Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

52 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD October 4, 1930 Before the Mike By BOBBY MELLIN Summer is over. The baseball season is ended. Dancing returns. So does Maurie Sherman, to the College Inn, Hotel Sherman, Chicago. He will be heard daily over WBBM where he was formerly a favorite. Maurie is also playing at the Casa Granada until Paul Whiteman opens there — Those of you who know Miss Martin, official hostess of KYW, will be interested to know that she is on hand again, after a vacation of two weeks, to help brighten the new studios located atop the Strauss Bldg. * * * Fifteen minutes of fast stepping dance music by Jules Herbuveaux's orchestra introduces the Brownbilt Footlites program to the radio audience, Friday, October 3, over a National Broadcasting company network. Jules is conductor of the studio orchestra and a "sax" player of no small repute — Another feature on the above program is the Frohne Sisters quartet. They are really sisters and the daughters of an Indianapolis minister, and have sung together ever since they were able to cry. * * * Although the date for the moving of the NBC offices into the new quarters on top of the Merchandise Mart, Chicago, was officially set for September 15, the office of Don Bernard, program manager, was ready and waiting for him two days earlier, September 13th. Thereby hangs a tale. All through Bernard's life, the number "13" has played a conspicuous part. Bernard was born on the 13th, married on the 13th, and entered both eollege and the music conservatory on that date. Anxious to open his office on his lucky day, Bernard pulled wires which made it possible for him to stage a personal and private opening two days ahead of the rest of the NBC. * * * Dropped in to see Miss Patricia Ann Manners the other day at station WENR, and was at a loss to understand why she did not enter the Miss Radio contest held in New York City recently to determine the most charming miss in radio, for Patricia is petite, strikingly auburn locks, blue eyes and one of those "peaches and cream" complexions, and a personality no one can possibly resist — Irving Margraff continues to please radio listeners twice daily from the Blackstone hotel. Tune in to his entrancing Ted Pearson, whose twenty-seven years seem to belie the fact that he is one of the veteran announcere of the Chicago NBC broadcasts, has recently been promoted to head of the production department for the Chicago studios. Pearson earned this honor by his excellent work as an announcer and production man during the past two years with the NBC. He announces such outstanding broadcasts as the "Armour Hour," "Shell Echoes," "Radio Household Institute," "Keystone Chronicle," and others, and has been in charge of productions for our outstanding chain programs. * * * One of the hardest working individuals in the music business is Irving L'llman, manager of Joe Morris' Chicago office. There is no doubt in the minds of the Chicago music men that the success of "Somewhere in Old Wyoming" and many other Morris song hits was due to the uncanny ability of Ullman to get in and land plugs where others fear to tread. Irving is a student of the old school, and never lets up on a plug until he makes sure that his plug song is set. * * * Our very good friend Jimmy Green leaves the Golden Pumpkin Cafe located on the West Side and, although booked for another job, cannot say what it is yet — Eddie Neibur replaces Herbie Carlin at the Guyon's Paradise Ballroom and is scheduled there for an indefinite period. Eddie is a Chicago favorite, having played at the Trianon and the Wil-shore with marvelous success. — It is rumored that Jack Crawford and his orchestra will soon be in Chicago playing at a ballroom on the north side. * * * Charlie Agne, formerly master of ceremonies at both the Avalon and Capitol theatres, is back home again. Charlie is the leader of the Merry Garden Ballroom orchestra, and doing a very fine job of it. This is really Charlie's first love, for he is a student of J. B. Larape, who conducted the Aragon and Trianon orchestras and turned out such leaders as Wayne King and Dell Lampe. Charlie always has a smile for hie many friends and admirers and welcomes them to the Merry Garden for a merry time. STAGE SHOWS (Continued from preceding page, column 2) lights until the audience is sure he is going to fall from the stage. Somehow or other, Roy is not creating the impression he should, probably because he loses too much time roaming about the stage doing nothing before he attempts any of his steps. Wally Vernon scores heavily with his jokes and tap dancing. Wally is a good dancer and a dandy comedian. He does an imitation of a five-year-old girl saying a speech in 6chool which brings the house down. Wally is a real performer and the large audiences are getting a big kick from his efforts. Diok Powell, and his peppy band, always a hit, go over bigger than ever this week. The band puts on a real novelty number in "Slap in the Face." Later Dick does some of his beautiful crooning, and the night we caught the show he sang five members before the audience reluctantly allowed him to quit. San Francisco Fox Week Ending October 2 This week's musical offering at the Fox theatre features Hermie King, guest conductor, and the grand concert orchestra in a medley of light opera selections. An elaborate tableau participated in by twelve girls forms a lovely interlude, this being in the form of a Holland fiower market, with girls in gay costumes, a wealth of flowers, and flower wagons drawn by dogs, with a Dutch windmill in action in the background. The Fanchon and Marco stage offering is a "Southern Belle Idea," presented in a typical Southern setting and peppy with 6huffle and crinoline ruffles. The opening curtain reveals Helen, Warner, a sizeable young lady with a double-barreled voice singing in front of an old Southern mansion. At the conclusion of her song, twelve girls come out from beneath her hoop skirt and do a dance number, with twelve others. Some of the girls do a surprise turn by suddenly throwing their gowns over their heads, when they take the form of diminutive Mammies, the oldfashioned bustles forming the heads. Hermie King offers a medley of airs on the piano, assisted by the orchestra and Hot Chocolate, a tap /EIFFEL TOWER /:0F„0RGANISTS \ If « If R.c^en,f)aqed '/ iifor another ifearai\ w. \ dancer, struts his rapid fire stuff. Nine girls come on in unique costumes which suggest that they are standing on their heads and reverse so often it is difficult to tell whether they are standing on their feet or on their hands. Joe Rose offers an acrobatic act, featured by handsprings, and Helen Warner sings, "You Brought Me a New Kind of Love," clowning with Hermie King. Jimmy Lyons, The Ambassador, strolls on, covered with medals, and does some rapid fire talking that wins a lot of laughs. The Southern Beauties, adorned in ruffles and crinoline, dance to music of past years and end with a cake walk in which all walk on their hands. Hatt and Herman do a comic act on a set of springs, with Herman in the role of a beginner, but a very willing one. The act is brought to a close by the girls swarming over a rope net at the rear of the stage and going through acrobatic stunts to fast music. The show is well balanced, but is without any real headliners. San Antonio Texas Week Ending September 25 The title of the current Publix stageshow at the Texas theatre this week is "Country Club Revue," featuring "Vic" Insirilo and His Stage Band Boys, who have been holding full sway over these unit shows for some time. Ewen Hail sings "If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight." Headlining the bill was Tex McLeod, known as "The Wit of the West," did well with witty chatter, comical nonsense, etc. He received a nice hand and made the patrons feel pleased. Grauman, Hess and Vallee, all very good acrobatic dance steppers, entertained in a most pleasing manner, and got a good hand, too. The Darling Twins, whom I reviewed at this house last year, presented an act of musical comedy which was quite different from that of last time, was well received by the natives. The Country Club Girls, twelve-in-line, all were seen in the finale composed of dances and song. Ernest Hauser and the Texas Grand orchestra in the pit, offered Operatic Gems, while Leo Weber, dynamic organist of a wide repute, played as his organ solo, "We're On the Air," a novelty number that got off to a fine start and encores came at the finish. Chicago Chicago Week Ending October 2 Al Evans, as master of ceremonies, did his share to make the stage presentation, "Vogues and Varieties" a half hour well spent for the patrons this week. The program opens with Al and his stage band behind a curtain providing the music while the Sharp ballet marches from the wing6 in flowing robes. The dancing girls discard their robes, go through a stepping number and retire, after which Evans takes the limelight with his singing of "Little White Lies." He is his own accompanist at the piano and his tenor voice does the rest. Somehow Al Evans' dignified way of mastering at the ceremonies is exceptionally pleasing. He doesn't fall all over himself and the footlights to please the crowd, but he doesn't need to. His type is the kind that one won't tire of in a hurry. He is en(Contimicd on next page, column 1) J)£?°"> ty popular dtwiand ■ ORGAN SOLOS "Let's Do Some Imitations" "Glorifying the American Song" "A Golfing We Will Go" and now "Let's Be Unusual" Every Solo a Wow! WRITE WIRE MILTON KAE Kae Studios, 125 W. 45th St., N. Y. C.