Variety (February 1922)

Friday. February 17, 1922 EDITORIALS n Trade-Mark Reststered robUshed Weeklj bj VABIETY. Inc. SIMB SILVE3RMAN, President }|4 West 46tb Street New Tork CII7 DOUBLING THE TAX KITTY ^ The proposal in Consre38 that funds for the soldier boniisT should be raised by doubling tho admission tax on all amu8eraent«._charjrlng more than 25 cents was viewed with alarm throughout theatricals. Other sources are Included, for the amount which would be derived from amusements would not make up the required sum. That the proposal was inimical lo the theatre, there is no question. SUD3CRIPTION Xnnu&l 17 11 Forelga |8 81ncl« Copies 20 VOL. LXV. .->120 Coming at this time, In a season that Is a proven failure, tho raising of admission taxes from 10 to 20 per cent, might difoat tho purpose of the bill In that attendance would be losHcned. Theatres appear to be the only means of direct tax within the revenue field. It is an actual Cents sales tax, a scheme which in total was r<'jt.*cted la.st fall when the new revenue law was enacted. Discus.sion of lifting the admi.ssions tax has brought tho retort from tho Internal Revenue Commissioner several times that it is the easiest tax to collect on the entire schedule. No. 1: Charles Ray's "The Old Swimmih* Hole"—the first feature picture ever made without sub-titles—is to be sbown at tho Visual Instruction As- sociation's beneflt at the Maxine Elliott theatre Sunday evening, Feb. { power l»y tlie public 1$. The object of the entertainment ■ ^^^ theatre. Tin lis to obtain funds to further the effect that a manager had seduced a chorus girl before he would give her employment, the pastor should have gone lo the nearest police station and Informed the authorities of the fact, \%a.s anullK-r Ihut the Doctor had no answer for; neither could ho explain why he did not go to tho police when he ascertained that there were nudo vomcn dancing at a theatre. Lawmakers at Washington might argue that the admissionrt tax is one paid aloiio by the public and tliat the doubling of the percentage would not take money away from the manager, tince the patrons must pay. That Is true only in part. The admissions tax is in tho same relation a.«» a "kitty" is to a poker i game. It tlio kitty Is doubled, that means p> ; 'ntialiy less spending Therefore it would take mon y directly away from per cent, impost on tickets sold for more than GO 50 cents premium (in tho agencies) likewise might count as diverting I money from the box ofllces. Tho persons who pay high prices can work of tho organization, which afford it. perhaps, and the doubling of tli admissions tax might not has charge of tho selecting and , hurt the "smfisho.«<," but it is certain to take away from the chances of of pictures in the schools ' ^'^^ **^^^*^"^ attractions, and they are alway 5 ii\ the majority. York placing of New York city. The Shuberts have donated the use cf the theatre for the evening. Jeanette Lowrie is rc^appeuing in vaudeville in a sketch. Frank Wolf, Jr., is no longer eonnected with the I'h.ladelphia office of Arthur J. Horov.itz. Abe Friedman left Monday for in Lakewopd. of tho Locw office a week's vacation There is an alternative open to the managr^r if the proiK)sal ta double the admissions tax become.s an actuality. He can reduce prices at the box office. The jiublic would still be forced to pay the doubled tax, but it would Ite equalized by the drop in priets. Managers say they cannot very well drop scales. One reason is that the bulk of business does no warrant a reduction and the cost of operation continues at the crest. Seemingly Dr. £?traton bad no desire for/act ion. allhon;;h that aeom.<j hardly possible in the light of the loiiirths ho went tii during his dance hall crusade for the newspaper space ll»at tlu-re was in it for him. If his Information was authentic it stands lo reason he would not have let this oi)portunity to get his name into headlines escape him. The general rerereiiccs that he made in his talk regarding ihese two instances undoubtedly impre.'rsed those that he linds it necessary to impress In order to collect his salary and who lake the word of the;r pastor for tho gospel truth. But the fact remains that Dr. Stralon did not go to the p(»lieo with a complaint -in either of the cases that he shouted forth from his pulpit. I»erhaps he didn't have the facts to go with; peihai)s he was afraid that his Informants were supplying him with misinformation. t)therwi»o his congregation should take him to task for being lax in his duties not only as a protector of public morals, but as a good citizen whose t^uty It is to see that the law Is enforced. If the facts that the pastor had In his po.ssession were not authenticated sufficiently to bo given to the police, then surely they should not bo mentioned fror.i the pulpit, wiiero; only the Word of Truth is titq)poset' to be spoken. If there was such on incident as Dr. Jtraton mentioned, how did ht hapiK-n to hear of It? People of the theatrical profession do not gen- erally go outside of their own profession with their troubles. If they, are broke or In need through physical disability, they usually receivo, aid from those of their own. This cannot be said to be equally true, of the churches. When they want aid they usually turn to the theatre and tho profession first of all to help them out, and to the glory of the theatre. * and its people let it be said here and now that they always rcpdcr the I aid asked of them, regardless of denomination. The logical move by sbowdom is to combat the projiosal at Washing- ton. Theatricals is too powerful an industry not to have its representa- tives present duiing the sessions of Congress. It is said that a lobby is working at the present time, but on a different matter. : 4!)onna Montrain, tho Kingle, has changed her name to Donn i Dar- Ung. Ralph Wilshin, tho son of the vaudeville agent, graduates from elementary school with the class of June of this year, having completed a four-year course in three years. Amusements may be considered a luxury in Washington, but it is curious the lawmakers do not regard jewelry In the same light. Fab- ulous prices are paid for gems and trinkets by persons certainly better i equipped financially to pay a tax to the government. Why pick on show business'.* It's tough enough as it is. ■ » Regardless of wliether a show is r. success or not, the government gets its kitty. An instance is a new musical show getting $19,000 weekly. The show makes about $1,400 out of that and the house possibly $2,000 weekly. The government collects $1,900 and it Is all clear. The show producer hrts a production nut of $60,000 am. can't get his money out until next season. But if patronage is cut down by doubling the admis- sions toll the show will fail and the government would not get the $1,900, much less $3,600, which the new bonus scheme propo.ses. P. M. McMahon, owner of the Qlen Cove. Long Island, has pur- chased the Lyric. Oyster Day, Long Island. Tho Oyster Bay house will b« reopened with vaudeville two days and *)ictures the remainder of the week. Cohen's, Xewburgh, N. Y., dis- continued Its legitimate policy this week. Split week vaudeville starts Monday. Sam Rerder is now mana. in^ the Oayety, St. Louis. The "Go to Theatre Week" end- ing Saturday at Davenport, la., was not a howling, success, through no •pedal appeal in the attractions there for the period. The week was well boomed and advertised. "Senator Francis Murphy" (vaudeville) suing as Samuel Let- raunlk for annulment of marriage from Kitty Letraunik, was granted his prayer. Justice Cohalan Tuesday affirminsr Referee George Z. Med- alie'a report recommending a de- cision for the monologist. Murphy's marital troubles began in 1920, When his wife started suit for sep- aration on the ground of cruelty and aband. aent. Sho was grant- ed $50 a week alimony and later made up with her husband. She eventually started legal proceedings once again. Murphy counter-suing for annuUmoT.t on grounds of mis- representation before marriage. There is nothing the matter with the soldier bonu.s idea. Lot tho boys who went across get something at least. But the ways and means of raising the money don't look equitable. BILL BRADY VS. DOC STRATON It finally remained for William A. Brady, a producing manager, to come forth and champion the people of the stage, tho actor and actress, against the continued attacks which Dr. John Roach Straton, pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church. New York, has been launching for months in his efforts to keep himself in the limelight of publicity. It wasn't an actors* or actres^^ses' association, but a manager, who came forth. Whether or not William A. Brady was the proper person to take upon himself the fight that rightfully belonged in tho hands of those of the acting profession themselves, is beside the question. Mr. Brady, how- ever, has a wife and a daughter in the profession. He undoubtedly re- mained quiet for a great many months awaiting action on the part of .some one whose duty it rightly was. When none came, he took it upon himself to wage battle for those on the stage, and the screen as well. Perhaps the recognition which IVIr. Brady finally gave to the attacks which Dr. Straton has been Issuing from his pulpit was just what the preacher wanted. Certainly it must have been gratifying to tho clergy- man's press agent's sense In the amount of space which he obtained both before and after the clash he had with Brady. Certainly Dr. Straton employed methods that were highly theatrical In 'three sheeting" the debate that he wanted to take place. The Strand, l^ast Liverpool, O., Is atarting a split week vaudeville pol- icy of five acts, booked by tJus Sun. For years the Strand has played pictures. The Orpheum, Newark, N. J., reopened liii.-s v^eek with "Mutt and Jeff." It is still tmder tho lilaney management and will play the com- bination road shows at 85 cents top. Robert (Bob) Daly has returned to New Y(»rk after appearing in pictures for Fox on the west coast. Mr. Brady was In touch with Dr. Straton prior to last Sunday through the medium of William II. Anderson of the Anti-Saloon League, but the manager did not agree to be present to debate with the pastor, although the latter, knowing this, made capital of the name of Brady by display- ing it on a streamer outside of his church after the generally approved method of the little five-cent picture theatre. A comparative price scale for liquor and beer under the current bootlegging scale shows that th.e beer price i^^far above th.-it ot hard liquor, in p»ncejitage. Rye is now up 500 per cent over pre-prohil)i- tion prices; Scotch, about the same; gin, 600 per cent, and beer 9(iO to 1.000 per rent. I'.oer is being Charged all f'lio way from tf*7t to $9r. it barrel (120 bottles). A qU(»tation on cordials came out dur'.ng tliO week. Scarcity of cordials and al>o A demand left that almost forgot- ten. Benedictine was quoted at 1135 a ca«e (12 bottles). The manager was not present at the church when the pastor called for him, but there was some one present who represented Mr. Brady, and that person telephoned to him, stating that capital was being made of liis non-appearance. Then Bill Brady decided that it was time to act, at least to the extent of personally being present to hear what the min- ister had to say. What tho pastor said must have been stinging, for Mr. Brady had previously avowed his Intention o- not entering Into debate witli the pastor in a House of Cod. No matter what else may be said of "Mv. Brady, ho does bold re.t^pert for the Church, any church, and naturally liis own church in particular. He was %\illlng to meet Dr. Straton on any other platform. Dr. Straton was olvised of this, but nevertheless advertised ho was going to clash with he manage in his church. Bill Brady i.^ a fighter. Once on the scene, R.rady came forward. stato»l ho did not want to debate with Dr. Straton in a cljurch, for he did not believe the church was the place f(»r such an argument, but he was ready lo meet the pastor on any neutral platform. Tlien ho sat back and listened to Dr. Straton while the latter tore the stage and its people trt pieces for more than an Iiour and a half. There were actors and actresses i.i tho audience, but they did not interrupt the pastor wlule he flayed their profession, their associates aiid thejuselves. What the j.-tstor said must have been more than sufficient. f-T when ho had finislietl. B.rady was among those who wanted to ask questions, and he was invited to the pulpit t<» answer any of l»r. Straton's charges if I'o could. Ho ace* pttd and, judging from the news column and torial c(.mmeiit. he prov.d himself a worthy champion of tho cause which ho espoused. He pointed out th.it Dr. Strat<»n failed to state facts; his accu.'-ations in the niain were g.iierallti. s, aixl that the that he did nirntioii were llune of stars regarding whosi .sp(.|<o without knowledge of tlie actual state of affairs that (xisted. Mr Bradv asked Dr. Straton if he was aware that an officer of a western state tried to 'sliake d<'WJi" Mary TMckford for $100.0(0. (otherwise tlie divorce that tlae star obtain d would be attafked. aud als.. if the pastor was :n\aro of the conditi(»ns whith surr<»ui.ded Mi^s ri<Uf..rd duritig her first marriage. The pastor could not r.nsv«-r eifh-r of t'.ese questions. edi- hieh that few Tiames affairs he Mr. Brady's point ihvlt when Dr. Straton obtaiticd inforniatioa t^. the There are a great many women and girls In the professi<»n at this time who have been sent to it by pastors. ITsually they were girla who were unfitted for any specialized work anywhere else, and If they had a voice or a pretty face they were advised to go to the theatre to obtain work, and the chances are that they got It. and also that Sundays will find them attending church somewhere as they troupe around the country. If the facts regarding road conditions were such as Dr. Straton .'aid they were, wouldn't the local reform societies be up in arms against the stage as they are against the carnivals? Almost all reform societies have a pastor at their head, simply because the pastor usually finds that head« Ing a reform society is more profitable than preaching from a pulpit and because a man has donned the cloth it Is no indication that he has shed all sense of commercial values. A list of those that are the paid heads of reform movements will readily prove that such is not the case. The local reform societies have not taken It upon themselves as yet to indi- cate that the stage Is as immoral and decadent as Dr. Straton would like to have the world believe, and therefore plays and pictures, too, still go on illuminating the way of those who are segregated in the hinterland and who cannot derive the educational benefits of Dr. Straton's sermons with his general accusations which he did not believe were strong enough to go to the police with, although his intimations were to the effect that the law was boiiig smashed to smithereens. , Just what Dr. Straton's congregation and the deacons at the Calvary Baptist Church think of the latest highly theatric newspaper performance he has staged. Is a question, but from an outside viewpoint they surely must agree with Mr. Brady that the House of God Is not the place for a debate of the nature of the one that took place there last Sut.day. If they tlo hold that viewpoint, It is going to bo interesting to see -.vhat they are going to do about it. It is a point whether or not it would be advisable for Mr. Brady to continue t^ carry on this controversy with Dr. Straton. But If there must be battle. then^It might a.j well be a good one. Why not a noted author, a leading actor and actress as well as a manager In the 4ineup In defense of the theatre'/ The rank and file of the profession, both tho stage and the Bciueii, are not what Dr. Straton would paint them, and It Is high time that the leaders in the various branches of the stage and the screen came to the fore to protect that'good name which is rightly tlieir.s. THEATRES WITHOUT REPRESENTATION It's an old story, but it can eland repetition, this haphazard way ot running the theatre—no eprcsentatlon, no recognition, nothing at all of a protective charat ter. with everyone permitting the theatre to be the mark or the butt for anyone or anything that wants to shoot at it. If a matter comes up that threatens the theatre as a whole, there is a wild yell and a big meeting. When that's over, that's over. They all forget about it and all wait for the next thing to happen, believing the next thing won't happen, and if it does, the other fellow will have to look after It. It's a fine way to run a big business! No wonder the lays don't believe it is a buylness, but merely a game. States are fighting over censorship; a license commls.'iloner in Nevr York, if he doesn't like the title of a show, can clo.se the theatre it's in and no one can say him nay; If they need money In Washington they go after the theatre; If the film peoide want a hearing about a tariff tlioy have to engage a $150.000-a-year politician to tell them how to get it the next time. And decent actors and actresses must stand for the indecent and obscene abuse of crude and blundering sensationalists. Are the theatre interests of this country ever g'^ing to g<t together for self and mutual protection? Can it be done or can't it l>e done? Abe I'^rlanger and Lee Shubert eat lunch together five day.s out of tho week now. What excuse Is left after tlu't? Politics! Can't tho theatrital managers ? oe It? Is there fiily one Brady in the .show business? If tliere can be no luiison among lurui- agers, why not put William A. Brady In charge of all matters i»olitic for the thiatre? He seems to be the only manager with any guts for an.\thing outside of his own business. Old Doc Straton saya there are 28,000 actors in this cotintry. If the I>oc doesn't know any more aboiit religion ttian he does about actors, he had b'tter stop Having professionals and start praying f<»r more informa- tion about both. Th«ro ate over 100.000 people in tlie sliow bu.'^iriess; over jr.0,000 if the accessory trades are compiled. Of the 150,000, 11:5.000 are Noters. Sam Harris spent $200,000 on "The Mu-sic Box Revue" and $1,100,000 to build the Musix Box theatre. How much has he fpent to protect either against marauders? That's only the example; not that Mr. Harris wouldn't, but a lot of them wouldn't. AU/ays the other fellow! There are national i»t»lities. the State Legislatun-s. tho legislative strikers, tho murucip.al grafters, everything and cver>budy—and the theatre the mark! If the managers had eensored themselves, nt> one would have wanted to (elisor them. The s;ime for the pictMr^' p oplo. Other big business In this country has looked out for itself. Tlie., were a.i big as the show busiu'ss a!i«l they had business men rtinning that business, whatever Of was. Are there no business mon in the the.itre? Get together! Donl wait for ihe nejit crash. tt»'at them, ta-lt«