The New York Clipper (March 1919)

ftfE.NEW YORK CLIPPER March 19, 1919 HARLEM OPERA HOUSE ACT STARTS RIOT COLLEGE BOYS MIX IT UP There was a double surprise last Wednesday night at the Harlem Opera House when the Glee Club of the Class of 1922, of the College of the City of New York, and a lot of youths bearing the nu- merals "1923" came together on the stage of that house and the surprise resulted in a near panic . Manager Sol Levoy, of the H. O. H., had announced a "surprise night" at his house for that evening, and when "the president of the student body of the Col- lege of the City of New York* proposed that the Glee Club of the 1922 class should appear and sing for him he eagerly agreed to it To him it seemed like a master busmeas stroke and when, on the night in question, he saw group after group of men of college age fill the seats, he had nothing but self congratulations for himself . The performance went on as usual, and at last the big surprise of the evening came. The 1S22 class Glee Club marched on the stage wearing sweaters bearing their class numerals. They sang and then came a surprise not counted on by the manager. The young "college" men who had caused Levoy to plume himself on his acumen ware seated when the "1022" boy8 appeared. But when those -same boys sang, it seemed to be a signal, for the "col- lege" men in the audience to rise, and, as they rose, they all seemed to wear "1923" legends on their clothing. In a trice they charged in a body on the stage and in their rush swept the "Col- lege Glee Club" into the wings and out of the stage door to the street. To the audience this was the banner part of the "surprise night" show and the house fairly rang with shouts of laughter. But the appearance of police reserves, called in by Leroy, marching down the aisle, was a surprise the audience hadn't counted on, and the laughter of those pres- ent ceased with the desire of everyone to reach the street before he was "pinched." By the time the audience reached 125th Street the thoroughfare wao blocked by persons attracted by the excitement. In the hubbub the quartette of Glee clubbers had disappeared with their captors and Levey was all that was left of what had happened and who had caused it. CAM1LLE DURAND GOING ABROAD Camille Durand, brother of Paul Du- rand, and associated with the latter in the booking of acts for the big time cir- cuits, will sail for Europe in two weeks. He will visit London and Paris while abroad for the purpose of lining up for- eign acts for American houses. He is a JMsj and also plans to pay a visit to his birthplace. ROSE-WOODS CASE SETTLED The complaint of Seymour Bose against Ernest Woods, filed with the N. V. A. sev- eral months ago, in which it was alleged by Rose that Woods owed him a week's salary, was settled last week, the Com- plaint Board deciding that Rose's claim waa valid. Woods, accordingly, has agreed to p*7 Bose the salary claimed to be due him. CARR ASKS ACCOUNTING Nat Carr has registered a complaint with the N. V. A. against Sammy Dun- can, who, according to Carr. s i gned a c on- tract with him on FeW^TaSaBSSblsiiV it was agreed that he waa to j»ky to Caxr a stipulated sum weekly for - one year. These weekly ^Tment^i-^aW^^*, al- leged, were agreed upon u the result of Carr having staged an act for Duncan, were not made according; to contract, Carr states. Hence, Carr would like to hare an accounting, a procedure which he has asked the X. V. A. to undertake for him. Carr, incidentally, states in his com- plaint, that Duncan was formerly known as Sammy Faller, and that, he discovered him while they were playing on the same bill at Loew's National prior to the sign- ing of the agreement. Feller's act at this time, Carr declares, was not going very well and, recognizing the fact that Faller had talent, but was not equipped with the proper material, Carr says he undertook to place him on the road to MAY MOVE PUBLICITY OFFICE CHICAGO, m., March 17.—There is a strong likelihood that the Orpheum Circuit will move its publicity department from New Tork to Chicago some time' around July 1, according to a report current in local theatrical circles. With the opening of the State Lake Theatre, here, the Or- pheum will have three houses in Chicago, which will necessitate the employment of the services of at least one press agent, who will have to devote his time exclusive- ly to the exploitation of the trio. It is also pointed out that a move of this char- acter would have certain advantages. Chicago is centrally located and much time would be aaved in sending on Supplies, etc, to the Orpheum houses—all of which are nearer here than they are to New Tork. CHARGES LANG * GREEN LIFTED Joseph Norcross, in a letter to the N. V. A. this week, alleges that Lang and Green are doing an act that he considers an infringement on the specialty he is now performing with his wife. Norcross specifically mentions the I finish of the Lang and Green turn as being similar to. his and also declares that the dialogue and gongs of the turn complained of greatly resemble certain j material ' and songs that he and his wife are using. The N. V. A. has written Lang and Green, informing them of i Norcross' complaint and asking them to present their side of the matter. .:=.■ NEW ACT IS SHOWING Helen Colleen has a new! act called *Tn Sons Portraits," in which she is assisted by Harry Pollock, with a violin, in the orchestra pit. He also does a solo. The offering' is at Proctor's, Mt. Vernon, the first half of this week. ALLEN GETS BOOKING FRANCHISE Charlie Allen has received a franchise to book acts on the sixth floor, Keith exchange. He will make his headquarters temporarily with M. S. Bentham. TWONEWVAUDE HOUSES OPEN IN BOSTON KEITH OFFICE BOOKING THEM Boston, March 17.—Two new vaude- ville houses were opened here tonight, when the Waldorf, erected by the Waldorf restaurant people, and the Central Square, built by Gordon, who also runs the Olym- pia here, presented their initial perform- ances. ... The Waldorf is the first venture of the Waldorf Restaurant Company in the- the- atrical world, and, if successful, will prob- ably be' followed by a string of houses. $1,000,000 haa been expended by the com- pany in building It and equipping it with all modern stage and auditorium improve- ments. The policy of the house will be split- weeks and two shows daily of vaudeviie act and pictures. The matinee prices are to be 10 and 20 cents at matinee perform- ances and 10, 20 and 30 cento at night. Tonight's receipts were all donated to Mayor Peters' Entertainment Fond for the 26th Regiment, composed of local boys. ' Those who appeared on the bill are For- rest and Church, Willing and Jordan, Ben Smith, Maurice Samuels and Company, and the Curzon Sisters. In addition there was the news pictorial, some comedies, and Julia Dean and Edwin Arden in the fea- ture picture "Ruling Passions." The vaudeville is being booked by Jeff Davis, of the Keith, New York, offices. The bill for the second half includes Nakea Japs, Johnny Woods, Bonair and Ward, Leonard and Wright, and Review Co- miques, with seven people. "The Code of the Yukon," featuring Mitchell Lewis, is the feature film. Gordon's Central Square, which cost $200,000 to construct, will be run on the split week plan with two shows daily, ex- cepting Saturday, when there will be a continuous performance from 1 to 10:30 o'clock. This theatre is also booked by Jeff Davis, of the New Tork Keith of- fices. Motion pictures will also be shown. The bill for the first half of the week in- cludes Elsie Mains and her Melody Boys, Oliver and Olp, Horelick and Saiamka Sisters, Ashley and Skipper, and an organ recital by Arthur J. Martel. The feature picture is "The Brand," written and staged by Rex Beach. ' RUTH ROYE WANTS NO NAMESAKE Ruth Roye, the character vocaliste, haa informed the National Vaudeville Artists' Complaint Bureau, that she has discov- ered there is another performer in vaude- ville billing herself as "Ruth Roye," and playing the Pantages Circuit. The "other Ruth Roye," according to the complain- ant, has no right to the use of the name she is now appearing under, and the N. V. A. has been requested to ask her to discard it, inasmuch as Ruth Roye (number one) deems such use an infringe- ment on her professional rights. GEORGE WHITE GOING OVER George White has been engaged to ap- pear in London and .will sail for Europe following the expiration of his present Keith contracts! It is understood that White's London contract carries" a clause in which it is. agreed that his English income tax win be paid by the manage- ment. PANTAGES WANTS PITT THEATRE Pittsbubgh:, March 16.—It is rumored here that Pantages. is anxious to get the Pitt Theatre, which, since John Cart, who managed it for a while, quit, haa been the object of much speculation and discussion. The Shuberts, foe a time, appeared to have the inside track and they were ao ' confident 'of being able to add the local' nonse to their string that they had prac- tically made arrangement to book some Of their shows there. The date at which they would assume control was, however, post- poned'time after time and there is a per- sistant rumor to the effect that before long Pantages will, be running it as a vaude- ville house. It is practically certain that either the Shuberts or Pantages will get it. WILL CONDENSE B'WAY SHOWS Henry Bell it will' shortly produce forty minute tabloid versions of "The Beauty Shop," "Three Twins," "Pinafore Synco- pated" and the Hell scene from the Follies Bergere show, originally staged at the the- atre of that name when it opened nine or ten years ago. The Hell scene, or at least' a portion of it ia a part of the current. Ziegfeld Follies show. Bellit will place the acts on the Keith time as soon aa they are ready.- Each tab will carry a cast of fifteen people. Eddie Keller will handle the booking details. LOUISE DRESSER ILL, CANCELS Louise Dresser was taken ill, following her .final performance of the week at the Orpheum on Sunday night, and, .aa a re- sult, was forced to cancel her engagement at the Bush wick, where she. waa to have opened on Monday. When it became evi- dent at noon Monday that Miss Dresser would be unable to play the matinee at the Bushwick, Sybil Vane was hurriedly called upon to fill the spot} CAR STRIKE HITS N.J. THEATRES The street car strike which tied up j over one hundred and forty New Jersey towns and cities last week, put a bad crimp in theatre patronage in Jersey City ■ and Newark,, owing to the lack of brans- - portation facilities. Thursday afternoon - the matinee was away off in- Keith's Jer- sey City house. Other Jersey towns re- port a .similar falling off in business after the strike started. NEW COLORED ACT REHEARSING "The Six Dancing Imps," an aggrega- tion of colored singers and dancers, are rehearsing a. new act in which they are scheduled to open next -week. Those in the act are Pearl Hunter, Martha. Tobias, Nettie Chase, Mabel Johnson, Edith Nel- son and Johnny Brown. Alfredo Pizarro is staging it and Phil Taylor.ia attending, to the bookings. WEBER BRINGS JA-DA TRIO EAST Harry Weber, during his search for new vaudeville material in the Middle West recently, happened to take in a show given in Chicago by the enlisted men of the Great Lakes Training Station. The work of the Ja-da Trio so impressed- him that he immediately arranged a showing for the Fifth Avenue for the hist half of this week.- •'•' --.•■" ■'.. ■ LOCAL ACT MAKES HIT St. Joseph. Mo., March 15.—Wallace Hicks and George Thelsen, two local boys who have made a hit as ■• blackface comedians in several' of the nearby towns, have been offered bookings by the Western Vaudeville Managers' Association, of Chi- cago. '■■ '••"• ■■; ;-.■ -.:■■: _r ... .;■- t.-Vri'V; -•' • Direction—Max Rogers MEYERS BACK ON JOB Walter Meyers, of the Harry Weber of- fice, returned to his desk, last week fol- lowing a two weeks' absence, caused by an attack of influenza. -: ■.-?- - .< ' GAXTON HAS NEW ACT " William Gaxton is playing his first week since his release from the navy, and ia showing a new sketch by Rupert Hughes at the Bushwickv The playlet is entitled "The: Junior Partner" and will he seen at' ther-Riveralde next-week. ":''•' :' ••v.; -. • ' .- ■ ^4-^yfe ■ -