Exhibitors Herald (1927)

42 EXHIBITORS HERALD October 8, 1927 laughing mood and proved to be one of the laugh hits of the bill. This was followed by the Lassiter Brothers, those two comedy boys who have become very popular in picture houses through their eccentric comedy dances. As it has been reported here before, the boys were again accorded a huge reception. They were followed by cute little Peggy Bernier, who offered her routine of comedy songs and baby talk which has never failed to stop any show. After several encores the band went into a Finale of an arrangement of “Halleujah,” which brought on the entire cast towards the finish with all of them contributing their talent towards a fast and hot arrangement of the tune. Minneapolis State Week Ending October 1 Dayton’s semi-annual Style Revue was the feature of State Theatre’s stageshow. It was not up to the standard of the same presentations in the last two years. For the last four years the State has semiannually presented this tieup with one of the largest department stores in Minneapolis, the Dayton Company, in which the store shows the latest in wearing apparel in a show built along the lines of a revue. It always is a big drawing card and packs the theatre. For the last three shows a group of University of Minnesota co-eds have been selected to act as mannikins. Although this revue may have been affected by the stage strike which is now on in Minneapolis, it was evident that less care had been given thi6 production than had been bestowed on the others. The set consisted of heavy black drapes with silver and gold predominent in the trimming of the rest of the stage — dignified and beautiful, but not as elaborate as the sets which usually have marked the style revues. The girls selected to show the garments were, for the most part, far from beautiful and did not possess very pleasing figures. The garments shown were the latest in fall and winter wear and were an attractive selection. Entertainers are selected for the revue to prevent it from being a monotonous parade of mannikins. Fay and Kay Spangler, dancing comedians, and Hutchins and Halloway, harmonica performers, did their best to enliven the show. The latter were good and received a big hand, but the Spangler act was inferior to that of many semipro dancers who have appeared on the State stage, and they got only a lukewarm reception. Had they confined their efforts to dancing and Miss Spangler had not tried to sing, the audience would have been better pleased, but it was the case of a dancer trying something out of her province instead of building out the dancing act. Chicago Capitol Week Ending October 2 This week’s stage show featuring Del Delbridge and his orchestra was called “China-Mania.” It was a simple but pretty presentation devised and staged by Clyde Hood with a cast headed by Kerenoff & Maree, The Premier Trio and Joe Whitehead. It ran as follows: Opening: In full stage setting with band on platform with background displaying a fan-like shaped drop and all the boys dressed as Mandarins. The opening band number was “My Chinese Moon,” sung by Ralph Bart, a permanent fixture of this house, assisted by the Capitol Ballet girls in a novel routine of duet steps. Del Delbridge makes his entrance during this number also dressed in Mandarin outfit and directs his band into an arrangement of “Annabelle Lee” intermingled by many specialties by the boys, including an aceordian bit by Andy Rizzo. Joe Whitehead, formerly of vaudeville, makes his entrance here in a routine supposedly to por tray a dope fiend and continues his chatter along the same lines in between each specialty act. Ralph Bart comes on again singing “When Day Is Done” to the band’s arrangement of same, later going into “No Wonder I’m Happy,” followed by the ballet again in another one of their cute routines with novel costumes and fans in typical Chinese style. After a few more gags by Joe Whitehead, the Premier Trio, who are also known as the Lett Sisters and Louise, make their entrance with their harmony singing, opening with "Shanghai Dream Man” and following with “Wherever You Go” into a medley of songs ending with “Red Hot House.” These girls have been reported many times before in these columns, and as stated before, they are just fitted for this sort of work. A band arrangement of “Sing Me a Baby Song” was next, after which Whitehead again came on, this time doing some entertaining with his voice and feet, singing a special song and dancing a real Irish jig. For several minutes afterwards Joe carried on some horseplay with a few of the boys in the band, which kept the audience in a continuous laughing mood and proving that he is a clever entertainer all around. If a few of his off-color jokes were polished up, Whitehead would be a riot on any bill, for he is a clever performer and this audience went big for him. This was followed by another band arrangement called “My China Maid,” from “Idle Dreams,” which Ralph Bart sings as the ballet in Chinese outfits come on for another one of their routines. During this number the fan-shaped drop parts in the center and folds down as the band platform also separates with each end going in the opposite direction, while the scrim curtain rises displaying a pretty setting of a Chinese altar with a young lady representing Budda sitting on top of altar. During this number, Kerenoff in the role of a Mandarin made his entrance, while the girls exit, and after taking off his robes goes into his specialty of the Adagio with the Budda statue, who turns out to be Maree. Kerenoff and Maree, the best Adagio team that this reporter has been able to witness in picture houses around here, seemed to just fit for this particular presentation. The Finale was very effective, especially as the girls assemble on level platform around alter as Kerenoff picks up Maree and throws her into the dragon pit. The next scene shows Maree in the grasp of the dragon as she was being carried off into the land of poppies. ORGAN SOLOS Clark Fiers, (West Side, Scranton), used as his featured organ solo the week of September 19, a novel community singing idea entitled “Ring Side Seats,” which was a clever take-off on the Dempsey-Tunney fight and included such hits as “You Don’t Like It” (with the men and women singing alternating lines to much fun), “Just Like a Butterfly,” “At Sundown,” “Dew, Dew, Dewy Day” and “Red Lips.” He encored with “Me and My Shadow.” This week, Fiers is presenting “A Southern Symphony,” which features “Swanee Shore.” Arthur Richter, (Wisconsin, Milwaukee), at the organ played for his selection, “Which” which included “Gorgeous,” “Falling in Love,” “Ain’t That a Grand and Glorious Feeling,” and "Just Like a Butterfly.” Mack Edwards (State, Johnstown,) used for his organ presentation the week ending October 1, “When Day Is Done.” It met with good success. Fred Kinsley (Keith Hippodrome, New York) uses “C’est Voo” in an original way, working in the American Legion convention at Paris and ending with "Miss Annabelle Lee.” The boy puts cut nothing but his own original numbers and the applause of the great big house is some appreciation in 60und and fact. Johnny Winters, (Colorado, Pueblo), offered his own original novelty, “Call It What You Like.” Thet hidden gag was to urge the people into singing louder as the choruses of "I’m Learning Now,” “Me And My Shadow,” and "Tea For Two” were flashed on the screen. He gained his purpose on the strength of the old saying, “A tooth for a tooth,” and before each song, he gave them a spot number. The 6olo proved popular and was well liked by the audience. Harold J. Lyon (Ottumwa, Iowa, Capitol) reports that his solo for week ending September 24 was called "Ask Me Another.” It was an entirely comedy stunt by answering all questions with a certain tune played on the organ. The program consisted of the following songs, “There’s Something Nice About Everyone,” "Hot Time in the Old Town,” "I Wonder What’s Become of Sally.” “Red Lips,” “Me and My Shadow,” “Nesting Time,” "Under the Moon.” The last four songs were used for community singing and were well sung. I. L. (EPPY) Epstein (New York Edythe Totten) This theatre, which was recently opened as an exclusive first run house for foreign photoplays, has a musical program conducted by “Eppy” solely on the organ. Overtures of famous classics and opera including bits of Broadway hits are the tunes compiled and played by “Eppy” at this house during the program. This week a versatile program was offered in conjunction with the “Lady From Paris” Starring Vilma Banky. Henri Keates (Oriental, Chicago) does a solo called “Listen to This,” and it is a cleverly arranged takeoff on contests, which seem to be all the vogue this season of the year. The idea back of the theme is for the audience to rehearse for the community singing contest which is to take place here, there or somewhere. First they warm up a little, then they get better and better, all this to “At Sundown,” “Sing Me a Baby Song,” "Just Once Again,” and other popular ditties. He brought laughs with the slides on prizes to be awarded, including an enormous stein that would put Hinky Dinky to shame, and a keg beyond our fondest dream. All in all the crowd took it all in and enjoyed it. Henry B. Murtaugh’s (Chicago, Chicago) performance, billed outside as “Say It With Flowers,” was even more appropriately titled on the screen billing as “Advice to the Lovelorn,” and if Murtaugh’s advice were followed it would be a sure thing that every lover’s desideratum would be fulfilled. "Under the Moon” was what he suggested for Mr. Lover to sing to his girl, if she were that smiling and honey and molasses kind ; then “I’d Walk a Million Miles If It Would Take Me Nearer You,” if one’s sweetie happened to be the suspicious kind ; if a little vain and not in line for a beauty contest, he suggested to sing to her "I Think You’re Gorgeous” : if she has been to college, polish up your grammar and sing a parody on “Sundown,” using very high-fa-flutin’ words, but in plain English “I Love You.” As a welldeserved encore, he played "I’d Walk a Million Miles,” etc., when junior cries, and if they are at all dubious, he felt sure this little promise would make them promise, too, to say "Yes.” Herbert Koch (Capitol, Des Moines), back after an operation on his tonsils, played the “Iowa Corn Song” and a bit of “Home, Sweet Home” to show how glad he was to be back. The audience joined in on the community singing during the popular numbers he played. 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