The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-20
At the Lyric


The Lyric has arrived. If there might
have fingered shadow of doubt in
the mind of any Birmingham people
last week, that doubt went shimmering
last night.
Before a house crowded to the roof,
Manager Semon put on an almost all
star Keith vaudeville bill and, to use
the parlance of the street, they Sim
ply ate it up
If not the best. 1t is one of the best
vaudeville bills ever seen in Birming-
ham. Its superiority to the usual Sec
ono and third class vaudeville which
has been Birmingham's lot in times past
was so vivid that the great audience
last night could almost be felt to gasp.
It's uniform quality struck as hard as
the individual rank of any one act;
for each succeeding act appeared to
drive home to the audience the realiza-
ton of the true worth of the treat set
for their pleasure.
The beautiful new theatre seemed to
throw a charm over the stage and the
audience added further enjoyment to
the evening. Birmingham's society was
everywhere conspicuous. More beauti-
full women in beautiful gowns prob
ably have never been seen in one thea
tire audience in Birmingham. 1t ap-
pears that the Lyric bids fair to be-
come society show place, IL its ,serv-
ice in the future can measure up to
the standard set with it's opening. But
one hitch could possibly be found by
anyone desiring to pick fault last night.
and that was the Jake Wells innova-
tion, girl ushers who got the crowd
slightly confused and many people were
sitting In many other peoples seats.
But the girls are new and they no
doubt will learn.
Sophie Tucker, "the Mary Garden of
Ragtime.' was billed as the headliner.
And she is, but she had some brother
and sister acts that she did not push
into the background by little bit.
Miss Sophie is coon shouter" of no
mean ability. Her rendition of popular
songs at the selection of the audience
simply took the place by storm. Her
personality seemed to take her over the
footlights. Her line of talk to the
faces in front of her, her every move
mcnt Of merriment. seemed to radiate
the idea of frolic. and frolic she did.
That nearly everybody froliced with
her could be doubted by no one who
witnessed the applause and the cheer
ing. Her voice is of remarkable
strength.
Milton POLLOCK Il CO.. an ADDED at
traction. in Speaking to Father
played character lines with fine effect.
Milton Pollock as father kept the
house in an uproar. Father ran a
pickle factory and got his disposition
scured. When young man came to
esk for his daughter. much comedy
broke forth.
George Felix and the Barry girls was
more comedy sandwiched In with a
little singing. The girls can sing. Any
body who doubts Mr. Felix's ability as
a ''tom-fool comedian" only need go
to see him. Amusement in foolishness
lies chiefly in its difference and Felix
is different. He's funny to look It
and funnier the longer the look.
Joe and Earnie Van without . doubt
divided honors with any other troupe
on the bill They did nothing much but
talk and play. But they talk and play.
They could do 1t with such effect that
their comedy was instantaneous. Much
of their trouble arose over Jimmy
and "Chiny money" Few funnier peo-
pie are ever seen on the stage.
Low and Nollie Hunting did = sing