The New York Clipper (February 1917)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER February 14, 1917 BERNHARDT CO. DROPS COAST TRIP REORGANIZE WITH VAUDE. ACTS Madame Sarah Bernhardt haa given up her trip to the coast. Abandoning her proposed tour at Louis- ville, Ky., last Saturday night, she will return to New York during the present week and reorganize her company, add" Ing iix vaudeville acta. Then ahe will open at the Academy of Music, Brooklyn, for a three days' engagement on Wash- ington's birthday. Several reasons have been ascribed for the abandonment of the trip, one of them being that the "Divine" Sarah was not as much of a box-office magnet as had been anticipated and that it would be fina n c i al disaster if the trip were continued. An- other reason advanced for the change in her plans was that she was unable to stand the strain of giving long perform, ances twice a day. William F. Connor, who is managing the tour for Mme. Bernhardt haa arranged, after the Brooklyn engagement, for a route which wBl cover the New England and Eastern Canadian territory and prob- ably a abort stay at the Lexington Avenue Opera House late in the spring. Under the new schedule, Mme. Bern- hardt will appear in one or two abort sketches supported by her company at each performance and the balance of the program is to be presented by the vaude- ville acta. Two shows daily are to be played by the troupe while on tour. The vaudeville acta that have been en- gaged up to date are Claire Rochester, The Six Musical Harverda, LueOle'a Cockatoos, Harry Breen, "The Nut Comedian.'' Two ether acts are to be engaged. The ma- jority of the vaudeville acts were booked through Lew Edelman, of the Frank Bohm offices. DOROTHY USNER LOSES HUSBAND George Baxter, husband of Dorothy Usner, a well-known actress fifteen years ago, died suddenly hut Saturday morn- ing from cerebral apoplexy, at his home in Harmon, N. Y. Mr. Baxter was for- merly a well-known newspaper man, and was founder and promoter of the PreB» Artists' League. ARLINGTON GETS ANOTHER HOUSE Battle Check, Mich., Feb. 10.—Harvey Arlington, who is managing the Orpheum Theatre, Grand Rapids, will assume man- agement of Butterfield's Bijou Theatre, this city, in about ten days. CARTOONIST BECOMES P. A. Habtfobd, Conn., Feb. 13.—Clifford Knight, who for many years was employed as cartoonist on the Pott here, haa joined the staff of the Grand Theatre as publicity man. SMALLPOX CANCELS SHOW Monticqxo, 111., Feb. 12.—The "Ikey and Abey" Company were forced to can- cel their engagements here on account of a small pox quarantine. TESTIMONIAL GIVEN MINSTREL Philadelphia, Feb. 10.—James Mc- Cool, minstrel and for many years a popu- lar member of Dnmont's Minstrels when it appeared at the 11th Street Opera House was tendered a testimonial dinner at the Bellevue-Stratford, Thursday. There were 800 people at the affair including the city's leading citizens, city officials and members of the judiciary. Mr. McCool was presented with a handsome grand- father clock costing ?1,200. ACTRESSES, IN FIRE, BARELY ESCAPE FLEE AT NIGHT FROM HOTEL THEATRE COMPANY FORMED Trenton, Feb. 13.—The Orange Strand Theatre Company filed a certificate of in- corporation in the office of the Secretary of State last week The company will operate from an office in Jersey City with Fred H. Merten as agent. The concern is capitalised at $6,000. The incorpora- tors are Fred H. Mertens, Hattie G. Mer- tens and Martin P. Cross, all - of Jersey City. NEW FIRM TO PRESENT PLAY Stamford, Conn., Feb. 12.—The S-M Producing Co., a new theatrical firm, com- posed of Charles Edwin Summers, play- wright, and Jack Morris, secretary to Lee Shubert, will present for the first time on any stage here, the latter part of this month a new farce by Charles Edwin Sum- mers, entitled "Stocks and Stockings." George Parsons will be featured in the leading role. "PALS FIRST" OPENS MONDAY Stamford, Feb. 13.—"Pals First" will have Its initial presentation here next Monday evening, which win begin a brief tour prior to its New York opening. In the cast are William Courtenay, Thomas A. Wise, Chas. A. Stevenson, Francis X. Conlan, Harry Lewellyn, Maruion Kcrby, Ann MacDonald, Lester Chambers, Auriel Lee, Lawrence Eddinger and Paul Dnlzcll. Boston, Feb. 12.—Several theatrical people sustained large losses of valuables ■and clothing, as well as having narrow es- capes from death, in a fire which damaged the Hotel Lenox to the extend of $75,000 early Saturday morning. Of the 250 guests in the hotel about 40 of them were theatrical people. Elizabeth Murray, of the "Cohan Re- view of 1916," who occupied a room on the eighth floor, was awakened by smoke com- ing into her room through the open tran- som. She and her maid, Katherine Col- lins, made their way into the hall, after throwing a few wraps over their shoulders. They were forced to crawl in order to breathe. They reached another room, the door of which was open, and shrieked from a window for help. Firemen came to their rescue and led them down the stairs. Margot Kelly, of "Pierrot the Prodigal," woke up about half an hour before the fire started, because of the heat in her room. She opened the window and then went to sleep again. Later she was awakened by the gongs of the engines and immediately rushed into the hall and escaped by the stairway. Valli Valli, of the Cohan Review, and her maid and pet dog made their way through the smoke-filled corridors and stairs to the street without difficulty. Charlotte Ives and Louis Stone, of "The Brat" company, and David FineBtone, treasurer of the Shubert Theatre, and bis wife were other theatrical people who had narrow escapes. DIANE D'AUBREY SUED A suit for $250 damages has been brought against Diane D" Aubrey, former- ly on big time, but now an entertainer at Au Caprice, by Neville Fleeson, a writer of song lyrics. The suit is brought on a' contract for the writing of lyrics which, Fleeson alleges, were used by the defendant at the Au Caprice but not paid for. The defendant is the wife of Rub- bini, the violinist. The plaintiff is rep- resented in the action by Attorney Harry Saks Hechheimer. MOORE MANAGEMENT RESIGNS Seattle, Wash., Feb. 9.—The entire management of the Moore Theatre re- signed last week, and it is not known what arrangement will be made to conduct the house until it is taken over by the Or- pheum Vaudeville Co. George T. Hood left to devote his activities to booking the Cort Theatre, and Frank P. Hood, treas- urer, severed his connection in contempla- tion of some other venture. Gertrnde Slorah, manager Hood's assistant, will continue with him. SIMONS MARRIES "DE M1LO" New Orleans, Feb. 12.—James H. Simons, president of the Charles J. Simons Piano Co., was married here Sat- urday to Mrs. Miriam Hammerstein, pro- fessionally known as "De Milo," a theatri- cal posing model. The bride was the widow of Abe Hammerstein, son of Oscar Hammerstein. The couple will shortly go to New York to get Mrs. Simons' nine year old son and return here to make their permanent home. . MATTIE SHKR1DAN DIES Mattie Sheridan, dramatist and author, founder and president of the Hungry Club, died last Thusrday in her apartment in this city, after an illness lasting two months. HORACE WRIGHT AND RENE DIETRICH These "Somewhat Different Singers" have returned to vaudeville with a new singing act. These two artists whose fine 'voices and charming personali- ties have made them great favorites have an act which brings class and refinement, as well as real entertainment to any bill, their numbers ranging from a novel grand opera medley to a repertoire of the latest popular melodies and a genuine Hawaiian specialty. Having spent some time in Hawaii, they are expert exponents of the now popular instrument, the ukulele, and Miss Dietrich has also written a lovely ballad, 'Usles of Aloha," which gives a true idea of the charms of those wonderful islands. The act is dressed exquisitely, and their unique Hawaiian art drop (designed by Miss Dietrich), is one of the most artistic things seen on Broadway this season. The clever couple have just completed a successful season in the East and open on the Orpheum Circuit in Kansas City, Feb. 19.