Variety (Dec 1929)

Record Details:

Something wrong or inaccurate about this page? Let us Know!

Thanks for helping us continually improve the quality of the Lantern search engine for all of our users! We have millions of scanned pages, so user reports are incredibly helpful for us to identify places where we can improve and update the metadata.

Please describe the issue below, and click "Submit" to send your comments to our team! If you'd prefer, you can also send us an email to mhdl@commarts.wisc.edu with your comments.




We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.

Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.

W^esclay*. December 4, 19}J9 V A U D E V I L L E VARIETY 37 Keidu RiHitr^^ 35 Weeks, With No Salary Cuts for Acts; Vaude Unit of 4 Good Turns A. tliro'utJi Orpheuih route of 27 weeks "with no cut-salary, stands will go Into effect 1ft Keith's by New year's. ;. The new western layout has been Iftid out and submitted by Charles Freeman, recently placed in charge^ of all Keith' bopkings'in the west. It tfl regarded In the booking office.as the first really constructive-move in the direction of placing Keith's Taude on a definite basis tp be ad- Tanced thus. far. Second radical change in Free- man's plan, with deletion of the cut salary system .accepted as foremost from the" viewpoint of th^ actor, is reduction of the present five and Blx-act bills to four acts. The Free- man theory Is that a bill, of four good acts Is superior and can be bought for the same money as bills now niade up of three good acts and two or three mediocre turns. Under the present Orpheum system the two or three acts are necessary for economical. reasons, with the three ■ good acts ■ consumiug mpst of the budget, and with the .weaker acts tearing down the entertainment Talue of the bill. ''■'our -good acts, according to Freettian, will register 100% as en tertainment, with pictures contrib- uting the rest as they have , been doing anyway. Blanket'Salary Passing of cut salaries is made possible through a blanket salary arrangement with acts, If the set salary of an act 1^ $1,006, a route of 20 weeks will be offered for $20,- 000. in Tacoma, -one of the ,Or- pheums cut weeks, the act's sal ary may be reduced and charged to the theatre at $700. But In stronger theatre on the route the diffei'ence of . $i300 will be covered with the theatre charged $1,300. It Is of Blight concern to acts how the salary is paid, so long as the blanket sum equals the regular'sal ary, without an actukl cut. . At, prifesent on the Orpheum are ■even cut salary dates'—St. Paul, SpokanerTacoma? Portland,-gan Dl ego, Salt liake and Denver.- Deduc- tions made at these points are not returned, with the non-cuts paying no more than the set salary. The blanket salary plan is antici- pated to simplify the buying of acts for the western Keith time, which has been losing good stage mate rial and causing considerable dis- satisfaction among acts and agents, due-to unsettled Cohditions and lack ■ of efficiency In routing. Many of the better grade, acts will not play the OrpheUm In its present state, (Continued on page 38) CANADIAN BOOZE BRINGS JEROME-RYAN TROUBLE Sherman's Default Divorce Reopened in New York Judge Wasservogel In N. Y. Su preme. Court last week granted ) motion to reopen the default dl vorce action won by Hal Sherman dancer, last year from his wife, Georgia Johnson Sherman. David Haar, attorney, appeared for Mrs, Sherman. In granting, the motion for a new trial giving.Mrs.. Sherman a chance to defend herself against her hus band's allegations of adulteries lit London, the judge ruled that the depositions taken in lioridon for Sherman's oriiginal action might be Introduced when the action again «omes to ti-ial. The decision automatically bars Sherman, reported on the verge of another marriage, from making a trip- to the altar. Next motion to be made by Mrs Sherman's attorniey will probably be for alimony and counsel fees. One at a Time! Congestion created by agents assembling in the Warner vaude booking office has prompted Lew Golder to . post a noticei permitting but one agent at a tlnie on the floor. London, Ont., Dec. 3. Running afoul of the Ontario Li- quor Control law, while playing a. three day engagemient at Lbew's, Edward Jerome, of New York City, was assessed $100 and costs or given the alternative ot three months in jail when he faced a city police magistrate. He pleaded igUllty to having li- quor in other than his private resi- dence. His companion William Ryan, of New York, was dismissed on a charge of having liquor and not being the owner of a govern- ment. perniit. The act, billed as Jerpnie. and Ryan, opened Thursday- It was closed by the house management Thursday night, when the audience, failed to appreciate the efforts of the teani. . It was brought Ovrt in court that Ryan had tried to take the bottle of Canadian Ry;e aiway from his pal, who was flourishing is In the hotel lobby. At that moment the police entered and both were arrested. DOUG LEAVITT of LEAVITT and LOCKWOOD in "Hit-Bits of 1929" With Ted Uddy and Band, the -Seven Hayden .Gloria Girls, Babs Day and Gattison Jones and Elsie Elliott. This week (Nov, 30), Orpheum Portland, Oregon. \ / Costumes by Saul Burger Modes, inc. Direction CHA& H. AtLEN No 'Direct Booking" by Keith's Hereafter^Prolecting Agents Not So Funny! One of the comedians an4 larger wits decided to do a little out-smarting just before the Army-Notre Dame game. He went Into Jaeckels with tlie Idea of ordering three fur coats to be sent on approval. He planned to wear the warmest one to the jgame and send! them all back Monday. Once In Jaeckels, he forgot about the approval order and was talked Into buying a $9,000 coat for his wife. LAY-OFFS AS AUTHORS SNEASYRACKET FIUPINO KILLED IN HOLLAND HOTEL FIRE N. V. A. CHECKUP Must Have Membership Card .to Pass Doorman Under, orders a close, check- up is being made by the doormen of the.N. y. A. club on each person passing through- A number. of persons claimed as "undesirables'' has gained access to the club. This elemertt Is to be weeded out by refusal of door courr tesles.- Paid up membership cards must be displayed with the door guar- dians not supposed to knoW "who's oke" Without seeing the proper credential. Refused $3,200, Change Unit Into Road Musical "BroaiJway Vanities," the Sammy Kessler Unit which folded when un- able to interest bookers at a price, is being elaborated Into a legit mu- sical for the. road. Vaude version played several independent dates for shaping and later showed for RKO. Booking office refused the $J3,200 asked. Unit carried 33 people. New version will practically car-, ry the vaUd^ cast with a few addi- tions and an enlarged chorusi It will be routed over Eflaugcr road bookings. ^ Lineup includes Sam Raynor, Edith Van, Flo"Ward, Mig- non Hallin, Jack Coyle, Mack Fur- man, Murray Green and Siam Os- trow. •• Rogers'■ Shorts Harry Rogers has signed three of his acts with Paramount for talk- ing shCrts. Billy House will be the .first of the group and will make two sub- jects, with Toby Wilson and Hooper and Gatchett following with one short each. *VA«liTV a« Xma* Oilt ♦^resent, but especially at the holiday time. Sent to any part of the world. FOR YEAR, $10 FOREIGN (Outside U. S. A.), s an acce Kansas City, Dec. 3. Vincent B. Fondevilla was killed and Burt De Castro severely. burned and injured in a fife in the Holland Hotei early Thanksgiving morning. Both men were members of the Filipino orchestra with the Dave Apollon. revue, playing at the Main street. • The hotel, with Its 90 kichenette apartments. Is a favorite stopping place for theatrical people playing the city. Every room w^-s occupied when the fire started In , the north wing about 4 a. in. All of the members of the Apollon act, Including Dave Apollon and the Misses Danssi Goddell and Is^erva iiong,: were rescued by firemen ifrom the upper windows. Vincent Fondevilla, the. deceased, had-been. with the musical organ- ization since 1923. It Is understood that his only relative Is a brother living in Palo Alto, Cal. " In spite of :ffien5iiTef "a^r^"enJea^^ of their, comrade and the shock of their own narrow escapes, together with the losses of clothing and per- sonal effects, the Apollon company went on at the Thanksgiving per- formances. In Saranac Saranac N, :T., Nov. 30. Show people .with address at pres- ent in this health resort: At 80 Park Avenue Happy Benway. James A. Williams. Fred Rlth. Frank Walsh. Harry Namba. Xela Edwards. Lilly Leonora. Mary Bradln, AUie Bagley. Ethel Clouds. Nellie Quealy. Helen O'Reilly. . Olga Kalinin. Keith Lundberg. Lawrence McCarthy. Vernon Lawrence. Valentine Klncaid, David Mavity. Thomas White. Eddie Voss. Geo. Neville. Annamae Powers. Viola Allen. , . Chris Hagedorn. Dick Kuni. . . Legit and vaude stars—particu-- larly the lay-offs—tired of storming offices Of their agents, have ad vanced- en- masse on the. book pub lishing houses bent on selling their brain brats.. The majority of the talent having' become accustomed to the type writer keyboard in writing talker shorts, in '\vhlch they have appeared, have fouiid another avenue of profit —or prospective profit—in turning out books, most of which are small scripts of humorous topics. < ' The success of GWc Salens "Spe- cialist" and Eddie Cantor's "Caught Short," aside from the . notably lucrative market a stage story com- mands, are among the direct causes of the present Influx of MSS. Groups of professionals chatter about the book market as if it were another department of the theatre. One will say to another: "Gee, you just. have to hit once with one of those little Britannlcaa of .the backyard and you (ian lay- off forever. ^'Right," the second replies. "Look, what Will Rogers did—his book was a best seller; then that J. R. Mc- Evoy knocked out "Showgirl" and cleaned up. It only shows you what a post-card idea can lead to." ~ ^ Rijfht BookifiB^— — "Tou, said it, the formula is a cinchv i just unload a cargo of back- stage lingo between card-board cov- ers; get a citch.-line name and you can ash-can the old routine and Can the dancing shoes. "You're right, brother. Look at that Max Lief book, 'Hangover.' I know all the guys he -wrote about: Toss In a few Celebs from the old Stem and hold your hat to catch the royalties." "Well, I'm no. fool. I just wrote half a dozen of them little buggers and I got ideas for 75,000 more If I'm going to be booked this season it's going to be a book publisher who does it." * "This office win hereafter make no 'direct booking' under which % Keith agent may be deprived of » commission," said Ben Piazza, in charge of the. business direction of Keith's booking office; ; "The chief bookers agree that this 1^ only prop;er and due the agents as a protection. "Nor will Keith's book acts 'net* from now on.' "That is another moVe the bookers are in accord, with. It tends to create a condition between the office, the attraction and thie agent that there is no necessity for,". stated Piazza. "In neither of these mattei-s can we figure where a .savinjg is effected that Is worth while. Certainly in any •direct booking* an a'gent Is deprived of a commission. The 'direct book- ing,' It appears to us Is an abuse by us of ■ the privilege we allow agents and to our minds Is a killer of Incentive for the «gents. "The net booking is an obsolete style that never did mean a thing. It's too close bargaining to prom'ote good feeling. Following the ej^neral At 9 Front Alice. Carman. Harry Clark. Mike McMamee. J, C. Louden. Julia Kubas. . Charles Beshah. Christina Keenan. Angla Papullslls. St. James Heagney, 6 Military road. Edith Cohen, North woods San. Connie Reeves, 42 River street. Joe Donatella, 72 Park avenue. Richy Craig, Jr., 72 Park avenue. Edward DeCaro, 72 Park avenue. Nick Sullivan, 38 Lake Flower avenue. ■ - Bobby Hatz, 37 Chulrch street. Ben SchalTer, 37 Church street. George Hai-moh, 37 Church street James. Cannon, 84 Park avenue. Andreas Erving, 84 Park ayenue. Gladys Bishop, 10 Baker street. Joe Brennan, 46 Sheppard avenue. Al Pierce, 52 Park avenue. . Helen Curtis, 6 Clinton street. Ford Raymond, 6 Clinton street Paula Campbell, 26 Church street. Andrew Molony, 26 Church street. Jack Nicoll, 50 Sheppard avenue. Chas. J. QUinn, 64 Park avenue* Th6ma,s Abbott, 64 Park avenue. $11 Leah Temple, Reception hospital. Mrs. .Mae Armltage, 12 Park place. Alice Roth, 32 Frahklin street. Charles Barrett, 302 Broadway. Harry Barrett, 302 Broadway. Russ Kelly, 19 Broadway. Marion Greene, 115 Lake street. Dave (D. D. H.) Hall, 106 Park avenue. Joe Relily, 54 Sheppard avenue. Dorothy Jolson, Northwoods San. Write Often, To Those You Know In SARANAC Newcomers Since Nov. Nick Sullivan. , Edward DeCaro. Alice Roth. "^oWiyTETalz;^"""'^^""'''^"'"" Mae Armitagc. Leah Temple. Edith Cohen. Connie Reeves, Thomas Abbott. Left Saranac Anna Plate.' . : custom of booking there should be no 'net' It seems unfair to those acts engaged upon their flat salarleia... In the usual way. "Just how we will work out the . 'direct booking' elimination has not been set. One thing is certain, that - if a Keith agent jsubmlts to this office any act or attraction from now bn^and It Is engaged, that agent ■ will be credited as the source and entitled to his commission under any. circumstances. That will apply to any Keith agent anywhere. "It may be that if one of the chle?^' bookers suggests an attractloh not hitherto submitted by an agent, the booker will -select- the ageiit he wishes to negotiate with the act. . Agents better are equipped to talk with acts than bookers. If the booker : desires to Interview the act In person. he Will do'jsp with the knowledge of the agent" Heart Brtaking One of the heart breaking prac-' tices for agents of the ^ Keith book- ing office In the past has been the 'direct bookin g.' Direct booking Is . known as the booking, office dicker- ing with an act and closing the con tract, without commission secured jy. anyone excepting the Keith booking office. Many cases are on the record where the booking office. In Its business dealings of this char- acter, has entirely cut out the agent, or any agent who may have been in". negotiation with the same attraction or act. Ofttimcs it has been surmised In . a direct booking that a bOoker, learning of the agent-act's negotia- tions, has 'butted In' to claim Indi- vidual credit for "digging up ^ome-' thing new." As" often the bpoker has alleged he did something the agents couldn't do In a booking of this nature,' without the suffering agent In a position to assert him- self over the booker's iiead. "Net" Booking Results In "net" bookings, the salary Is made a net amount, not subject to commission deduction, either for the booking office or the act's agent , Sometimes the office allows the . agent one-half his customary sal- ' ary, paid by the booking office. In toto that net booking if the salary were ?5,000, would aictually save .the booking office ^125, which the agent r only loses. It s termed picayune for ' the salary'.amount Involved. . . .. An Inane Ihstahce lately was the booking of Clayton, Tackson and Durante at the Palace, New York, . for a net salary of $4,000, witfi. a bonus promised Of $500 on the week if. the Pi.tice did above Its average business. ^Unj Palace that week . broke Its h record. On the same bill was Hek .-"ane, also with a "bonu.s" agreement .. In the trio's Instance, It worked out this wayi that the three boys would have gone in at a flat salai*y of $.4,500. With the office commis- sion of 5% deducted, they would have received $4,275. Under the. "net" amount of $4,000 and a $500 bonusr^hcy Teceived;^ithout^"dcduc»=^= tlon, $4,500, Mr. Piazza could not set a date when the new rules will start to I operate. He said there are other •things in mind-concerning the agents 'and probably all will be taken up I together at some time within the i near future.