Variety (September 1915)

THE PEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 648444 AS^Qn, LENOX AND Tlt.DtN FOUM0AH0N3 R lint* L VOL. XL, No. 1. NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1915. PRICE TEN CENTS. STAGE STAR AS PICTURE STAR DEVELOPS NOVEL "OPPOSITION" First New York Test Comes Simultaneously When Cyril Maude, at Empire, Plays Against Himself in Film Pro- duction at the Broadway. Janis Another Case. Unusual Competition Causing Talk. The true worth of a legitimate star playing on Broadway in a play against a picture feature at another house in which he is the principal player will be brought out when Cyril Maude opens at the Empire, Sept. 13. At the Broadway, almost across the street, Sept. 19, will be shown the Cyril Maude film, "Peer Gynt." Maude's Em- pire opening being "Grumpy." Later, Elsie Janis will appear in a new production while a Janis feature, "'Twas Ever Thus," will be shown at the Broadway the last week in Septem- ber. Before the season wanes the Triangle will show a number of features with legitimate celebs who sooner or later will be appearing in productions in other Broadway houses. The Empire and Broadway playing of Maude at the same time establishes a precedent in New York legitimate circles. Cohan & Harris this week decreed that in the future none of their stars under contract shall appear in pictures at the same time. Raymond Hitch- cock, a C. & H. star, may find himself in Maude's predicament this winter. at the close of the fair—if a place big enough to hold the attraction (it takes up five acres here), can be obtained in the metropolis. Manager Fred McClellan admitted he was going to New York in September with a view of locating a suitable site. BIG SHOWS IN TORONTO. Toronto, Sept. 1. It has been settled that for the pres- ent at least all of the big attractions booked into this city will go into the Grand Opera House, formerly the home of the Stair & Havlin attractions. The shows booked for the Grand will in turn be switched into the Majestic, next door. , There has been no announcement of any kind that would seem to show that B. C. Whitney is to rebuild the Prin- cess. BROOKLYN NEWS SCHEME. Tfcfe Brooklyn Times has inaugurated a daily slide news service in use in several of the local theatres. Slides are furnished by the daily and the news penned on them when sent over the wire by the paper. The slides are flashed at different intervals during the performances. VAUDEVILLE IN CORT. Atlantic City, Sept. 1. The Cort theatre (formerly Savoy), will not play legitimate attractions this season as announced when the Cort in- terests took over the lease of the house and christened it under its present name, but will instead reopen Sept. 13 with a five-act vaudeville bill, playing a split week, supplied by Arthur Blon- dell of the U. B. O. Family department. "PANAMA CANAL" ON B'WAY? San Francisco, Sept. 1. It is said on the Exposition grounds that "The Panama Canal" (the big fea- ture of the "Zone"), may be taken to New York and erected on Broadway POLI'S ALL OPEN. The Poli theatres at Scranton and Worcester open Sept. 6, which will give the Poli Circuit a full list of open houses. In Worcester there will be two theatres on the chain, Poli's, play- ing eight acts twice daily on a split week, and the Plaza, playing four acts with a feature picture. Scranton and Springfield Poli's also play twice daily. LOEW DELIBERATING. The Marcus Loew Circut heads were still deliberating this week upon the ex- pediency of installing twice daily vau- deville performances in some of the Loew theatres. There seemed to be a diversity of opinion among the Loew people as to the practicability of the improved pol- icy at the present time. Many argu- ments for both sides of the question were offered. So far no volume of important en- gagements has been reported for the Loew books, and although the regular Loew season opened this week, the Loew agency conducted itself in a nor- mal manner. It is said that upon the Loew de- cision as to the two daily shows will depend whether Marcus Loew will close a pending offer to him of a large theatre near Fulton street and Flatbush avenu, Brooklyn. BANKING FIRM BACKING. Papers of incorporation have been filed for the Liberty Feature Film Co. if which L. H. Cook & Co., a down- town banking firm, are backing. The company intends to make an average cf a feature every two months. Its first two productions will star Hal August, who was selected by the bankers through the publicity given him in the dailies when August was made defendant recently in a divorce suit. PICTURE AT THE MET. The first showing of the Universal's feature with Pavlowa will be given at the Metropolitan opera house in New York. The performance will be an in- vitational affair and take place between Oct. 11 and 17. The latter date will be official opening of the opera season in New York. The picture is now in nine reels, but before the showing it will be cut to eight. CENTURY OPENING SET. It has been decided by Ned Way- burn September 14 is to be the date of the opening of "Town Topics" at the Century. The orchestra is called for rehearsal next Monday. Now that VAN HOVEN UliTEnfLnd, who will furpUh the comedy for the United State* ? SHUBERTS MAKING FILMS. The Shuberts are reported arranging to manufacture their own feature films, with intent to use the roof of the Man- hattan Opera House on 34th street as a studio. It is said the Shuberts have about decided to engage a large number of di- rectors under the general supervision of Edwin August, who, it is said, will also have the management of the pic- ture department. Mr. August directed "Evidence" for the Shuberts as a film play, and is about to start work for the same firm's "City." The Shuberts are aligned with the World Film manufacturers, and have been making their features at that ser- vice's studios, excepting the "Evidence" picture, completed at the Kinemacolor plant on Long Island. MUTUAL'S COMEDY STARS. Contracts have been signed by the Mutual with the Count and Countess Magri, best known as General and Mrs. Tom Thumb, and a company of mid- gets to appear in single reeled come- dies branded the Novelty, the first to be released Sept. 27. The Mutual also has an exclusive contract with W. C. Fields, the jug- gler, now with Ziegfeld's "Follies," who will be featured in single come- dies, the first, "The Pool Sharks," to be released Sept. 19. Gaumont will make the Fields' subjects and they will bear the label of Star Comedies. Fields' picture work will not inter- fere with his show contract, as he will take to the road with "The Fol- lies." "LADY IN RED" GOING OUT. Chicago, Sept. 1. "The Lady in Red" which closed at the Grand Saturday is going on the road, and at once, following the first program laid out by the Herndon com- pany which operates the production. Tlie courts were invoked during the many squabbles which arose within the management, but these appear to have been smoothed out. Mrs. Richard Herndon will replace Gertrude Vandcrbilt for the road tour.