The New York Clipper (October 1917)

October 3, 1917 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 11 Founded in 11SJ by Frank Queen Published by the CUPPER CORPORATION Orland W. Vaughan.. .President and Secretary Frederick C Muller Treasurer 1604 Broadway, New York Telephone Bryant 6117-6118 ORLAND W. VAUGHAN, EDITOR Paul C Sweinhart, Managing Editor NEW YORK. OCTOBER 3, 1917 Entered Jane 24, 1879, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., aa second class matter, un- der the act of March 3, 1879. THE CLIPPER is issued every WEDNESDAY. Forms Close on Monday at 5 P. M. SUBSCRIPTION One year, in advance, $4; six months, $2; three months, $1. _ 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. Chas. Colvin. Manage*. Address All Communications to THE NEW YORK CLIPPER MM Broadway, New York Registered Cable Address, "Autho«ity." Tub O-irrxa cam be obtained wholesale and retail, at our agents. Daw's Steamship Agency, 17 Green Street, Charing Cross Road, London, \V. G. 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 Escotta Street, Sydney, W. S. W., Australia. THE DUTY OF A PERFORMER The recent occurrence in TJtica, New York, where Manager William Fait, of the Avon Theatre, was compelled to remove a performer from the bill running at his house, owing to the fact that he believed him to be intoxicated, can serve as an ex- cuse for again pointing out the duty of a performer to a manager, because, as the managers, through the Vaudeville Man- agers* Protective Association, are now en- deavoring to do their duty toward the per- former, they will in turn demand that the latter live strictly up to his duty toward them. The duty of a performer toward a man- ager is to give him the best of which he is capable, just the same as he would be ex- pected to deliver the best were be selling him a quantity of tin cans, automobiles or suspenders. The booking of an act is a commercial proposition entirely, with the act, the property, the owner, the seller, and the manager, the buyer. When a manager books an act, he does so only after he has himself looked it over or had someone representing him do so and found it to be what he wants. He has fol- lowed the same methods he would pursue were he buying tin cans or suspenders. He has looked at many acts, just as he would at many brands of suspenders and picked that one out as being best suited to him. But, when it is delivered, he wants it to be in the same condition as when he booked or purchased it, unless, of course, he has agreed to certain changes. He wants to get the act he booked. Otherwise, it is not the same act- Therefore, when an act shows up at a theatre in a condition that is even sug- gestive of intoxication, the manager is hav- ing his purchase delivered to him in a con- dition other than it was when he bought it, for, had the act been intoxicated at the try-out he would not have booked it. That is the situation in a nutshell. The performer owes it to the manager, to de- liver his act to him just as it was when booked. Drunkenness, tardiness in going on, lack of respect toward the audience, careless work, are all breaches on the part of the performer that can not be tolerated. The manager of a house has a right to the beat that is in any performer and the action of Manager Fait is such as can be expected from any man who values the patronage which, in most cases, it has taken him a long time to bnild up. And it is not without the bounds of possibility to expect that performers who fail to do so, will find their course harder and harder, now that the managers have formed them- selves into one big association. Answers to Queries C. S. V.—Write to Walter Kingsley, general press representative of all the Keith theatres. • • • J. W. L.—You can address T. B. Harms & Francis, Day & Hunter, at No. 62 West 45th St., New York. • • • A. B. R.—William Morris is associated with the United Booking Offices. He op- erated the New York Theatre Roof. • • • J. R.—In this issue of the Cupper is a story about Harry Lauder. He is reported as coming to this country this month. • • • M. C.—Maude Adams will not be seen in New York this season. She began a tour this week that will last until next July. • • • I. V.—Norma Talmadge, not Constance Talmadgc, was the star of Panthea. Jos. M. Schenck is her manager and husband. • • • W. A. K,—Lew Fields will appear in the forthcoming production at the Century Theatre, the name of which is "Miss 1917." » » • J. S.—The Dolly Sisters are under con- tract to Raymond Hitchcock, who is plan- ning to star them in a musical revue the first of the year. • • • P. W. A.—William Randolph Hearst is the bead of the International Film Co. C. F. Zittel, known as "Zit," is the general manager of the concern. • • • A. B.—John Drew is at present under the management of John Williams. He is soon to be seen in New York in a new play, the name of which has not as yet been announced. • * • J. W.—There is some sort of a connec- tion between D. W. Griffith and the Art- craft Picture Company. It is said Mr. Griffith is under contract to make a certain number of productions for that concern within a year. We do not know the exact arrangement. RIALTO RATTLES ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT No, Shirley Mason is not the mother of John Mason. PROOF OF A DOUBLE LIFE Charles K. Harrus sells fish at 403 West Thirty-ninth Street. WHO SHOWS REMIND US OF "Over the Phone"—Tyson and McBride. "Call A Taxi"—A "Frolic" show girl. THE MELTING POT Vaudeville is made up of acts, pluggers, song writers and applause. HELP We just heard of another act that stopped a show. This is number 276,- 587,349. WE HOPE FOR THE BEST Helen Paine is in the Palais Royale show. Let's hope she doesn't pain the patrons. 8TH WONDERS OF BROADWAY Georgie White and Lucille Cavanagh re- united. An unofficious cop. VERY, VERY TRUE A German corApany is presenting a piece called "The Lonely Road." Let's hope they never have to travel it. MAY BE MORE THAN ONE We suggest that, in producing "One Man's Opinion," Johnny Cantwell and Rita Walker, prepare it to meet that of several TAKES STREETER TO TASK Editor New York Cupper: Dear Sir: I wish to contradict a state- ment made by Morrie B. Streeter on sev- eral different occasions regarding the writing of "Back to Alabama in the Spring." During the last few weeks, while en- ronte with Al G. Field Minstrels, I chanced to meet several friends who saw Morrie B. Streeter's Tabloid show. These same people told me that he was using my song, and told me it was the hit of his show. However, the greatest surprise to me was the fact that Mr. Streeter claimed that he wrote the number, and several musicians who played the show told me Mr. Streeter's name was on the orchestration. I wish to publicly announce that when Mr. Streeter claimed the rights of com- posing "Back to Alabama in the Spring" he made a false statement, and I will kindly ask him through this paper to make such statements right. Mr. Streeter did arrange "Back to Ala- bama, in the Spring" for me while playing with the Veronee Dramatic Company last summer, but his arrangement was never used in the publication which Will Rossi- ter published last season. Mr. Harry L. Alferd arranged the number, and I wrote same in conjunction with Lew Denney. Yours truly, AL. J. PALMER. Care of Al. G. Field Minstrels. STARTLING NEWS OF THE WEEK "Grace George Goes on Tour With 'Eve's Daughter,'" says a headline. We bad never known that Eve had a daughter. COHAN IS REALLY FAMOUS George M. Cohan has at last reached the pinnacle of fame. The hurdy gurdys are waking late sleepers up with "Over There," his latest song. t SCHATCHENS TAKE NOTICE Dorothy Hirsch, manager of the Morn- ing Telegraph Vaudeville Department, re- ceived a raise in salary last week, the second since New Year's. HE SHOULD KNOW Gus Drier, the theatrical lawyer, says that if a man has any money—even a dime—and wishes to keep it, he wants to make it a point to keep absolutely away from lawyers. MAYBE! WHO KNOWS? "Yes or No," the title of the new Weber- . Anderson play now in rehearsal, seems somehow, to suggest being along the same lines as the song "Some Girls Do and Some Girls Don't." SHE'S A LOST SOUL When Bobby Helen went to her home town in Michigan recently she hung her wash out on the line, and when the neigh- bors caught sight of the lingerie they immediately declared that the White Way had ruined her. THE GREATEST ACTRESS Leah Nora, says Harry Bailey. Marion Weeks, says Nick Hanley. Katherine Dahl, says Alf Wilton. Cecil Cunningham USED to be, says Jean Havez. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO George W. Lederer'a Co. was playing "Nothing Bnt Money" in San Francisco. Klaus' Imperial Music Hall, New York, opened. M. Witmark & Sons had a half page ad advertising a catalog of 41 songs, in- cluding "The Wedding of the Lily and the Rose." "Father was Killed by the Pinkerton Man" was published by Wm. W. Delaney. Jas. J. Quinlan died in Philadelphia. HE WAS SURPRISED Recently Jack Drucker went to a con- cert and was just about to leave when he glanced at the program and saw that the next number was a song written by Weber. He sat down quickly, saying to liis companion: "Gee, I guess I'll wait and hear that I'd like to hear Harry sing." SEEN ON BROADWAY'S BORED WALK Frankie Fay seeking an office. Tbe wind blew his hat away. Marty Firkins reading a letter from Chi- cago. Wellington Cross looking at his hilling. Harry Cooper's birthday present to a booking manager. C. P. Stockhouse's left eye. TIMES HAVE CHANGED When you and I were young and small The poem recited by us all Concerned Mary and her lamb. But now, don't you know, if you're really smart And on Broadway want to get a real start You must know all about "Mary's Ankle." HEARD ON THE RIALTO Lewis J. Selrnick's car. Arthur Field's phonograph. "la Jack Clifford out or have they asked for waivers on him." "Who's goin' to write Savoy an' Bren- nan'a material for 'Miss 1917/ " HE WAS ENTHUSIASTIC Jack Murphy, who used to be the clerk at the Hotel Normandie, went to view the parade in honor of the Japanese Mission on Fifth Avenue the other day, but aa soon as he caught sight of the Jap flag, with a red ball centred in a white back- ground, he rushed home, got out his skates and beat it to the lake in Central Tark. HE KNEW Sam Shannon and a fricud were going down Broadway the other day when a sound like the firing of a huge gun broke in on their conversation, probably caused by a blast in the new subway. "Maybe that's the Germans," said the friend. "No," replied Shannon quietly. "They've started rehearsals at the Century, you know." RHYMED INTERVIEW NO. 15 If some fellow from far Oshko&h, with a buck that he would squander, into a cut- rate ticket office should wander, and ask what shows there are in town tonight, that all folks agree are absolutely right, there is a man who'll say, "You see this, or that or the other; this play is exceeding- ly good, but that one is a bother." He tells you all you ask to know and to which show you really want to go, to piker, sport or hick he always acts the same; he works all day from morn till night, Joe Silverman's his name. ANOTHER RHYMED INTERVIEW When a song writer wants to land a song, about the war not being long and plays it at a publisher's place. Who's the one to call it an "ace?" No one. When an actor is looking long for a job and is even feady to steal or rob, to work tbe Palace if for only one show, who tells him just the right place to go? No one. But let tbe guy step out and sing, a song that has a foreign ring, of tbe Allies' suc- cess and their glorious cause, and you'll see him bow and bow to applause. From everybody. WHY EDITORS GO INSANE a discord in life; did you ever stop to think, of the things that you think when you really sit down to think, if you do you will find that you lost control of your mind, and imagine yourself on a brink, you lose all contention, or anything you may mention, you just sit and think of your strife, and while you sit and think you join link to link, in the chain of your thinking life, and when your thinking is o'er you still think some more, even though it cuts like a knife, than if you think wise you will find with surprise. Only a discord in your thinking life. All stage rights reserved. (A contribution)