Variety (April 1923)

■ -:. ■■ - - ■• ■ ■ ..-t. f^y I, : ■-. Thurfday, April 5, 1928 ._ _ _ JV^AUDEVILLE s. ■^■'^ ITARIETY i am TWO HomHS •i - .<■*,'';?.«<.. Alice Mac Craig, John Murphy'* Companion, Sent Home— Murphy Had 10 Cents Left—Pair Walked Long Way Looking for Work Montreal. April 4. John Murphy, aged 38. vaudeville ftctor, arrested in Belleville. Ont. more than a week ago. was sen- tenced to two months In the County Jail in police court, when found guilty on a charge of vagrancy. Mr. H. F. Ketcheson. J. P.. and Mr. J. E. Walmsley. J. P., presided. Alice Mae Craig, who will be 18 years of age June 8 next, who was traveling with Murphy as his wife, left for her home In Woodstock. Ont. Her train fare was sent to police headquarters at Belleville some days ago by the Chief Consta- ble at Woodstock, and a communi- cation was received from the girl's mother there, requesMng that she be allowed to come home. Murphy was defended by C. A. Payne (gratis), as the accused was the owner of his clothes only and some 8 or 10 cents. Mr. Payne pleaded that the man be held until the girl arrived home, and then be allowed to leave the city In a lim- ited time. J. P. Ketcheson would have agreed to it. but Mr. Walmsley was fixed in his opinion that the tnan should be locked up for a time. Alice Mae Craig, whose stage name was Elsie Craig, lives in Woodstock. Early in January she was out of work. While in the studio of a man hamed Allen. Hawaiian music teach- er there, with a girl friend who was taking a lesson, she was introduced to Murphy. Murphy engaged her to go out with him on the vaudeville stage as a "Smoke Queen." Murphy would carry the act himself, opening and closing it. and the girl's appear- ance would be but for a few min- utes each showing. No experience on the stage was necessary to play her part. She was to share half the proceeds. Murphy at first want- ed her to live with him as man and Wife, and she refused. I-.ater, how- ever, she consented. From Wood- stock they went to London, where Alice secured employment at Fen- fnan's Knitting Mills there. She was later laid off there, and then the vaudeville started In earnest. From London they went to St. Thomas on the radial. They then walked to *rillsonburg, took the train to Brant- ford, walked to Hamilton, and took the radial to Toronto. From To- ronto they took the train to Oshawa. walked to BowmanviUe. where they slept in chairs in the police station over night. From Bowmanville, they walked to Belleville, except for a ride which they received along the road in an automobile. Detective J. Trualsch, who made the arrest, told on the stand of re- ceiving a telephone call from Mrs. John Bell about 7.50 p. m., March 20, telling him that there was a married woman seeking a night's lodging at the G. W. V. A. club rooms. The oflflcer went over, and along with Mayor D. T. McManus was informed by Murphy that h^ was a veteran, and that his reg- imental number was 404226. that he had been a private. He had his dis- charge papers. The number was Wrong, however. It should have been 4040226, and this aroused suspicion. The matter was invest boated, and when it was admitted that the couple were never "churched," they were held at police station. Well dres.sed. respectable-looking, and well-groomed, Murphy took the stand and began to unrave' his checkered career in a nutshell. Born in Dublin, Ireland, 38 years ago, Murphy claims no town or city hi.s home. His father was R major In the British army and died in Im- perial service at Bombny, India. When five years of age Murphy left 8»o;-my Ireland and went to rea for several years. Later he cr.me to Canada and wo:l;ed all over the country at various klnl^ of work. «rd also "monkeyed" in t'le show business, as he said. He worked in Megantic, Quebec, In the woods, as a motor mechanic. and know much alout horses. He has been with all the big circuses, Bii(T,»lo Bill and Wild West Shows, ~~^T\d he lost breath stringing the names of the shews off to the court "We were on our way to Montreal to book up at the booking office for pngugoments, wli'ch might have ^ lastel some six months, or might poaaibly hnvo taken us to the west coast, on the different times. We were playing our way to Montreal, booking, or trying to book engage- ments for the night. In the larger towns through which we passed." The young girl amusingly stated at one point in the case that they did not consider Bowmanville as be- ing a large enough town to book in. There had been no rehearsals held for this "Smoke Screen Mystic," and Alice had never acted previously on the stage. There Is no law In the CaT>acllan criminal code against any man tot- ing a v.oman about through the country as his wife, the nearest ap- proach to a law against It b*Ing the proposed act, recently submitted, relative to the signing of hotel reg- isters. CHILD'S IMPROPER DANCES Court Prohibits^^i Appearing in MR nevieve Morris Perry's Act. Syracuse, N. T., April 4. Child acts at Watertown. N. Y.. theatres are a thing of the past. This Is the result of the case of Genevieve Morris, little dancer, whose grandmother, Mrs. Jennie Lynch, petitioned for guardianship of her, alleging that she had been doing Improper dances as a mem- ber of the Fred Perry troupe of juvenile amateurs. Judge Harold F. Porter of the Children's Court has made the girl a ward of the court, has ordered her to report to a probation officer once a week, and has forbidden the girl to give an exhibition dance be- fore Mayor Robert E. Cahill. This appearance would be necessary under the law which provides the mayor must approve of licenses for the theatrical appearances of a child under sixteen. DUNCANS' PUBLICITY Greatest Meed of Space in 'Frisco Ever Given Orpheum Act San Francisco, April 4. The Duncan Sisters, headlining at the Orpheum, did an impromptu act during the first two days of their engagement beCause of a sudden attack of laryngitis which afflicted Vivian. By Tuesday night Mise Duncan was over her attack and their regrular act was presented for the first time. No act over the circuit In years has received the publicity given to these two former San Francisco girls. They began their career here, having been singers In local cafes before they went east. SAILED WITH T770 ACTS Ofllcer Vokes and "Don" sailed Wednesday on the President Van Buren to open April 16 for 20 weeks on the Moss Empires starting the tour in Newcastle. Accompanying Vokes was Halklng's Comedy Sil- houettes act which Vokes owns and will produce for the Moss Empires in conjunction with his own. Both turns will be booked jointly and will sail for South Africa following the British tour. Johannesburg is Vokes' home town. Vokes's previous play-or-pay con- tracts with Pantages held up the British tour because of a V. M. P. A. ruling that the local dates must first be fulfilled. The British circuit as a courtesy set back the conflict- ing dates from Feb. 19 to April 16, to accommodate Officer Vokes. INTERSTATE CIRCUIT GETS ) «f*- ••v^<«. ■ IDEA FROM lUTCHY KOO' 11 , > .. HARRY BUNCE say*:— "In Terre Haute, several of the townsmen were discussinir the fact of Eva Tanguay coming to the Strand. One, apparently the best- versed on show business, spoke up and said: 'She will draw very big, those mind-reading acts aiways do.'" ARTHUR— —HARBT FRAZER BUNCE "DOUBLES TROUBLES" McNAIXY WITH McHUGH John McNally Is now the New York representative of Bart Mc- Hugh. McNally was formerly as- sistant to Pat Woods, the Keith booker. He resigned to affiliate with May Tully In writing and producing vaudeville material. . McNally will represent the Phila- delphlan on the Keith floors. Mc- Hugh has been in poor health for several months and but recently returned from a health resort In the south. D. D. H.'S PLAY Monologist Negotiating -~ Broadway Manager Will Produce Raymond Hitchcock's Business in Texas—Circuit Has Played Keith's Vaudeville for Years—"Koo" Goes to Chicago for Summer Try After May 12 RADIO HOOK-IN JAM Firm of Acrobats Blows Up and Stage Folk Out D. D. H. Is negotiating for a play that he will appear in, produced by a Broadway manager. The monologist who has been In vaudeville for a few seasons re- cently advertised In Variety for a play. He made the advertisement a display one, and it brought him a quantity of scripts. Before entering vaudeville, D. D. H. is said to have been an actor in the legit with considerable sectional fame throughout the country. Since appearingr. and successfully. In the twice daily he has not revealed his full name, although the initials used by him 4n the billing matter are believed to be his own. The Smart Set Radio Shop on Eighth avenue between 48th and 49th streets. New York, closed Mon- day after a month under the man- agement of two acrcbats. Martin Moore (Flying Nelsons), who Is out of the city, and Frank Cromwell (Flying Cromwells), who helped to finance the enterprise with |1,000. Cromwell charges Moore departed without making an accounting of goods and money, and he does not know where the business stands. A numt>er of stage people are losers by the collapse of the venture, among them Trixle Friganza, who Is reported to have invested |1,200 In It. Winifred, Bruce and Duffls also are minus an investment of $1,000. Moore was the promoter. He was of the ring act of Moore and Martin, appearing with a woman. They played the Orpheum circuit last season. During the tour Moore became acquainted with Archie CotUnz, who ran a radio ehop in Kansas City and conceived the idea of using him as mechanical foreman for a New York business. With this In view he canvassed the acts on the bills he played on and secured financial contributions from numer- ous acts, most in |100 lots. McGREEYYS' FIGHT Frank McGreevy Charged With As- saulting Wifs Chicago, April 4. Frank McGreevy. playing at the Acadejny the first half, got Into a row with Mrs. Rosa Doyle Mc- Greevy, and Is reported to have struck her. He was placed under a $500 peace bond. The McGreevys have been quar- reling for some time about an act which they used formerly as a team, and which McGreevy Is now pre- senting and which his wife Is ofTer- Ing with another partner under the name of Doyle and Wrlsten. Nat Phillips, owner of the ma- terial, wired from Boston March 81 McGreevy only Is entitled to use It. The McGreevys met at Schallman Brothers offlce la the Delaware building, where the encounter oc- curred- AL SIEGEL'S DEBTS Husband of Bee Palmer in Bank- ruptcy Owes 12,262.50 NO A. & H. BOOKINGS Chicago Offices Deny Coast Affil- iation—Association's Own Ciro4iit Albert Slegel. giving his business as that of "musician." filed a vol- untary petition In bankruptcy Satur- day in the New York federal district court. Al Siegel, husband of Bee Palmer, is currently featured with his orchestra at the Ringside caba- ret. New York, and has appeared In vaudeville with the band and previously with Miss Palmer. Liabilities are $2,262.50; assets none, excluding $100 exempted wearing apparel. The Oriental ResUurant. 414 St. Charles street. New Orleans, is listed twice among the four creditors. A $1,500 sum ad- vanced Sept. 15 Is mentioned and another liability is a suit for dam- ages for breach of contract by the same people, value unknown. This arises from an engagement Slegel and Miss Palmer were to have played In the new Oriental cabaret In New Orleans which was inter- rupted for some reason. Miss Palmer is in Chicago having been there since December. Both were rehearsing at Relsenweber's shortly before her departure. Their relations since have been again re- ported strained. The Interstate Circuit may revert io legit attractions next season, ac- cording to reports from Texas. The Interalale operates a chain of Ma- jestic theatres through Texas, and has been booked through the Keith office for years, ' , . * This season when business slumped, Karl Hoblltzelle, president of the circuit booked Raymond Hitchcock In the Jones-Green "HItchy-Koo of 1925." Excellent business followed, and Is said to have decided Hoblltselle on the ex- periment next seKson at least for some traveling attraction bookings. "HItchy-Koo" did $4.58» at the Fort Worth Majestic March 27, and followed up this performance on the next day with better than $5,000 at .the Majestic. Dallas. Hitchcock Is the first legitimate star to play some of the Majesties In six years. High priced cotton and conse- quent prosperity of Texas is given as the reason for Hitchy's success, but shrewd showmen blame It on the girls. The south Is strong for girls and glrlio attractions, as witness the Duslness done by even mediocre tabs as against the distinct flops registered ' In this territory and further north by dramatic produc- tions sans chorus. Jones and Green have gone ahead of "Hltchy-Koo" blazing the trail like circus routers. They have In advance George Degnon, old time a^ent for the BufCak> Bill Wild West handling the publicity, and as his assistant George Kiley, another white top trouper, handling the billing., Lee McDonald Is the com- pany manager. The show Is booked up to May 12 In the south, following which It win head into Chicago for a summer try. Some of the Interstate circuit bookings are "The Bat," "Irene," "LIghtnin*," "First Year," Harry Lauder, "The Cat and the Canary," "The Gingham Girl," "Good Morn- ing, Dearie," "Clinging Vine." "Passing Show of 1922." "Blossom Time" and "Kempy." The larger shows have been de- nied many Texas cities through the fact that stage room could not be obtained. Chicago, April 4 There will be no aflflliatlon of the Orpheum Circuit with the Ackerman & Harris Circuit, nor will there be any arrangement perfected by whlchi the Ackerman & Harris time will be booked by either the Orpheum or Western Association offices in Chi- cago. The report of a possibility of a booking arrangement is denied by powers In the Orpheum Circuit. A -kcrman & Harris' houses are lo- cated in practically the same cities the association will occupy next season, it Is claimed. The Western Vaudeville coast tour Is to have 10 weeks going to the coast and 10 returning. The contracts will be pay or play and will require that the 20 weeks be played within 23. JOHNNY AND SaY DOOLEY ACT A report said this week that upon recovery of Johnny Dooley from his serious attack of fever and when his sister, Ray. is ready to leave "The Follies,** that both may frame an act for vaudeville. Johnny had to leave "lAdy But- terfly" after appearing In It hot a few nights owing to the sudden Ill- ness. WOOLF'S "COLD FEET" Edgar Allen Woolf. the vaudeville author, booked to appear as a con- cert artist at a recital to be held at Aeolian Hall, New York, one night this week, cancelled the engagement on account of illness. ' It Is generally reported the au- thor got "cold feet" and wallced out of the date after an advance sale had gotten well underway. He was to have given his Impressions of stage celebrities, which he has done at private affairs. It was to have been his Initial ap- pearance in i»ubll<* with the arrange- ments for the affair made by Jcnle Jacobs. 4 WEEKS AT PALACE Van and Schenck Get Longest Chi< cago Palace Booking Chicago. April 4. Van and Schenck have been given a date of four weeks, starting May 27, at the Palace here. It is the longest engagement by one turn for the house since It opened. The act Is also said to have re- reived an offer of $2,500 weekly from a Detroit picture place. LANGDON IN FILMS Comedian Contracts for Year with -^ —- Sol Lesser Productions -- -—- San Francisco, April 4. A contract for a year to appear In Sol Lesser film productions has been entered into by Harry Lang- don, the comedian in vaudeville. The Langdon act Is at present on the Orpheum circuit. DIKECT TO ORPHEUM ,San Francisco, April 4. Ijola and Sonia returned from Australia last week on tlie 'Niag- ara,'* They played 12 weeks for Harry Musgrovo and were l>ooked on their arrival to open at the Orpheum here next week. Simon-Fanchon Wolff Wedding'Day Sin Fr.anrlHPo, April 4. Bill Simon, one of the owners of the Palais Uoy.il and Fanchon Wolff of Fanchon and Marco, who recently announced their engapfrmont l.i«t week, have set the day of thf wedding for April 2.'». DOROTHY RUSSELL'S 3-ACT Dorothy Russell, a daughter of the late Lillian Russell, Is prepar- ing to enter vaudeville with a three- act In "one." Miss Russell Is a composer and I)lanl.st. She will devote the greater portion of her efforts in the new turn to musical work with a man and vs<»man tn support. Maggie Cline Better .MapRl** Cllne, seriously III with . -N ;'•>. m ]H roj)ot''vi r)n the way to . (Hiij'l-;<' I <•( f)\ Aty. I^.ist week she" aitrndod a performance at Red Bank, N. J., near her home. Some wf^clcs ago her condition was I roristdereii so ^rave th.at she was anoinl'Ml l»y the rhnrfh.