Variety (April 1926)

r pOtrei AFTER SPEAKEASIES ONSIDESIS. Capt Burns of W. 47tli St Insists on Restau- rant Licenses TIMES SQUARE VARIETTT 11 a«ir tnov» on the part of the felloe to rid Broadway and its con- Hfuoiu etreeta of "epeakeaaiee" and ^Kaj^ia was made by Captain Charles Burns of the Weat 47th ftreet station. He directed his men te Tlslt all oabarets and alleged "■peslrfWilm'* that have dining ^ooBkS to see that they have the aeoessary restaorant permit. Some time ago the police en- ieavored to drive these places out of business by calling on the build- tnff department and having a mid- night visit to see If their places eonformed with tne building laws In several cases they were found to be fire traps. They had to close un- til making repairs. Where a restau- rant Is operated in conjunction with dances it must have a license aa a restaurant. Apply for Permits Captain Bums directed his men to visit each place on post and see If they had their permits. He also assigned plainclothes men to assist Many places were visited, and in each case they told Magistrate Ryt jenberg In West Side Court they had made application for the permit. Patrolman Alfred Muoio of the West 47th street station summoned to court Abe Stein of the Capital Club. 131 West 62d street, and Chin Tuen of t|ie Mayfalr Club (and who has the kitchen concession) at 219 West 58th street. In both oases the defendants asked for an ad joumment, which was granted. Two FVench Waitresses Battle Into Court *Th9 battle of cups, plates and omelettes" occurred at Eugene's res- taurant. 2$ West 49th street, be- two French waltrcsnea. When the missiles and foodstuffs quit fly- ing both were locked up in the West 47th street police station. One need- ed the attenticm of an ambulance surgeon to treat her forehead that had stopped a plate. Rosa Rogalle, 26, brunet, 460 West 4€th street, was the injured wait- ress. Dr. Glassbefg ci Bellevue Hospital swathed her forehead in bandages. She chargrcd Alice Berger, 28, waitress, 506 West 146th street, with throwing the crockery. The Berger girl was locked up on Rosa's compllilnt. Then Alice de- cided that Rosa ought to be a prisoner, and Lieutenant Barnf»y Mc- Qowan lodged a complaint against her on Rosa's say so. Alice's Bail for Both Alice was soft-hearted. She had enough to bail herself out. When She saw Rosa was unable to get bail, Alice went on her bond. Alice car- ried her bank book that showed she had a "few pounds" salted away. The restaiiranr, close by 5th ave- nue, had a few patrons dining. Both 'w^altresses headed for the kitchen to set a patron an omelette. Whether it ^S an onion or Spanish omelette ^>«ver will be known, as it was used tot a missile while It lasted. Bad feeling has existed between the 'Trenchles" for some lime. The argument arose Ju.yt as the omelette "^as finished. Rose Is alleged to have thrown the omelette. Alice hurled part of It back at Rosa. Diners ned. The waitreHses then began to seize ulates, cups and saucers. Alice was the better dod- KPr. She stopped nothing. They continued the fight to the street. Word was gotten to Patrolman George Homer. Traffic B. He found the combatants on the Street pulling •ach other's hair. In West Side Court Magistrate Ryttenberg directed a charge of dis- orderly conduct drawn against Alice stating that would sufllce for the testimony in both actions. ^Vhen he beard the facts he discharged the t>attllng waitresses." Eugens told reporters that their J^os were through. Primary Candidates in Chicago Endorsed by Theatrical People Chicago. April f. Next week Chicago will hold a primary election. Among the candidates before the voters aro seve^'al who have provon them- selves friendly to show business and show people and who deserve the hearty support and votes of all persons residing In Chicago interested in theatricals. Theatrical Interests, say the show per.ple, have not always !>een on amicable terms with all depart menl.s of the local government. Men who have shown themselves with, not against, the stage and screen should be elected. The following candidates are submitted and endorsed Dy tMe snow people: For Board of Assessorn: Gene Oliver, Adam Wolf, Titus Haffa. For Sanitary District Trustees: Lav^rence F. Kino» Morris Eller, Charles E. Graydon. For Fifth SUte Senatorial District: Roy Woods. For 17th Senatorial District: Ai Prignani. For Sheriff: P. J. Canr. For County Judge: Joseph P. Savage. For County Treasurer: Gsorge F. Harding. For County Clerk: Robert M. Swsitter. For Judge Municipal Court: Lawrence B. Jacobs. For Probate Judge: Henry Horner. For Probate Clerk: Mitchell C. Robin. For Clerk, Criminal Court: John H. Passmere. This list covers but a portion of the offices to be voted for. Where candidates were unknown or thelP" sentiments unrecorded, show people have omitted them. mm m square Matter of Flo Hart's Marriags Some doubt seems cast upon the posltlveness of the marriage of Flo Hart to a son of Rabbi Welnber&er. and brother of William Weinberger, secreUry of the Friars. New York dailies printed the report last week! with Miss Hart haying admitted it to one reporter but later denying it! She Is said to have denied the marriage after talking to Weinberger who was In Kansas City at the time. Newspaper men say they have no doubt the couple are married but don't know where the ceremony occurred. One reporter called up Kansas City for a statement from Weinberger. When Informed of the purpose of the call the first thing Weinberger answered. It Is said: "Don't say anything about it until I get back to New York. I want to tell my folks first." Flo Hart has been previously twice married. She was the widow of the late Fred Belcher of the Remlck music concern, until she married Kenneth Harlan, a picture actor, divorcing him some months ago. « Night Life Reporters Tabloids appear to give the most attention to the night life along Broadway as it may be found in the night clubs. The two beat known night life reporters are Mark Helllnger of the "News," and Walter Winchell of the "Graphic." They are welcomed at the night clubs, having always protected the Clubs and never having "tipped off." Bach of the reporters Is allowed an expense account by his paper and la In- dependent m : night life knockng about. It also has led to many Invitations u i.oih of the boya to parties, where they are ostensibly asked as guests hvt with a hope that th details of the affairs may find print. Messrs. Winchell and Helllnger, however, are not wild over their Times square nightly assignment. It means they are up until aU or seven In the morning; It has ruined their regularity of living and they have about concluded to go to bed earlier, despite that they might lose a story now and^ion. Each has anoAr department to look after on hia shest Winchell has made the dramatic department on the "Graphic" of which he Is the editor stand up and Helllnger contributes an interesting special story on Sundays of intimacy with well known or notorious people. Last week In the "News" Mr. Helllnger told an inside and unknown tale about Peggy Hopkins Joyce, about how she broke a banker and then tussed him. The story said the banker's name was Bill, which It is and his other name is known to many. The banker not only went broke but lost his Job. What Mark didn't tell wai^ that the cthor day the banker asked a ni'^ht club to hold back two N. Q. checks he had Is- sued until he could make them good. Whlfe chasing with Joyce he had spent thousands In the night clubs. Helllnger had a very good story, holding out the banker's na;ne to save whatever rep he has managed to retain. • A banker should not be blamed too much for falling for a smart woman. A picture man of much more worldly knowledge and in her own set nearly did the same thing, barely saving himself. "Extra" of Brooklyn Daily Got Salee One day last week a coUi>le of elderly newsboys ran wildly through Times square and side streets, shouting "Extra!" with a huge bundle of papers. Of the many purchasers at 10c each, one buyer had to laugh when finding the "Extra" was the Brooklyn "Standard-Union." The only startling news he could find in it was the front page streamer announcement that at present the "Standard-Union" is the only daily in Greater New York going back to the pre-war price of lo. Caught Shop-Lifting Two young women who said they had been show girls with different musical comedies, but now out of employment, spent Thursday night In a cell at the West SOth street pollcs station oa a charge of shop lifting. They were observed helplni,' themselves to some silk 8tookinK>\lti Stern Brothers on 42d street. They left the store without paying for tb^ stockings and were followed, ar- rested by detective Thomas Wnlnh of police headquarters. At the West 47th street ^lico station they described themselves as Lorraine Nevina and Selgrid Olson. 31 and 2S. living at 1418 Common- wealth avenue. Boston. 2 GAS SUICIDES, BOTH WOMEN Mrs. Mary Gcbetz and Margaret Adaim 5 BANDrrS TAKEN By the arrest, early Sunday morning of six men. all of whom have long criminal records, detec- tives are confident they will be able to explain numerous "stlckups" of card and crap games that have oc- curred In the Times Square dis- trict In the past few months. The arrests were made by detec- tives of tlie truck squad who have followed the six men for three weeks In an effort to get enough evidence against them.' After the sleuths had trailed them from the Hot^l Markwell they saw them en- ter a house at 55 West 46th street. After waiting outside a short time the police saw the six come running out and observed two of them throw revolvers Into the street. The detectives pursued and arrested the men. In their pockets detectives said they found jewelry and money which later was found to have been stolon from 17 card players In the 46th street house. The detectives were Informed that the ^ six highwaymen were looking for a wealthy Chinese who frequently played In the game and who Is believed to always carry large sums of money and jewelry. The Chinese had left the game just a few minutes before the bandits arrived. Despite they have prison records several of the prisoners are well known in Broadway cabarets. The police point out that their acquaint- ancs was so wide that they knew Just where the gambling gamea with large stakes were played and who some of the more wealthy players were. When the case is called today (Wednesday) for a hearing the police expect to have more than 50 persons who havs been victims In court fb try and Identify them. Thoss arrested aro Harry Wallon. Adoiph- Abraham, . NJcholaa- Beg.» glonini, John O'Brien. Nicholas Chrlsano and William B. Baker. In court an attorney representing them objected to the magistrate holding them without bail and said that the men should be sent to a hospital and pointed out to their Injured arms and heads which the prisoners declared had been In- flicted by the detectives. Pincus Sent Orchids to Gumble A scnRatlonal story but held very quiet has been going around the vaudeville, music and picture circles, of Joe Pincus having sent Mose Gumble a bouquet of orchids. Mr. Gumble confesued he bad re- ceived tlie flowers and a.«»ked each qui'MiIfiMer If they had heard any- thing funny about Joe of late. Mr. Pincus would not say one word about the incident but cqnlided In all of them that be thought "Mose is a lovely boy." It started a controver.sy amon^ the .Kjmirers of both the men. Friends of Joe said Mose must have su;;^?stc(l the orchids, while Mose'e sup- porters claim that Joe must have mudu the first advances. Mr. Ou.Tible Is with the Remlck finn (inu.sic) and Mr. Pincus Is mak- ing a hicrh Uvlnj? turning out comir movin^r pictures for Fox, Mr Pincus but lately returned to New York from the roant. He had not scon Mose for many months and said that wh- n nr.-*t gllmpalng the chubby fnced professlonil manager, he could har.lly restrain himself from doing a Webcrandflelds with him, Mo.se looked ao good. Joe clalm.s. Mosf says he had not noticed anything Ptran^'e abr»nt Joe or his actions: that he wan gln4 to .sp<» him hnrk .md let It go at that, until the orchids came to him with Joe's card, rradlng "Dearest Mr»pe." Mose has been marrh d twice and Joe c nly oncsw Night Club Hostess Had Yen for Song Rose Weller who said she had been a hostess at the Beau Arts and other supper clubs, spent the night In West 30th street Jail keep- ing everyone awake, prisoners, sleeping cops, and a tired lieutenant when she sang the "Prisoner's Song" In the proper ai.mosphcre, but to an unappr^clatlve audience. Rose lives at 129 West 47th street. She had just quit a party of friends near tho Parody Club. Without warning sho began to warblo the song. Few enjoyed It and cheered her. Johnny O'Hara. bluecoat, pleaded with the songbird to go home. Noth- ing could stop Miss Weller; she sang it uKaIn and again. O'llara pleaded that It was Easter and maybe some Rood friend would bring her some IloworH. tihe had better go home. She refuHed. O'llara took her to .West 47th street poliro station and she was "booked." She sang for Lieutenant "Jlroadway" Johnny Col- lins. In thf doruiitory the sloepU>H.s cops hurlofi .shoes from their beds but nothing' could stop MIhs Weller. She waa .jrraiKned next moiniu^ boforo Magistrate Ryttenberg in West Side CouiL Her lips began to move and fearing that she waS goin»7 to sing arain the < 'Mirt quickly suspended uent^ucc on Lor. Gas ended tlie lives of two women. one a hoste.«5.«< in a supper club and the other a former dramatic singer. In both cases the women yenrned for their parents. The police record both deaths as suicide. In neither . case was a note left explaining the cause. Mrs. Mary Gobets, 30. former dra- matic singer and the wife of Robert, pianist, residing at €0 West 104th street, was discovered by her hus- band seated In a chair In ths kit- chen of their apartment. Gas was flowing from the gas range. Mr. Gobetz summoned aid. Patrolman Percival Bulger of Wi:;st 100th street called Dr. Peldler of Knicker- bocker Hospital.and an emergency crew from the Consolidated Gas Co. The crew worked over Mrs. Gobetz with a pulmotor for more than 20 minutes, but she was beyond human aid. Mrs. Gobetz* deatjt was tragic. Several pieces of flowers given to her for Easter by her husband rested on a mantlepleco. She waa attired In her night clothing. Several hours before Mrs. Gobets destroyed herself sho had her hus- band play several of her favorite songs on the piano. She accompa- nied him by singing. She asked him to get the permission of the tenants on the same floor jio that they would not object to the playing of the piano at the early hour. When Gobetz returned and said he had permission she seemed pleased. Before he began to play she remarked she felt lonesome be- cause her mother and father were at New Haven where they made their homo. Concluding several numbers on the piano, Mrs. Gobetz declared that she was satisfied and left apparently to retire. They occupied separate beds. Gas pervading upper floors attracted neighbors who notiflsd the pianist of their fears. ^ Sad and Lonssoma D^larlng that she felt sad and lonesome because her mothar and father were at home. North Adams, Mass., Margaret Adams. 21, former hostess in a Broadway night club, living In a furnished room at 136 West 6l8t street, commlttod suicide by Inhaling gas. Tenants In the building detected the odor and notl- . .flcd-Pairalman. Eaul. Kastnsr of tho West 47th strset sUtlon. Dr. FInkelstein . waa summoned and he pronounced the hostess dead. Investigation shewed that gas was escaping from a wall Jet. There were no notes offering lb motive. Miss Adams' llance said to be an actor arrived soon after the dis- covery of her body. He wired her parents In North Adams, Mass. According to roomers in the house. Miss Adams stated that she was extremely lonesome becajse her pa- rents were home. She said sho wished they were here to spend Easter with her. She also told roomers that she recently buried her younger sister after a pro- longed Illness. STACU LE DOYEB BOBBED Stacla LeDover, recently with the "Music Box Revue," reported at the West 47th street police station that while attending a rehearsal her room at the Claridge Hotel was ran- sacked. She told Detective James Leerh that the intruder robbed her of an ermlnft trimmed black velvet coat and a traveler's cluck, valued in all at 1800. Ruth Shepley Entering Ruth Shepky will shortly enter vaudeville under direction of M. S. Bentham. Her vehicle will be a con- densed version of "The Misleading Lady," by Paul Dickey. Four othors will appear in support. Miss Shepley created the feminine lead in tho original production pro- duced some years ago by Henry li. Harris. If you don't advertise in VARIETY don't advertise