The New York Clipper (February 1919)

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Copyrighted, 1919. and published weekly by the Clipper Corporation. 160< Broadway. New York. Entered at the Poit-ofEce « New York, Jiae 24,1879, u second-class oiil matter under Act of March J. 1879. Founded by FRANK QUEEN, 1853 BOSTON CRITIC RAPS N.Y. MANAGERS SCORES THEM FOR POOR SHOWS Boston, Mass., Feb. 17.—Boston, is complaining that it is not getting a square theatrical deal from the producing man- agers of New York. Henry T. Parker, in the Ronton Evening Trantbript, in review- ing the theatrical season, says that this city is at present being loaded with "tank town" attractions, and goes over the va- rious productions to prove his contention. ' At the Majestic is "Hello Alexander," which Parker designates as a "show made for the road." In it are appearing Mcln- tyre and Heath. Across the street "The Eyes of Tooth" was given last week by a company so lack- ing in ability that its performance would scarcely be acepted by a one-night-stand audience, while nearly an equally ineffi- cient company presented "The Kiss Bur- glar" in such a manner that the mediocrity of the piece was made more apparent. Also, New York, only a few hoars' ride from here, is now applauding "The Velvet Lady," with a new cast, rewritten, and with new music by Victor Herbert. With none of these advantages, "She Took a Chance," as the piece was first called, was considered good' enough for Boston. "Cappy Ricks" was another play that was "tried-oat" here and, after being "doc- tored" and re-cast, went to New York in a much better form. "Oh Mamma" was another play good enough to spring on a Boston audience, bnt New York has not yet seen it. Also, admitted "failures" in New York are sent to Boston in the hope that local theatre-goers can be beguiled to the box office to help pay for the cost of producing them. "The general intent seems to be to make Boston the theatrical clearing house for shows that are not deemed good enough for one of New York's half hundred the- atres. It matters little that Boston, once accounted one of the very best "show towns" in the United States," displays a growing tendency to indifference, so long as New York theatres are crowded night after night." NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 19, 1919 yOLDME LXVII-No. * Price, Ten Ceati, HOD a Year SUMMONS FISCHER TO COURT License Inspector Gill served Clifford C Fischer, the artist's representative, with a summons to appear in the West Side Conrt this week, as the result of a com- plaint filed against the theatrical man by Isabelle Rodriguez. Miss Rodriguez, who formerly" was a member of one of the Shu- bert companies, but who is now playing at the Palais Royal, alleged that Fischer has. been trying to collect a sum of money from her, which, she asserts, he is not entitled to. Fischer, it is reported, held a contract with Miss Rodriguez at one time. The license Bureau win endeavor to find ont just exactly what. business relations exist or .have existed between Miss Rodriguez anil Fischer, and accordingly, has brought the matter into court to clarify the situa- tion. -"'•' :.• ■'.*.. 1 •■' GEST TO HAVE CHICAGO THEATRE Chicago, Feb. 17.—Morris Gest an- nounced today that he had closed arrange- ments for the erection in the Loop of a theatre and . roof. garden where he will conduct midnight revues. The new house will be named The Century, after his New York House. The plans call for a theatre with a seating capacity of 900 on the lower floor. This will be equipped with a stage. Over the auditorium will be another stage with tables, which will take the form of a roof garden and be enclosed with a glass top which can be entirely removed in the Sum- mer. ' It is planned to start the programs at 11.30 at night, concluding at 1 JO in the morning. The lease of the Lav Salle Opera House, now controlled by Elliott, Corn- stock and Gest, will expire a year from June, and it is planned to have the new theatre completed by that time, although an option has been obtained on a Loop site. Gest would not disclose the loca- tion until certain financial negotiations have been completed. RUNNING HAYES CONCERTS The Shuberts have taken over the Sun- day concerts given until last Sunday by Nora Bayes at the Nora Bayes Theatre. Beginning last Sunday the Shuberts ran a show booked by Ed. Davidow, but did not include any of the principals of the "Ladies First" show,' as heretofore. The reason Nora Bayes discontinued' giving the Sunday night concerts is, ac- cording to Dan Slattery, her manager, be- cause she is tired and wants to rest on Sundays. Slattery also stated that the Sunday shows had been netting Miss Bayes between $1,500 and $1,600 weekly since they were inaugurated eight weeks ago. WHITNEY TO PRODUCE AGAIN Fred Whitney, producer of many musi- ' cal shows during the last ten or fifteen years, but who nas not been particularly active in the theatrical field of late, his mos t recent production being a revival of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," which played a brief engagement at the New Amsterdam Theatre, will shortly en- ter the musical comedy arena again. He has taken a suite of offices in the Fitzger- ald Building and will immediately get busy on the producing details of two musical pieces which he intends to stage before the end of the current theatrical season. DITRICHSTFJN MAY TRY IAGO Leo Ditriehstein is contemplating a se- ries of Shakespearean matinees, at the Liberty Theatre, where he is appearing at present in "The Marquis De Priola." The star has wanted to play la go, in "Othello," for the last ten years, it became known last week. Next season Ditriehstein plans to open here in "The Judge of Zolamea," the play in which' he toured through sev- eral cities in the middle West last season, but never presented in New York. HOFFMAN TO PRODUCE Aaron Hoffman, hitherto known only as a playwright, is going to produce. He is writing a play called "The Reward," in collaboration with Max Marcin, and re- port has it that, instead-of turning it oyer to some manager. Hoffman will undertake the production of the piece himself. START FIGHT ON SUNDAY SHOWS IN WASHINGTON MINISTERS WANT THEM BANNED WiSHiKOTOK, Feb. 15.—All amusement interests of the District of Colombia are confronted by a determined effort on the part of a group of Washington pastors to close every amusement enterprise of the city on Sunday. The movement was launched last Sun- day at a mass meeting held at Calvary Baptist Church.under the auspices of the Pastor's Federation, when a fnnd of over $1,000 was raised to prosecute the cam- paign. The demand is for a Washington Sunday closing law, several speakers de- claring that the return of large numbers of soldiers from abroad would doubtless contribute toward the advent of "a con- tinental Sunday," a condition, the preach- ers declared, which bad already been fostered by the city administration. One of the speakers at the meeting prob- ably let the cat out-of the bag, however,, when he declared that on a certain Sunday night last month, statistics were collected which revealed that over fifty 'churches in Washington had a combined attendance of only 7,000 persons, while only thirty-eight theatres had a combined attendance of 50,000. It was then announced that a bill is now being drawn by the executive committee of the Pastor's Federation which proposes Sunday closing, and that shortly it will be introduced into Congress. The Wathington Herald has opened an editorial fight against the efforts of the clergymen. In an editorial on its first page last Monday morning, it announced its purpose to fight the movement on the ground that the 7,000 church attendants had no right to dictate the movements of the 50,000 theatre enthusiasts. The movement waa again editorially attacked in the Herald"* mid-week dramatic section by Earle Dorsey, the dramatic editor. Prior to the entrance of the United States into the war, Washington's legiti- mate theatres were not open on Sunday, but all pictures shows were permitted to open at 3 p. m. and run until 11 p. m. The Keith vaudeville - house, however, opened a matinee and night performance one Sunday and the police paased the word along that the legits and burlesque houses could do likewise. BENNETT JOINS FRAZEE OFFICE Richard Bennet, who is being featured in "The Unknown Purple," has entered the producing business with H. TEL Frazee. He is to stage the plays. The new firm has plans for several pro- ductions. "A Thousand Eyes," by Clay- ton Hamilton and A. E. Thomas, and with Frank Mclntyre playing the leading role, opened in Toronto Monday under the title of "Thirty Days." It' will open in Chi- cago in March at the Cert Theatre. Frederick Landis is now working on a play which has not yet been given a name, and which is to be their second pro- duction, i ■' - !' .. DANCER LOSES DAMAGE SUIT George Harcourt (Hoffmebter), former dancing partner of Joan Sawyer, last week lost the negligence suit which he brought against Eli M. Bishop. Harcourt, who is now in the automobile business, sued to recover $5,000 for alleged injuries he received as the result of an automobile accident that occurred in Long Island in July, 1916. Peggy Harcourt (Daisy Pearl being her right name), the film actress, and Harry Zias, a friend of the Harcourts. died aa a result of the accident. Separate actions are pending in behalf of the estates of the deceased. George Harcourt testified that the in- juries he received in the accident weak- ened his shoulders to such an extent that he will never again be able to dance pro- fessionally. Previous to the verdict of the jury, James B. Henney, attorney for the defendant, had offered Frankel and Gold. Harconrt's attorneys, |800 in settlement of the auR. "HnCHY-KOO" HAS A WRECK Sixteen members of Marty Sampter'a "Hltchy Koo" company were injured in a train wreck, while en route to Oil City on the Pittsburg-Buffalo Express, early last Friday morning. Among those more se- riously injured in the accident were Danny Stmms, the property mss of the show, whose chest wss badly crushed, and Mrs. Cornell, who suffered a dislocated knee. George Sullivan, the stage manager of the company was also badly shaken up, and braised about the body. None of the principals of the show were injured. Ten or twelve members of the chorus, however, received minor in- juries that pat them ont of service for a couple of dsys. The following principals were in the car that was wrecked, but luckily escaped injury: Australian Stan Stanley, William Vaughn Dunham, Artie Looming, Eddie Conrad, Peggy Purtell. and George Mayo. ATLANTA GUARANTEES $100,000 The guarantee fund subscribed by the Atlanta Music Festival Association for the appearance of the Metropolitan Opera company, amounts to $100,000, it became known last week. As a result, Atlanta will have a week of grand opera beginning April 21st. Eight operas will be presented during the week and Caruso, the principal tenor of the Metropolitan, will appear in three of them. The operas scheduled are: "La Forza Del Bestino," "Faust," t Aida," "Martha," "La Boheme," '1 Puritan!," "Cavalleria Busticana" and "I Pagliacd." KERN AND WODEHOUSE RE-UrflTK Jerome Kern and P. G. Wodehouse have settled their differences, it was learned last week, and are again collaborating on musi- cal plays.' They are now writing one for Charles Dillingham. The latter has a contract with Kern for nine new. musical play* to be finished within the next year. Guy Bolton, of the Bolton, Wodehouse and Kern triumvirate, will .also collaborate with Wodehouse and Kern in the reunited alliance. SIGNS ALL STAR CAST Thomas Broadhurst has engaged the fol-* lowing players for the four roles in his play,_"Our Pleasant Sins": Henrietta Crosjnan, Conway Tearle, Vincent Serrano and Pauline Lord. Rehearsals began this week.