Variety (Jan 1935)

Tuesday, January 1, 1935 o a T D VARIETY 151 (Continued from, pttge 149) Boihe American girls for new Taba- tln show, Biay Goetz ta London for a few days, then back to Paris before V. S, trip.. . leoltt Brothers, rumored dlckerlner to add the Pigalle to their legit the- atre string;: Jim Wltterled.' picking r line- girls , end iriermaldS i<6r Lido as reopened ^ by Volterra (Continued from page W3) mixed revie.ws—some fayorable and others the reverse or . iukewfirm—; that is not the viewpoint of some playwrights (Rice excepted). : Two. outstanding. instances of divided notices this season cropped up m 'The- Great Waltz' and 'With- in the GMe8\ ; 'Wkltz* went in to OlJfDOOR BIZ FOR 1035 : Chicago,; Dec.31. . If a heretofore infallible sign does not fail, U. S. A. business is.djefl- hitiely on the upbeat. The Sign is the 1934 big-ihbney season enjoyed by all branches df the oiitdobr show business. SinciB thef* ClvU War It's been a:n top Broadway's' list in weekly American tradition that an extr^or- the old days when, business was; ( placate Individuals, with ; an abu« gOod. ahd the; show got in 30 weeksi New Shows fop '35; In fact, so good was the vailroad circus business; In 1934 four spink- Ing new oneia are. being readied-to hit the grit with; the , Ii935 blue- birds.; First In importance will be Zack Terrell's show. Terrell was TwiVcHoolteacfaers^witlhlng^^^^^ - ■ " " flgurfesr^ Difference ^ourt and Theophriaste Renaud lit-| gtantlal erary; prizes, ■;'' :/ \.; ,■ Mady Eterry in cast of new Plran oll^orertinher of better. times.J^ - opinion was so marked that the re*. In the 1934 season the general viewers" twitted each other about outdoox- amusements roUc^ up the dellb play to be put on by Pltoeffs Lj^^ip varied estimates of the tSvo biggest profit within the past 10 at MathurlnS. Fred Bacos making fllm , on Pora- 'mount: JolnVllie lot once more, de- sertlng Pathe.. , - liou Arrtjstrbng broadcasting from pbste PflWSlen;. Few' Americans make this grAdc .Attendance at both tliese attrap- tlohs bore put tiie contentions pt Sean O'Casey who wrote 'Gates*;. It Was accorded several iraves and also Smn/^^ Comedl^ Prahcilpe I some severe pahn^^^ named mianagfer'bf outdoor amphl- Irish author s 'It is always theatre at Orange; the mark. of a line play when there Edmond ^ahleux to lead baJid at ig i|, . cleai'-cut' division of opinibri. Theatre de, Paris' legit production Uyjjgn you get' both a vigorous de *''lSf*'^aSr'^annbunclng hW^^^ assembling k hew. dince troupe for I co^^^^^^^ It shows you ve written a another American tour. . G.F,F.A. ,■. 'dubbing illm ^S;O.S, Foch', war educational, In English for New Tork: ^hotving, Young Spaniard writing to papers v/orth: while; play—you've shattered Itheir -ihlnds', ';( ■'; (-^ Morninig and Afternoon; Papers Rjegarding diylded notices, a years. " ■ With hardly: ail exception, state and county fairs everywhere" had grosses this past summer -and fall increase between 60' and : 8B%, an unheard of skyward Jump. . Circus Tecelpts were 33 over 1933.- several hundred calrnivals ex- ceeded their fondest dreams in the concession E^nd; general businGjSS. . isven the lowly pitchman (a de lirious odd factor In Ajnerlcan life that comes vOiily into full bloom when .business is Improvlhs) • was busy in every: hamlet, town; and city in 1934.- They, too, had a sea; son of grosses that kept the slum that Fairbanks', fllm^ 'Don: juan' 1» distinct bbxofflce reaction has Veen Rouses running threie shifts, and *"ii!!LpVAln? Yihr!i«^^^^^^ noticed. .Favorable reyl^^ In the L^hlch has not bebn equalled since ^wiv^Uorv or Frenbh mayors. buying activity., but If the after- ; The 16.000,000 visitors to A Cen Irvln Marks dljerging up 'Turn nobn papers .are Vadv^ business tury of. PrOgreSs were only a few About/' play 'he bought from Joe at the boxofflce generally slides pff pf the many, inore mlUloris who ,Bbt Schrank .about three Jrears ago. . 'Uiiflnlshed'; Syiftphony* out. for general release in 90 ' theatres In Paris and environs In. three (weeks. sharply. That may be ia- matter .of circulatlohi§.. But regardlngf : Rice's tirade the 1 critical gentry seemed inclined to regard It; as «bmln'g' from a sen- sitive author siifferliig a' temporary defeat. Although BIcie thought that •Pop' Ginsberg, of Mayfair' staft, ithrea^r fmir (unuamedX^vgvfeg on the mend after long: illness. may have 'Some degree, of theatre | Walter D.OriOhue dizzy froni ^ilege sensitivity', he was quoted as say - «f benefits.- - Hannon ditto, / Arthur Geissler joins .TacqueS Re- itard band as a,s.sistant conductor. Sammy Liner's'neiw arrangers are Spark TomdiSettl and Dave Drapkln. L. C. Prior; resigns from Bfuhs; .^Ick to concentrate oii Hotfel Lenox. Wonder Bar has dance bapid, but ; no dalndngi Tack Brown batoning. " Ne.wton F: Thompson, American's radio editor, ;:is the anonyniotis ;^Earcupper; of. same paper. Jack; Goldstein,-J Keith p.k., : gets diploma,: :frdm local cooking sohobl. Bftktefl ft mean me aa of blaciiita. : Horace McNab. iforraierly with . RKO; nbw handling publicity for, Billy. Lbssez at Blltmbre .hotel. Providence, , Caricatures of istage,. .screen and radio personalities In :the hew Co' coanut Grove icbcktall room -were sketched by William Riseman. Rube ~-Bodenhorh-dld .the -room. Ing: 'Critics-are-drama's worst ene- mies. They are stupid. Jaded, Il- literate drunkards; One Is ia sehlle alcoholic, pipe . .Is a profe'sslonai keyhole peeper,' 'etc. Most of . the critics: smiled, tak- ing the position that! 'Their per- sonal thirsts, and morals have nqth- ing whatever to do with their value;I ,5 million dbllars. as critics'. . ; : ■ J 1-vvhlie ho <exaci tumistile fleur<* arfe^ available for this branch of enter- -J ■ . .1 talnmehti the U. ,S. Chamber of j\0U} mCOOU — iCoinm e roo onc e e atjmntpd thnt In their 1933 - entertainment beneath .canvas roofs.. 'SYi^ Only' sufferer; In the entire field was the chautaiuquaS. As there iare only six small independent com panles left, their flopping can hard ly liaye V important' bearing.^ on th^ situation. ■ ■ Phi .Down! Qiitiooi's U While the . attendaiibe • in' A'mer- ;lcah ,plcture houses dropped cpnsld enibly in 1934, the sune seasoid saw ia ; gargantuan pickup in outdoor admisiBlons.' It's ah' axiom (and an.,old one) that the natives, when they begin stepping out, start with the caniya, the circuses and the fairs. They stepped In 1934 to an estimated sen men the carny owners; found, ex- tremely hard to fathom, .walked up . and down th*» stretch of gaff wheels [ and tpld the lads to close. ;it ia not for nothing the Fair men hay©.. . their own associatlou . that meets behind^ cK.sed dpors!' . • It appears as though,; W36 would formerly manager of the'Sells) Fioto; be iiard on a,li carhy galit joints;; So circus both under ; ; Muglvari , and far as; investigation can determine Bowers ('The American Circus CorT- there ■ isn't a fair ..manager. thaLt poratioh) and ; Rihgllng. > Although, doesn't; wint to clean up his. busl- not generally known, and kept:) ness. ' Previous to 1934 tbe fairs under cover by Terrell, he has iex- tensive quarters, at Richmond, Ind. It Is; understood Jess :Adklns,-^ a present manager of . the -Rlngling owned Hagenbeck-Wallaice circus will be ;Ter>"eli's; parther. Terrell has purchased ; plenty ; of animals arid will go ouit as serious; ppposl- tloh .to the Rihgling mob. . ' ; Thewidow of Al G. Barnes, Laura, with Jake NewmJin is mak- ing ready anbtherlcircUs, eithe^r; for rail^ or truclis. It. also w^ sufUcieht slize to play /cities. John Roblpsori,, fourth son of John G. Robinsori, founder of the Rbbinspn circus, will -send out a full sized railrpad sHow in the spring of 1935. It Is also reported the widow; of Al .Christy . (Christy Bros.' -.Circus), Will- bob-out with - a. f ull^rbwn-tent- j-; outfit.;'';'; ; '^'-y' While the wliitetpps hive always beeni the ;big mortey makei-s in the butdbpl"; field : they^dld; not,-l^ do as well as the Fairs. ;Ho^yeve^, all ;.the Rihgllhg-own^d s^ enjoy splendid business; As John RlrigUhg owns, or cohtrpls all the big; circuses' he i)ileiii * up iiahdsome. profits for himself. : The Ringflipg, Btrhuni- & Bailey Circus had ■ a sea'r son that sUrin-lsed , even. .the .vet'- <erani; ..';„■..; . ;.;V ■ ; Opposish for? Rinjolirig ■ Likely^, hOwever, ■ ih 1935, ;lt.Woh't be so smooth sailing for the Rlngv ling putflts,; For the first time, since 1929,."".these ;major - Rlngling circuses; .will have ppposltibhi; ; It Will be serious and thje sort that made circus wars taliced about before they bcntie under one head; It w'as Labor. Day, 1929, John Rlngling announced he had bought, from ; the American Clrbus Cbrr pbratlon, the iE, arks, Hagenbeck- Walliace, John Robinson, Sells jrioto (Cohtlriued from page WS) cannot play picture hOuse Of. large capacity. There Is litle doubt, too, abOut the 1 hlhterlahd-being BhQw-hungry._Ex: good - times approximately 86 - million people each year in this country spend;tw6 days out of each summer and fall at sbnae formi. of tented attfactlbn. .. - '.■•■'"; ■■ ;■'■■ ;.. ■' ■ This record was;' pretty nearly equallbd in 1934. At-the ■48th- anntiar-State; Fa.lr - of ^?"*'',/^°'hes to the^^ort in the liample Is when 'As "Thousands Cheer' Lpexas, held at Dallas, 44,466; hiore .played Cleveland ;and plenty,.of Er^^^^ Pa., cltizehs Jburneyed ther«i t^^^ critics' line-up In Hub with ap polhtments ' Of Elinor HugheS as Heriald's dramatic critic;-and Elliot Norton .as chief of Post reviewers. the revueJ -.Erie Itself supported Green Pastures' nicely, It wa's the first stage. ;6how- in the town, for many a season'.. iPerhaps a' feasbh why.- the road Ski season starts: with heivy I wahtsjhows is the; virtual; e?^^ inbw:^—^—r- -.—- - -Hlon-of-stbck-rper^^^^ Biliy Bell, blues slniger, on a West pictures; are blamed. With maur Indies trip. - agers quickly diapbslng. ■ of; Him Mary Malleg, Windsor hotel torch rights, the celluloid version Is;rlght ■Jheer,,.?^^ Ford Hotel opens .nltery wllh ■how SatOTdaysr iLee Shelley and Imperialists play- ing Stanley- Grlll.- - ; Wally Short .leadlhgv orch , and in.-c.-ing ICrausmanns. Jimmy ;I?ale out of the.\§tadlum --^^^dlnie^danee-^fpr-ia.iwhlle, J4kns._ Down" ;lii.. Raleigh, N. C., a com- paratively. Small fair, the ;iBate re- ceipts were 118^000 flibbve l^t year. Over 100,000 more peopje flowjed; thrbhgh - the Jacksbn, Miss/, fair gates than did In the year 1933. ThcMtbove-elvjes-sDme..ldda_9Jt Jhe tremendous Increase^ ih; 1934. At the same time a host of small truck;.and wagon shows were busy poking their noses-Int o h amlets .a,nd towns. . All.ot .them got fat winter Legit code" Is supposed to prohibit I the' Showing, of picture versions so long as >the > stage version Is alive, but . iapparently the film, attorneys have foiind a,way to b6at that rulie. Cecil Miller puts in snappy Nfewl Tork shbwVat El-;t!hlco. ' All cabarets ■ and' rilterles closed midhite to; 2 a; mj Xmas imprnlftg. Club Lido holding initial-openIng crowd aud;get,tlng;mbst.'U^ S.-tOUr-- let 'biz.". ; ■■ Embassy' ■ cabaSret giVlhg "away ] turkeys to patrons Xmas "aiid Ne^ "tear's' weeks;-.. y • ■■' ; Corona tpellirs ^ building -up to good biz and. Hen Atterberry .prom- ises' run .ui),til,;j9prlhg. . ...- , I bank rolls, and . all orrth^rtiT^vltlr several newcomers, are now paint- ing and making ready for' the spring bpenihg. The; owners know 1935 will be a big year- They've behiftd them tl^e ye cor d^ to prove the folks Mff?etiit on Fewer but Bigger. ; ; Clarlhda, Ia.i i>ec..31., ■ A iargb number Of . the smaller county; fairs- or those whoSe .dates ; confiict and are; In .close proximity; to each other, are; taking into. Serl.7 ous consideration proposals to cori- splidate Into sectional state groups -for; the purpose of putting on larger, better fairs, wiith lessened Overhead. are getting accufstorived. tO . the • d^- preissloh _lillu4 Shows Help A few of the wagon tricks out In 1934 were: Tiger Bill's Wild West Troy, 'Dec. 3L 1 show, Gentry Bros.' Dog & Pphy William K.v Schultz -Wild 'AhimalliShow^^^ Bros.' Circus (this last Show, rfeceritly Iri troubleVih-Biitr outftt puricbased 240. abres:>of larid land, VtJ,'is )ipw -iri "l-roy -lh iibpes' at , Jacksoin* MI<di;, to establish -a of booking "time In hearby ' cities, permanent; winter quarters.; The Stored ''ih' the • stable's. Of a. i^torage cost price came out of the past sea CO.' -Tridfc Cbrislsts.of one ^'uil,''t'hfee son's ;WlnnlngB), Ba,rnett., Bros.' Cir t r ained "ulie e p, & chitMpanz ee , f ive | eua, S e ^lS Otc Glrouo,.. ScheU -monks, three bears, 12 trained ponies, six dbfes and two pack muieS. Show,; which was reported from Rutland; as the Curtis L. ..Bockus show; was held up ■ wheh BOckUs was arrested for ripn-i»ayment" of■ salaries and released when he paid up ' after a." fund-raising V trip tb Maine.. . ■■- ; ...', .'; Letters . Wheii Sending for Mall to > VARICTT Addrena Hall-Clerk. ■.. POSTCARPS, ADVERTI8INO or CIBCnLAR' LETTRR^ Wnx^ MOt . BB'AnVERTIBED. LETTERS ADVERTISED IM; ONE ISSUE ONLT.. \- .■ ■ ., Clown Cbme)^ to^ CavlB Eth.el ilabli'.Dolljr'' i. kicharaa Theodbre SUlff . karry -B atlles Joe: ■•; - > : V y;f V--.v.'Rochester,;Dec;; 31. Pi-ank ilack, ^6", clotvn- with -the I '^elgrls't':Circu3' here ■ undiei*' jtegXon; auspices. Suffered ,a seyerev powder burn'- 6h the' left-ride'wh re- volver he was using in hliS act went Bros/ Circus, Cole ;& Rogers Circus Tow Mix Wild West ;& Sam B. bill Circus, Seal Bros.' Circus, the Jones Bros.' Circus, Walter ;L. Main and Downle-Bros. ; : ; , ; While this list by ho means at tempts to naime all ;of the niiud- shows On the road In 1934, it gives some Idea of what aniusement ;wa3 furnished the hinterlands. An put fit; like the Tom Mix-Sain B, Dijl show, niovlng on iGeneral Motor trucks. Is: a fprmldable nibney -igfet ting unit. John Rlngling does; care fprjhese small tricks because they are- the feeders, from which the' larger circuses draw; ihuch of their patronage; Nevertheifess, ;'.lh spite of. the small; fellows,' the Al. G. Barnes Clrcils, of 30 cars (a ..Ringf ling bwnid raUroad show), got back into". Us California; wintier quartbrs and Al G. Barnes. Circuses. Within two- years Ringling had shelved several pf - the titles. In ;1934 thie only major circuses. on the rpad Were the R, B & B,' Al (J. Barnes and HrW. : These few, with no opposition, allowed the owner to slip. .ihtb :tH!e best ;and recognjze.d; towns, and grab the gravy. ; ; This wpH't be .trub~;with.. .'ITerrell; In the field. He's the first man tp, buck: the combine- since ; 1929; and likely he'il be given plenty of trouble. - ; But knowing the; game backwards It Is ;flgured he .will pull through; Aisb. he'll. makb -a proftt; He's that; sort of a guy. : '; . • —--r-;^l»:-lt-flobrnson!s---T4tle^^-T----^ were hard hit. M^hen business was ■ good: tiiey; didn't seem tb '\vant ta protect thtir: home folks ; (the Ones; who make fairs ppssible), from the^. sharks; : In 1934, as if., by somi pre-- coricerted signal, every .'fair hiart- ^ ager began worrying.- ;The more ; • he^ worried the . mbre ,ga;ff joints h^ sloughed. Result:-—"Todayv'in any carny wlriter quarters you ban buy fixed wheels for; a spng. ThevboyS have ;geen ' the wrltlnr; on ,the flap-, , Ping ; caii-yaS walls. : They - mako : swell: decoratlpns; In the basement home bar. Exit'the Grifter ■ V if- nothing.; else i the ':.p^ ; shpUld ko down In history as hay- . ing. fairly well shaken the brook bUt of this branch of the outdoor- bUsl- : ne^ss< ■ The. ;ii*alr managers cteseW ' great credit. They've started some- thing they must xontinue; The cbn- tinuanbfeJwilV reactlfavbrablfe on; lalL / ■ Soine of the' more ambitious .car-;^ nivala . bh tour this Part-, year -in- elude. The All American Siiowjs, ^American: Model Shows, Bebkmann; . &r ;(3etty Shows,-, Cetlin. &v W .ShoSvs, Dodsoh'ai Wbrld Fair Show*;; Gruebergs' World Exposition, Jphri* . ny J. Jones Carnival, Royal;Amerl.- can Shows, Rubin '& Cherry Carhl- yai.- arid. Sheesley Midwiay. " In bew, : tweien these major Outfits swarmed . sbvbral hundred lesser outfits some playing towns with populations less than 6,400. .' . Few pay any attention to the lad with the "Jielster*' yiYio . sells trick paring knives and self-threading- needles. This lad the pitchman, who . missed being ia. showman -by . incheis, depends,on his .acting ability to sell'his wares; He has. a most urthply arid Uncahriy knowledge ot Where easy money can be.found., fr i tchrn e h ■ ■ 'Prbpheta One of the greatest general agents . In the circus buslhess alway^s '•e- : lied upbn ' pltchnien to; tell him : which Avas the best mOnled town. . This general agent knew, when he ; sa'./ three or four of these Itlrierant. vendors - In a strange town,; there ; waS; hioney-in thetspbt.- UponTthi judgment .he.,built. UP a. rbputatlon;; : second to none. Unfallirigly wheh ; he, booked his ■■ circus Into the toWn where pitchmeri were .riiaklng money the circus had a terrific day. This , same -.i^nan,: np-w passed on, persp.ria.lly; jourrieyed'lritb the towns he riiapped out. If, after, a walk., about the riialn;streets he saw four •pltbhmen-worklrier^hd-w-lth-ar^rbwd---- Whether trie fourth John Robin- I about them, he hastened to the tele- ; son will; be able to use his own graph Office and confirmed his judg- cognomen oh', hie own circus Is a nierit. He was never wronig.; ; mppted^uestlbn;^—ItJ3_aindfiiisibAd_ L^pitehmcn^^ —^ wheri Rlngling bo ught the Jbhn Robinson outfit and title he was given, the- name, for ten years. ;if ] he cared toV throw- the . -slibw; .and ' pame in" th4 a^ii .can, ;whlch .he hag dpriei no one cbiiild gainsay hlrii- -i antll l93p> In eidehtaHyH-the—Jehn- arr\c.A co m pa fprmers.and fbllQw^d the line, of the oli^' medicine ;show days, despite they ;;Vold hardw|u:e. Some .transr portbd, :;and paid. a. weekly, salary,; tp^ as high as ^0' performers. "The: gLouii.;. ar e b y—thems'el y e V. ■ 'I bey—- Eioblnson circus' when •'banished I riiingle with no on?,,and ask favors. frOin, the rpiad was over -100 irfeaiils of none.; On- atrlYal ini a. Strang old; If had become a ' Household city tiiey se^k the ;Iicenae bureau,, word,- ; especially - Inthe ■ Sputh,. pay, the required fee and .start ped- Whether It-can;- be revived 'Is like^^ Tliey dbn't pc'ddlo like the wise a; qucslian, '; Four ; years ago J merchant in whose allt^; they park.: It -wais BtlU considered brie of; the 1 They .krio-^^- is'"always .a ; most valuable 'pieces - of ~ whitetop ; sublceVi Yet they, fi-lve- (with; jeser :off •accldertMly'. '' ... ■ . • He was .takcri" . to High Ipital. ; • '■■ /. .> - ■ ' - .' • !;sort of ■figure that was common in property; on: :this ; side- of; .the:; At^ lantic. -Rtimop has It'Tohri Ring* ling put the -name Jbhn. Rpbirison; away, because he. .was afraid, it would harm his pet outnt, trie giant pf .ail .circuses, the R : Bar- num & Bailey circus. Onb unauestionably true charge again'st the , 1929-1934: clrtu.ses Avas the single o-vvrier stei'botyped pro-' grams.' While this hais been a sad fault It looks now, with the' new outfits entering the field, the bid. order Avtll return when ■ Individual flghtlri'g Ownership, ma^©' of each unit" fomethirig entirely different :froiri Its rlyails. ; .-: . /: :;; ;; :' ;;..■. ;:;.. ; One great, thing In falyor of the RrngUng^Pwned putfltS was /the .tpt^l aijsence' bf any graft. . , ' V - • Gpme the Carnivals ; : •The; year 1934, sbvenil .'carnlval.s with ;falr' dates moved confidently .pntb the Fair midway and began to ply-their, tirade. Someofte, how cv^r, all:through ; 19.34, .had been about sriiartonlng• up, tlte fair -ma-n- agors..; Tliesd heretofore ; easy to vsitloris)"value ■rebelYe'd. . F.6r fcfte" thirig: thby-:eriteii'tain. .'Either - they.-/: spin - ;>;<u\iis,' ; or.:;; Jijwfprm, . scune; . legerdemain. Tliey depepd On. their ariiusc"ri>bnt Value to: 8611 :thei r' gpoda. it doesn't ;matter thait ;they make ; 90% (taiking pfl their pxvri time) on ; each sale.. A breed linto themselves, i the.;^pitchm6n,; both high and iow, have many- wbnieri in their ranks; ^ ; ; J r - . Yet all of them can smell , ritioney In a town; They don't take to the., road unless business Is good.; If it'ia:. rbtteri' they. stay home and: clerk^ln ■; sonVe departriicrit store' at $15, reiy-'- Ing- on what they:can.;3muggle p^^^ to. off set the .small "i&aiary. But let the pitch man get a ; whiff of gbpd times andJhC^s off,on the highway.: - \ No' one can- eJfplairi the. breed.; ■ They srow tip and Kt;!!: If Ijiz is;bad '. thoy holft in.' if; good out they . g:b;'-; in 1034 (abdordlng tb city: repprta).. there were more •i>ltchrrien . on th^ r ;rbad ..tliun ;F>Ince -1025..This l:)tfinff the a-i.Ht' it is obvious sod^ was tb- bd Had, ;.-.'; ; .' ' '