Variety (March 1924)

Wednesday. March 12. 1924 PICTURES VARIETV 23 PRESENTATIONS (Extra attractions in picture theatres, when not pictures, will be carried and described in this depart- ment for the general information of the trade.) C8HARPE MINOR "The Organ" 15 Mint.; Screen and Stag* McVicker's, Chicago Cliicago, Murcii 11. C. Sharpe-.Minor lins boen advor- tiaed to apiie.ir .-\t McVlcker'a be- fore, but Ihl-i is liis first actual ap- pearance. It Is uiifoi tiinafe that lie should liave been late in re.irhing Chicago, (or Jesse Ciawford has done .some- thing alonK tlie .s.ime line at the Chicago by u ly of making the pub- lic familiar with big organs, and while not a take-ofC from thi-t, It Is similar to < xlont that it Ics.sen.s the praise tl.^it would be accorded Sharpe-Minor if he had brought the first thing of this kind to Chicago. "The OrKaii." whUli occujiics 10 minutes oC his time and is the act >f!ropcr, is nothing more than fa- miliarizing till' public with the pos- «ibllitie.s of ,i!i orgai; by means of sUdea whic!'. ^o along with per- formance oi! the instrument. The wording .'-iit;j,'csts a pert^onal talk •.nd la light and chatty. The organist starts pi.iyirg 'Rosle 0'C;rady" and shows how the different iiaits of the organ sound alone and in unison. lie imitates the various .nstruments of an ar- Chestra and explains that th.is Is why these organs are called "or- chestral orgiii.s." The screen t.ilks are of a jesting hature. Wlien it comes to tl-.e clari- net the wording is that clarinet players are apt to hear and give up their job.« to beoomo bootleggers. When a rUrir. u; band is shown they are called "pielzel hounds." At an- other time til're is dialog between twro parties, v. ;-.h their voices imi- tated. Flnaily a t;;p,e is played with all tones used, at..! the audience is asked to Identify lluiii in their own minds aa far as they can. The last word la to "try and get a job playing an organ," now that the method has been explaiT-.cil. "but don't seek my Job." The encore to'.d a story of rubes having a wedding, and the organ Imitated the voices of the preacher lind the brid:- and groom, and after telling a .«toiy of a country village there were excerpts from rube songs With words parodied in Bome in- atances to coiiflude the story. The effort was plainly entertain- ment and not a desire to display actual pl.iying of the organ. IJusl- hess was good enough to make it ap- pear the no^ cty is a draw. •I'M GOING SOUTH" (3> Song and Instrumental Music 10 Mins; One and Full (Special) Chicago, Chicago Chicago, March 11. A clever working out of a song theme In which Itoy Dietrich ap- pear* be^re the curtain In an apron "one" space and sings the song. The curtains part, disclosing the front Of a transparent scrim drop, which la made to show the Interior and two girls—C.irol and I.oulse Uore— playing violin and piano. The girls are dressed in old-fashioned South- em style. Tlie musicians play bits from Soutlurn tunes, and then the singer appe.irs again .as the scene dissolves, lea\ .ng the f;or.: of the house onco more. "SCHUBERT'S SERENADE" (-1) Singing and Instrumental 5 Mins.; Full Stage (Special) McVicker^ Chicago Chicago, M.irch 11. Three mu.oician.s entertain under dim lights in an attic and when their number is half ccncludod a singer ia shown as though but a dream of the men. .She concludes her part of the serenade :ind fades out of view. Theodore Katz plays violin. N. Uenditzkl plays cello. Otto .Muencke plays piano and Miriam Klein is the singer. While not a pretentious effort it is good enter- t.iinment and was appreci I'.cd by libera! applause. "AN ARABIAN NIGHT" (5) Singing and Dancing 7 Mins.; Full Stage (Special)* Chicago, Chicago Chicago, M.trch 11. The Chicago theatre qiiartot .sings and Lora Cons dances for a num- ber featuring the song "Pale Hands" making an offering notable more for tho scenic eriuipment and the creditable singing and dancing rather than for novelty. The rich- ness of color light effect g which create Oriental .atmosphere are par- ticularly impressive. BOYD SENTER and JACK. RUS- SELL Clarinet and Piano 8 Mine.; Pit Chicago, Chi^aao Chicago, March 11. Uoyd Scn'.cr i-^ a".ir.ost a ja7.7. band In himself gcttii.g about all out of * clarinet that is possible. He has bsen doing an ac» in vaudeville with .T.1,>L- I.*...- ti ... .1.- ..I •Jien doing u-.i .11 111 vaij.i« Jack Kussell at the r>lano. These two Were employed for the Chicago Ia5!t 'veck appearing in the orche.stra and playing for "Timely Topina" and a eart'ifm feature of this short subject. The audience hag no reason to know that tiit-H.' feIIow.<i are no' nf the hou.'^e orches- tra excepting a slide announcement of their nan-.e^ THE FASHION SHOW (18i 28 Minutes; Full Stage Loew's Palace, Washington, D. C. Washington, March 11. r.eing the first of the picture houses to stage a Fashion Show, Ij.awrcnce Ucatus, of Loew's Palace, has lifted the usual expected routine of an affair of this kind entirely out of the ordinary, and from many angles has produced something that held com- pletely, as well as bringing forth much api)lause through the "3 min- utes of its running time. A tie-up was made with one of the larger department stores here, and a wealth of gowns ac.d all else that the ladles wear, with the exception of tho underthinga, were disjdayed, it all finishing with a. Itride and groom number, with attendants, that brought forth six well-earned calls. A runway has been plijf-ed across the front of the orchestra but within the curtain line that made a com- plete circle possible around the stage. Girls from the dancing si hool of Stafford Pcmbcrton, who also staged the show, wore the costume.'", and with each, by walk and gf^sture, showed the gowns to the best ])os- sible advantage. It was not the dull walk of the manikin, but a diversi- fied routine of dancing steps that, created a feature demaiiding atten- tion even above the magniliccnce of the gowns. Out of the crowd there was one personality which tended to high- light itself—that of Jean Stewart. This girl is one of rcmbertoii's prize pupils, and with a personality that is absolutely sure-fire, especially In a Spanish bit, during which she dis- played a compelling emotional tone, she looks like a find. The lighting effects were li.acdled by spots from the front of the house and from both right and left of the stage. This aided In enhancing the pictures presented. The orchestra rendered i specially arranged number under the direction of Tom Cannon. Such a display should bring much, trade from the ladies dmiag Lent. ' MeaUin. THEMY GEORGI Tenor 3 Mins Rialto, New York Themy Oeorgi is a 'cr. >r wi'.h a powerful voice and :nal:ea Ji good appcar.ance. At the Rl.alto Stmday af'ern'-"on he (le'iivercd the .aria from "Martha" to bring heavy .aiiplause from a hou.se le:-a tiian halt Hll(yd. /''"J. "SHADOWS OF PARIS," (10) Atmospheric Prelude to Picturea 7 Mins.; Full Stage (Special) McVickers, Chicago Chicago, March 11. McVlckera was juslilied in billing this a.s an "ultra production" for It was siii)crIor in many respects. A." the I'ola Xi'gri idcture of the same name Is Ijasvd on the Parisian Apache it was but n.itural that the Ap.ai-he d.mco lunler the bridge would bo atteni[itcd and it Is an of- friing •.vhirh surpasses tho numer- ous productions of a similar nature which have proceeded. In the first place the scene Is un- derneath the approach of a big bridge and there are steps hading up to the street level, down wliich some of the dancers come, and up which one man chases another and a further surprise i.s when th<'so two rush along the lop of the bridge which is practical as it develops and not just scenery .as was supposed. Tho Apache is different inasmuch as the girl is well dressed and comes down the steps with two men in evening dress though she obeys her master in one of the men dis- lovered at the rise of the curtain with a group of people of the under- world. Men and wornen sit around and there is singing by I'.cssie K.ip- lan .as a street singer and drinking to give the scene n'.mosiihcre. Directly there is dancing with one man playing accordion. Then the well dressed trio comes on. The girl dancer — "Claire" (.Marjnrio I,inken) is divided between these two men and "K.arnai^^' (A. Katch- etovsky). At times three coupli s are dancing, maliing the presenta- tion important as flash as well as in actual performance. It is a "big" looking production and r.ather sur- prising that it can be staged so well .at this house. "MIGHTY TWIN ORGAN" (3) Musical 14 Mins.; Pit Chicago, Chicago Chi'Mgo, .Mareh H. For some time llalaban & Katz have iK'cn announcing in ads and by slides the ia-'stallation of the "Mighty Twin Organ" and it was introductsl by the luiblic la.tt week in a way that is showmanship at its be-st. The prologue from ' Pagllacci" w:us used to introduce the stunt with .a singer rendering espet ially writ- ten words from the orchestr.a pit under a spnllight. He sang of liow p.. & K. searched the world for nov- elties ai.d had determined upo;i the double organ feature. After the singer concluded tV." or- gan consoles on each side of the orchestra pit were raised to view, w.th Mr.s. Jesse Crawford at the new one and Jesse Crawford in his rcguUr placo. There was jilaying f)f the.^e twin organ'' which was well received, despit,^ the f.act that the obseiving tould h.ard'iy help noth Ing that when he played .<>he w.as gen- erally turning pa.Tes or merely Hip- ping hoir hands over the keyboard, and that whenever she played he found that hi- mu.slc called for a rest. P.ut there was enough bunk to give the audience the Ulublon, and 5t was annthor proof of what Phincas T. P.iiT.um observcH^I. Following this intro<luctory num- ber tlie twin (vrgan played the .wng "Mlndin" My Own Business." and It wa.1 fully up t.T the standard that Jejise Crawford has eat.il.li.slied with the single orgar>, bit no bett'^r. Jesse Crawford knows this Wur- Illzer perfectly. If'" Is mechanlral expert rather than musician. He can do things whi.-h it would not be e\ny for oilers who do not have the run of the f.ictory to accomplish. While he Is not a gre.at organist, he Is one great entortalner .at the or- gan and one s'oowman, .'iS this latest s-tunt prove". INSIDE STUFF ON PICTURES Th" character ai-tor. Kiigo.ir. will pl.iV Ceorge Washington in Cnsmo- liolitan's production of "J mice Mere- dith." • , A technical force l^ nlreaily a! work building 111" vilUu'e i.f Tr'-iit'ir; on the t.'irgf^t ringe at the ll.-il :.•-•- mouth Iiarr.ic'ks. Tw-nty men have III en workintr f'>r .'everai days oiien- ing up the S.iianac Uiver norlh of [\\r. r.arliMe mill:--, so ttiat the scene of W'ashinrrton irossing 'he 1 )• l.'i- ware may I>e filimd. .\ M'-ii ■ ch.inne". i.- b' mg cut. "The Iiiaiuatic I.lfo of .\brah.im I.ii'.roln' . .iia.> to P.riMd'.'. i... .v i.l ."iuj-' tl '.nd f.iih'd to hit at the box ollice. It u ,m iiresoiiU'd by tho P.ockel; Jirollierg, Al and Uiy, y.mthful and cnlhusi.i.'-uic, in tlio liliu production licld for a iniiuber of jears and masters i.f (lie I'.clail of produclKg a lilm, Tiiey e.une to New York with their pU lure iT\ a cm and met several peoi)le of theatric.il importmce. atuong thciii A. 1,. I'lrlinger. He saw their pliture, .'ind, being Abrali aiii Lincoln, Ihl.iii'.Tcr advised them tli i'. they had .a picture th.it w.as certain to be a triumph of the screen. Others who s.iw the pii'tiire jii lor to its showing :ilso made tlie s.imo predictiin. but Krlanger went further. He took the two jouthful and enthu.'-iastii prodiicerK aside aiul adviseil tlicui almse all things to "keep away Irniu picture iieojile with their picture." I>ast Sund.iy night "Tlie Dramatic Life of Abraham I.lneo'i/' depirt^I from the Caii'ty theatre, wlU'ie it had been for se\en weeKs. at no time hitting a pace that ( oiild liave niaiK- it possible to designate the picture a liox ollice wallop, the receipts never being above $7,000 auvl most of the time con.-idcrably under that. It was in the air that the idctiiri' w i .• i;olng to be the biggest knockout that the screen had ev<'r seen. I'.efori' the pietiue oiiencd, tho Morketts had hid offers from "piclure pcopli-' of .in advanre of $;ion.000 for the dl^- triliiition ri.",lits after It should h.ave lived its Hie in the road show tlasK. There Is an offer at present lor "the boys" to bring the luiture to I,os .Angeles to open a new m-ighborhood house In whirli a iiumbcr of locil I usiness nu-n .are inlen'sled. They are cifferiiig :\. guarantee of Jin.noO to the producers fur .'in iiulefinlte run of the piclure tliere on a p.r.'iil i^e basis with a 70-ao split, .■ind tiie jiroducer.-i to get the long end. It i.s still possible that they cm make their plrture on the cois'. and it they put over a sni.ish in I,. A. .ind repeat in S.an Francisco, providing that they use differont melli.nU thin th.^y did in .New York for the e\- ploit.illon of thi ir product. "Dignity in exploil.'ilion anil not the re--ul.ir pirtiire meili.i.li" li whit they were advised to api)ly iu Ni'w York. Tli.it didn't gel Iheiu any- thing. They w.iIUed in on a sltii.itlon where a picture of special pro- pmtions <ame In a few weeks jirior to tln'ir advent and the speci.il ad- vance advertising appiopri ithm prior to the opening w.ia $118,000. That attr.iclion ia bettering llCfiOO at tho box iSIIlce In New Y'ork every week sinccf Of course it is a question if the New York i>ubllr would have taken "Abraham I.incfiln," even if $200,000 was siient on It, but it would h.ive been worth the gainblliig <hance, for tho sponsors wouM not h.ive had to dig dow" in their own j>orUels for it, they could have lixid for that advance for Liter distributing .and utilized it for their advertising. The answer is the lilm of "Abrahim Linrolu'' w.is licked before iL ■luted. There wasn't lime to do any r '.il work In ,in advertising w;iy on llif picture froai the time the owners were advised as to tho theatre th n Ihey were to h.ive .and the opening date of the attraction there. Then on the opening night they had a niusji-al Hcore for the picture th.at might as well never havf been written. That score finished whatever ch ir.co the picture nii,L;ht h.ive had. Tho newsp.ipers raved .about the iiicture as a picture, the editorial com- ment on It fo two weeks after was tremendous, yet, still and all, there w.isn't any rc-iion.'ie ;it the box ollice. I'osisbly too much dignity. Schools were worl'.ed, societies were sollcit.'d, churches were invited, but still the result was the s.inie. Duiing the l.ist v\eek of the stay In New Y'ork (leorgp Hillings, who played tiie titular role in the production. In addition to making per-ional ai)i>eaianccs, also sjiolie. It wi'^ a talk th.it did not tend to make any one he.iiing it .any happiii. The I,os Angele.i en;;ai;einent fir the iilcturo Is something more or le;><i o( a problem ai f.ir ,ih th" d.iily pres^ is concerned. Harry Chandler of tho Iaih Angehs "Times" is (inandally interested In the piiture, which is said to have co.st about $L'7r..000. The f.irt that Ch.indlrr holds a por- tion of the piiture niijiht be re,(son <'iiough for the opiiosltion ni'Whi),ipi'r< to witlihold their support. It Is a picture more than worth while from the si ind|joint of Amerli.iiiization am! edueatlon, and they i.eed th.it in Southern Califmni.i .as lou.h as they do in r.'ew York. One of the mm tm iilioneil for the post of sei rel.iry of the navy In llio Ciiolidge cabinet is identilled with th." picture busin"ss. He is (Jen. W. I!l idea Lowndes, viee-iircsiilent of the Century Theatre Co.. lialtimoiv.. the same firm of which the late ('.. V'.. Whiteliinst w.is [iresident. Con Lowndi'S Is a proiniio-nt llnanijer of p„illlinore .iiid a leader of oni' fiction of the Itepublican party In .Maryl.ind, and, therefore, niinh indi-mand In .a lime like llie j>resent, when t'lo Iti-imbiii .i:; party thi'ie .ind in ot»ier states is sidiL. The A. 11. Hlank office in Des Mniio's, through its pres.s di-paiiment (D. Day), has sent out an .mnouncment of the closing of the Capitol •and Kiilto, Des Moines, two of the larger of the lil.ink liouses. Accompanying the notice was .a letter from Mr. Day slating .Mr. Hlmk had asked that the seriousness of the theatrical silu.ilion In Ioa i ml N'. br.iska bo noted. The P.l.mk circuit operates thnni'.-h tho^o state.i;. The Cai>itiil opei.r-d list August. It has been pl.iying pictures ,and pan- tages vaudeville. The Itialto will (lose April 1 unless busines;; picks up. The nnnouncemenl s.iys the comhtion is general in all .iniusen.ci.M out there. A couple of weeks ago Variety t>ublisli"d a nows story of a bid busi- ness condition in the norMiwest or wheat belt, .ind, as X"w York under- stands those terms, tha" terntory w 'Uld inciude lowa and .\ebr isk i, nr low.i anyway. ."^Iiorlly after a letter was received from n Layman In Minneai.oiis, i reader of Variety, who h.id read tho story. He mentioned his letter wa.i (atised through the misinformation the story contained, and lie cmphasir.e<l that good shows in that fci tion got good money. The layman, howvei, leferred only to legit traveling attractions. His statement was uiiheld In a letter also received by Variety from lb'' .Sothern-M.irlowo management corre'ting the figures the stars jilayed t> in the northv\est. Th" company s Cigurcs were correct and a mention loade in List week's V.iricly, That two the.ilre.s In one to'A-n (lo<e i-t not wholly Indicative of a scriou.': condition throuf.hout two states, with noiio of the theatres in th" other cities and towtis of tliose st,ile< having ;ts yet closed. Des Moin"'i may lie overtheatreil the aiinouiicei,,ent icud th':> Capitol opened Lis'. (■*'•. ntimifd o.'i iiage 3j) POSTUIVIES F" O R HI RE New Yoil.'' Newest and 'out I seal INGEBORG Danseuse 2 Mins. Rialto, New Yortt Ingeborg I.j a clas.'icai (.'■ somewhat different fr Tn ' run offering thI.H tyiie of ♦riisi hi-iT- e.in divertis.'icmont. She ha-s fire and grace that are unusual. In of- fering "Album I/eaf .ahe dl.fplayed technique that merited the .applause ;;ven her. Sho U a youthful bru- ,,et 'ype who d'.n'"-'i ■'1 'h"V'!rh h^'-n :y :he art. ■ • • 1 ' -.• i.- If. J, M.:l!"r. former romptr.ilbr of tho S'^l/nick Distriliuflng Cirp h.l.l been .appriilitV'd secret.iry t'l \'. C. J. Doolltt'e, Iire.-.ident of the o: ganization. Mr. MuIIt w.ll -'i "on'inue to siuii.-i vi.-iC '.he a.ili'i',' for the corporation. Prank Del.ander will eie .t i r e .v motion picture theatre at 'ioncsei., I III. The old building will be r-izeil next w^ek nnd cim.struc'.Ion workl 1), .,: - \-,.' ' Tl-t^ t'-o.^'re ••■■.'\ !■ 4, ! . e suiirnii:" '.•> .»nrr : Proof of the Picture W W HODKINSON CORP ST LOUIS MO MARCH 9 1924 469 5 AVE NEW YORK NY CONGRATULATIONS THE HOOSir.R SCHOOLMASTER STOP OPENED AT KINGS THEATRE TO BIGGEST BUSINESS SINCE THANKSGIVING WEEK STOP PATRONS AND CRITICS UNANIMOUS IN PRAISING THIS CLASSIC STOP IF THIS IS INDICATION OF WHAT FUTURE HODKINSON PRODUCT WILL BE THEN YOU HAVE NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR STOP ITS A REAL PICTURE V.'ILLIAM GOLDMAN