Variety (May 1922)

> VAUDEVILLE Friday, May 12, 1922 N^2 I INSM STUFF ON VAUDEVILLE The mass of publicity and )iotoricty almoil for and against spiritualism through the lecture tour of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in this country, brought the theatrical spotlight for a brief while to Mrs. Katherine Clem- ents, a medium who holds forth In a studio atop the Lincoln Square the- atre. Mrs. Clements has been holding meetings in New York for the past 20 years, ever since she deserted the burlesque field, where she was promi- nent In her hcy-dey (doing a rope-skipping act under the nanio of Kitty Clements, aprearing last with the Rose Sydell show, working then with Bob Richmond). Mrs. Clements was gifted with the mediumistic pow- ers suddenly, and promptly left the stage to open her own meeting- house. She calls her tabernacle the White Rofic Church, naming it after her patron Spirit, which she avers Is a dead member of the Kickapoo Indian tribe. She has a large following, many professional, but has Buccessfully concealed her identity up to the present time. While the Winter Garden was playing Shubert vaudeville, Ster . & Co., the New York department store, bought the house for -.the evening of April 27 for $1,600, for the firm's employes. The Winter Garden's vaude- ville Bcale was $1.50 top. The gross price was looked upon ns a fair vaudeville night's reccipte for an off evening of the week. It was decided to stop vaudeville at the Garden, with the Eddie Cantor show at $3 top sent in as a production. It opened before the Stern date arrived. When that came up. Stern's was informed of th« change and asked what about It. They replied they would as .soon see the Cantor show as vaudeville. and refused to call off the date or consent to any adju.stmont. So laet Thursday night the Garden played to a gross of $1,600. The evening before it had played to $3,000 and the night after It drew $4,400, Keith's vaudeville In the south has held up surprisingly well eo far this season, especially since northern vaudeville houses In a much milder climate have closed or announced closings earlier this spring than last. Jule Delmar. who books the Keith vaudeville below the line, hi^ 15 cities down there on his book, with but one lately stopping. Charle«ton. The reason may be the apathetic attention given by the South to pic- tures or the lukewarm draw of the Irgitfmate below the Mason and Dixon line this season, or Delmar's bookings. If Delmar receives the credit, it might be well to remember he can but manipulate five acts fach half of his split week bills in that section. It's no easy booking berth. The new report system installed by the Keith office has refiultod in a jacking up of acts that have allowed their scenery to deteriorate. It has had a tendency also to a cleaning up of costumes F.nd an all around improvement In appearance, according to the houpe managcr«. The report system Insists that all of the employes of the Keith office sit through, a vaudeville entertainment, wherever witnessed, and write a detailed constructive critici-sm. Including a report of the condition of the scenery, costumes, etc., which have been viewed with extreme leniency by some of the houee managers. Two of the acts ordered to spruce up are big timers, one Imported headliner with a large cast, who has been In this country for several years with the original sets of scenery, which look as though they had never been repainted. The other was .a minia- ture review or girl act that has just completed a route on the big timcf and has started to play the intermediate houses with large rents in the scenery visible from all parts of the house. The Shubert franchise holders for Shubert vaudeville next season do no*. i;s yet know what sharing terms they r.re to play under. The firfct terms reported were 60 per cent, for ihe producers and 40 per cent, for the theatre. It le lil.ely the terms will be graded, according to city and house, ranging from JiO per cent, to 55 and 60 per cent. At the dinner of the franchise holdcr.s last week they were told by I. H. Ilerk, who presided, to make tlio minimum and maximum cost of their Shubert unit revues shows around $5,000 a week; to make the cost as close to $5,000 as possible without exccrding that amount. This was not made obligatory, but more as a suggf^stion to have the shows uniform in quality. Showmen say to send out a road show for that overhead on a route at $1 top will mean an average gro.ss will have to be played to each week of the season of at least $10,000. It did not seem to have been mentioned at the dinner whether the Fhubert vaudeville producers should charge off a portion of the production cost against the weekly expense, although it ij supposed by the interested producers that was so understood. For new Shubert unit shows it is unlikely the production can be made for le.ss than $15,000 as the lowest. A :oung girl recently appearing as the pianJste in a standard vaude- ville act suddenly withdrew from the act and the profession and moved into one of the finest hotels in Maiihattan, where she is occupy- ing a suite of 12 rooms and has three cars. The answer is that the wife of one of the be.«t known millionaires in this country has suddenly left for France, where it is said she will soon stecretly sue for divorce. The millionaire in question has been Identified with other beauties of the local stage, one a well known legitimate star whom he is credited with having separated from her h'lsband, also collaterally as.«ociated with tlieatrioal affairs. ^ 31 OF 49 CUT BATES (Continued from page 1) hold for those shows which have been holding on with aid from that source. Monday nights business was the lowest of the .*<pring and even the "smashes" failed to sell out. There may have l)een an ex- ception, but not more than two. Though the legitimate sea.son was a "bad boy," with more attractions used up than during any season before, it is stated that very few theatres on Broadway lost money. The losses were pocketed by pro- ducers. The indications are that producers will hold down costs next season and will attempt to secure better terms. Claims of heavy overhead will doubtless forestall cutting the house terms. It is ap- parent, however, the hou.ses in gen- eral have profited, otherwise not so many would be gambling with the weather.^ Grosses are down to the '"bone' In many, yet a hot period might mean severe loss before clos- ing could be accomplis'ied. As reported recently, some of the managers anticijiatc boom bu.siness starting in the fall. Business charts at the latest showing, demou.strated the upward trend in virtually all leading Industries. Several of the number of manager.*? who>had de- cided to wait until the season be- gins befoi^ deciding oo a\pro-i icing Di^irVam. have revaVnped .schedules and will start during the .summer. ••Partners Again," the new 'Tot- ash and Perlmutter" comedy at the Selwyn, jumped into lead of Broad- way's non-mu«ical attractions in its first week. It grossed $18,600 at $2.50, great money for this season of the year. The broke s' buy for the show extends for three months, taking it into the middle of August! The pace for the "P. & P.- piece is about $L\300 ahead of the next con- tender. "Kiki" reniainfi as strong in the agencies, with better than $16,000 weekly. . "Captain Applejack" and "Cat and Canary" comi>lete the "big four" of the non-mu.sical I bunch. There is a second division ran?:ing downward to $3,000 or a lit- tle more. Those dramas getting around $8,000 are considered to he doing well at this time of the sea- son. "Good Moiuing. D.arle,'' "Make It .Snappy' and ".Music Pox Rcvuo" are the mu.sical leader^i, with the others not even clo.sc to the pace of the leaders. But this week none were doing actual capacity. The Cantor show at the Garden ("Make It Snappy") has already set itself for summer, when no matinees will bo given. "Chauve-.Soiiris," at the 49th Street, contipue« to do big business but slipp I last week for the first time, A new bill by the Russian. i)layers Js announced for Jun^^M^ilcJitlmethe^ novelty may move to the Century Roof theatre. There were four openings Mon- day, none getting comment that in- dicates success. "Go Easy, Mabel," at the Longacre, went into cut rates for the seconc^ performance. "The Advertising of Kate," at the RItz, appears to have a fair chance. "The Red Geranium," at the Princess, also went straight to the cut rates after opening. Russian grand opera at the New Amsterdam failed to create the stir expected following good touring reports. The big or- ganization should get between $16,- 000 ai.d $18,000 on the week, a pace that will pay It. "Billet-d," a re- vival, was a Tuesday opening at the Greenwich Village. "Fanny Haw- thorn" was listed for Thursday, opening at the Vanderbilt. The quartet of attractions to withdraw at the end of the week are "Bull Dog Drummond," at the Knickerbocker; "Madeleine and the Movies," at the Gaiety; "The Blue Kitten," at the Earl Carroll; and the French Players at the Belmont. Of the four, only the latter louse con- tinues lighted, the Belmont getting "Kempy." the sole new production listed up to Wednesday. The Gaiety may reopen early in June with a new mystery play. "Abie's Irish Rose" will arrive at the Fulton May 22, "He Who Gets .Slapped" withdrawing after an- other week. "He" dropped under Its stop limit last week. "The Shadow" stopped suddenly at the Klaw last Saturday, the week's gross being re- ported at $1,400. The house is dark for two weeks, with "Salome" listed to take possession May 22. The season for special picture showings is at hand. Fox has taken over two houses on 42d street and will present "Nero" at the Lyric starting May 21 (Sunday), succeed- ing the musical "For Goodness Sake" which has a week to go. The same producer's film ''Across the Rain- bow" takes the Apollo, at present showing Burton Holmes travelogues. "Go Easy Mabel" the new piece at the Longacre with Ethel Levy heading the cast was accepted by the brokers as a moderate buy be- fore the premiere Monday. The suc- cess of "Partners Again" which went into the dramatic lead forced all agencies to take the Selwyn at- traction on and tickets were to le had in all the premium places from Wednesday night on. The P. & P. show buy-out Is 481 seats nightly, extending three months. Several brokers were caught because of waiting until after the .show opened and the best allotments they could secure are for lo(fations back of the fourteenth row. The buy list held to last week's total of 14 attractions. They are "The Bronx Express," Astor; "Kiki," Belasco; "The Perfect Fool," Cohan; "Captaifi Applejack," Cort; "Chauve •Souris," 49th St.; "Good Morning, Dearie." Globe; "Go Easy Mabel," Longacre; "The Goldfish," Maxine Elliott; "Music Box Revue," Music Box; "The Cat and the Canary," National; "The Hairy Ape," Ply- mouth; "Lawful Larceny," Republic; "Partners Again," Selwyn; "Make It Snappy," Winter Garden. "The B t" made its first appear- ance in cut rates Monday and the call for it was so strong that the early day sales were held down. Only balcony tirkets were available. The management expects to hold the run leader in the Morosco all summer. The bargain list this week broke all records, with 31 shows of- fered. "Go Easy Mabel," "What the Public Wants," "The Red Geranium" and "Billetted" all new were present. The list Is "The Bronx Express," Astor; "The Truth About Blayds," Booth; "Marjolaine," Broadhurst; "Tiingerhie," Casino; "The Rose of Stamboul," Century; "The Hindu," Comedy; "The Blue Kitten," Earl Carroll; "The Demi- Virgin," Eltinge; "The Czarina," Empire; 'The Nest," 48th St.; "The Blushing Bride," 44th St.; "The .Night Call," I'>azee; "Six Cylinder Love." Harris; "The Rubicon," Hud- son; "Bulldog Drummond," Knicker- bocker; "To the Ladies," Liberty; "The French Doll," Lyceum; "For Goodness Sake," Lyric; "The Gold- fish," Maxine Elliott; "The Bat,'^ Moresco; "Montmarlre," Nora Bayes; "Up the Ladder," Playhouse; "The Hairy Ape," Plymouth^ "Law- ful Larceny," Republic; "The Hotel Mouse," Shubert; ".Shuffle Along,' 6:id St.; "The Charlatan," Times ,Sqnare; "Go Easy Mabel," Long- acre; OBITUARY BERT CLARK Bert Clark. 45 (Clark and Acaro>, died May 9 at the Prospect Heights hospital, Brooklyn, N. Y., follow- ing four major operations, includ- ing appendicitis, hernia and gaul stones. The deceased was a native of England, having migrated to this country several years ago. Dur- ing his period in American vaude- JN LOVlN<i MEMORY frank"^ toro Who rassed Out of This I.lf« Manh 3l8t. at hia home, COO N. St. Patrick Street, New Orleans. La. He Died as He Lived. Entertalnlnc His FrlendH. I am Honored to Know Me ConHidered Me a Friend. EMMA CARUS Institution. 61z months foliowin. his admittance to the institution a sudden nerve stroke resulted in blindness. The remains were re- moved to the home of his relatives' Concord, N. H., for burial. ' JOHN G. SPARKS John G. Sparks, a comedian, died May 3 in the Coney Island hoapi, tal, Brooklyn, N. Y., after an ill, ness of several months. Sparks was of the Ilarrigi.n and Hart school of actors and had celebrated his 50th anniversary on the stage while appearing in "Smooth As Silk " at the Frazee, New York, jq April, 1921. ( ville he was taken with a number of female partners, following the separation from the original one, Mabel Hamilton. The last combi- nation was teamed over two years ago, and was known as Clark and Acaro (Flavia). He is survived by a wife and two children, a girl four years of age and a boy. one year younger. His home was at Preeport, Long Island. Bert Clark, when about 15 years of age, had trouble with his father and came to this country, imme- diately entering the Walter Bald- win stock company. Following the stock engagement he returned to England and after there for a num- ber of years returned here with the original Mabel Hamilton, also a na- tive of England. Mls.^ Hamilton died about two years ago^ In 1919, during the war. he played In stock in Australia in "Officer's Mess," arriving in this country in 1920 to join "Magic Melody," to fill' the vacancy caused by the illness of Tom McXaughton. He met Miss Acardo in that show and branched out in a new act with her, opening at the Colonial, New York, in No- vember, 1020. ANNA SPENCER Anna Spencer, the theatrical cos- tumer, in private life Mrs. \Villiam H. Riordan, died May 4 at her home in New York. The deceased had gained a reputation of considerable proportions during the past ten years as a costume designer and was responsible for the creations used in several of the current Broadway musical attractions. Burial was from the home cf her mother in the Bronx. MAX RUBINSTEIN musical Max Rubinstein, former director at the People's, on iht Bowery, died May 9 at his liome in the Bronx, New York. He was 68 years old and the father of Gcaife IN i--t:\OTi!:i> of MEMOItY "CYRIL" Mame Howland Mame Howland died May 4 at the Lennox Hill hospital. New York, of a burst appendix. "Wrong diagnosis led to Miss Howland at- tempting to leave her bed and working. Later she was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. She was of the act of Howland, Vincent and Howland, al.so known as the Three Castle Sisters. IN LOVINU MKMOKY OF "MAME" HOWLAND •who pRi»fM>«l away M«y 4th, 1922 Thtre !s no light or warmth in lh<? Bun; t There in no •un—without you. There la no light or warmth In my heart; I need no heart—without you. SAM P. HERMAN Our Beloved Brother. . You Jiave never left u«, ■i'oo F.oy." We are faithful always to your nicni- orv. dear. HARRY, BABS and DENIS DU FOR M. Rubinstein, connected with the Capitol, New York, orchesfrn. ANNE NE BELLE Anne Ne Belle died May 10 at her home in New York, following a lingering illness. The deceased was years old and last appeared in 27 IN SORROWFUL MEMORY ANNE Ne BELLE (I.ate of "rashlonH A I.a Oarfe") Who departed this life May 10. li>22", and who will dwell forever in the minds and hearts of Those She Left Behind Though none in the act was a mem- ber, the N. V. A., when ai)pealed to, assumed cha-ge of the remains and arranged with an undertaker, pending notification to Miss How- land's family. She was buried In Chicago this week. vaudeville In "Fashions a la Carte.** She is survived by a moihei-, father and brother. The father of Blanche McKay (Ray and Blanche Earle) died May 4 at his home in Springfield, Mass. PAUL BARNEC Paul Barnes, 68, who entered vaudeville over 20 years ago as a blackface single, and later teaming with his wife, died May 8, at the Manhattan State Hospital, Ward's Island, New York. The deceased was confined for the past two years, suffering from derangement at the DEATHS ABROAD Bergeron Durand, formerly with the I'hoceen Trio, died at Nice, France, April 19, aged 62 years. Jean Finot, writer, born in Po- land in 1856, in France for many years, and editor of "Revue def Revues'* in 1890, died last week in Paris. Louis Caxette, opera singer, (hed in Pari.s, April 30, aged 34 .\ears. M. Keller, "William Fox r. presen- tative at Algiers, died recently in that city. IK AND OUT Vincent O'Donnell cancelled first half current week, I*roctor's, Mt. Vernon, N. Y., due to illness. Harry Ellis filled in. Healey and Cross failed to open at the Broadway, New York, Monday on account of illness. Three Dennis Sisters substituted. Hersehl Henlere was out at the Coliseum failing to open due to illness. Chas. Irwin went into the vacancy. Lydia Barry, laryngitis, replaced by Leo Beers, at the State-Lak«, Chicago. Bernice Mershon, Montreal Grand Opera Co. Dorothy Ruggles. with present "Music Box Revue." ce.«s; CJarriclN Villag*'. "The Bed nfranium,'* Prin- "Whiit the Public Wants." and "Billeted," Urecnwirh The Park, Scarborough Beach. Toronto, opens May 20. It will play two pilent acts, for the full ^eek, booked by Keith office* BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Ktlward IJVlngslon, May 3, at the Woman's Hospital, New York, son. The father is a vaud« villp booking agent. ENOAGEMENTS Gilda (;ray, Ziegfeld "Follies." Orant and Wing, Ilammerstcin's •Daffy-Dill.' William Seabury (vaudeville) has signed with the new production of The Music Box." Elmer TMmpson. Robert K«'efe, Feiber A. Shea atock. Bayonite, N. J. ILL AND INJURED Harry I^unetska was operated on at the St. Francis HospUiil, New York, last week for hernia. He !■ reporte<l in favorable condition. The vaudeville agency office carried on this season by him and his brother Mitchell has been given up. Joseph P. Mack had a birtlulny May 4, and celebrated U by having his tonsils removed. Katherine Cheevers, n. the Ea*" tern Theatre Managers* Association, was operated on for appendidtls Tuesday in the Knickcrbo< Kor Hqp pital. New York. * . Joseph Sullivan, the vniuhvilie agent, ill with pneumonia, has re- covered. . John Mulhn, ndverti.Mnn agcm for the Eltinge. is still seriously »» at his home. The diagnosis of n\ affli.-tion is neuralgia of Hie heari. Margo RalTaro. dancer in Erni« Youngs Marigold Revno. Cliicago^ injured her shoulder blade ^n> doing one of her diflloult d.'»n««'* She is confined to her honjt lorr few weeks. nee*- 1