Variety (April 1923)

! » J ;.) 91 ■■■-■(■>■ BEDSIDE CHATS By N£LIJ£ ££Y£LL r-..A l>ithn BMtcli imn on a hoopital patient sounds ntthtr paiudozical, but M |0 tJie truth In m^ oaae. At least, I got the tan In the hoapital yard Ibe other morning, while 1 waa reading a letter from Palm Beuoh. Prob- A|»1y If I bad not been to Intent on the missive I wouM have thought to I »rotect my complexion from the ravages of the spring sun, k Only one who baa been cooped up in a one-room and private vnmh- r stand apartment can appreciate the thrills I Have been receiving these *tailmy vernal mornings, for they have b«>^n tnkino^ rr\fi> In my Buick to the roof and to the yax*d. The yard, of course, is having a terrific •truggle to escape the clutches of the winter desolation, bricks are f -till piled in the summer house, the grass is »liU brown and dry and the ♦limbing vinee do not show a great deal of life as yet, but It Is pleasant 'tmi leafct to sit In the sunlight and feel the touch of the April wind. Sunday morning I had myself piloted to the roof, where I could «lUnpsP all the tall buildings ai-ound Times square, and there, surrounded *y nuns. I thought of all those who shared the joys of that bustling district witn me for so many years. It was such a beautiful day that I knew as many of you as could get away would be scooting along countr>- roads. And I hoped that you would wl.sh a good morning for me to every bloswoming tree and hedge you saw. :_ . •♦ ^ , ' Perhaps you think that sitting calmly in a hospital yard is one of the * m'orld'.s least hazardous occupations, but the contrary was proved last '' eek by one of my callers. In order to read my mail I had taken with •JOYS AND GLOOMS OF BIVAY ■i me my "see-looks." the very descriptive appellation bestowed by my :. jne my i3T«?-."-i^..».. »..~ >-•.? 1—-~ —»-»-—»..»^.. »^ ..^», ^j ,..., ■ Uttle granddaughter upon the magnifying glass I use for reading. ^Presently I had a caller, and. seeing my lap burdened with newspapers, "■ letters, magazines and the ".see-loolis." he very gaUantly relieved me I 0t them. We had become very interested in our discussion when sud- denly I smelled the odor of bumlivg woolen and precisely at the same jnonient my friend jumped from his seat with an exclamation of pained iurprise. He had unconsciously focused the rays of the sun through the reading glass at a spot just above his knee, and the result was a hole In the leg of his trousers and a scorched patch upon his knee. Here- ' after I shall be very careful how I hold that rending glass \\hen I am outside, for it would be quite a bother for me to have to run to the f corner and turn in an alarm. J.- i One of my pet superstitions faileil me last we*'k, and I am beginning to klose my faith in the power of jinxes. Formerly, every time I had my ' name and address inserted in a telephone directory or acquired a large iiupply of stationery imprinted with the same legend, I Immediately ' moved to some other addre«.s. I have had no opportunity of testing the telephone directory jinx, but I did get a lot of nice correspondence cards and note paper with my "John Hancock"' and my pr«^ent location en- ' graved at the top. yet to all outward appearance, 1 am not going to 'change domiciles for at least a couple of months. And by that time all the stationery will be used up. Page Ken LAndis! "Word has just come to me that a real baseball team, anxious and willing to get into the pennant fight, has found an owner. I wont have to write a play about "Nine Ball Players in SeoTch * of an Owner," and produce it in the Czecho-Slovakian tongue in order to make enough money to satisfy the boy who wrote me that: "We have a baseball team on our park, or as some people calls It, a playground. "We want to get hold of some actor who wants to back a good basegall team. If he would furnish the uniforms either he or ourselves would have his name lettered on them, and we would play all season under his name. * Our director is always talking about you and says you know a lot of actors who come to see you. I wiah our baseball team was in New York, so we could come. too. If you know of any actor who wants us iff he his baseball team, please let me know and I will send you all our pictures.". The letter was signed by the whole team, and after one glance at the line-up, which sounded \ilte the roll call of the Irish Fusiliers, I reepectfully submitted the propoeiUon to Fiske O'Hara. telling hkn that he could tows for the honors with the Dooleys, the Rooneys and John McCormack. But he did not wait to do that, and now there is a happy bunch of young Cleveland bali players with the name of Fiske O'Hara upon their uniforme. And Mr. O'Hara has Just posted a challenge for Harry Frazee. There were three things bunched Into one day recently, just to prove •ven more conclusively than ever that life is worth living and that the world Is full Of love and kindness. Ttie first bobbed up In the morning In the shape of flowers from Charles W. Fraser, who had been tran.sferred from the Boston Keith oflfice to the New York ofllce. His note said that he had found the flowers on his desk to welcome him- when he arrived and that a short while later he dtscovered that the desk once had been inine. "I couldn't conceive," he continued, '^tbat flowers on any desk that ever belonged to you could poesibly be for any other than your- eelf." v.. And we had never met. . ' . - In the noon mail there came a letter from Billy Grady with a request for a picture of me that might be used in the program of the National Vaudeville Artists' Sick Benefit Fund. I was greatly touched, not at the thought of seeing my picture in print, but by the kindness that prompted the action. Then, at 8 that evening, my nurse came in to tell me that R. H. Burnside was on the telephone with the message that the curtain was rising at the Hippodrome on the last anniversary performance that house "Will ever see. He was thinking of me, he had asked the nurse to say, and wishdng that I had recovered enough to be with them that night. It was a big thing and a kind thing for a man in Mr. Bumslde's position to have slipped away to a telephone at his very busiest moment to get a message of cheer to an ailing and lonely fellow-craftsman. - All this came on the very day when I most needed bucking-up, for I "Was despondent as I ever allow myself to be, and was ill enough to have all the nurses falling over one another to take my pulse and give me medi- cine. It's no wonder that the doctors have a tough time killing me when friends like these are pulling for me. - Murray Hulbert was talkin«r. Murray Is president of the Board of Al- dermen, Mayor of New York when Mayor Hylan Is away, "regular fel- low," and knows more people In theatricals than any other man In poll- tlcs. "I've always had an Idea for the movies," said Mr. Hulburt, "which looks so good to me that I can't understand why the big producers don't do it. I come from a small town of 4.000 population where a real show never appears. "Why not film Broadway stage successes, while they are still running, with the original casts and send them through the country to the small towns? It seems to mo it would be tremendously popular." Mr. Hulbuit faila to coneidcr that a ftJm version, lor exampl*. of "The Circle," a Broadway success, with John Drew and all the other stars, would bore a small town audience to death. They would demand a well made picture of any kind with stars they have learned to know. The plan is u.sed to a slight extent. Several companies make one reel a week showing bits of stage hits and the private lives of the stage stars, which should be even more popular than they are. They need only proper ex- ploitation on the parU.^of the theatre man to make them a real drawing card. ANTRI-PHONY I get tired of the same old house and the same fofti- wall.s. I grow weary of familiar halls and of plod«ling down known .stairs. Id like to change my quarters now and then. I like to clian«e my a«pect and my clothes And feel foreign to myself ;ind hard f«>r my friends to recognize. But if you will inquire for my soul you will find it always at the same address. — Robert J. Roc, in "The Bookman." Mr Roe has nothing on me. 1 m tired of this apartment ^nd the same old furniture and the same old faces in the elevator. 1 d like to change my quarters and my telephone number, So th a t fft rangers wouldn"t be a.sking me all day Jong, "Is this Milgrims?" And, believe me. if my soul were the only thing to be move<l id have a new address tomorrow. —Baird Leonard, in "Morning Telegraph." Eddie Dowling, Irishman, broke Into society last Saturdaj\ As guest of Mr. and Mr^. Hulburt he attended a social function where practically all of the other guests were the "younger set" In society, debutantes and college boys for the most part. He was Introduced to one of the chap- erones, a lady whose name means much socially. In the course of the conversation Eddie, In his blunt intentionally devoid of finesse speech told the lady what he thought of the young men at the party. "They're all useless to themselves and posterity," said Eddie. "They do no good in the world. The other we'tk a few chorus girls got together and raised $4,000 for another chorus girl sick in Saranac. None of these people could ever raise |l. Every Sunday night I play a benefit for some charitable cause, and so does ever>'One else In show business when asked. What do these people do? Nothing, I'm surprised at you or anyone else wasting time on them when you might be doing something worth while in life." And the lady took it. liked It, and agreed with Eddie. Later, at supper, Eddie had a problem on his hands. "Every Saturday night," he told Murray Hulburt, "In our little suite at the Astor my wife, Rae Dooley, cooks pork and beans over a little electric stove so you can smell it all over the hotel. Now If I eat this ice cream I can't do justice to the pork and beans. But I'd better wait tor if I don't eat her beans Rae will crown me with a frying pan." Eddie will leave for Europe early in July for a vacation, and on his return will send ".Sally, Irene and Mary" on tour. Tarassof, famous dance Instruc- tor, calls Louise Brown of "Sally, Irene and Mary," "the American Pavlowa.'* It looks as if two chorus girls. Hazel Webb of the "Follies" .ind Babe Stanton of "The CJingham Girl," are set for pictures. C. C. Burr, who produces comedies at his Glendaile studios, is arranging for both to be- come jjcreen comediennes when their present shows close. The two have been making their pals In theatricals laugh for years, and now they'll have the chance to cash In on their comic ability. , . The entvtainment season on Long Island Is about to open. Allan Dwan is looking for a country home for the summer. Anyone who has ever been to one of Allan's parties will be interested In knowing where to spend their week-ends this season. Allan Is 'sometimes the victim of his own popularity. On several occasions last year his home contained po many guests.ha had to sleep In the garage. And a picture director too, "Souls for Sale" overlooked that one. Genevieve Tobln seems an ideal star for pictures, yet has never ap- peared on the screen. She is negotiating with Fox and Paramount for a contract, but is waiting to get the right terms and conditions. The Fox organization recently sent a staff of electricians, camera men, and directors to the Llttlo Theatre and filmed her in scenes in "Polly Pre- ferred', which It Is said, increased their interest In the little star. Miss Tobin is ambitious to do the play on the screen. Harry Relchenbach, press agent extraordinary, who promoted one of the season's prize flops, "The Queen of Sin," claims he has sold out his interest in "Slendaform," a sort of cream which acts as a reducer, and has a new one. It's a : liaving brush, which costs one-sixteenth of a cent to maks^ Harry claims he has already secured enough orders from the PuTtanan company and the Statler Hotels to start a factory on Long Island. Harry brought the sky writing aviator to America, and his theatrical pOans Include the Importation next fall of the Swedish ballet which ran 28 weeks in tfjo Folleg Marigny in Paris. Harry saj's tho Swedes will oner an evening's entertainment which wiH make Gest'a "Chauve Souris" look like a lot of amateurs. As Is always the case with Harry, he Is permitting someone else to Invest cash against his brains. He can't lose. Motion picture producers are constantly looking for "new faces" on the screen, yet make no efforts to get them. The public Is tired of most of the old stars and wants new ones. Yet the producers fail to give an adequate chance to even the prospective stars they do see. Some tVme ago a prominent producer haS a few scouts looking for pretty girls with brains and gave them screen tests. Not one in ten would do, but the test did not do them justice. The studio manager for a big western com- pany came east recently and said that he was looking for 10 girls who combined brains and beauty to take to the Coast with him under con- tract, as most of the glrOs on the Coast were too careless and lacking in ambition to become star material. He didn't find one. An example of how easy It is to create a new star Is shown In the case of Eleanor Board- man, a big hit as the lead in "Souls for Sale." She walked into the lot as an extra, and was picked, and made good in the star part. There are scores of others who could do the samr- under similar conditions, if they al.so had beauty and brains, a combination the stage looked for before there was a screen. STOCKS (Continued from pa<« li> nard. Flora Oado. Thomas Coflln Cook, director. •<' "With the presentation of "Her Temporary Husband" this week the Poll Players at the Hyperion in New Haven, Conn., will close their S4 weeks' season. Many of the players will become members ot Poll stocks In Springfield and Worcester, Mass., and Hartford, Conn., this summer. The Kehrleins of Fresno have acr quired the White the«tr« in Freano. Cal., for the summer. This house plays iirpheum vaudeville In season. When Kehrleins took over the house it was upon the understanding, ac- cording to report, that they would use It to play pictures. This stipu- lation was not contained In the lease, however, and they now an- nounce they will use It for musical comedy stock. The Princess Players, after 41 weeks of dramatic stock at the Howland, Pontlac, Mich., close May 6, and the summer policy of the- house will bo musical comedy. It is a record stock run for a city tho size of Pontlac. A woman dramatic agent who has been in the business but a short while is attempting to sell an in- terest in her oflflce. A stock man- ager was offered a half Interest for 11.000. While considering the offer he was informed the same prop- osition had been made to an actor for 1750. i': The stock policy at the Crescent, Brooklyn, which followed a season of Shubert vaudeville units In the house, has caught on in the section. Henry Duffy will follow the current engagement of "The DemI-"VlrgIn" for two weeks, with "The Gold Dig- gers" for four weeks. Business picked up Immediately the house' switched from the Shubert units to stock. - .. ... M. J. Ryan and Gertrude Dion McGlll, proprietors of the Ryma Stock Co., are recruiting a company to travel over a circuit of 12 towns, with a repertoire from the stock li- braries. The company will open May 7th in Provlncetown, Mass. The Adolph Wlnnlnger stock will remain out until June 3 when It closes at Oshkosh, Wis. The Frank Winninger how ends Its season at Waukesha, Wis.. April 28. Ths John Winninger company closed Sunday at Winona, Minn. Charles Cahlll Wilson and Tone Magrane, leading man and woman } of Loew's Alhambra stock, Brook- lyn, have left the company. Evcta Nudson will play the lead In "L,gLVf- ' ful Larceny," opening April 30. ' Corse Pay ton will return to Brooklyn, N. Y., to play stock in the Liberty, a Brownsville section house. The Payton company opens May 7, the house having terminated its Yiddish stock policy. Lorraine Bernard will leave ths Blaney stock at the Fifth Avenue, ; Brooklyn, to join the Keith com- pany at the Alhambra, New York, May 7. Misf Bernard Is the only member of last season's Alhambra company to be re-engaged. Those two ar#» six laps behind me when it comes to being tired of things. Im tired of hospital WitllH, halis and ceilings, friicture-boards, plaster- It is understood that Chicorrlto, Spain's greatest picador, hero of the bull ring. Is In New York ijicognlto, and will soon be launched as the star of a "Spanish Fiesta" in Madison Square Garden, and later as a picture star. Chicorrlto. is over 40. but g, magnificent physical specimen, weighing over 200 pounds. Those who have met him claim he 11 make a great screen hero, with his actual accompIiMhments In the /jull ring to lend color to his work. He has b^'en wounded 17 times. ^ Gallagher and Shean are going to appear as Frenchmen when they Join (ieorge White's new sh^.w-which will be after they settle their af- fairs with Ziegfeld. of-paris and spinach; I'd like to ride on any elevator again and have a telephone numl>or old or new. And if 1 never wear a flannel nightgown again it will be four years i(>ft KiK)n. Im not worrying about my s^juI, but when I'm able to move my feet I'm going to have a r,**\v jwldre«« pv^-rv day. ^^ -Ni4ii€ Rei,€lh in "Th€ Bed." Eleanor Brent of several jitocks In the east has recovered from her recent serious illness In Des Moines. She will remain in the west, being engaged to marry a wealthy Des Moines man. ' > -: C. .W. Secrest and Rose McDon- ald, who recently left the Alham- bra company, Brooklyn, have en- tered vaudeville In a skit entitled "The Beehive." Arthur Vinton states be has re- tired from the stage to open a dance and dining place on the south side, Kansas City. He was formerly leading man with the Dr;ima Players In stock here. Didn't I have a grouch laist week? I had to do it, Just to prove to thf world that Im r\oi that rorrectly-desplsfd thing, a I'ollyann^. I'm sorry now, because my creed Is never to kno<k, always boOf<f, but all the 1 sfune I'm glad I got that off my chest. The I.,yceum, Memphis, i» con- sidering dramatic stock for the summer instead of musical stock as in previous summer seasons. The oprning of the Joe Payton stork at the Lyceum, Elmira, N. Y., has been po.stponcd from April 30 until May 14. Frank ife Camp, with the Or- pheum I'layers. Duluth. will leave for the cost, and Carl Jackaon w lil^ take t)is place. The JjHpIe BonsteMe stock openA May 7 at the -Harlsin O. U.^ New Fork.