Variety (June 1911)

Vol. XXIII. No. 3. JUNE 24, 1911. PRICE TEN CENTS BIGGEST AMPHITHEATRE EVER, OVER GRAN D CENT RAL STATION New Railroad Depot's Top to be Planned for Sports, Shows, Exhibitions and Circuses. Two City Blocks Wide. Successor to Madison Square Garden. The biggest amphitheatre of its kind ever contemplated for indoors, will be erected by the New York Cen- tral Railroad on top of its immense new Grand Central Station, now build- ing. The space covered by the station (two city blocks in width, and several in depth) will be topped by the large successor to the Madison Square Gar- den. It will be reached by inclines, and planned to accommodate all exhi- bitions, sporting events or circuses. The plans are now being prepared. They have been submitted for approval or suggestions to showmen and oth- ers accustomed to handling big exhi- bition features. The N. Y. C. in utilizing the atmos- phere above its depot has hit upon a scheme of employment that has nev- er suggested itself to New York man- agers. The demolishment of the Mad- ison Square Garden starts next Feb- ruary. No date has been set for the completion of the huge undertaking for the 42d street station, but the in- terval that New York must go without its big industrial show hall won't be for long. The Madison Square Garden has housed all the big shows in New York for fhe past twenty years. Georgia caine retires. St. Louis. June 21. Something has happened at Delniar Garden. Instead of Georgia Caine re- maining two weeks, it is announced her engagement will end Saturday night. Ann Taskar, the prima donna of the stock opera company, will sing the titular role of 'Boy Blllc-.• , the A. K. Thomas opera to be premiered next week. Miss Caine doubted her ability to study and prepare the role- in a single week, it is said. Ann is progressing rapidly. Two years ago she was little known and won at least a part of her first recog- nition at Delmar. Winter, 1909-10, she sang ingenue roles in the "The Silver Star" and last winter was given a lead in "Madame Sherry." Stardom is now expected, as Henry W. Savage will send "Boy Blue" on tour if he is pleased with the show. This possibil- ity was said to have been one of the attractions that took Miss Caine so far from Broadway, when it was an- nounced she would create the role. CRAWFORD AND GAITES DIFFER. Conflicting reports are abroad to the effect that Clifton Crawford will not appear under the direction ot Joseph M. Gaites next season. That there is a "difference" between him and the manager, is common gossip. It appears that Mr. Crawford lays claim to some of the authorship of the piece in which Gaites is to exploit him next season. The "misunder- standing" arises out of Crawford's de- sire to be reimbursed for the "child of his brain." At last accounts some kind of an adjustment between man- ager and star was imminent. DENIES "KITTY" REPORT. It was reported on Broadway this week that Kitty Gordon, the statuesque Englishwoman, would be the principal woman with "Modest Suzanne" when A. H. Woods produces that piece in Chicago Labor Day, opening a twelve weeks' engagement there. At the Woods office it was denied that Miss Gordon had been even con- sidered in line for the company. Harry Cooper has been assigned the chief singing comedy role in the Woods' production. The play is now running in Germany. PARIS FOLIES CLOSING. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, June 21. The Folies Bergere will close its season on Sunday night, which, all told, has proved very successful. Over six months of the season was con- sumed with P. L. Flers* revue. The establishment will re-open early in September with vaudeville. A revue, as usual, is due in December. "QUAKER GIRL** LIKED IN PARIS. (Special Cable to Variety.) Praia, June 21. George Edwardes' production of "The Quaker Girl" opened at the Chatelet theatre last night, and was acclaimed by both audience and to- day's newspapers as a brilliant enter- tainment. It is here for but a run of ten days. COL. LANDS A LIVE ONE. Chicago, June 21. Colonel Thompson, former manager of the American Music Hall here and for a brief time director in general of the Vesta Victoria Vaudeville Tour, has landed another "live one" with a bank roll. The Col. is now preparing to return to show business with a theatre. Thompson is negotiating with the proprietors of the Globe theatre here. If satisfactory arrangements are closed Thompson will redecorate and reno- vate the premises and open next sea- son with a large musical show. He is desirous of securing a liquor license, and if successful in that, will run the Globe on the same lines the American was run. The Globe has for the past few seasons been playing Stair & Haviin combination shows, but was never a winner under any policy. The Col. believes a musical comedy policy will gather in some coin. The Globe is located on Wabash Avenue, one block north of the American Mu- sic Hall. MAUDE ADAMS' AFTERNOONS. Chicago. June L' 1. When Maude Adams reopens "Chan- tecler" next season she will ^ive extra matinees called "An Afternoon with .lames Harry." ".Judy" and "A Little Play" will be performed during tbe, afternoon parties. TWO OUT OF THREE GET OVER. (Special Cable to Varibtt) London, June 21. Two out of the three American acts opening at local halls Monday won success. The failure was Mabel McCane at the Tivoli. Miss McCane had badly chosen numbers, combined with poor articulation. At the Coliseum, Frank Milton and the De Long Sisters did very well, with Mr. Milton making an especial score, personally. The Sewell Collins company at the Metropolitan appeared in a sporting sketch, named "The Star Tip." It won out handily. INDIFFERENT REVUE PRODUCED. (Special Cable to Variety-.) Paris, June 21. A new revue entitled "Au Petit Bonheur," was produced at the Am- bassadeurs (open air music hall) in the Champs Elysees last Friday, with only indifferent success. It Is far from a failure, but equally distant toward scoring the high water mark of success. The production is by Henry Moreau and Ardot-Laroche. The principals are in the hands of such capable ar- tists as Miles. Delmares, Yma, Miss Campton, Messrs. Girier, Paul Ardot. The revue may please visitors these warm summer evenings. The weather in Paris at present is ideal for the al-fresco establishments in the Champs Elysees, and big busi- ness is being done. FINDS NEW CAPITAL. (Special Cable to Variett.) London, June 21. The negotiations for the taking over of the Gibbons Circuit by Oswald Stoll which seemed a week ago a certainty, have been suddenly and definitely de- clared off. There is no reason given, but It is known that the Gibbons people have found the ne« essary capital to continue the circuit, which they will do after a through reorganization.