New York Clipper (May 1923)

May 16, 1923 THE NEW YORK. CLIPPER 19 COLUMBIA GETS THE OLYMPIC, CHICAGO LEASE TO BE SIGNED SOON Chicago, 111., May 13.—Sam A. Scrib- ner, general' manager of the Columbia Amusement Company, left here last night, before going he closed a deal for a four- year lease of the Olympic Theatre, located on Randolph street at the comer of Clark, at a yearly rental of sixty thousand dollars. House is ideal for burlesque in the heart of the theatrical rialto. The theatre is old, but it is to t>c remodeled before opening, which is scheduled late in August. Scribncr was supposed to have left Chi- cago for New York, but there is no doubt but that he took a.trip to Milwaukee and Minneapolis, to look over the conditions of these cities. He left New York last Thursday morning with Leon Lasky for Chicago to see about taking the lease for the Olympic which would replace the Co- lumbia Theatre next season. The latter house was sold several months ago to Al Woods. It was learned at the office of the Co- lumbia Amusement Company Monday that the negotiations were on for the Olympic, hut the lease had not 4>een signed due to the fact that all the details had not been completed. Lasky arrived in New York ^Monday but the general manager did not and is not expected back until Wednesday. There is little doubt but that the Co- lumbia Circuit will take the Olympic over in the next week or so, as this house is ideally located and has a large seating ca- pacity, with an entrance on Clark street opposite the Sherman House and another ■entrance on Randolph street. As SOOn as the lease is signed work will commence in putting the house in shape for next soa- ■son. There is no doubt but that it will he the handsomest house on the circuit when it opens next August and one of the most attractive in the city of Chicago. This will give Chicago two Columbia Circuit houses, the other being the Star and Garter. COL. DIRECTORS MEET A directors' meeting of the Columbia Amusement Company took place in the ex- ■ecutive offices of the Circuit last Thursday. AH of the directors were present and ar- rangements were made for the annual meet- ing of the Burlesque Circuit to be held on Thursday, June 6. A nominating commit- tee was appointed which scheduled the re- election of all the present officers and di- rectors of the Circuit. The officers nominated to succeed them- selves are: J. Herbert Mack, president; Jules Hurtig, vice-president: Rud Mynika, treasurer, and Samuel Scribner, secretary and general manager. It IS expected that at the annual meeting a dividend will be declared on the various theatres which are controlled by the Cir- ciut which will include the Columbia The- atre, New York. PRICE TO WRITE BOOKS Ted Price, of Qeveland, has completed arrangements to write the books for the Dave Marion Show next season, as welt as the Mollie Williams Show. CLOSE WITH MARION SHOW Vinnie Phillips and the Three O'Connor Sisters closed with the Marion Show at the Columbia last Saturday night. NIBLO AND SPENCER SIGN George Niblo and Helen Spencer signed contracts last week for next season wfth Hurtig and Seamon. BENEFIT REVUE ON SUNDAY The Big Burlesque Revue for the benefit of the Burlesque Club will be held at the Columbia Theatre next Sunday night. Among those who will appear are Lillian McNeill and Bert Shadow, Hal Sherman, Barry and Carr, Clark and McCullough, James Barton, Bess Rolan, Sarah Hyatt, Gertrude Beck and her Orchestra, Jimmie Cooper and Company, Belle Baker, Theresa Adams, Dave Marion, Bozo Snyder and Sam Green, McCarthy Sisters, Bert Lahr and Mercedes, Charles K. Harris and Com- pany, Frank Hunter, Klein Brothers, Don- ald Kerr and Effie Weston, Marylyn Levins, Ted Claire and Anton Lada's Or- chestra, Ina Hayward. Pauline Trevers, John Steel, Ernie Mack and Scottics Friedel, Henry Dixon, Harry Lang and Bcmice Haley, Claire DeVine, Jim 'Thom- ton. Stone and Pillard, Val and Ernie Stan- ton, Lester Allen, Nat M^ortan, Charlotte Greenwood, Grace LaRu^ Lewis and Dody, Winnie Lightner and Johnny Dooley, Harry Rudders' Jessie James Bandit Band, also the entire chorus of the Dave Marion Show and Ac Bon Ton Show. Rehearsals will be at 12:30 Sunday noon' at the Columbia Theatre. NEW TABS FOR COUTTS CIRCUIT Hurtig and Seamon will prodiice a tab on the John E. Coutts Cirontlwith Niblo and Spencer at the head. It will open >May Jack Singer will also stage one to open June 4. In this tab will be Harry Evanson, Billy Davis, Al Murray, Butler Mandeville, Marie K. Berkley and Dude Stall. Ben Bergman will be the musical director. MAE DIX BUYS RELEASE PrrrsBiniCH, Pa., May 14.—Mae Dix has just received her release from Rube Bernstein for next season. It is said that she paid Bernstein three hundred and fifty dollars for it. Miss Dix was with the "Broadway Flappers" the past season. She has not signed with anyone else as yet and is at her home in this city. Her address is P. O. Box 47, East Liberty. SUNDAY SHOWS FOR EMPLOYEES Sam Raymond, who controls the Star and Gayety Theatres of Brooklyn, has turned over the Star to Ed Frury, the treasurer, for next Sunday. The entire receipts will go to him for his good serv- ices during the present season. The same thing applies to the Gayety, Frank Abbott, the manager, being the lucky one. STOCK FOR IRVING PLACE Solly Fields will open his stodc com- pany at the Irving Place Theatre next Monday. His cast was not complete at the time of going to press. Those en- caged at that time were Margie Pennetti, Cleroa, Frank Fay and Jack Leonard. Hughy Shubert will be the musical direc- tor and Charlie Bums manager. DAVID JAMES DEAD ScRANTON, Pa., May 13.—David James died at his home here yesterday, the inter- ment will be at the Forest Hill Cemetery, Sunday. Davis was president of the I. A. T. S. E. Local 68 of this city at the time of his death and was employed as prop- erty man at Polis Theatre, where he had been the past five years. TOUHEY IS BANKRUPT Boston, Mass., May 13.—George V. Touhey. the wrestling promoter, has filed a petition in bankrujrtcy. One of his creditors is the Grand Opera House, which is owned by Edgar Lothrop, for $1,298 covering rent. FUPPEN AND TALBOT IN ACT Jay C. Flippen and Flo "Talbot will open next week in vaudeville at Proctor's 125th Street Theatre. They are going to do the prison scene from the "Broadway Brevi- ties." HERK IN WEST FORMING NEW CIRCUIT WAS FORMERLY AFFILIATED HEAD I. H. Herk left New York last Thurs- day for Qeveland, where it is understood that he will complete arrangements for his new burlesque circuit, which it is claimed will take in houses formerly booked by the Mutual Circuit In addition to these he will line up houses in Chicago, Mil- watdcec, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Kansas City and St. Louis. On his return to New York it is said that he will open offices and contract for houses in the East. It could not be learned Monday what houses Herk would have nor could it be learned what his arrangements would be, until his return this week. Negotiations were under way several weeks ago it is known for Herk to go over to the Mutual Circuit and a meeting had been arranged but for some unknown rea- son everything was suddenly dropped. . In an interview, the Clipper representa- tive was told by John G. Jermon last Thursday that Herk would not join the forces of the Mutual, Circuit and the offi- cers would practically remain the same for next year. In regard to the houses con- trolled this season in the Middle West by Billy Vail and Jim McGiath, J ermon stated that McGrath could not deliver three of the five houses, on account of certain leases. These houses were to be taken over by a company in which McGrath was heavily interested it is said and that be in turn was to place them on the new circuit con- trolled by Herk. It is also said on Broadway that a num- ber of the franchise holders last season on tire Mutual Grcuit had not paid in the thousand dollars on account of the ward- robe and scenery as well as house'owners for the coming season and it is said that many well known burlesque producers are waiting to see if the Herk Circuit will go through 4>efore they make arrangements for next season. C(H.UMBIA HOUSES CLOSE Several Columbia Circuit houses closed around New York last Saturday night These include the Empire and Casino, Brooklyn, and Miner's Bronx. Dave Mar. ion is at the Columbia for the snnmer run. Hurtig & Seamons has the "Bon Tons" this week and "Rockets" next week. The Yorkville has "Rockets" this weA and Stone and Pillard next week. Miner's Em- pire in Newark is playing Stone and Pil- lard this week and will close Saturday night. ■The Olympic, New York, is playing stock. The Star, Brooklyn, has "Lef s Go" this week and doses Saturday night. The Gayety, Brookljm, is playing the "MM- night Maidens" this week and closes for the season Saturday night. MARCUS SHOW FOR PARK Grand RApros, Mich., May 14.—The Marcus Musical Comedy Company will open its Summer season at Romona Park on May 27. Marcus will have a cast and choms which will include forty-five peo- ple. This company will remain intact after the Summer engagement and will go direct to the Pacific Coast where it is routed next Fall and Winter. FRANK PANNING SIGNS ^Mollie Williams has signed Fiank Fan- ning to woilc in her act next season with the Mollie Williams Show. She also signed Ella Corbett as second ingenue of her show. THE MARION SHOW BEST OF THE MANY SUMMER RUN PIECES Dav« Marioo hk« covered himself with aiorj as a producer, his Marioa Show which opened the Summer Run at the Columhia oo Mooday of last week U about the beat show that haa been at the Colnmbia this season, and is one of the best burlesque shows that has had the "run** at this house. It has a little bit of evcfything. Music, comedj-, novelties, dancing, specialties;' >a fact Marion has given the patrons of the Columbia a bit of nearly ewerr bnncb of the- atrical cQtcrtaiDmrnt, from the red old timen to the present day bright, witty, mappj'barlcsqne. Marion has- a beaDtifnl prododtion and vooder- fiil electrical effectv which Ucnd tnil together. The covtumc^ that are wvra by boUi the principals and chorus arr gorgeous and of many norel designs and attractive ctrior ichcmca. The danc- ing numbers have been carefoUy staged and are carried out exceptionally wdl by a capable chonu of pretty and clever girls. Tht lines and lyrics were written by Maiioa, music by Earl BronMB, i1«'y*"g nnmberB by Jimmy Stanton and the ballet mnsic by J. S. Glickman. The entire pnxluction was staged by Marion. ',. Marion ' s^ged a somewhat different opening than usoally seen in bnrlcsque. The first scene la called ^'Vaolly^* and'shows hatT a doxok girls in union suitn in a study of arL .The next scene; **The Roof Top'* gives the small girts on o pp urtun ity in the cat ballet *'Youtli" the third scene is another art study and prettily staged. The Three Voices, natty looking chaps, are nect, working in onev do a singing speosltr, of- fering two numbers, which they hsd nn traafale in putting over. In the **Garden of Roses** acene Agnca Hunter docs a "liance of a Rose*' and her work ts most graccfnl. Miss Hunto- is a dean cut and daasy looking young woman who Is .a finished «rtistc in her line. The Six Enjjish High Steppes also give an ochibition of clever dancing in their specialty the "Flower Dance," that followed. Brysoa and Taylor a colored team of danccn worked in one. This torn while not as strong as some other colored teams that have been at the Colombia this season, have a pleasing act and get along fairly wdl until jnst before the* finish when the man in the act docs some very clever foot and knee floor work, that is the real punch to the act and it von big applause. They dress the act well. The real big hit of the show is the old timcra* They are introdaoed in the 'Tost Car" scen^ by Marion, Josephine Sahle, Charlie Diamond and Eddie Goard, all real old time favorites, hfarion snre does give them a great introdnctioo each one before they make their appeaianoc. Diamond comes on first and does his specialty playing the harp and singing his old favorite song "Nancy Green/* finishing with a neat danco Gerard as the **dandy cop" gave his old specialty singing the '*cop*' song and then goes into his aoft shoe dance, which we have not seen the equal of in yean. Gerard has no opxMrition in this resp e ct at present in borlesqne. His dancing of this style is away ahead of all others. He never missed a tap or a move. Miss Sahle sang some of ber songs she did thirty years ago at old Koster and Bials and she was a small size riot. It took a producer of the Marvm type to properly set an act of this kind and he na been rewarded for his efforts, as it is really the hit of hi* vhow. The Three O'Connor Sisters foUowcd in a hard spot in one, bat sncceedcd in wowing over their singing specialty of three nnmhers. The girls are neat looking and wear pretty dresses. They have good voices and know bow to sell a nnm- bcT. They went over big Thorsday aftcnmoo. McManos was next doing a comedy talking and singing specialty thai more than pleased. This yonog fellow who is in his first sason in burl- esque is making a fine reputation for himself as a comedian. He does a "bum** comedy role of a style all his own and they liked tt ont front. Gordon Bennett rendered "King Tnt-Ankh- Amen** number tn an aceDent manner, while George and BCay LcFevre did an Egyptian Hypnotic Dance artistically, in the ninth sceoe. Miss Hunter again dispUyed a most giaccfnl dance in the 'Galley of the Kings'* scoc, as- sisted by several yooog ^■'^itt May Marvin offered four songs in her specialty in one and pot them over in great form. "The Sidewalks of New York** closed the first part and it famished plenty of amnseaient and some fine dancing by the choma. Uarioa has added a boxing bit by two girls in this scene and it proved very exciting. Gordon .Bennett asain sings "Mary Ryan** and it proved the aong hit of the show. Gordon aang it wdl and had no trouble winning applause. Miss Phillips who portrayed a tough girl in this scene carried the part very wtU. She alao {Cantmu^d on page 24)