The New York Clipper (November 1919)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER November 5, 1919 Fifty-Fifty Club Hilled To Court For Being Noisy NEIGHBOR TELLS MAGISTRATE NIGHTS ARE MADE INTO NIGHTMARES OWING TO CAROUSELS IN HOME OF BROADWAY BON VTV ANTS—HAS HARD TIME SERVING OFFICERS The Fifty-fifty Club, of 121 West Slfty-fourth Street, whose membership is composed for tbe most part of the- atrical don vivants, including a num- ber of Friars, was summoned to appear in the West Side Magistrate's Court on Monday of this week on complaint of Mrs. 8. L Fox, of 124 West Fifty-fifth Street, who charges that the club's nightly carousels hare kept her and her neighbors from sleeping. In her application to Magistrate Douras for a summons last Friday, Mrs. Fox charged that, almost nightly, hilarity and Joy. apparently unconfined, - reigns in the club's rooms, which oc- cupy the top floor and roof of the pre- mises on West Flfty-forth Street. She explained that her apartments on West Fifty-fifth Street face tbe rear of the Fifty-Fifty Club, which, she stated, does not start t« get foil until after the theatres are dark at night. General hilarity and. loud noises, she said, then emanate from the club and continue until after five and six o'clock in the morning. Mrs Fox also told Magistrate Donras, who Issued tbe summons she sought, that this was the second one that had been issued ont of tbe West Side Court in two weeks. On the previous occasion . that her application was granted, Mrs.' - Fox says, she gave tbe summons to a messenger boy to serve. The boy, she said, went to the club, and, after about fifteen minutes spent there, during which time Mrs. Fox waited for him in the vicinity, he returned to her with a face described by her as "white as a ghost's." The boy was trembling all over, she told the Magistrate, and tbe reason for this condition was due to toe greeting he received in tbe clnb. For. she said, the boy told her that when be got Inside the club and his errand was made known to tbe mem- bers assembled there, a group of them picked him np and. amid shouts and cheers for tbe little copper, carried him on their shoulders, like a conquering bero, from one room to another. After that one of the members tore np tbe summons, which was addressed to any officer of the- dub, In tbe pres- ence of the messenger boy, a number of them shouting, "That's no good here— nobody's going to pay any attention to it, because this club bas.no officers," which, she said, was followed by hoots and shouts. In granting ber second application, Magistrate Douras directed that tbe summons be addressed to Franklyn Ar- dell as an officer or member of tbe Fifty-Fifty Club, "or any afficer or member of said club." As a result, the summons was served by a police officer this time, and test Monday afternoon, with the consent of the club's legal representative, Magistrate Douras ad- journed the case until Wednesday of this week. However, it is said that Ardell denies being an officer of tbe club. Just who the officers are nobody connected with the case seemed to know. The Fifty-Fifty Club is a social or- ganization started about four months ago by well known artists, musicians and theatrical folk. Its quarters, it is said, approximate the "Nineteenth Hole'' of a golf club, especially during the period before the advent of national prohibition. The unbonded warehouse has become its sobriquet along the Rialto, for Ha lockers are reported to be heavely stocked with "firewater." Next Sunday, at tbe Hudson Theatre, the club is scheduled to give a "myste- rious" concert at which a surprise will be pulled Those who are announced to appear In the show are: Eddie Can- tor,-Jimmy Hnssey, Belle Baker, Vic- toria Bosbko, Jean Schwartz, Felix Adler, Frances Boss, Harry Fox, Whiting and Burt, Adelaide and Hughes, Harrison Fisher,' Harry Car- roll and Anna Wheaton, Sidney Jarvis; Walter Hast will present a scene from "Scandal" with Charles Cherry and -Frandne Larrimore. Ed Wynn will be tbe announcer. FRENCH PLAYERS WELL ERCETVED Bosxow, Nov. X. —Before a genuinely enthusiastic audience, the Theatre Pa- risks made its American debut last . night, presenting a double biU begin- ning with "Main Gauche," a comedy in three acts, by Pierre Veber, followed by "Chonchette," an opera-bouffe in one act by Calllet and de Fiers, with music by Claude Terrasse. Both plays and tbe company represent tbe lighter French school of drama very welL Every member of tbe company is an. admirably trained and practiced actor. Veber displays a marked deftness •"' and skill In remodeling old and tried situations so as to make a thread bare plot Interesting and refreshing. In his comedy, "Main Gauche", he has con- cocted about a <ery simple and common place plot, lines that are often witty. "Choneette" is a delightful blending of -clownery, comedy and admirable light music. It Is Offenbach up-to .date ' fat the French and not the American iMimw- Tones and text are handled by notable hands a ml the French actors, . who sing and dance as. well as they act, awoke'considerable appteus with their performance. MAY IRWIN SELLING HOME Watebtown, N. Y., Oct 30.—The summ e r borne of May Irwin, on Irwin Isle, near Clayton, N. T., has been plac- ed on tiie market. Next spring, the ac- tress will build a bungalow on aer 100- acre farm on tbe main shore, where she will reside. SUES FOR DIVORCE Eda Ann Lube, star of several road productions, is suing Perry J, Keny, show manager, for divorce, charging ■misconduct and claiming that be has been paying attention to Loreta G; •Stoeridan, who starred In several of the - Shows he handled. WIN CHELL SMITH CHANGES NAME Habtford. Nov. 1.—iWttnchell Smith will now be Winchell Smith, not only to theatrical foBfe but to every one, he hav- ing secured an order here from Judge John E. Keller permitting him to take that name. Smith's name}, before mak- ing bis theatrical debut was William B. Smith, and he was given the name "WmcheH" by managers in programm- ing him some years ago. Smith explain- ed to the judge that tbe name Winchell had become necessary In his business. COUNTESS VERONA One of the finds of tbe season Is Countess Verona, whose photograph' adorns tbe front cover of this Issue.' The Countess is a pretty girl with a wealth personality and has mastered tbe Cymbal on, an - instrument of re- markable tone. After opening her season at tbe Maryland Theatre, Balti- more, Labor Day, she was booked solid on the Keith Circuit and this week at Keith's Royal the act is going well. Next week, tbe Countess plays the Keith house in Boston. Her vaudeville routing is in tbe hands of Lew Golder. WILLIAMS' HAS A THRILLER Toledo, Nov. L—Despite the fact that the actors are .not yet familiar with their lines and that tbe play needs considerable revision and prun- ing before it can became a finished produce, "For the Defense," a melo- drama in three acts and several scenes, by Elmer E. Rice, proved entertaining when it opened Thursday evening at tbe Saxon-Auditorium. ..- . Fbr its plot basis, tbe new piece baa tbe commission of a murder under Jus- tifiable circumstances and the subse- quent efforts to discover the murderer, whom Qie prosecuting attorney is at- . tempting to conceal in the belief that it Is the girl he loves. There are situ- ations of tense excitement aplenty, one scene being devoted to picturing the murder as it actually took place, as confessed by tbe guilty one, in time to save two other suspects from punish- ment and disgrace. With good lines, well drawn char- acters and the possibility of a genuine- ly snappy production when its action is speed up by the elimination of super- fluous 'business," the play, which con- tains within Itself the essence of good drama, has a chance of being a great success by the time It reaches Broad- way. In tbe role of tbe prosecuting at- torney, Richard Bennett is easy and natural. John 'Salnpolls cleverly han- dles tbe role of Dr. Kashnir. Winifred Lennihsn. as the heroine, gives ev- idence of considerable bistronlc abil- ity. Others who appeared to advant- age, are Louise Glosser Hale. Adrienne Morrison Mildred Warren. ' The re- mainder of the cast is efficient. John D. Williams produced the piece and the author is the Elmer Reizen- stein who wrote "On Trial." He has now changed his name. ACCUSED OF ROBBERY Abraham King, who said be is a showman and ga<ve bis address as 2,921 West (Nineteenth Street, Coney island, was arraigned last Saturday morning in tbe West Side Police Court, where, together with four other men, he was charged with robbing George Matin, of 93 cents. The alleged robbery took place in Central Parle, near Fifty-ninth Street, at 1:40 Saturday morning, Me! in charging that the six young men, all of whom be bad met in <the Park, at- tacked him and took his money. The others, arrested with Kind by officer Gamble are: Bernard Gass, Max Maas. Thomas McMahon, Joseph -Ring. Mag- istrate Douras held all the defendants for examination in $1,000 bail each. CRITICS ARE BARRED Paris, Nov. 8,—At a new theatre, opened In tbis city, no critics are ad- mitted, in accordance with a role en- forced by the Theatrical workers Union, who are giving. the perform- ance. The show is advertised as "only for people who understand art." In explaining the rule, Madame Gar- cby, one of the stars of tbe Opera Cominue, said that the artists .were tired of seeing their work misrepre- sented to the public by "ignorant critics" in the newspapers. - WYNN SHOW GETTING READY The first edition of the Bd Wynn Carnival is now rehearsing at full blast so as to be able to.open on Nov. 20th, at tbe Apollo Theatre, Atlantic City. Tbe book, lyrics and music have all been written by Wynn who, In cou- "Junctlon-with Bert C. Whitney, owns the show. Among those in tbe cast are Lillian Fitzgerald, Ray Miller's Buck and White Melody Boys and Edna Whistler. J. Harry Jenkins is stage manager. Larry Bradley, who, for years, has been associated with the Whltneys, is acting manager. Will Roddy Is in ad- vance. Some of the special numbers are being, rehearsed by Den. Dody. There will be thirty-five girls In the chorus. SUIT AGAINST 23EGFELD SETTLED Tbe suit which Maurice and Walton -.brought against Flo Zlebfeld In the -: Supreme Court iast Summer, following .the opening here of the current ••KoE lies" at the New Amsterdam Theatre, was settled and discontinued last week. f£8*j In their suit), the dancers sought to recover $4,900, which sun they claiui- ed was due them for .alleged breach of contract. According to their com- plaint, filed by Armln H. Mittleaian, their attorney, Miaurice and Walton allege that, after opening in the "Pol- lies" in Atlantic City last June, they were discharged by Zlegfeid on the day the show opened here at the New Am- sterdam. Under.the alleged contract they had with Zlegfeid, Maurice and Walton claim they were engaged to dance in the "'Follies" for a period of five days and eight weeks, at a joint weekly salary of $700. In his answer, filed by his attorneys, Dittenhoefer and FisheL .Ziegfeld! after denying the alleged contract, set np as a separate defense that they failed to dp the dancing act be had been led to believe they would do in his show, which was to have been a one called the "Opium Dance." But Ziegfeld averred that when he wit- nessed the number he found it to be anything but the dance that had been "described to htm." GALLANT GOES TO JAIL Barney Gallant, manager of the Greenwich Village Theatre and also manager of the Greenwich Village Inn in Sheridan Square, will receive bis mail in the Tombs beginning on Wednesday of this week and continuing for a period of sex teen days there- after. - Incidentally, Barney, who has many theatrical friends along tbe Rialto, and who is being nailed as a martyr to hoper less prohibition by bis Greenwich Vil- lage friends, will, conclude the balance of an Interrupted sentence of twenty days imposed by Judge Hand in the United States District Court on the 22nd of last month. After serving four days of his sentence. Judge Hand per- mitted him to leave the Tombs a week ago last Saturday, on his own cogni- zance, so that he might attend to pres- sing business affairs, his temporary parole being up on Wednesday. How Barney Gallant became en- meshed in the "Dry" law Is explained by the raid which Federal authorities made on tbe Greenwich Village Inn about two monts ago. At that time Gallant and three others connected with the Inn were arrested, taken to the Federal Court and there arraigned on the charge of selling liquor contrary to law. All were held by the United States Commissioner; but when the? were arraigned before Judge Hand Oct 22nd, Gallant shouldered the blame and pleaded guilty, with the result that the others arrested with him were ab- solved from guilt and released. Gallant, bowever. received a sentence of thirty days in durance vile, which was afterward 1 reduced ten days by Judge Hand FANCHON AND MARCO SCORE -. Sah Feat;cisco, . Oct. 30.—The Fan- ebon and Marco 1919 Revue has opened at the Curran Theatre here and scored an instant hit. Tbe piece has been spared so expense and the. costumes and settings put forth are gorgeous. Thirty girls, billed as "most boast- ful," proved to be really so. The stars, Fanchon and Marco, were given a cor- dial greeting from the audience, and offered their clever.dance novelties, in addition to quite a few new bits. Harry nines, the new black-face co- median, made himself popular with a pleasing line of songs and patter, which he delivered from the. runway. Nelson and Chain, .two young men, offered s variety of material, that made them- favorites. The team was enter- tainlng all through the act..' lime. Donaldo/ a abort' while ago a grand opera prima donna, is also in the.shaw: " i : ■'/- %