Variety (March 1924)

IVednesday, March 5, 1924 VAUDEVILLE VARIETY CONTRACIID ACT TAKEN BY ORPHEUM FROM PANTAGES Harmon and Sands Under Pantages* Play or Pay Agreement Abruptly Desert—Pantages Circuit Files Complaint with V. M. P. A. The Pantnges Circuit has com- plained to the Vaudeville Managers* Protective Association asking tor an Investigation of the Harmon and^ Sands turn which left the Pan Cir- cuit Saturday and opens for the Orpheum Circuit at Denver, March I. The act held contracts for several additional r'antage.s houses but can- celled them and accepted the Orpheum bookings Instead of through Johnny Simons (Simons Agency) of Chicago. A peculiar angle to the booking Is that the act played tlie Pantages house in eOnver last week and opens In the same city for the Orpheum Circuit. The V. M. P. A. will investigate the Orpheum booking to determine What grounds for cancellation are alleged by the act as t lie Pantages Circuit Issues V. M. P. A. pay or play contracts. Harmon and Sands are a two-girl piano, singing and talking turn. It played Keith eastern bookins before Signing for the Pan tour. UCENSE COMMISSIONER WITHOUT JURISDICTION Recommended Oxford 4 Take Action Civilly in Dow & Dow Complaint LOEW AaS MUnNY IN N. 0.; ORPHEUM DECLARES HOLIDAY Crescent Bill Revolted Against Doing Four Perform- ances Yesterday After Four Sunday— Orpheum Rents Theatre and Gives Turns Day Off With Pay PRIEST INTERCEDES, ACT BOOKED AT $500 Father O'Connor Aids Regan and Corliss—Joe Regan j Studied for Priesthood Chicago, March 4. Joe Regan (Ilegan and Corliss» Once studied for the priesthood un- der the Rev. Hugh J. O'Connor at t)e Paul University, and the local Catholic diocese is plugging for the team. Monday the Rev. O'Connor ap- Jjeared before tlie bookers and asked time for the act. He had already negotiated this week for the pilr at the State-Lake, dealing direct with 6am Kahl. The team originally appeared at the Palace at $:;00 weekly, and was raised to $300 on the holdover week. Through the help of Father O'Con- hor the team is now booked for the Orplieum circuit at $500 weekly, Vith special billing. Deputy Commissioner Cliarles F. Gritlln of the Bureau o' Licenses of the City of Kew York has ruled against C. E. Oxford, manager of tlie Oxford Four, In his complaint against the A. & B. Dow Agency. The Oxford Four was booked for two split weeks at $173, each, three days Into Cohen's opera house, Newburgh, and '.ne Rialto, Pough- keepsie, N. Y., also operated by George M. Cohen (not Cohan). The act played one-half and wa3 cancelled after one show tlie other half. It returned to New York and demanded its $175 remuneration from the agency on the contract. The Dow agency disclaimed re- sponsibility of the contract. Commissioner C'critlln ruled It Is not a matter for the license b reau and recommended Oxford take It to the civil courts for adjudication. ROXY LA ROCCA THE BASHFUL ONE Cedar Rapids, Review, Feb. 23, 1924. ROXY LA ROCCA 8TOP8 SHOW AT MAJESTIC "A harp in the hands of a come- dian is the unusual but successful combination presented by Roxy La Kocca, whose act stopped tlie show. Roxy, dressed as a yokel on parade, makes 'em laugh at the mere sight of him and keeps them laughing with his comedy songs and stories, while playing the harp. He is the funniest comedian we have had in a long time. See him for yourself." JUDGE KELLY'S DREAM OF A GOOD TIME New Orleans, March 4. T)ie big time and small time and any dllTerence between them could h.'ivo been farrled right from this burg today to the I'nilcd States Court, anyone of them, and satis- lied either. Loew's Crescent, called small tltne to keep the record straight, has a bill that mutinied this aft- ernoon when informed there would be again four performances after the turns had done their four dur- ing Sunday.* This Is Mardi Gras time and to- day Is a local holiday. The I„oew hou.'-e does four on Sundays and holidays. A wire arrived from .T. H. Luhin In the Loew booking olllco In New York for the acts to do the shows Instructed. About this time (3 p. m.> It looks aa though the acts will do It. Over at the Orpheum, big time, on the same record, the acts are not working at all today. In fact nothing U working over there ex- cepting the $3,000 reported rental the Oriilicuin picked up from the Comus Carnival organization th;it is using the Orpheum for Us ball and festivities. The Orpheum management told the acts to take a day oft but noth- ing would be taken off their salarjr by reason thereof. OBITUARY DEHPSEY'S DOUBLE PRICE Jack Dempse.v wants $7,000 weekly to appear in eastern v.aude- ville, and if Frisco, the jazz dancer, is Included, $8,000. The offer was sent to the Keith offlce last week In answer to a re- quest for his terms. As Dempsey has no fight engage- ments before the summer he and Frisco may go on tour In a road show. MANAGERS CHANGE ABOUT Herman WIttman, formerly man- .ager of the Rivera, Brooklyn, has been transferred to a similar post at the Creenpoint, Brooklyn. W. F. Sanford, at the Creenpoint before tho switch, has been assigned the management of the Slate and Capitol, Union Hill, N. J., two houses recently taken over by Keith's. DIES ON STAGE beatrice Shaw, of Dale Sisters, Expires at Perfume Expo. Beatrice Shaw, 22, a musician ap- Jjearlng in an act billed as Three Dale Sisters, dropped dead during the performance at the Perfume Exposition In 71st Regiment Armory, New York City, yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon. When the girl collapsed It was first thought she had fainted. A physician was summoned and pro- nounced her dead. The three girls in tlie musical act ifcre sisters who are said to come from a wealthy family In Los Angeles. They came cast with stage ambitions and were showing their *ct with bookings promised. ACTRESS GETS 100 DAYS . Arrested in a downtown cabaret by members of the Special Service Squad. May Clark. 30, chorister. Was found guilty of disorderly con- duct in tlie Women's Court last week and sent to the workhouse by Magistrate Renoud for 100 days. According to detectives who vis- ited the cabaret, they saw Miss Clark "visltitig" from table to ta- ble and talking to the male occu- pants. She cl.umcd to be a hostess Of the cabaret. SENTENCED TO HOSPITAI Magistrate George W. Simpson in West Side Court, Thursday, com- mitted Charles Blanchard, 46. the- atrical director, 256 West 97th street, to the psychopathic ward at nclle\-ue Hospital for 10 days. Blanchard had been arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct. NORMAN FIELD ILL Chicago, March 4. Norman M. Field, general man- ager for Jones, LInck and Sohaefer, Is seriously ill at his home here. The affairs of the concern are being looked after by Bobby Jones. New Utica House—Maybs Utlca. March 4. Utica may have a new theatre. If plans go through, one of the finest residences In city will be razed and a pretentious house con- structed on Genesee street, the principal business thoroughfare. There is no theatre on the main street. Boston theatrical Interests are understood to be interested. Nate Robbins etill has the field quite entirely to himself In picture houses and vaudeville theatres. Writes to Variety After Taking Off His Bathing Suit—Must Have Been Sitting in Sun Miami, Feb. 29. Editor Variety: Confirming my last note to you re- garding Miami and to further rouse the envy of the fur-clad, snow-bound and coal-buying denizens of Broad- way, I beg to advise you that I have just emerged from my bathing suit after a morning in the surf. Outside my window I note several pickia- ninnys hatle.<=s and barefooted chas- ing butterflies, and the head waiter has just advised me that the spark- ling Burgundy chauvlnet, vintage 1910, has been properly iced for luncheon with George Ade and Chas. Hughes, secretary of the Detroit Athletic Club. (Throw that bum out he's breaking my heart). Tomorrow I leave on the yacht "Southwind" for a fishing trip among the Florida Keys in company with Wm. Pierce, the genial proprietor of the Ponce de Leon, Paul Sjilvin, the Broadway cabaret king, and Mike Fritzel, of the Friars Inn, Chicago. Sundp.y the big profe.sslonal golf tournament opens here with Sara- zen, Hagen, Barnes, Brady, Kirk- wood and Fanell all In attendance. March 4—6, the motor boat races ind water sports. So you will readily se^that life hero 'neath tropic sun and cloudless skies Is okay. However, to mar the bliss of these lazy and plca-sant days I have Just reccK'ed orders from tho book- ing office to report In Washington March 17 at Kieth's to assist In re- newing tho odors and the gloom occasioned by the Teapot Domo In- vestigation, and shortly thereafter will return In sackcloth and ashes to gaze across at you from my ac- customed seat in Buzzard's Roost. Notes Attended the dinner of the New York Society last Wednesday eve- ning at the Hakyoii Hotel in honor of Mrs. Al Smith, the frovernor's wife. A delightful evening and dis- tinguished comp.any of 20 present. EL8A L. WILLIAMS (Mrs. Clyde G. Holmes) Kl-sa L. Williams (Mrs. Clyde O. Holmes), 28 years of age. died at the Newton, Mass., hospital Feb. 9 of pneumonia. She was apparently on the road to recovery when she suf- fered a relapse. She and her hus- band, Clyde G. Holmes, had been associated with stock and repertoire companies for pevend seasons, with IN I.OVINti .MEMOKY OF MRS. THOS. KENNEDY (Kennedy and Bert) Bfay her soul rent in peace. A r.>al pal and our friend who will never be forffollon. JOSEPHINE SAXTON • ml JACK FARRELL side trips Into vaudeville, until about live years ago, when her husband ac- cepted the position of stago carpen- ter with the Comiuunit.v I'layers at the Community Tlicatre in Newton, Mass. Mr. Holmes still liolds that position. sical comedy, "Queen"* Minstrels," and wound up in vaude enxi retired In 1910. He leaves three sons. John, Kdward and Frank. JOHN LESLIE John Powell, 48, professionally known as James Leslie, died Feb. 21 at St. Agathe der Morits, Province of (Quebec (Canada), where he had gone to recover from tuberculosis. Burial was held at Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal. The deceased was formerly at the team of Leslie and Shane, and is survived by his wife and three chil- dren. Vincent Lopez Producing A ilar:iing act fur vauilevill.; will be iir.Hluceil by Vincent Lopez. ''ili^in Kair.'hiM, assisted by Brown and Ito-i-, will Ije in liis iniil >! ven- tur«. Louise Holden Bankrupt TiOUlse Holden, actress, 14" West TiStli street, has (lied a voluntary petition in bankiuptcy in the Fed- eral Distrli't Court. .Miss Holdon's asr^ets. SS.'.O, con- sists entirely of cIolliiMg. Hit llii- bilities are IL'.TSS.:'.">, made up of bills lor merchandise. Clark and McCullough Contract —SAhi HtirrlH ii.'m simir Ku Klux Klan paraded here last Friday night in full regalia. An Irish policeman mistook them for masqueraders and chased them four blocks. ConspifMOUfl among the fine yachts hfre arc Vandcrbilt's Arrow. Astor's Xounn-ihal, C. B. Dilling- ham's N'^tniba, John F. Betz' Sy- billa, 3d, and James Stillmun's Winona. AttciulofI the dinner of the Miami .Tof'key Club. The gathfritig repre- sented the ver.v best of Florida's politif al and social life. Norman K Mack and Wm. J. Connors of Buf- falo: .lolin I Dru. the fntnons tiiif authority, ni-.d Joseph Miiri)h.v. the great iMiidi'-apper, all h'tit tlu-lr 1 l*r»Mij«« ta the affair. MeCullouKh for t«o more yens Cor j It louKs as i:iou:,'h Fl.nan.i ati.l .Vew the •■.Music l;.ix H'vue ■' I i>r'.iMn> will h.ivc to look to their Clirlc and .McCulloiulis v.iu.lc- villo opening at the I'll.n-e. N"kV Vork, ha.s been iiuoked ijr Apiii 28. MADELINE HAYOEN Madeline Hayden, 33, Bister of Tommy and Fred Hayden, died of pneumonia at her home, Babylon. L. I., Feb. 27. Miss Hayden had been ill for a long time, and through iilnoHs was forced to give up the stage. Weakened as flhe was, a heavy cold found her an easy vic- tim and, when it turned to pneu- monia, the result was a foregone conclusion. She was buried in Cal- vary Cemetery, Long Island, Sunday. 1^ SIMON GOLDSTEIN Simon Goldstein, head of Gold- stein & Co., leading costumera of the Pacific Coast, and a pioneer California theatrical man, died last week in San Francisco, aged 71. Ha had been 111 for six months. Goldstein was born In Germany and came to San l<YancIsco In 1862. Ho Is survived by a widow and two sons. ' THOMAS B. TAYLOR Thomas B. ("Toby") Taylor, 82, died at his home in Trenton, K. J., M.arch 1. from heart falluro. Mr. MAE DAVIS SMITH Mae Davis Smith, pioneer of Buf- falo musical impresarios, died at Buffalo, M.arch 1, of pneumonia, fol- lowing a short Illness, Mrs. Smith In.augurated the first concert series in Buffalo and Introduced all of the leading musical artists, many of whom were her close personal l> MKMOKY or My Dfliived Krl'Ti'l and Pal JOE ADAMS We work**d and triod —toffelher; We InuKh'Ml and cried—together; sharfil tt'trrowH and j"»y«, (;rew to manhood troia boya— tuKi-thrr. Vfy pal hai» loft and rauhPd nnurh pain. And until wt? aoiiicwhKrn in<*ut aicnla In Hpirit we aro—together. SIM WILLIAMS IN IXIVINO MEMOBT Or Mrs. Thomas J. Kennedy (ISIhel Hurt) Wlio iiaas'xJ away Fel>ruary IBtti, 1>2 WILLS AND ROBINS Taylor built the Taylor opera house (now Capital), the llrat legitimate theatre in Trenton. O. J. SMITH O. J. Smith, 34, manager of the Majestic, Akrrjn, O., 8U(^cumbod to pneumonia last Monday, lie Is sur- vived by his wife, parents, sister and Ave brothers. WARREN J. MURRAY Warren J. Murray died last week at SL Petersburg, Fla. Murray formerly owned two the- atres in Warren, C, where he waa a pioneer showman. llcfctlsP A' tend'.! :*!•» U;iinor of the Vir- frlonds. She was also a close fol- lower of the stage and a famllar figuro at local premieres and other tlieatie functions. KARL GARDNER Karl G.irdner. old time minstrel tn.an atid later in vau(l<"\ill<', died in l''ond du I.,ac. Wis., last Satunlay. Cli.itlos A. Gardner was born a' I'tica. N. v.. in lXt7. He wis with Christy's Min-trels. later with mu- Warde Johnson Warde Johnson, the musical direc- tor, died Feb. 28 at Stoms' Sanitar- ium, where ha had gone to undergo an operation for Intestinal trouble. Ho had been musical director at the Fifth Avenue, New York, for about five years and later was at tho Strand, New York. I'rlor to hi* illness he was the musical director of tho Poll houses. Charles Hardy, chief electrician of the Columbia, New Yorkj died from ■ 111 all.ick of p-eiinionia, Feb. 29. (Ill lovinic nirmfiry of ofir daufhter H MARIE ALICE I Wliii i,:i ,.■;...I ;.w.iy .raiuiiiry J71h. H:4 ■ MK. itml VIK.S. r\RI. I»K LOBTO g M" wa.H Ij and h.id beon at the (""Iiiinliia for the last seven years, lie Is survived by a wife and daugh- ter. ginla .'^l)cIety and will long remem- ber tills most pli'usait evening. I Mary Ann Wrlgley Chadwick, met ilfsci iidan's of over.N IxmIv i.ii" U:'' mdnioi ii.r of Helens (.'hadwick, i!ie 13 Apo-'!e«. I'n .>^ar»!ii- .\di.)s. Mii..!:.in |i;ciiire star, die<i Saturday, Jii'liir l\,lhj. i March 1.