The New York Clipper (January 1920)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER January 21; 1920 SOCIETY PLAYS SEEK B'DWAY HOUS ES FOR L AVISH SHOWS Fully Six Productions, Backed by Fifth Avenue's Best, and Directed by Professionals, on the Way—Princess and Hudson Already Booked Fully one-half dozen amateur plays to be backed by society people of the highest calibre, some of which will be pot on in Broadway theatres, are to be presented between now and Lent. The number far outstrips and former season: Several are already in rehearsal, with members of the younger set of Fifth Avenue'B best families in the easts. The proceeds are, in most rases, to go to charity. This flood of such plays .had its start with the revival of "The Runaway Girl" at the Plaza Hotel last week, when its success was so great that it was decided to endeavor to obtain Broadway houses for any further attempt. It was presented on a lavish scale. Among the coming productions to be presented are: "What Next," an original musical comedy by Deems Taylor, which will open at the Princess on Monday for a two weeks' run. The receipts from the show will go to the extension fund of the New York Protective Association and Girl's Protective League. Mercedes de Acosta and Mrs. Antoinette Fnif-afT. who rTided the lyrics for the piece, will be the east. This piece is said to have the backing of Mrs. George Gould. Others in the cast will be Hope Will- iams, Mrs. Frederick T. Dalziel. Elsie Everett, a debutante; Beth Martin, Mrs. Paul Dougherty, Frank Pollock, Henry Clapp Smith, Amory L. H aske ll and Julian Thompson. Beatrice Byrne will be premiere danseuse, and the large chorus will include Suzanne Plerson, Grace Bristed, Vouletti T. Proctor and Mrs. Thompson McK. Cook. Ben Ali Haggin, who has done much for the "Follies" and "Frolic" shows, is designing the costumes and will stage several tableaux. Frank Smithson, who has just returned from France, will be stage director. '•■'* "The Importance of Being Earnest," a revival of the comedy by Oscar Wilde, is headed for the Hudson Theatre, where it is to be; presented -with a . curtain raiser called "The Ninth Waltz^ for the Ameri- can. Committee for Russian Relief. The amateurs in the cast will be Mrs. Lydig Hoyt, Mrs. James Lowell Putnam, Mrs. Joseph B. Thomas and Miss Elsa Maxwell. Playing opposite them will be Ernest Glendinning, T. Wigney, Percyval and Reginald Mason. In the curtain raiser Mrs. Herbert .Shipman will appear oppo- site Norman Trevor. J. Hartley Manners, the playwright, is to direct the production. . . In keeping with the others will be three performances of the ballet "Coppelia," at the Hotel Plaza. Mrs. Lorenso Armstrong will sponsor the production and Otokar Bartik, of the Metropolitan Opera, will direct it. The cast will Include a large group of the best dancers among the de- butantes and other young women, of so- ciety. Another prospective production is an outcome of the revival of "The Runaway Girl," the patronesses of which have re- quested Charles Dillingham to permit an amateur performance of "Apple Blossoms." Dillingham is said to be taking a personal interest in this proposal and should the suggestion ripen, Grace R. Henry, who has taken an active stand as a society play- wright and producer, will stage the pro- duction. Then there is the Junior League's an- nual "show* in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on March 2, 3 and 4, under the direction of Misb Mary Jay Schieffelln. BALTIMORE WANTS OPERA Baltimore, Mil., Jan, 17.—A novement has been started to bring the Chicago Opera Company here for a run after the conclusion of the New York and Chicago seasons. The company wants a guarantee of $5,000 a performance and it is under- stood they can get it. The backers of the movement to bring the company here, want the opera to be housed in the Academy of Music, built to accommodate just such an organization. The Permanent Committee for the Promo- tion of Music In Baltimore for the Promo- in the movement. CRAIG SHOW TO TOUR Boston, Mass., Jan. 19.—John Croix will reopen Ms dramatic season here at The Arlington Theatre, with a special pro- duction of "The Outrageous Mrs. Palmer." in which he will, appear in bis original role. After the run at the Arlington, he will take the company on the road and will play New York, Chicago, etc. He will, however, go with the company only as manager. In the cast of his company are Mary Young, who is to be starred, Minna Gale Haynes, Eugenie Blair, Rupert bumley, Charles Bickford, Cora Witherspoon, Ken- neth Wood and Keith Ross. WANTS NAME OF PLAY CHANGED Alice E. Ives, a playwright, has in- formed John D. Williams, whose produc- tion of Brieuz's "The Red Robe" is shortly to be seen on Broadway with Lionel Bar- rymore in the stellar role, that he will have to change the title of his play, which he is calling "The Letter of t he La w," in- asmuch as she has a play, written sev- eral years ago and copyrighted, which bears that title. She asks only that he refrain from using the title of the piece. ELGIN GETTING NEW HOUSE Edotn, m., Jan. 15.—Elgin is to have realized soon what has been considered a long-felt want, for the announcement is made that a huge theatre to cost ap- proximately $225,000 and adaptable for both motion pictures and spoken drama, is to be constructed here. The theatre wfH be constructed on the property owned by Mr. Cohen located directly north of the Star Theatre on Grove Ave. Bn.MF BURKE SHOW CLOSING Billie Burke is to close soon in "Cae- sar's Wife," now holding forth at the Liberty. There are two reasons for this, first and foremost being that Famous Players-Lasky holds a contract with her, under the terms of which she must com- plete another picture before the Spring. Secondly, Flo Zeigfeld is planning a series of revivals to start in March, which will be presented at her own theatre, the first one being "A School f or-Scandal." WANT HOUSE IN FLUSHING Wilmer and Vincent have acquired a piece of property at the corner of Main street and Broadway, Flushing, L. L, on which they contemplate the erection of a big 4,000 seat house to ron pictures and popular priced vaudeville. The work of building the new house will probably begin in the Spring. BELASCO HAS NEW SCRIPTS David Belasco hi reported to have pur- chased two new plays and 'Leo Ditrich- stein one from the pen of Achmed Abdul- lah. Abdullah is the author of "Backing the Tlgee" --v. j. ■■ ■' • •• >_.•■ HAS NEW PIECE FOR TINNEY -Arthur -Hammerstein is to star Frank Tinnev in a new piece .called "Arabian Nighties." The play is a musical comedy and wffl not be produced till sometime In the Spring, and the production will prob- ably be seen at tie Central Theatre. SHUBERTS AFTER HOUSE Baltimork, Jan. IT.—With the recent purchase of Albaugh's Theatre by Freder- ick C. Schanberger, comes the rumor that the Shuberts are negotiating for the con- trol of the playhouse. This is given im- petus by the fact that the Shuberts have long had an eye on the house with the view of extending their interests in this dty. However, Schanberger has refused to comment on the future of the, theatre, simply stating that the. Schuberts, "are not even aware of the purchase." .It was pointed out, however, that this statement did not mean there was no pos- sibility of those producers ultimately se- curing the honse. It has been the opin- ion, in local theatrical circles for some time, that the Shuberts would like to gain control of another Baltimore theatre and some theatrical men forsee in Schanber-. ger'a move, a step in that direction. ■ Albaugh's was built in 1891 and has a seating capacity of 1,400. About sixteen years ago the Shuberts, then operating as an independent syndicate, with Belasco and Fiske, secured the play house under a four years' lease. When the independent syn- dicate was taken into the "theatre trust" the house became a stock house. In the last ten years the playhouse has been de- voted to public meetings, entertainments, lectures and grand opera. ' THELMA CARLTON SUES Thelma Carlton last week filed suit against G. M. Anderson In an effort to re- cover two weeks' salary, alleged to be due her, and $200 in expenses, alleged to have been incurred by her in preparation of a dance offering that was to have been fea- tured in the "Frivolities of 1920." Miss Carlton I'Vima she received formal notice of being discharged while the com- pany was in Boston, out that Anderson made a verbal revocation of the notice. She alaJzai to have then gone ahead and prepared her dance number at cost of $200. When the company arrived in New York, she says, Anderson put Doraldina in her place. She at once placed the matter in the hands of her attorney, Harry Sake Heckh'eimer, and the action was started. TO MANAGE PICKER HOUSE Alfred De Manby, for several years per- sonal assistant to Sam Rothapfel when the latter was directing the destinies of the Rialto and. Rivoll Theatres, has been selected by David Picker as managing di- rector of the new Rio Theatre, now being erected under his direction on upper Broadway. The house is expected to be ready for opening in the early part of next month. Edwin Mocsary, long treasurer of the Rivoli and Rialto houses, will be associ- ated with the new house as business man- ager. RE-ORGANIZING BOWERS SHOW The "Kiss Me Again" company is being re-organized by Frederick V. Bowers, who arrived in New York on Saturday. The show will open about February 12, to tour Virginia, West Virginia, North and South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsyl- vania, New Jersey and Delaware, clnninp May L INACTIVE FIRM BUYS PLAY Wagenhals and Kemper have acquired the American rights to "Marie Del Car- men," now playing at the Theatre Antoine, in Paris, under the title of "Aux Jardine du Murcie." They will produce the piece during the Spring. SHUBERTS HAVE NEW SCRIPT The Shuberts have accepted the script of a new musical play called "The Lady Tiger," hook by. John P. Wilson and music by Malvin Franklin, which they are considering aa a good vehicle for Kitty Gordon, or possibly, Dorothy Jardon. OTIS OLIVER CLOSING Fremont, O., Jan. 15.—Otis' Oliver will close his western company of "The Naughty Bride," now playing here, next Sunday, and will make a new. production of the same in New York with Vada Hell- man playing the leadh^Me^,.'^ "^ '.■■. LOVE LETTERS READ IN COURT A aeries of highly" interesting love let- ters, written by Maxim B. Boyd to Flor- ence Ashton, late of the "Scandals," were disclosed in court last week when Boyd sued Mrs. Ashton, mother of the girl, for the recovery of $415, which,, he said, he had loaned her. The letters were produced in the defense as evidence that the money, all except $70, was gift money sent by Boyd to Florence. Among the most in- teresting of the letters disclosed, were the following: . . - "Dearest Flo: "I am glad you are enjoying yourself and I hope you are benefiting by the change. But, I frankly confess, I have some misgivings;' it amounts to" practically this—that you are having, a vacation at . my expense, for,'of course, I cannot see how you are going to pay for your stay there and your fare back unless I send the money. But remember that I have to suite some sacrifice of something and I cannot do that indefinitely. "You write you will soon be with me and so' on, but not a word as to what our relations shall be. Your only letter which I received lacks spontaneous warmth. In the certain way you write you do not let yourself go,' as the saying is. There- fore I am holding myself back. Come out with it and tell me something of your real feelings, hopes and desires. I can then base my own actions on it. "Please do be a wise girl. There are moments when I could crush you within my arms in their passionate love." In another letter, dated the next day, July 29, Boyd wrote: "Yesterday I wrote two letters, so you ought to have them by now, and I expect a full answer soon, at any rate before I send any more money, for I want to know what is going to happen before I involve myself too deeply financially. "I have not felt particularly weU lately; if you dont hurry up, I will .get a girl who will be kind to me. ... Do you under- stand T With love and a big cave man kiss, Maxim." A letter written by Boyd to Mrs. Ash- ton which was shown the court was dated December 29 and reads in part: "I request the immediate repayment of the $410 which you and your daughter ob- tained from me by misrepresentation and fraud. IS you fail to do so within forty- eight hours I will sue." Another letter on exhibit came from Florence to Boyd on pink paper. It was dated Newport, August 18. It said: "Darling: My God, Max, what is wrong? Please write. I want to come home to yon. Please fix a place for me. I will go crazy if I stay here much longer. "Dear, if you can't, send me any money to come to New York with and to pay rent, I will try to get a job here for a week or two. But please, Max, send the money for the check, as I have spent it alL Don't fail me, Max. You wDl not be sorry, dear. I will soon be with you and nothing to worry me about. The sooner you write, the sooner I11.be with you. "YOUR FLORENCE." The court awarded Boyd the $70 that he loaned Mrs. Ashton. AISTON GETS "POLLY ANN A" Klaw and Erianger have relinquished all American road rights for "Pollyanna," to Arthur O. Alston. One company started playing on January 5, at The Apollo Theatre, Atlantic City. It is at present in- Pennsylvania, where it will remain un- til the entire territory has been played. The K and B company having closed, this is the only "Pollyanna" company on the road. Alston is booking the attraction and has so arranged the bookings that the company will play each state thoroughly before going- into the next. MOROSCO BUYS ANOTHER Rachel Burton Butler, who won the Harvard prize play contest, on Saturday finished another entitled "Prudence in Par- ticular," which MoroscQ hap purchased. WBX STAR FLORENCE NASH . Florence Nash has been placed under contract by Henry W. Savage to star in a .6ewjwk.plaj v .. v ;' toKWi ^w >(£*':■- : ■ .:•-•.■ >••»..., -v.. .- ■>•***}.»-si-wt c*i* *?*>•'■-