Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

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March 30, 1929 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 55 UP and ' E3L MILTON SLOSSER There are times when a man is too successful in his own particular field of work. For example, take Hilton Slosser who organs so successfully for the Skouras Brothers at the Missouri theatre in St. Louis. Were Milt less of an organ virtuoso, the chances are that Skouras Brothers would give him an opportunity to do the master of ceremonies thing. Bat. because Slosser has been organing so successfully during these last 6even years to the St. Louis public, he is an organist, and an organist he will remain until the end of his time, or maybe a month or two less. When Slosser came to St. Louis in September. 1922. he was the youngest one of the twenty-five or thirty men claiming the billing of "the world's youngest organist." Slosser. then barely twenty-two years old oame to St. Louis from the west coast, via Kansas City. On the Pacific Slope he had been a theatre organist in Pasadena and Hollywood and also at Sid Grauman's Rialto theatre. Los Angeles. Frank Newman had brought him to Kansas City to open the Newman theatre. From this theatre. Herechel Stuart lured him to the Missouri, where Tom Terry was organist. * • • When Terry left Famous Players, who then operated the Missouri. Stuart elevated Slosser into the chief organist's post, which he has held down for the last seven years. * • • That Slosser has a rare aptitude for the master of ceremonies "racket" was proved when he acted as master of ceremonies during the interim between the departure of Frank Fay and the debut of Eddie Pea body. * * • He is quick witted. annoys a piano in clever style — has been in concert work in Carnegie Hall. New York ; and is not displeasing to the feminine eye. being constructed facially along the Ben Lyon type. * * • His stage presence comes to him honestly, through long years at the organ console and through a year and a half of Pantages vaudeville, doing a piano act. * • * Slosser is one of those unfortunate young men who is too obviously a "home guard." The folks in St. Louis know him too well, but if the Skouras Brothers wish, they can take Slosser into one of the Eastern theatres they are operating for Warner Brothers and through some active press-agent fireworks, introduce a new and clever figure into the world of masters of ceremonies. * • • I believe that being 6even years at the Missouri theatre. St. Louis, is a record of some sort for an organist to stay in one theatre. Slosser has a keen sense of humor and this is radiant in his personality at all times. » « • Just at the present time Slosser is not only playing the organ as feature soloist but is also acting as master of ceremonies during "the strange interlude" existing between the departure of Eddie Peabody and the induction into office of the Missouri's new permanent master of ceremonies whoever he will be. * • • Being so versatile as to hold down both these jobs at the same time is certainly a valuable asset and one to be commended on. Having thousands of friends in St. Louis. I feel confident in predicting that Slosser will remain at the Missouri theatre for a good many years to come. LARRY SPIER. P. S. Next week this column will contain the life of another well known organist. Panrlen. \ Utudios C*'C*£o Stale 5918 i.t p. cc; '7 PL'Y.OPS ORGAN SOLOS Preston Sellers (Chicago Oriental) after ma kin, many changes of organists at the Oriental. Presto 1 Sellers seems to be the one to strike the lucky bertl and he is proving his worth. Sellers' name cai be seen in big electric lights on the theatres' canop; which again proves he is making some progress. HL solo this week was called "It Pays to Advertise" an< he clicked once more. Alberta Buck (Kansas City. Pantages). The pipe organ came in for a feature, when the organist and Harry Kessell offered a singing novelty. Miss Buck playing and singing during the progress of the number which was billed as "An Organ Surprise." Leo Weber (Jersey City State) featured a Remick community stunt that met with instant success. This was called "Isn't Nature Grand." The numbers he played were. "A Precious Little Thing. Called Love." "The Sun Is a My Window." "Where the Shy Little Violets Grow," and "If You Want the Rainbow." He closed this solo with the first named tune. Sammy Williams 1 Chicago Regal) offered as the first of a new series of illustrated song numbers. "Love Makes the World Go Round." "Dream Train." "The Sun Is at My Window," a parody on "Little Brown Jug." "I Faw Down An' Go Boom." "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" and ended with "Glad Bag Doll." Much credit should be given to Sammy. Because of his clever arrangements and showmanship he can always get a willing response from the audience. McNeil Smith > Chicago Marquette) had the bsst community singing stunt this week ever witnessed by this reporter before. He used clever gag slides and fine songs which is a big part of the solo. McNeil is a very popular organist and people like him as much here as the Stratford theatre liked Ted Leary. He could have taken an encore. Al Mitchell 'Minneapolis, Minnesota) erstwhile stage band leader, is ushered into Eddie Dunstedter's place at the console, while Dunstedter is busy making records of his organ successes. We take it that Mitchell was not entirely agreed to the coup d'etat. He doesn't seem very enthusiastic about it. However, he does entertain the audience with a wide, and rather too long, medley of recent successes. Leonard Smith (Chicago Avalon) is about as popular at the Avalon as Paul Ash was at the Oriental. Smith received a big hand for his solo this week. In fact one would wonder where all the revelry was coming from, as the show was almost empty at this performance. John Gart (Jamaica. L. L, Valencia) offered a pleasing solo called. "Continuity in Love." As he played. "Loves Old Sweet Song" and other old timers slides with comic drawings and special lyrics which told the "love story" were used. His straight numbers were, "Marie," "How About Me" and "111 Get By." During each chorus, slides were projected on the screen, but no one sang. Judging from the tremendous response by the audience, at the end of the solo, everyone was satisfied to listen to Gart's fine playing. Don Miller (Detroit Capitol) had a unique Hall of Fame to offer hi3 customers recently. Dan played "You're the Cream in My Coffee" throughout the number while slides of Albert J. Static, inventor of the loud speaker horn, John Filbert, the eminent Scotch philanthropist, and other celebrities were flashed on the screen. Among them was Mabel J. Whittlebrain. Two guesses who that was meant for ! It was good for a lot of laughs. Arthur Guthow (Detroit Michigan) had one of the cleverest organ solos seen around here in some time in a new version of "East Side, West Side." It started out with a cartoon comedy of a dog searching through old song books for the tune. Then the words were flashed on the screen with one of those illuminated dots leaping from word to word to mark the time. On the last chorus a monkey did the jumping, pulling the words into all sorts of shapes as he marked the rythym. A very, very clever idea. Harold Rieder 'Jersey City Stanley) offered "Evolution of the Moon Song." which was a very fine solo. Each of the numbers Rieder played were bits from "Moon" songs, popular between 1900 and the present day hits. "Pale Moon." "Silvery Moon." "Harvest Moon," "Red Moon." "Me and the Man in the Moon" and "All by Yourself in the Moonlight" were the number to which the audience sang. The entire solo was played as a mental test. He put it over in great style and got a fine reception. songs BEST SELLERS No. 1 "Carolina Moon" — (Joe Morris). No. 2 ''Precious Little Thing Called Love" — (Remick Music Corp.). No. 3 "Dream Train" — (Milton Weil). No. 4 ''Where Is the Song of Songs for Me"' (Berlin.) No. 5 "Wearv River" — (Berlin). No. 6 "Sweetheart of All My Dreams" — (Shapiro, Bernstein). "Lover Come Back to Me" — (Harms). No. 7 "Avalon Town" — (Sherman, Clay). "Glad Rag DoW—(Ager, Yellen & Bornstein) . "If I Had You"—(Robbins). "Sweethearts on Parade" — (Milton Weil). "Marie"— (Berlin). No. 8 "Some Sweet Dax" — (Remick). "Where the Shx Little Violets Grow" —(Remick). "My Mother's Eyes" — (Leo Feist). "Button Up Your Overcoat"— (De Sylva, Brown & Henderson). No. g "Deep Night" — (Ager, Yellen & Bornstein) . "Kansas City Kitty" — (Donaldson, Douglas & Gumble). "Wedding Bells"— (Waterson). "My Castle in Spain" — (Leo Feist). AM I A PASSING FANCY (Or Am I The One In Your Dreams) — lArthur Behim & Co.) — Another new publisher makes his bow with a real song. It's a beautiful idea both as to lyric and music. By Abner Silver, Al Sherman and Al Lewis. I KISS YOUR HAND MADAME — ( Harms, Inc.) — A foreign sensation that is now being exploited over here and should be tremendous. Has everything that goes to make a hit. Lyrics by Fritz Rotter, music by Ralph Erwin, American words by Lewis and Sonne * * • DAYS — (Donaldson Douglas & Gamble) — This song written for the Ziegfeld Roof and featured by Helen Morgan is already selling in the East and should develop into a seller all over the country. Words by Nathan C. Caress, music by Martin Freed and Milton S. Rosen. s « » MY CO-ED — (Sherman, Clay & Co.) — A college number that is different inasmuch as it's written as a waltz. Very pretty and looks commercial. Music by La Verna E. Kimbrough, words by Agnes Friel. OUT OF A CLEAR SKY— (Harold Rossiter) — A great title that is written excellently. Two local boys, one a radio band name and the other a wellknown announcer. Their plug alone should create demand. Words and music by Charlie Garland and Art Kassel. * * c TAKES YOU — (De Sylva, Brown & Henderson) — Two well known writers have turned out a real good song. This number is already getting a big air plug and with the merit it has it should develop into a big seller. By Benny Davis and Carmen Lombardo. s • • IT ALVT NO FAULT OF MINE — (Triangle Music Pub. Co. ) — A comedy song with a lot of extra choruses that are really funny. Should make a novelty singing number for orchestras. By Joe Davis and Spencer Williams.