Variety (June 1916)

VAUDEVILLE IT' Iftfr Editor Varibtt: We are using a "gag" in our act where I ask Miss Mandell what she ia singing and she replies, "Chilly B. V. D.'s" (a burlesque on "Cheerie Berrie Bee"). Have been using it over two years. We are on the bill with Gallagher and Carlin, and Mr. Gallagher claims he has been using the gag for nine years. Since using it, we have heard Florence Moore (Montgomery and Moore) use the same gag and also have heard it in a song. Mr. Gallagher says he owns the gag and if he can prove it we are willing to stop using it. Would like to know if you can trace the gag and will appreciate any infor- mation, as there may be some one who can trace the gag. This is the first time we have ever been accused of "pinching" anything and we will not feel right until this has been settled. Zeno and M and el Brooklyn, N. Y., May 27. Editor Vab^tt: — I beseech the friends and acquaint- ances of my husband, Arthur Buckner, to make up petitions in the form be- low, signing their names and filling in the spaces, in the hope that my hus- band's sentence of three years in the Federal Penitentiary at Atlanta may be commuted to one year, with time allowance for good behavior. A considerable number have already signed petitions. Any others will be of great assistance. They should be mailed to Arthur P. Buckner, Federal Penitentiary, Atlanta, Ga. If possible, letter heads are preferred; also busi- ness cards to be enclosed. If anyone knows a U. S. Senator or Congressman from anywhere, please get in touch with me or send me a letter of Intro- duction to them. Mrs. A. Buckner. 404 6th Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. Phone South 1233. (The following is tne form for the heading of the petition): I (or we), the undersigned, do here- by request and urgently recommend the commutation of the sentence of three years to one year, with good time allowance for good conduct, of Arthur P. Buckner, who is now con- fined in the United States Federal Penitentiary at Atlanta, Georgia. Name Occupation Address ter Garden shows between the prin- cipals and producers were inaugurated when Savoy and Brennan, two of the new show's features, packed their trunks and moved over to the camp of "Ziegfeld's Follies." The breach came when Savoy and Brennan received their parts. Remem- bering the promises made by the pro- ducers when they signed with the show, the vaudeville team opined the book had been run through a shrinking pro- cess and suggested to the Shuberts that they could secure any two of their stage hands to handle the roles while they (Savoy and Brennan) could meander elsewhere and be of more general use to the theatregoing public. The Shuberts did not appear particu- larly concerned over the desertion of the team until they learned Flo Zieg- feld had tendered them an alluring con- tract and that Savoy and Brennan were then rehearsing with the new "Follies." While the Ziegfeld contract was not signed, the team was prepared to open with the "Follies" unless legally inter- fered with by the Shuberts. The latter, after a number of futile friendly over- tures, promised to "go the route" in preventing Ziegfeld from kidnapping the pair, and Savoy and Brennan ac- cordingly gave up their "Follies" parts and returned to the Winter Garden, but only after their parts there had been rewritten and strengthened. The latest bulletin has them with the Shuberts, but those acquainted with the Shubert tactics predict a short engage- ment for the couple with the Winter Garden production, despite the present prevailing kindness around the Winter Garden stage. If you don't orfvortlao In VARIETY, don't odTortlM. BACK TO THE GARDEN. The usual internal troubles staged annually at the r 4iearsals of the Win- SPORTS. The Lights of Freeport, L. I., be- sides having a new clubhouse have a ball team from among the many ball- playing pros belonging to the club. The Lights will be ready to meet all comers after the opening date. The probable line-up of the playing nine is Charles Middleton, lb; Paul Morton, 2b; Charles Cartmell, ss; Ernie Ball, 3b; Bert Leighton, rf; Ed Flanagan, cf; Frank Kaufman, If. The pitching staff will be led by Ernie Stanton and Chris Brown will likely be the permanent catcher. Mr. Flanagan is the captain. Amateur nines wanting to play the Lights may address him at the club- house. The Uniteds (booking office) nine is alleged to have engaged Hoyt, the Giants' sensational recruit, to pitch against the Interstates Sunday, but it did not avail them, the Interstates winning a 10-inninfr contest, 7—5. Saturday the single men played the married men of the U. B. O., the single group (without household worries) winning, 9—7. (The box score of the S -M. M. game would be printed ex- cepting it might tip off who the mar- ried men are.) The Leo Feist (music publishing house) baseball nine trotted onto. the diamond at Broadway and 207th street Sunday against the Broadway Music Co. aggregation. The Feists led in the seventh inning by two runs, when they refused to finish the game, giving no valid reason and leaving the opinion the Feists wanted the honor for their first time out of defeating the Broad- ways. The latter have acquired a rep among the publishing houses since the season started. The Varibtts defeated the Water- son, Berlin & Snyders last Saturday at Olympic Field, 17-0. The bad drub- bing did not help the spirits of the Snyders, who showed much ill-feeling and poor sportsmanship at the close of the contest. The Lee Avenue, Brooklyn, which has been playing pop vaudeville and straight pictures during the past year, closed with the latter policy last Satur- day. The house will reopen tomorrow (Saturday) night as a fight club under the management of Barney Frank. The men with the LaSalle Musical Stock, which opens a month's stay at Fort Wayne, Jun- 5, have formed a strong baseball team, which plays semi- pro teams en route. Guy Voyer man- ages the LaSalle nine. The Great Northern Hotel team, Chi- ratfu, defeated the Hippodrome team of the Windy City, May 24, in Grant Park, 2-1. The batteries were G. N. H.--McGuirc and Paterson; Hip—Ty- son and O'Connor. OBITUARY. Meyer W. Livingston, auditor for Klaw & Erlanger, died suddenly May 25. He was about 60 years old and is survived by a widow. The deceased had been associated with Klaw & Er- langer for many years. The father of Charles L. Cartmell (Cartmell and Harris) died May 25 in the Mercy Hospital, Hempstead, Long Island, of a complication of diseases. He was 65 years old. The mother of Tom Thiebault (Six Stylish Steppers) died May 22 at her home in Fall River, Mass., in her 54th year. Mrs. Harryman Ripley, whose hus- band owns the New National theatre, Washington, D. C, died suddenly Mon- day at her home in that city. Chief Iron Tail, connected with sev- eral Wild West shows, died Monday while en route to his home in Rush- ville, Neb. He w*s 65 years old. Pauline Ulrich, a German actress, 's reported as having died recently m Dresden. The mother of Sam Downing died May 27 at her home in New York after an illness of several years. John Oldfield, father of J. Clark Old- field (OUfield and Drew), died May 23 at his home in Canton, O. STAGE CHILDREN'S SCHOOL The first commencement exercises of the Professional Children's School will be held on Thursday morning, J" t ne % in the Princess Theatre. Four child- ren, whose average age is fifteen years, will be graduated. They are Miss Dorothy Brown, Miss Sidney Reynolds, Miss Minnie Hexter and George Ed- wards Price, all of whom are on the stage. They have completed a two years' course. Bishop Greer will read an invoca- tion and Miss Elsie Ferguson will pre- sent the diplomas. John Drew, Henry Dwight Sedgwick and John J. Chap- man will make addresses. Each of the graduating members will deliver an oration. It is the purpose of the school to call attention to its progress in edu- cating the children of the Stage, an I 1,000 invitations to the graduating exer- cises have been extended to members of the theatrical profession. The school is connected with the Rehearsal Club of No. 220 West 46th street, the members of which believe in the right of child- ren to act on the stage providing they can receive proper protection and in- struction. LEW MILLER Who is featured in the HOTEL MORRISON REVUE, CHICAGO, which ia now in its seventh month* Grace George in Philadelphia. Philadelphia, May 31. Grace George opened an engagement here this week, moving to this city from her Chicago stay. PRETTY BABY" SONG HIT. Chicago, May 31. One of the musical hits of "A World of Pleasure" at the Palace is an inter- polated Remick & Co. song, called "Pretty Baby." It's a new number, written by Tony Jackson, Van Alstyn and Kahn.