Variety (October 1924)

10 VARIETY [|w^^*-,'^ I r"^"-< t;E GITIM A T€r ^^^*3K?va^2mKmK'oiirfmi9^aawsgi^^v^vr'9yw^xr*.'vr\ysr:': Wednesday, October 1, 19^^ ,t-i -.i" LOHA CRABTREE'S WILL PROVIDES TRUST FUNDS FOR SOLDIERS AND PROFESSIONALS $4*000,000 Estate of ActreM and Nearly All Left for Beneficial Purposes—Tlieatrical Fund Works Two Ways * v - ;. ' Boaton, Sept. SO. Tb« win of Lotta Crabtree cr«- at«a trust funds closa to $3,000,000 of the $4,000,000 estate, The trust funds conid close to beiilg k record In this city and so fiar as known It dftes constitute a record as regards an estate ever I left by an actress. Miss Crabtree, who never mar- ried, acquired most of her wealth by investment. She was one of the largest realty holders In Boston. One of the trust funds Is for $2,- 000,000, for the benefit of tbc^ who engaged during the late war. An- other f 100,000 Is for members of the theatrical profession, and $50,000 has been appropriated for the aid of public puplla in the New Bng- land Conservatory of Ifusic. There is a poaaiblUty of a eon- test over the wlU and a local law Arm has taken an interest In the document which was filed yester- day. In part the wlQ says tht income from the $2,000,000 trust fund will go towsxtl rendering financial or other kind of aid or assistance to disabled, wound^ maimed an4 aick eoldlers or sailors, and women, who were In the eervice, .and also render aid to their dependents. ▲ fund of $10e,0^ la for the benefit at relatives, each of whom ^n receive, $1,M0 a year. , Aaotber item Is that of $S«,««« to be kBOwn ah the H. l<otta Hospital Fund, the Income of which is to be paid to Buch hospital or bos-, pitals as tbe trustees may deem advisable to provide bed* for tbe poor of Boston. A $25,000 futt^l, to be known as tbe B. lK>tta Kducatlonal Fund. Is to provide taltion for four pupils ■t the New Bngland Conservatory ot Muaie. % A $SO«.000 a Utta Dumb Animal Fund stipulates the income is for the care and comfort ot dumb ani- mals, with a portion to be de- voted to an attempt t» eliminate Tlviseetlon. There bi a $100,000 H. LotU The- atrical Fund to provide financial aid to deserving members of the tlkeatrical profession who are in Aeed. If they do not wish to ac- «ept a gift; tbe trustees are author- iced to advance the money as a loan. Further provided is a $100,000 Mary A. Crabtree Fund in memory of her mother, the income to be used to provide gifts at Christmas for tbe poor. A $100,000 ft. totta Fund for aid- ing discharged convicts, the income to be paid to the Massachusetts Sdfiiety for Aiding Disabled Con- viots in Boston, and to uiy society of a like nature in San Francisco, St. £«uls, ChlcAgo, New York, Washington, Louisville or New Orleans. The residue of the eatate Is to be known as the S. I.otta Agricul- tural Funds and the Income Is to go to graduates of the Massachu- setts Ajrloultural College In need of assistance, and for the purpose of advancing the service of agri- culture. 2 PRIMA DONNAS -PAin HAR- ROLDOUT Heard Elsa Ersi Also Re- hearsing for Lead in ^'Heidelberg" Pattl Harrold is out of "Old Heidelberg," an operetta which the ShubM^ are readying. Miss Har- rold Is reported having left the cast after learning another artist ^as also rehearsing tbe lead. Tbe otber prima donna is said t» be BIsa B<rsl, Viennese actress, Wlu) first appeared in "Moonlight" last season.' / Reports are the Shuberts intend- ed to switch the lead but could not because of the foreign amst's con- tract. V THIEVING CHORUS CIRL ROBS BENEFACTORS / MILT TELLER aiM Hie ORCHESTRA playing at the, "BEACH VIEW QARDEN" CHICAQO, ILL. For future engagements, write to 2014 liOgan Boulevard, Chicago, 111. CHAMP LAY-OFF INROADF0LUES 26 Prii)cipak With Zieg- feld^s Touring Show JOE FLTBH LAID UP ■•'<■■■ Washington, Sept. 80. ' Joe "Flynn, who came to Wash- ington last week ahead of "Wtld- flower," current at Poll's, la in the Emergency Hosbital with a broken ankle. While exercising at the lo- cal T. M. C. A. Friday, water which had leaked through from the roof in the handball courts caused Flynn to slip. It will be an eight-week stretch of inactivity for Joe, "After laying off all summer I work two weeks and get this. How's ttiatr* asked Flynn. Helen Santora wilt tem.-^orarl1y 4o the advance w'ork. *>• <<SQ£HC£" BSHEASSIHa ^Bflence-," the new Max Mardn play, went Into ranearsal Mtmday with tbe following in the cast: H. B. WameTi FVederick Perrr, Flora Bbeffleld, H. Cooper Cllffe, Maud Truax, W. C. Hodges, Jack Bennett •Ad John Wra*r, ' With Three Others of "Bring- iiifi Up Father" Qiven Over- Night Accommodations Binghamton, N. Y., Sept. 10. A thieving chofus girl with "Bringing Up Father" has escaped a prison sentence through the bene- factors she robbed relenting when tbe girl was apprehended by the police. Unfortunately and somehow tbe name of the thief has been sup- pressed, but she la ^ the type of loose chorus girl who has doe so much to bring the name of "chorus glfl" into disrepute throughout lay. cilvlea. Three other chorus girls of the same company were with the thief and occupied the same room. It seems unlikely the crook could have looted an entire bedroom, doing up the loot In two bundles and carrying them. Into a restaurant, without any of her companions being aware of it. The girl, however, when arrested, confessed that she alone had done the thieving. Besides the theft, the cboristers in the private home as an overnight accommodation left the room in com- plete disorder, with cirgaret stumps thrown about. When "Bringing Up Father" reached Coblesklll on its one-nlt^t route to Binghamton the Hotel Au- gustan was filled. Townspeople came to the rescue, taking care of the troopers for tbe night, with the four girls given Mary Coo^ely's boudoir In the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Coonley. A show was given In the evening and the girls returned to the home. The following morning after they had departed Miss Coonley entered her room, to find It stripped. Over 1200 worth of her wearing apparel, mostly stockings and lingeries, had been taken. Upon the police Investigating they found a waiter In a restaurant who stated one of the girls had come in with two bundles, asking him to mail them. The waiter overslept and the police took possession of the bundles he hod neglected. • I Warrants were sworn out for the four girls, and the police located them at Cooperstown. At first all of tbe girls denied the rebbery, but' later one broke down and confessed Miss Coonley and her father con- cluded n6t to prosecute the gfrl, they statinii that perhaps libe ><!horls<ter8 iheuld not have been subjected to iemptation. The fall cast 6f the 1923 "Follies" has a roster of 2< principals, 16 Elm- plre (Tiller) girls and a chorus of 60. The attraction will open at De- troit Oct. IS, probably followed "by Chicago unless it ie decided to send "Stepping Stones" into the tKmp first "Annie," the BiUie Burke show, will take the Baltimore date originally allo^ed the "Follies." Among the added players - is Johnny Stanleys who has resigned his title as champ lay-off. The cast reads: Bert and Betty Wheeler, Nan Halperin, Johnoy> Dooley, Bdna Xieedom, Dave Stamp- er, Mosconl fiitaiiy, William Roeelle, Lion Hascal, Alexander Yakoloff, Qulnalt and Rowe. Stanley Ruwe (a new tenor), Allyn King, Charles King, Kelso and Dononde, L4na Basquette, Hilda Ferguson, Dorothy Van Alst, Ruby Stevens, Helen Paine, Johnny Stanlsy. '^4. ERUNGER LEASES PAItK Takea Over Boston Home for Dra- ^matio Attraetiona Boston, Sept. SO. It basibeen announced that A. li. Eh-lan^CT has acquired on a long t^rm lease the Park theatre, for the past several years a picture house. "The theatre ^as owned by Liotta Crabtree, the actress whose death occurred laatweek. Dennis J. Shea, who has done press work for the Colonial, Hollts< and Tremont, has been named man- ager. The Park will open about Dec. 1, playifig dramatic offerings ex- clusively. The theatre, seating 1,000, was opened in April, 1879, with LotU Crabtree in 'Xa Clgale." Of Lady Painters \ Martin Hermaav tho original of "Hard-Bolled Herman" (and without much denial of it from the cream-colored car owner), held a fainting day in the Woods ofllce last week. After the spirited hours had passed and young Herman could igo to his dinner without seeing women fall around him, he left orders that any one else in a Woods show to "get notice" must either receive it by long distance, mail or wire or* not get it at alL In a show then casting word was phoned to the Woods oflloe by the stace director a yonng woman among tbe principals was unsulted to her role. Mr. Herman got the message and thought to '^ssuage any "feeUng" througtaN tbe sad news by telling the young woman of it in person. She was located at a modiste's, tak- ing fittings tot the gowna she was to have worn in the.play and Woods would have paid for. ToM to come right over to tbe ofllce, Mr. Herman in bis nicest tones (never used to or with managers) informed tbe young lady of the director's de- cision. The girl fainted! Right in Marty's oflld! . A panic call was broadcast and the first-aid experts finally got tbe actress to open her eyes. "Where's mamma ? Gtot mamma," she said. They got mamma, and Mr. Herman started to tell mamma all about it. Mamma fainted! ~~ Marty thought mamma might get over it He stepped into Al's room while the formalities of bringing the mother to were gone through and the ftimily staged on the right road io home. Remembering be had an ap- pointment with a young woman of another east, Maity stuck around for a .few moments. She arrived and was told that the part given her would have to be , And she fainted! ..V^ The Managers' Protective assocU atlon, which came into existence when the Producing Managers' aa« sociation split and the Shubert fao«- aion (M. P. A.) signed the 80-^M agreement with Bqutty, has frflVhetf a schedule of dues. Members are ,to pay $250 annually and $16 per week for e»ch attraction urideif management. The P. M. A. schM-^ ule is $600 per year and $25 ^r show, the original idea having l!«ea to establish a war chest for poMtw' ble use in case of a strike. The new association's dues and fees were decided on at a reo0nt' meeting, but may be subject to change, as only /our members an- swered the meeting call. It is ex- pected the sche(lule will be pre* sented before a quQfum at some fu- ture session. It was explained that when the meeting was called » number of manager-members were< readying new productions. Little Interest has been shown so far a* the organization is concerned. No 'permanent ofHceca have been estab-' Ushed. The controversy between the F. M. A. and the M. P. A. is still to be adjusted, with neither side evidenc- ing a desire to bring the matter to an issue. The division of the older association's funds la the principal point in the argument, while charges against the seceding managers still pend. BETTT BLOCK IS CRASH Philadelphia, Sept. 30. Betty Block, a "medium" in the "Music Box Revue," was painfully injured in a mo^or car accident early Sunday morning. She was riding with friends when their car was side-swiped by a machine headed in the opposite direction. The showgirl was removed to a hospital. Three stitches were re- quired to cloee a gash in her neck. Miss Block's nose was also broken, and she will be out of the show for some time. The accident oc- curred on the outskirts of the city. "FOLUES" FALL EDITION Flo Zlegfeld has annouced a "fall edition" of the "Follies" at the New Xmsterdam, added features being dated to enter the revue at that time. MItty and Tilllo will Join, also a {Russian Itilliputlan troupe. Tbe fatter was a novelty originally en- gaged by Arch Selwyn for the Raquel Meller revue, dated for this JTan. The Meller show le off until [ifter the first of the year, and per- haps 'longer. MBLEAiX FIGHT ' '^ Washington. Sept SS. The fight to secure interchange- able mileage on the railroads of the country has been resiuned before Commissioner Meyer of the Inter- state Commerce Commission. Three days of the past week were given over to hearings, with tbe question of the Pullman surcharge now being presented before the commisslofl. The commission's rates fixed last year at $72 for a book of mileage tickets, with the'face value $90, was held up by an injunction granted to the ralhroads by tbe Eastern District Court of Massa- chusetts, which later was sustained by the United States Bu»reme Court It is not known when Commis- sioner Meyer will Issue his ruling on tbe proposed cut HAMIMERSTEIN MOVES Takes Nom* Office Space and Livee in Wife's Apartment Arthur Hammersteln is on a mov- ing rartpage. Hie offices are now in the Bethlehem irulldlng at 1650 Broadway, with the switch from the Selwyn theatre building made Mon- day. Last week he gave up his apartment at the Adalon and is at present living in his wife's (Dorothy Dalton) apartment on East 64th street. _ The Hammerstelns expected to occupy their new home at White- stone, L. I., during the fall. It Is a show place in that section and cost $200,000. Miss Dalton's parents have moved here from Chicago and have taken an apartment at Flush- ing. TRTDIG "TDT OODS" AOADT Lewis A Gordon will make an- other try with "Tin Gods" early next month. T\% piece was tried out last sea- son with Franclne Larrimore head- ing. fflPASCHEDI SETS YEARLY DUES SCALE $250 for Members and' $15 Per Show—Cheaper Than P. M. A. • ti 'JANE'S" DESERTERS am GET BACK m ''A Regular Girl" Called Off> Left Several "Plain Jane'' „ People in Lurch .^i Several princlbals and a number of choristers who had been appear-^ Ing in "Plain Janes" and deserted^ for a seemingly more attractive' offer are finding themselves high and dry through difflculties their prospective employer has been ex- pevienclQg with Equity. "Jane" was originally . produceA'> by Walter Brooks and Louis iutf^ quith. After some financial dIfflcuU* ties encountered in the early weeks of the musical's vim, Isqutth bowed out and later established bis own producing company. He waa about to cast a musical and offered en' gagements to the above mentioned players, who grabbed at the possi- bility ot remaining in New T'Ork rather than touring wltb "Jane." immediately handing in their dop> tice to Brooks. The latter engaged practically an entire new choruar and has been rehearsing them Bev« oral weeks. Last week, when Equity stopped rehearsals of "A Regular Girl," sponsored by Isquith and to have preceded the proposed musical, the latter production was indefinitely postponed, but top late for the play- ers to regain their engagement wit^ Brooks. .ii, The wlthdraw<ils will also nec«i|p sitate several citanges in th4 nuilt' of principals. Maxlne Brown re- placed Lorraine JitanvlUe this week. When the show starts <Sut Dorothy Curtis will have the Marlon Sakl role. Several others dropping out will be replaced after next week's engagement at the Rivera, NeW York. KEVTJE FOB BOOFf will Perry, the orchestra leader, and Billle Shaw have collaborated with Edgar MacGregor on a musickl comedy tentatively titled "6b, Pshaw!" Ida May Chadwlck has been signed. The New Amsterdam Roof may house the show. SCOTCH COMEDY STABTmO "Lass o* l*ughter," In which Henry W. Savage will project Flora Le Breton as star, will go Into re- hearsal next Week under the direc-