Exhibitors Herald World (Jul-Sep 1929)

July 20. 1929 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 91 MUSIC AND TALENT Fanchon & Marco Extend to Midwest STAGE SHOWS Jersey City Stanley Week Ending July 12 Hy C. Geis, at the organ openf this show with a chorus of "Over There" as a trailer introducing. "Over the Top" is shown. The first scene is a Canteen or "Y" hut in which Jack Rawan (top Sergeant) leads in three chained soldiers (The Bernie Bros.) They offer the finest routined tap dance while being chained together ever witnessed here. Their reception was very good. Johnny Burke as a rookie enters and gags with Rawan. Ben Ross as the Captain introduces Burke who then gives the audience many good laughs when he has different members of the band play three different timee simultaneously as he playe "Roses of Picardy" at the piano. The pride of the regiment. Doris Roche as a little doughnut girl, next sings in a very pleasing voice first to Ross then to Burke "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling." She sings five choruses, three being encores. Her voice is so pleasing and she puts the song over so well that the audience seems reluctant to let her go. Ben Ross, who has gained his popularity by his fine singing follows with a fine rendition of "I Kiss Your Hand, Madame." Ben's voice is just as fine as ever but whoever placed him in this spot, shouldn't have, because he failed to take his usual encore. A bugle then plays the "Drill Call" and scene shifts to outside barracks, in which Sergeant Rawan tries to drill the awkward squad. The three Bernie Bros, then show the squad (and also the audience) a military precision tap dance at it should be done. Their dancing is done in perfect unison, making them appear as one body. Again they were very well received. The scene again changes, this time a most realistic battle scene with guns firing, cannons roaring etc. After this Johnny Burke does his humorous monologue of joining the army, draft board, etc. This as usual had the house uproarous. The finale consisted of the unfolding of enormous allied flags as "Miss Columbia" (Doris Roche) stands in a beautiful shield and Ben Ross sings, "Step by Step," 'as a grand punch. Chicago Granada Week Ending July 11 Marks Brothers presented a Festival of Flowers featuring Benny Meroff, his band. Evelyn Dean, Rio Brothers, Mahon Florence Trio, Seaman Brothers and Vfiss Lane, for their stage atraction this week. The Festival of Flowers was a mammoth floral disilay furnished by the Allied Florists Association of llinois. The entire stage was decorated with wreaths >f roses backed by a huge trellis eyclorama of flowers, n the front and center of this display the orchestra vas arranged. The show opened with members of the ballet disributing roses to members of the audience. With he opening curtain the Granada ballet, headed by diss Evelyn Dean, who sang "Red. Red. Rose." gave . very artistic dance number for the introduction of ■ienny Meroff, who joined Evelyn in the finish of the ong. Meroff then introduced the Mahon Florence frio, an athletic act that received a big hand. Next ame the Rio Brothers, two fresh freshmen who put »ver a sort of collegiate tap dance with considerable lovelty. They received a big hand, were called back 'or more and were followed by a band number enitled "The Whoopee Hat Brigade." in which several nembers of the band gave a short vocal solo, ex■loitating several of the latest creations of college ate. The number was good and got a big hand, tenny pulled a fast finale to the number with a hort demonstration of his dancing ability. The ballet then gave a short production number (Continued on page 92) Eddy Hanson EDDY HANSON — do you know him? Of course, you do, but here is some inside info. Eddy was selected some two years ago by Kalahari & Katz to play solos at the Tivoli and Uptown theatres, their two deluxe neighborhood houses at that time, and he has been with them ever since. About a year ago B & K started to shift the organists from one theatre to another so naturally Eddy was shifted also. He played at the Chicago, B & K class loop house; Paradise, Norshore. Senate. Tower — in fact every one of their deluxe houses. When Balaban & Katz decided to inaugurate the sound policy in a few of their houses about six months ago they selected Eddy as solo organist for their Congress theatre, one of the biggest houses on the circuit and he has been doing great there as our organ column in past issues will show. "The Man Who Put Community Singing on the Map" Fox Expansion Of Presentation Optimistic Note West Coast Units Open at Chicago Neighborhood House August 2 By W. S. RUSSELL Lo ! these many years, the world, or the bigger portion of it, known as the United States, has heard of Fanchon & Marco. In the past, however, one has had to board the de luxe trains or take advantage of the new air service, and travel Westward if he were to enjoy these stage presentations. Xo more will this be necessary. Fox, in gaining control of West Coast Theatres — the circuit over which F & M has traveled for years — will expand this presentation service so that key points throughout the country may benefit by the units' popularity and entertainment value. Plans are now to reopen the Sheridan theatre in Chicago, a class neighborhood house, on August 2, and the de luxe picture bill will be augmented by the Fanchon & Marco presentation units. It stands to reason that this will not be the only extension of the F & M presentation service. Although the Sheridan will be a key point, it is to be expected that a complete routing, covering many weeks, will be a part of the expansion program of this music and talent service. The Sheridan will change its program every Friday, with a new Fanchon & Marco unit of "California Sunkist Beauties" and featured artists on each weekly bill. The Chicago theatres of Fox are headed by Clyde Eckhardt, a seasoned showman who knows entertainment values. The temporary district manager in Chicago is Roy McMullen, who is handling the inaugural program at the Sheridan. Reopening of the Sheridan, and the extension of the F & M units, augurs well for the stageshows. Instead of the pessimism of a few weeks ago, there is now a logical optimism. Publix, which has effected temporary suspension of stageshow units in "B" theatres, is expected to revert eventually, because of public demand, to the presentation policy. Suspension of these units has met with general public disapproval. Yes, the situation in our field is encouraging.