The New York Clipper (February 1919)

19,1919 na**n&*mmm &¥o fS^ 4: l*Np%r 87 • 1— N.T*A. ASKSllTVANCE NOTICE FOR ACTO RS LEAV ING SERVICE Henry Chesterfield Writes to Army and Navy Heads Expl a inin g Reasons Why Concession Should Be Granted Pro- fessionals Who Have Served Their Flag affects their welfare. 1. It is the custom in organizing vaudeville acts and theatrical companies, to prepare considerably ahead for the per- sonnel of which they will be constituted. 2. It is not a profession in which there is continually a current demand for all types of artists, and it is therefore of vital importance both to the organizer of the act or company, and to the artists who are to make their livelihood as members thereof, that it be known as far ahead of time as practicable, what companies and acts are being organized, and what actors are to be available. 3. It is, therefore, apparent that if an actor may have some notice in advance, say three or four weeks, of the approxi- mate date upon which he may be released from military service, he has an oppor- tunity to advise the sources from which he will likely secure employment, of the fact that he will be available for service professionally upon or about a certain date. 4. The purpose of this letter is, there- fore, to request that you give your favor- able consideration to a practicable plan whereby those professional actors, new in the army, may have such notice of prob- able discharge. 5. This organization represents a mem- bership of more than twelve thousand pro- fessionals, and will be very grateful for such consideration as may be. given the adoption of a practicable plan whereby advance notice of probable discharge from the army may be given them. "Very respectfully, Henry Chesterfield, secretary of the National Vaudeville Artists, Inc., sent a letter this week to Secretary of War New- ton D. Baker, on behalf of the numerous professionals in the army, requesting that the latter receive three or four weeks' notice of their discharge from the service, if practicable, in order that their securing of employment may be surrounded by as favorable conditions as possible. A sim- ilar letter was also sent to Secretary of the Navy Josephos Daniels. The matter of employment for the actor, who is to be discharged from the service, has been the subject of several confer- ences held by the executive board of the N. V. A. recently, and after the question had been gone into thoroughly, it was de- cided to solicit the aid of the respejtive heads of the Army and Navy, in an effort to at least minimize the difficulties en- countered by the artist seeking to re- establish himself once more in civil life. In "his letter to the Army and Navy executives, which follows, Chesterfield has outlined the peculiar conditions attendant on an actor's securing employment, ex- plaining in detail the reasons why a per- son who earns his living on the stage should be accorded the privilege of the advance notice of discharge asked for. "New York, Feb. 17, 1919. Hon. Newton D. Baker, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. Sir: In behalf of the great number of actors in the United States Army, mem- bers of this organization, I have the honor to present for your consideration, and re- quest cooperation of your department, in the solution of a problem which vitil'v "NAT"L VAUDEVILLE A RTIST S, Inc., "Per HENRY CHESTERFIELD, Secy." SEEK KIN OF DEAD MINSTREL WALTIIAM, Mass., Feb. IT.—An effort is being made to locate the relatives or per- sonal friends of Henry Prince, a minstrel, who died here !s»t week following an at- tack of pneumonia. There is a clue about a brother of the deceased, living in Cam- bridge, but is has been impossible to get in touch with him. • The members of Gene Laighton s Min- Btrel Review, of which company Prince was a member, paid his hospital bill, but could do nothing with the body. The un- dertaker, who now has the body, has agreed to bold it for a while longer. * Charles T. Earle. who was in vaude- ville with two diving acts, but has been engaged in governm«-i.i »or* tor some time. is trying to collect rcorch money to par- chase a grave for the deceased, from vau- deville performers appearing in Boston. J Arthur Burke, of the local health de- partment, meanwhile has telegraphed tho Actors' Fund in New York. Washikoton, Feb. 17.—Chief Counsel » J W Walsh, of the Federal Trade Com- mission, has gone to Chicago to take up the Sears-Roebuck case, it was stated at his office today, and as a result, no definite date for the resumption of the inquiiy which ha is conducting into fhe.rajurnQe situation in New York eomld ho ow-tined. The belief at his office seemed to be that he would spend the rest of the week m the winoy city. Altogether, there are about fifty cases on the calendar of the commission and it may be that when the investigation is resumed, an assistant will conduct the examination of witnesses. VAUDE INQUIRY DATES NOT SET Chicago, Feb. 1&—Sheppazd Butler has succeeded Burton Rascoe as dramatic critic of the Tribune. Rascoe succeeded Percy Hammond when the latter was sent by the Tribune to Belgium and France on a special assignment two months ago. "ATTA BOY" LIKED IN PITTSBURGH Ptttsbcbo, Feb. 8.—The newest edition of "Atta Bay," which contains none but soldiers and sailors in the cast and is headed by Captain Frank Tinhey, opened at the Nixon Theatre here this week and was received with more than appreciative acclaim. It is a musical hodge-podge in two acts and several scenes that has pep, tuneful- ness and color, Frank Tinney, the black- face comedian, contributing something to the latter and considerably to the whole. The first act is made enjoyable by a minstrel ensemble in which Sergeant Bert Leigbton acts as interlocutor. He also sang a number called "He's the Gay that Won the Croix de Guerre" in a fine bari- tone voice which won him several encores. Will Haynes scored with a song called "Just to Be a Boy Again," and Tinney tickled the risibilities of the audience when he appeared and told how he came to en- list in the army. The act ended with a scene in the Argonne forest, where Tinney was screamingly funny as a private with two large razors and a grudge against the Boches. Corporal Hewitt, Privates Marty Haley, James Duffy and Fred Sweeney also 'distinguished themselves with their respec- tive and collective doings in the first act and throughout the show. The final act consisted of female imper- sonations, during which a very funny travesty on an interpretive dance was given by Sergeant Haynes and Private Sweeney. Bert and Frank Leigbton joked and sang on a trunk with a bit of Paris as a back- ground. Then Frank Tinney monologued again for a few minutes, after which the entire company swung into a victory finale with Frank Faulkner leading the drill- Tbe show moves so swiftly that, at the finish,* despite the two-hour duration, the audience wanted more of the rollicking fun and tuneful melodies that had pleased them so mnch throughout. Baxtoiosk, Md., Feb. It.—This evening, at the Academy of Music, Klaw * Erlan- ger and George C. Tyler, presented for the .first time on any stage, "A Comedy of Saw- dust and Sentiment" entitled "Live For- ever." It is by Arthur Bennett, whais a fre- quent visitor here, and its principal scenes are founded on vario us episodes culled from tie manyJ^BrTTs' of circus and race track, life which he has written over the nom de ■ plum* ol Jj. B. Yates, to whom the piece is attSaStt^bn the play bill. ' It la a'camedy-'ofrcharacter, rather than of situation, its interest centering in the projection of a group of what to most play- goers must be quite unfamiliar characters, a "Circus Queen" and three types of book- makers—the rather bard, sinister "Paragon Pete"; the good-natured andFalstaffian '•Oregon Sucker," and the young enthu- siast of the trio, "The Singing Kid." The story is flimsy and has to do with the attempts of the elder members of this coterie to save the boy from the animal trainer whom he has just married, for they believe that she is merely after the boy's money and that she is going to interfere with his life and break up the triumvirate. As a matter of fact, the woman believes that the "Kid" is capable of better things than following the horses, and she sets about to win him away from the old life. These principal characters are the high lights in a group of cleverely limned types of circus people, a boss hostler, clowns, a '•.■Bender," a colored factotum, the "Major" who owns the show, his sister, acrobats and the like, and there are delightful horses and dogs and the various accessories of the sawdust ring. The performance last evening was lack- ing in cohesion and seemed purely experi- mental to judges of values of potentialities of work as an entertainment. lake all plays that have direct literary inspiration, the types are suggested through long con- versations that are characteristic of speak- ers but which have little bearing on the action. It will probably be several days before this entertainment is whipped into shape, but to-night some admirable pieces of act- ing helped to give a certain vitality to the performance. The role of the kid. a character projected with a great deal of skill—it is in fact a rather notable characterization—was played with a re- markable effervescent youfulness by Cap*. William Harrigan. James Lackaye gave an unctuous por- trayal of the "Oregon Sucker," and Robert McWade, Jr., was capital as "Paragon Pete." The role of Mile. Maud Mazurka was acted with spirit and much sincerity by Marie Nordstrum, and the various types with which the production is replete were all presented with no little verisimilitude. The play, however, is not ready. It will be possible to give a »more just estimate of it later on. -^..HUMBLE Bcrxxn ovapF? Wasuinoto-« w Feb. 17.—Arthur Ham- merstein has set bedroom farce to music in "Tumble Inn," his third musical pro- duction of the season, and while the piece is not so Catchy and effective as "Some- body's Sweetheart,"' it is worthy enter- tainment and a lot better than "Some- time" when that piece was first staged. "Tumble In" goes over in acceptable fashion by virtue of a good farce idea, some tuneful melodies and at least two ensemble numbers that are audacious in their charm. Hammerstein has barked back to the old Rinehart-Hopwood farce comedy, "Seven Days," for the plot of "Tumble In," and Rudolph Friml has deco- rated it with at l east six good numbers, two of which—"Wedding Blues' and "Lim- bo Land"—should attain the Vietrola. Charles Ruggles har been cast in the chief male comedy role, with Peggy O'Neill playing opposite. Whether these two erformers will last, depends on how funny the producer wants to make "Tum- ble In." Ruggles has a part that Walter Catlett would instantly assimilate. Both Mr. Ruggles and Miss 0"Neil, however, gave performances that were entirely to themselves. Edna Hibbard, late of "Rock-a-Bye Baby" and "Twin Beds," has been assigned an important part—the role of a bogus wife—and here she has a far more sunshiny, optimistic character than she had in 'Rock-a-Bye Baby." Olga Mishka, a dancer, walked away with the specialty honors in several dance num- bers. Bertram Harrison's ensembles drew marked attention, as did Frimr« music. Such members of the cast as Zelda Sears, William Halligan and Fred Heider were all selected for favorable mention. GETS JUDGMENT FOR $345 Loxdok, Eng., Jan. 31.—In the West- minster County Court on Thursday, before Judge Lush, Percy Thomas Selbit pro- ducer and agent, was given judgment for $345, with costs, against Arthur Gold- stein, proprietor of a theatre in Boston. The judgment was the result of a suit by Selbit, who sent bis revue "Flashlights" to Boston under the representation of Gold- stein that the "takings" would reach $750 or more for the week. The actual receipts for the week were $200, and Selbit sued to recover his full share of the receipts Which, under Goldstein's representations, would have been $487.55. DETROIT LIKES "ADAM AND EVE" Detroit. Mich., Feb. 17.—One of the cherriest adventures of the season is "Adam and Eva" the satirical comedy of which Guy Bolton and George Middleton are joint authores and Fray Comstock producer "Adam and Eva" was made known for the first time on any stage at the Sbubert 'Garrick to-night and went over with a rush. There is evident an intent to provide something more substantial tban mere superficial funmaking in the fable that deals with the uselessness and the wild extravag- ance of the younger generation of wasters In scattering the unearned increment that Is their portion, and while the comedy is al- ways in evidence there is food for sober thought in the proceedings. The story tells of an autsider substituted for the father of an irresponsible brood, while pater is on a South American trip. The manner in which this man brings the idlers to a state of usefulness, by means of a manufactured report of the financial ruin of the head of the household and at the end brings to the deserving members of the group the sentimental and practical awards, is Interestingly told, and worked out in a manner that keeps suspense keyed to a high pitch until the final moment. There Is also a generous amount of satirical and epigram- matic writing that fits in perfectly with the action ami the lesson that is Impressed. A notable cast has been engaged including Otto Kruger who plays the adjuster of af- faire. Ruth Sbeply plays Eva, chief of the wasters. Courtenay Foots a fortune seeking Eng- lish nobleman, John Flood, the bardworked. porterr Jean Shelby, a jewel of a maid, Ferdinand Gottacbalk, William B. Mack. Adelaide Prince. Reginald Mason and Robert A. Arnold. SAYS ACTRESS STOLE HUSBAND Marion Dorr, said to be an actress, was accused' last week in the Supreme- Court of stealing the affections of Rawaon Un- derhlll, member of the Stock Exchange firm of Underhill and Gilmor, in the trial of a separation suit brought by Justina Mills Underbill. It was" testified that the actress received gifts of expensive jewelry, flowers and money from the broker, and it was al*o brought out that on one occasion Under- hill had accused Miss Dorr of trying to part him from $50,000. WANT HELP ON TAX The theatrical managers of New York have been invited to meet in the office of the Collector of Internal Revenue Mark Eisner on Friday afternoon to discuss ways and means, if possible, to make the new theatre admission tax more; simple. Clarence W. Nntt, chief zone officer, ex- tended the invitations and requested that the managers come ready to make any suggestion that they think may possibly help them and the revenue office at the same time. .; i ■