Exhibitors Herald (1927)

August 6, 1927 EXHIBITORS HERALD 43 STAGE SHOWS Boston Metropolitan Week Ending July 29 Young ladies gathered from near and far for an Opportunity Contest provide an unusual array of talent for the stage number, the variety of stunts being widespread. Even the uninitiated can readily pick those girls who arc destined for advancement from the group of a score of girls and while they are not heralded by name, they are easily on the right road to success. Gene Rodemich acts an announcer for the various stunts while His Jazz Orchestra, in Oriental costume, provide the background as well as the music, aided by the Grand Orchestra. As an announcer, Rodemich makes as great a success as he does as an orchestra leader. The whole program is carried out with such an air of informality that the audience really becomes part of the show and while not asked to do so, take the part of judges. If Rodemich and His Orchestra have plenty of pep, they have met their match in one dark haired girl with boyish bob, who plays the harmonica as an introductory stunt and who then provides the comedy for the rest of the show, her spontaneous stunts keeping the audience in an uproar. As a dancer she is as clever as an instrumentalist. With the aid of the colored electric lights, the costuming effect is equal to any seen in months. The girls are attired in costumes fitting the various parts to which they are assigned. The dancers have plenty of opportunity to do their steps and they are done exceedingly well. The song birds, a little more quietly gowned, are nevertheless fully as attractive and the whole reaches a climax in the finale, where all take part. In the finale, a monster color wheel supplies the backgi-ound. Victoria Herbert is the featured personality of the act and her graceful dances win well merited applause. “Young America” is the title under which her act is staged. The stage number is a beautifully backgrounded number from “Martha,” in which only the prologue is given. Camille Tentera is the soloist, assisted by the Metropolitan Brass Ensemble. “The Covered Wagon” is the film. Detroit Capitol Week Ending July 30 “Southland Fancies” with Roy Sedley and the rhythmic stage band under Russ Morgan’s leadership, was the routine show this W'eek. Opening: Three members of the Ernie Young ensemble supplying a song and dance, “Underneath the Southern Moon.” Sedley out now to make announcements and wisecrack besides exercising his voice on “Heaven Help a Sailor.” For a time, he was a very busy lad but managed to get through it all very nicely with a dance encore that pleased immensely. The next act, presenting George Lyons, a nimble fingered harpist, stopped the performance and still the crowd clamored for more. His beat numbers included “Spain” and “If You See Sally.” The entire Young Group Gharlestoning to the tune “Clap Yo’ Hands” followed. When this was accomplished, Russ Morgan took his place at the LEE BARTON EVANS The “DENNIS KING” of PRESENTATIONS Acclaimed the Best American Dramatic Tenor in Deluxe Picture Houses Direction— HARRY A. GOURFAIN piano to accompany Charley Jolley in rather heavy song selections. They scored fairly well. Next was Gloria Merhoff, songstress, in popular melodies. The closing number, “Sundown,” offered the Young Girls, Orchestra and Organist effectively combined. Milwaukee Wisconsin Week Ending July 30 “Jazz-Bound,” Dave Schooler and His Play Boys’ best to date, opened with a scrim showing scenes of the United States navy in action behind which the orchestra played a martial air. When the curtain was drawn aside it disclosed the deck of a battleship with all of Dave’s boys dressed in natty white sailor uniforms. A bit of classical music with Schooler himself doing a solo at the piano was the opening number. The Six Markert Dancers, all dres.sed in uniforms, then pranced down from the upper deck of the ship and did some clever dance steps to the tune of “Breezin’ Along” by the orchestra. They then dropped into the background while Margaret Ball, in a white satin gob suit, danced some snappy steps and also sang “Little Bombom Bay.” A1 and Louis Walker, a pair of goofy gobs, dressed in white uniforms and wearing heavy horn rimmed glasses, did a number of funny soft shoe dancing steps to the tune of “Sleepy Time Gal” by the orchestra. The audience got a big kick out of their antics and they were called back for several encores. Billy Adams, another long, lanky clown with short sailor trousers and red socks, made his initial appearance, and continued to horn in throughout the presentation with wise cracks which tickled the audience. Besides his funny bone ticklers he sang a little ditty entitled “I’m Scared to Hold My Breath Under Water.” A real bit of salt water atmosphere was instilled when Willard Andclin sang in a deep bass voice from the “poop deck,” “Over the Billowy Ocean.” Beth Calvert in a green flimsy dress did a fine exhibition of some strenuous acrobatic dancing to the tune of “Ain’t She Sweet.” She had plenty of pep and got a fairly big hand from the audience. Glen Wclty’s musical arrangement of “Southwind” was then played by Dave Schooler and His Boys, with Billy Meyers singing the chorus. Dave himself played the piano accompaniment during part of the number. The selection was well received and seems to be as popular as “Sundown.” The Six Markert Dancers again made their appearance to the tune of “It All Depends on You.” They completed a mimber of snappy steps which met with the audience’s approval. The Three Gibson Girls, attired in white skirts and blue jackets, next appeared singing “Rosy Cheeks” and “Why Should I Woriw About What Others Say.” Their voices harmonized nicely and they got a big hand from the audience. Charles Guglieri also in sailor uniform did his stuff on the old hand saw to the tune of “Russian Lullaby.” This was followed by “Always.” played by letting the air out of a blown up rubber glove. Next Dave manipulated a bicycle pump for him while he played “Yankee Doodle.” and then Billy Adams furnished the power at an auto pump while “Gugy” played “Stare and Stripes Forever” on an inner tube. Of course the orchestra accomimnied through all these “windy” selections, but Charley managed to carry the various tunes to perfection and he went over big with the audience. Margaret Ball, the pretty blonde dancer, did a number of strenuous steps, among them being a one hand cartwheel and a back crawl on hands and feet, for which she drew plenty of applause. The grand finale consisted of the Six Markert Dancers out on the stage with the mouths of the two large guns lighted up and moving back and forth across the audience. A flag consisting of lighted bulbs in red, white and blue, was then let down while the orchestra played “Stars and Stripes Forever.” This grand finale brought a big round of applause, as is usually t’ne case when the audience’s patriotic chord is touched. “THE ARISTOCRATIC STEPPERS” VALE and STEWART opening ot the WiSCONSiN Now Playing GREAT STATES A Presentation Act With Theatre^ Milwaukee^ week of THEATRES. B. & K. and L. Class and Speed, Dircelioft— August 13th, & T. Houses soon to follow. Max Turner and Phil Tyrrell. NOTE: Have you seen WILLIAMS & ROSS? TED LEARY *^The Versatile Master of Ceremonies** Now Playing His 2500th Performance at the STRATFORD THEATRE, CHICAGO (A COONEY BROS. HOUSE) BILLY MEYER (The Golden Tone Baritone) Featured with DAVE SCHOOLER at the WISCONSIN Theatre Milwaukee Now Playing Fourth Week’s Engagement. Booked Here Indehintely JAZZ-LIPS” RICHARDSON The Most Talked of Eccentric Dancer in Chicago Just Completed a Tour of GREAT STATES THEATRES Now Playing Third Return Engagement at ASCHEK BROS. SHERIDAN Theatre, CHICAGO Stopping All Shows At All Picture Houses Direction — EZ KEOUGH