Variety (February 1926)

VARIETY VAUUbTlLi&^E. -va^mFiv.immMMmsmn^mfvmw'mMnimKix '* v'uwi' Wtdnwdaj, VeSniarf «. ttit 100 PHME HOUSES AROUND NEW \m NOW PLAYING AOS Flask Turns Cheaper Than House-Made Presenta- tions—Many Use Two or Three Turns in Addition Booked by Independent Agencies Over 100 picture houses In the outlying Buburban dlatricts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have lately Incorporated vau'deville acta. Their iihowa are belns booked through Independent agencies in Kew York with Kally Markus and Jack Llnder having the greater Dumber and few others acattered •tmong remaining bookers. As many more are contemplating ▼audeville and will probably install It as soon aa tho houses can be renovated to meet with the requl- •Itea of stage theatres. Most of the picture houses listed have created a new market for flashes, unable to book at a livable figure on standard circuits. Danc- faig acts, musical acts and harmony duos are among the other type In demand for the picture house dates. Some of the houses use merely a flash as a presentation feature while others use two or three acts In Itself an Indication that the latter houses are gradually taking on a yaudevllle end of the picture bills. Before going In for regular vaude- ville bookings some of the houses experimented In staging their own presentations but found It more •conomlcal to buy the aet flashes direct The latter decision has given flash producers additional Impetus to briiig out acts figiiring Chat If they don't hit for the regular time th* producer can get from under by apottlng them for the picture house dates. CHICAGO MAN DECLINES SOJS OF N.V. A. PROGRAM Robert Boniet Not in Sympathy with Manner of HandUng "Charitable" Affair OLYMPIA FOR VAUDE (Oootinued from page B) stances aince b«r acquittal of the murder charge. The friends who «am« forward for her during both trials and promised a home for her- •elf and baby have seemingly failed to make good. She la now forced to make a living for both. IndependMit b o o k • r a figured Olyinpia a great bet for Connecticut •tands until manage™ there refused to play her, tl>e latter evidently afraid that her appearances would arouse public sentiment. The Nut- meg &tate was the scene of the al- leged murder over a year ago. Through testimony of the trial It was brought out that Bagnano was shot outside the Palace The- atre, New Haven. At both trials the singer admitted having flred the fatal shot but claimed to have done ■o In self defense. A ahow business interest obtained throughout both trials because of several performers having been called to testify. Tvwo Trials Olympla's first trial in New Haven resulted in a disagreement. A re- quested change of venue ae^ the ■econd trial in Chicago, Feb. t. Following the disclosure that solicitors for the N. V. A. program have been getting 40-SO and M per cent commission, Robert BonleL one of the best program solicitors la the country, has refused to han- dle the N. V. A. program promotion for Chicago. For four or five years Bonlel, prominent In radio and other semi-theatrical fields, has put over the N. V. A. program here. He practically donated his services be- lieving the money went to the actors intact without having large chunks extracted for the racketeer boys. Bonlel went as far as to aak other solicitors working for the program to cut their commission as a personaJ favor to him. Having learned the Inside workings of the N. V. A. iirogram racket. Boniel. even when offered SO percent com- mission, declined to be associated with this "charlty.- It is understood the Orpheum Circuit wants several of Its oflloe men to "send In tlie works" so that by flattery or fear vaudeville actors will advertise in the program. The Orpheum men selected are anything but elated at the assignment. They figure that it merely means personal unpopularity for them with little to be expected In the way of co-opera- tion. The SO percent ad man with his desk in the local N. V. A. club Is not having the nice time anticipated in Chicago. A general lack of pros- perity amoBg the acts makes them uBwiUing to pay the board bill of a professional promotar. ACTS IN IM BILLS DOUBLING IN AFTERPIECES, WITHOUT PAY Keitk Circuit Reported FavcMrini; Orpheum's Econon^ ical Scheme—Units Abo Keep Other Acts Out of Work—Waking Up to Unit Menace LYDIA HARRIS QUEEN OF SYNCOPATION Playing return eagageraent at McVlcker's. Chfoago. for two weeks. Also returning to Senate and Hard- ing for six wet'ks, with Balaban & Katz Wonder Theatres to follow. I am Still My Own Personal R«prssentativs LYDIA HARRIS, Irring Apartments 4300 Drexel Blvd., Chicago, 111. JOHNP.HARRIS 1 ON 125TH STREET apon which she won acquittal During both trials society women of Connecticut displayed interest In the girl's plight with at least three offering a home for herself and 11- lOKitimate offspring uiMjn acquittal. At the conclusion of the second trial some months ago she is said to have been beHieged with various stage offers, but figuring she waa otherwise set, turned them down. Marcus Loew has withdrawn from the Harlen^ opera bouse on 125th street where he was interested Jointly with Leo Brecher. The house will continue to play straight pictures under Brecher's direction. Following the withdrawal, Loew's 7th avenue playing a stock policy switched to straight pictures. The Alhambra, former Keith-Albee big time stand at 126th street and 7tli avenue, now playing pictures, im- L>itchfleld, Conn., jniedjately announced a ftirther re- ONE-NKHT VAUDEVILLE OROIIT'S EXTENSION Jo« DMiy Worked Up Week's Time for 8 Acts—May Have Second Week Pittsborgh, Feb. X. AH theatres operated by the Har- ris Amusement Company were or- dered closed Jan. 27 as a tribute to State Senator John P. Harris, who died suddenly Tuesday afternoon In Harrisburg. Announcement of the Senator's death was made in the various theatres eontroUed by the organisation of which he was the head. All theatres remained closed until after the services Saturday. The theatres were the Harris and Palace, downtown; Sheridan Square, £a8t Liberty; WUHam Penn, North Side; Hippodrome, McKeesport; Majestic, Butler, Pa.; Strand, Youngstown. C; Grand, Wilming- ton, Del., and family, Detroit. The death of Senator Harris came with tragic suddenness. While seated at his desk In the state legis- lature dtwing a stormy debate he suddenly slumped and fell to the floor. A momeat or two later be was pronounced dead. Senator Harris was widely known In the theatrical world and was a pioneer in the picture business in Pittsburgh. He is credited with opening and operating the first suc- cessful "nickelodeon" in the city. Senator Harris was among the first to enter the field of low priced vaudeville. He provided Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania with a chain of theatres. Later he entered the higher priced amusement field. Mr. Harris was vice-president of J OttIUo Harrold and Pattl have the Harry Davis Enterprises Com- I left vaudeville and are playing a pany and president of the various tour of the large motion picture Jm Doaly. who operates a d^la •C one-night raudeviUe stands throughoat Sullivan county. N. T., Is planning sxtenslon of activities in that territory. Deal)r*s present list carries an sight-aet bill for six nights. The proposed additions wIH give him six additional nights for which hs will organize another eight-act bill. Dealy recently purchaiwd a Pull- man motor bus which he utilizes for transporting his acta from New York and also carries them along the chain. Dealy pays a shade bet- tor than prevailing independent prices for acts and malces the en- gagement more attractive through effecting club rates at hotels and also throwing in transportation, generally the major stumbling block with acts playing the Independents since the haulage charges usually sat ap the major portion of salaries on soma jumps. Dealy*s present proposition Is a S2-wsek arrangement, which pro- vides employment tor 411 acts throughout a season. If the six ad- ditional houses are set as expected within the next couple of weeks they will smploy a similar amount of acts. Dealy will also purchase an- other motor bus for transportation purposes. Dsaly entered this territory six years ago by giving the towns the only vaudeville shows they had over seen. He has no opposition, and plays the bouses on a percentage arraagement. giving the oight-act show and a picture at SOc top. Only avoniag performances are glvsa. some houses playing sae show aad others two. The Keith Circuit is considering a tie-up with the Orpheum Circuit whereby the Keith people will pi^^ all Orpheum road shows, both Junior and senior, after thf.^ have tinlghed their Orpheum bookings. The Keith people are said to bs attracted by tho cheapness of the units in comparison with a regular ▼audevMlle bill. In the units only four acts and a chorus are used for the senior shows, and a lesser nusi« ber for the Juniors. By signing tbs acts to do their specialties and then double into an afterpiece, the units get a fun-length ahow out of tlia four aotfl, .saving tho «ost of four other acta VaudevUie artists are beginninc to wake up to the unit menace. Artists are signed to contracts call- ing for appearances In afterpieces, making the house a gratuitous pres* ent of their services for the after- piece and In addition keeping other acts out of work due to the cutting down in the number of acts neces- sary. Acts arc also giving extra performances without pay. In ths senior units acts virtually do four performances daily, and in the Junior units, six or more a day. BUBBY PHONEY "DR." HARROLDS AT STRAND BULT SIAMOHD ADDS TIME Chicago, Feb. 2. Billy Diamond, In co-operation with Gus Sun. has taken over the bookings for the following theatres: Majcstlee, Lacrosse, Wis ; Vander- vert, Sheboygan. Wis., and Grand, Oshkosh, Wis. This is for the Gus Sun and the A. * H. Uma ductlon in prices which now scale;? the house 6, 10 and 15 cents. JAM£S TOWNSEND ILL Los AiigeleH, Feb. I. James Townsend, stage mana>rer of the local PantagcH hou8c, rup- tured a blood vessel in his ht-ad yes- tt^rd.iy afternoon and was taken to the Central Hospital In a serio 'a condition. Townsend has been ssoeiated with Pantagos for 20 years. If you don't advertise in , yA^tfiSTTY don't advertise Ethel Waters May Not Play in Vaudeville EHhel Waters may pass up her vaudeville bookings through her severance of stage relations with the "Plantation Revue" act which has gone ah^ad with Mary Stafford In her place. Miss Waters has arranged for some dates In the T. O. B. A. houseR where Miss Waters gained her vaudeville fame prior to coming to New York. Another chapter to Miss Waters' troubles came when hsr piano ac- companist. Pearl Wright, accepted an offer to remain with tlie Sam Salvln act. Leigh Whlpper, the colored mana- ger of the Orpheum, Newark, N. J.. took advantage of the upheaval In the "I'lantatlon" act to book Miff.' Watfrs for a full week there, start- ing Monday. For the Newark engagement Mifl--^ WatCT.s la to receive $600. An outside theatre manager, de- slrlnK the "I'lantatlon" act with Miss Waters, was trying to arrange book- ings for bis cUeuIt last wepk but reneged when he Xound that Mias Waters had left It, Harris Amusement companies, oper- ating theatres throughout Pennsyl- vania, West Virginia and Ohio. These companies Included the Har- ris Amusement Company of Pitts- burgh; Harris Amusement Company of Pennsylvania; Harris Amusement Company of Delaware; Harris Amusement Company of Michigan, and various other associated Intei-- ests in Cincinnati, Dayton, Colum- bus and Louisville. He also was vice-president and director of the Washington Trust Company and a director of the Pittsburgh Baseball Club. He was a member of the National Vaudeville Managers' Protective Association, FYlars Club of New York, New York Athletic Club, Pittsburgh Athletic Association and various other clubs and societies. Senator Harris made his debut in politics In May of 1»22 when he per- mitted his name to be used in the primaries for state senator from the 45th senatorial district He was nominated by a large majority and his election followed in November. He was the son of John 1*. Harris, and spent his youth at the family home in Crafton, a suburb of Pitts- burgh. Senator Harris loaves a widow, his mother, five children, two brothers and three sisters. houses. The opera singer aad daughter have been booked at the Strand, New York, for the week of Feb. 15. They Just completed a two weeks engagement at Pox's, Philadelphia, being held over the second week. It will be the first time the Strand, New York, has played a straight vaudeville attraction other than a band. The house is op- position to Keith's Palace, New York in location. Harrold and Pattl have been play- ing vaudeville for several seasons, appearing on the Keith Circuit. According to report, the attractive salary offered for a picture house route, weaned them away from straight vaudeville and cut salary weeks. (OoaiUnued from pa^e 6) Cleveland. They went to Cleveland and occupied rooms at the Statler hotel until Mrs. Bowman resigned from "Grab Bag" Jan. 22. They re- turned to Columbus and again occu- pied a stilts of roomt at the Neil House until the presentation of tho bllL Mrs. Bowman stated that she had advanced Bowman about $1,500 when he mentioned that he lacked ready cash. Dr. Bowman was ap- IMirently making arrangements t« dispose of some of his stocks, hia wlfs thought. Brids's Parents Present - Tho bride's parents, of Merlden. Conn., were with the couple hers when the "doctor" was placed na- der arrest In an interview after the arrest Mrs. Bowman stated that she would start divorce proceedings as soon as possible. Under the Ohio laws It Is necessary to wait 80 days before divorce action can be commenced. The couple had been married but li days at the time of Bowman's ar- rest. Bowman was non-committal about the extensive properties he claimed to have. A search of his effects re- vealed a cheap Ingersoll watch, $1.85 In cosh and three bills. Police investigation revealed that Bowman had Iwen recently em- ployed as a rubber in a Coiumbua bathhouse at $25 per week. Mrs. Bowman Is now telling "Ths True Story of My Romance with Dr. Bowman" on the stage of ths James, Columbus. The salary was not rti.srlospd. J.nmes olTerert her $1,000 an* the Majestic plcturs house offered $500. Miss Hogers may appear at the Majestic next week. lOCAL ACT FOR M. P. Baltimore, Feb. 2. "Th« Maryland Colle-glans," a local art that broke In at the III|> hero last fall, was seen by B. A. Kolfe who la to ctiJiCitrse and shape the act for big time pictuM faults. MAKRIAOES CheHa Terry (Berkes and Terry) married to Henri Gendron (Gendron's Orchestra, Montmartre Cafe, Chicago), Thursday, Jan. 28, at Chicago. Will Donaldson, songwriter, to Josephine Plant, non-professional, Feb. 2, at Brooklyn, N. T. Lillian Werba, daughter of Louis F. Werba, theatrical manager, to Arthur Creangc, Jan. 20, at the Alamac hotel, New York. Both non- professionals. Olive Wallace, actrcKS at the Bur- bank. Los Angeles, to William Paul Kunk, musician, at the sanio thea- tre, at First Baptist Church, Los Angeles, Jan. 29. Dave Murray married his dancing partner, Hilda Lee, in Sun Fran- cisco, Dec. 16, ^ _ FORUM Editor Variety: A fire at Ogdensburg, N. Y., com- pletely destroyed the opera housa Jan. 21. At tho time we were breaking in a new aet written by James Madi- son. This act was fully equipped with new seer ery, ■ wardrobe and musical Instruments. It was almost re.ady for a New York showing. Tho fire was a result of an «£- plosion in the boilers underneath the auditorium and occurred at 12:15 a. m. Everything we owned was lost in the fire. Including gold musical In- .•rtruments, new sowiwy, new ward- robe and all trunks containing our personal clothing, valuable papers and countle!«.s article.s which cannot be replaced. We figure our loss conservatively at $4,000. Harvey, Bencvy and Qrayce.