Variety (November 1917)

VOL. XLVIII, No. 10 NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1917 PRICE TEN CENTS COLUMBIA'S EMERGENCY FUND FOR BENEFIT OF SERVICE MEN Burlesque Circuits Will Raise Money for Comfort of Wounded and to Aid Dependents If Fatalities Occur Among Men in Service, Formerly in Burlesque. Will Commence It Immediately Following Burlesque's "Smoke Fund" Week Nov. 12. The executives of the Columbia and American burlesque wheels decided this week to raise and maintain an Em- ergency Fund, to be applied to the wants of any man in the Service, who entered it from a burlesque company or theatie, lcgardless of what his po- sition or station may have been in either. The Emergency Fund will be em- ployed only to supply comforts to wounded men who entered the Service from burlesque, or to relieve the de- pendents of any burlsque man killed or dying from wounds received in action. There are about 400 men from bur- lesque in the Service, it is estimated. Among these are men from every de- partment of burlesque. The two wheels have about 68 road shows and 70 thea- tres. The Emergency Fund will be started shortly after the burlesque's "Smoke Week" on both circuits, to commence Nov. 12. This will consist of a collec- tion to be made at <each performance by every company in all the houses for the period. The proceeds will be handled by the Columbia Amusement Co. direct. It will prepare the pack- ages of smokes and see that they are forwarded to the boys on the other side. The burlesque wheels will also likely call upon all their theatre and com- pany managers to compile a complete statement of all Liberty Bonds pur- chased by burlesque people. It is thought that this represents a large sum. The Columbia Co. in New York for itself purchased about $175,000 worth of Liberty Bonds. In the Emergency Fund movement, the Columbia has no precedent, and will work out its own plan, it having taken the initiative in this contem- plated effort to be of immediate as- sistance when needed to their own people and dependents. The first line of action for the estab- lishment and maint.'iinaiice of the Emergency Fund will probably be an assessment laid against each company of a moderate ;unnunt ( probably $10 weekly, to be subscribed by the sev- eral members of the company and management, on a pro rata basis, ac- cording to salary received, the specific sums contributed becoming insignifi- cant under that arrangement but ag- gregating a total that will be thought sufficient to cover necessities if they arise. The Emergency Fund will be headed by subscriptions from the Columbia Amusement Co. and American Bur- lesque companies and theatres. They will be accepted from any person or source. The amounts to be turned over for the comfort of burlesque men or their dependents will probably be deter- mined by the committee in charge of the Emergency Fund. The amounts for dependents will be guaged by circum- stances, but in either event the aid will be prompt. BESSIE CLAYTON FOR LONDON. Chicago, Oct. 31. While Bessie Clayton and her com- pany were at the Palace last week Miss Clayton received a contract covering a period of two years from Albert de Courville, the London pro- ducer. It calls for the appearance of the dancer in a de Courville London revue about New Year's next. OVER 10,000 MEMBERS. The membership roster of the National Vaudeville Artists passed the 10,000 mark this week, the total mem- bership of the society now being a few over that number. The membership carried more than 9,000 names at the beginning of the season, with the weekly applications averaging over 50 since then. STOCK ACTORS NOT LOAFING. Chicago, Oct. 31. Schacffer Rrothcrs' Milwaukee Ave- nue Star theatre is no haven of rest for the actors. The policy is stock, with three complete changes of bill, opening Sundays, Tuesdays and Thurs- days, with a matinee every day. The material is old-time farce, run- ning about an hour and a half, with pop vaudeville between. The house is making plenty of money. CENTURY'S $7,500 OPENING. With a $5 top scale for the opening performance the premiere oT "Miss 1917," at the Century next Monday night, is assured of a $7,500 house from the sale this week. The theatre turned back some 2,300 orders for four or more seats, each for the first performance. The amount returned to the public was estimated in excess of $40,000. The directors of the playhouse all filed requests for blocks of seats, but six were the most allowed any one person. For the opening performance the entire lower floor, 875 seats, was scaled at $5, bringing a total of $4,375; the dress circle, with 608 seats at $3, total- ing $1,824, the first and second bal- conies remaining at the regular prices, $1, and 50 cents. The gross for the night, with two boxes at $55 and six at $30, is $7,700.50. The buy for the first eight weeks of "Miss 1917" totals over $100,000. The agencies take 550 seats at $3 and 200 at $2.50 for each of the six night performances. This is the regular price, and the hotels are not paying any commissions. It leaves the house about 125 seats on the lower floor at $2.50, on sale at the box office. With the war tax the buy amounts to a little more than $113,000. The Century management fs collect- ing the war tax on all seats with the exception of the 50-cent tickets in the second balcony, the house paying the tax on those. INDICTED FOR 'DUPING/' The United States Grand Jury last week indicted Fred Becker, Lewis Weiss and Leo Singer for conspiracy to infringe upon a copyright of "Joan the Woman" and for actual infringe- ment. The men were arrested some time ago, brought before United States Commissioner Hitchcock and held in $2,000 each. Ralph A. Kohn, attorney for the Famous Players, took the mat- ter up with Assistant District Attorney Stanton, who conducted criminal pro- ceedings. It is alleged a stolen positive was taken to New Jersey, where a "duped" negative was made. TRAVELED IN BOX CARS. Through movement of troops through the southland the Plohn & Levy show, "The Garden of Allah," bumped against the lack of train facil- ities last Thursday and was unable to make the matinee that day at Savan- nah. The company was playing Co- lumbia when it learned no passenger or baggage cars were available. The show management arranged for box cars and two flat cars to haul the com- pany, scenery and baggage to Savan- nah, the troupe reaching there late for the night performance, the matinee having to be called off. COHAN "DANCED OUT." Doing the first dancing he has done in a long while, George M. Cohan sur- prised the large attendance at Ebling's Casino last Thursday night, which had galhcicd iiicic to witness the perform- ance arranged by Mr. Cohan (with the assistance of George O'Brien) for St. Luke's Church in the Bronx. When Mr. Cohan's time arrived, he started on the song he wrote, "Over There," but forgot the words of the second verse. Saying, "I'll have to dance my way out of this," Mr. Cohan went through a routine of his former famous steps, exiting to wild applause. GERMAN ACTS NEAR CAMPS. The Loew office has circulateu a no- tice relative to German acts playing the southern time, with whom they have experienced trouble lately through Hattiesburg and Anniston being situ- ated within the camp territory. According te army regulations, Ger- mans are not permitted to be within a certain distance of the camp proper, unless they can show proper papers. This, hereafter, agents must ascertain from "German acts" before booking them over that time. MARK'S BROOKLYN STRAND. Mitchell L. Mark and his associates are having plans drawn for the erec- tion of another Strand picture house in Brooklyn, to be located close to the Crescent theatre. It is to seat 3,500 and construction will be begun in the spring. WM. H. CRANE IN SKETCH. William H. Crane is to make his debut in vaudeville in a sketch, four people, under the management of Wil- liam L. Lykcns. ROSSITER DOING AN ACT? Chicago, Oct. 31. Will Rossiter, the Chicago music publisher and "original song book man," may venture on a vaudeville tour in the spring. CHICAGO NEEDS CLUB. Chicago, Oct. 31. A club to resemble—as much as any- thing in Chicago can resemble any- thing in New York—the Friars' or Lambs', is proposed, to have quarters along an entire floor of the new State- lake theatre building. Martin Beck is said to have started the idea because he cannot find a re- treat in this town where he can take his lunciVeoi'i~Vn soothing surroundings. Mr. Heck will be a charter member. Mort Singer. Aaron 1. loncs, lack Lait, (>. L. Hall, J. i\ Matthews. T< m Ciir- mody, Fred Lincoln, Fred Eberts, Will Clinic. I'M win Clifford and many other •local Rialtoitcs have been approached to become charter members. Tom liourke is acting as organizer.