Variety (October 1913)

10 VARIETY weeks, and one week that should have bren given to Milwaukee was played here. Other bookings would have been cancelled if possible. The show played to between $90,000 and $95,000 during its engagement at II top prices. CHASE HIS OWN '*ANOEL.** The versatile William Parker Chase, author, lyricist and composer of "The Innocent Sinner," it now develops, is a wealthy man in the chemical business and now blossoms forth as has own "angel" for the enterprise, which will be produced under the direction of Fred. C. Whitney. 250 MANAGERS SUBSCRIBE TO FEATURE SE RVICE OF FILM CO.'S See Opportunity to Attract Business Now Qoing to the Big Movie Specials. Dearth of Qood Legitimate Road Shows Causes Much Open Time. Qen. Co. Joins Kinemacolor in Race for One-Nighters. The race o: fiiin manufacturers to take advantay of the season's scarcity of theatrical attractions throughout the country runs apace. The recent an- nouncement of Kinemacolor's capture of a long string of inland playhouses did not reveal an important ally equal- ly interested with Kin in a plan to fill the open time of empty theatres with film programs covering a whole even- ing's show. Behind Kin, and working with it, in the proposed ready relief for blank booking .sheets, is the General Film Co., with its ten producing companies. And working hand in hand with both is George W. Lederer. The connec- tion explains the latler's resignation from the Mutual, Oct. 1. With Lederer as the intelligence of the booking department, because of his familiarity with the approximate audience values of most of the show towns of the country, the General Film and Kin firms plan to sew up theatres everywhere to a General Film and Kin program at a weekly charge running as high as 1100. Through Lederer the theatres of the different circuits are being brought into a combination. The plan provides for the delivery to the theatres intact of their films, and descriptive matter and posters. Also the plan insures first runs and guarantees exclusive service. Manag- ers subscribing will have a voice in the selection of films making up their programs. Certain classes of pro- grams will be arranged and announced in advance. House managers will have shipped to them the selections 4esired. The plan already has 250 subscribers. Its eventual summary is expected to run to several thousands. The consolidated program, it is con- ceded, will go after the business now sought by the big feature films. Six, seven and eight-reel subjects will be stuck in as often as exhibitors in bulk desire. FOLLOWING WILLIAM COLLIER. John Mason in Augustus Thomas' play, "Indian Summer," is believed to be the next attraction scheduled to follow William Collier at the Criterion —and at no very distant date. J. J. GETS ♦'BATTLE CRY." Arthur Gillespie has closed with J. J. Rosenthal for the Anderson Gaiety Co. to produce "The Battle Cry of Free- dom," a two-act musical farce. The production may occur in New York and travel west. Gillespie is co- author of the book and lyrics, his col- laborator being Harold Ward, a young western newspaper man. The music is by a foreign composer. SHOWS SHIFTING ABOUT. The premiere of "Little Cafe," to have occurred at Atlantic City next Monday, has been postponed. Instead It opens a week from Monday and re- mains out of town until the comple- tion of the engagement of "Sweet- hearts" at the New Amsterdam. "Sweethearts" may be moved to a smaller theatre in New York. Two shows will leave New York Saturday night owing to lack of pay- ing patronage. They are "Rob Roy" at the Liberty, and "The Escape" at the Lyric. The Mizzi Hajos piece, "Her Little Highness," is shortly to appear at the Liberty. Saturday night "Believe Me Xan- tippe" will move from the 39th Street theatre to the Comedy. "Her Own Money," now at the latter house, will go to the Lyric, opening Oct. 5, for two weeks, after which (Oct. 20) "Fair Play" (the Christy Matthewson piece) will start on a run there. "At Bay/' the Chrystal Heme show, opens at the 39th Street Oct. 7, for its first New York showing. HART PUTTING ON "CARROTS." Joseph Hart has secured from Charles Frohman the rights for vau- deville of "Carrots," a one-act playlet presented by Ethel Barrymore several seasons ago as a curtain raiser. Hart will place Minnie Duprec in it. DOING THHKE-A-DAY Chicago, Oct. 1. Margaret Illington closed her en- Ragement at the (Olympic in "Within the Law" last Saturday. She played two matinees, one at 11 o'clock in the morning and the other at 2, and the house was sold out for all three per- formances. It is estimated the show (lid over $3,000 on the day. The piece was hooked in for eight WARFIELD BETTER THAN EVER. "Warfield is better than ever" was the verdict passed upon the perform- ance of David Warfield in the revival of "The Auctioneer" at the Belasco Tuesday night, by those who saw him in the original production ten years ago. Warficld's reception Tuesday even- ing was tumultous. He responded with a speech, and introduced David Belasco as "an old friend." DAVENPORT LEASED. The Davenport theatre in West 63d street has been leased by the People's Pulpit Association and International Bible Students' Association, and will be devoted to religious meetings, bibli- cal plays in moving pictures and re- ligious services. Butler Davenport was the original owner and builder, but the place got into financial difliculties before com- pletion and the plan to establish there a permanent stock company, headed by Mary Shaw, went by the board. '*HAMLET** SKIT PLEASES. (Special Cabl^o VARiorr.) Paris, Oct. 1. Another French version of "Hamlet" was produced al the Theatre Antoinc to-day (Oct. 1.), Mme. Suzanne Des- pres holding the title role. This tra- vesty pleased the critics. The public gave a good reception to it. Mme. Despres is younger, but does not equal Bernhardt in the part of the mournful prince. Mile. J. Fusier is a charming Ophelia. GABY SHOW PREPARED. The Gaby Deslys show may open at the Garrick, Chicago, Nov. 18. It will be called "The Little Parisienne," under which name Roy Attridge has written a new book and S. A. Romberg a new score from "Mme. Troubadore." Besides Gaby the company will in- clude Forrest Huff, Fritzi Von Dusey and Harry Pilcer. It is understood Attridge and Rom- berg are the authors of the piece which will succeed "The Pleasure Seekers" at the New York Winter Garden. "The Seekers" follows "The Passing Show" at that house around Election day. BERLIN *S SHOW AT XMAS. About Christmas time will see the new Charles B. Dillingham musical piece that will have the first produc- tion numbers Irving Berlin has writ- ten for that purpose. Mr. Berlin has already finished about six songs, while Harry B. Smith has sketched out the scenario. SOLD OUT IN TWO HOURS. Syracuse, N. Y., Oct. 1. The box office rack for the Maude Adams engagement here Friday was completely sold out within two hours after the sale opened. A special matinee will be given that day by Miss Adams. It will also be a sell out. "FROLICS" IS OFF. With the money going out and noth- ing coming in, the "Frolics of 1913" called all bets off in Pennsylvania last week. George J. Riddell was in McKeesport several days ahead when the news reached him. He had been ill and went to Roosevelt hospital, New York, for treatment. The show had been traveling under the joint management of Charles H. Burke and Lou Stark. It's real title was "The Frolics of 1913." Twenty people were on the payroll, hut no salaries were forthcoming when the company reached Corry, Pa., where the show disbanded. Some of the people were transported to Buffalo. DIDN^T BLUFF BELASCO. When David Belasco moved his Belasco theatre production, "A Tem- peramental Journey," to the Republic, Monday night, to make way for David Warfield in "The Auctioneer," the New York Theatrical Protective Union No. 1 sought to force Belasco to place a road crew with the show in addition to its regular house crew, say- mg that the transfer brought the play under the "road show" union agree- ment. The New York Local waited until moving time before showing its hand. The upshot was that not only Uelasco appeared on the scene in person, but the police reserves were called out to quell disorder in Times Square. Be- lasco had Philip Kelly and William £. Monroe, officials of No. 1, placed un- der arrest on a charge of disorderly conduct. The prisoners were paroled until Wednesday night, when the case was dismissed. The matter was amicably settled at that time, when Belasco's gen- eral manager, B. Roeder, met a com- mittee comprising Thomas Burke and John Ellis, representing No. 1; Har- old Williams, Local No. 35, and Clyde Spencer, who appeared for the I. A. J. S. E. (Spencer is in the adjusting de- partment of the Alliance.) The show- signed three men, carpenter, electri- cian and property master, who are now working with the regular Republic house crew. Messrs. Kelly and Monroe, in mak- ing a street scene and forcing the mat- ter into court, did not arouse any out- side sympathy, and it is conceded that the union should have used different methods in handling the matter. The whole affair could have easily been averted. While the trouble gave the removal first page attention of the dailies, it also gave the union some unpleasant publicity. Mr. Belasco de- clared his intention to press his charge against the men arrested at first. Theatrical managers who agreed with the I. A. T. S. E. in July on a settlement of the then pending differ- ences are wondering why the union is holding back the ratification of that agreement, obtained by a referendum vote of its locals. The vote was com- pleted a month ago. Nothing bearing on the exact situa- tion of the Belasco matter is in the new agreement. At the most the union could only have claimed that the pro- ducer should put on another crew af- ter "The Temperamental Journey" had been at the Republic for four weeks, and that would not have held water in this case. Not all of the crew walked out on the order, and the show was given, opening 15 minutes late. NEW PIECE FAIR. (Special Cable to Varibtt.) Paris, Oct. 1. A new piece l)y Romain CiooUis, in- titlcd "Les Roses Rouges," was pro- duced at the Theatre de la Renaissance, Sept. 30. It did only fairly. Undra- nistic but nicely written. Cora Laparcerie - Richepin, Cccile Guyon. Huguette, Daslry, Messrs. Du- mcny,- Jean Worms and Arquillirro. hold the principal roles.