Variety (February 1922)

VARIETY'S CHICAGO OFFICE Friday, February 3, 1922 Ciitcago STATE-LAKE THEATRE BUILDING .1 RAZZING OF TRYOUTS BY AGENTS WORSE THAN AMATEUR NIGHT Acts Complain of Treatment by Bookers and Friends in Chicago—Patrons Are Disturbed by Practice —House Managers Overawed or Indifferent "SHUBERT ACTS" ARE REPORTED ORGANIZING Alleged 'Independent Play- ers" Are "Chilled" at N. V. A. Clubhouse Chicago, Feb. 1. Ani;it( ur nights Iii their palmiest days never received the kidding and razziiiK that try-outs are complain- ing of receiving from Chicago vaudeville agents at local try-out houses. According to many complaining patrons anil artists, it has become a fad for Chicago agents to collect a parly, cf 10 or 12 coupler, secure box seats at a local try-out theatre and "kid" tlie acts as they ai»pear for the try-out. Talking acts are engaged into conversations v/hero "wiiic crack.s' and -I: dding' is featured. If tl»c act dooi'n't resi)ond to tlu* crossfire from the boxes, remarks audible all ovei' the hou.se are mule by tlie agon I.s. Singing acts are 'mocked' in ■brill falsetto tonea that usually re- sults in the act retiring in discom- fiture. SlFter acts or girl arts are the rct'ip ents of pointed remarks about their pulchritude and ability that ar« audible all over the thea- tre, to the annoyance of the pUrons. At the conclusion of a turn, the groups applaud out of all propor- tion to the merits of the turn, and in some instances stamp their feet, "whistle* and "cat call." When a picture is on there Is a continual procession ta and from the box by tlio agents dashing out for smokes or refreshments for the women in their party. The managers of the houses have been unusually apathetic about complaint, seemingly afraid on ac- count of the standing of the offend- ers 4n the booking ofllces. LABOR COMM'RS ORDER PANTAGES TO SEHLE "Act Different" Breaks Up in Los Angeles—Was Cir- cuit Turn Chicago. Feb. 1. Dubin & Olivers "Act Different," which was booked by them to play the Pantages circuit last fall, and later taken over by Chus. Ilodkins to be a circuit act, with the owners getting a weekly royalty, has broken up in Lus Angeles. The original contract for the act called for 14 weeks of playing time, but the agreement was not fuHilled. As ;oon as Dubin & Oliver learned what had happened on the coast, they took up the matter with the labor commissioners in Chicago and Los Ange'.es. who instructed the Pantages circuit that the matter wouhl have to be settled within a week. At the time tho net broke up the members were not in a financial position to return to their homes in the east. Chicago, Feb. 1. Incensed over the alleged fact that tho "Welcome" sign is not for them at the National Vaudeville Artists' clubhouse in New York City, artists who have played the Apollo, the local Shubert vaudeville house, are spreading propaganda to the effect that they will have an organization of their own. Many are said to be members of :;ood standing in tho N. \'. A. at the present time but claim that the at- mosphere and surroundings about the clubhouse are a bit too "chilly" for the skins of "Shubert or in- dependent acts." They assert that they will start an organization along similar lines to the N. V. A., and that the or- ganization \\ill have its membership books opened to all recognized inde- pendent players. It is contemplated, according to some of them, to rent a club house in the Times square dis- trict prior to April 1. Homer Mason (Mason and Keller) is said to be the head of the new club movement. GRAFT PROBE BEGINS Singer and Trinz Called to Testify Against Union Agents Chicago. Feb. 1. Mori II. Singer,, Former Jutlgr Ceorge Trude t\m\ Samuel Trinz. of Lubliner & Trinz, will be among the witnesses called by the state to tes- tify against Simon O'Donne'.l, the first of the leaders in the building trade here to be placed on trial hi connection with graft levy on the- atre and other buildings in con- struction. The trial is expected to last about two months. Singer, who is general manager of the Orpheum circuit, will be called to testify regarding dealings he had with ODonnell and other officials of the union during the construction of the State-Lake. CHICAGO AUTO SHOW mm BOX OFFICES CHICAGO'S SUMMER REVUE Moore & Megley and Gus Edwards Competing for Palace SHUBERTS NO-PASS ORDER Chicago, Feb. 1. A new order has been issued from the Shubert local ofllce that no bouse or attraction manager is to write passes for any attractions playing in the Shubert houses here. The order also states that no passes are to be issued except to newspa- pers, and that all of theso passes will be issued by J. J. Garrity, the Shubert general manager here. In the past managers of traveling companies have been writing "Oak- Hes" for the Shubert houses, but the new order received from New York this week prohibits them from doing so, regardless of what inter- est they ma. have in the attrac- tion they have in hand. aiHGLEY VENTURE OFF Chicago. Feb. 1. Tom Quigley; who resigned his position OS manager of the M. Wit- mark & Sons' local musical pub- lishing office here several years ago to enter Into the publishing busi- ness with Thomas Guyon, a local dance hall owner, has severed his relations with the new concern af cording to current rci)orts, Quigley will return to the Witmai^k fold. Orpheum Managerial Cha/iges Chlc.g., F.'b. 1. A few changes have been made this week in the personnel of the Orpheum Circuit of theatres. U. J. Bryant, manager of the Palace, Milwaukee, has been brought to Chicago to replace Manager Koger l*ear.«;on at the Anierican. Victor Etjen, treasurer of the Orpheum. Sioux City, Is at the same house to Dreside over the box ollh e. Harry Hillings, manager of the Orpheum, Lincoln, Neb., is in Mil- waukee, replacing I^ryant. No man- ager as yet has been K-lected for 'he Lincoln house. Sclls-Floto Scacon Chlcaj:;o. I ( 1». 1. Tlu. Sells-Floto Circus is srlud- "IM to inaugurate its l!t2_'-r.»2:j season at thr Coliseum on Apr=l 8. OpOTiinp at the matinee that day the Rhow >vil! .remain for eiglit davM. playing two p« jforni 1nc('^^ each »1u.v. llfhcarsals will busiB at the Colis(..um on April a. ERNIE WITHOUT HIS TUX Chicago, Feb. 1. Ernie Young's stock of liquors and liqueurs were entirely exhau.sted last week, when burglars jimmied their way into hi.s apartment in the Gold Coast district and departed with 25 bottles of tho "forbidden," valued by Young at $300. The thieves also inconvenienced "Aung that evening by purloining his dia- mond platinum shirt studs. Krnie had to stay away from Ter- race Garden that evening, as he could not a: • -'ar In his dinner clothes. * DINNER TO 'FOLLIES" Chicago, Feb. 1. The annual party of the Chicago Press Club^to the members of Zieg- feld's "Follies" will be given at the Congress Hotel on Saturday night after tho regular performance. President Lfu Houseman of the Press Club. Rollo Timponi, manager of the Colonial, and Harry Sloane, business manager of the "Follies," are in charge of the arrangements. Tickets for members of the Press Club to the banquet are $6 and to outsiders $10. PRICES UP FOR AUTO SHOW Chicago, Feb. 1. During the current week—Auto- mobile Week—the thre3 houses playing musical shows—the Gar- rick, Studebaker and La Salle— have tilted their scale from $3 to $3.50 for the choico lower iloor seats. Bert Williams is at the Chif'ago, Feb. 1. Moore & Megley, who have a number of big acts playing the Keith and Orpheum Circuit, are in a spirited contest with Gus Kd- wards for the lease of the Palace Music Hall this summer. This house, which always ends Its season in May, generally remains dark over the summer. Prior to the building of the Apollo the Shuberts rented this house for the summer to present one of their "Passing Shows." but last summer there was no attraction in the hou.se. Both Moore & Megley and Ed- wards feel that the coming summer will be a "harvest' one and would like to produce revues in the thea- tre during that period. Moore & Megley have In mind to have a musical revue with Corrine Tilton featured In there for that period, while Edwards wants to put on a big Gus Edwards revue with 75 people. Heads of the Orpheum Circuit which operates the Palace are sit- ting back In the meantime to see which of the two bidders will offer the best terms. Vaudeville and Legit Houses Playing at Capacity Gait Chicago, Feb. 1. The current week gives promise of being one of the biggest weeks for business during the present theatrical season. More than 100,- 000 visitors are said to be here to at- tend the annual Automobile show, which is being held at the Coliseum and First Regiment armory. From Indications the shows In the legitimate and vaudeville houses will gross practically capacity dur- ing the entire week. The admission scale has not been "tilted" for the occasion. Rooms at hotels in the "loop" are at premium, as most of them had been reserved several months in advance. "GIRL CABARET SINGERS UNABLE TO FIND WORK" Grace. Wilson Gives Reason for Attempting Suicide— Now in Hospital Chicago, Feb. 1. Grace Wil.son, 22 years old, a cab- aret singer, giving her addres.s as the Myland Hotel, Is in St. Luke's Hospital suffering from poist)n, in an attempt to commit suicide. She told the police she attempted sui- cide because of failure to obtain employment in cabarets. She said 'Girl cabaret singers are becoming a drug on the Chicago market. It Is getting impossible to And work." The girl said she returned to Chicago a few weeks ago from South Bend, Ind., where the had been an entertainer in the Nichol Hotel. ter two weeks. It is said thaf Studebaker "The Love Waltz" at Guyon promised to supply working the Garrick, and "The Ros-^ Girl Qapital and failed to do so. Ac- at the La Salle. NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE (Continued from page 7) now in demand, or, if used, usually draws a No. 2 spot on a bill, the bal- ance of which consists of big timers. Another factor is the congested condition of the routing books due to early *?eason routings. The acts now available are only i)layed from week to week or wherever a disap- pointment or varaney (occurs. Many nets refuse to play these haphazard bookings, preferring con- .'istent time out of town. The neighborhood houses .':re l»uikliiig shows with acts mostly of big tim»^ calibre., many <.f th»'m big tlinors who liaVe ber ti tdaying from wet Ic to wvfk or bo;ikiii,:,' a few wo •k.:' in atl- \an'.'e. but \\iihuut a route. Th«.' |>r;iriice i»t i>la\iMg t!if big timers in tiie small time lH>u.«es crept in v.hen the bo»i<» s rai;;eil the admission ."-cales dnrin;.; tl*e hale.von <l,ivs t.f th(> war. 'j'iie tlu'e'-a-ib'V auiiirticis hecatn*' idueated to th' biij tiiu.' aiti.^ts atid have b< en «lis- counting at the l-o.v «»l51re ever sinit any ^attempt of the bo .king men to return t6 ilia spi;iil 4ime a:-surtmf n(. BIGGEST SEASON (Continued from page 7) the business. It is reported that one of the biggest vaudeville book- ing offices looked over the fair world with an idea of making it a feature of his booking machine. The stipulations made as a sort of feeler, however, is said to have re- sulted In fair committees turning the proposition "cold." Directors of the Canadian Na- tional Exposition, which controls the famed Toronto fair, met in New York last Saturday and accom- pli.shed much in the way of laying out plans and bookings for this sea- son. The band feature of the Toronto fair will be a specialty again, one foreign band being of- fered as much as $40,000 to come overseas. The Pennsylvani i stato fair committee will be held in Pliiia- delphia n^xt w^ek. The West Virginia fair will be booked from New York thia sr»ason. tho contract rallirig for an expendi- ture of about $10,000. There were 10 fair booking oJIl^e.^ In competi- tion for the event. Cme of the West- ern Canada fairs has alrearly been secured by a New York fair bookin;: oHUe. In both sections Clii aKO has had a monopoly on faii.s in the mid- dle and far northwest for years, btit by booking at traction.'? Jn vaudeville is far we.«t as ('hic;iN'u the N«';v Yoik fair bo«>k«rs expect to be able to aclively compete. I'.ookers revjard the northwest fulrs. especi^illy in Canada.' ns advant:.geou>% ns th"^- e\.ri;s are stng'-d th.Me'in Jtnie. that j.rovidin.j: an earlier datr- than anv of the eastern f.'us. wheh •J-Uring along from August to No- vember, .Mouthern fair.*; being dated as lato as that. Mantel! Engages Miss Caino Chlca„'u, Feb. 1. Violet Ha'l Calne, niece of the English novelist, Hall Calne, has been engaged by Robert Mantell to fill the vacancy in his company, playing at the Olympic, caused by the death last weeic of Genevievo lieynolds. IN AND OUT 4 -Josephine Davis dropped out at the Metropolitan, Drooklyn, Satur- day of last week, due to illness. Henderson and Ilalliday bubsti- tuted. The breaking of a wrir.t by a member of the Kervllle Family forced the act out of Loew's, Ottawa, thio week. May and Hill lilled in. The Choy Ling Foo Troupe cbuld not open at the American, New York, the first half, the act's bag- gage having been lost in trau.jii. Fantasy Dancers substituted. Bender and Heer could not open at the Orpheum, Uoston, Monday, due to illness. . local act wa;5 placed on the bill. Frank Hurst reported ill at the Victoria, New York, Monday, with Brennan and Wynne securing tho spot. Lane and Freeman were forced out of the bill at the Fulton, Brook- lyn, after the first show, one of the members of the act having lost his voice. An outbreak of pneumonia and influenza was responsible for many last-minutes switches and substitu- tions on the local vaudeville bills last week. About six acts on the Greater New Y'or.k Keith bills doubled two houses, among them Gallagher and Shean, D. D. H., Leo Beers, et ,., with the other disap- pointments filled direct. Nora Bayes fell and injured her back Monday night as isho was entering her automobile ^it the stago door of the Winter Garden, New Y'ork, following the evening performance. She wa# out of the bill Tuesday afternoon without a substitute. McFarland and Palace failed to open at the Fifth Avenue, NeW York, Monday, reporting ill. Bren^ nan and Rule substiutted. Gertrude Hoffman left th*» River- side Wednesday because of Illness. Miss Hoffman mi.ssed the matinee performance Tuesday, but appeared at the night show, finally withdraw- ing the n( xt ddy. Hophio Turker replaced, doubling from tho Pros- pect, Brooklyn. ENGAGEMENTS Ellen de Larches, the Hungarian dancer, by Ziegfcld for 16 weeks. Isabel Irving for "To the Ladies'* the Georgo S. Kaufman anl Marc Connelly comedy. Charlotte Walker, by F. F. Prortor, to play a four weeks engagement with the Proctor Stock Co. in Albany. Marsh Allen and John Brewer for "Madame Pierre" which Is due to open In New York Feb. 13. EsteUe Winwood and Roland Y'oung will head the cast for the piece. Louise Tread well for ."The Pigeon' (to replace Sue McMan- amy). George Howell for "To the Ladies." Allyn Glllyn for **Danger" (re- placing Kathleen MacDonnell). Vlvuenne Segal for the title role in "The Merry» W^idow," now on tour. Betty Llnley for "The Circle" (to succeed Kstelle Winwood). Vinie Quincy. June Martin and Farnia Marinoff for P'rank Fays Fables. Harry Hoy, Valentin© Winters and Bobby Gale, Pay ton stock, New Britain, Conn. Jack Ro.selelgh, leads. Academy stock. Seranton. Aileen Poe with "Broken Blanches.** May Hopkins, Mrs. Jacques Mar- tin, Rose Winter, Frank Connor, for "Monlmartre," Fania Marinoff, for Frank Fay's "Fables." Alire. John and Evelyn Carter Carrington. for "Madame Pierre," NEW ACTS Ted and Mlna Tanenbaum, ven- triloqulal act. Historicus, a new, English single turn, opened nt an out-of-town Keith house this week. The* Kng- lishmati is a "human encyclopedia." Nellie Nelson (formerly with John Cutty) with Mabel Burke (formerly the Bth Avenue singer). ^BIRTHS Mr. and .Mr.s. Will Kske. at their home in Bellevuc, o., Jan. 13, a daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Fleming, at thiir home. I-'airmont, W. V.a., Jan. li'i, son. Mr. atnl .Mrs. Fleming wer»' formerly with "The Owi" in vaudeville. .Mr. lleming is now connected with the I'leming Prt)- duc'iv: Co. at l-'alrmon?. BERT KELLY'S 431 Ruth Street, Chicago I niock» from StatP-LnkP Theatre t Minut'^i! from lioop. IN THE HEART OF THE ARTISTS' COLONY Announces tho Arrival of "YELLOW" NUNEZ roiupoBfr of "Js\vrry Ktahlp Hhj'-s'' Worlfl'N C«r^iitMtt Jarr ClarhietlNt. Dlrrrt from Nrvr York City. Dance in the Red Lantern Room from 9 p. m. on. DINK IX DARN ROOM. $1.00 Table d'Hote Dinner t^ STAGE SHOES EVERYTHING Imiiu/liatc Delivery, Sinjflo I'air or rro<lu<tiou (■•nlfTH. AISXONS, I«c. It \V n \S|llN(.TON ST.. CIlirACO UNIVERSAL SCENIC ARTIST STUDIOS, Inc. 'The choice studios of the select scenic buyer** THLRE MUST BE A REASON! wiiv ui: iiwi; ovu; i ooo satisfiki* <i stomkiis. v.— (uul uial.tj nil 111- X «Mi -ry in ttu- wnM, so \v« junt iniike tho best of ft [626 Statc-Lak<) Bldc^., Chicaf?o Phone Dearborn 1776 1 I, r. l-.\ll>*K.N, M«r., Art Dlrertor