The Billboard 1924-01-05: Vol 36 Iss 1 (1924-01-05)

} 6 The Bi llboard JANUARY 6, 1924 TOO MANY SEATS IN THE NEW BERKLEY THEATER Fifty-Second Street House Can’t Open Until It Is Inspected and Approved by Building and Fire Departments EW YORK, Dec. 29.—Because the Berkley Theater, the new legit. house in Fifty-second street, has a seating capacity in excess of that allowed by its present license it will not be permitted to open its doors to the public until a thoro inspection of the number of seats and the fire law requirement features of the theater has been made by the Building and Fire departments, according to Commissioner E. F. Cullerton, Department of Licenses. And only in the event that the inspection results in approval of the house as it now stands can it open for Business. This is due to the fact that it has more seats than is called for on the license held by B. K. Bimberg, the owner of the theater, it was said. Bimberg has been requested, thru a letter, to call at Cullerton’s office regarding the matter, and the Building and Fire departments have been instructed to make an investigation. Cullerton also stated that ne would notify the proper heads to keep a vigilance over the Berkley and prevent it from opening until an adjustment of the present status of the matter has been made. A consultation at the License Department’s headquarters of the license issued for the Berkjey on May 2 revealed that the number of seats in the orchestra of the house is given as 281, while the number in the balcony is given as 19, making a total of 300 seats, the maximum number permitted for a theater the construction of which the Berkley is typical. A count of the seating capacity of the Fiftysecond street house, as it now stands, disclosed that there are 300 seats on the orchestra floor and nineteen boxes, or loges, in the balcony, each capable -of comfortable accommodating six persons. This would bring the capacity of seats up to 366, which not alone constitutes too great a capacity for this type of house, but also violates the license which was granted, in that the number of seuts stipulated at that time does not tally with ‘the number now actually existing in the theater, it was suid, The city ordinance regulating the construction of theaters sets forth that a theater with a seating capacity greater than 300 must have an areaway of at least eight fect in width on both sides of the auditorium and at the pack, and that not less than two exit door into these areaways are necessary on each side and from the stage. The ordinance also stipulates that the front of the theater must have a width of twenty-five feet. The Berkley has but one areaway. Eugene Walter’s play, ‘“‘Thieves in Clover’’, is scheduled to come into the Berkley after its out-of-town showing, which begins in Scranton, Pa., January 7. GUS SUN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY Deputy of the Nearly 150 persons connected with the amusement profession enjoyed a Christmas party at the Regent Theater in Springfield, O., Christmas night, from 11:30 until the wee hours.of the morning. Genial Gus Sun, assisted by Mrs. Sun, acted as host. Following a turkey dinner, served buffet style by Hotel Shawnee caterers, and a short talk by the host, dancing was enjoyed, while cigars, cigarets and candy were passed around in profusion. Altho Mr. Sun told those present he hoped to give an even better party next year, his guests Tuesday night wondered how he could do it, for the party was a success from every standpoint with everybody having a good time. The picture of the party which appears on this page was taken on the stage during the evening. Among those present and shown jin the hotograph were the host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Sun; twenty-eight members of the “Styles znd Smiles’? musical comedy company, which pliying at the New Sun Theater; Mr. and Mrs. Homer Neer, Mr. and Mrs. L. N. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Hal Hoyt, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Mosher, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Blumenfeld and ethers of the Gus Sun Booking Exchange; Mr. nd Mrs. J. Warren Todd, of fhe New York Son office; Mr. and Mrs. Ez Andrews, of the Springfield office; Jack Fox, Ed Conrad, owner of the Al G.. Field Minstrels, and wife; Ned Iiuffard and wife, Billy Church, Jack Richards and Bonnie Mack, of the Field Minstrels; members of the Christy and McDonald, Nina De Barry, Golden Sunshine and Indian Follies vaudeville acts playing at the Regent; managers of the three Springfield theaters operated by Sun, all employees and musicians of the three theaters and Springfield newspaper men and women. sma’ TO CENSOR SHOWS AND ADS False Claims of One Attraction Leads To Drastic Measure in Missouri City Springfield, Mo., Dec. 29.—The censorship ordinance has been amended by the city council so that the eensor committee wi harge of local advertising matter of shows coming here. Heretofore the ord nance gave the censorship committee control only over shows, City Attorney Dan Nee declared that the re cent advertising matter of a show in this city was objectionable and misleading and to prevent a recurrence it was deemed necessary to pass the amendment. high y SINGER SUES SAN CARLO GRAND OPERA CO. Dec, 20.—Alleging breach of con New York, tract on the part of the San Carlos Grand Opera Company, Inc., Elena Ehlers, thru her today recover guardian, Frederick W. Ehlers, filed suit in the New York Supreme Court to $9,125 from the opera company. According to her complaint, the young Worran states that thru her guardian, entered into a contract with the defendant, on June 15 last, to appear as a singer in the cast of the defendant. The contract, says, provided she was to receive no compensation while the company appeared in this city, but was to receive $100 per week for the first year while New York. For the second she she was to receive $100 per week while she, she outside year says, appearing in this city and $175 per week outside, and for the third year $150 per week in this city and $250 outside. Miss Ehlers recites that she entered on her employment September 17 last and continued until December 1, when defendant breached the contract by refusing to permit her to continue as a singer in their company. The papers in the case were served On Fortune an officer of defendant, at 33 West Forty-second street on Thursday last by Louis Phillips, counsel for plaintif. THEATER LICENSE REVOKED Ga.lo, Boston, Dec. 28.—The civic authorities of Newport, R. L, it is reported, have revoked the license of a large theater in that town because of an immoral and degrading midnight performance, said to have been presented there before an andience of society people. GUS SUN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY Some of the people who enjoyed the party tendered by Gus Sun on Christmas night. a description of which appears elsewhere on this page. —Howard Weber Photo, Springfield, 0 ‘THE MIRACLE” ON JAN. 10 A $15 SPECTACLE Max unced New York, Dec. 29.—‘‘The Miracle”, Reinhardt’s gorgeous spectacle, is anné to open at the Century Theater on Thursday night, January 10. Orchestra seats for the premiere performance will be scaled at $15, with the lower floor thereafter s g at $5. Several hundred seats have been removed to allow for an extension leading to the stage and for widening of the aisles so that pro-sssions might pass thru the audience with convenience. There will be a cast of 700 persons. The leading role of the Madonna will be played on the opening performance by either Lady Diana Manners or Principessa Matchebelli. The tion will he definitely determined by a drawing of lots. Others in the cast will include Lionel Bro! seles am, Schuy ler Ladd, Laura Alberta, Julia Pekefi, George Blaisdell, Ordille Caldwell, Anita Campbell, Erie Charrel, Rosamond Linchot and Rudolph Schildkraut. After the first performance Lady Manners and Principessa Matchabelli will alternate in the leading role, with the titled Enzlish actress playing the Nun to Matchabelil's Madonna, “TA BOUCHE” FOR LONDON New York, Dec. 29.—Charles Dillingham, who is at present in London, has just the English rights to ‘‘Ta Bouche’, the French musical comedy upon “One Kiss’’, at the Fulton Theater, is founded. The piece will be presented in the British capital at the conclu. sion of its New York engagement, with Louise Groody and Osrar Shaw playing their original roles. secnred which Little Ada Hewitt, daughter of John O, Hew. itt, whose work with “Hue moresqne’’ last season made an impression, has been engaged for a prominent part by Messrs. Shubert for their revival of “‘The Binebird’, opening at the Jolson Theater, New York, Christmas Eve. laurette Taylor in such CONSIDERABLE COMMOTION Caused When Plaster Falls From Ceiling of Daly’s Theater During Performance New York, Dec. 30.—A large piece of plaster fell from the ceiling of Daly’s Theater bere last night during the performance of White Cargo’ and injured four people in the audilence. The second act was near the end when the plaster fel and there was considerable commotion in the andience Several women fainted, others screamed, and there was a rush for the exits unt'l cooler persons made thelr influence felt and stopped it. The injured were taken to the smoking room of the theater by the house attaches and their wounds dressed there Wy ambulance surgeons. None was seriously injured, The actors continued with thelr lines during the disturbance, and ft was not found neces sory to lower the curtain. MAUDE ON HIGH SEAS Leaves Quickly for Switzerland When Notified of Wife's Serious Illness New York, Dec, 30.—Cyril Maude, starring in “Aren't We All? at the Gaiety Theater for the past ejght months, salled yesterday for Rotterdam on the Amsterdam. Yesterday morning Mr received a cablegram etating that his wife, known on the stage as Winifred Emery, was seriously {11 in Switzerland and asked that he come to her immediately He quickly arranged to «atl on the Nieuw Amsterdam and will go direct from Kotterdam, where the boat lands, to Switzerland. At yesterday's matinee and night ances Leon Gordon, a member of Mr. Maude's company, played Mr. Maude'’s role, and on Monday G. P. Huntley, well-known English comedian, will assume the part until Mr. Maude's return. Nieuw Maude perform CHICAGO EQUITY BALL TO BE A GALA EVENT Elite of the City Back of Big Affair—Tom Wise Is Chairman Chicago, Dec. 28.—Just now the eyes of Chicago actors and actresses and society people who go to the shows are centered on the forthcoming annual ball of the Actors’ Equity Axsociation, to be given In the First Regiment Sixteenth street and South Michigan avenue, on the night of January 19 Tom Wise is general chairman of the undertaking Society from the Gold Coast, the South Shore and all other sections of the city are back of the affair and it is believed the occasion will surpass in successful and brilliant features the splendid functions of the past two years given by Equity. Armory, soclety big dig Committee headquarters have been opened at 509 Capitol Building, where all plans and arrangements are being perfected and put In working order. Mr. Wise {s now working on the entertainment bill He told The Billboard today that the prospects splendid Mr Wise has everything well under way and the function is bound to be a brilliant He has written the big pageant already will be called “The Three Equity being “‘Queen New York"’, “Queen Chicago” and “Queen Hollywood’. The big entertainment features will be put in’ the middle of the pageant and honors will be paid the three queens, whose names Mr, Wise has not yet are most one which Queens’ —_ divulged The finale to the psgeant wil! be the entrance of an Eguity force, en masse, made up of Equity actors and actresses playing in Chicago, who will pay homage to vir queens. This massed assemblage will act as a chorus for @ grand opera star who will «ing the Equity song Further details of the affair will appear regularly in The Billboard. Sam Bernard, Jack Norworth, Taylor Holmes, Arthur Deagon and Charlies King will be ip charge of “‘Low Jinks’, an impromptu entertalmment, suppesed to start around 3 o'clock in the morning and which it is sald will be quite funny. Arrangements have been made for the accommodation of 5.000 guests Last year more than 2,500 persons attended the pall, In the entertainment features, as yet incom plete, there will be in the ollo the woodes soldiers from ‘“‘Chauve Souris’, Duncan Sis ters, Miss Fairbanks, Templeton Bors, Evelys Law, a number from “Nellie Kelly’, twentyfour girls from the Haymarket Theater, the ame number from the State-Congress Theater, ' lo dancer from Adolf Bolm's ballet of the Chicago Cir Opera Company, Jack Norworth, Taylor Holmes and a lot of others. The Duncan Sisters, escorted by twenty-five society young women, will on Wednesday invade the Stock Exchange with and sandbags and collect real money for tickets, ALEX LEFTWICH BANKRUPT song New York, Dec. 27.—Alexander§ Leftwich, producer of the {ll-fated ‘Fashions of 1924" early this seneon, today filed a petition is bankruptey with the clerk of the Unalted States Dietricet Court Tile liabilities, as set forth in the attached echedole, tota, $8,500 74, with « single secured claim of $170, while go assets are given. According to the echedule, no money ie due any of the performers in the “Fash'ons of 1924", tho Liceo I. Leggy holds a promissery note for $2,100 which was pay the orchestra, used to Forty-two creditors are listed In the schedule, these being due amounts ranging from $2,100 to 840 for rental of costumes and scenery, materials used in the music, print ing, mimeographing, lighting equipment, ete. VENICE COMMUNITY PLAYERS Venice, Calif., Dee. 28.—The Venles munity Players gave thelr firet entertainment and play the past week. It was a great su cess, The big auditorium of the Venice High School was not large enough to hold all who wanted to see the performance, “Daddy Long Lege’’ was the play selected It was rehearsed to a smoothness that made it costumes, ’ appear professionally acted, Billie Short, as Judy, is advanced far beyond the amateur clase. Don Short, brother of RBilile, played Daddy Long Lege and gave a eplendid account of himeelf, Others who deserve notice for thelr work are Mra, W. Hy, Head, a® Mra. Lippett, and Mre. George Hines, as Mra, Semple. Ureula March-Largey 4!d most of the rehearenls, She has been upon the professional «tage and is well known In the Middle West and East. Great credit reflects upon ber work here, ey r A A ei ee = TN, mylar attincnaen deiner es ii. oman n-ne ~