Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

52 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD March 50, 1929 STAGE SHOWS (Continued from page 50) westerner does a rope-twirling act, with the highlight being the twirling of five ropes at once as he dances and talks. He was forced to beg off. The Gluck-Sorel Girls, in pretty cowboy costumes then do a smart singing and dancing routine, in which they keep time by firing cap pistols. Seven totem poles with a number of "bullseye" targets on them, lower and the girls, using rifles, fire at the targets and as each scores a hit, target lights and different toned bells ring. In this manner they play a tune. This is extremely novel and it evokes good applause. Claire next announces two romantic, banjoplaying cowboys, Ossman and Schepp, who please with their fine playing. Jean Boydell, comedienne, then offers a bit of nonsensical songs and eccentric 6teps that earn her an encore. Claire then leads the orchestra in a fine rendition of "Yo Te Amo" theme 6ong of "The Wolf Song.' Ted's fine band directing with his announcements and his unobtrusiveness, when the acts are working, has gained him a greater popularity than practically all the masters of ceremonies heretofore. Paul Small obliges with a fine vocal chorus. The Bachelor Four, dressed as Indians sing "The Sunset Trail" as the ballet in gorgeous Indian garb ascend and an enormous Indian head, with girls as feathers, lowers in the background. This is the finale of this fine stageshow. Ted Claire is leaving shortly to open the Publix theatre, in Los Angeles, but will return after a few weeks. Atlanta Howard Week Ending March 16 Louie Lowry and his Merry Musical Men swooped down with the entertaining Emmett Rogers' production "Wild and Whoopee" as the Howard's attraction this week. Opening the show with the wild west yell, a gun shot, they got off in good style with a band number. Earl LaVere, with his accordion and wise cracks, headed the bill, winning encores. The Janton Sisters proved high and talented steppers and were liked in their dance routine, while Owen and Anderson went over well with their songs. The whole show clicked. Chicago Norshore Week Ending March 15 Al Kvale opened his show with the Norshore's ballet doing an athletic dance number accompanied by his band working behind a drop. At the end of this number the curtains part and introduce Al and his gang. He received a big hand and introduces the Meyakos Sisters, who give a tumbling dance and at the same time execute several difficult feats of strength. At the end of this their brother came out, played a uke and 6ang "Don't Be Like That" ; they received a good hand and then the girls gave a novelty dance entitled "Picking Cotton" and offered a modern version of the "Buck and Wing." Next, Al Kvale and the band gave several short numbers with Andy Goes singing and Abe Gott play Toronto Theatre Aids Audiens with Color Foot Lights A feature of film presentations at the Uptown theatre, Toronto, key theatre of the Famous Players chain in Canada, is that the topical portion of the program is screened in silent form with house orchestra accompaniment. This is partly due to the fact that it is the policy of the house to select scenes from various current weeklies, such as Paramount, Fox and Pathe. Special orchestration is arranged for every shot by Jack Arthur, director of music Another interesting fact is that Fox Movietone vaudeville reels are presented with the screens flooded with colors from footlight lamps, the latter being placed on the stage directly in front of the screen. With the screen framed in black, the rays do not show outside of the picture. The solid colors of red, green and amber are changed with each succeeding vaudeville act, thus giving variety to the screening. The colors are not strong enough to detract from the picture sharpness and, in one sense, they give the effect of color photography. A synchronized picture of the Capitolians at the Capitol theatre. New York, at the Toronto Uptown fades out with the Uptown house orchestra taking up the screen music from the pit in perfect rhythm under the baton of the orchestra conductor for the remainder of the selection. ing a trombone solo. The house called for more and the boys gave it to them. Harry Downey opened by singing "Sunshine of Your Smile" off 6tage came on and clowned with Al and got a big hand after singing "Grieving For You." He came back with an impersonation of an opera prima donna. Al then introduced him as a Vitaphone star. He was followed by Al Kvale, giving a drunken impersonation and singing "Goodby Broadway, Hello Montreal," and then, assisted by the ballet, costumed in tuxedos, wrestling with lighted lamp posts, got a big hand and was followed by Buddy (Traps) Rich who did a fast stepping tap dance and finished with a demonstration of showing his ability as a drummer. The finale consisted of the entire cast with the ballet arranged on lighted blocks, stepping upwards. San Francisco War field Week Ending March 14 Gene Morgan, the funny fellow with the green hat, returns to the Warfield this week with the famous hat and acts as master of ceremonies in the Fanchon and Marco creation, "Green Hatters' Idea." Gene makes his first appearance in the audience, near the stage, and asks if E. O. Taylor is in the house. Mr. Taylor responds and is told to hurry to a certain number on Market Street as a customer is waiting for a bottle of Scotch. Gene then mounts the stage, dons the famous green skypiece, and reviews what he says is to be the act that is to follow. It has much to do with father Knob and his daughter, Dora Knob, and a lost will that is swallowed by a hungry hen. There is much travail, but all are made happy by the recovery of the will in an egg ordered at a restaurant to remind the daughter of her father. The Horace Heidt musical aggregation swings into action at this point with a number termed an extravaganza. Anyway, it is a lively orchestration and features two pianists, each on the same bench, but playing different pianos. They change, each playing with either hand on different pianos, and are joined by two other musicians, the four going through some lively antics, but making harmony all the time. Gene next introduces the Eight Torpedoes, diminutive chorines, who do a spritely dance. They are graceful and good to look at in pink and blue costumes. Gene next calls his shadow, Chuck Callahan, comedian, and they engage in some lively chatter and read headlines from the daily papers. Chuck reads: "French Girl Has Prize Legs," and Gene follows with: "See America First." Chuck finds another: "Lady Eighty-five, Mother of Twins," and Gene reads: "Senator Johnson Blames Henry Ford." Gene then does a dance of the South that is roundly applauded. Heidt's Californians offer another selection in which one after another of the players are featured. This is followed by a trumpet solo and then the orchestra '6 conception of the circus calliope, the musical interlude being concluded by a selection by a male quartette. The Paige Sisters, late stars of the Gus Edwards Revue, harmonize in several vocal selections that go over well. Gene and Chuck resume their chatter and are joined by a girl carrying a traveling bag. Gene asks her if she has ever heard the story of the traveling salesman and the girl replies, "Why I'm the farmer's daughter." The last number is a transformation scene and brings the stage act to a climax that is both unusual and delightful. The Eight Torpedoes swing into view high above the orchestra on the stage by the reversing of panels in the stage set. They dance and sing and discard part of their costume, which swings up into the flies. They trip down to the stage and arrange themselves before their dressing tables, donning costumes of spangled black and white. A dance follows, they return to their dressing tables for makeup and old-fashioned costumes. The lights change as they begin their dance and they become negro mammies, with a background of cotton fields. Another change of the lights and they are in their original characterization. St. Louis Missouri Week Ending March 15 Eddie Peabody presented "The Grab-Bag" as his semi-final stage offering to St. Louis theatregoers. Ward and Van, eccentric clown comedians ; Pauline Gaskin, blues singers, and Frankie Masters, tap dancer, were prominent in the entertaining. Leonid Leonardo's grand orchestra production was "Old Heidelberg" based on the music of "The Prince of Pilsen," "The Student Prince," and Johann Strauss' waltzes. The Missouri Voices and the ballet assisted in this presentation'. Birmingham Alabama Week Ending March 16 Especially popular did the Alabama'6 stage offering "Crazy Quilt" prove this week. The 6et was very colorful and pleasing to the eye, lending an ideal background for Eddie Guest and his Joy Boys. Headlining the bill is Ginger Rogers, the personality plus miss who drew wide applause with her clever 6ongs. The Novelle Brothers proved sensations in their musical clown role, playing their instruments with contortionists' movements. Likewise as whistlers they clicked well. Added to these were a group of singers from a local college who, naturally, were of local interest. Detroit Michigan Week Ending March 15 "London, by jove, right heah in deah old Detroit." That's the line the Kunsky publicity department used in advertising the Publix' revue "Cheerio" at the Michigan this week. "Clevah, eh what!" The piece was produced by Paul Oscard. Among the performers was Dorothy Neville, that sweet voiced singer of musical comedy, vaudeville and concert stage fame, who might be termed a real blueblood in the field of music. Her grandmother, Jacqueline Neville, was at one time the foremost star in the Royal Opera House in Madrid. Miss Neville ALBERT R BROWN Solo Organist PRODUCER OF ORGAN SCRIM SOLOS CREATOR OF THE ORGAN-PHONE* Presents The World's Finest Organ Entertainment in the World's Finest Theatres MARKS BROS. GRANADA Chicago MARBRO ('Amplification of voice via microphone at organ console.) UNIFORMS S^SST COSTUMES SLSSSk*, BROOKS w.zr