Variety (October 1917)

I 8 r> VAUDEVILLE IN THE SERVICE Ed Dunn, a member of Vita's Big "V" comedy squad, has, at his own request, been relieved from duty with the 13th Regiment, Coast Guard Ar- tillery, in order that he may go to France immediately, to drive an am- bulance. Other Vita actors in the 13th are Jess Hunt, a corporal; "Buster" Blackton, corporal; Jack Evans, ser- geant; Monte Lewis, private. Victor Smith, former studio manager for Vitagraph at the Brooklyn plant, has been granted a commission in the Quartermaster's Reserve Corps. Maj. Reginald Barlow, New York actor, is now in charge of the bayonet school which has been opened for Na- tional Army recruits at the big can- tonment, Camp Devens, Ayer, Mass. Major Barlow is also commander of the first battalion of the 302d Regi- ment. He is instructing the new men in all the arts of thrust and parry. The men he is teaching at present will later become instructors them- selves. The entire staff of Irving'Rosen As- sociates, producers, including Rosen, Paul Strashun and Harry B. Harris, have enlisted and closed their offices. Harris is in the Naval Reserve, await- ing a call, Strashun is with the 3rd Military Base Unit, and Rosen is in Co. 7. 152nd Depot Brigade, being in the third draft call. Fred. C Place, staff photographer for Pathe News, located in Chicago, has been appointed lieutenant in the American Aviation Corps. He enlisted as a sergeant and in ten days was ap- pointed. Chester Blackwell, of the U. B. O. (bookkeeping department), was noti- fied last Thursday to report to the Navy Yard for his assignment to the Naval Reserve.* The Four American Patrolers en- listed in Cheyenne, Wyo., six weeks ago, Louis Jacques of the act being appointed bandmaster of the 25th Cav- alry. Edward Susdorf. comedian with "Oh, Boy," arrivea at his home in Cincinnati this week to enter the army. He enlisted last summer. Eddie Jermon, with the officers' training corps, Plattsburgh, expects to be transferred to South Caroiina shortly. Wm. G. Carmichael, formerly press agent for Forbes Robertson on his re- cent farewell tour, has joined the Eng- lish Royal Flying Corps. Robert Drady, Jr., 18 years old and only son of Bob Drady, manager of the Casino, San Francisco, enlisted in the army, surprising his parents. Francis Schwartz, formerly with Elsie Janis' Co., is at Columbia, S. C, in the Quartermaster's Dept. James Gorman, Jr., with the Marine Corps at Ft. Hamilton, N. Y. DRAFTED. Eddie Schultz, gripman, belonging to No. 1 New York stagehands, is at Camp Upton, L. I. Other drafted men re- porting at Yaphank from the New York local are Joseph Anello, assistant electrician, Olympic, and Frank Heinz, electrician, Loew's Qrpheum. Among No. 1 men enlisting lately are Max Al- bert, assistant electricia^ Hippodrome, with the Signal Corps, and Ed. P. rlynn, stagehand, with the First Field Artillery. Bob Poshay (Poshay and White), accepted in San Francisco. Lew I.eondar (Lcondar and Miller), ac- I't-pw-j-'., same city. Wni. C. Kohler, head usher at the Cort, San Francisco, ordered to report Oct. 19, at American Lake. McLcary and Runyan, Coast act, dissolved through one of its mertir hers accepted. Harry Watkins ("Twisto") is with Battery B, 319th Field Artillery, Camp Gordon, Atlanta. Twisto left the Pan- tages road show at Kansas City Sept 20, when called by the draft. He is putting on shows for the different Y. M. C. A/s at camp, three times weekly. Sammy Levy, of Waterson, Berlin & Snyder's professional staff, who was examined and found peffect two weeks ago, has had his claim for exemption turned down and will soon join the Yaphank ranks. Sammy Smith, with Waterson, Ber- lin & Snyder, accepted. He has put in his claim for exemption on the grounds his mother and sister are en- tirely dependent upon him for sup- port. Arthur McBannas, with Juggling Mc- Banns, ordered to report Monday, obliging act to disband and cancel its date for Pittsburgh and Johnstown this week. Laveen and Cross substi- tuted. Oliver Bingham, of Bingham and West, has been ordered to report, to Camp Mead, Md., and was forced to jump there from St Louis, cancelling 38 weeks on the W. V. M. A. time. Tommy Gray, the vaudeville humor- ist, announcer, author, composer and scenario writer, was called for exami- nation this week to aid Uncle Sam in his struggle for Universal democracy. Harry Eedelheit and Tom Weiss (of the Kalmar, Puck & Abrahams staff) were ordered to Yaphank this week. Archie Goettler, the composer, was notified to prepare for duty. Frank Anderson, of Anderson and Westberg, proprietors of the Liberty theatre, Polso, Mont., has been called to the colors and has sold out to H. G. Jorgenson. Jesse Weil, who recently reported to Camp .Upton, L. I., has been ap- pointed a clerk in the quartermaster's corps. He is now stationed with Co. F, 307th Infantry. Sidney Schallman, the former ten- percenter in Chicago, left for Rock- ford, 111., having been refused exemp- tion on grounds that he was paying alimony. . Harry H. Poppe, recently appointed publicity representative for the Yorke- Metro Pictures Corporation, was or- dered to report at Yaphank last Sat- urday. C. W. Conner, manager of the Lyric, Havre, Mont., has been drafted and W. H. Whe*!f r, owner of the property, has assumed management. Ollie Bingham <has been drafted and the vaudeville team of Bingham and West has been disbanded. Miss West is seeking another partner. Charles Thompson, juggler, ordered to report Monday, canceling his en- gagement at Johnstown and Pittsburgh this week. Turelly replaced him. Dell Chain (Hufiord and Chain) answered the selection call to his home in Ohio. Nick Hufford will play alone until he finds a new partner. A. W. Plues, manager of Vita's New Orleans branch, has been drafted and last week left for Camp Pike, Ari- zona. Sam J. Parks, author and once of Van Osten and Parks, has been added to the National Army via the Draft route. Joe Raymond, of Fuller's Orchestra, drafted under exceptional grounds for exemption, allowed until Oct. 11, to provide further proof of statements. Jimmie Hanley, the composer, con- nected with the Shapiro-Bernstein Music Pub. Co., ordered to Yaphank, Oct. 11. Jerry Clayton (Draper and Clayton), drafted, stationed with Co. I, 305th In- fantry. Camp Upton, L. I. Savo, with "Sporting Widows," ac- cepted. He has filed exemption, claim- ing dependents. Chester Hugo, stock, with the Hugo Brothers Co., playing western dates, ordered to report. Allen Schnebbe, treasurer of the Hudson reported at Yaphank Saturday. He was succeeded by Jerome B. Flrnn. Morton Beck, to have opened in Buffalo with Billy Sharp's Review, will go to Yaphank. Charles Wesson, of Blutch Cooper's "Best Show in Town," playing juvenile roles, drafted. Samuel Miller, formerly of the Hip- podrome, is now at Camp Stafford, Alexandria, La. Jimmie Grimes and Freddy Mayer, of the Garden theatre, Buffalo, ordered to a southern cantonment Sept. 28. Benjamin E, Pikelt, manager of Keith s, Lowell, Mass., exempt on ac- count dependants. Jack Waldron (Young and Waldron) broke up the newly formed act to re- port Oct. 2 at Yaphank, L. I. Willie Lee of Carmen's Minstrels was drafted this week and forced to retire from the act. Clinton Hodder, dramatic juvenile, accepted. Orders not yet received. Benny Piermont reported to Yap- hank; L. I., Saturday. Jim Barton, burlesque comedian, re- jected as physically unfit. William Weston Rae called to camp. U ACTS IN CAMP BILL The United Booking Offices is ar- ranging weekly shows for the soldiers at Ft. Slocum, N. Y., just above the New Rochelle city limits, the booking, staging and transporation arrange- ments supervised by Jules Delmar. The shows are given every Wednes- day night," staged in the Drill Hall, which seats 5,000. Up to the present week the shows were given in the open air, but climatic conditions necessi- tated the move. A complete equip- ment of stage effects, including -scenic and lighting fixtures has been erected, while an orchestra of nine pieces at- tends to the musical end. All expenses are paid by the camp director, the acts leaving New York Wednesday afternoon at 2.15 from the Grand Central Station. Automobiles convey the entertainers to the camp where dinner is served in the officers' quarters at 6 p. m. Rehearsals are held at 3.30, and the performance be- gins at 7 p. m. The bill for the current week's show included "Cabaret De Luxe," Tommy Haydn, "Bullet Proof Lady," 7 Ameri- can Minstrels, Potter and Hartwell, Conrad and Connelly, Apollo Trio, Cahill and Romaine, Linton and Law- rence, The Skatelles, Martelle, Chas. Gibbs, Gus Edwards Co., 4 Meyakes. STAFFS' LOYALTY. The Interstate Circuit of vaudeville theatres, located in south and south- western cities, has decided, through its president, Karl Hoblitzelle, that the working forces of the several houses need display loyalty by subscribing to the second Liberty Loan. Mr. Hoblitzelle, in New York this week, said he intended issuing a gen- eral order calling upon every em- ployee of the circuit to subscribe for the bonds, to some amount, and that it would be mandatory for each employee to so subscribe, unless a sufficient rea- son was returned for not doing so at present. Mr. Hoblitzelle stated his circuit would carry the bonds at the easy con- venience of the purchaser in repay- ments, but that he wanted the Inter- state staffs a solid phalanx of govern- ment bondholders during the war. The German war film has been taken by the Interstate for its tour. AIDING SMOKE FUND. Ycungstown, O., Oct. 3. While Dorothy Kegel was here last week, with her vaudeville playlet, she worked assiduously to further the Smoke Fund of the Youngstown "Indi- cator." securing about $800 for the pa- per in four days. Miss Regel received front page pub- licity in the "Indicator" meanwhile. SECOND LIBERTY LOAN. The second offering of an ltsue of Government bonds amounting to $3,- 000,000,000 is nowlinder way. Inthe words of William A. Nash, chairman of the board, "The Liberty Loan, by its very nature, is a prior hen on everything in the land and the very best investment that the citizen can have." He emphasizes that it is the imperative duty of all Americans to subscribe tp it A call was sent out this week to the theatre managers of New York and vi- cinity for a meeting this afternoon at the offices of the United Managers Protective Association to discuss plans for concerted action on their part in behalf of the new loan issue. LOEW SHOWS AT CAMPS. New Orleans, Oct. 3. E. A. Schiller, the Loew southern representative, has arranged to place vaudeville bills in several of the south- ern cantonments. Acts playing New Orleans will be routed immediately thereafter for a half week at Hattiesburg, Miss., where a temporary theatre has been erected within the military grounds. Thirty thousand soldiers are quartered at the Hattiesburg base. The army oost at Chattanooga is to have Loew shows, splitting with the circuit's house in the town proper, and giving the acts a carfare jump. Loew vaudeville was instituted for the first time at Augusta, Ga., Monday. F. H. Turner has been placed in charge of the Crescent, New Orleans, succeeding Abe Seligman, who may ac- cept a position tendered him at the Tulane by Manager Tom Campbell. Mr. Turner, who is already actively engaged at the Crescent, was con- nected with the Loew interests at Bal- timore. He is a former newspaper man. WAR CONTESTS FINAL Tonight (Friday) at the Fifth Ave- nue, New York, will be the final in the elimination War Song Contest, held at the same house last week. The contenders for the finish are five, Waterson, Berlin & Snyder ("Joan of Arc"), Witmark ("Somewhere in France"), Piantadosi ("Smile, Smile"), Charles K. Harris ("Just Break the News to Mother"), Feist ("Long Way"). ALLAN MUDIE KILLED. Allan Mudie was killed in action on the west front in Flanders Sept. 20. He was made a captain a few uays before his death. Mudie played opposite Julia Sander- son, Hazel Dawn, Ina Claire and other prominent stars in this country, where he was prominently known. UNIFORMS FREE. Trenton, N. J., Oct. 3. The State street theatre and the Taylor O. H. have increased their or- chestras to six musicians apiece. All men in uniform are admitted free of charge to the State street while the Taylor has increased its prices. BUILDING NEAR CAMP. Chicago, Oct. 3. W. S. Butterfield will build a 2,000- capatity vaudeville house at Battle Creek, Mich., near Camp Custer. Delmar Sisters Have Sad Hews. The Delmar Sisters have received word of the death of their brother, a lieutenant in the Gordon Highlanders. He was one of the first English sol- diers to go into the trenches, was wounded five times and received three medals for bravery. The father of the Delmars was at- tached to Kitchener's staff, but has been missing for two years, with no word as to his whereabouts. Evelyn Delmar, a sister, has been active in Red Cross work for the past nine months, canceling bookings to assist in the movement.