Variety (August 1913)

VARIETY 11 TESTING NEW YORK CRITICISM WITH BARTHOLOMAE'S FARCE 44 Kiss Me Quick" at the 48th Street to be Storm Centre of Advertising Campaign, With Boston and New York "Notices" Paralleled. "Money Back if You Don't Like it" to Back Up Managerial Statements. Wednesday's New York daily news- papers, both afternoon and evening, contained scathing reviews on the first performance Tuesday evening at the 48th Street theatre of Philip Bartholo- mae's farce, "Kiss Me Quick." The management read them carefully and without animus decided upon a campaign of advertising to determine the exact value of criticism in the me- tropolis. Thursday morning extra space was employed in the advertising columns of all the papers containing the following: "Is dramatic criticism a science or a joke? If the former, it is ; nexact. If the latter, it is the funniest ever. This contention is proven by Mr. Bartholo- mae's farce, 'Kiss Me Quick/ Gaze upon these criticisms." (Then followed in parallel columns the criticisms of the Boston newspapers and extracts from the New York dailies. Underneath it, in bold type, the daring announcement was made: "If you don't like it, your money back then and there." Discussing the matter, the manage- ment said: "Mr. Bartholomae's piece, 'Over Night,' received two good notices and played an entire year in New York. His 'Little Miss Brown' also received but two favorable criticisms in the me- tropolis, and remained three months. We are going to find out for ourselves in this instance just how important are the criticisms of men who laugh at a first night and then 'crucify' a produc- tion." One of the characters in the piece is given the name "Lottie Briscoe." There is a well known moving picture actress of that name and Wednesday Miss Bris- coe secured from Judge Whitaker an orcjer to show cause why Bartholomae's should not be enjoined from using her nan.e. Bartholomae will not change the program copy until such tin\e as the courts order him to. "P. A P." DOING 914,000. The gross figure of $14,000 weekly is being reached at the Cohan by the A. H. Woods show. "Potash & Perlmut- ter." It's a large amount for "a com- edy" as the piece is classified, which means a "straight show" without big chorus, scenic embellishments of "pro- duction." The Cohan has reached over the $1,900 mark for night perform- ances. While the salary list is high, the "P & P" company does not run to excess in the payroll in the face of the busi- ness done. With a heavy advance sale and what looks like an all-season run in sight, the Woods staff is sitting back in a pose of satisfaction, having "With- in the Law" as a side line, and the fu- ture Julian Eltinge show to bank upon. Mr. Woods would like to leave for Germany to look over his picture and vaudeville interests there, but the pro- duction of the Eltinge piece is holding l.im back. However, Mr. Woods as- serts he has a good understudy in Mrs. A H., who is now on the ground rep- resenting her husband, as well as L. J. Goldsoll, Mr .Woods' partner in the foreign enterprises. Mr. Kilgour will shortly retire from the cast to take up his projected vau- deville starring tour in a sketch en- titled "George Washington," and Elita Proctor Otis will also withdraw. Snitz Edwards' name has been men- tioned for the role of Marks Pasinsky, tc succeed Lee Kohlmar. Fred Fleck, manager of the show, casually asked Alex Carr the other day if he knew Nat Carr's address, which elicited a paroxysm coupled with the following ejaculation: "No, sir! My brother has been traveling around long enough on my reputation. I'm going to see Woods about it right away." David G. Smith, a Paterson, N. J., lawyer, names Montague Glass and A. H. Woods, author and manager of "Potash & Perlmutter," as defendants in a $10,000 damage suit. Smith asserts he was assaulted at a Long Branch, N. J., theatre on the opening night of the show by Glass and_. Woods. He says he was writing memoranda on a case he is interested in, while watc4ring the performance, and the defendants, apparently suppos- ing he was copying the dialog, set up- on him and ejected him from the houae. Arthur Pickens, now in the cast, has been chosen to succeed Jos. Kilgour as the lawyer. No other changes of players has been settled upon. BUILDING FOR 8. A H. Philadelphia, Aug. 27. W. Dayton Wegefarth, manager of the Walnut, is organizing a corpora- Hon to build a new theatre in West Philadelphia, to be leased to Stair & Havlin as a link in their chain of pop- ular priced houses. Hi•■ father pro- moted the William Penn house. Till-; ST. MOON FAMILY KI.HIK 'in nniiT) VKKA AND (JhOIUJK ST. M'.o.N, now f»;itur«d with "l'OLI.Y OF THE CinCUS." playlnx "t..|. r tin- munaK^nient <jf WISK A MOXUN on tin- STAIR & HAVLIN time. EIhIc Is h placing her Hlstcr, Ida, In the tllii- rolf. H<sUI<n h.-ning m;u|c- ». name for hera«-|f an »n • x • i < 11 -1 r < ■ <|ii< *t i li nn.-. the young Kirl Is mild to show much promise l.i h«r flrct .«p<aklnR role The St. I,< on h ulso take care of the clrcim • nt> rtalrirn. ni In th<- play an lllijMtrntrrl In th»> cut.