The New York Clipper (August 1917)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER August 8; 1917 EIGHTY-FIRST ST. TO PLAY FULL WEEKSHOWS STARTS TWO-A-DAY SEPT. 1 Beginning Sept. 1, the Eighty-first Street Theatre will abandon "its split week policy and play two-a-day week stands, actively competing with the Riverside and Colonial Theatres for the better class of neighborhood vaudeville patronage. The Eighty-first Street Theatre has been playing split week vaudeville and regular program pictures for some time. Although high-class acts have been booked, the quality of the bill as a whole has not been sufficiently high to warrant actual competition with the big time vaudeville houses. Also, the feature pic- tures have not been "first-runs," but have been shown at this theatre several weeks after their release date. Under the new policy, the management will be enabled to present a stronger vaude- ville bill, for. acts that they could not afford to play with a split week policy can be satisfactorily booked for one week engagements. A new picture policy will also be put into effect. The theatre will no longer subscribe to a regular program, but will screen more current releases, and will pay aa high as $1,000 weekly for their feature films. The house will continue to book its acts through the TJ. B. O., and the same house staff will remain with the inauguration of the new policy. ■ "MASTER HANEY" QUITS STAGE Wn.MiNGTON, Del., Aug. 4.—Haney Walker, known In the theatrical world as "Master Haney," because of his diminu- tive stature, has forsaken the stage to make munitions at the Dn Pont powder plant. Haney is a native of Wilmington. In the early eighties he was a drummer boy in the First Delaware Regiment's fife and drum corps. His work in the compe- titions held by the fife and drum corps in New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore led to his later stage career. He has ap- peared in vaudeville and musical comedy throughout the country. JACKOLO ADOPTS DANCER'S SON Mme. Elisa Cansino, a dancer, appeared before Surrogate Cohalan last Friday to approve of the adoption of her six-year-old son Gabriel, by Nathaniel A. Jackolo. As given in court, Mme. Cansino's reason for her action was her constant fear that she would be killed in an accident while tour- ing the country and that thereby her son would be left without proper guardianship. Jackolo is manager for the dancer, who is the widow of Eduardo Cansino. RENNY REPLACES DOOLEY Talbot Renny has been placed by J. Fraacis Dooley in the comedy skit, "What a Night," in the part created by Dooley. Marie Walsh and Robert Brot, of the original cast, remain with the act. "FAT" THOMPSON IS AGENT James (Fat) Thompson has graduated from actor to vaudeville agent and has opened offices in the Putnam Building, rep- resenting Holmes and Dudley, Inc. MORATI GETS CHERNEY SKETCH .j "Poor Man!" is tie title of a sketch,, written by Maurice Cherney, in which Charles Morati will soon be seen. LEE CASE IS HELD OVER Charles Sewards, manager of Loew's Seventh Avenue Theatre, and Irene Lee, mother of Katherine and Jane Lee, ju- venile picture stars, were released under $300 bail in the Twelfth District Court, on Friday, when the magistrate ruled to hold the case over for Special Sessions. The defendants are charged with violating a section of the penal law which makes it a misdemeanor to use children in a the- atrical entertainment without first obtain- ing a permit It is alleged that the Lee children appeared at the Seventh Avenue Theatre in violation of this section. DANCE ACT DECISION PENDING After hearing arguments pro and con on an order to show cause why the vaudeville team of Kenny and Lusby should not be enjoined from doing their act which is al- leged to be copyrighted by Maxwell Miller Kennedy, the court took the matter under advisement, and a decision is now pend- ing. JACK WILSON LEAVES VAUDE San Fbancibco, Cal., August 5.—Jack Wilson, formerly a U. B. O. headliner, and later, one of Marcus Loew's stellar attrac- tions, will be one of the stars in the George Ebey musical comedy stock company which opens its season at the Alcazar on Labor Day. N. V. A. MAY OCCUPY 3 FLOORS According to reliable reports, the Na- tional Vaudeville Artists, Inc., contemplate expanding their present quarters, by taking over the leases of the two stories above them and utilizing the entire three stories for clubrooms. MUCKENFUSS ACTS BOOKED A trio of Lee Muckenfuss' acts have se- cured bookings on Western Vaudeville time. Sparks, Ali and Company and Willie Smith started over the route this week, and the Five Young Americans will open on September 25. BELLE BAKER RE-BOOKED Belle Baker will play a return engage- ment at the New Brighton Theatre, the week of August 27. Van and Schenck will appear on the same bill and the three per- formers will do a specialty, in conjunction with the regular bill. BEN SHAFFER HAS NEW SINGLE Ben Shaffer will introduce a new single at the Royal Theatre on September 3. LABOR DAY TO OPEN U. B. 0. HOUSES EXPECT RECORD BREAKING SEASON Labor Day will probably mark the open- ing of the United Booking office middle Western houses for the season of 1917- 1918. It has been officially announced that the Colonial Theatre, at Erie, Pa., will open on that date, and it is strongly intimated that practically all of the otherB will open at the same time. Johnny Collins, who will continue to conduct the booking policy of these houses, anticipates an exceptionally prosperous and successful vaudeville season. This seems to be the general consensus of opinion in vaudeville circles, the belief being based on the fact that America's participation in war will bring a desire on the part of the theatre-going public for the lighter forms of entertainment only, in which case vaudeville is bound to flourish. This is exactly what happened in England with the outbreak of war, and London music halls are playing to capacity. Although the opening dates of several of the Orpheum bouses have not, as yet, been announced, a great majority of them have decided npon when the curtains will rise. Salt Lake City will start the ball rolling August 15. August 19 will see openings at St. Paul and Minneapolis. Denver will open on the 20th. On August 26, Kansas City, Omaha, Des Moines, Duluth, Lincoln, Memphis and Milwaukee will all start their new Orpheum season. New Orleans will open Sept. 8. The Orpheums at Ban Francisco and Los Angeles, and the Ma- jestic at Chicago have been running all summer. CHAS. CARTMELL BREAKS FINGER Charles Cartmell, of the team of Cart- mcll and Harris, is suffering from a broken finger as the result of an accident in a recent baseball game at Freeport in which he participated. EDDIE DARLING BACK AT WORK Eddie Darling has returned from his va- cation and is back on the job again after spending two weeks in the country far away from the office. He has returned full of "pap." VAN BERGEN LEAVES FOR WEST Martin Van Bergen has left New York for San Francisco where he will join the "America First" company when it plays the Orpheum there. MARDI GRAS 5 FOR ORPHEUM ' The Mardi Gras Five, now in rehearsal, has been routed over the Orpheum circuit. It is reported that Madeline Harrison will be featured in the act. FRIEDLANDER ENGAGES WEiNER Jack Weiner has been engaged for a leading part in William B. Friedlander's "Suffragette Review," which starts its vaudeville season on August 21. NAN HALPERIN BACK IN N. Y. Nan Halperin is back in New York, very enthusiastic over the new act ■ which she broke in several weeks, ago in the middle West HELEN VINCENT In Vaudeville. HERMAN WEBER ON VACATION Herman Weber has left for Watervelt Michigan, where he intends to enjoy a two weeks' vacation. TO DANCE ATR.L BENEFIT Miss Evan Burrous Fontaine, the dancer, has been selected by Talbot Hanan for the vaudeville performance to be given in conjunction with the Broadway Ball at the Casino, Narragansett Pier, on August 10. Messrs. Keith and Aibee are supply- ing the artists, who will be paid for their services, despite the fact that the proceeds will be devoted to the Rhode Island Chap- ter of the Navy-Comfort League. JANET ADAIR HAS NEW ACT Janet Adair, assisted by Miss M. Adelphi at the piano, is going to offer a new act at the Royal Theatre the week of Sep- tember 3. Miss Adair has appeared throughout the West for the last several years, and this engagement will mark her first Eastern appearance. HARRY STEPPE HURT Harry Steppe, of the team of Steppe & Cooper, was injured while dancing in a local theatre last week and was compelled to cancel his engagements up to Satur- day. He recovered sufficiently, however, to open Monday, at Proctor's Twenty-third Street Theatre. KOUNS SISTERS BOOKED Nella and Sara Kouns have been routed over the Orpheum Circuit opening at the New Theatre in St. Louis, and are booked until next September both in the West and Enst. The theatre opens September 3 with Emily Ann Wellmann as the head- liner. ADELAIDE COLLAPSES Adelaide and Hughes and their dancing act will not play any more time during the Summer on account of the collapse of Adelaide last week at Henderson's. They come into the Palace the week of Septem- ber 3. NAT NAZARRO OUT OF BILL Nat Nazarro and company could not open at the New Brighton Theatre last Monday on account of illness. Eddie Carr and company, with their sketch, filled in. GUS RETD HAS NEW PARTNER May Ohesleigh, formerly of the Ches- leigh Sisters, has joined with Gus Reld, formerly of Reid and Wood, and the pair will shortly be seen in a new act, booked over U. B. O. time. JOE MICHAELS RECUPERATING *Ttiantic City, N. J., August 4.—Joe Michaels,. the vaudeville agent who re- cently underwent a serious operation, is resting here and is on his way to complete recovery. WILSON HURT IN BALL GAME Charles E. Wilson, of Evans and Wilson, is suffering from a broken arm. The in- jury was received in the recent baseball struggle between the Baldwins and the Lights. "FOUR HUSBANDS" REHEARSING "The Four Husbands," Wm. B. Fried- lander's tabloid, with new songs and dialogue, has been pat into rehearsal. Raymond and Bain will have the leading roles. CHESLEIGH SISTERS SEPARATE After completing a tour of the Pantages time, the Chealeigh Sisters have abandoned their act and dissolved their partnership. . OPEN ON ORPHEUM TIME ; Chicago, Aug: 6.—Lew Brice and the Barr Twins opened here to-day for a tour of the Orpheum circuit