The New York Clipper (February 1920)

*J«»V THE-;NEW; YQ»K CLIPPER February 4, 192Q BURLESQUE GIRL STRANGLED TO DEATH IN CLEVELAND Member of 'Trench Frolic*," said to Be Frances Altaian, Found in Snow Heap. Police Seeking Man in Naval Uniform With Whom She Was Seen "™ Cleveland, O., Feb. 2.—The body of a girl Raid to bo France* Altaian, a member of the "French Frolics" Burlesque Com- pany, managed by Eddie Daly, which played the Empire Theatre last week, was found here today half boiled In a heap of enow back of a garage. Death had taken place folly twenty-four hours before, and the fact that her limb* were extended into ■mail pools of water, where they had frozen, leads the police to believe that her murdered body had been placed in its cold resting place late Sunday afternoon, at which time a bright sun had partially thawed the snow that covered the ground. Death was evidently effected by strangu- lation, for the throat of the victim bore the plain Imprints of a man's forceful grasp, the marks being so plain and ex- tending so far about the neck that they were visible to those who discovered the crime, even before her body was turned np from the snow in which it was hidden, face downward. Then it was discovered that the nails of her murderer had been dog far into the flesh long after rigor mortis had set in, for the indentations were deep, as though the person who made them had been in an intense rage. Marks upon the body and her dishevelled clothing gave evidence that the deed was not accomplished without a straggle upon her part Late' today,' the police, after 'taking finger prints of the assailant from the neck of his victim, began a search for a man in a navy uniform, said to have been the last with whom she was seen on Sat- urday. She met him after the show, but what transpired between then and the time her body was discovered Is not known. The company went to Detroit. -. The dead girl is said to have also been known as Mrs. Frances Altaian Stock- well, and on both her arms is the tattooed inscription, "I Dove W. W. Stockwell." Her home is ssid to nave been either in Peterson or Philadelphia. A peculiar feature of the case is that no footprints were discernible in the snow about her body, but this may be ac- counted for by the fact that there was a very light fall of snow Sunday night which may have obliterated any trace that was left. No money was found on the body, bat there was a note which read: "If you come out of this, don't dare to come back to your little hubby in Denver." BRADY GETS NEW ONES William A. Brady last week announced the acquisition of the rights of a number of new plays. They include: "The Red," by Harry Chapman Ford, a new author: "The Wedding Blng," by Owen Davis, which will be given a trial performance at the Plymouth Theatre, Boston, on Feb- ruary 10, and "Opportunity,'' by John T. Glynn and Owen Davis, to be presented in Philadelphia on February 11," at the Lyric Theatre, with James L. Crane and Alice Brady in the leading roles. Arrangement has also been made be- tween Brady and Jessie Bonstelle for a string of stock companies to be conducted under their joint management during the summer months in the larger cities. On March 1 the producer will go to London to superintend the production there of •The Man Who Came Back." PUTS IN STOCK San Francisco, Tan. SO.—The Majestic Theatre, located in the Mission district, is open with a new stock policy, featuring George X. White and a company consist- ing of James O. Edwards, Minor Beed, Will Vernon, Frankie Darling, Minerva Urekfl, Norma Leslie and the following singing chorus: Claire HoHiway, Winnie Carpenter, Msirie West, Genevieve Mur- phy, Vera Knight, Blanche Ensign, Mai Diana, Bab* Walker, Mabel Hughes and Virgie White. A runway has been in- stalled which proved to be quite a novelty in the Mission district. F. M. Heffernan is I "»**»ir lw f director and B. MuHer house manager. TAD BUY CHOICE SITE San Francisco, Jan. 80.—Turner and Dahnken have purchased 310 feet on Fourth street, 165 feet from Market, just back of the California Theatre. The lot has three frontages, which includes two corners, and contains 47,026 square feet. The price paid for the lot is close to $600,000, and a theatre estimated to con- tain 5,000 seats will be erected at "once. The cost of the building is to be about $1,000,000. The theatre proper will be 155 z 180 feet, with entrance of 50 x 120 feet at the corner of Stevenson and Fourth streets. ACTOR IS WILLED $42,000 Chicago, Feb.. 2.—Billy Doss, now fea- tured in "On The Mississippi," touring the W. V. M. A. time, has fallen heir to 12,000 pounds, English money, which, at the pres- ent rate of exchange, is about $42,000. The money was left to him by his. grand- father, who died recently in Liverpool. Doss says that he will stay in the theatri- cal business, and produce big acts with his partner, Tom Powell, of this city. LYRIC, FRISCO, LEASED San Francisco, Jan. 30.—A C. Blum- en thai and company, the theatrical real estate brokers, have leased the Lyric The- atre for a term of twenty years to S. Gor- don of the Gordon Trading Company. This house is located on Fulmore street, right in a residential theatrical . district. The gross rental is reported to be $200,000. BALTIMORE LEGION GIVING SHOW Baltimore, Feb. 2. — The American Legion of this city will give a circus per- formance at the Fifth Regiment Armory the week of March & The following acts will appear: The Four Jansleys, Starretfs Bijou Circus, Flora Brothers, Zita and Bowen, Four Evererts, Clarke Razzillians Trio, Attens and Frederick and Bonette; booked by Lou Redelshiemer, of New York. RETURNS TO LOEW San Fbancisco, Jan. 30.—Leo Wein- berger, for several years in the employ of Marcus Loew, and recently with the Uni- versal Film Company, Is back again on the Loew staff, and will have charge of build- ing operations under the recent affiliation of the Ackerman and Harris interests. WD7E GETS DE KOVEN ESTATE According to the terms of the will of Reginald De Korea, filed for probate in the Surrogates' Court last week; he leaves his entire estate for the benefit of his widow, Mrs. Anna FarweD De Koven, and directs that upon her defith it shall go to Mrs. Ethel De Koven Hudson, daughter.. In his will De Koven stated he had made contracts with various music publishers and managers for;the production of his operas and plays from which he* derived a large revenue, and he authorised his execu- tors to continue 'similar arrangements at their discretion. The will further directs that the income accruing from compositions is to be made part of his general estate comprising of his wife's trust fund. The value of the estate is mentioned formally in the peti- tion as more than $1,000 in real and per- sonal property. "BIG GAME" CLOSING "Big Game," Mrs. Henry B. Harris' latest dramatic production, is scheduled to dose at the Fulton Theatre next Satur- day night, and that "Mama's Affair," Oliver Morosco's comedy bit, by Rachel Barton Butler, will be transferred from the Little Theatre, where it is now play- ing, to the Fulton. The latter play will open in the larger house next Monday night. "Big Game," while not reckoned an out-and-out Mt by the press, was accorded excellent notices, so much so that they portended some sort of run. Bat the "flu" came along and played havoc with the business. 'THE DICTATOR" REHEARSING The revised version of "The Dictator," with music by Silvio Hein and book and lyrics by Frank Craven, has been placed in rehearsal under the direction of R. H. Burnside. Craven, who will appear in the leading role will be'supported by the fol- lowing cast: Jed Prouty, Russell Mack, George XL Mack, John Parks, Gladys Cald- well, Marion Sunshine and Flora jswfc RE-VTvTNG "THE NEW LEADER" Sam Mann is going to revive the origi- nal "New Leader" act with himself and original cast. Three members of the act, playing throughout the west on The West- ern Vaudeville time, have been drafted for the revival. LA BLANC LEAVES EQUITY Leon' La Blanc last .week resigned as traveling secretary of the' Chorus Equity Association, to become stage manager, of the Ed Wynn Carnival company; playing in Boston, STUDENTS GIVE SHOW Syracuse, Jan. 30.—"Tonus: America," a three-act comedy by Frederick Ballard, produced some three years ago at the Astor Theatre, New York, by Cohan end Harris, was presented here -this week by the Boar's Head Dramatic Society of Syracuse University, at the Wieting Theatre, under the direction of Prof. Lewis Parmenter. ATOGE Lieut. Frank G Badgley was in an interlocutory decree by'Justice Pendle- ton in the Supreme Court last week in his divorce action against his wife, June El- vidge, motion picture actress. They were married November IB, hut. According to her husband and the testi- mony in support of his, allegations,,a few months of married life was'"sufficient for Miss Elvidge. () Although the defendant made a vigorous defence, the findings were again b t her. Under the ruling of the court, the actress' is forbidden to marry in this state during the life time of the plaintiff. The co-respondent was described and named only as "Jack." RICHMOND THEATRES STAGGERING BlciLMOKP, Vs., Jan. 8L—New rules affect the theatres here, which will be open from 10.60 to 1; from 2 to 6.15, and from 7 to 10. During intermissions,' the theatres will be thoroughly fumigated. Persons who cough or sneeze during per- formances will be ejected under the new role, which will be in force until the "flu" danger, now prevalent, is over: "FLU" CLOSES ASHEVILLE Ashxvuxjc, N. C, Jan. 31.—The City Commissioners ordered all theatres closed at a meeting this week, due to the Increase in influenza cases.! The theatres were in- cluded in an order which closed schools, churches and prohibited lodge and dob meetings. - , WESTON DOING MUSICAL COMEDY Newport, B. L, Jan. 81.—Kendall Weston, manager of the Lafayette Players, has .'given up. his plan of' not producing musical comedies, and accordingly will pot on as his first effort in that line "The Little Millionaire," a George M. Cohan play, next week. AIDING RALPH KOHWS WIDOW Martin Herman has charge, of raisin? a trust fund for the benefit of (he widow and child of Ralph I. Kohn, A H. Wood's right-hand man, who died recently. Tbe purpose of the fund is to take care of the widow and her two children, the second child being expected shortly. STOCK DOING WELL Toledo, O., Jan. 81.—The Orpheum Stock Company, a stock burlesque organi- zation playing the Orpheum, this city, is on its fifty-first week. In the company, are Frank Queen, Ed Garvin, Jack Kirk- wood, Jack 8tra.be, Mae Vaughn, Betty La Varr, and Sadie Melrose. Ed, Smiley is stage director. HURT BY FALL Jackson, Mich., Jan. 20.—Besse Deno, of the Don Whitney Stock Company, dis- located her right hip in a fall here this week and was forced to go to her home in Indianapolis, Ind. Miss Deno had been taking Dim Whitney's place for the past few weeks. SAN PEDRO GETS HOUSE Los Akoelss, Jan. 30.—P. O. Adler, owner of the Victoria Theatre, San Pedro, has announced plans for the construction of a new theatre there, which will have a seating capacity of 1,700. It is estimated that the new house will cost more than $100,000. "HONEY GIRL" OPENS MONDAY "The Honey Girl," being produced by Sam Shannon and Sam Hams, will have it's premiere in Stamford on Monday/ The show is a re-written version of "What's the Odds," and is being staged by Sam Forrest, . RELEASED FOR STOCK "Lombardi, Ltd.," has been released for stock by Oliver Morosco, and wfll be played for the first time by the Somer- ville Theatre Players, of New England. DITRICHSTEIN GETS NEW SCRIPT The EngHsh and American rights of Eugene Brieux's latest play have been secured by Leo Ditrichstein. The piece, "Les Americains Chez Nous" (The Amer- icans With Us"), will be translated by Ditrichstein.' HOLD BENEFIT ON FEB. 15TH A benefit for the Catholic Actoro" Guild, the proceeds to go to their benefit fund, will take place on Sunday, February 15, at the George M. Cohan Theatre, . LORD AND VERNON OPEN The Lord and Vernon Musical Comedy Company last week opened at the Palace Theatre, Clarksburg, W. Va., for an in- definite-run. BESSEY OPENING IN ILLINOIS Blooming-ton, 111., Jan. 3L — Jack Bessey is to open a stock company for a permanent engagement here shortly. He will -Use .the Chatterton Theatre. His opening bill will be "Here Comes the Bride." WILNER HAS NEW ONE Wilmer and Romberg, producers, who put on "The Magic Melody" have acquired a new comedy called "Rado," which they will produce shortly. The play is by Ben Harrison Orkow,'and Albert Lewis. ■ OTIS OLIVER IS HERE • ' Otis Oliver, tbe stock manager and pro- ducer, is in New York' securing new plays for his Summer companies.' TELLEGEN ABANDONS ROUTE Lou Tellegen, who was recently taken ill with the "flu," has closed and cancelled all future bookings. GEORGE N. BROWN George N. Brown, whose photographs are on the front cover of this issue, is ap- pearing at B. F. Keith's Palace Theatre this week in his new novelty, entitled "Pedestrianlsm.'* Mr. Brown has assem- bled a company of artists, and is giving to yaudevile a . high-class offering.•'- He Is the world's champion walker, and in'this act, not alone does he thrill bis "audience, but, in closing position, succeeded in keep- ing every'person in until his act con- cluded.