The New York Clipper (December 1919)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER December 31, 1919- SANTA CLAUS VISITS THEATR E FOLK EVERYWHERE From Broadway, to Actor's Fund Home on Staten bland, He Drops in and Distributes Good Cheer and Presents ' /. . Everywhere • Santa Clans stole enough time from the fireplaces in the homes of good little chil- dren on Christinas Eve and Christmas Day to sneak around to the back entrances of many of the Broadway theatres and spread the spirit of Christmas behind the foot- lights. He rot right past the stern old stage doormen, and, to actors who know nothing of the look of a home Christmas, he gave little informal parties on the stage after the right's performance. Of coarse, if Santa had been forced to par a premium and a war tax to gain his entrance, the story might have been other- wise. Bnt he seems to be able to get in any place, and even at the Century, where they say yon can't get a seat for love or money—there was old St Nick. F. Bay Comstock and Morris Gest invited him there, so that they could entertain the 300 members of their company with an in- formal sapper and dance, which ended with a great Xmas gathering, where every one got a present from a big Christmas tree with candles, and candy canes, and bos bona, and paper hats, and tinsel, 'n everything. McKay Morris played the role of Santa Clans, while Dorothy Dalton was a real fairy queen and gave pretty presents to all the good little boys and girls who had worn their nighties nicely in "Aphrodite.'* Then the company adjourned to a small ballroom in the theatre, where the ballet girls were hostesses at a party for Mr. and Mrs. Michael Fokine. Vir- ginia McDonald, one of the girls, had charge of the party. And at the Vanderbilt Theatre, the "Irene" girls hnng op their silk stockings, and Jack Gleason had Santa drop $25 into each one of them, because they were good enough little girls to sing at the Friars' Frolic last week. In each stocking was also an invitation to be a dinner guest of the Friars next Saturday, when the girls wont be asked to sing,- bnt just to look pretty, smile and eat. And that wasn't all at the Vanderbilt. There was ice cream, lemonade; cake, peannts and all kinds of goodies for thirty-eight little girls from the' tenements. Santa took them all back stage and they went home loaded down with all kinds of wonderful things to take home, which Edith Day and her associates had given them. If yon passed the Hippodrome on Christ- mas Day, yon saw that gayly lighted tree that stood in front of the Sixth avenue entrance. WeB, at midnight, the tree, which was a gift from John Phillip Sousa, was brought np to the stage and all the performers, ushers and attendants made merry around it, while Santa came in A on an elephant, 'canse there ain't no 'reindeers at the Hippodrome. Bessie McCoy Davis and other members of the Greenwich Follies company chipped in $500 for the Santa Clang Association to buy toys for children that Santa might otherwise have been forced to forget. Elsie Janis* gang danced and ate with Elsie after the Zmas eve show and, when they thought of their last year's Christmas overseas, they just danced and ate more. When yon get to be an Ethel Barrymore, yon can tell the management something now and then, and Christmas afternoon found the ISnpire Theatre dark, so that the- star could pass the day at home with her kiddies. Dorothy Donnelly, author of "Forbid- den,** was a little female Santa Clans when she decorated the dressing rooms of the "Forbidden" company with pretty holly wreaths. In "Miss Millions." Marie Sewall. a chorus girl, was singled out by St. Mick when twenty soldiers, returned from over- seas, called upon her at the theatre to give her a surprise party, because they remem- bered how she had cheered them up as a jazz dancer in France. Helen McKellar' received a Christmas present when, on Christmas night, her name was flashed in electric lights for the first time in front of the. Forty-eighth Street Theatre, where she is now the fea- tured player.' Charles Dillingham gave Brensa Durgo a bonus in gold coin for recently filling in as understudy, a role in "Apple Blossoms." So Miss Durgo had a mighty merry Ouiat- Christmas presents were distributed to the children at the Capitol by Mabel Nor- raand when more than 3,000 youngsters from institutions for orphans and cripples attended a special performance. John Charles Thomas, who is chief warbler in "Apple Blossoms," gave a Christmas Eve dinner at his studio' in Greenwich Village , to Joseph Cawthorne, Doyle and Dixon, Harrison Brook bank, Percival Knight, Boy Atwell, B. H. Born- side, Joseph Parsons, Edwin Hanneford, Jack Haxzard, Ernest Torrence, Fran k Craven, Jerome Kern, Victor Jacobi, Will- iam Le Baron and William M- Daly. Santa Clans seemed to be all over Broadway. Every elevator man from the one who runs the little elevator to Al Woods' office to the elevator men who shoot up to the 'steenth floor of the Candler building, seemed to be smiling with a smile that said, "Santa didn't forget me!" Santa seemed to be everywhere. With true holiday spirit prevailing, Christmastide at the Actors' Fund Home, at West New Brighton, Staten Island, was marked by two days of continuous festiv- ities, in which the score or more aged players were joined by more than five hundred members of the Theatre Assembly in celebrating. Early Christmas morning, gathered in the drawing room of the old manor house, the little band of aged players, who make their residence at the home, enacted a sketch, filled with all the tense moments and humor, of magic As they stood in the doorway, with a half nhTMiah look of expectancy written on their wrinkled faces, they made a picture, that only a Charles Dickens or a Washington Irving could de- scribe. In one corner of the great sunny room was a Christmas tree, beneath which was heaped the presents of the Theatre As- sembly. And with a rush they made for it. Down on their knees, with an almost feverish impatience, they sought out their packages. 'Here and there was to be seen a tear-dimmed eye, but over all, the holi- day spirit prevailed. There were presents for aO. For the feminine guests were complete vanity boxes and a hundred and one little gee-gaws, that kindled the eye- and made the fair heart beat faster. For the men, there were slippers, pipes,' tobacco and other mascu- line contentments, dear to the heart of every male. None were forgotten, and all were in accord, in voting this the best Christmas ever. On the day following, more than five hundred members of the Theatre Assembly journeyed ont to the home, where they were the guests of the actor-folk residing there. With them, the Assembly took any quantity of good things to eat and numer- ous presents. Upon their arrival, they were greeted by their hosts and hostesses with hospitality that rivaled the famous Kentucky brand. Again there was gift-giving and again the holiday atmosphere filled the old manor. For the edification of the guests, a pro- gram, arranged by Mrs. J. Christopher Marks, president of the Assembly, was pre- sented in the drawing room, in which mem- bers of the Junior Art Society and the Ladies' Choral were the principal figures. The.day's'festivities were started with a' speech of welcome by ,F. F. Mackay, chair- man of the Fund .executive' committee, which was followed by. the presentation of gifts. Mr. Mackay was again heard Jn a dramatic recitation, of'some or ( t£e-'famous roles be had created, and Billy' Payne, an- old-time minstrel, contributed some old songs and- tunes on his banjo. Other speakers were Mrs. Marks, and Ralph Del- more and Milton Nobles, both members of the Fund executive committee. Among those residents of the home who took part in the celebration were Charles A. Morris, Samuel K. Chester, Mrs. and Mr. L. O. Hart, Jennie Parker, May Pres- ton, C. J. Burbige, William Gilbert, Ben Graham, Fred Rannells, Mrs. W. T. Stepheans, Wilfred Bayner, Mrs. and Mr. W. Christy Miller, Mrs. Alice Adams, John E. Haynes, E. A. Locke, John A. Brown, Fiddes Page, Laura B. Kahn, Zittella Flynn, Leon John Vincent Mrs. and Mr. Leslie Gossin, Virginia Buchanan, Zack Evans, Frederick Arun del, Nannie Cotter, William Payne, May Wilkes and Ada Morton. WEE'S SHOW GETS OVER P TTTT.AnvTj TTTA, Dec. 25.—"The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come," dramatized in three acts by Sidney Tofcr from John Fox, Jr.'s novel of the same name, was presented here last Monday night for the first time at the Walnut Street Theatre by O. E. Wee, a New York producer. Although the story is not. altogether new to theatre goers, this version gives some new sidelights on the familiar tale and, in some respects, is superior to that already offered by Eugene Walters.' Mr. Toler, in addition to being an author, is also an actor, and his familiarity with the technique of the stage has undoubt- edly helped ^"" to make this a remark- ably convincing and pretty stage story. _ "Kingdom Come" is a. settlement in Kentucky. The little Shepherd is a waif who knows nothing of his birth or parentage. With his sheep dog Jack he wanders from door to door, seeking shel- ter and spreading the gospel of love and the golden rule. He meets Melissy, a child of nature, and the two fall in love. They are separated when the Civil War breaks ont and the little Shepherd goes to fight with the Northern armies. Melissy awaits his return and, in the end, the two are united. In the mean- time, the lad's identity has been discov- ered and he comes into his own when a wealthy uncle adopts and educates him. The entire cast is well balanced. George Simpson, in the title role, gives a con- vincing performance, but the bright spot in the cast is Dorothy Dunn, as Melissy. She is vivacious and very natural in the role of the little mountain girl. HURT IN TRAIN COLLISION Bakaboo, Wis^ Dec 27.—While en route with the "Business Before Pleasure" company from Rochester, Minn., to Bar- aboo, Bud Schaffler, who plays the role of Abe Potash in the company, sustained an injured foot, as the result of a head-on collision between two trains. Rita Elliot, who is also in the company, received several bruises on her shoulder. Cecile Elliot, Schamer's wife, who ap- pears as the vampire in the company, escaped uninjured. Schaffler and his wife are spending their lay-off in Chicago. SHUBERT "CATTIES" RE-OPEN BAL-rmoaE, -Dec 30.—"The Shubert Gaieties of 1019," which closed recently to be recast and fixed np, opened here to- night. In the new cast are Jack Nor- worth, Harry Watson, Jr., Stuart Baird, Ted Lorraine, Al Shayne, White & Clay- ton, Klein Brothers, Ben Meroff, Mar- guerite Farrel, Janes Adair, Shirley Royee, The Glorias, Sam Critcherson, William McKinley, Teddy Tapan and Helen Arm- strong, Gladys Walton, Luba Meroff, Betty Fitch and Florence Elmore. HERBERT PIECE GOES WELL PsovmENCE, Dec. 25.—"My Golden. Girl," which had its premiere at the Opera House here last week, is an unqualified success. Victor Herbert, who wrote the score, conducted the orchestra at the pre- miere and wielded his baton to music that is fully up to. the standard .of Herbert melodies. Besides, the book, written by Frederick Arnold Kuramer, iaJfilled with really bright lines and comedy aplenty. 'xbe 'chorus, besides being youthful and graceful, can also sing, file cast is well- balanced and capable. The settings are all in good taste. In fact, "My-Golden Girl" has much that goes to make up a successful musical comedy. A dissatisfied young couple, determined to divorce each other, furnish the plot Both have invited the new objects of their affections to come down to visit them at their new Long .Island home. Both lovers- arrive; also the respective lawyers. But the best laid plans of mice, men and pros- pective divorcees oft gang astray. In this case, the two young visitors fall in love with each other, whereupon the young couple patch up their tottering romance. The leads are taken by Robert Emmett Keane and Laura Arnold in the respective roles of man and wife. John Sparks, in the role of one of the lawyers, supplies most of the comedy and introduces a type fresh to the musical comedy stage. Helen Bolton and George Trabert take the roles of the other woman and the other man, and acting honors are even. The song hit of the show is "My Golden Girl,** introduced twice, first by Miss Arnold and later by Miss Bolton. Other numbers that the audience seemed particularly delighted with were "Darby and Joan," Tn Venice" and ."Bagtime Terpsichore." Dorothy Tierney, in the role of a maid, made a lot out of a small part. Excellent dancing was introduced by Evelyn Cavaa- augh and Richard Dore. The piece was pro- duced under the management of Harry NardeU. TROUBLE OVER OSCAR'S FUNERAL That ,the funeral expenses connected with the" interment of the late Oscar Ham merstein totaled $7,269.02 was revealed' last week when Surrogate Cohalan took under advisement a motion made by Arthur Hammerstein, the late impresario's son, to direct the widow to repay hitn the money he says he laid out' at her request The widow, Mrs. Emma Swift Ham- merstein, the sole legatee., and executrix under the will, requested Arthur Hammer- . stein to pay the funeral expenses, he avers, and promised to repay him when she re- alized money from the estate. Now, Arthur Hammerstein declares in his peti- tion, filed through House, Grossman and Vorhaus, his attorneys, she has collected money from rents and the sale of personal property belonging to the estate in excess of the money he claims he laid out for funeral expenses. Mrs. Hammerstein, through- her attor- ney, David Neuberger, while admitting that she.agreed to reimburse Arthur Ham- merstein, stated, that he was not author- ised to spend the large amount that the burial cost. Attached to Arthur Hammerstein's peti- tion is an itemized statement of the moneys paid out in expenses; the largest single item is $3,200, paid for a new plot in Woodlawn. Cemetery. The casket cost $1,850; flowers cost $450, and the sum of $100 was paid to the' Rev. Dr. Joseph Silverman for conducting the services. HARRY COLEMAN Harry Coleman, whose picture appears on the cover, is the star of the "Roseland Girls," playing the Columbia Theatre this week. He will sever his connection with James E. Cooper's management at tie end of this season. Dissatisfaction on the part of Coleman is given as one reason and a Broadway show is another. A certain manager has been angling for Coleman since he signed with Cooper three years ago, with the result that Coleman, ft is said, will-'be"in a Broadway production next October.