The New York Clipper (July 1917)

July 18, 1917 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER n Answers to Queries war™ other playwright* ta US by Frank Qneaai Published by tie CUPPER CORPORATION Orland W. Vangkan...President and Secretary Frederick C Mailer .....Treasurer 1M4 lr.iJ.ij, New Y.rk Tele»htae Bryant (117-Cllt ORLAND W. VAUCHAN. EDITOR Paul C Sweinnart, Managing Editar NEW YORK, JULY 18, lfllT. Entered June 24, 1879, at the Post Oflka at New York. N. Y.. mm second das* matter, un- der the act of March 3. 1879. THE CLIPPER U issued every WEDNESDAY. Farms Cleae an Monday at 5 P. M. SUBSCRIPTION ' One Tear, in advance. $4; six months. $2; three meatus, SI. Canada and foreign portage extra. Single copies will be aent* postpaid, on receipt af It cents. ADVERTISING RATES FURNISHED ON APPLICATION Chicago Office—Room 210, 35 S. Dearborn St. Cms. Colvik. Mam-ages. Address All Communications to THE NEW YORK CLIPPER , MM Broadway, Now York Rtgitttrtd Ctblt Addrtu, "Authosity." Tbi Cunga cast ag orrAins WWanti aud axTAn., at our agents, Daw*a Steamship Agency, 17 Green Street. Charing Cross RoadT London, W. C, England; BrenUao's News Depot 37 Avenue de 1 Opera, Paris, France; Manila, P. L: Gordon ft Gotch, 123 Pitt: Manila Book and Stationery Co., 128 Escolta Street, Sydney. N. S. W., Australia. THE VAUDEVILLE THIEF I am the Vaudeville Thief. I would not steal a loaf of bread, a pocketbook, nor a diamond ring;, but I take something equally as valuable and to which I have no right: the creations and ideas of others. I am equally as despicable as the com- mon thief, for, when I steal the material or business of a fellow performer, I am, in a certain sense, taking his livelihood away from him. I am acquiring that which is not mine to take. I do not prosper, for thievery never prospers. People are quick to recognize that what I have acquired is not my own, and the ideas and creations of others fail in my less capable hands. The one whom I have wronged suffers also because I have made the road harder for him by cheapening his work. When I see a piece of business or hear a line that particularly pleases an audience, I say to myself, "That is just what I need in my own act!" And I snatch it with the same jealous hand that a woman thief employs who sees a diamond necklace on another that she craves to wear about her own neck. It is the same principle, and no matter how becoming the necklace may be or how well the stolen gag may go over, the fact that it is not my own preys on my con- science and kills the enjoyment, for I have lost the most priceless of all things: self- respect. I have never been a big success, for man- agers tell me I lack originality. I can never be original while I use that which is not mine. In jastice to the other fellow, I should reform, for I am a parasite and a Thief. THOMAS AIDS RECRUITING Augustus Thomas, John Philip Sousa and Benjamin Chapin rendered first aid to the recruiting officers last week when they appeared as the outstanding features of a meeting in Chambers Street for the purpose of rallying backward patriots to the colors. LAUREXTE TAYLOR LOSES FATHER James Cooney, father of Lanrette Tay- lor, died on Tuesday of last week from a stroke of apoplexy at the Lincoln Hos- pital. He was sixty-five years old, and for the past few years had lived with his daughter and her husband, J. Hartley Manners. A S. B.—The Playhouse was built be- fore the Forty-eighth Street Theatre. • • • J. A. K.—Emma Dunn played in the original production of "The Governor's Lady." • • • P. A. H.—"Peg o" My Heart" was the opening attraction of the Cort Theatre, this city. • • • E. N. T.—Marjorie Patterson played the title role in Winthrop Ames' production of "Pierrot the Prodigal." • • • B. D. B.—The John Philip Sousa light opera you refer to was presented in New York at the Broadway Theatre. • • • M. O. M.—Percy Mackaye is the son of the late Steele Mackaye, who was among the best-known playwrights of his day. • • • E. A. T.—In the revival of "The Music Master" last season at the Knickerbocker Theatre, Marie Bates played Miss Hous- ton, the role she created. • • » Y. B., Yonkers—Emily Ann Wellman made her-first big bid for metropolitan favor as Marie Forgeat in "The Guilty Man," a production made early last sea- son. • • • G. R. B.—You have confused the two. R. B. Mantell was in the original produc- tion in this country of "Called Back." Richard Mansfield appeared in "A Parisian Romance." • • * A. R. A.—John Mason began his stage career as a member of the stock company at the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadel- phia. He went to the Boston Museum from that house. • • • P. R. G.—David Warfield, Louis Mann, Willie Collier and Charles Bigelow were - With the Weber & Fields Music Hall Stock Co. at various times, but no two of them at the same time. » * • O. B. B., Brooklyn.—Mrs. Leslie Carter appeared in "The Heart of Maryland" and Mr. and Mrs. Russ Wbytal in "For Fair Virginia." The plays were produced the same season. Mr. Wbytal wrote the latter play. see O. E. I.—When David Belasco as- sumed the management of the Republic Theatre he renamed it the Belasco. When he gave the latter name to the Stuyvesant Theatre, the former house again became the Republic, its present name. • • a H. I. E.—Sothern, Skinner, Arties and Warfield each ranks high in his line of work and it is much a matter of personal opinion as to which can do the best work. Arlisa has probably given us the greatest variety of characterizations. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Harry Shunk, Jerry Hart, and Al G. Field were the principal comics of the Al G. Field Minstrels. Eugene Robinson owned Robinson's Museum, New Orleans, Three Robinson's Floating Palaces and a "Paul Kauvar" Co. "He was a Soldier" by Paul Dresser was issued by Welles Woodward & Co. Sam Bernard was in Paris, France. John J. McNally and Julian Mitchell wrote "A Bad Bargain" for James T. Powers. Beerbohm Tree entertained N. C. Good- win, Jr., De Wolf Hopper, Burr Mcintosh, B. H. Sothern and Stuart Robson at a July 4th dinner in London, England. Editor of The Cuffkb: Is the theft of an author's play or book of as much account in the eyes of the law as the filching of a bag of nuts from a peanut vender? I entrusted my play, "The World and the Woman," September 1, 1916, to Robert Laurence to act as my agent to place the play for production. Unknown to me, he signed a contract with the Myro Producing Co. stating that he was author and sole owner of the play and putting in the manu- script as his share of the assets of the company. The play was produced January 1, 1917, at the Grand Opera House, Toronto, taking in $1,400 receipts for that day. After that week it was played con- tinuously under the title of "The Guilty Woman" until I stopped it here in New York the week of April 9, having discovered a few days before while it was running in Philadelphia, that the play was mine. They had not even changed the names of the characters. Laurence was indicted by the Grand Jury, April 30. On June 11, when brought before Judge Mayer, he pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to one day's imprisonment and a fine of $15. Alfred G. Steiner, attorney with O'Brien, Malevinsky and Driscoll, who had my case, tells me he several times asked Mr. Con- tent, assistant district attorney, to notify bim when Laurence was to appear before the judge, as he wished to have me there to testify. Content not only did not do this but he neglected to let my attorney or me know there bad been any trial till two weeks after it bad taken place, and Laurence had received his extraordinary sentence. This Laurence has now in his possession synopses of several other plays of mine which he will not return to me. He profited from the many months of my labor from which I have not received one cent and he will go merrily on his way with no hindrance from the law. From my experience it would seem that a day's imprisonment and $15 fine is a punishment so small as to almost place a premium on the theft of manuscripts. I daresay that judges and prosecutors are too busy to take my personal loss into con- sideration when dealing with a culprit on the criminal side, but as other authors are liable to be the next victims of this man or his ilk, it may be valuable for them to know the facts before parting with their manuscripts. I appeal to you to see if the author can have any redress. Sincerely yours, Axxx B. Ives, Society American Dramatists' Authors' League of America. II West 64th Street, New York City. ESTHER LAWSON GETS DIVORCE Editor New York Clipper : Dear Sir: Miss Esther Lawson, former- ly Mrs. Walter Meyers (Bernstein) wishes it known that she has received a decree for divorce from her husband 1 , Wal- ter Meyers (Bernstein), in the Circuit Court of this city. Respectfully, Miss Esther Lawson. DECATUR PICTURE HOUSE OPENS Decatub, DX, July 10.—The New Lin- coln Square Theatre opened its doors as a picture honse last Wednesday, under the management of Nate Erber, who has installed a five-piece orchestra. A good run of pictures will be presented. SHUBERT GOES TO LAKE SEBIC Lawrence, Mass., July 13.—Ernest L. Sbubert, formerly of the Scenic Theatre, Waltham, who has been visiting friends has gone to Lake Sebic, Me., for the Summer. DON'T MISS ITHE CLIPPER PuHm Varatf OB THREE MONTHS FOR ONE DOLLAR S wrt to Tov SflaUur A-dtxr*»*_ Remit to CLIPPER CORPORATION, 1804 Broadway. N. Y. RIALT0 RATTLES VANDERBILT + FORD = WW If team names count for anything, Ger- trude Vanderbilt and Johnny Ford ought to have some rich act! JUST AS LIKELY Now that Joe Hart has written an Italian song for Belle Baker, maybe Pat Casey will write a Jewish song for Harry Lauder. A CAUSE FOR EXEMPTION? We don't know how true it is, but we heard that Herbert Ashley was turned down for the army because he had bad parodies. FAMILIAR HEADLINES Lesser Coming East. Kern Engaged to Write Music. Broadway to Have New Theatre. Tinney Enlists. RATHER FISHY We are not surprised that Miss Her- ring won a prize at the Lights' Water Carnival, for, with that name, she ought to swim like a fish. IMP-0RTANT Al Lee wishes to let it be known that he is an "Imp." Although Webster doesn't say it in his dictionary, Lee assures us that an Imp is a small Impresario. A LIGHT JOKE Residents of Freeport and thereabouts need not worry if the electric company should suddenly shut off the current. There are plenty of Lights in the neigh- borhood. WHY NOT RELATIVES' NIGHT? Tom Sheehan says that between the Kouns Sisters, the Dolly Slaters, the Alexander Brothers and SN'er, and the Caites Brothers, the bill e. >.tir h»r-» is pretty much of a family »-Ti A SUGGESTION WORTH *. When those vaudeville '•«■■• an association might we sugge.' law? "Section umpteen: When reaches the age of twelve years, it be discarded by all members of this as- sociation and allowed to die a natural death." IMPERTINENT QUESTIONS What was Jack Edwards doing in Merry land not so long ago? How many agents were at the ball game last Friday afternoon? Has Charlie Grohs thought of some- thing funny about himself that can be printed in these "Rattles"? THEY TOOK ANOTHER GUESS They were standing in front of the Palace Theatre Building, examining an automobile with "PD" inscribed on its door. Said one of them: "I guess that stands for Police Department." Said the other one: "No. That merely means the car's paid for." And then Paul Durand came along, cranked 'er up, and rode away. COUNTRY CHARMS ON BROADWAY There's a Spanish dancing school a few doors removed from the Palace Theatre. If you listen closely you can almost al- ways hear the click of the castanets there. When Harry Ellis heard it the other day, his face brightened. "Golly!" he said, "that's great to get some country atmos- phere right here on Broadway. Just lis- ten to -those crickets chirping!" NOT FOXY ENOUGH Of course, the reconciliation of Harry Fox and his Dolly sister is an old story now. But we just heard a very plausible explanation of the thing: They say that Harry hsd some heated words with his sister-in-law, thinking all the while that he was fighting with his wife. And, just like the farce comedy, everything was ex- plained in act three, and now all is hunky-dory once more.