Variety (September 1924)

Wednesday, September S, 1984 MUSIC VARIETY f R IKE AVERTED ON PRINCE'S BOAT ♦'Berengaria" Orchestra at First Objected to Paul Specht's Band On the trip over with the Prince of Wales aboard the "Berengaria," a real strike of musicians was nar- rowly averted through an adjust- ment reached. The adjustment was between the Paul Specht's Orches- tra (Carolina Club) and band men of the boat. Specht had trouble entering Eng- land with his band, and almost as Much when leaving. The difficulty on board, however, was agreed upon, after a conference between the mu- ■icians, the ship's officers and out- siders, among the latter Arthur Klein, the New York agent. A final understanding reached was that the Specht orchestra could play for the tea dances (afternoon); also from 9 until 10.30 at night, and as long as they wanted to after midnight. Before midnight and at other times the Berengaria Orches- tra was'to play; Usually the Ber- engaria band played from 10.30 un- til midnight. Wales Liked Specht's Music While In London Specht's Band had been at the new Picadilly cab- aret, a place frequented continuous- ly by the Prince of Wales, who in- dulged in so much dancing there it became a subject of cabled news to the New York dailies. It was evi- dent Wales liked the music of the Specht band. Aboard and with the ship on its way, Klein, after consulting Paul Specht, suggested that since the Prince had grown accustomed to the Specht Band, Specht would play Jor the dances. ' This seemed agree- able until the officers called Klein Into consultation, saying the Beren- garia band were union men, they objected to Specht playing, and were the Specht musicians to play 4a opposition to their stand the matter of unionism might extend to the seaman, causing embarrassment In several directions. It was after this that Klein sug- gested a general conference with the matter of the Prince's preference getting the vote, and the adjustment following. Faulty Arrangement Schenectady^ N. Y., Sept. 2. Whan Jack Taylor's orches- tra of Plttsfleld, Mass., broad- cast a program of dance music from WOT lost week, the fol- lowing instrumentation was used: Two violins, two cel- los, bass viol, saxophone, ban- jo, drums and piano. Despite the four-stringed In- struments, the music did not sound a great deal different from that of the ordinary jasz orchestra, It being neither of the "hot" nor "dreamy" type. The' arrangements were ap- parently at fault, as they did not bring out the. stringed In- struments with the proper force. There was not a great deal of pep to the music ex- cept in one or two numbers. Tha criticisms made are not intended to convey the Impres- sion that the orchestra was poor, but simply fiat with dif- ferent arrangements it could be better. There was some corking pi- ano work by Kenneth Semple in two or three numbers. WH1TEMAN GETS RESTRAINING ORDER important Ruling for "Name" Leaders—Pitman Used Leviathan Title '■ / Paul Whiteman and the United Orchestras, Inc., the band booking exchange headed by Whiteman, were granted a restraining order last week in the Superior Court of Newport, R. I.,- (.gainst Keith Pit- man to- restrain Pitman's use of the U. S. S. Leviathan Band name in his orchestra 'activities. * Pitman formerly was conductor of the Leviathan orchestra, a White- man unit, in vaudeville. Nelson Maple is now the conductor'. Pitman in his tour of the New England ballrooms and armdries used the Whiteman and Leviathan name without authorization, which resulted in the' court action being taken. This is an Important ruling, since tbe.-e are any number of leaders who were formerly connected with "name" leaders trading on the prestige of that "name" in a sub- billing. Ofttimes the "name" was more prominent than the actual or- chestra which was playing, with the result it misrepresented to the detri- ment of the original. The Kresge List The Kresge syndicate stores' list of tfie best sellers in sheet music is appended below. This is a guide foe the music men as to the manner in which sheet music sells through the biggest chain store system fea- turing a music department. While this is a general guide .and as such accepted by the trade it is not binding in its actual gauging of -gross sales nationally owing to the large number of independent outlets which determine this In the long run. Tte striking excep- tion is "It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo," whic!. is probably the country's biggest seller, top- ping everything,-according to the jobbers, but only fifth on the cjxiin store list. The Kresge list in sequence Is "What'U I Do?" (Berlin); "Why Did 1 Kiss That Girl?" (Shapiro-Bernstein); "There's Yes! Yes! In Your Eyes" (Remlck); "It Had to" Be You" (Remick); "It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo"' (Forster); "Memory Lane" (Harms); "Doodle Doo Doo" (Feist); "Don't Mind the Rain" (Feist); "Mandalay" (Remlck): "Lime- bouse Blues" (Harms): "From One Till Two" (Waterson); "When Lights Are Low" (Feist); "Jealous" (Waterson); "June Night" (Feist). BAND AND ORCHESTRA REVIEWS SIDNEY SEIDENMAN'S SHORE- HAM ORCHESTRA (6) Hotel Shoreham, Washington, D. C. Washington, Sept. 2. In this day of so-called modern music it doesn't seem possible' to create music without at least one or two saxophones, the saxophone seemingly personifying the age and its music. Here is a combination wherein this instrument is not used; In fact, no reeds at all are utilised. In its stead is an organ, and a certain something that could almost be termed evasive is created. It leaves a haunting wlstfulness that lingers with you long after the music has ceased. Seidenman and his combination have been a big component part of the popularity of the Shoreham for close to five years now. It could best be termed a concert orchestra, but they can and do play the lighter things extremely well. Mr. Seiden- man- with the violin; Joseph Piazza, the cello; Jack Nesbit, organ; Lewis G. Bates, bass violin; Irving Levlck, drums and tympani, and J oseph Ratner the obbllgato violin. They do not go in for individualism but strive for unity. In this respect the arrangements, all done by" Seiden- man, are a great asset. As an in- stance of the musicianship of this leader, be directed the Maryland orchestra (Keith) in Baltimore when but 20 years old. In Berlin's "What Will I Do" the solo Is first given, to the cello, with the violin and piano doing what could best be termed an obbligato. Then Seidenman solos with the violin. With the groundwork be- hind these of the organ and bass violin the real possibilities of the number were brought out as this reviewer has never heard them before. It was a positive delight. "Savannah" was used next and this number with Its ragging tempo stamped this orchestra as a capable dance combination also. To this point the boys had Va- riety's reporter searching for de- scriptive adjectives, but the search was given up when Jack Nesbit left the organ and sang "Memory Lane." [f they'd scored before, this "sewed" everything up completely. Some few weeks ago, at Keith's, Nesbit (loaned by Seidenman) sang with another orchestra, and then the plalntlveness of his voice actually stopped the show. "Memory Lane" must have been written for him. The Shoreham is one of the most popular luncheon and dinner places in Washington. No matter how a man rendering a ballad. The or- chestra marches down the aisle taking up the second chorus. Sev- eral numbers are played while the boys are leaning up against the orchestra rail. Another number finds various members in different parts of the theatre, each singing a few lines as the spot is thrown on them. The banjolst follows with a solo to give the rest of the crew ample time to leave the house and backfon the stage. The usual rou- tine of "pop" melodies with a "hot" trumpetlst standing out follows. Here a good harmony singing quar- tet renders a number effectively. This Is followed by a female toe dancer and male eccentric dancer. The figures of a comedy quartet are painted on a frame with the heads of the men sticking out and impersonating the various charac- ters. This is follow< I by a musical quartet composed of a jug, jews harp, banjo and trumpet. After this one of the boys plays a saw. The young woman at the piano accompanies herself on the piano for a number employing a special set with the balance of the per- sonnel doing the characters that she alludes to. This seems to be dragged out a little too far. A good fr.«t number sent them away to solid applause. The orchestra, consists of nine men and three women. Two of the latter are at the pianos and the other handles a sax. The bal- ance of the instruments are bass viol, violin, trumpet, banjo, trom- bone, three saxes and drums. .It is an entertaining band throughout, but better suited for picture houses where competition is not so keen. - ABE'S COMMENT By ABEL GREEN Burying the Hatchet The patching up of the differences between Harry Stoddard, the vaude- ville bandman, and Joseph B. Franklin, the musical agent, not only restores a business relationship of long standing, but a personal friendship that antedates Stoddard's prominence in the band game. A misunderstanding of money matters at' the time when Stodddard was incapacitated In a St. Louis hospital after doing a Prince of Wales from a recalcitrant horse was patched up through th3 intervention of Samuel Jesse Buzzell. an attorney and mutual friend of both, who engineered the "frame" of having them meet. Franklin is now personal representative once again for Stoddard, restoring a contract Franklin tore in four pieces and mailed back to Stoddard as his only answer to what he thought an unreasonable demand by the orchestra leader. Alex Gerber on Broadway Alex Gerber's return to Main street is a matter of joy to his Con- temporaries after the popular songsmith's critical condition as a result of complications from an involved major surgical operation. Gerber is back with the Berli.i, Inc., staff turning out "double versions," etc., once again, showing but little sign of his serious bedridden experience. Mr. Harrison G. Smith calls attention to a disk review of Jay C. Flip- pen's first Columbia record release, wherein it is mentioned the Colum- bia Phonograph Co. intends exploiting Mr. Fllppen as a successor to the late Bert Williams and that the disk company is stressing the fact Fllppen was formerly Williams' understudy in "Broadway' Brevities." Mr. Smith has it that when the original "Brevities" disbanded Ed Daley secured the production equipment and presented it under the same title as a Columbia burlesque attraction with Fllppen in the role created by Williams. The writer concludes: "When Abel says 'Fippen Is a worthy successor to Williams on records of tho type,' he evidently overlooked Shelton Brooks, who, with OKeh people, has had this thing 'sewed up' for several years." Mr. Smith is seemingly of the race (Mr. Brooks Is colored), and with- out gainsaying Brooks' merits on the disks, Mr. Smith will recall that Brooks has been specializing lately in monolog and dialog recordings with just a smattering of song which has but little suggestion of the Bert Wil- liams' style. If anybody, there is a performer In "From Dixie to Broad* way" who approaches Williams even closer. Hamtree Harrington is his name. Brooks is also with the same show. The records serve an Important purpose to some bands. In many In- stances, offers for a tour of the one-night territory have tome in to tha various leaders, prompted solely by the fact their records sold well In that territory and that thi public waa willing to pay to hear the disk artists in person in a dance hall or at a concert. Corrrespondence shown by several leaders quotes some flattering guar* antees and percentages which must only be refused through the reording orchestras usually being already sigsed for months to come at permanent location. Side Street Cab's "Arrangement" A laugh to the musician is a side-street cabaret in Atlantic City, which boasts a five-piece orchestra. It's a buck and tan place and draws tha professional entertainers in the late hours of tha early morning as a drop-in and sight-seeing place. The laugh is that the band, every time it recognizes some visiting orchestra celebrity, will get out "the" arrangement to show off and do its stuff ffcr their contemporaries' edification. Ray Stillwell Breaks Record Ray Stillwell and his orchestra broke the attendance record at the New Euclid Gardens, Cleveland, O., the week of August II, following such well known organizations as Ted Weems' Victor orchestra, Herb Wiedoft's Brunswick band and Dave Harman's Columbia recording orchestra. Stillwell Is r Cleveland musical sensation, being booked to open at tha Hotel Winton Sept. 28, and double with tho Palace theatre the opening: week. He will also furnish all the music at the hotel. * SILVER BELL BANJOS Sew Catalog — Just Out THE BACON BANJO CO . Inc GflOTON. CONN, denying that! Meakin. SHERWOOD'S* BAND (12) Music and Singing 25 Mins.; Full (8pecial) State Lake, Chicago Chicago, Aug. 30. This aggregation originally came from the Coast, and for the past six months have been laying the leading picture theatres around this territory. They are not the best musicians in the world nor the best entertainers, but they offer such a varied program that they make you like it. It opens as a two-act with a woman officiating at the piano and ERNIE GOLDEN AND HIS McAL- aPIN ORCHE8TRA (11) Keith's Hamilton Arthur L. Lee, manager of the McAlpin Hotel, presents the band, which is not new to vaudeville, but making a return after some time with a brand new act which Is marked for its contrasting pop and go compared to the former offer- ing. The band numbers 11, with Ernie Golden, an arranger of standing at the piano.. There are two brasses, ■ft* J» ***_.£» 2£Lir£«^2ft5wJ saxes, trombones, tuba, drums. that brings them In—there is no use banjo and violin, played by Sid Hawkins, who deserves program distinction for his vocal efforts. Hawkins is possessed of a sympa- thetic tenor that is the more im- pressive coming from a musician. They open with Rachmaninoff's "Prelude in O Minor" in fox trot tempo, a corking arrangement. The famous "Melody" by Brigadier- General Charles G.* Dawes, the nominee for Vice President on the Republican ticket, follows. It is an extraordinarily beautiful melody and was featured by concert vio- linist even before the composer came into the limelight politically. The saxes carry it excellently. (Continued on page 19) Fred Fisher Is trying to come back as a ballad house, which was tbs old McCarthy and Fisher's specialty before "Dardanella" and the dance craze came along. Fisher is concentrating on "The Ten Commandments of Love," a genuine tear-jerker, and "She Was a Good Fellow," by tha writers of "Broadway Rose," a former Fisher hit. Paul Specht is the subject of an Interview in the "Success Magazine for November" as related to Earle C. Reeves," under the titles "What I Brought from Sinking Springs." The Utter Pennsylvania town Is Specht's home town. One Night Problem For Whiteman'* Tour Glens Falls, N. Y., Sept. t. Paul Whlteman's orchestra did not d.'aw as well here as was expected. The concert was given in the Knights of Columbus, auditorium, under the direction of Ben Franklin, of Albany, who booked engage- ments for Whiteman in Sara- toga, Lake Placid and Glens Falls. Orchestras draw well at picture and vaudeville the- atres here, but for some reason they fall down when booked for a one-'.ilght concert or dance job. Whitemnn's Leviathan or- chestra, one of the strongest touring organizations, failed to turn In a profit for the pro- moter the first' time they played here last winter at t>c K. of C. JSTTHtorium. The rea- son given then was that there was Foo larpe a percentage of the ev nlng dress society crowd and too small a percentage of the garden variety dancing crowd. The demand of the audience was for concert, not dance music. Yet when Whiteman came himself with the finest of popu- lar concert music, the house was small. ANOTHER B'WAY. DANCE HALL Another new dance hall on Broadway will be opened next month. It Is the Bluebird, on tha first floor of 1587. It Is to be oper- ated by the former management In control of the old Bluebird on 62d street and Broadway, now the sits) of the Arcadia. LARRY DEHLER sfATturgg Larry Dehler, booking manager oC the Joe Henry musical enterprises, was married Aug. 1 to Margaret Brydges of Niagara Falls, N. T. The couple are making their hotce In New York. E. MAX BRADFIELB • Musical Director of ihe Palace Hotel, San Francisco Was a New Tork visitor l»st vwk. Ha hns store returned to the OM<t. Mr. Bmrtflelel, one of the. forerr.o74 western orchestra lenders, j0 another who add* his | r:< !-<•< to "SALLY LOU" lloro Frej's Fox Tiwt Heaaatlea \ Robbins-Engel, Inc. 1 Mule ftibll.lM-r., lfM B'war. M. T. Cltr