Variety (April 1912)

12 VARIETY "THE SKIRT" SAYS SPEAKING OF WOMAN, MOSTLY It isn't often a large floral dis- play sent to a player in a Broadway show depresses the recipient, but it happened the other evening—perhaps it was the first night of this produc- tion. The exhibit stood in the lobby, a splendid example of some florist's skill, and the bill must have been around $160. The young woman's name was plainly written on the card. Although the donor was unknown, it was quickly storied in the lobby that a certain someone connected with the management had done the contribut- ing. Back on the stage later one of the company said to the girl: "What Is the matter with 'you? Are you nervous or don't you feel well?" "I feel all right," said she, "But did you Bee what that fool sent me out in the lobby? And the only man in the world I love in the house to-night to see to the show! How am I ever go- ing to square it? 1 >»» At Rector's Monday evening Ray- mond Hitchcock floated in covered by a covert coat that looked like the white top of a circus. Harry Fox, seated at one of the tables, remarked as Hitchcock passed along: "I won- der from what show he got that set of scenery." Olga Petrova (Colonial) isn't for- tunate in her gown selection. Of a figure almost angular In lines, Pe- trova with the aid of a smart modiste could do something with it. A "single woman" In vaudeville exhibited her wardrobe for one night only in New York, last Sunday. It was an expensive wardrobe, too, all new, Just from the shop. How it hap- pened to get out of the shop is a separate story. The value of the four dresses may have been $2,500, mostly contributed to by a white ermine coat on the first costume. (Somehow that ermine coat looked familiar, but that is also another story.) It seems the "single woman" contracted for the clothes, fitted them, and then forgot all about the bill. The dressmaker patiently held on to the clothes, awaiting some sort of settlement. None arrived before the girl was booked for Sunday evening. She wanted those dresses then, oh, so badly. But the dressmaker wanted her money Just as badly. It looked like a deadlock for a while, until the dressmaker got the house manager to guarantee prompt return after the performance, If the costumes were loaned to their "owner" for that evening only. The manager agreed to this, and warned his deputy on the stage if the ward- robe wasn't there, piece by piece, after the show, the consequences would be something terrible to contemplate. To make sure the dressmaker and a fleet of acquaintances dropped In the the- atre as the "single" went on, and the clothes creator strolled on the stage immediately afterward to see that "they" were there. It was an elegant outfit, that must be admitted, and there may be perhaps much regret all around that the "single" had nothing but the clothes to offer. As one facetious young man remarked: 'Those clothes would look funny on the Fox time." Marlon Kresky, with Sam Mann and Co. (Colonial), dresses her part very prettily in a white tailored suit and black hat. Annie Kent (Hammerstein's) has chosen for a dainty gold and lace dress worn at her first appearance. Fanny Brice's one gown has Fran- ces written all over It The material is salmon pink charmeuse, made ex- tremely short waisted. A Russian coat effect is in chiffon, the edges cut In points and trimmed in richly em- broidered ornaments. A touch of torquoise blue adds to this charming frock. Mrs. Gene Hughes may play the grandmother, but she doesn't look it. Mrs. Hughes has a slim, girlish figure. The first gown worn by her was emer- ald green satin over which was a cloak in chiffon of the same shade. A change is made to a handsome white evening gown. Mrs. Hughes looked very smart. TINNEY KEEPS SONG IN. The name of Frank Tinney bears a new glow to songwriters since the re- port of his tilt with Flo Ziegfeld over a song in "The Winsome Widow," at the Moulin Rouge became noised about. Mr, Tinney wrote a number that was interpolated into the piece and sung by Ida Adams. Miss Adams thought she was being overworked, and inti- mated to her manager the song should disappear. Ziegfeld agreed with her until Tinney blew his way. The few remarks the comedian made anent his composition, "The Winsome Widow" and everything in general induced Mr. Ziegfeld to rescind his order. That is why the other composers look upon Tinney as their newly discovered con- queror. They all want to know his prescription. Tinney is as familiar around the Moulin Rouge as he has been else- where. Nothing seems to feaze him. At the Sunday night concert, Ziegfeld sat in an upper box while Tinney de~ liveried his monolog, In white-face. During the act Tinney referred to Ziegfeld as "Me and my partner up there." He also mentioned a car- toonist who had appeared during the evening, drawing sketches from mark- ed lines on the prepared paper. "Pretty soft for that guy," said Tinney. "And he got into Ziegfeld for $50. But he's an artist." Tinney added confiden- tially to the audience, "for you have got to be an artist to get into Ziegfeld for fifty." Commenting on his appearance in white-face, the comic said, "Get me without the black. I could cop the best of them this way, but I haven't a chance all blacked up." STOCK PAYTON CO. IN PH1LLY. Philadelphia, April 24. The Corse Payton 8t~ck Co. began its season at the Empire Monday night with "The Lion and the Mouse" as the attraction. The piece was very well presented and was received with great enthusiasm by a capacity house. Special invitations were lib- erally distributed and the new stock company was sent on its voyage with much eclat Of the company William Mortimer and George B. Berrell are Phlla- delphlans and were warmly wel- comed, along with Frances McHenry, the leading woman. William Conk- ling, Robert Wayne, Frances Nelson, Eugene West, Edward Farrel, P. S. W.tham and Eleanor Dawson were other members of the cast. The burlesque shows of the Em- pire Circuit (Western Wheel) played the Empire the past season, the house being added to the circuit the past year. FOR AUDITORIUM, BALTIMORE. D. R. Thomas, a Baltimore news- paper man, was in New York this week gathering a stock company through the Paul Scott office which he will place in the Auditorium, Balti- more. The company Will open May 6. HELD OVER TWO WEEKS. New Brunswick, April 24. Feiber & Shay have discontinued vaudeville at the Opera House here for the present. The Kirk Brown stock company, which opened last week, met such returns that its stay has been extended two weeks. BUFFALO'S SURFEIT OF STOCK. Buffalo, April 24. Before another month shall have passed by will find a merry stock war raging. Jessie Bonstelle is already en- sconsed on the field, opening last week at the Star. Walter S. Bald- win has everything planned for the opening here May 27 of the Baldwin- Melville stock. Though not generally known, the Teck, Shubert's house, which plays legit attractions during the regular season, will go into stock May 6. ONLY ONE W. & V. STOCK. According to present plans, only one Wilmer & Vincent vaudeville house (Majestic, Utlca) will play summer stock. Joseph Walsh is stage director of the Utiea company, with the leads, handled by Robert Hyman and Har- riet Duke. The possible exception to the gen- eral rule on the Wilmer & Vincent Circuit will be at Norfolk, after the present contracts for combinations are played out at the Colonial. Upon the closing of the vaudeville season the Colonial took over the agreements from the Academy, which is being repaired. A stock regime may follow the last legit show at the Colonial. HAD TO DO COMEDY. Jamestown, N. Y. t April 24. Just before the matinee perform- ance of St. Elmo, Friday, by the Home Stock Co., Olathe Miller, who was playing Dr. Harding, received a tele- gram stating his mother and fiancee had been badly burned in a gasoline explosion at their home in Syracuse, the latter probably fatally. With no one up in the part, Miller played the comedy, matinee and eve- ning, leaving for Syracuse immediate- ly after the performance. William Kralce, by an all-night study, played the role satisfactorily Saturday. MUSICAL STOCK FINISH. The finish of the musical stock com- pany at Bruggemann's Empire, Pater- son, N. J., will happen May 4. A sea- son of "pop" vaudeville for the sum- mer or sooner may follow In the house. NO BRENNAN STOCKS. The George H. Brennan Co., which operates the Sothern Amusement Co., will not have any summer stocks this year, but will take to pictures Instead. BALDWIN IN WHEELING. Water S. Baldwin is in New York getting his annual summer campaign under way. He has landed the Court theatre, Wheeling, West Va., where he will plant a new stock com- puny May 6. His son, Walter S. Baldwin, Jr., will personally manage it. L. O. Hart will be stage director. Alice Baxter has been engaged as leading woman. Baldwin's other two companies will be at Buffalo and Toronto. The latter will net open until June 3. CAMBRIA'S FINAL DATE. Johnstown, Pa., April 24. The Cambria theatre stock is book- ed to close May 4. Stock may be re- sumed next fall. MANHATTANS NEW POLICY. The policy of the Manhattan Opera House, New York, will undergo an- other change next season. The open- ing attraction will be a mammoth presentation of "The Whip," a famous melo from the Drury Lane, London, with the original English production. It will continue for an indefinite run. Following "The Whip" piece, Sothern and Marlowe will play en- gagement of six weeks in Shake- spearean rep. May 6 a popular price stock season will start at the Manhattan, running over the summer. Alma Belwin has been engaged as leading lady for the stock company. STOCK AT TOLEDO. Toledo, April 24. This is the final week of the vau- deville season at the new Keith thea- tre. Stock takes its place Monday.