Variety (December 1912)

Vol. XXIX. No. 4. NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1912. PRICE 10 CENTS 12-ACT-BILL POLICY SPREADING AMONG BI G TIME VAUDEVILLE Increased Shows in New York and Out of Town. Balti- more and Syracuse on List. Washington Reported Likely. Programs Costing About $300 More Than Usual The 12-act big time vaudeville bill is springing up, the larger houses booked by the United Booking Offices follow- ing the example first set by William Morris, and later emulated by William 1 l^nimerstein. Last week the Colonial, New York, < played twelve acts to very good busi- ness, although not reaching the figure set by David Bclasco's "Drums of Oude'* at that house. "The Drums" played to $9,600 on the week at the Co- lonial, the top figure for the theatre this season. The Belasco act was handi- capped when entering New York through having had no advance press matter, excepting a couple of lines in the dailies mentioning the metropoli- tan debut of Mr. Belasco as a vaude- ville producer. The Alhambra, New York, is also playing twelve acts this week. It is re- ported the enlarged bill policy will ex- tend to all of the Greater City's biggest vaudeville theatres. Another U. B. O. house listed among the 12-act possibilities is Chase's, Wash- ington, where business has dropped of late to a point that vigorous measures are unnecessary. The Grand Opera House, Syracuse, a Keith-Shubcrt property, played twelve aits last week, drawing in the only good week's business of the season up there. The Maryland, Baltimore, is also trying the experiment of a twelve- act program this week, and another show "f that many acts is booked there for next week. The 12-act program* playing the Keith houses in New York are costing about $300 more weekly then the for iner nine-act show with a big name <>n ' ( >p. The Alhambra will continue the '»ig bill policy, but the Colonial will bike back to the old thing when Eva Tanguay headlines there Jan. 6. Kthel Barrymore opening at the Col mial Jan. 20 will also have the usual bill, but the Colonial will go to twelve acts otherwise if business keeps up, and probably go to fourteen if it doesn't, before trying another change in policy. WHEELER IN OPERETTA. Van Rensselaer Wheeler, supported by Gertrude Hutchison, will appear in a new operetta by Kdgar Allan Woolf and Silvio Hcin. This is Wheeler's first step into the varieties. WAKM DANCE PROMISED. It is said Bert French and Alice Eis will put over a warm dance when re- appearing here, at Hammerstein's Jan. 13. The couple tried out the number before Willie Hammerstein one morn- ing last week. French and Eis were on the other side for a long while. They were the first over here to do the "Vampire Dance." The orchestra at Hammerstein's will be augmented for the turn, and it will be heavily carded. It is rumored Millie De Leon may appear at Hammerstein's before long. REVIVING "LA CIC.ALE. ' The Shubcrts have in contemplation for early presentation with the new- year, a revival of "La Cigale," the comic opera in which Lillian Russell made her first important appearance a- ;» stellar attraction. It was first seen here at the Garden theatre, under the management of T Henry Ircnch. In the cast were Haydn Coffin, baritone, and Carl Strcitman. tenor. At that time it was regarded as the finest comic opera production that had ever been made in America, "INSIDE" BARRYMORE STORY. Ethel Barrymore's announced de- cision to play vaudeville in the east would seem to be a confirmation of the report published in Variety sev- eral weeks ago to the effect that she had differences with Charles Frohman and would no longer appear under the management of that legitimate director of amusements. The story about town at present is that the "break" occurred ovw Froh- man's casting of Mme. Nazimova for the stellar role in "Bella Donna," a piece originally announced for Miss Barrymore. It is said the Shubcrts were ap- proached with a proposition to take Miss Barrymore under their manage- ment, but declined. This is believed to have been due to a friendly feeling reported between Frohman and the Shuberts. On Charles Frohman's return from Europe July 19 last his press depart- ment sent out its usual announcement of Frohman's plans for the current year. In it was the following: "Ethel Barrymore will be seen after Christmas in Henri Bernstein's new play, on which he is now at work for her. Haddon Chambers is also writ- ing a new play for Miss Barrymore." Since then no further bulletins re- garding Miss Barrymore's future plans have emanated from the Frohman of- fices. The coiih act made between Froh- man and the Orpheum Circuit for Miss Barrymore in vaudeville specifically re- stricted her appearance in New York. The rumors at present in circulation carry with them a report that Miss Barrymore's husband, Russell G. Colt, has had a falling out with his family and has been "cut off" from participa- tion in the wealthy Colt estate. pail McAllister en<;a<;ei>. "The Lady from Oklahoma." a new play fathered by Jessie Bonstclle. and !-» be produced by William A. Brady and the Shubcrts, is now in rehearsal, scheduled for presentation in January. Paul McAllister, late of the Prospect stock company, has been engaged as leading man. MANNER'S PLAY AND WIPE. As an incident to the marriage in New York Sunday of Laurette Taylor and J. Hartley Manners, star and author of "Peg 'O My Heart," the story is told of the unusual circumstances under which Oliver Morosco accepted the successful play. When "The Bird of Paradise" was playing in Schenectady, N. Y., about a year ago, Manners then engaged to Miss Taylor, called upon Morosco in New York to submit the manuscript of "Peg." Mr. Morosco said he was about to start for Schenectady and had no time to read the play. Manners offered to accompany him, and read it on the train. Accordingly the author and producer started together for the up-state town. Manners forgot the play and went to sleep. Morosco, how- ever, was wakeful. He tried to find the train newsboy to get some sort of reading matter, but failing in this gave it up, and picked up the "Peg" manu- script from the author's grip. He read it through, woke Manners up from a sound sleep and insisted then and there upon signing contracts for its production. One of these casual cir- cumstances grew a long term contract between Morosco and Manners by which the California producer holds an option on all the Manner's stage output. PERCY HASWELL'S PLAYLET. Percy Haswcll has just returned from Europe and opens next Monday in vaudeville at the Maryland. Baltimore, in a one-act playlet "Master Wills Players." Miss Haswcll was a stock favorite in Baltimore for several years. She is under the management of Alf. T. Wilton Another of Wilton's acts. Harry Dc Coe, arrived Sunday from Europe, and is booked to open at the Fifth Avenue, New York, Jan. 6. AL1/-STAR CAST IN SKETCH. "Imagination," a dramlet by S. Jay Kaufman, is now in rehearsal with what is described as an "all star" cast for vaudeville, comprised of Beverly Sitgrcaves. late of the New Theatre. Paul Evcrton. leading man with "The Gamblers." Macey Harlan formerly the "heavy" in "The N.-Yr Po Well." *