Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

60 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD November 8, 1930 HELLO EVERYBODY— One of the features of the fourth anniversary show at the New York Paramount this week, is the reunion at the twin organs of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Crawford. Mrs. Crawford recently returned from an extended vacation in Chicago, while Mr. Crawford maintained the precedent that a Crawford has been playing at the New York Paramount since the theatre opened. . . . Paul Ash, "Daddy" of the Stage-shows and the first master of ceremonies to conduct stage-shows, famed entertainer, composer and conductor, appeared as guest artist on the Major Bowes' Capitol Radio "Family" broadcast last Sunday night. Mr. Ash, at the piano, accompanied Milton Watson, well-known tenor and protege of Mr. Ash. in the latter' s latest compositions. Immediately after the broadcast Mr. Ash left for Cleveland, where he is to take up the duties of Master of Ceremonies at the Loew's State Theatre. . . . Louis McDerraott, one of Publix "ace" producers of stage-shows and also the writer of "If I Had a Girl Like You," has just written (and had accepted by Leo Feist, Inc.) a new fox-trot called, "You're One in a Million to Me," which has all the ear-marks of a big success. . . . Herman Schenck, former western manager for Shapiro, Bernstein has just been appointed manager of the Organ and Slide Department for Red Star Music company, in fact this is one of the first appointments Mr. Jay Witmark has made since he was put in charge of this company. . . . Herman is an energetic and likable fellow, and will undoubtedly make himself an asset to his firm. . . . Manny Blau is now doing most of the plugging of the metropolitan district of Irving Berlin's and Benny Bloom is still concentrating on the out-of-town organists. Manny has made a lot of new friends around town and is getting his share of the plugs for the firm. . . . Just received a letter from my pal. Eddie Fitch, chief organist for the Hoyt Circuit (now the Fox Circuit) in Australia. Eddie balled me out for not keeping his name alive over here. I'll tell you why I haven't mentioned it more often. You see, when Fitch writes me, he always burns me up by enclosing advertisements of Beer, etc., and I figured he doesn't need his name mentioned in this country because he sounds so satisfied "over there." That doesn't make any sense, but what's the difference, I just wanted to let all of his old friends on this 6ide of the world know that Eddie is all right and that he wishes to be remembered to them all. . . . Oh yes, I just received another letter from another organist, this one being Adolph Goebel, who is at the Paramount theatre in Atlanta, Ga. . . . (This Goebel is no relation to the famous sausage king but he could be classed as a distant relation because he is great at telling a lot of boloney). . . . Have you ever heard of Dick Betts, well he is the featured organist at the Roger Sherman, New Haven and Dick is unable to read a note of music, but how that boy can play. After hearing a number played through once, he can sit right down and play it as if he had studied it for years. . . . Say, who is that handsome red haired fellow, who is beauing Clare Bronson around at theatre openings lately? Clare is Sam Serwer's secretary. . . . Ernie Valle is the young fellow who is being featured at the Picardy Club and over WOR these days. Ernie is no relation to Rudy Vallee but nevertheless i3 getting to be just as great a "pash" to the girls. . . . George Marlow, professional manager of DeSylva's is plenty enthusiastic about the firm's latest 6ong, "To Whom It May Concern" and he expects it to follow the rapid strides of "Don't Tell Her" and the rest of the firm's catalog. . . . This new song was written by Sidney D. Mitchell, Archie Gottler and George W. Meyer. . . . Out at Mrs. Donahue's Log Cabin (Halloween party last week, the orchestra of the Flushing R K O Keith theatre made merry for the folks. You should have seen Mr. Lenahan and Mrs. Donahue do the Irish Reel, Bernie Cowham play the Bass Viol, Lou Handman (president of Universal Music) play and sing with the former vaud team of Holmes and Levere (Miss Levere is now Mrs. Lou Handman). . . . Harold Spini, also of Universal, play piano solos. I know that everyone had a good time . . . and I might suggest that when any of the gang around town here, want a pleasant evening, good food, and dancing, go out to the Log Cabin, Northern Blvd., Flushing, L. I. . . . Harry Rose is now at the Stanley Jersey City as M. C. . . . Teddy Joyce, also M. C. is at the Mastbaum, Philadelphia. The Three Brox Sisters and Tom Patricola are making personal appearances at the Earle, Washington. . . . Ron and Don, and their baby console are still the feature at the Fox, Washington. STAGE SHOWS (Continued from preceding page, column 2) salesmen, appear in a juggling act — feature juggling in "slow motion without sound effects." They also use three Indian clubs in juggling, .the band in the pit picking up the rhythm and increasing the tempo into speed. The Marie Peterson girls, eight in novel dance creations, appear first in modernistic costume in silver and red and later in a number wearing scarlet trousers, white blouses and red headdresses. Billy Meyers and his World band play interludes until the picture is projected on screen. Before the Mike Detroit Hollywood Half Week Ending November 8 "Hit and Miss" as the name-plate of the last-half bill at the Hollywood certainly hits the nail on the head. There is a miniature musical comedy, a dog act, and a comedy offering, with Eddie Loughton doing the honors as introducer of the talent. The Gray Family, an uncounted number of personable and pleasing players, offer the musical comedy angle. They sing, play, dance, chatter and generally give the customers the correct change. Maxine and Bobby, a man and a dog, cause the patrons to sit up and take notice. There are dog acts and dog acts, and this is one of the former. Maxine is a well-trained animal, and makes the most of every opportunity. Kirby and Duval, a boy and a girl, have a line of chatter, several songs, and two pair of hot feet. The Merrymakers provide the musical background. Bob Clarke is at the organ. Detroit Hollywood Half Week Ending November 5 "Hollywood Revels" is the title of the stage piece for the first half of this week, which features Sunshine Sammy, one of Hal Roach's "Our Gang" kids, and his two brothers. To say the least. Sammy is a neat hoofer, and with his younger relatives, he succeeds in stopping the show. "Hot Feet" is the name of the offering, and from the antics of one of the boys, "that is it." Eddie Loughton, popular master of ceremonies, puts his 10 musicians through their paces, the big number being "Friend of a Friend of Mine." Loughton himself sings a number in his usual pleasing voice. The Six Franklins, a family of two women and four men, perform on a pair of ladders, but the high point of the act goes to the dogs. A white Spitz and a Mexican hairless win the audience the first second they appear, and the "ohs" and "ahs," followed by hearty applause, are really meant. Carr Lynn, an imitator and comedian, gets better as he goes along, but the first part of his stuff is too slow. Bob Clarke at the organ features a really novel novelty. New Orleans Saenger Week Ending October 31 With the house packed to overflowing and hundreds clinging to the life boats (in nautical terms) but in plain everyday English waiting for an opportunity to crash the doors. Helen Kane opened a week's engagement with a midnight performance in opposition to Amos 'n' Andy at a neighboring theatre, and made good. Helen is a wee bit of humanity with a baby voice and a red dress, and was taken to the arms of Father New Orleans like a long lost daughter. Of course Helen was not the only one on the bill — there were others including Benny Ross, the personality leader, the Dixie Rockets in brand new clothes, George Riley and Maxine Eston. Now a word about the latter lady. Maxine Eston is billed direct from the Scandals — the theatrical presentation, of course. Miss Eston turned summersets, fall-sets and several belonging to the early spring and late autumn. The lady is an accomplished dancer and pleased mightily, assisted by the young ladies who compose the chorus, who beat time with their tiny dogs. George Riley, is a nut, not in the 6ense that you and I might take it in everyday life, but on the stage. Personally it is believed that George is as sensible as any human being when in the bosom of his family, or a neighbor, but on the stage he is the village cut up. Some of his jokes are a trifle off. notably the one as his father was a traveling man, he, George, had plenty of relatives in the territory dad traveled. It seemed to please the crowd however, and we will let it go at that. Charlie Niggermeyer hit a happy idea when he dubbed the Publix production "Waikiki Nights." The (Continued on next page, column 1) Phil Spitalny By BOBBY MELLIN Phil Spitalny, spirited and enthusiastic conductor of the seventeen-piece Edgewater Beach Hotel orchestra, broadcasting over KYW and the National Broadcasting Chain, is going to give Chicago shut-ins the benefit of his artistry. Announcing that he believed in putting a touch of color in otherwise drab lives. Mr. Spitalny told of his first engagement, which was on Wednesday afternoon, October 22nd, at the Chicago Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium, which has 1.200 patients. Spitalny'6 orchestra which is booked by the NBC Artists Service, will continue the charity concerts at intervals of two weeks all through the winter. Veterans hospitals, homes for the aged, orphan asylums and similar places will be visited. It is certainly a noble thought and Mr. Spitalny is to be congratulated. * t * Chicago can boast of two of the foremost harmony arrangers in the United States for sureiy no one can deny that Paul Church, who arranges all the harmony for the Famous Chicagoans, and Eddie Frekman, who does the same for the Wanderers Quartette, are not supreme in their line. Listen in to the programs both of these great quartettes are on, and you will be amazed by the tricky arrangements from the master minds of these two ace musicians. * * * What's in a name ? Bill Barth, star of the Keystone Chronicle team of "Buck and Alice," has had reason lately to believe that sometimes there's more in a name than either Shakspeare or Juliet realized. Last year, before Bill had made his reputation in the Keystone Chronicle programs, his friend George Redman, continuity writer for the NBC, was engaged in writing a script for "Empire Builders," which, at that time, was being produced from the New York studios of the NBC. In casting about for a name for one of his characters Redman decided to use Barth 's name as the name of the character in question. Now that the series has been brought to Chicago, needless to say, there was no one in Chicago who could play the part of "Bill Barth" better than Bill himself. * * * Will Osborne has been given more time over the CBS than any other CBS feature. Will is doing 14 or more broadcasts weekly, going over WABC from the Manhattan Towers each noon or evening and his club nightly— Del Delbridge at a Detroit hotel with his band, and jobbing on the side — Austin Wylie and band opened at the Roseland Ballroom, New York, this week — Paul Whiteman's engagement at the Granada Cafe has been made indefinite. The Florsheim Shoe company realizing the value of Joe Sanders and Carleton Coons to the radio public, have decided to use them on another popular program every Sunday afternoon over the NBC network on a hook-up from coast-to-coast. The following of these two co-directors of their famous Nighthawk orchestra, over the air is tremendous, and they receive more mail and telegrams than any other orchestra in the United States. Jules Herbuveaux, musical director of KYW, Chicago, and conductor of its orchestra, was recently the recipient of an anusual compliment. The manager of another large and competing station in the city called Jules on the phone and asked if he could send over his musicians and director for a visit. "I want them to learn how you do it." the competing station manager said. « • • Johnny Hamp and his orchestra, returns on November 2nd, from a successful engagement at the Kit Kat Club, London. England, to open at Pittsburgh's latest swank night club — known as the "Towne Club" on November 5th, for a limited engagement. — Henry Santrey and his orchestra have been definitely set to sail January 2nd for England where they will be featured at the Kit Kat Club. «t