Variety (Jun 1930)

Wednesday, June 4, 1930 VARIETY 77 CHICAGO Variety's Chicago Office WOODS THEATRE BUILDING—CENTRAL 0*544-4401 ' Oriental Showing acts In tough spot Thurs- day night In following a fast snappy stage show. Capacity audience ap- peared to accept everything, though, Paul Ash almost ruined the evening by announcing the acts as "ama- teurs," but later explained it was a pro review. Mary Suchler, opening, was weak. She had only one number and on an encore repeated her dancing bit. Shriner and Gregory, blackface and straight men, failed to deliver, with wheezy gags and closing attempt at harmony missing. The Morgan Trio, femme acro- batic dancers, seemed set for pic- ture houses. Girls look great, and act got excellent returns. Joe Rob- erts got a great send-off as a banjo artist, but for present-day vaude his stuff is too old and lengthy. Closing were the Perry Twins and Terris, two men and girl, with a nice hoofing routine and some cleyer ideas that deserve a place in presen- tation houses. Hoofing is smooth and neat, and the girl offers an acro- batic specialty. Close with a Bow- ery trio Idea and hoofing-boxing bit. Oke. Suit of Mort Goldberg, indie agent, against Earl Taylor, fair booker, for $685 was dismissed by the court last week when Taylor, through Attor- ney Harry P. Munns, proved Gold- berg had been paid for, certain dates, and had broken his contract for unpaid dates. Issue centered around the five ' day.s which Gold- berg's act played at a fair in Inde- pendence, la., last year, for which Goldberg claimed he wasn't paid. Court decided since the girls in the act had taken part in a sideshow without permission from Taylor had broken their contract. linglewood House now advertising as only theatre in Englewood district play- ing vaude. Closest competition is the Capitol, two miles farther south on Halsted street, using F&M Ideas. Regular Englewood program is five acts and a picture, but Tuesday night there's the usual preview bar- gain on 10 acts. L.ast Tuesday there was also "Three Sisters" (Fox) on the screen. Trlxie Friganza, doubling from the Palace, was on fourth, .working BOB NOLAN Master of Ceremonies Chicago Theatre Chicago, III. When in Chicago Viait These Hita R-K-O WOODS Another Radio I'ictures Triumph "CUCKOOS" With BERT WHEELER and ROBERT WOOLSEY Matinees Thur.sday Saturday SELWYN THE UTTLE SHOW Hear "Moanln" I^ow" CLIFTON WEBB FRED ALLEN LIBBY HOLMAN "Can't We IJe Ki-lunds" SHUBERT PRINCESS ('hlrafjo'B Kavorltc (."Dnicdlenne Eugenie Leontovich In Gilbert Miller's "Candle Light" with Doniil'l Itrhin iind .'%lan Mowbray alone and without even an assist from the pit men. She tied the show^ in knots by poking fun at the men. Opening, were Campbell and Brady, man and girl in standard Indian club Juggling. Act still slow at starting. More speed in the Indian club ex- changes with the girl also would aid. Spots in Campbell's monolog dragged but act finished strong on his fast handwork with three cigar boxes. AVilson, Richards and An- derson, hoke trio of a fat comic, straight man and husky blonde, need a stronger straight and a cut on burleskiness. Doing the w. k. the driver, H, E. Nelson, fell asleep. Alice McKay, fractured collar bone; Dolli© Evers, severs cuts and bruises. Muriel AVebb, Edith Albin and Jerry Finucane, minor abra- sions. Clarence Cramer Pa.ssion IMay lost two men by death witliin one week. William J. Morton, prop man, at Little Rock, and Lou Streeter, performer, at Danville. Both well along in years. Opening d.tte for "Winningcr stock at "Waiisau, Wis., for June 5, Kir.st reports of good business by tent shows out ai'e from the Elwin atron.u: Players, now in the Midwest. Other it nt shows are reporting weak trade. . ^fonte Brooks will be in charge of tlie Xavy Pier Ballroom, which opened May 31. Wally Ford, legit comedian, will do a four-person skit in R-K-O "Go On and Sing" as their strength, vaude, written py Fred Allen. CORRESPONDENCE Obituary All matter In CORRESPONDENCE refers to current week unless otherwise indicateo The cities under Correspondence in this issue of Variety are as follows and on paaes< BALTIMORE 78 CHICAGO 77 CINCINNATI 79 DALLAS 78 DENVER 78 DES MOINES 78 LOS ANGELES 78 LOUISVILLE 78 MILWAUKEE 77 MINNEAPOLIS 78 MONTREAL 78 OTTAWA 78 PITTSBURGH 78 PORTLAND, ORE 79 ROCHESTER 78 ST. LOUIS....;.... 77 SAN FRANCISCO 78 SARANAC LAKE.... 78 SEATTLE 79 TOLEDO 77 TORONTO 78 WASHINGTON 79 they didn't get good returns because the straight couldn't be imagined popping anyone in the jaw. Ala- bama Serenaders, colored song and dance act of five men and a girl, have slight possibilities In the excel- lent eccentric and double tap of one of the boys. Wlldey. and Neville, male radio team, were best at Ne- grp crooning.. Capps Brothers and Sister, danc- ing trio, went well on ordinary rou- tines. Eddie's acrobatic work was a clean standout. Master Gilbert, nine-year-old boy singer, has an ex-, cellent voice and is a little show- man. Lad cannot get work in Illi- nois because of state laws and should be shipped to California and ■not worked in free shows here. Vox and Walters (ventrilociulal), working with the boy and girl dum- mies, were slow in starting. Miss Walters' crying baby is still good but the hoax they pull in a double- voice song with Vox's dummy, the girl singing in the wings, not so hot. Next to closing, Bot Shafer was draggy with a blackface song mon- olog. Keintz and Keintz, boy-girl skating team,, closed. They have a tendency to stall between stunts, giving the act no tempo. Business not usual Tuesday night capacity. William Weinshenker now branch manager of Sono-Art W^orld Wide exchange. Arthur Steegal, asst. mgr. of the R-K-O Woods, replacing Morris Rosenthal, transferred to a.sst. at Orpheum, New Orleans. Publix Senate, sound house, goes from two to three changes weekly. Bradlev Page and Frances Dale liave posted tentative closing notices at the Rialto, dramatic stock, Sioux City. Central theatre, last used by Harry Mintui'n for dramatic stock, has been leased to the Punch and Judv Theatre Company for an arty ))ictin-e hou.se, I'rice statod at 5;.3(iO,OO0 for .six years. Seats 800. Vive 'Belton Dancing Darlings," speci.alty group at the Club Metro- l)()!i', w'-re injured in an auto acci- (1()U when retiii-ning from Apple- ton, Wis., where they had given a single pf-rformance. Reported that IN CHICAGO LI N D Y'S REST AU RANT On Randolph Street Is Home, Sweet Home, to the Profession A Good Place to Eat and Meet TOLEDO By E. H. GOODING PnrftmouMt—"Young Man ol Manhat- tan" and .ttagc show, Sfate~"Arlzona Kid" (2d week). Valentlne^°'ln Gay Madrid." Pantheon—"Lilies of the Kleld." Vlta-Temple—"Those Who JJance." Princess—"The Texan." Walter S. Caldwell succeeds Jack ilerriman manager Loew's Valen- tine. Albert Ferris, acropat with Fore- paugh circus 50 years ago, and wife, celebrated golden Wedding annlver- .sary last week. Dottie • Reid, Detroit toe dancer, tiptoed across Sandusky bay toll bridge in -49 minutes last week. Followed on two-mile hike by large gallery. Otto Schimmlng, service station proprietor in Willlston, O., now of- fering free movies each Sunday night. Competish for free films sponsored by other ousiness men Friday evenings in Town Hall. MILWAUKEE By FRANK J. MILLER AUmmhra—"Miles of the Field." DmiilNoo—"'White Cargo." 4iurden—"Journey's End." <Jayety—"Why Girls Go Wrong." MuJeNtic—"Florodora Girl." Merrill—"Benson Murder Case," Pnlacr-Orphenm—"Lovln" the Ladies." Rlverfildc—"He Knew Women"; vaude. Slrund—Horn Reckless." M'lsconsln—"Big Pond"; stage show. "Wliite Cargo," which Albert Dezel is offering at the Davidson, as the first offering under the new management, has surprised the town with its biz. Following its stay, the Davidson will bo dark un- til fall, when legits and talkers will alternate bookings. The (jayety has called it a sea- son for stock bui'lesfiue and will try pir-tm-es. ST, LOUIS Ed By E. M. CRIGLER • .\ntlinhiMi(lor—"True to tho Navy' T-owrx'H 'itutip show, rox—•■Kolllfs of 3 030"; Bert Fioh- ir.Jin'-; ."lafre show. Loew's Ktale—"Lady of .S'-andai"; vlwiri.j. .MlhNoiirl—".Tourn'-y's Knd"; sh<;rls. I.oiilK—"Ho Knf:w Wuiiien"; vaiid<:. <'ii|)ll(il-'"lian>.'i?. ♦jriinrt —V.-iudfllm. I'.ill I)o\vri"y'.s orchf'.'-'tra oporif-d 'iii-'aK'-niont at Hua]f;r riinf .'irfl< n l.'l.ct ■ weok. St. I-iiiiis Little Theatre ^losfd its -I-I"-i111 ];tyt wf'f'k H'-tiyi'f Is'fM.V.w "Show Off." HERB"ERT HALL WINSLOW Herbert Hall Winslow, 64, play- wriglit, died suddenly Juno 1 at his home, oSi Broadway, ilasiings-on- Hud.^ion, X. v.. from a clot on the brain. He had been ill since May Mr. Winslow was born in Keokuk,' In., Xov. 23, lS6o, He started writ- ing at Ho was the author of B6 plays, of which IS wore produced on Jiroadway liotwocn isao and 1927.. His nio.st successful one was "What's Your Wife Doing?" which ho wrote in oollabbration with Emil Nyitray. It was produced by Ai'- thur'Klein on Oct. 1, 1923. Besides his work a.* a playwright, Mr. Winslow was a prolific writer of vaudeville sketches. He had al.so authored 12 motion picture sce- narios. Mr. Winslow, before. coming to New 'Vork, was city editor of the Keokuk "Constitution." In 1SS5 ho became editor of his own magazine, Wiiislow's Monthly." City office for the past 10 yeai's, her liusband acting as roiid agent for Equity from that point. Frank (.liUmore went to Kansas City for the ftineral. GEOFFREY C. STEIN GeolTroy C. Slciii, 60, actor, died in the Brunswiclc ll(im'>, Aniiiyville, L. I., last week whore he had been under the care of the Actors' Fund for two years. He was Viorn in 'VVashinpton, D. C., and made his stage debut In stock. His last .stage appearance was In 1923 in "The Fool." Among some of the shows in which he appeared were "The Love Chase," "The Un- equal Match," "As You Like It," "Daughter of Eve," "Mistre-ss Nell" (Henrietta Crosman), "Joan of the Shoals," "The Country Mouse," "Dorcas," "The Climbers," "The Re- turn From Jerusalem." "Princess Leontini" and ""Frou Frou" (Rose Coghlan). Deceased is survived by a brother. Prof. M. Stein, Richmond, Va., and two 'isisters living in New York. Interment in Washington. RICHARD H. LAWRENCE Richard H. Lawrence, 43, man- ager of Cass and Schubert-Lafa- yette theatre.s, Detroit, died in that city May 26 following an operation in Providence hospital. Mr. Lawrence had spent 25 years as an active figure in Detroit's the- atrical operations. First theatre connection was at the old Lyceum in Detroit. He managed the Whit- ney Opera House for years. No man in Detroit enjoyed a wider acquaintanceship than Dick Lawrence. He always kept open house for the players, company managers and press agents. De- ceased la survived by his widow and two sons, Richard Martin and Edward Lawrence. ELLA REID GILBERT , Ella Reid Gilbert, former bur- lesque player and wife of Jack Reid, Mutual show producer, died in St. Louis May 28 of heart disease. Miss Gilbert appeared as ingenue in all of the companies Jack Reid produced on the former Columbia Circuit. The Roids had been married for many years and wore inseparable. Three years ago when Miss Gilbert retired she continued to travel with her husl>and, burlesque producing. Reid last season produced "The Record Breakers" and Miss Gilbert accompanied him until .she was stricken in St. Louis. HOTEL LORRAINE CHICAGO SI.\<iI.K HOOM. ».\TH. J'-'.OO If , DOrm-K ROOM. U.ATH. }H7..'iO .\SU j;">LO(t WM'.KI,^ UOrULK WITII01;T B.VTH. S14.0« WKKhLV LEONARD IIK'K.^, President \'ir;.ijii;i and Jiftly ./iiric HijlrjiJin, .<t. 1,'iiiis -^iv]^;, w))0 a'(■ii))r)j;iTil''(l I .Mil !• .\Ii-K''nzif-, (ijK-r-'i fjiv, at tic- SI. T,(,uis l;i.«t wr-f k, ni;jl:<; a tour i;-K'-<) hii'.i.'-'-.s n'.-.\t .s'ii.-,fin. <;i-iman firand Or)era Co. billed ■I M-iiiiri h'-re nf-xt January. Leo Ruschenberg, 70, mu-iciari at Tallin-f;rar'd, Denver, di« d .May 21. Harry C. Bell, 40, managr-r Aroha jallrooia, Deii\er, died May 27. CHARLES BESNAH Charles Ee.snah, HI, vaudcvillian, died at Saranac Ivakc, X. Y., May 25, ■ where ho had h(:cn under Die care of the N. 'V. A. since Septem- ber. Ho was not a member bnt bc- '•ause of )iis .staf;e connection bad bf-on sent to the mountains for his health. Mr. Uesriah had bcin with a num- ber of turns including Miller and IScmah and IJcsnah and 'Jirard, both dancing a'-ts. He had also done a Sll)g)f'. Int<"'rnK'nt in l'"ond I^af, Wis., auspli f'.H S. y. A. JAMES A. JOHNSTON .laiuf'S Alf-xander Jolinston, 6"?, i\\ho with his lirollK-r, Albert E. i .lolin.'iton, forniod the vaude team of the -Musical John'-tons, dif-d .May 31 (if pJi(-U(nonla ai his hornf- in IJaltl- I'iiOI'i'". For 32 vf-arw ih" bi-oilirTs had been !figf-i)if r, doiiig a j.yloiilione. turn. RUTH DELMAINE P.uth Df-lrnaiue, one of Equity's Kansas City ri-pr(!.-,ontatlv«-s, died In that r-iiy r.f acute appcndiciilK, May 29. .Mr". Ix-hmiiiu: was a profes- sional in the tent and rep field. She conducted Equity's Kan.sas ROBERT E. FISHER Robert E. Fl.sher. 47, manager Fairmont and Virginia theatres at I'^airniont, W. Va., died March 22 at Hoponumt Sanltariuni, I'niontown. Pa. Mr. Fisher was a pioneer In pic- ture exhibition starting with the operation of a "nickelodeon" in , Vniontown. He is survived bj* his widow, .Mrs. Ulanche Fisher, and three brother.". Interment in Woodlawn Cemetery. Uniontown. MIKE SHEA Mike Shea, Ohio independent booking agent, who was president of the M. Shea Rooking Exchange with olllces in the Erie Building, Cleveland, died of pneumonia May 29 in that city. Mr. Shea had been sick imt a short time. He caught a heavy cold May 25 and i)neumonia devel- oped. IN DEVOTKD MVIMOKY JOHN C. RICE Sally Cohen-Rice Gladys Rice JAMES RYDER James Ryder, one time vaudeville actor, died in San Francisco from a heart attack May 27. Ryder, who was 60 years old, at one time played parts with Johnny Ray and other vaudeville stars. ARTHUR H0RWIT2 Arthur Horwitz, 46, New York vaude agent, died June 3 in Poly- clinic hospital.. New York. Wife and ten-months-old child survlye. Full details of h" death appear in the vaudeville sc Ion of this issue. Matthew J. Maaem, 36, building contractor, who specialized In building theatres for Loew Circuit, was killed an an auto accident in Jamaica, L. I., May 25. His widow and two children survive. Inter- ment in St. John's cemetery, Brooklyn. Mrs. Sarah Purdy Hawley, 93, considered oldest radio singer In the world, died last week in Warsaw, N. Y. She first sang on the air when eh© was 86 from stations In Rochester, Richmond, Va., Jackson- ville and Miami. Lou Streeter, 70, with the Cramer Passion Play, died In Danville, 111.. May 26. Streeter for many years was with Lincoln Carter. His widow, Fanny Streeter, also with the Cra- mer Co., survives. Interment m Chicago. Guenther Kiesewetter, 71, com- poser and orchestra director, died in St. Luke's hospital. New York, following an operation. He com- posed the score for a coml<: ojjcra, "The Rarber of Hutzelbach." William R. Flannagan, 47, for Hi years general manager of Ha)'ry Rllllok .Shows, died last week in Pekin, 111., of acute Indigestion His wife Kurvives. Clifford Jonos, 27, colored, was killed in an auto accident mar Lebanon,. Ind., May 30. Jones wa.« of the vaude team of Cliff an<l Wobb," Interment in Chicago. William J. Morton, 68, property man with the Cramer Passion Play, at Little Itock, Ark., May 20. He had been stage carpenter and prop man for many years. Comfori A. Allen, 80, lialloonlet and carnival man, dfed May Ifi in Dansvlllc, X'. Y. Four sotis and three daughters survive. The mother, 61, of Don Lanning, dram tic aclor, died at the A.«^heville, X. (J., Sanitarium June 2. Burial In East IJverpool, O. S. Louis Mosley, t!:), fori/ierly with Keith'" in tr'-a.^urer's ofiicc and father of Harry and Ixiuis .Mosley, It-K-O imruiy, died June 1. Fred Miller, 39, of the Six JaJif- If-ys, acrobats, dl<-d June 1 In Rock- ford. 111., of heart disca.'-e.