Next to closing, Bobby Heath and Co. (New Acts) came along and practically cleaned up for the show. It wasn’t Bobby so much, but that cute little girl he has working with him did the trick for the audience until he pulled the song plug plant in a box. That girl is a comer and she is certain to land on the future.
Lalia Selbini and Nagle (New Acts) looks like a new frame-up for the queen of the bike, who looks just as shapely as of yore, and who certainly appealed to a trio of old boys who looked as though they have been drummer boys in ’76. But at that Nagle’s cat stuff looked good to them, too.
Sultan, a trained pony, was the opening offering. The girl who is handling the little steed could not be heard beyond the first few rows, and the cueing of the animal with the whip is palpable.
[New Act] “Nut” Comedy, 13 mins; one. Although there is but one name in the billing for this act it is a two man singing and comedy turn, the comedian being planted in the audience. The straight opens with a song. The comedian interrupts the comic with a horse laugh; there is some cross fire and finally the comic gets upon the stage and does the usual in the way of a boob characterization with the falls and flows. The act is not exactly next to closing on big time, but it can go along and work steadily and get laughs from any type of audience.
Next to closing Jones and Sylvester did not burn up the world. They are also paying too much attention to comedy and not enough to song. They can sing and should sing. One real number out over by them in their manner when they were That Quartet on the New York Roof would do more for them in the way of winning applause than all of the “strawberries” stuff that they are pulling.
“The Paddock” (New Acts) a new Taylor Granville offering, seemed rather lengthy because of stage waits. The race effect will make the act for any house. It is a new application of the old treadmill idea, this one first showing a head-on view of the four horses and than as the entire tread turns, a profile view of the finish is shown. The act is a flash and the effect one that will cause talk. The idea of the sketch itself in old melodrama stuff with nothing new about it.
This [applause] seemed to be further borne out with the arrival of Edith Cafford, with her singing single with piano player assistant. She, however, cleaned up a legitimate hit and practically stopped the show again, being forced to make a speech. Her “Simple Mary Ann” and “Weaker Sex” numbers went over in great shape, and “waitin’ for nothin” served its purpose as an encore offering.
[New act] Musical comedy, full stage (Special set) “Dream Stars” first came out a year ago with Charles King starred. It was presented by Laurence Schwab and produced by Hassard Short. Now it carried Harry Murray as the featured member, with Gladys Joye, Jeanne Berkley and Bernice La Rue assisting. The act is a series of old operatic numbers taken in costume by the girls who ascend to the stage through the framework of a piano set to one side of the stage. When Mr. King appeared in this act it at least held a name, his own, but King apparently could not become interested in the playlet. He should not be blamed for that. It was monotonously tiresome then, it is more so now. “Dream Stars” needs a name of a personality to carry it anywhere. Now it has neither, and without either not a whit of value for vaudeville of any kind.
[New Act] Violin, comedy talk, songs; 15 mins; one. The offering of the present male combination is virtually founded on the same comedy lines as the former Phil Baker turn and also carries Baker’s former partner, Jojo, thereby probably accounting for the similarity of routine. Saranoff opens the turn with a ballad selection followed by a few minutes of speech expressions on the string instrument. Jojo finally interrupts his partner’s work from one of the upper box seats with a hearty laugh, followed by comment on his ability as a violin player. Box member then renders several song numbers that were well liked, especially the “Ha, Ha, Ha” comedy selection. Very good for the smaller grade of houses.
Al B White as usual registered his customary laughing hit with comedy songs and prohibition talk. It is not only his up-to-date talk that brings home the bacon but delivery plays an important part. The longer the present material is used the better it will be received for the foundation is there to pull the same stuff from all angles.
