Variety (July 1922)

jy ^.Ji \i Friday. July 7. 1923 BURLESQUE BURLESQUE FARES TO OPENING $21,077 Each of 38 Producers Pays $554 Into Railroad Pool- Wheel Starts Aug. 28 Every franchise holder on the Columbia burlesque wheel received a letter this week calling upon him to send his check for $554 to the central office as his portion of the total coat of $21,077 required to jnowe 38 shows to their opening stands. The season opens officially Aug. 28. The opening points have been set, bot they will not be made public until next Monday, July 10. By that time every Columbia manager must have deposited his check for the pro rata charge or it will be assumed that he does not desire to go through with the pooling arrange- ment. Until next Monday nobody will know where his uhow opens and If he does not enter the pool he does not know but that his opening stand will be a distant one. A new system has been arranged for lining the sliows up. Managers have been required to submit to the board a written statement of his feature, such as whether Iuh ctxoi is headed by an Irish, Hebrew or tramp comedian. After this declar- ation the manager cannot change his comedian until six weeks after the opening. Meantime the shows have been so arranged that as much time as possible will elapse between the appearance of two shows with t^e same type of comedian. In some cases it is said there are gaps of four weeks between comics of the same style. 'TOLLIES," 1ST; MOLLIE, 2D Barney Gerard's "Follies of the Day" topped the Columbia list for gr6ss receipts this season. This Is exclusive of the seven weeks' run of the show, following the regular season at the Gayety, Boston. Mollie Williams Show wa€ second, and Billy Watson's show third. Bedini's "Peekaboo" led the Co- lumbia shows the previous season In the way of gross receipts, and Mollie Williams was second. NEW "MARCUS SHOW r*8w On« Now Forming—Marcus in Bankruptcy With recent reports from Boston that A. B. Marcus had been placed In involuntary bankruptcy through his operation of the "Marcus Show" last season, an announcement was sent out this week that "A. B. Marcus of the Marcus Producing Co., Inc. of Boston" Is preparing another "Marcus Show" to open Aug. 7 at Perth Amboy, N. J., play- ing a few weeks around New York and then heading for the coast. Chas. Brave will manage the show, with Claude Long ahead. Among the people announced en- gaged are Harry (Heinle) Cooper, a six-piece women's Jazz band, Frank Pickett, Harry Frankel, Althea Barnes and Minnie Durke. • Boston, July 5. While there has boon some talk about chattel mortgages and manip- ulation of arjsets in the bankruptcy proceedings started against Abra- ham B. Marcus, little interest is ex- hibited In his affair.T around here. Murcua operated the Marcus Show last season. Stories he owed money for bills In connection with his show were often heard. The bankruptcy petition seems friendlj', though involuntary against Marcus. It claims he made pre- ferred payments, while knowingly insolvent, to Claude H. Long and Gayle Burlingame of $500 and $5,100 respectively. The petitioners were the Wolf Fording Co., Peter Sparks and Charles Turner; $975 is mentioned as owing for scenery and costumes to one or all. Marcus' local address Is 82 Rox- bury street, Boston. A full li.it of liabilities and assets is to be flled this week. =<s RUNNING BURLESQUE By SAM A. SCRIBNER Twenty years ago the Columbia Amusement Company 'was incorpo- rated—on July 12. 1902. The Incor- porators were Gus Hill, Phil Sheri- dan, Bob Manchester, Harry Mar- tell, Louis Roble. J. Herbert Mack, Fred Irwin. Abe Lcavitt, George Rice, A. H. Woodhull, Harry Morris, Charlie Barton. Harry Bryant, Will N. Drew, Harry W. Williams, Jr., and Sam A. Scribner. We met down in the old Astor House. We did not dare let the Em- pire Circuit or the Eastern Circuit Manager*)' Association know that wc were organizing, for fear that we would have been thrown out. The directors for the first year were George Rice, Harry Morris, A. H. Woodhull, J. Herbert Mack, Gus Hill and Sam A. Scribnor. Charles H. Waldron was the first president. Mr. Wcodhull was the first vice- president. Louis Robie was the first zation for the previous year be ac- cepted and ratified." It was sec- onded by Harry Morris and was passed by tho unanimous votp of all present. The second year Charlie Barton was elected president. Ben Hurtig was elected vice-pretident and held the office until he died, when his brother Jules was elected in his place and has held the office ever since. Ben Hurtig was a loyal, decent, square, upright, honest man and a bulwark of strength to the organiza- tion. I think of Ben Hurtig a great many times. Besides being a great help to the organization, he was a lovable character and a fellow one could tie to. When Ben said "yes" you could go to sleep on it; It wa? "yes" forever and at all times as far as he was concerned. On July 12, 1906, at 2 p. m. there vacancy and has been our treaaurer over since. A distinct gain of an im- portant kind was felt when Mr. Hy- nicka consented to accept the treas- urership of the corporation. He was reluctant to assume the multifarious duties of the office on account of his far-reaching and important private affairs, among them being the exac- tions and activities of his position as Republican National Committeeman for Ohio. The main point is Mr, Hynlcka did accept, and his expert- nesg In financial operations and the wisdom of his advice In all questions of policy have been of Inestimable value. While I am discussing officials this story would be incomplete without a word of praise for our general counsel, Leon Laskl. Mr. Laski has been untiring in his devotion to the interests of the corporation, and his Judgment has been of rare aid, fre- quently outside his legal functions. Turning to more general topics, I don't suppose there is a man, wom- an or child connected with this insti- tution, from the scrub woman In the theatre to the top of the ladder, who I doesn't think that they could run thU GAMBUNG ON PROSPEH OF TRIP TO ENGLAND BUELESaUE ENGAGEMENTS Engaged for Mollie Williame Own Show (Cohimbia), Mollie Williams, Margie Barrons; Art Franks. Ralph Sanford, Robert Jones, Salvadore Zita, Cliff Worman, A. R. Ditmas (manager), Harry Leighton (mu- sical director). Burlesque Producers Spend- ing More for Productions in Hope of Coup For Sim Williams' "Radio (3irls" (instead of "The Girls from Joy- land" as last season); Billy Gilbert, Bob and Emma Wilson, Melody j Trio, Cleora, foreign dancer; War- ren Fablr, Billy Baker, James Wil- liame, Sam Clark. For Watson's "Beef Trust": Billy Wateon, James Francis Sulli- ,van, Marette Sisters, Jules Jacobs, with al Humer stage manager, and* 20 chorus girls announced. JUDGMENTS (First name is Judgment debtor; creditor and amount follows.) Ray H. Leason and E. M. Jacobs; J. Harnett; $267.22. Key Holding Corp.; Claremont Pilm Laboratories; $3,121.45. Kitty Gordon; M. Rosenthal et al.; $598.65. Mawn Amusement Co.; T. J. Drennan, Commissioner; $59.20. Fourteenth St. Amusement Co., Inc.; T. J. Drennan, Commissioner; $275.20. Nat Feldman; Am. Photo Players Co.; $395.70. /\ William G. Massaferte; A. Dwan; $5,863.59. \ Joe Smith and Charles Dale; H. Goodwin; $695. Jennie Wagner; Hotel Clarldge, Inc.; $84.11. David Lamar; Hunt & West, Inc.; $228.18. L, A H. Enterprises, Inc.; Wyan- oak Pub. Co., Inc.; $499.55. Charles L. Lanigan; Tribune Productions. Inc.; $2,248.98. Bankruptcy Petition Kosmo Corp., operating Club Maurice, 1654 Broadway (involun- tary). Variety's announcement from London that a syndicate of British managers have in mind the estab- liehment of a burlesque circuit on that side, drawing much material from the American shows, has done more to stir the activities of the American burlesque producers on the Columbia circuit than anything that has happened. Jean Bedini's "Chuckles" ot the Oxford. London, has opened the eyes of the British showmen to the posfiibllities of the burlesque style of entertainment and d^olumbla franchise holders are In l^en com- petition to put on a production that can stand along side that organiza- tion. The greater part of the 88 Co- lumbia wheel shows will revive the custom of playing from two to three weeks preliminary time prior to the official circuit opening next sea- son. The playing of preliminary dates had been the rule for a num- ber of years up to last season, when it was temporarily abandoned. The opening of the regular Co- lumbia season will likely be the last week In August. Campbell's "Youthful Follies'' O.K/d The complaint flled by Miner- Gerard, Inc.. with the Columbia Amusement Co. against the use of "Youthful Follies" as a title by Wm. S. Campbell for the former "London Belles" next season has been disallowed. Campbell there- fore win call his show "Youthful Follies." The contention of the Miner- Gerard Arm was that the word "Follies" in another Columbia show might cause confusion between it and Gerard's "Follies of the Day." ENGAGEMENTS -Charlie Klhg, "Little Kelly Kelly* (released from Shubert unit show for this Cohan production). Holly Connolly, "Pin-Wheel." Margaret Lawrence, for "Tho End leys CUair^" C^V L, Ellanger). i aged $7,4iOO weekly. 22 Men in Park's Orchestra When the Minskys open the Park, New York, with stock burlesque in September, it will have an orchestra of 22 men. Louis Furman, now mu- sical director at Henderson's. Coney Island, win be the leader aX the Park. Ger^d Show Closes to $7,500 Barney Gerarchi '^Follies of the Day" closed at the Gayety, Boston, Saturday, after a seven weok.s' run. The "Follies' did slightly under $7,500 last week. The show aver- SAM. A. SCRIBNER SECRETARY AND GENERAL MANAGER COLUMBIA AMUSEMENT, COMPANY, 1). secretary, Harry Marten the first treasurer. The first rollcall waa made July 13. 1903, and the following respond- ed: "Crackerjacks." Manchester & HUl; "Tiger Lilies," Scribner & Drew; "The Australians," Harry Bryant; "The Knickerbockers," Louis Roble; "American Beauties." BWly Watson; "The Trocaderos," Bryant & Watson; "High Rollers," A. H. Woodhull; "The Brigadiers," Harry Martell; "Bowery Bur- lesquers," Hurtig & Seamon; "The Transatlantics," Hurtig & Seamon; the Al Reeves Show, Al Reeves; "Big Gaiety," Rice & Barton; "Rose Hill." Rice & Barton; "City Sports." Phil Sheridan; the Irwin Show. Fred Irwin; "World Beaters." Roble & Mack; "A Night on Broadway." Harry Morris; "The Royals." Peter S. Clark; "Morning CJlorics." Scrib- ner & Drew. Frank B. Carr. with his "Thoroughbreds," and Abe Lcav- itt. with his "Rentz-Santley" Co.. joined us the second year. I don't Know what was done that year, but t fthd on the first minute book that a motion was made by Mr. Scribner. before the election of the directors for tho entulng year, "that all acts done and performed by the oXQccrs and directors of this «rgant> was held a meeting of the Board of Directors. Those present were J. Herbert Mack. A. H. Woodhull, It. Lawrence Weber and Sam A. Scrib- ner. A quorum of directors being present. Mr. Weber, acting as chair- man, declared the qfime duly assem- bled. «A motion was made by Mr. Scribner and seconded by Mr. Woodhull that Mr. Mack be elected president of the corporation for the enufling year. Mr. Mack has been president ever since. At this same meeting Gus Hill waa elected treasurer. The first treasurer of the company was Harry Martell. After we got Into conflictlon with the Empire Circuit his Interests compelled him to resign as treasurer and go over to tho Em- pire Gircult. where his Investments were. The next treasurer was (Jus Hill. Mr. Hill's business Interests got so large (this wag In tho old Stair & Havlin days) that ho could not attend to the duties of a treasurer and so resigned. Lawrence Weber was appointed In his place. Weber .suddenly discovered Fome •busTheas in lOngland that was stronger th.Tn his connections here, and conse- quently he resigned and left the country. Ivud K. Ilynicka stopped inlo^tho business better than I can. I can look out of my window and see 150 man- agers, agents, actora and what not standing on the corner of 7th avenue and 47th street, and everyone is firmly convinced In his own mind that he could conduct the affairs of the Columbia Amusement Co. a whole lot better than I can, and everyone has a different idea how it should be done. That makes 450 Ideas that would be going in 450 different directions If some one were not here to keep them from doing it. Indeed, the fact Is that about the only two men who have not told me how to conduct the company's af- fairs are Nat Golden and Julius Michaels. For Instance, when a local man- ager Is discharged he immediately proceeds to tell everybody who will listen to him how short-sighted I have been, and that he alone is tho only man in the world who knows how to conduct that particular thea- tre surco.sHfulIy. And In general ho cites what a rotton lot of executives and o.fT l< <.ra tliere are In this bust* ness. llrro Is an example: I had occa- .sjnn only a slmrt time ago to let a mm out of one of our principal the<itr»'H in the wt ;*r. • He wa?< ert^* iContiituird'on page 16)' ^