Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1930)

48 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD April 26, 1930 Before the Mike STAGE SHOWS ( Continued from page 46, column 3) It has been rumored that the new Cord car recently purchased by Jules Herbeveaux, popular orchestra leader of KYW, had been stolen from in front of his home. This may account for his broadcasting the last few days of Sullivan’s “The Lost Chord.” * * * No matter how important the broadcast, the doors to the CBS and NBC studios from which it goes on the air, can never be locked. This is not a superstition, but a fire regulation — Two of three masters of song and nonsense. Gene and Glenn, have set up headquarters in Cleveland — A star by virtue of her own ability. Georgette Cohan, daughter of the great George M. Cohan, made her radio debut with the Columbia system recently. * * * J. Oliver Riehl, music supervisor, claims the world’s record for the number of actual opera broadcasts — Dusty Roads, who is featured over WIBO from the Terrace Garden, will disband his orchestra, as he has signed a contract with his old boss, Ted Fiorito, who sails for England April 20th.— Jimmy Green and his Cocoanut Grove orchestra are a big hit over station WENR — -Leon Bloom, formerly musical director of the United Artists theatre, is considered one of the greatest violinists radio ha6 ever known. His delightful music can be heard over WBBM. * * * Camels cigaret company has subscribed for time on the air. This places three important brands of cigarettes. Lucky Strike, Old Gold and Camels, in radio advertising composition — Leo Reisman, Central Park Casino orchestra, has been engaged by the Knox Hats, commercial hour, for fifty-two weeks — Jean Goldkette’s orchestra, headed by Victor Young, replaces Fiorito on the Maytag program. Vic is a musician of note and very capable of handling this program with great success — Ted Pearson, announcer, is considered one of the handsomest men in Chicago. # * * A thirty-five piece symphonic orchestra, under the direction of Adolphe Dumonte, well known conductor, will form the background for radio’s most unusual musical innovation when the Sign of the Shell is heard for the first time, Monday, April 28th, 9:30 to 10 P. M.f Central Daylight Saving Time, from the Chicago NBC studios. Sen Kaney, veteran announcer, will officiate at the “mike.” Fred Waldner and a well-known male quartet will assist the orchestra in their first Shell program, which will consist of a happy mixture of both classical and popular music. ❖ # # Tom, Dick and Harry, radio’s most popular trio, heard over numerous chains from Chicago, may soon leave for other parts — Charley Straight and his Coliege Inn orchestra can now be heard over WBBM — Dad Pickard and Family, famous hillbilly artists, are really one family — Tom Breen, Jr., announcer, holds a commercial pilot’s license — Whenever Larry Larsen, organist, heard from WGN, has a night off, he makes it his business to visit the other studios — • National Broadcasting Chain of Chicago now boasts of some of the best orchestras in town — Coon-Sanders, Wayne King, Danny Russo, Lloyd Huntley, Harry Kogen, Josef Koestner, Adolphe Dumont and Jean Goldkette (Vic Young). Bobby Mellin black haired miss simply stopped the show with her characterizations. Her offering, “She’s 100 Per Cent Talkie,” permits her to display her distinctly individual style. Her best number by far is “What Happened in the 18th Chapter.” The audience does not seem to get enough of this one. Miss Clark is assisted by Bobby Kuhn, who directs the orchestra in the pit in addition to offering a single song in which he is aided by the comedienne. Prolonged applause at the finish brought Miss Clark back for a curtain speech, in which she graciously begged off. Charles Bennington and His New York Newsboys’ Harmonica Band, numbering ten persons, have the featured position. Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and “My Man,” played on the “mouth organs,” are particularly good. Songs and dances also are offered. The big specialty of the act is the “Peter Stuyvesant Peg Leg” number from the musical comedy “Dearest Enemy,” put over by Bennington, who has only one leg. He originated this specialty in the musical show mentioned. Bennington is as good a hoofer with one leg as many others with both pedal extremities. Screen attraction is “The Other Tomorrow,” featuring Billie Dove, supported by Grant Withers and Kenneth Thompson. It is an Octavus Roy Cohen story of the South. San Francisco Fox Week Ending April 17 Patrons of the Fox this week are getting some high class entertainment, with enough variety to suit everybody. Eddie Peabody gets the billing, and is there with his old-time stuff, but lacks a lot of being the whole show. Walt Roesner conducts the grand concert orchestra in an arrangement of Irving Berlin compositions, which he terms “Americana,” and which boosts Berlin’s work a notch or two higher in popular estimation, judging from the applause. It ends in a great burst of drumming, which characterizes so many of the Roesner musical arrangements. The stage offering is Fanchon and Marco’s “Coral Idea ” with a South Sea setting and coral tints predominating in decorations and costumes. The curtain goes up on the orchestra on the stage and a group of singers in a frame high above it. The Sunkist Girls do a classical dance and Petite Marie, a contortionist of rare ability, ties herself in knots and does some remarkable somersault work without contact. As a finish to her artistic turn she is whirled up into the flies hanging by her teeth. A nut, who calls himself Cy Wells, offers some good gags, tells some funny stories, does some crystal reading and dances. His offering as the “Spirit of St. Vitus” is well received. Frank Duo, double-voiced singer, is heard in two songs which demonstrate his unusual vocal accomplishments to advantage, and the Sunkist Girls dance again, after stepping from behind attractive picture frames. Walt Roesner presents Eddie Peabody, the musical dynamite lad, who first plays the banjoline and then the regulation banjo, offering “Rio Rita,” singing part of the song, followed by “I’m a Dreamer,” from “Sunnyside Up” and “When It’s Springtime in the Rockies.” The Royal Samoans are introduced in song by a beachcomber and display their splendid physiques to advantage in native dances and a rapidfire drill with machetes. The one girl in the company, a striking beauty, demonstrates how the hula can be danced. The Sunkist Girls, in grotesque South Seas costumes, do a dance equally grotesque and the act comes to a close with Petite Marie coming down from the flies hanging by her teeth, a performance that really seems artistic when done by her. New York Capitol Week Ending April 19 An overture, conducted by Yasha Bunchuk, of the songs in “Sons o’ Guns,” which Benny Davis was the co-writer of, opened the program at this house. The stage-show, featuring Benny Davis, well known songwriter, is called “Broadway Stars of the Future,” and taking the show as a whole there is little doubt but that many of these youngsters in this show are future Broadway stars. This unit is a fast-stepping one and one of the best that have appeared at this house. Opening to a well arranged cafe setting, in which the entire company are seated, Benny Davis opens the show by singing his latest hit number, “Why?” and then pleasingly introduces each of the “future” stars. Thelma White, first of the acts, offers a snappy jazz dance routine and is followed by the California Crooners, three harmony singers, who please with “Chant of the Jungle.” Bemis and Brown stop the show with their collegiate dancing and earn an encore of a fast tap routine. May Joyce, a beautiful blonde girl, introduced as a young lady with a voice with a tear, sweetly sings and plays a mandolin. Albert Roth offers a fast and difficult Russian dance routine that gains him a good reception, and is followed by little Jackie Heller, a left-handed “uke” player, who pleasingly sings “Singing a Vagabond Song” and encores by singing “With You” through a megaphone nearly as large as himself. Bemis and Brown next do their original bowery-collegiate dance, and stop the show with it. They were forced to encore the entire dance. Yasha Bunchuk, who has heretofore confined his appearance to leading the pit orchestra, next leads the stage band in a rendition of one of Benny Davis’ latest numbers, “Falling in Love With You,” which Davis sings. Benny next introduces Mrs. Davis, who pleasingly sings and dances, incidently nearly stopping the show with her dance routine. Addie Seaman follows with a well done twirling, high-kicking and eccentric dance routine. The finale of this fir^e show was Davis’ singing bits from many of the hit songs which he was the composer of. Jersey City Stanley Week Ending April 18 The Boris Petroff production unit, “Top o’ the World,” featuring Jersey City’s most popular m. c., Benny Ross, is the main attraction this week. This rather mediocre show is only saved by the comedy Bert Gordon injects and the fine singing of Benny Ross. Opening to an unnecessary introduction of Ross by two of the Fred Evans Girls, Ross then introduces Vera Kingston, a young lady with a pleasing singing voice, but a screechy speaking voice. Miss Kingston, standing on a huge arch and surrounded by the ensemble, pleasingly sings the introductory song. At the finish, Bert Gordon, her partner, enters. He is dressed in a mixture of boy scout and cowboy costume and gets many laughs with his gags and funny facial expressions. Ross next introduces Rlay Teal (who was formerly m. c. at the Olympia, New Haven), who offers a good sax. solo of “Some One of These Days” and follows with a very well done slow motion dance a la Joe Frisco and a “hot” chorus on the same number on a clarinet, which looks like a cane. Ray received a good reception. Gordon then leads the stage band in a pleasingly played number as Miss Kingston sings. Bernardo DePace, making a spectacular entrance on a large moon, offers classical and jazz selections on his mandolin to a good reception. Five young and beautifully formed German girls follow with difficult rizzly juggling, tumbling and acrobatic routines which show up many men troupes. They are the Fred Ehtor Girls, and the reception accorded them show this audience’s appreciation. Ross follows with his specialty of beautiful singing. This week Ross sings, “Cottage for Sale,” and as usual, earns an encore, in which Hy. C. Geis, the house organist assists. This show closes with a sensational scene of a huge world on which Miss Kington and the ensemble pose and sing. Dallas Majestic Week Ending April 17 The bill at the Dallas Majestic this week is unusually good as a strong picture is reenforced with a good vaudeville bill. The picture “Such Men Are Dangerous,” with Warner Baxter, is all that a good picture should be and was well received. Maxine & Bobby 6tart the vaudeville bill and to say the least the dog in the act is most remarkable. The act is well balanced as plenty of comedy is injected which prevents the good dog tricks from becoming commonplace. The offering was well received and was good wholesome entertainment throughout. Rose Perfect pleased the music lovers with several scenic classics which were well rendered and also sang a number of popular songs in a most pleasing manner. Miss Perfect has a nice voice and a ( Continued on next Page, column 1)