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

October 6, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 51 LOSAYS Someihind about Everyone Greetings! . . . Our first annual meeting last Saturday wafi a success. . . . All the imi>ortant members were there and within another week or 60 we will be able to announce the new line up on officers and Board of Directors, in the meantime if you have anything to suggest in the way of new rules for the coming year kindly write the Royal Ballyhoo and your suggestions will be taken into careful consideration. . . . The first national topic to speak on this week is the Hoover and Smith issue. . . . Who do you want to be our next President. . . . Hoover or Smith? . . . Send your votes by return mail and we shall let you know the results by next week. . . . I've a good notion to run for President myself on the Indei>endent ticket and if I do here's my platform boys ! . . . "If elected as President of these United States. I hereby faithfully promise to bring back light wines and beer and 52 weeks work out of the year to every Presentation Act, Organist, and Musician. . . . Further more. I will see that every theatre in the country starts a Presentation Policy and also installs organ solos and will cause to have all sorts of talking film devices thrown into the royal ash can and see that all deluxe picture houses have a pit orchestra to render overtures. . . . This and anything else that any other candidate promises or agrees to do, I will also do, and oh, how I will do it, boys." . . . Ten race horses belonging to John D. Hertz, the taxi king, were burned to death Monday night in a fire that was started by gangsters. . . . Reigh Count, the Kentucky winner and others were saved. . . . King Vidor, the movie director, is in Chicago looking for screen talent to play in an all negro film. . . . Rob Reel, a local movie critic is acting as his guide. . . . B & K announce that starting Saturday, the Senate, their West Side house, will change to a ix>licy of all-talking films. . , . While on the subject of talking films let me tell you that the first M G M short sound made by George Dewey Washington will be released next week . . . Look for it. Managers. . . . Chic Sales has returned to Hollywood to make more Sound Pictures. . . . The Cardell Twins, formerly of "Oh Kay," stage production, are being featured in the Roxy stageshow thus week. . . . Marks Bros, are bringing two more stage stars to Chicago this week, they are Raymond Hitchcock and Miss Patricola. . . Gus Edwards has joined the staff of M G M as one of their comi>osers of talking subjects. . . . Word comes from San Antonio to the effect that Ray Teal, now at the Howard theatre in Atlanta, will take Don Galvan's place at the Texas as band leader. . . . The Howard is discontinuing the bandshow policy. . . . Vic Ince, popular band leader of the Alabama in Birmingham, is being transferred to the Palace in Houston, on account of drop of band policy in the former house. . . .Charlie Morrison, manager of the Palace theatre in Jacksonville, Florida, acted as master of ceremonies at a benefit show for the Florida Storm Relief Fund. . . . Thelma Terry, before marriage Thelma Combs, is now at the head of her own orchestra. . . . Whenever you want a good lobster dinner, drop over to the Cafe De La Marine, a new food shop at 6846 Stoney Island Ave., Chicago. . . . Paul Davis is the new featured organist at the Embassy theatre, Chicago. . . . Bob Murphy is back in vaudeville after six weeks in St. Louis as master of ceremonies. . . . Listen, folks, don't forget to send your best wishes to Georgic Pincus before he gels married on Oct. 28. . . . Elmer Irhke has replaced Bernard Cowham at the Oriental theatre in Milwaukee, as featured organist. . . . While speaking of organists allow me to inform you that Adolphe Evans has taken Eddie House's place as solo organist with Marks Bros. . . . Mildred Thompson is at the organ in the Garfield theatre of Milwaukee and Ray Guis is doing the same at the Modjeska also of Milwuakee. . . . Word reaches us that Bobbie Burns will take charge of the organ at the Music Box in Portland. . . . Pete Ash will be his assistant, nope! he is no relative to Paul Ash. . . . Jack Courtney, formerly of London, England, is now featured organist at the Olympic in Watertown, N. Y. . . . Ron and Don are still doing their console duo at the Seattle, in Seattle. . . . Francis Murphy replaces Julius Boxhorn as musical conductor at the Mark Strand in Albany. N. Y. . . . Irene Taylor closes her second tour of Publix next week in Atlanta. Gus Edwards Joins M G M Music Staff Gus Edwards, famous composer of "School Days" and other popular hits, has been added to the staff cf Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation as staff composer for musical scores and song themes to talking film productions. Mr. Edwards, who is well known as a producer and discoverer of stage talent, is probably one cf the best known musical comedy star makers in the country. He has discovered and developed into stardom the Duncan Sisters, George Jessel, and many other celebrities of vaudeville and musical comedy fame. Associated with Mr. Edwards on the staff of MGM will be Billy Rose, Herb Brown, and Arthur Fried, all well-known song writers and authors of many Broadway musical shows. Thematic songs and numbers in musical productions will be synchronized and staged just like the stage song hits, with the public requested to sing so-and-so. Chicago Granada Week Ending September 28 The brothers Marks added Julian Eltinge, the only woman who may disrobe unto lingerie upon a picture house stage, to their collection of "big names," in this Charley Kaley show entitled "Ladies in Hades." Relinquishing the splendid opportunity for a delayed pass and going instead right through tackle — ■ The show opens with Sara Ann McCabe singing an Oriental song from a box, as the curtain goes up on the band and the ballet, which is kneeling before incense burners. The gals go through an Oriental routine, their departure bringing on Kaley. Winehill and Brisco have the second spot and get a good round af applause for their songs and humor. The Jolly Trio, three apparently youthful women, follow with acrobatics done with the grace that allies such matters with dancing, taking a bow. Kaley next offers a song, "That's Just My Way of Forgetting." and is followed by the ballet, the members being elevated behind a black drop with only their dancing legs extended through apertures of various sizes. Eltinge is next. The famous female impersonator (as an exponent of this racket is called) promenades to and fro, attired in what is advertised as "the latest gowns from Paris." There are different gowns, and the changes being made on the stage, there is also a quantity of lingerie. Incidentally. Mister Eltinge sings a bit. And altogether he is appreciated, applauded, and allowed to depart with a bow. Pearson and Newport follow with hick characterizations and comic tap dancing, and they go over rather better than anything else on the bill. The concluding number begins with Kaley singing "Ladies in Hades" in front of a front drop, hiding the band, representing (so it would seem to an amateur) the fires, etc., of H — . The ballet appears costumed as various feminine members of the Satanic colony. The Jolly Trio, dressed as imps, reappear for a danceof-the-devils. And presently the Devil himself shoots out of flame at center. Kaley and Sara Ann McCabe assist in the grand finale by singing the "Ladies in Hades" song. The whole is an impressive scene, and although it looks like hell, it is supposed to. EDDIE HILL (America's Cry Baby) Now Playing Fifth Return Engagement in Chicago An Entire Year with Balaban & Katz and Still a Box-Office Attraction Soon to Start Third Tour of PUBLIX CIRCUIT Direction — Wm. Morris Agency Chicago Avalon Week Ending September 28 Dell Lampe's "Autumn Follies" opened with a band arrangement "In a Little Garden," the orchestra in very pretty garden setting on dim stage behind scrim with ballet girls posed on steps. Girls then paraded and as they left stage Lischeron and Alyce came through the garden wall to front of stage for an acrobatic dance, which was quite good and received a fair hand. The orchestra then went into "Get Out and Get Under the Moon" with coronet solo followed by vocal solo by Ralph Snyder. Rector and Cooper (colored dancers) followed with some clever footwork in a tap routine, which got them a big hand. Rose Mary, introduced as the "girl with the" golden voice" sang operatic selections, did not register too well here. However, she was called back and offered "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" and won a good hand. The ballet then came on in "Autumn Dance" which was well received. They were followed by a surprise number — three members of the band coming forward to sing "Dell Is Back Again" with appropriate noise. The comic asides went over big and the big drum, cymbals and snare drum drew as much applause as, if not more than the song. A quite snappy tango was given by Lischeron and Alyce which, while not bad, did not take well. The real hit of the show were two cowboys. Cully and Doyle, who almost stopped the show. One was quite a yodeler and his patter, while not new, drew the greatest applause of the entire show. Their singing was nothing extra but seemed to have "It." Chicago Chicago Week Ending September 28 "Ocean Blue**," the Publix unit at the Chicago this week, is some better than the average of its kind, most of which are built on a formulae or pattern just like shoes or automobiles. The show has atmosphere of the ocean and boats and sailors all the way through. The t;et is the deck of an ocean liner — quite realistically done, and the band boys are dressed in sailor suits. The show opens with the Foster Girls dressed in Bailor gym suits doing a good routine and singing the chorus of "Ocean Blues" which is sung by a young fellow in sailor uniform. A band number called "Salty," follows with an accompaniment of storm effects. The ocean in the "background" really looks like salt water. Al Norman is next with his eccentric dance for a good hand. This boy with the twisting feet never fails to click. He is followed by Auriole Craven who does the same stuff she has done on several other engagements in Chicago. But her work shows quite a bit of improvement, being much smoother. She sings "Cause My Baby Don't Mean Maybe Now,"; and then goes into her violin number which always pleases. The Foster Girls are on again, this time dressed in sailor uniforms, each carrying a wigwag flag. They sing a song and spell out the words of the chorus audibly and in the wigwag signalling code. This is a clever stunt and makes a good ballet number. Joe Herbert is next singing "Golden Gate" and "That's Just My Way of Forgetting You," in a manner that fails to create much interest among the audience. He is followed by Moss and Frye the colored team with a lot of funny gags. They are dressed as ship cooks, and their lines are funny, no denying. Their harmony singing is just as good, and due to the fact that a Publix unit does not take into account the wishes of the audience, the boys left with the cash customers pleading for more. L. CARLOS MEIER Featured Organist Ascher's TERMINAL Theatre CHICAGO