The New York Clipper (August 1919)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER August 6, 1919 SHUBERTS PLAN TWO HUNDRED SHOWS FOR COMING SEASON MANAGERS AND ACTORS CONFER ''- (Continued from page 3.) ^asarsa With Allied Producers They Have Laid Out More Productions Than Ever Before in the Business; Shows of All Kind. Will Be Offered ^ .-•-* More than two hundred attraction* ia the record the Shuberta want to bang up this season. These plana are unprece- dented, being the moat ambitious program ever planned by any producer. The pro- ductions win affect theatres throughout the United States as far West aa St. Paul, Minn., and will also take in many large cities in Canada. Of especial interest in connection with these plana are the revivals that are promised. The old tunes of "Floradora" will once again bid for popularity on Broadway shortly before Christ mas with an all-star cast. A Shakespeare revival is also on the Shubert prospectus for the" Forty-fourth Street Theatre, coincident with the return to the stage of Julia Mar- lowe and E. H. Sothern. The Shake- spearean repertoire will include "The Taming of the Shrew," "Hamlet," and "The Twelfth Night." Later Sothern and Marlowe will go on tour. "The Dancer," by Edward Locke and Louis EL Anspacher, is to go into rehearsal immediately, featuring Isabelle Lowe. Raohael Crotherg will appear in October in her new comedy, "He and She," and will be supported by Cyril Keightley, "The Honored Guest," which win serve as William Hodge's vehicle, ia picked by the Shuberts as one of the big hits of the coming season. The AI Jolson tour will begin in Phila- delphia early next month with "Sinbad" as the vehicle. "CaU a Tari," by Earl Carroll, heads the list of musical plays and will begin rehearsals shortly. Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Master of BaUantrae" has been dramatized by Carl Mason through arrangements with Lloyd Osborne and Walter Hast, and win star Walker Whiteside. Alma TeU wiU play in "The Third. Generation," by Har- old Heatou. Peggy Wood, is to have a double role in a play she has written with Samuel Merwin entitled,'""Youth Has Wings." Irene Fenwick is to be featured in a new play that has not yet been an- nounced. "Officers' Mess" is a London importa- tion which the Shuberts announce they win produce in conjunction with Charles Maddock. Cleves Kinkead, the author of "Common Clay," has written a new drama, "The Mood of the Moon," which win be pro- duced in October, as wiU "Raising the Mask," a melodrama by Bruce Reynolds. Of course, there win be a new W m * ;er Garden revue. Other musical shows will be "HeUo, Alexander!" "Mr. Manhattan," "Bal Tabarin," "Buzz, Buzz" (a London success), "Yesterday," an opera comique by Reginald DeKoven apd Glen MacDon- ough, and "Bene of TrouviUe," in associa- tion with LauriUard and Grossmith. Among the touring attractions will be "The Passing Show of 1918" "Monte Cristo, Jr.," "The Shubert Gaieties of 1919," "Little Simplicity," Lew Fields in "Lonely Romeo," "Good Morning, Judge," with George HasseU; "A Sleepless Night," "Oh, What A Girl," "Maytime," "A Little Journey," "89 East" and "The Kiss Burg- lar." "La Griffe" and "Judith* by Henri Bernstein, with whom the Shuberta have a five-year contract, wUl see production this fall. A new operatic -work, "La Bene Helene," is promised an early production, under the direction of Richard Ordynski. "Yes, Uncle," a musical novelty, is also on the list. Other new plays accepted for immediate staging are "The School for Manners," by M. Arment and Cerbidge; "Clutch of Cir- cuniotances," from the novel by Maxjorie Benton Cooke; "His Wife," by Maurice V. Samuels, author of "The Wanderer"; "A Friend at Court," by Clinton Stuart; "The Dancin' Fool," by Henry Payson Dowst; "The Wicked Streak," by Edgar Franklin; ^Dangerous Years," by Edward Locke; "Those Who Walk in Darkness," by Owen Davis, from the novel by Hurley Poors. Sheehan; "Two's a Crowd," by Joseph Bernard Rethy; a spectacular pro- duction of "Susan Lenox,"- dramatized from the novel by David Graham Phillips Local attractions under the direction of the Shuberts are, or win be: Astor The- atre, "East Is West"; Maxine Elliott's, "First Is Last," Aug. 25; Comedy, John D. Williams* comedy, "Up from Nowhere," about Sept. 1; Central, Messrs. Mclntyre and Heath, in "Hollo, Alexander"; Bijou, Mr. Woods* production of "A Bashful Hero," Aug. 25; Shubert, "Oh, What a Girl"; Booth, "The Great niusion," early in September; Princess, "Nighty Night"; Forty-eighth Street Theatre, week of Aug. 11, "Those WEo Walk in Darkness' 5 ; Lyric Theatre, "The Five Million"; Win- ter Garden, "Passing Show of 1919"; Forty-fourth Street Theatre, "Shubert. Gaieties of 1919"; Casino Theatre, "A Lonely Romeo"; Broadhurst, "The Crim- son Aubi"; Thirty-ninth Street, "The Red Dawn." In theatres here booked by the Shuberta are, or win be: Plymouth, John and Lionel Barrymore in "The Jest," early in September; Morosco, "Civilian Clothes,"- Sept. 1; Selwyn, "The Challenge"; Hud- son, "Too Many Husbands"; Vanderbilt, Miss Grace George in "She Would and She Did," Aug. 11; Harm, "The Dancer"; El tinge, "Little Love Brides"; Longacre, "Adam and Eva"; Fulton, "John Fergu- son"; Manhattan, "Friendly Enemies"; Century, "Chu Chin Chow"; Playhouse, "At 9:45." The producers allied with, the Shuberts for the coming season are William A. Brady, A. H. Woods, Arthur Hopkins, Selwyn and Company, Wintbrop Ames, OUver Morosco, William Elliott, Morris Gest, F. Ray Comstock, William Harris, Jr., George Broadhurst, Arthur Hammer- stein, Roland West, John D. Williams, Sanger and- Jordan, Joe Weber, Lawrence Weber, Lew Fields, George Anderson, Richard Walton TuUy, H. H. Frazee, Wal- ter Hast, William Morris, George Mooser, Nora Bayes, Rachel Crothers, E. H. Soth- ern, Robert B. Man tell, John P. Slocum, Stuart Wallter and Fortune Gallo. SWITCH TO ROAD SHOWS Baltimore, Md., Aug. 4.—The Colonial Theatre, under the direction of the Blaney Brothers, and which, for the last two years, has been presenting stock, win undergo alterations and redecorations and then a change of policy when the house opens on Labor Day. The attractions win be first class road shows, booked through the Blaney offiees in*New York and will be presented at popular prices, $1 being the top. i "LITTLE WHOPPER" REHEARSING "The Little Whopper," the Dudley- Friml-Harbach musical comedy, was placed in rehearsal Monday by Abe Levy with the following people in the cast: Vivien Seigel, W. F. Ferguson, Sidney Grant, Lynn Overman, Lottie Linthicum and several others. The piece will open at the Apollo Theatre, Atlantic City, the middle of September. SET OPENING OP NEW PLAY OUver Morosco has in rehearsal a new play caUed "Seven MUes to Arden," which win have its premiere in Grand Rapids on August 21. The piece will go into the Olympic, Chicago, following the Grand Rapids date. will separate these officers from their posi- tions very quickly. And for', that reason, he said, he had not withdrawn from the Equity, aa he had not lost hope of oust- ing these officials from the organization. He says that he ia not prepared to resign until aB efforts of the organization to rid itself of the undesirable members have failed. Kyle,said that the large majority of the Equity members, including himself, were . greatly dissatisfied with the way the affairs of the Equity had been conducted by Fran- cis Wilson, Frank Gillmore and Grant Stewart He said the members organized the society for the purpose of maintaining harmony with the managers. They were, therefore, very much dissatisfied with what. had arisen in the last few months. With respect to the new organization, Kyle said he would not take any interest in it until he had resigned from the Equity, to. which he had been a devoted member and servant since its inception. Continu- ing, he said: ' "I am hoping and praying that equitable arrangements may be reached by which the managers and the A. E. A. can continue in a co-operative spirit under a uniform standard contract. "More managers are united in the spirit of co-operation toward actors now than ever before, and it is a great pity, to say' the least, that this situation should not be embraced in faith and harmony. Whole- sale statements of condemnation against managers, without whose responsiveness our 'association could not have reached its present position, has engendered a spirit of resentment which was natural, much aa it is to be deplored "It ia an very well to be a fighter, but If s wise to know when to fight. I am for the course that wfll best maintain the standard that has been established for the business relations of our profession, and.I cannot believe that the one now being fol- lowed by some of the officers and council- men of the association is desirable. "A charge has been set forth that the managers refused to grant the demand that all legal holiday matinees and Sunday night performances in places where they are the established custom be paid for ex- tra. The managers were prepared at the time of negotiation and are prepared now to make a, provision in a mutually agreed upon contract that salaries should be reck- oned by the performance, but an ultima- tum bavins been precipitated by represen- tives of the A. B. A,, they refused to nego- tiate further. "The A. E. A. has accomplished wonder- ful good in a field where an effort similar to its own has never been made, and ifs not to be expected that full obtainments should be reached in a day. If there's any human activity wherein mutual confidence and respect contribute to the results aimed nt. it is that of the theatre. With this in mind I stand ready to stick with the A. E. A., -but if methods of inharmony and physical coercion are to be pursued, then I shall adopt whatever way I consider best, in my judgment, to serve the cause to which I have been devoted most of my life." Mr. Kyle says that on Monday he' was told by Charles Richman and W. H.. Thompson that be had expressed the opinion of the representative members of the A. E. A., and they assured him that they would co-operate with him in this respect. Monday evening Gordon, Whyte, who is in charge of the A. E. A. publicity depart- ment, gave out the following letter which, he said, was -written by E. H. Sothern to Francis Wilson, August 1, from his home at Litchfield, Conn.: "At this crhus in the existence of the Actors' Equity Association, Mrs. Sothern and I wish to express, our sympathy with your request that the managers should consent to arbitration in the question of payment for extra holiday matinees. We are sorry that it becomes necessary to adopt extreme measures to enforce con- tinned recognition of the Equity Associa- tion, and we wish that the managers cortld have seen their way to co-operate with the association in all matters concerning the welfare of the people of our calling. "However, since pressure appears to be necessary, we believe that union with the American Federation of Labor is a proper'- and dignified way of procuring authority for your plea for-equity and fair dealing, a result which.surely will be to the ad- vantage of both actor and manager. "Sincerely yours, (Signed) E. H. Sotuebn." A letter which seemed, to have perturbed the managers somewhat was sent by Frank ' Gillmore to L.. Lawrence Weber, secretary of the Managers' Association, on Saturday evening. Points of this letter, especially with respect to the seeking of union aid, were included in the discussion held be- tween the managers and actors on Monday. The letter follows: My dear .Mr. Weber: We are advised that at a meeting held yesterday of the members of the constituent bodies representing the. Associated Actors and Artists of America, the following resolution was adopted; "BE IT RESOLVED, That the mem- . bers present pledge themselves to confer . upon their respective Councils the right to give authority to the International Board of Associated Actors and Artists of America to formulate such plans and make such agreements with other organ- ized labor bodies in the amusement world as will lead to co-operative action among all such bodies." Your Association weU knows of the de- sire of this Council to deal directly with you. This desire still exists. We are will- ing today to confer with you to try to adjust the situation. The continuance of your refusal to do this will, as you must see, require us to make associations and alliances which may prevent us in the future from acting with entire independ- ence. If, in the future, you cannot deal with us alone the situation will be of your own making. An answer by Tuesday night • is requested Sincerely believing that there is nothing in the present situation which cannot be adjusted if ordinary equities are observed, we are Yours very truly, (Signed) Frank Gh&xobe. Executive Secretary. ■ The meeting of the Equity, which was held in the Hotel Astor Grand Ball Boom on Friday afternoon, was reminiscent of the White Rat meetings in which Mount- ford and Fitzpatrick were the featured speakers. There were about 1,000 persons present and the meeting was primarily called for .the purpose of having two reso- lutions which- had been prepared adopted so as to give the officers free rein . in handling the situation for the Actors ,and in invoking any necessary outside aid they deemed fit. '" . Those who desired admittance to the meeting were compelled to show their credentials at the door to a host of guards who .carefully scrutinized each piece of pasteboard as it was. submitted. If they were in doubt, the bearer of the credentials was referred to a young lady seated at a ' table in the corridor who would verify the card. That Mountford and Fitzpatrick had their following on hand was quite evident, for every minute or so some one would step up to the door and say, "I have four.or six good White Rats here and they want to get in." Such were permitted to enter, as were also some who claimed they were White Rats and who nourished National Vaude- ville Artists' Cards. It appeared that these people made up one half of the audience. When Wilson entered he received an ovation of considerable duration, as did Gillmore, Stewart, Fitzpatrick and Mount- ford, who was the last to make his appear- ance. It was typical of the old White Rat days. ' Gillmore opened the meeting by intro- ducing President Wilson, who said that the meeting was called for the purpose of transacting business of the utmost im- portance to the organization and then had Grant Stewart read a telegram from former {Continued 'on page 34.)