The New York Clipper (July 1917)

12 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER July 18, 1917 JACK HORN QUITS FIFTH AVENUE IS SUCCEEDED BY HARRY HORNE Jack Horn, who managed the Fifth Avenue Theatre, Brooklyn, last season and put it on the map with a stock company, has severed his connection with that house to take the management of the New Liberty Theatre, now building on Staten Island, which is to open in the Fall, giving three nights a week of $200 Broadway attrac- tions and three nights of high class vaude- ville. His successor at the Fifth Avenue is Harry Home, who was the stage director under Jack Horn, and the company will be known as the Harry Home Stock. In assuming his new duties as manager of the boose, Mr. Home will not relinquish his old one of stage director, but will com- bine the two which assures the public the same high standard of performances as those given during 1916-17. Harry Home has the reputation of being one of the best stock managers in the country, having at various times conducted companies in the East and Middle West, and has the enviable distinction of never having been connected with a failure in the stock line. As a stage director he stands very nigh. He began his stage career as an actor, working under the best directors of the day, and studying the best methods of each, was admirably equipped to step into the breach when opportunity knocked at his door. By his direction of last season's Fifth Avenue productions he won the praise of the press and the confidence of the public and his selection as successor to Jack Horn is a fitting tribute to his ability. The policy of the house will remain un- changed. The weekly bills will be made up from Broadway successes and the best standard stock plays obtainable, together with an occasional first production of a new play by an unknown author. The company will include many of the favorites of last season's organization, with the addition of several other capable play- ers. It is expected that the addition to the stage depth, which was contemplated several months ago, will be completed in time for the opening on August 27. This extra stage space will permit the presenta- tion of the heaviest productions. The play selected for the opening bill together with the complete roster of the company will be announced later. EMERSON LEASES STOCK HOUSE Lawrence. Mass.. July 16.—The ac- quisition of the Colonial Theatre by Charles H. Emerson, of the Sites-Emerson Co., was announced here Saturday. Ac- cording to present plans, Mr. Emerson will have charge of the house, and will install a high class stock company for the coming season, presenting the best and latest releases available. The company is already being assembled, and will include several well-known players, the opening to take place the early part of September with a late Broadway release as the bill. Mr. Emerson has been connected with the Academy of Music in Haverhill, and the Opera House in Lowell, and his policy of maintaining high-grade companies is well known. TOM CASEY PLAYS McALESTER McAlesteb, Okla., July 13.—Tom Casey's Comedians, after playing a very successful week here in their tent air- dome, closed last Saturday night. The bills used were "Polly of the Circus," "Sweetest Girl in Dixie," "Lieutenant and the Cowboy," "Lena Rivers," "Bought and Paid For" and "Ten Nights in a Barroom." The roster of the company in- cludes Tom Casey, "Smiling^ Joe Harris, Ernest De Kalb, Tom Taylor, Mansfield Aides, Robert Lester. Slim Todd, with three helpers, Col. BUI Phelps, Mildred Jerome, Laura Chase, Hazel Warren, Francis French and Minnie Harris. CHASE VISITS LAWRENCE Lawrence. Mass.. July IS.—J. Warren Chase, formerly business manager for the Malley-Dennison Stock Co.. has been spending a few days in town renewing acquaintances. JACKSON JOINS ROBINS Montreal, July 16.—Thomas Jackson has arrived from New York to play juvenile roles with the Edward Robins l'layers, who have become very popular at the Royal Alexander Theatre. Jackson's last engagement was as the property man in "The Yellow Jacket" The Robins Players registered their most successful week of the season in "Arms and the Girl," the bill last week. Edward H. Bobbins and Virginia Brooks played the leads, and curtain calls were plentiful. All late stock releases are being used. PATTEE RENEWS LEASE Boston, July 16.—H. W. Pattee, man- ager of the Henry Jewett Players, an- nounced Saturday that he had 00031)161665 negotiations for a long term extension to the lease he holds of the Copeley Tteatre, formerly called The Toy. This indicates that the Jewett Players, with Henr7 Jewett as director, have become almost a permanent institution here. Extensive re- pairs will be made dnring the short time the house will be dark, beginning July 23. TOLER TRIES OUT A PLAY Portland, Me., July 16.—Sidney Toler's Stock Company at the Jefferson Theatre is arrangeing to try out "The Tiger's Cub" for the benefit of several New York managers and producers who have voiced their inten- tion of giving it the "once over." The pro- duction had a run of sixteen months at the Garrick Theatre in London. BROOKS GOES TO HOSPITAL George V. Brooks, well known in stock both as a director and player, will enter St. Luke's Hospital next Saturday to undergo an internal operation. He ex- pects, after recovering, to proceed to the battle front as a member of the Canadian over-sea forces. His last engagement was in vaudeville with Janet Allyn. CORINNE BARKER RETURNS Portland, Me., July 16.—Corinne Bar- ker, who completed an engagement of four- teen weeks with the Keith Stock Company at Keith's Theatre on Saturday, has re- turned to New York where she will lay plans for the future. MANHATTAN PLAYERS CLOSE Rochester, N. Y., July 16.—The Man- hattan Players, after a very successful en- gagement, closed their fifth season at the Lyceum Theatre last Saturday night. The season was especially notable-for theatre- goers here because most of the bills pre- sented were new to Rochester. SAM REED TAKES VACATION Cleveland, Ohio, July 15.—Sam T. Reed, who has completed twenty-two weeks of stock here, is taking a vacation in the country, prior to the opening of the regular stock season here in September. ROY DEE TAKES VACATION Linden, Wis., July 16.—Roy Dee, well known in stock circles, is spending a vaca- tion here with his wife, a non-professional, at the home of her parents. KEITH PLAYERS CLOSE UNION HILL RUN FUTURE PLANS NOT MADE KNOWN Union Hnx, N. J., July 16.—The little community of Union Hill gathered itself together Saturday night and said a tearful goodbye and "God bless you" to its repre- sentative stock company. The B. F.' Keith's Hudson Theatre players, after making the auditorium of the compact and comfortable Hudson play- bouse resound with laughter, cheers and tears for the past two years, dnring which time they have made friends by the score, brought their noteworthy and memorable engagement to a close with the night show on Saturday. The event was little short of an impres- sive ceremony. There were dozens of bouquets and gifts for the ladies, and the men were not forgotten. It was truly a lingering farewell, and, as was plainly evident, the sorrow of parting was not all on the side of the public at large, as the players sighed a deep regret at closing. The driving rain and blinding lightning flashes had no detracting effect on the at- tendance, and the house was packed to the roof when A. Milstein's orchestra struck up the overture, and the performance of "Safety First" was on. Joseph Lawrence announced that Charles W. Dingle, who was cast for the leading role, had been called home by the untimely death of his mother, and that Charles C. Wilson, cast for the role of Walter Clayton, could fill the place. Jack Armstrong took Mr. Wil- son's role, add handled it weD. Evelyn Varden, the attractive blond, in the lead opposite Mr. Wilson, strange to relate, did not win any new laurels. That would have been impossible in view of the fact that she had already reached the highest pinnacle possible for a player to do, and that the audience loved her for her charming personality. Charles C. Wilson, a leading man in his own right, was probably the favorite of the closing bill, bis work standing out con- spicuously. James R. Field, in a char- acter role; Jessie Pringle. character; Helen Vallely, ingenue; Kathleen Barry, general business; Virginia Howell, heavy; Joseph Lawrence, character, and Russell Snoad, character, were excellent in their respective places, and all were applauded to the echo at every opportunity. After the second act came the official goodbye ceremony, when flowers, candy and gifts were passed over the footlights, and the players made short addresses. Miss Vallely admitted she was shy on speaking in public, as she had not gone in for that sort of thing in the past, and received a good hand for her coyness. Miss Howell and Miss Pringle announced their inten- tions of remaining in Union Hill for the present, -and the balance of the company stated their plans for the immediate future are not completed. All were unanimous in voting thanks to Manager W. C. Masson, Stage Manager Arthur Mack and each other for the excellent co-operation and good win shown. The Hudson Theatre will probably re- main dark until Fall, when it will reopen with vaudeville. BRYANT PLAYERS SCORE Altoona, Pa., July 16.—The Marguerite Bryant Players scored a distinct hit last week at the Lakemont Park Theatre in "Why Girls Leave Home." Opening today and continuing through the week, the company will present "A Pair of Sixes." WOODS STOCK WINS CASE Fairmont. W. Va., July 17.—The Woods Stock Company, which ran up against a great inconvenience at the Hip- podrome here recently, when it was can- celed by the management of the house after the first performance of a week's engage- ment, has been awarded judgment here for $125 against the Mountain City Amuse- ment Company, lessees of the Hippodrome. The Woods Company, in its suit for al- leged damages, claimed breach of contract. The theatre manager defended the cancel- lation by claiming the show was not what was expected. EXMIRA STOCK WINS Between displaying the wonders of bis new car on Broadway and the duty at- tached to his appearances with The Rorick Opera Company in Elmira, Henry Lewis is finding his time well occupied. There is little doubt that his quaint talent and personality have bad much to do with the success of the company as was demon- strated week before last when "Nearly a Hero" was the bill. Capacity audiences were the rule and the comedian as wall as others in the cast marked up an in- dividual hit. REVIVAL HELPS BUSINESS ST. Paul, Minn., July 14.—Following the revival, week of July 2, of "The Deep Purple," by The Shubert Stock Co. at the Shubert Theatre, which brought many an extra clink of silver to the box office, the bills at the Shubert have been more popu- lar than ever, and the members of the com- pany are putting in their best work as a result of the acceleration. To create further interest The Shubert is- giving amateurs a chance to display their sup- posed talents on Tuesday night of each week. ORPHEUM STOCK MOVES Newark, O., July 16.—The Orpheum Stock Company, which closed a success- ful engagement of nine weeks in Decatur, 111., last week, after being held over on account of its popularity, has opened in Newark at the New Auditorium Theatre, which bouse is under the management of George Fenberg, a veteran in his line. He was formerly manager of the Empress • Theatre in Decatur. The Newark en- gagement of the Orpheum Stock Company is indefinite. OTT PLEASES SOMERV1LLE Bob Ott and his tabloid musical comedy company, who opened week before last in Somerrille. Mass., under the management of Clyde E. McArdle, "tabbed" themselves into immediate favor and the engagement is turning out even better than expected. The musical shows in tab form seem a welcome entertainment to the theatre- goers. LAWRENCE PLAYERS PLEASE Jamestown, N. Y., July 16.—The Lawrence Players, who recently opened a summer stock engagement at the theatre in Celeron Park, have been very successful in the bills presented, and a good season is predicted. No small amount of the suc- cess attained can be traced to the ex- cellence of the bills, which are chosen and staged with great care. BURKE TO RUN THEATRE Northampton, Mass., July 17.—It has been announced that Melville Burke, who has been connected with various branches of the theatre since 1907, has been chosen to succeed Bertram Harrison and Jessie Bonstelle in the direction of the Muni- cipal Theatre in Northampton. Stock and Repertoire Continued on page 23 BOSWORTH TO PLAY LEADS Union Hnx, N. J., July 17.—When the Fifth Avenue Stock Company reopens at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, in Brooklyn, next season, Aubrey Bosworth, appearing as juvenile with the Keith Players here, will have the juvenile leads.