The New York Clipper (February 1919)

February 12, 1919 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 11 huabrFruki PtUaUseed by the CUPPER CORPORATION Orluid W. VftUffhaa... .Prcadcot and Secretary Frederick C KaUer 1604 Broadway. Nt» York Telephone Bryant 6117-4118 ORLAND W. VAUGHAN. EDITOR Pan] C Sweinhart, Managing Editor Arthur Wert died In New Tort City. Sam Devere's company in c lu d ed Goldle and St. CBalr, May Wsntworth, A. O. Dun- can, Leonard and Moran. The Four Ven- domes, Rjan and Richfield, Enn Bertoldi and the World's Fair Foot. The Petchlng Brothers played at Ha- ber's Museum, New York. NEW YORK. FEBRUARY 1% 1919 - • - Entered June 24, 1879, at the Peat Oflea at New York, N. Y., as •eeond das* matter, un- der the act of March 3, 187*. THE CLIPPER is issued every WEDNESDAY. Form» Geae on Monday at S P. at. One.year, in advance, $4: six months, |3; antaa, SI. Canada and foreign poabiaa Single conies will be sent, postpaid, on ipt of 10 cents. ADVERTISING RATES FURNISHED ON APPLICATION If j Chicago Office—Room 214, 35 S. Dearborn St Hjlmt F. Roan, i*—»ir— i Address All Cosmnnicstians to THE NEW YORK CUPPER UN BreesVay. New York f Riguttnd Ctblt Adircu. 'AoTBoarrr.** - ; Tars Currss ca» ax oitai mo Wanw,litis am * -,'awraTT. at oar agents, Doriaft American News Agency. 17 Green Street, Charing Cross Road. London, W. C, England: Brentano's News De- pot. 37 Avenue de rOpera. Faria, Franca: Gor- don* Gotxh, 12J Pitt Street, Sydney. N. S. W„ ■- - . .. KEEP THE LIGHTS UP DOESN'T NEED ASSISTANCE PmT.tnn.KHTt, Pa., Feb. 8, 1919. JMitor New York Cjjffeb: Dear Sir:—In your last week's issue of the Cum, under date of Philadelphia, Pa., Jen. 29 yon published an article concerning me. The article, ts a whole, is true. I hare been very-ill. bnt the statement that I am not in the best of circumstances I want to deny. I wish to impress upon my many friends, that I hare a good home, a wonder- ful mother, and I am being well taken care of. And I'm going to get better, so I can go back with my dear old boss, Billy "Beef Trust"^Watson, next season. T+iawa-twf you very much and trusting that yon find space for this letter. I am Sincerely yours, MABO ABET NsTWIXX. Daring: the last four or five years it has become the custom in vaudeville theatres of both big and small time calibre to com- pletely darken the house immediately fol- lowing the conclusion of each act, greatly to the annoyance and discomfort of those in the audience and without any notice- able advantage accruing to the artist ap- . peariug on the stage. «..., •Fast how the custom started and why it is continued is rather hard to ten. Pos- aibly the ancient bunk of dropping the house curtain and darkening the house be- fore and. after the appearance of some flash "legitimate" ueadliner, in order to give the turn aa added touch of dignity, may have bad something to do with the 'present light dousing foolishness. Then -Again the p r a ctice may have originated in the pictrjre and vaudeville houses that sprung up like mushrooms sB over the coun- try.ten or twelve years ago. ■.-, When it became necessary to place a card on the stage announcing the name of an act, in these "shooting galleries," the .- service was performed ss a rule by one of the stage crew, attired generally in sweater and overalls. ' The house management, being desirous of .keeping the untidy card changer out of view of the audience, hit upon the plan of darkening the theatre. And for some rea- son that is difficult of understanding, the practice has stuck to this day. . In addition to the irritation aroused in the mind of the vaudeville patron, whose ' most natural inclination, at the conclusion of an 'act, 'Is to look at his programme . to aee what is coming next, and who finds the process quite impossible in a bouse -thrust into absolute darkness. An un- llghted theatre also offers a fine opportun- ity for the person entering or leaving Ids seat to stumble and injure hrmself unneces- sarily. :.."■ " More than one legal action sginat a the- atre has arisen from just this source and it -'.would seem to be about time that vaude- ville managers eliminated the "bouse dark- -ening" business after each act' for their -own benefit aside from any rights the au- dience may feel it has ia-the matter.. P. L. M.—Joseph latng was Us urn*. He died in Minneapolis on May IT of 1915. T. V.—"Everywoman" played at tha Herald Square Theatre here on February 19, 1912. L. A. N.—Vaudeville bills for the com- ing week are published each week in The CUFFZB. G. B. E.—The late Charles Klein wrote "The Third Degree" and also 'The laion and the Moose." - HE BELIEVES IN ADVERTISING CuafBEBLASD, Md„ Feb. 8, 1918. Editor New York Ouppeb: Dear Sir:—Enclosed please find check for my ad. It has brought me results al- ready and very good results at that I have received contracts to play a house that I never played before. That's what I call getting direct results, and one can never teB how many results of an Indirect nature are obtained from proper advertising. Yours very truly, Gbab. k. OaAitTUir. Answers toQttems | B. T.—"A Sprig O* Green'' was produced at Pittsburgh in 1890. A. B. W.—Weber A Fields signed with Keystone in June, 1915. K. D. L.—Fritzi Scheft* filed a petition in bankruptcy in 1914. H. V. 8.—David Warfleld formerly ap- peared in vaudeville. W. E, B.—Florette, a contortionist, has played on the Moss time. F. E. B.—The Actors' Fund Fair in 1892 cleared' a profit of $160,000. H. W.—Charles Geyer brought suit for divorce from his wife in 1915. D. T.—Douglas Fairbanks appeared in "Officer 666" in Chicago in 1912. HAL.—The Ringling Circus played at the Madison Square Garden once. K. E. H.—Arnold Daly was the first to produce "Candida" in America. F. E. B—Proctor and Mansfield dis- solved partnership fat May, 1892. P. B.—Fiddler and Sheltdn were, fat the height of their popularity fat 1911. J. A.—The opera house in Salem, Ohio, burned down on February 18, 1887. F. G.—Claire Whitney played opposite William Farnum in "The Plunderer. H. 0. R.—May MeCormaek was with the "Broadway Belles" company in 1917. T¥rXNTY-FIVE YEARS AGO ..."Dakota" was presented by Roland Heed. : Florrie West was with The Black •Crook" company twenty-five yeaiw ago- - "Our. Country. Cousin** was produced at '♦be Lyceum Theatre, N.ew York. ago, li.. on the Orpheum time, is Al- Jolsou's brother. r pi Jo D. A. S.—Hans Von Holateln and Alma M. Sanders wrote "Hong Kong." Leo Feist published it. V. D. N.—Holbrook Blina appeared in "The Boss." It was first produced in play form. L. S.—The De Forests were known aa the "Whirlwind Dancers." Yea, they toured Europe. B. E. N.—It was probably the same act Very often, acts are billed differently on small and big time. B. T. F.—"Are You a Crook" was pre- sented at the Longaere Theatre, not, as you say, at the As tor. D. B. T.—A monologue is not a string of disconnected stories and gags. It must possess unity of character. E. B. D.—The Loew offices severed all connection with the Sullivan and Consi- dine Circuit on May 29, 1915. R. L. D.—Daly's Theatre was under tha management of Klaw ft Brlanger before the Shuberts secured it G. J.—Julian FJt inge appeared in "Cousin Lucy" at the Eltinge Theatre. H. F. G.—Yes, Sarah Bernhardt has played at the Palace. There is a possi- bility of her coming to America again. C. B.—Deiro the aecordeonlst has played for phonograph records. Yes, he has ap- peared at the Fifth Avenue this P. J. L.—Rankin D. Jones was the legal representative of the Empire circuit, he died in Cincinnati from apoplexy in 1913. R. P.—(1) A wrestling tournament was held at the Manhattan Opera House and began on May 9, 1915. (2) Jos Humph- ries. K. K.—The Bobby North who appeared in "Jose a Wife" and the Bobby North, well known in Burlesque, are the same person. F. H.—Katherine Grey made her first . appearance in vaudeville at the Palace Theatre. Chicago, 'daring the week of March 4, 1912. T. T. U—Henry B. Harris and Jesse L. Lesley's Follies Bergere was opened dar- ing the Summer of 1911. The venture was not a success. J. S.—Lucia Foyat, a chorus girl, died at the Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, on December 31, 1910. She was with the "New York Girl" show previous to her death. RUlto Rattles THEATRICAL MYSTERIES NO. 31 Why is it that an Irish song is always sure fire in the Delau:cey Street, the City, or the Jefferson Theatres? ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT Yes, Lee Kogel is Interested in The Net" We might add that Inasmuch aa the show looks like a hit Lee U also Ttry much interested in "The Gross." Old Timer.—Yon are right Frohman, Rich ft Harris leased the Empire Theatre, which "was erected by Hayman and Sanger at Fortieth street and Broadway, twenty-seven years ago. F. J.—Klaw and Brlanger produced "The Country drcus" about twenty-eight years THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT The Chicago ten percenters are so dis- satisfied with conditions in the windy burg that several of them are thinking of quit- ting Chi and transferring their activities to New York. COULDN'T TTf p P TtR -'* BERT jack Dingwall told Bert Angeles re- cently that he knew Helns when he only had one pickle. "That's nothing,** torted Bert "I knew Joe Le Slang be only had one ticket** JACK'S STRONG FOR THIS SHOW Jack Dunham says he just can't wait to see the Shuberts' new Winter Garden show, "Monte Cristo," as he has always wanted to see a play written around ths moat famous g-mMiny resort in Europe, SOUNDS REASONABLE Bert La Mont says now that Paderewakl haa gone into politics, it ought to be a dock for the eminent ivory tickler to. bring har- mony oat of the discordant situation In Europe. ONE SURE WAY TO PUT IT OVER Now that the owners of the Clarendon, a Brooklyn picture theatre, have solved tha question of making the house pay by turn- ing it into a garage, it begins to look as if there Is at least one good chance left to pat the Symphony over as a money-maksr. ANXIETY NOTE Ever since Oscar Hammersteln an- nounced that he had Invented a special suspender contrivance for fat men, NOa Granlund, Loew*a press agent, and Sam Edwards, the vaudeville actor, simply can't sleep nights waiting to aes how the now pstent pants' supporter works oat BASEBALL BOTE Harry Stelnfeld, the theatrical lawyer, stated the other day that in his opinion, the new League of Nations that he reads SO much about in the newspapers should pat both the National and American Leagues out of business, once its gets under way. WHAT THEY USED TO BB Walter; Keefe was once a reporter. Ohas. Dillingham was ones a critic. Frank Mclntyre was ones a newspaper Arthur Klein was once an advertising solicitor. B. B., Pensacola, Fla.—Sam Bernard did an act a part of which consisted of a humorous argument with the orchestra leader. Bernard did this about twenty years ago. It is presumed that others did this before him. - D. A. B.—Peggy Landers was married to James Britton Scott in May, 1917. Yes, shA appeared fat "Beauty and the Beast-" That was her last appearance on the stage previous to her marriage. Scott is not a member of the profession. FROM PICTURES TO PICTURES Having demonstrated his ability to suc- cessfully handle pictures, George Washing- ton Grant th* movie magnate, who re- cently bought the Boston "Braves," will shortly have an opportunity to show what be can do in the way of handling pitchers. VAUDEVILLE VETERANS "I blew fat so sweet and it came oat so BOUT.'- "Are you sure you never heard 11 Trova- tore'? Well, then, Pll play it for yon.'* "Do yon want me to get yon something to play with? (Business of tickling partner's arm.) Ob, no, this is plenty good enough." "You gave me a nasty look when I earns In." "No, I didn't you had a nasty look, bat I didst give It to you." • "How do TOU like your new Rolls BoyesT* "Why, Tm simply carried away with it" ,/- • R. L A.—Denmsn Thompson appeared in "The Old Homestead" at the Academy of Music ths week beginning September 30, 1908.