Variety (March 1909)

VARIETY 13 "The Cracker's Bride." "The up-lift of the picture business" is the everlasting slogan of the American manufacturers. "We see a new light; this is another era." "Mistakes of the past will be corrected." "Pictures are en- lightening, educational and meant to be amusing," and so forth and so on ad lib. Then in the present day The Kalem Co. produces a misshapen, shuddering, disgust- ing and revolting picture called "The Cracker's Bride," where intrigue, deceit, and perhaps infidelity are permitted to triumph to the point of seeing a husband shot to death by the lover of his wife, with other unsightly views. That is the kind of "up-lift" which justifies the po- lice wherever shown in stepping in to prohibit the demoralizing exhibition. The "American Manufacturers" had better take steps to censor themselves and their pro- duct if they agree that this "Cracker's Bride" is a fit subject. simc. "Educated Abroad.? Chicago. The wife of a business man sends her sen to Europe to be educated. He re- turns with a college chum, both attired in toe height of English fashion, and ac- companied by English valets. The boys fall in love with each other's sisters. While out strolling their demeanor at- tracts several vaudeville artists, who de- cide to imitate them in full dress in a sketch. They see the performance and are convinced that they lack manners. The v&udevillians coil on the two young men and make things merry, until the father, ruother and the two betrothed girls descend on them in the midst of the gayety. The family is shocked. The girls return the engagement rings and the young men are reprimanded. During the night they cap- ture a burglar. This places them into the graces of the senior and everything ends happily. There is pertinent comedy in the situations. (Essany Co.) Frank VPtctbcrg. "The Skipper's Daughters." Chicago. A dainty love story is depicted on a lumber schooner plying the Gulf of Mexico. An old seaman has two rough and husky fellows engaged in the work aboard ship. The old man also has two daugh- ters. Oue is in love with the first mate, while the other bestowed her affections on the second mate. The first mate becomes tired of his sweetheart and turns toward her sister, much to the delight of the father, with a desire to have his eldest daughter marry the big fellow. Through an encounter the old skipper takes a dis- like to the lover of his younger daugh- ter. Jealousy between the two mates and the girls brings on numerous dramatic sit- uations. The entire action takes place on the boat. Some of the incidents arc thrill- ing. It is a remarkable picture in more than one sense. The photographic work is excellent, and the characters are well por- trayed. It is an interesting subject. (Selig.) Frank WUaberg. "The Elixir of Dreams." Manhattan. "The Elixir of Dreams" is a new Pathft out this week, and a revival of the old Pathfe school before the French manu- facturer discovered that morbidness and sensationalism would prove a more firm foundation for the picture business—in France—than comedy and artistic scenic productions. "The Elixir," purely fantas- tical, without comedy, is familiar to all those who have watched moving pictures for any length of time. To those, it is a very tiresome series. To the others it will prove slightly interesting, the "devil- ish" effects exciting curiosity as to how .worked. The pantomimist in it is of an inferior brand. Sime. "A Cure for Rheumatism." "A Cure for Rheumatism" is a comedy subject, uncompleted through the point not being made. No cure is shown in the picture, although that may be sur- mised. While it is called "rheumatism,'' the elderly gentleman supposedly affected seems to be suffering from gout. How- ever, he listens to a patent medicine ad- vertisement, purchasing the article. Upon opening the bottle received, a number of bees fly out, following the rheumatic one as he runs out of the house. The bees also attack the members of the family, and at the morning meal the day after, the folks are shown all bandaged over the spots where the bees landed. It is a short reel, and the comedy possible could have stood much extension. Simc. BUFFALO BARS SUNDAY PICTURES. Buffalo, N. Y., March 25. .The Buffalo moving picture people at- tempted to steal a march on the local police by opening their houses Sunday without announcing the intention in ad- vance. The authorities pounced down upon them without delay. Many managers were arrested and it is the general opin- ion that the attempt to disturb Buffalo's dense Sabbath repose will not be again at- tempted. WON'T LICENSE OPERATORS. Paris, March 15. The new union of moving picture opera- tors has petitioned the French authorities to create a "Brevet" or certificate of ca- pacity for all operators of cinematograph lanterns in public halls, the same as is required in New York. The prefecture of police of Taris has just given an unfavor- able decision, stating that at present there is no reason why such an official certificate should be granted by the authorities. The operators' association wjll continue the agitation in favor of such a control by the police. COMBINATION IN BLANEY'S. Pittsburg, March 2i>. Blaney's Theatre is playing combination vaudeville and pictures, three shows daily. James L. King, formerly manager of the Associated Booking Agency, is in charge of the house under its new policy. The Associated is booking it. Jos. Moreland, the former "effect man" at the Manhattan Theatre, New York, and who was undoubtedlv the inventor of the present "talking picture" through the suggestion given by him in his apt "read- ing" of the dramas on the sheet at the Manhattan, is now the town talk of At- lantic City, where his drawing power is evidenced by the packed houses Sunday nights at the Savoy. PARIS NOTES BT EDWARD 0. KBHDRKW. Paris, March 15. As I cabled this week, Messrs. de Cot- tens and H. B. Marinelli have engaged Ethel Levey for the revue at the Olympia, entitled "Paris Singeries," by Max Dearly and Millot, now postponed to the 17th. A great feature of the show will be an act by two monkeys. Other important stars figuring in the revue will be Vilbert, Max Morel and Mile. I. de Bremonval. In the third tableau there is to be a match be- tween a train and an automobile, Alexia, danseuse, great and good, and the present ballet will remain on the program. A. Franck, of the Gymnase Theatre, took over the Apollo last week, for the purpose of mounting the "Merry Widow," but as he is not ready this music hall is remaining open for the month under the management of M. Montpreux, an impresario, with vaudeville. The attractions are Benevol, Mexican spiritualist, and Wood, the lion tamer. There is a rumor that the Casino de Paris is to be sold again. In the mean- time Mr. L. Yidal is drawing fair crowds by a smart show and cheap prices. His clou is Nudita, "les Chemises a Travers les Ages," in which we see presented by a woman the lingerie of every period, be- ginning with the Indian in the virgin for- ests, to that of 1020. The act includes the garb of the middle ages, Renaissance, Pom- padour, Louis XVI, Empire, and the "Apaches." The revue at the Folies Bergere has taken a new lease by the introduction of several new skits. The greatest draw for the moment, however, is the short engage- ment by Mr. Bannel of Chris Richards, the "London comic." The show will prob- ably run to May. This resort has been doing the best business of any music hall in Paris since Christmas. Mile. Aboukaia, well known here as a champion woman cyclist, who performed the looping the loop act, the human arrow, and then the aerolithe in a motor car (with Barnum, among others), has just completed her latest thriller, "La Comte Yivante," n human flying comet. This is an extraordinary trick for a woman to perform. She launches herself from a high column, head first, crossing an open space of about 1) yards and falls on a per- pendicular board on her hand, sliding to the l>ottom like a sled. The slide is rounded a little at the end, so that she again mounts a short space caused by the im jM'tiiB of the fall, and finally alights on her feet on the ground. Daisy Andrews, an American girl, who has l>cen managing the Theatre des Arts for sown- liuie, has now withdrawn from this house. The difficulty is said to be a dispute with her partner, Omnt Huberts. d'Humicres, who insisted on producing a French version of n Spanish play, "La Marquesita." which he himself had trans- lated. Miss Andrews declared she would not permit her name to be used in the mounting, of such a subject at the 'theatre des Arts, and walked but. This little playhouse was fast becoming one of the most fashionable resorts in Paris, under Miss Andrews able management. Ix>ie Fuller was personally appearing here last season, and Mr. Frohman also loaned "Peter Pan" for a short run. An old danseuse and also novel writer, known as Celeste Mogador, has just died at the age of eighty-five. Her real mar- ried name was Countess ue Chabrillan," and 50 years ago she was the rage of Paris as the Prado dancer. The death of this famous old lady passed almost un- noticed. "Luna Park," formerly Printania, the sale of which was reported in Variety at the time, is now in the hands of the workmen, who are hustling to erect the scenic railway and other side shows, in time for the fine weather. The Marigny is busy rehearsing for Its summer season, which will commence with- in a few weeks. The Ambasaadeurs Con- cert will also open end of April, while the Alcazar d'Bte and the Jardin de Paris (all four in the Champs Ely sees) will follow within a fortnight. DEMONSTRATOR OP "SOUL KISS." Vesta La Viesta, who tried to interest New York society some time ago from the lecture platform in the "soul kiss," "intellectual waves" and all manner of other flossy, high-brow subtleties, has been seeking to draw attention to herself this week by offering to become a vaudeville act. She first applied to the Morris office. Asked what sort of a specialty she could do she replied haughtily, "I will guarantee to transport any audience to Neptune in 12 minutes." She would go no further into detail.' The Morris people said they didn't book Neptune and advised the brain-throb lady to consult the managers of the "smaller time." Chas. Raleigh, of the Raleigh-Roberts Co.. film manufacturers of Paris, who are active in the independent moving picture projects, sailed for the other side March 17. lie will return in June. An American compnny has released in Paris a picture on the subject of the wreck of the Republic and the use of the wire- less telegraph aboard. The reports in the daily papers this week that Mike Donlin would rejoin the New York Giants were denied by the vaudeville people. Donlin is under con- tract to play the Orpheum Circuit well into the baseball season. The annual ball of the, Hippodrome em- ployees occurred last Wednesday night at the Palm fiarden, New York. Next week is the last under Marie IXiin- ton's present United contract. Miss Pain- ton will appear at Hammerstein's. Con- tracts offered the English mimic for this and next season have been steadily de- clined by her unless the increase in salary demanded is complied with.