Variety (May 1918)

VAUDEVILLE STAGEHANDS HELP WAR FUND; MUSICIAN S REFUS E TO WORK Park Stage Crew Patriotically Plays "Seven Days' Leave" for Stage Women's Relief Fund, but Refusal by Orchestra to Help Benefit Brings Deluge of Censure from All Sides. Musicians Alleged Fostering Pro-Germanism. Orchestra Puts Itself in Un-American Plight. Because of the refusal of musicians to play gratuitously for two war relief benefits in the past week, considerable criticism has been aimed at the Musicians' Union and charges were hurled that pro-Germanism lurked there. Musicians at the Park theatre refused to play without pay for the Stage Women's War Relief show given Sunday night, when the stage hands appeared in place of the company, and at a Princess theatre benefit a like refusal was met with. When Larence Anhalt, manager of the Park, an- nounced the attitude of the musicians there was hissing, according to reports. The American Federation of Musicians and the Stage Hands representatives met with the managers on the occasion of the first Red Cross drive. It was then agreed both unions would con- tribute services of their men for the Red Cross matinees, but that in so doing it was to be considered their bit for the balance of the season. In other words, they were not to be asked to contribute their services for any further benefits this season. It was also stipulated the managers would not give aggregate benefits again during the season. Any manager might hold a benefit and contribute all or any part of the receipts, but he was not to ask the stage hands or musicians to contribute. There have been a great many more benefits held since the agreement than were ever dreamed of. The stage hands willingly came for- ward in the emergencies. The musicians' union has had in force for the past several years a ruling pro- hibiting the donation of services with- out the consent of the men nor can the men play without pay, without consent of the union officials. This order has been overlooked on various occasions and that the union should risk chances of ugly insinuations at this time is not understood. One man- ager pointed out that both cases of refusal to play could have been obvi- ated if the men themselves had been willing. For instance, they could have stood out for receiving $3 for playing, but there was nothing to prevent them from immediately donating the money back to the benefit fund for which they had worked. During the national convention of the American Federation of Musicians this month the matter of citizenship among the members was taken up. For- merly a "first paper" man was eligible, but he was supposed to complete his citizenship. The order now is that all members must take out final papers as quickly as possible. It could not be ascertained just what the union's atti- tude was to "first paper men" who by reason of their origin cannot obtain final papers until the war is over. 52 WEEKS AT $1,000 PER. Will Rogers has agreed with Flo Zicgfeld to remain exclusively under the latter's management for one year, at a salary of $1,000 weekly. In addition Rogers is to secure a weekly royalty for any comedy scenes he interpolates into "The Follies." has sued her husband, Hubert Linden- berger a local newspaper man, for di- vorce, on grounds of cruelty. May De Sousa Grant, known on the stage as May De Sousa, has filed suit for separate maintenance against Ray- mond G. Grant through her attorney, Benjamin H. Erlich. She charges cru- elty and non-support and asks the custody of her two children. WAKEFIELD SHOW STARTS. The Willa Holt Wakefield vaudeville show, organized by Miss Wakefield for the Liberty theatres at the camps, opened Monday at Camp Merritt, N. J. It will remain there this week, going to Camp Meade (near Baltimore) for next week. DUNROY STARTS PAPER AGAIN. Chicago May 29. Will Reed Dunroy, will bob into the theatrical trade paper field this week with a resurrection of his old publica- tion, suspended years ago, called "Dun- rov's Show World." Louis Michaels will be associated in the publication of the weekly. REFEREE ALBEE. The suit against the Shuberts for $1,000. brought by Walter C Kelly, was left Wednesday morning to.E. F. Albee for a decision, after it had been called for trial at the 54th Street Municipal Court. Both sides agreed to the reference and the selection. Mr. Kelly alleges the amount to be due him, claiming a dismissal from "The Show of Wonders" in Chicago a few days before his contract with the Shuberts for that production was due to expire. Kelly had objected to the insertion of a balloon number just ahead of him in the performance. He said the balloons were still bursting while he was delivering his stories, whereupon the Shuberts sent a mes- sage from New York they accepted the objection as Kelly's resignation. Kelly announced he was prepared to appear notwithstanding, but the Shuberts' representative in Chicago answered he had arranged otherwise. The suit to collect followed. While in court Wednesday Mr. Kelly picked up two good and new stories for his stage monolog. The Shuberts had two chorus men there as witnesses against him. DAZIE'S ACT PREPARED. The new act in which Dazie will re- turn to vaudeville under the manage- • ment of Gus Edwards is nearly ready for presentation. It will have seven people, with Jenie Jacobs booking. DIVORCES IN CHICAGO. Chicago, May 29. Verna Lindenbcrger, in vaudeville, Reunited for Short Engagement. After a separation of several years, during which time Charlotte Green- wood has appeared in Morosco come- dies and Eunice Burnham in vaude- ville, the two girls will be reunited in a few weeks in "So Long Letty," the show in which Miss Greenwood is starring. CHAS. ALTHOFF work* while 70a Uigh. MANY PROFESSIONALS CALLED. The second call of the National Army for drafted men played havoc with the profession this week, it being estimated that upwards of 500 young profession- als, the majority comprising prominent vaudeville acts being called to the colors. Many of those will appear in the Wednesday parade from upper Har- lem to the Jersey City railroad ter- minals, where they will entrain for Grenville, S. C, and other camps in the south for immediate training and prompt shipments abroad. Three contingents of drafted men will leave New York this week, the first going out of town on Tuesday, the second the following day and the third during the latter part of the week. Many of the young men scheduled to leave were promptly provided with arm bands for identification purposes and a number of these were "picked up" and confined in nearby draft boards to await shipment and to prevent tardi- ness in reporting. Among the prominent young men scheduled to leave with the Wednes- day shipment were Joe Laurie, of Laurie and Bronson, Joe Goodwin, the composer and Lew Brice, of Brice and the Barr Twins. At the same time Federal officers were conspicuous along Broadway looking up registrants and stopping youngsters on the street for brief ex- amination as to their draft standing. On all corners along Longacre Square, both plain clothes men and uniformed officers of the city police department were busy interrogating pedestrians, and wherever a registration card was not shown, an arrest was made. Around 47th street and Broadway more than 50 men, many professionals, were appre- hended and taken to nearby police sta- tions for investigation. INVESTIGATING "LOAN" PAPER. It is understood that the Government is investigating a number of printing plants turning out theatrical outdoor paper and is questioning bill posters in regards to the work done in the Third Liberty Loan drive. One bill poster connected with a 42nd street theatre, was called before Government officials last week and asked to explain about the amount of paper he claims to have put out and rendered a bill for. It appears that this man had received $3,500 on account and sent in a bill for an additional sum, after which Federal authorities are supposed to have backed a wagon up before a cellar on a street in the Forties and taken away something like $6,000 worth of Third Loan paper that was never posted. An unverified re- port has it that this individual is now out on bail pending a further exam- ination. The claimed "ditching" of Liberty Loan paper, if proven, will lead to a nation-wide investigation of posting plants. Liberty loan paper was sup- posed to have been furnished the Gov- ernment at cost, but if there has been "ditching," the Federal authorities will attempt to learn just how much paper was really printed and if the count was short, how much was "ditched." Conviction on the alleged charges may lead to imprisonment of from 3 to 5 years. BRITT WOOD IN A MESS New Orleans, May 29. Britt Wood engaged in an alterca- tion with a taxi driver here last week that later got him into trouble. After driving Wood around for several hours, the chauffeur notified Wood he owed him $23, whereupon Wood disputed the hill vehemently, the discussion later leading both to prison. Wood did not have his registration card when the authorities requested it, and was detained by the Government for four days. Wood has since been released. HELEN STANDS PAT. Chicago, May 29. This is a talc of two cities, two agents, two hearts that beat as one. Helen Murphy, the most popular and pulchritudinous agent in Ghicago, leaves for New York this week. Questioned about the trip, she de- clared she was going for the purpose of booking acts. But she blushed. Asked why she blushed, she said: "Don't be silly." Notwithstanding which, it was recol- lected that a short time ago there was present in Chicago a well known New York theatrical man. While he was here he was constantly in the com- pany of Miss Murphy, and Miss Mur- phy was constantly in his'n. Further it was recalled that when- ever Miss Murphy goes to New York she is entertained by this man, almost to the exclusion of many other dis- gruntled New Yorkers who are anx- ious to show Miss Murphy what a large and bright community New York is. Questioned as to whether or not this particular trip to New York was for any other purpose than to book acts, Helen only blushed. "Do you expect to sign any con- tracts?" she was asked. "Of course," said Miss Murphy, and looked out of the window pensively. "Will you sign any contracts other than theatrical?" "Don't be silly," said Miss Murphy, but she kept on looking out of the window pensively. Coaxed and pleaded with to give de- tails she stood pat. In the meantime a book has been started in the Majestic theatre build- ing by Tom Carmody, as to whether or not Miss Murphy will come back a bride. As this issue goes to press the odds are 100 to 1 that she returns a Mrs. And the odds are 200 to 1 that it will not be Mrs. Cohen. Ed Wynn Coining Back. After an absence of about five years from vaudeville, Ed Wynn may return for a few weeks, if agreeable terms are reached. He is under contract with the Shuberts, last with "Over the Top," which has closed its season. DEATHS IN PARIS. Paris, May 29. Madame Rancy, widow of Theodore Rancy. founder of the French traveling circus by that name, has died in Lyons, France, at the age of 85 years. M. Cambon, a French song com- poser, died April 20, in Paris. Alexander Girardi, the leading Aus- trian actor, has died at the age of 68, from blood poisoning, after an operation. VOLTERRA PLANS NEW REVUE. Paris, May 29. Voltcrra states he will produce an operetta at the Casino, Paris, in June, but will close it in July, opening in August with a new revue, with Gaby Deslys in the cast. WALTERS AND MORRIS ENGAGED. London, May 29. Walters and Morris have been en- gaged by J. L. Sacks for the touring company of "The Lilac Domino." "THE KNIFE" MOVES. London, May 29. Rcrnard Ilishin has transferred Ku- gene Walter's "The Knife" from the Comedy to the Queens. Business is only fair. NEW DE COURVILLE REVUE. London, May 29. ' Albert de Courville presented at Finsbury P;irk F.mpire a new revue, "Fiddle de Dor," featuring Kitty F.m- fion and Stanley Paskin.