Variety (November 1921)

Friday, November 25, llftl LEGITIMATE 15 • HUNGRY, NORTHWEST ASKS STOCK Ca TO TOUR grfrinbridge, of Minneapolis, Prc u cd to Bring Hit Company to Other Towna—WtH Do "Bhw Bird" (or Holidays Minneapolis, Nov. 2t. Evidence that there Is still money g* the Northwest for road attrac- tions is contained in many letters received by Buss Brainbridge, man* tjtr of the Shubert Stock Company lure, since he announced New York attractions, not shown by touring companies, will be produced by his company. The Northwest wants Brain-bridge's Company to make a tour covering the larger cities. Right now Brainbridge is having o> little trouble getting exclusive production rights on "Honeymoon House." This piece was scheduled for production in New York, but Minneapolis &tock producer got It. the first. Since then the play broker, with which he dealt, wants to got bis release. Brainbridge is standing pat. His plans now call for the pro- ducing ot "The Blue Bird." which Will play the Shubert during the hol- idays. This will be the first attempt ST any stock producer to stage a spectacle. Many of the cast of 75 will be recruited from local ranks. Melville Burke, stage director, has Invited children of Minneapolis for Sj tryout, and has already selected many local youngsters. Brainbridge has the Maeterlinck set for the holiday week. Minneapolis is going to see follow- ing New York productions never before seen here at $1 top: "Cor- nered." "The Detour," "The Hero," "Honors Are Even," "Nobody's Money" and "Honeymoon House." FIDELITY'S BI6 BILL League Show Nov. 27—Ins Claire'a Now Playlet A pretentious bill is announced by the Actors' Fidelity League for the show at the Henry Miller next Sun- day evening (Nov. 27). May Irwin will make a special ap- pearance in "A Woman's Wont," originally produced by Augustin Daly under the title, "The Obstinate Family," but rewritten for the new generation. Alma Tell, with McKay Morris, will give "The Minuet," a comedi- etta by Louis N. Parker. Ina Claire also will do a new play- let, adapted from the French of Lucien Olivier, and produced at the Theatre Antoine, Paris, and never before shown in this country. Lord Dusaney's "The Murderers" will be played by a Cast of three men not yet announced. "The Railway King," an abridged comedy-drama by Ernest Klton, will be staged with the author in the principal part and Miriam Elliott. Earl Gilbert, Marcelle Nelkins and Albert Houson in support, Maurice and "his partner. Miss Hughes, promise a new dance, and Janet Beecher will contribute a monolog. The box office scale will remain as formerly at 50 cents to $2. SPANGLER QUITS AS OPERA MANAGER Surprise Story About Mrs. MeCor- miok The Jack X. Lewis stock has moved from Newark, N. J., to Akron, O. Ralph Kcllard has joined the stock in Toledo. O., as leading man. The Mae Desmond Players are at the Desmond (old Hudson) In Schenectady, N. Y. Miss Desmond and Frank Fielder head the com- pany. Other members are Frank Camp, Jay J. Mulray, Sumner Nich- ols, Mary Duncan Stewart, Eleanor Brent, Louise Sanford, Earl Dwlre and George Carlyle. NORTHWEST RCADY Rep. Showo Reported Cleaning Up in 8howloss Region Minneapolis, Nov. 23. Small towns la the Northwest Lade showless by transportation its, lack of business, and other onuses are ripe for good rep shows, according to word received hero. Clint and Bessie Bobbins, small town favorites of old, are cleaning HP. Their stock show played Huron, B, Dak., one week at 75 cents top nnd were'held over for second. Sev- il rop shows are being organized and will tour Dakota?, Mon- Minncsota. HILL-VAN HEARING Ogdensburg, N. Y., Nov. 23. Gus Hill was justified in ousting Arthur Van, comedian, from the "Bringing Up Father" show, .n which he was starred at the time the production was suddenly closed In Syracuse .by order of Hill. So testified former chorus girls in the Van starring* vehicle who remained loyal to Hill at the time that Van raised the standard of revolt in Syracuse. The girls gave their testimony be- fore former Justice P. C. J. DeAn- gells of Utica at a special hearing held here. The Utica Judge Is the referee hearing the evidence In the Van injunction proceedings. Van and his supporters appeared at tho hearing, but Justice DeAn- gells declared that additional evi- dence was desirable before he reached a decision. Chicago, Nov. M. George M. Spangler, who became business manager of the Chicago Opera Company early this year, af- ter the resignation of Herbert John- son, has also abdicated, stepping aside for C. A. Shaw, formerly tour manager of the company, who has been appointed temporary business manager. The resignation of Spongier came as a complete surprise to the mem- bers of the opera company and the 250 subscribers who had pledged 11,000 each to back the organization. Much mystery surrounded his] resignation. Harold F. McCormlck,! chairman of the executive commit- tee and principal backer of the com- pany, and Mary Garden, director- general, refused to discuss the mat-' ter further than to say Spangler had reslgneo and that they had picked i a man better adapted for the po- sition to succeed him. A story Is going the rounds that Mrs. McCormlck is prepared to as- sume the financial backing of the company and have Miss Garden step out. Shaw upon taking charge an- nounced that he would immediately commence a campaign to get the l>alance of the $500,000 subscribed. He said ther- would be no change in the company executive or artistic departments at the present time. Mr. Shaw also stated that he would work under the direct orders of Miss Garden and do Just as slie directed. Spangler, prior to assuming the position with the opera company, had been convention manager for the Chicago Association o Com- merce for 13 years. It was through that organization's endorsement and backing of the company he was ap- pointed to the post made vacant by Johnson. Johnson who is here, when asked if ho would return to tho opera company, said: "What is tho use. Oscar Hammerstein said tha* grand opera was not a business but a dis- ease, and I want to keep as far away from I* as I can." - "TANGERINE" INJUNCTION The motions for a temporary in- junction against Carle Carleton in- stigated by W. V. Fauhce and John J\ Watts, two backers of the Tangerine" show were granted by Justice Guy last week, who also stipulated a receiver be appointed to take over the assets of the corpora- tion. Faunce set forth through Rouse, Grossman & Vorhaus he paid $45,000 for a* half interest in the production and Watts $10,000 for a One-tenth interest in addition, to a $1,000 note, which he did not pay. Carleton'N answering affidavits Stated in part he did not form a holding company because he did not Want the control of the show to pass from his hands and • that Faunce's only interest in the pro- duction financially revolved about a member oC the cast, J.-amtte Methvin. The eoinj.'iiiuants allegvd^Cai-L-tnn Was diverting one and on*--ha If per , eent. wcc!.i\ yn; alty as co-author of the pie.'c and that ho also appro- priated iIn $.".,(too advan • royalties for the mv.Mic publishing rights from Leo ]-Y:s' lt |j,r. •'Thi\«»-i >*.••• did not j.tart out (suspicion 'y as a musical attraction bet ha* i . ,•', drawing real mniKv «C late. GUILD'S NEW PBOGBAM "Ambush," tho Charles Rlchraan play which ends a seven weeks' stay at tho Garrlck Saturday, may be taken over from the Theatre Guild for booking by the Shuberts, The piece will probably be sent on tour. was first planned to switch it into a Broadway house. The Guild is ring a new kind of program, starting Monday with "The Wife With a Smile" and "Boubouroche." Qoth are two-act plays, with Arnold Daly and Blanche Yurka in the casta. MITCHELL'S SHOW A LOSES Sam H. Harris will close "The Champion," starring Grant Mitchell, after its engagement at the Bronx opera house week after next The running expenses of the attraction are $4,000 weekly, and the show has not been yielding the manage- ment a profit. ST0LTZ MANAGING WARFTELD Melville Stoltx, for tho past 11 years manager of the Shubert and Klaw & Erlangor houses in St Louis, will take over the manage- ment of David Warn old's tour in "The Return of Peter Grimm" when it starts next week. WM. SEYMOUR COMING BACK William Seymour, for many yearn general stage director for the late Charles Frohman, in about to re- turn to the Hfnge. Tie has been in retirement for several years owing rt> ill-health. In and Out of "Village Follies" Ula Sharon is the newest addi- tion to the "Greenwich Village Fol- lies," joining Monday. She replaced Margaret lvtit. Gladys Miller also has left the show. Smith son Staging "Red '. epper" Frank Smilhson will stage the new Melntyre and Heath show, "Red Pepper." sehedu'c.l for pro- duction next month. DIDN'T KNOW Innoeent Stock Manager Qives Sun- day Performance Rochester, N. Y., Nov. 21. Despite the Arcade announced a show for last Sunday night, no show was given. For a number of years nothing outside of pictures has been permitted on Sunday in this city, so when the Arcade announced it would open on Sunday the police commis- sioner notified Manager M. R. Wil- liams there would be no show. • On the previous Sunday a "sacred concert" was staged. It Is said police who attended it reported it a dramatic performance. When called upon to explain Mr. Willhuns told the commissioner he was unaware that he was violating any law. The Kinsey Stock recently came here from Toledo, where Sunday shows are permitted, and Mr. Williams claimed to be under the impression that shows were permitted on Sun- day here. The matter has aroused some dis- cussion here. While theatre men are not particularly anxious for Sunday shows they believe they should at least have the same right as picture interests in case they did want to open. (Continued from page IS) tlon where its future could not be Interfered with. The amounts in- volved In the petition were small, the prime intent being to get the show out of Mr. Stanton's control. The petitioners' arguments men- tioned the allegation that the of- ficers of the corporation were dis- sipating and diverting the funds of the company for their own pur- poses and were making unnecessary expenditures. At the hearings R. A, Francis ap- peared for the corporation and Dit- tenhoefer ft Flshel for the Klaw Theatre, where the attraction is now being shown. In exchange for the appointment of the receiver, Hurlbut agreed to withdraw the injunction suit he had begun earlier against the corporation to restrain the fur- ther production of "Lilies of the Field" on the ground of breach of contract in that his name had been omitted from the newspaper adver- tising as author. Mr. Stanton's, in- terests asked that Joseph Klaw be their receiver, and the petitioners appointed Kenneth M. iSpence. It was agreed between the attor- neys the activities of its present of- ficers should cease entirely and the production be vested solely in the hands of the receivers. Internal dissension is given as the reason for the oourt proceedings. It is said that Shea and Hurlburt were Interested In the production, both to get a percentage of the profits. Shea's bit Is reported at 10 per cent. Reports are that the ap- plicants for a receiver asked for a division of profits. It Is alleged, there are no actual profits as yet, despite the Jump In the business at the Klaw, because the production outlay and other costs have not been paid off. "Lilies" is said to have an excel- lent chance to land for the season. Its business Jumped when a special advertising campaign was started. Election week the show did better than $11,100.* Last week, without holidays, business again moved up- ward, the show going to around $11,600. The original cost of the extra advertising was nearly $2,000 weekly, which the house shared id and which was a natural increase In operation costs. Harry Relchen- back handled the advertising on a percentage basis, he to get II per cent on the gross above $7,200. Ac- cording to the business, the pub- licity expert has been the only win- ner to date. • Relchenbach left New York for the coast last Saturday to bring back the print of the Universal pro- duction "Foolish Wives." In the meantime Mark Vance is handling the publicity for "Lilies of the Field" and the Theatre Owners' Chamber of Commerce BalL COHAN TO PRODUCE (Continued from page 1) In the first offering In London with Cochran, he starring In "The Tav- ern." Later a musical revue will be produced by the new managerial team. Tentative plans also call for send- ing "The O'Brien Girl" to London, the Idea now being to present the same company as now appearing In New York, this company to tour America later. CONGRESSMAN'S "BREACH" Washington, D. C, Nov. 23. Anna Elizabeth Niebol, with a "company on the road," said to be the "Follies," is suing Congressman Manuel Herrlck of Oklahoma for breach of promise. Mr. Herrlck has attained considerable publicity through a self-conducted beauty contest as well an introducing what ha# been termed "freak" bills in Congress. Mies Niebel, who Is a Washing- ton girl and 19 yearn old, has her suit presented through her mother, whose address Is given as 155 West 46th street, New York. She has supplied the local papers with much in the way of sensational copy, one statement being that the Congress- man made love like he would make a political speech. For the sum of $50,000 Miss Nhl.H feel* her heart aehee will he com- pensated. EQUITY* "BLACKLIST" (Continued from page 12) The full list is George M. Anderson, M. B. Benson. Edwin Lamar, Morris Walnstock, A. Robl, J. J. McArthur, Jacob Ooldenberg, Ned Wayburn and Martin Samp ter. The rest of the list Is: Walter Hast, Arthur Buckner, Alan Brooks, Max Cohen, M. Thomashefsky, James Cormlcan, Leon Do Costa, William J. Fallon, William C. Stewart, Henry Jones, Clifford Devereux, Frank Fay, Ous Edwards, Sam A. Marcussan, Wil- liam Moore Patch, Deborah Beirne, Barry McCormlck, Arlo Flammer, Harvey D. Orr, Phillip NIvens, Rich- ard Lambert, Edward Hutchinson, Morris Rose, Gerald Bacon and Mor- ris Wlttman. Though it is stated by "Equity" that there are others owing salaries, the printed list is in part an appar- ent substitution. In several cases It is noted that there are two names known to have been associated with the same attraction, so the list does not actually represent 32 shows. The manager and the backer are named separately. In the cases of Fay and Edwards It Is supposed money due is for rehearsals, since the proposed shows of neither one actually opened. Nearly half of the names are little known on Broadway or not recognized at all by showmen, the inference being the attractions were of the small stand character. J. J. McArthur is known on the coast. Wayburn's "defaulting" re- fers to his "Town Gossip," which was an all Equity company who were advised to remain with the show after Heveral ml."s»ed salary dates. Another "Lilies" Another "Lilies of the l'i» hi com- pany is being organized. The sec- ond company will take to the road playing road time into Chicago, where it will be placed for a run. The plan of George M. Cohan to produce shows in England was first stated in Variety prior to his sail- ing six weeks ago. The trip was dual In purpose, Mr. Cohan wishing to take a vacation sad at the same time survey English theatricals with a view to producing there. When the Actors' Equity Associa- tion voted in the closed shop Cohan viewed the proceedings skeptically, and when the Equity officials flatly declared players appearing In Cohan's attractions must sign closed shop contracts because of his independent stand as manager he cancelled his entire producing pro- gram for this season, retaining only "The O'Brien Girl,- for which there were a number of run of the play contracts Issued. Asked at the time he ordered an other productions called off if he would in the near future produce, Mr. Cohan declared the stage was his birthright and no one could take that away from him. When the first news of Cohan's activities in Bngand was broached It was the opinion along Broadway "The Tar- em- was a type of play virtually assured of an English reception. During the trip abroad Mr. Cohan Is said to have spent less than ten days in London, most of his time being devoted in traveling on the continent. The consummation of the ar- rangement with Mr. Cochran is re- ported to have been made in Paris just prior to Cohan's departure for Cherbourg, where he boarded the Carmania last Saturday. It was known If he decided on producing In England it would be nebessary for Cohan to combine with an EJwg- lish manager, as the regulations for theatricals there provides an enor- mous tax on attractions of pro- ducers who do not have pre-war standing. Mr. Cochran Is one of the most energetic of the English managers. He has no less than seven theatres and amusement resorts under his control in London. They are New Oxford, London Pavilion, Garrlck, Princess, Apollo, Alwych and Pal- ace. He is ulso well known in New York, both as a manager and sportsman. His productions which reached America were "The Better 'Ole,- "In the Night Watch," "De- burau." "As You Were" and "Af- gar," the latter piece still playing here. The English manager has been quick tor adopt American methods, and his long experience here prior to his English success as a pro- ducer stood him in good stead. The most recent of his use of American theatricals for London was his production. "The League of No- tions," 'which Is In good part "What's in a Name." That revue was put on here by John Murray Anderson, who went to London to stage the "Notions" show for Cochran. T. M. A. COLD (Continued from pngc 1) gage Equity as well as non-Equity actors. Inasmuch as all but three or four of the T. M. A. managers succeeded in casting their shows and operating their companies with non-Equity casts, the rank and file see no ne- cessity for joining the P. M. A. Several attampts were made by T. M. A. officials to get the mem- bers together to at least talk over the P. M. A. lowered membership offer, but so few T. M. A.'s showed any interest the idea of the meeting was dropped. o #) MABBIED WOMAN 'The Married Woman," by Ches- ter ltailcy Fernold, was placed in rehearsal this week l..y Norman Trevor. In the cast in addition to Mr. Trevor will be Margaret l>ale, Mrs. Kdmund Gurncy, Crant Stew- art, with a leading lady yet to be announced. The s'aging will he under the di- rection o( Tvcvor and it i q planned to oi"'n in New Vork Christmas \vee»; .Id)-, Tiierk, formerly ** Ah Com- stock X. (Jest, Is general manner for tti- company and ,'ilso Loiis an intcic^t in the projecL.