The Billboard 1921-12-31: Vol 33 Iss 53 (1921-12-31)

DECEMBER 31, 1921 The Billboard 9 pencil.” That is a * rdship for which there is, in our opinion, no moral justification unless two weeks’ compensation is paid actor, American Movies Admired in South America George Farle Raiguel, lecturer on Current Events, in his lecture on “‘U, S. and the Other Americas,"’ recently said that in South America we were thought to be dollar-chasers, without romance or chivalry. But, he continued, American films were proving a potent factor towards a better understanding. The women and children down there are permitted to visit our motion pictures because they are carefully censored, while they rarely patronized the films of other countries since they are apt to be too ‘‘realistic.’’ South America gets its best films possibly from the States. Our artistie photography, fine casts, wonderful lighting, and go forth, are great'y appreciated, but the fact that virtue always triumphs, and that romance, chivalry and sentiment abound is a constant source of amazement to our neighbors and is causing them to have a much better opinion of us. Foreign Entanglements We have received the following letter: A new situation bas arisen in connection with the actor's sphere of emp'cyment. How would you like to go to Europe is question that is being put to many of us. There is evidently a movement afoot to transfer American picture-making units abroad. The 52-week contract naturally appeals to all. <A trip to Europe might also tempt many and cause them to overlook certain conditions. Here are a few which occur to me. Wil! I receive my salary in Americon money? Will it be net, free of the foreign tax? A point which must not be overlooked js thet we must pay a tax to America whether we work here or over there. Will the return fare be guaranteed, as well as a specific period of employment? I call attention to these matters because they appear to me to be important and eteps should be taken to cantion the unwary. Informatio should be obtained from the State Departmen regarding the tax conditions abroad.—Leslie King. We need hardly remind our members that whenever they receive an offer to go abroad ‘t would be the part of wisdom to call at tne A. E. A, offices and receive all necessary information. Council Refutes P. M. A. Claim Certain members of the P. M. A. would like to see the given number of performances computed at the end of the season rather than at the end of the week. They contend thet en one-night stands they are often able to give no more than six performances a week, whevea? upon other occasions they could give nine. At the end of the season the average would rarely be more than eight. We believe there is little chance of the council seeing its way to an adjustment along these lines. —FRANK GILLMORE, Executive Secretary. New Candidates Regular Members—Marsh Allen, Harold Anstruther, Marre Berne, Marjorie Brorelle, James Cangialosi, Helen § Cunningham, Edgar L. De Brocq, Charles IT. O'Donnell, Ethel Blair O'Donnell, Robert Jack Dunbar, Goby Fleury, Florence Hackett, Mrs. F. G. Harrington, Marion F. Jenkins, fsabelle Leonard, Grace ©. Russell, Robert Starr, Teddy Tolputt, Flwood F. Bestwick. Members Without Vote Junior Members—Jeanne Collette, Mary ‘Varry, Chicago Office Regular Members—Frieda Berkoff, Louls Ber koff, Leo Stevens. Motipn Picture Section Regular Members—Gladys Miller, Betty Pees Los Angeles Office Regular Members—Francis Brissell, Jeanne Carpenter, Gertrude Fitzpatrick, Dale Fuller, Charles Gordon, Hazel Maye, Jean O'Rourke, Betty Peterson, Lillian Rosine, Barrett Rodney Whitelaw. Kansas City Office Regtlar Members—Ronney Allard, Jimmie Alard, Robert W. Capers, Tom Lewis, George Lowry, Howe Atidubon Sneed, Al Warda, Paul MH. Wills, TRUSTEE SUES Canton, 0., Dec, 23.-—-William L. Zink, trustee for Frank Lupson, bankrupt, has fied suit tn Common Pleas Court against the S. Manhelm Amusement Enterprises to collect $4,000 on two notes. He has also sued the Continental Insurance Company for $2,200.12 as aettiement for the destruction of a building by fire. COLUMBUS THEATER OPENS Columbus, 0., Dec. 24.—J. F. Luft fs manaGer, end Fred A, Roosevelt, assistant manager of the new State Theater, opened by J. W. and W. J. Dusenbury on December 21, SUPPORTERS AND ALL OTHER SUPPLIES. Send for Free Illustrated Catalogue, WAAS -& SON, 226 N. Sth St,, Philadelphia, Pa, NEW GILLIS THEATER OPENS NEW YEAR’S DAY Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 24.—The Kansas City representative of The Billboard was treated to a very agreeable surprise on calling at the Gillis Theater, or more properly the ‘‘New Gillis Theater," for it is that in every sense of the word, as the only remaining feature of the old Gillis is the walls. J. W. Holmes, owner and manager, said that he planned on opening the New Gillis New Year’s Day with a colored minstrel show and that he is in negotiation with L, B, (Doc) Holtkamp for the minstrel troupe he hag assembled to tour Western Kansas, Missouri and Texas this winter. Mamie Smith and her Jazz Hounds are echeduled for January 20, 21 and 22. ‘The policy of the house will be pictures and vaudeville or musical tab, shows, Mr. Holmes has expended over thirty thonsand dollars in remodeling this former prom!nent and dominant K. C. theater. New floors have been installed, new stage, new dressing rooms, hew carpets, box draperies, stairs, railings and all trimmings. The entire interior of the theater has been repainted and is now a beautiful light blue shade; the new seats of Nght gray blend very nicely and the box draperies of a darker blue are a tone study and very effective, SAVANNAH THEATER OPENS Savannah, Ga., Dec. 19.—The new Lucas Theater, one of the finest {n the South, opened today. Arthur Lucas is owner and builder of the theater, which cost a half million dollars, High-class moving pictures is the policy. DETROIT’S LARGEST THEATER OPENS NEXT WEEK AS MOVIE ay Detroit, Dec. 26.—The Capitol, Detroit's largest theater, will open next week with a cinema policy, according to the John H. Kunsky Enterprises, operat.rs, who also control the Madison, Adams and severa! other large houses here. The Capitol, occupying a three-cornered site adjacent to Grand Circus Park, will seat 4,200. Outwardly the new theater, which is said to rank as one of the five largest and finest in America, gives the appearance of a big hotel. Its cost is placed at $2,500,000. The stage will be fully equipped and large enough to accommodate big traveling productions. There will be four projection machines and a special! lighting bridge concealed in the auditorium, equipped with two powerful spot and flood lights. A $50,000 pipe organ is being installed and there will be a forty-five-piece orchestra. Ferty girl ushers are included in the staff of sixty house employees, NEW CHICAGO MOVIE Chicago, Dec. 25.—Work is soon to begin on another new West Side movie house, at Karlov and West North avenues, to cost $400,000. The Tiffin Theater Company is back of the enterprise. DIRECTS CHINESE CAST —<* Chicago, Dec. 24.—Walter Mann has just finished directing a one-reel comedy, with an all-Chinese cast. Mr. Mann was formerly with the Fox studios, New York. GINGER’S FAMOUS TROUBADOURS This well-known musical organization is under the management of Miss Ginger Murray. Bach member doubles on one of more instruments. Male quartet, song and dance sax., and plano, Chorus Equity Association of America BLANCHE RING, President, DOROTHY BRYANT, Executive Secretary. Ten new members joined the Chorus Equity in the past week. A member of Chorus Equity has asked why chorus people, who presumably get smaller salaries than do principal’, should pay the same amount of dues, Bquity is a democratic organization, Every member of the association, either Chorus’ Equity or Actors’ Bquity, gets the same treatment, While it is true that there are stats in the Actors’ Bquity who get salaries of five hundred a week and up, as in any other business, the people who earn such salaries are in the minerity. There are many members of the Actors’ Equity Association who are paid very little more than is paid the chorus of a first-class production. Some get less. In addition to this, small part people are never as constantly employed as are chorus people. The man who is getting three hundred a week does not need the Equity. He can take care of himself. The twelve dollars a year that he pays, plus the added strength of the Equity thru his membership, is his donation to the cause of helping those who®have not yet reached his position in the profession, the small-part actor and the member of the chorus—chorus people get more from the association than do principals, Your sleepers are supplied for vou. You can rehearse only four weeks without salary, Wyile principals in musical comedy rehearse five, All costumes, including shoes and stockings, are supplied for you. You have an engagement department, which charges no commission, Equity lias brought many stranded companies back to New York. In every musical comedy company brought back there are naturally more chorus people than principals. It costes just as much to bring a small-salaried. person back from St. Louls or Chicago as high-salaried men, And we don't have to pay transportation for the high-salaried man. Our members were notified at a meeting in May, 1920, that the raise in dues would be discussed at a meeting in August. In August it was decided to take a vote on it at a meeting in November, 1920. The motion to raise the dues was made from the floor and freely discussed. The members present were of the opinion that 25 cents a week was very little to pay for the protection offered, and the motion to make the dues twelve dollars a year, which is a little less than 25 cents a week, was made from the floor. The member who asked the question was satisfied with the explanation, and asked that it be put in the deputy report, as she felt there were many who felt as she had about it. In its every action Equity has tried to prove that it is as fair to the manager as to the actor. There was a misundetstanding in the ‘‘Kissing Time’? Company as to the amount of money due three chorus people in that company. The manager, John Campbell, made out checks for the amount tn dispute to your executive secretary, sent them to this office asking that the checks be given the girls if yout executive thought their claims just. After an investigation it was found that two of the girls were entitled to the money, and the third was not. You have gone a long way in winning your fight when managers feel that your association is so just that they can freely leave such decisions in its hands, The Executive Committee wishes a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to every member of Chorus Equity.—DOROTHY BRYANT, Executive Secretary, AFTER THOUGHTS ‘What Do You Remember Cer: tain Towns and Cities For? By ELMER J. WALTERS Two film actors standing in front of Loew's State Theater, New York, were soberly discussing domestic problems, One of them said: “Louie, if I had a wife such as you describe and complain of I’d send her on a vacation to the Thousand Islands with instructions to spend ove month on each island.”” ‘How about making her work,’’ said the other, ‘‘vacations cost money and a lot of studios are closed."’ Now that touring shows are being trucked from storage houses and landed at railroad stutions for a season taken by doubting Thomases to be one of uncertain profits, a recipe is herewith tendered for use in territory needing special attention as the season wears on, This system is especially recommended to company managers not afraid of work and may be applied by touring one-night attractions in need of heroic measures during the season to induce the fond publie to believe the show will live up to its hera'ded play-bill promises. The system works best when a town is booked where the editor of The Morning Advocate is friendly to the profession. It is best if said editor has just concluded a term in the governor’s chair. There are such spots. They can be wildcatted if need be—wildcatting such a stanq is good practice and may prevent an agent’s worriment over where his expense account will reach. The ex-governor musf have no social affair on the evening of the entertainment—he must witness the show. After your first act (don’t wait until after the countup) tell him you wish to purchase 500 copies of his next morning’s issue which will contain the criticism of your show. If the audience has failed to enthuse “_ the first act because two of your cast hav issed the train when the show changed cars at Uneeda Junction, and the carpenter and propertyman of the company have been pressed into service in {mportant parts to prevent disappointing the audience, just tell the ex-governor-editor you will raise the ante to one thousand copies instead of five hundred, The next move is most important for results. About 2 a.m. pay a personal visit to the press room of The Morning Advocate. Be careful to hold in evidence a five spot marked “‘foreman.”* The latter may be told your are not particular in what section of the paper your criticism appears for the home circulation, but ask if, when running off your 1,000 copies, it is not possible to stop the press and throw out some A. P. stuff from the front page, just enough to admit your criticism. If the five-spot is properly three-sheeted the I. M. copies will be trimmed by the foreman until the front page contains only your valued notice plus The Morning Advocate heading with date of issue, thus allowing you to make your train handily with the excellent notice bulging from the coat pockets. Upon arrival fn the following town halves, ones and threes sheet posters should be gotten out announcing? “Read what ex-Governor Glutenbread says about Tarvia Typewriter Girls’ Musical Comedy Company.” It’s sure-fire success stuff and only needs the town as aforesaid mentioned where (Cotninued on page 101) GAYNELL MACK Member of the vaudeville team of Gaynell and Mack, now playing tbe Keith big time. \