Variety (Jun 1926)

WiJMiiiiiy, Jun« S. iOM U S 1 c VARIETY 4S MSK REVIEWS By ABEL (ThM r«vi«wt of n«w rtoordt aro ••groflattd m to makoo, and tho Various artlits on oach labol aro groupod undor a oommon hoad.) BRUNSWICK RECORDS Phil Obman and Victor Ardon* the dual piano exp«rt« In "Tip Toes." aro air&ln foaturod with their own danoo oroheatra in a new Brunawlck couplet, "Morning Olory Lane" and "I'm in Loto With You. fhat'a Why" (No. 3128). both pub- iiahod numbero and unllko the pre- ▼ioua Ohman-Arden offerings, not from a production. The iceyboard manipulation is naturally outstand- ing In the arrangement, although the records are generally well-bal- anced in scoring. From his Detroit retreat, Ray Miller broadcasts his torrid dansa- pation mlth "I Want Ypu to Want Me to Want You" and "Oh, Oh, Oh. What a Night!" Both are exceed- ingly "hot," the brass standing out iimartly. Abo Lyman's California Orches- trat which has been in Chicago for a full season now, has Charles Kaley Lyman's own composition. The flrst is by far the better number, com- mercially and othcrwlae. and is well done for danco purposes. The Regent Club Orchestra Is a 'liouse" band, specializing In waltz recordings. "Waters of the Perklo- men" and "Whispering Trees" (No. featured on both sides in the vocal interludes. The dance numbers are ••Do You Believe in Dreams?" a current ballroom favorjte, and "Mary Lou," a home product of 31^8) are the latest couplet. The latter is a Wendell Hall song, al- ready "canned" by the "red-head- ed music maker" vocally on tho Brunswick. Judging by the proliflc recordings by the Ben Salvin orchestra, no wonder Selvin owns half of the Long Island real estate! • Despite his realty penchant, Selvin is still the expert musician firstly and evi- dences it fn the "Betty" and "Valen- cia" couplet (No. 3172). The lat- ter, which la the current dance ra«e. is played in strict four-four time as a perfect fox trot, instead of the original six-eight tempo, which is musically more fetching, but not a perfect fox trot, being too fast and akin to the old-fashioned two-four. "Betty" ia another radio favorite. Both are cleanly scored for straight- away dance purposes, with vocal choruses included. COLUMBIA RECORDS A trio of Chicago radio favorites are represented on the Columbia releases, all of the vocal variety. Art Linick, "dutch" comedian, Ford and Qlenn, ballad duo. and Art Qillham, "the whispering pian- ist," are standards In the midwest solely through radio publicity. Linick's ether standby, "Mrs. Schlagenhauer" la glorified in song and monolog on both sides of Co- lumbia No.^f21. Ford and Glenn, to piano accom- paniment, duet a ballad couplet, that being their song specialty. "I Wish You Were Jealous of Me" and "Truly I Do" are the offerings. "The Whispering Pianist/' which is Art Olllhams billing, with his own name only parenthetically in- cluded and made incidental to his professional cognomen, is again "talking to his piano flngera In characteristic stylo while putting across It's Too Late to Be Sorry Now' and Tn Tour Green Hat.' " Mr. Oillham is the one'who com- plained of JAek Smith's billing as an infringement; the latter, a Vic- tor artist, 4nd now in London, iden- tifying himself as "the whispering baritone." Both are radio-made at- tractions, with their recording ac- tivities as a result of the ether fame. Smith Is now billed on the ether side as "Whispering Smith." Gillham's consistently intelligent ad jibbing and trimmings in "sell- ing • himself and his songs on the i-olumbla disks, have long since suggested him aa a good picture house possibility. He has the ad- vantage through a known regular Itinerary of all the big broadcast <'€ntral8 which should have gen- erally publicized him throughout >ne country. Prom tho New York end, two radio familiars in Ross Gorman and ms orchestra, and the Ipana Trou- Daaourt, are represented with a quartet of dance tunr.q. Gornian'.s NO More Worryin' " and "I'd J«»thor Ro the Girl in Your Arms" 'ino latter one of the fow pop sonirs authorod by Harry Archer and Har- iJ", Thompson, the production writers), aro sprlKhtly dance offer- ings. Sam Lanin's H>sna Troubadours nave the Singing Sophomores n.s- Blstlng vocally in an interlude in 'Good Night. I'll Seo You in the Morning." "Only You and Lonely lie," a hit, potentially, la the com- panion piece. Tha Cavaliers, the waits experts for Columbia, have a simple and a syncopated waits couplet offering. "I Wish I Had My Old Girl Back Again," an Ager-Yellen-Pollock composition, la another "Sally" type of song by the same writers. Lee David's syncopated waltz nov- elty, "Waltasing The Blues Away," is the back-up. The Singing Sophomores are by themselves in "Georgianna" and "Honey Mine" (No. 625) with their usually satisfying quartet male har- mony. From the Revelers' Idea of harmonizing in dance tempo, mak- ing their recordings sound like sing- ing fox trots, the quartet is now going In for the usual "barber shops" in accepted and decorous rhythms. The Russian Art Choir under A. U. Fine's direction, from the "Song of the Flame," which came to at- tention first as vocal assistants to Tessa Kosta upon the prima don- "na's Columbia disk debut, are on their own with two Russian folk song.q. The ensemble singing Is pleafllng. Fine Arranging the vocal orchestrations. On Okeh No. 40612, a new record- ing artist is Buster Johnson and His Pickaninnies, with a brace of snfippy tunes In "Sweet Little Mammy" and- "No Mor^ Worryin.' " Frank Cumberland Is credited for the vocal interlude. Their stuff is averagely satisfactory, but not dis- tinctive. HERE AND THERE How«r<V RusaelL ol Waverly. Ia., f^lankst. haa >oined ^ Cato'a Vaga- bonda, widely-known dance orches- tra, throughout Iowa and Minne- sota. The Original Memphis Five, one of tha best-known recording dance bands, may be elaborated Into 11- men with the orchestra's IdenUty kept Intaot. Mike Speclale and his recording orchestra are slated for the Pelham Heath Inn, Pelham, N. Y., closing at Bamboo Gardens, Cleveland, where Elmerson Gill and his Okeh record- ing dance band succeeded Speclale. Joe CanduUo and his orchestra from the Everglades cabaret. New York, are making records for Har- mony and Perfect. James K^ndls and Nat Osborne have incorporated to publish popu- lar music. Kendls is of Kendls ft Brockman. Inc., the latter dissolv- ing with both members free-lancing as writers. Osborne is a veteran songsmith. Victor's Funny Stand Against Dance Hall Bands as Recoi Nat Chalken In now booking bands for Roger Wolfe Knhn's of- fice. Roger Wolfe Kahn's Collegians will be at the Paul Smith's hotel, at Paul Smiths, N. Y., in the Adl- rondacks this summer. This is the place where President Coolldge and family will spend the fummer. An- other Kahn unit is Mattlin's Melo- dians, due to open at the Rcseland ballroom, New York. VICTOR RECORDS Roger Wolfe Kahn and his or- chestra are the first to do the new Berlin song, "At Peace With the World" as a waltz, coupled with "I'd Climb the Highest MounUins," a fox-trot. It Is generally conceded that the new Berlin number Is below standard although likely to attain a vogue because of natural publicity and organization. The Kahn instru- mental technique, however, figures most importantly in elevating the impression considerably thiough the medium of an unusual harmonic or- chestration, running to the strings' in general motif. The Paul Whiteman treatment of "I'm in Love With You, That's Why" (Dixon-Henderson) is cork- ing. The trumpet, celesta and strings are choicely orchestrated. Russo and Fierito's Oriole Orchestra with the companion number, "Sweet Southern Breeze," take natural ad- vantage of the theme for southern song Interludes like "Deep River," etc. With Johnny Hemp's Kentucky Serenaders back in New York (lo- cated at the recently-maligned Westchester - Biltmore Country Club), their recording activities for Victor are being renewed. For their come-back they have been alloted a couple of choice dance tunes in "Honey Bunch" and "Roundabout Way to Heaven." A vocal trio from the orchestra is alsi dovetailed into the first number. Gene Austin, whose picture house engagements should react favorably for Victor record sales, evidences versaUlity in **Ya Gotta Know How to Love," a rag novelty, and "Bye, Bye, Blackbird," another Dixon- Henderson song hit, wh ch is suflfl- ciently plaintive and homely to at- tain general popularity. V. OCALION RECORDS Austin Wylie's Golden Pheasant orohestrs, from the Cleveland res- taurant of that name, have four numbers on the Vocallon lists. "Could I?" coupled with "Valencia," and "Honey Bunch" with "Bye Bye. Blackbird." All are vocal-chorused but the Spanish fox-trot, the Wylle dance idea being simple and straightforward. King Oliver and his Dixie Synco> pstors" are "hot and low-down" once again with "JackaHs Blues" and "Deep Henderson. Georgia Taylor admit.<9 herself possessed of the "Jackass blues" In a vocal inter- lude, but aa a dunce it's bound to cha.se tho Indigo feeling folIowinK a se.s.sion with that oori(? clarinot, braying trombone and blareinp bra.sfl. Louis Katzman's Ambassadors have two production offorlnps In "Lulu Belle," from the IJlric show, and "The Girl Friend," of that .show title, which also lntrc'?ure.H "r.lu<» Room." Katzman Is a past mawtrr in danCe rerordinp:«^. and thi.s Ifl up to standard, whl^'h spoak.s for itself. The Frivolity Club Orchestra In a nom-de-disk for Jack Denny's Friv- BIll Bailey of Barnum and Bailey, banjolsts, has invented a new banjo with a ^win-neck arrangement which gives the effect of a dual banjo. Milton Splelman has signed for 16 weeks at the Hotel Richmond. Richmond, Va. Bam Smolin and his Radio Or- chestra are at Brady Lake Ball- room, Brady Lake, O., this week and next. Don Warner's 10-piece orchestra is at the Bon Ton Ballroom, Ocean Park, Cel., for an indefinite engage- ment. Joseph Andelman is manager of the Palm (3arden, a new dance hall at EJast Hartford, Conn., Just opened. Oene Cirlna and orchestra, after appearing at the Hotel St. George, Brooklyn, opened at Janssen's Hof- brau. New York. June 1. New ''Smart Set" Dance Chicago, June 1. In a contest sponsored by Hearst's "Smart Set" Sol Ashback and Peggy Nelson, locally famous through Charleston manouevers, won first prize in a creative dance competi- tion held in the Trianon ballroom. The new dance Is to be called the "Smart Set" ^ Preliminaries extending over sev- eral weeks bolstered the ballroom customerage considerably, with hundreds of couples entering the contest. The winning step routine is built around the waits funda- mentals. The Victor Talking Machine Co. has a funny Idea aaent dance hall bands as recording artists. On tho theory that the clientele hi not particularly choice, many a crack dance band has not landed on the Victor label despite its merit; and despite that a ballroom with its large, and present>day Intelligent clientele, is more likely to produce returns In sales than a limited following of a cafe or hotel. Phil Romano and his orchestra, just opened at the Roseland ball- room. New York, one of the elty's most pretentious dance places with a following that pars the average night dub or hotel—and la truth exceeds It because of strict regulation anent liquid dispensa- tion, etc.—find themselves discriminated against because of the Roseland hook-up. When Romano was at the Kcnmore hotel, Albany, he was taken on by Victor and his first record started off briskly. Romano Is an up-state favorite because of the location and his radio activities, and he had the advantage of being the only band that merited Victor representation In that territory. Romano alternates seasonally, for winter and sununer. The Rose* land ballroom, New York, over the hot months, Vnarks his fourth return. With the following being the cause .of the repeated returns, it would be to his advantage obviously on disk sales. Victor's New York recording manager. Edward T. King, takes the opposite view, figuring the Roseland lacks "class" and it would not- be in keeping with the Victor standard. Mr. King overlooks that in Detroit, he has one of the beet sellers in the crack Jean Goldketto orchestra from tho Ck*eystone ballroom. Discrimination King's diHcrlminatlon kept Sam Lanin, for six years at the Rose- land ballroom, off the Victor, despite the unusual merit of a band like Lanln's which today records for virtually every company but Victor, and would not now be interested in a Victor contract be- cause of the mass production for the other makes. Lanin became a Victor recording artist, unbeknown to Mr. King. The latter signed Howard Lanfn and his Benjamin Franklin hotel band, from Philadelphia, not because of Howard Lanln's standing, but because of the Benjamin Franklin hotel, Howard was eventu- ally compelled to turn to his brother, Sam, for technical assistance and it was the Sam Lanin band that made a number of "can- nings" in the name of Howard. The Roseland situation with Romano finds the ballroom anxious to utilize streamers and extraordinary publicity methods to boost Romano and his Victor connections, but the latter does not think a Broadway dance palace is in keeping with Victor's standards. Hence, until Romano changes his Job, he will probably not "can" for the Victor disks. INSIDE STUFF On Music Possible "Valencia" Rival With "Valencia" creating a new vogue for Spanish fox-trots. H to suggested that some music firm look into the tune that is the theme song of Trlnl's matador number (her last) at the Palace, New York, thla week. Possibly a Spanish folk song, it is fetehlng for American con- sumption and with proper arrangement can be "made" on this side, If not already published. Shifting Air Audiences An argument advanced In favor of radio as a popularity-booster, particularly as applied to dance music, is that the shifting youth, creates a new audience almost yearly. The adoleacents who are the backbone o£ the ballroom and cafe business are children at 14. and young men and women a couple of years later, with the result this growing public most become educated—and here is where radio figures—as to the merits of certain dance organizations. Fine Herbert Memorial Broadcast The second annual memorial broadcast In memory of Victor Herbert was sent over the air through WKAF last Wednesday. Radio reviewers credited the programs as one of the finest examples of broadcasting since radio was Invented. • The event was handled by Gene Buck and Sylvlo Hein, representing the American Society. Notables In artistic and civic circles were prss- ent and contributed. It Is the aim to give a similar broadcast each year, marking the death of Herbert. ]f9 WEIBOEFT HIT IN POP.TLAHD Portland, Ore, June 1. Herb Weldoeft and his orchestra turned the crowds away at the Mc- Elroy Ball Room Saturday. He was immediately booked for the Columbia, Seattle, and will double at the Butler Hotel for a week. olity band aa regard < the Vocallon. On .the Brunswick, tho Vocallon'H big brother mak<>. Denny's name i.s UHvd. "Adorable" and "Lonoeonw and Sorry" aro the nurnberH (No. 1.5316) done in aoccijtaljle stylo. Al Bernard has a new partner in Charles Aubrey, althoucrh Sammy Stept Is still at the piano. Bernard, Stept and Frank Kamplain were tho er.stwhile Record Boys, but Aubrey Sfoms an alternati! ally, or a new partner entirely "Kva" and "Tho Harvest Moon Ih ^Shining" ore of the familiar stylo of dialect son^ es- sayed. Don Maffey dIso contrlbut'Ml with a banjo sperlalty In the latfir, and Buddy Wagner is the saxo- plionist in tho first number. Brunswick ''Behind Lopez* Records V»ncent Lopez is the "ace" record- ing attraction on the Brunswick records, the Lopez name being fig- ured to buck Whiteman on the Vic- tor in the dance competition field. Lopez has made his first four re- cordings—"Honey Bunch," "Ador- able," "Could ?" and "Show That Fellow the Door." •They will be re- leased simultaneously with the start of his month's stay at Shea's Buf- falo. The Lopes picture house tour treks westward, and a special Brunswick campaign will keep pace with his route. IshuD JoB€s Band Disbands Chicago, June L Isbam Jones* orchestra has dls* banded. After completing its Florida en* gagement recently the aggregation is said to have found it impossible to get any bookings, with the break- up following. Four of the orchestra men. In- cluding Roy Bargy, who was JonesT arranger and pianist, have sisned individual contracts with the new Eklgewater Beach hotel orchestm. Bargy is considered • the star man in the former Jones outfit. Jones has announced no plans for himnelf as yet. KING NOT WITH PALAIS D'OR Charles King, who was mentioned in last week's "Variety" as being an executive of the Palais D'Or, the Chlnr.s-o-American roHtaurant on Broadway, Is not connected with the place. Tho Palnis D'Or is operated by a corporation and is one of the bIp^?oKt money-makers among res- taurants, Amorican or Chlnrse, in Sew York The I'alais i.s >colng after I'.road- v,iiy trade with a view to "corner" tlu- Chlnene restaurant buninefls on the main stem. Joe Cook's Disc Test Joe Cook, he of the "four Ha- walians," has passed his test aa » Brunswick recording artist. Neu) Cat (I i Ok: ''' ' THt BACOr. 3A:,.^i C(