The New York Clipper (January 1920)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER January 21, 1920 COMPLAINTS OF PRODUCERS OUST VANITY FAIR CRITIC Ziegf ekL, Dillingham and Belasco AH Pot in Protests, It Is Said. Managing Editor to Go Also. P. G. Wodehouse Returning Dorothy Parker, for four years dramatic critic Of Vanity Fair, fa shortly going to work on another publication as the result, it is said, of three simnl tan eon sly launched complaints from Flo Ztcgfeld, Charles Dillingham and David Behuco. The first report that sot into circulation regarding the matter, laid die complaints at the door of the SbuberJs, bat in v estigati on developed that gaea was Incorrect The mags sine ia also to lose the serv- ices of Robert Benchley, its msnsging edi- tor, who, it is said, feels that if the man- agement of the magazine would ease Mrs. Parker ont into the celd Winter on ac- count of complaints from producers, it would probably do the same with him, and he might aa well be going while the going is good. Mrs. Parker's offence against Zlegfeld, if is said, is that she suggested that Billie Burke would be much nicer were she to drop some of the Era Tanguay manner- isms. Miss Burke does not think she has any such and immediately took steps to let Editor Frank Crowninshield know that his critic was all wrong. That might not have been so bad had not Charles Dfllingnam seen fit to complain on the same day about . the treatment accorded his "Apple Blos- soms."- And, even those two might have been pushed aside, had not David Behuco, positive that he could get a telephone con- nection with Vanity Fair before a letter would reach it, called up and said its "***» had abused "The Son-Daughter." Com- bined, they proved too much and Mrs. Parker was told that her services would be ever so much more appreciated in other departments of the paper. That, however, did not suit her and her connection with Vanity Fair expired with the incoming of prohibitior. Editor Crowninshield laughed at these reasons having been assigned for her leav- ing the paper, stating that. P. G. Wode- house is shortly to return and review the drama for Vanity Fair, therefore making the services of Bars. Parker unnecessary. But the other stories, like the thirst for a drink of real Scotch these days, would not down. MAETERLINCK ROW GETS TO COURT The controversy between Maurice Mae- terlinck and J. B. Pond, head of the ly- ceum bureau that arranged the dramatist's lecture tour in this country, has resulted in both sides seeking the aid of the law. Papers have been served upon the Maeter- linck lawyers by the Pond attorneys, re- quiring the dramatist to show cause, on January 23, why he should not be re- strained from delivering lectures under any other than the management of the Pond Bureau. Pond plans to ask $35,000 damages, his complaint shows. A t rimpMf action has also been taken by Maeterlink's lawyers, demanding that Pond hand over to the dramatist the pro- ceeds of the three lectures already deliv- ered and pay the expenses of his passage to this country. "It was learned last week that Maeter- linck was to receive a minimum of $20,000 for bis lecture tour in this country. The rate was set at $500 for each of the forty lectures planned. Of the money received above this sum, the dramatist was to have received 70 per cent, and the Pond Bureau 30 per cent. LAMBS PLANNING NEW GAMBOLS The Lambs Club last week announced the presentation of two "intimate Gam- bols," to be given in addition to the regu- lar annual performance which they al- ways present. The first is scheduled to take place at the Hudson Theatre, Sun- day evening, January 25. Tickets will be sold only to Lambs, or through members, to their friends. WOMAN PLAYWRIGHT SUES' . Marjorie Blaine, one of the co-authors of the "Unknown Woman," which recently closed at Maxine Elliott's Theatre, has brought an action for separation against her husband, Jonas S. Scheff, a wealthy silk mill owner and head of the J. S. Scheff and Company silk concern. The ac- tion was started last Thursday by the filing of a summons complaint and affi- davits in support of a motion for alimony and counsel fee, by Samuel W. Tannen- baum, her attorney. According to the complaint, the Scheffs were ' married seventeen years ago and have no children. She alleges that her husband has been guilty of cruel and in- human treatment and has failed to support her since September of last year, when she alleges he chased her out of their home, 71 Bast Ninety-sixth Street. Her husband's cruelty, according to her com- plaint, consisted of his throwing things at her and on one occasion, she avers, he ran after her with a hammer in big hand. Mrs. Scheff is seeking $250 a week for herself and a counsel fee of $2,500. She says she was forced to leave her husband about six months ago and, at the present time is living away from him at 78 West Eleventh Street; that she is without funds, her only source of income having been her share of the royalties accruing from the "Unknown Woman." This amounted to approximately $1,000 since the play opened in Washington, October 26 last. It ran here approximately eight weeks. She says her husband's income from his silk business totals $30,000 yearly. The motion for alimony is re- turnable January 27. BAND CHANGES NAME The New York Military Band has changed its name to The Goldman Concert Band. This name was selected in honor of the band's leader, Edwin Franco' Gold- man. There are fifty-five pieces in the band, in addition to a harp and two string basses. TAKING DOWN SEA BEACH PALACE The Sea Beach Palace on Coney Islana is now being demolished to make room for a new structure to be known as the Palace of Joy, which will be erected where the Palace now stands. The Sea Beach Pal- ace has been at Coney Island since 1876b when it was brought from the machinery exhibition building from the Centennial Ex- position In Philadelphia. Joseph Reinborn, Samuel Moseoviee, Joseph Meltser, S. W. Gum pertr. and Jacob Kramer are behind the project for the new Palace of Jay. All of its attractions will be indoors. It will have a swimming pool 300 feet long and 80 feet wide, at a dis- tance of 2.000 feet from the ocean, from which water will flow into the pool by the installation of a tubing system. The entrance of the building is planned to be made on Surf Avenue and W. 10th Street. The park will extend back 1000 feer from Surf Avenue and from W. 8th Street to West 11th. MARILYN MILLER'S MOTHER SUES Chicago, Jan. 16.—Charging desertion, Mrs. Ado Y. MuTer, mother of Marilyn Mffler, dancer With the ZiegfeW "FoHies," Ik*, week filed suit in the Supreme Court for divorce from her husband, Oaro G. Miller, manager of the "La La LoefHe" cacpany. MDIer is alleged to hare left Ms wife on August 15, 1317. •■ DAVENPORT PUTS IN ANOTHER " Al t hou gh Butler Davenport, playwright- producer, has made it his life rule never to permit humor to enter into any of his works, "A Figure Worth Saving," which he is presenting at the Bramhall Play- house, in addition to being essentially dramatic, poetic, and symbolic, is down- right funny, in a' subtle sort of-way. His character line-up, that of a starving sculptor, his beautiful blond model, with her foreign accent, and the villian, with his sleek, black hair and bruliantine goatee, would serve admirably for a bur- lesque melodrama. And the story— It is bitter cold, there is nothing to eat and, what is more, there is no money for food or fuel. The sculptor is sacrific- ing all for an ideal is the form of a nnde statue called Woman, which, because the pose is immodest, no one will buy. Gently his model suggests that she had better "go out" and get some money, but he says no. However, at this point the villian enters. He is rich and offers to buy the living model. The sculptor remonstrates, but unfortunately is called from the room. The villain makes love to the model but she spurns him., Then, as the villains always do, he brings forth the bankroll, slips her "fifty" and makes his exit, confident that she win follow. It is at this juncture that the play as- sumes a truly sincere aspect, for she goes to the wealthy one, only to return as the sculptor dies, knowing all. Mr. Davenport played the role of the sculptor. Maud Van Turck was the model and Al Dexter .the villain. 'CIVILIAN CLOTHES' GOING STRONG San Francisco, Cal, Jan. 17.—"Civilian Clothes," the Thompson Buchanan play that was originally scheduled for one week's production only by the Morosco Stock Company, at the Morosco Theatre, has just completed its twenty-ninth week here and is still going strong. The house has been doing turnaway business since the play opened and has smashed all stock records in the West ■ Eleanor Wood- , ruff still continues in the leading feminine role, but Herbert Hayes has succeeded Clyde Fillmore, who took Thurston Hall's pliice when the latter went to New York to enact his original role in the Metro- politan company. SELLING TTVOLI THEATRE BONDS An issue of $600,000 worth of six per cent first mortgage serial gold bonds, in $100, $500 and $1,000 lots,- on the new Tivoli, Chicago, have been placed on the market by Balaban and Kate, builders. The bonds, offered at par and accrued in- terest, are dated November 1, 1919, with semi-annual payments of $20,000 on and after November X, 192L and $400,000 No- vember 1, 1926. The owners of the theatre point out that the annual net income from this playhouse, based upon the receipts derived from their other properties, the Riviera and Central Park, should be approximately four times the maximum interest charges. FRANK FARNUM DOING HIS OR1 QUi AX -31IHHV DANCE WITH VIE QUINN AT THE. HST STREET THEATRE THIS SHOW SAILING FOR ENGLAND B. H. Buraside'a musical comedy, "Miss Millions," which has been at the Punch and Judy Theatre, will be taken to Lon- don on the 24th, when the entire produc- tion sails aboard the Cedric KITTY MADISON Ejtty Madison, who adorns the front page of The Clipper this week, is the pennant winning soubrette of William S. Campbell's "Bose SydeU" Company on the Columbia wheel She is a huge suc- cess this season and is gaining a host of admirers on the circuit. This is Miss Madison's second season in this line "of endeavor, at which she has been so successful that she has had numer- ous offers for next season. Previous to this engagement Miss Madison was in vaudeville, starring with a big feature set. She is under the personal direction of Will Rofhrn", of Roehm and Richards, who looks for great things from her in the near future.