Variety (December 1922)

-w Friday, December 1,1022 VAUDEVILLE *• „ DNIT ACTS FOR VAUDEVniE J DECEIVING CUT SALARIES Also Must Pay Transportation—Former Shubert Vaudeville Contract Used—^Two More Cities Qet Straight Vaudeville (Shubert) Next Week a The Shubert agency la nlgning: acts for the Shubert straight vaude- ville bills, replacing the unit vacan- cies on the circuit, from dlscon- tljiued units, cutting the acts' salaries paid by the units by $100. more or less, for the vaudeville bills, and oblif^tig the acts to pay their own transportation. With the units the acta were furnlsheT^ transporta- tion. :.:•:• ,' The Shubert office buys the art- ists' transportation, deductingr the equivalent from the weekly salary. This la understood to be a man- euver of protection. The artist ac- cepting transportation for a jump can be held legally responsible if he doesn't appear at the house designated, unless prevented from so doing by unavo:dable circum- stances. _ The acts for Shnbert vaudeville are being given the former Shubert vaudeville contracts, replacing those held by the turns for unit prcduo- tions. A scarcity of vaudeville ma- terial Is reported for the proposed Shubert straight bills. Many of the acts leaving units have signed with Loew's or Pantages*. Th s will cause, it is said, a number of repeat engagements, acts returning in vaudeville to the cities whore they previously this season appeared With unit'shows. Two more towns will take on Straight vaudeville next week, AcadAiy, Baltimore, and Aldine.. Pittsburgh. ,The straight or unit policy will not be continuous at any Shubert unit house, it Is said at the Affiliated. The units will be played whea available and straight vautle- vllle when a unit is not showiog. The Shubert people expect when the unit circuit is reduced to its mu^t that there will be about 12 unita playing, plus any other unit shows that may be meanwhile formed, and with the remainder of the Shuberf unit circuit playing stra'ght vaude- ville bills. T'.ie total of the number of theatres the Shubert vaudeville circuit expects to operate for the remainder of the season has not been stated. Christmas week the Orpheum, Montreal, starts with Shubert vaudeville (or unit) and is to re- main a fixture on the wheel, it is said. The next addition is expected to be the former Century, Kansas City, now being remodelled. The unit shows were tried at the Shu- bert, Kansas City, early this season but discontinued through lack of patronage, though Kansas City at the time believed the Shubert re- verted to the road shows through popular demand. The Academy, Baltimore, was to have closed its season last wrck but a last-minute change of plana sent "The Rose Girl," the Shuberts* own revived unit, into the house. It was recently reported in Vari- etur unit producers had attempted a salary cut among acts and artists In their shows. The amount of the cuts then asked, and in many in^ stances agreed to by the artists, is said to be the amounts of the pres- ent cuts asked by the Shubert agency for the straight vaudevi! e contracts. The 12 remaining units, according to report, on the Shubert time will be those representing the Shuberts, Herk & Beatty, Arthur Klein, Grctn A Jones, and Davidow & Le Mai»o. The latest vaudeville road show at Pittsburgh the current week in- cludes Georgle Price, Adele Oswald, George Rosner, Mason and Kecler, Nelson company, Flo and Ollie Wal- ters. Chapelle and Stlnctte revue. Horlick and Sarampa Sisters and Nathal. This show replaces George "Gal- lagher's "Broadway Follies," whic'.i closed last Sunday. i ., 7 SIR JOE'S "OTHELLO" BY BULLING SHAKESPEARE Dinner Framed for Great Imi- tator to Meet Great Author J^s -€LARA MACKIF'S TEETH Chicago, Nov. 29. Mackln, formerly leading Clara lady of Leo Ditrlchstein, ha.^ brought suit apruinst Dr. Eugene Vigneron, Chicajio dentist, alleging imperfect dental work, which impaired her enunciation and lessened her earn- ing nhiiity. l>itrlchstein supports ♦'•r claim by depositions. The Great Sir JTJseph Ginsberg's grouch was partially satiated this week with a thrill, a double-bar- relled thrill and one that is only topped by the thrill he occasioned when Willie and Eugene Howard elevated him to Knighthood. It happened through the sudden success of Arthur Hopkins* produc- tion of "llamlet." Sir Joe saw the performance and hastened to Ms adviser, Willie Howard, with the suggestion that maybe he could get the same author to write something for him. If so then Sir Joseph said he would forego his Idea of a con- cert tour, musical comedy or cab- aret and conflne his spare evenings to after dinner walls. Willie Howard advised him a few days later that he would prob- ably arrange a little dinner Sun- day night for the Great Joe and Willie Shakespeare and allow His Highness to make definite arrange- ment!?. It Iook9 as though Sr Jo- seph will shortly play in "Othello," assuming the role of lago, the Hunchback. Sir Joseph figures he can handle the part by stuffing pil- lows down the neck of his com- plaint coat. To a Variety reporter the Oreat Joseph confided the details. He will stage the reception at Freeman's Reartaurant late at night. After Wil- lliB Howard has the party are s«t His Highness proposes to stroll in non- chalantly In his trick derby and com- plaint suit (wearing the pewter med- als) and act as though he was Just dropping In to Inhale some coffee and munch on some blitzens. At a cue from Willie Howard, His High- ness will walk over and pounce in a seat beside Mr. Shakespeare. Once he gets the author's ear, the rest is easy, for he figures to stun him with his flawless imitation of Harry Lauder, and after that it's Just a case of signing the name on the dotted line. "You see," says the Great Joseph, "by^'reeman's I go every night and those kibctzera won't think maybe its something Important. And then mine landsman Mister Gans Is the 8chammu9 by Freeman's and mfiybe he will have some nice portion of Kloyshkci left from Thanksgiving Day. I like that achammua Gans, o6cr he ain't so good looking. I laugh to myself whenever I look at his schnoohcl, for then I thinks, when Gans can get for himself a sweetheart with such a schnoohel, there is chance maybe some nice girl would like to be the Great LAdy Ginzberg. "If things by this Shakespeare go all right, then maybe I have a big dinner In P'reeman's, ober none of those kibctzcra will I invit^. Maybe Gans can get me a nice dinner with Kloyshkaa and borsht or some nice gcdamfcd broost and with coffee cake they can dunk In the coffee and have a nice time. Myself I don't dunk, but coffee I like, sometimes I drink as many as six saucers full. Foi such a feastel I could get ten, mnybe eleven, plates at 50 cents a plate hnd if those achnorrcra at Freeman's want more, then to Lln- dy's I go where we can only get four in a booth." Consequently Sunday night will mean the climax of Sir Joe's pro- fessional career. He la now busy being rehearsed by Willie Howard In a routine of commercial gab such as one would except from a Knlcjht discussing details of a play with an author. SomoA^ here In tropical America there are bunches and bunches of bananas training to go on the stage. Some- wheres in this country there are stage-hands, actors and musicians who will pilfer and steal those ba- nanas when they finally appear. The bananas will play vaudeville handled by ROCKWELL and FOX SINGER UNIT GROSS $10,000-L0SE MONEY $1,900 Deducted from Show's Share—Singer Wants to Pay Up and Close "Hello New York," the Shubert vaudeville unit, grossed over $10,000 last week at Cincinnati and lost money on the week. The unit'^as charged J1.250, half of the Wesley Barry salary,^an added/attraction, with 1650 deducted for the salary of the Bobby Hlgglns act which doped with the unit in Chicago, makin^f a total of $1,900. Jack Singer was notified of the deductions In New York city, where he is at present trying to induce the Affiliated or Shuberts to take the unit over or advance him enough money to close the show and pay salaries In full to date. "Heilo New York" is one of the few units that hasn't asked the members to accept a cut in salary. It is understood the cut will be re- quested next week before the at- tractrt>n goes into the Englewood, Chicago. I. H. Herk bankrolled the Singer unit. It Is understood Singer in- vested nothing but his time and ex- perience as a producer. As the unit artists were engaged by the individ- ual producers, Singer is liable for the salaries and other expenses in- curred. He is asking the Shuberts to take title to the unit to relieve him of this responsibility. MRS. CARE'S CHARGES (Continued from page 1) the payment of nis former wife's alimony. Deputy Sheriff Murphy served the order of arrest on Carr Monday at the Selwyn, but let him play the night's performance. He is out under $5,000 bail. Another of the kctlons Mr. Gold- smith is instituting against Carr is to void the general release of all alimony claims by Mrs. Carr. which was presented to Justice Lewis in the Supreme Court Nov. 22. Judge Lewis, after reading the general re- lease, dismissed the motion made by Mrs. Carr to have Carr punished for contempt in not paying the amount then due to her, as she al- leged. $17,933.31. The charges of fraud made by Mrs. Carr are based upon the gen- eral release, which she claims was obtained by her husband and his attorney, Heckheimer, in Heck- heimer's office without her own at- torney present MraJ Carr in her affidavit said that it was represent- ed to her the paper she signed was necessary in order that Carr might sell his home at RockviUe Center, L. I., and that she accepted their statements, signing the paper with- out reading It, and receiving no con- sideration at the time. The paper, later, she swore, came before the court as a general release of all of her claims for alimony against her former husband. Another action Mrs. Carr's coun- sel has started Is in the common court to recover the arrearages of alimony, made necessary through Judge Lewis' dismissal of the motion when the release was pro- duced. Judge Lewis, however, granted a motion for a rehearing, which is to come /before him today (Dec. 1). Mrs. Carr's breach of promise suit is alleged because of Carr's failure to keep his promise to remarry her after he had disposed of the Rock- viUe Center property. At the time. Mrs. Carr xilaims. Carr told her he \^ould dispose of the RockviUe Center property and they would re- marry when he would purchase an- other home. The Carrs have been in the courts several times through the wife seek- ing to secure alimony due ^ her. When Mrs. Carr obtained her di- vorce, Oct. '17, 1919, the court allowed her $850 monthly. This operated until Oct. 31, 1921. when it was reduced to $433.33 a month. The civil order of arrest was given to the sheriff Monday and Carr taken into custody at the Selwyn theatre, where "Pa.tners Again" is playing, that same night after the performance. The show is due to leave the city to open an engage- ment at the Selwyn, Chicago. A few days ago, when Mark Fisher, a process server In the Goldsmith law office, served an order upon Carr at the theatre, the young man, aged 19 and weighing 100 pounds, claims he was badly beaten up by the actor. NEW KEmi'S, DAYTON, LEADSMINCITY Stands Atone, Like Keith's Palace, Cleveland— Opened Monday t^f Whitewan Orchestra on Loew Time Paul Whiteman is presenting the Alex; Hyde orchestra in a tour of the Loew circuit. The billing roads, "Paul Whiteman presents Alex. I Hyde's Romance of Rhjjhm chestra." .^-'•.»i . t" »> t, MAYOR CURLEY and JACK OSTERMAN During a vi.slt to the latter's muthor, Kathryn Ostcrman, who is with Or- j "The Bat," Mayor James M. Curley entertained Jack Ostcrman and presented the young com^ian with a key to Boston. Dayton, Ohio, Nov. 2f. B. F. Keith's newest theatre, for' a city like Dayton, with its popula- tion and many theatreV, makes local history. It stands alone in this city, as Keith's Palace does in Cleveland. Although not as elaborate, it is still pretentious, and shows the personal attention of E. F. Albee to a minute degree. , This house was built by Rapp ft Rapp, ihe same architects whc^bullt the^ new Cleveland house, besides many others. The Keith's here seats 8.000 and cost $2,000,000. It has also a slz- story office building In colonial style. The theatre has two entrances, with two floors. Every convenience for patron and artist has been provided. The interior decorations are gor- geous. Back stage the same care has been shown for the artists' comfort. Ektch dressing room ie equipped with shower and lounge. The opening show of seven acts went over beyond expectations, each act scoring individual honors. The bill ran in the following order: Ed Jgmes Revue, Hager and Good- melr. "Stars of Yesterday," Claude and Marion, Hegedes Sisters and Reyes, Van and Corbett. Eva Shir- ley. Adler's Orcheetra. Judge Baggott waa master of ceremonies, and in a humorous ad- dress introduced Raymond Hitch- cock and Mayor Hale of l>ayton. The house will be booked by Olea Burt, booking manager of the Chi- cago B. F. Keith's office, under the personal supervision of C. S. Hum- phrey/. Keith's Western general nvinager. Several hundred out-of-towkers. Including Mr. and Mrs. Albee.^Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Murdock, Mr. and Mrs. B. S. Moss, Mr. and Mrs. EL O. Louder, Dr. and Mrs. Neary, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Schadel, Joseph Rhlnock. Senator J. Henry Walters, Pat Casey, Harry Davis, and from Chi- cago were C. S. Humphrey, Marty I^orkins, BUI Cunningham, Frank Stander, W. S. Butterfleld, Frank Rickson, W^alter Desmond, Harry Sprlngold. Max Halprln, John Bills- bury, Ez| Keogh, Harry Danforth, William Jackson, Warren Jones, OUle Strauss and Mr. and Mrs. Gus Sun^ James Weed; manager of the old Keith house, will manage both the- atres. A banquet was held after the opening performance, when It was stated there would be three new Keith's within the next year, at Brooklyn, Boston and Columbus. The New Yorkers left here Tues- day; as did the Chicago contingent ENGAGEMENTS Maud Eburne, Flavia Arcara, George Trabert, Lionel Pape, Tiarry Whitcomb, Edward Lester, Victor Cassimore ("The Little Kangaroo'') to Gilbert Emery, Courtney Footo, Orlando Daly ("ThePainted L.ady')^ Nirska for "Facts and Figures"; Ryan Sisters for Johnny Ford's act; Finley and Swift for Calvert and Shayne's act; Ruby Howard for Anton ScIblUa's "Yankee King"; Alfred Stobbi for Freeman Benton's act (all booked by Leona Splel- berger). - >.; / ■, • -v...-.,-,•,/. .:■• Charles Derlckson, Charles Schb- fleld, William Gordon, for "The Clinging Vine." Irving Edwards for "Genevieve" (Jack Lalt's new show). Millie Butterfleld, "Johannes Krelsler" (Sclwyns). Edna Hlbbard, Jose Ruben, Fred- erick Perry for "Gringo." George Nash, Effle Shannon for "Zeno." ■e ■■•„ ♦ t.' BIBTHS ^ Dr. and Mrs. J. W. Amey. at their home in New York City, Nov. 14, son. Mr. and Mrs. Charles King, Nov. 14, a son. The father Is at present with "Little Nelly Kelly." The mother is professionally known as Lelia Rhodes. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Freeman, at the RockviUe Center sanitarium, Nov. 24, son. The mother was for- merly Amelia Caire (Felix and Cairo). "Chuck" Freeman is agent- ing. The new arrival makes him the papa of a male quartet. Mr. and Mrs. I, Jay Fagin, Nor. 17, son. Mr. Fagin is an executive of thA Hoseland dance hall and * song writer, . ,