Variety (Nov 1932)

riLM HOUSE ■iEVBEWX Yatadmj, NoT«iiiber 8, 1932 PARAMOUNT, H. Y. New York, Nov. 4. If house tops its fall average, which is unlikely, it'll be due to the draw of Ted Lewis and Sophie Tucker who hold up. the stage show virtually on their own. Between the two stage names, th^re should be Eufllcient draft at the boxofBce to offset the weak lure (for this spot), of the feature, 'Hot Satur- day' (Par), ft picture that Is jgrolng to do much, better away from the major keys. Naiicy Carroll Is fllm'3 only pre- tention to a cast draw. She means little in New York but principally in the lesser keys and small towns around the country/ Miss Carroll still enjoys a following. StagiB show Is 'Jazz Jubilee of 1932.' It is built around the Ted Lewis unit which has been tour- ing the country as an F&M. unit and is this house's closest approach to use of an F.&M. sho^. In fact, house is currently listed in F.&M.'s route sheets; Sophie Tucker, reciently at the Paramount Grill,' tind Donald Novls, from the air whom Publlx has been giving a buildup here, plus a Dave Bines line of girls,' ?ire added to the Lewis unit. Boris Petroft is credited with the staging, some- thing that has become routine on shows here with Petroft turning -them/' all out under home office su- pervision by Boris Morros and Milt Feld. . While clicking as entertainment, staging of the rostrum portion Is lacking iri the usual smoothness demanded by Publlr. This is one circuit that balks at stage waits on change of scenes, yet during the main portloik of the Lewis unit, shift Is made to a Russian set with stage darkening down for a couple minutes. This could be remedied easily through Lewis switching his spe- cial number around the Lewis high hat, doing it when the change 19 required. Instead of a short dis- tance ahead. What looks like a flnale precedes the change ot scene, with Lewis bringing on his colored quartet and 'Snowball' Whlttler for a dance wlndup. The Russ scene,'where the Bines girls do. a number, seems to have been provided as a builder-upper for Donald Novis, who comes in on the finish, stepping to 'one' for a Couple numbers. Novls Is working without the aid of a mike. This week he shows at his probable best since ih here on 'Smllln' -Through,* displaying a voice technique and control that sends him across etrong. Lewi3 Is prominent In the first half, yirtually using up all his rou- tine. Miss Tucker coming on about the middle and taking charge from there on. Both these performers are sea- eoned practitioners of showman- ship, it counts heavily in the favor of each, aside and away from their isureflre ability to entertain and their knowledge ot the tricks ,in - selling a song. Miss Tucker tdpped Lewis at the Friday night show on applause. An applause tumult held the show back after an old Tucker fay, 'Some of These Days,' and Lewis had to re- treat to permit the veteran a bow- away speech. Looking fine and in her best form, Miss Tucker opened with 'That's Something to Be Thankful For,' a number which she does ex- '. ceedlngly well and which practically places the audience in her lap. After Introing Teddy Shapiro to the audience, something Miss Tucker never forgets, she does 'Stay at Home Papa,' a botcha spe- cial sold swell and a number on return , of prosperity which re- ceives ah effective buildup. For this one scene shifts to a park walk, where panhandlers are at work. Another number for which Miss Tucker eventually steps to 'one' to complete, has its origin In an old woman on a park bench selling apples who's recognized as a former grand opera star. Idea is an attempt by Miss Tucker to cheer the luckless woman up, curtains parting on her effectively as the Tucker voice goQS into the song. Lewis' best merchandised numi^ ber Is the 'One Pretty Thing* ditty, with one of his dancers used for buildup. Second best, the special around his battered Ud. Lewis let Miss Tucker try the hat on. She's probably the first who'e ever worn It outside of Lewis. The 'Is Everybody Happy?' mln strel has reached his peak as a showman. The effective manner In which he sells himself and what he has to offer on this engagement is proof enough of that. He can't top himself. Lewis carries the Dixie Four, col ored quartet, Whlttler, Esthier Pressman, Doris Deane and Mildred Gaye. Though each fit in their way and Inject strength . through their Individual efforts, Lewis and Miss Tucker are the whole show, whlcli runs 46 minutees. In. addition to feature, show has usual issue of Par News, Jesse Crawford organlog ('Cavallerla Rus- ticana'), and RublnofC^ conductor mechanlque, doing college numbers. Business fair to good Friday night. Char. ROXY New York, Nov. 4, It takes three numbers for this week's stage show to reach the scene that squares the presenta- tion's title, 'Honeymoon, Limited,' and the buildup isn't very strong. Except for a specialty by Bernlce and Emily at the beginning of the show, another by Stetson, the Jug- gler, toward the finish, and the cus- tomary colorful costuming, the en- tertainment this week Is b6low average.- First two numbers are collegiate in motif, opener taking place be- fore a football stadium drop.. That set could have been mbre properly transposed to the other end as a lead into the start of thp fooitball picture, 'Rackety Rax' (Fox). As spotted the titular sequence breaks In and cuts off all pQSsible connec- tions between the stage show and picture. The old Roxy method of blending and frequently fading right in from stage to screen was far more effective. . 'Honeymooni Limited' scene is an oldie in Idea and method, distin- guished In this revival only by the color and massed stage grouping in which the Rbxy specializes. In the conventional manner the honey^ moon couple deliver their love duet and the Roxyettes step out for a routine carrying overnight balgs. Honey mo oners are. on the observa- tion platform as the 'train,* with the aid: of the projection booth, pulls out of the terminal and down the tracks. It's beeii done similarly In every detail in the picture houses and vaudeville and no longer classes as a production novelty. Bernice 'and Emily hav6 a chro- mlumrplated flight of stairs at their disposal here for their one acrobatic number. With them in the opening scene are the singing Chorus and Roxyettes. Traveler closes on the stadium, set as the Roma Bros, ap- pear to permit a change in setting as the gllt-painted ROmas go through their nifty hand-to-hand stuff out In 'one.* Next spot is also, specialty and without house aid, California Col- legians getting the rare allotment of about 16 minutes and all to themselves. The -seven boys are drifting more and more from in- strumental novelty and into the realm of knockabout. The. change Is not for the better, as indicat«>d by a sudden drop of returns as soon as the switch was made. Audience was more responsive over novelty material in the earlier moments than at the disappointing finish. Charles Barnes and Greta Alden are programmed as the onc^-number honeymooners In the finale. Stetson got away with the show's best hand with his high hat and cigar box bal- ancing in this scene. Lassiter Bros, are billed, but don't show (they're at the- Fox; Brooklyn, Instead). Pit symphony Is noticeably smaller in membership, although still com- prising:'60 men and a leader. That would be plenty of musicians for the Mound City Blue Blowers, but at the Roxy precedent seems to mag- nify any reductions in staff, no mat- ter how many remain. David Ross is conducting the symph through 'A Tribute to Chopin' this week. It's a tribute tQ the Roxy orchestra as well. It Was open season for duck shooting again in the mezzanine Friday night. Bige. FOX, BROOKLYN Brooklyn, Nov. 5. Fanchon & Marco's 'Happiness Show' with Eddie Peabody is a well knitted, talent laden unit that has an abundance of chatter com- edy from Marge and Mary and acrobatic humor from the Lassiter Brothers, a likeable pair of juvenile rope twirlers and riders in Tom and Hank, and a charming and grace- ful rhythm dancer In Jean Draper. The; show can't miss as is. Looks like one of the best F&M units so far to have hit the east Additionally to this stuff Eddie Peabody does some excellent Inter- ludlng with guitars, banjos and vio- lin. His vocalizing, however, and chatter can't be heard behind the front rows. Eddie could do the panto comic stuff okay with the tricky Spanish costume he wears and his business of jumping around the stage , with or without his banjo stool. There's, a porch setting with me- tallic effect frame used as a set. It's a pli). It hangs half way back on the stage against a sky and shrubbery scrim hanging. On the flanks are a couple of water foun- taiins that trickle real aqua pura. The pit band sits in the frame- The lighting combinations help to give the set a restful effect While fancy it's not gaudy and when the backdrop files for the closing, a huge banjo drop with colored lights and a revolving drum disc is on view. . Eddie Is on the stage for the flnale, just having flnlshed his solo session, and little Tom, the lariat twirler, joins him in a banjo duet. The raising of the backdrop re- veals the rest of the unit's cast in nifty colored costumes strumming banjos and posed along the key- board of the huge instrument. It's a swell flash finish. There .are times during Peabody's late solo work when one feels he does too muoh, but the reception accorded bis •trunimlng tends to veto this thought. It's pleasant t6 note the tasteful and brIeC Intros which Peabody gives the acts, naming them and giving all a break without any blah. It's much more tasteful and better paced than the style Fox cxistom- ers have been getting here from the pit leader. That's apt showmanship and l^ea- bodr is Just that kind of a per- former. The> unit is one ot the tew that seems to have come to the Fox Brooklyn stage without house. In- terterence. The Improvement In pace and customer reaction was noticeable In contrast to other weeks, when the shows bore sighs of Ill-advised meddling. The Lassiter Brothers who danced into funny prattfalls and trick body combinations followed the appear- ance of Jean Draper, lithe blonde stepper, and had everything their own way. Boys could cut out some ot the gags. Still performing in the same hard dancing and tum- bling routines they started with, in John Murray Anderson's 'Almanac* ' Marge and . Mary, girl comedy paii:, rated the same good customer reaction. There*s ried headed girl in this combo that*B sure to hit productions one of these days and her partner Is hardly less able. The pair are 'young and they have a timing sense tor their chatter and a knack of clowning unusual for a girl team. Peabody opens the 3how, Intros Jean Draper for her sdlo high kick rhythm that's most engalging. She. wears a long dress and has a, trim figure. Somewiiere down the line Martha Valughn, also a blonde, does a couple ot vocal solos. She is a. so- prano and fits nicely as the prin- cipal singer of the unit ' Tom and Hank are two kids who do . acrobatic stunts on running ponies on that Fox stage. Limited space necessitates accurate timing by the kids to get their rough rid- ing Within the view of the audi- ence. Show was designed by Fanchon herself. The program as a whole shows much better planning than has been the easel here in the past. A Terry Toon cartoon,' newsreel and a snack ot trailer stuff round out besides the feature, 'Once In a Lifetime' (U) which looks like a draw in Brooklyn. Bill is worthy b.b. and on the regular bouse stuff the manage- ment wisely has cut the organ solo by Bob Hamilton to one number and limited Sam. Jack Kaufman and pit to only three minutes out- side of an entertaining violin solo by Freddy Fradkln. Fradkin pleased easily. Shan. LOEWS, MONTi<EAL iMontreal, Nov. 4. Cash customers In this town are as cold as the climate, and Bert Frohman, m.c, who wanders on at intervals, couldn't get iet lot out of them,. despite . a pleasant manner, while a tew gags went over their heads. Bert did his own specialty in the third spot and it went over best. Eddie Sanborn took his orchestra from the pit to the stage for the opening ot the 60-minute vaude show and did a couple ot songs. Fans mostly were coming in or go- ing out-after the end of the picture during the turn. Captain Willie Maus, cycling nov- elty, gave a thrill, but act was short and insufficiently built up here. Might have done a few stunts and led up to the big act. , Billy Farrell aiid Dad deuced, but opened on a weak gag. Only front row customers caught the crack. Some snappy patter helped to warm' things up and Farrell senior doejs some old-time dances, which were well received. Act ends with Lan- cashier clog dancing; whicli Old Country fans In audience liked, but there weren*t enough ot them. Bert Frohman came Into the third spot with girl doing dumb dame act. Both good aind the girl made a fair impression with contrast be.- tween assumed bad dancing and harsh voice and "her actual smart stepping and good singing at fin- ish of turn, Frohman worked hard and deserved better reception. Al Verdi, stunt 'cello player, now supported by girl violinist who has- n't much to do, but is a looker, stole the show and earnied the hand of evening. Does it all by gesture and expression with only a couple of gags. Girl plays well up as foil. Crowd woke up at this turn. Colby and Murry stage theatre usher act with picture house inter- ior set Couple of girl hoofers put over some fair dancing, but Colby Is the star of the turn. 'Madison Square Garden' (Par) is t' o real draw of the show, with an old Chap- lin fiicker, 'Easy Street' and the news reels. MASTBAUM, PHILA. Philadelphia, Nov. 7. This we'ek there's a stage show that clicks In every department rat- ing as a perfect model tor presenta- tions; Strongest name draw is Burns and Allen; and'In addition, there is Molly Picon to add the right note ot intimacy. Alhough thi& strikingly slim and good look- NEWSREELS EMBASSY Embassy is set to cover every angle ot the election regardless of Tuesday's outcome-. Hoover, Roose- velt Lehman, Donovan and Owen D. Young are in the lineup. Quick changes ot titling early Weidiiesday will carry the house through the rest of the'week. As the biggest newsreel. house in America and the only one through- out: the entire campaign attempt- ing complete coverage , the Em- bassy applause reactions to' the candidates have served a good part ot Broadway as a political bar- ometer. Where even two and three weeks ago the applause tot Hoover was light compared to the reception ac- corded Roosevelt's name the same was not true last Saturday. The receptions for the first time were equally divided. Owen D. Young got the largest hand. He. was shown .to reel customers under the best of circumstances due to ex- cellent contact and camera work of the Fox crew. Donovan's plea tor votes was met with silence, while the applause for Lehman was scattered. A direct attempt to influence the voter and one of the few ever made on the newsreel screen is contained in a clip urging New Yorkers to vote for Proposition No. 1, having tp do with an appropriation for the unemployed. It seems that brave dogs can't be awarded medals Without some newsreel gagging • the event with a; 'filssy' characterization. A. year ago it was done Intentionally, a contact man . essaying . the part This time, however, - newsreel ex- perts aver the boy wh6 lisps was not a rehearsed gag. Gaxton and Moore of 'Of Thee' I Sing' do a political burlesque. Both houses had the Swedish prince and (^rihan princess wed- ding, Atlantic coast gale, Army fliers. Fats McManus this week..lends his. voice to trick photography on the racetrack, which has the last horse, coming In first. This Mc- Manus boy is getting to be as much of an Institution as the Embassy Itself. ■ ■ Football Is thoroughly covered, the Columbia-Cornell and» Pltts- burgh-Notre Dame games featur- ing; • Other Embassy clips: Lady Astor, Italy's desert army, whiskey distil- lery in Pennsylvania, Viscount I TRANSLUX During election week the Lex^ Ington avenue Luxer passes ut» politics completely with the excep. tion of a speak demonstration staged by prohibition's candidate. Prom the news point ot view it's a rather vapid program, only subject getting applause being the run of a'Mickey Mouse'cartoon. Incidentally, the Lex newsreel house Is like a, day nursery Satur* day afternoon. Old and young kids, many with the governess . In uni* form, comment aloud. Following an Impressive title about 200,000 boys roaming the country, Pathe opens into a spiel on the subject by Judge Llndsey and some very proppy Salvation Army scenes. Luxer, while Ignoring politics, i£le« cided Armistice Day was the best lead clip. A few familiar library veiws were blended for the occa- sion. The ITpshaw clip, while a puzzle. Is a sure laugh-getter. Paramount took the pains to get this dry leader in a bar atmosphere. It doesn't seem logical that Upshaw Intention- ally . let. himself be made a stooge for contact man whims, but the Par boys got him to do slapstick gyrations in the Sennett- comedy manner. Universal was the only newsreel Saturday to have Communist riot- ing in Chicago, as well as citizens there ripping up a' street paved with Wooden blocks for fuel. ' Captain Bob Bartlett starts an- other series on Arctic adventure much In the way he did a year ago. Pathe better watch Its editing of this serial or else the similarity of the two voyages may become too apparent. One of the most brutal exhibitons of wrestling was that caught by Pathe in Philadelphia recently. Some women in the Sat. mat. audi- ence were observed to turn their faces away from the screen while the more vicious parts of .the tussle were unfolding. Other subjects: -Mexican holiday, Paris 'Ijeauty shop' for dogs, Maxim's, Paris; unemployed march on London, Canada war memorial. Army aviators In California, presen- tation of English Industrial medal to Charles M. Schwab. Waly. Snowden's explanation, France's President at fiower show, Spanish ' and Berlin girls, turkeys and Aus-^ tralian logs. . Waly. ing actress has been playing the Yiddish theatre here, for years, it Is her first appearance in a film house of the Mastbaumi type. She provides a brand of entartainment that comes as a toiilc to Jaded picture audi- ences.- This enga;gement Is also go- ing to do the Picon name a lot . of good, as it should establish her as a sure click in the high-grade presen- tation houses. The only complaint in the Friday show came from the fact that Mil- ton Charles was doing a broadcast from the theatre. That part m&a all right and there was an interest- ins arrangement showing the hook- up, with a spot on Allan Scott of a local station who was. doing the an- nouncing. After Charles' turn, Scott stayed on as m.c. nd it was his Idea to keep up a running chatter through the show. Imagine a con- tinuo'us barrage of remarks like 'Watch the speed of those boys,* etc., all during the fiash act of the Three Rhythm Boys, peppy negro team who scored nicely and needed no In- terpreter. Comment also marred the opening chorus, with the girls in colorful red and blue spangled outfits. Molly Picon established herself as an artiste with a genuine gift of mimicry. From the Yiddish stage, she used less Yiddish than Jessel did In his act last Week. Her songs, 'I Buy a New Dress' and 'Too Much of This,' with their speedy and clever patter, and her impersona- tions had the audience "ferying for more.- Patricla B-- man followed with a lovely 'Silver and Gold' ballet that also found a warm response from the audience. Miss Bowman's slen- der grace and beauty put her in a class apart from most ballet dancers and she has the ability to make people really like . -ch 'artistic' of- ferings. Show closed by Burns and Allen, whose act Is new; for Phllly and who met with a great '\ elcome. Grade does a little Irish Jig (she says it's German) and the entire act has a freshness to It that Insured them a storm of applause. Anotlier of the guest artists Who has been meriting and receiving ovations here is Giuseppe Creatore, conducting the Mastbaum overture. This week his 'Cleopatra' offering brought a sustained hand and it is good news to learn he remains ari- bther week. Picture is 'Washington Merry-Go-Round' (Col) and attend- ance indicated a big week. . Water§. CAPITOL, N. Y. ^ New York, Nov. 4. A ralther formula show headed , by Ken Murray, ■with Helen and Miltoh Charleston back again as his.as- sistants, plus Barre Hill, barltorte; Chilton ' and Thomas, personable dusky mixed team ot steppers, and Al Rlcken, the latter presumably the No. 2 Murray stooge.. Abe Lyman's band, holding over, is on the rostrum backing up Murray .et al. and meaning little as presented. The . lukewarm reaction further prompts the suspicion he's been held over or repeated too long and too often for b.o. strength. • ■ ' ' Murray's act Is another of his routines dug out of the repertoire. This time he'Ss using the phone-in- terruper' when waxing a little in- digo. Milton Charleston's funny stooge is expert foiling, especially for the falls, and Helen Charles- ton contrlbs cutely with her step- ology. The thin and elongated Al Rlcken also comes in for some at- tention later. Lyman starts off passively, Chil- ton and Thomas follow. . She looks cute and classy, and the boy should match that impression. He wears those fancy enough satin rompers, which, however, lack the necessary flash. Something a bit more for- mal, without being dressed-uppy, would be more in order; an Eton or mess jacket effect for example. Barre Hlllj who. Incidentally, ,is slated for George White's . new Varieties at the Casino, comes from the band for 'Ol' Man Rlver^ in nice voice. Murray thereafter, and Ly- man for the conventional closer. 'Football Footwork,' a Pet© Smith-Metro short along with the usual trailers, newsreel and 'Red Dust' (M-G), feature, round It out. House should do a big gross this week on the featured Gable-Harlpw combo. AbeL UNITED ARTISTS, L.A. Los Angeles, Nov. 3. Fanchon & Marco's 'Tahiti' unit at the opening today revealed all- around pleasing stage fare, the sort ot vaiide that garners applause and sends aWay the customers satls- Jied. Not an expensive show, and the title has little to do with the entertainment other than a couple of full-stage flashes of South Sea atmosphere which afford the dozen line girls an opportunity to prancfe (Continued on page 54)