Variety (January 1925)

inesday, January 7, 1826 VAUDEVILLE VARIETY INSDE STUFF 01 yAUDXYILLE Another act In TaadeTlIlA will b« played before the season ends by '•■'■ MoUie Fuller, now blind and the widow of Fred Hallcn. Mlaa Fuller has '"'' been appearing In vaudeville despite her affliction for two seasons or more In an especially written skit woven around her which prevents an audience becoming aware Uiaa Fuller Is alchtless. Blanche Merrill wrote the little playlet Miss Fuller has been using. Between now and March, when the.new act is to go on. Miss Merrill wUI have completed it for Miaa Fuller. Miss Merrill contributes the playlets for Misa Fuller, with Mollle never having seen BlancHe. She knows how Blanche looks through having ■earchingly fel'. of her face. Miss Fuller was blind when Miss Merrill flntt-met her. Thay were living in the same hotel. Mollie was desolate in those 4ays, even desperate. Blanche called upon her to help the hopeless blind woman pass the time. While talking with her Mias Merrill con- eatved tlM Idea of writing something around Mollle that would at least kaep h«r mind busy. Millie agreed and Miss Merrill wrote the playlet now in use. Through the personal Inte^sf also take* tn Miaa Fuller by E. F. Albee, she has worked continuously. Consldvrlng the great calamity that nearly over- came her, Mollic aince has been happy In her work, knowing that once again she Is earning her ewn living. Barry Divis' advertisement in Variety last week causrht vaudeviUe'a attention, ft called for bands and musical attractions for the Davis pic- ture boaae in Pittsburgti ana waa aigned by Engene L. Connclley, man- age;-. Harry Davl^ is understood to have been opposed to placing extra atage attractions tn plotnre theatres. Qllda Qi^y durin;; Xman week played L.oew'B Aldine, pittslnirgh, as the special draw, and drew, despite the Aldine's location. Miss Gray had performed the same feat at other picture theatres ^e appeared in in other cities. The Davis vaudeville theatre. .*lttsburgh, books its acts through the Keith office. As a reault of the success of pictures and Independent vaudeville. Without regard to "names" in the Grand opera house. 23rd street and 8th avenue. New York, and the Olympic, Brooklyn, Al>e Flum and Sam Traub are seekiag leases on other houses regarded heretofore as "lemons" or "white elepiianta." .On the Grand lease alone, the Flum Jfc Traub combinatiloa is said to b4 away ahead, while the Olympic proposition is a bonanaa. TheOlyraple Is between Myrtle and Fulton streets on Adams and the rental of the theatre is more than made up In the restaurant concession and the ofllcc rentals in the building. Concnrrent with the return of Jenie Jacobs as an agent la the Keith office, attached to the Pat Ci^ey Agency, came along the matter of booking Francis Renault, who is back in vaudeville. Before Mr. Renault left the big tiine Miaa ^^obs had represented him for several y^ars. About to return a few weeks ago he called upon Miss Jacobs. She informed him that as she was not booking through Keith's, he had better consult a Keith agent, Renault selected Alf T. Wilton. Mr. Wilton had bardly secured an opening date fer Mr. Renault before It bsoame known Miss Jacobs would return to the Keith office. Wilton, according to report, offered to release the act to Mias Jacobs, but the latter said she could not see why. as *Wilton waa entitled to it and there the matter rests with everyone satisfied. 'i Sir Alfred Butt, now In New York, is reported willing to look at a - burlesque show over here as a possibly contender for the stage of his E<mpire, Liondon. Sir Alfred has the ESnglisb rights to Arthur Hammer- stein's "Rose Marie" and has been thinking of placing the London pro- duction at the Drury Ijane. The theatre, however, is not set as yet tor it. Richard Pitrot, once known professionally as "the man of a thousand faces" and alco as "the Globe Trotter." who was forced to retire from the stage, also from foreign bookings, owing to 111 h^th. Is living in New York. Pitrot's condition has been brought to the attention of agents and professionals, whc are planning to help the veteran vaude- Yilllan out In a financial way. Pitrot is about 7&. When the new Orpheum (formerly Fax) at Oakland, Calif., opena in Febraury. it will have been improved as a vaudeville theatre by about IIM.OM spent upon remodeling. Included la the improvements is an elevator, back stage. The Orpheum Circuit will operfte it with its vaudeville bills and Fox plcturea The Fox house formerly played pic- tures exclusively. ^ Recriminations were Auent In Boston between "Margery," a ' medium, also the wife of Dr. ]> Roi G. Crandon, a surgeon of place and> ' repute, and Harry HoudlnL An upshot was that Houdlnl ottered to ^'' donate ft.OOO to charity If he could not duplicate'"Margery'a" manifesta- tions and in publle exhibition at any place selected in New York or Boston. It was an outcome of the prise contest conducted by "The SclentlQe ':'■ American." Houdlnl was on the original committee for that paper, bat when he "beat" the committee to the publicity In it for him some months ago, several on the committee didn't think that was proper. liOoklng upon It as "show business" for himself and finding that tt gets him the moat publicity, Houdlnl worries Utile over the attacks upon him. these attacks being In the nature of reprisals for his announcement ^ he can duplicate the tricks of any medium. REDUCED COST Theatre and "Dance Fienda" Before *«* "t ,V. M* r* -n^ N, ¥• The State. Utlca, N. Y., has com- plained against Gene Lucas' "Dance Fiends," an act which showed at the theatre with a reduced cast. Jack Llnder books the house. The defense Is that the manager of the act notified Linder it would be Impossible to assemble the entire cast of five to play the date, but waa instructed by the booker to line up as many as possible and report. The house manager refused to play the act, whi(^ only included thr«e people and has complained to the"VaudeviUe Managers' Protective Association, alleging the loss of an aotr it t»elng 'oo late to book a suMtltute. Fries and Cody Returning 1*44*8 and Cody, who dissolved several years ngo when Miss Cody entered legit, have reunited and will shortly head a new musical flash act, "Eat and Grow Thin," which Royce and Beatty are sponsoring. INEQUITABLE CLAUSE Kathleen Morris Released from Mssen and Cole Contract A clause in contract giving the management of the act the right to cancel by uaual notice at any time but preventing the artiat from canceling similarly, "after a route had been secured," was declared in- equitable yesterday by Major Dono- van of the Vaudeville Managers' Protective. Association. Kathleen Morris, a sprightly ingenue, had signed the contract and waa to have been featured. Miss Morris had been of the impres- sion the ttirrn intended to play out of the Keith office. Informed the act bad secured a Pantages Circuit route, Mlaa Morris examined her contract. Fred Hand Goes to Washington Fred Hand, who has oeen closing up the affairs of the Joseph Hart office since the death of Mr. Hart, has resigned to assume charge of the new Earle. Washington, D. C. and an the Stanley Co. interests there. MORRIS A FEIL Suggests for t929 THE DU FONTS casnedy Jugglers •*A Study in Nonsense" This week (Jan. &th). B. F. Keith's Riverside Theatre, N. Y. BRAY WTTH BECK? It is reported Charles E. Bray will arrive in Bosit>n Jan. 12, im- mediately coming to- New York. Mf.- and Mrs. Bray left last month for Vienna, to be away for two years, living on the Continent. In connection with the report Is that Bir. Bray may have been re- called by Martin Beck, and that Beck intenda asking him to assume charge of the new Beck theatre, now housing the halting "Mme. Pompadour." Eddie Sullivan has been In ch^r^e of the Beck, but Is und-^.-^tocd to have insisted upon returning to St. Louis, owing to the loneliness of Mrs. Sullivan away from her folks and friends in that city. Mr. Sulli- van was managing the Orpheum. St.. Louts, when called to take change of the New York house. GOMFLAIHT AGAIHffr ACT Alexander end Olsen are reported to have cut an important portion, of their act ' hlle playing the Riviera. Brooklyn, N. Y. (Moss house) re- cently. _ According to the report, ope of the team became embroiled in an argument witn the stage doorman. Following. the argument the act is said to have attempted retaliation by cutting the female Impersonation bit done by one. The house has flled a complaint against the turn following the inci- dent and the Ke'th office and V./M. P. A. are investigating. VERA SICHOIUB' $15 WEEKLT Vera A. NIcholla waa awarded $16 weekly alimony and $60 counsel fees tn her separation suit against Fred J. NIcbolls, last of "Clubs Are Trumpa" The plaintiff (vaudeville) alleged abandonment and non-sup- port. The couple were married Nor. >0, 1»M. Edward V. Loughlin repre- sented the wife. There are no children. OKIBWOLD 0. H. SOLD Albany. N. Y.. Jan. 9. The Griswold Opera Houibe prop- erty, Troy, N. T., birthplace of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," has been sold to the Wit Realty company of Bos- ton, said to be owned and managed by the TraveDers' Shoe Company. The sale was authorized by Su- preme Court Justice Wesley O. Howard for |S40,000. KELLAM AHS ODARE PART Kellam and O'Dare have dissolved their vaudeville partnership. Miss O'Dare has Joined "Little Jessie James." The team were a standard vaudeville turn and married. Tab at Lino9|n Vaudeville has been passed up for a few weeks at the Lincoln (Harlem) to permit the playing of Drake and Walker Players In col- ored musical tab. They have a four weeks' booking. Joe Finn's Coast Visit Chicago, Jan. 1. Joseph E. Finn, one of the vice- presidents of the Orpheum Circuit, has left for six weeks in Califor- nia, accompanied by his son. Byron and Wyndham in 'O'ea for 3" Arthur Byron and Olive Wynd- ham will open a tour of the Keith houses Monday, Jan. i. In a con- densed version of "Tea for Thcee," produced by Lewlg ft Ootf oa. PLASTER FALLS 30 FEET Panic Averted at State, Pawtucket. Rhode Island. Pawtucket, R. I., Jan. 6. One woman w;as aerlously hurt and a second woman and two men slightly injured when a section of plaster, eight feet in diameter, dropped SO feet from the celling to the orchestra floor of the State the- atre here Thursday afternoon (Jan. 1). Although many other persons rushed from the house, and a cry of fire \/aa raised, a general panic was averted. The craah came 'without warning at 4:30, when the theatre, which holds 1,800, was about half-flUed. The State, built twelve years a.;o, is owned and operated by the Gold- stein Brothers of Springfield as a combination twlce-a-day vaudeville and picture house. Shows were resumed- Thursday night, after the debris had been removed. LESSERS AND ASS'N stopped. Off st Chicage East on Wsy Los Angeles, Jan. <. Sol and Irving Lesser (of West Coast Theatres) left Sunday for New York, but Sol will stop oft in Chicago to confer with Marcus Hsi- man, president of the Orpheum Circuit, and W. J. Lydiatt. bead of the Western Vaudeville Managers' Associailon. regarding the vaude- ville problem on the Coast. From there he will go to New York with Harry Arthur, who is In Chicago attending the key city meeting of Fir^t National. Orpheum's 30th L. A. Year ° Los Angeles, Jan. f. The Orpheum Circuit celebrated its thirtieth anniversary In Los An- geles on Dec. SI. It was on that day In 1894 the original Orpheum opened in Child's Opera house, which still stands at First and Main streets. The theatre was christened the Orpheum and occupied for a few years until it was moved to Spring street, on the site of the present Lyceum, until 1911, when the name was transferred to the present structure on Broadway, which is tx> be abandoned as the Orpheum Sept. 1 next and given to the new $1,600,000 house which is being erected on Broadway and Ninth street. ATHEKAS RETURNIHO 'The Athenas. an equilibristic team apt>earlng In the slave market num- ber In the "Follies." are due to sail back to Italy this week. The, acro- bats were brought over by E. Ray Goetz and placed under contract by Arthur Hammerstein, who In turn farmed the team to Zlegfeld. Upon completion of the contract Hammerstein under the contract agreement Is to pay passage over- seas, the cost being |400. The Athe- nas requested permission to Vork one weel^in vaudeville prior to sail- ing. Hammerstein, however, re- plied he would not pay passage if the dat,e was accepted. According to reports the Athenas might have received several months' t>ooking on the strength of the pro- posed vaudeville date, which would have released Hammerstein from the liability for return fares. Resumes Vsudevills Quincy, 111., Jan. C. The Washington Square theatre, under Joseph Desbefger, new lessee and manager, had only a week or two of pictures and returned to vaudeville. The house takes three acts from Loew, who Jump from St. Louis. JUDGMENTS Philadelphia Jack O'Brien; M. Smith: 1129.45. Salem Tutt WhHney and J. Hemer Tutt (Smoker Set Co.) and North * South Co.; F. Wilson; 1154.91. Gsillsrd T. Bosg; Strauss tt Co., Inc.; $27.45. Elsie Producing Co., Inc.; G. A. Ferries; $1,177.46. Ehrlieh Amua Co., Inc.; CMty of N. Y.; $49.44. Hsrris Frelich Amus. Cerp-> Ine.; same; $82.i>2. Kneer Amua Co.; Automatic Ticket Register Corp.; $178.30. Echo Amua Co.; City of N. T.; $65.96. Pictorium Anuia Co.; same; $19.44. Rse Amus. Corp.; same; same. Strand Motion Picture Co., Inc.; H.iine; same. Harry Collins, Ine.; 45 East S7th 8t. Co., Inc.; 93.541.60. INCORPORATIONS Lewis Literary Enterprises, Inc., New York; theatrical, pictures; $10.- 000; M. llegger. A. Harcourt, M. H. Cane, F. Reiss, D. J. Fox. (Attor- neys, Krnst, Fox & Cane, 25 West 43d St.) Classplay Pictures Corp., New York; pictures; $10,000; J. M. Hirscn. A. L. Epstein, D. Lazarus. (Attor- ney, J. M. Hlrsch. 149 Broadway.) Dan Quintan All Star Players, Inc., Ehnlia; theatrical, moving pic- tures; $45,000; Dan Quinlan, M. C. Kelly. J. R. Splllan. (Attorneys. Dansher A O'Dea. Blmlra. N. Y.) Elliott Ticket Co.. Inc., New Yorl:; manufacturing ticketr; $300,000; C. Elliott. E. Elliott. J. ElUott. (At- torney, r. J. Knorr, Vlbany, N. Y.) Wilson - Wetherald, Inc., New . York; pictures: $30,000; 8. D. Wil- son. R. W. Wetberaid, B. Barber. (Attorneys. Barber ft Stetson. 3S Broadway.) Washington Heights Thestres, I no.. New York; amusement resort; $200,000. E. N. FreibertM-, H. Yaffa, J. J. Brooke. (Attorney^, Feinberg A Feinberg, SI Chambers street.) Finger Lakes Athletie Assn., Inc., Ithaca; conduct athletic games; $2,500; D. A. Saperatone, L. Spear. J. B. Urband. (Attorney, C. P. Cof- fey. 213 Bast State street, Ithaca. N. Y.) Hsmpstsad Theatre Corp., Hemp« stead. N. Y.; theatrical; $200,000; C. W. Carman, C. W. Walker. S. (htlderone. (Attorneys. Maxson A Jones, M. St J. Bldg., Hempstead, N. TT.) Weetern New Yerk Theatrical Knterpriees, Inc., Buffalo; motion pictures: 800 shares n.p.v.; F. M. Zimmerman, C. Ross, F. D. White. (Attorneys, Aaron * Dautch, 378 Elllcott Sq.. Buffalo. N. Y.) Qolf A Landscape Corp., White Plains: erect golf courses; 250 shares pfd. stock $100 p.v., 269 shares common stock n.p.v.; E. B. Wlnett, P. Acker, O. E. Reish. (At- torneys. Cohen. Lee * McDonald, 33 Broa^lway. New York City.) HoterPrincston Corp., New York; o{>erate hotelg. amusement houses; $10,000; P^ Pickens, E. B. Utltx. A. L. Utitz.^ (Attorney, R E. Siegel- stein, 99 Nassau street.) Bronx Golf Assn., Inc., New York city; operate gc4( links, etc ; $200,000; Jesse Winburn. C. H^ King J. P. Kramer. (Attorneys, Town- send A Gulterman. 46 Cedar street.) Oceanfront Develepment Corp., New York city; bnllders, contrac- toVs, amusement devices; 1,000 shares preferred stock, $100 par value, 150 shares common stock, no par value; C. IB. Ruckstuhl, A. T.' Gladstone, H. M. QoMblatt. /At- torney. A. I. Gladstone, 44 Beaver street.) ^ American Grand Opera Assseis» tien, Ine., New York; opera produc- tion; $25,000: C. & Davis. H. C. Wiseman. M. Frank. (Attorney. 8. Rasch, Wool worth Bldg.) Hast Productions, Inc., New York; theatrical enterprises: 300 shares no par value; directors. W. Hast. H. D. Austin, J. B. Byck; subscribers. D. C. Hirech, S. Lowenthal. A. Wurzel. (Attorney, F. ^ J. Knorr. Albany. N. Y.) ~ Verbach Bros., inc., New York; mfg. musical instruments; $50,000; J. L. Vorbach. C. J. Vorbach, L. Vor- bach. (Attorney, D. A. Fraser, 253 'Broadway. Brookls^.) Dissolution E. K. Lincoln PIsysrs, Inc., Nev York. (Attorneys, Stern A Reubens, 149 Broadway. Rhode fklsnd Ivsn Productions, Inc., Provi- dence; motion pictures: $40,000 capi- tal stock; W. H. Draper, Providence: Ivan Abramson, New York city, and Henry Gorshel. Dorchester, Mass. Indiana Switow Theatriosi Co., Jefferson- ville. Ind.. has incorporated with $300,000 common and $300,000 pre- ferred stock. Directors. Michael. Sam^pd Harry Switow, G. C. Kopp. John Gelger, C. F. Ants and W. T. Ingram. Broadwsy Coliseum Co., Muncle. Ind.; $10,000 capital; J. A. Burden, Wm. Guthrie and M. C. Ashley. Msssaehusetts Atlsntic Film Corp., Inc., Boston; capital, $100,000; J. Gray. H. J.ang, H. Temple, H. Skinner, J. Callahan and P. Zuver. Connecticut United Theatres, Inc., .Vow Haven; authorized capital, $50,000; to begin with, $9,000; Samuel Sha- piro, Joseph Liebman and Morris Nunes, all of New Haven. Wilcox Amusement Co., Inc.. West Haven; authorized capital. $125,000; to begin with. $5,000: Frank Wilcox and Frank 8. Terrell. of West Haven; Robeft J. Wood- ruff, of Orange. NEW TEAR'S ACCIDENT I'awtucket. R. I., Jan. 6. Five patrons in the State theatre here were injured when an eight- foot section of plastering fell from the celling on New Year's Day. The Injured were taken to a hospital. Prompt work by the ushers pre- vented a panic. The State is one of the Goldstein Brothers (Springfield) theatres playing vuutleville and films.