New York Clipper (May 1923)

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28 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER May 16, 1923 ORCHESTRAS IN VAUDEVUXC Ordiestra leaders this season have been taldng advantage of the snivosed adver- tisiDg of a stage engagement to pnt their bands ia vandeville, but it has not always worked ont as anticipated. Local bands have appeared in local houses and some of the orchestras consented to tour the countr>r. It appealed to the orchestra leader in tltU-way. He imagined that by playing in vaudeville the band would be- come known and it would make it easy for him to book it in hotel or cafe for the summer. An orchestra working in vaiide- ' ville, because of the comparatively high salary it drew, was almost invariably ac- corded headline position so that the name was promineDtly displayed. In addition, vaudeville patrons always see the orchestra at its best,, with special arrangements, spe- cial effects and the glamor of the stage helping to put the act over. From the standpoint of the booking of- fices it was also desirable to have orchestra acts. The public showed they wanted tbem, and there were so many bands seek- ing this short cut to fame that the ofite was in a position to bargain and set a price below what the orchestra demanded ui a cafe job. Another angle that appealed to the office was that many of the orches- tras were appearing in hotels or cafes and entered the vaudeville field with more or less of a made to order reputation and a good following. The hotels and cafes usually helped the vaudeville engagements along by standing fuiit of the expense or helping with advertising. The drawback to the orchestra leader came through the difficulty in dealing with musicians. Vaudeville, at best, is uncer- tain, and it is usually necessaty for an act to have some idle weeks owing to office congestion. The individual musician, fear- ing a probacted layofiF, would grow pan- icky and look around for another engage- ment and in several instances leaders had to cancel because at the time of opening they found that a good percentage of their men werf; not available and they had to build anew. The orchestras' disintegrated in thb way and the leader found himself worse off than be was before. On the whole, however, orchestras have achieved their end through vaudeville. The bands that have worked vaudeville en- gagements throughout the country prob- ably number up in the hundreds, but a few of the most prominent are Vincent Lopez and bis Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra, The Versatile Sextette, Paul Specfat and his Orchestra, Hany Stoddard and his "Streets of New York" Orchestra, the S. S. Leviathan Orchestra, Alex. Hyde. S. S. Flotilla, Ernie Golden, Jimmie Carr,~ the former Bihmore Orchestra now called the Manhattan Society Orchestra. Clyde Doerr, Barney Rapp. Meyer Davis' Monte Carlo OrchMtra. Kay MiUer, Harold Stem, Charles DombCTger, Vernon Country Qub and . many others, WADSWORTH BACK IN N. Y. Wheeler Wadsworth and his orchestra, returned to New York on Friday, complet- mg their first round trip on the George Washmgton. The orchestra played for the dance and concert music during the trip and also entertained with singing and oAer novehiea. Wadsworth and his combination will make one more trip on the George Wash- in^on before Bob Causer and his Col- legians go on board. On their next trip over they will stop at Bremen, and give two concerts there that are billed as "American Jazz Concerts" and they have also been engaged to present a like pro- aam at one of the big auditoriums in Berlin. ORCHESTRA NEWS BURT FOR COAST TOUR Al Burt and his orchestra, having con- chided their engagement at the Bluebird when that place dosed, are now in re- hearsal and wilt open soon on a coast to coast tour of several houses in conjunction with a new proposition that is under way. SHALL AT ST. NICHOLAS Jack Small and his orchestra are playing at the St Nicholas Dandng Carnival for the afternoon sessions. The orchestra con- sists of six men, most of whom donUe, and are now coocluding ibot fifth month. SPECHT SAILS OH MAY 19 Paul Specfat and his orchestra are' sail- ing for England on Saturday, May 19, on board the S.S. Olympic. Specht will be gone for about ten weeks and will take with him his original combination, now known as "Paul Specht and His Alamac Hotel Orchestra," including the Georgians —both combinations exclusive Coliuabia artists. Three other Specht orchestras have al- ready played in London within the past year, namely. Robert Bennett's "Frisco Syncopators," "The Criterions" and Hu^'e Eiarrett's Ordiestra. During his stay in England, Specht will play at an exdusive supper dub under the management of Lyons & Co., Ltd, and on his return will enter on his new contract at the Hotel Alamac, Broadway and 71st street .' Concerning the contract Siiecht' has signed with the management of the Ala- mac, this sets at rest the doubt that has existed for some time as to who was to ftlay here. Several prominent orchestra eaders daimed negotiations were imder way to have them at the Alamac when it opened, but Specfafs signing ends the argu- ment Specht is said to be letting one of the highest salaries ever paid for an or- chestra in any hotd and besides this will have two other combinations working in the hotd to play for all social functions. Specht w31 also be represented by an orchestra at the New Alamac Hotd which is being erected in Atlantic City on the boardwalk adjoining the Ambassador, and will probably have another unit at the Alamac Hotel at Lake Hopatcong. The Alamac Hotd is now under the management of Harry C Latz, the man who discovered Paul Specht at Atlantic City several years ago, and his new con- tract with the same management is a co- inddence. It will be remembered that at that time Latz posted a challenge to any other orchestra to compete with the Specht organization. Specht's orchestra will here- after be styled "Paul Specht and His Ala- mac Hotd Orchestra." He will continue his vaudeville engagement in conunction with his work at the Alamac following his return from LondoiL The new Alamac will open on September 17. SAMUELS SAILS ON MAY 29 David Samuels, formerly general man- ager of the orchestras for Shnbert The- atrical Enterprises and the William A. Brady theatres and now head of the mu- sical bureau bearing his name, sails on the Mauretaiua on May 29th. His mission abroad is of a confidential nature, although it has been established that he is seeking novelties for American producers. In addi- tion he is acting as exclusive representative for several American artists and acts in negotiating Europdn engagements. His itinerary abroad includes the prindpal dt- ies of the continent and he will return on the Leviathan the latter part of July. DAVIS BAND FOR KIELBURNE Announcement is made by the Mejrer Davis office that Ned Waybum has en- gaged Meyer Davis' New York Band for the Shelbume Hotel, Brighton Beach, opening Saturday, May 19. The band is a ten-piece combination under the leadership of W. C Perry and will be featured for' the dandne with novel scenic and lighting effects. The orchestra will also play for the special revue that Mr. Waybum is pro- ducing for the. Shelbume. STODDARD AT KEITH'S BOSTON Harry Stoddard and his "Streets of New York" orchestra are appearing this week at the Kdth house in Boston, the first time in over twenty weeks of booking that they have left New York. For the Boston en- eagemoit a change in the Streets of New York number has been made, streets of like character in Boston being substituted for the different streets in New York hitherto used in the act VERSATILE SIX AT LYMBROOK The Versatile Sextette opens Thursday at the Fountain Inn, Lynbrook, L. I., for an all-summer engagement Al, Ben and Jack, who have taken over the Fountain Inn, have had it remodeled and the Sextette will appear in the Egyptian Room. As at present constituted, the orchestra consists of the following men: Irving Aaronson, John Di Alesandro, Al Lenz, Herman Hyde and Billy Mann. These men, with one exception, have been together for seven years. It is the foremost of the small combinations that has lasted through the craze for big orchestra and has seen its popularity increase rather than diminish. A big feature of the orchestra's work is the fine singing of the men, all of them having good voices and their harmony be- ing of the very best. Irving Aaronson, who has handled the business of the band all along, has branched out in several other lines of en- deavor. He has acquired an interest in (FVank Famum's act is furnishing music for the Opera Guild and has under con- tract several prominent vaudeville and con- cert artists, indudlng La Sjilphe, well- known danseuse. The Sextette, after dosing at the Cafe des Beaux Arts, Philadelphia, went on a vacation of sorts for dght weeks, playing through the Middle West for vaudeville and concert work and coming in contact with many prominent people. They' had been erroneously reported engaged for the Pelham Heath Inn, but, although negotia- tions were under way, a hitch arose and Aaronson refused to sign. DEATH RUMOR FALSE In some mysterious manner a rumor was drculatcd last week that Hale "Feewee" Byers, saxophone player with Paul White- man's orchestra now in London, had died while abroad. This report is absolutely without foundation and has caused a good deal of annoyance and alarm to those who know Byers. The 'Whiteman offices have been recdving telephone calls every day asking if Byers were dead and have taken pleasure in denying it RUSSO MAKING RECOTDS Dan Russo and his orchestra were in New York last week making records for the Bninswick Company, The orchestra has just been signed by the Brunswick for another year but the name of the com- bination has been changed, now being billed as "The Oriole Orchestra" instead of "The Oriole Terrace Orchestra" as for- merly. The orchestra open next week at the Edgewater Beach Hotel, Chicago, for a summer run. GOLDEN ORCHESTRA HELD OVER Ernie Golden and his orchestra play- ing at the Fifth Avenue last week en- joyed the distinction of being the first orchestra act to be held over at the house for a full week. Golden has made several changes in his personnel and added a number of novelties, one being a clever imitation of a radio concert done by the tuba player, MUSIC MEN AT CONVENTION Lester Santley, of the orchestra depart- ment of L«o Feist Inc., and Abe Holzman, of the ordiestra department of J. H. Rem- ick, arrived in St Louis on Monday to_ at- tend the aimual convention of the American Federation of Musicians which opened there on that day. Both men were honored guests of the musicians and are to be present at all meetings. WIEDOEFT WITH VICTOR ARTISTS Rudy Wiedoeft saxophonist and orches- tra leader, left for a tour of several weeks with the Eight Victor Artists. On his re- turn he expeds to sign for a tour of the large motion picture houses, where he will play saxophone solos, simitar to liis per- formance at the Capitol Tticatre recently. CLOSE'S ORCHESTRA ENGAGED Close's Eight Collegians, a splendid or- chestra of Ithaca, N. Y., have been engaged for the Summer at Sodus Point the wdl- known resort near Rochester where they will entertain. Qose's Ejght Royal Entertainers, concert orchestra, will be managed by Baron E. Van Shillagh of New York City, and will tour the country. He is now in Ithaca completing his route. These two bands through their excellent rencUtion of their repertoire have caused musidans and dan- cers to sit up and take notice wherever they have appeared. The Eight Collegians at Sodus Pomt is made up of the follow- ing well-known instrumentalists: Bernard Eidam, violinist; Darwin Legters, alto sax; Bernard Fanning, tenor sax; Joseph Stamp, trumpet; Stephen Brown, trom- bone; Albert Jenkins, t>anjo; Leon Close, piano and Ointon Jenkins, traps and tenor soloist Leon Close, director of these or- ganizations is- the representative musician of Ithaca in the dance field, with an en- viable reputation. ^ SIXTH SEASON STARTS JULY 5 The New York Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Willem van Hoog- straten, will begin its sixth season of con- ceru at the New York City College Sta- diiim on July 5. Their season will last six weeks and van Hoogstraten will conduct during the entire period! A new orchestra stand costing $15,000 has been erected for their use. LANDAU RE-ENGAGED Landau's Southern Serenaders, a six- piece combination, have been re-engaged tor Edgett's Harbor Inn, Rockaway Park, L. I., this making their fifth consecutive season here. Landau originally had under his management the Southland Entertain- ers, . a versatile singing combination now appearing in vaudeville. GRAY AT THE ROSEMONT Hal Lauren presented Chauncey Gray and his orchestra at the Rosemont, Brook- lyn, last week, the playing of the men meeting with great success. The orchestra is unusual in that none of its members is over twenty years old. Six men compose the combination, playing twenty different instruments. BASILE ENGAGEMENT Joe Basile and his band of twenty pieces furnished the music at the Armory in Newark last week during the progress of the Own Your Own Home Exposition. Basile also furnished a fifteen piece or- chestra at the Milk Fund fights in the Yankee Stadium last Saturday, SKELLY RE-ENGAGED Pete Skelly's Orchestra, a combination that has been playing all winter at the Strand Roof, has been re-engaged for the summer. There are nine men in the or- chestra which will play for the new revue which is being staged by Earl Lindsay as well as for the dancing, BLOOM AT ALAMO Irving Bloom's Broadway Harmonists, a five-piece aggregation, opened last wedc at the Alamo Cafe, 125th street for a limited engagement. The orchestra will probably play at the Alamo for three or four weeks before leaving to take up thdr summer work. DURANTE AT COLLEGE INN Jimmy Durante and his orchestra, a six- piece combination, opened at the College Inn, Coney Island, last week and will re- main there for the rest of the summer. Durante and his boys previously appeared at the Alamo, New Vork, playing there all Winter. DAVIS ORCHESTRA FOR GLENCO'VE Glencovc Inn, on Long Island, wilt have a Meyer Davis orchestra for the summer. The band which opened on Saturday of last wedc is a six-piece combination and is under the leadership of Harry Rosen- thal, who handled the Davis Bar Harbor and Palm Beach orchestras in the past