11 Mins.; One. The Morrissey Brothers are two dress suited young men, mostly dancers, although they attempt recitative singing, telling how they are in demand by the vaudeville managers. The public is more interested otherwise. In the opening spot they seemed to feel they were above the position and so spoiled whatever they did have. One of the boys has some ability as a dancer, while his partner can finger the ivories a bit. Will do on the small time.
[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.
Hazel Moran, a lariat manipulator, entertained for a little over a half dozen minutes with some good role work, reinforced by a running fire of chatter. She claims to be in the only woman spinning 85 feet of rope. It’s good work if she isn’t the one.
[New act] Xylophonists, 8 mins; one. Man and woman dueting and soloing on the xylophone. There are two such instruments the couple, however, using either one for the duets until the final number, when they pair off. The man strips in a Spanish costume for his solo number. The girl makes a change to match, appearing for the closing number, a jazzy melody. It opened the show here well and can fit that spot or No. 2 on the pop bills.
The Warren Sisters did well enough on second. The larger of the two girls, a blonde, tried for comedy and got something at times. The best “gag” was about prohibition, ending with “When Does It Go Into Effect,” which brought a hearty laugh. The bit sounds familiar, however, and was quoted as from the Roumanian [sic] Crown Prince when he was here. Comedy makes the Warren girls different from the stereotyped [sic] sister turn and they fit well fog number two in pop.
The Nine Liberty Girls, who have been featuring the lesser Keith houses around town, topped the show and pleased very much, taking the closing spot. As a flash act and a good all-girl musical turn it can’t miss and it has the elasticity which fits it either for big or small bills. On just ahead was one of the new acts, which ought to move upward. It was Anthony and Arnold (New Acts).
[New Act] Magic, 12 mins; one. On No. 2 with a girl as a page and two kid “plants” the former superfluous. Allen Gray has some talk that could stand rewriting. He delivers it in a monotone. Up to the time the kids stepped over the lights it looked like hard sledding for Mr. Gray, but with the added help and the ragged appearance of the two boys be managed to get a small amount of comedy out of the situation. A revision of his sleight of hand tricks would help as the present routine fails to hold anything above the ordinary. A switch in the monolog would do no harm as the act couldn’t get much less in the way of returns than it did Tuesday night.
