The Billboard 1911-04-01: Vol 23 Iss 13 (1911-04-01)

The Billboard APRIL 1, 191) APPENINGS OF THE AMUSEME EASIEST WAY STOPPED THEATRICALS IN MEMPHIS Mayor of Boston Puts Ban on the Belasco Production by Withdrawing License of the Hollis Street Theatre. Action Establishes a Precedent in Hub City Boston, Mass., March 24 (Special to The Bill board).—The Easiest Way, which opened at the Bollis Street Theatre, Monday, March 20, for a three weeks’ engagement with Frances Starr tm the leading role, was brought to a sudden end ip Boston Thursday night, when Mayor John F. Fitzgerald withdrew the license of the theatre and has prohibited the performance of that upon any Boston stage. Two years ago the play was booked for an engagement in Boston, and at that time the late Mayor Hibbard sent License Clerk Casey to New York to witness a performance of the play, and as a result of his report the drama was barred from making its appearance here, the reason given was that the play was not up to the mora] standard of what a theatrical performance should be, and the Boston engagement bad to be canceled. A conference was held at the mayor's office Wedaesday, at which were sent the mayor; Charles J. Rich, of the Holis Street Theatre: Ben F. Roeder, general manager for David Belasco; A. L, Levering, man er of the Boston Theatre; J. C. Hyde. publicity agent of The Easiest Way: Judge J. Albert Brackett. counsel for the theatre, and Leo Rogers, private secretary and counsel to Police Commissioner O’Mera. At the conclusion of the conference the statement was given out that the performance would be permitted Thursday night on account of the advance sale of tickets. The official statement, issued by the mayor, is as follows: “The last performance of the notorious play, The Easiest Way, which started ite run Monday evening at the Hollis Street Theetre. takes place this evening, Mayor Fitzgerald and Police Commissioner O’Mera agreeing that ite presentation, in the words of the statute, ‘tends to injure the morals of the community.’ ” Notice was given to Manager Charles J. Rich, of the Hollis Street Theatre, on Monday after Q00n that this play would be made the object of oe scrutiny by the authorities upon whom @ responsibility rests of protecting the public ainst obnoxious productions. The management of the theatre. however, persisted in presenting the play without modification, and the sesult will be its removal from the boards in The t low! e following officia] statement was giv t at the Hollis Street Theatre: said “Charles J. Rich, of Charles Frohman, Rich and Harris, managers of the Hollis Street Theatre, and Benjamin F, Roeder, general manager for David Belasco, were surprised at the sudden action of the mayor and police commissioner in ordering the withdrawal of The Easiest Way. immediate The fact that it had been presented in practieally every large city in the country itt at objection. would indicate that Fg it would meet The newspapers unanimous in indorsing Had any criticism been 23d Psalm Dramatized Miss Bertha Creighton, the well-know img lady and undoubtedly one of the ety eal stock stars on the American stage, has recently completed a melo-dramatice Diay, entitled The Twenty-third Psalm and this literary production fresh from the autbor’s pen with all of the detail and technique which might be anticipated from such an experienced source is rather more fortunate than the average manuscript that has been submitted for critical consideration, as it has already been with the approval of Boston. of this city are virtually the play and its moral. fead and highly commended by such competen: (Continued on page 51.) FAREWELL BANQUET. | Port Huron, Mich., March (Special to The | Billbeard).—James Brennan, former popular | Manager of the Majestic, was tendered a fare| well banquet, and was presented with a hand-_ some card case as an appreciation from his | friends last week. Mr. Brennan returned to Syracuse, N. Y., where he will again assume the management of the Weiting Theatre. bald —_ NEW THEATRE FOR PROVIDENCE, Providence, K. 1,, March 22 Billboard).—A new $150,000 theatre of brick, steel and concrete construction, fireproof an with a seating capacity of 2.500. is to be erected by Charles Allen, of the Allen Opera House Company of this city. on Union street, and is expected to be ready for opening on Labor Day The pians for the new structure have been | completed and work on the theatre will begin at (‘Special to The As yet there has not been any decision as to the kind of attraction to be presented at the new theatre, althongh Mr. Allen has been considering for some time the feasibility of presenting first class vaudeville attractions and moving pic| y | “There is a good field here.’ he said, “for | the popular-priced dramatic productions, and | while we have not definitely decided upon it we may open in drama. The people of Provi dence seem to want those good old-time shows.’ CLARK’S ROUTE. Route of M. L. Clark & Son’s Show: | ville. La.. Farmersville. 30: Marion, 31; | Felsenthal, April 1; Crossett, 3 M. L. Downs| 29: Ark., | girl, | pending a raived, the management would gladly have acted upon it, atre in the twenty-five years of its history and the high standing of Mr. Belasco in the theatrical world should be sufficient guarantee that neither the theatre nor the management of The Easiest Way would lend approval to that could offend, It is a matter of regret that neither the mayor nor commissioner witnessed a performance of the play, but delegated that duty to subordinates. This action on the part of | The position of the Hollis Street The| anything | } the officials is a matter of more than passing in| (Continued on page 51.) | | garding | celved Dispatch from Abe Erlanger to Manager of Jefferson Theatre Confirms Reported Organization of Memphis Theatres Company — Will Control Policy of Two Houses Memphis, Tenn., March 2 Rillboard.)—The first authentic information re the local theatrical situation was re in this city on Saturday, March 25, in a telegram from Abe Erlanger to Ed. Abrams, manager of the Jefferson Theatre. This con firmed the report of the organization in New York of the Memphis Theatres Company, which will take over the Jefferson and Lyceum The atres on May 1 The company is to direct the future policy of both houses, Jt is a combina tion of the interests of Klaw & Erlanger, the Frohmans, and Albert Weis, and will be carried (Special to The BOB FITZSIMMONS AND HARRY CORSON CLARKE. \ a2 1 Se be he YE RIG? ee AOR IANS Dy G Vhoto by Billy Ford Child Acrobat | Minneapolis, Minn., March 20 (Special to The Billboard).—Herbert Welch, of Salem. Mo., who states that he is the uncle of eleven year old Marguerite Cowles, featured in vaudeville as the ‘‘greatest child exponent of physical cul ture in the world,’ with the Marvelous Cowles Family, took forcible possession of the Iittle March 18, as she was playing in front of the Cowles residence here. He conveyed her in a hack to the Central Police Station where she was given over to the custody of the police trial in the juvenile court. Welch states that the Cowles are not the guardians of the child, but that she daughter of his sister, and that she was left in charge of the Cowles family in Seattle, and A (Continued on page 51.) BURLESQUE THEATRE BURNS. Paterson, N. J., March -» (Special to The Billboard).—Fire destroyed the Folly Buylesque | Theatre, March 18, s0on ofter the afternoon's | audience had dispersed. The costumes and other | belongings of Pat White's Gaiety Burlesquers | were burned The company’s loss is about 2,000, and the loss on the theatre is about $30,000. The house was owned by Mrs. Rowley | Leavitt, and leased by Maurice Jacobs It is believed the fire was started by crossed electric wires. The flames ewept ewiftiy throngh the theatre building | i | } ~ Woods Signs Kidnapped Marguerita Sylva New York, March 27 (Special to The board).—From the office of A. H. Woods the announcement last week that Marguerita Sylva is to return to light opera In Chicago, Mr. Woods secured the signature of the soprano to a contract which will place ber under his direction several years Miss Syiva has been a member of the Chicago-Philadelphia Grand Opera Company. It was rumored that her new manager pald $20,000 for her release At the Woods offices, however, this was denied It is the intention of Mr. Woods Miss Sylva at the head of her own Billcame to place operatic (Continued on page 51.) B. F. EMERY KILLED. Des Moines, Ia., March Billboard).—Word was received that B. F. Emery, formerly Robinson, was killed in Mexico, two weeks ago. He was with a party of surveyors for the Des Moines Iron Company, who were pros pecting in that country for bridge work. Emery was one of the best-known men in the show business. Last season he was with the Yankee Robinson Shows as manager of the uptown wagon. He was very popular around the show Season before last he returned te this country from Africa, where he worked in the diamond mines of Kimberly. He has lived for the vast twenty years at Thaver. lowa (Special to The in Des Moines with the Yankee | seating | Sent out in houses. Albert Wels owns the Lyceum Theatre. He r cently secured the lease of the Jefferson, now held by Klaw & Erlanger, which has eigh: years to run. Neither of the houses has madmoney during the season just closing, althoug! the attractions have been the best that Mem phis ever had. The opposition policy has bee: a good one for the public, but a losing ventur~ for the rival interests. This deal means that next season the attra: tions of Klaw & Erlanger and the syndicatwill all be played at the Lyceum. The Jeffer son has been leased to Jake Wells, and biassociates, and the Bijou Theatre attraction other cities in which Col, Wets ta~ will hereafter play at the Jefferson. Ben. M. Stainback, who for a number of years has been associated with Jake Wells lv all hie Bijou Theatre interest« both in Memph!and in other cities on the Ciréuit, Jl, become manager of the Jefferson. The new comb! nation means that the Wells Bijou intere«will remain in the ascendancy in Memphis. Mr. Stainback owns the lease of the Bijw Theatre, which still has three years to rup He has sub-let the theatre to the Sullivan an’ Considine interests, who will use it in cow nection with thelr new Southern vaudeville circuit which is now in process of organization The Bijou is the largest house in Memphi2.200, and is only a block from the Orpheum. Mr. Stainback wil! continue to repre Mr. Wells, not only as manager Jefferson, but as general representative interests here. He owns 51 per cent of thr Wells Bijou Theatre Company, of Memphis and will also have general oversight of the Bijou under its new management. Ernest Young, of Chicago, who has been associated with Sullivan and Considine for several years will return to Memphis as manager of thBijou. Mr. Young has secured the Memphifranchise for the Sullivan and Considine «t tractions. The Jefferson is not as large as the Bijou and Manager Staint mack may have some trouble at first in transferring his patrons from thr old house to the new. The new combinatin also means that next season the Orpheum which has been practically without oppositio since the withdrawal of the William Morr'!interests from Memphis more than a year agv will have a new combination to overcomr There is a strone tendency in Mempbis to ward vaudeville, and there is little doubt tha’ both houses can operate at a profit. The tranfer of the better class of attractions to tbLyceum will be appreciated by local theatre goers, for it is the logical theatre for suc! attractions. ARTHUR J. FORBES a_— Theatre Managers _Organized Providence, R. 1., March 25 (Special to The Billboard).—At a meeting held in this city las week, but one, attended by the managers of man) — theatres in the State, the Theatrical Managers Protective Association of Rhode Island wWwaformed. Charles Lovenberg, manager of Keith Theatre, was elected president; Charles Alle Allen of the Scenic Temple, vice-president; Mor ris Silver, of the New Star Theatre. of Paw tucket, secretary, and Abraham A. Spitz, of the Empire Theatre, treasurer. A committee composed of Walter 8. Baldwin and Morris Si! ver was appointed to consider the advisabil!' of making it a chartered organization and ver fecting the association. PREPARING FOR BENEFIT. Brooklyn, N. Y.. March 25 (Special to The Rillboard).—Brooklyn Lodge No, |), Yheatrica! Mechanical Association, is bard at work Uupop plans for its annual entertainment, which will be held on Sunday evening, April 23, at the New Montauk Theatre. The entertainment is giver to raise money for the sick and death benefir funds of the lodge. The annual “T. M. A Benefit’ always attracts much attention from Brooklyn theatre-goers, owing to the unvarying excellence of the bill presented, and the lodge has an unbroken record of successes to Its credit Many acts have already been volunteered fo next month's affair, and the bill will be an nounced soon. George H. Thomas, of the Motion Picture Pat ents Company, president of Brooklyn Lodge, Ir chairman of the committee of arrangements 1s has named sub-committees, which include man) of the best known theatrical men of the borougt The stage managere of practicalily all the lead ing theatres are members of the talent com (Continued on page 51.) $75,000 FIRE LOSS. Milwaukee. Wis., March 26 (Snectal to Th Pillboard).—The Greve Show Printing Co., ® 221 Seventh «treet, was completely gutted db fire at 1:40 o'clock this morning. The loss ¢ the stock and building ts estimated by officte! of the Greve Company to be $75,000, ROUTE OF COBURN’S MINSTRELS Route of J. A. Coburn’s Minstrels: Columb!« Tenn., 81; Pulaski, April 1; Lebanon, 2-3: Mur freexboro, 4: McMinnville, 5; Fayetteville. $ Hunteville, Ala., 7; South Pittsburg, Tone. ° 0