The Billboard 1924-10-18: Vol 36 Iss 42 (1924-10-18)

QO UZ? go 10 OCTOBER 18, 1984 the John Robinson Circus, The remains were sent to Logansport, Ind., for burial. WHALEN—C harles, 54, one of the best softshoe dancers and @ member of the team of Whalen and MeShane, died October 4 at bis home, LOZ W, 48th street, New York, after a hin ing iness. Mr. Whalen had been jn voor hon ith since last January, when he was seized with a serious attack of pneumonia, A week eor to his demise complications set in whch H . weakened constitution was unable to withcand Ilis widow, professionally known as Carrie West, survives, as do two sons, Harold and Wilbur. Funeral services, October 6, were ‘ollowed by interment in the Gate of Heaven ceemtery, Westchester County, N. Y. WHITE—Arthur_S8., noted scenic arti«t and prother of Jack White, assistant manager of the Morosco Theater, Los Angeles, died recentiy n that city. His widow and three children vw " iTS, ames —Jack , Stage Manager at the Victoria Palace Theater, London, Eng., for the past jz years, died October 2 at his home in London, He bad been ailing some months, MEMORY OF MY PRECIOUS IN LOVING SUSBAND. ZENO “THE WIZARD”’ whe died October 14, 1923. Although you are gone, my darling, you will = be forgotten. Your lonesome wite, LITTLE ZENO. WING—Frank Luman, 74, of the New Yor’ m of Wing & Co, died October 6 at s home jn Montelair, N. J. A native of Montclair Mr. Wing received bis education in New York sating from the College of the city of New ork and shortly thereafter entering the piano pt firm which had been founded by bis father, Luman B. Wing. He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi and several clubs and organizations in New York ~~ New Jersey. The deceased is survived by his wi dow "and seven children. MARRIAGES In the “Profession sTLae BORROWS—James L. Allen and ’ irrows, who under the stage name of Na umey rs field is a member of George Burrows’ Chalet Entertainers (owned by her brother) at Skegness, Eng., were married at that place September 20 in St. Matthew's ( They are spending their honeymoon touring the Italian lakes and will reside in L on ALLEN-DILLINGHAM—Julian B. L. Allen, eon of the prominent New York attorney, and Mrs. Charles B. Dillingham were marred recently in Paris, cables from there stated last week, ALT-GORMAN—AlI Alt, screen comedian, who bas been featured in Century comedies, and Bebe Gorm an, vaudevillian, were married recently in Hollywood, Calif. The couple spent tbeir honeymoof at Catalina Island, Calif. BLACK-MeNAMARA—Charles Black, wellknown steeplechase jockey, and Catherine MeNomara were married September 6 in St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydoey, Australia, The groom is the son of Lila Thompson, well-known Austral an comedienne, and the late Charles Black, who also was prominent on the Australian stage. CARR-CRESSMAN—Alexander Carr, = yellknown actor on the stage and screen, was married October 2 in Los Angeles to Helen Cressman, screen actress, GROSSMAN-HICKS—Harry Grossmah nd Fs'vila Hicks were recently married in Pen: sacola, Fla. They are members of the Christy ros.” Shows, IDNAHIM-SHEPARD—Prince Mohammed All _ aliim, of Egypt, and Pearl Shepard, former on pleture actress, were married October, 13, according to word just reaching New York. The bride had made her residence with ber parcnte, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Ginsburg, at °22 W, 126th street, New York. MEMEL-NEDDLES—Edwin Memel and Mrs. Eleanora Robinson, one of the twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Johan G. Robinson, of Cincinnati, were wed in that city October 10 & the Divine Science Church. fhe groom is well known in ins surance cir les there, represen. fiz the Travelers’ Insurance Co. The couple will reside in Hyde Park, a suburb of Cincinnati. MOREY-DOCKSTADER—Charles H, Morey, 60, screen actor, of Los Angeles, and Mrs, Dina Henkelman Docks‘ader, a saleswoman of ‘lat city, recently were married there. For mary years Mr, Morey has been appearing in vaudeville with a series of old-time songs. On the stage he is known as the “‘Kentucky Colonel’, and has been seen in many films depicting the nvairous Southern gentleman, Following the & professional engagement in Sacra+" = will make their home in Los a Angeles, it POWEL LR ABINOWITZ—Jack Powell, head of the Jack Powell Sextet, well-known vaudeville act, and Ethel Babinowits, nonprofessional, of Port Chester, N. Y., were married October 1 at Niagara Falls, N.Y. USEYBRUNE—Arthur Pusey, member of the cast in ‘Storm’, playing the Royalty Theater, Lon lon, and Adrienne Brune, featured g!ayer in the ‘‘Merry Widow", also in London, were married there September 20, SMITH-DUNN--W. L. Smith and Charlie L. B. Dunn, davehter of Mrs, Hiram Beal, members of the Wise Shows, were married October * in St. Catherine's Church, Anderson, 8. C., while the show was filling an engagement in hat ty About 50 of the showfolk attended the ceremony, my which a wedding break ® in the Plaza Hotel. STI i Tet r r IF 0 MIL I ER — Frank Stubble4. manager of the “whip with the Con T. K edy Shows, and Delores Miller, were re wnty wed in Abilene, Kan. The couple left Allene on board the “Kennedy Special” for an *ended honeymoon trip, During the tour the kroom will look after a large “whip" belongine to the show THOMAS-COTTON — Faward RB. Thomas, : ‘man and newenaper publisher, and Lucey nm fetress, formerly of Honston, Tex,., were reven'ly wed in Paris, according to a cable gr reecelved from there Mr. Thomas is one of ‘he owners of The New York Morning Teleeraph. He is the son of the late General Sam The Billboard nel Thomas and a brother of the late Mrs. Eleanore Thomas Beeckman, wife of the former Governor of Khode Island. Mr. Thomas once Owned @ large racing stable. His present bride is his third wife. Mi ss Cotton has appeared in “The Quaker Girl’, and the New York productiens of “Turn to the Right’’ and “Up ina Mabel’s Room’, She also opened in mv‘ion yletures, THOMAS-PORBES-ROBERTSON — Captain Inigo Freeman Thomas, heir to Viscount Wellingdon of England, and Maxine Forbes-Robertson, daughter of Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson, famous actor, and Lady Forbes-Robertson, also widely known on the s:age as Gertrude Elliott, Were marrifd Oftober 8 at St. Mark's Chureh, London Nearly 2,000 people, prominent in se Ciety, atteaded the reeeption at the home of the bride's aunt, ofaxine Elliott. PTHOMPSON-Gilsdis—Cartatn Bert The iy of Norfolk, Va and Margar: t Giles, nonprofe sional, of Coney Island, N. Y.. were marrie “d Wetober 2 at that viace. Captain Thompseun, said to be one of the cidest tattooed nien in khow business as well as one of the first tat'oo artists on Coney Island, has for the past two seasons been with the Narder Shows and the Miller Shows \ffter an eXtended boneymoon t! .* the poe the couple will make their home in fel Va Ww. IDMER BROW N—George E. Widmer, 35, of the Star Corrugated Box Company, New York, and Betty Brown, dancer, last seen in the musical comedy, ‘‘Rose of Stambeoul’’, were mare ried February 9, 1923, in Darien, *Con n. The ao a had been kept a secret until last wer voRKE ! AIR D—Jack Yorke, member of the BR. Ww wy executive staff, and Gladys 1 aed ‘of “I'l Say She Is’’, playing the Casino Theater, New York, were married (ctober 7 in New York at the Little Chureh Around the Corner, The Four Marx Brothers attended the ceremony. COMING MARRIAGES In the Profession Laurie Moore, daughter of Bert Moore, of the Granville Theater, Walham Green, Eng., and Douglas Wyllie will be married shortly, according to the announcement made in England. According to announcement made in Los Argeles October 6 Marie Prevost, the mo-ion nic ture actress, and Kenneth Harlan, film star, were to be married October 11. Miss Prevost was recently granted a divorce from H. L. Gerke by the Superior Court of Los Angeles, BIRTHS To Members of the Profession A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ray F. Hodgson, October 5, at their me in Freeport, L. I This is the fourth add ion to the family of the well-known vaud>~slle agent. Mrs, Walter Williams presented her husband, well Known in Negro professional circles, with a daughter, Oct ober 2 2. at Woodbury, N. J. he addition to the W lliams family weighs 7% pounds, The mother and bmaby are doing nicely. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Henry are the proud parents of a daugb presented by Mrs. Heury, September 17, at ¢@! new home in Golder's Green, Eng. The father is at present preparing the new Harry Day production, “Events’’ Mr. and Mrs. A. Pres‘'on Hughes announce the birth of a daughter, Carolyn Edith Mughes, September 21, at the Homeopathic Hospital, Washington, D. C. The parents are well known in tabloid circles. DIVORCES In the Profession Justice Black, of the New York Supreme Court, September 30 granted Mrs. Patricia de Grandeourt of 341 W. 45th street, New York, $410 a week alimony and $250 counsel fees, ponding decision on her suit for separation brought recently against Charles Amadee Grivat de Grandcourt. tor Nulty was granted a divorce recently by Superior Court Judge Mahon of Los Ang les from Louise Hughes, a Mack Senne:t bathing girl. The couple were married two years ago, but have been separated since last Jone. Judge Summerticld, of the Superior Conrt of Ios Angdes, recently granted a divorce to Eileen Sedgwick, noted picture actress, from Justin H. McCloskey, director, on ground of desertion, Alva Mensing, professionally known as Alva Reynolds, was named defendant in a suit broveht by Anthony B. Mensing, 189 W. 9th street, New York, before Justice William Burr, of the S»preme Court, asking for dissolut on of hie mctiage to her in 1910, Desertion is alleged The hearing was adjourned until November 14. BRADY WON'T TAKE PLAY TO NEW YORK (Continued from page 5) Called Peter, and this company is the one I am sending to the Coast. One company will play the East, one will co to New Orleans and the South and this one will vliay all the principal cities west of the lississippi and then go to San Francisco for a run.” Speaking of the fact to which attention was called in the New York newspapers a few days ago that none of the companies was scheduled for an appearance in the Metropolis, Mr. Brady said: “The newspapers express surprise that T am not taking any of the companies into New York Well, T am making money with this play on the road and I am taking no chances on losing it in New York. I'll go to New York with it last; then I am taking no chances with a piece of good property “New York can kill a good thing, but it can’t make a bad thing. Several years ago there was a play called Janice Meredith, in which Margaret Mather starred. It went on the road and did just what this play has been doing—it trade a bunch of money. The manager took it into New York and New York wouldn’t have it on a silver platter. Then the manager went back on the road and it died there. “Then there was H. Rider Haggard’s She. It opened in Niblo’s Garden in New York, where it ran for three weeks to disastrous business. Then it was taken on the read and it cleaned up four or five fortunes.” There is little doubt that Brady’s decision to keep Simon Called Peter on the road, rather than bring it to Broadwa was inspired ~ some measure by the failure of That z il Mrs. Eaton here, This play was eet az out by J: e Bonstelle last summer with her stock company in Detroit. It preved such a hit that it was kept on for two weeks instead of the customary one. When Brady produced it here, the critics hopped all er it and it is being withdrawn tonight at ing two weeks. As told in last week's issue of The Billboard, Brady expressed his resentment at the critics’ treatment of the play in speeches at the performances Another contributing factor to ‘ decision may have been his lack of a theater of his own to put Simon Called Peter in. The Equity Players have his Forty-Eighth Street Theater on a lease and The Show-Off is solidly intrenched at the Playhouse. This means that any Brady production will have to be made in a house owned by another. Playing such a theater, Brady would have to share his earnings, whereas in his own theater he takes them all. R. J. aioe’ Bey D OF W. V. M. A. ea, ‘ain page 5) speak in high terms of his ability and agreeable personality. Some of the s! men here believe that Mr. Lydiatt was chosen for manager of the W. V. M. A. by the Orpheum Circuit, because of his strong Canadian prestige and because the Orpheum may have in mind the strengt!ening of its circuit in the north country It is pointed out that the Orpheum is always open to every opportunity to add towns or territory that will stiffen its chain of theaters, when such additfon is deemed desiravle. BIG MOVIE DEAL IN ST. LOUIS EFFECTED (Continued from page 5) Grand avenue, now under construction. The new house adjoins the New Grand Central, one of the Skouras Brothers’ houses. Goldman’s new purchase will in no way affect this new theater, he advises. GENTRY-PATTERSON SHOW NOT FOR SALE (Continued from page 5) I was doing at that time and from the reports I had of conditions in the South I considered it good business judgment to close the circus. This I did and shipped direct to winter quarters. The Gentry Bros.-James Patterson Circus will go out mext season with the same. number of cars, the same management, and with the same high-class performance that we presented the past season, which I know made a great reputation in all territory covered.” SPOKEN DRAMA RUINE BY FILMS THE BUNK (Continued from page 5) by attractions will be guaranteed to be of a certain standard. Under this plan every touring company will be checked up as soon as it opens and theaters, managers, newspapers and organizations of local playgoers will be informed in advance as to the exact nature and quality of the coming play “The theory that the spoken drama is betng ruined by the motion pictures is the bunk,” said Golden. “We have at last reached the conclusion that certain managers alone are to blame for the lack of interest in it, particularly in smaller cities. The man in the one-night stand has no opportunity to learn that the play is not as represented unt it after it has bis money. So he has adopted a _ sensible plan, from his standpoint at least, of staying away altogether. It is because this situation is having its effect upon me and the other managers who still send out first-rate companies that I must get into this ficht. In every city into which we send plays we must overcome the impression that all road shows are of poor quality. My companies give good performances. That is indicated by the newspaper reviews, which in addition to approving of the plays express recret that for a first-class play the attendance was not greater. The reputable managers have two alternatives. They can create such a row that the cheating manager must come up to their standards or go out of business, or they can remain passive until there is no read for anyone honest or crooked. The cheap play producer, who is spoiling the road with his phony attractions, squeals that he can 107 not send a first-class attraction on tour and make a profit. My experiences with a!! my plays prove that this is not a trut! ful asserticn. For ten years I have b sending out first-rate companies. Thre Wise Fools was presented in every cit in the land, large and small, with Claud Gillingwater, Harry Davenport, Hele: Menken and the rest of the original New York cast. Lightnin’, altho in its sevent year, is headed by such an established player as Thomas Jefferson. The scen equipment is a duplicate of that used in New York, with two carloads of scenery, electrical apparatus and properties. “The road Thank U had Harry Davenport, Frank Monroe, George Schiller, Donald Foster and most of the other New York originals. The Seventh Heaven road companies are headed in one cast by Ann Forrest and Louis D’Arclay, and in the other by Remy Carpen, John Ran si e and Douglas McPherson. Each of these organizations carries two carloads of scenic equipment into every city in which it plays. But the situation has reached the stage where I have got to quit the road, and many other managers will have to quit unless fakes are stamped out. Austin Strong, author of Seventh Heaven, during the past two or three weeks, has visited with me a dozen cities, among them such representative ones as Scranton, Harrisburg, Cleveland end Columbus, In each the mayor, be i of my stand for. clean, humorous plays, honored me with a key to the city. ut hew could a public many times fooled believe until it saw that I was bringing it a company with two carloads of scenery and an expense bill of $5,000 weekly? So we suffered on ovr opening nicht in each instance, and it took the local newspaper reviews to send business to capacity. A few years ago the New York reputation of such a play would have guaranteed capacity for the first performance in any city. On investigation I w surprised that anyone goes to the first-night performances in those cities. One town's theater visitors of the previous week had been the number three company of a New York melodrama with a cast that never saw New York, and a number two company of a second-rate musical show which transported its entire production in one small truck. Yet both represented themselves as direct from New York with metropolitan casts and productions, and both were asking the same prices that I was trying to get for a full-measure entertainment I have found that people and newspapers in these « ties look upon a good show as an event and welcome it accordingly after they see with their own eyes that it is an honest attraction. <A surprising amount of editorial comment from all over the country reaches me and the theme of it all is hat local theatergoers should support clean plays well produced, so that the managers will be warranted in sending out more of them. I have received editorials in which newspapers chided their readers for not according my plays a more liberal support, all of which indicates that if a good road attraction does not do well it is because theatergoers have been fooled to the point of despair. The tragic thing is that this era of deception has been based upon greed alone. First-rate plays and companies until the deluge of cheaters assumed its present proportions have been able tse operate profitably.” DRAMATIC NOTES Mary Carroll will have the leading role in The Back-Slapper, a play by Paul Dickey and Mann Page which Sam 8H. Harris is about to produce. The title role will be plaved by Harry C. Browne and Thomas Ross will also be in the cast. Sam Forrest will direct and rehearsals are due to begin this week. Myron C. Gagan, so soon as he is thru producing Judy O’Grady, will turn his attention to The Adorable Spartan. The author of this opus is not revealed, but Mr. Fagan being a playwright the wiseacres are putting two and two together and fing the result is about what they expecte Philip Goodman, having received a wallop with the failure of Dear Sir, which set him back a hundred or so thousand dollars, has passed Soft Music over to Arthur Hopkins. This play, by Dorothy Parker and Elmer Rice, was to have been his next offering. Florence Eldridge, now appearing in Rewitched at the National Theater \ York, is playing a part which calls for much versatility. It is hard to think of any young player who could have don: the role better and her playing of it points to a brilliant future in the theater Georges Renavent is giving a highly polished performance in Grounds for Divorce at the Empire Theater, New York It seems, tho, as if this splendid French actor had played enough of those excitable Italian and French parts. Some manager should give him a chance at a leading role. If vou hear of a death, birth, marriage, divorce, or matrimonial engagement, in the profession, you®will confer a favor by tifying The Billboard immediately. Thank you. som ———_ ell