Variety (April 1923)

" n.r ,\ • *• J Thursday, April 5, 10^ »'* . • 4-.'^ •- '^ :M i.'>T rf ..\' V, ;*i^ ' :-^ -a; ^:.:'uj • >' LEGISLATIVE .1 ' .', --.'^v.' fLEA FOR ATO OF THEATRE IN RAILROAD RATE FIGIfr t'M f«^ Traveling Salesmwi Ask That Day Be Set Aside and Small Pen:entage of Receipts Be Devoted to ; Mileage Fund—Party Cut-Rate Involved ^ The National Council of Travel- ing Saleamens' Associations Is mak- ing an urgent plea to all the- atrical interests for financial aid In carrying on the flght for a 20 per cent, railroad fare reduction on mileage books. The roads have been 'ordered t9 issue mileage books May 1, but the lines have filed applica- tion for an injunction and propose ^to attack the constitutionality of r^the law in subsequent proceedings.^. The salesmen want to retain eml- . nent counsel to m&et the attack and ' Jor this purpose appeal to the show- :'men in all branches to set aside a day on which a small percentage shall be devoted to the cause, from /frhlch it is estiniated vaudeville arts ^ alone will .save $1,000,000 a year In s^ transportation charges. It is sug- '^gested th^t April 12 be named as the day, but this seems scarcely possible. y A special argument is being ad- dressed to the 4egitimate maimgcrs /by tho national council, pointing out 'that the mileage book« proi)ably will ^operate for their benefit, inasmuch ras the 20 pe/ cent, lower mileage i^ can be presented at the ticket office for 25 first class, one-way tickets and these tickets would neressari'y "carry with them the free baggage N car. Th-i national council declares ^ It Is advised this privilege wfll nec- essarily go with the mileage books and thus will have the identical ef-< feet of a special party rate, for . -which the legitimate theatre hall been fighting for years. The railroads* fight in along two lines. The Western and Southern lines supported by a petition of the American Farms Federation (known as the farm bloc) have presented an appeal for a re-hearing before the Interstate Commerce Commission. The other line of action was'the last Saturday of Injunction proceed- ings in the District Court of East- ern Massachusetts. The council urged upon the the- atrical interests that there are in the country 1,000,000 salesmen and traveling buyers who would respond . to a specific day for the benefit of the fund and their support would bring to the box oflllces more than the small percentage devoted to the cause. • The council addressed a letter to, William A. Brady last Saturday, putting the argument fbr a party rate in the following terms: "In our opinion, the law, as passed, will enable the theatrical ' producer to have his 25 people present their books at the ticket "Window and to obtain therefor, in : exchange, under the present prb- , vision of the law, 25 one-way tickets, and the tender of these 25 flrst-class one-way tickets to the railroads should entitle you to the • privilege now enjoyed, of a full baggage car free. Furthermore. It Is essential to your people that the basic constitutionality of this act of Congres.s, enabling the 20 per cent, reduction, should be sus- tained, because of its constitution- ality IS set aside by the railroads in , our case, it will virtually establls^i a precedent that will block any ef- forts you might desire to make for proper relief In this direction. * "BMnally. if there should be any technicalities in the pre.sent 'bag- gage car' contract which might give the road.s an excu.se to refirse the privilege upon the presentation of 25 first-class pasHage tickets bought with mileage book script. It Is far easier to apply to the Inter- state Commerce Commission for rules and regulations that will ar- commodute the theatrical urofe.s- sion under the existing \A\f. than it would be to so throu«h the in- terminablo and uniKM-fs.Mury trouble that would attend any endeavor to 7%^ hf\f ott^^rxfbf^ in^tnrctfonat bring about fresh legislation of this kind, particularly now that the rail- roads are aroused and up in arms against the mileage book, and any or all attempts to reduce the pres- ent exorbitant passenger rates. "Summing up the above thoughts it appears to the writer of this let- ter that this situation has not been fully realized *by the rank and file of the Producing Managers' Asso- ciation. I think you realize it, but I fear that certain others o^ the P. M. A. are apathetic because they have been told That the mileage book would not directly benefit them at this time. -I sincerely hope and I feel sure that you will be successful in presenting these facts, and their far-reaching potential- ties, promptly'and in no uncertain way to the members of your asso- ciation, so that this" much needed a»ai£ilauc« bhall be forthcomiitg." Of even date with this letter (March 31) similar communications were addressed ^o Augustus Thom- as, E. F. Albee, Marcus Loew, Sam Scrlbner, John Ringling and Wil- liam T. Johnson, the new leader of the outdoor showmen. Coopera- tion of picture Interests w^as sous;ht in a letter to Elek J. Ludvigh of Fa- mous Players-Lasky and John Emerson was addressed" similarly as head of Equity. ■ <■ 'l a - WIRED WIRELESS CONSIDERING , $5,700 WEEKLY TALENT BIU HIGGINS and BATES Palace, New York* Next Week Misses Helen Higgins and Natalie Bates, assisted by Horace Qentley. will present their dance oflTerlng, "Sing Dance," at B. F. Keith's Pal- ace, New York, next week (April •). The act is under the DIRECTION OP RALPH G. FARNUM (EMw. S. Keller Office) DAYLIGHT SAVING PROTEST San Franci-^co, April 4. A proposal to place San Francisco In the "daylight saving" list by set- ting the clocks ahead one hour dur- ing the summer months is meeting with opposition from the theatre managements. Rrepresentatives of the theatre men recently appeared before the Public, Welfare Commit- tee of the Board of Supervisos and entered a formal protect against the scheme. Irving Ackerman, representing the Allied Amusement Industry, told the supervisors that by adding one more hour of daylight to the work- ing day local theatres would lose at least 30 per cent, of their patron- age. ■•.. •-. •-., '■' ' "'■ ■'■■^,J\:'yy^ VIRGINIA CENSOR FEES 500 Receiving Sett Being Installed on Staten Island for Test—"Name** Attractions Over Electrical Wiring System of Entertainment OPERATORS' STATE FEE Penn. Co4e May Be Amended— Operators Must Bs Examined Double Charget Burden to PrO' ducers of Other Statee T^lohmond. V'^ . April 4. With the signing of the Motion 'Picture Censorship bill by the Gov- ernor the new law increasing the fees to be charged by the censors 100 per cent, over the old schedule became efTective. The "goat" of the new censorship law Is the producing and distributing concern. The State exhIBTtor.s escape without any additional taxation. Following the passage of the new hill representatives of the produc- ing concerns declared for a cam- paign again&t censorship in Vir- ginia, and a repeal bill will be In- troduced at the next regular session in January. It is expected the re- pea! will have a chance, as many members of the present Assembly are voluntarily retiring, thereby changing the complexion of the 1924 Legislature. ; ' PRICE SCALE WITH XICENSE Boston, April 4. Theatres in this State will be compelled to file a schedule of priceis before securing a license, if a bill admitted in the Senate Mon- day becomes a law. The bill pro- vides that a schedule shall be filed and the prices cannot be changed until approved by the licensing authorities. : --> Harrlsbur^, Pa., April 4. Changes to the picture code of May 1. 1909, whereby the State will receive fees for the examination of operators of motion picture ma- chines, are mads in a bill offered In the House here by Representative John . E. Kunkel, Westmoreland County. The State now. examines operators and grants licenses In all parts of Pennsylvania except in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scran- ton, which are exempted in the new bill for the reason they have their own electrical bureaus that examine operators. Dr. Royal Meeker. Commissioner of Labor and Industry, is back of the measure. It eliminates all piv- vislons relating to the construction bf booths in theatres where pictures are regularly shown and provides for projection rooms ' of fireproof construction. In cases where there 8^re no projection rooms portable enclosures Instead of portable booths, now permissible under law, are allowed. The bill provides that where car- bon arc lights are used operators must be examined by the depart- ment and they will be granted a projectionist's license if found com- petent. The fee for examination is fixed at 14 and successful candi- dates must pay $S additional. The license is Issued for one year and renewals will cost 12. Operators now holding llcejises will be granted new licenses for $3 without exami- nation. No operator can be under 18 years of age. The fee for ap- prentices, who cannot be under 16 years of age .is $1 with 60 cents for renewals. Where incandescent lamps are used the fee is $2 for ex- amination and |2 for succes.<ifnl can- didates with $1 for renewals. The minimum age limit for these oper- ators is also 18 years. All fees are to be paid to the Commissioner of Labor and Indus- try Who will turn the mone^ over to the State Treasurer. ■r Binr-DeCOURVILLE AT ODDS; ENGLISH AaOR CREATES SCENE Tempestuous Premiere^ to Smoothly Running Per- formance of *'Rainbow"^evue at Empire, Lon- don—Most Americans Do Well SUNDAY BILL HEARING Announced in Albany Thursday for Next After Empire three London, April 4. postponements the revue, "The Rainbow," STUDIOS OF STMIDAMCIMS 229^t4S12!Stll«wYork /^W ^nwUv • S/. Q299 drv^ t - opened last night. Everybody was surprised to witness a smoothly running performance of a gorgeous production. The piece is rather weak in comedy, but this will be im-. proved with little difUculty. After the dress rehearsal Sir Al- fred Butt and Albert de Courvillc quar.-eled. Butt declared this would be the last Empire show de Cour- ville would ever put on for him. Butt evfn wrnj r;o far as to iUHliuct the publicity diM»«ritnc'tit to .an- nounce tho produrlion was dollnit.ly off. Under the ri.< umstancos the smooth first iHsht performance was rog-irded as liulo short of a mlrac'U-. One o/ tho outstandinc: hits* i.s Savoy and 15ronnan. in the • VVliirh U Your BroUuT.H" .'.one. and in- o.'hrr skit brought from the S'.a'.en {, itHv^l- 'ii c I n a T ' ^tft l >l tra ;. 4 a r tf^ Ic." Karl ItiPkard scored witli i numbor.T froni tin* .loistm r«=>|»i-rtoire. ;(»race Hayes is not jiulti'-iently 'xn- I?>hnli*' to init)rp«.«i h*'r audi^nro, .wliiie Clrant atnl Wir.m vveiit Mf? with J their dance. They have nmall op- portunity to Rhine, however. A colored troupe is on too long mt the late hour, but went over welL'> DIon^Tltheradge, Andre Chariot's producer, w£u» called In at the last minute to help out. The first performance was some- what confused by a bit. Allan Fos- ter was called out after the final curtain and made a brief speech of thanks, followed bjr calls for de CourvUIe. Jack Edge, a London comedian who had but one scene early in tho show, rushed forward and began "I can't find Mr. de Cour- ville, but I want to say I was en- gaged as low comedian, and have been given only one scene." The curtain was hastily dropped and a band throjigh the centre open- ing .Sftzed Edge by the neck and yatiited him out of sight. The cur- tain wan rai.sed again and the audif-nce had a glimpse of a stage i\ in4 carrying out 4he struggling i:(lre. Do CourvUIe appeared from the wings saying. 'My friends—and I know you are my friends—I deeply f u gr ot th is c tt n t r ot« w >p« Albany, April 4. Notices were sent out today by the New York Senate altd Assembly Committee, which will consider the Levy-Flynn bill, designed to permit Sunday performances by theatrical companies, 'that a hearing on the measure will be given before the Committee on Codes next Thursday. The hearing was scheduled for last week, but was called off. The Actors Equity Association will be represented as opponent to the pro* posed law. Wlll|am A. Brady, rep- resenting the theatrical producers, Is expected in Albany earlj next week to prepare for the hearing. Frank Smlthson, the stage dl« rector, has been at work on a plan for radio entertainment on behalf of the Wired Wireless Corporation, a subsidiary of the North American Company, which Smith calls the "Theatrome," coined front^ "theatre- at-home." The Wired' Wireless company Is installing 500 receiving sets on State Island, New York, this week to test its system of wired en> tertalnment befo^re attacking the n)etropolls. An iivvitation presenta- tion to the press will be held next week to demonstrate the practica* bility of General Squler's patents for receiving music and entertain- ment over the regular house light* ing electric system. The corporation has had a repre« sentative confer on the matter of booking Keith acts for radio pro- grams. It is willing to le# the praotlcabiUty of the apparatus stand as proof and rebuttal against any objections from the big tima vaudeville executives. Keith's lateljr 4ssued a statement against this dual performance by artists for tho radio and vaudeville on the theory it means competition. Sraithson, who this week started rehearsals on the Shuberts* new "Bal Tabarin" production for tho Century Roof, which he is stac- Ing, has developed an elaborato idea for the radio sort of en- tertainment, patterning it after a vaudeville program, but somewhat more pretentious. It calls for 2% hours' entertainment in the after- noon and 8Vi in the ovenlng. Two orchestras of 10 people each are In- cluded in his symposium. The en- gagement of two stellar drawing cards at $1,000 each per week is counted on for the "name" attrac- tion, a system that will be main- tained for the purpose of securing new radio subscribers at $2 a month rental for the service and rQcelver.o, and also to keep faith with those already subscribing. Orchestra and artists' sararies alt told are placed at a maximum of 15.700 per week. The radio company's intention from the start has been ^o spend real money for talent. They "Itre currently considering the elaborate plan Smlthson has submitted. In addition to the usual theatrical artists, the programs Intermlttertly cill for addresses by various man- agers, after dinner speakers of note, sports' authorities, auto-suggestion and otber cult exponents, film folk, newspaper people, writers, et al. ^ ROTH HAS TEMFEBAHENT Baltimore, April 4. Al Roth, dancer with Oscar Adler and Eva Shirley act, is out of the bill this week at the Maryland. Roth, It Is said, grew tempera- mental over his dressing room as- signment and refused to go on Mon- day afternoon. Roth returned to the bill last night. Frisco Rejects Osylight Savino Han I'rancteco, April 4. "Daylight Saving" was turned down by committee of supervisors, who voted not to adopt the reso- lution, after several speakers, led by Irving Arkerman, gave their views in opposition. The/'rowd was in two minds over th<> incident. Some took it seriously. ind there w.as ron.iidc'able disor- ibT with loud and atiffry cries of "Why don't you j?ive English artlst.s a rhanre," and the like. l>p Courville couldn't refrain quiet and gave II up. Ue stepped back. the curtain Was lowered and the audience filed out quietly. Ha??satd .Short has entered a com- plaint at^alnst the revue at the Em- pire, claiming one scene with the chorus girls holding dresses above their heads an,l dropping them for a q»ilek transformation is being used ^ In this year's 'Music Box Revue." E. L KNOCKS VOLSTEAD Providence, April 4. The Rhode Island House of Rep- resentatives has passed an act t#^ repeal the Sherwood Prohibition Enforcement law en a roll call of 41 to 42 after an attempt to in- definitely postpone the measure was defeated. Tiie amended act as adopted re*' peals the dry law and submits the question of. appeal to the electors at the next general election in No- vember, 1924, and is contingent upon its passage to nullify the en- forcement statute^ The Senate ,^i# not concurred. To kiK^W how good a cigarotto roally can be mad4 you must try ar^