The San Francisco Dramatic Review (1908)

i i6 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW March 14, 1914] Gaiety Theatre is Center of Raging Storm Last Sunday, Marie Dressier refused to appear in the regular scheduled per- formance of The Merry Gambol at the Gaiety Theatre. And behind that hangs a tale. I^st week. Miss Dressier, who aspires to mingle with the local elite, entertained a bo.x party of children belonging to several million- aires. Sunday the management, who was paying her a most unheaf-rd of large salary, charged her with something like $32.00 on account of the kids. Then there was something doing. Manager Dalton got busy and the star refused to shine. * * * Then the Gaiety management, tired of her temperament, announced that she had broken her contract and on Monday, Gilbert M. Ander- son filed two suits against the late star of The Merry Gambol. Anderson seeks $3,500, which he claims he advanced Miss Dressier and Dalton on Feb- ruary I, 1914, and also $35,500 as damages for the alleged breaking of a contract by the star. Although Anderson's suit does not specify for what the $3,500 was advanced to the defendant and Dalton, who is Miss Dressler's business manager, it is claimed by the latter that this amount was in settle- ment of claims against the Gaiety by the star when the first hitch in • the production of The Merry Gambol came about. In his second suit, that in which he asks $35,500 for the refusal of Miss Dressier to appear last Sun- day at the Gaiety, Anderson sets forth the contract in full. This stipulated, according to the complaint, that Miss Dressier was to be star at the Gaiety for a period of forty weeks, beginning January 15, 1914; that she was to receive a bonus of $2,500, payable at the rate of $100 a week, for putting on the show; and that her appearance as star was to bring her 20 per cent of the gross receipts of the production. Anderson says he has paid for seven weeks of performances, besides what bonus has fallen due, but that despite this. Miss Dressier on last Saturday announced that she would not continue in the show, and on Sunday kept her promise by not appearing. He says his profits for the remaining thirty-three'weeks of the contract period would be $1,000 a week, which with other losses, would aggregate $35,500. Im- mediately after the filing of the suits by Anderson, Dalton announced that, through his attorney, he would file suit against Anderson, charging the latter with breaking the contract. He says he will ask $1,900; claimed to be still due on the bonus; payment of a note for $2,000, overdue since February 10, 1914; and $82,000 as 20 per cent of the house receipts for thirty-three weeks at $2,500 a week. FURTHER TROUBLE FOR D.\LTON AND DRESSLER To add to the further discomfiture of the star and her manager, an investi- gation was instituted by United States District Attorney Preston Monday. According to the complaint made to the Department of Justice, Miss Dressier and her manager arc accused of violating the Mann act by maintaining im- moral relations and traveling from State to State across the country as man and wife. The case was first brought to the attention of the Government authorities by Attorney Herbert Choynski, representing the Gaiety Theatre management, and W. E. Gorham, manager of the theatre, on Monday. They called on United States Attorney Preston with a bundle of afifidavits and documents concerning the alleged relations of Miss Dressier and Jack Dalton, and insisted that Dalton be prosecuted at once on a white slavery charge. The interview between the theatre representatives and Prosecutor Preston lasted for half an hour. When it ended, the prosecutor sent for Miss Dressier and Dalton. Preston said that the cursory examination he made into the allega- tions presented to him does not convince him that the case is strictly within the scope of the Mann act. He declared that he was doubtful whether he could proceed against Dalton. When asked how the case of Dalton dififered from that of Parker Whitney, the millionaire clubman and rancher, who was recently indicted on a white slavery charge growing out of the charges made by Mrs. Genevieve Hanan-Harris, Pre.ston said: "In the first place, there is nothing to show that Dalton bought the tickets for the transportation of Miss Dressier from State to State. In the second place, there is nothing to show that he made her any promise of marriage. Furthermore. Miss Dressier is an independent woman, engaged in earning her own living in a highly esteemed profession. In the third place, there is no evidence, so far as I can see now, of any commercial element in the alleged relations of the couple." Miss Dressier was in a state of nervous collapse following her interview with Attorney Preston. Doctors are in attendance at her apartment, and con- siderable anxiety is felt over her condition. Her doctor states that her heart has moved six inches out of position, since the strenuous worries of her season at the Gaiety. They say she can never dance again, and are keeping constant watch on her condition during this crisis. "This is a terrible thing to happen to me," said Miss Dressier. "Oh! I know I can deny, but who ever reads a denial? This terrible story will go broadcast over the country and many people will never forget it. They say that Mr. Dalton has a wife and child in the East. His wife was divorced from him nine years ago, and he has no child. The first Mrs. Dalton adopted a child some time ago. That is the child they refer to. To think that anyone could bring such charges against me, and at my age!" Jack Dalton was at the apartment at the time. 'T would rather not make any statement concerning these ridiculous charges," he said. "These charges are brought by the Gaiety Theatre for revenge. They claim to have a signed statement from my wife in Boston in which she says that she never divorced me. That is absolutely false. I wired my brother this morning, and he says she made no such statement. The whole matter is ridiculous." THE AFFIDAVIT The affidavit from the East presented to the United States District Attorney is as follows: "This is to certify that I was married to James H. Dalton in Jersey City, N. J., in 1900, and that I have never secured a divorce from him, and that no papers have ever been served on me to indicate that he had eve applied for a divorce, and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, I am his lawfully wedded wife." The document is witnessed by Nellie B. Rogienl and Guv C. Packard, a Pinkcrton detective detailed on the case. Coming- Tour Way Soon, NOSTON b BITS'S EverlaatUi(r Sncceia THE MISSOURI GIRL With FKAJTK F. FAS&Ei; AS ZEKE and MIIiDBED FOBD AS DAIST and a strong purporting' company. For time address All. OAK, Buslneaa Manag-er, care BEVli!W Ofllo* The .^how tlmt Beats its Own Record I SAVOY THEATRE, NOW NOW PLAYING TO 3000 PEOPLE DAILY AT WEBER'S THEATRE, NEW YORK CITY DR. PARKHURST The Famous Crusader Against Vice, Says: "Every Woman in the Country Should See It As a Te rriffic Warning." Smashing the Vice Trust A COLOSSAL SPECTACLE IN SIX PARTS AND 700 SCENES An authentic portrayal of the disclosures made during District Attorney Whitman's fight on the vice interests It shows District Attorney Whitman in his office. The first actual picture of the man whom criminals fear at work. 1 to 11 P. M. Daily TO LEASE Majestic Theatre, Ghico, Cal. DESCRIPTION: Located in Elk's Hall Assn. Building, brick, ground floor; seating capacity, Orchestra 600, Balcony 400; stage width, Pro- .scenium opening 30 feet, height of same 22 feet; curtain line to back wall 29 feet; curtain to footlights, 4 feet 10 inches; between side wa|(s, 69 feet; distance between fly girders 48 feet; height gridiron, 48 feet. Sealed proposals for the lease will be received up to 7 :oo o'clock p. m., March 21, 1914. Ad- dress all communications to G. H. TAYLOR SECRETARY ELKS HALL ASSN., CHICO, CALIFORNIA The Pantages Forty minutes of Gilbert & Sulli- van's tiniest opera. The Mikado, will be the headline attraction on the new bill, which comes Sunday. The Pol- lard Opera Company of clever ju- veniles will present this vest-pocket edition. The production will be staged with the usual elaborate care which the Pollards always use. One of the real vaudeville novelties of the year is a demure little lady, who calls herself The Girl in the Parrot. Lora or the girl has an act brimming with mystery and sensation. It is a sort of Anna Eva Fay seance method, with new and startling climaxes. Leon Ro^e, "the man of one hundred voices," imitates all kinds of animals ancj musical instru- ments. Known to fame as the up- ' side-down-man, Frank Smith do^s odd bits on the slack wire while bal- ancing on his head. Elliott arfd Mullen, a duo of comedy black-faced players, have a routine of merry songs and sparkling dialogue. The Arsenic Trio of operatic vocalists, and Mme. Remi and Mons. Flutels, entertainers, with comedy pictures^ will round out the bill.