Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

June 6 . 19 3 1 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 45 feajtuhe STAGE SH€>V$ r FEIST San Francisco Fox Week ending June 3 This week's stage act at the Fox marks the return of Fanchon & Marco entertainment, after an absence of several months. The elaborate offering, the "North, South, East and West Idea," seems made to order to fit in with the screen attraction, "Women of All Nations," displaying as it does the beauties of many lands. The concert of Walt Roesner and the Fox Orchestra is a medley of \"ictor Herbert compositions and is dedicated to the memory of this composer who passed away seven years ago. Joaquin, tenor soloist, offers a delightfully confident number, "I'm Going to Get You." The stage act, as its title suggests, is in four divisions, each w'ith elaborate scenic effects, probably the finest yet seen in a Fanchon & Marco production. North is a bit of romantic Canada, w'ith stately firs and shimmering waterfalls, the latter patterned after those of the Yosemite, however. The Sunkist Beauties, with six stalwart boys, come on in their striking uniforms and do a song and drill, led by Glen Dale. A bit of nonsense follows, with Jack Waljron and Miss Harriet getting a lot of laughs for their stunt of telephoning from New York to San Francisco. The scene shifts to the Sunny South and the Sunkist Beauties, now ravishing blondes, dance on the lawn before ' a stately home and listen to the boys, who sing "Would You Like to Take a Walk?" Helen O'Shea, formerly of the Ziegfeld Fol' lies, offers a delightful toe dance and the scene shifts to the Far East. Elvira Tanzi, star of the "Desert Song," sings "Love for Sale'' and slave girls dance before a potentate at the bidding of the slave dealer. A broadcasting stunt by Jack Waldron and Miss Harriet supplies comedy relief, and after the uncorking of a lot of snappy stories the scene representing the West comes on. A pair sing before an old Spanish Mission and this gives way to a California orange orchard laden with luscious fruit. The opening song of the Sunkist Beauties and the ensemble is "Orange Blossom Time," but as the curtain goes down this changes to "I Love You, California." Edmund Lowe makes a personal appearance at the opening performances and gets a great reception as the visit is in the nature of a home coming. Milwaukee Wisconsin Week ending May 27 The Wisconsin theatre orchestra under the direction of Don Wilkins, offering "If You Can't Sing, Whistle," opens Fanchon and Marco's "Submarine" Idea. The opening episode presents the chorus of 12 in Spanish costumes performing before a submarine base. They are augmented by a male dancer who steps to the tune of "The Peanut Vender" and a tango by male and feminine dancers. Ward & Pinkie offer a bit of snappy comedy accompanied by some snappy dancing. They give way to the chorus attired in spangled costumes with a setting representing the bottom of the sea. Claire Lea & Richard Stuart augment this episode with some excellent dancing. Radcliffe & Bob engage in a line of comedy patter and wind up with singing "Give Me Something to Remember You By," "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling," "Cherie" and "You're Driving Me Crazy." The one member of the troupe plays the piano. For the next number the chorus is attired in pirate costumes of black and red. The finale features the Aerial Bartletts who perform from a submarine which is suspended above the floor of the ocean. New York Paradise Week ending June 5 The presentation this week opens to one of the most novel and entertaining overtures this reviewer has heard. The title of it is "Melodies on Parade," with Al Evans and his Melody Boys doing the presenting. Evans conducts his orchestra of 20 musicians in a number of melodic and novel arrangements of popular tunes and then surprises the audiences by singing, in a most pleasing voice, "Yours Is My Heart Alone," first in English and then in German. The way this audience reacted is conclusive proof that this means of presentation is a good bet for nearly all theatres. The title of the stageshow this week is "Crazy Rhythms" and the show is aptly named because Teddy Joyce and his stagehand play nothing but "crazy" tunes throughout the show. Bellett and Lamb, comedienne and comedian, respectively, present a laugh-provoking type of eccentric and acrobatic dancing and other comedy antics. Glenn and Jenkins, blackface comedy singers and dancers, do well with their well known "floor-sweeping" dance. Barto and Ardell offer a well-routined ballroom waltz and Teddy Joyce and the Chester Hale Girls do a few good dance routines. Joyce worked hard throughout the show and it was he who was mainly responsible for the success of it. For the finale, the band played "Soldier on the Shelf" as Joyce, in toy soldier suit, led the Chester Hale Girls, also in soldier uniforms, through an entertaininqr drill. SOKTGS Boston Metropolitan Week ending May 27 This week brought the sparkling personality of the stage and screen star, Gilda Grey, to entertain in person in a presentation entitled "Shakin' the Blues," together with Harrison and Elmo, the Three Blue Blazes, and the Bobby Sanford Girls. Arthur Martel started things off in the proper atmosphere by playing "Evolution of the Dance" on the organ. Then the curtain rose on a modernistic stage scene with the Bobby Sanford Girls doing some sort of rhythmic stepping on a flight of steps leading from the stage up to another entrance higher up and in the center of the stage. Here Gilda entered, came down the steps and sang "Low Down," dancing accompaniment by the Sanford Girls. Next came a selection by the jazz band entitled "Now You're in My Arms," with a tenor chorus. Harrison and Elmo, two darkies with some good entertainment, amused by shooting dice and wisecracking. Harrison swore he never had shot dice before in his life, but as the game went on and he came out with some of the proverbial sayings of dice shooters and in the end cleaned out Elmo, somehow things were different. They got a good encore. After this came the girls again, dressed as orchestra leaders, and carrying batons. They showed in a tap dance how simple it is to wave a stick around and direct an orchestra. Then came another entrance by Gilda Grey, who wore a beautiful silver and blue costume that set off her blonde beauty to advantage. After another song and a little dance, the orchestra leader invited her to say a few words to the audience, so she made a little thank-you speech. The Three Blazes next showed some snappy footwork. They did their tap steps in perfect unison, and very tricky steps at that. They got a great hand from the audience. The finale showed all the girls in Hula Hula costumes and Gilda in a similar outfit doing some hot dancing. Then Gilda went up the steps again and gave a real example of her ability to do the shimmv. Timely topical novelty MOONLIGHT SAVING TIME The top notch zvaltz ballad THE WALTZ YOU SAVED FOR ME Delightfully diiferent LOVE IS LIKE THAT M\< zvord, 'ozv they play THE KING'S HORSES A "Blue Heaven" Ballad, good too! AS LONG AS YOU'RE THERE A great novelty idea THE BIRTHDAY OF A KISS Something to "croon" about A LITTLE LOVE SONG Simple, sentimental, sure fire! I'M ALL DRESSED UP WITH A BROKEN HEART You don't have to be Irish — • evervbodv loves it THAT'S HOW I SPELL IRELAND It's beantifid HEAVENLY NIGHT For the ballad spot MOTHER'S APRON STRINGS Everybody love\s SKIPPY Any audience can sing LET'S PRETEND WE'RE SWEETHEARTS IVifh a bow to Ben Bernie I HOPE YOU'LL LIKE IT Chevalier's song RIGHT NOW! Adds class to your program YOU'RE JUST A LOVER Made to order for the kids THE SLEEPY TOWN EXPRESS 1629 BROADWAY NEW YORK CITY