Inside facts of stage and screen (February 28, 1931)

Page Ten INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Saturday, February 28, 1931 Reviews (Continued from Page 4) thrilling. It registered ’a few screams and a heavy barrage of hand clapping. Realistic enough to appear as an accident. There was nothing lacking in this layout from the pull away. Plenty of comedy ■and hoke with look-see value sup- plied by a peachy line of femmes. A load" of Sammy Lee's Sunkist Beauties. The guy who doesn’t get his money's worth out of this show would growl if there wasn't three pearls in his half dozen raw. The Idea pulled into this stop- over with another of those colorful F. & M. drops. This time it was an U. S. Submarine base with the sub anchored in the narrow bay and majestic mountains looming against the sky. Location was somewhere in the hot clime. The Sunkist gals gave it the fandango touch that lures sailors away from those photos the girl friend packs in the valise. Robert Cloy in sub officer's uni- form, had the dancing femmes look- ing his direction as he vocalized. Fie supplied the song stuff through- out and did it well. Steve Moroni was present with his personality turned on full strength and the cus- tomers liking it much. Ward and Pinkie tumbled around with a line of limberleg clowning and mugging that gave the bill just that right amount of slapstick. The gal can express it the facial way and is aces on the. acrobatics. Her pardner helped the finale with back flips and contortions delivered so gracefully that they seemed easy; and they were anything but that. Radcliffe and Bob felt their way on in divers’ suits and locating a treasure chest they wheeled it out for a piano gag. Radcliffe’s vocal transitions, baritone to an almost coloratura soprano, unpretentiously ■delivered just about stopped the proceedings. Bob made a little speech with a nonchalance that found the mark. Ana Radcliffe in- terchanged on the piano for down- ing. A hot tap dance by Radcliffe finaled. Versatile and big time. It was the Aerial Bartletts aboard the submarine in mid-air who rode the undersea’s boat for the smash finish, ■and gave the ticket buyers their Big thrll. Ted Price SMILE AWHILE PARAMOUNT STAGE (Reviewed Feb. 26) Vociferously introduced by Oscar Baum and his greater Paramount Orchestra, his “Light and Shadow Impressions,” a neon strip effect with a line of beauts led up a zig- zag incline to the border, and re- ceived what a stage number rarely gets—namely, an ovation. Stage mechanics are improving rapidly enough for the screen to look to their credits. It was an Earl Wal- lace Ballet with Rita and Rubin, dancers, holding the spots. PARAMOUNT HOTEL In the Heart of Hollywood E. E. KENT, Managing Owner Every Room With Combinatioi Tub and Shower Bath ALL OUTSIDE ROOMS Telephone HOllywood 6181 Half Block from Paramount, KNX and RKO Studios Melrose at Van Ness Ave. The Biltmore Trio, that soft- voiced harmony outfit grown so popular with Paramount audiences, pitched in via the mike and aug- mented by Baum’sT-egiment of sym- phonists a la toy instruments, was the next offering. It scored heavily. They rendered “I Surrender, Dear” in a way that pulls an audience for- ward in their seats. Spell-weaving harmony. Oscar polished off with that charm smile. The stage show glided in with some more of those Gamby gals and a rural set that makes those who have a little cottage in mind feel that way. Johnny Bryant came in with a personality that made the femmes quit reaching for sweets, and he whistled himself into a heavy hand. He imitated every thing that’ hops from limb to limb, and for good measure added a police whistle and auto horns. As for pitch, he is the closest thing to a flute you ever heard. Did they like him? Oh, pulee-e-e-e-se. Raye and Sayres, stiff-jointed comedy hoofers, entered their rou- tine dressed nifty and neat, which rather clashed with the rural atmos- phere. Clever legomania, but would have been far more effective in over- alls and a straw hat. They were assisted by a Scotch terrier that collected plenty of laughs and did practically everything he was told, A nice turn. Summers & Kunt, probably the hickiest hick team in the business,- chased each other on and around and the gal went into those infec- tious giggles. Had them in spasms. She can say “What is it?” for a bigger laff than^a comedian billed a howl. A great pair of rib splitters this team and blended with the corn tassels like a pumpkin in the sun. Ferry Conway, the musical clown, tickled ’em next. Starting off with his bell ringing routine he regis- tered right through the comedy sharpshooting and pantomime drink- ing without a miss. The Gamby girls gave him a class closing and completed one of the best all-round stage and screen bills the Para- mount has offered for weeks. Ted Price FOX EL CAPITAN SAN FRANCISCO (Reviewed Feb. 21) Carrying out an old Brower cus- tom, Mrs. B’s son, Jay, again walked off with this Peggy O’Neill opera, a pair of his original baud numbers proving highlights of an okay show. Even a repeat on one of last week’s contributions, “Pea- nut Vendor,” was exceptionally well received ... in fact, even better than in its previous offering. Making his entrance from rear of the house, Brower waltzed up to the apron with some of the baud boys and gave ’em the peanut song with Harry Cohen warbling it and Pic Smith working with Jay for plenty of laughs. Encored easily on this one. As a second band num- ber Brower and the boys did eight different tunes at once, providing a bang-up affair. ‘ And as if that wereut' enough the versatile m. c. cracked out with some dancing and singing in the finale when he did a number with Florence Dunand. out of the line. Brower’s partner in crime. Don Smith, was held over for a second week in his return engagement to tenor some more tunes for the folks, and this week he did “Moon- light on the Colorado” and en- cored, begging off with a poem. Plenty popular here. Later Smith did “Walkin’ My Baby Home” with Charlotte Fortson. Harold Alberto was down near the opening with a few sleight-of- hand tricks, making a nice appear- ance and selling his stuff well. The i Vlaska Sabat 4, quartet of mixed Russian dancers, got over well enough in what was obviously enough a new act. Sweet Sixteen Sweethearts put over several line routines to complete the revue. Mel Hertz scored with an array of pop and old favorite tunes for his community songfest. Fox's “Princess and Plumber” on screen and Dan McLean sported a new magnascopic screen for the newsreel. Hal. PARAMOUNT SEATTLE Betty Lou Webb was a lively headliner at the Paramount this week. She was on the stage dur- ing most of the revue but nobody ought to mind. She’s got person- ality plus, and the young lad}' can dance. The three Le Grohs carried out the Icy-Hot Idea by doing a lot of acrobatics in conskin coats and doing them well. Heras and Wallace are two amusing comedians who did a good bit to make the show a topnotcher. The Icy-Hot Idea was carried out very consistently during the entire performance and the chorus was a particularly pretty crowd of highsteppers. Marion Davies in “The Bachelor Father,” was on the screen. RKO GOLDEN GATE SAN FRANCISCO (Reviewed Feb. 12) Claude Sweeten and RKOlians started proceedings by using “Sing Something Simple” as a musical basis through which to trace the progress of rhythm down through the years. Interesting and well done and clicked accordingly. Liazeed Demmati troupe, eight men and two women, opened the vaude unit with an assorted rou- tine of pyramid building and tumbling, doing okay. Clifford and Marion seconded, Miss Marion drawing plenty of laughs with her dumb gal charac- terization scoring even better when she encored by stepping out of character to put over a straight song number. Tracey and Hay followed with a series of dance routines high- lighted by an Apache number done to blues music. Had a piano play- er who was spotted for one num- ber. Drawing headline honors young Pat Henning, with his pop and mom, closed the show. Kid was- n't quite up the headline strength but he did well with a varied line of gags and nonsense. Third of the prodigies to appear here in the past three weeks. “Many a Slip' was on screen. Bock WARFIELD SAN FRANCISCO (Reviewed Feb. 13) Looked like this might turn out to^ be a pretty good week for the W arfield with “African” Idea, a pip, oil stage and a thoroughly en- tertaining picture, Fox’s “Seas Be- neath ' holding the screen with George O’Brien, a local boy, star- red. And not forgetting Rube Wolf is always a draw here. With his excellent musical gang M olt' started the show from the pit by doing “It Must Be True” as it might lie played by Gershwin, Kreisler and Sousa and drawing a mighty fine hand. Seconded with “One Man Band” a hot tune, which his (joys ate up. So did the customers. “African” opened with the girls in a rifle drill.number, seguing in- to the Three Brown Buddies who followd with a trio of snappy dances, clicking solidly all the way through. Tomasita (Cherie and Tomasita.) stepped on to do a cute song and aero number backed by the line. Then Foster and Ma’Belle came on with their _ educated baboon, Mutt, and a pair of smart monks, the combination putting on about eight minutes of good entertain- ment. Cherie and Tomasita on for a double number ‘that was plenty- well done and then came Ed and Morton Beck with songs, comedy and dramatic scoring throughout. ___ __ m I FILMARTE II 1228 Vine Street Hollywood Now playing . . . From France! “Under The Roofs of Paris” Talking—Singing Delightful Film Acrobatic team of Prosper and Mar<jt got over with some difficult stunts towards the finale with all on stage for a last bow. Bock V audeville RKO VAUDEVILLE HILL STREET (Reviewed Feb. 26‘ A scrumptious stage show this week. Along with it A1 Erickson and his new band bowed into the pit in their first week. Everybody wishing him luck which was nice but unnecessary because A1 has pit music both overture and vaude, in the bag, wrapped and ready to de- liver the way the customers like it. There was a snap and go to his arrangement that gives life to Variety. Some very well known musicians figure in his roster: Harry Silverman, Asst. Leader, Frank Jagger, Piano; Zebe Mann, Base; Ear! Andrews and Roy Johnston, Trumpets; Elmer Kyle- strom and Frank DeMichael, Saxa- phones, and Walt Myer oil the drums. Falls, Reading and Boyce led off looking nifty, neat and natty in ap- parel that dressed their hoofing spiffy. The two boys go into a contest tap routine and make it sparkle. The gal is sweet, charm- ing and just a lot of what makes men leave home. This is the kind of a dance turn that gives R-K-O its reputation for class. Those gals called the Wilton Sisters breezed into second place with bright flashing eyes and smiles that highlight their tuneful harmonizing like so much free sun- shine. Talented ladies two ways: the piano and the fiddle and all the time radiating. They can give the dean of the charm school les- sons in the art of magnetizing. Personality and melody plus. They rendered a spiritual that socked. Had to come back for an encore. The lights then dimmed to a drop that had much of both nov- elty and art. A country club in the hills and the dance floor crowd- ed with swaying merrymakers. A inotorcj'cle cop chases a wild party down the road from the club and crash, in comes Jarvis of Jarvis, Harrison & Co., with a flat tire. A few gags and a pull away to full stage and a gas station and the fun is on. It’s father, mother and son for plenty of laughs and some great hoofing by the junior. Johnny Burke, well known mon- ologist and headlining this week, closed the bill. My solemn wish is that Johnny live forever. The future generations are going to need his happiness tonic. He is the one comedian in this reviewer’s opinion who rates with Jack Pearl and there are none better. A well balanced bill and up to standard, which is high with R-K-O. MILLION DOLLAR LOS ANGELES T f (Reviewed Feb. 22) After a lapse of six weeks this Broadway house has again adopted (Continued on Page 11) Fanchon and Marco Route List of “Ideas” Following is the Fanchon and Mateo Ideas route schedule, with the opening and closing dates, all of the current month (and next month), in parenthesis beside the name of the town : PASADENA (26-4) Colorado Theatre “Hollywood Colleians” Idea Dorothy Crooker Guy Buck LOS ANGELES (26-4) Loew’s State Theatre “Submarine” Idea Radcliffe and Bob Aerial Bartletts Ward and Pinkie Claire and Stuart Robert Cloy Steve Moroni SAN DIEGo'( 26 - 4 ) Fox Theatre “Talent” Idea The Marinellis George P. Wilson Kohn and de Pinto Gay nor and Byron Jean Carr and Family HOLLYWOOD (26-4) Pantages Theatre “Moroccan” Idea Fcrdna and Co. Gaylene James Gaylord Gayl, Bert and Daro Sherry Louise Eva Nightingale NAGRA FALLS (27-5) Strand Theatre “Moonlite Revels” Idea George Broadhurst Melvin Brothers Charles Brugge Freda Sullivan UTICA (25-7) Avon Theatre Mayo, Caruso and Suzanne Harry Vernoii John and Harriett Griffith May Packer Abbey Green SPRINGFIELD (27-5) Palace Theatre “Gondoliers” Idea Jazzlips Richardson Ben Ali’s Blue Devils Moro and Yaconelli The Romeros WORCESTER (27-5) Palace Theatre “Seasons” Idea Frank Melino and Go. Lotti Loder Aida Broadbent Russell and Marconi HARTFORD (27-5) Capitol Theatre “Enchantment” Idea Meyakos Togo Jue Fong Sanami and Co. Jack Lester VIC DE LORY SAN JOSE (1-4) California Theatre “Love Letters” Idea Nelson and Knight Will Aubrey Jeanne Devereaux George Ward French’s Aeroplane Girls SAN FRANCISCO (26-4) Warfield Theatre “Headliners” Idea Mel Klee Great Yakopis Gay Sisters Walter Jennier Wells Winthrop and Stanley OAKLAND (26-4) Oakland Theatre “African” Idea Ed and Morton Beck Prosper and Maret Three Brown Buddies Foster’s Monkeys Cherie and Tomasita PORTLAND (27-5) Paramount Theatre “Top Of World” Idea Gene Morgan Russell and Johnson Fawn and Jordan TACOMA (27-5) Broadway Theatre “Prosperity” Idea Lucille Page Danny Beck Jack la Vier and Co. SEATTLE (27-5) Paramount Theatre “Y r audeville Echoes” Eight Allisons Bobby Henshaw Four O’Connors Aerial Rooneys Doreen Rae NEW HAVEN (27-5) Palace Theatre “Doll Follies” Idea Les Klicks La Salle and Mack Ramon and Virginia Bebe Sherman BRIDGEPORT (27-5) Palace Theatre “Way Back When” Idea Chares Irwin Arthur Turelly Madeleine du Val Three Bennett Brothers Six American Belfords Carlo Torney Girls BROOKLYN (27-5) Fox Theatre U. S. Indian Reservation Band Brengk’s Golden Horse Marian Bclett Gil Lamb De Lara and Lolita NEW YORK (3-5) Audub*on Theatre “Fountain of Youth” Idea Lottie Mayer Eddie Hanley and Co, Frank Stever Crosby Brothers Ed. Cheney PHILADELPHIA (27-5) Fox Theatre “New Yorker” Idea Jackson and Callahan Wliitey Roberts Marjorie Burke Leah Sonneborn WASHINGTON (27-5) Fox Theatre “Southern” Idea Hatt and Herman Jimmy Lyons Derby Wilson Helen Warner Joe Rose CHERIE and TOMASITA FEATURED DANCERS Fanchon and Marco’s AFRICANA IDEA Staged by LARRY CEBALLOS BUTTE (28-1) Fox Theatre “Icy-Hot” Idea A1 le Groh Heras and Wallace Betty Lott Webb ST. LOUIS (26-4) Fox Theatre “Topical Tunes” Idea Caligary Brothers Alexander Sisters Bob and Eul aBurroff Niles Marsh Don Carroll Dorothy Thomas MILWAUKEE (26-4) Wisconsin Theatre “The Dance” Idea Everett Sanderson Arnold Grazer Lee Murray Patsy Boland Dave Roble DETROIT (27-5) Fox Theatre “Society Circus” Idea Tabor and Greene Harry Wooding Harris Twins Betty Martin ATLANTA (28-6) Fox Theatre “Gobs of Joy” Idea Pat West Three Jolly Tars Scotty Westcci Doyle Quadruplets Moore and Moore Dolly Kramer Johnny Jones Mary Treeri Rena and Rathburn Kenneth Gatewood Wanda Allen Curtis Coley George Hanlcfl LOUISVILLE (1-7) National Theatre “Modes of Hollywood” Idea Royal Gascoynes Sylvia Shore Helen Moore Haline Francis Danny Joy Jack Sherlin MEMPHIS (27-5) Loew’s State Theatre “Gems and Jams” Idea Joe and Jane McKenna Nee Wong Will Cowan Jim Penman Jean MacDonald Beatrice Franklin Florence Astell ‘ OKLAHOMA CITY (28-6) “Victor Herbert” Idea Buddy Howe Elecrtic Twins Walter Powell Elmer Herling Milo Vickery Anna a Yaska