Variety (March 1921)

VAUDEVILLE -Viday, March 4, 1921 V. M. P. A. MATINEE BENEFITS FOR N. V. A. SET FOR APRIL 8 +■■** *.- ► > ) ' • >*• ■ $pr~M ,ftabVcfc jCp upturn, Ww,Ouu?R Jn^cji v lie—Added Features and Old-time After-Pieces to Strengthen Bills. FOX'S FORCED PLUNGE TO MEET COMPETITION LOEW UPSTATE RIVAL .nnyveaiey Proposes House Near Site of Lmwi in Rochester. The annual benefit tendered by the Vaudeville Managers' Protective Association to the National Vaude- ville Artists', Inc., has been officially set by the V. M. P. A. for Friday, April 8. The selection of this date iu in accordance with a resolution adopted by the V. M. P. A. at its last annual dinner, wherein it was agreed that the members of the V. M. P. A. would donate to the N. V. A. the gross proceeds of the matinee re- ceipts of each of their houses on the s*vond Friday in April of each year thereafter. Last year the mat- Ine benefits were held on Wednes- day. May 5. This was due to the V. M. P. A. dinner being held on April 17, after the annual benefit date as designated in the resolution. Beginning with the forthcoming benefit this yer.r and thereafter the benefit matinees are to be a fixed event on the second Friday in April. The money derived from the V. M. P. A. benefits is to go to the N. V. A. Insurance Fund. Dave Nowlin Robinson has been dele- gated to conduct a special publicity campaign to the public this year to boost the benefits, his selection aris- ing from the work performed by him In the Interest of the event last year at Proctor's, Yonkers, of which Mr. Nowlin is assistant manager. He will retain his post at the thea- tre while conducting the special publicity campaign. Last year Proctor's. Yonkers, turned Li a larger amount of money for the matinee benefit than any other theatre in the United States or Canada. Yonkers had a double bill and Couble admission prices. The same i^'an will be followed at Proctor's, Yonkers, this year, as re- gards the matinee benefits. It is planned to have added attrac- tions In a large number of the V. M. P. A houses this year for the bene- fit matinees, arrangements now be- ing made by members of the N. V. A. to put or. old-time after-pieces, such as "Ghost in the Pawnshop," "Over the Piver Charley." "Razor Jim," "Irish Justice," etc., the parts to be played by performers appear- ing on the bill, with headlines in several instances being cast for comedy roles such as they have not been identified with for years. Some have never played these oli stand- ard comedy parts, and their playing of them will add great interest for the public. Many bills will be like- wise strengthened by the addition of voluntary performers appearing for the single matinee, with numerous "names" listed among the latter. There will be in the nature of spe- cial added attractions. The members of the N. V. A. are to co-operate with the V. M. P. A. also in publicising the benefit in every way possible. The V. M. P. A. embraces a membership of some 800 theatres, also including the Rlngling Bros. Circus and the bur- lesque circuits. No deductions will be made as in the case of last year's benefits by the houses giving the benefits of the artists' salaries or house expenses, the N. V. A. receiv- ing the gross receipts. The regular annual N. V. A. bene- fit performance will follow shortly after at the Hippodrome. This is a separate benefit given by the N. V. A. itself Preparations' announcing the date of the event -have been sent out to every member of the V. M. P. A. These have been posted in the lob- bies and back stage. The proclama- tions are engraved from hand script and are away from the usual show announcement in form. Bids 15 Weeks for Big Timers at Regular Salary. The Fox people are making strong efforts' to "boiaiTr'Ym>ir sho & d. Many acts that have been going through the salary "adjustment" period with the Keith Exchange have been offered 15 weeks by Fox at the salary asked of Keith. Competition is the answer, the Audubon on Washington Heights being caught between two fire3. with the Coliseum north making in- roads into the Audubon cllentelle, ;.nd the Hamilton south doing like- v/.se with "b'g time" Keith vaude- ville. Another battle is on in 14th street, where Fox's City comes into opposition a with Keith's Jefferson with a Lig'time policy. The Jeffer- son started the season without making many inroads into the Fox patronage, but since reducing the scale to conform with the Fox ad- missions, the Keith house has been steadily forging ahead. Fox has been playing "name" acts mostly holding Shubert contracts and as finding hard sledding to con- tinue the policy through the diffi- culty of securing acts of the calibre of Eddie Cantor, Georgie Price and other Shubert stars. FOX BROOKLYN MARCH 17. PARODY ON GOVERNOR BANNED BY KEITH TIME Rochester, N. Y., March 2. Albert A. Fennyvessey, general manager of the C,, B. Keith Family Theatre Company and head of a concern which operates three>down- town and one neighborhood house, .has. .bad plans made for a new theatre in Clinton avenue south pe- tween the Victoria and the Temple and almost opposite the Lyceum. Mr. Fennyves ey does not own the 1 nd, but it is understood that he has acquired options on it. The plans are ready to submit to the city building department. The site is several hundred feet nearer Main street than the site of the proposed new Loew house. SHUBERTS OUTBID KEITHS IN DAYTON =» ACT APPEALS TO N. Y. LICENSE BUREAU HEAD Lessees Decline to Pay Higher Rental—To Build. Exchange Objects to Raising t Political Issue. Albermarie Two Blocks From Moss House The Albermarie the first of two new theatres being built in Brooklyn by William Fox and designed for vaudeville, will be opened next Thursday (March 17). The house is one of the biggest in the borough, seating 3,200. The house i^ in Flat bush, two blocks from the Flat bush theatre, a Moss house operating with Keith shows. Building violations held up the open- ing of the Albermarie for some time. Fox's second new house, the Borough Hall is scheduled to open in April. ROOF GARDEN GYM Dr. Roller's gymnasium atop the Brokaw building is getting a strong play from theatrical men. B. S. Moss, E. F. Albee, Martin Bock and other notables are daily visitors to the health building re- sort. The parody on "Oh What a Gal Was Mary," sung by Ryan and Bronson at the Colonial last week, which took a fall out of Governor Miller for his reported favoring of higher street car fares in New York, was ordered out after Thursday. The order goes for the whole Keith circuit. It is understood the Keith people also objected to tho parody on the ground of bringing a polit- ical issue into their theatres. Gov- ernor Miller being a Republican, and the singing of a song "knock** ing" the executive, even in a com- edy way, tending to create partisan feelings in the audience. The parody, according to Va- riety's review of the Colonial show last week, was a "panic." The no- tice of the Colonial show also said that "if Jack Ryan ever sings that parody in Brooklyn, those B. R. T. strap hangers will want to elect him the next Mayor." Dayton, March 2. The Shuberts have purchased the lease of Keith's, Dayton, now play- ing big time vaudeville and will in- stall a stock confpany of Shubert Players to show Shubert Broadway success beginning May 1. Shubert vaudeville will be in- stalled in the present Keith house beginning Sept. 1, according to a telegram received here Friday from Charles J. Gross, the new owner, who is now in New York closing the deal. The house was purchased by Gross in November and has been playing the Keith two a day # bills. It has a seating capacity of 1900 and is located at Fifth and Ludlow streets. The Keith lease expires in April and it was said a renewal was not sought at the advanced rental de- manded, as the Keith interests con- template the erection of a new house, a site now being negotiated for Just south of the Victory, a stock house, on North Main street. The installation of stock at the Keith house will give Dayton two stock companies this summer, tho TJrownwell-Stork piftyers having -been booked for another season at the Victory. Players Say Agent Ignored V. M. P. A. Ruling • * ■ The complaint of Sterling and 'OrSlmtoi* v ag£ktk& * Uhv ■> 'PUumMt** agency, filed with the License Com- missioner of New York a couple of weeks ago, Was scheduled for a hearing at the License Bureau yes* terday (Thursday, March 8). Ster- ling and Grsiman's complaint fol- lowed a decision against Pllmmer in the matter, rendered by the* Vaudeville Managers' Protective Association recently. Plimmer. ac- cording to Sterling and Grsiman, refused to abide by the V. M. P. A.'s decision and they decided to bring the matter to the attention of the License Bureau. The complaint arose from three claims made Against the Plimmer agency by Sterling and Grsiman, on an act operated by the latter called < "The Rain Bow Cocktail." Accord- ing to the V. M. P. A. complaint the act was booked into a house at Amsterdam by Plimmer, where 825 was deducted from its salary, into another at Oneida, where 850 was deducted, and still another. Rome, whlgh was closed when the turn arrived in the town. Sterling and Grsiman's claim for salary lost for the* unplaycd Rome date was 8337.50. the total amount Sterling and Grsiman are asking Plimmer to pay being 8412.50. . "SHUBERT" DELETED Glenns Falls Empire Drops Name in Vaudeville Ads. MEDAL FOR MISSING MAN. Father Hsi War Honor for Miljan, Former House Manager. CHAIN AGENCY IDEA Los Angeles. March 2. Harold D. Neids will act here as representative for Horwitz & Kraus the New'York agents. It is planned 'to establish an office here for them later. Neids is well acauainted with the coast, having been connected with the Goldwyn forces. The agents expect to open an office in San Francisco during the spring. It will be their head- quarters for the coast. San Francisco, Mar, 2. The father of John N. Miljan, for- merly house manager of the Plaza at Superior, Wis., has requested members of the profession to help him find his son, from whom he has received no word since March', 1920. Young Miljan was one of the fighting marines and his father has just received from Washington a certificate of honorable conduct and a medal for bravery earned by the son. The senior Miljan says his son was manager of the Plaza up to February last year, but left and went to Ohio, where he heard from him In March. He has asked that information about the younger man be sent to Frank Miljan, 165 Third sftcet, this city. Glens Falls, N. Y.. March 2. All reference to "Shubert vaude- ville" has been dropped ir. the ad- vertising copy of the Empire In this city. The Fame procedure was fol- lowed at the Rialto in Amsterdam after the first few weeks The lat- ter house now heads its ads, "We lead, others trail." The Strand in the same city lately announced that through a special arrangement their bills are being booked under the personal supervision of E. F. Albee. ALONZO'S VACATION i P. Alonzo, general booking man* ager of the Poll Circuit, will sail for Italy about the middle of June* remaining there until the latter part of August. During his absence the books wil be handled by George Poll. Max Hart Handling Film Folk Max Hart has added a picture de- partment to his agency. Harry R, Sanger and WiUiam Storttter will have charge of the film aspirants* ESTELLE SULLY OF THE WELL-KNOWN SILLY FAMILY "The Black-Eyed Sutan of Vaudeville" Offering a single of entertainment, displaying her versatility In the rendition of character songs and stories iu dlulect and concluding with some of the famous Sully dancing. American the first half of this week (Feb. 28), und Boulevard, N. Y., now. March 5. I H0LY0KE STRAND OPENS Thenew Strand Theatre, Holyoke, Mass., opened Monday (Feb! 28,') with the following show as the in- itial bill: Reddington and Grant, Mason and Shaw, Seven Honey Boys, Rathburne Four and Raymo and Rogers. The new house will be booked by Harry Carlln and Bob Hutchinson of the family department of the Keith Exchange, playing five acts on a weekly split. It seats 1,300, and has no balcony, all of the seats be- ing on the orchestra floor. NEW PAN SYSTEM Chicago, March 2. The Pantages Circuit will hers* after start shows on Saturday, opening at tho Empress Theatre, Des Moines, and closing there on Friday to make possible a Sunday opening in Minneapolis. This got ; Into effect with the first road show, THIS IS ALICE AND HAZEL FURNESS Seventh season. Leading numbers and feature 1 Song Revue. B. F. KEITH'S PALACE, New Yu•!;, Nc with Gu.i Edwards' a Week (March 7).