Inside facts of stage and screen (October 25, 1930)

PAGE TEN INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN OCT. 25, 1930 LOEW’S STATE “WAY BACK WHEN IDEA” (Reviewed Oct. 23) F. and M. came back this week with another smashing hit stage show, in which the Carla Torney Girls bid fair to make a name for a Milwaukee miss whose routines, Tiller and toe stuff, outshine any- thing seen in this house. Line is augmented this week with sixteen Albertina Rasch girls, who, while flashy in eye entertainment, are a poor comparison to the Tor- ney line. The Rasch work was rag- ged in spots for the second consecu- tive week, while the Torney girls have the snap arid precision of classy Broadway stuff. The “Way Back When Idea” has an opening setting of a way back theatre, with the girls doing a Floradora before Hy Myers intro- duces the Emporers of Harmony on the backstage. The colored quar- tette got the show" away to a fine start in an offering of quartettes in which the bass stood out in his “Old Man River” bit. Plenty of comedy injected, excellent voices, and live well up to their rep as a standard act. The Albertina Rasch dancers followed with their same line rou- tine of last week, ragged at the finish. A newcomer here, Freda Sulli- van, worked with Rube in a “Never Swat a Fly” bit, and topped it off with a rhythm tap that proved that Rube as a comedian and a show- man can’t be topped, out here any- way. The bby either purposely muffed his routine for laughs. He got plenty, and if it was a muff, it should stay that way because when Rube clowns here, the crowd eat it up. He’s a prime favorite. The girl is good, and should work into a good partner for Rube. The Torney Girls back on again, clicking heavy, offering everything in the book except toe, including specialty acrobatics by some of the girls, which were neatly put over. Here the Tiller stood out. The kids dance as one, we’ve yet to see any- thing to top their work in this house. Will King with Willard Hall, whose work is excellent, offered a fast line of comedy chatter that was a needed punch for the act. Ma- terial is on the up and up, with the laughs coming heavy. The next was a setting notable in its simplicity, yet one of the most beautiful seen in this house due to clever lighting and staging. Showed Hy Myers at the piano, an artist at the ivories, playing while the Al- bertina Rasch girls did a toe rou- tine down front, and the Torney girls did theirs on a bridge across a huge violin set back stage. Miss Du Val cleverly handled her violin and song bit, dovetailed into the setting. The smash hit of the show were the three Bennett brothers, who opened the show with a nance col- legiate soft shoe that was a wow. The smallest of the trio did a leg- mania that grabbed a heavy hand. They topped it off with a drunk soft shoe that hit the bell for a heavy smash of applause. The fastest and neatest trio of hoofers that Loew’s have seen in months. “Idea” closed with an ensemble of the Torney and Rasch girls do- ing a radium number, another flash, all principals on stage. Heavy finsh. Rube and his boys are deserving of good mention with their opening orchestra bit of “Way Back When” tunes, with the boys in the pit doing specialties with Rube getting their share of applause and guffaws. — Babi. Lands nicely later with “Manda- lay.” Top honors go to the Meyakos, youthful Japanese trio, male and two good looking flappers, who are classy in their acrobatic and off- rhythm taps. Boy gets over hefty with a uke and song. Togo in his rope “slide for life” from balcony to stage is the sen- sational punch to the act, while Samini and a fem partner grab a heavy hand in an idol dance that was uniquely lighted and staged. Jack Lester disclosed some orig- inal and show-stopping variety of triple rhythm taps that got the show off to a flying start. Line girls, in all of their routines, stand head and shoulder above anything seen here in some time. “Idea” was lightning paced from start to finish, and sets out well as an example of what can be done in the way of a presentation. Babi. LOEW’S STATE LOS ANGELES (Reviewed October 20) Larry Cebellos’ “Enchantment Idea” is one of the flashiest seen here, chock full of entertainment, and will offset some of the drab ones ahead and behind it. Clever hoofing of line gals, lead and trained by Jack Lester, triple off- rhythm expert, are of show-stop- ping calibre. Idea is cleverly en- hanced by expert lighting, and opened with Jue Fong, Jap tenor, singing the themie in good voice. DENVER THEATRE DENVER (Reviewed October 16) “Ginger Snaps,” title of this Pub- lix unit, proved to be fast moving throughout, and was greeted by a full house at this bargain matinee. Night” was the flicker, and togeth- er with the stage unit, was one of the best combinations seen here for some time. Fred Schmitt and his boys offered “Overture Populair,” with some clever arrangements, with a pleas- ing tenor planted in the pit vocaliz- ing to.good returns. Garpby Hale Girls, neatly cos- tumed. executed some difficult rou- tines in a precise and graceful man- ner. Dick and Edith Barstow do an amazing tap dance on their toes, together with a toe stair number. Couple are sensational and the crowd responded with a tremendous hand. Harrington Sisters, keen looking youngsters, sing several .numbers, accomplishing some close harmony with sufficient comedy injected to put ’em over to a heavy hand. Added attraction in here, Stanley Smith, pics player, landed with his vocalizing of several pops. Rome and Gaut, a tall string bean lad and an exceptionally short one, went through a lot of hoke chatter that was good for plenty of laughs, while a dance by the little guy brought down the house. Finale disclosed Dick Barstow doing some nifty Russian toe work on a stairs, with the ensemble as- sisting. Dusty. RKO LOS ANGELES Reviewed Oct. 17 Vaudeville will have a vestige of life, if more regulars, like Blossom Seeley are routed over the circuit. With Miss Seeley topping the bill, the old Orpheum clientele was spot- ted all through the house, and biz did a decided upgrade. Seemed like old times, with this capable woman at the helm of the show'. As evidence of what a vaudeville name like Blossom Seeley’s can do, name like Blossom Seeley’s can do, “Love of Lil” picture got $8,000 at the RKO, Los Angeles. Same pic- ture, with Blossom Seeley and Bennie Fields at Golden Gate, San Francisco, took $13,500. Blossom does not look a day old- er. This standard blonde attrac- tion can go on for years and years. Her zip battered down the hard- boiled reserve recently acquired by vaudeville audiences, and had the house in an uproar. First wow hand greeted Blossom and Benny Fields, when the pair started their crooning. Hit song was “My Baby Just Cares for Me.” Benny jokes as seriously as ever, showman that he is. As for hard work, Blossom still keeps up her tireless energy. Burlesque impres- sions of “Command Performance” and “Lulu Belle” w'ere the expected howls. Chain and Conroj', the standard Del Chain, with his new partner, delivered regulation Chain wise- cracking and comedy. Chain bur- lesque mind-reading act kept cus- tomers roaring for more. Larimer and Hudson opened with a neat cycling act. Well timed comedy added variety and pep. Jean Carr dragged a satisfying hand with her tap dancing. Her father and mother helped. Finale had all three tapping splinters out of the RKO apron. Hadley RIVOLI DENVER (Reviewed October 14) Offering of Rivoli Players this week, “What a Man,” consisted of bits and blackouts which were handled in excellent manner by all concerned. Opening \yith school room scene, with entire cast singing, “The World Is At Rest.” Tony Yale and Margie Page injecting some comedy that was good for plenty of laughs. Line girls stood out with a clever routine. Next skit, the title piece, “What a Man,” brought the principals, Onye Lea, Fanchon Milton, Margie Page, Bluey Morey, Buster Graves, Eddie Page, Tony Yale and Cy Westbrook on, with guffaws com- ing fast and furious. A girl from the line, Jean La Valle, shows decided improvement from her previous work, in her ren- dition of “Aincha.” Fanchon Milton on next, cute fem, vocalizing and hoofing a pop number to excellent returns. Girl is heavy fav here, doing three en- cores. _ Comedy quartette, the Peerless Four, tied the show up cold with their specialty harmony numbers. Buster Graves clicked with “Roll, Roll, Rolling Along” and “Jelly Roll Blues." Loretta Shubert clicked with her song “Girl of My Dreams” and showed a wide range of vocal pow- er, while Margie Page got a heavy hand for her specialty. Tony Yale took six encores in his hoofing bit, which completed the specialties. House was jammed, with the show moving along at a fast pace. Dusty. ITS THE FIRST BIRTHDAY OF THE San Francisco Fox El Capitan DAIM McLEAN MANAGER THE HOUSE OF WEEKLY HITS Featuring, on Stage, the MERRYMAKERS REVUE PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY PEGGY O’NEILL MASTER OF CEREMONIES BY JAY BROWER ‘PEP’S BAD BOY’ PIC SMITH Reeds WARREN LEWIS Trumpet WITH EL CAPITAN'S ACE STAGE BAND GEO. MUNSON Reeds LOU SHAFF Trombone HARRY COHEN Basses DICK NELSON Reeds LOWELL HAWK Piano HENRY BUETTNER Strings BOB KIMIC Trumpet GEO. WILLIAMSON Drums AND THE SWEET 16 SWEETHEARTS OUR SINCERE REGARDS TO A. M. BOWLES, Divisional Manager