The New York Clipper (February 1917)

Copyright, 1917, by the Clipper Corporation, Founded by FRANK OUEEN. 1853 NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 7, 1917 VOLUME LXV—No. 1 Price. Ten Ceots STRIKE ON IN 5CITIES,RATS ANNOUNCE CASEY OFF TO BOSTON According to a statement issued at the White Rats dub house yesterday, by Gor- don Wbyte, publicity agent of the organiza- tion, the White Rata called a national strike Monday night in Boston and Lynn, Massachusetts, Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City. Wbyte said that preparations for such a move had been completed for some time by Harry Mount ford, International Execu- tive, and James William Fitzpatrick, In- ternational President of the organization, and that lie had received word yesterday from the latter that every act on the bills at the Bowdoin, Olympia, Washington and Scollay Square Theatres in Boston, and the Olympia Theatre in Lyon had refused to work when called upon Monday evening. Wbyte said, he had not yet received any • word from Chicago or the other cities men- tioned, but that the strike had become ef- fective in them all. Mountford was in Chi- cago, he declared, having gone'to direct the effort there, while deputies would look after the plans of the organization in the other cities affected. . The Olympia Theatre in Lynn la a house operated by Gordon Brothers of Boston, as are also the Olympia in Boston and the Scol- lay Square. AH are booked through the Sheedy Agency and, according to < United Booking Office officials, are not members of the Vaudeville Managers Pro- tective Association. The Bowdoin is op- erated by Doc Lothrop and is also booked through the Sheedy Agency. Immediately upon receipt of news that there was trouble, Pat Casey, who has con- ducted the managers' side in the contro- versy with tie White Bats, left for Bos- ton to make sure that the trouble did not creep into houses affiliated with the Vaude- ville Managers' Protective Association. Be- fore going, he left instructions with agents to hold a number of acts in readiness for any further trouble that may develop. Officials of the United Booking offices declared that the strike was not complete, as had been stated, only two or three acts going out on each bill. They said that, just as soon as Gordon Brothers and Lothrop found themselves in trouble, they got into touch with' the Boston branch of the V. M. {Continued on page 5.) HAMMERSTEIN WARNS CABARETS In the program at the Casino Theatre, where "You're In Love," was produced last night, Arthur Hammeratein, producer of the show, had an insert placed warning peo- ple, especially cabaret proprietors, from "lifting" any of the material of the show under penalty of prosecution under the copyright law. It is understood that, in the future, all producers of new attractions on Broadway will have this warning inserted in the program. ACTS MUST NOT MENTION WAR Paul Keith and Edward F. Albee, heads of the United Booking Office, have sent out a request to all managers booking through them or in any affiliated with the U. B. O., to notify all acts that the present international crisis must not be mentioned cr referred to in any way during a perform- ance. The booking office wishes managers to understand that the request is made not only with the desire to prevent any possible hysterical outbreak in a theatre but to sup- port the President in every possible manner. LES DARCY PLAYING 50-SO Chicago, Feb. S.—Les Darcy began his third week as an extra attraction with a burlesque show when he opened his engage- ment at the Haymarket Theatre, with the stock company playing there on Sunday. He is playing the house on a fifty per cent, basis and it is expected that he will get about $3,000 for his share, on the week. At the conclusion of his engagement here it is expected that he will return to New York to begin preparations for Us first American ring encounter. NORWORTH TO PRODUCE Jack Norworth has formed, a partner- ship with Sam Shannon for the purpose of producing at least one and possibly two musical shows for the new'Circuit of Mu- sical Follies which will begin operation on Labor Day under the direction of Ed- ward F. Rush. TICKET SELLER MARRIED Harold Long, a ticket seller at the Hip- podrome, was married on Monday to Miss Harriet Dalson of Muskegon. Mich., at The Little Church Around The Corner. Long is a native of Muskegon and hi* bride came here last week for the ceremony, mony. POL1 OFF TO FLORIDA HabxfObd, Conn., Feb. 5.—After holding a conference with the heads of his theatres and emphasizing a drive for picture pa- trons in preference to vaudeville seekers, S. Z. Poli left last week to spend a month's vacation at some of t u e resorts of Florida. BREAK WITH GERMANY IS BLOW TO SHO W BUSINESS Severance of Relations Forces Cancellation of Contracts for New Productions and with Performers—German Actors Here Sail for Cuba. The severance of diplomatic relations be- tween the United States and Germany last week brought international theatrical busi- ness to a standstill. Beginning Saturday, steamship companies were busy cancelling the passage of theatrical persons and pro- ductions on both sides of the Atlantic. Tn all, it is probable that several thou- sand persons connected with the theatri- cal world are affected. If the situation should continue as it probably will, the presentation of Ameri- can plays abroad with original companies and foreign plays here, several of which have been arranged for the Spring and Fall, will have to be indefinitely post- poned, unless some special means is de- vised for the transportation of the players and productions. American producers and managers have been busy during the past few days ac- quainting actors with the situation and informing them that there would hardly be any possibility of their carrying out their contracts, unless the situation took a different aspect in the near future. It is estimated that about $500,000 in play- ers' contracts will be held in abeyance as a result of the diplomatic break. Philip Klein, representing Alfred Butt, who has been in this country engaging people for an English presentation of "Very Good Eddie," was compelled on Saturday to notify everyone that he would be unable to take them over and that the engagement would have to be indefinitely postponed. Ten persons had been engaged and were ready to sail on Feb. 17. The majority of these peo- ple are making efforts to connect with .American productions. Elizabeth Marbury, who was to have cone abroad on the St. Louis last Sat- urday to make arrangements for the production of several of her plays in Lon- don, was compelled to postpone her trip on account of the cancellation of the ship's sailing. Later, she decided that she would postpone her trip indefinitely until conditions were arranged in such a manner that she would be able - to have her companies go abroad with safety. At the Al. H. Woods offices it was stated that the concern had contemplated sending over several of their shows in the Spring* but that for the present, no ar- rangements would be made until word was conveyed by the Government that it would be entirely safe for the performers. Among some of the American vaudeville actors that are in England at present are: Jaessel & Edwards, Barton & Ash- Icy, Ford & Urma, Waters & Morris, Gardner's Maniacs, Sylphide Sisters, Ford & Truly, James Fletcher, Odette Myrtle, Frank Van Hoven, The Two Bayers, Claude Golden, Sam Barton, Roxy LaRoc- co, Paul Gordon, Gordon's Maniacs, Bob Folgora, Harry 1 Pilcer, Tom Houston, Burton & Black, James H. Smith, The Flying Swains, Tyler & Overton, Dan Gorhani, Jimmy Pearl, May Martin, Alice Duncan, Marjorie Casper, Gerald Fox and Frank Newcomb and Gallagher & Martin. Among the performers who have con- tracts which were to become operative within the next few months that were compelled to defer their sailing are. Grey & Old Rose, Four Haley Sisters, Lottie Mayer, Nat Nazero, Van Cello, Tabor & Green, Jerome & Carson, Dave Rafael, Hill & Ackerman, Ed. & Irene Lowry, and Kraft & Gros. During the past year there has been a big demand for American producers to handle the reviles at London music halls in the places of the English producers who had answered the call of the colors. One of the first to sail for this purpose was William Wilson, who was followed shortly afterward by Ned Wayburn. Each of these producers took with them when they sailed a number of American per- formers who are portraying the principal rnles in the revues that have been pro- duced or are in the course of production. Last Friday night, at De Courville's London Hippodrome, Wilson presented a new revue, "Zig Zag." The company, headed by Daphne Pollard, la composed mostly of Americans. Wilson is also at work rehearsing a revue for De Corville's Liverpool Music Hall, which is to have its premiere Feb. 25. His American associate, Arthur Voegtlin, had engaged a number of American' performers for this production and all of them were to have sailed the middle of last month. However, three weeks ago Voegtlin was advised that he would have to cancel their engagements as the London Board of Trade would not sanction their coming over. (Continued on page 31.) '