Variety (January 1922)

Friday, January 20, 19*2 VAUDEVILLE HAMMERSTEDfS VAUDEVILLE" MAY RETURN TO BROADWAY Shuberts Have Plan, Aided by Arthur Hammerstein —Join Lyric and Republic with Gross Capacity of 2 500—Six Prospective Shubert Vaude Houses i Broadway may have another wCT^mmftrateln'a" vaudeville theatre by next season. A plan has been proposed between the Shuberts and Arthur Hammerstein to bring the adjoining Lyric and Republic the- atres on 42d street into one build- ing, seating 2.500. There are some details to be worked out. but the managers in- terested appear to feel confident there will be no definite obstacle to the movement. Mr. Ilammerotcin is to have » full interest in the proposition, with the Shuberts sub- merging their name of Shubert vaudeville in favor of the estab- lished and nationally known name of Hammerstein* in the vaudeville field. It will be the first Hammer- stein theat.e since th? demolish - ment of Hammcrsteins Victoria at Broadway and 42d street, if the venture evolves. The Lyric is held by the Shuoerts for the next five year*, v.hon the lease goes to H. H. Frazec. Fra~.ee is reported having offered to sell his tenancy term to the Shuberts for their continuouo occupancy of that house. The Republic is owned •by Mr'Hnmmerstein and rented by A H. Woods, with 'Lawful Lar- ceny." the Samuel Shipman play, produced by Woods mvW on its stage. The Lyric has the Gaites show. "Up in the Clouds.** which moves next week to the 44th Street. After its departure pictures may take the Lyric, but on. a basis mak- ing the theatre avaifcol:? to the Shu- berts upon short notice. The Shuberts about decided this week that though the new Ham- merstein's could not be made ready for next summer's opening in New York, they woui 1 play six. of their present circuit of big time vaude- ville houses right through the sum- mer, weather warranting. The same scale and gride ofbill will be main- tained. The summer cities selected- by the Shuberts are New York (Winter Garden), Boston. Philadel- phia, Washington, Detroit and Chi- cago. Marcus Loew has closed a deal with the Shuberts for the presenta- tion shortly at the Lyric of the screen version of "Turn to the Right,'* recently completed on the coast under the direction of Rex Ingram. Loew is guaranteeing the Shuberts fur the engagement, which will be of four weeks duration, at least. KANSAS EXHIBITORS AGAINST ROYALTIES PENNA. BOARD UNDECIDED OYER CHILD ON STAGE AGE LIMIT r State Law Says None Under 14 May Be Employed— Board Reached Decision Juniors with Tutors Could Appear—Opposition to Be Heard Will Play Old-Time Music- Suit Brought Kansas City, Jan. 16. Opposing what they consider a holdup, six hundred motion picture theatre owners, members of the Kansas State Exhibitors' Associa- tion, have announced that they will instruct their musicians to play old tunes before they will pay a roy- alty of ten cents a seat annually for the right* to Ittt popular music in their houses. The action of the managers was taken at a meeting held this week, and after a suit had b?en filed against J&arttfl Van Bragg, presi- dent of the association, by attorneys for the Broadway Music Corpora- tion, alleging violation of the United States copyright law. The petition in the suit alleges that the defendant, who is manager of a picture house in Kansas City, Kan., permitted the use of a song, "Wait Until I See You. My Made- leine," without permission of the publishers. The suit was brought in the United State.i court on the Kansas Bide. I.I-.O— — GENEVK FLANDERS and BUTLER "A VAUDEVILLE CONCERT" "To those hankering for a few minutes of genuine enjoyment, we recommend the act of Leo Flanders and Geneve Butler. It is many a long day since a vocalist on th■ circuit has given as much peal pleasure as Miss Butler. . . Mr. Flanders is more than an accom- panist. He is an act in himself. . " —EDMONTON JOURNAL. ORPHKUM CIRCUIT Direction, BURT CORTELYOU SHUBERTS' 44TH ST. TO BE REPLACED UPTOWN Downtown Vaudeville Houses Oppose Each Other—"Two Weak Spots" on Circuit "PRE-WAR PRICES"; LOEWS, HAMILTON Price Cutting Starts in Cana- dian City—11-16 Cents at Matinees Hamilton, Can., Jan. 18. Loew's has reduced its scales here to 11 and 16 cents at matinees, with 25-40 the top night prices. Each scale includes the war tax, also takes in Saturdays and Sundays. Loew's cut is looked upon as the start of a price slashing campaign among the local houses. loew's is advertising the reduction as 'pre- war prices." TWO CLOSE VICTOR DISK PRICE CUT Publishers Look for Jump in. Cales and More Royalty To meet competition of the many new phonograph recording firms that have come info existence the past-few months, the Victor Talk- ing Machine Co. on Wednesday an- nounced a reduction in its record retail price from 85 to 75 cents. The Victor is the leading record maker on the market today and the music publishers look forward to a proportionate increase in gross sales with the new retail price. Of late record making companies have come into existence at the rate of one a day, marketing disks at from 35 to 65 cents. The low price as compared to the 85-cent figure has tended to wean away record buyers from standard makes. These cheap records through experience have proved disappointing in qual- ity, with the result the public has lost faith in any disk, much to the detriment of the music publisher, who has lost royalty returns. STAMM'S WINDFALL Athlete Left Home and Insurance by Former Backer Vaudeville Houses at Waterloo and Marshalltown, Iowa Chicago, Jan. 18. The Capitol and Waterloo the- atres, situated at Marshalltown and Waterloo, la., respectively, have closed. Roth were -operated by the Bard Amusement Co. The Capitol was forced to become dark through the Bard Co., lessee, being sued by the owners (Bdsby Theatrical Co.) for failure to pay rent, while the Waterloo closed be- cause of high operating expense. No disposition has been made with either house to date. FAMOUS PLAYERS (Continued from page 3) Coldwyn has been moving in extra- ordinary volume, five days includ- ing Tuesday totalling nearly 6.000. The movement in Famous Players may have accounted for the bulge to better than 6, but only part of the advance was maintained. Thf* summary of tranrlictions Jan. It to IS inclusive is as follows: 17 PANTAGES LAPS San Francisco, Jan. 18. Noodles Fagen is the new "trav- eling* champion of the Pantages circuit. His trip herje last week was No. 17 over the circuit, thus besting Tom Kelly's mark of 12 established last year. Noodles is in ,Los Angeles this week. Watts a Shubert Act Jamei Watts will become i Shu- bert vaudeville act next week. He lately loft the "Greenwich Village Follies." I White-Smith Return to London We White and Clay Smith, hav- ,n K Completed their contract in Shubert Vaudeville, sailed for Lotl- d>n las; Saturday. Thursday— Fam. Flay-I..., Do. pf i Lrx'W, I no Orphpum Friday— Fam. Play-L.. Do. pf Orpheum Saturday — Fam, IMay-L.. Do. pf 'Orpheum lioston sold Monday— Fnm. I*lay-f«. •Do. pf I.oow. Inc.... Orpheum .... TueHda> — Fam. l'lay-r,. Do. pf I.of.vy Inc.... Orpheum .... \Ve«!fie.sda> Fam. Play-I.. Do. pf Li* w, Inc.... Orphean) • < • ■ STOCK EXCHANGE T.isJ. 13 litt glVi 07 15 H'J'i m IV" 1 1R If. 13 Sale*. HlKh.T-ow. lO.VM) 71>% 78 1 .; r,ot> MS% tfi 400 13 V2\ KM) 144 14Vj . '.Mono an; 78T* <;<><) !»7 !»."»'.. aoo ir» it'» . sono si"^ b\1*J . 330U 1M» 07 aOO l*¥A 15VJ '.'."> 7 Orpheum at 1 . insno Riv„ 92% . '.MOO 07% w . 120«> Wi 13 BOO 11 •» l» 7 i Frid.i> - Coldwyn Friday — (toldwyn Roturda) - Coldwyn M.in«la\ - Cio'.dw > u CrIITUn Tn««'' i < ioldW) ti VVednrtdu) Ooldwyn * E v dividend ,. 13»<*> S.r t R2'i .. 1200 07«4 00 . . 1700 13'« 12^ BOO H 7 « 14\ . |St9ft *4'', M KOO 07H 03>i .. <w»o 13'; 14 400 11', 11% THE CURB Silt ' Ilit;h I nwv L'-X' is. | « .. 2006 o r.'i .. '.loi 0'« liM 7' 7'i 7o»» .v, '«'« 500 :,\ .*. « II 14% r.^st m .1 T'. •< » Cher. t ivi i- % \ r ft 4-K« 1% -\ \t ■', I VI 4%. + <4 — i„ - % '• tt • • — u % -D4 - H rhT. 4- *i 1 __ i The 44th Street concludes with Shubert vaudeville Saturday. Mon- day *Tp in the CloudK.'' Joseph Gaites' musical show which opened two weeks ago at the Lyric will move in, the 44th Street's policy calling for legitimate attractions from now on!- The Lyric is under- stood to revert to special picture showings. William Fox being after the house. Reports are that Fox. who used the Lyric for the better part of two seasons, his arranged to take over the house under a sub- stantial guarantee. Shubert vaudeville at the 44th Street has been an in and outer as to business since opening. It was one of the original string of houses opened September 19 last with Shu- bert vaudeville. When the Winter Garden swung into Shubert big timo a consensus of opinion along P./oad- way was that the houses were ton close together and were opposition to each other. Another disadvan- tageous feature was that when acts played the 44th 'street ahead of the Garden, as first attained, the edgo was taken off. Also, the 44th Street could not expect transient business. It is claimed* that the 44th Street has not been actually a big loser as the house has been "sold" for* at- tractions under guarantee arrange- ments that made it a big profit maker. That the house with vaude- ville was not a real winner Is readily admitted. It was estimated the weekly gross necessary for an even break would call for weekly takings of around $13,000. That counted in tho cost of the bills during the carry weeks of Shubert vaudeville and figured In around $5,000 weekly to carry the house (rent and operation). With Fox offering a guarantee for tho Lyric, the deal to deliver the house to him made for a quirk do- eislon over the week-end and the subsequent change of berth for "Up in the Clouds.' The decision to close vaudeville at the 44th Street was reached by Lee Shubert, who declared he is with- out vanity as far as vaudeville in- terests him. "Just a matter of fact show business," said Mr. Shubert. "We concluded the 44th Street could be left off our vaudeville list with the Winter Garden taking care x.f all tho business downtown. In its place we will shortly announce an np-town house that is about to be closed for. "Any other of our vaudeville thea- tres we decide can't be put over will be put out," said Mr. Shubert. "We have a couple of weak spots on the Circuit and are trying the best we can with them. If we can t wo can t, end next season they will bo replaced with better theatres in better locations." While Mr. Shubert did not name the cities he considered "the weak spots," it is believed he referred la Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The 44th Street Will continue to ^iv<> vaudeville shows on Sunday nights, following the ■witching \>\<< to lb'* former legit policy next week. Cincinnati. Jan. 18. Orville Stamm. vaudeville actor appearing fcere, was nc,'.if.cd this Wi' '< Vs. J. Kroncke. Chicago pol- itician and promote^, had died leav- ing Stamm his home and life in- surance valued at over $25,000. Stamm was once a \ rofesslonal boaer and Kroncke his backer. WINTER QUARTERS AT PERU Cincinnati. Jan. 18. .Now that the ifagenbock-Wallace, Sells-Floto. Howe's Great Loridon and John Robinson I hows had been combined by the Muggivan group, with headquarters at Cincinnati, and capital stock of $2,000,000, a report says all of the shows will winter at Peru, Ind. The Robinson and I love organi- zations are now* at Pern. Hai-risburg, Pa . Jan.. IS. i\ nnsylvania has been called upon to decide whether or not the child labor act prevents small children from ai ting. For months the State Industrial Roard, a branch of the Department of Labor and Industry, has been trying to settle the matter. It now has before it six petitions of parents, or guardians, of children who are on the stage. Under the provfslons of an act of 191S no child may be. employed in any occupation in Pennsylvania if under 14 years. The board, several months ago. had about reached the decision that exceptions could be made if the stage children were ac- companied by tutors and given daily schooling. Opposition to this came from muny sources and tho board haw now decided to hold hearings In Philadelphia and Pittsburgh before making a formal ruling. The board has obtained data from organiza- tions in this State on the subject and from labor departments of other States. Five States have no law on tho subject; prohibitive laws are pro- vided in 22 States and exemptions under certain conditions are granted in 10 States. The Pennsylvania board was informed by 13 States their laws on the subject are en- forced. Consult Women 0 The Industrial Board has con- sulted its Advisory Council of Women. It was found 12 of the members favor enforcing the law with exemptions in specific cases, nine would prohibit all children under 14 years of age from acting, and four are uncertain. The committee which the board has asked to assist in solving the question is composed of representa- tives of the Department of Public Instruction, the Department of Health, the Deportment of Public Welfare, federated welfare organiza- tions and various children's service societies. • FRANCIS RENAULT "AS IS" A Sensational Hit This Week (Jan. 16) at ■hubtrt'l Winter Gaid n, New York. Direction JENIE JACOBS "WHIT" RAY IN PITTSBURG Philadelphia, Jan. 18. The Shuberts' local vaudeville manager, Whittaker Ray, has been transferred to the management of the Shuberts' Dusquene, Pittsburgh. His removal leaves the Chestnut street opera hous" without a local manager. The Shuberts, it is said. expect to operate that house through the assistant manager and its stags manager, plus the NOW Vork office. Mr. Kay made mi irni>-< sstvn on the show pcopi<« here I :• hie handl- ing of the opera bom '■ LOUISIANA, N. 0., CLOSED New Orleans Jan. 18. The Louisiana, locally booked with pop vaudeville, suddenly closed Monday. Business dropped to a level that could not be overcome. Gordon and Pitcher Through Tommy Gordon and Walte Hoyt, the Yankee pitching ace, dissolved tlu-ir vaudeville partnership afi»r playing Kelth'S, Syracuse, January 1"». Tie- pair had boOfl together ftl a vaud<vil!e team Co* about nine week*