Variety (April 1912)

VARIETY PARALYZING TITANIC TERROR CASTS PA LL OVE R THEATRES Amusements Suffering from Effects of Sea Horror. Normal Conditions Not Looked For Inside of AnothergWeek. Many Cancelling Reservations for Sailing The terrible marine disaster cast a gloom over everything in the amuse- ment world the current week, which was not mitigated but rather en- hanced as the additional details be- came gradually known. Business of all kinds was practically suspended and the attendance at the theatres of all classes suffered materially. The first half of the week it was impos- sible to arouse any spontaneous hu- mor at the various musical and com- edy shows, which partook very much of the nature of funeral services. At the Winter Garden Monday night all the boxes were donated by the management for some worthy charity. In one sat the sister of Benjamin Gug- genheim, one of the passengers on the Ill-fated Titanic. She had been as- sured in the afternoon that everything was all right, following the false re- port sent out by the White Star line the Titanic was then being towed into Halifax. About the middle of the show the male members of the box party stepped out for a drink. On their return one, with almost unpar- donable stupidity, brought the young woman some sort of information as to the probable fate of her brother. As almost anybody else might have foreseen, she promptly dropped into a dead faint, almost precipitating a panic in the music hall. Between the first and second acts of "The Wall Street Girl" at the Co- han theatre Monday evening those who stepped out saw the bulletins in front of the Times building. On their return they freely imparted the awful details to the remainder of the audience, with an almost dead Bilence fastening itself upon the remainder of the performance. Undoubtedly the most pathetic fig- ure In the theatrical world Tuesday was William Harris, father of Henry B. Harris, who was taken out of town by friends. He was found wandering about the streets in a daze. To all familiar with the comradeship exist- ing between father and son any ru- mor concerning the father was read- ily accepted without surprise. The only known theatrical person on board the Titanic besides Henry B. Harris was Charles Williams, said to be a former dancing partner of "Hello George" John Scott. He was reported to be among the survivors from the second cabin. Dr. Fraeuenthal and wife, on their honeymoon, are among the survivors. The doctor, a well-known New Yorker, is very popular with the theatrical profession. Cancellations commenced to flood the steamship agencies after it be- came known the Titanic had gone down. It is expected that ocean travel will be very light this season, with only those going across called there upon business. Several theatrical people who had made reservations for space are un- decided whether to go. A number have said they will cancel, going to the mountains or seashore Instead. With the stories of the survivors and other harrowing accounts of grief that will be constantly in the papers for the next week, it is expected the theatres will continue to suffer in at- tendance and appreciation until the frightful Titanic Terror commences to dim. In one of the "small time" vaude- ville houses the early part of this week an act there appeared before a drop representing a steamer's deck. The unintentional reminder of the Titanic became painful, and few paid any attention to the turn while it was on the stage. Omaha, April 17. Emil Brandeis, owner of the Ameri- can and Brandeis theatres, this city, is reported lost on the Titanic. DOESN'T WANT "MIRACLE." (Special cable to Variety.) Berlin, April 17. "The Miracle," to have been pro- duced here by Professor Max Rein- hardt and for which preparations had been advanced, has been temporarily abandoned. It is understood that the censoring authorities would have stopped the production, as its central figure is the Virgin Mary. Large numbers of protests from the clergy have been received. TAKE OVER RONACHER'S. (Special Cable to Variety*) Berlin, April 17. Adolf Slivinski, Hans Bartsch (Fe- lix Bloch Erben) and Director Gabor Stelner, have acquired control of Vienna's variety place, Ronacher's, of which Steiner will be director. The opening performance in October will be Leo Fall's "Der liebe Augus- tin." The approval of the authorities to turn a variety hall into an opera theatre is necessary. PAVLOVA WARMLY GREETED. (Special Cable to Variety..) London, April 17. Anna Pavlova had a tumultuous re- opening at the Palace Monday. The house is doing capacity business. PROSECUTION LAUGHED AT. (Special Cable to Variety,.) London, April 17. The Tivoll Music Hall prosecution instituted by Little Tich has caused much amusement. Granville Barker's object in securing a summons was to ridicule the whole licensing situation. MAR1NELLI GIVING MONEY AWAY. (Special cable to Variety,.) Paris, April 17. H. B. Marinelli. Ltd., distributed real money among its various office staffs last week, upon the occasion of the booking corporation declaring a dividend of 10 per cent, upon its capi- tal stock of $200,000. Mr. Marinelli, it Is said, caused suf- ficient of his dividends on stock per- sonally owned, to be forwarded to the different members of the agency's of- fices in New York, London, Paris and Berlin, until the total gift approxi- mated $4,500. The Marinelli office managers, or some of them, have con- siderable stock of the corporation of their own, and did not participate in the co-operative division. The object is to inspire loyalty and energy among the Marinelli job holders. CHORUS GIRLS AGITATING. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, April 17. The chorus girls' organization is agitating for a minimum wage of $7.20 per week. Trouble is threat- ened at several of the theatres where musical comedies are being presented. At present the average salaries paid to the girls ranges from five to eight dollars. TOO HISTORICALLY REALISTIC (Special Cable to Variety,.) Paris, April 17* The new historical drama by Emlle Moreau, "La Reine Elizabeth", was produced April 11 at the Theatre Sarah Bernhardt, and was fairly suc- cessful. Bernhardt herself plays the role of Elizabeth, Queen of England, and is splendid. The main fault with the piece is that it adheres too closely to history, nothing being sacrificed to theatric- allsm. Some of. the principal scenes are played "off stage." ROYAL APPROVAL FOR OPERA. (Special Cable to Variety^) London, April 17. The King and Queen will visit Os- car Hammerstein's London opera house to witness the operas by Lord Howard DeWalden and the Duke of Argyle when they are produced. This will be of material benefit to Hammerstein, giving his venture the stamp of royal approval. TREE'S NEXT PRODUCTION. (Special Cable to Variety..) London, April 17. Sir Herbert Beerborm Tree will shortly produce Somerset Maugham's version of Moliere's "Le Bourgeois Gentllhomme." TALKING OVER ROYAL RILL. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, April 17. The Royal Command performance to be given at the Palace, June 10, is creating much discussion. It is freely asked if Marie Lloyd and George Robey will be Invited. There seems to be a scarcity of prominent women for the bill. Cissy Loftus and Ada Reeve are wanted. It will probably be an all- British program, with the exception of Pavlova. KELLERMANN AT THE OXFORD. (Special Cable to Variety*.) London, April 17. Through an arrangement made be- tween William Morris and the Oxford Music Hall management, Annette Kellermann will appear at that hall May 20 for an indefinite stay, going in on top of the program already laid out. Morris had been dickering for the rental of the Pavilion, but considered the price asked too high. It is not known under what terms he is playing the diver at the Oxford. Kellermann, accompanied by the Morris press agent, Nate Splngold, arrived here in due time, but Miss Kellermann was left over in Queens- town while Splngold came on to pave the publicity way. Morris seems unusually active in placing American turns for this side. Since here he has landed Emma Carus for the Stoll time, commencing in June. Yorke and Adams and Fennell and Tyson among others. He has al- so entered into a three-years' con- tract with Harry Lauder, and may be- come Lauder's general manager for all countries. Mr. Morris has fixed Sirota for a series of concerts in London during June. After seeing a number of shows in the provinces and London for the past fortnight, Morris says that Eng- lish vaudeville lacks big personalities. It is rumored Morris will secure an interest in the Walter Gibbons cir- cuit. Morris is silent on the subject. It is, however, more likely that Os- wald Stoll will take over the circuit before the year ends. FOLIES MARIGNY APRIL 80. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, April 17. The Folies Marigny will open April 30. Signor Curti, at one time ballet master of the New York Folies Ber- gere, has been engaged to put on the dances. PAT CASEY'S HIGH HAT. (Special Cable to Variety,.) London, April, 17. Pat Casey appeared at the open- ing performance of "The Pink Lady", wearing a silk hat. A horde of camera fiends awaited him endeavoring to secure a snap- shot of the "Hi Henry," but Pat •was "on" and escaped through the back door. COMING OVER TO ARRANGE. (Special Cable to Variety,.) London, April 17. Arthur Bertram, representing Mar- tin Harvey, sailed Saturday on the Mauretania, to arrange details for the New York production of "Oedipus Rex. »» "BILLY" WITHDRAWN. (Special Cable to Variety,.) London, April 17. "Billy" will be withdrawn flrom The Playhouse, to be succeeded by "Love and What Then." Cyril Maude will have the role of the Bishop.