Exhibitors Herald (1927)

34 EXHIBITORS HERALD March 26, 1927 Sunrise” with the Gould Girls as gobs decorating the rope ladders leading up to the mast. “Lonely Eyes,” sung by McEvoy and played as a band number, followed. This song has whiskers. Gould Girls came in here for a nifty routine of sailor’s hornpipe and make fine “life-savers” to look at in their light blue middies. In this scene two huge life saver belts suspended by rope, came down bringing two attractive little girls who harmonize while another young lady, not announced in this scene, goes into a clever routine of eccentric taps and buck dancing that registers big. Trio, composed of Lee Barton Evans, Clem Dacy and Fenton McEvoy, harmonize “I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover” and came back for another chorus as an encore. Their voices blend well and won instant approval of the audience. Davey White, seen lately in other Chicago theatres, again offered his eccentric dancing and marvellous splits. Davey more than repeated his success here ; he stopped the show with his sensational steps. Next came Biggie and Cooper, the two little girls who came down with the life savers, and this time they gave a tap specialty to the band’s treatment of “Ain’t She Sweet” with Rena Rae singing as four attractive Gould girls paraded in beautiful dresses. Prosper and Maret, a male duo. offered college athletic stunts of hand balancing type that almost stopped the show. They encored to the strains of “Blame It On The Waltz.” One of the best strong men turns ever seen and fitted great in this spot. “When I First Met Mary” a . piano solo by Art Kahn with his own syncopation arrangement which, if cut down to half its length, would be a masterpiece. As it is, Kahn kills it by playing too long. For an encore he played “In a Little Spanish Town” and again repeated his first error. Lee Barton Evans, well known tenor and formerly of “Earl Carroll’s Vanities,” sang Caruso’s favorite song, “For You Alone,” which registered so well he rendered “If You See Sally” in the powerful dramatic voice that has made him popular in presentations. Kahn played the piano for him during his selections. Gould Dancers in the wig-wag routine of flag signals offered a clever dance in black and white costumes of novel designs with Biggie and Cooper, again doing tap work to the tune of “Sailing.” Frank Bamilton, in white comic sailor suit, was next and as Frank clowned in between the acts he started off with a bang when he went into his “Crazy Words, Crazy Tune,” which Frank pantomimed. ’The stuttering song put the entire audience into convulsions and proved Hamilton still the peer of this style of work. The audience was too weak to applaud but he was compelled to take several bows. Finale: Same scene as opening, with Gould Girls in exact position, band playing “Yankee Rose” and back drop lighted to show Miss Liberty in foreground. Observation: With the list of talent, this show can not miss, though it sags in spots. Des Moines Capitol Week Ending March 19 “The Pearl of Damascus/* a Publix presentation, topped the bill. “The Bird Store** was a unique orchestra overture, a descriptive novelty with an accomplished whistler, John Woodmansee, doing some fancy bird calls to enhance the effect. St. Louis Missouri Week Ending March 18 This was Surprise Week at the Missouri and a special stage show was put on by the management. It combined good music, singing, dancing and whatnot. St. Louis Grand Central Week Ending March 18 Gene Rodemich and Merry Maniacs offered a St. Patrick’s Day program on the stage during the week. Johnny Perkins, comedian, was featured singing a series of songs culminating with Larry Conley’s si>ecial number, “Parting With You.” Williard Andelin, basso, was also headlined. St. Louis State Week Ending March 18 “With Don Albert in Laff-Land” was the principal stage turn. Grouped against a large laughing face, Albert’s syncopators sang Irish songs and played. Celia Rhodes was the blues singer, while Caits Brothers provided the dancing. Adler, Weil and Herman, with their own piano, furnished harmony for the bill. St. Louis Ambassador Week Ending March 18 On stage — “Puppets,** a group of singers, dancers, tumblers and musicians. A Publix road show. Overture — “The Emerald Isle Overture," by Ambassador orchestra directed by Leonid Leonardi. Kansas City Mainstreet Week Ending March 18 Bartram and Saxton, Darling Twins, Lafayette and Delphino and Chrissie and Daley were featured equally at the Mainstreet this week, each act intermingling on the program under the recently adopted stage band policy of the theatre. Bartram and Saxton present “A pair of Kentuckians*' in songs ; Darling Twins, late of “Ziegfeld Follies,*’ do a dancing and singing act ; Lafayette and Delphino are dancers ; Chrissie and Daley present eccentric comedy. Kansas City Newman Week Ending March 18 “Pompadour’s Fan,” Publix, was the principal stage attraction at the Newman this week. “Blosson Time” was the overture by Sigmund Bogulaswski’s orchestra, in which the Newman Saxophone Sextette was featured. Des Moines Des Moines ' Week Ending March 19 “The Beloved Rogue” was the feature picture, with “Our Gang” comedy and the Pathe News to round out the bill. “The Youthful Pepsters,” special billing for Vail and Stewart, demonstrated fast moving fancy step.5 in popular style. They sang a group of songs also. Detroit State Week Ending March 19 “Shamrock Fancies,” with Charlie Melson conducting the stage orchestra in addition to providing some sure-fire wisecracks, was the entertainment on view at the State. Market and Faun, eccentric dancers who drew heavy applause : Salt and Pepper, two lads with a ukulele and high-pitched voices : Penny, Read and Gold, male trio : and Esther Sterling, a clever exponent of the Black Bottom and Charleston, were on the program. Detroit Capitol Week Ending March 19 Playing a return ejjjragement, Charles Irwin officiated as master of ceremonies in a presentation called “Homecoming Week.** Bronson, Shields and Maxon, and The Rollickers, a male quartet billed as Vitaphone and record stars, shared the headline honors. Gypsy Byrne, a male impersonator and dancer, offered a surprise act, and a few Irish songs by Charles Jolley, a tenor whose mellow voice has sounded countless popular melodies at the Capitol, followed. Detroit Michigan Week Ending March 19 “The Paper Revue,** Publix unit, was the feature presentation. Lestra LaMonte, prima donna; Benny and Western, eccentric steppers; and the light-footed group of “Aurora Girls’* are the chief participants. Moscow Art Sextette sang the “Volga Boat Song** and also provided a burlesque of a street entertainment. Loew in Middle West Johnny Jones, manager of the Chicago office for Marcus Loew Western Booking Agency, announces that he is now booking presentations In the Saxe theatres and other leading independent picture houses of the Middle West. Since stageshows have taken the place of vaudeville acts Jones has been busy selecting suitable talent ana is assisted by Lew Kane, well known in vaudeville circles. Getting Under the Tent Non-picture houses in St. Louis are scrambling to get in under the tent. The Gayety (burlesque) added a picture last week. The Orpheum has been doing consistently better business since its recent inclusion of a screen bill. Thurston did a big week at the American (vaudeville) last week — but he’s a magician! Gallo Says: Bennie Krueger has signed a new contract with Balaban & Katz. . . . Grace Aldrich, popular Minneapolis songstress, is in town contemplating a tour of picture houses. ... A Letter from Will Biggie tells us that his new Higgiejig step is creating a sensation in vaudeville and picture houses. ... Harry Waiman and hie girl orchestra will open an eight weeks’ engagement at the Cinderella. Detroit. June 26. . . . Gail Bandell leaves town this week to become Mistress of Ceremonies at the Fond du Lac theatre. . . . George A. Johnson, formerly guest organist at the Harding, is now featured organist at the new Riviera, Omaha, a Publix theatre. . . . Dorce Leslie is back at the Granada. . . . The McCune Sisters have completed a tour of Lubliner & Trinz theatres and now appear at the Granada. . . Ed. Burke is foiling for DeHaven and Nice, who are featured at Ascher’s Sheridan this week. . . . Sonia Meroff, Benny’s little sister, appears at the Riviera this week with “Innovations.” . . . Joe Lichter’s orchestra has replaced Sammy Kahn at the Central Park theatre. . . . Babe Kane, formerly cabaret entertainer, is now touring with Lubliner & Trinz Presentations. . . . The Moscow Art Trio take part in “The Paper Revue” at the Chicago theatre this week. . . . Barr, Mayo and Renn, of vaudeville, are doing some picture house work and appear this week at the Tower. . . . A1 Short is featuring the Royal Hungarian Orchestra at the Piccadilly this week. . . . Sissle and Blake, the colored song writers, are now touring picture theatres under the management of Max Turner and Phil ’Tyrrell. . . . A1 and Louise Walker have been held over at the Oriental this week. . . . Ted Leary is no longer with the Stratford Syncopators, he is now M. C. at the Piccadilly. . . . Dave Silverstien has opened offices in the Capitol building for Harms. Inc. . . . A1 Rome is now playing independent picture houses. . . . Dave Apollon is considering Presentation work for next season. . . . Another good bet for picture houses is Frank De Voe. . . . Ida May Chadwick is filling hi a few weeks in Orpheum houses until her new picture route is completed. . . . Markell and Faun have completed two weeks in Detroit for Publix. . . . A1 Copeland is still leading the Broadway-Strand stage band. . . . Mabel Hollis is playing her third return engagement at the Capitol. . . . The Caprice Sisters are now working in independent picture houses. . . . Taylor and Lake make their presentation debut this week at the Oriental. . . . Small and Mays are at the Norshore this week. . . . Rick and Snyder were held over this week at the Sheridan. . . . Taylor and Hawks are back at the Granada for the fifth time and still going strong. ... A new concert orchestra has replaced A1 Morey at the North Center. . . . Paul Howard, a great dancer, makes his first Presentation appearance this week at the Oriental. . . . Now that Centennial Vaudeville Week is over, don’t forget N. V. A. Week, April 17. . . . Paul Ash is back, now all Chicago is waiting for Louis McDermott. A. RAYMOND GALLO. Omaha Riviera Ready Publix executives Sam Katz, Frank Cambria, Nathaniel Finston and Harry Marks will attend the opening of the Omaha Riviera March 25, two special Publix units being on the bill, a dedicatory and a locally historical. A. H. Blank, Nate E'rudenfeld, Max Friedman, J. W. Denman and B. W. Frusnier of the Blank staff also will be present. Arthur Stolte, Blank’s ace manager, will be assisted by Roland Stonebrook in running the house, a 3,000-seat Eberson creation. Personal to H. & R. Corinne Arbuckle, who sang the skylights out of several Chicago B. & K. houses before they'd let her take to the road for a rest, writes that she’ll probably finish the season and her KeithAlbee bookings about simultaneously but just must say “Best o’ luck” to Heller and Riley through these columns or she can’t be happy. Alvin at Branford Don Alvin, whose way with a fiddle is nobody else’s and who decorates a dress suit and a spotlight in the manner to which they’re born buk not accustomed, is teaching Newark things it never dreamed about presentation. He’s at the Branford for a stay that’s indefinite in the sense that life is — meaning, unless Newark’s beyond hope, from now on.