Exhibitors Herald (1927)

August 13, 1927 EXHIBITORS HERALD 33 NEW SONGS Reviewed by IRENE JUNO (Instrnctor Washington College of Music) ODUE-DE-Q— from '‘The Madcap" (Harms). Another Walter Paul, easy to play, fox trot dance arrangements tuneful to hear all the way through. (Jet it if you like numbers that sound well and don't require a lot of preparation. « « 4 Irving Berlin has put out the irret of hia new cinema music series. They are all good. I give below four of them. Each individual in its style. It would not do for picture muspicians to miss this new music of Berlin’s. ... EVIL INTENTIONS — by Leo Kempinski, a 4/4 medium. Very good dramatic. Written in good style. Chords predominating. ... LE CHEVALIER PRINTEMPS— by Maurice Jaquet. 2/4, easy. A light, pretty number. Second movement harmonic dischorde. Third movement distinctly melodious. ... VALSE FASCINANTE— by Leo Kempinski. Easy waltz of beautiful harmony. Minor predominates, useful for plaintive scenes. Must be played a few times to be appreciated. ... WHERE ROSES BLOOM— by Leo Edwards. Easy 4/4. A number that starts out to be a verse and chorus and then develops a thoroughly cinema atmosphere. Well worth buying. ... A TWILIGHT TALE— (Harms). An andante 4/4 easy to play. Suitable for neutral scenes. Has a second movement of minor treatment. Not directly atmospheric, therefore very useful to a theatre musician. ... LOVE’S MELODY— (Jenkins Sons). A fox trot arrangement, also published as a waltz. An organist who knows his stops can make much of this number by color treatment. In the hands of an inexperienced player it would fail. Not heavy enough to carry as a straight number. PUBLISHERS NOTE If yon wish to have your new song releases reviewed in this column by Irene Juno, kindly place her name on your mailing list to receive professional copies of your numbers regularly, and address same in care of EXHIBITORS HERALD, attention of Presention Editor, 407 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, 111. Screen Star Takes Place of Band Leader St. Louis is watching with interest Skouras Brothers’ experiment in bringing Herbert R'awlinson to the Ambassador to give a matinee idol touch to the stage shows of the big downtown picture palace. The success of Brooke Johns in a similar role at the Missouri theatre was so pronounced Skouras Brothers have been angling about for some time to land a similar star for the Ambassador. They believe that Rawlinson is the man for the job. In the meantime Johns plans to take a month’s vacation, and if the large following he has built up for the Missouri flocks to the Ambassador it may be some indication of the future of deluxe theatres. Paul Whiteman* s Music Calms A Storm ALBANY, Aug. 8. — When the city of Rochester, N. Y. was plunged into total darkness one night last week, following one of the most severe electric storms of the year, Paul Whiteman, the well known conductor, quieted 3,000 persons at the Eastman theatre with his forty-piece orchestra. When the house was plunged into darkness, nearly twoscore frightened men and women began a rush for the doors. Whiteman sensed the situation and took instant command, seizing two flashlights used in a feature number and flashing them upon his face. “I’m still here,” he shouted to the audience. Mr. Whiteman quickly passed from one side of the stage to the other flashing the lights on the faces of the players. “We’re all here,” he called, “We’ll stick if you will.” The frightened patrons sat down and for more than an hour Mr. Whiteman and his orchestra played in the darkness. When it became apparent that the lights were to remain out, ushers passed up and down the aisles with flashlights, leading the audience to the lobby. The lobby itself was filled with smoke when five manholes nearby blew up, spinning into the air and with flames shooting skyward for 25 feet or more. Officials of the company were unable to explain the cause of the exploding manholes. STAGE SHOWS New York Paramout Week Ending August 5 The stage show this week is called “Orange Blossoms’ in honor of Ben Black and his band who hail from the state that made the orange blossom famous — California. The first scene is “In a Garden’’ with Eugene Cibelli and Dorothy Neville singing a “Serenade” in front of a curtain depicting a luxurious flower garden, while from behind the curtain Ben Black and his crowd play a soft accompaniment. This curtain then rises and we see Mr. Black and his orchestra which is a good big one. The Paramount ballet girls come forward and give us their interpretation of a Venetian Carnival. No need to go to Venice after this one. A dancer known simply as “Toots” follows them with an acrobatic tumbling dance that is a wonder. The Paramount Stage Orchestra was next with an unusual rendition of the “Song of the Wanderer.” which was featured by a tuba solo. Dorothy Neville in Italian peasant dress, with the Paramount girls similarly clad, clustered about her, sang “Santa Lucia.” Her vocal gymnastics at the end of the song met with such approval that they made her come back and do it again. ’The new orchestra comes to the front again with a brand new jazz number called “CheerieBeerie-Be” with three of the boys rising to give a vocal rendition in close harmony. This trio makes a splendid novelty team and their singing is of a first grade order. Earl and Bell stepped into the spotlight next with their Hawaiian guitars and dressed in Spanish costume. They sang humorous songs of the “Where Do You Worka John” variety and did it more than well. An operatic singer introduced as Dezso Retter turned out to be a dance comedian with an unlimited capacity for throwing himself around the stage and appearing to like it. As an encore he staged an imaginary wrestling match, with himself as both contestants, that was one of the best things of its kind that we have ever seen. The Finale was a tremendous scene called “A Florentine Wedding.” Everyone of the performers were in it standing on a set built up by tiers and clad in carnival costume. The total effect took your breath away and made a fitting close to a knockout stage show. Indianapolis Indiana Week Ending August 6 The Publix Unit, designed and staged by Paul Oscard, is a colorful affair, with Gypsy Byrne, the De Crescents, Eddy and Dolores, and Dewey and Gold as the individual stars. Miss Byrne has a pleasing and novel manner of putting across her popular song numbers and the De Crescents are a trio of instrumentalists who have been heard favorably here before. Eddy and Dolores are a dancing team whose forte is a bowery dance and Dewey and Gold have a singing and dancing offering that was very well received. AMERICA’S PREMIER DANSEUSES K ferenoff AND M aree n THE ADAGIOS’’ Now Featured at CASTLE FARMS CINCINNATI, OHIO For Limited Engagement Only Having Created a Sensation in Presentations Will Soon Be Featured in A Broadway Production Eddie Filling House This is all about Eddie Peabody and the excellent manner in which he has been filling the house at every performance at the 5th Avenue, Seattle. He was the one and only principal at this popular house last week and a number of the critics got a real “kick” in watching Eddie iron out his own kinks, and his apt showmanship made a finished product at all times. Eddie says he is but 24 years old. He is 48 in experience in direction, in effects and high native ability besides being a recognized musician. CHARLES KALEY “The Singing Band Leader” An Exclusive COLUMBIA Artist Now conducting MARKS BROS. Presentations, alternating at MARBRO and GRANADA Theatres, Chicago.