Variety (May 1929)

Wednesday, May 1. 1929 TIME S SQUARE VARliETy 53 Stories by Jack Conway From 1920, enyyard, Jack Convyay vi/rote it lepies of stories appearino in Variety.' Mostly the stones dealt with baseball and prize fighte, players and puea< This series is reprinted weekly. Story below appeared CON'S TOMAW SLIPPED PHONY DEAL UP-STATE Had to Fight "Dwarf" Jones, Two Judges, Referee and Manager's Wife—K. O'd CON Albany, March 23. Dear Chick: Tomato and me are thlnkln of blrlD a room in some quiet hotel and cuttin each others throats. We have been get tin such bad breaks lor the last coupla months we're both convinced the other is poison or Jlnx- ed. I made a patch here for the kid with a eap called "Dwarf" Jones, who cant flght any t>etterthan ' your elster and accordln to all tl:a dope is the ' softest kind of a setup for any good puncher. This Jones Is as wide open as a barn door and dont know Ills right hand from his left, but little did I know I was matchin my murderer to fight Jones, the referee, the two judges and the club owner's wife. It seems Jones blew Into this burg unknown and was lucky enough to K. O. a local boy In the first round. The promoter's wife takes a shine to the kid and al- though the big guy knows the kid eant fight a lick, his wife Insists he ■ give him plenty of work and all ! the other odds that go with the lease. Well we walk right Into this ar- , pangemcnt without knowin a thing about the layout. But to get down to business. They finally get In the ring. I took an extra good look at Jones' bandages, and sure enough all he had under the tape waa a penny between each knuckle. They havent though' of that since John Ii. was a lightweight. I told Jones to turn Ms dough over to the club treasurer, and after peekin betleath bis stool and not flndtn an auto- matic, I said "let er go," they cant pull nothin now but drop th« roof •r turn out the lights if my bird is wlnnln. Tomato went right out to stop this bird as soon as possible, for 1 was leary that we werent out of the woods yet. Believe mo brother I was double right. In the third round Tomato copped this tramp «n the jaw and down he went. The referee dont start no count and I start to climb In flio rl -when To- mato waves me back. The ref. Is talkin to him and I hear a gee In Jones cornpr yellln "fowl." I dK"...t think theyre was a human bean who didnt see the punch right puiack on the luitton as clean as a new undershirt, but I'll smoke a herring if that guy wasnt bawlln "Tomato" out and warnin him not to hit low. He kept up the monolog while Jones seconds were sprlnUIIn him with wate- r- ; throwln stulT In his pan 'till they finally brung him to In time to get up behind Tomato *ho was arguin witb tlio guesser. Jones secin Tom.atoes back turned pulled one from out of his shoe tops and dropped my meal ticket right hefor© my eyes. Can you picture that close up? I was afraid to throw any aqua or I would have been dis- qualified for that's what they were layin for, and Tomato looked as though he wouldn't be up In time for breakfast unless somebody lifted him, but he's got plenty ot guts. Jesse James started to count over J>lm and I'm afraid he'll give him a fast one so I start ycllln "fowl" and arguin about dl.squalifying Jones. He skipped a couple of numbers but luckily my onion Is -baclnm-Uigmtre-bPforo-tcnr—He^s- awful Weak but ready for anything. Jones dives at, him and buts him over the eye cultin a ga.sh you could put your hand Into. The ref. paid no attention and when the guy In the gong box piped Tomatos logs tvobblln he let the round go 7 min- utes. Between the rounds I worked like a maniac over the., kid and had HANDY MAN KILLED Robt. McLaughlin, Fooling in Car- roll Theatre, Falls Down Shaft Robt. McLaughlin, Scotch handy- man of the Carroll theatre building, New York, was instantly killed on Saturday when he accIdentaUy fell down the elevator shaft from the second floor, brealiing his neck. Mc- Laughlin had Just received his pay envelope and was Jestihg with a window cleaner on the first floor. McLaughlin playfully ran up the steps, the window washer taking the elevator to catch him. They met on the second floor. As Mc- Laughlin laughingly kicked a ba.<3- ket from fala friend's hands, he leaped toward the elevator, then between floors. . A colored boy operator heard him scream as he lost his balance and plunged to his death. McLaughlin left a wife and tlu'ee children. Lewis Reed Forgot All About Remarks to Cops "I am a big man. Tou. will be a cop no longer '■ than today. I have .powerful friends in the police de- 'partment," said Lewis Reed, self- styled vaudeville actor, of the Hotel Somerset when arrested by Lieut. Johnny Brpderlck, bead of the Gangster Squad, and Bill KIrwiii, his aide. Reed was in a speolc at 60th street and Broadway. He emerged with bis wife. Dot, and a chum, George Ross, of 27 West 11th street, Rose's hand was bleeding, said the cops. They inquired how he re- ceived his injury. It was then that Lew began to be rate tlie sleuths. Mrs. Reed was about to step into her auto. Brod- erlck and Kirwin aaked to see her license. That riled Lew. Again he cautioned his party to be silent. "I demand to be locked up," said Lew. He was taken to the West 47th street station,' and the following morning in West Side Court said he remembered nothing. Got oft with a suspended sentence. JACK BLUE IN COURT Convinces Judge Daneer's Sprained Side Not His Fault "Your Honor, I am not respon- sible for the complainant's sprained Bide. I am willing to continue to give her dancing lessons as I con- tracted," said Jack Blue, dancing Instructor, 231 West 61st street, to Magistrate Well in West Side Court. Blue was summoned to court by Laurette Fisher, 26, who contracted for a six months' dancing course at Blue's. She paid Blue 176, she as- serted. She had taken four lessons when something went wrong with her side. Miss Fisher said she went to her family physician and he cautioned her to refrain from dancing. It was then she carried the talc to Blue, asking for her money back. Blue declined. He told the Court that he was hot responsible for what happened to Laurette's side. The Court agreed and dismissed the summons against Blue. him In pretty good shape for the opening of the next. I knew he could take Jones any time now barrin accidents so I sent him out to cop in a punch. He tore into Jones and in less than half a min- ute dropped him for a count of four with a right hook that didn't travel more than six. inches. Jones come up weak and rplllng his head. To- mato stepped back and measured him with a right that tore his head near off and he started to sink like a punctured balloon. On. the way down he took a punch at Tomato which was as low as the bottom of the ocean and down they went in a heap botlt out as cold as mackeral. The referee paid no attention to the scrj?ams of the crowd about "foul" but picks Jones up oK the n o or~a n d-oholdln_him_.un^n der j)nc_ arm, counts Tomato out before my eyes. If you dont believe me read the Albany papers. So help me Genlevc I'm froln to rematch them and have Tomato plant a gat in his tights with a maxim silencer and croak this egg. Remember what I told you. Your old partner. Con. Nite Chb Reporters Broadway's nlte club re- porters arie ioJd^pair. For sev- eral nights npw^hey have been getting Into bed before six in the morning. One all night reporter's wife is; becoming Impatient. She wants to know why her hus- band can't keep his regular hours, at home at 10 in the morning instead ot six as he has been doing. That reporter can't explain; his wife just says, "so now you are being barred out of the joints, too, eh?" It's Grove's $ o'clock revival. All of the nite clubs believe In that hour now.. A couple of cops show at 2:46 to remind Uiem. After 3 to a nIte club reporter is time killing time. There's nothing left but the speaks. Rather than go home to empty beds or irritable wives they are going into the speaks. In the speaks they buy and you buy and when you buy you drink, just to keep the house from getting the edge. A first class nite club re- porter won't go into a speak. So the reporters have convert- ed themselves into the second class, until the good old late hours return. Xhasmg' Stallion Upsets Park Bridle Path West Side Court looked like a riding academy when equestriennes in riding habits called to hear Mag- istrate William Dodge rule whetlier a stallion is an unsafe animal to have on the bridle paths, while horses of other genders carry their fair ones. The courtroom was jammed with lovers of horses and devotees of the bridle paths of Central ?ark. Oscar Hauter, ot Hauter's Riding School, was the man summoned. Hauter came to court with his atto-.tey and a group of riders to testify that a stallion Is just as safe as a mare or gelding. The complainant was Mrs. Eidythc Snellenberg. Charge In the sum mens was disorderly conduct. Attorney Walter Kohn described the actions of the sorrel stallion. He said Hauter bad three. Kobn said that no other stables.send stal- lions for riding purposes. The particular Incident where Mrs. Snellenberg of the Philadelphia department store family and who resides at 161 West 64th street was that 'one of Hanter's stallions had been attracted to a mare ridden by a young girl. The stallion became almost un- manageable. The girl rider jumped off. Hauter, not far away, had to keep the stallion in check, said tlic witnesses. Hauter denied the charge. An attorney who appeared for him stated that it was a light form of ppr.secutlon. Decision was withheld. Mrs. Jenkins Didn't Report Auto Accident—Convicted ' Mrs. Annette Jenkins, 22, former film actress, of the Hotel Ogdcn, 60 West 72nd street, was convicted in Special Sessions for falling to re- port an accident. She was released under $500 ball for sentence on Fri- day. She can receive a maximum term of three years in the Peni- tentiai-y. Mrs. Jenkins was arrested early last Christmas morning at 10th ave- nue and 34th street, after, accord- ing to the police, her machine had struck and killed William Cough- lin, 65, of 606 West 49th street, at 10th avenue and 48th street. The former actress was tried for man-, slaughter before Judge Nott. in General Sessions a month ago but the jury disagreed. She is under $5,000 ball pending a new trial on this charge. At hcf trial Mrs. Jenkins declared she did not know she had struck anyone until an ofllcer stopped her niachine at 34th street. .She said It had been snowing at the time of the accident FREEMAN BERNSTEIN'S IDEAS ON LIBEL Could Sue Varlety-^Then Split on Settlement—No Trouble and No Trial Nicotine Posters Out Sioux City, la., April 30. At a meeting of the town council, a resolution was passed prohibiting the posting of cigarette advertise- ments on billboards In the town limits of SJoux Center. "Listen, bo, don't forget that 1 own some friends. And they have been talking to me about these Variety stories. They are all libels, they soy, and I'm going to sue you." Freeman Bernstein, again, In per- son, with a new cigar and a fresh pearl grey spring coat. "Not going to go back to the tracks, are you, Freeman, in that make up? The books will ask you to take up some markers the way you're looking,"- Variety's reporter said. "Don't try to laugh this olT," re- plied Freeman. "I'm a serious guy. I didn't mind them stories when I was shocstrlnging but now I'm right on the edge of hot dough and you'ro hurting my credit. Tou can't say them things about me witliout paying. I've been a chump to wait so long. Full of Tricks "One of my friends is a lawyer, smart aleck. 'Guess he's an ambu- lance chaser but he knows the tricks. He says: 'Freeman, let me sue that Variety for libel and I'll give you half of all I get.' "Ain't that nice. £asy, too. So I says to myself: 'Freeman, If that muzzier thinks It's so easy and wants to split with you, why don't you try to do business with the Va- riety guys direct?' "So here I am. I'D sue and we'll settle. No trouble and no trial. Be- cause I got you piped on these stories don't mean a thing to me if you want to listen to reason. Wise oh Libel '4 dope it out this way and don't cross me with that lawyer. He's got something on me from away back and I can't afford to be In wrong with him. But here's my way. Yon must know a lot about libel. Every year or so I hear the Shuberta have a libel suit against Variety. Why don't you settle with them. They're nice boys, too. Bet t could do business with them birds. '^ell, this is it. With so much libel around you must have one of them old kind of papers they serve. You give me one and I'll have May copy it Then I'll sue you, couple ot hundred thousand or whatever you say. "After I sue you, you write me a letter. Like this: "•Dear Mr. Bei-nstein: In ref- erence to the libel action, brought against us by you and Mrs. Bernstein, we regret ex- ceedingly having committed the error complained of. " 'Can't this matter be settled out of court. You want $200,- 000 In damages. Would you be satisfied with $50,000? Trust- ing tills will be to yours and Mrs. Bernstein's satisfaction. Yours. Very Truly.' "See. Immense! Then I takes this letter of yours to a friend of mine tha,t I know has ready coin and I say's to him: " 'See, I got that Variety hooked at last. They're scared to death. Got 'em lead piped. Look, they want to give me $60,000 to kopp ont of court.' A Racket "Ain't tliat a racket, bo. On your letter I bet I can borrow plenty. Why shouldn't you and me split In- stead of me and the chasing law- yer? I'd rather cut you in and keep friendly than let the lawyer got his bit and you go grouch. "Oh, get oft that stuff. They can't hold you on the letter. When my friend comes around for the settle- ment, just say yoii have changed your mind; that you think I'm everything you said and let it go at that. Then ho'll come to me for the money back and I'll give lilm the line: "'They wouldn't settle. The sons of guns. Well, wait, now we'll get the whole $200,000. I'll show 'em. They can't monkey like that with Freeman >.„Bcmstein.l.w: — ^ upping system killing stags "And if the come on don't f.ill for that one, I'll promlne him 60 per cent of what I get out of you. "This looks- so good to me that I think we could work It once every week or until I run out of friends, "Not BO good, eii. Well, bo, you'd better think it over because now I'm going to sue you anj-way.'' Within the last six months the stag show booking racket has be- come too tough to pay. Probably a score ot raw performances liave bicn sloughed and at least a dozen active club agents have been cleaned in squai'lng raps, even if they didn't have to take sentences. One Bronx promoter had built up a bank roll of $S,000 out of booking cooch dancers and raw story ped- dlers, but is now imck to where he started as a railroad conductor, whilei his partner has gone back to his newsstand. What business' Is going On is done on street corners mostly by new- comers who haven't yet been burned. Reason for hard times is an al- liance between performcrs'Who spe- cialize in clubs'and. are organized as the "Peonys" (Prbfessipnal En- tertainers of Net^ York) and tM club agents organized as Entertain- ment Managers' Ass'n. Performers approached for dates by the under cover guys, tip the agents and they put in a rap, using a pipe lino to the cops themselves If a persistent promoter refuses to listen te reason. The managers group declares It was forced to heroic measures. As long as raw shows aro available, some clubs demanded stag stuff and wouldn't buy straight entertain- ment. If tho agents take a chance they are bound sooner, or later to - stub their toes. If they play , safe they lose business. Listen to Reason Campaign now has been going on for about a year designed to make Illegal shows Impossible and the agents say they are getting results. 'Club committees flndlng it difficult to get a raw stag listen to a sales' talk for a regular show from estab- lished agents. There are a tew spots outside New York where rough shows still go, but they are becoming fewer as the agents' campaign progresses. Most of them are dirty pictures . which are easier' to. handle than naked dancers. One of the> spots is in Jersey wher« the promoter has an accident-proof book-up with the town autborities through family connection. Straight show providers can't compete with the dirt peddlers on price. One promoter used to offer an act for every 60 tickets sold at $3.60 and a show often had as many as i: acts, mostly blue story tellers and undressed wrigglers. The stag promotion industry got a blow in New York about six months ago, when a solicitor, sell- ing ducats on the street at 16 for a downtown restaurant blow off, made a sale to a, plainclothes dick who sat Uirough the show and at the climax ot tho revel opened the door to a squad ot bluecoats who already had the wagon backed up. 2 SISTERS, SHOPLIFTERS Mary and Evelyn Powers Given 3-Year Jail Sentence Mary Powers, 47, and her sister, Evelyn, 46, latter a dancer, both of the Hotel Cadillac, West 44th street, were sentenced to a term not to ex- ceed three years in the penitentiary by the justices of Special Sessions following their plea of guilty to ' shoplifting. The two women, looking like schoolgirl flappers, were arrested. March 30 by detectives after they had attempted to walk away with an umbrella and other articles from Lord & Taylor's. When the police searched their room in the Cadillac numerous articles stolen from other department stores were found. According to probation ofllcers, the two women, daughters of a for- mer payma.ster in the United States Navy, have been, in trouble w:ith the *' police on several prior occasion."?. Following the death ot their father, Evelyn went Into vaudeville as a specialty dancer, while the elder sis- ter traveled with the former as her manager. The last e)>ow Evelyn was connected with was "Two Little Girls in Blue" In Chicago. Young Chicago gun molf on the lam in New York let loose some timely Windy City clang. "Bum rapping" is the current term thtra for "knocking," and a "hude" da- Ecribes a youthful racketeer, da* rived from hoodlum. A "copper- hearted" person is one who ha* no use for the racket boyt,