Variety (July 1923)

Thursday. July 10, 1928 VAUDEVILLE i LOEFS TWO-A-DAY VAUDEVILLE A POSSBILrrY FOR NEXT SEASON IT,.. r ''J *v /"^ vn l^ange of Policy iit^Some Houses Contemplated— i^ Local Managers Asked to Express Opinion on Audiences—^Many Bidders for Pictures Make That Market Less Plentiful—Grade of Loew Small Time Vaudeville Not Meeting All Demands • i» ■-. .».•■■- ■" ;-vjM ■■■•••■.■•■ .'^- ,. •—— n ..■■■ ■■■- y A chanjre of policy In some of the ^"IiMW circuit theatres for next sea- is in contemplation by the BUDD-NORMAN SAILINGS Cr«ol« Fashion Plat* Chang** Data —Ruth Budd Sails July 21 «xa(f&tive ofTlces of Locw'a. Marcus Loew is reported to have given the ■latter much of his attention of late. % For a lonf while Loew's felt a •supremacy in the picture field In conjunctin with vaudeville. Of late active bidders for pictures in the ^whole market have parsed across the Loew vision, with the result the Loew people reaphed the conclusion It might be advisable to bolster up the grade of their pop vaudeville shows to reach a more equal plane with competitors. ^ The elevation of vaudeville on the Loew time of a necessity would have to be' from the pVesent three performances a day to twice daily, placing such houses as Marcus Loew elected to talce on that policy la the big-time vaudeville class. The big-time policy would be re- quired, the vaudeville people say, to •liable Loew to secure the supply of better grade acts then called for In an extensive circuit, with the chances as well some of the theatres would have to change their playing iK>Ucy from a split to a full week. According to ret>orts, there are -tereral angle* the Loew executives are weighing. The most formidable obataple is which house can stand a ;i€hange^ with thought given to its present drawing power, from its ^vaudeville or pictures. The opposi- tion within the neighborhood is an- other huge point, a* a change in the Loew pop house* where the strength might be thrown to vaudeville could leave an openir\g for a competing picture theatre to take away some of the Loew local film trade. •; Under a full week playing policy lioew'a combination theatres might b* relieved of the strain of selecting 104 pictures yearly, with each hoped for in the drawing line. Reduced to it a year in the week stands, Loew'* could be more assured of a better koA more Careful selection, although still figuring competitors in the field for independent picture* or those at liberty to be sold for flr*t run*, with the competitors not stopping at *ny price to secure them. It is *ald that Keith's paying It.OOO weekly for "Safety Last" KHaaold Lloyd) and taking on the jChaplin films, besides other strong future*, brought th* possibilities to Loew's in th* picture mart of the future. The understanding 1* that Loew's 5loes not look upon any Improvement In this grade of vaudeville it may go into as an opposition to the present hlg time, but rather as an advance- ment In the quality of Us own shows. . The Loew house managers in the metropolitan district wer* lately Vaummoned to a star chamber con- i ference and Instructed to watch their houses, show*, audiences, etc., over a period of a couple of weeks ypproxlmately. The managers were instructed to report back just what, la the opinion 6f the manager, Would be the best policy for a speci- fic house to adopt the coming sea- son. t\}^ ^^^ manager, after vatchlng the situation and making his analy- sis, finds in his opinion the house h« presides over Is best suited for two-a-day vaudeville with a better Jfade of acts, the manager will put that in hla report If small time •eta and pictures are the thing or •tralght pictures more suitable, that ^ condition will be reported. A preliminary check up of two Of the big Loew Brooklyn houses ^«at would Indicate the audiences *re more partial to straight pictures »jay result in the small time vaude- • JJllls going out of those houses In «• fall, with a policy of picture.s yth presentations being substi- tuted. Several of the New York Loew houses would be adaptable to a ■tralRht blpT time policy, while others could readily play the intermediate •tjrie of entertainment. A change of admission prices would follow change of policy, the whole circuit's scale being revised in the New York district. The conference mentioned with the Loew managers instructed to make reports on conditionj with the future of the houses Involved con- cerned New York and Brooklyn only. With that situation straight- ened out the rest of the circuit would be In line for a revision of policy to be arrived at through the same moans of Investigation. ■'•^' Baltimore, July II. Although Ruth Budd and Karyl Norman, "Th* C Ke o I • Fashion Plate," had booked passage for July 21 on the same boat, "Olympic," th* Fashion Plate has altered his sail- ing plan and will leave a week later, July 28. Miss Budd's original'sail- ing stands up to date. The coincidence secured attention through the marriage engagement some months ago of Miss Budd and Mr. 'Norman. Later It was broken off with many explanation* follow- ing. HORWIH' MORTGAGED AUTO INVOLVES LAWYER MARIB— —WILLIAM HENRIETTA and WARRINER (SCINTILI^TII^O BONO STARS) "Hitch your wagon to a star" by booking the** two singing star* on your bin. ^^ Direction PAT CASEY AGENCY. Personal representativ* KENNETH RYAN 500-MILE LAKE CRUISE Actor* on 46-Foot *'Naveh'* Cook and Grow Fat i ^ ^ Chicago, July 18. The "Naveh*" the new 45-foot boat which has replaced the "Dam- flno" in the vacation cruises of the "Association bunch," has returned to Chicago from a 500-mlle trlj^ln which all points on the east shore of Lake Michigan were vlsit^. There was a full week stop made at the actors' colony at Muskegon, where there Is a yacht club, and at Saugatuck, which the party found the most pleasant spot on the east side of the lake. The boat has a, 100-horsepower motor and sleeping accommoda- tions for eight. Th* members of the party did their own cooking and all gained weight. They Included Eddie Saw- yer, Charles Crowl, Nat Kalsheim, Dick Hoffman and Sam Tishman. Sawyer and Crowl have been mak- ing the summer tour* for 12 years. PANTAGES AT MONTREAL Will Book Loew'* Ther*—A Cana- . dian-United Hous* ^ Loew'*. Montreal, will b* booked through th* Pantage* circuit next season. The hous* 1* on* of the Nathanson, Canadian-United string and will follow the other Canadian- United houses into the Pantages of- fice along with Toronto and Ham- ilton. Pantages is said to be angling for th* Lafayette, Buffalo, a Qua Sun booked house. The Pantage* road show* open at Toronto, jumping from there to Hamilton. Th* La- fayette would be a full week stand and would serve for the starting point of the Pan road show*. A deal between the Interests con- troling the Canadian-United house* In Canada and the Keith circuit whereby the latter were to have taken over several of th* United houses 1* reported to have struck a snag pver the matter of term* several week* ago. JAT BRENHAN'S FABTNEB Jay Brennan 1* rehearsing a new partner In the female character por- trayed by the late Bert Savoy. The new act will be billed as Jay Bren- nan and Co. Brennan's new partner is Rogers of Rogers and Coleman, a two-act that has been playing the smaller circuits. The material used In the Rogers and Coleman turn was writ- ten by Brennan, It is said. Rogers is reported as an excellent female Impersonator, working, along the same lines popularized by Savoy. MARRIAGES Dr. Harry Hyman Is to marry Bertha Leventhal In New York city late In Sept The groom is the dentist in the Strand building, New York. The bride Is the niece of Joe Young, the song writer, and is a non-professional. Eddie Heffcrnan (cabaret) to Vivian Birmingham (vaudeville) .luly & In New York City. YOUNGEST GRANDMOTHER: - FRETTING OVER HER SYDNEY Anna Chandler in Controversy With Fdrmer Pianist on Several Pertinent Particulars—^Matter of Mar- riage Under New Yoik State Law One of Them '»^..' Heckheimer Sold Car to Rogr ers—Lawyer Fails to Show Bill of, Sate J V k...,«. Six years is long enough to keep a promise, Anna Chandler thinks. Al- though she blames Sydney Langfleld for not having kept It, Miss Chand- ler denies she was th* one who opened up th* *eparatIon that ha* endured between them now for two months. According to report*, the separation look* permanent. Mia* Chandler, who has described herself aa th* youngest grand- mother In the world and only SS, looked upon Sydney Langfleld, ac- cording to her friends, aa her hus- band. Thl* was through a mutual understanding between them that they would wed. Langfleld was Miss Chandler'* pianist In vaudo" ville, and later continued in that capacity, although graduating into a single turn cf his own. Miss Chandler did not really be- lieve she had lost her Sydney until meeting him on Broadway the other day. 'TThe couple ar* said to have Indulged In a wordy battle upoa the street, heard by any casual passers- by curiously Inclined. During the course of their confab Langfleld Is said tc^ave Informed Miss Chand- ler h* had taken means to protect himself from any annojnanc* by her- self or any of her family. ^ . That remark 1* said to hav* in- furiated Mi*s Chandler, who called upon an attorney. Sh* i* reported having been advised that under a New York *tatute th* a**ocIatIon of a couple by mutual consent for flv* years or over Is equivalent to a common law marriage. Miss Chand- ler says th* actual computation of her acquaintanceship with Sydney would about approximate *lx year*. A ^ear or so ago Miss Chandler was reported to have grown chummy with a vaudeville comedian, but Mis* Chandler later pooh-poohed the report, saying It had been merely a test, and through it she thought Sydney might hasten his promised marriage. There never ha* been a fellow, according to Anna, who could stall a wedding promise as well a* Syd- ney Langfleld. One day he would agree that the next they should be married, but the next day he forgot about it, and when Anna again would broach It Sydney was there with another stall. It grew embarrassing, Anna claims, aa the possibility of a sepa- ration approached, since all of her friends thought she and Sydney were one. Now that they are sepa- rated the truth will out, says Anna, and she would lllce to have her side first on the record. ACT HELD TO OPTION . BY KEITH'S OmCE BRAYS TRAVELINO Chicago, July 18. , Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Bray left Chi- cago laet week for a trip to New York and Boston, and Thomas Car- mody, booking manager. Is tempor- arily In authority at th* Western Vaudeville Managers' Association. Played Circuit Last Reason and Nlust Play Next Season •:*> An option on an act 1* jtist as binding as a signed contract for their services with the B. P. Keith's office. It was demonstrated last week when W. Dayton Wegefarth, gen- eral booking manager. Informed Walsh and Ellis they would have to play a rout* of 40 weeks over the Keith time next season, despite they had refused the route, stating that tjiey had an offer for a production. Walsh and Ellis were signed on a blanket contract for their appear- ance over the Keith circuit for the past season, and also gave the Keith exchange an option on their services for the coming season. When Frank Evans, their repre- sentative, submitted a route for 40 weektf^ bccrlnning Sept. S, the team refused It, stating they wished to accept an offer in tt show. The m%tter <;ame up before Wege- farth, who told Walsh and Ellis that the of&ce had taken up the oj^tioo. ILL AND INJURED Judith Jewett was hurt July 11 when the taxi In which she was riding wa* hit by another car. Bert Lelghton, hi* wlf*. Rath Pettie, and their six-year-old baby, Josephine, were among the injured In the Hudson Tube crash on July 11. Ovide Musln, Belgian Ylolln rir- tuoso and composer. Is recuperating at the Methodist Episcopal Hospital, Brooklyn, N. T., after an operation which necessitated th* amputation of one leg. An aggravated gangren- ous diabetic condition existed aoid only the operation and application of the new Insulin serum saved the maestro's life. Ed Leach, scenic artist for the Pantages houses, was removed from a Los Angeles hotel last week to a hospital, afflicted with small pox. Ethel Clifton, vaudeville actress and author of "For Value Received," Is confined to a sanatorium in Cali- fornia, convalescing from a recent operation. Another phase ^ of the financial manipulations of Arthur J. Horwita, vaudeville agent, came to light last week when effort* were made to seise an automobile from Ai. Rogers, vaudeville agent, of the Romaz building, on the pretense the car had been mortgaged by the missing small-time agent. Rogera pleaded Ignorance and Informed the party he had purchased th* car from Harry Sak* Heckheimer, theatrical attor- ney, for $1,000 on th* in*tallment plan and that h* held a bill of aal* from .the attorney to that effect. The man represented himself to Roger* as Mr. Alexander of the United States Auto Finance' Co. of 1781 Broadway, and Informed hlna Horwlta alx month* ago had bor- rowed the mtfney on the Hud*on sedan car which Roger* was driving and had given a chattel mortgage on the car, which was entered In the office of Che County Clerk of New York county. Rogers Insisted he was unaware of any of the dealings of Horwlta with the concern and that he wduld not turn ^ver the car to him. At thla point, according to Rogera, Alexander informed him unleas he surrendered the car he would take proceedings against him for the use of property wblclk did not belong to him. At this point Rogers suggested they visit the Cfflee o( Kendler a Goldstein, his attorneys, where the bill of sale given Rogers by Heofc- helmer was shown to the mortgagee^ It disclosed that In the three montha Rogers had the car he had paid Heckheimer |C0« of the stipulated $1,000 sale price. Upon the establishment of the Identity of Rogers, Alexander agreed to allow him to hold the car until a further Investigation had been made. Alexander then got In touch with Heckheimer. The latter informed him he had aold the car In good faith to Rogera and that he held » bill of sale from Horwlti, whlcli iiated the automo{>iIe to be free and clear of. any encumbrances. The attorney was asked to produce the bill of sale, which he promised to do the next day. Meantime Julius Kendler. oq be- half of Rogers, made inquiries of Heckheimer and received the same Information given Xlexander. with the statement he would also show the bill of sale. Efforts were made by Alexander and Kendler on sev- eral occasions to get in touch with Heckheimer to get a glimpse of the document, but the latter could not be reached. " \ After waiting for a week Alex- ander placed the matter In the hands of David Paris, his attorney, and the latter ts*now preparing to Institute action against Heck- heimer and Rogers for the recoverjr of the car. . •. •.:■■■■■■?'•■ Mr. Alexander refused to discuss, the transaction outside of mention-' Ing he held a chattel mortgage on the car. Reports were current about the Lo*w offlc* this w**k that Horwlts 1* now vacationing, on a farm at New Mllford, Conn., alao that he was In New York Tueaday. Hla wlf*, Edith Lilvlng*ton Horwlta. who has ln*titut*d divorce proceeding* agaln*t him, *alled for France about four week* ago. Sh* 1* now said to be in Paris. ^ LIGHTS' CRUISE start* Aug. 14, and May Laat Thr*o ^ W**k* NAT LEWIB—POP Next to outfitting all of the'Broad- way productions. Nat Lewis has his wish—he's a pop and it's a girl. The Lewises live at 35 Hamilton place. New York, with Nat himself located in business on Broadway. The daughter'* name is Annabelle and If Nat finds time within the next year, th* Lewises are hopeful ♦.heir second child will be a boy. The «event1k annual orulae of the Light*' Club of Fr*«port, Ia I., will open Aug. 14 at th* Columbia, Far Rockaway. Thu* far th* *how im' **t for a week of one-nlghter*. Including th* Castle, Long Beach; Hempstead. Lynbrook, Freeport, Patchogue and Great Neck. B. S. Moss, on the advisory board of the club. Is donating the Long Beach and Far Rockaway houses. The cruise will probably list for" three weeks, with other date« to be booked. From Show to Grain Business * Larry Lee and Shep Waldman have d6.sertod show buslne** for a grain enterprise In Detroit. Lee was formerly of Manning an4 Tioe: Waldman did a double act with his broLher.