The New York Clipper (February 1919)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER February 26, 1919 PREPARE SHOWS FOR BROADWAY SUMMER RUNS SEVERAL BEING MADE READY Producer* of musical thorn have be- gun to make plans for Summer run* in Hew York and look forward to the big- gest Summer amusement business Broad- way has ever known. They base their opinion on the fact that tie city will hold the largest number of strangers ever here in hot weather, due to the homecoming of soldiers. One of the first shows being groomed for a New York Summer run is "Hello, Alexander," in which Mclntyre and Heath are being starred by the Shuberts. It is now playing an extended engagement at the Majestic Theatre, Boston. This show was received with little favor at its try-out, but it is being revised and, with the two famous fun-makers above named as its central figures will, no doubt, be going well by the time it reaches Broadway. Among those assisting in this show are Johnny Burke, Mary Haynes, Lou Clayton, Sam White, Eva Pock, Jose Coffman, Jack Squires, Carl McCullough, Dan Quintan, Vivian Holt, Lflflan Bosedale, Ethel Had- den, Adele Ardley, Mealy and Montrose, the Old Homestead Quartette and a large chorus. Another show destined for Broadway the coming Summer is "Take It From Me," also at present in Boston, where it is drawing capacity business at the Sam 8. Shubert Theatre. This is another show which got off to a doubtful start, but has since been knocking at the door of New York for admittance. It is the work of Will B. Johnstone, who wrote the book, and Will R. Anderson, who composed the music. This company includes Vera Michelena, Helen Raftery, Alice Hills, Georgia Man- natt, Dorothy Betts, Jack M cGow an, Douglas Leevitt, Harry Burniam, William Balfour and Fred Hfllebrand. "Tumble Inn," which was recently launched by Arthur Hammerstein, Is a musical version of the Rinehart-Hapwood farce "Seven Days,'' Rudolph Friml being responsible for the score. Like the two preceding shows, "Tumble Inn" required the usual "whipping into shape** given most shows, but is now said to be up to the Broadway mark and is expected on the Great White Way shortly. Charles Ruggles and Peggy O'Neill have the leading comedy roles, and others prominent in the cast are Edna Hibbard, Olga Mishka, Zelda Sears, William Hal- ligan and Fred Heider. "Yesterday,'* a show coming out under the Shubert banner, is the work of Glen Macdonoogb. end Reginald De Koven. Re- hearsals are now under way, and its open- ing wfU soon occur. Selwyn and company are having a musical version made of "Seven Chances," the farce, which, with Frank Craven in the *—^<"g comedy role, had such a success- ful career under David Belasco's direction. This will probably be a late Spring pro-. duction. The Society of American Singers Is doing so well with its light musical pro- ductions at the Park that it wfll probably continue right through the Summer sea- son. In view of this, the Shuberts, who usually have a season of revivals of the popular light operas of days gone by, will, perhaps, not compete, but will confine themselves to their forthcoming produc- tions. Among the musical shows now running in New York, which have a chance to re- main during the heated term are: The Royal Vagabond,'* at the Cohan and Harris; "Listen Lester," at the Knicker- bocker; The Velvet Lady," at the New Amsterdam; "Somebody's Sweetheart,** at the Central, and "Some Time," at the TWO SHELDON PLAYS OPENING When King Baggot opens in The Vio- lation," the three-act drama by Harry 8. Sheldon, which Harry Hunter is present- ing for the first time March 6 at Colum- bus, Ohio, he wiD be supported by the following players: Vera Finlay, Margot Williams, John Lester, Frank G. Mills, Leonard Doyle, John J. White, Burr Car- uth, Boy Cochran, Sadie Cochran and Frances victory. Following the Columbus date The Vio- lation" will play a week's engagement in Cincinnati beginning March 9. S. T. King has been appointed business manager oJ the show. "It Happens to Everybody,'* another play written, by Sheldon, which is rapidly being whipped into shape by Ira Hards, win open at the Academy in Baltimore on March 3. • % The cast of "It Happens to Everybody** is beaded by George Probert and Florence Martin. Others appearing in the piece are Frank Joyner, Dorothy Baanmaefc, Alfred Dayton, George B. Muer, Frank McCoy, Dorothy Allen, Edward FieMing, Camila Crume and Nils Mack. William Muenster, for twenty years manager for J. K_ Hackett, heads the cor- poration that is producing the show. "HOBOHEM1A" MAKING MONEY Despite the unfavorable notices which "Hobohemia** received following its open- ing at the Greenwich Village Theatre three weeks ago, the management has earned a profit of $2,000 weekly for the last two weeks. The receipts have aver- aged $4,200. ; This is dne to the help of'the ticket brokers, whose aid was enlisted several days after the show opened. The brokers agreed to take from four to ten tickets for each performance, selling them at box office prices and receiving an amount equal to the war tax as their bit on each ticket. The brokers are also allowed full credit on all unsold tickets. And, since the arrangement relieves the brokers from any loss on the transaction and does not entail any outlay of cash in advance, they have been pushing the sale of tickets witi considerable success. Bernard Gallant, business manager of the Greenwich, stated last week that Broadway stars would be engaged for the theatre's productions next season. CARUSO SETS $10 TOP A ten-dollar top price has been fixed by the Metropolitan Opera House management for the gala performance next Saturday night at which Caruso will celebrate tie twenty-fifth year of his operatic career and appear in several of his famous opera roles, assisted by aB the available leading artists of the Metropolitan. The proceeds of the performance, which Jt is expected wfll total at least $16,000, wfll go to the benefit of the Opera Emergency Fund. In former years, the proceeds from the gala performance each year, sometimes to- taling $20,000, went to the managing di- rector. But General Manager Giulio GarrJ- Casazza eliminated that practice when he took charge six years ago, and has been turning the money over to the Emergency Fund since that time. MAY START OVER AGAIN The Authors' and Actors' Theatrical League activities, .which have lam dor- mant since they closed their program at the Fulton Theatre months ago, may be revived again shortly. At the present time Mrs. Thomas A. Wise, who was an active principal in the organization, is reading plays in an effort to find several suitable for production. It was rumored - that the Authors' and Actors' organisa- tion may rent the Punch and Judy The- atre from Stuart Walker for a series of matinees as soon as they choose the plays for presentation. WHO OWNS THE "KISS BURGLAR" UPTOJflURT WELCH AND SHUBERTS CLAIM IT "Who owna the "Kiss Burglar*?** might weU be-the name of a puzzle, judging by the tangle 'into which its affairs wound themselves last week when the Kiss Burglar Corporation started an action in the Third District Municipal Court for $1,000 against Coutts and Tennis. The action is designed, it was said, to determine who controls the Kiss Burglar Corporation—Jack Welch or the Shuberts. Levy, Hamburger and Pelikan are the at- torneys for the plaintiff. O'Brien, Male- vinsky and Driscon appear for the defend- ants. But, hut week, when the ease came on for trial before a jury, William Klein, the Shubert attorney, came into court with an affidavit in support of a motion to adjourn the case, which waa put over. In the affidavit, Klein swears he is the attorney for the Kiss Burglar Corpora- tion. He says that, originally, William C. Orr was president and principal stock- holder of the corporation, and Jack Welch either vice-president or treasurer. Welch, it states, held one share of stock. Then, according to Klein, "the Kiss Burglar Corporation being in need of money, borrowed from the Shubert The- atrical Company $10,000, and transferred to it aB of the stock of the corporation, including one share, which was presum- ably in the name of Jack Welch and which had been endorsed in blank" The affidavit then recites that the com- pany did not pay the note when it be- came due, so the stock was sold and bought in by the interests Klein repre- sents. But the fact remains, that Coutts and Tennis are at the present time pre- senting successfully throughout the United States one company of The Kiss Burg- lar," the rights to which they obtained last June from the Kiss Burglar Corporation and the authors, Glen McDonough and Raymond HubbolL Under the terms of the contract for the rights of the show, Coutts and Tennis pay the authors six per cent of the weekly gross and an additional two per cent goes to the corporation. However, Coutts and Tennis are withholding an accumulated sum in royalties said to be <ner $1,000, regarding the turning over of which they are in doubt owing to the «i«im« of the Shuberts and Jack Welch to ownership of the corporation. Another element that is adding to the rift in the lute is the judgments filed against the Kiss Burglar Corporation, one for $1,274 in favor of the H. C. Miner Lithographing Company having been docketed last week. It was said that no matter who ulti- mately establishes his right to the Kiss Burglar Corporation and s u cceeds in having the sums in royalties now held by Coutts and Tennis turned over to the cor- poration, wfll have to pay the money out to those who have filed judgments. ■ The Shuberts are also presenting a com- pany in The Kiss Burglar.'' NAME NEW CROTHERS PLAY Rachel Crotiers' newest three-act com- edy which the Shuberts are producing, is called "27 East," and is scheduled to open in Washington March 20. The play was put into rehearsal last week with the fol- lowing players definitely chosen: Henry Hull, Lucia Moore, Alison Skipworth and Constance Binney. MINSTRELS BURIED TOGETHER Waltham, Mass, Feb. 22. — Harry Prince and Arthur Hays Fulton, two min- strels who were travelling with the Gene Laighton Minstrel Review, and who died in Waltham, were buried beside each other in the Mt_ Feake Cemetery here yester- day. A search bad failed to reveal the whereabouts of any of Prince's relatives, and funds for his burial were raised by a subscription managed by. Charles T. Earle, formerly in vaudeville. A brother of Ful- ton provided the expenses for his funeral. Rev. Frank G. Potter, pastor of the Im- manuel Methodist Church, officiated at the funeral. Several people connected with the profession were present, including mem- bers of the I. A T. 8. E. and M. P. O.. George B, Hager of the Waltham Theatre, J. F. Henlein, manager, and W. H. Arnold, assistant manager, of the Central Square Theatre, performers appearing at the Wal- dorf, Edward Harrington and Charles T. Earle. The pen bearers, all members of Inter- national Alliance of Theatrical Stage Em- ployees and Moving Picture Operators, Lo- cal 506, were James Tufly, Patrick Do- herty, W. Blakesley end Louis Carrol, for Fred Fulton, and Frank Ca mpbe ll, James Murren, Herbert Pyne and William Nor- ton, for Harry Prince.. ANNA HELD, JR., DESERTS VAUDE Anna Held, Jr., who opened last week in a musical ploy by Clara Fair called "Hello, People, which is at present play- ing one-night stands in New Hiwgl^t,^ ie being supported by the following princi- pals: Emmett Gflfofl, The Four AvaUos, Anna'Sievers, George Hinkel, Helen Prim- rose, Joe Daniels, Moyer Sisters, Captain George Auger, Louise May. The produc- tion is owned by Joe Shea. Miss Held was scheduled' to appear in vaudeville under the .management of Evangeline Weed, the latter having ob- tained an option, on her services from Shea. But, after extending the two-week option to six weeks, it was found that the vaudeville vehicle chosen for Miss Held'e use was too pretentious to permit Miss Held to begin working on it in the time contemplated by all the . parties to the option. STATE GUARDS GIVING SHOWS RooBEBTEB, N. T., Feb. 24.—The local unit of the New York Guard is going to put on a big show and bazaar at the State Armory here shortly. Sidney Wire, who represents the First World's Congress of Dare Devils, is now in town and negotia- tions are under way. Wire has already closed contracts to put on «iinn«i- shows in Schenectady, where a carnival wfll be held on Feb. 28, Syracuse and Albany. Dare- Devfl Schreyer is to be featured in all shows. CLOSE "FAIR AND WARMER*' After playing the show on the road for the last few months the Selwyns closed "Fair and Warmer" at Johnstown, Pa., last week. The company having disband- ed, the owners sent the snow to the store- house. ADA MEADE A. E. A. COUNCILMAN Ada Meade was elected a member of the Council of the Actors' Equity Associa- tion at a meeting of the executive board of the organization, held .last Friday. Miss Meade succeeds to the Council seat formerly held by Mrs. Whiffen. WEST WILL GIVE PLAY ABROAD Roland West, producer and co-author of "The Unknown Purple," announced last week that when that play is presented in London, England, ft wfll be under the direction of him, in conjunction .with a prominent actor-manager. STONE AND PILLARD George Stone and Etta Pfllard, whose picture appears on the front cover of this issue of the Cx-xffbb, are dosing a fourteen- year contract with the firm of Hnrtig A Seamon. They are this week at the Colum- bia Theatre, New York Stone and Pfllard are the biggest box office attraction playing the burlesque cir- cuits to-day, a position they have held for a number of years. They hold many records throughout the circuit and are credited with being the fastest team in this branch of'theatricals. Stone and Pfllard have been made many offers in the last few years by Flo Zlegfeld, Jr., the Shuberts, Max Hart, H. B. Man nelli, Richard Pitrot, Chamberlain Brown and other American and European man- agers and agents, bat were compelled to decline them all on account of being under contract to Hnrtig & Seamon. As this contract expires at the end of the present season it is possible that they wfll be seen in a big revue or Broadway production next year. - £-. ■ - - . ■ .. . ■ ■ • . ■