Variety (March 1921)

I ■ tit I) ,:-,]/ rYfritl 18 VARIETY * FHday, March 18, 1921 IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE USE OF BAGGAGE LABELS t The gummed paper baggage labels on trunks last for so brief a period of time that Mr. Albec has had stencils made by means of which the design can be painted permanently on the trunks *w exactly the style> size and colors of the printed labels. Thts is a permanent and much more satisfactory method from every standpoint. The stencils, together with tubes of red, black and white paint and three brushes, are being sent to every vaudeville theatre in the United States and Canada. In a short while the use of the stencils will no doubt be universal and artists are advised to have the label painted on all of their baggage at the first oppor- tunity. There have been many instances of the advantage of using the label, and a striking case is cited in the correspondence below: ST. LOUIS, SOUTHWESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY St. Louis, March 1, 1921. Mr. Edward F. Albee, President, B. F. Keith Circuit of Theatres, 1564 Broadway, New York City. Dear Mr. Albee: Referring to our exchange of letters with reference to mat- ter of aiding vaudeville artists and other theatrical entertainers through the prompt handling of their baggage: I thought the attached copy of letter commending the efforts of one of our passenger men, in aiding a light opera company, would be of interest to you. Yours very truly, J. M. HERBERT, President. Magnolia, Ark., February 21, 1921. General Manager, St. Louis, Southwestern Railway Company, Memphis, Term. Dear Sir: I am not sure to whom to direct a letter of commendation of one of your employes, but I am addressing it as above, hoping it will reach the right person. I want to call attention to Mr. Walter C. Peeler, Division Passenger Agent of the Cotton Belt Route. I am Manager of the Letter Light Opera Company, of five people, traveling for the Dixie Lyceum Bureau, of Dallas, Texas. Our reaching today's engagement depended entirely on making the 8:55 P. M. Cotton Belt, last night. All the Sunday trains on which we travelled were late, and had it not been for the personal efforts of Mr. Peeler, we should have missed our date, thereby losing mony for ourselves and the Bureau, and disappointing several hundred people. Mr. Peeler not only held the Cotton Belt train, but had a transfer man waiting to get our trunks over for us. I cannot tell you how very much myself and the rest of my company appreciate his attention, and I want to congratu- late the St. Louis, Southwestern Railway Company on having on its staff a man so willing to be of such unselfish assistance to the people who are at the mercy of late train schedules. Sincerely yours, \ HAZEL HUNTLEY, Mgr. March 3d, 1921. My dear Mr. Herbert: Your letter of March 1st received, also copy of a letter from Miss Hazel Huntley. This is indeed a practical illustration of the good work being done by your railroad. I receive similar letters from all parts of the United States and Canada, telling of the great interest railroad folks are taking in seeing that theatrical baggage is taken care of. This is most commend- able. It means so much to the artists, to the theatres, and also the public, who would be disappointed at the non-arrival of baggage, or its delay and the possible doing away altogether of a performance. I know of no movement in theatricals which is so important, and your co-operation is splendid. In behalf of the entire theatrical profession, I want to thank you and those in your employ for their hearty co- operation. Very cordially yours, E. F. ALBEE. Mr. J. M. Herbert, President, St. Louis Southwestern Railway Company, • St. Louis, Mo. BLAMES EQUITY (Continued from Page IS) smith stated the case against his client was similar to that of the II. 8. Bent ham case, dating back about five years. In which it was de- cided an artist's representative need not be licensed, and that he is not an employment agency. Livingston, In addition to the license matter, Is charged with re- ceiving more than the legal com- mission for placing players. His office has regularly charged 10 per cent, whl^'.i, as a manager and rep- resentative, is the custom, although several offices are reported exacting greater percentages. Livingston is well regarded among the profession and has the reputation of not charg- ing more- than 10 per cent. He was formerly on the stage and Is now a paid-up member of the A. E. A. A. E. A. After Agents It has been common talk, the Equity wa3 "after" or.e or two dra- matic agencies. This brouglu a let- ter from Paul Scott, a stock agency. and the reply from the A. E. A. stated It was concern d only with agencies charging more than the legal commission. At the time the warrant against Livingston was sworn out by the law firm of Hess & Kahn. the agent alleges .the attorneys attempted to have him arrested late in the after- noon, when it was practically im- possible to secure bail. It Is said tho vterh of the. eourt was advised the only time to find Livingston was "after 5 o'clock." •Instead, the clerk reached Livingston on the phone at 2 o'clock, and the agent replied he would be ready at any time the officer called. The license depart- ment representatives have called at Livingston's office a number of times and were familiar with the procedure of his business. The agent, who has conducted business for eight years, was puzzled at the sudden activity against him. The matter dates back to the spring of last year, when Webster was appointed, through Livingston, the director for the U. S. Photoplay Co., prompted by Captain Stoll, a former Chicagoan. The firm then had offices in Washington, D. C. The company was capitalized at $2,000,- 000, and about $600,000 of the stock had been sold. The stock was dis- posed of to residents of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, It Is said, by popular subscription. Tangle of Law Suit Webster commenced In April, 1920. He received $100 a week until the actual "shooting" started, after which his salary was $760 per week. It was provided that $250 of that sum should be placed In escrow weekly, pending the completion of "Determination." Livingston's agreement with Webster was for 10 per cent of the salary, the director remitting $50 on the $500 paid him, the balance being due when the escrow money was released. After 12 weeks, the director refused to pay further commission, and around thaf time there was trouble with the offi- cers of the picture company. This culminated when Webster was final- ly let out. Webster started action "against he company, asking $40,000 damages because of his dismissal. He also started suit against Living- ston for $495, the total amount of commissions paid tho agent. The latter Hied a counter-suit for three weeks' commission, plus railroad fare to Washington. Myron Beasley, a cameraman, placed by Livingston also with the U. S. Photoplay Co. at $175 per week, figures in the license action against Livingston, who secured Beasley's appointment at the re- quest of Webster. It was said $500,000 was spent on "Determination" during the time Webster directed the picture, and that approximately $260,000 was consumed for the prolog. The pic- ture is still to be completed. Clifford Wakeman, the receiver appointed, is In charge at the studio at Grant- wood, N. J. citizens should be compelled to sup- port a project that is advertising the city of Chicago to the extent of guaranteeing Its trip to the coast against loss. Charles R. Baker, who Is acting as business manager of the Cali- fornia company, refused to say any- thing regarding the local campaign against the Chicago company's guar- antee, other than he understood that th-re was such a guarantee and that there was considerable feeling among the local singers and their families and friends over the lack of faith on the part of the wealthy people of Los Angeles in a local operatic organization. OPERA GUARANTEE (Continued from Page 13) amounts. Tney went out and hustled for the sale of seats and the general demand was good enough for the company to receive an offer of three weeks at the Mason about tho mid- dle of April, when the house will have lfs first open dates. In the meantime the company is laying off this week with several wetks of broken time offered in the surround- ing territory. It is possible that the organization will be held intact by playing this time and later come Into the Mason with a season in San Francisco to follow. In the meantime those who were interested in the success of the proj- ect purely from * civic and not a financial standpoint are undertaking to create local sentiment against the Chicago organization* The. QhtaajpD company, they point out, in Its prospectus states that it is not run for financial gain but as a "civic asset" to that city, and the Los An- geleans are asking why this city's APPEAL DISMISSED. A motion made in the Court of Appeals to dismiss an appeal pend- ing in the suit of Clark H. Abbott, executor of the estate of Marian M. Faversham, against William Faver- sham was granted this week, with the result a long litigated action reached its conclusion. Mrs. Fa- versham, who died April 6, 1911. secured a final decree of divorce from William Faversham In 1902 plus an award of $3,200 annual ali- mony. She had alleged some moneys due her on accrued back alimony, and on her demise Mr. Abbott, as executor or the estate, continue^ the action, which finally came to a close this week in the defendant's favor. O'Brien, Malevinsky & Drlscoll acted for Mr. Faversham. HILL LIKES MET., CTH1T Gus Hill closed Saturday a two weeks' run of "Bringing Up Father" at the Metropolitan, Philadelphia, te big business and will play all his attractions at that house next sea- son, opening with his minstrel or- ganization there Labor Day. JOE o. AND GERTRUDE Beautiful DrttB. painted or pUtn tn K*trfn... Trlvru ana rtushw. Utrhnw la color and d«In>. lwsSlkaB> artaad. MENTAL MUYkXMf ALLOWED. NOVELTY SCENIC STUDIOS BRYANT 5408 220 WEST 46th STREET NEW YORK BENNETT Late of Miami Beach Club—Miami, Fla. By Popular Demand Return Engagement MARIGOLD GARDENS, CHICAGO, Indefinite In "VARIETY ITSELF" ASSISTED ItY ELGARDA SAISHA ALAN FRANCIS This Week (March 14)—ORPHEUM, MEMPHIS Next Week (March 21)—ORPHEUM, NEW ORLEANS Western Representative, HARRY SPINGOLD