The Billboard 1917-06-16: Vol 29 Iss 24 (1917-06-16)

RR ee a eit sat ations ‘sata way tac eee 8” The Bi llboard JUNE 16, 1917 ACTORS’ FUND RECIPIENT ~ OF HANDSOME BEQUESTS Theatrical Charity Beneficiary of the Clyde Fitch Estate and the Late John Hoge—Latter’s Gift Fifth Avenue, New York, Property Said To Be Valued at $500,609 ™ New York, June 9.—rThe Actors’ Fund of America this week was notified that it was the beneficiary of the estate of the late Clyde Fitch, and also the beneficiary of the will of John Hoge, who died recently at his home in Zanesville, O. When Mr. Fitch died he made the provision that upon the death of his mother, Mrs, Alice M. Fitch, all royalties accruing from his plays should be given to the fund. This includes royalties for the motion pictures as well as the acting and publication rights to the Fitch plays, and is a considerable item in the course of a year. Mrs. Fitch died several weeks ago. In Mr. Hoge’s will he has devised to the Actors’ Fund a plot of land in Fifth avenue, this city, which is said to be valued at over $500,000. While the exact details are not ‘known, it is believed Mr. Hoge’s bequest is in the form of an endowment. Local papers were somewhat at sea concerning Mr. Hoge’s connection with the theatrical field and speculated on the reasons for his remembering the Actors’ Fund so handsomely in his will. There is no mystery about it, as John Hoge was one of the original partners of ‘‘Pic’’ Russell and Bob Morgan, of the Russell & Morgan Printing Company, now the U. §&. Lithographing and Printing Company, and as MARIE MOSIER’S NEW ACT New York, June 11.—Marie Mosier, who for three years directed the orchestra with Jesse Lasky’s Red Heads in vaudeville, and who also was in the pit for the Lasky offering, The Trained Nurses, has formed a new musical three-act, in which she is assisted by two capable girls. It will be a strictly high-class instrumental act, and will break in this week out of town. Prior to entering vaudeville Miss Mosier was for a time in the film game, in Bermuda, with the Edison Company. “UNCLE SAM” STARTS OUT ~ New York, June 9.—Frank S. Colburn, known thruout the country as Uncle Sam, because of his impersonations of that character, left New York on Wednesday on a unique tour of the United States. He will walk from town to town, and in many of the cities en route will appear in vaudeville theaters, giving a couple of character impersonations, one known as The Spirit of ’76, the other a Rube Reformed Card Shark. Colburn claims to have walked upwards of 20,000 miles across country and has given his Uncle Sam impersonations in many cities and towns, FOR SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR New York, June 11.—On the S. S, Verdi, which left fast Saturday for Buenos Ayres, the following acts sailed for the Carlos Seguin Circuit: Robert Raffin, with his monkey Hippodrome, consisting of fifty monkeys; the Emilie Sisters, aerial trapeze act; James Higgins, the high jumper; Caplaine end Wells, novelty juggling act; Norah May, American singer. These acts were selected by Roger Tolomei, the Paris representative of this tour, who is at present in New York, and were booked thru the office of Richard Pitrot. On the next steamer, S.S. Vestria, July 7, ten more acts will sail, and the same with every steamer thereafter. 7 It is very important to the profession to know that every performer, male or female, being booked over this South American Tour, must have a passport, otherwise they cannot board the steamer. TICKET COUPON AND STRIP WELDON, WILLIAMS & LICK FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS such was in years past prominently identified with the show world. He also was one of the builders and owners of the Schulty Opera House at Zanesville. Mr, Hoge had large interests in various manufacturing enterprises and was the owner of a leading Western newspaper. CLOSES VAUDE. SEASON Ft. Wayne, Ind., June 10,—The vaudeville season at the New Palace Theater here terminated last night It was an unusually suscessful one, because the character of shows secured struck the popular fancy. Zara Carmen Trio, Mitchel and Mitch, Harry Mayo and Harry Tally, Will Stanton in His Last Drop, Caites Brothers and the Herbert Germaine Trio were on the closing bill. Beginning today the La Salle Musical Comedy Company, headed by Guy Voyer, will play a three weeks’ engagement at the New Palace. The first bill will be Charley Grapewin’s success, It's Up To You, John Henry. Nearly all of the old members are still with the company, including Harriett Lee, Jack Price Jones, Walter Poulter, Minnie Pillard and the La Salle Quartet. Florence Berry, the prima donna, is a new member, MOST CIRCUI TS ACTIVE Chicago, June 9.—Those who imagine the advent of summer has put a serious crimp in vaudeville have a big surprise coming. Most of the bigger circuits with general offices in Chicago are running along pretty much as usual, Here and there q house is missing from the route sheets, but, as a rule, things are almost as active as during the regular season. For every house that summer has stopped it has supplanted two or three, due to the exigencies of the outdoor amusement world’s requirements, CLEVELAND SUMMER VAUDE. Cleveland, 0., June 8.—Keith’s Hippodrome here opened its summer yaudevillé season with the Monday matinee, June 4. John Roh ’s N. Vv. A. Paul = Pauline VAUDEVILLE ODDITY Now Loew Circuit. Direction: SAM BAERWITZ-Ezsi LEW CANTOR—West Military Elephants were a feature among six other acts, BIRMINGHAM HOUSE CONTINUES Birmingham, Ala., June 10.—The report that Loew’s Bijou Theater would close up shop for the summer has proven false. Marcus Loew announces that the house will continue to run vaudeville and pictures thruout the hot weather at a summer scale of prices. The hourg of operation will be between 2 and 11 o’clock, and the prices will be 5 and 10 cents in the afternoon and 5, 10 and 15 in the evening, AIDS LIBERTY LOAN DRIVE _ New York, June 9.—Mercedes Clark, presenting herself in vaudeville in the dramatic playlet, Straight, who has been headlined at the American Theater this week (with her name in the electrics out front), has been spending her spare time lately in patriotic work, both in urging enlistments and in creating enthusiasm for Liberty Bonds. Miss Clark herself has purchased several of the bonds, and claims to have been directly responsible for at least four enlistments in the army. Her vaudeville offering probably will be booked for a Pacific Coast tour beginning in the early fall, THE ROAD TO FRANCE New Y¥ork, June 9.—The National Art Club recently ‘awarded a cash prize of $250 to Daniel M. Henderson for his poem, The Road to France, after a spirited competition. It has now been decided by the club to give a prize of $500 for the best musical setting to this poem. The competition is open to all Americans, and contestants must file their scores with the National Arts Defense Committee, this city, by September 15. Composers who wish a copy of the poem to guide them for the music to be written can obtain same from the Defense Committee, Gramercy Park, on application, NEW YORK VAUDEVILLE WHISPERS By JACK Fred V. Bowers, for many years a vaudeville headliner, will desert the field. He has contracted with Perry H. Kelly to star in a musical version of His Bridal Night, formerly featuring The Dolly Sisters and presented by Al Woods. Many tuneful melodies will be woven into the story that will give Bowers ample opportunity to display his splendid voice. Gordon and Marks, who presented a double Dutch act for the past nine years, have dissolved partnership. Paula Reeves is rehearsing a new act that will be ready soon, It will be a sketch featuring Miss Reves along novel lines, Austin Webb and Company are ready to open in a new act from the pen of John B, Hymer, ealled Hit the Trail. Webb formerly appeared in a dramatic playlet by Willard Mack. Robert Edeson is producing a sketch by Colgate Baker, entitled Children of France. It will play one of the Keith houses in two weeks. Dooley and Sales canceled their U. B. 0. and Orpheum route, owing to the illness of Miss Sales, which is considered at this time not very serious. Marguerite Haney and Dan Healy are the principal entertainers at the Shelburne Hotel, Brighton Beach. Gus Edwards put on the review, which is one of the best of the season. Bert Wilcox, comedian in the Double Exposure, intends to head his own company in a comedy sketch, He was a newspaper cartoonist before appearing on the stage. Earl Cavanaugh, formerly of McBride and Cavanangh, is now doing an act with Ruth Tompkins. They open at the Bushwick next week. The Sunday right concerts at the Winter Garden will come to a close next Sunday night. Carl McCullough has been signed by Arthur Hammerstein for three years. The contract ts to take effect immediately. Arthur Edwards and Company opened at the Harlem O. H, last Monday in Ben Barnett’s« playlet, Neglect. The act went over in good style, and will be booked to play the balance 27f the Keith Time. Margaret Anglin will in all probability play Roland Burke Hennessy’s Liberty Affame on the Orpheum Circuit, while Julia Arthur presents it in the theaters booked by the Tnited. Emily Ann Wellman has produced four play lets for vaudeville that have been accepted. Her newest act, The Young Mrs. Stanford, is bocked solid over the Orphewin Circuit. Bert Levy, Jr., son of the famous artist entertainer, left for France last week as a member of the Canadian Ambulance Corps. Harvey Brooks has donned a guit of khaki and is now one of Uncle Sammy’s tighrers. He surely looks well in the uniform. Hill, Cherry and Hill, comedy cyclists, have just returned from a tour of England, which lasted four years. They open at the Royel next Monday. The boys displayed contracts for European engagements, but prefer to fill same after peace is declared, John H. Billsbury, baritone with the Victoiia Four, was married last Thursday to Laura May Murphy, sister to Helen Murphy, the Chicago agent. James Duffy, formerly of Duffy and Lorenz, and Jack Inglis, lately working with Mae Redding, will be seen together in a nut act. Their offering will consist of comedy songs and patter. Apdale’s Animals are booked solid on the U. B. 0. and Orpheum Time until next May. Marion Weeks, one of the cutest songstresses in the show business, received an ovation at Carnegie Hall last Tuesday night, when rhe sang for the Red Cross Society, that she will not soon forget. The audience cheered ler endeavors for fully five minutes after she eoncluded. Little Miss Weeks cried with joy at the wonderful ovation, Sam Hearn, formerly Hearn and Ely, broke in a new single at Proctor’s Twenty-third St. last week (first half) and scored a huge hit. Miss Ely will be seen in the new Winter Garden production in fhe fall. Stan Stanley is now using a prop. square piano for his bounding. The new item was added to the act last week. Pat Rooney and Marion Bent are going to their estate on Long Island after they finish out the season. They headlined on every bill and hong up a new record of fifty consecutive weeks without qa layoff. Pat Rooney, Jr., the third, was one of the big hits at the N. Vv. A. benefit at the Hipp. Joan Sawyer and Nigel Barrie are rehearsing three new dances that are novel, They will play yaudeville dates. Jimmy Lyons is having a new act written by Darby Aaronson. ' PAUL PEDRINI’S BABOONS PASTIMES ON A BATTLESHIP SKIPPERS, SCHALMAN BROs. MAE MELVIN SCORES AGAIN Third Season for McWatters-Webb . Players in Saginaw, Mich. Saginaw, Mich., June 8.—Mae Melvin, closing her season with the Poli Stock Co., of Scranton, Pa., on May 26, left immediately for her third summer season in Saginaw, Mich., opening in Baby Mine on June 3, and receiving an ovation at each performance. W. O. MeWatters closed his season with the Fifth Avenue Theater, of Brooklyn, on June 2, and joined the Saginaw company on June 10, in Seven Keys to Baldpate. All of the old favorites, ‘including Miss Melvin, Mr, MeWatters, Leslie Webb, Edith Grey, Edith Bowers, Eleanor Pochelu, Lester Howard, Tom Kreuger, Victor Fletcher, Anthony Blair, Bennett Finn, 0, S. Davis, Bert Gage, are now in Saginaw and started the season in a blaze of glory, with indications pointing to an excellent season. McWatters and Webb have the company, whicb is located in the popular Jeffers-Strand Theater under the management of O. R. Henkel. POST CLOSES BOSTON RUN Boston, June 10.—Guy Bates Post closed his engagement at the Plymouth Theater last night, ending a run of fifteen weeks. Richard Walton Tully will present him in New York next season, CO-OPERATIVE GRAND OPERA New York, June 9.—The latest plan put forward by ingenious impresarios is co-operative grand opera. The chorus, orchestra and artists in the small parts will receive their salaries regularly. The principals, who receive the larger fees, will not be paid their salaries from week to week, but simply will be given a certain minimum amount, amply sufficient for them to live upon, the balance being credited to them and adjusted at the end of the season. SHEET MUSIC DEALERS MEET New York, June 11.—The National Association of Sheet Music Dealers assembled today at the Hotel McAlpin here in fourth annual con vention. Upwards of 300 members are in attendance, with many matters to be considered. Among the things to be discussed will be the new war taxes, liberty bonds, increased postal rates and the advance in paper. Charles W. Homeyer, of Boston, is president of the associa tion. Out of this meeting a patriotic song for a National Anthem may finally be evolved. LEYTON A VISITOR Albert J. Leyton, Western representative for the William Jerome Publishing Corporation, visited the home offices of The Billboard last week, stopping off in the Queen City on bis way Past. Mr. Leyton reports a big demand for Georze M. Cohan's latest song hit, Over There, and Bill Jerome’s If I Catch the Guy Whe Wrote Poor Butterfly. McKINLEY EXECUTIVES EAST Chicago, June 8.—William McKinley, president of the McKinley Music Company, and his general manager, D. W. Foster, are in New York arranging for a big campaign on Sweet Cookie Mine, one of the new songs likely to find its way into an Eastern production. The, are making their headquarters in the new Me Kinley Eastern office in the Exchange Building. MARCUS LOEW To Build in Atlanta, Ga. Atlanta, Ga., June 9.—It is probable that a new vaudeville thater will be built in Atlanta by Marcus Loew. E. A. Schiller, manager o! the Southern circuit of Loew enterprises, We» called to New York Tuesday to confer wit!» Mr. Loew relative to a downtown site for the proposed new theater. Upon his return Mr. Schiller probably will announce definite plans.