Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1930)

64 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD April 12, 1930 w MUSIC AND TALENT Organists Must Be Indispensable Head of Newark Club Addresses Men at Banquet Members of Organization Have Offered to Buy Own Microphones By E. T. DAWSON NEW YORK, April 8. — At a meeting and banquet of the Organist Club of Newark, N. J., recently, many interesting and important ideas were brought up. This organization consists of approximately 175 members and at this meeting a good number were represented. David D. Kirkpatrick, president of the club and organist at the Regent theatre, Newark, brought up the thought that is uppermost in the minds of organists throughout the country, who are working but have not featured or solo jobs. Will they or will they not be holding their jobs next September? That seems to be the prevailing thought of most organists right now. Kirkpatrick in his speech said, “The organist who makes himself indispensable at his own theatre, is the one who will continue working. The main idea is to make himself an asset to the house, to be on the job when the film breaks or to do the million and one other small things to make himself necessary to the firm.” No truer words were ever spoken. It is absolutely up to the organist himself to prove to the owners and managers of the houses they work in, that they are keeping up their work, and are on the job. Many organists of this organization have gone to their managers and offered to buy their own microphones and novelties if they were permitted to put on solos, and were assured by the music publishers of getting novelties and “mike” material. This writer has spoken to a number of music firms and can safely state that most of the publishers will be only too happy to furnish the organists with anything they might need for their solos. It is this writer’s earnest opinion that the organist, especially in small houses should be featured as a soloist, more so than the organist in a large, deluxe house, because, now that sound is installed in most small houses, there is not a human element on the program and it has been proven that audiences enjoy organ novelties to the extent of going downtown or ( Continued on page 65, column 2) Leo Terry Leo Terry, a well known name among organists, is again playing in Chicago, or I should say has been playing in Chicago for a few months. He has been engaged to play at the Essaness Pantheon theatre. He has a varied amount of experience as an organist which I will try to outline here. Opened Capitol theatre, where he was featured organist 11 months, until May, 1926; engaged by Great States Theatres (B & K) to open 3,000seat theatre in Joliet, 111., and act as guest organist in other Great States theatres in cities around Chicago; with Great States 8 months and later a return engagement for 14 months; opened Piccadilly, Chicago, as solo organist and remained three months, then reengaged by Great States ; re-engaged for Piccadilly for ten-month engagement. KATHERINE KADERLY ORGANIST Station WMPNewMk City Pittsburgh Stanley Week Ending April 3 “River Blues” is the stage show, with each unit introduced by way of music and scenery pertaining to famous rivers of the world. For instance, the opening is “The Blue Danube,” with a drop depicting the river, castles, etc. The ballet girls do a very effective opening here, the chorus being exceptionally well trained. Eddie Dowling, star of “Blaze o’ Glory,” current screen attraction here made personal appearances and completely captivated the audiences with his song and talk offering. He stopped the show at every performance. Charming Virginia Bacon proved an excellent toe dancer and scored heavily. Ben Dova offered a erackerjack novelty acrobatic act. His number is away above the ordinary, and he does some dangerous and difficult stunts atop a prop lamp post. Allen and Canfield, a talk team, are fair, inclined to get risque with their stories. Two colored boys (unbilled) do one whirlwind of a tap dance. These boys deserve to be featured. They were great. This is Dick Powell’s last week as m. c. here, having been in Pittsburgh thirteen months. Dick sang a number of appreciation, and it’s no secret that everybody in town is loath to see him leave. St. Louis Fox Week Ending April 3 Miss Mignon Laird, a St. Louis girl was played up prominently in the Fanchon & Marco production “International” which held the boards during the week. Miss Laird, who has been on the 6tage since she was four years old (we’ll leave it for the census enumerators to ascertain her present years) danced and played the harp and also did a specialty number with Billy Carr, eccentric dancer. Bert Frohman presided as master of ceremonies in his clever style and presented as his other entertainers Markell and Faun, Frederico Flores and others. On the whole it was a well balanced show and went across in good style. The Fox these days is also featuring Blue Steele and his very popular orchestra. This organization has won widespread popularity via the radio and the Fox is cashing in on this very well. Milwaukee Wisconsin Week Ending April 10 As a sort of prologue to this week’s Fanchon & Marco’s “Ivory” idea, was offered by the band in the form of two numbers from “The Vagabond King.” They included "Only a Rose,” which was sung by Roy Dieterich in his usual fine manner and “The Song of the Vagabonds.” With the band in the pit, Betty Lou Webb serves as sort of mistress of ceremonies. She sings a song entitled “Ivory” before a scrim showing an elephant hunt. The 10 Ivory Beauties in blue and gold costumes augmented by Peggy Carse, who entertains with some solo steps, follow Miss Webb. The Four High Hatters in white costumes with red girdles snap into a peppy rhythm of tap dancing both in chorus and solo. Betty Lou Webb in a clever impersonation of a young chap slightly inebriated gets a good hand. She is followed by the chorus in a sprightly minuet, attired in the fullskirted costumes 6f that day. Goetz & Duffy open their number as a bride and groom well along in life. This burlesque if followed ( Continued on page 65, column 2)