Variety (July 1923)

.Thursday, July 19, 1923 BURLESQUE .jTVf EXntA ATTRACnONS TO BE 'IT — PLACED DIREa BY COLUMBIA ^ilore Favorikble Temu to' Producers Bring Order J;: for Better Shows—System of Censoring Altered *M Producers to Co-operate \ "V-.. Ill view of the Colirmbla wheel '^'linvlng increa^:ed its playing terms P tor next season considerably in faror of the shows, extra attrac- ilons In the way of vaudeville acts '#tn be placed with any of the shows r ^f f lag behind in business after the larti three or four we^u o| tl?e on. ''^'' ■-• ■ v.'i Orders have gone out from Co- ia headquarters that better iJhows arc c^cpected next sesHon and that it will not be l<»ft to tho f»ro- fttcers'discretion to strengthen his ,.s)iow as in pai-t seasons. The Co- ^ 4umbia will attend to thai. ' V, ji. speolal department will be c^e- ^Itd to handk* the vaudeville acta j^y the Columbia i>eople. ' '. ,,.In certain instances the cause for ' «ipoor btaslness in the past has arisen 'V (rom notably bad theatre 8tands as :'jir«ll as from the eliow itself. In the ,^^ase of new hout^ea that have not :>•, flayed burle-^que previously or ro- ;. Oflintb'. where It would seem neces- sary to build up business, the Co- \^lumbia will nlnu use extra attrac- - tions. The censorship system will be ^somewhat different next season. >vhen a show is looked over by the |oint ccmmlttee representing tlie Columbia Aniusseement Co. and the Columbia Producers* Association, .respectively, recommendations will be made to improve should the show J^ lacking in entertainment, cast. ytte. The Producers* Association will call upon one or more of its V members to help repair the bad • show, each of the producers having agreed to co-operate in that manner. TOLUES OF DAY" OPENS SUMMER RUN ADVERTISING LEEWAY AUOWED COLUMBIA^.Y. Gerard Show's Flash Respon- sible—Producers on Wheel Pleased to Hear It ■■V- Burlesque Show Makes Mid- Summer Start at the Columbia Barney Gerald's "Follies of the Bay." a standard Columbia bur- lesque wheel attraction, opened Sat- urday night at the Columbia, New ^ York, for » summer run at the theatre. The regular season of the Colum- . bla wheel and theatr* starts Aug. ST. It is anticipated the Gerard show will be able to remain at the house until that time, despite at- mospheric conditions. An estimate says Gerard must plaj to $6,500 or 17,000 a week to break even. The company of ••Th« Follies," numbering nearly 60, la working at • slightly reduced summer scale. For the Columbia engagement Qer- *rd put in new comedy bcenes with an entire new score. Each comedy scene scored, .especially the "bed- room scene" (an elaboration of the doctor who called on the servant to determine her Illness, to be informed the girl wasn't III but Intended to remain In bed until the mistress of • the house paid her |60 back wages; whereupon the doctor announces, •."They owe me $120—move over"). It was a two-minute howl. Another of the laugh making bits was a barber shop scene, somewhat revised through musical accompani- ment from other days, and Bozo Snyder, the princii>al in it, adding to the slap stick previously used by Introducing the forgotten selzer • "yphon at the finale. Anotlicr comedy scene that got laughs is almost an exact duplicate of a similar scene created by Ed Brendell in w.Splce of 1922," now on the wc'su-rn trails. It is an illu.s- trated n^citation of "Casey at the P*t" with "Koio- substituted for Casoy'* IK tlip somewhat rewrittoTi ~ ][ws«. "Him-r'^ has been doing the Wl slnop P.rpndoll and Bert Joined that show, ii'c, a copy without i\ doubt. The f;.M-.'iri.l show frames u\> a pleasant evening, although the opening ix rformancc threw inoi-t of I« strei.Rth Into the fir.st putt. TJu •jcond i.urt dragged, made roti«e- aWe by a lengthy bit by SnyJer '^'th a iiomUone. not relieved much later by a male dancing violinist. The show ran long enough to easily stand cutting. In toto this *how, so well known along the Columbia circuit, with iU 1J21 Ziegfeld "Follies" production, has entertaining qualities sufflcient to attract to the Columbia, while there should be curiosity to see Bozo Snyder, "the man who never talks" as he is billed. Snyder, how- ever, though with excellent panto- mimic expression, seems to tell everything In thfc first 10 minutes. The house nicely endured him throughout the evenin.cr besides giv- ing the mute comedian a rousing reception. Following the openitig of the sec- ond act, Barney Gerard was called to the stage from the rear of the house. A basket of flowers was pre- sented to him from the admirers of himself and the show. In acknowl- edging the gift, Barney said the "Follies" had played two seasons with but a 10-day lay-off (between Boston and the Columbia), and that there had been rushed rehearsals, lie hoped the show v.ould give what the Columbia circuit aimed at, clean entertainment. Barney made a good .speech if it was impromptu, and just as good if not. He has a clean show, but how those two principals. Bozo Sny- der and Sam Green, would like to roughen it up. Snyder refrains with ditflculty at times. He can't be blamed; the incentive is so wide open. The show is nicely costumed, has a fairly well balanced bunch of prin- cipals, besides a Jazz band, enough ,boy dancers to keep it lively and many more laughs than are usually uncovered in a burlesque show that leans toward pretentiousness, as this one does. The sub-title, of the "Follies" it "What Does the^Public Wantr' Barney Gerard wrote the book, with dances arranged by Seymour Felix. Felix did one good piece of work in the girls' dancing ensemble after the En.glish Tiller idea, but all of the numbers evidenced want of more rehearsal. The music was by Billy Baskette with a couple of catchy melodies besides the inter- polated pops. This Gerard show engagement at the Columbia carries an odd history. It's trade stuff though and only the burlesquers could or should know it But it is true, as Gerard stated, his show has laid off but 10 days in two' seasons. That included the Boston runs of the piece last and this summer, besides the regular season, giving "The Follies" 18 weeks in Boston within a year. Then It got the Columbia, New York, when the Columbia, Vtw York, could get nothing else. Burlesque is a little world within itself, too. The Columbia. New York, will be "clrcuscd" next season by the Columbia Circuit. All of the facili- ties of the press department con- centrate on making the Columbia a national burlesque land mark. The innovation is believed to have followed the success of these methods with Barney Gerard's "Follie^* now in itp first week of a summer run at the house. The Gerard show unless something un- foreseen happens will gross better than $10,000 at th^ Columbia. Unusual concessions were allowed Gerard in the maner of paper and billing for the summer run, the Columbia people giving him carte blanche and sharing all extra ex- pense. About $2,200 was spent heralding the advent of the Gerard show, which opened Saturday to a turnhway crowd, getting about $1.- 500 on the night performance. Monday the "Follies" had another big day, taking $1,400 and follow- ing Tuesday with over $300 for the matinee in the hot weather, not conducive to matinee attendance. Columbia producers will welcoYne the change in policy as regards the Columbia publicizing. The house bears the same relative importance to the Columbia Circuit as docs the Palace, New York, to the Keith Cir- cuit. . ,.- ,; •• ,:, It has heen too conservative as to ' advertising and publicity methods for a long time In the opinion of the producers. COLUMBIA IN ALBANY j» Closes Deal for Harmanus Bleeoker Hall ARBITRATION FAVORED BY PRODUCERS' ASSN. CIRCUS ROUTES Sells-Floto July If, Pawtucket, R. I.; 20. Woonsocket; 21, Webster. Mass.; 2S, New London, Conn.; 24, New Haven; 26. Bridgeport; 26, Stam- ford; 27, Danbury; 28, Waterbury. Hagenbeck-Wallace July 19. Bartlesville. Okla.; 20. Tulsa; 31, Pawhuska. John Robinson July 19, Harrisonburg. Va.; 20. Staunton; 21, Charlottesville; 23. Richmond; 24. Newport News; 25, Portsmouth; 26, Norfolk; 27, Peters- burg; 28, Farmvllle; 30. Lynchburg. Walter L. Main July 19, Marquette. Mich.; 20, Newberry; 21, SauU Sle. Marie; 23, Petopkey; 24. Traverse City; 25, Ludington; 26. Mani.sive; 27, Mus- kegon; 28, Greenville. Ringiing Bros.-Barnum and Bailey July 14-22. Chicago ((Jrant Park); 2?.. Kuckford, III.; 24. .lancsvllle. Wis.; 25, .Milwaukee. Wis.; 26, Fond <lu Lac, Wis.; 27. Mar.shfleld. Wis. (.ifternoon only); 28, Duluth, Minn. -SUNSHOWERS" ACT SHELVED The vaude'illc onc-nct version of '.Sun'Showers." by Hiiiii£; & .sp.imon and Harry Delf, lias l»fon .'<lielveHJ .ifter playing two wc»kp on big time. The t»ct m.-ty be revived again in the fall as a tab. or mr»y become l.art of one of Ilurtii? A Seamon's Columbia wheel burb»'vii'<* f''^^"- .^ :':. Albany, N. Y.. July 18. The deal pending for some time by the Columbia circuit for Proc- tor's Harmanus Bleecker Hall has been deflnltely aettled. The Colum- bia shows will play Harmanus Bleecker as a week stahd on a pec* cenlage arrangement with the Proc- tor interests. Another stand in negotiation% the Trent, Trenton, N. J., also has been net. the Columbia playing the Trent the last halt of the week between Brooklyn and Phi^delphia. The flri^t three days Inay be fliled in by one-nighters in Perth Amboy, As- bury ^ark and New Brunswick, N.J. The Columbia Producers' Associa- tion has a request pending before the Columbia that the shows re- ceive 70 per cent, for all one-night stands, with the matter to be de- cided at a joint meeting next week. ", COUnS CLOSING Reopening as Unit Circuit About August 15 DRUNI^ WHILE DRIVING Daniel Coleman Fined in Lynn—Cit- izens Denied It * Lynn. MasF.. July 18. Daniel Coleman, actor and man- ager of a theatrical company, was found guilty of drunkenness and operating an automobile whil« un- der fire influence of liquor, in Lynn District Court today, and was lined $165 by Judge Ralph W. Reeve. Coleman was fined |150 on the charge of operating an auto while under the influence of liquor; $10 for having no auto registration, and IS for drunkenness. On the night of July 10 an auto- mobile, containing CoJeman and three other actors, was chased sev- eral bJocks by two Lynn polfCe offi- cers, who finally overtook the car and arrested the men. Coleman's case 'was continued, while the other three men were rel«ased before court. In court, six prominent citizens of Chelsea, including Mayor Laurence Quigley, testifled that Coleman spent cojisiderable time in their company the evening in question, and declared that he was not intox- icated when he left them. John E. Coutts Saturday tem- porarily discontinued the o'peratlon of his musical cabloid circuit with the closing of three shows until Aug. 15. At the reopeffltig of the season Coutts will have 25 houses, he aaya, with his organisation being known as the John B. Coutts Musical Com- edy Unit Circuit. All of the shows will be bought outright. Instead of having a cast of 15, 18 people will be used* Including five principals, 12 chorus girls and a musical di- rector. The shows closing Saturday wore Jack Singer's "Merry Whirl,' Nlblo and Spencer's company and "The Reindeers." Sam Howe will produce "Heart Charmers" f»n the Coutts circuit next season. Howe, in addition to managing his company, will play the principal comedy role. '^" " : To Operate for Actors and Pro- ducers— Authors May Be Called For in All Shows DREW & CAMPBELL SELL The Columbia Producers' Assoc ^ tlon la working out the details o( a untform employment contract for artists that will call for the ap- pointment of an arbitrator by the manager, another by the actor, with the two naming a third as umpire to adjust disputes. As matters stand now each Co- lumbia producer la uain« hi« own form of contract with each having diflferent clauses. The aaaooiation will have a atanding arbitration committee to iron out differencos between Its members as to dispute* over comedy ft:enes. bits, numbers. , etc. This committee will also function to settle discussions over the question of employing artists. One of the aims of the committee will be to abolish the custom of one Columbia manager "copping" principals and "" chorus people from each other, after a comic or chorua girl has been de- veloped in a particular atiow. One of the problema confronting the Columbia buclaa g uo p«ui>ltt i^ the dupUcation of bita add scertCM in the ahowa. Varioua methods have be«n Ulked of in paat aeaaunM to atop the repetition of acenes but the measures adopted have been half-hearted at beat or neglected : arter having been decidod on. Ooe proposal offered and con- sidered would forbid any comic in a Columbia show to introduce any business, scene or bit, done b the comic in any other show. This might mean the employment of au-» thors for all the ahowa. a condition most of the produoera appeiir in favor of. A system of inspection will obtain ' next seaaon on tha Columbia cir- cult, sponsored by tha Producers' Asaociation. that will at least try to minimise the repetition evil. COHEN AFTEfi EMPRESS $40,000 Annual Rent Asked for Chicago House Chicago, July 18. Abe Cohen, who has made big money with the Midway Hippo- drome on the Southside, with book- ing agents out of the Billj Diamond agency, is dickering for the lease of the Emt>ress theatre, also on the Southside, which has been devoted to burlesque. If Cohen takes the lease outright at 140,000 a year the Columbia the- atres in Chicago will only number two—the Olylmplc in the Loop and the Star and Garter, a short dis- tance out of the Loop on the West Side. Billy McDermott in Burlesque Billy McDermott. a vaudeville single for upwards of 20 years, will make his initial bow in burlesque as principal comic with Seymour Felix's "All Aboard" Columbia show next season. Sam Sidman will not be associ- ated with Seymour Felix as half owner of 'All Aboard," th« Colum- bia burU'sque attraction. The deal fHl through 'hi* week. I''«'Ii."? i$ negotiating with aiKttlwr partner. ■ Suing Sam Howe for $150 S'im Kow'f'.«'- "Joy Hider.s" lii- runetl 1150 ovpensp*? for electrical effocta from M"yer Harris latsit ne.i- son. and the latter has roroiirsfd to a civil suit to recover. Colonial, Cleveland, Bought By ■< Syndicate. Cleveland, July 18. Drew & Campbell have disposed of thoir interests in the Coloniel to Jo.soph Laronge. real estate denier and theatrical operator, acting for an unnamed syndicate of local in- vestors. The future ut*e of this property ha^ not been determined. Opinion seems to be divided as to whether the house will be used for commercial purposes or be acquired for housing theatrical attractions. Laronge's connection with Loew's Ohio. Theatres, Inc., as vicb-preal- dent and chairman of the board, leads to the belief that the Colonial may -still operate as an- amusement center. The purchase price is said to ex- ceed $225,000^ which includes the building and lon^-term land laaae- hold. • V " The Columbia burlesque shows will ^lay the Milea, Cleveland, next qeanon. ., BURLESaiTE CHANGES Cleora and Bono, "Sliding" Billy Watson'a ahow. Helen Alger, Sim Willlama' show. Aba Reynolds, with 'Bubt/lo Bub- ble." Buck and Bubbles for "Dancing Around." Seymour Felix la atacing the numbers while Harry Steppe, principal comedian and Frank Montgoptery are putting on the comedy scenes. Tine cast includes beside Steppe. Arthur Putnam, Fred "Fat" Slater, Lillian Smaller, Rose Duffln. Billy Newkirk, Harry Wal- skin, Buck and Bubbles. Sam Rica will be the resident manager of the new Harmanus nicecker Hall, Albany, Columbia wheel stand, next season. NIGHTS FOR B. C. MEMBERS The Burlesque Club will Inau- gurate next season the practice of Riving a "night" for each member of the club when the attractions rf-anh the Columbia, New York. The "ntght" will consist of a the- airr party and special featurea hon- oiiMK the particular member se- i«-'-t«.-d. ••-,;■; '.., The first Burlesque Club night will be celebrated this Thursday (to-day> at the Columbia. New York, in Jionor of Barney derard. Ti'ktt arrangfmrnt?< aic in cliaiKe of LcM' Lesser. E. LEE WROTHELEFT $4,000 No Will—Estate to Widow and Relativaa m-- - ■• .•?■■■" Edwin I/ee Wrothe, ideiuiflfd with vaudeville,, musical comody and burlesque for many year*. l«''t , a net estate of $4,000.08 when he died, Aug. «, 1922, it waa disrlo-trd last week in. the Queens C«»uni/ Surrogate's Court through an order * signed by Surrogato Noble exempt- ing the property from inhoritanc a taxation. | Because of his failure to leave .-i will this passes to Jennie Hani . Wrothe, his widow, of Nelson .st rcc . Bayside. L. I., who is the adminl.-- tratrix; Nellie Ogden, of 301C Nortli * 62d street, Omaha, Neb.; Uavpi-t Louise Chambers, of 3016 I4tn street, Billings, Mont.; Idamuy Teu- qulat, of Odebolt. Iowa; Le Roy Chetwaln Wrothe, of 311 South 17th street. Cincinnati, Ohio; Aloneo Dow Wrothe, of Clayton. N. M., sisters und brothers; Letha Vru- denburg, of R P. D. No. i. Fort Crook, Neb.; Ora Blanche liali^. of 10807 Union avenue. Cii*vf!:tnd. Ohio, and Clyde Wrothf.,,of SpuUs, Nab., nieces and nephew. Under th* intestate lawn, the widow takes her dower right h in the realty i\nd half of the perM(>n.-<lt.\, the rest going In equal sharoH hf- tween the brothers and sisters, tho Issue of any deceased one tiklnir equally their pirrnt'.-* lntoMd*»d share. • The groMs valu i of the estat** It'ft by Mr, Wrothe amounted to $6,618.76, and coneiHted of CMuity in some realty at Harrison. N. Y., cash on deposit with the Bayside National Bank, $3,770.53, and wUh the Kmplre Savings Bank, 12.'»tli ntreet, Manhattan. $843.28. The ex- penses were $2,618.68. Mr. Wrothe, who die J after a thjree months' Illness of itlood poisoning, having been injiiroil while appearing on the etujce in Philadelphia in February, l'J2J. wa-« co-star with Birkol and Waisou In "Me. Hir.i and I" and in 'Tom. I»icl; and Harry." As Janitor Hlff>?i!M. .i charuot^r lie crttatcd lie hfi-.-ifiir* well known to theatre pations all over th • country. BURLESQUE CLUB OPENING The Hurlcsique Club will oprrt !.♦ new rhlblioU«e on 48tli street l-d.'»^' «Tlnn-s<ln.\ >. TIk* Im-Ming (.••^•<'tiple9 throo »foi ;•:•«.