Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

November 23, 1929 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 55 MUSIC AND TALENT Merchants Boost Meikel Organ STAGE SHOWS Doris Roche New Orleans Saenger Week Ending November 15 The Darling1 Twins, actual twins — and they are darlings, a discovery by Sid Graumann of West coast fame opens the bill, "Seashore Follies," one of the numerous Publix Unite that wander down our way. with a whoop and a gallop. The girlies are all right, good-looking, good dancers — and can really sing. Ed and Morton Beck, billed as the window cleaners and life savers, have some of the funniest numbers that have ever been produced on an American stage. A real act is that of Prosper and Maret acrobats, who do most wonderful work in unusual hand balancing and stunts, more entertaining than the majority of the so-called big time acts of a similar nature that happen to drift in the straight local vaudeville houses. The chorus this week is a family affair, the Goulds, no relation to George or Jay, but another branch, probably from Brooklyn. They raise plenty of children there, and Dave kept up with the procession, disregarding union hours, as he has eighteen boys and girls working with this particular unit, and according to Ray Teal, is a comparatively young man yet, with a bright future ahead of him. The chorus is well trained, has elegant wardrobe and executes several novelty dances and marches. The stage band, under the direction of Ray Teal, by special request, gives the audience another dose of the St. Louis Blues, which is as palatable as the medicine children cry for, as several portions were demanded before the usual bow was given. This being Armistice Week, Don Phillippini, arranged a special program tableau, which received much attention from those in attendance at the various performances, while Wesley Ford at the organ offers an overture "Memories of Armistice Day," sad but wonderful. The film this week is "Flight," to be followed week of November 16, by "The Virginian." Business is uniformly good. Minneapolis Minnesota Week Ending November 15 In line with armistice week, "Over the Top," the comic side of the war was presented by Zizz Black as the stage presentation at the Minnesota theatre. In a camp setting with the stage band and the publix singing ensemble dressed in uniforms the presentation is opened with the band playing "Keep the Home Fires Burning." Zizz Black makes his entry following this number and presents a parody on the Dempsey-Tunney fight. His presentation of the 14 count gets a big laugh from the crowd. The Three Bernie Brothers are next with a little dance number that is very good. At this point, Johnny Burke, as the new corporal makes his appearenee. He leads the orchestra in a few tunes in which one or two of the instruments are out of time. Doris Roche, the pride of the Regiment, as the Doughnut Girl, sings "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling." with a very sweet voice. Johnny Burke, who is in love with her, makes some comical efforts to dance with her. This is followed by a medley of war songs by the Publix singing ensemble. The awkward squad, with Johnny Burke as corporal, go through a drill. One man gets out of line and the entire drill centers on Johnny's efforts to drill him back into line. A lesson in precision is next presented by the Bernie Brothers and is very novel due to the three being chained together whils doing a tap dance. Johnny Burke again steps into the limelight with a little recitation on "After the Battle." In a very (Continued on page 57) Doris Roche billed as "The Pride of the Regiment" in the Publix unit "Over the Top" has no trouble whatever in pleasing any audience she plays before. Miss Roche has been constantly working for the Publix circuit for the past two and a half years and still has eighteen months to go before her contract expires. Miss Roche sings two songs in this unit and as many of our representatives in key cities say the Audience seem reluctant to let her go at the close of her number. She also is well known for her dancing and is an accomplished artist. Dubin & Burke Write Eight Songs for "Hold Everything" Al Dubin and Joe Burke who composed the many hits in "Gold Diggers of Broadway," have written eight original songs for Warner Bros, all-color Vitaphone musical comedy, "Hold Everything." These numbers are "Sing a Little Theme Song," "Isn't This a Cock-Eyed World," "Take It On the Chin" "The Girls We Remember," "I'm Screwy Over Looey," "Physically Fit," "If Your Best Friend Won't Tell You" and "When the Little Red Roses Get the Blues for You." M. Witmark & Sons will publish these new Vitaphone songs. Louise Fazenda to Sing in Warner's "Wide Open" Louise Fazenda will sing from the screen for the first time in Warner Bros. Vitaphone production, "Wide Open" in which she is featured with Edward Everett Horton. In this picture Miss Fazenda will introduce "Nobody Cares If I'm Blue," a Witmark number written by Grant Clarke and Harry Akst. Club Join Paper in Big Tribute to "Vet" Organist The 5,000th Performance at the Harding in Chicago Is Occasion for Tieup By W. S. RUSSELL Merchants recognize the value to their business and to the entire neighborhood in having an outstanding organist in the nearby theatre. They know that he attracts people to the territory, and that spells more business for the retailers of the district. No better proof of that need be found than the enthusiastic cooperation given by the merchants on the Northwest side in Chicago and by the neighborhood newspaper in helping Eddie Meikel, king of the console at the Harding theatre, Balaban and Katz deluxe house, to celebrate his 5,000th performance at that theatre. Special Newspaper Play An edition of the neighborhood newspaper made a special display, both in its news columns and in its advertising, calling attention to the unusual service that Meikel had given in helping to present to Northwest Chicago the best of entertainment in the theatre. A story on the first page was devoted to Meikel's Organ Club, a feature of Harding shows that has become as well and thoroughly established as the motion picture itself in the hearts of patrons of the splendid house which B & K placed on Milwaukee avenue near Logan Square. It was with the merchants and in their advertisements, however, that the tieup asserted itself most prominently. This showed itself in three ways. Many of the advertisements included cuts showing the organist purchasing goods in the stores. In addition there was a contest. A drawing had been made of Meikel. This was cut up into pieces and these were inserted in various ads. The store patrons who fitted these pieces together most accurately were rewarded. Prizes were provided by the merchants themselves. Tieup Brings Results The tieup brought results in several directions. To Eddie it was a further testimony to the friendship and esteem which he has merited for his faithful and completely successful work at the Harding-. To the merchants it brought increased business and strengthened their common interest with the theatre. To the newspaper it meant more advertising, of course, but also a greater goodwill of both merchants and {Continued on next page)