Variety (July 1923)

■-k^-■■■.-■«■ u LEGITIMATE \ -rr;. Thursday, July 28, 1925 ATLANTA STOCK PLAYERS ^ AIR THEMSELVES ON STAGE Belle Bennett and John Litef Talk to Audience at Forsyth Theatre—Miss Bennett, Alleged in Wrong, Leaving Company SUNDAY NIGHT SHOWS HAY JAM CARROLL Atlanta, July 26. Atlanta theatrical circles are crediting a row on stage between Bell© Bennett, leading lady, and JoYin Lltel, leading man of the For- syth Players, for notice being given the latter, effei tive July 28. Lltel has been playing masculine leads at the Forsyth for B8 weeks, and feels th|it the ad lib rumpun is the direct cause of notice being given him. Mies Bennett was playing her last week at the Forsyth in "Daddy Ix)ng Legs" when the tilt developed. In the middle of the second act her memory slipped a cog and Litel ■hot her a cue. Stepping out of character, the leading lady said in a loud voice: "Don't cue me." "Then why don't you say 'em?" lines?'* her handsome leading man retorted. "I do know them." "Then why don't you say em?" Following this dialog. Miss Ben- nett turned to the matinee audience and said: "Ladiee and gentlemen, this Is the reason I am leaving Atlanta," at the same time pointing an accusing finger at Lltel. "Thank you," Lltel responded. At this Juncture Miss Bennett swooned and the curtain was rung down. On Lltel's next entrance, after the leading lady had been revived, sev- eral persons In the audience hiesed him. Stepping to the footlights, Litel told the audience: "There are only two things that hiss—snakes and geese." After the utterance he vtepped back Into character and the play continued. After the show Miss Bennett fainted again and had to be taken from the theatre to her hotel In an ambulance. A throng of people col- lected at the stage entrance and the stretcher bearers had difficulty get- ting their charge to the ambulance. Miss Bennett Is with the St. Charles Players In New Orleans, her contract with the Forsyth Play- ers having expired. Litel has not yet made plans for another engage- ment. Lite] has taken tlie matter up with Equity and 1« demanding an apology .from his former leading lady. Practically every member of the cast signed affidavits saying Miss Benjiett was at fault. Miss Bennett and Litel are the most popular players to appear at the Forsyth. The row threw the admirere of the two into an uproar and kept the box office doing a capacity business. Frederick Raymond, Jr., will suc- ceed Litel and Clara Joel has re- placed Miss Bennett. NEW YORK WAGE SCALE Conference to Be Held on Friday Over It A conference has been aet for Friday, July 28, between committees representing the I. A. T. S. E. (stage- hands* union) and International Managers' Association to discuss and reach an agreement on the stagehands' new wage scaile for traveling crews for next season. Traveling crews are now receiv- ing for the three department heads, property man, electrician and car- penter, a minimum of $62.50 weekly. The new scale for next seasofl asked by the stagehands is a mini- mum of $75 weekly for the three department heads for regular tour- ing attractions. When a show breaks in for a period of six weeks (etyled production period) by the stagehands a minimum of |80 weekly for the thre^ department heads is asked. The above applies to dramatic and musical shows. The scale for bur- lesque for next season for traveling crews will be set at $75 weekly, with that and the musical and dramatic show scale to be adjusted at the conference. A committee 'representing the Theatrical Protective Union No. 1 of the L A. T. S. B. waited on the New York City theatre managers, represented by Alfred E. Aarons, Abe Levy and RaHph Long, and presented the demand for a new wage scale. The managers and the L A. committee are to have a con- ference on the new scale next week. Equity Likely to Interpose Against 7th Day Playing by Members Another clash between Earl Car- roll and Equity is predicted for the latter part of next month, when Carroll will inaugurate a series of Sunday night concerts, the bills to consist of many of the princli^als who are appearing in his "Vanities" revue. Although the major portion of the "Vanities" cast is of vaudeville per- formers, they Joined Equity to open with the revue. Equity has a rule which prohibits its members from appearing in Sunday performances in^ew York unless at a bonau. fide benefit Should the Equity invoke this rule, which it has already done in cases where William A. Brady and other legit producers had attempted to give Sunday performances, Car- roll will either have to abandon the Sunday vaudeville idea or else de- pend upon the independent agents to supply his bills. Carroll is agreeable to pay hie people for the extra performance. "ABIE'S" RUNS AND SCALES Op«n«d at Garden Pise to $12,000 •n WMk MOROSCO, LA., NOT AFFECTED Los Angeles, July 25. H. F. Schroeder, western general manager for Oliver Morosco, states that the receivership designated In New York for the Morosco Holding Corp. will not affect the local Morosco theatre. The house has been a big money- maker for years. LA MOTT LEAVES WASHINGTON Washington, July 25. Ira J. LaMott has left Washington for Los Angeles, where he will be secretary and treasurer of William Hepner, Inc., of Califorifla. The Hepner concern, with its principal office for years in New^ York, has outgrown Its eastern activities on the coast through the enormous studio work there for It. Hepner is the wig maker, hrJr and facial dresser. The attractive offer from Hepner induced Mr. LaMott to leave his local position as manager of the Shubcrt-Belasco here for two' sea- sons. Mr. LaMott during his stay in-this city cultivated and retains a host of friends. He has been the Belas- co's biggest asset. BLACKWOOD DYING Los Angeles, July 26. John H. Blackwood, veteran the- atrical man, is in a dying condition here due to heart trouble, with which he has been suffering several yjears. His wife, from wh<5m he has been separated for several years, is at his bedside. Blackwood was at one time a Witshington dramatic critic, ad- vance man and manager for Mrs. l>€Hlie Carter. FAY BAINTER A MOTHER Fay Balnter, the wife of Com- mander Reginald Venable, became the mother q# a boy, born Tuesday. Commander Venable is in charKC of the naval recruiting office in New York. ANOTHER MUSICAL IN BOSTON Boston, July 25. While "The Rise of Rosle O'Reilly" continues to be a nice, pleasant event for all concerned, with the business at the Tremont fluctuating between $18,000 and $19,000, according to the weather conditions, Boston is told it is to have another musical attraction, Aug. 6, when "Sally, Irene and Mary" is due at the Wilbur. PROPERTY HAN KILLED • Los Angeles, July 25. Ben P. Humbert, for years prop- erty man at the Mason O. H. here, was cut in two and killed when he fell under a moving electric car. Humbert was late for the theatre and tried to board a moving car, slipping and falling under the wheels. Death was instantaneous. Atlantic City. July IB. "Abie's Irish B,os9r opened Its •Ight-week engagement at the Garden Pier theatre to splendid lousiness. with Boculy 111,000 grossed for Its first week. The first five rows are priced at |3. the remainder of the lower floor being S1.60. The scales for "Able" vary In different stands. At Pittsburgh, where the Anne Nichols comedy is in its nineteenth week, the top Is $1.60. Last week the gross was about $8,500. and the engagement Is expected to extend for 24 weeks or more. The run record established by the attraction may stand for a generation. The fourth company of "Able" is playing Montreal, where *he scale also Is $1.60 top. The gross for the sixth week was around $8,500. At the Republio. New York, where the show is in its 6Znd week, the scale is $2.60 top. Prices, how- ever, have been as high as $3 for •crtain periods, with $3.60 for Sat- urday nights. Indications are for the show to continue through next season on Broadway. HAGERSTOWN DECISION Nirdlinger Side Scores First—Motion to Dissolve Injunction Overruled Baltimore. July 25. The first skirmish in the theatrical war in Hagerstown, Md., has re- sulted in a victory for the Nlrd- linger-Erlanger interests, operating there as the Washington Street Amusement Co., according to Harry A. Henkel, manager of Ford's, Bal- timore, and the Maryland represen- tative for the Erianger-Nirdlinger combination. Their fight in Hagerstown has been for the possession of the Acad- emy of Music. A bill of complaint filed by the Nirdlinger faction al- leged that Charles C. Easton, their agent for three theatres (Maryland, Colonial and Academy), entered into a new lease on the Academy to run for five years. The bill prayed that the lease be held in trust for the benefit of the Washington Street Amusement Co. Judge Doub, of the Circuit Court, Issued a preliminary injunction re- straining Easton and his four asso- ciates from Interfering with the pos- session of the theatre by the Wash- ington Street Amusement Co. A motion was made to dissolve the injunction, and the case was again heard before Judge Doub. He has Just filed an opinion overruling the motion to dissolve the Injunction. TOSCANINI MAY TOUR Signer Toscanini may tour this country in the fall as a gueet star in opera. The Barthines Co., Inc., is nego- tiating with the singer by corre- spondence, and there is a likelihood the deal will be closed. SHUBERT HOUSES DARK Chicago, July 25. The Shuberts have the Apollo and Garrick dark. Ordinarily both axe open throughout the summer. Los Angeles "White Elephanf* Los Angeles, July 25. France Goldwater, local manager of concert people, has taken over the lease of Walker Auditorium. She will turn it into a concert stage. Walker's ha« been a "white elephant" for several years. Dsly Got of "Fsshioni" Arnold Daly withdrew from "Fashions of 1924" at the Lyceum after Monday night's performance. The attraction opciicd last week. Cuts In the routine left re.«iulted In Daly appearing once. It is not known whether he withdrew be- cause of salary matters or whether he considered hi?" prestige was not enhanced through his small role and Ihe attraction's ch.uioc.s. No Suc- cessor waij unnounccd. "Charming Conscience" for Anglin Margaret Anglin is to appear this sea.son in "The Charming Con- soienee," by Of<i^k Johns, which she has just accepted from the author. .Stage Manager "Billy" Amsdell of the Proctor IMayers in Troy, N. Y., exhibited remarkable grit last Sat- urday afternoon when he playc<l one of the principal roles In "Turn to the Higlit" with a sprriined ankle, whirh caused him to faint twice during the performance. After the show ho was forced to go to bed, snd Director Edwards took over his role for the evening performance. BERT and BETTY WHEELER "BITS OF EVERYTHING" PALACE. NEW YORK, this week (July 23), concluding one of the lengthiest routes ever played in the Greater Keith theatre??. Our greatest difficulty has been to induce LEO FITZC.ERALD not to Ijook us for the next five weeks, so that we may enjoy a much-needed rest ■ , m « "PANAMA KID" ELABORATED "The ranama Kid." a new play by Edg.ar Allan Woolf and the lute Taylor Granville, will be seen at a Broadway theatre early in Septem- ber. It is an expansion of a vaude- ville act. The Tanama Kid Pro- dUcHon Co., whose ofDcers are Rob- ert Sterling, Harry Young and Mar- tin Wells, is at present casting the piece. STOCK PEOPLE SECRETLY WED Syracuse, N. Y., July 25. Geno Cleveland, native cf Fay- ettevlUe, N. Y., and Charles Yule, leadinr comedian of the Alcazar Stock, San Francisco, were secretly married a month ago at Norwood Park, 111., according to word re- ceived by Miss Cleveland's relatives Miss Cleveland off stage was Georgine Hall Diggs. MAY REHEARSE FROUCS IN BOSTON FOR *, f ^JL -i. ■"•^ Arthur Pearson Doesn't Thiri| Much of Broadway—To(> f Many Productions j; • ■ .'?;■ The entire Ted Lewis* •Trolled company leaves for Boston thla week to rehearse there until th% opening at the Boston Shubert Aug. 4. * " Arthur Pearson, Lewis' partner believes that Broadway has a bad iq« ] fluence on shows in their formatIv# ' stages. It Is said :hat the recent exchange of charges between certain revue producers who accused each other of: "lifting'* material ^m counted in the decision. Walter Wilson is staging the book, ^ and Allan Foster, the number*. — ' -'t^ MISS RAMBEAU'S JENNvil San Francisco Thinks Star Abovtt ' "The Goldfish" ^ 7;|^ ——— ' r, 'San Francisco, Jhriy 2$. '] Marjorle Rambeau opened her 1 San Francisco summer starring sea- son at the newly named Capitol last week in "The Goldfish." The open^ Ing was in the nature of a personal triumph for the star. She waa greeted by a packed Louse and at the close of the second act floral tributes began to move towards the stage until they literally covered every foot of It. In answer to th« clamorous applause Miss Rambeau, her arma laden with American Beauty roses, stepped to the foot^ lights and remarked: ^ "In the words of Jenny JonetL ! 'Ain't it ariot?'*' . , j Miss Rambeau's work as Jenny i has elicited her the most fulsoma ' praise both from the press and CapU tol audiencesi^but the play has not caught the fancy. The general im- pression seems to be tljat it is not worthy of her talents and that in less capable hands n Jenny Jonea would prove little short of an im-^ moral little holden deserving ot scant sympathy. The cast supporting Miss Ram<< beau includes: Robert Adams, Hel-^ ene Sullivon, Lawrence Grant, John Steppling, Geraldlne Blair, Richard Tucker, Willard Jensen and Rotond' Bottomley. Notable characterizations are b«^ Ing gfven by Lawrence Grant. Rich^ ard Tucker and Roland Bottomley. Miss Rambeau is now preparln|( a premiere production of a play based on the novel by Mrs. Blanch* . Upright entitled "The Valley of Content.** Mrs. Upright is a San Franclsca» who has achieved considerable suc- cess recently through this novel and a second Just off the press. "Tha Valley of Content* also has been sold to the films and is being mada into a movie at the present time. MUSIC CRITIC AND ALIENATIOI l Syracuse, N. Y., July 25. ' Perce Lambert, a Cleveland clul>« | man, was located last week clerk*; Ing in a downtown department storf ^ and is being held by the police fol««; lowing a two months' search. He li i charged with having deserted hli wife and three children and tha theft of an automobile. ' Mrs. Lambert has started suit;: against Wilson G. Smith, wealth/: Cleveland musio critic, and hli daughter Mrs. Walter H. Cook, wlfa of a dancing instructor, for $100,- 000 heart balm each, for the alleged alienation of her husband's affec- tion. The larceny charge is pre- ferred by Mrs. Cook. Mrs. Lambert charges Mrs. Cook deliberately alienated her husband's affections and that Smith aided his daughter. She alleges Lambert, eloped with Mrs. Cook May 15 and failed to return to her, althoub:» Mrs. Cook returned to Cleveland alone shortly afterwards. ,^, NEW WAGE SCALE FOR CHI Chicago, July 25. The Chicago Federation of Musi-i elans (local union) of the A. F. 6t M. will present a request for a wage increase for next season in all classes of houses, said to be around 10 to 15 per cent over last sea-"" son. . '!' •.. • Cliicago muslofnn*? are now re- ceiving 175 weoi<ly in vaudeville houHjps. The New York local 802, of the A. F. of M. present sralo fof vaudeville is $52 weekly, Othef New York scales arc comparatively lower than Chicago. Recently the M. M. P. V. fl<^t a new scale for next sea.son calling for the same rate of pay an Chi- cago miiMicians receive.