Variety (June 1916)

VOL. XLIII, No. 1 NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1916 PRICE TEN CENTS UPTOWN COMBINATION HOUSE NEXT SEASON WILL BE LOEW'S Seventh Avenue Theatre to Play Klaw & Erlanger't Bookings, with Loew Circuit Operating Knickerbocker with Vaudeville or Pictures. William Fox May Get New York Theatre for Run of Kellerman Feature. Loew's 7th Avenue theatre, now playing Loew's pop vaudeville, is to bo Harlem's combination theatre next sea- son, playing the Klaw & Erlanger bookings, t along the same policy as prevailing at the Standard, Broadway and 90th street. The Loew Circuit took possession yesterday of the Knickerbocker the- atre, at Broadway and 38th street. It will reopen next week under the Loew management with pop vaudeville, the theater having been secured from Klaw & Erlanger. Through the acquiring of the Knick- erbocker it is possible Marcus Loe»v will rent the New York theatre to Wil- liam Fox as the Broadway place for the exhibition of the Annette Kellerman special feature film Mr. Fox has in readiness to be shown. If that happens, Loew will place the picture policy no*v in the New York (downstairs) upon the roof of that theatre, which has been taking the New York's overflow for some time. The 7th Avenue's switch in policy will follow the opening of Loew's new house on West 125th street, which is to occupy the Brisbane site, adjoining the Harlem opera house, a Keith leased property. It was reported the Knickerbocker would again house $2 attractions, but it is said the condition of the street there precludes the attempt until Broadway shall have become itself again. Rats, through its international execu- tive, Harry Mountford, declined to ac- cede to the V. A. F.'s request, on gen- eral grounds, besides the specific basis that the articles of affiliation existing between the two bodies in no wise pro- vided for such a contingency. In pursuance of this, the final cable of the Rats read: "Do you regard the affiliation agreement as a scrap of paper?" The reply from the V. A. F. said: "Certainly not. Please await explan- atory letter now on its way to you." ENGLISH ACTS CANCEL Two English acts, placed over here through Charles Bornhaupt, have can- celed the engagements. Bertram Banks, an imitator of chil- dren, had an Orpheum Circuit route at $400 weekly, it is said, but has cabled his regrets. Mr. Banks is supposed to have been unable to secure a passport to leave England, owing to his war age. Lily Lena is the other English turn. Miss Lena's reason for rejecting an American tour at this time is reported to be wholly personal. MISS DEMAREST, BROOKS' STAR. Frances Demarest has been signed by Joseph Brooks to star in a legiti- mate play without music next scaso i. A prominent male star will share the billing with her. V. A. F.'t REPLY. The Variety Artists' Federation of England forwarded a conciliatory reply to the final cable of the White Rats last week on the subject of the V. A. F. requesting the Rats to warn its mem- bers against accepting engagements in Great Britain. As reported in Variett last week, the Nonette Prefers Her Freedom. Freedom in preference to wedded life is preferred by Nonette, the vaudeville violiniste, who was to have married a Brooklyn Supreme Court justice. Instead Nonette will continue in vaudeville, having tactfully broken the engagement by frequently hugging her violin. MOROSCO'S CIRCUS PLAY. Los Angeles, May 31. Oliver Morosco is to tryout a circus play here in the very near future, which will call for one of the largest casts ever used. The script calls for 115 people. The play was written by Nellie Revelle, the general press representa- tive of the Orpheum Circuit. Miss Revelle was born in a circus train and brought up on the lot. The greater part of her life has been spent with tented attractions and she has been everything from press agent to performer with the shows. The present title of the piece is "Nell Of The Lots" but this may be changed to "Spangles/ n "BRAZIL" SHOW TOO GOOD. The Shuberts have decided that "The Brazilian Honeymoon" was too big a hit in Boston to warrant bringing it tD New York for a Summer run. The piece will be held in reserve until August when it is to come into the Casino for a run. Several changes are to be made. Marguerite Namara and Raymond and Caverly and possibly Clifton Webb will be out of the cast when the show opens on Broadway. 'BIG 9 ' PRIMA DONNA. Corey, Williams and Riter are hold- ing the name of the prima donna for "The Rose of The Riveria" under cover and promise that the town is to receive a shock of surprise when they finally announce her identity. The statement may let loose the fact the "big name" is none other than Lina Cavalieri. "The Rose" was placed in rehearsal late last week. At least the chorus go into action at that time. The prin- cipals are not as yet decided upon, but Percival Knight has been contracted for as the comedian. Tab Manager Marries Principal. Chicago, June 1. James McLean, Monday, at Chatta- nooga, married Elaine Arndt, principal of the musical tabloid, "Tickets Please." of which her husband is the manager. Leaves Oakland Stock Company. Chicago, May 31. Ann Traskcr has left the musical stock at Oakland, Cal. White Rate Newt pKge* U. EVA'S OWN FILM. Eva Tanguay is personally supervis- ing the manufacture of a multiple-reel feature film this week which she will entirely control herself. The picture is to be labelled "Eva's Deal In Pork." Her supporting cast includes Sam Ryan, Paul Stanton, Paul Arlington and a number of other picture celeb- rities. Joe Smiley is directing the ven- ture, but there are no market connec- tions with the affair and there still remains a doubt whether Miss Tanguay will ever release it, having tackled it only on an experimental basis. Miss Tanguay has almost decided >n a ten-week tour of the Pacific Coast at the head of her own vaudeville show, having come to this conclusion after the receipt of several promising propo- sitions from independent managers who wanted her as the star of a road show for that territory during the summer*. While she has made no definite ar- rangements to carry the plan through, it is very likely the far west will see the cyclonic comedienne this year as a road show headliner. MILLER IS GOING TO COAST. San Francisco, May 31. Henry Miller and his company are to open a stock engagement at the local Columbia in July. Mr. Miller, Ruth Chatterton and Bruce McRae will be the stars. The actor-manager will revive "The Great Divide" and then present three new plays which he has. One is in- tended as Miss Chatterton's vehicle for next season and one of the others Mr. Miller will use for his own star- ring tour. It may be the third is in- tended for Mr. McRae. It was at first thought the proposed Miller engagement here would be abandoned. »» Mable Frenyear in "Truth/ Chicago, May 31. Mabel Frenyear has replaced Bea- trice Buck in "Nothing But the Truth," that opens Friday night at the Princess here. The play had its premiere Tues- day at Indianapolis.