Variety (May 1918)

LEGITIMATE. 13 TWO DIFFERENT PLAYS DAILY; ACTORS' AND AUTHORS' PUN Take Fulton Theatre, Opening May 20. One Piece at Night, Another at Matinee. Two Performances Each Day, Plays Alternating. Actors In on Profits. Suc- cesses Sold or Booked Outside. The rapid realization of plans of the actors and playwrights first broached at the meeting at the Plaza Hotel sev- eral weeks ago has resulted in the in- corporating for $50,000 of the Actors and Authors' theatre which will make its first production at the Fulton thea- tre May 20, with Sam Wallach as gen- eral manager. So sound is the basis of operation laid down for the new organization that in scope it is looked forward to as a long step in the es- tablishment of a national theatre. The arrangement with the Henry B. Harris Estate calls for a percentage plan, but though the new organization is starting activities at the beginning of the summer season, it is hoped to make the Fulton the permanent home of two elements (actors and authors) whose efforts make theatricals possi- ble. The organization has financial backing for three productions, if nec- essary. The stock is not sold to the general public as first supposed, but most of it is designed to be held by- professionals. The scheme of production compre- hends two complete productions at a time. After the first week they will be given concurrently. The first produc- tion will be given at night and the sec ond will run at matinees, giving the house two different shows. If any production is deemed a success it will be offered to managers for presenta- tion in other theaters along regular lines and another production, always in readiness, will then be put on at the F'ulton. There will then be two performances daily at the Fulton, and after the first week the show in the afternoons will be different from that at night. There will be no set time for the length of run of any particular piece. If a suc- cess is registered it, will show as long as profitable or accepted by a manager. The Fulton price scale will range from 25 cents to $1, without variation. The participation of the actor in the profits appears equitable. From the organization's profits, 75 per cent, will be devoted to salaries, these based on an actual guarantee plus a pro rata sharing. This percentage does not fig- ure in the back stage or operating ex- pense, which the actors do not share in any way. The balance of the profits, or 25 per cent., will be placed into a sinking or production fund. The efforts of the new organization is not only to provide a permanent market for playwrights but an avenue for actors who may be unemployed or who are waiting between engagements. It will, however, be the idea of the Actors and Authors' theatre to offer the very best casts obtainable. Where possible the night shows will be preceded by a short drama or play- let. That will be done with the first production, the curtain-raiser being called "The Belfrcy," by Robert M. Sneddon. The thrce-att premiere piece has not yet been given a perma- nent title, but it was written by Arlinc Van Ness Mines. An invitation first performance will be held Sunday night, May 19, with the regular teason start- ing the following day, unless unlooked- for delays interfere. NELMS REPRESENTS GOVERNMENT As a special representative of the Internal Revenue Department, Harry Nelms has audited the books of nearly all the New York legitimate theatres, in the matter of the war revenue tax on admissions. It does not prevent him from continuing his regular profession as theatre treasurer. Last week while in Boston with the Metropolitan Opera, when he super- intended the treasury of that organi- zation, Mr. Nelms' looked over the ac- counts of the tax kept by the Boston $2 managements. The appointment came to Nelms without his solicitation, mainly through his systematic work in New York theatres. He has been the treas- urer of several of the big New York houses, acting at the Century under the Dillingham-Ziegfcld management and later called to the Metropolitan opera house. PRINCESS REMAINS OPEN. The Princess may remain open all summer and a new show is contem- plated for the house, it to be ready in August. In that event "Oh, Lady, Lady" will be moved over to a larger theatre. Ticket brokers have extended their buy at the Princess, this making the third buy on the "Lady" show. The arrange- ment extends to June 1, the agencies handling a little over half the capacity at present. Rock and white are to be placed in the new show, it is reported. AGUGLIA STARRING. Mimi Aguglia, the Sicilian dramatic actress, discovered by Charles Froh- man, is to be starred next season. Mr. Frohman had her under contract, it being provided that he was to produce a play for her as soon as she had mastered the English language sufii- cicntly for stage use. The producer's passing abrogated the contract, but Mme. Aguglia has now absorbed enough English to make her American debut, timed for October. THE PASSING OF LITTLE. Chicago, May 1. The passing of Richard Henry Little as Chicago's most unpopular dramatic critic arrived this week with the ab- sorption of the Chicago "Herald" with the Chicago "Examiner." William P.. Hearst bought the "Herald." , Louella O. Parsons, the pioneer film editor on a daily, will be taken over by the "Examiner," through holding a contract with the "Herald." MUSIC FOR "OFFICER 666." The Augustin McIIugh farce, "Officer ()(/)," whieh was produced by Cohan & Harris several years ago at the Gaiety theatre, is to be nuisicalized. The author and a lyricist are collaborating on the book, while Manuel Klein, for years composer of the Hippodrome allows, has completed the score. OPEN SUMMER SEASON. That Broadway is due for an tin usual summer theatrical season is the opinion of several managers and book- ing men, and this is borne out by the number of productions opening out of town or which have already had pre- mieres. The idea of an "open" sum- mer the booking men say depends a great deal on the weather, but unless severe heat intervenes houses will be kept going and those now dark given attractions. A general feeling pervades that with America's more active participation in France and Flanders it will naturally bring times of gloom from which the public will attempt to escape by seek- ing amusements as in England and Canada, where theatricals have flour- ished more than in peace times. The number of cantonments near New York makes the prospect the brighter. Eleven musical plays and one drama are now aimed for Broadway. The first to come in will be "A Kiss Bur- glar," which reopens the Cohan next Thursday. "See You Later," which reopens in Washington this week, is mentioned for a y berth at the Casino, now dark, although the Weber and Fields piece "Back Again" may be the attraction there. I*t is also figured to replace "Fancy Free," which would be switched trom the Astor, and there is a third musical attraction in "Rock- a-Bye Baby" also figured in the Astor plans. The Marie Cahill piece, "Just Around the Corner" (has several songs), opens in Atlantic City on Mon- day, and if right may be later sent into the Gaiety. Then there are also Hitch- cock's new revue for the Globe, "The Melting of Molly" and "Its Pays to Flirt," the latter two being in the offing. Cohan and Harris' "Three Faces East,"which started at Atlantic City last week, was to have been saved for the new season, but was rushed into Phila- delphia on Monday, and being a war play the advisability of its immediate showing in New York is being consid- ered. Ziegfeld's "Follies" will arrive as a summer fixture and the end of the runs of "Going Up," "The Rainbow Girl," "Sinbad," "Oh, Lady, Lady" and "Maytime" are not in sight. The latter piece lowers its scale beginning May 13 for a contemplated summer run. There is still a tentative plan to switch the Jolson show into the 44th Street theatre in June to allow for the an- nual opening of "The Passing Show" at the Winter Garden. In that case "Hearts of the World" would be switched to another house. A new revue for the Cort is listed for August. Boston, May 1. The season here may be extended well into the summer, with July 1 an ending period, unless the weather this month turns too warm. The season's extension is based on the extended school terms (due the enforced clos- ing last winter through the Coal short- age) which will keep families in town longer than usual and the proximity of several camps, especially the can- tonment at Ayre (Camp Devens). NEW HIP SHOW. R. H. Burnside began work on the next Hippodrome show this week. One of the scenes is a French battle- field, in which 300 men will be used. A difficulty arose as to the scene because of the Government putting an embargo on the use of gun powder in the theatres. MACK PLAY FOR CHATTERTON. Henry Miller has accepted a play by Willard Mack, which will be used as a starring vehicle for Kuth Chattel t<>u next season. Mi>s C hattcrt"ii may try out the piece immediately atter her season in "Come Out ot the Kitchen" closes. MORAN WITHDRAWS SUPPORT. Much "speculation wa ; vife this week when it became known that Joseph F. Moran, owjier j.t" the Vanderhilt and Belmont (formerly the >.'>>rworth) theatres, had withdrawn all of this financial support on the proposed road tour of "Oh, Look," featuring Harry Fox, and that when the show with- drew this week from the Vanderhilt next Saturday night that it would be continued by other interests. The show was recently scheduled for Chicago, Klaw & Krlanger offices pen- ciling in the Colonial there, but it is reported K. & K. cancelled the book- ing when it was learned M'oran's bank roll was no longer back of the show. "Oh, Look," is listed for a tour of the Subway circuit, with the Chicago en- gagement to follow. Harry Fox is to continue in the feature position. Ffar- ry Carroll and William Sheer have their names in the billing as "present- ing it," and their may dig up a new backer before the Windy City en- gagement is called off, as another house is said to be available out there. When the show opened the produc- tion received corking good notices and immediately cut down its New York advertising, depending on the reviews to keep up the capacity returns which marked the opening week. With the reduction of the newspaper ads the business began to diminish and recent- ly an effort was made to build it up with renewed advertising space. The Belmont is dark, and has been since the engagement of the Great Carter. INCREASING CAPACITY WEEKLY. Chicago, May 1. The "Friendly Enemies" show at the new Woods is increasing the capacity of that house weekly. Starting at around $14,000, the gross last week was $18,092. There has been an increase each week. The latest figure was reached through the Monday and Tuesday night performances totaling almost entire capacity. Previous weeks those evenings were somewhat below the full quota. The Woods holds, at the regular scale, $2,127 a performance. "Friendly Knemies" is due to leave here Aug. 10 for New York, opening at the Eltinge there Aug. 12, with "Busi- ness Before Pleasure" taking the Woods' stage here until ^Christmas, when the Al Jolson show will succeed it. Aug. 12 another company of the "Enemies" play will start upon a Pacific Coast tour. AUTHOR RECALLED PLAY. Cyril Harcourt, after having com- pleted a play which was accepted by the Selwyns for production, is reported to have requested the managers to re- turn the script and call off the negotiations. The play was not named as yet, and Harcourt refuses to discuss his reason for having had the piece re- turned to him other than saying that he decided not to do business with the managers. BEN ATWELL RESIGNS. I'.eti II. Atvvell, press agent of the Winter (iarden. has resigned, and is succeeded hv Frank Wilstaeh. At well will be associated with the Marion Davies Film ("o., now engaged in producing Katharine II. Taylor's hook, "Cecelia of the Pink Koses." Grace Fisher Hat Open Time and Suit. (irace l-'i.-dier. who wa, the prima donna in the "I.ove Mill." may return to the Winter Carder. <>r go into vaude- ville as ,i "single." Iler suit against Mr Srlnrmer. the inn-ie i;';!ili -her, I'T hi* breach of I r •:;:' -r i > -' ■ 1! : n the muriy • Fanny Brice't Show Thi» Summer. 1 )r ■— - h" -;:•:•:.er A N Woods will tia'rv" the •.■: ■ "he. t ion with l-'anny Brice .- I 'if . . •; r ' v w : •! ten hv M ontague ■ ihiss rvi'i l:>s l-'.ckert (ioodman.