Evening star., 1926-12-13
POIFS-"Big Boy

AL Jolson appeared at Polls last
night to q capacity audience. fils
visits to this city are In the nature OIL
homecomings, for il is a matter of MS
tory that he once sold newspapers at
Fourteenth and G streets. Last nlght $
appearance was his first WITHIN the
boundaries of the District in three
wears. He was welcomed accordingly.
Jolson, aside from the fact that he
was in an especially entertaining
mood last night, brings good show
to Polls. 1t is that Winter Garden
favorite, "Big Boy" story of Ken
tucky and the blue grass, the DERBY
and the ways of running horses, the
whole splaShed with a goodly allow
ance of real comedy and songs.
There is plot too. which is rather
unusual with this type Of entertain.
ment. Jolson is the negro jockey or
the Bedford'S Kentucky farm, Scneu-
uled to ride his owners morse. Big
Boy, in the Derby. But band OF
sure.thing gamblers arrange to have
him displaced an English jockey ride
the horse and then make a cleanup
on another thoroughbred. However.
as one scene follows another, the
scheme of the gamblers is unfolded
and, like all race track stories. the
Bedford farnily's faithful servant ar
riveS in the proverbial nick of time
and rides Big Boy to victory. The
finish of the race is there before the
audience, the four leaders in ter
rife treadmill finish and Jolsons
mount going under the wire with only
an eyelash to spare.
One of the best bits of the produc-
tion is ''Jolson and his Jubilee Sing
ers," staged in the fourth scene of
the first act. The comedian promised
his audience an extra allowance of
entertainment later in the evening if
the customers would allow the show
to proceed. He made good his prom
Use at the last curtain, singing sew
eral old favorites and ringing down
on the finale around the midnight
hour. Among those in the company
who deserve special mention are Viola
Gillette as Mrs. Bedford, Betty Bow
man as Phyllis Carter, Hugh Banks
as Joe Warren, Janet Adair as TeSsie
Forbes, Mary Adams as Annabelle
Bedford. Ralph Glover as Jack Bed
ford, Colin Campbell as Steve Leslie,
the English jockey. and William l..
Thorne as Bully" John Bagby. Andre
and Rudac give a graceful speciality
dance in the hunt ball scene of the
last act and frankie James sings in
her pleasing manner.
kEITH'S-The Harry Fox Company.
An excellent program has been ar
ranged for this week at keith's, the
versatile singing comedian, Harry
Fox, occupying topline heights, a
position he had little trouble taking
care of. Fox has been regular in
several big revues around New York.
He has splendid singing voice for
his work and is generous in answer
ing the demands of the audience.
Beatrice Curtis, beautiful little miss,
is Fox's chief support, and her voice
comes in very well in several song
successes. A half-dozen curtain calls
rewarded the comedian and his or
ganization, and the lights were lower
ed before the next act was allowed
TO go on.
One Of the most artistic and clever
dancing acts ever presented at Keith's
is that headed by Renee Roberts and
Jay Velie and presented under the
direction of Rosalie Stewart. Violet
Bache and Louise Blackburne materi
ally strengthen the act while the
stars are changing costumes and add
TO the impressiveness of the scenes.
The scenery carried is elaborate and
the costumes in good taste. The Hopi
dance is the most pretentionS Of the
act.
other good acts on the program are
the Kanazawa Trio Of Japanese aero.
bats and jugglers: Sargent and Lewis,