The New York Clipper (April 1916)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER April IS PERFORMERS REALIZE "SURVIVAL OF V.-N.U|.A.HOLD FITTEST" IN STRICT SENSE. M ^™ G * WILL RETAIN PRESENT BOOKINGS. NOTEWORTHY ACTIVITY IN SECURING IMPROVED MATERIAL-APPLICATION OF INTELLIGENT AND FAR SIGHTED BUSINESS METHODS APPARENT. MOVEMENT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF PROFESSION AT LARGE. Through the maze of campaign literature, whis- pered conferences, discussions, arguments, state- ments and what not relative to the alleged differ- ences existing between actors and managers, beams a shaft of light from behind the murky and In- harmonious clouds of discord. At last it is apparent that many performers have awakened to the realization that their inter- ests have suffered to some extent from the laxity of the actor in providing himself with a market- able product each season in the form of an "up-to- the-minute" offering. Offerings which, had they been kept up to the standard of quality demanded by managers and public alike, would hate insured consecutive book- ings for the performer and lined his pockets with the elusive coin of the realm. Dae possibly to the exigencies of the occasion or worthy ambition, the majority of members in the profession have lately shown a decided ten- dency to arouse themselves from the lethargy present In the past, and have decided that intelli- gence ia the fundamental basis for a path leading "ont of the wilderness" of controversies, disap- pointments and lean pockerbooks. In other words, the performer who has bad difficulty in securing bookings has begun to "look into his own mirror," and the reflection therein baa caused him wonder whether or not he has been at fault. Those who hare communed with themselves calmly have found the answer and solved the problem that many of their brother performers have ignored. As a result, the Intelligent actor has seen the handwriting; on the wall for material thet is oosae and for performers who are unprogicsslve. As an example of the ambitions Interest bring displayed by many In the profession « submit the case of a well known vaodevtlllan. For years he had enjoyed the fruits of con- secutive bookings. The season before last he was shunted to smaller circuits and found bookings very slow. Believing his agent at fault, he se- cured a new one. Under the guidance of the new agent he fared badly. Angry and dlscourngd, he sought to do business direct, and the result* were painful. Rear in mind that his act was "going over as usual," and on the surface nothing wrong wad apparent. A friend suggested that be secure u new vehicle. In desperation be did so, and bis new offering, being a novel one, was at once sought by agents and managers, and in conse- quence he Is at present going smoothly and hap- pily along In possession of good contracts. That he is not alone is attested by the fact that of late hundreds and hundreds have followed his example, proving that the actor is gradually be- coming aware that to be successful in his chosen field he must be up to date, and all the strikes In the universe cannot help him If his "act" is behind the times. OPENING OF PIEDMONT. This beautiful little picture playhouse -opened April 3 afternoon. People stood in line to the street at two o'clock, and more continued to nil In all the evening. Manager Ralph De Bruler had arranged a lavish bill. Program changes Wednes- day and Friday. Prices are ten and twenty cents. The theatre contains one thousand one hundred seats, a pipe organ and a good orchestra. The the- atre Is topped with a beautiful green and gold electric winking sign surrounded by large stars of same color, all winking at different times. The theatre Is leased to Mion Brothers. MULLEN and COOGAN, In vaudeville. Lynchburg, Va., April 8.—At a meeting of the Virginia-North Carolina Theatrical Managers' As- sociation here this week, called at the request of Gus Sun, a proposition, made by the Springfield agency was accepted for a period of six weeks, and (ablotd musical comedies will be given a trial dur- ing this length of time, commencing April 24. The association has been booked heretofore by the Greenwood Theatrical Agency, and when the matter of making a change was put to a vote, two managers Indicated their desire to retain the present service, James F. Jackson, of Lynchburg, and M. H. Bohmers, of Danville, favoring Green- wood. Before II. H. Neer, representing the Sun Agency, was presented to the meeting, the man- agers discussed among themselves the conditions now prevailing under the arrangement by which they are now securing musical shows. They took a decided stand against tolerating attractions which permit the use of smut and suggestiveness. R. D. craver, of Charlotte, N. C, announced that he would rather cancel his Mil and close up his theatre with a sign outside explaining that the bouse was "dark" on account of an inferior show, than to allow the attraction to finish out the week. Eleven theatres were represented. Another meet- ing of the asoclation will be held In Lynchburg, on June 13, to take definite action as to what service will be adopted by the circuit. The following man- agers were present at the meeting: A. T. Orall, Newport News; Sterling Smith, Winston-Salem; R. D. Craver, Charlotte, N. C.; L. Q. Schofield, Greensboro, N. C.; M. II. Sohmers, Danville; S. U Jolliffee, Bluefleld, W. Va.; James F. Jackson and Ollle A. Savin, of Lynchburg. THREE HOUSES CLOSED. The Wadsworth Theatre, One Hundred and Eighty-first Street and Wadsworth Avenue, New York, closed as a vaudeville house Wednesday, April 5. The house was taken over by the Wads- worth Motion Picture Co. from Edward Ornsteln, who had run successful stock there. Ornsteln saw a big profit in rent and let the above people have the house. The house only having nine hun- dred seats, it would not pay for vaudeville at popular prices. In the same neighborhood, a few blocks away, two picture houses closed their doors, the Classic and St Nick. m ' • HIT BY TAXI ON BROADWAY. Shirley Thome, a vaudeville actress, was struck by on automobile owned by the Cadillac Taxi Co., one day last week, on the earner of Broadway and Forty-seventh Street, New York. She was hurried to the Polyclinic Hospital, where it was discovered that she had sustained Injuries to her hand and back. W. E. "WHITTLE, In his new act, "A Summer Morning in Central Park." THEATRE TO BE EXTENDED. The plans for the construction of a new theatre building as an extension of the present B. F. Keith's Theatre Building, Cincinnati, O., have been submitted to the United Theatre Co. officials. The building is to be of four stories, of white stone, and the estimated cost of construction will be $100,000, »» AT "OLD CHESTER. TWO NEW MAGNETS AT CINCINNATI'S AMUSEMENT PARK. Superintendent Tom Loarlng, of Cincinnati's Chester Park, is already on the Job getting ready for "First Look Day," April 23. Two new attrac- tions are almost ready for dedication, viz.: "The Whip" and ••The Tango Girl." The regular season starts the middle of May. ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED HOLDUP. John Ryan, of 145 West Sixty-second Street, New York, was arrested last week in Central Park, New York, charged with holding up Edwin Horan. nn actor, of 128 Adelphl Street, Brooklyn. PLAYING VAUDEVILLE. The Majestic Theatre, Moose Jaw, Can., will change Its policy, and will be known as the Sncr man Theatre. Associated vaudeville will occupj the house, split weeks. • MASTER GABRIEL, Feature HcadUncr on Loew Circuit.