The New York Clipper (January 1920)

January 14, 1920 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER THREE BROADWAY HOUSES TO B E SOLD AT AUCTION Astor, Bijou and Morosco Included in Properly to Be Disposed of By Astor Estate. All Controlled By the Shuberts. Following a decree of the Supreme Court, the real estate holdings of the late Henry Astor. including three Broadway play- houses, the Astor. at the northwest corner of Broadway and Forty-fifth street; the Bi- jou, on Forty-fifth street, west of Broad- way, and the Morosco, adjoining on Forty- fifth street, have been ordered sold at pub- lic auction on March 9. Clarence Davis and Joseph Day will conduct the sale. This transaction will mark the biggest deal in theatre properties ever consum- mated in the theatrical history of the coun- try, and it is expected that bidding will vie among New York's theatrical producers. Without doubt the Shuberts, who, at the present time hold long term leases on all three houses, will be among the heaviest bidders and it is the opinion in theatrical circles that they may outbid the others and take over the properties. Such an action, it is thought, would be much to the Shuberts' advantage, for, at the present time, it is reported, they are paying $75,000 yearly rental for the Astor and a proportionately high rental for the two other houses. The Astor, which is considered one of the best Shubert houses, was taken over by them from the Cohan and Harris interests about three years ago. It was built by "Bim the Button Man," and opened under the management of Wagenhals and Kem- per, who held the house until Cohan and Harris obtained the lease. The Morosco is a comparatively new house, having been built by the Shubert architect about three years ago, when the bouse was taken over by Morosco under a long term lease, the Shuberts, however, retaining a ground lease on the property. The Bijou was also built by the Shuberts about the same time and has continued to operate under their management. TAKE OVER HENDERSON'S Henderson's Theatre, on Surf avenue, Coney Island, has been taken over by J. S. Jacobs, a novelty manufacturer at 536 Broadway, in addition to the restau- rant that has always been a part of the building. The present plan is to have the house open within two months and run the year round. Before it is opened, however, extensive alterations are to be made by which the entrance to the theatre will be on Surf avenue in the future and lead through the restaurant, instead of on the alley, as it formerly was. The new lessee of the prop- erty has a long time lease, it is said, obtained from the United Cigar _ Stores Company and plans to present big time vaudeville, booked through the Keith offi- ces, the same as in the past. The idea, of putting in legitimate shows was at first thought of, but was later abandoned. If the house can be made to pay in the Winter time, the Summer will very easily take care of itself, the new lessee figures. . PARIS SEES NEW PIECE Paris, France, Jan. 10.—The Comedie Francaise witnessed the performance of a new two-act drama entitled "The Voile De- chire," or "The Torn Vefl." The play is a drama of domestic woe and strife, with the eternal triangle ever apparent. However, unlike most plays of its type, it gives ample opportunity for really splen- did acting, and is cast with an exceptionally capable cast. The story deals with two married couples, Jaques and Germaine, and Robert and Micheline. Robert and Germaine have been carrying on a love affair"which Jaques discovers. Robert then suddenly commits suicide and everybody has a fine time try- ing to conceal the truth from the perfectly innocent and unsuspecting Micheline. There is some very fine acting in the piece, con- tributed by Leon Bernard, Mile. Ventura. M. Alexandre, Mme. Kolb and Berthe Cerny. SURREY RE-OPENS WITH COMEDY London, Eng„ Jan. ■ 10.—The Surrey. Theatre, known also as "The Royal Surrey Theatre," reopened recently as a legitimate attraction bouse under the direction of Miim, Fairhairn and Miln, who will pre- sent a season of drama, comedy and musical plays there. The opening play .was the farce comedy, "When Knights Were Bold," with Bromley Challoner and Company. "WASHINGTON" REHEARSING "Washington," by Percy McKaye, which is being produced by Arthur Hopkins, will go into rehearsal this week. Walter Hamp- den will portray the title role. MAETERLINCK'S ENGLISH POOR r The failure of Maurice Maeterlinck to make his English understood to an Amer- ican audience and the objection of J. B. Pond, his manager, to Maeterlinck giving his forthcoming lectures with the aid of an interpreter, last week led to a formal exchange of differences between the two. A statement issued by the dramatist's attorneys, Stanchfield and Levy, read as follows: "After most patient and persistent at- tempts to adjust the differences between Mr. Maeterlinck and his manager, we are reluctantly compelled to admit that the task has proven impossible. We have no desire to air the grievances nor to disturb the public by reason of them, but we deeply regret that such unpleasant circumstances, not of Mr. Maeterlinck's making, should have arisen to mar the great happiness which he has enjoyed in his visit here and to interfere in his relations with the American public, for whom he has such a high regard. "Mr. Maeterlinck wishes, indeed, that it were possible for him to keep every single engagement to meet and speak with the American people. Unfortunately, his man- ager has made that impossible, and it would now appear that he may be de- prived of that privilege. He hopes,' how- ever, that the American public 'will bear with him and will believe that he is still very anxious to find a way to give them his message, despite all difficulties with the language and with management. "We have advised him that bis contract has been deliberately broken and that his rights have been flagrantly violated. At the proper time and place we shall he ready to justify that advice." According to* the J. B. Pond office, no contract has been broken and no dates for the dramatist's appearance have been cancelled. If the contract should be broken, ' it was stated, it will be the work of the dramatist and not the lecture bureau. Maeterlinck, it was pointed out, came to this country under an agreement to lecture in English and any failure on the part of the dramatist to comply with the agree- ment, will be considered a breach of con- tract. However, it is hoped that the ex- isting differences will be overcome and the tour continued as arranged. "THE HOTTENTOT," A HIT Atlantic City. N. J., Jan. 12.—A piquant and effervescent comedy made its debut last night when, at the Apollo, Sam H. Harris presented William Collier in Vh> tor Mapes' new comedy "The Hottentot." Despite several very" patent first night misr chances, as it was played last night "The Hottentot" explodes a laugh in almost every other line. Nor is this humor de- pendent on or derivative of any given scene. It lies in the lines themselves. In the adroit use of contrast in mood, predi- cation and character. Often there is a play upon words, bnt so dexterously is this done that the mechanics of the method are not apparent. * The idea, of course., if not an old one, has been used before and not so long since in a Cohan & Harris musical piece. How- ever, originality is not imperative, since the circumstances employed is sufficient to give the chief character a status that is decidedly whimsical. And, from this, de- velopes a dialogue which is often at cross purpose with each separate meaning at- tached to some character. The story is slender to emaciation. One Harrington, having been introduced as an expert horseman, has not been upon a horse in years. He is persuaded, however, by his love for a young lady of the com- pany at Mrs, Gilford's bouse, to attempt to ride a steeplechase, the horse selected for him being the most fiery and uncertain one of the field. Of coarse, he wins the race through sheer good fortune and an ability to stick. As may be supposed, this kind of a tale furnishes Willie Collier with an unusually healthy opportunity for fun making and he made expert use of it. At times, the comedy was laid with a rather heavy brush, due mainly to the writing of the scene. But Collier's strokes were always sure and deft and what might have be- come a picture of rough genre was trans- formed into a rapidly done sketch rich in humor. Collier's work is of that match- less type which, subtracted from the sum total of the play, would leave a slim re- mainder. An excellent cast has been provided for the undoubted benefit of the piece. Paulnie Armitage is cast aa an adopted daughter of a widow, played by Janet Beecher. Both Findley, has been awarded a part which does not give mnch - opportunity,_ though she made the very best of it as it stood. Others in the piece are Arthur Barry, William Raymond, Sidney Mason, Thomas Williams. William Williams, Albert Reed, WDlard Bowman. . - ,- TAKE LONG LEASE Knoitille, Tenn., Jan. 8.—The Signal Amusement Company has secured a sixty- year lease on a piece of property here and will at once begin the erection of a motion picture house to cost approximately $225,- 000. The new building will be of steel and concrete and will have a seating capacity of 2,500. F. P. L. GETS TWO MORE The motion picture rights of "For the Defense," by Edgar Rice, were purchased last week by Famous Players-Laaky. This company has also acquired the motion picture rights of "The Wonderful Thing." GOT THE MONEY "Fair and Warmer," playing the Vic- toria, Chicago, for the past week, proved a record breaker for the outlying houses. The attraction proved a strong drawing power and played nightly to capacity audiences. BRADY TO STAR BUNN William A Brady has effected a new arrangement whereby he will shortly pre- sent Holbrook Blinn and Mary Nash in "Man and Woman," a new play by Ben- jamin F. Glazer and Carlos Bonhomme. Blinn has until recently been under the Selwyn management. BARR1E WRITES ORIENTAL DRAMA Loirooir, Eng., Jan. 9.—Sir James Bar- rie has just completed a play called "Uvula," in which Karsavina, the Russian dancer, will be starred. The play has to do with a ballet and the premiere danseuse and with a ballet and the premiere danseuse, and was written to show Barries appre- ciation of the ballet. The settings and atmosphere of the play are oriental. MCGREGOR'S SHOW SCORES Bai-timoex, Md., Jan. 12.—"The Sweet- heart Shop,** the first production by the new producing combination of Edward J. -McGregor and William Moore Patch, was .given its premiere at the Academy of Music tonight. The work is lavish and beautiful, a fine picture of musical comedy considered from the viewpoints of dancing, costuming and singing. The general tone of the performance suggests operetta for . the music is away from the jaaa that has furnished the melodies for so many of this season's musical productions. It la charm- ing, and the manner of handling the fern* ture and enaembling is particularly fin- ished. "The Sweetheart Shop" has a poor book, as far as situations and plot an concerned, but it gives opportunities for such artistic settings that it is hard to quarrel with it. Much of the fun cornea from the boyish cut ting-up of Harry K. Morton, who makes lots of it through his acrobatie accom- plishments and from the dainty farce of Esther Howard, first aa a small town heiress, recently released by her legacy from a pickle factory and then aa a studio siren. As it -was played last night, "The Sweetheart Shop" was much too long, and this probably accounted for a, little drag- ging in the first and second acta. But, generally, it was unusually light, sharp and finished for a first performance. "The Sweetheart Shop," where the first act is laid amid artistic settings of sal- mon pink and silver, is a sort of bureau for lonely girls and men. Of course, some marriages are arranged, but this is not generally known to the men, and it is ex- plained that the risks in "The Sweetheart Shop" are few because everyone is guar- anteed, and when a man marries, his wife is guaranteed to be faithful to him for a year. If not, "The Sweetheart Shop," Inc., pays him $6,000. Striking contrasts are shown in the cos- tumes, crisp, dainty organdies of the pal- est pastelle shades in the first act being replaced with Egyptian effects in the sec- ond. But the Oriental costumes are very different from the eastern effects the stags has been giving recently. They are of deep, tones, but soft and graceful, simply and uniformly designed, and in them sev- eral dainty dance numbers, suggesting classical .movements ' are given. . Una Fleming, in a lovely gray and silver ballet costume gives the most interesting dance numbers. . . The score has a particularly fine or- chestration, under artistic direction. The most popular number was "Caravan." Others in the cast besides Miss Howard and Mr. Morton are Mary Harper, Albert Brown, Robert MeClellan and Estello Mc- Neil, and ZeTJa -Russel, whose work has considerable depth. JOHN DREW OPENS Atlantic City, N. J., Jan. 12.—The - presentation at the Globe Theatre tonight of "The Cat-bird." brought to attention a. trio of indubitable power, John Drew, - Rupert Hughes and Arthur Hopkins. This new piece, which went over well is a thing of delicate framework, subtle and unmis- takably clever. It is a deft application of the traits of insect life to human beings, and is, by all odds, the best piece of writ- ing, dramatic at least, ever accomplished by Hughes. Mr. Drew, after an absence from the stage approximating two years, received a very warm welcome, but resisted all at- tempts to draw bim before the curtain. He has aged somewhat, but those character- istics of manner and speech which have en- deared him to countless thousands, were strongly in evidence. As the pottering scientist who studies insects for their psy- chological traits, and who applies them to his human friends and acquaintances, he is altogether charming. - Added to this, the author has provided some of that epigrammatic wit which comes best and most expertly from the lips of Mr. Drew. Mr. Hopkins, also, has con- tributed some very artistic stage effects, one in particular, in the first act, a vivarium wherein are contained the specimens in which the scientist always finds something new and interesting, being especially so.