Variety (July 1922)

^nSay, JuTT VARIETY 13 CRIMINAL LIBE CHARGES FOR DAILIES BY FILM STAR Marion Davies Secures Summonses for Three New York Papers—Published Miss Davies Was at Scene of Hirsh's Shooting Summonses were obtained last Saturday for service upon the edi- tors and city editors of three New Tork dailies charged with criminal libel by Marion Davies. The papers served are the New York Herald, Bvenlng Telegram and Daily News. The two first named* papers are Icnown as "the Munsey" puperb, owned by Frank A. Munscy, who also contrM.T the New York Sun, not included amongr those sum- moned. The Daily News is a Mc- Cormlck paper, operated by me same interests that publish the Chi- cago Tribune. ' The summonses were obtained by Oeorge B. Van C!evc, brother-in- law of Miss Davies. who informed Magistrate Simpson in YrrkvlUe Police Court that the papers had published Marion Davies had at- tended the lawn party given by uer sister, Reine. June 24, at the latter's home in Freeport, L. I., following which.pn,rty Mrs. Hazel Hirsh shot her huaband, Oscar A. Hirsh, tJirough the mouth, on the lawn of the Davies home. Van Cleve said the pai>er8 named had been re- quested to publish after each had persisted in insi«'ting Marlon Davies was at the party, a denial she was there, but tliat they had refused. Th<? summonses are returnable to- morrow (S^aturday) before Magis- trate Simpson. During the week representatives of the papers at- tempted to secure information to base their defense. It is said the local and county lOfflcials of Nassau county had a complete story of the shooting af- fair the day following, and in ad- dition learned the names of all me guests at Miss Davies' home. The Nassau county officials, according to the story, upon so: e of the New York dailies publishing wild scare head reports, called the reporters assigned to the Hirsh shooting into their offices and told them the en- tire story as they had found it. The olTicials say not one of the papers published the account given to its representatives, but continued to print Marion Davies was at her sis- ter's home that Saturday, along "With malicious insinuations. One of the latter first published In the Evening Telegram stated ll^a. Hirsh had shot her husband when finding hira "holding a film •tar in his arms on the lawn." As Marion Davies was the only film •tar (Cosmopolitan) mentioned in connection with the shooting, Its reference was obvious, although that particular story could have re- ferred to Relne Davies as well. The "holding a film star in his arms" flction was widely published throughout the country, as were «ther stories about the shooting. A (Continued on page 18) FISTICUFFS AT CARROLL BY MANAGER AND STAR OPPOSITION CUT-RATE REPORTED INFORMATION Little Attention Paid by Agency to Walton Law in New York State Show Leaving This Week— "Strut" Going In—No Dam- age to Hitchock or Carroll An exchange of overhand swings and wallops between Raymond Hitclicock and Earl Carroll on one o^ the warm evenings of last week led to nn agreement whereby "Pin Wheel" will close at the Carroll Saturday. The fistic affair, which was not damaging to either con- testant, occurred at the close of the first section of the performance, just after Hitchy made an an- announcement and the curtain failed to drop for some reason. The withdrawing of ''Pin Wheel" left the house open to book in "Strut Miss Lizzie," Creamer and Layton's colored show, which entered ♦he Times Square from the East S. .0 N tlonal Winter Garden. The' colored attraction move.s in Monday. It rented the Times Square for three weeks. The house had previously booked "Sue Dear," which is a mid-summer entrant next Monday. "Strut Miss Lizzie" will enter the Carroll on sharing terms, but a guarantee is said to be part of the contract. Its gross last week was around |6,000, favorable fc- a show of the kind. It was not until Friday afternoon that the Minskys, who are interested in "Lizzie," secured the Carroll date. "Pin Wheel," which is a mixture of Greenwich Village classical dances and vaudeville, plus Hitchy as a roving comedian, is quoted at a little under |7,000 for last week. It was claimed that two houses were offered "Pin Wheel." Changes continue in the cast. The^ lat- est Dolly Connolly, who is fea- tured in the billing. Frank Fay re- mains In the show. His idea of calling people from the audience, which he started with his "intimate concerts" at the Cort last year. Is used regularly. As the show has no finale, the request entertainers readily fit in there. Bernard Gran- ville was mentioned joining the show this week. "Taps," tho kid drummer, lasted but two or three days. The Gerry Society brought about his with- drawal, and the parents were fined $50 last week. Other children ap- pear on Broadway with permits, but the society is said to have become angry In the case of "Taps" because the parents had "put something over." THE DUCHESS OF BROADWAY I - - ^ By VALESKA SURATT Opening nights! I detest them. The/ simply bore me to tears. Especially mine, for that's the night my society following appears. We weren't going to open 'till August, but I told my author. Jack Lalt, That July was the month, I could tell by the stars, and that's why we didn't wait. Tou see I am a child of Capricorn. Just now the stars are propitious for me; The stars! The stars! Those wonderful stars! They guide my destiny. And even tho' I'm playing the Winter Garden in a musical revuo, The planets foretell many other things I'm going to do. For I hear the drama calling—I can't forsake it, you see. For there's only a few of us left—Duse, Bernhardt and me. Dear Mrs. Fiske is a great artist, too—and Ethel Barrymore I hear is going with Hopkins, and will give a repertoire Of Ibsen, Shaw and Shakespeare—strange, how strange but true- She Is doing the very thing that I was going to do. George Jean Nathan advised n.e—George, he's such a love; How we've discussed tho drama; I'm the only artiste he speaks hij^hly of; First time he was ever to vaudeville—he came to see me last spring— I wa^ playing un petlto morceau de Chinol.s—a pretty little thing. And knowing my dramatic talents. I really almost faint When I walk on that Winter Garden atapo, f«>r doing the thing I aint. What right have I to be in a revue with this perfect diction of mine? Everyone knows my diction is perfect. Oh. the drama'-s the place I shine. It's distressing to wait 'till next season, but I'll have to wait. I fe;ir. Because any show I appear in always runs in iNCw York for a year. In the meantime I'm readinR Socrates. Aristotle and INrtlia M. Cl:ty. I am Rludiou.s. I am cultured! 1 am th<' Durhoss of ilnaduay. Friv«)litie.s^ Ivq left .behind-: why. I bmy myself l or wcf ks, Delving into tho classics and huntin?: up any aTiti<ru« i:^. With the "Literary Digest" in my hand, my lori:rn«'ttes lo my <ye^ I advance on the wheels of culture—for wrll do I realize One's social position demantls it; and what i.s th«' answer, luay? The answer is thev all call nie 'The Duches<< of i;roa<lway." - nUn\<hv Merrill. An "opposition" cut-rate theatre ticket agency is reported planned for next season. That and the sup- posed operation of the ne^w ticket agency law were matters of inter- est in the agency marts which are as sluggish in the same ratio as Broadway's theatres. The Walton bill prohibiting the resale of tickets for more than 60 cents in excess of the box office price, signed by Governor Miller at Albany several months ago, was suppor.d to take effect Immediately. It was stated at the time the comptroller would not be able to set enforcement ma- chinery in action before the first of July. Saturday there was no activity noted on the part of agents of the comptroller, nor was there up to Wednesday. Only two or three agencies have applied for a license as required by law. which calls for the payment of $100 fee annually and provides for the filing of a bond for 11.000, to be forfeited in case of violations. The new license is hun^; in one of the 50-cent agencies. The majority of brokers have taken the position that application for a licence would be a tacit recognition of the meas- ure, which the Governor at the time of signing expressed doubt as to its constitutionality. The brokers are probably holding oft on advice of counsel. They have agreed to test the Iftw and arrests for violations are expected. Limitation of sales prices has been ruled on by the highest courts as unconstitutional. For that reason the agency owners appear quite placid in the face of the Walton law. Development in the formation of a new cut-rate agency may occur this month. One of the agencies selling for a premium is named as backing the reported venture. This agency has a lease on the Tyson "Fifth Ave." oflrtce in the Longacre building, next door to the Public Service Agency, which has had the cut-rate field virtually to itself. The Tyson office will move to tho Knickerbocker building next month and their present quarters may be used for the new cut-rate outfit. One of the biggest controllers of theatres in New York is reputed to have promised support to the pro- posed new cut-rater. Advantage of dumping tickets from the pre- mium office Is mentioned, both of- fices being under the same control, according to present status. Very few of the agencies are both- ering with the 5 per cent, govern- ment tax law and are continuing to sell tickets on a basis of 10 per cent. Since the firet of the year tickets sold for only 50 cents pre- mium are subject to a 5 per cent, agency tax. A $2.50 ticket sells at the box ofllce for $2.75, which in- cludes the 10 per cent, admission tax. When sold through an agency at 50 cents premium the charge would be $3.27H or $6.55 for two. As a rule the agencies continue to collect $3.30 and $6.60. Several of- fices committed to 50 cents pre- mium only are Iseiuing a half-cent coupon in tho case of single ticket sales, the coupon to be used at any other time. The others figure patrons are not interested in sav- ing the 2% cents and refuse to in- stall a coupon system. Technically that makes such sales In excess of 50 cents and the government could exact IM cents on each ticket thus sold. WHERE BURLESQUE CAME FROM " VILLAGE " ENGAGEMENTS Yvonne George for New Tolliet'' at Shubert Labor Day The line-up of the next "(Jreen- wich Village Follies." which is due for the Shnbort. New York. r.,abor Day. was added to this week by the cabled acceptance of Yvonne George, a Parisian actress. Others thus far onffaKf^d include Carl Randall, Fr-inkie Heath, l.,u(:ille Chalfonte. George Railsey and Savoy and Tirennan (who were on ti>ur with la.st seasf^ns "l^"'ol lies' ; .I(»e Cook is mentioned as a i)Ossi- bility fr>r tli<' n«xt Gieenvvieh show. J^arr.niy While and l-3ya Puck were pl.-i'-ed niidrr crinfr.ifl for lliiM' yt.ir.s by th.' ll«,hrmi i us. Inc.. the jirodu/'-er.-:? <)f the ••rjr(>enwich TTrruTTe Foil .'pk;"^ "ft— ry' li ici ^ l y me tf.im uill lie >senl on tour in th" fall wji.ii the i;>;:i 'l-'iillics,"' v.lucli Will Jiuve T»'d I.»\vi.s and Joe lirown. I'i.'inM vaill for Wliii*.* an*! l'u<k to ;t|)jK'rir in ii«'xt jrai'.-* 'Follif.s." Burlesque, lik« the legitimate, vaudovllle, pictures and other ck- tablished divisions of show business, was arrived at through an orderly and clearly defined process of evo- lution. Its ancestral tree dates ba^.c some 50-odd years. Like many an- other pedigree It contains much that was good, bad, indifferent, low- ly and aristocratic. While authorities disagree on Just what particular branch of the amusement field was th. dominat- ing factor in the birth of burlesque as a basic entertainment, there is no question but that the old-time extr.avaganzas, such as "The Blaca. Crook." had an important infiuence { in shaping tho form and substance of the first burlesque shows. The English pantomimes, wiia their principal boy characters al- ways impersonated by women, a type transplanted directly to bur- lesque, and a feature of all of the early shows, undoubtedly furnished an idea or two for the first bur- lesque shows. That tho chorus of the burlesque show may be traced readily to grand opera is Indisput- able. The comic operas took the chorus ensemble and ballet from grand opera; extravaganza, a first cousin to comic opera, adopted the chorus in turn from comic opera, and burlesque finally secured its chorus from extravaganza. For Its comedy, burlesque delved deep Into minstrelsy, variety and farce comedy, also comic opera. Tne old-time afterpiece* which formed the bulwark of the comedy of the first burlesque shows, and inci- dentally have performed the same function for all burlesque shows and many a show playing at many times the burlesque admission scale, whether labeled as musical comedy or some other higher class moniker,, had their origin in the "nigger acts" of the numerous min- strel shows of the 'CDs. The concert hall arrived with the general introduction of beer ab a beverage in America. At first the concert hall had a sort of combined concert and variety show, mado up mostly of singing and musical turns, but audiences gradually called for something more, and the concert hall entertainers, largely recruited from minstrelsy, added the after- piece as a part of the show. The afterpieces, although changed a bit through somewhat different charac- terization, were pretty nearly Iden- tical with the afterpieces that had been used In minstrelsy. Newcomers seeking entry into tne- atrlcals secured their first stage en- gagf-ments in concert halls and naturally had to learn the game as It was then played. They were ac- cordingly Initiated into the technic of the afterpiece. As a result, a large school of performers devel- oped that had a repertoire of the old afterpieces at their fingers' ends. When burlesque got under way and shows began to multiply it was but expected burlesque should seek them and they should seek bur- lesque. ^T-T-^ The first idea of burlesque, a4- though not generally known, was a show that should really burlesque or travesty drama or opera. This plan was deviated from, through the necessity of having new bur- lesques on current plays written for each seasonal engagement. The afterpieces suggested a solution of the new material expcn.so. Little by little burlcsqpe grew away from the dictionary definition, but at the same time secured for itself a solid foundation with the afterpieces. Historians generally credit Lydia Thompson with laying the founda- tion for what later developed into burlesque as an institution. Miss Thomp.son was an English woman who came over here with her own company In 1868, opening at Woods Museum, New York, with an enter- tainment that held a mixture of ex- travaganza, pantomime as it was played as a distinct branch of amusement in England, and bur- lesque. The burlesque portion of the show travestied a Greek or lif)man <lrama. That d.'is.slcal drama travesty Incidentally In tho Lydi.a Thomp.son show was the d.'iddy of the Greek and Uonutii travesties and burlc.s(iues since play <1 in bin Icsque, vaudtville, mu- sical comedy, etc. Tlie Lydia Tlir»m|»sori company incliiHfd I'au- lirx.' Mi.iivharn, who later Jyccamo a finiou.s biii i(jHiii«.' .'^liir li« r.iilf. Tl'.e K<jif/-S.intiey company w.-i.s -++rt^-jir st out and ttttt A r nerifa n -btti*^ tired, residing In Florida. Aba Leavitt managed the Rentz-Santley show, which had its premiere at the Olympic, New York, in 1870. Re- sides being the first American bur- lesque show, the Rentz-Santlejr company holds another record—it played longer under one title than any burlesquo show, its annual tours covei-lng a period of 48 years. The nearest approach to this record is the "London Belles" title which W. S. Campbell used for 30 yeara up to last season and which will be changed next season. In 1882 or thereabouts a second company of tho Rentz-Santley show was formed and went to England, playing over there successfull/ for a run. Harry Morris, who came into fame in 1902 with his own show "Night on Broadway," was among the Rentz-Santley preformers who went to England with the show. Between 1870 and 1880 several other burlesque shows sprung up. among them the Adah Richmond Burlesquers, named after the prin- cipal woman; Wallace Sisters Show, a mixture of burlesque and comic opera; "Around the Clock," in which Harry Kerncll, one of the first Irish comedians, was starred; Victoria Loftus Troupe of British Blondes; May Fake's English Blondes, and Villa and Miner's (the latter the late Henry C. Miner) Burlesquers. From 1880 to 1890 burlesque gained considerably in popularity and had developed Into a definite form of entertainment, with a first part, olio and afterpiece or bur- lesque. Most of the shows that were rated as burlesque shows between 1870 and 1880 were partly of the minstrel type, and many contained casts entirely composed of women. Among the shows organized from 1880 to 1890 were the Ida Siddons Co., Sam T. Jack's "Lily CUy" Co.. Lillle Hall's Burlesquers, Madame Girard Oyer's English Novelty Co.. Bob Manchester's "Night Owls," May Howard's Co. (managed by Harry Morris, her husband, and Tom Miaco), the "City Club," or- ganized by the same managers; Sam T. Jack's "Creole Burlesquers," an all-negro show; Fay Foster Co., organized by Joe Oppenheimor; Rose Hill's "English Folly" Co., managed by Rice and Barton; Weber and Fields' Vaudeville Club, John S. Grieves* Burlesquers, Boom's "Model Burlesquers,** "Pari- sian Folly," and John H. Smith's "Henry Burlesquers," In which Mclntyre and Heath appeared. From 1890 to 1906 burlesque made consistent progress, with' a number of new shows entering the field. The.se included Louise Dempsoys Burlesquers. Lester and^ Williams' "Mo and Jack," John Flynn's "Lon- don Gaiety Girls," Matt Flynn and Phil Sheridan's "City Sports." May Russell Co., RelUy and Woods Show which had previously been a variety organization and which by the simple expedient of putting in an opening skit and adding chorus girls to the afterpiece aiid working them in numbers, trans- formed itself into a burlesque show, which only goes to show how thin the line that diVided burlesque and variety really wa» Pat Rellly and Louis Roble were the managers of the Rellly and Woods show. Other shows Included the "French Folly" Co., organized by Bob Manchester, and which had Sam Bernard u4 road manager and leading come- dian; Mabel Snow's Burlesquers, Brown's "Boston Creoles," "Ivanhoo Burlesquers," "Roulette Club Bur- lesquers," Sefton and Watson's Co., the latter, William B. (Beeftrust) Watson, with a company that in- cluded Harry Bryant, W. B. Wat- son and Jeanett Dupre; "Black Crook^Jurlesquers," Sam T. Jack's "Forty Thieves," Ada Dixon's Bur- lesquers, "Busy Bees," Agnes Evans Co.; "London Belles," Rush's "White Crooks," "Casino Girls," Harry Mor- ris* Burle.squers, "Night on Broad- way," "London Sports" "Razzlo Dazzle." Washburn Sisters' "Last .Senatlon." Fannie Hlirs "Twentieth Century Maids," produced by Han/ Morris and W. S. Woodhull. This show had a burlesque on tho then popular success (1895), "Trilby," In which Harry Morris attracted wldo attention through his travesty h conception of Svengali; Rnsh's Mxcelsior Co., Loui.s Roble'.s *Po- h'^jni.'iiis," organized in 1896 and fine of the outstandlsj.? shows of all btnlcsnne with a cast that in- clMled ni;iny prcFcnt day stars; , ^frwih . lJr pth<^rH ' Burlesqye,^ an.X^ l".^-<iue (•(»m|*any. This wa.s cv<»lvtd froru an .ill female hI»ow knowri as iMadarn<' Kent/.' Minstrel.^', Hponsor«'d l.y ^'. II. Lc.tMtt. Mt. Lcavifl is oveT SO years oM. and pti-sf tit!., r'-- .Speci.ilty Co.; Joe Oppenhelmer's "Zero", Lawrence Weber'f "Olym- r>ia," (Jus Hill's ''Vanity Fair," Al K"ev< s r'o.. Miner's "Americana,' (<^''ontinu««d on page %C) •