The Billboard 1923-09-29: Vol 35 Iss 5 (1923-09-29)

ee eaeee—CO ee The Billboard SEPTEMBER 29, 1923 WHEEL ATTRAC Yip, Yi, “Yi J 4 Y YY y Wy W// Z = = 4 “DRIVE THEM OUT” Al Singer Says “I Will’—The Billboard Says “Keep Them Out” New York, Sept. 20.—Prior to the opening of the current season the Columbia Amusement Company gave carte blanche to Walter K. Hill, director of the news bureau of the Columbia Circuit, to advise theater patrons thru tlhe press of the country of the fact that burlesque has been lifted from the mire of some twenty years ago, when drunken degenerates supported burlesque, to the present-day burlesque, supported by normal-minded men, women and children, and Mr. Hill has done his work well thru the co-operative influence of producing. managers of Columbia Circuit shows on their performers, and it is safe to say that there isn’t a show on the Columbia Circuit that cannot be attended by women and children alike with confidence, impunity and pleasure. So far we have reviewed five shows at the Columbia Theater in this city this season and friend wife has accompanied us to each and every one of them, and on several occasions we have had as guests other women of intellect and refinement, and at no time have we seen or heard anything in the show to cause them to blush with shame at being in a burlesque theater. We cannot say the same for the Mutual shows, for the reason that we have reviewed three so far this season at the Star Theater, Brooklyn, N. Y., and in all three shows we saw and heard things that can not be sanctioned by any moral-minded man, and we have not hesitated to criticize them severely in the columns of The Billboard and call the especial attention of Sam Raymond, manager of the Star Theater; Al Singer, general manager of the Mutual Burlesque Association, and the owners of shows to existing conditions, Sam Raymond claims that he has given imperative orders to managers of companies playing his house that performances must be clean and that suggestiveness and lewedness must be eliminated, but Mr. Raymond cannot stop at that, for if managers of companies cannot control their performers, Mr. Raymond can at least control his stage by giving his stage manager directions to ring down the curtain and Raymond refund the money to his patrons. It would only require the penalizing of one company along these lines to convince one and all alike that Mr. Raymond is sincere in his demand for clean shows, and if he has the courage of his convictions he will make this move effective on the next company offending with indecency in lines or action. When the attention of Al Singer was called to the offenders he issued orders immediately to remedy the evil, and, let it be said to their credit, that the producing managers have done so. But Mr. Singer shouldn't stop at that, Why wait until the harm is done? Why let one show discredit many? Why not get busy with censors unser wn to burlesquers, company mana performers and theater attaches alike, av t € € review the shows, not but several times? For it is a conceded it the offenders, knowing that a jour alistie reviewer or circuit censor is in the house, will work clean, and it is « y the very worst of the offenders who, in their ignorant arrogance think that they can defy criticism, resort to filth when a reviewer or censor the house. is in When the attention of Sam A. Scribner was called to the actions of these defiant offenders who are tearing down that which he associates are building up, he them out,’? and when it Singer, he said, ‘I will,’’ stopping at that, for we “Keep them out.’* Any performer, be it man or woman, so lost to common decency as to offend the decency of patrons of burlesque should be listed and the producing managers advised of their delinquency, so that producing managers can guard themselves against employinz such performers, who are a detriment to any show they appear ip and a discredit to burlesque in general. Wc have no desire to pose as a moralist, but ' and his said, ‘Drive repeated to Al but we are not was say, buriesque is a business that requires much time. labor and money for its production and presentation, likewise time and attention on the part of reviewers to cover the shows for the benefit of readers, and we would be just as guilty as the offcuders in burlesque if we Conducted by ALFRED NELSON SAM A. SCRIBNER SAYS “HIPPITY HOP” Censored and Commended New York, Sept. 20.—Peck & Kolb’s ‘‘Hippity Hop” on the Columbia Circuit was at first censored by the officials of the Columbia (Circuit and is now being commended by them for the reason that there have been numerous changes made in the show that now bring it up to the standard, Will H. Smith, the well-known producer, has spent some time on the show, and recasted the performers until they are now properly set. Joe Forte, conceded to be a very clever straight man, is closing with the show in Pittsburg and the same is applicable to Arline Rogers, one of the soubrets, and Arthur Powers, the character man. Andy White, a juvenile, and Belle White, a soubret, will join the show. JACQUE WILSON A singing and dancing ingenue, now with Joe Hurtig’s ‘‘Hollywood Follics”’, a Columbia Circuit show. gave publication to what we have seen and heard in some of the shows. There is much food for thought in what Messrs. Scribner and Singer have said, and it behooves producing managers and performers alike to take cognizance of it and eliminate the dirt before the ‘“‘powers that be’’ eliminate the offenders from burlesque for all time. NELSE. SILK IN AUTO ACCIDENT — New York, Sept. 19.—Frank X. Silk, star comedian of Harry Hastings’ ‘Silk Stocking Revue’, now playing at the Yorkville Theater, has been making his nearby jumps on the Columbia Circuit in his automobile, and as the route is now pointing westward Frank decided to motor over to his home in Philadelphia for the purpose of putting his car in cold storage until his return After performance on Tuesday night Frank stepped on the gas en route to Philadelphia and got as far as Trenton, where a big motor truck blocked the way, and in trying to avoid the truck the Stik car skidded and crashed into the truck, with the result that Silk was severely injured, but as it turned out not seriously, for he returned to Mew York today in time to go on in the second part at the matinee performance, altho suffering intensely from his injuries. east. the GUS FAY WITH “BREEZY TIMES” New York, Sept. 24.—The chief discussion at noon today on Columbia Corner was caused by the report, which was later confirmed, that Gus Fay, formerly comic in the late James E, Cooper's ‘Folly Town’? show when it was a Columbia Circuit attraction and more recently featured comic in the same show on the Mutual Circuit, had been transferred to replace Fred Reeb in J. Herbert Mack's ‘‘Breezy Times’’ Company on the Columbia Circuit, and Fred Reeb, formerly comic in the latter show, transferred to replace Fay in ‘Folly Town" on the Mutual Circuit, the change having taken place at today’s matinee in both shows, TOM HENRY IN CLEVELAND joston, Sept, 18.—Thoma,s B. Henry, general manager of the Gayety The \ter, left lgst night for Cleveland, ©., having been commissioned by Sam Seribner to go there and look over the Miles Theater, for many years a vaudeville house, which the Columbia Wheel is considering as an addition to its list. During Mr. Henry's absence the business affairs of the Gayety will be in the capable hands of biw wife, JACQUE WILSON Who Lends Class to Burlesque in Joe Hurtig’s ‘‘Hollywood Follies” on the Columbia Circuit Jacque Wilson is a native of Atlanta, Ga., where she took part in school recitations and later in plays put on by the students until she became sufficiently able to appear in musical tabs. so popular in the South. Graduating from the tab, field of theatricals she secured an engagement in Friedlander’s “Naughty Princess"’, a musical comedy en tour, as a chorister, and was advanced to a small speaking part prior to the end of the season. Having acquired the experience so necessary to success on the stage and having an exceptionally pleasing personality, Jacque joined Menlo Moore's “Joy Riders’’ act in vandeville, in which she attracted the attention of Jack Reid, of “Record Breakers’’ fame, on the American Circuit, who signed her up as a singing and dancing ingenue. Reid's judgment of her ability was justified by Jacque remaining with the “‘Record Breakers’’ for two seasons. In between the regular circuit seasons Jacque continued in burlesque stock and was always in demand, so much so that the late James E. Cooper signed her up for his ‘Folly Town" show on the Columbia Circuit, and she remained in that show until it was taken off cuit thru a change in management. Joe Hurtig, ever seeking talent for his various shows, seized the opportunity of signing up Jacque for his “Hollywood Follies’, and after doing so gave her carte blanche to adorn her slender symmetrical form with that cost as much money as those seen on Broadway stars, and Jacque wears them with gracefulness that lends class to burlesque and supplements her costumes with personality, talent and ability. NELSE. the cir costumes COLUMBIA CENSORS EN TOUR New York, Sept.’ 20.—Jess Burns, official censor of the Columbia Circuit, is now en tour the circuit for an inspection of houses and review of shows, and his route is being kept secret in order that his activities can not be heralded and guarded against by negligent house managers and producing managers, who always brush up houses and shows when advised of an official visitor. Tom Henry, former censor of the Columbia Cirenit, who retired to devote all his time and energies to the management of the Gayety Theater, Boston, recelyed a call from Columbia Corner to pack his grip and entrain for Cleveland to act as counselor to Otto Cleves, man ager of the Columbia Theater, In an effort to bring the weekly receipts up to the Oscar Dane $17,000 mark. HARRY HASTINGS’ “SILK STOCKING REVUE” New York, Sept. 17.—On Wednesday night last we visited Hurtig & Seamon's Theater to give the once over to Hiarry Hastings’ ‘Silk Stocking Revue’, with Frank Silk in the stellar role, and feel amply repaid for doing «0, for Hastings, as producer, can feel justly proud of his achievement, for the show best of its kind and a Cireult, The scenery, gowning and costuming of prin is one of the credit to the Columbia eipals and choristers alike are costly and attractive and reflect great credit on the discriminating taste of Mrs, Hastings for her designing of novel creations of the modist: art, which has been made manifest by the many and varied changes, each one more picturesque than the one preceding, until, taken as a whole, the display is one of splendor, This show has everything for the entertainment of those who admire beautiful women and funny comedians, for Silk and his cocomle, hilly Wallace, have graduated from the com mon garden variety of burlesque comics Into clean and clever comedians who grace BroadWay as well as burlesque, There are dancing specialties galore and the dancers are far above par; there are musicians who are real instrumentalists; there are vocalists with carefully cultivated voices and a (Continued on page 121)