Exhibitors Herald (1927)

40 EXHIBITORS HERALD September 17, 1927 Chicago Granada Week Ending September 11 This week the big items of the program were “The Missing Link,” with Syd Chaplin as the photoplay and the Vitaphone arrangement. The stage show was called “Showboat Days” and featured Benny Meroff with a cast headed by his sister Sonia and several others. The Showboat Minstrels which was really the idea that this producer tried to convey was all presented in a novel opening and the closing. For the rest of the show there was very little to talk about. The revue ran as follows : Opening: In front of scrim curtain representing the Swanee River with lights dimmed as miniature steamboat sailed across as eight men dressed as minstrels in white-face rose from the orchestra shaft singing “I’m Coming” from the Old Black Joe song. The next scene was in front of a drop representing a Showboat with entrance open exposing part of the band playing inside of the boat as boys and girls * in old Southern attire walked up and down the wharf talking as a young lady sang a special song for the introduction of the show. At this point they all entered the showboat after the song and then the curtain went up to full stage setting of the interior of the boat. The first band number introduced by Benny Meroff was “Morning Glories” and despite the fact that the leader had a very bad cold, he still continued as Master of Ceremonies. After this band number began the procession of song pluggers opening with Earl Hayden singing “Under the Moon” followed by another chap whose name we failed to get who offered “Highways Are Happy Ways” and after he dispensed of his song Jack Cooper rendered “A Night in June” and was followed by Jack Perry who sang “Dew, Dew, Dewey Days” in such away that he was entirely divorced from the rest as a plugger but appeared to be one of the regular artists. When these four songs were boosted, the Knox Comedy Four were introduced and offered “Honolulu Blues” and another number in a sort of strumming harmony style. These boys at one time were favorites in vaudeville but failed to click in this house as a picture attraction. They were followed by the Granada Girls in blue outfits dancing a very clever acrobatic routine that was novelly staged. They were followed by Eddie Cox introduced as Chicago’s own and who sang “Annabelle Lee” and did eccentric steps a la musical comedy. He also sang "This Is My Lucky Day” impersonating Harry Richman in the number and for getting his personality he did a fairly good job of it. Benny Meroff stepped up next to show that even a cold would not prevent him from being an entertainer so he managed to deliver a vocal of “Baby Feet,” assisted by many novelties by the band. He next announced his sister Sonia, who tried to sing “Lonely Melody,” announced by her brother as his latest hit. We must say that since seeing Miss Meroff the last time, there has been considerable improvement in her work, however, she is more of an entertainer of blues than a singer of ballads and her attempt of this one is pitiful, however, it was noticed that there were a few friends in the house in spite of her weak singing voice. The next act on the bill opened in typical vaudeville style with a man singing in tenor voice “Cherie,” which served as an introduction to Hickey and Massart, man and woman who presented a hokum acrobatic dance that consisted mostly of falls that meant nothing. Chauncey 1 Haines FEATURED i ORGANIST FOR m** ' i * i Balaban WKBm and Katz N0RSH0RE THEATRE CHICAGO This was followed by the Granada Girls in new costumes decorating level platform assisted by Eddie Cox singing a Southern melody as the lights grow dim and band boys adorn mask with white tall hats giving the scene a radium effect during the soft harmony of this number. The Finale found the band playing a pretty arrangement of “Swanee River,” with novel back ground effect. Observation: It seems that this house is up against the old problem which formerly prevailed here and that is capability of securing worth while stage talent, and now adays with everyone doing a stage band show it takes more than a leader’s name to hold up a program in a deluxe house. Milwaukee Wisconsin Week Ending September 10 A typical tropical scene with palms, Southern moon and winking lanterns opens the presentation at the Wisconsin this week with Dave Schooler and His Play Boys in “How Are Ya, Hawaii.” The orchestra is dressed in white ducks with white shirts and open collars, while Aldrich’s Imperial Hawaiians sing their native song and strum there ukeleles on the upper stage. As the Hawaiians moved off the stage Estelle McNeill in the regulation hay costume came on the stage to sing “Underneath a Mellow Moon,” while the Six Tivoli Girls dance on at the conclusion of the song and go through a Hawaiian dance. Marjorie Whitney, a tall loose-limbed blond, formerly with Earl Carrol's Vanities, makes her appearance doing some clever clog dancing, for which she draws a big hand. For an encore she does her steps to the tune of "Sam, the Old Accordian Man,” and gets another big hand. This Miss Whitney has lqng legs, but she surely knows how to handle them, and the audience doesn’t object to watching her, either. The next number is “I’d Walk a Million Miles Just To Be a Little Nearer to You,” played by the orchestra, with Woodrow Hernon, who, by the way, is just a kid, but it doesn’t detract from his performance, singing the chorus. Dave Schooler does his bit at the piano interspersing the number with “Just Awearing for You.” Eddie Hill is next, all decked out in clothes just a little too small for him and a sun helmet several times too large. His offering, with considerable humor and nonsense thrown in, is “Pretty Little Bom-Bom Bay,” and “I’ve Never Seen a Straight Banana.” Hill gives away to the Six Tivoli Girls in blue satin sailor suits and white cape, who do a sailor’s hornpipe dance to perfection. They are clever and get a big hand, and as they leave the stage Hill comes back on exchanging jokes with Dave Schooler, finally making a burlesque recitation, which nets him a neat applause. Next on the bill are Dick and Edith Barstow, known as the world’s greatest toe dancers, who go through a marriage ceremony all the while they keep themselves on their toes. The act went over big and even drew applause from those people who get nervous watching toe dancers balancing themselves on the tips of their feet. “Ain’t That a Grand and Glorious Feeling” is the next number by the orchestra, with Eddie Hill, better known as “Little Eddie,” singing the chorus and several verses of the song. Clifton and Brent go through their steps as two burlesque acrobats, and wind up with some clever soft shoe dancing, while one member of the couple plays the violin with considerable skill. The one member of the troupe who engages in the soft shoe dancing is so thin that he looks like a shadow and his appearance in itself promotes considerable laughter. All in all, though, the boys were good and received a long round of applause. “Meet Me in the Moonlight” is the last number by Schooler and His Play Boys, with Estelle McNeill singing the chorus. As she leaves the stage. Aldrich’s Imperial Hawaiians make their appearance on the lower stage singing and playing and the Six Tivoli Girls and Eddie Hill float by in a canoe on the upper stage behind the orchestra. The entire presentation was well done and was a fitting prologue for the picture, “Hula,” featuring Clara Bow. Boston Metropolitan Week Ending September 9 Keeping pace with the ever popular Westerns, the week’s presentation was by far the most picturesque given in months at the Metropolitan and it had an appeal to Americans aside from its unusual beauty. Gene Rodemich and His Met Merry Makers were attired in the brilliantly colored silk shirts of cowboys, with sombreros, bandanas, riding breeches and boots in Jack Partington’s “Way Out West.” The number opened with a ryhthmic Indian intermezzo by the band, followed by the Metropolitan Girls in typical cowgirl costumes, in a novelty number. Lang and Voelk, the latter being he of the soprano voice, supplied the songs, with Holly Hall as personality girl. Kendall Capps provided the acrobatic dances and a novelty version of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was given by the band. Mooney and Churchill supplied the Indian legend for the act, the entire bill leading up to one of the most unusual and beautiful finales yet given. The curtains part, revealing a woodland scene in the gathering dusk, with an Indian maiden standing before a full moon, the girls dancing in heavy Indian shawls of rare coloring and as the darkness deepens, torches carried by the maidens supply the illumination for a most effective scene. Joseph Klien was back as director of the grand orchestra and the program opened with selections by Sonia Rozanu, soprano, and Pietro Borchi, tenor, with Frank McDonald as solo violinist. Arthur Martel returns from his vacation to preside at the organ, playing a version of “Glow Worm.” “Hula” was the feature film. THE PROGRESSIVE ORGANIST We Have a New and Original Idea by Nelson Chon for Organists Using Community Stunts GET IN TOUCH WITH US AT ONCE! Paramount Slide Rental Service, Woods Bldg., Chicago, 111. Jesse Crawford Concerts With Mrs. Crawford at Stage Console Paramount Theatre, New York At the Cross Roads of the World LOUISE NELSON MILDRED LETT ARMINE LETT Piano Accordion Piano Banjo THE PREMIER TRIO HARMONY SINGERS DELUXE Now at EGYPTIAN Theatre, INDIANAPOLIS Direction — MARGARET FELCH