Variety (February 1923)

PRICE 20 CENTS • ■. • • - " y. Published Weekly at 164 Went 46th St.. New York, N. T., by Variety. Inc. Annual subscription $T. Single coplea 20 cent*. Kntered aa second class matter December II. 1905. at the Port Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of March 3, 1879. OL. LXX. No. 1 NEW YORK CITY, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1923 48 PAGES .^ ■ -.j NIT SHOWS LOSE $1550,000 TIME VAUDEVILLE AGENT CONFESSES TO HIS METHODS Arthur Horwitz Told His Wife He Receives as High as 25 Per Cent and 50 Per Cent "Commis- sion"—Mrs. Horwitz Sues for Divorce "In very few cases, he told me, he confine himself to the com- lion allowed by law, but in jaany casea he receives as high as ft and 50 per cent, of the salaries of ' actors he booked and that he is able to keep within the law by claiming an interest in the acts, though his books do not show it." This is but part of the revelations contained in the complaint of Mrs. (Continued on page 3D) 'CHICKEN CHASING' MEN CROP UP IN NEW MGRS. SOCIETY ENTERTAINING f AV0RED BY ARTISTS . "Society" entertaining, a varia- tion on club dates, seems to be fa- vored by certain song-and-danoe artists of average talent. They f.et forth that the work is more con- genial and has the advantage of being confined to the meJ&opolis, .which omits traveling and lMel ex- pense on the road. The net, even for one or two dates per week, •quafer-or exceeds what the act could get In vaudeville doing 14 shows a week on the big-time or 23 a week la the three-a-day (counting four ©n Saturday and Sunday). ^ The social angle seems to be con- sidered important and ofttlmes more than compensating financially. It -opens social avenues. One recounts the Interest a society woman took In a fellow artist and paved the way for a soft Wall street berth in her husband's brokerage business. Sim- ilar instances of generous bounties of jewels and otiier things from dot- ing Ladles of leisure are mentioned. MALL HOUSES WANT VAUDE Newark, N. J.. Feb. 21. k. Vaudeville once or twice a week ' In th© small picture houses hero is growing rapidly. Resides the Clin- ton Square; the Hillside, Walnut, New Amsterdam, Ronson and the Art and City in Irvington have all adopted the policy. These house? are booked through an Independent agency which is pushing the idea It is rumored that some of the New- ark houses in the big Stern strin are going to adopt this policy. LIST OF LOSSE SJCANADA'S PICTURES INCLUDE 900 THEATRES AND $30,000,000 Agency Throws Out 3 Houses When Mgrs. Request Wo- men They Could Approach The speculative interests which have entered the theatrical business during the past few years by acquir- ing theatres in the smaller cities and suburban towns have revived a cus- tom known to vaudeville rutnagers 15 years ago as "Chicken Chasing." The term in former years was ap- plied to house managers who forced their acquaintance upon women ap- pearing in their theatres. In cases where their attentions were shunned the engagement was made exceed- ingly unpleasant for the artiste. Among the newer crop of small time house managers or owners are (Continued on page 22) REACHES LARGE AGGREGATE Lee Shubcrt Not Mentioned Among Losers—Affiliated Theatres Corp, Set Back $350,030—1. H. Herk Most Heavily Stung Among Individuals — Chicagoan in for $120,- OOO—All Losses Suffered Since Unit Season Opened In September — Several Burlesque Men Hit WHAT'S LEFT OF UNITS GERMAN OPERA "FIND" Richard Bohnen, Baritone, Being Groomed for Metropolitan The Metropolitan opera house, New York, directors are holding back a new baritone. Richard Bohnen, to "spring" him on the public as a singing sensation. Mr. Bohnen is a German and enthusi- astically heralded by local German newspapermen, who predict a bril- liant debut on his appearance at the Met, due some time next month. The opera house offick Is are holding his antecedents as secret aa possible and refuse to comment on when and in what opera be will make his American debut. In Germany Bohnen enjoys an en- viable reputation both on the opera stage and screen. Some years ago when theatrical conditions were none too good fo» opera and other itage stars he was forced to resort o the screen for a livelihood. He as appeared with Mia May in sev- •r.il German productions. A loss from th^e opening of the Shubert vaudeville unit season last September up to now approximates $l,55Q,00O> according to a table of losses appended herewith, partially estimated. The name of Lee Shubert as a manager or producer does not ap- pear upon the list of unit losers, nor is Shubert reported to have lost through Shubert vaudeville, except- ing possibly from his contributions (Continued on page 36) Comparative Figures WithU. S. Given by Ontario's Fire Marshal—Other Statistical Figures Show Canada's 300 Exchanges Against 800 in the U. S. —*. PREACHER'S SIDELINE; THE SHOW BUSINESS Minnesota Man of Cloth Has Theatrical Booking Scheme for Small Towns "TAKE OUT THE ADS"— SHUBERT WAR CRY Again Picks Chicago ''Post" for Battle—Two Theatres Withdraw from Paper Chicago. Feb. 21. The Playhouse and the Stude- baker have withdrawn their adver- tisements from the Chicago Eve- ning Post. Neither is controlled by the Shuberts, but both are booked by that firm, and pla^" Shubert at- tractions. The fight between the Shuberts and the Post has been going on for over a year. There was a rumor some time ago the troubles were likely to be adjusted, but this chance seems to hate gone glimmering, and the breach widened with this action of associated theatres. Minneapolis. Feb. 21._ The show business for a side line is the scheme of the Rev. J. F. Tucker of Lynd, Minn. Sixty small towns in the state are threatened to be served with entertainment by the minister, who says if the thing gets over, 100 leading citizens of each village must pay him L'S cents weekly. The Rev. has figured it, although not announcing the data, that with 48 first class states hanging around and Minnesota not so populous, if (Continued on page 22) Montreal, Feb, It. Canada's Investment In picture theatres represents 130,000,000. Canada has 900 picture theatres and SO film exchanges, aa compared with 15.000 theatres in the United States and SO0 exchanges. These comparative figures wars given by George F. Lewis, deputy firs mar- shal of Ontario, in a recent address here. The magnitude of the picture industry and the immeasurably great possibilities in store for the (Continued on page 22) LENT, 40 YEARS AGO Did Not Deter Artists from Appear- ing—Names Cited Kansas City, Feb. 21. That the Lenten season did not scare the troupers from coming to Kansas City 40 years ago *« shown by the following list of attractions booked to appear In the old Coates Theatre, as given by one of the lo- cal papers in its "Forty Years Ago" column. The list recalls names of attractions and stars unknown to the present generation. Among them are Minnie Hauk, M. B. Cur- tiss in "Samuel of Posen," Maggie Mitchell, three nights; Lotta, four nights; Callender's Georgia Min- strels. Mr. and Mrs. Oeorge 8. Knight, Barry and Fay In "Mul- doon's Picnic," Baker and Farren in "Chris and Lena," Emma Abbott in "Iolanthe," Robinson and Crane, Willie Edouin and Alice Atherton in "Sparks," C. W. Couldock and Ef- fle Ellsler in "Hazel Kirke." Law- rence Barrett. Tom Keene. Ford Opera Company in "Iolanthe" and "Patience." MIDNIGHT SHOWS PUN FOR WOODS' "MORPHIA" A novelty in regular presentation on Broadway Is planned by A. H. Woods for "Morphia," the new pluy which will feature Lowell Sher- man. The idea Is to begin the per- formance at 11 p. m. at the EI- tinge, immediately after the final* of "The Masked Woman" which la running in the house and In which Sherman is a featured plaj'er. "Morphia'* has been announced for special performances at the Rt- tlnge on off-matinee afternoons, but the producer believes the late trick (Continued on pag» 22) 'UNFAITHFUL HUSBAND' NEXT "The Unfaithful Husband" is the title of the newest drama being readied for the road. It is a com- panion piece to "The Unloved Wife" and was written by the same au- thoress, Florence Edna May. The play Is due in Boston Marvh 12 at the Arlington. The Unity Play Co. Is producing it with Ueorga Gatts. a COSTUMES romnort MaMa of Stan Aiiln tat XVamwm sad Mm We Invite Comparison of Design, Price and Workmanship BROOKS-MAHIEU - 1137 ITw«y K. T. City I I