Variety (February 1920)

\ " ■' '- ■ ■■-■.: : ■■■■■■ VAUDEVILLE < i ■ ■ \ - m. LICENSES FOR CONCESSIONS . DELAYED AT MADISON SQUARE * :— Denied on Monday, They Were Granted Later. Figured as .-"Gravy," Halt Put a Crimp in Curley & Bernstein's Hope of Profits. Former Puts Up $5,000 Rent for Week. Wrestling a Feature. - u - . ■ -■• . s ■ ._ h ■. ■ ■.- - .■■■'■- , ■ . .. -.. : i ■ -. ■ . .•v— .- • ■ - ... - / . -The .-"World's 'Greatest Athletic €arnival and Circus" opened at Madi- son Square Garden Monday as sched- uled,, but the promoters, Jack Curley and Freeman Bernstein, were given a jolt when men from the license com- missioner's office refused to permit the concessions to operate. These con- cessions, including the various wheel schemes, were quartered in the base- ment i? As revenue from the conces- sions "was figured to be "gravy" the chances of success without them oper- ating was jn doubt, until Tuesday when most were permited' to "go" according to Bernstein. : More than a score of acts made up the show, which consisted of aerial,' acrobatic and daacing turns, the ar- rangement being that two acts of similar routine could work on the platform at the same time. Those listed for the show, including clowns, • were: Roland and Bowin, Raymond Trio, Albert Rouget and Co., Mirano Brothers, Daddy Evens, Three Kilkillos, Flora Brothers, Downey's Elephants, Herman and Engel, Dell and Gliss, Dan Leon's Ponies, "Tangled Army," Apollo- Trio, Capt. Beits' Seals, Berzac Circus, Nettie Carroll Troupe, The De Motts, Gordon's Kangaroo, Helliotts Bears, Seven Tasmanians, Ducas Brothers," Averez Duo, Three Weldonas, Theresa Circus, Mikado Japs, Gas Stimpson, Marvelous Mel- ville, Taizori Troupe, C. Neilson and Co., Gene\_Fowler and Rudi Bellopg Duo.' . The week's rent for the Garden is $5,000 which Curley put up. Wrestling was an important feature of the affair with the "comedians" of the mat being present. The big card of the week was Scheduled for Saturday night when Joe Stecker, the world's champion, is due to appear. DIVORCES IN CHICAGO. ". „ Chicago, Feb. 4. Mrs. Belle Bannister (Belle de Monde), of "Look Who's Here," sued Harry C. Bannister ("Business Before Pleasure"). The bill charges the hus- band with misconduct with other "^ women. * "''Both of the Earle Sisters got di- vorces in Judge Dennis E. Sullivan's court. Verna Earle divorced her hus- band, Arthur S. Randolph, on charges . of cruelty. Eva Earle was granted a divorce from Charles Earle on similar charges. Kate Bastenberg, member of the Boston Symphony Opera Company, given a divorce on statutory grounds, from her husband, F^ed Schoelle. Gordon, Ga. When that organization left for overseas he was then sent to Camp McClelland, Ala_ where the ar- rest was made. ' \ ? TEN SONG WRITERS IN ACT. The ten song writers reported last week as forming an independent music publishing"organization to supply the Wool worth and other ten-cent stores have framed a vaudeville act. The turn opened at the Palace, Newark, Monday. - - ...... Those reported appearing were Nat Vincent, Sam Ehrlich, Billy Baskette, Will Donaldson, Bobby Jones, ^ Al' Siege!, Bernie Grossman, Billy Frisclv Jimmy Brown and Leon Flatow. The act employs five piano players along the lines of the old Piano- phiends, and is called "All Aboard for Hetland." The Woolworth connection is denied. s ; .. - FLOP AND MAKE GOOD SAME DAY. Farr and Farland, an English double male comedy turn, brought over here by Harry Fitzgerald, closed after their opening performance at the Bush wick Monday afternoon, following demon- strations of disapproval by the au- dience. For the first two or three min- utes after the turn started the audience listened attentively, but upon several young -hoodlums in, the middle of the house faking out newspapers and starting to read, other sections of the audience became restless and followed suit The act continued, not noticing the action of the newspaper readers until some one started to applaud. This was taken up in unison by the greater part of the orchestra and the entire gallery, the racket becoming so loud the furn was forced to quit. Monday night Farr and Farland were switched to the Riverside, where'they passed without any trouble. Next week they play the Palace, New York. Ford, and Cunningham, at the River- side Monday matinee, were transferred to the Bush wick Monday night. •■■ It- was reported Grock quit at "the Bush wick on Thursday instead of fin- ishing his week out shortly, before sailing for Europe, because of similar rowdy tactics bjr the Bushwick au- dience. % ACT OF "FOLLIES" GIRLS. An act is being prepared for vaude-^J ville by Frank Hale* with several of the principals formerly of the "Frolic" 'J2 on the Amsterdam Roof. Among them are Yvonne Shelton, Dorothy Leeds, ;S l{ina Whittemore, Betty Brown ana ■$ Pearl Eaton. (Two others were of the Moulin .Rouge entertainment They are Natalie Bates and Helen Higgins. 'M The only man in the production willfjl be Hal Hixon. '.\M The vaudeville act will be the re- ^ production of "A I Bachelor's Dream" . as attempted upon the Amsterdam >£ Roof at one time with Holbrook Blinn in the main role; The number wast : shortly after taken off through the roof ?| being against it, • -g It is said Hale is asking $2,000 for the fi turn which will break in the latter end,>| of this month. : . h ;J| -Charlie Morrison, of the Ray Hodg- ' don office, is attending to the book- ings. ALIENATION SUIT DISMISSED. Judge McCook in the Supreme Court dismissed the $50,000 damage action brought by Elsie Rigney, a circus per- former, against Louise Blake Stowe, who was the defendant in the suit, hav- ing been charged with alienating Miss Rigney's husband's affections. H. J. & F. E. Goldsmith appeared for the defendant. , • - BREACH OF PROMISE CASE. , Agnes K. Mack, vaudevillian, has filed a $25,000 breach of promise action in the Supreme Court against George P. Whitfield, the professional. Miss Mack complains she was wooed for ten years by the defendant, who finally set the date of marriage for last -June, but called things off later. I ORAL ARGUMENT FEB. 16. « Washington,.^. C, Feb. 4. Oral argument in the matter of the Federal Trade Commission against the . Vaudeville Managers' Protective As- sociation and others, -has been set for Feb. 16 (Monday) at 2 p. m. before the commission in this city.. It is the final proceding in the vaude- ville investigation, preceding the find- ings by the commission. BECK AND SINGER VACATIONING. Martin Beck, president of the Or- pheum Circuit, and Mort Singer, the Orpheum's general manager, left New York Tuesday *for Palm Beach, for three weeks.. Both executives plan to enjoy a com- plete rest after their recent business activities which included the reorgani- zation of the Orpheum Circuit and the stock flotation. CONTRIBUTION FOR H. WARD. Joe Barton, of "Always You," took up a collection at the N. V. A. club last week in behalf of Harsy "Crepe" Ward, the comedian, who has been totally blind for two and a half years. Ward is now an inmate of the City Hospital, Black well's Island. The money will be used to'further his comfort. V The artists, contributed $118.00. ' RULE RELEASED. Lieut. George E. Rule, recently re- leased from military arrest by Presi- dent Wilson after having been con- victed of selling his services to en- listed men fraudulently to obtain their discharge from the army, prior to his entry in the service was in vaude- ville. At one time he appeared with May Melville* under the team name of Melville and Rule and later appeared in a turn with the former Mrs. Ralph Herz. Upon his release from arrest he was 'restored to duty. Rule at the outbreak of the War was assigned to the 82nd Division at Crtnp KEITH .IN PAWTUCKET. * x ' Providence, Feb. 4. The Keith interests, controlling the -Scenic, vaudeville at Pawtucket, have purchased a lot in the center of that city for a new Keith theatre. The price paid for the new site was $150,000. The ■ new house, planned some time ago, will have a seating capacity of 2,500, will be four stories high and have nine stores on the street floor. Santley and Sawyer with New Act. Joseph Santley and Ivy Sawyer, now starring with "She's a Good Fellow," will return to vaudeville March 1 with a singing and dancing revue and a company of six. Harry Weber arranged the bookings. Lee Children Appearing. ' The Lee Kids, appearing in pictures for the last four years with Fox, broke in a vaudeville act last week. Max Haft has charge of bookings, SHARROCK HAS STROKE. - H Chicago, Feb. 4. Harry Sharrock (Harry and Emma Sharrock) suffered a partial paralysis of the right side here while playing ; the State-Lake. Despite severe treat- ments and extreme pains he played out the week, working with one hand.and arm on the stage and in the audience without making his condition apparent. The injury is not regarded permanent. JULIUS MARX MARRYING. Julius Marx (Four Marx Bros.) is to be married this week in Chicago to Ruth Terrel, non-professional. Jo Swerling will be best man. Lauder Not Playing in New York. Harry Lauder will sail for London. on the "Imperator" Feb. 21. The Lauder show will not play New York City, through Lauder's South African contracts necessitating his sailing two weeks earlier than expected. . The Lauder tour will close in Brook- lyn, where the show plays the Academy of Music Feb. 19-20. Arthur Gordon Formerly in Trio. Chicago, Feb. 4. Arthur Gordon, who replaced Irving Fisher in Nora Bayes "Ladies First," has been with the Bessie Clayton act in its trip around the Orpheum Cir- cuit. He was formerly of the trio, Fisher, Gordon and Lucky. Dooleya Return to Roof. William and Gordon Dooley will re- turn to the "Midnight Whirl" on the Century roof Monday. The Dooleys have been with "Monte-Cristo, Jr.," and are succeeded in that show by Miller and Mack, THEATRICAL BALL LEAGUE. A theatrical base ball league is being '; agitated to include the Lights, N. V< A. M and Friars Clubs, "Variety," Keith i Office, and Universal Film Co. The plan is to have each applicant put up a 1 bond to be forfeited if "ringers" or J professionals .are injected into any of the clubs during the season. No one but boni-fide members of the firms or ^ members are to be .eligible and a playerj^ limit which will allow for substitutes^ in. case of necessary absences. Last season "Variety" combined with "the ?^| I Jew office and put a pretty fair ball/^ club in the field which had fast convOs| petition from the Lights, N. V. A. and Universal teams. A meeting of those '■ interested will be called "at the N. s V. A;.^| club in a few weeks when the prpposi-- >J tion will be submitted and a schedule drafted. It is planned to play_ Satur- ;^ days and Sundays and a local -diamond | will be secured. /' -'*§ i HELEN KELLER, AN ACT. Helen Keller, the deaf, dumb arid^i blind girl, has been booked^ in vaude*|| ville by Harry Weber. .;-<'. V :-•••'- i^ifm Miss Keller will give demonstrations of lip reading and through her.instroc-;s| tress tell of .how she succeeded . iabl learning to read, and write despite her^ affliction. -'.-:•' .''. V':*| Miss Keller will be due at the| Palace about March 1, ;> -OVERSHOE FAD." >- Boston, Feb. 4: v 1 The actors playing here are ayoidv ing what Bostonians know as; the" "overshoe fad" * "The students at Harvard, and those^ who ape them, are wearing their bver-rf shoes with the buckles unfastened abdul move about with a clinking sound. ij^J Clinton and Rooney Object. Clinton and Rooney have left theE| Lawrence Schwab act "Last Night" and^ will resume their vaudeville bookings^ as a team. It is said they objected to ■■ some of the time laid out for the act and declined to play any three-a-day ■ bookings. , The act will resume its route after S replacements have been made. - CHICAGO PRODUCERS. (Continued from page 3) it were 'an average of nine shows. week.' v ..? "Some weeks we play only six?? shows. If we're lucky enough to get* bookings for a week of 14 shows, ;, that's pur only chance to break even I or make a little money. If that's..; taken away from .us it'll be suicide for us to try to put out any shows. "There has been no new blood in-^ troduced into the business of produc-'^ ing popular-priced attractions in Chirj'lf cago. ' And all the old-timers are- lay- ing off. "What's the answer?"