Variety (January 1922)

Friday, January 20, 1982 VAUDEVILLE REPEATING ACTS DISPLEASES PATRONS OF VAUDEVILLE greater New York Theatres Particularly Affected, But Complaint General—Distinction Gone of "Big" and "Small Time 1 st The present system of vaudeville booking r« en of repeating acts !Jound the houses of Greater New York iB advanced as one of the chief reasons for the slump at the Ijox offices by a well-informed vaudeville official. The vaudeville house has a steady clientele "wire" to the standard acts and who object to seeing the same faces week in and out. This applies to the neighborhood houses or "small time" as well as the two-a-day houses, as the pres- ent system of booking acts into all types of houses has wiped out the former distinctions between small and big time, except in the matter of salaries paid to artists and ad- missions charged at the box office. The neighborhood vaudeville fan who ventures downtown occasion- ally and attends one of the Times square vaudeville houses objects to - a bill mule up of "names" and "standards" that have played the •neighborhood" houses at an ad- mission scale considerably -lower than asked in the downtown stand. The brokers have educated the public to big time standards and -must continue giving tluom the best obtainable, the vaudeville man said. In this manner they use up the sup- ply of available standard acts be- fore the season is half over. Any attempt to retrench by booking in typical smalt time bills is promptly discounted at the box office, so they (are forced to begin repeating the stronger acts, which also cause dis- satisfaction to the regular attend- ants. The comn'aint is not alone in New York, it is nearly all over the country . KEENEY DEITIES MOVING A report was circulated this week that the Keeney vaudeville houses would ■Witch their bookings from the Amalgamated Agency to the Fally Mark us office Feb. 1, which was denied'by the parties concerned. ANOTHER NEWARK P0*" Newark, N. J., Jan. 18. The Strand one of the downtown picture theatres will be converted into a pop vaudeville house Feb. 6. Although decided that the Strand would play vaudeville no booking arrangement had been entered into early this week. $150 IN "ADVANCE COMMISSIONS" PAID TO AGENTS ASSISTANT Forged Contracts Said to Figure—Agent F?res As- sistant Upon Learning Facts—!n:!: pendent Agent Must Stand for Offender LIBERTY AT NEW CASTLE New Castle. Pa.. Jan. 18. The Liberty, having a seating ^ asa ' capacity of 1,100, opened Monday. Alex Carr with Shubcrts Alexander Carr has signed with Shubert vaudeville and will appear In "Tablitsky's Old Shoes." used by him in vaudeville formerly. Carr will open at the Apollo, lantic City, Jan. 30. At- BANDIT STAR ILL AND INJURED While playing at the Palace, fcockford, 111., Mrs. Clayton Conrad (The Claytons) fell down tho steps of"the stage door entrance and suf- fered a compound fracture of the left leg. ^ho was removed to the Rockford Hospital, where she is progressing. Mr. Conrad completed the engagrment alone. David Wallace, general repre- sentative for William Harris. Jr., is confined to his home, threatened with pneumonia* Ralph W. Long, general manager for the Skuberts, has gono to At- lantic City to recuperate from an attack of pneumonia and nervous breakdown. He Is expected to be away for a month. Leo Biager, manager of Singer's Midgets, has recovered from his at- tack of double pneumonia* and left Tuesday for Lakewood for a rest. .• Mme. Waltz Fames, formerly of Watertoun and once an operatic singer of note, is critically ill with paralyse at Long Beach, Cal. ' NEW ACTS "Eyefuls and Earfuls of 1922," eight people tab, with the Janet Twins. Jimmy Rosen in a new five-people musical act. Grace Sinclair and Winona Shan- non in comedy sketch, originally produced in England. Janet Sister* with a band, includ- ing Fred Kelly and Jack Walsh. Florenze Tempest (Tempest and Sunshine) and Hobby Watson, two- . act L -Maude Fealy in one-act version of JPnir and Warmer.'* Cast includes .JJUton Byron, Hilda Vaughan, Craig Kesson. (M. S. Bentham.) **,^ ftmtnle Mann (Avon Comedy <Four) single. fl Peggy Hope and two men in dance (Continued from page 3> the Choir,' and said I was to be his leading lady and the picture was to be made in California. "We've been good friends, that' all, and I will not appear against Mr. Jennings. I am determined to till my part of the agreement." Kerr says he will apply to the Federal authorities for a warrant against Jennings for violation ol the Mann act. He told how he had served in the navy, and through bad luck had been out of work for some time. He trailed his wife and Jen- nings from Kansas City to St. Louis, where he said he found her regis- tered with Jennings in a local hotel. Kerr stated Jennings offered him $50 a week and expenses to Cali- fornia if ho would go to work for him. The police have been unable to 1 locate Jennings. During his recent stay hero Jennings granted a num- ber of interviews and was the guest of honor at a luncheon givfn by the Chamber of Commerce. The dallies In reporting the mat- ter mistakenly said the Kerrs were of the stage.. Neither ono Is a pro- fessional. JANET RETRACTS Qualifies Her Opinion of Superior Court Judge (SFAV BEDFORD "STANDARD") If Janet Martine, who is known in vaudeville circles as Janet of France, ever said that Judge Henry T. Lummus of the Superior Court 'hard-boiled egg." she has all lack. Judge Lummus attributed the statement ta the act- ress in a speech before the New Bedford llotary Club. Janet, who had been appearing in this city, was in Worcester at the time and a re- port of Judge Lummus' speech w;us submitted to her there. * "In mentioning my name, he con- ferred an honor upon me," the young woman observed, "and I Wtract the statement made to the eflfnrt that His Honor was a 'hard boiled egg*.*' Mile. Martine proceeds to analyze the phrase 'hard-boiled egg" to prove that the judge is not deserv- ing of the characterization. "First." she says, "we have the ■adjective 'hard'. It cannot be ap- plied to the Judge, for his is such h winning personality that I am con- vinced he has a nature soft fund tender. "The second word 'boiled' or stewed' cannot be attached to a dig- nified emissary of the law. Mr. Vol- stead fixed that." QUIMBY'S FAMILY AFFAIRS The Fred C. Quimb/ marital dif- ferences with his wife reached the courts last week on one angle, when he sued Beatrice W. Quimby and the Centra] Union Trust Co.. to restrain the latter from, paying out any money to Mrs. Quimby. The film man has some $30,ooo on de- posit there. Justice Wbitaker grant< d the mo- tion for an injunction on the filing of a bond by Quimby. The amount of the bond bus not been lixed as yet. I O'Brien, Malevinaks &, Driseoll, attorneys for Quimby./ state divorce proceedings may begun shortly. MARRIAGES _Jewel Moore (Mclntyre and "eath Co.) to Willis Conn (non- Professional), Dec. 24, in New York City. ■William "vYinslow to Laura Jean Carlisle. New York, Jan. 11. Both »*e professional ice skaters and are . JJid to have met at College Inn, Chicago. The bridegroom is of Steele *Jd Winslow at the Hippodrome, ^bile tie- bride has been appearing on the ;■ , at Healy's. U. S. IHLM HISTORY (Continued from Page 3) mour, William B. Shepherd. Bits- ^th Huntington, William Wood. William Bennett ftftinro, Mary Johnst,,,,. rharles M. Andrews, °*>rg" m. Wrong. Carl Becker, Ed- Ward s Corwln, Herbert E. Bolton, ■■win i: Slosson, and Harold How- land. WHO IS IT? The most flagrant violation of booking ethics in the history of vaudeville occurred litis week when an independent agent discovered that one of his assistants had re- ceived $150 in advance commissions from a vaudeville act after showing the act forged contracts for a long route over one of the largest of the independent circuits. The assistant, who doesn't hold an agent's franchise, but who was booking under the franchise of his employer, had been in the new office about two weeks when his culpabil- ity was discovered. The facts came to light when the act adopted a proprietory attitude toward (he franchUe holder. The latter became suspicious and ques- tioned the act, learning it had paid his assistant the advance commis- sions, in itself an unprecedented procedure for his oillce, and that furthermore the act had seen con- tracts for a long term of weeks to open in about two weeks more. The turn was trying to fill in the open time before the beginning of the supposed route when the discovery was made. The agent promptly ordered the assistant to clear out of the oifice, assured the act that restitution of the sum paid would be forthcoming and reported the affair to the book- ing manager of-the circuit. OBITUARY A. TOXEN WORM A. Toxen Worm, for over 20 years identified with the Shuberts in an executive capacity, died in Paris, France, Jan. 12, of apoplexy. Worm had been ill for about six months, having suffered a slight stroke in Boston, where he was acting as the general representative of the Shu- berts. He came to New York and IN LOVING MEMOBY of my welt beloved Mother, BEATRICE DIAMOND who departed from un Jan. 28, 1919. THINKING ALWAYS OF YOU. Your Daughter, CARLENA DIAMOND then went abroad for his health. Late advices from Paris wer€ to the effect that he had decided to spend the rest of his life there. He was a native of Denmark, having been born there 55 years ago. His full name was Conrad Ilen- rik Aage Toxen Worm. As a boy he was the playmate of William HohonzoUcrn. In this country h« made his mark as a theatrical pub- licity man and is credited with hav- asammmummmmmmwmmmmmmum IN MEMORY, 4 ' or my r.r.oTfii.n WILLIAM R. WATSON I Med. Jamurr 11th. U12 In B>sU>n. kku. HARRY B. WATSON JOHN T. KELLY John T. Kelly died in Fordluim hospital Jan. 16. Death resulted from Brights disease. Mr. Kelly was born in South Boston and was 70 years old. He entered the the- atrical profession at the ago of 20 or thereabouts as a variety enter- tainer with a singing and dancing turn. In those days he was rated as one of the best clog and reel dancers in the business. In 1873 he teamed with Thos. J. Ryan, the latter for many years of Ryan and Richfield, and the act being known as Kelly and Ryan. The act quickly became established as a topnotcher among the numer- ous Irish comedy turns of the period. * Later Mr. Kelly formed a variety partnership with Dan Mason. In 1S86 Mr. Kelly and the late Qui Williams co-starred in "U and I," a farce comedy, In which they toured successfully for many sea- sons. Mr. Kelly was the first member of the celebrated Weber & (fields stock company to be Mtgaged when Weber and Fields took over the o'd ing hopped the famous Anna Held milk bath story and the tan bark in front of the Republic theatre on 42nd street while Mrs. Patrick Campbell was playing an engage- ment thero so that tho rumbling of vehicles on the street would not annoy her during the performances. Dudley Field Malono, who is in Faris, had charge of the funeral arrangements under cable instruc- tions from Thelan Beale. Worm'.j attorney in New York. The size of Worms estate, ac- I wish to extend my sincerest thanks to all my friends for their kind deeds and words of sym- pathy in this my hour of deep trouble, the loss of my dear, be- loved wife, Gcorgie Westbrook Swor. Found by Lewis and Dody in an ash can between 14th st. and Boston. Sam Lewis sayi its Winslow, as ho can tell by the pan'-. Joe Young savs he is positive it Is Tillie Winslow's husband, Max. Jack Curtis says he knows it is Wir.slog, as he heard ban hotter those songs at Tony Pastor's, Lewis apd, Dody sav tb. -v'.- -are it's Window. 1 . got bid and blue plugging Mainm>." p. B.—Murray RJttej **• he ,;nm \- s "'■ M ' ,x n " £/H * • y , ,Vv» eyes. What * break, tins li not an ad., but come up and hear branny anyhow. , • , We know the other fetter is tadell, who has a cigar stand at a hotel (in Boston. She will ever. live in my heart for JIM SWOR a fording to Mr. Beale, is unknown. Ho said that the residue was left to Mr. Worm's niec3 in Copenhagen, u Itn the exception of several per- sonal articles distributed to other members of tho family. There is also a clause in the will leaving J"00 to an Institution for tho benefit of members of the theatrical profes- sion and to an institution for iji- [diizent newspapermen Toxerio RKST IN IV\( K —o—o— y< .r MAD! BNC MCfl B|S ' atsk V- ifj >1 vpi: ;• — o - o — 11 YuUH INTBLLBCT AND IN- GENUITY COULD NOT BE f»l ' your ni'MHi.K ADMfRBft IN A MOURNBB IN DBATH, I i HARRY L. REICHENBACH ■SMSSMBlSSSSMSMSMSSi li II 1 i I 11 ?~Z•> Imperial Music Hall, Uroadv* .. and 29th street, New York, in 1898. T' e deceased became a at the Weber & I■'. Id VI J J til, remaining with the • col throughout the 12 years of i: • it- istenco. Mr. Kelly's Irish chai i was of tin* natural, Uhexagg< rati i typo, and his Comedy method \ marked with the sure toiieb thai comes of inherent ability as an artist and comprehensive experi- ence. Following tho disbanding of tho Weber & Fields company, Mr. Kelly played In musical CORtedy and vaudeville. Ho also appeared in pictures a few years ncjo. In addition to his ta'ents as an actor he was also a clever t >\\x writer, writing several bits, h. hal- ing ono very popular 2" years ago, entitled "The Girl I Left Behind." In August, 1915, Mr. Kelly mar- ried Florence Moore Rques in ]'■< - onne. Mrs. Kelly played for two years in her husband's sketch, ' A Came of Con." in vaudeville, bul 1918 tho couple separated under an agreement. Mrs. Kelly la now liv- ing with her mother In Blmhurst, L. L Besides Mrs. Kelly, a son; ffj ■• Kelly, a Si ter who lives in '.on.'c. (Cuntluued M page 24>