Variety (February 1926)

"•.mil)'!* 1, VjiU IW1|I 44 VARIETY MUSIC ■■1 ^wm nwwmrnmww^'^mmr^^i^T I wrnKMnfmam^smntw^nw- '^iniwrnvm* im Wednesday, February 8, IBM I BALLROOM REVIEWS THE CABIN, NEW YORK New York. Jan. 27. Sooniiiigly, the "clu.ss" spot of the many low-brow dance places Is this ono at 14th street and Third ave- nue, owned by Joseph LanuKgl, Inc., witli K. li. lillls us president ami mariaKcr. Its unadvcrtlsed feature is the procedure of the "hoste.sses" in so- liciting dances. Instead of waiting and smiling for approaches of the dancing gentry, the girls, at the end of each dance, of a chorus in length, if unattached to a man at the time, line up in double lile and circle the room, pointing at those In pants and saying, 'DanceV" The place is one iliKht up. It Is unassuming and dimly lighted downstairs, but the entrance leads to a brightly lighted staircase. I)e(orated with fantastic splashes of paint, its walls are much in the manner of a Greenwich Village place. Signs say it is a "dancing academy," universal among places of its type. The ballroom, with the 10-cent checking concesalon at the en- trance, is almost different in so far that it ip attr.actively decorated to extremes. Miniature cabin doors along the panels suggest the name. The room is no more than 50 by 100, but appears larger, probably because of Its being devoted to dance space only, with no obstruc- tions excepting two posts in the center of the floor. Eight for %\ The usual tariff dince rate and admission—eight ticlcets for a dol- lar—prevails, as does the usual cut for the girls—Ave cents on each ticket. On its list the Cabin has 137 girls. About half of that number are In attendance on week nights and 100 or more Saturday and Sunday eve- nings. They are not so unusually pretty, as a whole, to Invite -special comment, althougii being attractive enough to invite dancing with them, which is, incidentally, all that Is necessary. A few, as will be found anywhere, are really comely. It Is Ignorance, it seems, that keeps these attractive ones dancing in this type of place, when they could seek employment In any chorus. Tftien. airath. It Is probafcly, as the. girls say, they have homes, api work dufing the day aiifl seel? amusement and extra money at tht? dance places at night. The nciale clientele Is probably more American In appearance man at any of the Cal)in'8 competitors. Latin features and oily hair are lit- tle in evidence. Herq and there are gray-haired old boys trying to trip the light fantastic to Liombar- di's Cabiners, a six-piece combina- tion, and Just a band. Only at un- usual times In the number of at- tending males below 150. The" main entrance and that for the girls are at proper distances from each other, disallowing, as the manager says, meetings and trysts at nearer than a half block from the hall. "Caks-Eater's Insurancs" As a novel feature, the manage- ment hands out a blue folded paper called a "Cake-Eater's Insurance Policy." It contains numerous "come-on" questions, with blanks left for answers, the last one (No. 18) being "I hereby apply for a Cake-Eater's Insurance Policy. I understand that, in any event, I will always be a customer of the Cabin Dancing Academy." The ai>plylng cake-eater is given ample space on which to place his llgnature. On the other side is a list of the nightly features—dance contests, country-store nights and the u.sual rackets. Accompanying this are the lyrics of a song entitled "The Cabin Blues," credited to Mr. Hill, the manager. They say to go to no other place but to the Cabli), .and are terrible. The features make the Cabin at- tractive to Its patrons. It has en- Joyed success since birth, 13 months ago. That It will make money, as will Its compotitor-s. while open, is certain. MOONLIGHT Canton, O., Jan. SO. A pioneer among ballrooms In the eastern part of Ohio, Moonli.:iht ballroom, perhaps one of the most .successful year roimd ballrooms to bo maintained in an aniusenient park, is proving the Mecca for dance enthusiasts from some 20 towns in this section. Owned and operated by the George Sinclair Amusement Co., builders of riiies and holders of many leases in parks throughout the country, Moonlight ballroom represents in excess of $100,000. To bo located outside the city limits in .an aniusomeni park Is .1 real ven- ture. The project, originally with- out a roof, was completed a year and a half ago at a cost of $50,000. The ballroom floor space is 100 by 200. It Is a spacious hall. Interior decorations ore much the same as other ballrooms in this section. At ono end is a large shell for the or- chestra. Acoustics are almost per- fect and dancers seldom complain to the management. Refreshment concessions are to the right of the entrance with large check rooms with better than 3,000 capacity. When the ballroom reopened Paul Biese, now deceased, played two days. Herb Weidoeft and his Cin- derella roof orchestra were at the ballroom moat of the summer, and Jimmy Dimmick was featured sev- eral weeks. Few bands play longer, than two weeks, with most one week. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Perry, dance Instructors and former vaudeville team, havo been In charge of the dance supervision. Perry has been responsible for promoting many novelty dance parties, and also sponsored a children's free dance instruction class on Saturday after- noons, a business getter. Although Canton Is a small town, from 1,500 to 1,80.0 Is a regular Saturday night occurrence. Whll* this ballroom Is more than two miles from town, the ballroom has been able to more than hold Its own despite a new ballroom down- town Aihich opened less than six months ago, 85o. Per Couple Prices ace 85 cents per couple— 50 cetits for men and 35 cents for women. This price prevails, regard- less of the band attraction. The ballroom from time to time plays vaudeville features as added attrac- tlonj. Opejn every week night except Monday, when the management rents It for private parties. The capacity of 3,000 has been reached several times. It is well heated in the winter and in summer the case- ment windows all round are opened. Loges encircle the two sides of the ballroom and parties may reserve these without charge. George Sinclair is head of the operating company, and C'arl Sin- clair, his son, and H. K. Uosenberry, assist In the executive duties. McConnell. Mor« Bands for Picture Houses As the 8«ason progresses the prediction that picture thea- tres would employ more popu- lar bands than ever Is coming true. There appears to bo a wuve along the line of the film the- atres for Jazz bands. Some take a few pieces, others the full band, with many of the houses bargaining that the pop com- bination shall be added to the pit (house) aggregation when not doing their stage turn. It appears to be an opportun- ity to build up popularity with- out the Paul Ash end consid- ered. on Its list, the number attending hardly varies. Male patrons afe usually about 150. sometimes many more, but never much less. Tho male clientele are mostly dark and uncouth looking foreigners. The girls are young, none looking over 22 and some 16 or 18 and for the most part exceptionally good looking. They are neighborhood girls and work during the day. They will tell you they are In these places for amusement and also for the extra money It gives them. They receive 5 cents on every ticket. A good looking girl may take In 50, 75 or more tickets In an evening. A sur- prising small percentage of the girls seemed anything other than they said. The dancing la qsually rough. Anything is done on the floor during the largest portion of the year. By this Is meant that every so often the cops step In to look the places over. That Dreamland Is a gold mine is certain. The rent Is moderate, the 10-cent checking gag valuable, and the soft drink and candy stand gets a fair play. A flicker! 'g electric sigm downstairs attracts, although the place docs not rel- much on transit trade, having Its regular and almost nightly customers. For some Dreamland la a para- dise, for others it would be a night- mare. INSIDE STUFF On Music Hallett's Newspaper Advertising One of tho most consistent new.spaper advertisers Is Mai Ilallett di- rector of his orchestra at the Arcadia Ballroom. New York, who enjoys an enviable reputation throughout New England. HaJlett uses the Bos- ton "Post" advertising columns consistently, his ad. of Jan. 30 in the "Post" being a single column strip quoting Variety's review of Hallett's band, with the caption, "As published by this ofllclal theatrical criterion " The Boston advertising Is In the nature of advance heralding of Hal- lett's New England return April 18. Charles Shribman, of Salem, Mass* is Hallet's personal representative and manager of all tours. ' In the past Hallett has gone more than half way with the various ballroom managers, taking full page ads In the daily papers to boost his employers' gate receipts and incidentally his own, since Hallett plays on a percentage arrangement. Ilallett and Shribman control a ballroom in Salem, Mass., and will acquire another around Boston this season as two permanent spots to supplement tho Itinerant locations. A self-controlled ballroom in New York is next aimed for, the Ilallett organization operating on a big scale Padorewski Did "Ride of ths Valkyries" Ignace Paderewskl, Polish patriot and master pianist, together with his wife and their two secretaries, arrived 25 minutes late In a box car for the Toronto concert. Later he gave an almost perfect all-Chopln program, before 3,400 persons at $4 top. Paderewskl arrived aboard the private car "Los Angeles" about T o'clock. He entertained a few friends at dinner on the car and about I the party started to cross the tracks for a waiting taxi. Toronto's old Union station has long been a Joke. It Is. The Joka didn't make Paderewskl laugh. A string of Pullmans blocked the pianist's path. He had little time to spare, so climber aboard, his wife following. As they were about to dismount the train started and carried them Ave miles before they were rescued. The pianist and his wife were carried back to the station by a special engine and box car, using an empty packing caso as a seat. "Song Baiting"' "Song baiting" Is still predominant in some of the neighborhood houses, and where any of the bands or "acta" suggest to the audience that it name its selection there Is always a yelp for certain plug songs. These houses are given constant observation through some of the song hustlers tipping off the publisher so that he can get lines working that will result In the music house leaders being called when the opportunity presents Itself. In several houses the ushers have been forbidden to chirp for any number from the rear of the house, although several "acts" gen« erally arrange for an audience assist with them prior to the opening. • •■■; S S^ir-Inxtmrdvo Rook* on THK AKT OF MODERN JAZZ PIANO PLAYING ny ART HIIEFTK Now you can learn to play Popular Music with all the Flll-ln Trirki. Krcaka, niii^s. etr , a'» Hsid by leading RADIO ARTISTS .»*^"* nook t.ti, hf» 15U Jiizz nri-aki, i-.M ."'PP*'. ^''i^'lty KncllMBS. H:ufs. rlllln t.nibf niahmi nla. elr. Ii worth numlrcls of iloUiirii to nny jilanlgt amateur or rr"fi xhIoikiI. l'rl<-«« »I.no'. ."jvond Book — Jazr, H^ms. The barklione «>f Jazx Piano I'layin*. Thla I>ouk tcachua the viirli.ua mylps of Jazi I};iw iipops.'iary In i'r.ifrMi,,ii«l work. In all keys and rhonla Prlre fl.OO. Third Book—Koyl)oari) Itarmony SImpllfled. The almplcit and meat rnndcnsed method ever t'ubllshe^l on thia subject. So irlini>l« that a child can underitand It. I'rioe $1.H0. From your dealer, or dellvertd C'.O.D. by mall If do.-lrod SHEFTE PUBLISHING CO. (Not Incorporated) Dept. B, 826 Lyon A -llaeljr Bids, • < B. Jackson lilvd., Chlcayo, III. Dreamland, New York Dreamland Is two flights up at 120 West 125th street, a very few stops from the Lenox avenue sub- way station of that street. It has an edge In being centrally located on the most pretentious business street of Its district. It Is owned and operated by the Dreamland Dancing Academy, Inc., with Mr. Schwartz, manager. Suiprisingly, it Is without any threatening local opr>o3itlon. Dreamland Is the strongest advo* cate, If not the home of refined d;tncing In Harlem MADRID BALLROOM (WAUKEGAI^, ILL.) Chicago, Jan. 29. A year ago Waukegah was In a ba^ yay for ent^rtflilTiment. with a couple of dinky picture houses and honky-tonky vaudeville over the wee'k-end. Since then a dramatic stock has set up In the only real theatre In town, previously dark most of the time; a recreation building containing bowling alleys, billiards, etc., has been opened, and the Madrid ballroom has been given to the youth of the community. The Chamber of Commerce, If there Is one, must note these manifestations of Waukegan's progresslveness with pride. It isn't so big, the Madrid ball- room. You could tuck It In the vestibule of some of the mammoth big city places. But It's new and clean and handsome, and undoubt- edly the boys and girls of the high school set. the factory set, the young married set and the broad- minded set mention It gratefully In their prayers. At any rate the men- tion is as probable as the prayer. Three men, all Waukeganltcs, own the Madrid. They are Stanford Pearce, Charles Stake and Herbert Kllern, with the latter acting as manager. Capacity Is perhaps 800, with an outside of a thousand. The gate Is 40c-7Sc at all times, the holidays not being abused. Entrance is through an open lobby with plate glass windows facing the street. This looks like an Ice cream parlor fit first glance, due to tho ballroom's fountain being located here. Waukegan In population falls a couple of thousand below 30.000. but the ballroom draws from some 100 * Lyrics for "Romany Love" At the time the Qeraldlne Farrar show "Romany Love" was destined for New York. E. B Marks, who held the music, and Harms, who hatl the lyrics over here, were unable to get together and effect a suitable arrangement for combining the words and music. As a result Harms had planned interpolatln< several numbers In order to benefit by whatever prestige the show might get. It's one night flop stopped further negotia- tions. The piece was bougbt for the Pacific coast and wlU be produced ther* shortly. It was orlglnaHy called "Frasqulta" but the now title goes for the coast. To get around the lyric angle. Marks la having special lyrlai written to the score, v/hich he controls, by Dr. Slgmund Spaeth, author of "The Common Sen.se of Music." Paul Specht assembled a host of dally newspapermen last Wednesday and distributed Variety to each, following a special luncheon, to acquaint the daily press with the new bill which the band "leader Inspired for the retaliation against British discrimination. Victor Can't Fill Orders The Victor Talking Machine Co. was forced to take space nationally In the dally papers apologizing to the public and asking their Indulgence because of the tardiness In delivering orders on the new Orthophonlo Victrola. The new machine has proved a huge success and the demand exceeded expectations, so much so that the Victor home office at Cam- den, N. J., was unprepared and was compelled' to hastily adjust Its factory production schedule so that now tho situation Is In belter shape for the new year. Tho Brunswick's Panatrope, also a reproducing improvement on the old phonograph, has caught on just as effectively. Both machines have done much to stimulate record sales and thus react favorably on the music business. Tariff dancing prevails. Adrals ^ , slon Is $1 for eight tickets, each for' olio, takYngin Kenoshar RacIricT f-ako one dance. The ball Is in a good- | Forest. McHenry, LibertyvUIe, etc. sized loft, about two-thirds devoted; sinco Its opening a couple of to the dance floor, and the remain der to lounging space for the large majority of male patrons. A railing separates the two sections. It is at this the girls stand and enticingly. You hand a ticket to a trl and walk on to the floor with her. She tears the ticket In half, handing ono part to ono of the half dozen "bouncers," and keeping the other herself. Each dance Is of one chorus only, the next continuing without Inter^ ml.sfllon. This is seemingly a strain on tho band, which Is Matson's Cri- terion Orchestra, a colored combln.a- tion of eight pieces and awfully "hot." When the eight tickets are gone one may step up to the box office, wliirh also has a window on the insido, rind buy more at 12 cents .lpi(>CP. Plenty of Girl Dancers It H unno(o.s.<i:iry to bring girls along, if it's a bother, as there are 40 and sonutiniea ,",0 women In the pl.ace, all waiting and dying to dance with anyone. Last Thursday night 43 girls were there, "instrurtre.s.Mo.s" so-^.illei' Upon Inquiring It w.is '""• while the haii ' months ago a dance hall that oper- ated sinsmodlcally In the neighbor- ing town of Lake Forest has sus- pended. Waukegan's Own Styles The difference In modes of dancing which characterize different parts of this wide and is discernible to Chicago eyes In Waukegan. Their styles In stepping are typi- cally "VV'Miikeg.Tn. "riie clientele of the Madrid ballroom (on an ex- tremely Inclement night) was ex- clu.olvely youthful, with no A. K.'s or female dittoes In evidence. The Cb.irleston is familiar to Wauke- gan, but not especially prominent, taking the town's only place to dance as a criterion. The music Is peppy, but not hotsy-totsy. It Is provided by .a nine-piece band headed by Arthur .'>lzemore from Chicago. "The boys sing now and then. This band is farmed out by the management on tho nlphtfl the ballroom is closed, with the demand greater than the nights available. "'- -" ♦herx was no s""**- in '"• Scores A. F. of M. A communication to Variety from H. Bernard, 35 Dufficld street, Brook- lyn, N. y., scores tho American Federation of Musicians for its alleged laxnesa In enforcing union resolutions. The letter la reproduced as the writer's individual expression: "The recent complaint of Specht In Variety exposes the usual aim of the A. P. M. of getting the dues regardless of whether the A. F. M. benefits the payers, or If they have work. This is where the A. F. M. falls short of my Idea of a real union, which Is embodied In the plan of the railroad crafts. Vkhere an equitable no-work, no-dues policy pre- vails, with a death benefit depending on actual dues paid In. "When the A. F. M. declared control of vaudeville acts using a plurality of musicians last spring, I foresaw the condition Specht complains of— the winking at under-scale salaries by the A, F. M. (as long as they get the A. F. M. dues!), because for years advertisements have stared musicians In the face (and no action taken) like—'Must be union; state your lowest* In fields where A. F. M. had a fixed scale." Sax in Grand Opera Pit The Introduction of the saxophone Into the orchestra playing for A grand opera will take place In Chicago shortly when "The Light of St Francis" is produced. This short opera, with a libretto by Mrs. Minnie Maddern Flske, Is now In rehearsal. The composer declared only a saxophone could properly express tho mood of some of the music and, despite protests from many of the musicians, two were added to the orchestra. The production of "The Light of St. Francis" Is being made by the Chicago Civic Opera Association. Good for Fras-Lanes Arrangsre Shapiro-Bernstein's exclusive signing of Arthur Lange to make their dance arrangements hag been no 111 wind for contemporary arrangers like Louis Katzman, W. C. Polla, and ethers. ^VhlIe these were always In demand, along with Lange, tho latler's unusual scoring for orchestra numbers taxed Lange's capacities unduly because of the value of the Lange name on an arrangement. The publishers knew this and every- thing was a.sstgned to Lange. With the latter eliminated as a froe-lance, the others are now getting a good play. MEMPHIS 5 FOR ROSEMONT ''"he original Mcmphi.'i I-'ive open • "»!»dement Saturday at -^m. Brooklyn, •• been a Jazi staple at the Rosemont, the return being by demand. The band has been touring the picture housoa and ballrooms in th<" interim.