Variety (March 1918)

VARIETY If IN PARIS Paris, March 15. Victor Hugo's "Lucrczia Borgia" has been revived, among other melodramas, at the Comedie Franchise, with a star cast including Albert Lambert, R. Duflos, Mmes Weber, and Gabrielle Robinne. This is no innovation, the House of Moliere having increased its repertoire during the war by a number of works formerly seen at other thea- tres. But some good folk inquire what is becoming of tradition, and imagine the first national comedy home of France is following in the footsteps of the Odeon. As a matter of fact the Odeon is now, for the first time, mak- ing money with old favorites and the administrator of the sedate Comedie Francaise would fain do likewise. It is rumored that the rehearsals of Hugo's play did not run smoothly at first and that Mme. Weber threatened to resign her part. She majestically left the theatre, but was prevailed upon to resume the role. At the Marigny a new piece with the appropriate title of "Les Huns," by Abel Deval (former director of the Athenee and h Vising the lease of the Marigny) and M. Pechade, has just been produced. The success is not great. "The 13th Chair" ran 103 times and is now withdrawn for a revival of "Zaza." "Castor et Pollux," the work of Rameau (written about 1730), is to be revived in March at the Opera, by Manager Jacques Rouche. Mmes. Gcrmaine Lubin,.and Vallandri, MM. Plamondon ani Lestelly are listed; the dancers will comprise Miles. Ada Boni, Urban, Jeanne Dimas and Mr. Aveline, J. Billaud and Mattisson, directors of the Theatre des Allies, will mount in May at the Theatre Sarah Bernhardt, for a short series, a Polish play "La Reine Wanda," adapted by Henri Le- grande. The first performance will be 7n aid of the Foyer for Polish soldiers in France. It is probable the play will be produced in the United States next season. Journals recently announced the death of La Goulue, a well-known can- can dancer of the Moulin Rouge 20 years ago. The report is incorrect. She was confounded with another dancer at Marseilles who had appro- priated the same stage name and who died recently. ' A new military farce by Keroul and Gaily, "En perm.," is due at the Apollo shortly. In Parish theatres: "Anthony and Cleopatra" (Antoine); "Un Soir, au Front" (Porte St. Martin); "Mon Jeudi" (BoufTes); "Deburau (Vaude- ville); "Kiki" (Gymnase); "Les Huns" (Marigny); "Lucrece Borgia" and rep- ertoire (Comedie Francaise); "Pelleas et Melisande" (Odeon); "Castor et Pollux" (Opera); "Beau Jardin de France" and repertoire (Opera Com- ique); "Baby Mine" (Varietes); "Xan- tho chez les Courtisanes" (Rennais- sance); "Dame dc Chambre" (Athe- nee) ; "Compartiment des dames seules" (Palais Royal); "Train de 8h, 47" (Am- bigu; "Zaza" (Rejane); "Course au Bonheur" (Chatelet); "Nouveaux Riches" (Sarah Bernhardt); "Ecole des Cocottes" (Michel); "Geule du Loup" (Arts); "Gare Regulatrice" (Scala); "Petite Bonne d'Abraham" (Edouard VII); "Puce a TOreiHc" (Cluny); "Af- laire du Central Hotel" (Apollo); "Dame de Chez Maxim" (Dejazet); *Yetit Due" (Gaite); "Mousquetaires au Couvtnt" (Trianon); Revues at Casino de Paris, Capucines, Mayol, Fol- ves Bergere, Bouffes du Nord, Cigale, Gaite-Rochechouart, Femina, Ba-Ta- Clan. Suzy Depsy, the actress, arrested for alleged complicity with the enemy, con- cerning which accusation long reports have appeared in the dailies, was play- ing the role of the coquette in "Les Nouveaux Riches" at the Theatre Sarah Bernhardt. Tarride, after imperson- ating the detective in "The 13th Chair" at the Theatre Rejane, has resumed his part in the successful comedy. Guiller, one of the men also implicated with Mme. Despy, was before the war man- ager for the boxers Marcel Moreau and Sam MacVea. He gave his profession as chemist. "The Quaker Girl" is to be revived it the Theatre des Varietes. Max Dearly has ceded the house for three months to Montcharmont, of Lyons, who will Eay a daily rental of 550 frs. ($110). •early is paying the Max Maury, the lessee, 20,000 frs. per month. It is reported the English troops in Palestine have taken over, to the sub- stantial profit of the former managers, two theatres in Jerusalem, to present entertainments. A picture hall, for- merly run by a German, is in the hands of an English manager, and renamed the Empire. DR. MUCK HELD. Boston, March 27. Dr. Carl Muck, leader of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, was lodged in the East Cambridge jail Tuesday night and will be held there until after cer- tain information which has been for- warded to Washington by agents of the Department of Justice here has been investigated. Dr. Muck was arrested at his home Monday night after conducting a long rehearsal and spent the night in a police station. The next morning he was taken to the Federal building and after an examination was sent to the jail to await further developments. Manager C. A. Ellis of the Boston Symphony Orchestra was one of the few persons allowed to talk with Dr. Muck. Mrs. John L. Gardner, one of Boston's prominent society women, also called at the Federal building dur- ing the forenoon and left a parcel for Dr. Muck. She waved her hand gaily at him when leaving the building. Dr. Muck, who has been the prin- cipal director of the Royal Opera in Berlin, first came to this city to lead the Symphony Orchestra in 1906 and remained here two years. He returned in 1912 and has been head of the orchestra since that time. Last No- vember it was asserted Dr. Muck had refused to lead the orchestra in play- ing "The Star Spangled Banner" at Providence. Soon after the Providence incident he began the custom of lead- ing the orchestra in playing "The Star Spangled Banner" at the Symphony concerts in this city. For some time the citizenship of Dr. Karl Muck has been a subject of dis- cussion. It is generally believed that while the holder of Swiss papers he is a Prussian. Dr. Muck's father, when the former was six or eight years old, went to the Canton of Zug and ob- tained by purchase papers entitling him to Swiss citizenship. BIRTHS. Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Dooley, at the home of Mr. Dooley's mother in Phila- delphia, March 25, son. Mrs. Dooley is known professionally as Yvette Rugel (Dooley and Rugcl). Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wilson (Wilson Bros.) at Waco, Texas, March 7, son. PALACE'S TABLETS. Tuesday noon the two tablets now adorning the side walls of the B. F. Keith Palace theatre lobby were of- ficially unveiled before a crowd that packed the theatre from stage to exit doors. One of the tablets was present- ed to the Palace for the valiant work of its management in the last drive for the sale of Liberty Bonds, the Palace itself turning in subscriptions amount- ing to $750,000. The ceremonies were opened by a medley of popular airs played by the Catholic Protectory Boys' Band, the organization assembling on the stage. They were followed by the band of the lsth Infantry, led by the Major and accompanied by regimental officers. They played the national anthems of the Allied nations, the enthusiasm bringing the audience to its feet in cheers. Borough President Edward Riegel- man followed with a brief address eulogizing the officials of the Keith in- terests for their returns, after which: came Col. Dennis of the Canadian- British forces, who has been on recruiting service for his govern- ment. He spoke on the necessity of American aid, both in man power and money, and left a decidedly favorable impression. Next came Col. Moses Greenwood, an American veteran who in a long address explained what he had seen on the other side, imploring the audience to keep faith in the Amer- ican army and look forward to the in- evitable victory. Sergeant Harold Wright, a Brooklyn youth who enlisted in the Lafayette Lscadrille during the early stage of the war, was introduced with the an- nouncement that he had bfought down two Boches and an observation bal- loon during activity on the western fiont. An American Lieutenant and an offi- cial of the Liberty Loan Committee completed the addresses, after which the veils were withdrawn from the tab- lets in the lobby. One carries the Liberty Loan recom- mendation and the other the names of 37 Keith employees who. have enlisted in the American service abroad. The ceremonies at the Palace attract- ed a large crowd and the smooth show- manship of the handling was apparent. The Liberty Loan tablet reads as fol- lows: This Tablet is awarded to B. F. KEITH'S PALACE THEATRE In recognition of the loyal effort of its management and the patriotic response of it's patrons in the Sec- ond LIBERTY LOAN October, 1917, by the LIBERTY LOAN COMMITTEE. MARRIAGES. Myrtle Young to Al B. White, at the City Hall, New York, March 25. The'couple have been together in vaudeville. Miss Young has engaged to appear in the new Cocoanut Grove show at the Century, New York, and Mr. White will next week join "The Passing Show of 1917." Captain Wallace Witticomb, an Eng- lish actor, to Jane Houston in London, March 25. The bride was almost a year in crossing from New York for the ceremony, being held up for sev- eral months on account of passport strictness. Charles Muscroft, aged 34, a soldier stationed at Camp Sheridan, Mont- fornery, Ala., and Esther Home, aged 2, of Cincinnati, were married in Cincinnati several days ago. Muscroft, a Cincinnatian, first met her when he and she were singing at the Orpheum Winter Garden several years ago. Phyllis Tucker to Joseph Lanigan in Chicago March 22. NEW ACTS. Wilbur Mack is getting ready three turns soon to be offered. They are "Pink Pajamas," with Adelaide Wilson, Arthur Thornton and Gertrude Shan- ley; Harry Glyn, an English character singer, and a new sister singing duo, made up of Lillian Ring and Nada Kaser. "Held by the Enemy," from the Beh- man show, taken over by Adolph Singer, son of Jack Singer, for sum- mer vaudeville. Wilbur Dobbs will head the cast. "Lady Raffles," girl act, with ten people, is being produced by Jerry Hitchcock and George K. Hennings. They also have "Zig-Zag Alley," with ten people. Walter Lawrence is producing a modernized old English sketch, which he calls "Magnolias." Frederick Truesdell will probably be starred. Ned Monroe, formerly of Monroe and Mack, with Tom Maguire. Black- face. Craem, Sperling and Barton, singing act. Goldie and Mack from the west. (Mandel & Rose.) Archie Dunbar, Sport Zeno and Gus Jordan in a new flying act (James Plunkett). * Effie Shannon, "Suppressed Desires," one of the acts produced by the Wash- ington Square Players (Jos. Hart). Frank Orth is writing a sketch for Jules Jordan. Lyle and Harris in a new act by Sam Morris. "Chu Chu," six people, produced bv Jordon & Glassmire (Lee Muckenfuss). "War Mates," four people (Henri Du Vries). Florence Holbrook and Co. (Henry Marshall), piano-act. Frank Shayne, single turn, written by Frank Fay. "The Outcome of the Income Tax," Charles Mason & Co. "The Modiste Shop, a la Cabaret," Northlane, Riano & Northlane. "The Futuristic Jail Bird," Raymond Wiley. Jack Murphy and Jean Sothern (Chicago). "Miss Butterfly," featuring Nora Allen. Mort Fox and George Britt (Lloy4 and Britt). PRODUCTION ENGAGEMENTS. Upon the Arthur Hammerstein offices closing the road tour of "Katinka" Saturday Hammerstein arranged for the "loan" of its principal male player, Howard Langford, to the new Weber and Fields show, "Back Again," which is being put through its stage paces at the Casino. The show is expected to open the latter part of April or second week in May at the Gaiety. George Hassel, with the Shuberts for the next Winter Garden show. FIREPROOFING REQUIRED. Chicago, March 27. Leonard Brown and Co. at McVick- er's this week were ordered out of the show on the allegation that their scenery did not meet the fire depart- ment's requirements on fireproofing. Marion Munson substituted. BatM-Blinn Co/s Return. "Getting Together" is slated to come back to New York after its road tour, the Blanche Bates-Holbrook Blinn company going to the Lyric, Philadel- phia, from the New York Lyric, where it .opened Monday. The advance sale in Quakertown is said to be large. Roehm Jb Richards arc now the New York representatives for the Holmes & Dudley agency of Chicago. Kitty Flynn opened with the show at the Pekin Tuesday night. Buddy Wilkes, pianist, opened at the Paris-Louvre, San Francisco, last week. Ann Pennington returns to the "Mid- night Frolic" next week. Mill!* Rogers has returned to the Churchill revue.