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

: JANUARY 5, 1924 The Billboard CREDITORS OF MOROSCO HOLDING CO. GAIN POINT Judge Hand Grants Motion To Strike Out Defense in Answer to Petition in Bankruptcy mW YORK, titioning creditors of the Morosco » defer wer to the petition petitioners, attorney, owner of a provable claim because was the assignee of a person who had proved his claim in ans: the an is each in an equity receivership in which the bill did not charge insolvency, but alleged insolvency. In the voluntary petition in bankruptcy filed last month Bernstein claimed he was an wesign of Myron Sulzberger, at one time attourney for Oliver Morosco, with a claim of $250. Margolles claimed $124,381 for alleged breach of contract in connection with the construction of a theater in Titusville, Pa. The answer to the petition In bankruptcy further alleged that on October 22, 1923, an order was made by Judge Winslow appointing | | master to bear the claime and that these were duly summoned for a hearing and that thes« iims were dismissed by the special . r on default of the creditors. The defenses also alleged that the order appointing special master by its terms enjo.ned and stayed Margolies and Sulzberger from continang or instituting any proceedings at law or in equity which they ever had or might cla:m to bave ag st the More co Holding Company, Inc., and that these were duly served, Judge Hand in his decision declared be could t regard order of Judge Winslow stay s ‘ gnee of the above claims from in‘ 4 y proceedings in law or equity aga 4 Me 2¢ Company, Inc., as ¢ ne aj on in bankruptcy. It does not do so in terms, and a bankruptcy pre { lawfully brought, supersedes all othe It is planned by counsel for the holding company's receiver to appeal from Judge Hand's decision 1 court r ently signed an’ order empowering the receiver to $6,500 for the pur of defraying taxes which the berrow holding comorder to protect the Morosco Theater bere. LON RAMSDELL is obi ged to pay in sehold on the Is Exploitation Agent for Wagenhals & Kemper’s “Bat” Companies Wagenhals & Kemper have engaged Lon B. Ramedell ae their all-round stunt man with thelr gifferent Rat’ companies now on the road At present Mr. Ramedell is working on the Brooklyn engagement with the agent of that company, W 1m Hiale. At the conclaselon of the Brooklyn engagement Ramedell will journey to HEaltimore for three weeks, pulling publicity stunts for another one of “The Rat" mpanies, thence to Boston for four weeks, Philadelphia for six and Chicago for «ix weeks more. Mr. Kamede i's title an idea at tate feld, but are the fret attractions. is exploitation bas en carried out Wagenhals & Kemper, use it with agent, in the pic it is said, legitimate road ’ to Ramedell w the ular agent one of arsisting the reg ll Jump abead of every Rat’ companies, in securing stunts, seven MIDWEST THEATERS, INC., ACQUIRES NEW HOLDINGS aco, Dee ot) The Midweet 7 sters In operating a xg fe than rty motion pieture thea t t ‘ es of Aurora, Rockford, J Decatur, I mington Galesburg, DeKalt Pigin and La Cr and Kelolt, Wie., announce the purchase of a «su! stantial «tock Interest In the Majestic Amuse ment Company, of Kankakee, Il. r ast namea mpany operates the Ma jest La Vetite and Court theaters In Kankaker Willifam HH. Cadoret retains bis position as prestdent and general manager of the Majestic Amusement Company Karnest Sehmidt will act ae local manager of the theaters and all tlm cotitracte will be negotiated thru the Chicago offiee of the Midwest Theaters, Ine. VIRGINIA VALLI IN CHICAGO Chicago, Dec, 26 Virginia Valli, movie star, stopped of in Chicago yesterday on her way to New York, Demarest Lamson, her busband, was with her. Miss Valli is a native of Chicago, Dec. 29.—Federal Judge Augustus N. Hand, in a decision handed down this week, granted a motion made by counsel for the pe Holding Company, Inc., to strike out in bankruptcy, alleging that neither of Edward Margolies, the theater builder, or Abraham Bernstein, FUTURE OF J. P. C. Is Topic of Interest Among British Vaudeville Artistes London, Dec. 29 (Special Cable to The Billboard).—The future of the Joint Protection Committee is being discussed by managers and artists alike, while congratulations from the press, profession and public are being showered upon the principal J. P. C. members following the victory in the Arnold case, The Joint Protection Committee resumes its sessions January 2, when the whole situation will be reviewed. Its legal success azga'nst Arnold may induce it to call a big levy on its component parts so as to go forward financially stronger than ever It is bhelfg urged that the Theatrical Managers’ Association, the Entertainments Protest ve Associaton, the P. E. r A. and the Soctety of Wert End Theater Managers again be invited to join the Joint Fr tion Committee While there are some wl think the managerial] bodies the underly'ng weakness of the who-e situat.on, others say that if these managerial Dodies join after this victory they shou.d be made to pay their portion of the legal expenses already incurred. The sitvation is certainly most interesting, more so as the establishment of the minimum wage will affect many traveling shows, Some vaudeville folk seurgest that this minimum wage be at once enforced on every revue appearing in London vacdevile houses and there are many whose intention it is to ferce thes cheap * off the vaudeville stage, with the corre<ponding result that the managers {ip vandeville theaters would have to engage vauder artists or shut down. It stands to reason, say those familiar with the situation, that managers are net going to pay $5 a head extra for these cheap leg shows, and when their selection {s thus lim ted ther will ave to mvert to vande le So tf) ol of the J. P. British vaudeville. PROBE OF SONG SHARKS UNDER WAY IN BOSTON C. has interest for great Boston, Dec. at the request of the 28.—Local postal authorities, Music Industries Cham ber of Commerce, are making a thoro investigation of the activities of alleged song sharks operating in this city and Watertown. The names of Boston and Watertown as centers of the latest swindle were furnished by the Music Industries organization after a lengthy search conducted from Chicago. LONDON SEES MANY REVIVALS DURING HOLIDAYS London, Dec. 20 (Special Cable to The Billboard).—More than a score of boeliday productions and revivals have been presented in London and suburbs the past week. Peggy O'Neill received a great reception in her old part in “Paddy the Next Best Thing’, Arthur Bourchier likewise was welcomed back to the Strand as Long John Silver in Pagan's version of “Treasure Island’. ‘Almond Eye”, by Farren Soutar and Arthur its Veasey, at the Scala, presented a gorgeous spectacle, with lovely costumes. Hubert Els dell and Lilian Davies play the leads unconvincingly—casually. The story is reminiscent of “Aladdin”, with admixtures of Reinhardt, Gordon Craig and Gilbert. Gracie Leigh, returning to the stage after a long absence, made a great success as a sort of refined pantom'me dame. Thomas Pauncefort and Ivan Berlyn also made the most of slender parts. FRAZEE SELLS LYRIC THEATER LEASE TO MEISTER BUILDERS New York, Dec. 29.—Meister Builders, Inc., purchased from Harry H. Frazee the sixty-threeyear lease of the Lyric Theater, which the producer in turn obtained in April, 1921, from El mer E. Smithers. The theater, which also has offices. covers a lot that measures 20x100 on Forty-second street and runs thru to Fortythird street, where the ground area measures 119x105. In recent months the Lyric has been the home of motion pictures. Under the terms of the Frazee lease as originally taken two years azo, a net rental of $75,000 a year must be paid during first twenty-one-year period, while the rent for the two succeeding terms are to be based op reappraisals. The transferring of the lease was negotiated by J. B. English and Wil. liam S. Coon, with Jasie & Solomon representing the purchasers. JAMES K. HACKETT RETURNING New York, Dec. 29.—James K, Hackett, who enjoys the dist.nction of being the only American tor who bears the title of Chevalier Legion of Honor, is expected to return here from Europe on January 8, when he will be met by a committee of prominent men and women, headed by Edith Ellis, playwricht. “or the last three years Hackett has been appearing before English audiences in Shakespearean productions, His performances in France merited him the Cross of the Legion of Honor. MEXICO STOPS IMPORTATION OF CERTAIN MOTION PICTURES the on, D. C., Dee. 29.—The Post-Office Department today made the following statement re.ative to film products;in Mexico; “The postal administration of Mexico has advised that, effective at once, motion picture films | the American Releasing Core porat e supervision of the United tes Studios, Ine.. a the Roli portation ud the films produced by n Film Company are prohibited ime into that country.” “O, DADDY” COMPANY CLOSED CHRISTMAS NIGHT IN OHIO Chicago, Dec. 28.—The “O, Daddy’ Company, which Louis Morgan and Bill Kilroy have had out for some time, closed in ZanesO., Christmas night. Salaries are Treported to have not been paid and claims for same have been filed with the Chicago office of the Actors’ Equity Association. The cast was brought back to Chicago by the management. Harry Gordon was in advance of the company. ville, VETOES PROPOSED HIRE ORDINANCE New York’s Acting Mayor Prevents We-.«ening of Present Regulations New York, Dec. 29.—An ordinance weakening the fire prevention regulations for theaters and motion picture houses was vetoed this week by Acting Mayor Murray Hulbert. It had slipped by the Board of Standards and Appeals and the attracting much attention. the approval of Chief tained, but posed it, The purpose of the amendment was to revamp the building code so as to relieve modern theater structures from burdensome requirements which were considered of no benefit ag to fire prevention. : Acting Mayor Hulbert vetoed the measure on the ground that the provisions in peesent law requiring sprinklers supplied with water from a tank located on the roof over tue stage and not connected in any manner with the standpipes shall be placed on each of the proscenium arch openings, at such intervals as will protect every square foot of stage surface when sprinklers are in operation, had been omitted from the new ordinance. Also, that the provision in the present law requiring that there shall be kept in readiness for immediate use on the stage at least four easks of water and two buckets to each cask painted red, and also requiring that there shall] be provided hand pumps or other portable fire extinguishers and at least four axes, two 25foot hooks, two 15-foot hooks and two 10-foot hooks on each tier or floor of the stage, had been omitted from the new ordinance, START PRIZE PLAY CONTEST —— New York, Dec, 29.—Somewhat discouraged in their failure to secure a play suitable for their needs, the Messrs, Mindlin and Goldreyer, producers of “The Last ‘Warning’’, have resorted to the medium of a prize-play contest. “As we have been looking for plays without success for more than a_ year,"* stated the managerial pair, ‘‘we have decided to take this way of finding one.” The prize offered covers an award of $1,000 for the winning drama, accompanied by the regular royakRties to the author at the time of production. Mindlin and Goldreyer make no restrictions with regard to locale, cast, period or type of play. The contest begins on January 1 and closes on March 1. It is open to professional and non-professional writers. Contestants are instructed to mail their mannuscripts to the producers at their offices, 227 West Forty-fifth street. The names of the judges who are to pass on the plays submitted will be published later. SHOW “CHASTENING” IN CHURCH Board of Aldermen without It was said that Kenlon had beep Fire Commissioner Drennan op ob th Providence, Dec. 29.—‘‘The Chastening”, by Charles Rann Kennedy, was recently given at the First Congregational Church here, with the author, Edith Wynne Matthison, and Margaret Gage comprising the cast. The performance was rendered in the light of a special Christmas service for the members the congregation. of ey * os | | CLIFFORD WEBSTER’S SAVOYS A newly organized orchestra to be a weekly feature at the Savoy Theater, San Diego, Calif.