Variety (Dec 1929)

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Wedflfesday, December 11, 1929 BURLESQUE^r^ORTS VARIET> SI BURLESQUE INDIE MAY CUT IN ON BROOKLYN Mansbach & Froelldh are report- ed angllnir fpr ■ the pi^pire, Brook- lyn, OS Bpot.jCpr their second eastern Btock burlesque, ■ The'firm has al- readr ©s**^^^*^^®*' stock at the City, New Tqrkt Empire played burlesque until collapse of Columbia Circuit two seasons ago and has played divers policies since.' Should Mansbach & Froellch get Empire It will provide the first op- position Mutual shows have had In Brooklyn since the folding of Co- lumbia; Sam Raymond, opeiratirig Gayety and Star theatres, both playing Wheel shbws, have the burlesque situation isewed up. The Empire spotted in eastern district divlelon would cut in oh the Gay- ety, some blocks away* but drawing burlesque,fans from this section. DAMAGE BY THUGS TO CITY THEATRE Three men entered the City thea- tre (14th street), now playing bur- lesque stock, manageihent Manisbach & Froellch, early. Monday morning and bound and jgagged. the night watchntan and then proceeded to wreck the electrical equipment. The Bwltciiboiird was put completely out of cbmiia'isslon« , Police were notified, the watch- man Briving a descirlptipil of the three, who were not masked. Different reaisons are advanced for the wrecklng.^ One is that there w^s bitter feeling between the electri- cians belonging to T.. P. U. No. 1 (stage hands) aiid the niemb^rs of the Electrical Workers* Union No. 3, which flamed up when the house was recently Wired for the installa- tion of stock. Another Is that "scabs" did the work. No. 1 rushed men to the City Monday to repair the damage, bo the house could open for Its matinee. Hung Onto Brassieres For 20 Yrs. in Burlesipie "Twenty yearis In burlesque and never lost a brassiere^" that's the record service cla.Imed by Rita Grey, atlll grinding and showing gams In Ed Ryan's "Girls from the Follies" on the Mutual wheel. Confessing to 35, Rita is still a hard worker In the chorus line. She started With Jacobs & Jermon's "Queens of Jardin de Paris" In 1909. Miss Grey figures that another year in burlesque and they'll re- ward her with a franchise—or a bronze service button. MILDRED STRANGE HURT Soubrette Burned in Kansas City Auto Accident Mildred Strange, burlesque soub known professionally as "Peaxhes," suffered an accldent^ln Kansas City this week which may make her a cripple for life. According to reports received by Irving Beckerj manager of "liafEIn' Thru," in which "Peaches" was the feature, the actress was severely in- jured in an automobile accident and Is hobbling about on crutches. ! Miss Strange had been recuperat- • tog from a recent operation when embarking upon the motor trip and Is reported to have, broken her right limb In the accident.. Tereslna, who had been pinch hit- ting during; Miss Strange's absence, ■will continue with show for remain- der of season. Jail for Producer, Barker Of Los Angeles Burlesque Hollywood, Dec. 10. Sam Landesman, who operates -the-Glrlesque-theatrer'-and—Mlnas= Simon, sidewalk barker, were con- victed hy a Jury before Municipal Court Judge ,Charles S. BogUe on charges of producing a lewd show. Both were Sentenced to six months and fined $1,000. Seven girls working in the show ^ere acquitted on account of in- suffldent evidence. Landesman and Simon were released on , ball pend- ing an appeal. Just Burlesque Chicago, Dec. 10. Ail apparent attempt at more conservative and, perhaps, honest billing appeared oh the marquee of the Stale-Congress last week. Display read, "Not So Good —-Not So Bad. Just. Bur- lesque." CITY CHORINES PROTEST GRIND, BUT WILL STICK Peeve among the chorus brigade of the stock at the City, New York, When houses adopted grind policy was abated this week when shows were cut to tab proportions of 70 minutes and girls sold on the idea that the three sessions were under usual time of the two-a,-days. The chorines were pacified and are sticking at $40 per. None of the girls had ever adorned bur- lesque^ ranks and most are uptown beauts' grabbing the downtown jiob because of Inactivity in musicals. • According to reports, one ,of the seasoned uptowners stepped in and blocked what looked like a strike by talking turkey to her contemn, poraries, .reminding the others how tough things are all around and em- phasizing the stock engageiment. a swell Job because they don't have to strip.. The listeners- agreed and everything's okay now. Burlesque Stock Now Grind at City, N. Y. Grind policy has gone in as per manent for the Mansbach & Frbe Uch stock a,t the City, New york, with shows continuous daily from 1 to 11 p. m. The arrangement calls for three shpws daily by the troupe with fea ture pictures and. shorts spacing out the Intermission intervals. The house has realigned box of- fice prices and now operating with 26 and 60 cent tariff for afternoons with 60 and 76 cents nights and 1)0 cents for 1)0xes. Steerers for Rival 14th St. Burlesquers Irving Place, New York, playing Mutual shows, having felt the op- posish of the Mansbach & Froellch stock at the City, is employing sandwich men In grotesque cos tumes to steer stragglers looking for burlesque on i4th Street and undecided where to go. Charley Burns, who quit several weeks ago, is back and Is planning to augment the house stock back-up of the Mutual? to stave ofC opposi- tion of the City theatre troup. Burlesque Changes Jimmy Rooney has succeeded George Miller with "Bare Facts" (Mutual). Jean Wood has been added to the femme brigade of the stock at State- Congress, Chicago, Joining last week. Eddie Green has supplanted Frank Carlton with stock at National, De- troit. ^ , Dugan and Ryan, closed with stock- at Gayety, Detroit, last week, open- ing this week with stock at State- Congress, Chicago. Matt Kolb Is no longer producer of stock shows at the American, New York, having departed last week. Gertie Foreman wound up as run- way soub at the Irving Place, New York, last weiek. ^ Olga Mae closed with "Mischief Makers" (Mutual) last week a,nd opened this week With stock at Star and Garter, Chicago. . Billy Shaw has succeeded Sammy Spears with stock at American, New York. ■ Ruby May has supplanted yilma Josy with "Dimpled Darlings" (Mu- tual), latter withdrawing to Jolii house stock mob at Minsky's Apollo,. New York. • , Irving Jacobs and Evelyn Whit- ney have gone In as added starters to "Speed Girls" (Mutual). Frank Livingston has replaced Harry Rose as manager of "'Bpwery Burlesquers," rotating over Mutual wheel. —BufFalo Stock-Ends^^ Buffalo, N. Y., Dec. 10. Stock burlesque has done another brodie at the Music Box, with the house going vaudfiim next week. Stock had been wobbly for several weeks, but when getting an occa- sional spurt of business stuck along from week to week after having posted closing notice three weeks ago. LAFFIN' THRU (MUTUAL) A snappy song and dance show, with dames predominating to put it over as a natural for Mutual. De- spite handicap through absence of "Peaches," featured femme shaker and with Tereslna, another capable twister In as pinch hitter; the show got over with a bang at the Co- lumbia, New York, Monday night. Current "Laffln' Thru" tops last year's and the one before that, too. Joe. Vail, doing eccentric, and Les Dunn, red . nose boob,, are the comics, shoulder the bufdcn equally a:nd get more than usual return from timeworn bits. The boys work hard, get plenty of laughs and never grow rough enough to warrant censoring by Mike Joyce. Mike is no Boston Casey, but knows the limit and keeps the Incomers within It^ Art Gilson straights, adequately. Don Proctor Is an acceptable Juve >whlle Jack Balrd, baritone, handles numbers well and rounds out the male brigade of principals. yinnle Phillips, stately brunet, is ringleader of girl principals and makes the grade both in peppy numbers , and In the comedy bits with the comics. Miss Phillips doesn*t go heavy for the semi-strips but wlien - she does has plenty worth glimpsing:. Anna Foley is a dynamic blond Ingenue soub there aplenty on the revealment and shaking, but. never , getting rough either. Althea Conley makes a corking Ingenue and smacks her numbers across like nobody's busi- ness. Tereslna, flaming soub, spots a couple and outwiggles the rest by ^Ide margin. Her first number was torrid enough to threatien the as- bestos and stopped the show. De- spite she left them that way, saMhg her teaser for'the second stanza and repeated the show stopping with It. Nothing particularly outstanding In the eomedy, although more le- gitimate laughs than most shows project which with the corking sup- port of the femmes carries it over for tops in this division. The line gals also deserve credit for snappy work and are better lookers than the average wheel show boasts. Plenty of Ideas In the numbers and everybody working as though they enjoyed It, which helped lots for the register. The minstrel pa- rade and minstrel show finale of first part worked for a smash get- away. "Courtroom Scene" In sec- ond half w)iooped thinge Tip, as did several other' of the Ijlts. In summary "Laffln* Thru" is a good, snappy show that has all the required ingredients for what's, left of burlesque. Ed1>9. CITY (STOCK) Only for Boston! They'll never raid this phow—unless for gags which came from Egyptian tomb. Great disappointment to a mugg who never saw burlesque before. Slow, tame and blunt. Unoriginal, Only kick delivered by a blondev Conny St. Claire, good looker, who talks her music and moves grace- fully, knowing how to roll orbs. Otherwise curtain. " No draw. Chorus big. About 30 and away from bad stage lighting shows .up well. But if they don't dance they should do something—and they don't. Good looks only and no move- ment can't be burlesque, stock or else, on 14th street. Stuff was series of blackouts and skits on order of revue with no se- quence. Aimed to bring customers forward and upward but failed. One or two 100-year-old guys twisted'— and their bones squeaked., Crew consists of Ina Ha3rward, p.d.; Sam Raynor (new), and Lan- der Bros., comics; Conny St. Clair I Constanze and CappI, male dancers; Hattle Beal and Donna Davis, char- acter, and others. Show opened with side-shOw stuff, girl on trapeze and barker yodellng to chorines and principals. Before 26 minutes, several customers took air. Prima donna attempted two songs in voice that's okay for this stuCE—especially the Persian tune where, she wears gown of pearls. House next to empty at finish. Maybe this Is burlesque. If so how long ca,h It last? Wheel Ends Bouts as HI. Claims 10% Gross Chicago, Dec. 10. Weekly '.'amateur" fight nights at the Haymarket and. Empress, Mu- tual burlesque stands,, are out. Box- ing commission made demand of 10% of gross,.as. provided by statute, and theatres could not see their way clear. Payoff for the " "amateurs" was $10 per pair. NATE LEWIS IN STRONG Chi Stadium Directors Want to Buy Harmon's Stock . Chicago, Dec. 10. Directors of the Chi Stadium ai:6 reported having . asked the de- posed president, Paddy Harmon, to sell back his stock. Harmon owns 204,000 shares of common. If this deal Is completed it is likely there will be a shake-up over the entire building. Nate Lewis, the matchmaker, was given a raise by the directors. Lewis Is one. hian who will weather the storm ho matter what happens. Another out is Mprris Harmon, superintendent, replaced: by Charles Hart. Within the next two weeks there will be other changes. BEONX BOXING Coliseum, Starlight Park (Bronx), Is to be turned into a boxing prop- osition. Matches are now . being lined upi. Permanent amusement project for the site has heen abandoned due to the lack, of heat. CHI STADIUM'S CUT Chicago, Dec. 10. The Chi Stadium reduced prices for the Bud Taylor-Earl Mastro go liere Dec. 13. The new scale cuts the first 22 rows of ringside benches to $5.99 Instead of $10.99, Each of the fighters Is to receive $17,600 for the. bout,; INCORPORATIONS ' -. New York . • Albbny, Dec. 10. Bedford Theatre Corp., Manhattan, operate theatre, moving pictures, 100 Bhares no par value: Herman E, Bog- dlsb, Emanuel Domlntz, David Schor. Filed by Hjrman DomlntE, 831 Madison avenue, New York city. Ann Manr Theatre Corp.. New xork, operate theatres, plays, $1,000; Anna Bar< dofsky, Martin Schwartz, Leon Koflman Piled by Abraham H. Saraahon, 245 Broadway, New York city. Jolmor . Theatricals, Inc., Manhattan, operate theatres, vaudevtlle, $10,000; Mi- chael Halperih, Florence Epstein, Ed- ward F. Rosiny. Filed by Jerome Wilzin. Palisade Device and Concession, Xno., Manhattan, operate apparatus for amuse- ment, recreation, $20,000; Moe Halem, Tony Canlm, Thomas M. Maloot. Filed by Oscar Marks, New York. . Raldio Mnslo Company, Inc., New YorK, deal in. musical 'compositions, catalogs, 91;000 shares, 66,000 preferred and 26,000 common, ho par value; E. F. BItner, Walter S. Fischer. E. G. Mills. Filed by Gilbert & Gilbert, 10 East 40th street, l^o^y TTorlc city* ' Echo Film Corp.. New York, operate motion pictures, $a§0,0001 Andrew J, Harte, Herman Gronwoldt, William B. Sandler. Filed by William B. Sandler, 160 Broadway, New York. B«lden Entertainment CTorp., Manhat- tan, supply orchestras, music and other entertainments, 100 shares ho par value; Frederick Bellak, Charles M. Bellak, Os- «ar ti. Tucker. Filed by May & Jacob- son, New York, ^portfolio. Inc., New. York, deal in mo- tion picture Alms, machines; $10,000; F. Joseph O'Neill, E. M. Goldstein, Ethel Borut. Filed by Hulbert & Heermahce,' 661 Fifth avenue, New York. Newman & Johnson Prodactlons, Man- hattan, dramatio vaudeville productions; Arnold Johnson, William Hueston, Rob- ert V, Newman. ' Tax, Brooklyn, . pictures, plays; Ed<- ward N. Rugoff,. Herman Becker, Ruth Royff. Dekalb AQinsement. Corp., Brooklyn, pictures; Walter Bordeaux, Jacque E. Horn, Edward S. Keogh. Inkwell Stndlos, Manhattan, pictures; Benjamin Abraham, Isaac Schu^I, Har- riet Levy. Brookbrand Theatres, Manhattan, pic- tures; Irving Strouse, Abner J. Rublen, Nettie Graff. Henri's Rendezvous, Brooklyn, pictures, entertainments; Walter Jacobson, Harry H. Jacobson, Norma Tolsky. Affiliated Sound Becordlng, Manhattan, pictures, plays; Bernard L. Miller, Mer- ton Miller, Irwia Greenfeld. Soi'a liberty's Shows, Utica, carnivals; Judith M. Solomon, William Solomon, Samuel Solomoit. Maplewood Theatre Corp., Manhattan, pictures; Ethel Klein, Ida Silverman, SAra Goldstein. Dissolutions ■William, Fox Photo Play Co., Inc., Manhattan. Filed by Fox Theatres Cor- porations, SCO Tenth avenue, New York. W and I Amusetnent Corp., Kings. B. B. C. Amasement Corp., Kings. ASIOBIA STATS IN Despite previous reports the Steinway, Astoria, will stick to &Iutual shows. Shows playing the house have been cleaned up. for the mixed clientele and business has picked up the past fortnight. PORAT FOULED SCOTT? GARDEN'S SLOW CARD By JACK PULASKI Monday night the Garden was nearly filled because of the alln heavyweight card ■ arranged as a' benefit for the N. T. "American-^ Christmas Fund. N'et gross was announced at $86,600 but the show was a bust. Chief reason was tho. main bout, scheduled for 12 rounds but actually lasting one rouhd and a, few seconds. Stage was all iset, with Jack Dompsey as referee.. Phil Scott, of ijnglaind, was tho favorite against Otto Von .Porat, a lantern-jawed lad from Chicago via Norway. Otto acted savage in the opening secohds> but was Jabbed and. cuffed by Phil and It looked ait: though the latter copped the initial session. Big crowd sat back. in ex- pectaition. Second round had hardly started 'wheii Scott sank to his knees with that heavy pain on the pan. Dempsey had not' seen the punch, being behind Scott at the- time. The sock was a hook. It didn't look. particularly low nor hard but" Scott surely acted, that' way. : Dempsey raised. Phil's arm and rubbered. In his contorted face. That seemed to satisfy Jack for wheii they dragged Jhe body to the corner it was announced that Stiott wort on a foul. Hardly worth while for Jack to come over ffom the Palace though he got the publicity. Making It' Perfect Seml-flhai between Maxle Roseni^ bloom and Ya4e Okun wound up the show and completed tho disappoint-* ment. Rosey won but If he Is ttf be given the vacated light-heavy-i weight crown on the strength vt li, they may as we]il : eliminate .the class. It was something to see lElosenblooia outguess . and. :putspeed Jimmy Braddock, because there always a chance that Bi'addock might jget lucky. But Maxle and Tale are alike In that they never bother to knock oft opponents* hats. There was a comedy angle. Seems as though Okuja had declared he wouldn't stand . for Rosenbloom'^M smacking tactics. Yale will take a sock in the nose but hates a slap In the face, tivety now and then Maxle would flail his right and smacked Tale anyhow. Oknn pro.- tested and Squawked but the referee. Just smiled and Wjaved them . on* Maxle was clownish too, doing those low dips and bends for no reafilolv Both watchied the clock and in al» most every round they started try- ing to do something In the last IS seconds. These, boys know their racket and how to hold down- chance's of being really hurt, Best of the Night ; . First 10 round bout, betweeia Georgle Hoffman, New Tork, and. Marty Gallagher, was- not so bad. Hoffman was licked but Is a^tdugb boy from "Washington. As in the match with .Heeney, George could not protect himself tvota. Inside ujp- percuts. He eats 'em up but hl^ was outfought at Infighting. . Sensitive ''Teaser" Chicago, Dec. 10. List of soubrets seeking divorces grows daily. Latest is Kitty Lang, teaser at the Rialto, . who wants freedom from . Joe Lang, straight, playing at the Haymarket, Mutual house. Mrs. Lang, charges' her husband was .iltfewed' most of ; the last two years, and made a habit of slapping her in the pan. They were married: in Worcester, Mass., In 1921, and called it quits Thanksgiving', day. Attorney Irving £lsenman repre- sents plaintiff. Condon.Champ with 76 Frank Condoh won the San Gabriel Golf Club championship at Pasadena with a 76. Last year hie was runrter-up. If You Don't Advertise in liETY You Don't Advertise Inside StufMports > Nite Clubs Frown On Bike Qrind Semi-annual six-day bike race at Madison Square Garden last- week drew good crowds nightly, but cash premiunis from the customers for sprints were not so plentiful as at the race last March. Total amount of-preme8-was-$3r262,50-=.and,a^packr=ot_cIgacels,.JiIcNamarft.^^^^^ smokes along with a $35 prize offered by a femme bike fan for a one mile dash. Finish of the race Saturday night was far from a sellout, while the start the previous Sunday was. It's usually the other way round at these dizzy grinds. Close to 500 laps were stolen, a new record; while the mileage co;vered was about 700 miles behind the top mark. A noteworthy feature of the race was Al Franzln's dandy microphone announcement.?. The nite club operators around Times Square, having" finally, realized that the bike races are opposition, cut out the pratice of sending their floor shows and band acts over to the Garden gratis to, entertain the bike fans, most of them coming from Jersey.