The Washington times., 1930-02-25
CLEAN INCS
AND
SCREEN INGS
BY ANDREW b. KELLEY

49, @sAAA - ~ SSA$sANAAo vAA0s bAAS
unit shows as q feature Of the
motion picture programs are
due to pass after this season.
The great Broadway film
houses win continue to have
stage shows-using mostly
name acts--but the first run
houses in most key cities will
offer a straight film program
with orchestral establishment
and without stage acts. So
run the stories, which are
coming with such frequency,
they appear inspired by some
body in authority.
The unit. revue Is an ex-
pensive proposition for motion
picture houses. Thege tabloid
musical comedy cost from
$4,000 to $1,000 q week for the
first-run theaters playing them
regularly. AS q rule they con-
sist of q master Of ceremonies,
three or four vaudeville acts,
q group of well trained dancing
girls and the house orchestra,
temporarily turned into stage
musicians. They provide from
IS to go minutes Of light en-
tertainrnent, generally well
staged, well lighted and tightly
routined to make every minute
count.
II they do pass into the realm
of less favored features in the
movie theaters, I think lack Of
novelty and q woeful absence Of
comedy can be blamed. Only
the exceptional miniature revue
attempts q story. The accepted
form is a jazz band background,
the running patter of an NJ. C..
to introduce vaudeville acts, a
number by the same M. c., with
several appearances Of the dane
ing groups.
They are fast falling into
the same groove which led
straight vaudeville to languish
and die, SarnenesS and a re-
petition which detractS from
the power to arnuse. Too many
tap dancers, too many adagio
teams, too many attempting
comedy without a talent to win
laughs and too much dancing.
The quality Of the ensemble
dancing is invariably high class.
The girls are youthful, neatly
costumed and cleverly routined,
but their collective work has q
sameness which detracts from
It's effectiveness with the regular
movie-goerS. And, at least, go
per cent Of the F Street audi
enceS are patrons who occupy
the seats week in and week out.
They are regulars.
Where are the comedians?
What has become of the bust
ness of making laughs? Well, a
good many of them have gone
the Hollywood way. The big
musical comedies and vaudeville
employ others. Radio takes
some. Wherever they are the
revue booking agents do not ap-
pear to be able to make it agree
able enough in the contract for
four shows day to win many
for the unit routes.
My heart frequently goes out
for some willing master Of cere-
( monies. elected to be the
patsy" or straight man for
. dull-witted comedian or
Coincidence who makes him the
target for feeble jest. Encouf-
aged by half hand, these
pseudo funsters invariably at
tempt to show it is a natural
gift by making atrocious wise
cracks with the M. C. as the
foil to be laughed at. Bows
are taken and often, for no
reason whatsoever, we are
offered, II can't tell you how
happy you've made me. You're
wonderful. ! thank you from
the bottom Of my heart" AS
Otis Skinner said recently in
speaking of a certain phase of
show business, tits the bunk"
While it is possible that the
revue unit will be replaced as
an integral feature of the movie
program, my personal belief is
that the firSt-run picture houses
equipped for stage shows will
continue to present some sort
Of footlight entertainment. It
may be return to the better
quality vaudeville or it may be
the use Of So-called name act
which has a definite strength
at the box office.
The first-run theaters are
compelled by the differential in
price to present a more elabo-
rate entertainment than the
neighborhood Shrines with mod
crate assessment for the paying
patrons. They must give more.
They always have and they al
ways will.
Neither do / view with alarm
the reiterated prediction that
the signing of the new contract
with the musicians union means
the passing of the large orches-
ira in the pit. We hear fire.
uuently that come next Septem-
Der the musicians will find EN-.
ployment elsewhere than in the
movie theaterS.
They will give way to- canned
music. ! doubt it. There may
be revision Of the minimum
clause in the union contract
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