Variety (November 1918)

L E G ITI M ATE u limCCmiNDEllMP SHOWS AFTER DE CLARATI ON OF PE^CE All Camps in This Country to Remain Open at Least a Year After War Closes. Attractions Will Be Welcomed by Entertainment Committee. Theatres to'Be Imprcved. An important point was cleared up regarding the cantonments last week, when it definitely stated that\ should Germany surrender or the terms of armistice as laid down be accepted, all camps now existing in this country are to continue on at full complement for at least another year, after such peace or armistice. The decision im- plies all attractions will be welcome at least a year after peace is declared. The matter came up at a meeting in the New York headquarters 'of the Commission on Training Camp Ac- tivities, when Malcolm L. McBride, chairman of the Entertainment Com- mittee spoke definitely on the ques- tion. It was also stated that improve- ments on Liberty theatres, additions thereto and new theatres contemplated would be consummated as originklly planned. Cessation of warfare, would in other words not diminish the de- mand for cantonment entertaintnent, but would rather tend to increase it. SETTLING ACCOUNTING CLAIM. When the case of Darcy & Wolford, Inc., play brokers, against the Wonder- ful Flays and Players (a subsidiary to William Fox picture concern) came up for trial before Justice Delehanty in the Supreme Court Tuesday, Mr. Fishel, of vDittenhoefer & Fishel, counsel for the plaintiffs, moved the case be passed by mutual consent for the day, as ncefotiations for settle- ments were pending. The motion was granted. The litigation concerns an account*- in^ of the royalties and the temporary , injunction to restrain further release of a number of photoplays which the brokerage firm controls. All were originally produced on the legitimate stage, the Wonderful P. & P. having been granted the screen rights. Among them are "Life's Shop Window," "The Fourth Estate" and "Regeneration." "'OLE" PRINCIPALS COOPERATIVE. The"~-principals of "The Better 'Ole" at the Greenwich Village are playing on a co-operative plan of payment, out of the net, it is said. The choristers and one or two in the troupe of the Coburns receive stated salary. The house seats 290 people and the scale is $2.50. Although a number, of American managers were anxious to secure the United States rights to "The Better 'Ole," and that George Tyler really had it, the reason the deal failed to close was through the prohibitive terms asked by Charles B. Cochran, the London producer, who controlled it. According to the story, Cochran asked 12^ per cent, of the gross, and an advance of $5,000. In New York, where most of the shows play on a 50-50 basis, this would mean paying ^a royalty of 25 per cent, of the com- pany's share. Though it is set that the "'Ole" will move in two weeks to Broadway, the house was not definite by Wednesday. The Coburns, who produced the " BairnsfirthtfXiOhledyp'Weiit" 6^ percentage bids, feeling they had a sure success. They were offered a 65- 35 split from one house, but stood out for 70 per cent. The best Broadway terms apply to musical attractions, the general scale being SO-SO for the first $5,000 and 60-40 where the gross runs over $10,000. "The Better 'Ole" has musical numbers, but the terms asked are unprecedented. With a number of houses dark, they might secure more than ordinarily, advantageous sharing terips. English theatrical men visiting New York expressed surprise at "The Better 'Ole's" predicted success at $2/ since the play has been running in L^ondon at a popular price scale (though draw- mg heavily). ZIEGFELD'S NEW ROOF IDEA. The forthcoming new production on the Amsterdam Roof, now in rehearsal under the direction of Flo Ziegfeld, wiir embrace a new idea in roof' gar- den entertainment. Mr. Ziegfeld, who originated the type of midnight roof entertainment the Amsterdam, among other roofs, now presents, will also be the first, says Ziegfeld, to present his latest entertaining device. * JANE COWL CHANGING PLAYS. There is more than a likelihood that when the Selwyns prodiice "The Crowded Hour" about four weeks hence, Jane Cowl will be its star. Her present vehicle, "Information, Please," has not proved an overwhelm- ing success. '. WINNIGER IN ARMY? L Boston, Oct. 30. The 'appointment of bandmaster in the army is before Charles Winniger, who, with Lew Fields, is appearing in "Friendly Enemies" here. The report is Mr. Winniger would like to secure his release from the A. H. Woods show, to accept, when he will be assigned to Ft. Monroe, Va., with a large musical organization under his leadership. Mr. Winniger is the husband of Blanche Ring. Miss ^ing has also a son in the Service. "»> BOSTON HOLDS UP. Boston, Oct. 30. The enormous business at Boston's best theatres has held up since the reopening of the houses. If continuing, local managers agree the^ will have little cause for com- plaint over th^ recent shut down. JARRING OPENINGS. Chicago, Oct, 30. Rock and White, booked for several' dates, can not open the La Salle, Chi- cago, Oct. 31. "Oh Look" was brought back for ten days. "Polly with a Past" will not return to Powers', but will be replaced by Laurette Taylor in "Happi- ness." AUGULIA IN ENGLISH. Mimi Augulia, the Sicilian star, may appear on the English stage this season, although arrangements have not been completed with George H. Brennan, who announced he bad st^ cured "The Supper of Practical Jokers." . .The.|?!.layLin which.Duse.appcwcdin. Italy is by Sen Bennellf, the original title-being "La Cena Delia Beffa" (literally, "The Fools' Supper"). The leading role calls for the im- personation of a young man through- out. This made the piece .adaptable to usage by Sarah Bernhaidt, who pro- duced it in several Continental capitals. " ^ DITRICHSTEiN ALON& - Leo Ditrichstein and his managers, Cohan & Harr^, parted company af- ter the performance at the Vanderbilt Saturday night. The star with his cur- rent vehicle will remain there for the next six weeks under his own' man- agement with Wallace Munro as his personal representative and business . manager. "The Matinee Hei-o" will be shelved shortly before the holidays. Mr. Dit- ricbstfsiti will present a new play by Henri Lavedau by Christmas. The piece has not been named as yet, but It is-reported as having run for two years at the Comedie Francaise in Paris. " '" The reason for the parting of Mr. Ditrichstein and C. & H. is variously reported, the greatest credence being given 16 the story the managers wished to withdraw th^ play after Sat- urday's ' performance with the star taking exception. Cohan :& Harris have managed Mr. Ditrichstein since he departed from the Belasco camp about five years ago. ABERDEEN'S BIG SHOW. Jack Mason has been engaged by the soldiers at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds at Aberdeen, Md., to put on for them a mammoth musical farce with a cast of 100 soldier boys. The proceeds will go toward estab- lishing a fund for the erection of a permanent auditorium at Aberdeen. Among the theatrical people stationed there are Jean Doe, George Penny, Jules Levy and John Fairclbthes. The show will open in Washington for a week, commeiicing Dec. 2, and make a tour of several of the larger cities, including New York. Permis- sion to give the entertainment has been granted, by commanding oflBcer Col. Williani Allen Phillip. Jerome H. Remick has offered sev- eral exclusive numbers and Billy Jerome and Irving Berlin are writ- ing special' selections. Mas^n will write the book as well as stage the af- fair. SPECS^TILtSUFreRtNG. - Business has not picked up to any extent during the last two weeks at any of the ticket agencies. The specu- lators are still complaining of losses as big as during the first two weeks of the epidemic. The only thing sav- ing them to any extent is that six of their buys on two weeks ago have run out since. They were the Central, Comedy, Empire, Maxine Elliott, Sel- wyn and Winter Garden. At present the buys still in force are the Cohan & Hav's. Eltinge, Hudson, Liberty, Lyric, Amsterdam and Van- derbilt. The latter buy ends tomor- row night. The Cohan & Harris, Hud- son, Eltinge and Amsterdam have two more weeks to run, while the Liberty is for six weeks. Tl^e Lyric has but one more week. The renewals will probably be the Cohan & Harris and Hudson, At Joe Leblang's the slump is also still in effect. Wednesday afternoon, there was less than half the usual de- mand for seats. The Leblang agency is carrying as "regulars" the Astor, Bi- jou, Broadhurst, Casino, Century, Com- edy, Cort, Eltinge, Fulton, Maxine El- liott, Playhouse, Republic, Selwyn,/ Shubert, 39th Street, Vanderbilt and Winter Garden. . THOS. DIXON PRODUCING. Thomas Dixon, aiithor of "The Clans- man,'' "The Leopards' Spots," etc., is to enter the production field, having secured the American rights for "The Invisible Foe," which he has started casting. The piece was first presented in London, and was variousW reported accepted for presentation nere. It is said the writer has made several changes in the script. MET TAKING NO RISKS. Gatti-Cazzaza has rejfused permis- sion for his stars to play any put-of- town engagements prior to the open- ing of the regular oi)era season here, not even for patriotic benefits. He fears they may contract the in- fluenza. KALISH BREAKS RECORD. Bertha Kalish in "The Riddle Woman" broke the house record at the Harris Saturday night, the tak- ings totaling $1,731. The previous house record *as held by "The Witch- ing Hour" for a number of years. The Kalish show played to $4,900 in four days, which, while not capacity, is considered very big in these times. drMknatio Stock for i4tii Strirat; "' Dramatic stock is now the policy slated for the 14th Street Theatre, with Jerome Rosenberg in charge. The house recently, quit stock bur- lesque and, after first advertising the theatre for rent, have, for the past few weeks, tried out popular-price attrac- tions. ■■■f.'j ■S'.-< ;.!^ :- ■,'0'.' -■f^ TYSON CO. LOSES SUIT. The Tyson Company's suit against the 503 Fifth Ave. Company came up for trial in the Supreme Court last vyeek. The litigation concerns the lease by the Tyson Company of a liti tie 7x10 store located at the address. The lease was for five years at an annual rental of $4,500. The Tyson Company, which deals in theatre tick- ets, finding the business tlvere unprof- itable after a period of nve or six months, aitked permission of the land- lords to permit it to sublet, or re-let, the store, in order not to lose about four and a half years' rental money. The 503 Fifth Ave. Company agreed to re-let the store, on the condition that they get all excess profit above the $4,500 mark. They set their figure at $0,000 annually in order to allow a $1,500 yearly profit for themselves, and were accordingly taken up by one For- gotston, who opened a diamond and jewelry store on the premises. The Tyson Company entered an in- junction to restrain the landlords, from charging the excess rental and retain the profits, and to remove Forgotston from the premises. The injunction was granted in the Supreme Court last week before Mr. Justice Francis K. Pendleton. The landlords appealed in the Ap- pellate Division and the injunction was subsequently denied. m M M <...:J i DANIEL FROHMAN'S FUND PLAN. Daniel Frohman has devised a plan for the accomplishment of the Actors' Fund benefits to be held around New Year's. Several stars will be carried on a circuit of cities and the benefit per- formances themselves will be dramatic shows, with the remainder of the casts made up from companies appearing in the several cities. As all the benefit performances will be matinees, this feasible plan will hold down transport expenses to a minimum. The support- ing casts will be supplied with their scripts at least two weeks prior to the scheduled benefit in the town where the attraction is playing at that time. Mr. Frohman will make two trips in advance of the benefit tour. His object is to interest' debutantes and _aociety.j'«l,the support of the benefits, , basing his campaign on the great as- sistance the profession has been in the war and charity drives. Benefits will be given in a number of cities, heretofore not^ holding Ac- tors' Fund affairs. Everett Shinn, the artist, has drawn a cover design for the program, which will be similar in all cities.