Variety (December 1921)

Friday, December ft, 1WI - ■ VAUDEVILLE i r i )• EXORBITANT COMMISSION FOR "PERSONAL APPEARANCE" picture Agent Get* 40% of $500 Salary—Act Re- ceives $300—Usual Practice Claimed—Matter * May Get in Courts with More Facts Revealed EVEN TOMATO IS SAWDf A WOMAN AUSTRALIA By ERIC H. GORRICK Con Goes to Stage with Him— Like Two Village Cut-ups A, matter now simm-rlng that may ^ch the courts is of a young woman who has appeared in pic- tures, booked for personal appear- ances by a New York picture agent, receiving but $300 out of $500 weekly paid by theatres for her. The amount of deduction Is qual to 40 per cent. Misrepresentation besides exor- bitant commission is ulso charged. The agent, who ha3 claimed he handles more picture people than anyone else In his line of agenting. la said to have sent tfie young woman to a middle western city to appear in a small time vaudeville house with a picture she had played In to he simultaneously exhibited /there. Upon arrival the young woman was informed she had been booked only as an act and was to do 14 minutes in "one." The house manager informed her the picture had no been l>r >ked. The young woman refused to ap- pear without the picture, and re- ported daily at the theatre. It's the outcome of tho matter that may reach the courts. The circumstance reveal d the agent had chaiged the young woman 40 per cent, ^and was conducting his business of "selling" other "personal appearance." of picture people, which might also in- clude an act by thorn, on the same basis. It is said the picture agent, some- what notorious for the way in which he has handled picture people under long-term contracts to him, has told his "personal appearance*' clients when placing them he could secure no more In this way than they usu- ally received while playing a pic- ture engagement The agent mean- time, when not dealing with an un- sophisticated young woman as In this Instance reported, collects the full theatre salary, pocketing the difference. LION TRAINER HURT Attacked During 8kow, Del Mar Escapes Serious Injury Indianapolis, Nov. 30. Fred Del Mar, trainer of lions in an act appearing at the Lyric here last week, suffered severe lacera- tions in his face when one of the beasts became angry while the act was on and clawed him. Del Mar's injuries were not serious and he did not miss any time with his act. It was the second time he had been Injured recently, his right forearm and hand being in bandages at the time of the second encounter. The scene of Del Mar's second In- jury, incidentally, la almost directly across the street from the site of the* now vanished Bostock too, where Jack Bonivlta originated the act which Del Mar now 'j carrying CIRCUS SPECTACLE AGAIN Mtnglings Reported Inquiring as to Prices n Costume Contracts , Report Is abroad that the Rlng- Ung-Bros.-Barnum Bailey circus will return to the big spectacle 4dea a-J Its feature display for the 1922 tour. Agents of the big top men were making inquiries among New York costumers for prices on cos- tumes in quantities to indicate a slg production. It is three years since the show h- i had a spectacle. THEATRE SAFES ROBBED IN DAYTIME Boldest Banditry Ever Known in Minneapolis Minneapolis, Nov. 30. Bandits stole $3,000 at Pantages and bound five persons and shot a policeman at the Orpheum .where an alarm by a charwoman frus- trated their plans and saved $5,000 in the safe. Boldness and resource- fulness displayed by the bandits it: essaying so desperate an attack on the Orpheum ihealre and then doubling back Mid robbing Pantages has not been mntehed in Minne- apolis, police officials declared Aftei tying the Orpheum employes to prevent their inte.f.»rencc while working on the same they broke the combination off tho sa>. but had i not forced an entrance into the strong box when Patrolman John Mcen appeared on the- scene. Morn, who had been summoned by a char- woman whom the robbers over- looked, was shot down by one of the yeggmen. The bandits escaped. Moen will recover. The robbery occurred at 7:30 a. m. Fifteen minutes after the Or- pheum raid Leslie McMillan, assist- ant manager of the Pantages. while opening the theatre safe was din- cussing the Orpheum robbery with Frank Mclncrny, hcusc press agent. While they were talking a man entered. Displaying a revolver, the bandit told McMillan to open the safe. Then two more gunmen appeared on the scene. McMillan complied with their request and handed over $3,000, the week-end receipts. The bandits then bound and gagged both McMillan and Mclnerny and made a get away. ^ Although the five men who at- tempted the Orpheum theatre safe cracking were masked, a description of their clothing wa*> obtained from the Ave victims. These descriptions tallied with descriptions of clothing worn by the trio seen at Pantages. Both robberies were planned for this morning apparently, because of the heavy week-end receipts taken in by the theatres. Keen CIRCUSES IN CUBA Competition Developed Sugar Island on The circus season here, which started off early this i. onth with fireworks through the competition between Mrs. Pubillone's show and that of Santos & Artlgas. is counted a flop. The latter outfit has sold its animals to the RInglings, and the managers are running a revue at the Pyrate with wrestling and boxing featured. The Publliones circus will cut its stay here, leaving for Mexico City at the end of next week and open- ing it the Nacionale. Dec. 10. It was to have remained until Dec. 25. This show formerly played Me::ico, but passed it up last season. There were 22 acts In all in the Pubiliones show, which was split up, two smaller outfits with seve \ acts each going out under canvas. They may be recalled for the Mexican book- ings. The Belleclnire Brothers are features of the Pubiliones show as last season. $250 FOR BULLS HIDE Houston. Tex., Nov. 30. MISTAKE IN BILLING The, Shubert paper for the cur- rent week's Winter Garden. X»'W Offers for the Aide of a giant bull i York, vaudeville bill included the •jephant belonging to Sclls-Floto ' names of Harry and Anna Seymour. Circus, which was shot Saturday *fter he escaped from the circus at 'Orai who are at present playing a Keith route. The mistake was caused by inge. causing quite a sensation, the similarity in name* between W imi Pouring in. | the Seymours and Harry a.nd Anna Th^ weight of the hide »s 6G0 j Scranton, ar, acrobatic team, who Pounds, it 1h said that there are j are jn the Winter Garden bill this ••0 bullet holes to show the energy | week. All of the Shubert paper had been placed on the boards before the Syracuse, Nov. SO. Dear Chick: From now on I'm a flrm believer In the law of averages and not bat- ting averages either. You know what a trlmmln that Merlin tried to give me by slippin Ginsberg the knucks last week and takin' a run out powder with my moll but every- thing is copesetty now for the law of averages got "egg In the bag" and Tomato and me ain't got a sqwack in the world. We go' up to Toronto last Monday night to box a tramp for the light- weight championship of Canada for regular sugar. After gettln off the train about noon me and my hitter have dinner and he goes to the hay for an hour playln the sheet music until 2 o'clock when he appears in the hotel lobby and tells me he has a yen to see a show. We toddle out on the main stem und dive into the first slab we make. foi Tomato alnt particular about his entertainment being partial to burlesque and plenty ot vaudeville. Wr settle back in our seats when the cards cum out for the act and It's Merlin. He's doln an act named "Sawin a Woman In Two'' and is head inin at this gymnasium. He's all dolled up in a tux and spiels about the danger of the ex- periment ~.nd dont get scared if the wiw slips etc. wlndin up by askln for a committee to come up and see that everything Is on the up and up. A coupla lants start down the aisle but 1 had grabbed Tomato by the arm and beat ther.i to the ros- trum by six lengths. You ought to have seen Merlins pan when he pip the committee he had drawn. I though he was goln to take It on the lam but I guess 1 e was afraid o: crabbin ths rest of his bookings and decided to stick and go through with it. . got up close to him and in a whisper told him what we wou.d do to him if he left the stage or tried to frame us. He went through the motions of havin us look at the box and at the c .clal moment the "woman" was led on. It was my ex rib in tights. She took a look at me and the bat- tler and nearly flopped. Merlin whispered somethin to her before I c-uld get close so she bucked up and climbed in the box. Two stooges brought out the saw as I edged over to the end where the feet was stickln out After get- tin my cane in the proper position I • atched the egg saw her in two. When the two boxes had divided with her head out of one end and the foet out of the other I turned to leave the stage first carefully hookln the end of my cane around the ankle of ore of the feet. As I walked toward the orchestra step* the f«ot came out of the box with me on the end of the cane. It was a prop. At the san.e time Tomato acci- dentally stumbled over the half where her head was which opened up showln her lyin their doubled up like a frog. The peasants thought it was on the level and that a coupla saps had gummed up the act. They yelled and began throwln things un- til Merlin and the dame had to run for the entrance. The manager closed them pronto for crabbin* his show and pro rattacd them for the one frolic. They couldn't get a min- ute around here if they offered to work for fish cakes. Tomato knocked his man out in four rounds at night and we cut up about $1,200 smacks so you can imagine what a heart breakin day that was for me. All of which brings me back to the law of averages. Any time any guy does you dirt, cops your broad, trims you for your Jack or anything else, dont go lookin for him with a club or knockln him to his friends, just sit back and .wait for the law of averages to knock him ov«r into your lap and your all set, for, kid, average aint lost a decision since Mcthu. alch was a juvenile. That's my story ar 1 I'm going t ^ . t icU to it. Your old s:tle Uickvr. Co.i. Sydney. Nov. 3. 1921. IIKR MAJESTY'S.—"Maid of the Mountains. Business good. CRITERION.—"Paddy the Next Best Thing." PALACE.—Dark Nov. 15. John D. O'Hara In "The Laughter of Fools." ROYAL—"Theodore and Co.." a musical play in two acts by H. M. Hawood and George Orossmlth (from the French of P. Gavault), with music by Ivor Novello and Jerome Kern, was presented at this house by Wllllamson-Tait Oct. 22. The piece was given a tryout in Melbourne some time ago and Just got over. Business to date* has been fair. Play Is not set for long run. Held together by frailest of plots, the piece drags horribly. Maud Fane as Fudge Robinson was a disappointment. W. 8. Percy, just returned from London, Is the whole show. Take him out and'the piece would not last half an hour. TANGLED RECORD IN GREEN-DUDLEY ROW Agent Sketches Strange Ex- change of Cash and Receipts Attorney* Lyman Hess and Charles Kahn. acting for Edgar Did ley. have filed answer to the receivership suit started by Sol Orcein, ./ho was for a time associ- ated with Dudley in the agency field. Dudley in his affidavit states that last summer he took Green in partnership, the latter to ,have a one-quurter Interest. Green prom- ised to place the agency's artists with all three "Greenwich Village Fol'ies" shows, it Is alleged^ through his brother, Morris Green, who is interested in those productions, put on by tie Bohemians, I* j. Dudley avers the arrangement was not fruitful, and that he bought Green's interest in the agency for $400 on Aug. 2, for which he has a receipt. Dudley states that the money to buy Green's interest was borrowed from P. F. Shea, and that he gave Green a receipt for $$00, which the latter desired to show Shea In or- der to prove his interest in the agency had some value. This re- ceipt for $300 was dated Aug. S, giv- ing basis for the erroneous pre- sumption that Dudley bought but Green for $400 Aug. 2 and sold him the interest back again for $300 on Aug. 3. Joseph E." Shea was associated with Dudley earlier In the season. In April last Dudley purchased Shea's Interest for $1,500, agreeing in lieu of cash to turn over to Shea the commissions from the Innls Brothers, O'Donnell and Blair, and Florence O'Denhslvvn as the money came due. These acts were placed with Zicgf eld's "Follies." Flo Zlegfeld required an order from Dudley to turn over the commis- sions to Shea, and such an order was signed June 30. Dudley alleges Green knew all about the arrange- ment with Joseph Shea and that Shea was present when Green asso- ciated himself with the office. Dud- ley and Green became partners June 16. Field Fisher was good as Crump. Paul Plunkett overacted badly. A clever dance was introduced by Hooker, Nugent and Roberts. Wil- liam Greene out of picture alto- gether as Cosmo Legallos. The mounting Is up to Wllllamson-Tait standard. The music is very lively. Harry Burcher produced. t TIVOLI.—Business still very big here twice daily. Hot weather is not affecting attendance. Bill this week is not up to standard. Tlvoll Topical opened; interesting. Tlvoli Girls opened vaudeville section and pleased with two dance offerings. Martini, acrobat, passed. Rene Es- ter, child performer, did three num- bers to big hit. George E. Barnes. , late of Barnes and West, flopped with old songs and blue talk. Act unsuitable even for smallest of time. Colin* and John Campbell scored well with concertina p'ay- ing. Rosa Alba did three numbers to appIuaTse. Marion and Florence passed with athletics. Moon and Morris with talk and dancing were the hit of show. Les Copey got by with character songs. Hector St Clair made big hit next to closing. Lee Chee Loon and Co.. magicians, closed. G. O. H— The Rev. Frank Gor- man is playing In "The Silence of Dean Maitland" under the direction of Fullers Theatres. Ltd. The show has made big hit and Is now In third week. The idea of a real parson portraying the leading role is the attraction. Of the acting, the least said the better. During the course of the play Rev. Gorman sings two songs. The Fullers have mounted the piece In good style. FULLERS. — Business good at this house. Huley and Bert In songs and talk opened. Went well. Verna Bain danced her way Into popular favor. Gus T. Raglus, ball bouncer, went well. Eddie and Flfl de Elsne were liked in new sketch. Leonard Nelson did three numbers to suc- cess. The Gibbon Duo closed inter- mission. Walter George revue oc- cupy the whole of the second half. The show is well put on and is clean entertainment. In spot* tho action draga badly. Jim Oereld Is the featured player. Cast includes Harry Ross. Frank Hawing, Waiter George, Hyda Scannon, Ada Shan- non, George Martin and Percy Mc- Kay. Musical numbers are all pub- lished hits. LYCEUM. — C. K. Toung In "Hush." Alice Calhoun, "Closed Doors." HAYMARKET. — "Sacred and Profane Love." "A Splendid Hss- ard." "Deep Purple," the Mollharta, operatt? singers. STRAND.—Eileen Percy, "Wlnjs of Love," "A Splendid Hazard." MELBOURNE MAJESTY'S.—"The Fire- HER fly." ROYAL—"Wedding Bells." KING'S.—"On Our Selection." TIVOLI.—Claude Dampier, Hilda Atterboro, Lottie Collins, Jr.; Stuart Barnes, the Trees, McKay and King. Nell Flemmlng. Darwinians. Keith Desmond, Edna and Paul and Davis and Lee. PALACE.—Stock company. LYRIC—William Anderson Co. PERRIOTTLAND—George Mar- low vaudeville company. BIJOU.—Wendy and Alphonse, Norton and Forbes. Irene, Sterdng and Love, Bob White, Brull and Hemsley, Glrton Girls. "Lloyd end Raymond, Laura Guerlte. MAJESTIC—Films. AUDITORIUM.—Films. MELBA.—Films OVERDOING ILLUSION Everybody's 8swing a Woman at Kansas City Theatres V. t lir» •fjhe citizens in running down the J* a8t . The best blfl received for *• hide to date was $250. n.lstake was noticed, after which a change was made. Willis Back to Tops In- Willis has iK'cn signr d for (tingling nro-i.-Riirntim Hi P.ailey press staff mxt season, re- taining to his old pM*t after an ab- sence of three years. Willis in now out ahead of David RH:isco's "The Ciold Diggers.'' Kansas City, Nov. 30,, ' The "Cutting a Woman" Illusion is certainly being worked overtime here, and as a consequence has lost all drawing power it ever might have hau. Put ^h simultaneously | at the Pantages and the Main Street j week before last it proved a real failure. The next week the Pan staged a burles'iue and called It "Chopping a Woman in Two," and at the same time some of the resi- dent distri-'t picture houses an- nounced the act as an added fea- ture. This week at the Century. American burlesque circuit, the "Pace Makers" are "Sawing a Woman in Half" and billing It as the luiffinal Australian aot. It is in reality the Selbit version. is is several of the acts being of- fered in downtown and suburban film houses. Monday. Sam Howe's N««w Show at Gayety. Columbia cir- cuit offered the Great Leon's "Mys- tery of Cutting a Woman In Two." This makcH the fourth theatre and numerous picture houses that have featured the illusion in the last three weeks. ADELAIDE ROYAL.—"Scandal." TOWN HALL—Clara Butt and Kennedy Rum ford. PRINCE OF WALES. Stock company. KING'S. — Connors and Paul. Wades, Newman and Wynne. Carl- ton Max, Nellie Kolle, .lack and Mary Graham, Ward and Sherman revue company. PAVILION. — "Serap Iron" and "Foolish Matron* " MAJESTIC—"The Golden Spare" and "Poor Dear Margaret Klrb>\* BRI8BANE HIS MAJESTY'S. -- "Welcome Stranger." CKKMORNE.-"Town Topics" ELITE.—Humphrey Bishop Co. TIVOLI—Wally Held, "Too Much Speed": "The Unknown Wife." EMPIRE.—Palmetto, Rastus and Banks. Miller and Ralney, Tubby Stevens. Maggie Buckley, Le Bruns, Lilas Blrt. Hal, Vaude and Verre. NEW ZEALAND Auckland MAJESTY'S. -Will ;<^ 1 *. i rd HIS and Co. KING'S.—Stock company. OPERA HOUSE -Maud Court- ney and Mr. C, Bert Coleman. Baron, Corona. Captain Adams and Odlva. Newall and Wiggins. Z"no and Don, Ta\ lor and Summers. Edgelev and Da we. GRAND.—Films. STRAND.- --Films. (Continued on page 41)