Variety (February 1912)

10 VARIETY TURNING BRONX DOWN. With everything arranged for a new Cohan & Harris theatre In the Bronx, it is reported the firm Anally walked out on the entire project, for no other reason than they could not satisfy themselves there would be a sufficient number of available drawing attractions lor next season to assure a profitable season in an expensive theatre. The rental of the proposed Bronx house would have reached $40,000, if not more. The present emptiness of the theatrical supply market made Cohan & Harris hesitate. When over the dilatory spell, the Bronx did not look so good to them. Reaching the conclusion they did was made easier for Cohan & Harris through the record of the firm's Grand Opera House, New York, where a policy akin to the one that would have been in- stalled up above, is in effect. GETS "WEDDING TRIP.*' Boston, Jan. 31. "The Wedding Trip," from the Broadway, New York, is coming into the Shubert theatre here, when the Bostonlans will see the latest DeKoven effort. Flora Zabelle will replace Dorothy Jardon in "The Wedding Trip" when it takes to the road. Miss Zabelle is now with "The Pearl Maiden." ATTRACTIONS AT DALLAS. Dallas, Jan. 31. The first theatrical attraction in two weeks to play the Dallas theatre, was Francis Wilson, who opened Monday at the Dallas theatre. The scarcity of shows was caused by the spinal meningitis epidemic, which has about passed over now, al- though signs are still about. The pub- lic schools delayed opening a week beyond the first announced date, re- starting Jan. 29. "THE SCARECROW" TAKEN OFF. Chicago, Jan. 31. The Henry B. Harris production of "The Scarecrow," closing at Powers' Saturday night, has been sent to the storehouse in New York. The piece was first shown last sea- son at the Garrlck, New York, with Edmund Breese as star. This season Mr. Harris was featuring his general stage director, Frank Ryker, in the role formerly played by Breese. GERMAN OPERA TRANQUIL. There is no longer any discord in the German Opera ranks in New York. Following his Inability to make German performances pay at Weber's theatre after two weeks' engagement, Karl Hagln has sailed for the Father- land. Principals of the Hagin company, including Greta Meyer, Vilma Conti, Carl Murauer, Paul Vertheyen and Theo. Lamberg, formerly prominent members of the Irving Place theatre German Opera company, but who left with Hagin when he "split" with Gus- tave Am berg, manager of the house, are now back at the Fourteenth street theatre. No more "breaks" are ex- pected. GERTRUDE BARNES ••THE OH ! JOY I GIBL" COLORED FOLK DECISION. Harry A. Levy, assistant treasurer of the Lyric theatre, in the Court of Special Sessions last week, was fined $60. The decision was rendered by Justices Hoyt, Duell and Mclnery, and adjudged Levy guilty of having committed a misdemeanor in not per- mitting Louis F. Baldwin, colored, with a companion, to occupy two or- chestra seats which he held tickets for. The decision has created widespread discussion among the managers as well as the colored population of the city. The colored press has taken up the matter. One paper in a lengthy article makes several statements which would seem to indicate future trouble may be expected by the man- agers from colored patrons. "The Age" says: "The spectacle of some of the Broadway managers being hailed to court daily at the instance of col' ored playgoers who have been denied the right to occupy the first floor is quite probable." Judge Hoffman this week dismissed an action brought against the Or- pheum Theatre Co. by Charles M ley and Grace Stewart (colored), im- posing costs on the plaintiffs of $32.41 each. The complaint alleged the col- ored people were not given the seats requested at the Orpheum theatre, Brooklyn, and discrimination was charged. "OLD HOMESTEAD" DOING BIZ. While other shows have lost money on the season, "The Old Homestead" is going quietly along and putting a lot of beans in the bag for its manage- ment. Last week the show totaled over $5,000, the receipts being as follows: Hudson, N. Y„ $681; Amsterdam, $896 (two .performances); Albany, $1,792 (two shows); Johnstown, $613; Glens Falls, $613; Troy, $1,118. "BLUE MOUSE" REVIVAL. "Teas Of The Storm Country" closes at New Orleans Saturday night. Emma Bunting, the star, will immediately inaugurate a five weeks tour in "The Blue Mouse." Following the "Mouse" tour. Miss Bunting will be installed In perma- nent stock at Birmingham about the first week in April. Gertrude Dougherty left New York this week to play in "The Blue Mouse" revival. HOOSIG FALLS ON THE MAP. Hoosic Falls, Jan. 31. For the first time in five years, Hoo- sac Falls is to have a legitimate at- traction. "The Old Homestead" is booked here Feb. 1 at the Armory, which has been transformed into & playhouse, seating 1,400. C. O. Tennis, of the Eastern Man- agers' Association, New York, is book- ing in some good attractions for the balance of the season. HOWARD HAS REAL SHOW. Sam Howard has landed an angel, or rather two angels. The monled men have purchased a set of reels of "The Temptations of a Great City," Howard is managing the tour of the films. He has booked a route through the upper part of the state. LEANING TOWARD CABARETS. During the past couple of weeks there has been a notable move on the part of a great number of the music publishing fraternity to show a lean- ing toward the cabaret artistes in and about New York. New numbers are at present first heard in the cabaret shows. One of the publishers explained this as being because of the bigger audi- ences in the restaurants. A cabaret show gets three or sometimes even four audiences during the night, and a number is sung four or five times. The constant "plugging" of a song is what gets it over to the buyers, said the publisher. Melville Gideon and his wife Mabel Runyea are to join the ranks of the cabaret artists Saturday night. Mr. Gideon will become the conductor of the orchestra at the Folies Bergere restaurant. He will lead at the piano. Miss Runyea will appear several times nightly. The Cafe Madrid installed a cabaret show this week, for the first time. It is under the direction of a former chef d' affairs at Martin's. The test case on cabaret shows which the city is conducting with Louis Mar- tin as "the goat" came up for a hear- ing last week, with decision reserved. The Police Commissioner has ad- vised in his annual report that the restaurant proprietors who are de- sirous of conducting a cabaret per- formance in their establishments be forced to take out a theatre license. As a license precludes the right to dispense alcoholic refreshments in an establishment where a perform- ance is given, it is almost certain that if the city adopts the suggestion of the Police Commissioner, the restau- rant men will give up the theatrical end of their entertainment, or at least the dancing, which grades the "caba- rets" as "shows." Early this week Walter Sweeney, who maintained a dance hall on West 31st street, with drinks served on the side, but who dished them under a nom-de-buftiness-plume of "cabaret," was sentenced to six months in the penitentiary on a charge of having permitted the "turkey trot" and other dances of a like sort in his resort. "YIDDISH" COMPANIES BOOMING. When Boris Tomaschefsky and his Yiddish Players relinquish pos- session of the People's theatre on the Bowery and Corse Payton and his Lee Avenue thesplans move In April 1, Tomaschesky plans a pleasure trip to Europe. When he returns he will take pos- session of a new playhouse on Second ^avenue, to be completed this spring. Business in the Yiddish theatre dis- trict (Second avenue) is booming. David Kessler at his house presents a Yiddish version of "Everywoman" Thursday, Friday and Saturday of each week. The receipts have been phenomenal. Prior to moving into the People's, Payton will spend a few weeks on the road up New York State with his com- pany. The People's is in splendid condition and there will be few changes when Corse acquires posses- sion around April 1. $10,000 IN FIVE SHOWS. San Antonio, Jan. 81. The "No. 2" "Spring Maid" (Miizi Hajos), playing here Jan. 24-27 (five performances), drew $10,000. From here the company went to Austin, where an advance sale for Jan. 29 of $2,200 had taken up the capacity for Monday evening. The show gave a matinee Monday there to accommodate the rush. Lea Stark, in the principal comedy role of Roland, has exchanged places with Charles McNaughton, of the "No. 3" company. It is reported Mr. Stark and Miss Hajos weren't on a mutually agreeable understanding while play- ing. To relieve the tension, Mr. Stark resigned, but afterward rejoined the Werba ft Luescher forces, when the switch with Tom McNaughton's brother occurred. Chicago, Jan. 31. When "The Spring Maid" (Christie MacDonald) leaves the Colonial in two or three weeks, it will play De- troit and Cleveland, with territory in between, with some other return dates for the remainder of the season. "PEARL MAIDEN" IN BOSTON. When "The Pearl Maiden" leaves the New York theatre this Saturday, it will travel to Boston, opening at the Tremont in Bean town, Feb. 6, for an indefinite stay. "The Maiden" developed alarming box office symptoms late last week. From a weak start, the show climbed slowly, until Saturday the New York held over $1,900 on the day, with nearly $600 at the matinee. The management of the show could not settle upon what was bringing in all the money, finally giving the thea- tre the credit. It almost decided some of the people connected with the production however to hang on in the hope of a "run" here. That might have happened, too, only some other people had seen the show. There was talk for a time of con- tinuing the show at the New York for another week, but with the an- nouncement of the Moulin Rouge policy, the Idea was abandoned. MANTELL BREAKING AWAY. Robert B. Mantell will make another attempt to break away from his Shakespearian repertoire next season. At present it is said he is to appear in a romantic play. The piece is by Justin McCarthy, the author of "The Proud Prince" and "If I Were King." Its present title Is "Charlemagne, or Love the Conqueror." Earlier this season Mr. Mantell pro- duced "The O'Flynn," new to this country. He added it to his repertoire, but the receipts on the nights it was shown fell so far below the average the piece was dropped. MOTHERS ARRESTED. Cleveland, Jan. 31. Mrs. Dora Felnsteln and Mrs. Anna Henry were arrested here last week, charged with having permitted their children to appear on the stage of the Majestic. The youngsters, aged 11 and 12 years, appeared at an amateur performance for prises.