Variety (April 1926)

VAUDEVILLE VARIETY SOPfflE TUCKER HEADLINING AT PAUCE, 'DOUBLING' CAFE-NORA BAYES 'WALKED' l^ilh-Albee Circuit Backs Down on ^'Ironclad*' Cab- aret Rule—^Miss Bayes Refused to Follow Miss Tucker^ with Latter Guett-Star—Truthful An- nouncement of Bayes' Retirement—Miss Tucker May Hold Oyer at Palace •Doubling** from Sophie Tucker's flayground to B. F. Keith's Palace, York, Is the record of Sophie fneke^, herself. It breaks down the nUgged "ironclad" rule of the Keith- ^Ibet office that no one appearing fi a cabaret can slmultanoousiy ylaf in a Kelth-Albee-bookcd house. Under this rule In retsent months tots have been cancelled and dis- criminated against by the K.-A. agency. In . addition to playing MlM Tucker, the Palace Is headlln- ftig her and quite likely will hold jClss Tucker over for next week. It's the first theatrical engage- ment Sophie Tucker has accepted since returning to New York from- London some months ago. She has rejected an offer of $5,000 weekly to appear in picture theatres. It is reported her vaudeville salary for this engagement, arranged by William Morris, is |S,600 for the week. Miss Tucker continued at the Palace after opening Monday aft- emon as a visiting guest star for the "surprise" of the N. V. A. Week for that performance. She reappeared Monday evening when Mr. Morris was requested by the Kelth-Albee people to permit Miss Tucker to play out the week under regular salary as the headline. At the opening matinee Norah Bayes refused to go on following Miss Tucker, the guest-star, for the iperformance, and left the manage- ment one act short. That the audfence had in some manner become aware of the war- ring temperaments back stage was evidenced when they greeted with bowls of laughter Joe Frico's refer- ence to "being exhausted after refcreelng back stage." Robert Emmett Kceno was dele- gated to explain the situation to the audience. Keene said he was quoting the management verbatim when he said, "Norah Bayes had re- fused to follow Sophie Tucker." Miss Bayes was programed to close the first half of the bill. The -. management re\aiestfid. ^taopen the second half, allowing MIA Tucker to take her (Bayes) spot as Miss Tucker had been promised the po- sition by the management, for which she was appearing gratis. Miss Tucker, who regularly appears in h,er night club, had previously ex- plained to the management she would find it necessary to go on at a certain time due to other engage- ments. She had been assured she Would not have to wait around hAck stage. ^ Mi.ss Bayes is said to h^ve de- livered an ultimatum when she heard of the arrangement. She was told she could open Ihe second half following an Intermission and an- other "surprise act," Santley and Friend. To this Miss Bayes Is re- ported to have objected. According to report, her scenery was hung three different times, but each time she decided not to ap- pear. , Miss Tucker's appearance was heavily billed in front of the Palace and was considered partly rcspon- iille for the heaviest matinee in Weeks. Stanley and BIrnes, on tho Palace bill this week, jumped here from Chicago for one week only to do an artcrpioce with Norah Dayes and junip to Milwaukee Saturday night Accnrainp to report. Miss B.Tyes to have paid the team $100 extra for npp.jarlng in the after- PJoce. the P.ilace paying them their Kalary and refuMlng to pay •nyiliinp extra, although book- "Jjr the act for tho afterpiece at Miss BaypH' request. NAT LEWIS' 3D AND 4TH STORE The Initial opening of another new ^Jit Lewis shop is .set for April 10 iturday) in the Waldorf-Astoria Th:.-^ m.'.kes the third Lewis store orcrMlve In New York with a JJ-unh planned for the St. Regis «otei. F.fth avenue. BACK TO STUDYING UW GOES GEORGE LAMBERT Left Blackstone for Shakes- peare Via Vaude Years Ago —Saved His Money George end Marjorie Lambert, 'Standard team, are retiring from vaudeville to permit George Lam- bert to pursue his law studies, in- terrupted several years ago when he decided to enter show business. At the time Lambert la reported as having set back his law studies for the quicker money to be ob- tained in vaudeville^ But the legal bee has buzzed. When quitting Blackstone his friends attempted to dissuade him, but George told them that he was only quitting studies temporarily and would resume as soon as piling up sufficient savings. Through frugality and safe in- vestments George has acquired the necessary bank rolL Thais La Pe Thought $50 for Photos Too Much Thais La Pe, dancer In vaudeville, 229 West 46th street, appeared be- fore Magistrate Marsh In West Side court to complain against Herman Mlshkin, photographer, 606 Fifth avenue, whom she charged with un- lawfully withholding her property. The dancer said she went to be photographed and the price quoted for 60 picture* was $26. She said she paid $12 as a deposit and re- ceived a couple of proofs. She was called to Los Angeles and when re- turning went to the photographer and asked for her pictures. She said Mlshkin demanded a bal- ance of $38 saying the price was $50 instead of $26. She said she declined to pay and the photos were refused. She applied to the magis- trate for a summons. Mlshkin produced records to prove his price was $50 and showed his books to substantiate his claim that all photographs of that particular type were $60. After hearing all the evidence Magistrate Marsh dismissed the proceedings. Fined $3 iFor Riding ^Topsy** When Lame William Crichton, $7, of Pitts- burgh, was fined $3 when he was arraigned before Magistrate Rytten- berg in West Side Court on a charge of cruelty to animals preferred by Harry Moran, chief ofRcer of the Humane Society. Crichton was accused of driving "Topsy," a prize vaudeville per- forming horse, south on 10th ave- nue in a lame condition, ^he horse was limping badly when Moran ob- served it. He made Crichton, who was riding on its back, dismount and pointed to a sore fetlock. In West Side Court before Magis- trate Ryttenberg Crichton said tho horse was owned by Ernest Brengk, 749 6th avenue, and that he was driving it to a stable In 10th avenue. He admitted tho horse was lame. Crichton paid the fine. "Prince Elmcr,^ Midget, Is in Marriage Jam Galcsburg. III., April •*Prlnoe Elmer" (Elmer HL OdeO), renowned midget, may be a prince to Valetta G. Smith, of Los An- geles, whom he married la«it week, but to Mrs. "Prince** Odell, of this city, he is Just a knave of hearts and no more. And what's more Bh« doubts the etory emanating from celluloidville about his reputed for- tune of half a millloii. She hopes it's true. Mrs. Odell No. 1 wonders, too, about how come the Prince gets' married again. She never knew he had divorced her. In fact, she re- called an attempt two years ago to effect a reconciliation. It even went so far thai the "Prince" sent her a railroad ticket to Join him in Los Angeles. Did Mrs. Odell No. 1 get ritzy? She did not She packed her suitcase and trudged down to the station—where she learned that the ticket the "Prince" had sent wasn't real transportation —^Just a form issued by the rail- road to advertise what a real ticket looked like. That was the last blow. The "Prince" Is reported to hare made inquiry several times as to whether or not his former wife had attempted to sever their marital bonds. She never did— na/t did she know that he had such a plan until she heard of -his recent marriage. She admits he had ample ground, for she deserted him two months after their marriage, July 27, 1921, in this city. They met on a Monday while the "Prince" was traveling here with a carnival. They were married the following Friday night at a public ceremony and showered with $100. The "Princess" accepted ofTer to Join the show as a reader of the future and so successful was she that soon she earned more than the "Prince," who got $26 A week. That roused his Jealousy and his ire. So much so that Mrs. Odell, who was formerly Ida Hawklnson, returned to her sister here, with whom she has since made her home. That half-million dollar talk doesn't impress her much. Mrs. Odell No. 1 doesnt regret her fate as a dwarf, but she thinks that Cupid might have dealt kindly with her, for she had all the dreams of romance in her courtship that even befell the fairest maid of the land. She doubts if she will have another attempt to trip to the alt*r. ALMA BARNES "Ingenue Novelty Prims-Donna" Playing London Coliseum, Alham- bra, and Stoll Tour. Also appearing in London's Fin- est Cinema—The I'laza. Booked for Continental Tuur. WINm GARDEN AS SESAME FORPAUCE Frisco BtuU in Finally- Played for Shuberti— Jack Rote, Too WORLD WIDE TRIP FOR BEE PALMER AND SALVIN Under Five-Year Contract— Sailing This Month, First to London—Lane Conductor Bee Palmer, under contract to the Salvlns for Ave years, starts this month on a tour around the world. Along goes her husband and pianist, AI SiogeL Also In the group will be Morty Lane, repre- senting the management. Miss Palmer's first stop will be at the Kit Cat Club, London. From that city engagements unse- cured as yet will be filled In at the principal cities of all nations. Sam Salvin, Paul's son, arranged the Palmer contract. The Salvlns state they have no doubt about Miss Palmer living up to the ngree- menL It is Ironbound thoy say and If Miss Palmer breaches any provision of It she will play for no one else during the unexpired term of the five-year period. Bee Palmer at one time looked to be the biggest stage hot on Broad- way, in musical comedy clrclos, as a popular attraction. She dropped out of Broadway shows some sea- sons ago. Since then she bus in- termittently appeared In cabarets in various' cities over here. Miss Palmer never has been on the other side. In New York she was known as a blues singer and shimmy dancer, coming from a Chicago "sawdust** cabaret. Sues Phonofilm Co. for Unfulfilled Contract Wllllajn E. Waddell, former gen- eral maiiager of the DeForest Pho- nofllms. Inc., is no longer connected with the corporation, his two years' contract, unexpired, being adjusted privately. Production activities are being renewed at the DeForest stu- dios. William Elliott remains on the directorate, but Is at present inac- tive on the production end. Bobby Randall, through Kendler & Goldstein, this week staitcd suit for 1650 against the DeForest Pho- nofllms. Inc., on a written contract to book bim in a "talking movie" sketch for which services he was to receive the |65t). His talents were not availed of, hence the suit to recover. June Francis' Divorce Granted for Desertion Cliicago, April 6. Charging Milton Ironson with doaertion and non-support, Mrs. Ironson, nee Frlotsche, a dancrr known in vaudeville as Juno F; an( is, j was awarded a dlvorrp hy Judge Pwush in Circuit Court bore. Ironson did not ronXf^yt. The Ironsons wore niarrloJ S^pt. 29, 1522, at Dayton. O. Arrortliiip to the testimony. Mrs. Tronsnn was I deserted Dec. 2^. Sne will re- isume her maiden name. Husband in Jail; Wife Asks Divorce I^s Angeles, April C. With her husband, Robert Law- rence Smith, serving a life term because ho killed the man who was pa>lng ner attention, Mrs. Violet Smith has started suit for divorce. R. K. Mack, vaudeville manager, was the man killed. In Mrs. Smith's complaint sho asks that l)ecause of the conviction of her husband on a felony charge, she be granted matrimonial free- dom. Aunt Jemima Routed Aunt Jemina opens a tour of the large ni-jtlwu picture hc<uses at St. I.,ouis, April 12, with Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Boston to follow. The booking will mark the first (^MitHlde boolclng for the comedienne frnm Keith v.iU'JevUle, harrlng one .«'ea«'on In a I'^Rlt musical eomedy. The WilUnrn Morris ofllco ar- ranged the picture hou.se route. Duncan Sisters Claimant Killed in Auto Crash Syracuse, N. T., April C When Thomas Bl. Spencer, Syra- cuse baritone, once of the "Follies.'* was killed in an accident on Camil- lus hUi, near here, last week, his death automatically endod the 150,000 breach of contract action in Onondaga County Supreme Court against Rosetta and Vivian Duncan. Spencer recently sued here, charg- ing that he had been engaged by the Duncan Sisters for "Topsy and Eva," but was forced to leave their company when he found no costume had been provided for him. The summons In the action had been served and the complaint was being drafted by Attorney Richard Byrne when Spencer was killed. The machine in which he was rid- ing crashed into a telegraph pole. Funeral services were hold pri- vately late last week. Among the floral tributes wns a huge »)a»ket of Erister lilies and roses with a card expressing the" sympathy of Vivian Duncan. According to the story Spencer told at the time the suit became known, his budding romance with Vivian Duncan was re.Hponsll^le for his ousting from *'Topsy and Hva." Hoflctta Duncan, he said, did not re- gard his frlondHhlp with inr sinter with approval. Si)encer'H suit wjis not locally aeeei)ted seriously. As Spencer's rites were l)elng held here, in Chicago Vivian Dunean was announcing her forthcoming be- trothal to Edward Lchmann, jr., son of a multi-millionaire. Joe Frlsoo, who originated the Jazz dance, hat and cigar dance and several others to the metropolis and who has vainly watched hun- dreds of Imitator^ getting big time bookings while he stood by waiting for a reasonable salary offer. Is at the Palace, New York, this week in his first "single" offering, booked after a "showing* at the Winter Oarden, New York, two Sundays ago. The story of how Frisco got a "break" at the Palace parallels the experience of Jack Rose, also booked at the Palace, New Tork« after appearing at the Shuberts* Winter Garden despite he had un- successfully "shown" his act In Kclth-Albee booked houses at a cut salary without getting "action.** Frisco has been busy playinff clubs and Imlependent vaudeville since he first flashed east with Loretta McDermott and E2ddie Cox and a band. The act scored sensationally and Is credited with pioneering the epi- demic of jass bands ahd dancers. Despite its success and proves drawing ability, the big time book- ers offered such a ridiculous salary the turn was forced to dissolve. Frisco made many unsuccessful attempts to break back .onto the big time, goi'tg through the usual process of "showing** his -single" at a neighborhood K.-A. house without drawing a rumble from the boy scouts. It remained for aa appearance aC the Winter Garden* a former "poison" spot, to turn the trick. Last Sunday the Winter Garden had three Keith acU on the bllL They were Buddy Doyle, who had just completed a tour of the Or- pncum Circuit and last week played a Keith-booked split week; "Jim the Rear," last week at the Colum- bia, New York, as an added attrac- tion with Bernstein's *'Bathinff Beauties"; and Clara Howard, who hasn't played other than Keith. Orpheum and Loew Circuits durinc the past !• years. CARLO-DEVLIN WEDDING How About Insurance? Jake I.uhln. Loow booking rhlof has purchnsf'd a Cadillac Scd.in The cnr follows night Stu-h'l);ikf rs. the sevfnth of which w.im ptol.n. Mr. I.ubin bought h^^ Studebaker after the robbery. Sidney Carlo and Helen Devlin, dancing team In vaudeville, were married at Oreenwlch, Conn., Satur- day. The team recently reunited after a separation of a year, occasioned by the then announced marriage of Miss Devlin, which failed to ma- terialize. Prior to the retirement of Miss Devlin, the latter had Carlo haled Into court in Brooklyn on an as- sault charge, claiming he had han- dled her unduly rough in their Apache number and had thrown her against a proscenium arch, not t» part of the business of the act. In the court hearing Miss Devlin testi- fied that Carlo's jealousy of her forthcoming marriage had been re- sponsible, thus attempting to estab- lish a motive for the assault. Performers appearing on the bill had testifled In behalf of Carlo that he had merely done a regulation Apache containing no outside rough stuff, and he was dl.omlKsed. Tlie team reunited several months ago and have since been appoaring together again in vaudeville and cabarets. Barbara Bennett's Loss Ijos Angeles. April $. Tfollywnod pr)!icft are trying to locato missing gems and cash to the total of $3,000 which Barbara I^nnott clnimed were mlsutng from her home In Ivar etreet, after her alloKcd attempt at suicide. Mlvs Hennett informed the pfdice that she had had a party in her apartm'-nt prior to the time she took i)olsor and after she was re- niovo.i to the receiving h'»,spiU'il the j fris w»'re missinp:. i'oli. e are I oHf" till' iiir H niirrilicr of t»'?'iplc who j :ti'.« n':i <1 tlio party to locate the 1 iirti -Irs.