Exhibitors Herald (1927)

34 EXHIBITORS HERALD St. Louis Missouri Week Ending August 5 “Au Re voir. But Not Good-Bye” was the title Brooke Johns picked for his last show prior to departing to spend an eight weeks’ vacation on his farm near Rockville, Maryland. In many respects it was his best show. First, he wished to show his appreciation for the kindnesses of the St. lA>uis audiences and, secondly, he desired to make it desirable for him to be welcomed back upon his return to the house in the fall. In the production Johns increased his dancing chorus from fourteen to twenty, and also offered Arthur Nealy, tenor, and Charles Huey, boy whistler, as special attractions. Several outside acts were also brought on for this special occasion, including Anna and Jean, acrobatic dancing team ; Pauline Gaskin, a “blues” singer ; Bert and Jean Hubert, comedians, and Johnny Walker, eccentric dancer. Johns personally offered a special banjo and vocal number. For his overture Leonid Leonard! selected "Viennese Fantasy.” The number was trimmed with a stage offering of dancing girls. Detroit Michigan Week Ending August 5 Chorus singing features the presentation, “Mural Paintings,” on the stage this week. The production, devised by Frank Cambria, is constructed around two tableaux, one depicting pagan and the other religious life. Twenty-four performers, all having excellent voices, compose the cast. Overture: Eldrico Marcelli’s orchestral production, “The Conquest of the West,” with the Michigan symphony. Lockett and Page, songs and dances, were billed in an extra feature. Kansas City Mainstreet Week Ending August 6 The stage attraction at the Mainstreet this week again hinged around Walter Davison and his Louisville Loons Orchestra. George Motron had a comedy number, titled “The Black Dot.” while the Four Clovelly Girls had a singing and dancing act which was billed as “Queens of Clube.” Marjorie Whitney rendered several vocal and dance numbers. Wilson and Godfrey were seen in some comic capers, while Livemash had an act at the Kimball console. The Lime Trio renders a sketch titled “The Gollywog.” The Louisville Loons rendered popular selections as the overture. Boston Lowers State Week Ending August 6 Sissle and Blake, stars of the “Shuffle Along” company, are heard in a series of Negro melodies in the featured stage attraction which succeeds Phil Spitalny and his boys after their six weeks’ successful stay in Boston. Spitalny played during the week at Loew’s Orpheum and next week starts his engagement at Baltimore. Sissle and Blake have lost none of their charm and won instant approval. They have just returned from a European tour and gave many new numbers. A dancing spectacle, “The Whirl of Splendor,” provides the dance soloists and ensemble with many instrumentalists assisting. Helen Durkin, Constantinova and Baikoff are featured in this act. in which a company of fifteen participate. “Painting the Town” is the film. Philadelphia Stanley Week Ending August 6 Presentation features were somewhat below par this week at the Stanley, the management evidently depending^ on Adolphe Menjou in “Service for Ladies” as a drawing card. That the popularity of this star was not overrated was evidenced by the long queue of patrons that formed outside of the box ofi&cc each evening. Use Marvenga, soprano, the original Kathie of the “Student Prince,” accompanied at the piano by William Ortman, composer, sang “Deep in My Heart,” “Viennese Waltz,” and “You Be Venus and I’ll Be Mare.” In the first of these songs there is a decided suggestion of the warmth and color that characterized her in her stellar role, but in the other two selections her voice seemed to lack spontaneity. In the “Viennese Waltz” Miss Marvenga danced with grace and lightness. The Sixteen Tiller Girls presented synchronized dancing in alternate groups of eight and then en masse. The girls whisked about the stage with precision and pep and there was a fine exhibition of tap dancing. In the last number the sixteen girls in white, against a cool green backgi’ound, displayed their remarkable training and while there was nothing new or startling in the act, the girls were given a hearty reception. There was an interesting short film depicting the burning and fall of an airplane, the picture being taken by a camera strapped to the plane for the purpose of recording a stunt picture. The Stanley Orchestra played Suppe’s Light Cavalry” Overture. The week of August 8th Paul Whiteman (himself) and his orchestra of 32 will be heard at the Stanley. August 13, 1927 Metropolitan Houston Week Ending July 30 Work curtain opens with Eddie Perry and his Merry-Mad” gang in the Bowery scene carried by Borrah Minevitch. formerly of Chicago. Fan flare of brass opens act. Perry announces that he is going to play a piece that is well-known to all Houstonians, “The Prairie Blues,” by Segar Ellis* a Houston boy. Ellis was present the first show Saturday, and received a good hand. Patricia Ann Manners, star of one of the Chicago “Student Prince” companies, came next, with “Gianina Mia,” which was liked much more by the theatre-goers in Houston than the usual semiclassical selection. The Clark Sisters, California broadcasting artists, follow Miss Manners, singing a medley of witty hokum numbers, accompanied on the uke. They are succeeded by the Dixie Banjo Boys, strummers de luxe, who go over big with their “I’m On My Way to My Old Kentucky Home.” Following the three top acts, Perry and his gang break into “Rags,” with Art Kluth, of the Minevitch Harmonica Band, singing in his clear tenor voice. Art went over great^ — Houston seems more than glad to give a hand to the little fellows, He exits, and “Hail, Hail, the Gang’s AU Here,” is struck up, with Minevitch and his boys rushing onto the stage and going right into their act, while Perry and the band exit with disgusted looks on their faces. This idea in working the Publix show and the Metropolitan band act together was new, and got a good laugh — Minevitch providing that. TTie combination of the two shows went over better than any yet put on at the Met, which prophesies success for the new bandshow, beginning with “In Jazzland” next week. “The Way of All Flesh” was the picture. Observation: The crowd here seems to like Perry and what he puts on for them and they should. Washington Palace Week Ending August 6 The Palace is again offering the coolest house and the best show bet of the city for the week. Tom Gannon’s house orchestra opened with the Torch Light Dance and a scrim was used to show eilhouette dancing in the woods, thrown from the booth. The Garden Festival opened full etage, large framed picture occupied entire back across stage. Done with scrim. The lights finally revealed the living figures behind the picture and solos were done by a flute player, songs by a tenor and soprano, and a finale, “Schubert’s Serenade,” by entire ensemble. The entire presentation was staged and lighted by Colby Harriman and was the most exquisite offering ever shown in this city. It received prolonged applause. Two unprogrammed dancers in costume opened and closed the presentation. Sam Robbins and His Baltimorans were the band attraction and a trick opening of failing to find Sam and finally discovering him (via motion pictures) at home in bed, started them right. A telephone connection with Sam on screen and stage manager at the theatre, brought Sam running clad in pajamas, top hat, cane and slippers. The reel took him through heavy traffic and hairbreadth escapes and when he reached there, an entrance down aisle of Palace and on stage brought a big hand. “Hello Cutie” was used to introduce a good looking female, and a fight by Sam and two of hie boys done in slow motion was good. “Russian Lullaby” was used for individual solos and a bass singer, while Sam, listening at the little radio and the band giving imitations of a night on the air, was a scream. Their frequent static imitation was always good for a laugh and they finished all too soon for the Palace audience. John Gilbert in “Twelve Miles Out” feature. House packed as pei usual. OFFICIAL FILM! DEMPSEY SHARKEY FIGHT PICTURES 7 ROUNDS of ACTION LAST ROUND FAST AND SLOW MOTION WAS IT FAIR or FOUL BLOW? Now Ready for Booking for STATE of ILLINOIS WRITE — WIRE OR PHONE Important HARRY McKAY Important JLegal Kights 509 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago Passed by Chicago Fully Protected Tel. Harrison 4233 — 3rd Floor Board of Censors MURRAY and ALAN “Jesters of 3,000 Years Ago” Featured in "STEAMBOAT SYNCOPATION.” a PUBLIX STAGEBAND-UNIT-SHOW P. S. NOVELLE BROS., Have to STAND on their heads to get laughs, we just DRESS funny to get laughs. iDirection WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY COSTUMES FOR HIRE BROOKS