Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1932)

November 19, 1932 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 65 OP STAGE ATT E> ACT IONS OP REVIEWS CE ACTS FOR PICTURE THEATRES SINGERS Baby Rose Marie Baltimore Hippodrome In her usual attractive fashion Baby Rose Marie offers a cycle of songs and puts them over effectively. Included were a smile song, "I Wouldn't Trade The Silver In My Mother's Hair For All the Gold In this World," "How Am I Doin'," and "Shanty in Shanty Town." Good applause and encored. Mata Cora New York Koxy Miss Cora, coloratura soprano, whose appearance this week marks her fourth return engagement here, appears in the first and last scenes of the current Frank Cambria production. "Rhapsody in Color." Her voice is beautiful. She is featured in two numbers, but the audience would have liked to hear her sing more. — E. D. Little Jack Little Cincinnati Albee This pianist, who has entertained over numerous radio stations, again demonstrates his ability. He also offers a series of vocal numbers, using a microphone and loud speaker system. His imitation of a barroom piano, given as an encore, is really the high spot. CEGAN S€LCS JESSE CRAWFORD (New York Paramount) offered for his solo selections from Mascagni's "Rustic Chivalry," with explanatory remarks flashed on an Italian street scene drop. In order Crawford played "Siciliana," "The Valse," "Alfio's Song," a difficult keychanging passage, and finally "The Intermezzo," which is the best known of the opera. This cosmopolitan audience was not enthusiastic, however, due no doubt to unfamiliarity with the theme. MRS. HERBIE KOCH (Buffalo Buffalo), wife of Herbie, eschewed her duet role to blossom forth as featured soloist. At the console on the stage, with an attractive back drape suggesting the foyer, Mrs. Koch opened with "Moonlight and Roses." She then swung into "Shanty in Old Shantytown" and "Love Me Tonight," which were sung into the microphone by Lester Cole, musical comedy tenor. "Nightfall" followed the vocal interludes, with four ballet girls, who hitherto had appeared to be statues in the theatre, dancing the accompaniment. FLOYD WRIGHT (Berkeley United Artists) finds that his audiences have a leaning for the semi-classics, or the best of the popular music of the day. A late offering was made up of Romberg selections, including "Stouthearted Men" and "Lover Come Back," from "The New Moon"; "One Alone" and "The Desert Song," from "The Desert Song," and "The Drinking Song" from "The Student Prince." He finds that his auditors like to read the names of selections played, so these are dimly flashed on the curtain. MILTON CHARLES (Philadelphia Mastbaum), this city's most popular singing organist, delighted his admirers with two songs, "Say It Isn't So" and the original humorous ditty, "No More Company." l)R AND RCWN THE ALLEY Thousands and thousands of vaudeville performers throughout the world will shed a tear today for the passing of vaudeville from their throne-room, the Palace theatre, New York City. . . . Starting today, the two-a-day picture policy is inaugurated with the Eddie Cantor picture, "The Kid From Spain," which goes in for a run. . . . V Frank Cambria, managing director of the Roxy, introduced an interesting innovation in the condensed version of the opera "Carmen," which is currently playing the "Cathedral." . . . The musical gems of this exquisite opera by Bizet, are being given by an all-star cast which includes Dreda Aves in the title role; Nicholas Vassilieff as Don Jose; Herbert Gould as Escamillo, and Greta Alden as Micaela. ... In addition, the complete Roxy Singing Ensemble and corps de ballet is being utilized, with David Ross directing the orchestra. . . . V Paul Ash and Johnny Perkins, who headlined at the Brooklyn Metropolitan last week, were out for a stroll between shows the other day. ... In passing by the old Bijou (which has been closed for a number of years) Johnny remarked to Paul: "That old shooting gallery is grossing more right now than some other houses I could name. . . . Paul remarked: "It wouldn't be hard to name the house either." V Harold Ramsay, who has made a big name for himself on this side of the world as an organist, is back at the Granada Cinema, Tooting, London, where he again will take up his duties as organist. . . . Ramsay was featured at this house for 18 weeks last year and returned to America only to take his wife, Mary Ramsay, who has been appearing in pictures in Hollywood, back with him. . . . In addition to being organist at the Granada, he will also be the general music director for the entire Bernstein Circuit, while his wife undoubtedly will be cast in British motion pictures (for which she has had offers). . . . ED. DAWSON O. L. OZ PRESENTS JOHNNY PERKINS WITH RUTH PETTY HEADLINING THIS WEEK AT LOEW'S METROPOLITAN BROOKLYN, N. Y. CCHEDy Si Wills and Joan Davis Buffalo Hippodrome "A Youthful Fit of Wit" is the title of this nut offering, which got more laughs than applause, and the latter was generous. Miss Davis' unusual voice and delivery, plus her contortions and dance reminiscent of Will Mahoney, won honors. Wills' crystal gazing answers were familiar to those who had heard Ed Wynn on the air, but still funny. Charlie Foy Buffalo Buffalo Acting as master of ceremonies for his own "Bughouse" revue, one of the late Eddy Foy's numerous sons illustrates the family shrewdness in welding a show together, although his attempt at an imitation of his noted parent falls short. Foy's dancing and mad clowning aided by a stageful of stooges, drew warm applause. Nina Olivette Buffalo Buffalo Co-featured in the "Rookies" unit, the musical comedy madcap mixed singing, dancing and knockabout comedy in generous doses, the highlight of her act being the burlesque on an adagio dance with two male partners. Eddie Bruce Detroit Fox Bruce m. c.'s the "Radio" Idea. With a battered hat, a smoky cigar and a battery of telephones, he handles the job to perfection. OVERTURES FONTANA (New Orleans Saenger), scores a hit with an overture of Italian airs, opening with the swaggering "General," and going into "Mari, Mari" without which no program of Italian airs seems possible. Other popular melodies follow : "Santa Lucia" and "O Sole Mio," this featuring the string section and getting the most applause. The closing was "Finiculi finicula." The orchestra is working much better together than it did the first week. GIUSEPPE CREATORE (Philadelphia Mastbaum), guest conductor, demonstrated to what artistic heights the Mastbaum orchestra can attain under his leadership, for the overture from "Thanhauser," with its beautiful chorus, was a veritable musical gem under his direction. The tonal balances and contrasting instrumentation and shadings made this a notable performance of the orchestra and the audience was generous in its applause. WALT ROESNER (Oakland Fox) and an augmented orchestra offer a spectacular "Armistice" overture in which wartime music is mingled with the airs of many nations. The University of California Glee Club of thirty voices, with special effects on the stage, make the offering especially attractive. This director returns to Oakland after more than three years as director of the Fox theatre orchestra in San Francisco. FRED SCHMITT (Buffalo Buffalo) introduced a decided novelty with his musical interpretation of "A Day at Coney Island," a skillfully blended medley of numerous tunes, which found a ready response.