The New York Clipper (November 1917)

November 7,: 1917 X H E<S 1N!EW ; YORK WCjM PPE R ~n Founded In US3 by Frank Quean Published by the CLIPPER CORPORATION Orland W. Vaughan...President and Secretary Frederick C Muller Treasurer 1604 Broadway, New York • Telephone Bryant 6117-6118 ' ORLAND W. VAUCHAN, EDITOR Pan! C. Sweinhart, Managing Editor NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 7, 1817 Entered June 2-», 1879, at the.Post Office at New York, N. Y., as second class matter, un- der the act of March 3, 1879. THE CLIPPER is issued every WEDNESDAY. Forms Close on Monday at 5 P. 11. 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. CoLVtit, Manages. Address All Communications to THE NEW YORK CLIPPER •-,.;:.- ISM Broadway, New York ■****- Registered Cable Jf'djreu.- fArrrHOarrir.'* The Cejppii cam Jr. roSTAis-E* WHotoxn aim eiTAiL, at our agentsJ-Oaw's Steamship Agency, 17 Green Street, Charing Cross Boad, London, W. C, England; Brentano's News Depcrt, 37 Avenue de l'Opera, Paris, Prance; Manila, P. L: Gordon- 4 Goteh, 123 Pitt; Manila Book and Stationery Co., 128 EscolU Street, Sydney, N. S. W., Australia. ' AGAIN THE WAR TAX Oliver Morosco's action in Chicago, low- ering the highest admission • price of bis theatre from $2 to $a.G0, is by tar the wis- est solution of a. somewhat difficult problem that has yet been made. It is sound economically, and it is also sound patriot- ically, a conclusion which might not appear at once. That other theatres will be forced to follow his example is a foregone con- clusion. . . A play is what is called in economics an "inelastic" need, which means that it isn't really a need at all. As a conse- quence, prices can be only just as high as people willingly pay, and no more. The- atre .managers all know this fact, and' con- sequently pnt their admissions as high as they will go and still attract patrons. ' At present there are fewer people than ever before who can afford to pay the top price for a theatre ticket. By cutting the prices down this number will be increased proportionately. By raising the prices even so slight an amount as the war tax, an immense group will cease going to theatres. It is a ques- tion as to whether as many would continue to go at even the same prices. For when necessities go up, luxuries must go down or be eliminated. • ■ Morosco will make more money with his low scale than be would with his higher one. The government will thus get more. ' And more people will be able to permit - themselves the luxury of a theatre. By the lowering everyone will benefit. THESPIANS CAN BE PROUD This country has every reason to be proud of its citizens in the amusement pro- fession. ' Every day brings us word that this manager or that actor has gone to France with his regiment, is in a train- ing camp or is on his way to join the ranks of the army, the navy or some other, branch of the. National service. But it.is not in this way alone that mem- bers of . the . profession are snowing their patriotism./ The followers of no one call- ing have dona more to aid the country in raising money for the government than have those whose business, it is to amuse or furnish amusement .for the public. Actors in the. various branches of the business have not only purchased Liberty Loan bonds, but have actively engaged in the selling of millions of dollars' worth of them to. the public and have..also given their services at hundreds of benefits ar- ranged to aid. the Bed' Cross or some.fund organized to help the brave boy a who have gone to the front Managers of.all classes have, shown their practical patriotism. Not alone by buying bonds, but in giving the use of. their the- atres' for the purpose of, saising funds for war purposes. One. firm, ox theatrical man- agers purchased more than half a million dollars' worth of bonds. Another, firm, the head of a vaudeville circuit, collected in one week at its various theatres', many thousands' of dollars. Dramatic, operatic, motion picture and vaudeville stars sold thousands upon thousands of bonds at sev- eral of the large department stores in.this city. But these are but individual cases which have come to notice because of the promi- nence of the persons involved. ' The pa- triotism that actuated them permeates the whole theatrical profession and the lesser lights are doing their bit just as loyally as their more prominent brothers and sis- ters. As a class, the people of the stage take a foremost rank for charity. Their benefi- cence has been recognized from time im- memorial and in the present peril to their country they are proving themselves true patriots. America may well be proud of her Thes- pians. WELCOME GREENWICHERS ■ Theatredpm will have its opportunity to welcome into its midst another edifice erected to'further the cause of the one- act play • combined with **uneommercial- ized" art when the Greenwich Village Theatre will open its doors within a few days to the inquiring public. There are Answers to Queries W. D.—Elsie is playing the Orpheum Circuit. • ■ - • .< " =-rr. '»»•»' ' .■ •.■- P. G.—Grace Fletcher is with "Some Babies." ", B. E.—Paul Morton is the son of. Sam and Kitty Morton.'. W. E— Alice Brady is still with the Alice Brady Film Corp. .... - T. P.—We don't know whether Nat C. Goodwin is still married or divorced. K. J.—A Wins. Ifs the same Woods that made "Ten-Twenty-thirt*" famous. L. S.—"Buster" Keaton is appearing in the Roscoe ("Fatty") Arbuckle pictures. S. S.—The late Sam Sbubert was the elder of the three brothers, Sam, Lee and Jake. M. K.—It's a matter of opinion. "Over There" is undoubtedly the biggest money maker. '■'. \.; . D. B.—Why; not write direct to Wit- mark? . "Sou, '.wiir receive respectful con- sideration. ..-■ ' M. N.—Mme. Helena Modjeaka, the je special Christmas la&ute of tije Sfo-iir ^iirk Clipper Will Up Issued December 19th Early #parr sUranruaiiann xKUi Svecttt* $lrcf rrrr* -g mtUur u ^ gn]ianuB iiiiii iiiiiipjjHiiiiiwiininntiniiiiimnninnntc iHiiiii iiimimninim eafllll»ll«MEM^ two hundred theatres in this country in the "little theatre" movement, but New York is woefully lacking in them ana this latest addition, tucked away in the heart of Bohemia, is most welcome. ' .-■ The seeds sown by Holbrook Blinn.in the Princess Theatre several years ago have borne fruit and have started. a movement which can never end as long as art ad- vances with the ages. The Washington Square Players,-who followed the pioneers, furthered the movement to its present successful stage and all followers of what is the best on the stage will wait .both pa- tiently and hopefully for this latest addi- tion to.do its part- It has the- building, it has the men, it has the, idea. We await its christening into this world with anticipation and the hope that it too, will act as a step in the ladder toward, what .we are seeking, but of what we do not yet know. Polish actress, died in Los Angeles. Duse is still alive. - G. H.—Other managers besides yourself are looking for theatres in New York. There are simply none to be had. T. Y.—Kolb and Dill have been playing San Francisco with the exception of a few short intervals steadily, for about twenty years. »•••• L. P.—"I'm a 12 O'clock Feller in a 9 O'clock Town" is published by the Harry Yon Tilzer Publishing Co., 222 West Forty- sixth Street B, T.—A. Wins. Tyrone P6wer-played the title role in "Ulysses" when that play was produced by the late Charles Frohman at the Garden Theatre. ALL TEUTON MUSIC BARRED Brockton, Mass., Nov. 5.—As a result ot the receipt of numerous protests, all German and Austrian numbers were omitted from- the annual musical of the Brockton Woman's Club. Mme. Caroline Hudson Alexander, leading vocalist- on' the program, opened the concert. with ' 'The Star Spangled Banner." B. H.—David Belasco and David War- field both began in the old Bush Street The- atre, San Francisco. It was torn down about twenty .years ago,. K. L.M.—Mary Pickford was with, the Famous Players Pictures before she ap- peared in "The Good Little Devil," under David Belasco's direction. , ' . TWENTY-FTVE YEARS AGO Chauncey Olcott starred in "Mavour- neen." " Sophie Eyre died at Naples, Italy. "The Scout" was produced by Dr. Frank Carver. : Harry Kernell was pronounced legally in- sane by Commissioners Henry G. Miner, J. M. Marx and Dr. Robertson. •New plays: "A German Soldier"'; ^Bill's Boot": "Gapt Haroourt"; "Under the Lion's Pmw"i "Miss Dixie'*-; rPwixt Love and Honor"; "The Operator";,"For Reve- nue Only?!;. "A Gilded Fool'? V t'Wait Till the Clouds Roll By"; "A Mad Bargain." . N. ^—"Commodore" Black ton. severed bis"'connection with Vitagraph some time ago and is now producing features for re- lease through Paramount. G. C—Otis Skinner, David Warfield, George Arlisa and ~E." H. Sothern are ac- tors of recognized ability. . Each has bis admirers and it would .be difficult to state which one ranks the highest. G. H.—Lucy Hufoker is press representa- tive -for the' Washington' Square' Players. Since its organization. No. The Princess Theatre was the first to run one-act plays. They simply cashed in on a good Idea.' Rialto Rattles SEEN ON SIXTH AVENUE Harry Houdinl buying one of his own books in second-hand store WAR MEASURES ' If the agitation to put out all the lights on Broadway is put. through, will 'The Torches" be dimmed? IMPROVEMENT NOTICED - What has become of the old movie title "The Dawn of a New Day" t Only three pictures seen last week contained it. PURIFYING THE STAGE A new stock company is reported to have been backed by a laundry keeper. Certainly the plays presented should be clean. TRAINING NECESSARY j A professional strong man was brought into, court ■ recently charged with beating his Wife. Well, a man has to keep la practice,'. ' ;. HE COULD AFFORD IT Diamond' Jim Brady's solid gold pass was sold for $330. Think of .the war tax the user, will'have to pay on that at text per cent: ratei. : ■»■»«•■ " * -'•-> - ■"'-'■■ .■ sj» .ti*;|< ; ; !.. '. A NATURAL MISTAKE > •>;>..•.■ 'A solicitor-for a directory of motion picture players approached -an actor the other day and asked him for his pedigree. Whereupon a fight ensued. . SPEAKING OF PUNS Harry En trig dropped in the office with what he said was a "Breezy" story. Whereupon we read it, and learned thsjj Edmund Breese is with Haver. THE DALLY GKTND Now that the Liberty Bond sale Is over, we expect that ail the'press agents will have to return to the lost dog story in order to obtain space. Here's hoping for a new Bond sale. SHOW CUT DOWN "A Night at an Inn" is to be produced. Managers are becoming stingy. We AM remember when we saw "Ten Nights in s> Barroom" for the same price as they ask for this one. ALL PACIFISTS The banquet to be given in celebration of the peace between managers and acton will cost five dollars.a plate, according.to report. But most of the actors are for "peace at any price." DEMOCRACY ADVANCING A year ago nobody talked of any play- wright but Lord Dansany. 8ix of his plays were running at one time then, but now he seems to have gone the way of all titled persons;- including -Czars. ILLUSION SMASHED Harry Kellar, the ' magician, was thought to be the only performer who really retired, after years of farewell tours. And now,' after ten years, he comes back to'appear in the Antilles benefit. They can|t stay away. IT IS COMPROMISING ■Two- thieves, hooking the clothing out of a dressing room occupied by two girl* at the City Theatre, were seen by firemen and captured. The firemen said they were look- ing in the window and saw the- thieves. They said this before they thought, and at the howl of laughter which followed they blushed heartily. THE PRICE OF BRAINS George Jean Nathan laments the stu- pidity of our actors. "Nose of them baa ever heard of Hauptmann, Giaeosa or Sudermann," he says. WelL we know on* who has heard of these men, and who Is, "besides, well read in other things. He •was ; discharged .-from. Ids .company last week -for : incompetency. He had two lines.