The New York Clipper (February 1920)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER February 4, 1920 STRIKE OF ARTISTS CLOSES NEW ORL EANS OP ERA SEASON After Series of Misfortunes, Company Stops When Performer* Demand the Salaries Be Guaranteed for Rest of Season House Recently Burned troupe, whereby they expressed themselves as satisfied with a pro rata basis of pay- ment that was decided upon last week. The general protest of the singers was brought on, he stated, following a discus- sion with M. Conrad, the tenor, over a sal- ary question. They became fearful of the outcome of the season and demanded that salaries be guaranteed for the remainder of the season, or up to the end of the month. According to Verande, no effort will be made to hold members of the organization to their agreement and all persona con- nected with the troupe nave been paid np to date, including artists and stagehands. Transportation for the orchestra back to New York has been arranged for and all outstanding bills are to be paid. New Orleans, Jan. 30.—Following a season of stormy sailing, the local French Opera Company, which was reported to be in a state of financial collapse several weeks ago, went on the rocks this week, when members of tile troupe refused to make their appearance until salaries were guaranteed them for the remainder of the season.. Sock, action being impossible, ac- cording to Louis P. Verande, manager, there was a severing of obligations and the. company was disbanded. The walkout occurred a few noon before the curtain was scheduled to rise on a presentation of "Louise" and several hun- dred subscribers, who had flocked to the Anthenaeum Theatre at the usual time, were turned away. During the past season, the opera com- pany has been the victim of a series of misfortunes. First, the local Opera House was destroyed by fire, involving a com- plete loss of costumes and scenery and then inclement weather played havoc with the attendance. When seen last night, Verande, who la reported to be a heavy loser, showed an agreement bearing the name of the entire Several weeks ago, Verande was in New York in an effort to interest Mrs, Oscar Hammerstein in a. French opera project for the Manhattan Opera House. But, in view, of the fact that Morris Gest's tease does not expire on that house until the be- ginning of next season, plans failed to materialize. ATTACH HAMMERSTEN SHOW Tulsa, Okla., Jan. SO.—An attachment suit ia pending here in the District Court against Arthur Hammerstein and his musi- cal production, "Somebody's Sweetheart" The plaintiffs in the case are A. C Sinclair and Clifford Hastings, who are seeking to recover $600 on a claimed canceled en- gagement and an additional $100 for at- torneys fees. "Somebody's Sweetheart" played here January 13, and on that date Prentice and Bell, attorneys for the plain riffs, pro- cured an. attachment against the show. However, the manager deposited a $500 bond, which bad the effect of lifting the attachment and the show was permitted to proceed on its tour. The complaint sets forth that, last No- vember the show was booked for presenta- tion here January 15. It was to have played at Convention Hall, on a percentage basis of 7B-2St There was a dense in- the Booking agreement, the complaint states, under the terms of which the show was not to be presented anywhere else in this city before it played Convention Hall. However, Hammerstein canceled his original booking here and, instead, booked Ins show through J. Prothero for presen- tation on the 13th, it being stated that Prothero bought the show out for the en- gagement, paying Hammerstein $1,500 out- right Hammerstein is represented here by At- torney Frederick W. Kopplin, who has in- terposed an answer in which it' ia set forth that Hammerstein was within his contrac- tual right when he elected to cancel the Convention Hall booking. "ROOF" GETS NEW KITCHEN It was learned last week that Flo Zieg- feld is iTi«*»llmg a new kitchen a-top the New Amsterdam Theatre at a cost of $35,000. The old kitchen, since the advent of prohibition, has outlived its usefulness, for more food is being sold on the roof now than before. The new kitchen win be completed by the time the new "Nine O'clock: Revue" u presented, this latter being scheduled to open some night next week. And that business on the roof is flourishing is best evidenced by the expensiveness of the new revue which ZiegfeM is planning. It ia said that the show, written by Gene Bock and Dave Stamper, will entail an outlay of upwards of $50,000, and will be in the nature of a junior Follies. Joseph Urban has designed the most elaborate and ex- pensive settings thus far used in any show on the roof. The piece is entirely distinct from the "Midnight Frolic," which remains the same, for the present at least. The principals who are rehearsing under Ned Waybum's direction in the new revue are Lillian Lorraine, Fannie Brice, W. C. Fields, Allyn King, Kathleen Martyn, Sybil Carmen, Handera and Miller, John Price 'Jones, Green and Blyler, Jessie Reed and the Cameron sisters. The show will contain at least sixteen musical numbers. At the office of House, Grossman and Vorhaus, Hammerstein's attorneys in this city, it was stated by Alfred Beekman, a member of the firm, that several wit- nesses now in New York win have to be examined here before the case comes to trial in Tulsa. "MASK AND WIG" PLAN SHOW Prm.iDttPiHA, Pa., Jan. 31-—The Mask and Wig Club, of Philadelphia, are plan- ning one of the most elaborate productions ever attempted for the annual show dur- ing Easter week. "Don Quixote, Hsq," la the title of the production, and H wfll be a musical comedy. Joseph Henry Hon", of the sophomore class In the Wharton School !• the author of this year's produc- tion. Charles' P. Morgan is director of the show and Charles Gilpin has written of the "FIDO" BENEFIT NETS $3,500 More than $3,500 was added to the re- lief fund for the benefit of members of the Actors' Fidelity League at the second of the series of testimonial performances held at the Montauk Theatre, Brooklyn, last Sunday night. The. third and last "Fido" show wiU be heia at the New Amsterdam Theatre next Sunday night. Arthur Ashley, acting as master of ceremonies, introduced Blanche Bates, who appeared first in a comedy skit, entitled "Food," foUowed by Fay Bainter, pre- senting a marionette dance. Thomas Shea was next, in a scene from "The Bells," foUowed by Grace Fisher, in Winter Gar- den songs. Louis Mann closed the first half of the bin with a scene from "Friend- ly Enemies." Following intermission, Ralph Herz ap- peared in songs from "Always Yon," and was fonowed by Henry Mfller and Ruth Cnatterton in a dramatic akH. Burr Mc- intosh was next, offering an Amerieanira- tion talk. Virginia Fox Brooks followed with a reading from Sexvis, and Fanny Brkse closed the show with her Washing- ton Square mt from tile "Frolic." "DADDIES" WOO : Cincinnati, Ohio, Jsd. 31.—Judge W. Meredith Yeatman's decision, rendered here last week, has had a great effect upon the-business of the "daddies" show. The children, who are part of the show, have caused much trouble since the piece went .oiijtpur, due to the . over-zealous.^.efforts . of' various children's societies. Following ' the precedent ot.the others,-the local Chil-.: dren's Protective Association had the rep- resentatives of Belasco arrested. When the'' case came np for trial, Judge Yeatman rendered the following decision. 1. The evident purpose of the statutes under which this action was filed is to prevent children from appearing on the stage under circumstances detrimental to their welfare. But when shown that their welfare is not being harmed, the courts wiU not interfere with the procedure of ch ildren in the cast. 2. During these times of unrest in every country of the world the court wfll not interfere with the utterance of propaganda which is calculated to create a belief in the course of sympathy and helpfulness be- tween aU the nations alike, such being the apparent mission of the play and its peo- ple now under consideration. On that point alone the appearance of children in this case is fully justified. 3. The objection that one of the children assumes a position of disobedience in this play is not weU taken because that attitude was one of the necessary arguments to the final and logical conclusions of the play. The first holding of the court wQl be read with interest by the vast amusement patronizing public of the United States, because the judge evidently takes the stand that there is no-harm in permitting chil- dren to appear in the presenting of plays provided their surroundings are whole- some, pleasant and convenient, the court having in mind that their educational op- portunities must not be neglected. In the cast of Mr. Belasco'a play it was plainly shown that the children were given opportunities of tutorship such as are en- joyed only by children residing in commun- ities that have schools of the most modern character. It seemed to observers that Judge Yeat- man was impressed by the statement of one of the counsel that these children of the Belasco play are' destined to find their livelihood behind the footlights. While performing in the play they were prepar- ing for the designated profession of their life time. In conclusion the court said: "The - parents bf the stage, and their children, are to have rights in determining their occupation, else actors w31 in time cease to exist; for we all agree that actors of the greater type are born and not merely created by force of circumstances. These are critical times in the period of our country's history, and the children serve to make the wonderful, helpful and good propaganda and should receive every en- couragement from aU our people alike. At no time should mere technicalities be per- mitted to dominate over common sense, therefore this case is dismissed." AMATEURS ARE AMBITIOUS That "What Next!" the musical comedy presented by society amateurs at the Princess Theatre, is soon to be produced with a professional cast, became known early this week when Mrs. Antoinette Perry FTueauff, who financed the present production, announced her intention of en- tering the productive field. Mrs. Frueauff, who appeared several seasons ago as leading woman with David WarfieM in "The Music Master," and was then known as Antoinette. Perry, has ac- quired the sole rights to the production, including costumes and scenery. She plans to have the book re-written and to engage a professional cast, placing tie piece in rehearsal as soon as the present run has been discontinued- Prank Smith- son, who had charge of staging the ama- teur production, will make the needed changes and will direct the professional east. It was stated last week that an effort wfll be made to secure the Princes* for the professional run of the play. Monk Gest and Florence ■WegfeM are also re- ported as being interested. MUSICIANS WILL ASK RAISE That resolutions favo ring an increased wage scale for theatre musicians win be introduced at the next a—all convention of the American Federation of Musicians, to be held in Pittsburg during the latter part of May, became ,known last week. According,to Herman Weber, president of the A. F. of M., there" ia Htle or no doubt as \t> whether the resolutions will be adopted by the labor body. The pres- ent wage scale, he stated, whose mini- mum ia in the neighborhood of $40 a week, being insufficient to met the ever-increas- ing economic demands of the country. The increase will be a' large one, ac- cording to officials of the M M. P. U., the largest A. F. of 11 local in this city. FINDS LONG LOST CHILD Atlantic City, Jan. 3L—Demaris Easton, who says she is a dancer and actress, this week failed in an attempt to recover her child Marjorie, eleven years, old, from its foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. James O. King, of Cedar Grove. The girl decided that she preferred the quiet coun- try life of Cedar Grove to the life of travel and adventure that her mother offered. Miss Easton, who, according to report, is the intended wife of Jaques Bustanoby, New York restaurant man, became the mother of Marjorie when she was but fif- teen years of age. She has been searching for her daughter for the past nine years. The judge allowed her the privilege of seeing her daughter whenever she wanted to. HACKETT GETS "CYRANO" James K. Hackett last week obtained the rights to "Cyrano de Bergerac" from the widow of Samuel E. Gross and announces that he will produce it in the Spring. Edward Vroom, an actor-manager, recently announced it for a number of special mati- nees at the Selwyn, but Mrs. Gross began legal action to restrain him. The piece was written by Edmond Rostand, a mem- ber of the French Academy, who died last year. Gross, a Chicago real estate man, obtained a court decision about twenty years ago that "Cyrano" was based on his less known work. '" SrHP CONCERTS TO AID FUND The Actors' Fund will, hereafter, receive a percentage of proceeds from all concerts given aboard snips .carrying American performers to Europe and back. The pur- pose of this is thai, inasmuch as Ameri- can theatrical talent provides these con- certs for different charities, they might just ss well remember their own. The 'purser on each ship is to forward the amounts, and a memorandum of the trans- action win be kept as a voucher. "BUCKING THE TIGER" QUITS . Affgr bncking conjested bookings for the past month, Lewis 3, lmicVs first and only attempt at legitimate production, "Buck- ing the Tiger," closed in Providence last week and was ordered in. According to present plans the piece win lay off indef- initely, with the hope of securing a Broadway playhouse. SIGNS FRANCES WHITE Frances White last week entered into an agreement with Arthur Hammerstein for five years beginning next September. She wfll then appear in a new musical com- edy which Otto Harbach and Frank Man- del have been commissioned to write. TAITS CUTS OUT CABARET Saw Francisco, Jan. 31.—Tait's Cafe, which has been offering cabaret shows for a number of years, has made a change in policy and wfll dispense with all entertain- ment of any kind. In tils future.it wfll be conducted as a restaurant business only. ROB DES MOINES BOX OFFICE Dra Moines, Iowa, Jan. 80.—The box office in the Casino Theatre here, was robbed recently of $22. This was the sixth robbery in a day in that vicinity, v , . tfJLL REHEARSING "FENNY ANTE" Qua HOI has in rehearsal a new show caned "Penny Anne." It-la a'musical ■how, and wfll open in Newport News