Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

50 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD March 50, 1929 PRESENTATION ACTS More Theatres Launch Stage Policy STAGE SHOWS Detroit Fox Week Ending March 22 Manager S. J. Stebbins had another one of those triple-barreled stage presentations at the Fox this week, headlined by that Victor recording artist Johnny Marvin, he of steel guitar and ukulele fame. Johnny, a personable young chap, did his stuff before a drop resembling a stained glass window. It was a beautiful setting, the lighting being arranged so effectively that the curtain apparently was stained glass with the sun shining through the multi-colored panes. "Where the Shy Little Violets Grow," was Johnny's first number. He played it and he sang it, and then dropped into sort of a pseudo yodel for the third verse of the number and he got a big hand when it was over. Next came "Sweethearts on Parade," Johnny dropping his ukulele in the middle of it to finish up the verse with a musical saw. For the remainder of the act, Johnny worked with a partner whom he introduced as his brother Frank. The latter was attired in one of those trick suits which Johnny aptly described as a "seersucker suit." "Every time they see a sucker they sell one," said he. Arthur had a trick yodeling song, and they closed with a duet of steel guitar and ukulele in "I Love You, Sweetheart of My Dreams." St. Patrick's Day falling this week, the second barrel, of course, was an Irish scene. There was a thatched cottage in the background and a jaunting cart with a real donkey attached to it off to one side of the stage. Thirty-two Tillerette colleens were ranged tastefully in the foreground and they presented some nice little dances, ending of course, with an Irish jig. Harold Van Duzee, that sweet voiced tenor, proved to be the occupant of the jaunting cart, and he pleased with the old time favorite "Mother Machree." Patsy Ruth Flaum, premier danseuse, was much in evidence during the ballet numbers and the three O'Connor Sisters warbled Irish airs sweetly. The third presentation was way over on the other side of the earth. In India, to be exact, for it was entitled "Dream of Buddha." This was a weirdly exotic presentation, for it was the interior of a Buddhist temple with the idols being members of the ballet troupe. The most striking part of this act was a dance by Mariono and Mona who, during most of the act, sat posed as the god Buddha in the central niche of the temple. They sat one behind the other so that, to the audience, only one person occupied the niche. But at the start of the dance, the one in the rear began waving his, or her arms, in conjunction with the one in the front until it looked like one person with four arms. The effect was novel, to say the least. And ae dancers, the team turned out to be supple and sinuous and their steps were weird and exotic. New York Paramount Week Ending March 22 David Gould's third production. "Rainbow Trail." is the beBt Gould has done and about the best of the Publix 6tageshows witnessed for a long time. This stageshow open's in a beautiful western mountain set, with the entire ensemble, in cowboy and Indian costume, singing the introductory song as an Indian maiden, paddles a canoe, in the background. Ted Claire, in cowboy suit, enters and leads the orchestra in a fast and peppy number called "Stampede," with Paul Small following with a fine vocal chorus. Ted next introduces Marie White, who offers a good and snappy toe routine. Bud Carlell, a real (Continued on page 52) Ben Ross Ben Ross has become the most popular young man about town in Newark and Jersey City, where he appears every other week as the singing master of ceremonies at the Branford and. Stanley Theatres — In fact Ben is so popular that the Stanley management have signed him to a new long term contract to rotate at these two deluxe houses. Before he became interested in Presentation work, Ben was well known in musical comedy circles and received his first band directing and master of ceremonies training at the Kit Kat Club, Chicago. Store Aids Theatre Thirty living models presenting every phase of the fashion trends for the season were an attraction at the Capitol theatre in Des Moines during the week ending March 22. The tie-up was made with Younker Bros., leading merchants in women's clothing. DANCE NUMBERS "ON WITH THE DANCE" "KANSAS CITY KITTY" Write for information regarding the above to JIM DURKIN Manager Band and Orchestra Dept. 1595 Broadway, New York City Two A tlanta Film Houses Offering Bandshows Charlie White Selected as the Master of Ceremonies for Metropolitan (Special to the Herald-World) ATLANTA, GA„ March 26.— After operating for more than a year under a straight sound picture policy, the Metropolitan theatre has launched a stage bandshow policy that commenced March 25. The new policy was inaugurated at a midnight show — starting one minute after midnight — Sunday night. The stagehand will be Charlie White's Jolly Jazzers, with Mr. White serving as leader and master of ceremonies. The initial program will feature the Melody Maids Revue, a snappy aggregation of fifteen talented dancers and singers. The feature picture selected for the occasion was Columbia's "Restless Youth," co-starring Ralph Forbes and Marceline Day. The Metropolitan is ushering in the new policy with a highpowered publicity campaign, including newspaper display ads, billboards, banners, lobby displays and a special trailer on the screen. Manager Carter Barron is thoroughly sold on the stage bandshow idea and has sought consistently for many weeks to presuade the operating triumvirate to launch that policy. Tickets for the opening show — the midnight performance Sunday — have been on sale at the box-office since the first announcement broke on Monday, and the fact that those tickets sold in advance adds strength to Manager Barron's conviction that Atlanta wants something more than a straight sound picture policy. Special Stunt Increases Saturday Matinee MILWAUKEE, WIS., March 26.— The Milwaukee Theatre Circuit's Kosciuszko and Lake theatres here are featuring Lew Fine, a veteran vaudeville trouper, in connection with special matinee programs Saturday afternoons for the kiddies. Mr. Fine appears at the two houses every Saturday afternoon in addition to the feature photoplay and has created a large following for himself among the children of the neighborhood. The two theatres have increased their Saturday matinee business considerable by means of this method.