Variety (October 1914)

10 VARIETY SYNDICATING "TRY OUT" HOUSE FOR FIVE N EW YOR K MANAGERS Adolf Phillip Theatre on 57th Street Reported as Limited Proposition for New Productions. Each Manager Allowed Four New Shows Yearly, Before Invited Audience that Will Be Pledged Not to Divulge Character of Play in Advance of Regular Presentation. It is said there is a movement on foot in which at least five producing managers are interested that may cul- minate in a syndicate taking over the Adolf Phillip theatre in East 57th street and using it as a tryout house tor productions intended for Broad- way. The managers mentioned refused to either confirm or deny the story. The source of information stated it was the purpose of the managers to produce plays and bar the general pub- lic and the critics of the daily papers. Five managers were to deposit $1,000 each and each was to be permitted to try out four productions annually at the theatre. The managers in addition to posting the $1,000 would have to guar- antee the sale of a certain number of seats to each of his productions and also further guarantee that they would be placed in the hands of "reliable friends" who would not generally di- vulge the character of the entertain- ment witnessed. DRESSING ROOM RUN. Charles Cherry is changing com- panies but not theatres. He has been one of the principals with "The Beau- tiful Adventure." When that show withdraws for the road Saturday night Cherry retains his dressing room as he has been cast for an original role in the "Outcast" new Elsie Fergu- son show which opens there Nov. 2. Cherry has been showing from time to time at the Lyceum, but yet has to hit a play to enjoy a long run at that house. ARTHUR CASHES IN. Two companies playing "High Jinks" last week turned in a net profit of $6,500 to Arthur Hammerstein, own- er of the property. The No. 1 organization with Stella Mayhew and Billee Taylor did $14,000 tfross at the Alvin, Pittsburgh. It was the capacity of the house. KOLKER IN "HIS SON." Los Angeles, Oct. 28. Henry Kolker has been withdrawn from the original "Help Wanted" to appear in reproduction of "His Son" by Louis Anspacher. The play was produced here several weeks ago during Oliver Morosco's eastern visit. ARBUCKLE SHOW OFF. The dramatized version of the "Judge Priest" stories which was prepared by Bayard Veillicr and Irwin Cobb and intended by Selwyn & Co., as a starring vehicle for Macklyn Arbuckle will not be put into rehearsal this month, as originally planned. Arbuckle has been placed under con- tract by Joseph Brooks for the revival of "The New Henrietta" which is to open in the middle west shortly. Others in the cast will be Mable Tali- ferro, Thomas Ross, W. H. Crane and Amelia Bingham. BENNETT LEAVES MUTUAL. H. Whitman Bennett, who left the general press agency of the Shuberts enterprise eight months ago to join the Mutual Film Corporation staff, in charge of the Continental (feature) branch, resigned this week. Mr. Bennett has several plans afoot he will likely work out on his own account. IRWIN SHOW NAMED. Rehearsals are expected to start Nov. 15 for the new May Irwin show, "The Crimson Rambler," which is the joint work of Grant Stewart and Robert Baker. In addition to the Irwin piece, the Liebler Co. plans to bring out "Polly- anna" and "The Philosopher" after the first of the year. Redressing "The Only GirL" The company to appear in the new Joseph Weber production, "The Only Girl," opening at the 39th Street theatre next week, have been laying off in New York. The company ended its read tour in Buffalo Saturday. The reason for the week's layoff was to give the producer an opportunity to have new scenery and costumes pre- pared for the New York opening. COLLIER THANKSGIVING. The Cohan & Harris office say the yet unnamed farce in which they are to star William Collier will be ready to open Thanksgiving week. In the cast will be the comedian's wife, son Buster, Louise Dresser and James Bradbury. SECOND BEST ADVANCE. Los Angeles, Oct. 28. The second best advance sale of the season (Harry Lauder holds the rec- ord) greeted the return to this city of Oliver fcjprosco's "The Bird of Para- dise" this week, the affair being made a sort of home-coming event for the show and five of the cast. Bill Des- mond, David M. Hartford, David Lan- dau, Robert Morris and John Burton are all former local people who left here with the original company. Ann Swinburne Featured. Ann Swinburne is to be featured in a new play which Henry Blossom and Victor Herbert are writing. It's the second musical show these men have collaborated upon for production this season. OWNER-PLAYWRIGHT-ACTOR. When the new Punch and Judy thea- tre, on West 49th street, opens Nov. 12, Charles Hopkins, owner-play- wright-actor, will have realized one of his long-cherished ambitions. Hop kins not only constructed the littlt house, but will direct the plays and play principal male roles. After his first two productions have been made Hopkins will then present his own piece "How Much Is a Mil- lion?" which he brought out at the Fine Arts theatre, Chicago, two sea- sons ago. Hopkins' wife is also a member of the company as are Herbert Yost, Louise Closser Hale and Lionel Bar- rymore. The manager and press pub- licist is Claxton Wilstach. MOROSCO'S NEW PLAYS. Los Angeles, Oct. 21. Oliver Morosco's next production will be "The Right of the Seigneur," a western drama from the pen of Thom- as Bradhurst. The coast producer has also accepted two plays from Alfred H. Brown called "Overland Red" and "The Lady of the Index." Both will have early productions. LEAVES WITH RECORD. Robert Graves, Jr., who organized the Robert Graves, Jr., Co., and pro- duced "The Reformer" out of town, has backed out of producing and is now exploiting an auto shock absorber for a New York concern. He's understood to be the first .man- ager who ever raised a company's sal- ary list at a dress rehearsal. New Producing Company. A new producing company has sev- eral productions planned for the ensu- ing season. Heading the new con- cern is J. Clyde Rigby, of the erst- while Mackay Productions Co., which brought out "The Red Canary." It's the Academic Production Co. (Inc.), officered by Jos. Riter, presi- dent; G. W. MacNamara, secretary- treasurer, with Rigby, general man- ager. No Play Conflict There is said to be no connection in "The Perfect Lady," with Rose Stahl, that opened at the Hudson Wednes- day, and "A Mix Up" that has Marie Dressier. The authors of the Stahl show looked over the manuscript of the Dressier piece. Both plays have a woman from burlesque in them. Miss Dressier opened last Saturday at Stamford, Conn. Another "Twin Beds" Co. Selwyn & Co. have placed a second "Twin Beds" company in rehearsal. The second company is intended for a road tour, while the original show remains at the Fulton. Joe Totten, Picture Director. Joseph Byron Totten left Sunday for Chicago where he joins the Essanay Co. as picture director. OPENINGS. Six new shows were shown to New Yorkers for the first time this week and six others are to be produced next week. Monday night saw "Experience" at the Booth and "The Highway of Life" at Wallack's. The former was unfavorably compared with "Everywoman" by the critics. "The Highway of Life" may prove a draw with a certain element who are lovers of Dickens' writings. Wednesday night Rose Stahl appeared in "A Perfect Lady" at the Hudson. The critics praised the star but regretted she did not have a better^vehicle. The same evening at the 44th Street An- dreas Dippel presented "The Lilac Domino." The score was pronounced delightful, but the book, adapted by Harry B. and Robert B. Smith, was taken to task for its weakness. Thursday night Adele Blood made her debut in New York as a star in "Milady's Boudoir" at the Garrick. It was said by the papers the play will not achieve extraordinary success. Tonight at the Lyric "The Battle Cry" will be shown for the first time in town. The openings for next week include three musical pieces. Two of them, "Papa's Darling" and "The Only Girl," will be given Monday night. On the same evening Marie Tempest will open in repertoire and Elsie Ferguson will appear in "Outcast." There has been an advance for latter piece since the sale opened Thursday. "Suzi," the Lew Fields production, is to be shown for the first time in New York at the Casino Tuesday night, and Madam Nazimova in "That Sort" is to follow "The Salamander" into the Harris Friday night. There is also to be a special open- ing Monday night at the Broadway Rose Gardens under the management of Ed. E. Pidgeon. Monday a week Mrs. Patrick Camp- bell in "Pygmalion" will move from the Park to the Liberty, succeeding Douglas Fairbanks in "He Comes Up Smiling" at the latter house. "The Garden of Paradise," another Liebler production, is booked for the Park. Managers Moving. About. Chicago, Oct. 29. Jones, Linick & Schaeffer has shifted their managers around, dropping George Harrison from the Colonial staff and moving Norman Field of the Willard to the "loop" theatre. Ches- ter Amberg will manage the Willard Harrison came over with the Chi- cago firm when they purchased the American Music Hall. "SEPT. MORN" ORGANIZING. Chicago, Oct. 28. A new "September Moin" is being prepared to tour the west to the coast, scheduled for a Nov. 15 opening. Manager Can't be Found. Spring Valley, 111., Oct. 21. Traveling combinations playing Spring Valley had sent on paper and billing matter only to have the show arrive and find the stuff in the freight- house.