Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1930)

February 22, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 57 ^ the with • Ed Dawson New\brk Music 6Talent Helio, Eerybody: This being the birthday of "The Father of His Country" I think it fitting that something should be mentioned about him. First: after an exhaustive search through many files in the New York Public Library. I found that George Washington was a song and dance man. Believe it or not! — He gave his soldiers the well known song and dance at Valley Forge, when he found that he could not feed them. Second: — Washington, if he were living in this day and age, would be known as "The Head-man," instead of "Father of His CJountry." • • • Getting down to business, you will, perhaps, be interested in knowing something of Rube Bloom, whose composition, "Song of the Bayou" was awarded the $5,000 second prize by the Victor Talking Machine Company, for short Jazz compositions. . . . Bloom is a young man, under thirty, and a native New Yorker. He has done considerable recording and radio work as a concert pianist and is now under contract to the Radio Music Company, which is an affiliation of two well known music publishing companies, Leo Feist, Inc., and Carl Fischer. Inc. . . . "Song of the Bayou," is firmly establishing itself as a classic in the mode of spiritual composition. It is a colorful description of an incident, common in the Negro settlements of the deep South — the country of the bayous. • * • The first "surprise hit" of 1930 is, evidently, the Robbins Music Corporations' number, "Chant of the Jungle" from the M-G-M picture, "Untamed." The song, by these chronic "hit" writers, Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, is being played by every important dance orchestra and has been widely recorded, with the result that demand for sheet music copies has made it one of the "best sellers." • * * Joe Fuchs, Philadelphia branch manager of M. Witmark and Sons (using a Walter Winchell expression) is "that way" over Irene Rosen, non-pro. They were married last Sunday, in Philadelphia, and will make their new "love nest" at 107 Conlon Terrace, Philadelphia, Pa. • • e Pat Flsiherty, vice president and general manager of the Red Star Music Company, announces, as part of the firm's plan of expansion, these additions to his operating staff. . . . Herman Schenck, with headquarters in Los Angeles, is new Pacific Coast representative. Robert Earle, Southern rep., Eddie Peterson, mid-west, and Detroit, Sid. Lachman, Chicago, Carl Moore, Boston, and Tom Huston, Phily. • • • Danny Winkler, general manager of DeSylva, Brown and Henderson, Inc., has just returned from a flying trip to Boston and announces that he was so besieged by the music trade, with inquiries about the numbers from Ben Stoloff's hit, "Happy Days," that he is sure this picture and the music score will be a smashing hit. After witnessing the picture and hearing the marvellous music, therein, I can safely second Mr. Winkler's statement. • • • According to Sam Serwer, the ace publicity man for Warner Bros., music firms, "Non-picture songs are a live issue." Mr. Serwer's words are as follows: "That class of popular music which does not come from a motion picture is by no means to be forgotten." "Many songs of today which are not written for the pictures find just as sure a place with the public as those that are written for that purpose." "They are used in the shorter subjects of the screen, such as Warner Bros.' Storyland Shorts." "For instance, in the one entitled, "Holiday in Storyland," there are several songs which were not written for the purpose but which nevertheless receive a marvelous plug because they are used so." "The two songs in this short which are destined to be popular are, "When the Butterflies Kiss the Buttercups Good Night" and "Blue Butterfly." "The latter song is strengthened by its use as the finale number of the short." ORGAN SOLOS Emil Koeppel (Cleveland, Lowe's Park) offers a rather unusual original solo this week. The novelty opens with film of varied beautiful scenes of Hawaiian beaches, palm trees, sunset, etc., typical of Hawaii (that is as most of us imagine Hawaii). During the showing of this film Emil plays appropriate music such as "On the Beach of Waikiki," "Isle of Golden Dreams," etc. Then as this film fades the curtains close and Emil plays a spotlight solo of "Aloha Aloha," finishing the offering with slides of "Chant of the Jungle." (These slides being set in backgrounds of Hawaiian beaches and landscapes, thus carrying out the original thought.) The use of blue foots by Manager Lewis Mumaw to tint the film, and the blending of the booth and stage lights for the spot solo and the matching of the slide backgrounds by means of special cross lights from the sides of the stage help build things up. Folks seemed to like this novelty very much. Art Thompson (Eitz, Clarksburg, W. Va.) offered a very different sort of novelty last week, which consisted of several of Shapiro-Bernstein's new numbers. As a fitting title, he used "A Musical Diet," with gag lines to the tune of "My Wife Is on a Diet." The story told in the gag lines was that as his singing friends had been doing so well, that he thought they should go on a musical diet, while, to test their will-power, he played choruses of "Wrapped in a Red, Red Rose," "Ain'tcha" and "What Do I Care." Then through the medium of more gag slides he suggested that the audience "break the diet" and sing the closing chorus of "What Do I Care," which they did and how. The reception accorded this young fellow prove his popularity, and also prove that a clever organ solo, coupled with showmanship, is a necessity for any theatre's well balanced program. Leonard Smith (Chicago, Avalon) presents a very entertaining solo this week by offering several theme songs from recent talkies. He opens with "Tip Toe" from "The Gold Diggers of Broadway" and follows this with "H'lo Baby," from the "Forward Pass." After a few more choruses from other theme songs he falls into the tune of "Sweetheart Trail," with a young lady singing the words upon the screen. The young lady's name I do not know, but she possesses a very pleasing voice, as well as personality, and received a fine applause. Mr. Smith is always well received at the Avalon, as his solos are always clever and interesting. THEME SONGS "Cryin' for the Carolines," which is the featured song from the talkie "Spring Is Here," is beyond a doubt one of the song hits of the new year. "Have a Little Faith in Me" is also from the same picture. Both songs are published by Remick Music Corp. The new United Artist production starring Lupe Velez, entitled "Hell Harbor," has a theme song entitled "Caribbean Love Song." Miss Velez features the song throughout the entire picture. Leo Feist, Inc., are the publishers. Ager, Yellen & Bornstine's new number, "Molly," is the theme song from the recent Pathe production, "The Grand Parade." The song was written by Dan Doughery and Edmund Guiding. "Happy Days Are Here Again" is the featured song in Metro-Goldwin-Mayer's "Chasing Rainbows." The music is by Milton Ager and the words by Jack Yellen. StnCkndolph a BEST SELLERS Week Ejiding February 15 No. I "Happy Days Are Here Again" — (Ager, Yellen & Bornstine). No. 2 "Cryin' for the Carolines — (Remick Music Corp.). "Aren't We All"— (DeSylva, Brown & Henderson.) "Painting the Clouds With Sunshine" — (Witmark & Sons). No. 3 "I'm Following You" — (Irving Berlin). "Tip Toe Through the Tulips"— (Witmark & Sons). No. 4 "If I had a Talking Picture"— (De Sylva, Brown & Henderson). "Chant of the Jungle" — (Brown Music Corp.). No. 5 "Sunnyside Up" — (De Sylva, Brown & Henderson). No. 6 "Little Kiss Each Morning"— (Harms). No. 7 "When Ifs Springtime in the Rockiest' —(Villa Moret). "Beside an Open Fireplace"— (Santley Bros.). "Tain't No Sin"— (Donaldson, Douglas & Gumble). "Szveetheart Trail"— (Milton Weil). "Congratulations"— (De Sylva, Brown & Henderson). "Should I"— (Robbins Music Corp.). No. 8 "Talk of the Town"— (Leo Feist). "Have a Little Faith in Me"— (Remick Music Corp.). "My Sweeter Than Sweet" — (Famous). "All That I'm Asking Is Sympathy"— (Joe Morris). "You're Always in My Arms" — (Leo Feist). "Love" — (Irving Berlin). "Singing in the Bathtub" — (Witmark & Sons). "HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME"— (Remick Music Corp.). This song in the picture SPRING IS HERE, is an excellent number. Written by three boys who know how, is a slow fox trot with a lyric that means something. Lyrics by Sam Lewis and Young, music by Harry Warren. "WHAT A PERFECT NIGHT FOR LOVE"— (Handman, Kent & Goodman, Inc.) — This number written by three local boys has a great chance. It's a simple little ballad and should sell. Two of the writers are of the well known radio team Al & Pete and have already given this number quite a start. Words and music by Charles Lenzen, Al Cameron and Pete Bontsema. "WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE"— (Harms, Inc.) — The hit song of the Broadway production WAKE UP AND DREAM (not a picture), starring Jack Buchanan. This writer has some new ideas and can sure write. This song is great. Lyrics and music by Cole Porter. "LOVE AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT THE BLUES"— (Robbins Music Corp.) — This song is in the Metro Picture CHASING EAINBOW, with the BROADWAY MELODY stars Chas. King and Bessie Love. A great title, written up great both as to lyrics and melody. What more is there to say? Lyrics by Joe Goodwin, music by Louis Alter. "I STILL REMEMBER" — (J. Morris Music Co.) — A very pretty number both as to lyrics and melody and of the type that always sells. This firm has been quite successful with this type of song and will no doubt cash in on this one.