Variety (May 1925)

•^^ Wednesday. May 6, 1925 VAUDEVILLE ■"H^m.-i r-' f'^^- VAPlWrY : Aa CANCELLED BUT> REINSTATED; r DOING W USED 25 YEARS AGO L-r Outcome of Inyettifation of Complaint by V. M. P. f- A.—Haley and Rock Reopened at Buthwick ThU Week Hal^y and Rock were cancelled at the Riverside, New York, before the Wednesday night performance when refusing to eliminate the "shooting the girl and black 6ut" but which 43hone and Squires on the same bill claimed priority for. Thursday the Keith-Albee office notified Haley and Rock they would resume their route this week (May 4) at :the Bushwick, Brooklyn, and could put the controversial business back in their routine. Investigation disclosed that the bit was done 2S years ago by the Bums Bros, in the extravaganza -•'Eight Bells," and that currently It Is almost as popular as Ford jokes. Acts now using the bit are IVIatthews and Ayres; Edwin George; Olsen and Johnsonj, Skelly •nd Hlte; and several others. A. E. Matthews ' and Violet Hemmlnp •'dignified" it in their last vaude.vllie . vehicle and a dozen burlesque ' ahows have been using it since it was seen in "Chariot's Revue." *■ Billy K. Wells, author of the Shone and Squires -act, is reported ' aa receiving royalty for the the- atrical orphan, but its popularity is ■uch the K-A Circuit will leave it to the race (or the rehearsal checka. The cancellation ot Jack Haley and Helen Eley Rock followed a ■erlea of notifications to eliminate the bit, none of which the team took aeriously. Before the Monday matinee the matter was threshed out in the office* of the Vaudeville Managers Protective Association following a complaint from Shone and Squires. The V. M. P. A. no- tified Haley and Hock, who were on ahead of Shohe and Squires, at the Riverside, to take out the bit. They complied Monday matinee. Jack Haley watched the Shone and , .Squires turn and decided the con- fliction was slight so put the shoot- ing back Monday night. Tuesday Haley was again notified to eliminate it but ignored the notice and used the bit TuesAAy night and Wednesday afternoon. , .Wednesday night when Haley and Rock reported at the house i,they were asked if they would eliminate the bit. They replied in the negative and wve thereupon eancelled. ^^.JEharsday, Haley and Rock, after i: calling at the K-A offices, were ad- ■ vised they could resume their route this week. Haley produced proofs which convinced the K^A office the business was common pre^>erty but . the Riverside. cancellation stood aa the act had refused to abide by the decision of the V. M. P. A. The convincing proof was said to have been a statement by Captain Irving ' ©"Hay that lie had seen the Burns Bros, do the same bit 25 years ago. ORPHEUM ACTS LOSE aOOO IN STICK-UP Party for Al Herman at Sister's Home Invaded by Three Bandits Kansas City, May 6. Three .cool robbers, reinforced by three big revolvers, forced them- selves into a party where several Orpheum actors were l>elng enter- talnedf, early last Thursday morn- ing, got away with >ewelry aind cash to the amount of some $3,000, The paJrty was given by ex-alder- mAn Isaac Reicher, in hone r of Al Herman, who Is Mrs. Richer's brother. Other Orpheum actors present were Ole Olson and Chick Johnson and BilUe Joyce, accom- pianist for Frances White. The guests were getUng ready for a little crap game when the door bell rang and a voice inquired for Mr. Reicher and immediately en-| tered the room, followed by two younger men. All three had drawn revolvers ' and commanded the guests to "stick 'em up." Most of the victims thought it a stunt framed by others and there was little alarm until the robbers became more emphatic. They cut the telephone wires, then lin^d up those present and the frisking com- menced. Herman donated a $2,000 ring; Johnson $250 in cash, while Billie Joyce gave up $96. All stiU thought it a. Joke, but Ole Olson, who became suspicious and dropped a valuable diamond pin into the front of a maid's dress and secreted $200 In cash under a lamp. He gave the bandits $8 when they reached him. Mrs. Al Herman saved two costly dianiond rings by putting them In her mouth, and the fobbers over- looked her diamond pendant in their hurry. Other guests were searched and a^l turned In what they had. About 25 guests were present and the robbers held them prisoners 10 minutes before making tlielr get- away. . WILL MAHONEY Palace, New York, ThU Week (May 4). Will Mahoney returns to vaude- ville this week at the Palace, New York, after a season with George White's "Scandals." Mahoney has signed with the Keith ofllce for next season, opening his route at tl»e Palace. Cleveland, week of August 31, and closing at the Palace, New York, week of May 31, 1926. -direction RALPH G. FARNUM (Edw. S. Keller office) MY HONE FOR WEEPING SINGLLS fay BLANCHE MERRILL This department as headed above will be published as received from Blanche Merrill. Throuah it Miss Merrill becomes the first rhymina columnist. As a lyricist. Miss Merrill is established. These verses as they appear arc her surplus rhymes that had to be printed or placed in storas*. There' s a little house called my house, where the weeping s^gles light. Where they bring their woe.s and sorrows morning, afternoon and night. They come to me with tears and sighs till the soul within me tingles. Come all ye who suffer to my home for weeping singles. MRS. OFFIN'S DIVORCE CASE THROWN OUT Cross-Examination of Private Detectives Enough — Julia Ann Cody Exonei'ated t AaOR ARRESTED BYN. Y. AGENH •'.' MlddletWn, Conn., May B. George Usher, vaudcvillian, on a Warrant sent here from New York, was arrested on a charge of grand larceny while waiting his turn to appear at a local theatre. Usher waived extradition to re- •tum to New York to face the charge He explained his arrest by say- ing a former booking agent (name not divulged) was the complainant who alleged that he (Usher) owed him for commissions. SAM WILLIAMS WlTH GILBERT Sam VVilllama and L. Wolfe ail- bert, the P'eist staff sonpWrlter, have formed a vaudeville combination. Williams was the late K.ate Elincre's (Mrs. Williams) partner for many years. Van Hoven Returns to House That 'Canned' Him Springfleld, O., May 5. Frank Van Hoven is playing his first repeat date for Gua Sun at the Regent ^n 18 years. At the previous date when Frank was booked in for $25 a week the Sun manager can- celled him after ttie first show. Frank Is much more expensive now. about 1975 more so. He stopped the sho]v Mon.lay. Frank may have Improved since. At any rate the theatre has, but Frank doesn't figure the setting had anything to do with the change. The only thing to mar Van 3 re- turn was the absence of Sun from the firing line when Frank went on and bowled 'em over. Bernard and Cantor Sailing Eddie Cantor will take r\ trii* t« Europe, following the clositiK of "Kid Boots." He will leave eariy In June. Sam Bernard has rho.«eii a fail- ing date for this nionlli ami vvil. also travel abroad. The dismissal of Belle Offlns di- vorce suit against Phil S. Offln. the vaudtville agent In the Mar K Hayes ofllce, exonerates OfRn and Julia Ann Cody, a typist, now em- ployed in the Peerless Booking Of- fice, named in the proceeding. Justice Phoenix Ingrabam in the New York Supreme Court, after hearing Julius Kendier (Kendler A Goldstein) cross-exanvine Mrs. Of- fln's witnesses, inclijding the pri- vate detectives, dismissed the com- plaint from the bench. Although Miss Cody was in court, prepared^ take the stand in her own defenw, the dismissal did not necessitate her testimony. Mrs. 031n alleged discovering Miss Cody and Offln in the glrl'e apartment on West 88th street. The alleged co-respondent tn Affidavits set forth she shared the apartment with another girl and that the roMna were always open. On these and other representa- tions, Kendler was successful in winning a preference for his client, the trial taking place about seven weeks after Mrs. Oflin had been awarded $45 weekly alimony pend- ing the* trial. IBA M. CHADWZCK'S DIVORCE It occurred some moona ago but now, says Ida May Chadwick, it may be released. "It" la tha fact that Ida May aometirae ago pro- cured a divorce from her hu.sband. Other details are immaterial. Miss Chadwick asserts. THE TILLER DANCING SCHOOLS Open f.ir d I.imlt»rt Nunibrr of I'upils Privalr Lmimmis C'la<>Hr« of 4 ChlMrrn ■ MpertaHy OF AMERICA, Inc. 226 West 72d Street NEW YORK rhfjili': Coiliroll 8tl.'-S MART RKAO Becrnurr INDEX Of Pages in This Issue Miscellaneous 1 Foreign 2 Vaudeville 3-12 Burlesque 20 Legitimate 22-28 Legitimate Reviews 27-28 Sports _ 18 Pictures 29-47 Picture Reviews 46-47 Film House Reviews 46-46 Presentations 4$ Music 48-51 Stock V 24 Little Theatres 24 Radio 48 Editorials -■>. 21 Csbaret 51 Times Square . 19 News from the Dailies... 13 Opera and Concerts 25 Outdoors 62-53 Circus 54 Inside Stuff—Legit 21 " —Vaudeville .. 12 " " —Pictures ... 44 " —Music 51 Obituary 54 Correspondence 56 Letter List 61 Vaudeville Reviews 14-15 Bills Next Week 16-17 I ■- -1. "My piano player's left me, what am I goln' to do? I wouldn't cry, but you know that guy said he loved me, too. Oh, he treated me Just awful—don't the woman always pay?^ Why, he was Just a plugger—I made him what he Is today. And now he's gone and left me, why don't you call him up and *eo If you can't talk that ungrateful thing into coming back to me?'* And. after many bitter tears, I am left alone, ■■:, Only to liave someone else call me on the 'phone— "They want me to go on number four. Isn't that a shame? I should be next-to-closing with my salary and my name. It's someone in the office that's doing that to me. I can think ot only two or three, which one could it be?"* •• And she goes on and on and oq, then another comes along-— "I've been waiting since last Christmas Eve for my closing song, I know I have ho voice to sing and dancel Not for mine. I never did a dramatic bit, and comedy's not my line, But I know you know Just what I need—a couple of great big woirs— The kind that'll bring me back for six or seven bows." And so !t goes on. day by day, till my brain can't "vrlte !t.s Jingles. It's usarveiuus! It's glorious! My Home for Weepinj^ Singles. THE NEW ACT > "Ho! Ho! Ha! Ha," said the actor, "My act's all ready to show. Brand new songs and dialogue—I ought to get some dough. Paid (or all exclusive stuff and for orchestrations, too, Swell new drop and costumes—wow! It cost me many ^ sou. Now I'll go up to an agent and get a break-in-date. And let the otflce see it before it is too late. Want to route up for next season. I bet they're :oing to pay. ni show it now because the summer Is only five months awajr." He goes to AIX Wilton, that's thf agent he picks, Alf says, "Got a new act? Good. Take it out to the sticks. We -don't want the ofllce to get a report until we're sure It'a right, And if It's as good as you say it la—Money? Boy! Good night!" So the actor sees Fally Marcus, Fatly slaps his sweet on the ba^ Hands out the g6od old conning Salve as only Fally has the knack, "Got a new act, have you? What's it all about?" And the act's outlined to Fally and Fally says, "That's out. My houses Just wdnt slap-stick stuff—your act's too refined, I'm sorry I cant play It—You Understand. You don't raind"; So the actor walks up Broadway, wondering what he's goln' ta do, Then he calls on a teeny-weeny aj^ent—In t.\ft hp ralln on two. The teeny-weenies tell him he'll hear from them any day. He waits and waits and waits and waits, and .summer's Jtist (our months away. f At last he gets an opening date, "You play Poughkeepsie, sir, Saturday and Sunday and your salary's fifteen per; I get ten per cent, of that—I know you're in a trance— But they know you have a new act and they hate to take a chance." So the actor plays Poughka^psie and from there he Jumps to Lyon, Plays three weeks of those one-horse towns, and then he's al>out all in. Has to send costumes to the cleaners, have new orchestrations made. Besides losing a cotrple of hundred on the salaries he has paid. Discouraged and despondent, he wallcs along Broadway, Goes up to see Alf Wilton and summer's Just three months away. i\> He shows his reports to Alfle and says the a<?t's all set, "Good." speaks Mr. Wilton, "I'll see what house I can get.* He goes from booker to booker, they say their books are packed. "And, t>esldes. how can we book it when we haven't seei. the act?" And Die actor calls up Al( sachi^nd every day; another month slowly b>. And summer's Just two months away. The actor Kta "idr. Lauder, Mr. I.Auder sends for the books. He turns over pages and pages ahd looks and looks «nd looks. "The first opening I can give you is four we3ks from today," So the actor waits. What can hs do? And summer's Just one moi.th away. At last he gets a showing. The reports en the whole are good. The poor little actor Is Wild with joy. He had done the best he'couK. He rushes up to his agent, to him it was all too true, * "They like your act," spoke Alfle, ^'but what are w« going to doT The summer season's on us, I don't know where you're goin' to play. The houses are all closing—yep—tliey close a week from today. You'll have to lay off for the summer. Oh, everything will be great Come up and see me in the fall and we'll get another opening date." "I'm not goln' to put my life in Jeopardy," Said little Eftle Weston, "Jeopardy?" said Donald, "Where did you get that? I'ardon the question?" "You don't know whdt Jeopardy means?" aald Bfilc "Well, th.Tt's golnK some. Did you ever hear of a Jeopardy shorlfl? Oh, Donald, you'fe so dumb!" \. ,'«• WnXIAMS BOOKED HEBE Rnii stiy WillianiH, il.ti KnH'i!--h hoadluKf. has b^en booked for tho K"itli-AH>ea liou.>4es her# in the fall. Jpnie Jarol>« set the <.nga?rem<'nt. BILLY B. VAN'S PINE TREE SOAP for Actor* NED WAYBURN Studios of Stagt Owietit inc 1841 Broadway, Studio F, N.Y. City M ColBMbw CircU (CnliMC* Ml SO* ■imi> Opm* A.M.MIOP. M. <eic«pc S«t. Bvw. mad 3— Jt*.)!'*!. riiliiatM >»0» Writt (tr Art BNtItt "F"