Evening star., 1924-03-02
<<V VANITY OF VANITIES,"
~ saith the preacher; "all is
- Vanity"

Vanity"
But this is no place for
q preacher.
1t is useless to sermonize about
entertainment frankly based on an
appea. to the popular desire to be
shocked. In reviewing revue it
is necessary to assume an attitude
OF Falstafflan composure. The gen.
tie hypocrisy that it is all for arts
sake is the refuge of the spectator
unable to resist the lure of curiosity
The announcement that this newest
glittering creation was designed to
"exalt the human form" promised
something extraordinary, and the
word "exalt" implied notion of the
uplift which persuaded many an
Uncle Bill and Aunt Hannah that they
could be as artistic as anybody and
the neighbors wasn't goin' to have
any chance to point the finger OF
scorn at 'em for bein' goldarn
prudes. In managing the publicity,
Main street was adroitly touched on
its most sensitive point.
* 4 * *
1t has become tilne-honored GUS
tom for comment in print to assume
an air of lofty unperception in dis
cussing the conventional beauty
show; letting pass a seeming de-
fiance of the ordinary proprieties of
speech or attire as accidental lapses
due to an overanxiety to entertain.
There was always something in the
way of honest fun to talk about and
the aloofness of the world across
the footlights was maintained suf-
flciently to leave the auditor with
the impression that he was merely
turning the leaves of gorgeous pic
ture book.
"The Vanities" enterprise insists
on breaking down the barriers of
fancy and makes every attribute of
its display familiarly and uncom-
promisingly physical. There was
not a sparkle of wit to illume the
fun-much of it excellent fun in it's
own mechanical way-nor a breath
OF spontaneous melody. 1t is usually
possible to say "the music was pret-
ty," but in this case even the tunes
were depressingH original. The run
way which parades the feminine
members of company through the
audience was not utilized. This
show went much further in mingling
with the populace. 1t performed all
over the map at all hours of the day
with beauty contests" luncheons
and dance parties Local talent was
literally engaged, with nothing to do
except to don costume and avoid
getting out of step. The peculiar
fascination of seeing an acquaintance
on the stage was capitalized to the
fullest extent, and remarkable dis
cretion was shown in not calling
upon any novice for more than she
could do with credit. All required
was to stand still and be gazed upon.
X X X X
Mr., Earl Carroll is the name in
scribed on the banner which filings
a challenge to Ziegfeld himself. Mr..
Carroll is evidently a fnancier as
we'll as an anatomical impresario.
This is indicated not only by the
gorgeousness which makes the stage
look like Teapot Dome in a state of
pecuniary eruption, but by his sys-
tenn of recruiting members of the
chorus. Chorus talent is likely to
become scarce. By way of inviting
comparison inferentially pointing to
sVanities" as a eliminating demon
stration, the program calls attention
to a list of competitors: Cohan
Revue, Winter Garden, Whites
Scandals" Greenwich Village"
"The Music Box" Ziegfeld, This
list is but slight indication of the
demand for choristers, for, counting
in the entertainments classified as
''burlesque" "a rather undeserved
humiliation of a very honest word