Variety (July 1923)

M LEGITIMATE ■'^ Thursday, July 19, im INSTITUTE FOR AMERICAN OPERA LOCATED NEAR N. Y. BY RABINOFF EQUITY IN ARBITRAHON OVER SPECIALTY DANCER y Thirty-six Acres at Stony Point—Co-operating with AJmerican Composers—Wealthy Men Interested i$ Project NOW IN A DRUG STORE Owner of Celebrated Legs Working in Los Angeles— Sanfte Blooming "Frankie" Los Angeles, July 18. Frankie Bailey, who, in the hey- dey of the Weber & Fields Moslc Hall, on lower Broadway, New York, was the toast of the town in Martin's, Dels, and the old Hoft- man House, principally because her limbs were the most symmetrical of any in the choruses that bloomed along: Broadway at the time, is now working in a liuUywood drug store. She is still the same blooming Frankle who, with Goldie Mohr at one tlnoe shared the ends at Weber & Fields, and even now Frankie occasionally slips in to do a bit here and there at the various studios. Of recent years Miss Bailey's name has come down In the daily papers through its application and usage in reference to shapely leg8. To have "perfect Frankie Bai- leys" even to' this day means some- thing in the chorus. PRINCIPALS PAID SHORT Morristey Company Moves, How- •v«r, to Next Stand o,T.: s:r-bs;rcJp?.."'or.tTRANKiE bahets" are number of years ago, is now com- pleting the erection of a number of buildings at Stony Point, N. Y., where he will establish the Ameri- can Institute of Operatic Art, to be used as a laboratory to form the nucleus of an opera company which he Intends sending on tour through th« United States during the season of 1924-35. The site of the Institute Is com- prised of SI acres, upon which RabinofC has already crgcted a decorative art and scenic studio 160 by 60 feet, with more than half of It two stories In height. Plans have been drawn and ground broken for a theatre of limited seating capacity, which is to contain every modem operatic stage and lighting device. The theatre is to b« 80 feet long and 70 feet wide. Other build- ings that are planned include a structure to contain rehearsal halls for chorus and ballet. Individual re- hearsal rooms for artists, four dor- mitories, each to accommodate 60 people; a residence for the faculty, a storehouse for scenery and a building to house employes. According to Rabinoft's plans, the Institution Is not to be an educa- tional one primarily, but a labora- tory for the preparation of opera of the highest type. American com- posers, decorative and scenic artists, vocal, ballet pantomime and other aspirants for the operatic stage will be given an opportunity of working under a faculty composed of some of the leading authorities of the Italian, German, Russian and French schools in all branches con- nected with opera. The decorative art department has already begun to function under the direction of Boris Anisfeld, who has created and painted productions for the Metropolitan and Chicago Opera companies, and is now at work on a number of productions for next season. Prof. Alexander Koshetz, composer-conductor of the Ukranian National Choir, will be in charge of the choral department. The Institute Intends to co-oper- ate with American composers to whom it will offer an opportunity to create their works In its en- virons. They are to be surrounded by experts connected with every branch of. the operatic art, who are to contribute their technical knowl- edge and experience. It is also planned to receive from the leading conservatories and music Bchooln in the United States a limited number of aspirants for the operatic stage. These students are to be given actual training un- der rehearsal conditions from May to September, and during the oper- atic season will be given an oppor- tunity of appearing in productions. During tho first season two American operas, in addition to a program of Italian, German, Rus- sian and French compositions will be presented In the principal cities of the United States. RabinofP's purpose for the Insti- tute Is the development of the pro- duction of America/1 opera, adding each season to his repertoire Ameri- can compositions and American artists. Through this means he proposes each year to replace the European members of the faculty with Americana until finally the In- stitution becomes essentially an American one. According to Rabinoff's present estimate, the project will entail an expenditure of more than $1,OCO,000 in establishing and probably $500,- 000 a year in operating. The insti- tute at Stony Point l.s located S.") miles from New York, adjacent to Haverstraw, N. Y. Ilablnoff has had several wealthy bankers and financiers interested in opera visit Yoflda Yestoff Signed Two Contracts—Equity's Attor- ney Intervenes will Morrlssey'a summer revue, "The Newcomers," which bowed in at Atlantic City last week, moved to Its second stand. Long Branch, the first half of the week, with three days at Asbury Park to follow. While Morrlssey's takings In At- lantic City were said to have betm beyond expectations, the principals received but $10 on account on their first week's salaries, while the chor- isters received $25. It has been an open secret alonj» Broadway that Morrissey launched the .show on a decidedly short bank- roll. In the early rehearsal period he encountered difficulties with Equity becau.se of his inability to post the usual bond covering two weeks' salaries, but finally over- came this obstacle by applying for membership In the Producing Man- agers' Association. Despite the inability of the ghost to trot in its usual stride, there was little, if any, dissatisfaction among the members of the company, all seeming to enjoy the lark of gam- bling with Will on the future pros- pects of the revue. Those who glimpsed the show in Atlantic City have reported favor- ably, and believe the piece has a good chance to get over on Broad- way. It is due to come Into tho Apollo or C3d Street in two weeks. Volida Vcstoff, a specialty dancer now rehearsing with Lewis' "Frolics," Is the subject of an Equity dispute with the Ted Lewis Productions, Inc. involved on one side and Haasard Short, represent- ing the "Music Box Revue," on the other. A matter of mixed contracts is at the bottom of it. • Ekiuity figures through the medium of Henry J. Farrell, an at- torney in the E>iuity lawyers' office. VestoCT signed a contract with the Lewis "Frolics" June 8 (the show going into rehearsal June 28), the contract being a regulation Equity form calling for a 10 days' cancella- tion clause in writing during re- hearsals and a two weeks' notice provision also. Vestoft rehearsed a full 10 days to June 7 without taking advantage of the cancella- tion provision. The Monday fol- lowing Vestoff signed a contract with Short for the "Music Box Re- vue through Lee Morrison at *Ti larger salary than in the "Frolics." The Short contract is for two years. Ve-stoff, acknowledging he had mixed matters some, signed a third contract with the' 'Trolics" for the run of the play. When the matter reached Farrell, Short was agreeable to leave the matter to arbitration. At the hear- ing were present Short, Farrell. Emmett Callahan, an executive of tho Lewis show, and Monroe Gold- stein, of Kendler A Goldstein, at- torneys for the producing corpora- tion. Short was very willing that Vestoff continue rehear.slng pending the arbitration, but Farrell, the Equity lawyer, advised against further rehearsals. A stipulation was subsequently signed between Short, Vestoff and Arthur Pearson, co-producer of the "Frolics," which overruled Farrell, providing for Vestoff's further re- hearsing until the matter is arbi- trated. It must be decided before Aug. 18. Farrell at first objected to Mr. Goldstein's presence for the pro- ducers on the ground no attorney was required. Goldstein was sus- tained in his contention that he was needed to see that the letter and spirit of the contract was fulfilled. Vestoff w.as last in the "Green- wich Village Follies" With Lewis and was not ?iven the complete opportunity he might have bad. NAIHAN WRITES TO ED. B. LOOM, , ilHIING ALL ABOUT'WE' t , *J''''"-i >? GALLO'S ALL-IRISH CAST Sending Two Grand Opers Com- panies Out several have pledg of money annu-lly for tho mainte- nance of the Institute. E. BROOKER DESERTED WIFE Syracuse N. Y, July 18. Charging that her husband, Reub- en Brooker, Boston theatrical man, deserted her 13 months ago, Mrs. Reuben Brooker, of the Bean City, appealed to immigration authorities at Ogdenburg for assistance. According to her story, she left Boston for the home of her parents in Hamilton, Ont., called there by the me.ssage that her father was dying. I^ater, she icmrned to Bos- ton to llnd her husband mlssinfr. She claims that her efforts to find him have been futile, and she be- lieves that he has crossed into the Dominion. : r ; Fortune Gallo will have two grrand opera companies on tour this sea- son. His San Carlo organization will again play the Century, New York, opening the season there Sept. 17 and booked in for five weeks. A curious angle attaches to the casting of one of Gallo's organiza- tions. An all-Irish list of principals has been chosen for "La Bohemc": Anna F^tziu, prima donna; Colin O'Moore and Pat " lly, tenors; Charles 1. Gallagher, basso; Eddie Fitzgerald, baritone, and Elivira Leveroni. The latter Is the daugh- ter of a Boston jurist and the only exception. Those in the know are amused at the casting, as Gallo, who is of Italian birth, was a guest of honor at an affair of the Hiber- nians last season and alluded to as ••the next best thing to an Irish- nrmn." "La Boheme" was cast by Frank KIntzing, general manager for Gallo. he place, and it is reported ^^^J ..|iaGNOIIA»» AND'^TWEEDLES" icveral have pledged a large amount .ni«.w*iv*iA« a^^a^ ^^^j.x^*a^ Booth Tarkington's play, "Mag- ELEANOR PAINTER ILL flan Vrancisco, July 18. Eleanor Painter was stricken with appendicitis Tuesday and removed to a local hospital. A preliminary diagnosis Indicated an operation would l>« necessary. nolla," with Leo Carrillo, will be presented at the Liberty, New York, Aug. 27. A few doors away, at the Frazee, another Tarkington product will be produced three weeks earlier by Robert McLoughlin, entitled "Twce- dles." Henry l/con Wilson is co- author with Tarkington in the lat- ter play. . .,- , MRS. FISKE BELASCO'S FIRST David Belasco's first production of the season will probably be Mrs. Fi.ske in St. John Ervines "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary." The play is all set, {inthough a new vtliiole for Lionel Atwill may be ruHhed into rehearsal immediately following Uie impresario's return Ironv a rest va- cation,^ The Eclasco office professes to know nothing of the persistent rumor that Lionel Barrymore, here- tofore an Arthur Hopkins star, has come under the Belasco banner. They recall Barrymoke's statement four weeks ago just before his sail- ing for Rome, when he denied any such afilliation. BarrynK)re is abroad making a picture, and was reported by cable to have married Irens Fenwick in Rome. By 2IAT PHILLIPS et Paul, July It, -^. Mr. Ed B. Loom, New Tork City, N. Y. ^ Dear Ed.:—Enclosed please find the statement for the wcelc endloip^ July 6. Believe me. Eddie, by all our enemies should come statementf" like this. It would be alright yet. because I know you got lots of onemle^ and I got a coui/ie too, and this Is a good way to wish ourselves syeir with 'em. Veil, the first week of the Tramps Continental tour of the "Spice" coib< pany started out like it finished—rotten. It Isn't because the show isn't good, because you know yourself, you seen it in Milwaukee, where w« died like our heroes, and we are not the first to die in MIIwaQ<« kee, but you know the show is good and the weather alone warn responsible for the $5,112 gross, but here in Minneapolis we thought sura we would do better on account y'understand they told me that there If a lot lumber-jacks, farmers—rich ones too—suckers what never even seen a paint number and a lot of fish that should jump out of the window when they even mentior the name of a show like ''Spice." , Besides, Mr. Scott, the manager from here and Minneapolis (he wasnt satisfied with one theatre, be had to go and buy another trouble); b« told me after be seen the show Sunday that we would do good bu8ines»-ii IF we got the weather, Nu, what do you suppose happened? We got the weather, lots of It. up to 100 in the shade and besides that, every lumberjack, farmer, sucker and sap that works has got a second-hand Ford and as soon as tha whistle blows they all stop work and pile their families in them and go out to the lakes. Too Many Lakes - ■"'•^-^ I never seen so many lakes spring up around a town; they must hava dug them in the last few years; everybody is got a cottage, by the lake, in the lake, ©n the lako and if you was only not afraid to be called a crook, you could go through every house in the town and help yourself and nobody would be there to stop you—and what hurts is th(it they got to pass right b: the theatre where we are playing and where we got nlca signs out, and pictures and everything, and every Ford has got to blow his honn because in front of our theatre is a corner, and they blow thp horn and we think maybe it's a costumer, but it isn't. I know now why all the Jews hate Ford—it's on account--he is responsible for ninety pej* cent, of the bad business of the theatres in the country, and that mean^; he is hurting eighty pe cent, of our people. He has got a new scheme, too, Eddie, he rents cut Fords now for |2 60 a day, and drive it yourself—and as long as everybody can run one it ' makes our competition too tough—account we got to get $2.50 for a ?eat too. 1 hope they elect him president, then he'll have to stop making oars and maybe show business will pick up. Gross Per Day for *'8pice'» i ■ Sunday night we got |688. Monday night they said If we got rain tonight we would do good Tuesday; $719 we collected Monday—anywaf. they showed they liked the show. Tuesday It didn't rain yet. Gross $744, Wednesday (Fourth of July). One guy got fresh and stood up on Hen- nlpin Ave, and shot a gun off with a whole box of blanks. He could of shot bullctH, nobody was in the way. The only place In town what showed any life at all was Pantagcs theatre, the janitor was sweeping out from the lobby. It looked like rain before the matinee—a couiAa oi people couldn't get Fords, account you know they run out of them and they came down and looked at our pictures and said "must be a good ihow"—you see our advance work counts. It didn't rain though and wa dragged in $404. It was cloudy all afternoon and Mr. Scott was sura it would rain at night and we would do a big business. After supped it rained—how it rainec*—but who comes in the rain? Gross $418. Thursday in St. Paul we opened to $680 because it Is hot. Friday w* j:ive a little jump up to $777.11—that's a lot of natural?, but not enough" for 60 people. Saturday matinee—Gibbons came back from Shelby—< y'understand. he was born and raised in St. Pau*!—but even so he's a nlc# feller—he didn't look so good today, account y'know Dempscy isn't very gentle, and everybody who was anvbody was down to the depot to meet him. The Mayor and the business men—all four of them—came in with their families from thd lakes and after Gibbons came In they marched him right by our theatre to hJs home. Matinee gross was $356. That night we telephoned to the crowd in the Gibbons house and they all came down to the show that night. It was a great thing because we got everybody in town to come account they were crazy to see the coming champ. • Mr. Scott, he said, "that's a great put-over!" It was, because we got $612. Anyway. I think Gibbons has got a good chance to llclc Demptsey, don't you think so, Eddie? , , ^ Only Lost $3^66 On Week ' . | I got to report also that the company is alright, everybody ia happy and fatislicd with the business, account we only lost $3.C85—Brendle saya he expected we would lose at least $4,000. Anyway, Eddie, all the chorua ^•Irls send their love to you, everyday one of 'em asks for you. all wanta to know when you are coming on again. Georgte Price Is traveling with his wife's relatives from Minneapolis, and will meet us in Seattle. Hearn* Kaliz, Johnny Berkes and Tom Morris are golfing. Florence Brown, Flo' Bert and Martha Throop are making bathing suits, account when w* play Los Argelcs, they figure they will go out to the beach a lot. Alicd Ridnor i.« In Atlantic City. Mary Lucas, the little girl you sent on. H studying her lines. Nathan Tells Everything ^ Now you know everything that is going on in the show, you can sleep well arul contented, y'understand, because I will take good care of them all and see that they have a good time, because you asked me I should see that they should have a good time. The or;ly one that can't have a good time IS myself account it keeps me busy writing out checks and wiring you how much they are made out for. Don't go away from th* ofiflce, Eddie, because you cant tell when I'll need you in a hurry. Iy>ve and kisses from the whole company, and they all thank you for a wonderful summer vacation. - Tour loving manager, Nathan. P. S. Mr. Scott says you should book'us back again the season. He ia positive the business couldn't be worpe. "HELP YOURSELF" TRYING OUT "Help Yourself," a comedy by Catherine Brown Milkr, will be produced by the Help Yourself Corp. at the Liberty, Hempstead, L. I.. July 30. : * Tb? play, staged by Lecn Gordon, has in the cast, besides Gordon, Clarence Derwent, Bruce Elmore, J. W. Holly, Marlon Byrne, Dorothy Clayton, Herbert Brooks. It will bo tried out for a week in several Long Island towns, and la expected to be given a New York premiere on Aug. t. MUNICIPAL OPERA NEXT YEAR St. Louis, July 18. The proptful New York appear- ance of the Municipal grand opera company baa been set bark until^ next .«< upon. It had been hoped to play the crack c.ty-conducted or- ganization in the stadium at th* College of the City of New York starting Aug. 20. Advices received here were that the engagement could not be han- dled until Sept. 6. Mayor Kiel'" committee decided the September date too late and preferred not to gamble with the fall weather.