Variety (September 1922)

Friday, September 8, 1922 VAUDEVILLE STOLEN SWEETS St. Paul. Sept. «. I. H. Herk's Shubert unit, 'Stolen .•Sweets," opened at the remodeled palace Sunday afternoon, or, to be more exact, moat of It did. At 6.20 the stage manager announced that, ibecause of the lateness of the hour and the length of time required for laying the next set, the closing scene jvould not be presented, But the .audience had received Its money's worth and went away satisfied. ♦'Stolen Sweets" is produced on an •exceedingly large scale. It is as im- pressive as a Winter Garden show •on tour. Headed by the Watson Bisters—the merry clown, Fanny, and Kitty, who sings a ballad as no one else can—It has some first-rate principals. And the chorus is made up of some 17 pretty girls, happily ranging in weight, one estimates, from 100 to 120 pounds. "Stolen Sweets" seems written around the Watson Sisters, and with good reason. When the show is In running order—and it should be be- fore the week is over—the talented sisters may be counted on to stop the show regularly. Herman Tim- berg, the author, has given Fanny many bright lines, the sort of com- edy she excels in. The show opens quite novelly, with Harry O'Neal as the manager, making his appearance from the front of the house in search of play- ers. He engages the chorus, and, after a quarrel with one of them, de- cides that \ie .will be an actor him- self. Then the vaudeville begins, with a posing act by John Conroy, billed as the world's greatest life saver, and his sister, Lillian Conroy. It is a good opening act. Then Johnny Berkes and Walter Brazil, two nifty steppers who have a manner quite all their own. They are genuine comedians as well as excellent eccentric dancers. Harry Steppe and Harry O'Neal come on, also in "one." with com- edy dialog that is effective, more be- cause it is capably handled than be- cause it is bright. The Watsons appear then (and in almost every other scene that fol- lows). They are easily the hit of the show. The De Koch trio follows with tumbling and hand-balancing stunts that go very well. Fanny Watson, certainly a hard-working girl, vol- unteered to do a strong-man stunt, and it was great stuff. First, for comedy, she let the little fellow drop, and then actually held him in the air. It was in the revue that most of the mixups occurred. Tlmberg and the players had been rehearsing it all night (until 7 Sundav morning), but still it was not quite In shape. The Watsons, Harry Steppe, Harry O'Neal, Johnny Berkes and later Tlmberg himself ad libbed to kill lime for the scene shifting. The revue is not a coherent story, ATLANTIC CITY POOLED; NO ORCH. AT APOLLO an Incident in front of a stage door. This is followed by Fanny Watson's amusing prolog, "A Family Table," where Kitty entertains a duke, only to find that Fanny had eaten all the food in the house; Brazil and Berkes dance in a*beach skit in which the beautiful Miss Conroy appear?, and next Is a burlesque on 'Chauve-Souris." . This did not go very well, but when polished may be hide-splitting stuff. After two Romeo and Juliet scenes, both well pro- duced and charmingly done, the show closed. "Stolen Sweets" Is going to be a first-rate show. Bhcek. Globe and Woods' Without Legit — Local Musical Union's Demands Rejected Atlantic City, Sept. 6. Atlantic City theatres will work on a new and harmonious winter schedule by which expenditures will be pooled and the chances, of at least one theatre working on a profitable basis be assured, accord- ing to a statement giVen person- ally to Variety's representative in Atlantic City by G. Fred Nixon- Nirdlfnger. The Globe Theatre will be closed during the winter months as well as Woods', which is to play pictures beginning next week. This will leave the Apolh} the only legitimate house preparer! to care for open- ings in the resort for a matter of months, possibly until late next spring. Previous to this summer the Globe and Apollo have hold rivalry under the old booking arrange- ments, with the Globe oldlng the Shubert bookings and the Apollo the Erlanger schedules. The joint bookings make the reduction of stage and house forces possible, but will eliminate also the opportunities of premiere performances getting Atlantic City bookings during the late fall and winter for which, in a good producing, season, there is* a large demand. That last year fell greatly below normal in this respect and caused week after week of house expense without bookings, contributed to the present decision. Mr. Nirdlinger made the an- nouncement the Apollo wi'.l sever connection with the musical union and play all attractions without an orchestra. The demands of the local union have been a subject for debate for over a year and are considered to have now reached a climax and decision. When asked what effect this would have on musical shows booked* in the Apollo, Nirdlinger said any that did not carry a full orchestral comple- ment with the company need not play the house. Atlantic City theatres have been run by two organizations. The Stanley Company of America which has control and interest in several film nouses on the Walk and Ave- DANCED FOR KING Piatov and Natalie Hailed in Copen- hagen—Cut Short Engagement. FROM THEATRE TO JAIL, CHAS. E. MACK'S FATE but instead is made up of seven] nue, holds the lease on the Globe, musical revue bits. First there is ECHOES • (Continued from page 4) prised by her lover and forced to return them in addition to his own bank roll. The Murray Sisters in red dress creations sang and danced gracefully. "Echo Seven" was opened by Miss Anno singing "'Arab Man." A stun- ning oriental costume accompanied the song. The girl was visibly nervous, which affected her voice, but she got it over acceptably. Nip and Fletcher and Nelson followed with a classical dance travesty that sufficed. The high light from a production standpoint followed in "The Jewel Scene." Stremel tenored "My Jewel Girl" for a costume parade of the girls that will compare favorably with any of the $3 musical comedy fashion parades. A beautiful full stage set of an oriental garden was the background for tho girls, each one making an individual entrance over a prop bridge. The show girls, seven in number, were dressed to represent different jewels. The cos- tumes received individual acclaim. The producer has spared nothing and has gone the limit in dressing and scenery in this unit. The cast is adequate, and with intelligent pruning and work the comedy end of the show will adjust itself. When it is hitting on all six it will be a good evening's entertainment for the most exacting theatrical epl- eure. At one dollar top it's a real bargain in show goods. Con, FROM STAMFORD TO OMAHA When the George Jess el Shubert vaudeville unit hhow finishes the flrat half Tuesday and Wednesday of this week at Stamford. Conn., it jumps to Omaha, for the regular opening of the Shubert circuit on Thursday (Sept. 7.) th<^ largest legitimate house with over 1.000 seats on the main floor. They held a lease on the Garden Pier until this season, subletting to Keith bookings and shared with A. H. Woods on Woods' last season. Fred Nirdlinger controls the Apollo. By new arrangements the Stan- ley-Nirdlinger interests are com- bined here, as in Philadelphia. Ar- rangements on the Garden Theatre not being satisfactory this summer, thj Keith people took over the Globe, and to relievo the situation for dramatic bookings, a nine weeks' tenancy of the Woods was taken. Keith closes Sunday. The date at which the orchestra departs from the Apollo is not announced. According to Mr. Nirdlinger It is expected Keith's will again occupy the Globe next summer, that loca- tion having been particularly suc- cessful and, being almost directly In front of the Garden Pier, has divert- ed audiences from the Garden thea- tre, formerly played by Keith for about 10 years and this season booked with Independent Shubert acts by a corporation controlled by William Richardson of the Wash- ington baseball league. LEADER FOR 25 YEARS Mike Lenge's Service at Orpheum, Kansas City Kansas City, Sept. 6. When the Orpheum (big-time vaudeville) reopened its season, Mike Lenge started on the twenty- fifth year of his service with the theatre as orchestra leader. Mr. Lenge commenced with Orphe.um three months after late Martin Lehman opened it. is believed to be the oldest director in point of service on the circuit. the the He Ethelyn Clark and Jos. Howard were the respective winners of the Bvenir.g World contest for queen and king of the Mardi (Iras to start at Coney Island next Monday nigl t, and runs throughout the ensuing Week, The vaudeville team were booked at Henderson's for the full week during the Mardi Oris, fol- lowing tne announcement they had won the Evening Worlds popular- ity COl'TCSt, Sasha Piatov and Lois Natalie re- turned to New York Tuesday, direct from Copenhagen in a voyage of 11 days. The night of Se^t. 23, the day before they sailed, the couple danced before the King of Denmark at the Tivoll, where the couple were tho feature of the summer revue, likened to "The Follies" over here as it is an annual Tivoll pro- duction. The dancers had an extended con- tract for the revue but were obliged to request concellatlon when Miss Natalie received a cable her father in Buffalo was fast failing. Their departure from the Copenhagen theatre was made a gala event, at- tracting the notice of the monarch who had his secretary phone to ask whether it was press stuff or on the level, though he said that in effect in Danish. Sasha, who is a world's traveller, understands and speaks Danish. With the King seated in front of him in a special space provided at the Tivoli, Sasha made a farewell speech in the native tongue of the country, giving the King a boost, and the King answered him in English, later going to Baaha's dressing room to explain ho would have been at the theatre more often if he had known what he was missing. That's what Sasha says. Sasha also says that he played the Tivoli for 250 kronens (about 25 cents) a night guaranteed with 10 per cent of the gross in addition, giving the team a n$t salary of about $1,200 weekly. Upon arriving in New York Sasha had one 20- kronen roulette marker as the re- mains '•of his salary wreck, and ho gave that marker to a fellow who thought he could cash it at a money exchange office. Piatov and Natalie have been away for over a year, playing all over Great Britain and the Conti- nent. They are to return to Copen- hagen next summer for the new Tivoli's annual revue and they are rooting that the King will hang onto his job until then. Taken in Syracuse on Alimony Claim of $1,480—Mounted Up at $20 Weekly SPANISH FAD Osnce Crsze Through Valentino's Populsrity UNIT SHARING TERMS FOR PRODUCERS UP Five Houses Grant Increase in Percentages—About $4,000 for Season for Show The playing terms for the Shu- bert units were increased 5 per cent, this week in favor of the pro- ducers at the Central, New York; Harlem opera house, New York; Crescent, Brooklyn; Shubert-Ma- sonic, Cincinnati, and Majestic, Boston. This means a difference of about $4,000 a season to the Affiliated pro- ducers, most of whom will be oper- ating with an overhead of not less than $5,000 weekly. It raises the average of the cir- cuit, computed last week at C3-?7. The Central terms are now 55-46 to $5,000 and 60-40 above. The Harlem opera house and Crescent, Brooklyn, wlH share 55-45 to $5,000, 60-40 to $8,000, etc. The other houses were raised proportionately. Syracuse, N. Y., Sept. 6. Charles E. Selders, otherwise Charles E. Mack, of Moran and Mack, at Keith's this week, minus both his blackface make-up and his broad grin, was not in the most pleasant frame of mind when he ate dinner last night In a cell In the courthouse jail, because he could not raise $1,500 bail on short notice to meet demands of his former wife for $1,480 to settle a bill for the support of their little daughter. Mrs. Grace E. Holiner, of Brook- lyn, Is Selders' former wife. Granted a divorce two years ago, and receiv- ing an allowance of $20 a week for Mary Jane Selders, aged 7, she ob- tained a civil^ order of arrest from Justice Frank S. Gannon, Jr., in New York City a week ago. It was .so timed the comedian could be taken either during his Syracuse or Buffalo engagements, both bringing him within the Jurisdiction of the state courts. The $20 payments had mounted to $1,480. As the hour when .Selders had to be In the dressing room to put on his blackface make-up rap- ( idly approached with no sign of a rescuing bondsman, rather than. have the comedian disappoint an audience, Sheriff Davlu issued orders allowing Selders to go to the theatre in custody of Deputy Sheriff Thomas Burns. Selders removed his make-up after the show, joined his guard and returned to the courthouse jail to spend the night. He will be bailed out today. Selders claimed in a letter writ- ten to Tobias A. Keppler, counsel for his former wife, that he had given up the idea of playing in New York State and paying alimony. The reason t .lven in the letter was that he has been refused tyie right to see the little girl. A Miss Ells- worth,, the letter said, has taught little Mary Jane to believe Selders would kidnap her if an opportunity presented itself. Mrs. Holiner said in her affidavit she believes her former husband had no intention of meeting the bill and claimed she is not in a position to support the child. Selders was represented as earning a salary in vaudeville enabling him to pay $20 a week for the care of little Mary Jane. % 9 The Canslnos are to be seen in a new act which will be constructed for the two-a-day, but which may wind up in a Broadway house. Claude Bostock, the producer of the turn, is considering securing a Times Square theatre and putting n an all Spanish entertainment dur- ing the present "craze," which is attributed to the popularity of Bo- dolph Valentino, the picture actor. Anton Scibilia has imported Senorita .Maria Man tors. Spain's Royal Court dancer and the Royal Court Serenaders. The Spaniards are to open at a Keith house next week, making their first American tour. Several other dancing acts with Spanish dancers featured are re- ported as being readied by vaude- ville produceoeT who believe the Spanish dancing fad is here to stay. MAE WEST, AUTHOR, LOSES HER PIANIST Richman Going with Nora Bayes' Show—Miss West , in Farce Comedy ALBEE SAYS NO Not Going Into Legitimate Field— Busy Enough The Keith's interests have no in- tention of taking to the legitimate field, so stated by E. F. Albce in a denial sent out by him of the report Keith's might take to the legit, be- hind the dissatisfied independent producers of that branch. "I have trouble enough looking after my own part of the profes- sion—vaudeville," said the Albce statement. "My entire time and that of the organisation that I rep- resent is occupied in doing the same thing." Variety published the story last week with the New York dailies re- writing and reprinting it. FRIEND AND DOWNING APART In an announcement sent out by Al Friend it is stated that the vaudeville team o f Friend and Downing has di olved partnership, with Friend stating he is opening this week with a new partner. Nothing was* mentioned of Mr. Downing*! plans, Friend ami 1'owning have ben a vaudeville team for II years, play- ing Intermittently during that p i od on both sides of the ocean With four weeks laid out for her act over the Keith time, starting last week at the Davis, Pittsburgh, Mae West was unable to start the engagement through Harry Rlch- man, her pianist, suddenly accept- ing an engagement with Nora Bayes for Miss Bayes' new show. Since Richman left her, Miss West has been looking for another ivory player and will take to the vaudeville route when securing one. Meanwhile the comedienne, in collaboration, is writing a farce comedy she intends shall star her- self, but be produced by managerial forces. ^ DANCED IN THE ALLEY FOR EX-PRES. WILSON Extra Performance of Russian Dancers in Washington— Danced by Request Washington, Sept. 5. Ex-Presldcnt Wilson while at- tending Keith's Saturday night at the conclusion of the Russian danc- ing act "Yarmack," or "At the Carnival," expressed his regret that he couldn't see more of the dancing. Manager Roland S. Bobbins gath- ered the act together and with the ex-President and Mrs. Wilson seated in their automobile in the stage entrance of the theatre a number of additional dances were executed in the alleyway. Mr. Wilson was both before and since his illness an ardent vaude- ville admirer, attending ,weekly. This "Alley Performance," it was stated, afforded him unusual en- joyment. Malcom Eagle Married Chicago, Sept. 6. It was a happy moment for Mal- com Eagle last Friday. He is better known as the other half of the book- ing agency of Eagle & Goldsmith, .and he has assumed the nickname of "Buzz." Which all has to do with his standing in the Edgcwater Beach Hotel in full dress, and accepting the marriage vow. Close to his side stood Grace Bradner, of Davis and Bradner. who accepted the new laundry mark of Mrs. M .' .,rn ' Ww/.i." BUCKNER STANDING TRIAL In the Tombs awaiting trial on charges preferred against him through his connection with the A, P. Buckner Co., Inc., which is al- leged to have received $100,000 from investors, Arthur Buckner has sent oat an announcement, possible only to Variety, giving some details con- cerning his troubles. Last week Buckner says he pleaded guilty to the charges, aK.iln.st him, but withdrew his plea upon the suggestion of a presiding justice to whom he wrote letters explaining his version of the Buck- ner investment matter. Buckner says the Justice advised him to stand trial. Buckner claims he can account for all moneys received by his com- pany, which produced revues for cabarets. Buckner did produce sev- eral revues during the period his company was in existence. He also claims his last investment was $1,000 with Jack Goldberg, the for- mer vaudeville booker who now has a cabaret in the colored belt up- town. The money given Goldberg, says Buckner, was to start "Oh Joy," the all-colored show* that opened Ainder the Goldberg direc- tion, but later came into New York at "Bamhoo Isle," the open lot on 8th avenue, under the management of Lou Bogers. Buckner was out on bail for some time after his arrest last October. His attorney is Randolph Newman. Buckner's present trouble is one of many similar escapades that in- volved him with the criminal law. he having previously served two sentences for selling mors "quar- ters" and "eights" of his producing businesses than could be found by the purchasers. Eagle, and the rest of the lies which go with the ceremony, Including the felicitations of her friends grouped about the new!) « edfl Cloonan &. Ryan's Lor Cabin (airdome), Jersej ( tj closes Sat- urday. MACK-DEAGON ACT Wilbur Mack and Grade Deagon will shortly appear together in a new vaudeville skit. Miss Deagon was of Dickinson and Deagon. They were divorced about a year ago, bur remarried. Separation proceedings since have been started by Miss Deagon. Dickinson is now • with 'Florens T emp est. Mack featured his own act over the Orpheum Circuit last s> MOM and also appeared m pictures on the coast, ile was formerly of Mark and Walker (Nclla), reported rejoining some time ago. James T. Brooker in manager of the Lyceum, Canton, Ohio, playing pop vaudeville. Ho succeeded Fred It. Witter.