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

February 25, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD STAGE SHOWS (Continued from preceding page) to sing a £ew songs. The boys are very good and were received with a big applause. For an encore they sang. "It Takes a Good Man to Do That." They ought to be used more often. Master Gilbert announced as the last word by Kayser sang for his first number, "Then What'll You Do." The boy looks to be about six years old and has a wonderful voice. He stopped the 6how here. He followed with "My Ohio Home" getting a bigger hand than before. For an encore he did a tap dance. The Diversey picked a winner when they hired him. Applause was plentiful and Gilbert led the orchestra through a song to show his appreciation. The orchestra played a collection of pieces containing, "Smiles," starting off with Al Jolson's latest piece called "Smile" and ending up with "There Are Smiles That Make Us Happy." This orchestra under Kayser's direction play all their selections in a pleasing manner. Zastro and White and two of the girk gave a novelty flirtation act consisting of dancing and singing. Kayser announced that he would fulfill the request of the letters he received and let the banjo player sing "Charmaine." There is no put-on when this fellow sings and for that reason he is well liked. Lillian Thomas was next with a ballet dance in which she brought in a few comic acts. She was followed by Billy Snyder who 6ang for his first number. "Back In Your Own Back Yard." Kayser and Snyder locked horns with some jokes but Snyder always getting the best. For his next number Snyder sang. "We Got to Stay Home Tonight." He is full of pep and goes over well. The concluding number consisting of the six girls and Zastro and White doing a fast dancing number ended the show of "My Valentine." St. Louis State Week Ending February 17 Al Jolson in person was the big noise on this week's program. He sang his newest songs and the old favorites, including ,of coarse, "Mammy." Teddy Joyce's stage show. "Valentines" was right up to standard. Banjo and his nine Banjomaniacs was featured, while the maneuvers of the Criss Cross Girls won much applause. There were a couple of good Swiss yodelers in the cast. They were Fritz Zimmerman and Marcelle Granville. Chester Merton, tenor, was also pleasing. Kirk Frederick led the pit orchestra in an overture of the Blue Danube and the Glowworm. A glowworm ballet in the stage helped tone the music. Chicago Nor shore Week Ending February 18 This week's bandshow was called "Hey! Hey! Hades," which featured Al Kvale and his Jazz Collegians, Lew Brice and Ginger Rogers, and was a distinct novelty in the way of bandshows. The show opened in a prologue in the form of a San Francisco Chinatown street scene in which the author of some popular number is shot. Chauncey Haines, at the organ, played Chinese music. The street scene rose and an enormous Devil rose from the floor and pulled up out of sight, the Devil's hand lowered with Al Kvale sitting on it. He then announced an Inferno of Jazz which the orchestra in a large cave setting and dressed as Devils, play while the ballet, in tiger skins enter on all fours and offer a good routine. "I've Been Longing For a Girl Like You," which the boys in the orchestra play and sing to the drummer who has a lady's hat on. Bemis and Brown, girl and boy college steppers, offer a good eccentric tap dance and a soft shoe dance to a very good hand. Lew Brice, the featured attraction, offered comedy songs and jokes but didn't seem to register with this audience. The orchestra next offer a very fine arrangement of "Among My Souvenirs," which Andy Goes, the banjoist, sings ; Al Kvale solos on a cornet. This number received general applause. The ballet next offer a bell dance to the tune of "How Dry I Am." In this number the girls keep in tune by shaking bells in cocktail shakers. Al played a solo of "How Dry I Am" on bells which were fastened on the girls' backs. This was well received for the novel idea. Kay Spangler next enters and sings, "He's the Last Word" as Jack Spangler, in a comic suit, enters and then does a good ice dance. Kay next sang "Ladder of Love" in a weak but sweet voice, then she did a good high kicking dance. Jack then sang, "Nobody But Me," Kay then entered and they both finished with a good musical comedy dance. Ginger Rogers, the little lady who has proved a favorite in so many houses she has played in. again met success with her singing of "I Told the World About You" to Al, which won her the instant approval of the audience. She and Al then sang "You'll Be Sorry," and earned three encores. The closing number, "Tiger Rag," was played by Al on his clarinet, while four girls in butterfly costumes and six as birds, perched on wings, as Ginger Rogers led the orchestra in the finale. Chicago Metropolitan Week Ending February 19 This South Side house, catering to the colored class is making no attempt to compete with the new deluxe colored house right opposite it in the way of stage entertainment. Carol Dickerson makes his debut here this week as the new master of ceremonies and band leader in place of James Bell. The stage portion ran as follows: Opening: With band number called "Tell Me Little Daisy" with Billy Franklyn, one of the band boys and a permanent fixture at this house, 6inging the chorus. After this Dickerson introduced Grimes and Henderson, two men who offered comedy singing, talking and dancing. The next specialty which also closed the 6tage part of this show, was offered by Louis Armstrong and Zutty Singleton, two more men from the band, who offered a comedy routine with Singleton impersonating the "wife" provoking huge laughter from the audience through their horse-play down the aisle as Armstrong went into his vocal of "I Ain't Never Gonna' Play Second Fiddle." These boys were almost as good as a professional team and were wellpaid for their efforts by applause. Observation: Carol Dickerson, as the new master of ceremonies here, is just the type that should fit into the new house to carry on the bandshow idea to that particular class of people. There is no doubt that at the present time, he is the sole attraction at this theatre that is responsible for keeping a certain portion of his audience from going across the street. Pittsburgh, Grand Week Ending February 11 The only act at the Grand this week is "The Four Americans" a quartette of Indians, who open with an Indian song, in costume, supplemented with a war dance, then one man does solo a vocal number, very good. The Four come out again in college clothes and sing two popular songs going over fine as the boys have a nice quartette, all voices being good. Feature was "Patent Leather Kid." Indianapolis Indiana Week Ending February 11 The stage attraction has been arranged by Jack Partington and, in keeping with the screen feature during the week, has a Russian background. There is an excellent dancing chorus headed by Louis and Freida Berkoff. Dances and songs are done well by the three Ormonde sisters. Also there is an appealing vocal quartet composed of four Russian young men. Character comedy is provided by Mathew Vodney. Chicago Capitol Week Ending February 18 Feeling the loss of Albert Short the Capitol theatre presents this week, "Gala Holiday Revue." Like a band of soldiers who have lost their leader so is the Capitol theatre, struggling on and wishing for the best. The orchestra in the pit under the supervision of Caeser Linden furnish the music for the entire presentation. The orchestra played a beautiful rendition of the overture Orpheum and was given quite a hand. It's good to hear an overture for a change after hearing so much jazz. The 6tage show opened with the 16 Capitol Girls dressed in soldier uniforms doing a pleasing military dance routine. In the background there was a picture of the White House and a man dressed as Abraham Lincoln. This made a beautiful picture to look at and was given a bursting applause. The show is arranged different than others. Next is a newsreel to let the stage get ready for the next act. The 16 girls come out again this time doing a 1928 dance, the black bottom. Schwartz and Clifford, two comedians, followed with a variety of jokes. The people like it and let you know. Schwartz next sang, "Everybody Loves My Girl," getting a fair applause. Clifford returned upon the stage and both exchange more jokes. They concluded their well received act by singing, "I'm Sitting on Top of the World." DeWinter and Henry followed with a ballet dance which did not create much interest. The girl should receive the honor for what applause they did receive. Hines and Smith, two boys sang, "I've Got Something to Write the Folks About Now." The boys accompany themselves on a piano and banjo. They harmonize well together and were given a hand no one could kick about. The next number was, "Everything is Spanish Now." For their concluding number they sang, "Who." The Finale was a very beautiful Indian scene with the 16 girls sitting around the wigwam. In the center stood an Indian chief who sang a love song. The girls went through a dance. These girls have something about their dance that is very attracting. DeWinter and Henry gave a ballet danoe which ended the performance. Observation : The Capitol is lacking another big thing and that's organ solo. Anita de-Mars who plays the organ is very capable of playing solos, and it seems that the Capitol is making a mistake by not letting her play solos. It was noticed at this performance that the people around this reporter were humming with the organ all through the show. St. Louis Ambassador Week Ending February 17 "Russian Revels" was the title of Ed Lowry*s stage show of the week. It was distinctive entertainment. Lowry had a new comedy song, "The Vulgar Boatman," that went over big. He also sang "Hello, Bluebird." The other performers included Ormone Sisters, harmony singers; Louis and Freda Berkoff, Russian dancers, and the twelve Berkoff Girls; The Don Vocal Four, singers; Stella Stepanoff, soprano, and M. Vodnoy, who impersonated Balieff of the "ChauveSouris." COSTUMES Rented for Orchestras and Presentations Send for Orchestra Catalog and Prices NEW YORK COSTUME CO. 137 No. Wabash Ave. Chicago, III. A SERVICE TO THE PROFESSION We will take care of your income tax reports before MARCH IS at a small cost. The service we render is made possible only through the many years of experience we have had in the theatrical business which will save you a great deal of time and money. OUR CLIENTS WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF FREE OF CHARGE. LET US FILE YOUR INCOME TAX REPORTS 10 South LaSalle CARME ROMANO ^o^'" Street 3933 Realestator to the Profession If all the song slides now stacked up in the Organists' dressing rooms, "including my own," were returned to the Music Publishers, it would take 2349 mail clerks 473 days to handle the situation. BERNARD COWHAM ORIENTAL THEATRE, MILWAUKEE