Variety (Sep 1935)

Wednesday, September 18, 1935 VAUDEVILLE VARIETY 33 State Dept s Lowdown on Argentine . CojnditiQni^^^^ That Biieripa Alrea all' its painted to be for American per- formcra'^that ^ers -iat^ -no-• Mil- lionaire gauchos riding loose for every American chorus girl , that "Ijelow the equator—la con- tained in-fetter-sent ie-titei'fettiFJ'' Stato-Cordelt Hiilil-ln. Washings tori, D. . M. Warren, Amer- ican General in. Buenos Ires, Argentina. Letter -was sent In refutation of stories that have appeared iii American publications recently, althougH so far as Is known there have been . no com- plafnts recently oh bookings in S. In his letter, Warren states that he had asked the Buenos Aires cor- respondents of the New York Times and VARiExr 'to furnish their re- spective publications with informa- tion aa to the actual conditions in Buenoa Airea confronting Amer- ican girls.' Up to yesterday (Tues- day), the Tlmea haa not dwelt on the subject, nor has any word on the matter reached yAHtEXT. Th6 Lowdown Letter states that s'alarlea are fair in Buenoa Airea, while living conditions are high, and that con- tracts are easily broken, especially those with cabarets and revue the- atres. Actors' Equity In New York " Is requdBted in the letter to warn American acts. Letter, dated Aug. 23, follows: ■The Honorable, the Secretary of State, Washington. Dear: Sir: I have, the honor to invite the Department's attention to a copyright article written by James Aawell which appeared in the magazine section of the At- lanta Constitution and other newapapera in the United Statea on July 7, 1935, regardlhg the opportunities for American show girls in Argentina. This article depicts wealthy Arge"fitihe8 aa anxioualy awaiting the arrival of such girls in order to marry them at the earliest opportunity and points oiit the brilliant chances for show girls to seek their, for- tunes in this country. American chorus girls now em- ployed by the Casino theatre In Buenos Airea are required to give from four to six shows daily 'in that theatre and in cabarets op- erated by the same management. Their salaries average $45 per deck, a sum believed to be isUght- ly in excess of that current in the United States for similar work. However, the cost of living in . Buenos Aires for American the- . atrical entertainers is particular- ly high because of their un- famillarlty with local conditlona. The assertion in the above men- tioned article that Argentines are -desirous of . marrying American show girls is erroneous. Contracts Theatrical contracts In Buenoa Aires, especially those made by cabarets, and revue theatres, are easily broken by the manage- ments of such enterprises, and the artists have but slight pos- sibility of securing legal redress because of the expense and time' involved. Wagie stipulations are often completely ignored. As a result of these conditions, the Consulate General haa repeatedly been obliged to intervene in mat- ters of this nature on behalf of American show Iris and other^ classes of entertainers. In auch* cases this office has insisted that the return passage to the United States for such girls be paid. To offset the propaganda put forth in the article written by James Aswell the Consulate Gen- eral has requested the local rep- resentatlyes of the New York Times and the theatrical maga- zine Variett to furnish their respective publications with in- formation as to the actual con- ditions in Buenos Aires confront- ing American chorus girls. . It Is respectfully suggested t »at the Actors' Equity Associa- tion of New York be requested to o-dvlsc members intending to enter engagements In Argentina tnat they should not make any contracts with theatrical enter- prises in thU country unless ir- Major Bowes (Continued from page 1) basis. In addition to his amateur show activities, Bo\ves is still man- Agijwr .director of thei Ciii^tol theatre pn Broadway, through which he Is. ■iindersto o d to -average-a bum -f'SOO- a week. In reaching a weekly Income at the. fate of $1,000,000 a year, Bowes hits a record gained by -very few, rtiaiiager or actor, in show business. A few others, such as Al Jolson, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and some executives, have probably earned $1,000,000 in the course of a year through percentage deals and possibly bonuses, but none besides Bowes has ever seen it coming in at the million rate every week. It should also be taken into account that this rate of income would have to hold up. on a basis of 52 weeks, unusual for show business.- Bowes has been in the sizable income brackets for years as man- aging director of the Capitol and a member of the Metrp-Goldwyn- Mayef' picture company boarid, but his spectacular earnings did not start until less than a year ago, and at an age when most men have completed their careers. -. Bowes, born in San Francisco, started his theatrical carieer. In Seattle, where he married the late dramatic star, Margaret Illlngton. and shortly after came to New York as her manager. In New York he went into the theatre real estate business with John Cort arid Peter McCort, With whpm he built the Cort theatre in Times Square and a house in Boston. When Messmore Keridall built the Capitol in 1918 Bowes went in as managing direc- tor. His Metro film connection fol- lowed through the Loew - Metro partnership buy into the Broadway picture house. It la paradoxical that Bowea did not turn actor until middle age, and the turning brought hlrn to his present position of top money man of show business with one of the largest weekly incomes in the United States. 15 YEARS AGO (From yiRUTT onit CUppier) Marcus Lo^w dropped as one of .ihe..4cten4a^S-4d--a^ui^;i»}r-.;L<c.iFt- - Bobson over the picture rights to 'The Henrietta,; wW W. H. Crane has played on the stage. Seven still left in the case, Includ- inp, Spc,. Am, PraTOAtists. Arid Qomr posers. Suit compromised. Lpa Angeles, Sept. 17. Major Bowes' amateur unit that haa been playing the southern ter- ritory haa been booked into the Paramount here week of Sept. 26, first of the aggregations picked from radio tryouts tp come to the Coast. Additional playdates now being framed for San Francisco and San Diego. Unit draws weekly salary of $3,500. 390 Chorines (Continued from page 1) organization. Of the standing mem- bership there is rarely more than one-third used. Some chorus people have despair- ed and relinquished their calling during these years of slim pickings, however, although still on the books. This number, claims Equity, is neg- ligible and is no cause for alarm. That Hollywood has madie any dent in the ranks is also over- estimated, claims Chorua Equity. Most of the chorus girls ih the film colony are natives of the vicinity and have ' never seen Broadway, says headquarters. revocable round-itrlp steamship ticket.*/ are purcha.'ed In advance and their salaries fc- the period of 'heir contracts are deposited in/an American bank Waving a br/tnch or corresporid6,it in Bj;enos Aires. ^ Respectfully yours, A. M, Warren,', American Consul General.* Hal Sands' ']^roadway to Rio Revue,' with eight femme special- ists, sailed Saturday (14) for a tour of South America. Show opens Sept. 28 at the Atlantlco Casino, Rio de Janeiro nitery, for six weeks with options. According to Sands, the Atlantlco has deposited $3,000 in a New York bank partially guaranteeing the troupe's salaries and also has paid the girls' round-trip fares, James Schure went with the troupe as manager. Bill Brady agreed to stick on a^ prez of the Nat, Assn. of the Mo- tion i?iStu?e'litaffstry. Only man ihex;xpjUdJdl.^akKefi.4inoju..;.., - .X.. Moss Tosses Agent Case Back at CoqMNr^itioitXoiinsek^ 50 YEAROiEd (From pwprw) In Chicago Haverly's new Min- strel Hall turned nipre people from the opening than were able to gain tMcdmission. Charles Chaplin resenting the re- marks of Mildred Harris Chaplin about his thrift, and wiring; news- papers to print stories at their own risk. Going' through the divorce wrangle and she talked freely. 'Aphrodite' did $70,000 in Ita first weeit in Chicago. That included the $10 opening. Joe Schenck took the back page of Variety to introduce a new come- dian—Buster Keaton. Eddie Cantor signed a two-year contract with the Shuljerts for $1,450 a week; In the 'Scandals of 1920' Jack Rose pasted Lester Allen with a blackf berry pie as an itripromptu. Got a big laugh,' but no hit with Allen. 'The TemptatlPn of Eve* being readied; but producers could not get an actress for Eve. AU objected to the undress. But that was 15 years ago. Now there were two leagues of Republican actors. Al Jolson headed the original. Frank Bacon topped the copy. Kickback on the recent Shubeft rule against Issuing any passes to their Chicago theatres. Cops and firemen were making trouble, with aummonses and violatlona at the be- heat of the big politicians: Newly Incorporated Orpheuni clr- Puit was earning at the rate $1.81 per share for the first aix months. Was selling around $26-$30. Severe act shortag4 around N. Y. as always in the period when aiim- mei theatres and winter houses were both open. Many acts did two houaea; Thia was the week the lato Will Rogers played the Union Sq., Hammerstein's, Palace, Colonial and Alhambra. Others only doubled. Rogers' salary was $200, so he drew down $1,000 for the week. London Interests were ogling the Sfells-Floto show. Circus had netted $200,000 on the season, Ringling got it. Coney Island closed with conces- sionaries well ahead of the nut in spite of the recent street car strike. Previous season had been different. Barnum circus in Canada, Notice posted that any purchase, however amali, would call for Inatant dismis- sal. Patriotic and customs angles. Syndicate formed in Ft. Wayne to coinplete the Masonic Temple in re- turn for. a five years' lease on the theatre. Funds gave out on the original pperiatlpn before the upper stories were, completed. ■ H. Anstey's 'Tinted Venus' headed for the courts. There were three vei'slons, one by WiUiarii -Wilde, brother of bscar. Clipper referred . to a Woman draniatist as 'the woman who waa often married and oftener not ried.' Skating rinka were opening: up. again, but not riiany weathered the sen son. Ned Harrlgan opened the Park as his home theatre to a large, busl- ness, reviving 'Old Lavender,' ralsied to four acts. Mats were Wed. and Sat., Instead of Tues. and Thurs., as at the old Cpmique. Col, McCall, the operatic manager, haled into court to answer Hein- rlch Conreid's charge that he pulled the latter's nose. McCall out on bail. Row pver rights to 'Beggar Student,' Conreid doing It In Ger- man, Conreid later riianaged the Mctt opera. American Opera Co, Issuing a prospectus of a season of grand opera. Sponsored by Mrs. Jeanette Thurber and-Theo. Thomas. When it failed they dumped it all on Mrb. Thurber's shoulders, Emma Juch head canary. It waa Mra, Thurber who brought Dvorak to Ariierlca for her conaeryaltory. P, G. Hubert of the Lyceum Co. denied that hia company was in-^ volved in the legal troublea. House was rented to Gustav Froman and Steele Mckaye, who subleased to ^American Theatre Building and Management Corp. Latter was the goat. Daly's theatre reopened with the Florences. House had been done over with the lobby, in textile walls and (Jled floor. First in any N. Y. theatre. J. M. Hill took over the Union Square. Made many notable pro- ductions there. Went to the Stand- If Relatives Wrote Press Notices By Joe Laurie, Jr. Joe^Doakes, the bum now head- lining at the Gem, is Just a. piink. when he first started in show busi- ness I was married to his sister and I let him sleep in our housia when his old lady would throw him out because he'couldn't get a Job. He would rathier sing on the corner than work. He also would often cop my good suit. I was making dough those days and had two suits, but he always cppped the best one, and his sister would help him do it. , .which wpuld start a fight for a week, I had to finally say I forgave the giiy so that the wife and I could talk again, I have to laugh out loud when I read the press notices he sends us, They tell.what a great guy he is and about aU the hardships he went through. Thoy mean what his fam- ily went through; His mother took care of six kids and the house. Of the six Joe was the worst, and still Is. He used to cop the few pennies the old lady put away on the top shelf. Joe was the tallest and could rejv.ch. He took up . the stage business because he heard that actors don't get up until afternoon. He had a Ipusy,voice and when hel_ gave an audition to somepne connected with radio, it sounded great to them^ But to me it's still lousy.- So he became a big guy. He riiakes plenty, and doesn't send a dime homo and h? owes me a fist full In ones and twos. So I can't even get a free pass from him to see him when he playa. Sometimes he drives up to the house for a few minutes to let us see his new car. He has a guy with him that acts as chauffeur and who rubs him down and runs his er- rands. His brother asked him for the Job he turned him down. I guess he figured he knew too much about hirii. I have to laugh at the guy when he talks about his clothes and th» .shirts he has made to order, arid how ,he must have his suite of rooms and his dally bath. I kne^y the niug when he worn anybody's shirts...arid for a long time. Weil, he may bo a big guy to his public, but to me ho''; still, a bum. ( Yours, it hrotlicr-Ui-lato. Hearing on '.he New York License Department's complaint against Bill Bchlllirig tor allegedly operating an employment agericy without a li« cense adjourned Monday (16) by; Magistrate. Leonard McGee till Sept. 30. Postpofiffiierit cariie when sppi- «iat -^ounB8l--f«F-Xic€«)8o-HCommi««^- siorier Paul Mosa suddenly threw th? caae IritP thfe lap of the Corpora- tion Counaera assistant In court, with the latter pleadlrig that he -was unprepared go ahead with the case. Last time a al liar matter went t) cburt (License Department ya. Charles Allen), Cpmritiissloner oss was defeated in the licensing at- tempt' and then. placed the blame on iho Corporation Counsel's office for assigning an assistant -who was 'a legal specialist in bastardy" and un- familiar With theatrical aftairs. I. Robert Brodeir, cpunsel for Schilling and the. indie agents' as- sociation, attempted tp force the is- sue Monday, but Maglatrate McGee atf> ted that it waa only fair that an adjournment should be granted, in aa niuch ias it was the first time the Schilling matter had come up. Surprise, feature was the. fact that Commissioner Mosa', special counsel, especially engaged by the license departrrient to study the theatrical agency situation, ducked the matter. Moss spent almPst a year figuring oiit how the reps can forced to become!jiceriaees, despite the fact that the general business law has npt been changed since Allen's dis- missal in Special Sessions court, Allen was to have been a test case on the licensing matter, but ap- parently it didn't take with Mosa, so now Schilling la to be tried with w'hat Moss claims to be 'new evi- "dence,' ard when Keith took, the Square for vaudeville. Mrs, John Drew opened her Arch Street theatre with 'The Rivals/ Only her personality saved the old house, which was already too far from the theatrical center. 7 Saranac take By Chris Hasedorn Rudd Plank, our x-ray reading expert is never seen without his spaniel, Ray Ketchem, who's wife visits him daily. Is doing fine after his fifth major operation. Bob Farley, Helen Morgan's pian- ist, entertains every evening In the lounge for the patients, Johnny di Giovanni has taken up duties supervising sound In five. New Jersey houses. Gladys Palmer, personality girl, admitted another birthday. Sept, 7. Harry Gordon, former flea-weight champ, now In the lightweight class. Little Beatrice L^e gaining nice- ly. .Mr, and Mrs. James Marshall and their two daughters closed camp at Rainbow Lake for their home iii Flushing, Mlltpn (WB) Ppllack up for one meal in the dlnlng-foom, Pifl Cllmas, iriflrmary embroidery wizard, turning out some beautiful work. Sue (nurse) Dornbiish to Philly for a week's vacation, Kitty Vogclle left to try curing at home after four years of N,V.A. routine. Bill (WB) Canton, after three years of bed-rest, staking leave of absence for one>/month to visit family in Brooklwi, Marie (Buncjw) Blanchl, four weeks of tne Infirmary, down to the up-mitlents' floor, Marian GreeneVn dining-room for one meal with pflenty of style, Margaret Newell, the cheerful lady now two yfcj^rs abed. Is teach- ing her canary to\eat out of her hand. Freddie Vachman Xqoritemplatlrig downtown change for mT5~Tnonth. Zola (Madcap Sisters) Edwards opened community shop in Cjlens D'all.s, Y. Zela Is an ex-N^V.A. patlont. Write to those you knov|r In Saranac.