Variety (January 1924)

V A R S E t V r.^iiy^'WKKt'i TburM«y» January 3, 1924 PERCY WILLIAMS' STORY ON HEADLINERS OF 15 YEARS AGO (The toUowing article iom varUte* for Tatiety't Anniversary nitmhtr for JS08 ty Percy O. Williams, then owner of prohahty the most Important chain of high Oats vaudeville theatres in New York. Bis death during the year now ended gives particular interest to Ms viexcs of IS years ago, views «oMch have been abundantly justified in the hooking method of the >{{/ time today. P. O. WilUams in those days was thinking far in advance of his time, and he gave a frank analysis of his manageriai theories, probably the first time a successful amusement leader told "how he did it.") The continued exploitation of hlg. feature acte has come to itay. It la neceasary to the stability aa well as the proaperlty of what I call "dollar vaudeville" aa dlstlngulahed from the leas pretentious grade of variety entertainment. The ao- «alled ''drawing card" does an im- portant aervlce which I thlnlc variety people generally do not ap- preciate. A permanent Taudevllle theatre In time gathera about Itself an es- tabliahed clientele, a certain number of patrona who can be depended upon to Visit it at certain Intervals. Koughly thla la a fixed number, but the 'Mrawlng card" makea It so. There are from time to time deser- tions from the ranks of the steady vaudeville-goer. Their absence must be supplied and here la where the 'drawing car^" performs Its function. There are in New York thousanda and thousands of i>eopIe who have never visited a vaudeville theatre and do not know the atandard variety of acts. They do, however —•In the great majority of caaea— know the stars of the legitimate stage. Hence the Introduction of Mr, Arnold Daly and Hiss Virginia Harned arovjses their Interest. They pay one visit, drawn by a familiar name—« name which spells excel- lence to them. Strong Show Around "Draw" When an Important "drawing at- traction" ia to play any of my bouses, I Invariably surround It with an unusually strong show. For my "headllner" having attracted many poaaible new patrona, it la my business to make them permanent friends of vaudeville. Left to go Us humdrum way, with the constant repetition of the same' thing, vaudeville would eventually die of dryrot, but the Infusion of novelty gives It fresh energy. I assay the value of a "drawing card" upon Its ability to draw new busi- ness. The established following -will come anyway if the show is only reasonably good, but the added business is what counts to me. Another Important consideration In this connection Is that the fre- quent employment of high-priced headliners tends directly to dis- courage opposition. It makes op- poaitl<fti expenalve. Not only has the competitor knowledge of local likes and dhilikes, but he must match his payroll, dollar for dollar, against another's. It la pktent then the newcomer aesumea an Immense handicap when he seeks to draw business away from a house that has consistently given high-priced and Interesting shows. Besides which his venture requires a very great deal of capital, and bis initial losses are bound to figure up conspicuously during the battle for survival, a factor which is quite likely to turn the scales against him. A "drawing card" Is of value for one of two reasons. One is "repu- tation"; the other is "novelty." The more valuable attribute to the box office is perhaps novelty. During their early appearances in this country Mies Vesta Victoria and Miss Alice Lloyd were splendid "box office attractions.' They still draw large business, but their Incrcnsed reputations have to be paid for now, and the large salaries take a good deal away from the manager's pro- fits. Couldn't Foreesat "Freaks" It Is very difficult to forcrast the value of those features which come under the general clasulflca- tlon of "freaks": that Is to say, acts which make a wide departure from the variety atmosphere. An excep- tion to this rule was Miss Eva Tanguay's "Salome' dance last sum- mer. Miss Tanguay had a large following in New York and the "Salome" danoe was Just then the •ubject of such wide comment that it amounted practically to a fad. Taken In conjunction the topical nature of the subject and the name of Miss Tanguay m.nde It a moral certainty we have an ideal "draw- ing card." So certain wiis I of the success of the venture that I hooked ber twelve weeks, even before ll tContinued on I'agc l&SJ SECSETABT EOOVEB ON 1924 (Continued from page 3) for the future,' states Mr. Hoover. It is not thought, however, that with the settlement accompHahed recovery will be audden. "There will ariae considerable problema In read- justment of trade." In RuMia Aa for Russia, the Secretary states that that country is slowly making progress, with "inch by inch aban- .dnnment of communism and social- ism." In reference to the Near East, Greece, Turkey, the eastern states of Europe aa well aa China, It was stated that progress Is being made, and In the case of the last-named country, China, "although still po- litically disturbed, its commerce is maintained despite of it." The Japa- nese disaster has "furnished new proof of the great strength and cour- age of that country." In Latin- America, says Mr. Hoover, with the exception of Mexico there has been a steady Increase In political and social stability. The United States has shown more freedom from depressing European economic Influences than most others. The explanation of this lies In the fact that, although our exports are of profound Importance, less than ( percent, of our total productivity Is exported, and of this only about one- half to Europe. "In 1923 the United States has wit- nessed the highest total productivity and movement of commodities since the war, with full employment, high real wages, greatly increased sav- ings, large additions to home build- ing and the largest increase in rail- way equipment since the war. ''Taking the country as a whole, we never in hiatory have enjoyed a higher atandard of living and com- fort nor ao great a degree of com- mercial and Industrial efflclency as today or so wide an understanding of the forces which control the ebb and flow of Ouslness. As severe aa the situation Is in the worst of the agricultural states, yet the disparity between agricultural prices as a whole and industrial commodities is gradually lessening, and the eco- nomic balance Is tending to right itself. • "In construction work the large additions to our railway equipment have enabled the raJlwaya to fully handle the traffic for the flrat time aince the war, and marks a great achievement. In building there has been about the aame floor space constructed, but there has been a great shift from public construction to make way for private work, as indicated by the decline of over 20 per cent, in public building con- struction and an increase of about 15 per cent in residential building , compared with 1922. This shift from public to private construction la also Indicated by the fact that concrete road contracts declined about IJ per cent, while the output of cement, however. Increased as above. "The national debt has been re- duced about one billion dollars dur- ing the year; bank debits to Indi- vidual accounts remained about the same in New York, but increased about 12 per cent, in the rest of the country. The monej'* In circulation apparently Increased about 6 per rent. Member banks show an In- crease of about 6 per cent, in loans an<1 tliHoount.**. The reserve ratio Is about the same as a year ago,-that a.bout 7(i per cent. Savings increased about 10 per cent, and life insurance sales about 22 per cent. The flnan- ci.al Items, therefore, show a gen- eral parallel with Increii.sed produc- tion without Inflation," fays the Secretary of Comnurrp. Extraordinary Strength "Our own country has exhibited extraordinary strenprth and prog- ress. Thi.-i basis of healthy busi- no;:8 nellvity lies in balanced bud- gets, stable nirrcnc.v. lli^ll produc- tion .-iicompanied by proiwrllonate consuniption and s.ivmgs with an absiiice (if speciil.Tllim, extravn- najico and inllation. These thing." we have in the I'nited .State.". We have even more in the liope of de- cren.stng inxcs. The odds are ta- voralile to 1921,' saij .Mr. Hoover In closing. t^RANK VAN HOVEN Direction EDW. S. KELLER R5IKE scon LONaY; WRITES ANNUAL POEM Sends His Friends Greetings Through Variety—Sixty Years Old This Month From Cleveland, and on Dec. 20, Mike Scott wrote to Variety becfwse he wanted to wish all of his friends the compliments of the season. Mike writes to Variety every Christmas, sometimes more often, and he writes Variety a poem. Writes it himself, In longhand. The poem below Mike wrote In his room in Cleveland. In his letter, also published, Mike says "The Dancing, Roving Irish- man," as Mike.formerly billed him- self when doing his statue clog dance on a pedestal, wearing green tighta, will be GO thla month. That'a why Mike liked Variety. In those daya Variety had a green cover. Anything green got to Mike. Mike knowa Variety'a Anniversary Nui..ber ia coming out with a° green cover, and Mike wanta hia verae to be in it Mike la evergreen himself, show- ing but little the advancing years. It's some time aince Mike has played around New York—no one over ap- peared to replace Tony Pastor's or Pastor's theatre. But Mike has danced all over the ^orld whil^ Va- riety has stood still. And Mike waa lonel}i in that room In Cleveland when he wrote the let- ter and poem. Mike Is often lonely. Mike has had a tough time, and may be having a tough time now, or may have a tough time, but he always and ever will be the Danc- ing, Roving Irishman, a great curio In the theatrical hall that narrowly escaped being discovered. But anyway, Mike talks from the heart, and here's what he says: Cleveland, Dec. 20. Editor Variety: For the past 17 years, looking back to the flrst Varletjk with the green cover, you have bad Mike Scott'a best wishes In every Anni- versary of Variety. My wish has .not been a bad one to you or my friends. But this great wish Is the best of them all. Because I am 21 years with you Dec. 14. I ant 60 years old Jan. 21. After all my trouble, mother dead, home all gone. In hospital, sun- atroke, but still here to give my friends my heart's best wish for their ^od health and success on every anniversary of Variety. I could write you a lot for the good of vaudeville, and will after I get my 60th birthday over. I wrote you a letter in 1910 from Philadelphia. It needed 11 years to come to pass, but my opinion came true In 1921. the (!Unic, M.any more things I can tell you later. I roam the world to And out things for the good of others when I am gone, but not yet. Others have. ^JP^V Mike's Poem of Common Sense What would we do without a friend, boys? That's something you must un- derstand. A friend in need Is a friend indeed When you are alone In a far-off land. I am very proud of you all, my friends. When I am thinking, and stand- ing still. They come up with a smile, say "Hello there, Mike!" That keeps you from going down the hill. By every one's great favorite old champion dancing Irishman, MtKE BCOTT. Paul Whiteman Denies ""Jaza^; Plays ''Syncopated Rhythm" By PAUL WHITEMAN •«Tb« time has come to have an understanding about this Jais bnal- ness. In the last two years, ministers, propagandists and refonatum have talked so much about the tlass age' and Its demoralizing In- fluence it is a little' disconcerting to wake up one fine momins «nA flnd.headllnea acclaiming one 'King of Jazz.' "That la wbat happened to me not long ago. Tet, my eonaclsno* la aupremely clear, for the truth is that I have never played Jau and neither, to my knowledge, has any member of my band," said Paul Whiteman while taHdng to a Variety reporter. "What we have played is 'syncopated rhythm,' quite another thinc:. And our orchestrations have always been worked out with all tli« color and beauty of aymphonles. "That is not to say that jazz does not exist. It has its own deflnH* place in today's musical world, but I doubt it it has committed th« crimes that are constantly being listed to its account. "To show the difference between jazz and symphonic syncopation, I am planning a concert at Aeolian Hall on Lincoln's Birthday. At that time, we shall make an attempt to classify American musio, separating our type of orchestrations from the jazz which relies for Its effects upon 'sour n^usic' "The heada of the muaic departmenta in aome of the big univeradtioa have become interested and will attend rehearsals so that we can get the "classical aide" of the queatlon. "A number of the accepted popular composera will also cooperate to bring about a real aclenttfic experiment and some will write eom- posltlons especially for the occasion. Victor Herbert, for Astancs, will do an American suite, George Gershwin a Jazz concerto, and Irving Berlin a syncopated tone poem. "A Metropolitan opera star w'll give a classical Interpretation of popular music and then some of oyr 'coon-shoutera' will sing to show the difference between syncopation and jazz. Music critics of the metropolitan papers will be gueata at the event." i MUSICIANS WALK Paris Picture Houses With Emer- gency Music. Paris, Jan. 2. Musicians in both the picture theatres and vaudeville houses threatened to walk out the 'day be- fore Christmas with the instrumen- talists in the cinema halls suddenly withdrawing. The fllm auditoriums, In the ma- jority. Installed piano players for the Christmas performances, which method q( accompaniment has been continued. Louis Aubert and Paul Fournier who control a dozen acreen ed'Ucea of the more pretentious typs nave declared they stand ready t} en- gage non-syndicate musicians. The music hall situation waa met by the directors who acceeded to the demands which called for a dally three franc Increase for all musicians holding season contracts and an additional Ave franca for those accepting temporary engage- ments. XKAS EVE GEOSSES IN FASIS Paris, Jan. 2. Contrary to the proverbial drop in business which precedes the Christmas holidays, patronage at the local theatres was splendid Christmas Eve and that the various lAanagemcnts were aware of the situation seems to be proven by the fact that practically every theatre doubled its prices for that particu- lar night. A list of the receipts, given In francs, for the evening presentation at the theatres would read: Casino. 8,000; Paris Opera, 80,000; Comedie Francals, 83,000; FoUis Bergere, 45,000; Palace, 43,000; Oiympla, 23.000; Athenee, 81,000; Palais Royal, 84,500; Marigny and Etolle, each 36,000, and Opera Comlque, $61,000. LIGHT MAT AFTER ZMAS London, Jan. 2. Thursday's matinees, following Christmas, apparently bore . the brunt of the general holiday shock of the theatres, for 41 legit perfor- mances, that afternoon virtually played to empty houses. "PUPPETS" AFTER "YES" London. Jan. 2. "Puppets' opens tonight at the Vaudeville. It's a revue written and produced by Dion TUliuradgc. "Yeft" ended Its Vaudeville run Saturday. SEMING TO LONDON Will Demlng sailed Dec. 29 fpr London, where he will direct an 1 appear in "It Pays to Advertise." It is to be produced by Jack Waller, son of Lew Waller. ■« LEASES KINGSWAY FOR 7 YR8, London, Jan. 2. Donald Calthrop'a Shakespearean season at the Klngaway ended Saturday. He had leased the the- atre for seven years. Children Plays Paris, Jan. 3. Joseph Kessler commenced his children performances at the Champs. Elysees on Cfailatmas Day. CLEO IS niCKED French Dancar Not Damased by "Psacoc^ Allsy." Jorls, Ja,n. 3. Cleo de Merode, dancer, was coil' demned to pay 2,900 francs dama<* in her action against the French exhibitor, Aubert, with whom ah* alleged libelous matter in th« pr^ senting of the American fllm "P«a> cock Alley," which she assarted w» fleeted unfavorably upon her post. The judgment was rendered be- cause of the e^ccssivencss of bar claim. The actress originally sued f»r 1,000,000 francs and the supprsaeion- of the picture, but afterwards d«« scended to a 100,000 francs btuata;. 'Tb« court decided there waa nothing dishonoi-abie depicted within the screen presentation a* concerned the dancer and that con- fusion was impossible betwaea' Cleo and the heroine of the film. SAILINGS 1 Jan. 2 (Paris to New York), Leok" Bakst (Majestic). | Dec. 29 (New Tork to Paris), Mr. ^1 and Mrs. Paul Bernler, SImone H«^ ^ j mann, Jane Maryem, Marcel Da j Mozes, George Machard, Robsri'l Seller, Jules Sylvere (Grand OulroA ' company), Mrs. Hugo RIesenfaMI' (Savole). Dec. 29 (New Tork), John S. Wfl* Bride (Celtic). Manager Cafls Attenti«p Of Actors to "^nefiU" The publication in the 'H'imes Square Daily" aiMl Variety of the alleged een(^ mercializing of crippled pra» feeaionale through benefit p*P- fomnances bandied by coin> getting specialists, who ara eaid to retain the biggest per- centage of the earniige, haa attracted much attention among players. One manager, skeptical, vf benefits generally, has posted> the stories of the Dorothy AA^ tell benefit case on the osA'i board as substantiation of- m warnings to members of Ms' companiea that the aponsora, af benefits ahould be scrutinised' before profetiionats volunt^' their eervicea. The manager haa contended that' in many benefits, where there ia a division of the earn- tnga, everybody "in" ' gets a share except the actors. KERSHAW OUARANTT TRtJST CO. J lit PIfIb Avenu* Ne«|t«il THE muER smm OF DANCING i- 143 Charing Cross Road ^ LONDON i Director. JOHN TILLER