Variety (April 1926)

46 VARIETY CABARETS Wednesdaj, April 7. 1909 RAID ON OWL CAFE; COLORED GIRL FINED Indecent Dancing Alleged— Jos. Reeves, Manager, Freed —Lanig^'s Denial Joseph Reeves, 45, manager of the Owl Restaurant. 126 West 45th street, was freed in West Side Court by Maplstrate Moses R. Ryttenbcrp. when arraigned on the charge of permitting "lewd and inlcccnt" dancing on his premises. Thomas Gomez, 22, Filipino, bus boy, 148 West 145th street, pleaded guilty to a charfi^e of vagrancy and was fined 125. He paid the fine. Alberta Pryme, negress, 19 East 128th street, was also arrested on a statutory charge. The three were arrested In the restaurant on warrants Issued by Chief Magistrate William G. Mc- Adoo. The rald-^'as mail© early In the muinlng while the place waa crowded. Detective Hubert FauHt and Mary Micheln, of In.speetor Lyons' staff, conducted the raid. Since the raid a uniform patrol- man has been stationed In the res- taurant. The warrants were Issued on affi- davits submitted by Faust and Mlchols, who stated that they had visited the place flqveral nights be- fore the raid. With the alleged evi- dence they then went btTfore the Chief Magistrate and submitted their data in affidavit form. Faust testified In West Side Court that ho was accompanied by Mrs. Mlchcls. He stated that the "High Yellows" were in line and would do what he termed as a Charleston, but would wind up as a serpentine dance. How Th«y Danced Each separately danced, he tes- tified. Th?y would roll their eyes, qulvver and shake like a serpentine dance. Money, he said, was being thrown to them by the men pa- trons. He paid that only men were In the restaurant. He went upstairs and the bus boy, Oomcz, he said, propositioned him. When he came down to the dance again Miss Pryme spoke to him. Gtomex was charged with, at first, acting in concert with Reeves. This was subsequently changed to the vagrancy charge. Reeves denied the allegations. He knew nothing of the dancing, he said. His duties, he went on, were to take care of the diners In another part of the ground floor. As man- ager and secretary, he narrated, his Job was to see that discipline waa maintained in the place. He said he worked for 15 years with Reisenweber'fl, for five years with Flo Ziegfeld at the Frolic. The court wanted to know why Reeves was not arrested at the time of the alleged violation and not later Faust offerod some lame excuse. Jack Lanlgan. reputed proprietor of the Owl. decried the sctlon of the police. He scored their methods Lanlgan stated he n.w<r knew of tho actions of the Phllipplno. Never uould bo permit the ".•Mored" girls to sit with the male dlneis, he said New Cabaret In Salt Lake Salt Lake City. April 6. Shay's Cafeteria, operating for some months as a dance^hall In the evening, has changed its name to Shay's Cabaret Dick Forscutt and his novelty band will be featured. The Louvre, the other cabaret of this city, located on State street, haa been operating for many sea- sons past This year Bobby Green and his orchestra with Pat Casey, comedian, are featured. Chinese Oppositii Stiff competition obtains on Rroadway among the chink restaurants, all offering revues and dance bands to a $1.25 and 11.50 table dc'hote dinner take, and all seemlnKly doing busi- ness because of the large ca- pacities. The Moulin Rouge reopened March 31 with Paul Specht's orchestra and a vaudeville show to be chan^red weekly, while Chin's, In the Hotel Claridge, had Its formal open- ing the same night with an Elmer Grosso band unit and a floor show. The Chin Co., operating Chin Lee on 49th street, and the Moulin Rouge are In direct competition. The old Palais Royal, now Palais D'Or, has an elaborate floor show, produced by George LeFevre, titled "Trip Around the World," with Irwin Abrams* band furnishing the danco music. The new "I'imes Garden on Broadway and 48th street, and Yoeng'a on 49th and Broadway (old Chur- chill's) both have elaborate revues and dance bands. At none of the places does a couvert charge obtain. Albany Night Cfaib Fight Albany. N. Y., April 9. Three men were slashed in a free- for-all flght in one of Albany's night clubs in Hamilton street early the other morning. One of the injured s Jack Johnson, known In the prize flght ring as the "Iron Man." Tony Camera, the proprietor, was cut on the head and Clarence Mc- Cabe, patron, was stabbed in the back. Eleven persons, including pa- trons, members of the orchestra and workers, were queationed. Later, six were arrested on charges of breach of the peace. Abe Johnson, brother of Jack Johnson, told police the flght started when he attempted to give a vocal selection on the dance floor. Camera, the proprietor, pro« tested and argument followed* re* suiting In the melee. About 20 of the patrons left the place before the police arrived. Abe Johnson wae arrested on a charge of assault..^ the second degree. Clubs, knives and at leaat one revolver were brought into play during the mixup. STOMACH PUMP SAVES PEGGY STRAnOITS LIFE Night Club Hostess Tried Lysol in Taxicab—"Too Many Parties" DAHCEBS AT PALACE Ted Trevor and Dina Harris are at the Albee, Brooklyn, next week and come into the. Palace April 22 with Carl Fenton's Brunswick re- cording orchestra assisting. Miss Harris' sister, Peggy Harris, and Carl Hyson, doubling from the Lido, with the Davls-Akst orches- tra, played the Palace recently. "Too many champagne parties are killing me," Anna Stratton, 25. of 132 West 47th street, hostess In a Broadway cabaret, is quoted as saying as she drained most of tho contents of a four-ounce bottle of lysol in a taxicab at Broadway and 50th street. She waa raced to Roos9- velt hospital and given a liberal stomach pump. Later her condition warranted her being taken home. Miss Stratton, known as "Peggy Davis" and "eggy Stratton" has ap- peared as hostess in several night clubs. Until the time she tried to end her life, she was said to be employed in a club on West 43rd street. This Is the third unsuccess- ful attempt Miss Stratton has made to end her life. The last time was following a New Year's party at the Felix-Portland Hotel, where she was living then. Arell Pouisett with Her Miss Stratton was accompanied by Arell Pouisett, 181 West 238th street. The latter was accompany- ing Peggy home. As the cab reached Broadway and 50th street Peggy said she wanted to get some face powder. Tho cab was halted. She returned and told her consort she had procured the powder. Instead she had purchased the poison. WliUe her companion's attention was attracted out the opposite win- dow of the cab ho heard Miss Strat- ton scream. She had the bottle to her lips and most, of the poison had been drained. He dashed it to the floor of tho cab and gave the cabby instructions to hurry to the hospi- tal. , There, Pouisett waited in the re- ception room while the doctors worked over Miss Stratton. She re- mained unconscious. When partial- ly revived she quoted the cham- pagne excess. Detectives Patrick Maney and Patrick Flood questioned Pouisett at the HospitaL At first he was un- communicativow He was invited to the detecthre bureau, where he soon narrated th<» entire story. He could offer no reason why Peggy cared to end Yier lifo. She carried a photo of herself taken last summer at a country resort. She gave as her ad- dress the Felix-Portland. There It was stated she quit two months ago. CABARET REVIEWS Kenwood to the Fore Chicago, April 6. The Kenwood Village cafe, lo- cated at 99th and Cottage Orove, is trying to pick up the trade formerly held by Collsslmo's, now padlocked for liquor violation. In the way of entertainment it is featuring the Kenwood Village Frolics, produced by Roy Mack, and including Marie White, Babe Sherman, Mary Col- bum, and Al Reynolds as master of ceremonies. Alderman Stand's Sea Grill Alderman Murray W. Stand, from the 4th District, New York, will reopen the Sea Grill restaurant, padlocked with the Federal ban due to expire shortly. This is '^e restaurant which the lato Benjamin Salvln ran until the Government stepped In. THOS. LEE IN BEFOBMATOBT Thomas I^e, cabaret musician, of « West 135th street, was arraigned in Special Seselons on a charge of violating the Sullivan Law. On the recommendation of the District Attorney Lee was dis- charged and turned over to Elmlra Reformatory where he must finish a sentence^ on a previous convic- tion. Tad' Strand Reopening The Strand Roof, under Lh« ,RHas Meyerowltz management, Is slated to reopen this week, with the ex- piration of the padlock. The nmn- aRoment has posted a $l,ih)0 huixCL to In.sure apalnst further violations of the Voldtead act Tho Strand was originally pad- locked for six months, the period belni? aubsoquontly h s.sened to five months. It is a "family" type of cabaret, drawing a large .suburban patron- ape and not partic ularly "wise" in Its atmosphire, but one of the best money-makrrs with the liquor thing deemed unnecessary at the placo. CABARETS Al and Jack Goldman have closed a 10-year lease for the Hoffman Park Inn at Lynbrook. L. I., on Merrick road, which they .will open as a roadhouse May 1. It will be renamed Castlllian Grove. Al and Jack are now operating the Castll- lian Gardens, the former Telham Heath Inn, on Pelham parkway. New Yorlc In the new show being staged at the Moulin Rouge, Chicago, Eddie Lowry remains as master of cere- monies. Included among the enter- tainers are Helen Doyle, singer and dancer; Sylvia De Vere; Jlmmle Ray, the 16-year-old Charleston wpnder; Paulette La Pierre; Mc- Ci^ Sisters; Murray and Wagner; Rubin and La Rue; and Hazel Green, blues pinger. Phil Walsh and his 'Hollywood Scandals" revue are at the Italian Village, Los Angeles. June Chapel, Bernice Snell and the "Ace of Spades" are featured. Whiakey Price* Up Bootleggers expect an in- crease In the liquor quotations for whiskey, commencing this month and slowly but steaillly rising during the summer. At present Scotch Is around 143 for handlers of Ave lots or more among doaler.s, .'ind ryo .staiul.s at its former aonle, %'JO, up to anything anyone will pay. liquor men state there Is Utile "rutting" being done with Scotch at present, but that rye is being sliced in two on tho way here. FRIVOLITY CLUB Since George West took over the Frivolity he has gone in for consid- erable exploitation to build up this advantageously located room on IJroadway at 62d street. He has been switching his bill from time to time, with Jack Denny and his since- established Brunswick recording or- chestra as the holdovers. Beth Chains, with her husband- accompanist, Eddie Lambert, at the Ivories, is the new feature, coming over from the Avalon Club, up the street. Miss ChalUs, with consider, able vaudeville experience and stage schooling, knows her p's and q's in selling a pop ditty. Her repertoire evidences Judicious choosing of her numbers with an eye to newness and novelty of lyrics. And she enhances the lines considerably on her own through personal delivery. Hal Hlxon, from revues and also a cabaret standby. Is an affp.ble mas- ter of ceremonies. On his own he stops briskly and ^oes a comedy idea In back somersaulting on the slippery floor that makes for un- usual hilarity. As a conferencl^r he puts the talent through Its paces in nice style. A new team, Cyril and Virginia d'Ath, a personable and highly at- tractive couple, both of blonde ap- pearance, are the dance attraction. The team possesses class and ability. It Is only a question of time when they will assert themselves If prop- erly routined. Incidentally, although making a very fetching pair, their relationship as man and wife is not particularly good showmanship for the cafes, and a new billing to sever their Mr. and Mrs. hook-up might be advisable. Mildred Enrlght, sopranD-pr!ma donna, did several numbers engag- ingly. Kitty White, a cute Charles- ton expert with a new Idea In the syncopating dance delivery, scored big on her own. She does a genuine southern version of the South Caro- lina dance and is a wow to the wise mob, who have seen all sorts and conditions of the Charleston. Another song-and-dance special- ist is Violet McKee. out of "Artists and Models," who scored. The Denny band is the same ultra- syncopating outfit, playing the show In great style and doing well on the dance music. As before, the absence of the brass section is noticeable, but the "hot** reed and piano work makes for it satisfactorily. AbeU MADRID, PHILLY Philadelphia, April t. The other of the only two cab- arets you ever hear about over here. The remaining member is the Picca- dilly. This Is a warm and inviting room, seating around 200 and apparently at $2 coveur, currently presided over by Georgle Stone as master of cere- monies. Besides Stone, there is Chic Barrymore, songstress, and two chorus girls from a musical playing In town. Stone makes no bones about an- nouncing that he came Into town with Shubert's "Hello Lola," which musical went from here to Cain's without a stop. Stone then hopped In to supervise the floor show when that piece closed. Due to a pleasant personality and a sense of restraint he is a likely prospect as a fixture. Miss Barrymore is a veteran cab- aret performer while the two chor- isters hoof it a bit, and that's the show. This establishment also follows the Chicago Idea of running the program in sections. The perform- ers arc on around 12 and again at one, the latter show evidently be- ing to hold the cu.stomers as there's a one o'clock stop against public dancing In this town. Quite a contract between this establishment and the Piccadilly. What their comparative standing Is In weekly gross could not be ascertained although from a tran- sient viewpoint the Madrid Is seem- ingly closer to the solution of sup- per entertainment as regards Phil- adelphia. The Piccadilly's perform- ance l3 ^'fresh," while this display Is more apologetic and not nearly so sure of Itself. No broadcasting "mike" in evidence. Miss Darrymore's schediile Is two songs upon each showing, always nnlshing with a Charleston. Well able to take care of herself on a floor, this girl gets rid of pop lyrics in a lil<rnh1e manner and peems a favorite here. The choristers from the niusical show also appear twice, one ndhorlng to ni<-(> tap work and tho other IMiarlcstoriing after pre- vif.usly doing a <loul»lo number with Stone. Hoth Kirls have appearance, are a valuaide n<ldition to the .M:ulrid oiUcrtalning cf)rps besides (••^mi'risin^' a "pInK" fur their show ihrou^h the anoiiunccnu'iiI. aldiouKh iho Kirls arc worlilTi,:^ under cover from their manaponunt. Friday nifjrht ((lood Friday, too) a fair asMrmblape of patrons. Knoui^l* to roLrlstcr tliit bu.^inoss must br normally olcny. Whrn soon Stone wuH workin',' ui.ilor a dis- .'1(1 van tape, hav.nr: <li: lo i tod a km e and forced to eliminate liis princi- pal accomplishment, dancing Uaw ever, be looks good, handlei him* self well. Is not presumptuous anil appeared to win good will without effort, Ralph Jackson's "Nlghthawks" & nine-piece band, is the present mu. slcal unit but are due to be sue, ceeded next week (April 6) by th* "Coronlans,- or some such name a* that The Jackson outfit pound out standard danoe fare, not partic- ularly Inspired, but in this reoaoct the Piccadilly would seem to havs an edge between these two local and leading cafes. The Madrid is under the same management as the Beaux Arts la Atlantic City, phrased solicitation for the latter place making thu apparent. 8kig, THE NEW WORLD Atlantic City, March 30. The New World is a black and tan, situated away from the Board- walk and in a part of A. C. that Is devoted to the colored population. It has a master of ceremonies by the name of Wm. A. l^msey, a slick colored boy with a flair for kidding and bit of fairly clever acting, which he displays in the presentation of "Tea for Two," which he puts over with one of the three girls that form the background of the show. Each of the trio Is of the fairly light variety, and. In addition, there Is a fourth girl, rather dark, who han- dles numbers. The girls are Blon* dlna Sterrs, Tay Titus, Geneva Bur- rls and Marie Moore. For a "hot" Charleston there isn't a thing in the world that can beat the show that they stage here^ It is a "coin" place, and two-bits thrown on the floor keeps things going. Everyone seems to know thls^ and while the Charleston was on there must have been nearly III In quarters and halves from about four to five white parties that were in the place. Table work is "in.** There being one girl that does a ^'hot" grind for the customers and they eat It up. Her "Work Is Play" lyric is a darb and oh baby some rough. After the first session, the "gang'* usually comes back the next night taking along an out-of-town sap-o-dll to give him "the works,** and they rib up the performers to "pin it on" for the boys, always staking in advance. The fioor dough is placed in a box with tlie orchestra declared in on the cut There are five boyi In the music combination, doubling prac- tically everything. It is a hot band, the title being The Six Wild Vacuum Tubes. The personnel be- ing BUiie Overton, piano and di- rector; Egbert W. Nichols, saxo- phone; De Slide, trombone; Docka- vence Hart Jr., trumpet; "Buck* Kelly, drums, and Dick Kunard. banjo. "Mom" Kelly, the blind wife of the drummer, exercises a super- vision over the girls of tho show when they are off the floor. The New WorM starti-early-and runa until the whites are uncon- scious. It's a kick and possibly the fastest thing there is on the shore. Fred. CASTILLIAN GARDENS Al and Jack have transplanted their Castllian Gardens as a road- house label from Merrick road. Long Island, to Pelham parkway, Bronx. The former Pelham Heath Inn If now known aa the CastllUan Gar- dens. It was a successful trade- mark with the Goldman Bros, at the Lynbrook stand up until dis- posing of their property to the local Elks for a clubhouse. Al and Jack have not completely deserted the Long Island road, since they are slated to take over the Hoffman Arms May 15 and label it Castlllian Groves, with George Freeman's Ok- lahoma Collegians. BIgelow and Le^ et al.i going In. The Pelham roadhouse is one of the class places on the parkway foN lowing the Goldman brothers' treat- ment. The Investment before open- ing, in completely redecorating the premises, totaled $55,000, toward which $15,000 was donated by Henry Lustlg. the owner of the property, from whom Al and Jack have the place under a 15-year ^ease. The difference was expended in rcdcco- (Continued on page 47) "Speak to Me Only wkh Thine Eye% Oh, Halt- iosis, HalitosW* .'^(.nipnne wllh a Bcnsitivo Hinf'llcr ii i'st liav h:\I'1 Ihnt. I>ut ll * tM(;»< a Ht-nHltlvo nnnn to smfll o«l tim fact that a Rood Novelty or Comedy Song will pprk up your act ron.sl'l 'r:*^')'- T»i«y rf ra.iy to f^'ot. J.jst v^nl.• »nf rare of VAHIKTT. New ^ >rk MIKE AUERBACH Writer of Special Material BANJOS Sen C.iialo^^ Ju't Oat THt BACON BAfJJO CU . Inc Gf-JOTON, CONN