Variety (July 1923)

Thursday, July It. 1*23 LEGITIMATE ^ VANITIES OF 1923 ^^ta»t4Al Tevu« produced br E«r» Carroll, *ulr 5 at th« tlw»tre b«*rln» Us nunc; tumthtn t»y Carroll, no prosram ci^dits for ThiSi C*it: PW »»pkin» Joyce. Jo. Marry B»n». Chartye •f22*^_I>»'?*J»^ •LMoff and Reno**. Umrtfrmt Bdwmrds. KlflB. r>oT»ihy K najfp «tt d tha Martlnaa. After two pMitp4»nementN Earl Carroll, producer, author and man- ager, entered the suauner revue list* July 5 with "Vaaitlaa «f 1»2I." wkich •u<^ee4ed la 4r«wins the at- tention of the 4aiU«s weeks before t|i« premiere by fl^tue of a differ- ence between Carroll and Equity anent the company of about 100 be- ing meitibora. Whether by design •r not. the argument proved a pub- licity akl. The on!y mention about the F.<l'J'<v rTimpun wma made by 4immy DiiPfy. who said all joined |»ut there were six bootleggers now picketitis th« stage door. "Vanities" is surrounded vaude- «C statra mads an effective number, hsAdled by Reneff an4 ReaoTa. who were dieoovered puttiac oa apectaele nuBibera in Chicago picture Uke- atTM. Batore tbe eSwe at tha ftrat Mt Maivaret Bdwards pfa« M 'e# a taear daaoe. which auniaated the eoocb but was not iti^festlTe. ▲ skit, "The Cloak," credited to Paal Wank, brought Miss Joyce on again. In it she is supposed to visit the apartment of a musician, the latter beiiw Joe Caok. who tails har he will aecure Inspiration If she dis- rohaa and wears her Qloak only. Botars the husband who insists on the claak being remaved--jMt Peggy has not taken off a single thing. Among the things she toJd the musi- cian was that it was the ftrst time she had ever been la a bachelor's apartmenL - . . •, : *. v<f . CoQk (Lnd Charles Alexander and BTeli*B worked in the balance eC the Coak routine later, the Martinee aiding In the club Juggling section. Cook stood out with his one-man circus as well as In vaudeville. Had sacnething beon especially written for him. he might have run off with the show. "Vanities- runs too much to vaudeville in the last act. Another big numloer might provide the means for elimination. The acts from Vaudeville were not picked us ex- p«"tly as the Jne-up loo:;ed on paper. Too much sloppy dressing by the comics conflicted. The idea be crooked la basiaess. bat that af the Jew la brougrht out In a much brighter' ray of hrnianlty whan it oomee to deplctiac his family life. ir STYLISH SIDE (Caatinaed irom page 11) Moore. From the reeuUa Mi»a Hnger ac hieved at the Rirersids it mi«ht be warth while to put her name on the program. ville. It lius many colorful scenes. provuled more by iight-s and dress-|«»ay have be^n to rnntra.st with the , ^.^ ^_. Superb taste 1 underdr^^ng of the company iii^co.sTume"^^ deslgfUnff features the J f*ii'ed toVork out that way. tng than by settings. but dres.<rtnpr. but it Is the most un- 4reft.ied show an Broadway as re- gards bare legs. There wasn't a pair of tig lit s nor a silk stocking tliroughout. Peggy Joyce beiug the solitary ^xception. It excels in numbers, the choristers beinR living exponents of Sammy Lee, out of vaudeville theise few seasons and new one of the moat Inventivp dance directcrs in the production tieM. The finale of furs or the "fur fashion revue." at the end of tl»e first act. brought gasps from the women ami speculation from the men. The display of costly femi- nine covering was disclosed by six sets of show girls, entrancing in aaartetd. with very little on umler- neatlt—and nothing from the hips down. The number leaders intro- duced ill their order baby lamb, squirrel, mole. seal, sable and er- mine, probably arranged for tnelr progressive costliness. Then came chinchilla. That with a comblna- tk>n af silver cloth adorned Petcgy Jayce and cost I20.400. The total of the 25 wraps ie valued at $180,000 aad insured for that amount. The fur fashion number provided food for the report that the fashion people were behind the show. That is denied, the wraps beinc borrowed praperty with credit ffiven to Rus- ask*s. Another ahaw. fkankly lab- eled a fashion ehow. is due In nasi week ("Fashions of 1924." at ths Lyceum) and may have mercantile backing. — •Vanities" may ba said to be a revue "on the stairs." A system of steps fitted in a number of comblna- tians for the draping and working of the chorleterft. Both for aicht aad action purposes the device works out effectively. The same Idea Is used In the "Pollles" and was partly developed by necessity in the "Midnight FrolicT but not to so full advantage as In "Vanities." That Carroll aims his ahaw as an annual eveat was indicated by the first number. "The Birth of a New Re- vue.'' That brouirht'ln girls repre- senting other revues. There is a corkinir first act and that means a lot to a show of the Jdnd. Whatever fixing: ia necessary / helongs mostly in Jibe eecond stanza. The show has comedy becau.se the cast has been recruited from vaude- ville specialists, but there should "have been more cutting of that material. Out of a clear sky came Dorothea KevUle, a coloratura soprano, togged out in the fancy drese of 1851 and accompanied by Carlena Diamond (aa the harp). This girl displayed a voice of rare range and charm. It seemed stnuajre that her effort should land such a punch, but the plaudit.^ continued until sK6 came atft in "one" to bow. Miss Neville-Is aaid to be an English girl, the daugliter of operatic parents though without the guidance of a master vocalist. Jimmy Duffy changred the pace for the first of his several appearances, having as "pages" the Callahan boys for aids in "Insanities of 1923." "The Silver hardens" brought the show girls out in as neat a set of frocks aa seen In »ea;<ons. Then came Miss HopkJn.s-.Tovce, featured with Joe Cook for the catchiest song. "Pretty I*egKy.' The number was built up by the iisie of 12 male chorifterfl, a dozen well appearing chaps taking a filer on the stage rturint» tbo lull of the col lege year. The boys are said •^ to be Columliia TTnlversity students and reitnlnly look the part in com- . pari.«on t,, the "standnr.l " kind. '^.The I.ilLs iiie4>ped in wiicn •tan.'d to ni »k« trouble. Tinn when that v,i\fi i- ■ttlvd the otluM 4 wore perniittod to*, rehirn. Tlio litter wer>. n>ed j^i^t once. *!kiiii>in;i on for :\n oi^roro s*»ction. .'Ks thov v. ore togifrd out in white tho\- wero pri>miii^Mtly i.otlced in tho .'»f^«fm- blage or 'Jt —and what a du'rcronce tliMf w.is. The contra.sr to the up- atandiim students furnLtlied one of the bp..or 1 niRhs of the 'how t<» a'ly in!*i(l^f. rii.d iterhaps other." A ballet t:i'.clr.g in tho full fl gl<i la addition to the regrular choris- ters are 12 extra girls used in the fur fashion. They appear but once, as do the auded chorister boys, the students doing the other male thorua watlc, of which there is not a lot aside from (he "Pretty Peggy" number. William Collier directed tho dialog. William l>a!y conducted the orches- tra and may have caiitribiited a melody or two. Ho is the young man who composed "Engenue Baby" In "Our Nell," a novelty melody that is one of the best in a year. Nothing as good is in "Vanittes." R. Reid Macguire designed the set- tings, and Paul Arlington the cos,-v tumes. "Vanitie.**"' opened to a $10 lop and got $6,500 at the premiere. T4te reg- ular scale is $3.50 top. Ibce. LA RACE MAUDITE Paris, July S. Robert de Thiac has written a three-act drama which Irenee Mau- Cat has preeented at the Theltre Alhert L "La Race MaudUe," other- wise "The Cursed Race," forming the title, evidently refers to tHe Russian Jirw. that much-abueed caste now taking: a terrible revenge and with compound interest. The author fixed his dramatic ef- fort in Moscow soon after the out- break of the revolution. Jacob Hentc is a ruined tanner earning a living by all sorts of flukes, his latest enterprise the conversion of paper roubles into gold before the smash comes. Pierre Woi-^ky is a government inspector who detects Jacob in this illicit transaction, the hoarding of gold being forbidden by the Soviet. But as IMerre happens to have a love adventure with the Jew's daughter OUda he refrains from arresting him, aad takes his part wUeu ElmiinOiT complains that Jacob has taken his gold but not paid the proper amount of paper roubles for it. s Furious, Klmanoff spreads the story that Worsky has shielded the Hebrew because he is the lover of Gilda, unknown to the Hentz family excepting the girl herself. As a matter of fact. Jacob objects to his daughter marrying a man not of his religion. Just as Pierre's father refuses his consent to his son's union with a Jewess. Hentz and his son Samson conse- quently wait up that night. When Worsky calls to see Gilda, as lie is wont to do after the rest have re- tlr«d, they confront him, with the Intention of having a full explana- tion. But Worsky lK>lts immediately he sees his sweetheart's family In- stead of tho girl, and is shot at the door by Elmanoff, who is hiding there to be revenged on Jacob. The Jew, fearing the consequences of the criujc, orders his son to carry the body to the river, but the lad is discovered en route and killed by an angry crowd, which afterward storms Jacobs house, accusing him of having murdered the government policeman. During tlie row Jacob sets fire to his home rind escapes in the ensuing confusion with his daughter (the SUCCESS London, Jans 29. Fcederick Harrisoa preeented at the Utkyasarket a plar ia three acts by A. A. Milne, enUtled "Success." It proved aa undoubted hit here, and any Ahiericaa manager who would not regard It aa a reasonable theatrical venture in his countr/ is a more coftftervative individual than the writer of this review. To be sure, the mibject Is not new—that oi a maa wha aacrtflceB love for ambition is bound to re- gret it in later years and. no mat ter how stron^ty tempted to turn bac^. finds it Imposeihls to do eo. Ambitiaa aad loot fer political ad- vaaoement cauaed Selby Ifannock to turn from his youthful dreaaas and ally hlmaelf with a clever go-ahead woman. He pushes on aad on until we find him holding a high position in the Cabinet, a cynical egotist who, finding he has hut Utile left to strive after, htmaelf proceeds to ord«- the lives of his family and endeavors to marry them off to the best possible advantage. A meeting with an old friend brings back to his mind the early days when thej' l>oth loved the snme girl, and chancing to visit the coun- try in the c-urse cf his political duties he finds ia his hostess the love of his youtli. also unhappily married. "(Snille sleeping in the Ident''"?.! room which he occupied in his romantic youth, he has a dream vision of his past Hfe. rather reminiscent of similar scenes in 'Dear Brutus." and yet somelio\>- dlstlnctly different. These visions form quite the most attractive por- tion of the play, and are handled with a touch so delicate one can al- most imai;ine them to be a dream indeed. The inevitable happens and Selby renews his courting to the woman, and they agree to throw up their world and elope together. As a means to thtii end the naan sends in his realgnation from the Cabinet. This, however, has a totally surpris- ing sequel, when his chief, thinking; this to be a clever move for promo- tion on his part, promptly offers him the post of Chancellor of Exchequer, the crowning height of his ambition. Success once more closes in upon him, and he cannot refuse this final flattering tribute, so once more ro- mance goes to the wall aad he plunges headlong inta the whirlpool of politics. Charles Cherry and Orace Lane as his worldly wife share the honors for the acting. Mojma McGiU is charming as the deserted Sally, though her part Is all to short. The rest of the actors were finely ade- quate. Julo. n woald be a good Idea for-tha New Tark Telaphoae Co. to give a few iaatractloae to the operators as well aa the public. Quite an idei. this dial systetn—the patron pays for service and doea all the work. Dotted nwiss is cool and fresh looking for morning frocks; does not aee«l »tarchi||g and does not wrinkle. -,c i^.,*. Faulty and blurred letterlac an flhas is respocsibfa for a lot of bad eye- tight Why cant the oj^rators keep their attention on the prujectlen of their aaachlnae* • >r-T ' Amelia Blnilliam didn't like her dressing room %t the Cosinopo1i<ou« !»tudlos and "walked.' She waa caat for a part In "Tolande." Dolly Vardon chlntsee ara and hat. iki«c titeir appearance for morning gown The RIalto Indisputably takes tha palm of movie feature houses In New York for efficient house management. On entering ^the theatre (he auditor U courteously pureaed aad offered a program. True, the leaflet includes next week's bill and advertising matter, hut one does not have to track said program to aa usher, who informs vui there is none to be liad Even the little blonde girl in the glass case selling tickets is polite and looks summery In a navy t>lue polka dot with viilenciennes edging. Golf a§ played by Gene Sarazen In the educational film Is quite an instructing lesson in this presidential, political and movie sport. The main Issue of the letison Is to "Keep your eye on the ball." Rather an inane injunction when there Is no game or business where one can afford t^ l-.*!te sight of the objective. One bit of the film had to be faked to convey the shot. This was obviona, through the ban keeping the same dimen-, i'ions from the beginning to the etid of the aliot. Pat Caaey KhcmlU see this picture; Mr. Sarazen has a phenomenal approach. A new idea in song plugging Is also a feature at the RIalto this week; "Babbling Brook" the song. Half the screen Is devoted to tha lyric antl half to the illustration. As the letters of the ajrllable synchronize with the note of the music, the syllable brightens. It is an original idea ia^, plugging. The lyric of "Babbling Brook" is perfect as to metre. The news reel of the "Leviathan" leaving oa her maiden trip la the heat shown so far. It is the only reel that recalled her when she carriisl back to us the remnants of thtf A. El F. Part of her deparjure was riimpsed. as if taken from an aeroplane. Thrilling ia the Fox photography of the Mt. Aetna disaater. The title announced the cameraman risked hlFlifo. and it la quite heSlevahle. Two masks over the prosceniukm arch of the theatre mar the decoration. The two inevitable maska used by theatre designers are the two rejM-e- senting comedy and tragedy. At one time when Dillingham and Zleipeld were partners, « certain Broadway wit declared they were pictures of Ziegfeld, as Comedy, ejigaglng the eaat, and Dillingham, aa Tragedy, pay- ing them. However, these at the Rialto ostensibly mean two very hideous Axtec Indians. • Less orchestra and vocal solos would be welcomed by a patient and sorely tried movie devotee. 8o much time was sivea to the surrounding bilf that to wait for the feature picture, **Chlldrea of Jasa." aa a hot night was expecting too much. Let the universe turn over If It wants to. Just because the pfcture waen't caught for this ©olumn, Jt wasn't caiight. that's all. and if the theatre doesa't care who's to blame, blame the heat ,. :^ OUT OF TOWN hold) to th*' more congenial West. This dram.-i is full of action, and Kquily I nicely act od i.y n q.K>.l tioiij).- ii'^.i.lpd by AUo\fi' as ,lai-ob. Xo\ «m I lu- cisx the portra.\aI of the (Jhetto seems a bit exacTR'^rated, hut it would !>rob- ablv inaUf a»i excellent piece in Yid- di.«Ii. It Mini>I\ I'^xe.'ils tlif' fundamrnf.i' injuslifCH 5»'> often attempted on an individual b.(au«»e he is an lRr;ielif«\ which w«-i pirtirularlv tli« b.ibit .«iome ><ars asAO. and the endeav<.r of the Hebrew to net even with a ("hrl.'<lian wh^u trying to do him. Hoib I if tii4i alters nre shawn to THE EARTHQUAKE Father Rran Orrin T. Burkr The Woman from over Klleni..Ana Andrews SIdner Arrastronff J. M. Keniican Joe Oeorse Tohiasi Qreane Seldou Dennett rim James Montsemery QsicaipP* -• Louis 8<-rln A Sentrr Herbert Rathke Anthonr Hoberta.... Allwrt Andnina GaplaJB Barieer MUeto!! 2Iarri«a A Bum ...Romeya I>ark Ber\jamin Mrs, LockUt..; Cora Calktns Tim Nolan Joaeph Macauley Helen Nolan Beatrice Prentias Mary Nolan , Dolly Uray Dr. Simon John Ward Serr^ant Morrison.. ..FVanklyn Fox A Messenger .Roland Hanson Ix>ng Branch, N. J., July 11. The Initial managerial enterprise of William A. Brady, Jr., who pre- sented "The Earthquake," by Theo- dore Llebler, Jr., at the Broadway was not crowned with succeaa. Judging from the reception ac- corded by the audience the piece Ls doomed to repose In the storehouse. The play was in three actf and a prolog, with each period divided without rhyme or reason or any leaning to continuity. Whatever story ttie offering mn- veyed was lost In a mar.e of Inco- herent dialog. One of the charac- ters In tho prolog who had been caught in the collapse of a building due to the quake called himself "a pal of God." Whila the leading woman waa writhing In pain and endeavoring to extricate herHelf tho debris h^ told her not to^orry a.s He would take care of herT even though she were a sinner. The following acta were d''v'ot«»d Why do BO many girls of the stage adopt the spangled flash effect in dresses whea such charatiiag accoutrements are to he had by merely show • ^n^ an euphonious combination of coloring? One gets tired of seeing the same old glitter. One dreas in an act wiVh rhiaestones. sequins and others of ths familr or spotlight catchers is plenty. Personality and beauty are very likely to be aubmerged by a to i ahiny wardrobe. to looking after refugees and the qply surviving member of his house- labor of the military authorities to keep them in check During the action, what litd** thore wa«, the name of the Deity was used a dozen times. De^ldrs. there were diatribes anent Hol- ahevlsm. anarchy and social up- heava:. with the original "pal"' goin< to his death in his effort to ^\\«* Kinner!*. With the makeshift scenery, poor nrfing by rer.>gni«ed artists of .ikil' who vrerv not wholly at^ blame. tb»» play benriUK^he Brady **ndorH»»m«-iir waa hailed n% tlie worst ev^r on th" sea <-oasil. UES6ACT VAinSHES (Continued froiu pe#e 14) the administration letters were to enable her to presa ttieaa actiona against the executora through the courts. On November 11. If If. a will of her husband, executed February t, Ifli, and dividing hia property equally between his five brothers and sisters, was filed for probate, to which, February If, lf», she filed objections, charged fraud, un- due influence and lack of sound mind and memoiy and demanded trial by jury of the Issues raised by her. In June, lf20, the trial opened be- fore a Jury and, after the members of her husbands family had lis- tened for three days ta testimony that the decedent was rarely sober, the trial was stopped and the ob- jections to the probate of the docu- ment were withdrawn. --r.— In IfSl, the United Rtatee Trust Company, as Hubstltuted trustee of the estate left by (ieorge Fennell. deceased, began a partition suit in the Supreme Court to ascertain whether or not Robert Walt'r Fan- nell had any realty InlerMte la the estates of his late father, mother and uncle. The matter waa referred to a referee and, on June T, last, an Interlocutory decree waa signed ronflrming the referee's report. In his report the referee found that inasmuch as Robert Waller Fennell had failed to survive the ages of any of tho trusts funds so 9et aside for him. he was not seized of any interest whatever In nny of the real estate formerly owned by his late father, mother and uncle and BO consequently Dorothy Parker was not entitled to xny dower rights in her husband's estate. In Februarj'. If 12, a woman, who Rave lier name as Ml.s» Khtherine L.a Felle, rlaimej to have be^n an actress. Raid that she had come frcmi Tennessee two months before and" wsR living at the Qlenmore Apart- ments, announced that she h'<d msrried Robert Walter Fennell. at lloboken. N. J, nnd th.it the R*" lather Mcdulre had tied the offl. : i knot. She arav* h*"! age as 1%. , According to het story, ahv M ^5 . i Fennell and a party of hla frlemlji had been out dining in an inn at Haatinga-on-the-HudHon and at th«» height of the gayety Fennell mad* the auggestlon that the^ get mnr- ried. She said thrft he Jiad made almilar suggestions to her hefor»> and so she decided to call his bluflf The problem then came of aretttiie: married 'without a licenae. She s:%hi that the entire party got into a touring car. drove to Ho»Kd<en, whore they were rudely refuse<1 by moat of the ministers bi thnt nu^ was found at S o'clock in the morn. Ins who tied the official kno!. What really happenrd thst nUht, an Investication disclo.Hed, wa*« that one of the sober membera of the party, when the search wax bt't;iin for a minister, disguised himHelf ; "< such in one of the dark empty lots of Hoboken and came forward, without beinc recognised, and tied the oflflcial knot while the coup;<^ stood In the automoltile, lining a 10-cent dictionary wliich thn Bue!«tn, including the '*bride*' and ' eioom," mistook for a bible. - v - .'- -I ..■>.:■ I "■ mi »- ^. STOCK RECORD eiContinued from page 17) < promoters are going to cash in bier. The admission, at $1.22 top, includes war tax. The cost of bringing out hiKh-grade talent and'puttlrg on expenalve productions la high: nt II10, charged the first two seaaens. a profit was almost Impossible* to get. The slight increase seems to have induced heavier patronage. If anything. "I have found that it poy.s to give summ*r theatregoers the best oU- tainabls.*." Manager Muvlhll »»Ul. "Broadway talent roiit« mon»'v. Good scene paint!ni? and good di- recting do likewise. IhJi a diacrinil- natlng claas of po^jde are thereb/ attr.TPted. 'In other worda,' tyr' t l'' - liverlng the g.^od* we jprt i%^ moripy." 's (leorge B. Ashwoith. attached » » the Robert Kdmond Jones studio j palnf.^ thf* jifenery fre.sh for *hp pr»»duci1oi» liW Mrllug^h dOfrJ^ tl * st.ige dir«*'t if'.S." I-'oyd Ibf K'^n*-; » diri*cllng. r.roBs f.ir **Th# ^althfn " < < .'•;M(,»ximn l^d I'l^r**.