Jack and June Laughlin
Jack and June Laughlin, with a special “cyc,” in a singing and dancing routine, the act depending mostly on the stepping, picked up the running of the show. They overlooked their bows.
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.
Lawrence Brothers and Thelma
Lawrence Brothers and Thelma opened. They do all kinds of juggling and accomplish some interesting feats. Ryan and Cortez, Miss Ryan doing comedy and Cortez playing harp and violin, next. She is a likeable comedienne, but cracks a few “blue” lines that she might eliminate. She is not only a comedienne, but a dancer of high caliber. Cortez is a wizard of the harp and violin and plays several selection to a good band. The team is worthy of better material.
Dave Vine and Luella
A slow, draggy bill that played to a full house, with only one notably bright spot, Dave Vine and Luella Temple. This team comes back to the Rialto every season, but could play here every few months and do better each time. They were reviewed last week at McVicker’s where they kept the audience in a turmoil of laughter, but what they did here was a shame. They were greeted with an ovation like A. Jolson would receive. Vine on his opening told several Jewish gags that seemed to strike the crowd’s funnybone, and from there they had easy sailing. Miss Temple, a sweet plump doll, won admiration on looks and voice, and though she sang “After You’ve Gone,” an old ballad, she put it over with a tremendous success. Here’s a team ready to headline all small time houses and ripe for the two-a-day.
The Parrines
The Parrines showed real strength in everything they did. The woman member revealed remarkable strength as the understander with the man on her shoulder, and he weighs about 175.
Hugh Johnson
Hugh Johnson followed, in sleight-of-hand. This is one of the few playing this time who can pull wise cracks and make folks like him. He was ably assisted by two youngsters who gave him enough help to put over his well-known egg tricks. Received rounds of applause.
Gene and Katherine King
Gene and Katherine King do a nifty little fifteen minutes. Katherine wears a trick dress on her entrance and makes a change in full view of the audience toward her exit. They harmonize well and their material is fair.
Hite, Reflow and Loehr
Hite, Reflow and Loehr opened the last show at the Rialto with songs, dances and little piano playing. The woman member, charming and well costumed, danced all over the rostrum, ably assisted by one of the male members. The piano player, who can sing and dance, won applause. The act with a little overhauling would be ready for the two-a-day.
William O’Clare and Girls
William O’Clare and Girls, and there are four girls, do real Irish throughout the act. Why doesn’t O’Clare bill the girls by their names? O’Clare can sing and so can the girls, in fact they can dance as well, and they pleased all. This act closed with rounds of applause. The moving picture followed.
Williams and Culver
Williams and Culver, with all the hokum imaginable, got laugh after laugh in some of their talk. If he would do nut all through his act he would be better off, as he tries to do a Hebrew dialect and then starts working as a nut.