Variety (Sep 1928)

Wednesday, September 5, 1928 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 55 Absent TPROA Members Demand to Be Heard A group of agents In Los Angeles, members In good standing of the T. P. -^'t have -written a com- munication to Secretary Francis Reld. of the organization, protesting against the summary demand upon Vlc^-Presldent Mitchell, to resign ■without giving traveling members a chance to be heard ort the subject. The Los Angeles group also re- cor(3ed its objection to any "gag rule" in the administratibn of the organization and concluded with this statement: . "When President Pidgeon recently ftttended .one. of our (Los Angeles) meetings, the question of likelihbod of dissolution of the TPROA came up, and it was the unanimous senti- ment of every member present that he would sticlc by the organization. , . You may serve this notice upon those members in New Yorlc Who may have in mind a plan to disrupt the TPROA, that we will oppose any such move in every legal way within bur power." Communication is sighed by 14 members, constituting the adminis- tration of "The Agents," Los An- geles agents and members of the Protectivje Association. AHEAD AND BACK . Ahead and back with "Mary t»u gan" are John Bilontague, ahead of the New York company, Charles Wendling, back; Ralph Kettering, ahead of" Chicago troupe, Charles Pinkernelly, back; John .Campbell, ahead of eastern corripany, Fred Mayer, back; O. B. Henseh, ahead of western company, Frank Perley, back; Dave Altman, ahead of south- ern company, Dave Posrier, back. Howard Gale, ahead, and Warren O'Hara, back, with "Dagger and the Rose." John Wallace, former Baltimore newspaperman, is doing special publicity for David Belasco, prin clpally magazine work. Arthur Levy, Belasco's" general press representative for several seasons, continues in charge.of that depart- ment. Harry B. Nelmes resigned as manager of Lew Fields Mansfield and is now house manager and treasurer of the Vanderbilt. Charles Gray, assistant, also goes over from the Mansfield. Leon Spachner and Arthur Wright, who handle the Vanderbilt box office, have switched to the Mansfield. Robert Edgar Long, press, agent with George Chbos* "Hello, Your Belt." Post Opeiis Frisco Capitol San Francisco, Sept. 4. After several months of darkness the newly decorated New Capitol theatre at last has an attraction Guy Bates Post will , open cold in ♦•The Play's the Thing," tentatively Bfet for,Sept. 16. Jack Brehany. Is handling the house. "Kongo" probably will fol low Post. "MAERIAGE" AT ELLIOTT "So This Is Marriage," sponsored by Paterson McNutt, supplants "Coquette" at the Maxine Elliott Sept, 17. It will have a three-day out of town break in preliminary to the New York showing. Cast Includes Violet Heming, Minor Watson, Juliette Day, Mai colm Duncan* Henry Whittemore Ruth Garland, Enid Romany, J.. H ■Brew^er; "Bruce Elmore and Joseph ine Lewis. Page Boy's Lambs Tale Not long ago an enterpris- ing page boy at the Lamb's was . In the habit of watching Dixon, Donohue, Boyle and other dancers do their stuff. He finally decided to try It and got himself into vaude- ville, unsuccessfully. He; has a doleful tale to tell. "Gee," he say's* "I wouldn't be broke if I could get some of ^ the money the Lamb's owe- me. Every time an actor came, in .the club he'd say, ,'Here Ijoy, lend me two bits- or 50 cents to pay off this cab,' I haven't any change.' "Guess they ow(3 me about 1200 through two bitten me to: death." Costly^ Postponement Atlantic City, Sept. 4. Premiere of "The Dagger and the Rose," the musical, version of "Thie Firebrand," was set back froni Monr day to tonight (Tuesday) at the Apollo. . The postponement was costly. The house had been sold out for Labor Day night and the house share of ?4,000 was charged; against the show. In addition* the Sunday night vaude concert was also bought by the show management for a scheduled dress rehearsal. 14 Stock Troupes Robertson Smith Stock t*layers will have troupes in 14 cities this fall. Definite, openings have beien set for Fall River, Cleveland, Bay City, Lexingtoh, Terre Haute, Alliance, Springfield, O., Warren, 0„ Ypfk, Allen town and Sandusky. Compa- nies are nov/ playing at Johnstown, New. Castle and Elyria. Some of these are reopenlngs from la.st season, haying been closed for the summer. PLAtSHOP HOMELESS Stamford,' Sept. 4. Just as the Actors' Pljiyshop of Stamford is getting a break with increasing patronage, the group must lease the Auditorium theatre which It had on a 12-week lease. Beatrice Maude director of the group is seeking another theatre unless further arrangements can be made, with the Women's Club which owns the theatre-auditorium. Alice Carroll, a sister of Earl Carroll, Is appearing with the stock group this week In "Dear Brutus." "TRAPPED" OUT PROMPTLY Chicago, Sept, 4. "Trapped," Shuberts' melodrama at. the Woods, registered a flop and will be taken off at the end of this week after three weeks. "Present Arms" will move into the Woods on Sept. 9. CAPITOL <Continued from page 39) keeps moving forward for location regardless of man, woman or man- agement. The break and the result- ant scurrying as the last stagp show started completely muffled Ostor- mann's opening sallies upstairs. Evidently told not to got too rough, Ostermanh couldn't resist the Mrs. Hoover-Al Smith Wliito House story and did the Pullman blackout of "one of you girls will have, to leave." Singing three sonss, one as, a four-minute eiVcoro with Miss' Lewis doing straight; hS.'ll find it better if cutting to two, . Few can linger for any great length of time within these vast interiors. But bstermann wox'ked fast. as a whole and dln't appear to be out- smarting the film patronage other than on the inside quips to the pit and front rovs... Doubtful if Oster-. mann would wear well as an m. c„ but for two, maybe three, weeks he's a new lease on energy which many a picture house stage could use. Ruby Keeler did well for herself oh a special mat and in a good look- ing abbreviated red ccstume. Two dances by this buck artiste, her opening routine the usual conglom- eration of steps and her second, a slow rhythm tap In need of doctor- ing. House liked her, probably on appearance as much as anything else, and she replied by. a couple of very nonchalant bows in the night club manner. Roseray and Cappela, adagio team, had a ballet in a garden set to blaze the trail and proved inter- esting. Opening band number led into a routine by the girls. They were once strikingly costumed in black and also did something of a stonip in a red arid white set. Miss Lewis, started the specialties doing a ballad, switching info a hot^second chorus, in a high register voice rem- iniscent of the boys who used to mega,phone the latest in melody at thie Polo Grounds as the series opened. B6twixt and between Os- termah was on and off, giving his tailor a break by changing ward- robe for the final show. . Overture was "Thirteenth Hun- garian Rhapsody" with» the pit crew splitting foE-the finale of ,the stage end, the dance combination being on, stage. If the eyesight Is right, now. drumming; for Roesner is the youth who used to do a cork- ing comedy and hot nance xylo- phone for Ben Bernie. Letting the rhythm get under his skin on Miss Keeler's second number, it was a toss up who to watch,, the dancer or the drummer. The latter seemed to fee having the best time. He muffles a mean cyi^bal. News weekly held to eight min- utes with about as liberal display of. credit as any Broadway house has held of late. International and M-G were In twice with Pathe, Fox and Paramount, each represented once,. Stage show ran 44 minutes and the "Our Gang" kids will be herein per- son week of Sept. IB. Plus "Cardboard Lover" (M-G) as. the screen leader, th^ro was nothing much the matter on this corner and that Includes biisiness. Bid. STOCK STICKING Dramatic stock will linger in- definitely at the Plaza, Engelwood* N. J., instead of the house revert- ing to vaudfilm Sept. 10 as pre- viously announced. Werba and Taylor installed the stockr the first legit outfit around there In several years. "BUZZ" WILL BUILD^IF Minneapolis', Sept, 4. "Buzz" Bainbridge, new lessee and manager of. the. Minneapolis and St. Paul Mctropplitah (road shows), has promised a new theatre in place of the Metropolitan for legitimate touring attractions next Bea;son. The promise, however, is condiltdnal upon adequate support of the road shows this season. CLOSING FOR CHANGES "Tampico" closes In Newark, N. J., this week for cast changes and revision. "Piece reopens in New Haven,. Sept 17, and comes into a New York house the fbliowing week. .Chi. 0. Recruits Chicago, Sept. 4. Chicago Treasurers' Assoclaition Local . No. 1 has taken Into Its ^or- ganization ail members 6f the Arl- ington race track treasurers. The association also succeeded in signing the ,Cubs baseball park 100 per cent while obtaining a .raise for the trea.surers there. Theatres Proposed rain<1«-n. N, .T.—Also omcoa. 11,250.000. Owner. Tox Film Corp, Architect. I.aokcvy & HflUPl. Ciitndcn, .Policy, Pl<'tu'"''-'':„„. ^ . aii«„ -Mionfr.. TtPAltv Grcon Itny, Wis.—Also Blore.s .and aj.lH. $400,000. Owner, ■A"^" J5»«?^re HeaUy =:Cfl...,^M^-JilWvWjl^^ Opcnliamer & Obel. Green Bay. ^%riln.°M''o'-("BlPctrlc) ?20,000. Own^rTaT^^b^r^hSriTK^^ tect, Trupman & MatintP, .Toidin, Policy not fflvcn, • t_„-»i«». Ocoftn rity, n; j;---(Al8i hotel .and p\CT) $4,000,000. Owner wl hheld. Location.. Hoardwalk. Architc't, G. Kclsipr. Npw York nty. rolu-y^not Riven Architect Vimn. HI,—(ALSO .More and hotpl) $100,000.- Owner, H. Tanner, Pana. Architect, Swan A. Clau.oen, I>ecatur, 111. Polii-y not »rivcn. mv,*„»,« -r Knrhelle 111—fAlso fltorpp) 1126,000. Owner, Rophelle Theatre Corp., B. BcV?e aPon tiry. nooh^ire\" Archltec't, E. F. .T^^r^^fv^^^'^'^rr^hRpi '''E?lUb'eTco St. Paul—fAelor. ,rem.). Owner. Klnkel.«teln & Kubcn. Archltpct, Lllerbe tc Co., "t. Paul, , „ V 6t. Paul—(Garrick, rem.). Owner, Flnkcl.stcllx & nubcn. GRANADA (Wir«d) (CHICAGO) Chicago, Sept. 1. Marks Bros, claim their inde- pendent status Is quite a handicap In the booking of first class pic- tures. They've taken the squawk to court, filing restraint of trade charges against Publlx-Pramount- B. & K. and practically anyone else you can think of offhand. In the meantime, they have Inaugurated a Greater Shows Season. Greater Shows Season Is the booking of name stage attractions powerful enough to make up for the alleged Indifferent screen stuff. Marks Bros., are going after the name attractions week after week for at least three- months; This week It's John Steel, next week Ed- die Cantor, and next Julian Eltinge. They have tried the Idea before, and made money with it. What Johrt Steel, the singer, means to a picture house audience on advance billing Is problematical. Benny Meroff, m. c.,. Introduced him by saying: ^'Listen folks, this inan is really a star from big shows like 'Zlegfeld's Follies.' Give him a real big hand." Plenty didn't know him, but they applauded. After hearing six of his numbers their , apprecia- tion was genuine. Little production thought was ex- pended on the Steel unit, the whole thing relying on him to carry it Title was "Welcome B6nny," unique but appropriate in honor of Benny Meroff's return from a short va- cation. Until the finale everything was routined before a set of vari- colored drapes covering rear stage Opening had the eight hou.sc girls knocking off a toe dance on large blocks at either side of the band. ^hen-Meroff-took-.hisj!r-elcD.ia£jiowfli broke into an eccentric hoofing routine, and played a four-foot sax as revelation of his numerous tal <?TitR. His versatility is unaues- tloned, Jimmy demons and Daroy, mixed dance team from revues, fallod to impress in a wobbly walk dance Inside Stuff-Vaudeville (Continued from page 34) It continuod fur half lunir or more. She did not run out of g:ip.s as she proccdod oai-h intruduotlon of the other players by a gag or two. Tlveso players simply oanio our. took a bow and let it go at that. Then an old timo two-rocl comoily actor who also had been in vaude- ville decided that ho would break off a little stuff himself. He came out and started sa.cKins with the stage band leader, who is one of the most popular on the ooast. The leader didn't respond enthu.siastioaily to the playcr'.s Joe Millers. The, player feeling himself . Hopping insisted on being given a violin and when none was prolWred he took one from one of the. orchestra men. The house manager after checking the entire personal .appoarahoe procedure on this particular night was very ;much perturbed, claiming it had taken up more than an hour, caused hlrh to refund money, besides, conipelling him to pAy overtime to stage hands, muRici.ah3:;ahd .operators..,: ■\Villiam Fox's sur.vey of the opei'atlhg staff.s of the Poll New Eng- land theatres is said to hav.d been disappointing to the Poli houses' new owner. Several., of. the Poli (former) .house managers will be replaced according to report. :. John Zanft, representing Fox and; in charge of the Poll houses, reported looking for available house men, although not deemed very liberal in salary offers by those so far approa.ciied. Keith's i?alace, New York; outfitted with uniformed male ushers, "young men of line character and refincnient," i.s handing out a smiEill pamphlet so describing the new'seat dlriectors and its "Service in Blue." While on the Palace- stiige Leonard Sillmari. kidded the ultra theatre sei-vioe along Broadway in a satirical song. In the pamphlet it says: '•The Service in Blue" is an innovation being introduced in theatres of the Keith-Albee-Orpheum . Chain, during this New Era In Vaudeville To give .our patrons the best in service by young men of fine character and refinement is our purpose. The attaches of this theatre are not permitted to'.accept fees or gratuities of any kind. The price of admission covers all advantages offered by the superior service of this theatre. The Manag.enient win consider it a favor to be advised of any violations of the above or mnj incivility or inattention by any member of Its service staff. A tactical move by Lew Leslie. figures In his booking of Jotinny Hudgins for his "Blackbirds" revue although the comedian Is not ex- actly needed. Rather than I'isk .some competitive colored entrepreneur annexing. Hudgin.s, Leslie signed him., The colored comic just returned .from Europe where he has been fo'r two seasons In Paris and Berlin, version holstered by vocal chouses from Clemons. Later Clemens drew real recognition with - a, stew song and dance impersonation, one of the niftiest bits of its kind, and forcing him into a speech here. Stutz and Bingham, mi.xed coniedy team from vaude, followed with heavy collec- tlohs on gags that have been fatherless for some time. Stutz gets , his best with plastic mugging and. a trick pair of pants that fall down. His partner harmonizes with him for a singing close. The team is good for picture houses. A concert version , of "Some of These Days," by the band, deserved its featuring. Merdff directs an 18- plece outfit. Steel followed, stand- ing before drapes with the band concealed. Classic deliveiTr of a ballad (.set hihi with , the house im- mediately, and the sixrbit custom- ers begged for five more folk songs and ballads before letting him go. Steel Is giving more than enough for the prices, and. is; creating a .great following. Closing act was Washboird Trio, a freak colored musical turn re- cording for Brunswick. Booked In oh a gamble, they clicked easily with hot harmony on banjo, wash- tub, washboard, jug and kazoos. A juvenile hoofer, of fair ability, added to the turn for Its stage tryout. Another novelty In the unit Is Meroff's manipulation of a radio receiver while the musicians Imi- tate ethereal noises on a darkened stage. Familiar In vaude and re- vues, and still full of laughs for the picture houses. Finale brought raising of the rear drapes to show chorines, peeking through star-shaped apertures'in a black velvet drop, with girl posed on a large moon lowered slowly to the stage. Film portion, held "The Grain of Dust" (Tiffany-Stahl), Eddie Pea- body and' "Prediction" on Vita- phone and Movietone news. Over capacity house Saturday night. Loop. UPTOWN (TORONTO) Toronto, Sept. 4, Building his whole show around a five year old master of corcmoniea Jack Arthur has them Jiking another of his "Kiddie Review^s" this week. Jack Rae is the curly headed blond lad who can stop the show whenever he feels like It, This lad has been training under Arthur for two year.s and knows no end of stage business of his own. Usual speech opon.s with a flash on four year old girl cootch dancer In one. Hoofing okay but voice not so good. Chorus of eight six yf;ar olds show.s good coaching by .Jean Hem.sworth. A military tap dancer is TieliC . Full set toy shop scene has an unprogramniod girl singing a nov city rhyme, "My Little Ooe Ge,c Gee," In mlfist of stuffed animals and other toys. Rube toggery but words and pantomime all .^trjilght. Cat.comes to life a.s anoth'-r four year old girl for an Imitative dance. House thought It cute. Sol Rae. older brother of the m. c, hands them a couple of mammy songs neither up to date nor ap- propriate. Well sung, however. Kid, about 16, in one of those Eng- lish school boy outfits. MaJceup bad. A garden scene with the eight kids in . flame ballot frocks .la s standout. Girls do well on t09 dancing. Flowers in garden archea lighting up. The m. c. took hold of the show here and put it over. ': "Oh Gee, Oh Gosh, Oh Golly I'm In Love" aa a sissy boy lammed them all. Hia kid can sing, dance, tell a yara or what have you ? His Harry Lauder bit, "Roamin' In the Gloain- In' " had them cheering. . Curtain on an Olympic Gamaa bit.. Drop shows stadium. Dozen kids In jerseys of different nations. Event Is the 400 metres. Yoiinc Rae, the m. c, smallest of the bunch,' cops. As Canada of course. Baca run with projection machines flick- ering a la slow motion. A fla# waving finish with other racem carrying kid off shoulder high. The band docs a. short overtura of Russian airs to accompany "Tha Patriot" (Par) and Is hack In tha pit under Lloyd Collins. Fox and Associated News ted minutes with tQore than >half taken with Third Wrlgley Marathon Swim for women, a local event of lamt Wednesday. Biz opened strong. Binclair, STATE (Wired) (MINNEAPOLIS) Minneapolis, Sept 1. In conjunction with "Street Angel,'^ which has been strong ehbiigh to'dravir"dn"tta~own account for the past fortnight, the State haa its least pretentious stage show in many weeks, It is an "overture presentation" and, in addition to tha 25-piece orchestra under' the mas- terly direction of John Ingram, uti- lizes but two singers, a soprano and tenor. The "gems" included Vic- tor Herbert's "The Dagger Dance^** Massenet's " Mdditaition" from "Thais," Wagner's "Ride of th* Valkyries" and the "Miserere" from "H Trovatdrc." . As a concession to those customers whose tastes da not run to the classics, there was a jazz windup. A violin isolo by a member of the pit orchestra featured the "Medi- tation" portion of the number and preceded tiie "Miserere" rendered by the two singers in -cost'.mo on a full stage with a prison setting. The soprano, Emily Day. and Julian Neville, the tenor, displayed good voices. The arrangement of the number and the playing by the or- '^Fox Movietone News, making Its local debut.- scored a hit, the Smith Inaugural address proving partic- ularly interesting. "Street Angel," the feature photoplay and a smash herpi completed the program. Busl- ne.ss fme. .