The Billboard 1924-12-13: Vol 36 Iss 50 (1924-12-13)

DECEMBER 13 1924 The Billboard PRODUCERS ADVERSE TO MONDAY TRYOUTS AT PROCTOR HOUSES Criticize “ae of Shows and ° Say Acts Are Sacrificed Because Nonco-Operation on Part of Back-Stage Men and Musicians EW YORK, Dec. 8.—The Street theaters Monday, when acts professional and 125th the regular bills, appearing in tryouts at Proctor’s 23d augment the hope of getting routed, are coming to be considered by the vaudeville producers an an unfavorable means of showing their new acts, it was divulged this week in interviews with some of the leading men in the field, The chief complaint voiced against the tryouts in these houses is that the acts are sacrificed from lack of co-operation on the part of the back-stage men and musicians on one hand and the length of the shows—usually 12 or more acts—on the other, the latter working to serious disadvantage. The indifferent manner in which the tryout offerings are treated by the theater orchestra and stagehands, who seem to feel that these turns are just a waste of their time, makes it hard for the artistes to show their wares to the best advantage. Some of the producers charge that this attitude has brought them to a realization of the seriousness of the situation and that under the existing conditions their acts cannot make a_ propitious showing; hence are being kept out of these two houses. The producers are adverse also to permitting their new acts to work in the regular bills on account of the lengthy shows caused by four to six try-out offerings. They explain that an act spotted away down the bill, in next to closing or closing, suffers because of the eight, 10 or 12 turns preceding it. One well-known producer, who refuses to have any more of his acts put into these houses the first half, pointed out that several acts of his were sacrificed practically by their appearance on the tail end of the bill, which usually is not reached until after five o’clock in the afternoon or after 11 o'clock in the evening. “The audience begins to walk out at this late hour usually, having seen all the tryouts and the major portion of the bill, and the act doesn’t get a favorable break,” he commented. It has been suggested by a few of the producers that the tryouts be billed to follow the regular show. This seems @ logical way out and one that would be fairer to the actors all the way around. Patrons of these theaters, quizzed on this point, are of the opinion that such procedure would be even better, for the regular bills are usually always better than the tryouts; consequently anyone who has to leave before the late hour the shows are over misses only one or two tryouts instead of what might be the best acts on the program, billed in next to closing or closing spots. Try-out acts, besides, it is argued, are not paid any salary for their appearance Mondays and therefore are not as important as the others. Lewis & Gordon Buy “Charlot Revue” Rights New York, Dec. 8—Lewis & Gordon. it is reported, have arranged with Archie Selwyn for the vaudeville rights of Chariot’s Revue, the material of which they propose presenting in three acts. Casting is already under way for the — They will all play the Keith Circult, Carnival Week for Bushwick New York, Dee. 8.—The Bushwick Theater in Brooklyn is staging Carnival Week with a 12-act bill made up chiefly of big-time turns. The headliners booked into the house are Sammy and Herman Timberg, in The Rebellion: Rogeer Imo and Marcelle Coreene, Hugh Skelley and Emma Heit Revue, Venita Gould, Norwood and Hall, Elly and the Chevalier Brothe rs, Anne Mills Here _New York, Dee. 6.—Mistinguette’s Claim to having the most shapely pair of tbs in the world is challenged by Anne Mills, a Londen dancer, who arrived here Wednesday on the Olympic. Miss Mills said she wou'd welcome the opportunity to put the public strairht in the matter. She is known in’ Eneland as “Plain Anne” and will appear here in vaudeville. Grabs Front Page “Whe says a ventriloquist can’t grab front-page stuff?", writes Elwood, the ventriloquist, from Kenton, O.. and just 'o prove that it’s all in the day’s business with him he sends copies of The Kenton Daily Demecrat and The News-Republican, and there he is, sure enough. New Theater Opens Hartford, Mich., Dec. 6—The New State Theater, of which Joe Kizinski is manager, opened Thursday with The Covered Wagon. e house will have a combination vaudeville and picture policy. Norwood and Hall in New Act by Duffy New York, Dec. 8.—Harry Norwood and Alpha Hall opened today at the Albee Theater, Providence, in a new offering, entitled And She Believed Him. It wa written by James T. Duffy. Norwood is comparatively new to vaudeville. He hails from the legitimate. where he has a number of success to his credit. Among the plays he appeared in The Wizard of Oz, Weish Rare Bit, Tie Land of Nod, The County Chairman and the Flirting Princess. Miss Hall uiso comes from the legit. Hostess Sues Inn New York, Dec. 6.—Virginia de Lantey, thru her manager, Harry Walker, Wednesday brought suit before Judge Thomas Noonan in the City Court to collect $1,000, which she claims is due her as two weeks’ salary, from Alicin and Dorethy Dotz, owners of the Frontenac Inn. The case was adjourned until December 22. According to her manager, Miss de Lantey was engared by the Dotz sisters as hostess of their inn at $500 a week ond the contract was broken without justification after four days. According to Mortimer Wohl, of Brooklyn, attorney for the defendants, the contract was broken because Miss de Lantey proved unsatisfactory. Miss de Lantey recently advertised herself as having “entertained” the Prince of Wales in her apartment, where a newspaper stated a wallet belonging to a member of the royal visitor’s party had been found afterwards. The Prince's party denied that she was known to them. New Agency Opens New York, Dec. 8.—The Superior Vodvil Service, a new booking agency, has been opened by A. Spencer Burrows in the Putnam Building. Bob Martini, who two weeks left the Keith Circuit, where he was employed in a booking capacity. is associated with Burrows in the venture. Burrows was in the City Hospital, Newark, recently, suffering from a broken leg. He formerly booked houses for the Walter J. Plimmer Agency. Yvette Rugel on Orpheum New York. Dec. 8.—Yvette Rugel, at present playing the Keith Time in A Bit of Old New York, by Benton Ley and Lee David, is going out on the Qrpheum Circuit the latter part of this month, She completes her Keith bookings shortly and is scheduled to start the Orpheum trip at the Palace Theater, Milwaukee, week of December 28. C, Daniel Whipple assists her in the act. Leaves ““Three’s a Crowd” New York, Dec. 8.—Doris Powell, appearing in support of Jean Adair in her sketch, Three’s a Crowd, has been forced to leave the act because of illness. Laura Carpenter is taking her place. The act, one of Lewis & Gordon’s, is playing the Keith Circuit. Birdie Kraemer for Loew New York, Dec. 8.—Birdie Kraemer is starting a Loew tour December 29 at Washington, D. C. She recently made a tour of the Orpheum Time_in her bird and saw music imitation offering. Miss Kraemer is playing a few New York dates for Loew preliminary to going on tour. Norman ‘Finds’? Routed New York, Dec. 8.—Kurtz and Cully, The Salt and Pepper Boys, “finds” and proteges of arst Norman, who opened “cold” at the Palace Theater a few weeks ago, will make their first appearance on a long Keith route this week at Keith’s Riverside Theater. Gadsen and Green Team New York, Dec. 8.—William Gadsen, well known In vaudeville, has teamed with Billy. Green in a new act which opened today on the independent time up-State. Following a brief break-in tour the act will be seen here. BALLROOM CIRCUIT PLANS MATURING _New York, Dec. 8.-—National Attractions of New York, Inc., opened its new ollices today at 1650 Broadway, where plans for the perfection of the ballroom circuit played by traveling orchestras are being effectively consummated. _L. O. Beck, president of the organization and owner of large ballrooms in Cleveland and other Middle West cities, is exhibiting at the offices models of 6,000 people capacity dance halls now in course of construction and of those which will be_ built. Dance hall proprietors and managers from all parts of the couniry have expressed their extreme appreciation of being able to attend the conference December 10 at the Hotel Astor, which will be followed by a dinner in the evening ut the expense of the National Attractions, Inc. Leading orchestra men and music publishers interested in the developments also will be on hand and confer on plans to put the circuit over and make of it a high-class dance orzganizstion which will attract additiona! business thru the idea of new bands each week. These bands will be well-known recording orchestras for the most part. The meeting will take place at 4 p.m. and the dinner at 6:30. Many ballroom proprietors —_-. — -. attend have wired th regret and wish ‘O-0pers >i fullest ability to co-operate to their Anna Fitziu Not To Appear in Vaude. and man New York, Dec. 8.—It recently was announced that Anna _ Fitziu, soprano, Was to enter Keith vaudeville soon. This is de nied by the singer, who said she had no intention of appearing in the two-a-day. After the holidays Miss Fit ziu and Colin O'More, Irish tenor, will make a joint concert tour. The first part of the program they intend giving will be devoted to concert work, the last part to a musical sketch entitled The Jealousy Doctor. The music was written by Richard Hageman book by Marie Sarlabous, William J. Large Sails _ New York, Dec. 8.—William J. Large, international vaudeville agent and manager, sailed for London Saturday on the Leviathan to confer with British managers in an effert to secure an extension and the of time for the Billie and Dollie sister act, which recently arrived here and is now working on the Keith Circuit. The act was booked for this country for a limited time only, and in order to arrange for the appearance of the girls in a musical show Large is making the special trip. He will return on the Majestic a fortnight hence. Wm. Courtleigh To Do “Good Provider” New York, Dec. 8.—William Courtleigh is to do the Elaine Sterne sketch, The Good Provider, which served as a vehicle for Elliott Dexter, film star, early last season. Dexter did it on the Western circuits. James Neill, who appeared in the sketch with Dexter, will be among the cast in support of Courtleigh. Lewis & Gordon are the producers of the act. Pat Casey Act Will Star Sissle and Blake New York, Dec. 8.—Sissle and Blake are to be presented in vaudeville this winter by Pat Casey in an offering with a company of 20 colored artistes, it is reported. The vaudeville engagement will begin following the close of the short road tour of The Chocolate Dandies, in which Sissle and Blake are featured. “Lizzie’’ Act Again Routed New York, Dec. 8.—Marietta Craig, who played Lizzie in The Bat during its long run here and on the road, has started a vaudeville tour in her vehicle, Batty, a comedy by Harry Wagstaff Gribble. which has been staged under the personal direction of Jessie Busley. Miss Craig does the character of Lizzie in this playlet and is supported by Hugh Carel and Helen Edwards. “Busy Isabel’? Breaks In New York, Dec. 8.—Busy Isabel, a travesty on hotel life in New York, written by Eddie Hayden O’Connor, who not only will produce it but also play one of the parts, is opening soon for a breakin tour. Maude Nolan and Donald Duff have been engaged to appear in the skit. Ben Edwards will direct its vaudeville tour. Miss Lazelle in Hospital New York, Dec. 8.—Constance Lazelle, touring the Keith Circuit with the Aviation Girl act, was taken seriously ill last week and had to be rushed to the hospital for an immediate operation. She is in the Roosevelt Hospital here and will not be able to leave for three or four weeks. 29 A. V. A. R. HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING Marks Beginning of Association’s Fourth Year---Officers Are Re-Elected —— New York, Dec. ing of 8.—The annual meetthe Association of Vaudeville Artists’ Representatives, consisting of Keith and Orpheum Circuit booking agents, was held Wednesday night in the rooms of. the Vaudeville Managers’ Protective Association. This marks the beginning of the assoviation’s fourth year, if having been created three years ago this month by a group of enterprising vaudeville agents who saw the need of an organization for their profession. Officers re-elected for the coming year are: Frank Evans, president ; Hugo Morris, vice-president; Edward S. Keller, treasurer, and Norman E. Manwaring, secretary. The Board of Directors, also re-elected for another year, includes: John C. Peebles, Max E. Hayes, Max Gordon, Harry B. Burton, Herman Webe-, Nat Sobel and Treat Matthews. Frank Evans presided at the meeting, hearing the reports made by the other offi and conducting the regular routine of business. The by-laws remain the same, and no amendments to them were adopted at this meeting. In appreciation of the valuable and untiring services given the organization by Norman I. Manwaring, who has been secretary since its inception, a resolution ers was passed to tender him a_ beefsteak dinner at the Friars’ Club, evening of January 13. The A. V. A. R., as the agents call their organization, is not of a social caliber by any means. It is operated on a basis similar to the National Vaudeville Artists’ Club; in fact, might be termed the N. V. A. of the booking agents. Each member is entitled to $1,000 death benefit and $25 a week during injury or other illness. In addition to this, the organization’s treasury is in a position to assist members in financial straits where it is justified. It has taken care of several vaudeville agents who died penniless, among them being the late Bill Lykens, to whose aid the organization came during his siege of illness and subsequent death. His hospital, doctor’s and funeral bills were paid and his burial arranged after relatives located in Missouri had evinced little interest in his plight. Before the organization came into existence, a vaudeville agent had no one to call upon for succor save his immediate friends. The same condition practically existed in the ranks of the vaudeville actor before the N. V. A. was formed. While the A. V. A. R. is strictly considerde of a beneficial nature, it occasionally has its social functions. When James McKowen, a member, was appointed to an executive position with the Orpheum Circuit early this season the organization tendered him a farewell dinner. It did the same a couple weeks ago for Floyd W. Stoker, another Keith agent, who also joined the Orpheum Circuit's forces. Opera Singer for Independent Time D. Collins one of the company. New York, Dec. 6.—Henry is booking Grace Bradley, younger members of an opera for a tour of independent vaudeville houses. Miss Bradley is well known in musical circles and has appeared on the concert stage in various cities thruout the country. Her repertoire consists of some {3 operas, which she sings in French. Italian and German, while her concert repertoire includes many numbers in French, Italian, German, Swedish and English. Other acts to play independent vaudevile under the management of Collins include the Capitol Saxophone Trio, comprising Martha Hall Conwell, Blanch Hall and Janet Hall; Josephine Mae Evans, well-known concert singer, and the Baumanson Trio, a combination of harp, violin and cello. Métletown Frolics has been booked by the Collins office beginning next week for independent time thru New England. New Loew House New York, Dec. 8.—The latest addition to the Loew Circuit, the Kameo Theate! at Eastern Parkway and Nostrand avenue, Brooklyn, was opened Monday evening. Marcus Loew, head of the circuit. attended, and a number of film celebs., including Bessie Lov May Alilison and Johnny Hines, also on deck for the grand premiere . wert Loew’s, Inc., Dividend rork, Dec. 8.—The board of di. Loew’s, Inc.. has declared dividend of 50 cents per share on the capital stock of the company, payable December 30. 1924, to stockholders of record at the close of business December 13, 1924. New rectors of a quarterly