Variety (January 1924)

t.'W/!W'**^J^5^'«^'*' IS VARIETY LEGITIMATE" Thursday, January 24,193M NEW PLAYS PRODUCED WITHIN WEEK ON B'WAY SWEET LITTLE DEVIL PrpxPittetl by I,»\jrenr« Schwab un'\ f<*a- turtnv c'"ti''l;ii" •■ Htnlify, Ikjok b> I'rilik MaiKic-l aiiti the prudujcr, with (ii-nrijn tlerahwln lh« rompoaer of the rcmf. 1*. O. De Hylva ia crMlled with tbf Jyrk-.--. KJ'gar Mnc'Jr*»Kor llir HtuglnK «>>•* s.-iinmy I-ee directed tha cnacmble numbers. 0\ten- li>( >t th< Aator Jan. 21. UelM Tlae Itiiwdln Joyce Waal Marjorie (imer'OM May Rourlir Ruth Warren ."am Wllaon Franklyn Ardell \'irctnta Arainlma Culpepper. .Misa Hlnney Tom NcKbltt IrvlTig liod,,. *"red Carrlniti.n William Wayne Jim Henry ('harle?! K-nii'-ily Laitrpnce Schwab's ftii't aUemi't at Individual legit prodiiriiijr is prrgnable at many points :ind quickly ipnolves Itaelf into a musirul of light calibre. Entrancing in New York Monday right after having played in 110.1- ton and Providcnre, during which time the title was changed tniii^ from the original, this tiirre-arl presentation reveals itself as siri'tly a secondary choice that may linger • t the Astor for a brief stay with- out causing nny undue distuib.ini c ©lie way or tiio otiier. Barked ')y what amotiiits to Iiiif two attractive enough stage set- tings and three sets of costumes for the entire company, one for eacli act, the production Is not likely lu become particularly noteworthy. Sammy Tee's conception of how dances should be ."taged gives ilir show Its maximum strength thrhiigli ' routines that contain enough versa- tility and quality of execution to mark this contribution as the be«t. Uershwln listens us having turned out but an average score which only approaches a popular classi Ilea t ion In one melody that seems an odds- on choice for the dance orchetjlias, l)ut Is doubtful of behig sufflclently strong to pull at the box office—as one number has currently done for another Broajlway lightweight. The transparent script canies the theme of a retiring young girl who lakes It upon her.self to answer the mash notes of a ••Folllee" beauty from a youth in South America who has fallen for the choristers pie.ss ktufT. I'l) from liic lower Conliiieii! and about to aicumulate plenty of money 'from a railroad company, the i'oin-Kiabblng damsel la for hlin until the Innocent miss seiuri-« the all-important check and holds it out so that the boy may re;,ll7.<» tln> type oC woniuii he's deVirmtf of marrying. It calls all matrimonii! intentions off with the youtli infuri- ated to the extent he carries his fallen Idol back to South Amtrica. where she in to be put to vvoik. That takes two act.s in the telling' with the tliial scene laid In the tropics where the shy young lady who has followed finally turns over llip check, explains tlio siiiiati. ii and all Is well by 11:05. Miss Binney heads the ca.st. She Injects a drawling dialect at inter- vals and is allotted u vast niajo;ity of tho vocal numbers which fhc renders none too cnnvincinprly .'Mso provided with ample opportunity tn dance, incluiliiig a brief cpismle of toe work, tiie star mu.-^t rely, chielly. ui)on a plea;;iiig magnetism and n winsome appearance. M.irjorio <iate.^on, probabl.v p(\s5'c?siTii7 th" only voii'c and always capalile of leading a number, Is praciic.illy buried so far as that Inni'odnnt i.-- coiiccrneil with the production lu.tiiis a mucii nondvd persotialily theicliy. ■\Vith the rctireniriit of .Mi.xs fJale- son it's an c.T."y m.ttter for Hotli Warren to step out and glein the linnors of the feminine conlinaent tlirou^h com^'tly. Ably a.-si.?ted bv ^\ liliam W.ivne. both toriiierlv ti'amcti in vaudeville, the pair pi c- iloniin.-ue thioui;hoiil tlie < nlire |«i i- furmanee whilf also liind'.in;; the oiitslandiiipr tnelodv. Irviiii; Heebe is somewhat colnrles.* as the juvenile while l''iaiikl>n .\rdell. out.'<ide of in- timlueiiig two or three new naKs. iotlii'res elf.silv to his twic'e daily in.innei- of deliwiy. inleiiii.tte I'oi llie rol.'. llae Do.vdin in:iii.ii;eil to naiize on a small p;irl and U'.i\c'ti' dato<s twien to a ppjee.-it ion. Henorled to lie ln.Uk-ed iit tlie .\.^ tor on ;i stiai;;t5t rental Itasis "Sweet I,ittle Devil" bniig.s to niind l.evv Cantor's elTort named, ".Suii- .showers' wliieli pl.ayi d the same theatre under Himiliir conditions .in'l had a cr.rking dancing ehoriis too hut couldn't make the grailc. lleiire. It I'Ok.^ I.ke a repeat. >•'...'/.— bad willing and blundeiing had passed in review to make th/s an gbvlous bii.st. Just another of those misguided attempts by deluded persons to "ele- vate" the coinnierclal theatre by forcing phos of "purpose" down its gullet. "The Gift" opened at the (ireeii- wieh Village theatre to a (ireeii- wich 'N'niage audience. Tho ap- plause was stupendous for two acts. so much so that It became ridiculous. Kvery exit was the occasion for an ovation. It was all so childifh. as was everything connected with the entire presentation, which creaked with amatcmish good Intentions. I'edro de Cordohn and Doils Ken- yon, two players of standing, were ifcatured. It seems amazing that professionals of experience should waste their Uiiie and their names in such puerile and palpably fore- doomed Vditures. Had they at least stood forth in in otherwliite undcr- giude piodi,<t and covered them- selves with individual glory, one might soy "Actors are actors, and it is their duly to play what is assigned them as best they can." But they gave as little a.< the others, falling right into tiie wtiining, moralizing mood of the witless and floundering plethora of broinidic inanities, pt)ll- piirioting the unimportant passages as though they were sounding some cryptic chant of a prophet. This dire<"tion, charged to CIIITord Brooke, was atrocious. Chariicters wandered on and off, browsed abotit. Jerked into chairs and out of them, stood in awkward ensembles, and everything was patchy and disor- ganized, though this piece was out several weeks in the sticks. At moments intended to be highly dramatic the audience scarcely could and aeveial limes failed to restrain giggles. Through the play ran an effoi t to establish Leonore McDon- ough as a wicked and enticing Ital- ian vamp, and she so grotesquely overacted and underplayed the part that the entire plot wabbled when- ever she shook it. EfHngham Pinto, an actor of note, struck one key of ethereal pathos and harped on it until he hurt. Ida Mulle as a sentimental-comedy jitiii- tress played it a la burlesque, with- out the skill that goes with honest burlesque. Kor all-around bad writing, bad acting and b:id staging, it Is doubtful whether anything has approaehetl the memorable rendition of Oscar Wilde's "Sahimc" by a cabaret wig- gier until '"The Ciift.' compared with which "Koibidden' was an upstand- ing and promising prescntatioji. There is no story. For a theme tl'.e authors have tried to prove the highly exciting theory that love is n great little thing. For atmosphere they have invented the highly origi- nal thougiit of an American artist's studio in Paris, and it d.iwned on j them he ought to fall In love with his model, who got the Inspiration that by clean love .she could Induce him to quite philandering, go to work I and linish a masterpiece. She has con.-iumption, which makes her very sad. But she Is a regular I Pollyanna. and nothing gets her goat, .'"ilie is a glutton for punishment, and finally flops off the posing stand ami dies on the floor, the painting just finiahod, whereupon the artist kneels and recites that lie has seen the liyht eternal^Iove. The author."" of this are ,Tulia Chandler iind Ah thea Luce, the flr.st a press agf-nt and tho second a for- mer aeirr'::;. .\nii.i 1/inibert Kle^vait. a highbrow comiioser, presents the mess. ■"Tlie (lift" hasn't a chaiiee. J.oll. LOLLIPOP Mr-. V(.it..ii '.'«rKmi.i ...' 'I'o^Hie IJiin Oarl.v" <itn;ir K. (.tnrriry. {'••lunU Utura r.,uuiti ,. .. IkUfUM 'l-'irwe .1 .:i,-.s Mill iletkliaKe:). . . . \lr«. (Jurrltv Il"i"ne Sji.HMallV IliitM*!" , i'iirl<!ri*tli I LuhI*-;!! ! .\'lr;uii A.l T t Anil w ' Cilori.i l>.M\n Alln" .V.iiiil I^eonanl ftriny .Nirk lA.nB- .Ir Virginia i'niah A.liiM.-.y A L>arl< Set I. : Cui .= hs llarrv l"ucU •/..■i.lil S.'Mr> Kliirence W.-M.-r .A. Kowi*rr. F. Trfin-irji Mliii SiiOI'i K,.t; !".i'; l.o-ii.iia ^■t. !.■.> one often) and Dorothy Stone In "Stepping Stones" has of late stepped out as distinctly. Playing an orphan In what would be an ideal Mltzl role In many spots. Ada-May went through many plot ramifications. In each mood she was lovely and eloquent, always sympa- thetic, though playing In broad com- edy vein. In her specialties -single, double and ensemble—she was like a zephyr, remarkably nimble and fleecy for a solid girl of her inches. It was a great night of personal tri- umph for the attractive and talented kid, and a curtain call and demand for a speech completely flabbergasted her. Zelda .''e.irs, author and playing a grand dame part in the show, made the speech while embracing Ada- May. Col. Savage sat beaming. And well he might. He lias seemingly put over another success that need not make his New Kngland forefathers blush, and his personal touch Is all over it. His casting is almost un- canny. In view of total ab.sence of names except Ada-May and Miss Sears. There are several true finds in the outfit, notably Leonard Celley, Nick Long, Jr., Harry Puck, Fowler and Tamara (a %vow two-dance man and woman fit for a feature spot In the finest and fastest and classiest revue) and Mark Smith, the last named probably the best butler-part comic in a century. A Tiller troupe and a chorus of mediums keep winding through the show. The chorus staging is mild but swift and nifty. Bert French handled It. The costumes are pretty and smart but not lavish, and the scenery goes that double both ways. The music, by Vincent Youmans (composer of "Bamballna"), Is catchy and sends in at least two dance-record sellers. Every tune is danced dry and repeated, and dished again with variations. "Take a Lit- tle One-Step" Is a cinch, and "Going Kowing" is a ballad certainty. The book is laid out in three acts, unusual for musical comedy, which made the first act seem .short and end abruptly. A change of .scene there, with a specialty before the cur- tain instead of an Intermission, would be a stout lift for the general effect "Lollipop" was first titled "'The Lett-Over," and has been out several weeks. Having a great little dancer to'start with and to build around, the producers, instead of resting there and seeking "relief" with sing- ers or other contrasts, decided to go right through and pyramid the asset up. "Lollipop" finishes as a swift hoofing entertainment, with almost every conceivable step and stunt that can be dune on a floor, a maze of variegated wonh-while modern dances, Nick Long. Jr., a minor principal, took honors next to the stars. This show should run out the sea- son to a profit and clean up on the road, a3"it Is a typical Savage success, without any smut, sensations or freaks; fine, solid, old-style enter- tainment brought up to date. La it. THE GIFT One ininut,f and ii half .ifler the curtain wetit up on 'The (lilt' il Wan through. By that time enoiisrh ml.'-casliiig, niisdireeliiis. .i: iiiiiliiii:g. \ lypi. al lleiuy W. Savage mu- ll, wholesome, hearty and wel ii'ome; an old-t.ishinned model jtiiniined u|i with youth und Mime i l.ite novelties, "Lolli|iop" pl.iyed like J.I winner the oiiening niKht at tlo I Knickerbocker, and will stand up with other .'■hows iii its el.iss for a t ai it ial l u ii—lU—ji ro g p e rou H -4hu tiie.s. (.;oI. Sav.ige sprung .\da-May cWteks) ."IS a |i itured soubret. The part .s II ttairiaa vehicle. Ad.i-.May took (.1 it lilio I cluck, far suip.issiim iill her work of the pa.'t. As ii eomeilienne. p irticiilarl.v-and in char.ieier at that—she revealed tlie must .■•III pi ;'in« progress. .As a semi- erientric dani'er she had already maile her mark. J'robably no giil I xeept Queeiiie Smith in "Ileien of Troy, .\. V.' tof whom she ip)ii:ii<1s INCORPORATIONS Albany, N. Y., Jan. 21. Marple Company, Inc., New Y'ork; theatre; $10,000; I,ewis Sloden, Jose Muben, M. H. Piercy. Attorneys, Slavln & Lclchtman, i:!0 West 4^^d street.) Suburban Theatre Corporation, New York; pictures; JSo.OUO; H. U. Wiley, M. \V. lioss, Gertrude Sear- ing. (Attornejf, Myron Sul:;berg'er. 565 Fifth avenue.) Beekhard & Macfarland, Inc., New York; theatrical, »10,n00; A. J. Beckhard, N. T. Macfarlane, G. V. Hart. (Attorne.vs. (Juggen- heimer, Untermycr i: .Marshall, lliO Broadway.) M. M. P. Corporation. lUifCilo, ,N. Y.; pictures; J.'.U.tKKi; (i. C. M.iv. A. H. Setter, Willi,im \'o;;els.inB. (Attorney, A. G. fack, 4:;l Kllicott S'liiare, Buffalo. X. Y.) Bufter Amusement Corporation, Rochester. N. Y.; the.itres. motion pictures; $5,000; 1'^. F. J'almer, Ben- jamin Sehaefer, Steve Gaal. (At- torney, It. K. Itobcrtson, Buffalo. .V. V.) Chariot Produemg Corporation, New York ("ity; ile.il in pl.iys, mov- ing pictures; $1.0011:- 1!. .M. L. lOrnst. D. J. Fox, .M. If. C.UiC. (Atlori eys. Krnst, Fox & Crane, I'l Wist 43d street. New York City.) Syldor Studio, Inc., Tew York Citv; interior decorators. s("enic art- ists; 350 shares no p.nr vaine; AT Meberman. Kva Marks. Max Shin- dlcr. (Attorneys. Boskey, Schiller & Sterling, Biir Biiildini;.) Smalley Stamford Theatre Cor- liorntion. Coot.erstown. N. V ; the- iitrical. motion pleiures; :'00 shares non liar value; Wiili;im C. .''malley, O. L. Van Home. II N. Smith. (At- torney. O. L. Nan Honiv, Cooiiers- lown, N, Y,) OBITUARY INCREASE OF CAPITAL STOCK Reputable Pictures Corporation, New York City; from $i;ii.0(iO to $i;.'',0 00n, (Allorney. K.lward Petl- gor, :'33 West -l^d st-eet.) MERGER Clark Film Corporation, New York City; merged with Famous Players-Lusky Corpor.ition, Mill- brook, N. Y. Papers filed by the company, 4i5 Fifth avenue, ■ FANNY EVERETTE Fanny Kvcrctte died Jan. 17, from double pneumonia. In the Now York Hospital. She was 58 years old, and prior to retiring from the stage, some ten years ago, had been Identified with burlesque for up- ward of 25 years. Miss Evcrette was one of the big stars of bur- lesque In the period extending ap- proximately from 1898 to 1906. She was billed as "The Diamond Queen" of burlesque, and for a long period headed "The City Club" show, which was owned by her husband, Tom Mlaco. Miss Evcrette was married to Tom Rverctte first, and a son by that marriage, named Edward Ev- erette, died about nine years ago. m IN MK.MORY of the late James E. (Bhch) Cooper nit'd January if, I91'3 LOUIS OBERWARTH JOE EDMON8TON MORRIS WAINSTOCK He W"aB 21 years old at the time of his death. Her second hgsband, Tom Mlaco, died about 15 years ago, l''oi' the last se\en yeuis Mls.s Everett had held the post of ma- tron of the Columbia. New York. Sam Scrlbner appointed her. A solemn requiem muss was said by the Rev. Father Joseph Madden, at St. Malachl's Roman Catholic Church, on West 49lh street. New York, for the deceased, Jan. 19. Burial was in the Actors' Fund plot in Evergreen Cemetery. Brook- lyn, Jan. 19. Among those attending the fu- IN FOM> ."MKMOKV OF LILLIAN HERBERT The T.oviiiR Wife of GEORGE MULLEN flonp, but not forgotten J. FRANCIS HANEY MME. DEMIA DEE JEAN Madame, Deniia Dee Jean, weH known on the coast as a soprano committed suicide in San Frau- cisco last week by Inhaling Ras m IN LOVING ME.MOKY OF Our Dear Pal JAMES L COOPER AVho passed awfty Jan. 29. I!i23 We miss and mourn >uu, ItliiVh. HARRY and MINNIE STEWART her apartment. Her body was dis- covered by her sister, Mrs. Florenet Pabst. Madame Dee Jean left a not* asking her sister to care for a small daughter now In tho east "niul also that her estate, paid to be worth many thousands of dollars, be giveD to the child. Despondency over an illness which she believed was Impairing her voice Is .said to have prompted the act. Madame Dee Jean's last appearance »"iis at tho Alexandria Theatre here earl.v in De"embcr. She was 43 years old. WALTER MONTAGUE Wahcr Montague, said to hav# been the descendant of the Knplsh nobility and well known on the Pa- clfic coast as a playwright and scenarist, died last week In a San Francisco hospital following a brief IlIiieBs. Montague had written nu- merous vaudeville plays, many of them having been scut over the IN I.OV1MU MEMORY of my dear inulher ROSE BENNETT who was taken from me Jan. 1G, I'l:'! May her noul rest ia peace. EVERETT BENNETT MR. and MRS. E. BENNETT neral were Sam Scrlbner, J. Her- bert Mack, Ruth Hoyt. John Byrnes, Kitty Smyth and Frank North. The Columbl.a eipployces, with whom Miss Everette was very pop- ular,, sent a beautiful fioral offer- ing, MRS, MAYME ROWLAND Mrs. Miiyme Rowland, wife of Ed- ward Rowland, one of the pioneers in the pop melodrama field, died of an attack of heart failure at her home In Los Angeles Jan. 20. Mrs. Rowland, known profession- ally as Mayme Keene, was born In Chicago in 18^9. She and her two sisters entered the theatrical pro- IN ME.MORY OF Jas. E. (Bhch) Cooper ■Who Died J,in'jary :9lh, 1323 Mr. and Mrs. Sam A. Scribner fession at an early age. In 1903 she appeared under the man-igement of Rowland & Clifford In several of their productions including "The Game Keeper" and "Over Nias.ara Falls." She later married Rowland and reliied from the slaKC some 15 years nao when her husband retired from the producing game. Mrs. Rowland Is survived by her husband and a son liy a previous m.irriase, known piofessionally as Uo'.i'.?las Rowland and who is :!t present api""iiring in slock In J.os Angeles. Cornelius R. Sheffer Cnrnelius R. Sheffer. who built the first theatre In .Mechanicsvllle, N. Y., died at a" hospital In Troy, January 16, of pneumonia. He was 79 years old. Mr. .Sheffer was an assemblyman fr im the Mechanles- ville district in 18S1 and 1SS2, and was active In business. Puntages circuit. Ho al ;o wrote scenarios for feature (llins. He wa» - ■ born in Kent, England, and wa« it years old. Montague was said to be the son . of the late Major and Ijiidy Mon- ' tague Williams and a brother of 'J Alfred and Lady'Polly Frenchard of England. He leaves a widow. \. LOUIS FISCHER Louis Fischer, orchestra leader and violinist, died Jan. 21 at hla home after a sudden stroke of heart failure. Hte was about 50, and for many years had been among the most prominent of the New York club orchesn-a men. For several COOPER A tender tribute an<l «ver constant loving memory of a beloved husljatiU Isaac E. (Blutch) Cooper who entered eternaJ life January 29th, 1923 years he directed the orchestra at tho Palisades In the summer, re- cen'tly giving it up to devote niur« time to private engagements. H* Is survived by a widow and two children. EDWARD KINSELLA DIES London. Jan. 23. Kdward Kinsella, tornurly a legl- iiiate manager in America, who h.id a theatre in Kansas City, died here of iineunioiiia. At one time lie was iiu lived in., u lengtliy lawsuit re- i.-irdini,' the getting of attractions in Kansas City with the booliii 8 powers. Miss Caryl Frohman, oldest sister of Daniel Frohm:in, died Jan, 18, after a brief Illness, at 145 West 79th street, where" she and her brother made their home. Resides Mr. Frohman, she is survived by three sisters, Mi."=s Ktta Frohman. Miss Kmma Frohm.in and Mrs, D II. Davison. The mother of Herbert Sherman died at her home last week. The mother of Bobby Piovir. for- merly with Maicella Shields In Viiudeville, died Jan. 'J in Ilie Ka.ston llospit,il, ICaston, Pa, following an illmss of ihree weekfi. — The f«4her el Mart y Jnyoof vaiiilf- villi.inf, died at his home in Biook-, lyn, Jan. 3, The father of l"'red ."-'t On^e. f.r- mer bicycle ilder, died Jan. 10 at his home in nostoii, S2 \ear.- old. ORCHESTRA NEWS Pivs iiiipea of Hiuiil ;in,l in. Iti.ulfx ill "TIIF. I l.ilTKK" W"' OIT TO.MORKOW .. ■-irs ;.!y ..