New York Clipper (Jul 1923)

2 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER July 11, 1923 FOMEiCff NEWS '"TL.^^ GEORGIE WOOD STARTS TROUBLE LoNTOM, July 9. —Remarks made in an ^if^rrci before the Manchester Rotary Club by George Wood, an actor, in whidi he advised bis hearers not to let their women go on the stage has brought on quite a fight in theatrical circles here be- tween the diminutive actor on one side and prominent managers and actresses on the other. Wood, in bis address to the Rotarians, said: "Do not let your 'womoi go on the stage: It is almost impo3s3>Ie for a girl to succeed in the West End of London if she is not in with the managm, or baa not money. It is almost impossible .for a. girl to succeed and remain as you would uke your women folk to be. It is a terrible accusation to make against the women of my profession, but they arc driven to it, and every word I say is the gospel truth." &rbara Gott, leading woman in "Lilac Time," when told of Wood's statement said: "I bad neither influence or money befamd me and have climbed from small parts to. leads, and I know scores of actresses on both the variety and legitimate stage who have done as I have done. There are temp- tations on the stage as in all walks' of life, ai^ some women fall victims to these, but to say that this is the rule, rather than the exception is a wicked libel." C B. Cochran, producer, when queried on the subject said: "I never heard such a gross libel in my life. Perhaps no man has more experience of stage life than I have^ and I can say definitely that there are ooly two things which will send a girl ahead on the stage—^^ent and hard work. No amount of boonung or boosting will keep a girl in a post umess she has talent. Wood's statement is absolute nonsense, and wicked nonsense at that" IRENE DROPS SUIT FOR DIVCMtCE Pabis, July 9.—Irene Castle, now in Paris, and who last week started suit for divorce against Captain Robert Treman, ha* evidently changed her mind. Qianged it becaose she denies that legal papers for a divorce existed and yet m the courts they are filed. Captain Treman is stop- ping in the same hotel that Irene is living m but not in the same apartment and told reporters that he plans to take his wife, on a short pleasure trip when doubtlessly everything will be pleasantly and satisfac- torily adjusted. Cbnrt attaches declare that the papers in the case are still on file and no attempt to withdraw them has been made. Captain Treman says that no papers have been served on him and did not ex- pect that any would be. Friends of the couple say that doubt- Iks Irene started the suit and then changed her mind after she had seen the Captain. AGENT ARRESTED FOR FRAUD LoNiwir, July 9.—William Thompson, alias Reeve, an alleged theafarical agent, was remanded in custody for trial at the Shef- field Police Court charged with obtaining 18 shillings from a young lady under false pretenses. It was charged that Thompson advertised for girls to appear in a revue in Southampton, and on investigation, it was found that no arrangements were made for any such revue to go into rehearsals as claimed by Thompson. It is stated that Thompson obtained money from sev- eral girls by diese means, and that he has been conducting such operations on a large scale. EDELSTEN LOST ON PLAYS London, July 9.—Public examination of Willie Edelsten, theatrical manager, has beoi concluded in the Bankruptcy Court. His liabilities were shown to be in excess of $20,000 and no assets were discovered. Eddsten attributes his failure to losses on 'various plays in the provinces where busi- ness was very poor. "SUCCESS" LIVES UP TO NAME London, July 9.—^"Success," a new play by A. A. Milne, was recently given its premiere at the Haymarket Theatre. The theme of the play concerns a poli- tician who has attained his goal in political life, but in spite of it all is unhappy. In his sub-consaous mind there always crops up a picture of his younger days, when life was sweetest and love was real. At one point of the piece he discovers that he has sacrificed love for. ambition. He is on the verge of throwing everything to the winds for the sake of love, but his political am- bition finally conquers and dissuades him. The play is wonderfully well acted and the theme is particularly well handled. Charles Cherry added to his laurels in the role of the politician. Grace Lane, Moyna McGill, Reginald Bach, Halliwell Hobbes and Reginald Owen were among others who did -well in their respective roles. If the enthusiastic receipt of the premiere audience can be taken as a criterion the piece ^ould enjoy a successful run. SAYS AMER. SHOWS ARE BLi'lLR London, July 9.—Alan Dale, the critic for the New York Ameriean, who is visit- ing here at present, has proclaimed that American plays are better than English plays. Dale expresses himself in the fol- lowing words: "I think that American plays as a rule arc better than the English plays because they have more pep. English plays are lackadaisical, though they are much less so now than they were. The war seems to have put new vigor into them. They don't play up the sex note as much as they used to, which I think is a good thing." COMPARTMENTS FOR ACTORS London, July 9.—Departing from the general practice, the English railway com- panies, at the conference held last week at the Oearing House here, agreed to reso-ve compartments on their trains for theatrical companies providing that no fewer than six tickets are taken for each compartment. Hitherto if members of a theatrical troup wished to ride together an extra charge was made for reserving the compartment or else they had to take pot luck and split up as accommodations offered. The avera^ compartment in the English railway train is designed to hold eight people. ACTORS FORM OWN THEATRE Bebun, July 9.-iThe Actors' Theater is the latest organizafion to be formed here. The classic actors, feeling Aat the epidemic of comic opera is monopolizing the theaters have organized a company and leased a theater which will be called the Actors' Theatre and will present standard plays. Twenty-four theaters in Berlin are giv- ing musical comedies while scarcely half a dozen are presenting the spoken drama. This naturally is responsible for a great amount of employment among the legiti- mate actors. "ANNA CHRISTIE" SLOWS UP London, July 9.—^"Anna Christie," at the Strand Theatre has suffered a severe drop in box office takings. The show got wonderful notices and had a tremendous vogue that seems to have ended ^ruptly. Rumor was current that the piece would be taken off, but this was denied by Charles 'B. Cochran, who is sponsoring the produc- tion in association with Arthur Hopkins, the American producer. ULSTER PLAYERS AT SCALA London, July '9.—The Ulster Players will take possession of the Scala Theatre for a series of plays, prior to the opening of the Vilna Troupe of Jewish Players. Among the list of plays to be given are "The Drone," by Rutherford Mayne and "Thompson in Tir-Na-n-Og." WANT COPYRIGHT BILL REVISED London, July 9.—bill to restore the law relating to public performance of musi- cal compositions, to the condition in which the law was before the passing of the Copyright (Musical Compositioas) Act of 1882, and the coining into force of the Copyright Act of 1911. This law, whicb was repealed by the 1911 act, was to the effect that the owner of the performing right in a musical work who wished to hold the rights of public performance, must print a notice on every copy published re- serving his rights. The new bill, which is introduced by Frank Gay, will uphold the rights of the 1882 act, but the wording will be simplified and moderated. BIG BENEFIT AT HIP London, July 9.—gala benefit per- formance was given at the London Hippo- drome on Sunday evening, June 24, in aid of the Middlesex Hospital. Among those who appeared on the bill were Paul White- man, and Orchestra, Nellie and Sara Kouns, Bobby Henshaw, Nelson Keys, George Robey, Milton Ha;^es, Mureil George, Ernest Butcher and Ernest Hast- ings. A high light of the performance was the hit scored by Bobby Henshaw, who, new to the West end audiences, stopped the show. Another feature of the benefit was the first public appearance of Market Leahy, the "Daily Sketch" _ girl, who re- cently returned from America, where she went to appear in motion pictures. "ROBERT E. LEE" OPENS London, July 9.—^John Drinkwater's new play, "Robert E. lie," was presented at the Regent Theatre, and has scored a suc- cess. The play concerns the life of Lee, shown first as a Colonel of the United States Army, who becomes faced_ with the severance of Virginia, his native State from the Union. His decision to be loyal to his state follows and the play deals for the most part with his surrender to Grant at Appomattox. Felix Aylmer gave a brilliant portrayal to the character of Gen. Lee, and was given good support by Tristan Rawson, Qaude Rains, Henry Caine, Harold Anstruther, and Edmund Willard. ENGLISH ACTS ROUTED Capt Bruce Baimsfather, and Tex Mc- Loed, both of whom have beoi routed over the Keith circuit for the coming season, will arrive in New York on the S. S. Homeric, which gets in on August IS. Baimsfather wiU do a skit called "Old Bill and Me." Tex McLeod is known as the "Will Rogers of Europe." John F. Royal, manager of Keith's Palace Theatre, Qeve- land, will return from his brief visit to Europe on the same ship. "BEFORE SUNSET" PRODUCED London, July 9.—"Before Sunset" the new play whicli has just been completed by Miss Nan Marriott-Watson>will be pro- duced shortly by Barry Storri with the authoress in the leading role. Others in the cast are Sam Livesey, William Ker- shaw, Drew Mackinto^, Frederic Leister and Miss Joan Barry. The play will open at the West Pier, Brighton, to-night and will go on tour with Reginald Hunt as general manager. NEW "SHERLOCK HOLMES" , London, July 9.—"The Return of Sher- lock Holmes" is now being prepared for production, having been adapted by Harold Terry and Arthur Rose, by arrangement with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. B. A. Meyer is to produce It, having purchased the rights from Doyle. EUle Norwood is to be featured in the play, having already created the role for the motion pictures here in a number of "Sherlock Holmes" re- leased. COHAN SHOW BIG HIT London, July 9.—George M. Cohan's production of "Little Nellie Kelly" at the New Oxford Theatre which was unani- mously acclaimed by the London press as "the best musical comedy since the 'Belle of New York,'" has the following person- nel; Santry and Norton, Ralph Whitehead, June, Anita Elson, Marion Lee, Dorothy Monkman, Roy Royston, Clifford Heather- ly, Forde Sisters, Henri deBray, Donny Hales, Maidie Hope, Constance Worth, Terry Storri, James Donovan, Frank Mas- ters and Arthur Denton. "KIKI" FOR LONDON London, July 9.—"Kiki" win be pro- duced at the Playhouse here by Miss Gladys Cooper and Mr. Frank Curzon, to succeed ''Magda" which has been playing at diat theatre. The French farce, which Is by Andre Picard, has been adapted for the English stage by Sydney Blow and Douglas Hoare. It Is possible that the play will be re-christened before opening here. TOM DOUGLAS A HIT London, July 9.—^Tom Douglas has scored a big nit in vaudeville with his pla:^let, "When Love Is Young," and has decided to stay in England for an indefi- nite period. Douglas made a great per- sonal success in '^erton of the Movies" despite the failure of the play. REVIVING "LYONS MAIL" London, July 9.—When Bransby Wil- liams appears in the revival of "The Lyons Mail" at the Lyceum Theatre shortly, he will wear the actual costume worn by the late Sir Henry Irving, when the latter ap- peared in this play at the same theatre in 1899. DON GOING TO AFRICA London, July 9.—Officer Yokes and Don who are concluding their tour of the Moss Empires Circuit have signed a con- tract to appear in South Africa and will sail from here on August 10. This will be Yokes' first visit there in twenty-two years. "NED KEAN" MOVING London, July 9.—"Ned Kean of Old Drury," which has been having a hard Struggle at the Drury Lane Theatre, for the past month will shortly be moved to another theatre. The closing of this attrac- tion has been deferred three times. CHASAN GOING TO AMERICA London, July 9.—Dave Chasan, who does comedy in Fred La Rein's act, will shortly sail for America to open in a new comedjr act by Joe Cook, Johnny O'Connor and Frank Van Hoven. There will be three others in the act: COHAN'S "LONDON" HITS lOO London. July 9.—George M. Cohan's comedy "So This Is London" celebrated Its 100th performance at the Prince of Wales Theatre last Friday night. Souvenirs were given the members of the audience at that performance. NEW CHARLOT REVUE London, July 9.—Andre Chariot's au- tumn production at the Duke of York's Theatre will be a revue by Noel Coward, actor-author. Already engaged for the cast are Maisic Gay and Tubby Edlin. NEW STUART COMIC OPERA London, July 9.—"Nina" a new three- act comic opera by Cosmo Hamilton, wirii music by Leslie Stuart will be produced in the fall. SHIRLEY KELLOG BACK London, July 9.—Shirley Kellog has re- turned from America and is rehearsing in a new production, "Lily of the Alley."