The Billboard 1921-02-19: Vol 33 Iss 8 (1921-02-19)

t FEBRUARY 19, 1921 The Billboard = BILLBOARD CALLERS (NEW YORK OFFICE) / Mr. and Mrs. Dave Costello, while playing in the Bostock Riding School act at B. F. Keith's Palace Theater, New York. ’ > Clifford B. Knight, formerly of the New York staff, left for a trip to the ‘Quaker City.” " John Alexander Pollitt and James Orr. Harry E. Tudor is in communication by cable almost daily with showmen in England wanting American amusements and riding devices. Pr. De Laurenfas, pianist. Louis King, to make known the fact that the Rickards, wagicians and jugglers, have framed a pew act, scenery and all, for their New York showing soon to be made if all goes well, Texas Sherman, of Wild West fame. Had some news for the boys of the ranches, Marie Murray, writer on The New York Eveng World PF iliam E. MeGinnis, amusement magnate of Revere Beach, Mass. Has some European interests as well Bertha Greenburg, Burns O'Sullivan, William George Everett and James M. Hathaway. Ted Miner, of Garvey & Miner, captive air planes ride. Will install a “Captive Airplane” in the new park in Trenton, N. J. Me. Garvey is still on the lacifie Coast. Mary Margaret McBride, of The New York Evening Mail. Harry Smith, steward Majestic Hotel, and former showman. Going back in the business in the concession end. A. J. Roth, manager Arcade Theater, Rochester, N. Y. Doing big business now with special feature pictures. Ali Zaky, concessioner, Will enlarge and im prove his offerings for the coming season. Dunninger, magician and dealer in magical supplies, with warehouse and office in New York Captain Louis Sorcho. Says the new motion picture palace in Jamaica, L. 1., N. Y., is one of the finest in America. The Captain {s now playing for a theater in Astoria, L. 1. Irving Udowitz, who is going to put on a bazaar in North Adams, Mass., week February 14, auspices Foresters of America, local of that city. L. H. Bancroft, formerly of Kansas City. Stopping at Pennsylvania Hotel. Is a singer, and is bere to join a male quartet if arrangements can be so effected. Ed Troy, formerly a Billboard correspondent in Bridgeport, Conn., has a wide acquaintance among circus folks, Charles S, Finklestein, of the Boston Bag Co., Providence, R. 1. Here to interview concession. ers, with the view of placing his goods thru that channel before the public. C. W. McCormack, manager Crescent Theater, Austin, Tex. Servais Le Roy, master magician and illusionist. Fred Weidman. Left for Richmond to put on & demonstration in a department store in that city, accompanied by Mrs. Weidman. J. J. Mistrot is planning a novel water show either in a park or with g carnival the coming **D. H. Rockef ler, of H. Rockefeller, of the Eureka N 7 with offices in New York. bare aches Vv. C. Fleming. Visited Edward F. Hayes’ restaurant, ‘‘The Place,"’ on Broadway, and af ter dining there pronounced it the best ‘‘cookhouse’* in the city. Abraham Harris, riding device operator of South Beach, Staten Island, N. Y. William L. Mann, originator ‘Anti-Blue ague’’ button, soon to be put on the market, thru the motion picture exhibitors. He was accompanied by Walter N. Smith, of his staff. Harry Diggs will handle the advertising and publicity for the ‘‘Anti-Blue League" button. M. A. Cohen, general manager, and R. B. Donaldson, secretary and treasurer, of the Capitol City Shows, of New York. They report progress. James Lloyd has been engaged as general agent and is now working Doe Crawford, of the Williams Standard Shows. Helped to put I. J. Polack and Lew Dufour. Richmond, Va., on the winter carnival map, as aid Larry Bo . lib y yd, Maxwell Kane and Arthur Charles F. Curran and Fd Randall. Henry Meyerhoff and Morris Taxier. Left for a ae of Eastern Canada to book fair dates. . loyd Nevada, magician and illusionist, has ey playing for the Keith Circuit, now on the maa } — England. Was most sucf n reenflel Semenaenk: eld, Mass., and Waterbury, Cyril Laston, professionally known as ‘Me =— memory expert. Is from India. Worked with Le Roy, Talma and Bosco on their last tour, which closed recently. — Zancig will again open his Temple of emory at Asbury Park, N. J., for the summer, if pion nlans do not go awry. Mr — _ and Mrs. George H. Coleman and son. “orping at Continental Hotel. George H. says the Coleman-Goodwin Bazaar is doing a great business, the week in Worcester, Mass., being nothing short of phenomenal. He will make a trip soon in the interest of his carnival organsation. which will probably take him to Chicago. tr. Coleman is of the opinion it’s going to be a Sreat season for all high-class outdoor amuseMent enterprises. Louis Ulrich, concessioner. Mrs. Lee Friedman, back from Quebec City, where she has been playing with the IntérOcean Razaar. Said business in Sherbrooke, Que., Was great and in Quebec City good. In both Places the elite of the community was in attendance each night. The heads of this bazaar are Leo M. Bistany, Sam Lawrence, Leo FriedMan and William Bremerman. Al Barzadite, airplane acrobat, working in pictures. Is back from Los Angeles. May enter the picture business in New York. William Hamilton, former exhibitor of motion pictures, now concessioner, with stores at Coney Island, N. Y., and Point Breeze Park, Philadelphia, Frank M. Stone and Sherlock Holmes, mindTeading canine, playing vaudeville. Paul E.: Prell, concessioner on the Mighty and Col. Francis Ferari Shows, in town from his home in Paterson, N. J. Going to Pittsburg to close some contracts for concessions at fairs. Willard D. Coxey, world famous agent, of the William Morris office. Thomas Phillips, leaving once more for Hamilton, Bermuda. Frank Oskes Rose, of Pain’s Fireworks, Inc. Charles H. Beadles, general manager Beadles & Epstine Exposition Shows. John H. Oyler, side show manager Brown & Dyer Shows, booking attractions. Ordered banners from Millard & Co., Coney Island. Robert A. Campbell, armless wonder, now playing a return engagement at the Harlem Museum. Edward LeRoy, W. J. Lester, Charles N. Harris and Ed Zello. Ralph E. Ellis, in from Chicago, where he has been handling fedture picture exploitation. Will probably enter the same field in New York. Julius Zancig, mental expert, back from a tour with LeRoy, Talma and Bosco magic comdination. Ed H. Bell, manager ‘‘Elsie’? Show. Will leave New York for Spartanburg, 8S. C., about March 10 to join the Rubin & Cherry Shows. Elsie plays the World’s Museum in Philadelphia for two weeks, opening February 14. Albert K. Greenland, of the Rothacker Film Company. Ed Lawrence, of the famous vaudeville team of Lawrence and Harrington. Now selling auto= as Elmer Tenley puts it—and doing well. Joe Frost, whistle expert with HagenbeckWallace Circus. Harry E. Tudor has recovered from a few days’ illness, which confined him to his home in Brooklyn. D. W. Benson, of the Korris & Isser concession enterprises. me Rosen, concessioner, with World of Mirth ows. C. Barthel, George F. Donovan, Lester Miller, Harry Witt and Louis King. John J. Steblar, light Shows. Broadway. David Kirsch, well-known concessioner of Coney Island, N. Y. . Elmer J. Walters, manager Yorkville Theaer. Al Sweet, famous producer of musical acts, and a bandmaster of note. Was to leave New York February 12 to attend the big outdoor show meeting in Chicago week of February 14. Floyd C. Thompson, former park showman, and theatrical manager and producer. W. J. Hanley, one of the most efficient and best known of the circus agents. Edward Starks, talker from Coney Island. Was on the front of Luna Park last season. Jack Cliff, concessioner. In from Cincinnati. Louis Ravelle, formerly a well-known acrobat of the Ravelle Troupe, which played with the Pubillones Circus. P. De Laurenti. Concert Band. Texas Cooper. Working in a seven-reel thriller with Al Jennings, the producer and former Wild West man. Jerry Barnett. Putting on a big dance at Coney Island. Will have a number of concessions with the R. H. Miner Model Exposition Shows. Mart McCormack, who will have three shows with Al Cramer’s Shows. He was on his way by auto to Easton, Pa. J. J. Kane, going in the concession business. Stopping at Hotel Endicott. The following literary lights just ‘‘went out’: H. W. Marcus, Clifford B. Knight, Ed Randall, Edward LeRoy Rice and Edward Haffel. Jack Hayden, dramatic stock actor of note. Thinking of establishing a permanent stock house. Bought $15,000 worth of owner and manager StarHas opened his new office on Is bandmaster of his Allied Matthew J. Riley. show equipment from Joseph G. Ferari and Company. ‘ Alfreno Swartz. Steve A. Woods, general representative C. A. Wortham, accompanied by John Alexander Pollitt and Meyer Taxier, of the same ina Mr. Woods left for Chicago and points est. C. Barthel visited John P. Martin at Hanover Park, Meriden, Conn. Says it will be a big winner as it has many natural advantages and beauty. PUBLICITY PROMOTERS What They Say and Do _By ALFRED NELSON (Communications to our New York Offices, Putnam Bldg., 1493 Broadway.) SO SAY WB Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 4, 1921. Alfred Nelson, Putnam Bidg., 1405 Broadway, New York City. Dear Sir—Noting your publicity column in The Billboard and realizing its worth to those connected in press promoting and the advance Geld, feel that it is my duty to register. This is a department that should receive just attention and also keep the employer in touch with live wires and progressive, energetic workers. My line is advance contractor and press— working the two lines in conjunction for the smaller organizations. During the past two years I have been out of the business and working in the capacity of secretary, etc. The old call has returned and this year I will again hit the road. My debut into the outdoor amusement business Was some twenty years ago. Have served twelve years with different carnivals. Worked for Dan Nagel as barker on his pit show when 16 in Reading, Pa. Was advance press and general assistant for Byron Spaun, Spaun’s United Show, when but 19 years of age. My experience was not the polished surface or any specified branch, but from the ground up. Rope splicing, canvas, stake driving, loading, etc. Altho today but 28 my experience is really general with full understanding of what is going on behind. Possibly there are many more and The Rillboard can surely bring them together with their name registered in your much needed and verg desirable column. My best wishes to the get-together acquaintance department for agents in this line. To say it will be successful needs no mentioning, for The Rillboard has had no rival in my past twelve years as subscriber and purchaser. Nod explanation is needed for its remarkable success, Only expert, progressive methods have been its innovation since its birth. With congratulations to you in this denertment and with kindest regards to the entire staff I am, Sincerely yours, FREDERICK DE COURSEY, 16038 W. Lehigh Ave. AN ACTUAL AGENT 442 E. 3rd St., Williamsport, Pa Feb. 7th, 1921. Mr. Alfred Nelson, Care The Billboard, New York City. Dear Sir—Congratulations on your new department. It is bound to be very popular witn the boys. As soon as the directory is ready please advise me, as I want to be in on it at the start. Wishing you the very best of success, I am, Very truly yours, (Signed) BERT W. LOWE. COMB AGAIN, COLONEL Tampa, Fla., Feb. 3, 1921. Dear Nelse: Arrived back .on ‘‘the farm’ all right, and enjoyed my trip to the metropolis immensely, especially so the visit to the Aquarium, accompanied by one Willum Judge-Kin Hewitt. 1 wish to compliment you on your ideas regarding the publicity department for publicity men. It will give ‘‘us boys’ of the poor, downtrodden eraft an opportunity of seeing our own names in print. Now I will not be compelled to say Johnny J. Jones ‘‘did this’ or ‘“‘that,"’ but should a chambermaid be rescued by me from the burning hotel, or a boy run over by the au tomobile, or a ‘‘chicken” saved from the onslaughts of her jealous lover, a trip made in an airplane or an extra amount of ‘‘dope’”’ put over on ye local editor, knowing your permanent address and with a tightened grip on my trusty typewriter (machine, 1 mean) I will just dash off the item and exclaim: ‘Here are the papers for Nelse, who will take them?’ Uncle Sam answers: “I will.’”” And then my fame is emblazoned upon the pages of The Agents’ Mouthpiece, The Billboard. For this, and all past favors, d N S then oun, ear OLD Nelse, Also Ed R., Jr., thanks you. As B4, ED R. SALTER. Dick Bambrick, agent of the Greater Sheesle shows, is wintering in Florida. , Gene Robinson, late of daily papers at Jack— Fda. Savannah, Ga.; Louisville, Ky., an incinnati, O., is now on The Charl Mail at Charleston, Va. mane: Bill Barie, press agent and formerly with one of the C. A. Wortham enterprises, is now = ye Be * ——— he will be identified with e sky Studios’ publicity department at Hollywood or Los Angeles. Joe Collins, formerly advance agent for the Pendletons, mind readers and crystal gazers, is at his home in Browklyn and is now engaged in commercial work. No more road for Joe, says Chester F. Rice is stil! making history shead of Morris Gest’s “Aphrodite,” and the newspapers all along the line are giving him plenty of space. Chester writes good clean copy and it is news. That's the answer. Harry Moore, a former Barnum & Bailey advance agent, is now retired and living comfortably at Canton, 0. William Bork, an old side partner of his, is managing the billposting plant at Amsterdam, N. Y. William McCarthy, president of the International Alliance of Billposters and Billers of the United States and Canada, is the big chief of Shubert’s Crescent, likewise a native of Brooklyn, where he is affiliated with several political and numerous fraternal organizations. Paul Mallon, once of The Louisville Courier Journal, short story writer and press agent, is now in New York City, where he is holding down a desk job with the United Press. Paul is an old s‘de partner of Sydney Wire, and it is thru Sydney that the news of his whereabouts comes. Who remembers the odd publicity stunts pulled by the late Sam Dessauer, who was one of the liveliest non-newspaper advance agents who ever stepped out ahead of a show? Sam used to wake up every morning with a new idea, and Sam's ideas were usually bright and of real publicity value. An old agent asks why we never hear any word from John Bartley Campbell, Campbell B. Casad, Chester Rice, Billy Wilkins, Willard Cogey, Walter Mevenger, Wally Decker, Clarence Perkins, Eddie Pigeon, William Raymond Sill, Tom North, Frank Winch, Ora O. Parks,, Johnny Black, Walter Duylan, Frank Cruikshank, Wells Hawks, Arthur Bennett, Jobn Wilstach, Charles McClintock and the rest of the old guard? Kick in with a line once in a while, boys. Let's get together. W. C. (“Bill”) Fleming, general contracting agent for the T. A. Wolfe Superior Shows, was in New York recently looking over various show features for the Wolfe enterprises. Bill, who claims that he is lining up some real towns for his shows, left New York for Philadelphia February 7. Who are the agents who carry canned copy that is single spaced and that contains so many superfluous adjectives that the newspaper editors get giddy trying to rewrite it? Whoever they are—and there are plenty of them—they are a harmful influence to the business of free space grabbing. Arthur Holstein, special agent, promoting publicity for ‘‘Way Down East," has been in Providence for the past eight weeks, where he was ably assisted by W. L. Phillipsen, formerly of Barnum & Bailey-Ringling Bros.’ Car No. 3. The work of these hustling agents, supplemented by the drawing quality of the show, kept the Onera House crowded. Phillipsen goes back on the car when the blue birds sing in the spring tra-la. The Grand Opera Horse, London, Ont., can well be named ‘‘The Agents’ Paradise.’’ John Mirhinock, for seventeen years the house manager, greets everyone with a warm handshake and a broad smile, and anything one wants to do to get his attraction money is helped along by the genial manager. The box-office is presided over by Tom Fanham and ‘Frank Briglia, two chans who are ever rendy to serve and accommodate you. Fred Parker is advertising agent, and all shows get a showing, for Fred does not have a Charlie Box. After an agent makes London he feels the show business is not so bad after all. Sydney Wire, chief of publicity department for the T. A. Wolfe enterprises, is still in the City Hospital at Louisville, where he is receiving special treatment at the hands of Dr. J. W. Williams and Profesor Howe, two well-. known nerve specialists. Sydney says that he is happy and comfortable and he is grateful to the boys for their cheering messages. He acknowledges the receipt of many cards and letters from friends all over the country, but says that there are still a few of the old pals who have forgotten to drop him a line. A line or two when one is confined in a hospital is always cheering, says Sydney, and we re-echo his sentiments. OPEN LETTERS (Continued from page 33) can do so when a theater comes out with an invitation to young men to visit the artists’ dressing rooms? Is it any wonder the fanatics are trying to pass blue laws? Is it any wonder the preachers and reformers are making sucn ‘ a howl? I run a road show, have a wife and grown daughter and I thank God they are clean. Now if any young men should visit their dressing tent for the purpose of seeing a disrobing stunt I cannot tell you what they would see there. But I can tell you mighty quickly what they would get—just exactly what they would get should Mr. Theater Manager catch them peeping into his wife's or daughter’s bedroom. Either a load of shot or the police patrol. I glory in the spunk of The Billboard and the stand it is taking. I love the profession and its people, but Great God, must our wives and daughters be compelled to suffer infamous indignities in order to secure a livelihood? Mr. Editer, I am not much of a writer. My name seldom appears in The Billboard, but when I read Harry Mountford’s ‘‘What Next?’* article it made my blood boil. Will conclude by making an earnest appeal to every decent person in the show world. Let us not stand for this. Let us put our shoulders to the wheel and down everything that 1s detrimental. Put whisky out and likewise dirty shows, vulgar pictures and the like. Stick to ‘em, Mr. Mountford. Yours for a square deal and clean shows, M. B. VIOLETT®, Manager, Violette’s Overland Show. Detroit, Mich., Feb. 2, 1921. Editor The Billboard: Dear Sir—I wish you could find space for this letter, so that Scott Leslie may know what the profession and public think of his views. The following is a quotation from Mr. Leslie’s letter: “T told him (meaning agent) what salary ! wanted net, and I got fe every week.”’ Here's another: ‘“‘The agent has given me more than my stated salary many times.’’ Mr. Leslie, may I ask you if that was during the strike? Or was your salary so low that the agent was ashamed and gave you more? You say you have always found that the managers pay a fair salary. What do you call a fair salary? Don’t you think it would be much better for an artist to go to his or her organization and get his or her bookings without paying the five or ten per cent to the agents? I look for that time to come, and Mr. Mountford is the man who can do it, if he gets the cooperation of. the members, but not such members as you were, Mr. Leslie. We all know that the members of Equity accomplished wonders in their last strike, but it was done thru Unionism. You remember the remark the actor made in the N. V. A. Clap rocws New Year's Eve: “My father was @ White Rat and I’m a White Rt too.” He de fied them all, and told them what was in bis heart. Now, Mr. Leslie, allow me to remark that my father was a union man and 60 am I. You stated your views on the subject when you said: “I was faithful to the order while I belonged to it, but I would not obey me strike.”” The good fellows went out on for better conditions, but you failed. Now you have the nerve to say: “I wish the Artists who read my letters to see that I’m writing for the good of the profession.’* In my estimation, Mr. Leslie, the best thing you did for the order was to quit it. AS. 8. JANIS, gl FT ELEN, lt RS rai ey eB Faas Se eran ‘ny oe 1 Ht bh =“ ong A a ye k ; us NE ae | 4: ‘ on ¥ Me ae re Se ld peti eres. ei ted eqs > sega Ee SA a cea re 4 ageing if ia ¥ ; ‘