Variety (January 1922)

n NEW SHOWS THIS WEEK Friday, January 13, 1928 toc ■JJW g VJL INSIDE STUFF ON VAUDEVILLE The Keith office gutb-iv-d \xn agents in meeting a week or bo ago. The purpose seemed to be to find out why the agents had addressed let- ters to their acts, suggesting that it would be opportune for the acta to advertise in the Anniversary Number of Variety without submitting the letters to the booking office. E. F. Albee spoke to the agents about It. They truthfully replied they had been solicited to do so by a representa- tive of Variety, as they had done in former years for Variety's Anni- versary Numbers. Vaudeville agents for years have been writing to-their acts on occa- sions, suggesting a special number of Variety might be advantageous to the acts and their agent. It dates back to when Pat Casey smarted his booking agency. The Casey agency at that time had a flat and reduced rate from Variety on a guarantee from the Casey agency it would secure at least 30 pages. The first year the Casey agency fell short a few pages and itself made up the deficiency. Pat Casey stated at the time It was more than worth It. The following year the Casey agency exceeded its guarantee under the same arrangement. Thereafter, no guarantee was requested by Variety, and the Casey agency continued the practice for several years. For the last Variety Anniversary Number, besides the Keith office agents, the Shubert booking office, and agents also sent out letters to acts, making a similar suggestion, while in the past the Loew office, whenever asked by Variety, immediately agreed its agents might do so. About five years ago the other theatrical newspapers, thinking Variety too progressive, protested to the Keith office against Variety being put forward by the agents as the best theatrical Advertising medium. For a couple of years, Mr. Albee listened to the other theatrical paper*, advis- ing the Keith agents not to mention the name of any theatrical paper when writing about advertising to acts. The third year Mr. Albee was asked by representatives of Variety not to instruct the agents, but to Inform complaining papers he had nothing to* do with It; that it was a matter of business with the papers and they could do as they pleased, on their merit, as long as they did not involve or use the name of the Keith office. He stated at that time the method proposed was more pleasing, as the letter writing had grown to be a nu'^ance in the office (Keith's) through other papers protesting. This went on a couple of years and up to the present season. It never amounted to more than a matter of business. Agents believe they secure their best advertising when mentioned by acts known to have vaudeville routes. This is a theory among agents in vaudeville, and has been ever since there were vaudeville agents. When the agents honestly believed «s they have for years that the only worth-while theatrical medium ij Variety, they did not hesitate to so inform the acts, something the acts already knew, as vaudeville bookings often have been made not alone in the United States, but all over the world through a Variety advertisement. The interference of other theatrical papers, their manner of "following up," Variety's advertisements, their apparent chagrin at their own failing circulation and the growth of Variety's, have cost Variety thousands of dollars every year for the past 10 years, in advertisement diverted from it through envious competitors. Professionals and showmen who would have advertised in Variety in years pa&i, did not do so through the be- lief if they did in one paper, they would have to insert the same ad In three or four. It brought about a series of advertising articles in Va- riety on duplicated advertising, wherein it was shown no theatrical ad- vert Iser could secure the circulation Variety gives, and other papers merely gave a small part of Variety's circulation at best. ... ♦ The idea the Keith people seem to have is that if an act, working out of the Keith office is written to by an agent, the act accepts that as a letter instigated by the Keith office. Variety's results from these let- ters of recent years have utterly dlsproven that belief, as any Variety Anniversary Number of late years easily witnesses. This is printed in "Inside Stuff," as any other news matter would be that cannot well be placed in news form, and for the purpose of making it known at large, there has been nothing underhanded in approaching agents or booking offices to induce business into Variety,-if that may be done. It will be continued, resting with the agent or booking office whether such letters aro to be written. As a rule, Variety always solicits direct as well. Maurice Costello, a picture star, most recently with Selznick and for- merly a well-known stock actor, is making his bow to vaudeville with Ada Carter, formerly of Vincent and Carter. Their playlet Is "Ananias Outclassed," by Norman Stadiger, who makes his bow as a vaudeville writer. Mr. Stadiger was once a star dancer in the U. P. dramatic so- ciety, the Mask and Wig Club, also writing and directing shows of the Paint and Powder Club, another Philadelphia amateur organization. He la associated with the Joe Paige Smith agency. ) Welby Cook, a youthful Australian, is wit' the Wirth Family, touring the Orpheum. His parents'were noted bare back riders. They tried to divert the boy's activities by sending him to college, but his bent for the tan bark finally landed him here with his relatives, the Wlrths. Like other Australians, snow was a novelty, and he had his first taste of it when the act recently appoared in Vancouver, B. C. Out of Auntie's hearing, Stella Wirth carefully instructed Welby that when he went out of doors he must make a snow ball and throw it a*, the first man passing, otherwise the latter would heave one at him. The youth did as told. His wing was true and he got his man, but the man, who was pedaling a bicycle, surprised Welby by giving him a whipping. Finding many things new to him in this land, the kid is game to try anything once, but there will be no encores on the snow stuff. tract was with tha company It was not binding op tha reoeivar. Bert thought otherwise and threatened legal action. The matter was Anally left to adjudication. Meanwhile Bert continued to report as understudy with the understanding that if he wins he Is to receive tha part and be reimbursed for the time pending the adjustment. Henri Gressitt Is no longer manager for the Doris Keane "Romano*" show. He was standing on the stags in some town when he injudiciously the remark that the star was the "toughest" one he had ever n j t handled. Miss Keane's husband, Basil Sydney, overheard him and it became necessary for Lee Shubert to shift Gressitt to another attraction. The several reports spreading for the past few weeks that the Al Jolson show might move from the Jolson to the Winter Garden was emphatically denied the other day by J. J. Shubert. Mr. Shubert said he had no such Intention; that he'never intends to put on another produc- tion at the Winter Garden, and that vaudeville will continue there, ex- cepting possibly for a period of six months, If he decides to go through with the building plan In mind for the Garden's site. That is a large office building with the theatre In It, turning the theatre around so the entrance will be on the side street. While it might take two years to complete the building, Mr. Shubert said the interference with the Gar- den's stage - would not run over six months and take in the summer time. The Shuberts are evincing no haste in giving out second-term 20-week contracts for their vaudeville. The/first batch Is shortly expiring. Sev- eral of the- Shubert booked acta are now playing return dates to com- plete the agreements. It la thought few will be held over for a second term, and those that are will play on a week-to-week basis, a system now in effect with acts lately engaged by the Shubert booking office. The Pantages Circuit Is reported having gone light on booking of late, in the belief the Shubert acta will soon apply to Pantagea for time. The Shuberts' Lyric on 42d street may yet play vaudeville. It waa intended to open that house about thia or next week with vaudeville, but one of the Shuberts is reported to have opposed the plan. Since then it is said he has lessened his opposition to the removal of the vaudeville from the 44th Street to the 42d street house. While Martin Beck was in Seattle on his last trip over the Orpheum Circuit, he announced an Orpheum, Jr., theatre will be built in that city. He made a similar announcement in Portland, Ore. The attendance at the independently booked theatres throughout the city which play Sunday vaudeville only has fallen off to a marked de- gree during the past few weeks, with Sunday (Jan. 8.) bringing forth the lightest attendance of the season in several. A number of houses which play burlesque during the week have been playing the Sunday vaudeville at $1 scale, which is given as one of the principal reasons for the falling off in business. Several of the houses are in localities which have regulation small-time theatres which adhere to the regular scale which seldom exceeds 75 cents. A stiff independent vaudeville battle has developed In Jersey City and Hoboken between the Harring & Blumcnthal interests and Frank G. Hall. The Hespe theatre, Jersey City, was recently purchased by Hall, the house being direct opposition to Harring & Blumcnthal's Central Avenue theatre, with the latter firm Immediately purchasing a plot of cround in Hoboken on which will be erected a vaudeville house to oppose Hall's United States theatre. "General" Plsano, the sharp-shooter, la at the Shuberts' 44th Street, New York, this week, after a series of events leading up to it, that in- cluded, according to report, fisticuffs between Plsano and Harry Mount- ford. Pisano is working under a consecutive contract for 13 weeks, given him by the Shuberts in adjustment of his original 20-in-24 agree- ment. As the weeks passed and Pisano did not work under his contract with the margin of four open weeks more • than taken up, the "General" grew restive. He was a member of the A. A. F., the branch of the Four A's that is leagued with Equity. Mountford is the presiding or executive officer of that organization. Pisano had paid his dues and was In good standing. He called on the A. A. F. and asked about its attorneys, the names of whom are on the A. A. F. letterhead. Mount- ford said the attorneys were too far downtown and advised Piasno not to proceed against the Shuberts. Plsano insisted ho was entitled to certain rights under the Shubert agreement, principally work, and that it was necessary for him to have. After learning his plan to induce the artist to lay off the Shuberts had proven fruitless, Mountford gave Pisano the address of a firm of attorneys he said would represent him, but added that he would have to make his own terms. The firm, when visited by Plsano, would not fix any cost, said Mountford had no authority to speak for them, and they would inform Pisano of the charge after finish- ing the case. Mountford had told Pisano the firm would charge 10 or 15 pe cent, of any amount collected. Pisano, dissatisfied with the firm's attitude, returned to Mountford, who, after some further talk, referred him to an attorney for Equity, saying it was all the same; that the A. A. F .and Equity were working together. The Equity attorney told Pisano there would be a slight charge for services rendered, If not too extensive. After obtaining an adjustment of PIsano's contract with the Shuberts, with the IS-week consecutive agreement one of the results, he charged Pisano |30. Pisano was agreeable to and did pay that amount. Returning to Mountford, Pisano, who had been kept In a state of ex- asperation throughout by Mountford's stalling tactics, informed Mount- ford of the outcome, whereupon Mountford told Plsano he would also have to pay the firm of lawyers he (Mountford) had first sent him to. Plsano replied the firm understood It was not to handle his .case; he had told them so, also Mountford. Mountford answered Plsano would have to pay anyway, as he (Mountford) had cajled up the firm, telling them to go ahead, notwithstanding Mountford had also sent Plsano to the Equity's attorney. This led to words. Plsano expressed his opinion of the A. A. F. In general and Mountford in particular; called Mountford several com- prehensive names; Mountford in turn grew aggressive and advanced to- ward Pisano, who landed his right without any stalling; Mountford land- ing in a corner from the impact. Shortly after leaving the A. A. F. offices, Plsano arranged to furnish ball If Mountford should prefer a charge of assault he was prepared to defend, but up to the early part of this week Pisano had heard nothing. The Shubert vaudeville circuit has a William B. Frledland-L. Lawrence Weber .show traveling over it. The producing combination has three acts of its own on the bill, and pays the remainder of the show, playing the time 60-40, the Fame as the Bcdini show, "Chuckle." The Friedland- Weber group play< d the Shubert house, Cleveland (Ohio), New Year's week, giving an extra performance for the holiday. 'It is said that when settlement time came around the show's directors found tho receipts of the extra performance were missing from the total. Lee Shubeit is said to have replied their 60 per cent, did not figure on extra performances, as their contract did not call upon them to pay nets for an extra holiday show. Though Weber Insisted jrvoss N gross, nnd that all moneys taken In 'during th«- wc.k constituted the truss, Shubert held to his theory, and prevailed. With the coming of tho new year it is understood Harry Davis, the Pittsburgh theatrical manager, will have his property restored to him. He Is understood to have owed tho banks something like $500,000, of which more than $300.(»f>0 has been repaid, the banks taking an active in- terest in the conduct of the Davis theatres in that city. Anna Held, Jr., why recently acquired possession of her late mother's personal estate, placed' in trust for her, may shortly come into possession of the ancillary estate, vhich involves certain pieces of property in sev- eral of the Western States, besides the large Paris estate, which Includes the luxurious home of the deceased. Cornelius J. Sullivan has been re- tained by Miss 'Held, Jr., in an endeavor to secure the property from Charles F. Hanlon, who was appointed executor of the ancillary estate. Miss Held is preparing a production act for vaudeville. Fred B«rf, understudy for the Norman Trevor role In "Lilies of the Field" had a eontraet with the company to assume Trevor's part on the retirement of th*> latter from tin cast. The company went Into the hands] of a receiver. Joe Klaw was appointed to administer its affairs. Klaw told Bart he wanted Frederick Terry for the part and that as the con- I Henry Ford's anti-Semitic campaign has broken Into vaudeville, after touching with more or less rancor upon the picture and the music publishing business. A whole page of the "Dearborn Independent," dated Jan. 7, is devoted to a reprUit of the bitter anti-Jewish writings of Patterson James, in the "Billboard." The searchlight of publicity thus playing for the moment upon Patterson James, it is in order to re- peat the report that this monicker is the nom do plume of none other than James William Fltspatrlck, erstwhile president of the White Rats of America, and now president of the American Artists' Federation and member of the Executive Council of the Four A.'s. One curious de- tail of Fitzpatrlck's situation Is, that as executive committeeman of the Four A.'s, he is concerned in a judicial way with the problems of the Jewish Actors' Union, which derives its American Federation of Labor charter from the Four A.'s, Just as Equity, the A. A. F. and the oth» r bodies do. There are certain fees connected with this executive committee capacity. It appears from the record as reprinted in the Ford weekly that Pat- terson James or Fitzpatrick saw two shows—the Riverside (Keith vaude- ville) in New York, aid "Bombo" at the Jolson theatre—and didn't like the performers of Jewish birth in either performance. Specifically he objected to Anna Chandler (without mentioning her name) at the River- side, whom he described as "the red-haired, rotund, coirsetless lady in the (Continued on page 23) 81 ST ST. With the Fairbanks "Musketeers* special out in lights before the the- atre they flocked in Tuesday night to a total which registered business as excellent. A five-act bill, pre* ceding the film, held sufficient en- tertainment to be classed as a favr» orable first half for the evening that had the celluloid feature as Its mala attraction. The house enjoyed a. pleasingly Sut together vaudeville portion that ad the Marmeln Sisters holding the final position and who personally carved a separate niche with their dancing In an act which shouts "coin," and Is particularly note- worthy aa to the manner in which the girls are dressing. At various times the costuming and settings brought forth complimentary ap- plause, with the footwork of tha couple strengthening each occasion, resulting in a finishing outburst. It tops, by far, any previous vehicle the sisters have had and in addi- tion shows them to two-fold ad- vantage above their former offer- ings. According to the way they were received the act can repeat in this neighborhood at will. Wayne and Werner, immediately ahead of the "flash" episode offered by the sister team, worked-up to a solid response with their patter and crossfire slang that gave them tha comedy honors for the first half. The couple are using a line of con- versation that figures to become part and parcel of any "flapper's" vocabulary who hears the knights of the soft hats, camels-hair muf- flers and exaggerated scarfs. The collegiate atmosphere, particularly heavy between 80th and 96th streets, stands to blast forth with many another sidewalk and parlor replica of Wayne and Werner's dia- logue with the Dots, Maries, Sallys and Emilys of upper Broadway's outdoor "peacock alley." Dotson, a colored boy, held the No. % spot and breezed through easily with his dancing and talk. Presenting a neat appearance in a tuxedo, he, in addition, got across a manner of personality through complimenting the orchestra and kidding himself, which found dis- tinct favor with the audience. With the fast stepping offered and his willingness to work it summed up as a pleasing "single" that con- nected just right in the position assigned. Following were placed Doyle and Cavanaugh, who gained instant recognition and Improved as they progressed. Miss Cavanaugh, as always, is far from hard to gaze upon and with a new gown and a bit more dr.ncing than she pre- viously did in the act. aided the turn materially. Doyle's one In- stance of solo stepping is not of tha eccentric or "flash" style, though hia method listens as being one of the best Instances of softshoe tapping; that has been heard around. Vesser and Co., acrobatic, with a fast whirl on a pole which has a man at each end for the finish, gava the evening its start. Skiff, BROADWAY Wish the Jackie Coogan produe* tlon, "My Boy," the picture feature, Monday matinee started off smart- ly. The nlgnt business did not build to capacity downstairs, tha rear third being but partly tenanted. Upstairs looked satisfactory. Last week quite an elderly artist made a sudden and welcome appear* ance from the audienco (Lida Gard* ner with Chic and Tiny Harvey)* This week there were a flock of old- timers tripping up the steps from the steps from the aisle to partic- ipate in "Tango Shoes." But most Interesting to showmen was the re- appearance of Frank North, now teamed with Bill Halliday (New Acts) in "The Wellington Post Of- fice." North is of another decade and so is the skit, yet it was placed next to closing successfully. The bill was flashy, with special drops, the silken hangings In one loading the lines and aiding in giv- ing the show a dash of class. A bit more laughter would have been used to advantage. Peggy Parker with four assistants of juvenile range was the headliner. Miss Parker is delectable. «he has a singing youth who would have been more prominent with nnmbers more to us liking, a comic who fits with- out being boisterous, and two danc- ing chnps who are exceptional. The settings for the Parker turn sug- gest the "compressed" scenery used by Elsie Janis and "Her Gang" when here last and who, by the way, be- comes a Broadway attraction at the Gaiety next week. Miss Parker made a sweet appearance in the white frock at the close, showing dainty 'nickers, and she had a catchy melody, 'Which One Shall It Be.'**cnsily the prettiest of the spe- cial score. "Tango Shoes" made n good num- ber thr.'p. The straight in his an- nouncement was thinking of the spring and the circuses when he said the special shoes were invented by "Walter L. Mains, of Geneva, Ohio." The hooting of the "old boys" who "volunteered* from tho audience showed up the apron. Dust arose and floated over the or- chestra. The seemingly eldest of the men and" tho young lady 'hippo'' who turned a handspring at tho finale, took tho fancy of thf crowd. Bessie Browning was No. 4, using a pianist and offering with little change the routine of the past .sea.- son,or two. The ujxstajrs bunch dJU (Continued on page 24) ■