Variety (September 1913)

10 VARIETY FLOCK OF LEQIT HITS AftRIVE WITH OPENING OF SEASON ''Adele*' Qoes Over With Rush at Longacre, *'Her Own Money" Scores at Comedy, "The Fight" Will Fill the Hudson, and Hippodrome's New Spectacle Doing Business. John Drew at Empire. The crop of new productions recent- ly cxhil>itc(l scxMus to have gotten over with every proinisc of financial success. "America," the spcctaclo which opened the Hippodrome Saturday ni^ht last, may be included in the list. The huge house registered two capacity audiences Monday. "Her Own Money" at the Comedy has caught on, making what appears to be the third huge hit recorded for that little playhouse, the other two be- ing "Bunty" and "Fanny's First Play." "Adcle" (opening Aug. 28) at the Longacre is one success—so much so the $2.00 seats are being shoved back to a spot where they encroach on what has heretofore been the cheaper places. After having a bunch of partners in with him on the theatre while H. H. Frazec presented "Are You a Crook" and "The Silver Wedding," he bought them out on the afternoon of the pres- entation of "Adcle." John Drew in "Much Ado About Nothing" opening Monday, will do some business for his annual three months' engagement at the Empire. "The Fight" (opening Tuesday), a new melodrama of underworld political and social evil conditions, by Bayard Veiller, author of "Within the Law," has attracted a lot of sensational dis- approval on the part of the press, as was designed; hence there will be many folks scrambling to see the piece. **ADELE** A OORT BOOKING. Chicago, Sept 3. Upon "Adele" leaving the Longacre, New York, her next step will be the Cort, Chicago. The booking has been entered through H. H. Frazee, inter- ested in both theatres. SUMMER SHOW IN WINTER. (Sptciai CokU f VAMsrrJi Paris, Sept. 3. To conclude the summer season at the Theatre des Varietes, was revived Sept. 1 Francis de Croisset's successful comedy, "Lc Bonhcur Mesdames," with Blanche Tourain, J. Darcourt, Dauss- mond, Messrs. Duluc and Flateau, and the reappearance of the veteran Baron. ManaRcr Samuel will probably con- tinue the piece for the winter season in October, but with the creators, Jeanne Granier, Eve Levalliere and Albert Rrasseur. COMPULSORY ENGAGEMENTS. A clause in John Craig's contract with William A. Brady for the pres- entation of "Believe Me Xantippe" calls for the engagement of Mr. Craig's wife, Mary Young, to play a part in the piece. When Brady approached John Barry- more to take the leading role he ac- ir 70U don't advertlRe In VABUETY, doo't ndvertlie »t al). cepted on condition that his wife, Katherine Harris, be also cast for a part. This comes under the head of compulsory engagements. ''RICH GIRL** ALL OVER. Eleanor Gates' piece "The Poor Lit- tle Rich Girl" is to be produced by Charles Frohman in London this sea- son and by Max Reinhardt in Ger- many. Klaw & Erlanger will have two companies touring America. Arthur Hopkins is to produce about Oct. 15 a new piece by Miss Gates. *MODERN EVE** AGAIN! "A Modern Eve" may be revived short'y by private capital. A. H. Woods has relinquished his rights to the piece, probably without regret. "NO. 2" "P. A P.** WEST. The western "Potash & Perlmutter" company is to open in Chicago some time in November. YIDDISH AT GLOBE, OCT. 1. Chicago, Sept. 3. The Globe opens with Jewish drama Oct. 1. The Keny Libson Co. will be the first to hold the boards there for 10 weeks. Thomashefsky and Adler will follow in later. ROCKFORD A WEEK STAND. Chicago, Sept. 3. Rockford, 111., with less than 100,000, is now a week-stand town. "The Blind- ness of Virtue" played there a week with daily matinees and made money. Other shows have tried it and did very well. LONG BRANCH THROUGH EH? Long Branch, Sept. 3. The "No. 1" "Peg O' My Heart" opened here Monday, two shows, to $1,812. SIGNS FOREIGN TENOR. Wilmothe Merkle is a strong voiced, high-toned baritone from Europe, who came to this country on gumshoes and was placed under contract by the Shu- berts before any of the other managers had a chance to hear him sing. He is in "Lieber Augustin," with one song, until something else turns up. As Merkle was given a chance to practice on George Macfarlane's music, it is understood the latter may not remain with the "Augustin" piece long. TOTTBN DRAMATIZING BOOK. Joseph Byron Totten is making a dramatization of "The Valiants of Vir- ginia," Hallie Ermine Rives famous novel. The task was originally allotted to Eugene Presbrey, who was compelled to relinquiih it through illness. , FOLIES BERGERE SHOW. Kiipeciiil CabU to VAmiBTr.) Paris, Sept. 3. The 1913-14 season of the Folies Bcr^ere was inaugurated Sept. 1, with Clement Bannel still in charge. The prmcipal item on an excellent hill is a ballet, "Montmartre." by the painter VViilette, and Mme. Mariquita, the ballet mistress. The music is by Bosc (of the Bal Tabarin). who has of late supplied and published Fragson's songs in France. The ballet met with success. The leading roles are held nicely by Miles. Alice Clairville, Darling, Del- mairis. Other numbers on the program are Gus Fowler, Humpsti-Bumpsti, Hock- neys, Alice Wilson Trio, PerizoflF, jug- glers, Boucot (local comedian who can dance). The vaudeville program is good, but Alice Wilson went only fairly well. DOLLY*S SALARY ATTACHED. Chicago, Sept. 3. Jennie Dolly, who played the Palace last week with Harry Fox, ran into a little nest of trouble during the week. The Shuberts, her former man- agers, tied up the salary of the act to satisfy a claim of $600, paid Miss Dolly while rehearsing for the Winter Garden production. The dancer se- cured a lawyer and will fight the claim, alleging there is no money due the Shuberts. In retaliation she is suing the firm for $250, a week's salary, which she did not receive when leav- ing the show. Her partner, Harry Fox, has also entered into this and has filed his claim for one week's salary against the legitimate managers. Fox and Dolly were called in to do double duty last week. Bertha Kalisch left the Majestic, Chicago, bill owing to illness and the team played both the Majestic and Palace. DILLINGHAM STOPPED IT. There came very nearly being a re- vival of Frank Daniels' greatest suc- cess "Little Puck," recently. It was to be in the form of a musical version v.'ith melodies supplied by A. Baldwin Sloane and with Daniels in his former role. A number of downtown business man had agreed to club together and put up $20,000 to finance the production but before doing so insisted that the ven- ture should be sponsored by some rep- resentative management. Someone suggested Charles B. Dillingham and all hands said "Great." The manager was waited upon, the plan put up to him and he expressed himself as willing. Asked what his charges would be, Dillingham said "Fifty per cent." Daniels still has his script, Sloane his music, the backers their money, and Dillingham his health. "THE WHIP*S** RECEIPTS. Chicago, Sept. 3. "The Whip" opened Saturday night ac the Auditorium to $3,684, played to S3,700 at the Sunday night show, doing $3,376 at the Labor Day matinee and $4,762 the same night. The second night receipts beats "The Garden of Allah" in the same house by $1,200. "TANGO** AT ALHAMBRA. {.Sptcial Cable to VAmxarr.) Paris, Sept. 3. The Alhambra was reopened Aug. 30, a day earlier than usuaU to catch the Sunday public. E. H. Neighbour remains as resident director, and Joe Brook as stage manager. The Variety Theatres Controlling Co. has provided a good and full va- riety program. The appearance of Max Linder was awaited with interest —but he had already appeared in vau- deville in Paris, at the Olympia, about three years ago, when Marinelli and De Cottens introduced him in a revue. The moving picture actor now appears in a sketch, entitled "Tango Caused It." in which Hilda May takes a part. Tlic sketch is hardly original, but Miss May did fairly. Jean Clermant's burlesque circus does nicely; Carbrey Boys made good, and also the Craggs. NEW YORK NOT SOLD. The Times Sunday printed a front page story saying the New York The- atre building had been sold for $3,0(X),- 000. Much circumstantiality was at- tached to the tale, which mentioned that William Morris would have to va- cate immediately. Several New York papers copied the account, without giv- ing the Times credit, which was just as well, since the New York has not been sold. It was merely the old reported sale of the theatre property cropping up once more. William Morris has a lease on the premises with a cancellation clause run- ning from 30 to 90 days, at Morris' op- tion, and carrying a penalty payment t J hirii in the event of notice of cancel- lation being given. The mixamum amount of the penalty is $50,000. BARTHOLOMAE TRYING IT. The theatrical portion of the popula- tion of New York is watching with great interest the campaign of protest inaugurated by Philip Bartholomae to secure a rehearing of his farce "Kiss Me Quick," which was so unmercifully scored by the metropolitan newspaper critics on its premiere last week. There are some who believe he cannot win in the face of such odds and others who are wishing that the public will reverse the unanimous expressions of the daily paper reviewers. On Sunday last all the papers contained as an advertise- ment "An Open Letter from Philip Bartholomae." When seen this week a representative of the management said: "The show's business is constantly picking up, in spite of the divided interest of theatre- j;oers due to so many openings, rein- forced by the hot weather. We are de- termined to give the piece a thorough trial." Bartholomae will produce Sept. 22 on the road "The Bird Cage," a dramatic comedy by Austin Adams. Alice Brady has been engaged for the leading fe- male role. MURRAY BUYS GOLDEN HOME. George H. Murray, erstwhile ad- vance agent and now theatrical print- er, has purchased the home of the late Richard Golden at Port Washing- ton.