Exhibitors Herald (1927)

60 EXHIBITORS HERALD December 24, 1927 Chicago Harding Week Ending December 18 Dorothy Johnson, juvenile singer and one of the world’s youngest saxophone entertainers, and Bayes and Speck, were the hits of this week’s program at the Harding, entitled the “Jazz Grab Bag.” Sammy Kahn led Mark Fisher’s band, and the absence of his attempted funny stuff was very gratifying. The program opened with a parade of beautiful girls, dressed in stunning costumes, who represented the beauties of France, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Holland, Japan and the United States. “Is She My Girl Friend?” by the orchestra, was followed by a boob dance by the Janton Sisters, who drew a big hand. In their next number their silk costumes brought a gasp from the ladies and an exclamation from the men. O, yes, their tap was also good. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to thank you for your marvelous applause,” said little Dorothy Johnson in a baby voice and manner that made everyone in the audience happy, after she had sung, “O Look at That Baby,” and had played “You Don’t Like It, Not Much,” “At Dawning,” and “Everywhere You Go,” on the saxophone. This little lady is very attractive and is an artist of no mean ability. A novelty “stop and go” number by the Gould Dancers evoked many laughs, but it wasn’t quite so pleasant for the girls because it was unnecessarily long. Bayes and Speck fooled around just naturallike, and they certainly did “satisfy.” While Sammy Kahn and a girl friend sang “My Bungalow of Dreams,” the dancing girls, in blue silk overalls, built a model house on the stage. The lights were dimmed and Sammy and his girl friend chinned on the doorstep while the orchestra played “Home Sweet Home,” and the girls played musical saws. Curtain. Pittsburgh Penn Week Ending December 17 The peer of all bands, Paul Whiteman, with his orchestra, made their Pittsburgh debut in a picture house and as the saying goes, “knocked the town for a loop.** Never in local history has an act been applauded so long and loud after each number and at the closing as was heard at every performance. Whiteman made one appearance here at the Syrian Mosque as a concert star but he did not play to the class of people (the masses) as he did this week. Opening with “When Day Is Done” he followed it with “Under the Moon” and “Dancing Tambourine.” Then the immortal “Rhapsody in Blue.” Wilbur Hall, trick violinist, also doing novelty stuff on other instruments, gleaning comedy out of all his work, cleaned up at this point. Then Whiteman played a Chinese number, men all dressed up and prologued in back of the band. Following this the three boys who sing jazz songs so well did their bit to the pleasure of the audience. The finale had Whiteman playing “Hallelujah” and the men pulling a walk-out. He then directs the pit orchestra in “1812” overture with his own band coming in and making a strong finish with scenic effects of the burning of Moscow. This brought the house to its feet and the applause lasted fully five minutes. Feature was “Tea for Three” overture omitted and Dick Liebert doing an organ solo completed the show. Minneapolis State Week Ending December 16 “Out West” was the label for the State’s big band show this week — not quite up to the standard of its three predecessors, but still good entertainment. Moss and Fry, negro entertainers, were featured on the bill and they received a good hand, although les6 patter and more 6ong6 would have been appreciated. They were capable of some very pleasing harmony which went over big with the audience, but much of their rapid fire patter could not be understood. The new State revues are featuring the appearance of the orchestra on the 6tage, this week, the players being decked in cowboy attire. No orchestra appears in the pit, the music for the picture being left solely to the pipe organist. The State ballet, which is being used each week, is 6teadily improving and this week were very attractive in their Indian Wild West and neartotem pole creations. The State has gone to considerable time and expense in staging their revues and this week show a set of streams and mountains that was very attractive. Omaha Riviera Week Ending December 15 Stageshows got the go-by for a week at the Riviera while the theatregoers of the city were shown how movies are made. In a tieup with a local newspaper, 25 minutes of every performance was given over to taking scenes for the Omaha written story “Heart Thief,” the settings being taken on the stage. The film was taken by the Berkova Production Company. As part of the exploitation for the stunt, two huge searchlights swept the sky from in front of the theatre. In addition to the movie taking, Jimmy Ellard, stage master, and Frederick Schmitt, pit director, put on "Musical Moments.” Ellard showed he could put on grand opera by singing part of “Pagliacci.” He also sang “My Bungalow of Dreams.” George Johnson at the organ had as his musical stunt piece “Definitions.” The feature film was “The Fair Co-Ed” with Marion Davies. m AL KVALE ©fitsftes $Ms #oob Jfrtettbs easott’s ®est &nb expresses! i>ts #ratitube Jfor t fje i&tnbness of tf je “Past pear ‘KOO-KOO” STILL AT BALABAN AND KATZ NORSHORE THEATRE, CHICAGO Cl )c $ m at at m at at at at at at at at at at at at | Reasons Greetings f McNEIL SMITH Solo Organist MARQUETTE THEATRE, CHICAGO guletfoe Greetings I ART FRAISK AND HIS ORCHESTRA TOWER THEATRE, CHICAGO (ORPHEUM CIRCUIT) I TYLER MASON & » at at “America’s at Sweetest ^ Singing $$ Blackface at Comedian” ^ Wishes You All at A Merry Christmas Too. ^ Direction Wm. Morris Agency