Variety (September 1917)

8 VAUDE,VILLE NAMIIAQES. Edwin S. Bcttleheim, Jr., the son of the editor of 'The Dramatic News," who holds the rank of first lieutenant in the First Field Artillery, has been assigned to the Plattsburg camp with his command, to instruct the student officers. Walter F. Wanger, who man- aged Mmc. Alia Nazimova last season, has been commissioned a first lieuten- ant in the Aviation Division of the Army, after graduating among the first ten honor men at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is being held in readiness to sail for France. Three more English actors now in America have been added to the honor list of the British Recruiting Commis- sion for having volunteered for service. They arc Claude Fleming, who will sail in a few days, and Charles Esdale and Henry Crocker, members of Jane Cowl's "Lilac Time" company last sea- son, and under contract to Selwyn & Co. for this season. They enlisted last Saturday. The British Recruiting Mission is to hold a benefit performance at the Hip- podrome Sunday evening, Oct. 7, the proceeds of which are to be utilized for the purpose of assisting the families of British soldiers who have enlisted in the United States. Manv prominent artists have volunteered their services, including Uda Waldrop, the organist. W. Mayne Lynton, who has been ap- pearing in "The Man Who Came Back," leaves the cast this week to join the British Army with the rank of first lieutenant. He will be stationed tem- porarily with the British Recruiting Commission in New York. Francis E. Muldoon, treasurer of Henderson's, Coney Island, has enlist- ed in the Q. M. Department, stationed at Governor's Island, New York. Mr. Muldoon has been treasurer of the Academy of Music, Brooklyn, in the regular season. Basil Broadhurst, son of the play- wright who obtained a commission as a second lieutenant at Plattsburg, has been assigned to the 165th Regiment (old 69th), one of the units of the Rain- bow Division supposed to be the first to leave for France. William Augustin Flaherty (William Augustin), from stock and burlesque (also with Bonita and Hearn at one time), is a member of the U. S. Avia- tion Corps, at the Aviation School, Cambridge, Mass. Jean Finneran, the pedestal dancer, was examined at Newburgh, N. Y., by arrangement with his local board in Cincinnati and found physically fit. He was ordered to report at once to Cincinnati. Manton W. Chambers (Ward Cham- bers) formerly in the legitimate, is with the 3d Co., 26th Division, Armored Au- tomobile and Ammunition Truck Train, Hampton Point, Westfield, Mass. Leo Donnelly, in the army before, and wounded four times, has the fight- ing fever again, and may rejoin. Sam Burbank, for the past eight years in the Dillingham service, has en- listed in the Regular Army Transport Service, and has also given a Belgian police dog to the unit as a mascot. Private J. A. Gregory (Nat Royall) has been transferred to Co. F, 104th U. S. Infantry, stationed at Camp Bart- lett, Westfield, Mass. Harry Sweatnam is reported as re- turning to the service, having served in the Spanisii-American war. He will be Harry Hamilton has been commis- sioned 2d Lieutenant O. R. C, and as- signed to the 326th Regiment Infantry at Camp Gordon, Atlanta. John Medbury, the author, was drafted, hut previously enlisted in the Navy Mosquito Fleet. He is stationed on the Pacific Coa$t. Jack Houston, formerly under the management of Lewis & Gordon, is at the Marine Barracks, Paris Island, S. C. Lee Chapin has been promoted to Sergeant of the Medical Department of the 19th Cavalry. CliflF Marion is with Battery F, Third Field Artillery, Fort Myer, Va. DRAFTED. Charles Bierbaurer, of Stoker & Bier- baurer, vaudeville agents, was allowed exemption for dependents. Floyd Sto- ker is in the Naval Service. John J. O'Connor (Variety) allowed exemption, dependents. Eddie Lee, who calls himself "The Jack of Diamonds," and has been ap- pearing with Herbert Brooks, was ex- amined and accepted in Minneapolis last week. Jimmy Cooper, with "Charming Wid- ows" last season, and Harry Steppe, with "Hello Girls," called for examina- tion, were exempted last week for physical disability. Andy Taylor (Hovt and TaylorT with "The Behman Show," has been accepted. Perhaps no more ingenious claim for exemption to the draft has been noted to date than that of an acrobat (one of a casting act) before federal author- ities in Chicago last week. The man set up the claim he was fostering agricul- ture. When asked to explain, he said that a considerable percentage of the act's appearance was at country and state fairs and that as such fairs were aimed to encourage and increase the growth of crops, the entertaining of the attending farmers was as impor- tant as the agricultural exposition. Whether because of the novelty of the argument or the oddity of the plea, tlie examination board took the case for further consideration, and it is quite possible the exemption will be granted. Max and Dave Gordon, brothers, both exempted for eyesight. Dwyer, of Dwyer and Oliver, sched- uled to play the Pantages Circuit, was called for examination Sept. 5. Lew Herman (formerly of "Peck's Bad Boy" and lately of vaudeville) was called in the early numbers and rejected because of under weight. Henry Regal (Regal and Bender) was called, but found physically un- able to meet the requirements. • Jack Fitzgerald has been ordered to report at once for examination. Spencer D. Bcttleheim, assistant treasurer of the Princess and son of the editor of "The Dramatic News," has been selected for the first qu'^ta for the National Army at Yaphank, reporting next Monday. Sam Carlton, the Hebrew oomic. has been accepted. Frank "Eggs" Gordon proved phys ically incapable. PRODUCTION ENGAGEMENTS. The Courtney Sisters were under a verbal engagement with the Shuberts for the proposed Mclntyre & Heath show, of which little has been heard of late. Bessie Gros, formerly of Kraft and Gros in vaudeville, has been engaged by Klaw & Erlanger to do a dancing specialty in the "Riviera Girl" produc- tion. Zella Rambo and Hazel Boyne were signed through Will Roehm's office last week for the Kelly-Sampter show, "Stop. Look and Li.stenI" show, which rtrry Stomps (Dtrn,- Good and Funny Trio) to Adah Scruggs, of Buf- falo, nonprofessional. Ray Price (of the former Julian El- tinge Co.) to Joseph Boas, nonprofes- sional. Katherine Gormley ("Fashions a la Carte") and Walter Ward, trick cyclist, in Indianapolis recently. Constance Farber (Farber Sisters) insists she is not married and the only Eddie Carr vaudeville knows has a wife and child, the latter 18 months old. It was reported last week Miss Farber and an Eddie Carr had been married. Variett was given the information by a "nut" comedian who claimed to be a friend of both and had been present at the ceremony. Gilbert Wells and Lillian Gilford, both of "You're in Love," now at the Garrick, Chicago, Aug. 28, at Crown Point, Ind. The groom is the son of the late Charles W. Wells, a lumber dealer of Milwaukee, Wis., who died leaving a large estate. He is also one of the heirs of the late Daniel Wells, of Wells-Fargo fame, who died leaving $20,000,000. Cyril Crimmins, son of John D. Crimmins, Aug. 24, to Katherine Daly, of Ziegfeld 'l^idnight Frolic." The ceremony took place in St. Margaret's Roman Catholic Church at Dorchester, Mass., the bride's home. Teresa Cecilia Sheridan, for five years secretary to Chas. E. Ford, of Ford's opera house, Baltimore, last week to Sergeant Linton Beckley Arnold, of the 5th Maryland Regiment. Clarence Kolb (Kolb and Dill) Sept. 1, to May Cloy, a member of the bride- groom's theatrical company, in San Francisco. Charles Coronell, the revue producer to Olive Hastings, a former prim: donna, at Churchill's, at the Little Church Around the Corner, Sept. 2. BIRTHS. Mr. and Mrs. Leo Zarcll, born .\ug- ust 29, son. Mr. and Mrs. Leo Leon (Leon's Models), daughter. Mrs. Leon was formerly Bess Delberg (Walton and Dclberg). Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Hughes, Sept. 1, son (Jimmie, jr.). The mother is Myr- tle Von Horn, formerly with the Tokio (restaurant) revue. Montgomery-Sidney—Cohan A, Harris. James Montgomery is writing a play for George Sidney. It will be pro- duced by Cohan & Harris. IN AND OUT. Reported illness removed Edna Aug from the Henderson, Coney Island, bill Labor Day. Nonet\e substituted. Bonita and Hearn jumped fro|n New York to Pittsburg this week for the opening bill at the Davis, replacing the Harry Beresford company, the leading woman of which failed to appear. Trixie Friganza will take up thr Mayhew and Taylor route over the Or- pheum Circuit, commencing Sept. 16 at Minneapolis. Karl Jorn replaces the couple for this week and next at Omaha and St. Paul. Billy Taylor has joined the second officers' camp at Plattsburg, La Belle Carmen Trio failed to ap- pear at the Younge street theatre, Toronto, the first half and were re- placed by Weston's Models. Phina (appears in blackface) and Picks did not go to East St. Louis this week, the reason being given no col- ored acts are to be used at present because of recent race riots there. Helen McMahon (McMahon, Dia- mond and Chaplow) at the Palace, Chi- cago, this week strained a leg ligament it the Monday maiinee, and did not played. She is being attended by an osteopath and expects to be able to work befo/e the end of the week. Claude Yonger replaced Lord and Fuller at the Pantages, Minneapolis, last week. ILL AND INJURED, After about two weeks of "Th« Pass-, ing Show" at the Winter Garden, Marie Nordstom returned late last week. Lois Josephine returned to New- York last week, with her injured ankle much improved. Miss Josephine (Cross and Josephine) motored from Buffalo in company with her sister, Helen Frances. John McKee, of the Canadian Cir- cuit's booking department in New York, has returned to work, following recovery from an operation. John J. Murdock suffered a sprained ankle last Friday through a mis-step which threw the ankle under his entire weight. The injury did not prevent his appearance at his offices, where he was treated daily by Prof. Daly, a noted osteopath. Ed. Phelan is critically ill at his home in Massachusetts. James McLean, who managed one of the W. B. Friedlander tabs on its re- cent trip, is still confined to a hospital in Savannah, although noticeably im- proved. George Smith has about recovered from a recent injury inflicted bv an in- sect, which bit him over the right eye while engaged in picture work in the open. Artie C. Rice is at White Lake recov- ering from the effects of injuries re- ceived in a recent automobile accident. His right arm is still in a painful con- dition. Harry Mitchell (Harry and Kate Mitchell) seized by sudden illness in Wilmington, Del., was taken to the Delaware Hospital. He will be re- moved to his home when his condition warrants. The mother of Harry Fox is reported as doing very well. She suffered a stroke of paralysis at her home in Cali- fornia last week. (Tharlotte Whiting sustained a dislo- cation of the wrist when she fell from the runway used in the "Garden Fol- lies" at White City, Chicago, last week. She was stepping backwards toward the stage when the accident occurred. Lou Wesley, at Atlantic City for the past week, plans a few weeks' stay in the Catskills in the hope of benefitting his health. D. F. Hennessey, at Paul Smith's, in the Adirondacks, has written to New York he is sufficiently recovered in health to return to work within the next fortnight, but it has been suggested to him that he remain away for the bal- ance of the current month. Jo Paige Smith (Hughes & Smith) was taken ill Tuesday with hemor- rhoids. Richards and Kyle were forced to cancel their western time through the illness of Miss Richards. William Rock was struck on the head by a curtain batten on the stage of the Liberty during the performance of "Hitchy-Koo" Monday night. He A as out of the cast fui ihe ruilu'wing three performances. Harry Fox, Chicago, collapsed on the stage of the Majestic during his act .Sunday night. He was revived in seven ininutes. Lew Pollock, the pianist, stall- ing meanwhile, when Fox finished the act. Joseph Remington is recovering from an operation on his nose at Trenton, Marie Cahill is recovering from in- juries received in an accident which occurred at her home three weeks ago. She was curling her hair with the aid of an alcohol lamp, when the lamp tipped over, striking a celluloid comb. It exploded, burning her hand. After a week in bed Miss Cahill attempted to come downstairs alone, fainted and fell several steps, furtlicr bruising herself. •m'*-H"*M4%*. i New Dutch Comedian Goes In. Lou Lewis severed connections with Barney Gerard's "Americans" at the Gayety, Brooklyn, this week, and his place as principal Dutch comedian was a ssumed by Billy Carleton.