The New York Clipper (February 1920)

February 4, 1920 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER ajgfa—— i- ' " inn - " I NEW ALBANY BILL ASKS STATE C ONTROL O F THEATRES Measure, Introduced Ostensibly Against Ticket Speculators, Has Clause Asking for Power—Most Radical Move in Years . A bill seeking to bring the theatres of New York City and State under the con- trol of an Albany-appointed official, on the ground that they are "quasi-public" institutions, was introduced into the State Senate last Thursday by Senator Abra- ham Kaplan, whose home here is at the Hotel Ansonia. Ostensibly, the bill was framed to con- trol the operations of ticket speculators who, under the recent decision rendered by Judge Rosalsky, may charge as much as they please as long as they do not Tent the pasteboards along tbe sidewalks. Buried down in the middle of it, however, is a clause that seeks to give the State its power to exereke control over the the- atres. This bill, managers say, is the most radical measure ever aimed at ticket speculators in particular and the theatres in general, through legislative action, in this State. They point out that, just as soon as the theatre is declared legally to be a* "quasi-public institution" conflicts ■with the authorities concerning its con- duct will ensue from time to time, chiefly by reason of the dominant hand the State will necessarily have in its affairs. And that the State would continue permitting ■ the managers to look after then* theatres without voicing its say .in the matter is hardly a thing that they would expect. For, once given the power to do so, the tendency to regulate through legislative enactment would prove too strong for the State authorities to resist. However, it was learned early this week that the managers are going to call a meeting shortly at which it will be de- cided through what medium Senator Kap- lan's bill, as it now stands, may best be combated by them; whether they will place the matter in the hands of the United Managers' Protective Association or whether a special committee, composed of five managers, will work independently against passage of the measure. At the Hotel Ansonia last Saturday, Senator Kaplan stated that the bin was not aimed at theatres "because we have no fault to find with the manner in which they are conducted at present. In fact, we know that they are run honestly." He explained that his measure was aimed directly at the speculators who, under its provisions, would be required to procure a license to conduct their business and that no license could be issued unless the licensee first agreed in writing not to sell tickets for more than twenty-five per cent, above the price printed on each ticket. Thus, if it was found. that the speculator was getting more for each ticket than the limit fixed by law, he would be breaking his written agreement, and his license would be automatically re- voked. Although Senator Kaplan stated that he introduced the bill after conferences with Assistant District Attorney Kilroe, who was one of the framers of the city ordi- nance recently declared invalid by Judge Rosalsky, it is said that two of tie lead- ing ticket agencies are in reality back of the measure. Several ticket brokers along Broadway stated early this week that this bill is just "another one of those things that wilt be thrown out." ! APPEAL FROM ARREST CHARGE Louis Goodman, a New York attorney, has begun action on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Weber, who were arrested some weeks ago in Canada on a charge of stealing a fur coat and, as a result of his action, the entire case is to be re- viewed by the Canadian Government. The Webers state that they bought the coat in good faith from a traveling sales- man, and that their arrest and subsequent trial was unfair. They claim that the evidence submitted against them is false and perjured. They are at present incar- cerated, awaiting the action of the courts in the matter. They Will resume their bookings in their act, "Dancing a la Carte*' as soon as the case is settled. SETTLE CASE OF DEAD GIRL The case of Adele Freeman, deceased, against the WHmer-Romberg Producing Company came before the Chorus Equity Board of Arbitration last week, resulting in a compromise, wherein the deceased was awarded salary for one week and one In view of the fact that the complain- ant was killed last Thanksgiving in an automobile accident in Springfield, Mass., following her dismissal, without notice, from the Wflmer-Romberg show, the ar- bitrators agreed to compromise, the award going to the stater of the deceased. CLEVELAND HOUSE PROGRESSING CusvELAitn, O., Jan. 30.—The Ohio The- atre, being built here by A L. Erlanger, is rapidly nearing completion. The house is on Euclid Avenue, near Fourteenth Street, right in the midst of the shopping district. The s tr uct ur e is four stones high with a handsome terra cotta front and has a seat- ing Capacity Of 1, 900. Robert McLaughlin, author and producer, who is superintend- ing the building of tbe theatre, win be Its .first resident manager. The theatre will house attractions booked by the KUw and Erlanger Syndicate. ... . HARRIS WINS FILM CASE Judge Flatzek, in the Supreme Court, last week granted the application made by. William Harris, Jr., Samuel Shipman and John B. Hymer, to restrain Carlyle Blackwell from using the title "East or West" for the tatter's latest screen vehicle. The only condition imposed on the plaintiffs by Judge Flatzek is that they file a $5,000 bond. In the petition, Harris, Shipman and Hymer allege that, although "East Is West," the successful play which the for- mer produced and the latter two wrote, and which is now running at the Aster, is dissimilar in plot from the film feature in which Blackwell appeared, there is such a similarity of title between the two as to diminish the ultimate value of the play's motion picture possibilities. Joseph Friedberg, in opposing the ap- plication for an injunction, set forth that he controls the "East or West" picture on the production of which $75,000 was spent. In his decision, Judge Flatzek held that "East Is West" is a "fanciful title" upon which it is easy to infringe, as was done ■in this case. WILLIAMS SUES FILM MEN John D. Williams last week began suit in the Supreme Court against Jesse D. Hampton, Henry B. Warner and Robert- son and Cole, for $100,000. In his com- plaint he alleges that he is the exclusive owner of the rights to the play "Sleeping Partners." He also states that on Aug. 24, 1018, he engaged Warner to star in the produc- tion for a consideration of 10 per cent, of the gross receipts. Warner appeared in the cast for several months and was suc- cessful in his portrayal of his star part. Williams then alleges that the defend- ants made Warner an offer which made him violate his contract and jump to the films. Since then "Sleeping Partners" has' been forced to close. TASSION PLAY" REHEARSING Members of the Union Hill Parish Players . last week began . rehearsals on the annual "Passion Play" to be presented in the Columbus Auditorium at Union Hill, N. J., on February 18 and continued throughout the Lenten season. Because of the improbability of the re- sumption of tbe original play, staged «t Oberammergau, Bavaria, this year, on account of the war and subsequent death of many of the original cast, it is the de- termination that this year's Union Hill program shall excel all previous efforts. The two complete cHf which will alter- nate during the presentation of the play have been drawn from all walks of life. Leonard Heinzmann, a silk manufacturer, Will take the part of the Saviour, while the parts of Mary Magdalene and Claudia Froqula will be taken by Mary Schuck, a clerk, and Elisabeth Foerch, a* typist. Other characters are as follows: Caipha, Joseph Heinbuch, assistant bank cashier; Ansnlws. Frederick Bid, machinist; Pilate, Dr. Russell Burnham, physician; Herod, Frank Haussmann, student; Peter, Engel- bert Heinzmann, draughtsman; Joseph of Arimathea, Peter Henzi, printer; Judas, John and Thomas Fuchs, accountant and mechanic, respectively; Simon (leader of Sanhedrin), Frank Otway, mechanic; Merodias, Magdaline Mauamann, seam- stress; Veronica, Charlotte Pilger, stenog- rapher; Salome, Madeline Stahl, book- keeper; Roman captain, John Mayer, pearl button worker. So that each member of the cast shall appreciate the value of modern stagecraft, arrangements have been made for the hold- ing of several rehearsals in the Capitol Theatre, New York, prior to the premiere. The stage of that theatre, together with all theatrical accessories, has been turned over by the management to the Union Hill players. The play includes six spectacular scenes and ten tableaux. Performances will be given on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sun- days, with matinees Saturdays and Sun- days. RE-VAMP "SWEETHEART SHOP" "The Sweetheart Shop," the latest musi- cal production of the recently organized firm of Edgar MacGregor and William Moore Patch, closed last Saturday" night in Toronto, and the members of the com- pany arrived here early Monday morning. The show will remain dosed but a week, being scheduled to continue its tour with several new principals in the Cast in Wil- mington next Monday. The new additions to the cast are Law- rence Wheat and Mildred Richardson, suc- ceeding Albert Brown and EsteUe Mc- MeaL For a time it was thought that the show would open here at the Knicker- bocker Theatre, following "Angel Face," which is scheduled to close Feb. 14, but it appears that Henry W. Savage's latest production, "Shavings," was given the preference by tbe K. and E. booking office, with the result that "The Sweetheart Shop" will have to continue playing the hinterland theatres indefinitely. WELTY ESTATE COMES TO $9,010 The estate of George M. Welty, who died last year, amounts to $9,010, after all expenses have been deducted. Welty was formerly an associate of William A. Brady. The total estate amounted to $12,177.93. Deductions were as follows: $840.82 for funeral and administrative expenses, $2,- 326.35 for creditors, which left a balance of $9,010 to be distributed among sisters, brothers and nephews. MRS. CASTLE GETS ALL Surrogate Cbhalan allowed the probate of Vernon Castle's win last week, in bis court. It was filed last May and names Mrs. Castle sole heir and execut rix . The exact amount of the Castle estate is not known. GUARD MAY SUCCEED BROWN Will Guard, at present publicity di- rector of the Metropolitan Open Com- pany, is being mentioned as the man most likely to succeed John Brow i, who re- signed last week aa Eastern manager of the Chicago Grand Opera Company. Brown's resignation takes effect Feb. IS, . an which date his contract with the Chi- cago operatic organization expires. He has accepted a position, said to be paying $7,600 a year to start with, with the Co- lumbia Grapbophone Company, as assist- ant manager of its local laboratory. As such, he Tfill engage artists for the phono- graph company. It is reported that were Campanini alive today Brown would not be leaving the Chicago operatic organization, for he was on the friendliest, terms with the Into impresario. In fact, it was Campanini who was chiefly instrumental in bringing Brown over from the Metropolitan. And, although there has been no report of any breach between Brown and tbe officers of the Chicago company, it is said that, fol- lowing Campanini's recent death, Brown was- shorn of a great deal of his mana- gerial power here by the operatic powers that be in Chicago. . . • That Will Guard would not be out of place as head of the Chicago Opera Com- pany here is attested by his familiarity with high-class opera gained after years of experience both in this country and abroad, first under the late Oscar Ham- merstein and for the last ten years with tbe Metropolitan Opera Company. He is a former newspaper man, speaks several foreign languages, including French and Italian, has written special articles for dailies and other publications, and, during the first year of the war, wrote a series of letters from Paris de- scribing conditions there. GETS $54,007 JUDGMENT Frances Aide, opera singer, waa last week awarded a judgment of $64,007, . against the estate of Joseph R. Lamar, ir> the report of Charles E. Brown to the Supreme Court. In her complaint. Mac Alda asserted that Lamar, in considera- tion of the transfer of her brokerage ac- count to the firm of Prince and Whiteley, agreed to take charge of her acocunt and guarantee her against loss. She said sW transferred the account and lost $92,000 by the deal. The referee found that only $32481 had been lost through Lamar's management, snd this sum, with interest, was allowed. CARTER LOSES SEATTLE LEASE Seattle, Jan. 31.—Monte Csrter'B mu- sical comedy company closed at the Oak Theatre last night, after playing there for three years. They ended their engagement for the main reason that the lease on the Oak Theatre, held by Carter, has expired. Carter will try to secure another house at an early date. PLAN NEW ROCHESTER HOUSE Rochxstsb, N. Y.—Jan. 29.—A alto for a new vaudeville and moving picture house has been purchased by George E. Simpson, president of the Regordon Corporation. The property la said to have cost about $250,000. Tbe theatre planned will cost about $1,000,000 and will seat 4,000. GOLDEN SHOW RE-OPENING "Howdy, Folks!" John Gold en's latest production, widen is Thunder" worked _«rver, win have its premiere in Indian. apolis March 1. It will then go to the Olympic Theatre, Chicago. - WOODS REHEARSING PLAY "The Unseen Hand," another of IE Woods' products, is in rehearsal. In tile cast are: Malcolm Williams, William J. Kelly, Felix Krembs, Alma Belwyn, Ruth Hammond, Philip Lee, Howard Lang, Wil- liam Lloyd, Harry Sbntan, John Moore and John Wray. BUSHMAN HEADED EAST "The Master Thief" company, in which Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne are co-stars, is headed East, according to reports received from the Coast last week. 1 This company claims the mileage l ecojd for road shows this season. COHAN BUYS TOWN HOUSE George M. Cohan lsst week bought for his city residence the fouT-story OweOfag at 41 West Eighty-sixth s treat. Tke property and house are valued at $100,000.