Variety (March 1921)

P^M Friday, March 25, 1921 VAUDEVILLE INSIDE STUFF ON VAUDEVILLE The deliberate "lifting" of an orchestra from its agent was accomplished week or so ago by a big time act, then playing the Palace, New York, and has since caused the agent many trips to the V. M. P. A., all, so far. without result During the latter part of the Palace engagement the person in charge told the placer of the instrumentalists that the band would not be carried with the act after the Palace date due to the money asked. Negotiations were Immediately begun to place the orchestra somewhere else. "~ w - ■•■■■•«■> > • > ~» • -■■• * - ••• The following Monday the agent happened to stop in at the Colonial and there witnessed the act with the same boya supplying the music. Going back stage to see what it was all about and under the impression everything had been fixed up, he was informed the orchestra had been re-engaged direct. EVA TANGUAY*S TWO WEEKS. Fully Markus, the independent booker, has signed Eva Tanguay for a two weeks' engagement at Astoria, L. I. (April 4). and Strand. Union Hill N. J. (April 11). houses, both booked by him. Frank Fay was the tentative headliner in both houses when Miss Tanguay was engaged at a reported salary of $2,000 weekly. She holds a long term Shubert contract with reports that the-Shuberts will ready a production for her in the near tiiture: '>"»•'--*" ^» <- Walter Prower, monologist, also under contract to the Shuberts, has been booked for Astoria. STRAND PLAYING ACTS Cumberland, Md.. March 23. Split week vaudeville starts next Monday at Crandall's Strand. Two performances dally, with three Sat- urdays and holidays. Pictures also. No booking connection is an- nounced. I* A. MacCracken con- tinues as resident manager. Late in October a member of a former two-girl team was married to her new partner whose smile has been familiar in vaudeville for many seasons. It was not long before the couple began disagreeing and they were apart for a week at a time, the wife visiting friends, she explained. This week the team returned to New York and it became known they had been living apart for the last seven weeks. It is intended that they appear as a team for the rest of the season. By then" it is expected by the husband that the wife will have started action for divorce. All that he asks is that she not require alimony. When the couple first teamed early in the season it was agreed the girl receive flfiO weekly as salary. The turn was routed for $600 weekly but instead of the figure agreed on the man divided the salary. After they were wed. he went further saying he way willing to pay all expenses out of his share which was done. OUT-OF-TOWNERS AT DINNER In town for the Vaudeville Man- agers' Protective Association din- ner, held at the Hotel Plaza. Tues- ing representatives from the west- ern vaudeville field—Sam Tishman. Asher Levey, J. J Nash, Kddie Hay- man, Kill Jacobs, "Tink" Humph- ries and W. S. Buttcrfield. Alex. Pantages attended, the Aral time Pantages has been east for a V r . M. P. A. affair. ABOUT MOLINE & DECATUR Following the announcement last week th«» Palace, Mollne, 111. (.1 u nior Orp'heum f, wotild cut' &o*wri its vaudeville from six to three acts and a picture, the local musical union served notice on the man- agement the musicians would have to be paid more for the combina- tion show, than the straight vaude- ville. As a result of the musicians' demands the six acts will continue, but the Orpheum offices has decided to close the house this week. At a recent meeting of the directors of Moss Hmpxes. the English xuusie hall circuit, the annual report for last year was 'mode, showing the company had paid to the government £264,000 for amusement tax; that the prolits for 1920 showed a considerable decrease over those of 1919; that it cost over £1,000 per week more to operate the circuit than in 1919; that an interes:. had been acquired .in the Glasgow Alhambra and Victoria I'alace, London; that they were confronted with what they re- garded as unreasonable demands on the part of labor unions and that the directors approved a mot'.on for the declaration of a dividend at the rate of IS per cent, per annum. Six Acts at Mt. Morris Max Rudnick has taken over the booking for the Mount Morris, New- York City. The house will play six acts and pictures hereafter. The Mount Morris has had a varied career, playing American wheel burlesque lao! season and vaude- ville and pictures intermittently since then. KITTY GORDON DUE IN LONDON AILS BREAKS BLOOD VESSEL. St. Pa ill. March li3. Uoseoe Ails, at the Orpheum last week, was obliged to close his Or- pheum circuit tour after the local engagement. He is suffering from a broken blood vessel, sustained when Ails \v;w recently injured in the ehest. The dancer probably will be off the stage for the remainder of the .(a. on. to fully recover. JOSIE HEATHER'S NAME. Her professional name of Jo Heather has been legalised by Mies 1 leather, through her attorneys. O Brien, Malevincky & Driscoll. The first thing Miss 'eatIter did with her legalized name was to change her bank account. Jo.de. with her sister, Bobbie, has arranged to sail for "Scotland AIi.v 21 on the Columbia. They x.ill spend the summer on the other side. 3KVBIRS&- & . GLOBE, PHIX IT Philadelphia. .Much 23. A definite report in circulation the Shuberts have or will acquire the (Jlobe. This is one of the Stan- ley Co.'s chain. The (llobe is a regular variety house with a large clientele. Its sale to the Shuberts would remove the last Stanley vaudeville house in the tenter of the city. The wife of .a vaudevilllan who is appearing in r.ujvs>rt of a star in! Kitty Cordon will sail for Enp- tbe two-a-day found that her spouse, was masquerading another woman , land at the end of ten weeks to as his \. Te. The act reached New York and the wife located the <«oup'.c { accept a I^opdon engagement. Jack with tli « threat of a lawsuit ensuing. Husband is now paying weekly Wilson and Vera Beresford, Mis: alimon. without lnwj'er's fees or court proceedings. Cordon's daughter, will also sail I With a certain booking chief hav.'ng turned songwriter, it is interesting to note the manner in which acts playing this songwriting booker's | circuit are "plugging" his song. The number to begin is known as a picture, having been written around a feature film also exploited by the same l>ooking circuit whose head is actively inter* ted in vaudeville and pictures. Acts seeking break -in dates with this circuit iirst make certain of including this song in their routine, counting on a favorable "edge" in this v/i:e. A blackface comedian who was dickering for more salary pulled S nifty impromptu to his agent. 'Til tell you what; III get this argument oser with. Tomorrow I start using in my act." naming the thee of the song, "and I'll be sure to get the whole circuit." Recently a theatrical critic advised a jass dancer that he should make uso of his sense of humor on the stage in spoken lines. The darrcer hlU been handing out gags to vaudevillians for years. Acting on the writer's advice he inserted a good measure of comedy chatter into his aot. This week the man appeared in the revised turn at a Broadway theatre. In the audience were as many white shirt fronts as ever seen there. One man in evening dress entered a box with a woman about the time the comedian-dancer was talking. The latter spied the arrivals and called out: "Sit down, waiter." There wasn't one laugh returned. Society Entertainer's Monolog. Margaiet Sumner, society enter- tainer, is to enter vaudeville as an act shortly, with a series of charac - ter. monologs. Lawrence Schwab has the booking in charge Jim McKowtn Has Relapse. Jim McKowen, the agent, ill for some weeks and recovered, suffered a relapse Irte last week that sent him to bed in his home in the Ore- gon, 7th avenue and 54th street. HOUSES CLOSING The Hippodrome, Youngstown, eloses May 5>. Summer stock fol- lows. Doekstadei's, at Wilmington, Del., will close its vaudeville April 4. MEADE HANDLING BISHOP Mickey Curran. the vaudevrlle agent, has turned his feather-weight boxer, Joe Bishop, of Chicago, over to Kddie Meade. Meade handles the destinies of Joe Lynch, bantam champ. Jimmie Thompson as Film Comic. Jimmie Thompson, playing in vaudeville for several years pust as Cycling Zamora, is to be starred in a series of two—reel comedies en- titled "The Smiling Hobo." Ssundors Sails With Beck. Martin Beck, accompanied by Mrs. Beek and r«iri Suunders, pne of the hookers of the Orpheum circuit. railed on the Aquitania Tuesday. Mr. Beck i:; taking the trip to establish Orpheum offices in Lon- don, from which point Kuropean acts, will bo booked for this side. The Heck party will remain abroad about three months. Reviving "Quo Vadis Upside Down." Al Shean, formerly of Shean and Warren, a standard team of ten year* ago, Is reviving "Quo Vadis I'pslde Down." ; ' ILL AND INJURED Charlie Morrison (Ray Hodgdon office) was taken ill last week with a touch of penumonia and was con- fined to his home for a few days. He was expected back at his office this week. Veresford Lovett, with the Blaney Players in Newark, N. J., left the company last week due to a nervous breakdown. Cecil Spooner of the Strand, Ho- boken, N. J., stock, sprained her ankle last week during a dance and was out of the cast several days. Walter LeRoy (LeRoy and Lyt- ton) was reported dangerously 111 of influenza at his home, 300 West 49th street, New York, early this week. Frank Matthews (Matthews and Ay res) has recovered from his re- cent illness and is back at work. Mrs. Bruce Duffus is convalescent in the Fla lineman Hospital, New York, following a major surgical operation. "Temptation," with Arman Kaliz. was out of the bill at the Orpheum. San Francisco, last Thursday after- noon, due to throat trouble of Kaliz. Johnny Burke, playing Oakland, doubled at that perfrmance. At the nigh I show the act went on without Kaliz. who returned Friday. Black and White were compelled to withdraw from the Casino. San Francisco, last week after the open- ing day through one of pirls sus- taining n hudl.t-dislocated knee, The vacancy was not filled. 'Charles Gilroy (Gilroy, Dolan and Corlal) was taken suddenly ill and rushed to the American Theatrical Hospital, Chicago, for an ..pcrat on. Jim Dougherty, single, was oper- ated on at the West Side Hospital, Chicago: appendicitis. .Victoria Allen (Jcnks and Allen) through illness has been obliged to repair to her home in Kansas C'.ty for ri re. t. Si Jenks is d )lng a single. it'H the first time the couple has fa . n parted for 10 ears. PR0DUCTI0N ENGAGEMENTS Prard< lirrene, "Prince** Virtue." IMv. in > ieander with "Happy New Yi ,i (John Cohh ;i>. Earl i o\ ,,nci I'd,, ri I'itkiu, for *Prlne< v ii i,ic." Chiirli-s King for I; I,. to Y'MI." I w.lliam NEWELL and MOST ELSA Offer "ON THE LAWN," by Hugh Herbert AI.IIAMBR A "An exceptionally clever couple, 'flic «irl ha-, an abundance ol person- ality, and the hoy is a neat, Mnooth opposite.**' Variety. KKJTH'S. COLUMBUS "... Have the difficult "ncxl to doting" position and ivitll case, overcome the handicap of following Juliet's hit, they talk, play violin, guitar, shiR, M<p. and in a way that brings them waves of laughter and applnti.se." Dispatch. STATE-LAKH "... Have al! the grace and charm of a.musical comedy couple and were the hr-t hit oi ih> hill.*'— Variety. oi'i- \i\(, okPinx'M cikcun to ■ k< ii o I", . • i |>iu< ioi • I! dill KS.fi M \N V\ I RING. Western Director? KAdLi: .\ «.< ILDSMI I II. NEW ACTS, Sammy Lee in "Captain Kid'M Kid." a > inging, talking and dancing ri'vut' in three spvclal scenes by 11* it Kusell. Three others in the cast. Acting on the supposed preference of big-time agents for the musical- farce-comedy type of act over the revue type, W. B. Frlcdlander has started work on three such turns. He wilt supply the scores and the books are by Will Hough. The Alexander Kids have aban- doned their present style of enter- tainment, due to the illness of their mother, who recently underwent an operation, which will necessitate her remaining in New York indefinitely. A new act with specialties has been written for the kids by Kdgar Allan VVoolf. Harry McNuughton with Robert Kills, both formerly of "The Better Ole." Frankie Ralley, with eight people, lneluding Irene Quid ley, Angelo K0- meno and Five Elite Boys, musi- cians. Act produced by James Devlin. "Appearances." ftaturing Al White with Hamilton Christy and Klla Monrose. Clare Carroll (Slua nnd Carroll), single. Howard and l.» wis. new song and talk. Homer Kind, with four people. Edwards Davis, president of the N. V. A., who was to have appeared under the Belasco management during the current season, has placed in rehearsal a vaudevil'e starring vehicle. Florence Maxwell, picture actro.-:*. with eight people and special scen- ery. (Hose & Curtis.) William Anthony Maguirn ha* completed the manuscript of a com- edy, entitled "Six Cylinder Love." It will be cast by Lowia te (lordt n for production this spring. Jane O'ltourkc, single, from th;> west. Katlterinc Hatluld, formerly of "Midnight Frolic." with Matty Hcan- lon. James II. i: sdbu'y. Jr. in a sketeh. IN AND OUT Olive Reaves Smith has return d te 'Three Kivc Ghosts" after a !( DM absence. Milo, the tramp comedian, ill with pneumonia when ubout to sail for London, is about once more, though it wilt be about two months Jbefcre he will be physically able to resume his work on the stage. Ralph Farnum, of the Keller o.'- flre, was taken ill Friday with the "flu." He Is at his home, with the expectation of being out some time during the latter part of the week. An attempt was made to place F u - mim in an hospital, but the sickness prevalent around New York this winter left no available aecontmodfl tlon for the stricken agent in i) • number of hospitals applied to. Clceollni, the tenor, left tin- bill at Keith's, Washington. Friday nit;lit because of a severe cold, which de- veloped into la grippe. Sunday nixht Ii" was confined to his room with a temperature of 101 degrees, M< K.-od and Norman doubled from the <'amnios for the balance of the Week to fill the spot on tho bill. Tempest and Sunshine out of tho Palace afjer (vlonda.v, repu.».«<^ i»v Sa( Nagano, J... doubling from the Fifth Avenue. Frank Gaby left the bill at KHth's. Washington, l*. c, after the Monday matinee h«. m • <.f luart attack. MARRIAGES Marie Zucker (formerly Pack; rd Dramatic Agency and Famous l*la\ - ••rs' casting department) to Aeon Wleseneck (non-professions lb Feb. i l' in Los Angeles. Louise Homer, daughter oi Mmr. Horner the diva, and Rmest Van Renssaluer Btlres, son of Rev. I>r .irid Mry. l&TOesI M HtireS, w. II b<- married In St. Thomas,' April l^h. H< ii [■'.. Jackson manager ol I '< Audubon, x«vv York, lo !{«».-•• Jsn- dorf, nop professional, a ysai Announcement w;i< made this week The collide m> Mpciifllnsj a dclttj moon ifi i in mountains.