Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

46 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD January 19, 1929 Chicago Chicago Week Ending January 11 The pit orchestra presented an overture of "Mignon" this week with Ulderico Marcelli conducting. This was a Spitalny creation and was played in admirable style. There was considerable surprise shown by the patrons in the youthful appearance of the director but also much admiration for hie expert handling of the musical program. The stage presentation was called "Stars and Stripes" and was presided over by Eddie Perry as master of ceremonies. The stage setting depicted the inside of a prison with three level platforms containing several cells on each level. The musicians as convicts and the entire offering was presented along these lines. It opened with a girl singing special lyrics about the host. Eddie Perry, who would lead the prison band, etc. The ballet which consisted of the Gould Girls, were the convicts and did some clever routine. Lambcrti was the jailer of the hoke type, and Roy Chaney was the keeper. Chaney offered a tenor selection of "Mia Bella Rosa" interpolating "O Sole Mio." His fine voice and personality put him in good standing with the visitors. He was followed by Reed and Duthers, a couple of young chaps, who as trustees, offered some acrobatic and tap dancing that was worth half of the admission. They were the best liked specialty outside of LambertL The three Dennis Sisters were carried on next in a fancy cell and were let loose to do their harmony singing without the aid of the band. Their first rendition was "Someone Is Trying to Steal You from Me" and we don't mind saying that a good many of the out fronters would have 6ighed with relief if someone had stolen them from the bill. These young ladies might be a sensation in the East on radio work but in this day and age of good talent it takes more than a pretty form to go over. Their second and last number "There's a Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder" failed to even get them a bow. The Gould Girls followed them with a novelty stoptime routine in which the band and Perry stopped the musical accompaniment at various intervals and caused much fun provoking. This was followed by Lamberti with his xylophone selection intermingled with dry humor that made him the star of the show. He played the identical selections that he played before on previous engagements, such as "Stars and Stripes" and the manner in which he was received proved that the audience didn't care how long he would stay on as long as he continued his funny antics. The show ended with the Gould Girls in black and white costumes as guards decorating the background set while the cast also assembled around the cells as two large bird cages each containing a convict, hung from each end of the scenery. Philadelphia Carman Week Ending January 5 A unique and exotic miniature musical comedy was presented at the Carman this week by the Billy Randall the 'Singing Dancing Violinist" Now Touring Combination Houses Soon to Repeat DELUXE PICTURE THEATRES Direction — MORT INFIELD Honorable Wu and his company of Chinese girls and beys in the "Feast of Lanterns." The dancing ranges from quaint. Oriental numbers to the most modern jazz and syncopation and the entire company show great skill and precision of movement. The Honorable Wu is an able leader and in addition is a clever impersonator and his representations of Eddie Cantor and Al Jolson brought much applause. In addition to their ability as dancers the Chinese youths and maidens proved to have exceedingly well trained voices and displayed great adaptability as entertainers, there being no trace of Oriental accent in their songs. The costuming was rich and colorful in the extreme and the staging of the show left nothing to be desired. St. Louis Ambassador Week Ending January 4 Dave Silverman was forced to pinch hit for Ed Lowry as the master of ceremonies for "Making Whoopee," as an attack of la grippe and bronchitis forced Ed onto the rip track so to speak. He was off the job for ten days. However, Dave made a very agreeable substitute. Myrtle Gordon helped immensely with a rollicking song routine while "Buddy," the orchestra drummer, sang a refrain as only "Buddy" can. St. Louis Missouri Week Ending January 4 Eddie Peabody, the syncopating banjoist, styled his stage show "Banjoys," and was very prominent with his banjo. In one of the turns each of the members of the Missouri Rockets was made to resemble Peabody. Some novelty. Chicago Paradise Week Ending January 11 Another good 6how under the able direction of the golden-voiced master of ceremonies, Mark Fisher, whose shows and personality continue to improve. The "Zig-Zag Follies" boasts some good scenes and the usual attractive costumes, to 6ay nothing of a personage well known to vaudeville-goers, Senator Murphy. The setting represents the inside of a cafe, half the stage given to tables and diners, and the other half to the orchestra. The first number was "Don't Be Like That," to which the ballet girls did a routine which included the services of the Four Edgecombs. The McCune Sisters then came on, singing "My Blackbirds Are Bluebirds Now" which received a fair hand, after which they went into a dance which pleased more. The band arrangement following was "I'll Get By as Long as I Have You." with chorus by Mark Fisher, after which followed an exchange of banter with the banjoist and the rest .of the orchestra which included a would-be-strike and several choruses of 0ux jfamousi &ct g>hall Me m &nobtm" The Famous LUCKY BOYS Direction — Wm. Morris DOC" WEBB Original Organ Novelties at the MARSHALL Square Theatre, CHICAGO the song. This was very funny and heartily applauded. Grace Johnson sang a few numbers, "He's a Great Big Hearted Baby" and "Lonely Nights." Her voice is not remarkable but pleases, and her personality is such that "she'll get by" even without ability to hit the high Cs. Following her was a little colored dancer with an infectious grin who had been "waiting" on tables, waltzing on and off the stage at various intervals with the same empty bottle on the tray. His name was not announced at this performance, but his dancing was snappy though he was through in no time. He merited and received a big hand. The featured performer came on next. Senator* Murphy, whose political talk was as hugely enjoyed as it was clever and funny. The Edgecomb Four followed with a tap dance which received fair applause. The number preceding the finale was "She's Funny That Way," with Fisher taking the spotlight. As usual, his singing was immensely enjoyed. He sang "Who Wouldn't Be Jealous of You" while the cast assembled on the stage for the finale. Chicago Avalon Week Ending January 11 Roy Dietrich's "Bluin' the Blues" was quite some snappy offering. The stage setting was moderne to the nth degree, the orchestra was on its toes every minute and Roy — well, Roy is just Roy. The show started off with a haunting echo of "The Rhapsody in Blue," the curtains parted, the scrim lifted and the Abbott Girls did a nice routine. This started the pace for the entertainment. Keeping up the pace and increasing it was the Midnight Trio, three dark boys formerly with Paul Whiteman. Acrobatic tap dancing is their specialty with special emphasis on picking up handkerchiefs off the floor. One of the trio fairly turned himself front to back in his effort and succeeded to nice applause. Their other hankie stunt was to somersault over two chairs and retrieve the hankie. The boys were clever, three encores proved it. Ketch and Wilma (whether that is the name of the messenger boy I an not quite 6ure, but rather think it applies to the feminine half of the act) stopped the show. It was one of the best ventriloquist acts I've ever seen. Not only was the patter excellent, but the handling of the doll was almost too realistic. "Wash your neck," both stories, and the heart rending sobbing of the messenger boy < doll ) convulsed the audience. This act ended with Ketch singing a duet with himself. Quite an accomplishment. The show quieted down for a few minutes while the orchestra presented "Listen to the Danube" with one of the boys singing the chorus, during which the scrim back stage lifted disclosing the Abbott Girls posed in graceful positions. After the song they came to front and went through a very pleasing classical routine which was well received. Elcota and Byrne followed and continued the riotous fun. Elcota is on excellent terms with his xylophone, and while most of his playing was fooling, his rendition of "Kol Nidre" was splendid. His gum, wigs and signs brought many extra laughs. Miss Byrne's first appearance was by far her best. Dressed in what appeared to be an old fashioned idea of a society ballet costume, goggles, galoshes, very large daisy and wool wig, she presented her Spring dance with many stumbles and unbreakable solemnity, which brought her a good hand. Roy brought this fast moving show to a successful close singing "Blue Shadows" while the girls paraded in various shades of blue costumes, and finally posed against a vivid background of a setting sun. Chicago Marbro Week Ending January 11 This week's stage presentation featured Buster West in Charles Kaley's "Shakes of 1929." The offering was beautifully staged with appropriate scenic background and the band situated in two sections, upper and lower, divided by a staircase in the center. It opened with the Marbro ballet dancing to a band tune while Kaley and a blond girl opened the proceedings with "You're the Cream of My Coffee." This was done in the form of a duet with Charley and the girl sitting on a 6ettee in the center of the stage while the boys in the bank took part in a comedy byplay as they sang. The ending, aided by a flicker light, was novel and received a good hand. This was followed by a young couple, who probably were Pepito and Carthe, who presented some novel varsity drag steps. They were followed by Jerome Mann in some clever impersonations such as Ted Lewis, Eddie Leonard, and Pat Rooney. This chap