Variety (April 1912)

20 VARIETY STOCK LEADING MEN SCARCE; IN BIO DEMAN D JUST NOW Several Companies Casting About for a Male Lead. One in Receipt of Five Different Offers "THE SKIRT" SAYS SPEAKING OF WOMAN. MOSTLY Joe Fayton, who will manage the Park Theater Stock, Philadelphia, for his brother, Corse Pay ton, has been In the Quaker City this week getting things in trim for the opening there April 22. The company has been selected with *^ne exception. Eyes are being cast in every direction for a leading man who will come up to the Payton require- ments. Corse is also on the lookout for a leading man at the West End, New York. As Percy Haswel is also angling for a male lead for her Toronto stock company, it looks a scarcity of that type of stock player is on just now. One leading man, now under con- tract, had an offer from five different liauagers to play stock this summer. $1 SCALE AT BIJOU. When the proposed Broadway Stock Company opens at the Bijou, New York, April 22, the popular prices, 10-20-30, will not prevail. The men behind the movement will have a sliding scale up to $1, tguring that the expense of running the company and paying big royalties for New York successes of other sea- sons Justifies higher admissions. Nothing has been a winner at the Bijou this season, although a lot of money has been lost on various pro- ductions offered there. The stock venture is thought to be the thing that can turn the trick. As far as known now the opening bill will be "The Spendthrift," with Thais McGrane in the principal femi- nine role. The supporting company will be selected in sufficient time for the first rehearsals. L. S. Sire is reported not Interested In the stock company. Cecil DeMille Is said to be the guiding spirit. ENGAGED FOR DENVER STOCK. James Durkin and Maude Fealy, playing leads with the Winnipeg Stock Company, have been engaged to head the company at the Lakeside Park theatre, Denver, May 31 (Decoration Day). Miss Fealy is a big favorite in Den- ver. The management expects to do a big business with the Durkln-Fealy combination. NOT ENOUGH DOING. Providence, R. I., April 3. George Bryant Connor, finding time hanging heavily on his hands with the Providence stock company, has hand- ed in his notice and gone to Bridge- port, where he finds things more strenuous in the stock line. GOING INTO MILWAUKEE. Milwaukee, April 3. Milwaukee is to have a new stock company, opening in a Shubert house here about May 4. The men behind the proposed stock venture are now in New York recruiting a strong cast. THORNE LEAVES COMPANY. W. S. Thorne is no longer leading man of the Metropolis Theatre Stock Company, having been supplanted by J. H. Barclay. $30,000 is the amount of money, I am told, one musical show now play- ing in New York represents to a young woman in it. She received the money from her husband, as a kind of balm for his absence, he having left her shortly after the marriage cere- mony was performed, to go home and tell his folks all about it. He is still heme, according to the story. With the balm, the girl, returned to the stage. CODY GOING BACK. Lewis J. Cody, who had his own stock company at Stamford, Conn., for a long time and then finally dis- posed of his hold on the theatre there, is going back to the scene of his for- mer operations, but under different conditions. Cody, who has been alternating be- tween Mount Vernon and Portchester, has been engaged to head a company that will present tabloid stock at the vaudeville house in Stamford, booked by the United. Cody is a favorite in Stamford and will become "opposish" to the house where he formerly played. I was entirely disillusioned the other evening, when, after seeing a late hit in New York which may be called "The Tear Maker," and damp- ening my handkerchief (along with the other women present) through the sweet looking young woman who played her part so well, I dropped in- to a restaurant rather noted for its late hours and no music to see the same sweet young thing hiding away Clover Club cocktails. I don't object to her ambition to boost the cocktail along—if it needs any boosting—nor do I begrudge her the moments of pleasure after the play, but I have received an awful dent in my senti- mental side, and I am going to have my kerchiefs water-proofed after this. the Chlcagoan, and was often in his company, having for "protection" a "third party." The news of his mar- riage to another came upon her sud- denly, so unexpectedly she could not restrain herself, and the outburst fol- lowing revealed her secret. The mar- riage also started something in another direction, "the girl who did" having put the wedding affair over. It is stated, on a dare, much as another short-lived connubial contract was entered into a couple of years ago. Living in a $12,000 (furnished) apartment, the bride in the case ventured the subject of matrimony, and when jeered at, performed the deed, much to the consternation of the jeerer, from what I hear. And then I hear it was all a "bluff" any- way, and the'original parties were out motoring Sunday. Billy Gould tells a story he swears happened while he was standing on the spot. About eleven o'clock one evening, just outside Rector's res- taurant, a young woman, handsomely gowned, left the eating place, ordered a taxi, and said to the driver, "Child's." CHESTER CO. REORGANIZING. Chester, Pa., April 3. The Chester Stock Company is being reorganized, new people having been signed by Manager Edwards through the Betts & Fowler agency, New York, this week. CLOSING AFTER 48 WEEKS. Holyoke, Mass., April 3. The stock company, running here for the past forty-eight weeks, will close May 4. The "inside story" of a reported mar- riage last week is almost funny. It comeBout the young groom was the cen- tre of interest among several women of the stage, one in particular who would surprise many of her friends were she to inform them that herself and husband are no longer chummy. The wife since living apart from her hubby had thought she monopolized "Week-end trips" have been the regular thing with Gene Hughes of late. Every Saturday when I drop in- to Shanley's, there is Mr. Hughes with a time table for company. He leaves to spend Sunday with his wife, Mrs. Gene Hughes, who so prettily plays that charming sketch "Youth" in vaudeville. Rather an ideal couple for the show business, don't you think? They have been married for seventeen years! "SOUTHERN SKIES" MAKES GOOD. Harry Doel Parker received a wire Monday from Oliver Morosco at Los Angeles, saying Lottie Blair Parker's play, "Under Southern Skies," was presented there for the first time in stock on that day at the Belasco thea- tre and that the piece would run in- definitely. There is no road company at pres- ent playing the piece. Various stock managers are negotiating for it for stock production this summer. •ad FORUM Confine rour letters to 110 words and writ* on one side of paper only Anonymous communication* will not be printed. Nam* of wrlt*r must a* will bo h*ld In striot conndenoe. If desired. *lgn*d Lottor* to bo pnbll*b*d In tbl* column must b* written exclusWelj t* VAJtlsTCT Duplicated Utters will not bo printed. The writer wbo duplleates a letter to the Forum, either before or after It appears here, will not bo permitted the prtrllesee of MOROSCO'S NEW PLAY. Los Angeles, April 3. Oliver Morosco, who recently re- turned from the east, is planning all sorts of new things for the patrons of his Burbank Theatre Stock Company. One of the first plays to have its premiere will be "Captain Lafltte" by C. T. Dazey. It will be presented at the close of the "Seven Days" pro- duction. Two other new plays to be pro- duced this summer are "C. O. D." and "Ransomed." Robert Leonard has been signed by Morosco for an important role in "Captain Lafltte." New York, March 29. Editor Variety: Here is a list of "all star" ball players who have organized under the Sheedy Banner for the coming season. They are desirous of meeting all com- ers, big and small, especially the Varietys, United Booking Offices, and teams of like strength. Some of the "has beens" on the Sheedy nine are: Ben Piermont, 8.8.; B. Kelley, lb.; L. Whitlock, l.f.; Jim Sheedy, p.; James Sheehan, c; Oene Sullivan, c.f.; Harry Conrad, 2b.; Maurice Frank, r.f.; George Consi- dine, 3b. They will play for side bets or the losing team pay for the grounds, but do not judge this team by past per- formances, as anything they get stuck for will be made good. You get me! Ben Piedmont, (Supposed to be Manager.) (The "You Get Me" portion of Mr. Piedmont's communication refers to a baseball game last summer, where most on the losing side were from a burlesque show. The cost of the grounds, $10, to be paid by the loser, was nearly collected after six weeks, when the burlesque people had saved up 14 toward it. This year that bur- lesque company is "blacklisted.") Philadelphia, March 30. Editor Variety; There is a record in use in the Victor Talking machines called "The Piano Tuner" (my title is "The Tuner"), which is word for word and speech for speech our vaudeville sketch. The two characters are talked for the Victor people by Ada Jones, and Steve Porter has his name on the record as author. Sophie Everett.