Variety (June 1924)

10 VARIETY VAUD£V1LL1L d^viwa w Widneidar, Jane 4, MM ElSffi JANIS CANT DECIDE ON HUSBAND Blames It on Absence of Mind—All "JMst Good Pals" liondon, June 8. •TPhey are all JuBt good pals," teld Elsie Janls, answering a ques- tion whether any of the reports of her forthcoming marriage had been correct. Among those mentioned was Jack Buchanan, lately In New York In Chariot's Revue. Iflss Janls Is now in London, to open her own show called "KIsle Janls at Home" June • at the Queens. "I have other good pals, too, among the boys," added Miss Janls, referring to the question. Asked If there was any reason why she could not reach a conclu- sion about a husband from amongst her many admirers. Miss Janis an- swered: *? ]uat can't make up my mind; and, honest. I believe I haven't any mind." GUILD SESaON (Continued from page 3) brought in the entire gathering. Many in the audience clamored for recognition from the chair. The de- bate continued until 2.30, when the chairman announced an adjourn- ment, stating the motion would Le again taken up at the next mooting. The session had started at 11.30. The concensus of expression indi - cated a vasti/ favorable leaning toward the admission of women and the many ladies present applauied each time an allusion to that effect was nttcred. The debate f<eemed to center upon the status of the women-members In the several ways It could be viewed from the actucl wording of the motion. It had not been anticipated an argument of the kind would be gone into, and It progressed some dis- tance before the late hour forced the adjournment The high Interest, however, was apparent It was especially noticed how solidly the assemblage remained until the final minute. Up to three o'clock many little groups remained in the auditorium, discussing the several angles the discussion had taken. Anot'her open meeting for men and women of the Guild will be held tomorrow (Thursday) night at the Bijou (West 4Gth street) at 11:30. Poli's Theatre Vake Washington, June t. The assessed valuation of Poll's theatre building here Is $250,000, without the Oovern- ment-owned land Included. The valuation ki extremely low say Treasury experts, since the structure cost $308,- 838. in 1910 and had $300,000 in improvements spent on It, according to the estimate, in 1922. An asseseor could not place a valuation on the ground as the Qovemment owns the en- tire block of which the Poll site is a part. The block covers 77,841 square feet. One of the largest real estate firms here istated it could not estimate what the rental value of Poll's might be to any In- dividual, but said business property In as prominent a location as Poll's is worth $100 a square foot annually. A de- partment etore or office build- ing on the site might be of slightly more value than a theatre. The Treasury estimates that Poll's approximately occupies 18,200 square feet. $40,000,000 OFFER (Continued from Page 3) Wembley authorities eaid "no" and have issued a statement saying the whole thing is a myth, and there was never any likelihood of the deal going through. Other Wembley news is to the effect that there is a great possi- bility of a strike of workers brought about by the bad pay and con- ditions under which waitresses are existing. Lyons, who not only holds the monopoly at Wembley for re- freshments but several so-called good hotels In the West End, and a big percentage of the cheap tea- shops, refrained from having an ofllcial representative at a meeting called to discuss the matter. Rudyard Kipling has withdrawn his literary work from the pageant section of the exhibition, which is not due to open for sevon weeks, saying he has not the time for the recasting and revision work nec- essary. He was responsible for "The Bridge of Empire," and other parts of the big pageant. E^ach of the Colonies and Dominions was to supply a stone in the bridge for which Kipling had written "The Song of the Bridge." Despite the withdrawal of his services he has granted permission for the use of I>ortlons of the poem. The general pageant scenes have been written by various writers, and will be ulti- mately produced under the direction pf Frank Lascelles. POLFS RENTAL (Continued frcm page 1) largest and most desirable theatres outside of the very biggest cities. Poll's weekly gross averages around $18,000, equal to any Broad- way house, and it has frequently reached as high as $24,000 a week in receipts. Yet the Government nets but $5,000 a year from It. According to the chief clerk of the U. S. Treasury, P. B. Chase, and 8. Z. Poll, who holds the property, should pay $20,000 annually. But a "moral obligation" says the chief clerk on the part of the Oovern- ntent obliges a refund of $15,000 a year to .reimburse Messrs. Chaae and Poll for $300,000 expended in repairs on Poll's following the Knickerbocker theatre disaster of two years ago. Accordingly, says the chief clerk. It will roqulro tba Oovemment to oontlnuo to permit Poll's to operate as a theatre for 30 years with two years exhausted of the term, beforo Chase and Poll will have received the fuU $800,000. MeanwhUe the tenants will pay tho Government $S,000 actual rent for the theatre for 12 months every year. Poll's is reported to be really in the possession of the Shuberts, who have their own house manager di- recting the theatre and their own attractions playing the house. What the Shuberts may be paying for the theatre or what terms they may have with Chase and Poll, or either, have not become public. When the remodeling was decided upon through regulations of the district commissioners following the Knickerbocker theatre collapse, the Government had no appropriation for the work. The tenants offered to assume the cost with the Gov- ernment reimbursing them. The first estimate for the re- modeling was $80,000. After the work had been completed the state- ment showed $300,000 had been spent. It is said this statement of $300,000 for which the Government would be obligated was accepted without question, and still stands. It was recently stated In Congress that the Government 13 paying $600,000 annually for rent of offices In this city. Authorities have said the Government should take over some of the property it controls for adaptation to office purposes and Poll's site often has been men- tioned. There is no better local lo- cation for a huge office building that would save the Government hundreds of thousands in rent. There are theatres on Broadway that can't hold $24,000 gross weekly renting for $6,000 a week. Those theatres are also owned by the Shu- berts. The Shuberts in New York have side street theatres of smaller capacity they ask a rental of $4,000 or $6,000 a week. The chief clerk is of the opinion that Chase holds Poll's for the full period that the yearly rebates will be payable. A report on construc- tion of public buildings in the Dis- trict of Columbia called attention to the present office housing condition the Government la suffering under, and recommended that GOTBminMit- owned property tM •onverted for oflloo apae*. It has brought a gnoM whetbar PoU'a alt* would b« In- oluded. It would accommodate a •paolous offloe buUdlnc of any aiae with an outlook otw tb« White House. P. B. Chase is from Sparta, Ohio, and has held the house for years, first playing Keith's vaudeville In it. His daughter married the late B. F. Keith, and was the vaude- ville owner's second wife. She sur- vives him. S. Z. Poll is the New England vaudeville circuit proprietor, rated a millionaire many times over, and of political influence. Through Poll's assoclatio. with the B. F. Keith's booking office for vaude- ville it is said Poll was unable to operate with vaudeville in Wash- ington, owing to Keith's own big time theatre here playing that policy, hence Poll's arrangement with the Shuberts for legitimate bookings. Poll's seats over 2,000 people. There is no parallel amongst the theatres of the world for a house of its size in a prominent location for a city like Washington, to pay a net rental of but $5,00' yearly. LEON DE COSTA'S DEBTS In Bankruptcy, Owing $18,168— Backed "Page Miss Venus" TURNS DOWN SUGGESTION (Continued from Page 4) singing a song to get his breath, dancing some more. Mike claims that Variety was right when It printed he ia a fair and honest performer. In proof Mike has a post-card from a board- ing house landlady that has written on it a recommendation for Mike, saying anyone can take him In any- where without fear—^he's jterfect. It was suggested to Variety by a friend of Mike that since he is so well known in the business a fund be started to help him over any tough spots. That miggestion was conveyed to Mike in a delicate fashion and Mike was not ofCended by It; only he stated as above. Mike points to his feet with great pride. Saturday his shoes looked new. Mike says those feet have never failed him, that he has been the hit of ?very bill be baa played during the season. The poem he wrote and wihicb was published in Variety, said Mike, made blm over 3,000 friends. Mike is now at work on his next poem, to be pubUshed In 1925. "L. BrittOD" may be Leon Britton who crossed to the other side with Tex Austin, in connection with the British Rodeo at Wembley under the direction of C. B. Cochran (Eng- lish), and Austin (American). HAt. Britton's direct interest be- sides his general work for the wel- fare of the Rodeo, is his exclusive privilege to take moving pictures of the Rodeo contests at Wembley. The story from London mctioncd It. Britton as "An American Oil King." Not using his pedestals any more for the clog and dancing without a heavy make-up. Mike thinks he's not getting the break he lAiould from the managers. Maybe they don't know he's 61, adds Mike, a.id the oldest as well as the best clog dancer in two countries, America and Ireland. Mr. Scott became somewhat in- dignant when asked if he Is dancing to Jazz melodies. I'll let you know what I danc«," said Mike, as be started to hum some Irish tunes. Mike is hopeful that someone will stage a dancing contest around New York; he wanta to Miow 'em, par- ticularly one dancing team be played with 10 years ago—Mike has never forgotten those two fellows. He won't tell who they are, but he says he will meet tlhem again some day. Mr. Soott expects to spend his vacation in New York and will start out again In the fall. Mike finds his own route. Mike's address In New York hi 17th street, wHh bis room rent all set for this week. Leon De Costa, theatrical pro- ducer, author and songwriter of 253 West 42d street, New York, filed a voluntary petition In bankruptcy yesterday in the U. S. District Court listins liabilities of $18,168.71 and assets of $10,000, consisting of War Veterans' nnsurance. The financial difficulties revolve chiefly on the flop musical produc- tion of "Page Miss Venus" in 1921. Among the creditors are costum- ers, the Federation of Musicians for $1,077, dating from the show; $1,162.10 on notes due Equity; $36o for rent due Oliver p. "^alley for office space in the Republic theatre; $500 to Goodman & Rose, Inc., mu- sic publishers (since out of busi- ness also), for advance royalties; $60 to same for loan; $833.33 to Leo Feist, Inc., music publishers as ad- vance on "How Come," written in collaboration with Frank Bacon; same amount to same creditor on "The .Monkey Man"; $1,000 due Feist as advance on "Dancey," which George Lederer Is to pro- duce; M. Rosenow. 1674 Brcadway, $200 on a note. LONDONER'S SURPRISES' STRANDED, AS m Bransby Williams Going Australia—Garden Party June 24 London, May 31^ Donald Reaysman Is a youth ^ Immature years, but he has ambi- tions. With tbla idea in his head he took out a revue called "Sur- prises." The surprises were manr, but the big punch came when tba Impresario failed to come acroM with the salary list. Following this no one was r.eally' surprised when the company of !•- became stranded in the wilds ot Wales. ^ As a sequel, a comedian, BUIv Fern, brought an action to r«<i' cover $196 due to him on an 1. O.'- U. The comedian stated he was engaged at a salary of $50 a week and eventually he was given $S cash and the I. O. U. Judge Parry, himself an author of comedies full; of surprises, was compelled to giv* judgment against the comedian lim the impresario was not of agd when he set forth to gratify hln ambition. 1 KABBUGES ABBOAD Paris, June 3. The marriage of Benolt Leon Deutsch, millionaire director of the Theatre des Nouveautes, Paris, with Mile. Reglna Camler, a mem- ber of his troupe, occurred last week. The marriage Is announced of Helena Gaumont. daughter of the picture manufacturer, with Captain Marcel. "GATS" AND WOMEN London, June I. At the Savoy, for a series of spe- cial matinees, will be staged an adaptation by Michael Orme of Karen Bramson's play, "Les Fe- lines," to be known In English as "Cats." As the title Implies, the piece !« about all that Is bad in women. It is written by a woman and adapted by a woman. SABDOirS ICEIHOBT HONOBED Paris, June 8- A statue to Vlctorien Sardou was unveiled last Sunday (the centen- ary of his birth) <n the Place de la Madeleine. The monument by Bartholome represents the famous playwright seated on a bench as if watching a rehearsal, with two figures repre- senting tragedy and comedy be- hind. LONG BEACH OPENING JULY 4 Just what will be the summer policy of the Capitol, l,ong Beach, L. I., only Ben S. Moss knows and he hasn't made up his mind whether It will be straight pictures or pop vaudeville. George Holloway will get things ready for the opening, scheduled for July 4. Josef Hofmsn, 40 Years After Paris, June 3. Josef Hofmann, pianist, played at the Theatre des Champs Elysees last week, 40 years since he appeared in the French capital. He came as a prodigy when aged 12 years and has not appeared here since, until today In the Beethoven cycle con- ducted by Walter Damroscb. Bransby Williams is making his farewell appearence in London at the Coliseum prior to departing for his Australian tour. The Eccen- tric Club will give him a farewell dinner. The theatrical garden party on behalf of the Actors' Orphanage will take place at the Royal Hos- pital, Chelsea, June 24. Always th» stage function of the year, «{tort* are being made to Insure that th« forthcoming show breaks all reo-; ords, both in enjoyment and mone-, tary returns. ■.J At the eleventh hour the leri| chamberlain removed his ban on tk^ head of John the Baptist in th« StrauBs-WlIde opera, "Salome,' at Covent Garden. At firnt he haA (Continued on page 45) LONDON'S DUTCH GIANT > London, June 8. "Lofty," the Dutch giant who baa caused crowds to block the Flefl street trafflo every time he showM himself at Anderton's Hotel, H opening on the Moss time beglnnlm with Flnsbury Park. He is oref nine feet in heights, taller tbaa Machnow, who was an attraction tt the Hippodrome in 1905. GILBEBT KULEB sahs Gilbert Miller sails today on Berengarla for l«ndon to prepar* for the Frohman fall openings ta the English capital. While here he conferred wltk John Emerson and it is expected Ehnerson will adapt several of his plays. BIBDI£ MEETS FIANCEE ^| Paris, June t.' Grace Moore, of the "Music Bo« Revue," was met at Cherbourg W George Biddle, to whom she Is r*" ported engaged. t VOLTERRA MUST PAT (Continued from Page 3) his role until the last performanoi of the revue, or pay damagea But In April. 1920, Volterra Informed Pascal he was giving a second ver* slon of the revue, constituting a naw show and his engagement was cOD« sequently to be considered termi- natt. 1. The performer then sued IB Paris for damages stipulated by the contract, and was awarded 6,009 francs by the lower court On appeal, counsel for the de- fendant explained the second ver- sion of the revue was a new show except for the scenery, that the script was fresh, and the stars (Morton and Rose Amy) were re- placed by Maurice Chevalier and Mme. Mistlnguett Counsel for tba plaintiff, representing the Union of Dramatic Artists, contended it was the came show because the title had not been changed, ai.J the man- agement betrayed Itself by billing the alleged "new show" as the 140th performance of the revue. The court decided Volterra had cancelled the contract and handed down the ruling that the second edition of a revue can.ot bo con- sidered a new show, ordering the management of the Alhambra at Brussels (Belgium), wh! :i is also the Casino de Paris, to pay dam- ages stated with costs.