Variety (May 1929)

Wednesday, May 16, 1929 FILM HOUSE REVIEWS VARIETY 45 MASTBAUM (Wired—Presentation) Philadelphia, May 10. The Mastbaum (Warner-Stoiiley) ig pinning faith on the. elaboratQ personnel of tta permanent stage dtaffi numbering some 60 voices, 30 girls, stage band of 15 or so and^ symphony orchestra. Against this baclcground it started out with on entertainment approximating the Boxy type. ^ the two months or so since its oi>enlng, it appears to have departed somewhat from the original Ideal. Scheme was to make the appeal on spectacular stage, pictures, stun- ning ensembles and class musical programs, with week to week booked In specialties subordinated to those main features. The charting ,«f .the policy as thus outlined, prob- ably sought to devise a show dlfCer- ing widely .from the Stanley, mod- ern house only a block away. The battle with the Fox In the same dis- trict (four blocks away)- seems to have brought a revision of the plan. This week's production has a world, b.t beauty in a pictorial way, but lamentably : short on comedy. Judged by audience ractlon, the standout of the 40-mInute show was the 14 minutes of Senator Francis Murphy, whose dialect spellbinding certainly was out of the art atmos- phere contem'plnled. Not only that, but even with Murphy In the show, tliey seemed to feel the need for a further admixture of comedy to lighten the arty magnlflcence of the proceedings. Accordingly they com- mandeered the knockabout comedy acrobats. Mills and Shea, who o'pened last Saturday at the Stan- ley, abandoning altogether the pla:i to avoid conflict with their own neighbor. The device was Immensely benefl- eial. Mills and Shea fitted into the production, providing just the change of pace from a rather heavy operatic overture and a good deal of mass spectacle. Point of all this is that the house started out to go to the extreme of modern .presentation pageantry and theiv found It desirable to compro- mise with the traditional specialty technique, particularly with refer- ence to the rough and rowdy low comedy. Interest of - these consid- erations in this place is that such things count and Indicate tendencies while modern showdom is trying to evolve a new type of entertainment Point is that both here and at the Fox, which is shooting at something else again, the fact-stood out like a lighthouse that the' seasoned low comedian is the great entei'tainment staple. . Stage production is excellent in Its physical aspect, but outside of the interpolated material lacking in the Jazzy hop-skip quality. For In stance, fhey have a magnlflcent night club ensemble layout for the introduction of chorus evolutions, and against this background is in- troduced, an elaborate rendition of "Deep Night," musically great, but atmospherically rather blah. It was «n the .finish of this harmonlo pas sage tliat Sen. Murphy took charge «f the debate and got the decision without a dissenting vote from the assembled chamber. Down front he was great, but whether the custo- mers in the far reaches of tliis liugc place got much out of it is,a ques tion. Forty-minute stage show opens with an eight-minute session of "Cavallcria Rustlcana" with pretty set of church yard, stained glass windows a fine efCect and the vocal ensemble fine. Silent newsreel fol lows. Fox has Movietone tied up for himself and house goes to Pathc and M-G-M clips. Runs 6 minutes. Interlude of Stuart Barrle at the console, neat bit of jockeying for community sing, Barrle giving i lecture in the form of a singin? les son. This organist, by the way, has the kind of speaking voice the sounders are crying for. If an organist short Is desirable, he's it , Then Into the main house produc- tion. Dandy background of a night club, with stage band grouped back center under Jack Stanley, m. c and on higher tiers the vocal ensem ble in evening clothes grouped about cafe tables. . Back drpp of silver and flock of lights complete the joy joint atmosphere. Stanley is one of the few m. c.'s who can be heard all over a house of this size. The trick li9 he uses a mike. It holds him fixed in one'SiMt, but his talk registers. Besides the two turns mentioned there is a series of specialties, all in- troduced as though they made up a floor show in the club, wliich same Idea Is carried oiit by the dancing girls, 28 in number. Girl number leader is Grace Barry, young, cutely plump in figure and with a melo- dious voice half coon shout and half crooning in quality.- A candidate for the local nichie of Evelyn .Wilson. House doesn't bill any of the spe clalty people. Program mentions -^_only„';iThe-^Singing..£nsemye, the Dancing Ensemble and the Masf^ baum Stage Band," for this section Orchestra conductor, organist and m. c. are the only individuals named. Reason is desire to build the type of show and not reputation for special lies. Business at. this performance (first of evening) two-thirds at 6:50, fllllng to packed atnndces and a line half a block long at .S:1G. Feature, "Glad Rag Doll" (Warner-Vita). Itush. FOX (Wired-Vaudfilm) Philadelphia, May 10. Attractions at this house and its opposing Warner-Stanley Mastbaum take on special interest at the mo- ment because of the war the oppo- sition houses are waging In this congested section of Quakertown's downtown district. Fox Is spending up to $10,000 a week for his bills, and, so report goes, willing to go further on the theory that money spent to build the Fox name and type of enter- tainment is invested in good will when its big new house of 4,200 seats is opened at 17th and Market streets, block north of the present stand. Fox is developing—Indeed, has developed—a stage entertainment. Bills at the New York Academy and here in tlie Fox break away from the tradition of acrobat opening and dumb closing and the headliner next to closing. What they are shooting at is a fast show, well fortified with comedy and of even irfterest. The ideal is a show in which the cus- tomer doesn't have to sit through acts >he or she doesn't like in order to enjoy those liked. Aiming for this objective, Fox has turned out a blend of the presenta- tion idea and the traditional spe- cialty show, and this week's frame- up Is a capital example of the tech- nique. It opens wltk a half hour revue. In Itself is a brisk period of specialty; goes Into a comedy sketch No. 2 with Greta Nlssen and James Rennle; switches to Johnny Burko for 20 minutes of single talking gngs, and winds up In another half- hour revue in Tony Shayne's All Girl Frolic (New Acts). The layout has the elements of both types of show framing. The revues provide the silk and sliver drapes, the girl display, quick suc- cession of specialty of the dance- and-warble kind and the rest that goes to the stage presentation. Name" players are spotted where they will do the most good. It worked out splendidly. For the glory of the older kind of show spotting it should be recorded that all honors went to Johnny Burke well past the half-way mark in the running, and a riot of laughter in his "Recruit," climaxing in a gale with the one about the drowning bald-headed gob who was sent dowi^ again to come up right. Nlssen and Rennle No. 2 gives some idea of the Fox idea of tra- dition. Matter of fact that was where the sketch belonged, for it could well have followed Burke's low comedy, and certainly couldn't have closed the show. Idea of opening the show with a revue Is that it goes right Into speed and action and there is no prelimi- nary stalling. The Introductory is Dave Harris with Prankle, plenty of speed and an abundance of low comedy in the pantomime of Prankle, a mugging grotesque. Turn could be spread/Out for an hour, but in half -that time ia compact and meaty. Pam and Peggy Garvin are vo-do-de-o harmonlzers, who also do a couple of solos. Pair of step- ping girls tread through the run- ning, and Harris* one-man band is a preliminary to the whooping com- edy finish, which has the four girls doing a hula, Harris singing and Frankle in and out for dumb gags Climax Is Frankle's appearance in absurd feminine get-up with illumi- nated earrings and an auto tail light blazing in the appropriate lo cation. This got a roar and clinched an auspicious start for a show that was to run just short of two hours. Nlssen and Rennle were a bit of a let down. Any sketch pair would be bound to be quiet after Harris' clown finish. However, the sketch has its points on second or third view. The situation of a jazzy dame getting the razz in her search for sheik romance in the desert has a comedy slant, and Miss Nissen's lingerie display is worth anybody's glimpse. Burke delivered 20 minutes of un- broken roar. He never lost control for an instant with consistent gags, paced and timed as only a studied and experienced trooper can plant them. Tony Shayne All-Glrl revue, girl band of 12, with a fem mistress of ceremony, Betty Harmon, acrobatic dancer and an adagio trio to put a spectacular punch In the right place near the finish. Stage show started at 2.16 and finished close to 4. House opens at 11, usirfg sound shorts in lieu of the specialty bill for the time being. Price of 35 cents Is a bargain, and It Insures a full house to start the first afternoon show off under best auspices. Line at the box office at 2 and capacity plus inside. Screen fea- turf. given little mention In billing, is "Speakeasy" (Fox). Jlws7t. over a perfoiTnance that doesn't need a typical crowd pf Chi flaps to give it a reception. He's devel- oped into a first-rate m. c. of all- around showmansliip—-capable - of putting himself across In any city. "Chinatown" Unit is: the best en- tertainment the Oriental has had in weeks, and Kvale does plenty to make It that. He has everything a good m. c. needs: youth; looks, comic ability, musical talent and a drawing personality. Working in Norman Frescott's mind reading act, in which he was rehearsed both by FrescotC and Jack Osterman, Kvale removed any lingering doubts as to his talking ability. He played the clown mind reader in excellent legit style. Xiou McDermott's production as- sisted materially in giving Kvale a good sendofC. Ran 60 minutes, on the first show without dragging, and cutting to the regular 60 jjilnutes makes it even better. Opening was before a Chink laundry drop, Kvale. coming in with a load of wash and accepting the proprietor's invita- tion to have a look around China- town. Then into the Chinatown full stage set. where the 10-glrl ballet starts with a drill routine done with large rubber balls. Snappy and shorter routine would be bettor, as their second appearance also is slow. Kvale follows with a comedy song, selling it easily. Mary and Bobby, young dance team, work four spe- cialties and dick on all. Act has very neat appearance, much in its favor, and with routine grooming should progress into a class turn. Ballet on again in a "stop and go" number, holding positions Whenever the music stopped suddenly. Short- ened a bit. It makes a welcome com- edy relief from straight routining. Helen Kennedy, talking and sing- ing, scored with a surefire layout of gags delivered in individual style and carried her act to a strong finish with skillfully exaggerated handling of a pash lyric for laughs. Standard for picture houses. Norman' Frcscott, revue and vaude name, also makes a class house act for spots where the m. c. is able to assist in the mind-reading clown- ing; or he could carry his own man. Kvale worked with him here, and though an act using house lights and working in the audience is ut- terly foreign' to stageband presen- tation, Frescott is the exception and a big one. Turn is a satire on Hindu fakirs, with punch gaga built around a collection of readings that really puzzle the crowd. Production ensemble finale closed. On screen were "Voice of the City" (M-G), all dialog. Pattae sound news and Paramount silent clips. Bus! ness hea'vy Friday morning. Henri Keates, original singing bee organist, returned this week and demonstrated he is still a leader in that division. Bing. ORIENTAL ("Chinatown"—iJnit) Chicago, May 10. Ever since he started subbing for Pniil Ash at McVlcker's several year.s ago, Al Kvale has been a good drawing m. c. for this town. But in "Chinatown" unit this week, mark- ing his return to the Oriental after a long stay at the Norshore, he puts ROXY (Wired) New York, May 11. Tlie current stage, show Is a con dcnsed version of "The Gondoliers," of Gilbert and Sullivan, or more pre clsely of Sir Arthur Sullivan, since it's largely Gilbert and Sullivan with the libretto left out. If an American composer is played 60 years from now in picture houses It will probably be that other Roxy standby and patron saint whose statue sentimentally decorates the lobby, Victor Herbert. J. Parker Coombs, Frank Moulan and Ethel Louise Wright augment the usual Roxy vocal specialists for the 18 minute session of whimsical ity. With the abettment of the stag<i amplification system it was possible to get a pretty good ver- batim on the lyrics while the purely choral effects were swell. Medley of Sullivan tunes served as an overture for the pit ensemble under Joseph Littau in the absence aboard the He de France, Paris bound, of Emo Rapee. Tbia was an added treat for Savoyard fans as it revived the best of Sir Arthur's tunes unlike "The Gondoliers," one of the lesser efforts of the immortal team. From the standpoint of sheer wallop "I'm Marching Home to You," item C of the "divertisse- ments," sung with vigor and Jol sonlan pulsation by I>oug1as Stan bury, was the high moment, as it 'was the sequential climax, of the stage doings. "A Silhouette" was a vei-y fine bit of imaginative staging and lighting featuring the elastic knees of Leon Ide Mas.slne. Dancers appear with perforated costumes cavorting In front of a luminous blood-pink background creating a vivid sllhou ette effect. - Russell. Markert's nifties func tloned prettily In the garden scene .fltJlJ'Jve_jS.ond<>l jers'' an d aj^ln In DIvertlssernont, entitica~"On~tlTe- Beach." Viewed on the first show Saturday it was doubly reni.arkable that so high a dogroe of precision Is nchle-vert on the bi-p.Tk-In' perform- ance f'jr manoeiivcra as Intricate and a troupe ns numerous. Not ( mLitstop was noted, Feature picture "The Valiant' (Fox). T'P "nin 3:30 f5aturday afternoon business wbs a. good 50 per cent, shy of capa,clty. Land. PARAMOUNT (Wired) (Fifth Avenue—Unit) New York, May 11.. Well-balauced show this week, with good representation from every dejuartment. Also Rudy Vallee, for hia third week, and box-ofllce draw- in the feature. "Gentleniert of the Press" (Paramount), to stand olT fine weather approach. Jack Partington's unit, "Fifth Avenue," as It shapes up for the road. Is excellent picture-house fare, running oft smoothly in this house against the Paramount orchestra background for additional support. Tlie unit has a group of well- trained Albertlna Rasch girls, pre- sented In pairs In varying costunvcs, a change and relief from the mo- notony of the usual solid color for- mations. In addition there is a show-stop- per in one of the best solo drummers doing picture house work. Uc works In cork, appearing in one, drumr mlng his audience into bursts of applause following each clincher. This boy by no means exhausts the heavy artillery, being followed later by Dolores, Eddy and Douglas, with an ultra-dangerous and show- manly adagio routine. The girl takes long throws, unusual jumps and undergoes general adagio treatment, turn supplying a remarkable flash. Others featured In the revue are Jack Powell, Robert Cloy, and Hec- tor and Pals. Hector Is evidently the dog act, appearing with over u dozen tiny white pups and gagging successfully where the pups have been trained to disregard orders to do trloks. Rudy Vallee, closing the stage show preceding thb brief finale, sings more than usual this week. Got stranded on a high note during an early i>crformance Saturday aft- ernoon, but managed to climb down without exciting too much comment from the audience. Reception pow- erful on each song. Vallee plays mostly with the Par- amount stage band, his own boys included.in the general grouping ex- cept for one or two numbers. Val- lee's band in itself is first rate, tlie leader again showing good Judgment In selections and orchestrations. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Crawford, at the consoles for apni-oxlmately eight minutes. Including two mother songs this week. Paramount news- reel, with a talking trailer for "The Dangerous Woman," fills out ap- proximately two hours. Mori. LOEWS STATE (Wired) Los Angeles, May 10. "Beach Mights," current Fanchon and Marco "Idea," none too forte from an entertainment standpoint. It Is a nifty flash with a Hawaiian setting and background tliat may please the eye but hardly the ear. Every now and then the F. and M. production forces have a let-down and briilg in a negligible quantity, Not the fault of those in the unit, but that of directorial staff. Just slapping a couple of acts into a show, adding a dozen good looking gals does not mean it is punch en- tertainment. That Is the case with this unit, with the exception of the Kutaros who tie things up in a knot with their pedalogy. -When this unit leaves here and is minus the Rube Wolf and other house aids, it is going to be just as weak a sister in the East as were the stripped of talent Publlx units they used to get here: Fanchon and Marco have an abundance of good material under contract and should be a bit more liberal in making use of it, for their m. c.'s all over the circuit are not as capable as Rube Wolf In knitting an entertainment around what they get. Show opens ivith Wolf and his stage outfit playing a medley over- ture of ballads which Includes a. Mother's day number. Then Maxlnc Doyle, not so long ago In the F. & M. lineup, comes forth for a chant with uke. She is a cute little trick in appearance and hag ability and when later in the proceedings she leads a hula number, the gal hits on all eight and ties proceedings in a knot. There Is another gal in tliis number, a blonde, who formerly worked In the line. She also is strong on looks and delivers a world of hip eloquence. Wolf gets In a "William Toll' number with the line girls doing a classical step and cloud and rain effects on the back drop. Davis and La Rue come In for eccentric acrobatic stepping, with man doing comedy drunk ..bit and woman tapping. Another neat dance turn are Roy Bradley and Evaln. Girl Is whiz on the toes and the couple do pleasing waltz routine. Wolf and MLs.s Doyle get In for bit of repartee which is okay then kit arcs, two men and woman Japs, ■come-ln.for-the.pcd.al-routlnc-.\v,hlch. Is hair -raiser and serves as corking prelude for the finale plrture with girls mounted on' eameo depleting through frame a n.iwftllan sun.set. Act runs 40 minutes wliinh Is okay a.<j far as time Is coilcerne<l, but when it comes to enierl.ilnment value Is not there. H.nlC doxen rllp.s of Fo.y ivrnvletone News and '"Die Png.-in" (l.ilker), M-G-M screen feature. . CHICAGO . (Wired) ^ . . Chicago, Miiy'io'. For-, the first time In Its history B&-K lu-e showing a "pink" this week at tlve ultra refined Clilcago. Re.stripted by the censors "for adults only," Paramount's all talker. The Letter,"- is going to pull more trade than might have been ex- pected without the hullabaloo. If the B&K peoplo had any licsltanoy about playing this picture, they were plenty i-eassured on the open- ing day's (Friday) buslne-ia. Locat screen fans take little for granted, and once a hue and rry Is raised, they're going to see what it's all about; high class mob, i-e.!;ularly Identified with the Clilcago. in- cluded. Calculating on a speedy turnover, the stage portions are being held down to minimum schedule, giving' the house a big brealc at the,turn- stiles. First show, lYlday, ran a little behind time, though .smootbly, ''Barnyard Follies," rural i)roduc- tton Idea in two sets, is Paul Os- card's initial effort here, in collab- oi-atlon with H. Leopold Spltalny, musical director. Between the two they have turned out a colorful and eflectlve unit at a low cost. Oscard Is a flash producer, with a keen eye for minute details on the stage.' His technical ability coupled with Spltalny's careful musleni Interpre- tation should make them a har- monious team. Ray Bolgcr, taken out o( a "B" unit for this show. Is the only out- side act In the production. Remain- ing retinue Is composed of houav regulars and incidental iwrformera, including Luella Flertag, soprano; Jack Powell, baritone; Kny ISpper- son, vocallste, and Charles Jolley, tenor. House ensemble singers and ballet lend the proper balance. Bplger, one of the brightest things lii the comedy hoofing line yet seen ^ around, opened practically, cold in this house and turned himself into , a miniature riot. Here's a boy that impresses more each time. Open- ing set is a picturesque farm yard scene, bringing out the ballet glrla in cdlored overalls for an appron&f'^ ate routine, showing a lot of glngw Bolger's clever rubber leg work picks up a fast tempo to score for him nicely. Nine vocal couples \ group for an ensemble romantio number nicely staged, with Mlsa Flertag soloing to a spontaneous re-, ceptlon. With a shortage on talent it was necessary to concentrate on Bolger a little too much. He steps out prematurely to head a barnyard dance, then remains to. clown and gag in front of a scrim while the next Bet is ' laid. It would have given the show a much ' greater range and perspective if- another., specialty was allotted somewhere^ ' Aa Is, a more or less blackout elteof precedes the aecond section, a flaab spectacle with a fantastic wehva around it. Finale let down con- siderably on the strength of a alA^ parade and dancing finish by tiie girls. Nice enough flasli, rich In color.and design, but lacking a good strong punch for the curtain. Spitalny'a orchestral item to "Mothers of the World," intelligent arrangement of variou^^, mother themes in tribute to Mother's Dayi Oscard's contribution to this la-*. stage tab, constructed to give a.' spiritual effect. Helen Schoen, Rita Dame, Norma Bondonis, Luella Flertag and Charles Jolley are the soloists in the picture. Pretty bit, well done. On the screen short end is a Clark ' and McCullough talking .subject and nine clips from International newa- reel. Main floor solid capacity first two shows Friday. Loop. CAPITOL (Wired-"Frilla and Fancies"-Unit) New 'York. May 11. First-class stage show both from the production flash comedy special- ty angles, backed by a screen fea- ture ("The Pagan") that ought to pull the women on the combined strength of its player names and its romantic and sentimental appeal. ' Picture runs an hour and 20 minu- tes and the-{M-esentation 40 minutes morn, which leaves time only for brief newsreel, one short talker bjr. Van and Schenck and the overtur^^ Trailer for next' week's feature, ' "Bridge of San Luis Rey" is brief. Presentation starts with an Im- pressive picture in the setting. Cut . drop in the front groove represent- ing a Valentine heait ouillne. Stage' is a mass of paper frIllH, Ince work and gecgaws in the Valentine «t#4?; A rave of over-decoration that carr Ties out the love mLsHlvo idea per- fectly. Band set In a maze of birth- day cake frosting llke-the Interior of a cream puff nnd the Chester Hale . Girls, all In Colonial crinolines step- ping, out front. Dandy pictorial .ef- fect for the getaway. Sylvia Millen .soprano, singing appropriate num- - her. ""^BrlBfbst—of—annoimncmenta by., Dave Schooler and Maureen and Sonny go into action. Girl of the. .lolin Held, Jr., type opens with jBZ'/,y song and vaiulty drag rotttlne, followed by boy with acrobatic dnnco session and a pip. Boy does all tho aero evolutions oC the girl contortionist school nnd does them us a finished tumbler would. Briskly (Continued on page 71) . f,:^ -