Variety (November 1921)

Friday, November £5, 1921 LEGITIMATE 19 BED-SIDE CHATS By KZLUE BEVELL Well, now that Thanksgiving la over, all you have to do is recover from that attack of "Indigestion" brought on by defying Volstead. Pay your orfst. fruiterer, confectioner and your bootlegger, then begin saving up for Christmas. Do you ever get tired of eating alone? I have eaten over two thousand alone, most of which are fed to me while I am lying in bed. I some- nes prevail upon the nurse to share part of'my meal, especially if it la electable dish sent .by some kind friend, and without which the monotony and sameness of two years' hospital food would become unbearable. I have been bountifully blessed with thoughtful friends who have pro- dded numerous and sumptuous repasts: Mrs. Farber, Mrs. J. J. Murdock, Mrs Win. Sleeper. Mrs. Thos. Bevan, Nina Lawrence, Mrs. W. H. Don- aldson, Mrs. Ralph Belmont, Mrs. Chas. McElroy, Mrs. John Cort, Mrs. C. Turner, Marillyn Miller, Mrs. Judge Weeks, Mrs. Rex Beach, Edward Darling, Jenle Jacobs. Pauline Cook, Lillian Lorraine, Mrs. Geo. toddard. Mrs. Harry Cort, Mrs. Harold Orlob, Thos. J. Ryan, Laura tennett. Trlxie Frlganza, Emma Carus, Georgie Gardner, Houdini, Mrs. Gus Edwards, Catherine Calvert, Gertrude Vanderbilt, Gracie Emmett, Dr Gilmore, Mrs. Dr. EI wart, Mrs. Chas. McDonald, Mrs. Thos. Broad - hurst, Ben Reilly's "Arrow Head Inn" and Henry Chesterfield of the S, V. A. are among those who have helped me to forget there ever was such a thing as diet. Did you ever have occasion to 'phone a hospital to inquire about a patient? Save yourself the trouble, also the nickel. Here's the answer in advance: 'Yes. the is here." 'Very comfortable" or "as well as could be expected." Try it some time. You will find that evasiveness Is not a lost art and that for non-committal answers the average nurse 'would have Li Hung Chang sounding ltkc a scandal monger. Some of the older nuriCo telUan .amusing story about a nurr.? answer- ing an Inquiry as to a patient's ^condition, pulling the old stock r.nswer. "Mrs. X.? Oh, she is very comfortable today." Another nurse passing heard this reply and remarked, "She ought to bo, she has been in the morgue six houis." Mr. Pritchard of White's studio ventures the opinion that I will soon again be calling him on the telephone and placing orders for "ups" and "flats." No. no more fiats for me, all "ups" hereafter. That word flat Jars me. I shan't even want to live in one again. After lying flat and all done up like Ramos*s cigarettes for two years, one is apt to lose Interest in flats. No, I never want to see another screen and I hate ceilings. Lou Cline, who l'.es awake nights wondering why the public ever made Harding president while George Broadhurst is around, tells this one: Recently at the box office of the Broadhurst theatre they received a letter saying, "As my father has died please remove his name from the first night list temporarily." Here's one Harsy Hlrschfleld tells: A chap went into a soda water emporium—meaning pouring the ium into the em—and said, "Give me .an ice cream soda without flavor." "What do you mean," said the dispenaer, "without flavor?"' •*I want a soda without chocolate." The clerk went away, returned, and raid: "We haven't any soda with- out chocolate. If you want one you'll have to take it without vanilla." Stephen Rathbun of the Evening Sun came in and taught me a new Solitaire, and now 1 owe myself eleven dollars. Our own beloved "Brlggs," that Inimitable portrayer of human nature Whose cartoons in the Tribune have done more toward keeping back the tears and putting blue in gray skies for me than all of the medicine I have had, encourages me by saying that he has read Variety for years and won't stop now on my account; that they can't keep a good woman down. Well, old fellow loophound, they have done a fine job at keeping me down for the last two years, and if I am good It is only because I am down. Optimism Is one of the most valuable requisites in a hospital attend- ant, but like all of the other sunshine cults it can be misinterpreted. The cart which carries the victims to the operating room passed my floor the other day with its human freightage on its journey to the great adventure. In the nature of an abdominal operation, and what do you suppose the orderly waa whistling? None other than "Look for the Bilver Lining." I'm gladjt was one of my off days for operations. EMPIRE, SYRACUSE, FOR FIRST RUN FILMS AMONG THE WOMEN By THE SKIRT Taken by Fitzer Bros, for Con- version—City's Best Legit Syracuse, N. Y., Nov. 23. Syracuse's finest legitimate thea- tre, erected 10 ylears ago—the Em- pire—becomes a picture house as a result of a lease taken by Mitchell & Morris Fitier, Syracuse picture men, from W. Snowden Smith, owner of the theatre. Alterations costing $15,000 will fit the theatre for picture purposes. The projection booth will be con- structed In the gallery. The or- chestra pit will be enlarged. A sidewalk box office will be placed. Greater illumination of the front of the house is planned. The Em- pire's stage facilities will be used for atmospheric settings for all fea- ture films. Morris Fitzer will be managing director, and his brother will be house manager. William Otis will direct an orchestra of twelve. James O'Brien will be chief electrician, Edward Fitzgerald will be stage carpenter and Robert Fitzlnger will be art director. William Meany, now at the Happy Hour, a second- run house operated in North Salina street by the Fitzers, will become chief operator in the projection booth. The Fitzers began film operations in Syracuse with "Dreamland," a nickel show just around the corner in West Onondaga street, from their new site. They founded their for- tunes on the Happy Hour, and suc- cessively took over the Regent and Arcadia theatres, which they later released. In addition to the Empire, they will have the new Ricoli, under con- struction now at 218-222 West Fay- ette street, and seating 1,400. The Empire from time of comple- tion until last spring was operated as the Syracuse K. & E. house. When the owner jumped the rent, the latter interests declined to meet the advance. The Empl.c was dark for weeks, and Anally Howard Rumsey opened with dramatic stock for the summer. The season over, the theatre closed again. Rum- sey later returning to try out the house with winter stock. The ven- ture was a financial failure. Since that time the theatre has been dark. In arranging the preliminaries for a bout on the operating table doctors freely admit that the dangers accruing from the shock to the system are not to be ignored. My system seems immune to shocks but my vanity received an irreparable shock yesterday when upon examining an electric heating pad sent by a solicitous friend, I found the label reading "Super Warming Pad." I never imagined I was a prima donna, for all the musicians in the world could not pull a note out of me with a corkscrew, and my neck Is too short for me to wear floppy hats required of an ingenue. But after being featured in a cast (even though It is a plaster of parts cast) for two years, until I almost thought I was an entire production, imagine my chagrin to learn that I am not even a heavy. The label says "Super Warming Pad." My Lord, I'm a mob scene. Well, mob scenes, have done more to immortalize Shakespeare and popularize motion pictures (with the assistance of tho press agents) than tho plots have. Whenever I find myself yielding to an attack of self-pity and feeling ■orry for myself, all I have to do is to think of the boys who got their wounds doing some real good in the world and are still lying in casts and braces in hospitals far away from home and friends, and compare my lot with theirs. Then hate myself for my impatience and begin WUhing I could divide some of my comforts and luxuries with them. This isn't treason but it looks like the theatre takes better care of their Wounded soldiers than the government does. Then the Time* informs us that a husband finds that fat "reducing makes happy homes. Wouldn't it somewhat depend upon the cause of their getting fat! Which reminds us of the late John L. Sullivan when he said "if I could have as much fun taking It oil as I had putting it on. Id start tomorrow." Someone Is always tfiklng the Joy out of life. Hero I've gone on for ■Teurs ending my letter "Cordially yours" and finding it a most expressive [way of signing myself to a letter between the business and intimat^ rtyendH, then along comes Nancy Boyd in Vanity Fair, with a mirth "Spelling travesty on the, nsininity, the uses and nbuses of my favorite lorm of closing letters. LEGIT ITEMS Gus Hill starts rehearsals next week on an all-colored production of "Mutt and Jeff." which will play the negro theatres throughout the south and southwest. The ebony "Mutt and Jen!" will open In New York at the Lafayette Christmas week. William Hurlbut's new play, "From Saturday Till Monday," Is due to go into rehearsal shortly. As with Hurlbut's "Lilies of the Fields" play, a special folding corporation will be organized to sponsor the piece. Oliver Morosco will try out two new pieces in his west coast stock company after the first of the year. One Is T. P. Robinson's play, "The Copy," a mystery drama, and the other is Charlotte Greenwood's new musical starring vehicle, "Let 'Er Go Letty." The Shuberts new musical piece, at present in rehearsal, has under- gone a change of name from "The Hotel Mouse" to "Little Miss Raf- fles." Vivian Segal and Fay Marbe are to be featured in the cast. Ivan Caryll did the score, Guy Bolton the book and Clifford Grey the lyrics. Mary Hay, formerly with "Sally," will shortly make her next stage ap- pearance in one of the forthcoming musical attractions. To dato she has received two offers, the most probable being the production of "Pomnnder Walk," providing an agreement on salary can be reached. It was also declared likely that George Stewart, brother of Anita Stewart, would be In the cast of the "Wiilk," for which rehearsals start next Monday. Richard Hcrndon's "The Title" whs reported this week ns closing Its New York run Saturday night. It was stated that the taking off of the play would be definite, with no road tour considered for the 1m- medinte futtir** Irving' Merlin's Mutdo Box Revue" will go down in 1921 history. Reams have been written about this entertainment. Nothing has been exaggerated. Mr. Berlin has given Broadway its very best bet. Aleta In a sort of prolog wears a white satin nightie heavily encrusted in pearls. Eight Handl girls wear white satin dresses made with full skirts and a music bar done In Jet. Florence Moore, In bed, of course, had on a mauve and gold neglige. The bedroom was exquisite In coloring against the bronze draperies. Wildu Bennett in a fan number was in gold lace. The skirt extended at the sides was hung oddly with red beads. The six girls with Mis* Bennett were draped in different colored shawls, heavily fringed. Emma Haig In a four-season dance waa in a white sleeveless coat trimmed deeply in marabou. The different seasons were depicted In short chiffon skirts of appropriate coloring. Ivy Suwyer as a diner-out appeared In a chiffon cape over a dress of yellow tulle. The course dinner was oddly done by several girls. Notice* a6ly nice was Miss Haig as a black and silver chicken. Mile. Marguerite made a dainty bit of French pastry in all the pastel shades. Margaret Irving, in an amusing skit called "Nothing But Cuts," was in gray cloth trimmed in mole. There was a purple sash. A monolog by Miss Moore was done In white satin embroidered In pearls. Miss Bennett, singing "Say It with Music," wore flaming red net and carried a handsome feathered fan. Exquisite were silver fringe dresses combined with flowers for the Fountain of Youth number. Renie Riano, a real comic, wore blue taffeta with leather trimmings in black. Miss Bennett looked gorgeous in a green evening frock. The robe was heavily crystalled and edged with ermine. One sleeve waa of fringe. In a court scene Miss Sawyer was In mauve chiffon and a blue hat Miss Bennett wore yellow velvet trimmed with white and kollnski fur. Two sets of jury girls were in mauve dresses and green hats, and black net and brilliants. A transformation was done and the girls appeared as bridesmaids. Miss Moore was in red velvet. An odd dancing frock worn by Miss Haig was tangerine chiffon com- bined with gray. "The Legend of the Pearls" Is still a mystery, but the production end was sufficient. In this number Miss Bennett was regal in black satin and pearls. Tommy Gray never wrote anything quite so funny aa the "House Hunting" skit. For the finale of the show the men of The company did look nice with their evening coats worn with short satin knickers. The three seta of costumes by the chorus for the finale were exquisite. Long straight crystal robes were another and black and white sequins we still nnol Scenery of the usual sort has been done away with In this show. Sumptuous were hangings of bronze brocade. One drop waa a black gauze encrusted in sequins, and a drop curtain of pearls and beads was very beautiful. The bill at the Colonial is called "Holiday Festival Bill," rightly named. There, was little enthusiasm, however, until Paul Morton and Flo Lewis appeared. From then on it was smooth for the other acts. Miss Lewis was first in a bad looking sequin frock, but looked better In pink pajamas, lace trimmed. The third change waa very good looking. The dress in silver with the skirt cut In points was over green. Miss Cavanaugh (Doyle and Cavanaugh) was very prettily frocked in gray chiffon made with a ragged hem and edged with feathers. The girdle was green and a small gray hat had one long plume. Marga Waldron showed am exquisite stage setting of black and orange with a live cockatoo swinging on a perch. Miss Waldron's first ballet number was done in white. The dress sparkled with crystals.' A Rus- sian costume was of gold embroidery on net. A red coat trimmed in black lynx was slung across the back. Hat and boots were of red. An Oriental dance was done In a full gold net skirt. Really beautiful was a bright red dress made short. The skirt had frllllngs of the same shade. Harry Tlghe has two girls with him now. The tall dark one wa.« well dressed in the new tangerine shade in chiffon. The long waistei bodice was gold and the skirt and long bell sleeves were edged In gruy fur. The other girl, a short blonde, had an over trimmed blue dress. The full Inflated skL't was smothered with red feathers and there was a black and silver sash. The girl of Murray and Gerrish looks like Marlon Bent. Her first dress was a simple little mauve affair. A ballet dress of pink followed, then a white taffeta had green medallions and a blue girdle. The girl of the Musical Hunters had riding breeches topped by a green cout and hard black sailor. If Florence Walton, at the Palace this week, expected any ah's and oh's for her wardrobe, she must have been disappointed. Quite likely there never was a more blatant display of jewels, dreaces and furs In a vaude- ville theatre. Her jewels consisted of a bandeau of diamonds. Dozens of bracelets encircled her left arm at the wrist and above the elbow. The right wrist waa encircled In rows of pearls. The first dress was of roses, with stripes of silver paaaamenterle hanging loose. An ermine cloak was worn. Her second dress waa of gold. The extended skirt was hung with bunches of pink grapes and gold bugles. These bugles also decorated the waist. A chinchilla coat was over another gold dress, hung with chains of spangles. Bessie Clayton, as usual, danced away with the honors. Here is an act worth many visits. Miss Juliet was in a long-walsted dress of white and silver. The skirt had two wide bands of feathers. Rac Samuels looked charming In a fuschla colored dress. The skirt had two bands of astrakhan, two rows of gold trimming and oddly hung from the waistline were bunches of cherries and grapes. It sounds ridiculous, but it wasn't. It was the prettiest dress I have seen in vaudeville this fall. Rose and Cecil Langdon (with Harry Lanudon) eould find more be- coming sport clothes. The younger wonmii didn't look so bad in the corduroy trousers. There are no medals on 'The Bowery Burlesquci's" at the Columbia this week. All the comedy falls to one man. and he isn't particularly funny. The only laugh he received was in the second act for a bit of Miggt s.t i veness. •There arc but three finale roles. Dolly Sweet, the lead, Is nice to look at. and If she would only lose the baby talk. Miss Sweet's first dress was of solid jet, made tight fitting with a train. One side was split. Another striking costume was a band of silver forming a skirt and tiaiu. There was a short coat of white chiffon with a deep band of (oral velvet. Discarding the coat and skirt Miss Sweet was in white tight: and a sliver trimmed tunic. An Eve costume consisted of yellow and green chiffon foimlng a train. A pearl dress had feather trim- ming. There was a very long train and a huge headdress of feathers. Margaret White and Justine Gray in soubret roles arc not dressing the part usual in burlesque. They wore several dresses of filmy tulle made with full skirts and baby waists and narrow girdles. One number had the company made up in the different children rhyme charat ters. It was splendidly done. Another attractive number repre- senting the girls as the many fruits was most attractive. The show j opened with the chorus dressed as young Amazons In white tights and pointed tunics. Splendid was a minuet, far down In the program. The costumes oi the I'ompadour period were ulnk. with white wigs.