Variety (Apr 1930)

52 VARIETY FILM HOUSE REVIEWS Wednesday, April 23, 1930 OLYMPIA (NEW) (Paris) Paria, April 11. In spite oC tremendous opposition, Including tlie opening of "Desert Song" at the Mogador, the invita- tion openiner oC Jacques Halk's new Olympia on the Boulevard Capu- cines yesterday was a tremendous success. It clearly demonstrated that even the smartest Paris society circles are now picture-conscious, as was shown by such an audience never before was brought together for a picture show. In the matter of silent pictures, Paris now feels like sophisticated Broadway; they are passe here, "Trail of '98': caused a general walk-out, scarcely one-half of the audience waiting for the final fade-out. . , The Olympia, for many years a music hall owned by Jules Dumlen, showman and race-track magnate, was radically altered into a film house, but advantage was taken of the old excellent stage facilities, thus allowing for elaborate presen- tations. With the exception of a theatre in Cannes; it Is the first of a chain which Jacques Haik, French pro- ducer, Is now building. Next house win be erected on the boulevard Polssonniere, but the location com- pares to that of the Olympia like Union Square to Times Square. Houses most affected by the new opposition will be the current show cases of Metro (Madeleine) and Tiffany (Capuclnes), both within a stone's throw, and the Piaramount theatre, whose locally successful policy of presentations, also 10 a, m. to 2 p. m. grind, and scale of prices the new house Is emulating. The Olympia represents an in- vestment of about $1,400,000. It comprises a 1,900-seat auditorium, a fully equipped stage, and a 120-foot foy««} extending from the boulevard entrance to the inner foyer. Vari- ous amusements will be installed there for the public awaiting ad- mission to the house proper. The'auditorium has 800 seats on the ground floor and. 1,100 on the cantilever balcony. Building of this balcony caused rebuilding of the outer walls, formerly too weak to ■withstand its weight. Indirect light- ing Is used throughout, and Carrier ventilation installed. Acoustics good. Decorative scheme Is light green ■with touches of gold. Excellent sight range all overi The Erneman projection equip- ment Is satisfactory but the sound equipment, Cinevox, Haik's own local device, must be scrapped be- fore talkers can be shown with success. Service, modeled on Paramount, is under Manager Land. There are 80 men ushers, in brown jackets with grey pants In four shifts be- caiise of the long grind. Usual stunt of having French film stars acting as flower girls to the audience was done for the open- ing. Program Included an overture by a good 25-piece orchestra under Clappi. According to French cus- tom the orchestra Is in a pit and not in full view of the audience. Next, a short talker by Maurlcet, locally popular entertainer, -who is also to screen for Metro in inter- polated sequences to make "Holly- wood Revue" a possible sale here. His short film took the form of a lectute, In which he introduces the new house to the audience and also pays tribute to the Olympia Music Hall memories, dear to old Paris lans. Significant applause greeted that part of his lecture In which he informed the audience that, when the Olympia screen would start talking, it would do so in the French tongue. After Fox Movietone News and a Mickey Mouse cartoon, much en Joyed, came a stage presentation by Louis Lemarchand, associate pro ducer and author of the "Folies Bergere's" revues. He is under con tract to stage the Olympia presen tatlons, and they will be a big asset to the house if they remain of the same quality as the initial one. This Included Madame Cesbroh, locally famed singe'r, and a chorus of 18i styled Stelling Girls under Madame I^Ktnarova, ballet mistress. Sketch, beautifully done, but not so well lighted owing to rushed opening of the theatre, represented a century of music hall offerings, from romantic 1830 to jazzy 1930 Scenery got approval, as did the performance. Except for tlie feature, which flops here, as will all silent, films, present show can stand for many weeks and click, even with Paramount show- ing Chevalier In the seventh week and still playing' to business above average. That existing contracts bind the management to play pic- tures which could profitably be stalled was a problem from the start. U. A. "Iron Mask" follows "Trail of '98." Levy. PARAMOUNT ("Dude Ranch" Unit) New York, April 18. Three specialties make a straight procession of clickers, unusual In spotting for a stage band unit. Ar- rangement for this presentation is exceptionally happy. Entire unit runs 40 minutes, rather long, but seemed less because of Its brisk movement and the quick audience response. No extraordinary scenic flash for the .show, which had Paul Ash In cowboy costume leading the band similiarly costumed, and banked up to one side of the stage instead of in the formar minstrel first part ar- rangement. ■ Ash is doing vastly better than on his first Paramount visit, loosen- ing up in style" and working up to his audience effectively. Cowboy at- mosphere is helijed out by the pres- ence of The Rangers who have worked before in the Times Square de luxes. Splendid sextet of male voices. Darling Twins, pair of young, plump ponies, do legmania that equals the best and in addition de- liver a pop nicely. Make a good start on "cUte" looks and spirited high kicking routine evoked solid applause. First specialty got the presentation going well and it never paused. After a first-rate pop from -the band with the cornet player doing catchy "low down" effects as ob- bllgato. Burns and IClssen stopped the show, making quite a situation for Ash, who good- humoredly helped the applause along, all leading to a speech by the parodying pair, some- thing that doesn't happen in a house like the Paramount in a blue moon. "Jazz Lips" Richardson, colored eccentric stepper^ put a climax to the episode, even after these high lights, going; to a double encore, ex- hausting his acrobatic repertoire and finishing to a riot with his slow comedy split. Usual Paramount ensemble fin- ish, with the much overworked col- ored lights lowered from above and the Darling Twins posing against the back drop as twin pinnacles of gigantic crinoline dresses. Detached from this presentation scamper was a choral Interlude, brief but picturesque, stage set to represent a French period scene. Courtiers grouped about a scarlet robed cardinal and 20 voices or so singing Easter church chants. Not very striking, but giving some touch of atmosphere to the religious ob- servances of the current week. Interesting clips of Paramount news and the organ concert this week given by Mrs. Jesse Crawford alone. The Missus wisely depends upon current popular hits, with ac- companying comments, among them voicing her vieWs that "Cottage for Sale" is the best ballad since 'Among My Souvenirs." Conclud- ing with "Should I?" which got a little burst of applause on its intro- ductory bars. "Young Man of Manhattan" (Par) the feature and supplying the stronger half of the show.! Same picture playing day and date at the Paramount, Brooklyn. Rush. piano on occasion and talUfs hl.s song numbers and has following House Symphony orch^stra doubles on the stage for presehtatlon. Pit number under direction of Samuel Benavle. Presentation caught on Good Fri- day when the house opened at 3 o'clock. Broken running time all day and lots of loose ends. House benefits by building its own shows In the timeliness of the ideas used. Wright, Douglas and Co., dummy horse act with a girl trainer build for laughs. Doris Seaberry for one song. Giv- ing this girl another song might have given a chance. Didn't get the break she deserved. Fred Stritt, m, c, at the State, before it went sound, still has a local following evidenced by open- ing band he got. Stritt works alone for a while and then un- covers two stooges. One an attrac- tive young gIrL First stooge Is a good looking young chap dressed in tux. He plays dumb for a couple of laughs. Girl is in audi- ence looking for dropped bag of gumdrops Interrupting act. After Stritt goes in audience he finds drops and pasises them out to those seated nearby. Blue gag for a howl was girl saying that she wanted to get on the stage and that she knew she could be made if she got on the stage. "Free and Easy" (MetroJ on screen. Lee. ORIENTAL FISHER (Presentations) Detroit, April 19, 1930. Fisher theatre occupies a unique status in theatrical circles. House, seating 2,800, Is located in the fam- ous Fisher building, a landmark and the show place of the city. Theatre was not needed In the city, but was built by the Fishers as an idea. Theatre is the last word in theatre decoration, equipment and comfort In a new shopping district, formerly an exclusive resi dentlal neighborhood. Special lease arrangement whereby the Fisher building management share In both the profits and the losses. House consistently plays medio- cre first run pictures where they might be running good second run pictures and make money. In fact, make money where they have been consistently losing money. House hasn't made any money since open- ing, with possible few exceptions. House is located about two miles from the downtown show section and according to location should play second run features. But the Body Fisher boys Insist on first runs. Uses locally built presentations. One week and then the storehouse, E. J. Welsfelt Wisconsin Theatre, in Milwaukee produces two shows a week. One for the Fisher and one for the Grand Riviera, a second run deluxe neighborhood house. He opens one show at the Fisher FrI day and opens the other on Sat, at the Grand Riviera. Fisher show Is limited to about $2,600. About two grand SO for salaries, including a twelve girl line, permanent Wels felt and his dance producer, Joe Grlffen, hold what Is believed to be a record for producing presenta tions. Two a week and the surprise is that they are good, generally speaking. Permanent master of ceremonies, Del Delbrldge, who uses the dig- nified method and seemingly with success at this house. Del was brought here when the Capitol, his former house went all sound. Plays (Prasentation) Chicago, April 19. Good Friday a good show, '^Aprll Foolies," locally produced by Will J. Harris of the B. & It staff and running 55 minutes, with good all- around talent. Comic Joe Penner, the cigar- smoking clown, furnished the hoke with his quavering vocals; Felovls, for novelty with his ball and stick juggling, and Danny and Eddy, two colored lads, for hoofing with ex- ceptional routines. Idea provides a gaudy stage set of huge clown faces and bright colors, opening with Alnsley Lambert's 12 line girls routining an April show- ers song, with a clown mask dance for the finish. Danny and Eddy fol- lowed a "Stein Sons" rendition by Lou Kosloft and his band. These two boys are there, jus't as at the Regal, colored spot, a few weeks back. Rope skipping by Danny and roller-skato taps by both their forte. Felovls, with his vaude act con- siderably shortened, was a show stopper, but worked against the handicap of bright yellow for his background, making his ball and Chinese sticks poorly visible and providing no contrast Penner supported the continuity by dashing bofik and forth with his "Wanna Buy a Duck?" sparring for laughs in an aisle candy hawker set-to with Koslbjt and getting a screaming finish with his song spe- cialties, done with those sotto voce laughs and Penndr pantomime. KoslofC, returning to this house with the splltup of the five m. c. unit, overplayed lor' his followin&, and after a violin specialty held his bow in hand and bowed and smiled until he forced an encore. The show uncovered Mona Dell, captain of the Lambert line, as an acrobatic dancer far above ordinary. "Show Girl in Hollywood" (FN), Fox and Par news clips, and Easter orchestra feature with synchronized film, and Preston Sellers organlog completed': Business at the noon show was off, with many vacancies upstairs. Loop. STANLEY ("Puttin on the Dofl"—Unit) Pittsburgh, April 19, Not much to this one, Sammy Cohen, erstwhile screen comedian, saving It. Cohen has a new Individ ual routine since he was here in hls- last Publlx unit, and it's got sub- stance his previous stuff lacked. Idea of "Puttin' on the Dog" may be okay on novelty, but it's anything but that as far as results are con- cerned- Weaker show than ordinarily found around here, with unit appar- ently dying a slow death until Cdhen comes on next to close for that three- in-one movie burlesque. Screen comic also works In "one" with George All, the "Peter Pan" dog, to save the early part of the show. Bobby Baldwin, who works with Doris Roche In' song and does a dance specialty of his own, pre- sumably acting as m. c, although he Isn't so billed. He Introduces the performers, but that's about all. A couple of trained canine groups also to be found, one of them looking like the dog Shuberts had here rcently In their "Night in Venice." Fred Evans' girls have little to do, but do it well. Dog Idea is carried out in staging and atmosphere, with a little, half- pint purp scoring in a dance led by a shapely girl acrobat who waltzes across the stage on her hands. Dave Broudy, in the pit, and Ber- nie Armstrong, at the organ, wage a "Battle of Music," seeing which one can get audience to sing loudest, and stunt manages to work up some enthusiasm. Picture, Al Jolson's "Mammy," being shown day and date out at Enright in E^ast Liberty, and biz Holy Saturday capacity, Cohen. neWsreel New York, April 21. Fox's 16 clips and Hearst's 14 merge Into 44 minutes of news, mostly of the magazine kind, worth any fan's 26c. Nothing of excep- tional note in the program Monday except it is strong enough to sus- tain those rows of standees found every evening around 7 and 8. Children furnish a lot of the en- tertainment. A flve-year-old Aus- trian girl from California reciting and winning a prize In Pennsylvania —and she certainly can play the piano. An 11-year-old lad dipping a glider into Long Island Sound. In another clip French kiddles gather around an American priest who lauds the quality of the wine and chortles over Yankee stupidity. Orphans in Buffalo follow this by applauding "Rln-TIn-TIn's" free demonstration In person. Girlies in Formosa exhibit their knowledge and ability to sing "Kentucky Home." A boy and girl, impressing as egotists, win prizes in Chicago for declamations on Americanism. Last, in this llne-up of ingenues and juveniles, is an exhibit of diving monkeys In a San Antonio zoo. Most Impressive clip relative to the adult posers Is that by TFanny Ward. On the screen Fanny doesn't look over 21 and, were it not for a silent subtitle, no one who didn't know this vaude queen is admittedly 60, would think of raising the age ante. Fanny does, however; In fact she boasts about It in a little song with a big moral outlook on the word sunshine. Seals of Budapest are disillusion- ing to many devotees of American zoos. No difference. Same for Singapore, except that there are moi-e Ford cars than usually evi- dent on the average American main street. Giants and the Braves clashing with bats fit in the sport end, sup- ported by soccor in England, bike sprints In New York, West Pointers parading, rowing at Washington, hunting in Florida, and a tiny but rough rodeo on Jim Jeffries' Bur- bank ranch. Maori warriors doing an Amos 'n' Andy in New Zealand do it so well the world will soon know where plenty' of understudies, maybe, for the famous team can be plucked. At the same time a chain of girls do the dawn dance in the regular Florida way. In respect to formalities, General Pershing Is honored by NYU with a diploma and long speech; Con- gress woman McCormlck is wel- comed back to the Capitol; Musso- lini rewairds gallant flyers and is himself extolled-by Nicholas Murray Butler of Columbia; Thomas Edison announces his scholarship to Amer- ica's cleverest lad; Adolph Ochs, N. Y. "Times" publisher, talks about newspapers and advertisers; trout are scooped up in Wareham, Mass., hatcheries; Billy Sunday tells how he used to play baseball, and the camera travels to the top of the Chrysler building. Waly. CAPITOL ("Varieties" Unit) New York, April 18. Following the suggestion of its title this unit resembles and runs like a vaudeville show. Much jump- ing from full stage to one and back again with all the acts performing individually and the band confined to the pit entirely. It is in general attractive and easy-to-take diversion. One bit Is doubtful and particularly so if des- tined for the inland towns eventu- ally. That is, the 12 ballet girls climb Into an erormous bed and presently 12 more dressed as Colon- ial swains arrive with candles and start to climb into the bed for a blackout. Done last year in the sophisti- cated "Little Show" $5.50 revue it was a piquant pantomime of French flavor. On a picture house stage both its smartness and its cuteness seem lost and it will remain an open question as to its value. Fred Keating, the magician, who is a better comedian than necro- mancer, performs as m. c. This responsibility he fills very nicely, but can use some more funny sav- ings to advantage. Novelty and the fact that he has a fairly good as- sortment of minor magic Will get him over and help the unit. Michon Brothers, sure-fire, hard- working, show-building $5.50 com- edy acrobatic team, were with ease roxy New York, April 19. Stage show is an excellent blend- ing of the religious observance oC Easter and Idea of the gay awaken- ing of the spring season, an appro- priate ' and graceful handling of both aspects of the day, but th» stage presentation rather scants its usual variety of appeal. The Roxy has set itself such a sustained high level of novelty and varied enter- tainment that regulars feel acutely, a show in which all the usual ele- ments are not present, as happens In this case. Churchly Easter spectacle eschews the customary elaboration oC staging and puts its big moment into a splendid bit of pictorial dlsplaly. Interlude opens -with vocal en- semble grouped on one proscenium box and Viola ^hllo, soprano, soli- tary in the opposite box, all garbed in nun-like surplice and bearing church candles. They sing Gou- nod's "O' Divine Redeemer," fine example of Roxy choral rendering. At the musical climax ' of the theme stage curtain rises to dls« close briefly a composition repro- ducing with posed figures the famous painting, "The Last Sup- per," familiar to everybody from its many reproductions. Table and the figures are centered on the huge stage and make a smashing picture. Ballet opening out front with Ruth Durrell posed at one side against a semi-winter drop in futuristic design, the girl swathed in white winter furs. Butterfly*, ballet comes into sight, the dancers removing the furs bit by bit until she is In more summery dress. Scene goes to full stage hung in a simple drop for background of a butterfly ballet, varied by other ideas reflecting the season, such as. drills by the Roxyettes as farmers and farmerettes, summer ^irls, etc, Patricia Bowman and Leonide. Massine are in and out for principal dance Interludes. For the flnale back drop flies, revealing a palace- like setting in yellow and gold, with the dance ensemble posed in a stair pyramid, all dressed in a loose- trousered costume of cloth of gold and wearing glittering fanlike head- dresses. Precision routines the usual punch pei'formance, with the flnish finding the girls posed back in original position. "High Society Blues" (Fox), fea- ture, runs more than an hour and a half, which .explains in part the brevity of the stage show and probably the absence of the cus- tomary novelties. Rush. PARAMOUNT, B'KLYN ("Smart Smarties"—Unit) New York, April 21. There are few, if any, de tuxera that provide as much per dime as this one. Besides feature, "Young Man Manhattan" (Par), there are four different units in the flesh. First is "Easter Festival," churchly scene with chorus of 13 singing ap- propriate Easter songs. Setting, tasteful one, brightens up for an effective finish with a erroup of girls in background with lighted candles. Drew a hand Monday night. Second Rudy ' Vallee, this week appearing without benefit of spe- cialty entertainers. Backed by his band of seven, he siners several num- bers, always through the meg, in- cluding "I'm Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" and "Song Without a Name." Latter is topped by a bass sax solo. Earlier in routine, Vallee offers a very clever comedy study on the sax in which he makes the instrument moan in a different sort of way. Vallee's voice was always consid- ered rather small, that explaining the why of the megaphone. It is growing stronger as'lie goes along.- and now in making announcements as well as in vocal work can be much more clearly heard than be- fore. Vallee was on 10 minutes and with his following here, scored nice returns. Earl Abel at the organ and pre- senting an original program, ar- ranged with more than the usual showmanship, comprised third unit on progrram. Monday night patrons decided his worth in the affirmative and with spirit. Regular unit, here from last week's showing at Paramount on Broadway, is "Smart Smarties," staged by Harry Gourfain and fea- turing Borrah Minevitch. For date here Mltzi Green is added to stage show for a routine that proves its outstanding highlight. Miss Green Is the kid actress who attracted con- and certainty a smash success. Earlier the Sydell Sisters, girl aero- siderable notice for her work in bats, had copped honors with their knockabout Apache. A soprano of flute-like quality, Rosemary, sings prettily to cover a scene shift. Yasha Bunchuk conducting the overture is now facing the audience. This is the realized ne plus ultra of muslclanly ambition. At the Paramount on his various appear- ances Dave RublnofC has almost faced the audience in his gymnastic direction, but here Is Bunchuk raised and centre under a flood spot going through his calisthentica with a chance to project himself into the auditorium. He accomplished this communication via "Viennese Nights." "Free and Easy" (Metro) on screen. Tiight biz Good Friday. "Honey" (Par), recently played here. She is Introduced by Minevitch and works in the classroom setting of "Smart Smarties," fitting in nice- ly with' kid atmosphere. Opening, the young girl delivers a speech that might have been written by a liter- ary p. a..for a U. S. Senator. It's Intended as a laugh, and lands that way. Leading her talk to a restau- rant where she met a lot of big film Stars. Miss Green goes Into imper- sonations of Greta Garbo as Anna Christie. Eddie Cantor telling a joke, Ethel Barrymore ordering a meal, Al Jolson gabbing about "Sonnr Boy," Fannie Brice and, for the close, Moran and Mack, kid's father appearing to handle the straight end. Much of the material from the Moran and Mack act as It was i" (Continued from page 56)