Variety (December 1921)

PRICE 20 CENTS Published Weekly at 154 West 4«th St.. New 4Tork, N. Y., by Variety, Inc. Annual subscription $7. Single copTe* 20 cents. Entered as second class matter December SS, ltOS, at the Post Office at New York. N. T.. under the Act of March S, 1871. OL. LXV. No. 3 NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1921 40 PAGES LAN NEGRO GRAND IEF1N1TE BOOKINGS AT SIX LEGIT HOUSES FOR "ORPHANS" Griffith Completes Plans for Opening at Parson's, Hartford, Dec. 20—Within a Month Other Open- ings Are Scheduled for Principal Key Cities * After "trying out" his latest plc- ure production in one of the New 5ngland towns without even billing U D. W. Griffith Is ahout to an- lounce the opening bookings for Thfi Two Orphans." The first company, equipped with (Continued on rage 2) 'SITTING" REVIVED IN SOME CABARETS "Right" Girls Kick to No Pur- pose—Political Pull Seen "Sitting," a practice In vogue •mong the "dumps'* and "dives" of *0 years ago. has been revived and | regaining its lormcr use among * certain type of cabaret cafe. One of the most flagrant offend- s is a cafe in Times square where girls employed appear twice (Continued on Page 5) J.C. ALLOWS^SUNDAYS ^rformances for Five Weeks, Any fraction, Payment of 10 P. C. to Rive Sundav performance kind lor some t inie w it li the jJ'e owners contemplntim: liav- 'hp ni'w temporary onlin;iiin> re- I'ifthc charity donation does t too seriously the earnings *"* theatre. SYMPATHY EXPRESSED FOR R0SC0E ARBUCKLE Public Opinion in Frisco Strong in Comedian's Favor— New Trial Jan. 9 San Francisco, Dec. 7. A consensus of opinion of promi- nent people of San Francisco is to the effect that a great injustice has been done Roscoe Arbucklo through the disagreement of the jury on his trial, charged with manslaughter In the matter of the death of Vir- ginia Rappe. A new trial has been set for Jan. 9. Strong street reports are that the jury purposely was hung for its dis- agreement through the influence of the district attorney's office. Dis- trict Attorney Brady and his assist- ants are being severely criticised (Continued on page 38) REHEARS! FOR Plan to Open in February— Support from Interests Outside Show Business— "Shuffle Along" Convinced —A b b i e Mitchell's and Other Great Voices Among Colored People OFTEN SUGGESTED A plan to launch a colored grand opera company is going ahead, ac- cording to a story that says the promoters have received promises of support from interests outside of (Continued on rage 2) GARDEN STILL "PAPERING" Despite protestations by Shubert men of any more "paper" out for the Winter Garden, New Yon;, punched tickets as usual for that house ap- peared this week. Coupons in blocks were being of- fered around. An advertising agency is said to receive 50 pairs of Car- den's seats daily for distribution among its clients, indicating the Garden is seeking new avenues to circulate the paper. SAYS NEW YORK CENSORS RUINED LADIES MUST LIVE" Keith Office Booked It After Showing Previous to Censorship—Found It Impossible After Official Deleters Finished with It "RUN OF THE PLAY" FOR PRESS AGENT Frank Pope Alleges Agreement With Louis Mann—Refuses to Be Dismissed Something new for press agents— a "am of the play contract.'' That, at least, is what Frank Pope, former dramatic editor of the Journal of Commerce, claims that he holds with the Louis Mann attraction, "Na- ture's Nobleman." Pope, under ad- vice of counsel, Is reporting for work at the Apollo theatre every day, al- though he has been dismissed from th • company's service. Tope claims that ae was engaged when the play came into New York to do the publicity for the attraetlon. After he had been active in tho work (Continued on page 27) A. H. WOODS RESIGNS FROM PRODUCING MANAGERS' ASS'N Leaves P. M. A.—Reported Aggravated by Attitude of Association and Mem- bers Over "The Demi-Virgin" Matter—Among Biggest Legit Producers In America Several of the Moss-Kelth-Proc- tor houses have cancelled their bookings of George Loane Tucker' j "Ladies Must Live" production. The consensus of opinion Is that the (Continued on page 38) HALT ON BLUE LAWS CALLED BY COUNCIL UNPRECEDENTED RUN, PHILA. \V.i:T<t:)i.! 's \ l\ < ir|" '" hav»- noli- 11«' 11 the rniii|uiiy ;i p|ii.i ri in: in "'I he I :.il" in 1 iu' ii"i|'ii..i lii.it tin- I un of the piece th^re has been e\t«-nded beyond Christmas, as origin. i!ly in- ii'tnli'il, to n> \t April. This is an unprecedented engagement *n that cily. A. II. W'ooil.s sent in Ins i e ,;;;r,.i •inn \\'i <1 in- tl.iy as a tin mli'-r <>f lie' IVodueing M:ui;i^'i's' A ^sn 'i.i I .on. Wood.," wil luliMwa means he will become an independent producer, in so far as the rule of the Aetors' Iviuity As-ociat ion governs pro- ducers not included in the P. M. A . (Continued on page &) DAN HENNESSY CELEBRATES l>an;el !•'. Ilennesy eel, |, i ^ , ,] List Sunday l l><c. 1) the }0t h anni- versary of his rn.it i :.u,'' to Uic same wife by p! i .nir ' 1 !i <!es of golf in t he mo: ii m:; a n 1 < \ ■ : i) :; i r.,< a «•! billiards at. :he lii.i;- in the after- noon. Indianapolis Fathers Object fo Takinq Joy from Life Indianapolis, Dec. 7. A sudden and complete halt in the onward rush of legislation against personal liberty was called by th" City CounclLhere this week when. by a vote or 6 to 2, and with some caustic comment, the town father-- refused to pass an ordinance pro. hlblting the use of fireworks except in public celebrations. The mea-ure had been pending since last .Ta>. "You're taking all the joy on' •f life for the little hoys,"' comment-d Councilman I.ouis W. f'arnofiv "I'm like Mr. Carncfix. 17..n't fake all the pleasure out of the people's lives," said Councilman Uiistav H. Sebmidf, president of the Motion l'icture Theatre Owners of Indiana, and proprietor of the Crs.v- .tal and several neighborhood movie houses. "I sometimes think that we're going to legislate for the safety <>f life and limb until we take all ih«« Joy out of life." said President Ku - fcoll Willson. "I believe that t :■•• general trend of legisla t i\ e ( | r t -,. on the part of the people i< ac.ain^t this sort of tiling and I a pj >r< h.i aid that Sume day there will be ;i I i !.- lite .in awful baikbie." NAT NAZARRO, JR. i lr nf a ii t. B S K O O K. "I.'irvv'/i'i"; HI 1 ' 111 • (■ -/ ' /i •• V h f it t i f " 113 \\>st HMh Str»ft. Nrw York ( Uy llrooklci So. f>