The billboard (May 1920)

The Billboard MAY 1, 1920 i * “i MME. BARTHOLDI DIES Proprietress of .Famous. Theatrical Hotel Passes Away, Aged 62 xew York, Apel 23.—Mme, ‘Theresa iBartuoldl, G2, died at the Princeton Hotel ‘Thprefy morging after a paralytle stroke. She was for many Years proprietress of the famous wretrical hotel yo corner “of Porty-Atth vireet and Broadway," ‘The Barthold! Ina," shih has been demollsbed to make room for Loew's new Stato Theater. Altho she had never been tn the theatrical profession, ‘Mme, ‘a deep Interest in wseling Thespian, and te ay an actor's fare to his sald torhave paid next “Jump” if Re happened to be dnancially. cwburrassed, She 48 survived by her husband, Louis, a retired sculptor; two daughters, rpc Arthur J. Pickens (Polly), whote husband is now in vauderille, and Edith, wife of Abraham Utits, a dress manufacturer; also by two ‘grandchildren, é New’ York, Apell 24.—At a special. meeting ct the Executive Boed of the American Artistes’ Federation a resolution of sorrow and regret on the death of 3fme, Rartholdl was masved unanimously. ‘Tho relation recited ber pumerous Kindnesses to members of the Federatlen in thoes of trouble and stresa and expressed officially the condolences of the Federation to her famfty. BUSINESS SLUMPS IN NEW YORK ‘Whether it was the railroad strike, the stock exchange slump, the economy ware developed dy the ereralls ‘movement, or what not. bus!nest got an awfal wallop tn New ‘York last week, Evers bouse in town felt it, even those Dousing the most pronounesd hits. Nor was the Hippodrome or the circus at the Garden immune, while attendance at the near-hits and cotrate attractions dwindled to almost noth fog, It came lke a belt from the bive and at this wrhing has al the wise ones worried—end gvessing. STILL “AT OUTS” ©. T. Mang, of Local 671, 1. A. T. S. Ey Defiance, O., writes as follows: “Theater manaers of the Valentine Theater here have not come to terms with the stage employees as tried to come A CORRECTION 7 Ta the Met of camtidates for clection to the Frecatire Council of the Actors’ Equity Assoclation published fo ‘The BIBoant of April IT there appears the mame of Frank Metvia, ‘This ts a mistake due to telegraphic transmlestea of the story. It sboald be Francis S. ‘Merlin, the well-known actor and Iecturtz. A $2 MINIMUM ‘New York, April 22.—According to the new Pullman car schedule, which will be adopted on Canadian roads May 1, the $1.00; drawing room, $77 and a parlor car seat, 00 cents. MOREY GOES HOME Chicago, April 23.—Charles Oforey. who eft cago when ten years old, has returned after fitty-year absence. Mr. Morey is a singer the Inrger pleture houses, and is known as the “Kentucky Colonel.” Tall asd white dearded, he 18 a striking Ggure and a novel one on the singing platform. MIDDLETON 18 MILES’ MANAGER Detrolt, Apel 26.—3. T. Middleton. of New ‘York City, succeeds Gus 8. Greening as manaker of Miles* Theater, which passed to the control of Charles H, Miles, original owner, April 1, Mr. Mlddieton te an “oldtimer,”* with brad. experience in every angle of the theatrical game. MISS DART SECURES DIVORCE Mabelié Dart, a member of the Raymond Hitche @ Show Company, thru her attorney, Faward J. Ader, has obtained a gecree. of divorce ia the Ofreutt Court of Chleago against Jesse W. Robe, manager of the Frank Tall Mintle Theater, of Untontowa, Pa. “EDDIE” PIDGEON MARRIES New York, Apeil 24.—"Badle," otherwise Snowa as Edward Everett Pidgeon, has taken voto himectf a wife, the bride being Hope Mande Testte, who retired from the stage three years ago, CABLES FROM LONDON TOWN “APRIL 24 By “WESTCENT” ~ ACTORS’ ASSOCIATION WILL ENFORCE TOURING CONTRACT ‘The Actors’ Association is calling a special meeting for Sunday, May 2, to take up the matter of the procrastination of manager in drafting a standard touring contract, terms of which were agreed upon last December. A resolu‘tion will be presented giving the managers a time limit to complete the drafting of such a contract, failing in which the Actors’ Association will issue a toré’stringent contract and enforce same without further parley. ‘The Variety Artistes’ Federation is in complete sympathy with the Actor Association in this move and will enforce the association contract in the territory of the Variety Artistes’ Federation. SIR BARRIE'S NEW PLAY NOT UP TO EXPECTATIONS. Sir James M. Barrie's new play, “Mary Rose,” was produced at the Haymarket ‘Theater on April 22. It proved to be whimsically Barriesque and pathetic, but did not reach the high expectations that had been aroused, and it falls short of Barrie's usual standard. Robert Lorraine and Fay Compton were excellent, and the saime applies to the remaining elx characters. “EAST IS WEST” TO SUCCEED “THE FOLD” “East Is West,” with Iri Hoy, goes to the Queen's Theater when the tenancy of “The Fold” ceases the middle of May. “HUSBANDS FOR ALL” MAY LIFT JONAH ‘Messrs. Vedrenne and Vernon, managers of the Little“ Theater, John street, Adelphi, are trying to lift the jonah from the theater, and on “May 6 will produce Gertrude Jennings’ “Husbands for All.” “GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED” WELL PLAYED Captain Harwood’s “A Grain of Mustard Seed,” a somewhat Biblical titled play, was produced at the Ambassadors on April 23, replacing “In the Night.” It ig an epigrammatical political satire. Norman MocKinnell, the chairman of the Actors’ Association, playing the lead, and Fred Kerr were great. Cathleen Nesbitt, in the cynical rotter heroine part. scored a distinct success. Fewlass Liewellyn and Mrs. Mabel Ferry-Lewis are also in the cast. “LITTLE WHOPPER” SCORES AT SHAFTESBURY “The Little Whopper” scored a success at the Shaftesbury Theater on April 23. The music is reminiscent of “High Jinks.” z ONE OF GALSWORTHY’S BEST EFFORTS “The Skin Game,” with Edmund Gwenn in the leading role; was a success at St. ‘Martin's, where it was produced on April 21. It is a three-act tragicomedy and is one of John Galsworthy’s best efforts, despite the absence of humor in the piece. ENGLISH AUTHORS VERY MUCH ALIVE ‘The cuccess attained by “Mary Rose,”:.“The Skin Game” and “A Grain of ‘Mustard Seed” proves conclusively that English authors are not quite dead or written out, as some would have us believe. STOLL HAS PANACEA FOR FINANCIAL ILIS Sir Oswald Stoll has a displayed article at advertising rates across three columns in The Daily Express of April 23, headed “Budgetting for Disaster.” Sir Oswald declares he has discovered the Shilshoper’s Stone to cure all our financial ills and that taxation for seventy thousand million dollars per annum out of a nation earning only ten thousand million dollars per. annum is unjustifiable on economic grounds. He says the government is deter‘mined to kill his panacea by a policy of silence. Despite this the entertainment tax gave a revenue of fifty-two and a half million dollars last year. STOLI/S TRYOUTS DEVOID OF NOVELTIES Sir Oswald Stoll's tryouts at Shepherd's Bush were unproductive of novelties and those approved could have been seen in the provinces in-the ordinary way if the boosting committee had attended to its duties. ANOTHER CHINESE PLAY ‘Leon M. Lion, after the success of the “Chinese Puzzle.” has acquired “The Emperor's Way.” from the pen of Captain L. Cranmer-Byng. and he in: tends to show it to Londoners next fall. ‘The location is among Chinese palaces and the steppes of Tartar and the incidental music will be composed by Granville Bantock. “THE WHITEHEADED Boy” James Bernard Fagan finds that his: proposed production of Lennox Robinson’s play at the Court Theater is now-impossible on account of the success of “The Little Visiters,” which finishes there today to enable ‘Peter Ibbetson” to come in on April 26. He opines that there will be a possibility of getting a ‘West End theater in ‘May, and he will proceed in staging it with an all-Irish cast. ROBERT MACDONALD CROSSING THE POND Of the firm of Macdonald & Young and the new chairman of the T. Mf. A., vice iMlfated Bernard Hishin, Robert Macdonald expects to arrange for the production in the States of “Sunshine of the World” and of “Paddy ‘the Next Best Thing.” Of the former. it will have to be gingered up as far as comedy ig concerned, which in the Empire show was remarkable by its absence. The music was—as reported at the time—some of Cuvillier’s best, and the scenic effects far above the standard here, but ‘without comedy it will not set the Ambrose Channel on fire. JOHNNY JONES (AND HIS SISTER SUE) Charles Cuvillier’s stock is in great demand, altho he seems unlucky lately, but he will be reeponsible for the music of the next Alhambra show, titled ‘as above, of which Harry M. Vernon will write the book. George Robey will then be released from ‘his two-a-day exertions at the Hippodrome and will be supported by Phyllis Bedells, Ivy St. ‘Heller, Clara Evelyn, Erie Blore and Arthur Simms. ‘The Building Control Committee of the London County Council has declded that the ehortage of Ixbor for building schemes is 60 acute that It is issuing orders prohibiting the building of all new places of amusement, such as music halls, theaters, kinemas. billiard halls and dance halls. These and all lke establishments are termed “works of low category.” and as such are classed third in the list. Possibly this fact and the continued onvosition from trade-rfvals and loca! religious denominations has caused Sir Oswald Stoll to donate the wHole of the proposed site for his Fulharo vandeville house to the scheme of thy War Seal Foundation. ‘This was Imaugurated by a “Seal” costing ‘half a cent—on the, lines of varions‘such token schemes emanating from U. S. A—and ae two hundred families are being cared for in the building which (Continued an page 93) ‘ “ salariee, NEW GUS SUN HOUSE “Soon To Open in Springfield, O.—Re gent Nearing Completion Springfeld, 0., April 24.—After completing negotiations and closing contracts for a numder of dig ohotopliy features and other fractions, which will be presented at his Regent Theater, Springfeld’s newest and most beautifal playhouse, Gus Sua returned from New York City this week. ‘The ‘Regent now I< Bearing. completion -oa the site of the oldxColumbia, on South Limestone street, and is sched ‘led for opening on or sbont, Decoration Das. ‘Following his return to Springfield from New York Mr. Sun made oneday trips of inspection to ‘Toledo and Columbus, in each of which cities he is erecting a beautiful new house, which will be equipped similar tS the Regent. Mr. Sun reports satisfactory progress in construction of each of these latter. ‘houses, HIGH LICENSE, ADOPTED Sfissouri Valley, In., April 24.—The City Council has passed an ordinance placing, the Hcense fees for theaters and motion picture houses at the following Sgures: Where admission fee is more than 25 cents the license fee shall be $50 per day, $200 per week, $400 ‘Per month, $1,000 for four months, $1.500 for six months, oF $2,500 per year. Admission 20 to 25 cents, $5 per day, $15 per week, $40 er month, $195 per four months, $150 per. six months, or $250 per year: 10 to 20 cents, $5 per day, $15 per week, $20 per month, $76 Per four months, $100 per six months, or $150 per year. MANAGEMENTS MERGED Ithaca, N. X., April 24—Three Ithaca playhouses have been merged under one manageinent. ‘They are the Star, Strand and Crescent. ‘They will be controlled by a carporation called the Itbaca ‘Theater Company, ‘Fred B. Howe, ‘and William A. Dillon jamer, vice-presidents. Mr. Dillon is to manage the Star and Mr, Hamer the other, two. The Strand, beginning at once. ‘will show vanderille and pictures. The Cresce ‘will continue as a morie house exclusively, 2% ‘will the Star, The new company is-capitalized at $300,000. 5 PERRY IN NEW ROLE ‘Chicago, April 21—Antonlo Perry, clrcalaton representative for ‘The Butboard. in Chi(fa80, cccasionally offers his taleat to other ‘enterprises on his off hours, This week Perry 4s aiding to umlnate the bally of Barbec's Loop Theater, in a costume indicating both a farmer and Charlie Chaplin. It is Perrs's ‘own idea, and persons who have closely ‘bserved the character" are a unit in admittiog that ft 1s something’ different from, anything ‘they ever saw, FINE THEATER FOR ORLANDO Orlando, Fis., April 24—Braxton Beacham, Je, for several years owner and operator of, the Grand Amusement Company. operating theaters here, in Klssimmae and Sanford, has Jet the contract for the finest house in Central Florida. It willbe built adjoining the San Juan Hotel, will seat 1,000' persous and have @ commodious stage. Vanderille, photoplays and the legitimate will be booked, as ‘oceasion permits. The new house will be open for the winter season, and. will cost more ‘than $100,000. NEW THEATER FOR CORRY Corry, Pa., April 24.—D. Mantes Parker and ©. RB. "Rogers, associated with others, will ‘build 2 modern theater bere this summer. to cost about $75,000. Work will start in May. and it is expected the house will be completed to show pictures in the fall, and wilt open for road shows some time during the winter when completed Wack: stage. Mr, Parker will be ‘the manager. REMODELING OVERLANDER ©. H. ‘The Overlander Opera House, at East Palestine, ©., is being remodeled by the General Amusement Company. of that cits. and will Te witt hare 2 seating capacity of more than 700. inci a number of loge chalrs. A large lobby wi % provided, as will also a worren’s room. a men’s room, a check room and x parlor. The Rouse is expected to be opened about the mid dle of May. DRESSLER CASE SETTLED New York, April 22—The chaims of che Marle Dressler Company for unpaid salaries ‘was settled thls week by the Equits. All the members recelred the full smount of their ‘The settlement was made at the Equity offices by the manager of the company.