Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

January 26, 1929 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 39 STAGE SHOWS Chicago Chicago Week Ending January 19 The one and only Ted Lewis, with hie hot tunes, snappy songs, clever dancing, tricky high hat and what else, was in town for 6ix days and played to an immense crowd that packed the Chicago theatre doors night and day. Lewis was better than ever, and the audience showed their appreciation with a three minute applause. His ten piece orchestra was red hot, and no doubt the patrons could have sat for 6ix more hours listening to them. Lewis's high hat was clever too. As the show opened, Ted Lewis appeared in front of a drop telling the people he was a "blues" lover. He next introduced his orchestra, who played a hot tune while Lewis led with a hot clarinet. "The Hat With a Silver Lining" was given in a dramatic Lewis fashion, of which he showed his high hat that had a silver lining. It received a bursting applause. "The St. Louis Blues," the song that did a lot for Lewis or, we might 6ay, Lewis did a lot for "St. Louis Blues." It was played in a new and different style and was a corking hit. "I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby," another popular hit song that got a nice hand. A solo dancer gave a little dance, using Lewis for her man. Other songs that were introduced by the orchestra were "Tiger Rag." "The Curtain Goes Down," all of which any 6ong publisher can be proud to say Lewis played for them. Three minutes after the curtain went down the crowd applauded, and applauded the fellow they called king of the blues. Ted Lewis. San Francisco Warfield Week Ending January 18 Horace Heidt and his Californians, successors to Rube Wolf, landed at the Warfield theatre this week in a splash of real music, although it must be acknowledged that it inclined strongly to jazz. The landing was so perfect that there seems no doubt about the popularity of this outfit with the San Francisco public. Of course, it was largely a case of a home band coming home, since every member of the organization has been a student at the University of California, but it was performance that won the crowd the opening week. The screen attraction and the acts were not to be sneezed at but, after all has been 6aid and done, it was Heidt's Caroling Californians, or Campus Cacaphoni6ts, as they are sometimes called, that walked off with the honore. Every man in the band is a soloist, and there are some clever dancers and acrobats in the lot, so they could easily put on an entire act. The curtain went up on the band in a campus setting, with a lot of good will offerings from admirers in the form of floral pieces, and the Californians in the act of dispensing some well known college airs. A well behaved police dog occupied one of the chairs and barked at quite the proper moments. Fanchon and Marco's "Good News" chorus offered a song and dance and one Jones, whose feet seem electrified, won laurels for the colored race, being called back repeatedly. Babe Kane, star of the "Good News" show, and announced as originator of the Varsity Drag step, Bang a little ditty about a cookie jar but no cookies. She hasn't much of a voice but won the crowd when it came to stamping out the Varsity Drag. The Caroling Californians demonstrated that they can really carol and offered a selection from the "Prince of Pilsen," following with "I Love You. California." Ronald and Bo-Peep Karlin sang "My Troubles Are Over" .and Bo-Peep did an acrobatic dance. Gillara and Allerberg, celebrating their fifteenth year in the freshman class, offered a novelty act filled with delightful patter. They are a pair far above the average in entertaining ability. The acrobatic drummer of the band surprised all with some clever dancing and tumbling, and Babe Kane tried another song, redeeming herself completely with her lively dancing. The act came to an end with the usual finale, the curtain at the rear of the stage going up on some modernistic box effects, with pigeon holes in which members of the "Good News" chorus posed. This band of Heidt's deserves watching. It's wonderfully well trained. It's thoroughly collegian and it can make good music. And Horace Heidt himself is a splendid master of ceremonies, with a good voice and an easy manner. Detroit Michigan Week Ending January 11 Mae Murray, blond and vivacious screen star, made a personal appearance at the Michigan this week, in addition to the regular Publix stage unit "Stars." Miss Murray, richly dressed, sang a little, danced a little, recited "pieces" and offered advice to her audience, all to the throbbing of a marimba band which she is carrying with her this year. The former Ziegfeld star was seen here a year ago in the "Merry Widow Revue." Her act this year is not as sumptuous as the revue, but at least it gives MiS6 Murray more time on the stage. Miss Murray has a new dancing partner this year. Jack Moffa, and they showed to advantage in the two dance numbers. By way of epilogue. Miss Murray told the folks her secret for happiness, which is, precisely: "To be happy, forget unhappiness." "Stars," the regular stage show, celebrates the third anniversary of the advent of the Publix units in Detroit. They first were staged at the Capitol theatre, and then moved over to the Michigan when that house opened. By sheer personality. Jack Powell carried off headline honors. Jack works in blackface, using two sticks, a chair and some drum traps to work such magic of syncopation that one scarcely believes his own ears. Oh boy, Powell can make the trap drum talk. Maureen and Sonny were a couple of cute kid dancers who almost stopped the show with their hoofing. They were very, very good. Evans and Perez were youthful acrobatic dancers, and Lyndon and Farman did balancing numbers which were reminiscent of big time vaudeville when the two-a-day was in its hey-day. Jerry Ryan sang in an unexciting baritone and Al Evans and his Michiganders furnished the musical background of the show. Not to forget the Gamby-Hale Girls in new steps and costumes. Kansas City Pantages Week Ending January 11 I. J. Irving's "Flapper Freshies" were given a prominent place on the stage program at the Pantages. The act consisted of vocal and dancing numbers with a bit of dialogue and comedy thrown in, being more or less in the nature of a revue. Niblo and Spencer were seen in a comedy skit titled, "Go West, Boys," the number including comedy dialogue and vocal numbers. The Silks and Satins Revue saw* some attractive looking girls who knew how to dance, as well as sing, the act being on the revue type, Al Garbelle. Loana Gainer, Mary Gorgas, Dorothy Erickson, Madge Whiteside and Lucile Hotaling being featured. Elsa Stralia, Australian soprano, offers a trio of vocal numbers, concluding with a popular number that leaves the audiences in a receptive mood. The Hickman Brothers have a turn in which comedy and a bit of everything is involved. Louie Charninsky and his Pantages orchestra offer popular selections as the overture. Pittsburgh Penn Week Ending January 5 A Publix unit entitled "Bubbles," proved to be an all-around tuneful, nicely staged offering with plenty of comedy. Whenever there is an abundance of comedy these offerings seem to go over better than ever. It's what the audiences want here : comedy wTith dance ensembles running a clo6e second for popularity. The Dave Gould Girls (ten in number) offered several pretty dance ensembles. The opening number in which the girls tossed about large silver balloons to represent bubbles was prettily and realistically done. The Gatanos, acrobatic Apache dancers, put on a rough dance which went well. These dances are no novelty, however, this one carried a wallop inasmuch as the male member of the team showed great strength and skill with the manner in which he swung and threw his partner about the stage. Gene Sheldon performed cleverly on the banjo and also with tap dancing. This fellow is a real comedian and got hearty applause at every appearance. Ruth Petty 6cored when 6he sang "I Want to Be Loved by You." She sang the number to Teddy Joyce, popular M. C. here. Ross and Edwards with some duets and duologue went well, as did also Marta Kay, classical dancer. The symphony orchestra, under the direction of Elias Breeskin, offered selections from "The Desert Song." Salt Lake City Pantages Week Ending January 5 The Pantages vaudeville bill this week was headed by Dorothy Breyton and twelve debutantes in a classical dance novelty, which was very artistically presented. Telaak and Dean offered a new type of comedy patter, which was well reecived, and Heras and Wallace furnished their share of fun. The Marcus Sisters and Charlton Brothers open the bill with a classical exhibition of clever danoes. The picture offering was "Submarine," and tremendous crowds were entertained. St. Louis Missouri Week Ending January 11 "Gypsyland" was the title of Eddie Peabody's stage show for this week. Nat Spector, a comedian, Wallzer and Dwyer, songsters, and Bubbles CroweU were prominent in the entertaining. Milton Slosser offered one of his clever organ solos. Minneapolis Minnesota Week Ending January 19 "The Beaux Arts Frolic." a series of eight pictures painted with various sorts of art — music, the dance and dialogue — provides the entertainment this week on the Minnesota stage. The tableaux opens on a street in the Latin quarter of old Paris. A group of art students sound the keynote of the presentation. As the curtain rises, the street 6cene gives way to that of a garret studio where Al Mitchell and the AL MOREY Master of Ceremonies Guest Band Director for Balaban & Katz at the TOWER Theatre Chicago AffilLled with PnblU ARTHUR NEALY The Romantic Singer Discovered by BROOKE JOHNS and Still Under His Wines After Two Years With PUBLIX Community Organ Novelties LEONARD M. SALVO Featured Organist GATEWAY THEATRE, KENOSHA, WISCONSIN