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THE VAUDEVILLE NEWSFebruary 3, 1922uother terrific round of applause burst from the- crowd and Mr. Cohan said: “You have made me very happy with this wonderful welcome. It is a tribute and you make me proud. We all like to be patted on the back, you know.“My picture that hangs over the fireplace out there in the grand lounge gave me a thrill when I saw it tonight. It has been over a year since I was last in the club. I knew the picture was formerly there, but I wasn’t sure whether I would see it there tonight.GEO. M. COHAN OPENS SHOW FOR BERT LEVY{.Continuedfrom page I)with an ovation. “They asked me to present a Clown Night,” he began, “but you know that I am not capable of clowning, so I hope you will excuse the liberty I have taken of gathering a great array of stars, who will entertain you.”For the first time in the history of the N. V. A., a moving picture was presented in the club. Mr.Levy went to a great personal expense when he furnished a machine, operator and booth for this purpose.A two-reeler entitled “Out of the Inkwell,” created by Max Fleischer, a member of the N. V. A., was an artistic success. It was packed with laughs and gave the fast bill a speedy start. Mr. Levy again came before the curtains and requested the creator of the picture, who was seated in the audience, to arise from his chair. “Meet Max Fleischer!”$3*«*« »» — —of applause. “The N. V. A. is the only organization big enough to keep politics on the sidewalk, where they belong. I am happy to be here because I can see the faces of many with whom I began my career. It was'some thirty or more years ago, when with my family I first appeared for Mr. Keith at a theatre store in Boston, which later moved up the street and was ideal as there was a restaurant underneath. We did six shows a day then.“Mr. Keith said: T think I’ll pay him what he’s worth,* and that’s what he gave me.“This beautiful clubhouse is the result of the vision and efforts of a man, who at that time worked forMr. Keith at $12.50 a week. Today that man is the dean of vaudeville and the greatest and most courageous man I*ve ever known. I refer to E. F. Albee!” The crowd greeted the remark with wild applause.i“I want to compliment you on your club,” continued Mr. Cohan. “It is the ideal place of its kind, and that tribute comes frbm a man who has been put out of more theatrical clubs than have ever been built. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am to be here with you. I don’t want to get mushy, so I’ll just thank you and sit down.”The applause that followed his remarks was deafening. “Three cheers” were proposed and given with great gusto. The enthusiastic audience displayed its approval in a fashion that will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it.After Mr. Cohan returned to hisGEORGE M. COHAN“Before we go any further with the program,” declared Mr. Levy, “I would like to have you all meet George M. Cohan!” This was the cue for a spontaneous outburst' of applause interspersed with cheers that would have been indefinite had not Mr. Cohan interrupted it himself with that characteristic wave of his hand. According to the clock the roof-lifting ovation lasted for three minutes. . • '■“They want you to speak, George,” apologized Levy, as he helped him onto the stage.” We have no politics here, you know. Our organization’s purpose is to promulgate unity in the profession. In the name of the N. V. A., and this audience, I welcome you!” An-WAYNEALMAseat slides containing the choruses of famous songs he has composed were thrown on the screen. “He’s a Yankee Doodle Boy,” “Over There,” “Mary Is A Grand Old Name,” “Give My Regards to Broadway” and, “You’re a Grand Old Flag” were all sung by the crowd. The newspapermen at the press table were perhaps the first persons present to discover that tears were coursing down Mr. Cohan’s cheeks while the crowd sang his famous compositions. Another round of cheers came from the throng at the conclusion of the singing. .Cyril Keightly of “The Green Goddess” Company followed and offered a dramatic recitation from the pen of Rudyard Kipling. It was a classic.Frank Monroe of “Thank U” and the Misses Edith King and Helen Judson of the same production, followed. They treated the clown nighters to a sketch that was a gem. Mr. Monroe’s extracts from famous plays were remarkable. “I am grateful to the powers that be,”. said Mr. Monroe at the conclusion of the act, “that we have Clown Nights. It gives us the opportunity to do the things we like to do, without having to worry about the manager's report.”Sam Bernard and Willie Collier of “The Music Box Revue” were next. Mr. Collier told the audience that his “side-kick” was a sick man and that he was going to be out of the show for at least three weeks in order to take a much needed rest. “But we promised Bert we’d be here,” he continued, “and here we are.”Mrs. Sidney Drew kidded the crowd and told a few humorous stories. “I am not in the movies any more,” she said, “I am back in vaudeville again. It is a good thing that we have vaudeville. What would all of us movie people do without it now?” The laugh that followed proved that her word's were true.Two sweet things, whose ages average about 25 years, followed They were the White Sisters. They sang and danced and gave the crowd a taste of rich entertainment.“A pocket edition of the Duncan Sisters,” declared Bide Dudley, who was seated at the press table. And Bide, as you all know, is a connoisseur when it comes to picking clever ones.Charley Grapewin and Anna Chance did a “come-back” and were responsible for continuous laughter during the ten minutes that they occupied the stage. It marked their first appearance on any stage in fiveBEEMAN GRACE j? Direction of Harry Weber’ William Judkins Hewitt, in the ‘‘Billboard,” said of us: z“Beeman Grace, at the Palace in New York, have a genuine novelty act, f opened in full with Miss Grace at the piano and Mr. Beeman playing an operatic z ■ air on just an ordinary harmonica. They then do a double with a banjo and a -mandolin banjo, with the accompaniment of another harmonica.. The girl then ? } does an oriental dance. Then comes roller skating by the man on a special ; auxiliary floor, aided and abetted by his most graceful and charming partner. £ ; This man Beeman has them all stopped in this-line, especially when he does a £ P flatfooted, one-foot spin on the little runners to his own music; again on the ; I harmonica, while she plays a cornet. One of the biggest hits of the hill. They £ [ can come again and would hold down a real accredited position of prominence.” £LSWhite SistersFlorence MooreFlorence Moore of “The Music-b Box” followed. Cliff Friend accom-|i panied her at the piano. Miss Moore offered the same act plus some clever adlib that she presented in vaudeville last season. She was ai riot of fun. At the conclusion of her offering, she planted a kiss onjj “Uncle Bert’s” cheeks and this little by-play delighted the audience.Joe Laurie, Jr., and Harry Greene: came next. “A lotta people I know,1 declared Laurie, “think that Bert?| Levy’s book called ‘For the Good of the Race,’ is about horses.” The team kept up the speed of the show with their witticisms and bowed off to great applause.Wilda Bennett, also of “Thc|j Music Box” was introduced to the audience by Mr. Levy. She was the recipient of a big “hand.” Mr. Levy also called upon Nella Walker, formerly a member of Mack Walker, “the pioneer bench act]’ to take a bow. Miss Walker received a sincere round of applause.M“If you expected a clown night,”i said Levy, “then I have failed.” 1“NO! YOU HAVEN’T, BERTH shouted voices, “GIVE US SOME1 MORE. IT’S GREAT!” j“Thank you,” he replied, “I did my best. Glenn Condon and I had j plans for a greater night, but his’ unavoidable absence prevented us from going through with them.”He then announced the closing J act, Lee Kohlmar, who recited:] “Two Beers! Von for me and von,' for Vasserstein!” which was a treat.| The show was already running a half hour overtime so it had to come to a close, this being the reason for not presenting to the crowd Mar-celine Ferry Corwey of the Hippodrome, “Sold,” a sketch from the pen of Bide Dudley of the “New York Evening World,” and George Jessel, all of whom were present to help “Uncle Bert.”i ■■ — i ■■ ■ ■Great credit must be given to Zelo for his efforts as stage manager,;1 and to Messrs. Ed. Unitt, Jr., Alex-j ander Leftwich, Phil Pinero, Harry Corbett and Kenneth Hall for then valuable technique assistance back; stage. Ted Shapiro proved a great aid to Mr. Levy with his work at; the piano.Among the press representatives at the press table as special guests of The Vaudevile News were: BideDudley, New York Evening World; “Bugs” Baer, New York American; Johnny O’Connor, Dramatic Mirror;. Jack Mclnerney, “Zit’s” Weekly; Ed Randall and Leighton Blood, of The New York Daily News; Jerry Hoffman, Dramatic Mirror; Lew Strauss, Zit’s” Weekly; A. Herbst, New York Star; Miss Lillian Maynard, New York Star; Joe Daniels and Ashby Deer-ing, New York Morning Telegraph, and Boyd Fletcher and A. Owles, The Vaudeville News cartoonists.years. Mr. Grapewin clowned in inimitable style. His pantomimic conception of a juggler was a scream. The audience gave thecouple- a_ great--send- off.. ------------ROBERT LEONARDThe present whereabouts and address of Robert Leonard, Jewish comedian and member of the N. V. A., who is supposed to be working in vaudeville, is earnestly desired. Information will be -deeply i appreciated. Address:FRANCISCUS, 16.5 Broadway,New York City. Or phone Courtlandt 5491. ■Or
Newspaper Details
New York Vaudeville News
New York, New York, US
Fri, Feb 03, 1922
Page 1
Full Page
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Anonymous
IN, USA 27 Feb 2019
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