The New York Clipper (May 1917)

May 9, 1917 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER SELZN1CK FIGHTS PENNA. CENSORS OVER FILM EASIEST WAY" THE CAUSE Philadelphia, May 6.—The Lewis J. Selznick Productions, Inc., started a vig- orous legal fight against the Pennsylvania censors to-day in an attempt to remove the ban on "The Easiest Way," which features Clara Kimball Young. Attorney J. Lewis Brietinger, detailed before the judges of the Common Pleas Court, alleged ruinous hardships imposed by the censors. He said that many changes had been made in the film at the order of the censors, and that the latter then decreed that the title be changed and the whole sixth reel be eliminated. The attorney asserted this would completely devitalize the story and ruin the film. The company contends that the picture is not improper, and does not tend to debase or corrupt morals. This contention is supported by leading film exhibitors who have rallied to the support of Selznick. The court test_ is looked upon as a long desired rebellion against the arbitrary methods of the Penn- sylvania board, which is declared to have acted in a high-banded manner against many films. HOWARD & CLARK MAY SPLIT Rumors are current along Broadway that the team of Howard & Clark are about to split. It is said that Miss Clark is dis- satisfied with the little she has to do in the present revue and that she has been dicker- ing with Harry Clark for the purpose of forming a vaudeville ■partnership. It is also stated that Howard is anxious to star alone in the act and would like the revue to go under the name of Joseph B. Howard & Co. In the event of the team severing partnership, Miss Poe, who now recites the prologue in the revue, is likely to appear in Miss Clark's numbers. CHICAGO AGENTS HERE An influx of Chicago agents was notice- able along Broadway early this week, which meant that the Midwestern crowd were here early to gather their acts for next season. Usually they do not arrive until June. Those that were seen about the Palace Theatre were Coney Holmes* Andy Tal- bot, Charles Freeman, Boyle Wolfolk, Nat Phillips, Harry Spingold and James B. McGowen. They all stated they would re- main in the East about a week before re- turning home. ROOT TAKES OLEAN HOUSE Rochester, N. Y., May 6.—A. w." Root, former booking agent of Roch- ester, and owner of "Enigmarelle," the Mechanical Man which has been playing the United time, has taken over the Palace Theatre, at Olean, N. Y. The house has a seating capacity of 1,500, and will con- tinue a policy of vaudeville and Feature photo play. DANCER IN SANITARIUM Rochester, Minn., May 2.—Etta L. Berger of the Dancing Bergers, was taken suddenly ill while playing Oxford Junction, Iowa, last week with the Francis Ingram show. She was rushed to tbe Mayo Brothers in this city, and is now in the Stanley Sanatarinm here. OPELS BEGINS TOUR Toledo, Ohio, May 2.—The Opels opened at the Gaiety Theatre, here, on Sunday. They put on a two-hour show, consisting of magic, juggling and comedy sketches. This marks tbe eleventh tour of this show, which, this season, will work East GRACE WILSON OPERATED UPON Grace Wilson, a show girl rehearsing with the Follies, underwent an operation for appendicitis last Saturday at the Prospect Heights Hospital, Brooklyn. Her condi- tion is reported favorably, but it will be several weeks before she can leave the hospital. THEATRES FORM ALLIANCE Rochester, N. Y., M»y 6.—A triple alliance has been formed between the Strand, Colonial and Family Theatres. -Vaudeville .will be shifted to the Strand instead of the Family next season, as larger seating capacity can be arranged. DEMANDS PROBE OF WHITE RATS_B00KS WANTS TO TRACE FUNDS ROCHESTER TEMPLE TO CLOSE Rochester, N. Y., May <5.—The regular vaudeville season at the Temple closes Saturday. The U. B. O. house had a fine season and will open early in Sept. "Joan the Woman," featuring Geraldine Farrar, will be the attraction next week. LOUISE DRESSER HAS NEW SKIT Chicago, May 3.—Louise Dresser ap- peared this week at the Palace in a playlet called "For Country," by A. F. Hopkins and Philander Johnson. It is conceded that the main idea of the skit is good, but that it has been poorly worked out. GEORGE LEVEY WELL AGAIN George Levey, the well known the- arical host of 44th Street, lias recovered from a serious operation. ROCHESTER MOVIE CLOSES Rochester, May C.—The Knickerbocker Theatre, one of the oldest movies in town, closed May 1. HITCHCOCK ENGAGES BORDONI When Raymond Hitchock's new revue "Hitchy Koo" opens shortly, Irene Bor- doni, whose vaudeville appearances were brought to a sudden halt by the death of Melville Ellis, will be found in a featured spot in the cast. FIELDS PREPARING NEW SHOW AL G. Field is organizing his Greater Minstrel Show for next season. When he will start his thirty-second tour with a show which he plans to make the banner one of his long career. JANET DUNBAR FOR "WANDERER" Janet Dunbar has been engaged for the cast of "The Wanderer" for next season. JANE OAKER Miss Jane Oaker, who has been such a terrific hit with "Cousin Lucy" as "Queeney" for past two seasons, is now rehearsing* her sketch by Julian Eltinge and opens next week in vaude- ville. "Her Grace de Vamp" is its title, and it has four people and special scenes. An order to show cause why the White Rats Actors' Union should not produce its ■ books and accounts for examination by a Supreme Court Justice or referee that maj be appointed, was issued by Justice Mitchel Erlanger, last week, on the ap- plication of Goldie Pemberton, a member of the organization. The order is re- turnable May 17 and was as follow-*: "The petitioner prays for a visitation and inspection of said White Rats Actors' Union, with its books and vouchers, by a justice of the Supreme Court, or any per- son appointed by the court for that pur- pose and for other relief therein specified, and, it further appearing by such peti- tion, to the satisfaction of this court, that said White Rats Actors' Union and its officers and directors have misappro- priated certain of its funds and property and diverted them from the purpose of its incorporation and that it has engaged in other business than that stated in its certificate of incorporation and that the persons hereafter named are directors thereof, and no previous application for an order having been made, it is on the motion of J. A A. S. Saplineky. attorneys for the petitioner, that this order is granted." Those who were named as defendant directors of the White Rats in the peti- tion are Fred Niblo, Frank North, Sam Morton, Ernest Carr, Junie McCree, Johnny Bell, G. E. Delmore, Frank Her- bert, J. F. Dolan, Otto Steinart, Barry Connors, Jim Marco, Tbeo. Babcock, R. H. Hodge, Edward Archer, W. P. Conley, James Greenfield, Victor P. 'Wormwood and Arthur Williams. The order of the court called for the service upon each of these defendants of a copy of the peti- tion, as to why they should not be re- quired to make and file an inventory and account of the property, effects and lia- bilities of the White Rats Actors' Union, with detailed statements of the transac- tions of the organization during the twelve months preceding the granting of the order. In her petition, Miss Pemberton states that she has been a member of the or- ganization since April 1, 1912, and that her dues are paid up until Oct. 1 of this year. In the petition it is declared upon in- formation and belief, according to a statement printed in the White Rats' of- ficial paper, on April 13 of this year, that the organization had 18,000 mem- bers who were to pay annual dues of $10 a year. The petition further continues that, al- lowing for delinquencies in payment, at least $100,000 should have been collected in dues during the last year- and, with the five per cent, levy assessment to as- sist in the fight against the vaudeville managers, which was in effect from Feb. 9 to April 13 last, another $24,407.70 was paid into the organization. This amount, she alleges, is the minimum amount of money realized through the levy. Another source of revenue, she alleges, was money that was procured from ad- dressing labor meetings. She says that she addressed a meeting in Boston during the strike and a considerable amount of money was acquired. It is alleged upon information and be- lief that the White Rats Realty Corpora- tion was formed as a subsidiary of the White Rats Actors' Union, because it is doubtful whether tbe latter could hold chattels of realty" value. It is further stated that the Union controls $100,000 stock in this corporation and that the directors of the Union controlled the elec- tion of the officers and directors of the realty corporation. It is alleged that they allowed a $125,- 000 realty bond issue and a $5,000 chattel mortgage on the furniture of the dab house to go by default of payment when they should have had sufficient funds to meet the payment of the interest on the bonds snd the other obligation. She charges that the directors of the White Rats permitted the directors of the realty corporation to surrender pos- session and convey title to one R. E. J. Corcoran, representative of the Columbia Trust Co., holder of the largest part of the $125,000 bond issue, and thereby the White Rats Realty Co., was deprived of all interest or equity in the premises. She alleges that, with such a large in- come as the organization should have, they allowed the property to go by de- fault, which could have been avoided by the payment of the interest on the bonds. It is alleged that, at several meetings, Mountford stated that the running ex- penses of the club house did not exceed $750 a week and that there were uo other obligations of the corporation. It ia then alleged that, during the paat year, funds of the corporation in excess of $50,000 have been dissipated and mis- appropriated, for which no account has . been rendered to the corporation. The petition further states that, for a long time, only meagre and indefinite in- formation as to the income and expendi- tures of the corporation were given by the officers and directors, to the members. During tbe last three months, it is al- leged, no information at all was given. Five months ago, it states, Mountford gave a statement at one of the meetings of the gross receipts and disbursements for tbe preceding week. It is further alleged that large eums of money were spent for the employment of pickets during the recent strike and that their real duties were to create dig- order and disturbances in theatres, tbe managers of which had had difficulties with the organization. It is charged that these people attacked and assaulted ar- tists working in such theatres. Payment of $6 a week to a single picket and $10 a week to a team of pickets was the re- imbursement for such services. However, it is alleged that the sum of money expended for this work was not sufficient to dissipate the funds of the corporation, derived from dues and as- sessments. MABEL HAMILTON Mabel Hamilton, the petite brunette, whose likeness graces the cover of The Clippeb this week, is one of vaudeville's favorites whose dainty personality has won her many admirers. She was formerly a member of the team of Clark and Hamil- ton, but will shortly appear alone In a novelty offering under the direction of M. S.'Bentham. This charming artiste, with her fascinating ways and mellow voice, should prove a welcome acquisition to the two-a-day. Her new act was written by Blanche Merrill. BRADY EXECUTORS OUSTED Robert K. Gordon and Robert C. Crowley, named by the late "Diamond Jim" Brady as executors, have been ex- cluded by Surrogate Cohalan as temporary administrators of the estate of the de- cedent. The Surrogate acted in considera- tion of the objections raised by Daniel M. Brady and Mrs. Hattie Mathleu, respec- tively brother and sister of the late steel operator. HARTFORD BUSINESS HOLDS UP Habtpobd, Conn., May 8.—No let np in attendance is felt in tbe playhouses of the Capitol City since President Wilson an- nounced oar entrance into the great world conflict. Papers editorially here are urging this branch of diversion for the people of the land. BURLESQUE CLUB OPENED The new dab rooms of the Theatrical Burlesque Club were opened for members yesterday at 721 Seventh Avenue. The formal house warming is announced for next Monday. ROSENBAUM MANAGES STOCK Cleveland, Ohio, May 6.—Edward E. Rosenbaum, Jr., has come here to take charge of F. Ray Comstock's stock com- pany at the Colonial Theatre.