George Murray

Singing, comic dialogue and jokes.

"Rainbows."

George Murray, billed single, is probably the comedian of this two-act, so programmed to aid the opening of it. The straight man enters singing "Rainbows," to orchestral accompaniment. Midway he is interrupted by knocking behind the drop. Lifting it he drags out what looks to be a stage hand. Following some dialog and awkwardness the pseudo stage hand attempts to sing in a squeaky voice, afterward suddenly swinging into a ballad in a lyric tenor of fairly good quality. Intermixed is comedy business by the comedian with his trousers, which are always in danger of falling down. Later they sing what sounds like a parody. The greatest fault with the present turn appears to be the straight man. The act looks western. The comedian does a sort of Hebrew comedian, and gets it over very neatly. He has a voice of sufficient calibre to make it largely count under certain conditions. An A1 straight would throw the comedians into relief and make him much more valuable than the present act does. The straight hurts the turn at the opening when entering alone, singing. It doesn't appear to be on the level and suggests that something else will follow. Allowances might be made for this particular matter for an act coming into New Yrok, but if it elects to appear at the Fifth Avenue it should be right or remain out of a big time "show" house until it is. No. 2 Monday evening the turn did very well. It amused and secured encore applause, but the present frame up can't get them the best big time. If the comedian is Mr. Murray it might be worth a 50-50 arrangement for him to procure a straight man who could boost the turn and the salary, if a good straight may be obtained in no other way, unless the turn is going to be content with what it can secure in the way of bookings. A proper straight might also draw attention to the comedian, for he seems to have fun possibilities not now sufficiently brought out.

Variety, 53:7 (01/10/1919)