The Billboard 1924-11-01: Vol 36 Iss 44 (1924-11-01)

Ll th no “—_ eit th NOVEMBER I, 1924 tor as John Loftus, of the ave the speeches of the char his connection with the cided that any radio drama ha TITTLE (EATER wing the public ation of the article B deasting Plays by John M neis, “direc tor of The Masque, of Troy, Y., published on this page, issue of ptember 27, John Loftus, of the ! f Schenectady I , sent u mment on the subject of broadcast which he entitled White Magic, pubd in our issue of October 18, in which took exception to the method suged by Mr. Francis, and points out it Mr. Francis has mixed identities in erring to KF. Horace Smith of Schenecas “the father of the ‘hearies \fter reading Mr. Loftus’ comment, Mr. ‘rancis replies as folfows: Editor Little Theater Department, The Billboard: Dear Madam—I was rather flattered it so excellent and so experienced an WGY Playof Schenectady, had done: me the > which you so iy published anent the broadcasting plays in which I held that I thought ivs could be improved for the radio written so as to cters in Mr. Loftus id that he did not believe that a Master Voice to indicate aforesaid business would be practical, and I quite aer with him in that respect, altho I did mention the matter in my article as ‘ rgestion from Luke Conness, who this summer Was the director of the Proctor Players here. I think that such an arrangement would slow down the action of the play and interfere with its inerest, but I don’t believe that The Cat and the Ca ry or any other play of the spoken word and not all pantc mime can t be rewritten to advantage for the earies”, or White Magic, as Mr Loftus picturesquely describes “the magic. of radio drama” I was also very much interested to rn from Mr. Loftus that my old friend Horace Smith, who used to play around the Ghost Club of Watervliet, and m I had the honor to direct during Masque of Troy, was now Edward H. Smith, and I assure ou that the misuse of his name was from force of habit Evidently the radio writer of ne New Hera’d-Tri? ea not tree with her Mr. Loftus or me in reg: rd to the ies” when this morning he st: sted column: e WGY studio played the curtain music to the Path of Glory, beginning at § p.m. the ¢ , Once more we struggle n of this form of ent ndering who was who We n four characters (with ¢t ferent voices) will be nothing less than a cross-word puzzle of the air (Signed) JOHN M. FRANCIS. In this connection we would like to ar from The Delphian Players of Phila delphia, who have broadcasted guite extensively during the past several years T? Delphian Players of Ph lelphia presented a four t play at the Seamen's Church Institute, that city, October 14, ind at the Philad: iphia Young Friends’ A iation October 29. A SYMPOSIUM ON PLAYS? In reporting the success of the presentation of Rachel Croth« play, Mary the Third, during the week of October 6, at the Pasadena (Calif.) Community Playhouse, H. O. Stechhan writes: _ “Mary the Third caught on at the finish and caused more discussion than anything we have done. It HUGH WILLIAM TOWNE Director The Towne ester, N. —Photo by Nep HuNGERFoRD, Artist Photographer. Players, of Rochve The Billboard (COMMUNICATIONS TO ELITA MILLER LENZ. suggests a thought: Why wouldnt it be interesting for The Billboard to start a symposium in the Little Theater Department on the sort of plays best for the little theaters to do? There are a lot of different ideas on the subject Whether it is desirable to put on ultra modern things or steer NEW YORE OFFICES) visory board and a staff of playwrights, scenic artists and costume designers. The aim of The Pillbox will be to develop talent in every branch of dramatic art. MANHATTAN PLAYERS HOLD RECEPTION The Manhattan Little Theater Club, of ( Pastor Links Religion and Little Theater ELIEVING religion and the stage in his church. The proval of the Moreover, it is almo departure Inside the edifice a large room was orginally set apart for the The youth the sake of the innovation. Casts for two different plays, chosen from church members. completion and the will soon be a matter of history. highest draniatic order. He the youthful He now s it clear he hand in ha He said: The play has has be en € xe divorced from + they ought to Le, before people a truth in a way that ich other orthod: x idea of godliness, which enticen devil.” plays, id the theater in his church with of the times and ; “Re lige n in the broad sense ideal,” he “As su asserted. ligion. Lawrence University,” New Marlowe Mr. Fletcher ployed parts ichine'lo, Grump in the at. Malvolio in the Tu the purpose of inculca and the actor “Hitherto,” says Mr. Fletcher nature have been produced usually and for remunerative returns reg The preacher's initial program few weeks at his and Between psychologic: ‘ ysophy of e Ex the first and fe The church-theater has a seati nticipates the fill the ho use a semi-circular backstage curtain, duces an illusion of the entire tings” possible. “It is very easy, people. The states Mr. between 18 and 35, who will study productions. and skillful company, with the stock plays. study of plays Later will be formed. (As printed by The Boston Traveler) Fletcher, Universalist pastor in Haverhill, has just launched a has been underiaken with the. full apme mbx Ts of this wealthy religious institution, t without precedent in that its ultimate aim is the evolution of a sto ” company of church-member hall has been re of the congregation have gladly yielded their prerogatives for each a one-act production, have been Work on the scenic effects is now_nearing first presentation of the Universalist Society of Haverhill Mr. Fl-tcher has in mind the ultimate development of a cast of the says his plays promise more than ordinary success from point.of view of attendance small city stock company has to a large degree become extinct, He wishes it understood that the mastor has in mind the day whe ne his church company may be able to draw large audiences thru I believes the church ana the theater should go always been a vehicle for spreading the gospel. It eedingly unfortunate that the stage and the chure” In theory they are very closely rela * for .the drama offers 4 very effective mear The minister's church-theater plat . = e .he theatrica > as Even new ne 7 The Haverhi i minister believes tu church-member performer: is in ke 1 salutary alternative tur many can only be de fined in terms of life, which is the co-operative quest of the more truthful, h, anything which makes for the better appreciation of life, as the drama, is of interest to the church and closely associated with reYou can't have progress without appreciation of-life, and the main aim of the drama is for that specific The minister is the originator of the church-theater plan. York, he took part in performances staged there unde r Prof Ed on Miles, c yril fth Night, and Sir Anthony Absolute The av rhill Church experiment, a ng appreciation of the drama in both the “church performances of a for entertainment ardless of iglish servi unt. the second play ing capacity of several hundred, and the day when the ¢ scene and are favored by the minister since such scenery is expensive but because less shopworn with use Fletcher, motion pictures have done that to a certain extent. do not wish it understoed that our productions are in any sense in the nature of opposition to other theatrical productions. Already the members of the Ra averhill Universalist Church are making ans for the o nization of a dramatic oo he ; a: plays and take part in the different Eventually Mr. Fletcher hopes to develop a_ well-schooled semi-professional in character, qualified to go on production of one play after a church class for the adults of more advanced age for should go hand in hand, Norman D. theater actors, m< +. led into a theater. This use of young people’s entertainments. and box-office receipts because the undertaking is nonprofessional, but sheer m¢ been ially ting cH ee.°° far cry froa a-time me cer*= ~ Jenominatios Own upon Oe ror staging performances in ping with the trend sgreen productions. more beautiful and more purpose.” While at formerly with Sothern and Julia in The Wonder Hat, and the roles Maude production; the Aunt in according to its oricinator, is for audience theatric purely and simply artistic me ri t.’ consists of the productions, to be mare h auditorium, of Overtones, a ( vory, a commentary on Three persons comprise the cast in hurch stock company will easily The stage has been modeled after those of the little theaters, in which draping a salient scenic section, pro“imaginary setnot only less and more varieties are These are termed “to get wrong values before Yet I ” circle. It will comprise members another, as in the production of —————— Se clear of the controversial and taboo subjects?” The suggestion is a splendid one and the editor invites news of successful plays and the resultant discussions. “THE PILLBOX"— A NEW TUEATER A little theater will be established in Springfield, Mo., under the direction of Joseph P. Peek, former professional actor, About November 1. Inspired by the Wharf Theater, where the now famous Provincetown Theater made a humble debut, and Kathleen Kirkwood's Triangle, located in a cellar down in Greenwich Village, The Pillbox will be located over a_ former blacksmith shop at the corner of Patton Alley and McDaniel Work of repairing and refitting is now under way. While The Pillbox will be equipped in a thoroly modern manner, , Rt have a seating ca gecity of only 1 peop r. Peek will .be BSsleted by an ad New York, Walter Hartwig, director, held its second general meeting at the Lennox Little Theater, 52 East 78th street, Manhattan, Sunday afternoon, October 26, at 3 o'clock. New members were greeted and made acquainted. An interesting program was given, consisting of a soprano solo by Josephine Forsythe, and an address, The Idea of the Avocational Theater, by Mr. Cosmo Hamilton. (Excerpts from Mr. Hamilton’s lecture will be given in the next issue, this department.) THE “PURPLE MASQUE” OPENS SEASON The Purple Masque Players of Kansas State Agricultural College opened their tenth season with a program of one-act plays October 24. The program will include Schnitzler’s Questioning Fate, Rock & Jacob's Ghost of Jerry Bunder and Wellman’s For All Time. The First Year will®™®e the first long play and will be presented December 56. 43 Captain Applejack will be February, and will be followed by You and I and Begyar on Horseback some tine during the pring If time allows the musical comedy Leave It to Jane will also be given prod uction in the spring. The Purple Masque Players are under the direction of Earl G. McDonald, formerly associated with W. C. Troutman at the University of Illinois. produced in Professors Koch and Carolina Players, were Billboard office last week Denny, of the visitors at The PLAYERS’ CLUB BUILDS THEATER The Players’ Club, composed of business and professional people of Detroit who have a fond love for things theatrical, is to erect a theater and clubhouse of its own. A desirable location has been chosen in Jefferson avenue, a few blocxs east of Woodward avenue, and plans have been completed for a two-story brick building. The auditorium will seat several hundred. A stage will be installed with modern facilities for the presentation of . plays. Work on the building will start shortly. It is hoped to have everything in readiness for the coming holiday season, at which time several appropriate pieces are expected to be presented. Many of the plays presented by this organization are the works of the members. The project bids fair to attract many new members. OTTAWA'S (CANADA) THREE GROUPS Ottawa, Canada, has three pareee little theater groups. The largest of these, The Ottawa Drama League, held its annual business meeting in the Victoria Museum recently. The first offering of the season will be three plays by British and American authors, to be presented within five weeks. The membership of the league is now more than 960, and promises to reach the 1,000 mark before the end of the seaon. Changes have been made in the league’s theater ‘providing for a larger stage and greater seating capacity. Each offering of the league will be presented for four evenings instead of three, as in the past. MARQUETTE BUILDS A LITTLE THEATER W. R. Duffey, director of the Marquette University Theater at Milwaukee, Wis.. is clearing the decks for a season of hard but pleasant work with his student little theater players. Director Duffey, formerly of the University of Texas, has been given jurisdiction over the entire fifth floor of the Johnson Building of the University. Carpenters are converting this space into a model laboratory, with full theater equipment. The Marquette Players will this year again present Every man, in which they won local fame, and will also do one popular playprobably The Tidings Brought to Mary. Mr. Duffey has won his spurs in this line of work, and since coming to Marquette he has earned the confidence of both faculty and students, and an almost ideal situation for real good work now exists. THE LADIES HOLD A PLAY CONTEST To stimulate interest in the drama, the Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs, thru its community drama committee, recently held a play-writing contest. The result of the contest, as announced by Pearl a Broxam, of Maquoketa, is as tollows: Mrs. Henry C. Taylor of Bloomfield awarded the prizes, the first prize-winning play to be presented by a group of Waterloo Federated Club women. The first prize of $50 was awarded to Mrs. D. E. Graham, of Waterloo, for her (Continued on page 68) BUY BORROW BURGLE But You Can't Do Without the DRAMA YEAR BOOK FOR 1924 re Dollars. Postage Prepaid. OSEPH LAWREN, Publisher, 220 West 423 Street. New York. 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