Variety (January 1926)

It y^VlitVY »» P**** •KM** Wedneaday. January 27, 1926 NEWS FROMTHE DAIUES This department contains rawrittan theatrical newt item* a< pub- lished during the week in the daily papers of New York, Chicago and the Pacific Coast. Variety takes no credit for these news itenns; each has been rewritten from a daily paper. NEW YORK Upon arriving In Tampa, Kla., from Cuba, Constance Bennett (Mrs. Phil Plant) announcpd her Intention of devoting her life to her home irlth no return to the stage. Maude Oder, in ' Prlnross Flavia," «c"ebrated the 85th anniversary of her Dtage debut. From I'aris comes word of Nlta Kaldi, who denies that she Is either to wed or become the adopted dauRhter of J. So.-irle Barclay. New York clubman, as reported. That directors of the Metropolitan Opera Company have nnally de- elded to accept Otto H. Kahn's p!an to move the Met up to 67th street Is evident. The condition of Louis Sherry. the restauranteur, who has been 111 for .several months, unable to leave hi.'? .luite at the Hotel Ambassador during recent weeks, is not changed. Norma Shearer Is In New York prior to going to Montreal for a two weeks' vacation. The sescjul-centennlal exposition In celebration of the 150th anni- vcr.-ary of the signing of the Dec- laration of Independence will open In I'hlladelphla on June 2, as orig- Inaliy planned. Ethel Dale of "Vanities," accord- ing to a tabloid which devoted much apace to the tale. Is anxiously awaiting and hoping for papers In ' the suit for divorce which G. A. Laible, her fourth husband, is to bring agaln.st her. A motior. picture theatre, to be •rccted by the Benkey Amusement Co., will replace the present church at 127-31 W. 89th street. That Constance BInney Is to mairy Charles E. Cottlng, former Harvard student, now In business in Boston, was announced by her Biother, Mrs. H. W. Gray. The Tobacco Industries Exposi- tion l>egan at the Grand Central Palace Monday to continue through this week. "The Mlrach" opened in St. LiOUI« on Dec. IM and closed Jan. 20. Tpon noiins the loss tlic manage- ment decided to hold two Uilditlonal performances to reduce the deficit. George C. Tyler was subject to an abdominal operation at Jlooaevelt Hospital last week. The Ilooaevelt Memorial Associa- tion Is looking for actors, the one with the strongest resemblance to Theodore Roosevelt to be starred In "The Rough Riders," a forthcoming film to be released under the spon- sorship of the organization. Winifred Hudnut Valentino was awarded a divorce from Rudolph Guglielmo (Rudolph Valentino) by the Seine tribunal In Paris. She charged desertion and non-support- Paul Groll, producer, will place Into rehearsal a comedy by W. W. Pratt... .Irene Franklin's "Red Head Re\nie" will have an April opening. The Shuberts will produce "Princess Flavia" In L,ondon this spring. .."The Butter and Egg Man" will be seen in the same city.... Grant Mitchell and "One of the Family" moved from the 49th Street to the Klaw....The Stagers wjll re- vive "The Unchastened Woman" John Howard Lawson's "Nirvana" is In rehearsal, to bo presented In mid-February The Theatre Guild has purchased Franz Werfel's "Jaurez and Maximilian," which won the play prize in Germany Uwt year. — While McGowan, Jones & O'Neill have obtained John P. McEvoy's "Room at the Top," McEvoy will present "Americana 1928," a revue, at the Greenwich Village theatre in the spring. The^lOO.Ooo damage suit of May Peterson, former Metropolitan Opera star, against the Bank of Taiwan, Ltd., 166 Broadway, and Fred Scott, an employe of that con- i Pony Express, cern, began in White Plains 8u-1 kins. Mr. Meaklns la at present with a road eompmstj In "fioae-Marie." Officers and Directors of the Bala- ban A Kats Corp. wore re-elected at a DMetizic last week. Tha life of an understudy la a hard one. Ruth Palmer, after 10 months of standing In tho wings watting for something to happen to Patricia Manners, Gretchen of "The Student Prince," has finally taken the part, substituting for Miss Man- ners, who Is out of the show as a result of minor injuries In an autu smaaliu Announcement has been made by the Aacher Brothers that they will build a theatre on the North Side to be naed exclusively for stock. The Liberty Inn has been ordered padlocked for one year. Martin "Babe" Mulhiney, owner, testlded In hla own defense, but Judge Cliff decided the evidence was sufllclent cause tor issuing a padlock. Xivanston's younger set has been warned that from now on the two dance halls In this suburb will be closed at one a. m. Any girls under II will t>e barred from the ballrooms unless they can show a letter from their parents permlttinc them to stay out late. The news was sent out from the regular monthly meeting of the Evanston League of Women Voters. The ruling also provides that there be a hostess in each ballroom at the ezpenae of the management LOS ANGELES Albert Dixon, known as Denver Dixon, picture producer, filed a di- vorce suit In the Superior Court from lone Dixon, screen actress. The complaint alleges Mrs. Dixon neglected her children, was a poor housekeeper and failed to pay bills after ahe bad been given money to pay them. Irving W. Irving, screen writer, has filed an action to recover $1,- 000,000 from Famous Players-Lasky, Adolph Zukor, Jesse L. Lasky, Henry J. Froman and Walter Woods on a complaint that they infringed on copyrights for the picture rights to a ftory entitled "The Code of the Nina Morgan, Metropolitan so- prano, filed suit against the Chad- wick Pictures Corp., asking $26,000 d.-unages. The suit, which was filed in Supreme Court, charges the ti'm company with having used Miss Morgan's name for a character In the picture, "The Matinee Girl," thereby "detracting from her char- acter and reputation." preme Court before Justice Frank L. Young and a Jury. Miss Peterson was struck by an automobile owned by the bank and driven by Scott on April 22, 1922, at West End avenue and 83d street, and she received a fractured hip. Miss Peterson claims that because of the accident she was forced to cancel '/■ $80,000-a-year contract with the .vietropolltan Opera Co., and con- certs with the Opera Comlque, Paris. Ann Luther Gallagher has with- drawn her suit for divorce against Ed Gallagher (Gallagher and Shean) In Paris. Word of the death of Abraham H. "Abe" Hummel, famous divorce lawyer and "first nighter," of 20 years ago, was received from Lon- don. He was 76. Ground has been broken for E. L. Doheny's legit theatre, at 11th and Hill streets. It will be between two 12-story office buildings, to cost |2,- 600.000, with a seating capacity of 1.200. In this corporation are Ed- ward Belasco, Fred J. Butler and a. O. Davis. CHICAGO Revenue Collector R. B. Qoodcell has filed Income tax liens against Alexander Carr and Barbara La Marr. C:«rr. It Is said, owes the government $1,465.37 taxes for his Income earned in 1918, while Mrs. La Marr Is said to owe 1302 for IMS and 11.143 for 1924. The dallies "went" hard for the reported marriage of Wllda Bennett and Pepe de Aldro, a dancer. Last Wednesday the "marriage" of this pair was slapped all over the front paKcs. What seemed to strike the newspapers as being peculiar W!i.s Die fact that Miss Bennett was recently sued for and lost $37,500 to Mrs. Charles Frey for alienating Frey's affections. That Wild.a would give up Krey and the money was not thought likely. Nevertheless, the papers fell for the "marriage," only to feature Miss Bennett's and Al- flro'a denials the next day. John Zanft, vice-president and general manager of the Fox Theatre Circuit, was elected a member of the Ascher Bros.' board of directors. He will act in an advisory capacity. Claiming that her husband struck her several times because she out- drove him at golf, Mrs. Florence Allen applied for a divorce decree from Asa Allen, prominent adver- tising agent. The Judge Indicated he would grant the petition. Slaine Hammerstcln had 11 stitches taken in her face as the rcault of a toboggan sled crash Sunday at Lake Arrowhead. Her fiance. Fire Commissioner Kays, was with her at the time. She re- ceived cuts on the upper lip and forehead and became unconscious. A local physician attended, and she was then removed to hor home In Hollywood. BOSTON TEAM IIP?"^ KMICKS; N. Y. A. C WINS Pere Marquette Triumphs 3-2 in Hectic Hockey Game- League Race Tightens The weekly hockey double-header at the Garden on Sunday night had most of the excitement packed into the second game when Pere Mar- quette of Boston upset the Knicker- bocker Club by a score of 3 to 2. In the first game the N. Y. A. C. had rather an evay frolic In downing the St. Nicholas sextet 3 to 0. The Boston outfit was in fine fettle, showing superior team work and shooting ability to the ragged efforts of the Knlcks. Both teams started at top speed, the play go- ing from one end of the rink to the other. Gillespie, the dimnutive de- fense man for the Knlcks, finally tore down the Ice, and by a neat bit of dribbling po'..ed the puck past the Boston goalie. The New Engend- ers failed to tie the count until the second period, when Fisher raced over the ice to weave through the opposing defense and then pass back to Culhane, who drove the disc past Lewis, the Manhattanites' cage defender. Hardly had the crowd settled down when Nelson tore down the north side of the rink, accompanied by "Sunny" Foley, Boston Collerre's former ice ace, and after passing to the latter took a return pass and yas in the clear before the New York net, whl-^h he disturbed with a shot that put Pere Marquette In front at 2 to 1. It was not long after this that the Boston offense again swung Into action with Foley picking up a loose puck right on top of Lewis, whom he passed for the Ee.intown boys' third score. It was not until the en4-T)f the third period approached that the Knlcks got their second goal when one of their spares hooked on to a wild rubber and drove It Into the Boston net. The battle continued at a terrific pace with savage body checking predomln.atlng, evidently Just a re- sumption of the fued which started over in Boston between these two teams the previous week. The boys was as busy dodging the haphazard wielding of sticks as anything else with any sort f a riot always in the ofTlng. However, there was no more scoring. "Red" Hall, piaying for the N. Y. A. C, was principally responsible for hum Hating 'he St. Nicks. The latter team minus Bulkley and Davis, the two boys responsible for giving the Knlcks heart failure the previous Sunday, were out of the lineup and It unquestionably made a difference. Bulkley "got it" up against the boards at the outset of the game and Vetired. Around 12,- 000 witnessed the games. WRONG REPORTS ON BOX COMM'N Gov. Waiting — Rescind- ing Smoke Rule iv 1 m Albany, N. Y., Jan. 26. Press rumors concerning Govt rnor Smith's willingness to see the Box- ing Commission abolished are mis- leading. The report' was brought . about by James Farley's and Wil- liam Muldc'on's terms as members of the Commission having expired with tho Governor not as yet re« appointing them. It Is learned that the Governor Is only waiting to see what bureau or department former Governor Hughes' non-partisan commission for the reorganlatlon of state de- partments places the athletic board before making the reappointments. Chairman Farley, a close friend of the executive. Is certain to be re- named but the chances are that Mul- doon, a Republican, will be shelved in favor of a Democrat. It is also understood at the Cap- itol that the Boxing Commission's rule arra'nst smoklntr at bouts is very likely to be rescinded at the next meeting of the board. Mul- doon, of course. Is still oppo.sed to the smo'rlng Idea but as Farley and Oeorr^e E. Brower, the third mein- ber of the Boxing Commission, com- pose a majority, the ban is sure to be lifted. '■■a t5 •'A ZIVIC'S UNPOPULAR WIN MOTOR BOAT SHOW According to Miss Bennett, she and the dancer were together in <Mri)'8 when some one came over to th»'ir table and congratulated them upon ibelr "niarrl.ige." Instead of actbiK surpri.srd, they kept up the "ji.lic," and by the time they reached T>-x.'i.s (.Julnan's club the news had Bincad. MinH Beiintt and Aldro told rojmrter.'j they had eloped to Green- wich. Conn., and married. CoiniU'Sb Salm, the former MIIII- cent llojrers, ni.iy go on tho stage. Flo ^^Icrrfeld Is named as her prob- able ^iionsor. 'In a tie-up with Lewis and Gor- don, the ".Mirror" has begun a con- tefit for girl.s, the winner of which — is to be awarded an jmderstudy role In "Easy Come, I-^sy Go," a year's contract at $50 a week. A long-term lea.se on the ce.itrally located Palace theatre In Chicago was obtained by A. L. Erianger. IJntil recently this bouse was of the Orphoum circuit. P.iullne Frederick has arrived In Kew York from Hollywood. If present plans are carried out, there will be a $2,000,000 theatre block in Windsor park. A corpora- tion of chow people, headed by Ed I. Bloom, owner of the Jackson Park theatre, are buying up one wholo block, where they all Intend to build theatres. Plans are being made by Commis- sioner Miller, head of Gas and Elec- tricity here, to make State street a second White Way. The project of lighting up this street will cost over $100,000 and will be paid for by the State Street Lighting Association. Beatrice Qardell, former premiere danscusc at the Chicago Beach Hotel, may never dance again. This was disclosed by physicians at the Michael Reese Hospital, where Miss (Jardell was to undergo an operation. She was p.ilnfully Injured in an ac- cident several days ago while danc- ing at the Palmer House. The Congregational Church of Ba- tavla, HI., one of the oldest churches In this state, offers free taxi service to the services for all Its congrega- tion. All tho churchgoer need do Is call the chairman of the tronsporta- tlon committee, and a cab drives them to the church. United SUtes District Attorney McNabb declares that W. L. Mar- shall, Jointly indicted with Benjamin W. Whltehurst in a "four for one" picture stock swindle, was a dupe and In no way implicated In the alleged conspiracy. He is asking the Attorney General for permission to dismiss the charges against the man. Whltehurst, who has oper- ated under numerus aliases as B. L. Whltehill and B. W. Dupont, pleaded guilty to the indictment. On his promise to pay back $900 to Invest- ora In his concern United States Judge Henning sentenced him to six months' imprisonment and granted him probation for one year. George Lazo, a local promoter, be- gan suit In the Superior Court to recover $50,000 damages from "Red" Orange, C. C. Pyle and P. H. Hal- brlter on charges of a breach of con- tract. He alleged that Pyle arranged for him to promote a football game for Grange and then went back on his contract. The day after the suit was filed Lazo was taken into custody by the police, who allefred he had 20 tablet.<? of morphine In his possession as weli as a number of forged prescriptions for morphine. The police, who held him in the city Jail without ball, sav Laxo la also lmpll(<ated in the thef; of an automobile, transported out of the stata Yesterday (Jan. 26) marked Paul' Ash's l,000tb performance at Mc Vlcker's. Desertion of his actress wife and The run ot "Tho Miracle" In St. their two-year-old son Is the charge L" >'■< suffered a deficit of $30,000. filed last week in Supenor Court by An u result backers of the show were Muriel Oreel of "Castles In the Air" failed on to ndvancj |50,000 to cover. ' aganJst her hu.3band, Charles Mea- ^ / Martin Durkln, the Chicago "sheik" gunman, recently arrested In St. Louis, lived In a Hollywood bungalow for over a month before returning east. He told neighbors in the bungalow court he was here attempting to get work in pictures. About two years ago ho stopped at this same place and Is said to have had with him a woman. B fee *tn1 tdrarttM is T*rittf tfor.'t *d>frtlw The annual motorboat show, at the Grand Central Pal.ace, is show- ing Its usual assortment of aquatic vehicles, with tho attendance in advance of last year's figures. The show opened Friday nlcht and will conclude this Saturday. Lovers of the sport can easily spend a couple of hours or more looking over hulls, motors and ac- cesao»-'''s. Q"!!e an assortment and the salesmen report a notice- able Increase In interest from the patrons. This doesn't restrict Itself to questions but Includes sales. Tuesday many of the con- cerns represented stated they were running ahead of dfiily schedule of a year ago. Dodge's Popular Prices That motorboats are being brought within the reach of the average man Is amplified In the Dodge exhibit of two models. Both models have two prices scaled ac- cording to the motor Installation. The smaller of the duo, 22V4 ft. In length with a beam of 8.7^4, Is capable of 40 miles an hour with n Dodge-Curtlss (aviation) motor of 90 h. p., and sells for $2,975. Powered with the Dodgo marine motor, a conversion of the Dodge auto engine, the boat lists at $2,475. It wasn't 80 long ago that 40 miles an hour on the water meant an out- lay of at least arount $7,000. The other Dodge boat is a double cockpit "Job," 26 ft. 11 Inches in length with a be.im of six feet, seven Inches. This model also carries the same two motors and with the Dodge-Curtiss power Is priced at $3,476, and will turn up 36 m. p. h. If the Dodge marine motor Is de- sired the price drops to $2,926. All Dodge boats are designed by George K. Crouch. By JACK CONWAY Jack Zlvlc, Pittsl'Urgh welter- weight, copped an unpopular deci- sion from Tommy Mllligan, Euro- pean middleweight champion, at Madison Square Garden last Friday night. In the semi-final Willie Harmon had his hands full winning from Harry Dudley, the colored welter from the coaat. _ California Joe Lynch made a host of friends, al- though losing a decision to Mickey Garcia, formerly Bushcy Graham, the Utlca Jumpfhg-Jack. All of the bouts were 10 rounds and interesting. The crowd booed the Zlvic-MUllgan verdict to a fare-the-well. It did seem the for- eigner was entitled to a draw. He carried the fight to Zlvlc and al- ways staged a rally that more than evened things up. In the fourth ruond Zlvlc had Milllgan in a bad way from left hooks, but the latter refused to go down. He kept Zlvlc from press- ing him by crouching and weaving. The Pittsbnrghcr missed the point and failed to score a knockdown. It was a good fight all the way. Lynch looked mighty sweet, al* though plainly at sea before the elu» sive Graham. The latter Is about the fastest bantam In the racket. Bushey was credited with a knock- down when ho crossed with a right and then pushed Lynch to the floor. The latter took a short count and arose. He was never in danger thereafter. He showed a corking right cross and against an orthodox boxer would have made a decided Impression. He will bear watching in these parts. Dudley made quite a fight against Harmon and had he started earlier might have grabbed a draw. He was too careful in the early rounds and allowed Harmon to pile up points. The colored lad is clever and a good stiff puncher. Harmon bullied him around in the clinches, but he held his own fairly well at this style of milling and at long range was Harmon's superior. In the seventh round ho opened a cut over Harmon's right eye with a right cross and thereafter showed to excellent advantage. He also showed a willingness to trade with Harmon that Is rare. It was one of the fc*st bouts of the evening. A return engagement would probably see Dudley doing much better. Cowboy Jack Willis kayoed Tony Lyons in the first round of a pre- liminary for the only knockout of the evening. Chriip«r than • ahnw—nnd thrl'ls IIplenty I SUNDAY NIGHT HOCKEY Madison Square Garden Kasttrn Amateor l.<*aciie Kiiifki *t. N. V. A. C. BMtta A. A. VI. St. Nick! HIiiKsldi! SiHtn only I- Others, tl «n<1 II.[>^ ■.r i