Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1927)

MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 17, 1927 36 Showed The Gorilla to a Zoo Down In Texas Production Hints from Edward L. Hyman Managing Director, Mark Strand Theatre, Brooklyn Prologues continue to be big drawing cards. The show which had "East Side West Side” as the feature photoplay, was given a big surrounding program which had as its chief incident an atmospheric prologue called "All Around the Town.” This prologue took up 20 minutes and two other presentations were given 12 and 8 minutes respectively. Six minutes was given to the Topical Review and the feature picture took 1 hour and 25 minutes, thus bringing the whole performance to 2 hours and 1 1 minutes. “Franz Lizt’s Favorites” gave the program an impressive start, opening first with the house orchestra playing the introductory movement of the composer’s Sixth Rhapsody. Lemon floods in full on orchestra from bridges; magenta ceiling spots, lemon borders; lemon side strips. Charles Jolley, tenor, then appeared on the apron of the large stage to sing “Liebestraum.” Fie was covered by an amber spot from the dome. This in turn was followed by the Mark Strand Ballet Corps dancing to the "Second Hungarian Rhapsody,” on the production stage. Bridges and dome lemon floods on ballet and orchestra; white and pink side spots. Twelve minutes for this presentation. Following the Topical Review, Chief Caupolican, Indian baritone, appeared on the apron of the large stage, dressed in full Indian regalia, and sung “Pale Moon,” the "Toreador" song from “Carmen” and the ballad, “When Day Is Done.” Ceiling spots, amber and blue borders; bridges, orange for first two numbers and off for the third. Lemon spot on singer, who took up 8 minutes to good advantage and was given a resounding hand when he made his exit. Next came “All Around The Town,” opening with a harmonica band seated on a high board fence which ran across the stage in front of the Brooklyn Bridge drop. Leg pieces at either side represented tenement houses. Every one dressed in Bowery fashion. “Old Timers’ Waltzes” was the first number played by the harmonica band. Bridges lemon floods on production stage, going white at finish. Margaret McKee, whistler, followed. She whistled “Charmaine” under a lemon spot from the dome; bridges light blue floods. After this came Chick Kennedy who sang “Down by the Gas House." Bridges off, lemon spot on singer from dome. For a strong finish Charles Bennington, one-legged dancer, did a very difficult dance. LAST CALL FOR CHRISTMAS If you want a really Merry Christmas and a decidedly Happy New Year, order your Building Theatre Patronage today, and get it in your stocking. You could not hire a man to tell you as much for $100 a week, and it costs only $5 at your supply house. Twenty cents more if mailed direct. Not theory, but sound working practise. Fooled the Lion Getting a man in a monkey dress for The Gorilla at the Aztec theatre, San Antonio, Joe Estis, a publicity man, sent him over to the Zoo. The monkeys just laughed a little, and the other beasts were indifferent, but a lioness made a mild demonstration and that was good for a story and a photograph in the next day’s newspaper, which gave the perambulator an added interest as he paraded the street. Cats Are “In” Changing the dog matinee slightly, Fred Putnam, of the Beaumont theatre, Beaumont, Texas, gave a Black Cat Matinee for The Cat and the Canary. The cats were parked in a large cage in the lobby while their young owners saw the show free. It brought out about twenty cats, which was no strain on the box office, but sufficient to prove a good bally. It might help to drop a live mouse in the cage now and then. It will liven things up. A GENERAL AND A CLOSEUP VIEW OF A GOOD LOBBY STUNT FROM ASHEVILLE, N. C. T. R. Earl, of the Imperial theatre, dressed his lobby with the breakfast table and made a very inviting display. The card on the table announces that it is “Reserved for Constance Talmadge and party for Breakfast at Sunrise.” The lobby was so different it helped business good.