Variety (April 1920)

LEGITIMATE 15: aEAIBT SPACE GRAB IN YEARS Economy Parade FIbpa Though Club Turns Out * En Masae—Worldwide Interest Aroused "" \ ■.[':... Through Publicity—Cheeses Want to KnoV Who Got the Dough. ELSIE JANIS ROBBED OF $53,000 JEWERT % ■■-— . Reward of $14,000—Took Place in Louisville. r DespUe the fact that the Econ- 1'^ «niy Parade ot last Saturday was a i.' most decided flop as to the numbers fi, «C the marchers 4n line, the general ?^ belief Is that the overalls move- ifment, through the "fostering of the f; Cheese Clu6,. gained a tremendous Wi-. imnatiifl throuehout the OlTiNUANCE OF BIG BUSINESS' IS INDKMD BY a)ND^ m. 4.' Impetus throughput the country. A» the "stunt" started-as a Joke by-the-Cheeses, so It ended a "Joke," but to a certain extent the Cheeses were the butt of It-as far M the dally' press was concerned on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning The parade proved one thing, however, and that.la the fact that publicity ban pull audiences. The Cheese Club also proved they would make Ideal producing man- agers, from a manag;erial stand- • point at least, for they pulled more than a caplaclty audience with a mighty small slzeia cast The afterijiath of the parade : showed up^ mighty strong In the editorial division of the dally press both on Sunday and Monday of this week, with .he leading morning jtapers on Monday^lving the Cheese Club all the best of It In their edi- torials. The general trend of the 'stories regarding the parade and the editorials play.ed up 'the fact that there was a tremendous out- pouring of spectators and. tfympa- thlzers and that the general public , Interest had be<sn aroused by the eampalgn of the'club. The "wise cracks" on the outside regarding the parade were many aiid varied and all of the Cheese Club members came in for a lot of per- sonal ragging at *he hands ot their - trleilds because of the flop. The Cheeses personally kidded each other to death over the flop, and- the worst raigged of the lot was the ex- ecutive organizer' of the parade. Aaron Rachofeky. Aaron had prom- Ifled everything,, from a flock of brass bands, JazK bands and what fC. ^ not to be In line. He flopped .and iji' i,. when Harry Hlrschfleld, the cartoon- I, ■ 1st, advised hira to shoot himself In J^vV; Central Park, Rachofsky replied ^^v; .that Central Park wasn't big linough. 'Walter Klngsley came In for a lot bf "kidding." for he had promised th* House of-;Davld Band and also the Slrls from the "Midnight Frolic." 'Walter relying on his pull with "Zlggy" and the girls themselves to Bake a showing, but they flopped, ■this was likewise true of all the other press agents along the line, wltlj, the 'exception of George Ala- bama Florida of "Look Who's Here." who did turn out a quartet of girls la a wedding party,^and one of them. In a very decollete gown, was oertalnly a pippin. Ben Atwell of the Capitol managed to arrive laie, but he plugged the whole'length of the' line In overalls and a plug hat, grabbing off practically all of the attention. The circus press agents made good for 50 per cent, of the parade, the camels and elephantis taking a run-out powder when the parade swung .up Broadway and negired oi^e of the criss streets lead- ing to the Garden. But Mark Luesoher, who tried an overall story a couple of weeks ago and didn't land, failed" to show any- thing In line finm ihe Hip. even though the Hip's elephants seem •nly too willing to walk on any oc- casion. The Brooks tJhlform Co. managed tOf land with the "hoojn Who's Here" wedding party, they having turned out a quartet o( men and women In donim and calico regalia that looked very smart and copped in the no- tices. Tn the parade the reporters In old" elqthes figured almost as much as the Cheese Club Itself. They marched directly behind the 60 members of the club that turned out, and in line were Hamilton Peltz of'the "Sun-nernld"; Joe O'Neill of thb "World"; Minta Edwards and Harry Proper of the "City News"; "Whitey" Pieraon, of the "Tele- graph," and Joe Winkler; of the "American." ^Idntlny n st,ftr,y, wm. c^l^led-'rt-o^ Parts to the' *r."feci'tliltVttbtn^ We 'or other^haa showe'd up there and stated tliat he had made a couple of million out of the overall move- ment; and that the-whole craze was the result^'bf in Idea that a New York reporter had had and that he had .put it over for $10,000. the stock of the overall company Jump- ing from 138 to something above 1200 a share. This yam naturally revived the kidding in the club, and t^rank Pope of the "Joui^al of Commerce," who started the Joke with the Cheeses, was immediately ■ accused by all present at the Monday luncheon of b^lng a hold-out. and the club want- ed a slice of the ten g^'and. Pope, however, protested his innocence and pointed to Walter Klngsley as the chief publicity grabber for the stunt Klngsley htrd a perfect alibi, all that he got out of it was the personal publicity, and the club voted that he had earned all that he got that way. for Walter handled the prize Joke of years In a most masterly manner, grabbing space day after day for a week on the front pages of all the New York papers and sending the stuff across the country and to Europe. It was a masterly piece of publicity work, and that Is conceded by all who watched the inner workings of the plant - "• The Interest abroad'In the matter was so great ihat William C.Reick, formerly with the "Tlmesj" who Is at the head of the Munsey service abroad, cabled from Paris tor all that could be sent on the economy movement-in America, as France was eating It up.' < There will, however, be some In- ternal trouble In the Cheese Club as an aftermath of the parade. Cer- tain members who were opposed to the rpoveraent are to be brought up before the governing board at a meeting this week, and It is be- lieved that a number ot suspensions will result. I i.»' i ti; DEVEREUX IN PLAY WRITTEN BY HIMSELF Alexandra Carlisle to Star- Producers a Secret. I h' A Arm of producers who are re- maining "in the dark" are to stage a play that has been written by Willialm Devereux and the author is' to appear in the cast of the some. The production Is to be made In New York, opening "cold" May 10 at the Harris Theatre, following the two weeks' stay at that house of "The Hole In the Wall." Alexandra Carlisle Is to make her return to the stage as the atar of the piece, which Is a comedy in four acts. This will be her first appearance since she was a member of the cast of "The Country Cousin." The scenes of the comedy are laid on the Thames, near London, and the plans of the prooucers are to send the piece abroad for presenta- tion in London after the Broadway tryout. «In a measure U will mean that New York is to bo a dog town for London. In the cast there will also be Mary Servoss, Luclelle Watson. George Glddens. Julia Stuart. Fred Tidcn Hamilton Christy. Lewis La Bey. Frank Blxby. A great deal of Inter- est attaches itself to two other members of the. cast, both the daughters of noted English stars. They are Muriel Martin Harvey, daughter of Martin Harvey, and Nancy Waller, daughter of Lewis Waller. Arrangements were closed this week for Robert Campbell to han- dle the business affairs of the com- pany, while Wendell Phillips Dodge will attend to the publicity for the attraction during Us New York en- gagement Louisville, April 28. Jewelry valued M approximately $53,000 was stolen Saturday morn- ing from the rooms of iglsie Janls at the Seelbach Hotel, where Miss Janls was stopping while playing at Macauley's. The most treasured pieces were a string of 234 pearls valued at $10,000, a pearl ring valued at $8,000 and two gold medals presented to Miss,Janls by the boys of the 27th and 69th divisions In France, A bag containing $6,000 worth of diamonds, the property of Mrs. J. Bierbower, Miss Janls' mother, was included in the lot. , ^ A. reward of one-fourth the total value of the JeWo's, which would be about $14,000, has been offered by Miss Janls for their recovery^, "and no questions asked." The theft was discovered by Miss Janls' mother upon arising Satur- day morning shortly before noon. Miss Janls and her mother had been entertaining a *ew friends. In their suite follov,ing Friday night's performance, and retired about 2.16. 6y some oversight the door leading from the corridor to *.he apartment was not locked. The Jewels were In a black case on the dret^ser in Miss Janls' room, within a few feet of her bed, and tjie thief had to pass within Inches ,cf her to get to thenrl. The bag which bad held the dia- monds was found in a waste'can on the second floor. The only clue was furnished by Miss Janls, who told the police a strange man came to her apart- ment Thursday and acted In a man- ner that aroused her suspicion. The only description Miss Janls was able to furnish was that the in- truder was "talU" • A list of the Jewels stolen is: One string of 234 pearls, one Tragc white pearl ring, three diamond guan rings, one black pearl set In dia- mond ring, one platinum and dia- mond wrist watch on black ribbon,, one with enamel chain bracelet with "Xmas" on pendant, one diamond bow kTiot pin. two ^olc:. fountain pens, one gold dgaratte case with sapphire, marked "C. B. J>. to El- sie"; two key books, one black silk bag. one shprt string of pearls, on? gold and diamond watch, marhed ?'ElBie From Mother"; one cigarette holder, one circle ring witli five large d'amonds. one powder bos, one bar pin. diamonds one-half karat, black onyx 6Vi karat center stone; pearl earrings to match above, i% karat solitaire, one ring to match, five karat solitaire tilled in with diamonds, one lorgnette, platinum and diamonds, with onyx and diamond buckles;" one bar pin, platinum and diamonds; one emer- ald ring, three stones with diamonds and platinumc one circle ring with three large diamonds, one gold n\edal with Inscrlptlen, "From Fighting 69th to Elsie"; one gold medal with Inscription, "Prom the Boys of the 29th. to Elsie Janls." Fprly-seven Attractions on Broadway Current —Same Number on View Corresponding Wedc Last Year—Five New Musical Plays Due in May. That legitimate 6roadway travels at the Xew Amsterdam shows no ST. LOUIS MUNICIPAL OPERA REPERTOIRE .opens June 7 In Forest Park With "Firefly." Rights to "Slippy McQoe." Oliver Morosco hsm secured the, dramatic rlght».>.io .Marie Conway pelmer'a noveU "Slippy McGee. \i in scflieduled Ifor fallprodtfrtto.h' St. Louis, April 28. The Municipal Opera Co. will open June 7 In the Municipal the- atre. Forest Park, with "Flreny." The entire cast has been engaged and the repertoire arranged by David JE3. Russel, manager of the Columbia theatre. . Last year the company enjoyed a very successful season in the open air theatre and expects to .do even better this year. Following is the repertoire in the order It will be given:—"Firefly." "Robin Hood," "Waltz Dream." 'Mi- kado,' "Mascotte." "Gondoliers" and •Babes in Toyland." Irene Pavloska has been engaged as prima donna, Frank Moulan and Harry Hcrmsen, comedians; Warren Proctor, tenor: Bernard Ferguson, baritone; Charles Galagher, basso: Eva Olivetti, soubret; Lillian Cross- man, alternate prima donna and .ioubret; Mildred Rogers., controilto: Charles Sinclair; stage 'director; nalph Nlcholls. stage manager, and .Max B^ndix, musical director. i A 56-iiiecB orchestra has been ert-; 'en*""' -j-wi. 1, . ,« ... ..•■'■ a good bit on form is shown by a slight comparison between this sea- son and last.' The 'record shows that In the voluthe of business this season hka been considerably ahead bf its predecessor and about even as to tbo number of attractions playing; For the same' week In 1919 there were 47 shows on the boards, the same' number that are current this- wieek. Prediction then was made that the sealson would extend until July' and as a matter of fact. the two seasons merged. Similar conditions at^ tain now, larg'^ly because of similar cool weather.^ Summer atli-Aotlons are arriving earlier this year, how- ever, with ''My Honey Girl" coming to the Harris and "The Girl From Home" to the Globe. Both attrac- tions are opposing each other^ lit their premieres. The probable reason fo'r that la the list of new attractions for next week numbers five, an unusual in- flux for the first bf May. In the group are three musical 'plays, In addition to ne two already men- tioned. "Betty Be Good" making the third musical entrant. It Suc- ceeds "My Golden Girl" at the Ca- sino. The other pair, "Not -So Long Ago," -which "Succeeds "The Purple Mask" at the Booth and "Oh Henry," which replaces "The Bone- head" (a failure), at the Fulton, are straight plays. Managers are showing greater confidence than last year in pre- senting non-musical attractions on (the eve of the sunmier season. An- other Is |to arrive: May 10 at the Harris, "The Respeet For Riches" succeeding "The Hole in the Wall" at that time and still others are to Gomp. "Martinique"' was the first of- fering of that class. It having ar- rived Monday a^ the- Elttnge. The "dope" figured by producers for late arrivals of dramatic shows Is that if a run ot May and June can be attained, the atraction is estab- lished enough for the road. It is also figured that a house shortagre U liable to again exUt for next season and bookings available now aret to b^ preferred with gambllhg for fall time. A two months run nQW also provides a market for moving pictures as much as a similar or slightly longer run later "Martinique" drew mixed notices at Its opening but business showed strength and agencies bought for four weeks. Buslnesj^ for the week-ends' has started to slip and minus the boon of big Saturday^, a wholesale with- drawal is expected to come within the next few weeks. Four of the dramatic attractions are running neck and neck with a weekly gross of around $10,500. They are "The Son-Daughter" at the Belasco, "Declassee" at the Empire, "'Sacred and Profane L«ve" at the Morosco End "Smllin' Through" at the Broadhurst.. Tha first named is slightly stronger than the others which are planned for withdrawal by the third week of the month (May). The outward movement will be- gin In two.w,e«#s (May 16). "The Wonderful Thing" at the Playhouse, "Ruddlgore" at the Park and "The Passion Flower" at the Belmont already being listed with with- drawn (the lattejr going on tour), but the list is practically, sure of doubling and there Is an. even chance of a goodly proportion of the house getting new attractions, there still being a number of pro- ductions waiting' for a chance at Broadway. The withdrawal of * "The Hole in the Wall" next week leaves the field to the "Ouija Board" (both plays deal with spir- itualism). At the same time "Sophie" stops at the Greenwich Village theatre aad will be followed by a revival of "^Forget Me Not" under the title of "Foot-Loose." To date there is .but one, house dark on Broadway, that being the Punch 4nd Judy. The "Ed Wynn^ Carnival" looks to have a fine, chance for. holding over weakening and the piece may. be ' allotted another house aa sooi^'a'i' the "Follies*'v are ready. ^ "ilOrtJ^., dora's" revival ■ at the Century hail ^' seen sensational business thud' ta^tv \. With the takings around 14,000,; nightly, giving the show better thahv |30,O0O on the week. With tW* Sunday concerts added the-house; liiV drawing around $35,000 tor Us .bok *; office. '., . .;■■■'■■'';•' '.:.-' While the railroad strike "flljr-l^ Vered"' as indicated soon ■ after it * started, thefe Is still desuitot^ ,. suburljan service. That mostly ap-^'.; piles'to New Jersey, the Hudsdn river tubes being crippled by »^ walk-9Ut. This accounts for the failure of> number of attractiotis' ; to regain their former pace,- the'; figures n. being , ; Indicated' unAer - VSh<>w8 In New York and Cojn--^ ment.'; ■. v.- . ■ ,...-■ ''^C;' With three buys down this Vreek' and one added, the score stands a^t 16. Those that flnished last Satur- .^ day night were '"The Hottentot.", "My Lady Friends" and "Saorefl' and Profane liove." A buy van i?iade for "Martinique" for 220 seat* With a 26 per cent, return permit- ted. Some of. the brokers bought, foe the Sothern an4 Marlowe en»' g^gement, but as all of the .agen<nes did not come through, there.'are only- about.150 seats out (tnight for thai].' attraction. .■".,', ." ■ '.'.:■:■[;.. The buys ifunnln* are •'Sori-| Daughter" (Belasco).. "The Outja]. Board" (Bijou), "As Tou Were"*!. (Central), "Fldrddora", (Century)',; "Abraham Llhcoln" (Cort), "D«-; olassee" (Elmplre). "Apple Bl<>s-!" soms" (Globe),' "Famous Mrs.! Fair" (Miller), "Martinldue" (Bit-; Inge), "Night Boat" (Liberty), "Gotdl Diggers'' (Lyceum), ''What's In »• Namef (Lyric), "Ed Wynn Cui-l nival" (Amstordam), : "Lassie";, (Bayes)', Sothern . . and Marlow«;; (Shubert), and "Irene" (Vandcrbiuy.;' In the cut rate mart there^wet'«i';7 19 attractions offered early thi^;' week. ^Orchestra and balcony vejiltalv were to be had tot "The PassloA'l: Flower," (Belmont). "Smlllri*! Through" (Broadhurst), "The Ac-f: QUlttar (Cohan A Harris), "Thisf Storm," (48th St.), "The Bohehea^'; (Fulton), "Hole In the Wall" (Har-!: rls), "Clarence" (Hudspn),"Aaa:m; and Eva" (Longacre), "The'Wbii-i derful Thing" (Playhouse). "Thrife'r Showers" (Plymouth), "Buddies"^- (Selwyn) and "Paasihg ShqW*;, (Winter Garden); Balcony'^seats- were available for ''The Sign on the| Door" (Republic).."The Letter otl: the Law" (Elliott), ""What's In a' Nome?" (Lyric), "Look Who's; Here" (44th St.), "Golden Girl** (Casino), and "']!;be OulJa Board" (BIJou). , ■■.:...■■,■'..: v. ,'.r^.,:;.-':..:^ m ommim move m m THEATRE DISTRHI m Law Firm Gets Nearer 4o Hi . Clients. yM Inttt'ttMBfr soitiiddri qspiiDj.! MtiS'" l>M*v;,nii'*flf hoiif iif bthers, The law firm of Henry J. ft Fred- ■ «rl<^ E. Goldsmith has moved Its^ offices from lower Broadway to 160 West 45th street. The firm is cne of , the oldest and best known in; thi .^ city and is devoted principally t<>'' the practice of theatrical law. Th« ., senior member Is a former assistant;'. district attorney and has been prac-,: tlcing for 27, years, white the lunl<>r. > member was admitted to the b^r ,1T. _: years ago. - ' , ' •". In moving into tl)o center of the . theatrical district the lawyers be-': lieve they will te acting in the besi; ■ Interests of their clients. Among the theatrical firms an4 . artists that they have acted for are: listed Klaw & Erlanger, Werba »>■ 'tieuscher, A. H. Woods, Sam HJ Harris, Sullivan, Harris & Woods;, i Cohan & Harris. Famous Players- ,La.«!ky Corp.. I.fnlvorsal Film Con<- nnny . Lew Dockstnder. Raymond Hitchcock. Kitty Gordon. Jack Wll- ,«?0Tjv Conway Tevle, J,qby,..qiau4(!|<i M -.1 vJWi ■.'■'Mil IN': 'fm ■■-■■ij hMpm;^m^l^^!!^MMMM;i tJv^i^K^'j-v^ k\'-7. V'■■*--'■.*'rjrr-