The New York Clipper (January 1920)

January 7, 1920 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 15 COLUMBIA GETS NEW CHICAGO : HOUSE WILL PLAY THE VICTORIA The Columbia Amusement Company has made arrangements, through General Man- ager Sam A. Scribner, with Frank Gazzola, to book the circuit shows at the Victoria Theatre, Chicago. The house, which is on the North Side, will All in the lay-off week between Kansas City and St. Louis. St. Joe, which is playing Sunday and Mon- day of the lay-off week, will be dropped. The new house will open on Sunday, February 15, with Barney Gerard's "Follies of the Day." The shows will go, commencing that date, from. Kansas City to St. Louis to Chicago, alternating at the Columbia, and Star and Garter, then to the Victoria, into Detroit and Bast. Frank , Gazzola will manage the,-house.. , . >' , , The Victoria is practically a new. house,' being built about, two years ago. It ia' beautiful and has a large seating capacity. The Columbia Amusement Company" has. for'some'time been trying to get a house on the North Side of the city, feel- ing that'' there was a demand for high- class burlesque in that district, and they are confident that the house will be well patronized..' ENTERTAIN "CABARET GIRLS" I. H. Herk, Mike Kelly and Frank Dam- sel gave a New Year's dinner to the mem- bers of the "Cabaret Girls" and a number of friends. Kelly was master of cere- monies. The dinner started about 12:30 and lasted until after 3 in the morning. The company, which was playing the Mt. Morris, was transported from the theatre downtown to the banquet hall in automo- biles. Among those present were I. H. Herk, M. J. Kelly, Mrs. M. J. Kelly (Dot Bar- netta), Mr. and Mrs. Frank Damsel (Fran- ces Farr), Mrs. Lucy D. Fair, John Cootes, Billie Bernette, Evelyn Trevette, Leslie Carter, Lillian Burnette, Ben HolmeB, Leona Fox Holmes, Betty Lee, W. B. Hem- rich, Phil and Nan Dalton, Billy Harren, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bohlen, Earl Sheahan, Bertha Startzman, Mr. and Mrs. Poopie, Fred C. TTaekett, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Ltm- dis, Irene Moore. Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Healy, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Weinberg, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Nugent, Babe Hoyt, Midgie Burke, Frances Neeley, Agnes Byan, Margaret McKnight, Laurette Hol- den, Harry Finberg, George Young, Ben Pierce, Mr. and Mrs. Manny King and Kewpie. ■ ■ WANTS TO SUE HERK Bffie Burton, formerly' a prima donna in "The Beauty Trust, on Monday of this week instructed her attorney, Dave Steinhardt, to begin an action against G. H. Herk for $800, claiming that he had only played her ten weeks out of a contrast for twenty. The .amount she wishes to collect ia for the remaining half of the alleged contract. HELD CHRISTMAS DINNER Kansas City, Jan. 1.—On Christmas Eve, at the Hotel Muhlebach, J. J. Kenney, manager and part owner of the "Girls- Girls-Girls" company, gave a Christmas eve dinner to the members of his show in the tea room of the hotel. The music was furnished by the Century Theatre orchestra, the room was elabo- rately decorated and, in the centre, was a large Christmas tree. There were over 500 presents distributed between the mem- bers of the company, including Max D. Quitman, agent of Max Spiegel's "Social Follies," who travels with this show. He was toastmaster and George A. Clark, the comedian, made the first speech, and pre- sented to Mr. and Mrs. Kenney, on behalf of the company, a solid silver service. Mr. Kenny responded. ■ ' Quitman, on behalf of the company, then presented Clark with a beautiful pair of 'Elk cuff buttons, in each of which was a large diamond. A toast was then drunk to Bob Deady, part owner of the show and, by request of Mr. Quitman, the entire com- pany stood up for one minute, with bowed heads, in reverence to the memory of Bobby Morrow. Among those present were Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Kenney; Geo. A. Clark; Mr. and Mrs. Martin O. Smith; Betty Palmer, Mae. Earle; Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Fisher; William Lawrence; The Misses Dolly Taylor; Kita Arnold; Margie Lee; Cherry Miller; Bobby North; Evelyn Burnett; Grisaie Blair; Kitty Levan; Billie Barr; Alma Demar; Marie Con over; Dolly Adams; Dorothy Fisher; Mary' Tost; May Brown; Rita Upton; Fred Hall of the "La La Lucille" company; Chaa. Cheney; Mike Hymes and Jimmy Williams. BEHMAN SHOW GETS $2.50 TOP HIGHEST BURLESQUE ADMISSION BURLESQUE PEOPLE SIGNED June Forrest and Edith Brage have been signed with the company at Fava- cher's in New Orleans, and Grace Goodwin and Daisy Cornell have been placed at the Payret Theatre, Havana, Cuba, for the' Maritime Picture Corporation. All were signed through Roehm and Richards. CHANGE MEETING SCHEDULE At the last meeting of the Burlesque Club it was decided to hold one meeting a month, instead of every Sunday. Here- after, this meeting will be held the first Sunday of each month. The Board of Directors will meet every Sunday, however. KAHN'S RELATIVE DIES Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 1.—Milton Schloss, a brother-in-law of B. F. Kami, owner of the Union Square Theatre, New York, died at his home here Tuesday. Kahn and his son Edward attended the funeral today in this city. SCRIBNER GOING TO FLORIDA Sam A. Scribner, general manager of the Columbia Burlesque Circuit, will leave New York January 31 on his annual trip to Palm Beach. He is booked for a four weeks' stay at the Ponce de Leon Hotel. TAYLOR GOES TO HOSPITAL Charlie Taylor, who has been in Eng- land, but who arrived in New York this week on the S. S. Adriatic, was taken, on his arrival, to the New York Post-Gradu- ate Hospital, seriously ill. He is in room 26, Ward C. ANNA ARMSTRONG CLOSING Anna Armstrong will close with the "Bound the Town," at the Gayety, Balti- more, in three weeks. TOMMY O'NEAL DIVORCED -Madeline Kingsley was granted a divorce from Tommy O'Neal in Philadel- phia recently. O'Neal ia with the Pat White Show. COOPER SIGNS MARKWOOD Micky Markwood has signed a contract with James E. Cooper for next season as principal comedian. Chicago, III., Jan. 2.—The record price ever charged for admission to a burlesque show was established here this week, when the Columbia, this city, playing Jack Singer'8 Behman Show, put a $2.50 top on it's seats for the New Year's Eve and midnight shows. This is the first and only time in the history of burlesque that any Wheel show ever demanded and got that price. 'With the war tax added, it made $2.75 per seat. The prices ordinarily charged are 25c., 50c and $1, but for these two perform- ances they were 50c. gallery, $1.50 balcony, .$2 in the loges and $2.50 for the orches- tra. This admission is the same as is charged for many Broadway shows, and demonstrates the popularity into which burlesque is working itself. Both per- formances were played to good houses and the week will probably be a record-breaker long to be remembered. - CAR WENT ASTRAY Cincinnati, Ohio, Dec. 27.—The bag-' gage car of Jack Singer's "Behman- Show" went astray last Saturday night and'was not located until 10 o'clock Sunday m&rn- ing in Cleveland. •- •• By quick work on the part of General Passenger Agent Wipper, and "bis assis- tant, Archie ManshJp, of the Big Four Railroad, the car was rushed through- to this city in time for the night performance, and the curtain went up at the usual time, 8:30. The Big Four paid Singer a check Satur- day, before he left town, for the Sunday matinee he lost, for the entire capacity of the house. It is said to be one of the quickest settlements made by a railroad. The entire claim was handled and rushed through by Wipper and Manship. REEVES STRENGTHENING SHOW AI. Reeves has put Fitzgerald and Car- roll into his Big Show at the Orpheum, Paterson, replacing Stewart and La Van. Peggy Moore has replaced Ruth Hayward. Rubini and Rosa, two girls doing a musical act, have also been added to the COOPER NAMES SUMMER SHOW James E. Cooper win call the show which will have the Summer run at the Columbia, "Folly Town." It will have seventeen scenes. • "GIRLS OF THE U. S. A." IS FINELY COSTUMED BY JOE HURTIG JOB HURTIG has again shown us a won- derfully costumed show In the "Girls of the U. S. A," at the Columbia this week. Of the many sets used by a pretty lot of chorus a*irls there are none that one could really say stands out above the others. They are a harmonious blending or brilliant colors, and pretty and novel designs. The scenery Is bright and of a fine color scheme. The electrical effects are good and nicely carried out. The show Is about the same, with a few exceptions, as last season. There are also several changes In the cast. The comedy Is In the hands of Lew Hilton and Ernest Mack, who set many laughs during the performance. Mack Is a new comedian to us and It looks as though, the Hurtls's have a "find" In him. He la doing; an eccentric tramp, is a tall chap, and baa a pleasing and easy way of working. He Is funny and has Injected a lot of laughs Into the show. He can sins and dance and Is a clever performer. Hilton is doing; his Hebrew character and went over well Monday afternoon. Johnny Bohlman, a clean cot straight man. was very much in prominence during the afternoon. He talks well, "feeds" the comedians for laughs. Is a neat dresser and h as bo th a good.singing and talking voice. William P. Murphy and Roy Peek are both doing- black face. These boys put their part of the performance over well and are very natural In character. Teresa Adams, a most attractive prima donna, with a personality that beams, was successful In her part. Although suffering with a cold, she rendered her numbers well and did nicely In the scenes and bits. She has a wardrobe to" be proud of and wears her gowns well. Tenny HUson la the Ingenue. Miss Hil- son has Improved greatly In her work slnoo last season. She reads her lines with more ease now and gets her numbers over much better. At times she takes her work a little serious and forgets to- smile. If she would overcome this one fault, she would stand up with the best of them. Her costumes are beautiful an* good Judgment was shown In-the selection of each. Little Babe Lavetta. crammed full of "pep." was all action In whatever she did. Her numbers went over with a snap and she danced and sang her -way through the show as though she did not know what a care or worry was. Her dresses were pleas- ing to the eye. Hilton sang a song In Tiddish early In the show that was applauded, and he did It again later when doing his specialty. - The first laugh was when Mack made his) entrance. Without any rousing welcome by the members of th ecompany, coming on the stage cold and without any kind of an an* nouncement, he was greeted by a big laugh. His appearance and the way he did it, got them. Peck and Murphy offered a specialty in one that was liked. Their song was good and they put It over. In the same scene, Hilton and Mack, mas- queraded as women, offered many funny situations. Assisted by Bohlman. Peck and Murphy, these boys sang a comedy number that pleased. A pretty duet was offered by Bohlman and Miss Adams and went well. Hilton, Bohlman and Miss Hllson offered a. talking and singing specialty in cms that was well received. Hilton played on bis- ons string cigar box violin during the specialty. The "bad husband" bit was offered by Hilton, Hack and Miss Adams. Mack offered a corking good specialty PAID FOR EXTRA SHOW Bill Vail, owner of the "Grown-TJp Babies," paid all his people for' the extra show New Year's Eve, at the Gayety, Brooklyn, as well as giving them a big supper between the two shows. BECOMES FOX MANAGER Newark, N. J., Jan. 2.—Fred Walters has been appointed assistant manager of William Fox's Terminal Theatre here. He startal in at once, after recently dosing with a road attraction. WETNGARTEN REPLACES COSTUMES Issy Wetngarten has added five brand new sets of costumes to his "Star and Garter Show." He has also replaced several of his liswgfog pieces. shortly after the opening of the second part _*d the show. He opened with a little talk, which was followed by a couple that stopped the of parodies that went over fine. He finished with a dandy eccentric dance that took the house. He was compelled to do a little more before the applause subsided. A quartette -composed erf Miss Adams, Bohlman. Peck and Murphy, was next. This act was also rewarded -well for its en- deavors. Lew Hilton and Babo Lavette did their specialty In one. It is about the sum as last season, with the material changed s> bit. The act went over big. The "Bank of the Nile" scene, which closed the show, offered a lot of good bur- lesque comedy that kept the audience In 81 good humor. This scene bad fine electrical effects and a beautiful set of scenery. It looked as good as If It was the first day it had been In use. The numbers wars n" ely arranged and the girls worked wall In the m. BID. (Continued on page 29.) GOES INTO CENTURY SHOW Kyra, the Oriental dancer, -who has ap- peared in burlesque far some time, has opened at the Century Roof for a leas; engagement.