Variety (October 1917)

VOL. XLVIII, No. 6 NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1917 PRICE TEN CENTS WAR AN AID TO LONG RUNS PROVED BY LONDON CONDITIONS Over 12 Shows Now Between 200th and 500th Performances. "Bit of PHUT Holds Record With 900. Doris Keane in "Romances/Second in Favor. .ondon, Octc 3. Theatrical businessphere may/De af- fected by war conditions, hat it is nevertheless a fact the\nuim>er of long runs in London at presehfis as big as in normal times. There are over a dozen now on view in this city that give every indication of continuing for an indefinite period, and of these considerably more than half have already registered consecu- tive performances ranging from 200 to 500 timet. There is probably no other city in the'world that can show-a -fimi- lar condition. The present record holder is N A Little Bit of Fluff," a farce by Walter W. Ellis, which opened at the Crite- rion in October, 1915, and has been played there more than 900 times. The next longest run is Doris Keane in "Romance" at the Lyric, which was moved twice without interrupting the continuity of its run and is now in its second year with, a total of over 800 times. The nearest approach to these two is "Chu Chin Chow," with Oscar Asche and Lily Brayton, at His Majesty's, which, while also in its sec- ond year, can only boast of something more than 500 performances. 'Theo- dore and Co." conies fourth in the list, with a modest 450 times to its credit. Rapidly approaching their third cent- ury marks are "General Post" at the Haymarket and "The Maid of the Mountains" at Daly's. Gaby Deslys in "Suzette" at the Globe and "Damaged Goods" at the St. Martin's each reached their 250th, while "Smile" at the Garrick, VCheep" at the Vaude- ville, "Bubbly" at the Comedy, "Inside the Lines" at the Apollo and 'The Three Daughters of M. Dupont" at the Ambassadors are rapidly approaching their second century. "Round the Map" has also enjoyed an extended engagement at the A1- hambra and is still prospering, and there are several others, produced this- season, that bid fair to continue until well into next year. Among them are "The Better 'Ole," running twice daily at the Oxford, which had hitherto housed only variety shows and revues, and "Carminetta" at the Prince of Wales. SAVAGE THROUGH WITH FILMS. Henry W. Savage has decided pic- ture manufacturing and producing are not to his liking after having made a try with "Madam X," "Excuse Me" and ''Robinson Crusoe." In the future he will release his plays to producers of Rim drama. At present Mr. Savage has released "Along Came Ruth," "Little Boy Blue" and "The Prince of Pilsen," none of which has been accepted by picture makers as yet. ' KEENAN AT $3,000 WEEKLY. The first feature released by Pathe with Frank Keenan as the star will be "Loaded Dice" from the novel by El- lery Clark, published by Dodd, Mead & Co. Edgar Selden negotiated the sale of the rights. He also placed Mr. Keenan with the Pathe for the next year, the star receiving $3,000 weekly. He will be directed by Herbert Blache. Pathe has taken over the Sanger Studios on upper Seventh avenue to make the productions. SURATTS DRAMATIC SKETCH. With her screen playing as the foun- dation, Valeska Suratt is preparing to return to vaudeville with a dramatic playlet having herself and four other principals. Jenie Jacobs is arranging the time at $2,500 weekly. When Miss Suratt last appeared in vaudeville it was in the centre of a musical comedy turn. Her contemplated effort will be Miss Suratt's dramatic debut on the speak- ing stage. IN NEARLY 400 FILMS. Carlylc Blackwell is close upon the 400th picture play in which ho has acted the hero during his eight years before the camera. y This number includes many one and two-reel productions of the early days, but the aggregate is probably greater than that of any other screen star. ARE PICTURES HIGH CLASS? Atlanta, Oct. 3. Suit has been commenced against Jake Wells, lessee of the Forsythe theatre, by Asa G. Candler, Inc.. owner of the property, to evict Wells from possession of the house on the ground he is playing pictures not a "high class attraction" as provided for in the lease, which has four years yet to run. The complaint also charges moving pictures do not cater to the highest class of patronage, also called for in the lease. The Forsythe formerly played vaudeville. It is now showing feature films. CIRCUS SCENE PROFITS. Walter H. Middleton has started suit against Frank J. Carroll for $1,- 500, claiming it as one-third the profits Carroll derived from the recent Gold- wyn release "Polly of the Circus," for which he supplied the circus act. Mid- dleton alleges a verbal agreement with Carroll. Middleton claims he was engaged by Carroll to assist him in lining up the material for the circus scene, Carroll agreeing to pay him $100 per week for his services which lasted but two weeks and four days. For the extra days Middleton was paid $15 per day. Carroll states Middleton was en- gaged at a flat salary with no further agreement. The action is being defended by Frederick & Henry J. Goldsmith. THRILLERS STILL HEALTHY. Chicago, Oct. 3. George Klimt's "meller," "The Mil- lionaire's Son and the Working Girl," an old-fashioned thriller that makes no apologies for its methods but bills itself as a "Story of No Mother to Guide Her," is getting big money on the six-bit circuits of the middle west, though the wise ones said the days of that sort of shows were long past and over. r 5TH "OH, BOY!" A fifth "Oh Boy" is being readied for the road, designed for one to three night stands. The success indicated by the other companies prompted the order for an additional production be- ing ordered. The fourth "Oh Boy" started up- state two weeks ago and has been playing to big business. CHORUS SALARIES SOARING. New Orleans, Oct. 3. Chorus girls are very scarce in the south at present and are commanding high salaries. Store tahloids in places with seating capacities of 200 and 300 are paying them as much as $25 weekly. WARFIELD SENTIMENTAL Cincinnati, Oct. 3. While here last week David Warfield confided he had just turned down an offer of $1,000,000 for one year's work with a picture company, during which time he was to produce his great suc- cesses, "The Music Master" and "The Auctioneer." "I am not playing 'The Music Mas- ter' to make money, he declared. "The public wants me in my plays the same as it wanted Joe Jefferson in 'Rip Van Winkle.'" A moment before Warfield made the statement, standing in the lobby of the Grand opera house, he saw an old woman painfully climbing the stairs to the gallery to see him. war- field assisted her. "That's one of the main reasons why I continue to play 'The Music Master,'" he announced. "I almost weep when I think of that old lady climbing the steps to tee my play." JULIA ARTHUR ENDING TOUR. St. Louis, Oct. 3. This is Julia Arthur's final week in her "Liberty" playlet in vaudeville, at least for the time being. Miss Arthur, it is said, wishes to rest. The sketch will continue, with a week's lapse, opening at the Orpheum, Memphis, Oct. 15, having Gladys Han- son in the present role taken by Miss Arthur. BREIL'S OPERA ACCEPTED. Joseph Carl Breil, composer of the music for "The Climax, has had a short grand opera accepted by the management of the Metropolitan Opera House and it will be produced there some time before the holidays. It is entitled "The Legend," a Balkan story, and runs but an fiour and a "half. There will be no chorus and but four principals and two supers. EXPECT 15-CENt COIN. A determined effort is being made to have Congress pass a law ordering the director of the mint to coin a 15- cent piece. It has been pointed out that the greater majority of theatres through- out the country are now .charging 15 cents admission »nd when it is figured that over ten million people patronize the theatres every day the desirability of the new coin becomes apparent. Hopes have been held out that a law of this nature will be passed some time in December. 40 PEOPLE GOING SOUTH. The Willard & Baxter Co. is said to have organized a company of 40 artists, to play under the firm's management in South America, leaving New York Oct. 15 or 20.