The New York Clipper (May 1917)

May 16, 1917 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 11 Founded In MS by Frank Qiiwo Published by the CLIPPER CORPORATION Orland W. Vaugban... President and Secretary Frederick C. Muller Treasurer 1604 Broadway, New York Telephone Bryant 6117-6118 ORLAND W. VAUCHAN, EDITOR Paul C. Swetnhart, Managing Editor NEW YORK, MAY 16, 1917 Entered June 24, 1879, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., as second class matter, un- der the act of March 3, 1879. THE CLIPPER U issueM every WEDNESDAY. Forms Close on Monday at 5 P. M. SUBSCRIPTION One year, in advance, $4; six months, S2; three months, SI. _ Canada and foreign postage extra. Single copies will be sent, postpaid, on receipt of 10 cents. ADVERTISING RATES FURNISHED ON APPLICATION Chicago Office—Room 210, 35 S. Dearborn St. Castes Nathan. Mahaszb. Southwestern Office—1125 Grand Ave. Kansas City, Mo. Al. -Maxinso.v. Manages. Address All Communications to THE NEW YORK CUPPER 1604 Broadway, New York Rtgiritrtd Cable Address. "Authoiity." The Clipfks cam as obtained wholesale and ietail, at our agents. Daw's Steamship Agency, 17 Green Street, Charing Cross Road", London, W. -C, England; Brentano's News Depot, 37 Avenue de I Opera, Paris, France; Manila, P. I.; Gordon & Gotch, 123 Pitt: Manila Book and Stationery Co.. 128 Escolta Street, Sydney. N. S. W.. Australia. Profession Is Patriotic It is gratifying to note the willingness of members of the amusement profession to do their "bit" in connection with the war. On every hand we learn of men and women of tbe theatre showing their patriotism in various ways, and included is every one from manager to property man. Long before tbe war was brought to our doors, there were numbers of Ameri- can actors with the Allies in France, either in the aviation corps, in the trenches, or doing ambulance work, while in the list of Red Cross and hospital workers it was not uncommon to see the name of some well known American actress prominently mentioned. Of course, such persons were actuated from the standpoint of humanity, as our flag was not threatened, but it went to show that tbe right spirit was there and sacrifice meant nothing to them when humanity called. But the number who answered that call was small indeed as compared to the num- ber who have responded to the call of Old Glory. Managers are lending their the- atres for recruiting purposes. Tbe picture men have made slides urging those who hold back to come forward and do their duty. Women of the dramatic vaudeville and burlesque stage have volunteered to aid recruiting officers in their work, and only last week in a Middle West city, a vaudeville actress, on her own initiative, visited factories in that place, called mass meetings and said she would personally answer every letter that came to her from the trenches bearing the post mark of France. Many dramatic, vaudeville, motion pic- ture and bnrlesqne actors have signed up, some for the officers training camp at Plattsburg. some for the ranks and some for the Naval Reserves. Workers in more than one motion pic- ture concern have gone in a body to Uncle Sam's agents to show their willing- ness to fight for their flag, and the heads of these concerns have shown their patriot- ism by telling the men that they would be welcomed back when they return. We have reason to be proud of mem- bers of the amusement profession. For their charity they have ever been known and now. when their country needs them they show the same willingness to fight for their flag as they always have to give for charity. Answers to Queries M. W.—"Candida" was first produced in America by Arnold Daly. • SI • A. S. C.—John Mason was a member of the Boston Museum Stock. • • » P. M. C.—Otia Skinner played the lead- ing role in "Kismet." A wins. • * * R. N. O.—The Casino was built many years before the Knickerbocker. • • • N. B. S.—Frank Whitman, the dancing violinist, is now appearing in England. • • «• N. B. I.—It was May Robson, not Eleanor, who was under the Sire manage- ment. • * a G. B. I.—The late Charles Klein wrote "The Third Degree" and also "The Lion and the Mouse." • * * S. O. A., Brooklyn.—Emma Carus was a popular burlesquer before she went into musical comedy. • • • R. S., New York.—Dan Daly, not Pete Dailey, appeared with Edna May in "The Belle of New York" in London, Eng. • • • A. N.—Daniel, Gustav and the late Charles Frohman were brothers. Each began his theatrical career as an agent. • « * D. O.—A is right. George Arliss and Wm. B. Mack were members of Mrs. Fiske's stock company at the Manhattan Theatre. • • * J. F.—"The Great Metropolis" was tbe first prodnction made by the firm of Klaw & Erlanger and for those days it was in- deed a massive production. • « • B. H. R.—-You are wrong. "Shenan- doah" was presented at Proctor's Twenty- third Street Theatre, and "The Girl I Left Behind Me" at the Empire. • * • V. B.. Erie.—The Ringling Brothers Circns appeared in Madison Square Garden once. That same Spring the Barnum & Bailey Circus appeared in Chicago. • • * 0. F. R.—The Brockton (Mass.) Fair has for many years been considered the most imnortant and biggest fair in the East, and, is not surpassed on tbe American continent. • • • A. C. G.—Kitty Blancbard was wife of the late McKee Rankin. One of their dnutthters. now dead, was the wife of Sydney Drew. The other is the wife of Harry Davenport. • • • 1. A. T.. Baltimore.—B. F. Keith was recognized as the founder of continuous vaudeville, but F. F. Proctor gave New York its first performance of this kind at his Twenty-third Street Theatre. • * • E. E. E.—Oscar TTammerstein built the Olympia on Broadway from Forty-fourth to Forty-fifth Street which included what is now called the New York Theatre and the Criterion. The former was called the Music Hall and the latter the Theatre and one admission entitled a patron to both houses. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO William Jerome sailed for Europe. Bernard Dyllyn was with the "Corinne" company. The Lambs' Club moved from 27th Street to 29th Street. John J. Sweeney, of Sweeney and Ryland. died. "A Fool's Paradise" was produced by E. S. Willard. Charles Kenna was with the Four Em- perors of Music. Frank ("Bud") Williamson was a part- ner of Dave Montgomery, playing the variety halls. Jndge Morrow won the Brooklyn Handi- cap. beatiDg Pessara, Rnssell, Raeeland, Clarendon, Banquet, Madstone, Longstreet and other cracks. DISLIKES SUPPER SHOWS Editor, New York Cupper: Dear Sir:—I would appreciate your giving me the opportunity of entering a complaint through your columns concern- ing the manner in which "supper shows" are run at the New York vaudeville houses. The other evening, having several hours to kill around the supper hour, I decided to go 'to a vaudeville show, and I bought a ticket for the Proctor Theatre on East One Hundred and Twenty-fifth street. Although I was charged the same price as is charged for their other shows, I Jo not feel that I received the same value in return. Understand, I am not com- plaining particularly of this theatre but am merely taking it as an instance of all houses whore supper shows are played. I am not a picture fan, and yet I was forced at this show to sec reel after reel of movies, although the theatre is primar- ily a vaudeville house, and vaudeville is what 1 had conic to see. Moreover, throughout the running of the pictures, the complete orchestra of the theatre was there and played for all it was worth. Finally, the vaudeville started, wnere- upon the orchestra filed out. In other words, the pictures seemed important enough to retain the orchestra, but the vaudeville acts were only secondary! With a poor piano accompaniment, the singing and dancing acts rushed through their routine. No encores were taken, and every performer's idea seemed to be to get it over and done with. Either the admission price for tbe sup- per show should be lowered or the patrons should be given a regular, well run vaude- ville bill. Yours truly, ALFRED WlIXABO, JB. New York City. SEEKS LOST WIFE Editor, New York Clipper : Dear Sir:—A reward is offered for any information regarding the whereabouts of Carrie Reynolds Lewis, my wife. The management of the Washburn Carnival states that Mrs. Lewis left that organization April 10, ostensibly for her home at Olean, N. Y.; but she never ar- rived there, and her parents and son are equally in ignorance of her whereabouts. She had considerable money and a dia- mond ring when leaving the show, and also a deed in her favor to my home and other property. Mrs. Lewis is of medium height, brown hair and eyes, dark complexion, aquiline nose, weight about 155 Mjb.; is forty years of age, but appears much younger; very highly educated, and of agreeable disposi- tion. She is well and favorably known in the profession, having during the twen- ty years of her married life traveled with Welsh Bros., Puwnee Bill, Walter L. Main, Norris and Rowe, Francis Ferari, Washburn's and other tented attractions. Respectfully, Cam. Stanley Huntley Lewis, Special Publicity Manager. "The Crisis." Cincinnati, Ohio, May 14. RIALT0 RATTLES WANTS MORE PICKFORDS Editor, New York Clipper: Dear Sir: What has become of Mary Pickford? Or, rather, why do we not see more pictures in which this dainty picture star appears? Is it because that, since she became in- terested in her own motion picture com- pany, acting before a screen has become too much like work, or is it because she is unable to get screen stories suitable to her talents t I am a great admirer of Mary Pickford, and in my opinion she has no equal in motion pictures, but when one Bees so few pictures in which she appears there seems a likelihood of her losing much of her well-deserved popularity. A year or so ago, if my memory serves me, I used to see one and sometimes two Mary Pickford feature pictures a month. Now I rarely see one. Indeed, it has been so long since I saw one that I have almost forgotten it. Again I ask, "What has become of Mary Pickford?" THINGS YOU'LL NEVER SEE A] Darling with a grouch. Another "Patria" in the Keith houses. Irene Bordoni doing German comedy. A vaudeville bill without a patriotic song. Eva Tanguay in drama- Jane Cowl singing "I Don't Care." SUGGESTED BY TITLES. "Bosom Friends"—William Collier and Geo. M. Cohan. "The Man Who Came Back"'—Arnold Daly. "Pals First'*—Joe Weber and Lew Fields. "A Successful Calamity"—Evelvn Nes- bit. THERE'S A REASON On Broadway, around Forty-seventh Street, the sidewalk slopes noticeably downward from the building line to the curb. Muriel Ostrich, who is a tiny little mite, usually walks close to the building Hue, especially when escorted by a tall young gentleman. We wonder why! WHEN JOFFRE CAME TO TOWN. First Performer: "See how they've deco- rated the avenue for Marshal ." Second Performer: "I never thought they'd give him such a wonderful wel- come home reception, even though Mar- shall Montgomery is mighty popular!" STARTLING HEADLINES Lamb's Club Opens Publicity Bureau. "I'm Through with the Rats."—Mount- ford. Belasco Loses Suit. New Patriotic Song Written. CONTRADICTIONS. Victor Herbert is a conductor, but ha never rings up jitneys. Al Woods is a producer, but he doesn't grow any vege- tables. We know a lot of hams, but they cau never lie cured. NAME TELLS THE STORY Melville A. Buscr is suing Bessie Busrr for divorce, giving intoxication as the cause. If his charges are sustained, and he wished to be facetious, he might call her Bessie Boozer. THAT'S WHY HE WROTE IT Gordon Dooley has written some touch- ing verse entitled. "The Wife." Perhaps you think he is in the hen-pecked class. Well, guess again, for he isn't even married. COINING MONEY We haven't seen Fred Schwartz around Broadway lately. Perhaps lie finds po- tato growing at Bayside more profitable than talking with his theatrical friends. IS MARY HURT? A contemporary's headline reads "Mary's Ankle Cast." We know that they have casts for legs, but we're not so sure about ankles. ONLY ONE THING NEEDED. Charles F. Clark, of the Ringling Cir- cus, has written a playlet. The only thing lacking now is a producer. AWAKENED SPRING TO SLEEP. The German sex play, "The Awakening of Spring," was banned from the Ameri- can stage. Too much Kultur. A COUSIN TO WICKY WACKY The name of Raymond Hitchcock's naw play, "Hitchy Koo," probably means some- thing similar to wacky woo. MORBID COMEDY. "Ghosts" is rather a serious subject for a comedy theatre. A SUGGESTED REVIVAL. "The Music Master" with James K. Hackett.