Variety (October 1924)

^ 'rrr-t .iffiyK».^irT»r'*;;r^.' VARIETY VAVBEVI ya^c-^t ^T^^rzvTV^NBii tmu%j'ini:ae''v^^:^T!f:m.'^u£^g^ At^^v ■■ tyc ■tf'WT-V y^-:-' Wednesday, October 1, 1924 CHARLES L BRAY RESIGNS AS GEN. MGR. OF "ASSOCIAHOr Completed Cherished Dream of Chicago-to-Coatt Cir- cuit—Now Ahout to Start Another Long^ioped For Ambition, in Retirement Alnroad Cbicsgo, Sept. SO. Charles E. Bray has resigned as the irenerai manager of the Western Vaudeville Managers' Association. His resignation la to take eSect to- morrow (Oct. 1), but he may remain in cJiarge of th« association until his successor is appointed. Up to n«w Bray's sucesasor's name is not known. The appointment, it is un- derstood, will be made by Marcus Hetman, president of the Orpheum elrcait, with which the association is closely alliffned. While Col. Bray's resignation from th« association may be a sur- prise to Taudevllle. it long has been known to his intimates the colonel has been held In the executive ranks ior the accomplishment only of his cherished dream, a Chleago-to-coast circuit operated by the association. That actalevamant has been In the Bray mind sine* the early days of his cttnilecttoa with the association. It was held by Col. Bray supreme to his long-hoped for ambition, to re- tire from active theatricals an^ spehd thy ramalnter of his life abrotid. This latter purpose is shared by Mrs. Bray. The Brays have been extensive travelers over America, th« continent and the world. They may decide to spend their indeflttite TaeCtlon in Berlin or Vienna, but the same intimataa have the idea the Brays will again pick «p tb« wanderhMt aad k«ep on moTing. Col6neI Bmy retlrsa after *'set- tirg" the Chleaco-to-«««st circuit and so thorooglily throvgh his choice of aid*4 tluit the mmw chain will mn smoothly. It aetiwlty has atarted and wQl h« In faU awlag before the end of October, expert en VaucievIHe An expert czecntive in vatideviUe. CoL Bray Itas spent his time with the Orpheum circuit and when not actually with, the Orpheum haa been with the association in Chi- cago. Always accounted among the erackerlacks of the'Orpheum staff, lie has many years of sucoessful showmanship on his record. It was generally understood on the inside when Bray agreed to re- sume and rebuild the association that his scope would include the coast circuit he had given so much thought to. at waa *l>o understood that when ttie colonel bad put tliat circuit over he would retire. Immediately he had the associa- tion back again as the live vaude- ville agency of the west, the colonel started on his oamiMign of erecting a brand new vattdaville circuit, from Chicago to the far western points. He accomplished that amaslng feat within 10 weeka, ms recounted in last week's Special Western Num- ber of Variety, dedicated to the Bray circuit and the aseoclation he dlncti. CHICAGO AGENT FOOLING ACTS WkaOffHidibAi N. Brunswick. N. J., Sept H. When vaudeville opposition was in this town tlte Opera botiae played eight acts te a p r ogram and spilt the week. At that time the State was ptay- ing Keith's vaudeville, but the State is at present playing stock. With the opening of tfie new season the Op«ra house cut its ▼audeviU* te Ave acts (or a f«U week. Tactics of Independent Exposed—Uses Wom- an Booker Chicago, Sept. 30. How a certain Independent agent here has pulled the wool over the eyes of several vaudeville artists recently to his own financial benefit is a story going the rounds. It has been his boast he controls a certain woman booking manager and that he takes her in his car to see all the acts he handles. On several occasions the agent lias informed an act tie is bi;lnglng thlf booker out to see the turn, which he succeeds In doing. Xt the theatre hte artists are introduced to the booker and then drawn aside by the agent, who tells them that in order to get the booker out to 'see them he had to promise her a .big party. The artists are then requested to help out by a contribution for the party, which never materialises after the agent leaves. As a matter of fact the woman neither smokes nor drinks and boasts of never having been in a cafe. One particular eaae was a deal made with an act booked for the Aseher Brothers' Kaglewood thea- tre (which pays regular salaries and also booka. out of the Pantoges dr- cult). The agent tSld an act If it would play this theatre for fSSO he would see the act was booked on Paatagea times. The artists, of course, were ignorant of the fact that tlie agent had previously sold their act to the theatre for tSSO, ar- ranging also to collect for them, or that the Pantages booking was a matter of course. N0N4n00N ORIHEini AT MVEM>OIIT, lA. Cohimbia Refuses Union's De- mands—No Compromise Yet Davenport. la., Sept. SO. - The Columbia Junior Orpheum house, which went on ap open-shop basis last week, when ail house at- taches were called out by their re- spective unions in a flnal effort to bring the theatre maaacwneBt to terms with the musicians' unipn. is continuing with non-union orches- tra ad stage-hands, picture opet-ator, electricians and carpenters. Uow far the unions wlU go in the fight is a matter of conjecture in theatre and labor circles here. The Orpheum heads are confident that a settlement will be reached. They claim the musicians, who got $40 last season, are demanding |5S for five extra shows a week under the new continuous policy. The union men say the international will take up the fight and pull every union employee out of every Orpheum bouse in the middle west. B. 0. SCALES TOO UGH FLYKAK DIES IH THEATBE Chicago. Sept. 30. Bill Stuart, tS, flyman at the SUte^Lake (vaudeville), died in the theatre Sept. U of hevt disease. HEW ACTS Harry Marvil and Co., in three- people farce. Betty Hale and Co., four people. Paul Burns and Co., skit. Orace Valentine and Co., four people, comedy playlet. Cortes and Peggy, dancers, with band. UFI SETT IBTO MUSICAL "Flashes of the^ Great White Way." formerly a vande nraeical. has been elaborated into a two-act legit attraction by Anton Scibilia. Its producer, and will get under way at Oswego. N. Y.. Oct. 11. Cast Includes Carl Francis, Mc- Connell and West. Helen King, Mona Mura, Bergman and McKen- na. Vera Burt and Saxy Holds- worthy's Band, also a chorus of 16 girls. Yr-*. ROAD SHOW INCAUFORNIA liOa Angeles, Sept. SO. Benjamin J. Piazza. In charge of th local Westerfi Vaudeville Man- agers' Association booking offices, announces that the first shows booked by that organisation would arflve in Southern California. OcL 18, and open in Qlendale on that late. following the shows are scheduled to play liOtm Beach. Ban Diego, Santa Ana and then number of houeea in the Los Angeles terri- lery after which they are to head tb.' northern California. EST ABD OUT Duel de KerelOarto is off the bill at Denver this week due to illness. Phillips atod Kilsworth, coast act, booked out of Chicago, filling va- cancy. Oakes and De I<our walked out •f the Palace, Chicago, l^st week, 41«satlBfled with tbr> opening posi- tioa. Broslus and Brown sub- stituted. , NOW PLAYING fjEW YORK HIPPODROME CONCOLLEANO with ZANETO The act of which the London Correspondent of VARIETY speaks as follows: — "First among the turns comes CoIIeano. an exceptionally clever wire- walker. This act Is really worthy of a big position on any program. Collean i works without pol« or parasol and • turns somersaults aiid (lances with more grace and agility than many acrobats do ut>on the floor." (Continued from page t) age. Ticket brokers found dUB- culty in selling for the expensive shows. AU of the revues priced at $4.40 during the week are 'charging 15.50 for Saturday night. Even when agency inen showed they were ask- ing but 60 cents over the box office price. proejMctlve buyers rejected the tickets. It was reported sales at tje box ofllces without the pre- mium were also affected as gen- erally in the agencies. Other indications that the oem- petttloa between expeneive offerings waia too heavy came out In the weakneea of balcony support. That was so of the "Rita RevueJ' "Qreenwleh Vlltage FoIHcs" and "Dear Sfc-." The **RKt Revue" gross was un- der $20000, getting a class draw on the lower floor. "Greenwich Village Fionies" ducked the |6.S0 scale for week-day evenings, and at $4 top drew around $2S,000, con- siderably under the opening gait. "Dear Sir," in seven performances, got about tK.MO. Capacity would be |2S,000 at the Times Square. Maxe of High Prices In the face of the public's ap- parent rejection of a maze of high prices several attractions were re- ported bringing any price in the agencies. "What Price. Glory," the dramatic sensation at the Ply- mouth, was bringing $7.70 a ticket, with the box office scale $S.30. The same figure approxjigftted the price for "Rose Marie," which, at the Imperial, is $4.40 top, and higher prekaium prices were reported. The regular scale for "Rose Marie" may be lofted ^o $6.50. Liaat week it grossed $28,500, while "Glory" reached the amaslng gross of 931,- 500. which means standee trade for all performances. Wide publicity given "Glory" be- cause of threatened police interfer- ence made the demand for the war play all the stronger. That applied somewhat to "Vanities," which also came under official obiervation. "Vanities" was do-ao until the pub- Uclty iK-eak. Through that the pace for the latter portion of the week sent the gross over 917.000. or about the same as the previous week. With the performance im- proved that revue may be ^.puUed out ef the fire. .f, . ^. - The Mew 8hev»»-; \- Of last week's flresh crop "grounds for. Divorce" looks the best. In seven performances at the Bhnplre it got nearly $14,000. "tAsybones" drew attention blit only moderate business at the Vanderbllt, with the management showing confidence and deciding to plug the drama. The first week's gross was between $6,- 000 and $0,000. "Hassan" was a distinct "bust" and will be taken off at the end of the week. "The Little Angel" drew mixed notices, opening Saturday night at the Frazee but has a chance through its risque plot. "Mlnlck" at the Booth opened in the middle of the week and got something In sub- sequent performances, though it is not rated a punch play. "Iszy." which had Its first full week last week, was fair, grossing about $8,- 000. "Conscience" picked up at the Belmont, beating $6,000; all right in a small house but it still has plenty of room for improvement. The musical leaders were affected somewhat, but the "Follies" got about $40,000, "Kid Boots" not far from $31,000, and "Scandals" under $29,000. "I'll Say She Is" beat $19,- 000, running slightly under normal since lifting the admission scale. "Marjorle" was around $14,000, and "Be Yourself was reported at $13,- 600, which Is under its stop limit. "The Chocolate Dandies" at the Colonial is principally an upper floor attraction, with the pace a bit over $9,000. "Dancing Mpthers" Holds Up "Dancing Mothers." though moved from the Booth to the Elliott, mope than held Its fine dramatic pacfe. getting between $12,500 and $13,000. "Rain" keeps Its position among the best of the non-musicals, with the gross at the Gaiety last week not far from $14,000. "High Stakes" got a little over $10,000 at the Hudson, proflUble but not big. "The Haunted House" was under $11,600 and Is making money but it is not excep- tional. "The Werewolf" again In- creased, reaching $9,000, the best figure since opening. That attrac- tion la lifting its scale to $3.30 top. starting Monday, explaining its class draw and strong cast supplies the reason. Switches and Changee A series of switches are dated tor next week. "Havoc" will move from the 19th Street to the Astor, which i fhej »u^ IV tut was slated to get "Artists and Mi els." a nubert revue that Is e dently not ready; •Izay" moves the S»th Street from the Broadhu: which will receive ""The Red Fal con." "High Stakes" will switch t the Bltinge.from the Hudson, wh will get "The Fake." Leaving this week are "Plal Jane" from the Eltlnge" "Hassan' from the Knickerbocker. It will bti dark a week and then gets "Tod Hole," now at the Fulton ("In Hm Arms" succeeds in the latter houaj Oct IS). "Stepping Stones" trowk the Globe, succeeded by "The Grab' Bag," starting next Monday; "Tl)a| Easy iMark" from the Comedy.l which will get "The Farmers' Wlfe^ "No Other OlrP stopped at Moroseo last Saturday, the boui opening Monday with "That Am Mrs. Eaton." "All God's Chilian Go^ Wings" closes tonight (W^nesday^ at the Greenwich Vinage,. whlc^ re^^ lights next week with "The Sainf^ "Cock o' the Rooet" will arrive Oct;^ 13 at the Liberty, succeeding ''The< Thief of Bagdad" film. All three premieres Monday were* panned. It was intimidated "That^ Awful Mrs. Eaton," at the Moroseo^ would not last long, and "Ashes" may'succeed Oct. 13. "The Busy.^ body." at the Bijou, and "Made for Each Other." at the 62nd SUeet,j held no promise. i Subway A "Chariot's Revue'; topped the aubJ way circuit last week, drawing ll'.'fl 600 at the Majestic, Brooklyn. "lail His Arms" got about $0,000 at th% Broad Street. Newark; "The KerH voua Wreck" was a winner at thtf Rlveria, with nearly $14,600 in. j Beroains One Behind Buys ^ Last week the score as betweem the premium agencies and the bar^ gain counter stood at 20 to 19, with the bargains leading. . The passing, of several attractions Saturday] chaifged the aapect of things to thei extent that now the buys are lead-j ing by one show. There are. Iti buys, showing the brokers are beln^ held up to their own,-and the harjj gains have dropped a couvle ofl points. i .When the score was made up lasM week there were 20 on the cut ratei counter, augmented during th<^ week, for when "Hakaan" opened IC waa shored onto the bargain counJj ter. Last Saturday when a numbei^ of shows—"The Schemers." "The< Mask and the Face." "The Tan- trum," "No Othpr Oirl" and "KeepI Kodl"—all went their way the cut rate list waa cut by live. "Hassaq'*' and "Ixty" coming in managed to,. tilt them back in th» running. At the same time there were.« couple of changee in the premiumi end. "The Greenwich Village Fol-: lies" came t» terms with the ad-j vance brokecm. and the result waft that 460 MMita a night were takedi for eight weeks. 'iDear Sir" at tb« Times Square also got a buy fon (our weeka at 100 a night, the samel arrangement made for "Lazy Bone^l at the Vanderbllt. i The list of buys now reads;) "Scandals" (Apollo): "The Haunted<i House" (Cohan): "Dancing Moth^( ers" (Elliott); "Grounds fop Di-^ vorce" (Empire), for which there !»' considerable demand: "The Were- woir (49th Street): "Stepping Stones" (Globe): "Be Yourself (Harris); "Rose Marie" (Imperial); "Hassan" (Knickerbocker), the brok- ers welcoming the closing this weet; "The Beet People" (Lyceum): Earl Carroll's "Vanities" (Muslo Box), which Jumped in demand^ when the "dirt" publicity broke;' Ziegfeld's "Folliea" (New Amster- dam); "What Price Glory?" (Plym- outh); "Rita Revue); "Kid Boots" (Selwyn); "Greenwich Village Pol- lies" (Shubert); "Dear Sir" (Times Sq.); "Lazy Bones' (Vanderbllt) and "The Passing Show" (Winter Garden). In the cut rates the list on Mon-' day rend: "Conscience" (Belmont);-. "Iszy" (Broadhurst); "The Miracle", (Century): "The Easy Mark" (Com- edy); "White Cargo' (Daly's); •Plain Jane" (Bltinge); "Marjorle* (44th Street); "The Werewolf (49th Street): "Top Hole" (Fulton); "Fata Morgana" (Garrlck); "All God's ChIllun*Got Wings" (Green- wich Village); "High Stakes" (Hud- son); "Hassan" (Knickerbocker); "Pigs" (Little): "The Beat People" <t^yf,eum); "Strange Bedfellows" (Miller's); "My Son" (Princess); Havoc" (39th Street); "That AW ?ul Mrs. Eaton" (Moroseo). '*■ HOLDnrO OVEB BEAUTS The Atlantic City Beauty Contest Winners who opened an engagement at the Hippodrome, New York, last week,-were held over for the current week, with "Miss Bronx" added to the ensemble. Mile. Marccline IVAlroy, French modiste, will appear with the beauties this week. P. T. Selblt. the illusionist, sched- uled to open at the Hip Inst week but delayed due to scenery not ar- riving on time. Is on the current bill-