Variety (Nov 1932)

S4 VARIETY Tuesdaj, NoYember 8, 1932 UNITED ARTISTS, L. A. (Continued from jpagQ 36) around a la native, and culminate In the eruption of a volcano. It's tiie individual talent that registers. First is Ted Glalrie;, a new type of m,c. personality for coast picture audiences. Claire 19 chock full of ability, and mal{es'his talents count all through the pro- ceedings. The mob out front at the first show rewarded him liber- ally, his work being., a relief from the cut and dried style which many coast picture house m.c.'s affect. Although without program bill- ing and evidently spotted for the U.A. showing only, 'Peg-Leg' Bates, colored monopedic hoofer tied iip the proceedings with four routines, each topping the other In fast- stepping and dexterityl . The ap- preciation talk after the second dance should be eliminated; other-; wise the act is oke.' Sharing next In- applause were Park and Cllflford, a pair of Adonis- like balancers featured as a part of the finale, who click solidly. Bernardo DePace, in same clown makeup, and with a good looking femme as a foil, uses much of his customary routine, and Adds a lot. of entertainment to the bill. ~ Girls are on;^. for three flashes. First, as native danceris wearing grotesque maisks in a barbaric rou- tine with a South Sea village as a background. Second appearance is , another-native :number as a prelude to a. hula dance clevei'ly done by Collne Lascar, and lastly for the finale garbed In ti witch makeup, wearing silvier faced ihasks and head-dress. Aside from his chatter, warbling and steppingr. Claire sold himself solidly: with' his -'dope' - number, en- coring with a rendition of the song, 'Depends on You' as Jolson would do it. Preceding the unit. Jan Rubiril puts the orchestra through an ap- propriate election! overture, using slides of various presidents flashed to th& accompaniment , of martial airs. Henry Murtagh is at the or- gan, .a,nd has a spot which builds as he goes alonlr. His 'Bof^y Metn' song finally had everybody sing- ing, or trying to. 'Washington Masquerade' (MGM) and Fox News on screen. .Opening matinee had .capacity lower floor. IMPERIAL, TORONTO Toronto, Nov. 4. No name-draw on the Imperial tnarciuee this week but current stage ,prez is long on value. Brunt of ..the bill is borne by Bobby Qrice and her girl band, a new act here that scored lieavlly. Most of the girls handle brass, only on6 violin and. banjo in the 12-glrl orchestra, and get surprisingly good tonal effects that are robust and well- sustained, something unusual In a femme band.. ' Full-istage set used throughout, a roof-garden effect with the girls on ■a double backed and flanked by box-hedges and blue sky. Rest of bill at tables for atmosphere. The Grlce aggregation ' are In ankle- length gowns, , but the red-head leader is In white tails with rhlne- atone-studded lapels. Traveller parts on hot Negro spiritual medley by band with Vivian Carmody out for acrobatics and leaping. Manny King, with George Rogers doliig a straight, trails for cross-Are that gets over nicely. Tall ftnd unbilled blonde is used for rpugh-liouse routine and takes lots of punishment despite height disparity. Dark stage for another spiritual medley by the Grice band, with Dolly Claire, violinist, stepping out to warble 'Trees.* Follow-up'^light- ing has spots on girls' faces and knees, with full-spot for the ener- getic leader who comes out for rhinestone-studded ?iigh-hat rou- tine with strut and torso-tossing trimmings. It's, a flash finale to the first, half, with girls coniing down tcont for harmony singing as pit- bftrtd takes up the low down Harlem medley. Roy, Lee. and Dunn, dance trio, a,re oh for mayhem that switches to a triple pansy Impersonation strong on wrist-Slapping and other patting. Kccentrlo hoofers got the best re- ception of the evening, slow motion soft shoe routine scoring heavily for the biggest hand on the bill. Bur- lesque hand-to-mouth biz used as encore: and clincher. . * King back with his foils for more nonsense and Bobby Grice's band climaxing with more harmony singing from the girls and the house-orchestra com- ing in. on the finale. "Floyd Hallicey and Edith Rogers, comedy-dance team, were billed but missed their train and the opening night. Feature Is 'Trouble in Para- dise' (Par). . McStay. PARAMOUNT, L. A. Los Angeles, Nov. 4, Will and Gladys Ahearn, with Brother Dan, provide the class for a bill that runs heavily to off-color gags, and in one or two Instances near smut. Ahearn pulls a few gags which have no. place in his worth While offering, and they could top just as easily with this sort .of material eliminated. The 3 Rolling Stones are probably the worst offender for material. Here's a good .dancing act wasted In an attempt to be funny) and to inject raw stufC In the patter. Boys partly redeiem themselves by their slow motion prize fight which is well d'ohei Eddie Stanley, m. c, pulled some ancient gags, as w611 as a few that could be eliminated, particularly his version of the traveling salesman and the farmer's wife. Another act intended sLb comedy Is Don and Bon- nie in an exhibition of ballroom dancing, with Don wearing a brciak; away suit that leaves him In shorts at the finale. It was mildly re- ceived." ' ; . Don Smith, Stanley and Shirley Ross have a blackout that is away off-color. Only clean act on the bill, aside from the line- girls, la little Florence Hln Low, a dainty Chinese miss of nine or 10, who does some exceptionally good pontortlonlng and- cartwheels. Openiiig la a novelty, with all par- ticipating being Introducied on a platform, seemingly suspended lii the haiid of a huge cutout of a girl on the bade drape. Girls do a dance routine gat-bed in black trunks, white silk capes and black berets. They, malce another appearance as a. background for Shirley Ross, war- bling, and with Jeanette Dickens and Gay Fobs, from the ranks hot- stepping, and last is their work In the finale, a riot of color, with the girls garbed in brilliant hues. Ahearns do their customary rope spinning, interspersed by dancing and gagging. Stage . unit, labeled 'Fun Fest,' ran 47 mlns. at the first show this afternoon, and played to less than hiilf a house downstairs. . Overture, batoned by Gedrge Stoll, la a novelty titled 'A Day at the Fair:' Various carnival noises and effects are introduced over the loud speakers and the impressions are well done. Stage crew must have befen out to lunch following the news, as a blank screen was on view for fully two-minutes, evidently due to a break, with no attempt to cover up the mishap. 'Trouble In Paradise' (Par), and 'Betty .Boop' cartoon complete screen fare. RKO STATE-LAKE CHICAOO GUS EDWARDS REVUE -^0>J THE SCREEN—; "HELL'S HIGHWAY" DOOKLCT ON HOV/ 1 • TO MAKE UP • I S TBI N O MAKE UPU ORIENTAL, CHICAGO Chicago, Nov. 4. By all odds the best week in months seems In prospect' for the Oriental with Fanchon & Marco's 'Follow Thru' tied to a holdover week for Metro's 'Red Dust,' which played the Chicago last -week. Joe Penner and Olive Olsen, who head- line the tabloid; were Joined by a third name for the Chicago en- gagement. It is Blarl Mastro, ex- puglllst, who has a small part In the piece. His billing is as a home town boy plus the fact that he Is Jimmy Petrlllp's nephew. Petrlllo Is the mogul of the musicians' union here; 'Follow Thru' took 78 minutes to tell Its story. That means plenty of speed in 'plot,' but most of the laughs Were on personality more than Situation, with the exception of the locker room scene. Joe Pen- ner's lunacies and Olive Olsen's peppy aoubretting provided the standouts. Tab got over exception- ally well throughout. Jerry Ross former Chicago m.c. of the Strat- ford theatre, was handicapped in the lead by a bad cold, but followed thru okay. Everything else was clipped be- cause of the running tlmie. Friday the schedule was cockeyed all day. Mike Marco, passing through, was In the afternoon audience. Ed Lowry, who comes in next week, was amusingly described in the trailer as a 'modest but virile lad.' This was evidently deemed an understatement because B&K ordered the trailer rewritten. Land "^^h^i^^^^^^^ W ■^^^^^I^^Ri>y^^l^^y l^y y yy^yyyyyyi^ 11^ INSTITUTION ^ I N T B R N A T I O N A t4 Shoes for the St^g^ and Street SHO^FOLK'S SHO£SBOP~1652 BROADWiLTyy MAINSTREET, K. C. Kansas city, Nov. 2. Fanchon & Marco's 'On the Rivi- era'; Estelle Taylor, added feature, and the screen dramatic, 'BlU of Divorcement,' together with the regulation news and shorts, gave the customers, lots of show. The F.&M. revue Is the most spectacular of their units to reach here, with its water ballet and div- ing girls. The disappearing chorus in the tank was a new one here and nicely presented. Show opens with 12 'Sunkist Beauties' as porters in the railroad station In Paris. They close their dance with a train effect cleverly done; . Red Donahue and his mule, take a lot of time with the fa- miliar trick mule stuff, but get a lot of laughs. Chorus is on again with Agnes Knox, toe dancer, for a pretty, and elaborately costumed number. Ed. George is on with a btinch of wise cracks and. some burlesque Juggling and wanders off as the drapes part for Estelle Taylor's ap- pearance. Miss' Taylor is assisted by two pianists, and starts her song cycle with 'Night Too Long.' The boys gave a double piano number while Miss 'Taylor changed from black ttf white. Hei* next song, with dramatic interpolation was 'I Call It Love.' She enjoyed a nice re- ception and responded by apologiz- ing for the roughness of. the act, stating that .It was the first week and that she and her pianists were working to get it smooth. George was on again while the setting for. the water stuff was being made and did some neat ball bouncing. ' Full stage for -the water ballet, iand the disappearing chorus. Girls first In full skirts, as they paraded down the steps Into the pool. .They reappeared in'. bathing suits, and the fancy diving started. Each time the girls emerged from the tank In scantier ° garb until they were down to miniature trunks and brassieres. The finale, a living fountain and beautifully lighted, is spectacular. Hughes, CHRISTOPHER BEAN (Continued 'from page 4(5) seemed arid but the la^t act rather roused the first- nighters and ac- corded the performance 16, curtains. Direction doubtless counted in the audience reaction. One not so nice bit was bringing in canvas that had done hen house service. It looked it Ernest Lawford as the art critic, Beulah -Bondl as the doctor's wife; Clarence Derwent as an artMlealer and George Coulouris as a forger of tirt works, furnished strong sup- port. Should make a run of It. CAMILLE Revived at the idoroaco Nov. 1 by Pelos Chappell with Lillian Oleh; from orlKlnal of Alexander Dumas, . ' Marguerite Gautler....-. Lillian Glsh Pruaenc© Duvernoy Cora Wltherapoon niympe. .................,., .Helen' Freeman rjanlne....... Mary Morris Nlchette.y .Leona Boytel Analfl . ; ,Bdna JaiheB Armand Duval.... Baymond Hackett M. Georges Duval. ..Moffat Johnston Baron de Varvlllfe J.Frederick Worloek Raetpn Rleuz Lewis Martin Comte de Qlray lan Van-Wolfe guatave., Ian Van-Wolfe Saint Gaudens. Robert Le Sueur The Doctor Moffat Johnston Arthur. .Paul Stepbenson One of the brilliant premieres of the season was this revival of Du- mas'-famous love story, visiting film folk dolling up to se© the glamorous Lillian Glsh as the languishing Parisian beauty. Marguerite Gautler, who died at 24 with a- heart welling with love. . The presentation is exactly the same as that which Delos Chappel displayed at Central City, Colo., last summer. In the manner of 1878 the ghost village which was typical of 'The glory that was gold' was, too, revived with Its miners' saloons, efambling houses and shooting gal- leries. It was played in the . old opera house, dedicated as a perma- nent memorial to the Colorado pio- neers and a brochure containing short biographies of the noted peo- ple of the city was issued by Central City Opera House Association of the University of Denver. It was a state-wide celebration and those who attended the performance wore the dress of the early period. 'Camille' was played in Central City for one week and It was ac- counted a financial success, despite the unusual expenditure Involved; It was booked on Broadway for two weeks, with the possibility of extending the engagement. That is doubtful and the show will probably be withdrawn Saturday. Chappell, unknown to Broadway, gathered the same cast that played last summer and recently opened it out of town. Although Miss Gish was acclaimed, business was not good. However, the producer has not cut salaries. Because it is more costly to operate than the aver- age drama, Ghappell's associates hd-ve advised him not to continue the tour. 'Camille' can hardly take to the road again unless the spion- sor Is prepared to chance a bank roll. The story of 'Camille' has been used countless times with alight changes In later plays and pictures. Tet Marguerite, the lady of the camelias, remains one of the most romantic figures In literature and of course .the stage. 'Camille' was a courtesan, but a young woman who gave herself so completely to her youthful lover, Armand Duval, that their affair was pure romance. Miss Glsh Joins a long line of great actresses to por- tray the Dumas beauty. Her per- .forma,nce is so delicate and grace- ful that It is Indelible and as a st^ge character she Is most aptly described as ethereal. Her fine- ness was the quality and the fac- tor that two years ago kept 'Uncle Vanya' on the boards longer than expected. Lillian Gish rose to fame In the picture classic 'The Birth of a Ela- tion, but she was developed on the speaking stage^ first appearing as a child actress. For ia, time she was under the direction of the late Diavld Belasco, appearing In his 'The Good Little Devil. Chappell contends that his show is not aictually a revival, because its current exposition Is a modern translation by himself, Mrs. Chap- pell and Robert Edmond Jones, who designed the settings and Is asso- ciated In the production. There Is much of interest in the presentation, which In other times mig:ht have ^at- tracted greater patronage. Ibeff, INCUBATOR Drama, in .three acts presented at the Avon, Nov. 1, by Arthur Bdlson and George Burton; written by; John Lyman and Ro- man Bohnen; staged by Burton. Mrs. Morton. ,,'.,Claire Devlne Coon,..;.i ;......James H. Dunmorc Horet...Alfred A. Webster Whitaker. ,. .v;;. .Ohaa.- H. Cllne Fred Martin .......Charles Eaton Jlmmle ;. ....Frank Collins Burman.. Heiiry Howard Greek..:....,',Alfred A, Browne Sap'. Geo, Offermnn, Jr. Flve-Eyea .Larry Elllnger Jew.... ....Muni Diamond Crip, Sam Byrd Miles Warren McCollum Hick. . .. .Nell Malloy Fat.....', .Sonny Taubln Bert : ..Richarii De Aneells Olsen* .,,Vincent York Jamison Leslie King Mrs, Martin,. Fred's Mother, •■ Eeda Von Buelow Mrs, Dalton, Fred's Aunt, . Marie D; Shotwell A New Boy.. Edward Qllcher A sincere enough try, but destined to the fate of plays that are not diversion. , Subject of Juvenile delinquency has no place upon the stage except perhaps for the arty groups. It was tried last season in 'Lost Boy,' very briefly. 'Incubator' adds little to the- subject unless it be the sug- gestion of perversion. If the state's system of training backward and wayward boys is Wrong, the play offers, no solution, merely indicat- ing that the inmates will develop Into undesirable citizens, - A flock of youthful actors at least get a work-out and the sons of sev- eral professionals are In the cast There are half a dozen elders, one the good looking matron—rather a strange ch&racter In an institution where boys are committed by the courts. One boy Is supposed to be mor- ally tainted and although he is plenty tough he invites friendship with a new arrlvaL Latter is warned but what It is all about he never learns. Doubtless the orig- inal Idea was written down, al- though It was emphasized more at the try-out than at the premiere. In any event that part of the theme was repulsive. 'Incubator' is not a story but a Supposed expose of what goes on in training schools. Just a drab iaffalr which does not belong on the stage. /bee. (Closed Saturday [5], Review printed for the record). ^Tony^ Retires (Continued from page 1) begins In Mix's next picture at Uni- versal, 'Oh Promise Me.' Known to every kid that goes to pictures, 'Tony' Is given credit by Mix as half responsible for the cow- boy star earning $7,500,000 in pic- tures since he made his bow in a Sellg two-reeler in 1912. Unlike most western stars. Mix has used 'Tony' throughout and has not had a half dozen, or so horses named the same and alternating in scenes. Picking up the ability to under- stand 600 words during his picture career, 'Tony' has traveled in many parts of the world with his owner. was dined In the Savoy hotel, Lon- don, iat a dinner given to him by an English horse owners' associa- tion;. slept in the Prince of Wales' stables and In Paris traveled to the top of the Eiffel Tower, ridden by Tom. No ASCAP Concessions (Continued from page 49) casters' rejoinder to this is thai they do not recall Mills Including the latter plan In the choice of agreements offered at the time, and that If he had they would have cer- talnly given It preference. Sudden clamping down by the society's dlr«ctor8 stemmed the growing murmur of Inquiry among the membership Just as they -were beginning to ask questions as to ' why this and that concession was being made, and whither the vi-hole tax sltua;tion was drifting.. The aggregate Income of broad, casting this year may come to $70,- 000,000, but at the niost the society will collect on 20% of this amount. Since the music tax in no way af« fects the Income of the networks, the society will only be able to make levy upon that portion de- rived from the sale of local station time and the fees paid for com-- mercial programs to associated stations by the networks. Oh NBC the fee paid a station for taking a ^ comnierclal program is $50 for the full hour and $25 for the half hour.' Station KXZQ may be sold by the- network for $750, but all the outlet ' gets out of this Is a fiat $50. And' it Is on this $60 that the socley coi- lecs Us 3%. The portion of this fee collected by the network is en- tirely eliminated from ASCAP's consideration. On the basis of the $66 cut, the share that NBC passes out to the Stations from the aggregate sale of the basic bliie network amount to 16% of the full amount paid the. chain. And that's a pretty good in- dicator of what part of the network will find itself coming under the tax provisions of the Society. In a circular sent out by the Na- tlonal Association of Broadcasters last Saturday (6), attention of the members was called to the stand, regarding revisions of the contract, taken by the ASCAP board of di- rectors. As a riesult, thie new con- tract worked put by Mills and Schuette -wlli not be presented to the NAB convention, states the let- ter, and it goes on to anticipate that the society will Insist upon a speedy signaturing of the contracts that haven't as yet been turned In. by a large percentage of the coun-' try's stations. ' 'Under the circumstances, states- the circular, 'it may be necessary for the stations to sign the proposed; contract in order to protect them«. selves against infringement pro* ceedings. .' , 'The chief difficulty In the present' situation,' the letter further de- clares, 'is the fact that the directors of the ASCAP have evidenced no desire for friendly cooperation with the NAB. They insisted on a de- . mand for as large a revenue as could be forced from the broad- casters, -whether the broadcaster^ went'Into bankruptcy or not. This, attitude of ASCAP will make copy-, right discussions at the St. LoulS convention more Important than anything else.' Caaa Loma orchestra opens at the Lowry hotel, St. Paul, Satur- day (12) for four weeks. LETTERS When Sending (or Mail to VARIETY Address Hall Olerk. POSTCABDS. ADTERTISINfl or CIRCULAR LETTERS WILL NOT RE ADVERTISED i/ETTERS ADVERTISED IN ONE ISStlE ONIY Charnoft Ester Conway Daniel' Duval Mrs M'g't Goldberg Mr I Gordon Francis Hackwell Arthur I Maynard HE I Rapp Charles I. Ray Jack aiOROTHEA ANTEL Z29 W. 72d St., New York Clt}- Christmas Cards My New ARsortment of 21 Beautlfol Cards and Folders Is the Best Value Obtainable In OreetInK Cards - Attnuitlvely Iloxed ONE DOLLAR, POSTPAID Franke Cake, stage name, Ellis Please communicate with B. Bchanmburt;, 89 Maiden Lane, N.Y.O* Telephone John 4-2120 in confidence. f^A. ^^'"'S. ,9'**'!, *" * Way with an Attractive Stage Setting Skillfully Executed with, diameter and Individuality Lds Angeles Scenic Studios, Inc. I^S ANGEI^ES, CALIFORNIA SCENERY Modern Creations For the Stage