Variety (March 1922)

VARIETY'S CHICAGO OFFICE Friday, March 3, 1922 Cfitcaso STATE-LAKE THEATRE BUILDING BpHONE as AHRACnON AT PALACE, PEORIA, ILL 9 Ather Brothers' Representative Works Out Plan-~< Added to Regular Vaudeville Bill —Retained After Opening— Sermons on SuncSays -\l^hut is believed to be the first U9« of the radiophono as a theatri- cal attraction took place at Peoria, IIL, Feb. 13, when the wireless tele- phone was added to the regular bill of vaudeville and pictures at the Palace, under the manaprement of the Aseiicr brothers. The idt a is credilcd to liichard Robertson, representc'.tive of the Ajcher Intere.stM in <' Icaffo, who formulattd the plan and lirouRht IL to the I'alace. U.»bert-'on and I'ro- fesaor i^lialldiauser, of the Bradley Polytec.inic Institute, and an au- thority on the radioplione. woriced for week.^ t<> de\t'lt»i> ihe novelty. The ratlio service was installed into the rejztilar proitrani without i)iev- ious atiMOuneetr.ent and lui • been retained as u n.qnlai- aLLraetior.. It is plaiHird l>y the mafin.'^enient to keep tii. audi 'nc< ■; informett on big tporiinq: events. < lections .and news ha]>peT>inf?s besides offering the in^ iti'i uMUal .seleetions which come through the air. The theatre may be tlirovvn open to the public; free of ehaigo. Sunday tn<»i niuKs^to hear the s^rtnons ;nid leotureH broadcusied from Nowarlv, N. J.. and rittshurgh. The Palace boasts of .nn SO-foot aerial in; lal'.ed on its roof. Hood," to move his company from Richmond, Va.. to Chicago, and that he had failed to repay. May Valen- tine, a local girl, has brought suit to recover the amount. Miss Valentine was musical di- rector of the company at the time it disbanded at Richmond. TWINS Jiip ROSE "Stameae" Twins in Court Against Manager Chieai;o, March 1. Ko.* e aiKl Jesefji lilajieiv, Czecho- slovakia n twin.«. joined tocrother. and I'rank. the 11-year-old son of Ho.^e. appeared in the Supreme Co.uit lo i)etition for an accounting to be made to them by Ike Hose, their manager. Rose brought the twins to America for the purpose of exhibition in vaudeville ihoatres. They have been playiuH: the neigh- borhoot'. theatre.-, hereabouts for tin- past two month.'-. Tlie potition ass<'rtH that llc»se 1 SECONDARY ORPHEUM HOUSES GOING UP VAUDE AGAINST (Continued from page 1) The local dailies gave the theatre columns of publicity, but thel Keith people contend this was offset by the number of fans who remain away from the house after hearing the Radio stunt. The artists re- ceive no renumeration for their concerts, it coming under the head of publicity for the act volunteer- ing. The development of the Radio- phone is aUso being closely watched by the American Federation of La- bor. It has been brought to the attention of the national body through the musicians* union that puri>orts to see a menace in the increasing favor that Radiophone music as an accompanyment to the programs in the picture houses, has come to be viewed with by theatre owners. Thousands of mu.siclans through- out the United States are affoxjted by the possibilities of the mechani- cal orche.«itra. Vaudeville houses 'Would be immune through the In- dividual requirements of each dif- ferent act from the hou-^^e orchestra, but the motion picture owners are all reported as keenly interested and investigating with a view to some kind of a concerted movement at the expiration of the present con- tracts with the musicians* locals. has been paid sums up to $1,200 a v.eek for liie Korvi*fs of the twins and that tlie.v have received only $200. It asks that he be made to account for money received by him for mon^ than 1.000 performances. The petition for the injunction, tiled on behalf of the b(»y by his mother, asked that Rose be re- str.iinod frojn referriTig to him in advertiK«'nients as the "sou of two mothers." Accordinpr to Rose, he brought the twins to America under a contract whereby ho was to pay them $250 a week, provide all of their trans- portation, pay the board and room bills for the two women and the boy and also provide them with necessary clothing. He also pro- vided a maid for the women, whom he had travel with the act. He engaged a brother of the women at a salary of |100 a week. The brother, feeling that the child had not been provided for in the act as far as financial remuneration was concerned, tried to get him to pay a .«5alary for the child's services through legal proceedings. Rose has been getting from $1,000 to $1,200 in local theatres for the act. GIRL SUES DUNBAR FOR $760 Chicago, March 1. Claiming she advanced $760 to Ralph Dunbar, producer of **Robin The Sh(>p of Original hfodfS ^^ ennettS • *<< C OM POM* TCO W^^^ tnd rioov- __ 5 Noi-th Wdbalh Ave." CHICAGO Kesner Buiklir\^ t^il^'^ SriTS, FROrK8 and Fl R.S *M r«r Cent. DiNcount to the Tli«»trical Proffs.s ion. JmSTmonarch tonk To the Profettion for $52.00. «rAKANTEED FOR FIVE YKARS. yK*!?..^'"" *^f "e'^ ft"'^ "Red tninks. »«r Old trunk In exchange. Special rates on repairs. Uu^l^^ TRUNK and LEATHER WORKS _n. Otarfcorn 8t.--2l9 N. Clark St.—ChleaH. WM. E. COIXmS DIES IN BED Chicago, March 1. Police are investigating the cau.se of the death of William E. Collins, found dead in bed last week in a rooming house on South Halstead street. Collins is said to have been a black-face comedian. The police believe drugs might have been the cause of his death. Collins is said to have a wife living in Detroit, where it Is believed she is with a musical comedy fito-k company. DIVORCE BOND REaUIRED Chicago, March 1. David Warfleld Cohn, advance man with the Wortham Shows, has been sued in the Circuit Court for divorce by Zoe Maxine Cohn, a former chorus giil In a vaudeville act. She charges him with drunk- enness and cruelty. Judge Chas. McDonald issued a writ ordering Cohn to pu* up a bond of $3,000,^ in ca.so he leaves the juris- diction of the court. Wood*' Naw Treasurers Cliicago. March 1. With the return of the Woods from films to a legitimate policy, Leslie •Doc" Wilcox was insiulle*! as treasurer and Ray l'arr;ir liis as- sistant. They .succeeded Ua> West and Leo Kync respectively. Lou Ilousniann remair.s manigo of the hou.se. VOU'VE TRIED THE rest" NOW TRY THE BEST "THE 13th CHAIR" "PETE" Soteros '^•xt Door to Colonial Theatre. 30 W. RANDOLPH ST., CHICAGO TUK IOLLOWI.NO HFAni.INKRS ATE IIIKK LAST UKKK:^ llOOSrKU8 FOR STEAKS •^'"»ny DooTc.r. N«t Namrro. Jr.; Mel K1e«. Warner and Painter. IIolllii^ SM.r*. •'«an ll-^nia, Swift and Kellv. Jack Joyc*. Crane WiU.ur. and The 0>on.l«H. Contract Awarded for Oak- land—Plans for Jrs. in Five Other Cities Chicago, March 1. The Orphoum Circuit last week awarded a contract for the build- ing of a new house in Oakland, C'al. In addition it directed the archi- tects to prepare plans for theatres in Memphis, Omaha, Portland, Ore., Seattle and St. Paul. Ground has been procured In advantageous lo- cations in the.se cities and it is only awaiting the time for breaking ground for the erection of the new houses. The circuit is also conteniplaling the erection of a theatre on the North Side in Chicago. Several locations have been submitted in the Wilson avenue district and it is .said a choice will be made shortly. All of the houses are to be of a .«nimilar type to the .State-Lake. Chicago, the pioneer of the new t.Npe of Orpheum Circuit luniwes. TWO EARLY CLOSINGS Vaudeville Houses West Discontin- uing March 19 Chicago, March 1. \'aiideville will disc'ontiiVTie after Marcl! IM at the Paluo*'. llockford, 111., p'aying six acts on a .sr>lit weel<, booked by the W. V. M. A. The Palace. Ft. Wayne, Iml., also a splii week house playing six acts booked by tilt' We.»<tern Keith \'audeville lOxehange, ends it.s season tlie i«ame date. "SWEETHEART SHOP" SUIT Chicago. March 1. Judgment way entered in the Superior Court 1 y .ludgo 0.'?car llebel again.st tlie "Sweetheart Shop' corporation for $7,068.8»I, in favor of Frank l)ar(», Chicago deputy for the Actors' F^quity As.so- ciation, as assignee of members of the company. The show closed .»^uddenly at the Olympic last .June while playing a return engagement heii'. The moiuj was owing to the cf»mi)any- at the time the .show closed here. Upon the refusal of Manager Edgar Mc- Gregor to sanction its payment the members of the cast were instructed by Dare not to work any further. Recently judgment of $9,856.86 was granted by Judge Hcbel, but when the jurist learned that this amount covered $2,790, which was money claimed under the two-week notice clause of the contract, ho directed the judgment be reduced that amount. GUCKMAN'S LOST PROFITS Chicago, March 1. The Bijou, at Halsted and Jack- son boulevard, was closed six years ago through its dilapidated condi- tion. Ellis F. Glickman, leasee, has filed suit in the Superior Court against David Blum, owner of the property, for $100,000. Glickman contends his loss h\ the profits he might have obtained had the theatre been In good repair would have have amounted to that ^um. GREEKS AND NEGROES BATTLE Cliicago, March 1. The police quelled an incipient race riot In a picture theatre at 19th and Wabash avenue, i)rovoked wh^n a colored man in.sultcd tlic wife of a Greek patron. The Grof'k giwbbed the Negro and attempted to beat him. Otliers of both races intetf<red. the show halted, a battle royal toolc plu'<-' and wa.s oiiiy ended by the ajrl\.»l of the police. CHICAGO ITEMS Cl)icago, Man-b 1. Mrs. C. K. Kohl, viee-presi<lent of ihe Orphotim Circuit, was paid a tribut<- in tho tabloid section of the Chicago ifcrald-Mx iniinfT which (•airie<l \\fv piftiuc and sat 1 she was one Ot tiie mo.^t .succ'>:-'• m1 iMi-irM--^ women i.i America. Jack $1,000 FLEW Joyce Meets Thoughtful Stranger in Chicago HOOTCH BARGAIN SALES IN WESTERN THEATRES Chicago. March 1. The old (Mmfidenee game was put ctvcr on an un.su.'^ pectioL; actor with a new twi.-^t here. Jack Jt)yce, who lost a leg while serving in the Canadian army during the war, was playing at the State -Lake last week. An affable stran?:;er got into ct)n- versation with him. .foyce learneil he wa.s in tho show business and invited him to dinner. After the pair went to Joyce's room to while away an hour or so before .loyce was to return to tho theatre. The stranger began telling Joyce Chicago was a real "wicked" city and it was worth anyone's life to carry any amount of money or jewels on their person, after dark especially. He told Joyce ho had h"ome money on his person and was going to leave It with tho hotel cashier. Joyce replied: "That is a great idea. I have a thou.sand dol- lars ill m\- pocket and will do that, too." The pair went downstairs and both turned tkeir money ovt^r to tlie clerk for safekeeping, getting receipts for the deposits. After completing the mission, .lo.vce an<i his thoughtful companion went to the State-Lake, where the new-found friend Kai«l he would wait until the act(»r had completed his turn. When they arrived at the theatre, .foNce removed his overco.at ami idaced it on tho bencli in the outer waiting room. In this coat he had pl.aced the reeeipt for his money. Joyce was called to the phone and left the coat on a bench. Shortly after he returned, the friend told .Joyce he was going to the drug store rt)r a njinute and would relurn shortly. Meantime, Joyce went to his dressing room to get ready for the performanee. While getting ready, a friend came Into the room and Joyce told him what he had done with his $1,000. and reached for his overcoat pockf^t to get the receipt. It was gone, as was his new-found friend. Joyce called the hotel manage- ment on the telephone and request- ed them to refuse to honor tho re- ceipts if anyone other than he brought It lo the liotel. Inquiry revealed the friend had been there half an hour Ix-fore, obtained the money and d<'parted. A de—^riptlon of the man w.is furnished the police J»y Joyce, but he was not apprehended. NAT NAZARRO HOLDS OVER Cliicago, March 1. Nat Xazarro, Kchcduled to appear at McVicker's hero this week, as reported, will hold over at the Shu- bert Apollo instead for a second week. Jones, Li nick & Sehaeffer. who operate McVicker's, had done ex- tensive advertising aioiouiieing tiie engagement, but the Shubert New York Office requested they permit Xazarro to remain at the Apollo for a second week, and tho firm agreed. MARY LYGO GOING IN 'FROLIC' Chicago, March 1. Maiy Lygo, who recently figured in the newspafera here when she sued Mrs. William Campe, a Hociety leader, for alienating the affections of Gordon Thorno, her son, who wa.s to marry Mi.^s Lygo, left Chicago last week to join the Ziegfeld "Frolic" on the New Anistordam Roof, New York. Miss Lygo was with the "Follie <" for two seasons up to the time she mot Thorno, when she (juit the stage. Actors Reqularlv Stunq at $100 a Case—Three Buy Colored Water Chicago, March 1. A'tois pla.N ing in the west have bevn 'bilked" prettily during the last six months by vendors of "moonshine" liciuor. These vendors have not boon the hotel runners or alley peddlers, but people on tho stages. There is hardly a house in some sections of the west where the stage has not disposed of an aver- age of JL'OO to 1300 worth of liquor weekly. They would tell the actors they did not want to make any profit from them and they would let them have "a case for |100." The quota- tion for this brand in that section of, tho country was around the $175 a case. Tho actors fell, had tho liquor delivered In beautifully wrapped cartons, put it In their suit cascji or trunks and did not open it until they arrived at the next stand. Then it was tho "hootch" stufi. In one theatre bill three actor.-* fell for the bunk. They bought a case of liquor each and went to tho same town together, after getting the "hootch." When they arrived there, one invited the others into his room at the hotel to taste the beverage. All started to swallow. There was a puckerlngr of mouths and in a chorus all shouted "stimg," for they had been sold colored water. BEEHLER LEAVES No LongM* with Shubert Chicago Agency—8«lls to Bryant Chicago, March L 'J'he interest held by Dave Beeh- ler, said to have been 10 per cent.. In the Chicago booking ofllco of tho Shubert vaudeville, has been pur- chased by Lester Bryant. With Beehler, Bryant formed tho Western .Shubert agency, under an arrange- ment made with tho Shuberts. The Shuberts recently placed Charles .Morganstern from New York in tho agency, followed by an announce- ment Beehler would retire as busi- ncss manager to take to the road as a fii-ld man. Later Beehler decide<l to retire altogether and sold to Bryant, who is the general manager of tho agency and also the lessee of the IMayhouse, this city. J?efore going with the Shuberts Beehler was of Beehler & Jacobs, a Chicago vaudeville agency firm. It did bu.'-inesH through the associa- tion. It is not settled according to the story that the Shuberts' Chi<-ago office organizalon is yet permanent- ly set. The Shubert ofldco here will ]»ooK five full weeks before the elose of the present season. The Colotjial. Detroit, the Warner & Cohan house that recently played Loew vaud<.«- viUe, was placed on the books <»f tho Shubtrts this week; also tlic riid<lestein & itubin Minneafolis- St. l*aul houjres. Anothf r full week in Chicago (in addition to tho A polo) and a week in Des Moines arc included. The names of the la.st two houses have not been divulged. "ELI/' the Jeweler TO THE PROFESSION .*<pfclal DlMToant to PerforiiiArv WIIK.N IN CIIK A(iO 8late-Lak0 Tlimlrr ItlUr-. C«roaii(] rioor Il.'in-y McAvoy. genfial aq<'iif iu the p.i.ssrncer doparlmf»i? oL th' Chif-a^o and Alton, who iKnidifl !hc t'leatrical tradi'' for the road here has rcfisned to be(on.e th*. lie;.J of a ctmveniion dM>aitnieni :o»- a :,'ioup f»f ho'els in .N'vw York. SUITE ni'i'. »srn: Clf 308, 35 W. RANDOLPH ST. CHICAGO THE BEST SCENERY MADE—THAT S ALL FRIARS INN WABASH and VAN BUREN M. J. FRITZEL. Prop. lid r>itM<'iiK from <t I iilil the Thr.itre, VUlt l.tilcrfniDJiiK .\f(rr the Thr.itre, VUlt TliU •LAND OF BOHEMIA'* ^Wi. . <; I r. !ion-9 C< t Tii;?r!hff A til <Hr|p >rr»ii<» nt .\ll Ifoiir^ H« oiT* iiiiHi. riiiMir WabuHb B»»l.". )>p ii:il I :•)>)(• (i'lluti* l>iiiiirr 0 tu 'i I \