Variety (April 1926)

Wednesday. April 7, 1926 VAUDEVILLE VARIETY FOX ADDING PRESTATION HOUSES TO CIRCUrr NEXT FALL Academy and Audubon, New York-^New Fox-SaToy, Brooklyn; Perhaps Others—^Two Headline Acts on Same Bill at Fox*s, Philadelphia, This Week William Fox will expand his pr?- ientatlon (picture) circuit next full, Adding the Academy, and Audubon, New York, along with the new Fox- Savoy, now building In the Bedford tectlon of Brooklyn and seating 1.300. Other Fox houses now playing pop ^udevllle or straight pictures may be converted to the Fox presenta- tion plan (stage show besides pic- tures) before the new season starts. This week at Fox's, Philadelphia, the stage bill consists of two head- line acts. It Is probably the inoat costly picture-stage show played In the east, notwithstanding the num- ber of acts is limited to two. Karyl Norman, "The Creole Fashion Plate," Is one of the turns and Ade- laide HuKhofl Company the oth'er. Both are dcbuttlng In the picture theatres. Fox's Audubon at Broadway and 161st street is playing the Fox pop vaudeville and picture policy; Fox's Academy on 14th street plays straight, pictures. The Fox new house In Brooklyn Ifl near the Inter- section of Fulton street and Bed- ford avenue, a live section of the tlty, especially at night. Fox Continuance The announced Intention of the J'ox people of Increasing their pre- sentation policy Indicates that John Zanft, the Fox theatre general manager, foresees a continuance of policy inaugurated by Fox in the Philadelphia house. Mr. Zanft has been under a heavy handicap In the handling of the stage shows for Fox's in Phllly. It ia at present the single Fox house with a pre- sentation policy, forcing Zanft to the extremity of securing headline Attractions for a single week if not holding them over. Under the cir- cum.stances Fox's has made a re- markable showing to date, with this week's double headlining bill its itpex. Fox's Philadelphia, has seen more Sebuts by acts for picture houses from Taudeville than any picture theatre or circuit, and Fox's Phila- delphia, also has set more picture house salaries for acts than any tother film house or chain. For cext week at Fo-i's the 8 Vic- tor Artists are billed, first time in Philly, under a guarantee and per- centage. HIP WOULD LKE KNECHT FOR 8 WEEKS The Keith-Albee offices appear to be on the horn.s of a dilemma. There is an inclination to keep the Hippodrome open as far Into the •summer as ponsible but it all de- pends upon the program that is being considered.' The landing of former operatic and concert stars and artists has been done under the supervi.slon of Mark Lueschcr, managing director, and It Is understood that Luescher has been empowered to figure out the late spring and early summer entertainments for the Hipp. An effort Is being made by the Hip management to obLain the ser- vices of Joseph Knecht, orchestral conductor, to appear at the Hip for six or eight weeks, with Knecht staging an orchestral feature with a special ballet. Mr. Knecht la said to have the Hip proposition under consideration. It depends upon his recovery as the director was operated upon at the Ear, Eye and Nose Hospital April 2 for abscess of the throat. His tonsils were removed in the hope of bettering his health. 'ASS'ir SETS JEFFERYIHEATRE IN HAZARDOUS 2D-RIIN AO CLASS Independent Vaude House Blanketed Througk Orpheum's Deal for L. & T/s Tower Theatre— Jeffrey Booked by Ass'n for Over Year GEORGIE WOOD VAUDEVILLE'S PETER PAN Address: 44, Inglis Road, Ealing Common, London, W. &. Eng. Love to Sophie Tucker and suc- coH.s to her enterprise always! Love to Mrs. Bert Levy. Good Luclc, Bert! mKLINGS'ARE MENTIONED IN N.VA LEnER MORE HRST HALVES NEEDED BY INDPTS. AnoAer Benefit Dae For N. V. A. in L A. "Names" Not Easy to Ob- tain for N. V. A. Beg. Week—Final Effort POU SELLING AGAIN Los Angeles, April i. There will be a National Vaude- ville Association benefit at the Phil- harmonic Auditorium April 22. This Is the fourth one to be held here • with two of the three flops from a financial return angle. Last year $5.50 top was charged and the returns were very meagre. This year, it Is understood a nomi- nal charge will be made for the show, so that they can get the 8,000 seats In the auditorium filled for the performance. An advertising solicitor has been busy-for the past two weeks trying to get advertising for a special pro- gram to be used for this benefit. According to reports, returns have been very light. Boston, April 6. Once more It is reputed S. Z. Poll plans to diapoae of his houses aiid retire. Apain It Ls said that the Kelth-Alljee Interests are acting Jointly with Famous-Players Lasky Corporation and that the Poll properties, counting theatres and real estate, arc worth 125,000,000. Jacob Horowlts, a Worcester, Mass., real estate agent has been handling the negotiations but he ■ays h© can neither deny nor af- firm the details of the reported transactions. Plimmer Moves Into Fally Markus Office Walter J. Plimmer is giving up » of offices in the Strand Building, New York, shortly and J^iu rent a portion of the Fally «arku8 office In the same building, wnere he will continue to book the ■everal l,ou.«;ea remaining on hla books. Although In the Markua olBce J-"mmer will handle hla business independently, it ia claimed. .^omo years a, to Plimm^;r. rated as xne stronppst Independent booker in and around New York, but grad- ually dropped many of his former wrongholds to the newcomers. Henry Frey Managing B'way ^ Henry Vroy, who quit vaude- JiinE: to bo(.,,me a house manager tr. \ Circuit, has been jran.sr-rrrMl fr.„r, iho Rivora. Piook- J>n. to the J^roulvv:.y, n,.,v York. t iK*.,, up Ilia iu,sy assi.^'n- Wilt<m Agency Soliciting Houses to Book Direct Fred Mack of the Alf T. Wilton ofTlce has been making a field tour in effort to line up a number of houses to be booked through the Wilton Agency. The tour is the first Indication that Wilton 1« going after houses direct. Harrigan-Scott Dissolve Harrlgan and Scott are dissolv- ing after having been associated for 15 years. Bert Harrlgan will shortly do a new act with his wife. Myrtle Oreen, while Scott will retire from the show bu.siness to open a real estate offlce at Baldwin, L. I. "KIGHT CLUB" OFF Myer Golden's production act, "The Night Club," folded up with the withdrawal of Kay Spangler, featured. Differences between the star and producer are said to have precipitated her resignation. •The Night Club** will be recast and routed ovr to Pantnfje.i Cir- cuit as soon as it can be whipped Into shape. HAWIEY EUNS CHI'S N. V. A. OiIf.fTf., April C. E. F. Alboo has ai'i>(;intid W^^Urr ir.awley. an nctor, to be mana^f;r of the Chiratro N. V. A. Club. Mr. Hawlcy b<^corjio3 corporal In chnr;r*> of a f'^iv flu.n^:l-s and has power to "v\iro N't w Y'lrk" if. por- f'hanoo, a no< dy ii' tor iij'i'uos for s > or. After exhausting all the "slug" methods possible In a belated ef- fort to save the N. V. A. drive from utter rout, a final effort to whip the acts into line with contributions to the N. V. A. program, tickets, etc., was tried last week. In a general letter sent to all the reluctant acts, signed by E. F. Al- bee. the concluding paragraph said: "If there are any weaklings in the membership of the K. V. A... this is a good opportunity to know who they are." This was considered as strange language from a manager in refer- ring to the membership of what is nupposed to be an artists' organiza- tion. The efforts of the bookers to In- duce acts to appear as N. V. A. sur- prise features at various houses met with considerable opposition. The Howard Brothers are reported as having refused to make such an ap- pearance at a house where pop prices prevail, and a woman head- liner is said to have informed the K-A ofllce she would be glad to ob- lige for $3,000 weekly and taxlcab fares. The figure ia her regular vaudeville salary. The agents as usual bore the brunt of the rcriucst appearances. Thoy were Instructed to get so and so and tell them they will be ex- pected to appear "In this glorious cause" at such and such a house. A list of layoffs of each agent was requested to be turned in to one of the bookers who was elected to pick acts from the list for gratis appear- ances at various houses,' despite the acts are out of work. These acts In addition to perform- ing free are expected to go to the audience with the usual begging Hpecch and solicit contributions. A musical comedy star, who has never mls?'^d responding to a re- quest for a free performance from the Keith-Albee ofUce. turned down the N. V. A. request last week. He had been asked to appear at the Palace, New York, for a Mingle per- formance during this week. Makes Second Halves on Long Jumps More Expensive—Man- agers Displeased Scarcity of first half stands play- ing Independent vaudeville is cur- rently causing the bookers conster- nation, especially those handling far out spots who are finding it dlfll- cult to interest performers through the long jumps with no Jump break- er on their books. It means a prac- tical layoff the first half to get bills for the last half. Some of the last half spota are compelled to spend GO per cent, over appropriation for bills, due to this condition. Bookers have tried to promote vaudeville for first halves but the managers won't budge from their road attraction or picture policy. They continue to squawk on overcharge for acts despite con- tinual explanations. Another disadvantage Is through rival bookers being able to buy the same acts cheaper for other stands. When angling for these bouses the competing booker generally flash contracts showing they have bought the acts much cheaper aa an argu- ment in weaning away the house from their competitor.* Eddie Dowliiis at $2,1 III SALT LAKE ORPHEUH LOSES Washington, April C. The Utah Orpheum Compiny, op- erating the Orpheum in S-'ilt I/ike City, lost ita appeal to the Board of Trix App'^als to reverse a dc- < I ion of ^ho CouniA'-. Ujn':r of In- trrrinl rU vr ii ie a: s" ;' ln;; th*^ ccm- ;..iriy un additional jrj,2C(J.59 for 19'3. The cor.ntJ.-'rionrr dlHallowcJ do- dnrtions r.f f'j.OOO for dcTtrr'"i.ition !n thnt ymr, f JH'O f. r .';'.r.;jal al- ari''*"' f'>r f xli i'i -L.i n of 'Ji<; I'^a..'^- h«/ii .in-I ir.t'iiMt In iho sura of Washington, April 6. Despite the Kelth-Albee office in- formed Dowllng when the latter asked 12,000 a week in straight vaudeville, that he could receive but $1,000. Dowling is headlining this week at Keith's at |2,000. Jimmy Hanley is with Dowling, with the latter having but few weelcs booked. He is in receipt of offers for picture house playing. Chicago April 8. After using Ave acts on a split week policy for over a yeeu" the Jeffery theatre on the south side discovered that when the Western Vaudeville Manager's Asa'n boasted of the protection given its fran- chlse-holders, the Association was Just distributing appl&sauce. The Jeffery has learned that a few blocks away formidable oppo- sition has been reared In the I^ub- liner A Trlnz new Tower theatre and that the Orpheum Circuit will not only book the house but man- age It. As the Orpheum and Association are Interlocked and one, in fact, this means that far from rewarding a theatre for Its patronage of and loyalty to the Ass'n buries the hatchet—in the independent the- atre's skulL Lubllner and Trins In giving the Tower to the Orpheum people made a smart move, the Orpheum guar- anteeing the rent and 60 per cent of the net profits. As Lubllner and Trins never build without a clear undivided title to the ground this means the Orpheum assumes all re- sponsibilities and the L. & T. prop- erty and investment are protected, if the Jeffery theatre is not. It has been ruled that with the opening of the Tower no act may play the Jeffery without first be- ing submitted personally to Sam- uel KabU who will supervise the Tower bookings. This means that the Tower gets first whack at all good acts and that the Jeffery gets the crumbs or takes a second run act It leaves the Jeffery In the exact position as described la Va- riety's editorial last week, headed "2d Run Acts." Li A T. backed and allied with Balaban and Katz. In unloading the Tower on such advantageous terms to themselves not only assured profits but have checkmated any move of the Orpheum to build a theatre of its own in the neighbor- hood. Old Orph^uitt Udliif Ass'n Act with New Policy Iios Angeles. April f. The Orphenm Circuit's policy of the Will King tabloid musical comedy shows at the Broadway Palace, formerly Orpheum, have flopped and will be withdrawn April 23. King with a company of about 50 opened P'eb. 19. Business started but fair and the shows were re- ported to have not been up to the King standard. The sure t\re fol- lowing King has had In this com- munity did not stick by him and King asked to be released from his contract, April 25 the house will change to the one similar to the Majestic, Chi- cago, playing 7 acts of association v.'iudoville and a feature picture; four performances a day. Just what bearing this will have with the arrangement the asMOoIa- tlon has with West Coast In this territory has not been made known. At the time Orpheum entered Into a contract with Went Coast, It was understood that none of the houses controlled by the Orpheum or Its subsidiaries In this territory were to play association acts. West Coast theatres are using these acts In a number of suburban houses, but have none playing vaudeville In the downto^^Ti area. LOEW'S WOODSIDE The Loewr Cli'oult has takon over llir n'j'V 2,1*^0 Hf.nt houi+^i at. W'oo'l- side. L. I. A st.'ic^e is '.^^Ipt pl^r-^d In the hi'Uff* v.hlfh vlll prf.lnMy n:\n a fiiturf* poliry of pIvjrPH ar. I v,i'idt.'Vi;lo. Orpheum's Atty Coming East Fan J'r.'iiirisro. A[>il] 6. P. r.ri7 T.MTlsl»^l^^'^. ^^ < ! • r n ri*- t' 1 r • > for t hr^ ()r jp1i'-i • rn < i i • m i 1 w iM .- cI, \' ilh i\'r* r-irii;I- , A ir lJ JI f.p inn ' 1;r • • 11'1 r;,t 1» ■.ri> \ ■ v/ a ■>: ,\. BL&HYDE&BEfflllAN'S, BKLYH; COMING DOWN The Olympic, Brooklyn, closed last week and will be razed for construction of a 2,B00-seater. to be also operated by the Traub inter- ests. The Olympic held Its stand for the past half century, built 50 years ago by Hyde and Behman. and at the time the only first-class vaude- ville stand in the borough. The Olympic was an Independent vaudeville stand booked by Alex Hanlon and splitting the week with the Grand op'-ra house. New York, operated by the same interesta Johnny Singer with Matty Rosen in Agency Johnny Singer, formerly con- nected with the Ham Lewis Agency, has Joined forces with Matty Itosen in the agency field. Singer Is still working on Lewis* Loew Circuit franchise and for- warding part of profits derived from Loew bookings . to Mrs. Lewis, whose husband is still confined in a ho.spital since he surfercd a paralytic stroke some months ago. RoM#»n was f»trmerly aMSoclated with Harry Romm in the Inde- pend'-nf. nr:rncy fiold^ Wh^^n Romm rc'cpntly wii'Jirlrow to Jfin Arthur Klein's staff Rosen took over the bu.sineKS. COLORED WRITER'S SINGLE rinil'intl Ai.vTjrson, tno col-rod San i'lMMclsco bolll>oy, v>ho wrote "A 1)1)^ ir.i ni'es," legit play staged fiili r in the son Hon In Now Yoric, 1'4 prc;'.'i I inp a single .'ict for vaude- \n.' . <,n. )f \rr> <].-'.;i* \n ar-