Exhibitors Herald (1927)

April 2, 1927 EXHIBITORS HERALD 43 ber, with soprano perched up over the band singing a second chorus as gold streamers pour down. The Lime Trio, vaudeville act now doing a presentations routine and probably better than opening or closing bills. The contortionist member of the trio really is the act and keeps up the interest with his clever twists and twirls, using the other two members merely as foils. He does ‘‘Sam, the Dancing Man” on a sort of spring winding box. Rick and Snyder, held over from last week, harmonized ‘‘Hoosier Sweetheart” and ‘‘Birds Eye View” and were called back for an encore which took them out of their style, doing a drunk song called ‘‘A Wild Night” which, regardless of the clever character work, did not register at this show. The Abbott Girls again came forth and each rendered a nice toe specialty that received a fine reception from the customers. Here an Adagio team known around town as Natalie and Orlow gave a series of neat poses while the Abbott ballet pranced about in circles on their toes. De Haven and Nice, formerly of ‘‘Artist and Models,” appeared next and only rendered a short version of their burlesque ballon dance in female attire. This team have one of the funniest routines in show business and would panic ’em, if the show were staged around them. As it was, anyone could have played their bit and got away just as well. “There Aint No Maybe,” as a band number sung by the Carroll Sisters was used as a closing number with Carolyn La Reuenz in doll costume with red wig doing an eccentric toe ballet and sensational one hand summersaults. Finale: Entire company with De Haven and Nice clowning up and down the stage while the Abbott Ballet stepped. Observation: “Jack-In-The-Box Blues,” staged with special setting, was supposed to represent a jazz syncopation show featuring Blaufuss’ Jazz Demons, who were no more “Jazz Demons” than Sophie Tucker is an opera star. Still the house is doing good business and perhaps will pick up after Lent with a few changes that are bound to be made. Chicago Granada Week Ending March 27 With spring drawing near, and everyone’s thought drifting to sunshine, flowers and love, this week’s show contained a little touch of all three, with Benny Meroff as the dispenser of joy assisted by a great line-up of gloom chasers. The show ran as follows: Opening: Granada Girls dancing in front of scrim with huge batch of flowers painted in the center. Band in back and stage goes to full lights as scrim flys, showing full stage set representing garden porch with orchestra center. Four Granada girls drag huge Jack-In-The-Box to center of stage and Meroff “pops’' out, to lead “Four Leaf Clover.” Art Nolin, blonde tenor of real high voice, sings “What does it Matter,” and leaves doing a few Bennie Krueger Feature Attraction at Balaban and Katz Uptown and Tivoli Theatres, Chicago COSTUMES Rented for Orchestras and Presentations Send for Orchestra Catalog and Prices NEW YORK COSTUME CO. 137 No. Wabash Ave. Chicago, 111. Russian skip-offs. Art may be a professional, but his techniue certainly needs smoothing out. McCune Sisters followed and the fun began. These girls have been reported here and there and everywhere, and still are the life of any show. Their hesitating Black Bottom stopped the show. Aria Selections from “Aida” was rendered as a band number with Meroff taking his part as seriously as if conducting a symphony orchestra, and the boys did a pretty good job of the playing also. The tremendous applause proved that this house likes classics mixed with its Jazz. Taylor and Hawks, Just mentioning their names ; that’s all. The boys have been reported so many times there is no more to say except they again walloped them with their comedy ditties and songs. They sang a new number called, “Wherever You Go, I Love You,” a nice tune written by Benny Meroff. Doree Leslie, local cafe entertainer recently working picture houses. Her clever high kicks and personality made her. We forget how many times she’s been here, and they all adore her yet. Wells, Lewis and Rut, a comedy trio in a series of comedy songs in burlesque female costumes that secured laughs. ‘Ruf,’ doing the straight, also does some clever soft shoe taps a la Pat Rooney. A novel turn for presentation. Finale: “Ain’t She Sweet,” band number, with specialties from the boys and a vocal chorus by Art Nolin, while the Granada girls dressed as flower girls appear one at a time on leveled platform and step down center staircase leading over band with entire cast on stage on last chorus. Observation: Since staging better shows with better talent, this leader has created a nice following at this house. Milwaukee Wisconsin Week Ending March 26 Saxe’s Wisconsin celebrated its second annua] “Taka Chance Week” with a fine array of stage talent. On either side of the stage was a large set punch board. Eddie Hill was master of ceremonies, and he came tumbling on the stage from inside a huge slot machine. He continued a lively line of chatter all the while he kept the audience in suspense as to what they were to get next. The first number Eddie chose, from one of the boards, called for: The overture led by Rudolph G. Kopp, a number of standard selections, as seen from the stage. During the playing of the numbers, pictures of the orchestra taken from the stage, were flashed upon the screen, Mr. Kopp directing in synchrony with his figure on the screen. Eddie Hill next sang a sort of prologue song on the numbers to follow, and introduced Arthur Richter and Les Hoadley at the twin organs, who played, “By the Light of the Silvery Moon,” song Car-Tune. The curtain was raised for the next scene showing a Wisconsin avenue motor bus on the corner of Sixth and Wisconsin avenues with the rest of the actors inside and on top. Eddie Hill acted as conductor of the bus, opening with a couple of hot dance hits by George Devine’s Orchestra, perched on the upper deck. Vale and Stuart, did some soft shoe dancing to the orchestra’s “Hello Bluebird.” and “Moonlight on the Ganges.” Auriale Craven was then introduced by Eddie Hill. She sang “I Want You to Know That I Love You,” and then played a violin solo. Eddie Hill cut in with some comedy stuff, singing “The Girls Won’t Let Me Be,” and “I Never See Maggie Alone.” Eddie sure knows his stuff and the audience gave him a big hand. Wellington Sisters then danced the Black Bottom a la Cleopatra, and the audience sure liked it. In fact they liked the entire bill and did not hesitate to tell their neighbors. Dave Rice, comedian, next pulled some funny dancing, and incidently a few funny jokes with Eddie Hill’s help. Of course Eddie’s wisecracks ran all through the entire presentation and helped the rest of the crowd put their acts across. Before the finale, Chamberlain and Himes, put on one of these “hard boiled guy” dances and sang “I’m a Hard Boiled Rose.” Before the curtain dropped each one put on a short encore of their own and, judging from the roar of applause, there was nobody in the audience who was sorry that they had taken a chance on the show. Milwaukee Alhambra Week Ending March 26 “In Bohemia” was the name of the presentation at the Alhambra this week. The stage was arranged to represent a studio scene, with the Alhambra Theatre orchestra led by Sol Shapiro partly hidden behind heavy draperies. Lew Keene did a clever exhibition of tap dancing and received a fair amount of applause for his efforte. Nora Schiller, blues singer, entertained with “Ain’t He Sweet” and "Blue Skys,” both numbers which made a hit. Florence Koelben did a bit of graceful gymnastic dancing which tickled the audience. Clyde Hayden, baritone, appealed to the musical sense of the audience when he sang “Mother” and “You’re the One for Me.’ Omaha Rialto Week Ending March 25 Johnny Perkins, singing comedian, was the entertainer at the Rialto during the week. Mr. Perkins recently finished 40 weeks with Balaban and Katz. “Gems of Grieg,” was the orchestra offering, with Harry Brader directing.