New York Clipper (May 1923)

4 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER May 16, 1923 N. V. A. BENEHTS PACK THREE BIG WEWYORK T HEATRES TO THE DOORS MrtropolitBn Open House, Hippodrome and Manhattan FiDed to Ovcfflowing and Entfaniiastic Audiences Witness Greatest Bills of Yean—Fortune Raised in Sing^ Nifl^t DKEY CHALLENGES LACKAYE FOUR CHICAGO THEATRES CLOSE Over one hundred thousand dollars -was added to the sick and charity fond of the Kational Vaudeville Artists Club on Stmdqr night, May 13, when more than fifteen thonsand people crowded into the Metropolitan Opera Honse, the New ■York Hippodrome, and the Manhattan Opera House to witness the greatest shows ever given for a charitable cause. This hundred thousand dollars, and more, was secnred, not only througji the receipts of the theatres, but also through a sonvenir prograu, which contained more than fonr hundred and sixty pages, and from a view- point of color and appearance; was a trl- imrph of printer's art. The program alone ii said to have netted the National Vaude- ville Artists Oub over fifty thousand dollars. About twenty thousand copies of these programs were printed, and sold for fifty cents apiece in the Metropolitan and the Hipf>odrome^ and for twenty-five ociits at the Manhattan Opera House. At e^it o'clock, each theatre had sold out its quota of programs, although a great deoiand was still in force for them in each theatre. The list of acts who appeared in each honse reads like a bine'book of theatre- dom, and to balance it, the most eiRlosive lepresentativcs of 'New York's "Four Handred" appeared in the "front" at the Metropolitan Opera House. The famous diamond horseshoe at that theatre, never held a more distinguished list of occu- pants for one performance. The various committees in dargc of different phases which helped put over all three shows had outdone tiiemselves, and left a record which shall long stand un- rivalled. The General Central Commit- tee consisted of: E. F. Albee, William Fox, S. Z. Poli, J. J. Murdock, Gus Sun, Frank Keene^ Walter Reade, John Har- ris, S^cns Hieiman, F. F. Proctor, Mar- tin Beck, Wihner and Vincent, Jules Mast" bomn. A. J. Brylawsld, Fired Schanberger, Maurice Goodman, Pat Casey, Marcus Loew, B. S. Moss, Alejtander Pantages, Hany Davis, W. S. Bntterfield. Nathan Gordon, Mike Shea, and James Moore. Hie general executive committee included: Edwm G. Lander, Jr.. Arthur M. Loew, Mark A. Lucscher. W. J. Sullivan. Jack Loeb, L. EL Thompson, and David Loew. The en<nmous amount of publicity at- tracted to the benefit was throng the efforts of a committee consisting of: Glenn Cmdon, Marian Spitzer, Floyd Soott, Walter IGngsley, John H. Safteiy, Joseph Davis. John PoUoel^ Walter Winchell and George M. Young. The for the various theatres were arranged by Edward V. Darling, L R. Samuels, Jack Dempsey, Oarfc Brown, J. H. Lnbin, George Gott- Hebv Arthur BlondeD, John J. Collins, Harvey Watkins, Jules Delmar, D. S. Simmons, Lawrmoe Golde, I^t Woods and Hirry Mondorf. Those who were re- sponsSile for Ae beanty of the souvenir program, and its financial success, were EInMr Rogers^ Edward Oakford. A. L. Koibertson, and John Bryam. The orchestras in each of the three the- atres consisted of picked men from the various Keith orchestras in the New York theatres. Benjamin Roberts conducted tte Metropolitan orchestra, Julius Lenz- bers, tiie Hippodrome ordiestra, and N^han Kamem, the Manhattan Opera Honse orchestra. The show at the. Metropolitan Opera House was started an imposing array of 250 members of the Keith's Boys Band, led by Edwin G. Tracy, their director, all oa the stage of the theatre. Henry Oies- terfield, secretary of Ae National Vaude- ville Artists Onb, tiien appeared and of- fered Ae ♦I'atilfQ of tile organization to the patrons and paUie for the wonderful lUtHWit tiiey had given the artists, and fhoi nrtrodoced Lowell Sherman, who of- ficiated as master-of-ceremonies for a while. 'Yorke and King were the first of the artists to appear and started the laughter and merriment with their clown- ing. Harland Dixon, with Marie Galla- han and tiie Sixteen Sunshine Girls, fol- lowed with their dancing and showed why they were at tlie Palace for two weeks. Pat Rooney and Marion Bent, assisted by their Kings of Harmony, followed and gave danong of another type. The Briants gave their "Dream of a Moving Man" and had the grand opera patrons hysterical with their pantomime comedy. Jack Ixwis now took the role of announcer and brougjit on Vincent Lopez and his orchestra, who rendered several selections. Lewis anid Dody then sang several verses of their famous "Hello. Hello^ HeUo" song. Peggy Wood apologized for not being able to sin^, but was adorable in the manner of her apology, and after downing for a bit, mtrodnced TAStrr Donofaue, an American concert pianist, who rendered a rhapsody on the Ampico, stopping'to let the mechanical pick up the parts which he had recorded. An ovation lasting almost five minutes greeted the appearance of George M. Cohan, who sang and danced a number from "Nellie Kdly" with the vim and spirit of a two-year-old. while Lon Sil- vers conducted the orchestra for him. Another of America's greatest favorites followed. Eddie Leonard, who sang "Ida" and then introduced Benny Leonard, stat- ing that he wished he was his brother. The lightweight diampion told some stories and did a clever comedy recita- tion. ' The Fairbanks Twins were tiie next to dance into view, and on leaving, made way for Eleanor Painter, who appeared in the costume worn in "The Exile" and sang a number from that show. Lionel Atwell recited and then Ben Bemie and his boys jazzed things up for several min- utes. Bemie introduced Rae Samuels, and had his orchestra play for her while she sang "Louisville Lou." Chic Sale gave some of his rural char- acters and made way for Grace La Rue, who rendered two nmnbcrs. Ann Pen- nington and Brooke Johns, assisted by a large chorus from "Jack and Jill," danced, played the banjo, and sang. George White and Hany Wa^ell clowned for a bit, and White did a buck dance, stating it was the last time in his life he would do that type of dancing. Charlotte Greenwood sang and swung her legs and arms around the stage and was followed by Val and Ernie Stanton, who held a conversation in "English as She Is Not Spoken." Evelyn Law, from the "Follies," gave a remarkable exhibi- tioo in kicldng. Queenie Smith, and Fred Hilddrand did a comedy number from "Cinders," which had closed, and were followed by Eddie Cantor, who kept the lau^is coming with some clowning. Nancy Wdford and eight boys who were in "Gnders" with her, sang and danced amidst tumultuous applause. One of the most artistic and most beau- tiful pieces of staging ever seen came -with a Ben Ali Haggm interpretative tableau m six scenes, which had, in addi- tion to its beauty, some wonderful danc- ing. Bert Savoy and Jay Brennan told their troubles for a few minutes, while the audience screamed with laughter. Will Rogers spoke about timely things in a humorous vein and kept the laughs going. Julian Eltinge sang and showed how beau- tiful a woman can be, even though a man is tiie woman. Mile. Marguerite and Frank Gill, from the 'Music-Box," danced sensationally, and Thomas Burke, who followed, sang. Fleurette Joeffries made her debut on a stage with a voice which '(Continued on page 25) A snppoced feud which has existed for fifteen years between Wilton Lac- kaye and Henry E. Dixey, who have been appearing with "The Circle," which closed in Worcester, Mass.. last Saturday night, waxed sufficiently hot last Friday, according to reports from-, that city, to prompt Dixey to challenge Lackaye to fistic encounter for a side bet of $1,000. Lackaye passed up the defi, saying that he preferred to ignore Dixey entirely as he has been doing for years. When Dixev learned that Wilton had refused to take his challenge seriously, it further aggravated him and prompted the remark, "He's yellow to the core. "I haven't spoken to him all_ season. Now the season is over and if he is any kind of a man he will step up and take a lacing or give me one. He says I am an old man. Nobody can make an old man of me and get away with it." Dixey further averred that Lackaye has continually stepped on his lines and crabbed his work all season. This is said to have precipitated the challenge. When interviewed regarding his stand in the matter Lackaye said, laughingly: "I will not post $1,000, $100 or $1, and can only ignore the challenge as I have ignored Dixey all season. If he insists on fighting, as challenged party I have the choice of weapons, and I'll meet him in a spelling bee; or I'll fight him with books at twenty yards, I to have the deadlier weapon, Dixey^s "Remin- iscences of Forty Years on the Stage"; or I'll suggest that we both submit to examination by Worcester's leading in- sanity expert.'' He denied that he had interfered in any way with Dixey's work. While the controversy was raging members of the company were grinning and trying to be neutral, expressing the opinion on the side that neither man coidd hold up his hands for a full three minutes of milling. THREE PLAYS WIN IN TOURNAMENT The Little Theatre tournament in which twenty of the little theatre organizations took part last week, resulted in three be- ing picked to repeat at the prize perform- ance on Saturday and each given the $100 award by Walter Hartwig, general man- ager of the contest, at the matinee. After the night performance the judges gave the Belasco trophy, a silver cup, to the East-West Players of Manhattan. The qualifying presentations for the matinee prizes were "The Crow's Nest," By Wil- liam Manley. produced by the Preside Players of White Plains; "The Qock," by Robert Courtney, produced by the Garden. Players of Forest Hills, and "The Little Stone House," by George Calderon, done by the East-West Players. The judges of the contest were Forrest Davis, of the New York Tribxme; Alfred Brown, playwright; Mrs. Francb F. Dubuc of Arts and Deeoraiiom; Miss Vera Mikol, of the Daily News, and Miss Martin Leonard, actress-manager. "VALUE SECETVQ)" GETTING MONEY Despite the. divided opinion of the dramatic reviewers as to the chances of Ethel Clifton's new play, "For Value Re- ceived," whidi opened at the Loogacre last week, with Augustin Dmican and Maode Hannaford featured in the cast, the play seems to have hit and has been doing good business. It is a small cast play that requires bnt one setting for the three acts. According to the management, it can show a profit if all the tickets were disposed of at the cut-rate agency. Then, too, the title and substance matter of the play is looked upon as sure-fire picture material, one big film company having already offered $10,000 for the screen rights. NEW COHAN SHOW C»>ENING Headed by George M. Cohan the members of the "Rise of Rosie O'Reilly" company which opens at the Tremont Theatre, Boston, next Monday ni^ht, will leave New York Saturday morning for Boston on a special train. Chicago, May 12.—With the apimadi of summer, four more theatres will be dark after tooiglit—one of them for only six days. "Sally" which has had a degree of suc- cess at the Colonial leaves tonigiit for Mil- waukee where it plays its final week of the season;' "Cat and The Canary" leaves the LaSalle after a record run this season of thirty-six weeks; Mme. Petrova in "Hur- ricane" departs from the Olym^c after an unsuccessfid attempt to make the public take an interest in her venture; and "Tan- gerine" leaves the Garridc The Garidc will remain dark until next Saturday when Raymond Hitchcock opens with 'bitchy Koo, 1923"; where he expects to remain throughout the summer. This is the only attraction promised for next week and Hitchcock has chosen an unusual night for his opening—Saturday, May 19. Out of 'sixteen theatres in the loop, five will be dark beginning next wedc; they are, the Blackstone, Illinois, Colonial, La Salle, and the Olympic The other theatres are offering the fol- lowing attractions: The Howard Brothers in "The Passing Show" whidi is doing good business at the Apollo is scheduled to end its Chicago run on June 2; on that same night, William Hodge will leave the Studebaker. On June 3, "The Dandng Girl" will replace the Howard Brothers and the Shuberts will tiy to hold this offer- ing through a summer run. Next week will be the final one for Frank Keenan in "Peter Weston" but the Harris will offer Donald Brian in a now comedy entitled "Rolling Home" on May 20; "Blossom Time'' at the Great Northern; Eugene O'Brien in "Steve" at the Princess; "Two Fellows and a Girl" at Cohan's Grand; "Why Not" at the powers; "Light Wines and Beer" at the Selwyn; "Rl U. R." at the Cort: "Peter and Paula" at the Playhouse; and "Up the Ladder" at the Central. "LADY BUTTERFLY" CLOSES "Lady Butterfly," the Oliver Morosco musical production, closed its metropoli- tan run at the Astor Theatre last Satur- day night, to make way for James Barton in "Dew Drop In," which opened there this week. The Morosco show proceeded to Boston, where it opened at the Shu- bert Theatre last Monday night "Lady Butterfly," which originally started at the Globe Theatre, is said to represent a production outlay of more than $100,000. At the beginning the at- traction was saddled with a $5,000 weekly rental and an over-burdened payroll that made it practically impossible to show a profit. When the piece was transferred to the Astor, considerable shaving on salaries was done, which prompted several members to step out of the cast to be re- placed by less expensive ones. Under the new arrangement the show is said to have held its head up but has not yet yielded a profit. However, the show was used as exploitation for the sale of stock for the Morosco Holding Company and is said to have more than served its purpose from that angle. TAB BO<HaNG OTTICE OPENS Battle Cheek, Mich., May 14.—^The Bijou Theatrical Enterprise Company will establish an office in Battle Creek for the booking and routing of tabloids in the State of Midhigan, due to the success oftnusical tabloids in the middle west and the many small cities able to support such shows for three or four days. The booking of tiiese towns will facilitate the booking of theatres operated by the Bijou Conq>any and begin- ning Septendier 1, a boolang dqiartment will be opened at tiie Battle Cre^ offices. E. H. Rathbun will be in charge of the booking department and it is expected that a route will be laid out covering ten weeks for the first class tabloid productions, "SUNSHINE" OPENS MAY 18 "Sunshine," a new comedy by Roy Mil- ton, will be given its premiere at the Stamford Theatre, Stamford, on Friday evening. May 18, under the direction of Albert James. The cast includes Betty Alden, Eleanor Ryan, Laura Alberta, Cal- vin Thomas, Louis Kracke and others.