Variety (July 1922)

Friday. July U, 1«» LEGITIMATE 13 00 MUSICIANS AND STAGE HANDS' WAGE SCALES REMAIN THE SAME {GUSTAV AMBERG MED HEAVILY IN DEBT No Change in Wages and Conditions for New York Stage Unions Next Season—^Time for Notifica- tion Passes, with Present Scales Standing Administrator's Accounting Shows Unpaid Claims of $35,558 There will be n© change i the wage scales of musicians or «taee hands in New York for the coming jieaaon. The present scales, which were signed late last summer fol- lowing the first convention of the International Theatrical Associa- tion as were most of the local scales throughout the country, and the contracts are dated "from Labor Pay to La'>or Day." running for one year. The agreements provide that either party must serve notice not later than June 30 if a change in conditions or scales is sought BAHEY GETS REPUBUC; IMMEDIATE POSSESSION THffiD COLORED SHOW PROJECTED FOR B1VAY ''Abie'^ Irish Rose" Moves from Fulton to \X —^Two- Year Lease By arrangement with A. H. Woods the Uepublic will pass Mon- day to Oliver D. Bailoy, who has Neither the managers, musiciann h,oen negotiating for the 42d street nor stage hands served fluch notice, [j^^^^^ ^^^^ several months. It was and the agreements will continue automatically for another year. . The 60-day clause in the agre<*- tnents was intended to lupply suf- ficient time to make new agree- ments between the old and new seasons. The convention dates were similarly ftet ahead to the third Monday of June, that all labor conditions could be adjudicated prior to Labor Day. The present •cales were signed by Local No. 1 of the L A. T. S. R. and Local 802 of the American Federation of Mu- sicians. Although the stage hands received an increase in Now York last fall there was some agitation in the local field because of higher scales being paid in other citiea. The musicians were also given in- creases, except in vaudeville, a ptrike occurring and not being set- tled until late in the fall. , At the managei convention there was no discussion of labor • les. offlcials stating wage agree- ments were local matters except for stage hands and musicians going on tour. The I. T. A. during the past season aided in adjusting local wage disputes, and in a number of cases there waus a downward revision. Conditions and scales for the road are now under discusaion, and the I. T. A. labor committee consisting of Alfred E. Aarons, Ralph Long and Abe Levy Have held several conferences. To date no meetings have been requested with the I. A. T. S. E., nor has the latter asked for a conference. A meeting in the ofllcea of the I. T. A. was held Tuesday between the association's labor board and a committee representing the musi- cians. A change in working condi- tions was considered, that applyini? only to road men, however. It is understood the managers requested two weeks' notice of dismissal or replacement be nocaasary on tui.r in place of the present rulo calling for four weeks' notice. In the mat- ter of a musician resigning on the road, it was asked that he pay the fare of his successor to the point, of withdrawal. Though tuch a rule applies to stage hands, it has never been in the musical tinion regula- tions. Where a musician is eu- gagod for an attraction already on tour, he is supposed to pay his own faro acp.ording to present rules A final answer to the propo.sed changes is scheduled for Friday (today). No reduction in scales was reported sought. first intended Bailey take the Re- public under a long-term lease, but instead he secured a * two-year rental, the unexpired term the Woods's lease has to run. Bailey's agreement to handle Gustav Amberg, who built and for many years managed the Amberg theatre, now called the Irving Place theatre, Now York, and who for the last IS years of his life had been associated with the Shuberts, for whom he studied the European mar- ket and procured plays he thought suitable for American audiences, was heavily in debt when he died. May 22, 1921. it was disclosed in the Surrogate's Court through the filing of a temporary administrator's ac- courvting of his estate. Although survived by three daugh- ters. Bertha Carolina Julie Dan, KIsa Christine Amberg and Elione Striciter. residing in Germany, Mr. Amberg by his will, executed June 12. 1919, left his entire property to his friend, Julius Keasler of the Hotel Ambassador, New York, and without bonds named him also as the executor. Because, under the law. Mr. Am- berg's three children had either to sign waivers consenting that the document be admitted to probate, or in default, be officially cited by the court to attend the probate pro- 'Tlantation Revue"" at 48th St, at $2 Top—Formerlj, Restaurant Attraction vritfa $2 Cover Charger- Played in Harlem at 25-50 ^ HEBREW ACTORS MAY WALK OUT ON MNGRS. Next Week's Meeting Will De- cide—Resisting Proposed Cut in Salaries Theatre Guild productions similarly ^^^j j^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^„ j^„^ i, ^.:'^.^7."_^;^^." *?J'';n".fJ?/r!Ml9^ had himself appointed tern- porary administrator of the estate with the Guild for 10 years is ac- complished, a fong-term lease will be sought from Arthur Hammer- stein, who owns the Republic, it having been deeded to him by the late Oscar Hammerstein in lieu of 10 per cent, supposed to have been paid the son for handling the op- eratic contract whereby the elder Hammerstein was given $2,225,000 by the Metropolitan to remain out of grand opera for 10 years. Bailey has had the Pulton under lease for the past four years, paying $40,000 per annum plus the taxes, amounting to about $12,000 more. The rental for the Republic is $50.- 000 per year plus taxes, or about $62,000 yearly. Woods had the house under lease at $30,000 yearly, plus 25 per cent of the profits. It Is un- derstood A. L. Erlanger and others were interested along with Woods. Under the Woods's contract with the Shuberts, he is supposed to have first call On Broadway theatres for his productions, raid the need for holding the Republic was obviated. Erlanger purchased the Gaiety and Fulton theatres last year. The Fulton has been leased to a corpora- lion in which C. B. Dillingham. Ed- ward Royce and Erlanger are in- tei-ested. Royce will establish the house for musical comedy starting in the fail, if pending court proceed- ings are decided afeainst Bailey. The new rental price is said to be $70,000 yearly. "Abie's Irish Rose." which has been playing the Fulton, will move to the Republic Monday, this being the final week for Woods's "Lawful Larceny.' The "Rose" show has been grossing between $6,500 and $7,000. FLO HART'S ALIMONY Florence Hart Harlan was award- ed $150 temi)uruiy alimony and $1.- 000 counsel fees in her divorce suit against Kenneth Harlan (pictures). Tlia motion was undefended and went by default. Miss Hart named an unknown w6man. Thoy wore married in li)19. Last fall she began 5;ult foe Hopa- ralion apalnst HarlMn. the pioturo actor counter - suIpt similarly IhrouRh Nelson lluttenber« of J. Uoberl Rubin's ofllce. The divorce ^uit is a separate and distinct action l^egun .-;ome weeks aafo. NEW "PASSING SHOW" It is said the Shuberts have started to plan the next "Pa.ising Show" to follow "Spice" into the Winter Garden or open at the Jol- son. It will not start rehearsals befoie Augu»>l. The Howard Brothers, according to the report, will not be in the new production, but will resume touring in the fall in "The Pa-salng Show" they closed last sen .son within the coast region. NUGENTS' NEW PLAY "A Cloan Town" is the title of the latest comedy compU'tcd by Jomi C. Nugent and his .son. Elliott, who wrote the lut at the riclmont. "Kenipy." The N'lgenis (Includiiis' <l;iUKhtor Iltjth) will remain with 'Kcnipy" Nugent, .senior, has not as yet dc- liihil wilh .\'hom ho will i)la<e A Clean Town" for pro..lHv.tioa. pending the probate of the will. As Mr. Amberg's children were cited by the court to attend the probate proceedings and failed to rali^e any opposition, the will was admitted to probate April 25 last and Mr. Kessler qualified as the executor. In his accounting, as administra- tor, Mr. Kessler charged himself with $4,9X6.67. Against this he credited himself with for adminis- tration expensed, $416.15; paid to creditors, $2,163.53, and held the balance, $2,356.99, for further dis- tribution, subject, however, first to the deductions of hia commissions. Mr. Kessler mentioned there are six unpaid claims—aggregating at least $35,558.15—against the estate, as fol- lows: Sam S. and Lee Shubert, Inc., money advanced to and for account of the decedent, $12,909.03; Emily Dingel Nehrlxis, money loaned, $11,- 000; Julius Kessler, money loaned, $11,205; M. Witmark & Sons, money loaned. $384.12; Paul Tausig & Sons, for steamship tickets. $60, and Ilona von Mq.ntaKh. under theatrical con- tract, the value of the claim being unknown at present. In signing the decree. Surrogate Cohalan directed the administrator take for his comifiissions, $144.66, and tran.sfer the balance, $2,812.13. to himself as the executor. With thnt done he could consider him- self freed from all liabilities as such administrator, but not as the ex- ecutor. The $4,936.67 with which Mr. K^n- Hler charged himselt were as fol- lows: Proml.sHory note, made by S. Gra- ham. $1,250; letter of credit l«Hued by S. IJlelchroeder, Rerlln. 100,000 marks, having the value here of about $1,207.50; 162.510 Gorman marks, valued here at about $H77.55: cash, on deposit, with the Mutual Bank of New York, $I.43:).12; omco furniture and equipment, stored with the Chel.sea Storage * Ware- house Co.. $100, and with Wechsel Stube Leopold Lnn^er. Woln. Aus- tria, 126,700 kronen, valued here at about $12.50. Mr. Kessler also charRod hlm«oIf with 200 Bharea of Ohio CopT)er Co. of Utah and two German wnr hord^. I issued In 1914 for 5.000 marks each, and coupons, but thesf, he sal<l, were of no value. Mr. Amberg. who died of heart (li.Hcase. lived at the Hotel St. i:*'Kis. Ho WAH born at Pra4?iie, in 1X14, of well-to-do pnn-nlft. who Raj:ohim a musical edocatlon. He cros.sed the ocean at t\v»*nty, and before he was A general walkout of Hebrew actors in all the metropolitan the- atres is threatened as a result of the managers' demand for a 10 to 25 per cent, salary reduction. No agreement was reached Tuesday at a conference between the Hebrew Actors' Union and the managers. A further attempt will be made next week to reach some sort of understanding. Should this effort fall, a strike is regarded as a cer- tainty. Rubin Guskin. an executive of the Hebrew Actors* Union, made a statement following the Tuesday conference to the effect the man- agers, in addition to the salary cut, refuse to issue contracts for over 34 weeks. Heretofore It was 86. He continued that through the actors' walkout all organixationa In the theatrical industry will be af- fected. The closed shop existing In the Yiddish theatre la regarded very strong. 'It haa been stated their power to a certain extent Induced the Equity strike in 1919. A basic rule of the Four A.'a. the parent body of the Hebrew Ac- tors' Union, Actors' Equity, etc.. forbids any member of a union that is part of the Four A.'s taking the place of a member of any other constituent union that may be on strike. Broadway will have three colored revuea offered next week« the first time the main stem haa gone into tan entertainment in that quantity. Th« newest entrant will be the "Plantation Revve." which open* the 48th Street. It l<.the houae which will pass to Equity's co-op* erative play project in the fall. The colored ahowa are "Strut Miss LixEie" at the Carroll (two blocka from the 48th Street), and "Shufrie Along," the oolored show which is ending ita 61-week run at the 63d Street next week. The "Plantation" ah6w la said to be aponsored by the Shuberts. It la the same revue offered at the Plantation, & cabaret which his clOHcd for the aummer. The show itaelf moved up to the Lafayette. :i houae in the black belt of Harlem, two weeks ago. The name meant nothing there, however, and another title waa uaed and the show strengthened. The line-up for the 48th Street ahowinff alao calla for adding to the revue. The acale will be $2 top, the aame aa the covert charge when the revue played the Plantation cafe. Uptown the ahow was re- ported charging 25 and 50 cenlj top. SELECTING GARRITY Chicago Managera' Aaaociat'on 9nu/ Havs Naw Praaidant FOR EXPERIENCE Mrs. Lydig Hoyt Joina Stock Company Walker Indianapolis. July 12. Mrs. Julia Lydlg Hoyt, New York society woman, who played in the revival of "Tho Squaw Man" last season, makes her debut with the Stuart Walker company thia week. Her presence here was kept quiet until late last week, when she playe^l an exhibition tennia match at the Woodstock country club during the national clay courts tournament. Mrs. Hoyt .laid she came here to work and .stmly undnr Stuart Walker to advance in the profea- slon. Chicago, July \:e. When the fall meeting of the Chi- cago Theatrical Managers takes place, John J. Qartity may be of- fered the office of prealdent, now held h|r Harry J. Ridings. Of lata there haa been an extremely amic- able co-operative atmosphere ex- isting between Garrity's office ut.A the interests of the syndicate house* controlled by Harry J. Powers, with U. J. Hermann, of the Cort. ho'dlns sway with his unequalled inde- pendent power. No manager In Chicago ludda gre.iter affiliations with City H ni authorities than Oarrity. and the Managers' association is manetivc.-- Ing to honor Oarrity wUh the tine office. At present there Is considcrabf«< unrc-^t in the pollti«al activities of the house managers ber-miHe of « wide breach In tho long-time friend- ship of two veteran manap^or.i, dtio to one of the managftr.s being in- volved In domestic troubles. Tho story la known to those on the In- sldo, and time is being counted Jn.st when It may creep Into the local newspapers. / CHORUS GIRL'S CHANCE Mldgio Miller strained a ligament In her foot while dancing at the opening performance of "Spice" at tho Winter fJaiden. While otJt her variouK rulen are divided amongst others. Tho .Mtenographer part played by MIh.<4 Miller In "Help" was taken by Yvelto Dobors, a chorus girl, after liftc I minutes' study for the flr.st dialog nhe has ever been given. "PE^INY" NOT IN "SCANDALS" Afin Pennington will not be in the e;iHt of CJeorge White's new ".Scan- J.aIk," which b«'giriH rehearsalM next . week. Instead "Penny" Is to feature LENNY BERGMAN'S TRIP Leonard iJerRman in .s.iilinK lor l^'-ngland Saturday, but will lojnain oaly one day ovivsenrt. Initnedintely returning on a limited pansengcr ^oat. Ho expects to make the rouiul Irlp in about 17 days. His brother. Jerome HerKnian, a 'Buffalo hurdwaro man, his hectfi viMltlng iiim and now "Lenny" lunks he needs a rest. Rchoarsina "Sally, Irent and Mary' RehearHcl .Htaite<l Monday, hy Hie ;-ihul)ertM of e ejilirKed edMlon of (h I'Mdie Djwlirii? lornier vHiide- villc act, "Sally, Irene and" Mary," whi'jh vill rctani the same title as prodtK'tjon with fowling, also its ,'u :hor. starred Tin- pi'"e may open tho sctt.son at the A.slor, or uiothei ShiilKM-t.s' liroiidway house. In tliii n\usic:il edition aa princi- pals will be Dan Sullivan. U<d>ccea Ryofjrd. PAfii<:i,t Oilearn and Mrf< Wallois, Willi 16 ciiorus girla. ill p»o«!ur«». according to present plans. "Scandals" is donlgned to hold an ofiLirt4y fresh lint of prlnoli»al.s ex- c«f>t White and probably Lester All* n 23 had <h;itu.' <»f two Ciman tlua- j her own show, which White trcs, in nelroi^ and' Cincinnati. Soon uflcrN\.trd he came to New York and su<^cc.sMivrly managed the (lermafiia and Thalia thealr^H. bo- fore 111 1*<*<^ he erected hi..s own hoii.Me. In lJ)Of» he i»ave up all hi.M in'livid- iial theatrical intercsta and devotc'd himself to his work for the Shuberts. with lh<* exception of a production of "The Dancing Girl" In German III the Irvinnr Place thealro 4n the spring of 1018. He married M.irjc lOngle, at ont» timf^ a member of the FRAWLEY'S CO. FOR HONOLULU .Sin l«'i aM« isco, July 12. The T. Daniel |<'rawley company will open in Honolulu S«'4)t. 1 with Ail"ie P.Iood as leading woman. l''rawley plans a cxlenMive tour o.' the Orient and Imlia. hut will not Metropolitan Opera company. Th<y|vlsit Au.slra.li.» during tho prcfient were divorced a few years ago. tour. ^ REHEARSAL FOR TRY-OUT •'!fader Your Hut," a three-jet fiirco by Patil Porter, wa . pre.scnt^d aa a dres.; rehearaal before an li.vl* tatlon audience Thursday evcp.ii.g, lant week, at the Longaeie. L. Lawrence Weber Is reported havinK an Interest In the play, which will be regularly produeod In association, with P. Dodd Ackerman and tho author. The showing was made expressly to teat out tho pos.MibllitloB of the farce, tho plan being to mak«' ex- pected changes and try it out of town late in tho suminer. A cast of nine appeared in tho special per- formance," no salaries jiayahle. In the show were Jane WcHt, M.'iri.t Namaan. Minor We.ston. H'-a Martin, Arthur Aylsworth-. Francis X Con- Ion. Milton C, Herman. Stanley Itignold and J. S. Murray iti WHO'S WHO" AT ELTINOE A. H. Woods will 01.en his Kltinge thgatro for the season with bin new- eHt farce (foreign). "Whoa Who," lately tried out on the Jersey eo,iKt, 1'h'». piec»j will have some if-viMlon in tho writing, and will bo partiHil/ n-cast during the «umnier. MRS. COUTHOUI'S "DEALS" CHiicago. July 12. Mm. Floreneo Coutlauui, hond of lh»' r'ouilioiil Ticket Agency, la on her way to New York to make up her deals for tho coming He.asuo witlj various theatrical managers. i.Atei