Raymond Whyle

Singing and jokes.

Whyle does not even afford his blackface partner the billing of the customary "company." Equal billing would not be amiss, at all. The special hanging shows a "futuristic jail," with the prisoner in it enjoying a fat cigar, a phone, which he employs to instruct the warden to have his motor ready at four. Also to determine which brand of perfume he had in his bath yesterday. He prefers "Mary Garden" today. That should go out if the turn stood up after that on the same standard as the introduction, it would be gracing the big time. As it is, it makes only small time — not even a feature act. The blackface assistant, in the role of a prison trusty, handles most of the alleged comedy lines. The other prisoner (Whyle) takes care of the singing end, throwing in a couple of numbers in falsetto voice for good measure. The blackfaced chap should get himself a good wig.

Variety, 54:11 (05/09/1919)