Variety (December 1921)

VAUDEVILLE Friday, December 16, 1921 MEETING TO DECIDE WHETHER COMPOSERS SHALL AFFILIATE So Few Attend First a Second Is Called—Lyric Writers* and Composers' League Contemplates Affiliating with Labor A reorganization mooting of the Lyric Writers' and Composers' League of America (song writers' union), called last week at the rooms of the Authors' and Compos- ers* Society, was sparsely attended, as a result of which another meet- ing was scheduled for Thursday of this week. The songsmllh* are contemplating affiliating with the American Federation of Musicians, the A. E. A. and the A. F. L. The writers abandonee' pressing, their claims against the music pub- lishers last spring because of the depression in the industry, but the songwriters are serious this time about eliminating numerous alleged evils in the business. One demand they ask for is an accounting of the British, French and other foreign royalties, which they say the pub- lishers always collect but never split with tho writers. The "new issues" an«?le will be dealt with, the songwriters setting forth that where a song may sell 800,000 the publisher will always deduet about one- eighth thereof as "new issuei*,*' stating these were distributed to the trade gratis for exploitation purposes and the writer Is, not en- titled to royalty on them. Tie song- smiths allege this "new issues" list is ofttimes prodigiously padded. The writers will claim publishers have been holding new manuscripts for two years or longer and that these might have been put out sooner and "plugged" had the au- thor cared to accept the usual prac- tice of "cutting in" some staff writer on his original work. Another clause in the royalty contracts that the songsmilhs ob- ject to concerns that about the writer standing lawyers' costs in case of any legal action ensuing. Aa has proved to he the case, about lifty per cent, of the song hits of recent years have always brought with them legal action, running mostly towards plagiarism charges, many of them based on slim or groundless charges, hut which have always Involved considerable ex- pense. SEEK CONSIDINE AND RYAN IN RUM QUIZ New Orleans Authorities Would Question Former Vaudeville Men New Orleans. Dec. 14. In the liquor Investigations being held in this city-the names of John Considino and John J. Ryan have been mentioned. Subpoenas were Issued for Considine and Ryan, but aa they had left this city several months ago. they could not be served. Commissioner Craven stated the presence of Considine and Ryan would bo valuable as witnesses. In the investigations it was alleged Considine and Hyan chartered a yacht, which has been plying into this port, payng a monthly rental of. $1,000. John Considine spent almost a year in this city, and left during the latter part of October, lie was formerly one of the biggest vaude- ville men in this country, being one of the heads of the old Sullivan- Considine circuit of theatres in*the west. Commissioner Craven openly al- leged that no charges aro made against Considine or Hyan. MARRIAGES "William S. Hart to Winifred Westover, Los Angles, Dec. 7. Frances Slatchkin, secretary to Joe Leblang, Dec. 6, at the Bedford Mansion, Brooklyn, to Milton Cohen. TOUCHED FRANCIS FOR $100 Francis Renault, the female im- personator, was robbed of $100 Mor.day afternoon while playing his current engagement at the 44th Street, New York. The money was taken from his dressing room while ho was on the stage, according to the artist. He had two bills, one for the missing amount, and another for $1. The smaller bill wasn't touched. At the completion of his turn at the matinee he returned to the dressing room and discovered the theft. According to attaches of the house, Renault had two visitors be- fore the matinee. Pat McMahon has started rrectlon of a new 1,500 seat house in Glen Cove, L. I. THEATRE STOCK SALE PROBE STIRS BALTIMORE Two Indictments Predicted As Outcome of Boulevard "Slush Fund" Baltimore. Dec. 14. State's Attorney Robert E. Leach of Baltimore has completed M* in- vestigation of the stock sales man- agement and promotion of the Boulevard Theatre, In thla city, about which, during the last few weeks, has revolved a series of scandals growing out of the appro- priation by Edward J. Wiley, the promoter, of nearly $6,000 for •'see- ing the theatre ordinance through the City Council safely." Following the commitment of Wiley to Jail, temporarily, for re- fusing to divulge the ultimate des- tination of this fund, and later rev- elations to the effect that it had found its way to the law firm of Dlckerson & Nice, the grand jury began its Inquiry at Leach's Jnstiga- tion, in an effort to establish whether the fund wss used for brib- ery In the City Council to defeat a rival measure for a similar theatre, promoted by Palmore & Ifomand. which project fell through. Investigation of previous ventures in which Wiley figure', showed that he had been engaged by Dr. Sehwa- ber to promote a project on Pennsyl- vania avenue, and that when Schwaber protested against employ- ment of the Dlckerson & Nice firm for incorporation drafting, "Wiley insisted, and later, when a fee of $500 was presented for this work, which ordinarily costs $25 or $35, Schwaber renewed his protest. He says that Wiley drew him aside at the time and said, "Don't be a fool, Schw.-iher, that $500 isn't only for the papers; it's to see the ordinance through safely." "It goes to show," said Schwaber, "that Wiley confided greatly in the lobbying ablll'ies of the firm." What adds sensation to the case is the fact that Harry W. Nice, head of the firm, and who in the last Gubernatorial election was almost elected, Is a close and personal friend of both Mayor Broening and City Solicitor Roland R. Marchant. ALTHOFF SISTERS SEPARATING Next week will mark the finale of the Althoff Sisters as a vaudeville team. The girls will dissolve the act after the engagement at the 44th Street for the Shuberts. It is tho house in which they made their initial appearance in this country, appearing there with the Sylvester Schaeffer act some years ago. Hattie Althoff is going into the act of the Five* Kings of Syncopation with the dance team of Carlos and Inez. VAUDEVILLE DISSOLUTION Charlie Olcott and Mary Ann will dissolve their vaudeville partner- ship, following their engagement at Keith's. Philadelphia, Saturday. The rest of the team's Keith route was canceled by them. Inability to agree, it is "said, caused the dissolution. Mary Ann was formerly Mary Donahue, vaudeville single. MAY WIRTH with "PHIL" HEADLINING THK OEPHKLM tlK< I IT The PORTLAND OREGON I AX, by Lrone ('ass ttacr . . . "May is youth incarnate. Joyous and bubbling over with fun and laughter and every movement of her agile body is an expression of vitality, grace and beauty. . . . Phil Is the clown rider and adds the Comedy ele- ment, it's a most pretentious a«'t all thru, sensational and daring, with interest and novelty." NOTK.—We thank you, Leone Cass Baer, for the 16 inch write-up. 31 AY WIRTH CO. A real good bunch, and a real bunch of good acts leave us here — Ivohsc and Sterling, Kd Ford and wife, Gcrtrudo Moody and Mary Duncan, Greene and Parker and J. Rosamond Johnson and his 6 Show stoppers. TOMMY TITLE WRITER San Francisco. Dec. 14. Tommy Gray, New York humorist, recently spent a week in San Fran- cisco and is now in Los Angeles. Gray will write the titles for several moving pictures before returning to New York. MIDGETS FOR THREE WEEKS Singer's Midgets, opening at the Palace, New York, Monday, have been booked in that house for a run of three weeks. The act was sent in on the pro- longed stay to have it at the Palace during the holidays. MONTREAL'S SUNDAY SHOWS OUT; PICTURES AND MUSK ALLOWED Complaints Bring Action from Authorities—In Effect Around New'Year's—Vaudeville and 9urles que Mostly Hurt LOEW TOUR SWITCH DROPPING THREE After Dec. 26 Direct from San Antonio to K. C. The. Loew Circuit will drOD tne Liberty,, Oklahoma City; Majestic. Waco, and the Majestic, Dallas, after the week commencing Dec. 26. All of the houses have experienced poor business since reopening early In the fall. With the elimination of the three houses, the Loew southern route will be switched, the road shows being routed from Ban Antonio di- rectly to Kansas City, which neces- sitates a three-day lay-off to allow for the jump. Due. to the length of the new jump, the Loew office is allowing acta $10 per person to cover the additional fare. The former* Loew route was from San Antonio to Waco to Dallas, and from the latter i>oint to Kansas City, which also necessitated a lay-off. LOEWS. NEWARK New State, Seating 3,000, Opened This Week Newark, N. J., Dec. 14. Loew's State, the newest addition t,o the circuit, opened Monday even- ing (Dec. 12). The new house, sit- uated at Broad and New streets, in the downtown section of the city, is advantageously located for its con- tinuous vaudeville and picture pol- icy. The State is playing a threc- a-day vaudeville show with its bills retained for a full week, the latter an Innovation for a Loew theatre in the east. The seating capacity, placed at 3,000, is confined to the orchestra and the balcony, the newest style of theatre architecture and decorat- ing have been followed. The color scheme is of buff and red artisti- cally worked out. The opening performance was at- tended by a number of local, of- ficials and theatrical celebrities. The initial performance included Four Danubes, Moore and Fields, Senator Francis Murphy and Sea- bury's Frolie. William Downs Is resident man- ager. The admission scale Is at 25-40 at night and 20-25 matinees, with the logos at night bringing 55 cents and in the afternoon 40. Montreal, Duo. 14. Tho municipal authorities have put the lid on Sunday theatrical performances. Picture theatres will be permitted to continue Sunday shows, hut the shows are restricted to pictures. Songs and prologs will not be tol- erated; orchestral tnuxie will be allowed. This edict affects moat of the local theatres, more especially the vaude- ville and burlesque houses. The Gayety (Columbia) and the Princess (Keith's) formerly started the week Sunday,' while I^oew's, Capitol, Alien and other houses ran either pop v;uicVville or pictures with elab« orately staged prologs. Jules Crepeau, director of munlci- p;« departments, stated to Variety's correspondent that in view of tot complaints made by Chief of Police Belanger, the city administration had decided to enforce the law and close theatrical performances Sun- day. Mr. Crepeau quoted his letter ad* dressed to the. ^hlef of police on the subject, which read In part: "I find that for some time the local theatres have been open on Sr.nday as during the week. I do not speak of the moving picture houses but of the Gayety, Princes* etc., where they give the same per- formance as during the week." Continuing, Mr. Crepeau advised the chief to take the matter up with tho legal department, with a view to prosecution. The practice, stated Mr. Crepeau, was a direct contra* ventlon of the provincial statutes. Immediato action followed the I le'ter. As a matter of fart, the law,has! been in existence for sonic time, but the Quebec (province) authorities tolerated Sunday shows, until some] of the "blue law" advocates brought] pressure 4 o bear on the city council. Managers Will be given a chance to readjust their affairs and the ordinance will not be pressed for ft week or two yet. The majority of the managers wiir abide by the law and run picture programs only. In "he case of the Princess, this house may close every Sunday or possibly arrange for a picture show. Loew's will simply cut the vaudeville out of the Sun* day performances and concentrate on pictures. The Gayety and the Orpheum (now American Wheel burlesque) will probably have .to' date their opening on Mondays, as in the old days." , . BOYCOTT CARRELL Chicago Agents Object to His. Pub- lishing Salaries KEITH MANAGERS SWITCHING Syracuse, Dec. 14. W. Dayton Wegefarth, manager of B. F. Keith's here since the house opened, goes to tho New York Keith headquarters, Feb. 1, for ex- ecutive duties. lie will be replaced hero by John J. Durnes of Philadel- phia, who has been here for six weeks or thereabouts as an under- study to Mr. Wegefarth, also a for- mer Philadclphian. The assistant managership also shifts. William M. Ilrown, who has held that post under Mr. Wegefarth, and was formerly manager of the Crescent hero when that house played three-a-day, left Saturday for Cleveland where he becomes manager of the new Keith lOffth St. house. His successor is William B. Shaul of this city, a newcomer in the theatrical field, but well- known in loeal business circles. Maurice Costello in a Sketch The picture star of some seasons ago, Maurice Costello, Is appearing in a vaudeville farce, written by •Tack Paxley and revised by Norman Stadiger. Ada Carter .. (musical comedy) is in support. The Joe Paige Smith office is booking It. Nancy Wclford in Rock's Act William Rock, who started out on a Keith route several wee»H ngo with a single turn, his wife, Helen Kbey, assisting as his accompanist, has added Nancy Wclford to the act, the latter the daughter of Dallas Wclford, the English comedian. THAT KEITH STANLEY DEAL Despite many contrary reports concerning the proposed booking affiliation of tho Keith office with the Sabolsky & McCiulrk chain, now booking in the Amalgamated New York agency, and tho other rela- tions to ensue with the Stanley Co. of Philadelphia, it is said the prop- osition remains as it did a month ago, uncompleted, but going for- ward. No definite date is set for the consummation Too many details arc the cause assigned for the pro- crastination. Chicago. Dec. 14. At a meeting of all independent agents it was decided that none of them submL acts to the C. L. Carrell Hooking offices. It is alleged unfair methods are used by Carroll in ob- taining acts and objection is made to publishing salary of acts In" a pamphlet which he sends to the- atres that are prospective clients. KEITH AGENTS' MEETING The Vaudeville Arti.sts* Repre- sentatives* Association was sched- uled to hold its first annual meeting in the Columbia theatre building Wednesday. The V. A. It. A. ii composed of agents booking through the Keith office. Tho meeting was called for the purpose of adopting a constitution and by-laws and ratifying the work done thus far by the temporary officers. The V. A. R. A. is in the nature of a benevolent organization, for the relief of any member who may need assistance. Alice Lloyd Opening Dec. 26 Alice Lloyd will start her Shubert vaudeville route Dec. 20. Miss Lloyd arrived in New York Inst Friday on tho Aquitania, ac- companied by Daisy llyams, her niece. Louis Pollock, an Agent A Loew booking franchise has been issued by J. H. Lnbin to Louis Pollock, who las been an as ei * s,allt ' booker in the {Loew offices