Variety (January 1918)

8 VAUDEVILLE t m • \1 ' -. i ■ . IN THE SERVICE Harry J. Powers, Jr., son of the man- ager of Powers, Chicago, recently took his first flight in an aeroplane at an aviation school in California and wrote his father about the experience. He said: "I went up about 5.500 feet and you get a wonderful view from that height. It certainly was a thrill. I can't begin to describe the feeling you have when you are that high up in the air. You don't feel a bit unsafe. Land- ing is the hardest at first, because it's difficult to tell how far from the ground you arc." Young Powers will shortly receive his commission as lieutenant. Billie Fordyce is in an English hos- pital, through wounds received in France. Oscar Mouvet, brother of the dancer, Maurice (Maurice and Walton, now dancing at the Hotel Biltmore, New York), has been severely wounded. He was serving in the French For- eign Legion.—Reported to Variety from Paris. Mayol, celebrated upon the French stage, gave free performances in the music halls and oicture theatres of Paris, singing in favor of the French Liberty Loan. Mayol was accompanied by a violinist. Some managers were pleased to give Mayol a spot on the program, while others were not, but dared not decline. Enlistments in the Navy at San Fran- cisco last week included Harry Ett- ling (property man. Hippodrome), Hack 'Kelly (property man, Casino), George Wood (flyman, Cort), all to re- port at Sar. Ped r o, CaL Charlie Lamb, brother of Alex Lamb, (Lamb and Morton) was killed in action in France Oct. 14. He was a member of the 7th Australian reinforcements batal- lion and had been in the trenches but six days. Gordon Laurence (sales promotion manager for Vitagraph). has joined the Naval Reserve Flying Corps. He is at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology. Laurence now has the rank of ensign. Jack Shatter (formerly with 'The Rivera Girl"), Artie Young (vaude- ville). William Herman (vaudeville), and Fred Osborn (legitimate), are at the Receiving Barracks Office, Fort Slocum, New Rochelle, N. Y. Alexis Luce, formerly leading man, received a commission as second lieu- tenant in the officers' training camp at San Francisco. He was formerly leading man with the Wilkes Players in the northwest. Eugene Pallette has withdrawn from the cast of the next Mary Pickford production and has joined the aviation service of the Government, with a lieutenant's commission. William Ehrcnberg has enlisted as a yeoman in the Naval Reserve and is stationed at Wissahickon Barracks, Cape May, N. J. Lucicn Littleficld (Paramount), who went to France with a section of the Ambulance Corps, has earned a com- mission in the Aviation service. George J. Rice (Rice and Carr), sta- tioned at Camp 5. Short Creek, Ala., 1 as been exempted from military service. John Quittner, manager of the Al- hambra, Torrington, Conn., is in the Naval Reserves. The Torrington house is being managed by Henry Needles. Robert T. Kane, vice-president of Paralta Studios, Los Angeles, attached to Camp Lev is, American Lake, Wash., is now a sergeant-major. Several of the theatrical men of draft age around Broadway are considering enlisting in the Navy, before the second call envelops them. Frank O'Brien, the former booking man and who recently enlisted in the Navy, has been commissioned an ensign. Lyle R. Mabrey reported with the ^OMh Infantry, Camp Upton, New York. Charles Harris, treasurer of the Longacre, has enlisted in the Navy with the rank of chief petty officer. Nelson A. Bradt, Jr. (Gus Nelson} is with the Heavy Artillery at Fort Banks, Winthrop, Mass. Benny Piermont, formerly a booking agent, was promoted to a sergeantcy last week at Camp Upton. Sidney Sutcliff, son of Arthur Sut- cliff (English), was killed in aerial action recently in France. Eddie ' Gribbon (Triangle-Keystone comedian), has joined the submarine division of the U. S. Na^vy. Blanchard O. McKee has received a commission and is at Camp Lewis, American Lake, Wash. Taylor Graves (with "Very Good Eddie" road company), is at the School of Aeronautics, Berkeley, Cal. Tex Jordan ("The Keystone Kops"), has enlisted in the navy. Wilbert C. Chambers (Larry Mack), is at Camp Hancock, Augusta, Ga. Harry Tobias, Camp Joseph E. John- ston, Jacksonville, Fla. Leo Fitzgerald was ordered Tuesday to report to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. George Stokes, Camp Logan, Hous- ton, Tex. (131st Ambulance Co.). Louis A. Brown, pictures, has gone to Fort Sill. DRAFTED. Earl Williams, of the 328th Machine Gun Batalion, Camp Gordon, Atlanta, has been discharged owing to a de- fective knee and will return to show business. While at Camp Williams was instrumental in organizing the Army Entertainers' League and is now bending his efforts to the formation of a similar League for Camp Upton. Bernard J. Kelly, well known in bur- lesque circles as advanceman and man- ager, and who was associated as secre- tary to James Barton with the Amer- ican Wheel, has been appointed ser- geant of the headquarters company of the 308th Inf. at Camp Upton. The' Mosconi Brothers (2) with Bes- sie Clayton and Co were ordered Wednesday to report forthwith' to Philadelphia, where they live and regis- tered. They secured an extension until next Tuesday, by wire. Arthur J. Jackson, lyric writer and brother of Fred Jackson, author of "The Naughty Wife," is attached to the 305th Machine Gun Battalion at Camp Upton. C. R. Cooper, traveling auditor for General Film, reported to Camp Upton Dec. 26. W. T. Harper (Wright and Harper) has been ordered to Fort Sam Hou- ston, Tex. Albert Marks ("Military Maids") as- signed to Base Hospital, Camp Upton, L. I. ILL AND INJURED. Florence Belmont (Flying Belmont Trio) is under treatment in Trenton, N. J., with a severely sprained ankle sustained while doing their act at the State Street theater, Trenton, Dec. 27. Marcus Mayer was stricken with a hemorrhage of the brain while dining at the Lambs' Club Dec. 31. He was at- tended by Dr. Rothenberg of Bellevue Hospital, where he was taken. George Gottleib, of the Orpheum's booking office, and Harry Nestler, of Loew's agency, secured a set of frost- bitten ears last Sunday througrj riding in open cars. Frederic Thompson was operated upon in Polyclinic Hospital, Dec. 24, to relieve intestinal adhesions. He is showing steady improvement. Geraldine Farrar was too ill last week to appear in "Thais" at the Met- ropolitan, her first performance this season being postponed until Jan. 5. One of the members of the Victoria Four contracted pneumonia last week, causing the cancellation of the act's route at Denver. The year-old daughter of Jim and Marion Harkins is seriously ill at Memphis (Tenn.) Hospital. John Montague is a patient at Miss Alston's sanatarium suffering from pleurisy. Julia Ring was compelled to layoff this week because of an eye operation. MARRIAGES. Julian M. Solomon, Jr., head of the Artcraft-Paramount service dept, Dec. 31 r to Lila May Stephenson of Philadel- phia. The couple have gone south on a fortnight's honeymoon. Louis O. Mac loon, known in Chicago theatrical circles as a press agent and promoter of special theatrical enter- prises, was married last week to Lois Florence Hoover, daughter of Jonas O. Hoover of the Moraine hotel, Highland Park, 111. Millie Burstein, bookkeeper for King Bee, niece of President Burstein, was married to Harry Naughton, studio manager, at Hollywood last week. Will Hart, professional manager for Stasny^Music Co., secretly married to Mary Donahue in New York, Dec. 22. Rita Boland to Dr. Frank J. Clancy, at Fresno, Cal., Dec. 30. Lew Williams to Ada Mitchell, in New York, Dec. 28. Joe Cohen to Helene Hennequez, both of "The Broken Mirror," Erie, Pa., Dec. 24. George Dignan (Dignan and Gifton), to May Glancy ("Six Peaches and a Pear") in Pontiac, Mich., Dec. 19. It has been disclosed the announce- ment on the Coast relative to Rita Boland's marriage to Captain Reaney was premature, the wedding having been indefinitely postponed. Charles Lynch, in charge of Metro's New York studio property room, to Frances O'Hair, Dec. 23, in New York City. HOT AND COLD AUDIENCES. The cold spell with the thermometer hovering below what Perry discovered the temperature to be at the Pole brought to New York an experience with hot and cold audiences. The busi- ness in the majority of vaudeville houses was off, while that in the pic- ture houses was above par. The only . trouble with the picture houses was that once the audience was in, there was no way to get them out again. This was particuarly noticeable in the Loew houses. Incidentally the Loew management was exceedingly fortunate to lay in coal last summer, with the re- sult that during the current shortage of fuel the Loew houses remain as warm as toast. Another reason is that in picture houses there is no draught from back stage. That the cold air chills an audience was brought home forcibly in the ' vaudeville houses whenever there was a full stage act in progress. Dur- ing those moments the audiences in front shivered, while when an act in "one" was on the front of the house escaped the blasts from back stage. The cold snap also affected the New Year's Eve business materially. In the legit houses the business was off be- cause the cold weather of last week killed all advance sales and on the holi- day eve there wasn't any box office sale for the same reason. In the vaudeville houses (where two shows are the usual order of things on that night) the first show, usually the big one from the point of attendance, was off. The second show was away below the usual in the matter of gross. There was a general complaint on all sides over the busi- ness done on the last night of the old year. The theaters were not the only ones complaining. The restaurants also had a plaint. There was a remarkable dearth of reservations in advance this year and the general program was for house parties all over town. IN AND OUT. Raymond and Caver»y left the Pan- tages Circuit their opening week at Minneapolis, alleging Pantagc* had headlined a colored troupe above them, to play over the time on the same bill. Lawrence Johnston and Mile. Fleury, who were to open the follow- ing week, substituted, with Hope Ver- non and "Fat" Thompson and Co. fill- ing in their position. Illness kept Brosius and Brown from opening at the Palace, Brooklyn, Mon- day. Callon and Park substituted. Same cause prevented "Over Where" appearing at the Warwick, Brooklyn, with Harry Brooks and Co. stepping in. Delayed baggage was the reason Gard- ner's Maniacs could not open at Loew's, New Rochelle, with Elizabeth Mayne going in. Train delays were responsible for many disappointments in opening bills this week. The cold spell made every- thing late into New York. Baltimore trains were coming in Sunday and Monday eight hours behind; Boston four to six hours, up-State, six to eight hours. Eva Tanguay's voice obliged a can- cellation of her Alhambra engagement for this week. Valeska Suratt is sub- stituting. Miss Tanguay is expected to resume her vaudeville engagements at Keith's, Boston, next week. Owing to the falling out of Jimmy Hussey and Co. of the Fifth Avenue program Tuesday, Con Conrad was rushed in without "props" or rehearsal and was retained Wednesday for the remainder of the week. The Ahearn Troupe, billed to open at Miles, Cleveland, Monday, was shift- ed at a late hour to the Regent, De- troit. The Five Jacksons opened at the former house instead. The Bessie Clayton act was obliged to cancel next week at the Bushwick, Brooklyn, through the Mosconi broth- ers being ordered to report under the draft in their home town, Philadelphia. Berrick and Hart cancelled Spring- field, 111., this week through the death of Mr. Berrick's father. The latter was assistant corporation counsel of the city of New York for many years. Gick Watson dropped out of "Fol- low the Girl," which opened in Phila- delphia this week, and has returned to New York to go into the "Words and Miisic" show at the Fulton. Harry LaVail and sister were obliged to cancel all of their time while on the Coast, upon receipt of the sad news their mother was dying. Mitchell and Mitch left the American Roof bill Saturday through one of the members having a bad cold. Jesson and Jesson filled in. "Sherman Was Right" did not open on the Pantages Circuit at Minneapolis as scheduled, with Roscoe's Minstrels showing instead. The Hawthornes cancelled the Ri- alto, Chicago; last week replaced by Rector, Weber and Talbot. Golding and Eyres opened at Pan- tages, Minneapolis, Monday instead of the Australian Trio. The Aloha Trio, a coast turn, joined the Pantages show in Vancouver, B. C, Monday. Allen Shaw replaced Adeline Francis at the Colonial, commencing Wednes- day. The Geralds substittued for Dooley and Nelson, after the Tuesday shows, at the Riverside. NEW ACTS. Jack Gardner is to return to vaude- ville after a couple of years as lead- ing man for the Kleine picture people out west. His vaudeville vehicle is to be constructed by Jean Havez (Harry Weber). George Morton (Kramer and Mor- ton) and Sydney Clare (Clare and Weston) have formed a new talking act. "The Mississippi Misses" is the Ralph Dunbar girl act first billed as "The Dancers of the World." Edwin Arden in sketch.