The evening world., 1917-05-19
Vaudeville Recruits
That Come to the Aid
OF BrOadway 'ShOlUs' -

city In the country. In short. the
field is covered with a microscope.
n HIC SALE was known TO every
- one who goes TO vaudeville the
atres, to be sure. before he came
to the Winter Garden. But he was
kept on tho list until he could be put
Into place Of his own. Walter Kelly
held the same place in the earlier
show with his darksy stories. When
Sale was engaged for the Winter
Garden he walked up to the FIRST
person he met in the place and asked
who'll 1 give my billing TOT" He
was naturally disposed to hand out
photographs and other aids 20 the
management. Then he made his way
to the stage and scored a hit beyond
his greatest expectations
Chic Sale Is an unusually good ex-
ample OF the originality to bo found
In vaudeville. He has "A natural sense
OF humor. In form, the entertainment
he gives Is the sort that might be
found in country schoolhouse or a
village hall. The idea In as old as the
hills. But Sale gives II the freshness
of originality. When he starts to play
tho "tuby," with variations and
double-stops," no stands forth as a
comedian with keen sense OF char.
acter He puts another irresistible
touch into his work when, as the
spinster announcing the programme
OF the church festivities, he tosses u
stringy ostrich boa over ono shoulder.
He proves that he has made a humor-
Gus study of character.
COUNTRY types are recognized
Il again in the comedians who
splash paint over one another
at the Winter Garden. These careless
actors were discovered" in a Harlem
theatre given to cheap vaudeville and
moving pictures. After they had been
engaged by the Shuberts there was
considerable doubt as to their ability
to make Broadway laugh. Pitts
burgh was the first test-and Pitts
burgh responded generously. But the
Shuberts were still in doubt on the
opening night in New York. Yet New
York almost laughed itself out OF It's
seat. This goes to show you never
can tell how a vaudeville "aot" will
go" The simple fact is that these
sloppy painters are so ridiculous that
they remind us of the pranks we
played In our childhood.
TN his LITTLE Widows" the four
Haley Sisters arc unintentionally
funny at first and then really
80 because OF the tall member OF the
family who sings like trained zeal.
This truly strange quartette came to
Broadway. am told. from the small
time" circuit Broadway may always
be trusted to enjoy a novelty
But here's a Joke on the town: In
a Broadway musical show last sum-
mer there was n Hawaiian dancer
who made herself the feature Of the
performance. I've since learned she
is a native daughter OF San Fran
cisco, where she piled the gentle art
or manicurng before going on the
stage. When asked how she had
made herself an accomplished Ha-
waiian dancer she airily replied:
oh. you know, one meets so many
Hawaiians in Frisco"
Al. Jolson now travels across tho
continent in n private car with n
salary OF $1,000 week and an 'fn-
terest" In the Winter Garden show
that he enlivens-and this means a
jump from the weekly salary OF 5000
he drew in vaudeville.
TT Is the recruits from vaudeville |
that come to the aid OF Broad |
way shows and make them laugh !
ing successes. They work in their !