The billboard (Mar 1918)

MARCH 16, 1918 The Billboard New Woods Theater In Chicago Damaged ty Bomb Explosion Chicago, March 9.—The new Woods ‘Theater, at the corner of Dearborn and Randolph streets, was considerably damaged Friday night by a bomb explosion which wrecke ral doors, demolished the glass canopy over the sidewalk and broke several windows in neighboring buildings. ‘The bomb outrage was the culmination of three months’. difficulties due to inharmontous relations between the building's contractors and union workers. AS a result of the occurrence several union labor leaders will be enmeshed in the nets of the law as soon as the theater representatives sign complaints desired by the State’s Attorney. The dynamiters managed to carry out their plan of destruction despite the fact that the contractors had stationed six guards around the theater in anticipation of just such an attack. The Woods staff expressed confdence that the bombing would in no way serve to interfere with the plans prearranged for the new theater. ‘Woods’ New Musical Comedy ‘Chicago, March 11—The new “Woods’ Theater, almost next door to the Garrick, took its place among Chicago’s first-clase theaters tonight, with Louls Mann and Sam Bernard as costars in Friendly Enemies, a’ play showing how a pro-German was turned into a good American citizen. In the cast (in addition to the featured stars) are Mathilde Cottrelly, Regina Wallace, Felix Krembs, Richard Barbee, Eugene Ward, Sam Browning and Natalie Manning. Tho the Woods opening is naturally the most auspicious, it is not the only one of the week, as John Drew and Margaret Illington are presenting-a revival of Pinero’s The Gay Lord Quex at the Princess. Billy Sunday in Chicago Chicago, March 9.—Press-agented more extensively than any mammoth cireus, and with editorial co-operation from daily ‘papers that compares favorably with the attention bestowed upon the war, Billy Sunday, America’ greatest evangelist, came to “purity Chicago today. Exceptional stress has been laid upon the Chicago campaign, which starts tomorrow, because Sundayiem is now meeting a supreme test, for, despite elaborately worked out campalgns, Sunday's net results in Washington fell far short of anticipations. Frieda Hempel To Marry . New York, March 9.—Frieda HemPel, the Metropolitan soprano now in California on a concert tour, announced in Los. Angeles on Thursday her engagement to marry W. B. Kahn, president of the International Silk Co., this city. Follow the Girl To Move New York, March 9.—The Shuberts announce that owing to the success of Follow the Girl at the Forty-fourth Street Theater Roof Theater they have arranged to move this attraction from the Roof Theater to the Broadhurst Theater, where it will open March 18. On that date another attraction short. ly to be announced will open at the Forty-fourth ‘Street Theater Roof Theater J. 5. Shubert Westward New York, March 9.—J. J. Shubert left here Wednesday for the West to inspect Shubert theaters and also to take a few days’ vacation in Hot Springs, Ark, BROADWAY x2 BY WAYS By William Judkins Hewitt: New York, March 9.—Threatened scarcity of the proper kind of cloth for scenery will no doubt cause many of the storage houses to be. given a thoro going thru during the summer months to find out what again can be used as theatrical scenery and props. There ts plenty to be dug up. ee ee ee ‘Jess Willard is due in the city at an early date. Piccolo Midgets are featured in a cabaret on Broadway and claimed as a sensation. ‘ rr er er : ‘War relief benefits are taxing the talent market very heavy of late. Some day we may see a new star or two developed over night at such benefits. Cuba Crutchfield came strongly to the front in a recent one at the Hippodrome. Summer runs at many of the theaters are now be!ng planned. If all we hear comes true as to the diversity of the offerings planned the city will come a cloze rival of Coney Island as “a place to go of nights,” as some say on certain parts of Eighth avenue. Jack McAuliffe, one of the last three remaining “Jacks” of the prize ring, was on Broadway last week. He is appearing in vaudeville and left for Boston. McAuliffe says he Is considering circus offers and may at a very early date announce his engagement with one of the biggest in the world. Thomas J. McKenna is president of the Theatrical Protective Union, No. 1, and is voted a master executive by his collegues. John R. Rogers is ill in a hospital. o 8 & O89 Stage mechanics and all producers of stage electrical, scenic and-mechanical spectacles owe a vote of thanks for the inspiration that Langdon McCormack has doubtless given them in his latest success, On: the High Seas. It's wonderful. . -° Milton Fuerst, now in the city, has been engaged by Ralph A. Hankinson as general press representative of his auto polo attractions. Fuerst will shortly leave the city for Kansas City.” eile e . ‘The coming big hospital benefit at the Hippodrome under the auspices of the Showmen’s League of America, New York branch, and the Society of American Magicians, is the talk of the city today in the world of the professional entertainer. . ‘ ee Max Rogers is conducting a booking. business that.from all angles appears flourishing. We think that he will bring.out something soon that is new to cabarets, with Cuba Crutchfteld as one of thé star numbers. Si xer ie he tie. se De Borah Byrne, operatic and concert artiste, well known on the Pacific Coast, is now a New Yorker. She is again seen on Broadway after three weeks’ illness. a Martin Julian claims that there is nothing on Broadway at the present time that is really exciting. ee © e ee Some revues may be mentioned in reverse English to the extent. of saying that they are revues of what might be good theatrical entertainment rather than of what is now or has been good theatrical entertainment. Many are revues of some author’s imagination and not of the reigning successes. Look out, Wild West boys on Broadway; Edward Lewis, rifle and pistol shot, was discovered the other.morning at Healy's Golden Glades practicing a new stunt on ice skates in which he will employ bayonet, rifles and all kinds of light firearms. He boldly says that Wild West actors had better wake up when he gets in full motion, as he is going to startle them all. Pier ant Sane ware caer | E. F. Albee has returned from Florida. A. J. Gillingham, the moving picture magnate of Michigan, was on Broadway from Detroit last week. He left for Toronto and Peterboro, Ont. At the latter city he will take up some matters with Col. C. H. Ackerman that may culminate in the building of a trench war exhibition on a lot in the automobile capital of America for a summer run. Madam Bouletti, California song bird and a find of Madam SchumannHeink, will be seen in grand opera hereabouts next season. She is now a resident of our city. George D. Grundy 1s sald to be In line to make a fortune out of When Rogues Fall Out, which has been appearing at the Lexington Avenue Opera Ho It may be seen on Broadway at an early date. Norman Hackett is the star. One of the bright stories of the week goes like this: A big circus man met a prese agent on the shifting planks of upper Broadway the other mornIng and asked h'm where he could get a real press agent. To'which he received the following renly: “I am on my way to Bellevue and I will see what . : can be done for you, Mr. Circus Manager.” oe 8 el Many theatrical managers have learned that Stamford is not the “dos” any more. It is the whole kennel when !t comes to saying what is what as far as theatrical productions are concerned. (Continued ob page 73) Fay Bainter ‘To Appear in The Kiss Burglar New York, March 11.—Fay Bainter is to appear in the musical play, The Kiss Burglar, which will be produced by William B. Orr on April 1. It is the work of Glen MacDonough and Raymond Hubbell. “ ‘Mr. Orr will also produce a comedy by Lewis Ely, entitled A Dry Town, some time next month, Morosco’s Summer Plans ‘Los Angeles, Cal, March 9.—Oliver Morosco's plans for the coming summer will include the use of three theaters in Los Angeles, the Cort in San Francisco and the largest available theaters in'Sacramento, San Jose, Oakland, Stockton, Fresno, Bakersfeld, Pasadena, San Bernardino, San Diego be. ! and other smaller towns in this State. ‘The Cort in San Francisco will be used from June until October forall the big attractions made in the East under the Morosco banner. In Los Angeles the Mason will be used for traveling road attractions and the Morosco and Majestic for comedy, dramatic and musical productions. It is planned to bring The Madonna of the Future here with Emily Stevens in the prin-. cipal role, and Lombardi, Ltd., with Carrillo, Grace Valentine and the entire cast to tour the State. The Little Belgian, a new production now in the East, will come here, as will The Brat and Upstairs and Down. Charles Hopkins’ New Plays ‘New York, March 11.—Charles Hop kins has obtained a number of new plays for presentation by his Punch and Judy Theater Company. It is likely that one of:them will be produced after the Lenten. season, while the others will be produced early next. fall. The list includes The Arabian ights, by Owen Davis, founded upon the Sir Richard Burton version; The Happy Journey, by Hubert Osborn ‘The Prodigious Son, by Martin Brown; How Much Is a Million, by Charles Hopkins; Macaire, by Robert Louis Stevenson; Smokes, by George C. Hazelton, Jr.; Over Here, by Hubert Osborne; The Great Hour, by Robert Housum; The Kite, by Meade Minnigerode, and In Glass Houses, by Robert Housum. Joe Santley Sticks ‘ Chicago, March 10.—Despite producers’ plans to star Joseph Santley, of Oh, Foy, fame, in a new production this spring, it has been decided defnitely to keep Santley in the present vehicle for a Pacific Coast run, until the conclusion of the ‘summer season, when he will be featured in Saturday to Monday, which William J. Hurlbut carpentered from a short story. Taken Over by Government ‘Washington, D. C., March 10.—The Arcade Building, popular as a skating rink and amusement hall, and probably the largest in Washington, has been taken over by the Government for war purposes, and all amusements scheduled for it have been canceled. ¢ Vessella at Young’s, Old Pier Atlantic City, March 9.—Professor Vessella, who has been here for fourteen years with his band, has associated himself with Young's Old Pier, which is to be opened shortly on the style of the Strand in New York, fea~ turing pictures and high-class musical concerts.