Variety (Sep 1926)

Wednesday, September 1« 192$ VAUDEVILLE BLACK-JACr VAUDE ACTS LOEWS BUPING 25 NEW THEATRES^( WILL HAVE TOTAL TIME OF 56 WEEKS 15 of New Hoiues for Vaude with Pictures—Other -10 PresenUtioa Theatres—18^ Weeks Within Metropolitan Area—Loew's Theatres in Opposi- tion to K.-A. or Orpheum Circuits—-Matter of Openiilgt Perplexing ixMw Stall The Loew Circuit now has 25 new houses under construction. Many others are under repair. Of the new houses 10 will be presentation theatres tor pictures and vaude- yille, while the other IS wUl play Mmbinatlon bills. The houses slated for presentations are in Pittsburgh. St. Liouis. Century. Baltimore, Kan- sas City, Palace, Washinflrton, aytti- euss, Columbus, London and pos- sibly the new houses in Canton and Akron, O. The houses playing vaudeville with pictures are in Canton, O., Richmond, Va., Houston, Tex., San Antonio, Tex.. Dallas, Tex., and the Canal street, Woodside, Fordham. New^ RocheUe^ Hillside, Yonkers, Second Avenue, and the S6th Street, all in New York. In addition five others are to be built but tljji Loew office will «iot divulge tlSeir loca- tions. With the addition of. the New York houses, the Loew Circuit ex- pects to have 18 H week^ of playing time either in or within short com- muting distance of New York by next ywr,' Now it has 15)1 weeks in New York, with three full week stands. State and Metropolitan and the Newark house. The split weeks making up the rest of the metro- politan time are the Palace, E^st New York, Avenue B. Willard, Vic- toria, Lincoln Square. Bedford. American, Orpheum, National. Gree- ley Square, Delancey Street, Gates, Boulevard, Keeney's (to be renamed the Melba), White Pltrins. Mamaro- (Contlnued on page SO) CABARET GIRL OBJECTS TO TYPE—WALKS OUT Bee Jackson's Name in One Size Smaller Print Than Martha Pryor'a MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, IN 1 PERFORMANCE Florrie Le Vera Marries Lou Handman—Martha Pryor Loses Ben Bard Plorrle LeVere, of Holmes and LeVere and the ex-Mrs. Holmes, be- sides being his professional part- ner, formed a new dual alliance pf that nature Thursday night (August 26), with Lou Handman, the song- writer. The Handman and LeVere billing also goes under new acts as well as marriages as a combination. The marriage was celebrated Thursday night at Castillian Royal, Pelham, N. Y., with the newly weds introduced as a surprise. Martha Pryor, who opened for- mally at the roadhouse that night, also announced the celebration of her divorce. She was defendant In an action by Ben Bard, formerly of Bard and Pearl, and now profes- sionally Bardson Bard, a light- heavy of the Hlmtes, who alleged "desertion." Bard (born Benjamin Greenberg) is on the coast. Extras Out of N. V. A. A easting agent notorious for knowing where most of the layoffs congregate, created much consternation by invad- ing the N. T. A. CluU ens day last week, while several of the Keith-Alb^ officials were at lunch, and signing up 100 ex- tras before their esres. The vaudeville moguls wsr>e plainly perturbed, having vis- ions of a White Rat propa- ganda revival, petitions to see the bo6ks and other bug-a- boos. They breathed a sigh of re- lief when the situation was ex- plained. The picture man was also elated as a lot of vaude- villians laying off were glad to avail themselves of the oppor- tunity for picking up a little "extra" changa. K.-A. ULTIMATUM ADDS WK.FORYAN&SCHENa VIVIAN DUNCAN HURT First Feared.in Auto Smash Might Disable Her Perms nently One flash at the program for the Martha Pryor debut at CastilUan ' Royal, a road bouse on Pelham Parkway In the Bronx, and Bee Jackson "walked." It was the afternoon of her ex- pected debut at the same place. Miss Jackson is s ^Charlestoiii" dancer, having appeared in other road houses Inst summei^ Her pro- test was at the sixe of the type for her name and that it was not in as large type as that spelling the name of Martha Pryor, with Miss Pryor also featured on the pragram as is Eddie Carr (orchestra). The "Bee Jackson" was in 12pt. full face capital letters, with "Mar- tha Pryor" the same but of 14pt., one size type larger. In comparison as to sise they read: MARTHA PRYOR BEE JACKSON Ik Al and Jnfk Coldman opcrato the Caatlliun Koyal. They had Miss Jackson at their Merrick Road re- sort, another Castlllian, last sca.son. G<tldma » wh h In o ha rge wii«n Miss Ja(;kson started her Pelham protest, ahd he immediately con- sented that she leave. Miss Jackson Is reported having threatened to sue the GofUmans for IIB.OOO damage to her professional standing through the matter of the type. She was to have received «1M weekly at Ci....^..- Los Angeles, Aug. 31. Vivian Duncan ("Little Bva"). musical comedy star, was painfully injured in an auto collision at Del Rio, Cal„ Thursday night, while returning from San Francisco where she had bid good-bys to her sister, Rosetta, who left for New Yorl^. Together with Vernon Rlckard, leading man of the Duncan Sisters "Topsy and Bva" company. Miss Duncan was returning to Los Angeles when another car, traveling at high speed, crashed into their maohine at Oxiiard and Ventura b^lllsvards. This corner has been the scene of more than SO accidents in the past year. This Is the first time that the two Duncan sisters havs been separated in fl JEALOUSY PROMPTED VAODE ARTISTE SmCIDE Claim Gladys Alexander Took Poison Because of Mar- ried Man Vivian Duncan, injured In an au- tomobile accident last week. Is re- covering at St. John's Hospital, Ox- nard. Physicians have stated there is no danf^er of a permanent injury to her knee. Rosetta Duaean reached New York la^t Saturday and started back Sunday to be with her sister. HAWTHORNE-COOK POR LOEW Hawtiiorne and Cook, standard Keith-Albee comedy act, have been routed for 8S weeks on the Ifoew Circuit, opening September 13. Harry Shea arranged the book- ings which marks the first time this pair have played outside the K-A Circuit sInce forming their partnership. First Time Home in 27 Years Los Angeles, Aug. 31. John- Hsiner, managing director of the Pen Fuller cirrult at Dunde- den. New Zealand, was here on his way to Australia after visiting his h^s in Kei^ansvllle, Mo.,.after an absence of 27 year.«i, Hamer has been connected with B,a and John Full,, to, 1« von. New London, Conn., Aug. 31. Gladys M. Alexander, 30, of Providence, R. I., vaudeville artiste, committed suicide In her room here shortly after midnight ^last Friday by drinking poison. She died In an ambulance. Miss Alexander was en- gaged in ' preparing a civic enter- tainment which was to be presenled here on Labor Day. Her suicide closed an 18-months' romance with a married man, Har- ry Logan, son of well-to-do parents of LoulsvUle, Ky. It Is said that Jealou.gy, aroused by the suspiclor that Logan was showing Interest in other women, prompted the act. Logan told medioal agamlner Kaufman that Mlsa Alexander knew ho was married. He also said they had spent all his money besides the savings of Miss Alexander, And that he had juat secured employinentj be- ing QbllgedtOgO to WQ^K 2 Suits Over Girl, 16, After Playing in Alaska Seattle, Aug. 81. Bfelya AHhsra. 19, dander aad local school girl, Is back from 10 weeks' tour in Alaska, and two court actions have been filed, llie flrat is against the booking agency, of which Mr.<». Lilltan Wri-ht is the head, charging that while the a,gree- ment was for |85 per week 'salary for Bvelyn and expenses, she was not paid full expenses and only Ave weeks' salary. The girl accompanied a "mind reader'* While north. They played picture houses. Ff»ll(>wing this ca.se the labor de- partment hied a suit adding to the tribulations of Mrs. Wright by charging violation of the minor la- bor law in sending the girl away without permission of school board and keeping her out of school. The case is still la court Morris and Campbell Reunited—Professionally Althoup:h matrlfnonlally «plit by divorce, Joe Morris and Flo Camp- bell have reunited professionally. Th^y have a new four-people act by Sam Lewis and Jee Young In preparation. . In the Interim they art doing their old "avfe-ate-her" skit, which Mor- ris tried out with Winnie Baldwin following th. ,nut. Stanley Co. Gives Team 3 Weeks in Pliilly When Re- minded of Direct Booking Van and Schenck will not play the Earle. Washington, but WUI play three weeks in Philadelphia for the Stanley Company. They will open at the Barle, Philadelphia, followed by a full week at the Alleghany, a split week house, and wind up play- ing the Nixon and Crosskeya» two splits. This adds an extra week to the oriiriiinl two weeks booked. The extra week was added following Lh? reported ulthnatiim to Sablotsky and McOurk from B. P. Albee inform- ing that the Van and Schenck book- ing, made direct, was a violation of the booking agresmettt hetwusa Stanley and K-A. Chicago Divorce Breezes Give Wives Cleah Sweep Chicago, Aug. SL Chicago has built a reputation on breezes. It has its lake breezes. stockyard breezes and early fall breezes that chill summer romances and stiirt the divorce laboratories on their seasonal grind. And the women mnde a clean sweep of it during the past week under the i;ulding hand of Attorney Ben Bhr- llch. Take Minnie R. Weber's case. Minnie, of the varieties by profes- sion, married Clarence A. Never- man, musician. In .February of this year. Quite a few of the court hounds were shocked into momen- tarily lifted eyebrows when she stated that although she had mar- ried Neverman with the customary intentions Hhe later decided not to accept him in the husband-wife re- lationship. Her testlmofiy as to why she refused gave her a divorce and the right to resume her maiden name. Nathalie Cohen, bined In her vau- deville turn as Nathalie Cowan, had a story of desertion and "another woman" that drew a decision against Harold V. Cohen (non-pro- fesnional) and gave her custody of their three-year-old child. The marriage occurred in June. IMI. A striking similarity to Ih* abdve case was that of Oracs Hollner, dancer, who appears under her origina^l name of Ellsworth. Her manage to Mann Hollner also took place tn June, 1922. and her discon- tent was likewise base<l on the de- f.%rtion angle. She was granted a divorce. Mi.«>h]er Stagres Comeback As Penna. Theatre Owner Altoona, Pa., Aug. II. The Fulton theatre In Lancaster, a legitimate house and the Reading theatre In the city, has been pur- chased by I. C. MIshler, proprietor of the MIshler theatre In Altoona for many years, who several years ago sold the i^lshler and announced his retirement from ths theatrical business. Ills return from retirement Is but partial, while owning the Fulton he will not actively engage in its man- agement, securing as manager Earl G. Finner, who was asHOclated with him In the operation of the MIshler theatre for years. Mr. Finney has been manag^-r of the Dupont theatre In Wilmington, Del., for the past two years. The theatre will open on Sept 6. Ma«le1sn Suet for flMWe New Castle, Pa., Au». 11. Foster N. McCullough, a B iagi- cian and professional entertalnsr of on City, Pa., has filed suit for I2C.0OO agaln.st the Holland Fur- nrirti Co. M( Cullough avers that on July 10 he was driving near Oii City when a truck idoming on the wrong sifle of the road struck his car. fimoKhing It and breaking his HIP BILL TURNS I USELESSLY Booker in Keith-Albee Office Informs Acts They Mttrt AdvertiM im N.VJi. Ho«sa Orgaah-^HaaTsr ConplaiBts at RMfh Method Employed— Seme Thing Occurred with N. V. Af Porcram HII>EAWAY HIP NOW The pM style %laek-Jaek* was used 09 the acts playinir on the opening bill at the Kelth«Albes Hippodrome, New York. In ae ef- fort to secure advertising for ths house organ of the N. V. A. The *jaek* was wielded by I. R. Samuels, booker for K.-A. of the house, acting under instructions from report It took the form of a letter to the etat acts on the bill Informing the artists the back cover of the house organ had been re- served, that each act was expected to be represe n ted tma that each act's share of the bloek advertise- ment would be $25. In the case of acts demurring the totter was loUowed up by a tele- gram from ths same source, ths (Continued on psgn M) Vapde Girl, 19, Takes PMaon But wm lire Ban Franolsosb Aeff. 11. Leona McFarland, 19, partner of Helen Ware in a small time vaude- ville act, took poison last week. She is expected to live. Fearing a second attempt at sui- cide, the girl was kept under obser- vation by hospital attendants. Aooordlng to Miss Wars had "brealcs" had undermlasi Ut* Farland's morale. Mpna Ray at ^Topty'' Los Angeles, Aug. Si. Universal hss placed Mona Ray "■Tspsy^ to under contact to play "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Hariy Pollard had been looking for a girl to fln the part for over a year when Mrs. Jessis Wads* worth, of the Llchtlg and Englander office, brought Miss Ray, former vaudevllllan, to the studio. After two screen tests she was engaged for the part. 8W0R BROS. BEUKITR The awor brothers have reunited as a vaude team. Bert has beon featured comic with the Al Q Fields minstrels for some time and John has been playing vaudeville with his wife. The brothers will do blackfa%e. Judge Kelly With Shuberts M«s WalUr O. Kelly wlU open next week for the Shuberil la 'tlay Paree' at Atlantic City. Whitehead In "Lucky* Ralph Whitehead has been en^ gaged for the A. L. Frlanger pro- duction of "Happy Go Lucky," now in rchcar;;al. BERNARD and RICH FKATURBO IN ARTISTS amf MODELS EzcIuhIv* M»nagem«Bt Ed David ow & Rnfui XelCairt UH BrMdway, Mt^ Vevli \1 4 i I -A 1