Variety (May 1914)

* VARIETY 'HANGING" SCENE ON THE STAGE BOOKED FOR HA MMERSTEIN'S Sketch Called "Hanged" to be Brought Here From San Francisco. Played There and Attracted Great Crowds, First Time Actual Scene Gone Through with. May be Backed Up by Protesters Against Capital Punishment. San Francisco, April 29. It is understood here that "Hanged," the sensational sketch playing at Pan- tages Theatre recently, has been en- gaged by Hammerstein's of New York, and will be shown there commencing May 18. The piece calls for about 10 princi- pals and a total company of 25 or more. Its principal point is a hanging scene at the finale, where a condemned man is put to death by the noose, in full view of the audience. The sketch was written by Barry, of the Bulletin, that paper having crusad- ed against capital punishment. The author is leaving for New York to stage the playlet and will likely induce the protesters against capital punish- ment in the East to use "Hanged" as an object lesson. While at Pantages the skit was a sensation, on the stage and in the box office; the latter result perhaps becom- ing important for the New York book- ing. If "Hanged" is given at Hammer- stein's with a hanging scene it will be the first play in New York to show the sight. "Nathan Hale" displays for a moment a rope' around a man's neck, and "A Tale of Two Cities" has a guillotine death suggested. PARASOLED SAM MITNICK. If the United States issues a call for volunteers this country shouldn't overlook little Anna Siegel, a ste- nographer by profession and a bear- cat with a parasol. Wednesday morn- ing in front of the Palace theatre building, Miss Siegel ran across one Sam Mitnick, who had worked at al- most everything excepting slapping a girl's face up to last Saturday, when he tried it on Annie. Mitnick got it over, and the young woman bided her time. It came when they neared each before the Actors and Agents' edifice. Remembering how the ball players look when they go to bat, Annie took a good hold, and tried to see how many times she could land on Mr. Mitnick with the umbrella without hitting twice in the same place. By- standers said afterward if Annie went to Mexico she should enlist as a sharp- shooter. Both were employed in the Fred Mills music concern up to Saturday, when Annie left, after her engagement with Mitnick, who was following his plan of offering unsolicited advice, free. Then he slapped her face for not taking it. Mitnick is still with Mills. "MUCH PLEASURE" FOR PALACE. A little folder accompanies the cur- rent week's program at the Palace, reading, in part, as follows: "The management of B. F. Keith's Palace theatre announces with much pleasure it has completed arrange- ments, through Mr. William Morris, for the first presentation in New York of the Harry Lauder Singing and Talk- ing Pictures." Another exemplification of the the- atrical adaptation of the old phrase, "Politics and theatricals make strange bed-fellows," as the management (Keith) announces "with much pleas- ure" it had to do business with Wil- liam Morris. Returning to St. Louis Pop House. St. Louis, April 29. Elizabeth Murray must have liked St. Louis when she played here last week at the Columbia, for she is billed back at the Grand opera house next week. The Grand is popular priced, continuous, and the Columbia a two- a-day. Miss Murray is about to enter on a long time contract—three years, it is said—which may account for her doub- ling engagements here. She is in Chi- cago this week at the Palace. Chicago, April 29. Elizabeth Murray, at the Palace this week, (having played the Majestic two weeks ago) has been engaged by the La Salle hotel management to play four weeks on the La Salle roof at a salary of $1,000 weekly, probably the largest amount ever paid a single wo- man in this city for that particular class of work. Miss Murray will star under the management of Chas. Dillingham next season, having signed a two-year con- tract with the eastern producer. Chicago, April 29. Franklin Batie, who has been sing- ing hereabouts for the past several weeks with fair success, has cancelled a small route of W. V. M. A. time to jump east and rejoin the Jack Wilson Trio, now being reorganized. Ratie closes in Decatur this week. Chicago, April 29. Roberts, Hayes and Roberts have dissolved partnership, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Roberts having completed ar- rangements for the production of a comedy sketch for next season. The trio are extensively known in vaude- ville, having been together for several years. Joe Roberts is probably the heaviest vaudevillian in captivity, al- ways barring Ed Dunkhorst, who is a variety actor by virtue of his pugi- listic career. Something Went Wrong. Coleman's mechanical baseball play- er apparatus was dropped from the bill at the Palace after Monday night, something having gone wrong with the works. JUDICIAL OPINION ON "SEASON." Chicago, April 29. An interesting theatrical lawsuit and one involving several important ques- tions was 1 decided this week by Judge Scott in the case of Theresa Baldwin vs. Boyle Woolfolk. The girl asked for a judgment for $240 for salary alleged due, testifying that she was engaged for the season of 1913, opened in February and closed in July. The show reopened in September without her, although the girl claimed she had a promise of re-engagement, supplemented by a letter calling ne- gotiations off. The questions involved the meaning of the word "season" in the theatri- cal sense, whether the two weeks' no- tice clause is binding, and if an em- ployer is obligated to pay salaries while his company is idle. The justice decided that a theatri- cal season is merely the life of the show and may run from one week to ten years; that the two weeks' clause is not essential to an equitable con- tract and therefore not binding, and that salaries are not collectable when a troupe is idle. The decisions are practically covered in Brackett's theatrical law guide. Harry Munns of the S. L. & Fred Lowenthal law office, represented the defendant. 17 ACTS AGAINST TANQUAY. Cleveland, April 29. The Keith Hippodrome billed 17 acts this week, against Eva Tanguay at the Colonial, Miss Tanguay playing a return engagement here, ending her season. She and her husband, John Ford, expect to leave shortly for Eu- rope. HOSPITAL FUND BENEFIT. Chicago, April 29. Final arrangements are being made for the benefit performance to be given at the Auditorium Sunday after- noon, May 25, for the American Theatrical Hospital Building Fund. An entertainment committee com- posed of every vaudeville agent in Chicago is preparing the program. Re- ports of the ticket committee promise a capacity house, although it is ap- parent the move is not receiving the support of the profession that it should. A committee is about to be formed to endeavor to stimulate interest among vaudeville people, who will be the principal beneficiaries of the in- stitution when completed. Ben Lindsey Votes Aye. Los Angeles, April 29. Judge Ben B. Lindsey, who is here, declares the tango and stage dances are beautiful and adds that the local agitation against them is all rot. Reducing Matinee Prices. Los Angeles, April 29. Other local theatres wilt reduce matinee prices to 10 cents following success of Sullivan-Considine Empress' new policy. Tlie Alphin has already done so, and it is authoritatively learned that Pantages and the Repub- lic will get in line. CASTLES START WITH RUSH. Boston, April 29. The Castles in their one day here at the Boston Opera House drew in around $7,500 in two performances, at a $2.50 scale. It was said by almost every one the company could have re- peated the receipts for a second day. Tuesday the show played Springfield, which had not been very heavily billed, but the returns were satisfactory. Philadelphia, April 29. There is already a large advance sale for the Castles, who give two shows here Friday. Saturday they play Rochester, N. Y„ jumping from there to Chicago, fc one day (May 4). DUPREZ GETTING MORE MONET Fred Duprez, monologist, who sailed Tuesday for England, will return nex* season for a tour of the Pantages Cir- cuit, for which he will receive $350 8 week in the larger houses and $300 and fares in the smaller ones. He had been drawing $200 a week through the United Booking Office and asked a $50 raise for next season, as he had been unusually successful of late. Duprez was offered a route at his present salary. SAYS "RIP 1 IS "WARM." The publisher of the "Rip Van Winkle" hit is encountering some dif- ficulty in passing local censorship with the song in certain cities, where it is regarded as suggestive. Certain vaudeville managers claim the inuendo concerning the payment of Mrs. Rip's rent presupposes her a per- son of loose morals and hence not tc be sung in a house catering to women and children. This has, however, not deterred the handling of the song by the 5 and 10 cent stores. BOY SCOUTS AS AN ACT. Elizabeth, N. J., April29. An innovation was introduced at Proctor's Bijou Dream this week when the local troupe of Boy Scouts gave exhibition drills in connection with the regular vaudeville program. Drills have frequently been given at Proctor's by professionals but this is the first time a local squad has ap- peared at a regular performance. Westony Ducking Creditors. Chicago, April 29. Vilmos Westony postponed his en- gagement with the J. L. and S. firm, cabling from Europe this week that he couldn't sail because of illness. He was scheduled to open at the Colonial this week. It is openly claimed around here that Westony is evidently trying to avoid a number of creditors who hold large claims against him. Westony promises to play the time later on in the summer. Tauber Managing Sawyer Tour. The Joan Sawyer road tour, due to go out May 19, will be managed by Sam Tauber, although it is not known just what interests Mr. Tauber wilj represent in the venture.