Variety (February 1920)

w i imrrnwiATR LEGITIMATE ■>■ ;.' K-..W ■ ' - -. •..■• '{*■. wv INSIDE STUFF ONLBGET ••• The reason in back of the resignation of Ed Smith as Boston representative of the Shuberts is really laid to the system of box-office recount which was put,in operation several months ago. After the shakeup in several New York theatre box offices, Joe Feinberg, who was concerned in the Maxine Elliott! theatre affair, was shifted to Boston. Reports are that Feinberg generally took until 2 A. M. to complete his checking up. That was a constant an- noyance to Smith, who asked Feinberg why the counting was not accomplished quicker. Feinberg then wrote to J. J. Shubert that he was being rushed and Mr. Shubert wrote Smith saying if he wasn't satisfied with the system he would be replaced. This brought a hot letter back from the Boston rep- resentative, who advised J. J. what he could do with the job and the houses there. Smith has been mentioned as becoming manager of the Gordon string of theatres, but he may become manager of the Wilbur, in which he is financially interested as executor of the Wilbur will. Manny Cancer is a theatre treasurer and a very good one. He is.also one of the best liked box office men in the country. But these marks of dis- tinction will not prevent Mr. Cancer from being canned at the Century March 13, when the Shuberts assume control of the house, even with the added fact that Morris Gest continues' as lessee of the theatre and roof. Mr. Cancer is at the Century now and has been for a year or more. But the Shu- berts don't want Manny. On their list of undesirables he must be down as a tough guy. It happened quite a while ago when the Shuberts with their chief detective swooped down on the Riveria, where Mr. Cancer was also in the box office, and the chief started in to clean up on Manny, assisted by the Shuberts. But Manny wouldn't be cleaned up. When the battle was over it looked as though the box office man had all of the honors. So natura'ly Manny lost that job, but got in at the Century, where he has femained ever since. Last week, though, when Lee and J. J. Shubert conferred with Mor- ris Gest over Gest continuing, the Shuberts wanted to know about the Cancer connection. The talk just seemed to veer around to that boy. The ultimatum was that Gest could keep the house at $2,000 or more in weekly rental than he is paying now, but not while the Shuberts were interested in a theatre could that Can- cer stick around. Manny says he ex- pected a vacation shortly anyway, and doesn't appear perturbed. After leav- ing the Riveria,'Mr. Cancer engaged Nathan Burkan to start an action against the Shuberts and some say it was started, but nothing has been heard of it. Gest wanted young Can- cer to take charge of the Manhattan box office, but Manny hasn't decided. He may during his vacation grab a banker in Wall street and go into mov- ing pictures. Who knows? New York is in an odd condition in connection with its legitimate theatre entertainment if a few of the plays ac- counted hits are the criterion. "The Acquittal" at the Cohan & Harris is one of the plays drawing. It is an old style 10-20-30 meller polished up, but nevertheless a tiresome drama that foretells its own story. "Smilin' Through" with Jane Cowl at the Broadhurst is another, a mushy thing that appeals to the public as such, but probably-the poorest example of cast- ing Broadway has seen in months. "Smilin' Through" looks as though its producers, after procuring Miss Cowl for the lead, let the remainder of the casting take care of itself. In the mu- sical line the current "Passing Show" at the Winter Garden drags its way wearily to 1120, with slight touches of comedy here and there, the show most- ly given over to numbers and with its personnel of principals full of former leading men and women from bur- lesque. No one stands out in the per- formance which makes it easier for all of the principals. The penchant for galloping dominoes seems to have the same attraction for elders as minors. At any rate in this case "African Golf" is the favorite in- door sport of three critics of daily papers, two press agents and one mu- sic writer from Brooklyn. The crap shooting event was staged recently in the home of one of the assistant dra- matic critics with dire consequences to all. The winnings passed into the hands of an ordinary citizen—a .man who could roll and make the bones talk. At Monday's matinee at the Play- house, when "The Wonderful Thing" started its second week, a middle- aged woman came to the box office window and exclaimed: "I think the critics of New York should be horse- whipped." The speaker, middle-aged, explained that after reading the "pan- ning" given the show, she had been on the point of exchanging her tickets, but after seeing the show she thought it delightful, The piece opened Tues- day of last week and built up fairly well, getting $5,500 for five days. It is conceded to have a chance. It now comes out why Roy Somer- ville and Frank Tannehill didn't go to Bermuda, where they planned to col- laborate on several plays for legiti- mate production. As one of the writ- ers described it, some "sap" had told them in letters of a great house built on coral with splendid furnishings. Just before they were to sail, another letter came saying that the furnish- ings had been moved out, but that no doubt would be replaced. After think- ing it over Roy and Frank decided that if they had to camp out, they might as well do it here. A friend added that when the Bermuda landlord learned the writers were attracted to the island because of the cheap quotation on Scotch stripped the place and looked around for some junk. Somerville is now out of the picture scenario field entirely and will devote his efforts en- tirely to the legitimate. He has com- pleted a novel called "The Kiss Child," which will run in the "Ladies Home Journal." The book was completed in the extremely short time of two months. One of the premieres in New York this season commanded heavy prices for first night seats. Many orders were placed with agencies to obtain tickets regardless. Few were ipr sale. The producer of the show shortly before it opened received a request from a friend for the loan of $1,000. The producer was doing some "digging down" him- self at the moment and did not feel he could conveniently spare it. But he answered the letter and enclosed ten tickets for the first night performance, suggesting his friend secure as much as possible through disposing of them. The friend realized $1,200. CRITICISM. The tetter of Ike LaW. "La Robo Rouge," a play tn four acta by Eugene Brleux, at the Criterion, Feb. It Is a performance of consummate ■kill which Lionel Barrymore gives in an undistinguished and untemptfng part. — Timet. There are lengths of tedium between the more stirring episodes of the drama. It is doubtful if any amount of good acting could attract the Interest of the audience to the preponderance of tech- nical detail and legal procedure.— Sun- HeraUL The play rises frequently above the boundaries of pariah or nation, and at such times it is often engrossing and thrilling drama.— Tribune. \. Sacred •■©". Profaae I"*"**. A comedy tn four acts by Arnold Ben- nett, at the Morosco, Feb. 23. After an excursion of several seasons Into the movies Elsie FergUBon returned to the New York stage in an awkward and occasionally spurious but fairly In- teresting play. The cast is very bad in ■pots.— Timet. Miss Ferguson looked Invariably love- ly, wept real tears arid in the first act Indicated with exquisite delicacy the sensitive and tremulous awakening of love-In a young girl—Sun-Herald. Elsie Ferguson displays her abilities at their best—WorM. Tfck-Tack-Tee. Musical revue tn two acts and twelve scenes. Words and music by Herman Timber*; at Princess. Feb. 83. \ The revue is a modest, irresponsible and highly entertaining production, a liberal making over of a vaudeville act originally presented In the two-a-day under the title of "Chicken Chow Meln. — Timet. The production, with plenty of dashing dances and bright costumes, has a de- cidedly gay, engaging quality. Mr. Tim- borg has Imbued it with Cohaneuque liveliness— Sun-UeralA, Musical outburst speeds with Jaxs, rag and shimmy scores and good specialties. —World. Jane Cletra-. • _ Play In three acts by St. John G. Sir- vine, at the Qarrick, Feb. 23. What "Jane Clegg" really la Is a com- edy, with a slow and level flow, not ter- ribly deep, but filled with richest gleams and glints of human nature, be it good or ill.— Sun-Herald. FISKE'S NErTcOMEDY. Philadelphia, Feb. 25. Harrison Grey Fiske is sponsoring a new production called "The Irresisti- ble Genius," described as a new comedy of youth by John T. Mclntyre and Francis Hill. The piece opens at the Broad Street Monday. CLARK'S SHOW OPENS. Hartford, Conn., Feb. 25. "Little Miss Charity" produced by Eddie Clark, had its premiere here Monday night. The book was written by-Clark with the lyrics and score by S. R. Henry and M. Salvino. In the cast are Lucy Weston. Ann Sands, Ray Gordon, William Halligan, Harriet Burt, Wm. Robyns, Lester Sharpe, Roland Hogue, Gwendelyn Rowland, Wm. Zinell, Edward Kerr, Joseph Neimeyer, Elsie Gordon, Cali- fornia Four. - THEATRES UNDER ROAD CALL. "Road calls" have been issued by the I. A. T. S. E. against the following the- atres : Scott, Newport News, Va.; Bo- nita, Atlanta"; Best, Palestine, Tex.; Cozy, Okmulgee, Okla. The houses play combinations for one and two nights, booked by Shu- bert and K. & E. Yiddish Theatre Shows New Play. Wednesday night at the Second Avenue Theatre, a special' performance of "The Slaves of the Public" was given in Yiddish. The piece is a comedy drama. Invi- tations were extended generally by the management to the Times Square the- atrical bunch to witness the show, FRENCH PLATERS GOING HOME. ■-.-'.: '^ Montreal, Feb. 25. The company of French players ' showing here under the name of the 'Theatre Parisienne" is due to return to Paris next month. Tentative book- ing of passage for March 25 has beeq arranged. The company was ta have played New Orleans, but the burning down of the opera house there forced a cancellation, and no theatre is avail- able there. Plans to show in the Ca- nadian provinces are virtually off also. The American engagement has been, an artistic success but a financial, failure. MANN CALLS EQUITY BOLSHEVIK. Cleveland, Feb. 25. Louis Mann, who is appearing at the Shubert-Colonial this week in "Friend- ly Enemies," was the speaker at the weekly luncheon of the Rotary Club last Thursday. He declared that Bol- shevism was to blame for the actors' strike. '■■ \ ' "Bolshevik propaganda was responsi- ble for the strike, 3 he said. "Had it net been for the work of a few of the world's greatest actors, the industry would have been wrecked." SH ■■■ m ■. , 'g&'uVi .". -v" -■■>■- . -■■:•■:- ...... y,« ■■ ' :'-■;;"■' •'■ . ■■ :• I ■■■■■' ■ " v • '^ .':■■-.■. ■ ;. ',-■-., ■':■ .' '. f'-W '■■'■- (SJM '■ •--■ . 3 • . . /•■ ■ < ■■':>■ : ■ t » S3 ',*■'•• . ' v. ■■.;; .-..-■-■,-•■ ■■■!:■.' ■""■'' • ■ .'' ■:■ STOCK NOTES. ' Miss Anna MacDonald, former -lead- ing "woman with Leo Ditrichstein uv the "Purple Mask," opened at the Mon- day matinee with the Jefferson Thea- tre Stock in Portland, Me., as leading woman, filling the vacancy caused by the illness of Miss Grace Carlyle. Miss MacDonald played in the "Tailor Made Man," playing the part of Tanya* Hu- ber. The Mayflower Stock Co. opened in Providence, R. I., Feb. 23, headed by Bianca Robinson and Claude Kimball. The first offering was "Come Out of the Kitchen." It will.be followed by "Common Clay,"" Miss Robinson play- ing the Chatterton and Cowl parts. The Teashop Players will produce one-act plays by new authors and European dramatists. "Creditors, by Strindberg, and "A Merry Death, from the Russian, will be on the open- ing bill. Robert Hanzlik, Dave Elman and Carroll Tourneur have been en- gaged and negotiations are on to se- cure Blanche Booth, niece of the late Edwin Booth. Margaret .Armstrong has joined the Shubert Stock, Minneapolis, to play heavy . leads. Marie Gale, ingenue, was chosen queen of the carnival given by the American Legion. ■ '. ■ m ■■ . ■■ ■-•'.- .... > . / ... ■ ■ - - . ' -, ■ .■ ■ . - ■ ■ ■■ DEATHS. Lewis Hancock. Lewis Hancock, capitalist and the- atre man of Austin, Tex., died of heart failure on Feb. 18. He is survived by a wife, son and two daughters. Marcella Devries, a French operatic singer, who recently played at the Theatre de la Gaite\ Paris. CONCERT SINGER DIVORCED. Boston, Feb. 25. Judge Raymond in the Superior court, recently granted a divorce to Helen I. Brunacci from her husband, Luigi, of Rome, Italy, who is a concert singer. The decree was signed on the grounds of desertion which took place a year after the couple was married in 1914. •» * Shuberts* "Rose of Salem." "The Rose of Salem" is the title of a new musical piece that the Shuberts are to place into rehearsal in about two weeks: The cast is being selected now, the chorus having already been filled.