Variety (September 1922)

Friday, September 29, 1922 VAUDEVI-LLE UNITS ORDERED REPAIRED; "HOLLYWOOD FOLLIES" OFF General. Strengthening Along Shubert Vaudeville Circuit—Principals of "Mist Radio" Request Release, Saying They Were* Miscast A general strengthening of the shows reported upon unfavorably has been ordered by I. H. Herk, following the reports of the first week of Shubert vaudeville. "Hollywood Follies," taken over 1»y O'Neil and Morganstcrn from FInkelstein & Rubin, has been or dered taken off the circuit. The show received unfavorable reports from the Affiliated (Shubert) cen- sors. A new unit will be produced to replace It, opening In two weeks with the Marx Bros, featured. Davidow and* Le Maire signed the Marx Bros, early this week. Fred Hildebrand and Vera Michelena have retired as the fea- tured members of Eddie Dowling's "Miss Radio." TJ»ey were replaced by the Masters and Kraft revue, Billy McDermott and Callahan and Bliss. Tho new members Joined "Miss Radio" Monday at Astoria, L. I. Mr. Hildebrand and Miss Michelena requested their release following the week's engagement at the Crescent, Brooklyn. Patricia O'Hearn will replace Vera Michelena. Bert Hanlon will go into the cast of E. Thomas Beatty's "Say It With Laughs," joining the attraction at Omaha this week. EDDIE MACK'S RISE Mack's Clothes Shop Now in Its Own Building STOP BOSTON SUNDAYS Boston, Sept. 27. . Sunday shows for Shubert units playing Boston have been abandoned by order of the New York olMce. The Keith camp is reportod as having ordered their opposition Sunday matinee given up. The Keith people have wanted to quit on the Sunday matinee right along, but kept going as long as the Shuberts Insisted on it. Keith Sunday eve- ning shows will continue. They have been profitable. Sunday "concerts" in Boston are controlled by the State police, and about the only thing that will pass is dialog, instrumental, and vocal. Dancing, abbreviated costumes, scenic changes, acrobatics, animals, legerdemain, and similar acts are barred. Even pictures for Sunday are hopelessly butchered. The Shubert camp, with only one or two out of the unit vaudeville being ablo to be shown at all, were Up against it. The local independ- ent bookers could offer little and bringing acts from New York was Uncertain and expensive. BICYCLIST'S BAD f ALL Syracuse, Sept. 27. American Legionalres who packed the B. F. Keith's special midnight performance Friday, given as one of the convention entertainment fea- tures, were given an added thrill when, during the bicycle act of Bill, Genevieve and Walter, Bill, riding a 12-foot wheel, lost his bal- ance and fell on Miss Genevieve. An examination disclosed a broken -shoulder. The accident means a five weeks* layoff for the rider. Legion- alres passed the hat and the fund turned over to the young woman totaled $225. NOT ENOUGH MONEY—QUIT Chicago^ Sept. 27. As they could not get sufficient money as a double act in vaudeville, Tommy Swift and Mary Kelly have dissolved partnership. Kelly has arranged to be featured in an act to be put out by Mort II. Singer for tho Orpheum circuit, while Miss Kelly has placed herself with Lewis & Gordon, who are to "be featured in a new act they will shortly produce. "MISS AMERICA" SHOWING Cleveland, Sept. 27. Next week at Keith's lOfith Street, "Miss America," the Columbus. <>.. Khi who won the beauty contest at Atlantic City, will appear In a va udevi lle act.' Floyd Garrett, t>Mior, will he in the turn, also Lew Leonard as piano accompanist. The following week Mary Kather- lne Campbell (her proper name) will app .ir at Keith's in her homo city. Harry Weber is agSlttlng the. turn. An announcement in the adver- tising columns of this week's issue of Variety calls the attention of the profession to the opening of the MacK Building on West 45th street, a fow feet east of Broadway, where Mack's Clothes Shop will hereafter headquarter, maintaining, in addi- tion, the Broadway location, be- tween 48th and 47th streets. The opening of the Mack Building marks a rather unique and Interest- ing epoch in the professional clothier's history and records an event made possible by sheer de- termination, a personality that jibed happily with the tempera- mental actor, sxnd a policy of square dealing that Eddie Mack haa ad- hered to since his bcginnfng In business. Eddie Mack began in a modest manner opening In a small shop on West 45th street, in the same build- ing formerly occupied by Variety. Strangely enough, as Variety ad- vanced so did Mack, andj Mack's now building is located a few doors below Variety's new headquarters on 46th street. Mack, in big early days, went di- rectly after a professional trade from the outside and made it a point to satisfy. His clothes and methods soon brought now buyers to Mack's litUe shop on 45th street, and business* gradually* increased until he was forced to expand. Moving to upper Broadf-ay, with more floor space, a larger stock and a bigger staff, Mack soon rolled up an enviable clientele. The other Longacre square ready-made clothes shops tried desperately to discard Mack, several even combining to lower prices and discredit Mack clothes. But Mack fought fire with fire and tried more than ever to satisfy. Mack's business increasod In vol- ume until he was able to undersell his strongest competitor and still give the best value. Producers took cognizance fjf Mack's goods, and this, with his intimate knowledge of theatricals, earned him favor with the show managers, and short- ly the theatre programs began carrying the notice of "Clothes by Mack." This season Mack's Clothes Shop outfitted 76 productions, In addition to the regular individual trade. Eddie Mack was one of the early commercial advertisers in Variety, and has continued exploiting his wares in the columns of this paper. Through a dogged determination to go ahead, strict attention to busi- ness and a desire to please, Eddie Mack has moved upward from a dingy little side street store to his own three-story structure, with a branch establishment, in the short space of 17 years. ROW OVER CRITICS JOSEPH DISPAY The Hungarian Tenor Touring Keith Circuit. Opened early part of September and scored an instantaneous success. Also signed with Victor .and Columbia as a fea- ture record singer. Next Week (Oct. 2) B. F. Keith's, Boston MOTHER PAT ROONEY MAY RETURN TO STAGE 70-Year-Old Received Ovation in Rooney and Clinton's Act in Brooklyn There fs a bare possibility that vaudeville will embrace one of its oldest and most famous stars shortly in Mrs. Pat Rooney, wife of. the original Tat, and mother of Julia, Katie, Pat, Jr., and the other Rooneys in the profession. Two weeks ago while playing the Orpheum, Brooklyn, Julia Rooney (Rooney and Clinton), introduced her 70-year oTO mother to the audience visiting her daughter for a week. The reception convinced the bookers present Mrs. Rooney's ad- dition to the act would enhance its value nnd made overtures to the couple to induce her to Join it. Mrs. Rooney, despite her age, re- tains her charm and appearance and answered the reception with a rou- tine of four or five dancing steps. Mrs. Rooney is the mother of 13 children and resides in Baltimore. Julia, the youngest, is to offer a new act with Walter Clinton and it is possible Mother Rooney will be one of the cast. IMPROMPTU DRESS NO NAVAL ACTION Fields and Harrington Awaiting Word From Washington The case of Fields and Harring- ton, a vaudeville team, who were ordered by naval recruiting officers to take off a ''yeoman and gob" comedy routine, has not been acted on by the office of the Secretary of the Navy who was appealed to by the actors last week. They received word from Washington an investiga- tion was ordered. After appealing to the Keith of- fice the latter sent a long commun- ication to "Washington, reviewing the arbitrary action on the part of the recruiting ottlces in Indianapolis' and Buffalo and asking lor im- mediate action. The letter stated the actors were dependent on the turn for their livelihood and a decision should be returned at once. The ease is the first known whew either the aimy or navy his Inter fered with a theatrical performance on tlu 1 ground that the service was made tlu subjerl nf rouu-Ty. Pantages, Memphis, Reopens Memphis, Sept. 27. Pantages reopened \nkIi s*aude- vlllo Sunday. Singer's v ■ th" card. » Baltimore, Sept. 27. When the show at the Maryland opened this week the wardrobes for four acts were missing. Rasso, a Juggler, who was to open the bill, had not a sign of paraphernalia when the curtain time came. So he vvas switched to last. Adelaide and Hughes received a trunk containing Adelaide's costumes. Her partner borrowed the dress suit of the pianist and got away with it, and for the doll dance used a short red coat and,blue hat, found back stage. Miss Patricola didn't have any of her wardrobe, but on the bill was Alphonse Berg's act, "Creations," and he draped a dress on her and pinned it together to last through the act. Brown and Whittaker, In. a comedy sketch, came on in street clothes. The audience didn't seem to get the fact that some of the costumes "wcien't," and, with the exception of Hughes' get-up in the doll dance, nothing was noticeable, and his ap- pearance was neat. PAULA EDWARDES' CO. " About Oct. 16 Paula Ed warden will return to American vaudeville at the Palace, New York, in a mu- sical comedy production act, carry- ing an English company Miss Ed- wards* is returning with from London. Away from New York for some seasons, Mis* ISdwardes has been a London hit for some time, and tho vaudeville bookers Induced her to come back by virtue of it. PUBLICITY FOR UNITS Special exploitation in cities of ii\o shubert circuit started Monday of this week (Sept. 2f>). !■ i. .:-ttr.' nt left on the circuit to handle the publicity which will Include addresses to the Rotary Clubs, tie-ups with public utility concerns on the titles of such units as "Hello >■-■: York," "Hello IS Kim. i ■ (Continued from page 1) that looked "in," davo failed to draw. A movement to curb the critics is reported under way. It was under- stood the matter «sjay come up before the Producing Managers' Association. Tho managers who have been offended do not be- lieve they have been getting a "run for their money"—that tho Injury through the reviews hard- ly compensate their effort and expenditure. That a "vicious circle" exists among eight or nine dra- matic critics, known to have held gatherings of their own for months, Is charged. It is the assumption that the critics exchange opinions, which, if not crystallized in the criticism oC some plays, find prom- inence in Sunday comment. That tho system of dramatic criticism would be revolutionized in New York was stated as a possi- bility this week. The report fol- lowed an announcement in the New York "Times," which follows a change long considered by Adolph Ochs, its publisher. Mr. Ochs is quoted as express- ing himself In favor of a straight newspaper comment on the morn- ing following the premiere. His idea is said not to be for dispensing with dramatic criticism, but for a more leisurely considered opinion than the present system insists upon. The publisher's plan, as out- lined, is to be for the publication of criticisms in the Sunday edition, when the plays of the week will be considered at one time. That the criticisms be written by men as- signed from the editorial desk In- stead of by a single critic is be- lieved to be part of the plan, though whether it will be attempted or not or how soon has not been intimated. The personal element Is charged to have tempered the views of some critics 4>y more than one manager. When the producer has felt his of- fering has been subject to such treatment lie has resorted to pro- tective measures. /That has been done mostly in "(Tie way of extra advertising. The manager, believ- ing in his play and not in the critics, has considered himself forced to display his wares in big newspaper announcements. It Is known that one manager re- cently actually apologized to the author for'the reviews accorded his play. He declared he would spend $25,000 in extra advertising to prove tho point that the critics had con- sjdered personal feeling above true comment. -The campaign was en- tered into and the play already Is listed as a hit, although it has run but a month. The same manager stated he had proven the same thing last season when a play he present- ed was given luke warm treatment in the dallies, yet it ran for 30 weeks. The process of an attraction with merit fighting off the handicap of bad or mixed notices has been a matter of fact before this and with- out the aid of an advertising cam- paign. Tho general opinion among showmen Is that nothing can stop a hit. So frequent has been the ad- verse comment from tho critics and a repetition of the views appeared in follow-up discourses and Sunday comment, that managers are begin- ing to feel the critics are going too far. One is known to have written a notice of the panning kind, only to later comment In his column that the first review was written at a time when he was out of sorts. The gist of the feeling among producers practically mounts to a point where they believe the influ- ence of the reviews has more power than ever before. A showman con- cerned In the sale of plays to man- agers declared the critics have been placing the American playwrights in unfair competition with foreign authors and their works. Tho man is an expert in his line and handles both native and foreign plays to equal profit. His observation is that dramatic critics, sent abroad during the summer, arrive back in New York enthused over the things theatrical they have seen abroad. The comparisons made either in Sunday stories published in news- papers they are connected with or in special magazine articles rarely, if ever, gives the break to the Amer- Ican authors; This play specialist explained that Other th.ui the novelties introduced abroad the comparisons were not .strictly fair to writers on this side of the ocean, Comment of the kind to bear fruit, by Instilling In tho minds of audiences the particular merit of the play as the critic views it. In*proof of his contention the showman pointed out that not 50 per cent, of the foreign plays, par- ticularly those imported from Eng- land, have been able to land here and those attempted atfi particular- ly selected for American presenta- tion. FILM SHARES LOWER (Continued from page* 4) broadcasted that Prisma had brought suit against the new color process, seeking to restrain its ex- ploitation as an infringement on Prisma patent rights, and asking for an accounting. Ordinarily such a development would have been re- flected in lower prices for Techni- color. The published quotations were only fractionally off and the only apparent influence the news had was to reduce the volume of sales to 400 or 500 shares a day. Summary of transactions Sept. 21 to 27. inclusive ;— 8TOCK EXCHANGE Thursday— Bales Hiah.I.rw. Last. Chjf. Fam. lMay-L,... 8,000 l*% Ort^ 1>7 — 2'i I>o. pf 300 103V, 103V4 108 \4 —1«4 Ooldwyn 1.100 7*4 7% 7»4 — £ I.oew 10.700 22* 21% 21* — »* Orpheum 2.800 24* 28A 28* —1 IloMon sold 000 Orpheum at 24&M*. Friday— * Fant. IMay-T,... 4.200 07* 05** 97 1*>. pf 400 10\'<, 102% 102* — % Ooldwyn 000 7 6% «* — * l.oew 9.400 22 21fc. 21* — * 21W 21% - 2SV 24 -\ at 23;fc24V». Orpheum 2,000 24% Boston sold 000 Orpheum Saturday— Fam. Play-L... 000 07% 07% 07% + % 1H>. pf 100103 108 108 +% GoMwyn 800 7 7 7 + % l^.-w 8.100 21% 21% 21% Orpheum 500 24% 24 24% + % Boston sold '350 Orpheum at 24*©24*. Monday— Fam. 1'Uj-L... 000 08 07% 07% -f % Do. pf 100 108% 103*4 103% -f % Ooldwyn 100 7 7 7 Loew 5.500 21% 20% 21 — U Orpheum 12.400 26 24% 26% 4-1% Boston sold 8,100 Orpheum at 24*026. Tuesday— Fam. Tlay-L... 8.900 07 00% 05% —1% Do. pf 200103 102% 102% — % Ooldwyn 800 7 6% 7 I-'»-w 0.000 21% 20% 20% — % Orpheum 0.800 28 13% 23% — % Boston fiold 1.870 Orpheum at 20fttf20 «. Wednesday— Fam. IMay-Lr-. 8,200 03% 03* 08% —2* Do. Pf 200 102 101% 101% — 1% Ooldwyn 1.000 6% r 6% 0% — % J.n.w 4,800 21 2<V4 20% — % Orpheum 84 20% 24% 28 — * THE CURB Thursday— Pales Hleh.T.r.w. I.ant. Cha. Tochnlr<4or w.l. 1,100 28% 26% 26% Friday— 5«i M 26% + % 000 26% 20 400 26% 26% 26% - % 400 26 28 28 - % 400 25% 25'i 2r.% — % 80 37 -it old Burg < i' the Affiliated pr< ! t tr ip urou *Hi4-hft« aj.p+*H'<.l not or.c«- hut a Mini her of times about the same pro- ductions mado - oversea* The charge Is that as soon as a foreiKn play Ik announced for presentation here, the critics start extolltoc It and that special preparation cannoi fall Technlco'.or, w.l. Saturday— Technicolor w.l. Monday— Technicolor w.l. Tuesday— Technicolor w.l. Triangle 2,400*30 Wednesday— Technicolor w.l. 100 25% 25% 23% Triangle .4 1,000*84 34 34 •('cms a share. — NEW STOCK SCHEME {Continued from page 1) vote her entire time to the business management. The flrsjt play will be Gilda Va- resi's •''Enter Madame." Puppet plays will be presented on Saturday mornings for the children, and at least two New York successes will be given each season. In addition, novelty productions will be present- ed on open dates during the first half of the week, being continued for a month or two, according to their drawing power. ■ i FORUM San Francisco, Sept. 20. Editor Variety: The story in last week's Variety was a surprise to me. Audgo Jacobs in Chicago reserved his decision to allow my attorney to file briefs. I went on tour and left the matter, entirely in his hands. Since then I have heard nothing. I was an Innocent victim in this matter, all reports to the contrary notwithstanding. Please publish this in order to set me right, as I have been placed in an unjust situa- tion because of my necessity to travel, and undue advantage was taken of my absence. Emma Varus. JUDGMENTS (First name Is judgment debtor; creditor and amount follow ) Joseph M. Davis (Triangle Music Pub. Co.); Kuperman & Del Uuer- eio; $1,13111. Lawrence Grsttan; Paterno Bros, Inc.: $989.62. Same; same; same. Perry Plays. Inc.; Tlocbling Ad- vertising Corp.; $3fit.S5. Same; (ieorge W. Koebllng, Inc.; $130.86. J. Ben Ali Haggin; Cosmopolitan Credit Corp.; $*i>6.20. Evelyn M. Stuart; P. W. Cole- man; 1**24. Bankruptcy Petition Independent Movie Supply Co., Inc., TMi* Seventh avenue. W. K <" ii uon itjrlf receiver. i