Variety (January 1919)

.-•N ■4 VAUDEVILLE -■--? ARTISTS' FORUM Conflne lettera to 160 words and write on on* tlda of paper onlj. Anooymooa communlcatloiu will not be printed. Name of writer mutt be tlgned and will be held In eonfldence, If desired. Letters to be publlslied in this column must be written eiclaatrely to VARICTT. •Duplicated letters wlU not be printed. ^ i--. if-' ' Youngstown, 0., Dec. 23. Editor VARiETr: It was with considerable interest that we read the article concerning the Drama League in your last week's issue, and can readily say that our club, • l^hich has been in existence for six years, considers our Success due en- tirely to the fact that we have not tried the high-brow or classics, pre- fering presentations like "The House Next Door," "Paid in Full," "Fine Feathers, "The Heir to the Hoorah," ietc. At the inception of our organization we read."Molieres,""Pineros," "Wildes" * and others, and, without'meaning any- thing disparaging to these authors, considered them better reading than production. We wonder if there is any other amateur organization* can boast of six years' continous work with practically the same cast and whose plays have always been received by the regular dramatic critics of the local papers. ^- We agree with the Drama League that the people prefer regular plays than those supposed to elevate. Sincerely, The Strollers Dramatic Club, C. Per Myron B. Ozersky. Newport, R. L, Dec. 30. Editor ViktBTT:— The Moore-Holliday case was ab- solutely settled. two weeks ago at Lowell, Mass., when Mr. Moore signed for and accepted $105.00 fnstead of $300.00 attached for. Mr. Moore had simply made a mis- take in his figures, and as honest and positive statements were produced by Mr. Holliday the case was settled. The statement made by Moore after he had accepted settlement is as for- eign to the case as the fall of the German Empire. Moore's childish statement about my telling any one of his affairs is wrong . and I will ask the editor to read the letter he mentions. I thank my many friends in Lowell for the kindly interlst shown; With me theV:ase is ended and for- gotten. /. Frank Holliday. r.V . ILL AND INJURED.. Venita Fitzhugh is ill at her hoine in New York with influenza. Ned Wayburn is confined to his home at Bayside, L. L, with Inflaenza. Mae Fisher ("Reel Guys") recovering from influenza in Chicago. A George LeGuere recovering after a severe siege of influenza. Bertha Noss, ill in Dallas with tonsil- litis, may have to undergo an opera- tion. Frank P. Donovan, director of Vita- graph, ill in Bellevue Hospital, New York, for four weeks, is recovering. Leona Thompson, with 'Take It From Me," is confined to her hotel in Washington, D. C, with influenza. Fannie Donovan at Dad's>^Hotel, Philadelphia, with two broken ribs, would like to hear from her friends. Benjamin Fuller, advance man Wil- liam Kibble's "Uncle Tome's Cabin" show, convalescent. Jack Lait is walking about onc^ more, after piling vp a damage suit against a Chicago street car company '^iVRis'aufdy''^ "" '*"■"''" • Julia Nash has sufficiently recovered from her recent attack of Influenza to resume her tour, appearing at Canton, O tHis WCCrC Billy Bellday (The Belldays) is undergoing treatment in the hospital at Montgomery, Ala. He will be con- fined there three weeks. Enrico Caruso sustained severe abra- sio;)s when he accidentally fell during the performance of "Samson et Dalila" at the Metropolitan O. H., Dec. 27. William Waldron is at present ill at his home at 548 Fox street, Bronx, and would like to have some of his friends call on him. Harry Crull, manager of the Pros- pect, Brookljm, is ill at his home with influenza. Arthur White is acting as manager of the theatre until Mr. Crull returns. Thos. McGrath, doorman of the Na- tional Vaudeville Artists, is at Belle- vue Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment for excessive blood pres- sure. He will be away from_his regu- lar duties about two weeks. W. C. Burns, son-in-law and general manager for Rev. Thomas Dixon's amusement enterprises, came out this week after a diege of. the infltienza, whereupon his wife collapsed and was removed to a sanitorium, similarly af- flicted. Joseph Warren Jefferson, eldest son of the late Joseph Jefferson by his second wife, is dying of cancer in the New York Hospital, where he was operated upon. Dec 27. Mr. Jefferson has been in failing health for some time. George B. Newland, dramatic editor of the Cincinnati Post, is seriously ill with influenza. Joseph H. Mayer, dramatic editor of the Conimercial Tribune (Cincinnati),'was able to be out for the first time Sunday, after an attack of the same disease. Desmond Gallagher, who returned from military service quite ill from pneumonia aftermath, has recovered sufficiently to join the Evelyn May Co. For weeks Gallagher was critically ill. He has been honorably discharged from the Army. John E. Coutts (Coutts & Tennis), while convalescent from a recent op-' eration for appendicitis, undertook to personally rehearse some new acqui- sitions to the Coutts & Tennis shows with the result that he received a set- back. Coutts is up again but still suffering ffom the rehearsal strain. IN AND OUT. Armstrong and James out of 5th Ave. last Friday; illness of Armstrong. Re- placed by Ford and Goodrich. Yvette and Saranoff out of Orpheum, St. Louis, next week; illness. Replaced by Polly Moran. Oliver and Olp, out of Shea's, Tor- onto, Monday, illness. Replaced by Coakley and Dunleavy. Newhoff and Phelps out of Gar- rick, Wilmington, Monday. Confusion in bookings. Replaced by local act. Peggy Worth ill, out of Columbia, St. Louis last week, replaced by Keane and Walsh ("Maid of America"). Al Ricardo replaced Marshall and Covert at South Bend, Sunday, on ac- count of illness of one of the team. Mary and Anna Clark, out of Co- lonial after Monday matinee; illness. Replaced by Frank Crumit, doubling from the Alhambra. Gasper and Sinclair out of 125th Street, Tuesday, illness of Miss Gasp- er's father.- Rtplatedbjr ShefliiJtk Sly-i ters and Foley. Richards and Kyle out of Keith's, Lowell, next week. Harry Richards ill with pneumonia. Replaced by Frank Gaby. Y. M. C. A. STATEMENT. Editor Varietv: My attention has been called to an article in this week's issue of VAiiiETv in which Miss Blanche Bates states that "the Y. M. C. A. denied the Stage Women's War Relief the right to par- ticipate in the funds that were re- ceived. The Y. M. C A. stated that there was no necessity for the Stage Women's y/ar Relief." In view of this statement I think it dnly fair that a statement should be- made covering the above points. Firstly: When the Stage Women's War Relief on November 1 made ap- plication to Mn John'R. Mott, Direc- tor General of the" United War .Work Campaign for participation in the funds that were received, he as Direc- tor General and not as an official,of the Y. M. C A., replied as follows: My Dear Miss Crothers: Your important communication of November 1st reached me a few days ago. I have delayed answer- ing it until today, because only today has/there been an opportu- nity to hold a meeting of our Cam- paign Committee. I read your let- ter to them. It was considered carefully, and the committee in- structed me to conimunicate with Jrou and express th°cir sincere re- gret that they are unable to re- spond favorably to your important suggestion] We are absolutely limited by the Memorandum of Agreement^ which led to the United Campaign and by the ap- proval of the War Department and the President, which prevents our including any other cause or object among those who are to re- • ceive money, contributed to the United War Work Campaign.* We have received a number of re- quests similar to yours to which we would, gladly have responded' favorably, as we would do to yours, were we in a position to do so. I am sure you will appreciate sympa- thetically the circumstances. With deep' gratitude for the in- valuable work which you have been 4iccomplishing, Very sincerely yours, JOHN R. MOTT. Miss Rachel Crothers, Stage Women's War Relief, • • 366 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Secondly: No one in the Y. M. C. A. has ever stated that* "there was no necessity for the Stage Women's War Relief," and the work ofjhis organi- zation has been followed with interest by those o^ us who are particularly interested in the entertainment of the soldiers, and its successful work^ en- couraged in every way possible. P. S. McLanc. Chairman Overseas Entertainment. MARRIAGES. Estelle Bryan to Charles Morey (Harris and Morey) in Brooklyn, Dec. 21. >Ruth Gordon to Gregory Kelly in New York, Dec. 23. Both members of "Seventeen." Abe Shapiro, formerly connected with theatricals in Toledo, and since retired from theatricals, to Ray Levy, non-professional, at San Francisco, Dec. 14. BIRTHS. Mr. and Mrs. Jerome D. Kern, last week, at their home in New 'York, daughter. Mr. Kern is th^ composer. Good Report on New Carus Act. ^ Chicago, Jan. 1. Emma Carus' new act, with Walter Leopold (formerly Leopold and Lewis) at the piano and cutting in on the ' c'hdirtfses 'arid faTk; "was reported'liito the local ofiices from Springfield, III., as a smashing hit, and was booked to come to Chicago, Jan. 6. The report from out of town was highly encouraging. REBER HEADS CAMP COMMITTEL J. Howard Reber who has been act- ing as New York representative for the Entertainment -Committee of. the.'.....- Commission on Training Camp Activ- ities, has been elected chairman of the Committee succeeding Malcolm L. Mc- Bride, who resigned Jan. 1. Mr. Reber .' will remain actively at the head of the Committee affairs in New York but ■ will spend a portion of his time in Washington each week. Tuesday Dan- .. iel Frohman tendered a dinner to th« J Committee in New York. • ;■ There were s eve fa I additional \ changes but they affect other branches : of the Commission and the Entertain- ment Committee continues its func- i tions as in the past. Harry O. Stubbs remains as booking manager. De Hull _, Travers has stepped out of the pub- ' licity division of the Liberty theatres, which department has been discontin- : ued. The Commission contemplates certain changes in the management of -■ cantonment theatres and will appoint ; officers to take charge of the houses. ■ That in no way disturbs the civilian management ^of the Entertainment ■ branch however. "i, Exact data on the number of men fa -' each camp is now at hand weekly, Mr. Reber advising managers upon request. Sudden depletion's have been made in some camps, but retuirning men are ', quickly filling them at present. The rule is that men are kept in debarka- tion cantonments for about one week and then sent to camps nearest their ; homes for demobilization. Many fresh- . ly returned men have little money, be->'^ c^use of the considerable delay in ''.' paying the men overseas. The various , debarkation. camps supply their back^ pay quickly on an affadavit of the^J amount due them. Camp Mills, L. L, opened as a regular , debarkation point Thursday, with a . new Liberty Theatre in operation. ■; There are 30,000 men there at present. The additional house known as the ;.!; Franklin Theatre, was also ready for : opening this week. V .;' Mr. Reber has decided no bookings v^ will be entered ^til the Commission - is certain enough men are at the Camp-. . to support both theatres. , li GREAT LAKES REVUE IN DETROIt 1 r Detroit, Dec. 31. ;?:; The Great Lakes ftcvue opened at ■ the opera house on the Campus (Shu-" berts) to an .enormous advance sale, .: and the pt-oduction is to remain two'- weeks. ; V The show got over very big and the ; notices raved over it. It will leave here for an eastern tour, v Many professionals among the sailor , lads of the station near Chicago are in the company. . ' » :>? AUSTRALIAN ENGAGEMENTS, ^i By arrangement with Ethel Hope Williams, now representing the Rick- . ard theatres, Australia (Hugh) Mclii- ^ tosh, general governing director), irt . New York, Bert Clark (Clark' and Hamilton) is now an route on the Ni- agara for Australia where he will-firo-/ duce "The Better 'Ole" for the Rick- - ard theatres. Mrs. Williams also has Walter Weems under contract but the latter may find it impossible to return to Australia where he formerly appeared. ' She is also negotiating with Harry - Jolson for revue work, with the latter ' yet to consent. American jazz music has become in- tensely popular in Australia. Mrs. Williams getting a jazz band ready for a tour of the circuit. Mcintosh intends to produce "The Little Domino" and at Easter time make productions in two Australian, towns of "Chu Chin Chow." Mrs. Wniiams has engaged Arthur Aldficlv; vbcaliit, now ' at the" Pilsis Royal, New York.^and Nell Revell, dancer, for revue work in Australia. The Kurylos, dancers, and Marie Le Varr, sobret, have already sailed from Vancouver.