Variety (December 1925)

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Wednesday, December 2, 1925 VAUDEVILLE VARIETY F P. OPERATING MERGED HOUSES ^ FROM PLANS IN CHART FORM \ IX Theatres Corporate Title for F. P. and B. Sc K> Theatres—$5 and $10 Coupon Admission Books—Uniform National Program The Publlx Theatres, Inc., Is the ■ hume for the corporation to operate «;« theatre holdlnsa of Famous yiayers and Balaban & Katz, with Bam Katz at the helm, assisted by Harold B. FVanklln, who was the director general of the Famous houses prior to the merger. f Plan of operations for the houses r lias been worked out In chart form. The scope it embraces Is everything from the front of the houses to the stages, natlo^iaf adverti-slng, bill- boards, lights, etc. There is also planned a coupon book whereby $5 »nd JIO books of tickets are to be eold at reduced rates, the tickets to be redeemed at any of the-*ouses tirhlch the organization operates. ' A uniform national program Is Planned with the double centre page with the house program filled In ami •' |)ound locally. The production end as to prcsen- lations and added attractions la oc- cupying a great deal of the time of the executives at this time. Thus Car the presentation department em- braces as Us head Herschel Stuart, fcrought on from the Missouri, St. IjOuIs, with John Murray Anderson as principal producer. Nat Finston ^ to return to New York from the Metropolitan, Boston, and to have general charge of the orchestras for the houses, while Jameff Cowan, who recently joined the F. P. forces as the booker of short subjects, has l>een transferred to the presentation department and will book the added attractions, such as jazz bandS, etc. He will also have charge of the booking of road shows in the houses the corporation controls that play them and the vaudeville theatres ^hlch F. P. have in the South. Enlarging Rivoli Stage One of the changes in New York Hum be the closing of the Kivoli for a week or so prior to Christmas to ' 5)ermlt of enlargement of the stage. Following the retirement of Dr. •Hugo Riesenfeld from the dlrector- Bhip of that house, 'Joseph Littau will be placed at the head of the orchestra as conductor. Rumors have been flying fast as to the organization of a complete Iwoking oince on the part of the corporation for the supplying of attractions to the Publlx theatres. .Various vaudeville bookers havfe been mentioned as possibilities to head the office but no confirmation can he obtained. .1. combination man who knows enough of vaudeville and at the Bame time understands the roquire- ments of the picture theatre would be very hard to get, as there ore •but three or four who have this 'dual knowledge. Seemlnci'.y the Bolutlon the executives of the Pub- llx have come to Is that they will be compelled to organize their own production studios in New York and practically build their attrac- tions. The question then w'lll be vrhether •r not the building of a show that will satisfy the taste of a New York or Boston audience will meet ■With the approval of one In Chi- cago. It might be possible to send the production Itself around the circuit intact and fill In the artists in New York, Chicago and Boston. That is going to leave anotlier open wedge through trying to build shows that will be able to go Into the South and please there. Sc-mlnsily the upshot may be that tour or five producing centers ^ill be establi.shed. One in the East for New York and the Now England territory; one for the South, with po.sHibIy Atlanta as the headquarters; one for the mid-West ■Working out of Chic;igo. and one the far. West out of Los An- That at least is a plan now con.slderation. "Better Baby ContesU" "Better Baby Contests" which have demonstrated their drawing power in connection with outdoor events, are being embraced as new angle busi- ness builders for Independent small time vaudeville houses. The contests are for a full week with the events booked three weeks In advance. The advance bookings are made so that .sulflcient Interest can be worked up in the local papers. Promoters are asking and getting from $500 to $1,000 for tlie feature with the promoter handling all details and award- ing 10 prizes to mothers of the winning babes. A winner se- lected at each performance with the finals held the last day of the week. ACT FINED WEEK'S PAY FOR WALKOUT AT ALBEE VIRGINIA WATSON in "A PETITE REVUE" This week November 30): B. F. Keith's Palace. New York. Management, GEORGE CHOOS LEFT FT. WAYNE FLAT-NO SHOW Agent Turns Cantor Joe Mann, former cabaret agent and club booker. Is re- ported to have loft the show business to become the Cantor of a Synagogue in West New York, N. J. The fact became known when Mann sang at the Can- tors Concert nt the Jewish Center, Brooklyn, several weeks ago. On that occasion Cantors from 400 synagogues from all parts of the country sang. As a cabaret agent Mann was well and widely known along Broadway, having oftlces in the New York Theatre building. He afterwards pro- moted a booking scheme which required the placing of enter- tainments on ships. TICKETS IN DRUG STORES FOR ORPHEUM, K. C. HARRY DAVIS MAY HAVE DEAL WITH FAMOUS Partnership Is Rimiored —Interstate and F. P, Still Negotiating Jans and Whalen Consent to Punishment—Return to K.-A. Circuit The Vaudeville Managers' Pro- tective Association investigation of the "walkout" of Jans and Whalen at the Albee, Providence, Monday, Nov. 23, before the matinee, holds the act liable to the house for breach of contract and for the full amount of the contracted salary. The act reopened on the Keith- Albee Circuit this week, afte* agree- ing to reimburse the Providence house for the amount. Jans and Whalen refused to ac- cept the No, 2 spot at the Albee and left the bill after registeri: t a refusal with the house manager. Flcurotte Jeffries was substituted, doubling from Woonsocket, R. I, Carroll Revue and Wheel- ers in Cleveland Instead Chicago, Dec L A confllctlon in bookings left the Palace, Ft. Wayne, without head- line or feature attraction last week. The Harry Carroll revue and Bert and Betty Wheeler, booking In con- junction, had signed contracts for the Palace, Ft, Wayne, Issued by their western agent. Their eastern representative meantime had booked the turns for the same date at the Palace, Cleveland. They accepted the latter with the result Ft. Wayne remained without a vaudeville show for the last half of last week, after having billed the two acts exten- sively, New 2-Week Policy Continu- ing—Current Bill Hold- ing Over Kansas City, Deo. 1. The experiment of playing one complete bill of vaudeville for two weeks, which the Orpheum has been trying for the past month, has proven satisfactory according to an announcement made by the man- agement. The current bill will be held over as will the others to fol- low the balance of the season. The local house is trying out another scheme claimed to be original here. Arrangements have been made for branch box-offices in neighborhood drug stores In all parts of the city, where tickets for any performance can be pur- chased at the regular box-office price, with no premium charged. The house has maintained a down town ticket office In one of the The latest vaudeville circuit to. be linked up in rumors of partner- ship sale to Famous Players is th© vaudeville and picture house owned by Harry Davis of Pittsburgh. Negotiations have reached the stago where Davis is considering an offer from the picture people. It is undor.stood the terms of sale would be similar to those under which Famous bought in on Mike .Shea's houses in Buff.alo. Davis la a Keith-Albee ally book- ing through the K.-A. office in the Oavla, I'lttshurgh, and several other ronnsylvaiila vaudeville houses. He is also interested in Keith's, Cin- cinnati and other Keith's mlddlo western stands. In addition ho owns picture houses In other cities. Terms for the F. P.-Int«r8tato Circuit deal are still under dis- cussion with a belief the transac- tion will be consummated. Karl Hoblitzelle, president of the Inter- state (Texas) Is still In New York. GALLA-RINi EXPLANATION The management threatens to file I large "Btores for a couple of seasons, a complaint for damages plus the salaries the two turns would have received. for gelea. under R. MURRELL BOOKS IN EAST Chicago, Deo. 1. W'S'^r Murroll has rcturnod from * '""ip to .\(.w York where he scoured I'outea tlirr.ui^h his oastorn Keith "Kent for "C6C S.vcaniore," ".Minurs . ^t nro.ulway." "The Fa.shlon Shop" and In Arfjentine." Solly Turek, Loew Agent, Remains with Organization Solly Turek, Loew booking man, will not leave the organization Jan. 1 as reported, but will become an enfranchised Loew agent upon that date. Turek has been connected with the booking department for 15 years. He is being given an agent's franchise as a reward for faithful service, according to an ofllcial of the Loew Circuit. According to the Loew people Turok recjuested an agent's fran- chise some time ago, beginning the first of the year, and his application was acted upon favorably by the Loew booking chief, Jake Lubln. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Oeorge A. Crouch, daughter, Nov. 19, in Washington, D. C. Mr. Crouch Is the treasurer of the Wa.shlngton Stanley-Crandall (lientres. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Glazer, Albany, N. Y., son. The father la with Phil Romano's Victor orchestra at the Kenmore Hotel, Albany. Mr. and Mrs. Billy Graceland, In their home in New York, Nov. 25, <lauj:htor. Mr. and Mrs. Billy Glaaon, at their home, 1.31 Kust 93d street, New York, Nov. i;5. daughter. The father is in vaudeville. "BVay Butterflies*' People Taking Schwartz to Court The collapse of the vaude flash, "Broadway Butterflies," which wound up after two weeks on In- dependent time may have Its echo in the civil courts. Anna May Uleason, featured, claims she holds a play or pay con- tract with Samuel Schwartz, pro- ducer of the act, and says she will sue on the eight unexpired weeks of the contract, claiming an aggregate sum of $1,600. Miss Gleason claims that she had been ready to enter a musical pro- duction at tlie time Schwartz ap- proached her for the act. The play or pay contract and Its additional starring clause Is said to have prompted her accepting the vaude engagement. Also that Schwartz had told her the act was sot for big time. After playing for two weeks In independent hideaways Miss Gleason claims that she and the 10 others of the company were dismissed. Raymond J. Riley has been re- tained by Ml.ss Gleason as attorney In the forthcoming action. SEVEN 4'S FOR FINALS Foven zone winnor.s will compote It the Hip. New York, in the Quar- tet Finals week of Doc. 14. The winners were Cioveland-Critrrion Qii.irtft, phlladelpbia-Ponnsylviinia Male Quartet, Boston-Knkker- l.ockiT Quartet, Rochestor-Onosco Quartot, Brooklyn Adolphlans, i;ronx-UiKolotto Four, Manhutlan- Loe tiiLartet. NEW ACTS Harry Fiddler, colored vaude vllllan, for years teamed up with Ruby Shelton, after a long absence from eastern houses. Is back with a new turn. Fiddler's former part- ner married and retired from the stage, said to be teaching music in Indianapolis. Willard Mack Is writing a sketch for Vera Gordon to re-enter vaude- ville. William Petway and Honry Rec- tor, 2-act "Homo FolkB." by Billy Pierce; prnducrd by A. A. Hodgkins, mixed cast includos Mr, nnd Mrs. Vincent Sranlan, Mercedes Gilbert (colored), Cleo Nugent and IlarrieL Auty. Jack Hartley in production flash with four others. Dorothy Arthur, nlcco of Mnric C'ahill, is recasting hor fl.ish act, "Help Wanted," for a second try. yix others appear in support. Moore Resigns to Help Manage Grange South Bend, Ind., Dec. L B. F. Moore has resigned as man- ager of the local Palace (Orpheum Circuit) to become associated with C. C. Pylo In the management of "Red" Grange. The Orange professional venture has been Incorporated under the title of the Harold E. Grange, Inc. Football games listed for "Red" are over a period of about three months, after which the star player will go to the Pacific Coast. Moore only reached here five weeks ago, coming from Champaigji, lU. Manager of Turn 8aya Elsie Norton Not Known at Qalla-Rini y Genevieve Brown aucceeded EHsia Norton-in the act of Galla-Rlnl and Sisters when Miss Norton left tha act following an engagement at Keith's, Cincinnati. In October, to enter a convent. The Gallarlni family act dis- solved nine years ago. Clotilda and Vlttorla worked together as the Gallarlni Sisters and the father and son appeared as Gallarlni and Son. This was changed to Palo and Palet and they remained a two-act until September, 1924. After leaving this turn, Anthony P. Gallarlni. the original Palet. Joined the act, Galla-Rlni and Sis- ters. The personnel of that act at present Is A. P. Galla-Rlnl, assisted by his sister, Vittoria, and Gene- vieve Brown. According to a statement by Harry C. Stimmel. manager of the turn. KIsle Norton was never known aa Galla-Rlni, although billed ks one of the sisters. The featured mem- ber Is Anthony P. Gallarlni. who now uses the hyphenated Galla* Rlnl billing. FORUM Montreal, Nov. 22. Editor, Variety: Will you say that Ai Allen, of Alien, Taylor and Houston, la In the Homeopathic Hospital in Mon- treal, recovering from a very severe heart attack with which ho was overtaken while playln,-; the Impe- rial theatre. His pliysiclaa states it will take him a week at the least to be uj) on his feet. He would llk<' to hear from his many frlen(:s in the busine.'ss and states that liciuor had nothing to do in putting iilm in bod. but he thinks it will play a big part In the process of recovery. (J lady a Taylor. Chicago Fire Comms'r Warns All Theatres Chicago, Dec. 1. The fire commissioner has mailed letters to every principal local the- atre threatening them with license revocation if further violations of the city fire ordinances are permit- ted. The violations referred to are smoking In dressing rooms, locking of exit doors, obstructions In lob- bies and foyers, crowding in aisles and placing of combustible mate- rial in auditoriums. The commissioner's letter finished up by stating that "enforcement of the ordinances In all essential re- spects is necessary to prevent a repetition of the Iroquois theatre fire." 27. If You Don't Advertise l« "VARIETY" Don't Adverti»a New York, Nov, Kditor Variety: In Variety Nov. 25 there Is an artlole saying liarney Gerard, owner of "i'ollies of the Oay," claims ills cotiifilian M. Snyder in- iroduoed the silorit character, ' M«^o," to burlesciue. The silent character "Bozo" was oriuinated by mo In 1006-7 with the Kdrnond Hayes Wi.se Ouy Co. Was with .sanio show lUOT-S-O-lO- 11. Then we left hurlcsiiuo for vaudeville with tlic act known .'is lOdmond Hays and Co., "The I'iaiio .Mover.v." Wiicn Mr. IT:iycs nnd 1 f*»)llt lie h.'id three or four different parl- iiors and Mr. Snyder was one of tliem. Jifib Arrhi-r. (The uiiijiiial Bozo;. Chi. Producer Gives Up Chicago, Dec. 1. Harry Rogers, for the past five or six years one of the Important producers hero for the Association .and Junior Ori)heum, has given up his office space. He will go to New York about Jan. 1, expecting to lo- cate there permanently. Ahe Feinberg Resting Abe FolnI)erg, independent vaud^ ville ngent. loft New York this week to I'ntor %\. Vlri;inla s.Tnltariiim fol- lowln.g a norvoii.i hroakilown. The fitront will remain six weeks .it tho Soft born lio.-ilth rosort, upon I lie ud\ico <if Ills physician. Bola and 111 IN AND OUT Tll.iu has loft "Aiidroclea IA'ju" (Klaw, New York),