Variety (August 1925)

VARIETY PICTURES .^Xy.nt-.^-kX'JLZ'J ^ .' aft WednM&y, Ancfuvit 12, 1925 Universars Hits Smack NewYork Square in the Face HOUSE REVIEWS V •/i' '■•■>^ they went wdd over THE GOOSEWOMAN A CLARENCE BROWN Production they raved aboat THE HOMEMAKER A KING BAGGOT Production Playing Now at the COLONY wha^ll they say when they RIALTO TKe maestro guy. Ben Bernic, « pretty smart. Up at the RlvoU he waa dealing out good hands wt.«kly but since moving down to the Rlalto he to still holding trumps over the other presentations along the street. To get plain—this week he Is a whale of a wow. Ben steps into the orchestra and bef;ins kidding Qrst, mentioning that he'll play "She's My Baby," by Ed- ward Browninff, the adopting man. Then he breaks oft Into a novelty selection which uses several mem- bers of the orchestra, the selection being calied "Speech," and a mus- ical satire on some of the bum talks at a banquet. Bemle starts off. bis dialoRue fitting wiell to the musio, and following him several of tha boys do their siUff In dialect, with Jewish and Italian thrown In, and the wlndup comes when the sax player makes his speech, the noise drowning him out and going to a laugh flniah. Bcrnie Is carrying 19 men. Ben Introduced Semon Krevoff. youthful Russian dancer, whose whirls put him away to applause; Tandy fdacKenzle. tenor, sang for safe returns, and then Bemle brought Doris Vinton, one of the Texas Guinan Rang, and the kid un- loosed some nifty tap dancing. This made the maestro throw his stick away and nearly faint. The applause she received held-up Bernle's next number, a foxtrot version of "Sche- heresade." Ho got all bawled up In pronouncing It. The Inside is that somebody pave Ben lessons In pro- nouncing the number but he only leamec!^ al>out 60 percent of his les- son. While this wiui on lights from the booth played over the orchestra, a whole wheel of them In succes- sion, and the windup sent Bemle and his boys off to much apprecia- tion. This appreciation was none th« less diminished because Bemle had held the center of the light for oyer 30 minutes. This program sounded Ilk* the best he has yet flashed in picture work. The news reel held 11 clippings and included in this was a special cut on Josiah Zuro's Municipal Opera performances held last week In Kbbett's Field, Brooklyn. Zuro until recently was connected with the Rlvoli and Rlalto. The other clippings were five from Fox. four from Pathe, and one from Klno- grams. "Wild Horse Mesa." the feature, next and ran about 75 minutes to fair appreciation. A comedy, "The Tourist" (EJducatfonal), closed, fur- nishing . some fair to middling laughs. The house held capacity Sunday afternoon. A new stage, about four feet deeper than the bid one. is now be- ing used, and in front is a hand- some new proscenium, designed by John Wenger, who not so long ago put a new proscenium la the Rivoli. New curtains, in soft shades, also bolster up the stage appearances. auk. REGINALD DENNY u " WHERE-WAS I?" A WM. SEITER Production Opens at the COLONY August 14 ^'f,^ : ■7- DNnfERSAL-MILES AND HEES AHEAD OF ALL OH YOU ME LIST! Jr^W- ^fi^K^:. V- •■ '.S*" COLONY New York, Aug. 10. The Moss house keeps to its policy of modest, inexpensive and yet mod- erately Batlijfying programs. ,Some may think this week's layout* a bit duU. as it lacks "flash" and the feat- ure is of the quiet, domestio type, but it is probably up to the house standard. The overture was "The Chocolate Soldier," selection, although only "My Hero" was programed. The Strauss music was well played and the rousing finale brought a good hand. A' switch In the show's run- ning order had Mr. and Mrs. Paul Fetching next with a musical nov- elty (Pre.<)entations) that was ar- Ustlcally staged and quaint in exe- cution. The pictorial shots were almost equally divided between Fox and In- ternaUonal, Pathe havlfig but one representation and Kinograms none. ^actically ap news was included, the views running chiefly to feature ■tuff, the be.st of which was a ellmpse of Venice at the height of the summer season. Some trick Jiving shots with reverse photogra- hy instead of the usual slow mo- Uon proved to be an amusing novelty. The only dancing of the show was contributed by Dolores Farrls In a Jazz toe dance with a touch of the Inevitable Charleston. As one of the very few bits of Syncopation during the evening It brightened up things considerably. Next a Fox educational, "White Paper," which was more interestlnir than its title promised. Speed in showing the manufacture of a news- paper from the cutting of the timber to,, the actual selling of the sheet was aimed for. and the subject handled ia a bri.ik. entertaining manner. Roper nixoiL a robust tenor sing- ing the fan^k Ariio from "Pagli- accl," devel^R into the outstand- ing applsu.se hit of the show, due to •xtraordlnnrlly fine acting ability as well aa a beautiful voice. U« 1« a film house attraction of the hlgbMt order. . .„, The picture, Universars "Home Maker," is the type that will be much discussed in certain circles, but will hardly figure aa m sU^ns box-office proposition. ^ CHICAGO t^ Chicago. Aug. 10. The Balaban Sk Katx organisation has started on its Innovation of ro- tating the musical directors and organists who alternate weekly be- tween the Chicago, Uptown and TlTolL The combinations as at present laid out will consist of Fins- ton and Crawford, Spltalny and Charles, and Dumont and Mallotte. The former are the orchestra con- ductors with the latter the organ- ists. Spltalny and Charles drew the first assignment of the innovation, opening at thla house today. Business was absolutely capacity for the first show Monday, with a good-sised hold-out for the seoond performance. The show ran true to form for pretentious picture house entertainment and escaped without a mishap. The entire pro- gram blended adequately and fur- nished excellent entertainment. The name of H. L.eopold Spltalny flashed on the screen received a vol- ume of applause from his admirers. Spltalny first invaded Chicago under the Jones, Linlck & Schaefer man-, agement, opening McVickers, when the policy of that house was con- verted to/meet the requirement* of high-class picture entertainment. He remained through three differ- ent syndicates who have operated the theatre, J., L. & S., Paramount and B. and K. With the installa- tion of Paul Ash at McVickers as a' permanent bouse combination Spltalny was given the directorship of the Tlvoll. where he remained until th« present change. His ini- tial appearance into the Chlca<o was a marked success. The over- ture "1812" (TschalkowBky) drew spontaneous applause at the finish. The musical contribution was well rendered, with the men In the pit lending every effort to put It over, and ^Judging' from applause and comments it was, more than suo- oeesful. An International news reel pre- ceded the appearance of Anita Qrassl and Sheik Band (Presenta- ^kns). Ives-L.eventha1, Stereos- iBplck, supplied the comedy, procur- ing shrieks of laughter. Milton Charles, also making his Initial ap- pearance at this house as a regular organist, more than sufQced with his operatic and syncopating rendi- tions which are Introduced with slides. Charles at first Introduced a popular nymber played in oper- atic style, reverting by playing an operatic melody in syncopation. For a finish be plays both simultaneous- ly. "Roses" (Presentation) was both pretentious and entertaining. The feature screen attraction, "The Talker," closed the program. The entire show consumed t hours and 10 minutes, with BO minutes of that time being devoted tb musical numbers and presentations, ftoop. MISSOURI St. Louis. Aug. 9. This Is one of those shows that almost-but-not-quite approach an acme of entertainment. Selections from "Naughty Mari- etta" comprise Joseph Littau's over- ture. Herbert's opera was last week's production at the Muny the- atre In Forest Park and the melo- dies were familiar to the audience, accounting for one of the biggest registers an orchestral arrangement has ever made here. Anna Beckman is the soprano. Robert Wynne sings and both are In for a closing duet of an Italian street song. Soloists, conductor and orchestra took bows in turn, all deserving. Steve Slosser has plugged away at a community singing idea fo«%fi number of weeks with mediocre suc- cess, the crowds being bashfnl or something and not very enthusias- tic. "Songs Dad Used to Sing" is a medley of what its title suggests. Steve Cady acta as song leader, but his crude commands of "Come on, everybody sing louder," don't help and the silence reigns. . . until the last number, "Sweet Adeline"! The reception that classic got was great. It was as though a bomb had been thrown into the theatre and every BlnjTle person was yelling at the top of his voice. The piece was repeat- ed and Slosser got a big hand. Which was a real pleasant finish. Bungioff and JosaM^ae, who have played what scems^© be an almost interminable run at the Missouri, and whose popularity has grown with each week, are now saying so- long to this town. For a while, at least, although a film leader tells that they will go to the Big Burg to enter Joe Cook's "How's the King." The name of their present orroring Is pretty much In the dark. The barroom scenery used ta of a cheap sort and a little more time could have been spent In its paint- ing to pood advantage. Loretta De- vol &od £U>bert Wynne dooate $, cou- ple very good soli and eight girU do some nifty chorus stepping But the apache dance by Burnort and Mile. Josephine is of the best. The International Newsreel !• welcome In this spot as It is the first muvlbs in more than half an hour It Is necessarily short, however, and gives way to the piece de reslstanc* of the whole bill, a return engage, ment of . Slssle and Blake. This team opened their picture house tour at this house about a month ago and a repeat after so short aa interval, while unexpected, is wel. come. It Is the first act of Us kind to play picture houses, the only pre- vious presentations of colored acts being those of jubilee singers and not featured performers. On their Intial visit, the duo knocked them off their seats. This time they must be credited with doing even mo'^ A generous run of 80 minutes was In itself too short It includes five encores and comprises nine nura> bers, two of them piano solos by Blake. The entire repertory is new from their first week, except a "hotft closer on both occaslona .^' By this time all hands are red.^' dened by the clapping given each of the preceding numbers on the program and It is with a peaceful sigh we setiled back ror the 7IU mlnuU "Night Life of New York." It is a thoroughly enjoyable scenle of the metropolis that pleased Mla- sourlana A comedy programmed was omitted on account of the show already being 20 minutes over two hours. Rseftel. NEWMAN Kansas City, Aug. i. Snappy from the overture througfi the midsummer revue, continuin(r while Richard Dix raced througk "Lucky Devil," and until the last laugh in the Our Oang comedy, "Ask Grandma," was the unanimous verdict of the thousands who vis* ited the Newman this week. It has been a long time since » program has given such universal satisfaction as this one, which Bruce Fowler presented for ths openlnc oC the Oreater Movie Sea« son. Following the overture came the Universal news reeL The Mid- sununer Revue followed and proved most acceptable. The Four Mary- land singers,, young women qualnthr costumed In crinolines, opened win a familiar song. Otis Mitchell, the only man In the act, followed with a banjo selection, and the five ren« dered a nimaber of southern airs. Moss and the Manning Sisters wei» next with a "Wooden Soldier" dano*' &Ri some acrobatics. Moss thea contributed a qingle stepping t' and was followed by the sisters,* who introduced more fast and fancy dancing. These girts are a pair of cuties. good to JBMl at and with • world of persorfli^. And there was more to come. The parting drapes disclosed the Imps orchestra on the upper floor of a double deck. This bunch, com- ix>sed of nine youngsters, while Iml- tatlns to some extent the Pennsyl- vanlans, were liked. For the finish the Maryland singers and the danc- ing team were on and In motion to the combined music of the Izrps and the Newman orchestra. The "Lucky Deril" followed, be- ing trailed by the Hal Roach coui«< edy. "Ask Grandma." HugMt. ■I 1 SQUAWK ON EXTRA SHOWS Chicago, Aug. 11. With ICeVicker's doing capacity business, extra performances were given Wednesday and Thursday ot last week. The boys didn't mind doing the first one. but when the second was slapped on a unani- mous complaint was registered that five shows daily waa too hard. It has been intimated the theatre will adhere to its i>ollcy of four shows dally, with five Saturdays ao4( Sundsys. FUJCS IN CANS 0, K. Washington, Aug. IL Ths District Commissioners, upon th| recommendation of Fire Chief Watson, ruled last week it was safe to transport motion picture films la cans on both street cars and motor buses within the District of Colum- bia. The Washington Film Board of Trade had asked that this practio« be banned. LOSES $3,150 AND AUTO St. Louis, Aug. 11. Milton J. Goldbaum of the Co- lumbia Pictures Corp offices her* was held up near Harrlsburg, lU, and robbed of diamonds valued at $3,000, his automobile and $150 U cash. Another Butterfield House Pontlac. Mich.. Aug. U. The Wilson Brothers, who manB- factiire motor parts, are going to erect a theatre here. It will be ope- rated by W. S. Butterfield. This will give Bstterfleld two houses, the other being the Oakland, now beinK operated by A. J. Kleist, Whose lease expires in 192S.