The New York Clipper (February 1919)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER February 12,- 1§19 Philadelphia Benefit for Acto rs' Fund R ealizes $6,000 Charles Winnmger, May Irwin, Blanche Bates, and Battery of Composers Draw Big Crowd to Forrest Theatre Pheuuhxphia, Feb. & — A capacity crowd that filled all of the aeata and whatever standing room there waa at the benefit ahow for the Actors' Fund at the Forres t yesterday paid a total of $6,000 which, together with the proceeds of the other coming benefit performances, wiH be need to aid actors who are In need. There waa a long waiting Una long be- fore the ahow started and, by the time the first act -went on, the house was packed. - The program offered waa' a re- markable army of talent, a galaxy of vaudeville and legitimate stars and com- posers, furnishing the entertainment. It waa the second Actors' Fund ahow of the year, one having been held in New York recently, and the first one eve r gi ven otitside of New York or Chicago. What- ever doubt any one had aa to whether an Actors' Fond show, presented onUide of the country's two big theatrical centers would be a success, waa dispelled yester- day, everything going through without a hitch. The success of the venture reflects credit on Daniel Frohman, who arranged, rehearsed and managed the show. The - performers were recruited from companies and shows playing in New York and Philadelphia, By permission of Local 77 A. F. of It, of which branch Adolph Bjrsehberg is president, the or- chestra gave its services, while the stage crew did its work through the courtesy of the L A. T. S. E. Local 8, of which Benjamin Harrison is president sad busi- ness manager. Under the direction of Richard Schmidt, conductor, the orchestra rendered an overture consisting of a med- ley of popular songs. - .Witt and Winter held down the initial spot with an acrobatic offering. The rest of the program included "What Carls Can Do/* a variety act by girl* only, and Nan Halperin in character songs, from Keith's; Grant Mitchell and Gladys Gilbert, Ed- mund Sorgan and Lulu Fraliek of "A Tailor-Made Man" company, from the Garrick, in a one-act social' comedy, "Jimmy"; members of the "Oh, Mama" company from the Chestnut Street Opera House, Lew Fields in a aketch, also Charles Winninger, from the Lyric; Irving Fisher from Nora Bayes' Theatre, New York, in songs; Nora. Bayes and Al Roberts in a "dramatic perversion" from "Romeo and Juliet"; May Irwin in new songs; Blanche Bates in recitations; Janet Velie and com- pany in the "Tickle Toe" from "Going Up" (Forrest), Maclyn Arbuckle, the Old BUI of The Better 'Ole" at the Broad, telling "weird stories from Texas," and then tiie big concluding feature, a musical novelty consisting of a pianologue in which the following composers appeared, each rendering a selection from his works: Victor Herbert, Jerome Kern, Rudolph Friml, Raymond Hubbell, Louis A. Hirsch, Harry Carroll, Silvio Hem, A. Baldwin Sloane and Qustave Kerker, There was also a speech by Daniel. Frohman during the ahow, telling of the work of the fund. The next benefit show will be held at the National in Washington, of which W. H. Rapley is the manager, on Friday, February 21. Frohman will probably start rehearsals for it on Monday, February 17. HARRY AKST LEAVES HAYES SHOW Harry Akst, who has been Nora Bayes' pianist for the last' two years,' excepting the six months.he spent in the army, left the east of."Ladies First" last week. In this respect, Akst has followed the prece- dent established by all of the principals that, played in the show except Florence Morrison,"Irving Fisher and the star her- self. Akst says he left because of Miss Bayes' arbitrary treatment of him, and he also says that. Irving Fisher contributed to the annoyance. Another element that tended toward his leaving the show at this time is the fact, Akst says, that he was forced to appear : u the Sunday night concerts at the Nora bayes -Theatre-without compen- sation for his. services.- (This was also - Lew Cooper's - complaint when he left.) When asked why she did not pay the members of her. company for appearing in the Sunday concerts, Miss Bayes is re- ported to have answered: "Well, the Shu- berts don't Day their people." "Ladies First" is scheduled to open in Philadelphia March 17. The Sunday night concerts at the Nora Bayes Theatre ceased with the one given last Sunday, it waa reported. And it was learned last week that Nora Bayes offered Jack Norworth, her erstwhile husband, $500 to appear at the concert given by her the Sunday before last. The latter is playing over the Keith Circuit at present. Teddy Shapiro, who has been playing the piano for the Josephine and Brooke act, will take Akst's place in the Bayes show. FILM MAN SUED FOR SEPARATION Claude H. MaeGowan, general manager of the Universal Film Company, waa made defendant last week in an action for *a separation filed in the Supreme Court by bis wife, Mary Elizabeth Mae- Gowan. A motion made by M. H. Winkler, at- torney for the plaintiff, for al imony and , counsel fees, waa made after the service of the summons aad complaint upon the defendant, which will be argued this week before Judge Bij'ur in Special Term, Part I, of the Supreme Court. la her affidavit in support of the mo- tion, Mrs. MaeGowan alleges that her husband has been guilty of neglect and desertion, in addition to which, aha says, he has failed to support her and properly care for their two chDdra, Claudia, aged seven, and Ursula, and sis.' ■ MaeGowan entered the employ of the Universal Film Company six years ago at a salary of $80 a week and has steadily rises to the position of general manager with a salary of $10,000 a year. Mrs. MaeGowan asks for $100 a weak aad $1,000 for counsel fees in hex application to the court. MaeGowan is 28 years old and his win is 28. They were married eight years ago, and three years ago MaeGowan roed his wife for divorce in the Kings County Su- preme Court alleging in his complaint that she had been guilty of misconduct with a maa in the New Victoria Hotel on West Forty-seventh Street. The divorce action was subsequently withdrawn aad a separation agreement waa- entered into between the parties in which the husband agreed to pay his wife $15 » week and, in addition, pay for the support of the children. Early this week Henry J. aad Fred- erick E. Goldsmith, who have been re- tained by MaeGowan to defend the ac- tion, drew papers la opposition to taamo- tioa for alimony aad counsel fee fa wife* MaeGowan substantially denies all of tie BLAIR FELLS CAST Sam Blair has practically completed the cast for the musical farce entitled "The Girl in Stateroom B," which he plans to open next Monday in one'of the Shubert houses in New. England. The book and lyrics were written by William K. Wells, and Hal R. Dyson.is responsible.for. the score. The players are: Marjone Pringle, Jessie Howard, Agnes Martin, Dan Mc- Neil, James Dyson, George B. : Tripp, William G. Reid, Violet Dyson, Margaret Collins, Cora North, Vera Sweet, Grace Fairbrother, Maijorie Band, Dorothy Bird, Frankie Timon. Ray Perez is stag- ing the da^crpg - numbers. BOXY MEEHAN TO STAR Billy Meehan, who has attracted such favorable attention by his interpretation of a realistic "hick" character in "The Big Chance," will star in a new play next sea- son that Willard Mack is how writing for him. Meehan will be seen in a somewhat similar role to that in which he is now appearing in "The Big Chance." ■ . ROTHAPFEL TO PRODUCE Sam RothapfeL former manager of the Rivcli and Rialto, organised a company this week for the purpose of furnishing exhibitors with - complete film programs, con silting of a feature, educational seen- ics, etc Wally Van has been engaged as director. . JOHN GALSWORTHY ARRIVES John Galsworthy, the HifigB«1» play- wright and novelist, arrived in New York yesterday on the Ca irnania. He wiH at- tend oh February 20 the celebration of the anniversary of the birth of James Russell Lowell. . , HOWE MUST PAY TENNEY $3 00 Sam Howe, the burlesque producer, must pay Allen Spencer Tenney, the writer, the sum of $300, in accordance with a verdict rendered by a jury in the Third District Municipal Court last Wednesday. The legal action came about as the result of Tenney writing the book for Howe's show, "Butterfly of Broadway," last June. According to the complaint, Howe paid Tenney part of the sum agreed upon, but Tenney, it is said, experienced consider- able trouble in collecting the balance of $300, and finally brought suit in Septem- ber, 1018. Judge Murray heard the case. Tenney's attorney was Alex. TB. Tendler, while Leon Laski acted for Howe. E. E. RICE HAS NEW SHOW "A Bit of Paris," by Josephine Torek Baker, is the name of a new four-act comedy drama which Edward B. Rice is producing. The show is scheduled to open in Pough- keepsie February "\i with Julia Byron fea- tured. Others in the cast are Goldwin Patten, John Su -ner, Charles HaTleok, Russell N. Rhoades, Jean Wadley, Marie BonsaH, Anita Tully, Charles J. Diem, Frank Ross and Frank Wilson. NEISS TO HEAD CARNIVAL Bee Neiss will head the Canadian Vic- tory Shows, the only carnival company that will tour Canada during the summer of 1919. The show will play towns aa well as agricultural exhibitions. The show will move every week by railroad. It wfll present many novelties, one of which will be known aa A bill rah, ANGLDf CANCELS TOUR JBAXXWoac, Md., Feb. 10.—Margaret AngHn, whose nervous breakdown pre- vented her from filling her engagement last week in Hartford, Conn., has closed her company and cancelled her tour. She Was to have played tins week at Ford's. LEAVES WILMER A VINCENT Eugene L. Koneke has retired from the Arm of Wihner, Vincent and Koneke, dis- posing of all of his interests in that con- cern to Sidney WOmer. Koneke plana to engage in the theatrical business for him- self. . GERARD HAS NEW SHOW Barney Gerard ia now busy on his new ahow, "Kiss Papa." which be will put out ' .;oa.KVandnVthne^;- ^\ h ■..:..-.. ... -... -_,J)|-:-v,jI . WHERE IS SADIE TRAVIS The whereabouts of Sadie Travis, last heard of with "The Sporting Duchess" in 190a. axe sought by a Bister of J. S. F. O^CbnnelL Please communicate care of : T ^°fl*iwn: '>'-. £ >/.",' '£% -'J-V' .: '■?■■',.. "SCANDAL" OPENS STRONG Pbovidcnce, R. I., Feb. 10.—Perhaps the .beat of the new plays seen here this season and one which will take a'high place among the well tried productions that have come this way ia "Scandal," from the Novel by Cosmo Hamilton and presented at the Providence Opera House tonight. The play waa originally brought out under the name' of "She Burnt Her Finger" but, with condensing a new cast has been made into what may be called a success. - "Scandal" is of the high comedy type of play, with a story well built and interest- ing and carried out comrisently in word and action by personages well bred and of social pretension. . Beatrix Wnterbouae is the guardedly reared daughter of a multi-millionaire who, from the mere love of adventure, con- tinues her innocent visits to an infatuated portrait painter after her picture has been finished. A man of her own social set, whom she has previously refused in marri- age, lives across the hall from the studio and he, the girl's mother, aunt and uncle come in scandalized pursuit. The girl, rebellious and in a spirit of deviltry, claims her rejected suitor aa her secretly married husband. Scandal is thus avoided, but the man, in accepting the situation forced on him, de- termines to play the game also. There fol- lows an ingenious bedroom scene ending with a touch of sentiment which has also something of a thrill. The man and girl are forced to play at a honeymoon. The game 'is kept up until the girl turns her defeat into Cherished victory "and all ends happily for both. Charles Cherry and Frandene Larrimore have the leading roles, the rest of the cast assembled by Walter Hast being as tat- lows: William David, Carl Eckstrom, Henry Trader, Frank Gregory, Jerome Colamora, Alice Putnam, Isabel Omadigan, Mary Cecil, Mrs. Lillian Kemble Cooper and Paul A. Luvon. The production is sumptuously staged and ■ costumed a fitting setting for the clever comedy. HART MAY WED RICH GIRL Los Angeles, CaL, Feb. 8.—Wm. S. Hart, the noted film star, is said to be con- templating . marriage. .His intended bride is reported to be the daughter of a million- aire Montana Cattleman.- William S. Hart refused to enter the "Big Five", movie combination last week because, it was reported, he is holding out for more money. However, William Gross- man, of House, Grossman ar.d- Verhans, whom Hart sent for to represent him in the deal, arrived in Los Angeles a week ago last Monday and immediately began negotiations in Dart's behalf with the moneyed interests back of the deal It was intimated along Broadway that Hart will ultimately get what he wants. •: MADGE HART LOSES One thousand two hundred and fifty dol- lars is the sum awarded to David H. blade, attorney for Madge Fox Hart, the. booking agent, in his suit for $5,000, by Justice Leonard A. Giegerich last week The coun- sel for the defense severely roasted alleged methods by which Slade kept close watch upon the actions of Mrs. Hart, claimin g that either Slade or a friend was almost always near her. Slade claimed that all he had done had been to safeguard his rights. CHORUS GIRL BECOMES COUNTESS May Picard, who appeared-in New York at the Globe Theatre with the "Girl on the Film" company several years ago, has now become the Countess of Cowley, in England. While here, she married Arthur Welle sly, whose real name waa the Vis- count Dangan. He inherits the estate of the Earl Cowley. They are at present liv- ing in Horsham with their two children. TRICK MULE DIES Bert Ia Mont's trick mule, "Dixie," died at Kansas City last week. The death of the animal means a lose of $3,600 to la Man*- ':,""'• •"•£-!V ; -■'■■ ' ifi£i- as- T3!*' ~ "'•' •• •'.- ; . •■arts , ■>-■■■.-.' :—•-:•