Variety (June 1924)

VARIETY BURLESQUE *i-»*«^V->'S'' Wednetday, June 4,19M MUTUAL WHEEL'S ANNUAL MEETING OFFERS PREMIUMS 34 Weeks and Houses Announced—Four More to Be Added—Increase of Terms Through Percentage ^Wheel Capitol Up to $100,000 The Mutual circuit meetings of Btockholders and directors held yes- terday (Tuesday) afternoon at the Mutual'a headquarters in the Navex Building was followed by the official announcement the circuit had raised ita capitalisation from $35,000 to $100,000, the Increased stock being Immediately subscribed for. The same officers and board of di- rectors were elected renaming I. H. Herk, president; Sam Mannheim, first vice-president; R. O. Tunnison, second vice-president; E. Thos. Beatty, secretary; Charles Franklin, treasurer; Cave Kraus, chairman of the executive board. A fund of $30,000 or more will be subscribed to be divided among the 10 Mutual shows attaining the largest season grosses. The fund will b« obtained through each house agreeing to subscribe $2S a week during the season. The money will be divided $6,000 to the leading at- traction graduating down to $1,000 for the lowest of the first ten. The number of attractions eligible to share In the fund may be in- creased to 16 before next season. The list of houses and cities on the Mutual Circuit was announced as 34 weeks with four more weeks to be added as soon as current nego- tiations are completed. The acquisi- tion of several last season Columbia burlesque stands appear upon the list of towns and houses. The announcement of the fund to be distributed among the ten lead- ing shows made the producers Jubilant. They regarded it as In the nature of Increased terms for them. Last week the Mutual announced it had increased the sharing terms for the attractions several hundred weekly with a percentage increase above a certain gross in addition. The list of cities and houses al- ready set for the Mutual for next season follows: New York, Olympic; Brooklyn, Star; Newark, Lyric; Perth Amboy, Long Branch and Trenton; Phila- delphia, Gayety; Baltimore; Wash- ington, Mutual, formerly Cosmos: Penn Circuit No. 2—Pittsburgh, Lyceum; Cleveland, Empire; Cin- cinnati, Elmpress; Louisville, Gay- ety; Indianapolis, Broadway; East St. Louis; St. Louis, Garrlck; Kan- sas City, Empress; Des Moines, Iowa; Minneapolis, Palace; St. Paul, Empress; Milwaukee, Empres!*; Chi- cago, Michigan; Detroit, Shubert Michigan; Toronto, Strand; Buffalo, fJarden; Rochester, Corinthian; El- mira, Blnghamton and Schenectady; Scranton, Majestic; Wilkes-Barre, Nesblt; Penn Circuit No. 1—Phlla- helphla. Trocadero, Hoboken, Em- pire; New York, Prospect; Brooklyn, Gayety; Boston, Howard. MANY SAILINGS TODAY FOR ALL OVER EUROPE Crowd Leaving on "Berfen- garia"—Carmel Myers and Picture Party Carmel Myers sails today (Wed- nesday) on the Bercngarla, accom- panied by her mother, Mrs. Anna Myers, and several picture actoiv and actresses, to fulfill a German producing contract. The German film company, emulating their Americcin confreres who have gone abroad and brought back screen notables like Pola Negrri, Victor Seastrom, Ernst Lubltscb and others, sent Ernest Wolf, Heimuth Ooeze, Paul Ebner and Edward Burns, direc- tors of the company, over here to sign several American screen stars. The directors are accompanying Miss Myers back. Julanne John- stone and her mother, Mrs. A. Red- ford Johnstone, are in the same en- tourage. Other Hollywood peof)le are to follow shortly. The first production will be a fllmizatlon of Dr. Wolfe's "Gar- ragan." Following this. Miss Myers goes to Rome to play the Egyptian siren role in "ilea Hur," which Metro-Goldwyn is filming. She will return to Germany to m.ake a series of flhns which will be produced with an eye to the Amcriciin market. Other theatrical- notables sailing on the Bereng-iria include Jesse Lasky and wife, Mrs. Margaret Tal- madge (the mother), John ESmer- son, Anita L/Ooa and Edna Ferl)er, authoress, accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Julia Kerber. Jeanne Eagles Ih going to Berlin to see "Rain" produced abroad by Max Relnhardt. Max Gabel and his wife, Jennie Goldstein, Jewish the- atrical stars, arc going abroad to star in "The Great Moment," Ga- bel's biggest sucresH, in a tour of London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, War- saw and Lemburg. Ann Nichols will head a theatri- cal contingent to see off Miss B. F. Wilson, who win do a travel series for an American Vewspj-per syndi- cate. Mnhnl's 10 New Stands On Ned Season's Rente Th« Muttial borlesqae wheel'* r«o«nt addition* to Ita circuit for next aeaaon, by tbMttrM »nd cities, are: Bhubert-Hlchlgan, Detroit (seating 1,200). lowan (former Orpbeum), Dea Moinea (1,600). Lyceum, Pittsburgh (2,600). Counos, Washington (1,000). Also tb* Mutual shows will play In a Finklestein A Ruben theatre in both St Paul and Minneapolis, and will fill In a split week between Elmira, Blnghamton and Schenectady, N. Y. The Bmpress, Kansas City, to b« added to the circuit next season already has been an- nounced, also the Prospect in the Bronx. New York City. With the additions to the cir- cuit's theatres it Is said at the Mutual's New York offices the wheel has at present lined up for next season $4 weeks, and Is In negotiation for a couple of more theatres. TASEEB HOT A "SPEC" Billy Tasker, T>urlesque manager, arrested last week at Broadway and 47th street as a ticket speculator, was discharged In West Side court when the case came up for a hear- ing. Taskar, the testimony showed, had bought tickets for "Let's Go," at the Columbia, and was distributing them among friends, when the de- tectives, thinking him a "spec," took him into custody. COLUIIBIA'S CHANQES Splits Bacoms Waaka—Soma Hoinaa Will B* Dropped The Grand, Worcester, Mass, will be a full week next season on the Columbia Circuit. lAst season the house split with the Hyperion, New Haven, which Is being razed. ' Syracuse and Utloa will be a apllt week stand on the Columbia next season doing away with the three New York State one-night stands (Auburn, Blnghamton and Elmira). Albany will also revert to a full week stand at the Harmonus Bleeck- er Hall, which will drop Schenec- tady from the circuit. The Yorkvllle, New York City, will in ail probability be dropped, although it hasn't been officially an- nounced. The Columbia producers have requested the house be dropped. The Columbia is negotiating for a house in Des Moines to play four days to eliminate the week lay off of last season between Omaha and Chicago. $11,700 AT COLUMBIA "Lets (So," Fred Clarke's summer run Columbia burlesque show grossed $11,700 last week at the' Co- lum'bla. BUBLESaUE ENGAGEMENTS Placed for next season by Lewis Redelshelmer. Rhoda Freed, Charles Bergcr. "GeV Hot." Ida Blanchard, Ingenue, "Merry Rounders." Joe Moss, Sldman & Fay's revue. Billy Wilde. Ed G. and Helen Jackson, "Midnight Frolics." Pep Bedford, Ed Griffin, Frank McKay, "Kuddling Kiddies." Al Watson, "Make It Peppy." Phil W. Peters. "Whlx Bang Babies." Austin and McPherson, "Bobbed Haired Bandits." Cap and Bells, dramatic society of Williams College, will give three one-act plays. The pieces are "The Boor," by TchekofT; "In the Zone," by G'Neil. and "Identified." by Ar- nold Bembards, a Junior at the col- lege. COLUMBIA MEETING The officers and directors of the Columbia Amusement Company will meet tomorrow, when the franchises for next season will he distributed. It ifl rumored that "Beef Trust" Billy Watson and Henry Dixon's at- tractions will not be renewed. BUBLESaUE CHANGES The three Jacoba & Jermon Co- lumbia Burlesque shows have Ben Harris ("Queens of Paris"), Ira Miller ("John Barry's Stop-Go") and James P\ilton ("Golden Crook") fis managers. George Elmore, best remembered of late as the house manager of Poll's, Bridgepoit, Conn., has been appointed the house manager of tlie Columbia's Kansas City house. Gaiety. Barney Kelly, who nLinaged Miner's in the Bronx this past sea- son, is not returning to that hou.sc in the fall. Just who w;il get the house hasn't been determined at i^yUj^tlme. Hari'^ Ti.sl lins closed his season as exploitation man for the Mutu.il burlesque IntercFts in Phlladelplii.T, and win report at Indianapolis, where he will have charge next sea- son of the Columbia burlCHque the- atre. Capital. Chas. F. Edwards will nirinage "Broadwny ?jy Niglif on ,t^ip j.>:^; \iiuihiit, next seaitun. JANE GREEN STOCK BURLESQUE COS. NOT DOING SO WELL Losing Grip At Several Points —Must Jack Up or Quit According to reports stock bur- lesque is losing its grip In several out of town houses whioh have booked In. the policy for the sum- mer. Several figured as good burlesque towns have not rallied to the resi- dent company idea and are doing their theatre shopping elsewhere, preferring to hold their patronage In abeyance for the regular wheel shows. Small towns, generally figured as a cinch for this type of entertain- ment has fooled more than one pro- ducer this season. Most of the shows have been operating at a summer schedule of prices and con- sequently have a limited amount of money to spend on players and pro- duction equipment. Promoters of the projects figured that the cut rate gate fee would put the com- panies over but if reports are cor- rect the showmen guessed wrong. House owners who also suc- cumbed to the Idea of the additional revenue are not as sanguine as they were, many of them figuring that the mediocrity of th^ stock shows may hurt the standing of the houses in regular season. Representatives of both burlesque wheels have been watching these outlaw "turkeys," also their affect upon local patronage. In some quarters it has been hinted that unless the house managers persuade the present tenants to produce shows that will not deteriorate the value of the houses the latter may be dropped from the respective wheels. All of which means that the stock shows will either have to be jacked up or taken out. MBS. SIDNEY GABBISON DEAD Wichita, Kan., June S. Mrs. Sidney Garrison is dead In a hospital here from tuberculosis. She was the wife of Sidney Garrison, with "Oh, Peachy," at Little Rock, Ark., and arrived here last Sunday and died the next day. Mrs. Garrison came here to leave her three-year-old son, Sidney, Jr., with Anice Duberry (Mrs. James Hollis), ingenue with the "Honey Bunch" musical tab at the local Or- pheum for the summer. ' Until recently Mrs. Garrison had been a member of the "Oh, Peachy" company. BIFE'S NEW SHOW George Rife will operate a Colum- bia show next season which will be called "Take a Look." Rife's new production will replace Beeftrust Billy Watson's show operated upon Rife's franchise on a leasing arrangement. Harry C. Dlehl will be manager of "Take a Look." Thf TTlliRlr.Tl prmrrt.v fnvorlte In a cycle of gloom-banishing songs. Initial vniiili-viilp engagement at B. F. Keith's Riverside, New York, th R week (Jimo V), after playing the past few seasons in the productions of tlic McKsrs. ZitKfclil and Dillingham. Miss Green i-i .in exclusive Victor Record artist, booked to appear In conjunction with l.«l'.i:ni Joneis' Band for two weeks at the Orpheum, Han Fiancisco, <ininKncing June 15; follows a week at Oakland, two at the Orpheum, Los An',-rlcH. and one at the Hill Street, Lios Angeles. ARTHUR FRANKLIN at th* Piano I >"' !i ■'Va«dcvillc Bookings arranged by .HARRV WBBER : t ■■ Personal Management LOUIS 8HURR Charles Arnold Dies Cincinnati, June 3. Charles Arnold, well-known poli- tician and associate of Rud K. Hynlcka, Columbia Burlesque official and producer, died here last week at the age of 64. Mr. Arnold has held public office for a number of years. He was a political and buslne«e assocla/te of Hynicka, being flnanclally Interest- ed ^D sevei^ of ^ynlcka's ColvTO'bla Cii cuil Iiaachlses and sbtf^i ' ' ' 'JOUTJESIEBS'HUNGRi; AND NO SATISFACnONi Burlesque Co. of 21 Had $800 Due in Back Salaries- Producer Arrested San Francisco, Juno 3. "The JoHy Jesters," a burlesque troupe recently appearing at the local Casino, took .their "jesting". I Into the police courts here by caus- ing the arrest of John J. Hill, pro- ducer of the show, on charges of failure to pay salaries. Twenty, one members of the comp-iny ap^ j peared as compkilnants. They al- | leged Hill owed them a total ot (800 In back salaries. When the case -..-as called befora ' Police Judge Golden a crowded cal- endar caused him to i ostpone the hearings. This didn't meet with the satisfaction of 16 of the chorus girl complainants, led by Zbne O'Day. The girls started muttering and chattering and refused to heel the admonitions of their attorney for i quiet. The girls announced that i they were without money to buy food and "■^* n postponement v.oull work unneeess.nry hardship' on them. A bailiff had to be called to "Shoo* the chorines out of the court. i' "LET'S GO" MUST GO j Columbia's Hit Shov,/ Forced Out June 21 by "Hollywood rollies" Hurtig and Se.imon's "Hollywood Follies" will open at the Columbia, New York. Jure 23 following "Let's Go." Hurtig and Seamon alleged they held conlract.s calling for summer bookings at the Columbia beginning June 23, but this was subsequently i denied by the Columbia Amusement] .officials. At the close of the regular Cclum- bla burlesque season it was reported. that "Hollywood Follies" \vouUl be the summer run attraction at the Columbia. When "Let's Go" won the distinction from several com- petitors the H. and S. firm an- nounced their attraction would fol- low Clarke's show in after several weeks regardless of the box office success of "Let's Go." At the Columbia headquarters. Monday It was said the matter would be straightened out at the annual meeting of the Columbia stockhoHers and dlrectoM scheduled for Thursday of this week. The an^ nouncement of the confirmed book- ing came yesterday (Tuesday). .J NEW TITLES In Use on Columbia Wheel Next Season . i Several new titles will be used llf * Columbia producers next season. Bob Travers and William Brandell will call their attraction "Best ShoW In Town," a title used by the lat< Bluoh Cooper. Jacobs & Jermon'e three wiU be titled John Barry's "Stop Go"; Billy Arlington's "Golden Crook"; ^ and "Queens of Paris." j Barney Gerard in addition io4 operating and producing "Follies of; the Day" for the Miner Estate will have his own franchise and call hie show Barney Gerard's New Show. BUELESQUE CLUB ELECTION 1 The annual meeting of the Colum- bia Burlesque Producers was held Monday at the Burlesque Club. The acting officers and board of directors was re-elected as follows: Tom Miner, president; Dave Marion, vice-president; Borney Gerard, secretary-treasurer. Board of directors, Henry C. Jacobs; Wm. S. Campbell; Bobby Clark; George Dresselhouse; Mau- rice Cain. Harry Hastings. AL EAYMO'S COME BACK Al Raymo, wop comic who retired from burlesque several years ag* to open a cabaret in Greenwich Village, is planning a comeback for vaudeville In a new two-act In which he will be assisted by Ba- bette Busey. Raymo will still retain hie Inter-^ est in the cabaret. Strand, Newark, Reopening Newark, June 8. The Strand, which cJosed lairt week with hurle«que stock, will re- open next week with the picture of •tbc Bavariai? Yifc^ion' Hay. "»^ " ^'