The New York Clipper (February 1917)

Copyright. 1917. by the Clipper Corpotaflo*. Founded by FRANK QUEEN, 18S3 NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 28, 1917 VOLUME LXV—No. 4 Price, Tec Cents SUESWILLARD MACK FOR DIVORCE MISS RAMBEAU STARTS CASE An action for an absolute divorce haB been commenced by Mrs. Willard Mack, known on the. stage as Marjorie Rambeau, against Willard Mack, playwright and actor. Mack was served with the sum- mons and complaint in the suit while visit- ing the offices of a film concern in 130 West Forty-sixth Street, last Saturday. The papers in the case were filed in the office of the County Clerk yesterday. The Macks have been separated for some time, it is said. During the past six months, according to the allegations in the complaint, Mack has been guilty of the statutory offenses which would entitle Miss Rambeau to a divorce under the New York; laws, at his home in Laurel Road, Mountain Lakes, N. J. Upon learning these facts she consulted her attorney, Nathan Burkan, who, after considerable investigation, prepared the papers in the action. Efforts were then made to serve Mack, but the process serv- ers were unsuccessful while he - was re- hearsing with "Alias Santa Claus," at the Belasco Theatre. He then left New York for a considerable period. The show closed two weeks ago at Atlantic City, however, and Mack then returned to his New Jersey home. He made several visits to New York last week, and was finally served. Mack sprang into nation-wide fame a few years ago- when he wrote the play "Kick' In." After that he wrote several other plays in which he and his' wife ap- peared, as well as the scripts of several motion picture" soeni.ri6s in which he played the leading parts. Lately, he- has written several plays, one of which "Alias Santa Clans," David Belasco has already produced, and another Western play, which Belasco is to produce in the fall. Miss Rambeau has achieved considerable fame on the stage, having- appeared in "Sadie Love" and a number of other Broadway successes as well, as in vaude- ville. The..papers in the case did not.reveal the identity of the co-respondent, but it >b said that she is a well-known' actress. "THE WHITE SPOT* OPENS Schenectady, N. Y., Feb. 27.—A new play entitled "The White Spot" had its premier here last night and has all the earmarks' of a success. The play marks the return of Adeline Adler to the stage. Miss Adler created the role of Tirza with the original "Ben Hur" company, bnt has not been active in theatricals for many years. "The White Spot" had a long run in London, nnder the name of "The Love Thief." MANY SIGN ON RUSH CIRCUIT Although only a few weeks old the new c rcuit of "Follies," being established by Edward F. Rush, is meeting with unex- pected success. Already eight houses out of the desired twenty have been selected from a big offering, and more than enough high class producers have made applica- tion for a place on the route. Among those who have signed up to put out shows are Ben Kahn, who will have two; Jack Not-worth and Sam Shannon, one; Clark Ross, one; B. L. Reich, two; W. A. Miller of Philadelphia, two; William Stoermer, one; Jules Jordan, one, and Elmer Tenley, one. THOMAS LEAVES FROHMAN ' Stating that his literary engagements take up most of his time, Augustus Thomas, the playwright, severed his con- nection this week with the Charles Froh- man Co., for whom he acted as art di- rector during the past two years. Prior to the death of Chas. FTohman, Thomas was a close associate of the producer, and after the death of the former, when the business was reorganized, became officially connected with the concern. NORWORTH DIVORCE DROPPED A notice of discontinuance of the di- vorce action instituted against Jack Nor- worth by his wife, Mrs. Mary Norworth, was filed in the County Clerk's, office on Monday by the latter's attorney. It was learned that since Norworth's return from abroad a reconcilliation has been effected, and that the couple,'with their two chil- dren, are residing at Sea Gate, Long Island. ACCEPT POTATOES AS TICKETS Onions and potatoes are being accepted for the price of admission between the hours of four "and five every' afternoon at the Union". Square and Daly's theatres, both of which'operare burlesque shows. The onions are placed in a safe and every evening are turned over to the police captains of the precinct in which the theatres are located for distribution.to the poor. GUS HILL GOES WEST Gus Hill left last Saturday for Indian- apolis to look over and-fix'up one of his attractions on r the' .International Circuit. Prior to his retiiw%iN*i*^York, Mr. Hill will stop off at C6W'>^ri cod Pittsburgh where he also ha^jEawsRelaying- PICKETING FOX;NE\yARK HOUSES Newark, Ni J., F^&Z&^CardB are be- ing distributed by Union, pickets in front of Wm. Fox's Terminal, unci Carlton theatres here stating that the'nouses do not employ union labor. ... '•:'•• BEULAH LIVINGSTONE CHANGES Beulah Livingstone is now publicity pro- moter for "Have a Heart." GRANAT MADE MANAGER Louis Granat has been appointed man- ager of ^Pietro The Italian," an Interna- tional Circuit attraction which is appear- ing at the Lexington Avenue Opera House and took up his duties with the company this week. WATSON SISTERS CANCEL Chicago, Feb. 27.—The illness of their mother, compelled the Watson Sisters to close suddenly at the Palace, last night, and leave for their home in Atlanta, Ga. STAGE HANDS AID, SOUGHT BY RATS MOUNTFORD AT CONVENTION Cleveland, Ohio, Feb. 26.—Support of the stage hands of the country in an act- ors' strike was forecast as the chief mat- ter to be voted on by the biennial con- vention of the International Alliance of American Stage Employees and Motion Picture Machine Operators when it con- vened at the Hotel Statler today. Harry Mountford, president of the White Rats Association of America, ar- rived from New York, and was introduced to the delegates at the opening session. He made no direct plea for the stage hands' aid in a proposed strike of actors, but it was said he would do so in a formal address which he will deliver to the con- vention before it closes the latter part of this week. Another important matter of business which will be presented to the convention before the end of its session here will be the matter of an increase of the scale of wages paid to road and local crews. In many communities theatre managers are protected by an agreement existing be- tween managers and the I. A. T. S. E., which calls for the present scale of wages to continue for a specified period. How- ever, this term is to shortly come to an end, and with the high cost of living the members of the Alliance feel that their salaries should be graded accordingly. Every effort will be made on the part of the managers to prevent the matter from getting beyond bounds. Lignon. Johnson, secretary of the Theatrical Man- agers' Protective Association, is here from New York in their interests, and has been quite active in his efforts to convince the delegates about the Statler that the man- agers are doing everything possible for the men, and any attempt at this time to increase their wages would mean disaster to their employers. An effort will also be made to pass a resolution similar to the one adopted by the American Federation of Labor for uni- versal peace. A matter that will also get considerable attention will be the declaration of numerous burlesque managers that they intend to eliminate property men from their working crews next season. Four hundred delegates are here from all parts of the United States and Can- ada. They heard addresses of welcome by Director of Public Utilities Farrell, repre- senting Mayor Davis, and J. Wayne Hart, president of the Cleveland Federation of Labor. A response was made by Charles C. Shay of New i ork, international presi- dent of the Alliance, who presided. Oscar Sheck of Cleveland, vice-president of the Alliance, is chairman of the Convention Entertainment Committee. NEW HOUSE "THE NORWORTH" The new music hall which Edward F. Hush is to build this summer on Forty- eighth street, just east of Broadway, is to be called "The Norworth," it being planned to open it with a production in which Jack Norworth will be starred. Cavanaugh and White have been engaged for the same production. WILL ARCHIE SICK Will Archie, the diminutive comedian, has. been confined to his home with an attack of the grippe for the past week. He bad to withdraw from the cast of "Dance and Grpw Thin," at the Cocoanut Grove and postpone rehearsals of a vaudeville act as a result of his illness. LE MAIRE BOOKING GARDEN Rnfus LeMaire is now booking the Sun- day night concerts at the Wintergarden which were previously handled by Harry Shea. The latter abandoned the Garden because it took too much of his time. PERFORMER GOES BLIND Montreal, Can., Feb. 24.—Charley Robles, of the AI Reeves Show, suddenly went blind on the stage of the Gaiety, dar- ing the matinee performance. Physicians were hurriedly called to attend him. FINNEY WEDS WEALTHY WIDOW Philadelphia. p e h. 22.—Clin Finney, former dancing partner of Mrs. Ve'rnob Castle and Joan Sawyer, and Mrs. Gene- vieve Gray Wernwage, a wealthy wldoW. were married yesterday at the - brides' home. Cold Spring Farm, near here. ' CRAIG PRESENTS SOTHERN PLAY Stamford, Conn., Feb. 26.—"Stranger Than Fiction," a play by E. H. Sotherc. had its premiere here tonight, under the management of John Craig and with Mary Young and Mr. Craig in the cast. It will .be presented next Monday night at the Garrick Theatre, New York.,, • HANDS STRIKE; ACTORS WORK Chawfobdsvuxe, Iod., Feb. 28.—Finding a stage hands strike in effect, the members of the "Stop, Look, Listen", company- put in their own show, hung the scenery- and took it out in order to fill their local en- gagement. Leona Thompson, Mary Am- brose and several of the chorus were out of the cast for-a few days-due to illness. MORAL WAVE IN NEW ORLEANS * New Orleans, La., Feb. 24.—A moral wave has hit this city, putting every 'caba- ret in' town' out of,business. It Was started by Commissioner of' Public Safety Harold Newman, who Hfted - every license and per-' mit of the cabarets. ••'••• MANAGER GIVES AWAY SALOON Columbus, O., Feb. 26.—Samuel Un- gerleider, well known in theatrical circles here, has presented his «200,000-a-year saloon to his five principal assistants. He has retired from all business activity. MINSTREL'S WIDOW GIVEN BENEFIT Newark, 'N. J., Feb. 21.—The benefit given last night at Proctor's Roof Theatre, for the benefit of the widow of Billy Red- mond, the minstrel, brought a tidy sum. "CAPTAIN KIDD" CLOSING "Captain Kidd, Jr." concludes its run at the Cohan A Harris Theatre this week. It will be followed there by "The Willow Tree," a Japanese fantasy by Benrimo and Harrison Rhodes. BOSTON BOOKS WHITNEY SHOW Boston, Feb. 26.—The F. C. Whitney production, "Boya Will Be Boys," has been booked at the Colonial, here, for two weeks, beginning Monday night. WALTER PLAY OPENS MARCH 8 "The Small Town Girl" is scheduled to open at Atlantic City, March S. After a preliminary tour it will come to Broadway.