Variety (January 1914)

12 VARIETY WITH THE PRESS AGENTS Louis B. Jacobs, who Is producing tabloid musical comedy at the Empress, Phoenix. Ariz., started a contest In a local paper for the best and most original tublol.l muslin I comedy. He li;m succeeded In Killing- the town Interested to the extent that schools, clubs and societies arc all busy writing mate- rial for him. Cash prizes ure offered. Krcil 1-orialiK' hay received an offer from W. S. ltarklns to go back to the West Indies In the Interests or his stock company. Lor- raine recently pllnt. .1 the Morton Opera »'<> on Its W. I. tour. Frank Whltheck. with headquarters at the 'Washington theatre, Detroit, for some weeks, Is to shift to the Fitzgerald building, New York, about the middle of the month. He's attached to the William Moore 1'atch enter- prises. Robert Fitzslmmons may he getting a trifle old, but the advance of years has not thinned out some of his gray matter, for he turned a good press trick when he announced this week his return to the ring and Inten- tion to take on any of the "white hopes." On top of this the New York state boxing commission bars the ex-champ from ring activities hereabouts and that brought more space. Pits Is planning another Ming at theatricals. Bob Harris Is doing the press work for "Oh! Oh I Delphlne." Which fact Is mentioned In preparation for the statement that during the stay of that company. In Cincinnati last week, the local papers gave much space to the tale of the dark, handsome man who followed Mas Carmen so persistently that It became necessary for two city detectives to guard her when she had to go upon the street. The Stage Hands' Alliance Is prevented by an order of Justice Ford In the New York Supreme Court from Interfering with the production of "The Clever Woman," In which May Robson is to appear out of town. The union is restrained from obstructing the play until the courts hsve decided as to certain disputes at Issue. M. 8. Scovllle. for many years auditor of the Cort, Bhubert and Kindt Circuit's houses in Davenport, la., and manager of the Bur- tls In that town, has resigned and gone to Chicago to take a position with a firm of public accountants there. David Belasco tried out a new anti-specu- lator plan at the Belasco New Tear's eve. The usual 100 tickets were apportioned to the hotel agencies, but the tickets were held at the box office. Purchasers at the agencies presented orders for their seats after 7.SO of the Wednesday evening performance and the holders were ushered directly to their seata. Belasco may use the plan for all holi- day performances. F. Ray Comstock has announced that the next offering at the Princess will be a one-act playlet, entitled "It Can Be Done," a com- edy by Lawrence Rising of San Francisco. It will be shown during January. "The Deadlock." by Margaret Trumbull, will be produced in New York during Janu- ary. Cyril Maude's contract with the Lleblers has been extended to run to the end of the cur- rent season. It was originally for IB weeks. The Princess Theatre Co. will Journey to Philadelphia during January for a special Sunday night performance of the one-act plays in Its repertoire for the Plays and Players' Club of that city. The scenery and equip- ment of the little house will be taken along. A special performance of four one-act plays will be given Jan. 10 atop the Century theatre In aid of a fund for the prevention of tuberculosis. Vera Finlny, who appeared In "Our Wives" and "The Spy." has Joined the.company of players at the Princess. Forbes-Robertson will give a special pro- fessional matinee of "Hamlet" Jan. 0 at the Manhattan Opera House, In response to re- quests from stage folk. The Walter Hackett comedy. "Don't Weak- en." which comes to New York In a week or two, had Its Initial showing In William A. Brady's theatre In Wilmington, Del.. Monday night. "The Whirl of the World." which Is to open at the Winter Oarden next week, will be given a tryout at Hermanns Rleeker Hall, Albany, Tuesday night next. Margaret Romnlno has been engaged for "The Midnight Olrl." now In rehearsal. She Is a sister of Hazel Dawn. "The Olrl" comes to Broadway about the middle of January. Members of the Southern "Fine Feathers" company were tendered a dinner In Vlnrennen. Tnd.. last week, by H. H. Frazec. Among those present were R. E. French, mnnnirer: Bert Hlor, buslnnss manager: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Granby, stage manager, and stnge new consisting of J. R. Kmly, George Fred- burger and Eddie Gardn< r. Erin st Cook. usBlatunt manager last seu- on of the Frank A. RobLlna shows, will be re-engngid for next season. Frank Burry. out with "The ('oiiim-in Law." Is uguln on Uioadway. Sidney Ijirschan Is doing pre-is work for the Green point theatre, Ilrooklyn. The youngest H. Whitman Dennett boy se- lected Christmas Day to open his eyes. He Is the Bennetts' third son. Another was born on Feb. 2f). when that last fell. Br. Bennett In doubling on birthday and holiday presents with every fourth-year birthday disclaims any wilful Intent to dodge the obligations these occasions otherwise call for separately and an- nually. .John Ostiumler Is managing the Christie McDonald show for the present. It's under- stood that Mr. Gillespie (Christie's husband) has the managerial bee bussing In his bonnet and is being groomed to handle the road tour of his wife. E. A. Batcheller Is ahead of the company. Scott Marble is managing the A. O. Dela- mater show, "The Winning or Barbara Worth," with A. A. Duchemln ahead. J. A. Lacey is In advance of the "Prodigal Judge" show, while T. P. Wilson Is back. Harry DeMuth, formerly with the Kitty Gordon show managerial force. Is managing "The Traffic." in Chicago. Lee Parvin has been engaged for the advance of the "No. 2" show. Richard J. Meaney Is back on Broad- way, having been out ahead of the Anna Held show. Commencing Jan. 1 Harry Relchenbach as- sumed charge of the press publicity for Jesse L. Lasky which covers hi* productions and moving picture enterprise. PRESS OPINIONS CilHL. ON THK FILM. In short 'The Olrl on the Film" Is a good entertainment, with pretty girls, some fun, tlnkly tunes and a haunting waits, and throe Tory pretty stag* pictures.— Herald. The piece had the great advantage of im- proving as It proceeded, anfl the end left no doubt that the Forty-fourth Street Theatre baa at last secured a genuine hit—World. Some good songs, some pretty pictures, not a little good pantomimic fooling on the part of Mr. Oroasmlth, and a general quality of fresh and wholesome oharm make "The Olrl on the Film" worth while.— Time: "lOadC." Not .since the Sullivan librettos were new has anything come along that will compare with this comic opera book by Mr. Chambers In point of deft and direct humor. It Is humor, too, which Intelligent people will hear and enjoy.— Timet. "THK PHILANDERER.** It Is one of the most brilliant and delight- ful plays seen here In a long time. It was excellently acted by the English company. - Herald. It assures some delightful entertainment to future audiences at this attractive play- house. Then, the acting of this company Is Just as good as that of some others which have come here with the Indorsement of the Klngsway Theatre.—Sun. "The Philanderer" as It stands, and as It was not too well acted on this occasion, is a long way from being as good an entertain- ment as some of Mr. Shaw's other plays. — Times. »WK ARE SEVEN." "We Are Seven" proved to be distinctly novel and amusing, even If In one or two places full advantage was not taken of highly humorous situations.— Herald. Its charm—Its very decided charm—lies In its departure from the customary viewpoint of the ordinary farcemonger.— Sun. Unfortunately, this so-called whlmls'al farce has been pretty nearly talked to death before the developments are of a sort to fix and hold attention.— Times. The audience which saw "We are Seven" must have caught Itself marveling many times during the performance that the author of last year's delightful symbolical drama of child life should have next written the incon- sequential, transparent little play that was being spread In thin layers before them.— World. ».L\NI> OF PROMISE." Mr. Maugham's comedy Is entertaining throughout Its four nets, with less plausibility In Its serious scenes.--Sun. It was. all thlngR considered. Miss Burke's night, although there was an Interesting story and many cleverly written lines In Mr. Maug- ham's play to enjoy.— World. SHOWS CLOSING. "The Inner Shrine" company, which has been out a short time under the direction of the A. G. Delamater Inc., closed Saturday night in Toronto. "Fine Feathers" (western), playing the northwest and Canada, (F. A. Wade, manager,) closed Saturday in Quebec, the company returning to Broadway Monday. Several members of the "When Love I. 4 - Young," the former Jos. M. Gaites >>how, are back in town. New Orleans, Dec. 31. "The Common Law," the A. H. Woods show, closes here Saturday. TWO LOOK LIKE HITS. The two big openings of this week, "The Girl on the Film" at the 44th Street theatre, and "Iole" at the Long- acre, look like hits. Each did excellent business the sec- ond night (Tuesday), and both are ex- pected to have runs on Broadway. "HOP" ON THE ROAD. The road will get "Hop O' My Thumb" commencing Jan. 12. The show leaves the Manhattan opera house this week and lays off before commencing the touring trip. It will remain out until about April. The next production from the Drury Lane theatre, London, that New York, is to see will be "Sealed Orders," the meller. It goes on next fall, with the Shuberts, W. A. Brady and Comstock 8 Gest as producers. THREE MUSICAL SHOWS. Washington, Dec. 31. The booking offices for the large legitimate circuits are flooding this city next week with musical attrac- tions. Three of them are billed, "Sweehearts," "Oh, I Say" and the new Henry W. Savage production of "Sari." "Oh, I Say" will play New Haven next week, the show having been shift- ed out of Washington to ease up the light entertainment there next week- BOOKING TANGLE STRAIGHTENED Cincinnati, Dec. 31. By a tangle in bookings, both "The Lure" and "The Fight" were scheduled to show here for the same week, Jan. 5 . With "The Lure" at the Lyric and "The Fight" at the Grand, the man- agers would have had two sensational "white slave" dramas opposing each other. When the situation was disclosed, the two house managers got into com- munication with the booking forces in New York and the routes were revised to bring "The Lure" to the Lyric Dec. 28 and "The Fight" a week later. The Shubert office learned of the mixup first, and quickly announced the ad- vancement of the Lyric date. Robert Hillia/d will be the attrac- tion at the Grand, opposing "The Lure" and Evelyn Nesbit Thaw will he at the Lyric, bidding for patronage against "The Fight." If yoa don't advertise In VARIETY, don't advertise at all, HOLIDAY PARTY SPOILED. Cincinnati, Dec. 31. A little holiday party at the home of a Norwood actress was spoiled by an irate wife, who had her husband, Claude E. McArthur, a musical direc- tor, arrested on a serious charge. Ac- cording to the Norwood police, Sarah McArthur, the wife, an actress, heard her hubby had gone to the other wo- man's home, after the musical comedy which McArthur directed, closed up in St. Louis several weeks ago. Mrs. McArthur came from Chicago, where she is playing, and swore out the war- lant before Mayor Fridman. McArthur was arrested at the residence where he was the guest of honor. The daughter of the hostess belonged to McArthnr's company. Her family is prominent. McArthur engaged Attorney O. F. Dwyer. He succeeded in compromis- ing the case. Mrs. McArthur agreed to crop the charge and her husband was dismissed. "Mrs. McArthur, I under- stand, will sue for divorce and her hus- band will make a money settlement," said Attorney Dwyer. HELPING ALMA FABER. Pittsburgh, Dec. 31. Alma Faber, one of the best known wardrobe mistresses in years gone by, was reported to be in straitened cir- cumstances—4ast week. Ada Lewis of "The Honeymoon Express" deter- mined to see to Miss Faber's future. Miss Lewis scored her first success un- der the management of Edward E. Rice and Miss Faber was wardrobe mistress of many of his productions. Miss Lewis with the assistance of Anna Wheaton, Ray Samuels, Jane Lawrence and Juliette Dika took up a purse, purchased enough supplies to last the winter through, bought a Christmas tree and loaded it with gifts of clothing and sent it to the Faber home, near the city. Besides this Miss Lewis and Miss Wheaton have with the aid of the members of the chorus started a chain letter system for Miss Faber. "DISRAELI" RETURNING. Chicago, Dec. 31. George Arliss, is booked to return in "Disraeli" this winter for a four week's engagement at the Blackstonc. HOW RUMORS MULTIPLY. Pittsburgh, Dec. 31. "Nearly Married" met with ill fortune in Pittsburgh. First Ruth Shepley. leading woman, suffered with tonsilitis and then Gertrude Dallas, who played the co-respondent left the cast. Added to the lack of patronage on account of the holiday and a rumor that Bruce McRea, leading man, had also been taken ill, and that the show would close, the company had more than its share of worry. The rumor, however, was denied. It is largely due to the secrecy maintained by Manager Robb of the show that it got started. After Miss Shepley took sick Mabel Acker, her understudy, ar- rived. There was no Christmas matinee, however. Miss Brent succeeded Miss Dallas, but the public was not informed cf the change. When the newsgath- erers began to question they were not told what really happened, and this led to the report about Bruce McRea.