The New York Clipper (June 1916)

Y THE NEW YORK CLIPPER June 3 HIGH TAX ON ENGLISH AMUSEMENTS FORCES MANY THEATRES TO CLOSE. WORKING CLASS UNABLE TO PAT ADDITIONAL COST FOR ENTERTAINMENT. Lundo.v, Eng.—Theatrical conditions in London and vicinity are not in a healthful condition at the present time, doe to the war tax on ail amusements. The recent measure passed by Parliament has caused many movie and variety theatres to clos; their doors owing to a falling off In patronage. iThe loss ol patronage is attributed to the in- creased taxation of ten. per cent. The cheaper grade of bosses feeling that they could not stand the extra burden, raised their prices, only to have the public fall to respond. This state of affairs exists mostly among the poorer districts in houses that cater to the working class. Other theatres have felt the Increased taxation, bnt, due to the high class patronage that could afford to pay high prices; have not suffered a big loss- Many of the most prominent members of the profession have enlisted to serve their country, ■with the result that the standard of variety at- tractions has dropped considerably and the public Is not supporting the theatres. < l > INCORPORATE NEW COMPANY. Lotjisvtxlb, Ky„ May 27.—Articles of Incor- poration were filed to-day with the County Clerk by the Macauley Property Company, for the pur- pose of purchasing, holding and leasing- property. The company Is organized with a capital stock of 121,200, and a debt limit of $20,000. The Incorporators are Mrs, Anna T. Macauley, widow of the late Col. John T. Macauley, owner and proprietor of Macauley'a Theatre; her daugh- ter, Mrs. Richard Blgelow, and) Albert Bigelow. Par value of the property company shares is 1100 each. ■ ' » DRANE SELECTED FOR LINCOLN. Sam Draae who portrayed the role of Mutt la the original east of "Mutt and Jeff." has been •elected out of a dozen candidates to impersonate the character of Abraham Lincoln in a forthcom- ing Sellg motion picture entitled "The Crisis," an adaptation of the novel by Winston Churchill. The picture will be in twelve reels. <■» M. P. ACTRESS HURT IN AUTO WRECK. Los Asraszxs, May 27.— As a result of an an to- mobile truck containing twenty-five motion picture players plunging over an embankment at Chats- worth, Cal., Mrs. Ira Margaret Shoonmaker sus- tained serious Injuries, and Is now In the Good Samaritan Hospital. Twenty-two others of the party received minor Injuries. In the car following the track was Llanne Carrera, daughter of Anna Held. All are con- nected with the American Film Co- Chicago Grand Opera Company, also sailed. Be said be had signed a contract with Charles A Ellis, the concert manager, for a three weeks' operatic tour of Middle West cities in October, in the company will" be Geraldlne Farrar, Luclen Muratore, Emmy Destinn and Mme. Homer. Cam- pania! has signed Mary Garden for the Chicago Opera Company next season. **• JULIA MARLOWE AT WAR BENEFIT. The benefit arranged by Julia. Marlowe, in. aid of the crippled French soldiers, was held at the Shnbert Theatre, Friday afternoon, May 28. The affair was a huge success, both financially and artis- tically. Among those who appeared were: Sir Herbert Tree. E. H. Sothern, Mrs. Langtry, Mrs. Vernon Castle, Elizabeth Murray, Julia Marlowe, and a host of others. ♦ « > TABARIN GIRLS CLOSUfG. The Tabarln Girls, musical comedy company, closed its season May 27, at Salisbury. N. C, after being out thirty weeks without a lay off. Dave Newman and same of the girls are bound for New York, Bins Cushman goes to Chicago, and Chas, Lewis to Washington, D. C. • • » GATTI-CASAZZA SAILS. On Bailing for Europe May 27 on the French liner Lafayette, Mr. Gattl-Casasxa, of the Metro- politan Opera House, said he did not think toe war will interfere with his plans for securing artists for next season. After a trip to Paris and Milan, he will return here in September. Cleofonte Campanial, general manager of tho SOTHERN'S FAREWELL OB Saturday evening, May 27, standing before the curtain bearing their monograms, which had been used by them for their Shakespearean en- gagements, E. H. Sothern and his wife, Julia Mar- lowe, bid their flnal adieu to their audiences and to the professional stage, after the performance of "If I Were King." A representative audience had gathered for the occasion, many having paid fancy prices for seats, and a great many others being contented with standing room. Many floral pieces and messages of regret were received by Mr. Sothern. Miss Marlowe was in a vtage box, which was decorated with flowers. At the close of the third act Mr. Sothern was obliged to request tbat the audience would wait for their remarks after the performance. The engagement of Mr. Sothern, which brought his professional career to a close, was marked with an admirable routine of charity contributions on his part, the entire receipts for the four weeks having been donated to charitable institutions. The Actors Fund received $19,000 for the first two weeks* donation, the Fund for English Actors *4,300, the English Bed Cross $5,000, and a spe- cial matinee for disabled French soldiers netted $3,000. Miss Marlowe stepped on the stage after the performance and remained seated while Mr. Sothern read his farewell speech and then led Mrs. Sothern to the footlights, where she recited two of Shakespeare's sonnets. In response to the terrific applause she encored with a dramatic recital of "The Star Spangled Banner" for a new riot of applause and cheers, A great many of their friends then took part in the reception on the stage. Mr. Sothern in his speech said In part: "It is said that when the heart Is full the tongue speaks, but It will be difficult for me, with a heart overflowing with gratitude, to find words. When for thirty-seven years a man has followed a calling he loves in a community, intelligent, tolerant, dis- criminating, eager and appreciative, and has bad the extreme good fortune to secure and retain favor for his labor during an those years, there is little more he can demand of the gods. "For my part, I have had a fine time. I have :oved the theatre, and from -the first sought no re- TOid other than the joy of my work. I as sure that with Miss Marlowe It has bees the same. All other considerations have been secondary. To be allowed to act the great parts, to experience the exaltation of the greatest poet's greatest creations, this has been the goal of each of us. To have n*a that privilege, and to have won some favor In the effort, this has been pufflclent reward. "There is, alas, a difference between aspiration and achievement. One only approximates one's own standard, and we ail fall short of our best desire. But, as Miss Marlowe and I stand here to-night and grasp your hands across the foot- lights, wo feel that we have fought with enthu- siasm In a noble causa—that we have held fast to our dear wish to Interpret humbly the noblest drama the world has seen. "We have one regret—that circumstances have not permitted us to say good-bye In some of those Shakespearean plays In which we have for twelve years sought favor. Bat since that satisfaction Is denied us, I am grateful that my last word wiF be spoken in Mr. McCarthy's charming romance, and my wife Is happy that In restored strength ehe stands here with an overflowing heart to bow her thanks. "Thanks to those few who in her earlier years saw the promise of future accomplishment, and to those many who In later days have strengthened her with applause, counsel, criticism and praise. New York is full of affectionate memories tor both of us. Here I made my first appearance on any stage, with my father, at Abbey's Park Theatre. Here, at the Bijou, my wife first appeared as Par- thenla, and made her first success. Here, under Charles Frohmaa's generous management, we joined forces In our Shakespeare adventure, and here, our work dose, we stand at last to say fare- well. "Bat this retirement of ours is not leading to Inglorious ease. The gods will find some service still for Idle hands to do, and in this greatest tragedy the world has seen, we all must take some part. Wherever our home in England may be, there will be work to do, and I shall even hope that whatever skill I have acquired in your service may enable me to help those in need, as I have been glad to do during tbese last appear- ances. A sympathetic cause will always appeal— and I shall hope to be an instrument in such service. "To this country our debt for sympathy, en- couragement and recognition Is so great that our memories and affections wild always bo centered here. Here I was bom—-In, New Orleans; here was my father naturalized an American citizen, in recognition of his obligations to the land which gave him opportunity and success, and here have both Miss Marlowe and myself striven, suffered and prevailed. "In America I see a new day dawning for the highest drama. Otto Kahn Is the prophet of this new day. In the light of my own experience, I have advocated for years the municipal theatre. The great power of the theatre should no longer be left to chance. Its Influence should. In each community, be directed and helped by that com- munity. My parting wish is that we may soon see the plays of Shakespeare being presented to the plain people at a nominal price. As we have free libraries and free music, so may we have the best plays by the best actors at a nominal fee. It can be done. It should be done, and it can be made to pay. I "No actor, in the present condition of the the- atre, can afford to produce these plays. No man- ager can be expected to pilot a Shakespearean hope- ful through inevitable failure to success. But peo- ple, your people want these plays. They love them. They understand them In spite of Hie critics and the wise men. Do this thing and the millennium Is at hand. "And now, ladles and gentlemen—good-bye. We who have had to win your affections for so many years have fallen, of necessity, Into our own snore, end in tendering our gratitude we tell you of our love.' For so many moons of appreciation, of help, of solace and applause, we thank you with grate- ful and oversowing hearts." «»» - CANARY COTTAGE" A DECIDED HIT. The following from The Zoa 'Angeles Datt'j Timet speaks for itself: "This latest Morosco musical comedy production had a reception of brilliance at the Mason last night, and promises to break all records this sea- son for business In any one week. Los Angeles has seldom favored any attraction with an audi- ence of such quality as that which langhed through the ton of this most excellent musical farce. "Earl Carroll has given us better music and more delectable lyrics than In bis recent success. 'So Long, Letty.' The music has a more definite motif, and while the thread of melody is less easy to master, It Is certain to catch the' public ear. It is more ambitious than in 'So Long, Letty,* yet not too difficult to strike a popular chord Mr. Carroll proves In this musical comedy tbat the success of bis former work was no acci- dent. He has repeated it immediately and has done better than before. There are few young men in America in any line who offer richer promise. If Mr. Morosco found Carroll, then be is some discoverer.** LEW FIELDS, IN "STEP TUB WAY." The new musical comedy, in two acts, adapted from "The Girl Behind the Counter." with book by Ed-tar Smith and music by E. Bay Goetz and Bert Grant, was announced for production at the Shubert, New York, May 29, afer Its initial per- formances last week at AUanic City, N. J. It will be fully reviewed In our next Issue < »» FOR "THE YANKEE VU1SCK." Yea Jeane will sing the prima donna role In "The Yankee Prince" at the Brighton Beach Music Hall, opening June 10. Others in the cast will be Dorothy Wright and Dave Mallen.