Variety (February 1914)

VARIETY 11 GEORGE M. COHAN'S FAREWELL IN DETR OIT LA ST SATURDAY Manager-Actor-Author at 35 Retires from Stage Worth $300,000, According to Report. Has Made Parents In- dependent for Life. Remains Member Cohan & Harris Firm and Will Continue Play Writing. Through with Acting Forever. Detroit, Feb. 4. What was declared by George M. Cohan to be his farewell performance on the stage was given here last Sat- urday night in "Broadway Jones." Mr. Cohan vows he will never act again unless compelled to do so. The comment in connection with Mr. ■ Cohan's retirement as an actor said he is worth about $500,000, and that he has placed his immediate family out of all future financial needs through turn- ing over royalties on different plays written by him. Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Cohan (mother and father of Geo. M.) are reputed worth $200,000. The pa- rents received all the royalty, it is said, from "Get Rich Quick Wallingford." This averaged around $1,000 for a con- tinuous year. The theory of Mr. Cohan, when much younger (he is now 35X seemed to be that while things were coming his way, he would see his folks were provided for, and to this end, took long chances on himself in the likely belief he could always at least make a living for himself. Many similar unpublished stories of Mr. Cohan's unselfishness and thought- fulness have been brought up through his retirement as an actor though he still remains active in his firm, Cohan & Harris, and as a playwright. Dunsmuir, Cal., and Miss Irwin was required to spend her time in a cold sleeper which resulted in illness. 'O'HE DOG" STILL ALIVE. "It is not true," says Edward E. Rice, "that my production of Mr. Lawshe's farce, 'The Dog,' has been shelved. On the contrary, we merely tried out the piece for a few nights and found that the leading man and woman were not fitted for their roles. They have been replaced and the piece is once more in rehearsal, with the prob- ability we shall open next week again." The new cast includes Marie Cham- bers, Oza Waldrop, Alice Hills, Lynne Overman, Morgan Coman, Bert S. Frank, Charles E. Verner. "SOUL IN THE ATTIC" ON LIQUOR. Pittsburgh, Feb. 4. "The Soul in the Attic" will be pro- duced for the first time on any stage in the Pitt theatre next week. It is by Elizabeth Gould and Francis White- house (a member of Elsie Ferguson's company in "Th- Strange Woman.") The play is an arraignment of the much-discussed liquor question and is said to have strong scenes. The prin- cipal character is a woman given to drink, and not a man. GARDEN HAS A RECORD. The Winter Garden production, "Whirl of the World," has established a new record for large musical come- dies in New York. Since the opening three weeks ago not a single person, line or bit of business has been chang- ed in the show. Parts have been speeded up, but the entire production remains as it was seen at the opening performance. TEMPERANCE PLAYS SOON. Pittsburgh, Feb. 4. Robert Campbell was in the city last week and announced he has secured the dramatic rights to Jack London's "John Barleycorn" which he will pro- duce in the popular priced theatres as he believes temperance plays will be all the go soon. WILSON GIVING HIS TIME. Francis Wilson, the president, is de- voting all his time to the Actors' Equity Society, which is weekly in- creasing its membership of actors in the legit. The society has taken up a number of cases wherein their members have claims against managers and producers. It is also agitating an equitable con- tract between players and managers. HAZEL DAWN RETURNS. Hazel Dawn has returned to the cast of "The Little Cafe" at the Am- sterdam. BESSIE DE VOIE JOINING. Boston, Feb. 4. Bessie De Voie will enter the cast of "The Doll Girl," when that show opens here Monday. She will do a dance with a male partner. MAY IRWIN CANCELS. Portand, Ore., Feb. 4. May Irwin, who has been suflTering from a severe attack of neuritis for the p?st week, announced today she has cancelled her coast engagements and will begin suit against the Southern Pa- cific for $50,000 damages, which she claims is the amount she will lose by the cancellation of engagements. While traveling to Oregon from Cal- ifornia via the S. P. her train was held up for 12 hours by a washout near SHOWS IM FRISCO. San Frrncisco, Feb. 4. Despite the absence of Julia Mar- lowe from the E. H. Sothern Company the Shakespearian revival at the Cort ic holding up well at the box oflRce. Andrew Mack and his dramatic stock continue at the Alcazar and the Irish star is drawing well. The new Gaiety show looks like a big winner from the start it made on the opening. i "Adeie" is doing a medium business at the Columbia. SHOWS CLOSING. "Officer 666" (Coast Co.), managed by W. G. Tisdale, closes at the Arm- ory, Valley City, North Dakota, Feb. 13. A comedy by Fred Raymond, "Lit- tle Miss Susan," which has been going over the smaller one-nighters, wound up its season Saturday at E)^uality, 111. "The Awakening of Helena Ritchie," out under the direction of Leon Wil- son, is through. "A Man on the Case" hit the break- ers on its one-nighters through Minne- sota. Chicago, Feb. 4. "An Arizona Romance" closed in Charleston, W. Va., last week. Kansas City, Feb. 4. "The Thief" closed last week in Tulia, Tex. SEPTEMBER MORN HELD OVER. Chicago, Feb. 4. The stay of "September Morn" at the La Salle has been extended once more and the piece will remain in that house indefinitely. Last week's receipts were over $8,0(X). THE KOLB AND DILL CO. Chicago, Feb. 4. The Kolb and Dill Musical Stock Company, to start an engagement at the American Music Hall March 8 un- der the direction of George Mooser and the Shuberts, will first play "A Peck of Pickles" at the Lyric, Cin- cinnati, for a week commencing Feb. 23, with the following week at St. Louis. So far engaged for the company, now rehearsing in New York, are Olga Steck, Earl Benham, Alice Hilles, Ru- by Leslie, George M. George. Frank Smithson will stage the Kolb and Dill show. KEEPING ''DREAMS" IN. Boston, Feb. 4. Margaret .\nglin expected to get in the new Cort theatre next week or Feb. 16, but the prospects are not bright just now, as "When Dreams Come True," the piece that started John Cort's local theatre off, is play- ing to over $6,000 weekly. As long as the show holds up above that figure, it may remain by the terms o» the contract it is playing under. MISS MARSHALL'S NEW PLAY. Seattle, Feb. 4. "The Crime of the Law," Rachel Marshall's new play, was produced Jan. 26 at the Seattle theatre for the first time. Despite certain imperfec- tions, it will likely be added to the sea- son's successes. Miss Marshall's first play, "The Traffic," is now at the Howard. Chi- caeo. PASSES TO DIPPEL. "The Purple Domino," which A. H. \V'oofls at one time proposed to pro- duce in New York, is now in the hands or Andreas DipprI, the j;jran(l opera iitipressario, and the latter itit<'n(ls hrinLrinj^ out this Grritinii operetta either the last of the season here or next sure. MARIE DRESSLER OPENING. San Francisco, Feb. 4. Just at the right moment to reap the bt nefit of the publicity the dailies had been giving Marie Dressier and her trouble with the Anderson Gaiety com- pany, came the announcement Miss Dressier and "The Merry Gambol" would open at the Gaiety Feb. 2. While the show was up in Stockton polishing up preparatory to opening in San Francisco, the lobby display of Miss Dressier was suddenly withdrawn from the entrance to the Gaiety and a sign substituted which read the opening was postponed for two weeks. The air was filled with rumors and an inquiry from the management brought forth the statement the show needed strengthen- ing. On top of this statement came the announcement Miss Dressier had be- gun suit for the fulfillment of her con- tract which called for 40 weeks and g?ve her the right to stage the produc- tion and cast it to suit herself. She stated the postponement was due to the fact that she would not have Kath- eryn Osterman (Mrs. J. J. Rosenthal) in the production and the cancellation of the opening at the Gaiety was Man- ager Rosenthal's revenge. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rosenthal denied this accu- sation. Miss Dressler's attorney met Mr. An- derson and the whole matter was set- tled. Miss Dressier had an auspicious opening, and everything went along successfully. There was a big house and the show seems to be sufficiently meritorious to enjoy a prosperous run. The papers say the opening was a bril- liant one. ''OMAR" INCREASING. "Omar, the Tentmaker," which moves from the Lyric to the Booth, Monday, is evidencing a steady growth in popularity. Some of the box office receipts for the opening week were as low as 1145, and without any sensa- tional booming they have climbed steadily until now around the $6,000 mark. CLOSING TEMPORARILY. "The Family Cupboard," this week at the Garrick, Detroit, closes tempo- rarily Saturday night and will follow "The Lure" into the Princess, Chicago, when the engagement of that play closes. "The Cupboard" is too expensive for the one nighters this year. 'TEG'' TO MAY 31 OR LONGER. .\ccording to present plans, "Peg ()' My Heart" will remain at the Cort until May 31, when Laurette Taylor will take a three months' vacation in I'uropc. It is barely possible, if the receipts continue at their present gait, her vacation will not commence until June, when the vacation will com- ineiicc. PAULINE NOT RECONCILING. Cincinnati, Feb. 4. raiiliiic I'redcrick yesterday denied .1 rtiiiiui ^he w<^>iil(l becfitne reconciled t<i hrr hiishaiid. I'Vank Andrews, a for- nur ( incinnati architect,