The New York Clipper (February 1917)

February 28, 1917 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 13 SPOKANE SHOW PROMOTOR ARRESTED TREASURER MAKES CHARGE Spokane, Wash., Feb. 23.—J. C. Cones, the manager who organized the Spokane Musical Stock Co., to play at the Strand Theatre, has been arrested in Seattle on the charge of grand larceny. According to the complaint of John Helm, treasurer of the organization. Cones dis- appeared with $50 of his money, and left the company without means to continue. Sheriff Keid avers Cones was passing un- der the name of Jimmy Dare when taken into custody in Seattle. The musical show promoter left the com- pany just when its prospects looked bright- est. Helm charges, and it was heard that he was trying to organize another company in Seattle. After he left, Helm tried to get financial backing but could get no assistance and the Spokane Musical Comedy Co. is no more. J. W. McArtbur, who rented the Knights of Pythias Hall to the Spokane Amusement Co. for rehearsals, claims that he is still unpaid and that the company owes the lodge $10. The chorus met fourteen times at the hall to rehearse. MISS BROWN IN "BIG" ROLES Washington, Feb. 25.—Helen Hayes Brown, well known here in juvenile roles, is making her appearance as a "grown- up" actress, playing ingenue roles with the Poli Players, who opened their engagement last Monday at Poli's Theatre in "It Pays to Advertise." The players were given a rousing reception upon their return to the Capital City. NEW COMPANY FOR COVINGTON Covington, Ky., Feb. 24.—A stock com- pany is being organized by W. B. Fred- ericks, lessee and manager of the Colonial Theatre, which will open at that bouse about Mar. 4. Wanda Ludlow and Jack Emerson will head the company, which will include Perle Kincaid, Charles Marlow, Howard Fitz, Mrs. Jack Emerson and Mrs. Fitz. SAV1DGE TO OPEN DRAMATIC CO. Wayne, Neb., Feb. 24.—The Walter Savidge Dramatic Co. in the big Canvas Theatre will take to the road May 9 under the direction of Al. C. Wilson, who has been with Mr. Savidge for the past five seasons. He was recently appointed as- sistant manager of the Walter Savidge Amusement Co. WARDA HOWARD LEAVING STOCK Columbus, O., Feb. 28.—Warda How- ard, playing leads with the Thurman Bray Stock Co. at the Southern Theatre, closes her engagement with the company March 3, to open with a production now forming in New York. Mae Melvin will succeed her, opening March 5 in "Tess of the Storm Country." DAVIS CO. GETS NEW REPERTOIRE Corky, Pa., Feb. 26.—Adam W. Friend, manager of the Walter Davis Stock Co., has arranged with Daxcy & Wolford to supply an entirely new repertoire of plays for his star for next season. The company is booked solid until the latter part of May and will open the first of June in parks. STOCK ACTOR IN PRODUCTION Frank B. Dn Frane, who had been ap- pearing with the Elsmere Stock Co., was engaged by A. G. Delamater for a minor role with "The Guilty Woman" and suc- ceeded so well that he was given the lead for the rest of the season. CUTTER CO. PLAYING RETURNS The Cutter Stock Co., beginning this week and until the end of April, will play all return dates. "The Divorce Question," "Under Two Flags" and "Hearts Aflame" have been recently added to the repertoire. The roster of the company: W. H. Cutter, Wallace R. Cutter, J. Bernard Hurl, Richard Foote, Herbert H. Power, Fred Weston, Edward Mokelke, Jack Ray- mond, Sadie Belgardie, Grace Raymond, Ruth Leighton and- Wanda Raymond. All plays are staged under the personal direc- tion of J. Bernard Hurl. STOCK CO. FOR SYRACUSE Sybaotse, N. Y., Feb. 26.—A stock company is to open at the Wreting Opera House next Monday under the management of Lew Wood. In the leading roles will be Guy Harrington and Rita Knight, sup- ported by a company including Betty Far- rington, Edna Macbeth, J. H. McCarthy, Edna Preston, Clifford Alexander, Frank Hettrick, Maurice Jenkins, J. Francis Kirke, director, and George Boesel, scenic artist. DEMOREST COMPANIES OPENING Starke, Fla., Feb. 25.—Bob Demorest, manager of the Demorest Stock Co., who has been resting at his home here, will open the tent season of his No. 2 company March 19. The entire outfit will be new. William Depew is now at work painting the scenery. The No. 1 company will open in April in South Carolina. ORPHEUM THEATRE CO. CLOSES Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 23.—The Or- plieum Theatre Stock Co., under the man- agement of Vernon Wallace, closed its en- gagement last Sunday, playing "The Lure." The run was brought to a close because the Orpheum Theatre is to be torn down to make room for an apartment and store building. DUGGAN GOING INTO VAUDEVILLE Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 24.—W. F. Duggan, who closed as leading man with the Eddie Black Stock Co., has left for New York, where he will return to vaudeville. BLACK CLOSED IN ATLANTA Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 24.—The Eddie Black Stock Co. has closed its engagement at the Bijou Theatre, presenting "Why Women Sin" for the final week. LIGHTFOOT WITH OTTAWA CO. Ottawa, Can., Feb. 24.—A. Thomas Lightfoot is now playing leads with the stock company at the Francaise Theatre, in its seventh week here. HENDERSON WITH SEATTLE CO. Seattle, Wash., Feb. 23.—V. T. Hen- derson has been added to the cast of the Wilkes Players at the Orpheum Theatre, making his debut last week in "Seven Keys to Baldpate." MILWAUKEE CO. GIVES NEW PLAY Milwaukee, Feb- 24.—The Shubert Stock Co. ia this week presenting for the first time on any stage a new play by Edward E. Rose, entitled "The Line and Level." SHERMAN KELLY IN ABERDEEN WnxMAB, Minn.. Feb. 23.—The Sherman Kelly Stock Co. opens a permanent stock engagement March 4 at the Orpheum Thea- tre, Aberdeen, S. D. HILLMAN IN NEW YORK F. P. Hillman is in New York arranging for bis cast and productions for the com- ing Summer season. He predicts that the coming season is going to be a good one. HOLD MANAGER FOR BREAKING LABOR LAW EMPLOYED CHILD, IS CHARGE Tampa, Fla., Feb. 24.—W. A. Pickert, manager of the Pickert Stock Co., playing at the Tampa Theatre, was arrested last week on the charge of violating the State child labor law. The judge decided the evidence justified a trial in criminal court, and the defendant furnished bond in the sum of $50 to appear when the case is called. The Pickert Stock Co. is a troupe of fif- teen players, twelve of whom belong to the Pickert family. Master Erlau is the grand- son, four years old, and it was on his per- formance that the charge was brought. The youngster's position in the company, Mr. Pickert states, is hanging to his mother's apron strings and occasionally be- ing permitted to appear on the stage in a role of "jump up and down." The law which Mr. Pickert is charged with violating says: "No child under fourteen years of age shall be employed, permitted or suffered to work in, about or in connection with any mill, factory, worshop, mechanical estab- lishment, laundry or on the stage of any theatre." The attorneys for the defendant said that the child is with the company simply be- cause he is too young to leave his relatives and is allowed upon the stage voluntarily. They contend that this is no violation of the law. The arrest was made upon the complaint of State Labor Inspector C. J. Privett, who testified he had been following the company for two weeks. Mr. Pickert states that he has appeared in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and other Northern States and has never been interfered with before. Mr. Pickert says Master Erlau will not be encouraged to follow the theatrical pro- fession against bis wishes. The child will enter school as soon as be reaches school age he says, and when his education is completed can choose for himself. The company is playing "When Sylvia Smiles" this week, and will remain in Tampa two or three weeks more. The de- fendant hopes to have a final hearing within that time. THEATRE CHANGES NAME Patebson, n. J., Feb. 26.—Owing to the success of the Winifred St. Claire Co. at the Empire Theatre, this house will hereafter be known as the Winifred St Claire Playhouse. Miss St. Claire has a two years' lease on it, also an option for purchasing the property, which seems probable. MISS ST. CLAIRE FOR TRENTON Patebson. N. J., Feb. 26.—Winifred St Claire, who is apearing at the head of her own company here, will go to Trenton to play a limited engagement during the Easter holidays at the Trent Theatre. Nola Mercer will be featured with the com- pany during Miss St. Claire's absence. GREEN BAY CO. OPENS Gbeenbat, Wis., Feb. 24.—The Rex Players opened an - engagement Thursday at the Bijou Theatre with a cast Includ- ing Charles Jackson, Ben Roberta, Law- rence Sullivan, A. J. Cole, Connie Hallett, Nellie Lang and La Verne Broddick. STOCK ACTOR MARRIES Belleville, Ont, Feb. 23.—Neil Benzie, a member of the Marks Stock Co., was married recently to Marie Darling, a non- professional. FIRE DESTROYS UNDSEY SHOW Lockhabt, Tex., Feb. 23.—Fire of an unknown origin recently completely de- stroyed the tent show of the Lester Lind- sey Dramatic Co., which had been playing here. Only a portion of the wardrobes was saved. The fire was discovered in the ladies' dressing room and spread rap- idly towards the front Mr. Lindsey, the manager, cannot estimate his loss in dol- lars and cents, but $3,000 would not replace it. An insurance policy of $1,000 was carried. CHICAGO CO. BREAKS RECORD Bangor, Me., Feb. 26.—The Chicago Stock Co., under the direction of Cbaa. H. Ross Kami, closed a two weeks' engage- ment here Saturday, to the largest business in the history of the theatre, the demand for seats growing so great that three per- formances were arranged for closing day. All seats were reserved at straight prices and sold out in advance, totaling over twenty-four hundred admissions with re- ceipts of nine hundred dollars on the day. WICHITA CO. PLAYS "THE NET" Wichita, Kan., Feb. 24.—The Florence Lewin Players presented a pleasing offer- ing laat week, "The Net," from the pen of W. C. Herman, a Wichita author. Florence Lewin and Albert Vees piny the leading roles. Elroy Ward, Guy Kibbee, David Gossett, Arthur Collins, R. M. Lane, O. K. Parrott, Beulah Gwynne, and Elizabeth Stuart completed an excellent cast. VAN DYKE-EATON IN 5TH MONTH TtrtSA, Okla., Feb. 23.—The Van Dyke- Eaton Stock Co., under the management of F. & C. Mack, is in its fifth month at the Grand Opera House. The cast in- cludes: Cliff Hastings, Willard Foster, Harry F. Vickery, W. E. LaRose, Jack Kohler, James E. McCoy, Lorena Tolson, Bessie Jackson, Helen Deland, Ethel June and Marie Lawton. MISS BROWNELL IN NEWARK Newark, N. J., Feb. 24.—"Just a Woman" has ended its tour and Mabel Brownell has returned to her home here. She and her husband, Clifford Stock, are contemplating a stock engagement LARRIVEES IN FLINT Flint, Mich., Feb. 24.—Larry Larrivee and wife are at the Elite Theatre, Mr. Lar- rivee doing principal Irish comedy, while bis wife is playing" soubrette roles. JEAN MALLORY WITH WILKES CO. Seattle, Wash., Feb. 24.—Jean Mallory has been added to the cast of the Wilkes Players at the Orpheum Theatre, opening Sunday, in "Polly of the Circus." MANY PLAYS ENTER CONTEST Manager Jack Horn, of the Fifth Ave. Stock Co., Brooklyn, announces that over forty plays have already been received for entrance in the play contest. INDIANAPOLIS HAS MUSICAL CO. Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 24.—The Co- lumbia Hippodrome opened Monday with a musical stock company. The initial bill was "You and I." NEW DIRECTOR IN PATERSON Patebson, N. J., Feb. 26.—Thos. Coffin Cooke has replaced A. Gordon Reid as di- rector of the Winifred St Claire Co. POU SIGNS MISS GILUNGWATER Scbanton, Pa., Feb. 24.—Helen Gilling- water is a recent addition to the cast of the Poli Players at the Academy of Music MISS BUSHNELL IN SOMERV1LLE Somebvtlle, Mass., Feb. 24.—Adalyn Bushnell recently joined the Somervilla Players as leading woman.