Variety (September 1919)

... =■:•■'£ ?«y ' » ALL CHORUS GIRLS NOW ASK $35 GR ANTED A T THE "HIP" Hard to Get Them to Work For Any Less in Vaudeville. Plea From Producer That Act Can't Stand More Than $30 Has Little Effect Pop Time Acts May Suffer Havoc. The formation of the Chorus Equity Association and the establishment of a $35 weekly wage has already been reflected in vaudeville and particularly to producer? of girl acts or those carrying a chorus. .. . v- One producing firm with a new turn calling for eight girls stated it could only pay $30 and be able to secure a ...profit. This firm had been able - to ; secure only four choristers at its price, V all other applicants saying they were members of the Equity branch and holding out for the $35 scale. It ap- pears that some of the girls are rep- resenting themselves to be members, t.'king advantage of the raise in scale at the Hippodrome. The new chorns girl wage may play havoc with any number of girl acts designed for pop time. York this week. Miss Suratt will now return to vaudeville, again booked by Jenie Jacobs, and will probably re- appear in her sketch. JOE SCHENCK RETIRES. Last Saturday marked the official severance of the long-continued gen- eral managership exercised by Jos. M. Schenck over the booking department of the Marcus Loew Circuit. Mr. Schenck is devoting all of his time to the picture interests he is identified with. The Schenck business offices are' in the Regan building. With the Schenck forces are M. S. Epstein and Dorothy Obereiter, Mr. Schenck's pri- vate secretary for many years. Succeeding Mr. Schenck in the Loew booking department is J. H. Lubin, now the general manager of that division. Mr. Lubin has been the virtual booker in fact of the Loew time for the past couple of years. He has a corps of assistants. SAM MYERS AT ORPHEUM. Los Angeles, Sept. 3. The local Orpheum is being directed by Sam Myers, who came to the Coast for his health after starting off the new State-Lake at Chicago. Despite the difficulties, Mr. Myers assumed charge, replacing Charles E. Bray, who is on a trip to the Orient in the interest of the Orpheum Circuit ORCHESTRA AT BILTMORE. The Art Hickman Orchestra, with Mr. Hickman, opened Monday at the Hotel Biltmore (Cascades) for a spe- cial engagement of two weeks. The orchestra, 10 in number, came direct, on leave for five weeks, from the St. ^Francis Hotel, San Francisco. After completing the Biltmore engagement, the orchestra will spend another week in New York making records for the Columbia. ; Accompanying the orchestra (and playing in it) is Ben Black, profession- al manager for Sherman, Clay & Co., the big music house of the west, with principal office in San Francisco. While in New York Mr. Black is mak- ing his headquarters at Daniels & Wil- son's office on West 45th street He will return with the orchestra to the Coast "SHIMMY" WORLD BEATER. •> Chicago, Sept. 3. The champ shimmy dancer of the universe has been discovered by Ernie Young, the agertt, in the person of Gladys James. Besides being the last word or step in shimmy work, Mr. Young says Miss James at jazz sing- ing just tears off the roof. \ ■ i The agent thought so much of his discovery he has placed the girl un- der a contract for five years. CASE OF ^SHORTY" MALONE, Chicago, Sept 3. Any of you remember "Shorty Ma- lone"? Three years ago he used to be called Horton A. Malone, of the team t of Malone and Doyle, songs, dances and nifty crossfire. The team was playing nearly all the time. Then there was the railroad collision near Charlestown, W. Va. The following week Doyle's name was in Varibtt's obituary column, and Malone—he was lucky—he got away with the loss of both his legs. f* Malone was a Chicago boy. He came back to.his home town and took up his stand on Dearborn street, near the Majestic Theatre. There, in and about the Saratoga hotel, where lots of show people passed. The other day a new copper came on the beat, and Malone landed in jail. He was told to "move on," ■ and because he had no legs, and no place to "move on"; to, it was the hoosegow for him. "Shorty" is out again, but the new copper doesn't want him hanging around Madison and Dearborn. Maybe if he had a job, or some money, or something, he wouldn't have to. . - . . BOUND FOR S. A. The Ziras, jugglers; Smilletta Sisters, contortionists; Lotta, accordionist, and the Novellos, gymnasts, sailed for South America Wednesday to play a ten weeks' engagement on the Seguin Tour. billy McCaffrey saves a life. William McCaffery, secretary to Ted Lauder (Keith's Agency) received an ovation from hundreds of people last Sunday, at:Whiteside Landing, L. I., when he braved a strong tide and un- dercurrent in saving Delacey Man- ning from drowning. McCaffrey brought him ashore after a swim of half a mile. NELL LOCK WOOD'S RETURN. San Francisco, Sept 3. Nell Lockwood, who formerly ap- peared on the big time circuits in a double (Lockwood and Bryson) and . who has been on the retired list for the past few years, was induced to return to the stage by Charles Bray during the latter's stay in Los Angeles, when Miss Lockwood appeared at a private entertainment. Miss Lockwood opens at the Or- pheum in Oakland, Sept. 21. Vaudeville Road Show in Weit. San Francisco, Sept. 3. Jack McArthur, manager of the Ye Liberty, Oakland, has organized '. a vaudeville road show. The show is made up of eight acts from the Ackerman & Harris offices' and opened at Vallejo last week. It will play the one and two day stands in California at one-dollar prices. . . > Floor Open to • oung. Chicago, Sept. 3. Max Halperin has been formally recognized as the W. V. M. A. and Orpheum-Keith floor representative for Ernie Young. Notice was served on him, together with the other floor men for the agen- cies, to file a complete revised list of acts available, and to put in regular office hours on Sundays as well as other days, the new system. 1 VALESKA SURATT IS BACK. After spending six weeks in Den- rk, Valeska Suratt returned to New (THIS 18 NOT A FAC1 POWDER) A & H. EXTENDING IN PICTURES. San Francisco, Sept. 3. That Ackerman & Harris intend branching out as picture exhibitors on an extensive scale, was given impetus by a report that the Hippodrome in Oakland, when completed about Jan: 1, will be devoted to pictures, and that the circuit's vaudeville will go into the Ye Liberty in that city. Recently the firm acauired the Strand in Sacramento, which will show pictures. Negotiations are said to be on for houses in other cities where they control hippodromes. NORWORTH A CRACK SHOT. Syracuse, N. Y„ Sept. 3, Jack Norworth, in Ithaca appear- ing in a picture, has been upholding his reputation as a crack shot at the shoots of the. Lakeside Gun Club, where he and his leading woman, Janet Adair, have been walking off with all the honors. Norworth himself is an old hand at this game. At the recent contest he had 24 hits out of 25 birds. Miss Adair got 15 out of 25 birds. SPANISH SINGERS IN TURN. Two of Spain's notable singers are in New York and will shortly debut in vaudeville act called The Spanopera Singers." They are Signora Maria Portillo and Signor Raoul de la Garca, both of the Teatro Madrid^ where they have been prima donna and principal tenor, re- spectively for several years. V Alex. Makofka, a noted Russian pian- ist, appears with them as accompanist. ILL AND INJURED. Mrs. G. B. Twyman who was recent- ly operated upon, has left the hospi- tal and is on the road to recovery. Walter Percival was operated upon for appendicitis at the Hahneman Hos- pital, New York. He will be around again in about a week. Lieut. Eugene Foxcroft is convales- cing at St. Joseph's House, Elberon, N. J., and would like to hear from his friends. Since his return frbm France he has been ill with mastoids. BILL BAILEY MARRIED. Bill Bailey, of Bailey and Cowan, to. Gene Marsh at Los Angeles, August 31. Mrs. Bailey was formerly in pic- tures. KIETH'S A. C CLOSING SEASON. Keith's Atlantic City, closes tomor- row night (Sept. 6). Dorothy Phillips in Star Role. Chicago, Sept. 3. Dorothy Phillips, wife of Nat Phil- lips, known to vaudeville as an ingenue of promise, was selected to play the Francine Larrimore role in the central company of Walter Hast's "Scandal." Her company opens Sept. 12 at Rock Island. The Bunting company opens Sept. 6 at Kankakee, taking up the southern route a week later at Spring- field, Mo. -. . -.v\.-.» -1 .v«-*w_< ■.•■rv^:-*Ks NEW ACTS. Paul Marx and Irving Rines. ■'k^^; Sammy Gold (Gold, Pease and Ed- . wards) a "single". (Bernard Burke);4 :;f*i Jack W. Haskell and Marty Bloom, "Song, Piano & Talkaflage." Willie De Beck, newspaper cartoon- ist. '■ •. ■ :...; ^m "The Ex-Convict's .Dream" (4) h>, ■ Sam Baum, produced by Nat Messing;'' "Pirates," ten people, tab. (Marty Brooks). ;?v% "Cold Feet" comedy sketch with .3 v. omen and 1 man, featuring W.;S.!;4%5 Baldwin and Rae Dean. (Lawrenwfe^ Schwab). \ ;'^%yi$y?' "Shooting the Bull," nine peopMigv (Marty Brooks). '■ ■^'■■i&jiMm Jack McClellan "started rehearsals JS||S^™ two new vaudeville tabs this/'owttj^M., "Lovers and Lunatics" (10 pc«plp?!^#p with Ben Lor in* featured and "Broad,4;SJ'i walk Breezes" (9 people), featuring Sid* Winters. Mr. BIRTHS, and Mrs. Clarence E. Wlffife at their home in Hartford. Conn., Ju'« .27, son (second child). The fatM*§„ Willard, the Man Who Grows. He^waa entertaining with the A. E F/'jbjpiWiMf at the time of birth, since returBftlfisi; borne. While oyer there Willard Ibstipfl, his trade mark, the 3-karat diamoSilfp stone. '■& MATRIMONIAL EPIDEMIC The professional offices of the Jos. W. Stern Music Co. seem to bea-verrlfp^ itable stamping ground of matrimohtsU^I' aspirants the last fortnight .or ^.s'tf^MF First Harold O'Hare, a Stern pianist^ I committed matrimony with ;Martna^||t, -professional, Next t6J$M^^ Pragle, non-. in line several days later is Bernie ; Grossman, a Stern songwriter, .who|#;;: .took the, fatal ; leap with HetejSpr Clement a former professional. Now 1 May Pound, the putchritudinous piano •') pounder in the Stem marriage fac- tory, announces her resignation frort;Sf^ the firm to enter into double harnesi &Wm with ex-U. S. N. Lielut Walter Cheet., ham.;/:- ■■■<■'.;•■':'■.'■ .-:.;■' ■-.■'..■ ■ :Mt§&, STRIKE HITS MUSIC SALES. With the fourth week of theitti^M , well nigh over, and with ho sign jbff%£| abatement or settlement, production!?!^ music publishers are up in the air ovjjrS^' the loss of their .show music salesi ; .iiw^p|sf ing to the productions being dark.v^lilB® Popular sheet music houses' are ma.. ing the most of the opportunity "plug" and popularize their highe : priced publications. .'.-: -y^'Mmflk AMONG THE MUSIC MEN. . Lew Porter, of the Jos. W. 8terh staff;' conflned to bed with pleurisy. : ; - .'y £JvS3|h Abe Olman left for Chicago this w«k, rejoin bla former employer, F. J. A. 1 " Dare Hlngle has Joined the professional,. staff of the McKlnlejr Music Co. ■. ,:\-i:fi^m^ Harry Yoell will he manager of McCarUnr^Wi Fisher's new Seattle branch professional bffleaiv-'.:-'; Al Bernard, songwriter and phonograph singer, is back In town. : , - . ;.,.;'-.'«?»» Gilbert & Freldland have Secured the tyng. >M rights In BIlllo Burke's forthcoming Parepv^-V mount picture, "Sadie Lore." . ^,$#4 ~ "" ..■'' ' Y"'^& George J. Bennett, formerly connected with. ft n the Stern writing staff, is now ■with Jack Mi" in a similar capacity. S.tVffpfigjT Herman Paley, songwriter, is back Broadway after a year's absence with Y. entertainment units In France, He is rnnnnntnrt with RnmlfV'n. y connected with Romlck's. The Lewis-Voung-Orar f Waterson - B erl I n - Snyder clal song around Po Valley of the Olnnt Job. W. Stern ) Needs a Friend," Brlgge pictures Clare Brlggs' «•■ =&*<»"<