Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

January 12, 1929 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 53 LOSAXS STAGE SHOWS Something about Everyone GREETINGS! ... As Larry Spier says, now that Christmas and New Year's is over let us get down to business. ... At least what is left of it in the show world. ... I suppose you all read the papers even if you are in a town where it comes out once a week providing the corner bank does not force the mortgage on it. . . . Well, at any rate the point I was driving at is that you all know by this time that the Question Mark, the great army U. S. plane is down from the endurance contest and has broken the world's record by staying up in the air 151 hours. . . . Some of our friend organists stay up in the air always, especially when sound pictures take their place in a theatre. . . . But who cares, says Don Isham, he can also fly a ship besides playing the organ and it pays to be handy these days. . . . The guy who said that a Jack of all trades is master of none, is all wet for Benny Meroff has made himself a master of ceremonies, that is a silent one and that's pretty good considering all the talking the others do for no reason at all. . . . Well, let's go on with the news here, we are not paid to write gags for Johnny Perking to steal, so here's the weekly scandal. . . . Word reaches us that the U. A. theatre in Chicago cuts out its orchestra next week. . . . Another house has gone mad "talking" pictures. . . . Ken Whitmer, is the new m.c. at the Olympia theatre in New Haven. . . . George Laby is managing the house and Wallace R. Allen is the P. A. . . . Speaking of masters of ceremonies do you know that our old Chicago friend. Al Belasco, is now at the Wisconsin in Milwaukee. . . . Ben Ross took his place in Newark. . . . Don't weaken organists ! If the "talkies" bother you just become a m.c. . . . Bill Bennett is one and Milton Slosser tried it and now Con Maffie has gone and done it while Vic Insirillo is home sick. . . . Maffie is still in Houston. . . . Bob Hope has taken Ted Leary's place at the Stratford theatre in Chicago. ... Ed Lowry is back at the Missouri after being ill and Slosser is back at the organ after pinchhitting for him. . . . Horace Heidt is to replace Robe Wolf at the Granada in Frisco when he leaves for six months. . . . Lubin, Larry & Andre are featured at the Chicago Palace this week. . . . Ted Lewis will start a tour of B. & K. theatres next week. . . . Tom Brown and Buster West are nowplaying at the Marks Bros, houses. . . . Jake Hammond, formerly featured organist in Kendallville. Ind., is now at the Strand in Fremont, Ohio. . . . Alvin Evans is playing his fifth guest engagement at the Rialto in Joliet as solo organist. . . . Leo Terry was there for over a year. . . . Eddie Hanson is now guest organist at the B. & K. Congress theatre. ... He was also at the Belpark and the rest of the Chicago houses. . . . Leonard Lee, organist at the Madison theatre in Peoria, was a Chicago visitor last week. . . . Willie Horowitz just returned from New York and reports that "I Faw Down and Go Boom," is a big hit for his firm. . . . "Our Gang," just completed a comedy called. "I Faw Down." . . . "What a break for Donaldson, Douglas & Gumble. I. . . Constantine Bakaleinikoff, director of the Criterion theatre orchestra in Los Angeles, is to score and synchronize "The Younger Generation," a Columbia photoplay. . . . Joseph Cherniavsky, the musical director for Universal Picture Corporation, is scoring the "Show Boat." . . . "Love Dreams." is the theme song of "Alias Jimmy Valentine," an M G M picture. . . . Robbins Music Corp. is publishing the song and other themes for the film producer. . . . Lina Basquette, stage and screen star and widow of the late Sam Warner, is to star in a Fanchon & Marco unit over West Coast Theatres. ■ . . Bruce Fowler, formerly manager for several B. & K. Chicago theatres, i6 now director of personnel for West Coast in place of Jack Mansfield who has been promoted. . . . Richard Spier, is now city manager of West Coast Theatres in Tacoma. . . . Ruth Simons, wife of Seymour Simons, Detroit bandleader, died of the "flu" two weeks ago. . . . Mabel Duggan, ■ head of the International Vaudeville Exchange of Detroit is a bankrupt. . . . Leo Feist, Inc., are coming out with another edition of "My Man," which Fannie Brice has gone and put into a Vitaphone of the same name. ... If you want to buy a car of any make or anything at all be sure to seek the advice of W. S. Russell of this department before you pay out your good money. . . . Adios until next week. (Continued from preceding page) climbing exhibition both thrills and amuses the audience. His efforts at balancing a cone in his ear and then transferring it to the other ear without usint; his hands is laugh provoking. Dolores, Eddie and Salmonoff are the outstanding feature of the stage 6how. This adagio team, presenting a routine that combines effectively the spectacular with the beautiful, have a sense of rhythm and co-ordination that is developed to an unusual degree. They toss little Dolores around with an abandon that seems reckless, but she survives despite the contortions, twists and near-falls she endures. The finale is worthy of a Moulin Rouge, from which it probably gets its inception. The invisible, up to this time, mill has a wheel the spokes of which are beautiful girls, tied with golden cords. Along the sides are the Foster girls in different poses, and on top of the mill is a large rosebud, which, at the climax, opens and reveals the spirit of the blossom. The entire ensemble is on the stage with strings of blossoms in their hands, while the orchestra plays, "Blossoms." Philadelphia Fox Week Ending January 5 Wide variety characterized the surrounding bill at the Fox this week. The orchestra, conducted by William A. Krauth, played "Indian Fantasy," accompanied by a stage presentation with Stella Powers singing in Indian garb as she stood beside a waterfall falling into a canyon against a picturesque sunset scene with crimson sky and violet shadows. The Sii Lucky Boys were extraordinarily good and their difficult and clever acrobatic stunts stirred the audience to round after round of applause. They csme on the stage with pep and enthusiasm and apparently enjoyed themselves as much as the audience for they played tricks on each other and kept things moving at a rapid rate. Three of the boys lie on their backs on tables and the others are somersaulted from the hands and feet of the reclining ones into the air. One stood on the upraised feet of another lying while a third was somersaulted to his shoulders, regained his balance and stood upright. A difficult stunt was to balance on the upraised feet of another lying down, turn a somersault and land again on the two feet. In fact you'd never believe there was such a variety of somersaults as those boys turned. Nan Blackstone, accompanied herself on her little green piano in the manner that is known as "blues singing." She sang "I Ain't Takin' Orders from No One" and "He's Funny That Way" but her stuff didn't go over very big and there was scant applause. Lieutenant Gitz-Rice and his Northwest Mounties in their brilliant red uniforms, with the picturesque barracks for stage setting, well blended voices and Petite Marie to do the dancing all helped to make a popular number. They sang a generous number of their characteristic songs ranging from Indian songs to the well-remembered "Dear Old Pal of Mine" composed by Lieut. Gitz-Rice while in France during the World War. They sang a French Canadian 60ng. We didr't know what it was all about but we liked the swing and rhythm of it. They also sang "Magnolia Gal," with Petite Marie dancing gaily, and the applause was generous. Indianapolis Indiana Week Ending January 12 The Frank Cambria-Publix stage show gives the band an opportunity to read a "proclamation" about its inception and its record since that time. They review their "travels" that were made from week to week in each new show and re-visit some of their former haunts. They also provide a high point in the entertainment by playing a "1929 version" of the St. Louis Blues. Jimmie McClure, an 11-year-old local youth con WANTED! Moving Picture Theatre Managers One of the large national theatre circuits is looking for manpower! They want men of experience, character, ability, initiative, men who are looking for a field in which to advance. They want the new type of showman — the man who is moving along with the procession — live wires and yet business executives. They want you! Write in your application, stating your past experience, your present position and salary, your qualifications, your ideas. Sell yourself in a letter! Make it comprehensive — not rambling. Businesslike — not discursive. Showmanshiplike — not perfunctory. Ad dress P. A. E. care Exhibitors Herald-World Write today!