The New York Clipper (November 1917)

November 28, 1917 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 15 GET $35,000 IN SMOKE FUND DRIVE ALL .COMPANIES CONTRIBUTE - The "Tobacco Fund Week," inaugurated on the Columbia and American Burlesque circuits, brought in a total exceeding 935,* 000. The plan, 'which was originated by Sam Scribner, general manager of the Columbia circuit, was started in order to insure smokes for the boys in France, but that the figures are large has completely surprised all those interested. A check for the entire amount has been sent to the American Tobacco Company, who will forward the tobacco to France. On each package this marking will ap- pear: "From the Columbia and American Burlesque Circuits." The money was collected by members of the companies touring both circuits. The players went down through the audi- ence at each performance during the week of Not. 12, and secured donations from the patrons. As there are approximately seventy houses on the two circuits, the returns have been slow in coming in. On the Columbia Circuit about $22,000 was taken in during the week, while the figures for the American run somewhat over $12,000. Every cent of this will be used for the purchase of tobacco for the soldiers. As soon as the cheek has come back from the tobacco company, a plate-will be made of it, and that will be sent to all the dailies in the country. It is expected that the nation-wide publicity given to the movement will show the country at large that burlesque players and compa- nies are just as patriotic as any other branch of the profession. Those in charge are confident that the-immense success of the drive will do much to offset the preju- ! dice against burlesque shows which still exists in certain parts of the country. Scribner, when he learned of the unex- pected success of his plan, professed him- self as thoroughly happy and proud. He said: "I think this will go a long way toward showing people that burlesque players are good Americans, willing to devote their time and services in earnest to a good cause. To collect so much money in one week by personal application is a feat to be proud of. Every burlesque player in the circuits has reason to feel elated over the success of the drive. Burlesque has done its share toward helping the conn- try in time of peril, and it stands ready to do more than its share when it becomes necessary.'* Some of the companies who reported their receipts directly to this office are as follows. Others who worked in the drive have not yet arranged complete figures, but these are expected to be forthcoming in a few days. The Burlesque Review, Miner's - Bronx Theatre, $677. Dixon's Review of 1918, Grand Theatre, Trenton, $336. Best Show in Town, Syracuse and TJtiea. $552.55. Sightseers, Gayety, St. Louis, $860.68. Innocent Maids, Gayety, Philadelphia, $470.95. French Frolics, Holyoke and Springfield, $472.16- Social Maids, Palace, Baltimore, $1,500. Star and Garter, Empire, Brooklyn, $900. Million Dollar Dolls, Olympic, Cincin- nati, $623.63. Mischief Makers, Olympic, N. Y., $874 and 600 United Cigar coupons. Sam Howe'a Big Show, Hurtig and Sea- mons, Mew York, $713.38. Oh Girl, Columbia, New York, $1,800. Auto Girls, Gayety, Baltimore, $620. ' Girls from Happyland, Wheeling, $364.90. Some Show, Casino, Philadelphia, $513. Parisian Flirts', Erie, Ashtabula and YoungBtown, $492. Follies of Pleasure, Gayety, Brooklyn, $656.26. Pace-Makers, Trocadero, Philadelphia, $621.32. Army and Navy Girls, Star, Brooklyn, $826.78. Cabaret Girls, Yonkers and Schenectady, $334.66. Lid Lifters, Standard, St. Louis, $800. Mile-A-Minute Girls, Altoona, $137. Lady Buccaneers, Columbus, O., $258.77. Star Theatre, Brooklyn (donated) $60. Dr. Lothrop, Howard Theatre, Boston (donated), $60. Victoria, Pittsburgh (donated), $25. Gayety, Brooklyn (donated), $50. Mgr. Hathaway, Binghamton, N. Y. (donated), $15. Members of Dixon's Review of 1918 (donated), $10. Members of Tempters, Minn, (donated), $112. The Majestic, Jersey City, did not enter in the Tobacco Fund week, as the week of October 20, two weeks previous, the Xew Jersey Journal held a fund while the Maids of America Company were at that house. They collected at that time $928.68. PHILADELPHIA LOSES LANDMARK Philadelphia, Nov. 22.—The old Ly- ceum Theatre, at Eighth and Vine streets, for many years the home of burlesque under the management of John G. Jermon, has seen its last days as a show house. A permit was granted last week to the Bets Estate, owners of the property, to recon- struct it into a factory building. The the- atre was abandoned several years ago when Jermon transferred his franchise to the Gayety Theatre around the corner from the Lyceum. "KID" KOSTER CELEBRATING Chas. (Kid) Koster, business manager of the "Cabaret Girls," playing the Ameri- can Circuit, is celebrating bis twentieth year in show business. Koster has been associated in the past with the Savage at- tractions, Shnberts, Klaw & Erlanger, Primrose & Dockstader and many others, bnt claims his dealings with his present, management are the most pleasant of his recent years. SARAH HYATT ILL Sarah Hyatt, prima donna of Tom Sul- livan's "Monte Carlo Girls," was taken suddenly ill while on the stage of the Worcester Theatre, Worcester, two weeks ago. The attack developed into a ease of pneumonia, and she was removed to her home in New York, where she was confined all last week. Violet Buckley and Julia Hearn han- dled her numbers while she was away. THOMPSON ACCEPTS NEW JOB Harry Thompson, treasurer of the Ma- jestic Theatre, Jersey City, has accepted an offer from the Hudson Navigation Com- pany to handle their ticket business, com- mencing April 15 next. He will take his assistant, Murray Seamon, with him. KAHN SELLING OUT It looks as though Ben Kahn has picked another winner in his new Bronx house, which was sold out at every night perform- ance last week. DEERY WITH "ODDS AND ENDS" Win J. Deery, ex-bnrlesqner, is now with "Odds and Ends." GEO. PECK AND MRS. LE0NI MARRIED RECEIVE MANY PRESENTS George Peck, general manager of -the American Burlesque Circuit and Mrs. Har- ry Leoni were married Sunday, Nov. 26, at the home of Mr. Peek's Bister, at Lake View, N. J. Near relatives of the bride and groom were the only ones present. . Mr. and Mrs. Peck will reside at their new home in St. John's place, Brooklyn. A wealth of wedding presents were re- ceived, practically every manager of the American circuit being included among the donors. Among them were a ma- hogany dining room set, a Wilton rug, a floor lamp, a china set of 100 pieces, a mahogany desk, a mahogany library, table and davenport. These were selected by a representative committee of managers: George F. Belfrage, Charles M. Baker and Henry P- Dixon. Dixon came on from Baltimore to assist his partners in select- ing them. The managers who contributed were: Charles Robinson, Harry Hastings, George Belfrage, Barney Gerard, Jack Reid, Frank Damsel, Mike Kelly, Henry Dixon, Pat White, Max Spiegel, Jean Bedius, Billy Watson, Tom Sullivan, Joe Hurtig, Har- ry Hart, James E. Cooper, Charles M. Baker, T. W. DinkinB, Straus and Frank- lin, F. W. Gerhardy, Charles Barton, James and Carol Lake, Charles Taylor, Sim Wil- liams, I. H. Herk, Lew Talbot, Billy K. Wells, Gus Kohn, R. Burnatein, Jack Singer, M. Jacobs, Fred Bently and M. Wainstock. L H. Herk, in addition to contributing to the managers' present, also sent a mahogany library table. MTTTY DE VERE TIED UP Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 23.—Owing to the illness of his father at bis home in this city, Mitty Devere, Irish comedian, late of the "Hello; Girls" company, may not be able to join Sim Williams' "Girls From Joyland" Sunday in Detroit. He win join, however, at as early a date as possible, replacing Bobby Barker, who will look after a number of "tabs" he is about to put out from Chicago. WALSH BACK IN BURLESQUE Will Walsh returns to burlesque this week, after an absence of several years. He win handle the "straight" in "Hello, Girls" company, opening Saturday at the Gayety, Brooklyn. Walsh will be remembered as doing the "hick" straight in the comedy act of Walsh, Lynch and Company. WHEELING TWO-DAY STAND Wheeling, W. Va., Nov. 26.—This city, commencing Dec. 3, will become a two-day stand for the American Burlesqne attrac- tions, instead of three days, as it is now. The shows will play here Monday and Tuesday, then jump to Akron, opening there Wednesday night and playing that city the rest of the week. RUD HYNICKA WEDS Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 26.—Rudolph K. Hynicka has surprised his friends by marrying Ora Dresselhouse, sister of Ids private secretary. They win make their home in New York. BARNEY KELLY IS CORPORAL Barney Kelly Is now a Major-Corporal of the National Army at Camp Upton, Yaphank, L. L START CHRISTMAS FUND Toronto, Ont., Nov. 22.—During the drive last week of all the burlesqne attrac- tions on the Columbia and American cir- cuits the "Twentieth Century Maids," playing the Gaiety, this' city, took up a Christmas fond collection for the "Sam- mies," which resulted in a total amount of over $900 being raised. This is a remark- able amount to collect at a theatre in this city.. The Mayor of die city was so pleased that he presented the company with a large British flag; also E. W. Chipman, manager of the company, with a silver headed cane, appropriately engraved. The money collected was turned over to the Sportsman's Patriotic Association, under whose auspices. the collection was held. CLOSES THIS WEEK Niagara Falls, N. Y., Not. 26.—The International Theatre, playing American Burlesqne attractions Friday and Satur- day each week, will close Saturday. "The Innocent Maids" will be the attraction. The American Burlesque Circuit la working to get towns in this part of the State to replace this city for shows going to Buffalo and opening Monday. GERARD GOING TO FRISCO Barney Gerard, owner of the "Follies of the Day" and "Some Show" on the Co- lumbia Circuit, is going to 'Frisco to pro- duce a big musical show for a run in that city. He win engage most of his cast in New York. He expects to leave early in January and may make the trip by auto, taking the Southern route. ELLIOTT JOINS VAUDE. ACT Johnny Elliott, formerly of the "Monte Carlo Girls," is now a member of "On the 6:15," a musical comedy act playing United time. He is doing the juvenile role. Lillian Drewey and Joe Edmunds are also principals in the act CORDfNE FULLER MARRIED Corinne Lehr Fuller, one of the prin- cipal women with the "Charming Widows" Company, and Don Romine, of the vaude- ville team of Cabin and Romine, were married last July. It became known last week. PEARL SHILLING IS FREE Pearl Shilling (Mrs. John J. Joanna), a member of the Joe Burton Stock Com- pany, was granted a divorce from John J. Jnerens, of Brooklyn, in that borough last week on the- grounds of desertion. WELLS SIGNS TWO Helen Russell, aoubrette, and Lloyd Freddrick, straight, have been engaged by Billy K. Wells to replace Vivian Lawrence and Bert Lester with the "Mile a Minute Girls" opening in Philadelphia Monday. KAHN SIGNS HELEN STANLEY Helen Stanley joined the Billy Spencer show at the Union Square Monday, mak- ing two sonbrettea this company will carry. Miss Stanley was formerly in the cabaret at Churchill's. TO REPLACE ELSIE MAINS Mae Linden several years ago with Max Speigel attractions, will replace Elsie Mains as prima donna with the "Army and Navy Girls" next week. Burlesque News ob Pag* 29 LEW EVANS RECOVERING Lew Evans, the Hebrew comedian, who recently underwent a serious operation, is recuperating with relatives in South Beth- lehem, Pa. MRS. SULLIVAN AT RESORT Mrs. Tom 8ulliran is spending a few weeks at Mt demons for her health. She left New York Monday.