Variety (November 1922)

■><>-» 'fal.- VAUDEVILLE ••^ Friday, Movcmbcf «, 1922 J PLACING OF NEW ACTS SYSTEMATIZED BY KEITH'S John J. Collins at Head of Special Contract Depart- ment — Also Booking Four Houses—$1 Show in Elizabeth, N. J. John J. Collins, /ormer Keith middle western booker, has been placed in charge of the Keith Spe- cial Contract Department and given a booking book, which will include the Colonial, New York and the three Proctor houses, Elizabeth. N. J.; 23d Street, and 125th Street. New York. Wayne Christy, former Gus Sun booking manager in New York, will be associated with and assist Col- lins in the booking of the four houses. In addition, the special contract department staff Includes Billy Hamilton and Clark Brown. The Elizabeth house will be de- voted exclusively to new material discovered by the special contract men, and will also be used as a "showing" house by acts looking for a chance to appear before the Keith bookers. This marks a distinct innovation and will enable an act to get quick action and a place to "show" at the same time, removing them from the professional "try-out" classiflcation now in vogue at several other bouses. ' If the act warrants, the bookings will be continued into the other two Proctor houses. Suggestions and improvements will- be Invited and the act given the benefit of experi- enced advisers until it icaches a degree that will warrant the offer- ing of a long-term contract. A "clearing house" for new ma- terial has long been agitated by close students of vaudeville. The agents have time and again claimed it was next to impossible to secure a "showing" for new material on account of the number of known acts available for the books. The Keith's special contract de- partment was instituted to over- come this condition, and has been responsible for the discovery of many now faces this season, most of wh' m have been signed for two years or longer, protecting the Keith people from future opposition,and insuring them returns from their own development. The Colonial will continue as a two-a-day house, traneferrlni? from the book of I. R. Samuels to that of Collins'. Proctor's 23d Street and Proctor's 126th Street, now booked by Lawrence Goldie, ^rlll continue as split weeks. The booking managers will see the new material at Elizabeth, thus Insuring an act a certain report. The presence of booking men at the Elizabeth house will be insured by the Keith officials. Collins will continue to "scouf for material as usual, in addition to his booking duties. The Colonial will play 10 acts be- ginning next Monday. The policy will be continued indefinitely, mark- ing the start of Collins as the booker of the house. The Keith office will add several other houses to the string booked by Collins and Christy. The Monday tryout will be continued at Proctor's 23d Street and 125th Street. UNION HUL^ CAPITOL BILL The Frank Hall's new twin the- atre, Capitol, will open Mond.vy with Keith's vaudeville, bookcrl by William McCaffrey in the Keith office, and playing at $1 top. The opening program will remain for one week with the house, seat- ing 2,500. thereafter splitting with the Strand, Jersey City. The opening bill (running order) has McCay and Inez, Dooley and Storey, Geo. LeMalre and Co., Wells, Virginia and West, Yvette Rugel, IntermlFslon, Jimmy Lucas and Co., Lopes' Band, Tom Patri- cola, Josephon's Icelanders. OWNER TAKES PARK Indianapolis House Now Booking Direct ORPHEUM'S PROBLEM Tndianapolis. Nov. 22, Walter B. Bowlby succeeded Glenn E. Black as manager of the Shubert-Park theatre last ^eek. Fred R. Bonifleld, owner of the building, announced he had as- sumed complete control of the the- atre and had placed Bowlby In charge. Bonifleld and Bowlby left for New York to book legitima.e attractions for the rest of the sea- son. The house ran Shubert vaude- ville for six weeks early in the sea- son. The house was either dropped by the Shuberts or relations with the circuit were broken by Black. It never has been made <|[uite plain in Indianapolis what happened. Meanwhile Howard Dunn, partner of Black in the lease of the theatre, filed suit for receivership of the partnership of Dunn A Black, charging Black mismanaged the business, used : o^e than his share of the firm's profits for personal benefit and paid theatrical troupes unreasonable sums to wreck the business ami force Dunn out. "RIDER" DEVICE Bostock's "Riding School" Claims- Variety's Files Consulted The N. V. A.-V. M. P. A. Joint complaint bureau has been asked to decide on the priority rights, if any, to the use in vaudeville of the bareback "mechanical" device em- ployed by Bostock's Riding School and several other equestrian turns. The Bostock turn filed a complaint against the Costello Family, riding act, and at present playing inde- pendent vaudeville, using the de* vice. The Bostock act claims to have been the first to introduce the "mechanlcan" in vaudeville. The Costello turn contends the device was originated long before the Bos- tock act was formed, and has re- ferred to the files of Variety to prove the "mechanlcan" was used in vaudeville as early as 1912. At that time Clifi: Berzac inserted an advertisement in Variety warn- ing others not to copy the idea. Among circus people it is well known the device was used abroad many years ago. The object of the Bostock action Is io attempt barring all others from using it In vaudeville. BUCKNER SANE .: > A committee of threo appointed by Judge Mulqueen of General Ses- sions has decided Arthur P. Buck- ner is sane and must stand trial. Buckner, a cabaret producer and promoter, is being held in the Tombs in $10,000 bond on an indict- ment for grand larceny. Trial la .scheduled for next Monday before Judge Crain in the Court of General Sessions. Buckner, who has served terms in Atlanta and Philadelphia on sim- ilar complicntions. is charged with selling more quarter interests in the several corporations he organized than there are component parts. KfTorta by the defendant's counsel, H. M, Newman, to reduce Buckner's ball to $3,000 have proved ineffec- tive because of the prisoner's past record. Frisco Golden Gate 8cal« Draws From Circuit's Big Tima House San Francisco, Nov. 22. Executivess of the Orpheum Junior house here say the Golden Gate Is face to face with a ^eal problem. The matinees at this house at 40 * cents while at the Orpheum they are but 60. As a consequence practically all of the matinee trade is going to the big theatre. ARDEi SAYS HE'LL • SUE "SCANDALS" Forced Out on Run of Play Contract —- $600 Salary. Reported for Week J. J. MURDOGK TALKS TO THE KEITH AGENTS Calls Artists' Representatives Before Him—Must Properly Attend to Business A suit to collect salary under a claim of breach of contract will be started, says Franklyft Ardell, on his behalf against George White's "Scandals." Ardell charges he holds a run-of-the-play' contract with White, at $600 weekly. Under that contract Ardell opened with "Scan- dals" at the Globe, New York, re- maining with the show until the week before it left for Boston, where the show is now playing. On the Saturday night of his final week's playing, according to Ardell. White Informed him it would. be necessary to reduce the cost of the show and that Ardell should con- sider his contract cancelled. The following week Ardell reported daily to the theatre but did not appear. His roles in the White revue were taken by others of the cast. Counsel has advised him to sue, states Ardell, who also says he passed up a Broadway production engagement and a big time vaude- ville route this season to acjtpt the berth in "Scandals." Others who have left "Scandals" since its Broadway opening h ive been Coletta Ryan, Pearl Regay and Jack McGowan. Vaudeville agents booki-g for the big time in the Keith's ofllces were called before John J. Murdock last week for a one-sided conference. Mr. Murdook did all of the talking. He is said to have informed the agents the Keith oflftce expected that henceforth all agents doing business through it will conduct their business in a perfectly proper manner. The report of the gather- ing indicated the Keith's executive manager knew a great deal more than some agents thought he did about the methods of many agents in handling their business under the protecting cloak of a Keith agency franchise. The story leaking out from the meeting stated Mr. Murdock in- formed the assembled agents any Infraction of the rules of the Keith ofllce concerning agents would be met with a swift penalty. HARRY A. ROMM OUTi J Partnership In Moses' Franchli Withowt Ktith'a Knowledga The Keith office has denied tha booking privileges of itp fifth floor to Harry A. Romm, an independent agent, who had announced himself as aflniiatcd with Montgondery Moses. ' Moses holds a Keith big-time agency franchise and is understood to have made an arrangement to take Romm in as a partner, the latter to book on the fifth floor or Keith pop vaudeville department.- .;^^^^ The partnership arrangement wa0^ entered into without the knowledge) ' of the Keith people. The Keith office has denied all - recent franchise applications, feel- i ing there are more agents operating ' on the two floors than the booking business warr&nts. .^ OPPOSITION HOUSES , , > Rialto, Chicago, and Pantages Rulad On by Association TANGUAY BACK TO UNITS Eva Tanguny will return to the Bhubert unit circuit next week, fol- lowing her engagement at Loew's Metropolitan, Brooklyn, the current week. The cyclonic one will be used as a unit strenglhener at Worcester and Fall River, a S})llt-weck stand on the unit time. She will be the added attraction with "'Say It with Laughs," one of K. Thomas Bcatty's :imit8. UNIT ON SPLIT WEEK AT $2.50 Arthur Klein's "Hello Everybody' will All in the open week between the State, Cleveland, and Engle- wood. Chicago, playing the Powers', CJrand Rapid.s, and Oliver, South Bend, a split week legit stand at a musical comedy top of $2.50. The unit features Gertrude Hoff- man and is scheduled to make Its metropolitan debut as a legitimate musical comedy attraction when the AfTU.ated Circuit route brings the attraction back east. This is be- lieved to be the reason "Hello Everybody" has not played in New York City to date. ASS'N. IN ST. LOUIS Chicago. Nov. 22. The Western Vaudeville Man- agers* Association will open a bf-anch In St. Louis. Acts will be notified to deal with the St. Louis office direct for dates in minor points in that section. The association is said to have o^ered a berth to George Bentley, who has built up rather a pretentious agency supply- ing acts for Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky points, but he declined to consider the proposition. D. C. Cross, hfs chief assistant, will be connected with the hcw W. V. M. A. branch. Chicago, Nov. 22. The Rialto, Jones, Llnlck & Schaefer loop house, which plays a combination of Loew and locally- booked attractions, is now opposi- tion, according to a late ruling of C. E. Bray, who is tightening up on theatres which secure acts from rival agencies. Early this season an order went out that acts playing the Rialto could not be oflFered to the Majestic, Chicago, by agents, and now the rule has been made to include all other houses booked out of the as- sociation. The ruling is said to also apply to the Pantages theatres in Minne- apolis and St. Paul also. PALACPS BIGGEST : Chicago. Nov. 22. The bill at the Palace this week Is the most expensive ever pre- sented there with the single excep- tion of the Bernhardt appearance. The tot.aI cost Is said to be $7,- 400. Of this $2,700 is reported to go to Ireno Castle and $1,500 to "Amplified Syncopation." a hew Jaz2 band organiz.ition of 27 pieces, which is in there at this flgure for a showing. Although Max Kortlander and Pete Wendllng have contributed to the B. A. Music Co.'s cayilog they are not financially interested in the piibilshing company 0"her than con- tributing writers. JANET OF FRANCE Mrs. Edward Simpson, noted .•^Ingor and beauty of Bevler, Mo., died last week. A Foreign Comedienne Who Hat Established a Top- Notch Reputation Within the space of a few years Janet Martlne, professionally known as "Jf.net of France," has advanced until today she occupies a unique place in Keith vaudeville, as a young woman from a foreign country, who regis- ters firmly as a genuine comedienne. Characteristic of her native land. Miss Martlne dresses and mounts her act in exquisite style. Almost from her initial engagement she has been a hendllner or feature in most the- atres, and althf)UKh she has flirted with several musical comedy offers, vaudeville still holds her securely. She is at the Alhi.mbra, New York, this week, with Colonial and Royal to follow. Miss Martin was introduced to the American stage by E. K. NADEL of the PAT CASEY AGENCY. CHAMPION WALKER BEATEN BY BOT (Jartley Also Lowers Record--^ Brown Had Issued Chak ;^ Icnge from Stage Providence, Nov. 22. George N. Brown, champion walk** er of' the world, who appeared in "Pedestrianlsm" at the Albee last week, was Leaten in a champion- ship walking match from Pawtucket .to Providence ty Thomas Hartley, 20 years old, of Westerly, R. I., last Thursday altemoon. Incidentally, the winner established a record for the distance of four and four-flfths miles. The match was the result ot Brown's challenge hurled broad- cast from the Albee theatre stacpi'V:; last week. "^ Brown was so exhausted when hal^; reached the ^City Hall steps, flvaC; minutes behind the leader, he ha4^ to be helped into the building and revived. Brown, 10 years ago. made tha': distance in 44 minutes. Hartley covered it in 39 minutes. He was fresh at the finish. •ri AGENT SUSPENDED Billy Grady's Actions Under In- vestigation by Kaith QfR^ The first official action of tha Keith office in regard to restrictions on Keith vaddeville agents bookinir outside of the office occurred this week when Billy Grady, of the Eddie Keller*staff, was suspended from all booking privileges following tU% complaint from the Boston KeitbiA office regarding the booking of John^ • Steele In severaJ of the Gordoa^*^ houses in New Bnj^land. *"^' The Boston Imtfi office com-"?* plained about Qrady following ani**> attempt to book the tenor in one of ^^ the Keith houses in Boston for a ' Sunday date, only to learn he was booked into one of the GordoQ/ string direct and not through tta^^ Boston Keith office. ^ The Gordon houses are affiliated with the Keith circuit, booked Jointly out of Boston and New York. The agent, one of the youngest in the Keith office, was suspended',^ pending an investigation into thff^ matter. ,-V SHUBEBT VAUDEVILLE '*^' (Contnued from page 5) added to his show at the Central, but t' t Arthur Klein, representing the Shuberts, insisted under palii,' of refusing to allow "Zig Zag" to^ open. Lean and Mayfleld are re- .' ported to hold an unexpired Shubert * production contract. Mr. Klein says Ivp anticipates no V difficulty In securinn stralghtyaude-.-j vllle material, and it will all be booked onr of the Shubert Vaude- ville ISxchanii^. The utraiyht vaudeville bills to be played will move intact over the circuit as road shows, according tO*^ sources close to the Shuberts. Th^'f show headed by Norah Bayes wlll]^]^ be routed between "Spice of l,lfe**'^ and the unit "Stolen Sweets" headed'* by the Watson Sisters. The acts will be secured from the ' available independent supply padded out by recruits from acts laying around that have been In units that have closed. This means a number ^^ of repeats and considerable booking dexterity on account of the re- luctance of acts that have not playr, ed the Shubert Circuit to do so and place themselves under the Keith office ban.