The Billboard 1925-07-25: Vol 37 Iss 30 (1925-07-25)

The Billboard FOR OBVIOUS REASONS } . The Billboard DOES NOT NECESSARILY INDORSE THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS DEPARTMENT, VOLTAIRE ~ SAIO TO Hi * | DISAGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAY SJR, BUT WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH,~ YOUR RIGHT TO SAY iT.” Answers Billy Blyth Hundee, Mich. July 11, 1925, Editor The Billboard: Sir—Please publish in your open-letter department this letter in regard to Biliy Blyth’s, published last week. I will say it really is funny. Yes, the people closed the show—after they could not get any more money from home to pay their board and room with. The show didn’t have a salary day during the six weeks it was on the road. And when I meet Mr. Blyth face to face I'll have more to tell him— things I have heard since the closing of the show. After the show closed I jumped to the Gentry Bros.-Patterson Circus as ticket seller, but on account of nervous trouble I was forced to seek medical attention and returned to a smaller show. I am now with the Novelty Players Company, with two real managers, making it a pleasure to be here. The same can be said of Mr, Patterson’s circus. (Signed) F. J. KUBA. Thinks “Tom” Show Would Do Well at Jeffersonville, Ind. Jeffersonville, Ind., July 9, 1925, Editor The Billboard: Sir—I read the two articles by Leo Blondin and Clarence Fry regarding Tom shows in recent issues of The Billboard and certainly enjoyed them. I recall just now that back in 1895 or '96 a Tom show under canvas played a one-day stand here. It traveled overland and gave a street parade that evening at six o'clock. Eva rode in a novel conveyance that had been a baby carriage originally. This was drawn by two large goats. A log cabin mounted on a wagon was also in the parade. Can any oldtimer inform just what company this was? The last Tom show to lay here was Kritchfield’s, in 1908, and believe one could draw well here now, overlooking the fact that there have been two carnivals, a circus, a medicine show and a chautauqua here this summer. (Signed) C. E. DUBLE. Theater Manager Claims Performers Treated Him Unfairly Dallas, Tex., July 8, 1925. Editor The Billboard: Sir—I sent one Al Russell and a girl $86 to come to Dallas and work for me at the Hippodrome Theater. Upon arrival they drew $20 and opened at a midnight show. They didn’t go over_as strong as they should have, but I didn’t say anything. The following Sunday, our big day, Russel! came and told me shortly before the show that he didn’t intend to play the matinee, He had plenty of time before to tell me, but instead I had to hold the curtain 30 minutes until I could find someone to work, Russell claimed he could not work with the people I had and said he was going to Omaha, Neb. He paid me the money I had advanced him and went to work in a small tab. house here, I have been running a tab. house ior 10 years and never had any trouble like that before With performers. (Signed) TOL TEETER, Manager Hippodrome Theater. “Desmond’s Follies’ Not Stranded in Cuba, Says Manager L. L. Desmond Havana, Cuba, July 11, 1925. Editor The Billboard: Sir—Your copy of The Billboard, dated July 11, received this morning. It was with great regret that we found our affairs so thoroly aired on the front page of your worthy paper, Now, in justice to me, I demand that you give my reply the same display on the front page that you did the information from Mr. Kent and the Equity officers. Your article states “after repeated warnings” American actors and_ entertainers have come to Cuba and other foreign ports, etc. I beg leave to call your attention to the article published in The Billboard, dated July 4, entitled “Prosperity Wave in Cuba”. It is just such articles as that that mislead the American manager. Sugar is way down and banks are refusing to make loans. Does that look like prosperity? Now as to our own affairs. The situation as explained by Mr. Kent is true, in reference to the Cuban manager, Canesa. Canesa failed to pay our return fares to Savannah, Ga., as per contract, also owing me for salaries $1,000, but in justice to me please state the fact that I, L. L. Desmond, have paid my performers in full, not owing them a dollar, Of course, I have made an effort to Fecover my losses and compel Canesa to pay our return fares, but up to_ the resent writing have failed, as he declares e is insolvent. My company has been playing different roofs and theaters since closing at the Cubano (because we failed to receive our salaries). and only last night, July 10, played for the American Club. The American Club netted us more than $400, so that looks as if we were capable of paying all bills, does it not? Next week we play the Actualidades Theater. So please correct the error that we are in desperate straits, as the Equity article would suggest. If the previous American companies (three to our knowledge have been stranded here) had sent in honest and truthful reports to The Billboard Desmond’s Follies would never have come to Cuba, but believing their reports true (they wrote so glowingly) we believed it to be a great opportunity. I intended to write and give The Billboard full details as soon as things had shaped themselves and report the true state of i but your article hastened my reply. ° Yes, we have been the victims of an unscrupulous manager and trust our experience will make others more careful, but please correct the error that we are in desperate straits. No man cares to have his company name cheapened, and before long we will be back in the U. S. A. Enclosed find clipping from a Havana paper. There's the situation in a nutshell. Trusting you will grant my wish, I remain, (Signed) L. L. DESMOND, Manager Desmond’s Follies, Or Desmond’s gh 4 York Roof Garden evue, Mr. Desmond is entitled to his say in these columns—and we are glad that he wrote us. But there are a few points on which he is wrong. In the first place the correspondence was between Alexander W. Kent and the Chorus Equity Association, not Equity (or Actors’ Equity Association, to give the full title). As to the article headed “Prosperity Wave in Cuba”, published in our issue of July 4, Mr. Desmond seems to think The Billboard made that statement. If he had read the article carefully he would have noticed that_the data contained therein was obtained from Oscar Lowande, who Was on a visit to New York. In other words, we merely told what Mr, Lowande had to say of conditions on the island. The Chorus Equity did not quagent that Mr, Desmond’s company was in desperate straits. It was Mr. Kent's letter that said the troupe was stranded. The clipping referred to by Mr. Desmond was taken from The Havana Post of June 30 from a_“‘Legal Advice” column conducted by Mr. Kent. It reads: “Question—I have been contracted by a theatrical manager in this city for four weeks, as an entertainer and dancer, on the understanding sent me by cable to New York that my traveling expenses would be paid both ways, first class, and my salary paid at the end of each week. My travelin expenses were paid to Havana and F nccates d part of one week's salary. I was then discharged; informed that the manager has no money, and cannot pay my return trip. “Answer—This office is addressing letters today to the Department of Labor in the United States, asking that the various theatrical associations which are members of the American Federation of Labor be notified of the frequency with which these breaches of contract take place. You have, of course, a claim against the manager, but the probabilities are that he is insolvent. It might take you six months to win a suit against him, and nothing would be gained, because he is almost certainly judgment proof, Your manager has probably deposited a bond with the immigration officials for your return passage, but please remember that this bond only guarantees you a secondclass passage to the nearest United States port, which is Key West. If you report this to your theatrical union you might assist others from getting into the same difficulty. You have no practical remedy under the law.”—The Editors of The Biil oard ‘Answers Plea for Vaudeville Novelties -35 Duffield street, Brooklyn, N. Y., July 11, 1925. Editor The Billboard: Sir—I am writing this in answer to a plea in the open-letter department recently for more novelty in vaudeville, Are you sure it is wanted by the powers? Experience for the past three years with a novelty musical instrument act in this city of wiseheimers has proven to me that it is not. Unless—you are between 17 and 21 with an exotic (or grease-ball) appearance. The first thing they ask over a teleplone is your age. f I call in person a weak stall is used to get rid of me, I present an appearance similar to Herbert Clark (minus the glasses), formerly of Sousa’s Band, and have distinct novelti that landed me a page in Popular Mechanics. I will have at least one picture of novelties In the September issue of Science and Invention, backed by = nts issued and pending, which is etter than a mere registering of some “husiness” in the N. V. A. But the only opening I got in three years is a tent show. (Signed) OCTAVET., Commends Comedian’s Coolness Hamilton, Ont., July 2, 1925. Editor The Billboard: Sir—Enclosed you will find a newspaper clipping describing the near-panic that was averted June 29 by the able service rendered by Hal Jerome, Mr, Jerome, who is an extemporaneous monologist and musician, was finishing his act when the suction of the ventilators on the roof of the theater drew _in smoke from a fire in the next block. It immediately threw the audience into a panic, several jumping for the entrance and forgetting the fire exit doors. The situation was made worse by some panic-stricken man who shouted Mr, Jerome, altho believing the theater to be on fire, immediately sensed the situation, quieted the rushing mob and succeeded in his efforts, for most of the house returned to their seats and gave —_him a round of applause, lasting mre than a minute. In cases of this kind I believe the heroic service rendered by Mr. Jerome and also his able assistant, Gloria Gray, should not pass by without the just compliment that they deserve, (Signed) GEORGE STROUD, Manager Pantages Theater. (The clipping referred to describes the occurrence and further states that “Chief James warmly complimented Mr. Jerome and the employees of the theater for their coolness in time of danger, stating that they no doubt saved many lives. Mr. Jerome is visiting Hamilton, his native city, for the first time in many years. His real name is Johnston, he being the son of T. J., who used to be police officer, later engaged in the piano business.’’) J. S. McLaughlin Says Error Was Made in Publishing His First Letter Bar Harbor, Me., July §, 1925. Editor The Billboard: Sir—I note the recent letter of J. H. McLaughlin in your valued open-letter department. I did not wish to infer that J. H. McLaughlin joined the Swain Show. I was aware of the fact that he managed a theater in Florida, and judging by his reputation in the old days I was certain Swain’s contract would receive no consideration from McLaughlin. However, my’ letter in your columns, due to a typographical error and elimination of part of its contents, was quite ambiguous as you published it, A few weeks ago the Actors’ Equity Association, thru an error, sent out deputy report sheets stating that I had been sus ended for joining W. I. Swain’s company, am the only J. S. McLaughlin belonging to Equity and at the time this report was circulated I was in stock at Hoboken, N. J. Mr. Gillmore published a correction, but not before many of my friends read the false report, As my letter appeared in The Billboard it stated that J. C. McLaughlin had been suspended. The point is, had it actually been J. C. McLaughlin instead of J. S. I would had no cause for complaint. Therefore I appreciate your space for this missive to clarify the matter. Signed) J. S. McLAUGHLIN. A London Letter Treating of the Legitimate By “COCKAIGNE” Summer Time ONDON, July 3.—The Prime Minister's statement to the effect that he is une able to grant facilities for the Sum mertime Bill to be passed on to the Statute Book this year will be greeted with pleasure thruout theaterdom, There can be no doubt that the summertime regulations have hit the theaters hard in recent years. Indeed, the managers are more strongly antagonistic to the changed hour than the farmers. If the bill does not ass summer time ends the middle of eptember, whereas the bill arranged for it to end the first week of October, The Early Closing Association, which is largely responsible for the agitation to increase the length of summer time, is hopeful of focusin the attention of various bodies which desire the passing of this measure and forcing the government to do so. The prayer of the theater managers will therefore be: More power to the Premier’s elbow. Dodging Daylight Altho no concerted action has been taken by the managers as a whole to develop a policy to counteract this summertime difficulty, various London theaters have adopted different methods in order to lure the public into their houses, Starting the show at 8:45 or 9 o'clock has, for example, been tried, and suggestions have been made that in future years the opening hour should automatically become 9 o’clock with the coming of summertime, This, however, is no cure and is not likely to prove a remedy, for the reason that the effect of summertime has been to take people out into the playing fields, up the river, and generally into the open air—in short, to promote outdoor _as opposed to indoor entertainment, I doubt very much whether any change in opening hours of theaters will make a difference, because people who have decided to devote the evening to tennis, golf of country excursions are likely to leave it at that. A more likely development will be the running of open-air theatrical performeances of the kind organized so successfully a few weeks back by Philip Ridgeway on Barnes Common. hear that inquiries have been made in regard to likely sites, but the vagaries of our climate have so far kept our impresarios from seriously deyeloping our entertainments along these lines, There can be no doubt, however, that summer time has come to stay and the rowing interest of the public in the egitimate theater would, I believe, justify the long run the initiative of managera July 25, 1925 in the direction of promoting summertin: theaters, Hot Weather Comfort Meanwhile there are other devices which might be adopted in an endeay.: to counteract the summertime exodus «; the public from the theater. I hay: always been struck by they way that 1)... Continental public leaves the auditorium during the intervals, thus making a cooler and better ventilated house during +) second and successive acts. In England the majority of the audience stick |ik. limpets in their seats, and it is to by noted that the ventilation of many of our older theaters leaves a great deal to ho desired. Where plenty of foyer room exists it would be worth the while of th. managements to encourage the public a 3 cores the intervals, = © ut there is yet another even or simple and direct method of assuring added comfort for the audience during the hot weather—that is, by the provision of a cooling system. Not a single manager in my memory has worked the slogan of “The coolest theater in London,” which certainly ought to attract them these evenings, Another Shubert Coup Following their acquisition a few weeks ago of half control of His Majesty’s, th. Shaftesbury and the Winter Garden theatess the Shuberts have now acquired an terest In three more of our principa! West End houses—the Gaiety, the Apollo and the Adelphi. Like the other three, this second group of houses is owned by William Gaunt, who has now arranged with Lee Shubert this new deal, the price of which runs well into six figures in sterling, Like the former announcement, the public statement respecting this latest deal insists sharply on the fact that the Shuberts are not seeking to Americanize the English playhouses, and it is perhaps good showmanship on the part of the American firm to do so, especially in view of the outcry which is now being made in regard to the Americanizing influence of the films and a growing recognition of the propaganda value of entertainment in its reaction on national culture, In any case the activities of the firm will not be in operation until 1926 and British staffs will continue in employment there, altho I hear that the system of control will be changed. For instance, it is roposed to send out on tour not nominal but actual first-class London companies from the various houses, and a wide selection of international plays, French, German, Hungarian, as well as Englishand American, are to be presented. It is exported that the first production will be the musical version of Old Heidl+berg, which captured good business in New York. It will seen at His Majesty’s Theater in early spring. Critics Criticized The Theatrical Garden Party Tuesday, held in the grounds of the Chelsea Hospital, provided a most unusual entertsinment for the assembled guests. I\ Brown, critic of The Manthester Guerdian, had written a play called Smithfield Preserv’d, or The Dewl a Vegetarian, an amusing burlesque of the kind of production given by the Phoenix Society and the Renaissance Theater. The piece was performed by various other critics and was produced by Brown's wife, Irene Hentschel. The show was amusingly exploited journalistically, for several of the daily papers, whose critics were. taking part ran criticisms from the pens of_ wellknown. theatrical people. Sybil Thorndike, for example, reviewed the sketch for The Daily News. Another original item was provided by Sir Oswald Stoll, a film being taken and afterwards shown. Among the _ per formers were Fa Compton, Gladys Cooper, Matheson Lang, Bransby W'!liams, Norah Swinburne, Ivor Novello, Isobel Elsom and a large number of the public were allowed to _ co-operate. Several celebrated men had sent autoraphed messages, which were put into 2 Vell of Treasure, and the fortunat: among those who paid for a dip into this Well might chance to get such «4 message from Marshal Foch, Ex-Premier Macdonald, Sir Oliver Lodge or others. Brevities This has been a record week for the number of new productions, for besides the Renaissance Theater's special show Sunday, and Les Matelots, the new Diaghileff ballet at the Coliseum; a new edition of By the Way at the Apollo, th: special performance of At the Same Time at the Aldwych, there are several imay productions; an unusual thine or this time of year. On Monday The New Morality was revived at the Kingsway Theater and Sybil Arundale began her season at the Everyman Theater with The Wild Duck Tuesday. The Gorilla got away with the thrills and laughs on the same night at the New Oxford Theater, and Wednesday night Galsworthy’s latest and possibly his worst jay, The Show, was presented at the St. Martin Theater. ast night we had The Gentleman in Waiting at the Comedy Theater, and Sunday the Three Hundred Club will present Prisoners of War for a special show at the Court Theater. The revue, Bubbly, is also revived at the Duke of York's Theater this week. After this heavy ovet@ime the dramatic critics are likelvy_to have a fairly easy few weeks, according to ptesent prospects. The Lie revival came to an end Saturday last and Sybil Thorndike plans to take a holiday prior to the tour of Sain! Joan, The Little Theater will shortly house ¢ new revue, somewhat along the lines 0 (Continued of page 40) ‘ ’ ‘ f