Variety (May 1926)

Wednesday, May 26, 1926 VARIETY 59 CARTHAY CIRCLE (Continued from page 24) t» do, so they kept In rc'lon and speeded up their portion of the work. The high lights of this pro- log proved to be the Russian ec- centric, Tartar and whirlwind danc- ing of Louis and Freda BerkofT. This crackeruck duo were in their own forte and cut loose, giving the customers everything they hud in three specialties. Each time they concluded their endeavor it was an cut and out 'stop" for the show. Then an, octet of Kosloff dancin;; girls, who performed folk and bal- let work which clicked simultane-* ously. Kosloff has a girl leading this group called Mile. Flower, who should be heard from. She is grace- ful 'And dispenses a number of in- tricate steps which seem no task at all. Also in the assemblage is Alexander Akimoff, Russian basso, who sang "The Boatman" song in fine style. For the setting and atmosphere were the Malahoosky Russian Bala- laika, who provided the proper Tar- tar style of music to spur on the performers to accomplish their no- blest Laugh 11 n seemed to ha\ne gotten a real conception of what ~KUt&1^nT Htmospmjrtr mBant" vml *pnt* It over without burdening his au- dience with a lot of heavy stuff that would slow the proceedings. A rather smart and surprising finale Is* given the act for Its finish. Above the archway in the setting Is what looks like a panel painting. As the basso was singing lights be- gan to radiate about this painting, and as they got brighter there came to view the Russian boatmen trudg- ing along the banks of the Volga with their river burden. At first sight the audience thought it was just the illumination of a portrait, but when they saw the human faces and bodies come into view tumultu- ous applause broke loose. La ugh 1 In has been around Los Angeles for several years attempt- ing to break into pictures. Fred Miller gave him the first chance, and the producer came through with flying colors by producing one of the best atmospheric prologs seen In the country. Following the run of the picture on the opening night Lew Cody took possession of the stage as master of ceremonies, introducing Cecil De Mille and the members of the cast. He hade the audience a pleasant good night. Carthay Circle, though a long way out from the center of town, looks a sure business getter if it can get the bigger pictures. Miller will see they are properly mounted for selling purposes on a two-a-day "plan. Ung.' WARNERS' (NEW YORK) New York. May 23. This house cannot, in justice to itself be considered among the real de luxe houses of Broadway be- cause of its lack of genuine presen- tations—and that fault is caused by the limited seating capacity and resulting limited grosses, plus the bin. 14to ttLtge ruc/nx~«fful'tlC\i o.Cfcfl. Vet it draws a good average week- ly business and hands a neat little entertainment to the customers. In- stead of starting with the overture this week that item Is shunted Into last place, and a news reel opens, following which comes No. 3 of Arthur Murray's Charleston reels, this--oac rather technical-and «lfr*r r but atoned for by the Charleston on toes done by Ruth Mattoch on the stage. This girl worked with a flicker device, which, while bru- tal on the eyes of an audience, can- not be denied a certain amount of effectiveness. Then a comedy, "The Heavy Pa- rade," made by F. B. O. and hold- ing three fat follows as the comics (Short Subjects), after which Mar- garet McKee did her bird Imitations, a screen introduction to her work preceding. Miss McKee is a stand- ard turn and evoked a genuine ova- tion, after which the show went into the feature, "Silken Shackles." I?or Krousso is now leading the orchestra, which bears the label of Heller's Versatile Soloists, so it Prohably mean's that Heller, being managing director of the house, is devoting his time to running things. So while he's at that, here's a sug- .Ke*Uo*.-«F..>*> an—o*rt.«4 de r that --?»e have a few programs printed, if only for the convenience of the news- Paper people who cover the show. Programs don't cost so much and their place is now being taken by & folder describing the coming at- traction. The Uivoli started under "a I'ublix policy sans programs and the complaints were numerous. However, Mr. Heller, you have *n accommodating bunch in the front of the honse. Sunday even- ing wh^n their nerves were probably near the fraying point there was Rome real courtesy displayed to those boobs who .insisted on jump- ing over and under ropes. Suk. INTERN NUMBER * The-One-and-Only Anmml OF rrs KIND It's "Variety's," never before put out by any theatrical publication Hie International Number will be published in July Takes in the amusements of the world SEND IN AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR IT Variety*! first 4niernational NiBnber, la«t summer, made ait imp re ssio n It attracts universal attention, for always Variety travels around the world, moving First National has borrowed Hal- SS* 1 ( ' ool °y from Fox to appear in forever After." Another Fox Player. J. Parrel McDonald, has been METROPOLITAN (BOSTON) Boston, May 21. "Fascinating Youth," picture fea- turing Paramount junior stars, went over "big hero, despite the ""damn"- lng with faint praise" by the re- viewers for the dailies who caught the Sunday showing. Good busi- ness expected for the entire week on strength of local interest in New England Paramount contest, but not expected picture could stand on its own merits. As a matter of fact, the picture made a real hit with the type of house it would be expected to draw and the attitude of the papers In commenting on the story as being the "customary" sort of thing that might be expected to be used to give everybody a small part did not hurt business. The big Met seems to be getting down to brass tacks in its pro- grams. Already beginning to offset the harm done at the first In the matter of "high type programs for Boston whether the public wants it or not." Joseph Klein with his (8T. LOUI8) St Louis, May 22. „ . "Two years ago, God, in his wis- JUTCb£AlX&. XM Sly?" .* r£%liy^ e /9jg.-'ilam, saw.-OL to tnlf4t.3.way .frum. .m. lent hand' on his directing of the Herbert medleys, all popular and all within the comprehension of his 65- cent house. Stella Power, Australian color- atura soprano, spotted between a news reel and a topical reel, had the handicap of a house too big for her voice and she came through to the back of orchestra so thin that she did not do nerself Justice. Arthur Martcll at the organ used "Spring Is Here," a simple comedy number with slides and the house ate it up. The Publix unit. "Alice In Movie- land," was brought over almost in- tact from New York to back up "Fascinating Youth," and went across Inoffensively. As a unit, it did not stand up as "regards show- manship and the original idea seems to have been more or less befogged in fh<» mnterbpillxatlon qf a. snvoo^h running rcut'fns. Its*'Yalilt ties hot •o much in lack of merit as in the fact that Anderson failed to take full advantage of the possibilities of the idea after the unit had its initial week. The surprise of the bill came in sottes-- oi- t?u£s and- --w4a« - tracks,-. O'Hara, who is a columnist, tried some of this sort of stuff a few years back, and it proved to be over the heads of the average audience. This time he prefaced the reel with a statement that he wants every- body who does not get the point of his jokes to write in and complain, following it up with the gag that the previous we3k he received more mall than Sears-Roebuck. Running a llttlo slower than usual, the film brought real laughter and a hand, despite the fact that the blue back- ground for the printed words was hard to read from the bark of the house. Libbcy. STATE our own Victor Herbert, who en deared himself to every lover of good music the world over. This tribute Is arranged in his honor," was the explanatory note on the program regarding this week's over- ture: Selections from "The Fortune Teller." And, perfectly done under the skillful direction of I>on Albert, it was a worthy tribute to the mem- ory of America's premier composer. The news weekly, then an organ- log, "Let's Talk About My Sweet with some new lyrics. The topics followed, with a song plugger doing some antics under a spot In an upper box. A South Sea travel pic- ture In natural colors, whirh enmo next, was pretty; the* accompani- ment, "A South Sea Idyll," too. The lone stage offering, Alex Hyde * Co. in "Berlin vs. Liszt." The vaudeville act played In St. IvOo!a twlojf pravlsusly this year, the "last" time" scarcely six weeks "ago. In this picture house engagement, the act employs only 10 persons, in- stead of 14 with it in vaudeville. In brief summary, the turn is a competition between jazz and the classics, with the audience the judge*. The - ciwfd" at the - -second- Saturday night show vote: about two to one In favor of the classics. The act scored heavy. It will In every picture house it plays. A nifty novelty. Twenty-two minutes. The feature, "A Crown of Lies" (Negri). Not much. One* o* the best of the Our Gang comedy series, "Uncle Tom's Uncle," sent the crowd oui laughing. The State was comfortably cool and business was capacity down- stairs. . • ReubeU STATE, BOSTON Boston, May 24. The supporting bill saved the film program Monday night, with a ca- pacity house apparently turning out mainly to see Chnrles Ray's new re- lease, entitled "Paris." with Join Cr awford featu red. The picture did not maTce~the grade,"due"DofTi uTTnV ancient theme and the fact trmt Ray's role is an indifferent char- acter played negatively. The remainder of the film pro- gram had no high spots, including a few chopped news flashes, a new process of triple illusions of ice skating, a flat animated cartopn and a comedy with two misspelled words In the titling. Philip Spltalny with his orchestra, Holland and Barry and their Trou- badours, and Frederic Fradkln, the violinist, saved the show for the house. Fradkln was a real hit, get- ting applause that lasted well into the news reel and kept starting again when the picture fallnd ; > hold. Spltalny did not take the Ktage this week, u«ln« the "Slavische Rhapsodle" and "HI- Ho" for Mm two hlg numbers, The Met of not floating anybody . In/ thi" /n*h Ys!rn. (luring'the overture is being accept- ed gracefully at the Bute, but It was the subject of much comment Monday night that the same cour- tesy was not extended to Fradkln. Holland and Barry wers the novelty act, putting across a well-staged mticTng' ">6*utTne Hanked" "by three troubadours who should be taken m hand by a showman and, staged properly If they are to continue as a unit. Vigorous publicity activity Is be- ing resumed at this house, Joe Dlpesa and Charley Winston both being on the job, with Instructions to try and put matinee business Into the box office. Hbbey. SWOPE'S TAB (Continued from pogo 1) that Hearst had no hand or interest- then in. Swope's new move is surprising In view of his recent triumph in the Pulitzer organization over Arthur - ■ t — - - l 8 ■ r i nj C o 1 T w t {I Hays to become "Assistant to the President" of the Pullitzcr papers. This was a slap at Swope and di- vided the authority. Recently, the ofllre of "Assistant to the Presi- dent" was abolished and Krock was made "Chief of Syndication," re- garded as a sinecure to work out his contract, as the new title means nothing, for there Is another editor who Is "Chief of the Syndicates." Arthur KosHcn will again direct Raymond Griffith, who starts mak- ing "You'd He Surprised" June 1 at the new F. P.-L. studios. Llge Conley and Gladys McCon- nHl pl.-iving the lends in "The ' twxl-reals**' * flfc)ajt Neal Is dirprting.