New York Clipper (Feb 1923)

February 7. 1923 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 13 F I I I * tm ua br Fmk Qmb CUPPER CORPOBATION Maud W. Vinchu... .Pntidcnt and ScerMiy Fkvdcrtck C Uullir Tnuaccr I65S Braulwar, Nnr Yoric Telcphma Orcle »1U-9IU WALTER VAUGHAN, EDITOR New York, Thursday, February 7, 1923 ■ » btcnd Tana 34, 1879, u the Poft OOea at Rev Yociu N. Y., as Moood daaa mattar, oadcr tte a d of March ), ia7». THE CUPPER U t«ud CTOT WEDNESDAY Fonna cloae on Hondar at 5 P. H, SUBSCRIPTION Obc Tear ia adnncc, fS; tlx moathi, tajO; a^Am, $■ J5. Canmda and fonivi imrm edfa. Slaue eopic* will be acnt, pan paid ea ncdpl of IS ccDta. ADVERTISING RATES FURNBHEO ON APPLICATION CUaaao Oaca So i te «as. State Lake Bld«. Fhao* DnAotB IIN KoaUT D. BoaiaL, HaiiAcaa laa Frawiaee O B co Sblte SI, GOIclia Bid*^ aJO Uarket St. Run CORaB, Uaaagcr. Aililn 11 all 'wt^rijMM THE NEW YORK CLIPPBR II" tm Braadwaj, Nnr York Rttttttni Ml* Addrm: "AuTUoaiTv." Thi CUina cas aa oaraiaaB waauaua u» uTAn. at oar agcnta, Gorriace Ammeaa Nova A««Dcy, 17 Giaoi Stitct, Cbaiioc CMaa Baad, LiBdoa, W. C Eulaad; Dan. S Eaate Flaae, PktadiUir Ctrcoa, London, S. W.TBo|Aand; BrcBtaBo'a News Depot. 37 AvcBne do rOpcn, Paris. Fiuca: Gbrdcm ft Cottb. lU Pitt Stmt, STdoar. N. S. W.. Animlia. BITING THE HAND Much has been written and said ancnt the unfair tactics a number of self-3tyted booking agents have been employing in dealing with performers. An expose of this practice some years ago "panicked* the ofTeoders for the time being, but after it had blown over, they were back at their old stands engaging in their unscrupulous pastimes more brazenly than ever. Recent stories circulated along Broad- way have started things humming again. But this time the echo of graft has not only wafted its way into the executive of- fices of the big booking offices, but has also been wafted in radio-like fashion from the precincts of Times Square into the sanctum oF the Commissioner of Licenses. The latter, who has waited several weeks for a formal complaint by one of the thou- sands of performers who have been vic- timized by the grafting gentry, has elected to "take the bull by the horns" and conduct a rig^d investigation into the business methods of everyone holding an agent's license so that he can weed out and prose- cute the offenders and concentrate the boc^cing industry to those whose business methods arc above questioning. The victimized performer has tradi- tionally been reluctant to complain against these "hold-ups." With a season none too good, he has been satisfied to snatch at any crumb of employment offered him. Should he sign for a $100 and later leam that the agent has been drawing an extra $50 wedcly in addition to the commission he pays for the engagement, he prefers to take it smilingly rather than get in wrong with said agent and probably be banned by others of the "gyping fraternity." To take advantage of the performer in these hazardous times is indeed despicable At best he is lucky if he can secure suffi- cient work to keep the wolf from the door. For years he has been the bread and but- ter for these agents who are now bleeding him. It's just another case of biting the hand that feeds them. But now that the license commissioner means business, per- haps the theatrical profession will even- tually be ridded of this clan who make a business of capitalizing misfortune. THANKS ACTORS FOR AID 301 West 46th Street, New York, Januaxv 31, 1923. Editor, The New York Cuppeb. 1658 Broadway, New York City. Dear Sir: Will you kindly grant mc the opportu- nity, through the medium of your esteemed paper, to express my heartfelt and sincere thanks to my fellow vaudevillians who, during my recent illness, while playing the Grand in St. Louis, extended to me their, moral and financial help, although not find- ing myself in distress. I wish to state what happened: Jumping from Decatur, III., to St. Louis for a Monday opening at the Grand, and after playing my first three shows, acting as Mrs. Eva Fay's lecturer, I was at- tacked by high fever and lost my voice completely, this being a sudden case of in- fluenza which confined me to bed for seven days. Mr. Dave Ferguson, playing the "Rounder of Old Broadway," voluntarily came to my assistance and said: "Joe, you are unable to work; if Mrs. Fay will let me, I will go on in your place and deliver your speeches"—which he did after per- mission was secured, thus playing tour shows for me and four with his own act, the entire week—at the end of which he absolutely refused to accept a penny in remuneration for all he had done for mc. and his reply was: "What's the use of helping a pal out, and spoiling it by ac- cepting money. After the Jesse James doe- tors of St. I^uis get through with you, you need all you have"—and believe mc, he was right. Doctors down there think actors arc millionaires. I also wish to mention Messrs. George Driscoll and Steve Hughes; the latter did not neglect mc one minute during that week and did mc more good than a nurse would have done. I also wish to thank Mr. Ben Rubin for his kindness in offering me finan- cial aid—also Mrs. Eva Fay. Every artist in the show that played the Grand in St. Louis, week of January 22, with no exception, showed the spirit of brotherhood and benevolence. My heart goes out to them all, and hope to be en- abled to show them by gratitude under dif- ferent circumstances. At present, through the assistance of my throat specialist, I hope to resume my work with Mrs. Eva Fay. Joseph P. Mack. Answers to Queries Rialto Rattles THEATRE BUILDINGS BUT NO THEATRE (Reprinted from The World) The project of a great new art theatre in this city would sound more hopeful if there were any evidence that New York had yet learned what it is that makes the Moscow Art Theatre a sensation. Stanis- lavsky's group is nothing more or less thaii.a stock company of ripe experience acting in dramas which are native to the Russian soil and with whieh the players have been long familiar. Another theatre buildiug, however large, however created, however experimental in intension and management, wilt some time or other have to pay for itself in hard cash and will therefore have to accept whatever productions it can get that will draw a crowd during a long run. It is not a theatre that is needed to put life into American acting and playwriting, but a stock company, or a number of stock com- panies, that will hang together long enough to learn the business. So long as a suc- cessful play must run all season to pay for itself it will continue impossible to develop an art theatre in'the United States.' impossible to develop a company of all- round actors, impossible to draw the best available talent to the service of the stage. Just now the most successful producers in New York are those who find produc- tions ready-made in Europe and entice them across the Atlantic Mr. Gest, having found the Moscow Art Theatre abroad, wants to create a New York Art Theatre of much the same tyfw. But it takes many years to collect and train a good stock company and to accumulate a -repertory ef native plays. ' A new building is not even a beginning. H. M.—George Arliss is touring with his big success "The Green Goddess." Ijst week he played Montreal. Cork.—Mclntyre and Heath opened at the Hippodrome, London, England, June 23, 1913. Peter.—David Warfield dedicated the New Stuyvesant Theatre, New York, in his new play, "A Grand Army Man." Marie Bates, Amy Stone, Jane Cowl and Louise Coleman were in the cast East—Will M. Cressy wrote the play "My Old New Hampshire Home" and appeared in it as Squire William Tappan. Muse—Leo Feist published "Home Ain't Nothing Like This," by Irving Jones. E. N. G.—Wilson Barrett played at the Union Square Theatre, New York, from May 1 to May 13, 1893. Drew and Campbell had charge of the side show with the Buffalo Bill Show, suc- ceeding Col. W. D. Hagar, who died at Wauseon, Ohio. I. Goodman.—Helen Keller has been blind from birth. Daly—"The Heart of Ruby"' was pro- duced Jan. 15,1894, at Daly's "rheatre. New York, with Ada Rehan aa "The Voice of the Poet," and Maxine Elliott as "The Heart of Ruby." 39—Sybil Sanderson made her operatic debut in America at the Metr<^olitan Opera House as "Manon." Midge.—Ike Rose played boys' rotes at Bunnell's Grand Theatre. Stead.—"Apple Orchard Farm" was played at the Windsor Theatre, New York. June 8, I89I. R. L. Tayleure owned and managed the show. Air—^Walter Sterle, an aeronaut, was killed on June 22, 1897, at Lynchburg. Va. Tragic—^John McCollough made his Tinal appearance on Sept. 29, 1884. at McVicker's Theatre. Chicago, as "Spar- tacus." in "The Gladiator." He died Nov. S, 1885, at his home in Philadelphia, where he had been transferred from Blooming- dale Asylum, New York, on Oct. 25, 1885. B. R.—"Gayest Manhattan" was pro- duced at Koster and Bials, New York. Drama—"The Witch" was prodtKcd at the Garrick, New York. Dec. 9-14, 1895. M. H.—Henry Miller appeared in "The Master." at the Garden Theatre, February 15. 1898. Ira.—Wm. J. Scanlon died from paresis at the Bloomingdale Asylum, 'White Plains, N. Y.. Feb. 18. 1898, where he had been since Jan. 7, 1892. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Mile. Ani headed the Ani Monarchs. Frederick Paulding was playingr in "A Man's Love," at San Francisco. Nat C. Goodwin played "Nathan Hate" at Hooley's, Chicago. Wm. H. Crane presented "A Virginia Courtship." at the Knickerbocker Theatre, New York. Fanny Davenport appeared in "Joan," at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. New York. Meltx>unie McDowell and Helen Collier were in the cast. Jennie Yeamans appeared in tlie twr- lesque at Saint Jacks Theatre. New York. Louise Dempsey, LanKMit and Love, Lew Hawkins and George Beban .were also on the bill. Joe and Jet Deltorelti were playing the Poti Time. Wm. Setts was with the Walter L. Main show. WHA-r WOULD HAPPEN THENT The amateur show given by twelve clubs at Keith's Royal Theatre last we^-. had such organizations represented as The Bron.x Catholic Club, the Century Council. Knights of Columbus; the Bronx Council, Knights of Columbus; St. Francis' Out). St. Jerome's Club, St. Peter's and St. Paul's Qub, and the Cavanaugh Club. The others were Jcwbh organizations. The only thing lar'ning was the Bronx local of the Ku Klux Klan. "THE LIGHT THAT LIES" Lights at the 81st Street Theatre last week read: "The Flirt—Harry Stoddard." TIMES HAVE CHANGED George M. Cohan returned from Europe to make some new productions and the price of American Flags did not go up. BROADWAY PROVERBS Never put off 'til tomorrow a chance at a liedroom play. Honesty is the best policy when "the bull" don't wortc A dollar saved is an impossibility. If at first you don't succeed (as an actor), become a 10 per cent agent. Two swallows, these days, are liottcr than Sunmer. FOREIGN PLAYS With so many foreign plays on Broadr way you can't get a single ticket any more, you liave to take an interpreter. They call the tickets "passports." BROADWAY PLAYS "Lady Butterfly" is not an insect comedy. "Java I-Iead" does not feaiare Jack Johnson. "Will Stiakespeare" is not a question. "Mary the 3rd" is not tlie Dumber three company of a well-known musical comedy. "Rain" is not wet propaganda even if "The Old Soak" is filled with dry hirnior. "Give and Take" has nothing to do with the automat. ANYTUNC CAN HAPPEN A Boston theatre musician wito reported in the orchestra pit to play tlie evening performance discovered to his amazement that someone liad stolen the bass dnm. THOUGHT IT WAS CANAL SIREET Sol Le Voy and Dan CnmnmHa, of tbc Keith office, were returning to New York after visiting a Staten Island theatre !«• cently. Le Voy stepped onto the ferrr boat, and at>sent-mindedly tamed to Cnm- mings. asking. "Is this uptown or down- town?" THE OTHER GUY HAS POtEAPPLES The Strand Theatre in Far Rockaway has been drawing business lately with a special night caUed |'Fruit NisfaC which is billed in electric lights on the marquis. It consists of giving away ttaskcts of fmit to patrons. Which causes Bill Dema'rest to remark: "Boy I How lucky it b that the house plays onlv motion pictures, and not vaiale- villc." THEATRE MGR. GETS '1PEEPER" SvxACusE, Feb. 5.—^A. A. Van Aolceo, manager of the Temple Theatre here, was responsible for tlie arrest of a young man who gave his name as Kenneth Gilniore. of Long Island, last week, after havinjr held GilnKMV at the point of a gun tmtil the poKce arrived. Van Atitcen toM the police that he discovered die man tootdng tfinia^ the windows of tiis hotse and acting sna- pkaously. At tlie police stition, GAnm told sevieial oootcaiticlory stories. TIk of- ficer who arrested torn claimed the yotmg man was sUgJitly intoxicateiL Van Aakn is abo a dOMrty sheriff of Onondaga VbIv, a suburb of tus city.