Variety (November 1918)

TURNED DOWN, SAYS LEAGUE Jamet Forbes, for Over There Theatre League, Makes State- ment Concerning Volunteer Entertainers. Claims Xriticism of(T. M. C. A. Secretaries UnjustifieH. One Hundred More :;, Entertainers Wanted by Christmas. i ,1! ' "One hulidred more entertainers in France by Christmas." That is the big effort of America's Over There Theatre League, and it: accomplishment will mean practically a doubling of the number of volunteer entertainers over- seas. The number already across passed the century mark within the past fortnight, and,' although it took over six months to. achieve that, the doubling of the .entertainers' force is > the League's objective set for the time period. The enlarged activities of the league made it necessary for larger quarters and the removal last week from the Little Theatre to 19 West 44th street. >>, • "If there are any volunteers who have been able to pass War Dejpart- menl regulations and who have offei^ed a satisfactory act or show^td ability to siipply the right kind of entertainment which we know the men want, and haven't been accepted by the league, *e don't know who they are. We'd like to know them." James Forbes, chairman of the league's Program Committee, thus re- plied to a query as to the justification of a number of written complaints to Varibtt that various professionals had volunteered, but had not been .ac- cepted, with no apparent cause forth- coming. A full list of t^ose who volun- teered to the league hasvbeen withheld, the reason given that a number of in- dividuals had gone no further than submit names and also that it might embarrass others who could not be . accepted. Mr. Forbes went into the ma'tter at further length, stating the number of individuals who had volunteered, but were unfit for overseas duty (one " , is at the Actors' Fund Home). He also explained the time required in forming the units and "proving up" the ma- terial which the volunteers offered. This was necessary so that the aim that every unit going over should prove the "goods" be attained.. The majority of letters from abroad attest that most of the units are going over with a ban^. There was enforced slowness in getting off the first half of the present' quota of units now in action due >n part to the originally difficult pass- port regulations, and also from lack of transport space. The league will not admit that there were any un- warranted Idelays, merely stating in answer to such criticism that the, han- dling of the volunteer project is a.big job. - • The league's work, ^ith peace, is to go forward even more strongly than heretofore, it being regarded that the men will be even in more need of en- tertainment than when the excitement of going into the lines and over pro- vided much in the way of maintaining morale. The demand for volunteer en- tertainers therefore is greater than be- fore, and the insistence that the best of our artists are needed is repeated, Mr. Forbes said. The George M. Cohan dinner, designed to result in the formation of star units, has as yet -"-been unproductfve, nor ha«-an^ state- • ment been forthcoming as to the bene- fit performances planned to raise funds for the league's expenses. In response to the criticism against the Y. M. C. A. in its handling of units overseas, -Mr. Forbes replied he was receiving every assistance from the Y« and that that organization and the league are working in perfect unity. When ttfld of authentic stories of an unfriendly spirit on the part of Y sec- retaries toward entertainers abroad, Mr. Forbes said that there possibly were some "impossibly" ex-preachers on the job, but that the big things the Y bad and is accomplishing outshines the ptity actions of obscure in- dividuals. He remarked that the Y. was trying to get rid of such persons, that it was always looking, for the right kind of representatives, and that many of the offenders were being sent back. The fact that the uiJits-first to go over have evinced no desire as yet to return, Mr. Forbes observed, bears out that statement. Mr. Forbes spoke most enthusiastically of talent here- tofore lightly regarded over here that has proved a revelation, especially several feminine members of units who have developed into "riots" over there. Within the past two weeks three units and a number of camp directors have sailed overseas. They are: "Mirth Mid MalMly.1 Edna Aug. .', Sara and Nellie Kouns. ' ■' Diana Kasner. ,, "SoBsa and Skits." Charles Fleming. Irene Jacobs. Florence Williams. • Grace Fisher. . Til* Musical Maids." Lydia Isabel Irving. \— 1 i Constance Karla. Dorothy Haynes. Camp Diractbnt Dallas Tyler. Paula Temple. Williamena Wilkes. Laura Sherry. , Alice Martin. ^ The scope of the camp directors is to develop and organize talent in the various A. E. F. divisions, the directors taking advantage of professional talent and others inclined to entertain^ Such men are detached from active-Service. The'•directors as a rule operate in pairs. IN AND OUT. ' Sully Family out of 58th Street last half this week. Act not ready. Hallen and Fuller did not open at Proctor's, Albany, Monday. Illness. Van and Schenck out of 23rd Street through previous bookings in Cleve- land. Cooper and Ricardo substituted. Ryan and Joyce out of Harlem Opera House Monday. Replaced by Gilbert and Friedland. The Ferrarres out of Alhambra Mon- day; illness. {Catherine Powell sub- stituted. "The American Act" out of River- side Monday matinee. Baggage not arrived. Replaced by Johnny Dooley and Helen Ware. Catherine Powell could not get her scenery in time to open at the Alham- -bra., .Monday. .. Replaced. ,b.Y. Ed]*, .and. Ramsden. " Downs and Gomez substituted Mon- day at the Wilson Avenue, Chicago, for the Peerless Trio when the Trio re- fused to open the show. CAMP DIX SHOW HIT. Camp Dix, N.-J;,- Nov. 13. - "You'll Like It." billed as .a "Spicy Musical Mess in Two Acts," was pre- sented here at the Liberty Monday night by the boys of the camp and was a decided hit. The house was packed. Major General *Hugh L. Scott, com- manding officer of the, camp, by whose permission the performance was given, and all the other officers of the staff attended. . Private William Sully (recently of "Head Over Heels") is the featured ; comedian. He is also responsible for ' the staging. He scored tremendpusly. Pte. Bert Norman (Norman and Feeney) and Pte. Dick Buttner (Butt- ner and Brouthdrs) put on a ballroom dance that was a riot. Pte. Karl Pol- lant, known in vaudeville as Var Vara, contributed a pianolog. Eddie Flynn (of the Dancing- Teddies), with Pte. Sidney Jackets, proved a capable danc- ing team. Chic Kaler of Buffalo led several popular song numbers. Cor- nelli, the accordionist, cleaned up with his musical act. Sgt. I. Dornstein and Lew Le Van (brother of Harry S. Le Van) put on a comedy sketch that was . sure fire. The orchestra was under the direction of Sgt. Robert Tjrisai, former- ly of the New Orleans French Grand Opera. A new song, "You'll Get Used to It After Awhile," written by Chas. Bayha, one of the workers of the K. C here, was sung with great success'by Sully. The number has been taken for publi- cation by Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. The show starts on tour, under the direction of Camp Dramatic Director Norman Ifackett, opening at the Trent. Trenton, and touring the east. It will play Wilmington Nov. 18. "ATTA BOY" IN NEW YORK? Washington, D. C, Nov. 13. The Ballard Macdonald-Nat Osborne soldier show, "Atta Boy." staged by Dan • Dody and played by the boys from Camp Meigs, may move to tne Century,'New York, provided the con- sent of the- Army's General Staff is obtained. That is considered a favor- able prospect .just now. * The show opened enorjnously last -week at Poli's. This week it moved to the local Belasco, and next week may journey tp Philadelphia, the- New York. WANTS TO ANNUL MARRIAGE. Los Angeles, Nov. 13. W. A. Gunther, a railroad attorney of Alabama, has taken steps to annul the marriage of Fhiliipa Lindstrom, of Maricopa, Cal., to Earl Kynett, playing in tabloid at the First Street Theatre here. •' TINNEY'S FORGOTTEN ORDERS. - Washington, D. G, Nov. 13. - Cap*. Frank Tinney has brought Si^ laugh to the soldiery hereabouts, who know he is a funny man on the stage. Capt. Tinn^y recently received - hlfl commission and was assigned to the . Morale Department, lately established r: in the Army. It is to promote enter- tainment among the soldiers in camps over here. When 20 men Were needed for the C^mp Meigs show, Capt. Tinney was instructed to seizure and march them to Cainp Meigs. The captain issued - orders - and had the 3Q soldiers col- . lected in a room, prepared to depart. on orders. 0 Capt. Tinney walked in the rooh), saw the soldiers there, waiting, but could not recall how to start them marching. Perplexed - for a few mo- ments Capt. Tinney finally walked to the door, without having issued a com- mand, accofding to the story, and, waving his hand, said: "So long^ fel* lows. See.you later." , PANDUR FUND SUBSCRIBERS. A fund was recently started for the , benefit of Bobby Pandur, for some, time at Ward's Island, New York. Ar- tliur Buckner, who had charge of the fund, brought Pandur to the city Sept. 28, but owing to his condition Pandur -. . was later placed at Bellevue Hospital. Buckner now says he is able to leave . there this week and will be taken to his (Buckner's) apartment. The following subscriptions, paid, are - furnished by Buckner as contributors - to^ the fund, to date: . / J^ Jickion....110.00 Pat Lerollo 1.00 Mrs. R. AvoUo. 0.00 (iooi Friend .. 6.00 . Otto Johnstone. 1.00 Jack Mandel.... 1.00 TboB. FlUpatrlok 2.00 Tbree Alex 1.00 RlgoleUo Brosi.. 10.00 Jaok McCowan.. 2.00 Geo, Yeomsne... .-1.00 Joe HlUer ,1.00 Victor Hyde.... 100 The Rials.. 1.00 M. Thor 1.00 Dlero LOO Frank Wolt 1.00 The Glorias.«,.. 1.00. .Abe Felnbers... 1.00 Al Shayne 1.0b Chat. FlUpatrlok l.OO Johnny O'Connor 1.00 Nat Nazarro.... 2.00 Joe Howard 1.00 Harry Holman.. 1.00 CarV Bugene.... 10.00 Paly Saunders,. 1.00 Brack's Trotip«. 10.00- Waiter Pllmmer. 1.00 ■■• Billy Earl 1.00 - |T8.00 Paul Durand.... 1.00 .-. UNITED WAR WORK PUBLICITY. Unusual attention is given this week to the publicity in behalf of the United War Work Fund by the Allied Thea- trical Committee, William Fox, chair- man, with Theodore Mitchell handling the committee's general press work. . . Mitchell did the work when the thea- atre's helped out the Red Cross. He is being helped by Garrett Cupp, formerly of tKe Evening Mail staff, with T. 0. Eltonhead, publicist for the N. A. jM. P. I., assisting the IndustHal Commit- tee of the A. T. C. of which Frederick H. Elliott is sub-cnairmah under Fox .- BIRTHS. ■;-M Mr. and Mrs. T. Grant (Monroe and Grant), Nov. 7, daughter Mr. and Mrs. Irving Bibo, in Chi- cago, Nov. 8, daughter. Bibo is Chi-' cago manager of the Broadway Music Company. Mr. and Mrs, Franklyn Graham,, at. East Machia, Me., Nov, 10, son. The i^other is professionally Katherine /Talbot. The bnelneea end of fan. CHAS. ALTBOVP. tour In the west PATRICOLA The favorite entertolncr, who Is bound for a return engoiieraent In the east, after a long MANAGING GAYETY, MONTREAL. Montreal, Nov. 13, Bob Sinions is now managing the Gayety (Columbia Circuit), Tom Henry, the Columbia's Boston (and emergency) manager, is here for a couple of weeks to assist Mr. Simons. Simons was out early in the season with "It Pays to Advertise," but the epidemic caught his show. ^B»»fr Show itt Tawa''. G«t» $S,SOO, r.A Despite the tough season on the road, owing to the epidemic, James E. Coop- er's "Best Show in Town" hauled down a big week at the Columbia last week, the receipts being a little less than $8,500. %l