Variety (May 1923)

Wednesday, May 30, 1923 VAUDEVILLE FAMOUS PLAYERS SNAPS BACK ■ AS N. Y. BEAR POOL COVERS '*"^te 3* Reported Wall St. Clique Went Short 8,000 Shares in Drop, but Lost Nerve—Declared Loew Will * Show Net on Year Equal to $2 a Share on Common • Famous Players rallied swiftly from its sensational break to 73Vi last week, touching 80 Monday at the top and only giving way slightly during the reaction. Out of the thick fog of market reports con- cerning the amusement leader the nearest approach to definite infor- mation appears to be that a clique of bear speculators undertook a concentrated campaign on the Mock basing their tactics on the known fact that* Famous Players Is one of the notorious pool issues. The generaMdea was to shoot at all pool issues. Stocks whose back- ers'* could be depended upon to take on large blocks In an effort to sup- port prices. If the bear clique could dump a carload of Famous Players on the "pool around 35 to 80 the backers would probably bo weakened and a final drive, such *i was easily within the powers of the reported operators, would stand a good ichance to carry through. Besides at the last minute there was always a likelihood thut the pool might take a turn on the short side itself. And something of the sort seems to have happened. , Aim at 70 For some days before the land- slide tips were circulated on Broad- way that a bear pool had in hand a campaign .in Famous by which it was planned to hammer the stock down to 76. letting the impetus-take it to 70 and there cover, switch and go long to the extent the situation would stand. Begining May 17. the day of the 15,000-share turnover, it Is said the bear clique went short a total of more than 8,000 shares, but they failed to go through with their program. The covering movement started at 75, which developed to be the resistance point. Belated shorts, who probably were badly handled later, seem to have been * allowed to drive It below 74, but the real covering seems to have started at 75. Selling after it crossed . (Continued on page 5) GROUP OF NEW LAWS SIGNED BY GOV. SMITH Lusk Anti-Sedition Laws Re- pealed and Athletic Com- mission Given New Power Albany. X. Y., May 29. Governor Smith, in addition 'to signing the repeal of the Lusk anti- sedition laws, affecting school teach- ers' oaths of allegiance, has signed the following measures: The Downing bill amending the State athletic commission law by authorizing boxing licensing com- mittee to revoke licenses for vio- lations and Imposing an annual license fee of $25 for matchmakers, as chapter 333. laws of 1923. The Freiberg bill amending sec- tion 901 criminal code by providing a penalty for fortune telling, became chapter 354 laws of 1923. The Jesse bill, amending Vection 201 general business law, by limit- ing liability of hotel keeper for loss of personal property became chapter 415 of the laws of 1923. The Jesse bill amending section 200 general business law by pro- viding hotel keeper or steamboat proprietor shall not be liable for loss of bank no^es, bonds, nego- tiable securities, precious stones, railroad tickets or other *mall valu- ables if safe is provided for keeping such articles, as chapter 417 laws of 1923. The Bloomfleld bill providing for reg... ^ration in office of secretary of state of name by which hotel Is known or designated, as chapter 419 laws of 1923. The Jenks bill adding" new section 925 to penal law, making it a misde- meanor to obtain credit or accom- modation at any hotel by means of false pretense or wJth intent to SIX BEST SELLERS FOR MAY VICTOR RECORDS "Bambalina" and "Lady Butterfly" • "Burning Sands" and "railing" BRUNSWICK RECORDS "Crying for You" and "Aggravatin' Papa" "Liza" and "When Will I Know" "Way Down Yonder In New "You Tell Her-1 Stutter" and Orleans" and "Way Down Yonder in New "Dearest" Orleans" "Runnin* Wild" and "You've Got to See Mamma* "Runnin* Wild" and "You've Got to See Mamma" "Don't Think You'll Be Missed" "Wet Yo' Thumb" and and "You Know You Belong to Some "No On* Loves You Better Than body Else" Your M-A-Double-M-Y" \ "Peggy Dear" and "When the Leaves Come Tumbling "Railroad Man" Down" and "You Know You Belong to Some- body Else" Q. R. 8. WORD ROLLS "Bambalina" "Carolina Mammy" • "Crying for You" "Wet Yo' Thumb" "Dearest" "No One Loves You Any Better Than Your M-A-Double-M-Y" Sheet niiisn -ties are still holding up surprisingly w<-ll despite the time and season. Big sellers are "Ten-Ten-Tennesseo." "Who's. Sorry Now." -Dearest," "Crying for You,'' "Barney Google," "Yes, We Have No Bananas," "Old King Tut." "Louisville Lou," "Fate," "Seven or Eleven." "Vou Know You Belong to Somebody Klse," "When Will the Sun Shine for Me" with the following also big: "Beside a Babbling I Brook." 'Mellow Moon." 'Fart-well Blues." "I Love Me." "Beale <Streot ' Mamma," "March of the Manniklns," ".lust a Girl That Men Forget." "Wanlta." 'Taded Love Letters," "Who Did You Fool After All?" "Rose ( >f the Rio Grande." "Runnin" Wild," ''Everything Is o. K. in Starting qu.'etly, bul certain to go big are: "That Old G.mg or Mine." Krnesl i: Ball's "Ten Thousand V'eara from Now," "Broadway Caravan" (Otis Edwards), Standard and production seller* are "Bambalina" as tremendous as "Morning Will Cpme" and 'Dirty Face, Dirty Hands' from Bombo"; "Parade of the Wooden Bdldier***j "Argentine"' and "Man In the Mooa" from "Caroline"] A Kite in the Dark'; "Love Sends a Little (;iff o" Hoses''; "The World is Waiting for the Sunrise"; "When Heart* are Young." llAKKY BFNCK Says:— "He la s>ad to «e*~bU Brooklyn friends McLaughlin and Evini playing th* Palaqe this week. Borne day noon they will be glad to aee us there. We're on our way and expect to arrive shortly. AKTIIIR— —HARRY FRAZER and BUNCE la "DOUBLES TROl BLK8" Direction ALF T. WILTON defraud, became chapter 503 laws of 1923. In other words, a person who goes broke on the road is guilty of a misdemeanor if he can not pay his hotel bill. The Levy bill adding new section 1S8 lien law, providing for lien of motion picture film laboratories, be- came chapter 609 laws of 1923. The O'Brien bill amending Great- er New York charter by providing license fee for public dances may be charged by ordinance of board of aldermen, became chapter 622 laws of 1923. « The Schackno bill amending the penal law by making more stringent provisions affecting corner loafing, insulting of women on the streets and in public places, etc., became chapter 642 laws of 1923. The Walker bill adds new article 5-a to civil rights law, requiring membership corporations and unin- corporated associations to file with secretary of state sworn copy of constitution, oath, membership list and officers; also to file within ten days after adoption, every resolu- tion or minute of action providing for concerted action to promote or defeat legislation or support or de- feat any candidate for political of- fice. Anonymous communications are prohibited. This bill hits the Anti-Saloon League and the Ku Klux Klan and became chapter 664 laws of 1923. The Hamill bill providing ail tickets to boxing or wrestling matches must be told from box of- fice on premises and prohibiting sale of tickets in excess of 50 cents over price printed thereon by vpersona other than licensee at price greater than that printed on ticket became chapter 699 laws of 1923. At a recent hearing held before Governor Smith on the O'Connor bill, which is before him and which would remove the penalty for book- making, leaving the same optional with the magistrate an interesting tilt took place between Mr. O'Con- nor and the Rev. Canon Chase, the former accusing the latter of being a hypocrite and a fraud and never advocating real reform measures. It is anticipated the Governor will sign the O'Connor bill. PAY RESOLUTION Society of Authors Systematizing For Broadcasting London, May 29. At the annual meeting of the So- ciety of Authors, Playwrights and Composers the following resolu- tion was passed: "That this meeting recommends members of the society of authors net to give permission for their works to be broadcast without pay- ment of a fee, and that in cases where they give permission on pay- ment of a fee, members should notify the secretary of the society of the terms on which they are deal- ing with the Kritish Broadcasting Co., or any other company." AUTOMOBILING IN ENGLAND Parisians Bound for South America Paris, May W. Mrne. Mistinguett, the muric hall coined enne, n nd I '. u I T ■ He s.-i lied from T.ishon today to join tho Mine. Raslml Kt-vue Co. in Buenos Aires. Arrives in Paris Paris. May 29. Ui'rent arrival* here are Irving Berlin flilbert Mi tier and Irene Bordonl London, May 16. When a member of the New York staff of Variety was sent to London a year ago he endeavored to dispose of his automobile, but the second- hand market was in such a demor- alised condition he war unable to secure an offer of more than one- third of what he paid for his car six months before. He figured it out that it waa cheaper to ship the car to England and pay duty than to sell at a sacrifice and buy an- other ear in England. On hearing of this decision, tak- ing into consideration the amateur driving of the newspaper man and the fact that his car was a left- hand drive and that in England the driving is done on the opposite side of the road to that in the States, the members of the staff agreed their embarking confrere would probably break his neck or run down several natives. The first year has passed and the American visitor to England is still alive, not having met with a single accident other than smashing a lamp through crashing Into a taxi in Piccadilly on a wet day, due to the taxi dashing out of a side street. American artists coming to Eng- land for any extended engagement will find it advisable to bring their cars over. An auto can be properly crated and shipped by slow freight for a couple of hundred dollars, delivered in first clats shape at the docks In London. There is an im- port duty of one-third the ap- praised value of the machine, but if you give a bond to take it out of the country within a year there is no dutv. The bonding can be ar- ranged through the Royal Automo- bile Association, and if a member of the Automobile Association of America you are automatically affil- iated with the English association. There are two auto organisations in Great Britain—the R. A. C, above mentioned, and the Automo- bile Asseclation.and Motor Union— the annual dues for each being a few pounds. Both' these associa- tions have uniformed attendants patrolling the main roads on mo- torcycles equipped with repair kits. The attendants make all minor re- pairs free of cost to members. If you run out of petrol (gasoline) they will dash off to the nearest garage and secure it, and in event of accident or serious repairs they will see that your car is hauled to authorized repair shops and the re- pairs made at fixed charges, less 10 per cent., to members. These scouts will give you full informa- tion regarding routes, detours, etc., and one finds signs on excellent ho- tels and inns that cater to automo- bllists at reasonable charges. As you drive past these scouts wjth the insignia of the association to which you belong attached to the front of your car you are given a military salute, to which you are expected to respond In fsimilar fashion to indicate that "all is well." Should the scout fail to salute, stop your car and inquire the reason, whereupon you will be probably in- formed there la a traffic policeman or constable down the road who Is overzealous to summon speeders and that it would be wise to slow down. Barring a few villages with nar- row streets, there Is practically no speed limit in England. You are expected, however, to drive at a pace consistent with safety. In other words, if you are In the open country you can let out your ma- chine to Its full speed, but you should have common sense enough not to dash across Intersecting roads at a speed that would be dan- gerous to vehicles coming across your path. Such intersections are policed by either a local official or an association scout—often by both. If you happen to be dashing, despite that the traffic Is crossing at that moment, the official will likeb/ Mop the cross traffic and let you pass rather than have you risk the pos- sibility of being unable to pull up. The traffic police are your fr.ends —not j our enemies as in the United States. They are "human" and as- sume you are not out to deliberately Jeopardize life. They are expected to ma!;e liberal- allowances for mls- lakes, hut are strictly intolerant or :r:l " J drivers. A summon - or ■rresl for driving under the influ- ence of liquor renders you liable to Imprisonment and cancellation of your driving license, Other than this, the t! .die regulation is tem- pered wilh reason. For Instance, you can pass a standing street while the passengers a, e alighting,, but you ire, naturally, tffjcrlij to. i temper the operation with due re- gard for the safety of the public* The police never oawl you out for a reasonable error. Tou are ex- pected to obey their signal to halt, but if you inadvertently disobey and make a mitigating explanation, the offense is overlooked. The writer once skidded into a traffic cop with just sufficient force to knock the officer down. The po- liceman rose, received the explana- tion that the driver's tires were worn and the car slid despite the brakes and was greeted with the response: "I was a fool to take such chances on a wet day." AH the English roads—even the cross-country ones—are usually in perf*et condition. This is a great saving on the tires. The writer drove for over a year without a single puncture or the wearing out of his original tires. Twenty to 30.000 miles on a set of tires is not regarded as exceptional. Gasoline is dear, costing two shil- lings a gallon and the tax on cars is based on the rated horsepower. For example, a 60 h.p. Lutck la rated at 28-horsepower, for which there is an annual tax of £1 per rated horsepower. The majority of the cars in England are of small rated h.p., to save taxation. There is no snobbery about driving a car of a previous year's vintage. It Is no uncommon thing to find a wealthy individual driving a car 10 or 12 years old, but It is always fieshly painted (and immaculately washed and polished. * The scheme of summoning in- fractors of traffic regulations in- stead of arresting them originated here. As before mentioneJ. you are never spoken to harshly by the officer, but politely asked for your driving license, a notation made of the number and asked when It will be convenient for you to attend court. Here again you are accorded every consistent consideration. One of the perquisites of membership in one of the two automobile asso- ciations is the free use of legal aid. You notify your particular asso- ciation and they supply you with a form of possible questions you may be asked in court bearing upon the particular charge. Tou can either consult counsel personally or fill out the form. Unless it be a crim- inal charge you do not have to at- tend personally, the assocliation sending counsel to any part of the United Kingdom without charge to you. / . The only time the writer received a summons was coming home from Brighton one night, some SO miles from London. He sent the "bad news" to his auto association, to- gether with details, the charge be- ing not having proper lights on his car. The legal department of the association aent a representa- tive to defend the case and reported by mail the result, as follows: "We duly attended the police court, when the bench convicted and inflicted a fine of ;o shillings, Including costa. Kindly Immediately remit thte amount to magistrate's clerk." Reminds you of the States, doesn't lt J ■ . Joto. MISS KERSHAW LEAVING Decides on Europe as Permanent Home in Future London, Miy 2». Wilette Kershaw, the American actress, Is comiiur to London, hav- ing decided to make Europe her permanent, home. Hilda Trevelysn 8aves Revivsl London, May 29. The revival of Barries "What Kvery Woman Knows" at the Apol- lo May 24 is regarded as old fash- ioned but excellent entertainment. c"ue to the work of Hilda Trevelyan in her original role of Maggie. The Orpheum, Oakland, Cal.. will remain open through June. The house was scheduled to close the week of May 21. The coast book- ings with vaudeville turns are now being made with a two weeks' lay- off out of San Francisco. TIm bast oUalnible liutruct? m « ( STUDIOS OF JTACE DAMCINC 1841 Broadway ^» NOBTtlWF.iT o)tt. »«Ui at