The New York Clipper (February 1917)

February 21, 1917 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER MANN CANCELS 18-WEEK TOUR OF ORPHEUM ACT THOUGHT UNSUITABLE Believing that his act was not entirely suited to the patrons of the Orpheam Cir- cuit, especially in Canadian towns, Louis Mann will bring his 18-week tour of "Some Warriors" to a close at St Paul, the week of March 18. Mann was originally pro- vided with a route that included all the houses on the Circuit The act opened at the Majestic Theatre, Chicago, last week. At the time the act was engaged it was doubtful in the minds of the executive heads of the Circuit whether it would be suitable to patrons in Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver. The types of characters portrayed are German and French army officers and the act was partly in the na- future of peace propaganda. Mann, however, insisted the people would realize that it was simply a vaudeville turn and that no offense was intended. The Orpheum people told Mann that as long as he regarded the matter in this light to go ahead and play the time. On his arrival in Chicago, however, be had a change of heart and communicated with Frank Vin- cent, head of the Orpheum booking offices, stating he would like to cancel the time. After playing bis engagement in St. Paul, Mann will return with his company to New York for a three week lay-off period. Mann is laying off this week and will appear in Kansas City next week.' RUTH THOMAS The young dancer whose picture is on the cover of this issue of the Clipper pro- duced at the Palace Theatre last week the most elaborate scenic spectacle vaude- ville has seen for Borne time. Three wonderful sets, Grecian, Chinese and Ar- abian, bear the Urban stamp. The act is called "Stories Without Words" and the stories, as told by the dancers, the scenery, costumes, etc., all originated in the head of this remarkable young woman. The production may prove too costly for vaudeville, but vaudeville cannot forget that Ruth Thomas brought it something more beautiful than it hex seen for a long while. Miss Thomas, now only 19, claims Columbus, Ohio, as her home. She has studied under Chalif, Kos- loff and others, and considering her youth and experience is considerable of a phenom- enon. TOM MINER APPOINTED DELEGATE Newark, N. J., Feb. 19.—The Theatre Managers Association of Newark has ap- pointed Thomas W. Miner, the president, as a delegate to the annual convention of tbf Theatrical Alliance of North America, held this week'in Cleveland. EUGENE WALTER INCORPORATES Albany, N. V., Feb. 19.—Among the corporations chartered here last week was Eugene Walter, the playwright, for ?5,- 000. MISS RAY SLOWLY RECOVERING Maybelle Ray, who baa been ill with peritonitis for the last three weeks at her home, is slowly recovering. "THE BRAT" COMING TO HARRIS Oliver Morosco will bring "The Brat""' to the Harris Theatre March 5, succeed-'" ing "The Yellow Jacket." Maude Ful- ton, author of the play, acts the title role. Others in the cast are Lewis S. Stone, John Findlay, Edmond Loe'w, Char- lotte Ives, Frank Kingdom, Isabel O'Madi- gan, Gertrude Maitland and Gertrude Workman. NEW "FAIR-WARMER" CO. Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 16.—A special company has been formed and is producing "Fair and Warmer" at the Garrick Theatre. The cast includes: Janet Beccher, Kenneth Hill, Olive May, Ernest Cossart, Elsie St. John, Edna Hibbard and William Bittner. DAVENPORT MEN PROMOTED Davenport, Iowa., Feb. 21.—John Scharnberg and Edward Kraus have been appointed managers of the Columbia and American theatres, respectively. Scharn- berg has had practical charge of the Columbia for some time, and Kraus has been house treasurer. ACROBATS SEEK CITIZENSHIP Carl - and Henry Grinbaum, acrobats, and known on the stage as Rinaldo brothers, have received first papers to full citizenship. They were born in Berlin, married English girls and have children born here. GALLAGHER'S MOTHER DEAD Lowell, Mass., Feb. 19.—Mrs. Mary A. Gallagher, mother of William L. Gal- lagher, formerly manager of the Caaino, Lawrence, and many road attractions, died in this city recently. Many persons of the profession attended the funeral. FREDERICK WHITE DEAD Frederic W. White, dramatic editor of the Denver Post, died recently. He was well known throughout the country as a dramatic critic and had been on several papers. He wrote under the signature 'V. W. W." MANSFIELD, JR., IS CONSTABLE New London, Conn., Feb. 20.—Richard Mansfield, Jr., has been appointed a special constable here and for the past week has been petroling the streets to guard against any trouble Germans may start MAUDE GETS "THE GREAT LOVER" Cyril Maude has acquired the Australian rights to "The Great Lover," the comedy in which Leo Ditrichstein was starred. FOX LEAVES TO RE-ORGANIZE COASTPLANT DISSATISFIED WITH RESULTS Though it is stated that William Fox is leaving tomorrow for a pleasure trip of two months at his California Studios, the real purpose of the trip is to reorganize his executive and productive departments at the plant. Mr. Fox ban considered such a trip for some time, but after witnessing some of the new Fox comedies produced at the Hollywood studios recently, he decided to make the journey at once. The films were not up to the required standard and he ordered the destruction of negatives which entailed a productive loss of several thousand dollars. Realizing that his trip to the Coast would be a bit prolonged, Mr. Fox has cabled to Eugland to W. R. Sheehen, general man- ager of the Fox Film Corp., to return to America at once. Sheeben was to have left on the Philadelphia last week, but his de- parture was delayed. He will return with Ambassador J. W. Gerard and party when they sail from Spain this week. All in all. Mr. Fox recently has been very much dissatisfied with the results shown by the department of his corpora- tion that is producing comedies. This de- partment is a new experiment and was started by the concern recently. At the inception, high salaried directors and actors were employed and practically given carte blanche as far as expense was concerned in making a series of pictures which it was hoped would establish this department of I he Fox organization aa firmly as the dramatic one. However, it appears that the executive department of the organization, at Holly- wood, where the pictures were being made, were rather lax in looking toward the de- tails of expense and production and as a result an unusual amount of money was wasted in the manufacture of comedies which did not come np to the regular re- lease standard. Though most of his time will be taken up in the overhauling of the comedy and executive end, Mr. Fox will also give the dramatic producing departments a glance or two. "DRY TOWN" HAS PREMIER St. Loots, Mo., Feb. 19.—"A Dry Town," a new play, bad its premiere here at the Players Theatre. It was given by the stock company at this house. The author is Lewis B. Ely. ARLINGTON WITH BUTTERFIELD Grand Rapids, Mich., Feb. 19.—Har- vey Arlington, for years manager of the Orpheum Theatre, this city, has resigned to accept a position with the Butterfield in- terests and will manage the Bijou Theatre in Battle Creek. H. C. Clark of Detroit succeeds him. FRANKIE JAMES Singing Comedienne FUND BURIES ESTELLE CLAYTON The funeral of Estelle Clayton was held last week under the auspices of the Actors' Fund. She was found dead in her room at 239 West Fourteenth street. SHEER SUES FILM STAR Irving Cummings, a Fox Film actor, is being sued for breach of contract by Will- iam Sheer, a theatrical agent. Harry Saks Hechheimer, who represents Cummings in the action, claims his client never secured work through Sheer and was forced to change his agent. Sheer claims to possess a written contract which authorizes him to represent Cummings as manager. JIMMIE REGO'S FATHER DIES Oklahoma Crrr, Okla., Feb. 17.— Word has been received here of the death in Chico, California, of Edw. S. Rego, father of Jimmy Rego, a vaudeville per- former. The deceased was seventy years of age and was well known in the profes- sion. The funeral occurred last Tuesday at Sacramento, under the auspices of the Masons. "TEN NIGHTS" CO. CLOSES Brandon, Can., Feb. 14.—W. B. Sher- man's "Ten Nights In a'Bar Room" Co. closed here last night after sixteen weeks of good business. The tour extended from Winnipeg to Vancouver and back again playing one and two nights with a week on the coast. The company of ten people will return to the States. ACTOR CLEARED OF THEFT Cincinnati, Feb. 17.—In court yester- day Judge Caldwell dismissed Harry Stan- ley, an actor, charged with taking a coat worth $300 from a woman living in Ma- son City, la. It was proven that Stanley knew nothing whatever about the missing garment. COLONIAL TO OPEN SOON Looansport, Ind., Feb. 19.—The Colon- ial Theatre, which was badly damaged by fire last month, is being rapidly rebuilt and will open March 1 with "The Crisis." The Ark, which also suffered a fire loss about a month ago, has resumed operations. PAGE IS "WANDERER" P. A. Charles McCIintock has succeeded Will- iam Page as business manager of the East- ern "Experience" Company, Page having been called in by Elliott-Comstock and Gest to take charge of the publicity work for "The Wanderer." TILYOU HEIRS AGREE An adjustment of the claims made by the heirs of the late Mrs. Ellen Tilyou, mother of George Tilyou, has been reached. A lump sum of $218,000 will be paid over by the estate to be divided among the claimants. ZIEGFELD CAR HURTS BOY Billie Burke's car ran over a 7-year-old youngster, last Friday, and fractured three of bis ribs. The boy win recover. "DIAMOND JIM" RECOVERING Atlantic Crrr, N. J., Feb. 16.—James A Brady is well on the road to recovery and will likely be out in a couple of days. ALICE FLEMING RECOVERING Alice Fleming, who was hurt in a fall at the Hotel Knickerbocker five weeks ago. Is now well on the road to recovery. Iri loving memory of my dearly beloved husband, JOHN B. wills, who. di.u IBl I Feb. 26, WILLS. 1»13.—KATE HELSTON I