Variety (January 1919)

Vol. LHI, No. 6 FlAlUMd We«klT U use Brotdmr. nniM Sourib )>•» Totk, IT. i.. bf YaiUtT, Ida Aaaui SatMrtp- tloo. $S. Slstfe MBlm. U ocnta. NEW YORK CITY, JANUARY 3, 1919 Entered as second olass matter Vteettabet h 32, 1905, at the Post Office at New York, .4 N. Y., under the Act of March 3. 1878. 1 KAHN REPORTED BACKING DIPPE L GRAND OPERA CO. Fonner Metrop<rfitan Director Placing Touring Companies On Road—Has Signed Number of Stars—Will Have First Call on Met's Releases—Maybe Plan to Block Hammerstein. The long standing estrangement between Andreas Dippel and Otto Kahn, since the former left the man- aging directorship of the Metropolitan opera house, seems to have been patched up. During last week Dippel, it is understood, had a conference with the banker in the latter's downtown offices and as a result it is reported Dippel is to return to the grand opera field with the backing of Kahn. He will not, however, go to the Metro- politan, but may send a number of touring organizatipns over a route of the bigger cities. The plan i^ to have several organi- zations each presenting a different opera and to give a number of cities one night of grand opera weekly for a season of 20 weeks. This would mean that practically each organiza- tion would have two performances weekly. A number of contracts with artists at the Metropolitan are expiring this season. Dippel already has under contract Titto Ruffo, Mme. Schumann-Heink, Ricardo Martin, Mme. Tetrazzini and Orville Harold. The greatest difficulty at present seems to be the securing of sufficient tenors for the organizations. Dippel, however, expects to go abroad in the spring and secure some talent there. The entire plan, according to those who follow the moves in musical circlesj appears to be directed at the ^ssibility of the re-entrance into grand opera of Oscar Hammerstein. The Metropolitan directors do not wish to have the irrepressible Oscar obtain another foothold in tfi6 Amen- can operatic field and that may be the reason for the backing of the Dippel venture by Mr. Kahn. The Hammerstein plan is to give g^rand opera providing he can have his institution subsidized by each local to have each night his organizations play guaranteed by a local subscrip- tion. AMATEUR MIDNIGHT SHOW. Chicago, Tan. 1. Some thistle-brained promotois have hit upon a hitherto unexploited field of show business, and the premiere of the new venture is due to take place here this week. The venture is to be known as "The Amateur Midnight Frolics." The pro- motors of the venture have made an arrangement with John R. Thompson, owner of the Pastime, a picture house on West Madison street, between Clark and Dearborn, to take over the house between 11.30 p. m.. and 1 a. m. each day. Ten "amateur" acts are to be offered each night, a complete change of bill taking place daily. The show is to be bally-hooed for the loophounds, ad- vertised as "the worst show in town," and a gas mask is advertised to take the place of the traditional hook. According to an announcement mdide, the show is given for the benefit of night-prowlers whose occupations pro- hibit their attendance at orthodox per- formances. Admission is to be 25 cents during week night, with 35 and 50 cents Sat- urday and Sunday. The people be- hind the project are keeping discreetly in the background, but it has become known that one of those interested in the venture is Louis Macloon, who re- cently took over the Rockford theatre. The rialto is abuzz with gossip of the new trick, and the opening night is awaited with anxiety. ONUKI IN OPERA. Another vaudeville singer who is go ing . to . dcjser t ...f or . Kxand . opera .is.' Haru Onuki, who joins the San Carlo Opera Company, now on tour in the west. Miss Onuki will sing the title role in "Mme. Butterfly" in Seattle (her home town), Jan. 3/, and continue with the company. HOUSEMAN QUITS WOODS. Chicago, Jan. 1. . LoCi M. Houseman, for nine years Al H. Woods' Chicago representative, one of the greatest press-agents and show- men in Chicago's history and probably the most popular single individual in this town, parted with Woods upon the advent of J. J. Rosenthal as the new manager here of the Woods thea- tre. In Chicago the story was re- garded as important enough to hit the front page of every newspaper, and the papers made no secret of their be- lief that Woods had made a mistake. Houseman, who had resigned on short notice, gave out a statement that he had "put in nine years of agony," and was going to take a res£ Though Houseman has been very close to Woods, in fact their 4«]ations had taken on the character of affection rather than business attitudes. Woods is temperamental, and it is known that there was a breach at the time of the opening of the Woods, when the man- ager rushed on and canceled all of Houseman's advertised plans for the premiere, including an auction of seats. Since then there have been steady re- ports of differences between Woods and Josph Snydacker, the local banker who helped to float the realty deal, and whose name at first appeared as man- ager of the theatre. Woods and Sny- dacker later joined in a picture deal and a musical comedy venture, and Snydacker was quoted as saying he had gotten the short end of both deals. Houseman and Snydacker are close friends, and Woods chose to re- gard Houseman as sympathizing with his partner in the difficulties that arose. Houseman was largely instrumental in floating the Woods theatre deal, as Woods' agent, and has handled many large and important matters for Woods. He is an old time sporting writer and manager of sporting events, and has been active in every line of theatrical endeavor for years. He an- nounces that since news of his sev- erance with Woods became^ public he has had many offers, including one to be dramatic critic of a local newspaper. musical society. The Dippel scheme is R«MiniiN «mim MMywiii*. chab. althoff. NEW POLICY AT CLUNE'S. San Francisco, Dec. 31. Ackerman & Harris, who recently compl«'ted arrangements for the man- aging control of Clune's Auditorium, Los Angeles, conducting the theatre in assdciaiibrt with CJune; have an- nounced a vaudeville and musical comedy stock policy for the house. The auditorium, which holds around 5,000, and was lately devoted to legitimate attractions, is expected to start its new policy some time this month. Pop- ular prices will prevail. .>w m 1 n ■■^. ■•-;* PREPARING LIBEL ACTION. Chicago, Jan. 1. A $2,000,000 damage suit on behaU. of the Shuberts against the Chicago Evening Post and Charles Collins, its critic, is 'being prepared by Roy D. Keehn, attorney for the Shuberts, and was to have been filed this week. This is the climax of a long battle which began when Collins was barred out of all Shubert houses.for panning a Winter Garden show as being inde- cent. Since then the Post has for months been without Shubert adver- tising and has carried on an acrimon- ious and remarkably stubborn cam... paign against all Shubert houses and- enterprises here and throughout the nation. , The specific charges will include libel allegations in that the Post accused the Shubert theattes of being "flu traps," and that the Shuberts were accused of illegal collusion with scalp- ers. The Post campaign has been re- sponsible for breaking up the scalpers' ring here to a large extent. Keehn is a libel expert of highest standing, the attorney here fbr Wil- liam R. Hearst, and an official of the Hearst newspapers, one of which is also a direct competitor of the Post. The Post is owned by John G. Schaffer,- a millionaire grain man who also owns the Indianapolis Star, the Denver News-Times, the Louisville Star and the Muncie Star, and these papers have joined in the onslaught against Shubert attractions. Schaffer is one of the big; subscribers to the Chicago Grand. Opera Company, as well. NO ALIEN ENEMIES FOR 3 YEARS. London, Dec. 31". Since the signing of the armistice there has been agitation over the pos- sjibility of the entrance into England of enemy alien acts immediately upon the signing of peace. The controversy and agitation seems unwarranted. A declaration made by the V. A. F. when it severed all (con- nection with the I. A. L. enemy sections during the war stated the Executive Committee of the V. A. F. was empow- ered to oppose all liceiises for any the- atrical, circus or variety manae[er who employed 'any enemy alien within three years after the declaration of peace. That was the attit.ide in 1916 and it still is as far as could be learned within the la.st fortnight. DIVORCES jorOarrymore. Los Angeles, Dec. 31. '•';:; Mrs. John Barrymore has secured a . r| divorce at Santa Barbara, charging de- .-^ sertion. -.5 Mrs. Barrymore's name appears on ■ •« the court records as Katherine Blythe % and her husband's, John Blythe. . j- 'I '■'■yi'