Variety (Dec 1929)

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46 VARIETY V A U D E V 1 L L E Wednesday^ December 11, 1929 Newark Managers Expelled from VJIlA.;IWtAlHde% The Variety Manasers* Assocla- tion membership held for several years by the Adams Bros., operators of the Newarlc theatre, Newark, N. J., has been revoked, due to their refusal to recogrnize a V. M. A. arbi- tration decision. The Adamses are the first on record to be expelled from the maniigerlal organization, -vvhlch lists among its members practically every poha, fide variety theatre manager in thfe country. v.. M. A. has asked co-operation from the National Variety Artists In the action against the Newark theatre .men. As a result, a notice of the Adams Bros, suspension and cause will be posted on the bulletin board of the N. V. A. club in New York: Complaint resulting; In a decision against the Adams Bros, was filed by "Land of Clowns," act, owned by Ted Eyansv. Cbmplainant charged : the Newark management had paid the act off $50 short on a week's engagement. Theatre at that time was booked by Pantages. A. St B. Dow, New Torlc, independents, are the present bookers. Defense A8 their reason for paying "Land oC Clowns" under tiie contracted figure, the Adams Bros, alleged the booking office (Pan) erred in the salary stipulated in the contract In Mie arbitration the V. M. A,'s Joint Gpmplalnt Bureau held the theatre responsible, notwithstanding ;any error by the bodking office, with the theatre management directly re sponsible for - contracts Issued in their name. . Adams Bros, refused to accept the V. M. A. decision in the act's favor Act stated the cut salary was ac- cepted under protest as alternative of receiving nothing for the date. Complaint was filed with the V. M. A. immediately. Horace Heidt and his orchestra of youthful Californians are set to appear' 1.0 weeks, commencing Feb. next, in the Casino, Monte Carlo. The Morris office did the booking, through its Piaris representative, M. Lartlgue. Lartlgue was lately over here on a quest for talent, when he saw the Heidts in stage action. It's the boys' first trip abroad, arid the first time the noted Cpntl- riental winter resort has engaged an unknown American band to enter- tain. The Heidts for three years have been practically confined. to California, only recently coming east. Their first engagement was at Keith's Palace, New Tork, held over there weekly for four weeks. Since then they have been playing mostly in the Fox d6 luxe houses. Heidt's, agreement with Fanchon & Marco expires' New Tear's. It will not be renewed, Horace Heldt states, and says that thereafter the band will operate under its own management. Pail's Name Off in Canada . Toronto, Dec. 10. Directors of Eastern Theatres of Canada, formerly Pantages and now a subsidiary of Fainous Players-Ca nadian, all resigned. A new body will soon be named from among the staff of Famous Players. ..Likely that Pantages' name ■will disappear after New Yfear'a. Rea son given is that FP should con ,trol. Earnings have shown an in crease during the 73 days of pres ent fiscal year. «EIDT AT MONTE CARLO; EAVES F&M DIRECTION Dempsey On Percentage In Keith's N. Y. Houses Keith's and Jack Dempsey are ai-ranglng several weeks la New Tork for the ex-champ on a per- centage basis. Dempsey is at the Palace this week for a $6,500 sal- ary. He asked 7,600. Last attraction played by Keith's on percentage was "Peaches" Browning, about three years ag:o. In 1922, when . chanlpibn, Dempsey played some vaude for $6,000 guar-, ahtees and percentages. He was guaranteed $7,000 on the Pantages circuit a short time after. Merry Christmas Just Wednesday to Flop Mob of Indies OFFSIDE STUFF OUT IN N:V.A. CLUBROOM Nix on the off side stuff in the N. ,V, A. club. A close prder for the main floor has resulted In Keith's New Tork houses, other I g^yeeplng orders going into effect tharn the Palace* cannot afford to around the club, piay Dempsey on a straight salary. I ^Ix on the placing of beta by On percentage the Albee, CoIIseuni, 81st Ht, Kenmore and Madison can chance a profit. Keith nejgotlatlons With Dempsey are . through Ben Piazza, with Weber-SImon as his agents.- FUNNY ON VAUD STAGE PROBLEM Passing of small time and yaude In the sticks—the schooV for come- phone and the incoming calls on results of races. Men reported long active In taking bets alonig the 46th street way are. underst6od to be responsible for the reported influx of petty gambling in the club. : Those who got into the club on the old gag about leaving cards at home. when they ;"were; not paid up no longer get iii. No longer are members behind in dues allowed club privileges. Only paid-up cards may float by the doorman. .. The secretary's .office^ since the new edict went into effect' has been plied by calls In person and by phone, asking . that somiethlng be I done about the new order. Nothing has been done. LOU GOLDER'S TRIP R-K-fl Div Mffr^ Mfifit dlans—is held likely ^ by many Ik U UIV. mgld. lUCCl alarmists to. cause an extreme Vacatipnal Leave by Warners to Study International Situation shortage of stage funny men in the At a call from Joseph Plunkettl future. 1. Lou Colder, in charge of War^ In the home offices, all the! division According to those shouting the ners variety booking office in New managers of the R-K-O system are Urarning all signs of the present .York, has been granted a leave of in New Tork for conference. point to a vaude business full of absence to study the international VntP songs and dances and devoid of picture situation. He will leave ' comedy. - . New Tork shortly after Ne^ Tear's, The typ6 of )somedy meant is that either going to Hollywood and then r.««»e. ToWioa PflrHAr «3patHfl-I whlch is Tcgftrded as flrst grade to Europe or vice versa. f^nSL wTn 'ton^^B^^^^^ ^o^^V' Whether hl^h or low. Thle period was selected by Harry Charles Winston. Boston, -Claud | ^^^^^ pointers refer to the past Warner for the Colder Instruction- of practically all current topnotch al vaication .owing to the present Ampng those reporting are Bluniberg, Chicago; J. E. Flrngoeas, Cleveland; Thomas D. Sorlero, St. Saunders, Minneapolis; Frank Vin- cent, Los Angeles, aiid ^the local ^^^^^i^^^ ,„ mourning the passing dullness of bookings for Warner divisional managers, H. D. Emdee, Charles JMcDonald, Dave Beehler and Lou Goldlng, I today learned the ropes. Tears of hard kno.cks and bad breaks sharp- Pan, Seattle, Lcased Loa Angeles, Dec. 10. Rodney Pantages has leased Pan- taged theatre, Seattle, to Jack Rus- | ened them, sell for Ave years for musical tab and talkers. Russell formerly had the Strand, | practice on the small time. Long Beach, -with same policy. of small time. I houses. Wiiile Colder is away it The best comics did not develop will be determined by Spyros until; receiving lengthy experience Skouras as to further combination In the dumps of variety, It is ex- policy la the present and fnture plained. Between small time vaude Warner theatres. Golder's leave Is and burlesque the star comedians of | on full salary under his two-year contract that carries an option With Colder away, Harold Kemp win bo In charge of the Warner bookings, asisisted by Steve Trilling, Iiiterstate's Friday Interstate vaude circuit, Keith- booked in New Tork, changes Dec. 20 to a Friday opening policy. Loew an^ Publix, in Texas and through the south, open Friday. It is contended a pratt fall can not be perfected without years of 1 i^lth Skouras; the Warner general Im- theatre operator, supervising, perfect , pratt. falls are called of- At present the Warner agency Is fenslve in big. time theatres. Should handling about 11 houses. A, con an undeveloped comic try one he is siderabe larger list is Ini contempla likely to be found out pronto. , tlon , Not only the falls, but all of the while Golder's leave is indefinite, Christmas circus produced by U,a,sic forms of true comedy must he expects to be away from eight Fred Bradna, goes into a four-week gradually piclced up in the hide- | to 10 weeks grind run at Keith's Hippodrome, aways, say those who fear for com- New* Tork, Dec. 14. Run will ex- ledy of the future. Development I 5 f^y*^ (Jq f'^^ Comedians are born, they admit, but they reserve the opinion that their talents must be developed.) Refusal of town councils to Issue P-M TmiT CHANGES Ruth Hamilton played the State, Los Angeles, with "Hot Dominoes" last wreck. Goes back to "Unl^ forms," at . Long Beach, Dec. 13 Dexter Webb and Diaz are in this nnit, switching from- "Internation- al." Cropley and "Violet and Harry Rapee added to "Desert." Muriel Stryker,. just back from "Indian iSummer," out ag£iin with. former iinit. Pour HI-Hatters held back from "Dfesert" for^'Power" at Pasadena, Dec. 19, East Unit No. 3 "Standard Show No. 3," third of Keith's. eastern five-act unit bills will be booked around the Weaver Bros, and their rube production. Hip Circus .Bill tend through the holidays. 2-2 IN OHIO Clilcsifiro ^^6c 10 I I — — - - Western RKO booklne department inexperienced comics Sunday vaude permits to the Fox has added tS^loS Street cSve- company and theatres in Bogodk. Bound Brook. ?and ?f its list but teS Bergenfleld, Englewood. N. J., and oMt 'on bLwne two ^ther Ohio held and almost proved that Uyack. N. T., and failure of the S^u.e? Schlne-OhirLlJ^^^^^ vaude and bur- to financially carry vaude on houses-Schlne-OhIo, Lima, and the I j^gqy^ began to slip, two or three. Friday and Saturday, will cause State, Sandusky. Both these Schine houses are dropping vaude temporarily. Poor business given as the reason. years ago, not over half a dozen young promising comics have ap peared on the theatrical horizon. In them to go straight pictures, start Ing next week. The five are part of the Indie and more consistent; Pan's Meagre Bookings I There Is no small time. Burlesque •o i„„«„ „>sii v~ ^fti. Isn't fit even for hopeful beginners. Pantages acts will be booked ^or . ^ «„ +1,^ f„ i-u^ T.A %Ti.,-«o^«no .^^ji T3r>-^ Va-n Whcrc Is the comcdian of the lu- the Pan, Minneapolis, and Pan, Kan- . . +v.a sas City, out of the Chicago office. schooling? the but all must be conflrn^ed by Rod- only ' way out Is for the ney Pantages from his Los Angeles ^^^j^^ j^^^^. ^j^^.^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ other years the number was greater g^^j^^ over recently by Fox office. iZ Back to Vaude Empress, Grand Rapids, and Brown's, Louisville, both in straight films for about two years, return to vaude Dec. 14 and -i, with i;ook- Ings by Keith's Chicago clltce. Sparling and Friend haVJ retinit- ed as an act after being separated two years. Bargain "Kmas Qift niETY For Two (2) Years, $15, Sent Anywhere Nothing beats "Variety" for a steady present to show folks, friends OP relatives interested in the show business at home or abroad One Year's Subscription (Regular Price), $10 Two Years (Special Price), $15 HOLDS GOOD UNTIL NEW YEAR'S and determine how to make em laugh In a shorter space , of time, and without the aid .of lehgthy ex- periment and experience. Back in Fam. Dept. The J. F. Sullivan indie theatre, North Adams, .Mass^, returns to Keith's (Family Dept.) for vaude bookings Jan. 4, Play In last half bills. Timberg with Publix Unit Herman Timberg and Co., re cently -In vaude, go to Publix for Us unit, "Pirates of Melody," at the Palace, Dallas, on- Jan. 3. Grief aplenty an»ong the agent ranks, or rather the boys without a circuit "In" that have been ped- • dllng talent to independents and now haye no-where to go. Making the rounds as usual, but no sales. \ Bookers that had, but haven't got now, doing a duet on blues, crying tirlth tbe tteddlers, both agi-eielng that Xmas will just be Wednesday this year. Most not logical celebrants, but generally on the take with festive spirit of Tuletide season usually an excellent excuse to take care of the t)oys on both' ends and no suspicion of bribery. Tet all hoping for the first half the week after arid peeved if they didn't get it. .They usually did if . sending in up to expectation. The bookers, or most, are worried as badly as the agents. No deluge, of gifts. figured and nibst afraid to' i!ace agents or acts for fear of a uouch. Few agents m the money afraid to approach the lame duck , bookers for the same reason. Acts putting cOn the Pollyaiiha stuff to laugh off several weeks' overdue hotel bills, but most grab- bing the crying towel once in. the room. The ma,sk off, wondering what they can send the wife and kids for Xmaia or an alibi if they can't. Matter of Eats Unhapplest Merry- Xmas among this gentry in years. All hoping for an invite out to be sure of eating. Landlords another worry. Most very impatlent^wlth the. boys In the red having exhansted reasons. They know they're only in until another tenant takes a look. Stehogs and other help equally , down with smart ones content to have jobs no less living In ex-■ pectaricy of . bonuses. That's the. spirit of Broadway right now, that part of it supplying vaude to precincts that didn't know Keith from a. patent medicine, thought Proctor was Gamble's part- ner in soap. Fox something they trimmed ladles' coats with, and Loew misspelled. Since reading the Sunday sups and magazines the muggs have been educated, know the real mob through : circuit Invasion of niost spots and don't like the little fel- lows that had been booking the nickelodlans and dime museums. Publix's Latest Route and booked in the Fox vaude of flee by ..Jack Allen Two-day (Frl.. Sat.), bills weekly weren't drawing -expenses. Fox of flee counted on Sunday to fill out profitable three-day stands, but balked by the town blues. MARRIAGES Peter, de Rose, composer, to May Singhl Breieni musician, recently in New York. Simeon Cest, Hollywood agent and brother of Morris Gest. to Marie Bekefl at Tia Juana, Nov. 18. Bride is of Bekefl family of dsincers. Wilva Davis, actr^-.?. to Paul Martin, stage mah.ificr "It Never Kyins," Dec. 3 In New Tork. Bess Weredyth (scenarist) to Michael Curtiz (directpr) at Holly- wood, Dec. 4, Miss Meredyth, two years ago. divorced Wilfred Liucas, actor and director. With former Publix stage shows being dropped by Ix)ew houses In the east, the present Publix unit itinerary is being switched around to cover up the dropouts. Loew stands discontinued by Publix are the Palace, Washington, and Cen- tury, Baltimore. Two others slated to go after New Tear's are Loew's State, Cleveland, and Loew's Ohio, Columbus. After the changes become def- inite the new Publix route will have its units hopping from Newarit to Philadelphia after New Haven, Bos- ton, New York. Brooklyn- and Jer- sey City. Following Philadelphia will be Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Toledo and Detroit, with a probability that the latter two towns may be re- versed in order later on. Froni there the units will go to Indianapolis, through Chicago, Min- neapolis, . Denver, Omaha. Des Moines,. Dallas; San Antonio, Hous- ton afnd New Orleans. Birmingham's Stock Birmingham, Dec. 10, Pantages will reopen Dec. 23. Jack King's musical comedy, backed by Jack Crawford, will so In. . Charlie Potsdam, confined In the Kings Park State Hospital, Kings Parle. Long Island, is anxious to hear from or receive friends. Fam. Dept. Evens Up Booking contracts having expired, Comerford's theatre, Binghamton, Y., withdraws from Keith's ex- change. Will join the other Comer- ford houses In the Amalgamated office for bookings. Keith's Family Dept. regains the Shattuck opera house, Ilornell, N. Y., Dec; 26, to play last half five-act bllla. Open Booking in Can. Famous Players-Canadian, twp; vaudfllm theatres In Hamilton and Toronto, Ont., will be on the open market for vaude bookings Jan. 1» when the Pantages contracts em- pire, if not secured by another or- ganization by that date. Two of the major eastern book- ing offices are reported after the .Canadian pair. Both theatres piay full week bills of six acts and films. Edward Milne,' eastern Pantages office manag^ and" Tcrorito under tiie Pain contract and continues until Jan. 1. Chic Sale Back at $3,000 Chic Sale, the author, goes back to vaude for -twp. Keith weeks at 53,000 each. Opens Dec. 28 at the Palace, Chi- cago, and follows with a week at Palace, Cleveland. No New York date set for the comic.