Variety (December 1919)

LEGITIMATE. WM X V ■ V '■*:- <• : .?:■'•.■ ■ .-■-. ■ SHOWS IN PHILLY. ^ Philadelphia, Dec $. After the big cleanup of Thanksgiving week, which brought large profits to the bankrolls of managers and producers, it was expected that there might be quite a letup in business in the legiti- mate houses, but the week opened very promisingly, and while there was a slight falling Oft! in several of the houses, it was nothing to talk about. ! All the theatres gave special matinees on Thanksgiving Day and boosted their tunings all the way from between $6,000 "Mind $8,000 on tho day. This, of course, was the result of the boosting of prices for lower floor seats, which went up to $3.60 and war tax at two or three of the shows. It was estimated that the holi- day, despite the counter-attraction of the Penn-Cornell football game, which brought thousands to the city,,added close to $100,000 to the daily business. It was reported that "Monte Cristo" got around $8,000 on the day at the Shubert, while the Cawthorn-Sanderson piece, "The Canary," at the Forrest pulled in ■very close to that figure. Frank Tlnney did more than $7,600 on .the day, with "Come Time" at the Chestnut Street opera house, and "A Prince There Was" got around $6,000 at the Garrick, The Broad with "Daddies," is getting a heavy play, and with about $6,000 on Thanks- giving Day did around $26,000 on the "WGfik Lew Fields in "A Lonely Romeo" had a fine start at the Lyric this week and the show made a very good Impression. It will be shifted to the Shubert next II week when "Monte Cristo" leaves and -V Bertha Kalicli in "The Riddle Woman" Bjjfe cjmes in. "Tea for Three" is doing fine bv rness at the Adelpbi and caught its W share of the holiday week rush with mi. an extra $6,600. "Oh, My Dear," suc- gj& ceeds the Tlnney- show, which ends a S-M very successful run at the Chestnut M" Street opera house. El?;" "The - Old Homestead" is repeating its lip good business of earlier in the season at m tho Walnut. "My Honolulu Girl" comes vv r next week. 'Sunrise," the rewritten Willard Mack g§* piece, formerly called "The Logic of »£ Lfirry,* is doing fair business at the Little theatre. , SHUBERT RESIGNATIONS. ; ' 'Sidney H. Brodle resigned from the Shubert offices this week and steps out as a New York house and company man- ager, Saturday, after being.with the firm for six years. During that time he had handled many of the Shubert string of theatres on Broadway, as well as at- tractions, and is considered one of the 'i best and most skillful house managers along the Rialto. The withdrawal resulted from a mix- £;.. up, the result of new regulations recent- fj&jx. ly Provided for. Shubert houses. It also *V caused the elimination of Ben Mallam, known as the Shubert's private detec- tive, who Is credited with having in- ;';'■. augurated the' new regulations. Ac- V; cording to reports Mallam sent in his resignation. pvi'.' B r °die has received several offers for mi similar berths with two other producing £M ' flrmsv :.•' ■ ■ <%;■ . W$ Charles J. Rich Back to Hollia. Boston, Dec. 8. Charles J. Rich has recovered from Sp£. the' serious accident which befel him :.'"•.■ some weeks ago. He will not be con- nected with the Colonial here after this 1$t' season, as the new lessors, Erlanger, -."' Dillingham & Ziegfeld, take possession It •;/then. : •' £L, / Rich will confine his activities to tho J. Hollis. He is not* Interested In the v Tremont, another Erlanger house. &.:■■ Dunn Leaving Marc Klaw. "- Henry K. Dunn, now. serving Maro Klaw as private secretary, is going over to William Fox, as the latter's confi- dential secretary. His resignation takes effect Dec. 16. DULTJTH'S THEATRICAL HAP. Dulutb, Dec I. Changes -in the theatrical line-up in* Duluth are taking place almost daily. Following the sale of the Rex and Lyric, pictures, by Thomas Furnlss to Hamm, Ruben & Flnkelstein of Minneapolis. It was believed that Mr. Furnlss would retire from business, at least tor some time. Duluth was surprised to hear the vet- eran had purchased four iota above the Rex theatre, fronting on First street and Third avenue West, for $180,000. No- announcement has been made as yet as to Mr. Furnlss' plans, but it Is believed he will return to theatricals. The purchase of the. Lyceum Is be- lieved merely a speculation, as the sum paid on the contract if said to have been small. Reports 'thai the Orpheum -will seek new quarters when its current lease ex- pires are heard dally. It Is also said that offers have been made on property for a new site on Lake avenue and Su- perior street, a site much more desirable than the present one. Hamm, Ruben & Flnkelstein are re- ported dickering for picture houses In ' Superior, Wis. , •• ' ;\ SHOWS IN SAN FRANCISCO. Alcazar.—"Polly with a Past" (Alca- zar Stock Co.), with Belle Bennett and Walter Richardson. Casino.—Will King Co. (twenty- eighth week) and A-H A W. "V. A. vaudeville. Currant-William Courtenay la "Civ- ilian Clothes" (first week). Colombia*—"A Tailor Made Man" (second week). Majestic—"Ten Nights in a- Bar- room" (Majestic Stock Co.). Maitland Playhouse—One-act play- lets. Princess.—Bert Levey vaudeville. Savoy.—Crossman's Yiddish Players. Wigwam.—A-H ft W. V. A. vaude- ville. PROVIDENCE'S NEW UNION. Providence, R. I., Dee. t.' Providence has a new union of theat- rical-employes affiliated with the Amer- ican Federation of Labor and with, a membership of 286 persons, men and women. Ushers, ticket sellers and takers, porters, police and firemen and all classes of theatrical employes except stage mechanics and picture operators, organized last Sunday, Local 17,169. Theatrical Employes. •The A. F. of L. charter was granted as the result of efforts on the part of State Organizer Joseph Gray. The new union will have delegates both to the State Branch. A. F. of L. and the Provi- dence Central Federation Union. No demands for higher wager or shorter hours have yet been made but it Is anticipated action tending toward these" may come at any time, now that an organization has been perfected. SPECS NOT IN ON "APHRODITE." The opening of "Aphrodite" which started a; the Century Monday, it is claimed, I- one of the very few premieres which ticket speculators failed to se- cure tickets. It is figured that the first night reached a gros- of over $20,000 which is about 20 per cent, more than first an- nounced. ' - Suit for Damages Against Frohman. George Arliss and George C. Tyler have filed suit in the Supreme Court' to recover $4,376 damages from Chas. Froh- man, Inc., alleging the amount to\be the sum they were overcharged by the de- fendant corporation in obtaining the rights for the production of the play. •The Mollusk," by Edgar William Davlee, a British playwright. The plaintiffs charge in the complaint that their takings during the show's 20 weeks' run last winter totaled $146.- 650, with Jan. 20, 1919, the best week to the extent of $12,413 gross for the six days. CHANCE FOR UNDERSTUDIES, Cincinnati, Dec. 2. Owing to the sudden illness of .Mabel House, Sybil Fooshee was given her role In the "Rainbow Girl" at the Grand, and made good. Edna Hetler, who did .ft dancing specialty with Miss House, would hot go on, because she wanted to be at the bedside of her pal, and this gave "Johnnie" Jordan an opportunity to trip into the other part. The two understudies were notified at noon, hopped into a brief rehearsal and gave a faultless performance at theatre time. "Just a Minute" Put Away. Mabel Withee, from "Just a Minute," Joined "Flo Flo" in Pittsburgh this week. "Just a Minute" went to the store- resume his position as manager of Zleg- house. .•.••'• Xeld's "Follies." Rosenbaum Returns to "Follies." Boston, Dec. 8. Edward B. ("Pop") Rosenbaum, tenv porarlly the manager of the George W.' Lederer "An^el Face," left Saturday to CO-STARS IN "ROXY." \ Announcement is made that Lola Fisher and Snimet Corrigan are to be co-stars in a new play by Clare Kuzner called "Roxy." The central character, Roxana, is a part specially built around Miss Fisher, and the piece is headed for Chicago, opening at the Blacks tone Dec. 9. The show was put on by W. H. Gil- more, while George C. Tyler is its pro- ducer, making the seventh for him this season. "Roxy" follows George Arliss into the Blackstone, the latter going off tour. "MAYTIME" IN NEW ORLEANS. New Orleans. Dec. 8. "Maytime" opened at the Tulane, Sun- day and is a good show for the road though the present cast Is not approach- ing the original company. It has, how- ever, been appearing around this terri- tory to capacity, and had an overflow opening here. John Hayes' voice got all the attention and he has been widely noted in the show's tour of the southern cities. Alex CarVa Eyes Injured. -It was reportefl early in-the week that, owing, to an accident Alexander' Carr had suffered an injury to his eye that at first threatened his sight. FLORA COURTENAY A charming little Engllxh nelresR who played the part of Blanny In "Fair »n.l Warmer" st the Prince of WalM Thwitre, London, and who la Boon to Visit Ani'-rlca STOCKS OPENING. Bookings for the Pay ton Players, Cleveland, O., include Lillian Stuart, second business; .Elizabeth Rathburn, characters; Ted Brackett, Mabel Buell and Eddfe Sorghan. — Joseph Pay ton, a brother of Corse Pay ton, Is manager and director of a group of stock players bearing his name which opened its season at the Prospect, Cleveland, this week, replacing the Prospect Players there. Marie Daniels and Selmar Jackson are heading the company, John Blake and Olga Hanson, respectively, taking care of the juvenile and ingenue roies. Charles E. and Harry. Clay Blaney ex- pect to open a dozen stock companies at the various summer resorts and wa- tering places adjacent to New York. Light comedies and farces will be pre- sented. SHOWS IN LOS ANGELES. ' -^ Los Angeles, Dec. S. May Robson is appearing in "Tish" at the-Mason. The Majestic stock Is giving "A* and Opportunity." "Civilian Clothes" continues at the Morosco. , "Woman," a Maurice Tou'rneur film production, is being shown with the promise of big business for two weeksr- SHOWS CLOSING. "Watch Your Step," Columbus, Neb., Deo. 6. "THE BIG SHOW." . ;\ Elsie Janis has written her experi- ences "Over There." Miss Janis spent almost a year with the American troops at the front and also made several short excursions to a number of British sectors. It was Miss Jai.iB' mission to be "merry and bright" The illustrations would indicate she obeyed orders to the letter. The book is in the form of a diary and is written In a breezy and thoroughly Interesting manner. * It is published by the Metropolitan Book Corp. REVIVING "BUSTER BROWN." Wm. and Ed.' Lamar, brothers of the late Al Lamar (Lamar and Gabriel) are; staging a revival of "Buster Brown." The piece has been booked over the K. & E. one-nighters, with several week strnds routed. Opening has been set for Easton, Pa., Dec. 20. "Buster" wt.» originally produced as a vaudeville act uid lengthened Into a play 18 years ago. It played con- tinuously for 1£ years. ' "CARNIVAL" AT THE SHUBERT. It is practically assured that Godfrey Tearle in "Carnival" will come into the Shubert theatre Christmas week. The piece opens at the "Shubert-Belasco on Dec. 14 and comes here Dec. 22. Featured in the supporting cast are A. E. tfnson and Mary Malone. BIG BU8INE8S IN PITTSBURGH. Three musical shows were In Pitts- burgh last week and all are reported to have done a good business. Mclntyre and Heath were at the Pitt theatre; Monte Cristo, Jr., at the Alvin, and Raymond Hitchcock with his "Hitchy- Koo of 1919" at the Nixon theatre. The Mclntyre and Heath show is re- ported as having done a gross of $21,000 on the week. CRITICISM. ELSIE JANIS AMD HER GANG. A revuo in two acta and eight acenea. Book fey Elalo Janis, mualo by Mlua Janis, William Kernel), Richard Fechhelmer, C. B. HiUlara. At tho George If. Cohan, Deo. 1. Tou Will have a wonderful time with "Elele Janis and Her Gang."— Times* Elsie Janis and "Hor Gang" of twenty e»- aervlce men and atz girls Btormed the George M. Cohan In • "bomb-proof revue" and •merged In the fashion of the A. E. F.—vic- torious.— World. APHRODITE. A spectacular play In three .acts and seven scenes, based upon the novel by Pierre Fron- dale and George C. Hazleton, musio by Henry Pevrler and Anselm Coots!. At tho Century, Dec. 1. "Aphrodite" Is a colorful, even magnificent spectacle, and as such will -make Its greatest appeal.—rimes. It was when the spectacle was appealing ex- clusively to tho eye that it beBt Justified Itself. When there was recourse to the spoken text— and there seemed to be limitless text—the in- terest lagged.— World. ENGAGEMENTS. Lucille Martini, soubret for Furnutn's Caba- ret, Albany. (Roehm A ltlchards.) William Fitzslmmons, "Iluclflng Tl,c Tiger. 1 * <#iKQd Nagi'l, '-'Opportuiillj," Willlnin A. Brudy. ■ - I ' ;■•'.' ■ .' ! i ■"-;.:._ . 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