Variety (Feb 1928)

Wednesday, February 15, 1928 FILM HOUSE REVIEWS \ ■ : ■ • VARIETY 37 ■ ot hearts on the sides and tpp and o rainb6w spot on the spangled backdrop. AH very pretty.' WatBon introduced the first spe- cialty turn, Meehan and Newman. Versatile mixed team, this, and showing a neat routine. Man dances and plays the mouth organ. •Woman sings. The pair clicked. -Mills and Shea, hoke acrobats, demonstrated this sort of turn is igure-flre,'- no matter how stereo- typed. They forget nothing. Fen- ton |E(,nd iPields, cork team, uses its vaude routine alniost tb the letter,, but it seems more effective in. pra- Bcntatlon. " - Tommy Wonder, boy dancer,' closed the outside, poi-tion ami seemed much below his usual form. The kid has acciuix-ed a girl partner, his sister. She looks several years older and is several heads taller than kid bro., and a bust as a foil. The girl follows immediately In Bolo, singing a play-up. Tommy gets Into form in a dance with a , life sized doll and sells the offer- ing, but fails to show his excellent Riiasian and eccentric routines. Production number opened, so the same closed, with the entire crew oh the stage. The. Capitol's -3.800 seats were Well filled th€s second show Satur- day mat. The house grosses around $25,000 .weekly, but averaged much higher until the . Michigan succeeded as the "ace'* presentation stand. At present . it; is trimming the Mich In screen quality, with.the larger theatre more dependent on Its stage, ■ ROXY (NEW YORK) New York, Feb. 11, . . The Roxy is a paradox. Wlien the show is strong the pictJ^ie is weak, .w'hich is most oftien t*.e case. When the pfcture is plP*^i"gly •it- isfactory the show leld dowu. De- spite it all and with it .all, the Roxy manages tb knock out.around $100,- (tOO per week. How it doea it mys- tifies at times^ excepting that the igrand manlier of it all is the the- atre's greatest ballyhoo. .That must be it, or have much to"do with it. This week the third Universal fea- ture in a row, "That's My Daddy," starring Reginald benny, is distin-. gulshed by a kiddie star, Jane La "Verne, who will owe her opportuni- ties to penny In the same manner Jkckie Coogan owes it all to Chap- lin and "The Kid," The four or five-year old youngster steals every-, tiling from the star but his name., . Supporting show is only fair. Lew White, C. A. J. Parmentier and George Epstyne alternating on the Kimball consoles, and Brno Rapee wielding the baton for the "Carmen" overture are the musical starters. A seasonal number by George A. Bill- ings, impersonating Lincoln, arid Forbes Randolph's Kentucky Jubilee. Choir are the third Interlude. Gamby and the ballet are featured In a black and white study. Following the newsreel,,. conven- . tionally assembled, the Cabaret presentation Is a flop as to Idea and development. It may be Roxy's con- ception of a cabaret, but that's: all. Jack White as m. c. seems capable of doing well In that department, but Is limited here. Follows a suc- cession of slow specialties, opening with Beatrice Belkin, soprano-lng in nice voice, and satisfactory for the ■tarter, but after that the sameness of the succeeding specialties retards it altogether, Margaret McKee's whistling, as pleasing- as iever be- fore, but out of placCi arid Frederick Fradkln and his Fiddlers (4) slowed It up altogether. They did two slow numbers, re-encoring the latter. Jimmy and iGeorge Trainor, with some zippy buck and wing, couldn't accelerate it after what preceded, and tlie colored Jubilee singers were also mis-spotted on being heJd over again. The 66-mlnute feature, "That's My Datldy," was distinguished on the organ accompaniment by the intel- ligent manned of using conterh- pwwy baby a«d daddy songs to fit the light theriie. Being a light pic- ture and designed purely for an hour's divertlsisement, nothing but a potpourrie of "Tes, Sir! That's My Baby," "Daddy, You've Been a Mother to. Me," "Here Comeia My paddy," "Bqibjr Face" and kindred tin pan alley ieffusioris. wrould have fitted it better. . Abel. ALHAMBRA (MILWAUKEE) Milwaukee, F«h. 10. . Two girls steal the thunder at the Universal Alhambra this week^and how! While this house doesn't go in for stage Hhows, the presenta- tions uauailly have ian individual touch handed by Fred Meyer, man- aging director. Athlone, a singer of bjues. Is tiie Wg card. In a pretty set and with "fver changeable . lighting effect, Athlone sells several numbers to enormous applause when this re- --vi6wer-caught-the-a«tv--Athlone'is-a,: pretty (blonde. The other show stopper is Theresa ^fy^r, organist, FQooded in a spot, ^iss Meyer opens with several numbers on the organ. Suddenly ~ie gets up, walks away from the orga;n and the inusic coritinues to com^ through. The. effect is worked t^-: , organist pr-csslng an eicctrlc switch at the koyWoard which set.s -~ tijionoprraph Into motion. The disc music iu fleut to the organ loft by mochanicar devices, and while the organist i.s away .from, th*- keyboard the music heard from ''i)io pliantom organ" i.s in reality a concculod Jesse Crawford record. This stunt wient over big, A clever little act Is pi-ovicliHl by an uhproerammcd song-, u-csa who aids tlie orchestra undor the- diroc- tlon of Sol Shapiro. Tlio score of "The Firefly" is the orchestra tlienio and the singer offers soveral cho- ruses. The singing end.s as the -wreen is dropped in plaoo for Clara 15ow'.s..revival, ".Wine." The ffi-iiture isn't .so hot, but tiie audionco i>as a pleasant taste'.left from t!io .show ahd -gets ii kick out of the ancient i)rint. News'arid a sopnio, "Isle of June," round but a liighly )>lea.-iing pi-ognini, . • '. • Israel. LOEWS STATE (Lbs ANGELES) Los Angeles, Feb. 9. . Rainy season just starling in. Eddie Peabody and his bivnjo still .swayinpT. Peabody has been- work- ing a "touriri,?;' gag for tire past few weeks. This time (week ending :Feb. 9) he i.s on his way to Eurape 'and the stage layout had a .nitty flash of a.ship deck. Tempo was a little too .slow at this sHoW. other- wise well arranged and getting the rifto.st of the specialty,'arts on the bill. Snappy band number opened with Peabody cutting up and get^ ting a lot. of volume from the in- struments. The boys, are illtting their stride With P«Sfabody at the helm and play "With pep. An octet of prancing dolls for a .sailor num- ber, in Which they were well rou- tined and got resiilts.; r.anc hbn and Marco get credit for thi.s. These ;gals .ire lookers besides good troup- ers. The musical arrangement, for the gob routine is surefire, It caught on here and brouijlit the girls back, fbr an encore. Hal-Sidare, clean out and a whale of a stopper, pushed, the pace, up a couple of notches arid scored With a high- kicking routine appended by some Russian hock steps. Thi-s boy is all legs. Peabody introduced Edythe Flynn, auburn-haired beaut, who. spilled t-wo songs and called it ienough. This .gal appeals, more to the eye than the ear at present. She has a pleasant per-sonality and with a little more experience can make good. Richard Wally shoAved a'good brand of ball ju,ggling for his specialty, using a set of piool pockets tied around him and scbred with his routine With the cue.s. The boys in the band struck up a. hot tune for Peabody to come back with song lyrics, together with Murray Peck. Some of the choruses were a little bungled, but got over. Pop selection by Lieo Lee, tenor with a great set of pipes, merited another number, but the tinie., table probably didn't jjerrinit, so that girls were back on view once .more and again with neatly placed- numbers bringing out some "specialty activi- ties. Peabody started off the flnale •with a guitar duo aided by Jimpiy Maisle, his standard partner in in- strumentals.. .For a closer Peabody was projected into, the audience on a swing and jet got with the banjo. Great finish, "The Cohens and Kellys in Paris" (U). . LOEWS NEW YORK (NEW YORK) New York, Feb. 9. Reputed to be one of the mOst profitable theatres on the Loew cir- cuit, this daily change grind, oper- ated at 40 cents.top and continuous from 9 a. in. to 1 a. m., probably owes riiuch of its success to its snooze-provoking comforts. Low lights, a small, well-drilled pit or- chestra, smoking privileges, around balcony as foot support and ash- ti'ays conveniently located within arm's reach are a few of the fix- tures calcula;ted to make and keep picture trade here. In a way this house is unique be- cause it- cjlters-to a clauss of patrons whom the operators of the hewesT and largest Broadway theatres be- lieved extinct Here, come all who are weary, those who are tireJ of the glare of electric lights, brilliant plastic decorations and the piercing wail of 97-piece house orchestras. Contrary to. popular imprGssion,' the New York, occupying one of the choicest and most valuable theatri- cal sites in the. world, does not der pond on pickup trade to keep out of the "red." The saine faces, accord- ing to the doorman, are scon night after night, week after week. Pic- ture f<ans, they are, who have never grown up or never cared to acquire new tastes in lilm fare. People vrho seek films as a mental anesthetic rather than entertainment; . 01d> hackneyed plots, stav.s of an- other day Who ha-ve long dropped from among the public's fiivorites, hold no terrors for the. mob which makes the Roof its afici'-dlnnor hangout, Browsily they sit, or rather loll, in (heir sratt; reading Xh&.^sanle^-tijlc3j^^wat£hjn^ lasting .. siimilarrty of" ox"jti'?S"sTo'n"'' Though thoy more than hall' oxpoct and know the climaxes ami the con- clusions of the pictures, tfioy never seem to tire. Sedate, elderly couples br-Kin to flutter througli tho • weatli.r r-v.j.ut'.'n doors soon after the dinr,'r hour. Later, sometimes much luV-v. youlh.- ful paioty makes lt.s bo%v. Tlio Roof is o])rn viiitil 1 a. m. Il.'ni"'y < •.(•.• ;i Btlr of applause, jtust a g':ii"nd at- mosphere of complete acquiesVonoo. Lindbergh's features flush on tho screeri. Little more than . a low murmur; the stars and stripos—a solitary, half-hearted attempt at ap- plause. ' Despite the type of. entertainmont lirovided, usually state ri.u;lu pro- ductions or third-rate pictures ro- iea-sed by the rinajor producing com- panies, the. draw consists of liroad- wayites to a large degree. For years Manhattanites, by residence, have had the habit of strolling in here to assassinate the odd hour painlessly. Westerns or blood and .thunder crook dramas of; the heaviest type are best appreciated. And the hioro these pictures follow type the bettor they are received. It Is reassuring to patrons to doze off. arid on; later waWng iri the middle Of the pioluro to be able to pick up the throads easily. ■ Inevitably doomed to give way to the largest theatire in New Yoi-k within the next two or throe years, the demolition of this house w'ill .tear a gap In the hearts of its many patrons, picturegoers up and down .stairs, . who .have dei-i^-ed untold stimulation frorii the musty .walls, the bare, wooden stage, the riokoty seats and the solemn, aim()si sacred stiliness^ : Mori, REGAL (CHJCAGO) Chicago, l->b. 9. Here is a pioneer venture of large possibilities. A de liixe picture- presentation house with colored l^ouse personnel and performers, constructing its -programs for and ca:terinig to the colored race. . The Regal is being operated by its builders, -liubliner. &. Tririz.. It is located at 47th street arid South Parkway, In. the heart of Chicago'Js widespread dark district. There has been no stint In construction costs nor show expense. The race has a picture house of 3;000 seats to. bo Gompai'ed to any theatre in the city. On the stage are Fess Vy'illiams and his orchestra of 18 men (New Acts). Fess was. brought from New York as the master of ceremonies. Hi.s: mastery of sympathetic an- nouncing, darktowri htimor, and torch orchestration is one of tho: new things worthwhile In this city. And his band blows with the heat of a desert, wind. In the pit the orchestra Is Con- ducted, for overture and picture ac- companiment by. Dave Peyton, col- ored leader familiar to Chicago. Opening week Peyton tackled the William Tell overture, employing a stage mounts,In scene set. Clarence Tisdale, tenor, came ori dressed as a Swiss shepherd and displayed a great set of pipes. The Fes& WiWiams stage : band presentation -was prime entertain- ment for colored reception.. In a house of white patronage It might be classed.as too .hot, but In its own neighborhood there won't be any squawks. Twelve chorines carne on in front of the band to dance and sing an introduction for Williams. Then the leader himself entered hidden. behind a. large saxophone placard. First orchestra iiumber was Wil- liams' popular' eastern version of ''Miss Annabelle Lee," worked by himself and the orchesti'a vocally as well aS 'instrumentally; ' It was tor- rid stuff iand gave the presentation a solid start, Next were Cole and Wayne, two. hoofers -with a fast tap routine, culminating in a series of tough kiiee falls. The boys were, liked. Presentation of ai pop number was then worked behind and above the band by Clarence ■ Tisdale and Mamie Moon. Vocally It was good, but not a strong item on the pro- gram. The idea has been worked too hard around here. The 12 chorines closed the number with some regulation legmania. Blanche Calloway, blues singer specializing in heat, copped a hit with some s. a. stuff directed at Fess. The giril can wail like a love- slck._ qax. and has eyes that speak asterisks.' F*«ai^W'orked":w'ith-'heri clowning expertly. Ab « break In the straight :8tagc band material Alex. Love joy and Marshall Rogers gagged several minutes before & Dearborn, street oleo and scored, solidly. Loyejpj' plays Iftie big political man, with Rogers. Just out of ja,Il and being Iriduced to take up bootlegging. Trouble with a .cop, played by John Lowell, furnished a strong finish packed with laughs, In appearance and delivery these boys are sure- fire for colored and. white audioheos. Williams resumed with a; band number. "Variety Stomp,", and touched it up so well the author of the 'lyrics should write him.self an- other tribute on the strength of having his name on the rocprd.s. The Right Quintet, four boys har- monizing arid one at the piano, took feature spotting. "They did two numbers, one a "Rigoleito." travc:Sl^• with, one Bingjng protests from tli'- audience while the other four jazzod up the classic on stage. Thoy ijn- iSh6a"-w1th-^-a=ficntimental--^poi)=a:n(l= went off to a tremendous hand. Tliis act' Is a strong picture houso en- trant. Two Black Dot.", dariciTifr tearta, closed the speol.'iilths wit), a forte line, of tajis and aorol'/fitio stops! It seemed questlnii.ablo book • Ing to iia-vo two two-main danco acts on the bill, although boll) scnrcd. Finale was "Shaking the IUik-s- Away," worked by the fn;;'.- •■■>fi,- VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS PALACE (St* Vaude) When vacant rows stretch from side aisle to side.aisle on a Monday night here arid a holiday besides, there's sometliing. wrong, Aithough maybe this doesn't upset anybody anymore. You can get used to any- thing. But there Was a line in front of the Palace Mo'hday (holiday) riiatlnee—going to the Roxy. . With Belle Baker and Warings'. Pennsylvaniaris across the top there •s-hould have been more business tlian actually w'as present. Both .acts -gave: plenty of value inside, even for the $2.75 dowri frorii .tap. Warinii?s, closing intermission on tlu4r .second week at the house witlj one more to go. didn't quit until after 33 ininutes, and Miss Baker was just ■ two shy of that next to closing. The half-h<n\rtod house must have been plenty dificouragiivg; on the Jllanche Calloway, who came on with some fringe and did a grind in iront of the 12 likewise liip-waving ohorus girl.s, Tiio.se gals are a.good- looking lot, very light in color, and with a daiice abandon uiaually con- lined to cafe floors. In pep and eritortainment values this i)resentation rates among the i)est seen in Chicago,: The. soutli- town district is getting plenty for its four bits, . Sammy WiJliariis, organist, was very favorably received in an intro- ductory solo (New Acts), He's es- pecially .adept at jazz. ''Vialley of the Giants." feature, and neWsreel completed, . The 3,000 seats were almost flllcd at 8 p. m. Monday nighti three days after opening, wliicli shows busir ness e;ood but still just a trifle short of what is hoped for. It is impos- sible to foretell the future of this new class of .show bu.sine.s.s as yet. Loop. WISCONSIN (MILWAUKEE) Billy Meyers, tenori who is a>" stbcli feature of the stage Weis- feldt, has capitalized popularity. ■Billy Meyer.s' Birthday Party" .was the title given to the stage show, a knockout. A night club set is used, with the orchestra on the right, and chairs and table on a stepped balcony to left. Opening shows band playing with entertain- ers seated at. tables, all in formal clothing. The new Wisconsin cho- rus, eight English. Rockets, open with a nifty dance. This octette went big In its premiere. Looks,, forms and grace. Cliorus dances aWay while prop car drives to door of "club" and footman opens door to admit Dave Schoolei", iri. of c. and Meyers. Both lads walk down short flight of stairs to foots, and Schooler malces intro- duction In Song. Meyers-responds with "This Is My Birthday," to mu- sic of "This Is My Lucky Day." Schooler accompanies on baby up.-. ]-ight. Two or three songs, and Schooler Introduces Innanette. This giri Is pretty and plays a mean vio- lin, opening with a. classical num- ber and switching to popular stuff with an acrobatic dance while play- ing- . The band, with Mej'ers singing a chorus, comes back with a pop, fol- lowed by Rome and Dunh; While not great on looks when dolled out in tux, this team of singers have a great act, ' Julia Gerrity, with a coon-shout- ing voice and genial address, puts over her stuff in a way that makes 'em yell for more, and then Detzo Retter flops down the stairs for a .session of tumbling and hokum that rocks the house. *■ The. chorus,,Irmanette and .Mey- ers, close with a pretty flnale num- ber. Unfortunately, the Wisconsin has sidetracked the organ recitals of Ai'thur Richter for .several weeks. Richtcr Is a drawing card at. the console and his numbers are mi.ssed. However, with a long stage, show, news weekly and long features, there Is seemingly no place for or- gan recitals. "Rose of the Golden We.sf Kcroon feature, good-r^rc/"/. JUDGMENTS . ■ Lyric, Operating Co., Jos. and Jacob Oppenheimer dnd Jos. K. Klein; M. Leyine; $3,023. - Same;. Indnstrifil Discount Corp.; $1.;279. -. ■ . . .. Carle Carlton; V'all .^o*'nlc Const. Co.. Inc.; $].r).';4.. Arthur 8^ Friend and A. S, Friend Cos,, Inc.; LoeW'.s. Inc.; $26,019. Chas. A. Goldreyer;. M. rresr-nt: $0,043. .»==AjitorL_.F,_..ScjM'!a:-,,A^ (jjorv: ami other aide of the lights. No. real applause until Jim McWijii;uns mado liis comedy Bp.eech, No, 4, and had to force that. Previously, Margaret Severn and hx^r feniinino instrumental and vocal: trio present- ed nicely to results that were uri;- W'ortliy, Tiie '<:ellist in .the turn is a bet for a screen test, the girls overcame difficulties with the pit oi'chestra and Miss Severn demon'- strated some neat turns, Serlany Troupe (New Acts); . four... men,, opened, 'followed by the' Turner- Brothers, who caught the brunt of a bad layout In having to follow with additional acrobatics. The 17-piece. band Went to nine ntmibers, three repeated from Uie previous Week and still good. Al- ways a pip stage apt, this Waring outfit continues full of i4eas arid novelty treatments of songs to keep them out front. They're. preSum- ."ibly holding back their ace routine, the college thing, for the final week. The boys look good and H'red sells "em ablyj abetted by Tom . and the drunimer. That they can play, ilote the mellow bra.ss' so'tion, goes without saying, : Cortini (New Acts) niay:icianed in the second half paving the way for Ralph Whitehead. (New Acts), Then .iliss Baker. with songs that are songs. . DeSylva, Brown and Hen- derson get the program credit. Eight .•^ongs for her, amotu;St'which a baker, aviator and I'Atlas Is Itloss" stood out on lyrics; Ah?o two bal- lads frorn which Belle niight have omitted the .sob patter. Okay at the American. "They like it there and the feature picture is bound to come around, no. matcr what happens. But at the Palace it's $2, and-no picture. Miss Baker, however, sang over a certain degree of hc-irseness and never was in danger. She's looking well, too. With , her present group of songs she can go anywhere In vaudeville arid stand out from the entertainment angle. Ben' Hassen Troupe substituted for Randolph and Wright, who de- faulted in the flnal spot.; Bid. RIVERSIDE ~—(Sti-Vaude) ~ - ^ .show. Bad biz. Gets monot- .st.'ihle Co., inc.; $r,S2. Richard Hemdon; N. Mui-rav, et al.: Jli-n. ■ " Albion Productions and Harry. 8. Manus; Ijariat PvoiU:., Inc., et al.; $4,441..' ■ • Ben Ali Haggih; Ili-iitiiuc Hr-rvice. Inc Qltarsh BIdg, pany. • It was given a liot bvurt bi j Cooky Mfg, Co.; $'jdG O'Toulo ; $1,49G. • Co., Inc.; Hnrt M'>t<ii- l^air pnou.s, .. - . .Gate boost to $1.65 account ot holiday. The extra -tap di.scour- aged surplus trade, : Gautler's Phonograph Dogs, fa- miliar, and reliable opening turn, got the show in motion. Maud Earl, billed a.s "vaudeville's, highest voiced prima donna," was unhappy in the con.sclousness th.'it she was not getting across. While looking as if .she is capable of doing a good act and. having a record of■experl- onco behind her, Mis.s iCiirl is un- fortunately equipricd for . materia;!. The high note would ■sp(<;ik for It- self and would be move orfective as a climax in.stoad of .siii-eaif over, the act. ('atul)rii, novelty l-Ycm-h cyclist, ■ Would pass ntijst(;r on the sheer in- genuity of his mecli.inii'id n-voJving tafile. Additionally the stunts are .(•,Tr-(aivi'. and with a gr;nid fusion . thf. Tricolor at the 'liTtnTi; ]t s'^slTi^'^lieirr^^^—^ lOdwiirfl J; Ltirnlierl, ih'e noof .comic, using three .dn.ps nl' (iilher- tl.TM ."atire to every f:;\\l<>ft or..ln'l<um, l)le;i.--"tl .ill palates, tlic t'nintly hlgh- (jj-ow the rfccOin;: .-knllers. He .g.'i.ve the. llrst hair of the bill the fl.'ivoring ' v\ ithoUt . wlii'li 11 would lnv<" bi'cn tl.'<.t. . • Lf/niv anil Charles .Nrriscoiil, .with A(,'iiiUin'>K'd on P"B>' ^^J! STATE , <Vaude-Picts) Sellout and standees a,t the State Monday night with the holiday and "Student ..Prince" (M-G-M) on screen. , .." The length of tne screen feature chops this week's vaude to Ave acts, all good. Three Golfers, male acrobats, clicked in opener with balancing, tumbling and springboard stuff. Count-Perrone, baritone, with Trix Oliver at the piano and also war- bling in the duets, likeable In' fol- low up with a. so-so routine^ Mostly routined, to give the count an In- ning on voice and pleasing; Nola and- Winifred St, Clair liven- ed up the comedy with, a back-stage skit. Songs kept In lively temno by the former's low coriiedy antics. Corking good comedy turn for any- where. LeMaire and Van, In cork, scored With comedy chatter, mostly of an argumen-tlvfc nature with an in,'iur- ance bit reminiscent of previous Conroy and LeMaire era, for thei finish. Van handles th>* comedy for top value with LeMaire a corking straight as ever. Another bell ringer. Natacha Nattova, aflslsted by G.. Rolein, closed with a class dance, including "Moth and Flam;e" ballet bit which Nattova did In several previcus editions of "Grsenwl.-.h Viliufre Follies." An adagio also b'. r Act Is moui.ted in pr ) lu.*tIon f».:hion and Is class for any opera houfie s^r production. Edba.