Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

60 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD October 11, 1930 STAGE SHOWS (Continued from preceding page, column 1) HELLO EVERYBODY— During Al Jolson's engagement at the Capitol theatre last week, Harry Akst, w. k. song writer, accompanied him at the piano, and Lou Silvers, who has been associated with Jolson for the past twelve years, led the Capitol Grand Orchestra during Mr. Jolson's appearances on the stage. . . . Phil Kornheiser, former general manager for Leo Feist, Inc., has joined the field of music publishers. (Good luck, Phil, and may all your songs be successes). . . . Sam Serwer, in charge of publicity for the Warner Brothers music affiliations, sends advance copies of sheet music to film reviewers before they see the pictures. Sam finds that this is an aid in creating a favorable impression and that the boys are more apt to treat the songs as old friends when they see and hear them on the screen. . . . Red Star is planning a tremendous exploitation drive for the "Song of the Big Trail," the only mu6icai number in the latest Fox film, "The Big Trail." The song boasts a lyric of outstanding quality by James Hanley, and a tune that is brilliant in its simplicity by Joseph McCarthy. . . . All recording companies have made wax pressings of the three songs running through the Warners Bros, special, "Oh Sailor Behave." The songs are "Highway to Heaven," "When Love Comes in the Moonlight" and "Leave a Little Smile." Publishers of the sheet music are De Sylva, Brown and Henderson, Inc. . . . Olsen and Johnson, stars of this Vitaphone picture, are featured on the covers of the sheet music. They are now making a vaudeville tour through every section of the country, and naturally plug the production through the songs. . . . As their initial contribution to the talkies, Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh, Broadway's popular song writing team, who won fame with their "I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby," have supplied seven new numbers for "Love in the Rough," scoring a particular hit with "Go Home and Tell Your Mother," the musical high spot in this hilarious golf comedy. Miss Fields and Mr. McHugh were the last of New York's composers to succumb to the lure of the screen. . . . This week at the Capitol, the Grand Orchestra, under the baton of Yasha Bunchuk, introduced a novelty number — a new Cuban melody — "El Manisero," which translated, means "The Peanut Vendor." It has a most ingratiating rhythm, based on percussions, and is somewhat after the style of the "Bolero" of Ravel, and interprets the peanut vend»r and his steaming roaster. The song is published by Edward B. Marks Music Company. PERSONALS Last Friday, Aaronson's Commanders opened at the Warner-Beacon theatre, N. Y. C, for an indefinite run. . . . Joe E. Brown began a week's engagement at the Branford, Newark, the same day. . . . On Oct. 31 the Marx Brothers will make personal appearances at the Mastbaum, Philadelphia. . . . Stuart Barrie, wellknown organist, formerly of the SkourasWarner circuit, has been engaged by Paramount Publix as featured organist for its Paramount theatre, Brooklyn, to succeed Earl Abel, who is being sent to the Paramount, Los Angeles. Barrie is ta open next Friday, Oct. 17. . . . It is rumored that "Singing Bill," featured organist at the Paramount, St. Paul, is to be transferred to a Publix house in Minneapolis and that Wallace, one of the deans of organists, is to be at the St. Paul house. . . . C. Sharp Minor, another of the deans, is on his way to the Paramount, Miami, Fla. . . . Herb Kern, former master of ceremonies and organist at the Fox, San Diego, Cal., is now organist at the Fox Audubon, N. Y. C, but expects a change in assignment in the near future. . . . John Hammond, another wellknown organist, is now at the St. George, Staten Island, N. Y. . . . Just received a radiogram from Eddie Fitch, well known in the midwest as an organist of note, who informs me that he has signed a contract for another year as featured organist for the Hoyt circuit, in Australia. (We carried an article of Fitch in the September 27 issue and in it stated that he anticipated an early return to the States.) . . . After an absence of six weeks, Nadya Olyanova, famous graphologist, has returned to the lobby of the New York Paramount. schoolroom scene with furnishings of the most modernistic design and the girls, seated at their desks, sing "We Know Our Figures." They then demonstrate the fact that desk tops are excellent to dance on. The teacher makes his appearance and in rapid manner writes in a strange script on several slates held by the girls. When turned upside down the writing resolves itself into "Hello Everybody" and teacher is recognized as Harry Kahne of vaudeville fame. In rapid fire manner he writes the alphabet backward and upside down, at the same time repeating it forward. More difficult feats are performed by taking long names offered by members of the audience and in writing them backward, reciting a popular poera at the same time. His efforts win deserved approval. The Georgia Lane Dancers, dressed in black and white, do a novelty number against a black curtain and a couple of silent nuts offer a comedy tumbling number. The final scene shows a huge figure in the background, dressed in academic style, with several girl graduates in her hand and on the huge diploma she carries. The dancing is good and is well received, but the feats of Harry Kahne are the outstanding features of the act. Pittsburgh Enright Week Ending October 9 Dick Powell, m c, calls his stage show "Saxophonia," and in the opening before a front drop six of the orchestra boys perform entertainingly on as many saxophones. Audrey Wyckoff does some acrobatic and tap dancing above the average, then introduces her father, who also shows some nifty tap dancing. He in turn introduces his dad, a white-haired man of 63 years of age, and how this old boy can tap is nobody's business. He is the hit of the show and the audiences clamor for more. The Two Swifts do some clever, as well as funny, juggling of Indian clubs. They throw these clubs at one another with terrific force, and the act is well received. A guest artist is Jay Mills, former m. c. here, and now at the Earle in Philadelphia. Jay plays violin, sings and dances, and is getting a nice reception at all performances. Dick Powell scores again with his delightful crooning. His numbers are "I Love You, I'm Yours" and "Just a Little Closer." Dick also does some saxophone and cornet solos. The ensemble is cleverly costumed and well drilled this week. In one offering they are dressed half black and half white even to their wigs. In another Dorothy Bushey leads them in a nifty song and dance to the tune of "Strike Up the Band." Chicago Oriental Week Ending October 9 The title of this week's stage show was "Melodiland," and for an opening number, the Travelers opened with a song called "From Now On." Down each 6ide of the band car lead a flight of stairs, and down these came the girls to do a tap routine, which followed the singing of the song. Charlie Crafts then announced a hot band number called "That's a Plenty," and at the finish of that, which was put over with a "crafts"-man like touch (you'll have to forgive us for that), Charlie swung into the popular "What's the Use?" and, singing as he always does, he had to cater to the audience with a couple of encores before they would let him announce the next act. Charlie doesn't have a bit of trouble in filling the whole theatre, both when he sings, and when he packs them in. The Six O'Reilly's do an acrobatic number which finds favor with the audience, among the stunts being a balancing act on top of a table, which can't be described but without any doubt is mighty difficult to undertake, moreover, do, and the amazing part of it is that someone doesn't fall. Two small dogs add a bit of comedy to the tumbling routine, jumping over anything or anybody that happens to be in their way. Claire Madjette, a petite French "gal," made a hit with the crowd by her rendition of "There's Danger in Your Eyes, Cherie," singing two verses, one of them in French. She then sang "Do It Again," and — well, anyhow, the applause showed that she hadn't had much trouble in making herself popular. The production number was very pleasing. Claire appeared singing "I'm Bringing a Red, Red Rose," during which the ballet lined up in front of a beau tiful flower screen and did a dainty dance, after which they picked up bunches of roses, and as they did, the stage was darkened, and as they danced off the stage, the bunches of flowers were lit up, making an unusual effect. Easton and Powell, a couple of blackface comedians, got away with a lot of foolishness, which hit everybody right, judging from the laughter, and during the act a miniature organ, a violin and a uke figured in the stage business. One of them sang "I Never Dreamt I'd Fall in Love with You." Claire appeared again for the finale and sang that catchy new tune from the picture "Monte Carlo," entitled "Along a Blue Horizon," while the Travelers did a tap routine and the Six O'Reillys did soma fast tumbling. New Orleans Saenger Week Ending October 10 Once again Ben Black is making his farewell appearance as personality leader in one of the most picturesque and entertaining stage presentations in the history of the Saenger, assisted, of course, by Charles Niggermeyer, who, in a material sense by the designation of costumes and direction of the Dixie Rockets, shares the honors of the occasion. The acts are not sufficiently 6trong to make a man leave home and follow the unit from city to city, as the traveling man's little boy described his daddy's profession, but is pleasing and interesting nevertheless. The Three Dennis Sisters, vocalists, sing and respond to encores willingly. The girls are good lookers and dressers. Lou Cameron is a nut and proud of the title. The gentleman turns handsprings, dances, acts cookoo, and is assisted by an extra good looking series of the opposite sex. Local talent again comes into prominence in the persons of Johnny Babin and Helen Heath, acrobatic twisters who are better than many of them. But a feast for the eyes are the Dixie Rockets, sometimes with clothes constructed of paper in a variety of colors, and again in the apparel that Nature bequeathed them, augmented by tinsel cloth. The girls dance, sing and march like veterans of the stage, improving each week. The stage setting is the work of art, and reflects credit on the designer, whoever he or they may be. Herbie, the one man show, is everlastingly at it, and has endeared himself in the hearts of the thousands who place the Saenger on their permanent calling list, while the stage band this week is running from jazz to "Rhapsody in Blue," and pleases mightily. Indianapolis Lyric Week Ending October 10 Paxton, the man with the camera mind, is one of the headliners. He styles himself a mentalist, but not a mind reader, if you can understand the difference. However, the entertainment is good. Jean and Hazel Kennedy program their offering of songs, dances and comedy skits as "Classy Capers." One of the highlights is M. Marinoff's presentation of his Russian canine actors, which is one of the most pretentious animal acts seen in this city for some time. Jack Adams has a company of singers, dancers and musicians in a revue of youth, color and feminine charm that is well received. San Antonio Majestic Week Ending October 10 Flo Mayo, billed as The Aerial Butterfly, is seen in the opening act, assisted by Jean Spence, a toe dancer of the eccentric type. Florence goes through some breath-taking and seat-grasping thrills high up on a suspended trapeze. They received a good round of applause for their well received number. Headlining this R K O vaudeville program are Babe Egan and Her Hollywood Redheads, but they don't all have hair of the crimson hue: some were even darker or lighter. Anyway, the red-hot all-girl orchestra pours out melody and rhythm like nobody's business. Babe and her company of eleven talented artists have played this city before and each time she is going better than the last. They also do well with several dance and song numbers, and took encores, too. Gracie Barrie, Radio-Keith-Orpheum's latest find, is fine, singing her bluest kind of blue songs. It is (Continued on next page, column 1)