The Billboard 1921-04-30: Vol 33 Iss 18 (1921-04-30)

The Billboard APRIL 30, 1921 — OBITUARIES ALGERS—George, connected with the stage and outdoor theatricals for years, died in Duallas, Tex., April 18. Last season Mr. Algers was with ©. A. Wortham’s Shows and at the time of his death was end man and soloist with the Charles D. Wright Minstrels. lis death was caused by heart trouble. BOLTON—Catherine, known from Coast to Coast as the actors’ friend, affectionately called **Aunt Kate’ by them, died April 22 in her boarding house st 314-316 West Forty-sixth street, New York City. CAMERON—Mrs, James, who was well known im vaudeville as a member of a mind-reading act, committed suicide in her apartment in the Bronx, New York, recently. Her husband is in theatrical supply business. LI—Concettina, sister of Prof. A. OBiarelli, band leader, died in Castrofilippo, Italy, recently. LLINS—W. D., stage hand with Gus Hill's “Mutt and Jeff’ Company, died April 6 at Los Angeles, Cal. Collins was fatally stricken while high up in the fly wings. Fellow workmen were upaware of his condition until they saw one of his hands hanging over the scaffold. COREY—Andrew, human fly, was killed in Baltimore, Md., April 23, when he fell from the eizth floor of a hotel building, which he was climbing for the benefit of a local orphanage. a about thirty years old. RDOBA—<Antoinette, well-known actor, @ied April 23 in New York City. The funeral will be held Tuesday at the Church of Saint Ignatius Loyola, New York. DEE—Brother of Tom E. Dee, vaudeartist, @ied April 19. The deceased was a non-professional and served in the navy during the World War. DONNELLY—Alice, former secretary to Adolph Klavber, the theatrical producer, died ril 16 in the Bellevue Hospital, New York ty, from blood poisoning. ERNST—Jack, of the Loretta Twins Troupe, died in San Juan, Porto Rica, April 10, FINLEY—T. Spencer, Negro, manager of the Lincoln and Lyceum theaters, Cincinnati, 0O., died in that city April 23. His death was due to heart trouble. FITZGIBBON—Patrick, for many years stage door keeper at the Cort Theater, New York City, died April 11, FRANKLIN— Mrs. Lillian Roth, formerly appearing on the stage as a member of the team, the D’Alve Sisters, musical performers, and as the Gutta VPercha Girl, in Daly’s “Arabian Nights,” died in Flushing Hospital, New York City, April 21. Her husband, Leslie R. Franklin, artificial stone manufacturer, survives. GIBSON—John, of the vaudeville team of Gibson and Binney, died at Danvers, Mass., April 4. GOODWIN—Frank L., formerly prominent theatrical manager, died April 11 at St. Anne’s Hiespital, New York City. GRANT—Mrs. Bert, wife of the song writer, died April 17, in New York City, following a sbort illness. Her death is said to have been due to an overdose of sleeping powders. HIGHT—Ferdinand, actor and guest of the Actors’ Fund Home, Staten Island, died there April 23 at the age of 91. Born in England he came to this country and appeared on the Amerjean stage for nearly 6D years. Among the great actors he appeared with were E. H. Sothern, Charles B. Hanford, Frank Mayo and Augustin Daly. His last appearance was made in 1909. A widow, known on the stage as Bessie Hunter, also a guest of the Fund Home, survives him. She was married to Hight over 55 years ago. OZIER—William Oglivie, brother-in-law of the famous author, Winston Churchill, was found shot thru the head in Paris, France, April 15. HUGHEY—Walter L., prominent in vaudeville circles, died April 13, at his home in Empire, O., from self-inflicted wounds. Surviving are a widow, son and daughter. LaCROIX—Mrs. Dina fFeron, mother of Aurore LaCroix, pianist, passed away at Southbridge, Mass., April 5. She was 59 years old. LANGIN—James J., army aviator, was killed April 15 at Bolling Field, Washington, He was descending to make a landing and was within 200 feet of the ground when his plane fell. LANGRAD (Crolius)—Catherine L., died at Lenox Hills Hospital, New York, April 19. The deceased was 54 years old and appeared for many years in vaudeville and musical comedy. Surviving is her husband, Charles Crolius, former vaudeville actor. McENROE—Mrs. Julia, died at her home in Attleboro, Mass., April 1, of pneumonia. The deceased was the mother of Joe McEnroe, manager of the Mae LaPorte Stock Company, and William McEnroe, of the same company. MARKS—\rs., mother of Ernie Marks, manager of the stock company bearing his name, died April 9 at Christie Lake, Can., at the age of &#. Seven sons and two daughters survive. Her husband died seventeen years ago. MURPHY—Robert P., who, it is said, originated the cabaret in this country twenty years ago, died in Albany, N. Y., April 15. Mr Murphy had also been identified with several hotels in the East. Vandeville also claimed his attention for a while. NEWMAN—Dan (Curly). erstwhile trainer of Robinson’s elephants, died recently in the West, according to a report. PARKER—Harry Doel, theatrical producer, died at Miami, Fla., April 19. He was the husband of Lottie Blair Parker, author of “‘Wey Down East.’ Mr. Parker, originally an actor, had a varied career in the profession. He was 61 years old PHILIPS—i, C., noted author and playwright, died in London April 21. His play, *‘As in a Looking Glass,’’ was the first English production in Paris by Mme. Sarah RPernhardt. PONCE—Ethel, known in vaudeville and in the music business, and wife of Phil Ponce, writer and sales manager for Jack Mills, Inc., Gied April 14, following an operation for mastoid. The deceased was associated with Stella Tracy in big-time vaudeville. She was born in Boston and showed marked ability as a pianist and composer. Her husband and two daughters, Ethel and Dorothea, survive. PURVIS—l'uul Hickman, son of Bert H. Purvis, well known in the outdoor show world, died in Coblenz, Germany, of pneumonia, recently. The deceased was a mewber of the U. S. Marine Service. His body will be brought to this country for burial. ROCHE—Peter, father of Frank Granby, of the vaudeville team, Granby and Grant, passed away at his home in Birmingham, Eng., April 2. ROWLAND—wSelah, formerly treasurer of the Casino and the Majestic Theaters, New York City, died in Cincinnati, O., April 12, following un operation. Ile was a brother of Walter Rowland, manager ef the 44th St. Theater, New York. SCHRAM—Plegcy, former member of “George White's Scandals’’ Company, died April 18, at the Manhattan State Hospital, New York. The deceased was 20 years old. STORK—Mrs. A. T., died at the home of her parents in Coffeyville, Kan., April 16. The deceased had been ailing a long time. Surviving are a husband and two children, SWEETMAN—lIlenry, well-known theatrical manager of New York City, associated with the Selwyns for years, died suddenly April 24, at Misericordia Hospital. The deceased was born in Philadelphia sixty years ago and had been connected with theatricals for over forty years. He managed many successful attractions, including “Buddies,” “‘Nighty Night,” ‘“‘Woman of Bronze” and ‘“‘Lilae Time.” Mr. Sweetman was a member of the Elk and Masonic lodges and of the Friars’ Club, where he generally resided. THALHOFER—Mrs. LBessie Gillespie, well known as & character actress, died at Toledo, O., April 15. She retired from the stage in 1912, the year she was me ried, She is survived by a husband, mother and two sisters. TREXTER—Chariles A., half brother of Frank Whitman, a celebrated violinist now appearing in London, Eng., died in New York City recently. ‘His death was due to dropsr. WE ar, composer, died in San Francisco April 16. Mr. Weil possessed several un!versity degrees and had composed operas. He was dramatic critic for a San Francisco weekly pub lication for many years. MARRIAGES BROADHURST-HARRAH—Basil Broadhurst, son of George Broadhurst, dramatist ‘and producer, and Jacquelina Harrah, were married in Greenwich, Conn., April 16. CONKLIN-ISHAM—Wapyne Conklin, Jr., the youngest of the Conklin boys, well known in the racing game, and Pearl Isham, formerly appearing as a dancer with the ‘‘Midnight Century Whirl,” were married at Jeffersonville, Ind., April 22. D’ANNUNZI10-BACCARA—Gabrie!l D’ Annunzio, the Italian soldier-poet, formerly insurgent Italian leader in Fiume, and Signorina Luisella Baccara, a native of Venice, celebrated thruout Europe as a pianist, were married April 16, near Lugano, Italy. DUNCAN-BADGER—H., WG. (Fat) Duncan and Nell Badger, both well known in the outdoor show world, were married in Kansas City, Mo., April 23. HAYNES-REDMOND—Al Haynes and Julia Redmond were married April 17 at Lynn, Mass. MITCHELL-BRADLEY—Daney Mitchell, of New York City, and Blanch Bradley, chorus girl, were married in Kansas City, Mo., April POLERCAVETTE—Donald Sweet Poler, a student of Syracuse University, and Laura May Cavette, organist at the Strand Theater, Syracuse, N. Y., were married last week at St. Paul's Church. RUSSELL-GEORGE—Robert Russell, a young California business man, and Gladys George, movie actress with Thomas H. Ince, were married recently. SABINE-TAPPEN—Frank Sabine, well-known in vaudeville, whose real name is Frank Sabourin, and Teddy Tappen, known privately as Helen Eisner, a member of the vaudeville team of “Tappen and Armstrong,’ were married in New York City April 20. SAGE-ALLISON—F. L. Sage, nonprofessional, and Peggy Allison, a member of the “Mecca"’ Company, were married about two weeks ago when that company played Wellsville, Mo. SCUREIDER-POWERS—Louis Schreider, of New York City, formerly on the stage and known to the profession as Jack Howard, and Peggy Powers, whose real name is Edith Framer Hockercon, were married at Attleboro, Mass., April 9. TABACHNIAK-CURTIS—Samuel FE. Tabachniak, non-professional, and Jane Curtis, of the Curtis Trio, were married April 9 in New York City WOODS-AULBY—George A. Woods. formerly in burlesque, and now with Gus Hill's “Mutt and Jeff” Company, and Mildred Anlby, of the same company, were married at Altoona, Pa., BIRTHS To Mr. and Mrs. Louis K. Adams, Aprfl 17, a baby girl weighing 8'4 pounds. Mr. and Mrs. Adums are well known in dramatic stock circles. Both mother and baby are doing fine. To Mr. and Mrs. Julius Arnstein, at Stern Private Hospital, New York City, a son, April 23. Mrs. Arnstein is known professionally as Fannie Brice. To Mr. and Mrs. Morton Beck, or boy weighing 7'5 pounds, To Mr. and Mrs, E. C. Clay, a baby boy, reeently. Mr. Clay represents the Crescent and Federated Film companies of Kansas City April 5, a To Mr. and Mrs. George M. Coban, Ynd, a Aaughter, at their home in New York City, April 17. Mr. Cohan is treasurer of the Sam If Harris Theater, New York, and is a cousin to George M. Cohan, the playwright and producer. To Mr. and Mrs. Clyde C. Cole, a S4pound girl, early in April. Mr. Cole is at the present time with the Young-Adams Company, playing in Canada. Mrs. Cole was known to the profes sion as Mina LaReane. The child has been nawed Vera Ethel. To Mr. and Mrs. Hal A. Curtis, April 7, a baby boy, weighing 7',; pounds. The young fellow has been christened Hal Thomas Curtis. To Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Hood, April 12, a son, Richard, Jr. Mr. Hood is a costumer. To Mr. and Mrs. VettingWl, on April 16, a daby boy weighing 9 pounds. fro Mr. and Mrs. James Richards on Easter Sunduy, a six-pound baby daughter. The parents were with the J. George Loos Shows last season, working for Hi-Ki Adams. To Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Sheldon, a boy, at the home of S. H. Cyrier, St. Peter, Minn., April 18 To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sordelet, of Flint, Mich., a daughter, April 20. DIVORCES Lady George Cholmondeley, of London, England, has been granted a divorce from Lord George Cholmondeley on the grounds of desertion and cruelty. She was formerly an American chorus girl. W. S. Dowling, New York business man, has been granted an absolute divorce from Theodora Dowling, former artist model and onetime show girl at the New York Winter Garden. Dowling Was represented by Raymond Neudecker of Washington, D. C. Mme. Antonia Dvorak, niece of Anton Dvorak, the famous cowposer, has filed action in the Chicago courts for divorce from her husband, Arthur J. Huston, a juggler. ‘He grew tired of me,” she said, in muking her application for alimony before Judge Foell, “‘because I was a foreigner and a daughter of an enemy nation. So he did his bit in the war by abusing me and juggling.” She wants $2,200 alimony. Che Mah, Chinese midget, 83, one of the smallest men in the world, has sued his American wife, five feet, six inches tall, for divorce at Knox, Ind. Che Mah is about 28 inches tall and weighs 40 pounds. Fef years he was an attraction at circus side-shows, but retired some time ago. Incompatibility is charged in the suit for divorce. FIDOS HOLD MEETING AND INDULGE IN FAVORITE SPORT (Continued from page ¥) stage, made short addresses in which they did their best to ridicule the Equity Shop issues and Equity actors in general, but the Governor's unexpected declaration in favor of unionism, as well as his eloquent exploitation of the stage of Kansas, apparently had a knockout effect upon the audience, for they remained as if dazed un til the meeting broke up, close to midnight. Any intelligent Fido knows that it is futile to bark at the moon, CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION TO BE STAGED AT LIMA, PERU (Continued from page 9) and courteous, that they welcome and appreciate enterprise, that they have plenty of money to spend for the goods that they want and are willme spend it. any’ amusement features will be sent from the United States, special arrangements having been made with once of the largest steamship companies plying between New York and Lima to transport upwards of 500 tons of amusement paraphernalia, consisting ef acts ef various kinds, riding devices, shows, concessions, etc., which are now being booked thru the offices of Walter K. Sibley. The party will leave New York May 12, and should arrive at Lima about May 25. Transportation is being paid both ways for all attractions, the money having been deposited with the steamship company in New York as an evidence of good faith, Arturo A. Shaw, representing the various Contennial interests, is now making his headquarters in Mr. Sibley’s office in New York. A special messenger arrived on the steamship Essequibo, of the Pacific Steam Navigation Co., with a letter of credit of gigantic proportions, which has been deposited with the Anglo-South American Bank of New York, this money to defray all necessary expenses of the outfit that is to leave New York. SONG WRITERS AND PUBLISHERS MAY REACH AN AGREEMENT (Continued from page 9) were given notice, unless thd@ would deliver their future compositions to the firm on a twocent royalty basis, that thelr drawing accounts would be suspended and they would have to take their wares elsewhere for publicntion. The song writers chose the latter alternative and quit. Up to today there was no indication of an immediate settlenent of the trouble, tho oLe is eventually looked for. WORTHAM HAS WONDERFUL OPENING AT SAN ANTONIO (Continned from page 9) his untiring efforts. A people garbed in the spirit of frivolity, ready and enger to enter upon a week's festivities, the center of which apex, is Clarence A. Worthem'’s Exposition Shows, All avenues led to and from its joy plaza, San Antonio had shed its winter coat and spring burst forth with a rush of blossoms end music. e No inaugural of amusement enterprises sailed forth more auspiciously than the one owned and controlleqd by Clarence A. Wortham. Never were ‘he environments of stage setting so idealistic: never before have epochs of history blended more harmoniously into the picture. Mr. Wortiam has leaped the wide gulch anu caught the heavenly jewe! calleq success, Almost on The identical spot where the Mexican general Santa Anna’s pand plaved ‘**The Decnillo,"’ the signal meaning ‘“‘no quarter’; almost next to the plice where Davy Crockett fell fighting furious!y against great odds; within bailing distance of che mission building erected by the Pronciseon Movks two centuries ago, the Wortham Shows are housed Mr. Vo tham « season has not only ontdove Gil his former efforts, but the whole amuse ment wortd will stand surprised when they tiew his gigantic underteking Opposition f@warfs by comparison, and competition melita like the snow under the July rays of the sun, A minute description baffies the imagination and forces the writer to acknowledge ou inability to find words in which to express its superlativeness We therefore leave future praise to the people, who wil! undoubtedly reward Mr. Wortham’s accomplishments, with wonderful attendance as he presents his mimature World's Fair on all the principal fair grounds of America and Canada, The attendance this year has been in keeping with the vnusual and high-class attractions, and all previous records for number of peuple entertained and the amount of money taken in by the shows has been broken, There are fortysix different shows on the three plazas here and sixteen ciding devices, as the World's Greatest Exposition Shows and the Alamo Shows have been combined for this occasion. The No 1 show will have over thirty attractions when it goes on the road from here this year. saca Roades and his corps of agsistants worked like Trojans this winter, and the amount of new and beautiful show parapleroalia they turned out js surprising. Roades, a recognized builder o1 show property, this year excelled all hig previous efforts, Ike Rose and his wonderful Bohemian ‘rwins, Rosa and Josefa Bilazek, have proven a tremendoug attraction, and the big tent has been crowded at all performances, both afternoon ang evening. These two women, grown together, are not only a most unusual freak, but exceptionally interesting, as they are well educated, interesting and accomplished musicians, Mr, Wortham has supplied Vern Tantlinger with what is probably the greatest array of talent ever in a carnival Wild West show. Besides Mr. Tantlinger and his wife there is Lalu Parr, woman bucking horse rider, who is the proud possessor of a gold medal, which was pinned on her by the !ate Theodore Roosevelt, when she won the championship honors at Cheyenne, Wyo. Bill Lorette, last year the feature and producing clown of the Sells-Floto show, keeps the spectators in a constant uproar with his funny and original antics. There are also abont fifteen real Indians, who take art in every performencve, and a company of sasacks, in daring r''ing exhibitions, besides @ large number of cowboys and cowgirls. The Hippodrome show is one of the new features, and bas a magnificent new front. Wild animals of all kinds ere put then their paces by Dolly Castle, and the Robinson elephants, which will join in a short time, will complete an.elaborate program, made up of clowns and many real circus acts. The Beach Models show has been entirely remodeled this year, and the performance is given in a gigantic tank, surrounded with circus seats that can accommodate 1,500 spectators. There fre a number of real features in the show now, including Mabel Smith, Josephine Fleming, Margucrite Willisoms, Florence Knox, and severa! others will join in a few weeks. The Smiles of 1921 is an elaborate musical comedy attraction, under the direction of Mrs. Harry Calvert. There are ten pretty and clever girls on the program, and they can dance and sing, besides posing in the art de luxe number which concludes the show. Bill Jones’ Autodrome is the final word in real thrilling, dare-devil performance. Jones this year has a corps of riders that probably cannot be improved on. Harry Wright and Bob Sheppard are the two men stars, and they are augmented by Dorothy Connell, Flodell Robe: and Jule Deno. These are but a few of the many feature attractions. Among the new rides with the Wortham Show this season are the Mile-a-Minute, Dodgem, Fly-a-Way, an enlarged Seaplane and, of course, the old standard rides, such as the Merry-Go-Rouné, Whip, Ferris Wheel, Human Roulette Wheel and Frolic are to be found on this gigantic midway, which in every way resembles and duplicates a miniature world’s fair and will be a most pleasant surprise to all outdoor amusement devotees this year. THURSTON’S MUSEUM, CHICAGO -_-o Chicago, April 21.—Terry Thurston told The Billboard this week that he is much pleased with the crowds that visited his Museum. The attractions this week include Jollie Trixie. fat girl; Abomah, giantess; Violet, armless wonder; “Rubber Neck’* Joe Cramer, Lonesuine Mack, carver; Prof. Austin’s Punch and Judy, the Great Gravityo, magician and lecturer, and Geraldine Hutchinson ang Gene Carter, pre senting Howard Thurston's beautiful illusion. “The Goddess cf the Sea” and “Diving Nympbs.”’ The honse staff includes Dan Katon, manager: Prof. Austin, assistant manager; Doe. Corer. stuge maneger. Mr. Thurston says he has booked the very best museum attractions. NEWLY WEDS HONORED Kansas City, Mo., Aoril 23.—H. H. (Fat) Duncan and Nell Badger were quietly marrien here this week at the Christian Church, and didn't let a word of it escape until it was “all over,’ but the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Heart of America Showman's Club gave them a little surprise porty ‘Tuesday night at their apartment, at whieh occasion a beantiful vase was presented the lovely bride, and where she made such a charming, gracious hosters (assisted, of course, by ‘‘Fat’’) that everyone voted it a “‘royal’’ party. Mr. and Mrs, Duncan are at home in an apartment of the apartment house owned by Mr. Duncan, at 2111-2 West 15th street. Mr. Duncan will not go out on the road this summer, bot will ccntinue to te his soft drink emporium at 1102 Baltimore avenue. MARTIN’S FAMOUS MIDWAY SHOWS —_—_=s Percy Martin's Famous Midway Shows adviee that they opened on the streets at Cumberland. Md., on Saturday night, April 24, to big business. The grounds were crowded and the midway packed with ® merry throng. The shows play Cumberland until April 30, Western port, Md., follows. There are five shows, three rides, forty-five concessions, a 12-piece band and an aerial free act. Have you looked thru the Letter List in this issue? There may be a letter advertised for you.