Variety (March 1926)

Wednesday, March 3, 195?« VAUDEVILLE VARIETY ALF WILTON BARRED OUT OF K-A AGENCY Received Official Notification of Expulsion—Asked Not to Use "Keith-Albee" in Any Way—Wilton Doesn't Believe Reasons as Mentioned Sufficient Cause to Be Thrown Out After 20 Years Within two hours after Variety appeared on the streets last Wednesday morning with stories relating: to the tranquil attitude of the Kelth-Albee agency over Alf T. Wilton having walked out on It the week previously. Wilton received by messenger the above letter, advis- ing him to cease doing business throuprh the K-A office. Whatever system the K-A office kas when barring an agent .slipped a cog Wednesday. An hour after he had been notified, Wilton, who is the now-famous vaudeville agent, booked Charles Buggies at Keith's Bushwick, Brooklyn, for this week. Thursday morning Wilton booked two other acts in the K-A office for this week. Saturday last he placed the Colleano Family for the Hamil- ton this week. Meantime Wiltpn continued to build up his independent booking organization. Speaking of the notice from the K-A office to desist from doing fur- ther business with that agency, Wilton said he thought the reasons as given slight and light, after his 20 years of agentlng In the K-A agency. Wilton also drew attention to tho fact that his advertisement in Variety of Feb. 17 merely mentioned the Kelth-Albee Agency In connec- tion with his 20 years of service and did not In any way infer (Continued on page 9) AIR FOR EDITOR Chicago, March 2. Catherine Bornn, with "Keystone Kameos" on the Loew time, was granted a divorce here last week from Jose Bornn, editor of the "Industrial Digest." Ben Hhrlich secured the decree, with the wife waiving alimony. It is agreed that husband and wife are to have equal custody of the two children each for •ix months of the year. The Bornns were married in 1916. Goldsteins Incorporate Springfield. Mass.. March 2. Samuel and Nathan E. Goldstein, forming one of the few remaining Independent theatrical circuits In New England, have consolidated their various theatrical and other properties under tho corporate head of the Goldstein Brothers Theatres Corporation. The enterprise represents a total valuation estimated at *3,°GO,000. The theatres conducted by the Goldstein Brothers are located in Springfield. Westfleld. Ware, Pal- mer, Pitta field, Northampton and Holyoke. Mass., as well as the Park, Utica, N. Y. Policies vary in the houses from vaude-fihns to legit, burlesque and films only. Headquarters of the company are in the Broadway theatre, Springfield. GEORGIE'S SQUAWK Oeorgie Price phoned Monday to •quawk and blame Variety for the report going around of his death. As Variety doesn't go to press un- til Tuesday he's giving this paper » lot of credit. Anyway, the report is a gross ex- oneration—or some such famous saying as that credited to Mark Twain or Milt Gross. A Gag That Suits Acts playing the Loew houses are a'.most certain not to have any Jokes deleted that call to the attention of some of the big pictures that the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer com- panies have running on Broad- way. Here's a late example: "He's so dumb he bought two tick- ets for "The Big Parade" and stood at 4Cd street and Broad- way for hours waiting for it to pass." COLIN O'MORE, BROKE, SAVES $5 A WEEK But Wife Loses It—Ordered to Settle Back Due Alimony On the plea that he Is broke and afflicted with a throat malady that prevents his concert appearances. Colon O'More, the tenor, was suc- cessful in having ''lis alimony re- duced from $30 to $:5 a week. At the same time, Mrs. Madeleine .Elizabeth Hornnerger. w ife of James Herrod Hornberger, aa O'More is known In private life, secured an order to punish the singer for con- tempt of court for failure to make good $600 alimony arrears. O'More was given the option of settling up at the rate of $100 a month to purge himself of the contempt, otherwise he will play an engage- ment In the Alimony Club. O'More submitted an affidavit that he has not performed since Jan. 1, 19 '6. the" wife's reply beins that on Feb. 14 of this year he sang at Aeolian Hall. O'More's statement was sworn to two days later. I. Schmal represents the wife. BERNSTEIN'S "BEAN" IS ALL FRAMED AND FIXED CUTTING SCALE; ADDING ACTS Newark, N. J., March 2. Keith s Capitol at Trenton. N. J., "as cut its prices and is offering eight acts instead of four. Nlek Lucas, .iftrr leaving the bill St the Pi lace, New York, last week, rerustns to take a No, 2-spot, opened <" the Palace, Cleveland, this week. D 'Ar,Hre and Walters With Publix i„ r,i and Walters, previously n The Cocoanuta," have signed a *ntrac t wi,h th* John Murray An- Publix shows for the Famous ■•Ml at (he Rlvr.ll, N. T H March 8. "Handsome Actor** in Danger of Losing Wife Chicago, March 2. Mabel Helene Harvey, saxophonist with a girl band. Is asking the local courts for a divorce from Morton Harvey, described as "one of those handsome actors." She charges de- sertion and adultery. The bill details that on Nov. 8. 1924. Mr. Harvey "wholly regardless of his marriage vows, obligations and plighted faith," committed the act complained of in a studio of the Romax Building. New York, with an unknown woman. Attorney Ben Ehrllch is repre- senting Mrs. Harvey. Bernstein Not in Miami— Hopes to Leave Island Alive, but Uncertain—New Game Nowheres. Feb. 27. Poor Simp: What are you trying to do, run- ning a story I am in Miami. I ain't in Miami and I ain't in Florida but I ain't going to toll you where I am. There ain't no Variety coming onto this island. Only one news- stand on the island and that's a drug store. I gave the guy three bucks to cancel his order for Va- riety, then I had to give him $J more to (.able for one for me. Can't take a chance on letting you In on my present Job. You would print it. Down here they think I represent an Ice cream fac- tory. But I don't. No ice cream for me; that's getting money too slow and the stuff might melL But it's a good front and gives me a chance to set myself In. Meanwhile I'm trying to locate a nice stand for a new grift I've thought out. It's my own racket and tell the mob to lay off. It ain't no good anyway unless you know how to operate and you don't know. That's like you putting me in Miami. Keep me out of Miami. It (Continued on page 9) K.-A/s Notification to Wilton Mr. Alfred T. Wilton. IfitiU Broadway, New York. Dear Sir: New York. Feb. 24. 1926 Your advertisement on page on of '•Variety," of February 17. 1»2«, is highly objectionable to this Ex- ehange in so far us it links up in bold type only exceeded In size by your own name, the name • Kelth- Albee' in connection with your an- nouncement that through your va- ried connections in the different branches of the amusement world you intend to book artists in hotels cabarets and for radio broadcast- ing. We do not desire that through any connection or affiliation with us, you shall bunk any vaudeville artist in radio, cabaret or hotel performum es. Our position on this subject has born publicly ex- pressed and Is well known to you. We regard the broadcasting of vaudeville artist* and their np- pea ranee in cabarets as two cer- tain means of lessening their ex- hibition value in vaudeville and injurious to the vaudeville bus- iness. Your attitude In advertising our name in connection with your new enterprise is wholly Indefen- sible and knowingly misleading to the profession. Dnder the circumstances, we cannot permit you to use out of- fices for booking purposes, and you may consider this a formal notice that we do not desire to do business with you any further. Please also desist from using the name "Kelth-Albee" in any way in connection w ith your advertise- ments or your business. Very truly yours, B. F. Kelth-Albee Vaudeville Kx- chan^e. By: E. F. Albee. Chas. Smith Unconscious Suffering from Poison Found unconscious In a hallway at 754 8th avenue suffering from some unknown poison. Charles Smith. 30. vaudeville actor, 28S Lenox avenue, was removed to Bellevue Hospital In a serious con- dition. After a hasty examination the physician said he believed the man was the victim of an undetermined poison. Cards and papers found in his possession indicated he was a member of N. V. A. and also he had a contract for a Blnging en- gagement. At the Lenox avenue address the police communicated with Smith's mother and she has- tened to the hospital. Dr. Carter in Trouble Chicago, March 2. Because he failed to pay $15,000 Judgment awarded to a war veteran who lost an eye through an opera- tion. Dr. Franklin Carter, eye spe- cialist, was Jailed and faces the loss of his license to practice medi- cine. He has been ordered to ap- pear before the state department of registration for a decision. At one time Dr. Carter advertised for theatrical trade. Fault-Finding Wife Divorced Waterbury, Conn., March 2. Mrs. Margerty Coulton Stevens, NICK LTIPAQ AT PTT7VTTT AVT» sistf>r - ln - Iaw °' Eugene OWell. »va LUt/nS Ai ILbVJbJLAJNJJ f ; ,mcd playwright, wms divorced by Routing Contest A National Charleston Contest via the picture houses Is being sponsored by Jonas Peilberg, ball- room and theatre exploitation man. Last week at the Skouras Broth- ers' Missouri. St. Louis. Perlberg had 10 dance teams in the compe- tition, to big returns. This week they are Milwaukee, with Kansas City, Indianapolis and other picture house stands to follow. Holding Out! The new combination of Don Bar- ciuy and May Boley are reported getting a good figure from the vaudeville Independents and show no Inclination to come In under Uic offer from straight vaudeville. NEW FACES IN "Q. V. F." A number of changes occurred in "The Greenwich Village Follies" Monday. Those missing were Jane Green and Frank Mclntyre. Eddie Shubert replaced the latter, while the Lane Sisters split the role Miss (Ii een fnrmi rly had. her husband, Carlton who was granted a 6< grounds of desertion court here. Mrs. Ste\ R, Stevens, irep on the In superior ens was al- leged to have preferred to live In the artists colony section of Prov- Incetown. Mass, than to live with her husband Mr. Stevens testified his wife had done much fault-finding in the pe- riod she had lived with him. Clark and McCullough on Orpheum Clark and McCullouRh. winding up with the "Music Box Bevue" closing in Philadelphia this week, will return to vaudeville via the Or- pheum L'lrcuit. opening at the Or- pheum, St. Louis, March 14. They will invoke two of the scenes from the ''.M u si c —Bux—Ucvuo" in their Vaude offering, some el. itter In one and "The Bath Between" skit. Billy Grady and Fields Billy Grady has ("Signed as the Charles Dillingham agent to become the personal representative of W. C. Fields. Mr Fields Is about to start upon : Is first pi motis Players picture, at the Kong Island studio* "ABIE" WILLIAMS GETS 10 DAYS IN WORKHOUSE Comedian Carried Guns—A. B. Made "Abie" Dressed up like a lighthouse, his mouth of gold teeth shining brightly through a perpetual t,rln. A. B. Wil- liams, negro comedian, known on the vaudeville circuits as "Able" Williams, appeared in the Court of Special Sessions yesterday (Tues day) for sentence on a charge of violating the Sullivan law. not once but twice, he having been '">und possessing two loaded revolvers. Ten minutes after he appeared in the dim courtroom his "lights" lit- erally vanished. This occurred after "Abie" became convinced that he had not heard wrongly when the Justices pronounced sentence of 10 days in tho workhuse. "Abie" left the room dejected louklng In com pany with an ofllcer for his trip to Wolfar-e Island. According to Probation Officer Jacob Llthter. who. before becoming a "servant of the public." was Iden- tified With theatricals, Abie Wil- liams Is a comedian of marked abil- ity and has appeared in vaudeville throughout the country. At the pres- ent time, Lichter said, Williams Is at the head of an act called the "Hollywood Review." The comedian claimed ho had occasion to use the revolvers in his act. but unfortu- nately had neglected to get the nec- essary permit to possess them. When the police walked in on hlrn In his home tho two guns were found in his pockets. Williams claimed that his arrest was tho outcome of a grudge on the part of a young colored woman for- merly In his act and who had been discharged because of her unwanted attentions to him. He blames her for informing the police. Only one question puzzled Jus- tices Dlrenzo, Caldwell and Kerno- chan when Williams appeared be- fore them and that was tho "Able" part of his name. "How come, you .to bo called 'Able.' " Inquired Justice Dlrenzo of Mr. Williams. "Well, yo' Honor, it's dls way. Yo* see, mah first name startcs with A," mah second with 'B,' hence 'Able' Williams." Tho ei,median was arrested at his home, 2211 Seventh avenue, follow- ing a telephone call received by the police. McCormack and $25,000 John McCormack, through his manager. Dennis McSweeney, has refused an offer of fSS.OOf) to appear for one week i n a New York (Broad- way) picture theatre. Mr. McCormack said he would not think of singing twice daily for any amount. (Pictures would expect him to slrur r.,ur times dally.) N. V. A. Week, April 4-11 On ail publicity now being ecni out of the Keith office is a sticker teal proclaiming that the coming N. V. A. WTO* will be the "Tenth Anniversary Jubilee" of the organ- isation. The wee); of April 1 11 Is nam. tl as the date for the t .. nr. FRANK HALE IS CHIEF OF DIVISION Prohibition Director Ap- points Former Vaude- villian Wrank J. Hale, former vaudeville actor, of Hale and Patterson, and for the past five years Prohibition agent, was appointed chief of the Alcohol BJariaton of the Eastern States. The appointment was re- ceived by associates, vaudevilllane and friends of Htale with elation. Hale will have supervision &t more than 200 men. The states covered by Hale t«l<e In the second Judicial district. New York la embraced. Hale's appointment Is the first one made by Foster. The latter was recently summoned to Washington and placed In charge of the alcohol division. Hale was selected by Foster when the latter was In charge of Prohibition In New York. He was specially assigned to lo- cate the source of the flow of alcohol. Hale did. Not only did he run down those who were bootlegging alcohol but he found the leaks. Ho was the pivotal wheel In running down Manny Kessler and others of lesser fame. It was also announced from Prohibition headquarters that the supply of legitimate alcohol has been cut down from 86 millions to two millions. LUCAS "BLEW" PALACE Balked at No. 2 8witch—Replacing Act Given Next to Shut Spot Nick Lucas walked out of Keith's Palace, New York. Tuesday of last week following an attempt to switch hirn from next to closing to fourth, and finally to the deuce spot. Lucas is a stellar Brunswick ro- cording vocalist and has too many picture house and cafe offers to be annoyed by billing switches, hence his Independent stand. As it is. Lucas has been in the picture houses and also a radio artist, none of which Interfered with Keith-AI- beo "overlooking" these details they object to under ordinary circum- stances. Russell and Marconi replaced Lucas and were given the next-to- closing position formerly denied the singer. Tho Lucas appearance at the Palace */aa In the nature <>f a 'shov.uu:" and at tho 'break-in" salary. Lucas was origin.illy slated for the next to closing position, but flS It Was his vaudeville debut lie sited for a less Important position Ofl the bill. The Consensus of opinion nrnong the theatrical people who witnessed the debut was that Lucas has the m-tkInfix of a standard vaudeville 't with the propef routine of »ong%