The Billboard 1925-08-01: Vol 37 Iss 31 (1925-08-01)

paves ee t ! | KANSAS CI Se Once More in Good Standing OHN J. PERCY, of Jack Percy’s Comedians, and Charlotte Leighty have been reinstated by the council and their suspensions lifted. They have concluded that the slogan, “All for One and One for All”, is greater and mightier than any individual, and they have been taken back into membership, and they now start with a clean slate, so to speak. Such is ti spirit of Equity. Their example should be followed by other suspended members, for the truth is that the individual actor needs Equity more than they ever realize until they stand outside of its benefits and protection. Not So Easy as It Seems The final committee to Judge the plays submitted to the John Golden National Prize Play Contest includes Burns Mantle, The Daily News, New York; Percy Hammond, Herald-Tribune, New York; Bide Dudley, Evening World, New York; Ar thur Pollack, Daily Eagle, Brooklyn; Carlton Miles, Minneapolis Journal, Minneapolis, Minn. By a process of elimination thru various committees, from 2,744 pay “scripts” submitted, the number was reduced to 20. These 20 plays are to be read by the final committee which will select the winners, It is our opinion that this contest emphasizes over again the difficulty producers encounter in their search for acceptable play material. Keeping the Theater Alive The Abbey Theater, founded by William Butler Yeats, the poet and senator, and wey Gregory, plays an important part in the intellectual life of Ireland, so we are told. It has produced for the first time 170 plays, many of them successful, but the theater has been for the last 12 years run at a loss and no director or shareholder has ever drawn a dividend. To enable the institution to carry on the finance minister has included in the budget a grant of $4,250. In his opinion there is no agency which has done more to make the name of Ireland known abroad and he says it would be a misfortune if the only institution in the country nt ag an incentive to dramatic and literary work should be closed. Equity Helps, Too More than $1,000,000 in guaranty funds have been subscribed in four American cities to make possible the presentation of The Miracle as a civic enterprise tn those communities next season, announces Morris Gest. who has departed for Europe on the Olympic. In each city the profits will be devoted to charitable civic purposes, e Actors’ Equity Association has agreed to waive one of its most important rules in favor of The Miracle. The stupendous task of dismantling the cathedral structure at the close of an engagement and erecting it once more in the next city renders ft physically impossible to lay out a continuous booking for it thruout the season. The council of Equity has written to Mr. Gest thra its executive secretary, Frank Gillmore, as follows: “In view of the fact that The Miracle is a stupendous spectacle, that it has been generally praised as a work of high artistic merit, that it has been endorsed and supported by groups of prominent citizens who are guaranteeing the production in their respective communities, that it in no way coincides with the ordinary theatrical production, therefore the Actors’ Equity Association will waive its rule covering consecuttve employment and agrees to let The Miracle go on tour as per the dates and layoffs outlined.” Standing Room Only The members of the Plavers’ Club are patting themselves on the back for their production of Trelawney of the Wells. it broke all records for their revivals, grossing $32,500. The School for Scandal two years ago was only $250 less, but The Rivals and She Stoops To Conquer in 19352 and 1924 respectively were below $25,000 each. But even the business that these plays did was considered wonderful hen. “The Greatest of These Is Charity” Equity has decided to give its annual entertainment late in April, 1926, and the ‘council in discussing the plans decided that it would contribute a percentage of the profits to the Actors’ Fund. As this is a benefit for the Actors’ Equity Association and its success is made possible by its members it was felt that it weuld be a fine thing to send a little of this success into such a worthy channel, for after all the Actors’ Funé 1s really the only place that the actor ean turn to when he is sick, old and deendent. The result of the council’s deiberation was the passing of the following motion: “It was moved, seconded and earried that 10 per cent of the profits of the Actors’ Equity Association’s benefits, balls, etc., be.in future given to the Actors’ Fund.” Deputies, Do Your Daty This is an official instruction to all deputies to demand to see the Equity ecards of their fellow players. If any delinquents are found deputies are eimpowered to collect their dues. If refused they are > ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIAT / JOHN EMERSON, Dresiceny ~ ETHEL BARRYMORE, ~~ DAULI.TURNER Counse/ ~ FRANK GILLMORE, frecutve Sec Imes ~ GRANT STEWART, Rec Sec CHICAGO Office Capito! Bldg NEW YORK _ SAN FRANCISCO Office~369 Pine St 45 WEST 47's STREET TELEPHONE GRVANT 3550 5 Vice President ~ BRUCE MERAE . Second lice Aesdew The Billboard 10 ANGELES Orfice ~ 6412 Hollywood Bid mediately to headquarters, Address all such communications to the assistant executive secretary. The Equity Shop policy is in effect and must be, enforced, and those who accept the berlefits and conditions made possible by.this organization must expect to contribute towards maintaining them. Not only that, but the Equity Shop policy_does not permit paid-up members playing with delinquents. To do so not only fractures the agreement we are working under with the Managers’ Protective Association but it breaks the conditions of the Independent Equity Contract which provides for every actor in every company under independent management to not only be paid up at the time ‘the contract is entered into but further obligates him to keep himself in good standing thruout the life of the contract. Amy deputy who does not comply with the instructions se: forth above is not only lax in representing the interests of Equity but by not taking the action which his position gives him the right to do he becomes an encourager of delinquency which, if allowed to continue, will make the work of your council futile. Keep your company fully paid up. ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION. asked to report the facts im| Chorus Equity Assn. Chorus Equity during the past week. Anyone knowing the address of Helen McDonald or Beulah McFarland will please notify this office. These members are wanted in connection with the settlement of the Town Gossip claim. We are hold'ng checks in settlement of claims for Elizabeth _Huyler, Walter Twaroshk, Frank Shea, Caro: Raffin and Percy Richards. Don’t write anonymous letters. If you have anything to say come out and say it. How dou you expect us to answer your communications if we don’t know from whom they come? The association is here to protect you; if you don’t trust us enough to give us your names you are in a bad way. Today we received an unsigned letter, printed quite in the style of the Black Hand, enclosing a newspaper clipping which stated that in a_production of Aida to be given by the Mun‘cipal Opera Company the Priestess will be played by the masked singer who created a sensation at the auditions of the first company. The letter is as follows: “This (referring to the news item) means she must be a member.oef Equity. We lost our jobs; why should she work? Every person at the first audition belonged to Equity. -We understood the original cast left when Barrat, Burke and Smith left. Please protect us. S‘gned, An Equity Member.” We are very sorry that this member didn’t confide his name to us— we hate to think how he must be suffering for no reason at all. In the first place every person at the rehearsals of the so-called Municipal Opera Company was not an Equity member; about 40 per cent of them were, the rest were amateurs. In the second place the news item does not refer to those rehearsals but to a performance of Aida given by a totally different management at -the Polo Grounds some weeks ago. * As this performance was grand opera and not comic opera, the Equity had nothin whatever to do with it—and the maske singer may or may not be Equity. So long as she confines her efforts to grand opera it is of no interest to us. As to the complaining member having lost his job—it is a technical question whether a position in which the salary is in doubt can rightfully be called a “job”. But we can’t tell the member any of this because he hadn't the courage to sign his name. Here is arf® example of one of the many things Equity does for its members about which they know nothing: A manager called a rehearsal for a New York production Tuesday. He found that if he started on that day he would rehearse five days overtime. So he called the rehearsal off, setting a date which would bring him within the four weeks. In other words, because of an Equity ruling, members of that chorus will rehearse five days less than would otherwise have been the case. Report at the headquarters of your association on the first day of rehearsal. DOROTHY BRYANT, Executive Secretary. G ‘Ghorus Bauit new members joined the New Theaters (Continued from page 30) Peterman, of Fort Lauderdale, who is preparing the plans, The building wi'll be constructed of tile and stucco and is to be erected on a site on Dixie avenue in the business district. In addition to the theater, the build'ng will contain two shops and four offices. One of the largest motion picture producing and exhibiting companies in this country, of which Cecil B. De Mille is the head, is negotiating for the erection of a mot'‘on picture Louse in Seattle, Wash., according to a report from Los Angeles. Mr. De Mille stated that he submitted® an offer to the Metropolitan Building Company of Seattle for the construction of a motion picture theater on the old Hippodrome site, Fifth avenue and Union street, but did not know whether the offer would be accepted. Gottlieb Heine, acting for the Victory Theater Company, Ft. Wayne, Ind., has leased jts theater site at Main and Ninth streets, Richmond, Ind., to the City Securities Company, of Indianapolis, for $15,000, it was announced recently. The Securities concern plans to erect a $200,000 theater on the site. The Victory Theater Company, a partnership of six Ft. Wayne business men, leased the site from the estate of a California fam'ly, the Wakefields, intending to build a theater. Later the project was abandoned. I. Van Ronkel, of the Universal Picture Corporation and personal representative of Carl Laemmle, its president, recently v'sited Hannibal, Mo., with the purpose of selecting an advantageous site for a moving picture theater to be built by the Universal Film Company. The theater which the company will build in Hannibal will be a modern and _ thorolyequipped building, costing about $250,000. It will be equipped with’stage and scenery — will run Universal as well as other ilms, * With the opening recently of the new Idan-ha Theater at Soda Springs, Id., the city can boast of having one of the finest and most up-to-date amusement places in the southeastern part. of that State, _The playhouse was by'Jt by J. W. Laurtsin and has been leased by the Gorton Brothers. The theater is 30 by 120 feet, of brick construction, and has a seating capacity of 450. The managers of the theater have contracted for the best photoplays obtainable and the Idanha will be used for road attractions as well as motion pictures, Tabloids (Continued from page 33) He also reports that the coming season _ Ne igeee and better than at any ore, he Tos 7 mel nore anes ster of the shows Gibson Revue, Bill Mo producer; Clarence management are: rrow, manager and pr Pritchard, straights; at Murphy, general business; Fred Horseman, musical director; Peggy Smith, Pegey Ahrens, June Opunieu, Saily Osborne, Mabel Raymond, Nelly Morrow, chorus; features are the O unieus, real native Hawaiians; the xibson Trio harmony singers; Pat Murphy, euitar specialties; the Morrows, musical act, and the Radio Kopykats, jazz orchestra. Tne Broadway Higgins Company is managed and produced by Lew Beckridge : George Hill and Sammy Ross, comedians: Billy Gilbert, straights; Lois Beckridge, Ingenue; Katherine Fitzgerald, soubret: Mame Hill, Ruth Graves, Madge Graves. Bessie Merriman, Saide Merriman, Florence Hewitt, chorus; two sister acts, a harmony trio and two dencing acts are the features with this show; script bills with special scenery for each one. Both shows are booked solid in the South. WALTER RECHTIN discloses that the heat wave has struck the Windy City for good and the panic is on. . Most of the agents and boosers are away on vacations, and what few performers are in town are giving the Rialto and Loop theaters a wide berth during mid-day or afternoon hours. Laveda Storey, the little soprano singer, hopped into Chicago on one foot; she reports a sprained ankle which several days’ rest will cure. Bonnie Carr is visiting her husband at Asheville, uM CC Nellie Sterling and her sister, Helen, are motoring thru the British Isles and recently stopped for a week at Black Pool, where they enjoyed the bathing and sights. Floyd White, the strs:ght man, is working with the Winter Garden Four during the absence of Mr. Peterson, who is on the sick list, but wil! return to the act shortly. Walter recently purchased a seven-passenger car and has taken two lessons in driving. The only time he has the car under control is when it is locked in the garage. Walter says an auto ORIGINAL STYLES and materials. 225 W. 42d St., Latest, Snappiest Styles, for Stage and Street, im all colors Clogs and Jingles. Ask for “B’”’ Bargain Folder. BOX TOE. $4.75 Bleck Kid. Pink Satin. Blade Satin. sort Toe, $3.75 Bisck of White Kid. hoes Silk Opera Hose. New York | August 1, 1925 mobile is faster than a hearse. As he has driven both, he should know. Milton Schuster took a much-necded vacation recently and made a flying visit to Denver, Omaha and Waterloo, accompanied by his wife, Edna Patton Schuster. While in Omaha they were royally tntertained by Bert Smith and Vi Schaeffer and were guests at Mr. Smith’s show, the Ragtime Wonders, which is still packing them in at the Empress Theater. Milt says that it is a real show. From Omaha they journeyed to Denver, where they were taken in tow by Mr, and Mrs, Frank Milton, who operate the Rivoli Theater : they also have a most excellent attraction at that house. While in Denver Mr. Schuster visited many of his old friends and assqeiates. He is now back at his desk in Chicago and looks forward to one of the best seasons in many moons in the tabloid field, FRANK SNEWMAN’S Fashion-Plate Revue played Chester Park, Cincinnati, week of July 5, being the first show to play~at the park since last season, end this editor went out to give the show the once over, It has been seven years since Frank played in or around here and the citizens have been deprived of one good show for that length of time. Frank has a very good tab. show and should come back often. First thing noticed was the beautiful set, consisting of blue draperies against a gold cye. The wardrobe and scenery of the show is of a_ production order, the comedy is good and clean and the vaudeville specialties are above the average. The bill was titled The Holdup and was one that gave plenty of opportunity for each member of the cast to strut their stuff. The comedy work was divided equally between Frank Newman and Dick Hulse, the latter a corpulent comedian with an original and laugh-provoking style. His very appearance at each entrance was the signal for hearty laughs. The childish-innocence expression on his face, his baby-pat-a-cake method of Prttins over a song were very ludicrous, and his single act, where. he did a monolog and a couple of funny songs, was about the heavy-applause bit and was the recipient of many calls for encores. Frank Newman also makes a humorous appearance, working well with Dick and Bob Lane, who does characters and straights. Pearl Derbys and Babe Matthews put over a clever sister act; Jack Newman, a boy dancer, presented some very nifty stepping; Fat Kelly offered some funny stories for his specialty, these being well received; Tony Frica, in a musical specialty; the Casino Jazz Trio, harmony fools; Kelly and Newman, in a fast-dancing double, and the Three Jewels, harmony § singers, rounded out the specialties in a fitting manner. The chorus was very attractive and neat appearing, wearing some beautiful costumes and — nicely together. It was easily seen that whoever produced the dance numbers had the chorus well routined. Frank has a very good show, one that would be a credit to any circuit. ARTHUR STONE INFOES that the Folly Theater, Log Angeles, with a policy of musical tabs, and pictures, continues to play to good houses, with a change of program every Sunday. Bobby Fitzimmons, as principal comedian and producer, is still on deck and doing nicely. When reviewed by Stone a script bill was in evidence, No, No, Nancy, and was good for many laughs. he singing was above the average for this class of show. Harry Hallen is back once more playing characters. Dick Hyland is a good straight man and proves his versatility. Danny Silva is a clean-cut juvenile with a clear voice and is a nifty dresser. Connie Swan, a newcomer in that section, has heaps of personality and_ puts over her numbers in good style. Wilda Davis, a shimmy dancer, is there with the goods, Billy Moody is still doing characters, and Arthur adds that she is a good character woman. The numbers are produced by Bobbie Fain, who does well with the material at her command. She is to be succeeded by Blanche Barber, who goes to Los Angeles from San Francisco. Little Babe Arnold, a diminutive soubret, puts over numbers in good style. She is dainty and refined, and the possessor of a sweet voice. Arthur states that Manager Fred Wolfe at the Burbank Theater reports business as not so good lately due to the excessive heat, but he still retains his genial disposition, as this state of affairs is expected about this time of each year. Henry Roquemore is_ stil! producing director and when reviewed was using a number of good bits, which were ably carried out by all the principals, assisted, by a good-looking «chorus of 24 girls. ack Miller and Lee (Bud) Harrison are still handling the comedy and they have been too long at this house to need any more praise than the fact that if they were not so popular they could not remain together so long and still amuse the same audience. Neil McKinnon, a clean-cut straight man, handles his parts nicely and is a good feed for the comics, Minerva Ureka, an ingenue-prim. with a pleasing personality and good voice, is seen to good advantage. Bee Montague, a blond, bobbedhair soubret, puts over her numbers well ; she is full of smiles and vivacity. Lois Mason, a graduate from the Pete Pate Company, isa neat little ingenue of the Spanish type and has a good voice and a pleasing way. Violet Culver, Dell Wood, Rose Tartas and Angie Reid step out of the line and form a singing quartet that is chock full of harmony. Ann Conway is producing the numbers and is to be commended on her work; she has # stvle entirely her own. She knows her work and is a: hard worker, Arthur concludes. 2. 3. 4. Perea ewPeaaseracc a ee se ee Ur — am me oe Oe Ont eee OO oe oe Oe et ae a a i oe