Variety (Sep 1928)

Wednesday, September 26, 1928 MUSIC-RADIO VARIETY o5 H'G-H Buys in on Robbins Music Firm 51%-Robbins Remains; Sees Big Future in Theme Music • David . Bei-nstein, treasurer of 'joew's Inc., becomes president of the Rcibblns Music Corp., with Jaclc Kobblns, the firm's founder, as chairman of the board of directors, vice-president and general man- ager oi his music publishing com- i)any, under a deal whereby Metro- ("Joldwyn-Mayer has bought in. 51 per cent, of Bobbins' music busi- ness. • J. Robert Rubin, acting for M-G M has closed with Julian A. Abeles attorney for Robbins, whereby Metro-GoldAvyn will have its own creative music sources. ^ Robbins continues as sole active head to operate the business, hire and lire aa he will, and as the sole salaried officer. No other officer receives a stipend. v The necessity of original film themes for sound pictures, with the talkers malting the strides that they are,. first inspired Paramount and Harms to attempt a tri-cor- nered deal with Bobbins in the lat- ter's business. Bobbins' sudden im- portance in the music-film business is accounted for by his pioneermg efforts in having assembled the choicest collection of original film theme copyrights, extant. "While, haggling over terms, with a new proposed deal being consid- ered, Sam Katz' (Publix) illness held up negotiations after two prior offers by Abeles, representing Bob- bines, had be<;n turned down Louis K. Sidney for Loew's mean- time approached Bobbins who closed with Bernstein and Bubin. ' Under the terms. Bobbins retains a share of the firm, besides the sub stahtial cash payment for his re llnquished stock In his corpora tion. _ .' . Bernstein's Vis.ion What may be the keynote In the matlc music publishing was struck by Bernstein, the Loew-M-G-M treasurer, who forsees film produc- JOE ROBERTS PAMTAGES, LOS ANGELES STOPS THE SHOW With His Wonderful Playinfl on His NEW SPECIAL "SILVER BELV BANJO 48-I>ii«e Uliuitratcd Cotolos Free tion on the order of musical come- dies, with not one but two or three song hits (or themes) plugged and worked right Into the film script, with reprises of choruses, etc., from the screen as part of the screen action, as far as It will be possibly coiisistent. Bern.steln kyers that even ,ln melodramas and dramas wherever the love interest occurs and recurs, an invisible lyric in- terpreter to serve as background for the principal couple, would plug the theme songs. Other commercial phases of this form of plugging would insure a vast outlet for Bobbins' music in all M-G-M exhibited films, with music boys in lobbies, as with productions, selling the sheet music and records. Bernstein states that they Intend making their muBic adjunct an im- portant source of revenue to their business, in view of the close re- lation.ship existing between film and mUsic. Par- Harms Paramount has effected a similar tie-up with Harms as the Famous Music Corp., with the Harms staff composers now concentrating oh turning out theme songs for Para- mount pictures. Walter Donaldson is also slated to fashion some moi-e theme for Par features. Donaldson heads his own music house, Donaldson, Douglas & Gumblc, and is not ■ affiliated with the Harms organization. This theme song vogue has cre- ated another new situatiop in the Paramount-Publlx music depart- ment With the staff composers of the themes who do all the tedious work objecting to the absence of a little glory and profit through the theme song hits being assigned to composers with a flare ..for popular melody. The obstacle is that the thorough musician Is Invariably lacking in the necessary creative ability to fashion a song hit, and vice versa. The musical standbys. who slave and struggle with the synchronization argue that they are entitled to some consideration and be assigned to a composer of popular calibre. They cite the Erno Bapee alliance with Lew Pollack as a happy compro- mise. Berlin Furnishes Theme Songs to U for No Pay Except for personal comiwsltion. Irving Berlin will not get a cent In cash for the theme songs which his company has contracted to work up for 18 of Universiars sound fea- tures. U executives Bay that, the ar- rangement Is a reciprocal one whereby they . will publicize the Berlin name when and whCrc- cver. possible. ,. The' terms, they saV, also malt*' all Berlin themes submitted subject to the company's approval. Josef Chernlavsky, U's maestro in Hol- lywood, will be the chief one for Berlin to please in this respect. One of the many reasons whj: Universal has tied up with a single composer and publisher, one exec- utive explains, is because: "Musicians are the worst knock- ers in the world, when you try to deal with different ones." N. B. C. s Imposing list for Concert; All Booked by Radios Bureau Forster Still in Chi Chicago, Sept. . 25. Although the- Forster Music Co. i.s transferring its main professional office to New York, the Chicago office will continue to be in active existence. Abe Ohlman, professional man- ager, will be in same capacity in New York. Lopez' 3 St. Regis Rooms "Jeannine" Now Leads Music*s Best Sellers Amoh.ir. music- bost sellers, Feist's "Jeajinliio, I Dream of Lilac Time- has come UP fast as the top seller with another picture song. "An- gela Min," close behind. "BanicniJi," the ace theme number of 'env all this year, is, No. 5 ;and still selling biff. . "Girl of My preanis," "Get Out. and Get Under the Moon," '.'That's My Weakness Now," "Mfmorlea of France." "Bfloved," "King for ft Day," "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life," "You're a Beal Sweetheart" and "1 Can't.Give Vou Anything but Love" are stiil other sti:ong sellers. Also going well are "Ten. I..ittle Miles From Town." "Old Man Sun- shine," "Cliiiiivita," VMelody Out of the Sky," "Night, for Meditation," "Sonny" Doy" (.lolson), "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi." "Cvnzy Bhythm," "Sidewalks, of New York."; "Laugh. Clown, Laugh," "Cliloo/' "Was It a DreamOut of the Dawn," "Last Night I Orcamrd You Kissed Me," "Then Came the Dawn," "Hal- lelujah! I'm a Bum." ^ 1 THE BACON BANJO CO. INC. GROTON, CONN. COMPOSER OF SNAPPY- CATCHY MELODIES INVITES OFFERS kadrcsB Box 84, VARIETY, New York WHO Imports McNamee Dps Moines, Sept. 25. In an attempt to crystalize senti- ment against recent federal re- striction of Its wave length station WHO is bringing Graham McNamee to Des Moines to broadcast a spe- cial concert program tonaorrow night (Sept. 26). ^ The station, sponsored by the Bankers Life Insurance Company, is collecting letters from citizens and petitions as ammunition In their fight to impress the Federal Badlo Commission. Political Music Freddy Behrens and his "Demo- crats" is the official band for the Al Smith campaign by radio. The Behrens unit is on the air three .tinTes w^eKir over WOB, -WEAF and WJZ. . ^ The music Is a change of pace from political speeches, with some of the programs entirely musical, however. Vincent Lopez has been given complete charge of all th>i music in the fashionable Hotel St. liegis, New York. Lopez will have units in three rooms at the Filth avenue hostelry, including roof, grill and main dining rooms, with tea arid concert ensembles also to be han- dled by him. Worry about the personnel •will be pff his shoulders. The hotel will as- sume that with Lopez merely lend- ing his name value and supervising ability. . ■ The newly opened roof garden, de- signed, by Josef Urban, win remain open the year round as an exclu- sive membership club, with a $1,000 annual fee for member being spoken of. It is the St. Begis manage- ment's idea to rival the ultra Em- bassy Club on East 57th street for the smart dine-and-dance mob. Lopez will otherwise make his usual personal appearances in "Van- ities" and at the Woodmansten Inn on special occasions. Otherwise the Casa Lopez on Broadway will have another attrac- tion- TED SNYDER TO SUE Intends Asking Accounting From Waterson-Berlin Firm Fined $500 for Talking Chicago, Sept. 25. • John Xoreto, niuislclan. was'fined $500 by : the Chicago Federation of Musicians fbr. making statements derogatory to the union and .lames C. Petrillo,. president. Noceto later appealed fpr a re duction on the fine, but was re fused. * CHILE GOES JAZZ Syncopation Crowds Out Spanish Love Connecttcues Most Beautiful BALL ROOM 500 Couple Capacity FOR RENT Located Over Lyric Theatre BRIDGEPORT, CONN. A Great Opportunityor an Experienced Dance Hall Man to Cash in Apply to M. L. SAUNDERS B^t".! FOX-POLI PALACE Conn. Ted Snyder has retained Abncr J. Bubien to represent him in an ac- counting suit against Henry Wa- terson and the Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co. The veteran composer-publisher was long with the W-B-S organiza- tion. Previously he had the Ted Snyder Music Co; The breach with Waterson Is long brewing. Snyder has been reported in and out a couple of times In the past year. He alleges no roy- alty accountings for many years. N; B. C. Advantage NCB continiies' to engage orclies- tras and attractions for Its Artists and Concert Bureau to handle for future commercials. Ben Pollack, placed at the Park Central Hotel opening Sept. 29, Is under NBC's direction, with Bernie Foyer as personal representative. Pollack succeeds Irwin Adams' band, an Arnold Johnson unit. NBC had the advantage In such bookings through wires installed for ballyhoo purposes in connection with the. attractions they book. Pollack will be on the network broadcast period. COMMERCIAL WALKOUT Des Moines, Iowa, Sept. 25. ^ Hcrbie Koch, feature organist for , I'.lank-Publix at the Capitol here, has rea.sed broadcasting from sta- ' tion WHO for the reason that, with- out hl3__^consent, the station an-^ nouncers "VlTpped In ""comrhorfial plugs at $9,50 per announeomfint be- tween his solos. Koch refuHcd to commercialize his programs. Washington, Sept. 25. "American, syncopated music ^is pushing, the Italian and Spanish love songs, as well as the Argentine tangos, for popularity in Chile, re- ports the American vice consul at Valparaiso. According to Chilean customs, statistics music rolls are big sellers, with Germany so far on top of the market, Italy second and the United States third. Dealers state, however, says the vice consul, th.at though the others are Imported in greater numbers, those from the United States arc played the most The im- ported rolls sell for $1.80 each in American currency standards. $1,000 DAILY FOR OLSEN George Olsen and his band at $1,000 a day plays Fox's Philadel- phia next week, getting $6,000 gross for, the six days. William Morris booked. Olsen has only a week prior commencing rehearsals with Eddie Cantor's "Whoopee", Ziegfeld pro duction. Kdwin Franko (Goldman and his band and the Lenox String Quartet are two mu.sical, organizations man- aped exclusively by the National Broadcasting and Concert Bureau of whicli George EuKles is the nian- apinp dlreetor. Enples has . a. flook of artists set for concert tours spon.^ored by the NBC and booked through the radio company. Concert pianists inchide Mathilde Harding, Lolita Cabrera Gainsborg, Keith. ,MoIj<>0(1. and Kath- leen Ste'wiirt; Areadie Birl<enholz and Godfrey I.udlow, vioUnists; Georgia I'rice, harpist. Vpcallsts includes Gonia Zielinska, Hevora Nadworpey. Je.ssica IJragon- ette, Gui.'^eppe dl Benedetto, Julian Oliver, Theodoi'e Webb, Frances Paperte, Judsbn House, Suzanne , Kenner, Frva Giles. Gladys Bice, Gitla Krstinn, Leslie Friek, Leon Salathioi, Dolores Ca.sslnelli, Caro- line Andrews, (?raham McNamee,. Vaugliu dc Leath. Astride FJelde, Paula: Hehiinghaus, Marjbrle Hor- ton, Mildred Hunt, Alma Peterson, Bo.<!aUe Wolf, all of whom will be routed by NBC. Some of the names arc recognized, also as announcers, notably McNamee who will be fea- tured as a baritone and not as a . speaker.. A special subdivision of an- nouncers are being routed In con- cert including Phillips Carlln, Alois Havrllla, Norma Sweetzer, Maurice ■Tyler, Alwyn Bach,: Donald Clark, Milton Cross, Paul Dumont, James Ilaupt, Curt Peterson. Walter Pres- ton, Marley Sherris, Edmund Buff-- ner, Edward Thorgcrseh and Balph WentwOrth. •. Units ' and Teams Popular orchestras also to be handled by NBC are B. A. Bolfe, Frank , Wlnegar's Pennslvanlans, Mediterranoan.s, Johnny Johnson, Peter Van Stcede.n, Charley Fry, Lucky Strike orchestra, Hal Kemp. Popular units and teams also are the New Yorkers. American Singers, Goodrich Silwrtown Quartet,, Arm- chair Quartet, N?itional Cavaliers, Happy-Go-Lucky Boys, Parnassus Trio, Bonnie Laddies, Happy Won- der. Bakers, Ballad Singers Quartet, South Sea Islanders. The Hudson-Bambler orchestra, under the direction of Harry B. Adams, has returned for the fall .and winter season" to Memory Inn, Briarcliff Manor, TIIK FORMKR HERB WIEDOEFT ORCHESTRA NOW KNOWN AS JESSE STAFFORD And His Orchestra COMPLETING SUMMER EN- GAGEMENTS AT EGYPTIAN BALLROOM, OCEAN PARK, CAL. EXCLUSIVE Brunswick Recording Murray Wlzel Is b.and and orches- tra manager for Spier & Co-'-'low. succeeding Nyt Chalken. THE SMASHING BALLAD HIT OF THE DAY YOU By CHARLES K. HARRIS Now lU'-ing Sung and Played Over the Radio, A« Well a.s by the Leading Vaudeville Singers And Leading Dance Orchestra!? of the Country Professional Copies Now Ready Call or Send for It IT WILL SURPRISE YOU! CHAS- K, HARRIS 701 Seventh Ave., New York