Exhibitors Herald (1927)

46 EXHIBITORS HERALD April 2, 1927 Organ Solos Henry B. Murtagrh (Chicajro Chicago, week ending March 27) introduced “Honolulu Moon” and eet it off with pick-ups from other shredded wheat numbers dating from “Yaka Hula” forward. >:< * Henri A. Keates (Chicago Oriental, week ending March 27) gave this weary reporter the first occasion he’s had to feel that it’s all been -worth -n'hile. In other words, he kicked in with an idea worth the money and here it is: "Harmony Lesson” (if memory serves) is the title. It starts with the slides putting down the idea that the crowd will sing four-part harmony before it’s over. Tlien one section (maybe it was sopranos) were sung to "Honolulu Moon,” the next to “Spanish Town,” third to "If You See Sally” and fourth to “It Made You Happy.” Tuned up thus, the four were jerked into "Sweet Adeline” for a laugh and to sing their heads off. Good enough, if it stopped there, but put over and nailed down when "Where’d You Get Those Eyes” and "Miss My Swiss” were run simultaneously on the slides (in parallel columns) to be sung together. This panicked ’em and they even managed to sing "Sunday” (hard to sell as to lyric) for the finish and made him give ’em "You’re the One” for encore. If you’ve got a gang that really sing (and if the boss makes you sing ’em) better hop this one. It wallops. » * s= Henri A. Keates (Chicago Oriental, week ending March 20) made a Shamrock out of "Four Leaf Clover” in r-espect to St. Patrick’s Day, then hooked on “Mother Macree,” "Blame It On the Waltz.” “Delaware Lackawan’ ” and encored "Crazy Words.” Yes, he made ’em sing, getting the best volume on the encore number. He’d have gotten more on "Four Leaf Clover” if he hadn’t muffed the fifth harmonic change in each chorus and thrown them off. (This at so good a theatre as the Oriental — and on the fourth day of the bill !) c. # Edwards Mickels (Chicago Harding, week ending March 27) used popular tunes for his specialty, opening with a "newspaper idea” of daily news, which led into the various numbers. Eddie is one of the few organists who can stop shows with community singing and it’s his clever specialties that put it over. Whether this one is his own creation or not, he deserves credit for using it. As usual he had to play an encore. 'This time it was "Blue Skies.” ^ s): Edmund C. Fitch (Chicago Sheridan week ending March 27) used “High, High Up In 'The Mountains” for his solo, intermingling various novelties and tunes manipulated at his organ, giving sounds and imitations of several instruments, even using as a comedy relief his interpretation of a German Brass band playing the number. Fitch completed his program by playing a syncopated arrangement which registered big. Novelties are the spice of organ solos, and Fitch is a genius at creating new ideas for this house. » » • Albert F. Brown (Chicago Granada, week ending March 27). For a scrim solo presentation "Honolulu Moon” was used with special back drop with scrim in front and boy and girl singing a verse and two choruses in front of huge backlighted moon. 'The Granada Girls in Gilda Gray costumes do a little beach dancing at the opening and leave the stage to the couple for a last chorus. This was on a par with the many presen 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) tations Brown is responsible for that have created a national interest. A ❖ # Arthur Richtcr-Lcs Hoadley (Milwaukee Wisconsin, week ending March 26) worked into routine. (See “Stageshows.”) # * « Arthur Martel (Atlanta Howard, week ending March 26) played “Glow Worm” and "Good Time Was Had By All.” For the first, Barney Perkins, electrician, rigged up tiny lights for effect. With the second. Martel got the audience to sing, first guest organist to accomplish this. 3}E # 35s Louis A. Webb (Omaha Rialto, week ending March 25) did "Anybody Here Seen Kelly” with the Song Car-Tune. # « Jjs Arthur Gutow (Detroit Michigan, week ending March 26) gave his first Sunday noon concert, aided by Marguerite Schiuling, mezzo-soprano, and Arno Segell, violinist, in solos. F. Donald Miller (Detroit State, week ending March 26) made ‘em sing “You’re the One” and “Four Leaf Clover,” using the routine called “Songology.” * ❖ # Ken Widenor (Kansas City Newman, week ending March 26) did “Blame It on the Waltz.” * « # Del Castillo (Boston Met, week ending March 25) played “Kaminoi Ostrow” as it was written to be played. ^ * William Muth (San Antonio Texas, week ending March 25) soloed “Hello Swanee” and didn’t ask them to sing, which they seemed to appreciate. He also worked in the stage show. (See “Stageshows.”) * « * Beatrice Ryan (Rochester Eastman, week ending March 26) used “Humoresque.” m ^ * Vergne Ford (DesMoines DesMoines, week ending March 26) used “The Organist’s Dream” idea, interpolating old time songs into “Songs of Ireland.” Cornelius Ahearn, baritone, sang ’em. # ❖ * Ralph Jones (DesMoines Capitol, week ending March 26) made his first appearance at this house, replacing L. Carlos Meier, who has gone to the Portland Broadway. Jones is locally popular and ought to do well here. # « # Stuart Barrie (St. Louis Ambassador, week ending March 25) kept pace with the stageshow, “Opera vs. Jazz,” doing the same sort of thing under the same title with his console. « « « Tom Terry (St. Louis State, week ending March 25) did something our reporter calls an “organlogue” but does not describe. * # # Milton Slosscr (St. Louis Missouiu, week ending March 25) used the “Evolution of the Waltz” thing all the Publix organists have been using. $5,000 Idea — Free A stagehand idea worth approximately $5,000 has trickled into this department’s keeping and is to be had (in rotation) by as many stagehand producers as care to apply for it. Also, it will be delivered in a plain wrapper and all that. Y’see, competing claims of authorship caused so much debate in the days when this department used to print production ideas gratis that the practice was discontinued for the peace of mind of all concerned. Accordingly, receipt of the suggestion price-marked above prompts offer of the same on the basis outlined, with which goes assurance that each applicant shall be given full byline privileges thereto. (Address, Editor “Presentation Acts,” Exhibitors Herald, 407 So. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.) Moore About Sousa John Philip Sousa, whose picture house bookings include the Chicago Chicago the week of May 2, was written up pro, con and at length by Edward Moore, music critic of The Chicago Tribune, in the Sunday (March 20) issue of that paper. Mr. Moore, who knows approximately all there is to know about his onions, predicts that Mr. Sousa’s step into the picture houses not only will be followed by a host of other currently hesitant musical artists of the starched collar persuasion but will result finally in bettering conditions generally for all concernea. Gallo Says: Benny Meroff opens Marks Brothers' new Marboro on April IS, altematinR with their Granada theatre. . . . The' Piccadilly goes into split weeks this week with A1 Short on the stage. . . . Adolph Zukor attended a performance at the Oriental while in town last week. . . . J. B. Calvert, official of Leo Fiest, is recuperating at the Wesley Memorial Plospital after a major operation. . . . George Pincus, his faithful assistant, is looking after the organists while Jake is away. . . . Jimmy Kemper, stage and screen artist, is headlining over Keith-Albee Circuit. . . . Victor Kaplan, formerly of vaudeville, is doing a turn in picture houses. . . . Dorothy Morrison will soon do a double with Davey White, both presentation artists. . . . Jimmy Lawlor is leading the new Fond du Lac theatre orchestra on the' stage. . . . Victor Young, formerly of the Oriole orchestra, is concert master and arranger for Bennie Krueger. . . . Walt Steeley is doing an organlogue at the Atlantic theatre. . . . Eddie Hill is featured at the Uptown and Tivoli in Bennie Krueger’s new show. . . . Marian Carl and Dave Bice are playing Balaban and Katz theatres. . . . While Louis McDermott is honeymooning, William A. Jackson, his assistant, is staging the Paul Ash shows at the Oriental. . . . Wells, Lewis and Ruf appear on the opening Marcus Loew program at the North Center this week. . . . Lischeron and Hathaway play Ascher’s Sheridan theatre this week. . . . Bernice Stone and Emily Adrian, Abbott dancers, return to the Piccadilly theatre this week in the new A1 Short stage show. . . . Bill Meyers, a former Marshall Field clerk, is enjoying his fifth month at the Oriental. . . . Chauncey Haines is still at the Norshore organ and will not leave town for the Roxy. . . . Sid Lorraine, road representative for Ager, Yellen and Bornstein, is calling on the music trade in Detroit this week. . . . Bob La Salle, former vaudeville headliner, made his presentation debut last week at the Oriental. . . . Sonya Rozann and Pietro Barchi, opera stars, have completed a tour of Finkleste'in and Rubin picture houses. . . . Godfrey Seegaard, formerly in charge of organ solos for Irving Berlin, is now arranging music on his own. . . . Milton Ager and Jack Yellen, writers of “Crazy Words, Crazy Tune,” are visitors and while here appointed Jimmy Eggert Chicago manager. . . . Grace Le Rue, stage and screen star, is another name attraction now playing picture theatres. . . . W. B. Papineau is associated with the Pallma Music Co. . . . Heller and Riley leave town this week to finish their western tour for Publix. . . . Stanley and Lee will play the State in Detroit next week. . . . Williams and Ross are at Loew’s Loew’s State in St. Louis. . . . Bobbie Tremaine is featured in Paul Ash’s new show this week. . . . Wallace and Cappo, formerly of "LeMaire’sAffairs,” are touring picture houses in the middle west. . . . Irene Taylor, now at the Grand Central, St. Louis, will be back with us in three weeks. . . . Ruth Etting, Chicago’s sweetheart, is being featured in Balaban and Katz’ Chicago theatre this week. . . . Eddie Mathews can be seen this week at the Capitol theatre. . . . Mirth Mack, cafe entertainer, is making her presentation bow at the Granada. . . . Novelle Brothers and Charles Petersen take part in Mark Fisher’s new show, "Spring Tonic,” opening at the Harding this week. . . . There is a rumor in circulation that Lubliner and Trinz will cut out one of their three leaders and put the Belmont into a split week policy alternating with the Congress in presentations. , , . Every day in every way picture houses are taking away more stage, screen and other "name” artists and why not? Nowadays you’ve got to play picture houses or you’re not in the ring. A. RAYMOND GALLO. Marboro Opens April 18 Another high class picture theatre opens in Chicago on April 18. The new house is located at Madison St. and Crawford Ave., the growing West side, and one of the most populated districts in Chicago. Marks Brothers, who own the Granada theatre and who also operate several other motion picture houses in Chicago, are the owners of this new house and announce a policy of first run pictures and stage presentation such as now running in their North side house. Benny Meroff, popular leader of the Granada, will alternate between this house and the Granada every other week, giving the same show at both houses. Another leader with name will also rotate over these two theatres the week Meroff is in the other house.