The Billboard 1924-03-22: Vol 36 Iss 12 (1924-03-22)

+ The Billboara MARCH 22, 1924 Vaudeville Producers’ Move To Organize Stirs Speculation “Mutual-Benefit-and-Protection” Iidea Behind Movement, Say Proposers of Association; Protection Against Whom Ask Curious a, YORK, March 16.—Queer how folks along the Rialto, particularily in vaudeville circles, are inclined to attribute all sorts of ulterior motives and purposes to innocent little things. Take, for instance, that talk heard this week about organizing the vaudeville producers into an association. The purpose of the formation of this Vaudeville Producers’ Association, say the prime movers of this “movement”, is purely that of “mutual benefit and protection.” But the irrepressible Cynic, never content to take things for granted, rises to inquire: “For the benefit of whom and protection from whom?” So a Billboard reporter, acting as a sort of interlocutor and at the same time curious observer, brought the Cynic and one of the producers, het up on the idea of forming an assotogether and herewith are excerpts a rather spirited colloquy: Said the Typical Producer: ‘‘Everything and every one is organized but the vaudeville producers and it would be a fine idea for us birds to organize.’ “Falling in with the spirit of the times, as it were?’’ interposed the Cynic. “No, not exactly that,’’ continued’ the Typical Producer. ‘You know, there’s no such thing as competition among us boys. of course, we're in the game to get all we can out of it, but to get along these days you gotta have a spirit of mutual aid. There aren't of us fellows producing big acts and we ought to get a line on what the other fellow is doing and sort of help him out by exchanging ideas, and—.’’ “Rather a quaint point of view and liberality of spirit for men in the show business, don’t you think?’ remarked the Cynic. The typical manager ignored this comment and proceeded: “With a Vandeville Producers’ Association in existence the producers could get together ofttimes, the marketable possibilities of our goods and sort of apportion out the number of big productions that can be placed for the season. Then again, our organization, you know, will be in position to adopt a standard contract which will stipulate standard terms that will protect the artistes and the manager. You know that Mr. Albee himself has always been in favor of a standard tract for producers.”’ ciation, from many discuss con “Oh, now some fellow is peeking out of the woodpile,’’” grunted the Cynic. ‘‘And this Mr. Albee—.’’ “Wait a moment,”’ broke in the Typical Producer, “I knew you'd come across with such stuff. Once and for all time, let me say that this organizatign is not directed against the booking office. “Then,”' returned the Cynic, ‘‘what do you fellows mean by all this bellyaching about the booking off fixing its own price on your acts, giving yo all sorts of hippity-skip booking and other so-called abuses? And now that you've got thru with your little speech, let me put a few questions to you. “First let me read to you a statement made hy one of your clan anonymously in an interview: “*These are troublesome times. With the Equity trying for the installation of Equity Shop in all regular full-length shows and threatening to organize the vandeville performers, we thought it time to band together to protect our interests. As it is now, we are neither fish, flesh nor fowl. There are fifty men in New York who should be in the proposed them all to jgin. Then the vaudeville producers can put Up a znited front in qa fight.’ ”’ “"Do you expect trouble soon?” the interviewe: asked, association and we expect LOEW-METRO CLUB New York, March 15.—The meeting for the election of new officers for Loew's Metro Club, which was to have taken place last Tuesday evening, has been postponed to Tuesday, April 8. Colonel J, E. Brady, president, has been nominated for re-election, and H. J. Cleary has been nominated for the vice-presidency. Other nominees include E, P. Cook as financial secretary, Hilda Lessor as recording secretary, Charles BE. Quick as treasurer, and Hattie Helbern, Harry 0. Worden and Leopold Friedman @s a poard of governors. Another board of governors, consisting of Rose Quinby, Fred H. Mitchell and Max Wolff, has been nominated by petition and Albert Bresleau has been nominated in this manner for the position of financial secretary. Those elected on the board of governors are to serve for two years, while the other officers will serve for one year, THE FAMOUS CHERRY SISTERS a The Cherry Sisters, of vaudeville fame, as they appeared a few years ago. is shown Effie and on the right Addie. be | On the left Effie is running for Mayor of Cedar Rapids, Ia. A late photograph of her is reproduced on page 19 of this issue. “ “Well, no, but we'll be ready for it if it comes,’ ”’ “So much for that,’? centinued the Cynic. “And now tell me, don't you, putting aside all the bunkum, think that this interview I just quoted from sums up the purpose of this proposed organization?” *“*Well—.”” “All right,’’ shot on the Cynic, “let’s treat this thing from another angle. Who sent out the invitation for the meeting ef the vaudeville producers at his office this week?’’ “RB. K. Nadel, business manager for Paul Gerard Smith and also a preducer for himself.’’ “Wasn't this B. K. Nadel at one time in the employ of Pat Casey, that obsequious figure in the testimony of the Max Hart-Keith trial?’ “Yes.” “And would one not assume inferentially that the formation of this producers’ association has the sanction of Mr. Albee, he of the etandard eentract?’’ “You assume too much,’’ and with that the Typical Producer, remarking that be was wasting time {tm futile discussion when he should be off trying to get booking for his acts, departed, At the meeting referred to by our Cynic there were present Howard Green, from Hockey & Green's office; Ben Edwards, representing Gus Edwards; Milton Lewis, of Lewis & Gordon, and representatives from the offices ef Stewart & French, Leo Singer, M. Golden and George Weeden. Another meeting will be beld next week, at which the committee appointed to handle the details of organization will report thelr pregress. FEINBERG STILL IN SHADOW OF LUDLOW STREET JAIL New York, March 15.—Abe Feinberg, Loew agent, has not yet satisfied the Jndgment for $841.50 returned against him last week ia Second District Municipal Court in faver of Kola and Sylvia, who charged the agent with breach of contract, He has paid $50 of the amount, however, and asked for a few days’ grace in which to deposit security that the balance will be paid. Attorney Saul Street, of the law firm of Epstein & Axeman, representing Kola and Sylvia, states that he will give Feinberg an extension of time in which to pay the balance, but that if the entiro judgment has not been satisfied by the middle of April, Feinberg will have to work it out as a guest of the city. In the event of failure to pay the balance of the judgment he would be required to serve a day for each dollar owed and if ne further Payment is made would have to spend seven hundred and ninety-one and a half days to equare bimeelf. BOOKING CLASH! New York, March 15.—The 24 for the trial of Gus Van for alleged violation of the Volstead Act terferes with the proposed return vaudeville of the well-known team. scheduled te open om that date at the Palace, Cleveland. They were arrested several weeks ago by prohibition ageuts at the Silver Slipper cabaret, Ferty-eighth street and Seventh avenue, pleading not gullty and were released on $1,000 bel) pending trial. setting of March and Joe Schenck into Keith They were ORPHEUM CIRCUIT ADDS ALBERT PICK TO BOARD Chicago, March 15.—Albert Pick, of Chicago, was elected to the board of directors of the Orpheum Circuit at ite annnal meeting here this week, All of the old directors were re-elected. They are Marcus Heiman, Mort H. Singer, Josepb M. Finn, Benjamin B. Kahane, James G. Alexander, Mrs. Caroline L. Koh) and Jodge George A. Trude, of Chicago; Herman Fehr, Milwaukee; Frank R. Tate, St. Louts; D. W. Gurnett, Boston; Martin Beck and Frank W. Vincent, New York, and Louis ©. Brown, 8. Lansburgh and Sanford Sachs, all of San Francisco. NEW ACTS ON ORPHEUM New York, March 15.—The Orphuem Circuit bookings for the week include several new offerings in vaudeville which make their debut this month, Abe Lyman and His Band, from the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, has been signed up by the Orpheum, and ts scheduled to make his appearance in the two-a-day at the Orpheum Theater, Los Angeles, March 2. Mitchell Lewis, the well-known character actor of the movies, will make his debut in vandeville in a skit by Fred Truesdell, entitled ‘‘The Fog’, at the Orpheum, San Francisco, March 23, with bookings eastward to follow. Another new face on the Orpheum Time will be Jimmy Watts, travesty comedian from “Greenwich Village Follles’’, Watts is booked for a complete tour of the Orpheum and Is scheduled to open at the Orpheum Theater, Kansas City, March 16. The standard aet rontes over the Orpheum fnclude Olson and Johnsen, who open at the Palace, Chicago, March 30; Howard's Elephants, which open at the Palace, Chicago, April 6; Harty Carroll's Revue, opening March 30 at the Orpheum, Kansas City, and Wee Georgie Wood, the English artiste, opening at the Palace, Chicago, April 153. TO STUNT DEXTER New York, March 15.—An elaborate publicity campaign has been planned by the Orpheum Ctrcuit to boost Elliott Dexter in ‘‘The Good Provider’ when he opens on that circuit March 23, at Minneapolis. Dexter has been booked for five weeks on the Orpheum Time. Throw-aways have been issued and lobby displays of film stills of the well-known picture star will be placed in the lobbies of the theater in which Dexter appears. Arrangements have also been made to present each lady present at Friday matinees with an autographed photograpd of Dexter in an effort to boost business, and the suceess of this stunt, it is said, will determine whether further time will be given the offering. TONY PASTOR'S WIDOW . LEAVES $250,000 ESTATE New York, Mareh 15.—After legal action bronght by dissatisfied relatives, tye will of Mrs. Josephine M. Pastor, widow of ‘Tony Paster, was filed for probate this week.’ The balk of the $250,000 estate goes to a nephew, Clifford Roberts, of this city. Sult was brought after Mrs. Pastor's death on October 3, 1923, by a sister and two sisterin-laws, each of whom had been bequeathed $1. Household articles and pictures collected by Tony Pastor were left te the Actors’ Fund and other personal effects were given to friends of the testatrix. HENDERSON AWARDED $609,629 FOR CONEY ISLAND PROPERTY New York, March 14.—The Henderson interesta were awarded £600,629, by the Supreme Court this week for the property which will be taken by the city to enlarge a thorofare connecting with the boardwalk at Coney Island. Henderson's claimed for their batlding and theater a value of $1,082,000. The eity claimed a value of $484,185. For the theater alone Henderson's claimed a value of $375,000. The elty claimed a value of $250,000. The coart awarded $260,000. George Hl. McHenry has written a new double act for two male black-face comedians, entitled ‘Two Black Birds’, He says he ie now writing # musical comedy, the title of which will probably be “Mister Piper Tunes In”,