The New York Clipper (December 1914)

"SSiM Copyright 1914, by tbe Frank Quern Publishing Company (Limited). Founded by FRANK QUEEN, 1853. NEW YORK, DECEMBER 19, 1914. VOLUME LXII-No. 46. Prico, 10 Cants. strel organizations. Both of tbe original team of Lawlor and Thornton (tbe Dpper Ten and Lower Five), are still In existence. Chas. B. Lawlor, -who later became a great eopg writer la at present la vaudeville with his two talented daughters, known as Chas. B. Lawlor and Daughters. Jim Thornton, who has become a favorite monologlBt, occasional- ly does a turn with his clever wife, Bonnie Thornton. That venerable grand little lady, Mrs General Tom Thumb, Is still before the nubile, In vaudeville, with her little husband, the Count Magri and Bro. Several other of the little folks who were great favorites back Id tbe variety days. Admiral Dot and Jonnl; Quigloy. what clever little artists they were In their com- edy sketches, especially as Mr. and Mrs. Toodles, In that old English farce of "Toodles." They are both on the retired list. The Admiral got married and settled In White Plains, N. Y., la the hotel business, where be ha* becom? quite a real estate owner. Gorman and Proctur. the Original Kiltie Duo, that well known and favorite musical team, of singers, dancers and musicians, later ■n\th their clever and talented son (Ross Corman), became the renowned Original JUItte Trio. Stella Proctor (Mrs. John R. Ocrman), has lately retired to enjoy life <n 41ielr beautiful villa, "The Heathers," In North Paterson, N. J. John R. Gorman and Sor. (Boas), the world's greatest saxophone soloist are doing- a doable musical act as the Original Kiltie Duo. John R. has been with such shows us Barnum Ac Bailey, Sells Bros., WMtmore 4 Clark's, Robert McAlllstor's and the John L. Sullivan and Lester and AHen's Minstrels, and the "Alvln Joslln" "Her Atonement" and Hyde & Bebman's Shows, and has been soloist with Cap/pa's Seventh Regiment. Bayne's Sixty-ninth Regi- ment Oonterno's Ninth Regiment, Garland's Tenth Regiment. P. S. Gllmore's Twenty- second Regiment and Auguard's Bands of Nov? York also with D. W. Reeves' American Band, of Providence, R. J.; Lothian's. Slafers and Hewson's Military Bands, and the llostonlan Opera Co. Some record. Lydia Yeamans Titos, of that well known and talented Yeamans family, Is still befort) the public, doing her clever character Im- personations assisted by Fred J. Titus. One of the Gilford Bros., clever acrobats and statue artists, have been managing a cafe for a number of years in Orange, N. J., which contained a large and valuable col- lection of relics and curios, wblch they col- lected while on their travels around the world. Robert C. Gilford Just passed away a few weeks ago. Some of the well knowns of other days, who are still on the boards, that come to my mind are Charles J. Boss, of that favorite and clever team of Roas and Kenton. Rouclere and Mildred, who have seen traveling with their own shows. Dick Leggltt (the rising generation). Robt. Dally, formerly of the Daily Bros., Is at present on the U. B. O. time In a comedy skit. The Waldron Bros., Dan Sherman, formerly of Sherman and Morrisey, knockabout team and burlesque trapeze, now Sherman and De For- rest; Joe Cawthorn, of the Cawthorn Bros., who has for a number of years been in big Eroadvrny productions, still holds onto his concertina. Joe Crotty, now of the Crotty Trio; Dan and Ida Manning, Den Delmanlng Bros,, the Gardner Bros.. Jim Ncary. Tom Nawn, that quaint Irish comedian. Lulu Keegas, fomerly of the Keegoas— John and Lulu—Is now doing an act with Joe McNatto. Frank Cunmlngs, of the old team of Cumnrings and Hlnes, Is doing an act with his wife, known as Citmmingi and Knight JOHN McCULLOUGIPS MO.M'MEXT In Mt Morlah Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pa. Born Nov. 14, 1832. Died Nov. 8, 1885. Inscription under bust in back: Erected lo the Memory of the Eminent Tra- 5 eJIan, John McCdllquoh, by his Friends: obn W. Mackey, Wm. J. Florence, Wm. M. Connor, John B. Carson, Wm. F. Johnson, »m. R. Thompson, Mary Anderson and others. (Snapped by AI. FosfcIU MONUMENT OVER THE REMAINS OF JUNIUS BRUTUS BOOTH, In Boolh plot in Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore, Md., in which are buried the Booth family. Junius Brutus Booth, Sr., born May 1, 1790; died Nov. 30, 1852. Mary Ann, wife of J. B. Booth, born Jan. 2, 1802: died Oct. 22, 1885. Rosalie A. Booth, died Jan. 15,1889, aged slity-flve; Richard Booth, died Dec. 29. 1839, aged seventy-six; Joseph A. Booth, M. D, brother of Edwin T. and Johu Wilkes Booth and Junius Brutus Booth Jr.. born Feb. 6, 1840; died Feb. 26, 1902. Edwlu T. Booth, son of Jos. A. nnd Cora E. Booth. Asia Booth, wife of John Sleeper Clarke. John Wilkes Booth Is also buried in this plot. (Snapped 6p AI. Foitell.) Fred Wilson, one of the first to do a clog dance, Is retired In New York. Louise Ds Luisl another one of the clever danaeuses of the variety days. Is retired, living In Brook lyn. Eddie Mack, of the Dancing Macks l» in the glass business in Detroit Harry Hon- dlnl. who has risen to wealth and fame as the handcuff king of the world, goes back to the variety days, makes his home In New York, owns a beautiful mansion In Harlem. wblch contains one of the rarest and most valuable collections ou magic and magicians in the world. Harry Is an authority on magic and magicians, on wblch he has com- piled several books. Some who have sprung from the variety stage to become famous In the burlesque field, both as performers and managers, are J. Herbert Mack, now president of the Co- lumbia Amusement Co., who worked with Lizzie B. Raymond, who Is still active; Charles Barton, of tbe old song and dance team of Rice and Barton; Dave Marlon, of the old team of Marlon and Bell, who whiles away his vacation days on his beau- tiful orchard near Toms River. N. J. Harry Bryant, formerly of Bryant and Holmes, has retired from the field to enjoy life. Gns Hill, the one time champion club cwinger, is still active: baa gone in heavy in rond productions. Bobby Manchester, of that favorite old song and dance' team of Manchester and Jennings, has also retired and settled on his beautiful estate In Pains- vlllc O., to enjoy the fruits of his labor, and Bob Is certainly the big It In Palnesville. Charley Robinson Is with his own show, active the same as Billy (Beef) Watson nod Bluch Cooper, of the old team of Cooper and Stewart. Jim Lowery, of Jacobs and Low- ery, formerly of Lowery and Hanley; Pat White, Johnny Weber, and John West, of the old team of Gallagher and West. 0. F. Robinson, at one time known as Prof. Wonn, who for years had a dog and pony show, has settled down on his farm near Pittsburgh. Pauline Markbam, the beautiful burlesque queen, of Lydia Thomp- son's British Blondes fame. Is living In Brooklyn- Of tbe one time favorite Weath- crsby Sisters, Ellsa and Jennie, the former became Nat Goodwin's first wife. Jennie it still before the public, and Is this season playing the character of Louisa Cook, In r Too Many Cooks." A. O. Duncau, George W. Hussey and Dan Harrington, vcntrllo- qulstr, are all still active. Carroll Johnson, of the old team of John- son and Powers, for years in minstrelsy, and for several seasons starred in "Tbe Ivy Leaf," an Irish drama, has lately gone back into vaudeville. Francis Wilson, another one of the old school of song and dance men, of the former team of Mncktn and Wilson, needs no intro- duction, as he stands to-day one of the fore- most comic opera comedians of tbe profes- sion. Mr. Wilson owns a beautiful villa lo New Rochelte, N. Y., where he enjoys Ills between seasons among his books, of which he has a large, rare and valuable collection. Joe Flynn, my old partner, when we did a musical moke act as Fostell and Flynn, and when we separated It became Sheridan and Flynn. Joe Flynn, who gained a world-wide reputation through his famous song of "Down Went McGlnty," the greatest sons hit that was ever written, which traveled around the world like wild-fire, was played, sung and whistled In every land and clime. I have a letter written to me from Harry Blake's brother, of the Two BecB, who was color sergeant In the Soudanese Battalion written after the Battle of ths Soudan, Egypt, saying they marched to battle to ths tuue of "Down Went McGlnty." Articles of food, wearing apparel, animals and everything imaginable were named after the song. It became a fad and a crass. Nothing was ever beard like It It brought the author fame and fortune over night Joe wrote some great songs after, even better ones, but none could take the place of "Mc- Glnty." He has been doing a slnglo parody turn for a number of years, ail his own com- positions. He was one of the first to do a parody turn of his kind In the profession. Mr. Flynn resides In St. James. L. I., where he owns a beautiful homestead, and takes life easy when off the road. Gilberts Fostell, the little Peek-a-Boo of old, who has been before the public since childhood, now known as Vesta Gilbert, is at tbe present writing with UIHe Aierstrom's musical review, at St. Johns, N. B., for a run. Miss Akcrstrom, wto for years has been starring in all her own productions. Is a graduate from the va- riety stage. A few of those who have lately retired from thj variety stage and have become guests of that grand home on Staten Island, N. Y., the Actors* Fund Home, are: W. T. Stephcr.s and Minnie Oscar Grey, Ike With- ers. Harry (Doc) Irving, and that grand young man, Charles Morris, the dean of min- strelsy, formerly of tbe Morris Bros., Pell 4 Trowbridge Minstrels. A few of the pro- prietors and managers of the old variety theatres who are atll In the land of living, the two of the oldest are Harry Enochs, the old time comedian and banjolst. and pro- prietor of Enochs' Varieties, in Phlladel- ?hta, Is living there In retirement, and buries Welch, of tbe old Theatre Comlque, in Detroit. Is living there retired. W. J. Gllmore. of tbe old Grand Central, In Phila- delphia. Is retired there. it. C. Hart, of the old Theatre Comlqne, in Cleveland, Is In 'Frisco doing newspaper work. Jac. Aberle, of Aberle's Eighth Street Theatre. N. Y, where they used to start tbe show one minute after twelve Sunday night. He later managed the White Elephant, in Cleveland, and at present Is managing a cafe in Chicago. Stgmund Gabriel, of tbe old Tlvoil. and later the Vine Street Opera House, in Cincinnati. Is at present holding a prominent position in tbe Court House in Chicago. Mike Heuman. of the National, on the Bowery, N. Y.. later managed Terrace Garden and the Harlem Casino, has retired. G. E. (Doc) Loth rop, former manager of the old Boylston and Grand Dime, and at S resent manager of the Bowdoln Square, the rand and the old Howard Athenaeum, the oldest theatre in New England. The doctor is the only active manager. E. G. Gelsen- helnier, genial Eddlde, former manager of the old Clarendon Music Ball in Port Jervls, N. Y.. is at present managing Brock's Hotel Erie. In Port Jervls, N. Y., and last, but not least, Happy Harry Roop, who man- aged a house in Philadelphia, and later, with George Nopper, managed the old Globe Theatre, in Washington, D. C, which for- merly was Jake Budd's Theatre Comlque. Yours truly was tbe last one to appear on the stage there, as the whole block was torn down later to make room for the present post office. Florence Emmett and your humble servant ars still In thp field as Fostell and Emmett, and are still able to hold our own. I believe I've covered tbe grounds of the days of Tony Pastor, the good old variety days. I've tried to mention all who are still In existence, both In and out of the profes- sion. If I've made any errors or omissions I shall be pleased to bear of them, as I don't know It all. With best of wishes to you all for a healthy and prosperous Nineteen Fifteen, Yours In fun, Ad. Fostbll, Detroit, Mich. SHOW JUSINESS. AS IT WAS, AS II IS, AND ITS POSSIBILITIES. BT ■. V. ALBM. (Tlce President and Half Owner of the Keith Vaudeville Circuit ant General Manaaer of the United Booking Offlce*.) "Through the ad. we wired In re- cently we seenred some good people, sad could have ororanlsed a dosen oompanles from the letters we re- calved in answer to onr ad. Tbanlc- lnor yon for past favors, I am, ■very truly yonrs, JOLLY BELLA FRINOLB." DON'T MI88 THE CLIPPER WHEN ON THE ROAD Have It sent according to your route. OneNlghtcrs or Week Standi. 6 WEEKS ... 50 CENTS 13 WEEKS . Om DOLLAR Send orders to THE FRANK QUEEN PDB. CO., 41W. 28th Street, New York Among the ruling customs of the amuse- ment world la one that calls upon showmen at Christmas time to express their opinion of show business past- present and to come. As a rule there Is little to say other than to report the steady procedure of a business now happily well regulated in nearly every branch. This year, however, sbowmon are faced by extraordinary conditions that have no precedent In the past, and which will be recorded as ualquo la the history of the theatre. We are all Involved In the Iron grlo of a world-wide unsettled condition, and as war Is said to try men's souls, so cer- tainly It tries men's business. At such s tlmu it is well to take stock and to consider basic facto of aniuscuiout conditions and to endeavor to predict from a study of the past and present what tho futuru holds of 111 or good. The war is not the only cause of the present difficulties In tho vaudeville business. There has been an over production, in all branches of tbe business. There are too many theatres, many of which have been built by people who were not previously Iden- tified with theatricals in any way, purely as a speculation. Tbe temptations held out to outside capital to Invest In theatres have been alluring. Glowing prospectuses have been Issued by promoters, showing large profits, which are alleged to have been made in vaudeville and other theatres. Stock com- panies have been incorporated, and stock In theatres sold to the nubile on the strength of these highly colored prospectuses, and the law of supply and demand has been entirely disregarded in the wild ecraniblo of Uioho theatrical promoters to float their stock. For such schemes of financiering tlieru must al- ways be a day of reckoning. A. Paul Keith and myself, who acquired the B. 1>\ Keith Circuit, are Interested In forty-eight theatres in large Eastern cities. Before going further, I wish to speak In praise of my associate, A. Paul Keith, son and heir of vaudeville a founder. He is a young man of sterling worth, with whom It Is a genuine Joy to work, lie possesses a sturdy, dependable personality, and has In- herited the persistence In right policies that made B. F. Keith great. It Is rarely that a theatrical manager's son develops tbe qualities for business and sticks to the detail part of it with the hard- bcadedness and great Interest that A, Paul Keith has shown from his early boyhood. He was brought up In tbe business, and, blessed In the possession of his father's strong qualities and his mother's lovable character, he adds to them a complete knowledge of present day theatricals, which makes htm a showman to bo reckoned with in the future. Our associates are alt men of gract ex- perience In tbo show business, and many of them own and operate theatres of their own, These men Include: Mr. Bbea of Buffalo and Toronto James B. Moore, of Itochester and Detroit Harry Davis, of; Pittsburgh 8. Z. Poll, of half a dosen New England towns; V. i\ Proctor vice president of our booking of- fices; Walter Vincent, who has a large cir- cuit of theatres throughout the Eastern and tluuthern States; Jake Wells, an enterpris- ing showman of the South; tho Canadian Circuit, which is owned and controlled by financial men who have Interested with them Clark Jirown, a man of large experience In show business. Alt these men make a combined strength tor legitimate vaudeville whicli was created by them, and own theatres built by money tliey have earned In aver thirty years of struggle and saving. The foundation of their business was built on rock, and nursed with Intelligence and rare and frugality, and what they earned they put bark Into tbo business, until to-day they represent the g.cnt, solid circuits of the United States. That represents the vuudovlllo circuits East of Chicago. West of Chicago, the late Chas. K. Kohl started In the museum business at the same time as Mr. Keith and myself, and with Gorge Castle and Mr. Mlddloton, developed In Chicago tho vaudeville business from tbe old museum business up to the present high standard, Max Anderson and Henry Klrglcr at about that time started in Cincinnati, Indianap- olis and Louisville. They built beautiful theatres, ran them on a legitimate basis, using their own money and combining their own strength with others of equal experience who had gone through the same hardships, and from no other source did they receive or ask for help. The other side of Chicago tho great Or- plieum Circuit, controlled principally by Mor- ris Mycrfeld end Martin Beck, has developed from one theatre In San Pranclsco to a splen- did list of magnificent vaudeville bouses, aU equipped by this company of a few men. who built up the business, did tbo work, hooked tbelr own shows, ran their own theatres, sua In later years iifflliated their circuit with Kohl's, Castle's and Mlddlcton's inter- est. In Chicago, and then camo the affilia- tion of the big Eastern vaudeville circuit controlled by Mr. Keitb, and the Orplieum Circuit, controlled by Mr. Mycrfeld and Mr. Beck. In all these years the public has not ['(it a dollar Into these circuits. All these men are pioneers, and know th« show buslniMH In every detail, nnd they are the sinew and strength of the vaudeville busi- ness to-day. Their houses, bought and paid for with years of full experience, having Sono through all the hardships of the early ay show business they stand ready to battle auulnst any condition, whether It bo hard times the country jver, whether it be an over production of show business by inex- perienced people, or the passing awny of sonto of Its munbers, Now we conio to tho newest form of amusement In theatres—tho motion picture, I think tile picture busluess In Itself is ex- cellent. There has been uo more popular or pleasing entertainment presented to the pub- lic in tho past twenty-live years. Mr. Keith was among tho tlrst to realise the possibilities of the motion picture as an amusement. He showed the lint machine in the United States. It was a Vltaacopc, which displayed a small picture of about eight feet by eight foot, and was shown at Boston, then at the Union Square. Then camo tho Cinematograph. Wo were Its first exhibitors la America, putting it ou at tho Union Square Theatre, thou Huston It made an instantaneous hit, for tho pic- ture was very much larger. 1 remember one of tho llrst pictures presented was a troop of cavalry men making a charge. They Unshed down to tho front and quick as light- ning came to a halt. Tho people in tho audi- euco would rlso up la their seats, thinking they -were coming from the curtain Into the audience —It was so realistic. Another pic- ture which made a wonderful Impression upon tbo uudloiico was tho surf breaking upon the shore Tho next to como was the Illograpb. I llrst advertised the IMuaraph In Huston by sending out a bicycle brlgudo of twelve men, tbo DrBt carrying a bugle to herald their coming. All wore whlto suits, white bats and white shoes, and on tho bucks of their white coats was painted: "Uo to Keith's and Seo tbo lilograpit," People of course didn't know then what the Illograpb meant. That is, what kind of cntcrtalnuieut It pre- sented, whether It was a sung and danco or a dramatic sketch, but when they camo and saw people walking about In a picture there was nothing but astonishment and wondor on their faces, and overy one who went out of the theatre was an advertisement for the Uiograph. It was In Summertime and the house was lmekcd to capacity in the warmest weather. We have continued pictures over since, and that was over eighteen years ago, Wo have now a large number of picture houses—*ome beautiful ones, which wo devote exclusively to pictures. People ask my opinion as to what is the future of I ho motion picture. I fully be- lieve that It will be as great m lias been tbe development of all kinds of show business, rapei'lnlly tho legltlmnto nnd vaudeville 1 remember, going back twenty-live years, going with Mr. Keith to Mr. Krlatigcr's of- the on fourteen tli Blrcot, and tho attrac- tions that he represented at that time proba- bly numbered less thiirt half u dozen. The liiiKliiess was uncertain. It was tho rule and not the exception, (or an attraction, which liiul a route of tun or twelvu weeks, to ask tlip manager of the liouso to send on monoy to get the next town. And lie, as tlio paper v/ns already up, took chances on getting his money buck, und iidvunceil enough to bring th c troupe on. And so it went from town tu town. 'iherc woro a four cities that did creep- flora, buslncuH, and that would carry them ulong for a few stands. Tlioro was nothing certain In show biHiness at that time, it rnu wild. There wai no stated policy. Get yliot you could, where you could, nnd what little you did got didn't amount to much. It was Just a hand-to-mouth living, All this was changed by tho Intelligence and Irdomltablo energy of A. L. ICrlnnger, who started In to construct dramatic show busi- ness on a logltlrante basis. I saw It grow from year to year under Mr. Erlnnger's di- rection. I saw It dovtlop so that a man who had ten weeks of uncertain time had twenty W*fU of certain time, up to tho prosent I.mo. when bo la booked for an entire sea- son,, knows Just where lie Is going and nowadays you hear very few. If nny of tba old requests "Send mo money to get to tho next town." No ono has como up to lako Mr. Hrlanger's place, and as long ns be continues Ills nctlv- "Vj tho public Is assured of good, clean, oidcrly. high class show*. ynudcvlllo has mado tho samo groat strides and It Is pleasant for those who have created this business to seo tho groat prosperity that has come not only to tho men who worked hard to establish it, but to thoso who were iisflocinted with those men, and tho actor, both In vaudeville and tho dramatic nnd mu- sical pnrt of show business, has shared <u the pronperlty of this jreat growth. Go nlnng the shores of Long Island, of West- chester County, up through tho hills of New Jersey, and count tbe number of beautiful homes that aro now owned by actors In all branches of theatricals. This was all wwed In a legitimate way. There were no v-lld-cat schemes, there was no promoting of theatricals in thoso days, on tho basis of ton Ccr cent, a month, which is promised to-day y theatrical promoters, but all this was earned by good, hard, conscientious work, combined with ability and energy of the ycomnn kind. I predict tho same condition for motion .«s*3sI7&i %.+ ■ ^ "^ LEO FEIST and STAFF *s ^ % | HOPE THAT ALL THEIR FRIENDS WILL ENJOY -mm m a merry Christmas m m