The New York Clipper (December 1917)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER December 12, 1917 SHUBERTS AFTER NEW HOUSE IN PROVIDENCE PRACTICALLY CLOSE FOR MAJESTIC Providence, Dec. 9.—If negotiations which are practically concluded do not fall through at the last moment, the Ma- jestic Theatre, one of Providence's newest and largest playhouses, will this week come under the control of the Shubert in- terests and thus succeed the old Provi- dence Opera House, now controlled by the Shuberts, as the local home of their pro- ductions. The lease, terms of which have not been made public, has been drawn and awaits only the signatures of the parties interested. The lease of the Majestic closely follows announcement that the lease of the Opera House, which expires July, will not be renewed by its owners, the Fletcher Land Company. The latter, it is understood, will use the building as an annex to the Narragansett Hotel, which it adjoins. The visit of a Klaw and Erlanger agent to the city last week and his inspection of two or three theatres gave rise to a rumor that the latter firm was to invade the Shubert field here. To those on the inside, however, the rumor seemed one of the best bits of "camouflage" ever staged in the city. The real intent, it is hinted, was to throw a scare into the Shubert camp, with the real battleground'later re- vealed as Philadelphia, where the two hi' terests are clashing. The lease of the Majestic, coming so soon after the Klaw and Erlanger visit, however, indicates that the Shuberts de- termined not to be caught napping. They are now assured a fitting Providence home, when they are forced to move. Had the Klaw and Erlanger interests Been fit to tie up the Majestic, the former would have been in desperate straits and, perhaps, would have been forced to pay a stiff price for the only other suitable house in town, or, what is worse, would have had to build a new theatre, to preserve their interests here. When the lease of the Majestic was an- nounced, earlier in the week, it was stated that the theatre, which has been running vaudeville, would close Saturday night. Emery Brothers, its owners, and Manager Toohey denied the rumor emphatically, however, and retractions of the statement were later printed. Col. Felix R. Wendelschafer, local rep- resentative of the Shubert interests, has conducted the negotiations for the lease. He refused to state, however, when Shu- bert production would be first shown there, but intimated that the opera house would probably be used for the rest of the season. B. Goodside. lessee of the Modern Theatre, which the Klaw and Erlanger in- terests were said to be after, has denied that any serious negotiations were under way, or that the Modern would be used, for the present, for anything but motion pictures. "THE HAPPY TRAMP" DEAD When the World awoke Monday morn- ing it was greeted with the sorrowful tidings that Nat M. Wills, "The Happy Tramp," was dead. He had been tinkering with his ma- chine and while the "n gm* was running had dosed the door of the garage. His wife, alarmed at the long time he had been in the garage, sent the maid out to investigate. The maid returned and said that, although she could hear the exhaust of the machine inside, she had received no response to her knocking. TTin wife then went to the garage but received no answer to their calls. One of the neigh- bors was summoned who broke the door open. The lifeless body of Wills fell out at the feet of his wife and daughter. To keep the door shut it had to be locked and by so doing had made the garage air-tight. With the running of the ex- haust, which gradually consumed the oxygen, Wills had felt biiwolf being over- come and had tried to unlock the door as the key was still in his hand. Wills, who had been married four times, lived with his wife and two-year-old daughter, Natalie, at 2 Thirty-first street, Woodcliffe, overlooking the Palisades. At the time of his death he was play- ing at the Hippodrome. He made his first appearance at the age of two at the historic Ford's Opera House in Washing- ton. He was born in Fredericksburg, Va_, July 11, 1873. WANT CENSOR FOR B'D'WY PLAYS MOVE URGED ON MAYOR-ELECT MAY PLAY CIRCUS AT CAMPS Rhoda Royal, last season director with the Sells-Floto Circus, is looking over the booking offered by the Army Entertain- ment Committee, of which Marc Klaw is the head, with a view to sending a com- plete one-ring circus over the route. The organization is now playing on the eleventh floor of the Boston Store. Chicago, and, in addition to other attractions, has three elephants, sixteen horses, twelve ponies, forty- dogs, six monkeys and other live stock. Bareback riders would also be car- ried and a good show given. Royal prom- ises. The show, which is billed as "Rhoda Royal's Winter Circus," is attracting con- siderable attention in Chicago. The ele- phants and horses are daily taken up on the elevator to the tenth floor, which is as far as the lift goes. They then walk up the other flight to the stage, where the performance is given. It will be ready to go on the circuit after the holidays. B. F. REICH LOSES MOTHER Mrs. Anna Yon P. Reich-Hurlbnrt, seventy-three years of age, and at one time a well known concert pianist, died on Friday of last week at her home in this city. Among her acquaintances were hun- dreds of theatrical folk, to whom news of her death win come as a shock. Two sons survive her, Felix Reich, of the Robinson Amusement Corporation, of Chicago, and R. F. Reich, of the Edward F. Rush of- fices, in this city. The funeral, which was private, was held Sunday. NEWARK BILLPOSTER HELD Newark. N. J., Dec a—Russell Abort, a billposter, was arrested here this week charged with posting bills without a li- cense. The Jersey City Bill Posting Co., which has the posting privileges in this city, brought the charges. The defendant claimed that he had done nothing unlaw- ful, but was held on a charge of violating a city ordinance. LEBLANG GETS "ODDS AND. ENDS" Joe Leblang took over the balcony of "Odds and Ends" last Friday. Negotia- tions for the road rights of the piece are also under way, Leffier and Bratton being one of the firms which have looked the production over to decide whether or not they wanted to put it out on the one-night stands. ABORNS' SCHOOL MOVES The Aborn Classes for Operatic Train- ing, which have been occupying quarters at 11 East Forty-third street, have just leased an entire floor at 137 West Thirty- eighth street, where a stage and studios have been erected large enough to put on entire productions. GREAT EVERETT TO TOUR The Great Everett, who has "been lay- ing off for a month, will take out his big magic show again, opening Dec 24 for a two-day stand at Springfield, Mass. He will tour the East Coast for fourteen weeks. WILSON WRITING NEXT FROLIC Doctor Victor Wilson, publicity director of the Strand Theatre, has been chosen to write the next Friars' Frolic, planned for some time shortly after the new year is ushered in. RESIGNS FROM HARRIS THEATRE John Ostrander has resigned his posi- tion as treasurer of the Harris Theatre. Harvey Phillips has been engaged to suc- ceed him. It has been learned during the past week that there is just a possibility of New York City having an official play censor under the coming administration. Forces of moral uplift and similar organizations are urging Justice Hylan, the Mayor, elect, to take some such radical step immedi- ately upon entering office. The proposed censor would, according to those who urge the idea, visit every per- formance on the opening night and keep his eyes open for anything that he—or she—might deem harmful. It would then be taken up with the other municipal de- partments for correction. The proposition is an outgrowth of the interest already shown by Judge Hylan and by District Attorney Swarm in Broadway productions. At first it was believed that the coming administration would merely insist on a stricter enforce- ment of existing ordinances, but it has been learned that a more stringent method is being urged on the coming Mayor. If this object should by any means be accomplished, it will be the first time in America where such a step has been taken. There has never been any official censor- ship of the drama in this country, although city ordinances give the police department power to stop'any performance which con- flicts with laws relating to public morality. In England, a play censor has been in office for some years, and that is the only country where absolute freedom is not allowed to the stage. Over there it has been the subject of much controversy. That agitation and opposition will result in the event of the appointment of such an officer there is little doubt. The gigan- tic fight which has been carried on by the motion picture industry will probably be exceeded in intensity by the opposition to come from theatre managers and play- wrights. The censor will work with the District Attorney, it is expected. The official will visit the shows and make a favorable or unfavorable report. If the show is pro- claimed indecent or immoral, the Grand Jury will investigate it, and indictments will follow. An inkling of the proposed innovation was given out by the District Attorney this week when he said that every case of alleged indecency in theatres would be instantly turned over to the Grand Jury. Mr. Swann and Judge Hylan have recently expressed in strong terms their disapproval of several unnamed Broadway shows. "I attended one performance in a Broadway theatre where fifteen girls came ont and danced in practically a nude con- dition," said the District Attorney. "Most of our managers try to come as close to the border line of decency as they can without ' stepping over, and, in several cases, they have gone much too far. Each one seems to be attempting to outdo his rivals in indency. TVe are going to wipe all of that out. I intend to have intelligent persons Bee every show and report to me. It will not be necessary for the Grand Jurors to see the performances. Complete reports will be given to them, and then the matter will be in their hands." That the ban will be on all forms of entertainment, even the most highly artistic, -where the performers are not completely clothed, was indicated by Mr. Swann, who said: "All the shows I have seen have been simply indecent, some of them posing as art. There may be cases of genuine art, but these I have not seen." Although it was said that the Grand Jury would decide on special cases, and would not lay down general principles, some idea of the standards on which their judgments would be based was indicated by the District Attorney's statement. SAY ACTOR TOOK LAMPS S. Bethlehem, Pa., Dec. 10.—Louis Haines, a member of the "Nothing but the Truth" Company which played here last week, waa accused by the manager of the company of taking three lamps and a cord from a dressing room, and bis trunk waa held by the house. On opening it according to the manager, E. H. Ziegen- fuas, the lamps and cord were found In it. Haines is said by Ziegenfuss to have found the lamps in one of the rooms and taken them to his own. Edward Moyer, property man, then refused to let Haines' trunk go out. That night the company left for Fasten, and the next day the show manager, 3. R. Davidson, called and de- manded the trunk. It was then opened and the contents found, Ziegenfuss says. The management did not prosecute. EVANS SUCCEEDS MILLS Willie Evans, a vaudeville comedian, suc- ceeded Nat M. Wills in his role at the Hippodrome on Monday. MINERS HOLD CELEBRATION The fifty-fourth anniversary of Henry C. Miner's entering the theatrical business is being celebrated this week at Miner's, in the Bronx and Miner's Empire, Newark. ADOPTS NOVEL ADVERTISING Faihmokt, W- Va., Dec 7.—The man- agement of the Hippodrome has adopted a clever line which it uses at the head of its acts, namely, "Every Theatre Ticket Helps Load a Gun." The Hippodrome plays Gus Sun tabloids and is doing good business. APPEAL "CHEATERS" CASE An appeal from the judgment dismissing the complaint of Amy Ongley, adminis- tratrix of the estate- of George Byron Ongley, against Max Marcin and A. Hat Woods, was entered this week. The suit is over the rightful ownership of the play "Cheating Cheaters." JOLSON WORKING ON NEW SHOW AL Jolson, having just returned from the Coast, is working with Harold Atte- ridge in the preparation of a new book for the next Winter Garden show. V. M. P. A. HOLDS DINNER (Continued from page 3) berger, Louis Ebling, John Lopez, Fred- erick A. Thompson, W. S. Butterfield, John Sinopulo, H. W. McCall, John Pringle, Clark Brown, John P. Harris, Alfred Frankenthal, Sylvan Bier, A. Schakman, George Metzel, A. L. Einstein, Anthony Geronimo, Harry E. Jones, Dr. Richard G. Tunison, Nate Aacher, H. Singer. Samuel Kahl, M. Heinman, Peter J. Schaeffer, Charles M. Olsen, C. S. Hum- phrey, S. K. Hodgdon, J. Koolvoord, Har- vey L. Watkins, Harry A. Daniels, A. L. Robertson, John Hopkins, Joseph M Schenck, Julius Steger, George A. Mc- Dermott, Dave- Bernstein, Nicholas Schenck, Mort Singer, C. F. Whitehnrst, Milton Hirschfield, J. Brylawski, Frank Keeney, Ray Owens, Paul Moss, M. D. Simmons, Myron Sulzburger, James H. Moore, Carl Lothrop, Michael Shea, Henry J. Carr, Pliny McNaughton. Fred C. Schanberger, John White, Wil- liam Long, J. W. Loeb, John Moran, Wil- liam J. Lee, J. J. Maloney, E. M. Robin- son, William Sleeper, Eddie Darling, P. G. Larsen, Walter Vincent, Jake Wells, P. Alanzo, Lester H. Riley, George E. Wallen, Sidney Wilmer, Eugene L. Koneke, Louis Sagal. Alec L. Ludvigh, Leopold Friedman, I. H. Stern, S. H. Meinhold, Dave Loew, Ar- thur Loew, Abe Sablosky, J. J- McGuirk, Lew Sablosky, Dave Sablosky, Tom Sablosky, Edwin J. Lauder, Reed A. Al- bee, William L. Mitchell, Harry T. Jor- dan, C. L. Lovenberg, Frank Vincent, Col. Marceau, Rudolf K. Hynicka, Herbert J. Mack, Thomas W. Miner, Henry C. Miner, John W. Miner and George Robinson