Variety (September 1925)

Wednesday, September 2, 1925 BURLESQUE VARIETY ABBOn-BROWN i burlesque routes | SEASON'S FIRST IN COURT IN ROCHESTER Harry Abbott, Jr., Charged with Loose Management —^Denies It Rochester, N. Y., Sept. 1. Harry Abbott, Jr., manager of the Corinthian (Mutual) is named d«fendant In an action brought by Joseph A. Brown, promoter, for dU- folution of their partnership and nn accounting. Brown claims loose and extravagant management of the Corinthian and failure to credit the company account with theatre receipts. Abbott has issued a flat denial. According to Brown, on August 8, 1924, he entered into a co-part- nership with Abbott. Brown says be paid Abbott $6^000 for half of the business. The po-partnership ■was to end June 30, 1928, when the lease on the building expires, ynder the contract Abbott and Brown were each to put In )1,000 as work- ing capital . Brown says he paid in his $1,000 but that Harry Abbott never con- tributed. He says that William (Budd) Abbott, brother of Harry and treasurer of the company, took $3,825 of Brown's money and never accounted for it. Only $1,700 of $7,790 which Brown put up was banketf in the speciiled bank. Brown claims Abbott refused to turn over his books for an audit ard that receipts of $890 from "The Moonlight Maids" on Aug. 22 are •till in Abbott> hands. Charges that Abbott has padded the ex- penses of running the house and that he charged for the hiring of amateurs never employed and that Abbott's item of $1,034.90 for en- tertainment of people, traveling companies was exorbitant, are con- tained in the briefs. Mixed Burlesque Show Has Whiz of Week Washington, Sept. 1 The only "race riot" recorded dur- ing the past week when Daley's half White and half colored show. "Harin' to Go," was playing the local Gay- ety (Columbia) was that at the box office where the local citizenry ran Up a whiz of a week for the start of the new season. Opening Sat- urday (Aug. 22) gave the show 16 performances Including a midnlRht show on Friday to capacity. The erross is reported to have exceeded 112,000. Reports had It that the paper used by the show, whereupon were shown three white and colored girls danc- ing hand in hand, was touching on •^ticklish ground." However, not a Bingie complaint was lodged either against the show or the paper. Some bad it that the publicity depart- ment of the theatre was fostering these reports, but this was denied. The opposition burlesque at the Mutual, "Naughty Nifties," with an all white cast, although getting a fair week out of it which topped the opening week la.st year, did not get what was expected due to the demand for the Columbia show. Wilbur Lost Season's Work by Wrong Wire Chicago, Sept. 1. Because he lost a season's work et $100 a week, Clarence Wilbur through his attorney, I^eo A. Weif;- kopfi, has filed complaint and suit for damages with the Interstate Commerce Coniml.sslon against a telegraph company. Wilbur was wired by "Sliding Billy" Watson. The telegraph coiniiuny garbled the name to r'',ul C. Waldorf As a result the tele- gram was never delivered and the nofrotlations between Watson and Wilbur never reached a climax. Wilbur will nsk tlie Interstate Commerce Commis.sion to award him $3.r>00 liquidated damages. COLUMBIA CIRCUIT Next Week (Sept. 2) Bathing Beauties—Casino, Brook- lyn. Best Show in Town—Kmpire, To- ronto. Black and White Rev., Kmpire, Brooklyn. Bringing Up Father — Miner's Bronx, New York. Burlesque Carnival—I^yceum, Co- lumbus. Chuckles—Palace, Baltimore. Fashion Parade—7-» Van Curler, .Schenectady; 10-12 Capitol. Albany. Follies of Day—Gayety, Washing- ton. Gay Old Time—Gayety, Roches- ter. Golden Crook—10-12 Columbia, irtica. Happy Moments—Gayety, Bultalo. La Revue Parisienne—Columbia, Now Yorlc. Let's Go—Orphcum. Cincinnati. Lucky Sambo—Gay*ty, Detroit. Look Us Over—Gmyety, Kansas City. Miss Tabasco—Columbia, Cleve- l(ind. Models and Thrill—Orpheum, I'.nterson. Monkey Shines—7-9 Academy, Norfolk; 10-12 Academy, Richmond. Mutt and Jeff—7 Geneva; 8 Au- burn; 9 BInghamton; 10-12 Utlca. Peek-a-Boo—Empire, Newark. Powder Puff Frolic — Empire, Providence. Rarin' to Go—En route. Reynolds. Abe, Rounders—Hype- rion, New Haven. Seven Eleven—Hurtig & Sea- mon's, New York. Silk Stocking Revue—6-8 Dayton; 9 Springfield: 10 Terre Haute; 11 Vincennes. Ind. Steppe, Harry—Casino, Phlladel- ph la. Step on It—Casino. Boston. Talk of Town — 7 New London; 8 Stamford; 9 Meridan; 10-12 Lyric. Brid[report. Watson, Sliding Billy—Gayety, St. IvOUis. Wilton, Joe, Club—Gayety,, Pitts- burgh. Wine, Woman and Song—Empire, Toledo. Willinms, Mollie—L. O. MUTUAL CIRCUIT All Set to Go—Garrick, St. Loui.s. Band Box . Revue — Howard. P.oston. Chick Chick—7. Allentown; 8, Co- lumbia; 9. Willlamsport: 10, Sun- bury; 11-12, Reading, Pa. Cunningham, E. and Gang—7, York; 8. Lancaster; 9, Altoona; 10, Cumberland. Md.; 11, Unlontown; 12, Washington, Pa. French Models—Mutual Empress, Kansas Cl'y, Mo. Giggles—Gayety, Milwaukee. Girlie Girls — Gaiety, Wilkes- Barre. Happy Hours — Olympic, New York. Hey Ho—Hudson, Union Hill. Hollywood Scandals — Gayety, ScrantoM. Hotsy Totsy—Gayety, Brooklyn. Hurry Up—Mutual, Washington. Innocent Maids—Park, Erie. Jackson, E. and Friends—Em- ^'ress, Cincinnati. Jazz Time Revue—Gayety, IjOuIs- ville. Kandy Kids—Gayety, Minneapolis. Kudling Kuties—Gayety, Balti- more. LafPn Thru—Garden. Buffalo. LaMont, Jack and Bunch— Make It Peppy—Empress, St. Paul. Moonlight Maids—7-9. : ialto, Pouphkeepsle; 10-12, Cohen's, New- burgh. Naughty Nifties—Academy, Pltts- iHirph. Night Hawks—Trocadero, Phila- delphia. Pleasure—Miles-Royal. Akron. Red Hot—Cadillac, Detroit. Bound the Town—Calumet, Chi- cago. Smiles and Kisses—Empire, Cleve- land. Speedy Girls—Strand, Toronto. . Speedy Steppers—Star, Brooklyn. Step Along—I'alace, Trenton. Step Lively Girls—Savoy, Atlan- tic Cit.v. Stolen Sweets — Garrick, Des Moines. Sugar Babies—Broadway, Indlan- ai)olis. Tempters^MaJestic, Jersey City. Whizz Bang Revue—Corintliian. Uoehcsler. BURLESQUE CENSORING Peck & Jarboe Ordered to Revise "Models and Thrills" Before Offi- cial Season Started MUTUAL PRINCIPALS Peck * Jarboe received instruc- tions last week while their show. "Models and Thrills" was at the Columbia. New York, to revise it forthwith. This mean to bring it up to the standard of the Columbia '3url»»sque Circuit, as set by Sam A. Scribner, who Inspected the performance Inte last week. Immediately after his visit it is said that t4ie producers gave notice to Bill Davis and Ix)ring and Abbott. Censorship was placed upon the burlesque show before the official Columbia season opened fAug. .11). This is said to have been the first time such an early action occurred. Usually In burlesque after the sea- son commences throe weeks are al- lowed for producers to shape up their attractions before the wheel's censors pa.ss upon them. It was voted around the Columbia theatre last week "Models and Thrills" was not in shape to travel the Columbia time as a money get- ter. George Peck and Harry Jarboe compose the firm of producers. Mr. Jarboe is a former Columbia Cir- cuit house manager. He staged the performance. Last season the show traveled as "Hippety Hop." under the management of Peck & Kolh. DRUNK WEDDING NIGHT HONEYMOON OF 3 DAYS Married Women with Divorce Complaints in Chicago—Mu- sical Director and Prima Chicago, Sept. 1. Rocco Colonna, musical director, and Michelina Wemment, profes- sionally Marie Purneii, prima donna .with "Stolen Sweets" (Mutual Wheel) want a divorce from their respective mates. Rocco cites he was married to Mildred Colonna, chorus girl, June 16, 1914, and lived with her until Jan. 14, 1923. They have a child, Daniel, aged 8. Miss Purnell lived with her hus- band, Henry J. Wemment, from February to June, 1923. Attorney Leo A. Weiskofft represents both plaintiffs. Another burle.sque prima donna, Mildred Paretti ("Mutt and JefT') is suing Herbert Paretti. She charges he was drunk on their bridal night in 1917 and that her three- day honeymoon waui replete with abuse and lack of respect. She left him and has nArer lived with him since. A girl, Marie, was born sub- sequently. The featured players and princi- pals of the Mutual Hiirlesiiue Clnniit for tills .reason and the attra.-lion.'^ with which thcj- arc feature*! .ire: "All Set to Go" —Jack LaMoiil (featured), Chubby Dris<lale, Jessie McDonald, Bhinche Burnette and Don Trent. "Band Box Revurf"—.loe Penner. I^e.s. Dunn, Althea Coiiley, ilae Keith, Fi-ankie Moore .and "Peaches ' "Chick Chick" —Stella Morrissey. Florence DeV"re, Tiny Nelson George B. Teeters, Frank Aiulerson "Evelyn Cunningham and Her Gang"—Evelyn CimninKliaiii, George I^eon. Harry Leff, Billie La Verna, Dollie Barringer, Will Carletoti. "Viola Elliott and Her French Models"—Viola Klliott, Kleanore I'ehl, Maurice J. Cash, Eddie Lor- raye, Kthel Bartlett. "Giggles" —Sedal Bennett (feat- ured), Sid Rogers, Bert Marks, Mil- dred Simonds. "Erin Jackson and the Girl Friends" —Krln Jackson, Max Ce.T.ler, Pauline Elliott, Mabelle Gerard, Roy Mape.**. Frank Wakefield. "The Girlie Girls" — Charles "Bimbo" Davis, Irene Cas.sini. Sam Lewis, Bobby Dixon, Alice Ritchie, Roy Butler. "Happy Hours" — .\rthur Mayers. Norma Noel, Evelyn Butler, Madlyn Worth, Jim Carleton, Bryan Wolfe, Tom MuUins. "Hey Ho" —Al Golden, Harry Stratton, George Levy, Raymond and Irving, Mildred Crozierre, Babe Bradley, Betty Abbott, Bud Abbott. "Hollwood Follies"—Minnie "Bud " Harrison, Kitty Phillips, Goldie Mantell, Mitty De 'Vere, George Hart, Art Brooks, Chick Hunter. "Hotsy Totsy Girls"—Nan Haven (featured), William E. Browning. Arthur Page, Frank Scanlon, Danny DeVeau, Helen Downs, Amber Pearl, Agnes King. "Hurry Up"—Vi Penny (featured), George Brennan, Harry Morris, Am- bark All, Bobby Taylor, Etna Moore, M.iy Jenson. "Innocent Maids" — Jessie Rece (featured), Mary McPherson, Fred Reeb, Harry Harrigan, Walter Aus- tin, Marion LaMar, William Wain- wrlght. "Kitty Madison and Her Jazrtime Revue"—Kitty Madison, Bennie Moore, Ernie Mack, Tom Duffy, Dorothy Owens, Grace Tremont. "Kandy Kids"—Kitty Warren, Sammy Spears, Charles Fritcher, Opal Taylor, Edna Sears, Joe Lang. Joe Lurgio. "Kuddling Kuties"—Max Fields (featured), Anna Fink, Harry Clexx. Hughie Mack, Billy Hamlett, Fritzle Clexx, Billie Rhoades, Minnie Hall. "Make It Peppy"—Frances Farr (featured), Jeanette Buckley, Eve- lyn W. Fields, Ed Johnston, Frank Damsel, Eddie M. Lloyd, Jack Orms- by (first comic). ."Moonlight Maids" — Anna Toebe (featured), Billy Hagan, Anna Dar- ling, Harry Lavine, Paul Ryan, Frank McKay, Myrtle Andrews. "Naughty Nifties"—Dolly Dale Morrissey (featured), Jim Bennett, Lou Rice, Ray King,. Arthur Lines, Beulah Baker, Halen Harris. "Tha Night Hawks"—Billie Rose Carson (featured), Marks Bros., May (Continued en pa^e 12) TWO "BABES" IN W. 47TH ST. AFFRAY "Hev-Ho" Girls Tell of Man from Rochester, N. Y., with Gun TRENTON FAIR, SEPT. 28, OCT 3 Trenton, N. J., Sept. 1. The Trenton Fair, outdoor event of the slate, will be hold Sept. 28, Oct a. ASSUME KELLY FRANCHISE With Lew Kelly deciding to re- main in tlie London cast of "The Gorilla," the Kelly show franchise was turned over to Griff Williams and liJ. Jordan, whose new Mutual show ofiens at the Star, Brooklyn, next Monday. In the show, which has Jordan as first comic, are Edna S >iner«, prima donna; Peggy Gllligan, sou- bret; Bert Carr, Btraight, and Ruth Shepard. DALEY'S $13,000 Mutual's Washington Gross — Gerard's "Follies" Big The guests of the H(>f^l America. 145 W. 47th street, the home of many the.itrlcal folks, were routed from their beds at an early hour by revolver shots and the screams of frlghteneij women, and after the management had tr.aced the screams to the elnrhth and ninth floors, where they found Anne ("B.abe") Price, a Mon(1e burlesnue actress, .nppearing In "Hey-TTo," a burlesque show openinfr at the Gayety, Brooklyn, In a falntinc: condition In the hallw.iy of the ninth floor. With Miss Price as her roommate, "Babe" Brailley.. nlso an actress, who ap- peared on the verge of fainting when the hotel manager arrived. Policeman Russell McKay. West 47th street station, summoned an ambulance from Bellevue Tlospltnl after the Price pirl had said she had heen shot. But when the ambulance surireon arrived he found that hoth the women were badlv soared and the Price girl was sufferinn from hysteria. The Girls' Story According to the story as told by the girls to Detective Farrell, the two actresses had been to Brook- lyn, where a dress rehears'' had kent them until after midnleht. TTpon returning to the hotel, thev went to 'heir rooms on the Inth floor when a man npneared from a corner where he hail been hidlntr and pointed a revolver nt Mlsj|> Price. Tie said ("omething, hut what It was the girls were too ex- cited to r- emher. He snapped the revolver and It lammed, they said. When the gtrls rrrabbed and held him. screaming. He manaeed to free himself after he had thrown Miss Price to the floor. Standing over her, he pulled the gun trigger at least a half dozen' times. He seemed bent in shootlnjf "Babe" Price and he kept the gun pointed directly at her each time he- fired. The Bradley girl fought bravely to save her companion. When one of the shells did explods her efforts diverted the mi«n's ftijn_ and the bullet lodged In rhe wsl'. After freeing himself from Miss Bradley's hold the man fled dcwn the stairway to the street and escaped. Miss Price furnished De- tective Farrell with his name. Rhe said she had met him In Rochester, N. T., In a show there veveial weeks ago and he became very attentive- to her. She did not take him se- rious and was surprised when she met him In this city and he told her of his lov^ for her, the girl said, and she tried to discourage.him, but he left without comment. BURLESQUE REVIEWS KANDY KIDS (Mutual) Kansas City. Aug. 26. Prirclpain—Kitty Warrtm, Samm.v .1pear», Ctiarloa Kritcher. B<lna ^ears, Oi)al Taylor, Joe Lang;. Joe I,»vton. Chorus-Pauline Selling, .Sua Lee, Juanita Bonncy, Dlllle Doyelt, Roue I.ce. Itabe RpoAra. Hazel Harmon. Klal* Oarrlnif. Irma OarrlnK, Batelle IlORera, I.lly Hhea. Hazel Demar, Marie flark, Trlxlc .Shafer, Mary White, Violet Smith. Washington, Sept. 1. Ed Daley's "Rarin to Go" opened last week at the Gayety and grossed close to tl3,000. The show la a black and white revue. With weather not considered con- ducive to theatre going the business was considered exceptional. Barney Gei-ard's "Follies of the Day" opened strongly on the Vir- ginia split week at Richmond and Norfolk, selling out every night performance at Norfolk. NEW IN LIBERTY STOCK St. Louis, Sept. 1. Kleanor Gilchrist, lite of the Troc- adero, Philadelphia, is the new sou- bret in O.scar Dane's slock burJesque company at the Liberty music hall here. Other newcomers are JInimIe Parelle and his wife, Louise, who will do comics and produce the cliortis nutnbers. Jimmie Parelle's father, Pasquale i'arriili, lately died la Chicago. The limit, if there is any such thing on the Mutual burlesque cir- cuit, was off jit the opening per- formance of the "Kandy Kids" at the B'mpress. Principals, comics and soubret seemed to try to see just how far thev could go and get away with it. The pity of it all is that the principal women are capa- ble of much better things. The program credits the hook to Sammy Spears and Sammy has a remarkable memory for bits and gags. Some of the .ancient were the ap- ple g.'ime, counting the hats, money changing, mashing a woman, c.all- Ing for hedp and others of a like vintage. A story told by one of the comics aborft crafting a don's J''g on a girl who had been injured in .an .auto accident was so disv-ii''tinf: even the hardened oM-tirne.i shud- dered. The sketch, a golf bit, be- tween Mi.-i.s Warren and .S.irnmy Si)ear.'», was another ofTi-tid'-r, The show starts with llie 15 bsre- 'eutred cholines out uitli an ititro- 'itiction opener imd a i>ar.'i:1e of the nrinclpais. Opal Tavlor wn3 The lirst to shimmy snd shU'er. wliri;le and quiver, and the cnstonieis howled for more. They not It atil in biinc-he.M before tlie sIk.w was over.. Miss Taylor Is .«o»n<> .slei)r>er, and seemingly never tires. That there shall be no mlstak4n« her identity she has her name em- llazoned In brilliants on the front and back of her abbreviated tr.iniva. There is no other place to put It. The chorus appeared In the first .several numbers in sort of checker- board apron affairs, but proved they hail other changes before the t)er- f(»rmance was over. A special Introduction was award- ed Miss Warren, who swung Into "Cake Walking Babie.s" and led the gals right OMt on the run for a closer Inspection. Miss Warren ilso depended upon the grind for her applause and It was a neck and neck raee through the bill between she and Miss Taylur ♦'or the squiratiy honors. The comics worked between num« hers and fished for laughs with their sad jokes and objectionatle actions. They were particularly offensive in a nationality bit, where they pu.'ihed and wrestled with several of the girls. The second act was nf)t so bad be(;ause it was not so loner, but the suggestiveness was stlii there. War- ren and Spciirs ooenod with the :v>l(liig sketch, usin™ a special drop in one. Their discu.s.'sion of the ^'.imo and her description of the i>l.iys gave .Spoars hl.i opportunity tOc ilr.iir in all tiie iloulilo ciiton;ire ma- lt riil jiii.fHil le. No' no ^ooJ. "(;ive Nuihlng Away," by 'I'aylor and the girl.'< In one-plerc ti imks, w.as one of tho.se rta«h •hiuvrs. with .Miss Taylor u'radually drofiplng lier .Iraii- ry for one big look. .-^lio U.iJicd the boys along for a nun hir of III til-handed enccrr?s and th.en the finish. "Around the Ci rncr" Was a reaj (Continued an pace 12)