Variety (September 1913)

VARIETY 13 THE HOUSE MANAGER BY JOSEPH The old saw about the poet applies with greater truth to the theatre man- ager, and if the latter has not an inbbrn gift for handling the thousand and one duties around a playhouse it is going to take him years of persistent effort to acquire it. After fifteen years with traveling companies I have come to the conclu- sion that house management is the most important branch of show busi- ness, and one that is not always given the attention it deserves. Furthermore, I believe it is more profitable to have one's money invested in a theatre that is properly managed and has only a fair line of attractions, than one that is badly handled and has the best of offerings. "The Play's the Thing" may be all right in its way, but not unless that same play is running in a house under the direction of a man who knows his business and gives all his time and at- tention to it. Fewer productions would reach the storehouse before their time, and fewer high class combination the- atres would be presenting pictures if this fact were kept in mind. How fre- quently do we see productions that cost a small fortune sent on the road to appear in playhouses that are conduct- ed with less business judgment than a shoe shining parlor! The best house manager I ever met was tiie one who was hardly acquainted «vith a dozen persons in the city in ^^h■ch his theatre was located, but he made cr:tain that everything was pleas- ant for his pati^ons from the time they reached the lobby until they left it. It became almost a second nature for them to attend weekly, even when the attraction was not up to the usual standard. His patrons knew they would be treated at the box ofHce with as much courtesy as if they were stock- holders in the house; that at the en- trance the neat and gentlemanly door- tender would take tickets from them as though it were a real delight to see them there, and the ushers, program boys and other attaches they came in contact with were real Chesterfields. Kverything in connection with thif theatre was conducted with the one aim of pleasing the playgoer. And the same situation could prevail in all houses if the managers had the neces- sary tact and talent, but, abnut all. if they were willmg to give all their time and attention, as this man did, to see that things were running smoothly. One great drawback against the suc- cess of a manager is that he frequently has other interests to attend to, or may have the active direction of two or more theatres. I do not believe I exaggerate when I say that to properly oversee the mana^,'enient of one playhouse, nearly every minute of a man's waking time is required, and little, if any, leisure is left him for outside business or social engagements. "THE LURE" REWRITTEN. The agitation against "The Lure" will not result in any Grand Jury trials— the matter has been thrown out of court on Lee Shubert's promise to tone down R. DORNEY. the play and produce it upon denatured plans. A call was sent to the original "Lure" cast to report at the Maxine Elliott theatre at 11 o'clock Thursday morn- ing for rehearsal, as the Shuberts had decided to resume the play Friday night. Arthur Scarborough is not in town, having gone to Los Angeles to attend the opening there of the "No. 2" "Lure." This company is scheduled to play San Francisco next week. "The Fight," the Henry B. Harris Estate production at the Hudson, is running uninterruptedly, the manage- ment having made changes to remove the rawness. The new version without its objectionable second act has failed to draw business. THAW PICTURES ON VIEW. "Harry K. Thaw's Fight for Free- dom," a moving picture, is being dis- played and featured in all the big time vaudeville houses of the country this week. This is the film William Ham- mcrstein was asked $1,500 for the first New York exhibition rights for a week. Almost immediately the United Book- ing Offices secured it for its managers. The film was heavily advertised. In some theatres it was the only week's attraction mentioned. The "Thaw" name was depended upon to draw, and ftom reports the picture has excited quite some interest among those curi- ous to see the publicity-crazed former Matteawan inmate. Hal Reid put the Thaw picture through. CROOK SAYS HE*S AN ACTOR. Philadelphia, Sept. 17. Stewart Brooks, 20 years old, of Denver, was arrested Sunday night in the Hotel Walton. The police took 300 skeleton keys and a revolver from him. They say he confessed that he entered the hotel to rob. Brooks de- clared he was an actor and had been connected with a "Broadway Jones" company lately. REBUILD!N(j AUDITORIU.M. Portland, Sept. 17. Calvin Heilig, president of the Northwestern Theatrical ManaKcrs' Association, returning from Spokane Monday, announced the renewal of the lease of the Auditorium in that city, and plans for the complete rchuilditig of the structure. The lease is for ten years to the Hypothck Bank of Spokane. The theatre will be remodelled and ready t'.. open Jan. 1, with Anna Held as the initial attraction. The Auditorium was built jn 1889 by Col. Wood. Saating capacity is about 1,000. JOHN C. TRAUTH IN CHARGE. John C. Trauth has been appointed manager of the theatrical circus and picture departments of the U. S. Print- ing Co., with E. J. Doolittle as assist- ant. CORESPONDENT MAY QUIT. Catherine Calvert may not be seen in the principal feminine role of "The Escape," the new Paul Armstrong play, when it has its New York premiere. This is the report since Miss Calvert was named as corespondent in the Armstrong divorce case. Miss Calvert is understood to have put her foot down, absenting herself from rehearsals and making it known that she will not appear, and thus pre- vent further embarrassment. The com- pany now rehearsing, opens tomorrow night at the Lyric with Miss Calvert billed to appear. **MADCAP DUCHESS*' OCT. 18. The first public, performance of H. H. Frazee's Victor Herbert piece, "The Madcap Duchess," is now set for Rochester, N. Y., Oct. 13. It will then po to Syracuse, and afterward try for a run in Boston. "EVANGELINB*' CHANGES. Arthur Hopkins' "Evangeline" will open Sept. 29 at the Park. Several im- portant changes to be made before the premiere is held may possibly post- pone it. The company is now rehears- ing. Among the acquisitions to the cast are John Booth and John Harrington (late of the Bertha Kalish vaudeville sketch). NINE NEW GERMANS. Milwaukee, Sept. 17. The season of German drama in Mil- waukee will be opened in the Pabst theatre Sept. 28. 30 members in the stock company, nine being new recruits engaged in Germany by Manager Ludwig Kreiss last spring. All are expected to reach America this week. RUSHING HOWARD SHOW. Chicago, Sept. 17. The Joe Howard show at the Whit- ney is now fairly under way. Jack Mason got in Saturday and went right to work with the choristers. Working with Mason will be Colin Davis, author of the book, and George Fox who will handle the principals. Frances Kennedy and Billy Arm-i strong, Chicago favorites, and Carl Randall, a juvenile from whom much is expected, have been added to the cast. The show will open in Chiiago Oct. 3. FIR.M^H ELASTIC PROMISE. Wagenhals Sc Kemper have promised themselves to make but one produc- tion this season, "After Five," merely as a plaything. H anything extraordinary in the way of a manuscript presents itself, or is presented—well, that may alter things. Newell's, White Plains, N. Y., a pop house last year, is offering a straight picture policy this season. "GOODS" AT BLACKSTONE. Chicago, Sept. 17. It is now announced that "Damaged Goods" will he offered in Chicago at the Blackstonc under the auspices of the Chicago branch f>f the American Vigilance Association. The piece opens Sept. 29 for three weeks, TRYING TO STOP TALKER. Wednesday the New York World put one over that will neither be rel- ished by William Jennings Bryan nor the Chatauquas where he is-booked to speak. The World in a front page announce- ment remarks that as Secretary Bill says he can't live on his salary, $12,« 000 yearly, and needs $20,000 to make good at the hearthstone, if he will promise to shut up and stick to busi- ness at Washington, the World will give him the other $8,000 as long ai he is running the State Department. Bryan had not answered the offer up to Wednesday afternoon, but he may have been playing a split weel^ with the groupe of acts a Chautauqua usu- ally puts over. STARRING JOSH COLLINS. Klaw & Erlanger will star Jose Col- lins in a new musical comedy, to be produced by them about February. The English comedienne, who is with this year's "Follies," is under a K. & E. contract for one year with an op- tion. LOOKING FOR BAST MONET. Morris Gest is reported to be buying up the rights, with production, of a number of musical comedies that have not yielded their owners any profits, and framing them for tours of the one- night stands. As reported recently in VAwrrr, the small towns are suffering from a dearth of attractions. Gest figures that New York productions with good paper ought to get the money in bucolir regions. TWO FAILURES AT CORT. Chicago, Sept. 17. The Cort theatre is out after a rec- ord. The season is only just started, and already the house has registered two failures. "The Elixir of Youth," a comedy, succumbed after two or three weeks' of miserable business. "The Double Cross," now playing at the house, holds out no more brilliant prospects. The piece received poor notices from the press and is receiving no notice from the public. "AT HAY" GOING ON. Rehearsals are being held of "At Bay," the Augustus Thomas piece Crystal Heme and Andrew Mack co- starred in late last season. Miss Heme will be featured in the revival, with Mr. Mack replaced by someone yel unselected. Mack has a Johu Cort vaudeville tour to look after. "At Bay" was to have gone into the Lyric, but Paul Armstrong's "The Es- cape" gets that house, opening there tomorrow (Saturday) night. "FAIR PLAY" NEXT WEEK. Atlantic City, Sept. 17. Monday night next and week, Sel- wyn & Co. present a new romantic comedy, entitled "Fair Play," written by Christy Mathewson and Rita John- son Young. The cast is headed by William Court- ney. Others are Frank Craven. lone Mcdran, Ralph Stuart, Lola Fisher, Geo. Fawcett and Marion Ballon. If yna don't advprtlir In VAKIKTY, don't ndvrrtlM si all.