Variety (August 1925)

VARIETY VAUDEVILLE Wednesday, August 26, 1925 ■ ■■ ':' i ■..:■ Insurance a "-.... ■■ / ■ ^^'r>^.■ ~<rryf, August 21, 1925 At different times there is reported loss of articles, wearing apparel, etc., from the dressing rooms of di£Ferent theatres throughout the country. Yale locks have been put on the doors; every caution has been taken by the management, but still articles arc missing. I have endeavored to insure the effects of the artists on the Keith-Albee Cir- cuit, but I find no company will take group insurance where people are coming and going every week. There is no reason why vaudeville artists—both men and women—^should not insure their own effects while traveling throughout the coun- try. And I advise that this be done. Managers cannot be responsible unless there is a lack of interest on their part to furnish proper locks on the doors and use every reasonable precaution. After that, it is up to the artists to protect their wardrobes by putting them hi trunks—^also their valuables. ; > I realize any loss to a vaudeville artist is serious, but if they don't take enough interest in their own affairs to insure their belongings, then the responsi- bility must in the future be theirs. , / I, MEW YORK'S NIGHT LIFE (Continued from page 1) saturation which often, for all Its privacy, becomes notoriously public for that very reason. The'lntenslve drlnkfest within confined quarters takes Us toll In dulling sensibilities and beclouding reason with l 3 re- sult something untoward happens to the accompaivlment of official inves- tigation. Flapper Is Queen Those are generalities, but the chorus girl who knew what it meant to be a chorus girl in Broadway pro- ductions of yesteryear will tell you complainingly that the stage door Johnny is dwindling; that the dyed- in-the-wool native has become out- numbered by visiting firemen and collegiate upstarts who still respect the allure of the spangles. But for the main, the flapper is holding ■way. The cozy apartment has he- come the scene of night fife-festiv- ity and Jollity. The gaiety of the open boulevards has become incon- venient and indiscreet. Those smart jupper clubs still do- ing trade are drawing certain sets because somebody or other cleverly made it the smart thing to patronize such and such place on such and such night. The celebs and noclety mix indiscriminately at certain haunts for artificially set causes. Rounder Limited But the rounder finds his sphere limited. In truth, he is more apt to seek out a Harlem black and tan for atmosphere than play the mld- town or Greenwich Village places. The latter has become crude In its mundane pursuit of the chump's shekels. None but the chump knows that and he learns eventually when going through the arithmetic proc- ess at the end of the evening. Broadway has little to hold. There Is more adventure and color In "mixing" at some of the cheap dance halls, where the romance of youth at least commands a certain charm, than there is in silting back for- mally at the cabarets which draw nouveau-riche trade that biags of each bottle of wine It opons. For the main, the cabs plufcc them- selves In the woman's wcur and clothing trace papers becau^o the out-of-town buyers will become Im- prcRKod with the name as a ilcstlna- Uon to steer his host to. For the rest, the song-plugger and the "cakie" with his pottle of ginger- ale and elaborately surreptitious motions in adding the forbidden grape, complete the personnel. Num- bered amongst these maybe some "swells" who are Just as apt to en- rich the house with a few dollars on the oouvert for mineral water, contenting themselves with compeft- sating the resort with (heir au8titr« presence. ^ Not Naughty—Only Ridioul^be The shows are all mecbsnical, painstakingly staged to be niiughty and, daring, but only ridiculous. One exception is on Main street^ the Club Alabahi, whcse colored talent under expert Caucauslan tutelage has pro- duced likely effects that command a bit of respect The others. If they draw, are dominated by ego person- alities whose sheer entertaining ability and basic likability frankly counter-balance their egoism, mak- ing for what is known as the per- sonal draw, but not of lasting qual- ity unless mov^d from place to place i or supplemented by changing at- tractions. The Speak-Easy Drama The speak-easies speak dramas for themselves. Nothing hypocriti- cal there. Everything is open and above board. Yoi. come to drink. Ton recline pacifically and Irrigate the tonsils as thoroughly as the mental and physical pace permits. The speak-easy is the most harmless in- stitution. Whether stag or in cou- ples, they stagger out quietly after •ettllng for the damage, sans couvert and the other larcenies, and even- tually retire to that ultimate harbor of New York's night Hl^^the com- fortable apartment. The attraction there is nobody's buslnesn. The radio and the phonograph permit desirable dance music at will. The common garden variety type of speak-easy has lately given away to elaborate drinking clubs, ap- pointed with sleeping accommoda- tions for the pasa-outs or other In- eftlclenta with also other uses. But these are truly exclusive and ac- cordingly expensive. The Apartment Rendezvous The upper west side apartment renilezvoiis of .loml-public nature is another onsla of distinctive charac- ter A dimly lit Interior with ante- rooms ailjiiceiit, a muffled piano and a couple or thrcu "hostcbsea" are the attractions in addition to the liquor. The tariff depends on the visitor and the hostess. Another exceptionally sordid phase of night life that seems par- ticularly appealing to the Times square "wise mob," which hangs on to the fringe of the show business, being not actually of the profesh, but catering In commercial or other respects to the native of Broadway, revolves on what a pfomlnent play broker calls "the third sex" for en- tertainment. These girlish boys and manly women feature a style of comedy that is as distinctive as the native negro's when he is playing to his own people and not adulterating his stuff for the whites. The parties of such nature become classics among night life divertisement l>e- cause of their own peculiar and un- fortunate character. Greenwich Village was alleged to be notorious for such entertainment, but the side streets of the 40's and 60's between Fifth avenue and Broadway seem the favorite stamp- ing grounds. Variety next week will publish the second installment of thia.series, en- titfed Night Life in Qreenwieh Vil- IsBS. UNIONS VS. THEATRES (Continued from page 5) members will get a small Increase. The compromise is expected to give the A. P. L. membres a seven per- cent raise, although no intimation of accepting has been given by the union. Buffalo, Aug. 26. The situation between the stage- hands and Theatrical Managers' Association may mean that every house in Buffalo will close after Bept 1 if the T. M. A. sticks to its determination to stand for no raise. The present agreement ends the first of next month and no settle- ment ha^ been,reached. A meeting between stagehands and managers was held herie last week but both sides appeared deadlocked. EN0A6EMEHT8 George Allison and Helen Carew, "Gunpowder." Helen Hedd and S. A. Arnold, "Spooks." Gladys Hulburt, "Caught." Blythe Daly, "Outside Looking In." Norman Trevor an<i Kay Johnson, "All Dressed Up" Jane Meredith, "Bed and Board." Jack Roselelgh, "What Price Glory?" Elsie lAwson, 'Leonora Harris, "Venice for Two." Peggy Allenby. James Spottswood and George W. Barbler, "Duty." Flora Le Breton, "The ' ilcony Walkers." Donald Moek, Suzanne Caubert, Mabel Montgomery, Kate Mayhew, E.sther Sommer.<i, Antoinette Rochte, Walter Davis, Homer Barton, Wel- UnKton K. Romaine, Edward Jones and Frank Fanning, "Easy Terms." Donald Foster, "Friend Wife." Mavla Acaro, "Dearest Enemy." Joan Clement, "Sunny." Conchlta PIquer, "S\y High." Harry Bercsford, "The S hool Mistress." Elsie Esmond and Malde Turner, "The Book of Charm." Iseth Munro and Bella Po^any, "Captain Jinks." Rochester, N. T., Aug. 25. Managers of the Regent, Victoria, Temple, Fay's and Victoria the- atres are negotiating with represen- tatives of the Rochester Musicians' Protective Association, which has demanded a wage increase that would put musicians employed In the five theatres on a par with mu- sicians In the Eastman Theatre orchestra. Ban Francisco, Aug. 25. Whether 8an Francisco theatres are to have orchestras after Fri- day depends upon the union. De- mands made upon theatres for six months' contracts and a six-hour day instead of six and a half hours under current contract, besides a substantial raise for organists have been flatly refused 'ly allied amuse- ment Industries representing all theatre interests in the Bay cities. The operators' union has asked a raise from $1.35 an hour to $1.80, whhh was liltcwlHe refused. Subse- quent action by the operators is problematical. It marks the first time in local history of theatres dealing with the unions that managers have agreed 100 per cent, on action. HOUSES OPENING ' Burlington, In., Aug. 25: ! The Grand theatre, Burlington, la^ has been taken over by Oscar Jacobs and -W. H. Marshall./dlrector of pub- licity, W. V. M. A.. The Grand will probably open in September as al Junior Orpheum house. Strand, Reading, Pa., will be-* come a vaudeville house Aug. 29« iMoked out of Philadelphia. It's al Carr & Schad theatre. J ICABRIAOES Nick CoT)eland to Rhea Catto, W Detroit, Aug. 19. The newlyw€di< are a vaudeville partnership. Kenneth Maynard, screen actoz)) to Mary^ £• Depper, writer, at Lak^ Arrowhead, Cal., Aug. 18. Don C. Krull, assistant dramatld critic, Los Angeles "Herald," tol Irene Lacey, Brownswood, Texas,) at Los Angeles, Aug. 18. Antonlnette Zoellner (Zoellnell Musical Quartette) to Earl Chap-* man, non-professional, at Los An-^ geles, Aug. 19. Polly Salisbury (pictures) to Johii Boldt, baritone, July 31. Both of De-» troit. Lew Caites (Caltes Bros.) "Art- ists and Models" to Nancy Deckerii vaude single, at Newark, N. J.< Aug. 19. Caroline Hannah, Merrlam, Karij to Nell Schaffner. in Iowa. Both o« Angell stock. Fred P. Wells, actor, to Helea Martin, dancer, both of New Yor^j in Greenwich, Conn., Aug. 13. IN AND OUT The Texas Four left the bill at the Albee, Brooklyi), Thursday night of last week (Aug. 21). Four Harmony Kings took the vacancy. INCORPORATIONS .- California Paul R. Bicknell Productions, lno« Los Angeles. Capital, $60,000. Connecticut. Colonial Theatres, Inc, of Brlstolf authorized 'apltal, $200,0. •; to be^ gin business with $142,000; Inrorpor"* ators are: Dona to A. Pietroria, Ar- thur H. Lockwood and S. liusseH Mink, all of Bristol. -J: BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Spfck, Aurf« 17, in the Lying-ln-Hospitnl. CM- cago, daughter. The father is <>' Bayes and Speck. The Specks li.ivo been married 16 years, wltli tlii» their first child.