The New York Clipper (January 1920)

^atinary 14, 1920 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 13 Founded in 1853 by Frank Queen Published by the CUPPER CORPORATION Orland W. Vaughan.... President and Secretary Frederick C Muiler : .Treaiurer 16M Broadway. New York Telephone Bryant 6117-6118 WALTER VAUGHAN, EDITOR Paul C Swinehart, Managing Editor ... » New YoaK, January 14, 1920. . •Entered June M, 1879, at the Poat Office at New York, N. Y., ai second data matter, un- der the act of lurch 3, 1879. THE CLIPPER it issued every WEDNESDAY. Forms Close on Monday at 5 P. M. SUBSCRIPTION One year, in advance, %S; six months, SZJO; three months, fLZS. Canada and foreign post- age extra. Single copies will be sent, postpaid, on receipt of IS cents. ADVERTISING RATES FURNISHED ON APP LICAT ION CMcawa Ornc . Roosa Ml. State Lake Bide HaUV F. Rosa, MAJfAGUL Sma Frsnelaco O ffi c e 8 30 Market St. R- Cosuta. Mahacxi. Address All 'Communications to THE NEW YORK CUPPER • ltM Br-*,.,, New York ■RttiHtrtd CmUt Aidrm: "Aursroarfv." Tin Ci.irr>a cast » ostaimib wrouuli ws aa-TAiL, at our aajenta, Gorringe American News Agency, 17 Green Street, Charing Cross) Song. London, W. C, England; Brcntano'a News Da- cot, 37 Avenue de TOpera, Paris, France; G»r- «on & Gotch, 123 Pitt Street. Sydney. N. S. W.. Australia. A WISE SUGGESTION Now that ithe courts have ruled the Kil- roc Willnwnfl Ticket Speculator Law to be invalid and that a broker in the paeteboavds has a' right to sell at pair . of aeata for any amount any customer is willing to pay aim, the suggestion of Judge Otto Rosalsky, who declared the ordinaaaoe unconstitutional, that the man- agers form some agreement with the brokers whereby such tickets an pass through the hands of the speculators will be «olfl at a fair price, is a vary good one. Of course, the decision of Judge Rosalkrky will probably be appealed, but even more probable than that, in 'fact, it is almost a certainty, is the'one that it Will 'be affirmed. Therefore, any agree- ment that ia to be made might as well be got under way now as at a later date. As u matter of downright, hard fact, the iprices received by spemilatora for tickets to anything but the big hits, is not near what it la popularly supposed *o be. Such shows as J The Gold Diggers/* ''Clarence," "Apple Blossoms," etc., are in 'the 'hit category, and anyone who has a ipair of tickets for a performance at any 'one of them even during the week dayB, 'to-eay nothing of Saturdays and holidays, ■can get a price very much in advance of that charged at the box office 'for them. But how about the others; the houses that do not hold hits? These houses -have put a price on their seats of (2.75, which is all that people are willing to 'ray, and the best that a "spec" can do '-with them is to get a SO cent advance which, under the law just declared uncon- stitutional, was allowed to them. He can't get any more thai t) hat amount be- cause the box office price itself is so high 'that people won't pay much in excess of the original price. In other words, patrons ■of ticket brokers' offices want hits. The big-majority of people who go into a speculator's office and ask "for a pair of seats, ask for the big Mis and, if they can get them, are willing to pay a good advance on the box office price. Fre- quently, the phrase, "I don't care what they cost and if you haven't them, please try and get some for me," is 'heard in brokers' offices. . If they can't get those, however, they don't want the luke-warm -successes or the side street attractions ■at any price. . ... Therefore, the suggestion of 'the 'learned Judge Rosalsky is of great value. 'Let the managers and brokers get together and arrange an agreement in 'writing and, for ■once, cut out camouflage and .really put up a-bond to-be forfeited upon failure to fulfill it, and a situation that has been .the cause of more four-flushing, double- crossing, and "bunk" throwing than any other on the face of the earth except the peace treaty, will have been cleared up. This is not a brief for either side in the matter, speculator or manager, for neither has conducted itself in a manner that could preclude the stinging job of just censure. But it is a statement that the idea born in the mind of Judge Rosalsky is the most common sense view of the matter that has been brought forward, and steps toward its consummation should be got under way as soon, as possible. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Richard F. Carroll was with the "Rob Roy" -company. J. A. Bailey and William F. Cody com- bined to produce the "Buffalo Bill Wild West." Barry and Bessie Houdini were touring the South. The City Club Company included Fanny liwrett and Carrie Fulton. Sam Bernard and Lizzie B. Raymond wwre with the Russell Brothers, comedians. New plays: "Humanity," "Westward, Ho;" "A Hooae of Cards* "Virginia." The bill at Keith's Union Square Thea- tre included Raymon Moore, Brothers Forrest, Billy Carker, Dryden and Mitchell, Gilbert Sarony, Swan and Bamhard, John and Nellie Healy, Lavender and Tomson, Grace Vaughan, Carlin and Clark, Cooke and Clinton, Wells and Halpin, the Mari- ans and Carlisle's Dogs. Answers to Queries Jim—Frank Worthing was leading man for Amelia Bingham In "The Climbers." The play was originally produced at the old Bijou Theatre. L. E. W.—Henry W. Savage owned the American rights to the "American Widow." H. D.—The music hall owned by Weber and Fields, known as Weber's Theatre, was originally «aHed the Impe- rial Music Hall. F. 8.—It was Mfiry Anderson who ap- peared as Galatea at the Coliseum in Lon- don during May, 1917. It was for a war benefit fund. W. G —Dan Daly and Edna May ap- peared in "The Belle of New York" when . it was produced ia London. C. K.—Proctor's Twenty-third Street was one of the earliest production houses built in this city. "Shenandoah" waa opened there. K. J. L—Both George Arliss and Wil- liam B. Mack were members of Mrs. Fiske's stock company at the Manhattan. Opera House. J. G.—A. H. Woods produced "The Lit- tlest Rebel" at the Liberty Theatre. B. N.—"The Prisoner of Zenda" waa produced as a motion picture in 1913. It'a initial showing waa at the Lyceum Thea- tre on February 18 of that year. Fred—The Comedy Theatre was for- merly known *s William Collier's' Comedy Theatre. <■ E. D.—"Butterfly on the Wheel" was presented at .the 39th Street heatre. ' Les—The Bobby North, who appeared in productions, was the same who played in burlesque. E. L.—The ""FoRieB Bergere" was a ven- ture of Henry B. Harris and Jessie L. LaBky in 1911. It was not successful. W. L P.—Nance CNeil appeared in "The Lily." It waa under the direction of David Behtsoa. -She also appeared in "The Wanderer.** X. A. E.—Jean Adair, ia a character .ac- tress and Janet Adair is a singing come- dienne. No, they are not the same per- son. C. F.—Roscoe Ails was formerly a bur- lesque comedian. You are right in your statement. Warfleld did play comedy parts many years ago. S. H.—"Sliwers" Oakley was considered by some the greatest of American clowns. Ha is dead. Crock ia a Frenchman. Toto comes from Central Europe, 1). F. G.—Julia Arthur originally ap- peared in "Liberty Aflame," at the Palace Theatre, during 1917. She has appeared in vaudeville several times. R. T.—"Hip, Hip Hooray" was the 1917 Hipprodrome Production. You are quite right, there is a burlesque show called "The Hip Hip Hooray Gfrla." B. G.—Julius Tannen has appeared in ' several legitimate productions and in vau- deville. He is at present playing over the Orpheum time. Z. Q. T.—The N. V. A. was founded in 1916 with Henry Chesterfield as secretary and Eddie Leonard as president. Chester- field is still in office. S. C. R.—Yes, Loew has a house in Tor- onto. It is called Leew's Yonge Street Theatre. He also has a house in Montreal. lie ia building new houses in both these cities. The Aliens are considered the big- gest Canadian theatrical men. N. D. Y.—The Passion Play was orig- inally produced ia Oberammergau, Ba- varia. Aaten Lang ia the most notable of the many who have played Christ. Yea, he was a cobbler by trade. K. H. J.—The Cafe de Paris ia popu- larly known as Rector's, even to-day. It changed hands about a year ago, the ex- Mci, date biting Jan. let, 1919. George Rector is a son of the famous reetraurant S. K. E.—Maurice Maeterlinck; the Bel- gian poet, is known as the author of '"The Bluebird" more than by anything ■else. Both bis wives have been actresses. A. G.—Cleaves Klnkead ia the author of ""Common Clay." It created quite a hit ■when produced several years ago. His llBtest effort is "The Mood of the Moon." W. I.—"The Passing Regiment" ^produced at the Globe Theatre in Bos- ton in 1890. 'G. D.—Yes, feature films were shown, but not in all' the Keith houses. The Alhambra played a policy of motion pic- tures all through the summer of 1915. The Royal did not. The house was open, and played vaudeville with three shows a day, at reduced prices. S. T.—Sally Fields started her career in Toronto, Canada. She later appeared with Gus Edwards' "School Boys and 'Girls" and after that was in burlesque. She is now in England, where a report has it that she and Charles Conway have ■split their act. B. H. B.—"The Only Girl'' was pro- duced by Joe Weber. The vaudeville act "by that name is founded on the pro- duction. Perry—Leon Errol waa also in the "Follies of 1915." He was compelled to leave the cast of that show for awhile, "because of a nervous breakdown. P. T.—The suit to which you refer was in 1915, over a motion picture play •called "Magda, A Modern Madame X." "Henry W. Savage was awarded a verdict •of $10,000 damages from William C. jKarrer, Who produced the film. Savage claimed that the motion picture was an infringement on "Madame X," his play, •for Which.he said he refused $20,000 for £he motion picture rights. Rialto Rattles THOUGHT FOR A DAY Man gets but little here below, particu- larly when riding in the subway. UP AND DOWN MAIN STREET. It is reported that Bee Palmer has a new wriggle in her act. TOO TRUE Of all the fears the actor has, The worst one is the thought of RAZZ. MAYBE. Inasmuch as Government revenue offleera are watching the treasurers of theatres, would it be right to say that they are look- ing after the Revenue Cutters? WE VOTE TO ELIMINATE— New Year toasts with aarsaparilla. Gags about mother-in-law. Alibia when the act flops. The Broadway policeman who says, "Move on." WILL WE EVER SEE? Joe Michaela without a cigar in his mouth? Abe Feinberg's hair? Allen Spencer Tenney's kid brother the lightweight champion of the world? Bert LaMont without a green necktie f WHAT'S IN A NAME? Not very much, according to the names of some reeent Broadway productions. For Instance—"The Whirlwind" proved to be only a mild zephyr: "Forbidden" was Hot: "The Night Lodging" is to be seen only on certain days; "The Carnival" haa noth- ing to do with outdoor shows, being a drama of stage life. "Curiosity" failed to arouse any. Also, "The Sign on the Door" did not foretell the doom of the play, It was a S. R. O. "The Famous Mrs. Fair* is not famous, but, at the same time, is better than fair. LAUGHS FOR YOUR ACT. Even an ex-cunvict can now walk the streets with a peaceful mind. He will have no bai i staring him in the face to awaken unpleasant memories. , A man who really wants to can still gat a drink with a kirk. The kick comes when he drinks It. He furnishes it. Yes, sir, this Prohibition question .Is enough to drive a man to drink. How about the hoys who fought for oat When they came home they jumped off one water wagon right onto another. ANOTHER DEAD LANGUAGE: Well, what are you having I Here's looking at you. Aw, come on, just one more. My (hie) wife ish the best little woman in tbish whole world. Have something yourself. Set 'em up, Joe. First to-day. Four fingers this trip, boya. O, George, I (hie) feel sbo queer. Come on, Joe, fill this up; the old wom- an's washing. This is on the house, Joe. When I (hie) was a boy. i AS WE WERE SAYING. Have you ever stopped to ponder, as up Broadway you wander, some dough intent to squander on one of Broadway's chickens a la mode? And you try to pick one up, asking her to sup, and she tie^t* you like a pup, why they have lately changed their code? There was a time, it seems, when a Johnny's fondest dreams of a chorus lady's beams, if he had the green, would easily come true. But, since prohibition came, the wild women all are tame, and they play a different game with him and me and you. They say, "John, oh, you're all right, but I'm not going out to-night, since the town is closed up tight—I'm get- ting thin and weak and gaunt. If a not millionaires I'm seeking, nor to Johnnie's am I speaking, for I'm so dry I'm creaking; it's the guy with Iota of liquor that I want."