Variety (July 1919)

urn *«pPi!f®r Kl ''■ >--:■■:.;'/ ■ ' . . .'-'•'.'. -'..'■;■•' ■■ '■■ \\\ ■'-. ■*';'• '.•■■ : -'-'. i> '••.;■ ■'.'•' : ' '•':'"-' r '•' ' " :...■:■■■•.■";/' VARTETTS CHICAGO OFFICE BOOM 811, iTATB-LAKI BUILDING ,'■ r : : '. Cfjicago By JACK LA1T Chicago has come to the support of its own again. George W. Lederer remembered his old home when he brought "Angel Face" hither, and Chi- cago remembered him as soon as the weather became livable. For the final week of June $10,000 isn't to be sneezed at and that is exactly $9 less than this burg slipped across to George in seven days. Lederer, though originally a New. Yorker, as many of the most loyal Chicagoans are, has been ineradi- cably identified with the theatre his- tory of this town. It was here that he produced "Madame Sherry," his big- gest success, except perhaps "The Belle of New York:" \ And it was here that he waded through a few less happy enterprises, too, such as "The Girl Rangers" and "An Everyday Man." The former of these was an amazing venture, staged at the Auditorium and now quite for- gotten, but it was unique in many re- spects. Its authors were Lincoln Car- ter, the melo hound, and Wilbur D. Ncsbit, an Indiana-Chicago poet. The star was Lederer's then wife, the beau- tiful Reine Davies, and among them also was Will Rogers, then unknown, who whooped and threw a lariat in a cowboy scene. Lederer was for years the sole repre- sentative here for Klaw & Erlanger in the days when that firm was battling everybody and licking some. He went through the heat of the early fights against the Shuberts and he was the Chicago head for K. & E. in the ad- vance vaudeville onslaught. Lederer created "The Steam Roller," the big- gest thing published of that vaudeville '■ competition. George is as well known on Chicago streets as the chief of police. \ Always .a wonderful mixer, he yet has always managed to avoid the cafe crowd, and never was a lizard of the fashionable groggeries. He traveled with the social silk when he was rich. When he was poor he either kept in fhe. obscurity or personal retirement or was seen with the few staunch regulars who may be found here and there, those who do not demand prosperity as one of the essentials' of friendship. And Lederer has been poor as often as he has been rich. Almost as soon as he was rich he became poor. Always a gambler with theatricals he made vast sums and lost them, and when he had money he lent it and spent it as though it were counterfeit. Now it looks as though he is to have a bankroll again but he is a chastened George, and this time he may hold on to it better. In "Angel Face" he appar- ently has the support of A. L. Erlanger for a starter. This gave him latitude to construct a production worthy of its- sponsor and to assemble a cast which, while economical enough to af- ford profitable possibilities, is yet a sturdy one for the purposes. Added to this is Lederer's notorious penchant for unusual advertising stunts and his keen judgment on promotion of a show. The Colonial,* where his show is housed, is the theatre where he went through his great sorrow, the Iroquois Theatre fire, and through his great joy, ."Madame Sherry." He was then its manager, or rather made it his head- quarters while managing the K & E interests here. Now Lederer tenants it as a producer. The staff has com- pletely changed since he left, but the present staff is still a crew of men raised in theatres and conversant with the traditions of theatres. \. So "G. W.," as he was fondly known inyhe hack days, is treated and greeted witfKi-reverential respect, just as though he w ere still the big boss. MAJESTIC, CHICAGO. Chicago, July 1. Blossom Soeley was ill Monday matinee. This gave Fields. Grossman and L«pe a chance to allow what tbey could do by them- selves. Result sensational. In no previous Chicago appearance has the act gotten such a terrific reception. The hoys completely halted the show for 20 minutes. Stuff largely adlibbcd. But It got over tremendously. Fans missed Bennle Davis. But Able Grossman was a riot. Fields held the stage for over ten minutes himself and had the house yell- ing for more until necessary to make a speech. Rose and Bills opened the show, with Whltledge and Beckwith No. 2. The lads, working two pianos, got results. Next to Seeley's boys, Ruth Budd got the largest measure of applause. As a. ring baby she has it on dainty Marie Meeker, for she goes further with her stunts and Is younger and peppier. If Miss Budd would secure some chatter to work while flying through space she would have the best act of its kind in vaudeville. Dunbar's old-time darkles sang darkey songs. The act is monotonous, particularly in a bill p-i crammed with songs as this one. Homer B. Mason and Marguerite Keller, assisted by that fine actor, George E. Romalne (who deserves to be equally mentioned In the billing) mopped up with Porter Emerson Browne's delicious travesty on the triangle situation. 1 Frances Kennedy, looking younger and more charming than ever, attired in a shimmering creation and toting a fur mantle that made the women gasp with - desire and pleasure, ambled through a smart routine to a reception like an old-fashioned housewarming. Only trouble Is that Miss Kennedy doesn't use her fine singing voice enough. It has a throaty, Honorous timber most pleasing to the trained ear. The time she wastes with the song plugger could be better utilized. They love Kennedy out here, and she deserves it. The Seeley act minus Seeley followed, and made It mighty tough for Bert Swor, but Swor worked valiantly and held most of them in. The long show spoiled it for the closing act, Rodrlques In a fine perch act. Swing. NOTES. Benjamin H. Ehrlich, theatrical attorney, will motor to New York next week on a com- bination pleasure and business trip. The Blackstone, dark after July 5, will re- /open Aug. 25 with "On the Hiring Line," the new Tyler comedy by Harriet Ford and Harvey O'Higglns. The Cort is now featuring Albert Brown in the billing of "I Love You." The Woods, dark, will reopen in August with "Up in Mabel's Room." George A. Schiller has left I the "Passing Show" and has replaced Carrlck Major in "Angel Face" at the Colonial. Ted McLeon is rehearsing a new musical show destined to open in Chicago in the fall. It will be called, "Say, Uncle," book and lyrics by McLean and music by Joe Roberts. Normon Frledenwald will have two "My Honolulu Girl" companies this fall, one West and one Bast. Bertha Mann, lately with "The Copper- head," is vacationing in Chicago. Rosalie Ascher is rehearsing a new act written by Joe Swerllng and George Rubin. Mrs. Rose Halperln, mother of Nan Hal- perin, was a Chicago visitor last week. She returned to New York with her son, I. H. Halperln (Ha!) this week. V. Chandler Smith has Just completed for Leslie Harcourt a comedy sketch. The act is to be handled by Ernie Young. Leon A. Berezulak is contributing a series of articles on law to the Lawndale Press. Emll De Recat is sporting a vividly colored, brand new Locomobile. It costs as much as one of his revues, which costs plenty. Bill De Beck, star cartoonist for the Hearst service, is preparing an act which Ernie Young will present De Beck will probably open the first week of the vaudeville season at the Palace. Jlmmie Dunn and Co. broke In a new act this week. Marcelle Marlon opened in a new act at Janesville June 28. Miss Marlon recently was discharged from the American Theatrical Hos- pital. Percy Chapman, formerly with Boyle Wool- folk's "Sunny Side of Broadway," has replaced Charles Gibson, as producer and Juvenile lead for W. D. Fitzgerald's Central Park Musical Comedy 8tock, at Allentown, Pa. Frank Ellis has replaced Ed Keene in principal comedy parts. GUS EDWARDS' $2 SHOW. Chicago, July L Gus Edwards, with the. support of A. L. Erlanger, will shortly start on a new two-Hollar revue, of which he will write the score, the book to be done by authors not yet chosen. Edwards will stage it, and may play in it The basis of this plan is a series of moving picture incidents, fhe first in a studio and all thereafterTon location," which will give rise to its tentatively selected title, "The Celluloid Girl." Will Cobb will do the lyrics. GARETSON WITH GOLDWYN. ■v Chicago, July 1. Ben Garetson, press agent, formerly connected with the Fox Films, has been engaged as Chicago publicity director for Goldwyn. Whittaker Back on the Job. Chicago, July L- James Whittaker, former music critie on the Chicago American, has returner! from overseas, where he served as a lieutenant and has been engaged as a special writer on the Herald and Examiner. Ravinia Season Opens. Chicago, July 1. The 1919 season of Ravinia Park opened Saturday night with the first Middle West performance of Leoni's opera "L'Oracole," in which Antonio Scotti made his first appearance of his Ravinia engagement. Mabel Garrison was heard in "Lucia" Sunday night. New Star for "Hiring Line." Chicago,. July 1. "Tillie" will remain here until July 5, leaving after nineteen phenomenal weeks that hang up a new record for the Blackstone. On Aug. 20 "On the Hiring Line" will come in with a big cast, however without Emily Stevens, who was starred in the eastern tryout. Thereafter George Arliss will open in "Moliere," and follow it with two new plays, as yet unannounced. Florence Stone Retire*. Chicago, July 1. Florence Stone has temporarily re- tired from acting having gone to the Pacific Coast for a prolonged rest. She was last seen in stock in Minneapolis, where she closed precipitately when her name became involved in a court case. Becker Brothers are building a remarkable set for the new act being prepared for Bronson and Baldwin, which is said to be one of the most novel productions introduced in vaude- ville this season. ERNIE YOUNG Of Chicago Cfjicago By SWING Andy Monihan probably knows more actors than any other man in Chicago. For 50 years Andy has been a bar- tender, a goodly portion of his ser- vice having been rendered behind the bar of the Majestic cafe, in the Majes- tic Theatre building, where actor men were wont to come and quaff the brew and gaff the brewster. Andy was a sympathetic listener, an able mixer with both fists and phosphates* a ball fan and a bachelor. His father was the predecessor in business of Jim Mc- Garry, the original of Pete Finley Dunne's "Mr. Dooley." If this sounds something like an obituary notice, it must be remembered that it is, in a way, for with July 1 having come and gone, Andy is now without occupa- tion. Not that it worries him any. He says: "I've been in the game for 50 years and I think I've got a rest com- ing. Some of the boys tell me I'm old enough to get married. I guess I've met every reader of Variety: in my days behind this old mahogany. I dis- tinctly recall the first issue of the Green Sheet. I'll never forget it, be- cause the same day it reached Chicago Morris Silver bought a drink. If it wasn't for the boys I'll be missing, I wouldn't mind quitting at all They used to try all their gags out on me, and if I laughed at them, they took 'em out of their acts. Bourbon? Sure." Friends of Leonard Hicks, proprietor of the Grant Hotel, will be glad to learn that he was elected president of the Greeters' Club of America at the annual convention of that organization in Portland, Ore., this week. Profes- sionals have always found Hicks one of the best greeters in America, and it is largely for this reason that Mr. Hicks' hostelry is patronized -almost exclusively by members of the pro- fession. When "Honeymoon Town" opened recently at the La Salle, the performer who got the greatest number of floral offerings was a chorus girl, and the flowers came from the house staff of the theatre. She is Gerda Jacobs, who was thus signally honored, and the reason was that before she became a chorus lady in Mr. Woolfolk's show she was an usherette in the theatre. Announcement of the reopening of Variett's London office in last week's issue brought about a number of in- quiries as to whether this publication intended also to open an office in Pet- rograd. It would hardly pay. The only drama in the Russian capital is an economic one, the only farce is a political one and the music'is all chin music. Besides, all the Russian dancers are in America, playing the various circuits. Not that a name means anything in particular, but why should the con- tralto of "The Passing Show" he nom- inated Edward Basse? And why should the gigantic, 6 foot 4 ex-drama-critic of the old Chicago Herald be named Dick Little? And why should the sun- niest-dispositioned theatre manager in town be called Walter MrCloud? The minute the last minute hope of the wets faded with Wilson's proclam- ation that the prohibition thing went as written, Frank De Voe became a weather prophet. "It looks like snow from now on," said Mr. De Voe. "We will still keep the home fires burning —with coke." i /