Exhibitors Herald (1927)

42 EXHIBITORS HERALD September 17, 1927 GALLO SAYS: VERNE BUCK, the popular stagehand leader of Aficher’s Sheridan theatre, Chicago, was selected by the owners of the Arcadia ballroom to play at the opening night .... while talking about Verne let us also say here that Grace Aldrich, that popular songstress is being featured in the show this week. . . . Harry Beaumont booking manager for Aschers booked her direct . . . say do you know that Harry is now in business for himself? No! well sure he is, he is the vicepresident and general manager of LeRoy J. Prinz, Inc. ; with offices in the Capitol Building, Chicago. . . . Louis P. Newhaffer is Secretary and Treasurer while Mel Richmond is Booking Manager of the Club and Cafe departments. . . . George Ward, formerly of “Our Gang” comedies and now a presentation artist, filled a date with A1 Kvale’s new show last week at the Norshore, Chicago .... word comes from Lucille Middleton that she is now playing the dancing role of “Azuri” in “The Desert Song,” which is now also playing in New York City. . . . Edgar Amstein featured organist of the Central Park theatre, Chicago, was a “Herald” visitor this week .... the Duncan Sisters will appear in person at the Chicago theatre, Chicago, next week. . . . Shannon’s Playtime Frolics are now playing the Diversey theatre, Chicago, with the new policy of stagehand shows. . . . Joseph Alexander, formerly solo organist at the Piccadilly theatre, Chicago, is now at the Ohio theatre, Indianapolis. . . . Lucille Benstead, known as the “Australian Nightingale” makes her first Chicago appearance this week at the Majestic theatre. . . . Phil Gordon of the Harry Danforth Agency represents her. . . . Charles Daniels, president of the Villa Moret, Inc., music publishers, is in Chicago on business and will spend a few days with his branch manager Jack Lavin going over new songs. . . . Jules Alberti, recent stagehand leader at the Chicago Piccadilly, has signed a contract to lead a band for Publix in New Orleans and will leave this week. . . . Lang and Voelk, the popular harmony team, are being featured in the “Westward Ho” Publix Unit now on tour out of New York. . . . Eddie Hill is back into presentation houses after a long vacation and will be featured with George Dewey Washington at the Norshore, Chicago, next week. . . . Miguel Galvan, the Spanish banjo-boy, is in town getting a new act into shape before sailing for London. . . . Margaret Felch of Chicago has just booked the Premier Trio into the brand new Egyptian theatre of Indianapolis, this week. . . . Dan Russo and his Oriole Orchestra are now the featured attraction at the Arcadia ballroom, Detroit. . . . Heller and Riley, those two well known artists of songs are back from their vacation and are featured this week with A1 Belasco in his new stageshow at the Harding theatre, Chicago. . . . Harry Tyrrell, formerly manager of the Stratford theatre, Chicago, is now managing the new Avalon theatre. . . . Hazel Romaine was held over three days at the Sheridan theatre, Chicago, last week ... it is rumored that a well to do business man is going to put up a deluxe picture house in the Loop of Chicago, named after George Givot and to be used by the star as his own theatre. . . . Givot is being featured this week at the new Avalon with Buddy Fisher’s stageshow .... now that A1 Jolson has signed to play picture houses it will not be so hard to get other well known stage stars to go into presentation. . . . Lester Allen and Boyd Senter are featured in this week's stageshow at the Chicago theatre, Chicago. . . . A1 Herman is also appearing in a stagehand show this week in Chicago. . . . Johnny Perkins, the fat-fun boy, is now master of ceremonies at the Diversey theatre, Chicago, with Austin Mack. . . . Ted Campbell organist for the Fitzpatrick-McElroy Circuit, has been transferred from the state of Michigan to the state of Indiana. . . . Charles Harrison is now in charge of the Loop office of Ted Browne music company with Charles Dales as his assistant. . . . Lois Delander, a Joliet high school girl, has won the title of “Miss America” .... recently she appeared in a Paul Ash stageshow at the Oriental theatre, Chicago. . . . Sam Kaufman, formerly band leader at the Chicago Piccadilly, was guest conductor this week at the huge Anniversary 6tageshow at the Alhambra theatre, Milwaukee. . . . Sam was billed as ‘’Count” Kaufman at this house. . . .Tommy Sacco is doing a “Paul Ash” at the Crystal theatre, Chicago, a small neighborhood theatre that just went into this policy .... Belasco Opens Free Stage Dance School A1 Belasco, stagehand leader for Lubliner & Trinz, now rotating with their stageshows at the Harding and Senate theatres, Chicago, is to our knowledge the first band leader to establish a Free dancing school for patrons of his theatres. Mr. Belasco gives his personal time and effort to each pupil enrolling in his classes and has a host of new members every Saturday between the hours of 11 and 12 noon. The lessons are given right at the theatre on the stage before the show and this lends the required stage color. Although only three weeks old, the school has already several hundred members who are taking up all sorts of stage dancing including Russian and eccentric. STAGESHOWS ( Continued from page 41) balance of the week Miller presents specialties from the orchestra pit. One of the programs goes as follows: Opening, Dave Miller on stage as master of ceremonies introduces his merry men who do all their playing from the pit while he directs from the stage. The first band number was “Hail, Hail the Gang’s All Here,” a very fine arrangement intermingled with many brass specialties. This was followed by a clever young chap whose name we failed to get and who played the accordion like nobody can, and danced too while he did this. Jack and Kay Spangler, the well known musical comedy artists closed the bill with their fine routine of song and dance which has been reported in these columns before. Observation: This new policy was put into effect on Labor Day and is proving a success. Of course Dave Miller is responsible a great deal for the following at this house, he has been here over a year or more. Albert Leaves Loew The departure of Don Albert as conductor of Loew’s State orchestra and the producer of its stage shows and presentation, probably will mean the passing of the Sunday symphony shows that were such a distinct feature of the Washington avenue house last winter. Last year the musicians union is said to have made Loew’s a very special price for the extra hour’s work each Sunday, and it is rumored that this year the price may be doubled per man. While the added musical programs proved very popular bad weather would make it hazardous for the house to double the cost of the orchestra for the extra shows this winter. Hence they may not be resumed. DAVID GOULD LUBLINER & TRINZ BALABAN & KATZ Production Dept. Chicago IN CHICAGO IT’S ED. MEIKEL’S ORGAN SOLO CLUB of Community Singing With Weekly Meetings Conducted at the HARDING THEATRE ORGAN SOLOS Henry B. Murtagh (Chicago, Chicago) pi'esented this week two baby songs, “Sing Me a Baby Song” and “Sleep, Baby, Sleep,” switching at intervals from one to the other. No chance was afforded for community singing, which is a wise thing for the Chicago theatre. Murtagh received fine applause. Bob West — (Houston Metropolitan) — personality organist, reaches the acme of hie popularity this week, with “A Trip Through the Organ.” West puts this number to such an effect that editorial comment is being made of it, special features in all papers by assigned reporters, and numerous requests for photos. Solo shows all the rudiments of the organ, presenting as a novelty the different effects that are obtainable with combinations. West has established himself as a necessary unit to the show. Arthur Richter (Milwaukee Wisconsin), at the organ, played for his selection, accompanied by word slides on the screen, "Just Once Again,” "Sing Me a Baby Song,” "You Don’t Like It — Not Much,” and "At Sundown.” From these four he allowed the audience to select any one for him to play again, he judging the most popular by the applause as the names of the four were flashed upon the screen separately. “At Sundown” drew the Largest applause and was played again. Harold J. Lyon (Capitol, Ottumwa Iowa.) states that his organ solo for week ending August 27 was entitled “Requests,” opening with a film trailer, it shows the number of fan mail requesting meiodies of all sorts and in this manner the following songs were used: “If You See Sally,” “A Long Trail,” “Keep the Home Fires Burning,” “Sundown.” “Sweet Adeline,” “The Last Word” and “Sam, the Old Accordian Man.” This number was played part as comedy and the other paid; as a community stunt, with the Capitol orchestra in on the finale. This sort of thing seems to go strong in this house and the applause is always generous. Norma Ballard (Chicago Gnanada) offered an organ recital which consisted of classical and popular music and lasted for over a half hour. Miss Ballard does these recitals every afternoon and is quite popular with her audience for her selection. Her expert handling of the organ deserves special note. Edward K. House (Chicago Marbro) presented for his solo “Broken Hearted,” which he sang and played with his miniature side console. House has created considerable following in this theatre for his splendid voice and organ technique. W. Remington Welch (Chicago Tiffin) offered for his solo the “Evolution of Community Singing,” which was conveyed by the aid of illustrated slides from the “Stone Age” to the present day of walking home from automobile rides. All these parodies were played to the tune of “It Ain’t Gonna’ Rain No More” and was finally led up to the theme, “I’d Walk a Million Miles.” Henri A. Keates (Chicago Oriental) offered a stunt called “Foolish Questions,” opening with the phrase “Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?” going into “Way Back When,” also “Russian Lullaby” and “Me and My Shadow.” The slides on the last two songs were beautifully illustrated and one of the best sets ever flashed on the screen here yet. The entire part of the solo was played to the time of “Dewey Days,” which also served as a closing number. Jack Martin (Milwaukee, Tower) used for his community stunt this week a solo called “All in Fun” in which the married folks sang first and single ones last using the following songs : “Dewey Day,” "Russian Lullaby,” "Hoosier Sweetheart.” and “Positively.” The people here go big for Martin’s selections and playing and he has become quite a popular man about town for it. Bernard Cowham (Milwaukee, Oriental) selected “Yes, We Have No Bananas,” for this week’s organ stunt as the theme for his solo. First he opened with comedy talking in person to his audience about a new song he just brought over from Italy and then started to play the tune which caused laughter and amusement. In addition he showed the people how Straus, Chopin, Wagner and Sousa would play the song if they were in his place. This was a very clever stunt of unique novelty that went over rather big here. Cowham is well liked and should be. A. RAYMOND GALLO.