Variety (October 1925)

Wednesday October 7, 1925 VAUDEVILLE VARIETY ALLEGED BOOKING CONTRAQ OF 30 DAYS' NOTICE CLAUSE DENIED Prospect, Bronx, With Two Bookers, Markut and ^ Linder—Linder Appeals to V. M. P. A. and ^ Stands Pat ' An unusual angle to the booking rights of acta via Independent v^de- vlUe agencies cropped out when the I>ro8pect (Bronx) decided to change M;ent8. Jack Under has been booking the Jjouse. Alex Cohen, who directs the »how policy at ft»e Prospect, notified XJnder to discontinue and authorized rally Markus to frame the shows, gtarling with this week's program. Markus got In touch with Linder to straighten out contracts entered for this week so there would be no embarasslng conflict when other turns, booked by Markus, played the liouse. Linder Informed Markus he was atill booking the house; that Llnder- booked turns would go In the Prbs- pect this week and that he (Linder) was taking the matter up with the Vaudeville Managers Protective As- sociation. ' Meanwhile Manager Cohen told tfarkus to book the show as author- lied. Markus later received a leCter from the V. M. P. A. wherein the contract status as viewed through Its legal eyes was explained. The statement said that Linder had en- ^osed a contract to the V. M. P. A., entered into with the Prospect which authorized Linder to book the house and that neither the theatre nor the agency could cancel without giving Mtch other 30 days' notice in wriing. The V. M. P. A. further stated In Its Markus letter that Cohen had tiotlfied him (Linder) October 1 to discontinue booking acts on and after October 6, the reason given that Cohen had turned the booking tover to the Markus agency. The V. M. P. A. informed Markus that a contract entered into by both parties In good faith should be hon- ered. The claim la made by the Prospect Interests that no contract was agreed upon ,aa to the 30 days' writing clause for termination of booking but that a statement was signed in which Linder waa given power to book and of the same contractual form used by all the independent agencies. This does not Include any 10-day phrasing, n Linder was standing pat as a re- , iult of the V. M. P. A. status ,wlth Cohen expected to clarify the thea- tre's side so that the booking could be made without further conflict. The contract matter la expected %o be finally straightened out today •t a conference between Major Donovan, representing the V. M. A., Linder and Manager Cohen. The show the first half this week Was booked by Linder, pending the conference outcome. MRS. TINNEY TALKING OF FRANK IN NEW kCl "Til Take Him Back" Removed After Tried—Two Songs on ' Marital Troubles Edna Davenport returned to vau- fleville liiat week carrying the "Mrs. Frank Tlnney" billing and is cur- 'ewiy shaping her new turn on two -ft. Weeks' route of independent dates. Mrs. Tlnney is backed by Harry Btodd,Trd and an 11-piece band. Her individual contributions are three ■pecial songs, two of which treat her marital difficulties with the Blackface comic satirically, and ■eme dancing. When the act played Newburgh, "■ Y., Mrs. Tlnney had Incorporated • parody on "I'll Take Him Back "He Wants to Come Back," which, ^though a panic, has since been dropped. *. ^P- Tinney Is capit.allzlng on the publicity given the Tlnney-Iinogene Bubbles- Wilson incident and is "■eating the matter lightly, despite naving filed divorce proccedinKs against Tlnney, who Is now abroad. AAiest advices from that end has « tli.at "Bubbles" and Tinney nre VJits for good and friends of the ■iinneys look for a reconciliation Whon the comedian returns to these ■nores. "Those who caught the act on Its "ut-of-town "break-in" claim Mrs. *inncy lias spared nothing on sar- •^rmi eciiiipment and gowns and Is «^8o displaying her coUeclion of ACTS TO DATE ROUTED BY K.-A. Vaudeville booklnga aa regrards the houses booked out of the Keitb- Albee Agency In and about New York are being consummated from week to week but the out-of-town houses are booked well In advance. According to the bookers more acta have been routed for this season than at the corresponding time last season. The booklnga from week to week are explained on the ground that many of the neighborhood and out- of-town houses near the metropolis are apecializing on new acta and break-ins on account of the reduced salaries during that period. These house owners prefer that the bookers wait until the last possible moment In order to book all acts of this type available. A list of acts routed by the Kelth- Albee Circuit for this season, al- phabetically arranged la appended. Where the letter A followa the name of the act It is an importa- tion or alien. Act Beautiful !>• . _ Allen & Canfield Klewenlnga, Pour Angel Brothers ,„<^> . „ , (X) Kirkland, Paul Aurora Troupe Kokln & Galletti (X) La Crosse, Jean Australian Boys J^^j: * Mercedes (X) La Kremollna (A) Barry & Lancas- f'*"* * ^^^^ {Qc Levan & Doris Bedlnl. Jean & J^^y- ^ert qq^ Loyal Doga Berg'ere. Valerie J^y""; ^^Ef <^> Bezazlan & White h^^«" * **"* , "Blue Bird" McCullough, Carl Boganny Troups Mahoney. WIU tj^\ Mandela Brlants. The M^'''"' Jo®, & p°- Bronner. Cleva- Mauss, Willie (A) land Mel Klee JACK THOMPSON Featured with MARIE SABBOTT Orpheum Circuit A Juvenile who can read lines, wear clothes, sing and dance. Week, Oct. 11, Riviera, Chicago. Week, Oct. 17, Palace, Milwaukee. $2,000,000 FOR SOMERSET K.-A. Circuit Buys Hotel Adjoinino Palace The purchase of the Somerset Hotel on West 47th street by the Keith-Albee Circuit is reported as settled. The purchase price, while not divulged, is said to be at>out $2,000,000. The property was acquired to enable the Palace. New York to en- large its dressing rooms and to re- lieve congestion back stage. No Increase of the Palace capacity is being considered at the present time, according to information. NEW K-A HOUSE OPENSINBOSTON 4,000 Capacity — From 9:30 to 11—60c. Top NEW POUCY OF SHOW SCALE AT K.-A.'S RIVERA 30c. with Pictures Only l»t Half—75c Top for Mixed Bill, 2d Half Brooks & Rosa ^^'^JP*; ^^'^•' Brower. Walter $J«"f'• i°* ,„., Brown & Whit- JJ^!^*," ^x ^ fl^ taker Morris, Lily (A) Browning, Joe 5i°'"!,°"'„^i"lS° Camerons Four JJl^^at" T^h^n^ Castleton & Mack JJ^^i*^'n^,°?"°'^ Cervo & Moro ^^ZfZ ^,I\ Charlotte (A) S*^°°' ^17 ga.nS'frf Nltr"i^c"n*ox cJ^s 'Zs. o'frii? "• ^''• C& SyTvIa ^?;,", * f °^°'«'° Claude & Marlon ?t Sa Clovelly Girls (A) p^^ua f Bros Colleano (A) i^?^. I „^L ?;<«« ^cZtr. i%L ?e?;oea^S?/a^'*" Sn f Ruffli P^;-*^^"" * W*^^- Cressy & Dayn* Raach Ballet Cummlngs. Roy Rebla (A) Davis, Ethel Reeves, Ada (A) Demarest & Col- Reed & Treninl lette Reyes, Juan Dooley & Sales Ricardo, Irene Du Callion Richardson, Frank Dunlo & Gegna Robinson, Bill (A) Rockwell. Dr. East & Dumke Romalne. Mar- Brrol, Bert garet Pyfte, Will (A) Rubin. Benny Co Gateson, Marjorle Sargent & Lewis George, Col. Jack Sarto, Pable De Gordon's Doga & Co. Gordon, Paul Schenk, Carl & Halperin, Nan son (A) Harmon A Sands Senter, Boyd Harris, Val Sherwoods, The Haughton & Gold Shone & Squires (A) Snodgrass, Harry Hayes, M & H'yesgtanley, Jos. B. Haynes & Beck Stoutenburgh, Haynes, Mary Larry Healy & Cross Suter, Ann Hegedus, Margit Trentlnl, Emma Herbert, Hugh Uessems, Four Herman, Mmo. (A) Hlatt, Ernest Vane. Sybil Holloway & Aus- Van De Velde (A) tin (A) Van & Vernon Hook, Ethel (A) Vernllle, Nltza Hurst & Vogt Vincent, Claire Co. Jackson Girls (A)Waldman, Ted & Jans & Whalen Al Kanazawi Japs Walker, Charlotte Karreys, Four (A) Weirs Elephants Kavanauph, Stan Whelan, Albert Kcane, Richard (A) Redroff Quartet Williams, Bransby (A) Wilton Sisters Kclton, Pert Withers, Charles Kcrckjarto, Dud Wyse, Rosg & Co. COMEDY FLASH TURNS SCARCE Over-Supply of Dancing and Musical Flash Acts Never before In vaudeville has there been such a scarcity of com- edy flash turns and such an over- production of dancing and musical flash acts aa now. The above la a concensus ot the opinion of the big and small-time vaudeville booking, who blame the agents and producers for short sightednesa and imltatlvenesa. The over-production of dancing and musical acta - la attributed to the picture houses. The producers figured the new element would be In the field for this type of act, for which they bad shown a preference. Aa is usual all of the producers got the idea about the same time with the result the supply far exceeds the demand. The excesa acta were thrown back upon vaudeville. The out-of- town managera have been Inform- ing the bookera they don't want tbla type turn week after week and have been decrying tho lack of comedy flashea The bookora claim that agents offer the dancing and musical flashes day^fter day and aa fast aa they are declined, dig up new ones due to the number available. LOEW OPENS SOUTHERN OFnCE AT ATLANTA Howard McCoy Is to Be in Charge—Is In Step with Expansion Plans The Loew Clrculta plana for ex- pansion in the south and south- western territory are coupled with the announcement of the re-estab- lishment of a southern divisional office at Atlanta with Howard Mc- Coy in charge. McCoy has been transferred from the New York olSce nnd^^p now in the south on an ihsiiobtlen tour of the Loew houses in Virginia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida and Texas. The expansion plana call for sev- eral new houses In addition to those now under construction at Rich- mond, Norfolk and Now Orleans. The project calls for aa elabora- tion of the presentatlona of feature picturea and the personal appear- ances In the Loew picture houses of vaudeville '/names" aa well as the strengthening of the Loew southern vaudeville bills. Columbus Circle's Theatre Delayed The new Columbus Theatre at 5Sth street and 8th avenue. Just off Columbus circle. Now York, stand- ing where the former Relsenweber's cafe operated, Is not likely to get started before November. This house will be the newest In the chain controlled by Consolidated Amusement CompanjK. Boston. Oct. C The new Kelth-Albee Boston theatre, located in what was known as the Selgel building at. Washing- ton and Essex streets, downtown, opened yesterday with the same policy that characterized the old Boston theatre which for several years past has been the Keith pop vaudeville and picture house here. This new house is to take the place of the old house until the new Boston theatre is built. Just what the plan of the Kelth-Albee people is after that Is too far in i the future to be guessed at now. The new Boston theatre will be built on the site of the old house with much added territory taken and is to be a memorial to the late B. F. Keith. Work will start on it at oncei. The new house seats 4,000 with the performance starting at 9:80 a. m. and running until IL There are four complete shows a day. The price from morning until noon is 40O. for the orchestra and 80c. for the balcony. From noon until 5 o'clock the orchestra charge la 60c. and the balcony 40c. After 6 the orchestra is 60e. with the balcony BOc 40c For the opening bill "California Straight Ahead" the Unlversal's feature was picked as the picture lead, with the vaudeville including the Julian Arthur Dancing Synco- pators, Ann-Francis Wally. Claude De Carr and Co., V&n Coleman and Ahna Bauer and Al Dwinnel In "The New Stenog" Carr Lynn, mimic and songster, and Helen* Jackson and Margaret Shelley. An added picture was one of the Roach comedies, "The Caretaker's Daugh- ter." Two Orchestrss The house has two orchestras with Charles Frank the chief direc- tor assisted by Walter Mayo. The organ is to be In charge of A. D. Richardson, formerly of the RIalto, New York. William P. Frank Is the organist Charles Harris, for many years manager of the old Boston theatre, is manager of the new house. In the building of the new house the preferences of the patrons of the old Boston theatre were given much consideration. Despite the large size of the house it is built In such a manner that an air of cozlness is noted. Everything In the construction of the house is the last word in theatre building with ,^ P. Albce supervising Uie greater liiaauot'^t^he work. Its location is admittedly one of the best in the city. One of the first Indications of the th'rcat to other houses contained in the open- ing of this house was the changing of the policy of the Washington street Olympla, one of the chain of the Gordon houses here, to a four-a-day schedule. A policy change at Keith's RN vera, Brooklyn, omits vaudeville during the first half of the week, leaving a feature picture with pre- sentations and short reels. The last half continues with the usual vaude- ville and a picture. Another change is a raise in scale for the rear ot the orchestra, placing the entire lower floor at 75c. The first and picture half of the week is lowered to 15c. at matinees anc'. 30c. eve- nings. W. P. Wachtel is manager of the theatre. The Rivera ts the only house at present on the K.-A. circuit with this policy. G. 0. H. REOPENING Long Shut/-Down Did Business Not Affect DEARTH'S WIDER FIELD Memphis, Oct. C J. Lloyd Dearth, who for four and one-half years has been man- ager of I'antages here, will bo given a wider field of activity with the I'aclflc Coast managers' circuit and will do Hupervislon work over several theatres. Ills first mission for Pantagna will be to install a now manager for the Minneapolis house. Th^ question of a successor to Deartn "has not been definitely do- cidud. "the period dia«Nr which the Grand opera hou«» (ttb avenue and 23d "street) was slosed when the owners and the city fire department had a conflict over the alleged viO'* iations of the house through the new building operations next door apparently did not affect the bust- ness on the reopening. The Grand for weeks prior to Its shut-down had trouble with the stagehands. Pickets were to bs seen dally fn front of the house. What is regardr' as the best break f(^ tlie Grand, leaving aslds' its brush vlth the city and its clos- ing, waa the elimination of vaude* ville at Prdetor's 23d Street Alex Haalon Is again booking th« Taudevllla Is the Grand. VAUDlmLEIN SHINEHOUSES Four Upstate Picture The« atres Booked by Fally Markut Fally Markus has consummated a booking. deal whereby the B. F. Shine picture circuit with head- quarters in Gloversville, N. T., has turned over its RIalto, Little Falls; Liberty, Herkimer; State, Corning, and the Babcock theatre, Bath, all in New York state for vaudeviUs showa Markus will book In three acts the last half of each week, this booking to continue as long as business warrants. There haa been much speculation as to which agency would land ths Shine houses, but Markus waa se- lected from all the Independents atriving to land them. •i! -i s iAFAYEnZ, BUFFALO, ACT SAID "OPPOSITION" 'fi^^f^.'^-'/f. Powers' Elephants Cancelled t—Complains to Managers' Association The V. M. P. A, la Investigating a complaint from the Lafayette, Buffalo, a Sun-Keeney booked vaudeville house, agalnat Powers* Elephants. Tho complaint alleges the act was booked the week of Oct. 26 and .sub-seiniently cancelled, tho net Informing Its agent (Wlrth- llamind) It had been Informed the house was "opposition" to ths Kelth-Albco Circuit The Gus Sun Circuit Is a memkflr of tho VauJtjvllle Managers Prot live A3.«oclation and Issues a paj I'lay contract