Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Sep 1931)

August 1 , 19 3 1 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 55 STAGE $HG>V$ Baltimore Century Week ending July 25 "Exit Smiling," with Bert Frohman as master of ceremonies, opened with full stage. Century band upstage on platform with railing, practicable stairs left and right, and back drop and sides representing fountain and modernistic lines. Herbert Bangs was directing the band. Chester Hale girls came on in song and routine steps in white derbies and vests with short red skirts and trunks, flesh tights, white slippers. Finished and ofif with Frohman on in single with band. Chatters about forgetting trouble and sings "Get Your Share of Happiness Today." Finishing with applause, he introduced the Novello Brothers, one from either side. Dressed in wide black trousers, and pea-jackets, with white shirts, wide collars and green ties, white spats, black shoes, red tans with pompoms. They go into routine acrobatic work and tumbling, playing violins at the same time. Laughs and good applause. FVohman next introduces June Worth, who goes into routine acrobatic work, dressed in short green velvet trunks, light green chififon shirt waist with bishop sleeves, green slippers, all with silver figures and silver cloth waist band, hair fluffed. Applause. Then came Kay and Sayre, introduced by Frohman as a "Strange Interlude." They did routine tap work and solo steps in dark blue suits, white shirts and collars, black ties with thin white stripes, black shoes. Big applause and encore. Then on came the 12 Chester Hale girls in a tap dancing specialty with solo steps by various girls at end. Dressed in wide black trousers, double-breasted velvet vests, with silver buttons and silver facing, low cut ; green chiffon shirt waists with wide collars, narrow four-inhand ties, bishop sleeves, green spats, black slippers, silver cloth berets. Applause and encore. Next Frohman sang "Roll on, Mississippi," with his own accompanist at the piano, on from the wings. Big applause, then sang for encore "Hike, Hike, Hiking Down the Highway." Big applause, calling for encore, he sang "My Baby Just Cares for Me." Though applause was still great, he finally got the Novello Brothers on again in their famous "Love Bird" act wherein they do all the conversing by whistling. Applause and laughs and then Frohman sang "On a Choo Choo Heading for Better Times." This was followed by the chorus in routine steps. Entire company on for the finale. gram with the orchestra, but it would be much more enjoyable if the gentlemanly director omitted many of his contortions during the presentation. Herbie this week has a new stunt with the organ. Hats of every description are described, from the one Little Willie wore and smeared up with his sticky fingers to the "Hat Me Father Wore." From the array of styles it looked for a time as if the patrons were to be treated to a millinery display and were waiting the name of the dealer and the price. The film this week is Peggy Shannon in "The Secret Call." Milwaukee Wisconsin VVeek ending July 22 "A Concert in Miniature" is offered by the Wisconsin theatre orchestra under the direction of Glen Welty as a prelude to Fanchon & Marco's "Broken Dolls" Idea. Magda Schmidt, violinist, is featured in connection with this offering. The opening episode features Franklin Record in the role of a singing toymaker. The chorus of 12 are attired in doll-like costumes and go through their paces. A feminine as well as a male dancer augment the first episode with some neat stepping. Mowatt & Hardy juggle straw hats about with no mean ability and wind up their offering by tossing Indian clubs at each other. The skypiece juggling was good for plenty of laughs from the audience. For the next episode a novelty dance number is offered by the chorus attired in red soldier costumes and making their way with crutches. Some high kicking is done by Charles Bennington, performing with a peg leg. Charles Bennington and His New York Newsboys harmonica band adds an unusual atmosphere to the program. The boys play "The Rhapsody in Blue," "The Man I Love" and "Way Down Upon the Swanee River." Bennington tap dances with his peg leg to the tunes of his band as well as to the melodies of the orchestra. Before the finale an adagio team of three whirls about in grand fashion. The finale finds the feminine members of the chorus attired in Dutch costumes with wooden shoes, while the male members appear with peg legs. Scenes appear very much like pictures from books of fairy tales and are in keeping with the Idea. New Orl eans Saenger San Francisco Fox Week ending July 25 The Saenger patrons are enjoying stage productions even if Publix has cut this city from their visiting list, and be it said to the credit of the producers that these local programs, to a certain extent, measure up to many of the units that visited New Orleans the past season, both in point of stage settings and personnel of the performers. This week Lee Barton Evans, baritone, brings something very interesting to the stage production. The orchestra plays "Chloe," and as the curtain rises on a scene of green swamps and purple shadows, the 16 Helena Strakova girls are seen as fireflys, whose dancing is quite effective. It appeared that they enjoyed it, and ielt the rhythm of that throb-throb music. Babette Lamont, as Chloe, does a sensational acrobatic dance. The chorus is lined up back stage, and as they beat on small drums, a movmg picture of Evans is shown, a worn traveler singing "Chloe" as he roams. The screen Evans fades away, and Evans in person rises from the ground at the back of the chorus. Lou Forbes, as usual, presents a fine pro Week ending July 29 This week's stage offering is prefaced in an impressive manner with the Fox Concert Orchestra, directed by Walt Roesner, presenting "Metropolitan Echoes" made up of grand opera hits. Poaquin Guarav is back from his vacation and sings "Let's Kiss and Make Up." This is fir^t presented in regulation manner and then as it would be sung by an Englishman and an Italian. The audience would have had Joaquin run through the entire list of nationalities, but time did not permit. The stage offering is Fanchon & Marco's "Hot Java Idea" and opens with the Sunkist Beauties appearing before a huge idol, attired as Ritzy waiters. They dance to the music of "A Cup of Coffee," handling their trays and napkins in a dextrous manner. Their leader wins applause for his high-kicking ability. The Three Samuel Brothers, precision tap dancers, prove exceptionally well trained and conclude their act with a military number that gets a great hand. Thev dance to the music of "The American Patrol" and go off to the stirring strains of "Over There." It's good hurrah stuff. A temple scene follows, with the girls in Javanase costumes drifting into the market place and presenting Oriental specialties. A man talks in the language of Java and translates it into English, saying that he will offer an imitation of Harold Lloyd, who is so popular in the Orient. Harold is shown running from a policeman and the imitation quickly catches the fancy of the house. Armanda Chirot, of the lovely soprano voice, appears in a ginrickshaw and sings an opera selection. Comedy is provided by Weston and Lyons, who put on the broadcasting act for which they are famous, and which is kept right up to date. Correct time is given through the courtesy of the Helluva Watch Company and the program is sponsored by the Jewish Branch of the Knights of Columbus. Songs, purported to have been written by "What-a-Man" Hudson, are presented, with jokes too new to have whiskers. Miss Lyone demonstrates that she really has a good voice, singing "Beautiful, Wonderful You" and ends by presenting a rhythm dance. The final scene has a great Buddha for a background and dancers are presented in gorgeous costumes. Noree, Arabian dancer, comes from her seat on the hands of the Buddha and does an emotional dance, clad largely in glittering beads. The pedestal of the statue opens and girls are revealed dancing, with others above them suspended by the feet, going through the same motions, an unusual mirror effect being produced. The act ends with all on the stage. Denver Denver Week ending July 29 The Denver orchestra, with Fred Schmitt conducting, gave the patrons an overture that was thoroughly enjoyable and well presented. The numbers were selections from different grand operas, such as "Tannhauser," "Faust," "Rigoletto" and "Evening Star." This house is the Mecca for music lovers of Denver, as this is the only theatre here maintaining an orchestra, and one is usually assured of splendid music from this group. Milton Franklyn, new master of ceremonies, conducted the stage band and ran the show. As a novelty number the band played seven different melodies at the same time without hurting the tune of anv of them and without discord. They were "Annie Laurie,' "Way Down Upon the Swanee River," "Horses," "Humoresque," "Dixie" and "Varsity Drag." Bernie, Veronica and Walker, a couple of comics and a girl, were featured, and their act went over in fine shape, it being the type liked by Denver audiences. Chatter and dancing. Mary Miles, with her silk pajamas, entertained with her novelty acrobatic act, her turning, twisting and hand walking going over very well. Anderson & Allen put on a good strong man balancing act and Fern Dale impersonated Marie Dressier and Will Rogers in true-to-life fashion. Wanda Allen was on her toes most of her time. Harry Stockwell sang a few songs and Chiyo Kadomatsu added a Japanese touch to the show with her dance and Jap chatter. Dorothy Welch entertained with her impressions of Galli Curci. Buddy & Grete! took ballroom dancing and put some life into it, speeding it up with fast steps and whirling numbers. Helen Ireland played the sax and Theal Nelson did a few tumbles. The final flash was one of the best Fanchon & Marco has had locally. It featured a huge shell-like background made up of dozens of mirrors, with the stage band and entire company in front. Three attractive girls were holding up a miniature globe in the manner of Atlas.