Variety (May 1930)

S6 VARIETY FILM HOUSE REVIEWS Wednesday, May 21, 1930 PARAMOUNT ("The Blue Mill"—Unit) New York, May 19. Meritorious show in entirety pro- vided, with both stage and screen units of program, better entertain- ment than usual, but whether show will draw outstanding business Is a question. By all rights It should, with word o£ mouth advertising to help. _ Gary Cooper, star of "The Texan" (Par), box office name nicely built up during the past year, with other outdoor pictures to his credit, fig- ures to help his current talker. To attract from stage end Is Budy Yallee, fitted into current unit, "Tlie Blue Mill," staged by Boris PetrofE. This Is a crack stage show. Both in talent and staging it rates high in estimation. Its only weakness and that more noticeable because of the other fine talent centers around Helen Macl^arland's specialty. She is a singer and dancer of only fair mei'it who. does much better at the xylophone which closes her num- "ber. A flashy type and working ex- citedly, Miss MacFarland makes a a better impression through the pace she sets rather than through the intrinsic value of what she does. Ray Bolger, comedian, back on the Publix time with some smart, surefire material sold with show- manship, was an easy show-stopper Monday evening. He has some punchy stuff based on census tak- ing that goes like a house afire, fol- lows it up with €qually as strong material on modern school teachers and tops with dancing that paves ' the way to a strong hit. His adagio • with an imaginary partner a panic anywhere. ,x u i , Appearing twice in the unit, Bol- ger wisely reserves his best stuit for the "next to closing spot," If ' such can be picked in a unit, ma- terial earlier being niild In com- parison, except for a speech. A bad break for end of speech with : "the hell with that" dulls its value. Might as well not go into it at all if not knowing how to finish it up right and taper. If necessary, to a smooth close. Three Brox Sisters, in fine fettle, their harmony work excelling, and iBmille and Romalne. In as neat an adagio routine as ever done, gives the unit three strong and outstand- ing acts. Besides that, there's Vallee, at the New York house for the week, and probably to follow unit to Brooklyn on next stop. . The crooning radio fav, like good ' -wine, improves with age. There are ' now no Indications of the uneasy • stage presence that characterized his early appearances at this house, Brooklyn apparently, having made him feel much more at home In a theatre. Vallee has his seven-piece combination with him, that taking the place of usual stage band here. Although the seven Is a small num- ber to fill the large stage, the unit Is handled in such a way as to kill any Impression of emptiness. Several numbers are done by Val- lee, including songs he is currently ' plugging, among them "Kitty from Kansas City." This Is a number •with an interminable list of verses, patter of which is designed for laughs. Asi done by Vallee Monday • night, it was a little longer than was wise, though taken enthusiastically. Using the meg throughout, the romantic-voiced delight of the air got his numbers over to the last rows of the house. Sax bits inter- jected into songs. . "The Blue Mill" is Dutch in motif • and background, lai-ge windmills (practical) dressing up the unit up- stage. Wooden shoe dancing and Dutch costumes figure, with the Fred' Evans ensemble called Tulip Girls. They are.nicely blended into a number that edifies that popular HoUandlsh flower. Ensemble does both hard shoe and toe routines. Several Publix stage shows recently have been minus lines of girls. In some cases with stage looking vacant ttecause of that Evans girls here are used with effect to build up numbers by Brox Sisters and Emilie and Romalne. Unit's running time, 46 minutes. Organ concert by the Jesse Craw- fords and Paramount News other features of program. With "The Texan" running 79 minutes, there was not even room for an orchestra overture, show running over more than two hours as it was. Crawfords this week doing three numbers with lyrics thrown, on screen—"I'm In the Market for You," "Under a Texas Moon" and "Sing, You Sinners." Char. I' 1 'ji act, and over big. Important Item in this act's success Is the apparent hit-or-mlss routining, with the dogs seemingly doing anything- they want to. Band, chorus, and Milt Prultt, who sings, In that order, and all good. Then Madle and Ray with some clever roping bits, especially Ray's somersault while spinning the rope. Fi:ank Wilson moved oft the bandstand to croon through a megaphone, and to hold the sUge until Lou Cameron and Co, took the spotlight. Company means a femme and a looker, who easily deserves billing, since she delivers s. a., a nice pair of pipes and a lot of gen- eral assistance. Cameron clowned siround to great returns besides do- ing a couple of front-overs, with his comedy hoofing and tumbling. Everybody on the stage for the finals. . .. V "Return of Fu Manchu" (Par) feature. Three Fox sound news clips and a silent Par reel. Preston Sellers at the organ, and the band In some pop tunes in the pit for the overture. Business good first show Friday. Loop. PENN ("Days o' Yore"—Unit) Pittsburgh, May 17. Old Home Week with Wesley Eddy back on stage as m.c. Re- ception today removes any doubt about this versatile little chap being ace high with Penn regulars. His second swing around the Loew cir- cuit and a solid click all the way through. Eddy came here just a year ago as house's permanent m.c:, remaining for 12 weeks before go- ing to Kings in Brooklyn. First return, in, February, he came close to Penn b.o. record and this with ordinary picture. They've given him another screen feature no ' better this time, "Return of Dr. Fu Man- chu," but biz despite this above average. "Days o' Yore" a better show than Eddy's first, "Les Parfums," but as far as Pittsburgh la concerned, the m.c. Is the whole works. Always as- sociated with the song "Old Man River" around here, he starts off with It to a long and spontaneous hand, winding up with "A Year From Today" and "St. James In- firmary" for more great returns. Could have gone on, but worked himself out of some tight spots to keep the show within the time limit. King, King and King, always fa vorltes here and their third or fourth visit to town within the last year, walloped again with their class tap dancing. No question these boys are a natural anywhere. Chevalier brothers also well re- ceived with their graceful acrobatic maneuvers and Nat Spira scored In a single comedy song in front of the 10 Tiny Tots. These beef-trust chorines allowed the customers to open up on the laughs and their "Singing In the Bathtub" number a crackerjack novelty. Eight Chester Hale girls and eight boys, instead of regulation 16 line steppers, had one or • two oppor- tunities to do hoofing but for the most part were forced into the background by the Tots. Old Ger- man band idea helped out and re- volving band stands a happy thought. Dick Xieibert back at organ again after illness of six weeks and mob was tickled to see him again. For strict musical rhythm and an ih gratiating audience personality, there are few organists who can compare with the blonde-haired Leibert. David Pesetzki's overture, "Parisian Echoes," had too much brass and too little music. Colien. ROXY (Presentation) New York, May 16. Business should stand up nicely here with "The Arizona Kid" (Fox) on the screen, with Warner Baxter in the same part that brought him his comeback through "In Old Ari- zona." Friday night's business, ca- pacity at the second (9:30 p. m.) show, is an Indication. Nothipg special on the stage to di-ag 'em In. Picture ifen't'the strong entertain- ment that "In Old Arizona" was but doesn't disappoint. The Women have gone so daft over Baxter It's a pipe they-11 support him in his new picture.' ~ . Show consumes 130 minutes, with 84 eaten up by the feature. This is a little longer running time for lat- ter than usual. Nevertheless, house has managed to provide for four different units On stage besides orchestral over- ture, always a feature here and this week including selections from Liszt. Following overture 'The Garden Of Dreams," a beautifully staged though somewhat slow dance pre- sentation with Patricia Bowman and Leonide Massine in principal rou- tines. Number is opened by Ruth Durrell, mellifluous soprano sing- ing from one of the boxes, where the Roxy prefers frequently to spot vocal talent. Setting is a knockout on flash and taste, but the routining of the numbers, with the Roxy bal- let corps giving impression of clum- siness in taking positions for fin- ish, not up to Standard existing here. Next on Russell Markert's 32 Roxyettes. This ensemble can't be topped. That goes ^especially for their routines this week which Fri- day night drew outstanding ap- plause. For another unit in the stage pro- gram billed as "The Carillon," the Dunbar Carllloneers are in the fore- ground in a bell-ririglng act. Unique and amusing routine which if not dressed up as here would look like cheap foreign vaude. Backing to build up the novelty attraction has Jose Santiago, whose voice carries well In this upstart house for size and the Roxy chorus. In the staging, lighting is such that the shadows of the Dunbar quartet are visible on both sides, not enough spots or borders appar ently having been used to eliminate that. The other presentation a fantastic interlude, 'Up Among the Chimney Pots" in which silhouettes and other chimerical effects figure, has Miss Durrell again, with Harry Stockwell opposite her for a duet. Roxyettes also return here for an eccentric routine, with ballet corps and chorus building up the produc tion value. Newsreel includes Fox-Movietone and Hearst-Movietone clips. Short er than usual, doubtless due to length of feature and variety of stage material. Char time In Rockies." Seemed like there was a chance for another natural here by bringing girl crooner down oft her stand to front of stage with Powell, both of 'em crooning duet through megs. No overture this week. Bemie Armstrong across with his organlog in, great style, helped a lot by a radio announcer doing comedy stuff at mike. No community singing. Armstrong asking mob to sing only single number at end and this, it seemed, might have been dispensed with. Armstrong a much Improved showman in last year, and slowly but surely building himself into an asset here. ' Helen Kane stayed over for single day, having played only five days • previously when house switched to Thursday opening. "Boop-a-Doop" girl over big, as usual, and her coat-wringing stuff with Powell Immense. Did four numbers and band had to blare into flashy finale so she could make a getaway. Cbhen. ("Brunettes"—Idea) Los Angeles, May 16. This Fanchon & Marco Idea has not a blond in It. Brief, running 25<| minutes after the orchestral Intro- coast operation, the Egyptian will ductlon and 9 minutes of that taken I become a grind housel. Its Fanchon out for shirt-tearing comedy. Com- I and Marco stage shows will be edy interlude is the needed relief for transferred to the new theatre, and the classical artiness of the Idea In Its quiet. Egyptianlike way it proper. will carry on with pictures alone. The Hlrsch Arnold girls, 14, are .Life and theatre operation are like in three numbers, Spanish, fantastic that. and Grecian. First half uses front On the current program, weekly of the stage against a striking back, change, is "The Benson ' Murder a gigantic cactus In flower standing Case" (Par), Movietone News, out against black velvet hangings. "Brats" (Laurel and Hardy), and Opens with man in green Spanish "City Service Idea," a Fanchon and costume singing solo, line of 10 Marco unit reviewed recently at iris slithering on in long red skirts, Loew's State. The works unrolled really shawls that aire shed for steps pleasantly before a rather small in short costume. Remaining 4 ar- audienee Thursday afternoon. Mat- rive In long contrast dress for inees are a little weak all around sinuous steps working into Castanet town, but evenings at the Egyptian finale, with house girls on to double | do much to compensate most of the ORIENTAL (Presentation) Chicago, May 16 An excellent stage show, running 40 minutes of smooth, surefire acts and surrounded by one of the best sets ever turned out by the produc tion department. Labelled "Hot Tabasco," calling for a nifty Spanish scene, Opens softly, with a man warbling and the chorus gals lolling around, quick loud chord from the band and a splash of hot color from Job May and Dotty Oaks In a fast, sefnl- apache dance routine are followed by the girls In a neat chorus num- ber. Put together. It was nifty opening bit. - ^ ^ Gordon's Dogs was the first set WORLD (Vaudfilm) Omaha, May 16, A hybrid of straight vaudeville and unit shows is bringing back biz to the World (Publix) 2,200-seater which was falling off with talker grind. Ted Mack went there as master of ceremonies when Para- mount here gave up units and now handles a regular five-act show la stage band style. Sometimes his band works in the pit part of the time, but this week acts were such that It stayed on stage throughout Opening band number followed by McDonald and Pai-adlse, steppers for the most part, who were fair but were given too much time, Freddy Stritt, nut comedian, fur- nished bright spots, assisted by a deadpan tumbler and a dark-haired cutle. Middle band number featured or- chestra men doing Tiller routine which was a novelty, couple of an- cient symphony men getting laughs Bert Nagel and company's cat -act was popular as usual. Emil Boreo' about fair. Headliner is Marjah, "know-all see-all seer," who has the folks be lievlng him fairly well. Worked up following over radio stations hei-e about and was good shot for the World. Feature, "Show Girl In Holly wood" (FN). World vaude seems to be doing itself a lot of eood. Arch. STANLEY LOEW'S STATE EGYPTIAN (Presentation) Hollywood, May 15. About seven or eight years ago Sid Grauman opened the Egyptian theatre. Unlike the Chinese, there are no hoof and mitt prints of the stars Imbedded in the cement of the Egyptian court. Nor are there lifelike models lounging around the lobby to scare people from Kan- kakee. But if an ancient Egyptian were on his dying bed today he un- doubtedly would request that his remains be placed In the Egyptian theatre alongside a bowl of rice and a swig of honey brew. The Egyptian is one classy mausoleum. For about 18 months Fox West Coast has been operating this 1,400- seat Hollywood affair, and the slo- gan now Is "Where the Stars Come to See and Hear." While no other theatre In Hollywood can really call Itself a show place, as long as the Chinese is repainted in red, green, and gold every so often, the Egyp- tian is receiving a regular, reliable sort of patronage, and among the customers there must be a star or two. Wherefore the exploitation tagllne is neither the nuts nor un- ethical. June 4, wlien the new Pantages opens its gilded front under West line across the stage. Here a soprano comes on in crino- line for operatic aria ih French, prettily sung; The man back for a brief duet, English but unintellig- ible. Couple are Chirot and Mer- cado. Cactus is hoisted to reveal a huge femme face, brunette. The girls parade on in faptastlc costumes and dress the big head in a quick tab- leau. time. The usherettes naturally are at- tired as Egyptians. Not like Sa- lom,e. More like Salome'is mother. Bang. FOX, B'KLYN ("Magic Melodies"—Unit) Pittsburgh, May 15 This Thursday opening may save the Stanley's life. First time months here that- an opening day show has gone on in time and biz eflected it, with plenty of standees for well-rounded bill headed by Gary Cooper in "Texan." Previous ly this site never knew what meant to get off on the right foot. Friday openings had the backstage crew panicky when sets flopped In from Philly hours late and flrst stage show seldom got under way until two hours after it was sched- uled. With Publix units now tak- ing their lay-off between here and Philly, stuff gets in a few days ahfead of time and is set the night before. "Magic Melodies" a well knit, ex- pertly presented bundle of enter- tainment that exhibits showman- ship at this end. House has usually kept Its excellent stage band in pit when unit carried Its own mu- sicians, but not this time, Helen Lewis' girl band opens, occupying full-stage, but Immediately after house aggregation moves up from the pit to join femmes, making for great flash «nd mixed musical num- bers. Euch group offers its own specialties, later joining for nice ef- fects on at least two numbers. At least two show-stoppers here, rather unusual. Darlean Walder, who combines acrobatic talent with a certain rhythmic grace, over big in her dance specialty, while com- edy turn of Ina Williams and Jere Delaney a natural next-to-shut. Latter turn, however, all Miss Wil- liams, last around here with Leon Errol in "Yours Truly," and a per- former to be reckoned with. Half- pint miss' subtle mimicries doubled 'em up here this, afternoon and team ^lad to respond to a flock of encores and even then mob was reluctant to let them go. M. Duval gave the unit some ex- cuse for its name with a few feats of magic, consisting in the main of stereotyped stuflE, and banjoist in Lewis band landed solid with a cou- ple of ballads crooned through a meg. Dick Powell, m, c, cased him- self in and out of the proceedings gracefully, clicking with single meg tune and a band specialty, bright- ened by hoke trio doing "Spring- ("Let's Pretend"—Idea) Han-y Arthur can Index this „ =, .1 house—probably has—as one of his Then a silver decorative curtam problems. It's still not "over" al- In one for McDonald and Beans 9 though there has been no lack of minutes of frantic comedy, mostly stunt-pulling, bolstering and ei- ioiV^'if ^f^*,,*"** ,^''V?7 Perlmentlng during Its two years gags are of the type rhyming Nelly faiterlne erosses diin ''^n^n^?.''^ w^^.^.' Z''2ti:"^^l'- P«bllx pnes^hf Sposltlon moun. Sllles In 'Siesr pSts oJttl^ ^^^^ * couple of blocks away Sffhbu^^^prorSeIs*¥eV^?l^ng^ ^?il^™co™L^?« scratchin"^ to "the theme song from Columbus "^""^ *u®+v,?'J^^. ^„r t^twa +n entice spenders. Idea's last half staged in full has Seemingly one of the best of the a Grecian temple lapping double Popularlty-balting schemes thus far flight of steps, with gfoups holding Posed for mspectlon is Bob West^s tableaux on it while six nymphi h'neing bee. West puts it on. He dance with colored scarfs, sue- overcomes the natural self-con- ceeded by eight girls handling two ^^'""^"fss of audiences to a pro- enormous sunburst batik squares "ounced degree and has them re- that are billowed in brilliant color sponding gustily. Might be sug. maneuvers. gested that less light In the audi Hassan's Blue Streaks, 6 tumblers torlum will give the neighbors even In gladiatorial garb, snap out of more confidence, tableau for a pyramid and a couple George Rubinstein directing the of minutes of fast individual flip- Pit overture with Al Lyons due next flopping, then a final ensemble held 'week to double as m. c. Bobby for the curtain. Gilbert, the Hebe comedian-violin Feature this week is "A Lady of Ist, shared the responsibility Sat Scandal" (M-G), running 74 min- urday with one of the bandsmen utes. Trailers', Charlie Chase com- Latter, unidentified by name, was edy and news clips total 36 minutes, surprisingly at home for a pinch Orchestra In the pit, led by Georgie hitter, Stoll In "Trees," with the second I In general "Let's Pretend" is a time melody picked out in chimed j pretty good picture house unit com- cowbells scattered through orches- posed and routined along familial* tra. ' Fanchon & Marco lines but not Business good. 1 as slow as some of the recent ideas have been. Tilyou and Rogers, two nrvrn m. r««n,<-^rkx^ 1 '"^^ acrobatic dancIng team, very STRATFORD good although talk Is poor. Alfred » !.• \ 1 L^^telle's classic dog impersonation (Presentation) clinched beaucoup giggles as usual Chicago, May 15. | Girl singer and high kicker used Last presentation program at this U?u t'"'™'7»"e:s on the ensembles south side house with the shallow r^"®y , ^ .„ stage. Theatre goes straight sound L starting this week Fox has pic- policy May 18, at lower scale, with U?"^-^''^ ^^^^ 40-cent mid-week top. ^ew York. Another bid for busi- Entertalnment, running 50 "^fs. House - may get out of the minutes, was stereotyped three-act r"'*"""'!?'"'"' "l^'^o layout working with Ted Leary, ''^ pretty good Saturday after m. c, and band of 11 on the stage, ^'i?^- , ^^^^V^f^ Talent, In order, were Hess and 1 ^'^^^^ ^ ^ Schultz trio, two men In dual tap dancing and a girl acrobatic worker; Dorothy Douglas and Co., girl and two men, the latter form- ing a laughable prop horse, and McGrath and Travers, male harmony and comedy team. cents against Land. EMBASSY (Newsreel) • t New York, May 19. ^ Combo of three monolog clips by ThV'Dougfas" act "waT'ls 'minutes I th^'e® world famous figures on the of the best, and a novelty type sure revolt In India the highlight of the for this house and similar neighbor- P^ew week's showing at Broadway s hood spots. Horse combines the pewsreel playhouse. Twenty-six usuar comedy hoofing with a me- clips altogether--eyenly divided be- chanical contrivance providing l^^,^^, Movietone and Hearst wiggling ears and eyes that roll. Mc- M?trotone. Show running 45- Grath and Travers are a small fel- "^'""t^^ and Fox end setting the low, tenor and comic, and'big fel- better of the match. Rain'-left onl> low, straight. Their forte was a ^air hifc.Monday night, when catight. satire on a deserted wife pleading 1 ^?<iney Fi-ankl n, American bull with hubby, played by the tenor, gebter, doing his stuff in Jerez who goes Chinese theatre by wear- I Spain; the funeral of the brothei ing a hat, a funny fur and a feminine swagger, to do the in- terpretation. Some pleasant comedy offered by Ted Leary, who Is getting ready to do a double with his wife. "General Crack" (WB), and an Interesting Universal newsreel with Graham MacNamee lecturing. Loop. of the King of Slam; Davis Cup team selections; Rudy Vallee and Ramon Novarro clips in song; an overhead tour of Havana that's f pip; two kids clips, and the sho-v can be set down as all around okay. There's a shot of President Doumerge of France visiting Alg^er^^ (Continued on page, 63)