Variety (Jan 1936)

y^t^esday, January 15, 1936 V4RIEYV liOTISE BE^^IEWS VAniETY EMBASSY, N. Y. (Contlhued from page 21)eral a<)mlnistratlon and opposition leaders dlsbussing probable effect of A.A.A. derision on farm populace. Highlight of this r6el was Father Coughlln's comment that, the 'brainless trustors' had overlooked something In framing their legislation for the farmers. Following through with the Washington locale, Fathe tried to summarize veterans' bonus situation. Same company handled senate munition's probe by going into committee room, with silent cloaeiip of J. F< Morgan. Also touched on probable fate of T.V.A. at hands of supreme court. Main points of President Roosevelt's speech at the Jadkfion Day dinner in the national capital city caught in vivid manner by Fathe. Col. Franfl Knox' sweeping, a^ttack on 'Rooseyelt's 'state of nation speech clImaTted by recital of a plan in answer to presldent'si attack on ahtl-now dealers. Oiven real kick when Colonel Knox concluded with statement that whole plan outlined was program on Which Roosevelt was elected,' but since forgotten. This climax .drew biggest hand at show caught. Covered by Universal. Embassay spots arrival of Lindberghs in England as next, most vl-. tal news of week. Paramount obtained some excellent closeups of the noted aviator, carrying his baby son, followed by his wife, as they carefully came down the gangplank. Views show big crowds that greeted their landing in British Isles. News from Italo-Ethioplan front holds plenty rf footage, but bulk of newsreel Bhot§ were usual hum-, drum aftalrs. Paramount shows Red Cross workerscaring for wounded and pressing newsreel AF sound truck into service. .Bombing scenes lacked authenticity. Fox Movietone offered one of high marks of this war footage, depicting Italian officers giving away bright new silver to Ethiopians agreeing to sign up tQ aid II Duce. Troop movements on Ethiop side and arrival of new contingents from Italy well handled by Universal. First move of Japan Into northern China given neat treatment by Paramount, though nothing startling. Same company added an amusing touch with ship reporter's Interview of Doug Fairbanks turning into quiz of the writers. Best spot news contributions oth erwlse furnished by Universal, with its vivid haodllng of ice Jam at Trenton, N. J., and Paramount'* photographic Job of rUins. of fire " gutted inn at Westfleld, Mass. Superb coverage of skiing at St. Moritz by Fox led' procession of sporting news. Otherwise It was slim, with departure of Olympic bobsled and hockey teanis predominating (Fox), with. Ed Thorgensen -doing spiel. Same reel showed departure of prize race horse, Omaha, for Europe. Legion auto race at L. A, came from Universal. Good covering done by Par on new aqueduct which will carry water supply from Colorado river to Los Angeles and some 12 other municipalities. Parade of Almee Semple McPherson .followers In Los Angeles was Universal clip. Ship building activity, with S. S. Queeii 'Mary nearlng completion, in England described for Fox Movietone by Sir Malcolm Campbell. Same newsreel added appealing note' with Its handling of a, Shirley Temple contest In Paris. Paramount pictured French hellocopter cracking up on test flight. Metro showed llrst snowfall in Yosemite mountains and skiing. Fashion developments handled, by Universal, showing sun bathers at Miami and airplane and bathing suit styles on flight from L. A. to Palm Springs by Fox. 'Beautiful Banff and Lake Louise,* Fltzpatrlck Travel -talk in color (Metro), was short feature on bill. Wear. KEITH'S, BOSTON Boston, Jan. 9. This week's Keith show is a blend of the Jackie Coogan-Betty Grable iinlt, with some extra talent for support, and it all comes out bonded stock. Coogan and Miss Grable get top billing' and ace spots in the. routining, but they have plenty opposition for honors in Joe Morrison, Arnilda aiid the "Three Nonchalants. Coogan m.c.'s most of the show, grins a lot, plays aroimd in a scene with the California' Collegians, and surprises with some hoofing in dub with Miss Grable. She, in turn, proves. she can sing and dance adequately and outshine most blondes in vaude on looks. Although Coogan skillfully avoided the sterotyped Hollywood speech, Joe Morrison, after socking with a rep of pop tunes, slipped a cog when he curtained ian invitation for 'all yoii people to please look me up if you ever come to the Coast.' This stirred up an 'Oh, yeah I' Ih the house. On his singing Morrison stands out like a million. Three Nonchalants. rough-houso, yet fclean-cut, tumbling, risleyperc.'h tpam. are new to this section. Smart-looking in light gray street dotlies, "tliese lads lay ofC the vul.=;tir;ty and conc!entrate on comedy •'nrt vnvirt acrobatic work. Routine MMiulfc about everything possible ''■H'iii efiuipnient, but the gasper Is the final triple stand perch, ending in a fall forward with the top man shooting the width of the stage; A big asset to this show. Armlda is introduced by a Spanish line numbei' by the 24 'Hollywood Dan<:lng ' Debutantes' (held over from last wjeek), sings a couple of numbers and impersonates Lupe Velez and Dolores Del Rio. Difficult to distinguish between the two impressions which might have been too subtle for other than Hollywood consutnptlon. Mexican miss can still scorch a song, and in this department she wows; California Collegians, In town a few months ago, and even with a. condensed routine they're whammo .'as a novelty orchestra. Collegians also supply some musical backup for hoofing and a scene to demonistrate' a play-back. Much praise Is due the scene representing the fllthlng of a picture. Lights, camera and iBOund boom all look authentic, lending the right aitmosphere to an almost true-to-ilfe scene taking. Warren Wilson, director, tal^es Josephine Dlx, Jackie and Betty,.^;and Walter McGrail through paces on a sound stage, after Wilson explains the terms he is about to use In ' the. sequence. Scene Is built around McGrail, . who .clutters and bungles the shooting with his lethargy. Line girls have three rather conventional but well-rehearsed numbers, all enhanced by colorful, fresh costuming. Show; running a bit long (86 mins.), when caught, can easily be trimmed without pulling its punch. Screen, 'Red Salute' (Col). Fox. SHEA'S, TORONTO " Toronto, "Jan. 11, With Jerry Shea reviving his policy of lengthy stag'e shows and insisting that vaudeville turns don't earn their pay envelopes in this' house by walking on and off and don't even Justify their talents, this bill runs 72 mms. and Is still to be stepped up on time-expenditure. Harry Anger is back as production chief and the line-girls, under Marjorie Hartoin's direction, have done the prodigal act. Fat Rooney and Pat Rooney 8d are . the headllners, with Reynolds and White crowding them on audience reception. Most of the bill Is vaudeville In the traditional style and a fine blend of entertainment that ' had no trouble getting oyer when caught. Traveller parts on a cocktail Ipunge in full-stage with the Smart ^<'ft\1T°""''*i two men and two girls in talis and black evening gowns, flnlshing a harmony warble as the line girls in white silver spangled gowns follow with a hot routine and Maureen Reo. unbillc.;2 statuesque blonde in white, out for hi -kicks in waltz tempo and scoring on grace and striking appearance. S. S. Foursome dose the scene with a harmony medley, this including 'Music Goes Round' and a scat finish. Red Donahue and his trick mule trail in 'one.' It's standard and still sure of good returns. Line is back before full-stage . yellow drapes In black costumes and fantastic head dresses for modernistic rhythmics and shadow effects, strong on precision and dramatic groupings that get a nice hand.at the finish. Then Barbara Belmore on with two gigantic fans and in long white costume for manipulations and into an acrobatic finish. Roy, Lee and Dunn next for a soft shoe tap, a face slapping break-up, two of the lads doing a -drunk dance In concerto, and clinching with the trio doing a dummy-dance as finish. Girls back in long yellow gowns for a soft shoe, Maureen Rio trailing for a tap and backflips. Then Reynolds and White in comedy uniforms for varied instrument playing and sure-^re in an act they've been doing for years. Trick finish in which costume-transformation reveals half of the act ias a woman still gets over with the unlnltlates and gets a socko reception. All a nice build-up to the Rooney entrance, with pop still showing the younersters what soft dancing really should be, this accentuated by Rooney 3d duplicating his father's steps but coming down much more heavily on the boards. The 'Rosle O'Grady' routine Ertopped the show when caufrht: ditto the back-tpback effect. Father and son weht over big and had to beg off. Full stage finish has the girls on In Bowery togs for a diluted Rooney routine and everyone on for curtain. Nice biz at opening. Feature, 'Charlie Chan's Secret' (20th-'P'ox). HcStat/. OLYMPIA, PARIS „ Paris, Jan. 2. Francis « A. Mangan's holiday stage show here — his last for this Paris venture — runs nearly half an hour and drags. It's In two parts, fir.st a ballet led by Kara D lan >. plus the line, and i^ocond a Christmas toy shop tableau. Fred Woodward, with Ma daughter. Difll Dax, and Bobby Bendaf doe.s his Tiule act, plus aero dancinpr by Bobbv and FreneJi patter by Dldi. " Act is billed > as 'L'Eolope' ('Pegles') ii.nd mule has a wooden leg.'^' ■ Doris Kiles contributes with a .S"panis<li doll dance. Okay for holiday trade. Stern. National, LouUville Louisville, Jan. 10. In answer to the query, "When will vaude come back,' the National has assembled a layout of. acts that sell on their merit, and the only reply to that question, speaking for Louisville audiences, is 'It is back.' Of course^ the pit orchestra Is spotted upstage in a nice set (tltey soimd better up there than In the pit),. and the acts are Introed by an m.c. Then there's a line of six girls who are on for about four routines^ as well as two girls who step out from the! line to do a dance. Bill, nicely put togeither, opens with a nifty tap routine by .the Beatrice Gardner Girls, six of them, and while It's pretty hard to dress the stage with that small number, they are okay and doing their best. Dion 'Oalvdn, Spanish guitarist^ Introes himiself as m.c. and said he's glad to be back lii LoulsyiUe. This brought titters, , as local rags carried plenty about year ago or so. when Galvan appeared at another theatre. It seems that Oalvan serenaded a woman patron with A love song. The lady took offense and filed suit against Galvan and the theatre, alleging she had suffered 'extreme embarrassment' and 'humiliation, and sued for quite a pum. Galvan made no menttou of the incident, here. Meyers and St. John, man and woman, are on for some acro-dancing, with some comedy worked in. Femme clicks with her dancing, and her partner ihdulges In some loose Jointed leg-swinging, very well done. Next is Motiroe Brothers, trampoline performers, highly praised by the emcee., who told the audience that the boys open In England in three weeks. Lads then on in -tramp outfits, and deliver several good comedy bits new; to the patrons here. They have audience turning loose plenty of laughis, and go lightly .on the mat bduncing, although demonstrating that they know their stuff. Got a big hand. Another act bullish on the laugh side is Eddie Hanley and Company. Hanley turns In a rib tlcldlng click, .with his mugging, sharpshpotlng bit with his stooge piLrtner, and a comedy adagio dance with femme partner. It's all extremely well handled, and Hanley knows how to sell It, although music and light cues were clumsily worked at sho-w caught. Finale has the erlrls on tor a novelty dance, wearing large, grotesque mardl gras heads^ Had difficulty keeping in line,. tor the reason that the girls couldn't see very well through the masks, and were continually bumping . into each other. But this handicap really helped rather than detracted, for the bumps only made the figures more funny. . Present bill In for four days only, balance of week to be double feature film policy. Biz good at first show Friday. Picture, 'Cappy Ricks Returns' (Rep). Wiede. Bahbaii Appeals from Chi Dearborn Decision Chicago, Jan. 14. Local courts Isist .week decided that the Marshall Field estate has full claim to . the Dearborn theatre and could oust BArryBalaban from the property despite the Balaban claim that he has nine more years to go on his lease on the northside house. Court, however, permitted Balaban to enter an appeal, oh posting of 120,000 bond,' which was complied with. Field estate deislres the property to be turned over to the Jones, Lihick & Schaefer firm for operation. I Ml? ALVIN, PITTS. Pittsburgh, Jan. 10. Thid Harrlfi-owned de luxer Is still casting about for a permanent policy and a paying one. So far this season house has dabbled among single features, double features and combo stage-screen attractions, some on full Week, others on four days. The current bill goes them one better, or perhaps worse — it's in for three days. Strategy of management in this respect continues to be quite puzzling. For one thing, it's the best stage layout Alvin has dug^up in a blue moon. But there's not "a name among the five acts that can be counted as ready cash at the local box oflnce. It's a cinch the mob will go out and rave about the bill, but by the time the raves get around and the crowds start coming, they'll be too iQite. 'On Broadway a line-up including EJddle Garr, Everett Marshall, Five Cabin Kids, Thelma Leeds and Six Danwills would mean something, But in the sticks they're all doubtful b.o. at the getaway. Opening show seemed to bear this out. Downstairs was Just a little better than half full with the balcony practically -barren. , Nothing wrong on the entertainment end, with everything running off smoothly despite short rehearsal time and each act a click. Garr serves as m.c., being introduced via mike by Bernle Armstrong following latter's organlog, and does a heat job of it, llkewlEfe registering a solid click with his impersonations. Imitators these days are a nickel a dozen, due to Major Bowes and the other network Cotumbuses, but Garr's enough of an expert to eliminate the curse of comparison. Opening has Harris, Claire and Shannon, two girls and a man, in a ballroom routine that has class and charm. They're followed by the Cabin Kids, five colored youngsters, the littlest a. natural deadpan clown, who sock cleanly with their lowdown, harmonizing. House may have thought It was givlng'tpts a break by injecting in bill one of their Educational shorts, but Just the op'ponlte. seems true. Two-reeler went on hffore show and took the edge off themf although fortunately not Mpk. Admish Wrangle ' '■ . /. Minneapolis, Jan. 14. There's consternation among mdie neighborhood exhibitors here as result of Publix reducing the night admission price at the Loring,^ one of its bigger and more elaborate uptown houses, and ' several other neighborhood theatres from 26 to 16c. Northwest Allied States sent Stan Kane, its executive secretary, to confer with Johii J. Friedl, Publix circuit general manager, regarding the situation. The latter stated that conditions in the particulair spots Involved necessitated the drop. The frequent stage shp-ws downtown is hurting the neighborhood houses nearest the loojp. There is no intention at this time to alter the downtown price schedules which were upped at the start of the current season, in part due to the insistence of Independent neighborhood exhibitors, independents feel' that the trend of scales should be toward higher levels and they fought successfully, for an increased, admission for stage shows in con-' JunctlQn with pictures at the Publix and Singer houses. Publix and the Singer Orpheum also set the time for changing from matinee to night prices at 6 p.m., instead" of 6:30 p.m., as formerly, and Fjriedl set a . 66c. top. Instead of the' usual 40c. for straight pictures Ht his 4,200-8eat Minnesota theatre and he has scaled several outstanding pictures at other houises at 66c. , The Orpheum is doing the same thing this week with 'Magnificent Obsession.' SPARKS COMBATS FAIRS AS B.O. OPeOSISB A veteran agitator against opptM sition amusement or sports ven* 0' tures, which set up against 'theatrs# in an allegedly unfiUr manner, EL Jf Spark's is now cami>aignfng agaihat efforts of carnival interests to pro^ mote local organizatioha for f6rma«i, tlon of fairs with -the view to.escap«, ing the payment of license tazeSK An effort in* this direction -by car«t. nival men at Bradenton, Fla., has been licked, with Sparks Interests invoking the aid of local news* papers in fighting the tax-escaping maneuvers. Believing that the carnival plan -to set up local fairs In avoiding income taxes Is something that may not only affect the rest of Florida, in which Sparks is the largest theatre operator, but other states as well, he has sent out a. mimeographed brochure warning of the situation to all of his own managers and other southern circuit, oper-; atoris. Sparks contends that 'w^~ never kno;(v when'lt will be necessary in any of the towns to combat a similar situation.' enough to make too much of a difference. ^ Thelma Leeds, last-minute substitution for Ella Logan, is another cinch. Starts off slOwly but works herself into a bonaflde hit Has a corking pair of pipes, a swell delivery and a comeliness that rate her a dimtinctive addition to the younger torch artists. To break up the vocal stuff a bit, Harris, Claire and Shannon come back on for thetlr second number, another classy piece of ballroomology, and that brings on Marshall next-to-closlng. Singer, recently back from Hollywood, is still 100% on voice, and if he ever gets away ~ from chewing up the scenery, should be a cinch in any medium. , Six Da:nwlll6 bring down a corking curtain . with their acrobatic stuff. One of the most talented and exciting acts of Its kind around. Jerry Mayhall's l>and on stage, but the eight-piece outfit looks lost stretched out across the platform and might do better in pit. Picture, 'Great Impersonation'. (U). Cohen. PARAMOUNT, L. A. Los Angeles, Jan. 10. Bill Robinson took all his tappslcory gleaned from the Harlem i'hythm bayous away from the picture studios for a week to aid Ai Lyons and his Cocoanut Grove orchestra to put on a real hot show. Capable presenta.tIon, hour in length, but it's mostly band, with Robinson filling in nice, spot with patter, daiice and song. Audience goes for Rohlnsoh in big -way, and lipuse was three-fourths capacity at second show. It's Lyon's -second week at the spot. Featured artists in the bahd -lnclude Jlidy Starr, Nick Cochrane, Bob Rogers and Nell Cas.tagnoli. Formet is attractive blonde, toysized singer, who puts over 'Music Goes 'Round and 'Round' with a bang. She and Cochrane do a tuneful duet of 'Moon Over Miami.' Cochrane reaps much applause -with his comical 'Pretty Woman.' Fanchonettes, precision chorus, do three numbers.'' . After Robinson does his 'African Hula' conception of 'Continental.' girls return wltli a repeat ver.«<ioii of 'Truckin" wliicli they did a coupla weeks ago. But tlii.^ time Rdblnsion l.s in front and it K<^Oi' over with a wham. 'If You Could Only Cool' (C',]\. soi-een. Heme. F. PrCan. Winhlpeg, Jan. :l*i: Famous Players CaiiadlaA.f;jBbtiffllng managerial staff, prlnejipjilly western-division.' John Boa^/in charge of all territory ;i»6twecNrik' t1i» Great Lakes and the Fatiiflcvicoftst, moved, to general manajgrer tsit 13al-^ gary dlvislohi Succesdfi^.'. iji. Thomas. Bay Tubman, up to now in Charge of the jCapitOl, Otfa-wiu and several ^her F-P housSs In thkt territory, takes oyer Winnipeg trict, vacated < by Hajsza; BardU, Bishop has..6een moved to. Capjitol, Montreal. H; Dahh,' present nianager of the Montreal Cap, mjadft genctral supervisor of Ottawa, tenri tory, YaUdevllle, after several weeks* try at the Capitol, on the math ift/nia. of t0wn> .will .be. mo-ved baick again to the winniiieg, Orpbeutb, m>t ])>ayinjg as well at the larger hquse. Larry Grabnrn, fbtmer manager of the Capitol anjH: present major dop&d of the Orpheum/ 'wiU. remain nt-^lMt post to handle .the new vauii ' double-blli poUq^ 6f that b6.tiill«. Jack Furyes, import^ii troti &txA* bury, Ontario, to handle . the Orpheum and -later ttiovdii^ to the C^j^itbl ; with the change of Vaudsvlfte, nrlDi remain at the lai^r hous^ .toi^tUdfi the double-blir features. Slated . for Jan. 13 is. conf erenijse' of Wesem F-P, managers,, ide^ heing to meet the newly .apjpoliv^^ c^tisf aind alsp to muU. oyer 'jpresent ttolicles. Scheduled .to be' in town, at that time Is N. L. Nathenson, Famous' Canadian chief from the east Reade's 2^0-Seaier in New Brunswick ; $400^ "Vt^alter Reads is building ift hew larefe-capadty house In New Brunswick, N. J., which will be added to the Readd Treiiton-New Brunswick group, operated by RKO. This string now numbers stx in Trenton and two in New Brunswick. Around $400,000 will be spent In the xsonstructlon of Reade's third house for New Brunswick which will be modern, In. construction with a full glass front, a la the restaurant idea, and to sea,t 2,360. Site Is on Albany street, downtown. Plans to open Aug. 16. This theatre will supplant the State as. first run. Reade's other house In N. B. operated by RKO Is the RIvolI. Hopton Directs Oat Opus witii Maymitd . Hollywood, Jan. 14. As result of his direction on 'Black Gold,' Russell Hopton has received a term contract from. Maurice COnri, Hopton will do the next Ken Maynard production, '.Valley .. of Terror,' Elated for cameras at Talisman studio Jan. 19. George Sayre Is scripting jjames Oliver Curwood storj'/. F'WC Heads in Frisco Hollywood, Jan. 14. Charles P, Sltouras, Bud LolUer, OoorKe Q'-opper and John Bertero of PoxWest Coast spent the week in San Fraiifi.sco discjssing exhib |)ro!)ifnis, * l.-o iii.si.)'-clod remodeling of thetro (il S.-ilinft.**.