Variety (July 1923)

••'■:>'•• .^'. Id ^ A R I ft T r Thursday^ July 12, 1923 1 IHADE ALL AT SEA GUESSING FUTURE OF AMUSEMENT STOCKS Situation Within Industry Favorable and Opinion Is Bullish—But Ticker Contradicts All Argument- Public's Position V V Th<ye haa never been a time when tratle views of the amuscnrient Bloeka was 80 widely at variance with the performance of the ticker. Scarcely an unprejudiced observer of the group but hold.s bullish ideas bafled on intimate knowledge of the inside position of the stocks, but th« long expected ral'ly haa up to date failed to materialize and prices as they come out on the tape con- tradict Uie views of the best in- formed authorities. To be sure Famous Players rallied ua.M in its first stagop. But the im- provement was brief. I'ric^s sold off late Monday and continued downward. Tuesday and ye.nterday. liven the confirmed optimist had to admit that on the . early week's showing the bull side had no lead- ership, while the short sellers ap- peared to be standing pat on their sweet position. It was a wide open guessing contest, and, as usual, after a ^ong drop nobo/ly on the outside xvanted to guess either way. Tuesday's total turnover was close early this week to * top t: 74 on to the smallest of the year and the as compared with its 1 dullness wa«J conspicuous in the Monday bottom of around 66 the week be- fore, but the gain could not be sus- tained. Te'sterday the film leader broke through 76 for a few trades and was none too firm around 71. The performance of the preferred la no leas puzzling. On the closing bid and aaked Tueaday there was the difference of 4 pointa between 90, buyer's, and 94. seller's price. In the case of this issue it seemed that no one wanted to buy at anything but bargain prices and transactions only came out when sales of small lots were pressed. This accounts for the wide fluctuations of two or more points on dealings in 100 or 200 shares. Loew Steadies at IS Loew r.iade a fairly good showing holding steadily at or fractionally better than 15, and appearing to have become stabilized following its break late in May to 14 flat. Not one item of gossip has come out about Ixre^ that did not reflect a favorable prospect; little stock has been forced on the market, but it aeems unable'to make any progress. The saihe is truo of Orpheum. As was reported here during the slump in May, Orpheum insiders stood ready to take on all offerings around 18 but were not willing to follow quotations up. Not the price has broken 17 and appears to have en- tered a narrow trading area close to that resistance point. It may be that the Chicago and New York in- siders have taken on as much as they care to carry and the profes- sional bear operators are taking ad- vantage of that situation. The general marke^R^ituation in confused. This week ^^m financial writers sought to explain melting values on the score of the uncertain situation in Europe, where the reparations tangle is an obstacle i industrial progress. If France can be pursuaded to give way in its de- mands r.nd open the way fur Oer- man production It Is arRued an enornr^cus market for Ameriran goods will be opened all over Euroi>e. One shrewd market ob.server who plays rather on the basis of market sentiment and tactics than by the dictates of basic economic argu- ment had it flgured out Monday that the flood of bear sentiment was designed by the big professionals to draw the public into selling the market, being themselves (the p o- fet^slonal bears) pretty well over- sold and anxious to cover on an outside selling wave. The specla: weakness of the amusements Is accounted for in an- other quarter by the fact that con- servative bankers h(vte always re- garded the theatre stocks as involv- ing a high business risk. When holders of large amounts of miscel- laneous securities become nervous in a falling market they go to their bankers for advice. The banker examines their lists and counsels that they lighten their carrying load. It then becomes a question of w.hat stocks they will dispose of at a loss in order, to strengthen their general position. The banker almost in- variably will recommend the sale of the amusement Issues, which he re- gards as least able to wlthstaml at- tack. For the future nobody ventures an opinion. Some authorities express the belief that ihc continued slump Is being artiflrlnlly promot d by bear operators, while others are as flrmly convinced that something reactionary is hanging over the market. What It is they do not pre- tend to guess. Monday wlv^n the list » opened strong many iKTIeved the turn had C9m4 and a substantMl July ian> amusements. Thp Kununary of tranwictions July • tv 11 Indus; Vi: STOCK EXCHANGE Thur«tlay— .Males. II(Kh.Ix)W.I^>«t. Chj;. Fam. J'iuy-T.... 3,4<»0 70 70 70 +1 Ooldwyn (oltl).. 100 3\ 3\ 3% +^^ I/)tw. Inc TiOO 1.1 1.'. l.*< Orph<um "00 i6% l«^i 16\ .. No Ronton Orpheum aaler. Friday - Fam. Play-L... 1,400 70Vi 6lfH 70 - »/, Do. pM 100 0-J '.n »2 -f2 L.)ew. Inc 300 l.^'i l.'.'i l.'.Vfc + Vi Boston aold 73 Orpheum at Hick's 17. .Saturday— Fam. r;ay-L... 2.'M0 7.1 71 72«i -f2% Do. pfj Ooldwyn (old) ■MO t»J4 !n."/i 1»-"^ 'Jini 4'A 4'A 4'4 I.oow. Inc 40O 1.%'ii l.'i )^V» Orphrum 400 17 in'» 17 IJoston sold M Orpheum at HIib. Monday Fam. Flay-L... 3..TOO 74 72 I,oew. Inc 800 16% 1.'. Orpheum aOO 17% 17 No Boaton Orpheum 8u:e». Tuesday— ' Fam. I'lay-L... 1.000 12% Do. pfd 200 U3 Ix)ew, Inc l.i.'OO 15 Orphrum COO 17 No llgf>ton Orpheum sulef. Wednesday— Fam. P.ay-L... 3.200 71«,i Do. pfd :M)0 BO Ooldwyn (new) lOO l.V\ I.^w, Inc 'MO 1.% Orpheum 500 l(i',» No BoKton Orpheum Bit lea. 71 IN) 1.*. 17 72>^ 15 17 71 \:, 17 + '/a + % '/k -I'V BERT SAVOY'S WILL Mother Sole Beneficiary—4l1>000 80 Far Located The will of the late Bert Savoy, also known as Bert Walker, Bert Walker-Savoy and Everett Mc- Kenzie Frazer, wfth Walker the family name, was filed for probate this week In the Surrogate'^ Courr of New York county, naming Ida Mae Walker, mother of the de- ceased, executrix and James J. (Jay) Brennan, his vaudeville part- ner, executor. * The will names the mother of the deceased as eole beneficiary after all expenses and debts have been paid. At the time of filing the document approximately $11,000 had been located in banks for the Savoy estate. It ie anticipated a sum of considerable proportions will be found later. The will was drawn March 9. 1920, in Chicago, given as the home of the deceased. Kendler & Gold«toin act as attorneys for Brennan, with Chadbourne, Hunt & Jaeckel and Brown representing the executrix. Ing the winter averaging ovar,|19.- 000 for many weeks and playing an extra performance from the flrat of tha year until lattt spring. It was accorded a wealth of put>licity which will attend its manifold presentation in the hinterland. It too started moderately, then jumped to unbe- lievable busines^. It is now in its 38th week. VINCENT BBYAN ARRESTED Los Angeles, July 11. Vincent Bryan, song writer and scenario author, was arrested here this week charged with peddling dope. Bryan's wife was also ar- rested on the «ame charge, l^ocal physicians say Bryan is a shadow of his former self physically, due to the narcotic halot. ILL AND INJURED W»V ««% -IVi UO Ml 1:.% )^\ 4- V* 1.'. 1.-. 1«\ 10\ ~ 14 FORUM New York, July 10. Editor Variety: 'She Takes Tea" has been re- named by its author, the writer. From now on the title is "She Gives Bull*' or "She Gives Alibis." The catch-line i^i the poor act was "Righto." I wish to rrgister that from now on the catch-line is Right-No. I leased the act to Mrs. Fremont Benton (formerly of iJond and Ben- ton), and Mark Sullivan was the only one who knew what it was all about. A character woman tried to explain to Mrs. Benton about the busine.«<8 of the act and a "straight" man (note the quotation marks) decided that I was not the owjier of the act, so between Pat Casey antl Jake LuMn I convinced both t^^e "straight" man, the character woman, and Mr.^. I'.rnton that a U. S. copyright has a little weight. Mrs. Benton Miied to pay Mark Sullivan his last week's salary, and failed to pay me the royalty due for the )ast three and a half weeks. This Is only a formal notice to the profession that I have recalled the act from Mrs. Fremont Benton and have given it to Mark Sullivan. Recently Variety (1 love it) printed a two-column story about authors getting the best of artists. What # laugh that was to myself an^ several others. Retract it. Incidentally I read what K. F. said about Variety. It took a long time but he Anally said it. You and I have known it for seventeen year.s. lUit now that Albee has said it, everything is "Jake." Love and kisses and if any one tells you I wa.s stewed when I wrdte this, ju.st Bay 'he was stewed, but he was still Johnny O'Connor." New Y^rk, July 9. Kditor Variety: — Will you permit me through Variety to thank the public for the kindness t and sympathy shown me in my great loss. I spcvk of my son Kveret (Bert Savoy). The letter**, the quantit' « of bea-tiful flowers and the great crowd.M at his funeral all make my burden lighter in knowing that it is sh.ared by so many dear friends. I would like to thank and have met them personally, but t e num- ber makes that }mpos.««ible even if I knew where to find them. I eturn to Chicago leaving my son in Wruxllawn feelinR that It be his wish to he near those who were to him and now are to me, so dear. >/ra. ;. M. Walk4'r. , MILLION HITS (Continued from Page 1) For the road "Heaven" is rated a perfect title and Is a play w4iich can be easily presented by several com- panies to equal purpose. Its producer John Gohden is now placed In the same c^lass as Wagen- hals & Kemper, who retired with a fortune made out of "Seven Days," then came back several seasons ago to repeat with an even bigger smash "The Bat," which will again have half a dozen companle.. on tour in the fall. Both managers havo es- tablished themselve.«» as great pIC. - ere. Colden's golden hit wis "Light- nin' " which ran three years on BrOadw. y, a record whir-h rmyc never be equalled. It was produced in association with WInchell Smith. "Seventh Heaven" Is now in its 37th week, but never dropped as much as the first summer of "Light- nln' ". "Rain" Is given top honors of the season because it has topped every non-musical In town except during the height of "The Fool's" run. Even when the heat forced busi- ness off all along the line, "Rain" held Its lead by at least $2,000 over the nearest contender. Already it has amassed a profit of a quarter of a million, with the end of the Broadway run nowhere in sight. Whether the play can be "fabri- cated" for the road as sucee.'^sfully as "Seventh Heaven" or "Able" is ft matter of opinion, but with the Sam H. Harris wallop it will repeajt Its success in (he big stands there is hardly a doubt. It is now in its 36th week. "Abies Irish Rose" is the biggest profit maker of the trio and will probably earn more for Anne Nichols, its author ahd producer, than the other million-dollar plays. "Abie" already has established more astonishing records than any play presented on this side of the water. The comedy is now in its 60th week on Broadway and head.*' the list in point of run. It an azed all Rh( vdom by playing 12 weeks In Washington, a like time In Balti- more, and is now doing the Impos- sible by creating another record In Pittsburgh, where it is in Its fifth mon^h and still drawing big busi- nes.''. "Abie"' will opeh for eight weeks at the '3arden Pier, Atlantic City, next Monday. A run was never at- tempted at the resort but the Nichols show ought to duplicate th« sensational p.ace drawn elsewhere. The Atlantic City booking was made to give the show national adver- tising. That is but one smart stunt that has featured the direction of the play. "Able" Is MiS-i Nichols' first presentation as a-JTianager and is without que.stlon the most suc- cessful theatrical enterprise ever guided by a woman. There will be four companies playing "Abie" be- fore the end of the month, includ- ing the J>Iew York showing. At least two of the big four started weekly, that going for "Abie" In particularly. The piece went into the box for $50,000 before it turned a dollar profit. Some critics ridiculed it, and t<^ be con- sistent some have since panned it almost weekly. "Seventh Heaven" was shot Into cut rates its first three weeks, then hit its stride and has never tofiped. "Rain" started hero like the dra- matic thoroughbred it is, but when it was debutted in Philadelphia the holders of a minority Interest were ready to dispose of their holding. The possibility, of "The Fool" Is dependent on the rmd, which will get seven companies starling >n September. The Selwyns' pro<luc- tlon drew sensational business dur- W H. Harder, of Harder-Hall, stock agents, underwent a slight operation June 29 at Dr. Haver's sanitarium, New York. * Ida Mack, wife of William Mack (formerly Regal and Mack), who w£»s operated on for appendiclfs last week, will be able to leave the hospital in a few days. Jack Cloonan, the young son of Billy Cloonan, of the Fally Markus office, has been confined to St. Mary's Hospital, Brooklyn, for sev- eral days td undergo an examina- tion for an internal disorder. Belle Murry, actress and daugh- ter of Jules Murry, the Shubert booker, was painfully hurt ^^en the auto in which she was returning from Asbury Park, N J., the night of July 3, was turned over after an- other car had collided with it. Miss Murry was taken to the A.sbury Park hospital suffering from bruises and cuts caused by broken glass. Edward P. McNamee of the ex- ploitation department of Firs^ Na- tional Films (formerly assistant treasurer of the N. V. A.) is in a critical condition with pneumonia at St. Vincent's hospital. New York. Ned Norworth was operated on for hemorrhoids last week at a Cleveland hospital; Is reported to be convalescing and will soon re- sume his tour of the Keith circuit. Dave Lewis, in a New York hos- pital, following an operation, ex- pects to be out next week. Francis Townsend (Townsend and Wilber) is recovering at 175 East Fourth street, Oswego, N. Y., from a recent operation. ^ Ida Regal (formerly Regal arid Mack) was discharged from the Roosevelt hospital July 11 (yester- day), after an operation for ap- pen(Jicitis. With her husband, Wil- liam Mack, she will recuperate at their cottage at Lake Hopatcong, N. J. Ethel Burt, wife of Tom Kennedy, the vaudeville agent, is ^riously ill at the National Stomach hospital, Philadelphia. FRANK LTBUSE IN UMELIOHT . Chicago, July n. f/ Roacoe (Fatty) Arbuckle's visll ^ to Chicago accomplished one thing^ and that was to bring into tbt.^' limelight Frank Libuse as a real comedian. Libuse teamed with tha rotund film comic during the latter'i stay at the Marigold Gardens and now that Arbuckle is soJ(Hirn!ng at the Palais Royal, Atlantic City, Li- buse Ih drawing the crowds. He Ig said to be a "comer.* - , runces ec %jo, 14.43. I «vy: $24.66. •; L. W. San4- JUDGMENTS ' : (The' flrnt flame ia that of th9 Judgment debtor^ creditor and amount foUow.) Leo Marx; T. Patrlcola; $114.70. Ai Beilan and William Horowitx} A. Friedland; $236.65. Grace B. Clark; Frances & Ca Dressmakers, Inc.: $544.43 Basil Durant; H. Levy Theodore P. Dresser ford; $1,919.81. | Burr Mcintosh; J. H. Burnt; $495.49. Allcntown Theatre Co., Inc.} Strau.vs &. Co.. In?.; $714.09. J. Searies Dawley Productian Corp'n; Van Horn & Son, Inc^; $218.90. Select Pictures Corp'n; Poopfa^ etc.; $300. • , Same; same; $200. Jerome Fulton Theatre Hotdinf Co., Inc.; City of N. Y.; $75.CJ Sigmund Romberg; $582.10. Leonard Wood, Jr.; $499.65. Boko^; C. P^ck; F. Satisfied Judgments ' William Hechheimer; J. M. Fe^» puson et al.; $1,105.05; December I, 1922. Amalgamated Producing 0^., inr,| N. Levy et al.; $556.70; June 21, 1*«23, ENGAGEMENTS INCORPORATIONS New York Ch«rters Plimnner Productions, Manhatlah, produce plays; $50,000; W. J. Plim-. mer, Jr., F. Novins, L. Perllng. (Attorneys, Miller Se Stein, 26 Court St.. Brooklyn.) Follies Productions, Manhattan, theatrical motion pictures; 75* shares preferred stock. $100 each; 1,000 common, no par value; active capital, $75,000; E. N. and H. Bloom- ber. vAttorney, W. Kaufman, 14$2 Broadway.) City Conservatory for Music Cut* ture, Manhattan, $50,000; H. and R. Her hkowitz, I. F. Burelsen. (A^ torney. R. Hlllman, 297 4th Ave.) William Shilling, Manhattan, pro- duce dramas, etc.; $10,000; E. D, Hayward, L. T. MoManus. E. ScottL (Attorney, G. Link, Jr., New York City.) Turul Film Co., Manhattan, $10,« 000; J. Almassy; E. Sakho, L. Magy, (Attorney, S. Streit, 175 Fifth Ave.) Northern and Southern Music Co.t Manhattan: $5,000; E. S. Townley, W. R. Doyhe. Attorney, W. M. ZIII, 15 Park Row.) Gumpertz-Schulman Productionsy Manhattan, motion pictures; $5,000; S. Ciumperts, H. A. Schulman, S. N. Welner. (Attorney, J. M. Zinaman, 1270 Broadway.) .v Millie Butterfleld, "Poppy." Violet Ilcming, Norman Trevor. Estello Winwood, "By the Grace of God." Florence Darling, general under- study. "The Passing Show of 1923." Denraan Maley, "Greenwich Vil- lage Follies." Margaret Shackleford, "Steve." Dora Duby, Jerome hotel, Atlantic City, revue, opening Ji^ 9. Robert Lynn, ,Estetle O'Reilly, George Lund, for the Sullivan & O'Connor stock. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Ann Austin. Reed Brown and Martha McCJraw. for the Kurtx stock. Bethlehem. Pa. Arnold Daly. "Fashions of 1924." Charlotte Osgood, "We've Got .0 Have Money." Ganna Walska, "The Minstrel Boy." M. D. Waxman, "The Irish Jew." Lynne Overman, "After the Rain." Margalo GiUn.ore, Henry Hull, "In Love with Love." Ernest Truex, "The Vegetable" (tentative). "^ Martha Bryan Allen, "Windows." Jacob Ben-Ami, "The Failures." Louis Calvert, "You Never Can T««ll." Ha isford Wilson. "Ta e a Chance.' Ivady Diana Manners, "The Miracle." James Barry, Rirhard Gallagher, Emma Janvier. Sarah Edwards, •'Poppy.'* Betty Kenlg. New Theatre (pre- senting Jewish plays at Rockaway Beach). Mary Hay, Hal Skelly. "*laln J.me.' Bower Sisters. "I'll Say She Te." Anna Roselle. for San Carlo Grand Opera Co. Francessca Cappellano for "Bro- ken Wings." Marjorle Sweet, "Go Go" (road). Roy D. Buckley, "Swanee River. " Violet Buckley. "Bubble-Bubble. " Harriet Hocktor (Snow, Columbus and Hocktor), Duncan Sisters' "Topsy and Eva." Alice Manning, "I'oppy." . Delaware Charters Hazelton Amusement Co., Wil* mington; $50,000. (Corporation' Trus^t Co. of America.) Frank Lloyd Productions, Wil- mington, motion pictures; $10,000. (Corporation Trust Co. of America.) Daylight 89reen Co. of Americat Dover, motion pictures; $100,000. (U. S. Corporation Co.) Catholic Art Association (West* em). New York, motion picture films; $200,000. (Registrar & Trans- fer Co.) ^ Burwood Projector, manufactura moving picture machines; $1,500,- OOOn Herbert B. Wilson, Wilkes- Barre, Pa,; John W. Bryant, Sayet S. Martin, Newton, N. J. (John B. Je«ter, Wilnnlngton.) Famous Artists, Inc., Wilmington* theatrical enterprises; $500,000. (Delaware Incorporating Co.) Capital Increases Phoenix Theatrical Corp., Man- hattan, to Issue 250 shares preferrfed stock, $100 each, and 600 shares common, no par value. . 'I^;:! Scribner's Scouting Trip Sam "Scrlbner is on a scouting triy rounding up new stands for the Co- lumbia wheel. The Columbia's gen- eral manager will travel as far west as Minneapolis In quest of new houses. .--; IN AND OUT. Helen Ely was out of the ./Ameri- can, New York ,last half last week. Alice I..awIor replaced. ■ Pero and Wilson, June 29. at their home in Chicago, son. /■ BIRTHS . fy:'i Mr. and Mrs. Tom Carter, son. The father is a member of th* Farrell-Taylor Trio. Mr. and Mrs. Harold M. GoUlblatt son, July 8 at the Lying-In Honpitali New York. Mr. Goldblatt '»>' t*J theatrical attorney associated wit* Frederick E. Goldsmith. J