Variety (April 1911)

12 VARIETY REVIVAL OF OFFENBACH. Paris, April 10. Many will be glad to see "La Vie PariBionne" if only to compare It with modern operette. This famous piece by Meilhac and Halevy, music by Jacques Offenbach, was produced at the Palais Royal during the gay days of the second Empire, forty-five years ago. All connected with the first production have passed away with the exception of Lassouche, now an infirm invalid. The revival of this famous operette at the Theatre des Varieties, April 9, was awaited with interest. It will probably run till the end of the sea- son. The dresses of 1866, and the light, catchy music are a change. Mmes. Mealy, Mistlnguette, Dieterle, and Caulnier, with Mm. Max Dearly, Prince, Brausseur, Guy ajid Morlcey, form a strong cast. The'plot is in- significant, and if first produced in 1911 would be considered a revue. The theatres of the 60's may not have mounted their productions so gorgeously as at present, but they were certainly more entertaining than many of the so-called psychological studies modern authors think it neces- sary to write. ALL STAR CAST. For his all-star revival of "The Lights o' London," George R. Sims' most successful English melodrama, William A. Brady has selected Hol- brook Blinn, William Courtenay, Doris Keane, Marguerite Clark, Thomas A. Wise, Douglas Fairbanks, Charles Richman, Lawrence D'Orsay, Thomas Q. Seabrooke, Leonore Harris, Jeffreys Lewis and Frank Hatch. The piece opens at the Lyric theatre, May 1. SOCIETY'S ELECTION JUNE 8. The annual election of officers of the Actors' Society of America occurs June 8. Thomas A. Wise has been president for the past three terms; H. Nelson Moray has been secretary for two years, and the present treasurer, Har- old R. Woolf has been In the office two years. Edward Locke, of "The Climax," is serving his first term as vice-president. Members recently admitted to the society are Maclyn Arbuckle, Richard Carle, Fred Niblo and Margaret Ben- nett. TWO DRAMATIZED NOVELS. Baker & Castle have planned to produce next September, a dramatized version of Harold McGrath's novel, "The Goose Girl," having purchased the dramatic rights. They also expect to present Mc- Grath's "The Puppet Crown." "Behold the Man," a play by Mr. Baker, is also due for a fall presentation. A PLAY FOR EDESON. "The Cave Man" by Gellett Burgess has been placed by the DeMille Com- pany with Robert Edeson, who will use it as a starring vehicle next sea- son, probably opening in September at the Hudson theatre. "The Woman," another of the De- Milles* new plays, with Helen Ware, William Courtleigh and Jane Peyton, opened in Washington Monday night. it plays in New York next season. IS WINTER GARDEN "OPPOSISH?" If the Winter Garden is not "oppo- sition" to the United Booking Offices, then what is It? has been the Ques- tion asked this week, since the Shu- berts placed the Bell Family in the Winter Garden show Monday. The Bells appeared at Hammer- stein's last week. While the United managers were talking about the act, the Shuberts grabbed it off for four weeks, with an option. As it is recognized that any house which can use big acts, and set a price, becomes dangerous as opposition, the wise boys are waiting for the clash to arrive between the United and the Shuberts. Last Sunday, the United, It is re- ported, "pulled out" four acts the Winter Garden had engaged for the Sunday night concert. MINNIE SELIQMAN. A legitimate vaudeville success from the legitimate, playing with WILLIAM BRAM- WBLL BENEFIT FOR GOODWIN. A movement Is on foot among legit- imate managers to tender a benefit to J. Cheever Goodwin, once the best known librettist in this country, and now confined In Bloomingdale Asylum. Three weeks ago Goodwin was quietly removed to the asylum. His relatives made every effort to conceal this step. The news gradually reach- ed the Lambs Club and the ball start- ed for a monster testimonial. The stricken man is now over sixty years of age. There is si/ .1] ,'iope for his return to either permanent mental or physical health. Goodwin wrote or adapted probably fifty librettos, the best known ones being "Wang" and "Dr. Syntax," for DeWolf Hopper"; "Evangeline," for Edward E. Rice; "The Merry Mon- arch" and "The Lion Tamer," for Francis Wilson. His best work was done in collaboration with Woolson Morse, the composer. ASSOCIATION MEETING. The Dramatic and Musical Agents' Association will meet May 2. Some important matters will then be con- sidered. Steps will be taken to classify the actors accordingly and weed out the "undesirables." Over 1,100 names will be gone over by the association members. THE HONOLULU CO. San Francisco, Ap. >* 1. During the visit here of J. 0. Co- hen and iX. W. Congdon, twe of [ha directors In the recently orga tte* vaudeville company of Honolulu, it .: came known that considerable dissat- isfaction had sprung up in the com- bine since its birth. uY to a few days ago it looked as though the dif- ferent managers would Feparate and renew opposition or :ue Island. Until the comb' ion was effected, the vaudeville si'u. ilon was controlled by three men in Honolulu. J. C. Cohen operated the Orpheum, Cong- don had the Park, while J. W. Scully offered his nctractions at the Empire and Savoy. Each house imported acts from Australia and America. With only a few blocks separating the houses, competition v m strong. Salaries were raised until a profit- able week for the manacrv v* a novelty. The question of fining came up and the trio were quick to see the advantages. Scully was made, gen- eral manage' and appointed Mrs. Ella Weston, o'. Frisco, to furnish the acts. Just before the arrival here of Co- hen and Congdcn. Scully forwarded a contract to Mrs. Weston giving her exclusive power to furnish attractions for one year commencing March 1, last. It seems that Scully had written several ageal* here stating that Co- hen and Congdou would shortly sail for San Francisco, but that they had no power to contract for the combine and could not book any acts without first consulting the board of directors. Upon Cohen's arrival he was told of the contract that Scully had ma ie with Mrs. Weston. He appeared both surprised and aggravated. Consult! mi Congdon, they both agreed taut Scully had exceedej his authority and informed Mrs. Weston the contract cancelled. Mrs. Weston refused to accept the cancellation, stating she would continue to send the showy to Honolulu for the remainder of the year. Nevertheless Cohen and Cong- don have been booking up acts for their houses. At present none knows who really has the right to sign Hono- lulu contracts. Congdon, who sailed on the "Wil- hemena" April 12, Intimated he would attend to matters once he reached home, but failed to explain why Scully, who had been elected general man- ager bad no authority to Issue the Weston contract. Congdon admitted he bad been thinking of "jumping" the combine, but said that matters had been patched up and everything was lovely. Harry Werner, an American of this city, is building a new house in Hono- lulu to play vaudeville in opposition to the combine. It is claimed that Wer- ner has sufficient capital behind him to build several houses on the island. Cohen will remain here a few weeks longer before returning home and will, he claims, appoint someone else besides Mrs. Weston to represent the company. AQ30UT SONGS. Kendis.ft Paley, the music publlsh- r- i.Iaim the Injunction Maurice Sha- piro was granted restrainii.^ them from publishing n song which Shu. ! > > %J!.gei was an infringement on a * - v apiro" number, is the outcome or a «'t Kendia & Paley have against Sh*v>'r * for 112,000 In royait \ The Shaplr. vug. Mr. Kendis says, is not o;\ sale. Mr. Shap'tC when seen regarding the matter aid the suit for royalty had nothing whatever to do with the aittachment and injunction proceed- ings and that he was perfectly willing to let the courts decide the whole af- fair. The Shapiro number is a "man- uscript song," fo ther stated Mr. Sha- pl \ and Is on aale, and is a good rel'ier although it Mas not been "push- ed." "Ken'.is & Paley took advantage of my nor pushing the song to take it bodily," said Mr. Shapiro. "In re- gard to raising the attachment, if tli» coma through with a bond large enoi».». i\ to ^over the amount of the dam^gi s, that may also happen." Another song to be a storm centre is "Come Back to Aaron," which is held in manuscript by Charles K. Har- ris. A Philadelphia publisher thought he had the first version with the same title, before both learned that Harry Von Tilzer had placed first claim upon a similar number and name by pub- lishing It. RETA REDFIELD. Clever singer of character ■onga HARRY LUTHER DIES. Boston, April 19. Harry H. Luther died at the City Hospital Monday. He came to Bos- ton in advance of "M'lle. Rosita." Stricken with rheumatic fever the day that he was to have been transferred by the Shuberts to the French Opera Company, Mr. Luther developed diph- theria about two weeks ago. For a number of years he was con- nected with a local newspaper and left that four years ago to become associated with John W. Luce in pub- licit.* v crk for Norumbega Park, food fairs anu -'-viilar enterprises. He was 31 years o.. ■ -.'» leaves a mother and sister. Mina Minar and "The Darling of Paris" have been signed by Morris Gest for the Orpheum time, opening July 12. May Robson makes another tour to the Pacific Coast this summer, playing the John Cort circuit on route.