Variety (December 1925)

Wednesday, December 30, 1925 VARIETY DIRECTORS-SANS OPPORTUNITY By HOBART HENLEY / ■ Lioa Angeles, Dec. 23. The career of the motion picture director la the most hazardous one that any man In professional life can pursue. He must alwnya be on hia toes and clicking, for if he does not it is only a matter of time when he will be tossed into the dl:x'ard. The picture director lias a pro- feasion as much aa tbe physical lawyer or engineer, or any other professional man. His profession is one which requires an abundance of training and study. He probably. JED DOOLEY ■Jefl Dooley Is considered by many 'flnoludin?r himself) to be the fun- niest of the family. He is a brother of liilly Dooley, who is now starring In Christie Comedies. Like MAUDE ADAMS and EL H. BOTIIEUN, he has never appeared on the screen. If he ever gets an offer, he predicts he will be a second CHARLIE CHAPLIN. Adv, address: 15817 72nd Ave.. Flushing. L. L If he wants to be successful, must ■tudy as much. If not more, than any student who wants to get col- lege degrees. His work la constant ■tudy and observation. That is true also of any professional vocation. If a person wants to be successful. But in no profession can a person Who has achieved success and repu- tation fall from grace as fast as he can In the motion picture directorial profession. One miss or poor pro- duction can eliminate him from the class of directorial contenders for Bcr'^fn ,nnd flnnnrlnl honnr?> an'1 practically ohMterate hfm from the •fr^'cn horizon. When the director falls from ^race. after making one or two pic- tures, which do not turn out as they Should, falling to get the approba- tion of the publla o.Thlbltor, or pro- ducer. It may not be the fault of the director, and generally is not. But his chance for pur.<»uiiig his career is gone. One will generally hear the expression "That guy Is flnishofi:" Conditions Don't Figure No one will at all take the trouble to make nn ana'ysis of the condi- tions that he may have been con- fronted in making the "ilf-Hire or pictures reiponsible for his down- fall. They do not care, because tiioy may be too busy or so calloused that It is Just one of the fates of the Kame. and that the man must live or fall by his product. Under Contract No one flgured, however, that possibly the director had been called into the ofRce of the pro- ducer and told that they were going to make a certain picture and that he was to direct It. The director might have said that the story was one which he did not think was worthy of being put on the screen. He might have said that the treatment of the story was such tha^^ he felt it could not give satisfaction. He also could have said, the story was out of his line and could be tetter hand'rd by some one else. Or even, he might have mentioned the cast that was sub- mitted for him to use was one wbl'-h cnuM not properly visualize the roles nrd give them the Inter- pretation they should have on the ■liver shc't. Ho might even have objected to the star or leads, whom he felt were not properly cast. All In all, he might have offered •ome 60 objections. But he was under contract to the firm. The firm had the right to toll him what to do AS he was drawing salary, and h« could not afford to be branded as a quitter, 8o he went ahead and made the picture. The picture missed. The studio officials did not re- member what he had told them be- fore he made it. They simply knew (hat someone would have to stand the "gaff" and who better to take it than the director? If he had a remarkable reputation, or a con- tract which could not be abrogated at the time, he was possibly given another picture to make and also to make it under the same condi- tions as he did the first flop. The result of course, was the same, and so far as his employers were con- cerned, he was washed up and through. If he had a few weeks or even months to go under his con- tract and refused to give the firm a release, as they had no other story, he was carried along until It was terminated, and then stricken from the calling or working list as far as that particular company was concerned. A Failure's Future The news of hlf flops had traveled. When he went elsewhere looking for a connection, an audience would be refused him. At the outer gate he would be told that the person whom he wanted to see was In con- ference, or that the firm was not on the market for any additional directors. Possibly if ho were a man who had been getting a salary of four figures a week, he might find some Independent producer making a cheater for around $10,000, which might be about half of what the director had been getting for Just making one picture. He would be given employment for possibly two weeks and in that time maybe earn half of what he did in one week of working. Should this picture prove a hit, this director who had fallen from grace In the bigger pro- duction circles would not be given any credit or recognition. The big fellows would simply say that is "a bit of good luck; he can't repeat. He's through. Why waste time and money in gambling on him?" Therefore, if the director cared to continue his career in the Indus- try and make the small stuff, for small money, he may get along for a limited time, but when his first pic- ture with the independents fall to click he Is through and through for good; not even the producer turn- ing out his product "on the cuff" would even recognize him, or give him a chance. A Drear Prospect And then! Maybe a Job aa an assistant to one who was In the swim or he might have to take a Job as a pro- duction manager of some single company. For this task his weekly .stipend might only be about S per cent of what he h.Td been accus- tomed to earn In the past. Then if the director had been an actor prior to wielding the megaphone he would pos.sibly get a job playing character parts for some director who in the past had been an assist- ant or even a camera man for him. Those are the conditions which a director who falls out of grace must cope with. Ho cannot rest on his laurels, his past achievements mean nothing, aa they would any other profession. His study, work and accomplishments go for"naught and he his out of the game; out (Continued on page 201) CONCERT MEN IN CONFERENCE MISS EVELYN GOSNELL Extends her best wishes for a HAPPY NEW YEAR To All of Her Friends. Salt Lake, Dec. 28. An effort to bring about system and order in Amcrlc.'in ci.iu'crt bookings will be made at a confer- ence of Impresnrlos to be held here this week. The conference will be attemled by leading concert manacjers brought together by the mutu.nl desire to ar- range concerts booking bo as to avoid conllictliins, repetitions and the spotty bookings which under the current system surfeit certain sec- tions of the country with high price;l concert stars for a certain period and then let down entirely. At the conference Selby C. Oppen- helmer will represnt Cntral Cali- fornia; L. E. Behymer, Southern California; Lotus Steers, the North- west; George D. Pyper, the Inter- mountaln territory; Joseph Orieb. Milwaukee; Lincoln J. Cleveland; T.k)u1s Shouse City; E. J. Stein, St. Paul; Ulc hard Horgan. Minneapolis: Herbert John- son. Chicago Opera Company; J. E. Furlong, Hochester, N. Y.; May Heagle. Pittsburgh; Albert Stelnert. Providence, R. I. A national headijuarters will be established In New York city through which the various artists making country-wide tours will be booked. The plan is said to be the idea of Harry Askin, manager of John Phillip Sousa. WHEN I WAS A CHORUS GIRL By ROSE ADAIRE (Miss Adaire i$ now regularly attached to the reportorial staff in N€W York of Variety). A chorus girl's life Is no soft sn.np as far as I found out. I was Just IS and out of high school with all the ambition a school girl could possibly have when 1 wanted to go on the stage, but not in the chorus. My sister talked to me. She said some of our greatest stars were In the chorus once; that I would have to start that way, but I wouldn't listen. I looked for a position. Whenever admitting no experience they Just sort of passed me up. A friend of my sister's had a revue In one of the roof restaurants. One of the prin- cipals was taking a vacatioh for four weeks. They wanted someone to fill her place. I rehearsed and In a little restaurant across th» street I found K'ny, one of the girls, sobbing over a cup of coffee. Sh» was lonesiiiiie and wanted to go bnck to Maine to see her mother. Wo cried on one another's shouN ders and .•'ynip;»thlzed with each other until we had finished our coffee. Hurt in Taxi Deciding on a taxi, we hopped into MACFADDEN BUYS TAB Philadelphia. Dec. 28. Bernarr Macfndden. publisher of the New York "Graphic," and many magazines. Is reported as h.avlng purchased the "Dally News" (Phil- adelphia), a tabloid started about two years ago by Congressman Ed- ward S. Vare, one of the leading politicians in the State. Macfadden Is said to have pur- chased the paper foV a "song," as Its present backers were an lous to unload, having underestimated the expense of carrying a losing news- paper. The paper has a circulation of between 60,000 and 70,000 and Is op- position to a tabloid run by Cyrus H. K. Curtis, Tlie PliiladelpMa "Sun." The latter paper has a neg- ligible circulation. Another Scibilia Tab Stranded by Producer The Anton F. Scibilia tab, "World of Pleasure," closed suddenly In P'lorence, S. C.^ the week bcJore Christmas, virtually stranded through lack of funds for return! fares to New York, and only re- turned through the funds pooled by Ooorce Wlest and other principals with the tabloid. Variety reported that the show was slated to" clo.se Dec. 19 but the company recelve<l no notice the week preceding that Saturday. Several of the cast have three weeks' salary due them, one per- former having almost $1,000 In I.O.U.'s tut as he stated, "I can't order an omelet In ChlldH' and pay with a $200 I.O.n." Sclbllla's other lab, "Flashes of the Oreat White Way," folded up In Davenport, la., recently, stranded after attached by two performers for salary arrears. ANCHORED BADIO A new ship cabaret, operated by a brother of P.rlgadier-General Smedley D. Butler, the demon Ex-Safety Director of Safety. Phil- adelphia, opens off Miami Beach. Jan. 10. The S. S. "Prtns Valdemar" will be anchored 60 yards off Miami and will be In touch with shore pntrons through a chain of motor boats. Lieut. Felix Fcrdlnando and his Havana orchestra will be the dance attraction. Milt Gro»8 Walks Out Los Anjreli'H, Dec. 28. Charlie Chaplin and Milt Gross are through. Tbe humorist-cartoonist from the Mt.ifT of ihe .New York "World," whose ph'inetlc reprodnrtlnns f VId comedy talk han m-ulo hhn f.imous, has declared to "Chaplin that he can- not subordinate himself to work on another's Ideas Gross was brought out to provide "gagrs" for "The direus." Dickey. «'cnt on in the part with all the vim. Kanmts vigor and vitality I possessed. 1 was congr.itulated, and they srld I had done exceptionally well for a first time. Four weeks passed very quickly and the principal returned to fill her old place. The manager wnld he didn't have anything for me Just then but would put mo in thd chorus of the revue, to which I very in- dignantly replied that I wasn't a chorus girl. Weeks and weeks passed and I couldn't get anything to do. I needed work very badly but tried to stick It out until I could get some- thing worth while. A girl friend was a specialty dancer with the Ed Wynn show and her mother Invited mo to witness the premiere performance In New York. We had seats right down front. Overture, and my heart was palpitating, for In my mind was a constant visualization of myself as prima donna. Got That Longing The curtain rose and the first act was half way through when I thought how wonderful It would be could I only carry a spear or any- thing to Just again step on the stage. I was so thrilled on my way out I hummed the music as the tears rolled down. We vielted back stage and waited for Estelle. How m.arvelous, I thought. It was when 1 saw the girls come out with their flowers and tell how many telegrams they had received. Two more woeKs and stin idle. One day the phone rang. It was Estelle. "Hello. They let one of the girls go and I've told the man- ager I was bringing you down In ttie morning. Be there at 10:30. I'll meet you." Rather disappointing when I got there. Several other girls, and I had expected to bo the only one. We were told to put on our rehearsal clothes, for which I was fully pre- pared through Kslelle's Instructions. Started to Icai-n the routines, and one by one the stage manager In- formed the girls they wouI<l not do. Two of us left I was frightened. I guess he knew It. We were sent out to lunrh and I was very relieved to find I was the only one left upon returning. He had let all the other girls go. Rehearsing ^ard until four o'clock they told me to go home, have a rest and return for the evening perform- ance. I went home but was too ex- cited to cat or even rest. In my dressing room bright and early and all ready muct too soon I was much discussed by the other chorines. 1 got through the show without a mistake and went home very proud of myself. Heavenly Thoughts It was a very quiet time I spent for the next tea months we played in New York, then came the road. The very thought of seeing differ- ent places and living at hotels was heaven to me. I wis about the only ono who appeared enthusiastic, and not until I came back did I know why. The train left for Chicago on a rainy day. Everyone was In tears. I wa.sn't terribly happy, but some- how r couldn't feel sad when I had all those wonderful cities before me Chicago at last, and there was hardly a foot of scenery I mlsHcd on the way. My two friends went to live at a boarding house and I went along. Wo paid $18 a week. It .leemed an awful lot to me. Trips all over the Windy City thrilled mo, but the novelty was wearing off. I commenced to grow weary. One night, very despondent and too tired to gx) on a party with the girls, I decided to go hou.t \> ROSE ADAIRE one of Chicago's roaring yellowi and started. One block from homa and smash, bang! Another car had hit us. Oyr driver forgot to slow up at the crossing. We were taken from the cab unconscious and I woke up In a garage. My leg wa« badly lacerated and my back strained, but Kay was just slightly shaken up. Somehow or other while oonvalas* clng I contracted pneumonia and the manager had me sent to th* hospital. When well enough to to home the show was about to leava town. I then began to realize It was not all I had hoped It to be. All one-week stands on our way back east, but I must say we did have fun. One night wo stuffed an old bathrobe and put It In the halL It looked oa though someone! bad fallen there. Two men came along and were afraid to pass It. Wa heard thom saying they thought It was n murder. Trying to hush ona ' another we could hear footsteps. They had rung for the elevator boy. Although black, the boy turned white, but between the three they got courage enough to pick It up. They knocked ut our door and of course we denied It was ours. Christmas week found us In Col- umbus, 0„ where, though unusual, we treated ourselves and 8top{>cd at the Deshler. Getting real extravagant I went to the 'phone and ordered coffee for three In our room. I must have said It In a very ritzy volca because the girls laughed, and after that they callc ' me Miss Deshler. We were well on our way to New York and closing night found every- one epcndln;; hours taking ad- dresses, begging each other to write. ' It was all so silly, because I don't believe one ever heard from tha other after they parted. Then on the Fr-fn Three months on my aunt's farm In Haverhllle. but I had no Inten- t' n of staying that long. Auntie thought I "eeded It. I came bacic to New York In a very bad season and tried for a long time before I got Into a show. After rc'.iearslnff very hard for four weeks we opened out of town. The opening night the show was flne and we thought It was a hit, but, aa shows will do, they started to change things and by the time wo reached New York It had deteriorated Instead of Im- proving. I had a number to sing, so I felt as though I had i)roi;rc3aed a little. We had new dancing mas- ters every two wee';8 and each time they changed all the rotithies. so I was Just about dead. I didn't think I'd live If I had to rehearse with another show. We played New York for thioe months, much too long for 8ii''h a show und much lonwer than we h.ad expected. Looking for work once more. I was offered a poslMon In one of the nlKht cIiiI'M. We had few rhorua runibcrs. but each girl did a 8pcc4al« ty. The li ira were very late birt I had to work and, not wanting f^' 1 .esrse a mon*' wltji n r»nT ':ew, (Continued on pace 3U)