Variety (August 1925)

fX«P?> Wednesday. August 12. 1988 TIMES SQUARE VARIETY 'ROUND THE SQUARE 11 '{. Miflionair* 8usp*otod of "SquMling* A millionaire, and one muchly attended by undesirable publicltr of ftoent tlmea, la suspected of "aaueallng" on a Timea Square resort In Wblch he claimed to have purchased liquor. It Is denied by the place the man sot any liquor there, and the management claims the mlllion- '» »lr« was so -drunk when he entered that a head waiter escorted him to tB* sidewalk. Standing outside of the place and gathering a crowd, Che wealthy "rounder" yelled: "I'U get this Joint I'll have it closed up for putting me out." Since then two search warrant* have been issued against the reaort, but not a drop of liquor was foun<* at either search. New "Spiels" of the Week * ' '^ ' The new spiels of the week, both of which have been worked heavily, are wrist watches and styptic sticks. The watch spielers have been several' In number, offering an article which they declare Is practical and '^'iirtilch Is being sold cheaply because it is not an advertised product. '*''■ The boys handling this have worked a low <pitch that has drawn big crowds, particularly around the 42d street section between Broadway and Sixth avenue. One of them being chased by a cop made away in . • iaxicab. The watches are selling for 16 cents, and by worlclng several . ahilla In each gathering the pitch men have been cleaning up. The styptic stick racket is a new article among the spielers, and is a nickel product. The spielers start a preliminary talk, using soap, razor .' blades, etc., and then starts in. One of them last week started work- > InC B«a<* the Palace, but was chased away. Then ba.weat down Broad- *''■•*• a block and pitched near Loew's State. «-...'. 'f-.i^:'- Bountiful "Chump" Crop A "pitch man" peddling sealed packets of supposedly "naughty" , French pictures took up « stand adjacent to the Columbia theatre last veek* He did a land-office business selling the sealed pictures at a ttlme a throw while admonishing the chumps not to open the package '.v^mtll they got home. "Swell** With $2 Check A party of "swells" remained an hour and a half in a night club, leaving after paying a total check of |2. While the night club people Sround their teeth, there was nothing for them to do or say. The night club does not charge coveur. In the party were sev^n people. They t>rought in two bottles of champagne and two bottles of Scotch, ordering one large bottle of charged water. The latter was the only thing that could be put on the check with the management so upset it forgot to tack on a corkage. It is on the record that every club or cabaret attempting to cater ex- clusively to the 6th Avenue set has gone broke. The society people demand much, especially In attention, but spend little. They evidently Are of the Impression that their presence is return sufllcient. ^ Colored Kid Danoer Cleans Up $10 , V^^ A trio of Broadwayites the other evening introduced a little chocolate ^ iMiby into a night club, where they told him to do his stuff. The kidlet did a "Charleston." It was then about 1 a. m., with the crowd appre- . elating the dance effort to about |10 thrown upon the floor. After that ' they gave the boy fried chicken. He was a funny looking picture holding the half chicken, almost as large as his head. The Broadwayites were Accused of carrying the kid along as a money getter and their own meal ticket, but they denied It, saying all the kid got was his own. r Extras as Uncle Sams and Columbias Sxtras looking for picture work were given jobs by a 46th street (easting office under instructions from the "Daily Mirror" for another Of those "circulation makers" the New York tab dailies have been going aifter so stropgly of late.' Three carloads of Uncle Sams and Columbias with a bugler in khaki were spread over the city, one U. S. and three C.'s to each car. The girls seemed to enjoy their attire, but the men couldn't forget the Uncle Sara's goatees. The only embarrassed Often of the groups were the drivers, but the cars, though rented, looked Cood and were guaranteed not to go over 16 miles at $4 per hour. JACK BLUPS $20 ''*■ Court Threaten* Warrant en OIH*' Application for Refund ■ Stta McCauley and her sister, Bobble, iMth less than tO years old, playwrights, appeared In West Side Court and explained how they were victimized out of $20 by the flrm of Jack Blue, dancing Instruc- tor* of Ml West 168th street. The girls were accompanied by th^lr widowed mother, a theatrical beamstrea*, who pleaded their case for them. After the court heard the mother's story he severely scored Blue's flrm and ordered the money returned.. Failure to do so, h« added, would cause him to Issue a warrant for the arrest of the per- son that received the money. A woman employe of Blue's who came to court explained Blup was out of town when the summons was served, but she was not certain whether he was away at the present. Blue's agent quickly returned the 120 when the Court announced he would Issue the warrant. The McCauley girls have written several skits. The one that Blue Is alleged to have read is called "The Scandal Walk." They went to him to receive some lessons and they Were -to pay htm |200. They paid him $20 on tu^count. Receiving no lessons, they said that Blue wanted them to appear at the "Balconades," where. It is said. Blue has a review. The mother explained the girls had ho paraphernalia to work with and ^hey Were unprepared. Blue, they *ald, hurriedly got an auto duster and a "Topper." They refused to go on and then demanded their money back. Blue refused the refund, stating he had gone to some expense. It was then the girls came to West Side Court and obtained a summons. Kleptomaniac Held on Grand Larceny Charge Benjamin Shurmon, S9, and job- less, who stated he had played In "Bringing Up Father." "Mutt and Jeff" and "Potash and Perlmutter," was held in $10,000 ball by Magis- trate Edward Well in West Side Court for the action of the grand Jury. Shurmon was arraigned on a charge of grand larceny. The former actor was arrested on complaint of John Douglas, pro- ducer, who ch.irged Shurmon with entering his apartment and stealing clothing and jewelry valued at $126. Bntry was gained, the police say, by means of a duplicate key. Douglas, according to sleuths, subleased the apartment from Shur- mon. It is alleged the latter had two keys. The detectives stated that Douglas only received one when he took the apartment and the other is said to have been retained by Shurmon. Shurmon told newspaper men he was unable to account for his ac- tions. He added that he suffered from kleptomania and that he had been in institutions to rid himself of the affliction, but had m.ide no progress. TAXI DISPUTE BRINGS ARREST Beula Reubens, 20, was arraigned m West Side Court on a charge of disorderly conduct and received a suspended sentence. Miss Reubens, who gave her occupation a* an actress, was arpulng with a tr»xlcab chauffeur when discovered by a patrolman. She said someone had fttolen part of her diamond studded wrist watch. The works In the case had either been removed or fallen out. She was complaining to the chauffeur and refused to go on her way when arrested. Nanriiig Jinnie Walker PleaMs Tnes Sqoare The R^leotton of Bt*t* Sen- ator Jame* J. Walker tm th* regular Tammany Hall candi- date for th* MayonUty In th* primaries tm acalnst tli* Hearst-Hylan faction m*t with th* ai>provaI of all of Broad- way and Tim** bqum?* in pau>- tlcular. As a inatter of fact. If It were up to Time* aquar* "Jlm- ml*" Walkw would not only be victorious In th* primarlo*, but h* would b* elected to City Hall in one and tb* same breath. Broadway fo*l* a* though "Jlmmie" Walker la lU own boy. Immediately with hi* naming a banner was flung out on Broadway at 49tli street and within a few hour* half sheet cards with- "Jimmle's" face and name were in all the windows In the district. OKYAN DECLINES Major General John F. O'Ryan Is reported having decided to decline the offer made him from Washington as director of prohibition enforce- ment in the New York area. The general 1* said to have reached his decision after consulting with friends. A report tells of another possible influence. It Is to the effect that, with Mayor Hylan running on an independent ticket for mayor against the regular Tammy nominee, Sen- ator James J. Walker, that General O'Ryan may become the candidate on a fusion ticket. General O'Ryan Is a Democrat. Nominated on a fusion ticket, he would be supported by the regular Republican organisation. Dancer's Clothes Stolen •Tm a Southern gentleman. I hail from Macon. Oa. Far be It from me to steal. That is what I call Northern gratitude," spoke William C. Hornsby, 87, carpenter, of 127 West 96th street, when he was held in We4t Side Court on a grand larceny charge. Hornsby will be arraigned agrain today (Wednes- day) before Acting Chief Magistrate Max S. Levlne in West Side Court. Hornsby was arrested by Grace Moore, dance and song artiste at the Club Bplnard In Greenwich Village. Miss Moore live* on the ground floor of the West 9<th street address. Hornsby ha* the apart- ment across the halL The dancer charged that Hornsby stole $1,200 worth of her dancing costumes. He was leaving the hall- way when she intercepted him with her gowns, she stated. She called detectives Eddie Fitzgerald and Jesse Josephs of the West 100th street station who took the carpen- ter to the hoosegow. Miss Moore has played In the "Magic Melody," "Chin Chin" and "Over the Top." She also said she did a double with Moore and Goss in vaudeville. She 1* a member of Equity. Jack Ro8e*8 Memory Costs BaUees $200 Atlantic City, Aug. 11. Jack Rose, comedian and appear- ing here at the Palais Royal Cafe, forfeited a $200 ball bond last week when he forgot to Appear in Re- corder's court after having been arrested and charged with reckless driving as a result of bumping his automobile into a jitney. The bond had been posted by Whltey Brinton, former prohibition enforcement agent and now manager of the Palais Royal. Mr. and Mrs. EMward Hagan, of Atlantic City, in Rose's machine at the time of the accident, each for- feited $50 as the bond they put up when arrested as material witnesses and also charged with being drunk. BOOZE, BOOZERS AND DRINKERS By J. C NUGENT Monte Carlo Reopening William J. Gallagher's Monte Ciirlo, New York, reopen* Aug. 18 with Ace Brlgode and his 14 Vir- ginians aui the dance feature as l)e- fore. Thelma Carlton and the FIHd Sisters are in the new show. ""■■"■'•''•■■••■^ihC'Tfirtf-r^ liMfl*llMi-ir ' '1 i liW i » ♦ I ••• by Variety that I never tasted liquor. I am glad to hear It Anothor sUtement of perhaps equal historic importance is that I am "without a p*er as a sUge souse." This would argue that I knew some- thin* of the way* oif th* grape, even though I reached that pinnaci* of artUtry without rehearsing with the prop*. If *uch be so. I do know something of said subject. I know that liquor 1* bad. At least mo»t of it I know that too much of the beat may kill peopl*. Th* sam* thing can be accomplished with pork chop*. I try to b* careful with botli, a* I would prvfeir to be killed by « falling stack of royaltie*. Also because I know a person should b* neither too boozy nor too greasy If he wishes to register dUtlocUon. Profession Has Least Drinkers I know also that stag* people need less warning a* to drink ttuM any other class beoatiee, by and large, they drink less. Tea. that is what I sakl. Th*y drink less and know better how t» handle what they do drink. Of course, that Is not the usual Impressioa among th* laity. But th*lr uaual impression* do not matter, especially when they are wrong. If a well-known actrea* take* a glas* of beer In a cafe every patron present makes a good story out of it. If Mrs. New Gtoves, wife of the president of the Gem Vacuum Cleaner Corporation, gets steweA nobody mentions it because nobody care*. Also Mr. Newgloves may get stewed and not report next day at the office, and the business will go on. But the actor is in the only profession wtiere one must be there and in condition at the exact strok* v of the clock. It take* an alert and acute brain to judge a beat of tim** * of rhythm, of tone. In the give and take of a scene upon which th* success of a play or a career may depend, and a boos* befogg*d brala cannot and doe* not manag* U for long. Intagrity of Signatur* % The whole theatrical business Is based upon the integrity of signature, i Upon a contract by virtue of which money without stint may be invested, secure in the assurance that the actor will be there at eight o'clock. B* there, not only bodily, but with the functioning bean. But, a* this journal reaches a world of young artists who may under- rate one of the problems which must be disposed of sanely before any success can be hoped for in this great game of ours, I want to bum in a couple of conclusions. These have been gained through a color- ful stage life, which has divided some 38 years between the legitimate and vaudeville, both in all their branches, and which has included com* Broadway, Sun time, playwrltlng, golf and cafes. % Among other things, two in particular account for much drinking. Tenvperance lecturing and kidding. One causes the other. The temperance lecturer defeats the cause of temperance, generally, by the intemperance of his. language. He says "The first drink pluoCM you into the bottom of helL" It has to be the bottom. The young fellow or young girl Ands that th* first drink doe* not hurt a thing. Nor the first many, many drinks, unless bunched quite • bit. Thenceforth they kid the temperance talk and the pleasantly camouflaged bump eventually hits them unaware. Three Kind* of Dr«nk*r* There are three kinds of drinkers: The caanal, or oeeasloaal; tb* dally, or regular; the dipsomaniac. The occasional drinker may develop into one or both of the other divisions. If he does not he is of the great one* of th* earth, ttirougli the possession of that priceless thing called CHARACTER. He only drinks on occasions when occasion warrants. He drink* no more at 50 than he did at 20 or tO, and he never gets pa«t that pleasant stage when you see you are right and sober people begin to look a bit silly. Then, by an inherent sanity, not given to th* Inslplent dip*o- maniac, he switches to soft stuff and tells no more Joke* until they begin to call him "Mister" again. And he doesn't drink alone, and he doesn't drink before eating and he doesn't drink at every invitation in company. And, Incidentally, lemonade or buttermilk suit him Juat as well if it's just as handy."^ Well, almost as welL The Daily *Drinker The dally drinker rarely get* drunk. H* quit* ofton get* t>y v«ry well. And in any case it's his own business, so far *s I care. But I feel impelled to .state that during th* years I played a genteel drunk I made a study of the psychology of alcohol and found that the nsuial course was, men drank a little beer or wine from 30 to 86, leaned more to whiskey from then on, and at about the age when they should have been most efficient, developed kidney, liver, stomach or some other chronic disorder Induced by the varicose condition of the veins, induced by the alcohol ever present in the system. This class say they can't and won't do without It, life being too short. But it I* fairly comical to notice how quickly they quit when the doctor mention* it might b* well to do so in case they wish to stay around very long. Th* Dip*omaniac Dipsomania is another thing. It is the alcoholic disease. A w*ll deflned nurotic mania that may exlat in oMl or young. It i* not inherited, but the temperament which 1* favorable to it* development may be. It chooses the brightest brains and most delicate nervous organism*. It is more likely to afflict women than men because they have less nervous resistance. The growing signs of it are unmistakable. More tendency toward whiskey and strong stuff. Less toward beer and win*. Especially light wine. The flying to the relief of a drink at any excite- ment or trouble, forgetting that alcohol magnifies every trifling trouble a thousandfold. The fatal habit of drinking before eatlnj^ of drinking alone, of being deadly downcast between drunks, of preaching temper- ance to people of sense between drunks, and the growing struggle to get over each periodical debauch. Nature is very kind. It gives its victinu a chano*. The dip*omaniao has no desire to drink once he is sober again and eating and sleeping. He can remain sober forever and be happy and wonderful. But when, through foolish pride, or accident, or a desire to prove to himself and others that he "can handle it," he gets a certain percentage of alcohol a^aln Into his system, he must go through the old nervous battle once ^^ more. All will power vanishes. So he keeps on until nature can no longer respond to the accumulating poison and leaves him flat to .struggle back through the black horror, to the grey edge of thing*. And so on. until, unless something else kill* hiro. he pulls one too '■ many and does not come back. 'i / i. - What I mean to convey Is, regarding drinking generally, that it's th* bunk. Street Brawl Gives Adele Howe 10 Days' Rest Crowds of persons leaving supper clubs on 4f<th street one night last week cheered two girls who were pulling each other's hair and pum- melling each other with telling effect. The bout became so hot that Patrolman Robert Knrlght of the West 47th Mtreet station arrested one of the combatants who gave her name as Adele Howe and said she had appeared In "Big Boy." Miss Howe was arraigned the next morning before Magistrate Well onf a disorderly conduct charge and found guilty. Her finBerprlnts Hhowed nho had previously been nrre«itcd on a simllnr charge. The . court sentenced her to 10 days in the Woikhou-ie. She took h»>r nentenoe with un- concern, but was iiireiiHed bfcaus* her adversary escaped.