Variety (November 1914)

10 VARIETY BOSTON'S MODESTY RULES FORBID BARE- LEGGED GIRLS "Purity Squad" Brings About Stage Reforms in Clothes. Scotch Kilts Only "Pure/ 9 "Audience Work" Absolutely Abolished. Huston, Nov. 4. The "I'urity Squad" complaint against "The Passing Show of 1914" at the Shubert resulted in the calling of every manager in Boston to a compulsory hearing in Mayor Curley's office. Manager £. D. Smith of the Shubert was last week on the carpet and a com- promise was effected by the use of knee panties, tights instead of bare legs and the playing of the basket ball game from the stage rather than the run- way. ^ The managers complained to the mayor that, because of lack of flat rules by which they could govern their Mon- day rehearsals, unavoidable violations could not be prevented. The complete list of rules sent to the managers this week are as follows and there are more to follow concerning burlesque shows and the broad question of ac- ceptable dramatic themes which has been an open issue in Boston ever since "The Easiest Way" was not allowed to play at the exclusive Hollis by Mayor Fitzgerald: Bare-legged females shall not ap- pear on any Boston Stage in the fu- ture. Undraped Greek dancers will be cut out of every theatre program, whether in grand opera or musical comedy. Scottish kilts may be worn either by men or by women, but in "High- land Lassie" acts women must add tights or long stockings to the cos- tume worn. Modesty, decency and dignity when possible, shall feature all stage cos- tumes worn by women on the stage of all Boston theatres from now on. No actress, however dressed, shall be permitted to leave the stage and mingle with the audience during the course of any performance. BOSTON'S GRAND OPERA ENDS. Boston, Nov. 4. The Boston Theatre Opera Co., which has been staging grand opera in Italian at a $2.50 top, went to pieces Monday night, just before the curtain. The au- dience was dismissed and money re- funded. The previous Saturday several of the principals would not go on and the mu- sicians were planning to quit because salaries were in arrears. Monday after- noon Leahy, a former press agent, saw the crash was inevitable for his pet project and made an impassioned ap- peal to Mayor Curley for public sup- port of his private enterprise. Curley consented and Tuesday morn- ing the papers published his appeal for subscriptions to continue the season. The mayor when he issued the state- ment had no idea that the crash would come that same night and that no per- formance would be given. "Indisposition of some of the sing- ers" was the reason offered at the box office Monday night. .The musicians tried to prove an alibi to the effect they were willing to go on if the singers would, but Pres. Harold £. Brenton of the Boston Musicians' Association ad- mitted that the musicians were owed $1,424 at the time. Treasurer Frank Ferguson stated at 8:15 the delay was due to the failure of the orchestra leader to return from a Sunday visit to New York. Leahy gave up his Majestic Players venture under the visiting star policy to try the operatic venture, and unless $20,000 is raised by subscription will probably secure financing and resume his stock, which looked like a good proposition. He has a lease of the Boston until next September. BILL CHANGED MlGHTLY. Chicago, Nov. 4. The Empress Players, featuring Ethel Alton, opened at the Gary the- ater, Gary, Ind., Monday night in "Wife in Name Only." The company carries 22 people and its own orchestra and five sets of scenery, with every- thing new. The company changes bill nightly, offering standard stock attrac- tions, playing week and three and fou r night stands, making big towns on Sundays. ACTRESS NEEDLE VICTIM. Syracuse, Nov. 5. Bobbette Fenton, formerly with one of the "Peg 'O My Heart" companies, and two other women were stabbed in the leg today by an unknown man who ran amuck in Furman Park here, wielding a darning needle. The unknown in all three cases broke off the point of the needle, leaving its point imbedded. Physicians treated the patients with anti-toxin to prevent blood poison. CUTTING PRICES. Reports from the road bring confirm- ation of the reduction of the regular house scale of prices in various sec- tions. Among the legitimate theater; announcing a cut is the Salt Lake the- ater, where the former $2 scale is now $1.50. GRACE GEORGE'S SUCCESS. Chicago, Nov. 4. Grace George opened Monday night at the Blackstone in Clyde Fitch's "The Truth" to a fair audience. Miss George won a nice triumph by her incisive act- ing of the chief role and came near duplicating the success she had in "Divorcons." Union Trouble in Galveston. Road managers playing the south are complaining of the treatment their shows have received in Galveston ow- ing to a stagehand strike there. Shows have had their crews called out imme- diately upon arrival. So far the trou- ble has not been adjusted. FROHMAN'S EXPLANATION. Philadelphia, Nov. 5. Unfavorable comments by newspa- per critics on "The Song of Songs" now at the Broad has called forth the following statement from Charles Froh- nian, who witnessed the performance Monday night. "Taking the deepest interest in the theatrical opinions of Philadelphia au- diences 1 have come here to witness the first performance of my play found- ed by Edward Sheldon on Suderman's famous novel of that name. I was con- vinced that the boldness of its theme necessitated an equal boldness of treat- ment and, though the excesses dis- played in our supper scenes may go neyond anything yet attempted in the plays which 1 have produced, I wish to say that Mr. Sheldon's manuscript was submitted to Herman Suderman him- self and came back with the tribute of his entire approval. "Need 1 say more? Times are chang- irg. Audacity is the keynote of mod- ern art work and if in 'The Song of Songs' there are scenes which may alarm a timid soul I can only allege that my play is a sincere attempt to reproduce in the author's vivid colors a novel which has won the enthusiastic approval of the world." One reviewer said that the objection- able scene "goes beyond the edge of vulgarity" and that throughout the play "there is a good deal of free speech which has Biblical precedent which is not habitually used by gentlemen in the presence of ladies.' Atlantic City, N. J., Nov. 4. Charles Frohman produced Edward Sheldon's new play "The Song of Songs," founded on the Hermann Su- dermann novel of the same title, at the Apollo last Thursday. The play was scored unmercifully, both by the un- muzzled press and the public, as being quite the rawest production this city has ever seen. No excuse seems to have been found for placing such frank glorification of vice on the stage. Sheldon has attempted to show the life of a Greek girl in her battle with the world, with Atlantic City as the starting point of her ride on the down- ward toboggan. The scenes were illy connected with each other and the piece, in seven scenes, does not begin to measure up to what Sheldon has done in his other plays. In "The Song of Songs," the girl goes from one man to another, wreck- ing each one's life, until she meets a man she loves and who loves her. He desires to marry her. She feels her unworthiness, but agrees. The uncle of the boy finds out the history of the woman and in a cafe scene of which nothing was left to the imagination- even to the telling <>f sonic of the coars- est jokes and stories—the girl is seen by her lover in all her baseness. She is sent back to her apartment and there takes up the old sordid life which she had expected to pur behind her. Irene Fenwick appeared to ad- vantage as Lily Karados the Greek girl. Tom Wise and Cyril Kcightly were also provided with prominent roles. BOOSTING PRINTING PRICES. One of the show printers in the city sent out a general letter to the mem- bers of his trade early last week asking how they stood in regard to boosting the prices of show printing. A meeting was called last Thursday at the Hermitage. Just who were present could not be learned nor could any information be had as to.the gen- eral trend of opinion on the raise. Sev- eral of the printers refused to attend and others stated that they did not get the letter. There is an agreement as to prices existing among the members of the trade at present. DENY MACK STORY. At the A. H. Woods office the exec- utive staff deny there is any internal dissension in the Willard Mack me- nage and also state as a proof that the author of "Kick In" and his wife, known professionally as Marjorie Ram- beau, are to appear together in "So Much for So Much," which Woods is to launch in Washington Nov. 16. PATHS MAKES DENIAL. From their Jersey City headquarters Pathe Bros, make denial there is any ground for the report that they con- template an alliance with the Mutual. The presence of Charles Pathe, head of the firm, in this country, is due to the fact that the partial paralysis of the picture industry in Europe has left him free to indulge an old desire to visit the United States and study it as a market for film. "DINGBATS" CLOSE. Pottsville, Pa., Nov. 4. "The Dingbats," a musical show un- der the I. Weiner direction, closed un- expectedly here last Thursday night, the demise being attended by four sheriffs and deputies. Jesse Weil, who piloted the company, stated it was a lonesome day when at least one sheriff was not camping on his trail. The show played to $57 gross at Coatsville. That sound- ed the death rattle. LAMBS' GAMBOL SUNDAY. This Sunday night the Lambs will hold a Gambol, with Henry Woodruff, Collie. Following the evening's enter- tainment the installation of the recently elected officers will take place. Last Sunday night the club gave a dinner to Joe Coyne, lately back from London. Rose Gardens' Formal Opening. The Broadway Rose Gardens had a formal opening Monday night in cele- bration of the taking over of the man- agement of the establishment by Ed- ward E. Pidgeon. No all-night license could be obtained for the occasion, and for more than an hour after one the house force had to turn parties away from the portals of the place. During the earlier evening a large crowd was on hand to congratulate the new manager. «i 'Miracle Man" Changed. The third act of "The Miracle Man" las been gone over by George M. Cohan, who adapted the book for the stnge. v