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

50 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD October 6, 1928 Chicago Norshore Week Ending October 5 The return of the children to school it> celebrated this week by the adults at the Norshore, which is located just a trolley ride from Northwestern University. "Welcome, Northwestern" is the title of the doings, or if it isn't, it should be. And, to cite another point. Al Kvale, M C, vies with the Ritz Brothers in making what is altogether an entertaining show (estimate based on a survey of consumer demand). The stage represents a college campus, with a brick wall in front at the opening. Over said wall climbs the ballet, disguised as co-eds, and after doing a routine, they and the wall are removed. Kvale hereupon enters, wearing cap and gown, and he takes the orchestra, attired in skull caps and blazers, into several numbers in which he, with the aid of his "classmates," gets off a few collegiate gags. A comical fellow, this Kvale, thinks the audience. All this is followed by Scotty Weston, in Bailor character, and the high type of tap dancing offered wins him an encore and much ensuing applause. The Wisner Sisters are next in sister-songs (which seem not to have outlived their questionable usefulness). The songs themselves are well received, but it is Kvale, with his incidental comedy and foiling, who incites chuckles for which the sisters Wisner may not take the credit. And then the ballet in a dance reminiscent of the jazz age of 1928. A band number follows, Kvale putting his men through a clever arrangement of "Old Man River" and assisting a bit here and there with his saxophone and clarinet. The headlining Ritz Brothers follow. These three young men are adept showmen — and they can dance, tap, buck and wing, and otherwise. Their first offering is clamorously voted a wow, whereupon they come back with a red flower and a white flower and proceed to alternately render each other intensely masculine or repulsively effeminate by means of the magic said posies are feigned to possess. Either this business or other bits added also make the customers loathe to see them go, so they are brought back again, several bows following this latter continuation of their act — an act, by the way, which i-s much cleaner than when your reporter first saw it and censured it. The finale brings out the ballet, attired this time as campus sheiks, returning also Scotty Weston and the Ritz boys. Minneapolis Minnesota Week Ending September 28 "Sunny Skies." the stage presentation at the Minnesota this week, is a performance of first rank. Every act rates Al Mitchell and registers fine with the audience. The presentation is considerably shorter than is usual though there are the same number of acts. William Robyn opens the 6ketch with "Sunny Skies" which he sings as the curtain rises upon a Spanish * seashore town. "Wee Willie," however, does not appear upon the scene until later. Al Mitchell, attired in sailor clothes to match the sea. then steps in and takes charge of his serenaders who give the audince "Sunshine" with a little bit of "California." The Pedro Kubin Girls replace the Sorel ballet with some fine and somewhat different numbers. Their first number, "Marionette Girls," is a fantastic toe dance. The dancers are garbed as toy soldiers, with long white tights, red coats, and plumed hats, making an effective costume. Each girl holds a "Lilac Time" Theme Song Leading in Sales According to reports received from the various sheet music dealers in the country and phonograph recording organizations, it seems that "Jeannine — I Dream of Lilac Time'* the theme song, to the photoplay "Lilac Time'* leads the country as the second best seller in sheet music. The publishers, Leo Feist, Inc., report that 26 phonograph companies, making records have recorded the number, and nine of them have recorded it twice through popular demand. For several months "Ramona," the theme song to the film "Ramona," also published by Leo Feist. Inc., broke all records as the outstanding song seller in both sheet music and mechanical field. It is expected that "Lilac Time" may even surpass the success made by "Ramona." ribbon in either hand and dances in and out between the others. Later they leave the stage to go on a higher level where "Wee Willie Roybn" appears in a number of songs, including "Laugh, Clown, Laugh," on the upper level. George Hayes then makes his appearance as "her." Mr. Hayes does some fine toe dancing, though his feminine costume and wig cannot quite hide his masculine entrance nor his masculine muscles. Maurice Colleano comes on next. He limits himself to one dance, an acrobatic sailor number, which is very fine. Mr. Colleano was billed for a longer act, but, due to recent injuries, he has to curtail his work. AL Mitchell next hands the baton over to Oscar Baum, director of the symphony orchestra, who lead* the Serenaders through a number of Victor Herbert's melodies from "The Fortune Teller." William Roybn assists by singing the "Gypsy's Song." Bobby Gilbert, new violinist with the Serenaders is next introduced by Al Mitchell. Al conducts a contest to discover who is the "hottest" musician in the band. After trying out the clarinets, trombones, and flutes, Bobby Gilbert pops up and demands to know why Al doesn't give the "feedles" an "Octportunity." Al brings Bobby up in the front rank and lets him go ahead. They hold quite a conversation. Al talks with the vocal instruments his Creator gave him. Bobby makes his violin perform that duty and then winds up with a Yankee, Irish, German, and Jewish version of "The Turkey in the Straw." Des Moines Capitol Week Ending October 5 Jay Mills returned to the Capitol this week after a short vacation and "his public" gave him nothing less than a grand welcome with echoes. The stage show was "Rah I Rnh ! Rah !," full of college pep. color, songs and spirit. Jay and the boys wore blue and white striped collegiate coats and the stage was adorned with the pennants of the Iowa colleges and universities to give atmosphere. Among the featured entertainers was Johnny Dell Lampe and His Orchestra with Charles Agne Rotating Between the CAPITOL and AVALON Theatres CHICAGO Now in his 625th Performance (National Playhouses, Inc.) Perkins with his 300 or more pounds of merrymaking. Little Al Gale, sixteen year old fresh frosh made fun for the audience. Luella Lee sang and danced nicely for the crowds and a quartet of cheer leaders, good looking and snappy, made friends with their slick entertainment. Joe Keith's Fair Co-Eds, five winners, acrobatic dancing girls, were accepted as prime by the fans. Alberta Havnes put on a couple of new songs. Jay Mills, master of ceremonies, took the show to himself when he introduced a song following the number, "Stampede" by his merry-makers. He sang. "Drink Your Beer and Let's Waltz." and finished his tl>ecialty with a clog. Philadelphia Fox Week Ending September 22 Pat Rooney, Marion Bent and Pat Rooney, third, were joyfully welcomed again in Philadelphia. On a beautifully draped and lighted stage Pat senior danced, sang and proudly introduced his son, Pat third. Both have delightful stage i>ersonalities that make the audience enjoy anything and everything they do. Pat sang "I Want a Girl Like Mother Was When Mother Was a Girl." Marion in an old fashioned costume assisted. Pat third did some snappy stepping in Varsity Drag and Black Bottom with Pat senior looking on as the stiff and elderly father but this was only clever comedy for he soon proved himself as agile as his son by giving an interpretation of the varsity drag as it might have been done fifty years ago. They were heartily applauded. Fuzzy Knight of "Here's Howe" offered to the public fifteen minutes of about as near nothing as has ever been given on the Stanley stage. Even that group of theatre goers who applaud the most inane acts appeared to think the limit had been reached and the applause was very faint. Alfred Latell very cleverly imitated a bulldog. When he cocked his head on one side and fixed a wicked eye on a certain section of the audience and seemed about to leap off the stage, every one in line with that eye felt an involuntary impulse to move. His barks and howls were so realistic as to make him seem quite capable of provoking a fight with a real dog. Salt Lake City Pantages Week Ending September 8 The stage attractions presented at the Pantages theatre this week in addition to the picture program consisted of splendid bill headed by Kelly and Jackson, a pair of clever comedians, Billy Gilbert adds additional fun with his assortment of sneezes. The Five Blanchards prove capable acrobats in their offering of a series of breath taking novelties which pleased the audiences to a high degree. Mildred Force, assisted at the ipiano by Rolo Hudson, next proved popular with her pleasing voice and new selection of song releases. "The Wonder Girl" presented a complete novelty act which provided plenty of thrills. The feature picture offered in connection with these acts was "Our Dancing Daughters." New York Paramount Week Ending October 5 Dave Apollon, who leads the orchestra in a revue called "House Boat" opening with the son*? "Boat Song" by Glicerio Serna, and introducing : Dave Apollon, who leads the orchestra in a symphonic arrangement of "On the Road to Mandalay." The Felicia Sorel Girls dance the chorus to another arrangement of this same number, and Apollon proves his versatility by offering his fast routine of Russian dancing. The Manila String Orchestra, int induced by Dave Apollon, are seven Filipino boys, who put over a dance number on their instruments which is executed by the Felicia Sorel (iirls. Glicerio Serna, Dave Apollon and Danzi off era a series of singing, dancing and comedy numbers — the stage orchestra and the Manila String Scpelte. "Mississippi Mud" is offered by Miss Danzi (program name). The eccentric dance finish, offered by the last named artist, is one of a few numbers which tan be put over for a wow by a girl. The finish by the entire ensemble, with Dave Apollon in another routine of Russian steps, the chorus girls accompanying, is a closing worth the big hand they received. However, we mins Paul Ash here, this being the first week of his absence, and we're afraid it is going to be hard to replace him for a box-office at t rart ion. UNIFORMS = COSTUMES 52£f5» BROOKS CT.Sr