Variety (September 1913)

12 VARIBTY WITH THE PRESS AGENTS Jack Abrams, who Is doing some tall travel- ing abead of "Officer (MMt." tbrougb tbe west, bas found out aeveral tblnga oft hla pr«««nt Journeylngs. At Seattle, be flnds Zooy Sbutt, treasurer of tbe Moore theatre, a newlywed, Carl Keed. tbe former manager, gone with a John Cort road show, with bis Moore thea- tre role filled by Benny Ketcbum; tb« Seattle paragrapbcrs a Uungry bunch of boys; at Vancouver, he learned that Eddie Diamond, the youthful manager of tbe Imperial, Is do- ing Home clasay press work for the stock company there beaded by Miss Fletcher; looked over Qcorge Hood's (Hood's general manager of the John Cort Circuit In the far west) four acre farm on the Puget Sound, and ran into F^red. Palmer, a former circus agent, handling tbe advertising for tbe Met- ropolitan theatre. Clay T. Vance is managing tbe May How- ard show on the Progressive burlesque Cir- cuit. Another crow's-foot in tbe corner of the circus router's eye, Memphis city father* propose an ordinance forbidding the entrance into the town of any tented organization during a period of two weeks preceding and one week following tbe trl-state fair. The Barnum-Bailey circus played Memphis Mon- day In spite of tbe protests of tbe fair pro- moters, which t>egln8 In a few days. "Broncho Billy Anderson Is the best press agented man In the United States. He got Into Kansas City one day last week. The kids of tbe town recognized his face, made familiar to tbem by his labors In the movies, and blocked trafDc. The local papers Inter- view him to exhaustion. Anderson declared that the application of cowboys for work with tbe movies, has depleted the ranks of real life workers on the ranches. Pass a bunch of tender blossoms to Tom L. Wilson, who labors In the Interests of Mrs. General Tom Thumb. Here's a sample of his press matter, which he assures eiditors, "Is authorized by Mrs. Thumb's manager and Is authentic:" "From her beautiful home, Idlewlld. Mrs. General Tom Thumb sends out her ultimatum for the li>13-ll>14 seasbn. Her manager, Mr. Frank L. Kower. now In Pittsburgh, received the news to-day (Sept. 22). He is arranging plans and laying out routes for the coming triumphs. From date he will be busy replying to anxious managers of Qrst-class theatres eager to book In the greatest Lilliputian attraction in all the wide, wide world of prodigies and talent The smallest and most talented persons ever cre- ated thru a benellcent nature to amaze and attract" (and pay bright press agents, may- hap). There are two more pages of this but the nature of Mrs. Thumb's ultimatum re- mains shrouded in mystery. "Who sliall say," concludes the press matter, "that the little mite of ebullient humanity is not 'one of tbe Lord's anointed?' " Certainly not Tom L Wilson. T. Daniel Frawley, general stage director for Oliver Morosco, has reported to bis prin- cipal that "Help Wanted" which is running In Los Angeles and will come to New Y'ork Dec. 1, promises a metropolitan success. Mr. Frawley returned from bis trip for Its In- spection this week. He Is now engaged In New York on a road company of "I'eg," which opens out of town Oct. 6. Tbe tour of tbe Hoffmann-Polalre-Stewart- Ricbardson opened in Allentown, Pa., Mon- day night Tbe New York newspapers print- ed dispatches Tuesday morning crediting the venture with a success. The American sent Alan Dale to tbe Pennsylvania town to re- port on tbe opening by wire—two columns of it. Anna Hcld's tour at tbe bead of a vaude- ville road show opened Monday at Richmond. Her way is being paved about tbe country by live press work. One exploit of the pub- licity men in George Moosur employ is tbe planting with the International News Service syndicate of a series of "My beauty secrets" signed by tbe comedienne and lavishly Inter- spersed with portraits In special poses by the principal. These articles are cropping up as far west as Salt Lake City. James K. Hackett is on tour in tbe South with "A Grain of Dust. " He will return to New York shortly, however, to begin rehear- sals for a play made from a serial now run- ning in one of tbe magazines. The New York papers a few days ago told about a black band plot directed against Marc Klaw. Tbe Italian ronnul in New York, has now announced that the blackbanders had been arrested In Italy. "Mary Goes F'irst." by Henry Arthur Jones, was produced in London late last week, according to a cable printed by the Times which describes it as a Joneslan satire on the hypocrisy of provincial life. John Coutts Is back In New York again. His health would not permit him to travel with his show, "The Olrl of My Dreams," which has been turning In regular weekly profit since It started its road expedition. Coutts is 111 at the Normandle. Lome Elwyn is getting plans together for his annual stock tour of Canada and the northwest A story of tbe Hotrmann-Polaire-Ricbard- son Internal management that will not be given out to the press happened Monday morning, when tbe private car for the three stars was standing on the rails in the station. Polalre got there flrst. The car looked good to her. She selected three of the staterooms for herself, placed her leading man in the second and her maid in the third. Well, you know Gertie Hoffmann! She got there later. Some day somewhere Polaire and Hoffmann may have a little run in. If it happens on tbe stage and Lady Richarson Is about it may make an interesting chapter In her American reminiscences. Bill Oviatt is in charge of the three-star combination. Kenneth McGaffey will go ahead of the Evelyn Thaw Road show. The no-pass rule is giving the theatres the worst of it in Philadelphia and New York. The agents can't abide by the decision, so take the duckets out of the box offices, giv- ing an I. O. U.. also punching the coupons before passing them over to newspapermen. Thus the "paper" is also charged up against the house. As the theatre distributes 65 per ^ent. of tbe free passes (paid for), the loss on the house Is the difference between that and the 35 per cent, the show uses. Be- sides which it keeps the agent in hot water all the tlmo and holds down tbe publlcl^ space to a minimum. G. Franklin White has been engaged to do the advance work for Oliver Morosoo'« third road company of "Peg O' My Heart" which opens Oct 6 at Springfield. The Co. will feature Peggy O'Neal. Howard McCoy will manage the troupe. Charles de Young, publisher of the San Francisco Chronicle and son of one of the directors of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, died Sept 17 at the de Young country home in San Mateo, near here. Death was due to typhoid fever. Orrin Johnson will play the principal role In John Cort's forthcoming production of "The Marriage Game," Anne Crawford Flez- ner's new comedy. Lucille LaVerne, who has taken over the former May Robson play, "The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary," will give the piece a New York showing with her new company next week at the Prospect. A party of New York theatrical managers and newspaper men will attend the opening of tbe Lillian Russell Big Feature Festival at tbe Harmanus B^eecker Hall, Albany, Mon- day. This road show, under John Cort's man- agement, the second of a vaudeville nature to get started within a week of each other, in addition to Miss Russell. Includes William Farnum in two scenes from "VIrglnlus," Thing Ling Foo, Fields and I^wls. Marguerite Farrell, Ward and Curran, Rose and Arthur Boylan. The Russell Co.. numbering 50 peo- ple, will travel from Coast to Coast in a spe- cial tralD. Louis Mann's new advance man, William L. Wilken, has been doing splendid work for Mann's new show nn Its trip west. The Co.'s next week stand is at tbe Shubert, St. Louis. Tbe New York World Is having all sorts of fun at the expense of Secretary Bryan and bis rhautauqua tour. One day recently the World's correspondent reported that the sec- retary-lecturer was dissatisfied with "bis place on the bill," and was to be given a bet- tor "spot"" next day. Again an amusing re- port was published of spirited "opposition" to the Hryan "Dig top" by a moving picture outfit across the street In Culpeper, Va. The Federated Churches of Columbus have declined to commit themselves on' the forth- coming visit of "Damaged Goods." The In- stitution sent a representative to New York recently to witness the drama, and It was intimated after he had made his report back to tbe body that the church people would assume a neutral attitude. After a meeting of tbe executive committee. Its chairman Is- sued a statement to the effect that "It Is not fit that our organization should puff up or create prejudice against the production." The report was not made public. Charles B. Kaufman is traveling abead of the Essanay (>o. outfit which moves from place to place to film current events. He ar- rived in Cody, Wyo., to pave the way for the troupe which posed during the state fair. Owen Davis is at work upon a play to fol- low bis "The Family Cupboard." It will be produced by William A. Brady under the title of "Beggars on Horseback." ir von don't advertise in VARIETY, don't Bdveiilse at slL * , Sunday night concerts at the New York Hlp- Sodrome will begin Oct 0 with tbe United Utes Marine Band as the initial attraction. E. B. Crldler is managing the DansTllle (N. Y.) Opera House. David R. Bufflngton, this past summer ahead of "Along the Kennebec," closed with the C. R. Reno attraction Sept. 13. Paul Gllmore is playing New England in the former Henry Miller piece, "The Havoc." with his principal support embracing Alton Thomas and Kathryn Hutchinson. Harrv Anderson is breezing among Broad- way folk with another denial that he is con- templating any burlesque operations. W. Elmdorf is ahead of the George Syd- ney "Joy Riders" Co., with Al. Herman man- aging. Will Cranston, representing the Canadian Starland Limited circuit of Canada, has bought the exclusive Canadian and some of the States rights to "Bunty Pulls the Strings." Punch Wheeler will do the ad- vance for the Bunty show. Will J. Donnelly is handling the advance for "The Common Law" on Its trip to the Coast C. V. Tevis is doing tbe press work for Shanley's cabaret. A controversy, if so one-sided a discussion could be called a controversy, is on between Pierre Veber, one of the authors of "Mme. President," and Louis DeFoe, dramatic critic of the New York World. Mr. DeFoe was the author of a particularly violent condemnation of the Fannie Ward farce at the Oarrlck. M. Veber came back in a letter, reprinted in the New York Herald. The Herald has been ac- tive in keeping the matter alive, discussing the matter from every angle, while Mr. DeFoe has, maintained a discreet silence. However, the matter has resulted in a dally display of photographic reproductions of the parties to the discussion and scenes from the farce, which are, to say the least, spicy. Spicy pictures are apparently much in de- mand by the New York newspaper make-up men. The arrival in New York of Mile. Pol- alre was seized upon by the editors, abetted by the Morris Oest publicity department, as an occasion for using the pictures of Lady Constance Stewart-Richardson and Gertrude Hoffmann displaying those principals of tbe trl-star organization in the extreme of clotbes- lessness. None of the early season theatrical events has won so wide publicity as has this Oest enterprise, both in New York and throughout tbe country. A big picture frame with five portraits of Miss Hoffman, graces the entrance of tbe Times Square subway sta- tion where It cannot but attract the attention of the nightly horde of theatregoers. Joseph P. Murphy would go on the stage. So he did a Brodle from the Brooklyn bridge Sunday. He told the police the performance was a try-out for a moving picture concern. He was locked up in the Oak street station charged with attempting suicide. The Shuberts have offered a $50 prize to any one who will suggest a more appropriate title for "Lleber Augustin," the Casino musi- cal piece. The name will be changed next week. The objection to "Lleber Augustin" Is that it suggests Germany, while the scene of the piece Is laid elsewhere. Five companies of William A. Brady's "Lit- tle Women" opened Monday night in Shen- andoah, Rochester, Norfolk and Detroit. Samuel Berger of San Francisco arrived in New York Sunday. He seeks an arrangement with Morris Oest and F. Ray Comstock. whereby the one-act plays of tbe Princess and those put on at the San Francisco Little thea- tre, may be exchanged. J. F. Blackwood, of Los Angeles, Is negotiating with the Prin- cess management for a similar interchange of plays. John Parrymore and Mrs. Barrymore have collaborated on a book which Is now ready for the printers. It is called "Leading an Open Air Life on Broadway." H. H. Frazee's "The Madcap Duchess" opens at tbe Lyceum. Rochester, Oct. 1.1. It will play Syracuse and two weeks In Boston before coming Into New York. VlctoT Herbert wrote the music. There was a special midnight performance of "When Dreams Come True" at Lew Fields' 44th street last week. Delegates to the con- vention of tbe Associated Peace Societies at- tended. The Bartholomae office declares that the reduction of price to $1.50 has encour- aged business at the 44th street house. William Collier is going to kill two birds with one stone during the coming world's series of baseball games. W. C. is to write tbe games in his trenchant way for the Her- ald and get money for it Incidentally Will- lam will get a lot of publicity that should help his business at the Criterion. Tbe Orpbeum, a straight picture bouse cost- ing $25,000, was opened at Lafayette, Ind., Tuesday under tbe management of Ned Smith, eight years manager of the Otis Oliver Dra- matic Players. A Bartola orchestra has been Installed and a $1,000 picture curtain bung. Edward L. Bachman, former manager Webb talking pictures, has been appointed treasurer of the Lafayette. Joe Loevl is the manager. PRESS OPINIONS. MAHRIAGB MARKBT. If this Is the best that Oeorge Bdwardes can send to America at this late date then there are plausible reaaons why he should be think- ing of retirement The company, to be sure, was not all English—so the blame must be made an International matter.—Eve. Bun. There Is no good reason why "The Mar- riage Market" should not duplicate its Lon- don record at the Knickerbocker, for in its adapted form It Is graceful, airy, tuneful, dainty and in good taste.—World. This new musical piece at the Knicker- bocker combines something of a story with a soupcon of real fun and quite a few of the most insinuatingly graceful and pleasing songs and dances that the season has brought —Times. There were some waltz steps, dips and turns and glides that it is safe to say a lot of people hurried home to try before bedtime. —Sun. "The Marriage Market" Is away above par in music, dancing, wit and lavlshness.— Herald. SBVBN KEYS TO BALDPATB. Mr. Cohan's new piece is one of the clev- erest bits of writing he ever has done, and one which promises to lead all his others in popularity. And that is saying a great deal. —Herald. Melodrama of the good, old-fashioned sort, with a goodly supply of villains, an adven- turess or two. Just enough careless display of "guns" to tingle the nerves of the audience. —Times. It Is hugely entertaining, and it has the vast advantage of keeping Itself free at all times from the conventional farcical formula. —World. The wildest fun that bas run riot on the stage In ages.—Eve. World. One of the most delicious bits of fooling that the New York public has witnessed in many a moon.—Sun. THE ESCAPE. "The Escape" was not a runaway in the sense that It carried the audience off its feet It was rather of the kind that didn't even get across the State line.—Herald. In spite of the fact that Mr. Armstrong as much as admitted that it was a ^ood play, "The Escape" talks a great deal too much. Though there is a backing of truth in much of Its preachment the play Itself is largely buncombe and insincere.—"Times. It may be apart from its author's Inten- tion, but nevertheless it Is true, that "The Escape" presents the greatest Interest when It is least occupied with Its lessons.—World. In fact, they all talk eugenics with the most persistent elegance, and bore you to extinction.—American. It Is not to be expected that Mr. Armstrong's social conclusions are ever going to be an Important factor In the success or failure of bis play.—Sun. "Tbe Escape" is futile.—Eve. World. SMOLDERING FLAMiE. Pretentious stupidity, dreary nonsenslcality and the childlike silliness.—World. And for the better part of two acts the thing is very wearisome. Then It becomes- absurd.—Times. When the audience, at>out tbe middle of the last act, was preparing for tbe end to come and the committal services to begin, some- thing suddenly started—the flame came to life for an instant, as it were.—Herald. SHOWS IN FRISCO. San Francisco, Sept 24. "The Lure," in its first week here at the Cort, is not tearing up in the same manner the piece flounced into police circles in New York. There was a sell out at the opening perform- ance Sunday with the attendance con- tinuing big, but not seriously threaten- ing capacity. Margaret Anglin is scoring both an artistic and financial success at the Columbia, where she is this week pre- senting "The Taming of the Shrew." The business is believed to have been stimulated by Miss Anglin's recent en- gagement at the Hearst Greek theatre, Berkeley. The receipts are on the in- crease. Business continues gratifyingly big at the Alcazar, where the Ralph Herz musical stock holds forth, while the Tivoli O. H. returns are encouraging.