Variety (March 1921)

s -, ' #■ * < • » » VARIETY'S SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE &an if rancteco Friday, March 18, 1021 PANTAGES THEATRE BUILDING STOCK AT MacARTHUR. Alice Gentle Surprises Critics in Leading Role. Ban Francisco, March IS. The Mac-Arthur, in" Oakland, formerly Ye Liberty, opened Sunday on the 17th anniversary of the the- atre with a prod uctioh of "The Rosre of the Rancho," which brought to the limelight Alice Gentle, operatic star, as "Juanlta," the first of a series of roles she Is to play during the dramatic stock season. Miss Gentle gave an agreeable shock to the critics, who came to satisfy themselves that a grand opera star could not act and who left Impressed with her work. A splendid supporting company is headed by Walter Richardson. Much credit Is due Hugh Knox, who staged the show. Those in the east besides Miss Gentle and Richardson were Jerome Sheldon, Claribel Fountalne, Louis Morrison, Blanche Douglas, Paul D. Smith, May Joseph! Kincald, John G. Fee, Marie Dunkle and others. The stock opened to almost ca- pacity business Sunday afternoon and evening and the advance is heavy for the balance of the week and Indications are for a successful season. George Ebey, manager of the Ful- ton, Oakland, offered as opposition to the opening of stock at the Mac- Arthur "The Ouija Board." Ebey has been indulging in an extensive advertising campaign In which Crane Wilbur and Maude Fulton figure—Miss Fulton as the one who discovered the merits of "The Ouija Board" and Wilbur as the author. FERNANDO MICHELENA ILL. San Francisco, March 16. Fernando Michelena, former grand opera star and father of Beatriz Michelent, picture actress, and Vera Michelena, now In vaudeville in New York, is In a private hospital here suffering from a stroke of paralysis which culminated a week's illness. His condition Is serious and the eldest daughter, Beatriz, is con- stantly at his bedside. Michelena Is CO years of age. FLAYERS' SPRING SEASON. San Francisco, March 16. The spring season of the Players' theatre opened last Friday evening with "Emperor Jones." Carl Kroenke has the title role and a special cast. Other plays to be given during the season are: "Jonathan Makes a Wish"; two off Lord Dunsany's plays, and two comic opera revivals, "Glrofle-Glrofla" and "Yeoman of the Guard." Ruth St. Denis will be the stellar attraction in April. ENLARGING ROYAL. San Francisco, March 16. Plans have been completed for the reconstruction and enlargement of the Royal, In the Polk street dis- trict. The stage and seating capac- ity will be the first to be effected and in the future living prologs to the feature pictures will be shown. MANILA MANAGER DUE. San Francisco, March 16. Frank Goulett, owner of the Lyric and Savoy, Manila, P. I., will arrive here in May. It will be his first visit to his native land in ten years. Coulett will secure a musical com- edy company to play en route back to Manila, where the company will remain in stock. LEVEY TAKES FOUR IN NEB. San Francisco, March 16. Four Nebraska towns were added to the Bert Levey Circuit last week and are playing bills from the of- fices. They are Grand Island, three days; Holdredge, Central City and McCook, one-day stands. Levey leaves for an extended trip east, Feb. 18. PENNIES STAR T A ROW. Maude Earl at San Diego Talks to Audience San Francisco, March If. According to reports from San Diego, Maude Earl, on the Pantages Circuit, was compelled to stop dur- ing the middle of her performance at one of the shows during the San Diego engagement. Pennies were thrown on the stage during her act. Miss Earle informed the audience men in uniform were responsible. Several sailors answered her, whereupon a verbal fued ensued be- tween the enlisted men and Miss Earle which led to several score of sailors marching up and down the house in disorderly fashion until a navy patrol arrived and brought peace. One "gob," acting as sp6kesman for the others, stated Miss Earle had insulted the men of the navy and that the latter would boycott the house during her stay there. IRENE WEST RETIRES. San Francisco, March 16. Irene West, who recently returned from the Orient, has announced her permanent retirement. Her former husband, George Barnes, left for Honolulu a short time ago to enter commercial fields. LOEWS CASINO. San Francisco, Mar. 16. While the vaudeville was typical small time, the bill stacked up as an entertaining show. Great La Fol- lette and Co. was the most impres- sive act and made a good flash for this class of houses. La Follette is an energetic worker and hits a- fast pace throughout. His protean offer- ing at the opening is interssting and the rapid manner in which be makes his changes had the audience applauding. Interest was kept up by his Impersonations of great men. His familiar ma^ic at the finish held attention. Clemenceau Brothers started the show with the audience straggling in. This novelty musical act which Includes the playing of some of the Instruments in acrobatic positions went through without a slip, pet- ting laughs and applause. Denny and Louise Hurley do not make a very good first impression with their talk and appearance, but the pair make good with a well handled routine of hand lifts which receives more appreciation through the fact that the woman does all the lifting of her lighter male partner. The Cromwells, man dressed as a girl, and a girl in character make-up assisting, have a good line of Juggling tricks presented In a speedy manner and without stalling for applause. The clever and stren- uous Juggling received good ap- plause and would be Just as well received if the man worked straight. It appeared to be plain to the audience he was not a girl. Rand and Gould, a tramp and straight. closed the vaudeville section and the laughs were scattered plenti- fully through their talk. The tramp makes his talk funny and the straight handles himself cleverly, displaying a fine voice in a ballad. They finished to a good sized hit. The *>ing show was "Urr.ph." PANTAGES, FRISCO. San Francisco, March 16. Pantages, though containing mer- itorious acts, hasn't an altogether satisfactory show this week and is practically without comedy. The Primrose Minstrels, with Mrs. George Primrose headllner, gives the bill its only laughs, these com- ing from minstrel gags and the min- strel specialties offered by Goss, Haley, Malloy Brothers, Piatt and Rogers and Mrs. Primrose. The Patrowars, with iridescent stage settings, make big flash in the closing position. The athletic poses, hand-to-hand leaps and lift- ing are of high order and presented^ in clean-cut manner. The opening by the woman detracts from the act, while the classical dance efforts ap- pear ridiculous. Zelda Santley, next to closing, falls short with her impersonations of Jolson, La Rue, Bayes, et al., and, aside from the material, the red hat used in the Grace La Rue impres- sion is the neares* resemblance to any of the originals. Miss Santley displayed ability in a Jazz number. Five Violin Misses, featuring Hattie Kirchner a dancing violin- iste, please with their sprightly playing and attractive stage hang- ings. Rosa King Trio start the show with a rush on the tight wire. The girls are attractive and speedy workers. The man's rope skipping and split take extra well. Austin and Allen score nicely, even though some of their finer points go for naught. They have a neat routine of songs, pretty cos- tumes and special stage hangings. Bo*h work well to highly satisfac- tory results. ORPHEUM, FRISCO. San Francisco, March 16. The Oipheum's current bill is minus any big comedy punch, but runs to clean, fast entertainment and has a big finish with Emerson and Baldwin in a skit taking the laugh honors in closing position of a late show. Annan Kaliz and Co. in "Temp- tation," a pretentious headliner through elegance of stage settings and costumes. Kaliz displays his usual class and is seen to better advantage than ever in this offering, which contains novelty, pretty girls and good dancing talent The act received applause warranting a speech. Gene Greene was another speech maker, next to closing. His char- acter singing and dialect stories register their usual. He has a girl with a pleasing voice sing an Orien- tal number-for his dope characteri- zation, and "Avalon" also is duetted. Bessie Browning, with Jack Joy at the piano, does exceedingly well with character numbers, well han- dled. Joy assists ir a couple of numbers acceptably. Valeska Suratt and company, holdover, repeats well in fourth spot. Miss Suratt got applause with the announcement that the gowns she wears this week were made in Frisco. Alfred Latell, "the Pensive Pup," with Elsie Vokes, amused in third position. While the act is not par- ticularly Interesting, Latell's clever dog impersonation and Miss Vokes' appearance and voice win appre- ciation. Ray Conlin kept the house laugh- ing through some new gags with a dummy, and his fomier material loses none of its laugh-getting qual- ities. Page and Green open the show rapidly, their comedy and clever acrobatics gathering laughs and applause. FRISCO NOTES. San Francisco, March 12. Peggy Parker has retired and opened a fashionable hat shop for women in the downtown district. Mabel Turner, soubret at Fur- cell's, is home again after a second trip east. She was accompanied by Mrs. Lester Mapp in her first tour, but made the second one alone, stopping at Chicago for several weeks to fill an engagement at Dreamland. HIP, FRISCO. . * San Francisco, March 16. Loew's Hippodrome this week of- fers pretty good small-time enter- tainment of the kind that appeals to the house's clientele. Victoria and Dupree take care of opening position in good style. Harvey and Stifter, a mixed couple, go through nicely with songs and comedy business. Nancy Boyer and Co. give the show laughs as we'l as a bit of pathos here and there, with a sketch entitled "Mary Lou," in which Miss Boyer does capital work. She is capably assisted by Henry Testa, Copes and Hutton, a male team, with some nut comedy and familiar material, get away to good applause with their singing. The Petite Musicale, with six girls In vocal and instrumental of- ferings, arouse good applause in the closing spot. When in SAN FRANCISCO VOt'ltE 8VRK TO MEKT Till M AT GOOD FOOD — POPt'I.AR PRICES ANNA LANE. Bctwcm POWBLL and MASON Street* CONTINENTAL HOTEL LOBBY—1» ELLJ8 Street. PAUL HANSEN, Mgr. Al Browne, former local manager for Witmark's, is back from a visit to San Diego, where he appeared with his new trio. Wells and De Verra, touring the Loew circuit out this way, have au- tographed photographs presented them by President Harding at a banquet held in Marion. Harry Harrigan, principal come- dian at the Columbia. Oakland, re- turned to the fold Sunday in the new revue, "Silk Stockings." Har- rigan has been east on a visit for the past'few weeks. Plant; are afoot to remodel thr old Saddle Rock restaurant in Oakland and make it into a Tait's or Techeau-Tavern. The scheme is being financed by a coterie of Oak- landers who have banded together for the purpose of livening up the city. The new cafe will be wel- come, as Oakland has had nothing of the sort in years. Al Clark of the Fred Fisher staff here has Joined "The Greenwich Village Follies," having replaced one of the quartet with the show. "Havana Moon," published re- cently by the Florentine Music Co of this city, has been sold to Will Kossitcr. ERBER TRIBUTE AT L SI LOUIS OPENING New Home Magnificent, With Sentiment at Premiere. Bflfii St. L.oute, March 1*,,.. Joe Erber, western theatre man- ager, saw the realization of a dream come true when he opened the doors of his new theatre last Thursday. Erber also knows now that friendship is real and being a good fellow has its assets. The largest delegation of theatre men ever from Chicago to pay homage to a manager and new theatre left Thursday morning to pay their respects to Erber. While on board the train and through the courtesy of Sam Thall they were the guests of Roy Pierce, who has charge of handling the theatrical business for the C. & A. Erber's theatre is in the heart of the business section and is a one- floor house, seating 1,940 on the main floor, with a magnificent en- trance through a lobby that can stand up 1,000. It is decorated in ivory, old rose and gold. Back stage is installed a major switch board, and works by pressing of buttons for the various lighting ef- fects. The dressing rooms are equipped with full-length mirrors, hot and cold water, -shower baths and, for the convenience of large acts, one dressing room accommo- dates twelve. A special N. V. A. room has writing desks, telephone, rockers, lounge. The opening was attended by the Commercial Club in a body and other clubs in the city. Opening night speeches were made by the Mayor, the District Attorney, the State Treasurer, and visitors and local celebrities. The lobby was one mass of flowers. The show, booked by the W. V. M. A., ran without a hitch and consisted of Newell and Most, Brown and Wes- ton, Donovan and Lee, Rubeville and Mijares. After the last show an enthusiastic banquet was held at the Statle Hotel (St. Louis), at- tended by 200 well-wishers. N. V. A. COMPLAINTS. The following complaints have been filed with the N. V. A. Com- plaint Board: Joe Browning against D. D. H. Browning alleging copying and twisting about of his material, and lifting of business. Hughes and Debrow against Lloyd and Good, claiming infringement of the following gags: "You have a big mouth"; answer, "You • no button hole," and "Where do you come from?"—"Memphis, Louisi- ana." "That's not in Louisiana, it's in Arkansas." Following a complaint by Daniels and Waters against Tom Wise on the use of the title "The Oldtimer," Mr. Wise informed the N. V. A. he would immediately change the title In question, and was not aware the title had been used before. Butt and Mace against Hilton and Norton, infringement on Scotch finish. Earl and Mullen against Harry . uck and Co., infringement on girls making entrance by means of illu- sion cabinet. Ii: answer to the com- plaint Billie Siiow, prodU3< , states the business in question is the prop- erty of the carpenter of the Harry Puck act "Everyman*,, and it was loaned by the carpenter to Earl and Mullen, consequently they have no basis for a complaint. where an Independent manager had a contract with a non-Equity member extending for another year or two. One of the- manager* present wanted to know if under such conditions he would be ex* pected to break the contract with the non-Equity member. He also asked if where a non-Equity player has established a role and it was deemed best to continue him in the part, whether he should be dismissed. There were no direct decisions on any of the questions put, the A. E. A. council stating it would hold % meeting this week and consider the questions. A manager suggested Equity draw up a separate agreement for the various recognized New York independents, incorporating the same conditions as applied in the agreement between the P. M. A. and the A. E. A these individual agree- ments to run until 1924, the ex- piration period of the managers' association. The suggestion fol- lowed the statement In the meet- ing that the A. E. A. was not "after" the New York independents but that it had been forced to adopt the "Equity Shop" because of the number of "fly by night" man- agers who stranded companies on the road. It was claimed that a majority of the A. E. A. member* ship was engaged by such attrac- tions and that it has cost the A. E. A. $10,000 in railroad fares to bring actors back to New York thia season. Another suggestion made was that if the A. E. A. did not cafe to make individual agreements, the independent managers would be willing to file bond guaranteeing the return transportation of any com- pany sent out by them, but that the discrimination which would be forced on HUM by the closed shop should not attain. Representatives of the Touring Managers' Association and the Ac- tors' are scheduled to get together the latter part of the week, or early next week, for the purpose of talk- ing over the "Equity Shop" propo- sition. The conference, if it is held, will have been brought about as a result of a letter sent to the T. M. A. by Frank Gillmore, executive sec- retary of the Equity, suggesting the T. M. A. and Equity talk things over. Gus Hill, President of the T. M. A., denied there was any split in the ranks of the T. M. A. on the "Equity Shop" question. Mr. Hill said the Touring Managers' Associa- tion had committed itself in favor of the open shop and he was posi- tive under no circumstances would the T. M. A. recede from that posi- tion. Mr. Hill reiterated the state* ment made by him many times since the "Equity Shop" matter has come up, that the T. M. A. would recog- nize no type of closed shop prin* ciple. Charles Rose is the new master of ceremonies at Herbert Myerf eld's "Cellar." mjDLFZSDEFIS AND SaUITY (Continued from page 1) tion of their own. Added to that was the idea that the public was a third party to the arrangement and would hardly permit unknowns to appear on Broadway to the ex- clusion of the recognized better players. Another point considered was SHTJBEKT FILM SHOWS (Continued from page 1) at ten, even that number may be exceeded, although it is not a surety that all of the specials will find a resting place in the Shubert houses. On top of the Aim bookings of forty (more or less) road shows, past experience on film road show routing has developed that a picture may remain in a city for two, three or four weeks, or longer, whereas a.production is limited to one week's stay on the big city time, with a couple of exceptions. The outlook for the Shubert list next season, according to the show- men who have calculated the future condition, is that in the Shubert towns, where there is more than ont theatre book by them, the Shubert houses may be opposing each other with pictures, instead 1 of dramatic or musical comedy attractions, though room must be provided fcr the vaudeville combinations. With the picture producers ar- ranging for their own road shows ?!\d..th?_S^jb > ejrt vaudeville corpora- tion operating its vaudeville, the showmen say all the Shuberts will have to do next season is to draw down their percentages and com- missions without making any per- sonal investment. Bert Feibelman, who lately re- turned from the Coast, was this week selected by Metro to route the "Four Horsemen" road shows. 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. FLAGG STUDIOS