Variety (March 1916)

10 LEGITIMATE, 11 "l f. SOUTHERN CIRCUIT PASSES OUT THROUGH J. J . COLEM AN RETIRING Lack of Attractions Traveling South Is the Cause of Retire- ment of Veteran Booker After Twenty Years of Activity. Circuit Has Shrunk From 13 Houses to Nothing in Two Years. Pictures Also a Losing Proposition. J. J. Coleman of the J. J. Coleman Circuit of legitimate houses throughout the South, will retire from the booking business with the ending of the present season, and thereby bring about the dissolution of the circuit which has em- braced several of the one and two- night stand towns in the south. Mr. Coleman has been connected with the legitimate booking business for twenty years, with his circuit proper in existence for ten years. May 31 the Coleman Circuit ends its leases on the Grand opera house, Shreveport, La., and the Opera House, Texarkana, Tex., the remaining two stands of the circuit. Eleven other houses had been given up by the Cole- man interests in the past two years. In addition to the houses leased by the Coleman Circuit the head of the organ- ization whose headquarters were in New York acted as booking representa- tive for a number of theatres through Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri. The reason given by Mr. Coleman for his retirement is due to the lack of attractions in the south. The houses have been dark for several weeks through the height of the season if they did not use pictures which were found unprofitable in many. Some of the managers connected with Coleman interests will still remain active in the south, continuing to manage their houses. WOODS' CHICAGO SITE. Chicago, March 1. Martin Herman, who is here, says a site will be selected here this week for a new A. H. Woods theatre which will be within the Loop. The house is to be ready by Sep- tember and will be opened with "Common Clay." NINE ANGELS FOR SHOW. There are no end of rumors on Broadway regarding the future of "The Masked Model," stranded in Baltimore Saturday a week. At present there are nine angels reported to be willing to advance money for the restaging of the production and its continuance with the hope it will eventually come into New York and register. Just before the company came to grief in Baltimore, Maynard Waite, (general manager for the Gloria Opera Co., which sponsored the production), had the president of one of the largest ticket agencies in New York on the ground to look over the work with a view to becoming interested and to guarantee the sale of a certain amount of tickets weekly for the production once it came to Rroadway. The ticket man refused after looking the pice* over. At present the head of a correspon- dence school in New York who backed the original production is trying to take the piece out of the hands of the Gloria Opera Co. and place it elsewhere. Ar- thur Hammcrstein at the behest of the Shuberts was also a bidder for the piece. Baltimore, March 1. All of the attachments placed against "The Masked Model" here were lifted during the week past through some one in New York, an attorney presumably, furnishing the money to satisfy the claims. It is said the actors who still have a week's salary due will receive settlement in New York, if the produc- tion is taken on tour again. The set- tlement of the company's affairs here would indicate the show will be re- staged. Tuesday the Gloria Company ar- ranged for a settlement with the ma- jority of the members of the organiza- tion through Attorney Lowenstein. The principals received 50 per cent, of the salary coming to them, while the chorus received full payment. If "The Masked Model" goes on tour again it may be called "The Count from Vienna." Sam Wallach stepped into the busi- ness management qf the affairs of the company Wednesday and it was re- ported that there were unlimited means backing the show. However, Selwyn & Co. cancelled the time held for the at- traction at the Park Square, Boston. "Twin Beds" will go into that house March 13. Latest Easter for 30 Years. Legitimate producers who intend making spring productions are hold- ing back, owing to the late ending of Lent. Easter, April 23, is the latest it will l.e for the next 30 years. PLAY POSTPONED MYSTERY. There is much mystery surrounding the postponement of the new play in which George Tyler was to present Laurette Taylor. The company was called for rehearsals Monday morning. When assembled on the New Amster- dam theatre stage, two individuals ap- proached Miss Taylor and handed her what appeared to be a legal document. Immediately afterward the company was dismissed and informed that they would be called when the management was ready to continue. Up to Wednesday evening no call had been issued and on that day Mr. Tyler left New York for a visit to Chicago and later he is to go to French Lick. In the meantime those engaged are becoming rather nervous. At Mr. Tyler's office he denied that there were any legal proceedings insti- tuted by Oliver Morosco to prevent Miss Taylor from appearing under his management. FROHMAN'S "RIO GRANDE." Allentown, Pa., March 1. The Charles Frohman production, "Rio Grande" had its premier here Saturday at the Lyric. The play by Augustus Thomas is in two scenes and well staged. It contains a story full of action and many original twists. The cast includes Richard Bennett, Lola Fisher, Amelia Gardner, Calvin Thomas, Bennett Southard, Robert Mc- Wade, Frank Campeau, Saxon Kling, Francis M. Verdi, Theodore von Elz, John Warnick, John Villsana, Gertrude Dalton and Agnes Martin. The show is this week in Pittsburg and may later enter a New York thea- tre. MADGE KENNEDY LEAVING? That Madge Kennedy has been out of "Fair and Warmer" at the Eltinge thea- tre for several nights and that Francinc Larrimore is playing the role has led to a rumor Miss Kennedy has severed connections with her present managers. It is also reported she has been secured by the Shuberts, but this could not be confirmed. ZIEGFELD AND CATLETT. Chicago, March 1. It's reported that Walter Catlett, who has scored the hit of "So Long, Letty," at the Olympic, has been en- gaged by Flo Ziegfeld, Jr., for his next "Follies" production. BRADY AND MAHONEY •THE ACT THAT NEVER LAYS OFF" Return engagement on Loew Circuit TOM JONES, Rep. TWO HITS AND ONE FLOP. The record for the current week thea- trically seemed to be that there were two new hits in town and one failure had also been produced. The later was "The Greatest Nation," opening at the Booth. The hits are "Pom Pom," produced at the Cohan by Henry W. Savage, and 'The Heart of Wetona," the George Scarborough piece which David Belasco brought to the Lyceum. It was reported immediately after the opening of the "Nation" the piece would close Saturday night. It is cer- tain it will not stay at the Booth after next week, for "Pay Day" now at the Cort will be moved to that house to open March 13. "Pay Day" opened last Saturday night. The show jumped $100 on its third night. Monday the attrac- tion did $260. The jump has given the management encouragement an~d it will be held in two for about three weeks at least. Richard Lambert's farce, "The Blue Envelope," is slated to enter the Cort following "Pay Day." "The Road to Mandalay" opened at the Park, Wednesday night This is the third or fourth time the piece has been presented and each time under a different title. Before its New York premiere it was re-staged by William J. Wilson and Hugh Herbert, who bol- stered up the comedy. "HEATHER" SHOW PROMISING. Boston, March 1. Joseph Brooks has what looks like a winner in "Heart o' th' Heather," a Scottish comedy by Glen MacDon- ough, given its first Monday at the Plymouth to a capacity house, with George MacFarlane starred. The first act is rollicking comedy, the second, frankly melodramatic, and the third, sweetly sentimental, a com- bination which, when augmented by a good cast and a star with the vocal qualities of MacFarlane, proves well nigh irresistible to that legion which likes this type of stage offering. The Scotch burr was a little too much in evidence at the opening per- formance, making some of the dialog almost unintelligible. Gilda Leary, in the leading feminine role, scored decisively in her first ap- pearance before a Boston audience. The story revolves around MacFar- lane in the happy-go-lucky role of a Scotch rover, who returns to his home town to become immediately involved in love, melodrama and comedy. POLLOCK DIDNT LIKE CO. The stock company at the Majestic theatre, Brooklyn, opened its season Monday night with "The Red Widow." Channing Pollock, one of the authors, «vas present. The management called upon Mr. Pollock for a speech. He informed the public the performance was one of the most painful he had ever witnessed because of the qual- ity of the company presenting it. "OHIO LADY" CLOSES. Chicago, M;ir«h 1. "The Ohio Lady." at the Plackstone, closed in mid-week without any rea- son except business was away otf.