New York Clipper (Jun 1923)

JxmE<6, 1923 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 13 Fouidcd io USS br FraDk Quan PubUilud by lb* CUPPER CORPORATION OrUnd W. Vaughan Prrsidnit and Secretary Frederick C. Muller - Trealnrer I&Sg Broadway, New York Telephone Circle 9112-9113 WALTER VAUGIIAN, EDITOR New York, Wednesday, June 6, 1923 Entered June 34, 1879. at the Post Office at New York. N. Y., as second class matter, under the act of March 3, 1879. THE CLIPPER is issued every WEDNESDAY Forms close on Monday at 5 P. M. SUBSCRIPTION One year in advance, $5; six months, ^50; three monthts ^1.25. Canad.i and foreign posuge extra. Single copies will be senc post paid on receipt of IS cents. AI>VERTTSINC RATES FURNISHED ON APPLICATION Oiicago Office—Suite 626, Sute Lake BIdg. IHione Dearborn 1776 KoBUT D. BoNiEL, Manager San Francisco Office—Suite 621, Gillette Bldg. 830 Market St. Phone Kearny 3261 Rube Cohen, Manager Address all communications to THE NEW YORK CUPPER Room 3i7 I(SS Braadwar, New York Jiegiaertd Cable Addrest: "Authobitv." The Cuppca can be obtained wholxsau and •ETAiL at our agents, Gorringe American News Agency, 17 Green Street, Curing Cross Road, London, W. C, England; Daws, 8 Ekgle Place, Piccadilly Circus. Xondjvo, S. W.. England; Brentnno^s News Dspot, '37 Avenue de I'Opera, Paris, France; Gordon & Cotcb, 123 Pitt Street, Sydney, N. S. W., .Australia. JAIL FOR PLAY PIRATES What is looked' upon _ as the first gun in a countrywide campaign to stamp out "play piracy" being conducted by the Pro- ducing Managers' Association and backed by the Dramatic Authors' Guild, ctilmina- ted in the conviction and sentencing of Thomas Casey, an Oil City theatrical man- ager, for having given unauthorized per- formances of "Lightnin' " and "Way Down East." Casey entered a plea of guilty and was prepared to pay a fine. But upon the vig- orous prosecution of £dward C. RafTerty, representing the P. M. A., was given a jail sentence of three months in the Allegheny Penitentiary. The jail sentence was ac- complished only after Rafferty had pointed out that "play piracy" had become so rampant throughout the ooimtry that it was high time that some of these "brain thieves" should be dealt severely with. He explained that the majority, when tramied, are always willing to reimburse the pro- ducer and in many instances get away with it. Consequently the case is never brought to court. The Judge evidently concurred in his opinion and Oisey was imprisoned. Having established a precedent in the Casey matter, John Golden and his asso- ciates on the "Piracy Committee" of the P. M. A. will now spread a dragnet throughout the country with the hope of stapiping out this evil. Mr. Golden and his associates hail this conviction and jail sen- tence as a most vital deterrent among the play pirate gentry and are certain it will be the most effective weapon to stamp it out. Under the usual procedure in cases of the kind when a manager had been trapped on a piracy charge, the manager and play- wright involved seemed to prefer to settle the matter by exacting their royalty fees rather than spend their time running to court. The unscrupulous manager has ap- preciated this and has more than often taken a chance in giving unatnhorized pre- sentations of Broad\\-ay successes, the rights of which are not even obtainable if he were inclined to purchase them. He feared nothing because he was more than certain he' could square things by c<Hmng through with the belated royalties or if the worst came to the worst' would only have to pay a £ne. But now that the Federal Cotirts have unanimously ratified jail sentences for all future play piracy litigations, he may think twice before mak- ing illegal use of some other manager's property. MAGICIANS DINE The Society of American Magicians held their nineteenth annual dinner at the Hotel McAlpin on Friday night, the after supper entertainment, for the most part, consist- ing of an exposition of the so-called "spirit ?henomena." About 200 were present, larry Houdini, President of the Society presiding. Other prominent magicians pres- ent were Ho\vard Thurston and Joseph F. Rim, who has earned the sobriquet of "the ghost breaker," because of his work in the field of exposing the tricks of psy- chic fakers. The speakers consisted of Postmaster Edward M. Morgan, Sophie Irene Loeb, W. H. Donaldson, Joseph F. Rinn, Dr. Walter F. Prince, Howard Thurston and Joe Mitchell. Several new tricks in the art of legerdmain were presented and sev- eral of the old favorites were performed by some of the members. "OFFICER 666" IN FRENCH Clarke Silvernail, aided by twelve other players, appeared at the Sclwyn "rheatre last week, giving three special matinees of .Aueustin MacHugh's play, "Officer 666" in French. All of the members of the cast are American actors who spoke their roles ill French. The company this week will sail for France, where they will present tlie_ play at the Theatre Femina, Paris, which Silvernail has leased. The com- pany while in Paris will present several other American plays which will be trans- lated into the French language. WINTZ TO DO MUSIC SHOW George W. Wintz will produce next sea- son -a musical comedy, entitled "Venus," in which he will star his wife, professionally' known as Myra Brown. She has written the book of the attraction, with Charles G. Maynard, of the Erlanger booking of- fice, D. Peckham having written the music and lyrics. The show will play the one- night stands exclusively and will have a cast of thirty-five people. It will go into rehearsal on August 6. MID WEEK MATINEE OUT Chicago, June 2.—The fate of the mid- week matinee hangs in the balance in this town. Cohan's Grand will abandon them for the summer and many other houses are to follow the example set by Ridings. The experience of the Cort on Memorial Day when but thirty-one ticketholders ap- peared to witness the matinee discouraged local managers. The patrons iVi this in- stance were given their money back. "GINGHAM GIRL" CLOSES Kussell and Schwab's production, "The Gingham Girl," closed its season at the Central Theatre last Saturday night. The attraction will reopen next season at the Garrick Theatre, Chicago, on September 3. Midgie Miller is the Ofily one of the mem- bers of the present -cast who have been signed to appear in this company. ARTHUR HAMMERSTEIN SAILS Arthur Hammerstein sailed for England Tuesday and will remain abroad for five weeks. While in London he will attend the opening of "Katinka" on July 2, and will also make arrangements for the leas- ing of a theatre to present Edith Day in "Wildflowcr" during the season of 1923-26. MITZI RETURNING IN AUGUST Mitzi, who closed her tour in her new musical piece, "Minnie and Me" in Boston two weeks ago. sailed for London last week. She will return to America in August and will open on Broadway in the new Zclda Scars-Harold Levey musical comedy. EGAN IN NEW SHOW Thomas Egan. the tenor, is, to'be featured next season in a new comedy, with music, entitled "The Minstrel Boy," which will be sent out the latter part of August. Answers to Qomes Turf—Thomas W. Ross appeared as "Checkers" in the revival of that play at the Academy of Miisic, New York. N. B.—Wm. Morris was representative for the tour of 29 weeks, which included the Keith Theatres, Moore's Theatres, Percy Williams' Houses, Polls', Wdwr and Rush's, Hathaway's, Kccney's, Shcedy's, and other theatres. Lix—The New York Hippodrome was opened in 1904 by Thompson and Dimdy. Grey—"The Isle of Spice" was pro- duced by B. C. Whitney at the Majestic Theatre, New York. O. B.—Mabel Taliaferro played "Lovey Mary" in "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" at the Savoy Theatre, New York. Sal—Edna May appeared in "The School Girl," being supported by an Eng- lish Company at Daly's- Theatre, New York. Mack—"The Spell Binder" was pro- duced at the Herald Square Theatre with Charles Dickson, Ralph Delmore, 'Violet Black and George R. Averill among the cast. Four—The "Meteors" were Nilcs, Evans, Bryant and Hoey. F. W.—"Letty"' was produced with Wm. Faversham in the role of Nevill Lerch- mere and Carlotta Nillson as Letty Shell. 25 YEARS AGO Grace Golden was' with the Castle Square Opera Co.. Dorothy Morton sang the title role in • Paul Jones." The Jose Quinte^ the Passarts, Caroline Hull, Arenson, Biiuis and Binns, Edna Collier and Billy Van were billed at Forest Park Highlands, St. Louis, Mo. La Petite Adelaide; Jones,' Grant and Jones; Adelman and Lowe; Reno and Richards, and Lotta Gladstone played at the Masonic Temple Roof, Chicago. Dan Daly was with the "Belle of New York" in London. Al Shean, with the Manhattan Comedy Four, was with the Irwin Bros. Venetian Burlesquers. Thos. W. Keene died at the Smith In- firmary, Tompkinsville, S. I., N. Y. Louis Robie was elected president of the Traveling Variety Managers of America; Fred Irwin, vice-president; Gus Hill, treasurer; Maurice Jacobs, secretary. Jtobert Downmg presented a condensed version of "The Gladiator" at the Vnioa Square Theatre, New York. Lizzie and Venie Daly played at the AI- hambra Theatre, London, England. Siegman and Weil advertised Silk Tights at $2.50 per pair. Edward M. Favor and Edith' Sinclair were touring Europe. "Events of the Hour" Lantern Slides were supplied by T. H. McAllister. Milton and Dolly Nobles in "Why Walker Reformed"; Perry and I^lu Ryan and Emma Wood; the Donovans; John D. and Estelle Wills; Boyce and Black; the Larbeys, and Neilson Sisters made up the bill at the Brooklyn Music Hall. The John L. Sullivan Co. mdnded the Brownings; Fetching Brothers; Emma Carus; Darmody; Maud Dettyj Bcgley and Lee; the GoMen Trio and Ed White. Rialto Rattles WHAT ARE JAZZ PLAYERS? Jack Blanton of Paris says authorita- tively: "A violinist is one who plays by note and refrains from keeping time, while the fiddler is one who plays by ear and pats his foot during the process." ODD WEEK ADS Over in England artists advertise in (he papers that during the summer season they are only open for odd week engagements. Would be a great stunt here for black- face comedians and acrobats, who like ball games and prize fights. DIDN'T LIKE THE ROOM A small vaudeville actor registered at one of New York's best hotels recently and was given one of the best rooms and bath in the hostelry. In a few minutes af-. ter going to his room Ke returned to the desk and told the clerk that he did not care for the room. When asked the rea-' son, he replied: "I like my sleep too much' to waiit to pet up every time some one- knocks at the door and wants to use the- bath." RULES FOR VAUDEVILLE ACTORS Never fail to tell all of the other actors on the bill with you how they should do their acts. This is one sure road for popularity. If you have any complaints to make wait until the manager is counting up and then give him an earful. You've got him cor- nered then and he has to listen to you. In case you flop be sure and let every- one know it because the audience was com- posed of flatheads. THE PRESS AGENTS Now that the Theatrical Press Agents have organized no doubt the Managers will be conq)elled to regulate their hours of labor, provide drawing rooms on sleeper jumps and probably feature some in pro- gram advertising. Oh, yes, they will have to put them on a par with the actor, too, by giving them two weeks' notice. UMBRELLA MAKERS CHOSE RAIN The umbrella makers' organization whicb was in convention in New York recently chose _ "Rain" as the official play of the organization while it was in session here. No doubt when the ice cutters' union come to town "Ice Bound" will be sponsored by them. THE MAGICIANS' TIPS Magicians held their annual dinner the other night. The waiters were tipped lavishly but don't know where the money went. Knives and forks disappeared and those who had been sawing a woman in half all season practiced on the steak but foimd this mnch tougher than the chicken they had been using. INTERPRETER WITH GEST Morris Gest is sailing for Europe next week and carrying a dramatic editor as German interpreter with hinv Wonder what Morrie will do when he gets into the land of King Tut and wants to get hold of a scene for a spectacle. AND FLO A BUSINESS MAN Sunday newspapers carried a story quot- ing Florence Zicgfeld in which the "Fol- lies" producer says that the big show cost $237,000 to -produce and has taken in at the box office $1.820.0(X) and the net profit is only about $15,000. THE BARBERS' STRIKE Now that the barbers' strike is all set, some of the juveniles that pawned their Gillettcs will have a chance at diaracter bits in mining camp movies. THE DOLLAR GAS BOX. The Dollar Gas Bill was signed by Smith. Anybody with only a dollar gas bill should pay it^ not sign it.