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

43 4ay 10, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD w MUSIC AND TALENT 66 Song Hits” Section Aids Theatre STAGE SHOWS Philadelphia Earle Week Ending April 25 The stage show, “Land of Syncopation,” at the Earle this week was headed by Sophie Tucker in person. The Littlefield Dancers, in striking costumes of black and white, gave an acrobatic waltz in which Nat Nazarro, the Earle’s new master of ceremonies staged a dancing contest with various members of the ballet. This contets was out of the ordinary and full of pep. — Six of the Littlefield Dancers dressed in yellow to represent baby chicks, rolled onto the stage a huge blue egg, from which stepped the Tiny Tots, a little girl and boy of five or six years, with well developed and perfectly symmetrical bodies, who amused j the audience with acrobatic stunts, adagio dancing, hand springs and balancing that were really remarkable. The artistic efforts of these embryo stars furnished an interesting sidelight on the preliminary training necessary to develop them into finished stars and led to much speculation as to what they would be ten years from now. Sophie Tucker’s sketch was characterized principally by rather crude wise-cracks about being the “last of the red-hot mammae.” Prompted by her accompanist, she also spoke the words of “If I Had You,” instead of singing it, probably because of her harsh, unmusical voice. Nevertheless, whether because of her past reputation or because of real enjoyment of her act, the audience gave her a good round of applause. Rio Brothers, fancy steppers and tap dancers de luxe, put on a top notch act. They are artists in their line and the applause brought them before the footlights repeatedly, each time with a new lot of funny stunts. In the finale, the Tiny Tots, looking very much pleased with themselves, were seated in a large banjo outlined with electric lights high above the stage while the ballet in gorgeous costumes played and danced below them and Lou Schrader’s band played its merriest. San Francisco Fox Benny Meroff Versatility seems to us to be synonymous with Benny, after which comes Meroff, of course, being the last name of an exceedingly capable master of ceremonies who can do about anything needed to round out an evening’s entertainment, whether it be dancing, juggling or playing one1 of his 15 odd instruments. Meroff’s contract was taken over by Balaban & Katz at the time they took over the management of the Granada and Marbro theatres. He alternates both theatres at the present time. Week Ending May 1 The show this week at the Fox is well worth seeing and it has sufficient diversification to satisfy widely differing tastes. The feature of the program easily goes to Walt Roesner and the concert orchestra. The offering is “Hallelujah,” a symphonic arrangement of "Water Boy” and “St. Louis Blues.” Several tableaux of striking excellence accompany this overture of negro music. One scene represents a section of a prison yard in which colored convicts are grouped like so many etatues in resignation. Another is a plantation scene utilizing shadows with deft effect. William Powers, negro baritone, sings “Water Boy” and a chorus of colored singers aids the orchestra in a “St. Louis Blues” passage. The overture ends in a crashing finale. The “Gyp-Gyp-Gypsy Idea” of Fanchon and Marco is picturesque and amusing. The curtain parts to reveal a colorful gypsy encampment in the mountains. Brilliant reds, blues and greens flood the scene and at the side is the covered wagon. In the foreground a galaxy of beautiful girls in bright gypsy costumes ( Continued on page 45, column 1) BOB WEST The Organ Maestro Permanent Address Fox Theatre Brooklyn, N. Y. Gives Advance On Selections In Late Films Magazine Offers Ready Reference Table for Use of Exploitation Men By W. S. RUSSELL “Song Hits in Current Films,” a department of the Film Buyers Section, which is published every fourth week as Section 2 of the HERALDWORLD, brings a new service to the theatre man, the exploitation and advertising man, the music dealer and the publisher. An informant of “Music and Talent” says that in his travels he has noticed that the music tieup is sorrily neglected, primarily, it would seem, because those directly connected with advertising and exploitation in the theatre have not had the titles of song hits far enough in advance of the showing of the picture to arrange such a campaign. “Song Hits” gives this information and therefore offers the exploitation department a ready reference table to assist in mapping campaigns. With this advance information the local music dealer is given time in which to stock up on selections, which is necessary if the tieup is to be effective. Listings in “Songs Hits” will always be in advance of pre-release showings. This makes the information available for use by every theatre exploitation man, whether he be assigned to the staff of a large theatre or a small house. The association between the motion picture industry and the music publishers is so close at this time, that the proper exploitation of picture songs is advantageous to both. The next issue of the Film Buyer Section containing “Song Hits” will be published under date of May 31. A revised and up-todate listing of song titles will be printed at that time. UNIFORMS sas? COSTUMES ™“,ons BROOKS