Variety (March 1922)

Friday, March 24. 1922 LEGITIMATE 15 EXPECT N. Y. GOVERNOR'S VETO FOR TWO SPECUUTORS' MIS Albany Politicians Base Forecast on Belief Constitu tionality Will Be Overturned—Lawmakers Hilarious Adjournment m Albany, March 22. The Newr York Legislature ad- journed in a hilarious session Ma^ch 17, after passing a large grcmp of bills affecting the amusement busi- ness. In tlie lot v/ere two measures aimed to the regulation of ticket speculators. These are in the hands of CJitvernor Miller, but poli- ticians here proi»hesy that the gov- ernor will veto them both. The state executive i'J a .'*oiind consti- tutional lawyer and politicians who have stiulicd the bills are of the opinion thut they will not stand his an:ilysis as to their constitutional- ity. Tlie session made a record for brevity. A piano had been placed in the Ass^iibly chamber for the closing meeting and the mr-mbers made it a lark. Assemblyman Frank A. J.Iiller of Brooklyn, for- merly in vaudeville, sang Foveral songs. He is now connected with a Manhattan vaudeville booking agency. Another comedy stunt was the ceremonial presentation of a pair of wooden dice, one red and one white, to Assembly Duke of Alle- ghany county, who sponsored the dance hall bill and whose bill pro- hibiting the sale of put arTd lalve tops had been enacted into law. In the lapt hours, the Itev. O. R. Miller made frantic efforts to win con- sideration for his trick dance bill, but the legislator.** declined to con- sider him f^eriouslj'. The ticket speculator bills, both of which were passed, are known as the T. K. Smith and the Walton measures. Both have been de- scribed in Variety. The Walton bill is understood to have the support of a powerful metropolitan news- paper. The Smilli proposal is said to be supported by certain tlieatri- cal interests who are sincere In their desire to have the ticket agency business regulated by law. The Smith bill provides a penalty for violation; the Walton bill does not. Other bills passed were the Lusk proposal for the extension of the powers of the picture censor com- mission; the McGinnics bill, setting up a new state code governing the construction of theatres, and the Pitcher bill, licensing POOl and bil- liard rooms. "The Triplets." providing for loCal •nforcement of the Kightcenth amendment, were defeated. Broadway ticket brokers will test the constitutionality of the bill now before the governor if he Bign.q it. Louis Marshall, who acted for the brokers in the matter of the city ordinance passed two years ago. ^hen a limit of 50 cents premium ■was set on ticket sales, has been retained again. The city ordinance was dopl.ired unconstitutional by Judge Hosaljrky. • The ticket men believe that the «ame ruling would bo handed down if the now fe^tate bill becomes a law. They are basing opinion on the re- cent decision of the U. S. Supreme Court denying the right of the city to limit gus to 80 cents per thou- sand feet, which decision calls for the refund of milliona to the gas Companies. MARY MOORE RECOVERING ^'ai"y Moore, daughter of the restaurateur. James Moore, aid ^'iio wag recently restored to loco- motive activity under the treatment t'f L>r. Auolpii 'I^orenz. the Viennese ^PtK-i.ili.t, will return to the ttage shortly, po.ssibly in a sketch. Miss Mr.ore, prior to her accident *^ which she came periljusly near losing hrr life, was leadit.g \vom;.n i">r LfHi Ti-llfgcn. lEAYES -MONTMARTRE" tl.tr!: S.iwrriai! st«-i>i.Ml out of Mi'Mfrn.-utr." at the l;.ln.o'it, N.-.v *^''i-, ^'aiurday, due to diffrrrn.os ^ifH the nu-mbt'rs of the I'layerb* Assrnihlj-, producers of the piece. »dvcn,.',il Nvas lustruinciitul in Hk- j;roduction, he having .secured tl^e 'elita to it when originally lai- duced ir, Paris. Other changes were made in the <^ast this week. ARTISTS AND ACTS GIVE RADIO CONCERTS Kansas City Papers Continue to Provide Shows—Howard Brothers Entertain Kansas City, Marcli 22. The "Star" and ' Post" of this city are still giving lots of space to their radio concerts which are given nigliily. The "Star" luu^ the Howard itrotliers, from the Pa>.sli:g Show, ua a feature of one of the entertainments, and is using mu- sicians from the theatre orchestras, local singers and independent vaudeville acts to complete its pro- grams. The 'To^t" is also using many in- dependent acts but also has had several from the Empress, which is owned by the same interests that own the paper. The bigge.si stunt of the week was pulled c*t by the Newman theatre, in connection with the "Star." The theatre advertised a special con- cert by it? orch'».stra. which is the largest in the city, for one of the air shows. Special apparatus was placed in the theatre to rccei\e the mu.'^ic. '/^he affair was given before the evening show and drew a capa- city house. MILEAGE BOOK LAW COMES UP FOR HEARING "IRENE'S"' 3RD Does $16,000 in Los Angeles on Third Return Week Los Angeles, March 21. David Warfield in "The IletAnn of I'eter CJrimm," at the Mason, and "The Greenwich \'illage Follies," at the Philharmonic Auditorium, got away to a good start this week. 'Irene," at the Mason last week, got around $16,000, while the De Courville "Follies," there the week before, drew $11,000. The "Irene" week was played at a $2.50 top, the third return for the attraction. Attorney Jerome Wilzin Ap- pears Before Committee- May Become Law Washington, March 22. Hearings before the Congressional Committee of the House of Repre- sentatives on the proposed mileage book law started Monday. Jerome Wilzin, a New York attorney, In ad- dition to representing the Far West- ern Travelers* Association, which was responsible In securing the passage of the bill through the Sen- ate, also acted oljlcially for the Friars and the Lambs. The bill, which would beneflt ttie theatrical profession, because of the 25 to 30 per cent, railroad fare reduction called for, has been neglected by the profession and chiefly spon- sored by the National Council of Traveling Salesmen's Associations. In addition to Mr. Wilzin, 27 rep- resentatives of the various sales- men's organizations were present to plead for Its approval, which, if recommended by the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee to the upper house, would secure its passage for the President's signa- ture. The bill provides hat the Interstate Commerce Commission direct the railroads to issue mileage books calling for l.OO^T to 5,000 at a percentage reduction to be fixed by the I. C. C. It would bring the^ C.6 cents current mileagi. rate down to about 2.8 cents. Congres.'^man Kahn of California and Senator Polndexter of "Wash- ington strongly recommended the approval of the proposed ordinance. Commissioner Each, a member of the I. C. C, proposed It. He wa < formerly a Congressman. The bill will probably be favor- ably reported to the upper Ilousv'. JudKUig irom the outlook, although a formal decision will not come down for a week. "LILIES" GOING OUT Auction Sale Stopped by Dismis- sal of Bankruptcy Proceedings THEATRE GUILD OF PHULY Word comes to the Tlieatre Guild' that the movement is spreading, and that the Theatre CJuild of Philadel-' phia plans to follow^ Its example. The Little Theatre Players have already taken the Little theatre there, and are now offering Siiaw's "The Doctor's Dilemma," and last Saturday a civic committee met to take the house over for the Guild, to present, probably, "Back to Melhusaleh." the threc-wecU, five- cycle Shaw "philosophic fancy" v.hich lias been an artistic triumph and a fair financial success at the Garrick, New York. The patrons are wealthy, and if the house can- not be leased it will be bought •JENNY JONES" IN BALTIMORE Paltimore, Mareh 22. The now A. IL Wood.s-Sl.i bert production of 'Jenny Jones' 'opened Monday a: t!ie Auditorium. The play is an ad:tptaiion by Gladys I'n- ger from tlie I'rench. Siippcrting Marjorio nambeau as the star are Kubert T. Ilaincs, Il(»b- ert Fis.her. Wilfred Lytell. Ucn Hendricks, John Robb, Jean Ward- Ky, Kuth Ja>^k.son, Rhy I>erby. The piece was staged by Stuart Walker. ANNA CHRISTIE" HELD OVER 'An:. a l.'i.'.;.->'.k-," ^\hi<•h \\as T.^ted to I.avo ti.c Vaiul'^rl»ilt for Ih'^ road .^aturJ.ny. hA«< be'.-n h< Id o\-er loi an a.hlitiohal wt-ei;. Fu-kjik f?3 tiiis \\C'v\i took an exc<-i»t;onal spurt. vvi:h tl:0 n;:u-.\ee'.: itu'lmeo \irUial- ly a pe!l-o :. "Letty PeiiiHT." the now C»:iver .Morosrb sliJw. with ChrtiIot:e (iiC'r-wood, will succeed, April 10. Pauline Lord, starring in "Anna ChristI'\" Will ri'st a \vc<k l^fore KOing to tliC road. The Cort, Ciii- cago, will be i':\9 show'3 first out- of-town slatiJ. Tlie public auction sale of the COO sliarcs of .stock of Lilies of the Field, Inc., representing the assets of the "Lilies" production which has been called by P. F. Shea, did not come to pass Tuesday morning. Arthur F. Driscoll (O'Brien, Male- vinsky & Driscoll) secured the dis- missal of the bankruptcy petition against the corporation. Judge Hand In the Federal Court Monday afternoon confirmed the findings of ex-Judge Henry E. Lacombe, the special master In the bankruptcy hearings, who lata last week rec- ommended a dismissal of the pe- tition. Monday night Lilies of the Field, Inc.. bought up the |5,500 note out- standing against It for which Shea held the 600 shares of preferred stock as collateral security. Negotiations for the production of the piece In Chicago are being completed, with the likelihood the show will open there within the week. PIRATING IN SOUTHWEST Complaints Received by P. M. Av— Rep Go's. Doing It Complaints have been registered with the Producing Managers* as- sociation to play pirating In the Southwest. Keports have been re- ceived that .<;everal repertoire com- panies playing through Texas and the surrounding states have been using pirate versions of Broadway .'ittractlons. Tho pirating rep companies liivc flourish d to a large degree duririg tlio present season, due to the scarcity of regular traveling attrac- tions. The small towns have been without attractions for several weeks at a time with the rep or- ganizations recelvlnff exceptional support, and have operated unmo- It'^led for several months. "GOING SOME" TO MUSIC "fJoing Some." put to music, Ih planned for pres.-nlation this spritifr by Sam II. IlarrH, tiie i«rol)abIc tiilo for the T»iece being •I'.rtly Dear." Louis liirsh Is writing l;.e score, and Otto Ilarback the book and l\i ics. K<x P.erirh ard Paul Arm<!troT.g rt'llab(»ra?ed in the wrltirig o' "Go- ing Some," which attained a It-r»a'i- way run. There ha« been talk of I)roducIng a musical version of It for some tlm» SMAIL CAST PLAYS SPRUNG; BROUGHT ON BY BAD BUSINESS Attractive to Producers—One Now at Princess— Edward Locke. Short Play Specialist, Has '"My Lady's Lips," Three People, in New York SING SING MEN HAPPY OVER COMING SHOWS "Shuffle Along" and "Law Breaker" Promised for Institution O.ssining. N. Y., March 22. The I'cliowing ha.s been subn itted for iHihiiealion in Variety by Harry M. ".N'iniiskj-, director of < ntertain- ments at Sinff Sing* Prison, for the Mutual AW'lfare League: — The theatrical season Is about to start on "I'pper liroadway." Through the kinunes.s of Warden Lewis K. Lawes, arrangements have been made with Mr. John Cort and the artists appearing in "Shuffle Alofig" to present a perforir.ance at Sing Sing IMison nome Sunday evening during April. Mr. Cort has promised to bring up the entire cast as well an the orchestra. AN'illiam A. Drady alno has prom- ised to make arrangements to bring William Courtney and the cast of •The Law Iheaker" to this .nstltu- tion in the very near future. The Kntertainment Committee of the Mutual Vrelfare I^eague takes this opportunity offi red It by Variety to thank the producer.^ as well as the artists fi»r their kindness in ofiering to come here to bring a little joy itit*. the lives of the "men in gray." We will not unlet take to give full exiues.'-ii-n to the enthusiasm arouHcd by the news hat "Shuffle Along" and -The Law Dreaker" would j-oon he im'< Rented here. It spread like wild lire amongst the men and i»rodiK'ed a feeling of ec- stacy. Aside from the Intrinsic value of entertainment, this is taken as a tolicn of friendly spirit, not only by the producers but by the players aa well. Such performances have been found to be most valuable In developing and maintaining a high morale among the men and have been such bright spotf In v/hat must necessarily be a very drab exist- ence that these occasions have lived in the r»iein(»ry of the men long after the i)roductions have been forgotten on I; road way. l'ii«lay tvtMilpg fMarch 17) we celebrated St. I'atrick's Day with "The Clutter Snipe," a pplendid 5-reel I'jiiversal feature, with Gladys \\'alton, the petite Irish flap- per, and four acts from the VUtoria theatre (Os.«lriing). Tjie first act was Cliarlic l>eighan, a very clever eriuilibiist. Mr. Deighan's hand balancing stunts and Juggling with blocks and other props made a real hit with the men, and the act was roundly ai)piaudcd at the finish. Tho second act waa Carson and Kane, two very clever dancers. Mr. Car- son and Miss Kane's novelty dances were greatly appreciated. Miss Kane's pretty frocks and quaint mnnneri-ins helped put tho act over In fine fa.shion. The third act was .Too Kennedy In stories and a few dance*. Mr. Kerfnedy of J-Cennedy Uros. was un- able to put on his regular act, as they wen;.unable to bring their drop along from the Victoria. The Ken- nedy l]to3. did exceptionally well and biu-les(iued a scene In a jail whlfh 1 ro'ight Torih many laughs from the audience. Mr. Kennedy has i»roniisod to come bark here In the very near future (but not as an Inmate) to put on the entire act with all the:r props. The last act on the piograra was the Four lIodf:f-?5, nnir-lcal. The playing of this f|M;irtet w. 8 exceT)tionalIy f'tn" and highly relished.^ They were com- i»(i!ttl to lake a number of encores. •DECIASSEE" OVERSTAYED S.iM J'r.'it.ci.«^co, M.tnh 'SI. The liirec \«'eekH' booking of Ihh'*: r.arryr.ore in "l»er!a.ssei" at the CoIun»bIa here was loj long a Ma; for the r>*ar. It wa.^ estimated .•^he would p'a\ to about ?.'/>,000 on the three v.ee!»~ but the gtoss fell about %\?.,W below ijial Hsure on the vugii;' - meat Thhs .vpring may see in .New York tho production of a number of short cast plays, with two assured. "The First Fifty Years," a two-person piece, Is at the Princess, while "My I^ady'a Lips," which calls for only three persons, has started reheara- als. It will be offered by Sam IL Harris next month, Sam Forrest staging. The falling off In business gener- ally has made short cast produc- tions attractive to managers, such pieces being adaptable to small grosses to profit. The Princess play is hy a new author, but "My Lady's Ijips" Is by Kdward Locke, who Is a specialist In short cast play writ- ing. His longest piece was "The Case of Becky," which six players and a last act bit. The same au- thor did "The Climax." which had four In the cast and "The Bubble," which had five players. The new piece Is the smallest cast play he has yet done. "My Lady's Lips" will feature Martha Hedman, with Gllda Leary and William IL Powell also In the billing. The latter at- tracted attention last season in "Spanish Love." It is said the new Locke ^)lay calls for usually hard work by its trio cast. BROADWAY STORY (Continued from page 13) drawals announced, that fixing thn week as a novelty since there have been fluctuations one' way or an- other every week since the season opened. "AUna Christie," to have closed Saturday, has been held over an extra week, and "Letty Pepper's" opening at the Vanderbllt has been snt back until April 10. ''Anna Christie" developed a real jump in attendance early thiq. week, with the Wednesd.'iy matinee drawing $1,400. Moving out next week with "Christie" will be "The Law Break- er" succeeded at the Times Square by Iloudini, plus a special film fea- ture. "The Mountain Man" may move from the KUIott to the 39th Street. ".Fenny Jones" with Mar- jorio Kambeau Is due at the Klllott April 3. I'lurly April will see special nuitinees at the Selwyn a play called "Voodoo" being prepared. By then "The Haiiy Ape," an O'Nell piece that is attracting much attention in the Provincetown Playhouse, Is ex- pected to be moved on Broad wa.v. "Buys" Drop As "Cuts'' Strengthen The ll.Ht of buys for attractions now current in New York is steadily dropping as the Spring season wanes, with the total for the current week down to 16, w.hlle the brokers say that they wish that there were but six at this time because of bus- iness conditions. In the cut rates, however, the reverse Is the case with 24 attractions li.sted at half price on the board Wednesday. Those in tho hands of the brokers at present are "Klkl," Belasco; "The Dover Iload," Bijou; "Koso of Stamboul," Century; "Perfect Fool," Cohan; "The Hindu," Come«iy; "Capt. Applejack," Cort; "The Czarina," Kmplre; "Chauve Sourls," 49th Street; "Madclalne and the Movies," (;alcty; 'Good Morning, Dearie," Cilobe; "Bombo," Jolson; "Bulldog Drummond," Knicker- bocker; "To the Ladies," Liberty; "Muf:Ic Box Itevue," Music Box; "Cat and the Canary," National; "Sally," Amsterdam; "Lawful Lar- ceny," Kepublic, and "The Hotel Mouse," Shubcrt. In the cut rates the list cont'tlned "The Blushing Bride," Astor; 'Mon- martrc," Belmont; "The Truth About Biadys," Booth; "Marjolaine," l:roadhur.«»^ "The Nest," 48th St.; "Liliom." 4Ith St.; "Tlie I'igeon," Vtuzfv. "Six Cylinder Love," Har- ris; "National Anthem," Miller; "itiildeoii," Hudson; "Your "Woman and Mine." K!aw; 'Bulldog Drum- rnoiul," Kuich<i boclcer; "To t!ie Ladies," Liberty; "The French Doll," Lyeeurri; "J'or Cloodne.«t» Sake." Lyric: "J'he .Xh.untain Man" Klliott; ".lu.'-t Mauled." Bajes; "I'p the L.'ubier." I'layhoubc; 'Toltalre," fl\ir.Oirih: "First Fifty Years," l'iin«e-:s; 'nitie JCitten." Selwyn; ".ShtifMo AI< t.g.*' C3d Street; "The Law I'.rj-aker," Times Square, and •The Hotel Mouse," Shubcrt. ' - ' I ■ ii ;l 1