Van and Belle closed the show with their comedy boomerang throwing and held the audience solid. They open the act sailing paper aeroplanes out to the audience, the crowd standing up trying to get one; this brings lots of laughs. They close with the man imitating birds and animals, putting them off the applause hit of the bill. This act is famous here, having appeared at the State-lake theatre.
Graves and Edwards, a man and woman comedy sketch, with the comedy lacking, came next, and went through their routine of talk with the same effect as though doing a dress rehearsal. They worked hard to keep up with the running, but the act misses, and they didn’t get a ripple out of the audience.
Jordan and Tyler, two colored men, followed. They open, one man at the piano, the other, playing a ‘cello, with green flood lights, playing a slow number, with several other slow numbers following this one, played on violins, and they close with a couple of aged popular numbers. The violinist is a cracker-jack player, and is capable of doing better, while the pianist plays with enthusiasm, and the audience being to let their interest go astray. They walked off just as they came on.
Dorothy Morris Trio started the fuss. Miss Morris, an excellent toe dancer, with personality and a fine repertoire of dances, making a change in dainty costume for each number, danced her way to several curtains. She is assisted by two girls who also do toe dancing, but lack the finish Miss Morris displays.
17 Mins.; Full Stage. An elaborate dancing act in which the steps of old time, as well as the modern are demonstrated in an artistic environment. The stage is set with a huge gilt frame and the dancers appear as in a picture. Each dance is named for a city, and each city represented by an electric-lighted drop. The cities are New Orleans, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Antonio, Boston, New York, a suburban locality, and Washington, the latter showing an elaborate picture of Uncle Sam Columbia, the North, the South and other symbolic figures. Laughlin and Shaw are featured. The costumes are fresh and new, the dances well executed and the act looks good for the best time. It is produced by Boyle Woolfolk.
Grace Wallace and Ben follow. Grace has a sweet voice, making three changes, while the two boys with her play xylophone and violin. They should try for a stronger finish, which would insure them a better spot on the small-time bills. Miss Bernard came next and tied the show into a knot.
Jerome and Newell in “A Chinese Bazaar” opened the show as a couple of Chinks. They start with a little song, then a little clarinet and one-string fiddle, then a dance, then into full stage for a fast finishing triple bar work.
Lillian Bernard and Jazz Band were featured at this new W.V.M.A. house and proved an ideal feature on an all around good bill. Miss Bernard is a local favorite, having sung in the cafes. Her personality and charming mannerisms out her over with a bang. She is carrying a jazz band that takes its hats off to no band in vaudeville. With the workout the act can take a spot on the better bills. Either way, Miss Bernard is of big-time caliber.
