Variety (May 1922)

PRICE 20 CENTS PuMUhetl Weekir at 1S4 Weat 46th Hi.. New York. N. T., br Varietr. Inc. Annual •ubvcription |7. 84acl« cople* 10 c«ata. Entered as sccoud clas« matter December it, I99i, at the Poat Office at New York. N. T.. under tbe Act vf March t, 1174. ' ■ ■ — .■■.., . . , » .. ■■ ■ ■ ■, -^y^—= » fOL LXVI. No. 11 NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1922 40 PAGES c ri ;fi:" THEATRES CRAZE 1X0. LH)ERER SEEKS NEW TAIM IHROUGH WM ADVERTISEMEN1S jMFalo Papers Carry First Advertising—Connection with Broadway Productions, Inc.—$1,000,000 ;. Loaning Concern for Theatricals Buftalo. May 3. Ckorge W. Lederer, the theatrical Irodueer, arrived here yesterday. th« following advertisement is ap- fearing in the Buffala papers: 4 Tgung ladiea wanted for the ^ aUfe. George W. Lederer, in- ternational theatrical producer, • Awirea to engage from Buffalo tnd vicinity, girls possessing mu- •ical, dramatic and other stage talent for lucrative positions in important New York productions »ow in preparation by Broadway Productions. Inc. for early Autumn Pwwntation. Youth and comeli- »••« essential. Experience un- "•cessary. All app^teants wilF be Mtervlewed In persd^ by George W. Lederer, president, Broadway Productions, Inc. Apply stage Joor, Majestic theatre. Wednes- «y morning. 11. Such applicants as may be ac- cepted by Lederer will be given en- ngements, it is said, with attrac- JJWJS operated by Broadway Tro- ■Bctlons, a recently incorporated J>ncern of which Ledc. t is presi- *M»t. Stock in Broadway Prodlb- ^n« is reported having been offor- jy to Buffalo investors through a ««w York brokerage house with «^ connection*. «f. Lederer will leave here the Yrif^' '^Q week, returning to New au^ Show people around under- ■J«nd he will seek new talent'for 2* ?**ffe In the several large cities Yftrl ^^^ where the same New *wic brokerage «rm has br.incn •Oicea. Broadway Productions. Inc.. 1 »te- riiAlv*^^'*P^'"'^^<^'^ ^Hh a capital of M<>0,000, h.-is had its stock mulr^r- J^lten. airording to reports, by brSJ* ^ Thurmond. New York tloh I^' ^''° specialize In fjromo- •f ♦v-^''*- ^''f^y thou.^and shares conrorn's preferred stDck, the - ... ..ill ; ^fantooins 10 per cent dividend Ml ^^^' I'fferod for Jiule ti* the »»c at i,jr, $10 a share, with o:ie 2Jfe of common stock as bonu.s tor .•wn preferred share. Btx)ad\vay Productions will be a tnil 1*^ ^''J^npany. It will finance LJr *"ve8t in approved theatrical MnMn'^^^'"* '" **'*^ Ipgilimate clas- catlon. whether drama, comedy ^u«lcal comedy. When a play in MOVEMENI GQESIRADIO CONCERTS MUST PAY OVER ENTI RE ^'^^^^ ^ ^^^>^ ^NGS a subsidiary company will be formed to operate the favored .ihow, witli the Broadway Productions in- directly sui>€rvi8ing to protect its investment, ,Officers of the Broadway Produc- tions, Inc., are George W. iiederer, president; Harold Orlob and' Otto Harbach, \'i(^ presidents; John M. McKee, secretary.. and Ernest P. Burritt, treasurer, ^emporary of- ficers are in the Amsterdam theatre building, New York. One of the company's first ventures was the purchase of "Lilies of the Field," which reopened after its long run in New York, at Powers, Chicago, this week. A sub.sidiary formed by the Lederer concern is In control of the 'Lilies." * The scop^ of the Broadway Pro- ductions, Inc., is not unlike that of two or three film companies of Los Angeles that formed during the past season to finance the making ol feature pictures. They acted in the 'capacity of private bankers to the picture producers doing busine.v; with them. The same object ap- pears to be the ultimate purpose of the Lederer company. Lederer has been the maker of some of America's foremost musi- cal comedy successes, ills note- worthy ones of earlier days were "The Belle of New York" and "Madam Sherry." Messrs. Orlob and Harbach have written many legitimate hits. Mr. MqKo.- was formerly with Henry W. Savapc. Mr. Burritt is connected with the bankinp: interests behind the cor- p(»iati.)n. While several scripts are uiubr con.sidoration for action by the Broidway c()mi>>ny. ^"^'"«? '•'^ •''' yet been pas-u-d up .u byvind the 'Lilies" proposition. IMili.' Corbett is in cli irfio of th • publicity department. SAVAGi: GOES ON SCOUT I.i)i^l.)n. ^^^...v .». Jl.-niv \V. Sav.'iKf is ;n tlw «:oi»t ( for n.w material. Wl l<» Ih;- n-w P.airnsfatli-r pi.^ce, 'Old I.IilJ, M- !*•" was playing l»relii.i.i.*Hy .dal.s in the juhnrbs hef;;ri' its inciropo!i1an premiere, he :eMn: •; • 1 to a.n o-il- lyln« house to look it ovi-r with a view to welRhUn? \'h pos-lbililics for America next season. «. More Than 400 Groups Now Active—New York * Ha» 50—Drama League Was Started More Than 12 Years Ago — Now Has 17,000 Sul^scribers to "The Drama" The growth of the Lit.le Theatre movement has been so rapid within the past several years and so active this season that in addition to lt« artistic value a theatrical commer- cial field has developed in the form of special Little Theatre depart- ments In scenic studios both h^re and Chicago, There are between 300 and 400 Little Theatre groups, with New rk having 5<) or more and Chicago nearly as many. So widespread Is the movement fhat it (Continued on page 7) Nathan Burkan Renders Opinion for American So- ciety—Copyright Rights—Method for Licensing to Be Determined ILL. SUNDAY ALLIANCE STARTS REFORM DRIVE * Chicago, May 3. What looks like^the "advance Ruard" attack on Sunday amuse- ments happened last week when the Women's National Sabbath Al- liance held Its meeting. Speakers -said that, while they did not want to deprive the laboring man and his family of amubcment, th^y did ob- jcrt to commercialization of pl''- t",!ics an<l l)as''ball. It is said that this is the first of a series of meetings which this or- yaiiization will Isold for the prime purpo.se of haviJij; measures intro- tluc-d at the 1?1'3 session of the State Legislature for tiie pas.iaye uf a law prohibiting anitj.«^ement of any sort or type to b • givn on 'he S ibbaih. .^i.•tnbers of tho orp;aai::a'ion have be.n 0''i*'t1y worl:in?r amon^ legis- lators for the pa.-vl few months .spreadin.; the prop-'S^'^'l-i O^ ^^^" •*''• ;4anization. No effort has be;n rnafU; by eith<'r the local ininagfu a" .is.Hjv-iaiion «»r the motion piotiiie e.\hiliiiors' bo<ly to thwart the enU':4Vor» of the Al- liance. Nathan Burkan has rendered hi* opinion on radio to the American Society of Com!)08«M^ Authors and PublLshers, stating tn& performance of copyrighted songs via the ether constitutes a jiublic performance for profit and that the copyright owners are entitIe4Fto revenue for the privilege. The A. S, C. A. A P. last week formally adopted a resolution that such performances without license are Infringements subject to prose- cution. A performing rights t.^x system li now being formulated. Several are under advisement, In- cluding a royalty per radio set sold or a hmip sum according to broad- casting station location. Early t'his week a form letter was mailed t^^all the radio broadcasting stations notifying them of the at- torneys opinion, with the warning any performance of copyrlKhted music by radio will be prosecuted as an' infringement of copyright. Which jneans that if the radio tta- tion.i still care to ^lreJe.ss copy- righted music they will be com- pelled to apply for license privilege to the A. S. C. A. A P. and make any arrangements necessary. Mr. J. C. Jtosenthal, executive secretary of the authors and com|>OMers so- ciety, states that all such appllea- tions will be subjecj to any royalty arrangem<»nt8 that will be adopted. The Westinghouse company for the past fortnight has recognized that the copyright owners through fheir American society are entitled tr) an equitabl<» arrangement and hive not permitted the performance of e<jpyiighte«l music fiom their .sta- tion In Newark without liaving the performer secure permission from the A. .S ('. A. & P. Such permission up to now has been readily granted tJI)on application. What the ar- rangement will be for the/uture is still in abeyance. Although there ar<» scores of broadcasting stations in operation tbrouri'out the country, the West- inghouse. General Kleclrlc and the Kadio Corporation of Ameiira ;ire the three major cotmerns comlu't- I inf? Htatfon.s from coast to foast. Bef;aus«; of their entertalnlnjj pro- gr.ims, the listeners-in have been educated to tune up to their wave I length even in favor of stationa located nearby comparatively. It has Ix^n proved that a m hi-west farmer would rather listen in on Station WJZ (Westinghouse, New- ark. N. J.), for Instance, than Chi- cago, because of the novel features of evenings. The others of lat<- seem to be fall- ing for the cu|» and aried HiatlsM«"il stuff augmented only by a local prep school's glee club. THEATRE ON ROOF Ntw Amsterdam's Aerial Auc'itorium to Beat 700—Roof Forever Oon« •Frolics" and "Midnight" sho\frs have seen their last djiy on the roof of the New Amsterdam theatre. The Erlanger-Ziesfeld-Dillingham combination has deci^lt^d upon a "drawing room" theatre in.ilead for the roof. It will seat 700. Alteration;* are expected to remake over the roof within two mont s. Loges will front the balcony of the two fi'.ors. The first attraction to be pre«(Vit- cd has not been selected as yet. It will either \ye comedy or musical. The Amsterdam's roof will be the •fourth of its kind In New York giv- ing regular performances. The Oth*»rs are the 44th Street (Hayes theatre), Century (now dark), and New York Roof (Locw's pictures). For several years Flo Ziegf»'Id produced his "Midnight Frolics" on the Amsterdam's top. * JOISON'S COAST TRIP Following the eoneluHlon of •Hombo" tit the Shubajt. Phila- dolphia, next we«>k. as now p'ann^'d. Al Jolson will pre|)aie to sail frun New York to T^js Atig*'les. The trip by uater will riv4uii-<» about ir. d.iys. Mr. Jolson exiK'cts to spend bis vacation on the coast, mostly in lishii.g off Catalina Inland. THE CIRCUS BAND I Oi« rlrr-m i» In t wi.!" ^n^ vt .rnrit- m ; '. t > tcU 7'<u tliat Itnrnuni Htilt-y Itlnilmc Itrw. <'»tMbliit.tl Khiw- imke tli'lr • Or f ; I'.L.h" In f»<ti cll» *riih UrxAi unlf.rrji "EVEHYTUISG' lit Wr«i Mth HtrM*. N. T. C Brooklet No. 90 « "-*■**■-■ - -'*^—-