Variety (December 1924)

Wednesday, December 24, 1924 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 17 NO ENGLISH PUYS ON RADIO Macfadden's PreM and Come-On Stuff Reports from out of town say that Bernarr Macfadden's press de- partment for his publications has been sending out much press and come-on stuff to dramatic editors and men on the out-of-town dalllbs. Arthur Leslie, a former picture press agrent, is in charge of the Macfadden publicity. The latter was mostly aimed for Macfadden's daughter, who Is In vaudeville or hopes to be. The layout as worked on the out-of-town men, seemed to be some- what along the following lines: •> ' A literal bombardment by letters and submitted material from Macfadden's press department. First comes a story on Macfadden's daughter. A marked copy of any story, if used was asked for with a stamped envelope enclosed. The letters come on stuff was being ready to "make" out of town dramatic writers, suggesting "The Graphic" might be the key to open up Park Row. After receiving the clipping, Leslie sent no less than three letters (form stuff) with stamped envelopes enclosed, asking for name and address and return it to him for filing purposes. Advertising Inferred About the same time came a photo of Macfadden's daughter, with A request for publication. That, as a rule, was addressed to the out-of-town paper's business manager and the letter with it was merely a request 'or reference to the news department. The "kick" was in the post card which was to be sent back. That implied that Macfadden advertising might be a reward for the use of the photo, and explained why the photo was sent to the business department of the paper. . Next came the letter with another stamped envelope for reply purposes. The last mlsalve was the K. O. It was a story built upon Mac- fadden's suggestion for two-story cars as a cure for the New York .traffic situation. Along with it was the customery stamped envelope ,and Leslie was apparently so anxious tor a clipping that he put a special delivery stamp, as well as the usual two-center According to the dope, the Macfadden postal bill must be enor- jnous. The New York "Graphic" waamentioned in all of the Mac- fadden stuff. JOINT lEm L Theatrical Managers* Amo- ciation (Provincial), West End Managers of London and I Entertainments Pro- tective Ass'n (Cabarets) Resolved in Meeting No Member Shall Book Play, Any Portion of Which Is Sent Over Radio—Radioed Shows in Provinces Failed to Draw METRO-GOLDWYN AND STAGE PLAYS WITH SHIPMAN IN CHARGE Picture Makers Entering Legit Field—Securing Los Angeles House—Following Procedure of F. P.'s Deal with Frohman—Sam Shipman Reported Under Contract for Heavy Saivy CONFERENCE POSSIBLE WHEN CRITICS RAVE BARRY TOWNLEY STARTS SUIT FOR "SLANDER" ikm. Gary Duncan and 'Lefty' ^ .Miller Defendants in $10,- 000 Damage Action QUITS "CONSCIENCE" Claim«d Lillian Foster Caused Un- pleasantness Barry Townley, who retired from the directorship of Barr-Town, Inc., which eponsored "Princess April," the Ul-fated musical comedy which closed at the Ambassador with a loas running to almost $100,000 last Saturday night, has brought a suit for slander against William Gary Duncan and "Lefty" Miller through Us attorney, 8. Edward Ginsberg, making for damages to the extent of •10,000. Townley alleges that the reiwrt of the certified accountant, Roberts, who went over the books of Barr- ' Town, Inc., at the time he reslgnea, gave him a clean bill of health, and that he was so Informed in a letter from the treasurer of the company. Meantime, he alleges, the two de- fendants named in his suit have \/lIandered him in business channels. Townley points out the fact that the mismanagement of the com- pany was not a fault of his, as when the show was under his sole managemnet It drew $14,000 iti ' opening week in Atlantic City, but was so altered at the Insistence of U.«ome of the investors that when Teaching Broadway It failed to hit .better than a $6,000 weekly pace. Ray Collins Is out of "Conscience" again, and Crane Wilbur assumed his role last week. Collins Is reported to have handed In his notice to A. H. Woods be- cause of diflScuItlea with Lillian Foster, featured. Collins Was 6ut several weeks ago when Paul Har- vey substituted. After three weeks Collins was called back by the Woods office and offered the part again with the un- derstanding that Miss Foster had sanctioned his return to the role. Collins went back an^ had been In the part scarcely a week when al- leged petty annoyances cropped up again. Collins notified the company manager unless things would be made more agreeable he Would have to step out. OOLDEirS "FEITD" "The Feud," a comedy by George Abbott and Winchell Smith, will be launched early In the new year by John Golden. Casting will begin immediately upon Smith's return from London, where he has gone to stage the London production of "LIghtnIn'." •Follies" Girls Sleepy Requests for an appearance- beforo the Internal Revenue Bureau are reported to have thrown the Zlegfeld "Follies' choristers Into a near panic. According to one desk holder in the Custom House, prac- tically every chorus glri In the show wija te^ndered a notice to make the sleeper downtown jump, but only one h.id so far shown up, the others having a thousand reasons why they couldn't' give the Government ani' time. ., . ■ ,, ., .i "God of Vengeance" Up Before Court of Appeals Albany, N. T., Dec. 21. The Court of Appeals heard ar- guments last week on the legality of the conviction ef the producers and actors of "The God of Ven- geance" for violating the law against obscene. Indecent and im- moral dramas. Harry Weinberger, the producer; Rudolph Schlldkraut, the star; Virginia McFadden, lead- ing female player, and nine others ih the cast were convicted by a Jury, the first two fined $200 each and sentence suspended on the others. , The conviction was affirmed by the Appellal^B Division of the New York Supreme Court and Is now before the Court of Appeals as a test case. Samuel Seabury, former Justice of the Court of Appeals, tor the theatrical Interests, arg'tied the les- son derived from the «play is a moral one. and cited Rabbi Ste- phen B. Wise, Dr. Frank Crane, Professor Overstre^, head of the department of philosophy at the City College, and Heywood Broun, as authorities In that direction. Decision was reserved. London, Dec. tS. . Any theatrical attraction that goes over the radio will lose Its chance of English bookings. This seems to take in all branches and sections, since all were repre- sented last week (too late for Vari- ety's press time) at a meeting in whl<:h were present the Theatrical ManVkgers' association (prortncliU theatres). Society of West End Managers (equivalent to the Broad- way legit producers and maaaffers) and the Entertainment Protection Association (taking In all of the best cabarets and hotels). That meeting was held Thnrsdaj and resulted in a recommendation amounting to an order that any member of any of the associations represented should not book any play of which any portion had been broadcast. The meeting followed shortly after "Patricia" had been sent orer the radio from HU Majesty*! thea- tre, and despite the claims of that management that the radiolns had Increased the sale for the show. As cabled to Variety last provincial managers haT* plained that shows radioed have failed to draw in their houses. This was looked upon as preUminar7 to some definite action being taken by the English managements. It Is quite probable the radi* In- terests will ask for a oonference with the show people^ Critics sometimes go the Umit In praising plays which 4trike their Individual fancy. Take the case of "Close Har- mony" at the Gaiety, interred Saturday night, after a feeble life of three weeks on Broad- way. Most of the reviewers voted the piece a winner. Heywood Broun especially singled It out as extraordinary and went into etstacy over "Close Harmony" in his Sunday column, the end of the show's first week. Yet that did not help matters. Business the following Monday «as no better and the takings for last week were not ma- terially Improved, while last week dropped away off, ap- proximating $2,600. Heywood's contention was that the play was a contender for "The First Tear's" honors. Alec WooUcott was one of the most surprised persons hereabouts about two years ago when he got steamed up over a play that missed fire. After finding It was tottering ■long at an even gait of $t,800 weekly. Alec spread himself, devoting an entire page to the show. Phoning the manager's office at the end of that week, he was Informed the gross had gone to exactly $6,812. Motro-Goldwyn will enter the legitimate field on the coast shortly. A Los Angeles theatre has been se- cured. There new plays will be presented and those regarded as successes will then be offered on Broadway. The Idea of legitimate presenta- tion as an adjunct to picture pro- duction was originated by Famous Players. Metro-Goldwyn, however, is the first picture firm to follow F-P's lead, although William Fox considered producing similarly sev- ^oral years ago. The Charles Frohman office, which oWns the Empire theatre, is F-P's subsidary >^nd In the five years the legitimate branch has been under the control of the picture company, it has been active In play production. Originally F-F formed the United Plays, a corporation controlling dramatic plays. That unit was later merged when F-P assumed control of the Frohman office. Metro-Goldwyn has been angling for several well known authors foc the pew coast production activities. Sanniel Shipman is reported having signed with Metro and is shortly leaving for the coast. Shipman was tendered an exceptional offer, car- rylng with it a big salary figure. He wlH probably be in charge of the production unit. Max Marcin was also sought by Metro-Goldwyn and he may later Join Shipman In the west. TRINI WITHDRAWS Leaves Drama—Replaced by Mary Nash England, though not as old la the radio way as America, has l>een the first theatrically to determine that the radio is a detriment to the Show business. American legit management for some reason only known to those who favor radio has persistently lent Its shows and companies to radio, for free entertainment through the air, while they main- tained a box office scale for admis- sion to the theatre. In England the distances are less than in this country, but the prin- ciples are the same. DISCAKDED WIVES/ A TITLE Reading. Pa., Dec. 16. "Discarded Wives" la Just a title for a show and aimed fty the box- office. Nothing In the performance to cause censoring and local critics said It could play before a Sunday school. Glenn Argoe, John W. Cowell. Constance McKay and Hugh Carel MUIUGAN-TBEBITSCH JOIH Charles Mulligan and Paul Tre- bltsch have Joined forces to produce "The Undercurrent," by William McMasters, In which Harry Beres- ford will be starred. The support Includes Frank Shannon, Elsie Es- mond, Alison Bradsliaw. Walter So- derllng, Frank Herbert, Julia CoVb, Victor Beecroft and Bennett Southard. The t>iece was tried out some time ago under the title of "Man to Man; with John E. Kellard featured and Joseph B. Shea the producer. Trlnl is out of' the cast of "The Heart Thief," a comedy drama by Sacha Gultry, which Arch Selwyn will present at the Earl Carroll Jan. S. .The Spartlsh girl who heretofore has been known as a dancer on this side was replaced by Mary Nash. Miss Nash recently re-entered vau- deville in a dramatic playlet. Joe Leblang Expanding Albany, N. T., Dec. tt. Public Service Ticket Office. Inc.. Manhattan (Joe Leblang's theatre ticket bargain place) Mrs filed a certificate Increasing Us capital from 2,000 to 6,000 shares. Of the latter 5,000 shares are to be pre- ferred with par of $100 and the other 1,000 common, with no par. Previously the 2,000 shares were divided Into 1,000 preferred at $100 and 1.000 common, no par. Ruth Chatterton Leaves Henry Miller Management Ruth Chatterton goes under the Shubert Iwnner when "The Mag- nolia Lady," her current musical vehicle, closes. Miss Chatterton's association with the Shuberts will mark Che first time she has ever appeared under any other management than that of Henry Miller, who began casting her for serious parts when he placed her as the lead in the road "Marriage of Convenience," which Billle Burke played in New York. Last week Miss Chatterton was married to Ralph Forbes, lending man in "The Magnolia Lady." He's an English actor, who came over here with "Havoc." V-' DINEHABT'S NEWEST Alan DInehart has written a new comedy, "The Sleeper," which Rich- ard G. Herndon will produce the lat- ter part of February. Dinehart wrote the piece as a pos- sible vehicle for himself but lias olnce passed up the Idea te remain la "Apple Sauce." eumntlr to Chlcafo. ,.,,.. , ,.. ST. CHASLES MEMORIAL THEA. St. Charles, 111., Dec. 28. This humble city, the scene of the love tryst of Mrs. Delora Angell Norrls, heiress to the Gates' mllllonn, and her artist husband, I.,ester J. Norrls, has been chosen by them as site of a memorial community the- atre to cost $ISO,000. It H a monument to their ro- mance. The theatre will have a rapacity of 750—enouKh for the city's popu- lation—and the three-story struc- ture win be in brick and terra colt.i. SCHWAB & MA]n)ELL'S EHB Lawrence Schwab and FranTc Mandell's second production, "The Stork," will open at Albany, N. Y.. Jan. 12. In the cast are Geoffrey Kerr, Ferdinand Oottschalk, Morgan Wal- lace and Eleanor Griffith. The play was adapted by Ben Hecht from the Hungarian original of Fedor Lazslo. "If I Would" Besinning William A. Brady this week be- gins assembling the cast to sup- port Grace George in "If I Woiih^" the Paul Oeraldy play sche>iiil*<l the late January production. Phoney Ticket ScaipiDg Agency Chicago, Daa. 11. More than a score of Chi- cagoans. for the past two years receiving comfortable divi- dends from a ticket scalping syndicate which nevw existed, were trapped when an alder- man, approaohed by one of his friends to purchase some of the bogus stock, started an In- vestigation which revealed that no such corporation ever existed. The syndicate is estimated to have cleaned up over ISM.- 000. -i - TT