Variety (January 1917)

/ ■12-— LEGITIMATE, SHOWS OUT OF TOWN Chicago, Jan. 24. Looks like Chicago has gone show mad. Practically eve*y playhouse in town reports business at top notch while several of the big iilm spectacles are getting real money. Phenomenal business is being re- yorted at the Garrick, where the Al olson show is getting fancy prices; at the Illinois, where Ziegfeld's "Follies" is banking its usual big returns; at the Grand, where "Turn to the Right" has taken the city by storm; at Powers', where "The Boomerang" is chalk ing up a new record for continuity of receipts. William Hodge is doing surprisingly well at the Princess while "Fair and Warmer" is holding up strong at the Cort. Of the new shows, "Arms and the Girl," with Cyril Scott and Fay Painter, had an auspicious opening at the Black- sione Sunday. The papers spoke well of the players and show. For the first time this season it looks as though the Blackstone had a box office winner. The Chicago is dark, the unexpected "flivver" of "Mile a Minute Kendall" forcing it out after one week. "Ka- tinka," with T. Roy Barnes, returns to open at the Chicago Sunday night. 'Tis locally reported that Oliver Morosco would have liked to flood the town with cut-rate tickets—a plan which is frowned upon by Chicago managers and not countenanced by house lessees. The dollar matinees here—in vogue at nearly every house in town—have been one main reason why cut rate coupons have failed to materialize. San Francisco, Jan. 24. 'The Bird of Paradise" did excep- tionally well at the Cort considering that it is playing a return date. The Nazimova film, "War Brides," is doing good business at the Alcazar. "Hit-the-Trail Holliday" in its sec- ond week .at the Columbia draws heavy patronage. "A Daughter of the Gods" at the Savoy, the Kellermann feature picture, is still a draw. Philadelphia, Jan. 24. Raymond Hitchcock in "Betty" and George Arliss in "The Professor's Love Story" are the new openings this week. It was the first appearance here in three years of Mr. Arliss and he was most cordially received in the Barrie comedy at the Broad, with which many theatregoers are familiar by rea- son of the late E. S. Willard once hav- ing played it here. Mr. Arliss- is splen- didly supported and the piece was thor- oughly enjoyed by the large audience. "Betty" is a real "Hitchy" show and without him it would very likely fall far below its present classification. The piece opened well to a large audience who enjoyed hearing the angular come- dian, minus forelock and wearing a wrist watch and monocle, deal in per- sonalities with the audience, the war and reminiscences of his earlier the- atrical life in this city. "Betty" got over nicely and is expected to fare well during its engagement. Business at the other legitimate houses where the shows held over is satisfactory. Leo Ditrichstein in "The Great Lover" at the Garrick; "Very Good Eddie" at the Adelphi and "The Blue Paradise" at the Lyric are doing well. It looks now as if "Very Good Eddie" may remain here throughout the season. "Misalliance," a Bernard Shaw play, had its American premier at the Little theatre. It takes a fling at all the con- ventions :if British life and attacks ev vi*>ill»;'.(♦.■ t.vv.".\ y<««CfuIis;H aivf- M.avvV, own hobbies. The piece was well played and met with warm favor. Kate Elinorc in "My Aunt From Utah" is at the Walnut and opened to fairly good business Monday night. New Orleans, Jan. 24. "Our Mrs. McChesncy" opened light Sunday at the Tulane, but local suffra- gettes bought out the house Monday and their interest encouraged business for the week. Rose Stahl is splendid in the title part. Neil O'Brien's Minstrels were greet- ed by a capacity audience at the Cres- cent Sunday opening, business remain- ing large during the early part of the week. Returns at the Lyric, stock burlesque, are oqly fair and the Lafayette is run- ning light with vaudeville. 'TAILOR-MADE' 9 PLEASES. _ , Syracuse, Jan. 24: Cohan & Harris' new play, "A Tail- or Made Man* had its premiere here before the largest audience that has gathered this season at the Empire. The offering pleased. It is an adap- tation from Gabriel Dregely's "The Well-fitting Dress Coat" and tells of the tailor's apprentice who borrows his boss' evening clothes to attend a so- ciety event. There he meets a million- aire, and so impresses the captain of industry that he is engaged as secre- tary and achieves fortune. The cast—Bernard A. Reinold, L. E. Conners, Barlowe Borland, Bertram Marburg, Florence Nearley, Grant Mitchell, Mona Kingeley, Harry Har- wood, Lawrence Uhele, Hattie Delaro, Loyd Carpenter, Lottie Linthicum, Nancy Power, Frank Burbeck, A. P. Kaye, Gladys Gilbert. Howard Wall John A. Boone r J. H. Greene, and Wil- liam C. Hodge. Buffalo's Burlesque Stock Additions. Buffalo, Jan. 24. Leo Stevens opened Monday as prin- cipal comedian and producer with the burlesque stock at the Garden. Formerly at the Union Square, New York, Stevens, and several other new members of the company were placed by Rochm & Richards. Syndicate Buys Elmira House. Syracuse, Jan. 24. A syndicate has been organized in Elmira to purchase from the Onon- daga County Savings Bank here the Elmira theatre. Stock to the amount of $10,000 has been subscribed for to finance, the operation. The identity of the syndicate members has not been disclosed. The house will play vaude- ville. LIVELY SESSION EXPECTED. Chicago, Jan. 24. It is outside talk that there will be a lively session of the Illinois Exhib- itors' League when it holds its regular election on the first Friday in Febru- ary. 'Tis rumored there may % be quite a change in the present personnel of the League officers. The meeting will be held a,t 11 a. m. and it would not be surprising if there would be a factional ticket placed jn. the field notwithstanding that most of the present officers are being men- tioned as "up" for re-election. George Henry, the present president, will be a candidate for the chief office again and it looks like a foregone con- clusion that William A. Sweeney will be re-chosen as treasurer. Sydney Smith is the present secretary. George M. Laing. chairman of the executive committee, informed the Chi- cago representative of Variety- there was no ticket "framed" now and that all nominations were to be made from ~ As in,-- ,\n ktiovvTt- ti:c-re--wii! Ire iiitle of importance beyond the election, but prospects for the next convention at the Coliseum will be discussed, NEW ACTS. Miss Crane, who is restrained from usinnr her maiden name of Mercedes by the. courts until the matter is settled for all time, and who recently severed con- nections with George Lovett's "Con- centration," has formed a partnership with Mahatma, knowa as the White Yogi, and they will present a new mind- reading act. "Friendship", the sketch by Eugene Walter, played at the last Friars' Frolic, for vaudeville—Constance Col- lier, with her husband, John L'Es- trange, in sketch, following end^ of season for "Merry Wives of Wind- sor" (M. S. Bentham). Lucille Watson, comedy sketch with five people (Harry Weber). Margaret Youngblood, formerly playing locally only in Detroit and Rochester. Now in New York. (Max Hart). Louis Simon and Co. (13 people) opened Monday at Easton jn "The Bride of the Nile," written by Edgar Allan Woolf, music by Anatol Fried- land, special settings. (E. S. Keller.) Marshall Hall is putting the Back-to- Nature Dancers into shape. The cast will include Louise Sterling, Peg Has- brooke and Mr. Hall (Paul Durand). Peter Page and Rita Boland in an act written by Aaron Hoffman, songs by Irving Berlin and staged by Leon Errol. "From Quakertown to Broadway," girl act. Paisley Noon and Cecil Ren- nard featured. Four principals and chorus of six (B. D. Berg). Frank Terryl in preparation "The Dream Slave," sketch, with May Fowler in cast. A revised version of "Lavender Lou" with Walba Meegan, the authoress, and Jean Barry. Harry Jolson in "A Night on the Black Diamond," by Junie McCree (Frank Evans). Gertrude Barnes in new act by Blanche Merrill, featuring a "vampire" song called "The Temptation Girl." Percy Haswell and Co. {A people) in a comedy playlet, by Woolf. (Alf. T. Wilton.) James Boshell is directing a new sketch with Ilka Diehl for Henry Ches- terfield. Ethel Arnold and Co., with three peo- ple in act by Blanche Merrill (Max Hart). '*! "Filipino Fuss" with 10 people (Harry Weber). Al. Shean, monolog, by Junie Mc- Cree. (E. S. Keller.) Bob Quigley and Co., songs and dances. Harry Pease in new act, "A Variety of Varieties." Godfrey Mathews and Co. in "Let Your George Do It," comedy. "Torpedoed," dramatic, with Frank Dufrane. Sullivan and Mason, from the west (Pat Casey). Willie Fields and Co. in "A Trip Around the World." "The Welcher," with Robert Robson and Mollie Wood (Lawrence Schwab). "The Dog Watch." with eight peo- ple, from the west (Harry Weber). Lulu Glazer, sketch. Willis Granger, sketch. Otis Haran. in sketch. ROYALTIES THE SOLUTION. Several of the scenario brokers have lately gotten together to form some sort of a protective body in regard to the handling and placing of stories written for the screen. The higher class of authors who are capable of constructing stories with a dramatic punch are fighting shy of disposing of their ideas for screen purposes, because the return is not commensurate with what they would get if the stories were accepted as plays. Then their screen value would also be greater. Que. broker iji sneaking of the pres- ent- vk-r. r th of iVia-ilablt-' material-•'■ for screen production states that the only solution is to be found in granting the authors a royalty contract. OBITUARY. Lillian Beach (Beach and Lynn), sister of Paul Rahn, of the Planters' Hotel revue, Chicago, .died J^an. 16 in the Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago, of Bright's disease. Miss Beach was well known among the profession, hav- ing 'beeni on the Sftage twenty-nine years. James Jones, black comedian widely known tnrough the south, died in San Antonio, Tex., Jan. 13, of pneu- monia. He was taken ill while in that uty on tour and was received at the Physicians and Surgeons' hospital. He leaves a wife and two sons. A CARD OF, THANKS A card of thanks to my friends for their condolence in my hour of sadness at the loss of my beloved husband MARK P. MURPHY Gratefully, Sarah Jane Murphy. "Sparks" Mullen, electrician with March's Musical Merrv Makers, died in Meadville, Pa., Jan. 19, after a short illness. He had invented several devi- ces for stage lighting. Mullen ;was 22 years old. In Memory of My DEAR BROTHER HARRY J. IRVING Who Died January 31, lttt. ALFRED C. IRVING Matt B. Snyder, age 80, died this week on the Pacific Coast. News of death received by William Selig in Chicago. Deceased played prominent roles in "The Crisis" and "The Garden of Allah" (now being made). Harry Reed, of Deas and Reed, died Jan. 19 of tuberculosis in Bellevue Hos- pital, New York. He was taken ♦ v »^ r e Jan. 16. The deceased was also a member of the act once known as Deas, Reed and Deas. IN LOVING MEMORY OF LOTTA FAUST DIED JANUARY 18, ltlO Richard M. Carroll, the original "Bricks and Mortar" and of the Carrolls, very well known theatrical family, died Jan. 19 at his home in Newark, N. J., age 84. A son is Richard F. Carroll. Fred Daily, formerly manager of the Murat theatre, Indianapolis, who was in advance of the Coast company of "Katinka" dropped dead in Milwaukee, Jan. 21. His wife survives. Tim HI it a MASS far He nam al let Mel a! FRANK W. MARTINfAU at SL Maueky'a Cima, M Awena aei 4ttk Stoat * Maefcy amta* Jaaevy Ma, at II A. M. Mrs. Levias Ripley, former bareback rider in "Yankee" Robinson's circus, and daughter of that -showman, died Jan. 2 in the Robinson homestead at I'tica, N. Y., of old age. John H. W. Byrne, comedian and legitimate actor, died at the American Hospital. Chicago, last week, of compli- cation of diseases. John Campbell, stage manager of the Orpheum, Des Moines, la., died Jan. 15.