Variety (Dec 1929)

Wednesday, December 18, 1929 VARIETY 61 CHICAGO Variety's Chicago Office WOODS THEATRE BUILDING—CENTRAL 0644 4401 Englew.ood Consistently noticeable in this Bouth side house on Tuesday nights Is the preponderance of adults oh the main floor and boisterous high school boys in the balcony, Tues- day night, with nine oi? 10 acts, con- tinues to show big business, ljut the nianagexnent still has to put up with balcony heckling. --^ ; Bill was shorter than usual, with- out satisfying pace until the sixth act Frazer Brothers, two acrobats, opened to nice returns but cling to their slow-motion timing and con- tinue to play to each other instead of the house. Les and Gladys Frank, bellhop tapster and girl, at the piano, commenced weakly and Tvere never strong even in this ^'lilldred Andree and Co., Ave danc- ing girls with violins and a man soft-shoe dancer, opened slowly but clicked with their two flnal quintet arrangements. Hoofing specialties below family standard. Sherman and Wallace, mixed comedy team, could have snapped their act uP with a faster rendition of "Colleg- iate" in opening.. Double dancing finish boosted them.. ■ Another "musical novelty in Dewey, Adams and Herman, who, though portraying backwoodsmen, forget tlieir parts In action and speech. Saw-fiddle number could have been a high spot but for poor execution. "Washboard finish saved. Page and Cortez, little sailor and big Spanish girl, were very satisfy- ing with songs, dancing and crpss- fire. Rough treatment low comedy continues to score. Harry Hart's good showmanship and nickel player-piano imitation got over. Le Grohs, two men and'woman in funny contortions and. acrobatics, kept the house In an uproar next to closing, and there were no walkouts for the fla.sh act, ''Portraits" (three men and three girls), strengthened by a sensational apache dance for this house. "Shanghai Lady" (U) and news cips completed. Loop. Belmont Audience dozed through the "showings" Friday night, and didn't show life until start of the regular bil?. . ' '-andevs, ball jugglers, opened ana lihowed cfuality with comedy manipulation by the man. This act was formerly: Alexander Bros, and Evelyn, now split, with the other Alexander brother doing a single juggling turn. Bristol and Bell didn't mean a thing with w^eak chatter, and man- aged just slight response with wooden- shoe hoofing by the man. Mme. Verobeil and Co. have a fair semirclassical flash that needs a lot of help and trea,tment before It becomes entertainment. Shean and Burt, next,: haven't got a chance with present Weak gagging. Master. Gilbert proved to the. lik- ing, of the mother, element, and got over with his. vocalizing and juve- nile appearance. Nite Club Revue is a meaningless fla.'rtx which never gets started. Not ati entertainii^^g ■moment. Needs better material and a lot more speed. Closing the show- ing acts were Dunn and Hall who wouldn't stay put, and scratched his arm and shoulder. At the sec- ond sliow, the lion knocked Labero to. the floor, injuring him so the act was forced to close. "After Dark" closed alt Fargo, N. D., last week. Entire cast has signed, petition to Equity • to per- mit reopening in Milwaukee, Dec. 29. Local Gus Sun office now booking the Uptown, Cleveland, on a split week policy. A group of about 25 who haye dropped their memberships in tlie old- Comedy Club are planning a new thea-trical organization with a limited n6h-pro membership. They will occupy the old Comedy Club quarters above Lindy's. David LIpton, p; a. here with Piib- Hx-B. & K., goes to Detroit to head the publicity for the Publix houses in that city, succeeding Oscar Doob. Northside get another cafe in an C O R R ESP ON D EN C E VARIETY BUREAU WASHINGTON, D. C. 416 The Argonne 1629 Columbia Road. N. W. Telephone Columbia 4630 By HARDIE MEAKIN n^liiscb (SUubert)—Dark. Natloiinl (Erlanger-Rapley)—Dark. roll's iSUuben)—ParU. ■ Pictures Coluiribln—"Il.-illclujnh." Kttrle—"Love Racket." Vox—-The River." . . . Met—"ChnrmlDK Sinners.': Pnlnce—"Ijockefl Door." . KIhUo— "Rea Hot Rhythm." BKO (ICeilh's)—"Great Gabbo." Tow^n is legitless with nothing scheduled for at least three weeks. All matter in CORRESPONDENCE refers to current week unless otherwise indicated The cities under Correspondence in this issue of Variety are as follows; and on oaaess BROOKLYN 61 CHICAGO 61 CLEVELAND , 63 DENVER 63 DES MOINEiS 63 KANSAS CITY ........ 63 LOSiiANGELESi 62 LOUISVILLE ................ 63 MEMPHIS 61 MILWAUKEE 61 MINNEAPOLIS 62 I NEWARK ..... 63 ^)T^r.^^V/^V «••■••••• 63 PITTSBURGH ..........63 P4>RTLAND/ORE 62 ROCHESTER iB3 3T« PAUL •.••'.••■•••••««•«••• 62 SAN FRANCISCO ............ 63 SARANAC ••'•••»•••*•••••••••» 62 SYRACUSE 62 TOLEDO ............... i 62 TORONTO ,. 61 WASHINGTON 61 L. Stoddard Taylor, for years manager of the Belasco, didn't like the Idea of leaving , town with the closing of his house. Ethel Barry- more house mfinagershlp In Man- hattan hence is off, with Taylor be- coming countiip man for the ofier Shubert theatre here, Poll's. over. Paper declined to print his review. Ontario censors were annoyed when sound equipment Installed in their censoring room fulled to meet fire-proofing requirements set up by another government department. They see the releases silent while checking on script dialogue. Ke- 6ult is less cutting. Eastern Theatres, Ltd., Famous Players Canadian Corp., and Mans- field Theatre."?, Ltd., declared divi- dends this week. L AV. Killam, who has become key man in the three-man voting trust of Famous Plnyoi-s Canadian Corp.. has succeeded N. L. Nathanson on the directorate of United Amuse- ments, a Montreal chain. flopped with a rehash of several other two-acts. Their material is old and moth-eaten and can't stand. Opening the regular bill were the Three Lordens, with a nifty comedy flying routine. Flops and tumbles on the trampoline can't miss any- where. On the whole an excellent acrobatic turn, but femme hooflng bit is ga-ga, George Broadhurst, coming on after eight quiet acts, cleaned up with his drunk clown- ing, although his act at present doesn't compa.re with former rou tines. Closing were the Paul Yocan Dancers, an excellent turn, staged and dressed with a swank touch that can't miss. Dances are classi- cal and ballroom, and all executed splendidly. Can make the grade anywhere. "Saturday Night Kid" (Par) fea ture. ^(^^P- already crowded district when James Boss reopened the old club Lido under new title of Varsity. Al Handler band. When in Chicago Vint Thete Hita Mats. Wed. & Sat. AA. H. WOODS'.T DELPHI Clark nt Madison LEW LESLIE'S "BLACKBIRDS" Fastest, Funniest, Most Tuneful Musical Revue Ever Presented Original New York and ParlH C«Bt ILLINOIS Mats. yVed. Sat. ZIEGFELD SENSATION SHOW BOAT (In the Flesh and Blood) Wit h CHARL ES WINNINGER ERLANGER ^-^^NoS'pia?!!^ BERT LYTELL "BROTHERS" Thrilling Romantic Melodrama Tivoli, new 2,00.0-seat house of Publix-Gi-eat States, at Aurora, HI., will be opened Xmas day. Essaness has returned the Gold and the 20th Century, two southside grinds ,to the CQ.oper Bros. Essan- ess took over active operation of these houses last July. The Cooper boys have -been dickering for some time for the return of the theatres, now that they are making money again, but have only recently been able to raise sufficient money to pay off Essaness. Charlie Cottle, formerly assistant to Lou Lipstone, has been promoted to manager of the Grand Riviera, Detroit. House will be operated as a deluxe with stage show. Lake Slvove productions, stock company at the Evanston theatre Closed Saturday, with salaries paid by bond held by Equity. Company sponsored by J. E. Hutchinson, who runs a tea shop. Richard Israel has sold his leases on the Halsted (800) and Waverly (700), unwired neighborhood houses, to Sam Halperin and Samuel Kar- sek for $1.5,fl00. In effect Jan. 1. Rainbo Gardens Will have a floor revue Jan. 5. MILWAUKEE By FRANK J. MILLER Alliainbni-^"kard to Get." Davidson—^Dark. Oayety-—Burlesq.ae. Garden—"FootUehts and Fools." Majestic—"So Long, Letty." Merrill—"The Mlglity." Palace-Orpheam—"Great Gabbo." BiTerstde—"The Racketeer"; vaude^ Strand—"Sunny .Side Up." , Wisconsin — "Return of Sherlock Holmes"; stacre show. I — The open shop labor policy will continue at the Auditorium, Mil- waukee's civic biiilt showhouse. Tlie board declined to unionize the building by employing none but union mechanics, as requested by labor union leaders. National Is fighting to get open- ings on two of the new musicals. Plenty tough here. , Jennings family is getting some tough breaks, Hazelle, former show girl, now married to Mike Cullen, manager of Palace, Avas In the hois- pital for weeks. Now Mabelle, dra- matic editor of the "News," has a cold that took her voice. Andrew Sharick now managing Universal's Rialto. Previous reports that this house was to go Puhllx now seem cold. Wardmah Park hotel's little the- atre, wired, opened Dec. 13 with "Cock Eyed World." Max Lowe, former agent and now with Meyer Davis, has the house. TORONTO J. I* Hunter, of tlie Paramount ofllce, here, has been named Toronto representatives on tlie Film Board of Trade for 1930. BROOKLYN. N. Y. ByJOABRAMSON Miije.stle—Dark. FlatbusU—"Temptations of 1030." Jiuiialea-"Night Hawk." Werba's Brooklyn—Dark. Boulevard—t)ark. roranionnt — "Marriage riayground"; stage, show; / Strnud—"Gold Diggers of Broadway." . Fojt—"The River"; vaude. Albee—"Vagabond liover".; .vaude. Met—"Woman to ■Wotnan"; vaude. ITulton—Burlesque. . RollB«d^"KatJa'iB Wedding" (JewJ.sh). Orphenm—Change. Momart-^Nowsrcels. iStar—Burlesque. Qayety—Burlesque. Only tryout here Is "Temptations of 1930,!' new revue with cast of 60 at the Flatbush this week. By G. A. S, -Rnvnl Alexandra—Thurston. r.nipirc—Stock. „ „ Pantftges—"Why Leave Home"; vaude. Tlvoll—"The Virginian.'' . Uptovin-r-"Charnilne Sinners"; stage *'*£S'e\v's—"The Girl In the ShowV; vaude. Hippodrome — '^Mississippi Gambler"; vaude. • _ ^ „ Palace—"Greene Murder Case." Buniiymedfr^"Say It With Songs." Eastwood—"The Cocoanute,?' After much palaver with censors, "Strange Interlude" opens at Br- langer's Princess Dec. 30 with a few cuts. When "Interlude" was first staged In New York, Augustus Bridle of the Star went, to look It Fulton, long unoccupied, now playing stoclc burlesque, with Jack Perry manager. Blossom Lavelie, Sue Miller, Tom O'Neill and Eddie O'Brien heading company. "city Haul," new one, comes to the Fla.tbush week of Dee. 23 before New York; CHICAGO World's tallest; lUi rooma and baths Brin Theatres will open a new the- I atre in Appleton Christmas Day. "FjoIIow Thru" underlined at the Davidson for Christmas week. Davidson will hold "Journey's End" for a second week. Theatre was to have gone dark. Seven independent theatres in Racine, representing |1,000,000 in- vestment In buildings and equip- ment, will be closed'" Jan. 1 unless the owners obtain more satisfactory relea.se dates on second runs from two chain theatres holding first run i-ights. At the present time a picture which has been shown in one of the clialn liouses cannot be exhibited in an independent neighborhood house until 9 months or a.year, later. MEMPHIS By WALTER D. BOTTO I^oeWs State — "The 12th Chair"; 1 vaude. Ori>henm—''Paris"; vaude. I^oow's Palace—-"Half Way to Heaven.:' Pantages—"Flight." PrinceKS—"Out Tender." Beanfy—"Hearts Adrift." Strand—"Four Feathers," RKO WOODS BETTY COMPSON ERICH VON STROHEIM A Sono-Art World Wide Picture Peggy Charters Is pfoducing re- vues for two-hite spots. Elmer Fitzgibbons is house man ager of the Publix-Crocker. Elgin, 111. .. Gene Greene's home in Baldwin, Mich., was ransacked last week by burglars. . ~ Labero, of animal hypnotic act, lost control of the lion during the second day at the Belmont last Wfclr,"and' lion -brulsed him-up =pret=. ty badly. At the first show, the lion • IN CHICAGO LINDY'S RESTAURANT On Randolph Street Is Home, Sweet Home, to the Profession A Good Place to Eat and Meet Pantages theatre orchestra called out the. operators unti) Emile XJmann, local manager, agreed to live up to their contract signed by Rodney Pantages about a year ago and which does not expire until |. Sept. 1. Crystal Gardens,, night club, de- stroyed by fire. Legit business here Is ".standing up," as usual. "Chauve-Souris" on four performances got $1,841; "Jour- ney's End," $2,164 in four perform- ■a,nce.<j;-^Padlock3 0f-i928,-J-^l7l41-in three performances, and "Vagabond King" gave away a ticket to evcry- I one who bought one. and. then got ! only 82,110 in three performances. .A. B. Morrison, former manager of P.'intages theatre, now manager of Lo'iw's Palace. Aunt of She'll tell you Hotel McGormick is her favorite Chicago hotel. She likes the locatioii->-so near the loop, yet away from the noise and dirt. She likes the spacious, airy rooms, the smart and charming fur- nishings, the modem facilities of all kinds. The low rentals include complete maid and hotel service, electric refrigeration, light and gas. - "fJulcl IMgger.s," at Pantage.", did the higgest week's busine.^s ever done in Meniphia with pictures, i i Over $21,648. Hotel McCormiel( of en such aided fea- tures as golf driving nets, handball courts, gymnasium vith latest health and reducing apparatus . . . all enjoyed lj> guests Tuithout charge. RATES Apartments for Two, $90 Mo. up Larger Apart- ments for Four. $150 Mo. up —HoteURoomSr—= $60-$70 Mo. up Ontario imd Ru«lk St«. Phone Supei'ior 4927