Variety (July 1918)

a^ex. ~*-^r''V'' y ■"'<^- '\-^Vktt ■»•■ SHOW REVIEWS '■•^: jr^tr 15 PAUCE. The editor awhile ago became peevish and aarcastic because on a glren Monday night every one of Variety's sUff started off his review of the evening by calling attention to the fact that it rained unmercifully. Ha probably expects them all to make soma reference to the heat thii Monday, and here's where we try to put It over on him: M<mday evening a superabundance of caloric per- meated the circumambient atmosphere. It's flfty-flfty he doesn't get it and will let It pass, thinking it means something swell. About half a house at the Palace, all fan- ning themselves Industriously, yet brave onough to leave off this process at stated in- tcrvBls to applaud. No lemonade distributed, due to the conservation of sugar. Viewing the orchestra from an upper stage box it was noticeable with a slugle exception the women (lownstaire were attired in either gray or white. The exception was dressed in blue and Bhe looked like an oasis on a camou- flaged desert. Stanley and Dimes, with special drop^ a pair of male hoofers, did some good eoben- trlc and dual stepping. They were attired in Tuxedo suits and straw sailor hats. • Why doesn't eome dancing team alter that make- up to to the extent of substitnting Panamas? Answer: Because it ain't proper with Tuxs. Tarzan, "the marvelous Chimpanzee," Is a corking act of Its kind, with an excellent "trainer" feeding, with plenty of comedv. The simulation of a monk is performed to a nicety, with one little exception—a monk never kicks anything, and Tarzan kicks a ball Into the audience just once. Kramer and Morton, reunited this season, R^ored their usual hit with their excellent wooden shoe stepping and nonsensicalities, but failed to register their usual with their "YiddiHh" finish. Up at the Alhambra, the Royal and in other Hebrew communities it is always a knockout. Kalmar and Brown are back with "Nursery Land," with new musi6 and a new dance for the Simple Simon and Uo Peep number, finishing strong by diving through the nursery book paper sheet. Irene Franklin and Burt Qreen, closing the first part, were the flrtt of three successive acts with singers and piano accompanists, the succeeding ones being Andrew Mack and Wheaton and Carroll. Miss Franklin is do- ing two dances by way of novelty, and one of her dresses is the latest shade of Paradise Ulue. Her nasal resonance wakes for es- pecially clear enunciation. You've got to hand it to that artiste for original ideas for lyrics, lier songs always tell a story, and from a \nlque viewpoint. Her chorus lady number, ^T^ou're Passing Through" Is a genuine Frankllneeque dlttv. And while on the subject of originality, she might omit the "courage, Camille," aside she pulls when she roughs. That's ancient and unworthy of her. For an encore Miss Franklin offered a new kid song to the effect that Just because his mother shirked her duty it is necessary for the world to spank the Kaiser. Timely and novel. Mr. Mack sang and told stories. He sang hl-< "Mister Moon" number sotto voce and ac- companied it with a bit of stepping. His light lyric tenor voice takes a high easily. Anna Wheaton and Hkrry Carroll are in their second week. They have a rattling new number. "Oh Tell Me," a sort of tra- vesty on "Oh Promise Me." It is a con- versational ditty of the "fly" sort. Miss Wbeaton'B arms and chest were badly sun- burned. She made up her chest with "liquid white," but made no attempt to carry out the concealment to her arms. Barnes and Crawford have up-to-dated their former vaudeville skit, and for his Jokes Barnes "recites Pathe's Weekly," an original idea for telling gags. Most are old but are well told. Bessye Clifford In "Art Impres- sions," posing act with stereopticon slides, closed. <^o1o. RIVERSIDE. A light show this week, very light, but not near so light as Monday qight's house. There seemed to be acres of empty seats—oceans of them if that sounds any cooler—literally empty rows in spite of Jimmy Peppard's at- tempt to dress the orchestra floor. It was the first warm spell of the summer, and hot going hurts the Riverside. Until last week all houses still open, have a good weather break, and that Is why the Riverside is far ahead of last summer's business. It's an actual fact that the temperature Inside the house on Monday night was perceptibly lower than on the street. It was a romodv and songs bill with .Clif- ton Crawford the "topllner, on next to closing. Vaudevllllng Is easy for him. A few stories told In his likable way, a rhyme or two and he's over. There were several trench stories, not many, though. Mr. Crawford said that there were so many trench yarns told so often that one had to be careful of repeating Just as when Ford stories were the vogue. For a finish, after allaying the house's fears by saying he would not give "Gunda Dhln," ho recited a short Kipling piece descriptive of a battery going into action and his encore was the familiar sneezing verse, "Kissing Cup's Race." ^ . ^ The Courtney Sisters, who opened inter- mission, Mme. Chllson-Ohrman. who closed it. and Patten and Marks about tied with Mr. Crawford on earned applaune. The Court- neys were hailed as favorites at the start, thi'lr routine being along the same lines as formerly, Tho double telephone number Is out. but one using tho talking device sub- Btttutod. one slHter soloing with "Hello, Cen- tral, Give Me No Man's Land," with good re- Mmo. Chilson-Orhman Worked in full stage with a grand piano In sight, but no accom- panist. Sho didn't need one. and should be Just as effective in front of a silk curtain as with a full stage aet Her voice was in the peak of form. "Blue Bird" was sweetly sung and her "Polonaise" from Mignon was rendered faultlessly. Bhe stands out as one of the best products vaudeville has gained from the concert stage. Jack Patton and Loretta Marks were on second, and a more important spot could have been entrusted them. They might change their billing of "Just Class," for It Isn't necessary to use that phraae. Their dances outweigh the aongs, although they do handle numbers well. Miss Marks' stepping is an especially graceful sort and it's an original style. "The team shapes up as one that the musical comedy field will try for. Theirs waa the only dancing on the bill. Ed Gallagher and Joe Rolley spun out the military travesty, "The Battle of Whatsthe- use," on third, and it won much In the way of laughter. Rolley makes a good successor to William LeMalre, who Is In the service. He gains all LeMalre's points and Injects a few of his own. One of them Is playing a "blue" number on a mouth-organ while patroling the trench, which Oallagher re- ferred to as "Jaising the picket duty." The act gets over with ease, but a strong finish is still needed. Ben Welch followed, perspiring more freely perhaps than the others, and asking at one time If It was raining on his face. He talked about "Awerene where he had an eleven- room cottage, two rooms with windows," and most of tho rest of the collection of non- sense, but failed to encore. Violet Besson (not billed as "Mme.") offered William C. De Mille's absurd satire, "High Cost of Living." If the price of egas will be anything like what Is supposed In 1968. nobody Is going to worry about it now. Miss Besson is to replace Josephine Victor in "Maid of France," which probably Indicates "curUlns" for "High Cost of Living." "A Study In Sculpture," with five or six people posing, closed the show, using a new set of groupings that is a relief from the stereotype "masterpieces" usually offered. Sterling and Marguerite, which Is a trio, didn't furnish the nifty surprise promised In the billing. They opened the show, but did lltlc. Ibee. AMERICAN ROOF. While the audience was saying something about the weather under Its breath Monday night It. was not making any particular effort to bestow much applatiee upon the show. Several of the acts noticeably oognlzant of the audience's apparent Inattention "called" for quick applause by handdapping them- selves. For a long, long time acts have been laughing long and loud at their stage Jokes, so that when the applause impetus was made it was accepted In good faith and aocord- ingly rewarded. Business was not any wav near capacity and there was very little to the show to com- mend It to anybody who knew anything about fast, snappy pop vaudeville. Juggling Nelson opened. Not a bad Jug- gling turn, but Nelson ought to improve by assuming a stage makeup of some aoit. Stewart and Olive (New Acta) were followed by Pagglni's Monks, the Jungle performers going through a familiar oircusy routine, with several stunts proving the piece de re- sistance of the turn. The monkeya didn't have much i>ep Monday night, although the weather seemed to be Just their sort. Charlee Kenna and hia stfeet-fakir spiel did very well, all things considered, and he was followed by the Rover's Ladlea Trio, a straight singing feminine combination that was fairly well received. The women might change their routine for better resulta. Their harmony wasn't so true. duo. perhaps, to a cold one of the women was sporting. Roeber and Gold (New Acts) were getting along when singing, otherwise time seem- ingly wasted. Bob 0'Ck)nnor and Co. mix dramatica with a farcical climax that caused some laughter, although the general Idea runs all to talk and a far-fetched finale. The Chester Nelson Rubes combined quartette vocalizing with ministrelsy, with some of the verbal exchange sadly in need of the oper- ating table. The Aerial Bartletts were not in view long, but what they did helped the show im- mensely. No stalling, with several stunts genuinely circusy. The woman's figure also came in for some comment. Mark. 23D STREET. The patrops of Proctor's 23d Street are get- ting their money's worth In the bills lately, SLad althousb they are not turning out In as large numbers as they have been for the past few weeks. Monday night's attendance was all that could be expected for the night. The theatre was about three-quarters filled. Be- sides the seven acts, all pleasing, "Hit the Trail Holliday," Geo. M. Cohan's feature, rounded out the show, serving as a "draw,* and held everyone seated. LIbby, the messenger cyclist, opened and started things off nicely. His make-up is good, but the comedy employed gets little returns. However, the special feats, which keep him going in the better small time houses, are good, and with his routine more on this line he should do better. Allen and Stone, and John Robb and Co. (New Acts) preceded Jos. K. Watson. The latter with his Kabbible make-up and Hebrew character started slowly but once under way registered one laugh after another. Watson would probably do better with a song at tho opening, as at present he Just breaks out with talk which goes over the hnads until he starts the auto "gags." A better leader-up would help greatly. He went big Monday night. Eddie Borden, supported bv James Dwyer, waa between Boyle and McNeil and Bally- hoo Trio (New Acts), and acored the hit of the bill In the next-to-closing spot Borden, minus his collar, must have felt the heat Monday night as the applause warranted two or three more encores, but the couple would not return. His ad llbbing about working hard so as to get the Columbia acme Sunday, and about Harry Weber's offlce scored a few laughs from those familiar. The "Jazz" fin- ish sent the men over big and had the gallery whistling at the close. STOCKS CLOSING. Milwaukee, July 24. The Russell Janney stock closed its summer season Saturday. After put- ting on "The Garden of Paradise" in Chicago at either the Garrick or Studebaker theatres, Mr. Janney launches two other productions, after which he will consider the establish- ment of a permanent company for Milwaukee. "Hempfield," which was offered for the two closing weeks here, is branded as a "find." NEWS OF DAILIES. Starting July 21 all Pittsburgh Sundny papers will be 10 cents. Guy Bates Post will remain In "The Mas- querader" another season. John Drew was operated upon Intrly for the removal of cataracts from his eyes. To succeed Ruth Chatterton In the lead of "Come Out of the Kitchen" Henry Miller has engaged Frances Stirling Clarke. George M. Cohan has been commlsslonrd a major in the theatrical unit of the New York City Police Reserves. Edward Peple, playwright, has been made a doctor of laws by the University of the South, at Sewanee. Tenn. Receipts of $16.431,0;t.'{. July 0, from war saving and thrift atamp salea were the largest of any single day alnce these securities were offered to the public. Shuberts start rehearsals this week on a play with music, called "Miss I Don't Know" ; book by Rida Johnaon Toung; music by Au- gustus Barratt. Henry Miller will open a summer season In the Blackstone In Chicago on July 20 with himself and Ruth Chatterton in "A Mar- riage of (Convenience." Henry W. Savage haa engaged Margaret Johnson to alternate with Paula Shay In the title role of "BveiTWoman." which opens in Nova Scotia. July 20. Rehearsals for Eleanor Painter's new play, "Glorlana," will begin next month and It will bo produced early in the fall. Joseph Lcrtora has been engaged as leading man. John D. Williams has obtained from Wil- liam Archer the American acting rights of the letter's translation of Ibsen's "An Enemy uf the People." The play is being held for Lionel Barrymore. Sidney Toler. who has been for years identi- fied with theatricals In Portland. Me., filed a petition as a voluntary bankrupt In that city. His debts are listed at $2,243. and assets at $375. Geraldlne Farrar has sent out an appeal for gifts of stockings and socks. Persons hav- ing old hosiery may address the parcels to Mrs. H. C. Prankel, Auxiliary of the Red Cross Society, at 46 W. 86th street. New York. The will of Mrs. Geraldlne Morgan Roeder (Geraldlne Morgan), wife of the general man- ager for David Belasco. with the exception of a few legacies leaves her entire estate to her husband. EMdie Foy pleaded guilty In the Court of Special Sessions in Drooklyn last week to permitting three of the seven little Foys to appear in a theatrical performance without a Permit Sentence was postponed. Mrs. Helen 8. Woodruff, author of "The Lady of the Lighthouse," last week applied fok a license to pla^ a hand organ In tho streets of New York, In the Interests of tho Comforts Committee of the Navy League. Annie Hughes and William Devorcux have been added to the rast of "The Having Grace," the Haddon Chambers play In which Charles Frohmsn. Inc., will present f'yrll Msudo next season. The first play of William Favemham's sea- son will bo "Allegiance," by the Prinre and Princess Pierre 'Troubetzkoy, which will bo produced late next month. The Princess (Amelia Rives) wrote "The Fear Market," which was produced two years ago. Tho Rabbis' Sons Theatrical nnnevolont Association was organized Inst wrek with Harry Huudiiii, preiildpnt; AI .T:;h'.nn, vice- president, and Irving Porlln, h< crftary. Tho object of the association Ih to aid the Red Cross, the Young M«'n'H Htbrow AsHOQlatlon and other war activities. FEIST WINS RECORD POINT. Leo Feist has won an important motion in a suit aKainst the Columbia Graphophonc Co. to recover certain royalties upon records manufactured by the defendant under a co.itract with the plaintiff. The decision hinges upon the right of defendant to man- ufacture records in Canada and there- by evade the payment of rovalty. The full decision is as follows: The plalntliY herein huH bruUKlit uii <iction to recover cortain royalties upon n'cords, uian- ufucturod by tho di'fcndunt under a license from the plaintiff, of r<>riHin songs oopyrlghted by the plaintiff, and Iihh obtained an order for the defendant's (>xan)in:\tioii In regard to (1) the nuin))er of rrcords manufactured by the defendant HtTving tu rt'i'roduc«> me- chanically each of the suid hoiikh, Including the number of such records which were manu- fuctured, made or reproduced by the defendant wholly or partly In the Uultcd States or in Canada from any rendition of tho Hong or recording thereof which occurred io the United States; (1') the method of manufacture em- ploy(>d by tho defendant In manufacturing, making or reproducing said records, including all of the steps In the process of manufao- ture and the place where each step Ih taken. h«»;ii)tiing with the rendition of the song and tho r*-cordlnK thereon on wax, saving and cxctpilng and secret formula> employed; (•{) the nutnhT of roenrds manufactured by the defendant serving to reproduce tho musical composltionH hereiubeforo set forth manu< factured In whole or In part In Canada, which said records wore manufactured, made or re- produced from a recording of the said musical compositions made In the ITnlted BtatuH or from any reproductions of said original wax record- ing made in the United States. The order further contains a provision that the defendant produce for the examination and inspection of the plalutlff or Its attorney any books and records of the defendant which will show the number of records so manufactured. The defendant hn* Tnov«>d t« modify thla order on tho ground that it Hceks an examination of matters not properly within the issues of the action. It Is not seriously disputed that tho plaintiff cunnot recover royaltieH upon any records manufactured and sold in Canada, but the plaintilT claims that the examination will shu^that the defendant has caused the rendi- tion of the Bong to be recorded In wax in the United States, and that oven if the records were then manufactured and reproduced in permanent form from these wax records in (/Huada, the plaintiff can recover upon royalty for such records, upon the theory that they were manufactured within the I'ulted States within tho meaning of thu Copyright Law. and tho license Issued to the defvudant, and that aflur the plaintiff has r.ccured the evi- dence In regard to the method of manufacture by the examination of the defendant the Issues of tho trial will practically be reduced to an Issue of law in this regard. It seems to mo quite clear that the defendant is entitled to an examination which will enable the court at the trial prop«rly to pass upon this point. On the other, the issue of law cannot be deter- mined In advance upon this motion, and the court cannot decide whether the plaintiff will bo entitled to recover royalties upon records made wholly or partly In Canada from any rendition of the song or recording thereof which occurred In tho United Status, and no possible right of the defendant to object to such testimony should be taken from him by making the examinations too broad in form. The plaintiff can recover on4y if the court holds that tho records for which the plaintiff Is now claiming royalty wcru manufactured, made or reproduced wholly or partly In the I'nitecl States from any rendition of the song or recording thereof which occurred In the I nlted States. For this reason the order should be modified by striking out from Its first para- vraph the words "or In Canada." Under the order as so modified the plaintiff ran then show at this examltwitiori (he method of manu- facture employed by the dereinliint aiid then proceed to ln<|niro info the* number of such records where tho proc4-SH of reprtiductlon was thereafter completed In (Canada, and the court on propter obJectWi at Kueh examination will then he In a poHition to rule whether such rrcords have been manufactured In the United States within thu meaning of the license and co[iyrlght, and consequently whether they arn within the iHsues to b(! tried In thig action. Tho or<ler should be further modified by strik- ing out tho third paragraph, because If the criurt decides upon this motion that such rec- rtrds though completed In Canada are manu- luctured within the United HtateH. the plaintiff ran obtain th« Information called for by thu third paragraph under the terms of thu first paragraph. The order should further bn modlflod by pro- viding that tho defendant shall be permitted to furnlHh certified or sworn copies of Its books and records instead of producing the oi IginalH. Forbf'H-Ilot»f TMori will "iKT'ty nr.p^nr In l>)nf|on for rhiirlly in the lending role of a new playlet by Jnim-H M. Ilarrle. With Mr. and Mim. Sl.jn. y Drew In "Keep M. r SmIIInp," whhh llieli.ird Watson Tully will pro f-nt nt thr* Asff-r tlp-ntre. Aug. Ti, will lie Malili'l Tiini'T, Ji,il«y lludd. Vira |{|;il. lUi ;iriri.-i Mil "U. De Wilt C. JennlrigH, I.ini olri I'liiriMT. '(ilm Wnshbiirne, John 1)11- not), W. L. To It, C. L. .McVey.