Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1928)

February 25, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 37 Chicago Chicago Week Ending February 19 It was a peppy show at the Chicago this week. Superior, we would say, to last week's offering. The show was called "Highlights," but if we called it just one big "Highlight" it would be sufficient. Rae Samuels was the star of the moment, and did her bit much to the satisfaction of the ones who make such as the Chicago prosperous. She has a good line, both vocally and in monologue. The crowd who saw the show the night this reporter did braved a real storm to hear her, and they didn't seem to give a tinker's (well, you know what we mean), whether the weather was wintry or not. In the first place it was a snappy show, colorful in settings and costume, good music — well, it was a good show. The show opened in front of a bespangled 6Crim, you might call it. Scattered over this iridescent drop were many small electric lights flashing on and off like so many fireflies. A soprano, Sherry Louise, from whom the lyric notes came with ease, opened with a classical number. From the stage she has a pleasing personality and voice. As the lights came up the scrim raised revealing the orchestra in front of a colorful drop, fantastic in its conception. On came the 12 Foster Girls as marionettes. May we say that this was one of the most clever dance acts we have seen. Coming from the flies were the usual control cords which are always associated with the marionette, or Punch and Judy. The funny part of it was that these cords in several instances were actually used during part of the dance. It was a clever conception and brought a great hand. Next we had with us Helen McFarland, a 16 year old (so they 6ay) youngster who did a song if you wanted it, a dance or a tune on the xylophone. The latter seemed her forte, and for her act she received a good band. Douglas Burley followed •with something decidedly unusual — a slow motion (picture) dance. The boy is great, with an exceptional dance which necessitates a bit of contortion that makes you wonder how he does it. "Diane" was the fine tune to which he did his steps. Jules Buffano, who was on his last week at the Chicago, then led his orchestra through "My Melancholy Baby," a good tune and well presented. Jules did some vocal work which brought a good hand. The Foster Girls then came on for their conception of an Arabian dance, and what a hand they drew. Very clever girls, well trained. The next dance act was a team, Masse and Dietrich, acrobatic dancers. They had a split at the end that was great, and while the whole act was good, this brought an encouraging hand. Finally, Rae Samuels herself. She remained on the stage for four rollicking, humorous songs, interpolated by some banter which brought the laughs. Miss Samuels showed a lot of pep. The finale brought all onto the stage amid colors galore. On individual revolving platforms the 12 Foster Girls 6tood. The orchestra, Miss Louise and Miss McFarland all entered into the spirit of the act, and it was given a fine send-off. Detroit Michigan Week Ending February 17 Staged against a gorgeous tropical setting, the Publix presentation "Havana" catches with fidelity the languorous dreamy atmosphere of a Spanish town. Pretty girls wear beautiful gowns, sing sweetly and dance with graceGeorge Dewey Washington, singing "On the Road to Mandalay," and "Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella" and other popular numbers, quite walked away with the show at almost every performance and he was compelled to respond to a number of enthusiastic encores. The dancing of Dorothy Berke was much appreciated and the Boris Pctroff Girls, Del Delbridge and His Syncopators, George Scheiner, Coaster and Hewlett and Fritz and Joan Hubert all did their part to add to the entertainment. St. Louis Missouri Week Ending February 17 The stage show this week embraced ideas that impressed Brooke Johns while in New York the previous week. It was styled, "Broadway Follies." The featured acts included Tilyou and Rogers, steppers; Alexander and Swanson, ballroom dancers, and Emerson and Baldwin, comedy magicians. There were other acts, models and dancing girls to make up a company of fifty-five persons. Johns, personally, sang "Dream Kisses" for the production number, while Al Eldridge, pianist of the 6tage orchestra, did a specialty. For his overture, Leonid Leonardi and his pit orchestra presented "Lullabies." There was a Chinese ballet interpolation. Milton Slosser back at the organ again after a week at the Ambassador theatre played a "Song Convention." Atlanta Howard Week Ending February 18 The Howard offered an unusual, but interesting, presentation this week, "Making Movies." Actually, it was a sequence of the all-Atlanta motion picture which is being sponsored by the Howard theatre and Constitution, newspaper, and produced by Berkova Productions, Inc. The production will represent Atlanta ability, the scenario being written by an Atlanta girl and cast made up of local talent. The completed film will be 6hown on the theatre screen as an added attraction the week of March 5. Ray Teal, popular bandmaster of the Howard orchestra, presided in the pit this week, giving as his bit of directional entertainment a rhapsody. The orchestra was accompanied by George Lee Hamerick on the organ. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lawson, radio stars, rendered several selections which proved enjoyable. The Phelps Sisters, dancers and singers, drew fair hands with their two numbers. Robert Earl, member of the Howard orchestra, gave a solo, which stood out as the highlight of the program. Philadelphia Fox Week Ending February 18 Al Jolson in "The Jazz Singer," with Vitaphone accompaniment, was shown for a second and final week at the Fox. Allan Rogers tenor, appeared on the stage in a new program of songs. San Francisco Granada Week Ending February 17 This week's show brought Owen Sweeten back as orchestra leader, but he got no further than the pit, the stage being occupied by Eight Victor Artists in a Fanchon and Marco show. For the first time in many moons the Granada offered an exclusively male stage attraction. There wasn't a girl in sight and neither was there a dance. Just music, vocal and instrumental, with a story of two thrown in for good measure. In honor of Thomas A. Edison, the Granada orchestra offered "Oriental Phantasy," a favorite of the noted inventor, and following this an animated Victor record flashed on the screen for a moment. The curtain arose on the Eight Victor Artists, with three grand pianos in action. The "Doll Dance" was among the numbers offered. James Stanley sang "Invictue" in a masterful manner and Monroe Silver told a couple of stories and sang a Yiddish song. Henry Burr, tenor, offered "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" and responded with an encore. Sam Herman brought down the house with a xylophone solo, but this seemed only a mild sample of his ability compared with the artistry displayed in his encore number. The Peerless Quartette sang the "Farmer Song" as it might be heard in the United States, Palestine, Ireland, China and Italy, and the act came to a close with a song by all eight artists. In addition to those mentioned the artists included Billy Murray, Frank Banta, Carl Mathieu and Stan Baughman. The entertainment was of high type and was second of a series of stage acts featuring the stars of stage and studio. Chicago Central Park Week Ending February 19 Joie Lichter still continues as master of ceremonies and permanent band leader here, presenting bandshows on Saturdays and Sundays only. One of the programs recently reported took place as follows: Opening: With a fine band arrangement of "Tiger Rag," played in hot style by Lichter and his gang. This was followed hy Georgia Howard m a specialty consisting of dancing and violin selections done at the 6ame time. She was followed by Talbot and Fisher, known as the "Singing Gobs," in selections of popular songs. The boys were well received on this program. Billy Snyder, who also acted as master of ceremonies in conjunction with Joie Lichter, ran in and out of each act with some clever chatter and at this spot presented his own specialty of comedy songs and smart talk. This chap was reported in our columns before and again proved himself popular. He was followed by Dorothy Adsit, a cute little trick, who clowned with Lichter and sang "Did You Mean It?" Frank and Forman, two men, closed the specialty program with a series of clever buck and wing steps, well routined, both working like they knew their business. HENRI A. KEATES "The Organist Who Put Community Oriental Theatre, Chicago DON MIGUEL GALVAN "The Spanish Banjo Boy" Publix Newest Personality Band Leader Now entering the 20th Week and still going strong TEXAS THEATRE, SAN ANTONIO J. VIRGIL HUFFMAN Featured Organist LOEWS PALACE, WASHINGTON, D. C. (Leading De Luxe Theatre in Town) SOLOS AND COMMUNITY STUNTS HARRY ZIMMERMAN FEATURED ORGANIST BELMONT <0™i«£L CHICAGO