Variety (May 1925)

■" '."PliflP.,'"''"**!'? r^STT-^p^'^ W^ VARIETY VAUDEVILLE Wednesday, May 6, 1( WHEELER BROKE ARM; BROTHERS DID TWO-AQ And stopped the Show While Johnny Awaited the Ambulance San Francisco, May 5. Claude Sweeten, leader ot the Golden Gate theatre orchestra, was playing the overture; the picture was over, and the first show of the afternoon was :-eady to tiart. The Wheeler Trio, opening the bill, were back of the drop, and Johnnie Wheeler said, "I'm stiff, let's lim- ber up." A quick pull-up and Johnnie was balanced on the hands pf his brother. But Johnnie must have „J>e«n more than stiff, (or suddenly he lost balance—a twist, a plunge, and he crashed to the floor. There he lay unconscious and with his left arm broken, his shoulder dislocated —the orchestra finished the over- ture, and the buzzer warned for the opening act. Harry Etten, property man, had seen the accident. As he ran to the side of the fallen acrobat, he ripped his sleeve from his shirt and called to Tony Kenna, the stage carpenter, "Break a batten—make a splint, quick." Kenna's mind was as quick as that of hia assistant. Tenderly they carried Johnnie off- stage, leaving the two brothers standing there—the show was r«fl4y to start; Sweeten was playing their music, i^d Johnnie, broken and bruised, lay there while the ambu- lance was racing to thfl theatre. They had to go on—senthxient meant nothing to those out front, who had paid to be amused. They did go en—'they did a two- act, and a good one; tears may have dimmed their eyes, sadness •may have rested on their hearts— but they went on, and in a moment did «.two-act that stopped the show. Dr. Arthur Relnstein, the show- man,'* friend In San Francisco, rushied Wheeler to the Emergency Hospital; later he was taken to the St. Francis Hospital, where he is resting easily. Cliff Work, house manager at the Golden Gate, reported the accident to the Orpheum Circuit's home of- fice, and back came the reply, "Pay Wheelar Trio full salary. Socry for acciflent." Dooley-Barton Fight; Martha Morton Faints Chicago, May 6. Martha Morton (Dooley and Mor- ton) while playing the Palace, exe- cuted a faint following their slow motion dance. It resulted in the turn being let out for the balance of the engagement. According to reports prior to their opening the act had words with James Barton, whom they re- fused to follow. The differences It is understood developed into a heated argument resulting in a flght. Dooley and Morton have been en- gaged for the new edition of "Scan- dals" and are slated to report for hehearsals shortly. "Crack" Swecipt South New Orleans, May 5. A few days ago at Memphis Sandy Shaw "died" at one of the performances. Toward th« end of bis act ha said to the leader, "The N. V. A, can send me my $1,000 now." The house manager repri- manded Shaw but the "crack" has spread over the entire south. "k"!- • Kouns Reengaged Philadelphia, May S. Immediately after their perform- ances yesterday at Fox's picture theatre here, the Kouns Sisters were re-engaged to return to Fox's week May 18. This is the first picture theatre the sisters have appeared in. Howard-Case's Wedding Joe Howard and Anita Case, the prima donna In the Joe Howard "Toy Shop" turn are reported as having secretly married in Janu- ary. According to friends of both the maAiage Is stlU being kept secret ifor personal reasons. BUSTER KEATON XEIITIONED Buster Keaton and Jackie Coogan are mentioned as possibilities for Kelth-Albea summer bookings. It y^ ill, mark Keaton's return to vaude- ville, he having last appeared as a member of the family act "The Three Keatons." Diamond Rings in^Pawn Included in Court'd Order qhlca^o, May K. It cost Harry B. Oannon, an elec- trician at the Rialto. rather expen- sively for having been "cruel" to his ex-wlfe, Oeneveve Gannon, non- professional. She has been awarded a decree with |26 a week alimony for five years. «}00 cash. SZSe for solicitor's fees and in addition Gan- non mmt take two diamond rings out of pawn and hand them over to his wife. The jMtir yvere married June 4, 192 J. " ^ ' Leo Welskopf represented the wife ^ho attnuutes ner matrimonial difficulties to too much mother-in- law. TEmrS XETUBN PALACE DATE Trinl will play a return date at the Palace, New York. May 18. The act played the house five weeks ago at which time it ^as held over for a second week being, the second production act to be held over at the house in two years. The turn was produced by Ralph Farnum and includes Hurtado's Royal Marimba orchestra. Warren Jackson and Darlo Borsani. 11a|py" Jack No Km Chicago, May Jack Oardner, once an actor now an agent, moved h\ ofli« last week- In his acting days J« was light-hearted and canfree m used to be called "Happy j( Gardner; but those days are 1ob_ past and that itreflx about JoyfiSI nesB doesn't go since he became agent. To commemorate the occasion Jack's office-warming, a bunch bis pals and admirers got togett and presented him with a lart^e ornate bouquet of vegetables. CALLS WABRHrOTON CRUE^ Chicago, Muy 6. Edith Warrington, residing at tttl Sunnyside avenue, Chicago, is sutag'l Fred Warrington for divorce. Tlwi husband impersonates a donltey.ja' the floor show at the Terrace (iu* den Cafe. The wife cites he "kicked, struelbl choked and beat" her. which sl^^ feels is reason enough for the coarti to free her and give her |35 a week: for the support of the two childre^^ .ages three and six. sr Moi^cey Attacked -* •^ Frances Starr A >; ».-. ■ ■ff '-^i- '. Philadelphia. May 6. Presence of mind saved Frances Starr from serious Injury last week when she was attacked by a baboon back stage at Keith's. Miss Starr, ready to go on in her playlet, passed close to the three baboons used by Kokin and Gaietti In their act. One of the monkeys 1 sprang at Miss Starr, but she j bravely fought him off until stage hands saved her. She exclaimed: "At last I've been initiated Into vaudeville—I've been bitten .by a monkey," and went with her playlet. on ^Third Suicide Attempt ) f Kills Young Acrobat Chicago, May 5. I>>attk Koenig, 28, acrobat, com- mitted suicide l{ist week by throw- ing himself in front of an auto-. motHle. The coroner's jury ac- quitted the driver of the car. Koenig attempted suicide on two prevloftis occasions it is said, l^roodfaig over the plight of his par«n|il in Germany is ascribed as the c^Use of the acrobat's suicide. Eileen Christie's Divorce Bridgeport, Conn., May 5 Irene Welch-Doyle, professionally Eileen Christie, was married July 18, 1918, when 17, to Leo Doyle, 19. They eloped from Weehawken, N. J,, fleeing to Toronto, where they were married. Her husband deserted her the following day. Miss Christie so testified In her actioil.,f«i' divorce In the Superior Court Uer6. A decree was gr.inted her 'if^fti. ptrm\»B\on to resume her maiden name. Ifiss Chrl||t4^ 4* tuair Iq New fork p1ay-br<M(l«c. 8h« last appeared on tha »t*ge in vaudeville with James Doyls. ss. If you don't odvertUo in VARIETY don't advertite \ ^ ••,-: vt i^J TO MORROW Not yesterday, but tomorrow is what you are primarily interested in. Piast performances, with their records are '.inow lv5? history. .. What will the morrow bring? From United Arrists "Corporation, to-, morrow will bring no idle promises, no camouflaged' assurances, no sugar-coated .announcement of what it hopes to do. It will present the productions o( the greatest 'stars in the world. Thbse of M'ary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, D.W.f Griffith, Rudolph Valentino. William S. , I;Iart and'others. Adhering strialy to the original purpose • .of concentrating only upon the superlative ' Itype of productions, it plans a strialy lim-^ Jted output, but at the same time a definite iVolume of material.., _^. (The rbinimum of pictures, next season, will 'be twelve for the year. On the other hand, :'- the maximum will b^ fifteen. ^Such facts come as a joyous announcement to exhibitors. It will offer far more produa of only meritorious quality— marketed on the most equitable basis et>er presented. i^.v •;• ■ r^ '■ ^« «. 1 it' • ♦♦«4. t«»t <>>«-• JOA««(>.««••••.•«••.•■••-r* t ► ^ -*JhM 'W^ikJ