Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 29, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 51 <l -'Galley n^ \ 'jiA HELLO EVERYBODY— It's a Red Letter Day over at the Edward B. Marks Music Company. After being away for a number of years, L. Wolfe Gilbert, the writer of "Ramona," "Jeannine," and hundreds more, is back on the job as general professional manager, with the duties of promoting the popular songs in the firm's catalogue. Two of his latest numbers, "On the Winding iSanta-Fe" and "Something Missing in Your Eyes" (in which he collaborated with Abel Baer and Dave Dreyer) are in the firm's pop catalogue besides "The Song of the River" and "The Peanut Vendor" and these songs are expected to bring up the firm's popular song sales in a great measure. . . . The DeSylva, Brown & Henderson group tendered themselves an informal dinner and dance November 18th in the Empress Room of the Victoria Hotel. Miss Molly Binion, board member, reported that its success was so far beyond their fondest hopes that similar functions are to be regular features with this group of members of the Warners Club. . . . Danny Winkler's illness dampened the party somewhat, as Danny is quite a wag when he gets started but Bobby Crawford did find occasion to attend and joined in the spirit of the party after a brief address. . . . After a most successful trip abroad, during which new contracts with foreign publishers were entered into and existing relations were cemented, J. J. Robbins, head of the Bobbins Music Corporation, returned to New York on the Mauretania last Friday, November 21st. While in London, Mr. Robbins closed a most favorable contract with Keith Prowse & Co., Ltd., to represent the Robbins interests in Great Britain for one year and six months. In Berlin, an advantageous deal was concluded with Musikalienhandlung Alberti and in Paris, Mr. Robbins arranged with Publications Francis Day to represent his firm in France. Both the latter deals were renewals of expired contracts. Mr. Robbins reports that he found conditions quite satisfactory abroad, with American music still a great favorite with Europeans, due, in large measure, to the success of the talkies. He was accompanied on his trip by Julian Ableles, attorney for the firm. . . . All of Frank Swanee's friends 'will be happy to hear that he is doing very well at the Jersey City Stanley theatre, where he is known simply as "Swanee." He has been at this house for four weeks now and it looks like he'll be made the permanent Master of Ceremonies. Those who do not know him personally remember him as the boy with the beautiful voice and also as the one with the striking resemblance to Jack Dempsey. Swanee is a hard worker, is personable, and best of all, has a marvelous voice which will, one of these days, place him among the top-notchers. . . . Met that genial fellow, Jack Kelton, general manager of Davis, Coots & Engel, the other day for the first time, and believe me, I was impressed. Frank's a great fellow, head over heels in love with his work and is one of those acquisitions that help and make business for his firm. . . . While I was there, Johnny Meyer, general manager for Nacio Herb Brown, Inc., dropped in, as did Lou Conrad, the conductor of the Lyden-Balalaika Orchestra. . . . Reading over 6ome out-of-town newspapers, the other day, I was surprised to read a beautifully written article to the effect that someone was going to be married. . . . Those staid society squibs bore me, so instead of rewriting it as it was, allow me to present It in the modern Winchellistic manner : The well-known society deb, Miss Helen Le Bonntz, of that well-known sea-sMe resort, Neptune, is about to middle-aisle it with the well-known Asbury Park Pedal-pusher. G. Howard Scott. ... In other words, our old friend Scotty is going to take the plunge, but I don't blame him a bit, you wouldn't either if you had seen this charming young lady's photograph. . . . Prince Piotti, famous pioneer of radio broadcasting and nationally known as a singer, has recently joined the professional staff of M. Witmark & Sons. The Prince has been off the air for the past eight months due to ill health, but will probably resume broadcasting in the very near future. . . . Harry Blair, that rotund and genial organ and 6lide manager of Shapiro, Bernstein, has just returned from a successful trip to Washington. . . . Blair had a very pleasant visit with Ron & Don, Fox's "ace" organists in that town ; incidently he returned with a beautifully inscribed work of art for yours truly from these charming boys. . . . That's all for this week, so may I close with these words : Buy now because your dollars buy more. STAGE SHOWS (Continued from preceding page, column 2) dance," "Me and My Shadow," by Jay Mills and Joe Altey. The Earle Rockets, dressed as dolls in white and blue sashes, put on a mechanical doll dance that shows careful training. Frank Richardson, star of "Sunny Side Up," captivates the audience with his genial personality even more than his singing. He was in a generous mood and sang "Walking with Su6ie," "If I Could Be with You," "St. Louis Blues" and a new, humorous number, "Never Swat a Fly." Richardson, who is a Philadelphia boy, is a great favorite with Earle audiences. The team of Willie, West and McGinty, knock about comedians, put on their house building or rather house wrecking act and the audience is kept in an uproar by the mishaps all through the number. They have added several new stunts the timing of which is remarkable and there is not a dull moment in their act. The Earle is doing its bit to relieve the unemployment situation and Jay Mills announced that anyone with real talent would be given an opportunity to secure a week's engagement and a start on a theatrical career by appearing at the audition which he holds every Wednesday night at 12 midnight. Chicago Oriental Week Ending November 27 "Melody Menu" might be called a "rare dish" as concerns the category of stage shows, in fact, it has a great deal to do with dishes, but only in pantomime and song. The presentation opens with the Travelers gathered on the stage singing "Your Favorite Dish," going through appropriate gestures of stirring something while they sing. As they finish, the ballet comes through the scrim curtain which hides the band car, and does a tap routine. Suddenly the scrim goes up, and on bounds Benny Meroff, who certainly is pulling them in. His name in lights means much, 60 the box office receipts show, to the patrons of the theatre. A band number entitled "You've Got that Thing," is next played, featuring several members of the band, who do solos with their particular instruments. After this Laypo and Lee, acrobatic comedians, pull some clever antics, never being able to do anything right the first time, but after considerable effort finally manage to do it to perfection, winning a good share of applause from the audience. The production number opens and the ballet comes on the stage, and back of them are the Travelers. They all sing a song about cooking, and the girls then play several xylophones which are made to look like dishes from the front. Benny appears at the close to do a fast tap. That boy is clever, there's no doubt about it. Trys everything and anything and does it well. Hyde and Burrell put on a spell of songs, dances and gags which go over fairly well, several very anaemic instruments making their appearance, such as a base violin that lays an egg. A bit different and very amusing. Benny then has the floor to himself for a while, and impersonates delightfully such character as Pat Rooney, Ted Lewis, Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor. He sings and he dances and plays and — well, he ought to put on a whole stageshow by himself eome (Continued on next page, column 2) JULIA DAWN The Golden Voiced Organist STILL DOING NOVELTIES FOR DELUXE THEATRES w% NOW AT PARAMOUNT'S PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE SYDNEY AUSTRALIA ; ' Witmark i, Vice Preg. A Gen./Affr. 'to UNDER THE SPELL OF YOUR KISS I HAD TO LOSE YOU (To Learn You Were Meant for Me) HANGIN' ON A LAMP-POST (Singin' a Song) TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT (I Love You) LOST SOUL SING SONG GIRL SONG OF THE BIG TRAIL WHAT'S THE USE OF LIVING WITHOUT LOVE I'LL NEVER LOVE ANYONE BUT YOU ONE PAIR OF PANTS AT A TIME ORGANISTS:— Write or Drop In and Get Acquainted With HERMAN SCHENCK MGR. Special Service Dept, He is at Your Disposal and will be Happy to take care of your wants RED STAR MUSIC COMPANY, INC <J/*f WITAVvVRK VICE PRES. £*. OEN.MGR. 729 SEVENTH AVE., NEW YORK. \KM wm hEti