Variety (December 1912)

VARIETY 15 THE ANNIVERSARY COVERS. The front page of Variety^ Anni- versary cover in colors is decorated with the likeness of Irene Franklin, after the original painting by James Montgomery Flagg, perhaps New York's best known portrait painter. Miss Franklin, with her husband, Burt Green, are appearing in vaudeville at present, having declined several offers for production, their latest having been a proposal to join the Weber & Fields All-Star Music Hall company. Miss Franklin, who probably stands at the head of America's character sing- ing comedian will play the Orpheum for the first time beginning in- March, She opens Dec. 30 at the Majestic, Chi- cago, and will be engaged until March in Eastern territory. On the inside front cover is Willard, "The Man Who Grows," a phenomenal attraction, now touring in England. Although an American, Willard has never appeared in the east. The sur- prise of seeing this well-built, good- looking chap extending himself into the air is even more startling than may be imagined fruin the mere pic- tures that present the difference in his normal and abnormal height. On the inside back cover are Sada Wander and George Stone, a couple of young people who have been one of the vaudeville surprises of the season. They play a skit of mirth and song named "The Beauty Shop." Hidden away for a while, Miss Wander and Mr. Stone happened to play New York for one week, when they were immediately snapped up with a large increase of salary, and engaged for the Sullivan-Considine Circuit, where they are now appearing. The couple display latent ability that will likely result in Broadway seeing them upon their return from the west. The back cover holds a reproduction of Gertrude Barnes, a beautiful girl, now in vaudeville as a "single act." Miss Barnes' turn is complete, from material, to looks and costumes, the latter becoming an attraction by them- selves. GALVANY ENDS TOUR. San Francisco, Dec. 16. The tour of Marie Galvany, the singer from foreign climes, ended while at Los Angeles. She did not appear the second week at the Orphe- um theatre there. It was announced her voice needed fixing for the nonce, but since then it has developed the Orpheum Circuit arrived at an ar- rangement with the foreigner through which she canceled her contract for the Orpheum time. Galvany received $1,000 weekly. She has a considerable reputation abroad, hut failed to please the vaudeville pat- ens of the West. ED WYNN TIES UP. A contract made with Al Aarons has tied up Ed Wynn, the comedian, at Hammcrstein's this week, for several seasons to come. Mr Aarons has taken Wynn under ni s personal management, and will Probably place him with a Broadway show. IDA, ELSIE, VERA AND GEORGE ST. LEON The talented 8T. LEON FAMILY, as formerly known, Is developing Into a versatile group, under the guidance of their mother, MRS. ALF ST. LEON, widow of the famous clrcusman. "FINISHING FANNY" is a new play and another title role Ida St. Leon Is now appearing In, playing In the south Just at present. Miss St. Leon Is under the direction of A. S. STERN, who produced the new show for her to star In. She has been winning the encomlumn of the newspaper critics In each city where the piece has stopped. Mine St. Leon having established her popularity all over the country for successive seasons when taking the name part In "POLLY OF THE CIRCU8." The name of "ST. LEON" has become so closely Identified with the sawdust ring play. Mrs. St. Leon was Induced this season to allow the remainder of her family, the pretty and wonderful bareback rider, ELSIE, also her other daughter, the clever VERA, and the versatile son, GEORGE, to travel with "POLLY." which they are now doing. Mrs. St. Leon travels with Ida. She is greatly aided In the direction of her children by George, who la rapidly giving indications of possessing the showmanship his -father was noted for. FOUR WEEKS AT THE PALACE. An engagement of four weeks at the Palace, London, will be opened by Willa Holt Wakefield Jan. 20. At the conclusion of her English stay, the pianologiste will return home to ful- fill contracts. Jenie Jacobs, of the Casey Agency, arranged the Palace engagement through the Harry Burns office in London. THE THIRD IN PALL RIVER. Fall River, Mass., Dec. 16. The third local theatre to play Loew Circuit vaudeville will start Xmas Day, when the Puritan takes on the shows booked by Joe Schenck. SAILINGS. Mr. and Mrs. Showbridge, London representative of the H. B. Marinelli London office, sailed Dec. 17 from New Vork on the Mauretania. On the Baltic were Harding and Ah Sid and Mile. Olive, and the Lusitania, sail- ing Dec. 24, will carry Mrs. Jules Jor- dan, Smythc and Hartman, Hart and Johnson, and the Three Lyres. Book- ings were arranged by the Paul Tau- sig Steamship Agency. FOX OPENING ANOTHER. The end of a busy year is coming to William Fox, who will open another theatre, however, before Father Time cuts out 1912. The Crotona at Tre- inont and Park avenues, the Bronx, will get going Dec. 23. It has a capac- ity of 2,850. Eight acts and pictures are to be the bill, the Crotona taking its shows from the Audubon, Mr. Fox's recently opened theatre on the wcu side uptown. The "small time" in vaudeville is the "big" time just now. Burlesque is just sawing wood, as usual. Happy these days is the showman with a bankroll. "Paper" has become si-, frpquorit it isn't grabbed at any morr