The billboard (Dec 1917)

DECEMBER 22, 1917 The Billboard 2 . Tax on Railroad Fares Fight Ber Cent Added When Ticket Cost Exceeds 35 Cents ‘Washington, D. C., Dec. 15—The Commissioner of Internal Revenue has ruled that, regardless of whether a thru ticket by passenger train or other common: carrier for” passengers is purchased or cash fares paid for such trip, the. 8-cent war. revenue tax ‘applies. ‘This ruling should be of special interest to the amusement profession. The tax attaches, says the ruling, when a passenger makes a continuous trip the total fare for which at starting point exceeds 35 cents. ‘Failure to pay. such tax by a passenger, as well as failure to collect it by a carrier, is a violation of Section 1004 of the Act of October 3, 1917, and subjects them “to a penalty of not more than $1,000 or ‘to imprisonment of not more than one year, or both, at the discretion of the court, and in addition thereto a penalty of double the tax evaded or not collected or accounted for and paid over.” Baltimore Theater Sold Baltimore, Ma. Dec. 15.—The Wizard ‘Theater, on Lexington ‘street. near Charles, has been sold to parties ‘who control the Parkway Theater on: North avenue. A new company. has been incorporated, known as the Wizard Theater Company, the stockholders of which are the same parties composing ‘the Parkway Theater Company, and the policy. of this organization will-be put into effect in conducting the Wizard: The acquisition of the : Lexington street playhouse adds. another link to the chain of theaters under the direction of the Parkway management. Besides the Parkway this company also conducts the Strand. on Howard street, and the McHenry. in South Balumore. Bernard Depkin, Jr.,manager of the Parkway. and supervising manager of the Strand and the McHenry, will also have the supervision over the ‘Wizard. Henry ‘New York, Dec, 15.—Seven Chances, which David Belasco originally produced, is to have a revival. It. will be offered by William Moore Patch at his Pitt’ Theater in Pittsburg for an’ indefinite engagement, ‘beginning Christmas night, Frank -Thomas, Robert Hyman, William Bonelli, Mortimer Weldon. Jack Bohn, Harold Christy, Maude Hannaford, Virginia Mann, Nancy’ Winston, Louise “Cook, Shirley Carter and: Lillian Baker will appear. O. E. Eckhardt ‘To Manage New Theater in-Helena, Montana Helen = ‘Mont., Dec. 15—C. B. Eckhardt, of Butte, will manage the new Marlowe Theater here for the Ansonia Amusement Company, of Butte, as soon as it’ is completed, which will be-some timé in February. Besides offering road shows, the Marlowe will have two nights of Pantages’ vaudeville and moving’ pictures. ‘Mr. Eckhardt, who is now, the manager, of the Orpheum and the Princess ‘Theaters: in Butte; was formerly .en in the theatrical business in St. ui and in the large cities of the East, both in the United States and Canada. John Blackwood paakrap Los Angeles, Dec. 15.—John H: Blackwood, former lessee of the Belasco ‘Theater here and well known in amusement circles, this week filed a petition in Dankruptey, placing ‘his debts at $29,182 and assets at $140... Mrs, Jessie M. Blackwood, “wife of the theatrical man, secured a divorce last September. BROADWAY i#2 BY WAYS By William Judkins Hewitt New York, Dec. 15.—Wwith only ten days before Christmas there seems to be much lack of the former spirit of joyousness and gayety that usually occurs at this time of the vear to spread gladness in all hearts in the greatest felty of the world. In fact there is a certain repression of the optimism which has heretofore permeated:the atmosphere of the Great White Way. The seriousness of war seems to dawn-upon all. _ Prompted by our confidence-in the future of all mankind we are extending to all of our professional friends the compliments of.the season and wish that they may by some act, word or gesture make this Christmas-the merriest of any for themselves and their co-workers. We believe that nothing can prompt Joyousness more readily than renewed confidence in’ one’s fellow man, 0, in our country, and ourselves, let’s trust! ey The first hint of winter came last Thursday night when the throngs that came out of the theaters. picture palaces, cabarets and various other amusement marts and assemblings were confronted with the “beautiful,” which had fallen to the depth of several inches. The wind was blowing and the traffic along Broadway had been blocked by a derailed surface car in front of the. Metropolitan. Opera House. The talkative, surging crowds made the best of their ejection from the surface cars by calling taxis and rushing to the subway. With this near-blizzard came the thoughts that-Christmas is at hand and of the fellow showman, entertainer and actor who may be out of work and cast for a role.in that great and depressing human dramia, No Funds— No Work. Because of the closing of the road shows the actor is coming in in droves to Broadway. They arrive with: what is left of thelr scant.“holdback,” or most Ukely come in cleaned—if the salariés were not pald by some alleged manager who just-took a flyer at the actors’ expense.” So when you give this Christmas help’ the actor‘out of work. There ate Perhaps many.who are-in sore{nted’of what’you can spare to:give:~ ove ee oe ‘The song writers might collaborate on a title Jike this, When New Haven and Hartford Come to Town, and'make a big hit up New Engiand way. Adolph Grogs, former ioe im the United States army serv “of the Henry ‘on. November rethoff attiactions, enlisted ‘He has been assigned .to ‘William Fox, the film magnate, hired a new office boy direct from Yonkers. ‘The first assignment that Mr. Fox: gave him was to sée how a certain paper had received one of his recent releases.” The. boy:sald that the review was wonderful and then handed him a clipping of the report of one of the Russian. battles. The Ind is now home:in Yonkers. oS “Arinette Kellerman will'prove her athletic prowess in one of her forthcoming film aquatic spectacles by walking.a steel cable at a dizzy height over emer eee ee We do wish that when: some vaudeville artists sing those “Wabash and ‘My Indiana Home-songs” that they would not-enunciate it “Indlayanna” or “Yindiana.” . Harry R. Raver Is given credit’ by one of the: moving pleture critics of ‘The Billboard for having found, discovered or opened up a new angle to film production that bids fair to revolutionize that business, eee 8 ee. ‘We predict that Fred Stone's appearance on the screen will unfold a new style of comedy—and it will be all his own. Fred Stone coples no one, but you will see him copied. = New York does not care from’ whence thou came nor whither thou goest. It ts very much interested momentarily in. what you are contributing to its enlightenment and entertainment. Neither does it -care where you live or labor. It does care for ‘at least a minute. what your labor produces for its advancement: New York eventually recognizes value and merit and will re ward you accordingly—elgo for a short duration. Steve A. Woods, general agent of the Con T. Kennedy Shows, was in town all week. His appearance caused speculation as to whether the shows he represents will invade. astern territory.the coming season. Mrs. Woods has been in for several weeks attending the opera and theaters and making the rounds of the fashion marts. a eo ee Rogers, roper, Rector’s. More of the Wild West color in cabarets. Will the cabarets eventually turn into Wild West taverns? That is the question, . se W. C.. Thompson will. some day give us the greatest of all circus stories in films. The evolution of the circus, would not be amiss, and is not at all improbable. .We know of no one who could more faithfully depict the “r clrcus atmosphere in scenario form’ for “reel” presentation than Mr. Thompson, who has in the past, fully absorbed. the true color of the circus lots via the-route of press representative forthe. leading circus and Wild West organtzations that make annual tours over the American continent.. The time is now psychological for-a circus film that breathes the atmosphere of the ~ (Contianed-an page -151) Words and Music ‘ ‘To Open Hitchcock's “Theater, New ‘York, December 22 New York, Dec. 17.—Hitchcock-Goetz Co. (new concern) has unwrapped another string from its bank roll, made thru the success of Hitchy-Koo on Broadway for the last-six months, to completely rehaul the Fulton Theater, which is now known as Hitchcock's ‘Theater. An expansive remodeling is heing-made under the supervision of the general .manager, Jack Welch. ‘This house will furnish the entertainthent for those seeking the novelties ‘n_Hitehcock-Goetz’s revues. Words and Music will christen ‘this new house of revues. This musical plece has its premiere” at ‘Wilmington “today, and will move into New York for the opening, Decomber 22. Raymond Hitchcock will appear in the new revue only at Wilmington, and for the first performance in New York. He will then join Hitehy-Koo for the road tour, open= ing at the Lyric Theater, Philadelphia, December 24. Tt has been decided to give Henry Blossom’s new musical piece. to be produced -by Hitchcock-Goetz, a new name. When Love Is Young was originally. selected. but semblance to a title already used.caused the decision for a tiew name.. This show opens at the Adelphia Theater. Philadelphia. December 21. Jack Welch has placed Walter Duggan in charge of the advance for the three shows, since they are now centered around Philadelphia. Attractions Make Changes : New York, Dec. 15.—Lou Tellegen and his Blind Youth will remain but lone more week at the Republic Theater. when he will move to the Thirty-ninth Street. Theater. This “means tbat ‘What's Your Husband Doing, which is ‘now at the latter house, will have to give up its tenancy. Parlor, Bedroom and Bath will open at the Republic December 24. The Future Soon New York, Dec. 16.—Messrs, Elliott, Comstock & Gest are making preparations for the presentation in the near future of The Future, written by a& Chicago newspaper man. are laid in Berlin after the war and show :the Kaiser a prisoner. 3 Miss Anglin in Billeted New York, Dec. 17.—Margaret AngIm will make her first appearance of the season in New York Christmas Eve at the Playhouse, occupying a part in the comedy by F. Tennyson Jessee and /H. M. Harwood, entitled Billeted. Sick Abed Cast Complete New York; Dec. 17.—Bdgar MacGregor has.completed the cast of Siek Abed. Appearing in the new comedy will-be Fred Niblo, Mary Boland, Dallas Welford, Mary Newcombe, Charles E Evans and Julia Ralph. $75,000 Theater and Hotel Los Angeles, Dec. 15.—A $75,000 hotel and theater building is projected for San Pedro by N. O. Anderson. who has leased the theater space to Ray Piet son ard F. 0. Adler. The theater will be 50x125 feet in dimensions and will seat 1,000 persons. “‘Wanderer” for Auditorium Chicago, Dec. 16—The Wanderer. the big Biblical spectacle, produced by El-, Uott-Comstock-Gest, will come to the Auditorium, the largest local theater, ‘Thursday, January 24, succeeding .the Tun of grand opera. The scenes <