Williams and Taylor
Williams and Taylor, colored performers one doing comedy, got most out of their dancing. They gave a little of soft-shoe stuff, then a comedy song, followed by never failing eccentric dances.
Kathryn McConnell and Eddie West
Kathryn McConnell and Eddie West, listed No.2, moved to a close and were the show’s hit. A good comedy opening got laughs for them at the start, and the “Profiteering Blues,” by West, following struck like house just right. After some neat dancing of Miss Connell, some stories are effectively put over by West for big laughs, then both finish with a comedy number nicely worked up for the hit. The girl is attractive and makes neat costume changes during its running. She looks especially stunning in a rich black gown in the final number. With more suitable material they could easily qualify for the better houses.
Benny Harrison and Co.
Benny Harrison and Co. followed and suffered. He does a Hebrew mailman, and most of his gags are bedecked with whiskers, but he has an extraordinary way of putting them over. His straight mar seems amateurish and sings a ballad that is brutal. This is Harry Cooper’s old act. They forced an encore and made futile efforts to regain stride with the audience. Victoria, a single dancer, with a very pretty set in fullstage, worked energetically to make the crowd like her toe dancers and Egyptian dance, but they fidgeted.
The Breen Family
The Breen Family closed. Two peachy girls who danced variously and lightly scored and came the nearest to the Fairbanks Twins seen in these woods. A brother did some hard steps, and he took them hard, though the audience took them rousingly. A clown, probably the father, got laughs, but is very old-fashioned in method, out of tune with the rest of the attractive mélange, yet he gets it by.
Rome and Gaut
[New Act] Comedy, talk, songs and dances. 14 mins; “One.” These boys have been playing around the smaller houses and are right where they belong. One member is tall and angular, and the other short and squat. Their appearance makes for comedy and they capitalize it with comedy business and rough hokum. The cross fire could stand brushing up as the talk has all been released. Both are good eccentric steppers, the shorter one convulsing the house with a comedy solo dance that accentuates his short legs. They closed a whirlwind at the Royal.
Morris & Campbell
14 min. “The Avi-Ate-Her.” They have a good idea for a comedy act with a special drop, but the material falls short of the mark and is not well handled. They got a few laughs on some talk the man used from one of the boxes and his dancing got over, but the act is light and went only fair.
Wood Melville & Phillips
Two men and one woman one man works as Hebrew Songs comedy and some dancing by woman of act 20 Min. In one Went Good.
Jimmy Lucas
Jimmy Lucas was fourth and cleaned up a healthy hit with Francene in his nut specialty. Lucas grabbed them with his “dance” entrance and never relinquished the toe hold. The entire act could be played in “one” and the “one and a half” bit would get over just as strongly. Jimmy sang several of the songs he has authored and also gave his laughing imitations, cueing himself as to the subjects. It’s a good comedy vehicle and on par with any of his former efforts.
The Morton
The Morton family were third, giving the show real timber right where it was needed. Mr. Morton worked like a Trojan, pulling every known bit of hoke in the catalog, but it all scored for bullseyes. Whenever the proceedings threatened to lag Morton senior pulled a fall or a bit of eccentric stepping that made ‘em howl. The children contributed a full share of the fun, the boy especially, working up the comedy bits for full value.
Lane and Moran
Lane and Moran, unprogrammed fourth, were the first to reach ‘em with comedy and landed a hefty hit. Mr. Lane is an eccentric comic of ability, and his partner is a clever dancer and straight. Considerable of the material is use is familiar and a freshening of the routine is in order.