Variety (March 1923)

vv>mttMcrr^' <*»«iacBT.X7ia%''ft.''- m.^ 'tJ^ Thursday, March 29, 192^ VARIETY .■ 7"-= ■';^;-:.v •m'.>v' -■'^^■'^-'i. «»^ - Jrt —^3" BEDSIDE CHATS . -f By NELLIE BEVELL 0 Well, at least I am better off than I was three years ago this Easter, when I was fed through a tube and was not allowed any visitors. Two years back I still had to be fed in bed, and even last year I could sit up lor only an hour a day. But this Easter I will cat both dinner and supper sitting up. And In all probability I will walk the length of the hall or, If, the weather permits, bo taken up to the roof in my go-cart. Many kind friends will come to see me, and I will be very happy, and grateful to God for bringing me back so far on the road to health. Next year I know I will be out some place where I can see the sunshine and get fresh air that has never been used before. If you happen to go to Atlantic City over Easier ju.sl reserve that cor- ner room for me next Easter and tell Harry Monro, manaK«'r of the Ai»ollo theatre there to save a seat for me—in the box ofll(re. Don't forget while you are there enjoying yourself in health to .«;pare n thought and send a card to our less fortunate friends in health camps, hosi)itaIs and prisons. Tho.«<e who are mo blef.sed as to be able to lind i)leasure everywhere can hardly know how much a little rominiler means to lhos*e who can not. .,!.... .John Flinn came in recently with a large package, which he proceeded to unwrap. The removal of one layer of paper afforded a glimpse of something big and round and white, and R. H. Burnside, who had been talking things over with me. rxclaim<»<l, "Oh, he brought the 'Covered Wagon* to you!" But, Judging by past experiences, 1 knew It was a (Ocoaiuit cake. As usual, when John Flinn or any other movie people are present we soon get on the subject of "the industry." John asked if I didn't find the news reel In my movie shows invaluable In keeping me abreast of the styles so that the fashion ciiuuKCH would not het-m so radical to me when I get out. I »-xplainrd that I didn't need tiie movies t(j tell me what was being worn; for the best-dre.esed peojile in the world come into my room. At that Hey wood P.roun. who had just entered, took a bdw. 19 CABARET Mr. Hroun. Incidentally,* did not seem a bit <lisappoinled when I told him he had just missed Clifton Webb's mother. Had he arrived two minutes sooner, I informed him. .she could h-^vp given him much light on several points about the John Murray Anderson show, "Jack and Jill." which he had evidently overlooked or was mistaken on', when he wrote his review of the production. He inquired, ihouch. if there was anv danger of her having forgotten her rubbers, umbrella or anything. It h:»d been 40 years between meetings for E. F. Albee and James J. Iiroady. though for years each has made Times square his headquarters. It was in my room last Monday morning durin;; the snowstorm that they recalled having been introduced for the flr«t tine—and almost the last time—four decades ago. At that time Mr. Broady was managing Hallen and H;«rt, who were playing Providence, with Mr. Albte in the box olllce of the house. , . ' . • .. Dorothy Russell, daughter of the late-lamented Lillian, was among my pre-Ea.^ter callers. She looks splendid, though In deep mourning, and is temporarily at a health resort in Connecticut. She had come out of retirement to go to the boat with her step-father, Alexander Moore, our new ambassador to Spain, who sailed for his post last week. Dear Marcus Loew: Thank you for your offer to propose me for mem- bership in your golf club. But first let me explain. I have arrived at the noontide of life and if I do any chasing of any kind whatsoever. It will 1»e after something more animated and less elusive than a golL ball. And since my incarceration there they've given me so many jabs that the very phrase "Making a hole" sends chills down what is left of my spine. But could you exchange that membership for one in a poker club? The sport iij less strenuous. (Continued from page 10) son for "Dot" deciding he waa de- sirable. However, Morris was declared ia. He gave up and he got "presents." It's good policy to give a kick back of 10 per cent of the "get." Al got an J800 coat, a $1,500 watch, about 12,.300 in all, slightly in excess of 10 per cent, of the |20,000 it cost him. Up to Wednesday Al Ciuimares- Morris was still being quizzed by the cops, although Freddie Gold- smith got him out on bail, originally $10,000. later reduced to half that amount. Af the same time "Mr. Marshall," who may or may not have had a greater reason for wanting the girl out of the way. perhaps in fear of a "shake" on the .strength of that last letter he wrote her from Florida in which he made certain peculiar love protestations, was permitted to walk out of police headquarters without a doubt being raised as to whether or not his story was in the clear. The second case was much sim- pler. It was just a "love affair." One of the girls playing the "red ink" joints feli for a "wop." He had been living with her for a couple of months. Recently he slii)ped into some soft money through a couple of liquor deals (according to the copper who had his case in hand) and decided that he was going to give his "dough mommer" the air. She didn't want to stand for it. She was a bad snort to the extent of de- manuing if he wanted to take a walk out that he kick back what she had slipped him at various times In consideration of the fact he lived with her and consented to pose as her husband in the converted aj>art- j ment house where she maintained I quarters. }{(i wouldn't do that and ; she refused to let him out of the ! flat until he did. So that meant he stayed there all night. Finally when he did got away he squawked to the cops. Tuesday they were both* in court, with the girl admitting a host of things that must have shamed anyone except tlie most calloused type of woman. She was finally turned out. No moral to either of these two tales. Just a straightforward recital of facts as the.v appear on the sur- face as far as Broadway's two latest scandal bits of the day are con- cerned. Speaking of playing poker, while Molly Fuller was here Sunday Sophie Tucker and Nellie Nichols were condoling on the loss of her sight and at the same time congratulating her on having so many friends who are doing everything possible for her. "Yes." said Molly, "Ruby can read to me, write my letters for me and do nearly everything that I could do if I could see. But no one can play roker for me." The circus is opening again and without me. And T was on© of those who never let a year go by without attending, "for the sake of the chil- dren." and I Was all the children. I wish Dexter Fellowes had routed his "pee-rade" past here so that I could have heard the band and seen the elephant.s and the riders and the clowns. I think if anything could get me out of here It would be the lure of following the red wagons with gold wheels, for the circus was my first lov'e In the amusement world and the feeling Is as strong now as ever. Circus people can best appreciate the longing for a sight of the lot, for; r^' •■•■■. ■—-... :; ., . . •,,; :•;:.;' ■-. ■..:.:^: ^ It you were never with the circus, then you couldn't imderstand What it means to an old trouper to get lonesome for the band. How I miss the dear old canvas, and the hurry of the crew, ""^ ^^ Mis.^ the big show and the kidtop, even miss the cookhouse stew. I mi.«s the lemonade and peanuts, the balloons, both red and blue. Miss the candy and the popcorn, and Id love to hear a ballyhoo. I miss the calm smile of the agents, yes. and miss the griftcrs, too. If you need their last 10-cent piece, they would give It all to you. I ipiss the music In the sideshow, old and sometimes new. / The weather prophet up in Connecticut may say that we are due for one or two more blizzards, but he can't fool me. I know spring Is h'^re. for I've had two infallible signs. The fir.st was the polishing up last week of my go-curt so that I can be wheeled up on the roof and down to the yard. They don't waste polish on wheel-chairs here unless they are sure they can be put to use. The other indication was the presence of four hurdy-gurdies under my window in the course of one day. And the one was pla> Ing "The Last Rose of Summer." Th«>se people who complain that, though they seek adventure in the ond holjbled painfully, but determinedly to the end of the corridor. 1 must admit that I was jay-walking. Like all jay-walkers, I wound up in ft place where I shouldn't have been, meaning by this the entrance to the operating room on my floor. There, bending over a quiet form on the white table was a convention of white-hooded and white-gowned doc- tors and nurses, looking like a local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. I hav^^ had enough operations of my own without intruding on othor l ^oo p lf'w, HO I turned about a?* quickly r^^ my feeble condition would t>ermit ;ind went, hand-over-hand ahmg the wall to the other torminal "• my rubber-heel railroad on Fourth-lloor avenue. On arrival, I dun;; t" a window sill, looking out at the mild March sunlight. Suddenly the do<»r lt« hind me opened and two attendants wheeled out .nil th.it was '*'ft of a fellow-patient who had lost the fight. I went back to bed ^vithuut any further delay .Ttid it was days before I took another stmll. ' w.is al'r.iid ihey might st;ige a hanging for tne, just to keep mv walks J iiilf'i-esiiny. I Ernie Young'i latest production at the Century Roof, in Baltimore, went on March 19 under the title of "Springtime Joy Belles," and apparently went over better than any preceding show. Its strong point lies In its pep and jazz, and In the work which the Elida ballet does between and during the big numbers. Here Is a unique or- ganization, composed of young girls, several of them 16 or 17 years old, under the guidance of Elizabeth Friedman. They have been doing classic dances to big applause. Since Young put his shows on at the roof several months ago the bal- let has been retained. Its eight members have been the mainstay and backbone of each show. The girls are good dancers, with grace and ven'e, and their routine has been 'so well worked out It goes over with a bang. In the latest show they are doing a Spanish number to the "Toreador" air from "Carmen" and the "Spanish Dance," by Caesare Cul. In the "Mystic Night" number they do a dance to music of the Peer Gynt Suite, by Edward Grieg, followed by a Jazz dance in which they all take part. Follows then a s'^ccialty ballet number to the Russian pea.sant dance, by Johannes Brahms, while in a minstrel number they work with the chorus, later doing a num- ber of their own. Their premier danseuse, Adele Jeanne, is young, u brunette, and won herself a great deal of mention in the local dailies. In the new show she is doing stops to the ^"alse Danseuse, by Miles, while in the previons production she had a routine well suited to the Liszt Second Rhapsody. Burns and Foran are the dancer.s in the new revue. Lew Jenkins Is the juvenile and has a good voice, while Josephine Taylor is a good prima donna whose voice is big and clear, well suited to numbers with a wide range. The numbers this time are featured by a "feather cos- tume ' parade, the flash of the. show, while a ".My.stic N'ighl" numb^-r runs it a close second. In the ".Mystic Night" the girls of the chorus wear different costumes, with I'lo Ste\eii«. a tall ai.d dark-haired show girl, carrying of the main hon- ors with a t.tsteful evening gown pf simple design and execution. Billy Rankin has put on tl is latest show and is getting better and bet- ter results with each production. His girls are all working w.-ll now, and the organization at the Cen- tury Is so well set co-operation is showing results. "The stag line" and the "cut In ' dancing style of a 5th avenue hotel has been banished. With the abol- ishment, busine."s in the hotel's grill room, where dancing was per- mitted, has suffered. This hotel has drawn an exclu.^ive set of young people as almost any 5th avenue hostelry of prominence would do if becoming popular. It grew to be a fad for the young men unaccompanied by girls to stand along.'ido the s'de lines of the dancing space. It became known as "the stag line." The boys on it unceremoniously would walk to a dancing couple, taking the girl away from her partner, who may have been her escort. The young woman would continue to dance with her newest twirler until he was re- lieved by another, and so on, re- turning to her original jiartner at the conclusion of the dance. The operation, known as "the cut-in." might be repeated ^he next dance, and so on, with those on the .'•tag line as a rule securing the most dances, whilst many fel- lows who had brought their girls to the griH would be crestfallen for the remainder of the afternoon. The cut-in happened only in the afternoon. Of course It was not permissible for any orTe from the stag line to steal away as a danc- ing partner a .voung woman he did not know. The procedure erected its own laws of observation. The reason ascribed for business dropping after the stag line had been dispersed is that the young women feel aggrieved over having lost the onportunity of testing and proving their popularity, which cut-in danc'ng did to a more or less extent. The stag line was unique in New York while It lin- gered and evolved from the friv- olous dancing couples In a friendly group who frequently change part- ners while on the floor. Further steps were taken to op- po.se the api>e;iranee of n(>gro per- formers on the West End. London, stage. After long discussion the Ltmdon County Council gave Sir Alfre<l Butt permission to o|>en-at the Empire, London, with an enter- tainment on the lines of cabaret. Tl'iis was Imported from America und<r the title of "The Plantation," .and the performers were negroes. The four theatrical associations—Ac- tors' A.'sociation, the Variety Artists Federation, Amalgamated Musicians I'nion, and the National Association of Theatrical Employees, have de- cided not to let the matter rest, and have convened a meeting of a joint committee consisting of representa- tives of all four societies to discuss what further action shall be taken. A meeting of the A. A. has already passed the following resolution: "In view of the great distress existing among British artists occa- sioned by unemployment, the Ac- tors' Association will resist to the highest possible extent the Impor- tation of foreign artists to do work which can be done by Britons." The V. A. F., which was respon- sible for the protest, have circular- ized the members of the council protesting to them against the "im- portation of colored aliens," and pointing out there are at present :i,000 music hall performers out of work. The letter also urgns that there is no public demand for an all-coloied .'•how. The four societies will probably take combine*! action. "In Rainbow Land," the new re- vue at Rairibo (Jartlt-n, Chicago, is one of the most pretentious offer- ing.s of that kind yet seon In Chi- cago and quite outdofs "Rainbo Land," wliich preceded it. There are 20 number?', perfectly pr«'sented and costumed by Rene in a way that h.-m set thr» local the.itrical world talking. Ruth Etting, Gar- rett Conway and Lind.i have been retained from the former revue ft»r i:dward Beck's nf w prodinrtion. ,.\mong the newcomers .n^p.i.ji IJs- cheron and Yva Palms, d.unMf:-.;, and Eileen Hoff. prima donn.t. Ruth. iiUiug ia ih" .-^-n-..i i-n .-r iho »H w show. n»'r r»Mttiiii/n t.i syn-'opated .-o'l^'.s f4MM]d tl»o tno.^t enthusiastic fa\or on the openin« ni'.'lit an her blotul biMuly .tt;d ch.irmifig p'Tsonality \\'jn its way into tlie heart of every newcon.er at th.it pojKilar resort and d<». lighl'il her lu»st of .adnunis win* are among ih« "reguiara.'; Mj^s I'^tting has come from chorus giii to htailiiig: th,. biggest fioor show ia Chicago and lias just got a f.i:j start: she is capable of becominij a real headliner,, / v. * , , . Two years the Am,rlgamat*-.l .Mu- sicians rni(»n of EnKl.and has wagod war agafnst the e!nploym<Mit of alien bands, while so many of their cwn people remain unemployed. I'p to now their efforts have gone no fur- ther than threats or protests, but this time they have, to a great ex- tent been victorious. In granting Paul Whiteman a i>errnit the Min- istry of Labor in London stipulated that before he takes any tlancing engagement.^ the Ministry must be satislied that an alien band of not fewer than six performers .at pres- ent in (Jreat Britain have left the country. It Is also stipulated in the event of \Vhiteman accepting any engagement other than theatrical ones. (I ijand of British musician.-! of the same size a? Whiteman's own band and under his own training and supervision must be employed for those engagements. The A. M. U. look upon this result of their appeal to the Ministry of Labor as a great victory. ., r In sales and transfers hereafter of restaurants it may become necessary to ascertain whether there is any evidence held or pro- ceedings started by federal author- ities. This is. In the opinion of restaurateurs, who see in the pres- ent movement by the federal offl- cers In New York to close restau- rants, another reason for reducing the asking price for a place. Late last week Joe Pani, of the Knick- erbocker Grill, New York, was served with a summons in the United States Court in an action commenced to close the grill for liquor selling violations. Panl has 20 days' within which to file a.i answer and will contest it. The procedure will probably be much as in the Relsenwelier case, which was appealed to the United States Circuit Court, but not taken higher up. Other Broadway cabarets so far announced as Invohed in fed- eral proceedings for the same cause are Shanley's and the Little Club, the latter a Salvin restaurant Tha Club Gallant in Greenwich A'illage, with a seating capacity of 108, is said to have netted $16,000 last month. Sam Salvin is re- ported to have 80 per cent of the cabaret and Barney Gallant the (»ther 20 per cent. The Club Gallant opened but recently and ha« jilayed to capacity, allowing in the late hours only men accompanied by women to be admitted. There has been but one liquor pinch at the Club Gallant since it started. Another Salvin restaurant, sa'd to he the dandy money-maker of the entire list of 13, Is the CJub Royale, on the east side of 6th away from the TimcM inspection district. The without large capacity (about 225), is reported cleared $200,000 In 1922. Nearly all of the Salvin places have been lucrative, but most are under heavy overhead, which doesn't mean much if buslnes.s is good all of the while. avenue, square Royale, either having A contest for the chami>ion jazz band and the title, "ChampionMhlp Dance Orchestra of Cook County." will be staged at Arcadia Audito- rium. Chicago, April 10, under the auspices of Sidney Erdman. The entries are: Paul H. Biese and hlM Edgewater Beach Hotel Orchestra: Charles Straight, Rainbo Gardens; Frank Westphal, Green Mill fJar- dens; Walter Ford, the Tent, George J. Mallen, Arcadia; Husk O'Hare, Drake Hotel broadcasting station; Don Bestor, Benson's Victroia Re- cording Orchestra; Jules R. Herbe- veaux, (;uyon's I'aradise; Roy F. Bargy, Trianon Ballroom; Elmer Kchoebel, Midway G.ardens; Friar's, (fcunett Recording Orchestra; E. i:'. Sheet.s* Californians, Ralph Wil- li.'ims and Sol Wagner. This promises to be the uu»st wni(|ue inu ical event ever slaved, .'ind will be conducted on flu.- .same pl.in HH the br.'iM.M han<l contcstH which .ir<' lomrnoii in small towns. The Shipping Board appears t<> ha\e decided against cabaret en- tertaiiment on the I'nited States lincr.-i. othtT than the Whitem.m iKirul on 1h.. "Leviathan." The '"'■•!'I !!;•;> ■i.'M to believe \h:>.\ en- f- li.i lUiiu III \\i!h the band all CcT^ g^'fher for the first time would !>♦• <»\vi<-i iiwditig the exiit-riment. It m.iy r<'r»»iisi(b'r the enter'. lining end after watching the effect of thf <laiic»» music. The muslcian.s ail- ;ipi to !.<» dressed as petty uftl- (.i'ont inued on i>.'»ge 47) I