[New act] Musical and talk, 14 mins; full (Special). A musical team that has gone in for a sketch setting so as to be different. The drop represents a country bungalow with the woman playing the piano visible through the window. The husband appears he looks like a “light-heavy” who is dressed up in his Sunday best after a siege of road work. He handles the lines for a cross-fire at the opening of the act. There is some comedy with a prop viola and a flute and then a cornet is brought forward for the man to play. After this the woman joins in with a French horn and the two duet for the final number. It is an acceptable small time.
15 Mins.; Full Stage. Ben M. Jerome has been a favourite composer in Chicago for some years. He has now essayed to go into the varieties, where he is offering some of his old melodies and some new. He presides at a grand piano for his opening. Later a woman sings one of his latest songs, and a man arrives still alter to do a “wop” number. Some of the old Jerome favorites are sung off the stage by the man and woman, who alter come on for a romping child song. The act is a little awkward as yet, and the singers are not quite at ease. Some of the selections might be changed with advantage.
16 Mins.; Full. A big flash turn for the small time, Miss Swan has gathered seven good looking girls who can play and dress well. The octet comprises strings, brass and a drummer. A feature number to give the drummer an opportunity is not accepted for its full worth. Throughout the entire turn there seems to be a lack of ginger that would put the fact over as a riot. A turn of this sort should be the hit of any small time bill, – properly managed and with the proper routine of numbers; but at the 58th street house Tuesday night it had to be content with second honors.
Bop Tip and Co. opened the show, with Craig and Wadsworth playing rag melodies on saxophone and violin No. 2. They are a new act, but were not caught. Both have been with jazzing orchestras bearing their names, and both are popular rag players. They seemed to do very well at the finish, considering the spot.
Century Seranaders, another big timer, followed Darcy. There are five men in cowboy attire with special set in full. They play everything from an accordion to a bass viol and sure do play these instruments. They also give an impression of an old-time school act and finish with “The Livery Stable Blues” playing like five maniacs, The act closed the show and held the audience.
[New Act] Musical, 15 mins; one. Two young men, one a cellist and the other a lyric tenor with an excellent voice. Opening with a rag song, to which the cellist plays a counter melody, the cellist singles with Tostil’s “Goodbye,” played effectively. An imitation of a phonograph and a pop number by cellist next. A couple of ballads by vocalist with cellist harmonizing and a pop medley for closing. Very pleasing turn, which landed heavily No. 2 at the 23rdStreet. Act should develop rapidly into a standard turn for the pop houses.
Amelia Stone and Armand Kaliss was the headline act and was easily the class of the bill. Their musical novelty, “A Song Romance,” was placed third and did much to set the pace, well carried from that spot on. Kaliss had a clever number with “Ragtime Romance in France,” which probably was added after the act originally opened.
The Wiltons showed showmanship when their musical medley was interrupted by the entrance of a kitten, which couldn’t find the way out and ran back and forth until someone parted the curtain in one entrance and “Krazy” went off. The sisters stopped playing and laughed with the house. There is a rather welcome change to the final encore, the girls now using the popular “Left All Alone Again Blues” from “The Night Boat.”
Henry Santrey, with his band of 10 reduced to 9, did not seem to be as spontaneous as usual. They consumed only about two-thirds their regular allotment of time, with relatively little demand for more.
Burke and Betty followed in “one,” but had very little to offer. Burke plays the “uke” and sings a song while his partner makes a change. She has come very pretty costumes, especially the one she wears while playing the one she wears while playing the saxophone. The act got over.
