Variety (August 1922)

\'m\^,i 10 ». •;% r ,4: ■ »•■» . ',*: 'S.l'\* -y -f '* ;iW^. SM i>^'*'^» ^ ^t*' *_i^' 1-. "J-> A'«. i <■.•)« EDlTORIALlS ■.vn. .♦•v. ;\':'i::x;-'J?!»*i;r;' ! „^^J-^r; ■ ^feday, 'August 29, llfift^ ■J-Ufc. K/ETY Trade Mark ReRiatered PublUlied Weekly by VARIETY, Inc. Slme Silverman, PreBldent 164 Weat 46tb Street New Tork City SUBSCRIPTION: Annual |7 I Foreign 18 Hingle Copies 10 Cent* VOL. I.XVIM. 130 No 1 B. F. Keith's Sterling theatre will o|>«.n LAbor Day matinee with six acts and pictures as the policy. Herman "Whitman ^\ill be business manager. The theatre, heretofore known as B. F. Keith's Riviera, is on St. John's place, Brooklyn. Among the stories, editorialn and comment caused, through the Keith office barring references to prohibi- tion from Its stages, appeared the following letter, in the New York ••World': PROHIBITION JOKES To the Editor of The World: It seems Incredible—the published statement that all rc^rences to I'ro- hibition have been stricken from the vaudeville stage by order of E. F. Albee, president of the Keith cir- cuit, and that he took this action because patrons (?) of his theatres have complained of performers' hu- morous references to the dry laws. If Mr. Aibee has issued such an order he has fallen into the trap set for him by professional Prohibition- ir.tfl. Doesn't Mr. Albee know that Pro- hibitionists employ agents to write ju»t such letters as he says he has received? Doesn't he know that those same tools of the drys write the grossest InsuUs to women? Doesn't he know that this vile crew Kends out printed matter reflecting upon the race and religion of people who oppose their fanaticism? Mr. Albee Is at the hf>ad of a great amusement buiness—a business which the Prohibitionists have sworn to destroy along with the liquor business, tobacco, dancing, card-playing, and that many other crusades are planned for the sole purpose of keeping them in fat jobs for some time to come? The writer has prohibition data to prove this statement. The amusement manager caters to all the people. "Why should he favor fake complainants when every hu- morous reference to dryncHS brings R laugh, applause and delight—never A hiss? Consistently, the antis may fe^ Irritated at being deprived of a •I.' good healthy laugh at the expense of a contemptible law, and they may choose theli: own form of reprisal. Since the Eighteenth Amendment has become a national political is- sue, it is heading straight toward a iiational crisis; it has been carried to the polls and the fight will be kept at the b.oiling point until the lying statute is oft the books of what wuH formerly a free Kepublic. MARIE DORAN. Secretary of the Anti-Fanatic Ijcague of "Women. Jamaica, Aug. i2. The motorcycle rquad of the mrtrtpoiitan police force will hIioi^- ly be increased by 225 men, giving the motor division about 400 me; awheel, be^idea another 400 on bi- cycles, in the Greater New York urea. ; . .... The 4fith Street theatre now has Its n.'jmc changed to tht Equity 48th Street, according to the elec- tric hign placed ato]> of tho building last week. The first mcotiiiK of the Equity Players, Inc., was held in the playhouse Monday afternoon. Invitations were ia.sued for tiic af- fair, which was thv first of a series t)f special afternoons that arc to be held. The program v/m* to have included Francis Wilson with "The Vision of Equity Players" as hiH Mibject, Augustus Duncan on "The American Theatre," while the plans for the coming season were to be discussed by others. ■ y- INSIDE STUFF ON VAUDEVHUB The engagement of Elsie Janis for the Keith circuit opens at the Palace, New York. I^abor Day. It 1$ said to extend for lb consecutive weeks at $3000 weekly. . ; . • ?> . According to the professional manager and officer of one of the biggest music publishers, "them days is gone forever," as far as the songwriter Is concerned, in the way of big royalties and advances. The art nowadays in popularizing a song is the way It is handled. It is literally "made"— rAanufactured—to be a hit, and nothing else. That Is wh^re the publish- ers are now sinking their money—exploitation, advertising, professional staffs, "plugging * The manager even ventured his firm is so well quali- fied to popularize a song in the shortest possible period that almost any- thing would go—only, for the sake of maintaining certain standards, only compositions of merit are tackled. A vaudeville mental telepathi.st will shortly become involved in absolute divorce proceedings in which his female assistant figures as the third angle of the triangle. The proceedings will diselose some facts hitherto surmised but unconfirmed. ^. Judging from the recent popular song Output, the "punch lines" in most comedy numbers have some sort of reference to "The Sheik." It's becom- ing quite Qverdone. 3here Is an optimistic trend of opinion among music publishers and gwriters that radio Is on its ebb tide and that any inroads it may have made on the roll and record royalties is a thing of the past. With the national field practically exhausted in the way of receiving set sales, they notice by the broadcasting programs of recent vintage thit the quality is decrexising. This confirms their hypothesis that the radio people do not fancy spending any money for talent and that the novelty of performing for the radio has worn off and deters any further volunteer entertainers. Much of the current radio stuff being broadcasted is dry and educational, but not entertaining: If the public finds entertainment a necessity not obtainable via the ether they will be compelled to buy phonograph records and rolls once more. A report thi« week was that the Keith's office through an arrangement with the Orpheum Circuit, would play Eddie Leonard \n eastern vaude- ville the coming season. The Orpheum had Leonard under a two years' contract for the western big time. It was taken as substantiating the re- ports of a scarcity of big time names and drawing ci^rds for the season's opening and beyond just now, besides the reported scarcity of big tinfie comedy turns of recognized value. . , , INSIDE STUFF ON PICTURES A situation arose within the past few weeks in a family where the wife, a picture star, was recently divorced from her husband, a player of the legitimate stage. Since the divorce an issue was brought forth, and it was in an effort to keep the father's name unsullied any further that prompted the wife to go his bail bond when he was arrested in a raid. The narcotic squad Is said to have swept down on an- establishment where addicts congregate, and where also a number of friends of theirs who do not use "the stuff" meet and enjoy the fun that comes when the regulars are half-coaked. Just which branch the husband represented is not known, but he was taken in custody with the others, and it was the ex-wife who got him out of the jail house. • * A New York distributor believes he has found a way to command ready cash and also dispose of unsold product in the smaller towns where not reaching with the regular line. Special salpftmen or solicitors are en- gaged to dispose of the film, mostly of last season'p vintage, at any price obtainable, taking notes from the distributors and discounting the notes in New York at a shave of 12V4 per cent. As the salesmen's commission is also 3 2^/4 per cent., the distributor is netting 75 per cent, of the sale in cash. The transactions go through the distributor's local exchanges with the notes when received forwarded to New York. In a way It is looked upon as n business-getter and stimulator for the distributor who has some hu|)cs of following it up with the regular line, although the note discounting thing for cash returns is an angle not missed. "Max" and "Moritz," cliimpanz* r», nro being imported by the Shuberts fvr a production. The chimps, or similar ones of the same names, have -been appearing abroad for some years. On Monday Fred B. Warren pau.sed in writing a check to remark, "The mills of the gods grind slowly," and he smiled. The check was to cover the bid made at a receiver's auction which took place in the old Wid Gunning offices in Loews Stale building, where Warren was the purchaser of the entire otfice fixtures of the organization for about 25 cents on the dollar of the original cost. The purchase must have been a particul.nr source of satisfaction to Warren, who was one of the organizers of Wid's and was forced out of the company Alter that he organized the American Releasing Corporation in association with Walter E. fjreene, and the two have put the distributing organization over in a highly successful manner in a short siace of time. Meanwhile the history of the "Wid organization was fully written and completed. With the recefVer's auction held on Monday writing finis. —~. . - ~^ C . ■• CABARET v'^r '■•■;♦■< ■ i '■-. ■ : u f ■i ^■ ■ Ernie Young launched bis third revue of the season at Marigold Gardens, Chicago, last week. He put over in his "Fall Frolics," as he calls this revue, a sound, sub- stantial a^d satisfying hl^ The show has Addison Fowler and Florenz Tamara, who had Intricate and complex dancing steps and know how to sell them; also Frank Libuse, who burlesques the efforts of those associated with him In ihe revue. Of the feminine conting»nt, Ann Greenway xmd Leonette Ball domi- nate. Miss Greenway Is a prima donna of prepossessing appearance who knows how to tastily costume herself and at the sa: e time has a voice put to good use -on numerous entrances, whether Individually or leading ensembles. Little Miss Ball is a dainty soubret, wth an entic- ing; pair of underpins. The Blida Ballet is an octet of girls, kiddies they might be classified as, for they are not very far up in their teens, but when it comes to doing classical stuff they ex££l more seasoned and experienced dancers who have been seen hereabouts In ballet ensembles. They are all local youngsters, still attending dancing school. Among the parade and dancing numbers two are exceptionally orig- inal and artistic. The orchard num- ber reveals the girls costumed to represent fruit-bearing trees, with real fruit on their limbs and arms. After they have paraded around out trot the members of the ballet In satin overalls, bearing ladders. In a business-like way the little farmer lassies approach the trees, place their ladders against thfm and pluck the various fruit and toss It to the audience. The other number was Egj'ptian. In the previous re-, vue Y'oung had a similar number which was accLiimed the hit of the revue, but this arrangement and number oversiiadows the previous effort. * The show is a typical Y'oung of- fering and entitled to a niche In the local cabaret hall of fame. With respect to costuming the show has no p<?er8. Lester provided the rai- ment for principals and chorus. A central purchasing jigetuy as an adjunct to the Motion Picture Theatre Owners* Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of purchar-sjiig supplies for all of the members of the organization is about to become a realization. The plan is one that h.'is been discussed from time to turn' without arriving at a stage where its operation became prattical. It has been decided that the organization is to begin the operation of an ngency through which the purchasing power of the members of the (Or- ganization is to be directed. The first contract that will be closed will in all likelihood be with the wholesale branch of the General Electric Co., with the organization guaranteeing to purchase at I'ist IIOO.OOO worth of lamps per annum, in consideiation of which they will receive a discount of approximately 37 per cent. Other purchases that will be made through the agency will be carbons, disinfectants, brass polishes, cleaning materials, reel tickets, etc. Some people are bring kidded or kidding themselves. This talk about the one o'clock closing law and no one can bring a hip fiask into New York cabarets is a laugh. One New York cabaret did condescend for a couple of nights last week after the one o'clock order was Issued to stop dancing between one and tv.'o in the morning. Just how the house figured couldn't be determined. The former Closing order was two o'clock. This cabaret thought if it stopped dan- cing between one and two, it was obeying the spirit of the law, but then to break the law after two, as it had previously done, could not bo looked upon as a violation. While the federal men were upon their publicity-seeking expedition to stop flask carriers in the restaurants, some of the restaurants were selling just the same. The federal men had belter start after the moon- shinci-s and stop their moonshine along the White Way, where they know the ncwr.pai)ers will watch them. The longer this ridiculous enforcement endures the bigger bunk it becomes. If the enforce- ment people will find some way to reduce the price per quart in the restaurants below $25 they will be giving better service. Nobody be- lieves anything else, not even the papers that print the stuff. Nearly all the restaurants arc now working on the ringing bell system. After closing time the approach of sus- picious Ir.oking individuals, meaning cops, civic or federal, is denoted by a hell ringing in the restaurant. Btrnlnt; that they needed entertain* ment of the sort liked to work, fflt pent-up energy. It struck the car^ nival people as a very common* sense viewpoint, and though th^ carnival held out many concessiona through their agreement, they gav^ a thorough carnival entertainment* One of tb« concessions unrestricted was a girl show. The beer thing In' Johnstown was a boomerang ft)r tha drys. There isn't mucb-douot th^j^v*' breweries had beer all stored ready to relea,8e upon the mayor's orders. • -y :'.■■■■■ -^ ■•.^^*• New Orleans and a few of the Florida cities can smile at the re<«^ malnder of the country In the mat«I- ter of buying good liquor. Scotch of standard brands and Canadian^ > Club Is bringing in the sectiona,* named $48 a ease. It Is retailing bjr< the quart for J5 and |6. Flrst-grad0 ^ claret can be bought for from |li:'" to 124 a case. Standard brands of* gin average |36 a case, with tha; supply unlimited. Gin is the fa« / vorite drink of the colored folk downil in Dixie. Absinthe is in populaff jdeman^ and brings around $50. Ver«i mouth Is rather scarce and cham-« pagne finds little demand, althoygh as much as desired can be bought for $80 a case. New Orleans has much oi) the re- mainder of the cities of the country^.^ In t^ie matter of prohibition. Thera s'>, are nearly as many saloons as be-*', fore the enactment of the Volstead v', bugaboo and drinks are handed over the bar with almost the free- dom of former years. It Is not nec- essary to be introduced. Fines aver- age $25 or less for the first three offenses, so that the barkeeps take little chance. In the coming Con- ; ■ gressional election in Louisiana every one of the men before the ' people has placed himself solidly in favor of light wines and beer. Most of the papers, while not de- claring openly, are unquestionably^».- as one with the politicians. • - To the popular mind a •'pool room" and a "billiard room" are virtually synonymous, but not so to the lawmakers. In compliance with the law passed by the State. Lfgislature of New York in the last session in the spring, all pool rooms, where the owner of the place means billiard rooms, throughout the state must be culled by the latter name Sept. 1. Owners will be obliged to paint out the "pool" in all windovr signs and pther means of displaying their business to the public Pool IS said to mean other things In the lawmaking minds. Many legislators ,are reported in Albany to play bil- liards. They dislike thj suggestive- ness of "pool." Then, like most other fhings the legislature does, the change of name has a little tax attached and appertained thereto. •Fhe new taxes will add about $700,000 to the revenue of New York State, it is estimated. Another pro- vision of the law, jocularly termed the "free look" clause, provides that there must be no obstructions in the front windows of the billiard rooms which would prevent persons in the street from seeirg clearly into the room in which the playing IS conducted. And so the billiard- room man goes from bad to worssw He seems to be much in need of a lobVy. The Johnstown, Pa., beer flood episode recoils tliat that always has The federal heads in mentioning their intention to Investigate hip carriers in restaurants, said one rea- son was through th^many caustic customers who 'defy" anyone to take away their liquor. That is borne out by restaurant managers who say that often when a patron Is re- quested to remove his flask from the table he replies by angrily de- manding to know about anyone pos- sibly interfering wi^h his drinking. This has not infrequently occurred The New York Police Field Day — <4ftrneH, to be held Sept. 9 and IC at the Jamaica (L. I.) race track, are under the direction of Third Deputy Commissioner P^iurot. He has ap- pointed, for the fifth consecutive year, William J. Murray and Charles ■ B. Seeling to take charge of the publicity. Their office is room 214 . at Police; Head<iuaitei0« 240 Centre street ' ••■•'" ' * .-..■. !L. Morrison's, Kockaway Beach, L. I., has flwit(^d its vaudeville book- ings again, for the third time since the beginning of summer. The Jack Linder office is now supplying the bill, six,acts on a split Week. Fally M.'ircus started booking, and the Robbins Agency succeeded iMarcus, when the latter "threw out Mor- rison's, It is planned to keep Mor- rison's open the last half of the week all year round, beginning with the coming fall. Hitherto it has played but 10 weeks In the summer, the rest of the year being dark. Or. Mcritz Stoehr, professor dt bacteriology in Mt. St. Vincint College, New York, has invented a "music typewriter" whlc>T enables one to record any melody on a music roll arrangement. This is courUed upon to ' professional and amateur coiiifv. -ig to perma- nently record snatches of airs on a roil for future reference without the trouble of taking it down in notes on a "lead sheet." Steinway & Sons assisted the inventor materially in perfecting the invention, whieb will be marketed for commercial pur- poses. V ■ ■ ,vr^ ■» n ;:«'/juv •' ■■ ■ o-' ■■'■ been a liberal tow n, despite its i 'w'hen a federal man was in the res- taurant, and a seizure later made of the same flask without its owner then demurring. The flask thing though seemed further farfetched by the federal men when it has been reported that the ofllce of the U. S. District At- torney in New York has said that it has no time to bother with "hip" cases. Following the order in the Time* Square section police oflficers got ex*- cited. They called at restaurants, snoojjcd around tables, and while inKptiction-ol tlic person, in noc al*. lb\Yable the cops inspected every- thing else in sight- mayor said he authorized the beer fuelling movdnent to relieve the city of bootlegging bad whisky dealers. Johnstown is amidst the plant of the Cambria Steel Co., amongst other big works In that vicinity. E.'irly in the summer a carnival wanted to play there. The steel c(>rnj)any re]iresen{ative sent for ;; carnival man. He told him they wanted the carnival, but they want- ed it clean and would be liberal in permitting concessions if the c*ir- nival jiople hel«l to tii#-ir part <'f the bargain." An agreement war reached, th< carnival played, and there was not a word of complaint upon either side. The steel man permitted mnny more concessions than ordinarily would be favored by a censor. He told the carnivnl man that without their beer or liquor the woikcmen were in re- Murray's on 42d street is an«- nouncing a new revue to open there Aiig. 28, with (Mi s) Billie Shaw. Lester Lane, Nat Morton, Gertfude I'fLrriuh unU a chorus.