Variety (January 1925)

VARIETY Wedneklay, January 21, 1925 HOUSE REVIEWS RIVOLI New York, Jan. 20. Six Items on this week's Rlvoli program, of which three are films, but reaching the two-hour mark on the strength of the feature running 88 minutes. Other than the fllm leader, the routine Included the usual weekly and an Aesop Fable short. "Hold That Thought" titled the fa- ble, which Included sufficient com- edy, while revealing additional Imag- ination on the part of the cartoonist, to make it stand up to its assign- ment of closing. The overture was "The King Hath Said," for which 34 men were In the pit. Pertaining to a light score the response tendered was in a similar vein, but fulfilled the purpose and accounted for six minutes. Th6 pic- torial seemed somewhat shortened, but was comprised of four submis- sions by Pathe, three from the Fox events and Klnogcams was Included with one representative. Fox's Item of airplanes being run down a chute and into a concrete Wail at 140 miles SB hour for governmental test pur- poses seemingly liad sn "edge" on the remaining contributions. Of the "presentations" nothing di- rectly heralded the film feature, but If anyone is wondering about "Sally," they're also in a quandary at this house In the form of a tenor, so- prano and a quartet An unlmpos- inx interior bad the tenor seated in a large chair verbalizing a verse and chorus when the transparent and serlm drop, l>ehlnd blm, was lighted so as to reveal the girl on some- thlnx of a high pedestal, beneath which was the quartet. "Frivolous Sal" was used as an insertion, after whlen the final chorus and fadeout left Just the girl and tenor in view. A pantomimic flirtation dance, done by two women and a man, was brief, but made its bid for novelty through complete head masks of grotesque appearance being worn by the danc- ers. The actual footwork was of the r most simple type and was performed la "one," with the stage dressed by a couple of futuristic trees and a cnnrins lamppost. The headlining film was placed between the two mentioned presen- totlons.' ■♦■«v>"'t. BJa4f. RIALTO macco" being played by the orches- tra. This work was done in connec- tion with the principal presentation, entitled "The Fiesta" and represent- ative of fete day in a small Italian village. The Strand entire Ilne-up was enlisted and the presentation ran 15 minutes, giving entertainment In spots. The news reel followed, and was Interesting, not only in subject-mat- ter, but from the musical scoring done by the orchestra director, Carl Edouarde. Enough light music was thrown in to keep the lighter sub- jects lively and to make them act ns a relief from the ordinary serious subjects of a news reel. Another presentation, "Rendez- vous", which featured a violin solo, dance duo and tenor solo, followed, and ran for eight minutes. Then the feature. "Flaming Love," which didn't begin to get good until 10 minutes from the finish. "Flaming Love" ran 83 minutes—at least 20 too long. It is a mediocre program picture, suited more to the daily changes than any place else, and its inclusion on the Strand bill dragged things considerably. Following the feature, "The City on the Canal." referring to Sweewald, a town built In the Battenburg marshei> in Germany, was shown all too briefly—mayl)© three minutes. These Pathe scenics are used regularly at the Strand, and they're mayonnaise to the show. An organ solo exited a house com- fortably filled at the conclusion of the first show. ' Bitk. were next and sane three popular numbers. Benjamin Landsman next ap- peared in "one." singing the Intro- duction to "Pagliaccl." He was fol- lowed by Bernard LePage. who sat on a high, specially constructed pedestal against a black velvet drop for his mandolin solo numbers. This act closed the presentation. All of the stage turns were high class. The Russian singers. In par- ticular, gave a memorable perform- ance. The show was chiefly talent. Loop. New York, Jan. 18. With one of the Yltagraph' fea- tures topping the show, the current RIalto blU doesn't hit very high spots for the reason the picture Is .based. OB a conventional theme. It ^ isn't a bad fllm and should be pass- able smaller city stuff. '" ▲ two-hour show prevails. Open- '1ns la full light, the orchestra, 'vwtlly Stahl direcUng at tbe first Sunday night shov, played the oft- hsard and always aasy->to-hear "11 Ouarany" overture. During the playing, about six minutes, the full light changed to a misty spot on ' ihs center and side curtain banks, t^'ohanging to red for the finale. Then. r Into the Classical Jazs, the same oolor prevailed. Both tbe overture and the Jazz stuff weat solid, with the Ja^s get- ting the most. Following this came the Rialto Magazine, which started off with a Post Scenic of Hungary, with most of the emphasis placed on the picturesque costumes. From the scenic stuff, the Magazine went Into the news items without a break, the entire showing taking about fourteen minutes. Next was the Senla Gluck and • Felicia Sorel dance presentation of the "Redeeming Sin" prolog. It consisted of a brightly painted flat set against black velvet drapes and furnishing a Parisian atmosphere tor a mild Apache dance. As Apache stuff is all of "The Redeeming Sin," the presentation was well placed and Effective, even though it wasn't such a smash flash. It ran five minutes. Following this and for 76 minutes, the picture, with no ap- plause at tbe finale. After August Werner, baritone, sang Geoffrey O'Hara's pretty well- known, "Give a Man a Horse He Can Ride," a favorite baritone se- lection. This through, a two-reel Century-Universal comedy, "Getting Trimmed." ran for fifteen minutes, with Wanda Wiley featured. It is rough slapstick and funny in spots. Here It furnished a neat relief for the show. ^ An organ solo exited part of a ^ packed house around 9:30. Business was capacity and over at the begin- ^ nine. They kept coming all the time, which may be indicative of > MMne Naximova draft Sitk. y PICCADILLY New York. Jati. 19. Frederic Fradkin's Initial week as director of music in this house and the first page of the program Is given over to the announcement. The violinist Is best known along "the street" from his appearance in the Keith houses, although tbe read- ing matter emphasizes his former post of concertmaster of the Boston Symphony. Fradkln marlcs his Inauguration by playing "Blue Danube Waltz" <ui an overture, immediately followed by a specialty in person at his own platform. The solo was "Chanson Bohemlenne," followed by another brief selection. Numbered one and two on the program, the waltz and Fradkin's personal efforts combined for a suitable introduction enhanced by the violinist's personality. He is also given credit for scoring the screen feature. Other items of entertainment list- ed "At Dawning," billed as the theme song of the main film,,sung by KIsa Gray. Tbe setting for this was be- fore a landscape drop with the sun half risen. Complete dimming of lights and a "pin" spot was the final Illusion. After the feature was placed, the organ specialty, by John Hammond, of two selections— "Oriental" and "Do You Remem- ber?" This addition to the program would be just as valuable if placed to start the performances, not am- plified by the house orchestra and overture. As it stands, and from appearances, it principally serves as a "chaser." The pictorial ran 11 minutes, made up of five extracts from the Fox re- lease and three from International. The closing spot was held by a Pathe, "Our Gang" comedy, titled "Fast Company." sponsor tor a few snickers, but missed the heights other releases of the kids have reached. Skiff. CHICAGO STATE Los Angeles, Jan. IS. Ab'^jt an average show, which did not seem to get anywhere in partic- ular, though satisfying to the audi- ence. Opened with International weekly and a Pathe Review which covered city of Nashville, consuming six minutes. Kxcerpts in the weekly in- cluded Earl Carroll selecting chorus girls in Boston and Ziegfeld girls shoveling snow In New York. Lipschultz and his music masters, some 20, rendered a concert lasting about 14 minutes. It opened with Offenbach's "Orpheus In the Lower World," remarkably .well rendered. Then Llpschultx, offered as his solo number "All Alone," a beautiful ac- complishment. He is properly "amed the "American Krelsler," as 1 > seems to be a master of the uow and at the same time perfordks the double feat of being more than the average conductor, a leader with grace and skill, which is obvious to those who witness his offering and endeavors. The orchestra here is a pick of the men in this locality, and has some capable musicians In its assemblage. Then came a Mermaid comedy, "Wedding Shdwers," featuring Llge Conley. It Is one of those Jack White two-reel productions which oozes over with action and comedy. Conley looks like a sure bet in the "slapstick" line, and even shows pos- sibility of attaining a foothold into the better type of comedies. Though tbe comedy was not one of the feat- ures of tbe bill during its IS min- utes, it provided plenty of laughs. The Fanchon and Marco presenta- tion for the week, "Ideas of Rain," was not the forceful and entertain- ing one Marco himself would have provided had be its sui>erTl8ion. The arrangement was poor, and though it was presented in good fashion un- der the circumstances, much more could have been done with M. The setting was an exterior—barnyard— >wlth Oswald's Victor Band at tbe foot of a hay mow. In rural costumes, supplying the initial entertainment The boys opened with two* fast low numbers that hit on all six, espe- cially the secund one, "Oh. Better." which has a bit of vocalisation. The boys occupied about six minutes do- ing this, when Jack "Rube'* Clifford made his api>e|u1mee on the scene. He did a bit Of announcing, and out trotted the Ring Sisters, who sang a blue number—a la Duncan Sisters, of course—and then indiilged In a Uttle Ulk With Clifford. After that Cliffbrd did his old bench stuff and 1^ twisting, con- cluding with song by him. Then the Oswald staff played "It Ain't Goln' to Rain No More," and a deluge followed from the files, with the King girlq raising umbrellas to show that it was reaL Tbe scenic Investitures used for the- presentation were not expensive, nor was the show in itself, outside of the cost of the Oswald group, who should have been given at least 10 to 13 minutes to cut loose, as they are prime favorites here through having played at the Cinderella Roof last summer during the absence of Herb Wiedoeft and his Brunswick outfit. The feature picture was Corlnne Griffith In "Love's Wilderness." Unff. TOURISTS MAKE L A. NORMAL; TRANSIENTS BENEFIT BUSINESS; Met Again Town Leader, $23,250—Misaion Theatre Expire*—"Peter Pan" Short of Four Weekt-^ <'So Big" Surprbes at MiUer'a with $2,450 STRAND New York, Jan. 18. This week's bill runs about five minutes short of two hours, or did *t the first de liixe showing Sunday. If It has to be padded out, Mr. PlUBkstt has two short subjects, a««s reel and Pathe scenic that can be lengthened, for at least the scenic is too short as it stands Chicago, Jan. IS. As an example of a metropolitan theatre presentation, the show at the Chicago, this week, can only be compared to a first-class vaudeville bill It could not be reproduced In a smaller theatre unless the identi- cal acts or similar ones were booked. The presentation half starts with a symphony overture, "Sakuntala." with Joseph Koestner conducting. The story of the music is first flashed on the screen. After the overture, a Topics fllm, during which the orchestra plays "Oh Mabel." Then the stage show starts. It Is a series of big time singing, dancing and musical acts. The first la the Russian Boyar Singers, a mixed company of eight voices. In brilliant costumes. They sing "The Song of the Volga Boat- men" in beautiful harmony and then a peasant folk song, while a girl dancer takes the stage and does a whirling series of typical itusslan steps. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Crawford at the manifolds of the double organ are next This week they have a novelty cross-word puzzle number. A fllm is flashed on the screen show- ing the puzzle diagram, slowly filled in with the names of ccrrent pop tunes. The Crawfords play the chorus of each one. Glenn and Ford, bilh»d as tl^e TWO PLATS SOLD "An Elxchan^e of Wives," the Cosmo Hamilton play, Vtu been bought for pictures by Metro-Oold- wyn-Mayer. * Another work bought ^as "The Open Book," a drama by Hyman Adler and Philip Bartholomae. The latter was a flop Broadway produc- tion, which started out with Evelyn Nesblt In the lead. It was rewrit- ten, and under the title of "Neigh- bors" went to the road. Then, imder the name of "Broken Branches," it came to New York with Adler and Helen Menken in the leads at the 39th St some years ago. OftfOlag and taking five minutes .'^ wmsths overture, the Gasco'Buffal- "How Do You Po Boys'' of radio, CIHEMAOUIIDI CLUB 0FFICEB8 Los Angeles, Jan. 20. At the annual meeting of the Cinema^undl Club, composed of picture artists and designers, held In their new Hollywood clubroonu, the following officers and directors were elected: William Cameron, president; Prodgeon Smith and Daniel Townsend. vice-presidents; William S. fiensbelwood, secretary; Leo Eta Kuter, treasurer, and Jack C Okey, S. R. Bheeley. WUUam Darling. Paul Yodngblood, Robert Bills and Park French, directors. Los Angeles, Jan. 20. (Drawing Population 1,250,000) With an influx of from S.600 to 6,000 tourists a day for the past two weeks, business in the first run houses has been holding up at a normal rate In comparison with the same period of last year. Some of the larger houses are running a bit ahead of last year with the intake while a few of the others are either neck and neck or a bit behind. Those behind probably can lay the cause to the type of attractions they played. Metropolitan, of course, is leader as usual, playing Betty Compson in "Locked Doors," with another Compson, not a Paramount, shown' at the Cameo, released through Pro- ducers Distributing, and ^called "Ramshackle HoulBe." The picture at the Met started off well on Satur- day and Sunday, but slowed down toward the middle of the week. Wednesday usually a rood day, was a bit affected by cold and rain. The Compson picture at the Cameo also got off to a good start and run a bit ahead of tbe offering of the week before. "Peter Pan," scheduled to run four weeks at the Million Dollar, fell away on the beginning of last week and was withdrawn Sunday to make way for "The Golden Bed." Another house to take a "nose dive" was the Rialto, also in the Para- mount chain. "The Dark Swan," in its second week, could not hold up Its head, and played to about half the gross of Its first week. Corlnne Griffith In "Liovti'a Wil- derness." at Loew's State, got off to a fairly good start, but showed no signs of breaking records. This picture was greatly aided by the use of Qlen Oswald and his Victor Orchestra for the presentation. This outfit has a strong following locally and drew into the theatre a lot of new customers. Sid Qrauman's Help 'Tlomola,'* in its seventh week at Orauman's Egyptian, is stlU a weak sister. It is only through the a»- tutepess of Sid Grauman in using a big incidental program and plant- ing a midget village In the arcade le&din«r to the bouse that the. pic- ture has been drawing any trade at all. Qrauman made his stage pro- gram so attractrte It has proven a magnet in drawin«r new and repeat trade to the house, with the pic- ture simply accepted as part of the program, but not of tanportance. "Romola" will probably round out 12 weeks when Chaplin's "Gold Rush" and possibly If that Is not ready, "The Iron Horse." "Ho Who Gets Slappedl' opened at the Criterion for a run. The pic- ture got a good Saturday and Sun- day start, but did not create a fu- rore during the remainder of the week. The hitake, however, indi- cates it will be good for four to six weeks. Reginald Denny in "Oh Doctor," at the California, proved a good draw for this house. His recent pic- tures have established him from the box office standpoint with the result that many of his admirers are going to the Main street house. At Miller's, next door to the Cali- fornia, Colleen Moore seemed to have accomplished the miraculous in staying two weeks, in "So Big." The business on the second week was about two-thirds of the first, and allowed the house a fair mar- gin of profit. The Mission passed out of exist- ence Sunday night to make way for the new Orpheum. For the first four days *rrhls Woman" was the at- traction, held over from tbe previ- ous week and grossed 12,800. The final five days of the house's career were used for a double header. Warner Brothers' "The Printer's Devil." featuring Wesley Bairy, and •The Tie That Binds," independent The double bill Just got fair returns. "Smouldering Fires," in Itji second week at the Forum, went beyond expectations and held up to profit- able business. Estimates for Last Week California—"Oh Doctor" (Univer- sal) (2,000; 27-8S). Reginald Denny starred; is big draw locally. |»,2iO. Million Dollar—"Peter Pan" (Para- mount) (2.200; 26-8S). Three weeks and two days instead of four weeks as scheduled. Children back In school and adult trade not heavy. Nine days total. tlS.SOO. Metropolitan — "Locked Doors" (Paramount) (8,700; 26-85). Doing much better than previous Comp- son feature did here. Good opening two days and held to eonsMitent trade. $21,260. Kgyptisn—"Romola" (Inspiration) l.SOO; to-fl.tl). Bid Orauman's supporting program proves means of holding this feature, without its own drawing power. Qrauhian's In- cidental show and presentation are outstanding features and proved reason for gross. 816,260. Mission—"This Woman" (Warner Bros.) (900; 16-80). Played week and four days, getting on four days. $2,800. With house closing Sunday double bUl Installed Wed- nesday; "Printer's Devil" (Warner Bros.) and "The Tie That Binds" (Tie That Binds Prod. Co.), to fair business, in five days. $2,700. Loew's State — "Love's Wilder- ness" (First National) (2.400; 25- 86). Corlnne Griffith, no world beat- er, playing to about regular aver- age« $17,400., Criterion—"He Who Oets Slapped" (Metro-Goldwyn) (1,600; 40-65). With splendid advance house ex- ploitation and special features, started off well on opening two days, settling to average business re- mainder first week. $11,800. Forum—"Smouldering Fires (Uni- versal) (1,800; 85-65). Proved good second week bet and played to profit. $6,300. Miller's—"So Big" (First Nation- al) (900; 26-76). Third week In downtown houses, this Colleen Moore product did surprisingly large gross. Extraordinarily large for length of time here. $2,450. Cameo — "Ramshackle House" (Prod. Dlst) (800; 25-50). Pleasing Betty Compson feature which boosted intake. $2,150. Rialto—"The Dark Swan" (War- ner Bros.) (900; 60-65). Second week, too long and resulted in total of $3,900. TICKFOBO-ITEILAN FILK OFF Los Angeles, Jan. 20. Marshall Nellan wiU not direct Mary Plckford in the story which he wrote for her that was based on a railroad background. Production of this picture has been called ofC due to the fact that the story is said to conflict with that of "The Desert Flower," which Is to bo Colleen Moore's next First National pro* dttction. BLACKWOOB ACQUITTED Omaha, Jan. 80. Paul Blackwood. SO. picture operator at t^^e Muse thssltre here^ was acquitted on a charge of mur- der. He was accused of slaying Tony Veneslano in a liquor quarrel* The judge removed the oaso away from the Jury and declared It wa« evident Blackwood was not guilty. LLOYD'S HEXT IN KABCHf ,W. A. Fraser, general managed Harold Lloyd productions, and John C. Ragland, eastern Lloyd repro^ sentatlve. Returned to New YorU from abroad last week. Fraser de< parted Jan. 16 for Los Angeleii. While no definite release date haA been set for the last of the PathO' Lloyd films, it will likely reach Nei^ York by March 1. B. & K.'S DETROIT HOUSE Detroit, Jan. 80. Balaibao and Katx have mn* nounced their new fllm house hw, seatlns 1,000, but no location U given. The theatre is to bo financed lo' cally. It Is unlikely the B. a K. house WiU be started before tbe compleilod of the Kunsky New State Theatre. CHAFLDI ItAT COME EAST Los Angeles. Jan. 20. Charlie Chaplin may come east to attend the premier showing of his latest film production. "The Gold Rush." That wlU leave Mrs. Chap- lin alone for somo time on the coast 51 -J .1 Sam Shurman Heads Film Board Milwaukee. Wis.. Jan. IS.—Sam Shurman, head of the Metro-Gold- wyn office, has been elected presi- dent of the Milwaukee Film Board of Trade for 1926, succeeding Harry Hart of F. B. O. Other new officers are: Kd Tun- sthll. Warner Bros., vice-president; V. F. Lorenzo, Celebrated Players, secretary and treasurer; Atty. Ben Koenlf, counsel.