Variety (December 1924)

n t ■ VARIETY •■^^jifiy I wp^ BURLESQUE yWP.TITr-'AV*^' "V^C M*t' -^a^'-^rlT). S." BURLESQUERS'FATAL CRASH Wim TRAIN: 2 KILLED 11 INJURED Troupe Making Jump in Two Automobiles—Acci- dent Early Saturday Morning—Give* Matinee Same Afternoon—Two May Not Recover Dayton, C, Dec. 2. Jean Lockwood Fagan, 29, wife of Charles Fagan, star comedian with Harry M. Strouse's Columbia show, "Talk of the Town." playing the Lyric theatre here last week, was killed early Saturday morning at E>iton, O., 2& miles west of here, when two automobiles carrying members of the "Talk of the Town" troupe and non-professionals were struck by a PennsylvaDia passenger train. Besides Mrs. Fagan, Pearl Att, non-professional, of Lima, O., also was killed, and 11 members of the party Injured. Of the injured Itasie Hunt, 29, of New York, probably will not recoTer. She suffered a fractured skull and Internal injuries. Helen Miller, of Boston, suffered two broken lege. Other members of the party injured were: Charles Fagan, Harriet Lee, of San Francisco; Edna Roble. of New Tork; Al Kaln,.of Springfield, and all members of the show received minor hurts and bruises. Rose Att of Lima, Mrs. Nell Kolter of Day- ton, Ray West of Dayton, Gertrude Veil of Dayton and Harry Minnich of Dayton were the non-profes- sionals receiving injuries, all of which were minor except those of West, who may die. Headed for Dinner - ■ The entire party left Dayton Shortly after the night performance at the Lyric and were heading for Richmond, Ind., for dinner at a roadhouse. West was driving one ciar and Minnich the other. Both cars were said to be speeding along the road and the drivers said they were unable to see or hear the ap- proaching train. West's machine crashed into the baggage car and was immediately sideswiped by the following auto as it'tore Into the rear of the same car. The latter car was dragged some 60 feet. In the first, car i^ere Mr. and Mrs. Fagan, the two Att girls. Miss Mil- ler and Miss Hunt and West, the fatally and most seriously injured of the party. Accordlner to members of the party it was more than half an hour before the train was able to stop and back to the scene o,.° the crash. Half the party were taken to the Reld Memorial hospital. Richmond, while the others were brought to Miami Valley hospital. In Dayton. Give Matinee Funeral services for Mrs. Fafan were held at 4:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon in a Dayton funeral parlor chapel and burial made in Wood- land cemetery. The entire troupe attended the ceremony in a body /ollowing the afternoon perform- ance, which was given despite the fact the company was grlef-strlcken over the affair. Fagan refused to allow anyone to take his part in the performance, declaring that he would feel better if he went ahead and played. Harry M. Strouse, manager and owner of the troupo, assured mem- bers of the company that the in- jured would be taken care of and given the best of attention until they were fully recovered. Cohnbia Ckai-ip PnmlDV tlM poller of the elean-up campaign on the Columbia burleaque wheel, it baa b6«n oHtored that the front of tbo Columbia theatre balldlBg. New Tork, IM washed up and down. It baa takon the campaign 14 years to raach the bricks, tboncb It started on the sbowli last season. Baai Scrlbner la also If- lieved to bo behind this latest claaa-up-and-down order. BURLESQUE REVIEWS '*?--"'•'■'.">'•■■•• :rfV'..v f yWJNNIN* WILD (COLUMBIA) Stralcht John O. Grant Prima BAith Bates SpMOaltlM ^..Btnil* UrMn Sonbntt* .-. .-^wBab* H«a)y Dancer ^........Vlnpnla P«araon laccniM t..IIIMnd Holnws Principal Andny McVcy Priaotpal JlnuBy Oalllvan OMMdiaa ^ Sam Mleala CaoMdlan BUly FoMcr ,.• "Runnin' Wild" is another innocu- 'mis opera, long on production and short on entertainment. Optically the show is all it should be, but the laughs are as few and far between as gas stations on the Sahara. Billy Foster, "Dutch," and Sam MIcals, -"Hebrew," carry the com- edy burden, and It is a staggering one. They have only two scenes that signs of strength. The rest are ethereal as Palm Beach underwear and much too talky. The sagging in this department and the absence of a strong woman principal kills number after number. The only girl In the cast who stood out was Virginia Pearson, an un- usual toe and classical dancer, who didn't appear until the second act. Miss Pearson turned in two dance solos that were obviously backed by training and teckaique. Her toe specialty compares favorably with anything seen, and her Oriental acrobatic dance was another high light. If she can sing or speak lines, she should' be rushed into the breach, as (.i:e has class aiid looks and this opera needs both, Mildred Holmes, ingenue, regis- tered with a xylophone specialty but ''Otherwise was relegated to colorless ranks. Babe Healy, viv- .icious soubrette, showed nothing new and was buried more or less under the apathy created by the dull book. The show opens with a novel "scrim" drop effect but drops back to commonplace levels with ti scene labeled "Hospital Corridor." The thcnte Is a mix-up of triplets and mistaken identity of the father. It's tiilky and unfunny. Another dre.iry portion was a "hop" song by Sam MicniH. The number was a succes- sion of old and ancient wheeies that received absolutely nothing. "I Beg Pardon," another comedy' scene, pulled a fair measure of laughs because it held Kome low comedy and hokum. Billy Foster was roughed around con»idernbly and the house sat up momentarily. An animal imitntlon and whintllnf; ipecialty hy Atidrey McVey didn't ■peed up the tenspo, but Bernie Orefn'a violia sptpclalty registered UM flnt ,bit «f Uie proceedinss. Green Is the most versiitile artist in the show. He Is musical, sings, dances, and does a good straight when he gets the opportunity. Jimmy Oalllvan did well as could be expected with his bits and landed with his dancing, both the solo step- ping and with Green. John O. Grant turned in a straight portrayal that deserved a better fate. Real laughs were secured with "find the apple," one of the oldest of bits. It stuck out like a church steeple here. "The Four Acme Brothers," with a comedy idea warmed over from revueland, got some laughs, and "Charity," another (Continued on page 53) WALD^AV BACK AT K. C- Kansas City. Dec. 2. Fre<ldi« Waldmann, treasurer of the Gayety (Columbia Circuit) since the opening of the season, is acaln managing the house that he handled some years ago, Waldmann was slatsd to manage the Columbia hoQM, develand, but rather than make the dbange accepted the Gay- ety box ofllcs Job here. Georga Khaore, who has been managing is returning to New Tork. JAKE BAAC LEAVES OLYMPIC Several Shifts in Columbia Bur- lesQue house managers occurred last week. Jimmy Weeden. man- ager of tlM Gayety, Detroit, was succeeded by John Glennon, man- ager, of Rochester, N. T. Jake Isaac, manager of the Olym- pic, Chicago, was suceeded by Harry Yost, manager of the Indianapolis house recently, dropped by the Co- lumbia. Isaac was offered th« De- troit post, but refsued <o leave Chicago and tendered his resigna- tion. •dnMday, December 3,1984 j oFEinre gafitol dec. 21 lUlwaukee, Nov. 3. Fox & Kraass will open the Capi- tol. Indianapolis, Dec. 11 with a stock burlesque company headed by Jack La Moat and Chubby Drlsdale. It will give Fox A Krause three companies to switch between the thrfe houses. ni AID OUT Marion Vadl was out of the Hip- podrome, New Tork, bill Monday due to illness. Marcelle and Seal failed to open at Keith's, Lowell, Monday, due to niness of tbo Seal. Vardel Brothers, owli.g to one of the boys developing an abscess un- der his arm, withdrew from the Knickerbocker bill, Philadelphia, last Wednesday. The Emmerette Bros, substituted. : V":,' NEW THEATRES IN CONSTRUCnON Bayside, N. Y., $600,000. Bell avenue, corner Asbburton avenue. Owner, j Bayside Amusement Corp., Bayside. Policy not givsn. ] Berkeley, Calif- $200,000. Location unonnouncad. Owner, Blumenthal'. Theatre and Realty Co., San Francisco. Pictures. | Chicago, $1,000,000. Howard avenue, west of Malvern. Owner, Ur« i Bldg. Corp., 190 N. State street. Pictures. Chicago, 1100.000. N. EX corner Loomis and IStH pl. Owner, John L, ■ Manta, care of Frank Zajicek. 1415 W. I8th street. Pictures. ;. Chicago, $20,000,000 (also h6tel, shops and office building), RandoInV.] street. La Salle and Wells. Owners, Eitel Bros., Hotel Bismarck, 171 W.'J Randolph street. .Policy not given. (Reported theatre taken under lease| by Orpheum Circuit; ■vaudeville). - ^ Chicago. $1,250,000. S. W. corner 7$th and Cottage Grove avenue, i Owner, Beacon Theatre Corp., 10 N. Clark street. Policy not given. Chiciigo, $1,000,000. Lincoln, Lawrence and Western avunue. Owner, : withheld, care of Clinton B. Yarnell, room 1201, 10 N. Clark street. Policy not given. Chicago, Madison street, between Menard and Mayfleld. Owners, LubUnef A Trinz, 25 K. Jackson blvd. Capacity 2,500. Value and policy;, (probably pictures) not given. > Chicago, $800,000. Fullerton and Crawford avenues. Owner, P«;ter Nasipelius, 3956 Fullerton avenue. Policy not given. Cleveland, $100,000. 12005 Woodland avenue. Owner. Wolf Realty {Qo.,' $1« Hippodrome Bldg. Pictures. ^ V, ' Detroit, Location withheld. Owner, also withheld, care of archJjtfjrt, Charles S. Klein,, 1015 Detroit Savings Bank Bldg. Pictures. Value aot- given. J Dumont, N. J., Washington and Dumont avenues. Owners, Ruckle Bros.^ Pictures. Value not given. .,., Eau Claire, Wis., |1$0,000. Grand avenue. Owner. Eau Claire Theatre^ Co. Capacity l,tOO. Policy not given. 'i Elmira, N. Y., State fl|reet Owner, Southern Tier Theatre Co. V4^V>« and policy not given. , Elmira, N. Y., State street Another larger theatre owned by t^e Southern Tier Theatre Ca Value and policy not given. Qowanda, N. Y. Owner, J. W. Scatt, Chestnut street, Gowanda. ^- building after fire. Value and policy not ^ven. ^ ,^ Hempstead, N. Y., $440,000. Main and Columbia streets. Owner, Cal- j derone Theatrical Corp., Hempstead. Policy not given. HyaHsville, Md., $100,000. Baltimore blvd. Owner. Hyattsvllle Amuse- 1 ment Co., Inc. Pictures. illen, N. Y., Main street. Owner, Benjamin Toung and Frank Whitney. ■? Value and policy not given. fi Laekswanns, N. Y. Owner, B. Czosnyka, Lackawanna. Value luaAJ policy not given. I La Crosse, Wis. Site not selected. Owner, La Crosse Amusement Co. ^ Value and policy not given. Lorain, O., $60,000. 565 Broadway. Owner, August Illg. Pictured. ' Mansfield, O., $200,000. W. Fburth and Mulberry streets. Owner. Knights' of Pythias, Mansfield. Pictures) ■ „„.,'• Marshalltown, la.. Second avenue and Main street. Owner, A. H. Blank,-^ 19es Koines. Value and policy not given. 4 Milwaukee. OwAer, withheld, care of architect. Emll A. Meyer, 2709; Lisbon. Value and policy not given. i Milwaukee, 2505 Fond du L.ac avenue. Owner, Radio Theatre, sam«l address. Rear addition. Policy and value not given. 1 New York City, 234-SC West 50th 8tree*t. Owner, withheld, care otj architect. Herbert Krapp, 114 East 16th street. Value aadP'policy not| given. '. I New York City, S. "E. corner Second avenue and lOtth street. Owner, | 2*04 Second Avenue Corp., care of William thwarts. 61 Park rbw. j^ Value and policyTaot given. -; New York City, $40,000. Forsyth street. Owner, withheld, care 'ot architect, Joseph A. Fueco, 146 West 41st street. Fict«r«B. Pittsburgh, $60,000. Penna avenue. Owner, Cameraphone Theatre, 6301 ^enn avenue. Alteration and addition. Pictures. Pleasantivilte, N. Y, $100,000. Owner. Rome Theatre Co., care oX ■ architect, Oscar Vatet. 666 Fifth avenue, N. T. city. Poljcy not given. • | MUTUAL'SWEEKLYAVERAGESiSOO; PnWGH $aOOQ HIGH LAST WEEK Prospect. New York, PasMS $5,000-^Wa«hington ReporU $6,000—Klan Publicity Helps Dec Moines j —Extra Shows Boosted Returns K LONDON, 1923 THE PALLADIUM .Managing Director Charles Gulliver Oxford Circus, W. I. MONDAY. AUG. 13th and duHng the week TSUEPIIONB OBRRARD 1«04 (• Unaa) Three Performances Dally 2.30, 6.0, 8.45 The Ccle^ncd Anelo-Amerlcan Danccn TED TREVOS and mttA HASBIS (America'.^ Great^nt "BI.UBS" Dane* Exponents) With RECTOKH iAPITOf. OKCHCSTBA ADMrira't Queen cf Bynr^iMttuti NORA BAYE8 The ruaoiuUt^ Olrl la All Nfn Hnngs CHHCST HASTINGS |n HI* Hinaour antl Minic It th« FUno FRCO BARNES )Jcli( Oooirdj SUr CORAM •ad -flOUKT" In a New Ventrtloqalal Scaaa lucillI BEN8TEAD Awtnllan Pirtaa Donna Branln(> iMtlT Albert tl« l^umil* Eiitrn'riu. UO. TUBBY EDLIN Supixirted bjr Wrtt End ent. In « New <;oinnij Kpltotl., TMC rOLICC RECHUITS ••••laa QmnMt SaarlMK TNE tLgONS 8YD WALKER In Tiftteflt Comedy Bona Bar1< Popular Prices: 5/- to 1/- (Plus Tan) A Fey Special I'.uiteuUa at 1/< (Pins Taa) Clilldren in Arma Not Admitted ChllOrrn Under 12 Admltteil Half Price to Ah Parts al at t:ZO Pcrfomnano iBank Ilolidaya Bxaepted) i 2:66 NEW YORK, 1924 '^ ■'. B. F. KElfH'8 PALACE =. B'way & 47th St;. Bryant 4300. Concerts Sunday, 2 & 8 P. M. WEEK BEGINNINO MONDAY, DEC. 1st 2:07 I TORINO I 8:07 2:19 2:37 3:13 3:28 4:04 4:17 1:40 -THANK YOU,-DOCTOR" ARNAUT BROTHERS MRS. LE«UE CARTER America's DLstlnguinhed Artiste, in "Alixe of Tartary" 8:19 8; 37 8:65 Last engagement in Vaudeville GEORGE JE88EL In a Comedy with Mary Lucas and Lillian Price TED TBEVOE and DIHA HASRIS England's Most Celebrated Dancers VINCENT ROSE and HIS RITZ-CARLTON ORCH. Wiih'Jackie Taylor CLAYTON and LENNIEL in "A Sundae in London" The Sensational Diva of the Chi- cago Grand Opera Company DOROTHY JARDON Our Own American "Carmen" LOU HOLTZ Oh-Solo-Mlo »:13 9:28 10:04 10:17 10:40 4:68 GROH and ADONIS |1«:58 u;;^u m MR. TED IHEVOR and MBS DIN A HARRIS B. F. Keith's Palace Theatre, New York (this week), December 1st >< AUo appw^ring nightly ',J,^>^<. • CI^YSTAL ROOM^RITZ CARLTON HOtEL Portorial -Representative HARRY LENET8KA WILLIAM MORRIS OFFICE Represented in Vaudeville By H. B. MARINELLI, Ltd., America REEVES and LAMPORT. England The Mutual Burlesque Circuit is j entering the second leg of the sea-^l son with 34 shows and 33 weeks, j The on4 open week occurs between Boston and New York and Is due to the dropping of the Colonial, Bos- ton, several weeks ago. Chicago and Indianapolis remain the two weakest spots on the clrcuit<- Business at Indianapolis did not im- prove after the withdrawal of the Columbia shows. The circuit is reported to have • averaged about $4,6M weekly for i each house this season. The Pros- -^ pect. Bronx, has lumped up to one of the leaders after a poor start. The climb started the same time the shows were told to "open up" a bit. The Mutual grosses last week un- officially credited the Academy, Pittsburgh* with an 38,000 week with "Kuddling Kuties" as the at- traction. "Washington got close to 16,000 and the Prospect, Bronx, 16.400. The reported Klan opposition in Des Moines is said not to have hurt business, the publicity evidently helping at the box office. Extra midnight shows and the holiday helped business in many stands on the Mutual. TAZABA ADDED AT OmPIC Yazara has been engaged as an "added attraction" at the Olympic, New York, the dancer replacing "a princess" who has been there. Ya2.ara will remain there indefi- nitely. 'V BURLESQUE ROUTES will be found on page 46 in this issue.