Exhibitors Herald (1927)

December 31, 1927 EXHIBITORS HERALD 31 return appearances. Their act deserved more applause, however, than it got. Philadelphia Fox Week Ending December 24 Heading the surrounding program at the Fox this week is Max Fisher and his orchestra and their reception by the audience bears testimony to their popularity here. Their technique is far above the average and they are well worth hearing if one is in the mood for snappy, rhythmic music. They sang “Is She My Girl Friend,” “Blue Heaven,” "Spring Is Here,” and these popular numbers were doubly popular as played by them. To add variety to the entertainment three of the members sang several songs, but their singing was not on a par with their playing. “Spring Is Here” is a nonsensical number warranted to please almost any audience. Miss Dixie Hamilton, who it was announced possessed personality, had also too much avoirdupois for the type of song she sang. She gives the impression of being rather hard boiled and was not especially pleasing to the audience. Fritz and Jean Hubert are a whirlwind of fun. They come in after having had too much Christmas cheer at a dinner and their dance is typically intoxicated. In addition to their eccentric dancing they are excellent yodelers. The Fox Theatre Orchestra played the overture, “II Guarany.” Chicago Chicago Week Ending December 25 The stageshow this week was most unusual and was a well-planned presentation for the preChristmas rush. The stageshow may have its knockers, but anyone who saw this show will have to admit that it was the stagehand production under the direction of Jules Buffano which balanced the program. “Shadowland,” the title of the show, was carried out artistically and effectively in black and white silhouettes. The eight Foster Girls, representing snowballs, opened the act in a clever routine before a dark background. Stella Powers, capable soprano, followed with “Thou Brilliant Bird.” "Blue River” was given a new orchestral twist by Buffano and his gang as the next number, and this was accorded an appreciative hand. A1 and Gussie Blum next entertained with their wonderful ragdoll dance, for which the audience did its best in showing appreciation. The couple came back for a few steps and some chatter. This reporter has never seen anything quite so unique as the aerial ballet by the Foster Girls, which followed. Suspended in the air, the girls, arranged in two rows, exhibited a dance that was perfect for it6 unity. Dressed in white and performing before a dark background, the girls gave a marvelous and difficult exhibition of their talent. These girls rank with the best in the field of stage dancing. Roy Rogers next gave the payees the surprise of their lives. In physique he looks like anything but an acrobatic dancer. He wavered onto the stage, a typical drunk, to the tune, “Show Me the Way to Go Home.” Just another comic, perhaps. But that’s where everyone was fooled. His acrobatic work was astounding. Appreciated? He would be working yet if the audience had its say. Pauline Alpert, a recording artist, and adept on the ivories, entered playing at the piano, which was brought to the center of the stage on a movable platform. As a glorious finale the piano and Miss Alpert were carried into the air and the two were whirled swiftly around as she played a hot tune. The spinning was so swift that it seemed only providencial that the player could remain on the piano stool, let alone find the ivories. H. Leopold Spitalny reverted from the usual concert program to give each of his men the limelight in an overture called "Solo Festival.” It was an interesting and entertaining overture arrangement. San Antonio Aztec Week Ending December 16 The Aztec, starting last week, inaugurated special stage presentations in the form of a prologue to "Valley of the Giants.” Art Phillips, of the West Coast, is producing the shows and using for his forte settings and light effects. Last week his production represented a section of the huge Redwood forests in California and he introduced a rainstorm, a forest fire and falling trees. The thing went over very good. The current week’s show is called “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” based on Jule Verne’s story. Divers, mermaids, etc., are featured back of a painted scrim and the effects are obtained with a color machine from the booth. An added attraction is “Minstrel Memories,” featuring five former minstrel men. It is a series of cracks, songs and steps. The picture is “The Girl From Rio,” a Gotham production. Chicago Granada Week Ending December 25 Charles Kaley offered a "Holiday Fete” as this week’s show and featured Raymond Eisemen, a young boy, the protege of A1 Jolson. Opening: The show opened in front of drop with a large horseshoe in center through which the Iversen Sisters followed by eight Granada Girls singing "Good Luck” and then offered cute routine. Curtain then parts, exposing orchestra in futuristic setting, who play a new number called “Everywhere You Go,” which was well received. Kaley next announced Four Great Men, screen lowers and Lindbergh and Lincoln pictures were shown, screen then raises and spot is thrown on two dumb looking men who sing comedy songs and then offer a good comedy dance to a fine reception. Kay Romaine was next, from WEBH radio station, who entered playing piano from pit elevator. She plays and sings popular tunes to a fine hand and earned two encores of "St. Louis Blues” and “Whose That Knocking at My Door.” Six Japs then offer some clever acrobatics that were very well received. Kaley next sang new number called "Dream Kisses,” a catchy tune which he sang very well. The Irwin Sisters next offer a novelty dance that fooled many until the end. What appeared to be a large mirror turned out to be a screen with one of the Irwin Sisters dancing in front of same as the other sister followed on other side. At the finish the audience was convinced of the fraud, the girls were very well received. Kaley received a fine hand for his singing and violin playing. He used "The Song Is Ended but the Memory Lingers On.” The Granada Girls in novel costumes offered a novel routine to waltz music, which when they turned around displayed costumes abbreviated for a jazz routine. A young boy, Raymond Eiseman, next sings some popular turns. Later he does some tap dancing, and was very well received in both. Kaley next 6ang “I’ll Think of You.” The finale, with the Irwin Sisters leading the ballet, closed the show with the “Good Luck” song as the Jap troupe went into a hand balancing stunt on the bridge as the ballet turns around to expose letters spelling "Good Luck” in the lining of their capes. A novel idea well done. Brooklyn Strand Week Ending December 23 A big musical and dancing presentation was the chief draw of the program which had Milton Sills in “The Valley of the Giants” as the picture. This incident, called "Carnival of Venice,” took up twenty minutes and introduced singers, dancers and instrumentalists who have become favorites at this theatre. The overture presentation by the Famed Mark Strand Orchestra was selections from Verdi’s “La Traviata,” running ten minutes. Don Williams, the new xylophonist of the orchestra, who has worked up quite a following JIMMIE FERGUSON Late Co-Starring Comic of SISSLE & BLAKE’S “CHOCOLATE DADDIES" Also Producer of the Revues for CAFE De PARIS Now Playing the Better Class Presentation Houses Personal Direction — LEO SALK1NS Standard Oil Bldg., 910 So. Michigan Ave., Chicago during his short time here, used three minutes to good advantage with a medley of popular tunes, including “There Must Be Somebody Else,” “Just a Memory” and “Bye Bye Pretty Baby.” A pink spot from the dome covered the artist : stage dark. After “The Twenty-Four-Dollar Island” came another stage act, programmed as “They Call It Dancing.” There was a fabric eye as opening as Vale and Stewart, male buck and wing dancers, started the presentation. The entire number was done on a dance pad. After their routine came the Serova Dancing Girls in a line dance and they were joined by Veronica, premier dancer, who did a fast dance on her toes. The presentation closed with an ensemble number. After the Topical Review came the “Carnival of Venice.” The setting, in full stage, consisted of a blue sky drop, in front of which was a balustrade running across with a gate in the center, with huge urns with flowers on either side of the gate. Everybody in Neapolitan costume. Caesar Nesi, tenor, followed with “Santa Lucia.” The stage dimmed off, leaving deep blue borders for sky drop : pink spot on Nesi. For the fourth number, Restico, accordionist and whistler, played and whistled a number of Italian folk songs. The Serova Girls did their second number, “Dancing Tambourines.” Amber spot from dome. Next came Ruth Watson, soprano, who sang “Venetian Skies.” She too was covered by an amber spot from dome. The incident closed with Carlo Ferretti, baritone, singing “Funiculi, Funlcula,” assisted by the entire company. Milwaukee Venetian Week Ending December 10 “In the Shadow of the Roses,” by Harry Allen and his Venetian Serenaders, opened this week’s offering at the Venetian theatre. The number is sung by Robert Schweisthal, who has a fairly good voice despite the fact that it is not very strong. The Ferris Sisters are the next offering, doing a neat dance to the “Doll Dance” by the orchestra. They are dressed in girlish costumes and make a good hit. Mona Henderson, a young miss with a good ( Continued on page 32) Have You Ordered Your Copy Yet? Buy from Your Local Music Store, 25 Per Copy ||UBS===^ ^ ~ FTLfVCTTOOCK TIMING AND CUEING PAD -for Organists.Musical Directors.eU. By RUJULPH BERLINER Villa Moret, Inc. Publishers Kress Bldg. San Francisco