The New York Clipper (February 1919)

February 12, 1919 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER IS BIGS WHEEL TO DROP USE OF TACKCARDS RULE STARTS NEXT SEASON That the shows of the Columbia Am-nsn meat Company -will discontinue the uao of tack cards next aeasoo was sjjsMesI at a meeting of the directors and officers of the company last Thursday. Several reasons were advanced for this, one being that the city ordinance In many cities forbid tacking cards, and it is im- possible to get them ont except in windows and inside places. Another reason ad- vanced is that the Columbia is going in for a higher class of agent, it is «*«»»»«■*, de- siring those who can attend to the news- pepers and get over special stories and regular press notices. Of coarser the man- agers realize that in getting men to do this kind of work it wfll be necessary to pay much higher salaries than they are doing at present, as they win then be competing ■with the 92 snows and win have to pay t man almost as much as the bigger shows do. The new system wfll give the agent an opportunity to attend to- the newspapers, get ont their small staff, such as-heralds, blotters and throwaways, and, at the same time, get around the city to check up the billing. Has very few agents do at present, as they do not have the oppor- tunity when they are compelled to.go ont and tack cards. There wfll'ttkely be lota of work next season for agents, as there is a possibility of another burlesque circuit as well as a one-dollar musical comedy circuit of John Corf g. But the agent most be a live wire and able to show his employer that he can go ont anil do something. ■ One thing is certain. They will nave to take their work more seriously and get on the job, an com- plaists have been pouring in at the head- quarters of the two burl esque circuits this season about many agents who refuse to.do anythiag bat hang around box offices sad the front of the theatres. This is another move on the part of the officials for the improvement of burlesque. Managers, owners and producers have for a Dumber of years been doing much for the Tip-lift of borlesqne and have suc c e e de d in getting their shows to a very high standard. Bet they have sadly neglected the executive end of the business. They have been going along, year after year, keeping their agents down and not letting them spend any money which would help to get an opening for the shows. And without doing this they could hardly be expected to get a real showing is the papers. WILLIAMS HAS NEW SHOW Sim Williams wfll return to New York early in April to rehearse a new musical show which wfll tour through Canada and the Summer parks. It wfll be called Wflliams Musical Comedy Company. OPENS V 1TH SYDELL SHOW Easter Bjgbee opened with the Boss Sydel! Show last Saturday night at the Casino, Brooklyn, taking the place of Louise Hartman, the former prima donna. RUSSELL HILL OUT OF ARMY Russell Hin, a member of the "Lid Lift- ers" last season, has been discharged tram the army. He was at Cmmp Six at the time of his discharge. ' :*•'-';' JOINS -TTRAE. HITTERS" Barry S. Lavan Joined the Trail Hit- ters" last week at the Star in St. Paul. He has taken the place left vacant by Bonny Mack. PLAN ANOTHER RECEPTION The Burlesque Club wfll hold Its second monthly reception at the club rooms on the night of February 21 at 11 o'clock. It wfll be called "Circus Night," and Wfll Boehm is TPftMng arrangements for a big time. The reception committee wfll dress aa downs, ring masters, acrobats and the various animals usually seen at a areas. The whole atmosphere wfll remind one of the circus. Then wfll be plenty ot red lemonade, peanuts, and even sawdust wfll be on the floor of the refreshment room. Boehm wfll have plenty of entertainers on hand, and claims that this wfll be a bigger success than the "Set Tog ether Night" held at the club last month. BRYANT PLANS TO SUE OVER FRANCHISE SHOULD BE RENEWED, HE SAYS WILLIE COHEN IS BEATEN Cxscuncaxx, Feb. 8.—'Wfll H. Cohen, featured with Jos. K. Watson and the "Girls de Looks," playing the Olympic Theatre, this city, was assaulted in a cafe near the theatre last night by three men. In police court this morning it was learned that the assailants were Joseph Roessler, Robert Casey and Alfred Baker, all strangers to Cohen. They did not ap- pear in court and forfeited their bonds. The police are now seeking them. It is claimed that the m en ap proached Cohen and said, "Are you Willie Cohen, the comedian?' "I am." said Cohen. They then landed on the little comedim, who went to the floor for the count The police arrived in time to arrest all the men. ARTHUR MAYER MARRIES Arthur Mayer, principal comedian of the "Paris by Night" Company, playing the Star, Brooklyn, this week, was mar- ried, on January 21 to Eva Frank, of the same company, in Philadelphia, by Judge Boyle. Mayer, who was discharged from the navy recently, joined the show in Philadelphia several weeks ago. V CORT SIGNS KATE PULLMAN Kate Pullman signed a contract last week with John Cart far "Wait a Minute" to open next season. It calls far three years, it is said. Hiss Pullman la with the Boss Sydsn Show on the Columbia Cir- cuit,''' Harry Bryant is contemplating ssskssjaj s a suit «t* ll "t the Colombia SMaasSaasspl Company, it was learned: last week, for cancelling the franchise for his show on that circuit. He claims that the company has no right to do so. Bryant says he received a letter a abort time ago from General Manager Sam Scribner stating that his franchise would not be renewed after this season. The present franchise, it seems, ran for ten years, this being the last year. There is a clause In the franchise, Bryant says, which states that, at the expiration ot the ten- year term, it was to be renewed for another term of years and so on as long as the Colombia Amusement Company is in exist- ence. It also, he says, stated that the fran- chise holder was to deposit a certain sum of money to bind the renewal. Bryant claims that he has lived up to his contract and that he sent a check for his money in, but that it was a little late in getting to the Columbia office through no fsnttof hia._\ Bryant is a stockholder of the Colombia Amusement Company and was "one of its -organizers at the time of the break away from the old Empire Circuit. He and a number of other managers and producers on that circuit, feeling that they were not getting a fair deal from the officials, de- cided to form a new circuit. This they did and. called it the. Columbia Amusement Company. Besides Bryant, the others were: Sam A. Scribner, Gas Hill, J. Herbert Mack, Fred Irwin, Chas. Waldron, William 8. Camp- bell, Harry Morris, Rice and Barton, Al Beeves, A. H. Woodhsn, Peter 8. Clark, Hurtig and Seamon, \ Pbfl Sheridan, John G. Jermon, Bob Manchester, Louie Robie and Abe Leavett- Weber and Rash came in a short'tlme later. CLOSE WITH "MILITARY MARIS" Caroline Warner and Jesse Haitt closed with the ''Military Maids" at the Gayety, Brooklyn, last Saturday night. Doris Clair and Virginia Kelsey wfll join the company and open at Wrightstown Thursday. MANAGER VISITS BROADWAY Manager Black, of the Majestic Thea- tre, Indianapolis, was a visitor at the American Burlfe^ue Headquarters last Wednesday. He remained m New York for several days. LE VAN GOES WITH KOLB Mrxwauxxx, Wis, Feb. 8.—Harry S. Le Van has been engaged to do principal comedy for Matt Kolb at the Empress here. AURALIA CLARK MARRIES - AuraUa Clark, one of burlesque's best sonbrettes, who closed with "The Girls ot the U. 8. A." in Chicago a short time ago, was married to W. Ll MeGuffin, a well known business man of Louisville on Jan- uary 21 at her former home in Waverfy, N. T. The couple wfll make their home in Louisville, Mrs. MeGuffin having retired from the stage. SAM LEWDi MARRIES Sam H. Lewin, of Hurtig and Haamons Theatre, was married in Rochester last week to Helen CJarkson, a former show it* PLAYS FOR HUNTER Paxxasoif, N. J., Feb. S.—During the absence of Frankie Hunter this week, Chas. Weasen played bis part in the "Best Show in Town." ENGAGED FOR NEXT SEASON Harry Harrigan has been engaged by Maurice Wainstoek. to go with hi again next season t- '_ -yi, ALBANY SHOW CHANGES AiBAHT, N. Y, Feb. 10.—Several changes were made in the "ZIg Zag Bevne" at Farnhams, here, tonight. Boehm and Richards sent Albert Deano and Edith Donin here to replace Frank Larson and Beatrice Osgood. The new people opened tonight. BURLESQUERS JOIN ELKS Ira MfllcT, manager of the "MflHon Dol- lar Dolls," his carpenter, Dawson Me- Creery, and George Boise, carpenter of the "Roseland Girls,*' were made numbers of the Rochester Bflts No. 24 last week. They were initiated through New York Lodge No. L SCRIBNER GOES TO FLORIDA Sam Scribner left New York last Sat- urday with his family for Palm B eac h, where he wfll.stay for a month or six weeks. He wfll spend most of his time on the golf links. He left New York with Mayor Hylan and his fatnflv. "GIRLS OF THE U. S. A." PROVES TO BE JOE HURTIG'S BEST SHOW Joe Hurtig haa given us some great shows, but the "Girls of the U. 8. A.," this week's attraction at the Columbia, far outshines anything- from a production standpoint ha has ever shown us. It Is a good comedy and ■ , "g**'g offertn*- as wall and was highly appreciate" ' house Monday afternoon. ted by a crowded The "airla of the U. a A." is In two sets and six scenes. Each set or toensry has been carefully designed and Is ta ■ood taste as to the color wrhirmv The last, an Egyptian set. Is moat elaborate. The electrical effects are good. The chorus is above the average. The girls are pretty and dance their way through the numbers gracefully. The cos- tumes worn by them are tastefully de- signed and show a variety of bright colors, that please the eye- There have been many prima *»«— at the Columbia this season who havs offered pretty gowns, but Ina Hayward's ward- robe far outclasses; them. In fact, her gowns this season are handsomer than ah* has ever before displayed. They are origi- nal In design and about a year In advance of the •style. Miss Hayward knows now to wear gowns to show them to the best advantage. She Is- graceful and perfectly at home In anything she wears. She Is without a doubt the best dressed woman In burlesque. In fact she Is the leader la this Una. Miss Hayward also haa an excellent voice and renders her numbers most acceptably. She Is pretty and shapely and lends class to the show. The comedy la In the hands of Clare Evans and Lew Hilton. Bvans does- a French comedy role and ta most success)- ful In it. His dialect Is good, he works fast and la very funny. Hilton Is doing his Hebrew. character and does It wen. ' John Bohlmsn la doing straight. This ! of^'fsetae/* young fellow knows the art on P, 27 ID the comedian for laughs. He is clean cut a natty dresser,: reads bis lines distinctly - and has a good singing voice. Chas.. Furg does a black face In the first part and his actions and dialect Is real "darkle." He does several other char- acters In the second act and fc«~«— him- self generally well. Roy Peck teams with Flgg-.ln blackface and- changes to whit* face later. - Mile- Babette Waa never seen to better advantage, In her vampire role In which .she outdoes anyone In burlesque. Ba- be tte's French accent la good and her ac- tions very Frenchy. Her costumes are beautiful and show she has taken unusual cars In the selection of them. She Is a finished and classy performer and her one of work Is so far different from others who attempt this character, that she stands alone. Babette also knows how to pat a number over. Babe Lavetta Is a fast acrobatic danc- ing soubrette. She* puts plenty of ginger Into her work,, and has no trouble In put- ting her numbers over for encores. She dresses well and has a pleasing personality. Tenny Hilson, the Ingenue, has Improved greatly since we saw her last. Miss- Hil- son,- who has an excellent voice, has learned how to pot a number over and, co n sequently, gets the most out of them. She Is a pleasing girl to look at and wears a number of attractive gowns. < - Hurtig not only haa offered a different show this s eas on , but has gone one step -further by carrying a musical directress. Maud Harvard. Miss Hayward, wearing a neat uniform, bandies the baton and directs the orchestra like a veteran. She offered a cornet solo of the different bugle calls, during Intermission which went big. The "love" bit of Evans and Babette was wen done. Flgg and Feck pleased with their prohibition sons'. An excellent duet was offered by Bohl- msn and Miss Hayward. which was gen- erously received. They harmonised nicely. The "cigar and pipe" bit of Bvans and Bohlmsn was funny. The "and their" bit waa well taken care cf by Bvans. Hilton and Miss HUaon. The patriotic finale of the first part proved a great ending. It was wen staged. Babette In "a scene from the other side of life," In which she opened with a. Chinese number In a beautiful Oriental costume and mads a quick change to aa old ragged dress as a dope fiend, did a great piece of work. It was a big success. Hilton and Babe Lavette offered a specialty In one. which went big. The act has been cut down since we last saw it. and shows an Improvement. Babette offered an Egyptian dance In the Cleopatra seen* most sracafnUy. Miss Hay-ward's jewelled costume which she wears In the last act. Is stunning. Miss Hayward made so many changes that we grew to expect so m e thin g new every time she appeared and we were nmw dls- a< Tbe "Girls of the U. 8. A" U not only the best show Hurtig has ever produced In burlesque bat Is one of the best la this fleJcC—Sid. -,.-