New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-03
"Oxcoose, Blease"
ITHIS war doesn't always do what's ex-
pected Of il, after all.

cal one might conclude that food Will he
cheaper because the populace hereabouts, its
mind filed with thoughts Of draft and taxes
and things. is too preoccupied to eat. Or, 1t
might be argued that railroad fares will como
down, since nobody will want to travel except
in troop train. Or, pursuing the subject
further. theatre tickets ought TO drop in price
because nobody VIII want TO 90 20 show;
candy because nobody will want TO eat it, and
so on. Now what, 10 come to our topic without
wasting additional space, is the doing to
the German comedian?
You have guessed the answer. 1t isn't doing
a thing to him; and that's no slang. German
comedians are thriving throughout this land.
In the big and small time houses that have been
inspected for the purpose Of this investigation
not an auditor has taken a shot at the fat man
with the funny whiskers or the thin companion
whose eye is always in the way Of the other
fellows finger. Not a voice has been raised in
protest. not patron has demanded his money
back at the box Office.
If that isn't strange it ought TO be. The
United States is at war with Germany (see
newspapers Of this and recent date), and its
inhabitants naturally ought to be pretty mad
at anything German, funny otherwise.
Figures for England aren't available, but Cam
ada, much nearer home, will serve 10 illustrate
how angry a community can get when 1t sets
its mind on il. A German comedian hasn't
said "Oxcoose blease," in Canada in the last
three months and lived long enough TO get his
makeup off Canada likes 10 make fun of the
Germans in its Canadian, go-as-you-please sort
of way, but it isn't going to let any Germans
make fun of themselves. The fact that Ger
man comedians seldom are Germans has MOTH
ing TO do with the case. Anything that looks
German is enough.
Not a vaudeville act with a German in il is
playing any of the theatres north Of the lakes.
Even German acrobats are kept out. Since the
war started few German comedians, such as
Raymond and Caverly, Milt Collins and Harry
Lester Mason, have played successfully in some
of the larger houses in the bigger cities, but
their material has been greatly modified. The
small time men aren't tempting fate. They
are convinced Canadian audiences don't want
10 see German acts
The situation in this country is encouraging
to those who have to make their living by
dressing up as Schmalz or Schmid and acting
the part Though the booking period is closed
for this season, managers are going right
ahead signing up German funny acts for next
season. IF the worst comes to the worst and
American audiences begin 70 show a distaste
for this form Of entertainment the managers
probably will be able to point out clause some
where in the contract that will transform the
German team into Hebrew team. It's a poor
German act that can't double in Yiddish.
Sam Bernard, concededly the country's fore
most producer of German laughs, played at tbs
biggest vaudeville house in New York City two
weeks ago. He had been on view all winter in
the towns most pretentous girl show, and had
not failed TO please. But that was before the
state of war with Germany was declared, and
his appearance in vaudeville was watched with
more than the usual interest by those whose
business it is to take the public's pulse and
temperature. Not a degree Of fever was reg
istered from pit to second balcony; not a pulss
jumped
In the smaller houses the situation has been
equally encouraging tor discouraging, as you
please). limitations Of Demands famous po-
litical speech have had the usual applause;
German teams have sung their songs and done
their dialogue and bowed themselves of in
peace and safety.
There is a secret, though, about the German
comedian business that ought to be told. Ger
man comedians aren't as numerous as they
used TO be. Time was when a small time bill
or one in a larger house, for that matter-was
not complete without a German singing and
talking act Audiences demanded them and
laughed az them and shouted approval. That
was in the days Of Weber and Fields and the
Rogers Brothers, prototypes Of all successful
comedians who followed them. Now you can
count the names you know on the fingers Of
one hand. Try it, Sam Bernard Raymond and
Caverly, Joe Cawthorn Kolb and Dill seldom
seen east Of the Rockies) and Milt Collins.
There are few others easily recalled.
Compare that with the reign Of Gus and
Max Rogers Joe Weber and Lew Fields, Gus
Weinberg now in moving pictures), Jess
Dandy and more small time comedians than
could be set down in a newspaper page. IN
those times German comedians got the coveted
place next TO closng'-which is 70 say they
were placed next to last on the bill, a spot Of
honor accorded only to the deserving
Somehow or other, since those good old times,
the American public has lost its taste for
gargled songs and garbled conversation. The