[New Act] Talk and songs. 16 mins; one (Special drop). Man and woman. A well painted street drop showing Childs’ restaurant with practice entrance is carried. Man enters with small dog on a string. He attempts to go into restaurant, but woman as waitress backs his way, informing him no dogs are allowed. Routine of talk, consisting mostly of standardized gags and get backs, follows. Man solos a ballad next while woman changes to street dress. More cross-talk and get-backs, closing with double comedy song. The team got some laughs on second. The routine can stand building up. Fair small timers.
Clayton and Lennie, next to closing the vaudeville, won any number of laughs with a hoakum act. It was the kind of stuff the audience at this house loves, and they just ate it up.
Dixie Norton and Coral Melnotte are reunited and again doing a semi-sister act. The girls were partners in 1917, since that time Miss Melnotte has had Edna Leedum (now with Harry Tighe) as a partner and Miss Norton’s latest offering a character skit with an “and Co” supporting her. The present act needs just a little comedy here and there and it will be right. The girls should not try so hard with numbers, for neither has much voice. Miss Norton’s male impersonation is easily the best bit of work in the act as it stands at present. However, the act was the hit of 23rdStreet bill.
Marie Russell working with a violinist, the latter being in the orchestra pit, managed to score nicely with songs. Miss Russell in working in a “high brown”make-up, carrying the illusion of a lady of color right to the finish of her act and then getting a hand on the removal of long gloves and wig. “Land of Old Black Joe” is her opener and is followed by a ballad that is put over effectively. A violin solo from the pit gives her a chance for a change, and then she offers “Broadway Blues,” “Bimbo” and finally the latest “Alexander Band” number. All told the act is a pleasing one.
The Cromwells in third position performed quickly and neatly as usual and stood up well there. The juggler looked particularly neat in a white satin skirt and velvet jacket and so far as the house went he was a “she.”
On just ahead was Bond, Benton & Co. (Formerly Freeman, Benton & Co.) with the farce, “Handkerchief Number 15.” The setting calls for a divided stage, difficult to attain on the roof. Several new players in the act gave it a touch of freshness although at first it was had to tell what it was all about. The blonde girl in the turn looked good.
Lester and Clicyo opened with some sleight-of-hand work and a bit of balancing on a wire. Even as early as that the male half of the team was complaining about those who paid to get in, it being audile halfway back and not helping any.
McLallea and Carson, who closed, found the same condition upon their entrance, but the boy kept everyone seated with his ad libbing. Too bad they were so far down, as the act deserved a batter position and was one of the bright spots of the evening.
Mel Klee came on next to closing to finds the house walking out and wasted no time in getting started. The heat was getting to the audience about that time, but at that Mr. Klee picked things up even though hurrying through with one bow at the finish.
Harry Lester Mason went down next to closing with his monolog “The Waiter.” Outside in the lobby his photos show a chin piece, but he has “shaved” the “brush” and only the burr in his chatter is a reminder of his former chattering in “Dutch” dialect. The waiter talk is a sequel to his former janitor bit. It has the mention of feeding drinks to diners in the place he works in and that is perhaps all right for Manhattan and the other cases left. Mason’s talk is funny and there is some real humor in the computation that he walks around the world three times and twice across the ocean in serving people during the year. His eugenic rhyme at the close may be a bit out of date but still has some comedy value. It could be replaced with a strongly but to advantage.
