Variety (May 1918)

VAUDEVILLE ARTISTS' FORUM fi wif tetters to lit words and write on one aide of paper only. ▲noajrmooa communication* will not bo printed. Name of writer must be signed and will bo held In strict confidence, If dealred. Letters to bo published In this column must be written exclusively to VARIETY. Duplicated letters will not be printed. The writer who duplicates a letter to the Forum, either before or after it appears here, will not be as/a'n permitted the priv- ileges of It. Chicago, May 20. Editor Variety-: # About five years ago, under the team name of Vincent and Lome, I origi- nated some "business" to fit the song called "Get Out and Get Under.'' Said business consisted of getting in and out of an imaginary automobile, crank- ing same, raising the hood, getting under the car, etc. Since then many acts have had automobile "business," using chairs, piano stools, prop cars, etc., but had refrained from copying our idea of an imaginary car until recently. I am now informed there are two or three acts (one in particular, which toured the Orpheum Circuit a few months ago) who have stolen my idea bodily. Will you please publish this letter? And if the acts in question will communicate with me I shall be glad to prove to them by press notices running back five years that I have the right to this business and that they have not. Sid Vincent. (Vincent and Carter). New York, May 23. Editor Variety : We claim, as far as we know, to be the first to do a number sitting down together on the stage in "one," having put it on nearly five years ago in our act. "Fun on the Boardwalk," and using it from then until three weeks ago. Your mention of a similar number being used by Dolly Hackett instigated our desire to set ourselves right with managers and numerous friends that this idea really originated with us and has been the subject of discussion many times among mutual friends of ours and Laurie and Bronson's. They put their number on long after ours, and we've played on" tire's afire bill with them and found the numbers very similar, but being good friends of theirs we let the matter drift on undisturbed. So many acts have it now in use that three weeks ago we buried it peacefully. Warren and Conlev. France, May 7. Editor Variety : I just am in receipt of a list of the artists of a "Pantages Road Show," who contributed to the fund to send me over a pile of smokes. Recently I sent you a letter for pub- lication, but this only contained the names of the people who had wrote them on the package. In justice to the others who contributed, would you mind publishing the following names: Billy Browning, Maurice Samuels, Joe Xovahill, George Van Hotf, Herbert Bethew, Oscar Jeanette, Laurence O'Brien, Tonny Rizo, J. C. Brazee, Betsey Mooney, Transfield Sesters, Letha Dreyer, Lola Van, Suzanne Fol- las. Patsy Conroy, Bertha Vail. To use that old encore curtain speech, "From the bottom of my heart thank you all and wish I could shake .on all by the hand. # Irving, Rosen, 501st Engineers, Company D, Ameri- can E. F., via Xcw York. nected with any organization. E. F. Albee has volunteered to act as treas- urer. All the officers will be vaudeville artists. I have collected considerable money this week and am writing all my personal friends to act as workers. Now I ask your paper to spread the news to all vaudeville artists, request- ing them to take part in this worthy . drive and for them all to feel as 1 do and consider themselves workers, to call meetings in each theatre and to subscribe as much as possible from $1.00 up, payable to the "Vaudeville * Artist Ambulance Fund." I am trying to arrange through Mr. Albee a meeting at some theatre in New York in June. Frank Dobson, Shea's, Toronto, Ont. All money payable to the "Vaudeville Artist Ambulance Fund," E. F. Albee, treasurer, Palace theatre, New York. Atlantic City, May 27. Editor Variety": I have a godson, a sailor now in France, and he writes for something in which to act vaudeville scenes, etc. If you have anything suitable, material or costumes, perhaps some one might be interested enough to send the things over to these men. Any book of monologues or vaudeville acts they would be grateful for. I give the ad- dress of my godson, as I am trying to do my bit by helping him: Charles Ludlow, U. S. Naval Aviation Forces, Pauillac Gironde, France. Care Post- master, New York. Nina L. Hattelle. May 26, 1918. Editor Variety : Would like to a^k for stage material. Will appreciate any scrips, gags, bits, comedy, march or rag numbers, for the shows I am going to produce for the boys here. Pvt. Daxid A. (irimskv, 54th Inf. Reg., Co. C, "Det Camp," Camp Wadsworth, S. C. (Professionally known as Dave A. Hoffman.) Toronto, May 22. Editor Variety : I notice in a review of an act doing my finish. It said the bit has been seen before but failed to give me credit, though I have been doing this for 12 years. I refer to the passing back and forth while the straight man is swing- ing on the rings. Hubert Dyer. Lansing, Mich., May 21. Editor Variety : Reviewing act of Milt Francis and Dolly Hackett you give Laurie and Bronson credit as originators of sing- ing number sitting on stage. Wc used this idea five years in our act. Stetson and Iluber. Shea Theatre, Buffalo, May 18. Editor Variety : I am raising funds to purchase one or more U. S. ambulances (Red Cross) for the boys "Over There," given by the vaudeville actor to the soldie r. This fund is in no way con- FREE ORDINANCE. Cincinnati, May 29. Councilman John Sheehan Monday introduced an ordinance which, if passed, will allow men in U. S. military uniform to enter picture theatres free. This free attendance, however, to he limited to ten per cent, of a theatre's seating capacity. The ordinance also provides for free rides on street cars. CHAS. ALTHOFF—Sheriff of Hicks*!!!*. AMERICANS ABROAD. Participating in air raids made by Hun flymen on London and the prov- inces became quite a part of the living routine of Roxy La Rocca, who return- ed to these shores May 16 after 'more than a two years' stay in England. His first experience came April 25, 1'>1(», while he was playing the Coliseum. London, and his last but a few weeks ago, March 13, which was one of the worst of the Zeppelin raids through England. La Rocca has become so accustomed to raids and the continual activity of war preparations abroad he no longer regards/his show days as being com- plete without these day or night re- minders. He does not take them se- riously enough to stay out of England and after spending the summer in the States is going back to the other side- to play out a consecutive route that will take him right up to the last dav of December, l n J0, without a single week's layoff. With La Rocca on both trips and liv- ing with him throughout the raid en- gagements was his wife, a non-profes- sional, who will also accompany La Rocca back next September. Their trip over here at this time is to enable the La Roccas to visit their loO-acre farm in Washburn, 111., which is the old home of Mrs. La Rocca. La Rocca says his raid experiences embrace at least three dozen visits by the Hun air destroyers. The most eventful perhaps was when he was playing at Leeds. All lights in the city were ordered out, which included the theatre illumination. La Rocca was about ready to go on and do his harp specialty in the "next to closing" spot. He yelled for the stage manager to rustle up some candles, and with a lighted wax taper on each side of his instrument went on and worked about M) minutes. Then the audience was dis- missed. La Rocca brought back news about some of his fellow American artists abroad. He worked at different times on the London bills with Van Hoven. Waters and Morris, Kiggs and Witchie, Manning and Roberts and Shreck and Bercival. Waters and Morris have done well since going over. Late re- ports had them engaged for "Thc^Xi- lac Domino" production to be made this month in London. La Rocca says Manning and Roberts seem destined to spend the remainder of their days in England, while Riggs and Witchie have been most success- ful. They will remain abroad for re- vue work indefinitely. (icorge Shreck and Mabel IVrcival since working abroad- have mutually agreed to dissolve the partnership. Shreck is framing a single turn, plan- ning to remain abroad, as he has a contract for pantomime production around Christmas. Miss IYreival may return to the States and produce an act she has in mind. The night before the La Rorcas left Liverpool to sail they attended a show at the Olympia. The biggest hit they say was made by an American act, Jerome and ( arson. Foreign acts in England, which in i hides American-, are required to re port on Monda\s when enlering a town and report when leaving it. La Rocca says the 1 heat res are chargim- the same admission prices a> the*, did before the war. with the onlv addi tional charge the war tax. Theatre business, he declares, is very *.'<•" d in the variety halls and inn sic Imii^e-. hut the other branches suffer fur a nuni her of nights to! low in;- an air raid. Erom his viewpoint that the vande ville houses in particular wen- d<>ui- a bigger business t han e\ it. Regarding lite in Luiidun and th" provinces. La Korea s.iyn that war has brought the "ration (aid" into <\ isiciice. Ration- a- they w«re em- braced just prior In hi- departure « n aided the individual holder ot a «aid to obtain live ouiu < - o: meat, one ounce of tea and one pound oi sugar. "BILLBOARD" CASE DISAGREEMENT The first of two actions for alleged libel in the "Billboard" on James W. hit/pat rick who asked for $100,000 dam- ages in ^ach case, went to the jury before Justice Cioff in the Supreme Court Monday. The jury disagreed; considered a tactical victory for the publication. The decision was disap- pointing to the plaintiff, also Harry Mount ford, who had planned a "vic- tory dinner" on the prospects of what they believed was a sure award in Fitz- pat rick's favor. Their hopes were raised because the procedure of trial appeared in favor of the plaintiff. That was so because the original defending attorneys did not set up what is tech- nically known as "a defense of justifi- cation " Tobias Keppler. who tried the case for the "Billboard." attempted to amend the defense, which was not allowed by the court. When the defense offered witness to show cause, no testimony was per- mitted, the objections on the part of Herbert 1*. Smyth, who argued for Fit/patrick. suflicing to stop all the defense's witnesses. The action was based on a report printed in the •Billboard" in January 1<>17. that Harry Fox had declared in t htcago to Fit/patrick: "You big stiff, where do you get off to be leading an actor's striker When you were man- ager of Fob's. Waterhury. you were the meanest, rot truest manager in the business." Lucille Dawson who wrote the article in <|ticstion testified that she heard Fox make the remarks. I it/pat rick on the stand admitted be was working for the Knights of t olumbus for pay for four months and that he was a member of the K. of C. tor four months. The second suit against the "Bill- board" was begun Wednesday. It was l.r.s.d on the statement printed that: "Actors have not forgotten that offi- cials of the White Kats have burned up over $400,000 in riotous living" I n/pal rick's name was nut mentioned specifically in the article. HARTS' FINDINGS SIGNED. I he findings of the court in the ac- tion of M r> Madge Fox Hart against Max Hart wire signed Tuesday. whereupon Mr. Han"> attorney made application for a stav pending an ap- peal Mrs. Hart's lawyers asked that a time limit of five days he set for the appeal application. aKo for the tiling ol a bond for $JtHW | >v Hart. The ! iMer a*kcd for Mi daw ' A referee was appointed by the court to determine Mr. I Hart's property in which his wife becomes interested through the decision in her favor. She sued for a half interest in his business a eiicv business. <Jimmmi promised and a u ccklv pa\ nient of $75. I" 'he c\cnt of an appeal being al- lowed the referee will n«»t commence his iiwpiuv hrforr thai is decided. YOUNG BARRETT ILL. Saranae Lake. \. Y.. May .*). ( diaries I'.arretl. the youngest of the hulling r.,irreits has eoinc here for his health He i. ni a nrettv bad con- dition, phvsieallv and financially. 'ii'iij'c M. ( oh. hi miii him a wheel <hair. as he has h.vt the nsr of his h • s 'I In- \< T«.i s' Fund sends him . v "i W e i 1 i \ I'..iiu it ha- i»iiied a *in.ill stand on \ 4; i ii) «.lu el, ulicic h« \\ dl sr|| cigars ;mmI p.ip«i- lie «a!!s lus place "( ha H h \ .! i let \ Sh< ip " II.' pr<>:< - MMials In r« . led by Wil- 1 ■: i iii M'Miis. h.i\i !ak«e. an interest in \.-;n-,' I'.ain-lt. IN\ l>< !:• u that Itar- nll- |i:<i:l win .i'«- t:: ■. r«- fortunate v. !! I ':••.? !: ',;••■ \ !:■■!: >v '''* p» « sriit need. Another "For Pity Sake." \ " numluT two" a< t «»| "For Pity v (I v ill l.c p T "dur<-l next season .-■ii'! i ni o\cr the \\ Y M. A time by < I'. M.idd'.ik i harles Withers will m main in th<- orig nal act on big time.