Eddie Foyer found the Royal a soft spot for his monolog and poems. He has brushed up his toe opening talk and interpolated several new laughs, but the punch remains in his rendition of poem requests from the house. He pulled several standards, but ducked “the Kid’s Last Fight” in favor of Kipling’s “Boots.” He went over strongly.
In His Original Monologue — “The President of the Hed Carriers” — closing with a Patriotic Song; 11 min. in one, went good.
Bernie breezed in with his usual nonchalant returns and spilled the wise and near wise cracks inserting them where they would do most good. The violin isn’t necessary to this chap, although they insist on him carrying it. He is a monologist of the first water and vaudeville holds no one who stops him in handling the airy persiflage. What he would do to a wise crowd like the bunch at the Century Grove or the Amsterdam Roof is a caution. He finished one of the hits of the bill, opening after intermission.
Lew Dockstader was No. 4 with his presidential monolog. He is topically timely, of course, and has excellent monolog material. He stretched it a bit at the encore, but finally got the punch over. The former invite to the audience for jokes is not in now. Dockstader will be in high favor as a turn until election. His talk is brought right up to the moment.
[New act] Monologist, 13 min.; one. Made up for comedy as a caricature of a “ward heeler,” Mr. Raymond stands on a soapbox for a sidewalk political “speech.” He is a candidate for Congress, and while he does not adhere to the political routine, swerving from it for semi-serious patriotic rhyming, he has an original monolog, well characterized and replete with satirical quips. More of the comedy and less of the partly serious stuff would make him a candidate for big time honors.
The “Rube” and Ex-Justice of the Peace. He was received most warmly and made one of the hits of the bill. In one.
12 Mins. One.
The small time seems to know it. has a cat d in Senator’ Francis Murphy. It has. ‘ He has played the American Theatre, New York, throe times within three months. Just why it is that the small time leaves the vulgar shimmy dancer to the big time and takes on a comedy turn the big time should have may be just between the booking men of those respective divisions. Perhaps the big time wants to’ be up to date—to “give the public what it wants,” whether it wants it or not. Senator Murphy monologs for 11 minutes and spends another minute in bowing his acknowledgement, including a speech… Mr. Murphy’s topical Monolog appealed especially to the women. Some of the girls in the audience were shrieking. The Murphy monolog is not gauged for small time but it may have been aimed for it since Murphy found how to obtain the best results. It could as easily be placed for any house. The more intellectual the more pointed it can become, and if the Murphy talk is by Aaron Hoff- man, as it soui.ds, Mr. Hoffman can bend his points to suit.
12 Mins. One.
Shelton in an extreme tramp make up runs across stage disappearing to opposite entrance evidently to convey the impression that the cops are after him. He returns to go into a monolog in which he maintains a perfect average as regards released material. His act could be billed “The Consensus” for he doesn’t skip any of the standard wows. They were hep to him Here. He precedes each gag with the remark “Oh Boy,” and it gets extremely tiresome. Shelton has a fair delivery and if equipped with fresh material might qualify for the smaller houses.
Jack Benny has a violin and talk. Mainly talk. He handles himself as though having played small time, though his talk material la new. When Benny said he had stopped smoking as smoking is now too effeminate, he waited for the expected laugh which was not as hearty as he looked for so he repeated the gag. Later when nearing the finish and the right exit, he pointed to his name on the card, while playing the violin, and saying. “Jack Benny. That’s me. They couldn’t get my light name on it.”
Mr. Haskell was a very agreeable surprise. He held the stage for 20 minutes satisfactorily, and there was very little of an objectionable nature in his monologue, and none of that was serious. He does a much better act than many others getting more money and playing right along. 20 minutes in one.
