The Billboard 1924-03-22: Vol 36 Iss 12 (1924-03-22)

OAs MARCH 22, 192% The Billboard 23 DRAMATISTS’ GUILD MAY SPLIT UNLESS FIRM ACTION IS TAKEN Certain Members Growing Impatient at Delay of Organization To Adopt French Plan of Dealings by Playwrig'its With Producers ee YORK, March 17.—Rapidly increasing impatience among an influen tial element of the membership organization in its dealings with pitate a i irrent Broadway. induce the Guild to adopt the French playwright'’s method of doge business thru the professional organization by a steadily growing facon of the dramatists’ league gives promise of bringing this spirit of imto a head. on Efforts to natience The plan of d-aling with the manager direct t 1 the guild, and thus tending to do away with the play broker, would, according to & proponents, do away with many of the abuses now suffered by the playwrights. Under in the playwright would assign his rights to the guild, which would undertake to 1 e the member's bra'nchild, draw up the contract and ect th royalties, of which the ganization would deduct five per cent, to go toward the maintenance of the league and the t lng of a clubhouse. With the manager dealing directly with the guild and thus placing the responsibility for the uimmatist’s receiving fair treatment from t ger upon it, the organization, propo point ont, would r s of the plan time be a strong, independent factor in the theat aul t ness. If a manager is reported as v ting s contract with some one particula author, the guild, under the proposed plan \ 1 have authority to bring the delinquent manager to task by threatening to stop the performances of otber members’ plays it manager's product ig of t a prom 8. e Dramatists’ Gu nent English author, wishy-washy, managers He realization of their At a recent meet or f the members led the membership for its attitude toward the rged them to come to the value and power in the wright, » sald, ts the theater, for the plariiwark of the es the produc ing And het until the organized piaywrights come to ac be ; very br and without his servi agers would be practically useless wt this simple proposition and accordingly t, he said, will the prof andard of manager. g upon the ess rain the t and st value due it current t nh the producing man the English were controversy be and Actors lared that devil and **As for myself,"’ be continued Actors’ Equity. In the hands of manarotten and will continue to be gers playwright de “betwixt the devil, or the treatment at we are in the role managers and not managot abroad last week that the guild scheduled at a local hotel because of the collapse of negotiaActors’ Equity and the manave guild had planned to renew its urgns of settlement at nad dinoritative the treasury kets it fest go Hied off its dinner ns “tween the gers, as t ’ irbitration as @ mea the linner The actor-manager situation ning of the ng to do with the t it post pr. from an aut ranged for was learned The dinner ) sole if succor'ng the gui d's weak ! because of the mild r for ti ded to let the soup-and-fish more time HARRIS ACQUIRES NEW PLAY \ he som propitious Tiarris has Tlorse New York Mare! 1S Sam H ased a new play, “The the joint effort New York World and fe on a St the vief’ which ta af 1 he it writer merly an Louis newspaper, and tor. It is to be Thomas Ilarris the y; “Echoes 1 Forrest dire: California by inated with Fly comer stage nied this spring in Ae who has been ass mber of also is ef “A Dry 15", «a musical irs ago; “Tar and _ productiona, Town", a : several “Quick produced and comedy Feathers" If. Austin Adams’ latest play, “Agnes, fs eduled for production at the Spreckels Thea r, San Diego, Calif., April 4 and & It will be presented by the San Diego Vlayers, The Play, which was written under the title “God vl Company’, has been accepted for production by Margaret Anglin, but as she wll not appear in ft until fall San Diego will have the honor of witnessing the premiere performance, with the willy-nilly, timid policy of the the producing managers threatens to split in the American Dramatists’ Guild, according to a report WHAT'S THE ANSWER? Springfield, 0., advance agent ap March 14.—When Al Jolson’s eared in ? this city recently THE KELLYS WIN HANDS DOWN New York, March 17.—The name of Kelly is potential in New York's theatrical life. At first sight George Kelly seems to top the list with “The Show Off’? as his claim to fame. Then there is Margot to appear in a re Kelly, who has been re-engaged vival of “Pierrot the Prodigal’’. Gregory Kelly is making his debut in musical comedy with “Little Jessie James'’, lately presented in the Middle West. Paul and Doris Kelly opened this week at the Morosco Theater in *‘The Lad Killer’’. Kitty Kelly figures prominently in Mary Jane MecKane’’ at the Imperial and Harry Kelly luminates in ‘“‘Ar tists and Models"* at of productions there are George M. tle Nellie Kelly’ and Vincent pending “Kelly’s Vacation’. fair pame of COHAN TO PLAY CHICAGO the Shubert. In the field Cohan’s *‘LitLawrence's imKellys off to the Wolly Kelly. New York, March 11.—George M. Cohan will terminate his engagement in “The Song and Dance Man" next week at the Hudson Theater, when he will present his production in Chicago for an indefinite period. ‘‘So This Is London”’, another Cohan show, will end its career in the free list was suspended and even Gus Sun Philadelphia tomorrow night. was forced to buy his own ticket for ‘“‘Bombo", as well as to plank down the cash for seats Word comes from London that Philip Goodfor the press critics. Sun raised a kick but man is in possession of a new comedy called the A. A. was adamant, declaring that Jolson ‘Dog’. The play has to do with a smallwas not particular about the newspapers nor salaried clerk who rubs elbows with the fashionwhether he played any one-night stands. Neverable set at a seaside resort, only to fall in theless, after the necessary deposit had been love and marry a girl whom he later dismade by Gus, t aforesaid A. A. saw to it covers was engaged in the same game of that local newspapers were plertifully supplied This is one of several plays Goodman with “copy”. to produce next season. PANTAGES THEATER, SAN DIEGO ’ nd o As "fe = ; x ‘ : its be AY % es TE AA as ae in meh ” IW Wis wee » * Se ¥H a, Be DY Yel tee 2 CMs «ua ~~ erred Fg 4 on od 2% 33 se es: # ~) OR Se te ii ee ED i = fh oe 7 — $49 39 St 22 3 M1343 sine be Soi B bai 34 : (Hi Ge ws vt PPP ir ee | ¥ ; 5 4 , ’ . : ey if TP Way yy a? 2 27.38.3211 eee) Soe if Sy ay. 33 tag's Peet aw TT ow ieeist* Bt be rw es Ba an Fe 7 ef aceriit oy on = ; } Ty eee . ; ~~ mee SS 8 eee — The Pantages Theater, San Diego, Calif., is the pride of the Pactages chain of vaude ville and pciure houses. audience of 2,200. Fred Niblo, presented a gold watch by Mr. Pantaces. initial program, and her husband, Robert stars present were Charlie Chaplin, Norma and Constance Talmadge Buster and Alice Calhoun. It was formally opened M-rch 10 with many celebrities in the master of ceremonies, Pantages and their daughter and two sons. introduced Alexander acd Mrs. J. Priteca, architect of the building, was PHILHARMONIC CONCERTS PLAN New York, March 15 clety of New York Phil its concert The is changing armonic So dates cons‘derably next season from those followed during this one. There will be twenty concerts xiven at Carnegie Hall on Thursday and Friday afternoons, the same program being presented at each pair ef concerts. Twelve Sunday afternoon and six rday eve g concerts also will be given at Carnegie, each with a different The concerts program at the Metropolitan Opera House will be ent exactly in half, only five being given instead of ten, ax prevailed this season. All of these concerts will be g'ven on Sunday after noons, the Tuesday evenin altogether, g series bein g omitted HULL SLATED FOR LONDON New York, March 15.—Lewis & Gordon are preparing to produce rhe Nervous Wreck"’ in London with Henry Hull in the leading role. The management had previously approached Lynn Overman with an offer to visit the British capital in the play, but the actor felt disinclined to make the trip. The English presentation will take place in the autumn, Owen Davis TRUEX FOR CHICAGO New York, negotiating for the Cl Ernest Truex io several plays, namely, “It's a Boy"’, “‘New Toys’’, to which be is now playing the Subway Circuit, and ‘Around in Par" Mareh 17 Lester Bryant appearance of is now ago Mae Murray, star of the photoplay on the Leonard, the director, spokes. Other film Keston, Shirley Mason, Barbara La Marr, DAVIS MAY SPONSOR PLAY New York, March 17.—Apart from collecting royalties, Owen Davis intends next season to assume the responsibilities that go with presenting one’s plays. Where Sam H. Harris was formerly his favorite producer it now ap pears that Dav's will have all to say about the presentation of his new play. he playwright has already engaged Martha Bryan Allen for the leading feminine role, and in due time will announce a complete cast, NEW MUSICAL SHOW New York, March 15.—Walter Brooks and John Isquith will be producers of Alonzo Price's new musical comedy, “‘The Go-Getter’. It is due tv open in Baltimore April 28, and the week following the production will be seen in Washington. William Kent, who is leaving “Mr. Battling Buttler’® at the and Louise Allen are reported leading roles. FRAZEE CASTING NEW PLAY Selwyn Theater, engaged for the New York, March H. H. 15.—"My Lady Friends”, Frazee’s new musical play, will have Richard (Skeets) Gallagher in the role created by the late Clifton Crawford. Gallagher will wind up his engagement shortly in “Up She Goes”. Anna Wheaton may be forced to withdraw from the Frazee show in the event of her having to undergo an operation. She hae been suffering the past week from appendicitis. DRAMA COMEDY Observes “‘President’s Day” Players From ‘‘Wonderful Visit” and “Lollipop” Entertain and Best & Co. Stage Fashion Show New York. March 15.—Yesterday was Presi dent’s Day at the Drama Comedy Club, of which Edyth Totten is president. Heads of various women’s clubs in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Richmond were among tha guests of honor, including Mrs. Edward Austia Tuttle, the oldest active clubwoman. Mrs. Austin made a_ graceful little speech in a clear, unquavering voice, despite her ninety years, and when leaving the platform executed a girlish hop, skip and jump that evoked rounds of applause. Clarke Silvernail tendered Mrs. Tuttle, on behalf of Sarah Alexander, the oldest living active actress and a member of his company, a box for any performance of “‘Rust”’ that she might designate. Other guests of honor were Lisle Leigh, also of the cast of ‘Rust’, at the Fifty-Second Street Theater; Zelda Sears, Adore Andre, Irene Dunne and Leonard Ceiley, of the cast of ‘“‘Lollipop’’, at the Knickerbocker Theater; Catherine Calhoun Doucet, Paul Doucet, Sylvia Van Rensselear, Amy Wren, Mrs. Estelle B. Wagner, Eugene Lockhart, Mercidita Wagner, Mrs. Thomas Slack and Mrs. E. Glogau. Carl Fique, organist, opened the program with a rendition of Weber's ‘‘Euryanthe”’. A fifteen-minute memorial service was then held as a tribute to recently departed meme Miss Mercidita, violinist, and Mrs. Estelle B. Wagner, pianist, contributing a melody of remembrance. Zelda Sears, actress and playwright, then introduced Irene Dunne and Leonard Ceiler, who sang several songs from “Lollipop’’ and their own repertoire. Addison Fowler and Florenz Tamara, of “Lollipop’’, delighted with new and clever dance offerings. A scene from ‘‘The Wonderful Visit’, play bers, ing at the Lenox Hill Theater, was given by Robert LeSueur, Margaret Mower, Virginia MacFayden, Kate Mayhew and Marion Beckwith, of the cast. A motion was made and carried that members of the Drama Comedy Club would attend performances of “Lollipop’’ and “The Wonderful Visit’’ in the early future. A special singing quartet. composed of Elsa Gray, Royal Halee, Louise Scheerer and Charles King, sang several of Zelda Sears’ compositions, followed by a solo by Mr. King, basso of the group, who startled the assemblage with the unusual depth and range of his voice, This personab'e yeung man has assisted mann-Heink in concert. With consummate artistry and delightful ease of manner le M. renowned concert pianist, played two selections from Chopin and “‘Promenadas d'un Solitaire’’, by Stephen Heller. The fashion show, directed by Silvia Vas Rensselear, augmented by Eleanor’ Lannon, pianist, and Fred Miller. saxophonist, Introduced many interesting of the formal, informal ta‘lleur and modes for women and children, and was beautifully presented. The next social of the Drama Comedy Club will be held in he Grand Sallroom of the Hotel Astor, Friday afternoon, March 28. A feature of this meeting will be a book discussion of ‘‘Simon Called Peter’’. Mr. William A. Brady, who is producing the play of this name, will participate in the discussion. CHARLES LAWRENCE ENGAGED Mme. Schu Cece Berens, phases sports 17.—Charles New York, March Lawrence, seen last season in “Helen of Troy’’, will suc ceed Louis Simon shortly in the cast of ‘*Moonlight’ at the Longacre Theater. Simon is resigning to begin rehearsals in a new productior The second “Helen of Troy’’ company nounced to Saturday, following lasting seventen weeks. MISS LAWRENCE HAS NEW PLAY New York who starred in is an close a tour March 11.—Margaret Lawrence, will return to Sam H. Harris’ management ip 9, new comedy by Lyn Starling, entitled ‘‘In Bis Arms’. The play was successfully tried out on the Coast by Thomas Wilkes with Miss Lawrence in the leading role. Starling incidentally is the author of **“Meet the Wife’, at the Klaw Theater. DUSE CLOSING TOUR New York, March 14.—Eleonora Duse will play eight farewell performances in the East before returning to Eurepe. The Italian star has just closed her Pacific Coast engagements and next ] be seen in Detroit. Duse will play a Secrets", week will returp engagement on Broadway before sailing for home, appearing at the Metropolitan Opera House on May 5 and 8 ; es ee ee een