Variety (February 1914)

VARIETY PROCTORS' HFTH AVENUE POS SIBLE P ICTURE HOUSE Change of Policy From Big Time Vaudeville to Film Now Under Favorable Consideration. Closing of Union Square, Its Opposition, of No Benefit in Increase To Patronage. Fifth Avenue Has Been Playing Vaudeville Year Around. Proctor's Fifth \venu< is to he K'ven (jvcr to pictures just wht-u has not heen delinitely deoidotl; hut soon. Flaboratf preparations arc lieiiiK' made for the event, and tlic house is to be conducted on unique lines. The picture programs are to be laid out very much as a vaudeville show, che reels blended as far as possible to make for rounded out entertainment of variety. The Fifth Avenue has been playing audeville heretofore the year around. Its opposition in the same line, Union Square, lately discontinuing its big lime shows, did not seem to aid the Fifth Avenue in patronage by the abandonment of the same kind of ittractions. SECOND HIP PROPOSED. St. Louis, Feb. 25. St. Louis is to have another big Hip- podrome if the present building plans of Cooney Heib, manager, Empress (Grand and Olive), and William Flynn and Arthur Fitzsimmons, heads of the Associated Theatres Co. (controlling 10 local houses), materialize. The site proposed is at Delmar and Huclid avenues, adjoining the Delmar theatre and airdome building. The new Hip will seat 3,500 (500 more than Talbot's Hip) and plans to play a six- act show. DIERO'S WIFE ARRESTS HIM. Spokane, Feb. 25. The local police department, acting upon the complaint of Mrs. Guido Diero, wife of the vaudeville acordion- ist, instructed the Chicago police to pick up Diero last week while playing the Palace, Chicago. Diero is said to have committed a statutory offense against his wife be- fore their marriage. The original com- plaint was held over two years ago on the condition that Diero marry and support the girl, who was a local mu- sician named Julia Tatro. The girl tells the prosecutor here that Diero has neglected his obligation, although they were married while he was playing the Orpheum in this city. Chicago, Feb. 25. Diero was arrested here last week on a fugitive warrant issued by the Spo- kane authorities and admitted to $2,- 500 bail. He is represented by S. L. & Fred Lowenthal. Diero left imme- diately for Erie, where he is playing. The case is set for March 3 in this city. San Francisco, Feb. 25. Guido Diero was arrested here three years ago on the complaint of Julia Tatro, who preferred a serious charge against him. The case was heard be- fore Judge Shorthall behind closed doors, and after thf conij>Iainaiit's ics tiniony was cntcn-d Prosecuting .\t- torney (Jppcnheim concurred with the ])residing jud^e and decided to drop the charge. Judge Shorthall dismissed Diero with a reprimand, the complain- ant running short on convincing evi- dence. The case was reopened later on in Spokane when Diero was play- ing in that city. COULDN'T BUY EMMA'S VOTE. Chicago, Feb. 25. Tuesday was primary election day, notable because of the participation of woman suffrage at the polls. All the local female agents crossed their ballots, although it is said some slipped a little something over on the examina- tion clerk when registering their vari- ous ages. Emma Hill, the well-known acro- batress, was approached early Tuesday morning in one of the North Side pre- cincts by a lobby-gow, who offered her $20 to sneak over three different votes for his favorite nominee. Emma con- sidered the possibility of the twenty in proportion with the two-year state prison limit for repeaters and, after wrenching a wheel from a baker's wagon standing nearby, chased the promoter over the frozen lake half way to Milwaukee. EPPY'S HORSE SOLD CHEAP. 1125 is not so much for an English cob that cost 11,800 when Mitchell Mark bought the horse as a present for M. H. Epstin. A wagon and acces- sories ran the total up to 12,000 for the outfit. Last week "Eppy" wanted an auto- mobile, like the other boys. He thought the horse would go toward defraying some of the outlay, and finally did busi- ness with the liveryman where the cob was stabled. No one else wanted the horse or the rig, and the livery keeper could only see it for 1125. Eppy isn't sore, just grieved; it was such a good horse, and didn't wear tires. ROGERS "ROPES" STONE. Columbus, C, Feb. 25. At Keith's last week Will Rogers spied Fred Stone seated in a stage box at a matinee performance and lassooed him, dragging him on the stage. The musical comedy comedian danced a lit- tle before returning to his seat. When first roped he was as surprised as the audience. PALACE PEOPLE AT HOME. Elmer Rogers, manager of the Pal- ace, is laid up with erysipelas. David Mayer, treasurer of the house, is also confined to his home with a severe cold. STEEL PIER MAT BE SOLD. Atlantic City, Feb. 25. .\ rather circumstantial report gained currency here early this week that the Steel IMer had been sold. •Alfred E. Burke, of Philadelphia, a heavy stockholder in the enterprise, would neither confirm nor deny the story. Other stockholders were simi- hirly non-committal. The Pier has always paid dividends averaging 10 per cent., and its stock IS quoted at $190 per share. \o sale was effected yesterday after five hours' meeting of the stockholders held in the board room of the Pier; hut a statement issued by Mr. Burke indicates it may he consummated in the near future. CHANGING "SANS SOUCI." Chicago, Feb. 25. Sans Souci, one of the first of Chi- cago's summer parks, is to be trans- formed this year into a pleasure resort known as Midway Gardens. It will occupy an area of 300x300 and will be conducted by the Midway Club, of which John Z. Vogelsang is president. Music will be furnished by the Na- tional Symphony Orchestra Associa- tion, with Max Bendix as conductor. The opening is set for June 11. IN DICK'S HOME TOWN. Dorothy Dale, at Hamerstein's this week with her sartorial display, was to have been retained a second week, when she would augment her histrionic ofTering by the addition of a series of colored wigs, can remain but one week. She had been booked to play the Columbia, St. Louis, next week, the home town of her husband, Richard Howard Jackson, whose parents are staid, wealthy and prominent mem- bers of society in the western city. 18 CHORISTERS "LET OUT." Eighteen chorus girls with the Eve- lyn Nesbit Thaw road show are back in New York, sent on here from Char- lotte, N. C, with the musical comedy afterpiece, "Marietta" eliminated from the performance. The girls allege the management desired to economize and figured that the show could do just as well without the chorus acquisition on its Pacific coastward trip. WIFE AFRAID OF GEORGE. Chicago, Feb. 25. George Mitchell, of the Rathskellar Trio, has been warned by the courts to remain away from his wife, who is seeking a divorce. A scene in the Saratoga Hotel, where Mrs. Mitchell ran screaming from her room in night attire started the legal proceedings. Mrs. Mitchell claimed that her husband had threatened to kill her. She had him arrested. Gerapacher Leaves Talbot's Hip. Kansas City, Feb. 25. J. A. Gerspacher, manager of Frank Talbot's Hippodrome, and one of Tal- bot's personal representatives, resigned this week. Gerspacher will devote his entire time to promoting theatrical schemes of his own. SHOOTING ACT ACCIDENT. Lynn, Mass., Feb. 25. While attempting to light a match held between the teeth with a shot from a rifle, Evelyn Dale, of Fox and Dale, accidently shot her husband, Al. H. Fox, while playing a benefit per- formance after the regular show at the Crescent Gardens theatre. Revere Beach, Friday night last. For the last stunt in the act Fox uses a small metal protector in front of his nose; the bullet hit the metal and deflected upward, puncturing his skull directly abov* the forehead, and ploughing a ragged wound three inches long on top of his head. Upon being hit Fox remarked audibly, "1 got it all right," and staggered into the wings, falling into the waiting arms uf Joe Taylor, of Taylor and Herbert, who were waiting to close the show. When Dr. Monahan arrived Fox re- fused to take ether, although the doc- tor told him it was a delicate operation, and while the doctor probed for the bullet he whistled a popular tune. Miss Dale was greatly affected, but com- forted her husband by kneeling at his side during the operation. She was closely questioned by the Revere po- lice. Fox is resting comfortably at the Rexford Hotel, Boston, but is far from being out of danger. Ladies' Auxiliary for Hospital. Chicago, Feb. 25. There was an enthusiastic meeting in the west room of the Hotel Sherman last Sunday afternoon for the purpose of forming a Woman's Auxiliary to the new American Theatrical hospital. Mrs. Max Thorek was temporary chairwoman. There were about 50 present, although a severe storm was raging outside. The organization will be completed at a meeting to be held March 1. Mrs. Adolph Marks was made tem- porary chairwoman and Celia Bloom, temporary secretary. Judge Charles M. Goodenow, Chas. Andress and Dr. Max Thorek made speeches. GERTIE'S NEW PARTNER. Gertrude Vanderbilt has changed about again, from a "single" to a "two- act." She is now rehearsing, it is said, with Oscar Odee, lately arrived here from Australia. They will appear in vaudeville shortly with a number mostly holding dancing. Gentry Bros. May Try New York. According to inside information of the Gentry Brothers' Shows, the dog and pony circus is scheduled to play New York this summer. If proper ar- rangements arc made the Gentry Show will play Manhattan at different stands, following the plan adopted for the Chi- cago lots. The Gentry Show opens about the middle of April in San Antonio. The "No. 2" show, a two-car affair last year, will be a six-car show this season. The Yankee Robinson Circus is lined up to open the last of April. Fred Buchanan is making the preliminary opening arrangements. TOM JONES