Variety (May 1922)

iR< i(jay, May 5, 1988 HiBiA^ WHEEL ANNIVERSARY FOR TWENTIETH YEAR, JULY 12 BURLESQUE tt Burlesque Body Incorporated in 1902— li. Seven of Original 17 Remain—^Titles of First lows ^ __ . 4- ■ COLUMBIA LINING UP NEW WHEEL PRODUCERS Ten Men New to Big Route's List Scheduled for Next Season -TOLLIES" FOR RUN Cancelled at Columbia, Gayety, Boston Qo«a to th^ Colun^l^'^ Amusement Co. will ^^"brate its 20th anniversary July Mm mtving been incorporated on that |tte In 1902. j^ the original list of 17 men, l|y||9 signing the Incorporated pa- C^ but seven are living. These Idfle Sam Scribner. J. Herbert ll^k, Harry C. Bryant, William B. ihratflon. Gus Hill, Phil Sheridan E4 Fred Irwin. The original In- oorporators who have dkd since the lumbia wa.s launched are Harry lell, Louis Koble. Abe Leavitt, "re W. Rice and Charles Bar- Will N, Drew. Hiarry W. .Wil- Harry Morris, A. H./VVopd- iWd Bob Manchester. '"■ ■ ' ■' ■' ong the .show titles that the uinbia had In its first year of tifirtence weie Harry Martell'a ■Brigadiers." Sam Scribner's "Morn- Jug Glories," Louis Robie's "Knick- irboekers," J. Herbert Macks "Wprl^ Beaters." A. H. Woodhull's '*yA' Lifters." Harry Bryant's •iiustralian Beauties," William B. • "Bocftrust/V Harry Wil- •Imperlals." Bob Manche^- '« "Crackerjacks." Gu.s^ HilV^ anl^ Fair." llice and Barton's M Hill Filly Co.," Rice and Bar- jtQD'a "Big Gaiety." Harry Morris' ;»lflght on Broat^vny," Will N. W's "Tiger Lilies." Phil Sherl- ;« "City Sports." Abe Leavitfs Santley" and Vfed Irwin's fUtojestlcs." BURLESQUE COMEDIANS HEADING SHUBERT UNITS Max Spiegel Engages Emil Casper and Abe Reynolds— With Columbia Shows Emil (Jazz) Casper, principal comic with tlw? Dave Marion Co- lumbia last season, has been en- gaged in a similar capacity for one of the two Max Spiegel unit shows on the Shub ert vaudeville circu it next season. Abe Reynolds, heading the Spie- gel Columbia show for severaTyears, will head the other Spiegel Shubert unit. SINGER JUMPS Burlesque Producer Awarded Shu- bert Unit Franchise / > TAX FRAUD INDICTMENT thie Bill Returned Against John ^'*^ Biligen of Engle\/vood, III. «'•■■ • • *♦' ' Chicago, May 3. ''Ibha Bilig(?n. manager of the Na- theatre, Englewood, which 'Btii recently played Burlesque Ing Otllce attractions, was In- •d on April 24 by the Federal Cktnd Jury on charges of defraud- iaf the United States Government (tf $2,400 Federal admission tax. Nationa^is now closed. CHUCkLES OF 1922 Jean Bedini's "Chuckles of 1922." Jtth Clark and MoCuUough starred. ptfan the summer season at the Columbia, New York. Monday. It la virtually the same show as liTen for the summer run at that nottee last year. A few unimpor- lant changes have been made in the ^Mt and there has been a change w the specialties. The Sterling pftxophono Four replaces the Seven Moaical Spillers. valuable only be- wute It Is a change but not nearly M effective. Knog Frazore has beep Mded to the circus scene and does • neat and aliogetlier satisfactory IWrial act. -The most noticeable of the !m- provementji in tlie general perform- Mce is the excellent work of Sey- ,aBOur Felix in hi.s rearrangement of JJe musical numfeers, the best of guch U the "Pony Tl-ot." led by »Jaine Beasley, in which 12 small €lrla appear in handsome light . costumes (the only tights displayed /* the production). j^.Ajtftough pliying the seme .scenes «» formerly, Clark and McCullough «jv« enhanced the value of their ••"Ork. They liave entirely discarded Jjj unkenn>t, slovenly dresaing of ^iia tramps, pprhap.i a little more I'JJ^'^nan i.^ permissible to retain tlie .jmpression of -hobos." But, on the .whole, they have improved their •JPPearanov All through their jwnea Clark nad MoCuUough have ""gntened the dialog and elab- S•rated the action, which serves to J« a fresh twist to their work. oa H ^^^^ "*^^ parodies that are tS(f -^'^ topics and well written thJ ^^^^ '" entire absence of any- 'Otng appioaohing risque double •ntendre. Emily r„,rl.\ u,,th WheobT. ♦kT'l® ^Viy Trio. Clmrlip Mac and jgj. IndiviJiuis of th.- White ^Viy -An? ^'^"" '^'I'klev. Wally Sharpies ,:Z'l J'^dvli.^ lii.^land) lopoat their ^T^ '" <he cast and Hucceed In •«♦ l"^ th.» performance up to its Wtabij^ij^.,1 hi^h sl.in.lard. ;.•*** 'or th^ lost of it. thp scen<^rv vjna co.^tnm.'s tr.'sh from the hands 01 painters u,d cleanors. look bran.i DirtJ ^"^^ ^'^'^ pr(>.sentation in all ».JrJ*\5."^'^rs oasiiy fakes rank above ^,*uj^"'"g that b IS Ju'en Kiven npun AUB fitajr<^ Of the Columbia theatre. Hr^Jlf bouse was two-thirds Cull The Shubert Amiiated Circuit gained another Columbia producer this week when Jack Singer was awarded a franchise for a unit show. Singer has operated two Colum- bia shows for several years past, the Lew Kelly show on a partner- ship arrangement with John Jer- mon, and the Jack Singer show on a direct franchise, for the last three years. . Previously the Jack Singer Show for 10 years was called "The Beh- man Show." and operated by Singer on a franchise controlled by the Behman Estate. The direct franchise on which Singer has operated on the Colum- bia for the last three ycyars would not have expired until 1924. BRIGHTON OPENS MAY 22 The New Brighton, Ocean Park- way,- Brighton Beach, will open for the summer with Keith vaudeville Monday. May 22. This will In- augurate the 11th regular season a3 a summer vaudeville house. George Robinson-will be the gen- eral manager, as usual, with Ed- ward King the new musical direc- tor. A. A. Collins, treasurer, and William Cohen, technical supervisor, complete the staff. The usual big time vaudeville will be booked by Lawrence Coldie, of the Keith office. Af'ornoon ami capacity at HL AND INJURED Harry A. Daniels of the Keith's New York olflcej is resting near Cleveland, recovering from a recent illness. Mildred King CThe Rose Re- view") is recovering from a recent operation performed at St. Mary's hospital. Jamaica, L. L Roland Zermain, of Vallal and Zermaln. vaudeville. .'^ulYercd seri- ous Injuries la.st week wlien he missed his step in crossing a rail- road track and fell, suffering a rup- ture and internal injuries. This took place while he was en route from Chicago to Peoria, and dospite his pain he continued his journey Ihore. When ho arrived at tint place he was in such a seriouu con- dition that he was removed to a local hospital, wliere it i.s said he will l>e oontined f«)r vit K-ast six weck.s. Mile. Vallal went through the routine d »-nces of the act alone and will continue. Frances Carroll, of the Droad- way Music Corporation, was oper- ated upon for ippendicitis this wet'k and is iinw j •■•omi ir;^ :tt thf Union Hospital l^^th sufct and N'alenline avenue. Ma>ine Howl.ind (3 C isi.K' Sis- tor^) w.'is rM«h<d to Ibt- Lenox 11. H h.»sp|t.»l. Now V.'ik, this w.'cU and ►oiuMMted on f M- appendicitis. John .MmII.'h. I lv.,-rli-ing iK'-nt • !».• i:if;iiiv\ N'^w V»rk. wis .-sirick.n with ht-Ht tr^ubb' M..nd<y ,ind is in serious f.»pdition at liis hotn.v Illness was superinduced !iy the death of his d.mtihtcr s»veril wetM;?, i^eiiy. Sh»* was of the (Mrd- ner.'<. a vaudeville dancing act, and dropped deid sudd-nly In the West. Next season promises to find more producers new to the Colum- bia wheel operating shows on that circuit than any season heretofore since the Colunvbla was organized. Among those who are already set for Columbia shows next season and who have not operated shows on the "big wheel* hitherto are Jimmy Cooper. Billy K. Wells, Sim Williams and Rube Bernstein. Cleorge While, producer of the "Scandals," is r Iso scheduled to have a Columbia v. heel show next Others rumored slated to become Columbia show operators are Ed. Daley and Joe Oppenheimer. The list of producers new to the Columbia wheel will probably total a dozen or more by the time re- hearsals begin. There appears to be a general move on the part of the older Columbia producing firms controll- ing three and four franchises to confine their efforts to the produc- tion an^ operation of one, or at most, two shows, next season. Ja- cobs & Jermon with four franchises will lease the "Bon Tons" franchise to Sim Williams next season, and another of the four is also sched- uled to be leased, in line with the plan of centralizing producing on one or two shows. Sim Williams was an American wheel producer for a nuAiber of years, and rates as a veteran in burlesque experience. Rube Bernstein, also an Ameri- can wheel producer for a number of years, will operate on the "Sugar Plums" franchise next season, the latter jointly controlled by several Columbia people. Jimmie Cooper will operate one of the R. K. Hynicka franchises, and Billy K. Wells will operate the other. Cooper headed an Amalga- mated show on the Ameri(;^n« for several seasons past. Billy K. Wells Is general author and producer for James E. (Blutch) Cooper. Wells will continue in the two posts men- tioned with James E. Cooper, In addition to staging and operating the^how for Hynicka next sea.son. Wefls' show is to be titled "Bubble Bubble.'* Lena Daley will be starred In the show Ed. Daley Is to operate, pro- vided Daley's deal for a leased fran- chise is consummated. Miss Daley headed the "Kandy Kids" on the American wheel for the la ' couple of seasons, and previously was a^featurcd principal with American shows, Joe Oppenheimer, also mentioned as a probable operator of a Colum- bia leased franchise, would not be listed as "new" for the Columbia In the same relation as the others, Oppenheimer having been on the Columbia wheel 10* or 12 years ago. The last few years he has operated American wheel shows. He Is a veteran of burlesque, his •xperl- ence embracing the production and management of shows covering a period of 30 years. He was the pro- ducer and manager of one of the pioneer burlesque show.s, the "Fay Foster Show." • "Follies of the Day." originally scheduled to go into the Columbia, New York, as tho summer run at- traction this year, but cancelled following the Columbia's objection to Clerard dickering with the Shu- bert Affiliated Circuit, will have a summer run after all, but not In New York. "The Follies" will open at the Oayety, Boston. May 15. and play indefinitely, with the length of the run dependent as usual on busi- ness. ^ It win make the^thlrd engage- ment in Boston this season for the "Follies," the show having played the Casino and Gayety the latter last week. 10 COLUMBIA SHOWS LAST WEEK; 8 NOW Six Next Week—And Then the Finish of the Season—. "Follies" Get $8,800 GERARD REPRESENTED ON TWO CIRCUITS Producing Show on Columbia —For Shuberts His Own It was defin!t(!y .settled this week Barney Gerar.l would produce "Follies of the Day" for the Miner Estate next season. Sam Scribner, general manager of the Columbia circuit, agreed to a request by the Miners that Gerard be permitted to stage the show. The question whether Gerard will pro- duce the other Miner Estate fran- chise, titled "Girls de Looks" for several seasons past, and called "Barney CJerards New Show" towards the end of the current season. Is still under di.scusslon be- tween the Columbia people and the Miners. The d-'clslon of the Columbia to permit Gerard to produce next sea- son's "Follies' for the Miners means Gerard will be represented by pro- ductions on both tho Columbia and Shubert vaudeville circult.s. Gerard has two Shubert unlt_franchises. Tho i^wo Shubert units will carry Gerard's name and will be produced and operated by him. Whether the "Follies of the Day" show to be produced for the Miners by Gerard, and which will play the Columbia circuit, will carry Gerard's name or not has not been determined as yet. Ten Columbia wheel shows and a like number of houses were operating on the Columbia wheel last week. The current week has eight Columbia shows routed. Next week will find the number reduced to six, with the following week- practlcally winding up the sea.son, with the exception of the Bedinl show at the Columbia for the sum- mer run and Gerard's **Follies of the Day' likewise In the Gayety, Boston. The past week showed a general drop over Easter week In grosses on the Columbia, The Billy Wat- son show at the Columbia, New York^ last week did 16,200. a drop of $50# under the Frank Finney show's takings the previous week. The Gayety, Boston, with Gerard's "Follies of the Day," had the ban- ner gross of the Columbia last week, getting $8,800. Tl.« Casino. Boston, still operating with the con- tinuous pictures and vaudevlll« policy in addition to the "Golden Crooks" as the burlesque attraction, did approximately $3,200 on tho week. The Gayety had no extra features aside from the "Follies" burlesque. ^ **The London Belles" at the Em- pire, Albany, did $3,800 last week, and the Jack Singer show at Miner's Bronx. $3,100. Gerard's New Show did $3,800 at the Empire, Brooklyn. Other grosses of the Finney Show at the Casino, Brook- lyn. "Bowerys" at Hurtig & Sea- mon's and "Harvest Time." playing under "Wine. Woman and Song** title at Miner's Newark, were com- paratively low. • Played 3 Cirouita, Among Others Jimmie Cooper's Show will have played three burlesque circuits, in addition to several independent bookings before the season closes. The Cooper show Started out on the American wheel, jlimped to the Burlesque Booking Oflflc© wheel, and is booked in the Empire, Brooklyn, ■next week, the latter a Columbia house. PICKING PAPER Columbia Producers Have Individ- ual Privilege for Firvt Time or BARE LEGS ALLOWED Columbia. N. Y., Joins Mob—Bur< lesque Cleanest of All Shows For tho first time Jn burle.sque the ban has been lifted on bare legs at the CoIuml)ia, New York. Nude knee.s are on display in the present summer run of Bedini's "Chucklofi." Tho IS chorus girls cavort and frolic through 'Chuckles" in knee- length costumes. This may mean the permanent .shelving of the bare leg prejudice v/hieh ha.s existed in the realms of burles»iue, although other musical shows have been rap- it:'.lizin;j the bare-b'ijg«^d fcaturo for seasons. The Columbia heretofore has beiMi strict in enforcing the lleshings edict, fearful .-ome moddU-some cen- sor would <.bj''et to b.i o lft{s in a burlesque i<how. despite that Co- luinbii w lipfl i)url<.'sque has for .var-! I»ist b«M'u cleinor and loss nf- ftfisive than .»ny other r«)rm of .St ige enlertninmei.t. For the first time since the Incep- tion of the Columbia circuit, pro- ducers on tfiat wheel will be per- mitted to • rder printing Individu- ally next season. The order also permits the individual producers to have their own designs. The lat- ter must be o. k.'d by the Colum- bia, but the producer is understood to have been given as mucli scope as desired pn art work. The Co- lumbia retains the privilege of put- ting the final o. k. on the drawings to prevent sensationalism. The Individual printing privilege appears to be highly regarded by the Columbia produrers, who say better posters should result, with quite a saving In cost for the pro- ducer. Previously the printing for the Columbia shows was controlled and handled (hrouRh the Columbia office In bulk. The fttyles of postoi.s will be the same as heretofore, one oi^ht-sheet, two styles of throes and a single style of one-sheet. Sally Fielda With Singer's Show Sally Fields Is finishing o it the .season with the Jack Singer Show at the Empire. Brooklyn, this week, having Joined last week at Miner's, Bronx, on an emergency call to re- |>lace May Walsh. Ingenue. Ml.ss Walsh was injured by trip- ping over a stage brace during a performance at the Gayety. Fioston. FIVE SUITS STARTED Columbia Men Obtain Postponement Th'' •.•.\amiriatioris Itffore trial of Sam S. Srribnor. F, ll"rb<'rt Mack md Il'id K. If\ nitka in I'red Irwin's $100,000 d un.»i?e >'nt h »v^' aRaui bien po'^tpon-'d oritil lu-xt <\'e»*k. .ScriluxT will be .'xamiried May S, Ma<k. Miy 1-. and Ifyni^kii, May 15. A. B, A. Brings Actions to Recover —Several Defendants The American IJurb'Sfpie Associa- tion, on top of tho two Supreme Court .suits fih-d .'iRain.'t the Amal- gamated llurb'Sfiue I'nt., Inc.. la«t week be;i.in fnc .suits in the Third Di.strict Muniiipal Court. four against J. IIerb<rt .Mcick and others and one a;.;ainst thf» ' aali^amated. The four actions ar«* earh to re- covor $»10.'17 from J If'-rbert Mack, Ilud K. Hynicka. John G. Jermon anti ISam A. S«Tibn«r, .arising from a lease of tho \ an Ctirler theatre. Srh»'n«'Ctady. N. Y., n which both Iiartles are interested. Tho .suit against the Arnali?am.at«d la for $;!^1.60, due lor its «bare of a pooling a.s<-essm»'nt to transport the various ."^hows, on the American wh*'f| to their to.sjjortive on ning jio'r.t -. I'.ach show pooled %V)0, but wa.s I.ittr a.«8(>ssed r»ver $100 each to make up a ibdlcit. Tho Amalga- matvd operated three shows on t] inlnor wheel. ' • '1 • / » JUDGMENTS Gus Chandler; Jerome II. Bemlck & Co.: costs, $L'3.90. Catherine Curtis. H. Milgrim St Bros., Inc.; $403 88. George W. Green; N. Soldenberg; $82.29. Elk Photoplays. Inc.; H. A. Utun- mlck; costs. $108,90. Irwin f^osen; N. Y. Tel, Co.; $19.02. Topical Filma Corp.; s.-ime: $10.61. Hayden Talbot; New Amsterdam Casualty Co.; $3,000. Elite Amusement Co.; City of N. Y.; $43.(59. Lew Cooper; If. rtus.selt et al.; $97r,3. Bernard Ferris; Blos.som Heath Inn. Inc.; $1,549 97. Rae Amus. Corp.; CItv of N. Y.; $13.09. S. & Q. Amus. Co., Inc.; same; same. Boaton Road Amuse. Co.; same; same. Bronx Exposition, Inc.; J. Beir- don: $231 20. Richard Lee; Tyson Sr F.ros. T'nited Theatre Ticket Ofilc-s, Ine.; $91.CL'. Regal-Fisher Corp.; .Stvles & Cash; $119 20. Niles Welsh; r,r,.57 W.vst l?lh Str.H't. IiM\; $?.20 30. • Ziegfeld Cinema Corp.; <'<>rli<s, Mary ^ Co.; $59S.42, Mollie King Alexander; l'it/.g''r- ald Mfi?. Co.: fo.stM %]\?,'.)0 Bessie McCoy Davis; FI, .Mtmin & Co.; $r.09.O3. Satisfied Judgment John P. Kirwan; ("onmionwe ilth Hotel Con.^f. Corj).; $107. f.O Judgments Vacated Winifred Byrd; J. DallM-i . $!.;:<;2; f)< ff,b«T r'.t. rt'ji. E. Ray Goetz; M. Tronln: |1.4'.'1 10. Shubert Advanced Vaudevdle* Fn«- : 1> Vir..- et al.; %?..*)>i\ '>2. Henry MHIcr; M. II. iin^»'roth; $r.09 97. BANKRUPTCY PETITION Wid Gunning, Inc.. motion pictures, 1540 Hroodway. CHICAGO JUDGMENTS Cbicago, May S. Ro-Hair Film Corp.; A. A. lt<»!h- jryx^iss ind .Morris K. H.iir and U. II. r>o«derkein, $COO. Harvey Oreh«ttra; r^olsflo; |3$\!(l. • »«^ * ■ • -^■■■■. ■ ■ ■ ■ '• •• • ' ■ ^*'- (