Variety (May 1918)

s VAUDEVILLE 3E IN THE SERVICE Lieut. William G. Carmichael, injured in London while training with the Royal Air Force, lias written to Carl Milligan of the Pantages offices in New York, tilling him of the accident. Carmiehael was 1,200 feet up at the time, his single-seater going 100 miles an hour, when the elevator control hrokc. When he gained consciousness he learned that his left leg was broken above the thigh and a cut in his lip necessitated eight stitches. He is much improved. The following acts took part in the entertainment provided by Jack Shea last Friday evening, under the auspices of the War Hospital Entertainment Committee, at Columbia Base Hospital, No. 1, (inn Hill and Bainbridgc Ave., New York City : Will Rogers, Master L. G. Kauffman, Met. (). Co. ballet, Jack Marley, McKissick and DeLoach, Ed. Latcll, Muriel Window, Howard and Craddock, Arnout Bros, and a Pathe Weekly. Gareth Hughes left for Spartanburg Tuesday. He is an English citizen and is said to be the first English ac- tor to enter the American army. In his questionnaire he waived exemption because of his English citizenship. When the Stage Women's War Relief was informed of his going, they asked to be allowed to equip him and young Hughes was given an order for every- thing he desired. Dave Thursby, now on the Loew time, has three brothers in France in active service with himself classified foi Cla>s One. Last week Thursby re- ceived word that the eldest of the trio had been badly wounded for the fifth time since his entrance into action. A shell exploded near a pile of sand bags and one fell on Thursby's back. It is doubtless if the injured brother will ever walk again. Albert Mitchell, of Headquarters Trains Military Police, Camp Wheeler, (ia., was in New York last week on furlough, Mitchell placing a song with a local publisher, entitled "Over the Top With the Best of Luck," which Mitchell has dedicated to Guy Empey. Mitchell, a former vaudevillian, is also the composer of the military march number, "Dixie Division." Walter Duggan was corralcd in the Hotel Victoria May 2$ and tendered a "surprise dinner" by Boston news- paper and theatrical men. He is under orders to report to Camp Siever, Greenville, S. C, May 29. He received a wrist watch as remembrance. George Hunt and Robert Edgar Long engi- neered the affair. James Lapslcy ("Scotty") has been in the British Navy for the last seven (months. During that time he has been assigned to an American oil tanker supplying the Fleet in the North Sea. He is now on S. S. Winifred, 234. Care British Admiralty, Furness - Withy House. Billiter St., London. Mile. Claudia Muzio, of the Metro- • politan Opera Co., has turned her en- tire attention for the present toward the American-Italian war relief move- ment having given special concerts in Chicago, Washington and Ann Arbor, Mich., for the al'fair. The "Wallace Reid," who was re- ported to be in uniform and making the rounds of the studios on the coast receiving gifts from admirers, turned out to be an impostor. A young soldier from Camp Kearny is said to have performed the. impersonation. Frank Finn, formerly of Frank and Billy Finn, last appearing with the Sam Sidnian burlesque show, is now i?i Frame with the l.Uh Field Artillery. He is a hi other of Arthur J. Finn (Finn and Ford). Sophie Tucker has arranged a benefit for tiie Sun Tobacco Fund to be staged Saturday (June 1) in the Claridge main dining room. A "drive" for the fund will be run in conjunction with the en- tertainment. The Sun is billing Miss Tucker on a large scale for the event. C. R. Marty, director of training camp music, was killed in a motor cycle accident at Camp Zachary Tay- lar, Ky., last week. He was the brother of Mrs. C. F. Thomas, Wenat- chee, Wash. Harrington Reynolds, of the Officers' Reserve Corps, has passed an examina- tion for the American Tank service, and expects to go to France shortly. At present Reynolds is at Camp Colt, Gettysburg, Pa. Edward Marshall (Chalkologist) in addition to tendering his services to the "over there" entertainment league, has his passports and will go to France as i>uon as he has played out his local vaudeville dates. Box office employees of the Chicago theatres gave a dinner to Charles Kohl and presented him with a wrist watch prior to his leaving for Jefferson Bar- racks, Mo., last week. The boys at Camp Wheeler (Macon, Ga.) intend producing the "Camp Wheeler Follies" early in June. Albert C. Mitchell will do a specialty. Mit- chell is both a singer and a pianist. Fred H. Laberer, formerly with "The Beauty Shop," who has been in the Navy for several months, has been ordered to report in Brooklyn, to await orders for sailing. Raymond Franklin Crow, formerly usher at the Salt Lake City Orpheum, is the first of the Orpheum Circuit em- ployes to be killed in France. He met his death in action April 26. Billy Sully, of the Three Sullys, has made three attempts to enlist in the Aviation Corps and when rejected ap- plied to the. Canadian flying service. He is still trying. Billy Sherwood, who enlisted in the aviation corps several months ago, fell to death while flying near Washington, D. C, last week. He had been in pic- tures before entering the service. Arthur Lipson, formerly of Joe Le- blang's ticket office, who enlisted some- time ago, is now in the Navy, holding the rating of yeoman of the second class. Fargo (Fargo and Richards) was called while the team was playing New Orleans last week. Dollie Richards is continuing as a single. C. H. Overfield has been transferred from Camp Custer, Mich., to the surgeon-general's office, Washington, D. C. Gladys Alexandria (from vaudeville) has enlisted as a chief yeowoman in the navy, and is at present stationed at 51 Chambers street, New York. Bob La Finer, who was stationed at Fort McPherson, has been ordered to report at Camp Merritt, N. J., where he will have charge of the band. William Fuller, of Alexandria, Ind., has joined the Navy and has been as- signed to special naval work in In- dianapolis. Bert Grant, the song writer, is join- ing the officers' camp at Spartanburg, S. C. Mr. Grant was in the Service about 15 years ago then in the artillery. Arthur Mack, former stage manager of the Hudson Union Hill, and also formerly at the Crescent, Brooklyn, is with the Infantry in France. Samuel Gach Scrgt. (Samuel Slomo- vitch), The Jewish Legion for Pales- tine, York Redoubt, Halifax N. S. B. E. F. No. 2861. Joe Laurie (Laurie and Bronson) is scheduled to report at Spartanburg this week. Mrs. Laurie is about to be- come a mother. Solly Potsdam, former assistant man- ager of Locw's Ave. B, New York, with Co. D, 417th Telegraph Battalion, Camp Alfred Vail, Little Silver, N. J. Charles Fargo (Fargo and Richards) ordered to report while playing at Montgomery, Ala. Dol Richards is continuing as a "single." William Kenna, son of Charles Ken- na, ordered to report at Camp Devens May 31. Reg. B. Melville ("Rubeville") is in France; he is attached to the Hdqts. Co., 307th Inf. A. E. F. Walter Duggan ("Hitchy-Koo") and Chester H. Rice of the "Man Who Came Back" called. Allen Mann, of the Bernivici Brothers, has reported at Fort Slocum, N. Y. " Saul Brilant is now attached to the Headquarters Co., 305th Inf., A. E. F., France. Will E. Ride (Comedy Unicycle Act), Mechanical Dept., Aviation Corps, Camp Upton, L. I. William Welch, of McBride's ticket agency, reported at Camp Upton, L. I., last week. Joseph Francis Sheehan, with the United Booking Offices, has enlisted in the navy. Sam Miller is with the medical corps at Ft. Terry, N. Y. He is a brother of Eddie Miller. Edgar W. Snydders (Eddie Loweree) is with the 11th Co., 152d Depot Brigade, Camp Upton, L. I. George Douglas ("Behman Show") has obtained a leave to report until June 15. Johnny Miller (Miller and Mack) ordered to report May 27 at Spartan- burg. Buck Mack to report in 10 days. Harry Weiss (Variety) ordered to report June 6 at Pelham Bay Naval Station. Eddie Goodyear, the theatrical drum- mer of Montreal, has joined the First Department Brass Band (Canadian). Mrs. Albert Donnelly, wife of Albert Donnelly, Motor Corps of America, assigned to New York. I. Halperin (Variety) reported at Jefferson Barracks, May 27, for serv- ice. Bill Harris, formerly of the Strouse & Franklyn forces, reported at Fort Slocum, N. Y. James McAllan (Alvarette, Riego and Stopitt), 25th Co. Tank Corps, Fort Slocum, N. Y. Chris Erwin, professionally known as Erwin Christianson (Great Western Four) is at Camp Grant, Rockford, 111. Barney O'Mara, doing a single around Chicago, has reported at Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, O. Wilbur Dinkel, orchestra leader at the Dauphine, New Orleans, has en- listed in the Navy. Frank Westphal, ordered to report. He is the husband of Sophie Tucker and was placed in Class 2 of the Draft. Jack C. Russell (Ned Norworth Co.), Naval Reserves. James B. Stanton ("Sad Sea Waves") ordered to report May 28. William Cripps (Press Dept. Cort), 310th Cavalry, Fort Ethan Allen, Vt. Lew Brice (Brice and Barr Twins) ordered to report, disrupting act. Albert Donnelly, rejected for Avia- tion Corps, in Class 2A of the draft. Billy Fields (Alexander and Fields), limited service, Oklahoma City. Violini is in the Naval Reserves, Pel- ham Park. Morris Wolpin is at the naval camp, Pelham Bay. H. L. Wilson (Pvt), 104 Ambulance Co., A. E. F. Reg. B. Merville, Hdqtrs Co., 307th Inf., A. E. F. Jack Haydcn (Bowery Burlesquers) assigned to U. S. S. Jupiter. Billy Rose is at Fort Monroe, Va. Willie Solar placed on limited service. CAMP UPTON. By .*•••• Wail. Camp Upton, L. I., May 29. The War Department Commission on Training Camp Activities has taken over the management of the Buffalo Auditorium, formerly owned by the 367th Infantry. Harry Yost, a former advance man and manager, has been placed in charge. The policy of the house will be vaudeville, road attrac- tions and pictures. The attraction this week is "Darktown Follies," booked in for the benefit of the 367th Infantry (colored), at present in this camp. This gives the Commission two the- atres in camp. The other is the Liberty. Both are under the supervision of George H. Miller. The attraction at the Liberty this week is "Very Good Eddie." Yaphank Ravings. Irving Berlin, now a private here, has decided that he wants to be a band master and is at the Liberty theatre every day rehearsing. He is picking his men from the ranks, and from the sound of the first rehearsal he picked the rankest. Started with 157 appli- cants, but at present his band consists of two, himself and piano. After trying out the first 140 appli- cants, Irving said: "Sherman was right." ^^^^ ■« Will Rogers, who appeared here at the benefit Irving Berlin put on for Gen. Bell, says he knows why they built the camp at Yaphank. "If the Germans ever should land in this coun- try there is not a chance in the world of them ever finding this camp," Bill remarked. James Horgan, with the "Follies" for three years and now stage carpenter at the theatre, is offering the highest cash prices for original excuses for week-end passes. He has already buried most of his family and is now on his third trip in to be married. If it comes to the worse, he says, on the next trip he really will get married. Lieutenant Basil Broadhurst, son of George Broadhurst, has been assigned to the theater as Commanding Officer. He is the man who issues the passes. He is a wonderful man and we sure do like him. (Certainly do hope he won't miss this column, in fact will make SURE he doesn't.) ABANDONED TOBACCO DRIVE. The proposed "drive" for tobacco for American artist-soldiers started by the National Vaudeville Artists and to which several hundreds of dollars has been subscribed, has been temporarily abandoned pending the result of the national "drives" now being sanc- tioned and advocated by the Govern- ment. When the Red Cross Drive and its national successors have been passed, a general movement will be made to raise a sufficient sum to look after the members of the N. V. A. on the other side, subscriptions being taken on the various bills throughout the country similar to that arranged for the Knights of Columbus Fund by the ex- ecutives of the Vaudeville Managers' Protective Association, a captain be- ing appointed on each bill to supervise the collecting. BURLESQUE CHANGES. The Monte Carter Co. in Seattle has engaged Ben Holmes and Leona Fox, who were with Max Spiegel this past season. They open in the Northwest next week. THREE FOR CAMPS. Another of the specially organized companies to play the army camps sponsored by the Shuberts opens June 10 when "Her Soldier Boy," with Victor Morley featured, plays Camp Devens, Ayer, Mass. The tour closes about August 4. Frederic W. Jordan left May 30 in advance. M. Weis will man- age the troupe. Shuberts' "A Royal Chef," also for the camps, will follow "Her Soldier Boy," with "For the Love o' Mike" already on the way.