Victor Moore

Jokes and other talk.

"The Last Bartender."

Victor Moore's newest monolog, "The Last Bartender," is of Prohibition, as the title tells. It could not well be more current. Aaron Hoffman and Andy Rice' are billed as the authors. There are any number of prohibition gags in the talk and a large number of laughs, but not large laughs. There is a bit of personal liberty comment that gains something. More of this in the Hoffman style would give the monolog a kick, and that's just what it needs. With a brief recitation the turn ran but nine minutes the night it was seen. Eight minutes for the monolog. That is not enough time for an act with Victor Moore the star name. Perhaps, if Mr. Moore finds this act on the main line can not be extended and does not wish to run off in another direction to pad it out, it may suggest itself that the character of the title, the last bartender, in a saloon set in "two" with two men. Moore (as either the bartender or customer) may be susceptible of more humor than the Moore single act at present contains. Mr. Moore affects no especial style at getting his matter across. He speaks it and of course he knows where the laughs are in it, but they just slide over and are laughed at; there is no help behind them. It's a first class idea done in a second class way.

Variety, 54:10 (05/02/1919)