The Cordova daily times., 1923-02-20
GIVES FINEPR0CRAM
 AT EMPRESS

| performers of last nights vaudeville entertainment given by the John Jones Post of the American Legion at the Empress Theater! A program that from the Overture of MT. Berry to the patriotic Finale of the Koko Kola Kwortet was one round of cleverness and downright profession al ability is not one that permits of sny emphasis anywhere except on the general cracking good quality of the whole thing. Many program seen on the Orpheum and Pantages circuits Outside has fallen far short of the talent" that disposed itself in entertaining array on the stage of the Empress last night. From the performance of Bogart and the two Dooleys, in their rapid-fire "gags" in "The Newspaper Correspondents" to the Harmony Junction" stunt in which every member of the Kwortet distinguished himself in his particu
 
 to be made in the excellence of acts, though each one made it's special appeal to parts of the audi ence The act that brought down the house with howls of delight was the fancy dancing of Peggy Steven son in the Hula Hula, after an ex- hibition of two graceful dances with Edward Saari, to whom one can't re- sist tossing a bouquet, by the way. for his extraordinary grace and ease in the role. Peggy Stevenson is ali artist. Graceful and light as a feather, she has besides, the dramatic gift necessary to graphic dancing, and that she carried off her part last night with pep and personality was attested by the shouts of delight that greeted her performance.
 Frank Jones and D. c. Williams ;n their songs and dances, both in the sam and Ham" act and that of the KOid Kwortet, gave exhibitions of skill as actors and ability as singers that were rewarded by enthusiastic applause. Frank Jones as "nigger" would make the old-fashioned minstrel turn green with envy. while Williams, with his pleasing tenor voice and cleverness as "rube' stood out among the high lights of the pro- gram.
 George Dooley has certainly missed his calling, Mo- not es a baby-nurse, thorgh he gave every evidence of having been there, but as dis seminator of the Irish brogue. He and George, Jr., might very sue cessfully stage a performance that would hang green ribbons all over the Dooley family.
 An exhibition of real professional skill was that of Ed Harwood, in his act of Legerdemain. His con- plete ease on the platform, the real essence of success in the perform ance of magic, and his adeptness in the use of his hands, would easily entitle him to time" on any pro- fessional circuit.
 Another high spot on the program was the clever and picturesque act of Mrs. Spaulding and Her Gang, consisting of Flo Ellis, Tom Nestor and Nell Berry. Mrs. Spaulding's initial contralto solo, "A Gift Of Roses," was in it's capable rendering a fitting introduction to the artistic performance of her associates in two charming costume dances, one in the garb of Eskimos, the other French in ballet style. Poppy and full of grace, each individual memh' of the act gave a finished and pie turesque performance that made the whole one of the best received num- bers of the evening.
 Frank Burns in Swedish monologue gave one of the stunts that delighted the crowd. In both makeup and "brogue," his act was inimitable. funny down to the ground. In his performance of the part of the Stranger in Harmony Junction" he | gave further evidence of versatility, his singing of the Figaro" parody being exceptionally we'll done. Ed ! ward Saari's impersonation of the 1 Tramp in this act was one whose role also bespoke varied talents, 1 while the ensemble work of the Kwortet was excellent.
 The record house that time and again roared it's approval of the altogether fine program was a just tribute to the hard work and jealous efforts of the performers and mem- bers of the Legion to turn out one of the best entertainments ever wit messed in this our town. That they sue ceeded far beyond the hopes of even the most sanguine is the concensus