Exhibitors Herald (1927)

March 19, 1927 EXHIBITORS HERALD 31 Two More Set in Bandshow Policy Fanchon and Marco to Do Unit Shows Incorporate for $1,500,000; May Develop Chain Opposing Publix Circuit LOS ANGELES, March 15.— Fanchon and Marco, presentation producers supplying West Coast Theatres houses, have incorporated for $1,500,000 to finance expansion and developments looking toward a national roadshow route which may be developed to oppose the Publix circuit. The deal is tangled up with the StanleyWest Coast-First National merger and promises to grow interesting, a third of the stock to be owned by houses using the presentations, according t o available information. Fanchon and Marco, who are sister and brother and used to do a vaudeville act, have built up a considerable name for themselves in the presentation field, serving some of the best houses on the Coast. They have not been considered seriously as a contender for the national circuit championship, however, due to their practice of limiting employment mainly to non-professionals trained to the stage by themselves and not exactly big-time as to ability or drawing power. It is said that a different policy in this connection will be followed when the branching out begins in earnest. National Plan Vague National aspects of the plan are a bit vague, due to great open stretches separating West Coast and Stanley theatres, considered the ready-made market for the presentations. Against this obstacle professed “insiders” play up husky whispers about other theatre chains — not mentioned in the proposition to date — expected to supply the missing playdates. Ullman Appoints Castle Irving Ullman, general manager of the Joe Morris Music Company, has appointed Chick Castle as Chicago representative with offices in the Loop End Bldg. Mr. Ullman replaced “Uncle Bob,” of Radio fame, who is noted for his KYW stories. Orpheum Building New Orpheum theatres are reported building in Seattle, Vancouver, San Diego and Omaha, the latter project being a $3,000,000 house. They’re Darlings No foolin' about the way the Darling Twins do their Herald advertising. Commandeering the office equipment (and incidentally stopping work-a-day office routine in its tracks) they lay out their copy with the same skill and precision that picture theatre audiences love in their singing and stepping. (And Eagle Eye Joe, the sheik office-boy, forgot to mail the letters that day.) Bandshow is Fixed Policy at Sheridan Week’s Trial Convinces Aschers Stagehand Policy Will Do the Stuff After a week of bandshow policy, originally set in to alternate with musical comedy productions, Ascher Brothers have decided to continue Walter Blaufuss on the stage with his orchestra backing acts. This switch, together with the Piccadilly switch scheduled for March 28, will leave the Publix units routed through the three Publix houses the only “class” presentations in Chicago, birthplace of that entertainment form. Piccadilly a Surprise; Is Fifth Change Goes to Bandshow Policy March 28 With A1 Short Still in Charge of Show Schoenstadt & Sons’ Piccadilly, opened eight weeks ago in one of Chicago’s highest class residential sections, goes to a stagehand policy for its fifth change March 28 unless another change or two is slipped in between press time and then. The switch comes as a surprise, due to the type of neighborhood drawn from, and emphasizes the growing popularity of the bandshow. The Piccadilly opened with a policy looked upon as ideal for its location and so described in this department on the occasion of its premiere. Since then the house has had five managers and as many changes of policy, although responsibility for policy changes is not a managerial one at this house. Again in Split Weeks Two-a-week was the opening policy, with A1 Short’s symphony orchestra in the pit and the Russo-Fiorito Oriole orchestra, a name band of significance, on the stage in a miniature bandshow run alongside a class presentation. The first switch was to a full week policy, which seemed to go better. The second switch, if it can be termed that, was caused by Fiorito’s leaving the Orioles, but the show continued much as was. Meanwhile, house managers were going in and out almost as rapidly as paydays came around, five being used up in the eight weeks ending this week. Resignation of Dan Russo, who took his Orioles out of the theatre March 6, deprived the house of its stage band element and left the burden of entertainment on A1 Short, already busy enough producing stage acts as well as directing the theatre’s musical affairs. Then, March 12, Leo Terry, name organist considered one of the theatre’s fixed assets from the first, abandoned the console to Walter Flandorf (second organist) and Mildred Fitzpatrick, the former to do matinee shift and the latter evening, both including solos. On this date the house also went back to split weeks. Bandshow Next Next up, slated for March 28, is the bandshow, with A1 Short taking his orchestra upon the stage.