Variety (Aug 1932)

O U T B O O R S VARIETY 47 OBITUARY D. CONStANTI D. Conatantl, 62, owner of Riviera .^lieaire here, and Liberty theatres In , jpuyallup and Sumner, nearby tpwha, died tollowlng a: brief illness .<of the flu. iProbably besl; known Email theatre operator in western part of the state. Two years, ago built a hew theatre at Aberdeen, aiipther western Washington city; " which he sold to Warner Bros, be- ;"fore he opened it. Survived by a ' ^ife, son and four dauerhters, all of whom assisted him in the operation of his houses. JOHN T. SPICKETT John T. Spickett, vet , minstrel, who left San Francisco 35 years ago to institute show business in Alaska, died in Juneau July 31 at thfe age of 74; ; Spickett returned to Frisco each ppring to renew film bookings and acauaintauceships that began when he was doing a blackface act about 1890. The widow is postmistress of Juneau. ' S. P. Symphony orchestra. Philip Rammacher, 48, trombonist, died .July G At bis home. in. Los An- geles. Had been a member of Local No. 47 for 20 years, and played tvith the Catallna Island band. OLD ORDINANCE FORCES RiNGUNG MINN. UCENSE Minneapolis, Aug. 8. .... Ringllng Bros, circus succeeded where he was concertmastis^ of Jhe-Kin getting its license for appear- . Alina Cucciantini, radio singer in Cleveland and Schenectady, died re- cently at, the home of a friend in Bedford; O. Had recently been sing- ing over a Cleveland station. CHARLES GANTZ Charles Gantz, 66, a midget, died |n Los Angeles last week. He was ; yv6\l known In show business. Sur- i- .Vived bjr.three brothers and two sis- [, ters, air normal size, interment in I Fairlleld,. la., his birthplace. Franz Heinrich Andreas Adel- [ inan, 61, violinist, and conductor, i, died In Oakland, Calif,; sanitarium. A child prodigy in Russia, he was pent by the German emperor to the United States'ia 1904 to conduct an .orchestra at'the Louisiana exposi- tion. Later went to San Fra,ncis.co, Daniel Herlihy, 65, died at Bar Harbor July 29. Old a;musement promoter and owner of Br^amwood ballroom. Jos. H. Chapek, 72, once concert- master of the Boston . Symphony orch., and- currently head of a music school in Chicago, died there Aug. 1. Liiioi Gargano, 29, Los Angeles saxophonist, died at his home from gunshot wounds of unknown origin. Mr?. Vesta J. Famsworth, 78, writer, died July 28 at Glendale (Calif.> Sanitarium. . Basil W. Herman, 39, news- paper publisher at Wasco, Calif., died at Soldieris Home, West ^os Angeles, Aug. 3. Widow and Infant daughter survive. Father of Nate Blumberg of RKO died Aug. 2 In Milwaukee of heart disease, at 70. Widow and six chil- dren survive. ances here Aug. 22 and 23, after the state fair board withdrew its oppo- sition when it found that an old St. Paul ordinance made it-mandatory to issue a license there for'Aug. 24. Fair board had previously op- posed the license on the grounds that the circus' appearance so late in the season would have an adverse effect on attendance at the state' fair, which. opens latel this month.' It also was cialmed that when the circus waa granted the license for the late date last year promises were made not to bring in the siiow so late in the summer again. A point was made, also, that the Barnes' circus, owned by Rlngllngs, had advertised here in July that it would be the only circus to play the "Twin Cities this year. In the face of the state fair board opposition, the mayor came out against the issuance of the license and the council license committee was divided two to two on the mat ■ter.. ': . ' ■ ,- Visiting Concessions Dropped by Puyallup Tacoma, Aug. 8. No carnle fcr Puyallup Fair, largest of state, this year. Manage- ment is signing all coriciessionahes in separate units and will direct and pass on every show or concession.. Fair pulU froni all over state and many residents have tried to have lawmakers subsidize. Jt as .the state fair, owing to its pulling qualities and location. Most of the concessions for this year . are coming from Portland's fresh water beach park; Mother of Elmer Horlinop latter with F. & M. unit, died July 27 in the middle ' west. RKO Outranked • (Continued from page 23) leadership, RKO will also decline from the top in salaries paid. Five months of salary slashing, has sent RKO vaudeville rates almost down to the indie booking fevel, Willie most of the heavy salaried names are now. playing for the pthier cir- cuits, particularly Loew and Publix. Up to now, thrbu.gh the .aniount of tlme.lt'had to offer, Keith's ahd RKO had their own way In the stage booking, business. A route with this circuit always took precedence .over offeria from other circuits, with the acts. During . the coming season, minus. Its former edge, RKO will have to compete with the field in all bookings— a. distinct novelty in the variety business. . F. & M.—Loew Discussions are reported haying been reopened for an afnilatlon be- tween the Loew bpoking offlce ahd Fanchon & -Marco. Current visit of Marco, In the east, is reported expressly for that purpose, besides talking things over, with Spyros Skoiiras. Matter of a deal is known to have been talked over between Col. Ed: Schiller of Loew's, Marco, : Skotiras and Nick Schenck some time ago. With F. & "M. serving Fox-West Coast; RKO, Po;r and Warners, completion of any merger with Loew's would result in a layout which would run over 80 weeks In j)iaylng time. Loew's is the only major, circuit feo far not served by .-F.. & M. on any permanoht i)asls. : Fox-.Loew closer Under the deal Fox-West Coast . and- Skouras would move clb.ser to. Loew theatre operation but wiiat the executive Une-up would be lender such an arrangement Isn't known. F-WC and Loew's would cover a combo of nearly 800 houses from coast to coast, of which many addi- tional spots, might be turned over to live talent as booked by F. & M.. RKO's 26V2 Weeks (Continued from page 2V) Marco will get one full week, rest being halves. . , The F. & M. shows will be^ spotted as follows: Full week: Albee, Cin- cinnati; half week, Orpiieum, Madi- son; Palace, Youngstown; Rlvoli, Toledo; Palace, Akron; lOSth St., Cleveland. , . Palace Is. A7 Whether the Palace, New Tork continues on its present combo pol- icy 1ft the fall '. Is as yet open. It Is proving .profi'table.<.u.nder .present conditions and may continue. In the fall the KAO heads have to fig- ure In the weekly rental amounting to $4,600 which currently is off thCi books. ' Also, with Radlp City opening late this , fall, aome additional changes may be made in the route including, the Paliace policy. But that's months off. N. Y. and Chi Only four w^gks of vaude. is planned for the N. Y. City territory. This includes a full week at the Palace, New York, and at the Al- bee, Brooklyn. Prospect, Brooklyn, will be continued as a break in spot on a spilt week policy. Other. New York split weeks Include the Acad- emy and either the .Coliseum or Audubon. .On latter, policy depends on pioollng.deal with Skouras, Two Chicago weeks include the Palace, and State Lake. Two Bos- ton, weeks include the Keith's and the new Boston. Outline of the . straight vaude time as planned follows: Full week: Palace, N, Y.; Albee, Brooklyn; Palace;. Rochester; Ma- jestic, Dallas; Ft. Worth, Orph- eum, Minneapolis; Orpheum, New Orleans; Palace, Rochester; Orph- eum, Omaha; Palace, Chicago, State Lake, Chi.; Main Street, K. C; St. Louis, St. Louis; Orpheum, Denver; Keith, Boston; Boston, Boston; Palace, Cleveland. Split weeks: Prospect, Brooklyn; Academy, ; N. Y.; Audubon or Coliseum, N. Y.; . Keith, Dayton; Keith, L-bwell, Mass.; Albee, Prov- idence; Keith, Syra:cuse; Palace, Albany; Capitol, Trenton. Half wieek: Palace, Akron; lOSth St.. Clevjeland; RIvolI, Toledo; Palace, -Youiigstown; Proctor's, Schenecitady. _ ■ lA. FAIE'S ACTS Pes Moines, Aug. 8. Iowa State Fair will do a day and night circus revue... as the grand- stand attraction.. Acts are: Costl Florescue,- Oscar Babcpck, Hoaglin's Equestrian Step- pers, Liazeed.troupei Honey troijpe, Bobby McLean, Shorty Flemm, Mllle. Goldle, Happy and Golucky, Foster Dancers, JcsS: Llbonatl trio. Five Harlequins, Metropolitan Grand Opera quartet and Prince,' Shelton and Dean, . MYSTERIOUS INJtJRY Fort Dodge, id..,'Aug. 3. Preston. Osborn, carnival attache at the Exposition park, was picked, up in an unconscious state at the edge of the lot, suffering from nu- merous bruises, cuts and a frac- tured skiill,. afte.r lying there through the night.. No apparent, trouble,, except usu- al rows, about the grounds the night before. EMBALMED WHALES FIND FISH SCARCE THtS YEAR Los Angeles, Aiig^ 8. Sure money makers last summer, the Paciflc Whaling Cb.'s embalmed fish aren't off the nut so. far this year. Company. has' tWo on the road In this country, one lii England and three In storage in Pittsburgh Embalming plant at Long Beach, Cal., has been inactive this year, with the demand considerably be low the supply. Mounted on its private car, the whale In England has been ii disap- pointment.' it Is now at Blackpool for the .summer on a guarantee Previous to the Blackpool engage- ment, exhibit had been trouped around the provinces.' Both exhibits In this country have Just about made enough to pay sal- aries and niove the car. Last year Paciflc had 10. whales working In this country,, all of. them grossing heavy during the summer months. Harrison County's $2,000 Loss in '31 No '32 Barrier Logan, la., Aug. 8. . Despite that the Harrison county fair went into the red $2,000 in 1931. plans have been practically com- pleted for the fall fair this year, Sept. 13 to i6. Admission price Is down, with ai special family rate. ' LEE WABIIEa ITPS Minneapolis, Aug. 8. Lee F. Warner of St. Paul,, first vice-president of the Minnesota State Fair, lias been made acting president to succeed the late D. D. McEachin. Final approval of plans for this' year's exposition, which opens Sept 3; calls for contracts to 12 bands and orchestras. CARNIVALS (For Current Week, Aug. 8-13) Darker, I<. J., Columbia:' J3ee, P. H.. Bwlnir^ BiBtany Oaywa]< 01e..a Falls. Bruce Greater, Norwich. Castle-Ebrllcb * H., Altoona, Wis. Conkllns AH Can,, Wlnnlpes. Cotton Belt, Celina. Crafts Greater, Modesto. Kmpire City, Charlestown, W. Va. Florida Expo, (until Sept. 1). .Callers, Celina, Tenn. GreenbtirK Amm., Aurora. Happyland, Mllford, Mich. Jsler Greater, Burwell. Jones, Jobniiy J,. Benton. Kaus United. Ford City. • I..nnOe3, . J. I*. IJeRoy. Miners Model, Trescokow. Model Shown, Auburii. Page, J. ti., Broadhead. Pearson, C. B., Taylorvllle. Snapp, Wm., Sloax Falls. Sol's Liberty, Newton. Span> Greater,' New Freedom. Sunset Park Attr, Atlanta, tia. Valley, San Eaba. West Coast Am. Co., Malln. CIRCUSES (For Current Week, Aug. 6-1.3) Al Cfc Barnes ■ .K\iK. 8, Sp6kane; 8,..WenaJchee, Wash. ; 1.0, Jiverett; Ih lionrvlcw; 12,.> The'Dalles, Oefn.; 13, HlllBboro, Ogn. '. Hagenbeck-Wallace AUff. 8, Streator: 9, Bloomlngton; 10, Champaign; II, Decatur; 12, Sprlngfleld; 13, Lincoln; 14, Pcbrla; 15, LASalle-fcru. Ringllng Bros. Aug. e-13. Grant Park. Chlcago.- Sella-Floto Aug. 8-8,: Newarfe, N.- J.; 10, Asbury Park; 11.. New Brunswick: 12. Chester, Pa.; 13. Salisbury; 10, Norfolk. Va. ANIMAL SHOW HELD UP FOR $3,000 IN DUTY Paris, July 27. . About 100 ahinials, including oyer 80 lions, one of whom died, Are starving in their box. cars in the Strasbourg sfatipn. The- animal company, owned i)y Cap. Schneider, following his pirevlbus difriculties, had been used In Paris by Jeff Dick- son,: boxing promoter, in a scenic show • at- the Palais des' Sports, where it flopped. Boioked for - Czechoslpvakia, they were held up at the German' border due for inability to pay over $3,000 custoni duties.. ? Owner is unable to feed.tiiem and the railroad ofllcials are much wor- ried as to disposal of ravenous ani- mals,, or what's going to happen should tliey break loose. NELLIE DUnON to GIVE UP Barnes Hits Shimp in Mid-West, Doubles Back Lo^ Angeles, Aug. 8, Running Into bad business in the middle west, Barnes Circus is doubling back to the-coast through Montana. . From there it will turn South. Trick ^started strong, , but hit a slump iii mid season. Per- sonnel has been cut, and. an early closing la expected. Previously one of the other Ring- llng tricks visited the coast in the fall. These will stay out of this territory this season, however, with the 'Barnes outflt' penciled . in to play the towns Usually stands for the bigger circuees. Barnes ofllclala' are currently looking for. new winter quarters here, John Ringlingi havlnk. sold their property ttt Baldwin park to the California Jockey ClUb as a racetrack site. Medina^ p., Aug. 8. This year will be the last for .the Nellie J; Dutton clrci6, one of th«_ best known of the smaller shows on the roaia today. Heavy flnanclal losses have been' suffered by Mrs.. Dutton, the only active woman circus owner of the present time; "With the closing late In October, she plans to dispose of the entire stock ahd equipnient. . First blow came early last isprlng, when the show, after a long jump from Florida into the east, found contracts to be played were phoney, and an ag6nt retained and advanced several hundred dollars had skipped. V'I have lost every, dollar I oWii trying to keep the show on the road this season and meet obligations,' s£vid Mrs. Dutton. A .year ago she had several thousand dollars proflt from 1931 engagements, she said. Now she owes. $.1,600 back salary to performers and other ' debts* . eh* ' said. . .' .. Dutton show Is moving by rail- road, carrying • several • head of horses, an elephant and a: caihel,. 18 people and an unusually strong bill for a small circus. Six weieka bt parks in Ohio proved disastrousi and at none of the stands was Mrs. Dutton paid what she was supposed to receive. Show heads for Indiana to inau- gurate fall fair season, opening tit Columbus, Ind., Aug. 14, then Into Illinois, North Carolina and south, where it will disband. Mrs. Dutton i.d also one of the perfonners, despite that she Is eil*> most 60 years of age, and has car^ rled on since the death of hef h'us* band several yeard ago. ■■ ■■■ • Ticks Bother Circuses I Chicago, Aug. 8. An epidemic of ticks, cCttacking both anlnlals and humans, l^as made clrcusing most unpleasant this year. Practically all the tented .organi;sa- tlons have been plagued, from rpport. Ringllng's big show sends a chemical crew three days ahead and thoroughly sprays the entire lot and surrounding area wh^re the circus will pitch. Park Folds Early New Castle, Pa,, Aug. 8. Cascade Park,. managed by Carl Shaner, largest of the western Pennsylvania amusement par k s, suspended operations August 3 for the season. Lack of patronage, inability to in- duce the railroads ' to run excur- sions and the dropping of annual outings this year by many of the larger industrial concerns, were re- sponsible, for the early closing. . Only concession that will continue in. operation is the bathing pool. SIOUX CO.'S FREE GATE Alton, Ia„ AUg. 8. Sioux county has over $2,000 In state aid that will be used for premium's in lieu of gate r^^cfipts, no admission to be charged for the three-day event, Aug. 23 to 2!). One of the features will be a po- litical lovc'fesl with speakers promi- nent in this section to-extol merits of candidates and platforms. Politics are taken seriously hereabouts. 7 , $125 Damages Cedar. Rapids, la., Aug. 8. Ringling Brothers - Barntim & Ballcy circus must pay damages of $125 to the city for repairs to one of the city Arc engines. Accident occurred when a tent pole wafeoh skidded Iritp a parked fire pumper while crossing a park- way. SPOKANE UFtS $25,000 BONDS; LETS SHOWS IN Spokane, July 29.. Al O, iSarnes, circus will show here . Aug. 28, following the city cquncir& action in withdrawing the $25,000 cash; surety bond Yequlred of all traveling shows. DeGlopper con- cluded negotiations her6 for. ad- vancing, the tent, show, which-will set up for. an 9-fterhoon and. evening perf6rmance. Other circuses have passed: the city by on account of the surety bond. Wortham's traveling caml.* val> sponsored by the D. A. V. post, was-the first tent outflt to get in under the wire on the wlthdraw&l of the bond. Did a fair biz on even> Ings only on a week's stiand. S. W. Brundage Carnival On the SheK Already IDast Mollne, 111., Aug. 8. S. W. Brundage carnival has pulled Into winter storage quarters here, with rides and other devices b^ing stored in the same location used last year. Season was plenty tough. Fair's $115,000 Budget Tacoma, Aug. 8. The western Washington fair at Puyallup has budgeted and will ex- pend more than $115,000 to cover expenses of the 33rd annual exhibi- tion .Sept. 19-25. Total of over $20,- 000 has . been set aside from this fund for exploitation and advertis- ing purposes alone. . Prize money will amount to over $25,000, While: $30,000 has been budgeted for the :grandstahd show* Parks Strolls In Los Angeles, Aug. 8. pick Parks, who has operated a talent booking agency here for the past is years, supplying; "clubs", 'out- door shows and smokers, folded July 25 arid sank a b. r. in a walkii- thon derby, being staged under canvas with the Greayer-Cloveir post, American Legion. Former promoter of the walka- thon, E. R. Ware, took a walkout' on the outftt, with Parks coming to the rescue.