Variety (April 1918)

8 VAUDEVILLE IN THE SERVICE Several changes will be made in Ex- emption Board No. 115 known as a theatrical board. Lee Groves (former- ly of the Shubert offices) has been transferred to the Gas Mask Plant in Astoria, L. I., as superintendent of clerks. Harry Reiners of the board is going to the same place, also Edward Colgan, formerly with "Human Hearts." Sol Powder (Powder and Chapman) and Claude Wade (Graig and Wade) are ill in the base hospital and confined to their wards. They would like to hear from friends and their former partners. Letters should be addressed to them care Sergt. Major Jack Fine, Hdqtrs. 9th Batl., Camp Sherman, O. Walter McClain ("20th Century Maids"), Co. A, 112th Machine Gun Battalion. Sergt. Jack Sullivan (Gar- den City Four), 29th Div. Stockade. Thomas H. Dehrne (Garden City Four), 112th Machine Gun Battalion. All at Fort McClellan, Ala. Lee H. Tate, formerly a St. Louis at- torney and son of Frank Tate, the Mis- souri vaudeville magnate, has been ap- pointed Judge Advocate of Court Mar- tials at the New Orleans Navy Yard. The appointment was made by Secre- tary Josephus Daniels this week. Clifford Walker, who was one of the entertainers "over there/' and who re- cently suffered shell-shock, has recov- ered sufficiently enough to again be about, after several weeks in the care of a specialist. William McKinnon, editor of the "Of- ficial Trade Journal," the' monthly house organ of the I. A. T. S. E. of the U. S. and Canada, has enlisted in the aviation corps and has reported to San Antonio for active duty. Rex Ingram, who has directed for Paralta and Universal on the Coast, has enlisted in the Flying Corps. In- 8ram was married a short time ago to ►oris Pond. He was in the draft age and preferred to enlist. The 48th Street theatre continues to offer entertainment free Sunday even- ings for boys in the Service. Their uniform is the ticket of admission. The Stage Women's War Relief conducts the Sunday night affairs. Robert Franklin* (husband of May Elinore) has joined the aviation corps. Franklini is an experienced flier and recently organized an overland sky course, proposing to run excursion trips from New York to Coney Island by air. Co. G of the 22nd Corps of Engineers, New York State Guard, had a drill and dance at its armory, 168th street and Broadway, Tuesday night. There are 73 men in Co. G, all of the theatrical profession. Captain Ray Hodgdon returned from Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, on a 10-day furlough this week. He was ten- dered a beefsteak dinner by the Palace bookers and agents. Herman Bernstein (formerly of the Behrens) is in town on a furlough from Camp Gordon, Atlanta. He has gained 20 pounds since entering the service. Harold R. Mann, nephew of Louis Mann, at the aviation school at Kelly Field, San Antonio, for about two weeks, has been made a corporal. He enlisted in the service a month ago. Frank Grace (Grace and Berkes) at the Winter Garden, has enlisted as a cadet in the Naval Aviation Service. The application has not been passed upon. All Hebrews at the Pelham Bay Naval station were tendered 43 hours leave over the Passover holidays last week. The station's bakeries turned out matzoths in deference to them. Kashina, the English juggler, is said to have been killed in action in France, reported through Billy Kelly of 'The Vacuum Cleaners" at Poli's, Scranton, Pa., the first half this week. Harry Bloom, of the Leo Feist forces. enlisted in the navy at Buffalo but a further physical examination here re- sulted in rejectment because of flat feet and defective hearing. Mrs. Pauline McDermott (known in vaudeville as Paula Keane), left her home in Flatbush, Brooklyn, last week, for France, to join the Telephone unit attached to General Pershing's forces. Walter Heckman (Heckman, Shaw and Campbell), Regt. Supply Sergt. Supply Co., 306th Inf., Camp Upton, L*> 1. Sam E. Batchelor, formerly of "Child- hood Days," a vaudeville act, is now with the 302 Supply Train in the Amer- ican Expeditionary forces. Bert Levy, age 20, and son of the vaudeville sketching artist, is a lieuten- ant in the Royal Flying Corps. He is in England. Capt. Gardner Crane, at Camp Up- ton, is reported to be doing such good, work that he is in line for a Major's »tar shortly. Willis Claire ("Business Before Pleasure") has enlisted in the Navy. Claire, it is understood, is exempt from draft, but wanted to do his bit. Joe McCormack, at the Alhambra theatre this week with Anna Dough- erty, accepted. Awaiting orders to re- port. • Clarence W. Chittenden (Amy But- ler and Co.), 132d Inf. Band, Camp Lo- gan, Houston. J. J. Richard, is a sergeant in Co. B, 316th Field Signal Batl., Camp Lewis, American Lake, Washington. Albert Rosenburg, secretary of the De Luxe Feature Film Co., Seattle, Hospital Corps. Frank F. Merrell (Merrell and Mack), Hdqts. Co., 132 Inf., Camp Logan, Hous- ton, Texas. Sergt. John Daly, after a visit to his home, reported back to Spartanburg Saturday. Ralph E. Payne, H. A. I. C, U. S. Naval Magazine, Navy Yard .Station, Portsmouth, Va. E. D. Sarter has been transferred from Camp Grant, 111., to Co. A, 602d Engineers, Camp Devens, Mass. Dimambro, Anthony (Anthony and Valente Bros.), 4th Co., 1st Batl., 151st Depot Brigade, Camp Devens, Mass. Robert Johnson, Co. B, 36th Engi- neers, Camp Grant, 111. Charles Dutkin, at Fort Munroe, Va., awaitipg call. Bob Bailey (Clown), Medical Dept., 304th Inf., Camp Devens, Mass. Bud Chadwick (Chadwick and Tay- lor) ordered to report at Camp Upton. » SNOWDEN VINDICATED. San Francisco, April 3. F. K. Snowden, San Francisco man- ager of the Shapiro-Bernstein Music Co., who enlisted, has been given a dis- charge and is now again in his office after five months' absence. At the time of his enlisting, Mr. Snowden was producing a patriotic sketch and want- ed to wear a uniform. He was told by the recruiting officer that he could en- list and be released after he had fin- ished with the sketch. Shortly after- ward he went to New York on business and on his return was arrested as a deserter and put in the guard house for 32 days. After trial he was ac- quitted. The recruiting officer was at fault. While in the service he raised him self from private tp sergeant. DRAFTED. Herman Rappaport, assistant to pic- ture booking manager Fred Mitchell, of the Loew office, was called to Camp Upton Tuesday. When leaving the Loew office Saturday he was presented with a month's salary. John D. Donnelly, for 10 years drum- mer at the Crescent and Temple the- atres, Syracuse, N. Y., has been ordered to Camp Dix, N. J. The back of his chair in the orchestra now has a service flag with one star. One of the members of Hudler, Stein and Phillips ordered to report Saturday while the act was at the Orpheum, St. Paul. A wife of a re- maining member may fill in, with the trio continuing over'the circuit. Jack Denny (with Bessie Browning) ordered to report at Camp Upton. Miss Browning will continue with a piano assistant. Nick Copeland of the "Four Slickers" has been notified to report to his local exemption board in Chicago. Because of the call the act has been disbanded. Eddie Janis (Bernard and Janis) ordered to report. (Extension allowed this week for the act to play the Orpheum, Lincoln, Nebraska.) Herbert Hayman, of the Hippo- drome, Baltimore, ordered to Camp Upton this week. / Norvin Haas resigned as manager of the. Grand, Anacortes, accepted. He is succeeded by Sam Mendelson. Billy Murray, last season with the "Cherry Blossoms," accepted (Class 1-A). Harry Kalmin ("The Reviera Girl") granted 30 days' extension before re- porting. Russell Hill (with "The Lid Lifters") has reported at Camp Dix, N. J., last Saturday. Harry Reinerts, the Putnam Building booking agent, ordered to Camp Upton Wednesday. Claude Golding (Golding and Keat- ing) was rejected in Canada, physically unfit. Jess Stewart (Stewart and Olive) now dancing at Maxim's, rejected, de- fective sight. Matty Medlin and Sidney Towns (Medlin, Watts and Towns) ordered to report. Max Steiner, son of Alexander (Doc) Steiner, accepted. Harold Kennedy (Francis and Ken- nedy) ordered to report. One of the Two Brownies ordered to report. Fallon and Fayne (both) ordered to report. N Ernest Mack (Skating Macks) ac- cepted. Sam Gold ("Rocky Pass" act) or- dered to report. CAMP PICTURES AVAILABLE. The legitimate attractions for the Liberty theatres in the hot spell may not be available as now intended by the men in charge and consequently the picture feature will be relied upon to furnish the bulk of entertainment for the boys in the different army can- tonments. The film committee, headed by Pat Powers, has a large list of pictures and is assured of all it can use this sum- mer. The cost of transportation and the hot weather is expected to cause many of the legits to suspend operations, but there is nothing to prevent the multiple-reeled picture subject from going from camp to camp. THE WHY. The claim of discrimination regard- ing the exempting from admission tax in the case of baseball writers whereas dramatic critics must pay uncove/ed the line of reasoning that gave the ball scribes the "edge" on the others. The theory of the decision was that as ball parks provide a separate space, or "press box," which is not a part oi the seating capacity sold to patrons, tio revenue could be derived from such a space, and the ball writers there- fore would not have to pay tax. When it was suggested dramatic writers should also be exempted when going into theatres on assignments the answer was that if the house manage- ments would set aside a certain block of seats for the preto only and never to sell tickets for such seats dramatic writers would also be exempted. Such a thing would hardly be possible in a theatre. At the time the ruling was made favoring the baseball writers it was stated the writers could sit in no other portion of the ball park without pay- ing tax, and if caught sitting elsewhere than the press box would be liable to $1,000 fine. LOAN BOOST TIMELY. The Publicity Department of the Lib- erty Loan Committee for this district has sent out a plea to stage people to co-operate in theThird Liberty Loan drive, which begins tomorrow (April 6). "Prominent players and managers," says a statement, "are co-operating with the Liberty Loan Committee of the Second Federal Reserve District (New York and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut) in splendid fashion. "But the essential of any 'get to- gether' movement is the cordial co-op- eration of the individual. It is for actor, actress, house manager, film pro- ducer and motion picture star to deter- mine that no opportunity to help along the loan shall be overlooked. Vaudeville artists especially should *eize every chance to incorporate Lib- erty Loan propaganda in their turns. They need not fear to lose in popular- ity by doing this; they will find that they are merely introducing that for which they are constantly on the look- out—the timely." LIEUT. J. F. MONTAGUE Chairman of the Entertainment Committee of the Pelham Park Training Camp, and one of the most popular naval officers among the members of the theatrical profession. Lieut. Montague has been staging a weekly show at the Pelhnm Camp since its opening and has succeeded in procuring the services ot some of the greatest stars of the profes- sion. He is a member of practically all the theatrical clubs of New York, and this con- nection has aided him immeasurably in con- structing all-star programs. Lieut. Montague is to be credited entirely with the construction of the present camp theatre, the stage of which permits the pro- duction of sketches, etc., and. In addition, he has perfected one of the best orchestras in the service to accompany his shows.