Variety (January 1918)

VAUDEVILLE I "JOURNAL'S" PLEA FOR THEATRES The Christmas edition of the New York "Journal," a Hearst publication which formerly devoted some space to vaudeville, its reviews and advertising depart- ment being conducted by "Zit," printed an editorial by Arthur Brisbane which has occasioned considerable talk in and out of the profession. Vvm.e Air. brisuane has little or no inside knowledge of vaudeville, he selected a theme for his discourse which pleased the managerial faction very much and according to word received at the headquarters of the Vaudeville Managers' Protective Association, members of that organization propose to petition various other newspapers throughout the country to reprint the edi- torial figuring it a perfect method of encouraging patronage at this most serious time for the theatres. The article follows: THE ACTOR AND SELF-SACRIFICE. « The Most Ungrateful of All Economies Is Economising at the Actor's Expense. Copyright, 1917, Star Company. You know in a general way that theatres, and consequently actors, managers, playwrights and that great industry made up of modern genius and energy culled "the moving picture" arc suffering because of the war. In England, close to the war, theatres of all kinds and the moving picture houses especially are crowded and have been since the war started. But here, for reasons difficult to understand, the idea of the citizen seems to be that it is wise economy to indulge in FALSE ECON- OMY and abandon the theatre-going habit. S SS atac aa ARTISTS' FORUM Confine lett«.*» to ISO wordi and wiiU on ©no ttdo of poper only. Anonymous communications will not bo printed. Nams of wrltor moot bo signed and will bo held In strict confidence. If desired. _ Letters to be published In this column must bo written exclusively to YAJuBTT. Duplloatod letters will not bo printed. The writer who duplicates a letter to the FonUn. either before or after It appears hsro, will not bo agmln permitted the priv- ileges of It. Es53E35EE We say that to stay away from theatres, destroying their prosperity, discouraging the men that supply the nation with amusing inspiration and iniormation is FALSE ECONOMY. And FALSE ECONOMY it is, for many reasons. In the hrst place, one of the great assets in war, as in peace, is CHEERFULNESS. The machine that wins the war through fighting or through industry is the human brain. And what the brain requires the theatre gives — change of thought, relaxation, the real rest that makes the brain better fit for work next day. The theatre is a necessary part of life, its prices are adapted to all pockets, all classes. And to practice economy at the expense of the theatre is practicing economy falsely. What is more important, such economy is not only unwise, it is ex- tremely UNGRATEFUL. Year in, year out, actors, managers, owners of theatres are called upon to contribute to charities of every conceivable kind. For a disaster at home or abroad the first call is upon the theatre. For the money necessary to give happiness to children at Christmas time the first demand is upon the actors—a demand always cheerfully and generously met. Winnipeg, Dec 26. Editor Variett: In your isue of Dec. 21 under Wash- ington, D. C, news briefs, your cor- respondent advised of the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Peyton, saying that Mrs. Peyton had been playing leads in "a stock company at Winni- peg. Mrs. Peyton is known professionally as Bessie McAllister and played sec- ond woman here. She never was in the lead. Anne Bronaugh is the leading woman of the Winnipeg Permanent Players stock and is in her sixth season in that capacity. William McDermott. (Press Rep., Winnipeg Theatre.) "Somewhere in France," Dec. 4. Editor Variety : We have just received a piano in our camp, but have very little music, only six copies that we bought near here. It is impossible to fet the late popu- lar airs, so I am writing in the hope some one will be kind enough to send us a few professional copies. We intend holding song-fests every Wednesday evening. Private E. W. Adams. No. 2,250,431 57th Co, C. F. C, B. E. R, France. The theatre means cheerfulness in the nation, and cheerfulness means success. The actor is one of the nation's hardest workers, one whose career as a rule is made short by difficult, exacting work that eats up youth rapidly. Ihe actor is called upon by the public and always responds. He deserves from the public the generous response that he always gives to the public. For actors of all kinds, on the stage and on the screen, for managers, for the army of those represented in the modern great moving picture industry we bespeak of the public their most generous patronage. For these cheerful, generous, hard-working buildert-up of national cheerfulness we wish a new year full of happiness, prosperity and the recognition that they deserve. THEATRES WERE WARM. Theatrical managers and others plan to use soft coal during the short- age to heat theatres but it is neces- sary to pass an ordinance through the board of aldermen. Conservation f what little coal on hand to heat theatres has resulted in a low pressure of steam and many New York houses have been frigid ever since the sub-zero weather made the fuel shortage a problem. None of the houses intended closing and as a matter of fact they were a great deal warmer than hundreds of apartment houses. Residents along Riverside Drive flocked to theatres. A number of vaudeville agents and film offices outside of the bigger buildings were closed for the first half of the week, there being no heat supplied. Youngstown, O., Dec. 26. Editor Variett : In reference to a letter published Dec. 14 from Harry Hanson of Soul!* Africa would say I received Mr. Han- son's letter and answered it at once, telling him that owing to present book- ings and as I am featuring "Manikin Baseball" (an American game only), could not consider his offer. Should any manikin act desire to take advantage of Mr. Hanson's splen- did offer we will gladly send it his correspondence. Lillie Jewel Faulkner. Fort Munroe, Va., Dec. 28. Editor Variett : HopinsMheimisicpubli*hersw^ REMEMBERED EMPLOYES. Chicago, Jan. 2. In appreciation of the past year's services. Jones, Linick & Schaefcr pre- sented :.I1 their employes with a week's salary. Yule obligations thus being taken care of. Aaron J. Jones immediately hied himself to the polf grounds at Gulfport. Miss.; Adolph Linick packed his trunk and engaged passage for Cali- fornia, and Tctcr J. Schacfer began a search of steamship time tables for Cuba. WINNIFHED GILRA1NE and hrr "BACK TO NATURE GIRLS" Extrnd New Year's Greetings HEADLINING PANTAGES CIRCUIT low the very thoughtful suggestion in Varibtt in regards to sending profes- sional copies, I once again send my address. Have received a few copies already, but we need more. All my spare time off duty It spent at the Y. M. C A., where I hold the title, "Manager of Productions." Our shows have been bully, but we need more music to keep them so. David Chase. Army Y. M. C A„ Fort Munroe, Va. Fort Riley, Kant., Dec 27. Editor Vajubtt: We are very much in need of new music: good pianists and pianos are plentiful; but not a sheet of popular music anywhere. If you could hear the boys ting, you would think that you were listening to a •'Song-Boosters* Contest," but the songs they sing have long since been laid away:, ' 1 nave promised them that I would do my best to get some music ,and now they are waiting expectantly. I am indeed thankful I can still keep in touch with the profession 1 to much love and the one I have been to long connected with, through Varibtt.- Frank C. Loroine, Troop C. 13th Cav., Fort Riley, Kant. (Formerly Lorraine and Cameron.) NO CALL BEFORE FEB. 11 The following telegram hat been tent by the Provott Marthal General to the governors of all ttatet: It hat been decided that there will be no more formal calls for de- ferred percentages of the present qubta before Feb. 15. While boardt should, until they have enough *men finally classified in Clatt 1, tend forward promptly men telected under the old regu- lations to make up deficiencies in calls already made, the result ot this decision will be that we shall be able to give the benefit of the new classification system to all men whose order numbers are so late as to place them within deferred percentages of the present call. Calls will, however, be made very shortly under the provisions of Section 149 for the special class of men there mentioned. For the sake of composing the public mind and for the convenience of regis- trants, this information ought to be given wide dissemination. Direction, HARRY SHEA PRODUCTION ENGAGEMENTS. Warburton Gamble and Colin Camp- bell for "The Madonna of the Future." Daisy Jerome by the Shuberts for a ! musical comedy. Beatrice Noyes has replaced Marion C'oakley in "The Country Cousin:" Ruby Norton has been placed in "Flo Ho" at the Cort by John Cort. Harry McCullcn for Arnold Daly's "Napoleon." BIRTHS. Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Hanlon, at their home in the Bronx, New York, Dec 29, »on. Mr and Mrs. C. B. Castro (Eleanor I.avalle) at the American Theatrical Hospital, Chicago, last week, son. Mr and Mrs. Milt Collins, last week, daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Ncher (skaters, Neher and Kappel), at Milwaukee, son. •