Exhibitors Herald (1927)

40 EXHIBITORS HERALD October 8, 1927 Johnstown State Chicago Avalon Week Ending October 1 Jolly Tars and the Battleship Blues ruled the stage in the Avalon last week, with an ambitious stage scenic effort, representing the deck of a battleship, all members of orchestra, chorus, ballet and principals appearing in naval uniforms. Buddy Fisher started things a-humraing with "Battleship Blues” played by his jazz boys and aided and abetted by sixteen nifty ballet dancers, dressed as sailors and armed with wicked-looking carbine which they handled with considerable ability. They were followed by Westward and Newton, acrobats and dancers, who showed a few things in steps and contortions that aren’t included in any “Daily Dozen.” An excellent string sextet, made up from members of the orchestra, then rendered Buddy Fisher’s own arrangement of “The Rosary,” to the evident satisfaction of the audience. Sophie Tilden was next, with the song “He’s My Nothin’,” which somehow did not “click” with this audience. Although she did it in a cute way. Miss Tilden’s hard work deserves a better vehicle for her talents, and we hope she gets it. The funniest number on the whole program came next — and Buddy did not even announce the names of the artists! One played the harmonica and the other a violin — and as soon as the audience could stop laughing, it gave them a tremendous hand. The whole band then played “Just Once Again” — which song, by the way. is getting to be a bit monotonous. But to sort of wipe out the reaction, Bobby “Uke” Henshaw next came on the stage ; what he didn’t do to Buddy Fisher and to the audience wasn’t worth doing. Of course, Bobby is a born comedian and that little trick mustache of his looks funnier than ever. He got a big hand when he was through, and had to give several encores. “The Good Ship Avalon” was the finale, closing a good show with a biff and a bang. It was followed by the Vitaphone, in a number of offerings, which clearly showed the limitations of the device. For instance, to put over a soubrette song by Vitaphone is much more difficult than to do it with the soubrette herself on the stage. The "personal” touch somehow is lacking. Furthermore, the apparatus seemed to get out of order once or twice. The picture part went smoothly along, but the singer didn’t get a note out of the wide open throat and mouth. Of course it was funny — but the operator in the booth probably was sweating blood, wondering what had happened, when the yowling and sarcastic applauding started. The picture was “When a Man Loves” with John Barrymore and Dolores Costello. Week Ending October 1 For this week the Million Dollar State theatre offered a split-week bill, presenting for the first half the “Ten Brown Girls” Jazz Band for the stage presentation. Following the M-G-M News, and the Educational comedy, “The Half-Back,” the band opened in special setting with “That Night in Araby.” This was followed by a harp and violin duet of Lizst’s “Dream of Love,” which was very well received. Then a hot number. “Side by Side,” with Vocal Chorus and a waltz number with a toe Dance Specialty. The dancer encored with a Jazz Toe Dance Number. Then came a varied arrangement of “Indian Love Call,” which got good applause, and a Harp Solo, “Oh Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms,” which was very prettily rendered. Then the dancer came in again for an acrobatic dance specialty, after which the band went into their final number, “A Trip From Chicago to Dixie," a cleverly arranged novelty. The band encored with “Yankee Rose.” The Fox Feaure Picture, “Two Girls Wanted,” closed the show for the first half of the week. The second half of the week presented the latest edition of the M-G-M News, with the Fox comedy, “The Kangaroo’s Kimono,” after which came the Organ Presentation by Mack Edwards, “When Day Is Done.” This went very well with the audiences. Then came Brewster and Pomery in a Song and Dance Revue, one of the flashiest presentations seen in this theatre for quite some time. Opening on two pianos with Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” after which Pomery introduced two charming ladies and the three went into a dance specialty to the tune of the “Doll Dance.” Next came Josephine Ehrlich in a Toe Dance Specialty, and then Miss Brewster and Pomeroy in a vocal duet, which was very well received, as was the Waltz Adagio Dance by the Misses Sylvia and Leontine, two Parisian dancers. Then followed a Spanish Apache Dance Scene of utmost splendor and settings. Opening with Miss Brewster singing “My Castle in Spain” before a massive scrim drop depicting a Spanish castle, the scene unfolded at the finish of her number into a Spanish courtyard scene, full of Spanish atmosphere, with three ladies in the foreground in a Spanish Fandango Dance to the tune of the accompanying piano and violin on the stage. Then followed Pomeroy and Miss Brewster in the Spanish Apache Dance Specialty, with the entire company coming in at the end of a wellbalanced presentation. The M-G-M Feature Picture, Jackie Coogan in “The Bugle Call,” closed the show for the second half of the week. SAM KAUFMAN “The Painless Pianist” Doing His Comedy Sensation Again For Years a Standard Vaudeville “Single” Now Featured in MARKS BROS. Stage Bandshows This Week at the MARBRO Theatre, CHICAGO ORGAN SOLO— SCRIM PRESENTATIONS Conceived By ALBERT F. BROWN Feature Organist AND STAGED BY RAYMOND Q. DALTON At the Granada Theatre, Chicago REPRESENTS A NEW ERA OF DE LUXE THEATRE ENTERTAINMENT “One of Chicago9 s Foremost Manipulators of the Organ 99 Featured in ONE Theatre in CHICAGO for the last SIX YEARS— WHO? RAMON RICHELIEU-MORSE Milwaukee Wisconsin Week Ending October 1 The orchestra, as the curtain rises, plays the strains of a classical melody, only to drop the pretense before the end and finish in the regulation jazz style. The stage is arranged attractively with the orchestra seated on a grand stairway effect leading to the upper stage. On either side of the stage large colonnades, and two huge figures of Egyptian women in kneeling attitude, complete the setting. Cheerio — we again have the Six English Tivoli Girls, giving the dance with which they made a hit before. All in tuxes with silk hats, canes and monocles to the tune of “She’s the Girl Who Made the Sunshine Jealous,” they go through their paces, in both dance and song. “She Don’t Wanna.” was the next selection by the orchestra with a 6oloist singing the chorus, and later the orchestra also joining in. The orchestra’s bit included the wearing of large masks of all kinds of funny and grotesque faces. The Dancing Deweys — brother and sister — were next. Sister was first in a red costume which in connection with her dancing made it plenty hot, and her clog dancing brought a good share of applause. Brother was next with some pretty tap dancing to the tune of “Ain’t She Sweet” which included a number of pretty strenuous steps. “Give Me a Night in June," was the next hit by the orchestra with the chorus sung by James Clasey. “The Doll Dance” is a repeat number by one of the soloists. The Tivoli Girls make their appearance dressed as little blond girls each with a doll and bundle of books. They place the doll6 upon the books in a miniature dance. This bit was well done and received a good deal of applause. Milo, whose voice is heard off stage singing “O Sole Mio,” is introduced as a famous opera singer, but when he steps on the 6tage in the role of a bum provokes much laughter. He then proceeds to imitate almost everything imaginable, including almost all the animals on the farm to a railway train. He ends up with “Listen to the Mocking Bird,” whistled, accompanied by the orchestra. The Wilson Sisters and Miss Washburn with nice harmony, sing “Southwind,” with one of the sisters accompanying on the piano. The girl at the piano then does a couple of hot piano numbers, among them being “Hallelujah.” Miss Washburn then makes her appearance as a drunk returning from a night club, and to the tune of “I’m Looking at the World Through Rose Colored Glasses” with appropriate wording gives a very good account of herself, and which meets with much approval from the audience. The three girls end up with singing “Hello, Swanee, Hello.” The orchestra for its next number plays “Just Once Again.” with James Clasey again singing the chorus. He has a fine voice and gets a good hand from the crowd. Benny and Western play to a "dark house.” With the house black the two dancers put radium lighted heads and shoes through all kinds of funny paces which tickles the audience. They then do their whiskbroom dance, and make their second appearance to “After the Storm,” and do an umbrella dance, which draws a good applause. The grand finale brings out the Tivoli Girls, and Benny and Western, while confetti and balloons float down from "on high.” All in all the presentation was much like its title, “This and That,” and there wasn't much to brag about either. Francis KROMAR Solo Organist At the Orpheum Circuit’s Diversey Theatre Chicago