The New York Clipper (February 1919)

February 26, 1919 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER SEARCHING ALL THEATRES FIND NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS , week, and sent inspectors out to investi- gate the conditions of theatres through- out Manhattan and Brooklyn. The in- spectors were told to search each theatre from cellar to dome in their efforts to find violations of the fire prevention laws. As a result of this inspection many theatres in both boroughs received no- tices of violation from the department. Most of the violations were found to exist in Brooklyn, and as a result the Crescent Theatre, on new Flatbuah ave- nue, received a five-day notice from Cap- tain Soden of the Fire Prevention Bureau "to remove rubbish from the cellar and also from an adjoining alley. In the same borough, where the motion picture theatres have been found to be the chief violators of the law, notice was given to the Parkside Theatre, one of the larger motion picture houses, to remove violations found there by the inspectors. If both of these houses fail to comply with the law in accordance with the no- tices served on them, Captain Soden stated that he would move to have their licenses revoked by the License Commis- sioner. • As evidence of the close scrutiny the fire inspectors are exercising over theatres in Brooklyn, where violations have been most flagrant, the Bushwick Theatre may 'be noted. Thi■-■ 'house had an act last week in which an automobile appeared on the stage. The fire inspector who visited the place came there just as the machine was about to be used in the act, and re- fused to let it go on until he had thor- oughly convinced himself there was no gasoline in the car. While no flagrant violations have thus far been discovered in the larger houses in Manhattan, a number of motion pic- ture theatres have received five-day DOtices. ZUKOR SIGNS ARBUCKLE Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle signed a con- tract with Adolph Znkor and Joe Schenck last Saturday, whereby he will receive $3,000,000 for his services as a picture star during the next three years. The deal was consummated in Kansas City, Arbuckle, Zukor and Schenck stopping off there en route from the coast for the purpose of completing negotiations started in Los Angeles two months ago. According to a person connected with the Famous Players-Lasky organization, which will distribute the Arbuckle come- dies during the term of the three year agreement, the contract-just signed places "Fatty" at the top of the high salaried picture players, not excepting Fairbanks, Chaplin or Pickford. No details were available on Monday night, the Famous Players-Lasky concern having received no information with re- spect to the record transaction other than a telegram from Adolph Znkor stating that Arbuckle had been signed at that figure, the respectable sum of $3,000,000. It is presumed, however, that the Ar- buckle pictures will be made by a company headed by the comedian himself, and turned over on a percentage and drawing account, or some such selling arrangement - with the Paramount people. Arbuckle ar- rived in New York on Monday, in company with his studio production manager. Lew Anger. Arbuckle will make his headquar- ters at the Claridge until Wednesday, when he plana to; return to the coast. He will continue to produce on the- coast, as for- merly. "Fatty" began his career as a picture actor about five years ago, with the Key- stone Comedy Company, then operated by Kessel and Bauman and Mack Sennett. He is. said to have received about seventy- five dollars a week at that time. obsonTnthe tiUerdlr of "^afij" by Edward E. Rose from the Tiah" stories by Mary Roberts Rinehart, opened here to-night before a crowded house. Among the audience were scores of Vassar girls. Mr. Rose and Augustus Pitou, the producer, were also present. May Robson is the entire show. As Tish, the scapegrace, she is well cast, but she had to work very hard to put across the humor. In this she was helped by Lillian Harmer, in the role of "Aggie," and these two received many hearty laughs. ' The play abounds in humor, but there was a tendency to "over-play" many of the situations, which may be due to the fact that the players are new to their roles and all the members of the cast, including the star, were extremely nervous. Doubt- less after a few more performances the play will be ready for New York. Whether, after presentation, it will be a success, remains to be seen, if the play "goes over" it will be because the public wants to see May Robson. The star's support is poor; in fact, so far as the men are concerned, with the. exception of Vincenzo Ioucelli, who plays "Tufik," the Syrian, none of the male roles are well played. The red wig which Miss Robson wore during dress rehearsals was substituted at the last moment for her natural coiffure. "Tish" in the stories is red headed but the "Tish" of the play is unnatural in a wig, and not until Miss Robson decided to fore- go the stiff looking head dress did the part become the 'Tish" of the mind's-eye and May Robson become her old self. FEAR EFFECT OFLENT SOLDIERS WILL HELP SEASON GAMUT CLUB TO PRODUCE "The Plaid Cape" is the title of a play to be produced by the Gamut Club, of which Mary Shaw is president. The piece will open at the Forty-eighth Street on Friday afternoon.' The tremendous amount of business done by theatre.* since the beginning of the season, which reached its <0im«T last Saturday (Washington's Birthday) when many of the houses broke records of long standing for receipts on the day, is ex- pected to fall oil, beginning next week, when the Lenten period will be observed by thousands of theatregoers. * In former years, the five weeks of Lent, beginning on Aab Wednesday in March and ending on Easter Sunday in April, have meant a considerable drop in the business done by theatres. The weaker shows, some of which might have ordi- narily continued playing, have been forced to close, and those that didn't close con- tinued their run by cutting the actors* salaries. This year, however, managers are feel- ing more sanguine. While a drop in busi- ness is expected, they feel that the de- crease will not affect receipts to any ap- preciable extent. And for established suc- cesses like "The Better 'Ole," "Friendly Enemies," "The Canary" and "Up in Mabel's Room," the Lenten depreciation in business will be almost negligible. This optimism, tncy say, is caused be- cause "of the large numbers of returning soldiers from Fra.ice in addition to those discharged from the camps throughout the country. Thase men, they figure, will be seeking theatrical entertainment just as soon as they arrive here. THi4S-PROPAGANDA Feb"N2*c-"The ': After- ," William Moore Paten's new play, written by a Pittsburgh newspaper man named George Seibel, and produced here at the Shubert Garrick, ia frankly pro- paganda. It seeks to demonstrate that a great danger lurks in the dissemina- tion of social disease by soldiers return- ing from Franco and, although the Gov- ernment medical authorities have hastened to endorse it as splendid disease propa- ganda, it strikes several false notes which banish it from earnest attention. The story is based on the efforts of a physician to prevent the marriage of a young girl he cares for to a returning army captain, who has brought from France certain sinister evidences of a dread disease. Immediately, the observ- ant playgoer's interest goes to smash, . since the army authorities have spread broadcast their dictum that soldiers re- turning from France must pass rigid medical examinations before being dis- charged from the service. Seibel also demonstrates his manifest unfamiliarity with the theatre in the re- fusal of his play to properly function at several vital points in the first and second act. The play, a* drama, makes no seri- ous bid, and it suffers likewise from com- parison with Brieux's "Damaged Goods.** Malcolm Duncan brings a forceful char- acterization to the piece as the doctor, and Malcolm Fassett bestows a touch of deep authenticity to his portrayal of the captain's role. Grace Carlyle, aa the girl, won favorable mention. Sirs. Priestly Morrison, who substituted for the indis- posed Rose Coghlan, and Richard Gordon, all earned good notices. Mona Kingsley has a part that calls for little effort. DORIS DARE Presenting a New Single Singing Specialty in Vaudeville '•.-■■- MASS. POSTER LAW ATTACKED Boston, Feb. 19.—Before the Com- mittee of Legal Affairs at the State House this afternoon the proposed anti-billboard advertising law was vigorously attacked. It was contended by opponents of the bill that posters are not an evil, and that bill posting is a thoroughly legitimate business. On the other hand, friends of the meas- ure defended their stand by declaring that billboards were an evil as well as a public nuisance. James A. Donovan, ,a Lawrence bill- poster, proved to be one of the bitterest foes to the law and turned his guns very effectively against those who sided with the apposition. "A mistake has been made in allowing this question to be taken seriously,** Toe said. "It should be classed with the hat- pin law and the law to lower car steps because of the hobble skirt. It should be laughed at with one exception—we do not believe in or favor tacking or painting of signs on rocks, trees and fences. The men who do this are the tramps of the advertising business. "But bi& posting is a legitimate busi- ness of long sta n din g , representing a vain- able investment. It ia a - business and should not be disturbed.** He said his concern had placed its busi- ness at the. disposal of the Government for patriotic advertising, and had been thanked. Judge Robert Walcott, of Cambridge, referred to billboards aa "infernal dis- figurements." Robert Clapp, of Lexing- ton, doubted the wisdom of passing a rigid State law which might prohibit Lib- erty Loan and similar advertising, and even church signs. Prescott F. HaU, of Brookllne, said legislation should be passed prohibiting advertising on rocks, trees or any natural object and restricting it to billboards and to the inaides and outsides of buildings. Herbert B. Keliaway. of Boston, au- thor of a bill for a proposed State' law which would prohibit billboard advertis- ing within 300 feet of any public way or building, argued that the Legislature should take the lead for the cities and towns to follow. Harris A Reynolds, secretary of the Massachusetts Forestry Association, de- clared that billboard signs harbor gypsy - moths, are hideous, a public nuisance, and with other advertising, eonstttnto "one distinct cause of the high cost of living.'*