Variety (December 1925)

W ednesday, Decem ber 30. 1925 VARIETY ™ IX SAYS- SPEAKING OF THE SID GRAUMAN DINNER AND SID Hollywood, Dec. 24. The only thing \vr0n5 wMi tho movlns plctuie UubIik'ss in Holly- wood in lint thoy don't have enour.h oiicnlns of big picturca.» You see, If wo had one a woek, we would have more the.;itre.s. Every time Sid Crauman or one of these thoatre biros open a new pic- ture at 15 a smaoU, thoy get In enoujrh coin to build another play- house. But that's not all. While I don't know, but I've got a mighty good hun'h thjit this here Grauman t« in cnhoota wUh the retail automobile iloalers on some kind of a percentage basi.s. Every time Sid pulls one of tlicso five bucks ojjpnin.sr in his Hollywood Egyptl-an thwttrc. all the stars who are delinquent in their payments rush down and pny up so tlioy won't have the timoirsinc taV.en away be- fore the occasion' and be deprived of tho opportunity to strut their etuff. That may be the real reason for thi-'-'o high toned openings. Then I got another strong hunch that Sid Is In the play with these \ H _^ _ session, as anyone who's been there can te'.l you. I thou^'ht every time a apenker unloaded his oratorical artillery he might tr^iin his howitzer on me. Every'tlme a speaker got up I made a swift calculation on how much that particular egg knew about me Cut I guess I \raM too small a fry. whiih was something to be thankful for, especially at that love feast. Talk about the silent drama—that Grauman dinner was everything but. Some of those birds—the pro- ducers—instead of hiring a double to do the hazardous work of their stars, ought to get one for them- selves when they are called upon to make a speech. I know now why they call them after dinner speak- ers. If they talked before the food, many a guy would leavo hungry. Tom Kinda Dumb On my way home after the dinner I couldn't help thinking Just what the outside representatives thought of the j.lcture Industry after listen- ing to the panning thoy gave each other. Being kind of dumb myself, I always like to attend functions and see if I can plclc up a little In- side stuff on what's going on and If I am wise enough to absorb It. If I was smart enough to get next to all the outbursts of sarcasm and dirty digs .dished out that nl;';ht at the Grauman dinner, I'd quit the movies and go after a movie critic Job. But after all, I suppose it's all right and O. K., for movie folks are supposed to be quc8r and there is nothing like living up to what is ex- pected. OPERA AETISTS GET IT It has come to pass in tlie tall end of tho ycnr 102j that tho (.'"hark'.ston fin.illy reached out Its tciitacifM and ensnared two members of the Mx'trotw'l- tan Opera Co. Others may fall in line, but two have arranged to have liuddy L'.radlcy tcaih 'em tlio dance In Billy Plarce's studio. SEE THE FREAKS IN TIMES SQUARE Just a Dime, 10c—It's the Works, Kid mmm ^ b'way at $5 By BARNEY GERARD FOUR GOOD THINGS CHl^.ISTMAS, the day of Revels and t^ood Cheer. r>U'CALTON, the Spirit of Carnival. WILT.IAM MOUUIS, the Man of Vision and Knterprise. AMEUICA, the Land of Opportunity. I wrote this in England; when you read It I chall be v/lth you. B. F. Keith s Riverside, New York, Jan. 4, 1926; Moss' Broadway to follow. Open for I'roduction September, see WILLIAM MORRIS. ALL THE CHEERIEST AND JOLLIEST TO YOU. dress sul^ rental establishments. This sure comes m tough for the movie companies who happen to have a ball room or cabaret scene to make, as they have to lay off their companies for a coupla' days until the len/dlng lady nnd the sofa hounds get tho wardrobe back that's already registered In the picture. I attended the opening at Ave bucks per of the "Gold Rush" «t Sid's theatre. For awhile I thought It was a preview of "Ben-Hur," for the prolog consisted mostly of ecenes from the picture they are making of that title, and Fred Niblo is sure sitting himself in pretty for a good thing if this "Ben-Hur" pic- ture turns out to be a flivver. He was almost as funny in the prolog as Chaplin was in the picture of the "Gold Rush." The Wampas Dinner The Wnmpas out here in Holly- wood gave a teatlmon+al dinner the other night to Sid Grauman, and he was deserving of it Talk about out-cattlng a cat party; all of that nnd a coupla' more besides. Wouldn't have missed It for a now colt. Can you Imagine petting together all the producc:s, directors, writers, ■tars nnd near stars, the press, bankers, the police and the sheriffs and a few enforcement offlcf-rs all In one room? Tha'Js what the Wam- p,as did. And the bootleggers' Indus- try was likewise well represented. It was a great chance for those birds to drum up Home new bu.'ilness or collect some long standing ac- counts. I don't know who arr inged the speakers, btit everyone, almost to the man. ha<l an ax to grind at some one. I never before put in such a hectic or nervous two hours In my life, not even waiting for a w 10 come in, ami that's a touyh Sid'a Malher There was, however, one high spot in that long trail and procession of champion dirly-Clgjers and that came when tlie Wampas, In recogni- tion of Sid Grauman's wonderful ad- vancement nnd progress in tiie ex- hibition end uf the Industry sought a suitable gift for him as an ap- preciation. It came in the form of a gold, beautifully engraved, life pass to every theatre in Los Angeles, and presented to his mother. When white haired Mrs. Grauman ap- peared on tlie balcony, every heart that beat beneath the bosom of ^ boiled shirt, whether owned, rented or borrowed, had a throb for that little mother as she stood there un- der the rays of a spot light. No queen on: her throne ever looked more wonderful or proud than that same mother as she saw that great assemblage of men gathered to do honor to her #on. It is a crowning njoment in every mother's life to see her son hon- ored and that great moment had come to her. She saw the boy she had re;>.red from .. tiny toddler to manhood and she saw him paid high tribute by his co-workers in a great Industry; she heard the men Impor- tant In the civic, professional, artis- tic and commercial life of a great city soy kind wt rds of praise for a man—her son—who had contributed greatly to an outstanding entertain- ment and a motliers prldo was hers. I wondered which was the proud- est. Mrs. Grauman of her boy, or Sid of his mother. Not a man there but would himself gladly have called her mother. I fancy much of the success that has come to Sid Grauman has Its real Int-eption and Inspiration from that same little mother. The pres- entation of the life pass to Mrs. Grauman, so nbly done by Joseph Jackson, former president of the Wampus, and her appearance were the most wonderful moments I ever experienced. My compliments to Mrs. Grauman and my congratulations to Sid. If you get lonesome these winter months and want to Inhale a bit of Coney Island as it Is. step around to Hubert's Museum on 42d street. The place docs 10 or 11 shows daily, with Coney's standard admis- sion—10c. Minus the Icmonads, hot dogs, roller toasters and all the other stuff that goes with the real Coney Island, It is none the less a duplicate of one of the ror ■ fa big- gest attractions—tho freak show. An electric lighted canopy over the entrance, the lo'iby with its explan- atory pictures, the box office and a uniformed doorman. The bar'.ter (and also the guide Inalde) Is Frank Bo^ven. Before each show he does his srilel In the lobby and Invites you in. Tho first thing that nuctn your eye, to tlie accompaniment of sweet electrical pl.ino music, are several convex and concave looking | glasses. Immediately you are dis- torted into the most vulgar shapes and forms. Chiko Is Hers The room Is larjce and clean look- ing, white finished w:ills beln*? con- ventionally decorated with Ameri- can flags. Who opens the show but (Continued on page 203) Tia Juana Opens Jan. 1 Los Angeles, Dec. 29. According to re; orts emanatini from TIa Juana the Intcrn.Ttional botjndary between United States and Mexico will be open nil night, .\ew Year's ICve. The I'nltPd Treasurer Depart- ment has granted i>ermis.slon to hold the line open that iii'^ht as It did for Chri.stmas Eve. This will enatrle several of those of the mo- tion picture reop'P of Hollywood to celebrate New Year's without fearing annoyance from federal liquor enforcement oJIlcors. SALT and PEPPER OREHTINOa TO ALL. "<iA\ I'.MtKt:' flhiil>«rt. New York (Zlst Week) "T':::)res.vlng Willie" was pre- sented by the Mounteb;ink.'< dra- matic society at Union College, In Sehenecla'ly, N. Y. TOM HENRY RESIGNS; $9,000 IN BOSTON Bo.ston, Dec. 28. "Lucky Sambo," Hurtig & Soa- mon'a all-colored Columbia bur- lesque attraction, played to $10,000 at the Gaycty, three weeks ago. The business Is unn.sual in view of the slump the house has taken thl:; season from an average $9,000 weekly to C.OOO. The opening of the Metropolitan, Boston, Is 8:iiil to have hurt the Gayety, but gross for colored at- ir.irtlons bear.^ out the lh(;ory that the clean liiirlesfiue pulley and repetitions shows IbLs heason i»:ive driven bu.siness away from the Co- liinil)i;t houses. .The Gayety, I'.o.s- ton, with tiie Columbia, New York, lias nlw.ays been considered one of the coaling Hiations for the circuit. Tom Henry, man.-iger of tho G.iy- rty; and t:on.sl ler<!d one of the most < ;ip:ii)li.' burlesque men In the busl- ne.>?s, Is reported as having tender- ed his resl'rri.'itlon recently. Henry, ;u;corc''-iir to report, feels powerle:»H In tho f;ire of tiie mediocre ntlran- tUms and will enter the real estate liiislness at the end of tho current season. "What's the mutter with l)ur- le.-(iuo7" "Whiitta d* yo mean, wiuii's tin matter with buriccqt:e?" "Yv>u heard me V.'hafa tl>o mat- ti r they ain't Co'.ns tho Iju.jIikss .'" "They ain'i? Vou'.e nuia. They're geltln" $-j,CCO and JuU,(.(;,) a wiek. "\\ hero do yoa buy your ncovj.cj'?' "What's tile matt.r—those tlgures knock you cuckoo';" "it any of tlie:n burlesque guys got Ko much dou:,'h they'd up and leave the buriciiciuc f^anie .so Hat tliat ^.ain Siribnor'd iJiink ho was head of a pancake circuit." "\\ eli, bcliave It or not. it'.s nuthln' to me. but burl.'rque sliows Is playln' to 23 and 30 grand a week." "I'or the love o' Mike, who is these .shows'/" "'Artists and .Models,' 'Gay Paree, •Viinitles' and all the other troupe.-? campln' out on Broadway." "How ton.e you call iliem burle- oue troupes?" "Because they ain't nulhin' else but. When these Broadwiiy guy;; looked for the kind of the shows the puMlo wants they sail to themselves oft" with the old ami on with the nude.' " '■Which means what'?" "That the Broadway guys found out what once used to 1,0 seen In burlesque is what tho public wants and will only take It If you charge them five a head." "Well, what do you think o* that— an' I never knew It!" Just Cwltchod "Now, I'll tell you wl<at« which, so'll -jou know f:om now on. Bur- lesque ain't what It u.scd to wuz; that is. In the burlesque ^how house. But for that matter mu.iiial comedy ain't wiiat It fot:ntcrIy wuz, cither. But a metamorphosis, or somothlni; like that, has took place, and mu- sical comedy piit.'i on the toga of burlesque and burlorsqtie puts on thr rags of musical cnincd.v. Thusly, In- stead of seein.T the Kha::e.'i of the dames like as formerly used to be. you now s:e the burlcscjuo queen.") all dolled up In blankets, hidin:; everything Ijut their jinklea, and tho Brojidway gals showinpr everything. But—I don't know how to say what 1 have on my mind—but, anyhow, in one place you ace everyihimi and the other place you don't see noth- ing. Get me?" . "Say, since when you I'ecome sucli a wlso-cra3kin' criiic that knows what It's all about?" "I'm givin' you Info' tliat comori straight from the bunghole. Now, to speak onward, as It were: The Broadway guys, scein' ns when ther- business a few yenrs I'aekw.'irds wuzn't so fancy, and noticin' that burlesque wuz gatlierin' the shekels. Mr. Broadway says 'We'll Just tear a leaf from this burlecqiie hook.' But Instead of tearing one leaf they copi>ed every darn pa.';:* In the al- manac. Any kind of a nl;lt tha". made them lau':h In burlesque was cooped—hook, line and sinker—.and a dirty twist to it, so that when the tired burlnrss p"oplp git to laughln' they forgot they wuz payln' five bucks and more for lookln' at what burlesque was only c^olieetin' six hits to one buck. "Boy, and what nifties these Broadway guys aro gettin' away with. If poor old Sam Dovore wa:i alive he'd chuck his banjo away In Rhame to think wh.at a fap lie was to stop where lie did wht-a flin:;inr; the songs they thought wtis blue In the olden days!" Troubles of Burlesque "You're Intore.stin,' and I'm go glad I met you. You're like a Xmas gift from Santa. You soem to know more llian you look guilty of. ho toll me what Is the mnttrr with what we always knew as burlesque?" "Now, >iai'ro asking aiiout a horse of a different lioo—hue. How do you spell those 1-ig words? You see, what Is the rn.'itter with wn.Tt us old-timers knew as burlesque is this: The intlmrit-cy between the auilierice ar.d the actors lias ben took away. The aouhret who usad to sing to the bi Idhcided guy In the orchestra has been shooed liehind the footlights. She ain't as hnppy as she used to he when she could sing right at that laughln-^ fat-head(d, good-natured guy who used to make the audience feel Jolly when he good-nntiiredly l;iuglied at the soubrot who picked hlin out ns a subject for her song nnd the spot- tight man would let 'old sol' siiine on the b.ald dome where hair used to hfibltate." ".^'o yon think, becnusu the aoubret don't sing to the old guy, that's what s tfio mutter with burUsciue?" 'No, n;i, y>)u sap; you d.iln't hc.tr 110 such ! ii:.k from uid. But il Is alt tl.o.se kind of t:u:r,M — tiio ll.ll« i\v.:;t.s in the Jilea, the brl.n.:;i.!g of the aitilltnci' ruui tiie actors on the st;".ro elcs r tojctlicr, ilie iiig stick that has 'xv^a lioM over their he ids, the Suiulav-scliool re-rin-.c, a r, turn of a comhlnatl-in of Haa;mersfcin's ,ind Miner's B:i'.very—tlie.^i' ore .rome of the tlili gs that Is what is the matter with hurlesiue." "I'm beginning to understand ft little." "Vou ain't doing notliin;; of the sort. Wlien I'm all throiiaih you'll be asking me: 'Yes. hut wh.at is the nuUtor with b—.' and I'll liaul oft and. .sock you one that will once and for iiM send you to that place from whJther no man rcturneth." "Do the burlesque actor.i get aa much coin as the reports la that they get?" "Now. you aro hitting on hl^h. That is one of the things that is th© matter with the aforesaid burle-euo. An actor who used to get 75 liucka now gets 300 nnd 400 every pay day. A pay roll thst used to cost a lli )U- sand a week now costs from $t!.200 to $2,700. ".Against this, look on the ottiT side, and you'll perceive that the box office that used to charge 75 cents and a buck is charging prac- tically the .same now. ,ind the spilt between th«» gate, that used to go .sixty to the show and forty to the horse, is now In mont cases flfty- flfty, and It can't be done. "If you got %'S nnd want a pair of dhoes you can only buy a pah- of $5 klcV"." "Then you mean It's the shoes that's got biirle-cuc In wrone:"'" How to Do It No. no, sappy! For two pins I'd slip you a kick that'd make a mule think I w.as stealing his business. I only mean (hat If a show that used to cost $1,603 a week all told got .OO and CO per cent of tlio gate re- ceipts, how can they carry around a troupo eo.^tiii.-? $3,030 to $3,.-)00 a v.eek and get a sm.aller ralie-ol'i" from the gate tliiin they used to get?" ".Now it's plain." "But I'll tnuki- It plalticr, you specimen of unllmltcil stupidity. You can't put in more th.in you tike out. S^'o the upshot Is the following: The show.s rnu.st' be better, the ex- penses must ho lower, the percent" n^ca mu.'-.t Ijo higher, the clothes mu»t bo fewer, the scenery doesn't have to be ho plentiful, tho jokes must be snappier, tho sL/les of fihows mu.st be dilTerent, the mon- key.s wIm> inill.-ito niana;;er» wiio Is more Hucccs.sful, should bo elimi- nated, thu theatiea should be more cheerful, the audience Hhould be made to feel more welcome, co- oi)eration between the siiow anl the house should be better, and oh! so tnany other thln'^s. And tlie .an- swer is you can catch more tiles with honey than " "Walt a n.lnute, wait a niinulet Who the h— wants to catch flies?" "Now, don't never again as"; me what's the matter with burlesquel" Shoplifter Fined $25 Pleading guilty to Hhcplirtlii;, .Mi8. June Iteena Thall:^, 27, llvinr: at the Hotel Hormlt'ig;», was fined f2."> In .Special Sessh/ns. Mrs. 'J'halis was arrented Dee. Ill, ehargdo with steal- ing a dress and a botth: of perfume from Mary's store. w^^' y<.,v DESHA l)nn<'er of Internatloral reputation \' ho l.s or " of tho featured dancers at the Cai>lto|, New York. .J