger Inja public con- veyance, y Claudia Dell was granted a di- vorce from Phillip G. Offin on grounda of desertion. -They had been married two years. Elsie Bartlett Schlldkraut was granted a divorce from Joseph Schlldkraut on grounds of cruelty. Property settlement was made, and Miss Bartlett will receive $260 a week for two years. Mack Sennett Color Film Co., Ltd., was granted permission to issue stock with a par value of $78,000. Company, subsidiary of the Mack Sennett Corp., claims to haVe a new color process which will be available to the entire picture Industry. BilUe Dove filed suit for divorce against Irvin Willat, director, charg- ing cruelty. They separated last September. A property settlement been made out of court. Milton B. "Farmer" Page and Gus Palmer were sentenced to six months in the county Jail for pos- sessing a racing form chart. Page has also been operating a gambling barge anchored off the coast. CHICAGO Permanent injunction was issued against the Cocoanut Grove cafe, closing spot for one year. Decrees also being asked for tWo Capone nite joints — Cotton and Montinartre clubs. Hearing for plea against Cinderella Cafe, set for June 28. Temporary injunction listed against Dlnty Moore's. Mrs. Mildred R. Archibald, founder of the Fannie May candy shops, granted a divorce from H. Teller Archibald. Claims husband deserted in 1926.