The New York Clipper (January 1917)

Copyright, 1917, by the Clipper Corporation. Founded by FRANK QCTEF.N. 18S3 NEW YORK, JANUARY 3, 1917 VOLUME LXIV—No. Price, Ten Ctnti BRADY HEADS CO. TO BUT GARDEN RINGLING AND WEBER IN DEAL There ia a well defined report, which, in the absence of most of the principals could not be verified, that William A. Brady, L. Lawrence Weber and the Ring- ling Brothers are to head a syndicate which will purchase Madison Square Garden and continue it as New York's biggest amusement resort. It is well known that the Ringlings have a strong desire to have this big resort continued, as it ia the only place in the city- in which a big circus can be given. Its demolishment would - mean that it would probably be many a year before the Barnum & Bailey Circus would be seen in the city limits and this, from the view- point of these circus kings, would be a catastrophe. Mr. Brady has always been an admirer of exponents of the manly art and in his time -has managed some of the biggest events ever pulled off In the squared circle. It is knows that both he and Mr. Weber would not be averse to directing high class fistic exhibitions-and thus be- tween the circus and boxing the gentle- men mentioned see a way of making, a paying enterprise out of the Garden for part of the year. Then there is the horse show, which can only be held, in this resort, as well as food, automobile, poultry, motor boat and other big shows and sporting contests. Edward L Devlin, controller of the New York Life Insurance Co., present owner of the building, when seen would not dis- cuss the report and Mr. Weber would neither affirm nor deny it. RAYMOND LEAVES HOSPITAL Joe Raymond, the vaudeville agent who has been under the care of Dr. Gregory at Bellevue, was discharged from that in- stitution last Saturday and turned over to friends who will make arrangements to have him placed in a private institution. COCOANUT GROVE OPENING SET January 15 is now given as the definite date of the opening of the Cocoanut Grove at the Century. RUSH HOUSE NAMED VANDERBTLT The new theatre which Edward F. Rush is building on West 48th Street is to b« called the VanderbBt. JOHN RAFTERY PRODUCING John -fraitery, globe trotter, painter, litterateur, music critic and theatrical pro- ducer, has again decided to try his fortunes in-the theatrical field and has begun the re- hearsing of a new play, entitled "The Vic- tim,", with Oliver Bailey as an associate. After about three weeks, the piece will take up the latest sport of looking for a Broad-, way theatre. . "STUFFY" DAVIS IMPROVING . Glenmour (Stuffy) Davis, who has been confined in Bellevue hospital as the result of a stroke of paralysis, is improving slowly and probably will be able to leave the institution within a month. Several of Davis' theatrical friends called upon him New Year's day. KEITH OPENS NEW HOUSE Dayton, O., Jan. 1.—B. F. Keith has re- opened the Strand Theatre here as a first- class picture house. The Strand was de- stroyed by fire about a year ago and has been completely rebuilt by the Keith in- terests. The house has a seating capacity of 1,400. FLORENCE PARKER ACT CANCELS The act of Florence Parker, billed as the American prima donna, with Lew Pollack at the piano, was cancelled last week at the Eighty-first St. Theatre on account of Miss Parker's illness. Frank Morrell, is blackface, was substituted. BUOU FERNANDEZ ILL Bijou Fernandez is confined to her home with the grip. She contracted a cold while trimming the trees for the children's cele- bration at the Cohan Theatre last Sunday. PHILIP KLEIN ON WAY HERE - Philip Klein, son of the late Charles Klein, is on bis way to New York from Eng- land on the Steamer St. Paul. In London Klein is A. H. Wood's representative. MOROSCO HOUSE OPENING SET Taking all possible delays into considera- tion, Oliver Morosco bas decided that February 5th will be the date on which his new theatre, to be called the Morosco, will open, with "Canary Cottage," now on the road as the attraction. BLAIR AHEAD OF FOX PICTURE Samuel Blair has gone on a trip in the South in the interests of the Annette Kellermann picture, "A Daughter of the Gods." NANCY BOYER SHOW HALTED Hobneix, N. Y., Dec 27.—The Nancy Boyer Co. missed the matinee today, owing to the baggage car not arriving in time to jrive a show. The house was sold out and money had to be refunded. . ;.'.'.*• RATS FAIL TO STRIKE, AS RUMORED MANAGERS HAD ACTS READY The White Rat strike against theatres that are members of the Vaudeville Man- agers' Protective Association which was scheduled, according to statements made at the Rat headquarters, to take place on New Year's day, did not materialize. Theatre managers throughout the coun- try, however, were alert to the situation, and fortified themselves with double bills to meet any such contingency. From Thursday of last week on, acts were being dispatched to Boston, Hartford, Buffalo and Atlanta by the managers, to await further instructions. At the New York headquarters of the Rats, little information could be obtained as to the situation. Mountford is still in Chicago while Fitx- Patrick is said to be in Connecticut. He was in New Haven last Saturday and left there for Waterbury to spend New Year's. It was believed, according to rumors circulated along Broadway Monday, that Fitzpatrick's presence in that section might signify the intention of the White Rats calling a strike on the Poll Circuit. There have been a number of White Rats agitators playing on bills in the vicinity of New York "who, during the past week, have been trying to agitate a strike among performers on the bill. Word was con- veyed by the house managers to V. M. P. A., headquarters and a representative of the association was immediately dis- patched to the place, where he im- mediately got rid of the troublemakers on the bill by cancelling them. CHICAGO SITUATION QUIET Chicago, Jan. 1.—Trouble in the form of a strike of White Rat actors was ex- pected here today, but did not materialize, although preparations were made by the United Booking offices to combat the Mountford adherents. It bad been said that the Great Northern show would be stopped, but aa the day wore on the report was.proved to be false. NO TROUBLE IN BOSTON Boston, Jan. 1.—Although trouble had been expected here between the White Rats and the theatre managers today, nothing developed. At the local headquarters of the Rats it was said that word was being awaited from Mountford in Chicago, and would have to be forwarded by him before the walkout could take place. —BENWAY JOINS O'BRIEN A. P. (Happy) Ben way has signed up for the balance of the season with Neil O'Brien's Minstrels, opening at Newport News, Va. LOUISE HARRIS ILL Springfield, O., Dec. 30.—Louise Har- ris, one of the cast of "The Blue Paradise," is seriously ill in the City Hospital, suffer- ing with rheumatism. BARNUM ENGAGES PHYSICIAN Dr. Robert L. Keith, of Seattle, Wash., has been engaged as the physician for the Barnum & Bailey circus next season. NORA BAYES TO TOUR Nora BayeB will add three vaudeville acts to her show and go on tour under the direction of Dan Slattery, the latter part of this month, opening in Chicago. REHEARSE "MY HERO" "My Hero," the new George M. Ander- son piece, goes into rehearsal at the Long- acre Theatre this morning. In the cast are Carter De Haven, Leona Thurber and Will Danforth. C. * H. HAVE NEW PLAY Cohan and Harris are to produce a new play entitled "A Tailor-Made Man," a comedy by Harry James Smith, from the German of Gabriel Doelger. Grant Mit- chell will create the more important role. FORMER MINSTREL DIES Joplis, Mo., Jan. L—Tommy Murray, a former clog dancer, drum major and end man in the minstrel field, was found dead sitting in a chair in his room at a hotel here. MRS. FISKE'S TIME EXTENDED Prm.Ann.rHiA, Dec. 20.—The engage- ment Of Mrs. Fiske in "rlrutwhile Susan" at the Broad Street Theatre bas been ex- tended for a week. LICENSE LAW HITS THEATRES Baltimobk, Jan. 2.—A city ordinance takes effect today, compelling any person or company using adrertudng signs of any kind to take out a license, coating one hun- dred dollars a year. CORT SHOW HAS PREMIER PrrTSBUORH, Jan. 2.—"Johnny! Get Your Gun," the new offering of John Cort. a three-act comedy with a prologue, opened at the Dnquesne Theatre, yesterday. The principal members in the cast are Louis Derner, Grace Valentine, Edwin Mordant, Lorraine Frost and Antoinette Walker. KAUFMAN WELL AGAIN S. Jay Kaufman has weathered • siege of tonsilitis and ia again out on tha Rial to.-