Exhibitors Herald (1927)

32 EXHIBITORS HERALD December 31, 1927 LO S4YS Sovneibinv about5 Everyone Happy New Year! — Now that Christmas is over and we’ve all had our turkeys ’n everything, lets wish each and everyone in the business a Happy and Prosperous New Year. . . Sorry folks, I meant to keep you all informed, but like everyone else was rushed to death on account of Christmas shopping (yep window shopping mostly). . . .Who said there is no Santa Claus?, . . .Well if it’s so who brought Paul Ash back to Chicago?. . . I want to thank each and everyone who sent me a Christmas card, also those who didn’t, for they saved me lots of time in opening the envelopes. . . Well now that Paul is back at the Oriental, Mark Fisher will resume his post at the Senate and Harding theatres again starting January 2. . . . Oh say boys, and girls also, if any of them ever read this column, did you know Louis McDermott is now a daddy?. . . . Yep Santa brought him a girl two weeks ago. . . . Chicago now has a deluxe picture house where a feature film is the sole attraction outside of a musical accompaniment . . . The house is the new United Artists theatre which is under the personal supervision of Hugo Riesenfeld. . . . Sneaking of theatres another film house opens in Chicago South 6ide this week called the “Shore.” . . . We understand that Buddy Fisher, band leader of the Avalon theatre Chicago is being let out on January the first, and that Roy Deitrich will replace him. . . . Word comes from our friend Eddie Hill to the effect that Publix new house in Birmingham, called the Alabama, opened on Christmas day with a policy of pictures and presentation. . . . Joseph Alexander is the featured organist. . . . While on the subject of organists did you know that Don Isham one of the most popular young organists in Chicago took an airplane trip to Washington, D. C. last week. . . . Maybe he’s trying to take Lindy’s place The Christmas party staged each year by the N. V. A. was given at the Sherman Hotel, Chicago last Monday and over 2,000 theatrical people attended. . . . Sam Rosey formerly with Remick’s Chicago office is now with Berlin’s, also of Chicago. . . . We hear that the Lawndale theatre of Chicago is soon to change management and that Sam Kaufman its band leader has given his notice. . . . We also hear thiat the Admiral theatre of Chicago, with Mort Goldberg as its Managing Director has been sold by the Chicago Title & Trust Company to Harry Miller. . . . This seems to be the selling season in the theatre field, even Ascher Bros, come along with a statement that William Fox has taken over complete control of their circuit. . . . Listen folks ! don’t fail to send for a copy of the new “FilmO’Klock” a brand new idea for cueing and timing your own films. . . . Villa Moret are the publishers. . . . Leonard Smith, featured organist of the Avalon theatre, Chicago, leaves that house on the expiration of his contract January first. . . . Henri A. Keates, formerly solo organist of the Oriental theatre, Chicago’s loop house, is now guest organist of B & K Uptown and Tivoli theatres also of Chicago. ... Vale and Stewart are now playing picture houses dn the East. . . . Last week they appeared at the Mark Strand in Brooklyn. . . . Leeta Hope, formerly with Roxy’s Gang, is now the Prima Donna of Albert F. Brown’s organ 6olo revues at Marks Bros, theatres in Chicago. . . . Sophie Tilden wife of Billy Stevens writer for the Chicago Saturday Telegraph, is now featured with A1 Belasco in his new stage show at the Harding theatre, Chicago. . . . Our friends Markcll & Faun are back at the Oriental theatre Chicago this week after a tour out of town for several months. . . . On the same bill is also llomay Bailey. . . . Beverly Bayne, formerly of the screen is now making a tour of the Orpheum Circuit with a comedy 6kit Word reaches us that Wendell English has been replaced by William Cliffton as featured organist of the Strand theatre in Kendallville, Indiana. . . . Leo Carrillo, stage star and vice president of the N. V. A is now touring the Keith-Orpheum Circuit in a new act. . . . “Forsyth’s Forum,” a local theatrical paper published by James Forsyth of Chicago has been discontinued. ... Its publisher a former publicity man has joined the staff of a National Trade paper. . . . Jack Bourbiel, presides at the organ at the Vista theatre, Chicago, one of the many South side picture houses. Again I wish you all a Successful 1928. A. RAYMOND GALLO. STAGE SHOWS ( Continued from page 31 voice, sings “Give Me a Night in June,” which she follows up with a clever bit of dancing. Her number is followed by “Love Sends a Little Gift of R'oses,” featuring Harry Allen at the violin. The selection is well done and well received. Robert Schweisthal, who is acting as the master of ceremonies on this week’s presentation, next obliges with “I Told Them All About You,” which is followed by a specialty by the Ferris Sisters. Mona Henderson then returns to do a clever song number as a newsboy, and sings “When Will the Sun Shine for Me?” The number is well done and draws good applause. The finale brings out Miss Milwaukee, none other than Irene Banasiak, who poses in a bathing suit while the master of ceremonies sings “Charmaine.” The setting for the presentation was arranged to represent a beach, and the number was well done. Chicago Oriental Week Ending December 25 The annual children’s holiday show at the Oriental this year entitled “Christmas High Jinks,” with a special juvenile cast, was a knockout from the first number of “Jingle Bells” to the last tremendous choral finale. This also was Mark f isher’s Farewell show. As the house lights were extinguished, two little girls came out in front of the curtain to sing “Tie Your Troubles to the End of a Kite,” and while the organist played “Jingle Bells,” they parted the curtain revealing a stage full of everything in Toyland. The orchestra members, in red and white toy soldier uniforms, were sprawled over their instruments in stiff, woodenlike attitudes. There were two large Christmas trees on either side of the stage, the backdrop was covered with painted toys, and boxes of varying sizes were placed at both ends of the stage. The girls tip-toed over to the orchestra, touched some of the players and behold — they came to life, as did also sixteen “toy dolls,” the Little Abbott Dancers, who went into a revue to “The March of the Wooden Soldiers.” A large box was then pushed to the center of the stage by the dancers and Mark Fisher broke through it, and announced for the first band number “Everywhere You Go.” He was called for an encore when he sang the chorus. Donald Henry sang “My Blue Heaven,” “Broken Hearted,” and joined the two girle who had first appeared in singing the chorus of “My Blue Heaven.” This boy had a fine voice and the audience wanted to hear him give something more. Zelda Graham, a six-year-old contortionist and acrobatic dancer, next held the spot, and her work was amazing. She performed to “A Rus LETT SISTERS and LOUISE (The Three Humming Birds) GUS SUN CIRCUIT Direction — SAM ROBERTS sian Lullaby,” and the applause was deafening. After a beautiful revue by the Little Abbott Dancers, Baby Jane came on and sang to Mark, “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” and “Why Are You Jealous of Me?” This was certainly cute and the audience went wild. When she returned in a hick hat, and did a boob dance to “Turkey in the Straw” the patrons were convulsed, and 6he was obliged to repeat the number. Tommy did a fast Russian Vodka that caused spontaneous applause ; a clog and eccentric to “St. Louis Blues” that brought down the house, and a waltz with a dummy girl to “Kies Me Again” that stopped the show. The orchestra then played “Four Walls” with a vocal refrain by Mark that was exceptionally well received, and then played Mark’s newest composition "What Are You Waiting For Mary?” as he sang it. He was obliged to give an encore. For their last appearance the Abbott Dancers, in white silk winter skating costumes, gave a fast revue and went into a tableaux as the backdrop was raised to present a church choir above the orchestra. For the Finale, the organ, orchestra, and choir joined in a tremendous anthem that shook the building and stirred the souls of everyone. Boston Metropolitan Week Ending December 23 The Metropolitan Grand Orchestra’s prelude this week was from the famous Music Master Series, and was selected from Felix Mendelssohn. The stage attraction was none less than the fascinating Mae Murray in person in a “Merry Widow Revue.” The stage was elaborately set to represent a court scene, and the actors were costumed as ladies and courtiers. The opening number consisted of a medley of waltzes played by Gene Rodemich and the Stage Band and assisted by Joseph Griffith, tenor, While the music was playing, four couples in gorgeous court costumes came out and waltzed. Then the Metropolitan Male Quartette, also in courtier costumes, gave several vocal selections. The Felecia Sorel Girls in Hussar costumes next stepped some tap steps that showed how well they could team up. Their green and white costumes, with big white pompoms on their hats were snappy looking. Next came a comedy stunt by Bora and Lawrence, two rookies from the awkward squad, who sang a couple of songs with their gestures added exactly together in a mechanical way that was a howl. After them Joseph Griffith sang another selection entitled “Song of Songs.” A soprano solo by Virginia Johnson entitled “My Little Nest of Heavenly Blue” was next, and then in response to an encore the two of them sang a soprano and tenor duet. Mae Murray herself then appeared in a. gorgeous black velvet gown that set off her blond hair. She and her partner danced a fancy waltz for us, and of course she got a big encore. She said she had another dance she would do for us, but although we waited while the orchestra played a whole piece through, she didn’t come on stage again until the finale. Diero, accordion virtuoso, was scheduled next, but for some unknown reason he didn’t appear. Bora and Lawrence came on again, this time in a comedy dance entitled “Tuxedo Troubles.” They reminded us of Mutt and Jeff. Finale. Mae Murray in a dainty white costume, assisted by her fascinating widows in black and gold costumes, and the rest of the company as a colorful background, danced for her concluding ( Continued on page 33) 1 U/uMfoia coff of Monthly SLIDE news U^| for and. about theODGANIST 54: » RANDOLPH 61 CHICAGO al MARKELL and FAUN gay “A LAUGH WITH EVERY STEP” Featured with JACK PARTINGTON’S “FLORIDA” PUBLIX Unit With Paul Ash This Week at the ORIENTAL THEATRE, CHICAGO HELLER and RILEY are now playing the Direction of MAX TURNER— FINKLESTEIN & RUBEN Theatres William Morris Agency