Variety (June 1921)

VARIETY Friday, June 3, IWt KEITH EXCHANGE BEGINS ITS OFFENSIVE AGAINST SHUBERTS Ag ents Instructed to Bid for Production Act'—Re- prisal for Shuberts' Mail Campaign Among Players in Keith Theatres. MUSIC PIRACY. 8p«ci«l M««tin0 of M. P. P. C«ll«d io Conttdtr It. An aKgiossivc cumpaign was glarted against ll»e proposed Shu- bert opnositlon vaudovillo circuit by the Koith officials in a general meeting of the agents and circuit heads held in the office of E. F Al- bee in the Palace Theatre building Friday, May 27. The as"onabled agents were in- structed to concentrate their efforts on the securing of Shubort acta (Ihat are in or waiting for produc- lions, the Impression prevailing that Buch acts would be immediate- ly routed by the Keith people upon being offered by the repre- ■entative. This is the first action by the Keith office^ Indicating that big time vaudeville regarded the con- templated circuit as anything defi- nite. E. F. Albee explained that the Keith people had never been licked and that they didn't propose to let the Shuberts send representatives and literature to Keith theatres offering Keith acts opposition time without retaliating in kind. The consensus of opinion follow- ing the pow wow was that the Keith people were angered at tel- egrams and Klters being sent to acts playing for the Keith office, of- fering the artists 20 or more weeks for next season, beginning on or about September 1. E. P. Albee again warned the agents against accepting more than 6 per cent, fees as representatives and stated that any representative caught violating these instructions would lose his booking franchise Immediately. DOC STEINER^S AGENCY, Booking Foreign Acts and Produc- ing, with Max Rote. One of the best versed agents In foreign material for \'nudcville, Doc Stelnor, has formed a partnership with Max Rose, for the Importation of European acts to this side. Be- sides the firm will make vaudeville productions, leaning toward those of the grand operatic type. For several years "Doc" (no one ever knew his real first name) was A special meeting of the Board of Governors of the Music Publishers' Protective Association was called a week ago Tuesday to take the mat- ter of music piracy in the New Eng- land States under advisement. An- other meeting was subsequently called for Friday when E. C. Mills, chairman of the Executive Board, arrived In town In answer to a hurry call by the association to take legal action in the matter. Some Individual In Boston has been flooding the district with spuri- ous copies of "Whispering," "Hum- ming" and "Palasteena." Otto Jor- dan, of the Harms Co., publishers of "Humming," discovered that fact and apprised Sherman, Clay & Co., of San Francisco, and Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., of New York. Sherman-Clay's representative dl.scovered a dealer, with whom they would not trade because of business credit reasons, had 5,000 copies on hand. A Plnkerton man who was called In on the case opined the only legal redress is to trek down IN AUSTRALIA, By ERIC H. GERRICK. '^ connected with the Keith office. He ri!"'?„5f?r'JIl5:,°"'^r_^['l^-.?"^.°^* i the'piace'where'the"' pi'rat'ei"copies I are being printed. The sheet music i itself is alhnost identical in every ' detail even as to title paper colors theatrical family, his brothers be ing prominent showmen of the Con- tinent. Although an unknown fact, Doc Steiner knowj? more about grand opera and g^and operas than any- one In this country. He was the close confidant of the late Oscar Hammerstein, who often consulted Doc when engaged in his grand operatic pursuits. Steiner &. Rose have taken offices in the Romax Building. COLONIAL, DETROIT, STOPPING and publisher's trade-mark. VICTIM OF COPS' FEUD. County and Township Officials At Odds Over Park Feud. Kansas City, June 1. "What is claimed to be a feud between the offices of County Mar- shal John Miles and Constable Herman Ganzer, in whose town.shlp The Colonial, Detroit, booked by | Fairmont Park is located, over the the Marcus Loew office, will close j appointment of officers for the park, for the summer June 11. The house has been playing a full week. Its closing breaks up the Middle West time for the summer. Cleveland and Pittsburgh are the only two I^ew weeks left In that section for the hot weather period. The Colonial will reopen with the same policy early in September. is on, and some of the concession- aires are the goats. A few days ago Ganzer and his deputies ap- peared at the park armed with search and seizure warrants and carried away five "machines" desig- nated as "gambling devices." The cases are set for trial June 7, when the officers will attempt to prove the "machines" are without the law. It is said that before the park opened the constable sought to have some of his deputies ap- pointed as park officers, the place being outside the city police juris- diction, but that when the opening day arrived, the policing was In the hands of deputies from the County Marshal's office. Sydney, May 1. HER MAJESTY'S.—"The LUao Domino." April 30, "The Firefly." CRITERION.—The Sign on the Door " PAX.ACE,—Joe Coyne la "^'Nlghtlo Night." TIVOLI.—Owen Moore In •The Chicken hi the Case"; Betty Blythe In "Nomads of the North." G. O. H.—"Chu Chin Chow.- FULT.ERS.—Vaudeville. HIPPODROME.—Wlrth's Circus. HAYMAJIKET.—"To Please One Woman": "An Amateur Devil." LYCEUM.—"The Leopard Wom- an"; Tcm Moore. "Stop Thie/." STRAND.—"The Brat"; Shirley Mason. "Girl of My Heart." LYRIC—"Go Get It" (second week); "The Leopard Woman." CRYSTAL PALACE.—Na!»Jmova In "The Brat"; BUlIe Rhodes "The Love Call." the MELBOUEHE. HER MAJESTY'S.—"Irene." ROYAL.—"The Maid of Mountains." KING'S.—"Welcome Stranger." BIJOU.—Loader and Laney, Al- berto, Artols Bros.. Harry Crawford, Linda Dale, Gardner and Revere. Fuller's Nine Wonders, De Wilfred, Elsie Aitken, HaU and Menzies. the Williamson eempany tor the past SO years died last week. HJ^ lather. Sir William Caroll, was at one time Lord Mayor of Dublin. ' Mcfrtbn barker Pinienfel who 'de«" scribed himself as a director of Fed- erated Films. Ltd., was arrested last week. It Is charged that April 1? he set fire to Nuhan'e Building with fntent to defraud. He Is also charged with the murder of a woman who was burnt to death In the fire. The Arthur Shirley Co. has gone into liquidation. The company hae a half finished film called "The Throwback" on their hands. With their cast scattered everywhere. It looks like "goodnight." ADELAIDE. ROYAL.—Gilbert and gulllvan Opera Co. PRINCE OF WALES.—Flora Cro- mer, Jennings and Gerald, Cllve CU- valll, Pagdcn and Stanley, Glrton Girls, Stlffy and Mo Co. RUTH ETTING ' ' ' ■■ '■■■'.'.' Now Playing at Ernie Young's > ,!, MARIGOLD GARDEN REVUE v^ ^>i^<^ overed at Chicago's Art School and given the order to design all of tlio Uevue Costumes. Filled in for three days as a chorus girl to get coloring. Immodlately advanced to a luincipal role and now featured in Ibo nv>v Su-cuner .Rtjvue, ....... .v.....^.... ....... . ^ . Personal Direction ERNfK YOUN« CALGARY MANAGER DIES L. M. Trefrey Believed to Have Tripped on Broken Stair in Pantages Theatre. DEALERS ORDERING MUSIC. Business Picking Up, Contrary to Precedent—Paradox Explained. The mu.slc busines.", despite the season when It is u.sually duo for a fall, still persists in picking up, running contrary to all precedents. It Is not booming anything .spectac- ularly, but holding I«s own in mor<' than generous measure. The Incoming salesmen explain this paradox. Deal<^rs liul been buying abnormally in prodigious quantities throughout the winter and when they found the tiirnovrr was not fast enough erased all or- dering and concentrated on dispos- ing of their stuff, which acconnts for the .spring .slump. Now that ilK'ir old mtj.sic is sold out. th«^ ttralors .«ccni to be ordMing on^o n)0]°U. ■ •: /■ '-■■■:■ ■ >■■ ■ ■ LUNESTKA WITH SHUBERTS Edward Shayne Also in Shubert . ... Vaudeville Agency Harry LuncFtka, who retired from the Uri»heum Circuit olTlce last week, whore he had charge of the Orphcum, Jr., bookings, left this Week for Chicago as sort of a scout for Davidow & Le Maire. He will remain in the Wont looking over acts for the firm for the next two or three weeks. m. I'pon his return to Kew York I.uiie.stka will locate in the Shubert looking? ofllce proper. IMward Shayne, formerly a bookrr in the Western Vandfville Man- aK^r-*^' A.^sociation, but for three Niar.s retired from show bu.^Mne.^s. will also bp of the Shubert vaude- ville olllec .-^taff. ' . Calgary, Can., June 1. The sudden death of Manager L. M. Trefrey of Pantages theatre last week is surrounded with mystery. It was surmised after an investigation had brought out the stairway of the theatre had a defective stair, that Mr. Trefrey had tripped when leav- ing his oflftce, stumbing over in the dark passageway and in falling may have struck his head on the cement. Mr. Trefrey left his home Sun- day evening to go to the theatre to arrange the advertising matter for the following week. He phoned to his wife about 11.15 he would .shortly return. When arriving home he appeared dazed and mum- bled he had received an awful bump. Immediately becoming un- con.sclous, the manager was re- moved to a hospital where ho died without regaining his senses. The deceased had been manager of the local Pantages for four years. Ho wan formerly a newspaperman, well known In Canada and the Statics. .-. 'V^' :■;■■ ■ . ' -■ •• '■■'■■ ■ ;. NEW ZEALAND. AUCKLAND. HIS MAJESTY'S.—"The Masquc- raders." KING'S—Stocl; Co. TOWN HALL.—English Pierrots. OPERA HOUSE.—Ferry. Marie Ilka and Les Woods, Frefo and Son, Carlton and Sutton, Gus T. Raglus, Fm De TIsne, Grahame and Phillips, Geo. Hurd, Newman and Wynne. CHRISTcixjaCH. GRAND—"The Daughter Pays"; "The Purple Cyphrr." LIBERTY.—C. K. Yotms. "The Forbidden Woman"; Carrie Lancely Co. OPERA HOUSE. — Digger Co.. Haagen Hollenbergh, Wendy and Alphonse. Gladys Vercna, Eddy Mar- tin, Hurley and Bent. DTOEDIi^ PRINCESS.—C^onnars and Paul, Two FL^.ers, Keeley and Aldous, Phil PercWal, Miliar and Ralnijy. WliLLETeXON. G. a H.—"SInbad the Sailor." HIS MAJESTY'S.—Vardel Bros., Art Touchert, Gibbons Duo, Rev., Frank Gorman, Yaude and Verne. "Irene" is a smashing hit In Mel- bourne. "Lilac Domino" has 157th performance. passed its Beatrice McKenzIe and Co. ar- rived on the Sanoma under contract to Fuller's, Ltd. After "The Sign on the Door" fin- ishes Its season William J. Kelly may play lead In "Scandal," secured by Williamson-Talt. SHOW REVIEWS FULLER'S (Sydney). — Business Is away off this week. Taro Yasuda gave the bfn a flying stait with his clever Juggling. Deft Dee did three numbers which got nothing, but landed with her dancing. Beatrice McKenzIe and Raye Dawn mad^ their first appearance and fell down, only the whistling of Miss Dawn ■avlns the act. The settings are fine. Corona did four numbers on th# comet and passed away. Heni# French, closing the first half, drew ^wn big applause. Bellora, mimic, went over big. Bessie Slaughter oang three numbers to success. Bitty KUIctt was the hit of the blli and although In his eighth week i^t this Ibcuce, pulled a riot. Keating and Hoss In their fifth week weat ever for a hit next to closing. Yajik and Jean held them for the finish, Aet Is very neat and looks good. P/JLACE.—"Nightie Night." Jof Coyae has struck a winner In thv p?ay and Ib packing the theatre. The piece Is tho best farce seen here 1q years. Joe Coyne, as the husband v/ho Is always in trouble, does his beot work, and is a riot. Marie Le Varre, as the actress, Is very funny and trtiares with Mr. Coyne the hon- ors of the piece. Marge Bennett, as the jealous wife, gets every ounce out cf the part. Sydney Sterling and Rubl Trelease are very fine la their respective parts. Williamson* Tait have given the production an elaborate mounting. The piece should run at least 12 weeks. CRITERION.-"The Sign on the Door." Williamson-Tait seem to have struck another hit in this play, which made Its appearance two we?.ks ago. The first-night audi- ence cave the p'ay a great recep* tl?n. Press notices are very favor- able, and by all appearances the play Is over. The piece Itself Is a real thriller. Maude Hannaford, as Ann Hunnl- well and later en Ann Regan, Is one of tho finest drc«natic artists to ever visit this country. William h Kelly proved himself sl finished actor ojnd shares with Miss Hanna- ford the acting honors. Charles Wlilte plays the heavy and scor^ for his acting of an unsavory part* H. R. Roberts as the waiter and later the District Attorney gave ft masterly reading. Dorothy Sec« combe as the daughter, Helen Re* gan, was very good. The play wai produced by George Parker. 3D A. A. F. MEETING. Speakers Mention Disappointment with Attendance. Bert Bailey Is to revive "Grumpy." Play was done here a few years ago by Cyril Maude. Mario FranchonlttI has Joined the Wllllamson-Talt pantomime, "Humpty Dumpty" as prlm:lpal girl, replacing Edith Drayson. >*»* „....»'*, WEIL PRODUCING. :^ v ' E. A. Well, connected with the William MorrJs enterprises in an executive capacity until recently, heads u now corporation titled R. & W. Productions, which will aprcializc in prod\icing for vaude- ville. The Initial offoring of the new concern will be .Molly .Mclntyre and 13. C. Ililllan*; in an act written by Mr. llllliam. Several other acts are In course of preparation by K. Sc W.. among which is "A Modern I)<m Juan," f^'aturini? a male star. Four women will be In the cast. "Firefly," a new comic opera, opens at Her Majesty's April 80. Cast Includes Ralph Errolle, Claude Flemmlng, Geo. Gee, Hugh Steyne, Edith Drayson and Renee Maxwell. Wlrth's Circus goes on the road this week after eight weeks at Hip- podrome. Apdale's Zoo Is tho.head- llner. The third public meeting of the A. A. F. of the Four A's was held last Thursday night, again in the Bijou, New York. The attendance wa.s markedly lighter than at the previous meet* ings, commented upon by the speak- ers, who, after Inviting the audi-- nee to seat themselves farther down front, expressed disappointment *t the lack of interest. Tfi^ principal speakers, as usual, i;«^renIaiTy Mountford and WIlHani J.;Fitzpatrick. Billy Eltlotr. the black face come- dlans, was married to Sadie Maguire of the "Lilac Domino" this week. Harry B. Burcher, producer for Williamson-Tait, returned by "Son- oma" after a trip abroad in search of attractions for his firm, Nancy Stewart, daughter of Nel- lie Stewart, returned from the States last week. Miss Stewart may olgn with WJUIamson-Talt. HODKINS' HOUSES CLOSING For the first time .since affiliatlnK with tho Pantages ofllce, the Hod- kins hoti.-^es located in the Sontli- west are considf ring clo.^ing wilhiJi (h<^ next two w** k.**. The housi'.s; will r main dark over the viimmer. Kath and Vera Shearer are break- ing In a new sister act for the Vul- Ipr circuit. Mi.-^s Kath Shearer was with the Ward and Sherman revue company. EMPRESS, ST. LOUIS, IN AIE Chicago. June 1. It i.s .v*^uovted the Empress, St Louis, playing Pantages vaudevill« for the last year, will have a change of policy for the ccynlng season. It is rumored the Shub*ris have^ had their men looking over thi». house for a possible St. :^-ouit^ vaudeville stand. It is also said that I. H. Herk, of the Am. iican# burlesque wheel, has sent out feel-y ers to annex this house to his chain. I it Is right around the corner from the Rialto, an Orpheum, Jr.. stand, and is situated in one of th^ busi- est homo sections of St. Louis. Keating and Ross, playlnp the Fuller circuit, report that an act named McKoy and Walton are using their finish. The bit, they say, was used by Keating and Ross all over tho Statc.«». Ralph Walton was Clar.i Keatlng'fi partner during the absence of Harry Ross at tho front. re Stan Leslie who has been with More Acts at Far Rockaway. Tho Columl.ia. Far Rockaway. the cently opened Keith-Moss liouse will eliant;o from lt.<? pres»'nt !?ix af^ts and a feature picture to p«i!>iilar vaudeville i)<>]i.y June 20. Ait«'r that date the Columbia will I'l^^V nine acts, and omit the pictur*'. The bills will change twir. w**^^-* ly, as at present. ,