Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

60 EXHIBITORS HERALD -WORLD October 25, 1930 Before the Mike By BOBBY MELLIN Six months' silence broken ! Again Paul Whiteman fans may hear the "King of Jazz" and his world famous band on the air. After refusing consistently for six months to broadcast over even the most prominent radio stations in the country, Whiteman has relented and since his grand opening of the fall season at Al Quodbach's Granada Cafe on October 10, has been playing nightly over WBBM. The King's Jesters, four versatile funsters who, among other things, play fifteen different instruments, are being heard in Chicago for the first time. • * * Ted Hediger, young NBC announcer whose work on Florsheim Frolics and other Chicago broadcasts is rapidly winning country-wide recognition among radio listeners, was late to rehearsal for the first time in his short career during NBC's first week in their new studios recently. But his excuse was giltedged. He explained that he had been in the building on time, but in looking for the proper studios, had lost his way in the maze of corridors and rooms of the vast new NBC quarters on top of the Merchandise Mart. • » * Three years ago, Charlie Hanip, the "Quaker Early Bird," was working in San Francisco with a toothpaste account over the radio. He left this to appear in a theatre there and his place was taken for the period by Jean Paul King, then in radio work on the west coast. When Hamp walked into the Chicago NBC studios for his first broadcast, whom should he see waiting to announce his program but King. • * * Chauncey Parsons, known popularly as "The Magic Tenor," has many distinctions, but one of the principal ones with which radio listeners are concerned is the fact that he was probably the first actual headliner in musical comedy to desert his role on the stage for one before the microphone. So great was his confidence in the future of radio that he gave up his role in one of the popular musical comedies to become a feature entertainer for the NBC. Today the wisdom of his decision is attested to by thousands of fan letters each week. • * • The secret of Harry Buddinger's unusual sense of rhythm, demonstrated in his role of star trap-drummer and xylophone performer of Jules Herbeveaux's orchestra, was recently explained when it was discovered that he never went into the studios without a wad of chewing gum in his mouth. Visitors at KYW are of the opinion that Buddinger's jaws move faster than his hands even in xylophone interpretations of the fastest moving of modern dance numbers. • » • A well-known conductor of an important farm program, a violinist of no small repute ... a very capable arranger of music ... a viola and a piano artist . . . conductor of the Evening Stars NBC Chicago Orchestra . . . director of the popular Yeast Foamers orchestra ... a favorite toastmaster ... a pleasing manner combined with a shrewd sense of business, and you have Harry Kogen, NBC Chicago conductor. • * • Ben Bernie and his internationally famous orchestra, favorites of radio and stage audiences in both Europe and America, have been engaged as the new feature of the Lucien Long, Inc., productions over WBBM Wednesdays at 9 P. M., replacing the society reproductions formerly presented during this period. Bernie will act as master of ceremonies during each program, introducing his specialty men and new dance tunes. • • • Clem & Harry now have the morning O-Cedar program over the NBC network — Maurie Sherman replaces Leo Murphy at the Beachview Gardens. Maurie should really bring some business to this north side cafe — It is reported that after the termination of Sherman's contract at the above cafe, he will be replaced by Danny Russo and his Orioles. Danny played here with marvelous success. Lindy Coons in New Post (Special to the Herald-World) SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 23.— The Alamo Dinner Club, formerly a country club recently reopened with Lindy Coons, for a time on the Publlx Circuit, In the role of master of ceremonies and director of the nightly entertainment and floor show. STAGE SHOWS (Continued from preceding page, column 2) thing-a-jigs that the angels are supposed to wear — thin material that a man with half an eye can see clear through without effort. Marietta is a peach of a dancer and put it all over those of the same class that has preceded her in the past either on the Saenger 6tage or the major vaudeville houses. Williams and Delaney were well received and they gave a pleasing act of its kind and received considerable applause. And the clothes they wear ! They evidently have gotten away with it for some seasons, inasmuch as the wardrobe is good — street rags ditto. The Dixie Rockets as usual scored a hit, in fact, several of them, with and without, despite extremely chilly weather in the offing. Herbie, the demon organist, is cracking them heavy at all performances, and has the audiences eating out of his hand paragorically speaking ; the girls and boys from six to sixty join heartily in the choruses, not the ladies on the stage but the dinky verses between those of the main chain of popular songs. Clara Bow, in "Her Wedding Night" is the current film, which though light, has made a hit. "Three French Girls" is underlined for the coming week. San Francisco Fox Week Ending October 23 This week's stage show at the Fox is Fanchon and Marco's offering "The New Yorker Idea," but Walt Roesner goes to Russia for his music and the Fox Concert Orchestra directed by him offers a Tschaikowsky medley, including selections from the Fourth and Fifth Symphonies of this master composer. The usual tableau is omitted, but in its place is a futuristic background and unusual lighting effects. The "New Yorker Idea" swings into action when Jackson, of the team of Jackson and Callahan, steps out before the curtain map of Greater New York and credits Leroy Prince for the striking features of the act. Broadway's "loveliest girls" are introduced and advise in an original song that they really are not from Broadway, but from all parts of the U. S. A. A fan dance on a tilted platform proves a very attractive offering and features Muriel Stryker, who fits in perfectly with the beauty of the scene. The girls are first seen lying on the floor, waving their fans in unison, the beauty of the scene being heightened by lighting effects. Jackson and Callahan offer "Blackouts," an act made up of highlights from "Vanities" and New York Wintergarden Shows. A wide variety of gags is offered in a short space of time. The Fanchon and Marco Girls present "Contagious Rhythm," a novelty dance offering, and are followed by Witely Roberts, who does a dance while skipping rope. The dancing steps would be considered real pedal twisters without the rope work and the combination of the two causes the audience to lose a couple of breaths. The girls come right back with another novelty dance number, with a leader representing an engine and each member a passenger car. A first class imitation of a train starting, gathering speed and pulling out of a station is offered in dance steps. Jackson announces a contest for the ideal American Girl and Callahan, in feminine attire, comes up from the audience to apply for the honor. A lot of wisecracks and hokum is put over in a manner that pleases. The girls step out from futuristic cafe fronts and LEONARD SMITH Solo Organist AVALON THEATRE Fifth Year with National Playhouses (Nov Affiliated vtith Warner Bro: Theatres) offer ultra modern dances and finally a rear curtain goes up and New York at night is revealed in all its brilliancy, even to the automobile headlights in the streets. This is a lively stage show with something to surprise and entertain the most blase. There are scenes of real beauty to which Muriel Stryker adds grace and charm. Omaha Paramount Week Ending October 8 With Ann Harding in "The Girl of the Golden West" providing the popular picture here this week, Wesley Lord at the console and an Indian reservation setting give the production a good start. Featuring the Indian setting is May Sufton, in Indian maiden costume, appearing in a setting of canoe and water in the curtain background lighting effect, with a lighted campfire, over which hangs a kettle on a tripod, before her, a tepee at her back. While the organ presentation of "By the Waters of Minnetonka" in what proves to be a prolog correctly called "An Indian Legend," is getting into swing, the Indian reservation, built on the orchestra pit, slowly rises, in the middle of the show. The Indian maiden proves to be a violinist who takes a solo lead, the organ falling back into obliggato, continuing the Minnetonka strains in variation and leading later into the "Love Call." The purple light on the tepee back of the violinist and the other colored lights upon her and the console are altogether pleasing. Gradually the reservation fades out of slight while the picture is projected upon the screen. The audience has caught the dramatie setting because the organ, the violin and the lights have been thrown into perfect harmony, proving that they lend themselves perfectly to dramatic appeal. The first of a series of organ presentations of the season at the Paramount is given. Organ interludes between news of the day reelB lend artistic finish to their presentation. In "While the Captain Waits," a soundfilm, the organ happily supplements its chimes to the accompaniment in that portion where Senorita Armida sings, in the steerage. Detroit Fisher Week Ending October 23 "Dollies Follies," the new Publix unit at the Fisher this week, has a good line of entertainment, which is offered under the direction ef Sammy Diebert, one of Detroit's favorite masters of ceremony. Dick Henderson, favorite English stage and screen star, tops the bill with a fast line of patter which hits the audience right where they live. Norman and Rio top the bill of dance offerings, which is too much for one show. The Gomez Trio have a variety of Spanish dances, and the Griffin Girls sway through two numbers. A variety of offerings might seem a bit more in keeping with entertainment ideas, rather than three dancing units. Samuel Benavie and the Fisher Symphony, and an organologue by Arsen Siegel. round out the list of living attractions. Lilyan Tashman and Frank Fay amble across the screen in "The Matrimonial Bed," so-called French farce. Pittsburgh Enright Week Ending October 16 Dick Powell, m. c, calls his stage show "Fall Follies," and the offering is a very entertaining one. featured by pretty lighting effects. The Enright Rockets, eight girls, are augmented by eight statuesque beauties who form a background while the Rockets go through their various ensembles. Noteworthy is the Russian number in which the girls expertly perform the difficult Russian steps. An unbilled male Russian dancer is interjected here *nd his dancing is above the ordinary. Madolyn Ward, local girl, does a solo for an opening number and later Dorothy Bushey, another local girl, scores with imitations of Eddie Cantor and Maurice Chevalier. Dick gets a big hand when he sings the comic song "My Baby," and later leads the band through a novelty called "Uncle Tom's Cabin," in which he reads a brief and humorous synopsis of the famous play while the band supplies brief snatches of music at intervals to illustrate various portions of the story. This is well done and gets a big hand. The hit of the show is the team, Chamberlin and Hymes, who do a knock 'em down and drag 'em out {Continued on next page, column 1) I *\..^tL\ ■