Variety (July 1923)

\ KRICE 20 CENTS '•»'<.■ ?r 1^ : ,1,-.. >", JPobUaMd WMkly &t Hi WMt 4Cth SU N«v Tork. N. T^ by Tartatr. lao. Aanual mbMriptlOD IT. Slacto ooplM M moUl ■nCarwl m Mooad oUm mattMr DMtaKbM* ta. IMi. at tk« Poi« OAe* at N«w Tork. N. T.. and«r tb« Aot o( March I. lITt. TOL. LXXL No. 7 NEW YORK Cmr, WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1923 40 PAGES 800PICTURES SIGHT wmi valenhnos saiung, liEAUTY CONHSr MATIER UP il^o Date Set for '"New York ConyentioiT of 100 or :f. More Selected Girls With Chaperons From 100 ^1 dr More Towns—Total Cost May Reach $150,000 FILM SALES FIELD WILL SEE BHISK SHEU. GAMES AND KARD MONH ON NEW YORK^ BUSIEST STREETS '^ With the sailing July 24 from New Xbrk of Mr. and Mrs. Rodolph Yal- •ntlno, the matter of the promised 'T)eauty contest" In New York city lor the purpose of selecting the most beautiful of the 100 or more maidens from 100 or more cities is repeated- ||r coming up. The "convention" was a part of the advertised tour made by the Talentinos under the sponsorship of the Mlneralava beauty clay. In each town the beauty to be forwarded to Kew York at Mlneralava's or Valen- tino's expense, including a chap- eron, and to remain here for a Wisek or so with all maintenance borne by the beauty clay concern, was chosen during th- Valentino jirening of dancing. "f- Ths tour ran on for some 16 iireelcs, with the Valentines and the Mlneralava billers and salesmen Srislting different towns dally. The aspirants for the promised filmland were informed the conven- .tlon would be held in late May or 'jMU>ly June. Both months passed irlth nothing more heard from it in (Continued on page S) Iadio's musical revue ' ESPECIALLY PRODUCED 1^ h fformance This Week at WJY—First Instance of Radio's Own Show The first instance of a musical »Yue being specially produced for idlo performance is the show rhlch Harry T. Hanbury will stage Friday evening. July 6, at the WJY •tatlon on West Twenty-third •treet, New York City. Arthur Conrad, currently appear- ing in a cabaret revue, has written the special book and music. Participating will be Crystal fipcncer, Louis Hrcau, Jean Palmer, and Charles Tobias. iJFET DRAMA CRITIC IN MUSIC BOX REVUE •^^J."'5>. DAVENPORT'S FREE THEATRE New Canaan, Conn.. July 3. One of the first Froe theatres in New England opened here the last three days last week with "The Bilent Assertion." A cast has been gathered by But- |er Davenport, of New York, who is heading the enterprise. The house is being run on pop- ular auhRPrlption, as in T'lew York. Many of the sponsors are summer '••Idents from the big town. Robert C. Benchley in Other Shows—In New Revue in September The next "Music Box Revue" which will be the third in the se- ries of annual revues at the Music Box, New York, and due for premiere late In September, is ex- pected to have a cast that will include a number of players from the original show in the first presentatloiu Among those men- tioned are Florence Moore, Joseph Santley, Ivy Sawyer, Hugh Camer- on, Solly Ward, and the Brox Sis- ters. With the exception of Miss Moore and Cameron, the others are appearing in London, but, it is un- derstood, their contracts there in the Music Box show are dated to expire late in the summer. Among the new players will be Robert C. Benchley, the dramatic critic on "Life." Benchley has con- tributed to a number of special shows, notably "The 49ers," and "No, Siree." put on last season by New York newspapermen. Benchley also won attention with his singIA called "Treasurers," In "No, Siree." It is planned for him to use it in the new Music Box show, he also to appear in a bit with Frank Tinney. It is Benchley's intention to desert the typewriter for the stage, it being his ambition to be- come a monologist. Frank Tinney will be one of the comedians In the new revue. Others reported engaged are Phil Baker, Florence O'Dennishawn, and Lora Sonderson. UnuMiaUy Large Number of Feature Production*—454 for First Run Houses—<8Q0 New Pictures Are of All Tjrpes — Exhibitors Have Best Position— May Spell Disaster for Some Picture Producers RENTAL CUT EXPECTED Bdow 40th St FaTiored Section—Swwlsliop Distrid Fertile for 2Sc Belt—''Shilb** Used hf All Workers—Epidemic of Street GeiMing COULEiZ BOY^ DECISION ALIENATES HIS FAMILY John B. McCauley, Jr., Re- ported Disowned by Father From the flood of announcements regarding the productions to be turned loose by the various pro- ducing and distribuLing organiza- tions for next season, it appears on the surface the year to come is go- ing to be a hey-day for the ex- hibitor. Everything points to a (Continued on page 3) PRESS AGENTS' CODE Six Rules Suggested Basis as Ethicsl BECK'S THEATRE Coast Ard-iitect Called to New York for Consultation San I'Yanclsco, July 3. Report say« Martin Beck has a plan to build a the^itre in Times square, New York, He owns a plot on 47th street between Broadway and Eighth avenue , Tlie report is credited here through Beck having called Albert Lanzburgh, the coast's noted archi- tect, to New York for a consulta- tion. The Press Agents' Association of America has evolved a code of ethics that is to govern the working activities of the membership. There is one of the tcn^^ts of the code that holds that the rank and flle of mem- bership must not divulge any of the business affairs of the organization, and that all matters pertaining to the association will have to be given out through a publicity committee that is to be appointed for the pur- pose. At present the P. A. A. A. Is look- ing for business quarters some- where In the theatrical district. A small buslnees ofHce is all that they win have for the receipt of mem- bers* mall "and the taking care of the books of the organization. With the announcement that a code of ethics for press agents had been formulated there was great speculation as to what it might con- tain. An.ong those that are some- what humorously Inclined some- thinK along the following lines was suggested to be included in the text: 1. Not to pad the swindle sheet. 2. Not to vrite durketa f«>r shot > in Baltimore, raincoats in Bo.iton or shirts in Chicago. 3. Not to accept any rake-off on small stuff from the printer. 4. Nov. to use any stuff that wan not pers(mil]y written. 6. To visit fhe bill room in every house and check the paper. •. To permi; the cut collector back to leftiCT'-ate you as 'my a£enl" and let him get away with it. One of the by products of the scrap between Earl Carroll and Equity is what looks like serious family trouble for one of the Columbia College boys who Joined Carroll's chorus on the defection of the Equity chorus m^n. He is John B. McCauIey, junior and all round athlete of Brooks Hall, of Columbia. He played quarter-back on the football team this past season, is champion swimmer and diver, tennis player and a member of the glee club. His father John B. McCauley insisted on him quitting t-.e Carroll show and Joining his brother in the brokerage business, or follow his father's footsteps as a me- chanical engineer. This the young man refused to do and determinedly told his father he Is positive he can make a success in the show business. The father, it is said at the Car- roll theatre, has disowned the lad and erased his name from his will. John R, Jr. (whom Carroll says really has excellent prospects In the theatre), accepted bis father's dis- missal and Is stlU with the show. He has three sisters one a graduate of Hunter's College, one a student at Wellealey and the other at Smith College. They sympathize with their brother. He also lias a sy.eet- heart, a student at Barnard College and he put the matter up to her with the promise that he would leave the show if she decided he should do so. The young woman, however, told him If he had con- fidence In himself to make good, to go ahead and do it. John B. McCauley. Jr., intends to go through with it, and trust to the future to bring about more pleasant relations at home. INVESTIGATING VAUDEVILLE Chicago. July 3. The Secretary of Labor is making his own investigation Into vaude- ville, according to a man and a woman, representative of that offlce, who Interviewed Chicago vaudeville nufhorlMes last week and again Monday and Tuesday of this week. ▲n •pldsml« «C atrMt cambUnc with Indleatloas that ths gam* oper- ators corns from the carnival field by the way thsy operata^ appears to haVe struck the section of New Tork dtjr la which the cloak and suit, shirtwaist and needle trades gener- aUy are located. This Includes the region bounded by 14th street on the south, Broadway on the east. Ninth avenue on the west and 40th street on the north, with the fam< biers operating further uptown oc- casionally. The people working the games, which Include three-card monte and even the ancient shell game worked with walnut shells, use a collapslLle table that folds up into an innocent- looking suitcase when the word that the cops are coming is passed. Shllls are used by all of the game operators. The games run to small bets occasionally, from 2S cents to a dollar. Players crowd about the table without urging as soon as the gamester makes his How pitch," the shills. who dress to create the im- pression they are needle trades operators, working up business by making the Initial bets. The shill also comes In handy in case of a squawk. Jumping in front of the "squawker" and impeding the prog- (Continued <m page 1) LOEW TAKES SHUBERT, prrrsBURGH, for films Former Shubert Unit Vaude- ville House Passes to New Management PitUburgh. July S. The Shubert theatre here haa been taken over by Marcus Loew, who will assume possession Sept. 1. The house probably will reopen La- bor Day, with Loew's picture policy. It in said Loew Is looking for a second local house. The Shubert last senson was the 8hul>«rts' unit vaudeville theatre. COSTUMES Who will mske your next ones? Those who have bought from us say— BROOKS-MAHIEU I4S7 It'wny Tel. IMO i'cna. N. Y. Cfi/ .^11,000 Costumes for Rental•««