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

Saturday, March 28, 1931 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Page Five SITTING WITH THE PUBLIC leika Orchestra of eight pieces, with the leader fiddling, was an atmos- pheric and entertaining touch. A trick drop for the vocal quartette drew a share lof appreciation. The whole*idea is set in colorful, fu- turistic manner making a flash that hit strong. The song and dance routines of the line boys and girls were effectively staged and cos- tumed. LOEWS WARFIELD San Francisco (Reviewed March 20) An all ’round good show from screen to stage and one that looked like it would do some okay .business before the week ended. Celluloid attraction was Lawrence Tibbett in "The Prodigal” and flesh entertainment included Rube Wolf as m. e. and a fast moving "Moroccan” Idea on stage. The Wolf contributions, done with the orchestra in the pit, feat- ured Rube and Frank McKee, both drawing laughs and applause for their efforts. “Moroccan” Idea was a pip, be- ing both colorful and speedy. Set- ting, too, was plenty good, but cut down in size for this house and stage. Hadji Ali drew the featured spot with amazing demonstrations that entailed regurgitation of water, nuts and kerosene. Ali Ben Hassan troupe provided a spirited flash with their rapid tumbling. Gayl, Bert and Daro, adagio trio, Sherry Louise, vocalist; Ferdna and Co.; Lilya Vallon, nautch dancer; Eva Nightingale, aero dancer; Gaylene and Oscar Taylor, vocalists, com- pleted the layout. Two comedies, ail Eddie Buzzell and a Murray-Sidney completed the show. Bock. FOX OAKLAND Oakland (Reviewed March 22) It was "welcome home” week for Hermie King, and Frank R. New- man didn’t miss a thing in building up the return of the popular m. c. and conductor. Add to that the drawing power of Will Rogers in “Connecticut Yankee” and you have a combination that, were it not for "Yankee's” length, would come awfully, awfully close to cre- ating a house record. To Seattle for eight weeks and holding over for four more, King returned just as popular as ever. Included in his current bag of tricks was direction of the concert orchestra in a medley of operatic airs with Milt Barnes and Jess Jessup featured. Later King ap- peared on stage where he pianoed a flock of pop tunes in flashy style and drew mighty heavy applause. Fancho and Marco Idea was “Golden West,” with Jimmie Ames. Chief Eagle Feather, the Hutchins and Valerie Wade. Idea was cut considerably, several line numbers being left out to make time for King’s specialties, Billy Knox was at the organ. Bock. DENVER THEATRE Denver, Colo. (Reviewed March 22) Fred Schmitt and the Denver Grande Orchestra started the show off with "Lively Musical Mo- ments,” Schmitt’s own arrange- ment of several pop melodies. Plenty hot and came in for a big hand. The Publix "Rookies” Unit, de- vised and staged by Will Harris is far below the usual standards of this house. Unit opens with the Lambert Dancers, 12 girls and 6 boys doing a military tap routine, with an unbilled lad singing in an excellent tenor voice. Karl Dane and Geo. K. Arthur, screen players, making personal ap- pearances here, pulled some gags, which were aged, but well sold. The Lambert Dancers offered next, "A Study in Black and White.” A novelty routine that was good and well received. Harrison and Elmo, in cork, pull some fast comedy that was funny — hoofing a bit for ending. Dave Craig, directed the stage band, vocalizing "Would You Like To Take a Walk.” This lad is going great guns here as m. c., fill- ing a tough spot left vacant by- Ted Mack, home town boy who went to the Paramount in New York after three years here. Sorrell and Val, tap artists, gave them several difficult routines, one by the girl being plenty good. Dane and Arthur were back for a lot of chatter on - Holly wood, get- ting over well with some funny business for closing. Paramount’s “Honor Among Lovers,” was the feature. Business was good. Dusty. FOX EL CAPITAN San Francisco (Revewed March 22) Plenty of good stuff on this show which was sure fire all the way- through. Jay Brower copped top honors with two band numbers that were pips, the first being a medley of pop tunes in which Brow- er comedied through “Just A Gigo- la.” and the second being Brower’s original travesty on A1 Capone; with Dick Nelson,. Henry Cohen and Pic Smith featured. Visiting acts were Armando Chi- rot, who scored heavily by soprano- ing “Love In The Springtime”; Jean and Bobby Reed, who did very well with several hoofing numbers; Sargent and Lewis in gags and songs that were well taken. Don Smith, in his ’steenth hold- over week, did “Lover’s Serenade” and "Last One Left On The Cor- ner,” scoring with each. Line of girls did several numbers, Dorothy Alvis being featured in one and Jean Carter in another. Mel Hertz again-cleaned up with his community sing stuff. Picture was "Man Who Came Back,” and business was surpris- ingly- good. Hal. Vaudeville RKO GOLDEN GATE San Francisco (Reviewed March 25) Another of the eight-act bills with Georgie Price, Nellie Arnaut and Bros., Fritz and jean Hubert and Tom and Roy Romaine in as unit turns and four Coast-booked acts, Richard Wally, Moreno, Ca- mille and Consuelo, Malacca and Chang, and the Eddie Sheriff Foui- completing the lay-out. Unit acts were quite satisfactory, but these others Were no great shakes. Show ran about 20 minutes longer than it. should have. Price was in next-to-shut spot with a turn of gags and songs and the opening matinee crowd received his stuff heartily. Used a statu- esque redhead from the Romaine act as a dancing-feature and for a few gags, and altogether mopped up. Tom and Ray Romaine, twins, with two neat looking fem assist- ants, did well in sixth spot with a sketch built around the boy-s’ simi- larity-. A few hoofing episodes were well worked in and the turn got over in okay sty-le. Fritz and Jean Hubert were in fifth frame with their familiar Will Trade Clear Lots Within Three Mile Circle of LAS VEGAS, NEV. On Main Highway to Boulder Dam FOR AUTO, DIAMONDS, BEACH HOUSE OR APARTMENT Address: PRIVATE PARTY Box C Inside Facts drunk stuff. A speech testified to their reception. Nellie Arnaut and Bros, did their violining along with dancing and acrobatics and closed with their whistling stuff, that was by far the best thing in the turn. Richard Wally opened the opera with his human billiard table act. Moreno, Camille and Consuelo deuced it, also full stage, and put over a Spanish and Apache dance, though handicapped by a pair of Wally’s billiard cues inadvertently left on center stage. Consuelo sang nicely. Malacca and Chang were in trey- position with stringed in- struments, Malacca carrying the act alone. Eddie Sheriff Four closed, doing acrobatics and unfunny gags. Claude Sweeten and RKOlians came through with an okay medley of Oriental numbers with various band members featured. Picture was “Lonely Wives.” *Bock. RKO HILLSTREET Los Angeles (Reviewed March 26) A1 Ericksion and his RKO-lians gave the bill a snappy- send-off from the pit with variations of "Sing Something Simple 1 ” done in various moods, ranging from Indian and minuette to down-to-the-minute hot arrangement. R'i0a ; ndoi and Ashfontli, mixed aer- ial aero duo, opened the locally- booked acts with a routine of work that featured trapeze balancing feats from the mam. Eddie and Al, in the two spot, fared just passably well, with three hoofing numbers. Bert Nelson took his lioness, Pat, through her paces, getting fair attention from the house but not selling as strong as usual, due probably to the fact that bis running time was cut down to the point where he couldn't spend any of it on salesmanship. Lane and Harper, after a dullish opening, using the two telephone gag to take them through a med- ley of songs, brought on a play-by- play baseball score board which gave them an opportunity- to null a neat line of gags that did much to take the house out of its blue haze of indifference. Their question -and answer stuff, keeping score on the board, was well received and could be built up to play to bigger returns. Roxy- La Rocca, first of the unit acts, got the most out of his harp playing by- gagging it out of the realm of highbrow entertainment. He even drew a few- brave custo- mers into the community singing idea, no mean feat with the house on hand at this showing. Anne Seymour sang and clowned her way, full stage, into a plenty good reception. Brother Harry as- sisted with stepping and songs, and Jack Frost was at the piano. Cos- tuming. chatter and singling all up to her usual standard, with laughs all along the line. The Diamond Boy-s, three of them, smashed over their fast mov- ing offering to prolonged, honest and hearty applause that carried in- to the next act. Their clowning, singing, dancing, knockabout rough Stuff in all of it, was the real high spot of the bill. The boy-s are ex- perts in their line. The Five Jewels, girl juggling act in the.closing spot, held ’em in their seats ’till the last flashy and intri- cate trick was over. Silver wigs and nifty costuming, coupled with their, standout ability and presenta- tion of the turn, puts them at the top of the heap among ace closing acts. HIPPODROME Los Angeles (Reviewed March 24) The booking office is quite con- sistent in spotting good shows here on Tuesday and Friday nights, when four acts are added to the regular six act bill. The Rocky Mountaineers, dished out a fair bit of string ensemble and vocal work. Six boy-s ward- robed as hillbillies opened vocal- ing “Golden Slippers” to a good hand, "Carolina Moon” yodeled by- Jimmie Orr. scored. This outfit has been beard over one of the local broadcasting stations for some time. Offering very well received at this house. On second. The Melodists, four colored bovs, offered a brand of harmony singing that might have sounded okay- if the boys had not been panicky- from stage fright. At this showing act failed to click. The Hollywood Stars Double Revue, 11 people flash, is the style of offering that will make it easier for yaude to come back. Without satire, or any suggestion of belit- tling stars of the screen, act - sells in a big way. and should panic them in the class houses. Act unfolded with m. c. calling doubles, spotted in audience on stage to speak through prop mike, introducing them as doubles of Billy Dove, Dolores Del Rio, Mary Nolan, Greta Garbo, Betty Comp, son, Jack Oakie. Lawrence Tibett, Buster Keaton, Wallace Beery, and Jack Gilbert. Make up and class wardrobe added to natural likeness has the desired effect, each double receiv- ing tremendous applause. Nautch, tap and Spanish dance numbers well received. Nautch number cap- ably burlesqued by double of Kea- ton, clicked well. Comedy skits highlighted the offering. Tibbett’s double vocaled to a good hand. Dressing of act is a standout, entire offering new and novel, and of the type demanded by modern audiences. On next to closing, the turn registered heavily, and looks like big time timber. Ryan and Odair, mixed team in tile closing position stopped ’em cold with nifty tap dancing. Miss Odair has a most pleasing person- ality and sells her wares with a punch. A corking good double, and an asset on any bill. Folatid. HIPPODROME (Reviewed March 22) Another of those relicky shows that recalled memories of days gone by when The Hip acts worked to kid glove audiences. House near ca- pacity at this show with regulars ready to go for anything that looked like a laugh. Novelty Clintons opened with high jumping stunts by male mem- ber, getting fair returns for efforts. Jumping over lighted candles was a good stunt and should have regis- tered better. Blonde assistant, with nifty appearance, offered high kicks and bends, selling her line well. Turn closed by Clinton jumping through hoops, emerging therefrom with complete wardrobe change. Act would have done better spotted fur- ther down. Merill Gilbert in the deuce spot used to goal them in (he days of Webster, Fisher and Levey with his violin playing, but did not do so well at this catching. “Just a Song at Twilight” as rendered by Gil- bert would be okay for concert but was over their heads here. Trick fiddling pleased ’em better, Gilbert bowing off to good applause. Harry and Fields, carry billing of “What’s It All About.” Good billing for this act, but that’s about all. Opening in one, going to two for no good reason at all, team of- fered domestic skit, chatting some- thing or other about a family budget system and the proposed purchase of a car. Entire offering dull and uninteresting. Failed to click. Joe Chapell and Raynor Twins, in fourth position, put over a mild routine of contortion and acrobatic work. Twins did most of the work, the applause laurels going to one of the girls for clever contortions. Wyse and Wyscr, next-to-shut, lived up to their billing of hokum personified. Entering through house as traffic cop and sap, the boys slew them with a bald-headed baby pic- ture . upside down, mother-in-law gags and jokes probably extracted from the 1915 edition of Madison’s. Closing with'vocal imitation of steel guitar, they were the laugh-and-ap- plause hit of the show. In the shut spot, Brindamoor, with handcuffs, leg irons and cabi- nets offered escapes that mystified and pleased. “The Fall Guy” (Radio), featur- ing Jack Mulhall, completed the.bill. Poland. MILLION DOLLAR LOS ANGELES (Reviewed March 22) Variety in abundance, added to a well balanced bill, clicked with the bargain hunters of Broadway, as evidenced by a well filled house at this catching. Chester Morris, in the mystery thriller, "The Bat Whispers,” left ’em droopy from excitement, Visser Trio, two men and a sprightly miss, opened the vaude portion of the show with skillful pole balancing, the top man keep- ing the fans’ nerves on edge. Us- ing a duck for laughs in a singing number brought results. Following with a Scotch dance, the fem of the act did not do so well on the ap- plause end. Fast spin around on balancing pole topped off to hefty applause. Al and Louise, in the deucer, put their offering over in fast style, the double eccentric dance drawing laughs aplenty. An abbreviated cos- tume worn by the female members in their closing number was all un- called for, but the fans liked it and sent them off okay. The Ushers, spotted in the trey, used special drop showing illumi- nated airplane in flight, then stop- ping on roof of skyscraper to dis- charge passengers and descent of elevator to ground floor, building up a neat entrance for team. Male member offered magic of ordinary calibre, followed by usual routine of mind-reading by lady, then man working in the audience. Building (Continued on Page 14) Harrison - Wallack DR e *ei 0544 New Location—2504 W. 7th Street STAGE AND SCREEN TRAINING SPARKLING MUSICAL COMEDY Now Being Staged by Mr. Edward N. Wallack Interviews Given Mondays, Thursdays 2 to 4 P. M. BROADCASTING OVER KTM 1:30-5:30 DAILY Mountain Spring Water Serving Hollywood Studios and Stars with PURE NATURAL SPRING WATER MOUNTAIN SPRING WATER CO. 226 So. Avenue 54—Phone GA. 4381 PASADENA LOS ANGELES GLENDALE Congratulations to Inside Facts l AL and CAL PEARCE J HAPPY GO LUCKY HOUR KFRC ◄ ◄ 4 4 San Francisco < 1