Variety (July 1923)

Wednesday, July 4, IMS LEGITIMATE 11 MANY OBSTACLES CONSIDERED V FOR CENTRAL TICKET OFHCE Public Must Be Protected—Privileged to Buy at Box ^. Office—Erlanger and Others Opposing—Ques- » tions of Monopoly and Unpopularity Come Up _ __ ' ■ -^ ■ There are a number of obstacles, mostly physical, but also legal, to t>e overcome before the proposed «9Btral theatre ticket oflBce can be tried with the full managerial ac- cord. That is the glat of the opin- ion of several showmen who have attended the Producing Managers' Association meetings ready to ac- cept a workable idea which would iotve the ticket problem and will- ing to aid in formulating such a plan. Since the central office was first proposed the managers have several times voted unanimously In favor of the basic idea—which Is to pro- tect the public from gypping. That far the meeting last week reaf- firmed its intention. There has been no feasible plan yet proposed, which is the explanation of the P. M. A announcement last week that a more detailed program is being worked out. Some theatre Interests, on record in favor of the basic Idea, want to be shown that the Inherent privi- lege of patrons purchasing tickets at box office prices will not be im- paired. A discussed angle is whether there would be any advantage to the public to remove tickets from a numt>er of buying points and of- fer them for sale in one office, which also charges a premium over regular prices. There la a query, too. whether m- tarests controlling more theatres that other managers would beneflt more than others. That profit firom the proposed central office be 'laminated entirely Is the growing sentiment among managers. It is auggeeted by them that If a central ofBce is to be established it should be paid for pro rata by each the- atre and no earnings over the overhead accumulated. Whether the proposed 10 per cent, premium oo lower floor tickets (with nj ex- tra charge for other locations) will more than defray expenses i4 a conjecture. It was etated with authority this *ireek that A. L. Erlanger, David Belasco and others in the Erlanger group are unalterably opposed to any one man handling the tickets and money of their theatres. Unless their own box office staffs would handle tickets for their theatres they will never subecribe to the Xtroposed central office. The only way such a system could be adopted would be to establish an agency like the consolidated railroad ticket office, where representatives of the irarious lines handle the tickets for oach road. That wae regarded as Impractical for the theatres some time ago, and the cost of that sys- tem woul dlikely make it prohib- lUve. The Erlanger group believe the tentral ticket office Is wrong in principle, and for that reason would favor a system whereby ticket brokers will guarantee not to charge more than 50 cents per ticket premium. A meeting of brokers was oskl last week to sound out that ■entiment. The ticket men are re- ported having agreed that if a central office were opened, they Would do business only with those houses not so represented. That an Organization of brokers will be formed for the purpose of limiting premiums to 50 cents is now ex- pected. A canvas of the important hotola also figures in the status of the Er- langer group. The hotel men etated the branch ticket booths were an Sccommodatlon to their guests; that they would not like to see Visitors forced to purchase from a designated stand, and that the over- head from suc'.i stands hardly called tor a premium of less than 60 cents. It was disclosed that most of the hotel booths are undor le ase for "••Veral years to come. The legal phnposi of the propo.«ied central office include the doubt Whether the treasurer of a corpora- tion has the right to trust the funds W the company to a per.^on or per- sons not in the employ of the cor- poration. The central offiro wo'Ud «*ve poajiession of virtually all the '•venue of the tho.itres and attrac- tions, many of whlcli are Incorpo- * (Continued on page 25) CORT-FEALY DECREE ANNULLED BY COURT Case Reopened and Set for Trial— Maude Fealy's Action Taken With Regret HUGE FASHION SHOW WITH OVER 300 GOWNS Arthur Voegtiin Will Stage It for Merchandise Fair at Lex. 0. H. July 23-Aug. 4 Bridgeport, Conn., July 3. •Justice Isaac Wolfe of the Con- necticut Supreme Court, the same judge who last week granted EJd- ward John Cort an Interlocutory de- cree of divorce from Maude Fealy, on Friday, June 29. annulled the de- cree and granted the petition of Miss Fealy's attorney. Judge Henry Shannon, to have the case re- opened at the next fall terra of court. Allegations of misrepresentation and fraud were given as the reason for reopening. Max Merstein, attorney for Cort, agreed to the application, and inti- mated that before the action reaches trial he will retire as Corfs attorney from the case. Miss Fealy waa accompanied to Bridgeport by her mother, Mrs. Ellen Fealy, and her private secre- tary, Harriet Murweis. In her state- ment to the court she expressed re- gret as the cause of more serious trouble for John Eklward Cort in the matter of a probable charge of per- jury, as she feels sorry for him for various reasons, Mfss Fealy said. But she had asked him and his attorneys In New Yorlc to retract his false statements, which they had taken no steps to do, therefore she was alleged to take this method of clearing her name from any asper- sion of wrongdoing. Miss Fealey added she wanted to emphasize that her relations with John Cort, Sr., (or Daddy Cort as she calls him) are and always have been most cordial and friendly. Cort, Sr., did not testify either verbally or by affidavit In his son's suit for divorce agaln.st her. Miss Fealy states that she started a suit for separate maintenance against her husband In the New York Supreme Court, in January, 1922. It was allowed to lapse through sympathy for Cort who was working at the Park theatre. New York, and his salary would not have allowed for provision for her. Miss Fealy was then about to open In Newark, N. J., with her own com- pany and did not relish the Idea of unenviable notoriety. The necessity of keeping her name above the slightest reproach, as It always has been, forced the present combative action. Miss Fealy added. GENE HOWARD BUYS IN A gigantic fashion show in which more than SOO gowns are to be displayed in some 16 scenes is be- ing produced by Arthur Voegtiin for presentation In connection with the Merchandise Fair at the Lex- ington opera house from July 23 to Aug. 4. During the two weeks there will be a performance each eve- ning with matinees twice weekly. Last year at Baltimore Voegtiin was called in by the promoters of the Fashion Show there to stage the production for them. It was so suc- cessful that when the New York Merchandise Fair, which is to hold displays in both the <9th Regiment armory and the Grand Central Palace for the two weeks that the Fashion Show is to be given, contemplated adding that feature to the event they obtained Voegtiin to undertake the production. The plans call for a huge runway that will lead from the stage to the extreme back of the houiie and the schedule Is so worked out that three gowns a minute will be displayed during the performance. In the 16 scenes that have been worked out by the producer everything that Mi Lady will wear In the couriee of twice around the clock will be shown. Marcus Loew Is to take over the Lexington Sept. t, and will install a picture policy. BUSINESS MEN AND ACTORS ^ DISCUSS CURRENT CONDmONS Sophisticated Theatrical Club Lay Members Point Out Possibilities to Professionals—Threat of Union Trouble Keeps Out Investors TENTSHOWPERFORMERS WOULDNT JOIN EQUITY Three Members of Manager's Family Walk Out With Others Said to Have Paid $2,500 for 10 Per Cent, of ^'Chains" at Playhouse Chicago. July 8. Eugene Howard has purchased from Lester Bryant and John Turek ten per cent, of "Chains" at the Playhouse, according to report, paying the producers $2,500. Euger.e, with his brother, Willie Howard, are the stars of "The Pass- ing Show" now running here. "Chains" : i one of the seven legit plays remaining in the Loop. It's merely a matter of the weather as to the Playhouse playing to ca- pacity with it. HOUSE ON HEIOHTS The HouHowives' League of Washington Heights, including the district between 145th and 225th -titrocts, along Broauway, New York. han started a movement to en- ro'.irage the erection of a legitimate thratre In the section. The matter has been brought to the attention of theatrical managers and realty oporaf ore. The League I« sxld to w.ve en- couraged a certain amount of capi- tal to put the project over and in endeavoring to secure the co-opera- tion of a Broadwaj theatrical man- ager to add prestige to the venture. DUNCANS' SHOW Opening at Alcazar, Frisco, Next Week Chicago. July t. Roy Porter, who operated a dra- matic tent show when he opened at Bedford, Ind., last week« now has a vaudeville tent show, and discord not only in his company, but In his Immediate family. Al Clark, of Bqulty, attempted to make the shdw all-Equity. Four or five actors, including three members of Porter's family, refused to join, which led to the rest walking out LEDERER'S NERVE Voiceless Sufferer Hopeful—Wants To Go Fishing San Francisco. July 3. Next week will see the x>remiere here of the Duncan Sisters in "Topsy and Eva," a musical version of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." which Thomas Wilkes is sponsoring and which will be presented at the Al- cazar. The book has been prepared by Catherine Chisholm Cushlng and the music and lyrics by the Duncan Sisters. The production is being made by Wilkes In conjunction with Sam H. Harris of New York. Oscar Kagle waa brought from New York to stage it. The role of Uncle Tom is to be played by Basil Rulsdael. Vivian Duncan will be cast for Little Eva while Rosetta is to play "Topsy." The venture is declared to be In the nature of a tryout ard upon Its Pacific Coast reception will depend whether or not it will bo offered in New York. Oeorge Lederer, Jr. operated on for cancer of the throat two weeks ago Is showing remarkable courage. In a letter to his father, written at Jefferson Hospital. Philadelphia, he stated he expected to be discharged in two weeks. He plans to go Ash- ing for a month, explaining he would like to take It easy sitting in a boat for about that long. "Then." he wrote, *l'll be ready to go back to work." Young Lederer's spirit in the face of so serious an ailment, goes fur- ther. While It is certain he will never be able to talk norroaU/ be- cause of the removal of the vocal chords and part of his windpipe, be Is hopeful of learning to speak via some phenomenon of the diaphram. It is claimed that audible speech Is possible from the stomach, it be- ing a trick mastered by ve.ntrilo- quists. Lew Hearn May Go in "Follies" Negotiations are in progress for Lew Hearn to Join the Zlegfeld "Follies." Beauty Clay Behind Cantor? Commercial advertising via the stage is evidenced by the formation of the Eddie Cantor Music Co.. which will exploit a song, "My Girl Usee Mlneralava." The Scott's Preparations, Inc., which prepares the Mlneralava bea,uty clay is said to be backing the independent pub- lishing venture. Cantor will use the song in the "Follies." AQOR THROWS UP ENGAGEMENI r IN PREFERENCE TO EQUFTY Thomas Meegan Could Not Bq Forced Into Organiza- tion—Bohemians Wanted Him for Role in New "We've Got to Have Money" Comedy Most of the theatrical clubs in New York, besides actors, managera and agents, carry a number of lajr members on their membership lists. Amongst them are senators, judges, doctors, lawyers and business men of standing, who, through constant contact with professionals, soon se- cure an intelligent grasp on theatri- cala. They discuss them with tha coolnees and sanity of business men, different from the temperamental people of the theatre. Lay members in a club Friday were explaining to some actors their several opinions as to the cause of the slump in show business. The weather, economic conditions, bad shows and the speculator evil came in for their share of the blame. Each seemed to have a different view. la speaking of the retarding and re- duction in the number of produc- tions made recently and tha com- paratively few announced for next season, there was a practical unan- imity of opinion the managers are afraid to make productions, and peo- ple who formerly put money into theatrical speculation are unwilling to do so now, while the air is filled with threats of trouble from Equity. One of the laymen, the head of a large business insUtution, said: "It is an established fact amongst bus!- , nass men capital can not be coaxed into any business even remotely j liable to have trouble with unions. To expect any one wlU Inveat thou- sands of dollars into a production (a gamble at any time) when It nuiy ba interrupted by the Equity's demand for a closed shop and the threat to involve the other unions if Its de- mands are not complied with (as was the case in Equity's dispute when Earl CarrOtl) is nothing less than ridiculous. "The consequence Is and will be (If this cloud of war is allowed to hover until 1924) less and less pro- duction and the actor in the long run will lose far more than he can ever recover." One of the actors, an Englishman, almost rabid on the subject of Equity rather heatedly took tha speaker to task, stating his remarks sounded like manager-inspired prop, aganda, but qualified that with the avowal ho knew the one who had spoken "was not doing the man- agers' dirty work." The actor propounded the full Equity line of argument which did not in any way prove the first speak- er's argument illogical. Another member of the group, for- merly an actor, but now In com- mercial life. Injected the now often heard statement, that the Bquity Council really has no intention of going through to the end with its demand for the Ekiulty shop, if in its judgment it believes the managers intend to put up a stiff battle. For that remark he waa called a renegade and other names by the Equity proponent A battle almost started and waa only prevented by the persuasions of the cooler heads. The ex-actor, however, left the com- pany with the remark, "That's the way with you fellows. Tou get an Idea In your heads and you're so stubborn and self-opinionated you can not see any argument but your own." Thomas Meegan turned down a good contract with the Bohemians, Inc.. producers of the "Greenwich Village Follies" rather than join the Equity Association. Meegan w.is engaged to play the blackface com- edy part In the new production of "We've ^ot to Have Honey," now In rehearsal. Meegan believed It a regular standard P. M. A. form. In- specting it he discovered It was an E<iulty contract. Meegan returned it to Al Joises and informed him ho was not a member of F>iuity, and therefore another form had hotter he given him. Jones advi.sed Meegan to Join E(iuity and kr-ep the contract, tell- ing him I}.;- rnrn wni.fed him in the role, I'Ht ho would have to join Equity, ^s the Uohomlars, Inc. Is an Ind'p'-ndont producing firm. This M'^e^an refused to do. Meegan had been booked for the engagement by William Ashley of the Max Hart ofTlce, who also tried to persuade Meegan to join Kquity without result. Saturday Meegan saw Ashley again and the latter put an Equity appli- cntion in front of Meegan saying: "You sign this, go back and take the part, and we will pay the initia- tion fee and not charge you a cent of commission on the engagement." Meegan replied, "No sir, I'll recite poetry on the streets and pass the hat before I'll be forced to join the Equity As.«<oclatlon, I don't like (iK'ir mcthf)ds anyway," Meegan played the blackface part with Henry Miller's "Moonshine and Honeysuckle," in v/hlch Ruth Chat- terton was starred, has played v.njih'villo with his comedy sketch, ■'On tho Q. T.." by Walba Meegan. and has played many responsible parts In pictures.- WILNER'S LIVELIHOOD Testifies in Supplementary Proceed- ings—Wife Psya Rent Morris Frank has been appointed receiver of Max R Wilner's prop- erty as a result of supplementary proceeding* to recover on a 1307.98 Judgment. Wilner, chiefly Identified with Yid- dish theatricals as a legit producer and latterly associated with Sig^ mund -omberg in a Brotdway pro- duction, testified on the stand that ho had no proi)erfy; that the cor- poration controlling the Irving Place theatre last paid him $20 weekly salary; that his wife, who is in- terested In a millinery shop, paj*« their $85 monthly rent, and that he Is currently doing nothing, is oxHf- Ing hy borrowing funds and reads scripts of new plays for his cur- rent ocrupallon.