Exhibitors Herald World (Jul-Sep 1929)

July 6, 1929 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 121 that will keep it in a distinct clase ae the most wonderful place of its kind in America. The stage prologue to the "4 Devils" wae short and effective with two men, one in the role of a clown who sang "On With the Show" as the film was flashed during the last refrain. The theme song of the Fox picture was played throughout, it's called "Marian." Chicago Paradise Week Ending June 28 "La Fiesta" was the title of this week's show and it was the same presentation reported last week at the Oriental. Mark Fisher was given some interesting talent to help put over the show. Boyd Senter, Roy Rogers and Mary Williams were the artiste. And Mark, of course, was the headliner. Jack Peacock Kelly, a member of the orchestra, was the best xylophone player ever seen. We can't explain how good he was but he was better than that. Roy Rogers, reported last week as a sensation, only proved the same things here. Roy's drunk act i6 clever and his tumbles are better still. Then Mark introduced Mary Williams, a favorite of this theatre, having sung over radio station WGES. Mary sang the chorus of one number seven time-s. Then the people were not satisfied. Boyd Senter, saxophone player, gave an interesting presentation. He played three numbers. Then Mark Fisher, West Side's favorite, and in fact the favorite of Chicago, sang "Because You Said I Love You." Mark sure has a pleasing voice. He was compelled to take three encores. The orchestra was necessary to stop the applause. The Ballet Girls came on with striking costumes while elaborate drops fell in back of the orchestra. It was truly a picturesque ending. Chicago Chicago Week Ending July 5 The Chicago presented this week for their stage attraction Annapolis, featuring Mark Fisher and his k band. The show opened with a male chorus singing I "Navy Blue and Gold." The curtains parted to inI troduce Mark Fisher who sang "I Get Blue When It Rains." In this number the band gave imitations of the way Paul Whiteman. Phillip Sousa and Ted Lewis might play it. At the finish of thus number the ballet did a military routine dance number as an introduction of Osgood and Layne, two clever tap dancers, who put their number over by their personality rather than their ability to dance ; a real team and received a big hand, called back for more and gave it. Next came the popular Miss Evelyn Wilson and oh how she did her stuff and after her bit of clowning got a big hand for "Poo Poo Pe Poo." She promised to come back later and Evelyn, a girl of her word, did. The band then accompanied Fisher who sang "Big City Blues" and "Louise." For "Louise" a special : set was used and the ballet helped complete the set. The regular Chicago orchestra accompanied him for this number. Mark Fisher made a wonderful hit with the audience. This always occurs no matter in what house they put him. Why not with his excellent voice? Evelyn Wilson keeps her promise and returns with "Goodbye, Broadway. Hello, Montreal," gave several drunk impersonations and was given the applause of the evening. For the finale, a slight change was made in the set, Jack Peacock was featured in "On Parade," the ballet in a patriotic revue with the Statue of Liberty in the background. The Chicago orchestra played for their overture "Russian Airs" featuring Hans Muenzer, violinist in "Paraphrases" by Kretchner, "Trepok" by Rubenstein and "Souvenir of Moscow." This overture was wonderful and Muenzer certainly deserved the ovation which was given him. St. Louis Ambassador Week Ending June 27 Harry Rose was pinch hitting for Ed Lowry as master of ceremonies during this week, and entitled his stage offering "Fore" a golf 6howlet in which Alex J. Morrison, who claims to be the world's champion golf 6hot expert, was featured. Morrison did his stuff within the limits of the stage. Others who helped put the show over were Cliff Crane, Brian McDonald, Olive Faye and Wilton Crawley, played a snappy number and each act had to do their bit before being entered into Jazz Heaven. The Small Brothers gave a snappy fast stepping dance number and were followed by Lolita Amiet who sang "My Dear" and "Falling for You." She has a good voice and got a real hand. After another band number Frank Sterling, "Harmonica King," gave a demonstration of what can happen if you know how to use a mouth organ. Anders and Millis ended the show with a lot of wise cracks that received a big hand. St, Louis Missouri Week Ending June 29 George Olson's jazz band wa« the featured stage offering: of the week and from all accounts went over very, very big. This organization was one of the bip jazz hits of the East the current season and it was St. Louie* first opportunity to give them the once-over since they arrived. Perhaps we are too enthusiastic but it appeared to be the best popular music program offered in St. Louis since the visit of Paul Whiteman and hi« players. Olsen has superior musicians who have the knack of giving that certain something to their syncopations besides filling it with noise and fun. Their stunt of using any three notes suggested by the audience and improvising a jazz piece in which these notes recur in the theme took down the house. It was something decidedly different and that is what St. Louis audiences require. Chicago Harding Week Ending June 29 Louis Adrian presented a very pleasing show featuring Frank Sterling, Small Brothers, Lolita Amiet and Anders and Millis. For the opening the band Philadelphia Mastbaum Week Ending June 28 The stage show, "Circus Days." at the Mastbaum this week provides plenty of snappy entertainment with the atmosphere of the big tent. A decided musical novelty is the contest "Organ Versus Orchestra," in which Stuart Barrie at the Wurlitxer organ and Charles Previn, conductor of the Mastbaum orchestra, engage in a friendly controversy as to the popularity of their instruments. Stuart Barrie played "Lover, Come Back to Me," "Grand Val.se de Concert" and a jazz selection and Previn to show the versatility of the orchestra, gave the "William Tell Overture," "Angels* Chorus*' from "Faust" and a highly amusing take-off of the average jazz band in "Mean to Me." The feature went over bipr and the applause of the audience seemed to be equally divided. In the absence of Jack Stanley, leader of the stage band and master of ceremonies, Stuart Barrie assumed his duties. The Foster Girls dressed in stunning Pierrette costumes, gave a finished exhibition of high stepping. Vera Van in green tights and rhinestones contributed some acrobatic stunts and contortionistic dancing. Fink and Ayer on roller skates, furnished a thrill with their marvellous exhibition of skating in a circumscribed area. What those boys can't do on roller skates isn't worth doing. Their most thrilling stunts are those in which the lighter weight partner was whirled at a terrific rate of speed by one foot attached to a strap around the other's waist and was also swung in a circle holding only by his teeth. Two baby elephants. Tulsa and Julie, did circus tricks that would have done credit to veterans of the sawdust ring. They performed with perfect confidence and ease the well known barrel stunt, did the Charleston, kicked up their heels, walked a plank and danced to the strains of "Sidewalks of New York," voicing their disapproval of the whole proceeding by repeated bellowing. There was an undercurrent of feeling among the audience that this act was inhumane. Probably the most attractive number was the horse drill by the fifteen Foster Girls dressed as three teams of horses, white, black and brown in color. These girls are truly high steppers and pranced about the stage in a spirited competition for the favor of the audience, to be determined by applause, with the white team winning the blue ribbon by popular choice. As the girls left the stage they were followed by a disreputable old nag manipulated by two men, who kept the audience laughing with his ridiculous antics. This was an exceedingly clever act and the two men who manipulated the horse are experts in their line. Walzer and Dyer, a comedy team, depended largely on the female member who babbled incessantly, punctuating her speech with an inane laugh for success. They concluded with a unique dance as they made their exit and were heartily applauded. In the finale a silver trapeze was lowered from the ceiling as the fifteen Foster girls in white and silver climbed up by means of ribbons and gave a synchronized trapeze performance that showed splendid training. As they hung poised on the trapeze all the other entertainers, including the baby elephants, assembled on the stage and did their stunts. WITMARK'S ARE HITMARKS MUSIC FOR Dance and Theatre Orchestras, Radio, Presentation and Vaudeville Acts FIVE GREAT SONGS FROM ON WITH THE SHOW Warner Bros.-Vitaphone All Natural Color Production 11 AM I BLUE" " BIRMINGHAM BERTHA" "LET ME HAVE MY DREAMS" "IN THE LAND OF LET'S PRETEND" "WELCOME HOME" TWO GREAT SONGS FROM First National Vitaphone Singing and Dancing Production BROADWAY BABIES "BROADWAY GABY DOLLS" "WISHING AND WAITING FOR LOVE" FIRST NATIONAL VITAPHONE FEATURE "DRAG" "SONG OFTHE NILE" MAYBE-WHO KNOWS Ruth Etting's Sensation (You Made Me Love You) WHY DID YOU DANCE OF THE PAPER DOLLS YOU OUGHT TO SEE MY NEW BABY Al. Cook and Ira Schuster Professional Managers Bob Miller Manager, Band and Orchestra Depts. M. WITMARK & SONS 1650 Broadway NEW YORK