Variety (September 1916)

10 LEGITIMATE. There will be two managers of local houses thiR season of tbe name of Walter Sun ford. The one who claims tbe sonority right to that name as a theatrical manager will be the man- ager of Daly's, wblch Is to play shows of tbe International Circuit this season. He Is the same Walter Sanforu who In tbe past acted as manager and lessee of Niblo's Qarden, tbe Old Star theatre, and the Star and Empire theatres In Brooklyn when they were dramatlo houses. Tbe "other" Walter Sanford will manage the Manhattan Opera House for Morris Oest, he having been brought east from Kan- sas City, where he managed a theatre for the Shuberts. Ben Linn has signed a three year contract with Oliver Morosco, and Is to open with "So Long Letty," wblch is due in New York on Oct. 0. Tbe show opens nearby on Sept. 25. Previous plans of legitimate producers In- cluded many openings to take place on Mon- day (Labor Day). But the fever for early showings caused every date to be set ahead, and tbe result Is that tbe re-opening of Leo Ditricbsteln in "The Great Lover," at the C. A H. Theatre has the holiday date alone. "The Hour of Temptation" Is tbe title of a new melodrama which is to Inaugurate the popular priced season at Daly's theatre next Monday. The piece is a new production in three acts and a prolog by Lee Morrison, who dramatized "Three Weeks" and "My Lady's Oarter." The cast of the production includes Eleanor Montell, William Morris, Anthony Burger, Roma Lowrle, Ellen Morris, John Martin, Marguerite Von Keese and C. B. Ross. John Cort produced a new operetta in Phila- delphia at the Broau Street theatre last Mon- day night. The piece Is entitled "Flora Bella" and Llna Abarbanell appears in tbe title role. Tbe cast also Includes Lawrence Grossmlth, Charles Purcell. Adolpb Link, *.. H. Weldon, Robert O'Conner, Gilbert Clayton, Muriel Hud- son, Juliette 1 ippe, and Kate Stout. Following the Philadelphia engagement tbe piece will be brought to New York. The Aborns are to produce grand opera at a dollar top scale In New York later this sea- son. They are sending a company on tour for tbe early part of the season to play Wash- ington. Baltimore, Brooklyn, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Kansas City. St. Louis, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, coming Into New YoVk In January sometime at a theatre that has not as yet been selected. There are three companies rehearsing Chas. Sumner's "Tbe Natural Law" for tbe coming season. Tbe first, under tbe management of John Cort, opens at Birmingham, Ala., next Monday. Tbe second company opened last Monday at Hoopeston, III., and will play one nlghters to the Coast. The third company will play tbe eastern one nlghters. T. Daniel Frawley and William H. Currie are associated In the June Amusement Co., Inc., the Initial production or which will be "Tbe Right Little Girl," a comedy In three acts, by Mrs. Charles Doremus and Leonldas WeBtervelt. June Keith has been engaged for the principal role in the play wblch will be produced out of town in October. E. H. Southern Is rapidly getting Into 1 the Mme. Bernhardt class In the matter of fare- well tours. Tbe famous Shakespearean actor is announcing that be will make a second farewell tour of twenty weeks the coming season, presenting repertoire. The tour will open in October sometime. O. E Wpp and Edwin F. RpIIIv have formed a partnership and will enter the producing field. They have In readiness a dramatization of a well known novel wblch they will produce shortly. They are also arranging to install a stock company In one of the up-state thea- tres. Robert Campbell has acquired from Herbert Jay of London the exclusive American ana Canadian rights of the great London success, "Tlner's Cub." which play has been running in London at tbe Queen's theatre for nearly a year past, with Miss Madge Tltheradge as tbe star. Rehearsals began Monday for Arthur Hop- kin's comedy, "Good Gracious Annabclle." by Clara Kummer. The show will have Its New York premier In October. Hopkins will later in the season produce another of Miss Hum- mer's comedies. There was a dress rehearsal of "The Man Who Came nark" at the Playhouse last night and Jules Eckort Goodman, the author, and William A. Brady, the producer, were both sufficiently recovered from the effects of their motor accident last Sunday to attend. C. P. Oreneker.fs ahead of the Al .Tolson show which opened at the Nlxoh, Atlnntlc City, on Monday. Formerly Mr. Greneker con- fined his efforts to press-ngentlng the Winter Garden shows. Girl" at the Century, which la due to open about Oct. 2. James Hebron sailed for England and France on the Baltic yesterday with a com- mission to write a number of stories -in the war zone. He will remain abroad about three months. Dorothy South has been engaged for the prima donna title role In "Princess Pat" under the John Cort management for the coming season. Anna Nichols has completed a play to be called "Guilty" which Chamberlain Brown will cast and wblch Augustus Pltou will produce In October. Helen Tyler Is producing the O'Hlgglns- Ford comedy, "Mr. Lazarus," in which Henry E. Dlxey is starring and which opens at the Sbubert on Monday. Grace Merrltt has decided to return to the stage and will make her reappearance In "Some Baby," wblch Is to be sent on tour under the direction of Fred Hayward. The Sbubert production; of "The Little Shep- herd of The Kingdom Come" la due to open in Boston next week and will be brought to New York later in the season. Margaret Anglin began rehearsal In "Caro- line" last Tuesday. Her tour this season will be under the direction of the Frobam Com- pany. Jobn Drew returned to town Monday to be- gin rehearsals of "Major Prsdennls," which Is to open the first week in October. Edwin Nicander and Edna Mar Oliver have joined the cast of the Max Marcln play, "Are You My Wife?" Lee Harrison is sending Eugenie Blair over tbe International as iue star of "The Eternal Magdalene." The Standard opens Its season on Monday night with "Princess Pat" as the Initial attrac- tion. "Hush" Is the title of the Initial production of the season at tbe Little theatre by Wln- throp Ames. The opening Is set for Oct. 2. "The Silent Witness" moved from the Long- acre to tbe Fulton theatre on Monday night. Maude Hansford has replaced Ethel Grey Terry In "Yankee Doodle Dick." The Cort theatre onens Its season Monday with "The Princess Pat." Clarence Harvey w«»«« «"Med to the cast of •The Girl From Brazil" this week. Arthur H. Sheldon is to be business manager at Daly's. "Fast And Grow Fat " the new o^r^e Broad- hurst farce, opens tonight at the Globe. PRESS OPINIONS. "Somebody's Luggage." A farce In three acts by Mark Sawn from the story by F. J. Randall, produced hv t^e SHiberts at tbe 48th Street Theatre, Aug. 23, 191(1. Judging by the lack of Interest toward the close of the performance, "Somebody's Lug- gage" will hardly do.—Herald. In the whole category of farces, native or Imported. It would be bard to find one more lacking In Ingenuity, cleverness, real humor or any of the other oualltles that honestly pro- voke thp merriment of an audience than "Somebody's Luggage."—World. An elusive something In the voice, rapid speech, gestures, manner—at a dozen points, In the method, with all th» vivacity, alertness, and unexpected pauses—would keep reminding yon of "Erstwhile Susan." Tnere wn» uu es- caping it. It had an uncanny fascination. This In Itself, may afford you entertainment. Or If you would relish an entire evening of Jlmmle Powers In happy vein, go to see "Somebody's Luggaao" at the Forty-eighth Street. Otherwise, stay away.—Times. The Messrs. DIlllnKhnm and Zelgfeld an- nounced this week that EMe .Tnnls would be one of the leading features of "The Century "A PAIR OF QUEENS." A farce In three ucts by Otto Hauerbach, A. Seymour Hrown and Harry Lewis. Pro- duced by H. H. Frazec at the Longacre, Aug. 21). 1!>10. Much of the order of "A Full House" and. after Its almost mirthless first art, Just about as amusing Is the rlp-roarlng farce which was swiftly, loudly and competently played for the first time In New York last evening at the Longacre theatre. It Is "A Pair of Queens." a new play In three acts by as many authors. —Times. However much It may have lacked the sus- tained sponta.niety which perhaps Ih the su- pr< me test of a really good farce. "A Pair of Queens." which was first performed last nk'ht at the Longacre theatre, at least has the merit of pursuing Its devious way along fairly Independent lines.—World. REMODELING MANHATTAN 0. H. Morris Gest is remodeling and re- decorating the Manhattan Opera House, getting it ready for its opening early in October. Mr. Gest estimates that the work will entail an expendi- ture of $35,000. The entire house is being laid. with carpets, Gimbel Broth- ers having contracted to supply same for $10,000. It is necessary to remove every seat in the orchestra and balcony floor to relay the carpeting. Special at- tention has been made for the comfort of the artists and the dressing rtomi are being completely overhauled and fitted up with the latest modern equip- ment. The house opens with the Rus- sian Ballet Russe, which begins re- hearsals on the arrival of the troupe— due here on Sept 15. The house opens on Oct 9. On Sept. 10 the first "Manhattan Sunday Night" popular musical con- cert will be held under the direction of the Managing & Producing Co., which has Theodore H. Bauer as its head. Leo Ornstein will be the soloist and Chevalier Oscar Spirscu will con- duct the orchestra of 70 pieces. Alex- ander Kahn will manage the concerts. The Ballet Russe will remain three weeks, followed in by "Ben Hur," which will be presented by George Tyler and K. & £. David Belasco's revival of "The Music Master," with David War- field, will succeed "Ben Hur," and after the holidays the Aborn Opera Com- pany (English) will go in for an in- definite stay. BIG OPERATIC SEASON. * Not in many seasons has there been so much activity in the operatic field, not only here but throughout the country. The west is slated for a plenti- tude of opera. This is evidenced by the reorganization of the Chicago Grand Opera Cc. and the forming of a coast organization which L. £. Beh- ymer, of Los Angeles, is working on. The latter sponsored an opera com- pany at the coast three years ago. There is also talk of a new grand opera troupe to split the season be- tween Cincinnati, Cleveland and De- troit and the names of wealthy per- sons in those cities are mentioned as the backers. The plan calls for a two weeks' run in each of the three cities, to be repeated two or more times, a month being guaranteed in each place. Other cities in the central west are in- cluded in the tentative plans and book- ings are said to be in course of mak- ing. J. R. Saville, a former newspaper man, but who lately has been managing Yvonne de Treville and other concert stars, has been in town for some time in the interests of the central western group of backers, but announces that nothing is definite. "THE DEFECTIVE" AT POWERS. Chicago, Aug. 30. That brand new play, "The Defec- tive," which Dr. Harry Moore, Oak Park, 111., wrote on the eugenics prob- lem and recently was tried out at the Elks' Club in Oak Park by profes- sionals, has been booked for a regular legitimate fling at Powers', starting next Monday. The Bennett Dramatic Exchange supplied the cast. MANAGERIAL SHIFTS. John B. Fitzpatrick, formerly man- ager of the Hippodrome, takes charge of the Shubert theatre, Kansas City, Walter Sanford, who has been manag- ing that house, having been appointed by Morris Gest to take care of the Manhattan opera house. Frank O. Mil- ler, who has been managing the Man- hattan, has been moved to Chicago, where he will be in charge of the "Chi- cago," the new name of the American Music Hall, a Shubert house. The Shubert theatre, St Louis, has been renamed the "Jefferson" and will play both K. & E. and Shubert attrac- tions. The Olympic, the old K. & E. house there, has passed to pictures and vaudeville." Dearth of attractions has kept one or the other dark for con- siderable periods during the last two seasons. Melville Stoltz remains as manager of the Jefferson, and Mique Cohen leaves on Sunday to act as house treasurer and look after K. & E. inter- ests. OLCOTT WITH C AND H. Chauncey Olcott will be under the management of Cohan & Harris this season, after a year of inactivity due to the failure of the star to procure a proper vehicle. Mr. Olcott's new show is as yet unnamed. Peggy Wood has been engaged as his leading lady. Cohan & Harris are making ready three additional new plays, all listed for a fall opening. They are "Speed Up" by Owen Davis, "The Road to Destiny" by Channing Pollock and M l Love the Ladies" by Emile Nyitray and John Richards. These, with the other new plays already announced and the road shows now out or in rehearsal, will make for one of the busiest sea- sons since the firm began producing. The opening date for "The Cohan Revue of 1916-17" has been set for Christmas Eve, the same as last year. Kathleen Clifford, who is playing in "A Pair of Queens," will probably leave that show for Rida Johnson Young's "Buried Treasure," one of the new Cohan & Harris plays, as she has been engaged to play the lead. CUT RATE SEASON LOOKS BIG. The indications the first two weeks of the theatrical season point strongly to the fact that this is to be one of the biggest years in the "cut rate" ticket game. Monday and Tuesday night of the current week brought a clean up for the cut rate brokers the demand for seats being larger than the supply. On Wednesday there were listed at the Joe Leblang agency tickets for Jimmie Powers in "Sombody's Lug- gage," "A Pair of Queens" (second night), "The Silent Witness," "A Bit of Fluff," "Broadway and Buttermilk," "Sybil" at the Empire and "Please Help Emily" at the Lyceum. There were balcony and gallery seats to be had for the opening on Wednes- day night of "The Girl from Brazil" at the 44th Street, the Shuberts having evidently passed up the time honored custom of "papering" the upper portjjm- of the house to sell them at a disc ount. Ba •ur» to get VARIETY of Stpt. 22. ~ HARRY MOUNTFORtf.