New York Clipper (Jul 1923)

July 11, 1923 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 7 MINORITY OF P. M. A. MAY BALK IF T ICKET OFnC E IS OPENED Even Though Managers' Organization Ratifies Plan of Joe Leblang Independent Managers May Refuse to Place Their lickets on Sale—Special Meeting on Thursday, P. M. What indicated a long and drawn out wrangle and deadlock in the special meet- ing ot the Producing Managers' Associa- tion held last Monday afternoon to dis- cuss the plan of establishing a Central Theatre 'J icket Office, for the sale of theatre tickets direct to the public, was avoided when the majority present who were in favor of acccjUing a plan sub- mitted by Joe Leblang listened to the pro- tests of the minority and agreed to have a representative group of the latter ap- pointed on the committee which is work- ing on the plan and have them present their views which will be submitted before the organization at a special meeting to be held Thiu-sday afteniooii. Prior to the start of tlic meeting the members of Ihe committee which had the proposition in hand that were in favor of approvins the project and putting the Central Office in operation in September were determined in forcing a show down at the meetiii:;. They felt that they had the majority in their favor and they were going to settle the proposition once and for all by approving the establishment of the tidcet office according to the detailed plans submittc-1 by Joe Xeblang. However, when the meeting started they found that the Erlanger, Dillingham, Frohman & Company, Belasco and minor independent interests were opposed to the proposition and regardless as to whether or not the Producing Managers' AJsoda- tion approved the plan, they would not condescend to stand by the ruling of the association and would refuse to place their tickets on sale at the Central Ticket office. Lee Shubcrt, who was chairman of the commit'ce which had worked out the de- tails of the plan and William A. Brady, who had been in favor of the project with Mr. Shubert, seeing what the consequence of action at that time would mean re- quested the managers who were opposed to the plan to make some proposition that would clarify the situation. The group then through their spokes- man stated that they had no particular plan in mind as to the establishment of the Central Ticket Office, but tliat the theatre owners whom they represented, even though they were members of the P. M. A., would under no circumstances consider any plan where one particular person or individual were operating a business where their financial interests were concerned. They said that regard- less of who was the head of the Central BOOKED ON KEITH CIRCUIT Additional acts for vaudeville, recruited from various sources have been booked over the Keith circuit and given long time routes. The new oflTering, announced by E. F. Albce, include, Fred Hilderbrand and Vera Michelena, in songs and dances, both having been seen in Broadway pro- ductions; the White Sisters, recently of "Tip Top," with Fred Stone; Olga Cook, prima donna, of the original "Blossom Time" company, and Julie Bekefi, late of the "Chauve Souris." to appear in "The Theatre Grotesque" with five other Rus- sian players. MEGLEY AND DONOHUE SAIL Macklin Megley, of Moore and Megley producers of "Molly Darling" and Jack Donohue who was principal comedian in the show this season sailed last Wednes- day for a six week trip in England and France. They will return in the mkldle of August to prepare for the road tour of "Molly Darling" in which Donohue will again appear. Office the managers did not feel as though they should turn over the finan- cial affairs of their theatres so that they should be under the control of one in- dividual. They also contended that no plan concentrating power into the hands of one single man would be acceptable to thenx They said that when it camQ to the matter of extending credit in their business the managers felt that they should have something to say regarding as to how and to whom it should be extended and that no single operating head should be in an arbitrary position to pass upon the matter. These inanagers also brought out the fact that no pro- visions had been made in the plan as to how and when the Central Office would settle for the tickets sold by it with the theatre managers. This they said was a most important item as some managers might want a nightly settlement to meet their financial obligations while others might want it weekly, and according to the plan sidnnitted the controlling head of the ticket office could settle with the theatre at his own discretion. It was intimated that these managers might be in favor of a plan for the estab- lishment of a ticket office along the same, principles and policy used for the Con- solidated Railroad Ticket Offices when; each railroad handles its own tickets and collects its own funds. It is said, that if a plan could be worked out where the individual theatres might have their own booths in the central offices and have ad- ministrative control as to the operation of their particular booty, they would feel more kindly toward the establishment of a Central Ticket Office than they do at the present time. Various other objec- tions were offered against the central office plan when Chairman Shubert saw that nothing could be accomplished at the meeting. A motion was then made ti appoint representatives of the minority as members of the committee handling the project and that a meeting of this com- mittee be held Wednesday (to-day) afternoon for the purpose of formulating a plan that would be suitable to all con- cerned in the operation of the Ci^tral Office. The representatives of the minor- ity were then appointed and they agreed to thrash the matter out on Wednesday so that the problem would be submitted to the membership of the organization for final approval at a special meeting which will be held to-morrow (Thursday) afternoon. WANTS TO INSPECT MINUTES Decision was reserved early this week on an application to inspect the Grand Jury minutes which brought about the in- dictment of George Maxwell, president of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers on a charge of writing and mailing scandalous letters about Mrs. Allan A. Ryan, wife of Allan A. Ryan. The application was argued before Judge Mclntyre in the Court of General Ses- sions. Ex-Judge Robert S. Johnstone appeared as counsel for Maxwell, while Assistant District Attorney William R. Maloncy appeared for the people. The contention of counsel for Maxwell that his client's indictment was found on insufficient and illegal evidence and that his client's innocence of the charges was proved by his return from Europe, where he might have remained immune from extradition, was assailed by Maloney, who declared that Maxwell, if innocent of the charges, could have appeared at any time before the Grand Jury that indicted him and could still appear, as it was still in session. MARINE CIRCUS ACT SUES Charles W. Beall, also known as Charles Weir, who has an act of Performing Ben- gal Tigers and Group of Trained Leopards, started an action for $600 last week against Wirth, Blumenfeld, Fair Booking Associa- tion, Inc., in the Third District Municipal Court, through his attorney, Frank P. Woglom, of 280 Broadway. The suit is part of the aftermath of the Million Dollar Marine Circus which was held last spring in an uptown armory, which is also credited with having pre- cipitated the decision to dissolve partner- ship between Henry Blumenfeld and the rest of the organization. In his complaint, Beall sets forth that he contracted with Wirth, Blumenfeld, Inc., on March 15, 1923, to furnish his menagerie for the Million Dollar Marine Circus held at the 104th Field Artillery Armory, at 68th street and -Broadway. The agreement was made between Beall and Ernest Anderson, representing the circus, and was guaranteed by the de- fendants. Beall, as per contract, claims he furnished two baby elephants, five leopards and jaguars, five brown, cinnamon and black bears, and two Bengal tigers. This contract was accepted and approved by Romeyn Park Benjaim'n, chairman of the committee for the circus. Since then, Beall complains, he has been unable to collect his money, but received from Wirth, Blumenfeld a letter from Frank Wirth acknowledging the fact that the money was due him and that bis or- ganization did guarantee the money. This fetter was sent on the 28th of March and also said that no statement had been re- ceived by the booking company from the circus, etc NATIONAL STOCK CO. CLOSES Joseph Wright's National Stock Com- fany closed last week in Bay Shore^ Long sland, where they had been playing to crowed houses, (jiarlotte Moe is le^ing woman with the company, which will re- open the last week in August and play its route over again. Opening on September 28th, is a new musical show in preparation by Mr. Wright, which has beien given forty weeks, and opens in Ohio. The show will have seven principals, ten girls and musical di- rector, etc. The title will be "The Girls from the Folfies." LEVEY BOOKS FOR AUSTRALIA San Francisco, July 9.—The Bert Levey booking office of this city, is now booking high class vaudeville acts for the Musgrove Circuit in Australia, the de- partment being under the management of Bert Catlcy. The Musgrove Circuit in Australia has a standing similar to the Orpheum time in this country. FIELDS TO DO "JAZZ KING" Lew Fields has accepted from Herbert .Richard Lorenz a comedy drama entitled "The Jazz King," which he will produce and appear in late next season at the con- clusion of his engagement in "Jack and Jill" which goes on tour in September. . ALHAMBRA PLAYERS CLOSE The Keith Alhambra Players closed their season last Saturday, after playing ten weeks to good business. The last offering consisted of "The Gay Toung Bride," with Tommy Martelle in the leading role. The company will again be at the house next season. Two of the company, Paula Shay and Lorraine Bernard, are sailing to Europe on the S. S. Paris next Wednesday, July 18th. They will remain abroad for several months. "FAKER" PRCXHJCnON POSTPONED "The Faker," a play by Max Marcin which was to have been produced early next season by David Belasco will probably not be staged tmtil early next Spring. Mr. Belasco informed Marcin last week that his plans call for the production of several plays early in the season which would not permit him to stage "The Faker" until after January 1. Flora Sheffield was to have played the leading role in "The Faker." "JAVANESE DOLL" DELAYED Carle Carlton is proceeding cantioiisly with the casting of "The Javanese Doll" and has now definitely decided to hold the production over until next season. The piece is a foreign imjurtation. dare Rummer has been commissioned to Ameri- canize the libretto. Carlton is said to have his eye apon a feminine star now appearing on Broadway for the central role in the new piece and is probably holding off for a couple of months, believing that the show may be taken off in the meanwhile and thereby make it possible to acquire the services of said star for his new piece. After Carlton has finally set "The Java- nese Doll" for a Broadway run, he will re- cast "Paradise Alley" and make another try with it out of towti. At a preliminary showing early this season those who saw it recommended it very highly with the ex- ception of its first act, which was tm- dcniably weak. This act has since been re- written and is now said to be in excellent shape. LILLIAN ROSS SUES AGENT Arthur S. Lyons is made defendant in a suit filed last wedc in the Third District Municipal Court by Lillian Ross, who is seeking to recover the sum of $SSZ97 from the agent, which is alleged to be due on promissory notes. Miss Ross is represent- ed by Jerome C Lewis, attorney, of No. 347 Fifth avenue. According to the complaint filed thronsh her counsel. Miss Ross alleges that she loaned Lyons $250 on March 10, 1922; for which he gave her a promissory note doe on April 10^ 1923. The note went to pro- test when due, and Lyons subsequently paid her $200, leaving a balance dae of $30A>, including protest fee. On November 10, 1922, Miss Ross fur- ther alleges, that she loaned Lyons $250 on a promissory note due May 10, 1923. This paper also went to protest. Another note was signed by Lyons on March 14, 1923, for the sum of $250 payable Jtme 10, 1923. Like the other notes payable at the Com Exchange Bank, at Fifty-fifth street and Broadway, the last one given Miss Ross was not met The total plus inter- est and protest fees is the amount sued for. WILKES GETS COLUMBIA THEATRE San FRANasco, July 2.—^Beginning with the 1924 season, Thomas Wilkes, will di- rect the Columbia Theatre for a term of twenty years, as a result of an agreement made by him and Louis R. Lurie, owner of the house. Wilkes will become managing director of the Columbia as soon as the present lease held on the theatre is termi- nated. Among the special features that are scheduled for the Columbia under the management of Wilkes and Lurie are those in which such stars as Marjorie Rambean, Joseph Schildkraut, Holbrook Blhui, George Arliss, Ethel Barryntore, Wallace Eddinger, the Duncan Sisters, Helen Meno- ken, and Jeanne Eagles will appear. The Sam H. Harris attractions, through an agreement between Harris and Wilkes, will also be seen at the Columbia. THE IRENE BORDONI SHOW Irene Bordoni will commence rehearsal on July 19th of Avery Hopwood's comedy with music entitled "Little Miss Blue- beard." in which she will be starred by E. Ray Goetz this seasoiL Engaged to support Miss Bordoni are Austin Fair- man, Eric Blore, Rcmy Carpen, Jcanctte Sherwin and Frederic Bany. The attrac- tion will open in New London on August 15th and then play Stamford, Long Blanch and Asbury Park after which en- gagement it will come to the Lyceum theatre. New York, on August 27th. re- placing "Fashions for 1924." William H. Gilmour will stage the play. "LONDON" TO TOUR George M. Cohan's production of "So This Is London," which concluded its engagement at the Hudson Theatre last Saturday night, will begin its road tour at the Broad Street Theatre. Newark, on September 24th. The entire cast which appeared at the Hudson will go on tour.