New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-10
AT THE. VARIETIES
Ching Ling Foo BeWiIders All at
hammerStein'S.
GRACE LA RUE BACK AGAIN
Oldtimers Downtown and THE
Drums of Dude" in Harlem
Other Features.

out in California. in the days before
China became a republic. the unregen-
crate boy gangs of the district used to
have a derogatory jingle that was APP
piled to all natives of the Oriental en-
Pire II began. Ching. chong. China
man" and ended with that frightful
threat in those days, the amputation OF
the Celestiars queue. How times have
changed "since father was a boy is re-
ceiving demonstration al Hammerstein s
Victoria this week. where Ching Ling
Foo the Chinese magician. and his troupe
of acrobats and iugglers are appearing
10 the bewilderment of all who have eyes
TO see
Here is a group OF men and women
which is in the words of one of the
spectators. positively uncanny." This
Oriental has had a reputation for years
OF doing the most mysterious things on
the stage lie does How he presto
changeos" huge bowls filled with water,
not to mention goldfish. out Of the thin
air. can In the stock phrase of those who
know not what else TO say. only be seen
30 be appreciated"
When a musical comedy actress and
woman with a reputation as beauty ac-
quires a very rich husband che Is com
monty supposed to have no further ambi-
ton on the stage than 10 appear and
adorn herself with expensive gowns and
glittering jewels. Not so Grace La Rue,
who meets all the requirements. but Who
shows that she has other aims during her
present engagement In vaudeville AT Z.
F. Keith's Colonial Theatre.
The Record Breaker is the vehicle
for this demonstration OF Miss La Rue S
desire 10 do more than shine as dress
makers model The act is musical
one by Hassard Short and Is distinct
~ clever conceit. showing the interior OF
a photograph establishment devoted Ia
the canning Of the human voice. Miss
La Rue is the prima donna whc appears
upon the scene 10 sing into the fuPuel
and in the doing OF IL she gives several
songs that serve 10 reacn the ears OF the
pleased audience.
There was time a few years ago
when Miss la Rue had the appearance
and plumage Of bird OF paradise. But
OF voice she had little and that OF rasp'
ing quality. What pleasant surprise
then. TO find that she has worked with
il until to-day II has an agreeable quail
ity which makes her singing of an aria
from Puccini's Madame Butterfly" some
thing 10 be heard with pleasure.
Curtis Burnley. society entertainer.
IL another number on the bill. She Il
making her vaudeville debut. and in do
| Ing 80 shows that she has the faculty IN
an amazing degree 10 impersonate small
| child In its vocal peculiarites. \ triilt
too much OF this impersonatlon how
ever, tends to tire the audience, which
would prefer more negro mimicry.
Reno. the city OF divorce and divorces
| Is the subject OF a new sketch which All
diences at Proctor's Fifth Avenue Theatr'
saw for the first time in New York yes
terday. This playlet. which has for IT.
authors Bozeman Bulger and May Tully
reveals Miss Tully again as an actress
of comedy and farce. The sketch prove;
clever one in dialogue, with an anus
ing situation Of complication OF wives oil
vorced and otherwise.
Irene Franklin. in her songs which arr
distinctly her own as she gives them, Il
still one OF vaudeville's keenest pleas
ures. Her new songs are as good a
her old ones. which is high praise.
"Oldtimers' Week" began at r. +
Kciths Union Square Theatre at the matt
nee yesterday. when twenty favorites o
other days In vaudeville demonstrated
their ability 20 amuse to-day as well. The
songs the players sang, the Jokes they tol'
and the way they told them won as thel
have been doing for a generation or more
Maggie Cline with her famous Throw
Him Down. McClusky,' was one OF thu
chiefs among the oldtimers. The Terrible
Judge" as presented by Ward and Cur
ran. was another OF the old-time favor
ties.
At r. J.. Keith's Alhambrs Theatre
THE Drums OF Dude" by Austin Strong
"a presented by David Belasco. was the
chief attraction: Other acts on tn'
bill were Lee White and George Perry
Smiling Singers OF Smiling Songs Ray
mond and Caverly, German comedians
Linden Beckwith, vocalist; Madden and
Fitzpatrick in The Wanderer" Phins
and company, songs Charles Weber, &C
centric iuggler: The Ballots. gymnasts
and Max's Burlesque Circus.
Gertrude Barnes. singer ana dancer, u
the central attraction at y. +. Keith
Bronx Theatre this week; The balance OF
the program includes Florence Roberts
and company In "The Woman Inter
venes": a travesty sketch called More
SInned Against Than Usual: Williams
Thompson and Copeland IN The Burglars
Union Those Four Entertainers. singlnG
quartet, Arthur DEACON, comedian
blanche Sloan on the flying ring; The
Dolce Sisters, vocalSts, and the Alpine
Troupe