Variety (November 1925)

10 VARIETY Wednesday, November 4, 1925 NEWS FRCi;i M DAILIES This department contains rewritten theatrical news items as pub- lished during the week in the daily papers of New York, Chicago and the Pacific Coast. Variety takes no credit for these news items; each has been rewritten from a daily paper. NEW YORK Johnston L KcJmund became a •tockholder in the Metropolitan Opera and Real Estate Company, which owns the Met, by purchasing one-fourth interest in parterre box ?•• wned by Oiraud Foster. Aiken, fi. C. iiie Met ownership is confined to owners of parterre boxes, the esti- mated value of each of the 35 boxes, based on the $7,000,000 valuation ol the entire property, being $200,000. George C. Tilyou. part owner of Steeplechase Park, Coney Is'and, is recovering from an attack of pneu- monia at his home in Brooklyn. When Richard E. Enright, Police Commi.ssloncr of New York, retires from olllce December 31. he may devote his time In writing for the booksellers, stage and screen. It was reported at the same time that Sam II. Harris may make a spring stago production of "The Grogan Girl," by Knright. in a Milwaukee theatre deal, aued Ulibert J. Ilarvey and his brother. LJeorge A. Harvey, the former doing busines.s in Milwaukee and (.he latter In Cleveland, for $2,»S0,- UUO damages for alleged breach ot contract in the delivery of a parcel of Milwaukee property. The Su- preme Court last week In New York awarded Bondy $720,000. Bondy planned to build a theatre on the Milwaukee realty in dispute. Tho case was tried in New York through the summons and com- !)laint being served on the defen- dants while registered at the Hotel Astor. nothing except brewing hops in the cellar of their home. Announcement in made that Marv Glynne and Dennis Neilson-Terry, English players who were in "The Crooked Friday" cast, will appear in "The OITcnse." by Mordaunt Shairp, now running in London. Dr. Paul Lcnl, German, plans to make a fllm version of Gilbert and Sullivan's famous operetta, "The *Ilkado." He will treat the oper- etta as a Japanese art picture. Broadway theatre crowds were given a halt and Are thrill the night ot Oct. 30 when a blaze destroyed Brill Brothers' annex, 213 West 4!»th street. Firemen halted tralHc for 20 minutes. Many persons in the Am- bassador theatre next door got a fright for a time. A small blaze In the Lyric theatre building, starting in the insulation at the bottom of the elevator shaft early m the morn- ing Oct. 31. The night watchman turned in an alarm. Thomas Melghan announced as donating a check for $1,000 for the Jewish Federation's fund. New York papers received cables from Vienna Oct. 31 that "Paganlnl," Franz Lehar's new operetta, has scored. The American Woman's Associa- tion is conducting a drive to obtain iunus to bui.d a new clubliouse. A benefit Will be beid In the Jolson Iheatro, Nov. 22, with Daniel Froh- man as chairman of the affair. Ena Welch, former actress and now a theatrical costumer, lost an eight-year suit to gain posaos.sion of the property of the late CharleH Swigart, millionaire, whom Miss Welch declared was her father by a common-law marriage in 1869. Law- yers for the estate said the former actress was born in 1866 at Wolf Island, Canada, the daughter of Tom Davis, lumberman, killed in a brawl. The only blood relation of the mil- lionaire now living is a sister, in an innane asylum. A story In the "American" pic- tured two dramatic students learn- ing to register "horror" by one tick- ling the other's bare foot. passing two checks given bv h, to the Hollywood Studio for rAn,"^ space for the amount of $ ■ • ^n ^^ $32.00, respovtlvely. Ho Vris nhn* ing a seen.-, and the ofiic.i-.-, .vio\v^ It before taking hl^ him to flnlsh away Earl and Appeared Dispatches from Pittsburgh stated that Jolin W. Hubbard, Pittsburgh manufacturer, had made a court answer to the suit died ag:iiiisi iiim ijy Anne Caldwell, New York act- ress, for $600,000 damages in a breach of promise suit. dei>ying thai ho entered into a contract to marr:, .Miss Caldwell. Hubbard entered a denial of everything in an affidavit ipd in the United States District Court Fox pictures have landed , the •creen rights to 8»a of David Be- lasco's plays and has also bough. "What Price Glory?". "The Cradle Snatchers" and A. S. Hutchinson's With Arthur West acting as mas- ter of ceremonies, the "Captain Jinks" troupe is arranging a benefit for the widow of Tralllc Policeman Charles S. Singer, killed by a truck Oct. 28. The deceased policeman was long stationed at 8th avenue and loth street. A widow and five chil- dren survive. The benefit Is set for Si"Lir.?''Vu°7t.'^_;:?"? ll?r!*!!"« L^* Wartm beck Theatre Nov. 15. Purpose." The "Glory" price was Civcn at $100,000. Among the Belasco pieces are "The Music Master," "The Auction- eer," "The Grand Army Man." "The Return of Peter Grim," "The Lily" and "The Comedlart." "The Sea Woman's Cloak" Ik scheduled for production in the American Laboratory Theatre, a eemi-pro''esslonal orKanlzatInn, un- der the direction of Richard Boles- la vsky, formerly a director of the Moscow Art Theatre. When .Tnfie Cowl appears In "Easy Virtue," Habel Terry Lewis will be In support. Miss Liewis was noti- fied to report here from London for rehearpal. Oth-^ra with Miss Cowl will be Har.iveM Hobhes. Joan Cle- ment Scott, Robert Harris. Mard-^ Vane and Joyce Carey., Basil Dean Will direct. Thq New York tabs gave plenty attention, plctorially and otherwise. to the story that Hope Hampton, fllm star, was not present when her- ■tcpdauf hter, Yvonne Bnilatour. was married Oct. 27 to Arthur H. Kelly, Jr. Miss Hampton Is tno wife of Jules Brulatour, fath'^r of the bride. Mile. Gam'. premiere bal- lerHe at the Cn-vtol, for the past fovr years, is announced as tho pt'o.ipective star in,a musical com- edy to be produced by William Mor- ris, Jr. Jacqueline Rogers, 23, Greenwich Village "art student," was arrested Oct. 30, charged with being the di- rector of a pair of auto thieves who, the police believe, have stolen 40 cars in eight months. Down In the Village her artf>at caused quite a stir. She was noted for her mannish clothes, carried a portfolio of sketches and had a line of talk de- cidedly out ot alignment with her al- leged criminal Intent. She was held In Brooklyn when arraigned without bail for grand larceny and turned over to the Montclair (N. J.) police who sought her. Some space vwis tflv-i to the loss Of $10,000 worth ot rare liquors by Jesse L. Lasky, vice president Famous Players-Lasky. Mr. Lasky hail 14 barrels In a box- ear at the froi;^ht station ot th Penn road, 37th street and the North River. Mr. Laskv h-^d moved It with some barrels of silverware and household goods from Holly- Wood, Cal., the Lasl:ys to m.ake their home hereafter at 910 Fifth Ave. Bandits visited the car, stuck up a lone watchman and made oft with the liquor. Mr. Lasky said it was a total los.s as he had no insurancf on the "wet Roods." Four barrels of silver also taken were covered by Insurance. A story that the Italian Govern- .^ent was making a:n effort to end - the K'lardl.nnship ot Mrs. Doroth; Benjamin Car-so In-^ram over her Infant daughter, Gloria, was denl^-d by Mrs. lugram's attorneys, W"- St Sellgsberg. rlth Mary Lewis drew attention her deci.alon to stick to opera. "Tip Toe.s," new Aarona and Freedly productloi., will hit the Na- t'rmi Theatre, here, around Christ- mas. Everybody connected with the affair has volunteered. The New York Daily Mirror used some heavy printers' ink on a story that Barbara Bennett, the present partner of Maurice, dancer, might become the bride of Louis Basualdo, younger brother of Carlos Basualdo, who married Lenora Hughes. Mau- rice's former partner. Mrs. Marian U. Gray, Astoria. Queens, was awarded a divorce and j76 weekly alimony by Judge Cars- well in the Supreme Court, Queens, Oct. 29, from her husband, Roger Gray, actor. Mrs. Gray charged her husband with living in the Hotel Majestic, Chicago, during April and .May, 1924, with an actress. Almira Calderon, the Mexican fac- tory girl, whose voice was discov- ered by the late Enrico Caruso when he visited Vera Cruz, was heard In DUblic Oct. 29 in the McAlpin Grill. The papers credited the girl with having a remarkable voice. Harry .Standld'ro, I:iwye?, has been disbarred because he sued the judges of the Appellate Court for closing a dance hall that he owned. The Treasurers' Club has b^*?"" maturing plans for its annual mid- night smoker. LOS ANGELES Louis Priedlander, picture actor, and Lorenzo Carleton, newspaper-4^ man, are under arrest charged with contributing to the delinquency ot Frances Williams, 18-year-old pic- 'tiro e-tra. !■ riodl.andor is accused of having made advances to the girl, and is now at liberty under a $1,009 ball. The charge against Carleton is more serious, and he was held for examination under $3,000 ball. rl Fraser, reputed millionaire Ocean Park amusement own' ared before Superior Co.fi Judge Sumtnerfield to contest th action of his Wife, Lillian Kraser tl* alimony tor $600 per month, vcnlh^i trial of her suit for divone. ITaK.! Informed the court that his IncoT^l was only $750 per nionili and h! could not afford to pay his wife iGoo of that amount. Judge Summerlield took the case under advisemont. Eddie Branstutter, owner ot th« Jlonimartre cafe, seriously injured Hancock Ballard, 45, rancher ot Suu sun Valley, when he ran him do.vn with Ills automobile on Sunset boulevard. The Injuries were Inter- nal, besides lacerations ot the face, hands and back of Ballard, who wm taken to the Hollywood HospUa!. Bran.«!tatter reported the' ace "ent to the Hollywood police, and stated he was going 23 mllas ppj- hour and that he did not see tiTe man In the street until he had struck him. The police held him blameless for th* accident. Elma Applegate, film extra, was held for trial by Justice Blake on a charge of passing 30 fictitious checks. Police charge that Miss Applegate forged the checks In order that she might buy food, but later began to buy clothes and hats. All of the checks were passed on mer- chants In Hollywood. ^ "Marco Polo," Eugene O'Neill's play, is to be produced by David Belasco some time next September. The New York World, Oct. 81. publLshcd most ot the review of "The Cocoanuts" (Marx Brothers) Boston Premiere, clipping it from the !:oston Transcript. The new Marx show is by the Marx Brothers, Irving Berlin and George S. Kaufman. "The Gull Kller," new play by Hope Barnett, Is to bo the second production of Norman-Toi Gcddcs and Richard Herndon. Their first was "Arabesque." The International Film Arts GiiI'd is ntit with a pmspectus of Its plans whxh Include the revival of meri- torious Plrrs of the past. Tho show- In-s will be confined to Sunday.-; only. Fanni* Jf»r*t^4» th g author ess of a p.-'-'cant which will be p'-''s»»nte'» bv the Fedf^ration for the Siinport of Jewish Phnanthroplc Societies at the Jo'son Theatre. Nov. 15. The pacant in for the benefit of tho l4.000.000 fjind the Federation will try to collect In a big drive. The N. Y. 'World," Oct. 31, had a front page story tliat Henry Ford has come out openly as Indorsing the candidacy In Detroit of Mayor John W. Smith, who has been re- nominated. It caused no end of .speculation In Detroit as Smith la a Catholic and the Ku Klux Klan is bending ever effort to d':fcat Smith. Ann Murdock. prominent several^ years ago In New York pays, hau •ligured in tho press of late through her suit in the courts to recover $150,000 worth ot uecuritles she turned over to her husband, Harry C, Powers, which she claims she loaned him so he could enter the brokerage business. During the trial ii ueveloped her marriage had been a secret. Her attorney stated to the judge that -Miss .Murdock and Mr. Powers went through a ceremony of marriage of which there was grave doubt, with .Miss .Murdock now referring to him as her husliand merely for conven- ience sake. The Powers' were married three months after the loan and lived together only three months when separ.atlon occurred. According to the papers, efforts on the part of i^ov.ers for a reconciliation will lirove futile as Ml.ss .Murdock wants her sccuri4ies and says she will have nothing further to do with her husl}an<l. The trial will continue throughout this week before Judge Cotillo In .\'ew York. Adolph Zukor, head of Famous Players-Lasky corporation, credited with a public statement at thr luncheon of the Associated Motl Picture Advertisers wherein he made an emphatic denial that he had ever conspired with others to unduly hinder competition in the production, distribution and exbl- Mtlon of pictures. The New York "Times" last week carried a denial from Los Angeles that Jack PIckford and his wife. Marilyn Miller, star of "Sunny," had come to the parting of the ways. PIckford said he was on the Coasi to make two pictures which had caused his presence there. William Randolph Hearst, news- paper publisher, who spent the sum- mer on his California ranch, tiAs returned to New York, From Detroit came a story that continuous tVaIn control by means of radio-operated safety devices had been successfully demonstrated there. Mrs. Anne U. Stlllman. wife or James A. Stlllman, former president ot National City Bank, has filed suit for divorce against her husband, naming Florence H. Leeds, former nroadway show gin, as corespon- dent. Mrs. Stlllman won a notable victory when she was sued for di- vorce June 1, last, the Court of Ap- peals decided that Stlllman was not "ntltlcd to a decree. At that time the hanker charged that Fred Be.au- vals, Indian irulrte, was the father of the Stlllman hoy, Guy Stlllman. The present action Is to be t-'- " before a referee, cnpolnted by the Supreme Ccurt In Westchester County. Joseph Edrlsfein, man.ager Sec- ond Avenue Theatre, turned over the Jewl.sh house to the acting com- nany comprising Molly Picon, Jacob Kallch, director and husband of .Miss Picon: Joseph Rumshlskv, composer; William I'.Tsternak, Ma.x Sag o r and -Nfttkftft Parttes. Edol- steln about six month.<i ago pur- f~ha."*ed the Second Avenue theatre for $730,000. A series of musical operettas are planned by the new company ownership. Irene Bordonl is booked to open Vov. » In "Naughtv Clndf^rella" at the Lyceum, New York. The pres- ent Lyceum show, "The Duchess and the Walter" (Elsie Ferguson' Is being transferred to Boston. Virginia Lee Corbln, fllm actress and.her mother were made defen- dants In a suit for $51,500 damages filed In Superior Court by Ralph J. Macgee. Also named as dcfenJantr. In the action are Howard Ester- brook of the Sirongneart produc- tions, the picture corporation and others. The complaint alleges that -MacGee was employed by the pic- ture corporation to take Miss Cor- bln and her mother to Lake Arrow- head on August 14 last and that his nbllitv as a driver was criticized from the back seat. About 15 miles from their destination the two passen- gers got out of the car and refused to ride further. Then it Is said th' women got In touch with Ester- brook at Arrowhead Lake and asked him to send them another driver that MacGee was t»runk and under the Influence of dope. Thes^e ac- cusations were fa'se alleges the complaint which further assert- that MacGee w.as humiliated by Es- terbrook fa'sely broadcasting tho charges which caused him serious loss of business and good name. Mrs. Lule Warrenton, director of children's pictures and lectures, was formerly the wife of Cyrus A. Kirk- patrlck, who recently murdered two Los Angeles men with a shotgun at his place in the Antelope Valley. Mrs. Warrenton was married to Klrkpatrick in 1912 and obtained a divorce shortly afterward on grounds of cruelty. Mrs. Warrenton Is not Interested In the fate of her former husband and does not want to become Involved in the matter. She also has a son, Gilbert Warren* ton, picture cameraman. Raymond R. Herr, screen heavy, was awarded a divorce from Nidine Ware Herr on a complaint of de- "ert'on by Superior Court Judge Summerfield. The couple were married June 10. 1917, in Spring- field, III., and Mrs. Ware departed June 10, 1919. Wallace and Noah Beery were charged by City Prosecutor Fried- lander with having venison in their possession over five days after the deer season closed Oct. 16. A com- plaint was issued against them by State Game Warden C. L. Savage. They must prove that the charge Is false or stand a fine of $250 eacn. •TTohelt Tnnzt Walzer" will be presented In the Irving Place The- atre, Ne-w York, Nov. 10. the Ger- man cast to In'^lix'e Ernst Goflo. Viola Graham aid E'sa Kentner. When Lionel A twill appears Ir "Deep In the Woo'^''.'' his lead'"" lady will he Emille Pollnl, who hn" been starring Id dramatic plays In Australia for several years. CHICAGO Irene Castle lost her second child at the Michael Reese Hospital last week, the ch'ld dying shortly attei bir h. The former actress la now the wife of MaJ. Frederic McLaugh- lin. ,/ Their flrst child was born last January. Savanah E. I.iawson, who says she Is a screen actress, must exp'.a n to Judge Bullock, Nov. 5, why she had several companions In her apartment," who annoxpd neighbors by their action. Mis^Lawson was arrested for violating the morals laws In an apartment house. Sam Allen, who began his career as call boy In Ford's theatre, Balti- more, 50 years ago. celebrated hl.s golden anniversary as a performer. The party was held in a Hollywood studio which was a.tended by 35 people of the stage and screen, all of whotn were ovm* 65. Mrs. Samuel Insull will build a theatre here, according to rumor. David J. Bondy, theatrical operator. The first press yarn put over for "Some Day" at the Olympic was a photograph of Gloria Foy wearing a strap watch to cover a vaccination scar. Mrs. Ruth M. Sweeney, sister of Marilyn Miller, and wife of the house physician of the Palmer House, has sued for divorce, charg- ing her husband wl:h caring for Teddy Hayes, former trainer for Jack Dempsey, denies he married Dorothy Appleby several weeks ago. The reason for the denial Is that his present wife only instituted a divorce in the Superior Court on charge of desertion. Sept. 28, and a decree has not been granted. Mrs, Geraldine Lowry filed sui for divorce against F, C. Lowry, a casting agent and assistant picture director, on charge that he waa too friendly with a girl whose name she only knows as Helen. The com- plaint further charges that I.owry was abu.-ive to his wife, called her unplea.«ant names, and tlireatcnod o kill her. Lowry is said to be get- ting $150 per week and his wife asks for $50 a week alimony pena- ing^ti>4al ot t4»fr ^etien^, — Ray Nazarro, director and Inde- pendent producer, was arn'sled and arraigned before Justice Samuel Black on a chargf of passing bogus checks. Nazarro was on location when arrested on Sustaining a demurrer of Mrs. Charlotte Shelby In the suit of her daughter, Mary Miles Minter, tor an accounting of the tatter's picture earnings, Superior Court Judge Han by temporarily threw the action out of court. He granted attor- ney for Miss Minter 20 days to file an amended complaint. Her original complaint alleged that her mother used over $1,000,000 of her earnings while she was work- ing in pictures because she was not of age .at the time. Peter J. Pybus. one of the owners of the London "Times," stopped off here for a day, and in explaining his Interest In pictures said: "You can- not realize the extraordinary extent to which American films dominate the world. In Greece, Turkey. Ger- many, France and the British Isles It Is the snme, this process of Americanization via the films. In fhy country unlimited capacities .nnd resources h.ave been placed at the commnnd of British producers In vain. The people will not have the local products. MARRTAGTS Blllle Gorber to Sam KaploW (pnn-pror'^ssl'>r':'V In (''•V:>'- • Frank B. Dalley, leader Famous Meadowhrook Orchestra, to Monica Roach. Oct. 21. William Young, musical dlrectoe, •ptli'Mnri" ril'v V.':its-n C" . to Eileen Thomas, of that show's chorus, Oct. 27, Rochester, N. Y. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. James E. Strook, daughter, Oct. 29, at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York. Mr. Strook Is vice-president of Brooks Costume Co. HOUSES OPENING Rlalto, Pottsdam, N. Y., vaude and picture policy. Plays five acts on split week booked through the Walter Plimmer Agency, New Vorlc. Louis Rosenthal opens the Ly» ceum In Orange, N. J., around Nov. 9. The house will play straight pictures. Sunday vaudeville has Ijcen dis- continued at the Rlalto, Hobokcn, N. J., with an ejtra performancS of the week's stock bill replacing. IN AND OUT Harry Snodgrass, Leavenworth prison and radio pianist, was off the bill at Keith's. Cincinnati, thii week due to illness. Marie Dressier will headline the bill at the Davis, Pittsburgh, thl» week, replacing Olfja Petrova. MI«« Petrova was compelled to cancel the engagement owing to litigation In New York over "The White Pea- cock." . 1, The Victory, Evansvillc, Ind., has dl.scontinucd playing prcFcnt.itlonS and reverted back to Its ori.trlnal combination policy of three acts ana cins^Jiuv.JL. r!'"'' Diamond will supply the vaudeviller The American, Spokane. W.i«h, has boon added to the A. & H. Cir- cuit booked out of Chicago. Open- tho charge of " ing bill Is set for Nov. 19.