New York Clipper (Apr 1923)

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April 25, 1923 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 5 GALLAGHER & SHEAN MUST STAY WITH "F OLLIES" SA YS ZIEGFELD Act Miut Stay Until the Show Qoaes, Declares Producer, Who States That He Will Spend Every Dollar He Owns to Ptevent Them Playing for Anyone Else—^E^uity Says Ziegfeld and DiDingham, Who Are Business Associates, Should Settle Matter Among Themselves Florenz ZtegfeM, Jr., is determined to have Gallagher and Shean remain with the "Ziegfeld FoUies" during the lifetime of the attraction and if necessary will spend every dollar he has to prevent them playing with anyone else. Mr. Ziegfeld made this statement on Monday and seemed greatly incensed at the announcement that the two comedians would endeavor to clear their skirts of the "Follies" contract on June 1st and begin rehearsals with George White's new show in which they were en- gaged to be starred this stunmer. Ziegfeld was so emphatic in explaining his stand in the matter that he said "There is going to {>e a fight and a good one, over this matter and if the Actor's Equity Association wants to come in on it, I'll fight them again, too." Continuing he said, "It is just a desire on their part to get money and get it in a hurry. I am paying them $1,500 a week while White will give them $2,000 a week ' and they want to get out and grab it quick. My contract with them is plain enough. It is in the form of a letter written by me, with their acceptance at the bottom of the letter, executed in duplicate and reading 'For the run of the "Ziegfeld Follies"' of 1922. The letter then says 'In all other respects to be governed by the rules and regulations of the Actors' Equity Association run of the play contract, ex- cept where otherwise specified. But this one is otherwise specified.'. "You will note that after expressly stating that the engagement was for the run of the 'Ziegfeld Follies of 1922', the word 'other' was used to apply to the con- ditions of the Equity contract The Equity contract printed form specifies that for ordinary productions the season of a play is supposed to terminate on the first of June. If Messrs. Gallagher and Shean had secured that kind of a contract, possi- .bly they might have some basis for their withdrawal, but they expressly stipulated at the time that the contract read, 'for the run of Ziegfeld Follies of 1922' and the Equity' contract was adopted ^vith the pro-. vision that in all 'otiier' respects it would apply. "The Ziegfeld Follies of 1922 is stiU running at the New Amsterdam theatre, will celebrate a full year run on June 5th and will continue to run into the hot weather with Gallagher and Shean as members of its cast." Mr. Ziegfeld said that he believed that the Equity would compel Gallagher and Shean to keep their contracts with him and continue with the "Follies" until the current production goes to the storehouse, which will be at the end of next season as the company will go on tour at the gnd of its New York engagement. Contmuing, he said, "and I will look to see Equity have George White, who is t»cked by Charles B. Dillingham, postpone the.star- ring of the two men until they have ful- filled their contract with me." Ziegfeld had filed a copy of his contract with Gallagher and Shean with the Pro- ducing Managers Association and has re- quested that organization to take the mat- ter up with the Actors' Equity Associa- tion through ofGcial channels. Last week the two comedians called up- on George H. Nicolai, secretary of the P.. M. A., and asked him for a ruling on the contract. Mr. Nicolai informed them in an official capacity that Ziegfeld could hold them to fullfill their obligation to him.' At the Equity headquarters it was stated on Monday that the matter had not been brought to the attention of the organiza- tion through ofiScial channels, but that when it was it would have to take its regular course in arbitration at confer- ences which are held hi-weekly between Equity and Managers' committees. The Equity people declared that they could see no reason why the matter should be brought to that organization for Zieg- feld and Dillingham were business asso- ciates and therefore could settle the matter without involving the Actors' association and Managers' association in a lengthy and unnecessary controversy. PHLA. SHOWS HOLD UP WELL Phuadelfbia, April - 23.—The mncfa heralded appearance of the Moscow Art Theatre Company, attracted a large and fashionable audience to the Lyric Theatre tonight Tolstoy's spectacular historical drama, "Tsar Fydor Ivanovitch" provided a more than adequate opening bill and was warmly received by those present The coming of th^ Russian Players will undoubtedly be responsible for renewed activity among the theatregoers here. At any rate their appearance will create a stimulus for theatrical entertainment, which has been more or less dormant since the Lenten season, with a promise of all shows prospering from the incident The fourth edition of "Greenwidi Vil- lage Follies." at the Shubert. served to liven np things last week and bids fair to have a record breaking run here. Both press and public are unanimons in their plaudits of the produodon, generally agree- ing that it is toe best show of the series. "The Changelings," with its all star cast headed by Henry Miller and Blanche Bates, continues to pack them in at (he Broad and will undoubtedly remain tmtil it has worn out its welcome: "Blossom Time," which registered a rec- ord of twenty-seven weeks at the Lyric, has mov^ over to thje° Adelphi for a con- tinued run, while Fiske O'Hara in "Land O'Romance" will depart from the Walnut to make way for "Keoipy." "Spice of^ 1922," which is rounding out its third week at the Chestnut will with- draw this week to permit Eddie Cantor in "Make It Snappy" to settle down at that house for a limited engagement I'Captain Aplejack" will remain for two more weeks at the Gairrick, where it has been doing excellent business. Nothing has thus far been booked to follow it here. EQUITY SUES FRISCO MANAGER San Francisco, April 23.—Nat Gold- Stein, theatrical producer, has been made defendant in a suit for $3,519 filed in the Superior Court last week by Theodore Hale, acting as attorney for the Actors' Eqnity Association. The amount involved dates back to last season when Goldstein took over the production of the musical play, "Angel Face." Goldstein kept the piece going for thirty weeks and is said to have dropped over $90,000 before throw- ing up the sponge. 'When the piece closed in Philadelphia last season he owed $6,000 in back salaries. Through an amicable ar- rangement ^vith Equity he gave promisory notes for the amount due and has since satisfied more than $2,500 of the claims. The remaining note was to have been taken up last June. This is the sum in- volved in the present suit Since his ill-fated experiences with ".^ngel Face," Goldstein took another plunge into theatricals this season with an- other musical piece, "Oh Look," which toured the west with Harry Fox as its star. Goldstein is said to have dropped a considerable sum on this production. It is said that he owes several of that company salaries and has given them individual notes for the amounts involved. None of the latter have placed any claims with Equity and it is generally conceded that they are satisfied that Goldstein will make good his obligations just as soon as he can get hold of the money. Goldstein is said to be in New York. "SALLY" RETURNING TO N. Y. Chicago. April 21.—When Florenz Ziegfeld. walked into die Colonial theater where "Sally" is playing and saw the house about half full he decided to bring its Chicago engagement to a close earlier than at first planned. "Sally" will leave here May 12 returning to New York, where, Mr. Ziegfeld believes, there are many who will give it good patronage. Ziegfeld arrived here the first part of the week to visit his family and at the same time look over the production which has been playing here fifteen weeks. The scale of $4.40 top has been maintained through- out the run but recently the demand has lessened until good seats could be procured during the week nights without much trouble. With the approach of warm weather "Sally," like all other shows in town has felt the effect. "GOOD MORNING DEARIE" CLOSES "Good Morning Dearie," the Charles Dillingham musical show which has en- joyed a run of eighty consecutive weeks, closed at Rochester on Saturday night. The piece has been one of the biggest money makers ever sent out by Dillingham. SELWYN SHOW FOR LONDON Archie Selwyn is making arrangements in London for the presentation there of his brother Edgar's play "Anything Might Happen," which recently closed at the Comedy Theatre, this summer. REEVES STORY DRAMATIZED "Craig Kemedy," a dranatizatioo of Arthur Reeves' detective stories by Charles W. Goddard and William Pinkhain, has been accepted for prodootion next season by George Lederer.. From all atKonnts Lederer.is planning to be unusually active ' next season inasmuch as he has already contracted to do a revised edition of "Peaches" and another musical play, "Snz- ette." "THE BRIDE" A MYSTERY IHRlLLOt Toledo, April 23.—^Violet Heming opened last Monday at the Toledo Theatre in a new mystery play, "The BrMe," by Grant Morris. A creditable performance was given' by Miss Heming and the stock eom- pany, and after the necessary fixing here and there of the play, it is expected to come to New York for a run in the near future. The play opens when a beautiful young bride suddenly 'appears in the drawing room of two bachelors. She calmly tells the staid baclielors that she arrived through the trap door. This begins an interestiDK series of possibilities to which are added front page stories in the day's pweia. Just Yiby the bride came to the_ badb- elors" apartment is a matter of conjecture and further mystery envelops the play. Miss HeiBuig appears at hex best 'when she works her way into the hearts and good graces of the couple into whose house she has intruded, and, of coursie, one of the bachelors suocumhs completely to her .charms. In time the-denouement clean up the mystery, and the identity of the thief who robbed the safe in the wall is also disclosed as a surprise.- ' ' Miss Heming -was sJways equal to the role and gave a .charming performance. James Crane, who is in the comjtany tem- (lorarily, had less time than the others in which to learn his lines, and was somewhat uncertain, about them. Nevertheless, he made an' excellent Irading man. Jama A. .Bliss, as the elder of the two bachelors, did well as a character man. and made the most of the part. Benlah Bondy was well received as usual, and had the part of amt to the two old bachelors. Others ia the cast did well, inrlnding Irving Mitchdl, who did the part of the policeman, and Neil Phatt handled the im- portant butler role with ease. The principal criticism of die vehicle which may serve Miss Heming for a Broadway run is that the play lacks a definite punch in .the spots that it is- ex- pected and needed for an actress like Miss Heming. For she b of the type that needs life and action at the climaxes. Not only the action of the play has its faults, but some of the lines could stand some fixing .also! . NEW DRINKWATER PLAY COMING William Harris, Jr.. has secured ■ for production during the coming fall, a-new play called "Robert E. Lee." written by John Drinkwater, the English playwright who wrote ''Abraham Lincoln." -Mr. Drinkwater is scheduled to come to America to aid in the staging of the play. ARTHUR HALL Arthur Hall, the man whose voice is heard and welcomed in millions of American homes. For the past few years .Arthur has been mmVi^f records for Victor, Columbia, Aeolian, Gesmctt and Banner phr nopraph companies. DIXON CREDTTORS TO MEET A meeting of the creditors of Heniy P. Dixon, bankrupt' Unit Show producer and former burlesque manager and show own- er, will hi: held at the office of Henir K. Davb, referee, at his office. No. 140 Nas- sau street, on April 30, 1922, at lOJO A. M. Dixon filed hu banknipt<7 petition oo April 17. whkh showed liabilibes of $21,- 312, assets imknowii, coiisistiDg of six shares of'stock of the American Bnrlesqoe Association. Among the creditors are E. Thomas Beatty, ^,000; Mrs. Henry P. Dixon, $2,500: Fred Kate, $2J0O; J. Herbert Mack, $1,500; PhU. H. Dalton; $2,150. Dixon gives his business as that of a "theatrical pnodncer" and his home address as 528 West 111th street. New York; and his business as 701 Seventh a-yenue. Dixon's revue on the circuit was called "Midnight Revels" and was known as one of the better of the many units. HALF SALARIES FOR ItEHEARSAL The innovation of paying half' salaries for the entire rehearsal period is about to be experimented with by Harry Walker, head of the Harry Walker Booking Office, who is assembling two revues for a tour of the M. L. Kelly chain of cabarets in Panama. Walker, who was a former perfonoer, knows the hardships to which, chorister are subjected and since this season has not been such a promising one for the pranc- ing girlies he believes that producers should lighten their burdens whenever possible, providing such a course is ap- preciated. Mrs. Kelly, who heads the Panama amusement entvprise which bears her name is tboroagfaly in accord with Walker's views and has insisted upon bear- ing half the expense of the experiment The revues now being assembled will be routed for a season of twenty weeks.