Variety (Oct 1926)

f, October 20, 1926 EDITORIAL 91 \KIETY slme Silverman, PrMldent 154 Wast 4«th ««r»«' N "» v «" k cll » JOSEPH M. SCHENCK AFTER-EFFECTS OF 'CUT SALARIES SUBSCRIPTION: a nnitaL »W yor*ljn........ . t» *m°". copl.. > «• cent. VOL. LXXXV 50 YEARS AGO (from "Clipper") Baseball scandals featured the news, with the League Association's meeting In Cleveland not far off. "The Clipper" wanted to know what the officials were going to do about crooked players. It appears that the Philadelphia club had been thrown out of the league, but Its members had been engaged by other clubs, although some were known to have associations with pool sell- ers, even being Interested In that A sectional tournament had been played at the Union Grounds in Brooklyn, N. Y., which gave rise to another scandal. The pool sell era had quoted the absurd odds of 24 to 14 against the Alaskas of New York playing the Olympics of Pat- erson, N. J. In the game the Alas- kas had scored 20 errors, losing by 2 to 6. Manager Cammeyer of the Union Park notified the club It could never again appear on his diamond. The directors lnvestlgat ed, and reported at least six of the Alaska players were crooked. John H. Murray's circus, which had played three weeks under can vas on a lot In Houston street, near the Bast River, moved to a new stand In 4»th street, near 8th ave- nue (probably on the site of the present Madison Square Garden) The New York Aquarium was about to open at Broadway and 35th street. Sea water was brought from 8andy Hook to 35th street and the North River and then trucked to the aquarium. Some years ago Hollywood was In rather a chaotic condition. The picture business had just about started to stabilise Itself. On the coast were the nj-by-nighters, irresponsible picture producers pendente), and film promoters. All of them needed money. In vaudeville particularly no one can point to a circuit making it a steady practice of "cutting salaries" of acts that has prospered. West Costt bankers were decidedly shy. If advancing on a production they somehow secured a large bonus, if not directly. Indirectly. Those bonds reached as high as 30 per cent of the principal. And the bonus system commenced to extend into some banks In New York, one par- ticularly In New York that wore a high hat downstairs with a (side) office upstairs. Paying 30 per cent, bonus, and the bonus was worth It at the time because the borrower had to have the money, held down possible profit before profit had been earned. Meanwhile, the larger and more sub- stantial picture concerns were making rapid progress, in N«w York and on the coast. Some while later reports reached New York taw film Industry was gaining recognition on the coast. Bankers and merchants were giving it more attention, regard and respect. High bonus charges for money were passing. The word was out that the picture business could and would take care of Itself. It all sounded funny back to New York after some of the stories that had floated eastward, of what had happened In Los Angeles, either by or against a picture And then it came the changed condii Loew Circuit. Cutting salaries" has been a favorite pastime of several short-sighted circuit heads and booking men. Not only did those men "cut" the sal- aries of acts, but they cut down the cost of vaude bills if business displayed the slightest sign of dropping off. Rather than to bring the fading business back with Linger and better bills, the economy swayed manager or booker drove It farther away with nferlor shows. It was efficiency, an efficiency that has no place In the show business, either of the Brreen or the stage. For tho show business Is I of the It was Joe Schenck. the West Coasters said, who, when he gave his word or his signature, made good. He told others oat there to do the same; he told the bankers they would make good. And tho bankers commenced to consult Joe Schenck. They never went wrong upon his advice. Picture people assert that It was more due to Joe Schenck's Interest in the promotion and standing of the film industry on the coast than to any other cause that the entire complexion of the picture trade In the eyes of Isy business men of California was altered. Mr. Schenck tater conflrmed his previous attitude toward the coast when bo declared that Hollywood was good enough for him. He did not Intend to leave That one statement by Joe Schenck immediately stopped all of the prop aganda Florida had sent forth In an effort to entice some picture pro ducers who were not blue-sky sellers down there. "Cut salaries" for acts can work In multitudinous ways. It can drive that act away, the most dangerous of all of the evils resulting from it or can cause an act to grow slovenly in its stage work, or < turn from attempting to improve Itself; all I "Cutting salaries" naturally Is not restricted to one act or two or three. An entire bill for a "cut house" will be made up of cut salaried acts. If all give a slovenly performance, is It over the patronage dying off? Arguing with an act about the money It asks, taking the heart out of the act through quibbling, always about money, and then "cutting" Its salary after setting it, must necessarily demoralize a turn. "Cut salaries" have been In a large part responsible for the dec 11 no or demoralisation of the big time or straight vaudeville. "Cut salaries" bavo driven hundreds of acts away from straight vaudeville. They have taken the spirit away from other hundreds until tho matter of salary became paramount - with the vaudeville actor. If he thought of his salary more then he did of his act, tho manager may blame only tlx The arrival In town of Leonard Grover (who died last spring) Is Booming variety business was re- ported In Cheyenne, Wyoming Ter- ritory, for tho odd reason that the restlessness of the Indians there- abouts had brought large bodies of U. S. troops to the garrison town. In addition, a gold rush was on into Hills. A stalwart figure In the show business of the world Is Joe Schenck Not only a stalwart but a bulwark; a man who neither acts nor thl wrong. He was ever thus, from the day Times Square first knew or heard of him. In the early days of the Marcus Loew Circuit, when Joe was In the booking office uptown and Marcus downtown, It was all Joe Schenck for a long while. Joe was probably the most popular man with actors and agents who ever directed a route, with Morris (when Morris ran his own ' Wll Den man Thompson was playing Josh Whltcomhe In "The Old Home- stead," bnt Nell Burgess (of "The County Fair" fame) was still a va- riety comedian. He had Just teamed up with Harry Thorns, the new combination opening at Shelby's Adelphl, Buffalo. A presidential campaign Inter- fered with theatre business, Samuel J. Tllden running against Ruther- ford B. Hayes. ^!OTES William McGowsn, formerly man- ager of the Lincoln Hipp. Chicago, Is now at the Riviera, Chicago. Frank B. Smith, former Orpheum road company manager, has re- placed McGowan at the Lincoln. Mm*. Adelaide Herrmann wishes to thank her many friends for their sympathy over her loss in the fire that occurred at the storehouse at West 4«th street. In which she lost all her belongings, including the dogs and live stock used In her act. Tobias Du Vries, formerly trea- surer of the Eltlnge, New York, with his wife Is ot ryesent In Ber- lin. He Is to remain on the con- tinent for several months and will make a search for novelties suitable for the American market Coram, English ventriloquist, opens over here In January for s 20-week K-A tour. Will Fyfte, the Scotch comic, opens about the same time. Jack Edwards has become asso- ciated with Mort Infield in Chi- cago as an artists' representative. Edwards Is formerly of Earl and Edwards (vaude). Nora Bsyes Is due to reopen at the Palace, New York, J* Joe Schenck seldom grew excited, and he Is probably yet of sltlon. But always a determined man, he knew what he got It, and that in his earliest period of the show business. As an example: The Loew Circuit playing small-time vaudeville «nd then coming along, had to seek bookings (acts). It tried ons place and then another, finally landing tn the family department of the United Booking Offices (now as then, Keith-Albee). Joe was tho chief booker for Loew's. He commenced to find that the acts selected by him fo the Loew houses were placed elsewhere on tho Keith's books. Mr. Schenck Inquired. Ho was Informed by a Keith man that Keith 1 had no interest In the Loew theatres; that Keith's was doing Loew's favor only in booking it and used such acta as a Keith house wanted with Loew's to wait until convenient. Joe asked why Loew's was paying Keith's a booking foe? He was informed for Keith's to book LoeWs. Joe didnt stop to digest that The next morning the Marcus Loew Clr cult opened Its own booking office. And It was beaded by Joe Schenck for some years after that Joe Schenck remained with Marcus Loew long after ho should gone logically into pictures. He was heavily laden with picture Projects while remaining at the Loew's booking helm. When ho did leave Loews, upon the Insistence of Marcos Loew and Joes brother. Nick. It surety that Joe Schenck la had done In vaudeville. This special number for Joseph M Schenck Is billed as commemorative of an anniversary of Joe's. That's a gag. Jo* Schenck cares naught for this sort of stuff. He can get all of the personal publicity ens man could breathe through If ho wanted it Ho doesn't and novor did. Va rlety in Its small trade way must be a gag too, to Jos. But It's another side of Joe and Nf» only duo to hha that: won»ake that known. Joe Schenck This Joe.Schenck Special Number Is for Variety, not for Joe Schenck like a few other really big men of tho have their own opinions about some thing*. That we shall make clearer at a It's a pleasure to speak pleasantly of a fellow like Joe Schenck a Joe Schenck of today that Is still the Joe Schenck of M years ago, when wasn't the Joe Schenck of today. INSIDE STUFF ON VAUDEVILLE (Continued from page T8) band of many years found his wife had become Infatuated with a dancer, a mere boy, who had been playing on the same bills with them. The woman, over 10 years the lad's senior, seems to have lost her head completely. With knowledge of his wife's first Indiscretion, the hus- band had promised to forget But there was a second and even a third lapse, causing the broken-hearted fellow to throw up bis hands and send out a hurry call for the divorce lawyers. Although Harold Leonard and his Waldorf-Astoria orchestra are un derstood to have been ordered off the air last week, during their Hippodrome engagement, the Ketth-Albee Interests again evldencs ceptlons to what was supposed to be a steadfast rule. Harry Horllck s A. A P. Gypsies, a WEAF radio feature every Mon Jav night, played the Keith-booked house. Dorchester, Mass., last week ll.it lick leaving the act to appear Monday night before the WEAF "mike IB the New York studio, to conduct a substitute "gypsies" ensemble while the original was filling a K-A engagement. The edict against night eluh doubling by Keith-Albee has been seem- gly waived as fax as bands are concerned generally, although In- The most liberal manager In payment of salaries vaudeville has ever known, the late Percy G. Williams, successfully sold his circuit In Its heyday to B. F. Keith and associates for IS.00o.000. P. G. he thought an act was worth or what ho wanted to pay it was In accord with the act's views. But Percy Williams did not sell his circuit altogether on the strength of salary paying, nnr did he enter the It. P. Keith booking agent, then tho United Booking Offices, through having paid top salaries. P. O. got Into Keith's and upon his own terms though having tied up about 90 comedy acts for the coming season. That was many yean ago. Ninety comedy acts then controlled the vaudeville stage. Ninety comedy acts would today control straight vaudeville with Its environs. When the U. B. O. found that Williams had 90 acts under contracts, to give Williams such time as he might select during the next season, and with that contract a total block to consecutive bookings by tho I agency, there was nothing left for the U. B. O. to do but capitulate. There's a thought and still a safe guard for comedy acts of today. Comedy is the very rock bottom foundation ot vaudeville. There is t one argument against that Comedy acts can run straight vaude- viuo If properly organised. Ninety comedy acts may not have been many among all of the acts of vaudeville years ago; they may not bo many among tho numbers of acts today In vaudeville, but 20 comedy acts are a powerful body if standing together, then, now or at any time. Ninety comedy acts can stop "cut" salary, can stqp shifting a two-a- day act into a three-a-day house without extra pay; can do a lot of and others, have I dlvlduals like Sophie Tucks been excepted. A law In California compels corporations Incorporated tn • and which have their homo offices slsewhere, to register with tho SUte Commissioner of Corporations. In case they do not do so there Is a 1500 fine for violation of too law. Recently an attorney was looking up the status of the National Vaude- ville Artists which maintains headquarters In Los Angeles for the pur- pose of obtaining members and collecting dues. This attorney informed Variety that he could And no trace of tho N. V. A., being registered with either the State Corporation Commissioner or Secretary of State. Thero- Vandevtlle producers seeking talent for flash acts and other of then* output, via casting.agencies, are finding themselves up against a service fee surcharge or no service. The latter amounts practically to a k*ad tax for all performers Introduced to tho producers, regardless as to whether acceptable or not Casters Justify their stand In tho matter by claiming they have pre- viously lost too much with vaude producers and seldom received any revsnue for their trouble, claimng that oven If the acta did work K was next to Impossible to check up on those placed because of tho Instability of consecutive booking prevalent for some time Under the new arrangement although the castor commission fee for placements in the acts, they are getting from the producer In advance for helping him cast his piece •nances en additional revenue from the players placed If tho act gets booking and If the performers are honest enough to remit A vaudeville actor playing tho Orpheum circuit on the coast Is getting a black eye in proffosslonol circles because of uncalled for remarks while visiting other theatres. While playing Los Angelas recently, together with several actors, quit* well known, sprang a gag In announcing "Bye, Bye, Blackbird." After the applause died down, the vaudeville actor spoke up. and loud: "Ha, Ha, mister, you heard that at the ," mentioning a house that he had played several weeks before and located In the same city. Tho actor on the stage did not reply. Burke and Durkln are reported leaving tlje Herman Tlmberg after- piece turn-bills through having been refused a salary Increase of $54. It Is not known whether the Tlmberg set Is Tiinberg or Orpheum cir- cuit produced. It's understood It's an Orpheum production turn. Barks and Durkin receive $400 weekly In it and have been reported as the strength of the act, the couple also doing their own speciality on the same bills. The act Is costing In salaries $4,000 or thereabouts weekly. Refused the $50 raise, to $650, though working In the sfter piece tho two-act gave notice. T. Kajlyams, the "Japanese with the Nspoleonic Mentality," says the new Mrs. Kajlyama. Is not an Indian. She appears in vaudeville as a concert pianist wearing an Indian costume and using the name "Moos- beam." Florence Dukes, as she was known before her marriage. Is of Polish-Italian parentage. She was born In America and spent her girl- hood In Europe studying music.