Exhibitors Herald (1927)

44 EXHIBITORS HERALD April 2, 1927 San Antonio T exas Week Ending March 25 A radio act, organ solo introducing a new song hit, an overture, and a Publix stage unit were the other-than-screen offerings on this stage during the current week. Opened with a trailer announcing the overture “Norma” by the Texas Theater grand Orchestra and directed by one Geissler who is known by the front name of Arthur “Peerless.” Overture is followed by announcement of “Ten Minutes with station WEAF.” Main drapes up on black stage showing flash of microphone and radio receiving set of the cabinet style. A piece broadcast from some station was coming in at beginning. At finish, rose lights came up showing William Muth, organist, at piano at left with cornetist left and banjoist right. Centerstage stands Ralph Bart, doing a return engagement, but this time acting in capacity of announcer. Behind him and right is Jane Alden, mezzo, soprano. Bart announces Martin Decker, who steps upon the stage. He renders “Forgive Me,” followed by a good hand. Miss Alden is next with “I’m Falling in Love with You” which goes over good. Muth is next presented and does a piano solo, “Taking to the Moon.” The best performance yet. Bart next presents himself and sings “Telling the Birds,” and brings down the best hand he has received in this house. The finale consisted of “Crazy Words, Crazy Tunes,” which everyone worked into, even Geissler’s orchestra breaking into the piece at the closing notes. “The Four Seasons,” a Publix stage unit, followed. Observation : This house is at the top of the list in San Antonio and its front acts are of the varying type and therefore make a hit. San Antonio Aztec Week Ending March 25 Vitaphone is still packing this house nightly and the offering for the current week is good. Overture: “Firefly” directed by Kirk Fred ericks. The orchestra seemed to lack that pep which is so noticeable when absent, although the piece was well done. The Vitaphone offering was below normal. Buddy Doyle, a blackface comedian sang “Georgiana,” “If I didn’t Know Your Husband” and “Birdseye View of My Old Kentucky Home.” Rex Schepp, Banjoist, and the quartette from Rigoletto were the other numbers. The Vitaphone performance this week did not receive the usual applause accorded such presentations, which may mean that this public is tiring. Salt Lake Paramount Week Ending March 18 The Summerhays Trio, consisting of Jack Summerhays, Florence Summerhays and Alvin Keddington, tenor, soprano, and basso, respectively, presented the Fourth Act from “Faust” in a very artistic manner this week in connection with the showing of the Paramount production “The Sorrows of Satan.” They were assisted in this presentation by the Paramount Empress orchestra, known as “The Empressonians,” under the direction of Curg Peterson. This offering created a very fitting atmosphere for the feature picture. The artists in this rendition are well known throughout this territory. Atlanta Howard Week Ending March 26 “The Garden of Dreams,” Publix unit featuring Renoff and Renova, proved to be most popular of Publix offerings seen here. Picadilly Quartette, in two straight songs and two comedy numbers, led off. Joseph Littau, and orchestra presented “Beethoven.” one of the Music Masters Series, scored to Beethoven’s music. Philadelphia Stanley Week Ending March 26 Natacha Nattova and G. Rodian, adagio dancers, proved to be the outstanding feature on the surrounding program at the Stanley this week. Pale green lights threw their figures into sharp relief against a black background so that their dancing was like a succession of everchanging silhouettes. The Four Aristocrats, Fred Weber, pianist, Bert Bennet, ukulele player, and Ed Lewis and Tom Miller, guitar players, offered a pleasing group of beautifully blended vocal and instrumental effects. Their numbers, which were snappy and clever, included “Blue Skies,” “Tonight You Belong to Me” “Hello Blue Bird” and “One Man Like Mine.” Orchestra under leadership of Graham Harris, played a shortened version of the Grieg “Peer Gynt Suite,” The eerie music of the “Hall of the Mountain King” was especially pleasing, as was also “Anitra’s Dance.” Philadelphia Fox Week Ending March 26 That Fox patrons heartily approve a wholesome and clean show was strongly evidenced by DARLING TWINS (The Pocket Eldition) Week of April 2nd, at Missouri Theatre, St. Louis, Mo. Still Sailing Along on file Wave of Success Direction of Max Turner and PhU Tyrrell. Wra. Morris, Chicago Office Note Playing Return Engage ments Over First Run Picture Houses, Will Soon Repeat B & K and L & T Chicago Theatres Formerly featured in ZIEGFELD FOLLIES and DILLINGHAM PRODUCTIONS TAPS! Watch These Boys TAPS! VALE and STEWART Now touring first run picture houses. Will soon repeat B. & K. and L. & T. theatres. “The Aristocratic Steppers” A PRESENTATION ACT WITH CLASS AND SPEED Direction — MAX TURNER NOTE. Have you seen WILLIAMS & ROSS? MARKELL and FAUN **Pantomimic Mirth** Getting Laughs with Clean Comedy Dancing Just Played Two Weeks in Detroit at State and Capitol Theatres Week of April 3rd, LOEWS — Canton, Ohio Representative MAX TURNER,' Chicago P. S. Heller and Riley leave Chicago this week for their Publix tour the applause accorded both the feature, “Ankles Preferred,” and the surrounding acts this week. George Olsen and his jazz recording orchestra of seventeen members were vociferously greeted. Jazz well played opened the act, after which three of the members sang. An extemporaneous fox trot founded upon three musical notes submitted by the audience took the house by storm. A special feature was their fantasy based on “My Buddy.” and their famous train ride to Atlantic City, in which Olsen acted as conductor, and which was very cleverly and realistically played, closed the act. Repeated calls for encores were in vain. Phil Baker and Sid Silvers, who were held over for a second week, provided the audience with laugh after laugh with an entirely new repertoire of wit and repartee. Baker also played one or two accordion selections and, judging from the applause, these two would be good for a still longer engagement. Orchestra played "Great Moments from Grand Opera,” consisting of operatic airs from “Aida,” Wagner’s “Evening Star,” “Pagliacci,” and the Quartette from “Rigoletto,” which latter was enacted and sung by the Salon Concert Singers. William A. Krauth conducted the orchestra and the cello solo from “Evening Star” was especially noteworthy. Kansas City Newman Week Ending March 25 “Puppets,” Publix presentation, consists of a cast of ten depicting the manner in which puppets are operated on the stage. Eugene Cibelli, Dorothy Burke and N. Alexander render vocal numbers, while the Collette Sisters do a dancing number. Walter and Norma Nelson also do a dance number, as does Violctte Rouje. Strings attached to members of the cast, and which are strung up above the drops, give the atmosphere of a real puppet show. “A Musical Pot Pourri” is the overture rendered by Sigmund Boguelawski and his orchestra. Kansas City Mainstreet Week Ending March 25 Mirth Mack, wife of Roy Mack, formerly an entertainer at a Kansas City amusement park, proved the feature attraction of the stage presentations at the Mainstreet this week. Her act is a singing number. Other numbers were: Gilson and Scott, “The Radio Caes,” singing. Brock Sisters, popular songs. Luster Brothers, acrobatic act. Leon Loverde, eccentric dancer. Freddie Strltt, comedian. Broadway Steppers, talking and singing. Bob and Gale Sherwood’s Orchestra played popular selections as an overture. Oakland T & D Week Ending March 26 “Ideas of Golf,” Fanchon and Marco presentation, had Warner and Meade, harmonists, Jean and Fritz Hubert, Gwendolyn Evans, Billy Snyder, Leontine and Sylvia and the Sunkist Ballet, working with Walt Roesner and his orchestra. Des Moines Des Moines Week Ending March 26 irmanette, dainty violinist gave a music and dancing act with a little singing on the bilL Lee Barton Evans “T/ie Dramatic Tenor W ith the Presentation Personality’* Going Over as Big as Ever Just completed a Three Weeks’ Tour of Lubliner & Trinz Theatres Still Sailing on SucessfuUy Many Thanks to My Manager Harry Gourfain