The Billboard 1924-03-08: Vol 36 Iss 10 (1924-03-08)

MARCH 8, 1924 The Billboard 43 A LONDON LETTER Treating of the “Legitimate” By “COCKAIGNE” Congreve-Evans-Playfair ON! . Feb. 1.—The event of last week . was the event of the season—Nigel Piaytats production of that first of all ne earean plays in our tongue, Con£ “The Way of the World” comes the author, of course, the inimitable conversationalist, most felicitous of phrasemakers, master of LE MOT JUSTE. ' i our latter-day Millamant, the And actress for whom, unconsciously or with the magical foresicht of a great artist, Mr. Corgreve wrote this greatest pure comedy part, Edith Evans, No, editor and reader, I will not tantalize or provoke you to regret that you cannot make a thousand-league trip to enjoy Mrs. Millamant’s ineffable variety. Nor will I risk repetition of eulogy which I have made fomiliar to you. But I'M content me by the bure statement of the fact that, as before in seyeral creations, Evans has placed herself at the forefront of our English actresses, in her last part she has proved herself unexcelled br all players that I have ever seen, Tefore last night I thought Cecile Sorel the post mistress of artificial comedy, Duse the 't exponent of the sympathetic, Mrs. Pat F (om: bell the perfection of spoken English playing, Gertrude Eysold Edith Evans includes all-comprebending and “at pheric’”* 2 most potent presence. al! ose. She is : i this is to threaten endden and painful hilgtion of any American manager who ‘ s ber off from Lendon while I am left i regrinate the West End o’ first nights v, to the boldly successful manager who i , v s this witty and beautiful piece, vy cast (with more or less pardonable exsntly interpreted and beautifully 1 nied, all power? “Peter Garland’s” Sentiment With the beet w'll in the world my undaunted colleague of London's criticdom can scarcely be sald to have risen to the sugary bait of “*The Eternal Spring” “Peter Garland’, who wrote the piece, is, I learn, in private life Norma Munro, of a New York publisher of cheap novels. I expect them were cheap, for “Glamour’’ and “‘The Eternal Spring’’ make me understand why some of our less sentimental plargoers (and the less sentimental ones are more rarely playgoers than they ought to be, thanks to saccharescence of cheap novel sentimentd@lity) avoid all American plays like the plague. Of course they are wrong Im many cases. Rut they judge by majorities, daughter some of very the Poisonous Publicity the journale which have the interest Im the theater and employ worst critics (or none) rush to streamers, Curious how least real th e placards and breathless stories when there are theatrical indiscretions or bard-luck items to chronicle! Whenever news is slack, and murders are scarce, to rake up whenever politics the news fiends seem theater scandal to pepper the sluggish intelligences of the readers of the evening papers “Actor Manager's Lady Friend" or “Chorus Girl's Language’, or “Actress WellKnown Clubman’ or “West End Theater Scandal'’—these and such scarifying introductions to stories usually as innocuous as boring vitalize the eyes of the groundings and lure the nimble pence from the pockets of the easily provoked, But one evening journal excelled itself in its impleasant search for a theatrical sentation, It announced on its billboard that some Sues recently & West End theater manager bad been guilty of check frauds. But the cream of the Jest Against its silly curious purchasers was that the “sensational announcement™ was merely to the effect that a case was to be bronght a week later against an (unnamed) manager for gful conversion, And when the case came along the “theater mansger’’ was a cinema manager and the case, rose apparently out of a misunderstand wr ine of the terme of a subordinate’s salary, ws oh d. So the poor mutts who shelled out fk howe Journals were nicely had. And the swindle was that perpetrated on them by v ws editor, Rut all this does the theater a lot of good! It seems high time that the West End manacer met the Newspaper Proprietors’ AssoCiat to discuss a policy for the suppression of this dragging of the profession thru the Arthur Collins Leaves the Lane that Arthur Collins was twenty-six-year management of our greatest theater was a surprise in point of time rather than In point of fact. Por it had for some time been romored that his contetion with the honse, which be has so suc announcement terminating a cessfully managed for a generation, was not likely to last long. On the night of the recent production of the great ‘‘Good Luck,"’ Collins was seriously ill and had to superintend the last rehearsals in great pain. I think, however, that other than immediate reasons of health are responsible for the change and expect to find this capable and popular producer at work in other directions before many moons have waned. Basil Dean, who follows Collins into the directorship of Drury Lane, is a producer of quite another theatrical tradition. The typical Collings productions were sporting melodramas and pantomimes. Dean {is relatively highbrow in comparison. tho his ‘“‘intellectual’’ tendency is always adequately admixed with boxofficious caution. Whether his regime at the Lane with Sir Alfred Butt will last as long or make so deep an impression on the public as Arthur Collins’ rule did, Dean is sure to give us intbresting and well-devised enter‘a nment. Beginning his theatrical career as a reper tory actor, Dean has made a name for himself by a large number of admirable productions including several big successes. Galsworthy has been a mainstay of the Reandean management which now controls the St. Martins and Ambassasore_ theaters. Dean also produced ‘‘Hassan”’ for Grossmith and Malone at His Majesty's, With Butt he is associated in management of the Queen's. And now our of the Old Vic. by becoming patrons of the association, Several new members of the royal family have been to the Waterloo Road to see Robert Atkins’ Shakespearean productions. Peter Gawthorne lost nearly $50,000 on “The Island King’ at the Adelphi. A trustee of the estate in bankruptcy has been appointed and this actor is making payment out of salary with a view to settlement of the claims against him. Harry Welchman’s first essay in management with A, W. Gattie’s “Sir Jackonapes”’ is, I hear, likely to prove a winner. Welchman has a swasbuckling part of the George II period in which he makes all his personality and ability tell home. Nearly fifteen hundred Actors’ Association members have renewed their cards for this year and 151 recruits have joined. The managing director of the Australian Hugh J. Ward enterprises, Sir Benjamin Fuller, leaves London at the end of February for South Africa, where his management will form 8& company to exploit various shows. The capital for this corporation will probably be about $2,000,000. Sybil Thorndike sent out a tour of “The Lie’ this week. Dropping in to the dress rehearsai, I was pleasurably impressed with the Lucy of Marie Ney and the Nell Didbin of Charles Thursby. Dora Barton plays the wronged sister, Elinor. Miss Thorndike finds the success of ‘The Lie’’ so “obstinate’’ (as they choose usually to call it) that she will probably not present Shaw’s ‘‘Saint Joan’’ until the antumn. Graham Moffatt will soon replace ‘Bunty Pulls the Strings’’ by “Susie Knots the Strings’® at the Garrick. Cliv Currie’s production of Nickleby,”’ seen lately at the “Nicholas King’s Hall, UNIQUE THEATRICAL FRATERNITY Pe tt 7 ot The Herring Club, started early this season by principals of Hurtig On It’’, Columbia Burlesque attraction, as a big family”’ by many road shows next season. vg HERRING i ; ‘a & Seamon's “Step means of enlivening that much desired ‘‘one spirit on the show, is proving so successful that the idea promises to be adopted The Herring Club has a formal initiation, special pass words and signs and official songs. After every Friday night perfermance the members assemble around festive bo rd, devour herring and selected erages, e of guest members or ‘‘scales’’. Cincinnati. It shows Horace Goldin, Helen Spencer, Left Fin; Marty Semon, Hall, Scale No, 1; Harry Bart, Scale No. the megician, Right Gill; Mrs. Niel, Lower Right Fin; Col, S. Dawson, Left Fin; Lou Stark, Rght Eye; Alvin Cincinnati, Left Eye. ““‘swissel’’ side dishes and bev avd then co duct the formal affairs of The Herring Club, including the initiation The accompanying photo was taken of a recent meeting in Fourder and King Herring; Geo. Niblo, Head Herring; Tail Herring; Adele Ferguson, Right Fin a-d Treasurer; Juanita Mitchell, Fat Roe; Ben Joss, Backbone; Harry Leyton, Skin Herring; Jim 2; Jas. R. Walters, Scale No. 3; Howard Thurston, Howard Thurston, Left Gill; Mrs. Divis, Top Fin; Geo. Me manager of the Olympic Theater, Cincinnati, Lower Plough, publicity agent for radio station, WLW, greatest theater, both in tradition and size, falls to this young but tried regisseur. Church-Stage Alliance Yet another parson has taken Goethe's “Oft have I said that any with an actor for his maxium to heart, preacher might profit tencher.”* The Rev. Simon Jones of the Nottingham Unitarian Church will give performances of ‘Tannhaeuser", ‘‘Parsifal’ and ‘‘Lohengrin” ip bis eburch as his opinion is that the church should “enlist all that is best in music, poetry and literature.”’ $7,500 Digit While touring in Rhodesia in 1922 George Graves made a trolley trip to the Zambesi River. Owing to overloading the trolley ran amuck and overturned, so injuring the comedlan’s left hand that the top of the index finger had to be amputated, This weck Graves was pleasantly surprised by a cable informing him that he would re ceive $7,500 by way of compensation. Brevities Their Majesties the King and Queen have signified their appreciation of the fine work Covent Garden, will be given at the Savoy for a special matinee in ald of the Little Folks’ Home. T. C. Dagnall has Harold Terry’s play “Collusion’’ booked for a trial at Bowrnemouth February 18, with Iris Hoey, Allan Aynesworth and Ilugh Wakesfield in the cast. Donald Calthrop’s new venture at The Kingsway February 19 is a fantastic ballad opera, “‘Kate, or Love Will Find Out the Way.’ In this old piece certain ‘‘Beggar's Opera”? stars will shine for Frederick Ranalow, the inimitable Macbeath has a leading role. Nellie Briercliffe and Percy Parsons (the terrific pirate of “Folly’’ fame) are also in the cast with Sydney Fairbrother, Marjorie Gordon, Erie Lewis and Gregory Stroud. An American-born singer, Blanche Scandina, made good in her first stage appearance as the Queen of Night in “‘The Magic Fiute” at Covent Garden. Miss Scandina sang the virtuosic part with a tonal and artistic effect that won critical praise, and it is to be hoped that she will be heard to more effect in less tricky parts which offer a greater chance for her voice and intelligent technique. Prince William of Sweden, a confirmed Stage Employees and PROJECTIONISTS (Communications to Cincinnati Offices.) The annual ball given by the I. A. T. S. BE, of Superior, Wis., February 18 was a huge suc cess. The Badger Inn was packed from the start until the last strains at 2 a.m. Music was furnished by Souter Lavic’s ten-piece orchestra. Al Borde of the Rialto Theater acted as master of ceremonies and announced Harland Thompson, who responded with his rich bass voice. The Rialto Quartet, consisting of Al Borde, Earl Miller, Billy De Musy and Harland Thompson, scored. Fulton McGrath, young musical director, responded with several solos and also accompanied Earl Shane, saxophonist, The editor of this department would like to hear from members of the I. A. T. 8S. EB. from Duluth and from other towns of the lake regiong In a communication received by the editor, Local No. 10, I. A. T. S. E., Buffalo, N. Y., claims to have one of the richest stage hands sn the United States. He is Bob Palmer, reputed to be worth about $65,000. He has been on the road about twenty years and had @ m«sical show out at Long Beach, Calif., called “Palmer’s Revue.” James Lehmke, former president of the I. A. T. S. E., was re-elected president of the Labor Temple Association of Troy, N. Y., at the annual meeting beld recently. He has headed the organization since its foundation. I. Seymour Scott, of the musicians’ union, was reelected secretary and treasurer for the sixth consecutive term. Harry Armstrong, stage manager of the Avon Theater, Watertown, N, Y., bas been appointed a member of the police force of that city. Local theater managers recently were guests at a banquet of the I. A. T. S. E., Parkersburg (W. Va.) Local No, 100. A chop suey dinner was heartily enjoyed. The idea of the banquet was to promote a greater spirit of friendship among managers and employees. Those in attendance were; F. C. Smoot, C. 8. Smoot, P. J. Hassett, Camden and Lincoln theaters; R. J. Hiehle, Hippodrome; P. W. Barrett, Strand, and Pete Thomas, State. Organization members were: E. Phillips, J. C. Kelly, T. C. Ward, E. A. Early, Calud Riffee, M. M. King, George Trissler, Lewis and Fred Smith, Henry Hiehle, J. W. and R. H. Drake, T. McNulty, H. P. Mullenax and Charles Campbell. Plans are being formulated for the célebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Wheeling (W. Va.) Local No. 64 of the L. A. T. 8, B. Committees in charge of the celebration, to be held April 10 at Arion Hall, have been appointed and big things are being looked forward to in the way of speaking by prominent people, vaudeville acts, novelty dancing and banquet. Members of Wheeling Local, A. F. of M, will co-operate. theatrical enthusiast, has translated “Hassan” for the Royal Theater at Stockholm. As I previously stated, he has another play of his own for early production. BUY DIRECT AND SAVE 50”, Low Overhead, Big Sales, Small Profits—that’s how we cam make this offer Enelish Broadcloth Shirts $1.70 EACH Which ! ides ’ 2""% deposit, balance C. O. D., plus postage. Siz 13% to 17 im. White, tan, gray and blue. Puli cot. Well made CORONET TRADING COMPANY 314 Canal Street, NEW YORK, If not satisfied, money back, including all charges. = a mts ee eee Se ee ee oe ed ee ee ee ee Se ee ee re ae apes. > pening 4 it.