Variety (November 1917)

... VARIETY Challenge by JOHNNIE O'CONNOR says he has a negro named"Dallas" who can beat me playing a harmonica. I hereby challenge "Dallas" to visit the Fifth Avenue Theatre the last four days of next week (Dec. 3) and stage a harmonica playing contest with me, the audience to be the judge as to the winner. Sherman, Qaszolo ft Clifford are putting out a now show. It la called "Lure of the City." and will open at the Imperial theatre, Chi- cago, for a run on International time. Richard Kea^e la breaking In a uovelty vaudeville act which will be tried on the dog In Indiana, and will have lta showing shortly at the Wilson Avenue theatre. George Nloolal, general manager of the In- ternational circuit, was In Chicago last week arranging bookings for the International houses here. Don Clinton and Nellie McNamara, with Harry Holman's act, "Selling Out," which closed at the American Nor. 24, will do a double act. Blanche Ring haa accepted and is rehears- ing a new Irish song for a spot in "What Next?" It is a Forster number named "Faugh-a-Ballah," which Is the Irish battle cry- Showfolks were all pleaaed at the publicity revealing that the bomb plotter at the grand opera was an Isolated crank, which lifted the fears of many that there was an organised conspiracy to blow up theatres. In the olrcuit court last week Klaw ft Rrlanger, through their Chicago attorney, Lory Mayer, Instituted suit against Nat C. Goodwin for $5,600 for a breach of contract alleged to have been made In 1018. Arthur Lamb's musical comedy, "Golden Lily," has been leased by Manager Ferry of "Her Bridal Night." Perry Is organising a company to open In Allentown, Pa., on Christ- mas day. Henry W. Petris, aged composer of "Asleep In the Deep," is threatened with a Mann act prosecution for the alleged transportation of a 10-year-old girl from Chicago to Boulder, Colo. Mabel McCane has abandoned her announced Intention of haying a show written and pro- duced around her, for which she had arranged adequate financial backing, and la now seek- ing a partner for a return Invasion of vaude- ville. Clarence Sterling, eastern stock actor, has been engaged for one of the leading roles In Paul Armstrong's "To Save One Girl." Sterl- ing, who portrays the character of "Hip" Devlin, the politician, stands six feet one and weighs 240 pounds. Any morning from 20 to 90 members of the Stage Women's War Relief Society, sponsored by Mrs. Otis Skinner, may be seen Indus- triously clicking needles In room 1122 of the county building, which has been turned over to them for their knitting. Lew Price's "Four American Beauties" was forced to close the engagement at the Rial to the week of Nov. 10 because of the Illness of one of the quartet, Arthur Clay, who plays the Italian. The act was replaced by Yamamota Brothers. Manager Joe Smith of the Terrace Garden cabaret, Chicago, has gotten new costumes, new songs and a new program of dances for his show, with the result that although the person el Is the same, It has all the appear- ances of a new revue. Kittle Warren and Jlmmle Elliot are now permanently located in musical comedy stock In Toledo, at the Colonial. Miss Warren plays soubrette roles and Elliot the straight and character parts. They have been playing their twenty-eighth consecutive week at this theatre and expect to remain all season. Add reasons why business Is bad: The ad- vertising manager of a State street depart- ment store declares the retail business in his store, and In every store on State street, was worse than it has been for years. He declared that the condition was not typical only of Chicago, but of the entire country- Patronage is being diverted from the old film theatres to the "Oifta," a new house opened by McMahan A Jackson, Nov. 23, be- Ratkowsky FURS 435 Fifth Avenue 38th and ttth Street* MY NEW AND ONLY STORE FURS of STYLE and QUALITY At Unapproachable Prices The woman who wants furs of striking beauty, perfect workman- ship, jind highest grade pelts, will find wonderful opportunities in dealing with the manufacturer—saving the middleman's profit. SPECIAL DISCOUNT TO THE PROFESSION MARYLAND,•BALTIMORE. STILL GOING FRANK DOBSON Beokesl Solid U. B. O. Dtreatlea. MAX BA JUGGLING FRED HENNINGS REFINED NOVELTY COMEDY OFFERING FEATURING THE BEST LITTLE LADY JUGGLER ANNA cause this theatre pays the war tax. The prices are 10-15. Mae Marsh In "Polly of the Circus" Is the opening attraction, and there Is a "Mutt and Jeff" picture and a view of the Camp Sherman-Camp Sheridan football game. Frank Gazzolo left for Boston last week to put the finishing touches on the Gazzolo, Gatts & Clifford show, "Her Unborn Child," scheduled for a run at the Globe theatre. George Oatts of the same firm has gone to Fort Williams, Canada, to rehearse another company playing the same show. There ars four companies on the road. With the resignation of Director Samuel A. Eliot, Jr., Marie Baer, leading woman, and Edward Ballayntyne, leading man, also left the Cincinnati Players. Notwithstanding the triple departure, Ruth Allen, business man- ager of the Art theatre, announces the follow- ing one-act plays will be presented at Memorial Hall, Dec. 10-20: "The Workhouse Ward," by Lady Gregory; "Ruby Red," by Clarence Stratton, of St. Louis, a new writer, and "The Holly Tree Inn," by Charles Dickens. Percy Sbostac, stage manager, Is In New York to engage new players. For ten successive years Ivy Sawyer, now co-Htarring with Joe 8antley In "Oh, Boy!" played the part of Alice in the London pro- duction of "Alice In Wonderland." Last week MIbr Sawyer received a cablegram from B. Krlkrlan, the manager. It read: "Dear Ivy— 'Alice in Wonderland' being produced again thl" y«>ar The public will greatly miss you." Several changes are reported In U. B. O. houses in Illinois and Michigan. Ann Arbor (Majestic) will play first half vaudeville, and pictures for the last half. Bay City, Mich. (BIJou), which formerly split bills with the Majestic, will play vaudeville for Sunday dates only, pictures the balance of the week. For the first half of the week of Dec. 3, the Orpheum at Champaign, 111., will play the fea- ture picture, "Joan the Woman." In a recent issue of Variety appeared a re- view of Sam Sidman's show which was In the nature of a rather thorough disapproval of the show and of Mr. Sidman's work in it. From a member of the company came a let- ter, which read In part: "May I, without the knowledge of Mr. Sidman. say a word in his behalf? If there Is too much Sidman in the show, il lo not Tvltb his cou&uut. He showed the book of the show to me, and It was Im- possible. He had to Jump In and do the best be could, until the necessary changes can be made." The W. V. M. A. here wants It strictly uuderxtood that acts must make their book- ing dates. Excepting under the most extraor- dinary circumstances, violations of dates will be met with prompt cancellation of all following time. This Is what happened to DeVeldle Trio, who were booked at the New Wilson, Belolt, Wis., last Saturday. They didn't appear, and when questioned later de- clared they were under the Impression that it was the following Saturday. Their coast time was Immediately canceled by the asso- ciation. The act was replaced at Belolt by Munson and Kingsbury. The Western U. B, O. is planning a preten- tious event for the benefit of the Athletic Fund of the soldiers at Camp Grant, Rockford. There la a large representation of theatrical people at this cantonment, and for this reason Tlnk Humphreys is particularly interested In putting over a big affair. The event will be a combined boxing, wrestling and vaudeville show. The committee In charge, under the chairmanship of Mr. Humphreys, consists of Irving Simons, Thomas J. Johnson and Marty Forklns. An effort will be made to stage a three round exhibition bout between Charlie White and Bennle Leonard. The event Is scheduled to take place after the holidays. A Thanksgiving show was given by the Scrlppa-McRae newspapers of Ohio for the soldiers of Camp Sherman, Chllllcothe, O., Thanksgiving day. The entire program, under the auspices of the U. B. O. Western Branch, was made up by Claude S. (Tlnk) Humphreys. The acts taken down by Mr. Humphreys went in a special train Wednes- day night. The entertainment was entirely gratuitous. The following made up the pro- gram : Six Klrksmlth Sisters, Mme. Cronin's Merry Men, Grant Gardner. Charles McGoods ft Co., Marshall Montgomery, Vardon and Perry. Connelly Sisters, Balzer Brothers, Oklahoma City Four, Delaney and Pike, Tom and Stacla Moore and the Novelty Clintons. Irving Simons was stage manager for the affair. At the Coliseum, Thanksgiving eve, Nov. 28, was held the Chicago Theatrical Protective Union's fifth annual ball. Nat C. Goodwin and Joseph Santley led the grand march. But the big event was a deathless ballad composed for the occasion by Charles Mussman, property man at the Majestic. The title Is "We'll Bring Back Old Glory to You." The chorus— ta-ra-ra-ra! When the battlefields have turned To a garden of beautiful roses, The birds will sing, bells will ring, And the sun will brightly shine. The flowers will bloom, fill the air with per- fume, And make you forget all the bygone times, When the battlefields have turned To a garden of beautiful roses. Notwithstanding which, the ball was a suc- A benefit for the Italian Red Cross Am- bulance Corps was given Nov. 26 at Cohan's Grand opera house, sponsored by theatrical folk here. The principal Item on the exten- sive program was the first presentation on any stage of a new one-act play written by Arnold Daly called "Democracy's King." The cast included ^dmund Breese, Ernest Law- ford, Richard Sterling, Arnold Daly and a score of others. Another playlet on the bill was called "The Shirker," acted by Arnold Daly, Edmund Breese and Mary Nash. Will- iam Gillette recited stories, Nat C. Goodwin rumbled "Gunga Din," Blanche Ring and her chorus from "What Next?" put over a couple of the hits of the show, Jack Hazzard did his old vaudeville monolog, George McFarland sang songs, Joe Santley and Ivy Sawyer ren- dered some of the "Oh, Boy !" numbers, Jose- phine Harriman and William Dunn of the Comstock hit did a dancing act and Slg. Riml and Mme. Perlata of the Chicago opera company sang. Otis Skinner came down from Milwaukee to make the opening address. Girls from the various musical comedy shows In town sold programs and boxes. AUDITORIUM (H. M. Johnson, mgr.).— Grand opera, Cleofonte Campanlni, director (3d week). BLACKSTONE (Ed Wappler, msr.).—Fol- lowing one week dark, George Arliss opened for a three weeks' engagement In "Hamil- ton." CENTRAL MUSIC HALL.—Maurice Browne Players In Bernard Shaw's "Candida." COHAN'S GRAND (Harry J. Ridings, mgr.). "Why Marry?" with Nat Goodwin, Arnold