Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1928)

September 22, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 47 Chicago Capitol Week Ending September 14 The stage show thie week was called "On the Wharf" and featured Roy Dietrich, the popular south side singing bandleader. The presentation was staged and produced by Bill Biltgen and Billy Mills. The show opened in full Etage setting representing a wharf scene on the lower junction of New York's east side as the band played "Sidewalks of New York." Each member of the band including the cast wore typical bowery costume and after considerable byplay Roy Dietrich made his entrance as the chief of the gang and carried on in keeping with the story. His dancing with one of the ballet girls brought forth many hearty laughs. The next was a band arrangement of a medley of bowery tunes which were well played by the boys. It was also noticed that the leader has improved considerably in his manner of directing the band and is well appreciated for his efforts. Markell and Faun, the comedy eccentric dancers were next in one of the most entertaining routines ever seen in this theatre. The team are well-known in picture houses and stopped the show here. They were followed by the ballet in a clever burglar dance routine. By the way, these girls are one of the original Abbott groups who have made ballet history in Chicago in the last two years. Roy Deitrich next favored the crowd with a vocal chorus of "Don't You Remember Sally" and the applause for this was deafening. In fact, he was compelled to repeat with an encore, proving again that he is the idol of the south side. Gns Mulcahy was the next one on and with the exception of a sailor costume he presented the very same routine that he has been doing in these whereabouts for the past three years. However, he managed to go very big here. Wienhill and Brisco, two men in a comedy singingand-talking act, followed him with a silly series of smart chatter that seemed to please some and failed with others. The ballet came on again, this time for a short routine which turned out to be a surprise ending. In typical bowery style, a shot was heard off-stage and much noise followed. This compelled the other members to join the gang in a free-for-all fight which gave Roy Deitrich a plausible excuse to be alone and for his singing of "Lonesome," which served as the finale of the show. Leonard Smith, the organist, accompanied him as the boys in the band also joined the crowd in the fight. Observation: It is consoling to see a bandshow elose with a novel finish inasmuch as most of them open and close with the same idea. If bandshows or presentation attractions are to last, they must have Buch novel twists. Detroit Capitol Week Ending September 14 Del Delbridge, that popular band leader and master of ceremonies, celebrated his 1,500th consecutive performance since his arrival in Detroit, on the stage of the Capitol theatre this week, where a special Publix etage show was produced for the occasion. It bore the title of "Coney Island," and Del's celebration was observed in front of a setting depicting in futuristic style the rides and carnivals at that colorful park. OrviUe Rennie, late of "The Student Prince," was the singer starred in the show. Manreen and Sonny were two excellent child dancers brought here from the West Coast, and there were Fink and Ayres in an unusual skating act. Fenton and Fields were comedians. And very funny they were, too. Del and his Capitolians offered a novelty band number, specially arranged by Clyde Trask, which in VALE & STEWART Just Completed a Second Tour of Publix Will Soon Open in a New York Production Direction Lyons & Lyons to SA\^ about "^ — Everyone eluded all the popular selections played by Delbridge since he came to Detroit. The number featured one of Delbridge's own compositions, "Beside a Garden Wall." Del was starred at the piano. PRESENTATION EDITOR^ Anew house opened its doors to the Chicago public this week. . . . It's called the B & K Paradise and Mark Fisher is Master of Ceremonies. Over $2,000 worth of flowers were on display in the lobby as a token of good friendship and esteem held by many professional men for the singing band leader. . . . Almost on the same day Marks Bros. began their second anniversary celebration in Chicago theatredom. ... A clever stunt was arranged by their publicity chief Jack Hess, whereby the Rapid Transit Company put on a special Eddie Cantor Special "L" to accommodate the south side people. . . . More details will be found in another section' of this issue. ... Verne Buck met with instant success at the B & K Uptown last Saturday. . . . Hereafter he will rotate with Bennie Krueger at the Uptown and Tivoli both of Chicago. . . . Bennie is now playing a two weeks' engagement at the Oriental and is holding them out each night. . . . Monk Watson has replaced Nat Nazzaro, Jr., at the Wisconsin theatre in Milwaukee. . . . It is rumored that Nat forgot to show up. . . . Joe Kayser, formerly of Chicago and recently of Loew's Midland in Kansas City, Mo., as Master of Ceremonies, is scoring a big hit every night at the Merry Garden)B Ballroom, Chicago, with his peppy music. The . Cooney Bros., formerly heads of the National Playhouses, Inc., have taken over the Drake theatre of Chicago. . . . Joe McKeown, manager of the Broadway-Strand, a Marks Bros, theatre, was married last week to Lucille Krebs. . . . Speaking of marriages, do you know that George Pincus, in charge of the Presentation department of Leo Feist's Chicago Office, is going to be a benedict soori? . . . Yes, sir ! it won't be long now. . . . And Donald Florence of B & K is now wedded to Elenor Hess. . . . Looks like September is a marrying month as well as June. . . . Joe Alexander, now pushing pedals at the Alabama in' Birmingham, for a living, was a Chicago visitor. . . . He called on almost all his organist friends but forgot to say hello to his bill collectors. . . . Leo Terry just completed a long engagement in Joliet, no not for the State but for Great States as featured organist of their Rialto theatre and is back at the Piccadilly theatre in Chicago. . . . Leo opened the house over a year ago and has now replaced Ken Wiednor. . . . While on the subject of organists let us say that Don Pedro Espinosa is back in Chicago and will soon open at another theatre. . . . Leonard M. Salro, of the Capitol, Chicago, will replace Dr Hyland E. Slatre-Wilson at the Gateway theatre in Kenosha, as solo organist. . . . Eddie Dunstedter is still the rage of Minneapolis as featured organist in the Publix house. . . . Ramon Bcarry of the Chicago Alamo says so and if Ray says it, it must be so. . . . AI Mitchel is the band leader there. . . . Word comes to us from Fred Kinsley in charge of the organ presentations of the entire Keith-Orpheum Circuit, to the effect that by next year more than 40 Keith-Orpheum theatres will use organ solos. . . . Sounds like great news for organists. . . . Carl Coleman is featuring photoplay organ music at the Great Lakes theatre in Buffalo, while Jimmy Oates is doing solos. F & R have appointed Bobby Stewart, a ten' year old boy, as Master of Ceremonies for their Lake theatre in Milwaukee. . . . And John Ingram as band leader for their State theatre in Minneapolis. . . . Starting this week all B & K shows will open on Saturdays. . . . Nearly every deluxe theatre in Chicago now opens on Saturday. . . . Paul Specht made talking film subjects way back in 1923 for the De Forrest phonofilms. . . . 'Viola Dana of the movies will soon play the combination houses with a playlet. . . . Harry Hollowell has replaced Earl Sanders in the Publix booking office. . . . Earl goes back with the Keith-Orpheum; Circuit as head booker. . . . Roy Mack and AI Melnick, both of Chicago have left the office of Lyons & Lyons. . . . Lloyd Lewis, B & K press agent is editing their house organ. . . . The Tower theatre on Chicago's south side re-opens Sept. 22 as a presentation house with Frankie Masters as band leader and Eddie Hanson as solo organist. . . . Paul and Ferrol Dewees are being featured in "A Night in Spain." . . . Two more Presentation artists are in a musical show this week, they are Margulrete Ball and Doree Leslie and both appear in "Manhattan Mary" featuring Ed Wynn. New York Capitol Week Ending September 21 Program this week opens with a Hal Roach comedy featuring his rascals, better known as "Our Gang" in a 2-reeler "School Begins" — the gang appear in person and re-enact the scenes on the stage. The stage-program features Walter Roesner in his tenth month at the Capitol, leading the Capitolians in the revue, "Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue" — a Mort Harris production. 32 Chester Hale Girls open the show with a chorus toe dance in various colored summer-dresses blending from Red to White to Blue. The second number is "It Goes Like This" played by Walt Roesner and the stage-orchestra. Roesner has played cornet ; he has danced ; but never before have we known that he could sing. However, he sings a medley of songs in' the middle of this piece, then leads them back into the original song — and the orchestra boys each give their impression of certain lines in the selection. The drummer sings fair, the sax player sings a comedy parody, and so forth. The Chester Hale Girls give their dance version of "Vanities" coming on in four groups of eight, across stage cross'wise, then reappear with their back to the audience and doll-faces on the backs of their head-gear. Their dresses were black, green, white and red. Gil Wray, recently from California, and a ne'W addition to the stage orchestra, offers a solo song — proving himself with an excellent tenor voice, well trained. Three Pasqueli Brothers offer some fast acrobatic work which is received with an excellent hand. Their routine is a swift one, but they put over some difficult feats. A personal representative of Hal Roach is introduced by Walt Roesner, who in turn introduces "Our Gang's" school-teacher Mrs. Fern Carter. Hal Roach's proxy (muffed the name) says a word about the little "rascals" then Introduces them one by one. There is Joe Cobb, the fatty ; Farina, who wants it known he is a BOY : then Harry Spear, the 'toughest kid in Hollywood ; Jean Darling whom we all love and know as the cute little blonde girl, then Mary Ann Jackson, the freckle-faced kid who looks so much like Baby Peggy, and the littlest of them all, Wheezer, Oh, yes, not to forget Pete, the dog 'with a ring around his eye. The boys and girls and Pete re-enact a scene flashed on the screen, directed by Hal Roach — and after taking their bows and curtain speeches, the re'vue continues. The finale for the stage-show enlists 48 Chester Hale Girls in red, white and blue and brief costumes, the entire ensemble, and futuristic scenic effects 'with streamers and reflectors and a smashing crashing finish by the orchestra. On the second curtain "Our Gang" parade across the stage. Omaha Riviera Week Ending September 13 Lou Forbes, new master of ceremonies at the Riviera, put on "Rio Romances" as the stage act, with Joe Pcnner as the star performer. Joe made a hit from the time he burst out with "Do you want to buy a duck?" to his closing act. Manuel and Vida put on Spanish dances in brilliant red costume and Edward Albano sang. The stage effects were South American-Spanish, stage orchestra and all. Forbes, facing the difficult job of stepping into the shoes of Paul Spor, who was extremely popular with the audience. HENRI A. KEATES Selected By Balaban & Katz to Open i«2^^§3?si. Their — Paradise Theatre, Chicago