Variety (May 1926)

VARIETY :C9: Wednesday, May 5, 1926 VARIETY'S LOS ANGELES OFFICE ARTHUR UNGAR in Charge Chapman Bldg. v Suite 61J 756 So. Broadway; Phone 6000 Van Dyk LOS ANGELES Professionals have tho free use of Variety's Lot Angeles Office for Information Mail may bo addressed tare Variety, Chapman Bide., Los Angeles. U will be held subject to call or forwarded, or advertised in W rioty's cotter List. Orpheum here is a $3,000,000 monurpent erected for the Orpheum Circuit by a number of local cap Italiats. When this edifice was In the embryo it was planned to have It the best of its kind for enter- tainment purposes, both from the structural and interior standpoint as well as the stage. There is nu doubt that the promoters of the house have done their bit and well, but looks as though the circuit is not living up to its bargain of com- ing through with entertainment that merits a $1.65 tc.>. The show last week smacked very much of being a dedicatory to the inception of the Association (Chi- c .. > shows in the old Orpheum. now the Broadway Palace. Prob- ably the bookers wanted to raise the standard of this small time house by proving that its acis were one a par with the bigger house and that the customers were getting big value for 40 cents. If that was the purpose they suc- ceeded, as several acts on the bill last week at the Orpheum smacked very much of having graduated or been loaned from the Association's ranks. Possibly the Orpheum book- ers figured that the Hilton Sisters, "Siamese Twins," were enough to draw them In and satisfy. The au- dience did not calculate from the same dir.ctk . even thou?r!i the:- were not disappointed in seeing this freak novelty. The cash buyers were Just sore, and If this stun' HARRY HOLMAN says— Dear Jim Madison:--Am sending today for MADISON'S BUDGET No. 19. I still maintain you sell more bright humor for one dol- lar than any man In the world. The special material you wrote me for $500 I wouldn't sell for a thousand. Address communications to JAMES MADISON 544 Market St., San Francisco Telephone Franklin 422 CALL! CALL! For All Artists to Eat at MILLER'S COFFEE SHOP 724 8. Hill 8t., Los Angeles Between Pantages and Hill St Theatre* Ran by Carl and Lillian Muller THE OLD-TIME HOOP ROLLERS 10 percent discount to the profesrlon The Kn'ckerkcker Apts. CLOSE TO ALL THEATRES Single Apts.. Slt.50, accom. 2 people Single Apts., $14.50, accom. 3 people Double Apts.. 917.50, and up Telephone Service and Hot Water at All Hoars 821 South Hope, Los Angeles UflAYCE R. BATTLER, Mgr. HOTEL LA TOSCA "Home of the Profeerional in Lot Angeles" Jg EKUs $10 WEEK SINGLE. $1.50 DAILY $12.50 WEEK D0U3LE Convenient to All Theatres Fourth and Flgneroa streets, LO». ANGEl.KA, CAL. Guernni a Co rh» Ltatfina as* Larteit ACCOROIOn FACTORY is Ms Unlit* Ststo Tbe ool> Pa<-tor> Utat mike* any erf of ...^d* — a«6> b* lis 11(1 177-171 CelssiSa* Avasus Sss Fmnrlar* Cat WADE APTS. 1046 8. Grand Avenue LOS ANCIELE8 Sppclnl Rates to Prof«»s*lon SERVICE, COURTESY Rates $11 up (Double or Single) Phone, Maid Service—Modern RUTH H. ANTHONY, Prop. i.eeps up they will probably hie themselves to the old Orpheum and lake the potions handed out there for much less and call it a day ihen, again, there are other houses giving entertainment at one-thir*, the price, and they probably wih 0 et trade, too, with the Orpheum working it.self Into the •groove" where it will have to compete with the three-a-day show houses. It that is the cose it will not be the lault of the Orpheums builders, who have constructed the bouse for picture purposes to make sure, but of the people back in the Palace building. New York. Bill started with the Gabberts, man and woman gymnasts, who submitted a ragged routine. Then came the Trado Twins, male, with an eccentric dance routine that can click anywhere. However, the boys seem to take their work too se- riously and perform It in a fashion that reminds one of a locomotive getting up steam. Jtenny Rubin for the second week explained "How It Happened," aided by May Usher and a mixed quartet of players. The Rubin act is a comedy wow, with Rubin well liked here, possibly more so than his vehicle, which is on the second lap. Eddy Brown, concert violinist, certainly handles his bow in mas- terful fashion interpreting the clas- sics. But Brown la not a salesman for vaudeville and does not get over his artistic endeavors as they should be. He has a competent male pianist, who has the task of announcing the numbers to be played. Brown should study etage deportment and selling mannerisms, and he will find himself sure fire in straight vaudeville or picture houses. Closing the first part were Flo Irwin and Co. In the George Ado farce of a decade ago, "Mrs. PecK- ham's Carouse." It deals with the temperance question of a decade ago in farcical form, with the wom- an tlrader falling into a trap which involves her and throws a most satirical light on the prohibition problem long before folks thought it would become a reality. There are a trio of male and one feminine in support. The woman was the only aid Miss Irwin had in the skit when It scored heavily at the Writers' Club recently. The other players added for the vaudeville tour are rather of mediocre acting ability. Miss Irwin plays very well and gets the high spots over. Her support could be strengthened to advantage if she contemplates pro- ceedings in the big houses, as other- wise the small time spots will have to be the place where the perform- ances must be given. Folks here liked the skit and others elsewhere will do likewise if it is brought into the 100 percent acting class. Hilton Sisters opened the second part after the audience was com- pelled to sit through Topics of the Day that were run to flickering pro- jection. * Might be a good idea for the management to correct this, es- pecially if they are preparing to run feature pictures one of these days. The Hiltons having been heavily advertised in advance delivered. The audience liked these two little personalities, appreciated their tal- ents whether singing, talking or dancing, and really considered them legit so far as entertainment was concerned. The Trado Twins, who appeared earlier on the bill, did a little dancing with the girls that went over well. Next to closing came Miiler and Mack, with their comedy talk, songs and hoofing. Just a push over for these boys In the right spot with their old sure-fire offering. Clos- ing were Roth and Drake, man and woman, on the Roman rings and aerlp.l apparatus. The man very much resembles Max Gordon, Or- pheum chief booker, but that cannot be held against him, as he is a corking good gymnast and sells his rttulT in a daring and thrilling manner which is bound to hold an audience until the last trick is accomplished, rather a hard task for one of those "so so" shows when the mob are ready to walk at anything. Ung. With a throw-away handbill an- nouncing "World's Greatest Bar- STRiCTLY UNION MADE PROFESSIONAL TRUNKS Hartmann, Oihkosh & Mendel Trnnki ALL MODELS—ALL SIZES ON HAND AT GREATLY REDUCED PRICES ALSO 1,000 USED TRUNKS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION IfS DO REPAIRING. WRITE FOR CATALOG. SAMUEL NATHANS, Inc. Seventh Avenue, between 40th and 41et 8tr*ets, New York Citv SOLE AGENTS FOR HAM THUNKS IN THE EAST Ph**e*j L«n«arre fll»?-031t gain." and "Ten Big Features' (seven acts and three screen num- bers) 'Death Trail" Association (Chicago) vaudeville gum-shoed last week Into tenancy of the old Orpheum, retltled Broadway Pal ace. following Will King's musical "tab." Orpheum Circuit seemingly felt secure in turning over their former home to the unrelated King policy, never doubting but what the old gag, ' Don't bite the hand that feeds you" would hold good. Events proved, the "don't bite" stuff to be Greek as far as King was con- cerned. Not only did he "bite" into the Orpheum's State Lake policy baby, the Hill Street, to the tune of a third of their regular gross, but took a considerable nip at the cheaper section of Orpheum's new "gilt and tinsel" big time temple. Moral: Exit. Will King and his girl show! Enter, the Orpheum cir- cuit step-child, "Association" class four times dally vaudeville and pic- tures, with fair, crowd of curious on hand to see this first bill to come over the long, long trail. Mann Bros, were the first to greet the noonday curious, pleasing with their tight rope and ground acro- batics. Draper and Hendrie, black and tan mixed gender, grabbed the first laughs in "one" with an ordinary pre-nuptlal comedy argument, go- ing Into "two" for a minstrel first part sequence, during which the woman flashed a scoring cornet solo, which gave way to an off- stage bugle call "to arms" that built a nice dramatic "Old Black Joe" march off for the man. It registered for several bows. Catherine Redfield and Co., three- three aggregation, with nice blend of voices, staged a half dozen short operatic scenes, with the Madame Butterfly aria "One Fine Day" the highlight, as sung by the lyric so- prano, and the finish number the sextet medley ol opera airs clicking for a near tie-up which forced an encore. Charles F. Seamon followed, with his novelty musical props register- ing the bill's novelty hit The Scotch kilts and breakaway musket which give way to bagpipes, landed forte. His standby of years, the folding clothes hanger, proved a riot as a whistling finish. Blanche and Elliott, full stage dance team, were the let-down flashing an amateurish attempt at the tango, a man's single eccentric, girl's toe dance, and a double idagio, all passing quietly. Walmsley and Keating were a bill saver, with this sure-fire comic turning on the snickers on his en- trance and building from snicker to a good-sized panic of laughs as they flashed their two little black books for the gagglr.g song comedy finish. They versed themselves In- to several minutes of wows and a tearaway finish. "Making Movies on the Stage" closed, with the director, straight, guiding three audience plants through a rehearsal and shooting of an eternal triangle scene. It scored on its broad "hoke." For a finish, an announced making of a movie of the audience is used as a possible comeback draw of those anxious to see themselves on the sheet later in the week. This first "Death Trail" Orpheum step-child show, gives evidence of proving an ungrateful offspring, due to bargain B. O. icale and close proximity to the Hill Street, with its higher B. O. scale and sickening policy of repeat of big time acts. Waif. Pantagcs' last week's lay-out was such as to more than appease for the slipping of a notch with the previous week's fare. It held a "Jim Dandy" blen.dkof variety turns, with several clicking as show-stop- pers with the hard-boiled opening show Jury. Medlni Trio, unsupported ladder novelty, In the getaway spot, are another leaf in a well-deserved laurel headpiece of Tantages' for- eign booking connection. The cream of European novelty acts has pa- raded this big-small tour this sea- son. This two man and woman trio, perched a full dozen feet atop of unsupported ladders, offer a pro- gram of string music with a tone and selection which belied their precarious position, the backbend bridge of the woman top-mounter from the shoulders of men riding the tops of ladders had every pair of hands doing double duty at their finish. The deuce held a local colored quartet, consuming enough time dying a horrible death to allow for set of a following full stager. Lestes La Monte, female Imper- sonator, programed "A Novelty Surprise," made a transcontinental New York-to-coast leap to show his paper dress fashion parade. A lay- out of special numbers, nice ap- pearance, fair falsetto, a master piano accompanist and a flash color- ful dlHijlay of paper wardrobe moke of this youngster an "In" as far as these Intermediate houses are con cerned. Judicious program rear- rangement with something other than a pop song finish and the dis- carding of such obvious "a.sklng for It" as his mother bit encore will set him for both route and spot. Boyne and Leonard, with a cut- out ship deck scene drop '.n "one" for the licensing of a flimsy comedy- plot, clicked wholeheartedly, with Sunny Boyne's cute stuff still a standout among the cute ones. Leonard does a neat straight and has made of this new combination a nicer blend of teamwork than Miss Boyne's previous tie-up. Gibson Navigators lived up to the program copy. "Utah Co-eds of Versatility," with the eight Salt Lake Misses out-jazzing many a male "hot" mob. Nicely arranged program of the pop variety and a keen sense of solo ability makes this winsome aggregation a sure- fire show stopper for vaudeville, with picture house possibilities a cinch with any sort of exploitation. Paul Howard, a locally-booked next-to-shut, has been trouping the local small houses. With a likable personality and an ability to con- tort the human body out of all semblance to the real along with laughs grabbed while clowning his unnatural extraordinary postures, this youngster is a single novelty, only needing connections to play the best. Gus Hornbrook's Rodeo Revue cloflbd with a big compact display of "wild and wcoley" rodeo. Real bronco riders, the comedy of west- ern corral enlivening specialties and a varied assortment of west- ern roping, from a double lariat dance to a three-high pyramid build-up atop three horses for a giant swing rope closing, brought down the asbeatos to well-earned slapping. Walt. of service with tho Corlnne Griffith Productions. Ray Coftln will leave the Samuel Goldwyn fold also, after a little more than a year of labor, u> hook up with Hal Roach outfit. Dewey Leonard Johnson, billed as the "African Caruso," has been added to the "Blackbird Revue" al Lyman's Alabain' cafe in town hert* The colored tenor sings gran* opera. Due to the illness of Walter Henry Ruthwell, Sylvain Noack, concert* meister and assistant conducted, directed the Saturday and Sunday programs of the Philharmonic Or- chestra last week. Mrs. Abble Morton Jamison was elected president of the California Federation of Music Clubs at their convention at Santa Monica. "Nancy," the new Tom Wilkes musical, will open at the Mission, Long Beach, May 16. A week later It Is expected at the Mason, Los Angeles. The Irene Bordonl show was booked in for the MasoSi, but plans have been shifted so that It goes into the Blltmore. Florence Roberts will play in "Charm," John Kirkpatrick's com- edy, which opens at the Egan May 10. Diane Esmonde, Harvey Steph- ens, Beulah Maldel Turner, James Bradbury, Jr., Marvel Quivey, Oscar Brlggs, Raymond Whlttaker, Leslie Gage, Gordon White, Wendell Wil- son and Gladys Heaney are in the cost. The Lyric, Monrovia, was pur- chased by a syndicate of San Fran- cisco capitalists who leased it to the National Theatres Company. $360,000 was involved in the deal. It plays pictures. Agnes Christine Johnson (Mrs. Frank Dazy), Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer scenario writer, Is expecting the stork in July. She has two children. The Gamut Club theatre building has been sold and will be torn down within a year to give way to an office building. At present. Construction has begun on the Hollywood Playhouse on Vine street, near Hollywood boulevard. The house will play legit attrac- tions. Ed. Rowland, formerly of Rowland and Clifford, Chicago, will be managing director. The theatre is being backed by 100 business men of the film city. Cinema Text Book, Inc., filed ar- ticles of incorporation with the sec- retary of state in Sacramento to use pictures as educational me- diums. Val C. Lane, Los Angeles, and E. J. Zerr and Frank Zerr of Glendale are directors. Charles Grapewin, author, ob- tained judgment in Superior Court from Tom Wilkes for $300, 25 shares of Wilkes Amusement stock and the return of the manuscript of "All For You," musical produced by Wilkes, which was authored by Grapewin and the late George V. Hobart. Grapewin said he advanced Wilkes money and was to have a share In the profits of "White Cargo," which tho producer staged on the coast. He claimed to have loaned Wilkes $:0.000 and was to receive the stock as bonus. Bernard Potter, Los Angeles at- torney, was elected president of the B. & H. Circuit, the corporation which owns the Forum, succeeding Dr. Breckendel. Two of the big comedy companies are getting new press agents this week. John LeRoy Johnston will replace Mary Hunt with the Mack Sennett Co., after concluding a year ALLEN'S FOOT-EASE Makes Walking or Dancing a Delight Women who taller from pain • fnl, tender or achinu feet, are " missing many of the joys of life. If your feet hart you can't enjoy dancing or walking end you lack the potso of the well- groomed woman. Allen's faat.Eaae the Antiseptic, Healing Powder for the Yeet* fB™s instant relief to smarting, swollen, perspiring feet, corns 'bunions and calluses. It takes the friction from the shoe and gives Instant ^relief to foot fatigue. Trial Package and a FooUEase Walking Doll sent rraTAddress, ABea'sFeet-Ease, leley.N.T. 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