Exhibitors Herald (1927)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 45 September 24, 1927 Chicago Belpark Week Ending September 18 This is a Lubliner and Trintz house, one of the recent ones that the firm opened and a bandshow policy just went into effect, with George Senn and his campus syncopators featured. Here is the opening program: Opening: George Senn and the band on the stage playing “Love and Kisses/* with a vocal chorus sung by George Senn, after a fine reception he announces George Ward, formerly member of “Our Gang Comedies,” who goes into a routine of fast changes of costumes, opening first as a bellhop then into a satin tuxedo and closing with evening suit in which he does some clever stepping. A young girl announced as Jue Sotai, who appeared to be a Chinese girl, was brought on to sing “Me and My Shadow” and “Crazy Words,” as encore she sang “Crazy Words” in her native tongue. A band arrangement followed next of “Dewey Days” with the band boys singing the chorus. Hutchins and Holloway followed with harmonica harmony proving that each was an expert at playing the harmonica. Markell and Faun were the next to closing act and again presented their clever comedy dances which have been reported in these columns before many times. Finale: A band arrangement of “Miss Annabclle Lee,” which George Senn and his boys played in hot style. Observation: The policy was well liked here and should go big, for this is a community theatre and the only one for miles. New York Strand Week Ending September 23 “Cavalleria Rusticana” as an overture by the Mark Strand Symphony Orchestra, with Alois Edouarde conducting, accounted for 14 musical moments that were exceptionally well appreciated. Musical lovers arc packing the Strand more and more as time goes on. Joseph Plunkett’s Mark Strand Frolic for this week hit the high-water mark in simple, sure presentation packed with merit. Pauline Miller, soprano, opened the bill out front, in Colonial costume, singing “Waltz of Long Ago,” and did so nicely. The end of her number and the opening of the next, “Valse Bit* ette,” are blended together. The Mark Strand Ballet strut the waltz amid a balloon and heavenly atmospheric set, and do the job creditably in four minutes. Pauline Alpert, the Duo-Art and Victor recording artiste, offers a breath-taking medley on the ivories, entitled “Perils of Pauline.” Fast and furious in tossing out familiar airs, the audience lose no time in indicating they like it and her. They pleaded for more, but it was not in store for them, at least at this show. Rosa Marino is revealed up and above the piano in a toe dance maneuver as fast and spontaneous as Miss Alpert’s playing. This all worked in on the last few moments of the number, and while not the best possible setting for work so good, it did not go by unappreciated. The Eight Cocktails, courtesy of Charles Dillingham, so the program says, are worth all the time and trouble required to dig them up. In their own little way they have the Tiller Girls backed Lew White Chief Organist Wl/ Exclusive Brunswick Artist off the map for grace, execution and routine. Some 12 minutes, divided into two routines, packed away oodles of applause. Full stage and yama costume. Jack North 6teps out front here with his banjo, 6tool and silly ditties and how — on all three — for at the end of the session the boy had to beg off. Pep personified. Three or four winsome light ditties and a subtle manner of acknowledgment and the house was his. Howard Marsh, the original Student Prince, sang his famous hits here, assisted by a male ensemble of four, in a borrowed Student Prince set. Majesty of costume, voice and set paraded the boards during this interval that was intended to give the matinee idol his due. He himself left nothing undone along these lines to please the house and they appreciated it thoroughly. A great show all around and striking a new note for even a Broadway house, and the Strand gets the credit. Houston Metropolitan Week Ending September 16 “Patches” is the Publix bandshow at the Metropolitan this week, getting the biggest hand of any of the previous shows. The bandshow idea was hard to get over at first, but it seems that Houston audiences are getting educated to the entertainment value contained in them now. Curtains open with Paul Spor and the Merry Mad Gang in the “Patches” setting, playing “Light Cavalry Overture,” with the Markert Dancing Girls coming on for a snappy dance. Back drop, purporting to be a huge patch quilt, parts in center, and Day Sisters step down stage for “I’m Calling Yoo Hoo,” to a good hana. A1 and Louise Walker, the “Hottentots of Danceland,” do two fast eeentric stepping numbers, which call for two or three encores each 6hoW. The hit of the whole show is Jeanne Geddes, a baby type, who sings “Just a Baby Song” and "Dew-Dew-Dewey Day,” taking as many as six encores on some shows. Her type of personality entertainment is very enjoyable, and her technique is good. Gould and Hawkins come on next with eome good harmony singing, interpolating such num bers as “Russian Lullaby,” and a burlesque on "Ain’t She Sweet.” A1 and Louise Walker come after these two with another dance, followed by a special song arrangement by Paul Spor of “Lock a Little Sunbeam Down in Your Heart,” sung by himself. Ethyl Day is introduced in a singles song turn, and is replaced by the finale, with the entire company on the stage. Spor gets on the drums in the finale, and almost stops the show, drums being his forte. As a whole, the “Patches” show clicks perfectly. Spor is a definite factor in the success of the band shows, being one of the most popular figures in Houston musical circles at this time. The picture is Bebe Daniel’s "Swim, Girl, Swim,” a riotous comedy especially adapted to the opening of college season. St. Louis Ambassador Week Ending September 16 Eddie Lowry, as special master of ceremonies, had charge of the stageshow for the week. Between times he directed the orchestra on the stage, told some funny stories, danced and played the saxophone. Supporting Lowry were Hutchins and Holloway, who did a number of very interesting things with mouth harps ; a Chinese girl, who 6ang in the lower registers in pleasing style, and Arthur Nealy, St. Louis* own silver-voiced tenor. Also Raymond Haig, a little boy with a big voice ; Stanley and Birnes, who featured a burlesque impression of Ruth St. Denis, and the Twelve Ambassador Rockets. Dave Silverman and his orchestra and Stuart Barrie at the organ combined in an offering of Waltzes Immortal in which they featured the playing of the Blue Danube in an original manner. St. Louis Loew’s State Week Ending September 16 The orchestra and organ music for the week was arranged especially for the screen feature “Ben Hur.” There was no stageshow. COSTUMES FOR RENT Now Making Costumes for Most of CHICAGO’S Big Bandshows. Will RENT SAME OUTFITS PARAMOUNT COSTUMERS MRS. ALICE PIERCE, Telephone State 3465 Manager Room 600, Loop End Bldg. IRENE TAYLOR (The Southern Darlin9 ) Featured in “MONTMARTRE’’ A Publix Stage Bandshow Direction — Phil Tyrrell, c/o William Morris Agency Jimmie WHITE BROS. Eddie Double Dancing DeLuxe “We Dance as One99 Now Playing De Luxe Picture Houses Direction — EZ KEOUGH JOSEPH ALEXANDER One of the Leading Young Organists Formerly with Marks Bros., and Schoenstads’ & Sons of Chicago Now Featured at the OHIO THEATRE INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Specializing in Photoplay Accompaniment