The billboard (Mar 1918)

4 The Billboard MARGH.16, 1918 TICKETS FOR BENEFIT AT NEW YORK HIPP. SELL READILY Showmen Snap Up $1,300 Worth at Weekly Meeting of S. L. of A—Performance To Be Given in Conjunction With Society’ of American Magicians Promises To Be Huge Success ‘America had a very enthusiastic meeting last night at its clubrooms at 817 Sixth avenue, the principal business of the evening being the arrangement of details for the monster benefit planned to be given at the New York Hippo@rome Sunday, April 21, which will be for the Showmen’s League Hospital Pund, and the league for this occasion ‘will affiliate with the Society of American Magicians. To show the spirit with which the members of the New ‘York Branch are imbued $1,300 worth of tickets were sold last night in halt an hour, and when Harry Houdini came into the clubrooms at 11 o'clock and was informed of this fact he was greatly pleased. "Stirring speeches were made by ‘Messrs. McGarvie, Witt, Buckley, Levitt, Houdini, Powers, Meyerhoff! and others, and ‘the consensus of opinion ‘was that this benefit would be about the biggest thing ever pulled off by any showmen’s organization. Speedy offered to dive off every bridge between Harlem and the Battery, Ruth Law ;will be asked to fly from Chicago to New York, Willard, of Temple of Music fame, will have. his big circus calliope at the league's disposal, and the show itself will be a credit to the Hippodrome. The Ticket Committee, under the chairmanship of A. A. Powers, will ‘meet the executive officers of the So Woods’ Theater Opening New York, March 9.—See You Later, a new musical comedy, will be placed in rehearsal by A. H. Woods next week. Herbert Corthell has been engaged for the leading role. The book and lyrics are by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse, respectively. Late Vernon Castle ‘Made Will Before Enlisting in English Army New York, March 9.—It was the uncertainty of his work in the air that moved Vernon Castle, even before his enlistment in the aviation corps, to make his bequeath T. Roy Barnes the will were made public yesterday. The will was drawn on Sept. 28, 1915. After declaring that he was mindful of| the uncertainty, of life, “especially in view of the fact I am about to enlist my beloved wife, Irene Castle, to be her property absolutely in fee forever.” elety of American Magicians today to formulate a plan of campaign. Specially engraved tickets are to be sold, which will be exchanged at the Hippodrome box office for seat checks. Subject to confirmation today by the Society of American Magicians the scale of prices was to be $2.50 to 50 (Continued om page 7) Some Little Girl Chicago Olympic’s Musical Show ‘Backed by Former Picture Magnate Chicago, March 10.—A musical show, backed by “Broncho Billy” Anderzon, former leading man and associate proprietor of the Essa, nay film manufacturing concern, will probably enter the Olympic Thea ter March 24 at the conclusion cf the Chauncey Orcort run. The is called Little Frank Stammers and Harold Orlob. It had. been scheduled for production many times during the last three years under _ various titles, both in Eastern and ‘Western Coast cities, but circumstances always served to interfere with @ production. In some instances the titles selected forthe vehicle were later used on other successful attractions. Cyril Maude With Frohman New York, March 9.—Cyril Maude has arrived In San Francisco on his return from Australia, where he has been playing this winter. Mr. Maude will appear next season under the management of Charles Frohman, Inc., inaugurating his New York engagement in The Saving Grace, a comedy by Haddon Chambers that has been running since last autumn in London with remarkable success. Mr. Chambers is now in America, having come over to consult with Mr. Maude and Alf Hayman, general manager for Charles Frohman, Inc., a9 to the production of his play. $2,000 in One Night Cleveland, O., March 9.—As the result of activities in local theaters, which are co-operating with the war stamp movement in this district, close to $2,000 was collected in one night in a @rive on the downtown houses here. At the Hippodrome close to $700 alone was collected. Other contributions came from the Opera House, the Colonial, the Star and the Empire, where actors and actresses from the current EFFIE SHANNON shows. became salesmen, The .most significant stride was made by: Sergeant Murphy and a staff of ten marines from the marine recruiting sta-~ tion here, who succeeded in organizing a permanent collecting body in ‘The Passing Show, each member. of the company being piedged to buy a certain number ‘of stamps in a given period of time. : This pledge was made for the members by De Wolf Hopper himself. Irene Franklin, leading woman of the company, was named war-savings director, and will keep an account of the-contributions. This week's returns from theater campaigns alone amounted ‘to $5,000. Oppenheimer in Khaki Seattle, Wash., March 9.—Maurico Oppenheimer, theatrical magnate of Spokane, responded to the draft call this week and has donned a khaki uniform at the American Lake (Wash.) Cantonment. Dismiss Charges Of Plagiarism Against A. H. Woods and Max Marcin New York, March 9.—Federal Judge Hand on Thursday dismissed the suit brought against A. H. Woods and Max Marcin on the charge of plagiarism of Cheating Cheaters, the successful melodrama written by. Marcin, which ‘Woods produced last year at the Eltinge Theater. Judge Hand o dered the plaintiffs, Charles B. Eichel and Eugene A. Colligan, to pay $500 counsel fees for the defendants, in addition to court costs. It was clalined that Marcin had stolen a play called Wedding Presents. Judge Hand said: “It is w likely that a Play as labyFinthine in its complications and as obscure in plot as comPlainants’ should be plagiar:zed in any Tespect by the writer of as bright a play as Cheating Cheaters. The two plays are o extremely different in action, style and plot that Marcin is to be believed when he says he knew nothing of Wedding Presents when he composed Cheating Cheaters.” Successes for Canada New York, March 10.—R. G. Barnum, an officer of the United Producing Company, the Canadian theatrical syndicate, has arranged to establish a New York office and to produce for Canada concurrent with the production on Broadway auch plays as win success. The Gypsy Trail, Good Gracfous, Annabelle, and The Brat are among the new successes to be produced in Canada simultaneously with the Broadway run. a long period of virtual darkness the Orpheum Theater here has announced a series of bookings for the coming month, including The Thirteenth Chair, General Post’ and other productions of merit. Sam B. Kuebler is manager of the theater, operated by Wilmer & Vincent, Cleveland Theaters ‘To Open Doors Earlier Cleveland, 0., March 10.—Evidence of desire to-co-operate in any civic movement looking to betterment of conditions in Cleveland was demonstrated by the management cf six Cleveland theaters last week when, following a conference with the Public Utilities Committee of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, it’ wav agreed to hold matinees earlier and close the theaters earlier, so as to relieve the car crowding eariy in the evenings. ‘The houses that will follow this new rule are the Opera House, the Colonial, the Hippodrome, the Prospect, the Empire and the Star. They will hold matinees at two p.m. Against Sunday Shows Lynchburg, Ve, March 10.—The Lynchburg Ministerial Union has become aroused over the presentation at Camp Lee, near Petersburg, Va., of Sunday theatricals, and at a recent meeting adopted a resolution of protest, which was sent to Congressman Carter Glass, from this district, and other officiais in Washington. Similar action, it 1s understood, has been taken by ministers of Petersburg and Richmond. Indications, however, are that if the ‘matter is left to the decision of Major General Cronkhite, commander of Camp Lee, these protests will effect no change in the policy recently inaugurated at the Liberty Theater. at the camp, providing for Sunday theatricals. Engage Adele Rowland New York, March ‘9.—Adele Rowland, musical comedy star, has been engaged by Selwyn & Company for an important role in Rock-a-By Baby, the musical play Edgar Allan Woolf adapted from Margaret Mayo's Baby Mine. Spy Play for St. Louis Chicago, March 11.—The ‘Man Who Stayed at Home, the spy play holding forth at the Playhouse, will go to St Louis at the conclusion of the Chicago run March 31. Klaw & Erlanger ‘To Present Harry Lauder at Garden ‘Theater, Kansas City Mo., March 9.—The at 13th and McGee Kansas City, Garden Theater, streets, has been trken over by ‘Wm. P. Cullen, who has bought the lease on the property from W. A. Quigley, the present manager, Mr. Lillian Russell Quigley has re the theater. After a few motion picture productions =Mr. Cullen will have the first Klaw & Erlanger of« fering on March 21, when Harry Lauder and his vaudeville company will play three days’ engagement. K. & E,, it is said, are expected to sign a contract to play all their dramatic attractions at the Garden riext season. cnet