Variety (July 1924)

Wednesday, July 8, 1984 VAUDEVILLE VARIETY DIO FORMALLY BARRED AND BANNED IN ANY WAY FOR CONCERT ARTISTS lat'I Musical Managers' Ass'n Take Final Action at Chicago—Gratis Radio Performance* Kick Back Anna Case Only "Exception / Thft/Natlonal Musical Managers* lAssQclatlon of the United States '(New York organization) and a ioiember of the National Concert Managers' Association, with nation- al headquarters In Washington, 1). C, under Mrs. Wllson-Gr^ene"8 Biipervision, have formally agreed not to play or book concert artists who render their services for the radio in any manner. • The national organization, in con- tention in Chi ago last week, adopt- th» same resolution after it had .en practically understood through- it the spring and winter. It was proved -n several instances 'that the talent which preceded its concert engagements with a gratis radio performance on the theory the attendant publicity would assist the gate found such assumption un- soundly founded. . The letting up of the tan for Mina Case, who sang the national anthem at the Democratic National Con- vention, Nqw York, has been the only exception to date, owing to the attendant nationwide publicity coun- ter-acting any ill effect. VEBER AND FIELDS ACT ON BIG TIME AT $3,000 ^i> ■ — Af T. Wilton Books Famous Comedians, Now Center of Serial Story CAVE-MAN STUFF Pegay Linden Handad Admirer "The Air"—Had to Call Cop Weber and Fields will rtturi/ to the Keith Circuit this sumMcr, playing several weeks ot eastern time with an Orpheum route for next season in prospect. The booking will mark the return ' of Weber and Fields to vaudeville after an absence of many years, except for the period they appeared with their own Shubert vaudeville t unit. '; - The booking was consummated by Alf T. Wilton, who was inspired to go after the famous pair after readin;? the Weber and Fields aerial by Felix Isman, now running In the Saturday Evening Post. The usual publicity at this par- ticular time, coupled with their own drawing ability, made them an unusually attractive prosi>ect for vaudeville just now. The last time they appeared on the Keith Circuit Weber and Fields received $3,000 weekly. The salary asked now is said to approximate about the same for the regular season, with a slight reduction for the summer bookings. -^ Los Angeles, July 1. Peggy Linden, dancer, and widow of Fred Goodwins, picture director, who died in England last year, and Riccardo Barbo, an architect, and member of a wealthy Italian fam- ily, were in a love battle during which the latter grabbed the dancer in such a fashion that a policeman took the couple to the Hollywood station, where she refused to make a complaint. Peggy works In a Hollywood cafe as a dancer. Barbo was an ardent Romeo. He went there every night tc watch her dance and see that no one made love to her. He would call her on the phone at all times of the day and night to profess his love. One evenli.g after she got through work Peggy started to go rome, cn'.y a few blocks from the cafe. Bar^o was at the entrance, but Peggy told him he had been "gt.ted" and should take the air. It rllcd his Roman blood. He grabbed hold of her to aid in pleading his cause. She began to scream. The cop came. After she had refused to com- plain Barbo was told by the police to leave h?r alone, that "cave-man" love was prohibited outside of the Hollywood picture studios. Barbo decided he had enough and took a solemn oath that he never wanted to see Peggy again. THREE STRANDED GIRLS SIR JOSEPH FATIGUED, BUT PANS VARIErV Becoming Famous Is Tedious Task, Says Great Performer —Using Awnings on B'way Complain of Cliff Nazarro and Bryan Dagmar OWEMN FABEAB'S S25 DASH London, July 1. Gwenn Farrar, of Blaney and Farrar, now appearing In "The Punchbowl" at the Duke of Yorks, Was summoned at Marlborough street for furious driving. She was alleged to have driven down New Bond street at 40 miles an hour with the result she crashed Into a taxi containing a doctor, who was inlacfd. Pined (25 with costs and license endorsed and suspended for three months. The episode forms the motif of • topical verse the team slnga In the revue. Three girls, Lucille De Lande, Alice Koster and Jane Francis, were stranded In Louisville by Cliff Nazarro and Bryan Dagmar, pro- ducer of the Nazarro act, accord- ing to a complaint filed with the Vaudeville Managers' Protective Association. "The girls were brought to New York City through funds advanced by the National Vaudeville Artists when informed of their plight. The girls claim they were given I.O.U.'s In lieu of salary at the end of an engagement at the Strand, Louis- ville, the week of June 13, while playing several weeks on the Pan- tages Circuit. Nazarro advanced them enough money to pay their hotel bills, but not enough for transportation back to New York or for current ex- penses, they say. A board bill at the Hotel Rochester, Rochester, N. Y., was also Ignored by Nazarro and Dagmar, according to the glrla, and, so far as they know. Is still unpaid. HELD FOB N. G. CHECKS Chicago, July 1. H. W. Schoenfeld haa been held ror the grand Jury In $5,000 ball. *t U charged he Issued worthless Checks to the princIpaU and chor- wers in the Drexel cafe show. 8AWYEE-JAEE0TT EETEAM fcm°*" Sawyer and Jac"; Jarrott, among the earliest ot the ballroom ^oancers and featured In vaudeville, nave revived their partnership for vaudeville. \. ' Kellerman'a Vaude Return Annette Gellerman. with a com- ^"y of Ave, has been booked fo. WMevlUe. ot)enlng in September. BEVEBTS TO VAUDEVILLE San Diego, Cal., J-ly 1. The Savoy, which tried out dra- matic stock for a few weeks follow- ing the loss ot its Pantages vaude- ville, has found the policy unsatis- factory and haa reverted to vaude- ville. It was understood the house was to play junior vaudeville, but all Its advertisements are plugging "big circuit vaudeville" without mention ot the Orpheum. With the Balboa, Pantages and Pickwick also presenting vaudeville. It la problematical whether the Savoy can compete In the variety field here, which seems to be over- crowded. The Savoy la playing two shows nightly, with matinees on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. "Don't talk to me," said Sir Jos- eph Glnzburg Monday while he was hogging an awning near 4(th street. "I am fatigued," commented Sir Joseph, as he tried to yawn. "This being famous is a tedious task and it's gettinglny goat," the great per- former added. "Why should I talk to you, any- way?" continued the titled actor. "What's Variety? Only a theatrical paper and I have been Informed It's not much of a theatrical paper either. "What's your circulation? How many people do you reach,? Only a few in the show business, a couple ot barber shops and some dumps In New Orleans. See how I get my dope straight? "I should waste my talk on a paper like that when I send my talk over the radio to COO.OOO people and right away 496,000 of them want to know me. "Go way, boy, I'm thinking up my radio aplel for this evening. And keep my name out of your paper—you can't use Sir Joseph Glnzburg to boost Variety—unless you want to pay me radio ratea" Sir Joseph refused to tell what he receives for talking over the radio nor would he give an ex- planation of why the other 105,000 people did not want to kno.f him. According to report. Sir Joseph is learning a new song to sing next season and i" la said to be "Ba- nanas." Sir Joseph's triple voice is admirably suited to the fruit melody, he claims, and regrets he did not know of the number before his No. 2 voice double-crossed him. During the summer weeks Sir Joseph says he may be found any day under the awnings ot Broad- way and In the evenings on any radio. "CALIFORNIA NUGGET" R. R. Engineer Farmer Baby Star in Bella Union Daya TIMBEBa'S COMEDT DBAMA Herman Tlmberg Is readying a comedy dr%ma called "Schemers," written by Dr. William I. Slrowlch. It will be tried out at Aabury Park, Sept. L San Francisco, July 1, One ot the "baby" stars of old San Francisco theatrical days, the pet ot the now extinct Bella Union theatre, was discovered last week to be Charles Klmlc, an engrlner on a Southern Pacific train. Kimic as a child was known as "Baby Kimic, the California Nug- get." For the past 28 years be has been a railroad engineer. In speaking ot his childhood act- ing, Kimic said: "San Francisco is where I started my acting career, back in '77. I first appeared at the old 'Comlque.' I was only four. One day an old grizzled miner came back stage and dubbed me 'The California Nugget,' and the name stuck." HIP'S GIBL ACT Sixteen ot the S2 girls who have been at the Hippodrome all season have been merged into a vaudeville act by the Keith ofllce. Augmented by a few singers and dancers, the offering will play about six weeks in the big-time houses now open. The contribution Is now in re- hearsal under the direction of Al- lan K. Foster, is to start its first engagement next Monday. A. A H.'S 8 WEEKS IN CALIF. Los Angeles, July 1. Ackcrman A Harris vaudeville opened In the Savoy, San Diego, last week. The Savoy will play a full week, and with the addition of Long Beach, which plays five acts on a split week, A. & H. now have around eight weekfl In Southern California. FRANK SKINNER Pianist and Arranger with ACE BRIQODE and His 14 VIRGINIANS At Monte Carlo, New York Mr. Skinner first came to atten- tion when he turned out some sterling arrangements for Isham Jones. He was last In vaudeville before Ace Brlgode signed him as chief of the arranging staff for his 14 VIRCINIANS at the Monte Carlo, 6lst Street and Broadway, New York City. Mr. Skinner is also a composer of note, his "Egypt" being a current "plug" and fox trot feature every- where. KEITH PLAN FOR SIFTING NEW ACTS ANNOUNCED GEO. SIDNEY BEFORE ASKING HIM 'T & P" Will Not Go on in Los Angeles — G^o. Sidney Couldn't Accept \ Los Angeles, June 28. Alexander Carr and George Sid- ney will not appear in "Potash and Perlmutter" to succeed Pauline Fredericks, who closes In "Spring" Cleaning" Saturday. The house had advertised in Its program that the "P. & P." attrac- tion would be the next. It neglected Sidney on the proposition. When Carr was approached some time ago he said it would be favorable to him If Sidney was willing. The first Intelligence Sidney had was in the program of the theatre an- ncuncing his appearance. Sidney was amused at the advertisement, figuring that It might help the pic- ture which Is now being made through enlightening the public that he has entered the silent drama field. He also stated that should an offer be made him at this time h* would not t>e able to entertain It for another five or six weeks, until his picture work is completed, as he does not care to work at two Jobs at the same time. Instead of "Potash and Pearl- mutter" the management has an- nounced It will produce "The Whole Town's Talking," with the cast re- cruited locally. Consider Special Department to Handle Vaudeville Aspirants With so many amateurs and IIU advised people desiring to enter vaudeville, the Keith office Is con* sldering the establishment of a spe- cial department to look after acts of unknown quantity and reputa- tion before they even receive a morning showing at the Palace. Much of the material has been ot such a negligible character that considerable time has been wasted in the attempt to select something that has a chance to develop Into a good asset tor the circuit. Out ot the'* thousands ot acts shown less than 6 per cent, manage to pass even the try-out stage. This is chiefly due to the fact that those submitted are either more or less worthless, crudely presented and cftered In such a manner at' to de- stroy whatever possibilities they might possess. It Is understood that before an act can be shown at .on* of tbosa morning try-outs, the contribution will have to go through the proc« ess of inspection at an out-of-the- way bouse for a brief showliic with one ot the Keith bookers clvinc It the once over and okay. Unless this is done the act will b« passed up entirely. There have been Instances where beguiled and misinformed people have been gypped by Independent agenta and parasites, who. attar attendlnir some family function, have gone so far as to Imprsas tha belief that with a drop and a few props the aspirants wilt have no trcuble in earninc larga salaries from the Jump. Thus Inspired they go headlong into the undertakini; only to realise after they have re- ceived the showing that they have been duped and disillusioned. JEWISH GUILD'S MXETIHOS Meetings of the Jewish Theatrical Guild have' been called off during July, but are expected to resume in August There is to be no meet- ing until further notice. Among the recent members Join- ing the Guild is Mrs. Barney Ber- nard as a life member. Other recent active and lay mem- bers are Attorney-General Carl Sherman, Judges Levlne and Hart- man, Sophie Tucker, Lou Tellegen, Dr. Max Thorex, Alfred E. Aarons, Samson Frledlander, Eugene and Willie Howard, Ota Oygt, Lou Holtz, Felix Isman, Klein Brothers, Max Marcin, Edgar Allen 'Woolf. Marx Brothers, Jack Osterman, Joe Laurie, Jr., Al Herman. Lou Hearn, George Jessell, Julius, Jay and Isa- dora Witmark and Sam Kabl. WALKEB-HACKETT SKETCH Charlotte Walker and Norman Hickett have been placed in vaude- ville by C. M. and Evelyn Blanch- ard and will open at the Palace July 28 In a sketch by Roy Brlant entitled "Two Kisses." HOKUM AND LOW COMEDY TURNS HAVE CALL FOR NEXT SEASON Big Shoes Outnumbering Tuxedo* — H<mie-Made Lyrics Not as Strong Nowadays—Hokum Stuff of Universal Appeal Hokum and low comedy acts wilt predominate next season, according to a survey ot the new vaudeville material being lined up by comedy acts. The big shoes will once again outnumber the tuxedos and the "re- fined" comedy turns may be greatly in the minority. The low comedy acts came into their own last season, given spots and important consideration by all ot the bookers. That type of act was found to have a unlvei*flal ap- peal, going equally as well when playing a small time house and when In a two-a-day stand. The craae started with Gallngher and Shean's unusual success, mo.stly attributed to a specia'. cojnedy song written by Bryan Foy, which was In the nature of a revival with topical lyrics. After that a flock ot two-men comedy acts Immediately followed with special comedy songs, with topical verges and "nut" choruses. Kccentric make-up and big shoes wont hand in glove with the outfit. This t/pe ot act seemi to hav»~ no trouble securing consecutive bookiDKs. According to the book- ing ii)en there are^ ,bu* few w^^terp turning out special songs for th#* stage nowadays which eliminates the acts that try to get by Witk^ home-made lyrics or parodies, Ieav<ij Ing the field for the survivors whtt^ are properly ec^ulpped by regular' authors. \. - , ,•: