Variety (March 1921)

rriday, M»rch 11, 1621 VAUDEVILLE SET-UPS AND POISON HOOCH FOR "TOMATO" Con Yearns for the Sunlit Diamond. OBITUARY Utica, March I. r>#ar Chick: X suppose all the ball gamers are ■ packla' their shoes and prayer beaks and biking for the bushes and other orchards to fool the public for an- other great and glorious season. I haven't begun to get my apple chasers to-gether but expect to get word any day now to put the pin- ochle deck and the apples into the old grip and take it on the lam. In the meantime "Tomato" and me are pickin* up .some small change knockin' over these *sape and workin' the act. Cuthbert is get- tln' so stuck on smearln' up his pan with grease paint that he will probably be ruined for the sun filled Job. -hat I have layed out Tor him. If he hits within fifty points of the number of bows he has stole with this act he will lead the league i with daylight between him and the second best guy. ^'Tomato" has a yen to play ball aad isn't half bad. He played a lot as a kid and might be able to hold down a Job after a year on the bench with me. At any rate it's a good way for him to keep out of trouble this .summer and keep in condition. Cuthbert's wife has layed off him since I promised to smack her hubby In the kisser if she butted in any more, and everything is lovely. There's more bootleggers and hide aways in this burg than their arc actors in Wolpins. The other night I joined out some of the boys on the bill and one" guy said he knew a spot. We blasted in and the prop, whispered that he had some real honest to goodness Scotch. We called for a fresh bot- tle with the owner relatin' the his- tory of the hooch how it came in from Canada and was worth it's weight in German marks, etc. Well, after we come to the mob started to argue, one claim Ik.' we were gassed, etc. Some one had a bright idea. This was supposed to be White Horse, with the picture of the horse on the bottle. One of the gang drew a tail of the the nag on I the bottle. The next night we went back for more punishment. We had finished the quart the night pre- vious. The prop, met us with his usual chatter, and we called for Scotch. Sure enough, out come the brand new bottle, with the horse sport in' a beautiful flowin' tail. Well, they Just tore the Joint apart. This bird had been reftllin' bottles and gettin' away with it. He also got a kick back from all the local croakers who were called in to administer the last rights to the customers. That's one thing about these fenced-in burgs—they cer- tainly know how to keep all the jack in the family. "Tomato" is trainin* and keepin' In shape, for we are gettin* offers from all these up-state clubs. I may jump down to Troy with him soon, for they have a local kid there named "Stockings" Conroy who they think can lick Leonard. He is named after a heavyweight who once fought Fitzsimmons. They say that before the fight Fitz was asked by "Stockings" if they couldn't start a little early, as the latter wanted to get back to Troy that night. Fits said all right, and after they got in the ring Fitz kept askin' "Stockings" *hat time his train left. Finally "Stockings" said, "In about an hour." Fits said: "Well, you just have lime to dress and make it." and he biffed "Stockings" on the Jaw. knockin' him dead. "Stock- ings" made the train und» r wraps. Shoot me a sheet an*, scratch and remember me to all the gang that *r«j out. Your old fryin' pan. Con. PAUL M. POTTER. Pud M. Potter, 18, playwright. was found dead in bed at his apart- ment la the Murray Hill Baths, New York, March 7. Mr. Potter, whose real name was Walter Arthur MacLean, was born In Brighton, England, June I, 185S, the son of the headmaster of King Edward's School at Bath. He was educated there and after graduation went to India, where' he assumed the name of Potter. Early in his career he was a newspaperman, serving as foreign editor of the New York Herald in 1876. Later he was its London correspondent and in 1885 became dramatic editor, hold- ing that post three years. From there he went to the Chicago ^Tribune. His dramatization of Du Maurier's •Trilby," in 1895. gave him his first claim to fame as a playwright, but previously he had written "The City Directory'.; (1889), "The Ugly Duck- ling" (1890), in which Mrs. Leslie Carter made her debut as a Belasco star; "The Worlds Fair," "The American Minister" (1892) for W. H. Crane, and "Sheridan, or the Maid of Bath" (1893) for E. H. Sothern. Subsequently he wrote "Our Coun- mm—mmmmm—mm—mmaammmm there sines Dec. 18. Toole was for- mer manager of the Dunfee theatre, Syracuse, and also -was with Cal Wagner and Gus Williams. He was the oldest member of the Syracuse lodge of Elks. Ills wife and one daughter survive. ALEXANDER GORMAN. Alexander Gorman, for several seasons,manager of Drew $ Camp- bell's "Liberty Girls" and recently handling the "Snappy Snaps" show House at Schenectady, N Y., died last week at the home of his mother in Chicago. He had been in ill health several years, but remained at work in the Schenectady theatre un- til a year ago, when he went to Chicago. He was connected with the Van Curlers for 15 years. IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY HUSBAND NATHAN ELLIS 0 Wht PtuH Away Marts M. itift ELLA ELLIS for Dave Marion, died in a Boston hospital Tuesday afternoon. tie was stricken with pneumonia while the. company was playing in that city two weeke ago. The body was taken to Philadelphia. IN MEMORY of My Beet FRIEND snd PARTNER. BOB PLANT WHO DIED MARCH 7 JOHNNY MURPHY LAURA B. KAHN. Laura B. Kahn, until ten years ago a well known actress, died March 5 at the Actors' Fund Home. She was 67 years old and the widow of Gustavus Kahn, one-time theat- rical manager. She was burled be- side him in the Actors' Fund plot in Evergreen Cemetery. Mrs. Kahn had been on the stage for 30 years prior to her engagement and'in her later years had appeared for. Klaw & Erlariger and Joseph Hart. ANGELICA DELAPIERRE X N Mrs. Angelica Delapierre, soprano soloist and a teacher of vocal and instrumental music, died at her Brooklyn. N. Y. home March 3. She was 72 years old. Mrs. Delapierre was the daughter of Albert Wilkin- son, buyer for P. T. Barnum when the latter has his museum on Nassau street. She was a member of the Cecilia Musical Society. SCHENECTADY, N. Y. BANS CARNIVAL CO'S. ALBERTS, VIOLINIST. Albert Fell, known as Alberts, the violinist, died in Dr. Shaw's Hos- pital, Elko, Nev., Feb. 28. aft being operated on for tumor of the throat. Ho was about 54 years old, a native of Germany. He is survived by a daughter, also a professional. try Cousin," "The Pacific Mail," "The Stag Party.' "Under Two Flags," "The Conquerors," "The Bed Kloof." "The Victoria Cross," "Notre Dame," "The, School Girl," "Nancy Stair." "The Honor of the Family." "Barbara's Millions," "Queen of the Moulin Rouge,"-"The Girl from Bee- tor's." "Pretty Soft," # "Arsene Lupin" and "Israel." From 1894 to 1898 Mr. Potter was resident dramatist at Palmers theatre. PETER A. KARL. w m i Peter A. Karl, owner of the Bialto, Utica, died at his home in that city March 4. He had been ill since Monday. He was a native of Ger- many. In 1909, Karl formed the Hippodrome Aumusement Co. of Utica, of which he was vice presi- dent. The same company also operates the Dutchess in Pough- keepsie. After severing his connec- tions with the Hippodrome, Karl took over the Bialto. His wife, one son and two daughters survive. JOHN A. TOOLE. John A. Toole, who began his theatrical career at 14 and continued it actively until 57, died at the Syra- cuse Memorial Hospital, Syracuse, March 3. He had been a patient THOMAS V. EMORY Bit Vernon. N. Y., March 9. . Word wan received here last week Of the death in a New York hospital of Thomas V. Emory, age 38 years, formerly juvenile lead with the old Playhouse stock company. Death was due to pneumonia. i . The father of Florence, Frank. Clara and Charles Thropp, all the- atrical people, died March 3. He was 91 years old. » - : - .r i CLARENCE W. MULLEN Clarenco W. Mullen. veteran orchestra leader, died, In Westerly, It. I., Feb. 24, after a short illness due to the rupture of an artery In his throat. He was 42 years old. Mr. Mullen early in his theatrical MY DEAR PAL—I MISS YOU BOB PLANT DIED MARCH 6th. 1921 - M»y Your Haul Rest In r>ar*. JACK POT8DAM iSBSSBSBBSSBSSBBSSSSSSSSBSSSBSlBBSSMr career was musical director of many other road attractions. He later settled in New Britain, Conn., being orchestra leader for several houses there and in other New England towns. i.. .i i .. $ EDWARD LEVI Edward Levi, former treasurer and secretary of the Van Curler Opera GEORGE P. OGIER George P. Ogler, for many years in the business office of Marcus Loew, died March 2. He was born in Camden, Me., in 1845, and the body was taken there for burial. Prior to entering the theatrical business Mr. Ogier was associated with the Traveler* Insurance Co. BOB PLANT. Bob Plant of Murphy and Plant died of appendicitis at Knoxville. Tenn., March 6. He wa« appearing in that city when stricken and was operated on March 1. He was for- merly of Lane and Plant. The funeral was held at his home in Boston March 8. He was 31 years of age. GEORGE 8TEVEN30N fieorge Stevenson (Stevenson and Nugent), died Saturday, March 5, after a long illness. Interment occurred Tuesday of this week at Greenwich Cemetery. The deceased was about 38 years of age and was a former partner of Henry Bisset. £J—■— - FERDINAND MICHELENA Ferdinand Michelena, father of Vera and Beatrice,, died In San Francisco March 4 pf heart trouble. He was at one time a Spanish opera singer and in later years was con- nected with the Conservatory of Music. • WALTER MILTON Walter Milton, who last appeared in vaudeville In the*sketch "Don't Walk Mn Your Sleep," died at his home in Jersey City, March 7, after a lingering illness of four years. The* mother of Saul Abrahams died at her home in ■ New York March 7. Mr. Abrahams is company manager 'Of the "Greenwich Village Follies." which left NeW York Sun- day And opened In Boston.' \ CANTOR TAKING REST ."Midnight Rounders" Not Going to Chicago. The ■how. report the Eddie Cantor 'The Midnight Rounders" (Bhuberfs). will tackle Chicago for •summer run seems to be refuted through Cantor having expressed mmself as favoring a vacation com- mencing in June and extending for ** 'east six weeks. The Cantor show will approach 2?** ly to New York week of Man I. • *hen appearing at the Crescent. Brooklyn. No License Rule Follows Bribe Scandal. Schenectady, March 9. No permits will bo granted to carnival companies in this city this season. This MftOtfljKMttH m< «Mjg made 'to- day by Mayor George R. Lunn, who termed the carnivals as "little more than an aggregation of freaks and frauds." The Mayor made the announce- ment following a confcrenco with David Connell, president of the Common Council. "We both agreed that the average carnival la not de- sirable and should not be allowed.to show in the city," said Mayor Lunn after the conference. "I have, there- fore, determined that no carnivals will be allowed to exhibit In Sche- nectady this summer." It is .*aid the chief reason for placing the ban on carnivals was to make impossible such a situation as developed last summer, when two policemen were Indicted .a charges of* extortion in connection with a carnival on the Erie boule- vard in May. which was allowed to operato percentage wheels. The activities of the carnival were Investigated by the Grand Jury of Schenectady county and as u re- sult It was charged tha* a sum^-pf money was paid by the carnival management for "police protection." John E. Cole, commissioner of pub- lic safety, admitted that money had been received from the manage- ment and turned over to the police' pension fund. The Grand Jury indicted former plain clothes Policeman 'John Hank- ard and Patrolman John J. O'Brien, at the time a plain clothes man, on the charge of extortion. Hankard is now serving a term in Clinton prison for assaulting a police sergeant and the case of O'Brien will come up In May. ALBANY INCORPORATIONS Frontier . Features} capital $100.- 000: director* H." BrRagsdmro. P. T. Buckley, A. Randolf. 16 West Sixty- seventh street. Strand Music Pub. Co.; capital $5,000; directors M. and J. J. Schneider, C. E. Hochber* 717 Sack- man street. Brooklyn. C. A. 8. Trading Co., musical in- struments; capital $10,000; direc- tors A. and J. Cohen, M. Stockman, 40 Bast Third street. Cataract Theatre Corp., Niagara Fulls; capital $1,200,000; directors J. A. Schuchert, A. Klllian, A. C. Ilayman, Niagara Falls. Ritz Theatre Co.; capital, $5,000; directors, M. Klein. A. Werner and H. B. Diamond. 1165 Longfellow avenue. Hays Music Co.; capital. $20,000; directors, H. O. Deete, Is, Heck and L. A. Flanagan, 666 West 207th street. Walker Amusement and Const. Co.; Rochester; capital, $7Fi,000; directors, A. Neble, J. Jardine and C. M. Walker Designation. Simons Film Machine Co. of Del- aware; II. K. Gould, 37 Wall street, agent. y Valkyrie Pictures Corp.; capital, $100,000; directors. C. Gumalesis, M. Gisnet, R. L. Noaji, 200 West 04th street. 0 Houdini Picture Corp.; capital, $500,000; directors, B. M. L. Ernst, M. H. Calne. D. J. Fox, 31 Liberty street. Artistic Equipment Corp.; musi- cal Instruments; capital, $10*000; directors, G. H. Olsen. H. A. Ilvoncn. A. It. Monfort. 5 Columbus Circle. VIRGINIA PEARSON AND SHELDON LEWIS a gripping melodrama, replete with 'iMghs and thrills, ».y 'The Second Char.ce,' Sheldon Lewis. These famous stage and screen star* entered vaudeville for s limited engagement and are now In their 45th week Third return engagement (it PALACE, NEW v<»i:k. lie turn i ngaf?emcnta st ail of Keith's Now York. Theatres. Management. HENRY BELLIT. COLONIAL, NEW YORK, THIS WEEK (March 7). ALHAMBRA, NEW YORK. NEXT WEEK (March 14). DELAWARE INCORPORATIONS. Dover, Del., March 9. The following charters were is- sued this week: Charles "Chic" Sale Picture Corp.; capital, $1,000,0(10; director*, If. O. Eastbum, W. F. Bouzarth, M. E. Dote. Wilmington. New Amsterdam Film Corp.; cap- ital. $250,000; directors, Wiley K. Mcintosh, Campbell A. Mcintosh, Lewis Landes New York. J. O. Williams Amuse. Co.; cap- ital $250,000; directors J. Benedict. A. Denk, E. B. Johnson. New York. Smith Amuse. Corp.; capital $1.- 400,000; directors L. B, Phillips, A. Silver, Dover. Smyrna Amuse. Co.; capital $la,« 000; directors Mark McManu*. E. M. Fowler. Smyrna, Del.; H. I\ l-Vnimore, Dover. COLONIAL, ALBANY, STOCK. Stock will again he presented ;it th" Colonial. Albany, N. Y., during the summer. It was tried out as an experiment last* J ear during the warm weather and wai retained ui ■ i i New Year's. Th:: year the venture will he iri the hands of the local owners, in* ste ; ,,i «>r being backed by New Yorf interests. The house Is playing pl<« tiiri : at present.