The New York Clipper (December 1914)

2 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER. December id THE CLIPPER WISHES YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS. flctures Id the near futue. Organizers of he highest cnllbre -will direct the business with efficiency and steady progression. From the history o( vaudeville and the legitimate we may easily forecast what lies abend of the "movies." I believe the popularity and success of vaude- ville is principally due to B. l'\ Keith's de- termined stand for cleanliness and decency on the vaudeville stage. Mr. Keith was a fmre-mlnded man. Be would not tolerate the east suggestlveness on the part of any per- former or act in any of his theatres, llecausc cf his steadfast adherence to bis principles the vaudeville theatre to-dny Is a place where women and children can And wholesome, re- fined entertainment. Mr, Keith has extended his Influence for decency and cleanliness in vaudeville all over the world, and the men associated with him were Inspired by his spirit, and have profited by his determination to give nothing but What was clem and wholesome. Tears ago, when Mr. Keith first started, the Performers very often took exception to cuts hat Mr. Keith made In their acts and to lila suggestion as to their dress, etc. They couldn't understand It, as they had been ac- cepted in Fargo Leadvllle and other Western cities, where shows wore only attended by racn, who made no objection to what they saw or heard. But when it was pointed out to the performer that things were dif- ferent ; that we were catering to ladles and children, and that the future of vaudeville and their own future depended upon the re- spectable conduct of both the theatre and what It presented on the stage, they readily fill In with Mr. Keith's Idea. To-day we have no trouble whatever, un- less It is with some act entering vaudeville, for the majority of the performers are Jeal- ous of the respectable name that vaudeville has to-day, and cry out themselves against besmirchment by others. A SPIC AND SPAN OLD TIMER. FRED D. ELLIS. Old time ndvance agent and Clipped reader for forty-three years, tad his first entry Into the show business In 1808, ns a program and property boy in the old Town Hall, North- ampton, Mass. His first road experience was with H. Price Webber's Boston Comedy Co. I'or several Summers there was never a circus or any kind of a tent show that camped on the Northampton meadows that young Ellis did not work for In some cn- prclty to gain admittance to the perform- ance. He knew every inch of the surround- ing country, and when only twelve years old piloted Joe. Abbott, agent and blllposte- for I* B. Lent'o New York Circus, while be covered with paper the bridges, barns and fences for miles around. Mr. Ellis was the first person to play an attraction on shares in Laconia, N. H. He managed the Polsom Opera House in that city for some years, and also booked com- binations In Lake village. Tilton, Plttsflcld and Franklin Falls, nearby. He was the pioneer local manager In New Hampshire, North of Concord. He went on the road as an advance man In 188G, and has been connected with John J. Williams' Jollities Duncan Clark's Female Minstrels. John E. Ince's "Fun In a Board- ing School," Webber's Boston Comedy Com- pany, Frank W. Nason's "Our Picnic," the Fredericks, and Vaughan Dramatic Company, BrlBtols Circus, the Cohan Family Mirth- makers (Four Cohans), Lester and Allen's licked vaudeville Stars, George A. Hender- son's "Pickpocket of Paris," Rtifus Scott's "Thrown Upon the World" Pbosa McAl- lister's "Taken from Life," Gus T. Wallace's "SI Perkins," and others. For family rea- sons, and because of a rheumatic affliction, Ellis retired from the profession man; years ago. He served an apprenticeship at the print- ing trade in the early 70s, In the office of The Laconia (N. H.) Democrat, He Is now with The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and during the Summer months writes semi-professional baseball stories for that paper, and be It said, has helped several young nail players Into a place In fast company. Ellis has been Identi- fied with baseball affairs in Bidgewood, Brooklyn, for about ten years, and the colored ball player owes much to him. He also holds down the Job of official scorer at Wallace's Baseball Grounds. In Rldgewood. He was a ball player himself years ago. Mr. Ellis has been connected at various limes with The Boston Globe, Uaverhtll (.Mass.) Gazette, Dover (N. H.) Republican, Ktwtnarket (N. H.) Advertiser, and other newspapers. He Is a direct descendant of Timothy and Joshua Ellis (father and son), who fought In the War of the American Revolution on the aide of the colonies. He, himself. Is a veteran of the New Hampshire National Guard and en Exempt Fireman. He is the same nobby dressing "Fred," and his friends number high enough to populate Brooklyn oil over again. '• V ». ° -^t V ' ''w'''. I* ''■■:;: ' ' ■ '. '. - / '■' ■' ' fin '-•.-:..-.■ ■•',.'•'\^^^^~ "V lit'jsjfr?. 1,'M ,! ..' '• ■■"Vtis-t;.;- &•...■:; ■. '■ -'. "" isfc^-^r--.,'^'-'' y h ro wing abors ••#■ AN OLD POSTER. Harry (Lconold) Hanson sends us an old poster of the Howard Atlicnamm, Boston, in 1660. The bill of Wm. Carroll's Star Specialty Alliance Includes: The Great Caicedo, Will- lam Carroll, Checver and Kennedy, Hilda Thomas, Harry Kennedy, Kitty O'Neill, Wll- mot and Lester, Alice Raymond, Howo and Doyle, Anulo Brlghtsteln, Hughes and Ox- ford, Leopold and Bunnell, Kerrigan, Duffy and Kennedy. Gus Williams was underlined to appear In "One of tbo Finest," "Captain MlBhlcr" and "Oh, What a Night." twin heavyweight chew at miner's diionx, new York. Standing: Lonnlc Toilette, assistant cleclrlclon; Jack tlnlpin, flys: Bill Murphy, grip. Sitting: James Gllmore, props; Frank Howe, Btngo manager; Tom Lcnuon, electrician. E. FREDERIC IIAWLEY (The Dnndlt), Opened his ninth season In "The Bandlt""oh Nov. 2, playing United time. Mr. Hawlev is not only the pioneer In America of this s| y'c of playlet, but has broken the trail and left It well blazed around the, world, having played England, Ireland, Scotland, Ceylon, India, Africa and Australia. And It Is a Merry Christmas to bo home again. —»■ ' X; ■■■-':{; .' \ ] ■ . . ■ '. ' ' . '■•■' .■'>• ■ '-.-" •' •" . ' . ' "" ' . ' '■ -' ."' ' '.-"'V'- ; ' '■ ■ • ' ' •■" " •--■■ ■■'.''-■ - ;, '\:;-'v\'; : :/vwtt., M^BEL D. ROGERS EARLE S. DEWEY AND MABEL B. ROGERS. "King and Queen" of "Musical Comedy Tabloid." ■H 1 1 g E3 g Ln Graclosa Is a flashy act for vaudeville, and Arthur Hammerstedn, after playing tbe samo for two Btralght weeks, will book It back in a few weeks. She Is also to play a hummer run on tlie Victoria Roof, New York. It la a poslnc net with boauttful Colored slides nnd classy scenery. J. SKY CLARK'S 111 INO MOW IN LOS ANGELES, CAL.