Variety (Oct 1926)

VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, October 20, Nad CHAN1NS INTEND PRODUCING With Three Houses Under Construction in New York, Builders Have Five Broadway Theatres— to Build in Other Large Cities D1CKEY-PLUMMER ROMANCE HITS ROCKS nez Plummer Allowed $50 in Separation Action—Paul Dickey's "Human" Affidavit Legit play production by the Chanln brothers ia a reported de- cision on the part of the builders. They believe It is necessary to pro- tect their own theatres. At present the Chanins, through Barry Klein, their general man- ager, are actively operating the Mansfield and BUtmore, New York. With the three houses on one plot under construction tyr them at 8th avenue, 44th-45th streets, the Chanins will have live "Broadway" houses. They also hold the Lyric, leased to J. Oppenheimer, where The Ramblers" Is current, and Chanln's 46th Street, now under to the Shuberts with "The nghai Gesture" playing there. An expressed Intention ot the Chanins to erect other theatres and In other cities is reliably reported. It Is another protective move by the brothers, who appear to sense profit in the legit theatre direction and producing. Assured of Backing The objective of the Chanins, from accounts, Is said to be another high class legit circuit of theatres, taking in the principal cities. It Is also said the Chanins have been assured of financial backing for any Of their theatre building operations. One, two or more legit producers are reported having been ap- proached by the Chanins with the theatre owners finding the pro- ducers most responsive. The new Roxy theatre. New York, due to open In February with pic- tures, la being erected by the Chanins as builders. . FRISCO STOCK CLOSED; LEE MORRISON'S FLOP San Francisco, Oct. 1». The attempt to install twice nightly dramatic stock at. the Cap- itol failed, the house going dark when stage hands and musicians remained unpaid under the dally payoff system that has been in vogue at the house practically since Lee Morrison assumed the lease. It is understood that the United Realty Company, owners, served notice on Morrison to va- cate. It means this triple Jinx house will be dark indefinitely. Menard, the tent showman, dropped several grand In his three- day filer In the big city. He has returned to his tent show across the bay which has made him hand- some profits all summer. Morrison is now seriously In- volved with the Labor Commission over unpaid salaries to employes. Hallle Rose, girl treasurer, claims $300. DIRECTOR CAREWE IN ON STAGEPLAY FLYER Edwin Carewe, picture director, will take a flyer as a legit producer in New York in December, when he will' sponsor "The Heaven Tappers," by <jeorge Scarborough. Carewe closed the deal for rights of Vie play on the coast last week and toas wired a casting agency In N>W York to line up a prospective cast, pending his arrival here early next month. "The Heaven Tappers" will be also the first legit attraction from Scarborough since "Moonlight and Honeysuckle," which he wrote and produced at the Henry Miller, New York, three seasons back. McGuire Settles with Miss For Flops in Between After several days' trial, Helen Neary'a accounting suit against William Anthony McGuire, the play wrigt-producer, was settled Monday In court. A stipulation of the set- tlement was secrecy on the terms thereof. Miss Ncary claimed she had In- vested $12,600 with McGuire in all his play earnings for three years terminating in February. 1983. She estimated he had made $500,000 and wanted $250,000 ot It. McGuire countered that "Stand From Under," the first venture Miss Neary's capital had financed, was an unqualified flop; ditto "Ifs Boy." "Kid Boots" was allegedly written after February, 1923, and "Six Cylinder Love" had been penned prior thereto. Paul Whiteman Show Los Angeles, Oct. 19. Paul Whitoman's contract with Charles Dillingham provides that half of all the billing and ailvcr tising on the now show shall be devoted to Whiteman. He is to be featured above everyone else In the show, Including Mary Eaton. Curran Out with Macloon Over Pauline Frederick Los Angeles, Oct. 19. Indications are that all partner- ship and business connections of Holmer Curran and Louis Macloon are severed due to Curran booking Pauline Frederick to appear in "Mldchannel" under the manage- ment of Edward D. Smith In the Curran theatre. Miss Frederick was formerly under the manage- ment of Macloon. For November Curran had a deal with Macloon to play the "Butter and Egg Man" In his San Fran- cisco house. When ready to take over the show Macloon told him he could have the actors, but he would have to build his own pro- duction, as he had not been fair to him by doing business with Smith, whom Macloon is said to have elected his "worst enemy." This will cost Curran an unneces- sary |5,000, as he loaned Macloon money for the production and also took an interest In some shows that Macloon got for the coast. Road 'Scandals' $18,000 New Orleans, Oct. 19. George Wintz, with his road "Scandals," garnered $18,000 at the Tulane last week. His show, which holds 36 choristers and a flock of badly battered sets and terribly tattered costumes, was in at $3.30 top. Wlntz displays lota of cuticle while undraplng his American girls for the hlnterlanders, and Is getting money doing It. Malevinsky Home Mr. and Mrs. M. L Malevinsky reached New York Monday on the "Leviathan" after several months abroad. Mr. Malevinsky Is of the law firm of O'Brien, Malevinsky & Drlscoll Overwork obliged the attorney to take a long rest abroad. Much of the strain enme through his volume, "The Formula of the Drama," profound work received with much approbation, but which taxed Mr. Malcvinsky's spare time at a great cost to his physical condition. COLORED MUSICAL Carle Carlton is to do a new mu- sical, "Louisiana," with Stella May hew featured. It will be a musi calizcd colored opera. George Raft is to do his specialty In the colored cafe scene. Leon Friedman Abroad Shortly after becoming general manager for Rufua LeMalre, Leon Friedman, formerly publicity agent for White's "Scandals," slipped quietly to Europe. Friedman is over there now on an unknown mission. He will sail for I Ing Florence Mooro in "She Couldn homa Nov. 3. | Say No," also by Kaye. Satire on Prohibition "Gentlemen of the Bar," a satire on prohibition, by Benjamin Kaye, is next on the production list of Rlskin productions. Ths latter is currently sponsor The romance of Ines Plummer (Dickey) and Paul Dickey, the actor-manager-playwright has hit the matrimonial rocks with the granting of $60 weekly alimony and $350 counsel fees In her favor. In a separation suit It alleges abandonment and non-support Miss Plummer, leading lady in some of Dickey's best known dra- matic successes, waa married to the playwright June 26, 1919. The alleged desertion dates from Aug. 26, 1926, following her return from a European trip. ■Dickey's affidavit In defnse of his wife's claim for $750 monthly all mony and $1,500 counsel fees, la a human recital, not lacking In Its dramatic qualities, to which the wife responds disparagingly. She mentions among other things Dickey's unusual interest In Ruth Sheply, the actress, who was tho star of "The Backalapper," an 111 fated 1925 production at the Hud- son, of which Dickey owned 51 per cent Miss Sheply is alleged to have tried out in Columbus, O., op- posite the playwright-actor In Dickey's newest play, "White Mad- ness," which may come to New York this season, according to Mrs. Dickey. Dickey's Answer The playwright set forth that his $500 a week six-month contract with Famoua Players on the scenario staff has expired and that his Income is In a precarious condi tlon, he not having had one success outside of "The Broken Wing" since the war. Dickey states he ia now applying himself to a new play and his residence at the Lambs Club Is not a gesture of • desertion, but a practical move for accomplishment, not finding his Great Neck, L. I, environs expedient for stage cre- ation. Dickey citea his physical condi- tion dating from his one and one- half years' service with the Firat Marine Air Forces as a flier, as one cause for mental handicap. Miss Plummer (Mrs. Dickey), he claims, went abroad of her own vo- lition and he moved to The Lambs in order to be nearer the Famous Players' executive and Long Island studios for constant communication Young Goodwin's Record; Takes 8th Wife; Beats Nat POOR ROAD BIZ CLOSING SHOWS WITH MAIN STEM REPUTATIONS Boston Believed Worst Spot at Present—"Enemy** Closing There This Week—"Cradle Snatcher." Did $44 in One Stand 50c TICKET PREMIUM NOT ENOUGH—JUDGE Magistrate' Harry A. Gordon In West Side Court stated during the arraignment of three alleged "sky- rocketing" theatrical ticket brokers that the fee allowed by law for ticket brokers to charge 50 cents above the printed price on the tlcketa was Inadequate. However, he thought the price of $20, alleged- ly charged on $5.50 world series tickets, outrageous. He freed the trio. W The defendants gave their names aa. Jack Levy. 34, 51 Riverside drive, said to be oonnected with the Premier Ticket Office, 170 West 44th street; Harry Harrlss, 35, 721 7th avenue, and Albert Blckart, 48, of 45 7th street, Hoboken, said to be connected with the Shammus ticket office, 716 7th avenue. All three were arrested by De- tectives Hurry Singer and William Bailey of Inspector Lahey's squad at Police Headquarters. The Inspec- tor learned that ticket scalpers In Times Square were cleaning up on the series tickets. The detectives testified that in each arrest they paid $20 for the $5.50 "ducats." The defendants denied the charge. In each case, they testified, they had no tickets for the games, but obtained them through another agency. They told the Court they acted aa "brokera" and had to pay $19 themselves for the tickets. "It Is outrageous that $20 should have been charged," shouted the Court "However, the 60-cent fee Is too small for the agency. I be- lieve. 'Well." he continued, "this court la for greater crimes than this charge. Those that can pay $20 for tickets would hardly feel the loss." Hasty closings on the road con- tinue to mount up. While soma may be sent out later In the season, there la no doubt ot bad buaineaa in the less important stands. One road company, "Cradla Snatchers," waa withdrawn after playing a few weeks. It got only $44 for one performance despite the attraction's reputation for laughter and the run ot the original com- pany of over a year on Broadway. 'The Jest" opening in New York two weeks ago, will atop at the Teller, Brooklyn, Saturday. Reports of bad conditions account for the withdrawal but the show may be sent out. "What Price Glory" called it a season two weeks ago, after being out but two months. It waa another great Broadway draw. "The Enemy" will' call it a sea- son at the end of this week. It opened there test week, getting but $4,000. Boston appears to be the worst spot among the larger stands. Last week the advance sale for "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" was reported so poor that no performance waa given the opening on Monday night It waa later announced the per- formance was called off because Ina Claire, the atar, waa ill. Tha play opened Tuesday. SLEEPY CHORUS GIRLS KNEW THEIR ONIONS 'Abie' Not Yet for Film Los Angeles, Oct It. Robert (Texas Bob) Goodwin, vaudeville actor and nephew of the late Nat Goodwin, broke hla uncle's record when, on Oct 13, he mar- ried Betty Marks, actress rehearsing with him In a new act to open in the east in December. This is Goodwin's eighth mar- riage, one more than either Nat Goodwin or Kid McCoy. Goodwin is 32 and was divorced from hla seventh wife In 192L It Is reported the picture rights for "Abie's Irish Rose" are being offered for sale, unauthorized. Anne Nichols has stated that any such transaction of other business for "Able" would only be handled by her or her general manager and vice-president of the corporation. William De Lignemare. Miss Nichols further stated that In view of the continuing record run of "Abie" on Broadway and the phe- nomenal business of the road com- panies, she is In no hurry to dispose of the picture rights. Col. Hinton Promoted George Frederic Hinton of the Charles Dillingham managerial staff, has been notified by the war department of hla promotion from lieutenant colonel to the rank of colonel. Q. R C, U. S. A Col. Hinton was 4me of the or- ganizers 6f the old- 15th N. T. Regi- ment (colored), which won such an honorable place for Itself in over- seas service. Miss Abarbanel Out Lina Abarbanel left "Happy Go Lucky" at the Liberty, New York, Saturday, following notice given the prima donna shortly after the show opened on Broadway. Ruth Jensen-replaced her. Gertrude Clifford Marrying Springfield, Mass., Oct 19. Gertrude Mary Clifford, of this city, for two years a member of one of "The Student Prlnco" com pan lea, is to be married tomorrow (Wednesday) to John F. Brady, of Hartford, Conn. The ceremony will take place in this city. Miss Clifford has been conducting \ musical studio at Roekvllle, Conn., since leaving the operatic company, Mr. Brady is the clerk of the Hart- ford common pleas court Watertown, N. Y., Oct 19. Maura Vesta, of Oberlln, Ohio, and Alice Edrlque, of New Haven, Conn., chorus girls with the road Vanities," starred in a real Ufa skit "They Slept Too Late," or "All Alone In Watertown," last week. The two girls, sans cash, reached the depot 15 minutes after the com- pany had departed for Rochester. The girls' cash-raising exploit waa good for two-thirds of a column In the Watertown papers. The girls declined to take a chance with northern motorists be- cause "they might get fresh and we'd have to walk." Securing- enough funds, they took the next train for Rochester. Irene Swor of the road "Vanities" was stricken ill in Utlca and forced leave the company. Woods Out of 'Pearl' After 7 Years and $7,000 A H. Woods, the manager who made Bob McLaughlin's "The Pearl of Great Price" famous by an- nouncing Its production for seven years. Is out of the venture now that it has actually reached the boarda It opened in Brooklyn last night and after next week in Hart- ford is due at the Century Nov. 1. There waa no reason given for Woods stepping aside and letting the Shuberts do the Show alone but It Is understood Woods decided the production was toe costly for him to participate. The estimated produc- tion outlay is $100,000, with noth- ing used from the Shubcrt store- house. Woods figured In casting the "Pearl" about five weeks ago but since then haa not shown Interest in it McLaughlin is a Cleveland manager-author. He received ad vance royalties of about $7,000 from Woods but the latter has charged that sum off to profit and loss. CHINESE REVUE'S HOUSE The Chinese revue reported aimed for the Mayfair, New York, Los Angeles for an Indefinite next month will probably be spotted elsewhere. The management of the house denied making any such booking. "The House of Ussher" will con- tinue Indefinitely at the Mayfair. It la In lta aeventh month having played the 200th performance laat night Lew Fields' Flip-Flops Land Him in Hospital Lew Fields is out of "The Wild Rose," due to open tonight (Wed- nesday) at the Martin Beck. William Collier was called In Monday when Fields waa taken suddenly 111 and removed to a hospital. Overwork In directing the new Hammersteln show and his per- formance in It are blamed for Fields' collapse. Despite over 60, the comedian star was called on to turn flip-flaps. Originally produced by Arthur Hammersteln and Sam H. Harris, the latter declared himself out ot the "Rose" show after It opened In Philadelphia. It Is said Harris set- tled on the basis of 25 per cent of the loss In Phllly, amounting to $19,000. DcHaven's Postponement Los Angeles, Oct. 19. Carter DcHaven's "Music Box Revue" opening was postponed from Monday to. Wednesday night The production was not ready owing to Arthur Kay, muslral di- rector, suffering a sudden attack of lumbago. BLONDES" AT NEW BELASCO San Francisco, Oct. 19. After another week here "Gentle- men Prefer Blondes" will jump to gagement. It will open at the new Pelaseo, the same house which was to have been called the Doheny. Business the first two weeks Is clafmed to have averaged $15,000 here, though trade slipped last week. The local engagement Is fof five weeks.