Variety (Dec 1929)

64 VARIETY L E G I T IMA T L Wednesday;' December 11, 1929 Brassy Salesmen and Peppy Soda Jerks From Show Biz All the oftr-heard talk about actorfl beinff unwilllnff to work has been dlsproven. All over Broadway they can be found In various jobs, and employers have found that they make good employees. To an actor a steady pay envelope is no laugh. Once trying their hand at a steady Job, most of them feel It is far easier work than making the rounds of the agencies in these tough days. Lightfooted Bellhops Hoofers out of Jobs tutn Into bell- hops and soda Jerkers. "They seem to be the type," said one bellhop at the Paramount Hotel who used to be in the chorus. "All the hoof- ers I know who are out of stage work are either bellhops or soda Jerkers. Maybe It's' because they are. quick and light on their feet." He, was perfectly serious, not gag- ging at all. , , Chllds restaurants on Broadway employ several ex-chorus girls, and one has an ex-"Follies" girl. Sling- ing hash comes quite naturally to them, and they are usually pleas- anter and more agreeable to cus- tomers than the usual run of wait- resses. More decorative, too. In offices a lot of good looking ex-stage girls get jobs sitting at information desks In, the outer of- fices. Many telephone operators In hotels around town are iformer stage girls. Most ex-stage people are best at jobs which bring them into con- tact with lots of people. When It oomes to selling things, actors are surefire. Used to selling them- selves, and can sell about anything else. With their brass and eelf- CQnfideiice, no prospective buy^t can dodge the smooth line. This in-r formation comes from a man who has a number of ex-actors working as salesmen for him. He is amazed at their salesmanship qualities. Salary or Walk-Walks Ah actor out of work eight months was called to a mag- ager's office this week and of- fered 1500 to play a part in a musical comedy now in re- hearsal. Turned the offer be- cause his last sa,lary. was $600. Manager raised his bid to $560, biit the actor refused. > despite his agent's .advices to grab the job. He walked out; -l»is pride had been hurt. EQUITY'S; AGENTS' BRIEF Filed In Matter of Edelsten'a Appeal to High Court Washington; Dec. 10. Counsel for Equ^y filed a brief today answering tl:e appeal attempt of William Edelsten to upset the lower court ruling granting Equity the right to take over control of agents' fees and designate -who shall find shall not be agents. Case has been formally submit- ted to the U. S. Supreme Court. Edelsteh's petition for review Is not expected to be acted on until the court reconvenes Jan. 4. 12 Sho^s Out Again ■ a dozen shows are' on Broadway's: clofeirig list, Among them are several successes,. bUt for the most part the withdrawals are fresh flops. "The- New Moon," presented by Schwab & Mandel, tours from the casino Saturday after 65 weeks, It Is the longest r^n show In town. It went alongyto better than $40,000 Shows in Rehearsal f'Cesse . Firing" (Andy .Wright) tyrlc- Studios. ..VflecBptureV (A., H.-THToods) ,;Blting,e, ,. : «<Nine-.FiiFteen Revue" (Ruth Selwyn) Belmont. "Children of DarkncB*" (Shuberts) BHtmore. <'Harlem Nighfa" (Max Grie- man) Bryant Hall. "Red Dust" (Theatre Guild) Beck. . for months. Shuberts, in Comstock Suit, Enter $31,691 Claim F. Ray Comstock's. suit for ac- counting of profits from ventures In which he asserts he was a partner with the Shuberts hasi been coun- tered by J. J. Shubert In an ans\ver filed In Supreme Court demanding that Comstock and Morris Gest pay part of the losses of other ventures In which it Is alleged they were partners. Shubert also has entered claim for $31,691, chai'ging that amount was loaned to Comstock and Gest between 1910 and 1919. Nine productions Hated in Shu- bert's demand for an accounting, f '"Let Us Be Gay," presented by with seven said to haVe invblved John Golden at the Little, leaVes and two being profitable. Mer 43 weeks, losses Separate accounting from Comstock alone is demanded on six produc- tions and islx theatre leases. Dates range from 1906 to 1923. Engagemeiits Doree Leslie, "Simple Simon." Eva Cole, Doii • Merrifleld, with "Homicide*' (Philadelphia). Maye Methot, Dorothy Sands, Laura Hamilton,' Elizabeth Good^- year, Donn Cook, Walter Regan, Walter Walker, Siegfried Rumann» Edward Reese, Arthur Shaw, Thad- deus Clancy, Hal Dawson, Roltert B. Williams* "Half Godp." Frederick Kerr, "Trevelyn's Ghost." < Henry Hull, Edith Barrett, Henry Beresford, "Mary and Michael." Alan Edward? a,nd. Doree Leslie, "Simple Simon." Wash. Belasco's Finish Washington, Dec. 10. A Washington institution since 1895, the legit Belasco closed per- manently Saturday, due to dearth of attractions. Closing performance of "The In- finite Shoeblack" was farewell, With Helen Menken, star, and L. Stod- dard Taylor, house manager, mak- ing speeches. Taylor was the recipient of many Assembly's Third Try ' Cast of "A Ledge," produced by New York Theatre Assembly and folding up last week at the Assem- bly (formerly I»rincess), was paid oft by Equity from- the. bond posted Assembly Immediately posted an other bond covering salaries for "The Novice and the Duke," its third, which goes into rehearsal this week. "Wings" Stopping "Wings Over Europe," on tour for the Theatre Guild, will wind up its . road tour in Chicago Dec. 28, The all-English cast will be re called and retained. for ai, subse quent Guild production. NEW MOON Opened Sept. 19,1928. "Beau- tifully acted, staged anitf sung with taste . and distinleiiph/' was the euibgy of St. John' E.rvihe, visiting critic of the World. It was unanimous. Variety (Ibee) aaicl: "Anoth- er musical success.'* Pre-Xmas Week to See Six Chi Shuberts Dark Chicago, Dec. 10. Every Shubert-cohtrolled * house In the city except one (and there are seven) "will he dark the week before Christmas, . With the Majestic and Gairlck al- eady on the rent-and-no-incoiptt list, the Harris, Princess, Apollo and possibly ♦the Grand will be added. Tentative plans call for "Night.in Venice" to take a week off at the Grand after Satui-day night, with the piece reopening Christmas week at, the Mlajestic, and "Animal Crackers" relighting the Grand. 'Street Scene" opens at the Apollo same week. only house that will bring the Shubes something a:galnst overhead is the Great Northernj with Schwab and Mandel's "New Moon." Alsio a success hold- [ing over from last season. LET U& BE GAY Opened' Feb. 21. "Graceful and charming," said Lock- ridge (Sun), and that senti- ment Was echoed by the others. Variety (Abel) declared: "One 'of the town's smarter come- dies," "Hot Chocolates," colored revue, I tours from the Hudson. Played 26 1 weeks, 'Rope'd End," presented by the Shuberts, leaves after Just manag- I stick three months .(13 wpeks). Provlncetown , "Winter Bound,' floral tributes, and an ovation when playhouse show, will close at the he stepped out on the btage. | Grarrick, after a month. House hag been used as a try- out stand for several years by the Shuberts, always ending in the red. AHEAD AI^P BACK William A, Fields, press agent for Jones and Green, and Harry liar- wood, former Denver correspond ent for "Variety," are doing special publicity for the New York Produce Exchange. Jaines Vincent, former treasurer of the Fulton, New York, is back with "The Jade Gbd." Robert Wilder, doing special pub- i , ^, ., m^ependenUy llcity for the revivals at Jo^son s, I ^^^^^^^^ Eltinge, taken oft resigned and Is now handling The Saturday. Two weeks. Candlelight, new little theatre on East 60th street. Harry Keller, ahead of Al Jolson concert tour in the west. WINTER BOUNP Opened Nov. 12. Mantle (News) in considerable inde- cision said it was "open to the charge of being a silly experi- ment at beat," but thought .it did its auspices credit. Seldes (Graphic) told his peasant readers it was "unprecise and fumbling." Variety said: "Should prove a winner." COAST OPENINGS Los Angeles,- Dec. 10. Belasco dark one month, (starting. Dec. 14. Then "Journey's End" in from San Francisco, where it Is playing six weeks' engagement at the Geary. C!urran theatre, San Francisco, opens Dec/ 23 with Morris Gest's "Chauve-Sourls" conripariy for three weeks. Homer Curran has leased the Capitol, San Francisco, for "Fol- low Thru," opening New Year's eve ' for indefinite run. "JINGO" WASHED UP "Jingo," a drama presented by Lee McCullOm, stopped In Atlantic City last Saturday. Out a week and four days, cast bei ng paid a week "^Wd^'sTx^elgRlKs, - Players claim two-eighths due, al" though that proportion was paid them during rehearsals. Stock Changes Hands Albany, N. Y., Dec. 10. The stock company which opened the season at the Capitol theatre, the only legitimate house here, un- der the direction of James Cormlr can, has been taken over by local people, including Oscar J. Perrin, manager of the house, and Fred- erick P. Magin, its treasurer. The new management reduced top from $1.50 to $1. TOP O' THE HILL Opened Nov. 26. ^ Second stringers got the assignment. Variety (Span) predicted:- "Lopks like a short lifer." Tway Nights," Censors' Worry, Quits in Detroit 'I^VRadwajr. Nights," .vrith Texas Gvlfti^if, Jfolded in.Detrqit.Saturday thfl;,.^lml>?rts .decidi(ng to perma- nently ^iiithdraw the sHow from the road. / Musical had been. encountering censorship difllcultleB all along the road since leaving New York the early pArt of this season, because of its rawness. On Broadway f* lasted l>ut three weeks without Miss Guinan, and with "Doo" Bockwel! then featured. On the road it lasted one week in Philadelphia, four In Chicago, one in Cleveland and two in Deitroit. FUTURE PLAYS Stocks Pick Up Stock managers are claiming stock Is on the up trend. Last week saw 94 companies In operation. This Is a better showing than It has made in a year. Zi^ggy's "Simon" First "Simple Simon," as first Indicated, will bb 2Iegfeld's first production this season. It will go Into rehearsal next week. The book was com- pleted by Guy Bolton and Ed Wynh, the latter to be starred. Score, by Bodgers and Hart. Seymout Felix to do the staging. In support of Wynn are fiobby Arnst, Doree Les- lie, Alan Edwards, Hugh Gaaaeron, Will Ahem and Harriet Hoctor... "Simon" will probably be the next tenant for the New Amster- dam, although Lew Leslie's "Inter* national Bevue" is . also mentioned to get the booking. New One for Music Box Hollywood, Dec. 10. "Maternally Yours," farce-come- dy, in rehearsal at ihe Hollywood Music Box theatre, to open Dec. 23 for two weeks. , Author-producers are Clarence O'Dell Miller, Pasadena attorney, and Ole M. Ness, former Little the- atre director. "Veneer," an independently done, off at the 48th Street Saturday. Four weeks. "The Amorous Antic,?' presented by Sam Hi Harris at the Masque, cFosed at end of first week. Mrs. Fleischer's Divorce Pittsburgh, Dec. 10. Mrs. iVgnes Fleischer, formerly with Carroll's "Floretta" in Chicago and a professional model here, has filed, suit *or divorce against Frank Fleischer* Pittsburgh druggist. Mrs. Fielscher charges desertion. AMOROUS ANTIC Opened Dec. 2. Darnton . (Eve. World) awarded it "the fatal distinction of being the. silliest play of the season," and 6rown (Post) commented on "so much labor and so little success." Variety (Ibee) considered it "smartly written," but guessed; "does not quite figure to make the grade." .. JESS|1L AT GOLDEN Latest tentative title for George Jessel's show . . Is: "Dreajns and "The Humbug," Independent try; oft at the Ambassador Saturday a;s. indicated. Two weeks. "Whirlpool" started at the Bllt Ditches." Piece will probably open more early last week but dropped ^'Scarlet Pages" Film "Scarlet Pages," produced by A. H. Woods during the fall, has been purchased by Warner "Bros. Play was written by Samuel Ship- man and John Hymer. in Newalk .and come into the John Golden theatre, Golden being the producer.^, 1 ,-1^ . Bertran Block'story is based oh "Joseph and his Brethren" with Jessel rejJorted receiving the top guarantee for a legit star to date. Show will carry cast of about 35. out Wednesday. Three days. FROM VAUDE TO STOCK Dramatic stock supplants vaud- fllm policy at the> Lyceum, Patersbn, N. J., next week. Opens with "Saturday's Children." WHIBI-l?OPL Opened Dec. 3. Ruhl (Herald Tribune) declared: "Could scarcely have been worse," and if this Wasn't enough Darnton (Evei World) said: "So bad it was funny." In addition ''Tlie Mel-ry Widow" concludes Its two-week revival at Jolson's and "Tlie Ship" sunk down the Village way. Agents' Election Los Angeles, Dec. 10. The Agents, a body of 30 former legit road men once affiliated with tW6 T. P. B. O. A., re-elected Si Masters president for a third term at their annual meeting this week. Miles Murphy also was re-elected secretary-treasurer for the third time. .Tom Hodgman elected vice- president. APOLLO, A. C./DABK Atlantic City, Dec. 10. The Apollo is to close for 10 days beglnlng Dec: If, the first time in 15 years that the house has been dark. Only two shows In sight. $50,000 TO STUDY DANCE Los Angeles, Dec. 10, . Carlotta Del Mar, 17-year-old diiughter of the late Carlotta Del Mar Smith, dancer, who was known as Carletta the Great, was granted petition before Superior Judge Stephens ' that her cousin, Mrs. Adele Hanson, be appointed her guardian. Miss Del Mar is sole heir to her jneihfij;:^ fiataie^p.t.$.50,o.o.o^wJiich. di=. rected that she use the money to study dancing abrold. . Wally Ford will appear In a legit piece 'titled .''Junior," by Ewlng Itafferty. Ford is understood to be in 60%'and will try it Out in stock for a week, with plans for taking' it to Chicago later. . Laurence Stialllngs Is at work qjv the dx'amatizatlon of Ernest Hem-. mingway's novel, " Farewell td Arms." ■ Arthur Hopkins will produce. Theatre Guild has shuffled plana' again and Instead oi sending the' Guild Studio's Initial production, "Red Rust" into the Martin Beck v for a series of special matinees, will' project it as a i'egular bill nejft week (Dec. 16). "Silver Swan" will move to another house, Gulld'9 production of "Meteor," which had been scheduled lor the Beck next week, has been post- poned for two weeks. **The Chalk .Circle,'' Jane Ware producing. "Nancy's Private Affaire," Miyrbn Fagin prqiducing. "Trevelyn's Ghost," by Dwlght Taylor, is next for George. Tyler and A. L. Erianger. Now casting and goes Into rehearsal in two, weeks. ; "Playboy of the Western World'^ goes into rehearsal this week aa next for the Irish Players at iSreen- wlch Village, New York. J. J. Leventhal producing a tau*' sical comedy, "Baby Blue," which goes into rehearsal in the "Waldorf, Dec.' 23, and a new* play by Barry Towhley, titled "Jumping Jack.'' Liatter play' starts rehearsing today (Wednesday). . . • • "Deception" is the tentative title of a. new i>lay dealing with the life of Bothstein. It goes irito reheirsfiil Dec. 23 with Inez Norton in the featured role. Producer not re- vealed. A. E. and B. B. Biskin, who folded as legit producers last season, are about to stage a comeback with "Tower of Mystery," melo of the spook varfets'. ' Now casting and., due for re- hearsal in two weeks, Jacob Welser has formed a legit producing partnership with Marion Gehrlng. The new combo will pro- duce "Lost Sheep" as its first. Weiser was formerly legit pro- ducer, but recently play reader for Shuberts. Gehrlng was ' formerly associated with Hynian Adler In production of "Skidding." "Mr. Gilhooley," by Frank Eisner, from ftOvel by Llafa O'Flaherty, being readied for production by Henry Forbes. Chester Ersklne to direct. "Have a Good Time, Jonica," by Wm. Grew. Billy Moll and Joseph Meyers on words and music. : "Empty Battles,'' a play by Frank Gay and Samuel Alexander Magnus, scenario writers, Is to be produced by Benny Stein in January. Stein made his debut as a producer with "The Jade God." Orady with Jolson Billy Grady ot theWm. Morris ofl^ce accompanied Al Jolson to the Coast last week. Grady Is handling the Jolson world concert tour starting at Bl Paso, Tex., Jan. 15. Another Bronx Attempt Joseph Klein, who once operated stock in 14th street, has taken the Bronx O. H. for stock. Casts will offer plays In English. Both Jewish and American stock has been tried heremany times without s'uccess. DANCiiR'S DAMAGE SUIT Portland, Me., Dec. 10' Joan Bogers, dancer in "BIo Rita, Is asking $25,000 damages In a snv, filed in Superior Court here against the Portland Terminal Company. Miss Bogers " claims she was thrown when alighting from a Pas- senger car In the Union Station April 27 and has been disabled since.