The New York Clipper (June 1919)

June 4, 1919 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER WHITE RAT A. F. OF L CHARTER IS TO BE AGA IN ATTACKED Effort Will Be Made, It Is Stated, to Have It Revoked at Conven- tion Which Opens Monday in Atlantic City. A. E. A. Said to Be After It. Another effort will be made, it 'is re- ported, at the annual convention of the American Federation of Labor, which opens in Atlantic City next Monday, to have the charter of the White Bats' Actors Union revoked. When the question of new business is called, the attention of President Samuel Gompers and the con- vention will be brought to the fact that Referee Schuldenfri, in the Goldie Pember- ton investigation just closed, declared the organization insolvent, and that, as a re- sult, the charter should be-.cancelled. It is also stated that the Actors' Equity Association will be represented at the con- clave and that efforts will be made on its behalf to have the charter awarded to it. This organization, at the A. F. of L. Convention in 1917, made overtures to have the charter taken away from the White Rata and awarded to it. The' convention at that time, sustained Harry Mountford and his colleagues and ruled that if the A. E. A. desired to be affiliated with or- ganized labor, they would have to obtain a' sub-charter from the White Rats and become a subsidiary of that organization. This they refused to do. In 1918. at the convention in Buffalo, an attempt was made to have the charter revoked, and it seemed likely that it would be done, when William James Fitzpatrick, president of'the White Bats, arose on the floor and indulged In two hours of oratory, after which the convention voted to allow the Bats to retain the charter. Mountford and his associates are pre- pared to again make every effort to save the charter at the coming convention. It is said that endeavors are being made to collect dues from old and faithful members and that the membership list is being made as strong as possible in an effort to show that the organization is not dead. PERCY WILLIAMS EXTENDS LEASE Percy G. Williams last week extended the lease held by the Unity Amusement Company on his Oxford Theatre in Brook- lyn for a further term of ten years from 1925, when the lease would ordinarily have expired. The average yearly rental will be $10,000. The Oxford, which is on State Street, is the sole remaining theatrical property re- tained by Williams from the many met- ropolitan theatres he turned oyer to the Keith Interests a number of years ago. He has persistently refused to part with the property, refusing many flattering offers for the Bite. He was prompted in his re- fusal by sentimental reasons, for this house is a financially successful reminder to him of the time when he was striving for a foothold in the theatrical field. ■ At the present time Williams is living in comparative retirement on his estate in Central Islip, L. L SAN CARLO OPERA QUITS Members of the Gilbert and Sullivan All-Star Opera Company, now playing at the Plymouth Opera House, in Boston, Msbs., have been given their two weeks' notice, effective next Saturday. Fortune Gallo, director of the company, under whose auspices the songsters hive been sojourning in Boston, said Monday that although the company has been aver- aging «9,000 a week, the net profits have been very small. The proposed tour of the company has been called off. The unseasonable weather and the strike in Canada, it is reported, were factors in bringing this about. Gallo had intended taking the troupe to Mont- real. Principals' of this company were formerly with the Commonwealth Opera Company, which recently held forth at the Academy of Music in Brooklyn for six weeks.. IMPERSONATOR ARRESTED Battle Creek, Mich., May 30.—-An ar- rest, which smacks of the work of a press agent,, but which may have been the real thing, came to light here on Wednesday when Virginia Hayden, well known as a male impersonator, was taken into cus- tody on suspicion of being a man masquer- ading in woman's clothes. She was taken to police headquarters, where the matron put her through a physical examination, after which she was discharged. According to the police, Miss Hayden was arrested on suspicion of being Angell Mazincoff, who killed a Battle Creek woman about two months ago and, accord- ing to report, is masquerading in woman's attire. The publicity given Miss Hayden through the affair has drawn capacity business to the Liberty Park Theatre, where she is playing an engagement. RHODA ROYAL GOING OUT Memphis, June 2.—Rhoda Royal, who has been acting as the equestrian director for the arenic attractions which have been playing under canvass at Confederate Park during centennial week. May 10-24. will begin touring with a substantial sized cir- cus after the close of the present engage- ment. A number of former Barnum and Bailey and Ringling people will join the Boyal entourage. "SCANDAL" VERSUS "SCANDALS" Possibly with the Idea in mind of get- ting some additional ' advertising for his show, playing in Chicago at present, Wal- ter Hast, producer of Cosmo Hamilton's play, "Scandal," is suing George White in the Supreme Court here, alleging that.the latter is using unfair competitive methods in exploiting his musical play called "Scan- dals of 1919," which opened at the Liberty Theatre, this Monday night. Besides asking for $50,000 damages in bis complaint, Hast also wants the court to grant an immediate injunction restrain- ing White from continuing to use "Scan- dals of 1919" as the title of his musical revue. White is reported to have stated he* will turn Host's summons and 1 complaint over to the writers of his show and have them adapt the legal papers for a situation in his revue. CIRCUS GIVES THREE SHOWS Boston, May 31.—Three shows were given here by the Sells-Floto circus yester- day, the extra one at 11 a. m., and the other two going on at 2 and 8 p. in., as usual. Thirty-five newsboys were invited for their services in the Liberty Loan and thrift stamp drives each having sold over $500,000 worth of bonds. "WHO DID IT?" TO PLAY CAMPS "Who Did It?" the piece which, after several weeks of rehearsals, was decided un- suitable for the Belmont Theatre, where it it was billed to be seen last week, has been booked for a short tour of the camps. Its first engagement is at Camp Mills on Mon- day of next week with Merritt and Dix to follow. LEW FIELDS SHOW IS OVER Atlantic City, May 30.—The business man had his inning last at the Globe Theatre when "A Romeo," with Lew Fields, was d: for its initial performance. This new musical show is one of the f time kind of musical comedies replete good music, lively dancing, character bits and plenty of nonsensical humor. The worth of such vehicles was unquestionably established in the fact that "A Lonely Romeo" went over with a bang. There was never a moment when the ultimate decision seemed in doubt. As it stood last night, it was, of course, far too long, but even so, it was notice- able that the interest of the audience never seemed to lag. For humor, the piece de- pends- a little too much upon Mr. Fields, a circumstance which slowed up some of the scenes considerably. Another sub-com- edy character with whom to fill the breaches left by the different absences of Mr. Fields from the stage might give it a better balance. The music throughout was charming. It held a dash and verve that made it stirring, and yet did not sacrifice melody to tempo, as is the case in much of the music re- cently written. The hit of the show will be "Will O' the Wisp," closely followed by "Lonely Romeo," both pieces being melodic and-rythmical to a finished degree. Several other songs made individual im- pressions, one of which was "I'm More Like Mother Than -Father," sung by Frances Cameron. In short, the whole score was unusually captivating, to which some clever lyrics brought an added charm. Mr. Fields carries the major portion of the fun in the play, and the degree to which his brand of humor is appreciated was manifested at his first appearance, when the audience applauded for fully five minutes, a record performance for an At- lantic City audience. BREWSTER LEASES DOVER PARK Boston. Jnne 2.—The Brewster Amuse- ment Company, which books a number of New England Parks, has leased the Cen- tral Park Theatre at Dover, N. H. The park will open on June 30, under the man- agement of W. L. Gallagher. SPECIAL MATINEES PLOPPED With few exceptions New York City heatres which gave special holiday per- formances on Memorial Day experienced y-^fl falling off in business compared with brother holidays. The unseasonably hot 3v eat her and the fact that Memorial Day, this year, was of particular significance, were the reasons assigned for the slump. By their absence from the playhouses, * people evidenced the fact that they would rather see the war veterans march than sit and swelter indoors. Vaudeville, musical shows and dramas with a "punch" had the best business. It was conceded that the average -house did not do more than $300 or so. Memorial Day and Fourth of July, man- agers and box office men lamented, are the worst holidays of all, speaking from a financial viewpoint. The following gave matinees, Winter Garden, "Monte Crist o, Jr."; Comedy, "Toby's Bow"; Playhouse, "Forever After"; Astor, "East Is West"; Shubert, "Good. Morning, Judge"; Booth, "I Love You"; Eltinge, "Up in Mabel's Room"; Republic, "The Woman in Room 13""; Forty-fourth Street, "Take It From Me""; Empire, "Dear Brutus"; Lyceum, "Dad- dies"; Cohan Sc Harris, "The Royal Vaga- bond"; Globe, "She's a Good Fellow"; Thirty-ninth Street, "Hamlet"; Broad- hurst, "30 East"; Vanderbilt, "A Little Journey"; Nora Bayea Theatre, "Toot Sweet"; Lyric, "The Lady in Red"; Bijou, "Love Laughs"; Selwyn, "Tumble Inn"; Central, "Somebody's Sweetheart"; Casino, "Some Time"; Maxine Elliott. "Tea for Three"; Fulton, "Please Get Mar- ried"; Garrick, "John Ferguson"; Hudson, "Friendly Enemies"; Gaiety, "Lightnin"'; Criterion, "Three Wise Fools"; Loncaere, "Three 1 Faces East". AKRON PARK OPENS SEASON Akbon, O., May 28.—The Lakeside Park Casino, under the management of A. A. Bancroft, opened last Sunday with the Woolfolk Musical Comedy Co. in "The Bridal Whirl." The company includes: Florence Bury, Guy Voyer, Mary Lee, Minnie Pillard, Jack Murray, Jerome Flanagan, James LeRoy, Bill Lewis, and George Clancy. The engagement Is for two weeks. Next week's bill will be "The Stubborn Cinderella." On Jnne 8, Man- ager Bancroft will begin his regular vaude- ville season. MOROSCO GETS LITTLE THEATRE Oliver Morosco last week leased the Little Theatre for a long terai of years from Winthrop Ames and the latter began this week to reconstruct the house. Ames has purchased twenty-five feet, adjoining the theatre on the west side and will prac- tically rebuild and redecorate the house." Among other improvements to be made will be the addition of a balcony, which will practically double the present seating capacity. Morosco is about to begin work on his New Morosco Theatre in Boston. JOHNSON GOING ON TRIP Ligon Johnson, attorney for the United Theatrical Managers' Association leaves on a three weeks' business trip In the West, Sunday. During that period he will visit Chicago. Phoenix, Ariz., El Paso, Sacra- mento, San Jose and San Francisco. FRISCO TO SEE "CAPPY RICKS" San Fbancisco. June 2.—"Cappy Ricks" will open at the Carran here, June S, with the same cast as at the Morosco, New York. William Courtenay and Tom Wise will be in the trading roles. NORA BAYS KNITTING Boston, May 29.—Nora Bayea ia very busy in ber spare time knitting a sweater which will some day cover the back of Daniel Frobman. She will try to com- plete it before the Winter comes around. CHICAGO SEES "SUNSHINE" Chicago, May 28.—"Sunshine." book by William Cary Duncan, music by Alexan- der Johnstone, opened at the Princess last Sunday and proved to be a colorful and tuneful operetta. The story tells of hn old man who trains a - boy to smuggle tobacco, which appears to' be the only "industry" of the commun- uity. The boy runs away and does not return for years. When he does, be is a dashing toreador and is not recognized. After the boy went away the old man taught his grand-daughter how to smuggle, to take the place of the boy. Sbe becomes a singer and when sbe meets the toreador the love story begins. She is arrested as a smuggler and the toreador says he, and not the girl. Is guilty. While the story is quite well told the lyrics'are poor. The music, however, is of the catchy sort tbat pleases. Jane Richardson sang the role of Santa, the little Spanish heroine, most pleasingly. David Quixano, as Bombito, the toreador, displayed a strong baritone voice. Others who were seen In leading roles were Harry Short, Gertrude Alexander, Juliette Langc and John J. Ward. Lew and Paul Murdock, won favor in dances. The chorus is composed of young and good looking girls. "Lore is Like this Little Wheel of Mine" and "The Land of Make Believe" are two of the best numbers. The piece has been given an elaborate production. "BETTER 'OLE" QUITS FRISCO San • Francisco, Jnne 2.—"The ■ Better 'Ole," with De Wolf Hopper, closed here Saturday, after playing for forty-four con- secutive nights, a record for this city. "MAYTOfE" CLOSING Df FRISCO Saw Fraxcisco. June 2.—"Maytime," at the Curran, will close next Saturday night, June 7. RUTH TERRY Ruth Terry, whose picture appears on the front cover of this week's issue of The Cupper, enjoys the distinction of scoring one of the quickest successes of any young girl on the American stage. Arriving in New York bnt little more than a year ago, unknown, and with a stage experience limited to a few appear- ances in amateur theatricals given in con- nection with her home town college, nht secured, shortly after her arrival, the role of the gum chewing model in Morosco's "Lombardi. Ltd." Her success in this was so pronounced that other engagements came along in quick succession. This Spring she baa been appearing in "I Love Ton." and. left the east of that play recently to commence rehearsals for David Belasco's coming production of the new Avery Hopwood farce.