Moss & Frye
18 min. These colored comedians put over one of the big applause and laughing hits of the show. They have a lot of non-sensical talk that kept the audience laughing and their harmonizing in a couple of songs brought them a big hand.
Johnson and Deen
11 Mins.; One. This team of colored entertainers was one of the three real hits of the bill at Hammerstein’s this week. Johnson has a new woman partner, as far as America is concerned, in Josephine Deen. She makes a splendid stage appearance and wears three gowns nicely. She is also possessed of a soprano voice that passes her in the single number she does. Using “Follow the Crowd” for an opening number starts the act nicely. “You’re Here” and “Dancing Mad” also help along and give opportunity for dancing. Johnson is doing eccentric stepping as usual.
“The Chocolate Drops.”
18 Mins.; Full Stage. George Archer has a new edition of his “Chocolate Drops” which had the third spot in the Academy program the first half. The act has seven colored boys and girls. Two boys, King and Bailey, are the leaders in the singing, dancing and comedy. Five girls are the chorus, one of the quintette doing a society stepping bit with one of the men. This girl has possibilities, her dancing and leading the other girls being above the usual run of chorus leaders. The dressing of the chorus is up to the mark on all occasions, the girls making four changes in all, two of which are slip-overs. The appearance of the girls in the gingham frocks over the sourbet costumes is not pleasing for they bulge out, giving the girls an awkward appearance. There is time enough during the comedy work of the men for the girls to make a complete change, so why spoil the appearance once? The bronze slippers and stocking set the girls’ feet and limbs off to good advantage. As a colored tabloid there are a few, if any, that can beat: The Chocolate Drops.”
Moss & Frye
15 min. in. This team of colored entertainers were a riot in this spot going over very big.
Grantley and Drayton
8 Mins.; One. Colored boys. Affect an English Johnny style of working. Wear top hats throughout and also sport manacles. They sing a little but their strong point is dancing, the routine is noticeably different from the usual run. A good act of its kind.
Al Debre
10 Mins.; Full. An act of this sort is a ghost of the past. There are few left who can remember so far into the past and the one that discovered it should receive a degree as an archeologist. Al Debre is a colored performer. He plays a number of bugle calls at the opening; this is followed by a musket drill, and for the close he does a Lancashire clog.
Smith and Hatch
Smith and Hatch are a colored male pair that have gathered together several songs and a little more talk. The dialog is commonplace with the best laughs coming from the “language” bit. The songs are put over nicely. The “I’m the Guy That Paid the Rent” number used by the stout fellow, could be replaced by something with more comedy. Smith and Hatch should be able to make good as colored entertainers on small time.
Grant and Vaughner
15 Mins.; One. Hard working colored chaps. They talk, sing and dance. The shorter in exaggerated makeup sings “The Count of No Account,” a lively number. The taller man offers “Chicken Rag” with vocal by-play on the chorus. The team got some good laughs out of its patter. The “Dora Dean” song is an old boy, but it gives them a chance to parade around the floor gingerly. For an encore each does a dance in fast tempo which pleased the Roof regulars.
White and Bradford.
12 Mins. One.
Colored man and woman, the latter in exaggerated costume accentuating current styles affected by women. Both are good exponents of the negro style of harmonizing. The woman gets results with some comedy while the male Is singing. “Emmalina” and another rather ancient Southern ditty were doubled in pleasing style. It’s a good small time singing combination.
Crumbly and Brown
13 Mins.; One.
Colored straight and comic, the latter blacked up and both dressed as Red Cap ‘Porters.” They open “quarrelling” with exaggerated threats bandied back and forth. Then seated on suit, cases a double song “I’m Goin’ Down Home” well rendered as to harmony. Next a solo by the comic “Prohibition Blues,” followed by “Life Is a Game of Checkers,” sung by straight man with both seated at a checker board.’ The comedy here consists of the efforts of the comic to cheat his partner and this phase of it though funny at first, is overdone. “What A Time” a comedy limerick double, which contains some ancient themes, got them big returns practically stopping the show. They are a good small time comedy combination and should keep busy ‘in. the popular priced houses.