Variety (July 1922)

12 VARIETY T- Hi mmmm'^mw'f^^. m Friday, July 7, 1922 1 tta<= I P. M. A.-EQUITY AGREEMENT ISSED POINTS FOR ADJUSTMENT If Renewed Two Years Hence Will Carry New Pro- visions—Equity May Ask Payment for Re- hearsals—P. M. A. Wants Stock Question Settled Thr basic ngrct-ment between tht rruduciiig Managers' Assoriutlon and the Aeturs' P^quity As.sociation Is recognized by both b(dic» to be Incomplete in that it fails to cover a ninnbtr of activities. The ajrrcc- menl, si^nrd in Sei)tenibL'r, 1919, tta'i two years more to run. At expiration it is admitted changeR Vill be written in, upon adjustment by loth Kick's, if renewed. One of the points wbich EMuity, it is said, ^ill asli for is payment for re- hearsals. Tiie control of stock company ac- tivities is one of the matters not Included specifically in the instru- ment. The two orj;anizations have Icen locked in arK»»^'it'ot over that branch of the l«>gilin ate. Attempts to force the contest to arbitration liave been unsuccess ul up to date. Kquity's oflicials for" a lime con- tended stocks Were i ot a matter of arbitration, althouKh that attitude Is said to have been somewhat mod- ified through the opin;on of counsel tiiey were. It is known the man- agers have submitted agreements lor stock arbitration three times to K piity, without either being re- turned. The sailing of Judge Learned Hand to Europe will doubtless hold M\) the arbitration of the stock company contest until late in the Fummer. Judge Hand was the juriijt derided on at the time the closed shop argument came tip for arbitration. Unable to act, he sug- jfcsted Judge Julian Mack, the latter then sitting as umi^ire. Since Judge ll.ind was agreeable then to both Fides, he will be again. The man- agers, through having the other contest decidt-d against them, how- ever, are not favorable to Judge Mack now aeting in the stock mat- ter. In Mack's decision on the clf)sed shop contest he set fttrth the right of arbitration of any matters in which members of the P. M. A. were active. That w.is set forth in that part of his opinion that dif- ferentiated betwien managers with- in the organization .and those not members, he deciding the latter ■were in no way concerned with the agreement between the P. Mr A. and Equity. The open shop stock has been Tun on a nine-performance basis, the wime as under the all-Equity cast stocks. Jesse Bonstelle, over "Whom the first argument started, is managing several stock companies. One has been using an eight-per- formance week and another one ad- ditional performance is counted. Equity's claim that if P. M. A. mem- bers do operate open shop stocks. eight performances must be the basis and all other performances must be paid pro rata is one of the features that will count in the phrasing of the next .agreement be- tween the two organizations. There is no doubt that the present agreement carries an eight-perform- ance maximum for the $2 attrac- tions. P. M. A. meml)ers contend Equity permits closed shop stocks a bigger performance week, which establishes a custom that would apply equitably to open shop stacks. Arbitration of the contest is about the only manner In which it can be cleared up. All arliitration decisions under the civil practices code may be entered in the records of the county court, and are recognized as valid as a court decision. That does not estop the parties from taking an appeal directly to the court, how- ever, although that is rarely done. Comparatively few persons are aware of the Tribunal of Arbitra- tion, which is permitted under the law and designed to take the burden from the courts. Arbitration is open to all persons who do not wish to take their troubles into court. Aside from evading the long period entailed for a civil action to be rea( hed by regular court procedure, settlement of difliculties by arbitra- tion saves considerable expense. Iiecently»attorneys, ipclu^ling sev- _erfll in the lheatnc«il field, have advocated that method of settling contests Arbitration does not call for action by an organization, nor only between organizations, but Is more generally used by individuals. GROUP OF NAVAJOS AS PRO. ENTERTAINERS To Open in Chicago Under Auspices of Shriners—100- Year-Old Singing Chief A unique Indian group of enter- tainers hailing from New Mexico are to be given a first metropolitan hearing in the fall, when they will be i>resented in Chieago, With .New York possibly ge ting the attraction later. The Indians are Navajos, their work consisting of ceremonial dances and songs. They liist drew attention of Shriners on the way to the cctast over the Santa Ee rail- road, and the latter will sponsor the Chicago showing, Mike Kirk, guide and Indian trader, directs the red- skins. The best voice among the group is an 80-year-old scout, said to possess a remarkable tenor. The lust living Navajo chief, who is re- puted to be over 100 years old, con- tributes as a singer. The group in- cludes an fndian quartet, said to be the only one in existence. Until recently these Indians never heard civilized music. A traveler enter- tained them in a hotel parlor with classical melcdies. The music puz- zled but interested the Indians. CHORUS GIRLS RIOT ON GARDEN STAGE Members of ''Make It Snappy" Raise Ruction on Night of Closing The girl members of the chorus of "Make It Snappy," the Eddie Cantor show, went on the warpath Sciturday night with a final fall of the curtain on the run of the at- traction in that theatre. The chorus girls, according to the report, converted themselves into a mob, wrecking the contents of two or three dressing rooms of princi- pals they did not appear to be fa- vorably inclined to. The girls also threw things around the stage, cre- ating a noisy disturbance and much apprehension, since no one on the stage wanted to call the police in to quell the young women. The choristers are sai"". to have thought they had a grievance over the closing of the show. They had anticipated a summer's engagement. When notice of closing went up, and "Spice of 1922" was announced to follow the Cantor show, the girls started to murmur. The murmur- ing reached its apex oa-tl^e closing night with the mob ucene^ follow- ing. Some of the principals are said to have locked themselves in their dressing rooms during the out- break. EXCEPnONAL BURLESQUE HITS HOW "LILIES" STANDS Changes in Cast—Charlotte Learn Rushes In FOX'S 44th STREET "The Shepherd King" Will Be Film Opening Shuberts* 44th Street theatre has been taken over by William Kox, from Aug. 1. The film conoerii will open the house with "The Shepherd King," reported upon in advance as a stupendous special picture. When entering the 44th Street, it is said Fox will relincjuish his pres- ent two 42d street houses, at one of which another Fox special, "Nero" is now current. The Shuberts are reported to have plans for a musical revue for the 44th Street's roof, early in the fall, while it is po!-fiible Shubcrt vaudeville will play at the Lyric, commencing with the opening of the season. The Fox people are said to pre- fer the 44th Street to either of the 42d stree houses, as a better pic- ture theatre in the event of landing a hit there and through the cheaper rental terms. ti \ KIKI"—SEVEN SHOWS rsday Matinee Dropped—Doang 116,000 Weekly Chicago, July 6. Charlotte Learn fattened her bat- ting average for "pinch-hitting" as a quick study Sunday night when she joined "Lilies of the Field' at Powers, playing the "flapper" role. Miss Learn got the part Friday night, studied it during the closing performances of "Liliom" at the Great Northern and went on Sun- day night amid the enthusia.«m of a following of admirers, who are now pursuing her arounJ the loop plays. Norman Trevor left the cast of "Liliea of the Field" last week-end, his place being taken by .John Har- ris. Ethel WiLson also left, joining "For Goodness Sake." The new ar- rangement of billing at the Powers gives advertising positions to Jose- phine Drake, Clara Moo.e.^ and Alieon Skipworth. Trevor's quit- ting came after what is r.imored was a dandy little tilt last week behind stage with other principals. Equity is urging this company to remain for the summer. T'.ie get- away business for the new week (Sunday) only hit J400 and unles.^ the week piles up at least a gros« of $4,00( the end will have to come Saturday. Prospects after the Fourth's business warranted an- other good split S.iturday for the commonwealth plan of the com- pany. It is saK that Dan Morrison, rep- resenting the Broadway Produc- tions, Inc., has managed to equeeze himself onto the payroll via some charitable act of Equity, whose rep- resentative here claims the produc- tion will be turned back to Morrison if. when the show does close, all 8alari( are paid. \ Starting this week "Kikl' at the Ilelasco goes on a seven-perform- ance basis, Thursday matinees hav- ing; been ordered discontinued for thcf summer. David Belasco decided on the dropping of the afternoon to save Leonore Ulric, the star of the play. The heat of last week was the cause. "Kiki" has led the dram.is on Broadway since its premiere late in November and has held its position with the advent of summer. Last week, with around $16,000 grossed, it beat all non-musical attractions. "Partners Again" at the Sehvyn is the only attraction that has held the pace with "Kiki." The Tijur.stliiy afternoons at the Helasco have been sell outs, and there w.as a surprise in the agencies the Saturday matinee was not dropped instead. GAITES' PLAY FOR DALY Arnold Daly witt be under the management of Joseph M. Gaites the coming season. He will head the cast of "The Monster," a drama by Crane Wilbur, which will be Gaites' first new production for the new season. The supporting cast include? Mc- Kay Morris, Marg .erite Risser, Frank McCormack, Walter James, Charles Wray Wallace and Marcel Rou.s«eau. Rehcarsa^'i have begun, the piece being due on Broa<^way early in August. Every so often In burlesque a show comes along that so far outclasses the regular attractions of that par- ticular season the others are left miles behind. Sometimes it's one thing, or a number of things that the exceptional show has, that makes it exceptional, but it's always some one thing particularly that makes it stand out. Perhaps a new type of comedian, an unusual cast, a song, or style of entertainment that is radically different than that which has preceded it in burlesque, but the some one thing must be there. Unusual burlesque shows have ap- peared at infrequent intervals dur- ing the last 25 years, and all have cleaned up in money. The lirst to rate as a dcpartur. for burlesque, and which in its day so far out- classed its competitors as to make most of them look foolish, was Harry Morris' "Night on Broadway," produced in 1902. At- that time most of the bur- lesque shows were bit and number affairs much on the order of the garden variety of burlesque of the American wheel shows of the past few seasons. Morris had always been progressive, entering burlesque as a young man and growing up with it, i-.aintaining a reputation for having at least good shows for several se.isons prior to "A Night on Broadway." Morris was ambi- tious. He knew burlesque could stand much better entertainment than ■ had hitherto been given and he determined t** take a chance. While in Europe 'n a trip with Sahn Scribner, Morris and the latter found them.selves in Berlin in 1901. Casually dropping into a Berlin the- atre, wher* a musical comedy was showing, Morris was attracted by the possibilities of the piece in ques- tion, being able to apf)reciale it more than Scribner, as Morris un- derstood German, the language in which the piece was played, and Scribner di<lnt. The play was "A Night on Broadway." Morris ar- ranged to produce it in America. An English translation was made, and the following season, 1902, Morrrs produced it as a burlesque show over here. It immediately created a sensation in and out of burlesciue. The other burle.«que shows having been so different in n>ake up, "A Night on Broadway" naturally stood out, through being a farce comedy with a legitimate story maintained through its two acts. Morris was wise enough, however, to keep a certain indefinaWe bur- lesque atmosphere about the show, despite its high class production at- tributes. The first act was laid in an interior (parlor), and for the first time probably ever in burlesque there was a set that really looked something like the inside of a habi- tation. The second act was an ex- terior, garden set, and a real one. Both sets were new. That was also revolutionary for burlesque of that period. The costumes of the chor- isters were cut in the prev.ailing fashion and there were eight or more changes. Morris himself was fitted ^th a part that was made to order for him, that of German candy manu- facturer of the sporty old boy type. Burlesque had seen lots of "Dutch- men" with chin whisfters, but Mor- ris played it with a mustache and gave it a legitimate characteriza- tion. A splendid company, includ- ing Mildred Stoller, Julia Lambert, Edward Adams, Tony Asher, Harry Emerson. OIlie Omega. Alice Por Guy E. McDonald Had Drugs Kan.sa.v City, July 5. Guy E. McDonald, an actor, with a stock company, playing at Buck- lin, Kan., was tirrested by Federal Narcotic Inspector Aherne, of Wichita, charged with possession of drugs in violation of the Harrison anti-narcotic act. As the actors al^sence would h.ive stopped the performance he was allowed to "go on" while deputy sherifl'b watched him from the audi- ence. ' TO REVIVE "MOLLY DARLING" The Megley & Moore office in New York declares its musical comedy, "Molly Darling," which gave up after running six weeks at the Chi- cago Palace, will be reorganized to resume for a summer try, also in Chicago. It is probable that the piece will have a partly different cast. Negotiations were last re- ported for the Liberty, New York to house the attraction. Burlesquers," produced in 1896 Th« thing that made the "Bohemians" different was that it was shaped differently, and that Billy B. Van introduced a character type in his "Patsy Bolivar," tough olficc boy, new to burlesque at that time! "The Bohemians" cast included Wil- liam B. Watson, Harry Bryant, Billy B. Van, Veva Nobrega, Hill Sisters, Rivers Sisters, Mae Lowery, Jean- nette Dupre, Marie Carr and Jerry Mahoney. "The Bohemians' was not quite as much of an advance over the shows of the particular season it was produced in as "Night on Broadway," but it still was a big- advance over most of the other shows current that year. Along about 1898 came the next exceptional burlesque, Hurtig & Seamon producing the "Bowery "Burlesquers," with Loney Haskell, the featured comedian, offering a character type then new to bur- lesque. "The Bowerys' was the season's sensation, breaking records and playing more repeats profitably than any show that had played in burlesque in years. The Bowerys cast among others i.Tcluded Andy Lewis, Maude Ell ott, Gracey and Burnett, World's Trio and Truly Shattuck. In 1907 came a bombshell for bur- lesque. M. M. Theise, who had the preleding season put on an ordinary wheel burlea<iue show under the title of "Wine, Woman and Song^," hit the bull's eye with a vengeance. "Wine, Woman and Song" d^Jn't play the burlesque houses long, after 12 weeks of wheel trouping arriving in New York and going into the Circle for a six months' run, that exceed- ed 300 performances. It was a com- bination of assets that made this show the same as the others, but the principal and outstanding one was the "End of the World" com- edy sketch, with its "Toplitzky" character, written by Aaron Hoff- man. Alex. e<irr as well as Hoff- man must be credited with doing much to make "Wine, Woman and Songr*' exceptional, his character- ization of "Toplitzky" establishing him for Broadway. Others in the show were Bonita, Lew Hearn and Armstrong's Pony Ballet, Raymond and Clayton, and Taylor and Hart. "Wine, Woman and Song" started the vogue for revues, for burlesque, ,being of that type of show. For many seasons after burlesque had revues of all kinds, some good, but many not so good, holding nothing but the name "revue."' The Behman Show of 1909-10, produced by Jack Singer, also stands out in burlesque history as the sensation of that particular season. It marked a big advance in production over the seven or eight preceding seasons, and had an un- usual cast, which Included MoUie Williams, Will J. Kennedy, Vic Casmore and Lon Hascall, "The Merry Whirl," which had a summer run at the Columbia, New York, in 1912, was another of the exceptional burlesque shows that stands out as a highligrbt. This was produced by the late Cliff Gor- don and Bobby North, with Mor- ton and Moore the featured come- dians. Like "Night on Broadway.^* it was a song, "Alexander's Rag- time Band," written by Irving Ber- lin, and one of his first big hits, that constituted the chief reason for the success of "The Merry Whirl." "The Merry Whirl" was partly of the musical comedy and partly of the extravaganza type of burlesque, the combination being particularly well ter, Nellie Fenton, Ed Brennan and blended. Like Its predecessors, "The COMEDY FOR COMBINATION San Francisco, July 5. Art Hickman and Ben Black. In association with Neil Moret. are at work on a musical comedy to be produced by the Moroseo-Peggy Joyce-rAckerman A Harris combina- tion at the Casino. Carr.'e Weber assured the success- of the show. It brctke records wher- ever it played, and revolutionized the style of burlesque shows then in vogue. The following season bur- lesque managers fell over each other switching to the farce style of show that Morri:; » ' dug up But few come within hailing d stance of the Morris idea, either in quality or box office returns. Aside from all the rest "A Night on Broadway' had one thing that above all else made it. This was the comic song. "IIinky Dee." with a 8( rt of doggerel metre, the song Itself classing as a "boogey man" number. Morris s.ang encore verses to "Hinky Dee" until he was out of breath. Talk about " s'opping shows,"" "Hinky Dee" used to mas- sacre burles»iue audiences There's been many imitations of It, but none exactly like it sinee. In dolntr the number .Morris made It a "pick out" with the choristers behind h im, one ot the first to do t hat par- ticular bit. Home five or six years previously an(>iher unusual .show shoved its hfa<l over the horizon of burle.'<qu(>. This was Lou s Rol,ie*«, Bohemian j. Merry Whirl" created a precedent, and for several seasons there was a run of burlesque shows made up of spectacular stuff, with a blend of musical comedy. Burlesque of the past 10 years, which brings the record to date, has had several distinctive attractions. As the Columbia Amusement Co. developed and with its new houses could give a lArger gross average on the season to its companies, several Columhia producers went to extrav- agant limits in productions and largely increased the then prevaiiin;? customary weekly salary list for principals. Many shows kept on high throughout the season. During the war period Columbia shows made a net profit shows of yester- year never dreamed of, for they were then impossible. Perhaps the two signifliant bur- lesque pr<»duetions of the last de<adc were Jean Bedini's "Peek-a-l^oo" and Barney Gerard's "Follies of the Day.'T TUo Bedini "Peek-a-n«»o" show evolved into Bedinrs "muck'- les." It became a burlesque sensa- tion through the personality of its princi}?al comedian, B<>bby Clark, al- (Continued on page 53)