Variety (March 1921)

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■ '*■ -4 10 BURLESQUE Friday, March £S, 1921 PHILADELPHIA AND WATCRBURY <T E^ S """ COLUMBIA HOUSES TO CLOSE '• >M) .1 » -KT-TrTT-Tr '•• >•■ '►■ >' o »' > >-■ „* >. Other Shows to Try Post Season Engagements. ' •■ *'•'">!»••> V - «■» >•>»• v i,. > >' w ' ' > v " » i> I" Continued Poor Business Makes Move Advisable >•' \ i- *, >.. > fc. AMERICAN WHEELS BAD SEASON; ONLY SIX SHOWS ARE WINNERS "Town Scandals," the Irons & People's, Philadelphia, and Jacques, Waterbury, 1 ctojw c ° ,um J?i* Bhow ; «° es *? to »^. r m S » •■ v» o • /vtf r 1_ tno Columbia, Chicago, for an in- Discont nue April 2— Business Off Everywhere. The Teople's, Philadelphia, and Jacques, Waterbury, Conn., both playing the Columbia wheel shows, will close next week (Sat. April 2). In each Instance the closing Is the direct result of continued poor business. The regular Columbia wheel season ends May 9. It is un- usual for a Columbia house to close before the termination of the regu- lar season, but it was deemed the better policy, in view of present conditipns at both houses to make an exception this season. Business has been off in general on the Columbia wheel, according to reports from throughout the country for the last two months. The advent of Lent has not tended to better the situation any. The Casino, the other Columbia wheel house in Philadelphia, will play out the season. The dropping out of the People's will leave an open week on the Columbia route, as will the closing of the Jacques, Waterbury. Burlesque men, In discussing con- ditions, gave various reasons for the falling off of business on the Colum- bia wheel. There are several cities, It is said, where business is holding up quite as good as last season, a banner one in burlesque, but the larger part of the houses have suf- fered from the general business de- pression existing in the mercantile world. In Waterbury, the manufacturing plants were hard hit when the de- pression first set In last Fall. There are thousands out of work in that city and many only working on part time. The Philadelphia closing was ascribed to general unemployment conditions. Some burlesque men were Inelined to feel that it might be the constant repetition of songs, business, com- edy, etc., in the various shows as they make the rounds of the cir- cuit. Last season and the season before were so exceptional, it Is claimed, that burlesque patrons went to see a show for the sake of amuse- ment. This season, with times hardened up a bit, it is different and the burlesque public has been "shopping," that Is to say picking out the shows they want to see. Business on tho American wheel Is also reported as being far below normal for the last three months, with conditions worse in Lent than experienced* for several years, with the outlook for the rest of the sea- son decidedly blue. The American dropped off the Avenue, Detroit, several weeks ago. It is understood the American line up for next season will be minus at least five houses now on the wheel as the result of the returns from those houses this season. BEN WELCH'S CONDITION Legs Becoming Unsteady; Hsve to Retire May When Monday Frances Philadelphia. March 23. "Jimmie" opened here the piece which stars White was given special attention because of the presence of Ben Welch, the comedian, who re- cently became blind. It was noticed Welch was un- steady on his legs and members of the company verified his loss of touch. Physicians stated when the comedian lost his sight that he would not be otherwise affected. With his limbs becoming shaky it is but a question of weeks when he will be forced to retire. When known Welch was pe. - manently blind the natter of a physical disability insurance policy came up. It was optional for the company to pay him $10,000, or $75 weekly as long as he lived. Welch was for accepting the latter offer. Arthur Hammer n, his manager, countered by offering him $10,000. Welch to work out the sum at his regular calary. That was agreed to. If the comedian is forced to retire the manager will pa. over to him the balance not earned in salary. definite engagement the last week in May. Jean Bedini's "Twinkle Toes" about the same time will go into the Oayety, Boston, with no time limit set on the engagement. These will not be exactly in the nature of summer runs, such as the "Peek-a-boo" show is set for at the Columbia, New York, "Scandals" and "Twinkle Toes" going into Chi- cago and Boston, respectively, for a tentative period, with the business determining the length of their stay. The "Peek-a-boo'* show starts at the Columbia May 16. "The Sporting Widows," Cooper's "Folly Town," and Dave Marion's show may play extended engage- ments in other Columbia wheel houses this summer. QUARTET ENTERS DENIAL. The Tip Top Four, Harry Lang. Harry Webster, Vincent Seanlon and Theodore Weller, charged with breaching a contract entered into in May, 1920, with Barney Gerard and H. Clay Miner (doing business as the Miner-Gerard Co.), filed an- swer to the plaintiff's $10000 dam- age suit this week, generally deny- ing all charges. Tho Miner-Gerard Co. alleges a year's contract with the quartet at $250 a week, with a one year's re- newal option, and charges the de- fendants with repudiating the agreement in July, 1920, without ever actually entering into their employ. GERARD'S "RAO PICKERS." Albany, N. Y., March 23. Dinty Moore's "Rag Pickers," five clever musicians, were added to Barney Gerard's "Follies of the Day," when the show played" the Empire last week. Gerard engaged the quintet at Montreal, the previous stand to Al- bany. He said he attended a cabaret in the Canadian metropolis, where the musicians were featured, and liked them so much he engaged them for his "Follies." They pleased the Empire audiences and the quintet left Albany as a fixture of the Gerard show. BARD'S COUNTER-SUIT. Answering to Louis Marat sky's slander suit, Ben Hard, of the "Pow- der Puff Revue," has begun a counter-suit on similar charges against the jeweler, also seeking to recover a deposit of $20 from Ma- ratsky on a diamond pin Bard was about to purchase but returned. When Bard changed his mind about keeping the pin, he returned the bauble, but was refused his $20 cash deposit upon demand, as a re- sult of which a brief physical en- counter was staged in a restaurant on 7th avenue and 48th street, fol- lowing which the Jeweler instituted the slander action. Kendler & Goldstein arc acting for the burlesque artist. JOLSON SAYS TAINT SO. Harry Jolson, who believes in publicity, says the story of the jury bringing In a verdict against him in his suit against Dave Marion, after a compromise for $750 to Jol- son had been effected in the court room, sounded all * right excepting it wasn't so. Jolson says that the court, upon the settlement being made known, ordered the jury recalled before it had reached a verdict. Some Hit" Slumps East and WeW^-High Cost. - am) Business Conditions—Producers Feel Optimistic About Future. AMERICAN EXTRA DATES List of Shows and Date, for Ex- tension. LEW PRICE, NOT 3RICE. Lew Price and not Lew Brice, has engaged to appear in "Tittle Tale." Through the similarity of names, Price was reported as Brice in last week's Variety. BILLY SPENCER TO RETURN. Billy "Grogan" Spencer will re- turn to the Ben Kahn fold as pro- ducing comedian for the summer season, starting the first of June. He will succeed Tom Howard. COLUMBIA EXTRA TIME. The regular Columbia wheel sea- son ends week May 9. Extra time will be played by the greater part of the shows as usual, following the expiration of the regular season. BURLESQUE ENGAGEMENTS Jackson and Taylor, Harry and Nita Rose, Betty Booth and Joe Freed for Dan Dody's new chow "Sugar Plums" (Columbia) next season. BURLESQUE CHANGES. Don Trent and Blanche Barnette, Blutch Cooper for next season. BERNSTEIN IN WITH FAY Frank Fay's "Intimate Revue," aimed for a summer run at the Cort, is to be the first of a series of annual productions. Rube Bern- stein, of the burlesque field, is inter- ested with Fay in the first show, being written by Fay and Howard Eramett Rogers, the score coming from Bert Kahncr and Harry Ruby. American Shows' Extra Time. The regular season of the Ameri- can wheel ends May 2. Extra tim.- will be playeo by most of the shows as la past seasons. This will be Kingston, Vice -terdam, N. Y. Kingston, N. Y., is replacing Am- sterdam, N. Y„ both one-night stands, on tl American Circuit be- ginning Saturday. "Tho Kandy Kids" is the first at- traction at the new stan<*. Two- Men Act All Resdy. A two-man act for vaudeville, following the close of the burlesque season, haj oeen formed by Jack Pearl, comic, and Ben Bard, straight, of "The Powder Puff Re.ue" They tried out as a turn Sunday in Brooklyn and decided to carry their present double specialty from 0F£-NIGHT WEEK OUT. The week of one-nighters on the American Wheel between Spring- field and the Gayety. Brooklyn, will be dropped next week. The shows played Holyokp, Mass., Monday and Tuesday; Lawler, Greenfield, Wednesday, and Pittsfield, Glovers- ville and Amsterdam, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The week was added to replace the Miles, Schenectady, Feb. 21. The Jack Singer Show (Columbia Circuit) will close two weeks before the regular Columbia closing date. May 9. Fewer Columbia wheel at- tractions than last season will play any extended time. The regular season of the Ameri- can Circuit closes May 2. The shows that will play extende. time and the dates are: — "Lidlifters," Trocadero, Philadel- phia, week May 9; "Hurly Burly." New Bedford and Fall River, week May 9; "Pat White's Gayety Girls," New Bedford and Fall River, week May 16; "Bathing Beauties," Em- pire, Hoboken, May 9; Newburgh and Poughkeepsie, May 23; "Beauty Trust," Star, Brooklyn. May 9; Em- pire, Hoboken, week May 16; Stone & Pillard, Bijou, Philadelphia, week May 9; Star Brooklyn, week May 16; "Broadway Belles," Gayety. Baltimore, week May 9; "The So- cial Follies," Pennsylvania Circuit, week May 9; Gayety, Baltimore, week May 16; "Sweet Sweeties,' Academy, Buffalo, week May 9; "The Parisian Flirts," Empire Cleveland, week May 9; Academy. Buffalo, week May 16; "Razzle Dazzle," Columbus, O., week May 9; Empire, Cleveland, May 16; "Mis- chief Makers," Empress, Cincinnati, week May 9; Columbus, week May 16; "Monte Carlo ~ rls," Gayety Louisville, week May 9; Empress. Cincinnati, week May 16; Columbus week May 23; "Tid Bits of 1920.' Englewood, Chicago, week May 9; "The Tempters," Empire, Chicago, week May 9; Pennsylvania Circuit, week May 10; Gayety, Baltimore, week May 23; "Cabart; Girls," Mil- waukee, week May 9; Haymarket. Chicago, week May 16; "The Whirl of Mirth," St. Paul, week May 9; Milwaukee, week May 16; "French Frolics." Indianapolis, week May 9; Englewood, Chicago, week May 16. BURLESQUE IN Y0NKERS If present plans materialize bur- lesque will be played in Yonkers next season. The American Bur- lesque Association Is trying to nego- tiate a lease for the Warburton, now playing stock. Failing in this it Is expected that the circuit will build a house to accommodate burlesque on a split week policy. MORETTE SISTERS iSBE PAGE ft*) Only six shows out of nearly 40 on the American Wheel made money this season, it is sad. The shows getting the good break opened in the West during the early theatrical boom days, while *heir Eastern brethren were encounter* ing light attendance. When the fortunate attractions had worked into Eastern territory, they found business improved, with the West suffering a slump just as the Eastern shows reached that region. ' Many reasons are advanced for the poor showings and as many the- ories, with industrial conditions, ex- cessive transportation, salary in- creases and additional cost of pro- duction mentioned as some. Despite this the producers are op- timistic and look for a banner next season, anticipating better times', wifh the theatres reflecting the changes, including decreased oper- ating costs and salaries. JOLLITIES OF 1920. ^ Slippery Sam Cliff Brandon A. Levi Kohn Sammy Howard H>za Quack Harold Carr I. Will Cheatem Frank Mallahau Percy Saul Anker Ferdle Lester Whltaker Elevator Boy William Runs A Mysterious Customer Leo Gold A Policeman Harold Kolb A Director Franklin Perry Mrs. Maida Kale Helen Tarr Vera Shapelclgh Norma Barry I. Ajn Wiser Helen Rlkhoft I. Am Smarter Lillian .Norwood Show business seems to be re- turning to first principles. Back in the wild and woolly days, when they called burlesque "extravaganza," there was a tradition among all kinds of showmen that ran some- thing like this: "If you want to be sure of doing business—carry a band." The old axiom still holds good. Everybody's "doubling in brass" nowadays, apparently—only today they stick a mute in the horns, rag it up a bit and call it jazz. Sam Howe, an old-time, but not old-school showman, himself has successfully applied the ban 1 prin- ciple with his "Jollities of 1920" at the Columbia this week. The/'Jol- lities" has a jazs band, and a good one, and the show has been doing business. But there's more than that to recommend the show. It's splendidly lighted, attractively pro- duced and on the whole furnishes pleasing entertainment. Cliff Bragdon and Sammy Howard are the principal comics. Mr. Brag* don does an eccentric, putty nose and over grease painted countenance in the first part, later a travestied female impersonation (dame) with an Irish dialect, returning again to the eccentric type. He's versatile, has an easy comedy method, dances and tumbles without overdoing the latter and understands burlesque values thoroughly. Sammy Howard, brother of Willie and Eugene, does a standardized stage Jew, conven- tional Van Dyke whiskers, dialect and the rest of the customary trimmings, gets laughs in a routine way at times, and at others gets ex- cellent comedy results with more original methods. Howard was with the show last season. So was Helen Tarr, the prima donna. Miss Tarr is statuesque and blonde, with a pleasant voice and a smile that wins. Featured on the program in eight-point caps, the same as Miss Tarr, is Norma Barry, the ingenue. Other women principals are Helen Rikhoff and Lillian Norwood, both of the soubret type. Tuesday night 23 choristers were on view. TI ffjJMfly r^g.ularjy carries 24, but one was out through illness. The iargs chorus filled the stage at the Co- lumbia, giving volume to the en- sembles and shaped up well in the various formations. One number in particular stood out. This was a "black art" affair, with the stage darkened and seven girls working in front of a black curtain, two rows of strip lights on either side of the stage, with the lights turned to th^ house, consti- tuting a decidedly effective novelty. The comics got into this as harle- quins, doing the familiar travesty acrobatic stuff, with Bragdon on a wire. It went Just as well as it ever did with Collins and Hart, or Hloeksom and Burns, who did it a feneration or so before any of them. There's a first rate comedy bit in the second half, which has the comics interfering in a husband and wife quarrel, old, but unfamiliar to the present generation, and perfect- ly put over by Bragdon, Howard, Miss Tarr and the show's two straight men, Harold Carr and Frank Mallahan. These two are ontinued on page 32) : v I