The New York Clipper (April 1919)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER April 30, 1919 PANTAGES BARS PATRIOTIC BITS I N CANAD IAN HOUSES Awwmpitmii Pa flb— JK Are Warned Not to Uie American Flag or Refer to U. S. Military Exploit*, Owing to Sensitive Audiences The feeling «(f i ""*' the use of Antfrinn ~ patriotic bits by performers while playing in western Canada baa become bo strong that the Alexander Pantages office baa is- sued an order forbidding the use of the Yankee Sag, reference to America's part in the war, and sentimental touched ex- ploiting anything pertaining to our army or nary in all his Canadian houses. Despite the fact'that there ia a-large American population in" the -western prov- inces covered by the Pantages organisation, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta' and British Columbia, so many complaints were made to the managers that the latter wrote into headquarters and the ban was issued. Demonstrations have been made against some of the performers and organizations to combat what is known, in Canada as. "Yankee bragging." Some parts of songa were particularly referred to and it may be necessary to eliminate entire numbers. Canada bad nearly as many deaths in her army dur- ing the war as America and her propor- tionate sacrifices in every respect were so great that the natives resent hearing the stories of the war heroes from the States. and lines that put the United States down as the'country winning the War. - • For some time the feeling in Eastern Canada against this American patriotic outburst has been manifest, but it has only been within the last few weeks that it has spread to the west. The Pantages Circuit has houses in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Be- gins, Calgary. Edmonton, and Vancouver. FRED WRIGHT GETS BENEFIT Boston. April 28.—For the first time in his career, Fred E. Wright, manager of the Park Square Theatre, was tendered a ben- efit to-night. Manager Wright, who is regarded as the dean of Boston managers, has been in the business for many years and, during his career, has done many big things. One of the biggest of Iiis achievements was when, as a young man, be piloted 3. H. Haverly's Mastodon Minstrels to London, En?., where the attraction ?=ayed the flrury Lane The- atre. In this city, Wright has managed the four plays that nave established the record runs in Boston's theatrical history, namely, "A Temperance Town," twenty-four weeks; "The Man from Home," twenty-seven weeks; "Fair and Warmer," twenty-six weeks, and "Under Cover, "thirty-one and a half weeks. The attraction to-night for Manager Wright*s benefit was "Why Marry?" which on this date opened an engagement at the Park Square. HITCHCOCK REACHES LONDON Cables news was received here early this week that Raymond Hitchcock had opened Monday night at the Palace Theatre, Lon- don, in Sir Alfred Butts" < HeUo, America!" revue, taking the place made vacant by Elsie Janis last Saturday night, when she left the show to return to this country. Rock and White also are in the show. Hitchcock is reported to be receiving 82,000 a week from Sir Alfred Butt, whom Ziegfeld, Dillingham and Erlanger have threatened to hold responsible for any loss they may sustain by reason of Hitch- cock's failure to appear in the next "Hitchy-Koo** show which George V. Ho- bart is reported to be writing. Willie Edelsten negotiated for_ Hitch- cock's appearance in London at this time, having obtained his signature to a contract last August while he was playing in Detroit with the "Hitchy-Koo" show of which Leon Errol was also a member. "POODLE DOG" FOUNDER DIES San Francisco, April 24.—Antonio Blanco, founder of the first "Poodle Dog" restaurant in this city, famous the world over,, died last Monday at his home here, aged fifty-five years. He opened the "Poodle Dog" in 1880. The fame of the place soon attracted members of the the- atrical profession, and it soon became noted for its patronage among local and visiting players. Bunco, who was a native of Spain, leaves a widow and four chil- dren. WANTS GRANVILLE FOR SHOW Boyle Woolfolk, who arrived here last week, is negotiating with Bernard Gran- ville to head the musical show he is pro- ducing in Chicago, and which is scheduled to open at the La Salle Theater after playing a week in Detroit early in June. The show is called "Golden Eyes," and Will M Hough wrote the book, Byron Gay the lyrics and Felix G. Bice the score. Woolfolk expects to choose - all his princi- pals here this week. Next season, Woolfolk says, he will send out three companies to play "The Gold Dust Twins," his latest musical produc- tion, which opened in Benton Harbor, Mich., April 20, and has done a splendid road business since. The show was writ- ten by John P.. Mulgrew and Billy Boyle. Jack Trainor is being featured in the cast. Other principals include James Flippen, Doris Canfield, Sidney Hamilton, Irxine Huyck, Edward Benton and Lew Swan. FIELDS HAS INFLUENZA - Cot-UMROs. Ohio, April 26.—AI G. Fields, who left his show at St. Joseph, coming to Columbus, is now laid up with influenza. While in this city, he con- tracted a slight Attack-of the illness and was obliged to remain indoors for a few days. The "Follies" then came to town, and Fields went to see the show and con- tracted a more severe case of the "flu," which will probably keep him 'confined to his bed for two weeks more. ■ While he is laid up, arrangements are being made for his forthcoming show, over which he is highly enthusiastic and which will open early next season. The annual sale of Fields' sliow property will be held this year for the first' time since the United States entered the war. During the sale a varied assortment of things, used in theatrical productions will be disposed of, including some electrical effects. •TISH" CHICAGO OPENING SET May Robson and company, managed by Augustus Pitou, wfll open in "nsh" on June 1 at Powers Theatre, Chicago. WHITNEY HAS NEW PIECE Fred. C Whitney, has a new spectacular production called "Moon of Israel," which he is to produce next season and which is to be done on a very large scale. It is from a story by ,H. .Rider Haggard and wfll be put into stage form by Charles Henry Meltzer, the former music critic of the New York American. .Whitney has had the rights of the piece for years, it is said, but has decided that the public to now ready for a big spectacular production. TAKE IT FROM ME** NOT CLOSING "Take It From Me," the Joe Gaites show now playing at the 44th Street Theatre, is not to close. A recent error made it ap- pear in print that it was. In fact, the piece, in addition to playing to a good opening week. Is developing into what now looks like an all summer run. NEW COAST REVIEW OPENS San Francisco, CaL, April 24.—Kitty Gordon made her initial appearance in the latest Fanchon and Marco revue, "That's It," last night at the Casino Theatre. The piece has many clever situations, pleasing dialogue and a cast, including fifty girls, that presents the latest musical hits. It is far more successful than "Let's Go," the first revue. Vaudeville is woven into the action and the various acts won favor. Jack Wilson offers scores of the bright lines that made him the star of the previ- ous performance. Snappy, costumes feature the new show. Kitty Gordon's gowns, as well as those worn by Fanchon, stirred the fairer members of the audience to a point of enthusiasm. Lloyd and Wells, the gen- tlemen from Georgia, aided in ranting the entertainment enjoyable with their novel dance steps. On account of a nervous breakdown of Jack Wilson the opening performance was postponed two days. Wilson broke down after he reached the dressing-room before intermission -at: the- matinee Monday. / On advice of the house physician he was taken to his hotel. The production was written and staged by Wilson. • SELWYNS TRY OUT NEW PIECE SOKKBVUXE, Mass., March 24.—"Pants and Petticoats," a play on which the Sei- wyns have an option, is being presented by the SomerviUe Players this week, having received, its first production on any stage . on Monday night, when it was heartily re- ceived. The play is from the pen of Ed- ward H. Crosby, dramatic editor . of the Boston Pott. It tells the story of BiUie Carleton, a presumably fifteen-year-old motherless boy. whose lot is cast among thieves. Robert Carleton, a wealthy young man with a hobby for slumming, discovers Rfllie and brings "him" to his borne.' In trying to prevent thieves from stealing a large sum of money from Carleton, Billie is shot and is discovered to be a girl. Carleton then falls in love with her and they are married in the last act. ^Ruth Fielding received high praise for t?r performance of Bflfle. Bowden HaU wan forceful and convincing as Robert Carleton. Others who did good work were John Dugan, Ted Brackett, Grace Fox, Rose Gordon, J. Gordon Lawrence and El- bert Benson. LOEW LEASES MEMPHIS SITE Memphis, April 24.—Marcus Loew has to-day consummated a ninety-nine year lease on a theatre site sixty-three feet west of Main street, on the south side of Union avenue. It has a'frontage of 88 feet and a depth of 198 feet, on which will be erected at once a modern vaudeville theatre cost- ing not less than $400,000. Thomas A. Lamb, theatrical architect of New York, is expected in the city during the week to inspect the site before com- pleting plans outlined for Mr. Loew. The seating capacity on two floors will be 2.200. Ben M. Stainback. local man- ager, expects the new house to be com- pleted January 1. 1920. The charter for the Loew Memphis Theatre Company has been filed, and the incorporators are: Ben M Stainback, Frederick I. Inman, H. M. Barber and L. K. Walsh, all identified with the Loew interests. "LOVE LAUGHS" OPENING SET "Love Laughs" is the new title chosen for the three-act.comedy originally called "Propinquity," by George D. Parker, which the ScibiUa Producing Company is produc- ing and which is scheduled to open for the first time in Stamford, Conn., May 6. The following players are in the cast: Jessie Glendenmng, . Ida Waterman, Beatrice Yorke, Kathleen Alexander, Lionel Adams. Harold Hendee, Harold West, Charles N. Greene, Arthur Allen. John Harwood is staging the play. PRINCESS GETS BRICE SHOW Chicago, April 28.—Elizabeth Brice and her "Overseas Revue" win dose at the Playhouse, here, next Saturday night and will open May 5 at the Princess Theatre, New York. Manager Wfll Morrissey wfll immediately bring another of his revues to the Playhouse. DATES -AHEAD Three Plays—Duncan MacDougaU's Barn, May X. "Overseas Revue"—Opens Princess Thea- tre, May5. National Burlesque Circuit Meeting-—May 5 "She's a Good Fellow"—Dilling-ham—Opens Globe, May 6. ^^ RUisades Bark. Opening—May 10. "The Hon. Julius Caesar"—Princeton Tri- angle Club—Waldorf-Astoria, May 10. Theatrical Benefit to Salvation Arm)-— Metropolitan Opera House. May 11. Brighton Theatre—May 19. "Pretty Soft"—Opens Morosco Theatre. May 19. Actors' .. Fund Annual Meeting—Hudson Theatre, May 23. Hendersons—Coney Inland—Opens May 26. Actors' Equity Annual Meeting — Hotel As tor, May 26. N. V. A. Benefit—Hippodrome, June 1. OUT OF TOWN Gus Hill's California Minstrels Open Can- ton, Ohio, May 3. "Those Who Walk in Darkness"—Shu- berta—Opens Washington, May-*."' "Through the Ages"—Corastock and Gest— Opens Buffalo. May 5. "Love Laughs"—SclblUa Producing; Co.— Opens Stamford, May 6. ... "Among theV-Olria"—Selwyn &jGn«-Onens New Haven, May 8.. ~ «.,- "The Whirlwind"—Selwyn &. Co.—Opens Washington. May 11. "Poor Little Sheep"—Selwyn & Co.—Opens Atlantic City, May 13. American Federation of Musicians Annual Convention—Dayton. O., May 12. "Passing Show of 1919"—Opens Palace Music Hall, Chicago. May 14. "Scandal of ! 1919"—George White—Opens Wilmington, May 15. "I Lo« a Lassie"—Shuberts—Opens New Haven, May IB. "Luck"—Harry De Vrles—Opens Long Branch, May 16. - "Look and Listen"—A. H. Woodsy-Opens Atlantic City. May 18/ "Claudia"—John Cort—Opens Pittsburgh, May 19. • "Wedding Bells"—Selwyn & Co.—Opens Washington, May 26.; i • American Theatrical Hospital Benefit—Au- ditorium Theatre, Chicago;, May 25. "The Lonely Romeo"—(Lew Fields Show) —Opens Atlantic City, May 26. I. A. T. S. E. Convention—Ottawa, Can- ada. May 26. "Follies" (new edition)— Floreni Zelgfeld. Jr.—Opens Atlantic City, June 2. "On the Hiring Line"—George C. Tyler- Opens Washington, June 2. "A Pearl of Great Price"—A. H. Woods- Opens Stamford, Conn.-, Aug. 12. CLOSING DATES AHEAD "The Good Bad Woman"—Harrtj Theatre, , May X. PALISADES OPENS MAY IO Palisades Park wfll open May 10. Among the-new attractions wiU be a grav- ity ride," Virginia reel—said to be the largest in the country—-beehive whirlpool, a large wheel with cars; underground Chinatown, carrying a dozen scenes and il- lusions ; crystal maize. Among the last year's attractions, which have been im- proved upon are the swimming pool, scenic railway, carousel, sleigh ride, double racer, witching waves, circle swing;, frolic, dance hall, the old mill, the whip, third degree, infant incubators, pony track, ferris wheel and photo galleries. There wfll be the usual fireworks on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and on the. opening night. Band concerts and free acts wfll. continue as before. .* . CAIRNS BROS.' SHOW OPENS Blue Mound, 111., April 26.—The seven Cairns Brothers opened their tenting sea- son here today, presenting "Honest Hearts," a four-act comedy drama. From here they go to Loving-ton, where they play Monday, and win continue in Illinois till May 5, when they go into the Northwest, returning to minors in the fan. CANS ACT AS TICKETS Samoa. Ont., April 28.—Six empty tin cans admitted the bearer to' the picture theatres in this city last Friday afternoon. as the result of a plan originated by the Chamber of Commerce in the clean-up cam- paign. BENNETT & CUNNINGHAM This team, who are facing each other on the front cover, are featured this season with Fred Irwin's "Majesties.'*. Pending any definite announcements as to their plans for next season, there is much speculation as to the nature of the ester- prise they win be identified with. Rumor has .them going into vaudevflle, musical comedy, and burlesque..