The New York Clipper (December 1917)

December 12, 1917 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER MANAGERS FAIL TO IMPROVE BUSINESS CAN'T AGREE ON MEASURE After holding a meeting that was called with the intention of trying to devise some means through which the slump in theatrical business would rest less heav- ily upon the shoulders of managers, either bj a reduction in the salaries of actors, a lowering of the prices of seats, or some other expedient, the United Man- agers' Protective Association adjourned last week without having solved the problem. The difficulty, as reported by members who were present, was that the organiza- tion, as a body, could not come to an agreement, either regarding the actual outlook or the best way to preserve a fair amount of profit after the payment Of Pipelines. Some of the managers stated .that they felt sure conditions would take on a rosier hue after the holi- days were over. There was considerable debate, how- ever, regarding means to lessen the losses dow being experienced by attractions, those who have losing productions being anxious to take almost any step. No agreement could be reached though, owing to the fact that those managers whose plays are getting money would not agree to do anything, thereby holding back the others. Joe Leblang, the cut-rate ticket broker, is one of those who believes that busi- ness will improve after the holidays are over and he is accredited with being a pretty good judge of conditions. He states that the present slump is only psychological. KAHN AFTER NEWARK HOUSE Newark, N. J.. Dec. 8.—The Hill The- atre, formerly the Odeon, now being run by Jackie Clarke and Johnnie Mack as a picture house, may be taken over by Kahn brothers, who are running a chain of bur- lesque houses in New York. Being prac- tically a new house it has had a varied career and has never been in the bands of theatrical men. STRAND APPEALS NAME CASE An appeal from an order denying an application for an injunction restraining the Major Amusement Company from using the title "The Strand," has been entered in the courts by the Mitchel H. Mark Realty Corporaion. The realty company contends that, as the Major company is engaged in the op- erating of motion picture theatres and is using the trade name of "The Strand," it is unfairly competing with them and should be enjoined from using the name. The defendants will be permitted to use the name in its title where there is no competition between the two parties. That is, it will be so allowed where the theatres are located far enough apart as to overcome any suggestion of competi- tion. RED CROSS DAY A FROST IN THEATRES PROCEEDS VERY DISAPPOINTING DELANCY BARCLAY DIES Delancy Barclay, veteran actor, who made his debut in 1870, died Sunday after- noon at his home in New York. He had supported Booth and Barrett. His last appearance was in the character role in "Freckles." During the last two years he had been playing characters in pictures. Services will be held Thursday morning at the Campbell Funeral Church, under the auspices of the Actors' Fund, with inter- ment at Evergreen Cemetery. STORM PREVENTS SHOW Pittsburgh, Pa., Dec. 10.—There was no performance of "Oh Boy" tonight at the Alvin Theatre owing to the non-arrival of three baggage cars containing the scenery and costumes of the show, the cars having been lost in the snowstorm today somewhere between Buffalo and here. The members of the company arrived safely. BEATS AGENCY CASE Indianapolis, Dec. 10.—Carl W. Xeisse, charged with operating a theatrical agency without a license, was discharged this week, and the case was dropped. Ed- ward Doyle, who acted for Xeisse, showed that the State had no case against the agent. Although no figures are yet to be had as to the proceeds of last Friday's Red Cross Day throughout the theatres of the country, it was stated at the Red Cross headquarters that results were not up to what they were expected to be. High prices for admissions, coupled with a poor advertising campaign, was the reason given out as being the cause. The nearness of the holidays may also have had a decided effect upon the undertak- ing. The entire affair was run off in too .much of a hurry, with no organization also, to have brought satisfactory re- sults. The Forty-fourth Street, Thirty-ninth Street, Cort and Bijou theatres did not even raise their curtains and sent the few patrons to the neighboring shows. The Shubert theatres drew only $2,465.30 in all. The managers stood the expense of ad- vertising, contributed their theatres, stage hands, actors and all, with the Red Cross giving very little assistance. JULIE OPP WON'T RETURN Despite rumors to the contrary, Julie Opp (Mrs. William Faversham) will not return to the stage for her husband's all- star cast of "Lord and Lady Algy," at the Broadhurst Theatre. Mrs. Faversham is actively engaged in the production of the play, but will not be seen in it. Af- ter Faversham's revival of "Julius Cae- sar," she retired from the stage, and has made no definite plans for the future. MONROE SUFFERS BREAKDOWN Atlantic Crrr. N. J., Dec. 7.—George W. Monroe, the comedian, is in a sani- tarium here suffering from a nervous break- down. NEW "MILLION DOLLAR DOLLS" A new "Million Dollar Doll" company will be organized to play the Northern time, the Southern company having met with enough success to warrant the or- ganization. ARRESTED FOR SUNDAY DANCE Minneapolis. Minn.. Nov. 7.—Anna Berg was arrested here last week for run- ning a public dance hall on Sunday, in de- fiance of the state blue laws. TELLEGEN NOW A CITIZEN Lou-Tellegen is now a full-fledged citi- zen of the United States. Two years ago he obtained his first papers and, last week, with his attorney, A. Maynard, and witnesses J. Kaufman and Frank A. Con- nor, appeared in the Federal Court and received his second ones. TO EXAMINE BRUGGEMANN To testify' to all that he knows of the affairs of the American Amusement Com- pany, operating the Paterson and Empire theatres, in Jersey City, ex-Senator August M. Bruggemann has been ordered to appear in court. The company became defunct a short while ago, and as he is an officer in the corporation, he must re- spond to all questions. Bruggemann last month had a judgment filed against him by August Windisch, which the latter recovered. The'suit had been brought jointly against the company and Bruggemann for bill-posting and ad- vertising. Bruggemann testified that, while he did have an interest in the com- pany, Windisch trusted the company, and not* himself. Windisch was granted the judgment, hut an attempt to collect it proved unsuccessful. The present action is brought to find out what the company did with its assets and money. SINGERS LEAVE FOR MEXICO Twenty prominent Grand Opera singers left New York last Wednesday for the City of Mexico, where they will play a season of opera at the Theatre Arbeu. The company included Zematello. Taccani, Sinagra, Oppezzo, Vigionne, Silva, Aine- tro, Bozzano, Bettina, Freeman, Parry and Carlo Nicosia, conductor. The sea- son, which was billed to open on Monday, will continue for twenty weeks, after which the company will make a tour of Cuba, Porto Rico and Venezuela. LEE ARTHUR DEAD Los Anceles. Cal., Dec. 10.—Lee Ar- thur, playwright, forty years of age and a native of Shreveport. La., has succumbed here from injuries received in an automo- bile accident about ten weeks ago. He had been engaged in writing scenarios, bia last engagement being with Balboa. The first play that David Warfield appeared in. "The Auctioneer." was written by him and Charles Klein. Arthur's right name was Kahn. TICKET SPECULATOR FINED Lawrence Russell, arrested last week as a ticket speculator, was fined five dollars in Jefferson Market Court on Wednesday. Detective Fellnfan. who made the arrest, told the Court he heard Russell trying to sell opera tickets to two women. AMUSEMENT CO. INCORPORATED Trenton. X. J.. Dec. 0.—The Siebert nnd Levy Company has been incorporated here for the promoting of amusement parks, theatres, etc. The company will have headquarters in the Sheen Building, At- lantic City, with James M. Sheen as its ngent. Its capitalization is $50,000. STORK BRINGS GIRL TO SINGER Washington. D. C Dec. 7.—Margue- rite Sylva, the well-known singer, wife of Capt, Bernard L. Smith. U. S. N., haa presented her husband with a baby girl. Scene at the V. M. P, A. Dinner to J. J. Murdoch and Pat Casey At the Speakers' Table, besides Messrs Mordock and Casey, were E. F. Albee, Martin Beck, William Fox, Gu» Son, E. C. Mills, F. F. Proctor, S. Z. Pali, Sam Scribner, William Traven Jeromo, Carl Hoblitzell, Marcos Loew, Maurice Goodman, Aaron J. Jones, Harry Davis and John Rm y lfng .