New York Clipper (Apr 1923)

28 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER April 11, 1923 BIG BOOKINGS FOR SUMMER The Ray Miller,. Inc., officers report that tiie booldiigs for die mmmg monlh and all throngh the sumiiier are heavier than i they expected. For the month of April the offices will supply orchestras for twenty-five dances. At Ray Miller's Faiadise Dance Hall, in Newark, business has improved steadily. Miller has adopted a novel departure for a place of this kind. From 8 until 10 p. m. he stands at die entrance downstairs and greets the couples as thev come in, calling. them fay name if possible. From ten on he directs the orchestra. He also has in- augurated several novelties, miming a "Home" night last Tuesday in conjimcdon with the son^ "Home," which was written by Billy Fazioli, his pianist, and Ray Kla- ges, also connected with Paradise. In line with Miller's intention to open a chain of dance halls he has leased the dance hall at Pleasure Seekers' Beach, Bridgeport, Conn., for the summer. The dance hall is one of the largest in that part of the country, being 184 feet wide by 318 feet long, capable of accommodating six thousand people. Two orchestras will be used, a twelve-piece combination under die Itaderihip of Mike Spedale and a five-piece jazz band. Miller will open the hall on May 16. ORCHESTRA NEWS HAVANOS IN NOVEL ACT Lt. Ferdinandos' Havana Orchestra opened last week in Newark, at Proctor's Theatre, presenting one of the most novel acts ever' seen on the vaudeville stage. The men were costumed in Tuxedo with red sashes about their waists, the stage set- ting depicting the veranda of the Hotel Seville, Havana,- with the harbor and Moro Casde in the background. The lighting effects are subdued and in keeping with the act, the whole being admirably staged. Leo J. LaBlanc staged the effect Lt. Ferdinacdos has a novel combination of sixteen musicians, known both in this L ouuliy and in Cuba, having played at the exclusive Hotel Seville in the latter coun- tiT for several months. The act will shorUy be seen in and around New York. OI VITO BAND IN NEW YORK Di Vito's Orchestra, a nine-piece com- bination under the leadership of Michael S. Di Vito was in New York last wedc to arrange for sunnner work. They recentiy completed an all winter dance tour of one- ni^ters through New Fngland, and played the last half, the week before last, at the Jefferson Theatre here, workingwith Ste- vers and Lovejoy- James W. oremian is die business manager for the band which is one of the best combinations in New England. GOLKN AT HABOLTON Ernie Golden returned to the Hamilton this week at the request of the manage- ment and patrons, jMaying an entire week although this is ouy a split-wedc house. Golden received spectacular bUling and was made a big feature attraction. In his act this week he baa replaced his original composition, "Chinese Charlie" a number m vdiich he uses a novel scene depicting n^t life in the Chinese section of an American city. • LUBI TO PLAY ON BERKSHIRE Joseph Labi, directing an orchestra of twelve men, has been engaged to furnish the dance music on the S. S. Berkshire, of the Hudson Navigation Company. There are three other ships oo the line but diese use three or four piece com- binations. The ships are already running but the orchestras do not start on board imtil late in May. BENNETT BACK FROM ENGLAND Robert Bennett, leader of the TrcMXo- raggers, a Paul Specfat organization, and the other seven members of this orchestra, returned from England on the Olympic last Thursday after a long engagement at the Trocadero Restaurant in London. Bennett reports that English musicians are twenty-five years behind the times in the field of dance music and lok upon the American invasion with consternation, for they see no way of schooling, them- selves to compete. As Bennett sees die situation, the Eng- lishman's inability to conform to present day dance standards is due almost en- tirely to the latent English love of the established order of things. England is far (from a progressive country and what was good enough for his- father, and father^ father bnore him is good enough with him. This does not hold true of the younger, dancing generation, who desire to dance to American tunes played the American way, the result being an impasse between the British public and the British musicians. LEVIATHAN ORCHESTRA OPENS The S. S. Leviathan Orchestra, Nelson Maples director, and presented by Paul Whiteman, Inc., opened Monday at the Al- hambra Theatre and scored a great hit Fourteen men are used in the act, many of them doubling on several instruments. Besides these, five members of the orches- tra sing, four of them doing quartette work and one of them, Morton Downey, singing several tenor solos. Keith Pittman, doub- ling on several bass instruments, clowns with the quartette, adding a few laughs to the act The act is reviewed dsewhere as a new act. The act will appear at the Royal Theatre next week. FRYE FOR ATLANTIC CITY Charles Frye, the Philadelphia Or- chestra Leader, was in New York last week making arrangements for his sum- mer season. Frye will return to the Mil- lion Dollar Pier, Atlantic Oty, on June 16, and will remam there for the rest of the snminer, until after the Adantic City Car- nival. Frye has also booked a Benson or- diestia to opea at the same time, so that the personnel at the pier during the coming summer will be practically the same as last year. RUSSELL MORGAN MARRIES Russell Morgan, trombonist with Paul Specht's Orchestra, was married last week to Miss Elva Irving, formerly of Phila- delidiia, at the home of the bride in that dty. Morgan's home b in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Harold Saliers, banjoist with the same orchestra, received word last week 'from his wife, in Tiffin, Ohio, that she had pre- sented Mm with a six pound baby girl. AKST AT SIXTY CLUB Hany Akst's Orchestra is appearing every Saturday niglit at John Rumsey's Sixty Qub. The personnel of the orches- tra is as follows: Harry Alcst piano; Benny Knieger, saxophone; Gene Fosdick, saxophone; Eddie Davis, violin; Jerry Friedman, Violin; Alex Drasein, violin; Frank Capie, banjo; Eddie Salvatore, bass; and Harry Rosenbog, drums. MELODY BOYS SIGN The California Melody Boys, under the leadership of George Browne, have been engaged to appear at the Nightingale, 48th street and Broadway. This is a six-piece combination that has been fumidiing the music'at the Ambassador in Greenpoint FRANKLIN IN ATLANTIC CITY Joseph B. Franklin left for a three day trip to Atlantic City last week to complete negotiations whidb he had pend- ing to place several orchestras in cafes, hotels and cabarets there. WADSWORTH SAILS SATURDAY 4 Wheeler Wadsworth and his orchestra will Sail Saturday, April 14 on the S. S. George Washington, being the first White- man orchestra to sail on the Shipping Board boats. On the same day a smaller combination under the direction of J^ Lehman, will sail on the S. S. Western World of the Munson line. Ernest Cutting, of the Whiteman offices, sailed from England on the S. S; Presi- dent Roosevelt, April S and will arrive in this country the latter part of this week, Louis Pizzo. directing Paul Whiteman's Havana Orchestra is playing at the Pavilion Royal on Saturdays and Sun- days. ORCHESTRAS AT N. V. A. BALL Following the show at the N. V. .A. ball last Friday evening three vaudeville or- chestras played for the dancings these being Harry Stoddard, Ernie Golden and Harold Stem. All three alternated, the music being continuous. In spite of the immense size of the ZZnd Regiment Ar- mory where the Washington Heights Ball was held, none of the orchestras had any difficulty in making themselves aud- ible, although -the largest was of ten pieces only. MIELE FOR VAUDEVILLE _ Jack Miele, and his orchestra, now put- ting in their sixth month at the Ritz of Harlem will open in vaudeville soon, play- ing with an act and keeping on with their work at the cabaret Bob Schaeffcr, the song writer, is interested in the ordiestra, and sings several numbers each night while the orchestra plays his accompani- ment. PARAMOUNT AT ROOF GARDEN I The New York Paramount Orchestra is now placing at the Italian Roof Gar- den, Criterion Restaurant, in London, and has become one of the established Amer- ican orchestras in England. Christopher Bishop, the leader of die combination and also business manager for several of his combinations playing dance engagements, was widely quoted in English papers on the American style of dance ;nusic at the time prior to Paul Whiteman's arrival. PARAMOUNT PLAYERS ENGAGED The Seven Palais Paramount Players opened in Pleasure Park, Evansville, In- diana last week. The orchestra is under the direction of Harold Troy and is one of the best combinations of musicians in the west They are engaged for the entire season at Danceland, after having played all win- ter oo the Keith circuit DONNOLLY PLAYS ALDA'S PART While dosing a window in her dressing room at Moss' Coliseum theatre last wedc, De Lyle Alda smashed her finger and in- jured it to such an extent that she fainted, and after regaining consdousness, had to be taken home. As it was too late to get an act to fill, an announcement about the accident was made before the act went on; to the audience, and that in order to give them an idea of what the act was all about James Donnolly, of Tiemy and DonnoUy, would play botli his own and Miss Alda's parts. iDonnoUy did this so successfnlly playing both roles in tuxedo, jumping from one part of the stage to another in order to read Miss Alda's lines properly, that the act was a sensation. The remarlable part of DonnoUy's stunt is the fact that he had never read the lines before. During the afternoon, one of the dancers in the same act had sprained his ankle, and Frank Ellis, of Walsh and Ellis, vrtio were on the bill, jumped into the role on two minutes' notice, and read the lines and did a specialty dance. Miss Alda and the boy recovered sufficienUy to return to work the next day. Jli.^j KEMMLER IN PITTSBURGH Kemmler's Orchestra is rising to prom- inence in the dance field in Pittsburgh and have become one of the best known or- diestras in that dty. Kemmler has been identified with dance orchestras for the past fifteen years both as leader and vio- linist. At the i»rcsent time nesotiations are pending with several of the larger talk- ing machine companies for this orchestra to make records. In the combination, be- sides Mr. Kemmler, are James H. rro- phater, inano; George O'Neil, trumpet; and Samuel McCaughey, drums and xylo- phone. FULL WEEKS FOR ORCHESTRAS Vincent Lopez and his Pennsylvania Orchestra will play a full week at B. S. Moss' Coliseum Theatre, beginning April 16. This will be the first time any act has played a full week in that house. Ernie Golden is playing a full week at Keith's Hamilton this week, in con- junction with "All-Nationality Week." Golden changes his programme of num- bers every day, to suit the nationality being celebrated. ROGERS AND DONNELLY CLOSING Rogers and Donnelly will close a long vaudeville season the last of this month. Ralph Rogers of the team, who is an Italian eccentric comedian, has the credit of being one of the first Italian comedians to findy dress the character. He first ap- peared in an English walking suit about six years ago. LANIN FOR THIRD YEAR Contrary to published reports Sam Lanin will not close at Roseland this Summer. Although Lanin himself will not play at Roseland one of his smaller ordiestras will not close at Roseland this Summer. Plans for the Fall season have not yet beep completed but it is probable that Lanin and his orchestra will play at Roseland for their third successive year. SELVIN CLOSING Benny Selvin and his orchestra, after having played at the Boardwalk, one of the Selvin chain of restaurants, for six months, will dose there the end of this month. Selvin has been working for the Sdvin interests without a halt for the past few years, using combinations of various sizes. He has not yet announced his future plans. SULLIVAN WITH "KELLY" SHOW George Sullivan, directing a five piece combination, is furnishing inddental music for "Litde Ndlie Kelly* die George M. Cohan show now playing at the Liberty Theatre. Arthur Hayes is the featured member of the organisition. SUES THURS.—DIVORCED SAT. Chicago. April 7.—The divorce mill does not always grind slowly. Gussie Bier obtained a divorce from Harry W. Fisher in Chicago in brief time the last week in March. Her suit was filed on Thursday and her divorce granted the following Saturday. Leon A. Berezniak was the attorney. RIESENFELD AT PALACE Hugo Riesenfeld and his orchestra opened at the Palace Theatre Monday for a week's engagement, Reisenfeld giving ?Tactically the same repertoire of "XHassical azz" that he presented and inaugurated at the Rialto Theatre. REED BACK FROM PANAMA Doc Reed and his White Way Orchestra have just returned from a six month's en- gagement at Giro's Cafe, Panama, where they had been booked by Frank Silvers. They will open shortly in Atlantic Gty. HALLETT ORCHESTRA IN ACT Mai Hallett, through his office, has placed a six-piece combination tinder the direction of Carl Berger to open with Gretchen Eastman in vaudeville within the next two wedcs.