Variety (February 1914)

VARIETY 11 MARC KUW'S UTEST ADDED JOB IS PAPER INSPECTOR FOR K. & E ''Syndicate's'' Rule Over PaMes Strictly Adhered to Through Schedule and Report Called For, Which Are Closely Scrutinized by Mr. Klaw. Keeps Num- ber of Passes Given Out Away Down and Some Houses Are Light in Consequence. Marc Klaw, of the Klaw & Erlanger firm, has assumed a new position in the office, that of paper inipector. Since the rather rigid no-pass rule went into effect in "The Syndicate" houses in New York, each theatre is required to fill out a schedule supplied, detailing the number of passes the day before, when issued and by whom, and to whom, for what reason, besides other information called for. These reports are now carefully scrutinized by Mr. Klaw. The lessening of the paper distribu- tion has decreased the attendance at some of the theatres, which formerly could make the body of the orchestra look comfortable with paper dressing. BAD IN AUSTIALIA. According to reports brought back by Harry Burkhardt, who arrived in New York last Sunday from Australia, that country is in a bad way right now owing to the prevalence of smallpox and strikes. In fact he and Virginia Bressac, who headed an American com- pany promoted by the Frankel-Levey Co. of Australia, which presented "The Chorus Lady" in the Antipodes, were forced to call off their proposed tour uf the Islands, China, Japan and the Philippines because of the existing conditions in Australia. At Sydney in particular the show folks are the hardest hit. There a quarantine is on which prevents the companies in from getting out and the companies out from getting in. Burkhardt says that smallpox and strikes drove Louis Waller to depart for South Africa, where it has been since learned is also in a turbulent state due to strikes. Julius Knight, an English actor, went into Auckland, and after one per- formance closed and left for another field. At Sydney, Burkhardt says more than 200 mounted police patrol the docks to see that a rigid quarantine is maintained. Miss Bressac is in San Francisco at present and will remain in the west until other plans are arranged. The Burkhardt-Bressac company in- cluded Gerald O'Brien. Ely Rathburn, John Wray, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Nu- gent and Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Munier. WESTERN '<SARI." A second company to play Henry W. Savage's "Sari" in the west is being sought by the producer of the success- ful show now at the Liberty, New York. short time longer to run, and will not be renewed it is said. Mr. Hitchcock, in "The Beauty Shop," opeaed here this week, doing a light business at the start that hat since picked up. SHOWS IN FRISCO. San Francisco, Feb. IS. Emma Trentini opened at the Cort to good business in "The Firefly," and the local reviewers opined the <^>cn- ing was a brilliant triumph. Andrew Mack, in his farewell week of stock at the Alcazar, is drawinf well. Fair business is recorded at the Columbia where "Milestones" is in its second and last week. REVIVES MRS. BUMPSTEAD-LEIGH. Atlantic City, Feb. 18. As a stop gap between the closing of her season in the "High Road" and the opening of a new play by John Luther Long, which will be presented by Har- rison Grey Fiske, with Mrs. Fiske in the leading role, later in the season, she revived Harry James Smith's three- act comedy, "Mrs. Bumpstead-Leigh" at the Apollo, Feb. 16. The play, while making a hit of fair sized proportions three or four years ago, will hardly do for present day theatregoers, who demand their thea- trical entertainment saturated with action. Aldrich Bowker, Grace Griswold, Fleming Ward, Kenneth Hunter, Francis Dossert, Nina Melville, Mal- colm Duncan, Alfred Helton, Kate Mayhew, Fay Bainter and Marion Pullar are in the company. GOT $13,000 AT CORT. San Francisco, Feb. 18. Despite the >reports about early last week that Mclntyre and Heath in "The Ham Tree" were not coming up to business expectations at the Cort, the show drew in $13,000 on the week, considered very good. PLAYING "MARY MAODALBNB." Minneapolis, Feb. 18. When Olga Nethersole was at the Orpheum last week she stated that in her next tour she would include in the repertoire Maurice Maeterlinck's "Mary Magdalene," which she did briefly at the New theatre. HITCHrS CONTRACT ENDING. Boston, Feb. 18. The contract between Cohan & Har- ris and Raymond Hitchcock has but a MISS GEORGE IN BOSTON. Grace George in "Jim's Marriage," will play Boston next week, cancelling Hartford, Poughkeepsie, and a week of one-night stands to enter the New England metropolis. If you don't advertlM In VARIBTT. doD't advertlM »t aU. GOOD COMEDY; WEAK CAST. Hartford, Feb. 18. H. H. Frazee's production of Ed- ward Peple's farce, "A Fair of Sixes," had its premiere here Monday night at Parson's. The story is good com- edy and some of the cast are a trifle weak. There will probably be some changes immediately. "A Pair of Sixes" was to have opened at the Longacre this Saturday night, but the piece will be taken off to be recast and brought to the Long- acre some time next month. Ann Murdock will be among those re- tained. "Maria Rosa" will remain there another week. RAISE IN SUNDAY RATES. Boston, Feb. 18. Beginning March 1, the fee for Sun- day night vaudeville will be jumped Uom $5 to $10, which will mean an additional revenue, bringing the total each year to almost $25,000. Mayor Curley who made the an- nouncement at a specially called meet- ing of theatrical managers in return announced that there will be no more "shaking down" by politicians for the right to open Sunday nights. Up to now, there have been 22 mo- tion picture and small time vaudeville houses which desired to get in on the Sunday night cream, but who were unable to "pull the proper strings." Hereafter every house in Boston will I/O eligible to the privilege. There must be no changes of cos- tumes, however, no dancing and no reels which show drinking, shooting or murder. The opening hour will be changed from 7 p. m. to 6 p. m. TOD AND HARRIMAN. Quentin Tod and Josephine Harri- man, whose likenesses adorn the first page of VARiETr this week, are scoring a big hit at each performance of "The Laughing Husband," at the Knicker- bocker Theatre, with their clever danc- ing. This team has everything in its fa- vor from looks to ability and is bound to hold its popularity as long as the dancing craze lasts. Mr. Tod and Misi Harriman are true exponents of the modern day terpsichorean fad which includes all the intricate and graceful steps of the turkey trot, the tango and the "Hesitation Waltz," and last, but not least, the Maxixe. In 'The Laughing Husband" Mr. Tod and Miss Harriman work like pro- verbial beavers and their success on the opening night made them big Broadway favorites right from the start. Every daily paper, in reviewing the musical comedy, made favorable men- tion of the clever pair. OPENINGS IN CHICAGO. Chicago, Feb. 18. "Seven Keys to Baldpate" opened at Cohan's Grand Sunday night to a hip: house and got over very nicely. Charlotte Walker's return to town in "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" at the Olympic was signalized by a big and enthusiastic house Sunday night. SHOWS aosiNG. "Polly of the Circus," which Clar- ence Weis and William Moxson have had out this season, closed Saturday in Norfolk. Business has been good, the managers closi.ng through the show having exhausted its territory. Messrs. Weis and Moxson are planning to give the piece a production abroad and may place it in Australia, where requests have been made for it. Among one nighters closing in the west are Harvey D'Orr's "Life's Shop Window" at Cherokee. Okla.; Royal C. Stout's "Slave Girl of New York," in Iowa; "The County SheriflF," at Slay- ton, Mo.; "The Irish Piper" and "Tempest and Sunshine." The Macks have called in their vau- deville show and are getting a hypnotic troupe together for a road tour. "The Conspiracy," which is now playing the Stair & Havlin circuit with Harry BeresfoiM playing the former John Emerson role, is scheduled to close in a few weeks. New Orleans, Feb. 18. The French Opera house closes Sat- urday evening. The company will re- turn to France, instead of touring this country as in former years. Kansas City, Feb. 18. "Sis Perkins" closed at Salem, S. D., last week. Buffalo, Feb. 18. "The Chocolate Soldier" disbanded here last Saturday. Its manager, A. E. Root, came in for some adverse com- ment through declining to pay trans- portation for the members to New York. "Beverly of Graustark," Geo. A. Sul- livan manager, is reported to have stranded in Shelbyville, Mo., last week. 'I'HE PLANF' PRODUCED. Buffalo, Feb. 18. At the Star Monday evening the in- itial performance was given of "The Plant," a new play by Harvey J. O'Higgins and Harriet Ford, authors of "The Argyle Case." "The Plant" is also a detective story. It is unequal, excellent in spots, but lest natural in dialog, less complicat- ed and effective in plot, less dramatic and less absorbing than the preyic4is piece. The best character is the "plant" himself, a "fat" role, which Ernest Truex has assimilated and makes the pivotal character. The remainder of the cast includes Arthur E. Hohl, John N. Wheeler, Joseph Brennan, Helen Macbeth, Charles Wyngate, Joyce Fair, Ada Dwyer, Edward Ellis, Joseph Tuohy, H. A. LaMotte, James C. Mallaidy. SHOWING "CRIME OF THE LAW** San Francisco, Feb. 18. Rachel Marshall, who wrote "The Traffic," has turned out another play, entitled "The Crime of the Law," which will have its first stage produc- tion next week by the Oliver Bailey stock at the Savoy here. Several managers will look the play over with a view of giving it a road presentation.