Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Oct-Dec 1928)

October 6. 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 40 R»y Tea], the Howard's favorite bandmaster, kept the show moving at a fast pace and contributed generously to its all-round excellence. Particularly did he prove hie showmanship in the special number introducing Hazel Jonea, petite Atlanta dancer and singer who last week won the Constitution-Howard Personality Girl Contest and thereby earned a fourweeks' engagement at this theatre. With Ray Teal and the Howard Stage Band giving sympathetic support, she scored a hit with her jazzy song and dance. Kansas City Mainstreet Week Ending September 22 "Minstrel Maniacs" was the title of the stage show at the Mainstreet. featuring Davison's Louisville Loons as the stage orchestral attraction, around whom the program was built. Joe Wilton and Rex Weber present an unusually good comedy sketch, title "Mr. America." A good line of new jokes and some clever dialogue is included in their number. Ward and Van, billed as "The Strolling Musicians." also have a musical act which is decidedly different from the usual run. Both are garbed in tramp costume and Ward proves to be a real master of the harp, while little could be taught Weber about a violin. Foster and Peggy, the latter being a brilliant little dog owned by Foster, present some conclusive evidence that dogs are capable of thinking, as well as barking. Parks Sisters and Harvey are seen in a number titled. "Disciples in Harmony." They prove to be just that, using a variety of instruments, as well as their voices, to good advantage. Davison's Louisville Loons offer selections from popular numbers as an overture. Chicago Paradise Week Ending October 5 "Creations in Jazz" was the stage band show headed by Eddie Hill and featuring Mark Fisher and his Melody Music Masters. A giant prologue to the "Street Angel" was also an added feature of this week's show. The presentation opened in a beautiful jazz creation set with the ballet girls doing one of their neat routines as Mark Fisher made his entrance to lead the band into a real jazzy arrangement. The first specialty on the bill introduced by Mark was a military tap routine offered by the Bernie Brothers, who were one of the highlights of the creation. These boys wore military outfits in keeping with their offering and kept perfect time and unison with their novelty steps. There are tap dancers and tar dancers galore, but the Bernie Brothers seem to have something entirely different than the average team, and this crowd did not take long to notice it. The next band arrangement was one that deserves a place in the band specialty field. It was a beautiful arrangement of "Just Like a Melody from Out of the Sky" with a violin solo by Jules Swartz and a vocal chorus by Mark Fisher, who put the necessary finishing touches that really made this number sound like it came from heaven. As an encore. Mark Fisher offered a vocal chorus and recitation of "Just a Night for Meditation" which was handled with all the showmanship and dramatic ability that this golden voiced leader possesses. In spite of the fact that the applause was deafening. Mark used his good judgment by bringing out Suzette and Joee, a neat-looking team of tango dancers. The next artist on the bill was Eddie Hill, the chubby comedian whose name is now a household word in Chicago. Attired in formfitting coat and vest and collegiate trousers with small hat. Eddie offered his comedy songs and smart chatter to good returns. There is something about this comedian in the way he delivers his material that puts him into a class by himself. His songs are always entertaining and his gags are always clean and humorous, and for that reason he is a huge hit and favorite not only in Chicago but in any picture house. At this performance he stopped the show and was compelled to sing his crying song which he made famous, and vice versa. For the finale, everybody assembled od the stage to decorate the beautiful setting as the final curtain rung down to one of the best stage presentations seen in Chicago for a long while. Prologue: A special orchestra production arranged Always Together Al Kvalc, once a part of the Ash gang and now a full-fledged bandleader in his own name, is among the many well-known Chicago theatrical men to be, on hand at the home-coming of Paul Ash. In this group reading from left to right is Al Kvale, Paul Ash, Louis McDermott, his stage producer, and Al Beilen, Chicago general manager for Irving Berlin and one of the closest friends to Ash. These three men were on hand at the La Salle Street Station last Thursday when the Century brought their pal and associate back to Chicago as the Rajah of Jazz. Ash is back at the Oriental, his former abode, as master of ceremonies for an indefinite engagement. flash number in Publix' 6tage presentation "Pow Wow," which graces the boards of the Michigan this week. Paul Oscard is given the credit of directing it for Publix, but at that, maybe he had some help from McCormick. "Pow Wow," of course, is built on an Indian motif. The Felicia Sorel Girls have a most pretentious number :n keeping with the Indian theme, it being entitled "A Totem Pole." The Michiganders Orchestra, dressed in the uniforms of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, present Indian love songs which are reminiscent of "Rose Marie." As for the rest of the talent, it is very good. Among the dancers, Horton Spnrr was perhaps the best. He is an eccentric dancer par excellence, and has a closing number which is a knockout. It is a slow-motion imitation of an amateur golfer. Question : Does it bring down the house ? Answer : It does. Ed and Morton Beck had a very nice little comedy skit. Harry Losee, an aesthetic terpsichorean, in' a novelty dance number, and Helen Packard, also a dancer, got big hands at every show. Then the forest fire climax, which proves that the blase and sophisticated audiences of today can still be given a thrill and like it. Lightning — real 6treaks of it — flashes and crashes ; trees totter and fall ; huge tree trunks glow, then burst into flame, while a colorful Indian pow-wow dances and wails its ode to the Storm God. by H. Leopold Spitalny and directed by J. Walter Davidson included thirty voices and a Venice street scene as the forerunner of the "Street Angel" picture. On the left end of the stage grille appeared a couple singing "Angela Mia" and in response an assembly of voices arose with the orchestra pit joining in the refrain. At this point an atmospheric scrim setting illuminated and disclosed a gondelier with another couple in it also singing "Angela Mia." the theme song of the film. If the presentation of this prologue had been shortened somewhat, it would have registered better with the music lovers : as it was. it fell flat towards the end. which spoiled what might have been a beautiful prologue. New York Roxy Week Ending September 28 In honor of the Jewish holidays. "Rachem" is repeated by popular request. This is one of the later works of Mana-Zucca. the young American composer, expresses a plea for divine mercy. Gladys Rice and the Roxy Ballet Corps are enlisted, and the selection employs a cast of 200, utilizing the choral boxes, staircases and other architectural features of the theatre. Special costumes were designed by Montedoro, formerly with the Folies Bergere. "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" — a number which has proved to be the most popular ever presented at this theatre, is repeated in response to a tremendous public demand. The unique precision routine with a dancing ensemble of 60, consists of the 32 Rbxyettes and the regular Roxy ballet. The stage-revue entitled "Bon Soir, Paris" reflects the continental background of the feature picture, and serves as an atmospheric introduction featuring Marion Keeler, soprano. The Parisians of the cafe scene are headed by Ross and Louise, eccentric dancers, who present a series of novel dance creations, and include the Roxy Chorus. Ballet Corps, Markert's 32 Roxyettes. and Detroit Michigan Week Ending September 21 Shades of Langdon McCormick! You should see the Michigan stage show this week. McCormick. as you probably remember, was the man that produced such gorgeous stage effects for thrillers like "The Storm" and a forest fire scene for a legitimate play, the name of which just now has escaped your correspondent's memory. Well, that stage forest fire scene wa6 the big CORNELIUS MAFFIE Gennett Recording Artist Now Featured Organist at Publix's METROPOLITAN Theatre, HOUSTON, TEXAS Salt Lake City Capitol Week Ending September 8 The 6tage production offered at the Capitol Theatre this week was Fanchon and Marco's "College Idea." which is filled with laughs, pep and fun. College song6. dances and yells and the college spirit predominates this fast moving stage revue. The Nita Martan trio of three muskateers of harmony offer some college songs. Jack Kates, Broadway's "rubber-leg commedian" and Frank Sterling are also featured on this bill. The Fanchon and Marco beauties complete this act with their dancing numbers. Ralph Pollock and his orchestra furnishes collegiate music and a number of special song arrangements, and Alexander Schreiner gives a solo number on the organ. The picture presentation offered in connection with this act is "Beggars of Life," featuring Wallace Beery, and very good attendance has been enjoyed throughout the week. THE JEAN GREATER DRUNKARD DANCERS HUBERT FRITZ Repeating Publix Theatres as a featured attraction in "HULA BLUES" (A Publix Unit) DIRECTION TO. MORRIS AGENCY