Variety (May 1925)

AMUSEMENTS PRICE 20 CENTS PabUahed Weekly at lt« Wert «(Ui St.. tUw Tortt. H. T.. by Vurttitr, fnc AnacBl aabacriptlon »T. StoKle co»4«a «• c«nta. Sutercd as a*coB« cUaa matter December tt. 1>M. at the Foa t Oai«e at New Tork. N. T^ under tbe Act of March t, 1IT9. rOL. LXXVni. No. 12 NEW YORK CITY, WEDNESDAY MAY 6, 1925 64 PAGES EMPSEY QUITTING RING PRINCESS IDA," ABOUT TO aOSt TAKENOVER BY 2 STAGE HANDS rAordinary Happening with Miuical Piece—Cost Lawrence Aidialt, Producer, $25,000—Company Cuts and Lee S^ubert Guarantees Salaries Two BtaKe hands have taken over e production of "Princess Ida" iat the Shubert. The men wno were working the show respectively as •lectrician and carpenter are Lloyd XeUy and Lieonard Thomas. It is believed to be the first in- ptance where members of a crew lave expressed enough confidence an attraction tossed aside by e producer for them to take a noe with. "Ida" was produced by Lawrence Anhalt who invested about $25,000. He was to have been (Continued on page 15) ?. P'S ONE-DAY STANDS FOR THREE WEEKS Personal Appearances -—Just Meeting Dig-^ nitaries When Tom >Ax alights Friday ' (May 8) from the incoming "Mauretania" after his triumphal ; trip abroad, the Fox's ace may hold \m conference with "Tony" after see- ' log the layout the Fox office has ■•♦t for him during a three-week |t-|f ' ' (Continued on page 9) mMts.. Valentino's 1st Film Los Angeles, May 5. Production of the first picture to nbe made by Mrs. Rudolph Valen- tino will be begun at the United Studios this week. The picture will be made by the Circle Film Corp., liaaded by S. George Ullman, busi- ness manager for Rudolph Valen- tino. The title is to be "What Price Beauty," a comedy-drama written by Mrs. Valentino under her pro- fessional name, Natachi Raml>ova. Alan Hale was scheduled to direct but due to some complications may be replaced by another. Those already chosen for the ca^t Include Nlta Naldl, Pierre Gendron. Paulette Duval, Delores Johnson. Uorothy Dwan and Sally Long. "ABIET $77,000 IN ST. LOUIS Anne Nichols' Marvel Amazes "Middle West St. Louis, May S. Middle Western showmen {tnd es- pecially Chicago's managerial talent are watching the "Able'a Irish Rose" engagement here. They said If "Able" could do real business in St. Louis at this stage of the sea- son, it has the right to be rated the greatest drawing card in the world. Here's what Anne Nichols' mar- vel did the flret Ave weeks at the Shubert -Jefferson: Gross the first four weeks, (Continued on page 15) EXIVAS COMPLAIN ITS MONEY SAVING METHOD 4,000 in Audience to Watch Rodeo Saved Producer $20,- 000—Tieup with Daily Loa Angeles, May 6. Universal believes in holding down the cost of production when it oomea to the making of outdoor pic- tures. Last Sunday while shooting a rodeo scene in a picture starring Josie Sedgewick, some 4,0«0 persofk were necessary for atmosphere. A tie up was made with a-local news- paper to print a coupon admitting tbe public to witness the rodeo. It is figured by U that, with the admission of some 4.000, they would save at least $20,000 on the day (Contiifued OS page 12) EKetCED MilllllOi $/.0M NEEKIY IT LOM PIflK Saiiiac '^mt B«rim for Eif^t W e e k s — SeTeli - Week Theatrical Vaudeyille En- casement Following Over Here at $6,000 a Week- After That Star of **U Zat So?"—Condition in Vaudeville Contract Not to Fight Colored Boxer— Dempsejr Not to Fight This Year and Likely Re- tiring as Undefeated HeaTjrweight Champion $7S0,000 REALIZED H)R N. Y. A BY COLLECTIONS AND BENEFTIS Five Shows Sunday in New York Drew Over $80,000 SOO-Page Souvenir Program Represented $100|* 000—Unredeemed $1 Tickets WIFE IN FULL CHARGE Jack Dempsey has entered Into theatrical engagements that will keep him out of tbe pugilistic ring for the remainder of this yesjf. To- day (Wednesday) he la sailing on the "Berengarla" on his way to Berlin, to open an engagement at Luna Park in that city for four weeks at »7,000 weekly with his contract giving; the park an option (Continued on page 18) Victor Herbert Trihite MISS^KESBITT'S COMEBACK Detroit. May 5. Evelyn N'esbitt is the attraction at the Oriole (cabaret), where she Is singing and dancinir- Miss Utt- bitt's songs are of the comedy type. She la receiving $1,500 a week, under engagerneat for sIk weeks. Probably the naost ambitious ra- dio program of world-famous ar- tists will be offered the public as the American Society of Compos- ers, Authors and Publishers' na- tional^ tribute to the memory of Victor Herl)ert. in observance of the first year of bis death on May W. The broadcasting will be two days sooner. May 24, via WEAF and a network of relayed radio stations which will cover the en- tire country. Herbert w » a founder and of- ficer of the American Socety. His original Victor Herbert orchestra of 100 win be specially reassembled for the occasion. The PauT Whltcman, Armand Veosey, 4ohn Philip Sou- sa. M.1X BendiJt Hugo Rlecenfald and Henry Ha.:iey orchestras will also officiate from the Hotel Ritz- (Continued on page 7) SUESIORLD' FOR $mooo Goldknopf Didn't Like Review on 'Near Future* Probably one of tbe most unique causes for action in the history of the show business is the 9200,000 damage suit which the Mutual The- atrical Society, Inc., of which Abraham Goldhopf is president, has started in the New Tork Su- preme Court against the Press Publishing Co., publishers of the New Tork "World." Dr. Gotdnopf, author of "In the Near Future." which lasted three special matinees at Wallack's the> (Continued on page f) Tbe five N. V. A. benefits held Sunday night in New York City. tb« benefit performances held in Cht> cago and Los Angeles, the revenue from the 660-page program, the N. V. A. week of collections in all houses controlled by the Vaudeville Managers' Protective Association, is said to have grossed for the N. V. A. Sick and Benefit Fund, I7&0.000 this year. The receipts break all records for any organisation anywhere in the history of the world. They repre- ^ (Continued on page 11) NEW IIASH NOTE" FOR RADIO ANNOUNCERS Gifts Too for Luring Voicc«— Talent Sidestepped—Leap Year Proposals / This issue of Variety goes to press with 450 inches of display advertising held out, due to pressure of space re- quired for news matter. A new form of "mash note" has come into beln^r with radio. The radio announcers with tketv excel- lent diction and enunciation have become the targets for amorous missives from feminine fans. These epistles are often augnnented by sundry gifts and tokens of esteem, such as knitted ties, sox. Jams and , (Continued on t«ge IS) Cohan Denies Comeback Several times GeorKC M. Cohan has been reported returning to pro- duction, t he latest report being printed in a SuuJ.iy dramatic col- umn and pifi'ed up by other dailies. Cohun nays he knows nothing about hi.s comebark. Over the tel- ephone yesterday, from Atlantic City, Mr. Cohan Haid that otht* th.T.i a trip ^ fCurupc in AugUHt he hail no other r>I:inM rr cpt "maybo buy eight or iiine b.ill cliiljs." WHITEMAN'S REYOLimONARY CONCERTS With Orchestra of 31 Next Season — Gersh- win's Negro Opera Four to six ^Rerolutionary Con* certs" will l>e offered next season, the first in December by Paul Whiteman, of a nature that will startle the concert and music wo^. The "revolutionary" appellation is wisely chosen. Whiteman, In his desire to build up a strictly American mnsic, will (Continued on page 7) $6,000 WEEKLT FOB AfiTOS "Phantom of the Opera" (Uni- versal) which opens a Broadway run at the Astor, New Tork, LAbor Day, is said to have hit tbe high mark for rentals. Carl Laemmle Is i>aying the Shu- berts $6,000 for the four walls. •OWNS - -ONJfOIIMB FOQ EVEUVBOoy WHO n MiyBOO/ OH THE STA6E0R9CREBi..6CUISNE. KStSRS ev t£MI« SIVU (3KAI0R6 •-» ——<M.«0 ISOOO Q O0 t V> m » to SSIIT