Variety (August 1925)

I 18 VARIETT LEGITIMATE -i» '■'"'^ Wednesday, Aa|:us{ 5, 1925 EQUTTYAND I ENGLISH A. A. *t - ; lohn Emerson Back Home ^—Advises Equity Council t ■■ I' p John Bmenon retum«d from K Burop« Fridar. Durlnc hla visit In ^- Bngland the Slquity president Invsa- 1^ tlgated the English actors situation 1^ Its developed by the Internal troubles I of th« , British Actors Association p and the recently formed British II Actors Qulld. The matter was pre- I acnted to the Ekiuity Council and a ^ change In the relations between '' Bqulty and th« English organisa- tions may follow. ^ Equity sought to mediate In the I dispute which disrupted the A. A. several months ago, but was po- litely told to mind its own business. jBqulty'a Interest 1^ the matter ap- pears to have been designed to maintain the working agreement. It Is reported that many artists c^ ^^ standing In England have wlth- l drawn from the A. A. and joined ic the Guild, objecting to the man- ^igement of the older organization. The weight of lilayers 4n ths new Ouild may force a change In the working agreement, x>osslb1y ending ;. In its revocation. ^ t 4 W Wilkes-Wagner Quit House on Rent Increase Los Angeles, Aug. 4. Because it Is alleged Louis O. IfacLoon failed to Iceep a verbal agreement and tried to 'extract double the rent they were paying for the use of the Playhouse, on their renewal option. Thomas Wilkes and Charles L. Wagner sud- denly closed "The Mountain Man" Saturday ,and abandoned the house instead of presenting Roberta Ar- nold In "Playthings." a new com- edy by the Hattona The original agreement made • with "the Belnsco of the Bacific Coast," as MacLoon styles himself, •ailed for Wilkes and Wagner to have the house for four weeks at « rental of |600 a week, with the privilege of renewing for an- •thn- four weeks at the same fig- ure. When tbey decided to present **PIaythings" and MacLoon was eommunlcated with he informed them the rental would be between $1,000 and 11,200 a week. It is said. They reminded him he had made a verbal promise at $500. This MacLoon did not recall. Wilkes decided to switch "Play things" to have opened yesterday to I ' the Orange Orove. To make the ■witch. Wilkes Is withdrawing s "White Cargo," which has been * doing a big business at that house, y - Aug. I^and opening with Miss Ar- l nold Aug. 9. Tl}e cast supporting p Miss Arnold Includes Hope Drown, f Rhea Mitchell, Lillian Elliott, Doug- lass Gllmore, Gabriel Bronetas, Tom Shirley and Kenqeth Gibson. Sidney Blackmer was In "The Mountain Man." He first appeared ' In "Quarantine" for two weeks. Wilkes wanted Blackmer to go' to the Wilkes, San Francisco, and ap- pear in "Quarantine," beginning Sunday, but It is said Blackmer declined. He is leaving for Wew York this Week and will shortly begin re- hearsing "The Carolinian," opening at the Oort, New York, around Oct 1. Girls Snubbing $35; Road Musicals Pay but Reduce Producers of road musicals are experiencing difficulty In rounding up chorus girls amenable to the $35 scale prevalent In most these shows. Despite the great number avail- able the glrla are demanding $4S and $50. Some maaagera^ with opening dates set, are paying the figure ,but keeping within their production budget and operating expenses by reducing their ebomsee to eight girls Instead of the doaen original- ly anticipated. 'm ■. « T. P. R. Insurance The Theatrical Press Represen- tatives Association has proposed grroup Insurance for its members. A committee appointed in the matter reported that policies would be issued to all members not having reached 60. It is stipulated by the company offering to supply the group insurance that at least 200 members must declare their desire for policies. As the T.P.R.O.A. has a membership of about loo there is some doubt about t)ie insurance plan -materializing, since many are already protected. Members would be required to pay for the policies individually with the association guaranteeing the premiums. LueHa Qear Featured Laella Gear, comedienne, will be featured In "Bed and Board," a non- musical being sponsored by Her- bert Druce and scheduled to go Into rehearsal next week. Herbert Yost has also been signed for the same piece. CASTING AGENCIES KICK Tryoui Producers Get BIs People Direct _____ '■"■-:■• Despite the early season activity casting agents are not cutting huge commission plums. Most of the plays being readied bad early spring tryouts and have gone into rehearsal with practically the same casts, which has not meant any new business for the casters. The casters are also squawking that producers are not giving them a break. They claim most of them sign the big money people direct and only call upon them as accom- modation for small salary acton, whose commissions are seldom worth the trouble. ^ In many instances, it is said, a producer gets hip principal players from one agency and then calls an- other in fbr mmor players. The agencies are becoming aware of this fact and hereafter most will Insist upon having the entire cast or none. ■I Newspaper Men's Play Chicago, Aug. 4. A couple of local newspaper men, I. Gershman and M. M. Musselman, have written a play which Sam Gerson and John J. Oarrlty, Chi- cago representatives of the Shu- berts. are anxious to obtain. The piece was tried recently at the Ma- jestic, Waukegan, With Gerson. Garrlty, and the Duncan Sisters at- tending the Sunday night premiere. It is described as a three-act bur- lesque. Both authors are connected with the Chicago "Evening Post" Shows in Rehearsal (AND WHERE) •^me Day" (Mrs. B. B. Har- ris), Hudson. "Clouds" (Louise Carter), Unity Hall. "World of Pleasure" (Anton Bolbllla), road. Terrace Garden. "Brother Elks" (Walter Campbell), Bryant Hall. "My Qirr (Nlcholat * De Milt), Vanderbllt. "Big Boy" (Shuberts), 44th Street. "Canary .Dutch" (David Be- lasco), Belasco. "Sonny" (C. B. Dillingham), Knickerbocker. 'A Lucky Break" (United, Inc.), Sam H. Harris. "How's the King?" (Earl Carroll), Carroll. "Beware of Your Friends" (S. Lowenfeld), Rand Institote. "What Price Olory?" (Arthur Hopklnd), road, Plymouth. "Love's Call" (Totten & Sim- mons). Manhattan O. H. "The Qingham Qlrl" (Ferber Productions), road, Bryant Hall. "Salome" (Katherine Kirii- wood), revival. Triangle. "Diana of the Movies" (A. H. Woods). Eltlnge. "Service for Husbands" (Robt. McLaughlin), Selwyn. "Riquette" (Sbuberts), Cen- tura. "Student Prince" (Sbuberts), road, Jolson. ONE SHOW OUT Barly this week there was but one show definitely listed to close Sat- urday. A number of others expect to play through August or until such time as the new season pro- ductions are ready. /The rent period does not start until Labor Day, which explains why low gross at- tractions are permitted to stick. "Mercenary Mary," produced by L. Lawrence Weber, leaves the Longacre after a 17 weeks engage- ment. It was a spring musical show which average $11,000 to $lt,000 for |» first tvo months or so. With hSuse and show under same manage- ment, the pace of the last two months, between $8,090 and $9,000, bettered an even-break. The piece goes to Chicago. Smith's El Capitan The "newest coaRt theatre being built at Hollywood will bo called EI Capitan and Is due to open the first of the year under th«;.^lrec- tlon of Mr. Smith. The house which is situated opposite the Hollywood hotel is being erected by C. E. To- berman in conjunction with an office building. The theatre will seat 1,6Q0. I Smith who Is in New York seek- ^ Ing attractions plans using the El Si Capitan for stock, musical and dra- & matlc for part of the year. He was W formerly teamed up with Louis O. h MacLoon and continued operation of I the Mason Opera House which they |i- Jointly leased. That house reverts r to A. L. Eclanger about January 1. t Miss Witcox to Wed Italian Count r Madison, Conn., Aug. 4. f, Constance Qrenelle Wilcox, play- ,_. Wright, of Madison and New York, r,v will be married Aug. 28 at Madison f. to Prince Quido rigaatel'! of Naples, O. L. ("DOC") HALL Dramatic Critic sand Editor, Chicago Daily Journal Nobody connected with the American theatre is better known or better beloved than "Doc" Hall, the kindly, yet firm, reviewer for the Chicago "Journal," an independent afternoon newspaper. He never rows with anyonp, and when he spanks no one disputes. For "Doc" Is known to be just, square, friendly and above all, wise on the wajrs of amuKoments. He perhaps knows more about actor.q and plays. In actual concrete Informa- tion, than any other man alive. He has compiled a library, practically an encylclopedla. cross-Indexed, and can give the history of a play, a play- wright, a performer or a manager with almost embarrassing detail For just 20 years "Doc" has run the dramatic end of the "Journal " with none to say him nay. During that time he made the rounds daily for news—he was the only dramatic'writer in America's second city for years who wasn't too laay or too highbrow or too short-sighted to realize that theatrical Information Is hot news. As a result his columns are read more consKs^ently than those of the fancy llteratcurs on other sheets —perhaps It Is not saying too much to guess they are read more faith- fully than those of any other writer on the theatre In the entire American dally field. "Doc" has style, too, but It Is a simple and stralghUway style, not slx-syllablc verbosity. "Doc" is an authority rather than an author. He Is by birth a Hoosler «'i"»-°.'i ^^®, ^'^^'' anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in Balnbrldge, Ind., the locality where many native literary men sprang from—and sprang young. He moved to 411inol8, farmed, studied medicine, taught school, bank-clerked, shot ducks, fished plenty, went to NoKlh- westorn TTniversltv, Joined the old "Inter OceAn," became Sunday editor, went to the "Jourflal" In 1905 and has held down«the dramatic desk there ever since—though now he owns one-fourth of the $2,000,000 property, willed him by John C. Eastman, his appreciative employer. But that hasn't changed "Doc." He still covers the theatres, tiiough he is now boss to the managing editor. He still wears cotton neckties and woolen socks. And he Is still the most authentic and the most solidly read as well as easily "the best loved dramatic writer In his burp. So says Jack Lait, who should know Who's Who in Chi, and who has been a crony of the "Doc" for lo, those 26 years. MERCENARY MARY Opened April IS—Reviewed by second and third string critics with the exception of Mantle ^"News"), who did not like it. Variety (Abel) said the piece should attain a moderate run, proving eatiefaetory hot weather entertainment. Stage Ramb at Old Scale Milwaukee, Aug. 4. Rescinding .^eic^ demand for an Increase In salary,' members of the Milwaukee local of the stagehands' union in a letter to members of the^ executive committee of the -local Theatre Managers' Association as- sei^d that they were willing to melH the demands of the theatre owners and return it} work at the same schedule given last year. The stagehands had asked an in- crease totalling about $10 p>!r week. They met with a rebuff when the owners demanded that the outlying houses be organized before they grant tlie Increase. Inability to bring the outlying houses into the fold has caused, the rescinding of the pleas for more cash. Verdi ^Requests Rehearingf Of Equity on Suspension IVaads Verdi, understudy for "They Knew What They Wanted'* and also formerly playing a bit In' "Caesar and Cleopatra," has asked' E^quity to reopen the case based on the charges that h^ violated his contract with the Theatre OuUd upon suddenly walking out of "Thejr." Verdi was fined two weeks'' salary, $120 which he must pay thef Ouild and was suspended tioni Equity for $0 days. Verdi in a written complaint taj Equity's Council avers two hear^ ings on charges preferred by tha Onild did not constitute a fair or lawful trial, that Frank Gillmora promised a "real trial" later an4 that he was "astounded by the pre^ sentment of the Council." The motion of the (Council wa4 that the actor's actions In walking out of the male lead in "They" con-< stituted breach of contract and s| violation of Equity's constitution^ That accompanied the suspennloni order and fine, the hearing following conversations with Equity offlclala who sought to convince Verdi he was wrong. The actor replied ha did not Intend to appear, though ill was pointed out that he not only was taking matters In his own hands, but was jeopardizing the Mnployment of other players. Verdi walked out after the Oull^ announced Leo Carrillo would regu-^ larly replace Richard Bennett. The» latter was ill and Verdi went into the part for several performances. He failed to give an explanation^ other than submit a doctor's certlflt cate which was obtained at eight o'clock on the evening of the day; he refused to appear. Verdi aV« leged he had laryngitis. ^: "CouoT of Many Claim! 9 Los Angeles, Aug. 4. Juan B. Pemandes Terrazas, 4(^ claiming to be the count of Tyrol and former husband of Pearl White and Llna C^vallerl, was arrested oi< a charge of susplclqn pf robberyg subsequently reduced to vagrancy. He pleaded not guilty and requests ed a jury trial. Terrazas recently sprang Into thd limelight when he stated he had utw earthed old documents proving hw was heir to over 10,000 acres of land in Mexico and Texas. Later he organized a $5,000,000 picture company knbwn as the "Greater Mexican Productions," which neveg made pictures^ ««aoud»" • Trying Agairi "Clouds," a new drama by Louis* Carter, has gone into rehearsal un« der the direction of j^ward Ellsnor, It is to open out of town Aug. 15« Miss Carter also appears In the cast^ which includes Miriam Doyle. Vlr* glnia Chauvenet, Howard Freeman and Walter Walker. This will nuirk a second try of thW piece, orlglnafly called '"The Great Moment." UNDER SHOW AUG. 24 "Beware of Your Friends" goe| Into rehearsal this week under dl'^ rection of Mark Under. The piece opens A the Hopkins, Brooklyn, N. T., Aug. 24, where it will re- main for two weeks prior to coming to a New l^rk house. • Cast Includes Grayce Connell, Lester Paul, John Hewitt, Julius Ferrar, William Balfour, James Housotn, Charles Seel, Jennie Niel- sen, Laura McVlckar, Lizzie Wilsoli and Estelle Saltzman. POLLOCK nCKS Arthur Pollock, dramatic^critic of the Brooklyn "Eagle," who, through leading Variety's crttlcal box score, was requested to pick a likely play for production, has voted on "The Stolen Me" aa the winner. The play is by Henry Myers of the Shubert press department, who wrote "The First 50 Years," the two-character play, for Clare Eames and Tom Powers some time ago. "The' Stolen Me" will be pro- duced this fall. (TlH» U the nth of the aeries of photographs and sketches ol the ira- puUic editors of the country.) \ 'rf ighfjiftiiifdiiiTiiriilnii'fiafiniri I ttdmi ti'Mk COCHBAITE REVUE DUE HERE "On With the Dance," C. B. Cochran's hit musical at the PaVll- lon. London, will be presented In New York after the first of the year. The American showing will be under the Joint direction of Cochran and Arch Selwyn. Alice Dcly.sla and the oflfelnal English cast will be brought over. I CAH. NORTHWEST DRAUA "Red Coats," a melodrama of th# Canadian wilds by Wlllard Mack, has been-taken over for production by Mack Hllllard. The latter "wHl also sponsor a road company of "The Four Plusher," which he pro^ duced last season In association with Russell Mack. Mack will not be with the piece when it goes out, having been signed for the male lead in "Diana of the Movies," in which Mabel Nor- mand will return to the legit stage under the management of A, H« Woods. ■vi SHIFKAN'S TWO GODS AUantlc City, Aug. 4. Sam Shlpman is at the resort fighting two gods—sunburn and the dlety which controls dramatic composition. Sam wants to finish a new (unnamed) comedy, which ho Is working on, but ho inadvertently went on the beach the other day without a sun shade and nature played him a dirty tri(;k.