Then Joe Laurie Jr. came along and scored. This chap has a wonderful delivery for the material that he writes for laughs and he does manage to keep the audience howling. His “mother and father” plants are corkers, they are somewhat ahead of the unusual vaudeville plant pulled for a laugh and their legitimate appearance lends all the more to the desired result.
Florence Merritt and Gaby Bridewell, on second, managed to pull applause sufficient for the three bows that they took, but it seems that these girls are worthy of better material than they now employ. It was only the “blues” at the closing of the act that pulled them over. Prior to that, their offering was draggy.
Percy Oakes and Pamela Delour opened the bill with their dance specialty, pulling unusual applause for an offering of this nature. Dancing acts of the semi-ballroom type have long lost their kick for vaudeville audiences, yet here is one of those acts placed further down in the bill. Their routine is different, their whirls wonderful inasmuch as they out-Miller the Marvelous Millers of years ago, and there is never a slow moment in the act. It is action from beginning to end.
Eddie Leonard and Co. opening intermission, cleaned up. Mr. Leonard is a favorite at the Palace and they wouldn’t let him wash up until he did “Ida” and Hobo Eyes.” Stewart and Olive, a dancing team, figure largely in the Leonard act. Mr. Stewart has everything as a soft shoe dancer and the Palace were quick to recognize his ability.
Bigelow and Clinton, second, had to battle with an incoming house, but succeeded in pulling out with three legitimate bows at the finish. They do a piano and singing turn of merit. There is no stalling or jockeying between numbers, both remaining on until their act is concluded.
Acrobats who believe it is necessary to talk, might profit by taking a good look at Mr. O’Donnell (O’Donnell and Blair). He doesn’t utter a syllable from the moment he steps on the stage to the finish, but by no means of pantomime keeps the house in an uproar for 15 solid minutes. Besides this low comedy pantomime gift, O’Donnell is a clever ground tumbler taking fall that are full of neck breaking possibilities, at least they seem to be. Following the Eddie Leonard act, second after intermission. O’Donnell and Blair were an unqualified riot.
[New Act] Violin, talk and dancing. 12 mins; one. Good little small time comedy offering. These two boys in the act, which is opened by one starting to play the violin off key. He is interrupted by his partner who starts a routine of talk trying to sell something to the audience. It is the old fashioned book idea, but it gets laughs from small timers. The boys later go in for some dancing with rube stuff predominating, Their double dance at the finish sent them away nicely.
Combe and Nevins, with a combination singing and piano turn, put over a routine of songs rather effectively. Whichever it is that does the singing he would do well to keep standing at the piano instead of skipping about the stage while doing the numbers. The skipping detracts and does not lend comedy, if it be aimed in that direction.
Bert Melrose had the women folk in the audience shrieking with his antics prior to the time that he started tipping the tables, and when he arrived at that portion of his act it looked as though a couple of them would pass out of the picture.
In the next position Connelly and Frances proceeded to get the audience laughing with some chatter at the opening, and then carried them along with song. They are a youthful couple, full of pep, and ideal for the pop bills.
