Harry Adler

Topical monologue, primarily focusing on military personnel and wartime.

The program stated that Harry Adler was "one of the first original twenty-five to volunteer to go overseas to entertain the boys at the request of General Pershing. Spent six months in Argonne Forest under shell fire. That was sufficient to put Mr. Adler in right before he started his act, being inserted in a bill at Keeney's, Brooklyn, the first part that was entirely made up of soldiers and sailors as well as overseas entertainers. Adler comes on looking pretty nifty in a field service outfit as spic and span as any of the officers' layout and he carried a cane with the riding-stick embellishments and wore the leather belt that also enhanced Adler's personal appearance to bear out his military connection. Adler tells of his five months' oversea, which made that "six months' at Argonne" look a little off-color, but programmers can make mistakes as well as anybody. Adler said he was in the Argonne region but a short time, but there long enough to get a first range view of the big war. Adler reeled off a line of war stories and one gag about the Y.M.C.A. Said the letter stood for "Your Money Cheerfully Accepted." Adler's method of waiting between lines comes from his "waiting" over there between shelling periods or bombing excursions for the soldiers to become settled for the next joke. Adler praised the work of the Jewish Welfare League and the Salvation Army and paid a fine tribute to Elsie Janis for her work at the front, and also used a story about Miss Janis working on the army truck, with the boys below her, and of the Irishman making the remark that if it made any difference he would close one eye, etc. Adler apologized for using he story by saying that Miss Janis would probably tell it herself upon her return. Adler has a good line of stories, several right up to the after-the-war scratch, and he puts them over effectively. For a finish he does an imitation of a Jewsharp that as applauded. Adler, his service record as an overseas entertainer, his stories and his ability to register a pun, should stand him in good stead. And on special army bills, he will more than make good.

Variety, 53:13 (02/21/1919)