Variety (Feb 1930)

Wednesday, February 19, 1930 FILM HOUSE REVIEWS VARIETY 43 ROXY (Presentation) New York, Feb. 16. They had their work cut out for them staging this week's show on tho Boxy stage. Idea was to get a wallop In It that Would steal some attention away froni the In- troduction of the heralded Grandeur screen. Maybe they didn't try for competition with the epochal event, concentrating Instead on making a presentation typically Roxy in Its linished showmanship. "Happy Days" (Fox) with, its score or so of "names" and its sumptuous spectacle held enough gasps for anybody's show, and for once threw the stage proceedings into the shadow. Rostrum feature is an intricate and very lovely bal- let, "La Grande Jardiniere," and the supporting novelty is the return of Von Grona and his dancers In a bizarre dance episode called "Rhap- sody," a fine bit of staging, but one of those interpretive dance things that suggests it ought to be full of meaning. If you could only grasp the significance. Wide film monopolizes the flicker portion'of the show. First there's "Niagara Falls," the last word in pictorial scenlcs and a punch by Itself Included In the overture. Idea apparently was to pave the way . for the wide screen feature to let the patrons become accustomed to the new dimensions. About i reel of it and a treat. Not less Impres- sive than the picture itself was the musical, background supplied by the orchestra, Niagara being a theme upon which the big organization could spread itself with plenty of ■^elbow room for effects. -Overture worked through ponderous chords, to a dashing brass and everything- else climax. Percussion trio at the Capitol would have enjoyed the devastating musical climax. ' Rhapsody" had Von Grona sur- rounded by the Roxy chorus work- ing in silhouette against a flaming red drop, pleated in vertical folds th.ls time instead of flat. What the pantomime means was anybody's £uess, but It was a striking per- formance whether it conveyed a meaning or not, the girls In those jerky maneuvers and Von Grona ex- pressing whatever he was express- ing In his own peculiar style of Btralned contortions. —.. UsuaL mal©._oliQlii_episode. .was a. picturesque staging of "The Two .Grenadiers," opening down front before the much used Roxy scrim with Harold Von Duzee and Jose Santiago singing the Schumann duet In character of the wounded ■soldiers and the picture lighting from behind to reveal a posed group of Napoleon surrounded by his Old Guard and the chorus finale. Fine tableau for a big musical drama. Into the newsreel, all Grandeur, brought In for the new week and eliminating the standard size screen from the entire program. Gran- deur shots were not particularly Impressive. There's better material on the shelf flashed at the Gaiety last, summer. This had mostly bits that have been made familiar on the small screen many times— Naval Cadets in review on their own parade ground; big guns of the Coast Guard; cavalry drill of rough riding by the troops at Fort Myer and a semi-comedy shot at the big elephant In the Bronx Zoo. Novelty •f the big screen carried these, but they'll have to do better if It's go- ing to stick. Light artillery flrlng took the edge off the big gun clips. Maybe they're holding back Tilden, Babe Ruth, the West Point flash and the Leviathaji. It's one of the few times this house has missed with its news. Then into the main ballet and a spectacle of abundant charm. Beatrice Belkin, soprano, introduces the episode with a coloratura num- ber, the drop flying to reveal the ballet posed on a tiered series of platforms, girls' skirts held up in front forming a tight bouquet of flowers. Ballet comes down front Xor a formal routine on the toes, giving way to tho jazz steppers for one of those precision bits that never fail to pull applause and de- eervedly. Beautifully done here. Girls fall back Into their oi-iglnal pose and ballet corps returns to their earlier flower tableau for a ■low curtain, while Miss Belkin fin- ishes her song. Incidental to the dance staging Patricia Bowman and Leonide Masslne, as an idyllic gar- dener and country lass, do a trim dance duet. Tdinh. LOEWS STATE (Paul Whiteman) Los Angeles, Feb. 13. Paul Whiteman still holds the erown of istage, concert, dance and screen premiership so far as bands are concerned. Best proof is his value current week to this house, ■where he and his gang are taking the place of the regular Fanchon and Marco stage unit. Started off Thursday doing flve shows of 35 minutes average, with capacity on the flrst and second. Capacity for second performance has not been attained In this house in many a month; With trade starting off as it did, Indications are that the map.otro and his mob wlU have to do sixes and sevens to handle the crowds. No doubt he won't mind, as he Is In on a guarantee and cut with possibilities that the cut might ex- ceed any heretofore to other big name attractions the house- has played. Whiteman was astute enough to arrange his program so that the specialists in the organization could do their stuff in addition to the col- lective playing. Though girls might have .been shy on the stage through the regular presentation being elim- inated, the amount of entertainment the Whitemans gave the cash buy- ers here was in. excess of that -af- forded by the regular units, and a variation of the regular week to. week stage show. Big novelties of the Whiteman sort can always find a niche here coming in at in- tervals to carry along a picture Which the house might not figure to be a b. o. whirlwind. With chimes clanging in mellow fashion, the curtain arose on White- man and his crew playing "Mon- teray," song number of the "King of Jazz," talker that Whiteman is now completing for Universal. It is one of those dreamy, languid ballads giving the tenor in the out- fit a chance to chant the lyrics. Number sounds like another White- man natural. From this the Rhythm Boys get their chance to liven matters up with patter and clowning, stopping the proceejiings. Then Goldle, who has taken the Henry Busse spot in the outfit, does a "Sgt. Quirt-Cap- tain Flagg" burlesque. A wow and he finishes it with a bit of trumpet- ing and hoofing. "Great Day," another Whitetnan natural, is thrust forth with a chariting quartet getting Its chance. Wilbur Hall, with his gi-otesque trick fiddling and pump, next and slamming home a four-bagger. "Rhapsody in Blue," which has never missed, offered as semircli- max. "Meet the Boys" number finaled and gave the individuals in the band a chance to solo. Altogether 35 minutes of enter- tainment that can never be ex- ceeded In a picture auditorium. Fox Movietone News did a little talking for itself prior to the White- man advent on the stage. Screen feature was "The Mysterious Island" (M-G-M). Ung. CAPITOL - ("Pearls"—Unit) . New York, Feb. 14. Messrs. Shaw and Lee, buffoons of the stiff stance school, and in a couple of musicals, are featured In this newest and quite pleasant Loew picture house unit. Three supporting acts are of suflScient va riety to make the entertainment diverting, and production activity of Arthur Knorr is expended in one attractive full stage set. Of prime financial Import to the Capitol currently Is "Devil May Care" (M-G), which has its first popular priced showing In New York after a two berry run at the Astor. Business was strong throughout Friday. "Pearls' " full stage set is an elab- orate stage band terrace .on which musicians are partially concealed behind a pyramid of glittering blue, and white upright shells. Hang-" ing from the files Is a set of un- original, but appropriate, electric- ally lighted balloons. The com- posite picture is refreshing as a mother-in-law packing her grip. Unhurried in the midst of fever- ish film house pacing, Shaw and Lee looked straight ahead and pic- tured perfectly the mental worries of two gentlemen who have noth- ing on their minds. They're still doing their same act and wei-e liked. Jerry Goe and Brothers, three boys mixing dancing with instru- mental work, afforded an early pep period. Act has been working in vaudeville and doing well. Another popular entry was Tito Coral, Spanish baritone singing native numbers. Coral's voice and appear- ance are to the good. Completing act, Desha and Sansone, had mod- erate results with posing' adagio done slightly slower than a snail in full gallop. . in full gallop. Al Evans is m.c.'Ing and directing the band quite capably. Chester Hale girls were beat in a precision routine which drew ap- plause before the girls started for the Winers. Another round greeted the balloon dance at the unit's finale. No additional stage produc- tion was used for a closing flash. None was needed. Yascha Bunchuk's overture Is "Spanish Sketches," softly romantic afc times and at others a hey-hey of fortissimo. This variance' brings a contest for honors between the fid- dle and percus.'iion departments, and Bunchuk let the fiddlers take the bow. Can the throe drummers be .slipping? Have they let the in- toxicating wine of . celobritism satiate their veins with the ui;aaiy alcohol of overconfidence? Or has their splendid display of musical calisthenics come to be taken for granted? Other drummers, take a look. Completing the film program were Fox-Hearst sound news clips with a few Tnternatfonal silrnis..Banff. TWO ROOFS New York, Feb. 14. Those daddies, grey haired but discreet, and ultra-economical, are, with their sickly oop-de-oops, over coy but cool eyed part time girl friends, virtually dominating one of- Broadway's two picture roofs. The soprano voiced males no longer horde Into what was known as their evening meeting place. Public necking Is now being dem- onstrated on the New York roof. Loew's upper deck, with its pastoral paintings and subdued lighting, evi- dently gets 'em. A quiet walk, al- most as long as half way around Central Park, reveals not much at- tention being paid to the picture. There'll probably be a dearth of park bench cooing this spring. No fear of the cops, and it doesn't take an awful lot to satisfy the old guys whb are doing the hide-a-way. The elderly Lochlnvars are better bets for a theatre than the more virile roaming Romeos. They've about crowded out the younger lads. It's embarrassing to house man- agers to be quizzed about such things, but Dave Bromberg, up at the Japanese Gardens, is an excep- tion. "In the three years I've been here I haven't had an arrest on any- thing. Just one complaint I re- member, and that was from a woman. She didn't go through with it. If the guy had been better looking I probably wouldn't know about it tonight." However, this audience on the eve lamped just shaped as a nor- mal bunch. More like a theatre than the Loew roof. Got a balcony, upholstery, etc. Jap place has a great sky em- porium functioning during clear weather on warm nights. This went over so big last summer that Fox is making a stadium of it for the new term. Bleacher like stand with 500 extra seats now being con- structed. Waly. Florida dames reducing on beach similarly uninspired. NBC broad- casting youngsters caught at the mike and entertain in flat way. Jake Wolff, old timer, taking from wrecked building bottle of real stult he cached 20 years ago may be genuine, but audience didn't lake it that way. Thomas Edison's S3rd birthday and outdoor celebration Is mainly a battle among photogralihers and scribblers. . Gcorgo Ade I'ates an editor's note. Not a laugh despite the rep. '' Frieda Ilompel testing kiddies' voices first bit of bonafide comedy. "Sonny Boy" by kid duet and prison- ers' affair by colored youngsters get the grins. Doc Wiley also has birthday recordort and recalls pure food law struggle. French Guards- men do formal turn before the colors. " Wall/. STANLEY ("Modes and Models"-Unit) Pittsburgh, Feb. 14. Compact little show that woi-ks smoothly throughout. Some effort apparently made to give this one a story, enabling Brengk's Golden Horse to be introduced at finale as work of young American studying art in Pafis,_ but It's unnecessary. Enough ' of evefythnig" to ' make "Modes and Models" ride along on its entertainment qualities. This one's brightened by a crack band specialty in the middle, not permitting usual sagging when switch is made frOm full stage to one. Following Duflin and Draper's dance, Dick Powell, m.c, sings num- ber, then introduces a couple of muslckers, Joe Falvo and Hynle Graver, both of whom were local stage band favs at Penn and En- rlght, respectively. Trio meg a ballad for fine returns, then the band alternates on great hoke specialties, ending up with a fast banjo quartet led by Powell. • Montrose and Reynolds kidded around, the dumb femme keeping customers giggling throughout. Used a few blue gags, but didn't depend wholly on them. • Chester Fredericks .whammed with his stepping, but should stop warbling. Nita Carol has a voice and knows how to use it. Powell acted as talking trailer for next week's Anniversary Bill. Not In view, but introduced himself through screen mike and then de- livered his stuff. First time ever tried around here and quite effective. Picture "Son of the Gods" (FN) and weekend biz saw standees. Cohen, PENN ("Toytown"-Unit) Pittsburgh, Feb. 14. Pantomimic novelty not so forte for this house. Customers, used to an m.c, want one and missed when absent. Unit pretty enougl^ but quite drab as far as entertainment goes. Received less tlian enthtislas- tlcally, usual here. Penn was the first local film house to mix jazz with Its screen fai-e and mob expects plenty of it when they ti-ek down to Sixth and Penh. Not -a solid laugh and everything suffered as result. CUillino and Fortunello, stood out, but they've been around so often thai any nov- elty attached to the turn has been lost. Publix shows, when they used to tenant this house, were bad with their quick repeats and now .Loew's appears to be no different in this respect. .\ Carlton Emmy's dogs carried out the toy shop Idea and the animals were consistently amusing, but it's not ivhat they go for here. Chester Hale girls okay, especially in their wooden soldier routine, and a fiock of shoiv girls draped In the back- ground added class. Dick 'Leibert did a timely organalog and one that packed lots of audience punch. Miniature igloo built around organ, with Leibert garbed in pair of those polar bear pajamas supposedly broadcasting program to Byrd at South Pole. Hoke messages and answers flashed on the screen, with Leibert making announcements through .loud , speaker, interpolating them with some "corking parbdies and pop tunes. Picture "Hot for Paris" (Fox), badly chopped by censors. Biz forte. Golicn. EMBASSY (Newsreel) New York, Feb. 17. Spot news is not to be found In current Embassy reelage. It's 90% magazine stuff. Not an outstanding clip, and 14 are credited to Hearst, while the remainder are titled Fox Movietone, Full running time just 45 minutes. Study of New York harbor dur- ing fog is illustrative of the most Initiative used by cameramen for this show. This Is composed chiefly of tooting whistles and horns and "study" is from a ferryboat. Jackie Coogan gets one of those plugs for which talker newsrcels ai-e proving susceptible. Obviously that, for the kid tells of Intending to come back, when he gets through, school. Five-year-old brother talks, but can't be understood. The Garden's d6g show is repre- sented by about three breeds. Polo this time done in same way on Cali- fornia cour.se. Likewise for skators In Central Park. Old oar practice stuff shows Princeton boys in gym. Sail skating at Lake Ilopatcong and skiing elsewhere as has been soon before. Sprinting in Garden, poorly lighted, and library stuff of bathing styles in Florida. Chorines on va- cation will do anything for pub- licity and this time they are shown stepping at Seminole Indian gather- ing. Shots of St. Patrick Cathedral's new organ okay, but recording poor. Same defect in short shot of Buda- pest chorus. O^l.oha Gfrl.i doing routine and PARAMOUNT Los Angeles, Feb. IS. Publix ace standby In this town has been going along pretty well ever since stage shows were ban- ished, and the house went straight sound, about nine months ago. Again, that the picture is the thing is a cinch argument here. And no headaches about budgets, bills, opening day turmoils and attend- ing aggravations pertinent to stage work. • At one time the Paramount,' then the Metropolitan, was operating un- der a straining tiverhead that made it plenty tough to get out from un- der. -When Publix road shows made this a stopover there was more grief. Those shows were sent out with a topheavy nut that only a prize pic- ture could carry along. All this is changed and past. Par- amount now is as quiet as a cathe- dral, except for Its sound from the screen. During the last nine months the house has been getting breaks on pictures with the percentage of weak ones limited to a degree that didn't hurt. Current week happens to be one of those things with "Burning Up" (Par). Opening day's (Thursday) attendance showed it, when at the second show house was three-quarters empty, with the bal- cony™ almost a total loss. Feature, running but 68 minutes, brought In a raft of Par shorts to fill.out the program to normal size. This Is strictly a Paramount house wifh no outside subject ever get- ting a look in. Short cycle started with "Pining Pioneers," a Bruce scenic built around old timers melo- dizing outdoors. ''Marriage Wows" (Max I'loischer cartoon) followed and not as good a.s some of the oth- ers of the samtj kind. Two comedies in "The Plasterer.s," with O'Donnell and Blair, vaude act, and "Weak, but Willing" (Christie), featuring Will King. Seven clips from Par sound camera and a Paramount Per.sonallty Film tleup with the local Evening Expres.s concluded the .screen library. . Hou.se feature is the organist, Milton Charles. Charles is a Chi- cago product, who got In on the organ specialty thing when It was in Its Infancy and earned quite a. rep in the bigger Chi house.s. He's been out here over a year now, and flicking strong. One of the .things Charle.s has picked up during his Kojourn on the coast l.s singing. Pleasant surprlHc, considering he's been keeping it a secret for years. Amplified horns In the hou.se arc well adjusted to his voice, while at the console proper Charles -need offer no apologies. This week excepted, the J'ara- nicunt should continue to do biz pretty .steadily. PARAMOUNT "Aladdin's Revels"—Unit) New York, Feb. 14, Jesse Crawford's i-endltion ot "Rhadsody In Blue" at the console is the bright bit In. a below standard Paramount bill. "Danger- ous rarndise" (Par) Is the feature while the stage show Is just one of those things. Ronle Riano does her best to keep Cambria's "Aladdin's Revels" head above water, but can't save it for, at times, she's off the stage. Miss RIano and Ducallion handle all the comedy in their very proficient and respective styles. Flash scenic finish has the girls in gorgeous costumes^ but they're getting used to that. Four Cheer Leaders, collegiate-llke male quartet which recently hit the east in a Fanchon & Marco Idea, had a chance to mop but ml.ssed when permitting the stage band to out- noise the harmony. Boys sound best without accompaniment. Sud- den insertion of orchestra unneces- sary and rather disastrous. Ducalllon's chatter, while balanc- ing himself atop a ladder, sold him the same as It did in vaudeville. Miss Riano's specialty was a ec- centric dance. She was applauded Into an encore. Her kicks are cleverly mixed with comedy, and she's adept at both. Gambarelli Girls, dancing chorus, shine in a toe routine after an earlier stereotyped precision num- ber, va. c.'ing and directing with- out creating much excitement Is a tall chap named Ray Teal. Many standing and waiting Sat- urday afternoon. Bige. ORIENTAL (Presentation) Chicago, Feb. 14. Stage show of 46 minutes, "Danc- ing Around," locally produced by Paul Oscard,, is a matter of hoofing from a Crinoline start to a near-hot finish. Llna Basquette, of pictures and more recently on Keith time, the Williams Sisters, a male tapping team and comical Delano Dell we the talent. Williams sisters were toppe^s with two songs and Hannah's lively leg and body gestui*es. Miss Basquette had no trouble getting across as a neat worker and knows her tech- .nlqi^e, .especially, ballet, .but seemed to work rather listlessly. Dell's ec- centric hoofing carried him over after 10 minutes of profitable gag- ging with much familiar patter. Usual amount of specialty work by the band, with an "Harmonica Harry" arrangement that should have gone big at the flrst show had It not been Impeded by Lou Kos- loff, m. c. who sometimes gets In the way. Six chorus men and girls formed a neat opening, the girls In yellow crinoline in front of a colonial cutout drop. While Miss Adams eang, the girls were joined by the boys for an old-fashioned waltz. Slipped off most of the dresses and the boys rejoined for an ensemble tap. This was re- peated with variations for the ballet number, the girls wearing colonial evening gowns and concealing Miss Basquette. Preston Seller's organlog, with slides shot on a scrim and living heart cutouts on either end of the stage, did well. 'Xocked Door" (UA), the picture, and six minutes of Par sllents and sound news shots completed. Business ordinary for first show, minus the customary one o'clock holdouts. Looj). MARBRO (Presentation) Chicago, Feb. 12. Presentation here this week has color, speed, laughs and hoofing. Got over well with "Welcome Danger" (Par) rated the draw. Chorus opened with a fair routine, the presentation then swinging Im^ mediately Into the three acts. Joe Griffin delivered two semi-dramatic songs for nice returns. A repeat here for Griffin. Three Browns, col- ored hoofers, followed, and big with fast stepping and clowning. Nel- son and Knight liked by mob, who went, for the sailor and gal comedy chatter. Joey Ross, m.c, managed a song. Ross Is developing and Is becoming popular, at this house and the Granada. Big holiday crowd at the supper show. Douglaf) Gerrard, Bertram Jones, "Sweet Kitty Bellalrs," WB. ? Margaret Seddon, "Those Who Dunce," WB. .loan Bennett, "Moby Dick," WB. Jcannette MacDonald, "Bride 66," UA. Bernard Granville, "Safety In Numbers," Par. Solldad Giminez, "The Texan," I>ar. Horace Jackson, formerly at FN, Joins Fox to collaborate with Jules Furihman on adaptation of "Com- mon Clay." Victor Fleming to di- rect. Warners has borrowed Charlotte Henry and Itex Bell from Fox for "Courage." Jeannette Loff In "Moonlight Madnc-s.s," formerly titled "Singing Cabalk-ros," U.