New York Clipper (Jul 1923)

4 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER July 4, 1923 P. M. A.-EQUnT WAR FEAR HOLDS UP SHOW PL ANS FOR N EXT SEASON Managers Cwnfining List of New Ptt>ductioiis to a Miiiimuin on Account of Acton' Strike Fear Next June—^Many Managers to Confine Activities to Senifing Out of Hold-Overs From all indications the production out- put for the season of 1923-24, insofar as DCw productions are concerned, will be reduced to a minimum unless a new truce is effected between the members of the ProducinK Managers' Association and tiie Actors' Equity Association. Despite the fact that the existing agree- ment between both bodies does not expire until next June, after wfaicfa the Equity ,will invoke "Equity Shop" conditioiis 'npoD all producing managers, the latter :are marking time and proceeding cau- :tiousIr with their plans for the coming season. ' iln prerious seasons practically every theatrical manager had his plans lined np. He knew just what he was going to do. This year be seems to be a bit skeptical as to the outcome of the almost certain mmpns with the actors' organization and therefore he is hesitant about saddling himself with the expense of any more pro- ductions than is necessary to keep his office operating. Economy in production cost will also be the watchword. It is doubtful if any manager will squander eoormons sums of money on lavish productions, since the possibility of an actors' strike would make It next to impossible to overcome the pro- duction "nut" in a single season. Florenz Ziesfeld, for instance, bas foregone a new "Follies." The current edition at the New Amsterdam has been 4>rightened up with additional comedy scenes and songs and will continue indefinitely. Of course, should the P. M. A. and Equity come to some understanding before the >xi«««ig agreement has expired, it is quite probable that "Ziggy" may produce another "Tol- lies" late in autumn. "Ziggy" is also withholding two other musical productions in abeyance, a new starring vehicle for Fanny Brice and a new play for Maiy Eaton. Another graphic instance of managerial frugality is gleaned from the announce- ment Uiat Al Jolson will again take to the road in "Boirfm". this season '"'^»^ of having a new musical extravaganza, as had beoi announced. The Messrs. Shu- bert. like other managers, are none too sanguine to tie themselves up witb an expensive production which would un- avoidably be held up. in the case of an acton* strike. The Jolson productions are costly and usually are good for at least two seasons. Widi but one season to re- coup production cost the Shuberts evi- dently think it too hazardous a gamble. Selwyn and Company have announced a number of new productions, but those close to the producers believe that this firm win depiend entirely upon foreiga importations to keep the firm active until the war clouds have disappeared. Instead of bothering themselves with die burden- some details of building lavish produc- tions, they will import foreign produc- tions, with casts intact. Nevertheless they will be prepared to rush a list of native productions into rehearsal just as soon as Act are assured that the strike clouds have disappeared. Charles B. Dillingham, on the other hand, has announced the acquisition of a number of plays for the coming season, but has not committed himself to any definite production dates. A. H. Woods has so tar lined up six productions and ocpects to haye them going in full blast on Broadway before die latter part of next month. A. H. Woods, however, is among the more optimistic ones and does not seem to give a rap one way or the other as to what happens. He has lined up six new productions and expects to have tiiem all mmung full blast on Broadway before the end of next month. Sam H: Harris <■ has also aimoanccd several new produc- tions, but in a pinch could get by without making them, if necessary, inasmuch as he has a number of "bold-overs" that would keep his office sufficiently busy for another season. Heading this group is "Rain," conceded to be the greatest money-getter of the non-musicals of last season, which remains at the Maxine Elliott Theatre. Then, too, Harris has "Secrets," "Ice- bound" and "The Music Box Revue" from which to curtail sufficient revenue should he suspend production activities until the P. M. A.-Equity situation has been cleared up. While some of the younger producers may increase activities, the older ones, such as "Abe" Erlanger, Lee Shubert, Henry Miller, George Tyler and William A. Brady, are proceeding cautiously and are promising little, if anything, for tbp coming season. In previous seasons, long before this time of year, their mimeo- graph was spinning with prolonged an- nouncements of at least a dozen or more plays to be launched by each. Brady has announced several, but if he grabs a win- ner in the first few he will hold up the others until the strike rumblings have disappeared. George M. Cohan is maintaining char- acteristic silence insofar as any new pro- ductions are concerned. George evidently feels that he is sufficiently set for the sea- son with "The Rise of Rosie O'Reilly," his latest musical show at the Tremont, Boston; "So This Is London," at the Hudson; "Uttle Nelly KeUy," at the Lib- erty, and "Two Fellows and a Girl," now running in Chicago and which comes to the Vanderbilt Theatre next month. Then, too, George is also clipping coupons from the London productions of "So This Is London" and "LitUe Nellie Kelly." Cohan has leased the Vanderbilt Theatre for one year and it is understood that he will renew the lease if a pre-war agreement is reached in the meanwhile between the P. M, A. and Equity. Equity has been prone to scout the managers' inactivity as an attempt to bat- ter down the morale of the actor and throw him into panic through their an- nouncement of limiting next season's pro- duction output. They maintain that some- body will have to produce to keep the theatres open and that if the recognized producing managers intend to play "pos- sum" the independents will for^ ahead. On the other hand, the Producmg Man- agers are refraining from any opinions of what will be the outcome of the I9Z4 combat and at the same time are arrang- ing their line of battle, to be made effect- ive just as soon as war is declared by the actors. More oi^imistic managers believe the whole affair will be amicably adjusted without any conflict whatsoever. These latter assume an attitude that it is entirely unnecessary to cross bridges until you come to them and are hopeful that the ensuing year will straightoi things out. But even these are not tying up their finances in lavish productions. OOSMOPOUTAN OPENS AUG. 1 The Cosmopolitan Theatre, formerly the Park, on Columbus Grcle, entirely re- fitted and remodeled will open in August. The orchestra will be composed of forty mcn and will be under the direction of Victor Herbert. The first picture to be shown will be the new Marion Davies feature. "Little Old New York." BIG PROFIT ON OPERA HOUSE SALE Oscar Hammerstein's last attempt to pro- duce opera which resulted in his building the Lexington Opera House at a cost of. one million dollars, at the southeast cor- ner of Fifty-first street and Lexington avenue, has finally terminated by being a Loew movie house, sold to Marcus Loew by Frederick Brown for $825,000, with the margin of profit said to be $250,000. Brown bought the property in June, 1922, from Mrs. Edith Rockefeller McCormick. The theatre, built in 1913 seats about 3,000 people but will be altered by Marcus Loew to come up to the standard set by the big Broadway movie houses. The purpose of the house is to cater to the fast growing population of Park and Lexington avenues below Fifty-ninth street, which have no theatre of any size in that neigh- borhood. After Hammerstein's attempt to produce opera at the house, the Manhattan Life Insurance Company which .had advanced him $450,000 on the property, demanded its money, and when it did not come fast enough went to court and had a receiver appointed. A year later Mrs. McCormick and associates acquired the house, had it refurnished and started the Chicago Opera Company there. Mary Garden and Lucien Muratore gave the premiere performance, but opera patrons could not be induced to go to the. east-side house, with Uie result that Mrs. McCormick sold the theatre to Mr. Brown. BROAOHURST PLAY SCORES Tom Broadhurst, manager of the Broad- hurst Theatre and brother of George Broadhurst, has turned playwright and Henry Miller is playing in it on the coast. It is called "The Golden Fleece" and pro- duced recently at the Columbia Theatre, San Francisco, where it scored strongly and will be kept on indefinitely. It will probably be seen in New York in the fall. In the company which supports Mr. Mil- ler in the play arc, Blanche Bates, Robert Warwick, Geoffrey Kerr, Laura Hope Crews, Helen Daubet, and John Miltum. At the conclusion of the engagement of "The Golden Fleece" Mr. Miller and his players will present a revival of Shakes- peare's "Julius Caesar." REWRITING "RRST THRILL" George LefHer is now having Beulah Poynter's comedy drama "The First Thrill" rewritten by Miss Poynter and Frank Mandell and will again produce the play which had a two week tryout last spring, in New York City early in Octo- ber. Eleanor Griffith who played the femi- nine lead in the tryout production will head the cast. 1 "SHUFFLE ALONG" ON THE COAST San FRANasco, July 2. — "Shuffle Along," at the Columbia, opened to an enormous house -and since opening has - played -to enoirnous houses. • - Marie William HENRIETTA and WARRINER (Scintillating Song Stars) There are shooting stars. There are falling stars; But here are two rising stars. Direction. PAT- CASEY OFFICE • PersonkI Rep.; KENNETH RYAN ONE NEW SHOW FOR CHICAGO Chicago, June 30.—Freak weather has been the rule here this, week with several days that were exceptionally cool following the terrific heat spell of last week. Although the cool spell should have helped box office receipts there was no noticeable jump with this change. One new play is offered for the coming week. William Courtcnay returns to the Cort after an absence of several weeks, when his last offering at this play-house was discarded after a'two weeks' run. Mr. Courtenay will offer Oliver White's crook comedy "Dangerous People" beginning Sunday night. Donald Brian who closes his Chicago engagement at this house to- night will take his play "Rolling Home" cast where it will be set to music and offered the New York public as a musical comedy this fall. Eugene O'Brien who has enjoyed a successful rmi of eleven weeks at the Prin- cess will ck)se his engagement at this house next Saturday night and take his produc- tion on the road. This will leave but five theatres in the loop offering entertainment for the summer. "The Dancing Girl" at the Colonial is doing the best business of the musical offerings now here. The How- ard Brothers at the Apollo are doing only a fair business. "Blossom Time" that pretty operetta at the Great Northern is holding on at this house. "Chains" con- sidered the best play in Chicago is now go- mg into'its seventh week at the Playhouse and "Up the Ladder" remains at the Cen- tral. ROSS OUT OF SERVICE CORP. Arthur S. Ross, actor and playwright, m whose behalf the Greenwich Service Corporation of No. 1 West 34th street have been sending out circulars for the purpose of raising $160,000 to float a theatrical venture known as Masterpieces, Incorporated, has informed The CLippEa that he is no longer connected with the enterprise and has not taken any active interest in its affairs since May 1. Ross claims that he did not approve of the vray business was being done by the promoters of the project and that he re- signed from the corporation as a result of discoveries he made. At the time that Ross tendered his resignation he asserts the Grcaiwich Service Corporation had raised $7,000 tovtrard the financing of Master- pieces, Incorporated, but that he had not received any share of this money. "PANAMA KID" FOR BROADWAY _ "The Panama Kid," an elaborated ver- sion of the vaudeville act of the same title by the late Taylor Granville and Edgar AlUn Woolf, will be given its premiere at a Broadway theatre in early Autumn by a new producing firm to be known as The Panama Kid. Inc. The officers of the new corporation are Robert Sterling, Harry Young and Martin Wells. "The Panama Kid" was originally pro- duced in vaudeville two years ago with Taylor Granville featured in the cast It ran one hour and thirty-five minutes, which the bookers decided was entirely too long for vaudeville. In its elaborated form it will be divided by three acts and ten scenes. WELSH DUO WITH REVUE Chicago, June 30.—Theophilus Alban and Reba Morgan, known in picture thea- tres and vaudeville as "The Welsh Duo," joined Frank L. Wakefield's Winter Garden Revue at the Palace Theatre at Minneapolis last week, opening Saturday, June 30. "The Welsh Duo" had been a prominent feature of the jazz festival at the Stratford Theatre in Chicago, week of June 17, a show which had Jack Norworth as its feature. NEW COLORED CAST SHOW "Miss High Brown," a new colored mus- ical show with lyrics and miisic by Maceo Pinkard, who wrote the score of "Liza" will open shortly in Philadelphia. The Hilton Productions, Inc., of which Pink- ard is the principal member, will make the production. The show will go into rehearsal shortly and will open early in August.