Variety (April 1923)

.-V 6 VAUDEVILL ■■^■^.«';-. Thursday, April 9, 1923 N. Y. MUSICIANS STRIKE HALTS; M. M. P. U. MEN RETURN TO POSTS Nicholas M. Schenck Acting as Intermediary Effects Truce—Plan to Make M. M. P. U. Holding Cor- poration—Situation Still Complicated—Possibil- ity of Strike Renewal The sh-ike of members of Mutual JWuBictil Prolfcllve Union, former 310 of the American Federation of Musicians, which started in New York Monday with a wallc out of 70 men from the Capitol and 19 men from the Criterion, (he two Broad- way picture house?, was temporarily halted Wednesday through the In- tervention principally of Nicholas M. Sthenck. Mr. Sthenck. acting as the representative of the Vaude- ville Managers' Protective Associa- tion, succeeded in arranging a truce between Local 802 and the M. M. P. v., which in turn, was followed by the adoption of a resolfition by the M. M. P. U. at a midnight meeting Tuesday, which calls for the or- ganization to modify its Now York state charter and become a holding corporation. An amendment to the M. M. P. U. reJK)lution, however, calls for the M. M. P. U. still to be known as Local 310, and in t-ffect that if there was an amalgamation between Local 802 and former 310. the 310 union would still be the labor organiza- tion with authority to negotiate wage scales, etc., with the managers organizations. The Local 802, which replaced the M. M. P. U., now is the official American Federation of Mu- sicians organization in New York. It appears very doubtful that Local 802 would give up its prerogatives to negotiate wage scales, etc. It seems that at a caucus that took place at 7 o'clock Tuesday night at the M. M. P. U. headquar- ters it had been practically ar- ranged that a resolution simply call- ing for the changing of the M. M. P. U. to a holding corporation would be adopted. At the midnight meet- ing, however, opposition to this plan appeared, and the amendment men- tioned was tacked on the resolution. The general plan of the M. M. P. U. is to have the American Federa- tion of Musicians reinstate the M. M. P. U. or else permit Local 802 to elect its own officers. The Amer- ican Federation of Musicians exec- utive board has not l:<een friendly to such a proposition to date and the amendment tacked on the holding corporation resolution pi-actically leaves matters where thoy have been for three years. One rei)ort had it that the govern- ing board of tho M. M. P. L'. had met after the general M. M. P. U. meeting and passed the holding cor- poration resolution in its original form, without the amendment. The governing board has the power to tak csuch action, but coiiriiination of the boai-d'e reported action could not be secured. The walk out at the Capitol came about as the result of one of the 70 musicians not having a paid up card in local 802. The man without the card was dismissed and the other 69 men at tho Capitol walked out on a sympathetic strike. The name thing applied to the walk out of tho 13 men at the Criterion. .Six men did not have cards at the Cri- terion and 13 walked in sympathy. Hix remaining musicians .stuck to the pit. At the Capitol the show- was given Monday night with tho organ as the muj-ical accompanic- ment. Tho men were out Monday afternoon and night at the Capitol, and Criterion, returning to work Tuesday matinee. It was Paul Vacarelli who effected the return of the Capitol and Criterion musioians, Vacarelli, it is »aid, in.slruciing tlu men to go back to their posts, p«mu1- ing negotiations between the M. M. P. U. and 802. The Playhouse, where "T'p She fJoee" is playing, was the only le- git house affected, 10 men walking out of the I'layhousc orchestra Tuesday night. Tliey went back to work again Wednesday. As matters stand, tlio M. M. P. I', will have to submit th^ir ))lan of holding coi p(>i .ttion to tln< K02 I.c- ~<'al, who will, in turn, suVimit It to the executive board of the Amer- ican Federation of MuMicians. The M. M. P. V. nolding Cor- poration would, if formed, take over the 11.500,000 clubhouse of the It. M. i'. U. on' 861 h sJreet. The SHOWS BANKRUPTED HIM Irvin C. Miller, Colored, Has |13 Left building is said to be mortgaged for ItJOO.OOO. The vaudeville houses, both big and small time, suffered no walk- outs. The Fulton, Brooklyn, a Loew house, on Monday was said to have given notice to several mu- sicians who did not have their dues paid in Local 802, but it is said the notice was withdrawn. . The M. M. P. V.'n action in for- bidding its members paying dues to tho 802 Local, with the quarterly due period of 802 arriving on April 1, was the thing that precipitated the strike in the picture houses. Had the truce not arrived Wednesday it is likely many of the Broadway legit and most of the vaudeville houses throughout Greater New York would have been affected considerably. AVhether the American Federa- tion of Musicians' executive com- mittee will agree to an amalgama- tion of Local 802 and former 310, with the 310 number retained, ap- pears to be doubtful. People in touch with the situation do not *think it like-ly the Federation execu- tive committee will agree to a plan of this kind. The vaudevirie and legit man- agers, despite the truce, are still reported as in preparation for any development that might start the strike again. A call to all members of the American Federation of Musicians capable of filling theatre engage- ments, and available for such en- gagements to hold themselves in readiness to fill the places of any members of Local No. 802, who may go on strike as the result of the mu.sical union situation in New York, was sent out Inst week by Secretan' -V^'illiam J. Kerngood, from the Newark headquarters of the A. F. of M. The call explains the situation without mentioning the M. M. P. U., stating that attempts are being made to have members of the Local No. 802, become disloyal to it, and the American Federation of Mu- sicians by striking despite contracts existing between the New York managers and the A. F. of M. The call in question was sent to every local in the U. S. and Canada. It stated that any member of 802 who also belonged to another local of the A. F. of M. in any other city or town would, if striking, suffer expul.sion from all of the other lo- cals or other local as well as 802. There are a number of New York musicians holding membership In 802, who also still carry cards in other American Federation of Mu- sicians locals. Available musicians holding A. F. of M. membership in cities outside of New York were requested by the call to send their names to Edward Canavan, Chairman of the Govern- ing Board of the Associated Mu- .slcians of Greater New York, the corporate title of Local 802. The call also ask.s these out of town mem- bers to name the instrument or In- struments they play, when sending in tlieir names. The vaudeville managers are re- ported as quietly "making a list of thj various piano accompanists in vaudeville, with a view to having tlie arcompaiiists go into the iiit, if occ.Tsion requires in the event of a strike of a serious nature. EOSES MIDGETS HOLY WEEK lio.ston, April 4. Known .is the worst tlieatriral town in thr country during Holy ^\»Ml:, ike RoHf's Itoyal Midgets, playing as a special attraction at Locw's Orphcum here, surprised the • liow i^eoi>lc last week. The hoviso nearly broke its box offlc reford and it is reporteil to have* (lone |2.'i,000 Irvin C. Miller, 282 West 137th street. New York, colored actor- author, has filed a voluntary peti- tion In bankruptcy in the U. S. Dis- trict Court listing liabilities at $10,083.50, and $13 assets. Miller is co-author of "Lixa," current at the Bayes, New York, and waa formerly financially interested in tyiother all- colored revue, "Put and Take," which had a short run at the Town Hall, New York. Most of the liabilities arise from the latter pro- duction for iponeys due the ca»t and $1,060 Judgment for royalties to Spencer Williams, who composed part of the score. Other creditors include the Cole- man Brothers^ managers of the Lafayette (colored house) in Har- lem; Bon Bon Buddy Co., $1,240; Perrj^ Bradford, music publisher, $1,100. Miller waa formerly of Miller and Anthony in vaudeville. He was also financially interested in "Liza" for a time, but assigned his interest, and is on a straight royalty basis. He is a brother of Flournoy Miller, of Miller and L}8les, authors of "Shuffle Along." PIERONG APPOINTED Qeneral Traveling Manager fe^ Pantages Circuit CONTRACT TAB Keith's Office Tells Agents to Keep Track of Them Keith artists' representatives are designated as responsible for the re- turn as soon as possible to the Keith booking offlces of all contracts sent by the Keith exchange to all repre- sentatives' acts, according, to an order issued by W. Dayton Wege- farth. When an agent books an net, the agents' interest and responsibility should not end there, the Wegefarth order says, but the agents must or- ganize their offices so a contract can be followed to insure Its return. Many contracts are being re- turned slowly and some not at all, according to Wegefarth. This is the fault of the acts to a great extent. but the agents are primarily to blame for not checking up Wege- farth says. The order carries an Implication that agents breaking what Wege- farth terms the "Jast word" on the subject, will be penalized. HYATT TAB WHEEL FLOP — Chicago, April 4. The Hyatt tabloid wheel had its chance to break into Chicago, opened a four weeks' engagement at the National and did such a poor business that Graves Brothers' "Saucy Baby,' said to be the best show on the wheel, pulled out after the first week and took a chance in the "sticks." The business was reported as low as $47 one night. The tabloid form of entertain- ment is only worth while where there is a theatre catering to for- eigners or in some city where peo- ple do not get a chance to see bet- ter grades of entertainment. Iv Sequel to "Sens of Solomon" Hugh Hrrbert hap produced n now act, ".Solomon R Cliildr« n," with five people, three men and two women, besules himst'lf, and is a sequel to his formrr act, "The Sons of Solo- mon.* of wliich he also was the author. ''TROUBLES' LOST $30,000 The Davidow & I>e Ma ire Sliubert •audeville unit, 'Troubles of iyi:2" is closing this week. The show held out the longest of any outside Shu- bcrt unit altliough for the pai?t few weeks it has been wildcat ting in bookings, through the Shubert vaudeville eeason having been abruptly brought to a close. While the "Troubles" unit did not lose money on its overhe.id this sea- son, it is still Nehind its prodnrtion cost, about $30,000. Pantages Books James, Columbus The James, Columbus, O., will hr-f^in phiying the I'antages bills April 15 .switching from the CJus Sun ofUce. The last Sun show will play the house next week (April 9). Tho James has entered into a booking agreement with Pantages for 10 weeks. The Sun bills here were reporte«l as having proven un- satisfactory since Sun sold the Uivoll, Toledo, and his Indianapolis house, both of which are now booked by Pantages. The James will be a full week on the Pantages routes. -•■Ji 1 This is.a picture of \an and Ver- non, and Van and Vernon are con- sidered a ver>' good act, at least Van and Vernon think so anyway. We know that this is Frank Van Hoven's idea of advertising, but lots of other folks use Frank Van Hoven's idea, so Van and Vernon hope that Frank Van Hoven won't get sore at Van and Vernon, be- cause Van and Vernon think that Frank Van Hoven is doing a great act, and Van and Vernon promise F>ank Van Hoven that they will not use ice or introduce the boys to each other and ask them to shake hands. We like Frank Van Hoven and we also like Van and Vernon. (Signed) VAN and VERNON p. S.—As Frank Van Hoven helped to write this ad there will be no complaints made to the N. V. A. CHrS SIR JOSEPH New York Agent Discovers a Gins- berg in the West Chicago, April 4. Harry .Santley, no relation to Jo- seph Santley, is leavinij Chicago and will invade New York with Arthur Horwitz, to become his first aiislstant in his booking activities. The most notable accomplishment of Horwitz's stay in Chicago was the annexation of this young fellow, who is a uniquo character, fitted for a "king's Jester." Santley's stay In Chicago has been a series of clashes with fate. Few of the younger chaps in vaudeville have acquired a larger acquaint.mce, or have been tho subject of more comment. .Santley is chock full of ambition, and there is no booking assignment so large that it stag- gers him. His position out here might be compared to that of Sir Joseph Ginsberg in New York. 0F7EBS FOR ISHAM JONES The Isham Jones orchestra, now playing an engagement at the Col- lege Inn, underneath the Sherman House, Chicago, Is a po^^.sibility for vaudeville. The musicians weekly through for a two-a-day are asking $2,500 Chfirlie Morrison plunge. The Or- pheum Circuit is interested for the Palace, Chicago, to the extent of $2,250 net, which may be accepted. It Is understood that the Keith Circuit would bring the turn East, providing the band accepts $2,000. Orpheums Open Over Summer Several of the Orpheum Middle Western houses will remain open this summer, with a change of pol- icy. The Mainstreet, Kansas City, will play six acts and a feature pic- ture three times daily, beginning Sunday next. The Orpheum, K. G., which plays the big time Orpheum bills, will close Saturday (April 7). The Orpheum, Minneapolis, will change policy for the .summer months May 6. The houpe will play six acts instead of eight and give three performances daily In- .stead of two. the present policy. The Palace, St. Paul, which was taken over by the Orpheum from Fiiikkstcin ^ Rubin on a 20-year lea^e. will play the summer Or- pheum bills of six acts and pic- tiucs thrice daily. The Orpheum. St. Paul, will close for the summer. LOEW STRENGTHENING The Loew Circuit is strfrcthening tho bills at Locw's Ave. 15. New York, and Palace, Brooklyn, houses since the opening of the new in- dependent Premier, near the Palace. Among those secured are Frank Fay and Kramer and Boyle. It is pl.inn^d to raisf the siandanl of bills at ea(h house from now on. ^ FOX CUT DOWN BILLS The Fox houses only played three vaudeville acts on their bills this week, dropping the others through booking "Kobiii Hofnl." Spokane, April 4 H. W. Plerong. manager of th^ Spokane Pantages theatre for th^ last three months, has been ap^ pointed general traveling manage^ of the Pantageq circuit. Mr. Pierong is now in Edmonton^ Alta., where ho went to open a neinj Pantages houseWor the Canadian! circuit. The Pantages circuit had the house at Edmonton but closed it two years ago. The present light- ing of the house by the Pantagea people is in the nature of a re^ opening. Mr. Pierong was made manager ( the Spokane house following tho death of E. Clarke Walker, in De-« cember. The new general traveling manager came to Spokane from th« road as he was making a tour oC the Pantages circuit at the time of his' appointment. He was in Alex* ander Pantages office at Los An* geles for a number of years. Walter Finney, a local publicity man for the Pantages house here, has been acting manager since the departure of Mr. Pierong. 1 HOUSES CLOSING strand, Itbaca, N. Y. (pop vaud), closes June 4; Park, Meadville, Pa., closes May 12; Victoria, Wheeling, W. Va., April 30; Glove, Glovers- ville, N. Y., May 14; Colonial, Nor* wich. Conn., closes May 14; Bradi* ford. Pa., clases April 23. Orpheum, Kansas City, April ti Orpheum, Denver, May 26; Or- pheum, Oakland, June 1. Most of the Interstate houses In Texas will close for the summer. One of the exceptions will be Dal- las, where musical stock will be in- stalled for ten weeks. i \ M 'i 4 TIMBERG'S UNIT STOPS "Frolics of 1922," the Herman Tin^berg Shubert vaudeville unit, wound up its season Saturday at tho Chestnut Street opera house, Philadelphia. Timberg may reproduce the Apache scene from the unit for summer vaudeville. "Frolics" wa» produced by I. H. Herk and was one of the few units—outside of the Shu- bert-owned ones—to reach into March. 5TH AVE. ENLARGED ORCH. Proctor's 5tii avenue, New York; now has a 10-piece orchestra in the pit, all new men lead by a violin player. It is the first time in years other than a piano player has led that house's former seven-piece or- chestra. The entire innovation appears to have been the idea of Bill Quaid« the theatre's resident manager. •■•-■ ■;{• SAM SIDMAN AS A SINGLE Sam Sidman will return to vaud( ville as a single turn in a new id( for a monolog, written by Aarofl -^ Hoffman and S. E. Keiser. Mr. Sidman lately appeared wltM ,: Laurette Taylor in "Humoresque,*^ ; securing marked attention in bis roI# opposite the star. ■i mSS BRICE'S ONE SHOW Elizabeth Brlce played the Moa«« day matinee only at the Palace^ New York, this week. Called In by the illness and absence of Sybil Vane from the bill, Miss Brlce left the program following her first per- formance in order to reduce the running time. The Monday matinee concluded around 5.45, • ... ■4 MAE FENNESSY'S ILLNESS Chicago, April 4. Mae Fennessy. assistant managei* of the fair d» partmrnt of the West- ern Vaudevillo Managers' Associ- ation, is back ct her desk after a« year in the hospital More Big Timers in Summer The Keith otfice may have more big time houses open this summer in the middle wc.U than formerly. Keith's. Cincinnati, is scheduled to remain open all summer. Hereto- fore, it closed in thr heated spell. One or two oiht-iM art- lig tiring on the summer « h.uices also, with de- cisis ns i»scrv('d for a week or two. Crew Strike at Middletown, N. Y. The stage hands in Middletown, N*. Y., h;t\«' i,M.nf> .4*+»--#it4sik^ AS the managers of tint town refuse to accord recognition to the local union of tho I. A. T. .S. E. Non-union men have replaced the Ktrikers. who nri' now pkkctinp the local theatres. . '^