Variety (Nov 1927)

Wednesday, November 9, IWT* WOMEN—BURLESQUE VARIETY IDKWESTBUEESQUE WHEEL OF ll)-12 WKS. FORMING IN CHICAGO EMoii Hm Irons mod Weingartm Backing— $1,000 M Top Salary List, Shows Using House Sets on Continuous Policy—Pictures Also Cbicago, Nov. 8. ^ A toMdto wMUni stoek biirl«squ« wbMl. controlling about 10 or 12 •weeks, is in process of formation. iUported In b««k of tho project are Warren Iroa4 ewner of Om local Bajmarket; Izzy Welngarten, a former burlesque magrnate, lately In the furniture bueiness, and one •Umt party, mid to ba partkOly S&- . terested at present in atthar Colum- bia, Mutual, or both. The wheel, if consumated, would W tlia flret aU-westem burlesque '.' #ieociation ever formed. Offices and officers are to be established in Chicago and all business handled 11,000 Salary Lists According to the indefinite plans at present, each show, to be formed bare, -would play week stands over the entire circuit. Policy In all towns^ will be continuous, four Shows daily, with scale topped at tS cants. Featuro plctosa^ to ac- company la also under a^nsider- atlon. Salary Usts have been ftfurad Sown to $1,000 for each show. Com- jMtnles would Include the usual number of principals and 10 girls, : tho latter to ba boMvai by six i tesident girls. The residents would help razor traveling expenses. Troupes are to travel without peraonal aesasry. iiouse sets only to be used. Towns in line for franchises are Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, De- troit, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kan- sas City. Des Moines, Omaha, 6t. Pauf, Milwaukee, Gary and South - Bend, the last two split weeka esvaral looatlona have already to Join, among them Chi- This city would no duobt be represented by the Irons house. For once tho discussion of a mid- , west burlesque circuit is not re- garded as mere talk. The forming Is practically'a certainty, pending negotiaUon wHlr tiia> S ia a a »an- tloned cities. It is expected the principals in >aia seal will maka public tbdr in- ientloni wltbin tha next fciif fMts. Thatcher's Show Off James Thatcher's show, "Round iha Work*," current at ttat Otfun^- bla. New Tork, wlthdra s aS a wheel attraction Saturday. The former Mutual show, "Be Happy** renamed "Step Along" will take up the aonUjaiattad th a ■ Th a t - kher show. New England Shows Make Jnmps Despite Flood The New England floods did not prevent any of the Columbia o*- Mutual shows in that section from making their usual Monday open- Inj. A numb'^" of shows, ho jr, were forced to cover additional mile, age. The Carrie Fennell show (Mutual) In going from Montreal to Boston had to come all the way to New Tork to make Boston. "Pretty Babies,** due to reach Montreal from Schenectady, went around by the way of Utica* "French Models" went from Boston to Wor- cester and "The Kandy Kids" got through safely from Worcester to Springfield. smESQUE Rouns MINN. DROPS CENSORSHIP Johnson Withdrsws Ordinance— Oayaly Qola Now Lieenso Minneapolis, Nov. 8. The move to bring about official censorship of theatres here died a speedy death. Stating that he had come *'to the reaUsaUon that cen- sorship would bo Impractical,'* Al- derman Victor Johnson, leader in the fight to close the Gayety (stock burlesque), has withdrawn his ordinance Johnson admitted he was brought to such a realization by newKp.ti>er editorials and frienda However, he served notice that, as chairman of the license committee, he will act as an unofficial censor. , After the city council granted a new license to the Gayety, to enable that house to resume Its former burlesque stock policy with the same company prosant before the house was closed, each alderman received a soasoB pass to the show* housa Alderman Johnson and John Swanson, who Instituted the move to revoke the former license, mailed back their passes. They say that when thoy wish to Ylew a Gayety preformance for unofficial censorship purposes they will pay. GRAY MATTER By MOLLIE GRAY (TOMMY QRAY'8 8I8TER> even oc- 3 MUTUAI^ RENAMED AND GOINfi GOLUNIUA Hill Drops Title With the new working agreement between tha Columbia and Mutual effective this week Gua Hill, oper- ating ••Bringing Up Father," car- toon show, decided to discard the title to save money on royalty. He ts shifUng bla sbaar tia'attialght burlesque. Hill has signed Fred Kamo to produce his *'Night in An English llttsie Hall** as one af tha features. The new Hill show will be styled "Peek A Boo" and will be In readi- ness to take up the present "Bring- ing Up Father^ tfana Dec • at ^tloa, N. T. Bedini Continuing , As a result of reducing his weekly ihow budget Jean Bedini and his "Gock-a-Doodle-SNoa* Co., opened again for Columbia at the Casino. Brooklyn, o i Tlcwday. Harry Rose 's band i.nd the "ukelle carpenter" Ifeavo basn dropped from tha pay- loll. Bedini has decided to play out the tsmalnder of th-^ Columbia time and bat CO Into YaudavUla. J. E. Horn and "William T. Cvisack have left the Kobbins Agency. Cusack goes with Harry Pa a rl as ssanwtaf Oeor— A. Lan- cry returns to hin fomOT J^OSition as Rs>bbins' assistant. Cvs Jessaya Is bookln* tha 0ISla Jubilee Singers through tba picture houses of the east. This organixa- Mon also Includes the Elida Webb <3hri8 and tba Xwa BMl Dota. COLUMBIA Weeks of Nov. 7 and 14 A Perfect 36—Palace, Baltimore; 14, Gayety, Washington. Around the World—Columbia, New York; 14, Co. closes. Bare Facts — Gayety. Pittsburgh; 14, Olympic, CincinnatL Be Happy*-^ O.; 14, Smplre, Brooklyn. Bright Byeo-^^yety, Toronto $ 14. Co. closes. Bringing Up Father—U O.; 14, Gayety, Toronto. Burlesque a la Carte — Olympic, Cincinnati; 14, Empire, Toledo. Cock-a-Doodle Doo — Casino, Brooklyn; 14, Casino, Philadelphia. Dancing Around—L,. O.; 14, Miner's Bronx. New York. Flying Dutchman — Gayety, Buf- falo; 14, Gayety, Rochester. Foolln* Around — Miner's Bronx, New York; 14, £hnpire. Providence. Gaieties of IttS—Empire. Provi- dence; 14, Casino, Boston. Here We Are—Casino, Boston; 14, Casino, Brooklyn. Hiph Hat Revue—Casino, Phila- delphia; 14. Palace, Baltimore. Kongo—Umpire^ Newark; 14, Co. closes. Let's Go—Gayety, Boston; 14, Co- lumbia, New Tork. Nothlng'but Girls—Gayety, Wash- ington; 14, Gayety, Pittsburgh. Snyder. Bozo—Empir% Brooklyn; 14, Empire, Newark. Tip Top Revu^—^L. O.; 14, Gay- ety. Buffalo. White Cargo—Gayety, Rochester; 14-1«. Colonial, Utica; 17-19, Capi- tol. Albany; 21, Co. closes. Wine, Women and Song—7-S, Co- lonial, Ctjca: 9-10, Capitol. Albany; 14^ llayaty. Beaton. MUTUAL Band BoT Revue—L». O.; 14, Em- press. Chicago. Banner Burlesquers—7-8. Geneva; 9-10. Oswego: 11-12, Schenectady; 14. Gayety, Montreal. Bathing Beauties — Corinthian. Rochester: 14-15. Geneva; 16-17, Oswego; 18-19, Schenectady. Big Review — Grand, Akron; 14, Garden. Buffalo. Bowery Burlesauers—Lyric, Now- ar'-: H. Hudson. Union City. Ffnnell. Carrie—HowarOi Boston; 14. State, Sprlncrfleld. Follies of PlPV"''«—I>yrlc, Day- ton: 14. Emnrr»B. ClnMnnati. French Models — State. Sprlng- ne'd; 14. 125th St.. New York. Prlvolitlea of 1928—Gayety, Brook- lyn: 14. Ljrrtc. Newark. Oinper Girls — Gavety, Kansas Citv: 14, Gayety, Omaha. Girls of the Follies — Olympic. New York: 1^. Orpho'jm, Pnterson. Gfrls from Hnnpylnrid—Hudson. T'nfon City: 14, Olympic, New York. Girl!^ of the V. S. A —5?tar. Brook- lyn: 14, Trocadero, Philadelphia. ftfi^pv Honrs — Onyety, Omaha; 14 r?'>rrick. Dea Moines. Hello Ppree — Garrick. Deff M'^fne!^: 14, Oay^, Mllwwultee. Hlph Flyers — Gavety. BaUlmore: 14. York. Pa.: in. AVoona; 17. r'umh'^rT'»i^d. Md : 18. Unlontown, Pfl : 19, Beaver Falls. P«. HfTh Tlfr" — Garrf'^k. St. l/ouls: 14 rjovotv. Karoas Gfty, Hollvwood Senndals — 7. Allen- town. Pa.; 8. T^ehanon; 9. Wllllams- nort- !'> Mnhanov City; 11-12, Rro^fr". P" • 14. Ti. O. Knndv Kids — Fmpress, Chicago; 14 rnrlillar'. TVtrolt. Jaz«tlme Revue—Gayety, Mllwau- ]^^' 14 ti. O. Lnfnn' Thni —I^Sth St.. Hew Tork; 14. Gavety. Brooklyn. MoonMffht M^Ids—7. Tork. Pa.; 8. Jj O.: 9. Altoona; I'). Cumborlnnd. ?<^d • 11. TTnlontown. Pa.; 12. Beaver Falls, Pa.: 14, Academy. Pittsburgh. "Bright Eyes," "Frivolities" and "Step Along" Swing Ovtr —Mutual^ Lone N. t< NiMie '. I.".' Three Mutual shows have liad everything set to complete their seasons as Columbia units. The three shows are. Joe Catalano's "Bright Eyes." renamed "Tip Top Revue," whlc»- started its new route this week (Nov. 7) in Toronto; Al Singer's 'VrlTOlltisa,'* rechrlstened "The Merry WblH," opening its Co- lumbia travels Nov. 21 at the Ca- sino, Boston; Sam Morris' 'Step Atong." restylsd "Ba Happy,* apsa- ing Nov 14. at tba Bttplra, Brook- lyn. The shifting of ths trio provides for the addition of two cborus girls to each show and augmenting of pi;incipals. The Torkville Casino. New Tork, was dosed' and the Olympic, N. Y.. was withdrawn from the circuit. Mutual is now playing only one house in New York, that being Hurtiff 4 ~^ 12(tb street Utliert as Barkers Chicago, Nov. t. The Star and Garter, playing stock burlesque with a feature pic ture and four showa daily, is using ushers as "barkers^ In front of the theatre. The shows rotate wssfcly With the Hialto. a loop house. GOLDBEBG DISBAISDS Jack Goldberg's "Darktown Scan- dals" (Columbia) tried to get the Alhambra. New York, which Mas been offering a colored stock policy. Tho Alhambra tenants, boWovar, de- cided not to disband but to HOfp at its stock going Indefinitely. Goldberg then decided to disband his troupe. -., Good Bill At Palace—Unwise Its SA unwise thing for the i alace to have a good ahow wislonally. it makes the differeneo too marked. w/a"r certainly displays what every woman would like 4o wear. His two velvet wraps lust week were exquisite, one of coral ^ownTe^.n?.l ^"^'.^"^ """^f • ^ ^ .u ^ other peaeh color elaborately furred with chinchilla and the back bea,l-embroldered. He waa any man's fancy in 5ioieI —. "Vl'*'^" ^."^ scalloped hem iinevt n and l«i S.,.?"" ****** floaUng from one shoulder. With an old-fashioned gown Eltinge wore a poke bonnet and followed this with an oriental cos- tume of ostrich plumes hanKin*: from a hoop of rhinestones held to the ^ . w ^ of more alonea. This oalled for a hate silver aaii ostrich headdreas and fan. ••"■^ ^ Jerry aiul hor Baby Grands are a pleasant sight with their four white pianos and themselves In white wigs, white taffeta frocks, only different to each other by the color of the hip and shoulder flowera. and suppers with tiny bows. The costumes of Billy House's "company^ must baVe been In con- stant u.^e since they played the Fifth AvOaiia"UMfUhf a^O. The audtt*' ence had a flne time during this sketch. Sylvia (Kola and Sylvia Co'.) wore blue satin and tulle trimmed with rosebuds and the same Silver wig with this as with a peach atfidlr orepe at the liniwh. The planiste. Maria Uaycelle, has peri^onallty i|Mr lltall aS. ability. Her frock was flesh color, beaded and fringed. \ ■ V^;^ Mama Diamond's Clothes At the State, the Four Uiamonds—Mama and Papa and two chips— may not be enough to make a flush but do a lot to entertain a full house. After removing her flame color velvet wrap witb It'e grey foa collar and prrey crepe lininp, Mama Diamond aanif |n a flesh color (j^eorgette with beaded bodice and full skirt. Her next gown was black with a small all-over trimming of crystal beads and ths rhinestones forming tba waiatline were not a atraight line but a Jngged one. Red flowers hanging from the waist were matched by slippers. The bodice of her ijrhite crepe frock waa also rhineatone trimmed and aome were acattered between the groups of eolored flowers on the skirt. Edwards and Rosita and four oastanet clickers scatter a few laughs as they dance. All costumes were ruffled and most of the ruffles were black edged. When the ahawia appeared two were white, and em- broidered In red and two blade Roelta baa lovely wavy bair wbidi. lUat hung loose, then In braids and finally held a tall comb which held ?, ber wblta iace m a n t i lla worn with a wbila laoa and apaiMlH^ ^BoetuaMb. A drtve Is on In tbe east for new mcmbera for the Intern.ational Photogrraphera of Motion Picture Industries, Local 644. alliliated with the I. A. T. 8. B. FTanois B. Zelsse is business representative with the local now located la West 45th street, N. T. C. Naughty Nifties—Academy, PltU- burRh; 14. Lyric. Dayton. Night Hawks—Gayety. Louisville; 14. Mutual. Indianapolis. Kite In Paris—Kmpire, Toledo; 14, Empire, Cleveland. Parisian Flappers—Strand, Waah- Inpton; 11, Gayety. Baltimore. Pretty Bablts—<;ajrety, Montreal; 14. Howard. Boston. Record Breakers — Orpheum, Pet- erson; 14, fJayety, Scranton. Social Maids—Mutual. Indianapo- lis; 14. Ganick. St. Louie. Fpeed Girlri—Cnrdcn, Buffalo; 14, Corinthian, Ilochcster. Step Along—Trocadero. Philadel- phfa; 14, Strand. Washington, Step Lively Girls—Empress, Cin- cinnati; 14. Gayety. Louisville. Stolen Sweets—Gayety. Scranton; 14, Gayety. Wilkes-Barre. Sugar Babies —U O.; 14. Star. Brook Ivn. Tempten*—Kmpire, Cleveland; 14. Grand, Akrem •late BITeet at The setting and costumes for t)^e Paramount's "Roumanian Rhapsody** last week were very picturosque and QeOTVe Btefaaesco's pijpi^ predated here as it was at the Colohy. * Mra. Jeese Crawford bandied the biff aoneele, as cleverly aa lMr liaa- band does, and delighted tho audience as alwaya Hers was a two* piece costume of sleeveless white satin blouse and black velvet skirt. "Shadowland" was dUcovered with a single row of powerful Uffhta outUnlnff the arch, putting the public In the brightness the stage usually needs and leaving the stage In darkness. The flrst Inhabltanta to ap- pear were bunnies with black bodies and ears, legs and tail white. The next was only ths head and shoulders In the blaOknestf but a flsa volaa she had. The Foeter glrla 16 of them In two rows, all In white sgalhst black velvet made their aerial ballet a graceful plaMll% at t i Mi a ft^^tef an Impression of eight figures reflected In water. f ^ The audience gasped at the perils of Pauline Alport at iMir^lMiala« piano. It acted* like the Spirit of St. Louia A speetaoular finish had the girls in white with elaborate headdresses of feathers a«d fringe a«l unevenly the length of the arms but bodices spangled. At the Capitol Capitol is celebrating Armi.<itlce Day all this week by opening Its pro- gram with "Stars and Stripes Forever" and following that with a techni* color film oalled *'The Fla*,** teilinff tbe atory of Ita adoptMa. If tha fem*nlne styles those days Iwd resembled today's who knows what kind of flag we wotild be cheering now since the story aays It was made from a petticoat of Betsy Uuss'a A beautiful tableau of nurses and sailors grouped nboat a apread asffle monuwettl Wflth the flag floatlnff back of them closed that patriotic effusion. Vincent Lopes and his orchestra did their bit later with an overture called "1776." with a church tower in the backgro'und to hold the two lights that fftttded Paul Revere, and tbat SiSei Mia a aMa abaiBMr doing 90 milea on the treadmill. Frances Shelley msde her self liked and her frock of t>eaded bodice and akirt of black edged lace ruffles with bow of fai velvet for aolor made a nice appearance. Red sllpperg worn matched the bow. Dolores Farrls do need cleverly In some pink crepa aa4 ep a a g l^ pink ostrich making the short skirt The Chester Hale Girls appeared first la blue eatin uaifonaa witb rsd tipped cocades on their hats and helped push the balloon bubbles that colonial ladies and genUemen on a ffUded atalrway playa4 Willi for the, finale, -..^ Jetts Goudal's Exotic Beauty Jetta Goudal Is the exotic beauty "The Forbidden Woman'* would be, and her gowna accordingly arc almoat oriental in their aplendor. Her favorite eaninge were large pearls, two In eaab ear* Bha evaa. wore a etill bigger one on her Index finger. A veil flosted back of her about two yards and the black tulle of a scarf wound about her neek so often it finally covered part of her chin. Spangles on an otherwise black net gown eovered not only the whole bdttloe but lanB •lii'M tea, Her night* gown was entirely of lace, even to the tiny cap sleevea Weight of her hair saems to be one of the reaaona ber baauttfiil chin is alwaya la the air. Victor VareonI and Joaepb Bdhlldkraut ara aplendid as tbe broihers and together with Miaa Goudal'a fascination are a relief from the epidemio of Alma Matera and war martyra. Thout;h how a soldier carried a 8ui)ply of initialed cigareta large enough to do him for months Is just aaatiMT wonder of tbe moviea. Orchettrs's Different Personslity In orange silk dress and pointed black hat. a l>ewltchlng singer in- troduced the Strand's Hallowe^en ballot. A phmpkln eovered most of tho curtain before which the black costumed even to gloves girls danced until the fact cut In It lit up and scared thorn away. lUta and Terke kept up the spooky spirit In their entrance in black capes and hats and also In their dance, a shadow effect adding to the occasion. Warlnp's Prnnsylvanlans delighted the audience last weelc with their "Collegiate Capcra" which included not only ein^rlng nnd band numbers but tossing a **fresble" in a blanket among Other things. These boys seem to have a distinct personalty different from ether orobeetrae. Good Thing From Chicago aw wa^iii ■ Hi t M ff i .^pf ^r n ^|,, j^tltnY "rt -"pa nf f f T i ***** thing.s heard from Chicago. The Frivolity Club Girls must have been slpht-seeing Thursday, since only Myrtle Allen In pomo Bpanirk-M and ostrich and silver cap apinared. A colorful background for the men was made up of alternating panels of brlttht color silks and silver cloth Hri' h with a solid baee painted in futuristic faablon and edged wHb black points.