Judge — September 20, 1919 — page 26: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

yet they led to the Hippodrome they don’t act: they manoeuvre. “Happy Days” is merriment exe- cuted in mass formations,with favorite outposts at the foot- . light salient and feminine platoons deployed as skir- mishers skittishly. General Burnside has certainly proved himself a master of dramatic tactics. Think of it! With a paltry five hundred he has to capture an audience of nearly six thousand. His army is outnumbered more than ten to one. He can win on!v by superior organization, strict discipline and clock work precision. And, with this machine that he has built up, he does win. Never was entertainment or- ganized more scientifically. General Burnside is the Foch of Fun. Some of the reviewers for the daily press slammed with no great delicacy of biff. Perhaps they resented the intrusion upon the Showknockers’ Holiday which the strike had given them. For our part we enjoyed the hugeness hugely. “Happy Days” struck us as being the best Hippodrome Show in several years. very vastness its chief limitation. Stationed a hundred feet or so from some of his spec- tators, a comedian can hardly hope to accomplish much by facial expression. The el phants could do that if they cared to, but they don’t seem tocare. In their barber shop skit, the pachyderm who lathered and shaved his com- panion’s trunk and left cheek maintained a solemn immo- bility of countenance. Even the shavee betrayed no solici- tude for his complexion. And the lesser Jumbos, one of whom cradled a doll while the other sat at a table and consumed countless courses of food, grabbed what was handed them with landlordly indifference. Here was a fine opportunity lost. These ele- phants had features that “carried” to the uttermost sections of the audience, and “Happy Days” v Its is wy Tossixnc THE Gigantic Gladness By Lawton Mackatt ALranp CuEney Jonxeros Rexfte Avorke or “Ou, Wuata Keerine ix Tri Durrn Mepictne 26 them. General Burnside should see to it that his elephants are taught to grimace. There area number of capable monkeys in the Bronx Park Zoo that we could recommend for the job of coach- ing them. As it is, the sight of these expansive, flabby physiognomies remaining idle worries us as an eco nomic was! Put those wrinkles to work. The diving damsels had far smaller facial features, but they managed to supplement their physiognomies in a way that conveyed a distinct impression of come! ness. It was indeed gratifying to watch their sportive ker-chunks into the tank. Less carefree was the part played by “Happy” Jack Lambert as Mr. Sand Man. He had to be aggres- sively, continually glad. He had to address a mammoth nurseryful of chorus girls dressed as kiddies in sleeping suits, with, “Now, children, let’s all go to Fairyland” beamishness to that effect. It’s an awful strain, being the Pollyanna of the Circus. But, he never shirked an instance: he smiled his limit, sprang nimbly about, rattled his heels together in the air, and kept his cockney accent at its gladdest. Of milder intensity was the | good cheer supplied by the jug- glers in their Chinese Restau- rant scene. The tossed chairs, plates, bottles and suchlike articles about with adroit abandon. We k wishing we could see them swoop down upon the Bilt- more dining room some eve- ning and liven things up with their unconventional table manners. One would feel un- mistakably glad to observe the expression of the head waiter when he saw his china and silver tumbling and glinting up near the ceiling, as the guests ban- died the bric-a-brac. But most consummately care: Poodles Hanneford—hors climbing clown—the Charlie Chaplin of the crupper. Having no pies aboard, he (merely throws fits now and then. -or 4 less is Photo by THE STRIKE Busere.