Exhibitors Herald (1927)

March 26, 1927 EXHIBITORS HERALD 35 Philadelphia Fox Week Ending March 19 A trio of presentation acts at the Fox this week consisted of Theo. Stepanoff and Company, dancers, Phil Baker, the “Beau Jest” of Melodyland, and Amanda Brown, musical comedy prima donna. At the conclusion of the overture the curtain rose on an outdoor scene showing Amanda Brown seated under a tree singing “Last Rose of Summer” in a voice displaying clarity and flexibility of tone. Theo. Stepanoff and company opened with a sailor boy in white doing a quick stepping number, followed by a lady in old fashioned costume, with balloon sleeves and hair drawn tightly back from her face, who danced a grotesque waltz of antiquated type with a gentleman in equally antiquated costume. Phil Baker, with an assistant named Max, planted in an upper box, kept the audience in good humor. Philadelphia Stanley Week Ending March 19 Irving Aaronson and his Commanders compdsed the only presentation act at the Stanley this week. This aggregation of specialists, with their amusing combination of music, instrumental and vocal, solo dancing and comedy, is very popular with Stanley patrons. Graham Harris, before directing the overture “Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz,” gave a short talk on the evolution of the waltz. Milwaukee Wisconsin Week Ending March 19 The presentation was a prologue to “McFadden’s Flats” and a “wow.” Arthur Richter and Les Hoadley started it by playing on the twin organs, “Down at McFadden’s Flats.” When the spot was flashed upon them they were found asleep on top of the organs attired in “tough guy” clothes. After the organ number, the curtain was raised upon a New York street scene with McFadden’s Flats in the course of construction. The first number was an accordion solo by Anthony Huter. Then the Long Brothers, acting as bootblacks, did a snappy wisp-broom dance. All the while the “masons” were laying the brick for the new flats, when the noon whistle blew and two Delmar Sisters brought the lunch to the laborers. They sang two songs, one from the hoist elevator near the top of the building, and the other from the stage. The last act on the prologue was an Apache dance by A1 and Gussie Bloom, during which Gussie evidently suffered much, to the delight of the audience. San Antonio Texas Week Ending March 18 “Book of Dreams,” a Publix unit, was the main presentation offering at the house this week, augmented by special orchestra and organ numbers befitting St. Patrick’s Day. Overture: “Emerald Isle” was a selection of old Irish melodies arranged for the occasion by Arthur Geissler and his orchestra did it up grandly under his direction. For this number the house was darkened and while soft blue lights held the orchestra pit a green spot was cast on Mr. Geissler. This was followed by a scenic film, “Sons of the Surf,” accompanied by the orchestra. Lee Kent, the female “Ukulele Ike” of radio, stepped forward between the partly drawn main drapes strumming her instrument and burst into song with a voice like a bass saxophone. San Antonio Palace Week Ending March 18 This week was Jazz Week at the Palace. Don Felice took his orchestra on the stage, following the lead of the other big house in this city, and displayed a lot of jazz music for the patrons’ benefit. Hartford Palace Week Ending March 19 Sam Kessler’s Sun Dance Revue of singing and dance numbers coupled with bright dialogue is a companion presentation to “Steppin’ High,” a dance revue with a sextette visualizing dances of various periods ; Sonny Thompson and Mabel Kemp in “Drums of Fortune,” in which Sonny plays the drum and Mabel executes some unusual dances; and Kleo Lambert and company, with Miss Lambert performing unusual feats of strength, make up the bill which accompanies “The Winning of Barbara Worth.” Worcester Palace Week Ending March 19 The combination of “Dame Fashion’s Salon,” a fashion review sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the retail stores, with the radiofamed Goodrich Silvertown Cord Orchestra in person was a happy stroke for this Poli house. With the orchestra was The Silver Mtisked Tenor. Surrounding numbers included Frank Evers and company in the skit, “Why-a-ring” ; Harm and Nee in latest song bits ; “Seven Collegians” in a musical novelty and Johnny Hyman in a humorous sketch of a play upon words entitled “Playing Pranks with Webster.” Worcester Capitol Week Ending March 19 Elmer Daniels had the spirit of Ireland in mind when he prepared this week’s program. Coupled with the specialty number, “Spring Fashions from Worcester Style Shops,” a series of tableaux with fifteen living models, box office records went to the discard with a bang. Charles Frank directed the orchestra in “The Emerald Isle,” overture by Langley, and added numerous reels and jiggs to the entertainment. Boston State Week Ending March 19 Manager Jimmy Brennan’s fifth anniversary program was headed by the Boston Rockets, a company of girls trained by Russell Markurt for entrance into a Broadway musical show, in the Tiller style of dancing. There is no chance of this group going hungry while presentations remain. Surrounding this number were Gregory’s Victor Orchestra, the Eton Collegiates, a vocal quartet ; and other acts which brought the total on the stage to forty. Boston KeitNs Week Ending March 19 Just one hundred years ago vaudeville had its birth at the predecessor of the theatre which the late B. F. Keith brought into being. This week was therefore the centennial anniversary and the leading attraction on the bill was Miss Helen MacKellar, assisted by a company of versatile members in “The Mud Turtle” by Elliot Lester. Boston Metropolitan Week Ending March 18 Frank Cambria’s “An Alpine Romance” provided a novel presentation of dancers, singers, yodclers and instrumentalists, in which realism was added by a herd of live sheep on the stage. Jim and Betty Morgan, piano and vocal duo, was the second stage number. Hartford Capitol Week Ending March 19 Jimmy Gildea and a company of seven players form the main presentation in a musical comedy number which visualizes the hodge podge of amusement which comes over the radio nowadays. The act was forced to respond to repeated encores. Atlanta Howard Week Ending March 19 “Pirate Love,” Publix unit by Boris Petroff, featured Betty Laurence and Bee Starr. Selections from the Fourth Symphony by Tschaikowsky was the overture directed by Joseph Littau. Schenectady State Week Ending March 13 The first of a series of presentations took place this week and scored heavily. Marie MacQuarrie’s “Harp Ensemble,” which was featured last week at the Mark Strand in Albany, was used. Albany Strand Week Ending March 13 “The California Nighthawks” returned to town this week and, as on a previous occasion, attracted capacity crowds each night. Organ Solos Joseph Alexander (Chicago Embassy, week ending March 20) has made community singing popular on the West Side. Alexander also does some fine photoplay playing and makes four changes a week. That’s going some, but Joe Loves his work, v # « J. Earl Estees (Chicago Tower, week ending March 20) is responsible for the soothing melodies and inspiring themes during run of photoplays. Estees has become a part of this beautiful house. His program consists of new tunes and slides of popular selections. * it * Edward Mickels (Chicago Harding, week ending March 20) recuperated from a week’s illness, is back at the organ and offered a controversy between the M. P. Operators and himself on Irish songs, intermingled with comedy slides to “Hello, Swanee, Hello.” His program consisted of “Hello, Bluebird,” “All I Want is You,” “Tonight You Belong to Me,” “My Wild Irish Rose” and “Blue Skies” for an encore. They go big for Eddie’s stuff here and are great boosters for his community singing club. * * * Henry B. Murtagh (Chicago Chicago, week ending March 20) celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with green slides for “Rosie O’Ryan” and associated dips into Irish tunes of other days, not even omitting “Wild Irish Rose.” He asked ’em to sing the last chorus of “Rosie O’Ryan” but (1) he didn’t seem to want to (2) it’s a bit hard to sing (3) he doesn’t do this very often. « * Irving Cahan (Philadelphia Stanley, week ending March 12) used “Lady in Ermine.” which goes made-to-order with that picture. it * * Tom Terry (St. Louis State, week ending March 18) did “Where You Worka’ John,” with assistant organist John Becker providing a series of classical and jazz numbers for the morning shows. * ♦ Stuart Barrie (St. Louis Ambassador, week ending March 18) did something down in the report as “selections.” * * * Arthur Richter-Lcs Hoadley (Milwaukee Wisconsin, week ending March 19) did a special number running into the prologue. (See “Stageshows.”) * * * Ken Widenor (Kansas City Newman, week ending March 18) did “Anybody Here Seen Kelly” in observation of St. Patrick’s Day. * * * F. Donald Miller (Detroit State, week ending March 19) did “Boarding House Fancies,” running into community singing of “Mary Lou,” “Tonight You Belong to Me” and “Hello Swanee.” * * » Arthur Gutow (Detroit Michigan, week ending March 19) used “Anybody Here Seen Kelly” tied to other St. Patrick’s Day naturals. ,!c « « Arthur Martel (Atlanta Howard, week ending March 19) did an original called “The Home Town Band.” Martel is here as guest organist. * * * Del Castillo (Boston Metropolitan, week ending March 19) featured “Thinkin’ of You.” * « « Muth (San Antonio. Texas, week ending March 18) did “Anybody Here Seen Kelly” with the Song Car-tune reel. They liked it better than they like the singing lessons customarily thrust over here. Presentation Editor, EXHIBITORS HERALD, 407 So. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111. Dear Sir: For the information of other organists, I wish to report that I used for my organ solo the week ending (Signed (Theatre) (City)