Variety (September 1921)

i-» r , - / ' r <rwn' Friday, September 30, 1921 VAUDEVILLE ?« rp^^ ^c ^ ^f \ FAMOUS PLAYERS POOL "RESTS"; MAKING A MARKET FOR TRIANGLE Whole Stork MarkRtjippei«*8 fo^BfJn. P^JAQiLof Bi^^^^ ing and Filluig, Although Priced Hold Near Top— Griffith Maintains Cain. CENSORED FILMS NOT ORICINALS Exhibitors Crowling Over Pre-Release Showings Before Censors* Cut . The ^'oek'^( mark*;* was praotica'ly featurole.^-s. The boom luovcinent Mrkpd by u.i>^4 of nearly 1,000,000 vhare tranHactioos dropped back to gbout 500,000. Apparently traders were ''resting" between the first phase of Ibe climb.and either n rai^or reaction or a contiBuatiou of the ad* fanee. Two features stood out. The ramored pool in Famous TUyera was not in ev.dence aa^ nothing came out on the ticker to Indicate what their plan of operation was, except • that they stood readj to support prices under pressure. The idea was gen-> eral in Tiinefi Sqnare that the clique was laying off for the time being with the probability that as hoou as trad- ing showx any ritnUty they will un- dertake a bull aove to send the stock higher. Rzcept fpi f^ dip last week to around 51-the stock lia:^ con- tinued iiuy after day within a point of 59. Advanca Mainiaiatd. Although the improvomeat froni the extreme low pricea of uid'Augtitft bai been maintained , with - surprising steadiness there is an mulercurrent of uncertainty in .^cutiiueati ^^BmiO businesH in mnny lines appears to )iairf turned the corner and the-^fatol commercial depression is ' paAt,"'bpt many traders hold to the r\fyf that the progrcHs will be hIow and art not diH|H>Hed to conimit themaelrea to heavy loitg lines until the luture is discloHod More definitely. ¥lie ques* t»«>n is wlieJier or not the upturn in prices within the last six weeks haH not amply discounted fundnraental business betterment for the present. Times square NjMvulafors who tr^ to read commercial conrlitions in the light of their elfect on show busines affect to find encouragement in the well maintained advance. They figure that the stock market is from five to six months nhend of visible depres- sion or proKperity. That is to say, when ticker prices have a sinking spell, buHinoKs depreHnion i» -♦»'»nt half a year distant. In like manner when stocks rerover there normally should be a substantial betterment about the same distance ahead. Un- der this scheme of reckoning basic busniesi* improvement should begin to show at the box nflice aftej* the turn of the year or in the early spring. ShowmM Encouraged. OptiniiHts just at this time are foad of pointing to the c'imb in in- vestment stocks. Sea rK-Roebuck which is regarded as a good index "I>on the retail buying of the whole coiint'ry"hoH iuove(Vu~p from its Auguvt low of aiound 50 to 07 and toetter and other Hubstantial Htooks are hold- ing improvements, notably V. S. Steel which in looke<l upon ais a barometer of values. In the amusement group Triangle again came into promineuce among the Curb isHues. littst week there was trading in nearly 20.000 fciiores within a range of 3.1 and 50 cents, with last prireH mid-way nt 40 cents. Officials of the company were unable to trace the hourc(V of the trading. but looked upon the operation as a campaign of unknown prof.HNionals ♦o "make n market". Ths maneuver hn« been repeated so often that it •ttnicts little nttv^ntiott. The issue has bej'n Hhot up ns high as $2 a shore within ti.e last two years and hnn heen below 20 ei»nts. Nobody outside the company knows the pos- sibilities of the stock since the re- organization of the concern. Tliere |« nothing on the surface to make •t worlli more than it was six months ■fo. On the rontrory it holds a con*iulerahle footage of Fatty Ar- biicUV. conuMlies the value of which f'»r rcjssij*' ought to be srriously dainnx'vf. Slump in Grifllth. ^'iilliili sti),k fortefl iis way up ♦hronjjli $1) n share after slipping helow .$(;. The new Grfflith film. "The 1 vv() (Mi hans.' i> due to comr into a Krondway liotisc some time around *'^^- 1 mil appare^itly showmen- Htoek traders regard is as a rooiI gamble. Also ihe drop of (he stock on tl»(^ rolca.se of 'Way Down Kasf '«»* iMirposes of raising quick capital overreached itself and a jump wou'd *^onie in the natural course of events. It is uitdcrstoo.J ih.t intercstni iden- tified with D. W. (Sriffith accumulated a considerable Mock of the stock at and around thff low and this aided the recorery. ^ lioew held well at its new level of 14 with occastonal dips to 13 3-4 and apparently the hopes of apeculators for. a decline to its old bottom are doomed to disappointment. Orpheum was dull just under 20, the only sig- nificant detail of trading in th'.a issue being the sudden stoppage of dealings in Boston, which for more than a month bad been conspicuously active. The aummary of tranaacllona Sept. 2S to 21 Inclusive la aa followii: STOCK KXCHANUE Tharadajr—r Sal«a High. I^w. Laat. Chft- Pam. P)r-L...7100 \»Vi bm 64%+ZS Do. pf 300 76 7fi 7S —S I.o«w. Inc 1.100 14 13% 13% Orpheuiu ... SOO 10 10% 20 -f- V^ Boaton sold 17( Orpheum at 20. rrlday— Fam Pr-L...3S00 6i% 63% 54 — U Do.'pf..... 100 7H4 7S% 75%-^ H Loew. Inc... 6P0 14^ 13% 14>i-t- % Boaton aold 190 Orpheum at 20. Saturaay— Fam. PrrU.^.jaO 6m 64 64 Do. pf 1#0 76 76 76 + *A LK>ew. Inc.. 600 14% 14 14H Boston aold 300 Orpheum at 20%. Monday— $10,0C0 SHOW PaJiM, Now Yorx. Expeaslve ProQi am This Week. The program thi.s week at the Palace. New York, is said to repre- sent $10,400 in salaries to the acts. Ita is also said to be the most costly vaudeville show the Palace has ever presented, .only exceeded in cost in past years by th.(f vaudeville bills holding Mme. Bernhardt during the Apierican engagement of Bernhardt at $7,000 weeki.v. Next week the I'alaee. New York, will again hare four headliners out of a bill possibly of eight or nine acts. The Paul Whiteman Hand. Cier- trude Hoffman and Co., I^o Carril- lo and ]<]dith Taliaferro and Co., are the features. Whiteman is making Ids vaudeville debut, receiving $2.r»00 weekly and bo;»ked by Harry Fitz- gerald. Miss Huffniao's vaudeville salary is $2,000 a week; f^eo Car- rillo gets $l.r»00 weekly wllile in the twice daily, and Miss Taliaferro, $1,250. Wednesday The Dooleys left the bill at the Palace, bein;; unable to go on when William Oooley reported il!. Watson then returned to the Palace program Wednesday afternoon to sub- stitute for the Dooleys. He doubled the Palace and (*olonial for the bnl- aute of th«' week. $5,000 ACT The Oreater New York exhibitors are in arms against the practice in- dulge«l in by the exchanges of show- ing films and booking on the strength of those showing prior to the time that the state censorship board haa passed on the pictures. The reason is the exhibitor on seeing a picture at the pre-releas'ng showing forms an opinion of its box office value and offers a rental in proportion. When the I'icture finally reacbea hbn a month later it has J>een mutilated by the censors that for all reaem- blance it mi|;ht be an entirely differ• ent attraction from the one Which he saw. At the Tuesday meeting of the The- atre O^mers Chamber of Commerce th|.*4 practice of showing uncensored films to the exhibitors was condemned and the membership has taken » stand that they wi|l not pay for or play pictures not presented to them exactly as sanctioned for playing. FALUNG FLOCK OF FRUIT FREE FOR BARNSTORMING HINSTREI£ HoUey, N. Y., Greets Wagner Brothers* Show—Same Reception Familiar—^Troupe's Car Causes Serious Accident. ♦ SPEAKER VS. BUTE Batakall Start Will Opp— Ottitr la CItvtiMd. ' Concert Manager Will Not Permit Schumann-Hcink to Appear A story says Mnn*. Schuuiann.Heink w.'is oflrere<l n week at the Palace. New York, and was oa the point of accepting when her v onrert manager intervene«l an*! lliref«f«Mt»'d to enjoin her. The fiRure was .$."i.O(H). Ihe first one offered, nnd jutN'^trd by the diva a.s satisfacriM-.v. il i- siid. She i:\ i\vs\ dcnurred MK.iiustt tlic^ It perfor- mnnces, hut ,\i('M«'d (he point. Then the ♦oiifcit mMiiugor hilkd it. as he controIW'd licr servic(.>b outside grand opera. SHUBERT REVUES WILL BE CONTINUED Necessary to Carry Out Contracts—*Bare Knees' No Attraction Cleveland, Sept. 28. When the date arrives for Babe Riith to api^ear as' the headliner of Keith's Hippodrome vaudeville here, that day will find at the Sh'tberts' lOudid Avenue, Tria Speaker, star of the Cleveland nine. Speaker will receive $1,C00 for the week. He was booked, with the Sbuberta through George O'Brien, the New York agent. Speaker'a act will be a lariat throwing and talking turn. The baaeballer was formerly a cow- boy. Babe Ruth will receive $2,500 week- ly while in vaudeville. Rochester, N. Y., Sept. 28. Wagner Brothers' MinatreliB got in wrong at HoUey last Wedneaday night. At one point in the perform- ance a deluge of lemona descended upon the atage. After the caat had recovered from the attack and decided to continue the performance, tw<> deputy sheriffs ^insisted upon taking three of the playera to the Orlenna^ county jail at Albion. The canae of the arreatif waa a warrant for the driver of a car belonging to the troupe which had figured in a fatal accident on the Medina-Lydonville road the night previously. Wlien the troupe played Lydonville it WAS not a very great sueceaa, with the result fruit and vegetables were haatily taken to the opera house nnd hurled onto the stage to ezpresb the disapproval of the residenta. It waa The Sbuberta will continue the tab- loid revues they are using to close their vaudeville bills, nt least untH the present contracts with the mem- bers of the acts have expired. The revues are not considered nec- essary by the Shubert vaudeville staff. They are a considerable ex- pense ns in mo.<it cases they carry a special cast of principals and spe- cial chorus. Tt is the Uflief of the men in charge of the Shubert vaudeville -bills that the vaudeville eoine nubile isn*» particuli^rly enamored of bare-legged choristers and comics the r«»vnes i»re- sent. It has been noticeable where they close<1 the bills the walk outs began to streanr for the exits as soon as the regular. vaudeville bill was completed. In burlesque circles the Shubert revue type of act with bare-legged choristers brought forth conjecture* as to its effects on burlesque at- tractions where the nude knees have l>een taboo for seasons. This and the dollar top briTig the closing fea- ture of the Shubert vnudeville pro- grams into "opposition" with burl- e.oque shows of the Columbia and American wheels. TBIOK FLIER KILLED njnaas City. Sept. 2«. Lieutenant :^ArHiur Emerson, avia- tor, was insUwtU' kilK.f .it 0!;!ahwX&a r\ty, Oklahoma. Sept. 24. while at- tempting to change from one airplane to another. He was giving au ex- hibition at the state fair grmmds, was on top of one plane and had reached for the ladder hanging from a plane above when the wind wtiipped the lad- der suddenly and he lost his balance and fell. The accident . was witnessed by some 10.000 people. "H^rmoay Kid'* Looking ftr Divorce Chicago. Sept. .m Suit for divorce o«i the grounds of rnielty has been filed in the Common Pleas Court at Chester, To., by Id.t V. Howley against James Howley (Three Hnrmony Ki»ls). Bourchier Plays "Dr. Johnson" London. Srpt. 2S. .\r(luir Ilourcliier opened in vnude- ville nt Manchester, playing "Doctor .Johnson." Scala Reopening with Film. liondon. Sept. 28. Tiie S<'alii r« opens with pictures Oct. I'J. showing -Peek's Iliid Boy." SAILINOS Sept. '24. — (.New York to L>ndon) .Mr. and .Mrs. Danglas Fair- banks (Mary Piekfonh (Olym- pi«). Mrs. Charlotte Pi*'!\fr>rd. inothrr of .M:iry and .Mary Pickford Kupp, niere of tin' actress arr of the party; also Kobert Fairbanks, brother of Do;:glas. Chiefc Rota YORKE and KING At tha aga of thraa and oM, rttpt otl valy. Now fall frown and nraaant* at ^'THE OLD FAMILY TIN TYPE** on tha ORPHEUIM crRCUIT nndar dlrtctton of LEE AND R08ELEE STEWART OARS GUARDED K.Ji, W&*?^ Thaatra-Goart' Ma- ohiaaa—Tips PoiaiUtabla Washington. I). C.. Sept. 2rt. Washington theatre goers are now having their machines protecte<l by four uniformed guards, one being as- signed to each of the larger houses. This service was inaugurated last week by the American Automob'le As- soriation primarily for the members of the Association. However, non- members receive the samp protection. The Cnretokers wear the official badge of the Association, which As- sociations hears the expense; ftatin:;, Iwwever, ownors of machines may tip the men. as the pay of the positions has naturally had to be small. Everyman Theatre Re-opening T^ondon. Sept. 2R. The Kveryinjin thcitre reopen^ with a new i>l.iy by liugene O'.Neill nnd '•Sui>|»resseil I>chircs*" by Siisrin Glah4)ell. ''Treasure island" at Christmas London. Se|»t. 2S. .\rthur Uourehier will i»robably pro<luce ••Treasure Island" at thr* Strand :it Chrishnas. playing piral" .John Silver. PLEA8ANTVILLE, N. J. Matinees at Duke of York's London. Sept. 28. '*.Mistor La/.arus" is in rehearsal for a matinee season at the Duke of York's. Pavilion's Revue Opening London, Sept. 28. Charles C*ochran's new revue opens at the Pavilion, Oct. 8. more fun than the I^rndonville cnt-ypa had had in p long time,- so they car- rieil the thing to the limit. >Vhile the let out of the tires of its car and water subHiifuted for gasoline* .\fter the show the troiipe sf>»"ted from town in its car. A car owned by a local man pursued, with all seata occupied and four men on the runniug board. The pursuing car overtook the minstrel car. turned around and starte<l back. As the car of the pur* suers approached that of the troupe, according to the pursners, the troupe ear kept to the middle of the rond :tnd the pursuers' car had to make a sharp swerve to the right. The' wheels vfered off the edge of the rond bed and the machine struck a tele- phone p« St. killing Stanley r>kine, 18 years old. one of the pursuers. The driver and owner of the car was Denn Woodwortli. .foseph Thomas received :i broken arm and leg and Howard Sheppnnl's left arm was fractured. P.oth weie taken to the Me<Iina. N. Y.^ liosr»itnl. The tloupe car kept on, apparently nnnwnre of th** fatality. .X <ni!|;|i' of dopulies traced the troui»e to fiymlon- vill". The driver of t!ie cnr. .lohn .Tohnson. of lto<'he.>4tcr. >v:i- ilaccd under arrest and afti'r the first act th«* di'jMitii's .••rrc.-.irtl fw') tnor<' of the nicnilnTs. The rcin.jindi'r of (' * niin- sfrcls crnU'aviircd to confinue the show. l)Uf under tlit* h:indic.'ip ronld not win .-ipprov.Tl from tin' amlience. The IioMsi- nian;i;j«*r, f.> snuarc him- self with liis patrons, h:wl de-id'^d to let (hem enter wilhoiit cii.iiK>'. The cliar'ie agninst the driver of the troupe c:jr is (hat he forced the other car into the ditch. It is be'ieved that the (irand .liiry will be asked to probe the :iflair.