Variety (May 1916)

VAUDEVILLE CLUBBY CHATTER BY WALTER J. KINGSLEY A prominent pianist in vaudeville who is renowned for his scarifying wit pulled a clever remark at his own ex- pense a few days ago when asked what branch of the service he would favor if he joined out with the British in the field. "I have been thinking of asking for a commission in the Middlesex Rifles," he replied. One of our greatest actors who has been indisposed of late was complain- ing of pains in the shoulder blades and a sweet young thing in the company volunteered to rub the aching bones. Taking a bottle of dark liquid that had all the appearance of liniment, from the dressing table, she poured a goodly por- tion into her palm and started to rub. The rub died in its inception for the ingenue's hand stuck tight to the actor's back and could not be released until alcohol had been freely used. The dear child had taken the star's toupee glue for liniment. Nora Bayes and Jenie Jacobs must be training to drive army mules for they indulged in a flight of condemna- tory oratory in the prima donna's dres- sing room at the Palace recently that aroused the admiration of all within ear shot. Bill Clark, the veteran stage manager, remarked that it was like music to his ears in these days of weak- ling adjectives to hear a "proper bawl- ing out." Every verbal stinger had a receipt handed right back and the championship remains in America. Speaking of Nora Bayes her "Show Business Party" was a rousing hit and they are still talking about it. It was a novel idea to take in the full circum- ference of the theatre from transfer man to box-buyer and the execution of the idea was masterly. Nora Bayes' parties are great fun. The next one promises to be a "derby winner," as they say in London. It will do many vaudeville artists a whole lot of good to buy Conrad Aiken's new volume of poems, "Turns and Movies," read it and consider how the two-a-day appears to a keen witted literary man. Six bits is the price of this book of verse which certainly aims to say everything that is usually un- said about show business. It's time some players began to broaden out and in plain speech "to wise themselves up." The day of the hick is passing with the speed of an express train. Here is a sample vaudeville speech I heard de- livered recently by a clever entertainer who regards the English language as an outlaw: "Her and me wrote this. If it's good, I'm in; if it's rotten she done it." Belle Story opens at Keith's, Wash- ington, May 22, prior to her concert tour with Hugh Allan under the direc- tion of R. H. Johnson. Meanwhile that large new touring car is ambushed outside the Oregon apartments. Miss Story's musical parties at the Oregon last winter worried the management. One half of the neighbors delighted to hear grand opera stars after mid- night, while the other half preferred sleep to the high notes of Scotti or Segurola. A romance is passing; a fond pair have ceased to find thrills worth while together and the Anglo-American- burnt-cork alliance that has caused so much conversation has reached the dying ember stage. If the grande dame is bored so is the performer. It's a stand-off except for the matter of diamonds, which my-lady has taken to have and to hold. It was a rose-col- ored ' romance while it lasted, but I think that the low rumble of guns in Flanders and the vision in the night watches of a gallant soldier doing his bit in the trenches caused it to fade to make way for something really big and fine. It is to be hoped that the proposed one-act stock company for the Palace summer season comes into existence soon and remains right on the job. There are hundreds of available playlets in this country and Europe so excellent material is right at hand; there are also many versatile actors and actresses possessed of genuine ambition to join the company and the Palace manage- ment has unlimited money and power to put the thing through. The plays with a popular appeal could be sent on tour with a special travelling company, the parent company acting as a feeder to the circuit. Such a playlet as the one by Lord Dunsany at the Neigh- borhood theater would be a sensation in vaudeville. Basil Durant and Margaret Hawkes- worth are debating terms with the U. B. O. When one remembers that these young people have averaged a net in- come of $1,800 per week at the Plaza Hotel Grill for the past two seasons it is easy to understand why they demand a record salary to dance in vaudeville. It costs a whole round dollar to see them at the Plaza while a humble jit or so will get you into some of the houses they would be asked to play if they accept a route. The smart set leaders in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington and Chicago have promised to give them a wonderful reception if they visit those towns. NEW ACTS. Frederick Truesdale in "Money Talks," written by himself. In the company are Helene Mishler, Loie Clark, J. W. Twiggs. Roy Atwell, leading comedian of "Alone at Last" will do a "single" in vaudeville at the conclusion of the run of the piece in Philadelphia. Frederick Speare and Co. (Ed Red- ding, Hazel Miller and Jim Cherry) in "Everyman's Sister." Edwin Holt, new sketch, with Mabel Dwight, Harry Nelson and Alice Gil- more. The first professional amateur base- ball game of the season was played last Sunday between nines representing the, music publishing establishments of Waterson, Berlin & Snyder and Will Von Tilzer (Broadway Music Co.). The Von Tijzers won in a 10-inning game, 7-6. The exciting feature of the afternoon was when Leo Lewin (Snyders) punched the umpire for calling him names. The world's flop record was taken by Johnnie O'Connor who wedged him- self at the seventh inning into the Sny-. ders line up to show that bunch how to play. Johnnie is said to be the best player on the Varietys. After the game the Snyders challenged the Varietys and thought of betting money on the result. Johnny O'Connor believed he was covering third base. He had three chances and made three errors, while at two times at bat he struck out twice. Each time a ball went toward third base, Johnnie's legs looked like the arch of the Brooklyn Bridge and the ball kept right on going. After the game Johnnie said he thought he was playing with the Von Tilzers. Elmer White, loaned to the Von Tilzers with the consent of Max Wins- low, played a star game in the field and at the bat, with Winslow digging holes in the ground for his mistake. Bob Russak distinguished himself in the field with a circus catch, and Walter Donaldson, playing with the Snyders (though now on the Von Tilzer staff) made a hit that took him to third base. Henry Waterson, Jr., showed up well all around, and sent over a two-bagger scoring the tieing run in the ninth. Besides banging the umpire Lewin made four other safe hits, the umpire resigning after Lewin's swat. Maurice Ritter pitched a steady and heady game for the Von Tilzers, also acting as captain. Rose in centre field retired after the fifth, White replacing him. Rose while playing was noted for wearing a glove that looked like a mattress. Monday the Snyders commenced to explain their defeat, first starting by justly panning Johnnie O'Connor and then alleging White had been a profes- sional ball player. The truth was that after watching some of the others, White seemed like two professionals. VON TILZERS. Santley, l.f. RuHsak, s.8. Rltter. p. Frazler. c. Flskc, lb Herrlman. 2b. Vincent, 3b. •Rose, c.f. fStern, l.f. SNYDERS. Santley. lib. Watcrnon, Jr., lb. fiodfrey. l.f. Smith, c.f. Lewm, p. tlrwln, Harry, c.f. SO'Connor, lib. McCabe, c. Donaldson, l.f. •White batted for Roho In the nlxth. tDouRlaBH bnttcd for Strrn In the ninth. tThrec doubles. IThree errors. Struck out twice. r. h. e. W. B. & S 10 2 0 0 110 1 0 H 7 M'way M. Co 0 112 0 0 2 0 1 7 1.1 4 Two out when winning run was mad**. Last Saturday the bookers of the Majestic theatre building, Chicago, de- feated the ten per centers booking in that building, 28-16. Fred Dyer, the Australian welter who fought a 20-round draw with Les Darcy, will make his American debut at the Pioneer Sporting Club tomor- rom (Saturday) night with Tommy Maloney of the west side. Dyer is being managed by Chris O. Brown, having been sent direct from Australia to Brown by Hugh Mcintosh. Brown will also handle the interests of Jimmie Reagan this summer. Reagan is the ex-bantam champ, having taken the title from Jimmie Walsh of Boston. He later lost the honor to Monte At- tell in a 12-round decision contest. Reagan is a Californian and fights in the lightweight division. Upon his ar- rival here he gave Harry Pierce of Brooklyn a thorough trouncing. Pierce is one of the toughest boys in the east, and Reagan's deportment in that battle prompted Brown to sign him up. He will probably match him for an early showing with one of the more prominent men in his division. Ever Hammer, who received a "Chi- cago decision" over Freddie Welch in their recent bout at Milwaukee, has been booked as a special attraction it the Windsor theater, Chicago, next week. Jimmie Travers will assist the Chicago pug. Hammer's bout with Welsh temporarilly injected him into the limelight, but the East refuses to take him seriously. His theatrical career will probably exhaust itself with the prominence attending his "defeat" of Welsh. Benny Leonard has finally fallen for vaudeville and next week will make his debut at the Alhambra. Leonard ii a Harlemite. The first four days will hold capacity houses, Leonard's up- town friends having subscribed for the house for that period. Kalmar-Puck & Abrahams' nine are looking for trouble, from next Sunday onward. They will probably beat the Snyders first, to gain confidence. The Snyders are recommended for all "first games,." and for the second the Will Von Tilzers. Mike Donlin has permanently given up the stage and has retired to Long Branch, where he will handle the local team this summer, playing exhibition games with the big league teams. A baseball team representing the United Booking Offices under the supervision of Pete Mack, will appear in action for the first time this season against the Interstate Club next Sun- day at Dyckman street and Broadway. The Pathe nine wants to play the Von Tilzers and take a moving picture of the game. That may be Pathe's scheme to win, getting the other side excited thinking they are going in a Weekly.