New York Clipper (Apr 1923)

19 REEVES WANTS TO LEASE HIS FRANCHISE SHOW HAD STORMY SEASON Al Reeves is trying to lease his fran- chise on the Columbia Circuit for next sea- son. This has been a pretty hard season for the "old Pal." His troubles first started at the beginning of the present season, : when his show was taken off the circuit ■ the second week he was out to be reor- ; ganized. After representatives of the cir- ' cuit had seen the show at the Casino, Brooklyn, they would not allow it to play the Empire, Newark, the next week, but instead Reeves was compelled to put on a new show with a big change in the cast, which opened the following week in Pater- . son. During its trip in the West it is said that thcxe were many complaints as to the con- dition, of the show, so much so that Reeves was notified a few -weeks back that his show could not play the Colmnbia, New York, but had to close in Montreal and the "Bon Tons" was given the Reeves time ' for the balance of the season. Reeves is now trying to lease the show for the coming season, but as the fran- chises have but one more year to run, it will be a bard job trying to get someone to take over the show for that period. It will mean an investment of from $15,000 . to $20,000 for an entire new show and most producers do not feel that it is worth the chance. If it had two or three years more to run, then there would be a chance to get the production money back, as well as making some money. There will be a big scramble by the pro- ducers next season to put over a great show, as it will depend entirely by the show given and the business done by the show, if the. franchise will be renewed for another term of five years, starting the fol- lowing season. It is also said that no producer will be allowed to have more than two shows the following season and the Columtna offi- cials feel that a producer can satisfactorily put on but two shows. Rtunors around Broadway and Forty- Seventh Street late Monday afternoon were that Reeves had succeeded in trans- ferring his franchise for next season. One was Uiat Barney Gerard had taken over the show, but this could not be confirmed either at the office of the Columbia Amuse- ment Company or at Gerard's office. Both : Barney and Louis Gerard were away for the afternoon and General Manager Sam ' A. Scribner had left for the day. J. Her- bert Mack, president of the circuit, said that he knew nothing of Gerard taking over the franchise and the way he said it, one would be led to believe that there was no triith to the rumor. Another rumor was that Arthur Put- nam who was with the Reeves Show the past season wanted to take the show over with his brother, a well known theatrical man of Newark, as his backer, but this could not be confirmed either. It is said that at the time of going to press Reeves was still looking. GEORGE SHELTON SIGNS George Shelton, principal comedian of the "Laughin' Thru 1923" this season on the Mutual Circuit, signed contracts last week< for the new Clark and .McCullou^ Show on the Columbia Circuit for next HERK MAY RETURN TO BURLESQUE I. H. Hcrk, former head of the Affiliated Theatres Company, who recently filed a petition in bankruptcy which, according to the schedule 'filed, shows that he owes over a million dollars, is contemplating returning to burlesque, a field in which he was some- thing of a figure before he became associ- ated with the Affiliated, which attempted to put over the imit show idea for Shubert vaudeville. Herk, according to report, told an ac- quainunce this wedc that if the Sbuberts did not provide something for him for next season he would return to burlesque. Herk, before he became connected widi the Affiliated, was with the American Bur- lesque Association, holding the office of president. Herk may start work on the promotion of a new circuit, a subject in which he is said to be still interested despite his excursion into the two-a-day. EBIPRESS COMING DOWN Milwaukee, Wis., April 18.—The Em- press Theatre, this city, whidi has been under lease to Hank Goldenberg for a nundier of years, is to be torn down and a large office building, it is said, will be erected on the ground. The Empress has been playing burlesque stock for a number of years and closed for good last Saturday night GERARD SHOW FOR BOSTON Barney Gerard has engaged the follow- ing for his "Follies of the Day" for the run at the Gayety, Boston: Hunter, Cole and Htmter, Bert and Beth Mathews, Ethel Howard and Jimmy Plunkett. The Cali- fornia Trio and Julia de Cameron will close with the show in Pittsburgh. The Califor- nia Trio will open in vaudeville. CLARK AND MURPHY IN ACT Dan Clark and Danny Murphy are play- ing vaudeville in the Middle West They are working at the Electric Theatre, St Joe, Mo., last half of this week. These boys have been working co.itinu- ously since their show "Temptations 1923" closed in Kansas City. BENEFIT FOR BURKHART A benefit will be tendered to Howard Burkhardt, treasurer of Hurtig and Sea- mons Theatre, and George Ollendork, the assistant treasurer of the house, on Sunday, May 27. A big array of both burlesque and vaudeville talent have agreed to ap- pear. PEACHES PONTON IN STOCK Peaches Ponton, ingenue of the "Laugfain* Thru" company this season, will open in stock in Buffalo at the close of her regu- lar burlesque season. Miss Ponton has been very successful on the Mutual Circuit this season. VERA SCHULTZ MARRIED Vera Schultz. of the "Laughin Thru" show, was married in Hoboken by a Jus- tice of the Peace on April 17, to George July, a non-professional of Springfield, Mass. The show was playing the &yety Brooklyn at the time. NEW GERARD SHOW NAMED Barney Gerard will call his new Colum- bia Circuit show "All In Fun." This show will take the place of "Keep Smiling." iWill Fox, formerly of Fox and Stewart, has been signed for this show, also Murray and Irwin. ABBOTT FORMS NORTHERN N. Y. CIRCUIT nVE HOUSES FOR MUTUAL SHOWS Harry Abbott, who has been managing the Garden Theatre, Bufblo, with big suc- cess the past season, has organized the Abbott Theatrical Enterprises in Buffalo, which company will control a number of theatres in Northern part of the state and in Canada. Abbott is the president of the company and Jake LeVine is the treasurer. Up to tite present time the compaiw have five houses in which they will book Uutial shows next season. Tfiese houses are lo- cated in Rochester, Niagara Falls, Ham- ilton, London and Toronto. It is also said that the firm will have one or more bouses in the city of Buffalo. There are but six shows playing this wrek on the ^Mtitual Circuit Three more are still playing otx the circtiit but at . •.til •» oF -his wedt Three shows r\. .\. L . ^curday night They are Oirls ■ the Follies," "Pat White Re- vue" ana "Round the Town." "Girls a la Carte" are playing under the title of "Lid Lifters" at ^Ubany. and "Lalfin' Thro," under the title of "Merry Whirl," in Wilkes-Barre. A meeting of the Board of Directors of the Mutual was held last Saturday, which lasted nearly all day. A list of the fran- chise holders for next season wais to be given out at that time, but it has been withheld until May 5, whoi the list it is expected will be complete. General Manager Al Singer left New York Sunday for Chicago, it could not be learned at headquarters what his mission is. George Gallagher did not leave New York last Monday on a trip to secure new houses' for the Mutual Grcuit as an- nounced in these columns. All plans had been made and the railroad ticket pur- chased for Washington, when the arrange- ments were called off. It could not be learned from the officials of the circuit why the sudden change of mind took place and it was just as much a surprise to Gallagher, when he was in- formed late Monday afternoon that he was not to go. REVUE TICKETS OH SALE Tickets for the Burlesque 0\A Revne were placed on sale last Saturday. Lou Lessor is handling the advance sale of the tickets, making his headqiiarters in Room 203. Columbia Theatre Building. The scale of prices are - box seats, $3 JO; or- chestra seats, $3JO; first four rows in balcony, $3.30; balance of the balcony, $2.75, and the gallery, $1.10. The revue will be held on Sunday night, May 20. BROADHURST QUITS SHOW George Broadhurst, one of the comedians of "Laughin' Thru," walked out of the show at the Gayety, Brooklyn. last Thurs- day, according to Manager Bud Abbott. This is the second show Broadhurst has walked out of this season, the other being with the "Jazz Babies" and it happened in Pittsburgh last fall. SEARS LEAVES EMPIRE ! Fred Sears resigned as manager of the iNew Empire, Qeveland, last' week and re> Itunied to New York. This hoiise is now lEfei^ng.^Qdf Jb?rlesque._1 BO<MCED FOR BUOU Pbiladelpbia, April 23. —^The priiicifols booked in stock next week at the Bijoa- are Charles Marshall, Abbie Leonard, Peggy Day, Alf Giles, Ray Leanse and ■Harry Ke«Jer. . . BROWNING RE-ENGAGED William Browning, character man of the "Bubble Bubble" company, has been re- engaged by Billy K. Wells for next season. Browning signed a contract last wedc while playing the Columbia. BETTY PALMER CLOSING Betty Palmer, soubrette of ^Giggles," has given in her notice to- dose with that show in Boston this wedc, 'i'^'-' "BON TON GIRLS," BACK AT COLUMBIA, IS AGAIN ENTERTAINING The "Bon Ton Girls" featuring Johnny Barry is at the Columbia this week for a return engagement. The reason for its return is that it has taken the place of the Reeves Show on the Circuit, having jumped into Boston last week from Buf- falo taking the time up from there. The show is almost the same as it was earlier in the season. One change in the cast is noticeable; Burton Carr is the new straight man having only recently joined the . show. A scene in one, with the com- edians has been added, which hdps to hold up the spot it has been placed m. Johnny Barry is a clever comedian and one that is far out of the ordinary. He is a quidc thinker and a fast worker. He knows how to deliver. Bob Startzman is working opposite Barry and he too knows the art of handling comedy. Both boys are corking good hoofers and do fine team work. Burton Carr is new to Columbia audi- ences and he made a fine impression Mon- ' day afternoon. He is a, tall wdl bnih young fellow and carries himsdf wdL He reads lines nicdy and can wear clothes. Car has a fine singing voice and re^sters with his manben. Looking as though she had just stepped out -of beauty exhibit, Gerttude Bedc, ODC of burl^ua's prettiest sonbrettes, never looked prettier. Miss Bedc is pretty in both face and form and she wears dresses that just set her style of'beauty off to the best advantage, but good looks is not all that this little lady has. She has all that goes to make her a first clan soubrette. . She dances nicely, reads lines wdl and can snrd^ put a number over. Jean De Lisle u the prima doona but unfortunately Miss De lisle has evidently had a hard season as her voice -was not in any too fine shape Monday. She looked wdl however and went throned her scenes well. Lou Barry danced herself into the good graces of the house and put over her numbers nicely. ^ I^ve Kindler did his singing and sper. dalty in one and put it over. Carr offered a singing specialty that was appreciated. He gave one number and surdy sang it well. The eomedy scene in one that was added was given by Barry, Startzman, Carr and the Misses Beck and Barry, It has many laughs. Barry and Startzman's dancing specialty just about stopped the show. ' Thoe two ' boys are sure hounds, when it comes to hoofing. . Another specialty that was well received was Gertrude Beck and the Frasier Trio. Miss Beck at the piano and the three boys playing string instruments. It's a hi^ class musical act and one that would snrdy go over in the two day -vaudeville bouses. The "Bon Tons" is a fine comedy show and has a capable cast of prindpals. Ifs a very pleasing entertainment—Sm. GILBERT •n-AB" FOR COUTTS Billy Gilbert will stage a "tab" to open on the Johnny Coutts Cinniit, May 14. This will be the week after the "Radio Girls" dose. Gilbert will work in the "tab." BENTLEY FOR MUTUAL SHOW Julius Michaels has engaged Harry Bentley for his Mutual Circuit show next season. Bentl^ wDl be the piiudpa l comedian and will also produce the show. . JACQUE WILSON SIGNS Jacque Wilson, ingenue this season with '^oUy Town," signed a contract last wedc with' Hurtig & Seamon for one of tlieir .Colombia Cjrcmt .^biafiM.Jor next