The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-04
EVERY RAP A BOOST
AT'MIDNIGHT FROLIC'
Hammers Provided So Well
Wishers in Audience Can
Knock Approval.
SHOW PROVES SPARKLER
Influence of Orient Seen in
Opening Numbers-Singer
Hops Out of Egg.

r. Ziegfeld, by opening the ninth
issue of the "Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic"
on the New Amsterdam Theatre roof
late Thursday night provided New
Workers. with a good excuse for not
caring whether there were any daylight
saving laws While watching the gor-
geous fiare-up OF color on the roof one
didn't caro- whether daylight was saved
or not. provided there was plenty of
midnight left.
The audience or habitual first nighters
who crowded the place went prepared
to approve, even II they had to do Il
on mineral water. And they found
plenty of opportunity to approve vehe-
mently with the little hammers provided
for rapping the tables, so that every
knock became a boost. In fact, enthusi-
asm started with the FIRST number. a
Chinese tableau arranged 10y Ben, Ali
Haggin, with Chinese dream girl, a
crouohing Chinese dreaming at her feet.
and a basket of laundry beside him
that looked like anything but dream.
The influence or the Orient extended,
over into the second number, In which
Allyn King sang Shanghai" pleasingly
while behind her opened a vista of
Chinese tewelled trees, with girls in
Occidental costumes of finely harmonized
colors clustered at the base of the trees
like ripe fallen fruit, while a lovely
lavender light played about them, Just
as II always does in China. The on
lockers developed more thirst hammer
ing out their feelings over this. and
also when the girls marched out on the
floor and performed their evolutions
better than even Chinese soldiers could.
Next came Keegan and Edwards, who
yappe1 out their jazz numbers and
Illustrated the effect that Jazz has on
some pers sons, which would seem to be
akin to that of cocaine. A Surprise
number followed, with huge Easter egg
contrivance sliding out on the telescope
stage, from which came ribbon stream
ers that were handed out to the men at
the tables as though they were attending
a bargain sale. When The men pulled
at a command from, Elsie Barker out
popped Frances White from cover. who
sang the Midnight Maid" with the aid
of her eyes Miss Whites voice seemed
trifie lost last night. but she was able
to look as provocative as ever, and put
both speed and control in her ocular de-
livery.
When Fannie Brice appeared she re-
ceived the salvo of the evening-ano
thereupon the real surprise came, for
Eddie Cantor, without having his name
on the programme, suddenly bobbed out
from the wings clothed from head to
foot IN regulation French apache at
tire Thereupon he and Miss Brice did
an amusing apache skit. which seemed a
bit rough on her. though she seemed to
enjoy il. Later she did a lyric fantasy
called Spring" which wore out the
hammers some more.
Other attractive acts included Ted
Lewis and his jazz band; Savoy and
BrennaR stocked up with new jokes Hal
Hixon ia songs and acrobatic dances
W. c. Fields in an amusing juggling
number; Arthur Uttry and Dolores.
Martha Mansfield. Jessie Reed, Dorothy
Leeds. Alta King and others of Mr..
Ziegfeld's beauty aces, looking more ace
bgh than ever, who were especially al
hrinz in a Jewel" number and a bird
land ballet. The performance wound up
with an orgy of shimmying in which
stage hands. orchestra, walters and bus
boys Joined. and even the head walter
threw dignity to the winds and quivered
in harmony with Frances White