17 Mins. Full Stage.
To get the right slant at long distance on The House of David Band, just visualize a roomful of bearded ladies. That’s what these 20 male musicians from Benton Harbor, Mich., look like. They have their hair hanging down their backs, hair on their faces and the program says they have never visited a barber… New York looks too big for them unless they ballyhoo around the city. All required would be to walk Broadway with a sign reading: “At the Palace this week.” The music runs to brasses. But two or three reed instruments. One of the cornetists sounded regular, likewise a trombonist. Their musical scheme is to take slow time at the start of a piece, hitting up the tempo toward the centre and finishing forte. It’s a good scheme. The music is mostly rag, giving enough swing but with too much similarity and not enough latest tunes. No, they did not play “Dardanella.”
15 Min.; One.
Two men, one woman. Open with old fashioned song and dance, in ancient costumes. One man does eccentric stepping, joined later by the other girl changes to rompers for kid song; all three do comedy, acrobatic tumbling by men while girl contortions. The fast tumbling they do for a finish is so well done and with such good comedy that they are sure to finish a “riot” on any bill.
13 Mins.; Fall Stage.
This two-man acrobatic combination, attired as artists, starts in a parlor set with props, easels, etc One is sketching an athlete. The figure is mounted on a pedestal. The other is playing a mandolin.’ After some- pantomime they remove jackets and hats and go into hand-to-hand stunts from floor to upright, etc. They do several difficult looking throw-ups. one member makes a Strip change off stage and replaces the athletic figure while the stage is darkened. At lights up he goes through a series of muscular posings that reveal splendid development. After a few more double stunts they resume the opening occupations at the curtain.
10 Mins.; One and Full Stage (Special Set).
Now the “strong men” are talking. Orville Stamm is doing it, also singing. He has a new turn fashioned out of his former strong act, with the meat of that retained. Opening with his bull-dog hugging him, Mr. Stamm sings about his dog, then talks about him- self, all in “one.” Going into the full set, surrounded by curtains, he does his muscle display and after that, the violin playing whilst holding the dog on one arm, also his physical culture movements, and toward closing, his sketch in chalk with the dog again on his arm. In the new turn Mr. Stamm has placed a few laughs. It’s probably what could be called the only comedy strong man act in vaudeville.
12 Mins.; Full Stage (Special Set).
Chief Blue Cloud is an Indian, from appearances a full blooded one, although speaking flawless English. He is assisted by a slender young woman, who like the chief, wears Indian garb throughout the act. A special landscape set, consisting of several hanging pieces, with a full-fledged tepee set to the right, makes an atmospheric back- ground for the specialties offered. Following a song by the woman, the chief does a routine with the lariat, handling it dexterously. Brief cross fire, leading up to another vocal number by woman, in which she introduces several extremely high notes, with the tones coming out clear and round… The chiefs roping and music, and the woman’s tuneful soprano make a combination of entertainment that certifies the turn for the pop houses, with the fact of the man being an Indian giving an added novelty value to the act. Opening the show at the Albermarle, they went over very well.
“Enigma” Is offered as an electrical automaton which Is supposedly operated and controlled by electricity. An announcer explains the so-called Invention in “one” preceding the turn… The figure is dressed conventionally with a long frock coat, a masked face and baggy trousers. Under direction it walks, writes name upon an easel, ascends and descends steps, turns crank of a motion picture camera, hits piano keys in haphazard manner and operated one hammer in a duet of hammers played while illustrating the “Anvil Chorus” from “II Trovatore.”
14 Mins
Male requests audience to name selection. He places violin on music stand and the instrument plays the requests faithfully. He then descends to orchestra aisle and repeats performance without using bow. A plant is utilized for “comedy” requests and crossfire, also prop laughs. He Is Doc Cook, formerly the “Stooge” in the Joe Cook turn. About a dozen requests are played in the two’ aisle, when he returns to the stage and takes another instrument to duet “Margie” with the mystery instrument.
An announcer steps out into “one” and informs the audience he has discovered a pair of phantom hands capable of playing anything requested on the piano. He displays a pair of false hands while delivering the explanatory lecture. The stage la set with a satin drop, having an opening in the middle. This is backed in two by black curtains, grand piano being visible. On each side of the opening in the drop there is a row of red, white and blur lights. This gives a sort of mystic effect, making the interior which holds the piano appear shrouded in darkness. Announcer then places the pair of false hands on keyboard of piano… Going down into the orchestra, the announcer then calls for request numbers. This part of the turn is unusual,’ the announcer is no visible or audible transmitting signals to the player, who played some 40 or 50 pieces asked for, ranging from the classics to pop songs of the day without a miss.
8 Mins.; Full Stage.
Ce’Dora and another girl ride bicycles within a steel latched sphere, a stunt that has been done before, but with a man doing the daring part of the riding. That, however, is only the prelude to the thrill in the act which has Ce’Dora looping the interior on a motorcycle. Another act offering a similar exhibition, but the motor was operated by a man also. An announcer stood in the center while the girl whizzed by him from top to bottom. Seven stage hands hold braces to keep the sphere steady under the pressure of the motor. The motorcycling bit is sensational and few turns of that class are seen in vaudeville now. Ce’Dora kept the house in solidly. Ce’Dora at one time appeared in a turn called “The Golden Globe,” or something like that, which was similar to the present act.
22 min f.s., spl set. This act played here about one year ago and was a very big hit. This season the character of Hamlet has been changed; the girl now playing the part seems to lack stage experience, figure, etc. which the previous girl possessed. The act went fairly well although it seems to have been let down considerable.
