Variety (March 1926)

Wednesday, March 3, MM PICTURES aroused wonder as to who books this sort of thing in a B. & K. house. Lnd why. It is 20 minutes of an- noyance The title of this thing Is ••Sea Scamps." Discriminating buy- ers may pass It up. Edward K. House played at the nighty organ and concluded with n bit of song while the organ con- tinued with unseen hands. House sings nicely for an organist. B«nnle Kruefrcr, saxophonist, soloed thrice and displayed talent in support of his presence and position on the bill. His applause ration was not large, but that is not necessarily signifi- cant at the Chicago. They didn't ■walk out on him. They did on Mr. Anderson. RIVOLI It appears to be rather bad show- manship on the part of Publlx to follow the first Frank Cambria re- vue, "Great Moments of Grand Opera," with his second "A Garden festival" without allowing a week or so to elapse between the two. Both are of the classical order, and both are good, but there Is such a thing as ' too much of a good thing." A change of pace with one of the John Murray Anderton revues be- tween the two would make the Cambria show all the more accept- able. At that, hov> over, th« show at the Rlvoll stands up rather well, the management knowing that they had a bill that was heavy with the classics managed to Inject a little lighter material early In the bill in the persons of Home and Dunn, the same Bert and Henry of vaudeville fame, who with three numbers, vir- tually stopped tii. Bhow. The en- tire program runs two hours to the dot. The selection from "The Fortune Teller" served as the overture, run- ning seven minutes, Joseph Ldttau's direction getting a round of ap- plause at the finish. A GranlUind Bice "Sportlight." released by Pathe ruder the title of "Leaps and Bounds," was cut to five minutes with a number of athletic thrills in it. Itome and Dunn held the stage for the next 10 minutes, doing three numbers, starting with "Dinah," they inrpressed with their harmony, and with a "mush" number follow int they showed that they could put over comedy effectively In a picture house while working in a subdued manner. Finally an operatic medley parody at the finish sent them away to a corking applause return, with the audience asking for more. Seven minutes were given over te the Rivoli "Movievent?," six shots being shown and International walking off with the honors, with four of these. Pathe having fur- nished the remaining two. The Crown Jewels of the Russian Czar caused the greatest comment among th06* In front. Hamld Ramsey, at the Wurlitzer, offered a "Berlin Re- view," starting with "Alexander's Raxtime Band'' and continued down through the later compositions of j I. B. until seven in nil had been played and shown on the screen. Eight minutes. Just prior to the feature, Cam- bria's "A Garden Festival" (Presen- tations) was presented, running ex- actly 1< minutes and being enjoyed decidedly by the audience. The feature for the week was Richard Dlx's latest lau*h "wow." "Let's Get Married," that had the audience howling for a little more than an hour. Fred. STRAND New York, Feb. SH. The weekly "Frolic" again pre- scribed as the main presentation Item, but this time headed by Or- vllle and Pattl Harrold, with Rita Owin holding over. Havinj? "Irene" (Colleen Moore) as the screen feat- ure, the extravaganza was laid out to finish before a modiste shop set, the ballet corps. 12. divided between two windows as models. The current stage contribution is down to 27 minutes, somewhat shorter than it* predecessor, al- though possessing a full quota of action. This easily ceptable to those present. Opening by Mile. KlentOVA and M. Daks in a tfypsy rouiin.. accom- panied by the billet the following insert had Orvtlle Harrold soloing and thence bringing on his daugh- ter, who also siing alone. H<>t!> tamily members entranced to recep- tions. Neither being new to picture house requirements or the COopei - atlon afforded by an orchestra tnat knows what it's doing, both pro- duced easily and fluently. However, the HarroldH were not through In the finale scene the pater sang "I'm Palling in Love With Someone" to his daughter, posed in a window after which Miss Pattl rendered "Alice Blue Gown," from the origi- nal score of "Irene.** Between the appearances of the ilarroKls was sisitted Miss Owin for a comedy lyric and danre, after which Tevls Huhn. banjotet. idolized out pop airs to approval Miss Owin wr>s b?-k again for fl seated hard shoe dance, aimed at laughs, and she again was lor .van. to gyrate hi the midst of the finale ensemble. Getting comedy across In a pic- ture house is no easy accomplish- ment. The theatres do not seem suited to it because of size and atmosphere, and a spc-Mm? vo'co Is unquestionably a "cold" proposition within these enclosure*. As to this, witness the former quips of Frank BROADWAY'S B ASH 1 8; CK statbteee> x •> Baliavt* le aiaaa fcv n Prai.Cisco. Feb It Usui «• rsOert'gBBJPja PTaaftlaoe l k < tOEFS STATE, L A, AT $22,700 BIG SHOWING AND IN LEAD *'ugb^"rm «M I Doll* weD be s Sute'i Capacity 2.300 as Against 3,700 for Met. Doing $21,500 Last Week with "Am. Venus"— Auction Block" and Ruke Wolf at State 1 . r. «. on m i id * » v pretty tftii- at - .I, ■ 'Vi M from tb« storm last w*i>k Top mitney w*nt to th* Capi- tol Willi \ h'.'M" ■ I'tractioo. "The bU.'t Bird.' which tot a.h*i(*t |t4.< •no «n Iht •♦*< :> *n4 ffWUie pic Mr* fl irty I i I4.|0 10ST BATTALION" IN AT 50c FIAT, BID 53.S00 ■VENUS" FLOPi OPKJ PEKA1 the "Uoyle oirr pulled »4.5S». A now apealal cents oa tbe street Monday vrtth tlM openlae of "Mar* Nostrum" al the Criterion, kietrd- rhe houses last wr- li The town got tangled up In a fierce enowsttirm thai kt.i . r.i everything; la tbe iln'iwrirnl Uf>e . i i . 1 v nut "The Rued 10 reeturdi'.y.* the first to crash through itheuod the storm •m reeoidcJ for ol'.i gee«i, when Into cunsldvi'ii. "Twa Am tatter e mall Toi oh We< —Other Flop*. Too ! Tfcpeitu. Katia. Feb I* (Ore*.eg Population, 75.0001 "The Roa4»,te Yesterday" faitca office of the a ereebre ru bbe eaw H war li 1 ebubL ah* tije oth •tree:- 1. en with business MMMl Srrr. Id neighborhood a< |:»>oo. Attoe- ~B1.i Paraile" (U c III 11, UN. |l.u-:.'.;») (Uth week) J.! mi ef aunoal 111* teat week, to |*l.ti*l Larreo—That Royle OM* 0 CMS] tO-Ut Little bus >re. but under «»rm tor I' "' ' • ' '' ' ' \ . ' - ^ inerlcan VrnuaJ, li-60) Had : J>1»; rulaed worka tan. Hooa to Y ii 14: M-*«> anda naniea Ta! ataaakar cut In r"nalderaWir 11 too Palace. 1- :. Chaney In "BIIU:k Bird" iM -U I (1.4S2; 15-S0I Had It aaalntulned poro of ip* nine. Would bave broken bouee record. $14,130 Be Parade" <M (i M) ItajeeTie-lUM. H-l»> "The Wuaiar. of the WnrW IF P.I; -The CnwrUleti LnW Itadea l v>\ h <.B 1 away laa picture I andled" At the VetuM" waa run heavy adytrtls- othei flop, thenaft not a* bear* aa that ki the tieht and took altauat ti.40v Jump laat \ c.k, . : >ttlan tlk.tta. Colony —' What Happened) u> tnw (O.ti.tte. ia-ie> Vur am we:k or ITlilveraal'a tennccy houw etc fJ4» K o aattUPa laklna isroateet l>«n (•• th i credit for the pull at the tit c! In.*, CriKr'.an— "Maro Noatr'lm" IM 8-M> ISatj ( iat week) <n>.r.' i Uonday r.icliL Not at111 »o. I aliow. type of picture, but May kio:a m lure tor i. .".ii three rr -ii*>p. b -:-uee of limited capacty nr. I ... ,«,. . r that will be fjven Pat' turc I ' / Cn.baeay—The atirrr Wld.m - (SI '.: M) 1(1)0; »HO.|ti0) Kloal w :t K m in Murray plcru.-e here. lb2 run Imvin- beea over cU monthi aa deration la Dolictne" nevt W N J t wc'.•!,> rereiole, ta.etj Rialta—"Moaita of the South B-aa- tF P-H (l.l«* : ai-lo-ll- •91 CombinjUon of circumstances last r.iek that eh't butlnoty up H ' .n^ of ecroeai tcala of depavt- ir .1 i tora ^-irlc pulled and picture *>■'•■" carrlsd eoaaidivabl.- ilmuthl at i, u > oBJcs. Alrvoct l».«ei). r.vol.—"U-hlnrt M.ie riolU' (IT » UI tl.ll'J. 911 Cera- laa la j^h produrlr.K'picture tocether e.'illi tioat revae rreserfllon. "The Bujh-nse Caborrt,' which PublU > 3 t a--, vet put on ran r-utlnr to 1 cat riKJte tbeaue baa had alaca Take, t'i.- Otrend—-Tl.< Crand Dnehaaa and th- Wntter" tr" p-U) cj.soo, I; •••Sii Menj iu*s nnms <!raw end In a';cj fleturn ''.peiher with t Cory Cetlmalea fer Lael Week u.e (TOO. 40)— Venue* luat bathlua ti Koike hero did not ■ n etuft 11,400 Cory (40», 10)—'Road to Teller- ly" did not set business Picture ri^c e\nifTlcafe ColumMa, "Mannciiuln" MtttO* pclitan, "niutibcanra Bcvtn Wlver", PaVlaaCT. "Hun« llTlfl DeUlOO Mill" , PTMMWit. * Loot HatlnlIon (2«1 wNk) Ttt iHtx "Pulnri- of rt«:mur<- BOSTON REPEATS Cemll Bert Ennis' Serial •ert r.r.r.s former publicity dl •actor -or Sawyar A Labia, and P't- n press e-ent of Hie late Paraaea .< Ui^i. :.aa alfnt-J to errlte 1! articles ew tb« picture haal- K'-U for -r:i. <r,fUr Maaaatnc - rtnaie will deliver oae arllcla ef Mea werde eaonihly Ur eete real •ader Ike Utia, " «err» Daya.- The »'i. *( the prevlout tnat ewepi nerdoy .ffig one Ihe n-eW I.eT I), spite the storm "The P.l» Pa- rade' al the Majestic Cid fu.00'1 This -e^s cn a r^r with the busl- he*week before Tbe pic- Us fifth we" k has eo far a .la any I In rl" and i.. :e mo business is still hittlni- .1 Wk-Ii tic- ore arfer the new pollcv whlcli Is In .ll.eei cooincmion efith the bis "Met ' tWO hse sis more wei l:a rh- Pbbhl Th'-tlrss Corp. rd th^uJl!^ Hilinm Morris, be will prObakt) rotate in II her PiiWis katMaa to pl.'y out h| 'nlr.icl The lis* policy al the ftiv didn't click. It being derided th the pit orchestra ami tbe 1 M'jrr.ty Anderson unite r enflut* 'a total Hff week up tu normal "l'eacocb Keathere. first half, sood picture, but rate Ik so I re -yaat aae ef thoee weeks - Total. I Me. K. C. Houses Dropped Off Badly Last Week^-No Out (Drawina Population, 000,000) K aaaaj Ci ty Keh. u Last week e .ee ma to which rece Ills to plcl leave r eturep, but tl > acnscll' loirs.sl show on the. ofTe.-l.ig at tho Newmnn. where an elMiore.te pte. enlatlon was nlvci In -nnnec lion w It't the film, "Th American Venue" H< contestHnta In th' :.r»e: 11-441 "The Head lb Veei. .day (P D CI M inaire- eaenl claimed picture over wubllc's henda ti.lo* TMa Week MejeeUc, Tar Cry" "Caw aba*. Strand. "Draeeheert.- -Fifth Ave- sis"; Victory. "Sally. Irene and Mary " nnd "Stella flarle": aiaito. The Sea Beast (holdover) Pltiying lc Ante? I Anaelce, Feu It. Quite a few picture actors end studio employes al th» foa lot. via* Ited a eoft drink establishment "cVeslern avcrus nnd were plsyl: poker/ When the ponce walked they found I . on the table They took the foUtrwIes into e tody' Joseph I la nob. Ss. dlieri Tbomaa Ssai.l. 11. propmy aa Uso Cott'aa. yf. fllan csitter; J rax. M: Kies Davta IS. m.' Hempbre>a tv. ftupert fcajreil. Jsfca C Waakey U BUly Bea John Brewr. Ail of thetn proved to be actord aa they hsd their in-ke-op oo u i..l i - * 'ire.ee Voa II (Drawing PoptilstTon, 130,000) law't State, with capacity, o tbe road up last week oga'.nat sister competitor. Metro pet ittUi, lb b.ta a boMIng Ureagth of, 00 Tbe en use f or It woe -the ,ot of lube Wolf mil Mttiiealer nd. Watt is on- of thoee ifiaaU i.t. ttoluere sou caa ilu any. • nd arauea an audience The real wlkl over bjm frota lb? rt. es they had beea tipped off vo what he hnd done at the ulevarri. wbeacw he eajne from n the result that tbe evening le at thle hotter, waa holdout. K.inehon nad kt^rco aaem in have Ipued over a great 'idea" in plac- Ibeb brother bar* und at thle nie, ue be bee see a pace which Vine Buck, who la earning Into tbe etrapolltan with a big blare at trumpets ami Hasllar etyle at ealei- t:.;nosetit. win hcd bard to keep up with. There wea little .llrfereiice In tliu acloal erase. U nny. of. both of these sjeeaesa. wHh. el course, the smaller house thereby aatltled to 'Iret place. The feature picuae at the State aae Hubert HeoRyopeje, Auction lock." At tbe ftfctropoHtaa they ad yuet oae ef those avaraaw alage shows In ai.a.M ilo« wttb the seayaga ebnerbsa at -The Aaseriaan Venae- No one get aear-eritbus laetlc about aeetas the anclethed eVeaaiee. es that Is aeiMog navel out bare One evriilnfr early In tbe week br aetual count fd » p." as, there ware lr pentone aeetteeesl akewt Ihe Taat bileor.y of Ihe Metropolitan tlreowir.n'e bojrpttan. with "The Big Pai ado la lie K.b weak, kapt abreast o» the terr duwatewa bousea. It le kard to figure boss mng rhe Pared*- will last here, aa the iireSIa each week at Qrauaaaacw arc wa> aa axecarj of I".000 Pea ut Ms rta third weak, raa "■uf at a (oael gall as ta. m niioa i ",tts i Taw PUalto eert ef aesjaei aa i ■«• bald with -That rtoyta OtrV Inst week. an4 It leak* ah tbattah a eld Up Ti.ie did not m- he fans aa the ey it Syn it nd d1r*rtoi Urotbera anlne star broke his ley in )<,toi> leg from a clifr st Llvslan l'«rk which at tbe e-ime time stopped production of the hero of the bis esse we. tor.h ploc^ when anotn.i dog win sed fsKt fight be SPtnirtls vis. .11 I Bsada i. lerip to aval bis puuyte! Rib Tir, Tin ami rot w-rK. so ihe plctvra e m> be held up oatu aia baag ran gat on the |utj age ek with the Olya i- elurt, "nie Only Thll.g." Tl.la Is the flret tune la several ...' •.ii- thai the boa** (at out of tb* "rod" aaltiias Cstimstee fee Late Wta* •setrapol,taiv---Aa«atteii Vaaaa" P l-i <»7tt. tt-«t) Tea r.,iay of the "Vaaua- type la tkh> rommunilv fn raiue people to be esrrhnaj ....... m see how rhai ioos oh e.'r-en pocr week 1 : Million Dellee—"Don Q (H A) U.m rs.»5) This I>.ug rs!r. *• Jmtufe m Uurd week did v<r> wrtl |ii.e«a OVaumaWs Egyptiaw—-Th Ma Parajf tM-c'i, OJSO, 1* i :.'. i KM liraumaa carried tbbl .1 -tare through Ita ino » . a to v.iv b<-altk> reiurna Srt.ee* Loew's Stats—"Aucti.,n Bloi k~ i.M-li M i (MM, 2S.hr, s Creel IniMhM in ItulM Wolf and orchestra, with retail that it raraafkl most pl'oilr.ii gi-bsH IZ2J00. Ce.tee.on- The Owty Th:im- IM d M , HAM. Ik-3I| in.i r Otyi, piime en pl"ci. of rena- me iss Kieat deal n,arn thai) I r hal gave it prruiictlon b elpeculSofsa Llbtety. f let M- Sxch. in Sieus Felle l^is Angeles e l. 10 P; tt National Is u eet ii . h evebaiote heie wllhln th/ ne l I ture It is rumored A irise i, a been sent to N«w V. tJnr.rrs»l nn/l K II hate aa ei'-htpte *'« SjvfiS rk i nra a. aaewtog Ike imieaeTe pre' , MW of die See Btaat.* kOb _ Ide kal ee Ti ef tat g»p)ik«sj of Jejgas ~ tTTatoro s.i bssskal, tkok*. evi • aa.s frwas It atatt ta « saau 1 Thsdo lactose seats t* base raate an '1MtB>*o*t wttb its pabist, waa art 3 SSbt Use hatbe al evil tie "I Ihe lasf tuti. ma le pri'r to lei fmxi Itlae* sis* La Mnrrs nnme will I .ilnaied fr .in the un I ft in! billing with the nes name IKI adlr.g First National Present* The Oin from kVealaearlr* wHb Owia Lewie Dfnvee Chsnaee l^enver lei. It - Balan has isken rhurfe as li.aeji I of the.lo. .'I Ht S lteeed- msr nh.i b,s g-pi | in. Coast us.ue fle rba s e , for otvetal -sere • eet fur Ualtroraol eeel •., aa.n.age she BCRiXJ STAR BUBBI111 •but Lake City, reb |« Mary Nasi lag, leedltuj wr.msn of lb* Kalpk rieeilaetr Ptayera (Wnke* tr.eatrr) has been fore a* cut of the «"n,p..ny through a minor opera- two .sd n.sy he ea.i indetnMely tere-i I.Sa ere for Ml** VARIETY 37 Moulaa ut the C'apitul ami M'«i Owln'M current attempt* in thN <ii- n i.<in upon ent';int IriK. It mi it b<- ilia.1 the Htaue Is tun liti- awny hi tin Strun'i for s\h<:i Ulng iHirim* Lklti klao betna true of Uic Cuplt«»l, on the other t. • tt iiniiumlui iii.it i-'■ 11>ii■< win undoubtctUy kci afitir ft. IIH'tiy, BUtll 1". P. llOUht'S usiiis; that policy win have n l etter c ianc«j tt> iri'« "talk acrnstri ViccauMe nf ihe pruxlinity in which th<>ir ■tatTvx • re ut iny; hrounhi t«. the tirHt r.' t "f sc:its. probably ■ btviring oh ilu* rostrum recunatruutkih of the I-'ub- lix chain, However, etdttini; back to the Strand show. Mi-^ (>v%iu h;is writ- ten in to tay that any re»emt>tance her comedy dancing hit.- to Jack Donohue'e Well \ tr»c<i an;icr> Is tx- plnined by her havtnt{ iiaid for tin; lute of such similarity and tu Mr. Donobue. So that ecpLtms th.it. There Beeinfi to '>« little tloubl that rt the Strand they prefer Miaa Owin ininu.H her comedy ui.tkeun and when turning loose varloaa kladfl of legitimate kicks. This. coaUnfT at the Hnish, InTartably set* her Holid when previously indUa- Uona are thai the jury la Mtill out. No overture on this program, the schedule b'asting riprht into the weekly, which ran only six minutes "nd mayhaps was s'leed btscause of the leivth of the feature, S5 min- utes. The "Frolic" was behind the fews event* and the screen leader 'allowed that. Henco, not countingr the "cha-l—r- orwn re-ltal. there ire hut three pcklctpal profrram ••vents, with thest» havlntf a com* bined runninp time of 118 m'""l-'8. Kki„. RIALTO New York. Feb. 2h. As everyone kivows, the Rlalto Is the step-child of the two P«P houses In New York, hut from the looks of tti" current program, which represents at least a moderate ex- pendltore, there is an effort afoot to luniii mi the business. So front tho standpoint of entertainment, the current bill is Intensely Interesting liecauNO ot the olivious effort to buikl Up a show against great dis- advantages In the llrst place, -tho Rlalto stage isn't so blK and fat'il- Itles bai k of tin arch are sd meagre that when the main presentation i;ot through for the llrst ihow Sunday, the it in, its titles, credits, censor license, minor credits, director's name and tho first picture were Hashed on the portal curtains nnd then cut oft until the paraphernalia of ICddle kins' band could bo moved out of the way und the screen could be lowered. Opening the overture is called "A Hunting Scene," which la so-so, and is followed by the news reel, which has Inserted any number of gag sc.'nes, apparently made by Vox, as they bore the Inelgnia of the Fox Sunshine comedies, in these gag scenes a phoney title was flashed of a phoney happening In a phoney town and the kuk was acted out by several comedians, of whom sum Hummerville was most prominent. It's a forking idea for the wise audi- ences, and although Hcvcral of the scenes themselves went as Hat as tissue paper, the Idea le still Corking. Then Hy fSels, the seven-foot oiKanist, who tills week Called his number "llurnltiK Questions," the Idea being thai s, question was asked on a placard nnd answered by tho tune frtiiii his Organ. For Instance: "Who was the lazy K'»'f who wrote the long of " and then be played "Carry Me Hack to Old Vlrglnny." Went well nnd the audience got his stuff. Bddlc Bklns and His Melody Mixers followed, with two tenors and four n\r.x, supplied by the house. Neither of the tenors stai ;> d any prairie Ares, while the nh'ls might Just as well have been omit- ted. One of them opened the num- l ei by sinriinn one of the most crude "jiluf;" souks on the Florida boom ever given around here. The sung was called "On the Tamtam!" trail, an that road between Tampa and Miami Is called. The song Itself wasn't worth much, and its sinking wasn't very gooil either. And as the man whn sang this didn't do any- thing later on excu{it stand around, the conclusion Is that he was a song pluggcr. The oilier fe"ow had a b'tier voice but didn't net over so strongiyi And while th<- four Kirls wen capable nnd knew th"ir rou- tines, the sta^inK «'f the revue, Which h id Blkins and his band iih the main features, was very bad— so much so that while one soiik uns being sung ihe band played fortis- simo and the girls did a fancy rou- tine directly In front of the singer. Klkins' land was an Individual hit, and deservedly so, as lt % ln a good or;: n ration, but outside of Kd'llo and his outfit, the presentation was strictly small time. Feature followed and pleased, while a good "Aesop's Fable" wound up tie show. Ruslnes.u Sunday afternoon was miVs off. and tho house .u 1.30 p. m. represented about hall capacity u deplorable Sunday Hhowtnpr. gfsfc. BIALT0, TORRINGT0N vVnterbury, r?6nn„ March The (tinho, Tolriugtuli. Ims pit The house jiia \ .■ movies nnd is un- <iet the niitii.u. •m nt of 'he Cotonln] Thtsatres, Inc. MrlKsMi I.