Variety (March 1921)

I Friday, March 4, 1921 VARIETY'S SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE &an Jf rancteco 1? PANTAGES THEATRE BUILDING .■ HAUDE FULTON TO PLAY COAST ON HONEYMOON Star and Husband to Be Seen I in San Francisco. I', ... • San Francisco, March 2. Maude Fulton and Robert Ober, to whom she was married In Bos- ton recently, will honeymoon opt this way in June and open for a spe- cial engagement at Miss Fulton's theatre in Oakland. A revival of the "Brat" will be the first week's offering and will be followed by several special selected plays, among these two of Miss Ful- ton's own successes. Her husband will play opposite her and will be supported by Paul Harveyt,. present leading man, ac- cording to Manager Geo r ge Ebey. SHUBERT-CURRAN SITE. . i To Adjoin Columbia—First Deal Falls Through. San Francisco, March 2. i The Shubert-Curran theatre for San Francisco will be constructed on a lot adjoining the Columbia theatre on Geary street, between Mason and Taylor streets. This was definitely announced last week, when negotiations for a proposed site, previously announced to be on Post street, next to the St. Francis hotel, fell through. The selection of this site comes as a complete surprise, as it was ex- pected that consrtuction work on the Post street site was to start im- mediately. This also places the two leading legitimate houses next to each other and incidentally the only two adjo'ning theatres in the city. The house will seat about 1,800. FRISCO NOTES. San Francisco, Mar. 1. Attempts to get Irvtn 8. Cobb as guest of honor at various luncheons la Oakland last week proved futile when Cobb's physician, who is trav- eling with him, advised Selby Op- penheimer that Cobb was not In a condition to enjoy social festivities. The Athenian Club of Oakland had made elaborate plans for a recep- tion to Cubb but in vain,.,, „ , .» , Ben Westland, director of pub- licity in the West for the Universal Films, is back from a 5-weeks' trip in the Northwest. He visited as far as Butte. Mont. • ■ Mike Fisher, proprietor of the Arcadia Dance Palace, Oakland, re- cently constructed at a cost of $500,- 000, won a technical vistory in the Oakland Council Chambers last week when the City Fathers refused to order the pavilTon closed at 12 midnight as asked by the Ministerial Union. Fisher stated that he had been urged to open a dance acad- emy by the complainants for ten years, and now that he had invested his money in such an establishment the ministers were trying to run him out of business. SPLURGE FOR NEW STOCK. Alice Qsntle Stock to Be Cireused on Coast. BALKS AT EQUITY RULE. Oakland Mgr. Says Actrssi Paused Settlement. Alice Gentle has leased the John Heath mansion in Berkeley to be used as her residence during her dramatic stock season in Oakland. The home is one of the landmarks of the city, being in the college up- lands and famous as one of the most palatial residences of the West. YIDDISH STARS DRAW. Thomascliefsky-Zukerb«rg Engage* rr.ent Starts Well. San Francisco, March 2. Boris Thomaschefsky and Mme. Regina Zukerberg, the Yiddish stars, made their first appearance on the Pacific Coast at the Republic thea- tre last week. Their local bow was in "Uptown and Downtown," a four-act oper- etta. The stars received an ovation and the support of the Yiddish play- ers was adequate. Thomaschefsky' engagement here is for four weeks and for his starring season at the Republic theatre the prices have been raised to $2.50. The Thomaschefsky - Zukerberg special engagement here promises to be highly successful. Thomas- chefsky is a guest of Samuel Grossman, of the Savoy theatre, during his local stay. Muriel Vallel has joined the Mait- land Players. Corlnne Carter was a recent pas- senger on an outgoing vessel for New Zealand. It seems that she has adjusted her differences with her husband. Carter the Great, and will Join him there. Ben Oiroux, advance man for Griffith's. "Way Down Kast," ar- rived in Oakland last week and made plans for the return week of the picture starting Feb. 27. Charles Newman, treasurer of the Curran, is ill at his home. San Francisco, March 1. With the opening of the Alice Gentle season of stock at the Mac- Arthur In Oakland, March «, the theatre's familiar old name, "Ye Liberty," wJJU.bavR Hved Its last day. Under the supervision of Manager Jim Mac Arthur, the house has com- pleted plans for an advertising cam- paign which will cover the entire bay area. One of the new de- partures will be a two-sheet up- right stand, to be used Instead of the usual one sheet. The effect Is that of a small showy stand. A list of plays starting with "The Rose of the Rancho," which will be followed by "The Song of Songs," "Carmen," "Zaza," Jennie the Lady" and similar offerings has been picked by the management. Miss Gentle will be supported by Walter Richardson, formerly of the Alcazar, San Francisco leads; Clari- bel Fontaine, formerly Tim Fraw- ley's leading woman and just back from the Orient, ingenues; Louis Morrison, late of the Fulton, char- acters; John G. Fee, second busi- ness; Blanche Douglas, characters; Marie Dunkle, general business, and Jerome Sheldon, juveniles. Hugh Knox, former director of the Fulton, will supervise. San Francisco, March 2. An aftermath of the suit brought against the Fulton theatre, Oakland, and George Ebey, managing direc- tor, by Lillian Foster, former lead- Jlnsr. woman. .Qf the Fulton stock com- pany, who was dismissed Oct.'17, 1920, was disclosed when the Fulton management replied to Miss Fos- ter's statement in an Oakland daily last week. The Fulton management asserted it had ample cau -e for dis- charging her. In answer to Miss Foster's charges, J. Richard Ryan, business manager of the theatre, stated that a clause in her contract which called for arbitration in case of any dis- pute between the player and the management was adhered to and that the arbitrators advised Miss Foster to accept the amount offered her by the Fulton, but that she re- fused to do this. Ryan states further that the matter was sub- mitted to the Kquity Association, which, in turn, according to Ryan, advised that Miss Foster accept the amount as agreed to by the arbi- trators, but that again she refused. MISS HOLLISTER MARRIED Successor to Gaby Weds Coast Business Man. ORPHEUM, 'FRISCO. Los Angeles, March 2. Flora Hollister, the picture actress, who before her entrance into the film studios, was Gaby's successor as star in "Stop, Look and Listen," was married Sunday at Riverside near here to Arthur Hoe, a Pacific coast business man. A concert and ball was tendered Deiro by the Accordion Club, Inc.. of San Francisco at Scottish Rite auditorium Friday, Feb. 18. Deiro appeared with his accordion as a special part of an elaborate pro- gram. Deiro leaves for the East next week, where he will play for the Columbia records and probably appear in vaudeville for a few weeks under the direction of Harry Weber. PANTAGES, 'FRISCO. San Francisco, March 2. Pantages bill this week is varied, with plenty of comedy present. Mulnar of the Sea." a dance drama presented by Ted Shawn with the Denishawn Dancers, Lil- lian Powell featured, was the head- liner In closing spot. With its pretty effects and artistic dancing. « gave the bill unusual elass. The Otto Brothers were the com- edy hit next to closing, their traves- ties and glimpses of dressing room Conversation going over big. Roatina and Barrette, in 'Marrin- cie Uoing l/p," went big with their special set and prop captive bal- loon, and clever Italian dialect talk. Both lave good voices. Carter and Boutte, colored stop- pers with hard and soft shoe dances. Were rewarded with solid applause for their strenuous offering. Courtney and frvvin. an attractive girl and a cowboy, with a hut set. pleased in second position, the girl's dancing standing out. The man possesses a pleising voice, but over- acts the bashful cowboy. Their O ;tl<»£ j s BOoU Prevost and Goulet opened well, their comedy and exceptionally good acrobatic twists winning apprecia- tion. Roy "Hiram" Clair closed at Oakland with his road show last week, and after a brief rest will open a stock engagement in one of the Loew-Ackerman-Harris the- atres, to be announced later, al- though it is expected Eureka will be the place. He will play In con- junction with the regular . vaude- ville. KEENAN'S "FERGUSON" SLIPS. San Francisco, March 2. Despite favorable revfews, which appeared in all of the East Bay dailies, Frank Keenan in "John Ferguson'' played to only fair busi- ness at Ye Liberty Playhouse in Oakland last week, and later closed in Sacramento. One daily, which never reviews shows, gave special mention to Keenan's play, but still the attendance was poor. Roy "Hiram" Clair and his 1920 Revue of Revues followed Keenan with a good show at $1 top, but also failed to draw business. Looked like a case of home talent failing. Irvin Cobb was next for one night ortly. Rusco and Hockwald are organiz- ing a second Georgia minstrel com- pany which will open In this vi- cinity March 26. LOEWS CASINO. "Peg o' My Heart" company, with Dorothy Alden in the lead, opened a coast tour at Long Beach last week. The show is sponsored by J. D. Glass and will play at $1 and $1.50 prices. "Bringing Up Father" comes into the Savoy for a two weeks' engage- ment commencing next week. "Mutt and Jeff" is scheduled for this house the latter part of the month. J. W. Brownlee, owner of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" company now play- ing out this way, will.make his per- manent headquarters here and will produce other standard shows. "Way Down East" is coming back to the Curran following the "Green- wich Village Follies," which closes a three weeks' engagement March 19 "Fid" Johnston's orchestra has been engaged for George Hart's new beautiful beach resort, which opens March 10. • * • FILMS VS. STOCK. San Francisco, March 2. The Majestic theatre, in the Mis- sion District, has discontinued its dramatic stock policy and will show pictures through the Lenten season. Gerald Grillln headed the stock show, which closed last week. When in SAN FRANCISCO YOt"KK SI Ri: TO MKKT THEM AT f;ooi> food — rorti..4R PMCs* ANNA LANS, Bet*ten POWBLL and mason strata CONTINBNTAL HOTEL LOBBY—121 KM.IS §ir««t PAUL HANSEN, Mgr. San Francisco, Mar. 2. The four-act bill this week formed the right sort of a combina- tion for the Casino. The house was well filled and the show moved along at a good pace. The King show seems to hold them better than ever, and the reception given the pretty settings proves that King is drawing some new ones each week. Juggling Ferrier gave the show a good start. There is nothing un- usual about his routine, which con- tains all the familiar stunts among the juggling fraternity. He does them all well and is liberally re- warded. For a finish he throws in a couple of nifty acrobatic twists, then dons a mirrored coat and hat to juggle the glistening clubs, danc- ing at the same time. It is a most effective finish and wins good ap- plause. Lehman and Thatcher, a couple of chaps of pleasing appear- ance, offered some comedy num- bers in the second position. They did not get much applause for their efforts, probably because of their routine. Both displayed voices good ennnjh to dn better. A parody of "Margie" by one of the men* fol- lowing the straight singing of the song by the other was well re- ceived, A few stale, gags, injected, just before their final number are only fairly handled. They finished to very light hand. King Brothers, a strong act. did well. They have a special velvet drop. A good looking act of its kind. The posing and hand-to- hand pleased the. house. Their final hand-to-hand leap over sev- eral chairs and table through paper hoops gained them good applause. Follette, Pearl a/id Wicks, two men and a woman, did very nicely with their comedy and talk. They got the laughs going on the talk of the two men. The bigger man had the house with him all the way. The trio close with burlesque operatic singing, during which the woman flashes some good hi^h notes. They received vigorous applause. San Francisco, March 2. The Orpheum program this week was not without merit, but on the whole it lacked punch and cannot be classed as a good show. The Kellerman tank crimped the running order and otherwise made for the discomfort of full stage acts. Also it necessitated switching the Lillie Jewell Faulkner ltevue to Oakland and the retention of the Tuscano Brothers lor a second week in the closing position. Miss Kellerman and others on the bill appeared in the Tuscuno act, but despite their assistance many persons exited. Annette Kellerman again had top billing and varied her routine by displaying a 'new gown ar.d intro- ducing a ballad in which she was assisted by two little girls from tba Blanch Hertz School here. The children registered in a specialty and Miss Kellerman drew howls of laughter when Tom Duray appeared during her Wire stunt and again, when she ;hoved him into the tank after her diving. Duray, in 'For Pity's Sake." was good for laughs despite the famil- iarity of the act. and Duray person- ally was accorded a great reception. Karl Hampton ar.d Dorothy Blake, with smart chatter and an attrac- tive setting, proved a good Ke'ec- tion for next to closing and walked off to it rang'applause* Albertina Etasch, assisted by Agnes Roy, Stella and Louise Roth- acker, With 1. Nagel in the pit, of- fered ■ graceful scries of dances which proved the strongest feature of the btil. The act is c'aborately Staged, with beautiful lighting effects. Gertrude Mootiy and Mary Dun- can, two girls of excellent appear- ance, were attired a bit too souhrct- tish for their opening, but gradually won out with their operatic and jazz selections. Improving and (hanging for each new number. The clowning of the comedienne of the duo drew big laughs culminating in applause which made the act a hit. Burke and Betty, a mixed team with material below the Orpheum standard and a Ukclele employed' by the man for several numbers, were on second. Both look .Well and possess ability, the girl playing the cornet and sixaphone effectively. Delmore and Lee made a good opener with their neat work en the revolving ladder. sung by the policeman straight compelled applause. Chrystie and Ryan, a mixed team. opened strong with their dancing, their eccentric and Russian num- bers being exceptionally well done. Leon's Ponies closed satisfac- torily. "GREENWICH FOLLIES." San Francisco, March 2. The "Oreenwich Village Follies/ which .opened, at the ^urrun .last week at $3 top tor a three weeks' stay, got over $25,000 on Its BJTSt week. Ted Lewis scored the most pronounced hit. The enthusiasm with which he was received set a high mark for the Curran audiences. He stopped the show co' 1 and was compelled to make a speech. The regulation speech and his encore, the latter a song entitled "Maybe," which was announced as having been written by him at Seattle, and in the nature of a •plug." let him down for a while. James Watts ran Lewis a clo e second for honors, and his female Impersonation travesties had the house roaring with laughter on his every appearance. Verna Gordon scored an artistic hit. Her Egyp- tian dance brought forth storms of applause. Tom and Eddie lllckey fit into the show nicely. Their vuudeville specialty registered Its usual success, and they are other- wise seen to good advantage In a couple of bits. Sylvia Jason as the Queen of the Village looks charm- ing In some nifty gowns, but is not seen at her best in this show, hav- ing very little to do. She holds the limelight twice with her specialties, but the tough spot on each of her appearances (following the big hits) proves a handicap, and she is not accorded all the applause that she deserves. Al Herman has things his own way, on Just before the finale, and his confidential ;alk about the cast was good for laughs during his en- tire stay. The fine condition of the wardrobe and stage hangings (tins show carrying hardly any heavy sets) reflects much credit on the revue, which is now in its 8jtn week. ALL JAZZ REVUED (Continued from page 10) of the outfit and does several really excellent bits of fast and expert stepping. His Frisco imitation and another dance in blackface later on were well worth while. The whole show is a curious mix- ture of very good and rather poor comedy by the men and 100 per cent, cheerful effort to entertain by the principal women. The chorus was rather a better looking lot than the average, although even they could not quite stand the union suit test in a bathing girl number, with an elaborate mechanical ocean wave effect disclosed upon the nse of the drop from "one" to full stage. Ruth. HIP, TBI3C0. San Francisco, March 2. Loew*s Hippodrome program in nicely balanced this week, with good entertaining qualities. The Six White Hussars an ag- gregation of women musicians, held the headline position and proved a worthy selection, their offering get- ting merited applause. • "Voice or Money," an act with .two nie<i and a. yv</m;vn, rjjgijtiered an all round success. Some excel- lent comedy is provided by a clever Yiddish comic and all have excel- lent voices. Hon. Dave Stanley, next to clos- ing, had them laughing hard with his running for Mayor talk. Kane and ChidlOW brought plenty of laughs In third place caught on big. Kane's intimate manner and an Irish ballad with sure lire lyrics SPORTS (Continued from page 9.) But please understand this -I will use the headlOCk in all title bouts, .lack Cm ley, nor any one else cannot enforce any rule against that hold. It is a legitimate hold, and simply because I have specialized in it ail made it an effective weapon as well as a defensive shield they are trying to bar its use. No one, however, protested Qotch'l toe hold or Stecher's scissors, and. the litter is far worse thin my headlock as a punisher. I throw men with the headlock. Gotch sim- ply tortured them until they quit with the toe hold. No, sir, I will wrestle with the headlock or I will retire and take the champi'"i<h p with me and those kindergarten wrestlers can play their game ac- cording to the parlor rules if they care to." IVcause those behind the venture suddenly woke up to the fact that they had overlooked several bets in their selection of lighters, and the date for the performance of the boxing exhibition to be staged by Boston society women for the Haby Hygiene cause has been postponed. It was supposed to take place March 3 it-;- SytapSuNiy 1\,\\\, but i* • now put over for at least two weeks Nate Siegel was scheduled to box Marcel Thomas but the latter looks too much like a setup for Siegel be- cause of his recent defeat. The date also conflicted with several other boxing exhibitions already ar- ranged for, including the annual amateur exhibitions. ~ A. C. BLUMENTHAL & CO., Inc. REALTY BROKERS SPECIALISTS IN THEATRICAL FINANCING. LEASING AND CONSTRUCTION IN THE WEST. 58 SUTTER STREET SAN FRANCISCO SCENERY BY EDWIN H. FLAGO STUDIOS > i I