Variety (December 1923)

s : ■j.,.vfir-^.-:Tiw*PiTr.-.;T';' VARIETY BURLESQUE '''':l--KT'^f^^'^<'f^W^ ."ir'»e"4S.-'^>f?»--* ':._.; i^r^;- 4 , 1 Thursday, December 6,1823 I COLUMBIA FIXING RESPONSIBILITY; CIRCUIT IN STRia CLEAN-UP DRIVE Sam Scribner Takes First Step by Notifying Fran- chise Operators—Owners Can't Alibi by Pass- ing Buck to Road Managers Tfae vari"U8 Columbia wheel fran- chise operators and producers were in receipt of an order this week sent out by Sam Scribner to the effect the franchise operators Immediately Inform each of their road company managers they (road managers) arc to be held to "strict accountability" by the franchise operator hereafter as regards the cleanliness or non- cleanliness of the show the company manager Is presiding over. When shows have been reported %M holding 'double entendre stuff" or not up to standard In the way of material, cast, chorus, costuming, etc., the franchise operator has been in the habit of reporting to the Columbia home office the fault lies With the road manai;or. In other words the franchise operator has been "passing the buck" for years. The new order to franchise oper- ators which Instructs them to hold their road managers directly re- sponsible Carries with It Instruc- tions to the operator to get rid of any road manager who Is too timid to properly supervise the perform- ance he is in charge of. Scrlbner's order says in effect to the franchise operators: "If a road manager docsn'l handle a show properly and can't assert his au- thority, tell him to get oft the lot." The significance of the Scribner order to the franchise operators Is that It removes the possibilities of the old alibi and places the matter of clean shows or keeping the show up to standard on the franchise operator. The Scribner order was occa- sioned by a complaint from a west- em house manager In a stand where the Columbia Is trying to establish a foothold. The house has been going along Just about keeping Its head above water, but gaining a little each week. Every time the business looked encouraging a show came along Inclined to dirt. And the business flopped again. The par- ticular stand doesn't take to the dirty shows, being new to burlesque. In the several Instances the western house manager complained of shows came into the house on Monday and cuts were ordered. They went out on Monday night but by Wednesday other stuff equally offensive was substituted. This could not happen If the company manager would make it his busi- ness to watch every performance as he is supposed to, the western man- ager claimed. Company managers, speaking of the order, make the comment it is a difficult matter for a road manager to make a star comedian obey the rules regarding performances in the Columbia shows, If the comedian takes a notion to become "tempera- mental." The company manager kicks to his boss the fr.inchlse oper- ator and the franchise operator, ac- . cording to road managers of expe- rience, are frequently as much afraid to dictate to the star comic as the road manager. Conditions of that sort call for reporting the situation to the Columbia home office which will then get a proper line on the matter. The road managers generally feel the new order inclines to making them the "goats," understanding the franchise operators .-igc-old custom of blaming the rnad manager for everything that happens. What the Columbia home office people are trying to do (mid Hit- effort to femove the possibilities of the franchise operator's alibi and passing the buck to the company manager is one move of a series in a general drive the Columbia Is starting In the direction of clean- ing up) is to effect a method whereby the shows will be clean and kept to standard and an effort is being made to flx the responsibility so there will be no squirming out of it by either franchise producer or rond manager. Notwithstanding all opinions and Views to the contrary regarding burlesque its the clean shows that get the money In the season's run. A dirty show may do business In some of the towns, '.jut the Wean Bhows, when they're good, wjll do ]u.st as much. The past five years s««tf0nal grosses of Columbia wheel shows show the first, five to be approxi- mately the cleanest on the circuit. Last season one notoriously dirty show that did heavy business In three or four towns finished about nth out of 38 shows. The show that came in first, some $30,000 ahead of its nearest competitor, was clean enough to play before a Sun- day school class. 4 NEW YEAR EYE SHOWS AT CASINO, PHDIY Extra 7 o'clock Performance Inserted-'-Former Number on Day Was Three Philadelphia, Dec. 5. The Casino, Columbia wheel, will establish a record for performances for whee'. burlesque New Tear's Eve. Four performances are scheduled for the day, a matinee at 2.15, and three night shows, one at 7 o'clock, another at 9.30, and the fourth on the day at midnight. Hitherto the greatest number of shows given on New Tear's eve has been three, the two regular shows and a midnight performance. "GREAT SPORT," $12 WEEK Jack Shargsl' Assested by Court in Separation Action VAIL-BUEG INDICTMENTS Cleveland, Dec. 3. A Federal grand Jury hero has Iiulittrrl two theatre men on charges of violating the ticket tax law. One la Billy J. Vail, former manager of the Empire theatre here, the other is Harold Burg of Akron, former owner of the Miles Royal in Akron. Talking of Frisco "Hollywood Follies," one of Hur- tig & Seamon's Columbia wheel string, is to make a try for a San Francisco run after the current playing season on the Columbia circuit is over, some time In May. PRODUCERS REPRESENTED Going to Next Stage Convantion Hands' The Burlesque Troducera' Asso- ciation win send a representative to the next convention of the Interna- tional Alliance of Stage Employes to look after the Interests of burlesque. This will be the first Instance that burlesque has beerT exclusively rep- resented at a stage hands conven- tion. Previously the burlesque peo- ple have been represented through the Vaudeville Managers' Protec- tive Association. DOLLY DAYVES GETS DIVORCE Chicago, Dec. X. Uilllan Hodgen, professionally known as Dolly Dayves and ap- pearing with "The Bostonlans," has been granted a divorce from Her- man Mlttleman Here. Miss Hodgen will remain in this city. BURLESQUE REVIEWS VANITIES (COLUMBIA CIRCUIT) Joe MnrkH, Kmlly Karl*. Harry Seymour. Walter Johnson, K!sa Uay. Mae L«onanl. 81m Henderson, Harry Kltby. Kmanuel Kramer. Harry Weber, lUitiu Wllaon. Vlritoia Cuaon. Although New Tork Supreme Court Justice Dijnlel F. Cohalan expressed himself as aot thinking n uch of Mrs. Cella Shargel's sep- aration action against Jacob Shar- gel (burlesque), the court aw.arded her $12 weekly temporary alimony and $125 counsel fees. Mrs. Shargel asked for $50 a week and $3B0 counsel fees. Jack Shargel, as he is profes- sionally known in burle.'«iue, de- nied his wife's cruelty allegations. He set forth his income is $123 weekly at the Hopkinson, Brook- lyn, N. T., and that he has been on the Tiddlsh legit stage much longer than in burlesque as a comedian. Mrs. Shargel's charges were that her husband was a "great sport among women" ^nd that he spent much money on actresses and others; that her spouse did not come home nights until very late or not at all and that she had to remove to the Martha Washington hotel because of their incompat- ibility. They were married 17 years ago. UNION HELL OFF AGAIN The Hudson, Union Hill, N. J.. slated to go back on the Columbia wheel route as a four-day stand' next week, will not pull a come- back with the Columbia shows after all. The deal, practically settled, fell through when the Columbia people and the Hudson Union Hill man- agement clashed on terms. The Roosevelt, Union Hill, N. J., heretofore playing pictures Is under conRlder.illon by the Columbia people to replace the Hudson In that city, the deal calling for the Columbia shows to play the Roose- velt six days weekly. As Hoboken is a Sunday stand, that will leave one day a week open for legitimate shows or any other policy the Roosevelt management cares to ad.rpt. The Roosevelt was only built a couple of years ago and haa a capac- ity around 2500. BUBLESQUE BOUTES WILL BE FOUND ON PAaB t'ortu-two in fhi-j issue Barney Gerard's "Vanities" at the Columbia this week In its first sea- son on the Columbia wheel is one of those burlesque shows that should make burlesque history. The pro- duction, personnel and staging are of Broadway musical comedy stand- ards and represent a serious atteinpt to give burleiique patrons an at- traction th,at Will send them out talking. The production is unusual. Noth- ing better has been seen since "Peek A Boo" first caused the producers to wonder how BedinI would get it back. Gerard however hasn't pro- duced a brand new show scenlcally. Hif biggest flash Is a scene from Gecrge White's Scandals of last sea- eon, "The Patent Leather Forest," an immense staircase scene with the girls making a strip change from black to white and back again. It is used for the finale of the show. Another flash Was "The Seas" with the girls wearing long trains that are converted into waves. The number, "Beauties of the Sea." was led by Elsa May. the ingenue. This girl Is a find. She is a vers.atile dancer, has appearance, reads lines splendidly and is of musical comedy calibre In all of her work. Emily Earle, the prima donna, i« also a big class performer. She sings well and is of that brunette type of beauty who wear clothes to the manner born. Her "Rose of the Underworld" number, which is backed by a full stage Chinatown set and par- ticipated in by the rest of the ca^t as pantomimic denizens of the Oriental quarter, was wonderfully executed. The pathos would stani^ up any- where, as also Miss May's recitation about her lost slater, a dangerous subject in a burlesque house, to be taken seriously. Joe Marks the principal comedian is not long for burlesque. Marks hag been improving each season, and Is now coming like Zev. He is a haid-working personable Hebrew comic who could spot most eccentric and acrobatic dancers a leg and then beat them. In addition to his "falia," he handleu dialect, sings w^cU and does one of the funniest "dames" seen this season anywhere. Barring a tendency to talk to his audience, he h.asn't a fault. Harry Seymour helps with a like- able Dutch, Walter Johnson is the straight. Rastus Wilson a whale of a colored eccentric strutter, Sim Hen- derson and Harry Weber unQsual harmony singers and Kilby and Kramer good male dancing team. Mae Leonard the third woman would be a prima in any other com- pany. The show is chock full of comedy meat. "The Piano Player" was a wow. Marks uses a real piano with a hurdy gurdy hid back of it to fool a chump. The hurdy plays at the wrong time causing Marks to do acrobatics to get bTck to the Instru- ment on time. "Old Time Bur- lesque" gave a Ipgltimato excuse fin" "the funnel in the pants" and other ancient hit* of holie that they nto up. "The Music Publisher" from the Shubcrt unit "Funmakers" was another wow with Marks goaling them. His Impersonations of Jolson, Cantor and Warlleld tr.avesty sing- ing "When tiio Mush Begins to Rush Down Fatlicr's Vest." a mock ballad, were yells. "The New Maid" with Marks as a "dame" was another howl. "A Study in Mind Reading" putekHarry Seymour up front wltjli burTPsque mind reading. "Everybody's Doing It" with three hubbioM surprising three wives with three lovers planted under the table was a well done bit of travesty. "Show Me a Little Bit," a pip of a comedy scene between Harry Sey- whioh made three appearances was the only Jarring note in the entire ensemble. The rest will pass before the most discriminating burlesque g.atherlng anywhere and compares favorably with many Broadway musical attractions both In the pro- duction department and cast. The' chorus of eight ponies and H show girls deserve special men- tion. They are the best singing en- semble heard this season at the Columbia and can really dajice, thanks to Seymour Felix, who has staged the dance numbers In splendid style. In addition the girls spe.ok English with an enunciation that makes the many patter versions and »i>ecial numbers clesrly in- telligable to all portions of the house. Greater praise than this hath no man. Con. H. & S/S SEYEN SHOWS WITH ITEMPTATIONy* mour, Elsa May and Joe Marks was another pip. A weird-looking futuristio drop' ^® control of the American or Irons & damage Show Turned Back to Hurtig & Seamon —Will Opebte It Irons & damage "Temptations,'* the Columbia wheel burlesque at- traction, will be operated by Hurtig and Seamon after next week. The franchise controlling "Temptations" was leased to the western producers by Hurtig and Seamon, and will be turned baok to them. "Temptations" has been one of the weak sisters on the Columbia circuit all season. Last week the Columbia people ordered the show "rtrengthened," the second "warn- ing." The first notice to jack up the attraction followed it's appear- ance at the Columbia several weeks ago v/htn It followed 'Town Scan- dals," another Irons and damage attraction Into the house. Irons and damage operated sev- eral Chicago burlesque stock houses and became affiliated with the Columbia shortly following the ad- vent of I. H. Herk's ascendency to BAND BOX REVUE (MUTUAL WHEEL) raet: Mltty Do Vero. Harry I.evlne. Paul Ry.lii, Joe l,urso, MiKlrcd Austin,I Mildred Costerre, Frankle Moore, Anne Darlinc. Here's another Mutual wheeler that makes nine or ten kinds of liars out of the burlesque experts who opine gloomily you can't put on a (Continued tn pa.ijo 45) DeVERE MISSES SHOW Mltty DeVere was out of the matinee and night perfbrmances of "The B.and Box Revue" at the Olym- pic, New Tork, yesterday (Wednes- day) In order that he might attend the funeral of his sister Rena Cor-, rigan who died In Cleveland Dec. 2. Miss Corrigan was 24 years old and a non-professional. Death was due to a conpllcatlon of diseases. DeVcre left New Tork after the Tuesday night performance at the Olympic for Cleveland, leaving the latter city Immediately after fit- tending his sister's funeral for New Tork in time to make the matinee at the Olympic tod.^y. • DeVere, although suffering a severe mental strain, Tuesday night gave a splendid performance. BUSINESS LAST WEEK Columbia No. 2 wheel, with which they weie affiliated. Irons was one of the original American's board of directors. Irons and Clumage owned a 25 per cent interest In "Temptations" besides producing the show. The 25 per cent has been relinquished. Ar- rangements were made Monday whereby Danny Murphy, the princi- pal comic with "Temptations," will return to It next week. Murphy had been teamed with Ned (Clothes) Norton since leaving "Temptations," doing a vaudeville turn. Irons and damage hold a three years' contract with Murphy which has two years to go. With the taking back of "Tempta- tions." Hurtig and Seamon's list of Columbia shows totals seven, the other.-, being "Happy Days," "Holly- wood Follies," "Nifties," "Steft On It," "Talk of the Town" (produced and operated by Harry Strause), "Dancing Around" operated by Maurice Cain and Danny Davenport Is also closely affiliated with the Hurtig and Seamon interests. Mauric^ Cain being general mana- ger for H. & S. and Danny Daven- port is employed In an executlv* capacity by the firm. Seven shows Is the largest num- ber of attractions ever controlled by any one group on the Columbia circuit to date. Hurtig and Seamon have three actual franchises on the Columbia wheel, the other shows being oper- ated through leasing arr.angements.- POOL SPIEGEL'S ASSETS Corporation May Be Formed—Try* ing to Recover 100 Cents for Creditor* The Gayety, St. Louis, got $11,«93 on 14 shows with "Breezy Times" last week. The Columbia, New Tork. with "Follies of the Day," did $10,900. The Gayety, Boston, last week got $9,340 with "All Aboard." It was a repeat date for "All Aboard" In the fiayety, Bo.ston, the ehow having played the Casino eight weeks ago. The Casino, Boston, with "Vani- ties," got $8,500. The Casino has been running along at about $6,500 to $7,000. "Jlmmie Cooper's Revue" had a big week on the Albany and Sche- nectady split, doing $3,000 in Sche- nectady and $5,250 in Albany. The Bronx, Mpw Tork. last week, v'ith "Town Scandols," got approxi- mately $7,000. The Empire, Providence, with "Radio Glrte," got $7,875. A corporation will be formed t«i take over Max Spiegel's assets in the hopes of reaiUzlng enougti to pay oft all the bankrupt theatrical promoter's $2,000,000 liabilities aC 100 cents on the dollar. This Is tha present Intention of the trustee and Mrs. Moe Mark, Spiegel's motber- In-l^l^. Hearings laet Friday before Ref- eree In Bankruptcy Harold P. Cofflh were adjourned to Dec. 11. Samuel Pett, who last week took judgment for $439,134.76 aguinst Spiegel,- agreed to withhold action pending the adjudication of an appeal. This also temporarily halted the New Tork Trust Company's action on a $75,000 Jpan also involved In the Pett claim. BURLESQUE CHANGES Jack (Smoke) Gray and Alma Arliss will leave "Brevities of 1923" Dec. 15. Flossie Everett, featured Ingenue, and P.en Holmes, straight man, re- tire from the cast of ^Temptations" following the engagement at the Torkvllle, New Tork, this,week. Arthur Lanning, principal comic with "Hits and Bits" (Mutual), left the show In Philadelphia Dec. 1. Hurry Kecler is replacing Lbnning temporarily. GIRLS' HARDY TBIP St. John, N. B., Dec. B. Folks hereabouts are waiting pal- pitatingly to hear what happens in New Tork when Edna Ganter, 18, and Dorothy Miller, 19, hit there— and they are due most any day—at- tired H male togs and probably grimy from a long trip on "the rods." The girls left here some days ago, fareless but determined to show themselves to Ziegfeid. They rode the rods -and when last heard from had reached South Station;. Boston. SCHBOTH IN ACTION Omaha, Dec. 6. William J. Schroth, 63,'stage man- ager of the Gayety theatre, local Columbia wheel house, was sued fop divorce by his wife, who alleges her husband threw dishes at her. They were m.arrled only last June,