The Moving picture world (January 1926-February 1926)

244 MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 16, 1926 giiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiii II iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiii^ i^iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin Review Policy siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiw Broadway Presentations | KlIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIU^ REPORTING the various presentations appearing in Broadway houses has pruven helpful to a certain degree. Occasionally we have been favored witli descriptive matter of a presentation produced in a theatre outside of New York. Wc have never intended that tlie review page should entirely feature Broadway presentations, and we liave requested at various times through the medium of this department and through personal solicitation, that more descriptive articles be foi warded to us. It has been found that publishing the program only does not give the benefit to a producer which he derives from a brief description of the production. We have spent the time since the inception of this department towards the development of the review or presentation reporting section, and it has been decided after our analysis that we will record here only the outstanding features of a program specializing in describing productions that are marked for their originality, novelty and artisticness. Want to Record Progrets We cannot understand why some producers, either through their timidity or lack of interest, refuse to acquaint the professional world with what they are doing in stagecraft. How are we ever to progress if we keep ourselves hidden from the gaze of our, co-workers. Progression and development do not come from a corner wc may have on local or provincial favor, but reaches its potency when we enlarge the area of our acquaintanceship. A man cannot be a miser with his ideas, especially in this l usiness. When you develop an idea you do so for the good of all. Your suggestions will be used by your fellow producer as you have used his. The only original thing we Tind is the stamp of one's individuality which marks the various productions. We can always be helpful because the show business is one vocation or profession in which perfection can never be attained ; there are new angles constantly presenting themselves. Whatever is worthwhile, and whatever is well done we want to record here. Vlaming Waters Prologue (Continued from Preceding Page) A mixed ensemble may be discovered in the set with a soloist rendering a ballad. Ensemble may join him for the chorus, one of the girls may be introduced as the "belle of the country," and with a partner, render a little dance which is heartily applauded by others in the group. An old man in a character makeup may be introduced into the dance for a comedy finish. At the peak of hilarity a red glow on the horizon foretells of impending trouble. The glow heightens and flames become apparent. There is confusion, which action is emphasized by a spirited orchestral accompaniment. The commotion becomes terrific as the flame effects cover the entire back drop. The main titles of the picture are flashed in upon the scrim toned with the flame effects as the lights on the set dim out into the opening scenes of the feature. SOME interesting features mark the presentation programs at the three leading houses on Broadway. THE CAPITOL THEATRE is offering three units of a balanced variety introducing a singer, a pianist and a dancing ensemble. Carlo Ferretti, baritone, gives an excellent rendition of "Lolita Serenade." He appears dressed in a red Spanish costume, the setting consisting of black plush curtains hung in heavy folds with an opening at center masking a cut-out window of Alhambric design. The backing of semi-transparent material on the window is toned green. The curtains are drawn aside at center with orange colored cords; a painted cut-out border is hung in one suggesting a Moorish design. This unit is followed by a cartoon comedy whicli is given a very unusual treatment. The title of the comedy is "At the Rainbow's End" and just before the curtain opens on the screen a rainbow is projected on the close-in curtains. This rainbow. is cut down to fit the frame and is an artistic relief to the black and white of tlie film subject. Julia Glass renders "Concerto in D Minor — Rubinstein" and appears in a sumptuous fabric setting. Heavy folded drapes hung across stage with a narrow opening at left center through which the lower part of a white and mahogany staircase with a cluster of flowers at the base is visible. Black plush is used as a bac'<ing and a small pendent crystal chandelier highlighted with amber is hung above the staircase. The drapery in the foreground is flooded a blue green. The grand piano is at right center. The Dance Ensemble entitled "Bal Masque" is one of the most attractive dance units we have seen at the Capitol, its most effective scenic feature being an arrangement of streamers and varied sizes of balloons which fill the top portion of the set in one and two, hanging about 8 to 10 ft. above the heads of the dancers. The Pierrot, Columbine and Harlequin theme is introduced in this unit. During the action the balloon and spiral cluster is highlighted various colors and at the finale when the characters leave the stage, Pierrot is left alone, kneeling at center, all lights in the set are dimmed and the cluster of balloons and streamers flooded a green blue contrasting with the dark set at the base of which a spot picks out Pierrot. THE MARK STRAND THEATRE is introducing a second week's version of Joseph Plunkett's Mark Strand Frolics of 1926. Some of the outstanding features of last week are used in the current production. "The Bellmakers" scene is one of the most effective. The scene is painted to represent a large cave in which huge bells are placed. As the attendant or keeper strikes the bells the tops are pulled away from the base revealing dancers who appear in silver cloth costumes. Lights are placed in the top of the bells and are used to flood the dancers. One of the most popular units is entitled "Daguerreotypes." Two large double frames painted on a wallpaper drop, each frame bearing a life-size painting of one of the dandies of the 80's. The heads are cut-out and from the openings the heads of the members of the Mark Strand Male Quartette are protruded each man in a character makeup consistent with the painting or daguerreotype. They render two old-time numbers and for novelty it is one of the outstanding features of the Fralocs. THE RIVOLI THEATRE which has inaugurated the new Publix policy with John Murray Anderson as the director of presentations is offering entertainment features of a revue type, which resemble a musical comedy unit rather than a presentation production. The scenic investure of the opening production "The Melting Pot" is very modest and limited, the chief source of attention focused on the costuming and the spirited dance finale of the ensemble punctuated with clever individual artists. SEATTLE THEATRE OPENS Warner Bros, opened one of the finest picture houses in the Northwest on Christmas Day when it dedicated Warners' Egyptian Theatre in Seattle. This is a $250,000 building, built in the Egyptian style throughout. The house seats 1,300. It has the largest organ in Seattle and a ten-piece orchestra. L. K. Brin is managing director. Among the unique accommodations arc a "crying room," a glassed-off enclosure, a smoking room also glass-enclosed. FLORIDA REAL ESTATE Ansel Brown, formerly in charge of the Albany bureau of the New York Stale Motion Picture Commission, is back from Florida and will open a real estate office in Albany, specializing in Florida holdings. George H. Cobb, chairman of the commission, whose term of office expired on January 1, was in Albany last week spending a day or so at the bureau there but making no comment as to whether he expected to hold over until such time as the reorganization plans decided as to the outcome of the commission. SLIGHT FIRE DAMAGE Fire in the basement of the building occupied by the Elite Theatre, 1304 Green Bay avenue, Milwaukee, threatened to do considerable damage to the interior of the house this week. The fire started about 5 p. m. and dense clouds of smoke filled the basement and began to pour into the auditorium. Prompt action on the part of the first department was responsible for the slight loss suffered. The fire did not interrupt the showing of the program that night, as a result the theatre suffered only a small loss caused by smoke and water. TOUGH ON SANTA CLAUS Water damage from a fire destroyed considerable property in First National Exchange at Dallas, Texas, December 26, a large number of Christmas presents also being destroyed. STAGE SETTINGS Built, painted and installed. Drapery aettinps and drapery curtains. SpeciaJ sets and drops for feature pictures. SCHELL SCENIC STUDIO COLUMBUS OHIO