The New York Clipper (January 1920)

January 21, 1920 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER THEATRE FOLKS DROPPING BAN K ROLLS IN GAMBLING One Reported to Have Lost $25,000 at Stud Poker Last Week in Putnam Building. Other Big Games Running. Schenck Case Only One of Several The gambling . story that broke out in the daily papers last week with. Joe Schenck, of the Norma Talmadge Film Company as the central figure, is but one of several that might be aired, for thea- trical -Broadway, particularly that section of it which has been "cleaning up" in films, is gambling mad. Within two blocks Of the Times Building, either way, there are • half dozen games for big stakes going on. Toward the end of last week a story concerning one of these that bad the Put- nam Building for its background, was be- ing told. Recently, a man well known in the building, was placed in the position where he negotiated the sale of an office building and, for his share, got something oyer $85,000. With the larger portion of this paid over, he sat in at a little poker ne on :the second floor of the Putnam ding that soon grew stronger and stronger until it developed into a stud game of proportions. By Friday night, he had dropped around $25,000 of the amount he started with. The motion picture crowd that eats and hangs around the Astor is always In touch with a good sized game and only recently a Jersey judge who was sitting in accused one of the players of dealing unfairly and that particular game broke up after threatening to get into the news- 1M.DATB The Longacre Building is also said to have a game that runs into pots of $6,000 and $6,000 whenever the gang gets to- gether, which, however, is only periodical- ly, for some of those who sit in are out of town considerably in the interest of Mm concerns. When they all get in to- gether, though, the pots run high. Many different versions of what oc- curred at the Schenck home on New Year's Eve have been in circulation, but the fol- lowing was given out by Joe Schenck him- self; "The story of what occurred at my home during a card party on last New Year's Eve is as follows: A number of my friends, all of them wealthy men who love a game of cards for high stakes and can afford to play, were indulging in a game of poker, when one of the members of the party,» it was found, was using a pack of marked cards, or 'readers.* I ac- cused him of cheating and gave him a sound thrashing, for which I have no apologies to make. • , "As to these reports of slander eurta against me, I consider them a' joke. How- ever, I do not intend to let the matter rest where it is. I have retained William Travers Jerome to bring a criminal pro- ceeding against the man who did the cheating, and if possible. I will put him behind the bars where he belongs. "The same party that played at my house on New Year's Eve has been playing together for some time, and the game that night was merely a continuation of others we had played together."i The marked cards, it is said, were sub- mitted to a well-known card expert who immediately detected the markings on them and revealed to Mr. Schenck the se- cret code by which they were read. The cards were of the floral, scroll design type, and If you knew the, code it was easy to tell exactly what cards your opponent held, thus making betting an absolute cer- tainty. It is said that a very prominent song writer and a well-known theatrical producer were among the guests at the card party at the Schenck home. The Schenck story- first became : pnMic when, the New York World printed a story connecting tl|e.name of Louis Krohnberg, a millionaire waist manufacturer, with it. Krohnberg immediately retained Max P. Stener to • being suit Joe slander. . In a statement issued by Stener, the attorney said that hte client had been.a consistent and heavy loser, he having had to pay, ac- cording to Steuer, a considerable part of thj $360,000 alleged to have been lost by those in. the game over a period of six months. Krohnberg, when seen at his residence, No. 789 West End Avenue, said: "I knew nothing about the existence of 'readers' in the game. It is all a mistake, and I am a loser instead of winner from that group." The city has also taken a hand in the Schenck case, for Bird S.'Color, Commis- sioner o c Charities, wrote a letter to Cor- poration Counsel Burr, requesting that he institute suit under Section 989 of the I v cal Code. Legal authorities say this is the first time in the history of New York State where an action of this sort was contemplated. The Coler letter said: - "It has come to my notice that one Louis Krohnberg, of No. 789 West End Avenue, New York City, is reported to have won at card games the sum of $350,000. I am. informed-that under Section 989 of the Penal Code Laws of 1916, which reads: " 'Forfeiture for exacting payment of money won at gambling. "'A person who exacts or receives from another, directly or indirectly, any money or other valuable thing, by reason of. the same having been won by playing at cards, faro, or any other game of chance, or any bet or wager whatever upon the hands or sides of players, forfeits five times the value of the money or thing so exacted or received, to be recovered in civil action, by the persons charged with the support of the poor in the place where the offense was' committed, for the benefit of the poor.' —it becomes my duty to begin a civil action for the recovery of five times the amount of the money won at caTds, to be used for the benefit of the poor, and ask you to take such action as you may deem necessary." Corporation Counsel Burr advised his secretary, J. H. Johnson, to announce that the papers were ready and that civil suit will be begun at an early date. BUCKNER OPENS REVIEW Sar Fbangisoo, Jan. 18.—A review put 4 on by Arthur Buchner, recently of ■ New York City, has opened at the Portoia- Odeon Cafe. The production consists of over thirty people and is called "Bubbles." The chorus of fifteen pretty girls, make seven complete changes of wardrobe dur- ing the show, and, in addition, there-was Sid Lewis, Charles Bose, Raymond Bald- win, Portia Newport, Hazel Stallings, Myrtle Victorine, June Delight, Ruth Wil- liams, Carmenclta, Mae McCrea, Eleanor St Francis, Three Harmony Boys. ., .-.-• ■ EX-"FOLLIES" GIRL HARRIES Saic Frahcisoo, CaL, Jan. 17.—Ruth Catherine Harriman, late of the Ziegfeld "Follies," was married here by Justice of the Peace Thomas F. Pendergast to Joseph Leslie. Moody. Moody gave his age. as 25 and his bride gave hers as 26. Moody la heir to the big Moody estate. The affair was a surprise to his par- ents, and they claim they will take im- mediate steps to have the marriage an- nulled. This is young Moody's second romance with a chorus girl. In March, 1918, while he was a student at Harvard, he . met Marion Parks, a member of the, "Bine Par- adise" company:playing in. New York. Just as they were about, to get married a news- paperman notified Moody's father and the wedding was stopped. ELEPHANT'S FALL BREAKS FLOOR San Jose, Jan. 10.—Clara, one of John Robinson's elephants, weighing more than 2,500 pounds, slipped as she was. about to stand on her hind legs and crashed through the stage, tearing away eighteen feet of flooring. Robinson, with army- of -help, extracted the animal and, except-: far abrasions of her right leg, and nervousness from the shock, she was all right for the next days performance. Many persons In the* audience, thinking the tbeatrexwould collapse when the elephant fell, rushed for the exits. TAXT GETS "IRENE'* J. N. Tait, the Australian theatre man, and The Vanderbilt Producing company have completed negotiations. m>raa> acquires Arranodean rightato■^Irenetn'v** < CLARK PLAY OPENS FEB^» $ "Little Miss Charity,'' the musical play being produced by Edward Clark, peM open in Hartford on February 23. CHINESE OBJECT TO FILM Sait Fhancisco, Jan. 17.—George Mann, manager of the Rial to'Theatre here, was arrested. last week, on a warrant issued upon, 'the request of the Chinese Colony, the Chinese Counsel and the Chinese Six Companies, who claimed that Mann was showing' a picture at the Rialto.called "The Tongman," which was "offensive to de- cency and calculated to excite vicious acta* . : ; After, seeing the picture,'.' Judge Fits- patrick dismissed the case, saying that he could find nothing objectionable in the film. Meanwhile, the house did a very good busi- ness because of the publicity the case gave the picture. TWIN BEDS" STILL GETS IT Sar Francisco, Cal., Jan. 17.—"Twin Beds," which is making its fourth trip to the coast, arrived here for a two week's visit on the 12th. The first week's re- ceipt outdid anything that has ever been done in the city. The receipts of the com- pany prior to coming into town were: San Diego, two days, $2,096; Long Beach, $2,- 870; San Bernardino, one show, $864; Riverside, $966; Redlands, $657, and Santa Anna, $854, making a gross of $7,807 for seven performances. Josephine Saxe and Katherine Tracy, a local girl, are being featured in the show. TOE-DANCER ARRESTED • Lob Anosaxa, Jan. 17.—Vac Lee, a twenty-three year old toe-dancer who was recently released after being arrested In company with H. L. Cornell, a former naval officer, was re-arrested here when she visited Cornell at the Los Angeles City JaiL The second arrest was made on in- formation that she is wanted by the offi- cials ' of Seattle. Cornell is in jail on a charge of deserting his wife and non-sop- port; STOP CARD DISTRIBUTION Sacramento, Jan. 16.—Police officials have issued orders to all owners of Sacra- mento theatres, forbidding them to scatter advertising, matter about the business die-, tricts of the town. This action was taken following numerous complaints from mo- te roists that cards, giving notice of false parking regulations, and advertising a local playhouse, had been promisdoualy distrib- uted. 'ij.'i-W- ALCAZAR COMPANY CHANGES San Francisco, Cal., Jan. 17.—There have'been several changes in the personnel of the\ Alcazar Stock Company. Fay Court- ney, the new leading lady, joined the com- pany on January 11th, appearing as "Kenny" in "Happiness.'' Walter P. Richardson leaves to-night as leading man, Clay. Clement taking his place. . He opens in "The Matinee Hero" next week. ACTOR GETS JUDGMENT Sar Francisco, Jan. 17.—Judge Me- gan has awarded J. Edwin Crapo, an actor, A. judgmeut. for $000 against Ralph Bran- .nettV.Blso an actor. The amount: represents the value-.of- a drop curtain- attached by Maryr.'r fl e 'finfB V..an ..^actrBai.'. J B u g m e ily In Crape's company. Brunnetti assisted her in. getting-possession of the drop and aha left for New York. LOEW TO BUILD IN BALTIMORE Rat.ttmoee. Jan. 17.—Following a con* saltation between Marcus Loew and di- rectors of the Hippodrome yesterday, plana to form a corporation to construct a new Loew house in this city were ratified. The project will be under the supervision of Loew, Incorporated. The bouse will have a seating capacity of 3.000 and it is esti- mated the construction will cost more than $1,000,000. It was also announced that a local cor- poration would be organized and officers elected before any contracts would be awarded, and a consultation would be held with a large number of persons who have offered to subscribe to the stock. Work on the structure will not start before next Summer and the opening win not take place until about a year from the present time. SAYS SHE WAS KIDNAPPED Zolla Earl, who, says she retired from the stage five years ago to marry William T. Piekard, of Tonawanda, N. Y., where she now lives, appealed to the police of New York City last week to aid her in establishing her identity, declaring that she was kidnapped by a woman circus performer, in 1898 from this city. In her letter to the police, Mrs. Piekard states that at that time she was three years old and has just learned about her- self from a girl who took care of her. She says that the girl does not remember whether her name was Knight or Wright, but, if a Charles Knight or Wright who has a missing sister by the name of "Su- sie" can be located, he would know. She also has a sister named Pauline, she states. ETHEL JACKSON SUED Ethel Jackson, once the wife of J. Fred Zimmerman, the manager, who she di- vorced in 1908, was named last week as defendant in a $60,000 suit for alienation of the affections of George McLeod Baynes, vice-president and treasurer of tho Kineto Company, a motion-picture concern on Twenty-third Street, by Mrs. Jewell L Baynes, of the Hotel Commo- dore. Mrs. Baynes charges that Miss Jackson, who, in private life is known as Mrs. Ethel . Jackson Lockwood, although she divorced Benonl Lockwood, Jr., after mar- rying him within five days of securing her divorce from Zimmerman, is responsible for her husband leaving her and allege* that she is now harboring Baynes. "WHIRLWIND" CLOSES "The Whirlwind" closed its run at the Standard last Saturday night and baa been sent to the store house. Because production expenses for the piece have amountd to more than $8,000 a week, plans for a road tour have been dropped. Beginning January 26, the house will revert to the orgininal policy of present- ing attractions lor one week only. The first to appear under this policy will be Flak Ollaru, in "Down Limerick Way." Others coming later on for a single week are "Three Wise Fools," "Listen. Lester,'' "Baddies" and "Moonlight and Honey- suckle." «*:<JS» xw ARRESTED FOR GIRL'S DEATH J. Victor Wilson, general publicity man- ager for the Strand Theatres, was arrested last week on a charge of manslaughter. Arrested with him was William H. Folms- bee, an osteopath. Wilson and Folmsbee are charged with causing the death of Henrietta Cootner, of 577 West One Hundred Forty-ninth street, a ticket taker at the Strand, Manhattan. She died on December 20, as the result of an illegal operation, in which both are al- leged to have been concerned. "SPENDER" LEFT $20,000 Harry J. Everall, formerly the husband of Emma Cams and well kjiu w u op and down Broadway ma a spender and, at 'vari- ous times, as a producer, wise agent, anto salesman and press agent, and who died last December, left no win, and Ms estate, valued at 120,600, will be shared Ma widow and two sisters. He Miss" Carus en June 25, "