Variety (April 1916)

VOL. XLII, No. 6 NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1916 B%Kffi%. PRICE TEN CENTS GRIFFITH FORCED TO RE-TAKE SCENES IN "MOTHER AND LAW" B'nai Brith Objected to Showing Saviour Being Nailed to Cross by Hebrews—Confront Producer with Proofs Backed by 48-Hour Ultimatum. Los Angeles, April 5. David W. Griffith has about com- pleted his latest "masterpiece" entitled "The Mother and the Law," dealing with the fife of Christ. For the big crucifixion scene he repaired to the local Ghetto and hired all the orthodox Hebrews with long whiskers he could secure. When the B'nai Brith (the most powerful Hebrew society in the United States) was apprised of it they re- quested Griffith to omit that portion of the picture, but he refused. They then brought pressure to bear upon him through his associates, but could not move him. A committee of three members of the society (one from San Francisco, one from New York and one from Chi- cago) brought the matter to the atten- tion of Jacob H. Schiff, Joseph Bran- deis, Louis Marshall and other prom- inent Hebrews. Armed with data gathered from colleges, professors and historians, the committee returned to Los Angeles and waited upon Griffith with so-called indisputable proofs that the Jews did not crucify the Saviour, showing that the orthodox method of killing in those days was strangulation and that the Romans believed in cruci- fixion. They supplemented their "proofs" with a 48-hour ultimatum to destroy that portion of the "master- piece" negative on penalty of a con- certed national campaign of black- listing and other pressure which power- ful financial and industrial interests might bring to bear, which included the assertion that censors, governors of states and even the President would do all in their power to prevent the show- ing of the picture with the objection- able scene. Confronted with such formidable an- tagonism Griffith burned the negative of the scene in the presence of the com- mittee and has retaken it, showing Roman soldiers nailing Christ to the cross. GARRICK THROUGH. The Garriok ended its career Satur- day as a burlesque house with "The Follies of 1916" the closing attraction. The house has played American Wheel shows during the season, with business unsatisfactory. The house guaranteed the shows $1,200 weekly. It is not included in the American's itinerary for next season. At the present time no local house has been selected to replace the Gar- rick on the American wheel. BILLY SUNDAY IMPERSONATOR. Syracuse, N. Y., April 5. The last half of next week at the Temple, a local vaudeville house, has billed Billy "Swede" Sunday, in a monolog wherein he impersonates Billy Sunday, from appearance to talk. This town lately had Sunday himself and has not yet recovered from it. TWO SMITHS WRITE SKETCH. Somewhat known along Broadway as "book" writers for musical comedy, Harry and Robert Smith, have turned out a sketch for vaudeville. It has May Vokes and John Slavin in the principal roles. The salary placed for the turn is $1,200 weekly. It opens tentatively at the Bushwick, Brooklyn, May 1, with a similar en- gagement penciled in for the Palace, New York, the following week. "AMERICA" AT REST. "See America First" will cease to be the attraction at the Maxine Elliott after Saturday. The production is to be sent to the storehouse. WAITE MURDER ACT. Whether vaudeville secures an act out of the Waite murder case that has been occupying the attention of the New York papers for the past days re- mains to be seen. Mrs. Margaret Horton, prominently identified with the case through having been the woman in the Hotel Plaza, is reported to have been around the agencies this week inquiring as to an engagement. Mrs. Horton at one time appeared as a singer at the Strand. "STAR SPANGLED" CAMPAIGN. San Francisco, April 5. Through the efforts of Mrs. Fred- erick H. Colburn, president of the San Francisco Chapter of the Woman's Section of the Navy League, the local theatrical musical directors have agreed to play "The Star Spangled Banner" at each performance. The Oakland, Cal., houses have alto guaranteed to do the same thing. Ac- cording to Mrs. Colburn, a campaign will be inaugurated at Washington, D. C, to have the custom established throughout the country. LOEW DINNER SOLD OUT. The seating capacity of the Hotel Astor's Gold Room has been sold for the banquet to be tendered there to Marcus Loew Sunday evening (April 9). The entertainment features to follow the feed will include the cast of Zieg- feld's "Midnight Frolic" from the Am- sterdam Roof. Artfftrig the"" speakers listed are Arthur Brisbane, A. L. Erlanger, Percy G. Williams, George M. Cohan, Patrick Francis Murphy and Theodore Ros- seau, representing Mayor Mitchcl. FIELD'S SUMMER SHOW. Lew Fields is going to put on a girly- girly show this summer. "The Girl from Brazil" Again. For about the 'stcenth time the Shu- berts are getting ready to stage "The Girl from Brazil," and thjs time it is to open April 24 in Atlantic City. Hal I'ordc and Frances Dcmarcst are under contract for the piece, also Raymond and Caverly. White Rats News will be fouad en Pages 16-17 tit OMAR'S" LONG TRAVEL Chicago, April 5. Just when "Omar, the Tent Maker" will reach Chicago is a matter of con- jecture. It may not be until the open- ing of the fall season, yet the show is- booked for the Windy City according to present traveling plans. For consecutive traveling "Omar** is setting a record for traveling combina- tions. Since December 8, 1913, when the show opened in Montreal the com* pany has traveled over 35,000 miles, played in every state, made two trips to California and has filled engagements in mostly all the principal cities in the United States and Canada. Last week the show was in Missouri,, working its way to Chicago. IN VAUDEVILLE FOR CHARITY. Mrs. Junius C. Gregory, wife of Dr. Junius Gregory, United States Army captain stationed at Fort Slocum, N. Y., who is quite in the social swim in New York at present, is to enter vaude- ville, and all in the cause of sweet: charity. Mrs. Gregory is reported as a "radi- ant beauty of the statuesque type" and! possessed of a wonderful voice. She- has studied at the Paris Conservatoire and was the pupil of Mme. Karst, teacher of Mme. Calve. Mrs. Gregory states she will devote all of her earn- ings in vaudeville to several charities- in which she is interested. LOS ANGELES EAGER. Los Angeles, April 5. That Los Angeles was eagerly await- ing a first-class legitimate attraction was attested to this week when May Kobson in "Making Over Mrs. Matt" opened at the Mason. It's the first good show this town has seen in months, and it is drawing very big. POWERS IN A FARCE. The Shuberts may present James T. Powers in a farce within the near fu- ture. The piece has been read and ac- cepted by the comedian.