Variety (Sep 1928)

Wednesday, September 5, 1928 L E G I T I M ATE VARIETY Paul Robeson Faces Record Sentence By Equity; Won t Appear in Revue Colored Singer Returns Woman Producer*s Advance -—Wife Says Can't Sing Blues or Spirituals REVUE IGNORES EQUITY | ! Wright Piece Calls Itself "Vautle: Melange" and Gets By I Paul Robeson, now appearing In the lx)ndon production of "Show Boat" faces undeterminate suspen- sion'from Equity." Tho sust)onsion may extend aeveral years because of the possibility of Robeson re- maininc abroad in concert work. Tuesday the colored singer was temporarily suspended for 30 days pending Anal decision on a breach of contract on this side; Robeson, who has, warbled before Brtglish royalty, has taken the at- titude that to appear in a colored xevue over here is beneath his dig- ' hity. Last Janviary he signed a con- tract with Caroline Dudley for a colored revue which Miss Dudley plahs along artistic lines and which was dated for this October, He was to get $500 per week plus live per cent of the gross from $10,000 to |20i000 and 10 per cent thereafter. Miss Dudley bound the agreement by paying Robeson $506. Tlifough Florehz Zlegfeld, Robe- son was then engaged for Sir Al- fredt Butt's London "Show Boat" cast. Miss Dudley did not believe that would, interfere with his ap- pearance in her revue and she went ahead, securing backing and en- gaging actors. Late in July Miss Dudley advised Equity of the Robe- 60ri contract, fearing ho might not carry it out. Equity warned Robe- son that unless he did so he would be sufipcnded. A reply was received from the colored singer that he In- tended to make good but he sent the advance $500 to Miss Dudley who refused to cash the check, dbjects to Blues and Spirituals Last month Robeson's wife re- turned from London and conferred with Frank Gillmore at Equity. She said that Robeson could no longer sing blues, becauise of the voca.1 strain and that he also objected to warbling spirituals, too, not really being an actor but a concert singer. Robeson was given until last Sat- urday to send confirmation of the Dudley contract by cable but he failed to answer. Equity takes the position that while Miss Dudley Is an unkown - producer she is entitled to protec- tion In view of the production ex- penditure based on the expectation of Robeson's appearance. The col- ored singer might have secured a cancellation of the contract with the aid of Equity, it was explained, had he sought a release before Miss Dudley had started production. As it stands, he will draw the long- est suspension in Equity's history unless appearing In the revue. It is said Miss Dudley took an all-colored revue to Paris several seasons ago. Zieggy Reviving Trolic' Floor Shows With Cantor ^ Frolic theatre, atop xne New Am- sterdam, will be remodeled in line with the return of the "Midnight Frolic" policy and Ziegfeld will again present midnight perform- ances: tlreTe." Tire root's" first -floor will again have tables and a dance floor and there will, be a restaurant, to be operated by Christo and John Steinberg. : Several years ago the Frolic was converted Into a regular theatre at , a cost of .approximately $100,000, but it failed as an attraction house. Tho new "Midnight Frolic"' show will feature Eddie Cantor and George Olisen's band, doubling from "Whoopee." This show shortly suc- ceeds "Rosalie" at the New Amster- dam. ■ », Author to Director An English playwright, now. in. New York, casually con- versing with an American stage director of current note, said, speaking in a general wa.y: "If you ^^E^re directing a play of mine, I would not permit you to touch the dialog with- out my permission. "For this reason: that while I may know but little of dialog, I'm certain that I know more about it than you," ■ "Deuces Wild" is the title of Andy Wrighfs. non-Equity musical whloh ijowii in in Baltimore Sept. 17 prior to coming Into New York two weeks later. Wright escapes Equity super- vision through declaring his show a vaudeville melange and casting with non-Equity members, mostly from bui'lesque and vaudeville. Tommy (Bozo) Snyder, Mollic Williams and Mannic King form tho featured trio. Ruby Keeler's Married ; And if >fot, Why Not? HOPKINS'"MACHINAL" MIRRORS SNYDER CASE Washington, Sept. 4. Is Ruby Keelcr, tap dancer who is going into Ziegfeld's new Eddie Cantor show, married or isii't she? Miss Keeler's own statement is tha;t the event took place Friday while she was playing the Pox (pets). Back of this was the flash- ing throughout the week of a very handsome engagement ring; nu- merous long distance calls from Manhattan and a daily telegram. On Friday the engagement .soli- taire was augmented, by a wedding ring displayed -yvith pride back stage while in the company of .her cousin, a local girl. Miss Keeler took the congratulations of the stage gathering becomingly. Where- upon the "invi.sible master of cere- monies" introduced her to the audi- ence as a "nowlywed" and the or- chestra played eight' bars of the wedding march. Miss Keeler gave the lucky man's name as Costello and place of resi- dence as Manhattan, intimating that he had returned to Manhattan fol- lowing the ceremony performed by the Rev. Father O'Grady of the Catholic University here. Miss Keeler said later it was "all a Joke." The "joke" part develop- ing when the newspaper scribes wanted more details. She then said this wedding ring belonged to her cdiisin. Cousin, however, didn't play straight, denying the allega- tion and informing Miss Keeler that she had talked too much. Further a check by reporters dis closed no license issued to a Cos tello and Miss Keeler. Also the Rev. Father O'Grady, of the Cath olic U„ had been out" of town for three weeks. "Machinal," Arthur Hopkins' lat- est which bowV In at the Plj*mouth, New York, tomorrow (Thursday) night is a dramatization of the Ruth Snyder-Judd Gray murder case, ' ' ', ; • Hopkins has held the nature of the play under cover with cast even forbiddeh to talk about or dis cuss the theme a,nd with nothing getting out to the press. . "Machindl" has for its central character a counterpart of Ruth Snyder, the Queens Village, L. I husband slayer., Her execution is the^ play's climajc. "Machinal" , was, authored by Sophie Treadv/ell, former news paperwoman, who covered the Snyder-Gray trial unofl^cially, Hop- kins is said to have tilso had a hand in on the script. Watters Signs for 2 Yrs. With Par.; Can Do Shows Los Angeles, Sept. 4, George Walters, author of "Bur- lesque," has signed a new contract with Paramount, He remains as a writer for two more years. New agreement allows Watters five months a year in which he is permitted to do outside play- wrlghting and producing. The other seven months are to be spent at the studio. Watters leaves for New Ifork .shortly where he will cast his new show "So This Is Life." He was unable to get the proper types for the play in Hollywood, He begins his new contra.ct Jan. 1, Big Legits Holding Back on Talkers Talking ,,iil.'t lire makors \s Uh Tho.so si)0(.ii»l!-'ing in dialo.i;. pictu'-f^s prin'-ipally con<"''M-n>Ml, say tho bipiior legits aro not wildly anxious to negotiate for dialog piftun^s just now. T'heir main reixson as ad- v.inood is that the dialog talker at presoht is too far from ih^^ir idea of pi rCootion in the now vogue for them to chan<'.e nahif and fame on that kind of a soroen. Some havo stated thoy will await a honor toehnlquo in di- alog production; othors have niprely doi>lined, while some bthers hiivo entered into talkor contracts. Another reported opinion of the legits l.s that a one-time picture dialog contract la pref- erable to an *»xolusive term agreement with any one talker maker. MACLOON, JANE COWL CUSH ON MONEY CLAIM r Mgr. Says It's Loans—Actress Avers 'Twas Salary Paid For Services Unpaid Chorines Stage Riot on Payroll Delay Los Angeles, Sept. 4, One hundred militant chorines whb appeared in Max Thomas hefsky's "Joseph, and His Brethren" at the Hollywood Bowl;. Aug, 26. staged a near riot of such violence that the police were called out, when they, stormed Thomaphefsky's office at the Capitol, a downtown theatre here, the night following'the performunro, and failed to collect their salaries.: ThomashoiKky attempted to ex plain that his baokor andi co-pro ducer, Abe Rubin, owner of Ma jostic .Show I'rint Co., had prom- ised to he on hand with the nioney, hut had failed to. put in Art appeal ance, whereupon the uproar started and. producer took refuge in the box olhce until the police arrived. Thomashofsky promised to have the money the next night and the 100 came, prepared to stage another demonstration, but it proved un necessary. The nioney was forth- coming and everybody went away happy. Osterman or Baker? Jeanne Eagels' Talker Paramount has sign<'d Jcanno TO.agols to be featured in "The Lo't- tor" as a talker to be made on the coast, and (Jeorgo Abbott to write, and. /ij.r(M:t_..talking jiii/tuiT at Paramount's Long Island stuino. According to information, Walter Wangor concluded the arrangemont.s with Abbott this woek. Mi.ss KageKs leaves.for Hollywood iho end of the month, but prodiic- lion on "The Letter" may bo switched to the ea.st If wiring is- "omplv'tod on this tnd in tJnio. Chorister Sues Doctor Because of Leg Scar Miarlon Lane, of the "Rain or Shine" chorus, and formerly in' vaudeville with Fred Berrens (not to be confused with the Lane Sis- ters) is suing Dr. Louis Wolfe, 325 W, 45th street, for daniages as a result of an allegedly permanent in- jury to her right leg, . . " MiKS Lane-visited-Dr; Wolf« for electrical baking treatments for torn ligaments suffered in a fall. About a year ago a deep burn was caused. The chorister states she waited this long, at Dr. Wolfe'.s suggestion, that it would take time to heal, but .she, complains the scar is visible from the front of tlie house and is a professional handl cap. Herman Mendes, Wbolworth building, is Mi.ss Lane's attorney Miss Churchill, Talkers Marguerite Churchill, who has hcon rapidly coming a.long in legit l(-ad rolos has gone under contract for Fox talking pioturcp. Miss nuirchill will ropoyt to W. R. Sheohan on tho Fox Hollywood lot sboilly ;iftcr Of-t. 1. EARL CARROLL SAILING Earl Carroll and his toi;biii<;.'i.l ui- rootor, B<.'rnnrd Lolimullcr, f-ail for Paris on tho ll^ d.> France i.hi.'^ .S-at- urday for a brief vaootion, Th'y will be bai'.k in .four wrf-k.*-. Carroll i.« r".'Hiyiv'iJ..,a booi; (•<.iJ.< <iy for winirT prodnviio'i^. Whether or not Jack Osterman or Phil Baker will star in "The Cabaret Boys" has yet to be deter mined. The Shuberts have both under contract. Originally, Sammy ,ShIpman and John B, Hymer wrote the piece foi- Baker and his partner, Sid Silvers, but these two may go into one of the Shubert .revues, "Night in Venice," Abe Lyman Is spoken of as the band attraction with "Cabaret Boys," all handled through Lyons & Lyons. Frances Shelley Well Albany, N. Y„ .Sept, 4 Frances Shelley, injured in an automobile- accident, has been re leased from Albany ho.spitaJ_ and has returned to New York well again and able to resume her stage career. Miss Shelley was hurt when a car in which she and Beth Milton, al.so a member of "Rain or Shine," hit a tree and overturned on a road hoar Glen.*} .Fails more' than, two months ago. Miss Milton recovered earlier, Beth Milton, Miss Shelley's com panion on the ill fatod motor trip, recovered sooner but is still too .weak to return to.the stago. Mli-s Milton'ji eyesight Is slightly iiri paired and It will take timo for htr complete recovery, COHAN SIGNS SARIN Charles H. Sabin, formor part' n( r of r>arl).ara B(!nnett, has Rij;ii':a to di-nce with Polly Walkor in Coc-rge Cohan's, new muniral ---I>i-1]-*. /'^- — ^ - S;ibin o-nd BMinctt dissolved their r;ir«n<rship aflor appearing at thn , N'.-w York, somo wc-ks ago. !l<iJi/in'H that SabIn wa.s to r< i."am I w itli JClonora Aloxandf-r, widow of , U-.e iate Maurice, prompted Mif^v. ' Bt-rnott to demand a long torm <on- ItK'.rt I I c'.'-c, and n.he elscd. Salvin Leaves Mayan Los Angeles, Sept, 4 Sam Salvin will give up his Jiease on the Mayan theatre Sept. 15, when "Cood News" closes its local run .and moves to the Curran, San Fran Cisco, George MUnker Watters, co-author of "Burlesque" and. recently a sce- nario writer, will take the house for his new play, opening Sept. 24. Taliaferro Aerial Pup Minneapolis, .Sept. 4. In order that her dog would not have to be crated and ride In a rail- road baggage car, ISdIth Teliafcrro, Bainbrldge Players (dramatic stook) leading lady at the Shubert, flew with the pup from Chicago to Min- neapolis on one of the regular planes now In service between the two cities! Miss Tialiaferro neglected to tell the theatre press agent about this trip,. A Tribune reporter, howevw, got the yam from the airplane com- pany; L.)S Angflcs, Sept. 4, Ak an .artt^rmaih of , his t rouble. with Ktiuity, which resultod in the Equity ban being placed iipoh him throe years ago, Louis Macloon, the- alrical producer, filed suit against Jane Cowl to recover )4,375 Of an alleged debt. Mis.s Cbw^l's ehgage- ment in "The Hoad to RomeV closed at the Belasco Sept, 1. . Macloon .illegos he advanced $10,- 000 to Miss Cowl April 28,, 1925. whilo she was playing in one of his produotlons on tho Pacitic coast, under agreement wliereby she was. to repay, at the rate of $1,260 week- ly. Before the amount had been fully, paid off, Macloon tangled with Equity, with the result Equity or- dered Miss Cowl to leave his show. This she did, and now avers any further claim Macloon alleges he has upon her should be settled be- tween the producer and Equity and she.,has nothing to do with it. Macloon tried • to attach Miss Cowl's salary at the Belasco olllce, only to learn that her salary is paid in New York and she receives only expense money on tour, Isador Kornblumi, attorney for Misa Cowl,, and representative of Actor.s' Equity Association in JjOS Angelesi stated thiU the actress de- - nied that she had ever boiTowed any money from Macloon. "Before consenting to start a sea- son in California. under Macloon's management in 1925," he said, "Miss Cowl demanded that one-half of her .salary be deposited in advance, the rest to be paid during the pe- riod of playing, "Through Mr. Macloon's refusal to meet his obligatibiii to several members of Miss Cowl'^ company, the Actors' Equity Association re- fused to allow these members to act for Mr, Macloon, Miss Cowl was,ready and prepared to go on with her performance, but was un- able to do 80 without a company to play with her," The box office of the Majestlo theatre, housing "The Db.<jert Sbn^," produced by Lillian Albert.soh, wife of Macloon, was attached, for .sev- eral d4iyB last week, on a claim for $2,000 filed aigainst Macloon, et al, by S, P. Wood. James T. Boyle, attorney for Wood, stated that the claim was an assigned one for attorney's fees. The box olllce receipts were re- leased when the defendants posted a bond. GLEASQN'S SON Dff FILM Los Angeles, Sept. 4 Russell Oleason, 20, son of James Gloason, playwright, makes his screen debut In "Shady Lady" for Patho, Robert Armstrong, friend of tho (Jloason family, and featured in the pictin-e, sold the idea of giving the younfc-ter a chance. Wisenfreund, Jewish Art Player, Signed by Fox Los Angeles, Sept. 4, Munio Wisenfreund, member of the Jewi.sh Art .PlaycrH, has been put under a five-year contract by Winnie Shechan for Fox. He la due here Sept, 15. Sheehan recently to'ok sOme char- acter tests of the actor, concluding with a Jckyll and Hyde to movie- tone. Sheehan now contemplates starring him In a series of four pictures a year with a possibility that the Jokyll and Hyde thing, as a talker, will be. the first. Actors Ignore Mail Lo.s Angeles, Sept. 4.. Actors forgot where th^'y livff, ■'lavo no tf-h'iiliones and never read. ilKrir mail, according to 'Ch;irlf.i Mi)icr,-.r< j)r<'soT.itativc of the Actors' Equity A.s.'-iooiation hero, - There are about 300 unclaiini'd Ictiors awalLiijg call at ti>« Equity oin<:e at 0412 Hollywood boulevard," .said Millor, "and If any important (.•ornminiicat.'oii arrivod from^ tho mcdiaTi'; noii"li<-;iLMon of alTbur m'-m- bor.s, many would go unnotifi<;d duo to tho .•iiitiquat"d aUdrof^.s*-.'! we have of ihcni," IIo urgf'd an irom'-diato rliccl.up l;y w< ,"-;t i iiK-inb'rs of tho (jr- j.'ai.i-/-alion who Iwiv.c-cliaugi d lh<-ir Lurie^ Turns Boniface Sah Francisco, Sept, 4, Louis Lurle, erstwhile local the- atre owner and well known as a realty operator, . has. turned hotel owner. Last week he closed a deal tak- ing over the owner.shlp of two Port- land hotels, the Mallory and the Sovereign at a cast of $1,000,000. He's.going to operate them himself until ho finds a buyer. Rambeau Signs Kun Fraiici.sco, S.opt. 4. Marjorio Ramhcau Jias boon signed by .Ho^iry Duffy to open at fho Al'-.-isjar >n'ro S'-pt, 23 In "An- tonio." T'rodiji'tion rcplacf-.s Duffy's "Tonnny," .wl)i'-h will have 12 woks "Dai.sy Miiym-' is a Jhip .at the I'ffsl'Ii'iit and v,iU l-o wlihdrawu Sfpt. 8 ari>'r thr(i' av..<i:,s; "J;ad- fcat.iring Uxhort ^tr-Qu-ado, Ivsill f'llif'W. others in oast include ^;;,^|;,■ \V). !♦ Mi.'i p, Zfffio Tjl«bury I and (."hurl' • (Jol' iii.'m,