Variety (October 1921)

Friday, October 7, 1921 VAUDEVILLE KEITH CIRCUIT'S "THIRD OF A CENTURY" 1 FORTHCOM! KG ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION KEITH'S ORGANIZES SPECIAL PUBLICITY ^ Extensive Plans to Commemorate "Keith VaudeviHc"' —E. F. Albee Visited by Eminent Committee f Officials and Theatrical Celebrities Urge Keith'^ Head to Celebrate—Keith Circuit Responsible for Uplift of Vaudeville. The following Ktiitemcnt was isHucd ^ tbrougli a .apocial publinty depart- meut of the Keith office, especially organized and temporarily prcsidod over by Mark A. Luescher, for pub- lication today (Friday): The approach of the fourth dccnde of constantly widening huccoss of the B. F. Keith Vaudeville Circuit is so marked and punctuated by extraordi- nary achieveiuentH of this organi- xutioii that it has been decided to conirneniorate its first **Third of a Century" unniveryary with interest* ((.*outinued on Page 21h 8even SHEA'S mp POLIOY Acts SHUBERTS CENSOR ALL 'BLUE MATERIAL' for Fine Toronto. Week In Toronto. Oct. 5. A change of policy at Shea's Hippo. dromo this month when seven acts will be played for the full week in- utead uf the usunl six. "Names" and feature turns will be played at the Hip when obtainable and haven't played Shea's, Toronto, the big time two-a-day local house playing Keith vaudevillo. The Hip pluys six acts three shows dnily and has competition from the Pantages' and Loew's. A report the Shuberts were to odd •Toro'.to to their vaudeville chain moy have influenced the policy switch at the Hip. GEO. WALSH FOR LOEW To Draw $1,000 a Week, Opening at a Sinole In Chic^mo. George Walsh, former Fox film ■tar, will appear in vaudeville placed . hi Loew houses by Arthur J. Hor- witi, the .salary being $1,000 weekly. He will open at the Uialto. Chicago. , ploying McVickers the following week, the total booking figuring around .'$0 weeks. Mr. Walsh will appear in "one." using one reel of pictures showing his skill as a camera nthlotr. A graduate of Fordham. he was at one time a crack in athletic competition, whicli Iio employed in pioturo work. NELSON CONGRATULATED After Fddie Nelson hod finished his performance in "The Last Walt/." at the Century Monday evening, Jim Barton, who was in the audience and Nelson's predec cssor in the role, went back stago to congratulate his suc- cessor. Mr. Xolson was formerly of Nol- ■on ami Chain, first appearing in ▼auaovnie ami later with the Fan- chon and Marco production. He joined -The Last Waltz" upon Rar- ton'.s departure. Lee Shubert Wires Act in Pittsburgh—Cuts After Opening Matinee The Shuberts have ordered close censorship be kept on stage material in their vaudeville theatres. The first week house managers in a number of instances were kept busy with the front of theatres and careful reports were not made. Pi^sburgh last week reported blue material used by a two-act. It led to a sharp wire from Lee Shubert ordering all objectionable matter de- leted. It is the intention of the Shuberts to follow the system of cutting after the initial matinee each week. TINNET MISSES Lukewarm on Publicity Stunt, Passed Up EVEN IN PITTSBURGH Keiiii Is "MRS. WIOGS* OFF Leaves Loew Bill After First Per- formance A condensed version of "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," a Shu- bert production act, booked to play the first half this week at Loew's Metropolitan. Brooklyn, dropped out of the bill after Monday. The piece was taken off after hav- ing been in rehearsal for seven weeks. One week had been booked for it with Loew to "break in," prior to its being placed on the Shubert time. Chorles Deland and Co. replaced it in the Metropolitan bill. Boston, Oct. 5. After using every effort, under the directions of his press agent, .Too Flynn, to get publicity for the show, even to the extent of being the principal speaker at department store dinners. Frank Tinney, who finished with "Tickle Me." at the Shubert last Saturday, missed a chance when the "no accident week" demoDstration was staged the latter part of lAt week. The committee In charge of this campaign wanted a comedian to put over a burlesque rescue. Tinnc3' was approached in the matter and con- sented. The committee was not sat- isfied with the enthusiasm be dis- [dayed over the project. Fred Roche, the Keith publicity man was ap- proached. He offered to have Kenny (Kenny and HoUis) do the stunt. Kenny was on the job, was rescued according^ to schedule, and Tinney, who expected to appear, was seen in the crowd when it was all over. BEN WELCH SIGNS and Shubert Houses Paoklng Tliem Both Goes With Keith for Two Years— Shuberts Lost Out VAULT IN THEATRE Fifth Avenue Provides Safe Deposit Boxes for Artists • The 5th Avenue theatre (vaude- ville). New York, is giving the free use to artists on the bill of safe de- posit bo.xes. The boxes are as.«<igned to the play- ers at the same time dressing room asTsipnments arc issued. Ben Welch has engaged with the Keith Circuit for two years. The contracts were signed by Mrs. Welch. who is confined in a local hospital. .Joe Sulivan secured Mrs. Welch's sig- nature, she having power of attorney for Welch, who is blind. Last Friday the paper for Shuberts' 44th Street contained Welch's name as the headliner tor this week's biti. Ciallaghei- and SIrenn were also billed. The latter act is being held over nt the Alhambrn next week. The in- junction hearing which the Shuberts are seeking against the» tJirn was again ))ostponed Sept. ".0 until Oct. 4. At the Shubert vaudeville head- quarters Arthur Klein said the. pap?r containing Welch's name had been or- dered before the Keith people hnd se- cured Mrs. AVelch's signature. Klein interviewed Mrs. Welch nbont a Sim bert vaiideville route for Ben. and cliiinis she verbaly agreed to sicn. Mennwliile. .nrcording tp Klein, th'' Keith contrafts wer»^ rnsluMl to the lio><|»it:il by SuHivsm and Mrs. Welch's signature obtained. MANAGERS VISITING B. Badman. president of the Winter (larden Co. of Blackpool. .lohn Hud- <llesten. general manager of the Win- ter (Janlen. and .Tohn Tiller, the terpsichore.in producer of London, arc in New York on a six weeks' visit. This is lluddlesten's tirst visit to Americ.i. PROTECTING AD DESIGNS A let tor sent out to Shubert house managers advises Lee Shubert re- Que.sts spesial advertising designs; Bent i)n by Ben Atwell of the Shu- ^ bprt press department shall be in-1 •erted in newspapers ni;nkod "c-o," i indicjitiuR copyright. ! 1 he latter exi)l:iins otiiev has been liftintj Die ad designs. LEAVES $6,000,000 Mrs. Thomas Wyckoff-Hent <lieu late last week at lier home. 1TJ*» WashitiRttMj avenue. New York City. ller hnsh.'ind (Tom Betil I is tlie uncle of Mv. and .Mrs. I'm! Uooney. Mrs. I'ent left an «'s;:iie valued at J5r..0(K>.«MM>. WISE TEGG! The Tyson & Co. ticket agency branch in the (irand Central station was entered by a burglor Tuesday night that knew all about show busi- ness. This burghir broke into the ticket cabinet and selecte«l only the hits. lie stole 10 seat.^. There were two for the .\«'w .Vnitserdain for "Sally." two for the Music Box. two for the Uitz an<l six for '"Tlie Circle" at the Sehvyn. He also lift«'d two for the Fra/.ee and tried to Rot his money back on them at the l)ox f- fice. Miakin^j his getaway fjefore the box ofl'ice men could detain him. BEE PALMER MISSING l»«'o Palmer was reported missing iron; her enln taining j.ost at ft I^ro.nhvriy restaurant early this week. - l>e shirnniy <lancer and singer is "Old to have suddenly left town Sat- "'■day niRht witJiout noti.e or an- """irMinjr i,pp .hvstiiiation. Sho is cx- P(*<'IH to duly return. << A TO Z" OPENING London. Oct. 5. The now IVince of Wjilcs rovue ♦'"'•'led "A to Z" starring; llcl.-n and J<>^^"I>hine Trij. opens Saturday I he opoi Bext week. 1 lie oponing date had bicn set for STONE-PILLARD'S ACT Stone and Fillard. hilled to si)lit the liendline tliis worf»k at the 44lh StPtM't. will be unable to open for two weeks. The pai.' broke in Jin a(.'t out of town that, was unsatis- factory ami hav<» shelved it. r.lnnche .Merrill i.> wiihn;; tli<^ nr-u vehicle. From Vaudeville to Musical Show Cecil l.ciin and Cleo .Mayfu'ld liavr TETTRAZINI, POSSIBILITY Tetrazini looms as ;i headliner for Keith vau<leville. Negotiations are now un<lor way b<'tween Aie singer :ind the .MaiinelJi oflt(i>. Tetra/.ini has appcMied in coucrrf as well as opera, but in-vrr' in vaude- ville. YOUNG'S REVUE F.rnie Yoiin^ of Cli;c:ii;o signed a^ contract tliis wc<'k to install I lie re- vue 11 the Century Hoof. Baltimore. o|tnnin;; Oct. 10. Younc will take the pn-siMil .M.iiigold (larden, ,'hicago. show, wiiicli (loses ()('t. U, :iii(l move it ir.lrni t'* l';il(Miw>i-i', oiu'hin;; the wn-k follow ji:;. The ('(iilury Uoof. (■.•(•(■ntiN <^<i!iiplef (m|, is on the to|i of signed loi t!ie Sliuhi'it v.iinicx illi'. I i Ii,- Cfnluiy theatre owned by <J. K. opcnin;; Ort. lO. jind |»l;i\ inj; lor about \Vliit<diuist 10 week- at .'<1.".IM> wr.lsly. Follow in;; I lie \aiideville i'lifr.iy*'- incnts the tr-iin will si;ir in "The tiirl in the Trivafr Knein." a irinsiml sjio^. iiudtT till' .*^iiiii>»'rt iii;in;ii;»'nitMiJ . Al Breckerich will rn;ina;:e Loew's new Slat", r.utfalo. N. Y., opening Oct. 17. Bri'i kcrioJi ^*''^j^|(ir"""-'* nianaiT'T of tlie Olynii)ic, riuffalo rittsburgh, Oct. 5. The Hhuberts can congratulate themselves on results so far here. Their second week opened with a bipsrer matinee attendance than any afternoon performance of the first week, helped along by the Jewish holiday crowd. Monday night saw similar attendance, and indications for the balance of the week are bright. The Monday matinee saw the upstairs section 00 per cent filled, the same for downstairs, and most of the boxes occupied. The house is getting all possible space in the papers, although in one or two instances the Davis is being shown off to better advantage. Last week on the occasion of Dr. (xrifTo's appearance in a couple of orphan asylums, the "Tele" gave almost one- fourth of the front page to pictures of "The Bubble King" among the kiddies, and an interview in which he stated he did more charity work last week than in any other of his career. It was a good ad^ The Davis is spending money for its best bills in history, and isn't attempting to conceal the fact. Re- sults to' the ma^nagement are un- doubtedly gratifying. Monday after- noon was a complete sell-out shortly after noon, and Monday night also saw capacity with indications that the second week of opposition would duplicate the first, which was a near sell-out. M. A. Luescber ^'Loaned'* For Short Period by Charles Dillingham Mark A. Luescher has organised a special publicity department for the II. F. Keith (Mrcuit. It will have sole direction of au extensive pub- licity campaign the Keith people will indulge in to promote "The Third of n Century" memorial celebration of the birth of "Keith Vaudeville." Mr. Luescher was loaned to the Keith ofiices by Charles Dillingham. Luescher has organized the special department and will exclusively direct its operations for the celebration. The Keith celebratioi^ is to' take up one week, it is undcrMtood in All cities where there arc Keith-booked theatres. Whether it is to extend beyond ("hicugo is not knowtj. The announcement of the exploitation as announce'! by Mr. Luescher for pub- lication today (Friday) appears on Page 5 of this issue. Mark A. Luescher has long been publicist, standing at the head of his profession. His selection bj the Keith executives, hj permission, which means Luescher's entire time can not be devoted to the Keith pro- ject, to the exclusion of the many Dillingham enterprises, is a testament to Luescher's standing in the publicity world, a vocation he has adopted as a life time study. Keith's is reported to be paying Luescher a fabulous tinm for the month's attention be must at least give to the Keith celebration ma- terial. From the various Dilling- ham sources, Mr. Luescher has been reported in receipt, of a salary ap- proximating $.SO,(K)0 yearly. The regtilar Keith's press depart- ment headed by Walter J. Kingsley remains in charge of the Keith thea- tres* routing press matter. JANE and KATHERINE LEE "The llaby Crands," who started their Orpheum tour this week (Oct. 3) at Kansas City. The above picture shows them answering a few requests for photograiths from some of their Motion Ticture and Vaudeville ad- mirers. SHUBERT BILLS NEXT WEEK (0CT0T5ER 10) WINTER GARDEN, NEWYORK Nonetto Georflio Prre RcQnl and Moore CInrk and Arcaro (Olhrrs to f II) 41TH STREET Ler:i ancT Mnyfield E'jr! H?».n|on Vnrrlun and Perry Hoil and Rosedale Jack Strouse V/ilsnn and Larsen Olga Mishka Co. The Pickfords Ar(o Bros. * Brcndcl and Burt Revue APOLLO. CHICAGO CirrolinI E .Evani and (jirls Dickinson and Deagon Bort Melroso Cr.rjyle and Clarke Schwartz Bros. Break's Horse Frank Jerome Pederson Bros. Cecil Cunningahm LIBERTY. DAYTON. O. Monroe-Fisher Revue Billy McDermott Glorias A. Sexton and Girls Nip and Fletcher Sailor Rcilly Harper and Blanks Bohjo Bros. SHUDERT. PITTSBURGH Evrrrst's Monks Harris and Santley Novcllo Bros. Harry Hincs (Cmit iiiiM (1 on Page 20)