Variety (November 1925)

VARIETY VAUDEVILLE Wednesday, November 25, 1925 INSIDE STUFF ON VAUDEVILLE Soinowhat funny, all of that noise through an act rutting the supi'i-r ahmv i)ii-f(irtnaiu e. In tlic case of Al lloiman lio api>tart'il to tal<f cxcoptinri at a man Kcutiil down froBt rt'aiiinf; a m-wspaprr while he was on. That's about what a siij'Ihm- kIujw is [or, to ixivo those who have no other plaee to go n chaticc to kill liaie. In .1 town like Mt. ^'elll(pn on a i-'aliirvlny afteineon how many eiiiild there he with no jilace to go in that strictly resilient ial suburb? At rroctor's. Mt. Vernon, a sup;>er sliow is given once weekly, Sat- unlay. Why Saturday, no one yet has found out. I'erhajis the perform- ance where Herman cheated, there were 100 iieople pre.vjiit in a house of 1,000 capacity. Not only was it a threo-yhow day but where Is the actor who can work to 100 as he would to 1,900? And to see a reading paper fellow right in front of him! Tliere s an incentive! Why not speak to the newspaper readers, informing them that if they came In to read a paper, etc.—and give thom their money back. In a metropolitan pop vaudeville house recently, the manager found one man at the opening' of the matinee, when the picture only is run off, with the vaudeville to follow. Accordingly he ordered the llght.s turned up and made the "audience" wait until an audience arrived. Why can .a, hou.ie man.'ii;or cut a show any more than a performer can cut out an act. and for the same reason—lack of audience. This latter h:ipi>ened in a Keitli- Alijee house, aUso. Tile ".'<u|»per show" always lias been a bugaboo excepting for a heavily transient thoruiiKhfare in a big cjty. Many a house manat?* r has said to an act: '" Vou can cheat a little on the supper show" and they didn't car© horn much they cheated. Many a performer hail tried out new material at the middle performance. The supper show in vaude\'lllo a.«i against the damage done to morale of bill and staff, never has been worth it, in money or in jcnse. There may be some vnlue to three shows dail.v, matinee and two night performances, but never the ".'supper show," in the present day of continuous straight picture houses. FORUM In the "Saturday Kvcning Post" appeared a story In the form of an Interview (complete in last week's issue) giving th* outline of Fannie Brice's stage (areer, from 1 urlesQue to the present "Music Box Revue." In the story Miss Ilrice credits Blanche Merrill for writing her songs, but does not credit Miss Merrill for the song ideas. The interview, said Miss Brice, always thouirht of the Ideas, pa.>^.^ing them along to Miss Merrill. That does not conform to the common impression nor Miss Merrill's known stylo of writing. Either Flo Zicjfeld or Miss Brioe paid Miss Merrill $500 for each song she delivered for Miss Brico when with "The Follies." Miss Brice does not need a |jOO-a-song writer to lyricizo an Idea, nor would Mi.ss Merrill rev.-rito an idea for anyone, for a single song. Nor does it appear that Miss Brice has been as prolific ac her interview would seem to Bay, in song ideas since she Joined the •"Music Box" and Miss Merrill stopped writing for her. It is also a fact that Miss Merrill had a special contract drawn for her Fannie Brlcc songs in "The Follies," that prohibited either Miss Bi ice or Mr. Zlcgfeld using the songs any where excepting In "'The Frillies." That was to prevent Miss Brice taking her Merrill songs from "1 he Follies" into vaudeville and also to prevent Zie;fekl from giving jv. rmisslon for Miss lirice or anyone else to do so. Hardly a contract ei'her Ziegfeld or Miss Bri'^e would have signed had Miss Brice furni.shed any song ideas for any of the songs written for her by Blanche Merrill. Atlantic City's boardwalk has more stores devoted to the p4ugging of Florida land incmotions than has Times square. Free entertainments are given in the boardwalk stores, with transportation (by boat), both ways guaranteed to the south, also accommod.itions upon arrival, for what Bounds like a reasonable sum. At one of the stores a crowd of from 150 to 200 peoi)le nightly assemble to hear the music and the advantages of becoming a landowner in or around the Everglades. Be- sides Florida stores arc others promoting suburan A. A. places. (Continued from page 8) Cambridge, Ithaca, Ann Arbor. Champaign and elsewhere. I am a college ''grad" myself (.\mes, Iowa, '06) and will continue t<) claim that college students are not "rowdies." Perhaps the fault lies with the act for as Shakespeare says: "A Jest's prosperity lies in the car Of him v>ho hears; \evcr in the toiigne Of him that makes it." More power to Manager GUlis of tlie Stamford Theatre, I'alo Alto, CaL He la a Tery efflcient manager but I still maintain and do insist Stamford students are not rowdies. Holly (The Rmbe Comic). 9 nX AND DUURED Belle CoBtello (GaiX) and Costello) is recovering from a major opera- tion at Mercy Hospital, Chicago. Rosa (Rubin and Rosa) is doing a single while Irene Rubin is convalescing in tlie Lutheran Hospital, N. Y. The latter was op- erated on for appendicitis Nor, 1*. Miss Paddy, English dancer, was I badly hurt when falling down stairs at the Mayol concert hall, Paris, while hurrying from her dressing room to the stage. She was re- moved to the British hospital at Levallois (a suburb of IVris) and is now progressing favorably. Jack Richards, while playing the Orpheum, New Orleans, last week, was cut about the face by gla.ss when he was leaving a store after purchasing cigarettes. The door was stuck. When he gav« it a tug it opened suddenly and lis glass frame crashed against Richards' head. Dorothy Blake, vaudeville part- ner of Jack Gardner, convalescing at the Mercy Hospital, Springfield, Mass., from an operation for ap- pendicitis. Miss Blake, en route to Boston to fln a vaudeville ngage- ment, was stricken at Springfield. She is the wife of Lew Reed (Reed and La Vere). Maurice Baker, .-issistant manager of the 81st St. New Tork, has been ordered south for his health and is at present in Florida. Charles W. Ellish la now assistant to Bob Haw- kins, the manager. Berta Donn is ill at Saranac Lake, N. T. She last appeared^In "June Days." Inflated prices reported for artists In Florida cabarets are almost as extravagantly mentioned as the cost of real estate in that state. Jack Jarrott, former dancing partner of Irene Castle and Joan Sawyer, who, through unfortunate associations, became a narcotic addict several vears ago, has now become cured and is endeavoring to fli^t his way to the top again. Jarrott has been on the Pacific Coast for several years a«d has found It an impossibility to get work of any kind. Everybody seemed to be rather skejitical about aiding him. Several months ago a friend managed to get work for him hi a ■tiulio as an e.xtra. Jarrott worked as an atmosphere charcter in various pictures at a maximum splary of $7.50 per day, the first money he had earned In a number of years. Recently, production slowed up and Jarrott ran Into Joe Schenck who knew him in his dancing days. Schenck gave Jarrott a Job at the studio as a laborer, working around the stages, etc., telling him that if he made good within a certain time he would see that ho was given more lucrative employment. The salary for the eiglit hours of manual labor which Jarrott is now getting is $4.50 per day, less than he got for dancing a minute with his former stage partners. Jarrott has asked Variety to print this story of his endeavor to make good to let those in the J^ast know that he Is trying to fight his way to the top again and pay off his indebtedness to many who aided him in tlie days of need. T)esplto the Shuberts threatened to cancel the engagment of any of their people aiJ^icaring in a cabaret in New York, especially show girls or minor role players in the musicals, the girls go right along, apparently KABBLiGES Queena Mario, opera soprano, to Wilfred Pelletier, orchestra conduc- tor, in Chicago, Nov. 23. Donald V. Dalley, 21. musician, to Cornelia P. McCray. 17, non-profes- sional, in New York, Nov. 23. Robert Beach, 23, actor, to Lena Rothschild, 2S, actress, in New York, Nov. 23. Nigel Barrle, film actor, to Mrs. Gertrude Pocklington, of. Rhodesia, South America, at Los Angeles, Nov. 18. Barrle recently obtained a divorce from his first wife In London. Arlin Thorne (of the 16 Hoffmann Girls at the Moulin Rouge, Paris) to C. N. Needham, English professional cyclist of Manchester, where the couple will reside. Hubert Hendrle, chorus master, "The Student Prince" Co. (Boston), to Dorothy Biese, soprano, Capitol theatre. New York, Nov. 17. An- nouncement of the marriage, which had been kept a secret, made by the bride's mother, Mrs. Robert Blese, Chattanooga, Tenh. Victor N. C. Garland (vaudeville) to Doris Fredetta, dancer, Nov. 17, in New York. XEW ACTS Bothwell Browne and Co. Frederic Culprit. Morlen and Mason. ."Decision" (13). ^ Moss and Gordon. '' William Senayo - ' •Cliff Johnson. • Davis and Davis. Allen White's Collegians (7). Jones and Hull. LeDuux and Louise. VictorolT and Co. t>oro iiy <.;;i lliiid. Marjon Dancers (3). Grace Dale in a skit with Dennis Mullen and Al Gynne. Grace and Harry Elsworth have reunited. Cartmell and Harris new skit Lew Leonard and Co. (6). Stanley and Wilson Alsters In skit. Harry 'Van Fossen Chester "Rube" Nelson and Ger- trude Parish. Rogers'and Dorkln. Frank and Gertrude Butler. Will H. Ward (E). Black's Comedy Bears (3). Jazz Fiends (11). J. Kcane and White. » Oliver and Crangle. "Retribution," sketch, with Joseph Crehan and Olga Hanson. Anita Jam Co., sketch (3). Blum Trio. Betty Hale Co. (5). Enid Markey and Reginald Ma- son, sketch. Seven Kights and a Day (8). Van de Velde Co. (4). "The Night Club" (4). Lillian Walker, sketch (2). Lorraine and Morroveino. Jimmy Lyons. Arnold and Mack, sketch. Morln Dancers. — Buddy Lee. Saxe and La Pierre. Fisher and Bernard. Ross and Hayes. Juste Wate Four. East, West, North and South (quartette). Harry Sykes Co. (3). Kaufman and Kaufman. ][^ Blllie Regay Co (7). Parisian Art (posing act) (2). "The Bobber Shop" (9), Kelley and Bart. Shorty and Shorty. Ernest Pollock, former legit actor, In Harry Holman's former vehicle, "Bull Dog Sampson." The "Final Rehearsal" (8). John E. Kellcrd (legit) In play- let with company of three. Una Clayton has shelved "Sally" recently tried out and will shortly revive her former vehicle "Colu- sion." Jean Adair has returned to the managerial wing of Lewis & Gordon and will shortly open in a new play- let Barney Heer (Bender and Heer), with Mlnetta. Walter Fehl and Co. (10). Frank Mayo, pictures, enters vaudeville soon teamed with Mil- dred Wayne, alto from the films in Aaron Hoffman's "The Unexpected." Miss Corinne and Dick Himber are changing their flve-year-old act, framing a new cosibinatlon with Yarkes' Happy Six, Jazz sextet. NIGHTLIFE (Continued from page 5) only thing that one may look for in high grade entertainment conies from Diaghllcff's Ballet which winters about three months a year In Monte. As divertissement there are three or four night places, no one oC which puts on nearly the show it should. Last season the Carlton came closest to the real thing, it hnported Harry Pilcer and the Cuy Sisters at a fabulous price to come down and entertain, and 'even this enterprising night club did not have a first class Jazz band for Its cus- tomers. The Metropole Hotel, where Sir Frances Towie of "Midnight Fol- lies' fame In London does the book- ing, had two or three entertainers during the five months' season who might he called first raters. Marguerite and Gill, a well knowa American dance turn, were the best they offered, and after that came Dora Stroeva, for a short time with Music Box Revue." The Cafe de Paris generally puts on a very mediocre program. If not for the isolated instances of Perot and Taylor and Laurie Do- vine appearing, the rest of their talent might well haVe been called nil. There Is also the Knicker- bocker a port of Champagne Raths- keller. But in none of these places was there such a thing as a good or even fair Jazz band. The only way to listen to real American syncopated music la to run down to Cannes, an hour away, and listen there. Monte Carlo as a gay, fast, hec- tic, turbulent whirlpool after dark is not. Monte Carlo Is rather a gorgeous winter resort whose natural beauty must be seen by day. Its night life "just ain't.' unafraid of the Shubert edict. So far the Shuberts have failed to carry out their threat. Before accepting the cabaret engagements, the girls, as a rule, arc assured by the cabaret proprietors that if the Shuberts or other production management gives them notice, the cabaret engaging the girls will raise their salary to equal what they otherwise would have received, doubling. As the caliarel men most always select the best looking and smartest girls from the shows, the .'^huberls, knowing the value of these girls as an attraction (although possibly in the chorus line) and the race for pretty girls nowad.■l^ s, probably are willing to overlook rather than to see their ranks depleted. Will Hay has a big name in Ktigland for schoolroom sketches and Is going to the Sl.itts in the near future. He had two assistants, Geor;;e Wilmri and Alfred Ciarti.i, who on leaving Hay's employ decided to present their late etniiloyor's material, .^nd got away with it sufficiently _to gain a South Afrirnn tour. H.ay ln«tltiitod pro('(>e<lings on their re- turn and the Courts ^;|■an^l^i liiin ;i piip' liKil injunction with costs last week. I'urt of the diftiico was to effect that portions of Hay's materl.'il had been used prior to him, but the Court held that the method of stringing together, the, stagf directions and the prisentment constituted a copyright that must be prote.^ted against what tlie .lijdL,'< Stigmatized as "deliberate piracy." This decision constitute* % precedent that will in all prolxibility be vahialile to Anniicn acts visiting lOngland. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Arch M. Bowles, son, Nov. 6, in Los Angeles. The father Is general manager of West Coast Theatres. Inc. Mr. and Mrs. I.*roy Melvin Wheeler were erroneously listed last week as Mr. and Mrs. Lenoy Melvin. A daughter was born Nov. 11. LEO BEERS FOB FLOBIDA Leo Beers has been engaged for eight weeks at the Davis Island Country Club, Tampa, opening Dec. 27. Beers will be master of cere- monies and following the expiration of his contract i>eriod may continue, as the management holds an option on his services for eight additional weeks. IN ANT OUT sterling Holloway, one of the comedians In "Garrick Gaieties," has been out of the show, due to a nerv- ous breakdown. He has also been out of Club Clro revue, in which he doubled. Lee Hogan has supplanted him at the Garrick. ORPHEUM'S NEW ST. LOUIS St. Louis, Nov. 24. The new St. Louis theatre. Grand boulevard and Morgan street, open- ed Monday, Nov. 23. The theatre is controlled by the Orpheum Cir- cuit and its policy will he three shows daily with five acts and a feature for a 35-C5c scale weekdays. Clarence S. Williams is manager. ENGAGEMENTS John Craig, Edwin Nicander, Warring Manley, Jennie Eustace, Thomas Chalmers, Alice John, Stan- ley Howlett, Herman Leib, Kdward Van Sloan, Henry CarvlU, Wheelei- Dryd#n, Joseph Allenton, Cecil Kem, Elise Cavanna, Millicent Grayson, "Morals" (Actors' Theatre production). Eileen Wilson, Theodore Babco<^, "The Night Duel." Jack O.sterman, "A Night in Paris" (Century roof). E<Imund Breese, "Chivalry." Ck-cilia RadcUffe replaces Alice John, "The Master Builder." Mrs. Leslie Carter, Jose Alles- andro, Mary Duncan, Aryid Paulson, Hugh Buckler, Ethel Cunningham, Suzanna Freeman, Guthrie McClln- tic, director, "The Shanghai Gest- ure." Royal C. Stout, Corinne Wolerson, Katherlne Hayden, Hugh O'Connell, Douglas Macl'herson, "Cousin Sonla." Ciirroll MeComas replaces Peggy Wood, "Candida." Mona Morgan, "So That's '- hat" Wanda Lyon, "Just Beyond." Wilton Lackaye, John Mlltem, "The Monkey Talks." Helena Marsh, "Greenwich Village Follies." Donald Gallagher, Beryl Mercer, Sara Sothern, "White Magic." Lee Morse, "Artists and Models." STANTONS ON ORPHEUM TIME Val and Ernie Stanton have set- tled their salary differences with the big time bookers and opened a tour' of the Orpjjeum Circuit at the Pal- ace, Chicago, Sunday (Nov. 22). The Stantons were recently can- celled at the Riverside, New York, when doubling into a cabaret. They turned down one Orpheum route at their old salary, established on small time, but accepted on a salary com- promise. Fooling around with the girls and giving the public a fair break on _..entertainment never mixed. At .le'l?'! ,f\.ot_ "n the <'xtejisive scale a Broadway cabaret mana.:;er is prnctliinn-." .\s a result, this newcomer to Main street is doing poor busine.s.s, his .''how being a collection d near and has bcens. TBINI'S BETUBN Trinl's new act Is being staged by D.-xrio (of Derio and Peggy ODon- nell) with Martin Young as the dancer's partner. A six-piece band will al.'io be In supp<irt, this marking the Spanish d.ancer's vaudeville r«' turn following contracts In films. CTharlle Morrison arranged the booking. Reindeer on Stage Real, live reindeer are to be used on the stage for the first time in a Yuletide p.intomlme to be given at the Hippodrome, New Vork, ns a f!I)oci.il attraction Christmas week. Harry Carrolls New Revue Harry Carroll, now on the Or- pheum C tuit. will cme oast at the expiration of his Orpheum route to produce a new vaudeville revue. TWINS IN NEW ACT Violet and Dai.sy Hilton, the Slamesio Twins, returned to the Marcus Locw Circuit thi.s week at the Delancey Street, Now York. The twins will play full week stands at Loew's. Boulevard; Metropolitan, Brooklyn, and State, New York. For the return eiig.agement they are assisted by Irwin Dash at the piano in a new act by Terry Turner. Carl Randall in "South" Show Carl R.mdall will begin rehearsals in "Going South," the new Ziegfeld- Buck musical, to be launched eany in January. Bert Levey Adds House IajS Angeles, Nov. 24. Bert Levey ha,s added another liousc to his list out here. It Is the Downey, at Downey, Cal., and will coninicnco Dec. 2 to play four sets in addition to a feature plctiiie. Unit Road Shows An Orpheum road sliow unit opens Dec. 6 at the r.ilace, t:hicag", roiiipiising Ben Meroff and hand. Ted and Betty llealy, Moore arirt Freed, Six Has,sans and a ballet Jict