Exhibitors Herald (1927)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 45 April 23, 1927 Chicago Harding Week Ending April 17 Mark Fisher is offering “Baseball Scandals,” starring Eddie Hill and a featured cast of star presentation acts. Here gees the Scandals: Opening: Street drop with Mark Fisher doing a Spring Poem while the Gould Girls, dressed in different sport outfits, enter from each end followed by Eddie Hill, who, after a few minutes smart chatter with Mark, goes into full stage setting with band, dressed in baseball uniforms, playing “Put Your Arms Where They Belong,” with a chorus sung by Charlie Buckley, the new pianist, assisted by Mark in the second chorus. This was followed by the Gould Dancers in a beautiful parasol number, dressed in light blue dresses with hat and parasol to match. The novel steps and clever finish brought this number an unusual round of applause for a ballet. After Eddie Hill’s wise chatter, Maxine Hamilton, dainty entertainer, followed with “Somebody to Love” in her inimitable style. Maxine’s high kicking and eccentric dancing was as cleverry executed as her singing and won her an encore and many bows. This little artist, new in presentation, seems set from now on. She was followed by — Mark Fisher in a comedy song entitled, "I Wonder How I Look When Pm Asleep,” assisted by the band and clowned by Eddie Hill and several boys with comedy bits. 'This was followed by Murriel Kaye in her beautiful fan kicking dance. Miss Kaye possesses grace and rhythm that makes her dancing a classic treat. She won an encore and many bows for this specialty. Gus Mulcahy, wizard of the harmonica, came on here for a bit of his playing and eccentric dancing which stopped the show at this performance. Gus is a very clever artist and has everything in his favor, including personality. He was soon followed by Mark singing “Forgive Me,” and then the audience storm began. Since Fisher has appeared in this theatre, regardless of what talent is on the same bill. Fisher is their favorite and they are not a bit backward about having it known. After two more choruses, he was followed by the Gould Dancers in an umpire routine that was cleverly staged, costumed with silver coats, black split skirts and black hats trimmed with silver band. They were followed by — Eddie Hill, who up to this time was bouncing in and out of the set after each specialty, and them offered “Straight Banana,” Eddie was dressed in flashy comedy baseball suit which in itself secured good sized laughs and was compelled to sing his crying song before the audience let him make his exit. After many bows, the boys went into a band treatment of “There’s Everything Nice About You,” with Fisher singing the chorus as the Gould girls entered again, this time dressed in baseball uniforms with bats and balls. Finale: Same lineup with Mark Fisher singing special lines to the above tune while the girls batted tennis balls out to the audience. Chicago Capitol Week Ending April 17 Louise Dresser in “White Flannels” was the week’s feature film, together with a Vitaphone arrangement. Del Delbridge and the Capitol Merrymakers appeared in “College Capers,” featuring Georgie Ward of “Our Gang Comedies” and Roy Deitrich, the radio and record artist, who offers selections of popular numbers. Edmund C. Fitch Solo Organist at the New Ascher Bros.’ SHERIDAN THEATRE CHICAGO Chicago Granada Week Ending April 17 “Let’s Dance” was Bennie Mcroff’s show featuring Norman and Constance Shelby, supported by other artists. On with the dance: Opening: Band playing, “Dancing Time is Any Old Time For Me,” with the strains coming through a black curtain hiding the orchestra while Norman Shelby sang the chorus. On the second chorus, curtain rises a few feet exposing eight pairs of feminine feet dancing in huge shoes, after which curtain rises to full stage setting with orchestra playing, “Sundown” with the Granada girls doing one of their routines. 'This was followed by Norman Shelby in a sensational highkicking and eccentric dance, which was followed by Marian Carl singing “Blue Skies.” Miss Carl makes a fine appearance and, although lacking volume as to voice, she possesses a very essential thing known in show business as personality-plus showmanship. Egyptian Ballet was done by the Granada girls. Wright, Douglas and Kelsey in their SparkPlug comedy proved to be the laughing hit of the bill. This act was seen in vaudeville a few months ago and repeated its former success. After an encore and several bows they were followed by Norman and Constance Shelby in a neat balllooni exhibition dance which was well performed and received. The harmony treat of the bill were McKenzie and Bishop, two young men who harmonized, “If You See Sally,” and “Yodelling Blues.” These boys are new not only in this territory but in presentation, but judging from their Granada reception more will be seen of them. “While the Years Go Drifting By,” was sung as an encore. Hart, Pender and O’Neill, another vaudeville trio, followed in a series of fast steps in eccentric soft shoe style. This act intermingles comedy and acrobatic stunts. They were followed by a band number, “I’m In Love Again,” with a saxophone solo by Bennie, assisted by a vocal chorus by the banjo-player. Finale: Entire cast singing and dancing to band with Bennie Meroffi doing a few stretches of his dance. Chicago Piccadilly Week Ending April 17 The screen attraction this week was “Held By the Law,” by the author of “Within the Law.” The stage attraction was “Hi! Ho! the Merrio,” featuring A1 Short and his band. Ted Leary, the friendly clown and master of song and comedy, is in his third week and getting stronger. Sonny and Eddie, the popular Chicago dancers, together with the Abbott Girls, offer many dainty and novel steps. Thelma Combs, the little blonde bass string player, is still the center of attraction in A1 Short’s band, while Walter Flandorf at the Kilgen organ still presents his classic organ solos. Chicago Uptown Week Ending April 17 Bennie Krueger and his augmented orchestra opened the Baseball season with a stage show called, ‘‘Play Ball,” featuring Bob La Salle and a cast of real presentation artists. The show ran as follows: Opening: Short film showing Bennie and his boys at .Cubs Park playing ball. As the last scene faded out, the curtain went up and disclosed Bennie and the boys in a similar position in front of street drop, later going to full stage with band playing, “Put Youi' Arms Where They Belong,” with chorus sung by Bill Meyer and a sax solo by Bennie. This was followed by — Margaret Ball, the little spitfire of dance, who offered her clever routine and scored again. Miss Ball is a natural for musical productions and will some day appear in “lights.” Next was Bob La Salle in his comedy without which this show would not be complete. Bob had an axe and a gun for comedy props and Bob murdered the crowd without the aid of these weapons. Chamberlain and Himes, reported in the Oriental show a few issues ago and Oh so many times before, came on next and offered their burlesque Apache that compelled them, as usual, to take an encore. Here is another good bet for production and watch their smoke ! Irene Taylor, “Chicago’s Adopted Darling,” whose songs of the Southland put joy into their hearts, came on next and did her usual numbers to her usual reception. She was followed by Prosper and Marat, the standard hand-balancing team who have created a sensation in presentation with their routine. Bob La Salle returned with new chatter and songs, offering a comedy version on “Casey at the Bat” to the tune of “Crazy Words.” This number scored heavily and brought him an encore in the way of special dance routine befitting the baseball idea, which scored another hit. Finale: Jelly Bean Johnson, “the dancing fool,” came on for a few stretches of his eccentric routine and was followed by the entire cast to a peppy band number until the last curtain. Chicago Sheridan Week Ending April 17 An Easter Carnival stage show featured an array of good talent. It ran as follows: Opening: In front of black drop with huge Easter egg decorating center while Walter Blaufuss’ Jazz Demons play “Gotta Get Somebody to Love” in back of curtain as it rises exposing full stage set of Humpty Dumpty on the Wall, when the Abbott Dancers go into a novel routine. George McQueen as Master of Ceremonies announces the three Montford Sisters who offer a “A NEW IDEA IN THE FIELD”— Variety Albert F. Brown Feature Organist ORGAN SOLO— SCRIM PRESENTATIONS REPRESENT A NEW ERA OF DELUXE THEATRE ENTERTAINMENT STAGED BY RAYMOND Q. DALTON NICK LANG and VOELK GEORGE Two Chicago Politicians Trying to (harm)onize Detroit ALL VISITORS WELCOMED AT THE CAPITOL, DETROIT, WEEK OF APRIL 23rd. During Business Hours. Private interviews granted only by special appointments through our secretaries Max Turner and Phil Tyrrell. Nick says: Big Bill Thompson, Chi’s new Mayor started his cleanup campaign by sending us to the city of (Fords). I’ll never recognize the old gang again. It's all right BUI, you’ve got my permission to go ahead. George says: As ‘’unofflclal” representative from the (House of David) and Bill Thompson’s chief yoddler, I wish to state that we’re looking over Grand Circus Park in view of building a theatre on the site.