Variety (June 1913)

VARIETY 15 SCHLESINOER-PAYTON SPLIT. M. S. Schlesinger and Corse Payton, who have been financially ii.terested in several stock enterprises, have come to the parting of the ways as far as busi- ness relations are concerned. The Schlesinger house in Newaik (Orphe- um) which has been housing a Corse Payton company, will play Stair & Havlin attractions next season. Just how the Lee Avenue (Brooklyn) in- terests will be settled is not known. It is understood the Newark situa- tion brought about the split between M. S. and Corse. For a long time the Orpheum "packed them in" but later when Joe Payton changed the Newark theatre musical shows to dramatic stock it took away the play from the Schlesinger house. On top of this Corse broke ground for a big play- house over there and that widened the breach. The Orpheum stock closed last Sat- urday in "The Climax" as business had dropped to almost nothing. Both Corse and M. S. were in on a sharing basis. The Newark is about a half- mile from the Orpheum. The Corse Payton Co. is holding forth there un- der Joe Payton's management. The Lee Avenue house, after a short but unsuccessful stock attempt, is dark. FRENCH DRAMATIC CO. Frank Bixby, who helped make "In Old Kentucky" famous, is making a strenuous effort to get consecutive time in New England for the Paul- Marcel Dramatic Co., which has been through the Atlantic seaboard terri- tory before. This company headed by Paul-Mar- cel plays comedies and serious French plays in the native tongue. The show made money from the middle of last August until the middle of May by re- peating dates in certain towns where the Parisian French folks predomi- nate. SUES FOR $25,000. Yonkers, N. Y., June 25. Edna Earl Andrews has been re-en- gaged as one of the principal members of the Warburton Theatre stock which reopens that house next Labor Day under Carl Hunt's management. Miss Andrews has filed suit here against Mrs. Martha C. Thomas, own- er of the Winstead apartments, for $25,000 as a result of the actress' fall through an open elevator shaft Feb. 13 last. She alleges the serious injur- ies sustained handicapped her stage work and that a compound fracture of the wrist made it difficult for her to make gestures necessary in her acting. Mrs. Thomas, through her attorneys, has filed a denial and the case comes to trial in the White Plains court at the autumn term of court. MOVES OVER TO POLl'S. Washington, June 25. Ed. Curtis, stage director of the Co- lumbia stock, has gone over to the Poli house to act in a similar capacity. MACKEY NOW PLAYING. Washiiif^tfMi. June 25, Eddie Mackcy, formerly of "The Fivf I'Vankforters," has joined the Puli slock company here, replacinj? Tluir- low Rergen as leading man. STOCK REICHENBACH WINS OUT. Bridgeport, June 25. The Eleanor Cleveland stock com- pany, originally scheduled for a six weeks' stay, is cutting short the run owing to poor business. The closing will take place next Saturday. The Cleveland Company has been opposition to the Poli Company at the Plaza. Each theatre's press agent has been going after the other hammer and tongs. With the proposed termination ot the Cleveland engagement the Poli house has the field to itself. Harry L. Reichenbach, manager of Poli's Plaza, emerges from the clash with all flags flying. McLELLAN*S AGENCY. Ellis McLellan, a former stage direc- tor, and who had charge of W. H. Gregory's agency prior to its closing, has formed the Metropolitan Bureau and opened up an oflice at 23 West 42d street. McLellan will not only engage dramatic people but will look after lyceum and concert stars. McLellan is recruiting the people for the new dramatic stock season to be in-' augurated at the Princess theatre, Des Moines. la., in September. This week he placed Bcrtini Falk and Walter Green, the St. Louis baritone, with "All for the Ladies," which opens in Sep- tember. The former replaces Alice Jen- tile. The Metropolitan has also placed Florence Mulholland and Alice Armi- tage with the Hippodrome cast next season. McLellan has lined up Axel Skovgaard, the Danish violinist, for his first American concert tour next fall. STOCK IN CINCY'S ORPHEUM. Cincinnati, June 25. The recently formed Orpheum Stock Co. has leased the Orpheum for a number of years and will install what they call high-class, modern and progressive stock at the theatre open- ing Sept. 14. The president of the company is J. Herman Thuman, dramatic editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer and who also has charge of the Orpheum theatre for Keith. With the taking over of the theatre, Mr. Thuman resigns his position with the Enquirer where he has been connected for the past 12 years, succeeding J. Theodore Mit- chell, who was out ahead of Lillian Russell. Thuman left for New York to secure players and plays. BfiAXCHE YURKA, FROM W^EST. New Haven, Conn., June 25. I»lanche Yurka, a western actress, formerly of the Columbia Theatre stock, Washington, opened Monday as leading woman of the local Poli stock, replacing Edna Bruns, who gives up stock owing to too much studying. THHOUr.H OX LONG ISLAND. Driscoll lirothers' stock company playing Long Island towns, has pivcu up the j^host, owinj.^ to internal dissen- sions. PRODUCED BY SPOONER CO. "My Own Best Girl," written by Ce- cil Spooner, was produced by Miss Spooner and company at the Cecil Spooner theatre Monday night. The house closes with stock this week for the summer. ENGAGEMENTS NEXT SEASON. Bridgeport, Conn., June 25. Giunio Socola, director of the local Poli stock, has signed a contract to play a part next season in H. H. Fra- zee's "Silver Wedding." Florence Gerald, who rehearsed with "Damaged Goods" and may be with one of the road companies next fall, is playing characters with the Poli Co. here. Marion Hutchins and Ralph Herbert, formerly with A. H. Woods "Tht Common Law," are here with Poli for the summer stock season. PARK'S MUSICAL OOMEDY. Gloversville, N. Y., June 25. The Franklin-Baggot Amusement Co., inaugurated a summer season of musical comedy stock at Sacandaga Park Monday night with a largely at- tended performance of "Girls Will Be Girls." The principal players are Charles Van Dyne, Agnes Finlay (prima donna), Rudolph Koch, Charles Brow- er, Wilbur Cox and Elmer Thompson. SHEA'S MANCHESTER STOCK. Manchester, N. H., June 25. P. F. Shea is planning to open his dramatic stock season here at the Park Sept. 29. TROUBLOUS BAYONNE. Bayonne, N. J., June 25. Little old Bayonne has been turning things upside down theatrically, with one stock company closing a two weeks' unsuccessful stay at the Broad- way theatre and another changing managers every other week. The Lyce- um theatre stock is now being man- aged by Lorna Elliott, the leading woman. First Mr. Jacobs, the Newark thea- tre owner, handled the Elliott com- pany. He quit after one week. George Fox tried his hand at running the com- pany. Fox failed to get along and Miss Elliott inducted herself into the office of manageress. The Lyceum is doing business, de- spite the squally times in the box office quarters. Krnncth DiKbee, leading man of the Uusk- Mlsboe Co.. now playing In Auburn, N. Y.. under J. \V. IIurRh nianaKcmcnt, has bccomo a fuvorlto there and the buuincHH Ih big aH a reflult. .lohnny Johnson, a muHJcnl comedv mlsji last seen In "The Prinre of IMlHon," has joined the i:niver8al picture players on the coast. Klorenro TTackeft. one of Lnl)'ii's principal players, la also the leadiriK f<rii;ijc bane ball fan of the i-omiiany. Shr will |. nd thn root- ers from the Lubin plant when the Lublns and the Pathe Frereg teams clash .luno H for th«; pi(?turc championship. (rwfndolen Prnok^. now with tho Lincoln J. CarlfT i)lrfiirf playn.s on tlie coapt. was a foriiH r ni< -nil. r of the DouRlas Fairbanks com- pany, [ilayinj,^ in««'nuG roles. TOMMY'S TATTLES. By Thomas J. Gray. Secretary of the London Players Club says all of America's actors are English except John Drew. Guess the "Sec." never heard of Patsy Doyle. New York Giants just paid $10,000 for another pitcher. Wonder if he has his vaudeville agent picked out yet? Twinkle, twinkle Broadway star, Ride 'round in your motor car. Only worry in your life Are thoughts of last season's wife. Harry Ennis says if we don't boost him in our column this week he'll knock us in his next week. Harry is a great "feller." An English sketch actor playing the Primary Poli time arrived in Water- bury, Conn., where he was to play the "last half" and discovered he had checked his baggage to Springfield, Mass. Did he worry? Of course not. He simply wired to Bruce Duffus (Jim Clancy's English booking manager) "Sent baggage to Springfield by mis- take. Can you arrange to have me play there instead?" Give him credit for having good ideas, anyhow. With America winning tennis, polo, and ragtime championships, George M. Cohan must certainly feel proud. New ideas for billing: "That classy act—" "Those two funny fellows—" "The Little Girl with the Big Voice" "The Somewhat Different Comedi- enne." "Some Soubrette" "That Entertaining Duo" "The Funny Man" Of course everyone who is using them originated it. Lee Harrison sailed on the "Impera- tor" Wednesday for Germany. Willie Cohen went down to see him off. The parting was sad. Willie says he won't see his name in print now until Lee returns. Precious names: Jim Diamond, Belle Gold, Maxwell Silver. Hard names: William Rock, Anna Orr, Fred Stone, Joe Wood. (ieorgie O'Brien and Grace De Mar who are to be married on July 7 hired a church for the first half of next week to rehearse walking down the aisle. What has become of all the people who used to do imitations? "Mister Eddie Foy, the famoas Broadway com- edian, singing his latest, etc., etc." Ah me, those were the happy days! .Saw four vaudeville shows and didn't hear anyone tell "Goat-without-a nose," and only heard of two new music pub- lishing houses. This is certainly a dull week in New York. It's *-d cinch to .see your a^ent this time of the year. You can j<et him any afternoon at the ]*(}]<> (irouiRJs, right l'ehin<l third h.isc.