Variety (September 1922)

Friday, September l r 1922 LEGITIMATE 15 =B A. & MOROSCO TRUCE ONLY f PRELUDE TO NEW WRANGLE Fight On for Control of Holding Company—Presi- dent Bentel and Sec'y Underwood Against Presi- dent Morosco—Compromise on Theatre Control TWO NEW PLAYS KEPT FROM BROADWAY "Tons of Honey" and "Lonely Wives"—First Off; Other on Road San Francisco, Aug. 30. The Morosco Holding Company, which controls various Morosco enterprises, has issued an elaborate prospectus with a view of selling stock on the New York curb. The officers of the company arc Oliver Morosco, president; George Bentel. general manager and vice president, and Franklyn Under- wood, secretary. At present there is a struggle on between the officers for control of the Holding Company with Bentel und Underwood lined up against Morosco. Durlllg the Charlotte Greenwood engagement here Ackerman &. Har- ris, lessees of the Century, were notified by wire not to turn any part of the receipts over to Mo- rosco. Morosco, who is in this city, likewise advised A. & H. to withho'd the receipts from the Ben- tel- Underwood faction. It resulted in the latter bringing suit for the amount, involving $10.COO, which is 1. a cxponics for salaries and roy- al) es. .\ckermpn &• Harris has deposit- ed the amount with the court here, and it's un to Holding Company of. cers to fight it out. More changes arc due in the Ack- erman & Harris-Morosco combine recently launched in San Francisco. At the conclusion of "La La Lu- cille" at the Mcrosco's Casino, the n..mo Morosco I* to come down fn-m the sign and Morosco will cease connection with the man- agerial policy of the theatre. He Will maintain his financial interest. At the Century the reverse will be the case. The Century is to be called Morocco's'Century, and Ack- erman & Harris, while retaining a financial interest, will have no say as to the policy or management. It is also stated Morosco will not take over the Century, Oakland, as first contemplated. This theatre with its present popular policy is making the grade from a box office standpoint, and Ackerman & Har- ris are going to let well enough alone. They will continue to con- trol it, and follow the musical com- edy policy now in effect. * La La Lucille'' closes this week at the Casino, and as yet,no other attraction is named to succeed it. Talk that Ackerman & Harris are considering installing a colored revue with chorus, which is to be followed by a big musical revue on an elaborate scale. "Abie's Irish Rose," which re- cently filled a four weeks' engage- ment at the Century here, returned this week for another seven days in that house. Next week it is an- nounced the piece will move to the Rialto at $1 top. The Kialto has led a hectio»career for some time. It starved along for a while as a picture theatre, then tiled musical comedy, returned to pictures and finally gave up. It has reopened intermittently with picture attractions, but never for very long at a time. Last week some one dug up a copy of "Cabiria" and put in for fouunlays. Not even "Abie's Irish Rose" is regarded by the the- atrical wiseacres as having a chance to revive it. STOCK FOR TRY-OUTS AT ARLINGTON, BOSTON Former Castle Sq. Reopening ' Next Week—$25,000 and Frazee Behind It JACK MASON ANNOYED Honesty Brings Detectives as Its Reward Boston, Aug. 30. The Arlington, a 2,800-capacity house, formerly known as the Castle Square, will reopen Labor Day as a stock house specializing in try-outs for professional producers. About $25,000 is said to be back of the venture, which has Harry Broadway dates for two new at- tractions have been set back until later In the fall, the managements In both cases deciding on more thorough preparation by means of changes in script and cast. "Tons of Money,'* brought over by Charles Dillingham with a year's run record In London behind it. Is off for the present but may be pre- sented later in the fall. During the try-out engagement structural weakness was evident and the book will be rewritten in part. "Money" was to have opened at the Gaiety, New York, this week. Instead the house will open with "Loyalties," also an English success and pre- sented by Dillingham. "Lonely Wives," the A. H. Woods production which was to have taken the Kltinge Sept. 11, is being kept out on tour. Postponement of the New York debut was deemed neces- sary because of the desirability of having a player in the cast closely EQUITY'S CHORUS GIRLS K. O.'S POLITICAL BOSS Frazee and his associates as the financial end of the project, with | resembling Charles Ruggles, who> is John Craig back stage and Matt $2.50 FOR "MOLLY" Liberty's New Show in at Flat—$12,000 Stop 60% Smith handling the front, the selec- tion of try-outs and the very impor- tant problem of establishing produc- tion prices -and contracts. The hasic idea back of the propo- sition is said to be that of offering to timorous produeers a full-fledged stork production with a competent east hetaded by John Craig. Various arrangements involving a slice of the show if it is good and a reason- able guarantee to cover a portion of the production costs are said to be planned. The public is expected to regard the project as a legitimate stock house venture, with the nov- elty of premieres and first time on any stage advertising, based on Craig's past clean-ups whenever his old stock company offered amateur prize plays. The openfng production is "A Bridal Suite for Three," presented by Frazee and written by Dana Bur- net. Ralph Kellard will have the lead. The Boston Stock Company, which made a genuine clean-up last year after taking over the St. James the- atre in the Back Bay, opened Mon- day with "Nothing But the Truth." Managing Director Giles will con- tinue at the helm, with Addjson Pitt handling the staging. The cast in- cludes Lola May, Walter Gilbert, Eveta Nudsen, Mark Kent, Anna Layng, Viola Roach, Edward Dar- ney, Ralph Remley, Houston Rich- ards, Lucille Adams and Harold Chase. The Somerville Stock Company, which has been forging ahead steadily and drawing into-the sub- urbs, opened Monday with a week in film showing Harry Benham in "Your Best Friend." This is an in- troductory proposition to fatten up the opening of the stock company Labor Day with Benham in person in "r.ast Is West." Mildred Wayne .and Marcia Moore are included in the stock cast. in the lead role. No actor fitting the part has yet been found. "Lonely Wives" originally was known as "Who's Who." Woods will open the Eltinge with "East of Suez" instead. The Sel- wyns will use the Times Square, which was being held for the latter play, for their new4y tried out "The Exciters," which will arrive Sept. 18. The switch in bookings will permit "Sue bear" (first booked for Pitts- burgh next week) to continue at the Times Square untib then. "Tons of Money" was a terrific hit in London, having a long run over there. Diversified opinion was held by Americans who saw it abroad whether it would do over here. Dillingham was reported as having stated he wanted it for the title it nothing else. "Lonely Wives" Is from the Ger- man, brought over here by A. H. Woods on his recent visit abroad. Jack Mason, the stage director, got into a funny jam this week through his efforts at being honest. It dates from two weeks ago when hs found a diamond studded vanity case In a taxi and not knowing what to do with it took It home and watched the "Lost and Found" ad- vertisements in the papers. While at Lake George he saw an "ad" that inquired about such article. He answered he could be found at the Friars' Club and the article re- turned upon identification. A Mrs. Hannah Barnes of Central Park West made arrangements to send an envelope around to Mason's home on West D7th street contain- ing a reward in currency, but when the letter arrived at the Mason home apprising him of the forth- coming arrival of the messenger the hour had already passed, the Ma- sons being out. Tuesday two detectives visited Mason and the producer became greatly incensed, calling Kendler & Goldstein on the wire. The attor- neys accompanied the detectives to the West Side Court, where Mason wanted to press a charge against the detectives for trespassing, in view of the condition of his sick wife at the time they called. Mag- istrate Max S. Levins advised all parties to think it over until Wednesday. On Wednesday Mrs. Barnes paid Mason $50 reward for the return of her bag. The producer turned the money over to his attor- neys for charity and the charge against the detectives was with- drawn on Magistrate Levine's re- minder that the men had good rec- ords and were only doing their duty which was only in the nature of an investigation at the time. Mr. Mason will stage the new Raymond Hitchcock show. James McGrath Gets His on Chicago's Pier—Wanted Extra Show "Molly Darling." the Moore-Meg- ley musical piece, recast and slated to open at the Liberty, New York, Friday (tonight), appears to have got a favorable break in securing this house through White's "Scan- dals" going into the Globe. The terms are the same as those got for the leading girl shows, with a $12,- 000 stop limit and CO per cent, fiat with the usual Erlanger allowances. Moore & Meglcy now own 80 per rent, of the show, having bought back J. J. Rosenthal's share for the "inount he paid in. Rosenthal lost interest when his son, Jack Oster- roan, did not go along with the New York cast. Otto Harbach owns the remaining 20 per cent. The price scale will be $2.50 top. *ith both matinees at $2 and Sat- urday nights at $3, which allows a capacity of $19,000 without standees. |come Stranger. AHEAD AND BACK Jack Pierre back and Charles McClintock, agent of "The Vanish- ing Lady" (Julian Eltinge). Townsend Walsh ahead and Ar-* thur Houghton back with "Tip- Top." Charles Washburn in advance of Mitzi ("Lady Billy") and Frank Buehl, manager. Tom Bodkin back with "Troubles of 1922" (Shubert unit show). No agent. CampbelL Casad ahead of "The Merry Widow" and Con Little, back. Harry Sloane, agenting "Molly Darling." George Ashby back and Arch Mc- Govern ahead of "The O'Brien Girl." Harry Davis ahead of "Marjo- laine" and John Henry Mears, com- pany manager. John Slocum back with "Good Morning Dearie." Dan Shea in charge of "Bulldog Drummond." Both ."-hows agentcd by Garret Cup w 1 lilo in Chicago. _____ Saul Abrahams, company man- agerTor the new "Greenwich Village Follies," with Dirk Richards agent- ing. John Sheehy will have charge of the week stand Village "Fol- lies,' with Kichard Meancy in ad- vance. Walter Rheinstrom bark and Walter Messenger ahead of "Wei- STOCK PLAYING HITS Rep. Co. in Mid-West With New York Successes Two PHILLY'S PLAYS Brand New Pieces Opening Crop Among Kansas City, Aug. 30. The Norcross Stock company, now playing the Barbour circuit in Oklahoma and Kansas, Is featur- ing the most pretentious list of plays ever seen advertised* by a popular priced combination In that part of the country. According to the plays advertised the cities of Kansas and Oklahoma are more fortunate than Kansas City in getting "Lightnin'" and some others with long New York runs. The company appeared in the Airdome at Fort Scott, Kan., this week, and announced the following plays to be presented: "Lightnin*," "Smilin' Through," "The Thief," "Sonny," "Play Things" and "The Devil/ "MANHATTAN" ON E00P "Manhattan" will change house and title next week, the play moving from the Playhouse to the Nora Bayes (atop the 44th Street), open- ing there as "East Side, West Side." The piece, produced by John Cromwell, stage director for W. A. Brady for a number of years, opened at the Playhouse three weeks ago. Business failed to show strength, with the gross last week quoted around $3,100. No attraction had been secured by the Shuberts for the Bayes. Underneath in the 44th Street the Fox special picture "Monte Cristo" Is the attraction. Philadelphia, Aug. 30. The Shuberts are beating the syndicate to the tape this fall here, three shows to one. Monday, which sees the usual La- bor Day take-off, Shubert-booked attractions will occupy the Shubert, Lyric and Walnut. The only syn- dicate show will be the premier of "Orange Blossoms," the Edward Royce musical comedy production with Edith Day, which is to open the Garrlck. The Shubert has "The Blue Kit- ten" (now featuring Richard Carle), Lyric, "The Hairy Ape" with Louis Wolheim," and the Walnut "The Charlatan." "The Ape" Is in for only two weeks and "The Charla- tan" for three, while no definite stay is announced for "The Blue Kitten." "Orange Blossoms" stays only two weeks before slipping over to Broadway. There is a chance all three syn- dicate houses may be running before the Shubert theatre opens its doors Sept 11. The Forrest starts with "Spice of 1922," and the Broad, with "Dulcy," moved forward at the last moment from Sept. 18. The Adelphl is etill in doubt, with "The Dover Road*' the only show mentioned, but no date given. Another new show lined up for the fall here Is "Pomeroy's Past," which comes to the Garrick Sopt. 18, with "The Music Box Revue" at the Forrest Oct. 2. "IRISH ROSE'S" EETUBN San Francisco, Aug. 30. "Abie's Irish Rose" returned to the Century, opening Sunday, getting $1,700 on the first two days. The show did $5,000 in three days at Sacrcmento before coming In here. The Leo Carlllo show "Mike Angelo," breaking in at the Orpheum, Oakland, last week drew $9,000. MARIE FLYNN AFTER DIVORCE Marie Flynn Is reported after a divorce from Harry Clarke. Clarke was at one time the husbuid of Nora Bayes, who also dlvorc* 1 htm. ROYAL, MONTREAL, TO GO Montreal, Aug*. 30. Montreal's most famous play- house will, two weeks from now, have completely disappeared. In the place of the old Theatre Royal, or the remnants of what was once the great showhouse of this city, where actors of renown from all parts of the world bowed to en- thusiastic audiences, there will be only the site of the historic play- house on Cote street. It was early in 1852, or a little over 70 years ago, that the Theatre Royal was completed. It was built entirely of brick, had* two galleries and a seating capacity of about 1.500. For many years to como it was to be the legitimate Mago of .Mont real until, after misadventures of various kinds, Indifferent manage* ment and financial misfortune, it came to be a vaudeville house, last- ing as such until 1900, when bur- lesque entered upon a reign which culminated with the passing of the theatre. The last performarn es on the old stage were given by a trav- eling Chinese theatrical troupe. Chicago, Aug. 30. James McGrath, political "Czar" of all concessions which come under the jurisdiction of the city admini- stration, who had defied everyone, politically and otherwise, met his Waterloo last week at the hands of two chorus girls who gave him a beating and pumclling which knocked him for a "row of gilded ash cans" on the municipal pier. This turn In the McGrath career came about when he became abusive to some of the cabaret performers who were working for him in a cabaret on the pier during the Pageant of Progress. McGrath, one evening last week, felt rather gay and craving amusement, sent word to the stage manager of the cabaret at the conclusion of the evening's business, when all the cash customers had deserted the roof garden on the pier, he wanted them to give a special show for his benefit. The members of his com- pany sent word their contract called for two shows a night, and they were not inclined to give an extra ono, especially for him. Noted for his stormy personality, McGrath felt he should show a bit of it. This he did by beginning a rough and tumble fracas. During the skirmish with the members of the show, all of the feminine gender, McGrath slapped and cuffed a few faces, showed his artfulness at foot work and wound up his latter endeavor by planting one If his heavy brogans on Dolly Paul, of the chorus. Dolly took the count quickly, but she had a sister ready to defend the Paul family. Sister, rather well built, with an abundance of striking power, took to her aid one of the chairs which was handy and in a neat fashion planted It on top of McGrath's dome. McGrath took the count easily. At about the same time another aggressive mem- ber implanted a nifty right on Mc- Grath's left optic, putting that out of commission for the time being. McGrath took some five minutes to come to from the trouncing. When he looked about, in the distance, he could see the girls of the show carrying the form of Dolly Paul to the end of the pier. However, tight was all out of his system, so he did not interfere with the girls leaving the pier. Dolly was taken to a local hospital, where she Is confined, and the exact nature of her Injuries have not been divulged. After the melee McGrath called those of his employes who remained on the pTer and swore them to secrecy about the Incident. Ho in- formed them that if anything ap- peared in the daily papers about the matter some one would get theirs, and all of them could look for an- other place of employment. The day following the incident, the girls involved made a report of the matter to the local ofTlces of the Actors' Equity Association, and were referred to the attorney for the association. The latter imme- diately sent word to "Boss" Mc- Grath he wanted to seo him at once. The message had its desired effect. McGrath came and no sign of fight In his nature. He was told Equity would not tolerate any such tactics and that they would take means to see that he suffered the consequences for his actions. Mc- Grath pleaded he was suffering under a nervous strain at the time of the fight and was repentant for all he bad done and desired to be forgiven by the girls. After listening to hh plea the local Equity representative and its attorney told McGrath that they would give him another chance and would order the girls back to work, under the conditions that he made amends for his actions and apolo- gized by letter and individually to all the girls he had offended. This he did that same evening, as well as sending word to Miss Paul ho would take rare of 1; •. hospital and physician bill. A. C.'S SEASON CLOSES The summer season of Wood's theatre will cIOSS .Sept. 10 With "The I)' mi-Virgin." The Globe will close it* vaude- ville season, and legitimate plays will he housed there during the win- ter instead «>f at Woods'. The Apollo will remain open throughout, the year, with road at- tractions as usual* •