Variety (December 1914)

10 VARIETY LONDON IN WORST OF SLUMP; HOPE FOR PEACE BY FEBRUARY Even with Early End of War, Legitimate Theatres Would Probably Suffer Further Depression from Financial Reaction. "Peg" Claims It Has Not Had Losing Week, and "Perlmutter" Continues Winner. (Special Cable to Varibty.) London, Dec. 2. The extraordinarily good business which prevailed in the theatres here since war was declared has taken a big change. It is admitted now con- ditions are at their worst. Charles Hawtrey. the actor-manager, goes as far as to say that if there is no im- provement in three months, there won't be more than two legitimate houses open in London. Nevertheless three new houses are now being built in London. There is a feeling in inner theatrical circles the war will see its finish in February, but that there will be a reaction caused by Knglund's financial conditions that may make things even worse than they are now. This, however, it is not believed, will be a lasting condi- tion. At the Aldwych "The Earl and the Girl" revival is playing its last week. "The Glad Eye" at the Strand, an- other revival, closes Saturday. At the St. James "His House in Order" closes this week. The cast has been on half salaries during the run of the piece. "Peg O' My Heart" at the Comedy started very slowly at first. It is claimed there has never been a losing week. The actors in the cast offered to cut their salaries, but the manage- ment stated they would be paid in full as long as the show's business covered running expenses. Six thousand dol- lars is being done weekly, of which a big percentage comes in Saturday night. "Potash and Perlmutter" is still making money. This attraction at the Queen's will probably withstand any- thing short of a Zeppelin attack. The only other house doing business is the Ambassadors, situated on a side street in the West End. Charles Cochran, of Olympia fame, is running a short revue there with only a few people in the cast. This theatre will not seat many more than 500 persons. Daly's theatre, known for years as "George Edwardes Gold Mine," has been closed since the end of last sea- son JOHNSON-HITCHCOCK SUIT. Washington, Dec. 2. The fixing of dates marking Chan- ning Pollock's and Rcnnold Wolf's reading of Philander C. Johnson's "Dr. Fakcwcll" and their beginning of work on "The Beauty Shop" occupied most of the last two days' session of the Hitchcock-Johnson piracy suit in the Equity court here. Monday's sitting brought a wrangle as to the admission of expert testimony. The ense will probably take up all this week. !ut it is expected all the testimony will be in by Monday next and counsel can sum up. Mr. Pollock yesterday gave informa- tion as to the part he played as a judge in the DeKoven contest. He stated that he consented to act as judge on the explicit understanding that he would not be compelled to read any manuscripts unless there be a tie for the award. He again denied that he had any knowledge of Johnson's man- uscript at that time. In his cross examination, Wilton J. Lambert, Johnson's attorney, brought out that the contract for "The Beauty Shop" was not made with Cohan & Harris until April, 1913, and that it was after that time Pollock and Wolf be- gan to write the play. Pollock insist- ed many of the notes from which he and Wolf wrote the play were made prior to the Cohan & Harris contract, it having been Mr. Johnson's claim that his manuscript was accessible to Mr. Pollock from November, 1912, un- til May, 1913, the time it was in the DeKoven contest. Mr. Wolf stated that Pollock had first suggested the idea of "The Thumping Legacy" to him in 1911, and that "The Beauty Shop" had been sug- gested to him by Mr. Hepner at din- ner in New York in the latter part of 1911. He insisted that he had had no previous knowledge of Johnson's man- uscript. Sam Harris testified that he had not had any previous knowledge of "The Beauty Shop" play until the first act was presented to him. Mrs. Johnson, wife of the author, tes- tified that, with her husband, she had visited Daniel V. Arthur in Yonkers, in June, 1914, and they were told that as a judge in the DeKoven contest he had read 35 or 36 manuscripts and that Mr. Pollock had probably read a similar number. Considerable time was taken up Monday in an argument which'followed the introduction on the stand of Au- gustus Thomas, ar<hor of 70 plays. Counsel for the deiense endeavored to have him tell the Court whether or not in his examination of the manuscript of "Doctor Fakewell," from which Johnson states part of "The Beauty Shop" by Pollock and Wolf were taken, he rfad observed any points' of similarity. Objection was taken. The testimony of Mr. Thomas, declared Mr. Lambert, would be merely a matter of personal opinion. The outcome was an agreement that the testimony of Mr. Thomas be admitted pending the procurement by the defense of prece- dents showing the admission of testi- mony of expert witnesses. Harry B. Smith testified he had writ- ten 120 plays. He said that "Foxy Quiller," in part, was based upon JACK LAirS PRODUCTIONS. Chicago, Dec. 2. Jack Lait, in partnership with John H. Kaftery is organizing a roa>. tour for "Help Wanted," Lait's play, open- ing in Kockford, 111., Christmas Day. This is but one enterprise of the new firm. Other plans announced this week include the production of a com- edy with songs named "Maggie Magee" with Emma Carus scheduled for a summer engagement at the La Salle; a farce for Kitty Gordon called "Safety First" to follow Miss Gordon's vaude- ville tour, and a new drama for Evelyn Nesbit. The last named enterprise is in association with William Morris. Lait & Raftery will also conduct a general publicity bureau, in their head- quarters, Masonic Temple building. TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. Portland, Me., Dec. 2. Robert Scott, who is playing Morris Pasinsky with the New England com- pany of "Potash and Perlmutter" was removed from the Jefferson theatre af- ter the performance Saturday night to the Maine General Hospital. Mr. Scott was attacked with acute appendicitis during the performance, but refused leave the stage until after the finish of the performance. He was operated on Sunday morning. OPENING DATES. The all-star revival of "The New Henrietta" which Joseph Brooks is sending on tour will open in Indian- apolis on Dec. 23. Eileen Errol who is at present with May Buckley stock company in Cleveland will leave that organization to join the revival com- pany. Dec. 20 is the date set for the open- ing of "On Trial" in Chicago. Emily Ann Wellman will have the Mary Ryan role in this company. The Chicago date for "My Lady's Dress" is Dec. 14. The company will play Washington and Toronto prior to going west. Plans are afoot to send out "The Yellow Jacket" (not "Yellow Ticket") some time after New Year's. Charles D. Coburn's play. PERUGINI DIES. Philadelphia, Dec. 4. Signor Pcrugini (John Chatterton) died today at the Edwin Forest Home, Holmesburg. He had been there since January. Pcrugini was about 60 years of age. He was one of Lillian Russell's early husbands. His last appearance was with "The Yellow Jacket." The deceased's final request was that no flowers be sent to his funeral, and those caring to make a last tribute to his memory, donate a sum to the Iambs' Club for the benefit of the needy in the profession. a printed book, but the Court would not allow him to answer the question Daniel Frohman and Henry L. Mil- ler were also called as expert wit- nesses. Neither could find anything in "The Beauty Shop" which would lead them to believe piracy had been practiced. All of them had read both plays and one or two had seen the play staged. CLOSED IN DENVER. Denver, Dec. 2. .vfter four weeks on the common- wealth plan the "My Best Girl" closed here Saturday. The attraction played to $6,000 on the week, of which the company got 65 per cent. Victor Mor- ley and J. C. Ragland went to Chicago from here to consult with Jones, Lin- ick & Schacffer regarding a reorganiza- tion of the company with a view to placing it into 1 the La Salle following "The Candy Shop." All but one or two members of the organization returned to New York, their fares being paid. The venture is $18,000 loser on the season. When the company arrived here the Musicians' Union refused to permit their members with the organization to carry out their agreement to work on the commonwealth plan and de- manded full pay. After the musicians were taken care of the crew also de- manded full salary. These amounts, together with bills due in Denver, amounted to about $1,300 and left about $2,600 of the attraction's share to bring the company back on. The amount was a little short of what was required, so several of the members who had in- dependent means elected to remain in Denver after the company left. All members signed a release in full to the management before leaving here. ACTORS' FUND BENEFITS. Thursday representatives of the three big actors' clubs met members of the Finance Committee of the Actors' Fund for the object of raising $150,000 through benefits for the Fund. Daniel Frohman, president of the Fund, was in the chair. Others at- tending were Marc Klaw, William Harris, Harrison Grey Fiske, Charles Burnham and Sam A. Scribner of the Actors' Fund, and William Courtleigh (Lambs), George M. Cohan (Friars) and F. F. Mackay (Players). A meeting will be held Dec. 9, when the plans then discussed will be made public. "WATCH YOUR STEP" CUT. Detroit, Dec. 2. The Charles B. Dillingham "Watch Your Step" show at the Detroit opera house this week is not the performance tnven first at Syracuse last week, as was to have been expected. The "Cuts" commenced after the first performance, the first to go being the "Automat" scene, which carried away with it W. C. Fields, the juggler. Mr. Fields' hit was undisputed, but he had been placed to close a slow moving scene, with no other position open to him. Rene Gratz is also out of the per- formance, replaced by Sallie Fisher. There may be other changes before the show 'opens at the Amsterdam, New York, next Tuesday night. New scenery is being painted for the production. It is said here the management is looking to Irving Berlin's songs to carry the show above all else, the youthful composer having no less than seven hits in the score. The show has been doing big busi- ness here so far and is greatly liked.