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

44 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD May 10, 1930 SAYS Some happenings this week and last. . . . Have you secured your ticket for the N. V. A. Benefit Show scheduled for next Saturday night at midnight ? If not, better do so now. . . . Well, I suppose if the Chicago theatre 6tage hands are not already golf addicts they will be after this week with Gene Sarazen and Johnny Farrell, champion golf 6tars, headlining the bill. ... I see where Art Frasik, formerly orchestra leader at the State Lake Tower and more recently the Belmont, will replace Danny Russo, for years orchestra leader at the Chicago Palace. Russo is leaving for Los Angeles for his health. . . . J. Walter Davidson is conducting a Music Gem “Melodies of the Day” at the Granada theatre this week. . . . Eddie Meikel is holding forth at the Paradise theatre these days with A1 Brown at the Marbro and Preston Sellers the Oriental. I couldn’t locate Henri Keates this week but will look him up next week. . . . Well Art Kassel is again back home at the Club Metropole and exceedingly happy. . . . Colosimo’s have opened their new show called “Spring Frivolities of 1930 Revue,” some name, I’d say. . . . There is a very good bill at the Palace this week, they held over Irene Franklin, and in fact, have a nine act bill. Edgar Bergen and Company is absolutely the cleverest ventriloquist act I have ever seen. Roy Rogers, the inimitable, pleases as usual. . . . Have you heard Tiny Parhan’s Victor Recording Orchestra at the New Club Southern, they say it’s great. . . . Both of Chicago’s amusement parks are opening this week, White City and Riverview all set for a great season. . . . Have you joined the Sheet Music Men’s Club? No. Well, they meet the first Thursday of each month in a well known eating house at 424 South Wabash avenue and really have a marvelous time. Walter Donavon, I understand, is the official pianist and of course they have entertainment. I have been invited to their next meeting and only hope I’ll be able to attend. The organization has been organized for about six months. Of course Sid Berman, Jack Dempsey, Clarence Johnson Fitzmorris, Jack M. King, Joe Bums, Jack Lavin, Jack Goodwin, Bob Mellin and the rest of the boys were there. . . . Marty Stone and his orchestra opened at the Congress hotel last week. . . . Libby Holman, star of the Little Show, sang some of Harms’ tunes over the radio last Sunday, “Moanin’ Low” and “Can’t We Be Friends.” It was a great publicity 6tunt for all concerned, it pulled for the legitimate theatre the songs and was a feature for the radio station. . . . Well, Publix have again decided that they will put stage shows back in the majority of their theatres, but not because they want to, it’s because they have to. Denver has already been added and the rest will soon follow. . . . Tommy Sacco has moved his office from the Woods theatre building to the Butler building on State street. . . . Jeanie Lang, well known around the Oriental theatre as the protege of Brooke Johns, plays in the picture with Paul Whiteman, “King of Jazz. . . . Schoenstadt’s have added another theatre to their chain, the latest addition being the Harper theatre, this makes nine theatres in their chain. . . . Otto Singer is opening a new show at his Vanity Fair this week with his old headliners, John and Mary Jennings. Lee Barton Evans, the tenor, is also a new addition to the 6how. . . . Francis Kromar, formerly organist in Chicago and Cleveland theatres, who has just returned from an extended trip through South America, is in town, collecting talent for a musical revue, which he will take to South America to tour the country. One of the largest theatrical enterprises in South America is behind this revue, which will be the first the cities of South America will ever have seen. Kromar has already chosen the Adaire Twins and Adolfo Giron and his band to be featured in this revue and is now busy trying out many more well known acts. . . . Teddy Joyce, one of Loews’ “ace” master of ceremonies, is conducting the pit orchestras in the different deluxe houses in an overture of the “Slavish Rhapsody” besides being m.e. in the “All Aboard” unit. In leading this overture, Joyce seems to be an entirely different person and proves his versatility and musical ability by playing a beautiful violin solo of the Rhapsody. . . . Ben Black, musical director of Publix theatres, who made such a smashing success during his previous engagements at the Saenger theatre, is in charge of the Saenger Grand Orchestra in New Orleans. New Musical Score for Screen Version on “Heads Up” Practically an entirely new musical score will be written for the film version of the stage success, “Heads Up,” which Victor Schertzinger will direct when the picturization of this popular musical comedy is filmed soon as the Paramount New York studio, executives of the company announced today. Charles "Buddy” Rogers, who recently did another screen musical, “Safety in Numbers,” will be starred in the filmization of "Heads Up,” with Helen Kane and Victor Moore heading the featured supporting cast. Gershwin in Person with “King of Jazz” The stage festivities surrounding the presentation of “King of Jazz,” Paul Whiteman’s bow to the motion picture world, was scheduled at the Roxy theatre, last week and was one of the most gala occasions in recent film activities, bringing America’s two leaders of modern music together. Because of the fact that George Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue” is dramatized in "King of Jazz” and that the composer’s career is so closely allied with the famous jazzmaster, "Roxy” engaged the noted composer and pianist to appear with Whiteman on the Roxy stage. Gershwin played his own “Concerto in F,” regarded as the finest of his works. Whiteman also conducted his famous musicians combined with the Roxy Symphony Orchestra in a number of hits with which he a won his distinctive reputation. Further interest was added by the fact that Ferdie Grofe had been secured to make special arrangements of the music, with vocal interludes by Viola Philo and thhe Roxy Chorus. Both Whiteman and Gershwin appeared at every performance during the engagement of the film. It was necessary to give five de luxe presentations each day. The regular Roxy popular prices prevailed. 308 Songs Published for Warner Bros. With the publication of the eighteen musical numbers from “Sweet Kitty Bellairs,” Warner Bros, will have to their credit 308 songs written and published for them in the short space of eighteen months. It was just a year and a half ago that the first piece of music was written for Warner. This was “A Wee Bit of Love,” by Norman Spencer and Herman Ruby, who composed it for the musical score of “Smiling Irish Eyes.” The majority of songs written for Warner productions may be credited to a handful of prolific composers, among whom are A1 Dubin, Joe Burke, Edward Ward, Grant Clarke, Harry Akst, A1 Bryan, Herman Ruby and M. K. Jerome. A1 Bryan leads with a total of 54 compositions. He is closely followed by A1 Dubin and Joe Burke, who wrote 50 and 47 songs, respectively. M. K. Jerome wrote the greatest number of 6ongs for Vitaphone Varieties, while Dubin and Burke are responsible for the hits, Tiptoe Through the Tulips” and “Painting the Clouds with Sunshine.” These two numbers from “Gold Diggers of Broadway” were the best sellers throughout the country over a period of fifteen weeks. Harms to Publish “Sweet Kitty Bellairs” Songs Harms, Inc., has been assigned the songs to be published from Warner Bros. Vitaphone production, “Sweet Kitty Bellairs.” The complete score, which includes eighteen numbers, was written by Walter O’Keefe and Bobby Dolan. Claudia Dell and Perry Askam head the large cast of stars in “Sweet Kitty Bellairs.” Sherman-Clay and Company are publishing two featured novelty songs in the Pathe circus picture, "Swing High.” The titles are “With My Guitar and You,” sung by Fred Scott during the sensational air episodes, and “Shoo the Hoodoo Away,” a humorous negro spiritual offered by Fred Scott and the twenty Jo Trent Jubilee Singers in a startling night sequence. “With My Guitar and You” was written by Mort Harris, Edward Hayman and Ted Snyder. “Shoo the Hoodoo Away” was written by Mort Harris and Ted Snyder. The Pathe-"Swing High” editions are a|ready published and Sherman-Clay announce that they will soon be featured on the air. Hollywood Tunes (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, May 6.— With a bungalow office equipped with two shower baths, typewriters, secretaries and what not, Rube Goldberg is here writing “From Soup to Nuts” for Fox. * * * George Olsen’s new night club in Culver City opened this week. ' George and his band will divide time between several of the studios and the club. ^ * The Crooners Quartette, recording artists, have signed for Warner’s, “Come Easy.” * $ $ Will Jason and Val Burton are writing the songs for “So This Is Mexico” at Tiffany. * * * Abe Lyman is using “My Buddy” in his musical score for “All Quiet on the Western Front” at the Carthay. Other numbers are “Crying for the Carolines,” “Puttin’ On the Ritz” and “Singing a Vagabond Song.” * * * “Stand By Your Glasses Steady” is the title of an old British war song being used in First National’s, “Dawn Patrol” with Richard Barthelmess. * * * Harry Tierney is putting 13 new songs in his operetta of the old south for R K O, “Dixiana.” * * * A1 Dubin and Joe Burke are writing the musical score for Warner’s, “Life of the Party.” Roy Del Ruth will direct with Winnie Lightner starred. * * * “Penny Arcade,” New York play, will have several song numbers by Lew Pollack. It marks his first assignment since arriving on the Coast a few weeks ago. * * * George Olsen and his band will supply the music for Zelma O’Neal’s number in “Follow Thru” for Paramount. The number, “I Want to be Bad,” was written for the stage version by De Sylva, Brown and Henderson. It is one of three songs to be taken from the original. * * * When Erno Rapee moved into his new offices at First National he was given his choice of pianos. After trying all available instruments he picked a dilapidated one that was shipped from the factory more than 150 years ago. * * * Ben Bernie and his band are here again to open the newly decorated Montmartre Cafe. They will also work for Warners. * * * E. V. Durling, Darmour editorial supervisor, has composed a theme song for Primo Camera. It is called, “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.” Believe it or not but the song was indignantly refused by Bill Duffy and “Good Time” Charlie Friedman of Camera’s staff. * * * Richard Fall, Viennese composer, has completed the music for “Lilliom.” * * * Erno Rapee is directing the orchestra on his fifth picture in one month’s time for Warners. He is recording “Maybe It’s Love” and has completed, “See Naples and Die,” “Top Speed,” “Mile. Modiste” and “Sweet Kitty Bellairs.” MADAME OCTAVE.