Inside facts of stage and screen (February 22, 1930)

SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE NINE RADIO- KEITH- ORPHEUM CIRCUIT OF THEATRES VAUDEVILLE EXCHANGE General Booking Offices PALACE THEATRE BUILDING 1564 Broadway RKO FILM BOOKING CORP. General Booking Offices 1560 Broadway NEW YORK CORPORATION 1560-1564 Broadway, New York Telephone Exchange: Bryant 9300 Cable Address: “RADIOKEITH” RKO PRODUCTIONS Inc. Producers and Distributors of RADIO PICTURES LAUNCHING AN ERA OF ELECTRICAL ENTERTAINMENT 1560 Broadway New York HARRY WEBER - SIMON AGENCY PALACE THEATRE BUILDING, NEW YORK CITY MANAGING ONLY THE BEST IN VAUDEVILLE and PICTURES HOLLYWOOD OFFICE BANK OF HOLLYWOOD BUILDING Corner Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street HO. 2181—Telephones—HO. 2182 HARRY WEBER (Continued from Page 8) duo who performed some ingenious feats of barrel spinning and jug- gling. The line girls were seen as Jap maids in an Oriental rou- tine. The episode was closed as the boys offered some fast body ■whirling. Eddie Peabody preceded the finale with a dynamic routine of tunes on his banjo. Thunderous applause greeted his every effort, which included “I’m a Dreamer,” "If I Had a Talking Picture of You,” “Sunnyside Up” and “St. Louis Blues.” With the crowds still clamoring, Eddie encored with a medley of "blues,” into which were woven "Birth of the Blues” and “Happy Days.” Pea- body’s work and the enthusiastic reception accorded him presage a profitable run for him here. The finale presented plenty of flash, with the entire troupe on. The girls entered in pairs, exem- plifying various nations. Al Mar- kel and Gay offered an eccentric soft-shoe routine that was grace- fully unfurled, finishing with some comedy tumbling that clicked. The columns went up into the flies, revealing flags of various nations, with the show closing as Mignon entered, garbed as Miss Liberty, and the stairs going up to disclose the American flag which, as per usual, pulled the applause. Picture was “Men Without Women” (Fox). Babt. FOX EL CAPITAN SAN FRANCISCO (Reviewed Feb. 16.) Although the prevalent hot weather was taking its toll of most other houses, El Cap ad- hered to its custom of lining ’em up in goodly number to see its first district run flicker and Peggy O’Neill’s stage show skippered by Jay Brower. Show got off on a right-footed start with Jimmie Barr, back after a week's ab- sence, singing a dope number. “What’s the Use of Dreaming," in Chinese atmosphere and the 16 sweethearts backing. Number was effectively presented and sold with Barr’s nice voice giving it the needed wallop. Brower and the boys next busted out in a red hot tune, “Man From the South,” and then Mary and Mary Jane stepped out of the line to sing “I’m Following You.” These two cuties are get- ting to be big favs here, drawing entrance applause and generally an encore or two for their spe- cialties. A holdover from last week, Sub Mez, in some of his snappy hoofing, over nicely. And for the laugh highspot of the evening Brower and his good man Friday, known affectionately as Pic Smith, Stepped out of the musicians' nest _ for a comedy mind-reading bit that customers ate up, Pic and Brower provided a mental telepathy team of no mean ability, even Unearthing this Inside Facts critique in the audi- ence and designating him under the insinuating and all too in- clusive head of “chiseler.” The reviewer takes this opportunity of thanking Mr. Brower and Mr. Smith and wishes he could call the former the best looking' mas- ter of ceremonies in the business. “Congratulations” was the next offering by the 16 sweethearts led by Juanita and Charlotte. Joy and Lazzeroiii, then, in a fast moving roller skating act building up nicely and closing with a neck whirl that drew heavy applause. “When the Sun Goes Down” and “Love Is Like That” next were featured by Jay and the band, with Bob Rimic, who re- cently parted front a gorgeous blonde mustache, doing a muted trumpet solo. Concluding the Bum her Brower stepped out on the apron with a bicycle pump and played “Laugh, Clown, Laugh” to bring down the house and net encores with “Singin’ in the Bath- tub” and "Turn On the Heat.” Jimmie Barr then returned to sell “I’m Only Making Believe” and to sell it big. Number segued into the finale which had Don and Rita adagio team, for a flash closer. Mel Hertz at the Wurlitzer, Talkie attraction was “The 13th Chair.” Bock. FOX OAKLAND OAKLAND (Reviewed Feb. 15.) Intelligent management from the front to the back of this house is consistenly garnering for it a max- imum of business, even an average bill of fare such as this drawing a healthy crop of ticket-buyers. Ramon Novarro in Metro’s “Devil May Care’’ and Hermie King, M.C., now in his second year, get credit for the current show’s draw, King being handicapped by Fan- chon and Marco’s “Ivories Idea” which forced him into the pit for the length of the presentation. “Ivories” not too hot as a s.tage unit although it embodied nice work from the Four Hi Hatters, tap dancers of no mean ability; Betty Lou Webb, mistress of cer- emonies working in male clothes and selling a pair of songs; Peggy Carse doing solo dance work and looking mighty cute; and Hy Mey- er at the lead piano in a different finale . . . ten of the line girls at diminutive Knabes. Goetz and Duffy out of this show. Working in the pit throughout the show Hermie King and his gang of competent musicians had no opportunity to display their usual versatile stage stuff. Billy Knox at the Wurlitzer and several short talk features com- pleted the bill. Boi k Meiklejohn Bros. ASSOCIATED VAUDEVILLE MANAGERS Fourth Floor, Spreckels Bldg. > Phones: 714 So. Hill St. TRinity 2217, TRinity 2218 LOS ANGELES VAUDEVILLE AND PICTURE HOUSE ENGAGEMENTS AVAILABLE FOR STANDARD ACTS WANTED—Acts Suitable for Vaudeville, Picture House Presentations, Clubs and Talkies AL WAGER T “ (Artists’ Representative) 221 LOEW’S STATE BLDG., LOS ANGELES, CALIF. Phone: VAn dike 3619 FIFTH AVENUE SEATTLE (Reviewed Feb. 10) Six couples of boys dressed in various types of uniforms offered their dance specialties for the opening of F. & M.’s “Uniform ■Idea.” Each got over to fair re- turns, it remaining for the Joy Brothers to put over a more pol- ished routine at the finish to nice returns. Two girls, Helen and Sylvia, work with the boys in the opening. The band offering was next up with the boys entering from the wings playing the local college air, finishing, it with a skyrocket cheer led by Eddie Peabody, who immediately went into his role oi master-of-ceremonies and intro- duced the twelve hoofers who, in nifty red bellhop costumes, tapped their way to the tune of “Poet and Peasant.” Nice stunt but rather draggy on account of its length. Ruth Hamilton, personality girl, offered two numbers, “Sunny Side Up” and “Just Like A Melody.” This one, fair. Personality stuff overworked with voice weak. One of the high spots of the evening followed with Danny Joy doing a misfit soft shoe eccentric that brought out the first real hand music of the evening, forcing the boy to a short speech. Armand and Perez, acrobats de luxe, walked away with the honors of the show, a triple summersault by the top mounter from a teeter- board to a chair on the under- stander’s shoulders being one of their many outstanding feats. In a class by themselves. Peabody on for his specialties brought the usual good hand. Along with him came Ralph Mayer, one of the band, who played a banjoline with Eddie using a guitar for their opening number, “Chant of the Jungle.” The pair went into “Dreamer After All” with violins, finishing with “Ida” on banjos, playing this criss-cross fashion. Nice get- away for Peabody’s specialties. Into his usual requests on the stage and up the aisle which in- cluded “Should I?” “Rio Rita.” “Kiss Each Morning,” “Louise,” and the now famous “St. Louis Blues” that he had to play for his final number on his farewell week. Topped off with a speech of thanks to the gang out front to allow the finale to come on. Finish nicely staged and well costumed with the boys as West Point cadets putting the girls through an acrobatic routine. The “Idea” needs a singing punch to balance the hoofing. Jean STRAND VANCOUVER Jackie Souders and an aug- mented hand putting across snappy stage presentation of band and vocal numbers and First Na- tional’s “Paris" as screen fare, with the assistance of plenty of newspaper plugging, pretty nearly filled this house notwithstanding the fact that F. and M. Ideas were out for the first time in two years. The band augmented to 20 pieces, worked in an attractive set of black velvet drops as a back- ground, on a stand painted a rose and pink effect and banked with natural ferns around the base. As a push off Jackie came down stage before a drop and gave a short but serious lecture on Schu- bert the composer and his unfin- ished symphony, the selection used as an opener. As a contrast the band next went into “Singing in the Rain” while five of the mem- bers including Souders, came down stage with miniature bathtubs to do a parody. This was another sale. “Always in My Arms” with Souders vocalizing the chorus fol- lowed. “Turn on the Heat” closed the presentation. Jackie also vocal- ized part of this one wearing a tin lid, as a finale a back drop was raised and His Majesty of the lower regions was seen fid- dling somewhat after the manner of Nero, over a fiery blast of ris- ing flame. Jackie was in good form and the proceedings got across without a hitch. Mac. FOX-WEST COAST LONG BEACH The “Manila Idea” opened with Samuel Pedraza singing. He has a soothing tenor voice and it blended very nicely with the col- orful realistic setting of a deck scene on board a passenger vessel. The two Romeros gave a nifty exhibition of fast tap dancing in their presentation of a little stair- case dance. They performed well and received a good hand. Equal- ly pleasing was the dance ot the three girls with their hands chained together. Their applause producer was the familiar stunt of standing one back of the other and moving their arms in such a manner as to make it appear as though the first person had six arms. The joyful passengers on board the boat called for a dance num- ber and Herb and That Band gave them a red-hot one that had lots of rhythm. The fact that three couples danced during the rendition of the feature number made the deck scene even more true to life. Stella Royal, a tot of 8 years, received a nice hand for her per- formance. Her song as well as her toe dancing was enjoyed. An- other song by the tenor and a very graceful dance by two of the Romeroes led up to the com- edy act. And what a comedy act. Harry and Frank Seamon certainly scored heavily. The audience greeted their humorous stunts with roars of laughter and their spectacular acrobatic feats with lots of applause. A brief finale with all on closed one of the most talented and realistic ideas that has ever been shown here. Picture was “South Sea Rose” (Fox). Okay. (Continued on Page 15) PATRICK and MARSH (AGENCY) VAUDEVILLE—ORCHESTRAS WANTED! ACTS SUITABLE FOR PICTURE HOUSE PRESENTATION AND CLUBS WRITE—WIBE—CALL 607-8 Majestic Theatre Bldg., 845 South Broadway, Lo* Angeles Phone TUcker 214# Walter Trask WANTS STANDARD ACTS and ENTERTAINERS for THEATRES, CLUBS, LODGES and SMAROFF-TRASK PRESENTATIONS WALTER TRASK THEATRICAL AGENCY 1102 Commercial Exchange Bldg. 416 West Eighth Street Los Angeles Telephone TUcker 168# WILLS-CUNNINGHAM GLadstone 9502 7016 Hollywood Boulevard Studio of Dancing Professionals Taught hy Professionals Routines Created and Perfected for Single, Double and Ensemble Dancing Acts Walter Wills Theatrical Employment Agency Talent Booked for Pictures, Vaudeville, Production, Clubs Ackerman & Harris EXECUTIVE OFFICES THIRD FLOOR, PHELAN BLDG. Ella Herbert Weston, Booking Manager Market, Grant and O’Farrell Sts. SAN FRANCISCO LOS ANGELES—20 Film Exchange Bldg. Washington and Vermont — Telephone: BEacon 7#66 Artists and Acts Register For Theatrical Bookings, Orchestras and Club Entertainment IRA F. GAY AGENCY 206 Majestic Theatre Building 845 South Broadway FA 3421 Los Angeles