Variety (May 1918)

VOL. L, No. 11 NBW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1918 PRICB TEN CBNTS AMERICAN SINGERS' CHANCE POSS IBILITY AT MET. 0. H. European Finish Not Essential. Scarcity of Foreign Artists, Also Inroads Made by Rival Operatic Organization Re- sponsible for Home Talent Opportunity. Indica- tions Point to Open Door in Grand Opera Next Season. Native talent is expected to receive more of an opportunity at the Metro- politan opera house next season than formerly. This appears to be fore- casted through the engagement of Rienald Werrenrath, a young Amer- ican singer, placed under contract by the Met, even though he owns a voice minus European culture. There is a scarcity of the foreign singing element suitable to the grand operatic stage, and also the Chicago opera has ranks to fill. Both are ac- countable in a way for the lately ac- quired desire for the home grown ar- ticle. "BILLING" OVERSEAS. Among the applications received by America's Over There Theatre League was one from Norah Bayes, who is looked upon as a very desirable enter- tainer for the soldiers. Miss Bayes in her application is said to have requested if her application were favorably passed upon to be in- formed regarding the billing she might expect in France, also what her posi- tion on the program would be, stating that the latter point was a most impor- tant matter. She is reported making other conditions such as might be ex- pected from a hcadliner in a regular vaudeville theatre over here. HAMMERSTEIN BACK AT WORK. Debonnair and as vigorous as of yore, Oscar Hammerstein is removing to large offices in Times Square, where he continues to experiment with his cigar making inventions. For relaxation he continues the prosecution of his various theatrical lawsuits and appears to be enjoying life as keenly as ever. DAYLIGHT KNOCKS OUT AIRDOMES Airdomes are selling for a dime apiece, according to reports from the upstate sections and New Jersey. The new daylight time saving seems to have put the quietus to airdomes. The daylight plan forces open air pic- ture places to start around 9 o'clock too late in the neighborhood sections. Many airdomes are on the market. YOUNG-McBRIDE COMBINE. Chicago, May 8. Negotiations are on between Ernie Young, the Chicago ticket broker, and William McBride of New York, to com- bine. The plan laid out for the pro- posed amalgamation is for McBride to tie up shows in New York for their Chicago runs, with advance buys. A similar proposition between Young and Tyson is off. Tyson is now sup- posed to be in on an arrangement of the same kind with Mrs. Couthoui, who owns the leading hotel stands. HIP PAYS TAX OF $100,000. The Hippodrome, ending its season of 37% weeks Saturday has turned over to the collector of internal rev- enue, around $100,000 in admissions taxes, the record total for any theatre in the country. This sum is for a period of five months, the April taxes not being col- lectable until the end of the current month. The lowest month tax check paid the collector was $17,000. CAHILL SHOW FOR GAIETY. It was definitely settled Wednesday the new Marie Cahill show, "Just Around the Corner," which Dan V. Arthur is sponsoring, would come into the Gaiety following its engagement at Atlantic City, Detroit and Toronto. The show had its premiere set for Atlantic City Thursday, where it planned to remain until next Sunday when it moves to Detroit. MAY CUT SUNDAY PAPERS. Plans to do away with the magazine section and picture supplements in the Sunday editions of newspapers throughout the country for the dura- tion of the war are under way. The dramatic sections will probably not be reduced, but a curtailment of photographic productions is not un- looked for. B«tUr than • tonic—CHAS. ALTHOFF. TANGUAY ON WARPATH. A visit made by Eva Tanguay to District Attorney Swann's office this week was followed by total silence on the part of those with whom Miss Tanguay conferred. Nor would Miss Tanguay disclose the purpose of her call at the prosecutor's office. A close friend when asked suggested that perhaps Miss Tanguay had grown tired of being annoyed and harrassed by persons who have for years past and also recently spread stories about her. "If that is true," said the young wo- man, who seemed to have more knowl- edge than she would profess, "I don't blame Eva. The public accepts all those reports as 'stories' and they are passed from one to another, distorted and magnified, until my only wonder has been that she didn't start something long ago. "I know that many of these rumor mongers commenced their work in the hope Miss Tanguay would hasten to make them an offer of 'hush money' through fear that her professional standing might be injured, but Eva just ploughed along, not caring for a long while until she concluded her policy had been the wrong one, and that if these matters had a money ob- ject behind them, then it might be a matter for the investigation of tho criminal authorities." "GIRL ACTS" FOR CAMP. The theatrical division of the Com- mittee on Training Camp Activities is reported contemplating the forma- tion, under its own direction, of sev- eral large girl acts or tabloid mu- sical comedies, for engagements at the Liberty theatres. The report says producers will be secured to stage the acts, and the pro- ductions are expected to replace some of the musical comedy attractions, booked in the regular way and which have appeared at some of the camps to the complete dissatisfaction of the soldiers. One musical show recently at the camps around New York is said to have carried a chorus of eight girls with about as many principals, with no choice for merit between principals and choristers. It appeared under the title of a well known Broadway mu- sical success and was alleged to have been the same company on the road this past season at $1.50 top admission. SAILOR SHOW AT CENTURY. For the week of May 27 the Century theatre has been taken over by the sailors from the Pclham Bay Naval Training Station. One hundred and fifty of the boys will present a piece named "Biff Bang." 300 SIGNED QUESTIONNAIRES. America's Over There Theatre League had about 300 of its Question- aires filled out and signed by appli- cants to entertain the soldiers in France, up to Wednesday. Many of the Questionnaires had been sent to the War Department. The League hopes to be in a position to send its first entertaining bill, head- ed by Mrs. Irene Castle, across before June 1. although not positive that this can be done. The National Vaudeville Artists ii having a number of its own question- aires tilled out by prospective voyagers abroad. Those passed upon will go to the League's list. It appears the League is endeavoring to secure as much in- formation at first hand as may be ob- tainable to lessen the work of the War Department when the official Question- naire finally reach there. No decision has been reached whether Harry Weber will go across with the first allotment of entertainers. Mr. Weber was often at the offices of the League in the Little theatre this week. He seems to be engaged in an advisory and executive capacity as regards the vaudeville contingent of entertainers. AGAINST SUNDAY SERVICE SHOWS. Philadelphia, May & The series of Sunday night shows arranged as entertainment for enlisted men and which started several weeks ago at Nixon's Grand opera house may be discontinued as the result of a complaint lodged with Mayor Smith today. Several of the vaudeville theatres in the city have held Sunday shows, charging no admission and admitting enlisted men and their friends. Two weeks ago a show was given in the Trocadero by "The Record Breakers," the first held in any burlesque house, and the complaint by the Sabbath Association followed. Last week an effort was made here to play baseball games at the athletic grounds for the entertainment of the men of the army and navy, but objec- tion was raised by the Sabbath Asso- ciation, and Mayor Smith refused to grant the permit. It is now requested that he take similar steps to prevent any further Sunday shows in the theatres. COHANS SONG TO RED CROSS. George M. Cohan, who lately composed a new patriotic song called "Their Hearts Are Over Here," has turned over the number to the Red Cross, which starts its country wide drive on May 20. The entire proceeds will go to the fund. The nutn!>er is published by Waterson, Berlin & Snvder.