Variety (December 1921)

R&L&S M CENTS Published Weekly at 154 West 46th St. New York, N. T., by Variety, Ine. Annual subscription $7. Single copies 10 cents. Entered as second class matter December SI, 1105, at the Post Office at New York. N. T.. under tfee Aot of March t, UTt. VOL. LXV. No. 2 NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1921 48 PAGES TESTING DEMAND FOR NAME PRODUCTIONS AT im, FLASH ACTS THROUGH * i ■ Big Scenic Girl Act* Being Reorganized to Sell for $800—Proved Drawing Power the Test of Value —Freak Acts Abandoned Producers of vaudeville acta book- ing through the Keith offices report a demand for but two types of pro- duction at present, the $2,500 turn, which must have a "name" of tested drawing power, and the production (Continued on page 2) f00LW0RTH STILL WANTS 10c. MUSIC price Without Plugging Pos- sible Solution XL Z. Nutting, the Wool worth Sraslo buyer and executive, Is still angling for ten ;ent music with the jFublishers. Almost dally he has been phoning the music men in- dividually, broaching the subject on the theory that since the wholesale price of sheet music is down to 11% cents already it will not be long before it comes within the seven cent figure to suit the syndi- cate store company. Acting on that theory Nutting refuses to take stock in the publishers' statement that the ten cent song is a thing of the past excepting on one condition. The publisher is agreeable to print up ten cent music and sell It to Woolworth as low as 6% cents but will not spend a cent in exploit- ing IL The publishers go still fur- ther and tell Mr. Nutting he is wel- - come to pick any song or songs While they nre still in manuscript (and each publisher has a safe full of those In reserve) and the music men will print them up in regula- tion fashion. Including a three- color title page, but they will not do a thing to "plus" it. That is financially impossible nnrt out of the Question. Nutting, however, insists that the publishers work on ^the >ong;H but does not even guarantee «« will grant a half million copy fener.il order In reciprocation. The Woolworth buyer frankly ad- Pjti he is anxious to install the Plislc counters/once n*aln but he Ml be given no opportunity if he ♦•raista on these conditions. i $100 PARK STOCK FOR 20 CENTS AT AUCTION DISTINGUISHED Bronx Expo.^Shareholders Call Meeting for Next Month Stockholders of the Bronx Ex- position Co., which operates the Starlight Park at 177th street In that New York borough, have called a meeting for early next month to frame a policy for next season. This announcement comes at the same time as a sale of the com* pony's securities comes Into notice at a record low price. One lot of preferred stock changed hands a few days ago In a public auction at the equivalent of 20 cents a share, compared to a face value of $100. About $20,000 in the company's securltl s brought less than $460 altogether. These consisted of four lots: 25 shares of preferred stock (par $100) sold at $5; 25 shares same, at $10; two lots of $2,500 each of 7 per cent gold bonds at $75 and $80 each, and $11,000 in first mortgage bonds in three lots, which brought an aggregate of $255. While these transactions establish a perfectly legal price quotation, it may not represent actual values. The d->al draws attention to a brand new method of straightening out a detail of income tax return which has been a trouble and annoyance to mai y people In the amusement business. Persons who Jiold the cluss of stocks known in financial (Continued on page 2) Louis Marshall Questions Right of Commissioner to Revoke Legitimate The- atre License -—Woods Changes Tactics in Demi- Virgin Case—Brady Meet- ing Postponed MANAGERS AROUSED FRESH COP! Walked in Dressing Room, Looking for Cigarettes Pittsburgh, Nov. 30. A policeman here was su/pended by the police board after l»e entered the dressing room of Frances King, appearing at one of the theatres here, for the stated purpose of seeing if actresses really smoke cigarettes. A. H. Woods Is reported to have been Informed by one of the highest legal authorities in New York that the License Commissioner of the city has not the right to arbitrarily order the closing of any theatre other than a picture house, under the statute giving him that power. According to the story, it was by virtue of that opinion the Woods legal forces, headed by Max Steuer, secured an injunction against Com- missioner Gilchlrst to test his au- thority In the matter of the Eltinge, New York^ where the Woods' pro- (Contlnued on page 15) EVA TANGUAY IN CABARET; f AISO PLAYING VAUDEVILLE $2,500 Weekly in Both, Playing Folie* Bergere, New York, and Shubert Vaudeville Simultaneously-r- Opeiu at Newark Next Week KUKLUXPLAY 'BEHIND THE MASK' "LOVE LETTER" FOR STOREHOUSE NOW Scale and Star Held Re- sponsible, It Is Said ~ Boston, Nov. 30. "The Love Letter" will go Into the storehouse when It finishes at the Tremont this week. Business has been off ever since the show struck here. Charles Dillingham has decided it won't do. The failure of the piece is believed to have been due to the $3 top and that John Charles Thomas, a male star and not a comedian, can't carry a musical comedy. It is reported Thomas will go Into vaudeville on the Shubert time. Humor has it arrangements to that effect have been completed and that he will receive about $2,600 a week. C. Anderson Wright, Author— Cast Engaged A syndicate of New York theat- rical men will shortly placo In re- hearsal a throe-act play based on the activities of the Ku Klux Illan, to be called "Behind the Mask." C, Anderson Wright, who conducted the Ku Klux expose xior the New York "World" recently, Is the au- thor. The Macon Producing Co. is the corporate title of the producing syndicate. The latter includes two prominent producing men, repre- sented in the Macon Corporation by proxy. Through both producers havir.T shows playing 'n the South from time" to time, the principals thought it advisable not to appear individually in the production of x Ku Klux play. Opening has been scheduled for Btnghamton, N. Y. about Christmas. The piece has seven scenes, among them one In a cave. C. Anderson Wright was formerly connected with the Ku Klux, but after resign- ing some time ago has written many articles regarding the Kian's gen- eral activities, including the charge that the Ku Klux is bitterly opposed to Jews, Catholics and Negroes. The "World" and Hearst papers' attacks on the Ku Klux were widely read. It Is believed by the pro- ducers of the play that the play can ensh in on the extensive pub- licity received. If the piece goes over out of town it, will be brought into New York for a try on Broad- way. It is also planned to make a pic- ture with the same title, "Behind the Mask." Among those engaged for the play are Edward McWade, Edward Keene. Frances Pitt, I^avinia Shan- non, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Frayne. There will be 20 speaking parts, with eight or nine principals. An engagement of five weeks at the Folles Bergere restaurant. New York, has been entered by Eva Tan- guay, to start Dec. 12, at a guaran- teed return of $2,500 a week, Next Monday Miss Tanguay will open for Shubert vaudeville in New- ark, N. J., also at $2,500 a week, to play a few weeks In the Shuberts' New York houses simultaneously with the restaurant engagement; The Shubert tour will be Inter- rupted to allow Miss Tanguay to complete her Pantages circuit con- tract that has 16 unfulfilled weeks. While recently on the Pantages time Miss Tanguay received $2,500 a week, with pro rata for extra per- formances. Her highest salary on the Pantages time was $3,333 at the Roosevelt, Chicago, and her lowest (Continued on page 19) BUSY REVIVING SHOWS ON B'WAY Eight Will Have Been Pre- sented Before Xmas The outbreak In this rxceptlo. 1 season of revivals in the fall perkd Is one of the most significant fea- tures of Broadway. The season started off with a trio of revivals and there are now in rehearsal no less than flvo additional revivals, all to take to the boards here within a month. Usually the time for such presentations mes with spring, and there have been but a few as a rule. This season eight revivals will havo (Continued on page 2) LADY LITTLE and GEORGE? AUGER The imallmt woman ami Mm Iarfott man In tlio wnrlil nre maiumed by in—all •rUaU between their ilses •snuld be, B ROOK " EveryI Kin a in Attire for the Theatre" S 143 West 40th 8tre«t, Nmt York City Brooklet No, 8w*—«— —