Variety (May 1918)

VAUDEVILLE 3C IN THE SERVICE m*m ■p-* A few weeks ago Jack Shea consent- ed to send a few acts up to the ColuniJ bia Base Hospital No. 1 in the Bronx, ' and his "few" created such a favorable impression thai Mrs. Emma L. S. Mc- " Clellan, chairman of {he War Hospital Entertainment Committee (affiliated with the New York War Camp Com- munity Service), asked him if he couldn't assist with a show every week. Now Jack is "doing his bit" by fur- nishing a bill every Friday night. His show of eight acts last week was con- sidered a corker by the soldier boys now under treatment there. Julian A. Martin was stage director. The bill included Reid and Alma, Mrs. B. V. H. Schultz (songs), Minter and Scott, Ward and Curran, The Peronees, Irv- ing Berlin, Eddie Cantor, The Dawsons and the Seldons. Flo Ziegfeld, Jr., and the U. B. O. received credit on the program for their acts. The acts re- port at Shea's office in the Putnam building at 6 p. m. Fridays and are transported by army auto service to the hospital, where the show sflfrts at 7.30 and is finished by 9 p. m. Capt. Charles B. Dillingham is chair- man of the committee on arrangement that is laying out the program for the huge musical festival that will be given at the Polo Grounds, New York, June 2. The promised feature will be Lieut. John Philip Sousa (loaned by the Navy Department), who will direct a band of 200 pieces. Another feature will be the singing of Mendelssohn's "Elijah" by 10,000 voices. Mark A. Luescher is in charge of the financial end and is also handling the publicity. Lieut. W. G. Carmichael, of the Royal Flying Corps, formerly assistant man- ager for the Sir Forbes Robertson company, is confined to the Officers' Hospital, Tidworth Herts, England, as the result of a fall from an aeroplane while at the flying school on Uphaven- Wflts shortly after Easter. He was severely injured. Julius Cunsatti, of the Carl Eugene Troupe, called and reported at Carrip Upton on Monday. This is the fourth member of the troupe to be called, the others being John Schreiver, Nicolai Kalel and Alfred Johnson. Of the quartette one is of Danish extraction, one Russian and other two German, but all are citizens. C. B. Maddock (Rolfc & Maddock) received a letter from Bruce Waiman ("America First"), who is at the Ecolc Tir Aerien, Cazaux-Geronde, France, in which he says: "I «would rather be over there doing my share of this very hard and trying work than to be having the best stage success in the world." Joe Levy (Mark Levy's brother) has enlisted in the Naval Reserves and is now awaiting notice to report at Pel- ham Bay Station, N. V. Joe was con- nected with the Quartermaster De- partment, stationed at the State Arsenal and Camp Whitman. His com- pany was recently mustered out. Christian Christcnsen ("world's cham- pion versatile athlete"), who is also known as William Stanley, is in New- York awaiting word to sail for France to act as a physical director for the Y. M. C. A. with the American troops. J. Freedman,' musical director with Adelaide and Hughes, ordered to re- port at the end of this week. Replaced in act r>y Emile Tosso, orchestra leader at the Orpheum, New Orleans, that house closing its vaudeville seatuii this week. While Charlie Chaplin was recently notified he was subject to draft call, it is now known that the comedian upon examination has been found physically unfit for service and has been placed in the 4G class by his hoard. Seven members of the Burlesque Club are in the draft, two members being in service, James Cooper and Danny Goodman, while the others are on the calling list. Two, John E. Dee and Jack Miller, expect to go with the midsummer quota. George G. Smith, for 20 years clerk for Herman L. Roth, the theatrical attorney, and also in the real estate business, is sailing with a Y. M. C. A. corps as secretary, to be placed in the canteen division. His son recently won a commission as ensign in the navy. Jack Brazee ("Melody Land") passed the examination for the Aviation Corps and left April 27 for training at Purdue University, Ind. He will study the liberty motor>rfor two months, be as- signed for a period of training at an aviation camp here, and then "over." The- Grazers (Arnold and Belle), ap- pearing with the Harry Lauder show, will dissolve. Arnold has enlisted and joined one of the military bands, and has been ordered to report at Sacra- mento. Edward Jermon, son of Joseph Jer- mon (Jacobs & Jermon), with the 27th Division at Spartanburg, is in New York this week. He will go abroad ahead of his regiment to take a ten weeks' course in the Signal Corps school in France. Bill W f oolfenden was fourth in Class A of the officers' training camps at Spartanburg, S. C. His commission is a second lieutenancy. Lieut. Wool- fenden is in New York on a 10 days' furlough unattached. Herb Hayman, formerly assistant manager of Loew's Hippodrome, Bal- timore, now with the 11th Co., Third Provincial Battalion, Camp Opton, L. I., will remain indefinitely at Camp Up- ton, L. I. Jay Conway, formerly the electrician at the Orpheum, Brooklyn, has en- listed. He is with Motor Truck Co. 427, Camp J. E. Johnston, JacksonviUe, Fla. Mr. Conway requests friends to write. Johnny Walsh and Jack Kelly, for- mer stage hands at the Alcazar and Casino theatres, San Francisco, who recently enlisted in the Navy, died at San Diego April 27 of pneumonia. Ernest Glendenning, who has just completed his tour in "The Gipsy Trail," in which he was starred by Arthur Hopkins, has enlisted in the Marines. RulofT Cutten ("Leave It to Jane," LaSalle, Chicago) enlisted in the Avia- tion Corps, reporting at San Francisco. Replaced in show, by Loring Smith (Smith and Hall). Allan J. Schnebbe, lately entering the Service, has received a commission as second lieutenant. He expects to shortly leave for the other side. M. T. Blum, part owner of the Rialto, San Francisco (picture theatre), en- listed in Naval Reserve. He was ap- pointed a chief yeoman. Ray Townlcy, of the United Book- ing Offices, Boston, ordered to report April 29 at Ft. Slocum (New Rochelle), X. Y. Joe Jordan, son of Jules Jordan, the comedian, is a member of 26th Engi- neers at Camp Dixon. Young Jordan enlisted some weeks ago. Samuel Gold has been transferred from Camp Upton to Camp Wads- worth, Co. D, Recruit Detachment, No. 1. The 18-year-old son of John G. Hall, stage manager, Orpheum, Brooklyn, enlisted Feb. 1, in Troop G, 15th U. S. Cavalry, is now in France. Bert Spencer, formerly of Spencer and Gcehan, called several months ago to Camp Mead, but lately transferred to Camp Upton. An entertainment was given Sunday evening by Jenie Jacobs at Base Hos- pital No. 2, New York, four acts ap- pearing. Tom Burke, assistant head usher at the Orpheum, San Francisco, ordered to report at American Lake. Art Penny, juvenile of the James Post Company at Oakland, enlisted in navy. Will Hayes, character man with Will King Company at the Savoy, San Fran- cisco, accepted for army. John J. Newman, of the Metropol- itan Opera Co.'s staff, has been or- dered to report at Camp Upton. John B. Nolan ("Melody Lane") ordered to report May 2 at the Ord- nance Department, Hammonton, N. J. Herbert Broske ordered to report at New York, forcing the vaudeville-act, "The Courtroom Girls," to cancel. Arthur Paguette (Paguette and Reba) 10th Co., Fort Strong, Boston, Mass. Jack Moore (Nettie Carrol Troupe) has enlisted in the Naval Reserve and will report to the Pelham Bay Station. Bud Murray, at Camp Upton for the last month, has been rejected owing to defective eyesight. Ira Frear (George Anderson), hus- band of Fritzi Sciheff, has enlisted as a motor driver in the Tank Division. Maurice Raphael, Recruiting Dept., 27th Div. Camp Wadsworth, Spartan- burg, S. C. Bugler Chester A. Reese, trans- ferred to Div. Hdqts. 76th Div., Camp Dcvcns, Mass. Bryon H. Roberts, son of H. A. Roberts, joined the Royal Flying Corps at Toronto. Sergeant Ben Piermont, who has been with the 306th Infantry, Camp Upton, is now reported in France. L. Snyder (Mang and Snyder) or- dered to report May 5 at Ft. Slocum, N. Y. Leonard Howard, rejected, physical disability. George Gould ("Oh, That Melody'') ordered to report in New York May 6. Sidney Schallman, accepted in Chi- cago. Walter Duggan, in Chicago, ordered to report at Camp Upton, L. I. Harland Tucker, ordered to report at Mare Island, May 2. Jack Bart (Five Nelsons) reported to Camp Taylor, Ky., April 24. Irving Berlin ordered to report May 3 at Camp Upton, L. I. James Crane ("An American Ace") accepted. LIBERTY DRIVE ENDING. The Third Liberty Loan campaign ends May 4 (tomorrow). The theatres look forward to an increase of busi- ness commencing with next week. The insistent efforts of the Liberty Loan speakers at every performance in the theatres have not appeared to draw any business. The managers, however, made no attempt to offset the Liberty Loan portion of the pro- gram, even going so far as to order an unlimited time be allowed every Liberty Loan effort, for the purpose of the theatres securing all possible sub- scriptions. . WAR TROPHY SHELLS. An interesting event of the wafr occurred this week when two shell cases were received by Margaret Van Orton, a professional. They were sent over here in care of Vakiett by her husband, John J. Ostrander, of the 125th Infantry, who picked up the shells in No Man's Land. One of the shells was German manu- factured and so marked. Miss Van Orton took them to the Liberty Loan Toy theatre booth in front of the Public Library presided over by the Stage Women's War Relief Society Tuesday and they were auctioned off to the highest bidder for bonds. Mrs. Joseph R. Grismer, wife of the Lamb's Shepherd, won possession of the war trophies by purchasing a $1,000 bond. N. V. A. COMPLAINTS. Two complaints were disposed of by the N. V. A. during the past week. Fredericks and Palmer objected to Johnny Stanley (Stanley and Free-; man) using material claimed to be registered in Variety's Protected Ma- terial Department. The N. V. A. com- mittee has requested Stanley and Free- man to eliminate the material in ques- tion unless they can show prior rights. The matter is pending. Alexander and Fields complained against Lloyd and Wells, claiming the box car drop with an entrance, is their property. The N. V. A. committee on investigation decided that while both use the same sort of drop, the idea, business and methods are different and that both acts might appear on the same bill without conflicting. It was also developed that the drop idea in question was first used by onA Wal- ters 16 years* ago. I The N. V. A. is furnishing the en- tertainment for the Columbia base hos- pital at 210th streets where wbunded men arriving here are being treated. Shows are given each Friday. DARING ROBBERY. Cincinnati, May 1. Three bandits with a motor car blew the safe of the Family theatre on Vine street shortly after midnight Sunday and escaped with Saturday's and Sun- day's receipts, ebtween $2,000 and $2,500. The robbery was the most daring in the history of Cincinnati. The men, entering the place while the scrubwomen were at work, told Edward Haubold, night porter, that they were city detectives and wanted to search the house for $150 which they said a woman patron had lost there. Haubold refused to let them enter, whereupon they overpowered, took him to the rest room, and bound him to a chair. At the point of revolvers they ordered the scrubwomen into an ante-room on the balcony floor. To make sure the captives would not escape, the robbers nailed the door shut, after which they leisurely cracked the safe, taking an hour to do the job. Passers-by did not hear the explosion. During this time their big auto stood in front of the theatre. After they had left the porter managed to extract his pocket knife and cut himself loose. He then freed the scrubwomen. The robbery somewhat resembles the alleged work of Edwin Von Wal- den, youthful Cincinnati bandit, who has been bound over to the grand jury on a charge of "sticking up" a bank at Madisonville, a suburb of Cincin- nati, and taking away $8,000 in a motor car. Although Von Walden is in jail, he may have pals. He has been in several similar scrapes and was iden- tified as the robber by Madisonville bank clerk. Von Walden was arrested in New York, where he spent $2,000 in one night, doing the Broadway cabarets. CONSIDERATE TO CIRCUS. Cincinnati, May 1. As the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, which was in town until Sunday, is short of help, and the city of Cincin- nati has to cut down expenses, Public Safety Director Holmes ordered Work- house Superintendent Bader to parole 12 negro prisoners serving short sen- tences, that they might go away with the show. MADDOCK PRODUCING AGAIN. Charles B. Maddock, who hate" not produced any acts for nearly two years, will take two months off from his pic- ture activities with B. A. Rolfe to put on four new vaudeville turns. At least three of the acts will be along girl act lines, as was his "The Bride Shop." There may be one all- male turn, although the liability to the draft might necessitate switching that to a girl turn also.