Variety (January 1920)

' - i . ' !' . V " VAUDEVILLE •• : --: / . . . • ■■' ■ % ,'-.: FLU LAYS LOW HUNDREDS IN SHOW BUSINESS ALONE Deaths Include Ralph I. Kohn and Lois Davidson. Lee Shubert, David Belasco and Charles Dillingham : Caught. Dr. Copeland Issues Instructions. Prohibition Blamed for Spread. Profiteering In Medicinal Whiskey. •;» '.:-'.:. f... s, '< -.v. $ ■ .-. • The recurrent "flu," assuming greater }iroportions every day from the time t first made itself felt last 'week, hit the theatrical profession and the busi- ness in general a bad blow. 'The death list,was, fortunately, small, while the , sick list seemed to swell with the num- ber of ill persons estimated around 500 engaged in some branch of the :. theatrical or picture industry. The long arm of the disease seemed to gTasp in its clutch first of all the artists. By Saturday of last week the hurry calls, for understudies and sub- stitutes was such it established a pre- cedent for calling into the service those who have waited for an oppr- tunity. The first three names of prominence mentioned as Incapacitated through "flu"-were Lee Shubert, David Belasco and Charles Dillingham. With the passing of Sunday the first indications cf an increase in the disease among the theatrical branch was felt in the t-ox offices. Practically one man in every box office was laid up. The slackening pace in theatrical attend- ance made up for the emergency. The office that was hit hardest as a result of death of one of its members following a short illness with*pneumonia was that of A. H. Woods, Ralph Kohn, the former's secretary and right-hand man^ for 17 years passing away. Lois « Davidson was another whose death was recorded. She had been, up to the time of her sickness, a member of the "Midnight Frolic" chorus. , Dr. Royal S. Copeland, Commissioner of Health, again issued his instruc-. tions to theatre managers and opera- tors; outlining what they should do under the present, rage of the epi- demic. They are in' nowise different from the rules laid down before at the- "flu" epidemic. , On Tuesday the Health Department notified the Keith Vaude- ville Exchange that they would have to close the fifth and sixth floor book- ing departments at 5 P. M. The agents could occupy their offices as usual, but must go off the two booking floors at the appointed hours. Earlier in the week Dr. Copeland's instructions; to the theatres were in effect of a stoning process with respect to time opening. The theatres in the uptown district centering in and around Broadway and Times square were unaffected as regards the after- noon performances, but for the even- ing performances the following sched- ule was issued, finding rigid obedience: B p. m., Lexington Opera House,' Pal- ace, Columbia and Manhattan. ♦„L\ 6 J2* m, i w,nte J Garden. Lyrlo, Cen- c P3 i' HlPPodrome. Selwyn. Casino, Astor, Park.,Shubert, Vanderbllt and Central. .. \'?,° p ~ m " J^berty, Bijou. Maxlne El- liotts. Comedy, Morosco, Lyceum, Cri- terion. Knickerbocker. Belasco, Globe, New Amsterdam and Nora Bayes. 8:45 p. m., Broadhurst, Plymouth. Har- rlB Booth, 39th Street. Huduon Gaiety,' Bltlnge. Cohan & Harris, George M. Co- han and Cort. I p. m., Longacre, 48th Streot, Play- house, Belmont, Republic, Empire, Little Theatre and Punch and Judy. , A£ l motion picture theatres between I4th and 59th Btreet which have contin- uous performances shall close at 11 p. m. Early in the week a strong feeling of apprehension was felt by theatrical business end. Reports from Chicago said the flu was increasing there and iti-was felt the increase in New York was greater than published. Monday it was said that there were 1,500 cases being held back in New York in, the reports given out of the daily number of cases. Prohibition has been blamed for the sudden, spread. Physicians, say whis- key is the best preventative. Drug stores commenced to profiteer, selling whiskey* on doctor's prescriptions at $6 a pint (equal to $60 a gallon) and some drug store* even gouged more money out of the poor. The whiskey at the most cost the druggists $12* a gallon. 'Up to Wednesday neither city nor federal officials had taken any steps to release liquor for medicinal purposes from the government bonded warehouses and officially dole it out at a reasonable price.for those who could not afford to pay the high rates. The report of Me'mphis closing its •theatres was understood to have been taken as a precaution and was done before the flu got really started in that city. Up to Wednesday no other city closing its gathering places had been recorded. •'■''•' LOEWS NAME GOES UP. Seattle, Jan. 28. The name of Loew prefixes the Hip- podrome here, from today. It is the " first of the Acker man & Harris north- western houses to take the Loew title since the merger of the two Circuits. Local papers have carried the an- nouncement for a week. . * Joseph A. Muljer remains manager. AARON HOFFMAN RESTING. Aaron Hoffman, by ■ advice of his physician, has cancelled all his con- tracts to write, for an indefinite period. He is suffering from a nervous break- down and though looking the picture of health, is going away for a two months' complete rest, during which time he has been forbidden to write a line. , Hoffman had contracted to write Georgie White's "Scandals of 1920" and. Was committed to finish a new play called ''The Irish- and the Jews.'". All his contracts to write, for vaudeville have been called off and the deposits returned.* Hoffman's "Wecome Stranger" at the Cohan Grand, Chicago, is doing a very big-business. LEAVING FOR HOME. Charles B. Cochran has arranged to sail.for home Saturday (Jan. 31) on the Baltic. He remained to attend the opening in New York of 'As You Were." • Oh the same vessel will be Tom Rey- nolds, who. came over here to have a look at "Irene," which he is to stage in London for J. L. Sacks and Sir Al- fred Butt. Stanley Palmer, accountant for An- dre Chariot, the English producer, has been in New York for the past week straightening out some matters for his principal, will also be a passenger on the Baltic. JOE O'NEIL ENGAGED. The engagement was announced this week of Joe O'Neil to Emily Proc- tor. Mr. O'Neil is assistant to Bob O'Donnell, manager of Proctor's 125th street; his fiancee'is with the "Frivoli- ties" at the 44th Street. ALBEE'S ADVICE TO AGENTS. As the result of numerous complaints filed with E F. Albee recently by art- ists who claim they are .not receiving proper representation by their agents,, Mr. Albee h'as addressed the following letter to all artists' representatives booking through the Keith office. I am continually receiving com- plaints from artists that their rep- resentatives hold out what eventu- ally proves to be false hopes; that "bookings look favorable; you are' sure to get,time." The artists take this literally as a rule, and the dis- appointment when they don't re-, ceive the time is very great. It would be far better to be per- fectly frank with your clients as to the exact situation in every case and not say to the artists/ "I have taken it up with Mr. So and So (the Booking Manager) and he is looking you up time," or other remarks of a similar 'character, when there is no foundation for the same. ■ Be business-like and truthful, in all your statements. If it is impossible to obtain con- tracts for your clients tell them the reason as you learn it from the managers; that the books are full, the'manager for the time be- ing supplied with that class of act,, or if the managers have decided that the act hasn't merit enough to book it, tell them so in a kindly .way and advise them to get new ■ material or try some other cir- cuit. ' It is thoroughly proper to en- courage artists, providing there are grounds for the same, but make no false statements of any kind. The practice of misleading artists in order to keep them on your books is harmful to them and lessens your value not only to your clients, but it jeopardizes the in- terests of vaudeville in general and the standard we are endeavoring to establish, based strictly on busi- ness principles. , The managers throughout the country are. spending a large amount of time endeavoring to regulate vaudeville on thorough business principles, and if they are ' to succeed, they must have your • co-operation. You owe the artists whom you represent your best ef- forts in their behalf. Please give this advice serious thought and consideration. (Signed) E.F. ALBEE. CANADIAN VACCINATION. < American health officers are reported to be vaccinating all people entering the States from the Province of On- tario who cannot exhibit a certificate, of vaccination obtained in Canada. Toronto is in Ontario; Montreal is in the Province of Quebec Kurt and Eddie, coming from Loew's, Toronto, to New York Monday, lost the first half engagement this week through being obliged to submit to the inoculation on this, side of the border. MAY WIRTH WEEPS. Cleveland, Jan. 28. May_ Wirth, bareback rider, is mourning the loss of one of her favor- ite circus horses, killed Sunday night by an interurban car. While five of the horses used in the riding act which appeared at Keith's last week were being taken 'to the Pennsylvania freight depot for ship- ment two of the animals broke away. One was captured, but the other col- lided with a trolley car. Miss Wirth went to the spot, took a last look at her companion of the sawdust arena, and wept. She departed for Pittsburgh to fill an engagement. Going into "Nine O'clock Show." The Cameron Sisters and Jack Price Jones have been engaged for the new "Nine O'Clock" show on the American roof. NEW KEITH'S OPENS IN SYRACUSE. - Syracuse, N. Y., Jan. 28. Proclaimed the most beautiful link in the Keith chain of vaudeville houses, the new ,B: P. Keith theatre here opened Monday night, with impressive , ceremonies. There was not a.vacant .seat of the 2.6Q0 when the audience rose for The Star Spangled Banner." ' , Syracuse society. turned out for the opening with all the fervor that it does for its' occasional grand opera treats or the charity ball., For an hour be- fore the initial performance, the audi- ence wandered over the theatre and had a visional feast. The house cost a million dollars to construct and out- fit, and looks it. With the general construction of the interior in marble and fireproof pedes- tals, a color scheme of White is pro- duced which beautifully offsets the walls of black and gold, silk velour and the red plush upholstry of the seats. Illuminated coves supply the light, to- gether with a mammoth chandelier which hangs from the center of the ceiling. ' Next to the E^F. Albee theatre at Providence, the local theatre is the largest institution under Keith man- agement. . It is built on a much larger and more elaborate scale than the best of the Keith houses in the metropolis —the Palace. When the audience was finally seated , at Monday's opening, Manager W. Dayton Wegefarth made a short ad- dress, expressing the • feeling. of the Keith interests toward Syracuse. He was followed by Major Harry H Farmer, mayor of the city, who made the address of welcome on behalf of the municipality, and formally declared the house opened for vaudeville enter- tainment. Mr. Albee was detained at home by illness. : There was a large, gathering of theatrical men. from other cities for the event. The management was flooded with congratulatory telegrams, while the floral remembrances turned the theatre into a vast green house. In all frankness, however, the opening bill was a bit disappointing. Perhaps Syracuse expected too much for $1 top; but the fact remains that it did expect more, than it received. Four of the acts on 'the bill were no strangers to this city; at one time or another— and not so long ago at that—they ap- peared at the Temple or Crescent, the two local three-a-day houses. But the folks down in front, de- termined to enjoy themselves, ap- plauded and demanded curtain calls, even if they did criticise the bill for its lack of strength after leaving. "Flashes" proved the best as far as the applause went, although Belle Baker, who played here in the dim dark days when the Grand opera house held Keith vaudeville, was the head- liner. . George Whiting and Sadie Burt, Libonati, Four Bards, Dugan and Ray- mond, Miller and Mack, and The Three Maces all won their share of popular approval One of the pleasant surprises of the opening was the house orchestra of 12, under the leadership of Frederick G. Weper," recently director of the Onondaga. Hotel orchestra. Weper first came to Syracuse 11 years ago to direct the Keith orchestra in the old Grand. The new Keith offered an innovation to theatr|eal Syracuse by introducing girl ushersi There's a staff of 20 pretty bits of femininity. While some local houses have had girl ushers before this, Keith's, is the first big house to intro- duce them. T. W. Lamb, of New York, drew the plans for the latest addition to the Keith string. The construction work was carried on under the supervision of John P. Woods. Syracuse papers used special sections to commemorate the opening. j '