Variety (Nov 1927)

VAUDEVILLE VARIETY HALF-MnXION IN SIGHT FOR RIHH ELDER AS STAGE DRAW Several Offers from $6,500 to $15,000 Weekly-n$6,- 500 DaUy Offer from Dog TiMk |^^^^ Nodiing Accepted u Yet Rulh Site yvomtoes to b« tfa« first of the traiLi-Atlantic flyer* to appear in vaud«vUl«, picture houMs «Ad mam. Sbe atarM eff bj MlUng llM atory of her flight for i m r t^ a per serialization for $10,000. Publix, Keitb-Albee, Orpbeum, Ijoew, and pracUcally all othar iraiida And piotura hjouse circuita of prominence, hava submitted bids for Miss £lder'a aervices. It ia ra- ported tha hlffhaat ¥auda?IIla bid comes from X'aaw'a, through tha William Morria aetiwa^ for a weelK. Tlie two largast pictiua hovoaa an Broj^dway are also in the swim, one house offering 115,000 a week and a percentage of everything the bouae doaa albova a |28;000 Ineraaaa #ver Its ayeraga gross. The biggest money ofter received •0 far is from a Chicago greyhound laolns oryantiatlon oflteing Miaa SIdtv 19 par cent of the gross, which ia Sxpacted to exceed 165,000 a di^, or around $f,600 a day. This affar was rajaetad. No offers have been accepted, but all ara under . consideration, pending Mlsa Bldar'a arrlvaL From arrangeihanta mada for press agen- try, etc.. it seems likely that Miss Blder will accept some of tha tha> fttrical offers. 8ba may net $600,000 within a year. If touring on salary and percentage, owias to IM PVbUc erase on aviation. COWWAYS IN COURT THa^lriaal rrlntar and WHb In i a para tiow Praaaadine Both Mra. Sylvia Gordon Cohn V Conway and BUntr Conway, thaa- trlcal printer, who are suing for a separation decree are well known In Times Square. Aa tlta wife of Victor Cohn, diamond dealar, Ifira. Cohn waa implicated In a $250,000 alienation of affections' suit against Barry Richman, the night club •tar. Caaa la still jsi^dtng, Cohn alleged his wife t4<HC iOM nator on a Suropean trip. Btanar Conway la an aquaily fa- miliar Broadwayita, hsarting a large oommercial printing concern, doing conalderabla muslo publiabing and theatrical printing. Mrs. Conway was awarded $S0 weekly alimony. She asked for $300 a weak, allaglag orualty and iMkbitual dranbannssB. Conway stated ho waa only sal- aried at $5,000 a year from the Con- way Printing Co., and that bla wife marrlad him fisr Ills monsr* Tbaar midad at tlw BMM .iViar- .i^ir——— Too Much Coffeo, ind Each Cup on the Win^ Minneapolis, Nov. t. After testifying her husband suf- lired from temperamMit, would fly Into rafires and hurl cups of coffee and other thlnga at her, Blanche Bath Robtaott, Si, non*profssslonal. was granted an absolute divorce in district court here from David Rubinoff, 28, violinist The latter haa bean appaarlng In moTla the- Strea throughout the east. Rubinoff did not contest tha suit There waa a financial settlement ovt of oonrt, but naithar party would discuss Its terms. The eoaple bad been married three yeara. Fay Laiq^hier Shy Ban IVaneisc o , Nor. I. Fay Lanphiar, '^iss Amerloa** of 1$26, has been sued by the Electrical Products CorporaUon for $$42, «lnimad dna an aiaotrlo sign In ^nt of Miss Laniihlsr^g bannty »orlor in Oakland. The sign haa been up a year, and ttaaompaay nOaBas tha bSMit haa mmAMoacAraw.T I-ois Delander. Joliet HI., high •obool girl, crowned "Miss America" M Atlantic City, la to make a New Tark vaude appaaranea. Tax signed contracts Monday with Irving Tlsh- knan for bar lau la Novombar. HARCELINE KILLS SELF; ANP BROKE Great down of Hit Day Vainly Looked for Aid from N.V. A. —Died Broicenhearted Brokenhearted over his failure to return to the vaudeville stage, Mar- eelina (Orbas), famoua on two eon- tinents for his elown stunts and pantomimicry. sought the solitude of a dingy little room at 228 West 60th atraet New T^k. Nov. S. placed a gun against his right tem- ple and sent a bullet into his brain. Marceline, once premier tumbler of the world In his partlevlar lino of stage funmaking, apparently lost all faith that his membership in the National Vaudeville Artists was going to rsstora him to tha pinnacle he once anj<qrad. For a loug tima Marceline, once a headlining mirth provoker in vaude houses, with the passing of tima forcing him lb work here and there or wherever he could get it. meanwhile pinning almost ever^ting faith upon the N. V. A., whki ha thooflht woidd nsvir aee him cut off finally waa forced down until he did not know whara hia next cent waa coming from. Tat those who knew him tm hIa last days declare Marceline, despite his depressed spirits and loneliness, never complained, yet they knew that ha always lookad forward to the next day that might bring him the great news that; he WAP <Mbce more K-A booked. Newspaper sMn erbm lha New York dailies, when learning the facts, found Marceline fine aob oopy and much space waa devoted to the clown's stage career. All mentioned that he had died "alone, depressed and out of work," and that tha N. V. A. had arrangod to conduct his funeral aervices, charging the cost against Maroe- llne's "insurance" of $1,000. Mason for Thirty Years In Marcallne'a room waa a eertifl- eate of msmberahip la a Masonic lodge of Scotland, dated "Dec IS, 1897. No bank account, only a pal- try rsnAlndar that tWb daya priorjto hia death he had fnwsd adllieMd stickpin for $16. Knowing Marceline waa a vaude- villian, Joseph Wieder, manager of the theatrical hotel where Marceline shot himself, notified the N. V. A., after turning the remains over to tha Campbell widartaking parlors. Marceline waa bom in Saragossa, Spain, 60 years ago. He first won clrctts fSme la Bagland and on the Continent. In IHi, llareellno was the biggest thing on the Hippo- drome's opening bill in New York. From that time on bookings and money came easy for tha dbwn« Marceline had been married, Mrs. Orbes. being located in Newark, coming to New York and identify- ing the body. It Kras rbooi^ Oiat Marceline, despite a separation from his wife, had been sending her $35 weekly almost up to the very week of his sololda, ; r '•: RsstaiifiM'sMlid When work waa not forthooming, Marceline, having saved consider- able money, opened a restaurant in New York, but tho projeet did not pan out aa wen as desired, and be- fore long Marceline had slipped away from Broadway only to hide away in n little hotel ^ust off the main theatrical stem. Then there was nothing for him to do but look at the numerous pic- turea of himoelf In hia stags make- up, which he npread before him just as he fired the fatal shot Marceline was burled yesterday. Singe r-Nevi ns Dissolution Johnny Singer and Fred Nevins have dissolved their agency part- Dave Thursman shot a hola in one playing against Nat Lewis at the Mt Vernon (N. T.> Oountry aub Scorea: Thursma^ Vt; Lewis, 84. RUSSELL JOHNS in "BLUE SKI^JS," at the Vaude- ville Theatre. The "WAtR.** (L«on- don) said: "Mr. Russell Johns, an Amerioan, who took Ja«k Smith's place, Js. a jfouag sntortalhsr who has personality and wad fwy well received." SUITCASEACrS GIVEN PREFERENCE Haulage Increase Bar to Single Day Stands for Heavy Bag- fafli^ Ino. The recent 50 per cent, boost in haulage rates which went into ef- fect aeveral weeks ago is playing havoc wHh bookers^of single day and Bnnday oonoar t atanda. In spots where managers have refused to be interested in the in- ereaaad transportation ezpenae booken havo basA unable to carry any acta with heavy baggage. Tha situation will have to be met aooner or later. Meanwhile book- ss* ara adhsrin* to suit caaa ftota and others requiring little baggage, to place them at tha pricea oUarod for the single day shows. MoCREE DIVORCE SUIT Wlf.,0nMaHf4aM. . ^hn^jsa Oassrtlon Toledo, Nov. t. Mrs. Hettia McCree filed aolt In oonnMn pleas court, Toledo^ for divorce from Reno McCree, now with a circus In New Orleana Mra. MtfCree, who haa been an Invalid since her lajnry In a circus train wreck nine years ago. chargea her fauaband with aoB-auppprt and wil- ful abssnea. In her petition Mra. HoCraa states that her huaband has been absent from homo flva years and that ahe has not sssB him fsr * year aad a half. She aska custody of their daughter, Rena» 10^ who ia sMldylng for the stage. Mr. and'Mm. MsOrsa wars form- erly riders wlth^ the Hagenbeck- Wallace circus. They were married in 1018 In Misaiaslppi. Both were Injured In tha wrack In Ifli, In which another tsnhi fradbsd into the circus train. Mra. McCrsa fosslvsd |1M,«M la a suit for damagea against ths rail* road in Toledo Federal Court Since that time she haa been in ill health, acarcely able to walk. Mr. MoCraa haa raoovsred auflldently, she says, to resume his riding. Mra McCree before her marriage was Battia Bodglnl o< tha eireva family. Her father, Edward Hod- ginl, owns a number of f<Mralgn acta and a drcua abroad. Marie Lee Caring for Son Marie Lee of Donovan and Lee, has retired from the stage and has gone to llaranao Lake, N. T. to take care of her It-yoar old eon. James B. Donovan, JV., whose health be- came impaired following a severe attaek of pleoro-pnoumonia In Buf- falo. While his wife Is away. Jim Dono- van will do an act with Jean Breen. who formerly played vanda aa Jack Kramer's partner. With Miss Lee in caring for the boy la a day and nlyht niirM- Mra. Ralph ham M Ast Mrs. Ralph Hers, widow of the legit comedian. Is breaking in a new act around New York, to spend the winter In vaade^ Mm. Hrr« last summer wag wUh NEW miE' PICTURE OF CIRCUS WITH OLD-TIHE PERFORMERS Different Film Story From Original 'TUUe's Punc- tured Romanee'*—Complete Tent Outfit on Hol- lywood Lot—^Directed Through Loud.S|^akert DANCING PAIR FALL INTO ORCHESTRA PIT Piatov and Natalia Calm Audi- ence by Climbing Bacic on Stage—Toppled Doing Swing Montreal. Nov. 8. Clambering back upon the stage at the Cupitol. after taking a fall Into the orcheatra pit, Piatov and Matalla, duioera, prevented a panic in the audience when the accident occurred last week. m handlinc Matalla In a head swing. Piatov over-balanced, the couple toppling over the footlights and down below. Miss Matalia was momentarily atunned, hut atopped the growing restlessness In the au- dience when returning to the stage. The dancera proceeded to com- plete their act, Moalvtnv an ovation for their presence of mind and pluck. No lU-efTect came from the acci- dent and they contlQUod for tha re- MONEY BOOnNiS Vaudeville and picture house hdoklnga by Lyoaa a Lyona Include Jlmmle Hussey for a Loew tour at 11,750; Cliff Edwards, Loew's and Stanley, |L\000 a week; Margaret KaaMra (Mra. Ouy^BoitonK opera songstress, Stanley tour; Sam Ash, out of "White LighU." which doaed Saturday, into a Fox tour. Joe Fejer'a Hungarian orehe^lra la slated for Loew-Stanley's. Bdwarda left the FoUiea' last Efg Drawing Crack • Davenport, la., Nov. 8. These Iowa Irish win take It with a smile when the ''Murphya and the Callahan*" la ahowB on tho movlea, because they have been reared to t>e]ieve that the flickers ara Infal- lible—hut vaudevmiaaa beware f Jack Goldle, blackface comedian, appearing at the Capitol, local tem- ple of what is left of the varieties, had been Introducing a member of hia company In a red necktie, ef- feminate and queer, as 'lall that's left of St. Ambrose." The reference was to tho local oollego and the remark hit the bullBoye in respect to the current grid team—but the towners don't want these city travelem to tell 'em about IL Students of St. Ambrose cut clxMsee one afternoon after 'the atory of the Goldle crack got round. When he next pulled It an egg whistled throuKh the air and struck ao close to the performer he beat It—CO the wings. It wan cintaod that a score of other egg-hurlers were In the house but hesitated to make a demonstration. Qoldle cnt tha Iten tn m*ga«nant Reed Aflbee as Beekor Reed Albee. aoa of B. F. Alt>ee. •tartod botfktav th« Xolth«Alhee Riverside. New Tork, this week. It Is one of the three remaining big time two-a-day vaude thaatrea on the K.-JL Clfonlt. In taking up the Riverside Reed's only booking at present, it lessened the number of houaea booked by Pat Wooda In tho aanM oAoe. Fat now handles the AI bees, Brookljm, N. Y., and Providence, R. L Some time ago Reed Albee booked Keith's 81al Btroet, Now York. After relinquishing that task he g^va hia atten tion sol ely to his dntlea aa anslatant general manager Siiahnian'o Vaude Tour Log Angeles, Nov. 8. Fraacia X. Buitaaa plana a vaude tour la Ml gdl Written by Ai Ix>s Angeles, Nov. S. "Tillie's Punctured Roniance,* now being produced by the Chrlatiea for ParamouBt, la a dUEirent atoir from the origiaial picture made with Chxu*les Chaplin und Marie Dress- ier, nearly 16 years ago. Eddie Sutherland, director, and IConta Brice, writer, wrote a new story around the title with the yam re- volving around a circus taken into the war sone during hoatllltlea. A completely equipped circus out- fit with three rings undw the big top haa been set up on the old Para* mont lot adjoining the Chrlatio ftt9<* dio», with all of the circus ecenea made on this spot. Plasrera are using the aldeahow tents as dressing rooma. a phana system has been Installed, and dl» rection ia handled with loud speak* era apotted around the eet. Many old-time circus performera have been engaged by the Christlea to work as acts in the picture. Tho list includes the Sis BenaatlonnI Jacks, Jack Shaller's troupe (dO« veloped from the Bell-Thaser Trio); Alfred Adeline, ^layman All'a head balancing importation of 20 yeara ago; .Four De Garros, aerial; Bill Ricardo and Elala Aahford, aerial; ■ari auinp and Oua Anderaon, Char- ioteers, and Vera McOlnnia, rider. William Caress, formerly with tha Sella-Floto show, heads the list of clowna, with othera Including Her- man Wolflnger, Clyde Stilts. Tommy Alberta, Ernest "Tex" Toung, Tom* my Flynn, Harvey Perry, Cliff Her* bert. Charlea Charblao» Pan! and Willie Dennis. Clarence Werts and Perry Murdoch. Anlmala are being supplied by L 8. Rome, wild anlMl importer of Kaaaaa City. Al Copeland assembled the tech- nical staff which Includea J. Sky Ohu*, llBnnerly with tho RIngUnir and Barnum shows, Charles Hal^, Charley AnderMn and J. H. CcnM* ford. Xho platuro hag nhout Id woekg of ahootlna to go heforo MRS. MORRISON MEE KENT Vaude Agent Msrrying Comedian'a Former Wife Nov. 28 ki N. Y. C Mrs. Flsle Shaw-Kent, who lately procurfd a divorce from William Kent, the oemodian, will- become Mra. Charlea Morrlaon Nov. 8t hi New York city. It's possible Majror James J. Walker wiU do the trick. OharUo Morrison la tho vnodo agent attMhod to the Keith-Albeo and Ormm Cttfffftlt forcea. Barton'i Orar^Work The laU hours at the Club Mimic (cabaret) coupled with tha four iAiowo at tho Capitol, New York, fbrced Jim Barton to call off hook* Ings and recover his voice. He didn't aing at tha picture houae after Sunday night h toa n iii of throat trouhH r flgjajl.litoiidlf to dancing eTcluslvety. Barton haa also dropped out cf tho night ahih, whfro hn WM to at 81,500 a week, timm $mMtm 9€ tho proAta. BMj Hsdj't Act Betty Healy of Ted and Betty Healy is going out alono With a It* , peoplagirl act. ^ Har ^ hnrtwuid hi to 'Vlght hi s- mm n > e /vWV s WiUiMi M«rrig CAUWOARD Pleated %m Announce « Produedm muI Book- 3 S mg Cpmmeeiiene mriik g g / oktu i mm mmd Simtk ■