Variety (March 1932)

fILM HOUSE REVIEWS VARIETY 37 MASTBAUM (Continued from page. 36) .iwBys gctis the laughs. Finish up with » Bpeefly brand ol legologj' that puts moat Harlem steppers in the shade. Boys can ialways be de- vended oh for a good hand. Lots ot help from pit* One of. the trio subs as m.c. and Introduces Llorii Hof£- mon, prima donna In past Shubert revue days. High, rlhplng soprano that registers \neatly. Sedate staijc Bresence leaves everything' to appeal voice arid comes, through nicely with 'River, Stay. Away ■ and encore, /Faded Summer libye." Cherry Blossom and June^ an eyc- iilllng little team In chiffon pajama: outfits that are. cute, and no getting away from It, on next and worlc up to biggest hand of bill. Danciri?:, sold and ensemble .with little blonde bar^footlng In acrobatlng number that scored heaiviiy. Three costume changes all good to look at, coniblito with. real merit and some fancy tumbling at -the end to rate three :bows. . • ^Jumber called 'Jaizz Versus Bal- let' next with the girts of ballet workinsr on toes to jazz music, something dlfCerent, even to striking costume of niale lead. - Followed by Trahan, whose act is well knovvn and whose every move gets ovier for a laugh. Works with woman foil, a tall stately blonde,; Who sugigests that she could sing If Bhe ever got a chance, but, instead, goes throuigh tough-house, routine with Trahan that ought to build her up. Show closes with Indian! dance by line-girls'in especially attractive costume, and, .for the final piinOh, two horses OQ treadmill in back- ground. Wonder why they didn't save theiriyfor a bill where it would mean something,. \IlltQn Charles has something new when songsters in audience, render 'iSnuggled on Your Shoulder.' ' All lights out, but spotlight flashed through house; Orchestra plays ^ •Caprlccio Jtallenne' with John MC' Corineir subbing for i>ja,vld .ROss. Waters. • ORIENTAL; CHICAGO Chicago, March 11. This week?s show on the Orlentai Stage Is the last local production, for the time being anyway. Next week the LioeW" units move into the ace pop house, allowing B. & K. ahiple opportunity for comparisons. Meanwhile, the special attraction . Idea will by no means lose its foot- hold In Chicago as far as B. & K. Jb concerned, Dorothy MaCkalll tops this show, while at the Chicago it's Conchlta Monteliegro. No com- I>etltlve angle here, just a coinci- dence that the two fllmltes are ap- pearing In the same week. With the initial liOew unit next week will ' be El Brendel, a local booking. That added attraction policy will prevail with both LiOew and F. & M. shows,: as long as suitable attractions are available. AVhile bidding a farewell to the Oriental, the departing production department went ahead with Its last shot without sentiment Will Harris, with 10 B. & K. years be- hind him, turned out a neat and effective specialty show, made at- tunable to the Mackalll skit." .Re- garding Miss Mackaill .<New Acts) •he can be tabbed as a welcome newcomer to picture houses, be- cause her act Is the type picture houses are looking for from .film titars. As long as a picture player with a name can deliver a turn with talent and get away from the usual Hollywood babble,. picture houses are usually satisfied. , Miss Mackalll's blonde looks are attractive, even from the rear of the house, which la something to brag about. Act Is a composite one, stringing: together some bits of coiriedy dialog, sOngs and dances. Neil Miller, Miss Mackalll's hus-, band; fits Into the plctxire up to the time; he starts singing. What hap- pened the first show, when - his voice failed to register, may be corrected later, Mr. Miller being a radio warbler on a. mlkeless stage. Montgpmcry and. McPowell, a couple of snappy-looking dancing lads, round out the sketch.. Spotted •n the closing endi the .act skipped through breezily, bringing the cur- tain down. Opening has .Joseph Griffin Jntrb- dueirig a bird cage' number by the Jjambert ballet and Sybil Sanders *agan . doing, a . whistling iaccbm- panimcnt near the wlrigs. Tliat was a mistake. . Wlille Miss Fagan, iretlred from the stage ajid living In town, was spotted the last minute as a filler, no reason why she BhpuUln't have had a proper .spot. Miss Fagan and not Grifiln should h.ave Introduced the nuniber, conr .Bidering that Griffin: rpp.oated from the i)lt . only a few nihuitcs before. Orinin's Irish lulla)jios have" been fi.xturizcd In B. & K. houses for years. In that time he lias earned a ' certain popularity that Is now In danger because of his ott tc- poatcd appearance.''. SM-;:?o Fla.^h, wltli his iisii.ll .'■•lick jiiS'q:]inp; and-, smooth oxocution, cll"kf>,i handily ^by liinvolf .and in •ono." T.ilent l.s one thinjj and Skill unuUitM',: Init In Flash the. two arc <''>i.i)il:i(vl. .A.s a small fu-.tiolo nvanipJiliilur FlaKh id'ohably li.'is no rival, at lca.<.t in thi.s country. Hal- lelujah Four, colored quartette, soundly supported the mlddlie. Boys are California products and with several years radio experience over KFI. In a measure they recall the Mills brothers. when doing Instru- mental Up : Imitations. Their har- mony Is bke In the syncopated, chopped up style- First performance (Friday), ran about 40 minutes iand well paced, allowing room for aiddition or sub-. traction, Overtural session had .in 'Emerald Isle' setting, although St. Patrick's Day was six days off. Ernest Wiley batoned the orchestra through a: medley of Erin tunes, which Griffin capped with two Tluhibers.' ■ ■. '• ■" .,- :.' Trade got off to a good start with an early holdout. Difficulty In driving 'em upstairs, • with some rebellious customers' 'demanding nioney back because thoy couldn't get on the main fiopr. That's what: usually happens whicri a femriio star puts In a . personal, They aU want to catch, a close glimpse. " Preston Seller's : or&anldg had a novel twJst to It, with the slides a takeoff oh the. 'Ballyh.qo' , mag. ■ Strong .vocal • giipport. from the audience, Including Dave Lipton's imitation of GrOsby; Usua,l ncWs- reels and 'Wayward' (Par) on - the screen. Span. acrobatic Btnft being double high kicks. He was on only a few min- utes. Corlnne toe dances to popular rhythm. SydeU ddei most of his act with one dog, the animal dolncr a fore- paw stand on Sydell's palm and other balancing on Sydell's arm. Another dog follows for similar stiiff. After this Sydell;puils a flvo- Incli-hlgh puirp, frorii: his insldo pocket fot more of the same in min- iature. Act was liked. V Danco: routines .were olte, first be- ing a stair dance done in lliissar I'ostumeii!. ' Second had. the girls looking like vases when curtain w ent tip: arid, doing their routiiies In ortd- appcaring costumes. Third '"also .«t6od; out becausO of the novelty dressi. . House was fairly flill downstairs, Injt balcony wda Weak.. 'Arscne Lupin' (Metro) arid a newsrcel filled •Vest of bill;:" : STANLEY Pittsburgh,: March. 11. \ After last week's long, dreary elghtract vaudc bill, current presen- tation looks like a $4.40 revue. It has speed, athiosphere . and ehter- talnraent value and at second Sat- urday show ran without a hitch. It^s called 'Ship Ahoy',' and seafarlnir Stuff is carried right through to sets arid costumes, Everything flt^ just right here and whether acts .were booked to fit this type of preseritatlon or whether this type of preigentatlon was made to fit the acts Isn't-known, riot 'that It matters, anyway. What does matter Is that It's correct, atmospherically and that It doesn't sacrifice any- thing In being that way. " Churus opening has gala outfitted Into cllnglrig white pajamas for a natty flash and right after them the Rio Brothers, three of 'em In sailor outfits, for some comedy hoofing. Their stuff's pretty fariilllar..around here by now, but they didn't linger long enough to make. It. noticeable^ Packed their best stuff Into a few mlnuteis, a wise move. Harirlngton Sisters next with two songs In their regulation kiddie . garb. First, an old one, but still good, was okay, but second, a new one, riot so hot, and could have been dispensed with. ' Band .number a medley of horn- pipe tunes, that Dick Powell, 'm.c, introduces aia 'Salty,' and for en- core there's that hew •HotrClia' tune, "You Can Make My Life a Bed of Roses,' with Powell selling It with cute Dorothy Bushey working In a dance with her In front of the chorus. Good production . number and would have mound up .strorig If the band hadn't, gone haywire on Powell during the second chorus. At that, he managed to cover up nicely. Petite and Douglas followed for comedy and novelty. They're out- fitted with sailor, suits, too, with midget being carried on In kit sack by other member ^ of the team. Crossfire followed by sortie hoofing In which diminutive fellow sticks at the heels of his partner, wirid- ing up with a challenge routine that stopped the show. A. novel turn In. Itself, they fortify themselves adr ditionally with a good routine. Eve- lyn. Wilson next to closing and landed solid, particularly after she went Into the stove-pipe hat and full dress coat for,the stew stuff. Girl never misses here, and rightly so; for she's a single.who has poise, personality and plenty of talent. Chorus on for finale, half of 'em dressed as boys, with ship set light- ing up with magic lanters, .search- lights, etc., for strong flash. Bernle Armstrong organlog, newsreel arid 'Lost Squadron' (RKO) other fear' tures.. Cohen. LOEW'S STATE, L. A. Los Angeles, March 9- Only impression left by 'ImpresT slons' Idea is that It was just barely passable. Fanchpn & Marco unit. Is tmdistlngui.shed by anything, out- standirig, unless It's a leaning to- ward the exotic In dance costumes and routines. Greatest weakness lies In the Idea's lack 6C cOriie.ay, the act supposedly, supplying this fail- ing to get to flr.st base'. . ■' ' One bright part was Paul Sj'dell and his three dogs.. Natacha N'at- tova, who has top billing and was listed as coming from the: Folios Uereerc, works with a large flower pot, clinihirig in and .iround the petuniap,. .which carry her Avclght. Paricc i.s unusual. . ' - 'Irivin-q.ssions'. was built. fn Now York by Leon I»onidolt. LojClc-uf talent .is chiefly rcrfppnsilile fot*. unit not lieing up. to. Lconidoff's U.sujd .showing. ■ ■ Other acts are (he I-'our Flu.sh- ing.o, .cailrir lumhilnt? act; Joe J\of"\ ' nrrobat. nnd Corinne. d.-inirer. Flnsl-,-' ! irisrs la'ik materi.il and g.'iKS and ; fover up liy mnking i)len(y oC nola'\ 'i'lK-y didn't lilt with- the audience, Afi tumbler.", Ihc-y are-fair, ohlV one oC the quartet f-howing ariyiliini? :.iiriVi' tliis ralintf. . I Hose is ah efjcen.tri'', riiusl of hip TRANSLUX imperial; TORONTO .Toronto,;. Mar eh-llv Palm for. biggest punch In. new, bill goes to Jack Arthur and ithe pit. band for 41161!: trlbiito to the late John Plhliiip Sousa. Arthur,^ splendid conception Is riot particu- larly hovel, but sincerity of intent lends a sock that is throat-tighten- ing; Band plays a medley of the late march king's most popular airs and iights dowri ■ as; four figures In Marine Band uniforms, dimly-light- ed behind scrim; scarry major range with piccolos arid trumpets, pit band coming in on resounding finale as white spotlight floods' huge! bust of Sousa. .' ■ :■ . .Ai. capital idea that had the old- timers swlriamlng Iri- sentiment and a rousing finish that got the biggest hand ever accorded an overture in the Knevels deluxer. Incidentally, three of the : pit boys were •with Sousa at one time or anothet'. Stage show opens. in full stage, just a garden backdrop and a flye- stalr flight of steps. Gorgeous, cos tumes of .net and feathers In a black and white motif that was eye-fllling. Usual arm drills and groupings,, but nicely gauged line-up scores oh ap- pearance.: Any lack of novelty off- set by excellent discipline and evi- dent enjoyment, of girls . in their work. .;. Edna Covey tralllrig with a bur- lesq;ue on the late Pavlowa's 'Swan Dance' that scored, girl later reveal- ing that Bhe' could danee:-as-w£ll as any premlerW darise.use and begging off an encore. Novelle Brothers next ire a. bird-whistling act that has been in the fariaily- for three gene- rations. Similar to the act of their cousins, the Arnarit Brothers, but not as lavishly dressed and Novelle boys substituting violins for the Ar- naut Brothers' lhandolins. Act scored, with custpmiers having grand tinie audibly deciphering the bird- call Inslnaatipns. . Emllie and Romaine opening first half with, a .clever adagio number that registered. Ross Wyse, Jr.; and his dad on for one of those youth vs. old-age contests that always score. ■ Act wellrknown here and presence of; Junior's; mother noted by customers. : No mention made of reason for hej: non-appearance, but she is really lying in hospital seri- ously ill. Father and son worked Iri a dance step medley and went over nicely. Ballet out for flnale, girls again In gorgeous feathered costuriies arid, head-dresses, this tlriie out on short ladders for atllt-drllls. UnPertaln- girl gag again used and frightened pan of brunet looker good for laffs. Whole compsmy out for finale In one of those whirlwind flnlshes of sound and ci^r, with Ross Wallas War- bling,and band in on another grand finish. Feature Is lAdy With a Past.' McStay. HollyicQod . (doritinued from page 6)^ Roach lor a series on next year's projgraml Comic Is now in lialti- m pre on a vande trip. . Piitlir sivVs the ■I.indlierph- case' and rtepresslon J lu'i.siht touchb.s -by consulting ^a iMorida soothsayer. l.»entloman al*!0 voplios ."tfiiiMnativclj-. for Hoover at. the election. Insti>ad of phowlng stills. oC .under\yorld C'harae.ters ;tml tho;sroiip af report- er.", as. does Fo.x. 'l'atlie this week confines , tiie baby hunt also' to'a brief iiilervicw. with'a .pollee ciilcf and then .a .quick change to-tlvc. De Jute kidnappers who were o.'iplured- in Ohio.. Kca'ction '.of a.udiences is riot'icc.'ibly benefited, by. ilvis kind of editorial judgment. ,' . . . ' . . Universal .slips, in one 'agal.njt do- prossioif. It. siiows how. Chicago; shoppers packed Into ..a.. new . de- pannient store' on bargain. day. Both rathe and U. wei-e iih'eadr on sueh current news everits .-i's lires and- explosions. Pathe did a quick job On the Canidcn explosion, hav ipg a jcamera on the job while, the bodies were being removed from the tank. tJ was a little late In arrlv irig at Penris Grove, N. J.i but- Its coverage gave an e.xcellent idea of the damage.'.;. Severa.1 of the reels have attempt ed highest altitude .views of ;Man hatlani Pathe, however, copped.the record •from, a position foiu* miles above the city. ' Two' planes were required to handle this assignment One. of the riiost. unusual clips from the story and hurnari. interest angle, was afforded by Unlversal's coverage of the. operation on the Washington, D. C, gorilla.. . Views of the aniriial under the knife wei-e varied with close-ups of other riiem bers of the zoo, McXamee's report- ing provided the impression that all were concerned over the outcome of the surgery. Numerous laughs were , afforded by Unlversal's views of a Portland, Ore., dog. show In the grooming stage. . Talking reporter's wise cracks'helped a lot. Among other clips were Dutch skating On canals; Mr. Zero selling three-cent beer; more pictures of the Kaiser which -Paramount claimed were 'exclusive'; week-old views of Germany's war memorial and San Dlco cavali-y; revlval by Pathe of Atlantic gales of other months and years; .world's biggest Powell-Lombard ."Togetiier 'Interview,' by Abeh Kandel, may be given a Coast production.V Wil- liam Powell and Carole Lombard Svanted for leads In the two-char- acter but SB yet unprodiiced play^: John Ford and Tay Garnett havo been , added to UnlverBara director list,' ^- ■ ; EMBASSY Congress' youngest represenlatlvp, the :!5-year-old-Gcorgian, provides the moat Interesting clip in the Em- bassy's current,prpgram. /^ ; - While thc Embassy leads off with, inoro Sino-Japanese clips, chiefly Jap angles, there Is little difforcnce between Its material and tliat of Paramount wlVicli tjie Luxer I.-i .us- , ihg. Both houses have the Japanese using iiriachiric guns and field I'ioces find .both Show a couple of, barns. burning. • . The, deatli of. Premier: Briand Is- covered witli new. silent fitlesi Erii- bassy . uses a League, of" Nation's speech In abxirid while the Luxer contents itself with showing various iriipdrtant events Silent, In Briarid'S life.'- -:••.■ . For a ch.mge the Capitol Is . getr ting a break,. Where the Embassy has a hab.it of plugging the Roxy, the sanle routine Is now permitted. Chester.Hale's girls at the Capitol. . ; As a change frorii marathon danc^ Ing,. f'ox'-lets its- German corres.r pendent record a musldlan who Is; claimed to have stuck to his pianos for three days. Germany Is repre- sented by another clip on beer test- . irig, ^ • ■ ■ " Flr.st direct ■mlc'rOphonc recordlrig of .Von liindenburg ls presented, the German president reading a' mariu- scrlpt In Oermari, - FuneraI of . Sousa Is. also shown exclusively at the Embassy,. A clip of little slgrilflcance to the average newsreel audience, chiefly because It is cut. too short or the statements of the speakers were top vague,- has to do with a . move to minimize sectarian prejudices. Out of the ordinary rim of sub- jects, Is an Australian girl who can punch a bag to music better, than the average pug. ' Among other offerings are: pine-, hurst plgf race; Pacific flleet man- euvers; Londos; New Tork auto traffic; Florida girls rhumberlng; Connie Mack speaking for the Americans: basketball on skates AUStrailain auto, race, -with brie ex- citing spill, and spring fashions for Women. goose farm; Chinese being depOrted from U. S. after slipping ov':'- '."ex- Ican border,. .. Waly. Trlxle Frlganza iset for .Fanchon and Marco units. BlU Perlberg placed them. Col. Mei-ges Cycles To Join the trends for IloUywood and Broadway columnist films, Co- luriibia has ono about a picture chatterer. Sam Fuller writing It.. Theatre's. Black Start . Fox-WC started paying rent oii the newly coriipleted UA-Welshli-. fnear the Fox Ritz) March .8,,but Is keeplrig :lt dark,. Wolins' 370 Weeks . Sam Goldwyn gave Jeanne Wo- lins, 19-year-old New York girl, two contracts. First Is for six weeks at-$75 per from Feb. 22 to March ai. . Second Is for seven years, from $75 to $600. • Two Arctic Features Universal and Metro will both film Arctic stuff this June, U wants footage for 'Iceberg' and Is bringing Arnold Franck, the author, here to adapt and direct it, Metro will make a picture based, on Peter Freuchen's 'E.skimo.' Rubberneck Studio SI Masters heads a syndicate to operate* a syrithctic studio for Olyriipic games visitors. Private enterprise will havo freelance play- ers and charge 50 cents adml.sh. Everythirip will be. teciinlcally cbr.7- rect except ; cariicra.s' which will be fllmlcss. . F-WC's Low New low for Fox-WO hoiises Is the' policy for the t'A Whlttler nivd- . theatre.' Two features for 20 cents. • Election Special . 'llell Bent for Election,' an' orig- ( i.nal for,Edna May Oliver at Itadio, I i.s .Igurcd by tlie studio to ca.sh in j ori . prerelectlon .politi'-.nl. Intere.st.. | ):.'i.rn i.s an original by f;. J, T'erel- | tiVMi. with Ralph Murphy directing, i . He Was Good jAfter Kcelrig the rushi s.of 'Youiif; .-VnW-rii-a' Frank JJorzage, ndmitt.efl •ii.-i.t Itay.mond Castcll.T, juv in' the, pi' tiire, was hi.s nephCiy. .t'ox jil.'iiis t.i f-).fir,£e the kid's n.tme to I5<jj-- ■/.■•A '„: ' .:{.-. Technical Gyp ': Musieian.s . union'^ f.harges rert.iln indie producers are eheatin.t? by rc- rording. sldMiiie Trm.sio, Sideline .scale is $12.,",0 T'er day ,T,-hile, T'-((\t- lar hooring is $10 pt-r liour per jn.'ui. Levy Wins Ffilm-% • Rert Levy, .v.'it^U! e.ar(o(ini.'--t, won i hi.s suit ug.'iiV.st L'iKh J.isoir, di- rfM'tori for an .accyiniiiiiig of returns, on 'Ilumjiiie)(<-s,' novr-liy one-reirlr ers releasi d by TlKO. •. Levy gets. 30% of .mon'.y.s • as origirt.ii.or, a'''-f/i-dir.g to a. <-o-,u-i (ir«U-r. the old LeBaron regime. Two are holdovers from Pathe and all others have been engaged . since David Selznlck took over production. 'Shanty' for Epics \ , First feature picture for release by Ta:klnisr Picture,Eplts Is 'Shan- ty,' to be produced by John Cllne at National studios. ■ Academy will try out Its" own ediicatibnal film on the art of cut- ting pictures at a meeting of the. technicians' branch at Fox IIllls Cafe de Paris March 21. Standard Sound's Plea Efforts are being made to bring creditors of the Standard Sound System in. on a scheme to continue operation of the Iridle leasing lot. 'VVagc claimants are being asked to wait 90 days for their money with an understanding that .'a new board of nine directors will be formed, eight of them representing cred- itors. Wanger Stays Over Walter Wanger, scheduled to leave for the east this week, will remaKi on the Coast another fort- night. FVanklin Sued Three suits have been filed agaln.st IIughes-Franklln- for Inter- rupted theatre deals. Murray Ilaw- kins and N, Y. Herond are asking $100,000 damages agaln.st the cir- cuit which they claimed failed to buy three theatres II contracted for. Hawkln.s is asking $o0,000 on a sep- arate theatre deal. Security First National barik is asking $2,100 on a lease.- Howard Hughes Is named jointly with Franklin in all. suits. .r-!dith Wood is flr.st of a niirnber j <..f I.'.'.ramount player.s to get a blue ! li' ket. 5?lowIng up of production vl .'ii ns the rea.^on. thdie'i Mystic Expose .le.u.tie ■\Veil, ;niHe .produt;er, will MVikf a featui" cxju^Jng fake jnen- laTisi^- and f-pirltw.nii. (.s, titled '.Mlr- rj< lc I'uk'.r.' >ry-is by fjrace Kl- liott. WilliJini Nifilit dire'ft's. Chailcs .Hiiffinrui. v:i.uc)e inaKi'elan; will pl-'iy tlio l(-a<1. Pending Coast Legits Belasco & CUrran- aro dicker- ing for 'Wonder lioy'. for Coast pro- duction; V itic.harJ .'CrOmwoll, Co- lumbia.: Juv rrientloned for cast, Deal for Ilfnry iJurty to produce ' 'Louder I'lease'. still pending, ■ Melrp arid Fox ]or,'klhg. the • play. Over for . .picture.s. ■ K.-iil Carroll's . 'V.iinlties'^ duo .at Ilic JiiUmorc April 18 for two week.H. .'Wunderb.ar' gets here; April 20 nn'l lays off for one week before opening at the Clltmorc, Horse Broke Leg Cccfi Ivellogg i.s In the Hollywood hospital with a broken leg result of a trick horse kicking him while working on 'Dcstry Rides Again' at Universal, ' . Hiiquel Torres, Brox Sisters and hkdio's Writer Shuffle Of the 20 wi-it<-rs mi-.v under i-mi- tr,'ir;t at Jladio only four arc frOni Golden Reinstated Max fJolden, former studio man- ager of Fox, who left during the recent upheaval, Is. hack on the lot again as manager of the wardrobe department. Lloyd Levy, . former wardrobe head, icsigned. through illness..