Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

46 MOTION PICTURE HERALD June 6 , 19 3 1 OCeAN $€LC$ UP AND DOWN ^^= THE ALLEy SLICES €f MELLIN By BOBBY MELLIN Freddie Rose, popular piano playing and composing songster heard on KYW, was presented with a "bud" weighing seven pounds last Sunday morning. Wife and son are both doing well. Freddie claims to have worn out three carpets and two rugs "waiting." . . . Jew's harps made in Austria are the only harps that Dad Pickard, head of the famous hillbilly family, will use during a broadcast. Dad has found in his wide range of experience that the Austrian Jew's harp has a finer ring by far, when heard over the air, than any other made. The Pickard family are now broadcasting from the New York NBC studios instead of the Chicago studios. . . . East and Dumke, known to radio as the Sisters of the Skillett, are threatening to resign. They have received the last insult, the two jovial and corpulent comedians declare after reading the following inquiry received by NBC, "Please inform me what is meant by 'Eastern Donkey ?' " Marvin Lee, who is known as the "Globe Trotter" of the music business, is noiv connected zmth the Con Conrad Music Publishers Ltd. of California, in the capacity of General Eastern Sales Mamgcr. . . . Don Marcotte and the missus, drove down to the Kentucky Derby. Don said that he returned a little "hoarse" from rooting for the horse he bet on that never came in. . . . George Devron, brings to the radio world through the medium of his renowned orchestra, music that mingles in a like degree the speed and flash of jazz and the depth and color of the modern classic. George's deep and ingratiating voice, singing the dance tunes played by his band, is now heard from the LaSalle Hotel, and over stations WJJD, WENR and the National Broadcasting System. Wynken, Blynken and Nod, popular Columbia Broadcasting Chain artists, heard thrice weekly on coast-to-coast hookups, are rapidly winning nation-wide recognition among radio listeners for their dynamic personality and clever harmony arrangements. These beautiful girls sing many types of music, and do them well enough to please the most critical listeners. These girls also cook delicious meals ; at least, that's what they tell me. (I hope that some day I may be tempted by a sample). . . . Russ and Van, of station KYW are now on NBC chain every Thursday over a twenty-two station hookup. These boys are very clever and should go a long way in making a great radio name for themselves. Charlie Agneiv, the conductor of the marvelous orchestra heard daily over station KYW from the Terrace Gardens, is rapidly zmnning nation-wide recognition among radio listeners for his winning personality and original entertainment specialties. Although Charlie is still a young man, his accomplishments are m-any. He plays many of various instruments in the band, including the trumpet, and can sing a song that would do credit to a seasoned trouper. Has also written a great song zvhich he has titled "Slow But Sure" and slowly but surely this song is destined to be one of the biggest hits of the year. Charlie is a sure comer and should prove a great draiving card whereever he plays. . . . Jimmty Green, popular radio orchestra leader, has engaged Meryle Cullen, tenor, who can really sing a great song. Benny Ross in Toledo Benny Ross took over the m. c.'s post at the Toledo, Ohio, Paramount house when stage shovi's w^ere resumed there. NELSON SELBY (Buffalo Shea's Bailey) offered an original presentation entitled "Flying High," the basic idea of which was a trip around the world, but this time in an airplane. A moving cloud effect and an airplane in the center of the screen and a motor sounding in the background gave the impression of a plane in flight. Specially written lyrics were used to popular songs to explain to the audience that they were to sing their way on a trip around the world. The countries over which the plane flew were represented by humorous gags and followed by appropriate songs. Although the idea was an old one, the manner of its presentation made it interesting. The audience proved they were pleased with their trip by the way they sang and by the applause which greeted the organist at the close. MARLIN (Brooklyn Loew's Metropolitan) introduced "A Personal Presentation" as his solo this week. A straight communitysing interspersed with gags, spoken over the mike, as Marlin introduced each number, led to the introduction of a guest singer, Bon Walker, who pleasingly sang that rhythmic ballad, "In Perfect Harmony." to a most gratifying reception from the audience. The audience-singing numbers were: "You Didn't Have to Tell Me," "Pm Happy When You're Happy,'' "For You," "By My Side," "Moonlight Saving Time," "Got the Bench" and a final chorus of "My Baby Just Cares for Me." The audience sang well, and Marlin got a good reception. DICK BETTS (Stamford (Conn.) Publix Palace) presented an entertaining solo called "A Popular Song-Fest," which consisted of the audience singing of a number of popular tunes. It was a straight community sing, with nothing outstanding in the way of novelty, but everyone in the audience joined in the singing and that was Betts' intention so nothing more need be said regarding that. Betts is billed as "The Singing Organist" and his fine voice and good playing lead the audience ip each song. His program this week consisted of "Walkin' My Baby Back Home," "Ho-Hum,"' "Kings' Horses," "Whistling in the Dark" and "Wabash Moon." Betts is the only organist in this town at the present time and it is his popularity and box-office draw that is keeping him on the job. IRIS WILKINS (Milwaukee Wisconsin) offered for her organ selections, "When Your Hair Has Turned to Silver," "Two Hearts In Waltz Time" and "Anchors Aweigh." The words to the various selections were flashed upon the wide screen and the number got a good hand. RAY McNAMARA (Publix Saenger, New Orleans) replaces "Herbie" Koch as organ soloist during the latter's vacation, and while his offering for the current week, "My Diary" lacks originality and suffers from an apologetic attitude, his playing is a refreshing change from the ballyhoo type of solo which has held forth at the Saenger for over a year. McNamara opens with a request for the audience to sing, gets a hearty response with "Wabash Moon," plays the sentimental "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" in fine style, introduces a tongue twisting parody on "Sweethearts on Parade" which makes use of the "ixnay-ungay-arget" and closes with "Walkin' My Baby Back Home." He ranked a heavy hand with the singing audience. HELLO EVERYBODY "Have you Forgotten?" — Well, everyboly else has. ... It seems that nobody remembers anything any more. . . . Why don't you remember or "Have You Forgotten?" Anyhow, Harms, Inc., publishes a song by this name and it is claimed by Will Rockwell that this number has been given the honor of reviving street-corner singing, for so long a time comparatively non-existent. ... So if, after all these years, "Have You Forgotten?" can bring the old quartet back, it must be some song . . . Remick Music Corporation is all dressed up in new finery, its offi'ces having been rearranged and redecorated within the past few weeks. . . . Little Jack (so long, N-B-C-ing you) Little has done right well by Remick's and Danny Winkler, executive vice-president of that company. . . . His "Dancing with the Daffodils" is becoming one of the most pleasing epidemics this country has ever heard. . . . Aside from being a topic of conversation, like operations, "Daffodils" has been signally honored as one of the "must have" tunes in orchestra leaders' and organists' books. . . . And you don't have to be told that this song packs a whale of a stage unit and production idea. AAA A lot of out-of-town organists are in town right now, waiting new assignments. . . . Among them are Lee Weber, Johnny Winter and Con Maffie. . . . These boys are Publix organists and according to the main office will be back on their jobs or have new ones real soon. . . . Let's hope so, for everybody's losing out when boys of their caliber are not working. . . . Just heard from Clarence W. Leverenjz, organist at the State, Kalamazoo, Mich., who has just returned to the State after touring as guest organist in his circuit's houses. . . . Good for you, Clarence, and drop me a line again soon. . . . Was talking to Henrietta Kamern, organist at Loew's 175th street theatre, the other day when a hurdy-gurdy interrupted our conversation. . . . Miss Kamern wisecracked, "Oh Oh, not enough competition from other theatre organists, but must have competition brought right in front of the house in which I'm working." . . . Bemie Cowham, organist at the RKO Flushing, wants to give Mr. Lanahan, his manager, a mention because he (Lanahan) is one of the managers who believe in plenty of music in theatres. ... In fact, so much so, that he has had workmen taking out the entire first row of seats in his house so that the orchestra and organ can have more room in which to work. . . . Let's give Lanahan three rousing cheers. AAA One of the surest indications of a hit is when the little three or four piece "orchestras" on the ferry boats and Coney Island Steamboats start to plug a song. . . . The "piece-de-resistance" of these itinerant musicians at this time is Feists "Moonlight Saving Time." The verdict is in! — It's a hit! . . . Dave Ringle is the composer of that logical successor to that old favorite, "Alabamy Bound." . . . The new tune is called "Roll On Mississippi, Roll On" and Shapiro, Bernstein publishes it. ... I have seen this staff enthused but never more so than it is over this song. . . . Ben Edwards, vice-president and general manager of Master Music, Inc., tells me that this company was formed originally to exploit and sponsor Charles Maduro's compositions, which are "In Old Granada," "I Love the Rain," "Oh Senorita," "Colombiana" and last but not least "Bonsoir," that song that Maurice Chevalier made well known. ED DAWSON