Variety (April 1914)

10 VARIETY Hereafter Lydla Lopoukowa will have her last name spelled Lopokova. tiula Harris 1h handling the publicity for the Harrison Grey Flake attractions. The SLuberts engineered a big testimonial benefit to the Sydenham Hotpital Sunday night (March iJVj at the Lyric as a memorial lo their brother, the late Sam S. Shubert. When the Frank Lea Short Co. bluru out for its spring and summer tour it w'l em- brace the following: Katheryne Vinco i , i-hu B. MacSweeney, Agnes Elliott Scott. Alys '. • >, V. L. Granville. Allen Brandor, Re. Id Clarke, Frank Howsou, Wallace Uwen. L. E. Hall, Harry Twonley, Eva Quiutard, Grace lilsbop, Cynthia Davis and Elsie Thomas. A new "Robin Hood" comedy, entitled "Robin Hood and His Merrle Men," by Owen Davis, will be played, the first performance taking place on the Century Roof April 25. Frank C. Crosby will act as contracting agent tor the HobinBon Shows this summer. George II. (Alabama) Florldu, looking per- ennially young and with a new act of scenery from top to bottom, returned to Broadwuy Monday, having been out ahead of the Thos. E. Shea Co. Matty Green berg went out with the movie show, "The GangHtcrH," and when business failed to hit the high mark came buck. Ben Atwell, the former press boomer of the "America" spectacle at the Hippodrome, who has been retained by the Shu Deris to boost the "Pinafore" revival at the Hip, is out with an announcement the big tdiuw will open next Ihursuay night. Atwell says Arthur voegtlin and William J. Wilson united their services In staging the revival. Two performances will be given each day, thereby necesltatlng the services of an alternating cast. The play- era engaged are Harrison 11'rock bank, William ('. Gordon, William Hinshaw, Vert ram Pea- cock, Vernon Dalharl, John Uardslcy, Albert Hart, E. Percy Parsons, Eugene Cowles, Earl W. Marshull, Ruby Cutter Savage. II.' m Helnemann, Fay Templeton, Josephine .lacoby, Ellse Marryetto and Grace Camp. A churuu of 400 voices will take part. Janet lieecher, who two seasons was under David Delasco's management, returned to bis playing fold this week. She will appear In a new comedy which Helasco will bring out early In the fall. The Shuberts have acquired the American and Canadian play producing rights to "After The Girl." now at the Gaiety. London, where Lee Shubert, now abroad, plans to give it careful Inspection. It will be produced here early next fall. Nat Royster, ahead of the Marlon Dentler "Peg O" My Heart" show, spent Sunday with bis wife and newly born babe In New York. Royster's excellent work ahead of the p.-g show has resulted In his assignment to the New York Co. of "Help Wanted," when thai organization leaves the Maxtno Elliott. Roy- ster landed two big stories on his road tour that caught special mention In the New York dallies. The Associated Press handled the first story, that of the first theatrical performance given In Auburn Prison, and the second when, by the request of State Superintendent of Pris- ons, Riley Royster arranged for another per- formance for the Clinton Prison In Dnnnemora a few days ago. Then followed a movie repro- duction of the company at the prison, the first motion picture to be taken at an Empire State prison. Phil Mlndll, of the Mutual, toqk charge of the camera arrangements. PRESS OPINIONS. Ulil.l,U OF UUKO STHEKI. This seemed to Increase the cordiality of the audience toward the popular comedian. It hail been warm from the outset, for his acting of the Immortal bounder Hoggcnhcimcr had never been more amusing.—Sun. There Is nothing new In the comedy material with which Sam Bernard has to work. In fact there are some conspicuously old things. So that the fact that he Is funny whenever he Is on the stage gives point to the old saying that It doesn't matter what they do, It's how they do It!—Times. "The Belle of Bond Street" didn't bother much about Its book. It never did. Yet it tells a story with some coherence If you want It, and also If you don't. Ilrouight up-to-Guhy. It never got beyond her. I tut Sam liernurd took It and put it through* There was no clash of stnrs, ut any rate. Mr. Bernard and Miss Deslys never conflicted, and, what is more, never will. American. PANTHT.A. "Panthea" Is a play crowded with Inci- dents of wide diversity, not always pleasant nor plausible, but always exciting. -Telegram. The real essence of the play was scarcely suggested in the performance, of whl. h the chief Importance consisted In the first appear- ance upon the regular stage of Olga I'ctrnvn. who has been aeting hitherto In vaudeville. Beyond question, she is an actress of rare nat- ural prowe.-s and personal charm, but In re- spect of artistic finish and restraint she has much yet to lenrn. Post. JKHHV. In other words, "Jerry' Is ;■ r f»!11« kin.• < >ni - c dy which by amusing situations and snappy slangy dialogue kept the audience in galea of laughter.—Herald. Add a great deal of Blllle Burke, supply cer- tain silken garments of pink, place all this beforo a really remarkable back-drop and you have the entertainment which, under the title of "Jerry," was Unit offered for general diversion at the Lyceum theatre Saturday night.—Times. The microscopic little play thrived only on the smartness of its dialogue. There is no doubt that Miss Burke has found a little play tbat reveals her as bei loyal following like her best. World. Seriously, however. Blllle Burke is worth better things than "Jerry."—American. HITCHCOCK AT AMSTERDAM? Raymond Hitchcock and "The Beauty Shop" may likely play New York, at a Klaw & Erlanger theatre. Which one isn't strongly mentioned, although the Amsterdam, where "The Maids of Athens" isn't keeping the ushers warm, will likely be the house. April 13 may be the date. Philander Johnson, dramatic critic of the Washington Star, came to New York this week, expecting his action against Cohan & Harris uhe show's managers) and its authors, Rennold Wolf and Channing Pollock, for having lifted "The Beauty Shop" from a work by Johnson, would come to trial. It will be reached within a few days. Mr. Johnson alleges he forwarded a manuscript to the De Koven prize con- test, of which Mr. Wolf and Dan V. Arthur were the judges. The title of the Johnson piece was "Dr. Fakewell." He heard no more of his play until recognizing, he says, in "The Beauty Shop" some dialog and situations strikingly like those of his lost script. Hence the suit. It is understood the defendants plead they never read "Dr. Fakewell." "Maids of Athens," which Henry W. Savage produced at the Amsterdam a fortnight ago and started oft' badly through adverse criticism, never re- covered from the poor getaway, and the Lehar operetta will be probably withdrawn tomorrow night. There's talk that Savage's other piece, "Along Came Ruth," which has also been playing to small receipts for a Broadway attraction, will be with- drawn from the Gaiety within a fort- night. While Savage has been hit by the failure of "Maids of Athens" and "Along Came Ruth," his other show, "Sari," goes right along doing a big business at the Liberty. BAD LENTEN SEASON. According to men on the inside of the big dramatic producing concerns and some of our dependable booking wizards, this Lenten season will prove the worst in the history of showdom. As a rule, managers never gloat over business done during Lent, but they arc ready to go on record as saying that this year the present stage is the worst yet. j ' Oddly enough New York does not seem to have been affected as badly as elsewhere through the country. it you don't ndvertlne In VARIETY, drn't advertise at all. MANTELL KNOCKING "FAW1E." Cincinnati, April 1. Robert Mantell is at the Lyric this week. He is visibly vexed because William Faversham has been selected to represent the United States in the Shakspearean festival at Stratford-on- Avon next summer. "Is America go- ing to be represented by an English- man?" Mantell asks. Mantell denies "Favvie" is a success- ful Shakspearean actor. "He has starred in only 'Julius Caesar/ 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Othello/" complains Mantell. "Without boasting, I can say I have made a success of Shakspearean plays, but still do not consider that I would have been the representative 'American' actor To my way of think- ing—annd I am sure the American public and American actors will sup- port me in this—America's repre- sentative should be Otis Skinner." Mantell admits he also was born in England, but says he has lived in America for 30 years. He declares Sothern, though an Englishman, was born in this country and would have been a better choice than Faversham. SPECULATING BILL DEAD. Albany, April 1. Senator Christopher Sullivan last Friday registered an objection against the Simpson bill prohibiting ticket speculation in New York. The bill was up for a third reading and unani- mous consent was necessary for fur- ther consideration. It is now impossible to secure any further action on the measure at this session. TWO "MISLEADING LADIES." The Harris Estate is preparing to send out two companies of "The Mis- leading Lady" next season. Besides it has listed five accepted plays to be produced by it during '14-'15. William Harris, Jr., on his own ac- count, has a comedy he intends putting on by May 1, either in Chicago, Phila- delphia or Boston, for the first run. LAID UP IN PITTSBURGH. Pittsburgh, April 1. Never before have there been so many accidents and so much sickness among the local and visiting members of the profession. Joe Woodburn, of "Widow by Proxy," was operated on for appendicitis at the home of his mother. Ida Vernon and Faith Avery were out of the Duquesne stock company cast last week. Miss Vernon was in a hospital with a sprained ankle. Speculating Concern Insolvent. Cincinnati, April 1. The Ezckiel and Bernheim Co., auctioneers, who used to buy and sell theatre tickets in blocks, has gone into the hands of a receiver. Henry Ezckiel declares tight money conditions were responsible. Howard Renamed Comedy. Chicago, April 1. The new owners of the Howard, formerly called the Whitney theatre, have decided to call the house the Comedy. The # first show under the new regime, called "The Under Dog," is scheduled to open Easter Sunday. PAVLOWA MAY LEAVE US. Milwaukee, April 1. Weeping because of pain the mo- ment she was lost sight of by the audience, Pavlowa displayed remark- able grit at the Alhambra Monday night after wrenching the ankle of her recently injured foot at the matinee. She did not cut her program, but her work was badly affected. No one in front learned of the trouble. It is reported Pavlowa may cancel the remainder of her tour to get out of the country without being obliged to by a complete breakdown. Pavlowa is billed to open the Man- hattan O. H. next Monday. RUNNING UNTIL JULY 4. Chicago, April 1. Plans have been made to keep Kolb & Dill at the American Music Hall until July 4. Then the house will go dark, while the whole company goes to the summer home of Maude Lillian Berri at Lake Beulah, Wis., where the new show by Frank Stammers will be rehearsed for a month. Later the com- pany will return to Chicago and re- hearse for two weeks and then open. ST. LOUIS SHUTS "THE LURE." St. Louis, April 1. "The Life of Our Saviour," released a week in advance of announcement, is the attraction at the Shubert this week instead of "The Lure," which was lo have been here last week and this. The police morality squad reported "The Lure" exceeded the bounds of de- cency with the original second act, and the next night it was tried with the employment bureau scene. After sev- eral attempts to change the lines to make it passable, threats of arrest against managers and actors, and tele- graphic conferences with New York, the show was taken off Thursday be- fore the night performance, and the house was dark the rest of the week. Business had been poor, despite wide publicity. "The Lure" went on to Philadelphia. GOING INTO PASSING SHOW. Among those reported engaged for "The Passing Show of 1914" this week were Harry Fox and Jennie Dolly, and Franklyn Ardell. For the new "Follies" Louise Meyers was signed. Clyde MacKinley will stage the show, with Leon Erroll put- ting on the musical end. The other "Follies" will close this Saturday at Allentown, Pa. MOOSER LANDS ATLANTA. Atlanta, April 1. Leon Mooscr, of New York, is ar- ranging to stage a historical pageant in Nashville, week May 4. The Chamber of Commerce pledged $15,000 for the production, which will call for 1,500 persons. "OMAR" ON THE COAST. When "Omar," with Guy Bates Post, leaves the Lyric April 11, the company will rest for a week before starting travel to the Pacific Coast. The "Red Canary" at Providence this week, will lay off next week, go- ing into the Lyric April 13.