Variety (January 1925)

VARIETY VAUb^ViLLl f v« P Wednesday, January 7, 19M J. HNE, JESTER, PAID FEE BY AMY LESLIE Receives Deadhead Privi- lege in Payment for En- tertaining Society Chicago, Jan. S. Jack Fine, local vaudeville im- presario, whose dialect offera keen competition to the one owned by Sir Joseph Qinsburg:, la gradually propellingf his way into society. At • recent function given in honor ot the Dolly Sisters by Kenneth Fitx- . ,Patrick, the latter one of the best party throwers in Chicago, and also • first nighter through the courtesy ot Amy Leslie (to whom the hand- some Kenneth has l>een quite Atten- tive lately) engaged this jester of ,'- mirth to supply the laughs. , . Fine waa a sensation. Finding .:■ himself the life of the party and "^ center of attraction, he proceeded to Aenuuid « bonus for his enter- tainment. Fine is familiar with ^; the word bonus, having been an in- ^ terpr«tlng Heutenast in the army at Camp Grant. Miss Xealie Anally adjusted mat- ters by promising the jester he will be her guest of honor at the open- '' Ing of the "Music Box Revue." That put the management on the cuff for an extra ducat. The ex-louie having planted him- . self in the fourth row at the ex- pense of the management and the courtesy of Miss Leslie, and sur- rounded by a vast amount of crit- ics, spoke frequently and boister- ously on the merits of tbo show. Not uatil he was subdued by the embarrassing Amy and her hand- some chaperone did he quiet down. After the performance was over it was unaninoously decided the laughs received at the party were not worth the talk those caused In the theatre. "BREVrriES" ON nUAL Trial of the criminal action titled United States of America versus Stephen Q. Clow and the "Broad- way Brevities" crew comes up this (Wednesday) morning before Judge "Wlnslow in the Federal District Court. Numerous witnesses were sub- po-*naed yesterday for consultation -' with Maxwell S. Mattuck, the U. S. ■ anslstant attorney who is handling ■'; the prosecution for the government. L The "Brevities" outfit has 12 * co«iBts against it for using the ' mails to defraud. It will be a jury trial and sensa- tional testimony is anticipated. COOL IN FIRE PeWormers Prevent Panic in Brad- ford, Vm., Firo * Bradford, Pa., Jan. 6. Mae Francis, Jack Hayden and Murray Peters are proclaimed heroes by the local populace. They ooolly extinguished a fire on the ■tage of Shea's on New Year's night r^ Mid probably averted a panic. I Hayden was doing his act and I Miss Francis and Peters were F standing In the wings, waiting for their turn. A short circuit in the k ;' switch box under tjie stage started ft blaze. Dense smoke issued. The three performers grabbed a boss and started to spray water on the fire. Although the orcheitva pit w.as filled with smoke tnc musicians oontlnued to v^ay m.v6 all of the AUdlenee excepting a few kept to thefr seat& Th* Maxe was quickly •xtlnyulsked and the nhow went «B •■ if aothlng'had happened. QOLF SZPEST AS SIHOLE ACT ' Chicago, Jan. 6. Chesttr Hortens, ^olf Impresarld of "iho Chlt&go "Aftierlcsan," %A» beeu routed for 4 tour of the Or- phMim circuit.' ' „ Chester will opw^'Hl* program %rlth a short reel introducing him- self t«kW p*rt in the vaftous tour- liaments. It will be followed with an exhibition of trick shots, Inter- jrlUi com4dy talk. UNIQUE XMAS CARD BY GEO. L McDonald Chicago, Dec. SI. One of the most unique and. most laughable Christmaa cards ever gotten out as far as anyone in the show busi- ness around here can recall Is the folder seat to friends these holidays by George E. McDon- ald, manager of the Victoria theatre. In the olden days the Vic- toria played 10-20-30 mellers. Mr. McDonald dug up some of the old cuts used for illus- trating the dramas. lie made them into a folder and had' placed underneath each of the cuts reading matter apropos to those mentioned. There are 15 illustrations in the folder, arranged in pano« ramie style, with a picture of The Vic Theatre"' on the frontispiece. It resembles a Roman amphitheatre. Underneath a cut of an old meller was a love scene of two couples, the humorous Mr. Mc- Donald has inscribed as a cap- tio:.: "The Shallman Brothers en- gaging a sister act for the Aching Heart Circuit." Under another cut of a pic- ture of m girl lying on a sofa with a ''stew" entering the room while the "hero" stands with hand outstretched the caption reads: "Sai ny Tishman telling Jimmy O'Neal not to do it." In another picture. of an apartment with a man entering the door while a young woman stands in negligee in her boudoir is a captain saying: "Max Halperin arriving home." A cabaret scene is pictured with a girl upstanding from the table where sits her escort. The young woman UffI a hand- kerchief to her face, saying: "I don't want to play to the Bert Levy time." In another picture of a down-east story is the r<H father retNroaching the hero, with the heroine fallen amidst the wreckage of the room. The caption reads: ' "The booking manager tell- ing Tommy Burchlll, 'If she flopped here she will flop at the Academy'." CRILLY^ COAT INCITED LOVER "Needy Famfly^ InvoH- . gation and Results Chicago, Jan. C. Daniel F. CrlUy, one of the best known figures in loop theatricals, pledged himself to play the part.of Santa Claus to some needy fAmily. Crllly made ~ the pledge, having Aigned a slip Issued by the Good Fellowship dlub, and sponsored by the "Tribune." Re was assigned to a needy fam- ily, and drove out there prior to the holidays to investigate and get a list of what was most desired. Upon entering be discovered five tots ranging from four to 12, guid- ed by an intoxicated mother, whose husband was in a tuberculosis home in Illinois. He proceeded taking down netations from the orders showered' by the unfortunate chil- dren when in walked the drunkert lover, built like Samson and had the strength of a Hercules. His fancy struck the expensive raccoon coat OlUy was wearing.- He de- manded that Crllly .remove his cosit and leave It there. Mr. Crllly's chAtiffeur, hearing the struggle, rushed In with a crank in hiB hand and relieved bis master from a~ deplorable situation. The children nevertheless re- ceived their Christmas gifts, but were taken from the mother and placed in an orphanage home. REDUCING BY DIET Am a rols one heard about staae women solos •■ a diet to reduce their aTolrdu- pois, yet several mea, well- known in vaudeville, hava given it a try with noticeable sucoeaa. Bert Bowen, who left vaude- ville to join "Rose MaHe." weighed 186 pounda Efforts to land certain stage work failed when he was told he was too fat. Bowen went in tor diet and exercise. Today he weighs ISS pounds ^nd is as strong as a mountain lion. However, Bowen's advice Is not to overdo the diet thing or go at it too fast. . Raines Cast well, formerly of the original Primrose Quartet, which billed itself as "2,000 pounds of harmony" through the combined weights of the four men, has returned to vaudeville after a recent re- tirement to represent the Rickenbacker auto company. For the return he comes back with considerable "flesh" miss- ing. Jimmy weighed 217 pounds but is now down to 18S^ and <>till losing weight. A strict diet Is the answ^. Cantwell Is going to do a single or a 2-act with his wife. Beatrice Mack. AGENTS "GUARANTEE" CONTRAa UPHELD D5 HAVEN'S RETURN ACT Carter de Haven is returning to vaudeville after a long absence. He opens at San Diego Monday- Ice Skating on Roof Ice skating on a roof top rink as a premium with ^ vaudeville show lived up to expectations as a busi- ness builder dyrlng the cold Snap last week at the Premier, Brooklyn, N. T. It brought out a crowd which Afanager John Turtle figured would oinerwise be dinging to family hearths and the radio. When the big storm hit. Turtle conceived the Idea of flooding the concrete roof and letting it freexe over night. He placarded the the- atre with the announcement of free skating and decorated the aerial rink with vari-colored lights and distributed special admission tickets to those attending the show down- stairs. The rink drew record attendance until Sunday's pip. thawed out the icy surface. ,-;.-: ■ Abe Feinberg Must Pay Kola and Sylvia $840—Bond to Jnsure Payment The Appellate Term In New York last week aflHrmed a decision In favor of Kola and Sylvia, dance teaW, against Abe I. Feinberg, the Lioew agent', for $840. This amount represents a balance ^ue the act from Feinberg who placed them under contract guaranteeing theM 26 weeks at S176 a we^. The judgment carried with it an order of arrest for Felnber^ to in- sure satisfaction of the award. The appeal upheld the decision, but since Feinberg has a Surety bond posted It will probably mean a settlement of the case through pay- ment. Samuel Strelt of Eppatela 4k Ax- man represented the act. I A ■ I' I V • HOUDINICALI^ MARGERY FAKE ^ .M( BERT LEVY THE ARTIST-ENTERTAINER" Broadcasts to his friends from the Orpheum, San Franc *v;.. Backs Up Challenge with $10,000 in Boston Boston, Jan. 6. HoudinI get himself over the en< tire top ot the front page of the Boston "Traveler" when he called upon Mayor Curley of that city, de- positing. $1(^,000 in bonds as a guar- antee be would give $5,000 to any, charitji the Mayor designated If he (Houdini) eoald not expose 'Mar- gery/' a medium, a» a trawl. Hoadiafs conditions irere that "Margery" and himself would have to demonstrate in public and before a committee appointed by tha. Mayor, five of whom were to be ma- gicians, thejatter to be named, .by Houdini. ..v., ' "Margery" Is Mrs. Margery Craa- don, wife of a local physician. She alleges possessing supematwral powers of communication with splritland. Houdini says she'a a faker and he stands ready to unveU any of her mystic manifestatlona Houdini claims he is a magician and all of bis tricks are tricks, de- ceiving and deceptive. In proof W- fore the mayor and a little clt^ hall group, Houdini did his "needle trick." All of the group heard Houdini say that was a deception also, but none could solve It. Magicians named by Houdini for the mayor's committee are Ehigene Powell, S. Leroy, Frits Ducrot, aim Bailey, Al Baiter, W" S Davik and Joh4} F. Rlnn. Dr. Le Rol Ct-andon. formerly medical Instructor at Harvard, re- fused to discuss Houdinl's charge or challenge. He snswered reporters* questions by remarking, "It's a nice day don't yon think?" Hoddlni also Included in bis chal- lenge Prof. McDongall. psychologist at Harvard. Prof. McDougall has criticised Houdin} for the simplicity of his magic. Houdfni says he will wager the amount of Prof. Mc- DougaO's salary for^a year that the professor can not duplicate any of the tricks Houdini will perform be- fore him as a test. Up to date the Prof, has not been heard from. This present challenge of Houdini dates back to the time-when he and Prof. MoZtaugall were of the tdtii' mittee appointed by "The Sclentlllo American" to award a prize offei'ed by the paper for anyone the cdttx^- mittee shouM deem entitled to "it as a genuine spiritualistic mediufh. "Margery" set op a claim, with Houdini questioning "Margery's'* methods, this leading to a conti'b- versy continuing to date. « '" Isco nX AND nrjTTRED Helen Keith Johnson was oper- ated upon Saturday for removal of tonsils at the French Hospital.' She and her husband, Nolan Leary.iiara in vaudeville. m Jim Tenbrooke, ill in the FrAbch Hospital, New York, is considerably improved. - ' An^elo Canaino (The Canslnpa) has recovered from an ojperatlon for removal of tonsils performed by. J>f. J. W. Aih^ at the Amey San,i^to- rium, 368 West 75th street. New York. ., Harry Squires (with , Nltsa Bernille in vaudeville) operated upon for appendicitis Dec. 27,. St. Vincent hospital. New York, con- valescent. I Mrs. Sylvester V.'Poll, operated upon In Roosevelt Hospital for appendicitis, is now at the Smptre Hotel, New York. She will go to Miami in about 10 days to con- valesce during the remainder lof tite winter. •" George Beatty (King'and ^iu^) was operated upori for apljendlcitls at St. Agnes' Hospital, Philadelphia, following a sudden attack While ap- pearing at the Key>"jtone, Philadel- phia, last week. He in recovering. Crosby Oaige, of the Selwyns, and the producer of "Silence," entered a hospital last week Buffering from In infected wisdom tooth. An-op"- eration was required for Its re- I moval.