Variety (August 1913)

VARIETY 19 The Cabaret muss in New York, en- livened last week borough-house po- lice raids on Healy's restaurant at Broadway and 66th street, took to a quiet avenue after District-Attorney Whitman appeared on the scene, de- nouncing the action of the uniformed force as scandalous. Mayor Gaynor came back at the prosecuting officer with a scathing letter which seemed to have been written more in the spirit of justification for the Gaynor orders. The manhandling of Healy patrons was stopped immediately, however, on the ground that if the District-Attorney would not prosecute the police could not with success enforce the Mayor's orders. Healy, upon the stoppage of the official persecution, closed his restaurant at 1 o'clock sharp to keep the populace away from the front of his doors, a mob having congregated there nightly to see the fun. This consisted mostly of diners being ruth- lessly thrown into the street without time given to pay checks or to secure hats. Warrants sworn out for Inspec- tor Dwyer and officers complained of were served. Before Magistrate Deuel Monday they were held in $500 bail, and the matter will go before the Grand Jury to-morrow (Thursday). Judge Deuel in passing on the matter said that in his opinion any restaurant could remain open if the doors closed prompt- ly according to law. Patrons who might have ordered liquor before the closing hour could remain to consume it, but none could be admitted to the place after the clock struck one. If the police recognize this decision the "1 o'clock closing order" will go back to the former time during Mayor Gay- nor's administration when the Broad- way restaurants, upon losing their all- night licenses, accepted orders for drinks in quantity just before the clos- ing minute and served them, diners re- maining as long as they pleased. While unsatisfactory and making every table look like a miniature barroom, it gives a ridiculous aspect to the "Liquor Law" and gradually loosens up the re- strictions. Mayor Gaynor, if again run- ning for Mayor" of New York this fall will have to do so on an independent ticket. Tammany Hall will not renom- inate him. The World in an editorial rapped Gaynor back and forth for his "1 o'clock" edict, saying Gaynor had always been an advocate of personal liberty, but was backing up on himself in the Healy matter. The police no doubt in that affair acted under direct orders from City Hall. NEWS OF THE CABARETS An Englishman, recently arrived in the metropolis, paid a visit one night this week to the New York Roof and made the interesting observation, ap- parently unprejudiced, that the Turkey Trotting amusement now being offered there has anything beaten that Paris can show. He said: "You Americans who believe it to be the 'smart' thing to go to Paris for a 'fast' time, do not have to go out of Times Square. This roof garden dancing is what you call 'the real thing.' " Besides the Turkey Trotting there is a counter attraction on the New York roof—Carter DeHa- ven's shirt fronts. Each evening, after his performance in "All Aboard." Car- ter appears attired in his Tuxedo, plaited shirt with black horizontal bars an inch apart adorning the bosom. Wheh James Clancy got a look at it he immediately realized he had to take a back seat and started on a vacation. San Francisco, Aug. 20. The new California state law, making it compulsory for all saloon, cafe and hotel bars to be closed between the early morning hours of 2 and 6 o'clock, went into effect at midnight Aug. 10, and put the brakes on the all night life in this and other "wide open" localities. Frisco made no known attempt to evade the mandate and now the brilliant lights which were formerly permitted to blaze all night long outside of the saloons and fashionable cafes, are no longer in evidence after the specified closing hour. Even down in Pacific street, where ebb and How the night tides of the "Barbery Coast," the new closing, law appears to have been obeyed with remarkable alacrity. The proprietors of the "Coast" saloons and dance halls were naturally some peeved at the onerous provisions, but could see no way to circumvent them. This is the first time in the history of California saloon keepers have had to lock up. The morning that the law became oper- ative the "Barbarous old Coast" looked like a deserted cavern and many of the patrons are said to have found it neces- sary to be provided with guides to find their way back to Kearney street. A majority of the local saloon keepers are said to be in accord with the pur- pose and effect of the new law, in that it cleans the streets of the staggering and rowdy element in the late hours. Not so with the proprietors of the numerous cafes, who have been ac- customed to reaping a goodly portion of their harvest after 2 A. M., when the after-theatre imbibers are wont to linger, and who are understood to en- tertain the belief that as they are only restricted not to sell liquors after 2 o'clock there is no apparent reason why a visitor should not be permitted to re- main and drink a whole barrel of beer, provided it was purchased before the stipulated bar closing hour. The prob- abilities are that the wise cafe pro- prietor will see the wisdom of an obed- ient conformation to the spirit of the law. It is understood that in the state capital of Sacramento, where the new statute was enacted, the liquor venders have been inclined to encourage the proposed plan of ordering a supply of "wet goods" prior to the closing hour, and the result of the operation of that system is awaited with much interest. A referendum move was made several weeks ago with a view of knocking out the law by a popular vote of the peo- ple, but the campaigners failed to secure the required number of signatures of legal voters. The 2 o'clock closing law is such a radical departure from the old custom of "wide open all night" it appears at first to encroach on the rights of. personal liberty, but it is generally conceded to be a good meas- ure and one that cannot possibly work any haidship on the men or women whose habits take them to bod at a safe. sane and wholesome hor.r Boston, Aug. 20. The Licensing Board for Boston which holds an iron rod over every establishment where liquor is sold, and Mayor Fitzgerald, who controls all public amusement resorts have de- clared themselves unofficially as being opposed to the Cabaret and dancing. The lid is at present clamped on with about a quarter of the population sit- ting on it and the other three-quarters trying to push them off. Establish- ments such as the Bohemian Georgian cafe, the Hay ward and the Woodcock would do almost anything to be able to open but the shutting off of all privileges temporarily at the Wood- cock (because they started a Mardi Gras without consulting the august board), the stopping of singing with music near City Hall and the rule which abolished the private dining room has stopped all hope until the third member of the board is ap- pointed to succeed the late Fred Em- ory. If the third member is in favor of a more liberal policy for restauran- teurs, the opening wedge will be in- serted beneath the "lid." Paris, Aug. 20. There are signs that the Tango, the rage of Paris society during the past year, will be superseded by two other Latin-American dances, the "Romba" and the "Danson." The Cuban com- poser Alberto Soler says the "Danson" is the true national step of his coun- try and highly suited for Parisian adop- tion. It is a kind of two-step, "danced" with the limbs well bent and a sway- ing movement, its pecularity being the feet should not leave the floor except on rare occasions. San Francisco, Aug. 20. Alliston and Trucco, known as the Diablos, have closed at the Portola- Louvre in their "staircase dance" and in their place is Blanche Mullen, John Flavius and Nello Villa in "The Music Master and His Pupil." The revue is still a feature and is headed by Lillian Sieger, with Fred R. Hoff at the piano. Featured also in the "revue" is May Woods, programed as "The California Glove Girl." Conductor Jaulas is no longer here. The orchestra is now under the direction of Reginald L. Hid- den. Leota Rhoades, operatic, com- pletes the bill. Chicago, Aug. 20. Max Winslow of the Snyder music house was in town for ten days. When he left early in the week several changes had been made in the staff. Harry Kranz who had become very well liked at the head of the western branch left for a two weeks' vacation after which he will join the New York- staff moving bag and baggage to the big city. Monty Howard is now in If yon don't advertlM In VABIBTY, don't ■dvortlM nt «IL charge of the Chicago office. Mauric Stern, in the Chicago branch for some time, will leave shortly for San Francis- co to open an office on the coast. Sacramento, Cal, Aug. 20. A Cabaret songstress for a State fair is a feature to be introduced here next month at the annual event of the State Agricultural Society. Greer's Concert Band, a local organization, will furnish the instrumental music. FIIIE PLAN REJECTED. Fire Commissioner Joseph Johnson called the New York theatrical man- agers to fire headquarters Tuesday for a heart-to-heart talk on the safeguard- ing of the public in places of amuse- ment. The commissioner informed the theatre directors he would like to have the detailed fireman at every theatre display to the audience immediately be- fore the curtain went up lor every per- formance a card reading: Fix in your mind which exit you should use in case oi lire or panic, and use that exit. DOS'T UVN WALli. The managers with one accord re- jected the Commissioner's proposal, de- claring that such a display would im- mediately arouse a feeling of unrest in the audience and would put it in a condition of mind to become panicy at any trivial disturbance. Marc Klaw, Charles Burnham, W. G. ^niythe tor David Belasco, Edward Pidgcon for Win. Morris, Harry Sca- mon for llurtig & Seainon, and Samuel 11. Trigger and 11. A. Kocrpel, Presi- dent and Vice President respectively of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' Association of Greater New York, wer« among those who attended. New York City details a fireman to every licensed place of amusement at an annual cost to the city of between $50,000 and $100,000. The whole subject oi safeguarding the public in theatres was canvassed but no definite plan was approved. The Commissioner appointed Frank Trig- ger and J. A. Kocrpel, president and vice-president of the Moving Picture Exhibitors' League, a committee to in- vestigate the subject, devise a plan if possible and report to him. He then promised to call another meeting of the theatrical men and go over the matter again. Mr. Trigger for the motion picture houses suggested the presentation on the screens of movie houses before shows of a pictured lire drill, a prd- ceeding instituted with success in movie houses in many foreign countries HE A SONS FOR CANCIXLINCJ. Chicago, .\i;,;. JO. Lalla Selbin[, who playi-d last week at the Colonial and who contracted to •appear six or seven vveeks ai 4-1.000 for Jones, Linick & Schaeffer, will not play out the contrails. The act did not work as well as it should haw the first week, and it was also found Mi«.s Sel- biui could not stand the strain oi four shows with the big offering. It would have been dilficult lor her to place the production on the small stages of the Willard and \Y ! >11 tl.eati < s. Miss Selhini may he engaged to do her bicycle turn ituiead for thv balanct of the time.