Variety (Jul 1930)

XreJnesday, July 30. 1930 No Stage Show Policy for New VAMPE VIIL C VAKiEtY «7 Large Circuits, Except Warners outside of R-K-O, with a starter 80 weeks, more than all the others combined, none of the major ▼ariety circuits has yet definitely decided on stage policy for next Mason. '. -VTarners Is the nearest to' R-K-O In reaching a decision as to vaude for 30-31. This circuit declares that by winter 20 weeks of stage time will be "booked through Its office. - At "the best last season the Warner yaiide books contained 12 weeks. The Increase Is expected to come from present straight picture thea- tres adding stage shows. Par.-Publlx Is not known to have ■ formulated -any- conclusive - plansr but Is regarded as the dark horse of the variety wheels because of Its large theatre holdings and constant plugging for revival of "fiesh" on Its stages. During the summer Par-Publlx has; carried- on a survey of all thea- tres, with reports requested from division and house managers re- garding vaude adaptabilities of the houses under their direction. Loew's lioew's sudden changing of thea- tres from ' vaudfllms ' to straight films this summer has caused much ^mment and many conflicting opin- ions. It's generally believed that Loew's dropped vaude to reduce the summer operating expenses, with a (Continued on page 70) Joe Snlliyan Missing, Leaves Debts Behind Los Ahgeles, July 29. Following a close check-up of vouchers he had submitted for pre- liminary expenses in the opening of the Johnny Collins, Joe Sullivan and William J. Duffy agency in the Roosevelt Hotel, Jtie Sullivan is re- ported to have disappeared, leaving unpaid a hotel bill in excess of $500. Sullivan came liere about two months ago to open the office. He had with him, according to claims, money advanced-to him by Duffy to meet expenses. When Collins, who came on later, requested-Sullivan to submit vouch- ers and then had them checked by auditors, Sullivan absented himself from the office for several days. - After that an effort was made to corral the vouchers, but they had disappeared, and with them Sulli- van. ■.Among other "Incidentals" after arriylng here about three weeks ago, Sullivan borrowed $1,400 from BVank Melino, actor. Two checks for $100 each were returned to the London pipe store stamped "insuffi- cient funds." They had been issued by Sam Armstrong, who later made good. Armstrong also did the same thing for another check Sullivan had cashed at Agua Caliente. On July 25 word reached here that Sullivan was in Oklahoma and bound for Texas. BUD HARRIS AND NEW PARTNH( WITH RK4) Bud Harris, of the colored team, Harris and Radcllffe, has agreed through an attorney to settle his debt with the R-K-O booking of- fice at the rate of $150 a week. Harris is reported to owe R-K-O $3,000 of an original $12,000, in- curred by Harris through George Godfrey, then R-K-O booking head. An arrangement has been made by Harris and R-K-O with Par- Publlx for deduction of the weekly amount from -Harris'-salary- on-the ParrPublix circuit, for which he is booked to open shortly with an- other partner. Radcllffe, an em- ployee of Harris', with Harris the owner of the act, is also going out with another partner. R-K-O released Harris from a year of booking obligations to per- mit him to switch to Par-PUblix The release was given, R-K-O stated at. the time, because Harris and Radclilte were "more trouble than they are worth." JOE SCHENCK'S FOLKS nCHTING THE WDOW The parents of the late Joseph Schenck of Van and Schenck have turned over to a lawyer, for the purpose of filing suit, a complaint that Lillian Broderick Schenck, the widow, has taken possession of the estate and left the family out en- tirely. They base their complaint, it Is reported, on a charge that Schenck married Miss Broderick b€(fore the divorce decree ending his first marriage had reached ma- turity. Miss Broderick, then of the Vaude team of Ryan and Broderick, mar- ried Schenck after his divorce from Amelia Schenck In 1923. Last week Mrs. Schenck's petition for administrfttion of the estate was granted by the surrogate in Queens. In the petition the Schenck holdings were valued at $76,000. Schenck's mother and father. In the reported action, claim their son established them in a lunch wagon business and that they were en- tirely dependent on him. Arthur H. Priest, attorney for Mrs. Schenck, stated no notification of such a suit or complaint has been received by him or his client. Priest asked, on Mrs. Schenck's be- half, the whereabouts of the money from the $75,000 partnership life In- surance policy said to have been held by Gus Van and Joe Schenck. Van would not comment on the reported estate litigation between Schenck's surviving relatives, stat- ing it was not his affair. Jimmy Ashley, legit agent, now with Jerry Cargill. R-K-O Books Copy Act of Trahan's On Gffls 50% Ownersiiip Gaim R-K-O is booking the team of Johnny Berkes and Vesta Wallace h *r duplicating the one done Al Trahan on that circuit last season, on strength of Miss Wal- jaces plea that she, as Trahan's wmer partner, is as much entitled m routine as Trahan is. Trahan has left vaude temporar- and Is now rehearsing with the new "Little Show"' In New York, to, and Miss Wallace split wo years ago after six and a half years together. Miss Wallace claim- «a that Trahan dropped her from without her consent. A joint vaude contract Issued by R- ttrvn' Keith's, to Trahan and Wallace still had a year to go and "Wallace, when allegedly fcol u ''^ Trahan, started suit for PeSdSr '^'"^ Ji^h"*^^ 'r'^"'tlng from Miss Wallace, anan has had two partners, first Marie-Duval and then Tukona Cam- eron, who is now' with him in the show. Miss Wallace and Berkes, a sin- gle, teamed three weeks ago. R- K-O Is booking the act with dis- regard for a possible complaint from Trahan. The Trahan and Wallace routine, which Trjihan is still doing and which Miss Wallace contends she has a right to, has the man doing the comedy and at the piano, and the woman singing and foiling. STADLER and ROSE "C. B. Cochrane's 1930 ReVue," London, Bngland. Direction WM. MORRIS AGENCV Personal Rep., CHARLES HOGAN R-K^O'S i O IN THEIR OWN Aa The six old-timers now playing in Kddle DoWling's new act for R-K-O will be sent over this cir- cuit in a turn of their own when finishing with Dowling at the Chi- cago Palace in two weeks. . They are Corinne, Sam Morton, Dave Genaro, Josephine Sabel, Lizzie Wilson and I'om Harris. Their ages range from 7S to 86, with the eldest, Harris, dancer. Name of act not picked yet, but it won't be 'R-K-O's A. K.'s." Stantons Ont of Show Val and Ernie Stanton, with "Tattle Tales," musical, now in Boston, step out of the show Aug. 9. They will return to vaudeville. On the .same date Mickey Alport, hailed as Boston's favorite cabaret entertainter, will also be let out. Mrs. Roy Schuster Tires Of Being Banged About By Her Dancing Hubby Roy Schuster, assistant at Ned Weybum's dancing school at $150 a week, declared in an affidavit to N. T. Supreme Court Justice Col- lins that h? was not ^ wife beater and that the reason he. occasionally struck his wife. Amy Schuster, was that she couldn't get her dance steps right • when they ,were re- hearsing, and worked herself into a hysterical temper which caused him to "push her and strike her lightly." Mrs. Schuster, who got an order from Justice Collins for $40 a week alimony and $350 counsel fees pend- ing the trial, cited a number of ' occasions when she said her husband struck and slapped her when they were rehearsing a danc- act because she made a mistake. On one occasion he knocked her down, she said. Mrs. Schuster declared that when they were rehearsing an act at the Michaels Studio of Acrobatics^ her husband slapped her face and struck her In the side with his fist until the piano player had to stop, him. The piano player corroborated her statements, but Schuster, said it wasn't true and that the. pianist was sore because he would not get him a job with his present eiOPloyer. Schuster told the court that he wants to live with his wife and four-year-old daughter but that his wife's present conduct "now en- dangers all that I have attained after six years of strug^^eJt^ He said that she is a fairly good dancer but that she refuses to take the child out into the park to get the sun but makes her play in the house all day while she spends her time "In pajamas or tights practic- ing dancing with a victrola." "Varieties" for 'TaudeviDe' on R-K-O Starts Aug. 9 with Unit Bin 105 of 144 Acts Of 144 acts needed by R-K-O for its 40-week four-act road shows between August, 1930, and April, 1931, covering all of next season, 105 have been booked. BEN PIAZZA QUITS R-K-O; WEST COAST PROSPECT Ben Piazza turned in his resigna- tion to R-K-O upon returning from his vacation yesterday (Tuesday). Last f all when- -managep-^of R-K-O's westei-n booking office in Chicago, Piazza was transferred td New York and made office manager in charge of the home booking office details. It was then the R-K-O booking triunivlrate of. Charlie Freeman, George Godfrey and Piazza was formed, with Freeman as western booking head and God- frey in the east. When Godfrey was released last spring and Freenian became booking head in charge of all vaude, east and west. Piazza's duties were, from reports, lessened. Before resigning. Piazza was 'said to have declined a position offered to him by Jos. Plunkett In the R-K-O theatres operating depart- ment. Pla^sza declared he would prefer to return to the west coast, where It Is thought he has a pros- pect In view. Piazza was a Los Angeles resi- dent for a long while, being R-K-O booking manager there before go- ing to Chicago. He is reported to have received propositions from several circuits other than R-K-O, but with none known to have been accepted as yet. Piazza rejected offers from two major circuits be- fore coming to New York for R-K-O. His resignation is effective fmme diately. GENE OLIVER FINED AND SENT TO JAIL Chicago, July 29. Gene C. Oliver, Cook county tax assessor and former vaude pro- ducer, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined $12,500 in U. S. court for income tax evasion. Oliver will retain his county job, however, and does not commence his prison sentence until Sept. 15. In view of Oliver's past good character,, and the fact %e has a wife and two children. Judge .Wood- ward, who passed sentence, declared he showed leniency. GRACIE FIELDS, PALACE Single Vacation Week at $1,500 for English Comedienne Shortly following her opening at the Victoria, London, on Aug. 11, with her own unit, Grade Fields comes to New York for a brief va- cation. She will fiill in a single week for R-K-O at the Palace, New York, at $1,500. Over there MIs.s Fields Is a "name" worth much more, but in view of her proportionately limited name value here, plus the vacation idea Charlie Freeman, who made the booking direct with William Morris, Jr., set that figure. Pan's K. C. Lease Assigned Kansas City, July 29. Lease on the Pantages theatre has been assigned by the Pantages Thea- tre Co. to the Charno Theatre Co., latter a corporation recently formed by Louis J. Charnisky and asso- ciates. Charnisky has been manager of the house for ilib last few years. R-K-O's new name for Its combi- nation stage! and film shows, "R-K-O Varieties," which rubs out the word "vaudeville" on that cir- cuit as descriptive of stage bills after 35 years, will first be used in the billing of the western four-act unit bill opening Aug. 3 at the Mad- ison, Brooklyn, N. Y. This unit will carry the "R-K-O Varieties" label with it through the entire 40-week route, as will the units following weekly thereafter. New York R-K-O houses and otheris not on the int&ct show route win make the name change at about the same time, with 'Expectations that "R-K-O Varieties*' will be' used 100% over the circuit by September. "Vaudeville" will also be replaced by "varieties," contraction of the -older tprTii,-"vn'rIety," by-jwhlch-the entertainment was known untU B. F. Keith Changed it to "vaude- ville" at the Palace, New York, only remaining straight variety theatre In the country. R-K-6's pres3 department hias commenced to notify newspapers of the decision to change the name of the circuit's shows, which since advent of a new stage booking plaa have changed In nature. News- papers are. asked to refer to tlid R-K-O entertaihment as "R-K-O Varieties" Instead of "vaudeville." NORMAN THOMAS' SUIT AGAINST "COPY ACT" Frederick Crump, West Indian negro, and Leddy & Smith, the vaude agents, have been served jointly, and Leddy & Smith indi- vidually as a firm, in two separate actions by Norman Thomas, colored variety performer heading the quin- tet bearing his name. Jacob L Wiener, attorney for Thomas, who is now In Sngland, asks for an Injunction against Crump's alleged ■ imltatloft of Thomas' act. Leddy & Smith fire being sued for $100,000 damages for alleged Interference with Thomas* contract with Crump whereby the latter, formerly a member of the Norman Thomas Quintet, Was 'al- legedly covenanted' not' to do the same type of act for a number of years. Injunction Argument comes up Aug. 4 in New York supreme court. Scenic DepL Qosed Chicago, July 29. R-K-O scenic and drapery de- partment has been closed by Nate Blumberg, western director. Esti- mated the move will save the cir- cuit $50,000 a year. Move cuts out a wajehouse and heavy overhead expense. Circuit will buy, from New York or take contractors' bids on scenic work. Ethel Norris' Break R-K-O has released Ethel Norrls from a 40-week contract to permit her to go with Arthur Hammer- stein's musical, "Luana." Miss Norrls received the Ham- merstein offer after opening in the R-K-O western road show at the Madison, Brooklyn, the current first half. - Her spot will be filled by another turn for the route. Vaude Mfty Coniii Back in Philly TIiroiigliWatiersaiidliiiie.Mgts. Philadelphia, July 29. If the Warner Bros.' plans ma- terialize, this town may y.et come back as a vaudeville center. Once a great vaude town, Phllly isn't a vaude town at all any more. Not a vaude theatre here, nearest to It being Warners' Earle (presenta- tions). Cro.ss Keys, Logan, New Circle and Forum, here and the nearby Orpheum In Germantown and Tow- ers in Camdon are belrtg tested for vAude pos-slljllltles with two stage nights a week and with few excep- tions are finding the stage stuff helpful. William Frlehoffer, owner of the Nixon and Tower theatres In Philly proper, has voiced intentions of playing vaude in one of the two next season. R-K-O is after a local location and If getting it, will install vaud- film. Philadelphia's population exceeds 2,000,000. A few years ago there were 12 wc-eks of playing time closely group- ed In thi.s vicinity, and playable for any sort of vaude act. Today there i.s none.