Exhibitors Herald (1927)

36 EXHIBITORS HERALD October 8, 1927 Chicago Oriental Week Ending October 2 No one can complain of the entertainment Paul Ash and His Gang are handing the payees at the Oriental these days. It is fast and full of the stuff that makes for entertainment. You can’t always follow week after week with the right stuff, but Ash has been doing it. This week it was “The Jazz Minstrels of 1928,’’ a colorful and snappy show bringing in the old minstrel idea without the predominance of blackface. It started off with the curtain raising about three feet revealing the legs of the Abbott Dancers, all silked up in black, doing a tap. It seems superfluous to say that these girls are clever. Following a short tap with the lower extremities of the girls in view, the curtain raises and they continue their tap dance which brings down the house. These girls, no kidding, are a great outfit, and are worth the price any day. They are costumed in minstrel fashion in black and white. The orchestra is costumed in black and yellow in front of a black and yellow drop, which gives the impression of pillers rising from the stage to the flies. Very effective. Ash enters in black and white, with the white predominating, in a suit fashioned after the old swallow tail, or Prince Albert, or what have you. It is seldom that you see Paul in anything but regulation clothes. Next come Paul Small and Tyler Mason as two black face artists. (Mason is just that, but it is something new for Small). Ash’s Merry Gang then plays "Waiting for the Rainbow,” with the banjoist doing his share as a vocal soloist — and not bad. At this juncture in the show Small, Ash and Mason pull a gag in which Mason is knocked from his chair into the orchestra pit. Small starts to count him out, then stops and orders Ash to his corner (reminiscent of the Dempsey-Tunney fight). It brings a great laugh. Ash next introduces “Rhapsody in Blue,” with a fox trot transcription. It would be hard to find a human being who did not get a kick out of this Gershwin melody. And it was done in firstrate style by the Ash gang. Scotty West was next with a dance, which we would have considered A-l had we not seen the balance of the program. And that isn’t saying that Scotty isn’t good. He had one stunt, dancing while seated on a chair, that brought a great encore, but he could not match a pair that followed him. Next came two fellows in song and at piano. They were the only sour note on the entire program. But for them we would have said that the show equalled, if it did not surpass last week. A beautiful scenic effect followed as the drop behind raised, leaving a column effect against which the orchestra sat. Between the columns, and on steps, were the Abbott Dancers, who performed cleverly with the tambourines. Next were two of the cleverest dancers we have seen in sometime. Don’t mistake us on this. Last week we saw two of the cleverest dancers at the Oriental, but they were entirely different. These boys this week had a clever Jewish dance and a wonderful interpretation to “At Sundown” that were original. What more can you ask, especially when the house is knocked down ? Mason came on for his act next and sang "Magnolia” and "Me and My Shadow” with Ash accompanying him on the latter. It is our private and honest opinion that Paul should tickle the ivories more often. The audience likes it, so why not ? In the finale the Abbott Dancers play the banjos as the drop representing the columns raises. A canoe, in which are Small and others of the act, floats across the raised stage in back. This is done to "Wabash Blues.” It was an excellent show. New York Roxy Week Ending October 7 Same show as last week. Overture and prologue to the picture “Loves of Carmen.” — STAGESHOWS — ( Continued on page 38) FIVE BEST SELLERS Week Ending October 1 “What Do We Do On a Dewey Day” (Irving Berlin, Inc.). “Me and My Shadow” (Irving Berlin, Inc.). “Just Once Again” (Leo Feist, Inc.). “Just Another Day Wasted Away” (Shapiro-Bernstein Co.). “Sing Me a Baby Song” (Leo Feist, Inc.). I LEFT MY SUGAR STANDING IN THE RAIN — (Henry Waterson) — A low down blues song that is typical of Chicago. Should get a lot of money for the table singers in cafes. ... MY BLUE HEAVEN— (Leo Feist, Inc.)— Here is another very distinctive song which is perfectly natural, having been written by Walter Donaldson. It is brand new as far as copies for sale is concerned, but it was written several years ago and has just finally asserted itself. * * ♦ SUMMERTIME SWEETHEARTS (Where Do They Go in the Fall?) — (Henry Waterson)— A great thought. He goes back to the ribbon counter and she goes back to wheat cakes at Child’s. A good orchestra and act song. * * * BLAME IT ON THE TWO BLACK CROWS— (Milton Weil) — Harry Harris and Art Sizemore wrote this one. Part of this title should be familiar to almost everyone. Comedy song that is really funny. Lots of extra choruses. ... THERE’S NO END TO MY LOVE FOR YOU— (Leo Feist, Inc.) — A new waltz ballad by Ted Lewis. He has been doing this number in his act and the reports are that it is going over great. ... BACK WHERE THE DAISIES GROW— (Harold Rossiter) — A wonderful rollicking fox trot tune by George Little, writer of “Talking to the Moon,” “When I First Met Mary,” and other hits. ... OH, YA, YA — (Robbins Music Corp.) — A Russian melody with American words and it has a tango flavor. Paul Whiteman is playing it. ... I NEVER DREAMED — (Leo Feist, Inc.)— One of the new melody fox trot songs. The music was composed by a comparatively new song writer, Ted Shapiro. However, the lyric was written by that master writer, Gus Kahn. ... BLACK MARIA— (Harold Rossiter)— One of those red hot dance tunes written by Fred Rose, who can turn them out as good as the rest. A great number for orchestras. ... JUST IMAGINE — (Melrose & Montgomery) — -A very clever fox trot melody that leaves nothing to the imagination. ... WHERE THE COT-COT-COTTON GROWS— (Broadway Music Corp.) — It took three to write this one, Jack La Soir, Ray Doll and Sol Klein, so it ought to be good. Very clever number on the style of “When the Red-Red-Robin Comes Bob-Bob-Bobbing Along.” A good lyric with a catchy swingy melody. ... I DON’T BELIEVE YOU— (Spier & Coslow)— Whether Spier & Coslow, who wrote and also published this song, believe it or not, I think this is a very good slow fox trot melody and a very clever lyric. ... MY HAWAIIAN SONG OF LOVE— (De Sylva Brown & Henderson) — Two hit writers composed this one, Benny Davis and Harry Akst. It is a dreamy Hawaiian melody and a perfect number for presentations. ... P. S. — Hope we don’t get too many songs about the St. Louis tornado. WHAT PRESS AND PUBLIC THINK OF THE “ADMIRALPRESIDENT”— “ACE”, Dramatic Critic of the “Kansas City Post”, says: — “When George Dewey Washington sings a song, you have heard it sung”. GEORGE DEWEY WASHINGTON “Just Songs” Now Touring ORPHEUM CIRCUIT for Limited Engagement Only. To Repeat All B & K and L & T Theatres Soon. FRED KINSLEY Featured Organist in His Own Original Stunts KEITH’S HIPPODROME, NEW YORK BILL BENNETT Featured Organist BELPARK THEATRE, CHICAGO Management of LUBLINER & TRINZ SID. BERMAN.