The Billboard 1917-11-17: Vol 29 Iss 46 (1917-11-17)

ee Pi EFS th ON nls Aran LEE RO en ne are tote reeanaeizatting tah von ——— The Billboard NOVEMBER 17, 1917 OBITUARIES BISPHAM—Lieutenant David Charles Bispham, son of David Bispham, the eminent baritone singer, was killed November 4, while making a practice airplane flight at the Hendon Course, Engiand, “er to information cabled the mother by the ritish Government. Young Bispham, who was only 19 years old, enlisted in the British forces last May. BURKHARDT—A. E. Burkhardt, at one time president of the Board of Directors of the Cincincinnati Zoological Gardens, died in this city early last week. Many beautiful floral tributes his popularity as a citizen of the Queen City. CARDEN—Noel H. Carden, a showman who had been in many branches of the profession, died recently at San Jose, Cal. He had been on the stage, both as actor and producer, and was at one time a carnival manager, in the lat er capacity being formerly with the Clifton-Kelly Shows. CHAPIN—Dr. Harry L, Chapin, a prominent Cleveland physician, who was the author of several motion picture scenarios, was found tn a dying condition in a Cleveland hotel November 7, all circumstances pointing to murder. Be never regained consciousness. Several theories were advanced as to the motive, but the murderer has not yet been apprehended. CLIFTON—Marion P. Clifton, who was in the cast of the original Uncle Tom's Cabin Company when it was showing at the Tremont Theater, Boston, during the Civil War, died November 8 at the Actors’ Fund Home, Staten Island, New York, in the 85th year of ber age. She was the oldest guest at the home, and only recently expressed gratification at the peace and quiet and contentment she had found there, Marion P. Clifton was a native of Ring vood, Hampshire, England, and was born in that village July 8, 1833, She made her theatrical premiere in 1852, two years after the death of her husband, John Clifton, to whom she was married in October, 1849. In 1864 she came to America, and made her first appearance here in summer stock at Boston, later going to Cincinnati, Denver, Buffalo, Rochester, St. Louis and other cities. In Cincinneti she played leads at the old Vine Street Theater. For six consecutive seasons she was with Maggie Mitchell and Kate Claxton. Her last appearances before the foot\ights were in the Two Orphans and Searchlights of a Great City. CROWELL—Captain Amos Crowell, a_ retired sea captain and a pioneer in the asbestos business, died at his home, Greenpoint, L. L., November 8, of apoplexy. While with the H. W. Johns Company of Brooklyn he supervised the making and hanging of the first asbestos theater curtain in this country. He also designed and made the curtain at the New York Hippodrome, FREULER—Mrs. Augusta Jess Freuler, wife of John B. Frenler, president of the Mutual Film Corporation, died at the Family residence, Milwaukee, Wis., November 8, following an illness of several months. Besides Mr. Freuler two daughters survive. FRETWELL—D. 8. M. Fretwell, father of Frank and Billy Colton, both of whom are well known to the profession, died at St. Louis, Mo., October 11, at the age of 78 years. He was one of the oldest showmen in the country. Buck Gardner, the oldtime clown, and Mr. Fretwell traveled thru Iowa with a wagon show years ago when that State was still a territory. He was one of the first to manage and take on the road the famous Five Cherry Sisters of Marion, Ia. The death of Pop Fretwell, as he was as known, will be mourned by many riends. GIACCONI—Mr. and Mrs. Ernesto Glacconi, members of the Boston National Grand Opera Company, committed suicide by inhaling gas at a boarding house in Baltimore, Md., November 9. Despondency over the recent Italian military reverses is believed to have caused their action. The couple came to the United States from Torimo in 1894, and have been connected with the opera company for some time. Giacconi was a tenor and his wife was a ballet dancer. HANSEL—Howell Hansel, aged 56, who was a member of the old Boston Museum Stock Company in the years when that organization was renowned, died at his home, New York City, November 5, of a complication of diseases. He went on the stage at an early age, and was under the management of Charles Frohman for many years, appearing in Sowing the Wind, Lady Windemere’s Fan and a dozen other produections. Under David Belasco, who was his manager for two years, he was presented in The Woman. He also played leads in stock in Pittsburg, Chicago, Brooklyn and other citles. Of recent years he has devoted much of his time to the moving picture business. When Thahhouser was one of the larger concerns he joined it and produced its much talked of serial, The Million Dollar Mystery, besides directing many other features. He directed for the WorldBrady Company and was director of Tou Tellegen for Lasky and Famous Players. For some months he had been retired from active connection with the profession, during this time traveling extensively. HARPER—Andrew Harper, with Doing Our Bit, now at the Winter Garden, New York, died November 7 in that city. Death was due to heart trouble. He was 29 years old, and is survived by a mother and two brothers. Interment was In Worcester, Mass. JORDAN—Mrs. Susie Jordan, wife of Thomas Jordan and a member of Paul’s United Shows, died at Findlay, O., November 6. She was born at Auburn, N. Y., in 1857, and had been in the profession for many years, the last nine of which were spent with Mr. Paul’s show. All who knew her ealled her mothér, because of her kindness to show folk. KENDAL—William Hunter Kendal. actor and theatrical manager, prominent in the British Isles and in this cemntry, died November 6 at London, England. William Hunter Kendal (William Hunter Grimeton) was born In 184%, and was married in 199 to Margeret Robert son, whose stage name was Madge Robertson. Following the severance of theatrical relations with John Hare, with whom Mr. Kendal had been associated in the ownership and .management of the St. James Theater, London, from 1879 to 1888, the couple came to America. From then on their talents were the subject of international appreciation. Their greatest successes, perhaps, were scored in The Iron Master and A Scrap of Paper, two plays of the older school. To Mr, and Mrs. Kendal belongs the credit for bringing Pinero’s The Second Mrs. Tanqueray to this country. The play elicited much criticism at the time, but in our day it is recognized that the Kendals were paying the penalty of pioneers. IN MEMORIAM In Proud Memory of Our Beloved Son, AUSTIN C. KYLE GJOHN AUSTIN) Age, 22 Gunner 22d Howltzer Battery, Canadian Field Artillery. Killed In action on the Somme front November 10, 1916. GEO. W. AND MARGARET C. KYLE. KOHLE—Mrs. Anna Kohle, proprietress of the Oriental Hotel and Bathing Pavilion at Rockaway Beach, N, J., died in the Rockaway Beach Hospital November 7. She was a widow and had lived in the Rockaway section for 20 years, LOMBARD—Viola Mae Lombard, beloved little daughter of John G. and Minnie Lombard, was run down and killed by an auto truck while crossing a Providence (R. 1.) street, recently. Mr. Lombard was out ahead of The Girl of Eagle Ranch Company at the time. It also connected with Van Amburg’s and other circuses in this country. In later years he became a globe trotter, going into many lands with various organizations. He had held the posttion of equestrian director with Orrin Bros. in their travels thru Mexico, with Charini, Frank Gardner, and for the past eight years with the Shipp & Feltus Circus. His tours took him ovep the whole of Europe, to China, Japan, Mexico, to Central and South America. Interment wae in the Protestant Cemetery, Rio Grande, and the funeral was attended by all members of the company. Services were read by the American Vice Consul. Mr. Rolland was about 53 years old. SIMMONS—John Simmons, trap drummer with Barfield’s Minstrel Show for several seasons, died November 6 at Atlanta, Ga., where he had gone for medical treatment. He lived only three days after reaching Atlanta. SWOPE—Mrs. A. W. Swope, wife of A. W. “Cap” Swope, the oldest stage carpenter in point of service in Dixie, died in her 65th year at Atlanta, Ga., November 5. She was known to every stage hand who has ever worked in Atlanta, and was loved by everyone for her kindness and gentility. She was made an honorary member of Atlanta Local 41, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Her widower, who survives, is known thruout the South. He has worked on the stage of every theater built in Atlanta since the Civil War days. THOMPSON—John C. (Jed) Thompson, for more than thirty years an employee and for the last eighteen years stage manager of Ford’s Grand Opera House, Baltimore, Md., died in that city November 9, a victim of Bright's disease, He was born in Stockton, Cal., and was 51 years old. While employed as a carpenter in Baltimore he drifted one day to the stage of Ford’s, and was offered employment as a flyman. That was when be was 20 years old. Twelve years later he was promoted to stage manager and ever since had held that respons!Die position, going away but once (as stage manager for the Eugenie Blair Company), only to return a year later and resume his old duties at Ford’s. His willingness to do favors became a byword among theatrical people and it brought him the favor of managers and players. His widow, Mrs. Florence Thompson, survives him, WESNER—Ella Wesner, who was reputed to be the highest salaried woman in vaudeville 40 DOO99-4-9-4-9-F99-4-9-46-6FF46FFFF FOO OOFOPOOOOOOOOSES SS DF OOO NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS! The increase in Postage Rates effective Nov. 2 in no wise affects the subscription price of THE BILLBOARD. There is no charge for postage on subscribers’ copies andZthe_subscription price remains the same. eee enna aenennnnnnnnnnnannannad was a severe blow to the parents and a great shock to many professivnal people who knew little Viola well, and loved her, MEEK—C. R. Meek, owner of the Interstate Shows, died at Herrin, Ill., October 23, as a result of injuries sustained in an accident. His widow and one child, a daughter, survive. NANN—Mrs. William Nann, a cabaret enter. tainer and singer on the stage, her husban’ and three others were killed in an automobile accident at Berlin, Conn., November 5. Mrs. Nann, who was known professionally as Mae Wilson, was filling an engagement at the Hotel Bond, Hartford, Conn., at the time of her death, , O’BRIEN—Owen O’Brien, « Government officer and the father of Miss Patsy O'Brien, who is in the profession, died at Sharonville, 0., November 1, the result of pneumonia, contracted during a raid on a pacifist meeting in Cincinnati recently. RAMSAY—Frank Morris Ramsay, actor-playwright, who wrote under the cognomen of Ramsay Morris, died at bis home, Jersey City, N. J., November 4. A native of Little Falls, N, Y¥.. he engaged in mercantile pursuits in his youth, but early felt the lure of the stage. He made his first appearance with William Gillette in French Flats and the Professor. Later he wrote The Tigress and starred in the piece. About that time he decided to retire from the stage and devote his talents to play writing, two sueccesses—The Irish Gentleman and The Last of the Rohans—subsequently following, in both of which Andrew Mack was starred, His next play was a vehicle for May Irwin and was called Madge Smith, Attorney. In 1902 Mr. Ramsay wrote and produced The Ninety and Nine, a melodrama, which met with instantaneous success. After fifteen years it is still being presented in stock and in motion pictures. Mr. Ramsay was the personal representative of E. H. Sothern and Julia Marlowe during their joint starring tour and until 4 retirement. His last connection was with Join Drew in a managerial capacity. ROLLAND—William Rolland, in former years a circus rider and tumbler and of late equestrian director of the Shipp & Feltus Circus, now touring South America, died of a complication of diseases September 21 on board the steamship “‘Itassuce,”’ while the company was en ronte from Port Alegre to Rio Grande, Brazil. He first entered the sawdust ring with the old P. T. tarnum Show, of which his father was a member, and under the parent's tutelage he soon developed into a high-class rider and tumbler, In the latter capacity having few equals. Ile was years ago, when she was a familiar figure at the London Theater on the Bowery, New York, and at Tony Pastor's, died November 11 at the Home for Incurables in the metropolis. Stricken with paralysis fifteen years ago she was forced to retire from the stage. She was a native of Philadelphia, aud was 76 years of age. WILLIA MS—Jobn D., or “‘Honest John,” Williamsg as he was known to showfolk the country over, died November 8 at Oshkosh, Wis., following a long illness of pleurisy. He was 63 years old. John Williams was a man to emulate. A farmer’s bey, in his youth he aesumed the support of a large family, the bunien falling upon his shoulders with the comparatively early death of his father, and later on, by usxing straightforward and square-dealing methods, raised himself to a commanding position in the theatrical world and earned the sobriquet of “Tlonest John Williame.”’ Instead of employing holdup methods with performers he dealt more than fairly with. them, and they repaid him by spreading his name to every corner of theatricaldom., It was thru his untiring and zealous showmanship that Osbkosh came to be known as the best “one-night stand’’ In the country, and in that community he enjoyed a reputation euch as seldom is attained by any man. In addition to his theatrical interests he was aleo actively identified with the skating profession, and in the °80s operated rinks in various Wisconsin towns, Of late years, because of the inroads of vaudeville and motion pictures into the popularity of legitimate productions, he had leased the Oshkosh Opera House, of which he was the owner, and devoted his talents to the billposting business, Three sisters and a brother survive Mr. Williams. WHY W.W.IRWIN DECLINES TOC), TO RUSSIA FOR GOVERNMENT (Continued from page 3) letter, however, Mr. Creel stipulated that M-. Irwin was to be under the control of Mr. Sis son. He also instructed Mr. Irwin to proceed to order such material and equipment as he deemed necessary for the educational campaign in civil Russia, and informed Mr. Irwin that such orders would be paid by check from Washington. The clause concerning Mr. Sisson’s authority, however, preved an insurmountable barrier to Mr. Irwin, and he wrote Mr. Creel, under date October 29, in which he declared himself as unable to undertake the service imposed under such conditions, The essential portions of this letter follow: “From the moment that this country entered into the war I think there is hardly a man who has not felt every time he met another in khaty that he would like to find a way to do his “pjt’ and who has not been turning over in bis wind the question as to how he can actively support the President, and thus do bis part not oniy for the American people, but in the cause of de. mocracy. 7 “In my own case I am too old to be a private and aw likewise too old for a commission ax q lieutenant, and could not hope to be a captain without a very long period of study and tra ning Therefore I was troubled because at a loss to know what I could do. But from the moweont I listened to your recital I realized that here was a splendid work in which I was thorely com. petent, Just as much as I would be for an of. fcership had I graduated from West Point or Avnapolis, and that accordingly I had ne right to consider my family, my personal re. sponsibilities, or my business, or permit those factors to influence me in’ not undertaking 9 work which I knew I could accomplish to the fullest extent possible under the conditions ex. isting in Russia; in other words obtain the ex. hibition of educational motion picture subjects to the largest possible percentage of the Russian public and to all of the Russian troops withing the shortest possible space of time. “The endeavor to make the motion picture a factor in the saving of the lives of thousands of American boys by exhibiting to the largest percentage of the Russian public and to all of the Russian troops within the shortest perind of time; in other words, by getting the largest percentage of the peuple to thinking upon the same subject at the same time, involves a tremendous responsibility to the cause of democracy, to the support of the President, and to the Amer. ican people. Even now the Italian lines are being crushed by the Germans withdrawn from the Eastern front. “Ilowever, you say in your favor of October 24, that E. G. Sisson ‘will be In absolnte author ity,’ and that ‘all expenditures before being in curred must receive bis approval,’ “It is to be assumed that the recommendation by the Motion Picture Industry of me as a proper person to undertake this work in Russia means that by training and experience I am an ex. pert, qualified to form the best judgment to avcomplish the end under the conditions as I fin! them, and likewise fully qualified to accomplish the execution of the plan determined upon. It ix also to be assumed that Mr. Sisson, who is an accountant, who knows nothing about the me. tien picture businese, and who bas never unidertaken the execution of a business plan of this kind, is not as well qualified to exercise jug ment or to dictate its administration. “Yet, in the final analysis, it would be Mr Sisson’s judgment which would control, fer at all times be would be privileged to exercise the power of veto, so that in reality I could carry out no plans witbout keeping in close touch with him and using the time and energy of explaining them to bim and convincing bim in stead of meeting conditions as they arose aun! at all times would be subject to his disapproval either of execution or of expenditures involved. “To thus jeopardize the cause of democracy by placing this work under the authority an! control of one incompetent by training or ex perience to judge or to execute would in my judgment be unpatriotic. “To determine definitely upon a plan of procedure before leaving fer Russia is, of cou «, impossible. It might well be that upon arriving in Petrograd, or Moscow, I would find that sue) motion picture exhibitors as there are in Russia would not readily take and exhibit the pic tures to the extent desired, or that the Ro«<ian public, which is extremely suspicious, weull not believe that the pictures were gent by this Government, becanse of the fact that the ex'')!t ors charged an admission, or that all the ex!/bit ors would not furnish re?iers to read the Russian titles to the very large percentage of the illiterate, or that our enemies were causing the titles to be incorrectly read and the films to be destroyed by the operators, and that therefore It would be inadvisable at that time to establish a system of exchanges; that it might be deciledly more advantageous to obtain the largest theater or theaters In each of the largest cities, and operate them simultaneousir, Of course, with no admission price, from 9 o'clock in the morning until 12 o'clock in the night, or during the entire twenty-four hours if the attendance warrante! it, by the reason of the proclamations iseue! by Premier Kerensky, the military Governors of the Provinces and the civic authorities calling upon the people of Russia to see these pictures, and if necessary with extensive advertising in addition to the proclamations; the pregrams of pictures to be changed weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly, as the attendance warranted, so that each unit of pictures would be shown to the greatest percentage of the people in each city, and to continue this process thrueut the smaller cities until the hamlets and the crossroals were finally reavhed. Or it might be that affer the initial showing im the larger cities and the proclamations accompanying them the people would be so areueed and so anxious to see the actual social, industrial and econemle con/Jitions of this country that ther wonld be willing te pay the exhibitors admission price, and that tie product could be placed in the hands of the ex hibitors without undue fear of its destruction thru sinister influence, and that therefore the establishment of a erstem of exchanges woull be more expeditious and economical, “Whatever the plan determined upon each rember of the small organization taken from country would be thorely competent te te it, and to meet all conditions that woul! in fact, after quickly, but thoroly, gaining formation as to the operating conditions isting in Russia, a plan of procedure be laid out, and thé members of the \..erican unit would spread out over Ruesia with specific Instructions, of which each would be thoroly competent of execution. What se tion of Russia, I myself would handle is, of course, unknown, bat, after determining upon the method of operation and developing the specific instructions, my own work would be of the same character as that of my associates, “Under these clirenmstances I and mr ass° clates wonld at times be several thousand wiles away from Mr, Sisson, and therefore unable to properly explain to him or, if necessary, convince him of the destrability of necessity of certain expenditures or procedure, or, may be, unable to