Variety (May 1924)

Wednesday, May 7, 1924 VAUDEVILLE VARIETY BEAUTY PARLOR CHARGED Wrm MAKING DANCER WEAR WIG Constance Evan* Suing for $1,000—^Removed Wig in Court—Beauty Doctor OflFered to Again Make Hair Grow Back Constance Evans, the feature dancer In "Artiste and Models," ap- peared In the First District Munic- ipal Court of New York Tuesday (yesterday) morning as complain- ant against Edwards of Edwards' Beauty Parlor, 196 West 47th street, clabningr damages of $1,000 for causing her the loss of her hair, due to a treatment including a washing with peroxide and am- monia and a henna shampoo. Miss Evans has been compelled ever since to wear a wig both on the stage in her act and on the ■treet. She removed her wig In court to allow the jury to see the damage done. Her mother, Marie Evans (Jolly Marie of the English Halls) testifled as to the circumstances, and there was some talk of settle- ment, but nothing came of it. Edwards got a laugh when he offered to remedy the damage by repeating the operation which re- sulted in the loss of Miss Evans' hirsute appendage. The case was continued until May 12. ARRESTED FOR CHILDREN Parents and-Others Had No Parnnit for Private Entertainment Mount Vernon, N. T., May 6. Two men and two women, ar- rested here for permitting two children to appear at a private en- tertainment without obtaining per- mission from the mayor or the Children's Society, were severely dealt with by Justice George C. Ap- I>ell in Children's Court. Alfonse Janniello, 24, of this city, was fined $20. He was manager of the entertainment. Mrs. Mary Bunora, actress, of 152 West Forty- ninth street. New York, was fined $35. She permitted her daughter, Julia, 4H years old, to appear. Mr. and Mrs. Moe Tint, of Coney Island, also charged with permitting their daughter, Blanche, 4H years old, to perform, were given Jail sentences of six months each, but the opera- tion of the sentence was suspended during good behavior. The arrests were made after the parents of Charles Bunora, es- tranged husband of the defendant, liad complained to the police. At Mr. Chapman's request, the Sunora child was remanded to the custody of the society pending an Investigation into her home sur- roundings. HOUDINI STARTS RIOT, CALLING TRICKSTER" Offers to Wager Spaniard Without Super-Normal Power Claim Joaquin Maria Argamasllla, a 19- year-old Spaniard who claims the super-normal power of being able to see and read through metal, gave a public demonstration In the states suite at the Hotel Pennsylvania yesterday afternoon. Newspaper- men were present, also several Frenchmen, said to be scientists. According to Joaquin, he can look right through gold, silver, copper and the like. The demonstration came near turning into a riot when Harry Houdini, who was present, charged the Spaniard with being a fraud and a trickster and that he pos- sessed no supernatural power. Houdini claimed he can do the same stunts as Joaquin and chal- lenged him to a contest to be staged at 3 o'clock tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon at the Pennsylvania. Real money Is expected to be put up by both sides. Houdini was willing to post a $2,500 check on the instant. The Spaniard was blindfolded after cards with names written upon them were placed In little boxes, said to be made of tin, silver and a lead composition. With the sun- light at his back ho read the In- scriptions, the boxes being locked. Joaquin's mission 1j to demon- strate his alleged power to scien- tists here. It is claimed he was investigated by scientists abroad and his supposed abnormal iMwers of vision verified. It was stated Argamasilla'a powers, however, are subject to "psychological variations" over which he has no control. He cannot, therefore, always see through metal objects. The visitor is said to be the heir of the Marquis de Santa Tara of Madrid. POP SPLIT WEEK POUCY AT ALHAMBRA AND ROYAL Starts Monady, Marking Passing of Big Time Vaude- ville Neighborhood Houses—Competition from Large Capacity Vaudeville and Picture Houses YVETTE and Her NEW YORK 8YNC0PAT0R8 This daring, dashing, dainty, ver- satile sprite of the violin, augment- ing her specialty with a de luxe orchestra. Is at B. F. Keith's Hippo- drome, New York, for two weeks (May 5 and 12). Happy T Yes, and successful, too. Direction! FRANK EVANS HOUSES WITH nCHTS LOSE IN POPULARTTY Small Town Managers Cofti- mencing \o See Light—Of- ten Smokers, Besides ^nU) MILLMAN TO MAEBT Boston, May 6. Bird MiUman, premiere wire walk- er, will shortly marry a local dye merchant Last Saturday in this city mar- riage intentions were filed by Joseph B. O'Day, treasurer of a local dye concern and Miss Millman. No date for the marriage has been made public. O'Day is rated as a man of means •nd has a fine suburban home. The prospective bride gave her age as 17 and her first husband, from whom she was divorced, as John C. Thomas, a Sioux Falls broker. "TEILBY" AS SKETCH Negotiations are in progress for a raudeville version of "Trilby" with Arthur EMmund Carew, who played Svengall in the film of the Du Maurier semi-classic. The aot contemplates six people, With the death scene for a climax. W, B and I's Oh! Office Chicago, May 6. Waterson, Berlin & Snyder have leased half a floor In the Woods Theatre Building here for offices. It's the same building in which the N. V. A. will have Its Chicago office. Harry Seymour Marrying Los Angeles, May 6. Harry Seymour will be married here next week to Dimples Reld of St. Louis, non-professional. Mr. Seymour appears with his sister, Anna Seymour, who is married to Kenry Santrey. NAT MT.Eini'.R WITH DIPLOMA Los Angeles, May 6. Nat Meeker, formerly of Craw- ford and Meeker, has arrived here with a Palmer School diploma and will shortly open a chiropractic of- fice here. Nat says he does not think he will have to do any week end vaude- villlng to help out. OUHBERT NOW WANTS $3,000 The French vocal expressionist, Yvetta aullbert. Is asking |3,000 weekly for a tour of American vaudeville. In view of the salary asked, the Keith people have not shown any great Interest. Mme. Gullbert has been living In Paris for some time. It Is^ve years since she appeared i/i America, then received only $2,250. BALL AND HALL ILL Los Angeles, May 8. Ernest Ball has had to cancel, temporarily, his Orpheum route, owing to Illness. Sylvia Clark re- placed Ban on the program at Den- ver. Sunday, Ford and Cunnlpgham left for Ceattle to replace Al. K. Hall in the Orpheum show. Hall is also 111. .. MABRIAGES Jack Altree, chief artist for the Gordon, Strand and Rialto Theatres in Brocton, Mass., to Eleanor Best of North Hero, Vt., in that town. l/ouis Silvers (song writer) and Janet Adair (Bombo Co.), May 2, in Los Angeles, by Judge Summer- peld. Ralph Bond McNulty, said to have organized the Hollywood Studios Review, playing vaudeville dates, was married In San Francisco last week to Fern Eleanor Dawson, known profes.slonally as Peggy Booth, and a member of the act. Judge Troutt tied the marriage knot. Several out-of-town theatres that heretofore have been pressed into service as arenas for boxing con- tests. In towns not boasting athletic arenas of suitable aeating capacity to make, such events profttible, have begun tightening Up against ttae boxing contests. The managements take the stand the conversion of their theatres into temporary fistic arenas tends to lower rather than enhance the popularity of the amusement place. A benefit recently arranged by the Elks of Boonton, N. J., which was to have been made up exclusively of boxing contests, had tied up with a local theatre. Last week the Elks were notified the bouts would have to be held elsewhere. For a time mid-week boxing con- tests and smokers staged at small- town theatres brought additional revenue to the theatre manager, who generally was receptive to the propositions. Now there seems to be a general aversion by the theatre men, who claim that whenever such an affair Is booked In it takes sev- eral weeks for them to recover lost patronage. 'KAMES" ARE EASe THAN PUY MATERIAL So Says Agent, with Seceral "Names" for Vaude- ville Zena Keefe, picture actress, re- turns to vaudeville next week as a singing and dancing single under the direction of William Shilling. She opens Monday for Keith. Shilling has several other picture and 4eglt "names" readying for the two-a-day. Montague Lrove, now in "The Schemers," expects to open June It in a dramatic sketch. Flora Finch opens for Keith about June 1 in an act by James Stanley Royce. Gaston Glass Is also in line to open in June in a sketch. So is Saacha Jacobson, violinist, who recently played the Hippodrome and has now been offered a regular route. Shill- ing has a long list of others with whom he is negotir.ti. ^ for vaude- ville appearances. Shilling declares that he bak little trouble getting all the "names" he wants to consider vaudeville, but the real difficulty lies In obtaining suit- able material and vehicles for them. He is at present agentlng in associa- tion with Harry Burton. DAVE SEED SERVED Alleging non-support, Dave Seed (Seed and Austin) was served with papers in an action for separation Instituted by his wife, Saturday. Mrs. Seed appeared with her hus- band in vaudeville for some time prior to the present season. MASSAGUEB KAKRTKD Conrado Massaguer, the Cuban caricaturist, has been married to a Havana belle and is on his way here for the honeymoon. Though an artist, Massaguer is wealthy. De Recat and Bostick Separate Los Angeles, May >. Emile De Recat and B. C. Bos- tick, who produced "Smiles of 1924," have severed their jMirtner- shlp connections. Bostick is now making b\i head- quarters in Hollywood, while De Recat has made no arrangements for the future. Write to Sick, or Call The following performers are at present confined at the ad- dresses given and, during their illness, would like to receive a visit or letter from friends, to let them know they are not forgotten: Patay Doyle, French Hos- pital, West Thlrty-fourUi street. New York City; Frank Morrell, Bellevue Hospital, New York City; Harry QiAaly ("Rain") Metropolitan Hos- pital, Welfare Island, New York; Connie C'Donnell, Flts- simmons Hospital, Denver; Canton, Ohio. CHICAGOANS BANKRUPT Equity Insisted on Immediate Set- tlement From Mack & Berger Chicago, May 6. Mack & Berger who lost $6,607 on Instruction when the Gypsyland Cabaret on the South Side blew up and everybody left hanging in the air. The producers called the com- pany together and laid down a sys- tem of Installments which would protect them from final loss. The players agreed to this agree- ment, but Instead turned the affair over to Equity. Mack and Berger explained they had lost all their money In the Gypsyland affair and at this time could not meet debts. Equity officials would listen to noth- ing but immediate settlement. To secure other creditors. Mack & Berger filed a petition and Issued the following schedule: William Trumbull, Los An- geles $4,000.00 Stanley Mfg. Co., Dayton, Ohio 21.00 Billy Moore 206.00 Thelma Holmes 62.40 Leone Mondock , 90.00 Grace Manlove 226.00 lone Stoneman 90.00 Myrlam Rey , 105.00 Dorothy Lee 105.00 Florence Hastings 90.00 Marie Mantelle 90.00 Jack Brent, Lillian Brent, lolnt account 240.00 Peggy Fisher 105.00 EllorencQ Bockous 225.00 Stella Conn 150.00 Marlon Brown 90.00 Frank Reynolds 40.00 A. M. ZInn 144.26 Rapid Printers Co 61.00 John Ryan 76.00 Elenor Williams 100.00 Rene Rayne 76.00 Blllle Gerber 90.00 Goldie . Morey 30.00 Gertie Edwards 30.00 Ethel Robbins 30.00 Lorette Otte ^ 30.00 Annette Stellman 30.00 Betty Marcus SO.00 LaPetra Boshea 30.00 Shirley Maxon 80.00 Pelt« & Carson (Scenic) ... 60.00 Ernie Young 800.00 P. E. Paoli (Scenic) 150.00 Anthony Verchetto 80.00 Total $5,607.66 N. J. House Burns The Alva, Belleville, N J., owned by Sam Suckman, was burned down May S, It was dark at the time of the Are. The Alva was an Independent vaudeville house booked by Fally Meirkua, What Is considered the passing of the neighborhood big time houses is the announcement from the Keith Circuit that beginning Monday (May 12) the Alhambra in Harlem and Royal in the Bronx, wiU become split week policy houses playlns six acts and a feature picture three a day booked by Mark Murphy. The policy, according to report, will reopen both houses next aeaaon after the usual summer closing and will leave the Riverside, Bushwlck and Orpheum, Brooklyn, as the three remaining big time neighbor- hood houses to survive in Greater New York. The Orpheum, Brooklyn, wUI be replaced as a big timer when the new Albee is completed, the Or- pheum reverting to small time or spllt.iweek iwlicy. Both the Alhambra and Royal have been forced to policy changing through economic conditions affect- ing the neighborhoods in which they are located and Increasing oompetl- tion from combination vaudeville and picture hovses at lower sdmla- sion scales. The Royal had opposition from Keith's, Fordham, Moss', Franklin. Loew's, Bumslde and the independ- ently booked WilUs, aU playing vaudeville and picture* and all larga capacity house*. The Alhambra, of nnall capacity, has seen the changing of Harlem and the spread of the black belt, also feU the around-the-comer pressure of lA>ew's Victoria and a number ot straight picture houses on 12(th street. Blark Murphy wiU relieve I. R. Samuels in the bookings ot th* Royal and Alhambra with tb* change of policy. Next sens-on the two houses may adopt the present policy of the tlst street, known as the "Hippodrome" policy through Its similarity to the methods of presentation adopted at the Hippodromel The number of acts and the necessary reduction in prices will be maintained, however. BAKERS SEPARATDTO Vivian Vernon has filed suit for separation against Phil Baker. The latter, through his attorneys. Kend- ler & Goldstein, will allege undue friendship on Miss Vernon's part with Brooke Johns, Walter Catlett and Alex Gray, all In the "Follies" at the time of the alleged happen- ings. Friends of Baker claim he did the "walking out," after discover- ing letters which implicated six men. Including the three mentioned. The Bakers were married about a year ago, after a whirlwind court-* ship. Miss Vernon was In the "Fol- n lies" at the time and accompanied Baker to Europe, where he fulfilled vaudeville engagements. SLACKS DnrOBCEO Cincinnati, May •. William Slack, formerly named Szlack, a songwriter, of Norwood, Ohio, has obtained a divorce from Clara Patton Slack, of New York, on grounds of gross neglect Slack says his wife aspired to be- come a chorus girl and twice left him. He took her back both times, he said, the first time because of their child. TERKES' BAND AT STATE Yerkes' Flotilla Orchestra has been booked for one week at the State, New York, by J. H. Lubtn of the Loew circuit The musicians have been playing the Keith circuit all season. Irving Yates arranged the Loew time, which takes place next week. BETURNED FROM AUSTRALIA San Francisco, May (. Among the arrivals her* from Australia were Ferry, the Frog Man. and Odiva and Seals with Captain Adams. Ferry opened shortly after his ar. rival at the Golden Gate theatre. Captain Adams and his act have gone to Los Angeles seeking • rout*.