Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

March 30,1929 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 53 was born in Seville, where her father, George de l'Horne was a noted artist. She, so the press sheets say, sang before royalty at Buckingham Palace at the age of 9. Miss Neville attracted the attention of Broadway producers while on a concert tour, and her present role is in appreciation of her recent success while touring the Publix circuit. WalJy Jackson proved to be a clever dancer, and Grace and Marie Eline turned out to be those burlesque clowns with some new, clever stuff. Have you heard that feminine wizard of the xylophone? Well, you should. Her name is Helen MacFarland and, outside of banging away on the instrument which made Signor Friscoe famous, she is a grand little hoofer. The Gamby-Hale Girls disported in pretty costumes and Al Evans and his Michiganders played the music for the show. Eduard Werner directed the Michigan Symphony Orchestra in grand opera excerpts, ending with the trio from "Faust," sung by three soloists, Ruth Lyon, soprano : Charles Jolley, tenor, and William Phillips, basso. "Cheerio, pip-pip and all that rot." Chicago Avalon Week Ending March 16 Roy Detrich and his orchestra made whoopee this week and the people liked it, no fooling. Whoever arranged the scenery together with the producer, made a fine job of it and it looks exactly like a western bar-room. Detrich went over fine this week and he sang a song that his people like him to. A jazzy, hot number and that sort of 6ong is not Roy's kind and when he 6ings those kind he won't go over. Roy needs more like he sang this week and watch his smoke. Sob stuff gets over if it's rendered by the right person and Roy is the right fellow to do it. The stage artists were good and some fine singing, dancing and playing was heard and seen. The Rodeo Boys, five of them, sang, danced and played some mean looking instruments. They went over but not like they should have. A couple of apache dancers did their stuff and went over. Bom and Lawrence were to appear at this 6how but, somehow or other they were absent and the pair that took their place really were good. In fact that act was the best number on the program. Roy Detrich sang "High Up in The Hill Top." A fine song and put over in neat shape. There might have been others on the program but no names were mentioned. It was a good program and people like making whoopee. St. Louis Fox Week Ending March 8 The stage bill for the week included "Syncopation Carnival" a jazz revue, and a ballet offering. "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" was featured. The Robespierre overture was played by the orchestra. Portland Portland Week Ending March 21 Another outstanding stage presentation in typical Publix style brought exceptionally good business for the week with the new master of ceremonies. Henry Basse, who has been officially adopted by Portland. Eddie Magill, "the crooning megaphone king" brought "em to their feet in the "Volcano" show. Frank Melino & Co. in their sea tornadoes, Ted and Jack Dale, collegiate dough boys, accompanied by local U. of O. Symphony Orchestra. The famous Foster girls exhibited in novel totem pole dance, and the high notes were hit by Gil Wray, a veritable caruso of the revue stage. On screen "Tide of Empire" only fair. Boston Metropolitan Week Ending March 15 Two famous movie stars. Tom Mix and his horse, Tony, were the leading attraction in the Publix Revue "Rainbow Trail." Tom Mix was the leader of a company of seven cowboys from the Mix ranch, who exhibited lariat twirling and other Western 6tunts for the edification of the Eastern "tenderfeet." The Publix Revue proved in its entirety to be a musical comedy, with Joe Rines, new master of ceremonies at the theatre, heading the act. A short film showing Tom and Tony doing their "keeping fit" stunts, preceded their personal appearances on the stage. Tom rides in on Tony, and after some comedy patter, does some trick shooting, following which two cowboys from the Hollywood ranch do marvelous things with ropes. Tony, his red coat sleek and gleaming appears again at the end of the act, much to the delight of the hundreds of boys and girls, but greatly to the disappointment of the majority of adults, who went to the "Met," not to see Tom Mix alone, but his wonder pony Public Demand Brings Al Short Back to Atlanta ATLANTA, GA.. March 26.— Al Short returned to the Howard Theatre on March 25 to wield the baton over the stagehand and serve as master of ceremonies. During the many months that he officiated in a similar capacity at the Howard nearly two years ago, Mr. Short built up a large and loyal following and his return to the post is the subject for congratulations and felicitations. Al Short is, first of all, a thorough musician. He is equally able in the interpretation of classical and popular numbers. Next, he is a showman, and as such he qualifies with high honors for the appellation, "personality leader." And finally, he knows how to get results when he has good talent in a stageband. Such being the case, much is expected when he takes the baton. Lou Lowry, who has won many friends during his stay as guest bandmaster at the Howard, is leaving to accept a similar assignment with Publix at the Indiana Theatre, Indianapolis, Indiana. Sir. Lowry came to the Howard early this year when the theatre re-instated the stagehand show policy after several months of "straight sound pictures." perform. Tony however failed to do even one single trick. The revue opened with gypsies, a chorus of eleven girls, singing, along with a cowboy quartet. The chorus did an eccentric dance, followed by the entrance of Joe Rines. He introduced Marie White, singer and dancer, who received as fine a hand as did Mix, only she was recalled three times. Ossman and Scheppe, banjo artists, were the next feature. They were snappy and preceded a dance by the chorus. Jean Boydell received the finest ovation of the show with her clever singing and dancing impersonations. She was extremely clever in her presentations and found an extremely appreciative audience in the "Met" patrons. Hank Grinnell proved to be the 6tar of the Tom Mix cowboys with his clever, trick rope swinging. The revue closed with an ensemble entrance and a back stage scene depicting the great West. The feature picture was "Stark Mad." starring Louis Fazenda and H. B. Warner. Philadelphia Fox Week Ending March 23 The overture. "Morning. Noon and Night." by the Fox orchestra is received with enthusiasm. The Four Aristocrats of Melody, Victor recording artists, compose a quartet of marked ability. They WILTON CRAWLEY Trick Clarinetist and Versatile Comedian Featuring a Pantomime of SONNY BOY Publix "Fore" Unit This Week New York, Paramount Personal Direction of NAT KALCHEIM William Morris Agency present a varied program consisting of solos and both vocal and instrumental quartets. One of the boys sings "Sweetheart of My Dreams" with plenty of pathos. "Rainbow Round My Shoulders" is one of their popular instrumental numbers, played with a swing that gets you. Charles Brugge in burlesque costume gives the impression of being the type of entertainer who does nothing but look funny. However, he proves to be a pleasant surprise, for he plays the mandolin well and climaxes his act by standing on his head and playing at the same time. Despite his rather clumsy appearance, he turns somersaults, stands on his head and revolves on hands and head with surprising agility. Mabel Albertson has a delightful stage personality. Her cleverest stunt is an imitation of Fannie Brice singing "I'm an Indian." It is well done and she deserves all the applause she receives. The Adler and Bradford Four from the Roxy Theatre, New York, are the outstanding feature on the program. Their adagio dancing leaves the audience gasping. The girl is a very small blonde who is tossed about by the three male members of the quartet in a most astonishing manner and keeps the audience on edge wondering what would happen If one should miss. She wears blue satin tights while the men are dressed entirely in white. Two of the men hold her hands and feet and swing her in a complete circle while the third jumps rope over her body. Then each holds an arm and ankle as they swing her in complete revolutions until at the end she is left sitting comfortably on the upraised hands of the third. They swing her in circles, one man holding her ankle and wrist and without interrupting the revolution he passes over her on to the next man. who catches the other ankle and wrist and without a pause the third man does the same. Yvonne DaVees is a contortionistic dancer and is good in her line. She apparently disregards all the laws of anatomy and might be thought to have substituted an india rubber skeleton for the bones of the average human being. New York Colony Week Ending March 15 Sammy Kahn and His Colony Melodists, with the well known Walter O'Keefe as master of ceremonies are the featured attractions at this house at present. This week's stageshow opened to a song called "Your Imagination" played by the ten piece orchestra. Kahn played a violin solo and also sang a few clever verses. Kahn appears to be the best bet this house has ever had. He sings, plays and dances. Walter O'Keefe, also a songwriter, introduced the acts and offered comedy songs and about 10 minutes of extremely clever dialogue. Dreana Beach, did a good high-kicking and acrobatic routine. Emily Earle, personality singer, offered a number that did not get much response, but made up for it with a good interpretation of French character song. Sammy Kahn's singing and dialogue as a motion picture of soldiers marching, was flashed on the screen was the best bit on the bill. The Sensation of Presentation Theatres The Famous LUCKY BOYS BRADLEY S£5> EXCLUSIVELY DIR. WM. MORRIS ARTHUR NEALY The Romantic Singer Just completed a TWO-YEAR engagement with PUBLIX — Now at the new MASTBAUM Theatre, PHILADELPHIA