The New York Clipper (July 1917)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER July 4, 1917 " SPIRIT OF 76 " QUITS AFTER $325 ROW BACKERS WITHDRAW SUPPORT The vaudeville career of "The Spirit of '76," a spectacular turn which had the backing of the Militia of Mercy, came to a sudden halt last Monday. The act which had played four weeks about New York prior to being offered in the two-a-day houses was to have opened a five weeks' engagement in New England theatres secured for it by Jack Henry, their agent. However, on account of internal differences between G. F. Bickford and a man named Campbell, who in secretary to Mrs. John Hays Ham- mond, president of the Militia of Mercy, the tour was called off on Monday morn- ing. It appears that on Sunday, after the ball game at Ebbets Field, a sum of $325, which was realized from the sale of songs at the ball park, was to have been given Bickford for transportation expenses. After the game Campbell refused to give any of the money to Bickford, who, in turn, told the people in the act that the act would not continue further. Henry did everything possible on Mon- day to get the Militia of Mercy to finance the act and send it to Salem, Mass., where it was to have played the Federal Theatre for the first half of the week. None of those connected with the organi- zation would in any way assist the project. There were twenty persons in the act, headed by Grace Payne Whitney, and a number of girls who were daughters of New York society leaders. MANY ACTS CHANGED MONDAY Al and Fannie Stedman did not open at the Palace Theatre Monday on account of the spot on the programme assigned to them. White and Haig were held over and the bill rearranged. After the mat- inee White and Haig and the Kouns Sis- ters changed positions, putting the Kouns Sisters in the next to closing spot. On account of the non-arrival of bag- gage, Lockett and Brown were compelled to do their act in their street clothes at the Monday matinee, and McClellen and Carson worked without their scenery at the New Brighton Theatre. Emma Stephens suddenly became ill Monday night at the Riverside Theatre and, up to the time of going to press, nobody had been assigned to take her place. Dorothy Jardon withdrew from the show at Morrison's Theatre, Rockaway, on Sunday, and the Klein Brothers (home talent), who had just arrived from a tour over the Pontages Circuit, replaced her. REMPEL SISTERS HAVE NEW ACT Bessie and Harriette Rempel have in preparation a new one-act skit which is based on the incidents necessary in mak- ing a one-reel comedy picture. It is due to be shown at the Fifth Avenue Theatre the first part of the week of July 16. K.1NGSLEY GOES ON VACATION Walter E. Kingsley has given the Palace Theatre publicity pen to Sylvia Bloom for two weeks, while he spends a short vaca- tion at Atlantic City. DOLLYS BOOKED FOR PALACE The Dolly Sisters will be seen again in vaudeville, and are booked to appear at the Palace Theatre the week of July 16. ARRANGES SHOW FOR SING SING Louis Pincns will give the inmates of Sing Sine prison a vaudeville show this evening, and has obtained the services of a number of well-known acts, who will leave late this afternoon for the state prison. They will be entertained at din- ner by Warden Moyer, after which the performance will be given in the audi- torium of the prison. All of those in the institution, with the exception of those in the death bouse, will be in attendance. Several of the performers will be selected to sing for the men in the death cells in addition to their other performance. Those who will appear are Saranoff, Lu- cille & "Cockies," Fay Hitchins, Felix Adler, Bert Levy, Henry Clive, Boree Plouden, Tommy Gray, Nate Leipsig, Dan Casey, Gallerini & Son and Louis Silver at the piano. BRIGHTON CARETAKER DIES John B. Davis, for the last nine years caretaker of the New Brighton Theatre, died last Thursday at bis home in Brighton Beach, aged ninety-two years. He was for years among the most noted of turf fol- lowers in this country and was author of "The History of the American Turf." At one time wealthy a reverse in his fortunes left him penniless and John G. Cavanaugh gave him a position as caretaker of hia theatre. The remains were interred June 30 in Lutheran Cemetery, in the plot of Louis Matthilles, stage doorman of the New Brighton. BAKER PLAYLET REHEARSING Colgate Baker's playlet, "Children of France," which was given a tryout at the Palace several weeks ago will soon be pre- sented in vaudeville with the following cast: June Delight, recently of "You're In Love," Clifford Grey, Burford Hamp- den and Harry Stafford. Robert Edeson, who originally appeared in the piece, will not be in the cast. The playlet !a now in rehearsal. FAT BOYS IMITATE ARBUCKLE Rochester, N. Y., July 2.—Manager Fennevessy of the Family Theatre has a new feature that gets the money. Wed- nesday, as an added attraction, local fat boys were given a chance to show how Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle gets laughs. The audience picks the winner and the contest proves a scream from opening to curtain. JOE HOWARD HAS NEW ACT Washington, D. C, July 2.—Joseph E. Howard began an indefinite engagement at the New National Theatre to-day, open- ing in his latest musical comedy. "What Is Love." The following attractions will be included in his repertoire "Broadway Honeymoon," "Flower of the Ranch," "The Girl and the Man," and "Frivolous Geral- dine." WAGNER CALLED TO COLORS With the calling out of the Second Field Artillery of New York, Fred Wagner, who has been connected with the Keith in- terests for several years in the capacity of treasurer of the Royal Theatre, left his position to answer Uncle Sammy's call. Charles Stevens, of the Colonial Theatre, has replaced Wagner at the Royal. GIBSON AND CLARK FORM ACT Trenton, N. J., June 30—William L. Gibson, the dramatic actor, and Miss Clark, well known in musical comedy, have joined as a team and will make their vaudeville debut here Monday night, un- der the direction of Frank Evans. VAUDE. PAIR TO MARRY Sara Vernon, of the team of Vernon and De Lisle, and Tony Van, of Van and the Ward Girls, will be married on July IS DRAFT LAW MAY HELP SMALL TIMEACTS BIG TIME LIKELY TO NEED THEM Small time acts and newcomers to vaude- ville are expecting an exceptionally good season next year, present conditions point- ing to a new era in big time vaudeville which is bound to result in many new names and faces on the big time boards. These conclusions are based on the prob- able results of the military draft law which, when conscription begins, is going ±0 mean an upheaval of vaudeville, due to the fact that a great majority of the male per- formers are within the military draft age. The Clipper, in a recent compilation, printed more than fifteen hundred names of vaudeville performers subject to draft, and this was, by no means, a complete list. While all will not pass the regula- tions and many will be exempt for one reason or another, the greater part of these vaudevillians will, no doubt, be taken for military service, which will mean the break- ing up of many acts and the drafting of many singles. This will leave a vacancy in vaudeville bills which will have to be filled. Big time agents and managers will, therefore, look to newcomers and the bet- ter grade of small time acts to fill these places so that the patrons of the bigger bouses can see the same length bills as they have been accustomed to. In this way, many aspirants and small time turns will be granted their long-sought-for chance to make good on big time. As a result, the smaller houses will find even a greater vacancy in the ranks of their performers, and will probably be glad to welcome any material available. The probable move on their part will either be to pay bigger salaries as an Inducement to keep their old performers or to run less of a vaudeville bill and more of a picture show. "RUBEV1LLE" GETS ROUTE A tonr of the Orpheum Circuit has been awarded the rural sketch, "Rubevllle." It will open its tour at the Orphenm Theatre, San Francisco, July 29. FILMS GET GLADYS ALEXANDRIA Gladys Alexandria has signed with the Life Photo Plays Co. for one year through M. S. Bentham, her manager. WARNS AGENTS AND ACTS Clark Brown, general manager of the Canadian United Theatres, Ltd., has sent out the following notice to all agents and acts: "Acts and members of vaudeville acts entering Canada are warned to fill out accurately, carefully and truthfully all pa- pers furnished them by the Canadian Im- migration Department. There is no ob- stacle placed in the way of legitimate vaudeville performers entering Canada, un- less they be Germans, AuBtrians, Bulgarians or Turks, but the Canadian authorities want to know who each individual is that crosses the border, what their business is in Canada, and when they expect to re- turn to the United States. Performers who follow these instructions need expect no trouble getting in or out of Canada, or while they are in Canada." DOROTHY MEUTHER Appearing on the Orpheum Circuit in a sing-ins covelty written especially for her by Blanche Merrill. STOP BLASTING BEFORE PALACE The blasting of the new subway exten- sion in front of the Palace Theatre was suddenly ordered stopped last Friday on account of a near panic caused by an extra loud explosion which not alone blew sev- eral of the bystanders in front of the building off their feet, but also raised the pavement and sidewalk and is said to have damaged the foundation wall of the build- ing. Blasting in this section will here- after be done at night when no perform- ances are being given in any of the Long Acre Theatres. FRANK HALE INJURED While crossing Brooklyn Bridge last Thursday morning in an automobile, Frank Hale, of Hale and Peterson, and Kerry Wilson, of the Fox Film Corporation, were painfully injured when the machine was struck by a milk wagon. Both were thrown from the vehicle, Wilson suffering three broken ribs and Hale receiving minor injuries. The former is still confined to the hospital. BODENHEIM OFF TO CAMP Sidney Bodenheim, of the press depart- ment of the United Booking offices, left for Plattsburg last Monday to assume his duties as bugler. Friends are taking ad- vantage of his absence by telling bow, while in camp at Van Oortlandt Park, he over- slept one morning, and his regiment had a half-day's work done before he awoke to sound the reveille call. MERIAN'S DOGS RECEIVE A ROUTE Merian's Dogs have received a route over the United time through the Marinelli offices, opening September 17 at the Col- onial Theatre and closing the season Feb- ruary 24 at the Riverside. The act is an entirely new one which was recently tried out and is entitled "Wedding Day in Dogville." MEYERS LEAVES ON VACATION William Russell Meyers, manager of the Hamilton Theatre, left Monday for his summer vacation. During his absence, Wm. Rayner, manager of the Prospect Theatre, which closed last Sunday, will act in his stead. LAURIE A BRONSON ENGAGED Joseph Laurie and Aleen Bronson, ap- pearing in vaudeville in "Lost and Found," have been engaged by the Shuberts for a revue to be staged at the Bijou 'Theatre in the Fall. BRIAN TO ENTER VAUDEVILLE Donald Brian will present shortly at the Palace Theatre the playlet by Robert Mears Mackoy, "Somewhere in Mexico," in which he was seen at the recent Lambs' Gambol. ED. LISSMAN CELEBRATES Ed Lissman, leader of the orchestra at the Amphion Theatre, Brooklyn, celebrated last week his fourth year with Manager Williams of that bouse.