Variety (February 1923)

Thursday, February 22, 1923 LEGISLATIVE i FAMOUS PLAYERS DROPS TO 87; OTHER AMUSEMENTS STEADY Influences in General Market Mixed—Speculators Fear Setback Might Go Too Far—Look for Dis- tribution at Higher Prices # The feature of the week was the three-point drop in Famous Play- ers, which got down to 87 yesterday (Wednesday). The other amuse- ment issues held steadily. "Orpheum maintained a level fractionally above 20 and Loew about kept the same MAe. The latter stock droppel to I9ffc for a few trades around noon. hut recovered to 20 promptly. <v<£he market influences we; c badly (Continued on page 45) WIRELESS ANNOYANCES ^ Atchison, Kant., Passes Soothing Aerial Ordinance. MANAGERS ANTICIPATE MORE SUNDAY TROUBLE Lord's Day Alliance Directing Crusade—Arrests Follow Brady's Comment Managers along Broadway -look for considerable activity on the part of the reformers next Sunday. Last Sunday the managers of four house/' were a rested. Two, the Jewish Art Theatre and Thomashcfky's. the first In the Madison Square Garden building and the other on Houston street, give performances in Jewish. William A. Drady recently com- mented on the fact o'f the foreign language houses being permitted to play Sundays. Brady's remarks fol- lowing the police Interference with the performance of "La Flamme" at the Playhouse two Sundays ago. It Is generally accepted the reformers after the Sunday showy took their cues from the Brady remarks. The other two houses affected by last Sunday's closing campaign were the Loew's Delancey St. and the National Wintergarden, the latter operated by the Minskys. The Lord's Day Alliance, which started the Sunday crusade In Jer- sey City six weeks ago, apparently Is directing the New York Sunday closing campaign. MISSOURI BILL KILLED Woman Talks About Censoring to Legislative Committee. ... — ■ i ■■ Kansas City, Feb. 21. Declaring the political picture censor the "greatest failure on the face of the earth," Mrs. Henry N. Ess, of this city, leading clubwoman, who has been opposing the proposed State Censorship bill, told the House Committee of some of her experiences with the Kansas City •ensor. As a member of local women's or- ganizations she stated that It was with difficulty the committee were able to interview the censor and that they gained nothing by their visit She further stated: ."All the money paid to censors fn Missouri the last eight years might just as well be piled on the table and burned." The Rev. Burris A. Jen- kins, of the Linwood Boulevard Christian Church/* and Rabbi H. H. Mayer, both of this city, also op- posed the measure, whicji was spon- sored by the Committee of Fifty of St. Louis. The action of the Kansas City people was effective, as the House Committee on Criminal Jurispru- dence killed the bill. It Is said the committee's action was unanimous. Kansas City, Feb. 21. • That there is no abatement in the radio craze in th's part of the coun- try is evidenced by the i ctlon of numerous city councils In passing ordinances imposing penalties on those who disturb the atmosphere to the annoyance of local radio fans. It is claimed by the radio enthu- siasts there are numerous instances where some amateur wireless oper- ator starts sending Just "the most interesting part of a radio con- cert," causing a medley of dots and dashes which spoils the radio stuff. As an illustration of the measures being adopted In this part of the Wo8t to stop this interference the following in taken from the ordi- nance adopted by the city of Atchi- son. Kans: "By reason of the educational and instructive Information being con- stantly broadcasted from many parts of the world by radio, same being received, at least in part, by people of Atchison and vicinity, it is hereby made unlawful for any one to un- necessarily disturb the atmosphere within the limits of the city of Atchison by any means whatsoever not necessary incident to the oper- ation of some device, mechanism or apparatus used and useful in any business, trade or occupation. Any one violating the provisions of this section shall be fined not to exceed $50 or sentenced not to exceed 15 days in the city jail, or both such fine and imprisonment." DAN McNEIL Long associated with musical comedy. Now playing Juvenile role in C. B. MADDOCK'S "50 MILES FROM BROADWAY." B. F. Keith's, Boston, this %eek TFeb. 19). Keith's Orpheum. Brook- lyn, next week (Feb. 26). AUTO CLASSIC DOOMED ^ City Fights Bill of Patriotic cieties So THE DRY AND DREARY WEST , By JUDGE WALTER C. KELLY -♦* PENN. AFTER SCALPERS Proposed Bill Would Stop Ticket Privilege. Hotel INCOME TAX LIMIT Final* Day March 15—4 Per Cent, on $4,000 Net Income BILL FOR BILLBOARDS Kansas City, Feb. 21. A bill to license bill boards has been introdi/ccd in the state senate. The measure provides for an an- nual license fee of not less than 10 cents a square foot of bill board space, the tax to, be collected by the city f\r town roller-tor who is required to issue tags to br placed On the boards. The owners or operators of the bill hoards will be required to frive a surety bond that the boards wou'ld be properly con- structed and maintained in a safe condition. The revenue derived would be divided evenly between the city and state. The final day for the filing of Federal income tax forms is three weeks off, the law providing that all forms must be filed with the collector of internal revenue on or before March 15. On that date a partial payment of the tax must be made or the entire tax can be paid, as Is usual for moderate incomes. The' exemptions allowed are about the same as last year. For married persons with a net income—which means the amount remaining after legitimate deductions are made—of $5,000 or less, $2,500 exemption is permitted. For a married - person whose net income is above $5,000 the exemption is $2,000. There is a legitimate additional deduction of $400 for each person dependent on the taxpayer for chief support. That means persons under 18 years of age, or incapable of support be- cause mentally or physically de- fective. The head of a family is allowed deductions similar to that of married persons. Single persons are permitted an exemption of $1,000. The norma] tax is 4 per cent, on the first $4,000 of the net income remaining after deductions are made. The tax is 8 per cent, on all above that sum. The forms 1040A are to be used for net incomes of $5,000 and less and t: e 1040 form applies for net incomes in excess. Forms must be filed by all persons whose net income for 1922 was over $1,000 or whose gross income was $5,000 or more. Also of every mar- ried person whose net income was $2,000 and whose gross income was $5,000 or over. Liability to file returns depends on the status of the person on Dec. 31, the last tax of the taxable year. If married on that date or before, the full J$*»300 deduction is allowed. A widow or widower who.se mate died before the end of the year is classed as a single person, and $1,000 is the exemption. Divo cees and person,* ftrparntwi by muii i ai consent ate also clacscd •• Ingle persons. Illness or abeenee m:;.v be count- ed an excuse i<>i [<■ ■■ * not fll by March*!:, but application "must be made to the collector, who is empowered to grant a 80-3*) tension. • * r Indianapolis, Feb. 21.. Memorial Day will mean nothing to this city if the state legislature continues in the attitude it evi- denced last week as regards the measure to prohibit all commer- cialized sport on that day. It ap- pears as if the annual motor speed- way clusslc is doomed. The 500- mile auto grind drew 125,000 people last year and Is this town's one best advertising bet. And the crowd generally is around for one or two evenings, which means much to the theatr.es. Business and civic clubs, almost without exception, along with the theatrical Interests, have adopted resolutions condemning the meas- ure. Two-thirds of the Marlon county posts < the American Le- gion denounced their state officers who are behind the bill and who tried to suspend the charters of the posts in retaliation. The O. A. R. and Sons of Veterans Inaugurated the movement two years ago. No one took the bill seriously un- til it passed the • senate by a big majority and it began to appear as if it would be rushed throigh the house. When it came up for a sec- ond reading friends of the Speed- way attraction offered. In rapid fire order, half a dozen amendments In- tended to vitiate the bill. Among these vers actions to make It ap- ply to theatres as well as commer- cialized sports and to include all amusements to which admission is charged. These were voted down as fast as they were offered and the bill passed by a two to one ma- jority. It, is expected to corns up for final passage In a few days and Indianapolis proper is making one last desperate stand. Ilarrisburg, Pa.. Feb. 21. The anti-ticket scalping bill of Representative William W. Long. Chester county, was passed by the unanimous vote of the House last night. The 172 members present all supported It and It now goes to the Senate where its fate is not certain. The bill provides that the price of all tickets must bd printed on their face and that it/is Illegal to sell them at a sum/higher than that -stamped upon them. The" bill would even put an end to the sale of tick- ets at hotels at the usual fifty-cent increase. Representative Long made the only speech for the bill. He out- lined the plan by which the scalpers get the tickets and said it is impos- sible to get good seats at the box offices until a few minutes before the curtains go up when seats are available if there are any returns of unsold tickets. The penalty for violation of the provisions of the bill is $500 fino or six months in prison or both. The easy passage of the bill at- tracted attention among* old mem- bers of the legislature, for the same measure in practically the same form has made its appearance bi- ennially here for years and then been lost in committee if not actu- ally defeated. Representative Long is a former Philadelphia newspaper- man and his knowledge of the scalp- ing game was gained at first hand. Representative Richard D. Burns. Philadelphia, on Tuesday Intro- duced a bill that would prevent the boosting of prices on holidays and upon other special days on all tick- ets to any placo of amusement. It Denver, Feb. 17. Editor Variety: Just a wail from Denver to say that I am homeward bound and glad of it Time was. In the dear, dead days when Patrick Henry's spetch was a part of our language, that a trip to the Coast was looked forward to by all troupers as a holiday -Jaunt, but since the curse oL Volstead was put upon us It is now about as cheerful as the route of the Wandering Jew of some centuries ago. The time spent in the theatres Is the only relief I get from the deep and all-pervading gloom that has settled over the once merry Wet and Wooly West! There the audiences laugh as of yore, and make a come- dian feel like a missionary carrying the gospel of laughter to these sad- faced dwellers in what was oncer a land of mirth and romance. The •octal life of western cities now revolves around gasoline sta- tions and Greek restaurants, with here and there a foul-smelling pool- room where auto bandits lay out their routes and dope fiends dream their dreams. Rotary luncheons with commu- nity singing. Boy 8cout rallys and meetings of the T. W. C. A. and limerick contests In the local press make life out here just one hideous revel. On my arrival In Los Angeles I thought that I would visit the fa* mous Hollywood picture colony, where, according to the blotter sell- ers of the press, I could defy Vol- stead and abandon myself to every excess. My first visit was on a fine evening, about 11 P. M., to the home of Herbert Rawllnson, the screen star. I was greeted by the shocking spectacle of Mr. Rawllnson dseply engrossed In teaching the art of the ukelele to Earl Fox, another screen star. Shocked at this evidence of Hollywood's excesses, I decided to visit the home of Buster Keaton. makes it unlawful to sell admission | Ther e I was informed by one of the tickets for any particular day at a servants that Mrs. Keaton and the *tt*l«%A lifcrtiAr* tlinn fr\r> nntr s-htl\**i- /laic * _• __. . . *» ._ price higher than for any other day of the week. The penalty for a first offense Is $500 and for a second offense $500 or imprisonment for six months, or both, at the discretion of the court. NO FISHING SUNDAY . Oklahoma City, Feb. 21. Motion pictures and stereoptlcon exhibits have been added to the list of amusements sought to be barrsd in Arkansas on Sundays with ths introduction In the House of a bill making it unlawful for any person, corporation or organized body of people to operate or cause such ma- chines to be operate on Sunday. In some churches In Arkansas stereoptlcon views are being shown In connection with the Sunday services. The bill came on the heels of the passage in the house of a measure to prohibit Sunday fishing, football, golf, tennis and othsr'games, with the approval of an amendment in the Senate making It mandatory on prosecuting attorneys to enforce the law. The measure will be taken up as a special order In the Senate in the near future. $1 FINE DAMAGING Theatre Managers' Opinion on "Passion Play" "Sunday'' Arrest Theatre owners In New Jersey feel the action of Recorder Hauen- steln In fining Father Grief $1 for the exhibiting of the "Passion Play" in Vnion Hill for alleged violation of the State "vice and immorality" act, will mark the beginning of the end of the old vice act of 1872. The Sunday closing campaign In Jersey City has closed all of the houses for the past four weeks, and has spread throughout the stats. The most bitter political fight in years is anticipated as the re- sult of inserting the "religious" ele. ment into the situation, and has strengthened the anti-closing fac- tions, showmen believe. The Lord's Day Alliance and sev- eral other reform organizations are out to beat ths Simpson bill, which would permit each Jersey muni- cipality to deolde whether it wanted Sunday theatricals or not. An odd local angle occurred fn Union Hill when a list of*petltioners to close the houses was led by the name of an organist who subse- quently substituted for the regular organist at a vaudeville house. Th* sub accepted the day's work when the regular musician became 111. TENN. BILL PASSED Assembly Concurs With Senate— Theatres Must Close Sundays 10-PE0PLE PARTY RATE Chicago, Fsb. 21. Much depends upon ths reception of the new mileage books being is- sued by railroads on the part of theatrical people. At a meeting of western railroad men held here this week It was practically* decided to put into effect a 10-peeple party rate If the theatre folks ninke the showing with mileage i>'.'>ks expected. If the 10-people party rate propo sltion goes through as outlined It will not be confined to theatrical troups, but will be op^n^tjMrne gen eral public. Memphis, Feb. 21. The Assembly concurred with the Senate in the Sunday closing law, accepting the amended measure, which extends the time to Aug. 81. The extension was made in the form of an amendment by Senator Gail- or to allow theatre owners to ad- Just seven-day contracts. Represent- ative Beasley declared the Senate had adopted the amendment In good faith and a*ked the House to rati- fy It. The theatre maiiagers'meanwhlle may open a legal battle on the pround, the Sunday closing of the- atres is class legislation since the Legislature has legalized baseball on Sunday In this state. A bill to create a state board of i censor* for pictures hr.s been iniro- || 2291rt4S£ttlt«ttrfc duced Into the Legislature. p— /fry 3c»tA*v■ %/ #?99~0/v#'^ baby were asleep and that Buster was still at the studio and had been there since noon. Stunned at this evidence of Hollywood's depravity, I decided to visit Roscoe Arbuckle, the big. good-natured victim of a most tragic circumstance. I found him reading "If Winter Comes," while in a room adjoining Hoot Gib- son and Jed Prouty were trying to harmonize with a Victrola playing "Pal o' Mine." To cap the climax of this horrible spectacle, a little flat-footed Chinaman served orange pekoe tea, with sliced tomatoes and chicken sandwiches. This concludes my arraignment of the Picture Colony. San Francisco is making a noble effort to retain the life and color which made It the Mecca of all pleasure seekers in other years. * Salt Lake as you know Is now off the Orpheum Circuit and the only thing open there now is the Mor- mon Tabernacle. Life In St. Paul, Minneapolis, Seattle, Winnipeg and Portland, while sad is still worth while for the troupes. Vancouver Is the one oasis where the Witches of Intolerance have not yet lit their fires. Tou are no doubt aware that T have finally suppressed Lincoln, Neb, Kindly convey thhj news to Julius Tannen as 1 know It would greatly add to his peace of mind. If I can suppress Its principal exhibit, W, J. Bryan, my Joy will be com- plete. I will close my season early In May at Washington, D. C, and shortly thereafter hope to sit across from you and the "sentimental sucker," Jack Lnlt, and the matt with the Iron mask, Pulaski, hold- ing ths low hand. Meanwhile I remain yours until Charlie Miller kisses Max Wiley. Jmdge Kelly, <En Pilgrimage)., VENTRILOQUISM RADIOED Ketch and- W.lma claim they are the first ventriloquial act to per* form for the radio. It happened Jan. 27 at broadcasting station KDKA, Pittsburgh, when the act entertained at the Veterans of the Westing- house Electrical Co. banquet. The entire show was broadcast at the same time. >•- * » STUDIOS Of