Variety (September 1923)

Thursday, September 13, 1928 PICTURES 35 ■1 I CYCLE of th« ORIENT Orch«.tr., Voc.1, B.llel 24 Mins.; (Thre« Sett) New Tork, Bept 1». S I* Rothafel presented a com- bination of his overture and three numbers that were a combination ol vocal selections and a ballet at the Capitol this week, which ran 24 mlnutcB. This lengthy 4|Ver""e- ment seemingly w*« uUllzed to toake possible the tMmlnaUon of a ^edy picture at th» final and of the program. It was a decidedly Interesting touch to the program which T«ry fittingly carried' a slight religious tinge at the finish In keeping with the beginning of the Jewish holiday ''*The opening selection was the l^ast Movement of "Scheherezade" Diayed by the orchestra and lasting 10 minutes. Inalesd of the usual eurtains a shoshl was utUIied to mask the stage, opening at the con- clusion of the orchestral selection ,nd disclosing a dellghtfuUy lighted ■et for the rendition of the Bell Bong from "I^akme" by Mile. Rezla. coloratura soprano. This number was heartily applauded. A revival was presented as the ballet. It was the eetUng that had been previously used tor "The Soog of India" with the pantomime of the ballet members as sirens of the sea. The water effect against a Maxfleld Parrish blue sky with a huge yellow • moon made it very colorful. - The final number was sung by Mr. Kobyn, the tenor. It was "Kol Nldre," the Jewish selection, with the singer In a sort of a pulpit In front of a star cloth with a light effect suggesting rays coming through a temple window. Fred. -LOVE'S AWAKENING" (8) Dancing Oddity 23 Mins.; Full Stage (Special) McVickers, Chicago Chicago. Aug. 29., "iMve'a Awakening" proper runs to minutes, with three minute.^ pre- ceding occupied by a speaker who represents himself to be "The Spirit of Motion Pictures." As the presentation feature Is the most elaborate BPfn at McVickers and a "greater movie" season of four weeks is Inaugurated with this show, the two are coupled In the Impression received by those out front If not In the conception of those who have staged the show. •7iOve'8 Awakening" l» a depar- ture from the ufiual in presentations Inasmuch aa there Is talk. Two men appear at one side of the stage and speculate aa to what will awaken a sleeping beauty In her bed at the other side of the stage. Ib a panel In the middle these men are permitted to bring their Ideas to practical demonstration. One suggests miwlc. and a girl singer, accompanied by a harpist, hold forth. Thcro Is no Interest on the part of the sleeping girl. Th%n dancing Is tried and a quintette of pretty girls entertain with the terplschorean art. Jewels are sug- gested and a dancing girl displays rare prizes. Then the other man sug- bests "^Ice" and "Mephlstopholes" appears in what is an excerpt from • the opera of that name, excepting that here It Is offered seriously In- stead of In the spirit of burlesque •f the opera. ATter this falls "True Love" Is triad and wins. Boris Petrofr portrays "True Love" and six dancing girls appear with him. The sleeping beauty, Marjorle Llnken, heeds his kiss and there Is a danc- ing flnl.sh. with singer and harpist assisting. The dialogue Is credited to Charles Raymond. It Is well writ- ten and splendidly delivered. The man who made the openlg talk In the gui.>!e of "The Spirit of Motion Pictures" Is not good as a monol- oglst The stage cettlng Is beau- tiful and the production In Its en- tirety Is worthy of classification With the best seen In motion picture houses. PRESENTATIONS (Extra attraetiotu in pictur* thtatrea, u>A«n not picture; will be carried and described in this depart' ment for the general information of the trade.) zif 8CHUBERTIANA Dance Interpretation 7 Mint.; Full Stage Rivoli, Nsw York. New Tork, Sept. 10. A aerie* of dances staged with five drls In pink liallet costumes, designated the Sarova dancers. Four numbers are done Including aeveral solos anh during most of the time a soprano voice off stage la heard In airs presumably from the Schubert works. The dances ar» not particularly sprightly and the unusual costumes —ankle* length skirts of the material that usually goes Into short ballet skirts—gives a queer effect, almost of awkwardness. The setting cleverly suggests a terraced lawn edged with a marble decoration In the Italian effect, and the lights are soft with a moonlight tone. There Is more atmosphere in the settings than In the dance per- formance. Rukh. "IN A SCULPTOR'S STUDIO" (11) Singing, Dancing and Posing 11 Mini.; Full Stage (Special Set) Stratford, Chicago Considering the limited stage room at the Straiford, the feature presentation Is a remarkable ac- complishment. Bcenlcally attractive, while In other respects eguaillng anything of the same general class In the loop theatres The scene Is the studio of a sculp- tor. He has fallen asleep at the table. A girl In a frame (Norma Wasser. danseuse) and seven others nn pedestals represent artistic ac- complishments of the sculptor. The girl In the frame comes down and dances and the other glrla re- lax for a short period, but take their positions ag^ln when the dance Is concluded ttnd all eight hold the picture while Signer An- gala La Russo sings a tenur solo, "Rudolph's Narrative," and Mabel Sherwood ^Ings a soprano solo, "My Name Is Mlml." with both do- ing a duet. "Thou Sweetest Maiden" (all by Puccini). Miss Sherwood comes on before the sculptor awakes and tings. Frank O. I^feson. as an old sculp- tor, gives atmosphere to the scene. The singing is first cla£s. SIgnor La Russo received much applause Tuesday night, but Miss Sherwood did not. "A NIGHT IN PARIS" (6) Song, Dane* ^ 6 Mins.; Full Stage (Special) Missouri, St. Louis "A Night In Paris." staged by Charles Dahl and Herschel Stuart. la the most charming, colorful and entertaining presentation offered by this pair In many montba, Aa the eurtaln parts a girl atepa forward and sines • semi-classic. She is in correct eostume of the Parisian flower (iri. While aha is singing a targa velret drop slides open very slowly; by the time the reaches the ehoros a Parisian gar- den in a suffusion ot mito moonlight with Parisian dancers posing is re- vealed. As th* singer takes up the chorus tha others form couples and dance. While this Is being done and quicker than It takes to write there is a sndden and remarkable change in lights; In the background hangs a relvet drape with lust opening enough to admit the most dazsllngly brilliant light effect ever witnessed in a local thfeatre. Through this opening Is a lagoon on which miniature gondolas float, propelled by gondoliers, also mini- ature. They do not give you much of this. The big slide curtains make their way slowly to the center and when they reach there the song and dance Is finished. Tou can applaud ■ntil your hands are blistered, but for some unknown reason they will not show this scene twice. It's a marvel. Dahle and Stuart dercrve great credit. Rosj. STESCHENKO; (2) Bit of "Barber of Seville" 9 Mint.; Full Stage (Special Set) Chicago theatre, Chicago Jteschenko. operatic basso, was rd at the Chicago theatre a few weeks ago. being put In on short notice for a day- to fill a disap- pointment, retained for a full week, and last week played a return en- gagement. He works with Ben- jamin Landsman. The second number, a bit from "Barber of Seville." has an In- terior scene and In this Stcschenko, doing most of the singing. Is able to make the song carry a story with his acting almost as Impressively as It can be done in spoken words. Landsman worked the scene up well for him and comedy and other means of emphsisis gave the offer- ing general Interest, while the singing of Steschenko stands out. He *as a fine voice and, more than that. Is an actor who sings without the stilted attltudct that are com- mon to the vocalist. "HARLEQUir^ DAYS" (8) Songs and Dances 7 Mins.; Full Stage Loew's State, Los Angeles. This song and dance offering wai» a prologue to "Dulcy." An attr.ic- tlve sotting of a bookcase had the titles facing the audlencf and op enlngs from which the people make their entrance. Harold Stanton Is featured In a cast which InclJdes Arnold Tamon and Carrlo Smith, who sUrt it with pleasing classical dancing. lilalon and Vera Ruth. Jazz danc- ers, suddenly make their appear- ance, from sofa pillows, on the stage from beginning. Following the girls a mixed qu.artet step from the books and render operatic numbers for good returns. Zella Simpson, Vera LaMar and Stanley Green as- sist. Stanton in the operatic sing- ing. For novelty in presentation "Har- lequin Days" Is the best the house has shown in months. /btephs. MILTON ABORN OPERA CO. "Firefly" 45 Mins.; Full Stags Century, Baltimore. Baltimore, Sept. 10. The Century has come back with a vengeance, for after slipping a peg or two in the production of their opera presentations, they have at last Imported a company cap- able in every sense of the word and presenting a show this week not only a credit to the theatre but a credit to themselves. Their conden- sation of "Firefly" contains all the musical gems of the piece and in addition has a full cast which per- mits it being sung in practically as It should be sung. George Shields heads the com- pany and has the comedy role of Jenkins, the confidential secretary. Agnes Hutto is the Oeraldlne. Irene Cattell the Susette. Lee Daley the Herr Franz. Joseph McCallon the John Thurston, Betty Lee the Sybil Vandare, Edith Bradford tha Mrs. Vandare, while other roles ars filled by Maude Gray. Viola Wayn*. Dan Marble and Ralph Bralnard It is company of good quality and while not containing any outstanding stars with the probable exception of Shields. Its members are all good and qualifled to handle their rolea "Firefly" Is a good attraction for most any movie house and the com- pany was brought to Baltimore by Thomas D. Sorlero. who started the comic operas at the Century. Here it Is liked and their future reper- toire, which contains "Mile. Mo- diste." "The Only Olrl," "Very Good Kddle," among many other things, promises much for the winter season hero. This Is a troupe which Is cost- ing the theatre nice money, but on the strength of the first perform- ance It lookH like they will build a clientttle which will do much to- ward keeping the theatre flUcd. A company of this standing is a new thing In any movie house, be It New Tork or Chicago, and in bringing It to Baltimore the Wblte- hurst interests, who control the Century and Its allied houses, have done a courageous thing. At least they have stilled the crit- icism which yas made of the com- pany of am.iteurn In grand opera which has occupied the house for too many weeks this summer. Bitk. COAST FILM NEWS By EDW. G. KREIQ Los Angeles, Sept. It. Tom Mix and wife have left for New York for a vacation. The next James Cruze will be "To the Ladies.'' picturs Jack Osterman has signed with the Grand-Asher productions. He will appear In Bryant Washburn's first starring vehicle for Grand* Asher entitled "Try and Get It." / . Helene Chadwick. Goldwyn star, was divorced last week from WU-* liam Wellman. Raymond Hatton has left for New Tork to be cast In Sam Wood's next production. Aceordlng to the observation of Marshall Neilan, TO players are do- ing the bulk of the screen acting In and about Los Angeles, despite the fact that easting offices are daily crowded with 4>eopIe anxious for parts. Bebe , Daniels, back from New York, is to bead the cast of the Zane Grey production. "The Heritage ot the Desert." Irving Wlllatt will di- rect. Brneit Torrence and Noah Beery also havs Important roles. Baymond Hatton has gone east to appear In a picture which Sam Wood will direcu Mrs. Hatton ac- companied him. It la reported Tod Browning and his wife havs separated. Frank Borsage leaves shortly for New York. "ON THE EAST SIDE" • Mins.; One Grauman's Metropolitan Los Angeles, Sept. 3. The- drop shows frunt entrance ot •tores on a side street along the Bowery. Little Kddie Roberts, four ycar.s Ola. enters as Wop street pod- flier drawing sm.ill waRon fillfil with fruit. Ho decs a little tnllt ■ W i ll i h is—oWrr «tstrr, then finK" "P.'Xi:'\r.T.=-.'' He r'^fiwa "t.-ipe vrcs- ■♦nce or Hn oUl-tinier and .»inB.s very Wfcll for his .Tgc. Miss Y.ielifil fol- lows with. ccr(!itri>> cliar.Tctcr dance In a very t;),-ht fitting black and while .T.vning striped drc^s, wbi<li I" Knod ff.r Inughs. Kdilio Udlifrts rlosrs tlie ,i<t with a brief nnl fact thinimy ni:.l tirrt.batic ilaiiro in :>'1*"him r.U froi.t ..nimd-'Aiilt arid ►fNt ■•!■' (hi~' 'ff.if-.irb. The turn xcimcd to be tn.yi!. CHARLES HART Tenor 4 Mins.; Special Setting. Rivoli, New York, New Tork, Sept 10. Jolin Vv'iiiKer, art director ;it tli'-- Ulvoll, is particularly good at fram- ing simple but attrartive harii- prminds for these sons numlie-s This Olio, "Then You'll Komoml.or Me" le.-uN Itself to senlimoii'.il nt- innF-i'liortf and the scttln« .siipiilio.s It FkillfuUy. At the partinf: of ll>e ruriains llii- fvc nl n g— rl ii ll i M s—Is- WARING'S PENNSYLVANIANS (11) . ..- ■' Orchestra 18 Min.; Fufi Stage (special drapes) Newman, Kansas City. Of all the snappy, clean and en- joyable musical organizations here, this Pennsylvania bunch Is easily in a class by itself, and could have entertained all evening Instead of the 18 minutes given. The boys simply stopped everything. The combination has good-looking young college men with an Instru- mentation of 40 InstrumenU. For the opening the house was dark- ened, and when the lights went on. the bunch were there. The act was held for the second week. nugh«». "DOVi^N 0^! THE FARM" Male Quartet 9 Mint.; Full Stage (Special Set) Chi c^Qo The aJ^re. Chicago jTcd Crouch, harmonica player, and the Chicago Theatre Quartet. m.ilc eingors. In a rube scenic sing- ing and lii.':trumental number, which was fine entertainment. Tho setting, a hay stack on one side and clouds in background was up to tho usual high standard of this house. The quartet started with "Put On Your Old t>ay Bonnet" and ran It Into a medley ot old-time airs of a rural nature, after which Crouch appeared In a gawky heartbreaker makeup and played harmonica, calling tho dances as In the old time country barn dance. This got many laughs. F6r a flnl.sh the quartet drew harmonicas from their pockets and all five played. It proved an entertaining num- ber—the prc»cntatlon feature of the bilL Nick Cogley, for some time In ple« tures. is booked in a vaudevills sketch. Charles de Roche. French star, will be Pola Negri's next leadins man. tjeorge Marshall and Robert Kerr, newest producers, will make "The Tedlow Trail" aa their initial vehlcla, ^^M "Wild Apples" win be Ricbara '' i Barthelmess next story to bs screened. inmo Lincoln has been added to "Fashion Row." .J 4 Jano Novak Is resting In Balbca, where she rented a cottage. According to friends of Director Fitzmaurlce. who is in Rome filming "The Eternal City." ho will bs back In Hollywood in December. J "The First and the Last." a Gals- worthy story, Is shortly to be filmed by Lasky. CuUcn Landls has been signed by (Continued oh page (2) -ffH- .sTiiKof TTT clusdl ^w.ll.<l on oht- <.r th.-isc G:lrlo,! Frem 1) geiteos npp;irinlly paniiiK into !iti (^|ion llroiilaco. tlio lire hoirf Merely sun:'."led Ity a soft Ilglit ef- fort. TiiMtH a;i fliat is noci-sKiir.v ti' rstaldish Die pictorial almd^ldio.-e It Klvo" .'I lino cffool to !iic r.iir.lli.i' .■.ifiiin lull- will sunfr. ;/;ii'i. I ■,<.!. Xow I':-.;r.- ! r...i :i-I ' ll,< I-'n:. Mrr.f'.iy. f-i"i "NOLA"—A Dance Flirtation 4 Mint.; Two Stratford. Chicago Norma Walser as the "boy." Mary Dapalonla and Mildred Smith as "girls." one supposed to be "true" and the other a "docolvcr," prcflcnt a neat little danrlrig diver- tl.Ksement at the Stratford, so of- fered on the stage the dancors had the appearance of being shadows without the llRhts being dimmed to suoh an oxiont that tho enjoyment of looltlng over tho girl.s was lost. Mifi-t Wa/5scr had al'O boon seen as dan.sousc In another pres- cnlalion on the same ijlll. The dancing In this niinil" r IntorostliiK and entortalning the [.aiitonilnilc worlt wan v\i< MADAME EL8A STRALIA Soprano 3 Mint.;'Full Stags Capitol, New York. '' '' New Tork, Sept, 10. Mme. Elsa Stralia, who has achieved considerable fame and a following as a member of the Cap- itol's nest of songbirds, presented "Song of the Soul" aa one of tho diverlisomcnts of the current week's program. She displ.ayed extreme vocal elevornos.i in tho manner ot presonliiig llie nimiher on Monday nlKhl I lor unu.sually powerful voice filled llio lilK Ihcalir, and the dress.. Inc of tiio Pet wilh a barkfiround ot Krayi.sh tint SKainst which the .sinner stood out In white cofitumc mado It an altogether effective plc- I ure. Fre'l. was- and llont. Tlio uii!U-r an' ol'l- Mrs D' I "a! nay ili:iii.- Tl. •.iiil ■sTmc —I.al;oi' niir.'lll—rrr? on.'ijdorallon tv.o olaiins v' ;ly motion plif.iK! aotro:;-- ■ l,.-irKe Smitli. ayain't .lamo: prudiioor. 'I'he ofimiilalnl: ?. .0 due in lary. ir-As .l.riijii (foinrMly Kii.'liia) Sept. "I vhTi I ho Wo ■ lati's. Itio., Will iii.iiicurat' I;.' row iwi';ov ft llrst rii;i! tlii'iifs.rii iiuic.x wilh Ktat GUATEWALA MARIMBA BAND (7) Irst-iimcr.tal 8 P^ino.: One t'.icVicK- rt, Cliicaao 'll..- (::.:rrriiili Marimli.a Hand , i I I, fur 11.! ■ n;;,iKolTloiit with an ciMiluii- .-ind fcpllnws this with n niodloy of jio|.iilar soloolions. Tho IilOing thrniii;liout is flr-^^t olass 'i'liio Is iioDiinK notable In the mi lliiid of jin sontatlon and .the aot liiw^i Its value to an extent for r.revonlallon purposea witlfout a "■'""f- .,u Tho Id'iloiir tli'Mlro was do- sfroyed hy lire at Urumright, 01<la. INCORPORATIONS New York Independent Theatre, Inc., Man- hattan, theatrical producers; $10.- 000; Gustav Blum. Morris D. Ro- senbaum, Isaac Paul. -(Attorney, Samuel H. Newman, 55 John st.> Dramart Scenery Studios, Inc.;,- Manhattan; $5,00; Arthur Ooldi smith. Sidney B. Fried, Joseph B. Glass. (Attorney, Joseph B. Glass, El Chambersst.) Miller & Sherry Enterprises, Inc, Newburgh. manage theatres, etc.; $5,000; Isaac JJUler, Philip Sherry, Eva Sherry. (Attorney, Is.aac MIN lor, 26 Court st, Brooklyn. N. T.) G. A H. Pictures Corp., Manhattan, theatre, $20,000; J. Noble, J. Powers. A, L. Grey. (Attorney, A. H. T. Banzhaf, 130 West 12d St.) Miller A Lyie'a Shuffle Along, 1023-24, Inc., Manhattan. $S00; 100 shares stock no par value. Harry Bcstry, AI Ix-e, Clarence Gray. (At- torneys, O'Brien. Malevlnsky & Drlscoll, Fitzgerald BIdg, N. T. C.) The Scarlet Mantle, Inc., Manhat- tan. Theatrical; capital, $14,000; di- rectors. E. J. MacOregor. M. R. Wll- ner and B. R. Goldlng. Reekville Centra Theatre, Inc., Rockvllle Centre. $50,000; F. M. Da Costa. George A. Powers, I* W. Dawnon, all of Rockvllle Centria. (Attorney, Fred Ingraham, ItS Broadway, N. T. C.) Hayakawa Productions, Inc., Man- hattan, pictures; capital stork. 1.500 shares preferred stock. $100 par value; 3,500 shares common stock, no par value. M. D. and C. Schwartz, Kiiinia Shapiro. (Attoroey, Wm. II. Chornsh, 1541 Broadway. Dolliver-Smyth Producing Co., Inc., Manhattan, general amuse- ments, $10,000; R. M. Dolllver. Daisy Smyth. Herman Greenborg. (Attor- ney, H. O. Litwin. 1540 Broadway.) Anderson Picturet Corp.. Man- hattan. $100,000; A. Thompson, M. Gerst. (Attorney, H. O. Kosoh. 1640 Hrondwny.) Winthip Pictures Corp. Manhat- ton, lllins and cameras, $10,000; C. R .ind M; K. Elliott, H. C. Shimeld. fAtiiirnoy, R. H. Mutters, Jr., Man- liatlan.) Supreme Theatre Tloki t Co., Man- hattan. $10,000; J. A. and S. JJeutsch, II. I. lii,rn. (Attorney. S. .Sperling, I.StO Hroadway.) ■A ( Sppreise Tl^ei^lrs Tilktt Co.. Inc^j, M.iiil„,tl.in, Ihoatre ti<'k.f!'; $10.00t»; .IcHoiih A. Ijout.srh, Marry J. DoriL (Continued on pag« it)