Variety (October 1914)

Vol. XXXVI. No. 5. NEW YORK CITY, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1914. PRICE 10 CENTS DAILY DRAMATIC CRITICISM HANGING IN THE BALANCE William R. Hearst Listens to Appeal by George Broadhurst, and Relieves Alan Dale from Reviewing New Production. Matter of Facetious Criticism in Dailies May be Taken Up by Managers 9 Association. Alan Dale did not review "The Law of the Land" at the 48th Street theatre Wednesday night. Thursday morn- ing's American carried a notice on the show, written by Ada Patterson. This is directly due to George H. Broadhurst, author of the play, penning an appeal to William R. Hearst, ask- ing that the American assign a re- viewer for his show who might be re- lied upon to give the play the serious consideration Mr. Broadhurst believed was due it. Mr. Dale is the accredited dramatic critic of the American, and receives a large contracted salary to write ex- clusively for the Hearst papers. Whether the substitution will be fol- lowed by Dale's withdrawal from the sheet, no one along Broadway appears to know. It is being said the Theatrical Man- agers' Protective Association may take up the matter of criticism with the daily newspaper publishers. The man- agers as a whole believe that the pa- pers, in which they are advertising every day (and at present, to greater extent than in previous years) should not harshly criticize a play that they have spent much time and money to produce. The stand taken by Mr. Broadhurst, however, in the opposition to Dale's re- view of his piece, was of another na- ture, according to report. The author objected to flippant and irrevelant "critical" writing on a play written by him in all seriousness and produced as a piece of stage property to be studied, not laughed, sneered or chaffed • at. It is the satirical critic the mana- gers are said to mostly object to, the ones who sacrifice the play and oft- times their opinion of it, to place in cold type a "line" in the review that they may have thought of during or between acts. Managers say the crit- ics should write for their newspapers and the public, and not for a personal reputation at the expense of the man- ager, who has made a large investment, spending a part of it with the papers. Some time ago Acton Davies left the Evening Sun, shortly afterward asso- ciating himself in a similar capacity of dramatic reviewer with the morning Tribune. Mr. Davies was reported at the time to be at variance with the Sun's publisher, on policy. This phase of "commercialism" has rapidly been creeping into the New York dailies during the past two years. Some of the papers "have stood for murder" in connection with their the- atrical department. The effect of lis- tening to the dollars is commencing to make itself apparent. E. H. SOTHERN ILL. A blood test taken this week at E. H. Sothern's summer home in Fitchburg, Mass., failed to develop any fever symp- toms in Mr. Sothern's system. A re- port spread yesterday Mr. Sothern was seriously ill. Howard Kyle at the Players' Club Friday stated he had heard from Julia Marlowe (Mrs. Sothern) to the effect her husband would be unable to at- tend the Edwin Booth Memorial Com- mittee meeting yesterday. PROCTOR'S COUPON PLAN. Newark, Oct. 2. Beginning Monday, Proctor's Park Place will give away United Cigar Store coupons with each admission. Proctor's Lyric will put the plan in operation two weeks later, BRITAINS BLACKLIST FOE. (Special Cable to Varibtt.) London, Oct. 1. The musicians' union has declared a boycott against German and Austrian followers of their profession in Great Britain. At a meeting yesterday, they passed resolutions calling upon all employers to refuse employment to "alien enemies." TWICE DAILY AT OXFORD? {.Special Cable to Variety.) London, Oct. 1. The appearance of contracts calling for 12 performances a week is the first intimation that that establishment is about to give a twice-daily show. GRIFFITH REPORTED OUT. D. W. Griffith, who has been gen- eral director for the Mutual Film con- cern on the Pacific Coast, is under- stood to haye severed his connections with the Mutual forces Thursday and plans to reach New York some time next week. It is reported Mr. Griffith will head his own producing company, having re cently placed Mae Marsh under a long contract for picture work only. DUKE WANTS A JOB. The Duke of Manchester wants a job, in vaudeville, according to ac- counts. A proposition was received at Hammerstein's to counter with a sal- ary and an idea of an act for the Eng- lishman. The Duke recently received some publicity in New York papers through his connection with the corporation that intended to present only Catholic moving pictures. Millions were talked about by the Duke, but some of his small checks missed their proper rest- ing places, and the affair got into the dailies. Father-in-Law Fleischman in Cin- cinnati said this week he hadn't any more money to advance his noble son- in-law, which may explain the vaude- ville report. TEG" IN LONDON. 'Special Cable to Varibtt.) London, Oct. 1. Laurctte Taylor's premiere in "Peg o' My Heart" is announced for Oct. 10 at the Comedy. OFFERED $2,000 TO CANCEL Gobert Belling, an Englishman with an animal act (consisting of a dog, mule and donkey) received an offer of $2,000 Tuesday from the United Book- ing Offices to cancel his contract for 20 weeks, play or pay, at $500 weekly* with the U. B. O. Mr. Belling opened at the Palace Monday afternoon. At the night per- formance he was placed to start the performance. Tuesday the agency got into communication with Belling's rep- resentatives, Rose & Curtis, on this side, and through them made the can- cellation offer, which carried no other condition, leaving the Englishman free to play on other time over here if he desired. It is said Belling consulted the White Rats in reference to the proposal of the U. B. O., but he had reached no ('ecision regarding it up to Wednesday. It is the first appearance of Gobert Belling on this side. He has often been spoken of as a desirable foreign turn for this country. DALY'S COMING BACK. Daly's theatre, at Broadway and 29th street, is to return to the legiti- mate, when Charles A. Taylor presents there Oct. 19 a revival of "Yosemite," a piece by Mr. Taylor that Laurette Taylor (then his wife) first appeared in around New York some years ago. The Jones Estate, owners of ths property, is said to be spending $10,000 to bring the theatre within the depart- mental requirements. DRESSLER'S FARCE. Marie Dressier is now rehearsing in a new farce comedy, employing nine people. It opens in Washington next Mon- day and aft?r a short road season, will come to the Elliott theatre, New York. Broadway Opening on Time. The Broadway theatre will open Oct. 5, as announced, with pop vaudeville. Eight acts will be the variety section of the first bill. "POOR PAULINE" OH. WHAT A HIT!