Variety (June 1915)

=3 Vol. XXXIX. No. 3. NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1915. PRICE 10 CENTS MASSIVE GRAND OPERA AT 10c. D1PPELS PLAN FOR THE GARDEN Andreas Dippel and S. Rachman Form Partnership for Show Purposes. Take Shuberts' Casino, from Sept. 15, for Musical Productions. Organizing Four Depart- ments, Including Sports. Same Men Promoters of Successful Wrestling Tournament. Arrangements are under way for Grand Opera to be produced in Madi- son Square Garden during the summer under the personal direction of An- dreas Dippel with a large orchestra under the baton leadership of Dr. Arn- selm Goetzl. As the plans are laid out the prices for the G. O. engagement would range from 10 to 50 cents. Dippel would install a high-grade company at the Garden for a season of 10 weeks with further time optional although there would be no chance of continuing through the winter season. The matter is said now to be up to Otto Kahn and if he nods approval it will only be the question of a few days when Dippel would move right in on the summer project. The present war abroad has forced many operatic stars to remain in this country and has sent others over here in the hope of getting a profitable en- gagement of some kind. Dippel could easily get a raft of stars and artists without paying them fancy salaries for the Garden engagement. As to scenery Dippel could call upon all he wants from the Met storehouses and as for pieces for his repertoire they would be very easy for Dippel to ob- tain. The music would be an import- ant factor, but in Mr. Goetzl's hands ii would meet all requirements as his reputation is widely known on both Continents. The Madison Square Garden picture project almost went up in the air Satur- day night. With a small bankroll back of the project and business away off the Arena Co. was nearly forced t-> suspend operation. The pictures may close tonsorv-•■•• :•• ■ , " ' T1 • o; ■ ?*•-fra quit during the middle of last week with Dr. A. Goetzl, director, having a check in his possession for the services of the big orchestra which was de- clared no good. Certain film com- panies refused to send features down to the Garden until a reasonably sure deposit was forthcoming. Mr. Dippel has formed a permanent association with S. Rachman, and the two managers have leased the Casino theatre at Broadway and 39th street from the Shuberts, on a guaranteed percentage, it is said. Commencing Sept. 15 the Casino, under the Dippel- Rachman management, will present a pretentious musical comedy. This is but ? prelude, according to report, of extensive operations by the new formation. Four departments will be elaborately conducted by Messrs. Dippel and Rachman. These will be known as Opera, Sports, Vaudeville and Musical Comedy. Dippel and Rachman are the pro- moters of the highly successful wrest- ling tournament at the Manhattan op- era house, now in its fifth week, and playing to over $7,500 a week. This sort of an attraction in a theatre has astonished New York and the show business. The tournament has gath- ered strength in its drawing power as it progressed, and under the astute di- rection of Rachman, appears to be the big draw at present in the Metropolis. The admission scale this week at the Manhattan was increased to $2.50, top. It had been $2. No closing date for the Tournament has been set. The touring of the wrestlers in the immedi- ate future has been declared off. Rach- r r:f i:v?ed '»n Page 4. ) NEW "POTASH" PLAT. There will be a second edition of "Potash &. Perlmutter" in New York during September, when A. H. Woods will present the sequel, called "Potash & Perlmutter, Inc." Barney Bernard will resume the role created by him in the original produc- tion, and playing opposite will likely be Julius Tannen, who had the same part in the No. 2 "P. & P." play the past season. Other members of the original cast will take part in the new produc- tion. The book for "P. & P., Inc.," will be finished by Montague Glass, the creator of the story-characters. Charles Klein was at work upon the new play and it was left incomplete upon his death. Alex Carr, who was of the original "Potash & Perlmutter" cast, is to be starred by Harry Frazee next sea- son in a new play by Sam Shipman. London, June 16. The run of "Potash & Perlmutter" at the Queen's will end shortly, with the theatre remaining dark until an- other "P. & P." play is produced there. FROHMAN STARS FOR VAUDE. It is expected within the next few weeks there will be an announcement regarding a number of the Charles Frohman stars who will be available for a short vaudeville season. The biggest names now in the Frohman office are mentioned as possible. It is said the offer has gone direct to the big vaudeville heads from Dan- iel Frohman, and that he has been in negotiation with them for over a week. It is said they have been anxious to accept vaudeville time for a few weeks. They arc seeing visions of easy money which Ethel Barrymorc has been get- ting and do not feel that they should let any of it slip by them. Keeney's Offer to Eva Tanguay. Frank A. Keeney, who has vaude- ville theatres in Brooklyn and Newark, wired an offer last Friday to Eva Tan- guay of $3,000 weekly in each of his two houses if she would consent to feature the Keeney shows for that time. No answer was returned to the mes- sage. 25 HOUSES ON S. & H. From out of the west comes a re- port that Stair & Havlin had lost much of their former aggressiveness and that next season they would only have about ten houses. In 'addition to this, the report had something to say about pro- ducers being discouraged, among other things. When asked about the report, George H. Nicolai said that it might be true some producers were discouraged, bnt there are so many in all circuits that the S.-H. circuit was no exception. He said the bookings were being made an4 that the circuit was getting many shows. Mr. Nicolai denied emphatically S. & H. were dropping to a ten-house cir- cuit, and that while a few theatres were being lopped off that others were being added, and the list would include at least 25 houses next season. HAMMERSTEIN'S INVENTION. The "Aero Board" is the latest in- vention of Oscar Hammerstein for the cigar making trade. Mr. Hammerstein has some hundreds of inventions in the cigar line, but this is said to be his supreme achievement. It was ad- vertised in Tobacco Leaf of June 10, and sells for $30 each. The board can be attached to any cigar maker's table, saving men, time and waste. Those familiar with Oscar's latest say there is more money in it than in* Grand Opera. GLOBE'S RECORD BROKEN. The house record at the Globe at a $2.50 top scale was broken Saturday night when the gross totaled $2,705. The occasion was West Point night at "Chin Chin" and all the boxes and 859 seats were sold to the cadets. PARK BUSINESS BAD. Memphis, June 16. The vaudeville at East Knd Park closed Saturday, through bad business. It had been open but three weeks. .CASTLES ASK $2,000. The Palace next week may have Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle topping its bill. The dancers were in negotiation through H. B. Marinclli for the en,- gagement Wednesday. They asked $2,000 for the werk.