Variety (July 1923)

■ >■*:. Vh *> r •? Thursday, July W# 1W3 LEGITIMATE .:,;l :^ IT .•^■■■■f INSIDE STUFF ■'I'S ?■' ON LEGIT •f In last week's Variety an editorial commented on the vaudeyllle en- -agement of EthW Barrymore emphaalElnj that m vice-pre«ldent of Equity, Bhe had (ono onCrecord a« opposed to Sunday ahowa, and yet ^ vben the opportunity presented, willingly accented vaudeville contracts ^itb the knowledge that she would have lo play not once but twice every r , Aunday contracted for. • The editorial was widely discussed*by Equlty-ltea. Many of them pro- fessed to believe" up to the last minute that Miss Barrymore would refuse to play the Sunday (July 15) performances at Keith's Palace, New York, or that she had some provision in her contracts covering such refusal. ' Anyone in the vicinity of the Palace Sunday afternoon around ^30 might have seen a group of seven people, Six men and a woman, scanning the outside timed program and looking at their watches. One of the group would approach the doorman or (at other times) the man in the Vox office, ask a question and return to the rest when excited conversa- tion and more consulting of watches would be observed. This was re- peated several tifhes until about 4.1 S one of the Rroup again spoke to the doorman and excitedly returned to the group who appeared to doubt the information received. Another went to the ticket window and in a plainly* audible voice Inquired. ''Has Ethel Barrymore been on yet?" The treas- urer afiked the same question of someone on/ the inside and shortly his ftply came. "She is orf now." '.f f.* The inquirer returned to the group. There were conversation and iolemn shaking of heads as they walked away. In February a co-operative company oi Equity actoi^s and actresses rehearsed a play called "March Hares" and adverti^d it for a Sunday night performance. The objUct was to raise money for themselves, to carry them over the summer. • Instead of taking Into consideration the preceding bad season for actors with the iiTevitable financial results, the Equity Council forbade this little group to give the Sunday nisht performance. Although most of them needed the money and had put in much time in rehearsing, besides buying wardrobe, etc., the players as ^ good Ekiulty members, accepted the dictum and abandoned the project. The connection between these two items will cause the Equity Council- men and the officials of that organization some perturbation when they read this, for it may als^ explain the mysterious manoeuvres of the group mentioned as interested in Miss Barrymore at the Palace last Sunday. Two of that group at least were members of the ill-fated "March Hares" company, arbitrarily stopped fr.om a chance to collect a little (to thenO necessary cash, because Equity wanted to establish a principle that "the nervous strain on the actor is so severe" it is imperative that he or she ahall have Sunday as a day of rest. But at the Palace theatre they found Ethel Barrymore, vice-president of Equity, playing twice daily on Sun- day, July 15, with no interference from the Equity Council or offlcials. One of the most Ingenious window attraction devices yet invented will be used oa Broadway to advertise "The Good Old Days," which will be offered by A. H. Woods at the Broadhurst next month. It is the Interior Of the nearly extinct saloon, where are a number of figures that auto- matically move. A man. at the bar orders booze and Is served. Another at the lun<;^ counter alternates lifting a stein and fried oysters to his mouth. At a table is an old soak with a bottle. whilA a dog rises on hlM hind legs begging for a snack. There Is a fifth figure In the form of a policeman who opens a side window, drinks a mug of beer, then l^ooks about carefully before finishing and closing the window. The device runs by clock-work, and was made by an old clock-maker. The apparatus parts were fashioned^almost entirely with a pen-knife. The maker had no Idea of Its value for window display, but a downtown bond salesman, seeing the machine work, took it over and offered It to th« Woods office after hearing about the "Good Old Days" production. On testing the machine out as high as |25 per day was paid by a nhopkeeper and drew a crowd when displayed for an hour after 10 p. m. In the window of Jack's restaurant . * , . The machine operates In a cycle of two minutes, the movement, taking libout a minute and a half with 80 seconds "Intermission." Miniature paintings on the walls complete the clever saloon display. The caHoon craze, which has seemingly swept all of the dramatic Stages cf the New York and Brooklyn papers, with the exception of the "American" and ths "News," la seemingly not so much the desire on the part of the dramatic editors for that particular form of pictorial ma- terial as It Is the work of a small group of about half a dozen free lance artists who have doped out a plan whereby they obtain the Idea of what the dramatic editor would like as a cartoon feature for the Sunday page And then rush sfC to the press agenl; of the show. There seems to be a regular spfde of prices agreed on among the Artists, who are getting $15 for a single column drawing. $2« for a double column and anywhere from |S5 to |B0 for a three column piece of work. These prices are paid by the theatrical attraction which gets ths pub- licity through the medium of their work. For the Brooklyn papers half the rate that Is charged for the New York dallies Is the tariff. The artists most Interested In this particular form of labor art John Held, John Decker, Wynn Holcomb, Eaton and Haveman. They evidently are landing the biggest part of their drawing* with the "Wortd." "Times." ^Herald,' "Tribune," "Mall" and "Post." Heretofore It was always the custom for the theatrical managements U furnish the papers with either flashlight or studio photographs of either " scenes or personages In the cast of their productions and the papers through their own art departments would work these into a layout for their Sunday pages. This, however, at this tlms seenu to have passed into the discard for the line cut type of Illustration. Incidentally It means that the managers are adding anywhere from $100 to $500 to their advertising bills for their attractions, according to the length of the runs that the shows may have. An Idea of how close competition In Yiddish theatricals is. may be gathered from the Thomashefsky's keeping the title of their new produc- tion at the Bayes, New York, quiet until the show is actually ready to open. The purpose Is to forestall a paraphrasing by a ghetto manager, this being a habit Of years' standing. Where a show attains some repute, a minor company will label a hack product with a parallel title and V,hus create confusion. The first play/the Thomashefskys will do will be a comedy with music by Oscar M. Carter who Is also handling the manaffer'a publicity. Carter Is the man who Is suing NIklta Balieff for $20,000. claiming he was In- strumental in bringing the "Chauve Sourls" to this country. Complaints were registered at the box office by patrons of a musical attraction which recently closed, offense being registered against the inebriated condition of the Juvenile who Is also a well known dancer. One complainant stated that when a number received light applause the Juvenile turned to ihe actress teaming with him and was plainly heard Hying, "I wonder if any of tho.se out front paid to come In." It Is said the condition of the ofCender at other times was such he hic- coughed on the stage The producer was acquainted with the reports, »nd a letter posted on the bulletin board calling attention to the fact that matters of this kind called for immediate cancellation of th<» contract. That is said to have resulted in the juvenile and the managers 30n com- Jnt to blows when the latter was paying oft the company. however. Is reported oa tbs scale of about $7f .OM annuaUy. Recently he met Lee Shubert and the Utter la a weO Intentloned way advised ftachman about living too expensively, i^chma n 's reply was: "Mr. Shubert, you live like a poor man, and will dlo a mlHlonalre; I live like a millionaire and will die a poor man.** * A change of scene in "The 'Widow* Shannon,** as play«d at the aarrlok. Detroit. last week is reported to have improved the piece. It opened In a library in the first sot and dvrlng it. had a cut-haok to a girl's home in England. The cut-back necessitated a tedious wait besides disclosing the story. JX^jj Wednesday night the play opened in the cottage with the libnury scens combined with the third act. This Is said to have wrought an Improve- ment that the Detroit critics commented upon when again seeing it later In the week. ^ * As "All Alone Susie,** the renamed '"Widow* Shannon** had been 111- tended for Grace Geoi)pe and WlUiam A. Brad/ may. produce It for bis wife In the fall. ';;•.;■.■•.<■./ -r .*.■■:'' Marie Mayer, who enacted the role of Mary Magdalene In "The Passion Flay" at Oberlinmagau In 1910. is preparing to go on the American stage. For the past five years she has been lecturing, snpearlng in colleges, schools and theatres principaflly in the interests of community or little theatres and she also was featured In Chautauqua addresses. .Miss Mayer is believed to be the only member of the "Passion" payers ever to come to America. She is married to a Chlcagoan. "Autum," a play by Saxon Kling, is listed to debut at Newport next week. Kllng. who appeared in "Kiki" and la now in stock at Rochester, when asked about the play, replied he didn't even know It was being done. George M. Cohan Is opening his season unusually early by sending "Two Fellows and a Girl" into the Vanderbllt tonight (Thursday), whereas the earliest date set for the new non-musicals was Aug. $. Vincent Lawrence wrote "Two Fedlows," which Cohan presented In Chicago dur- ing the spring. Another Lawrence comedy Is/ '^n Love With Love"* (also called "Love and Learn"), which William Harris, Jr.. was quietly preparing for entrance into the Rits In three weeks. It appears that •here is a similar strain la both plays, which may explain Cohan's deci- sion to suddenly rush the season. Mary Eaton sails July 2t for a six weeks' vacation. She l\as signed no new contract. Rudolph Schildkraut will appear in "King Lear" after aU this fall for the Theatre Guild. His contract with Thomashefsky's ne# play at the Bayes, New York, will carry through November. The Ouild produoUon will have Joseph Schildkraut in the Important "fool" role and there U a possibility of Jacob Ben A^at completing the triple star Une-up in the •duke" part. ' ■■;;;. w" '"■■•": r:':;'' :..>■/'^■V'"-; ;;^":-''^''.•■•:'■:> '^ ■-• ■'•''; Wil\on Lackaye. as general guardian of his son, Wilton Lackaye, Jr., who became 21 on Jan. 8 last, turned over to the latter last week property valued at $10,112.41. ■ - - The "Theatr'^ Magazine" calls attention to an item in last west's Variety that it was Arthur Hornblow, Jr., who withdrew from Its staff. Hornblow. Sr., has been editor of the publication for tS years, and will continue. During the father's trip to Europe, Hornblow, Jr., assumed the post of associate editor. The son received a flattering offer from Gilbert Miller of the Frohman office, and the 'Theatre Magazine" released him from a contract upon the return of the father. The publisher states' there is no truth In the statement that it is eager to re-engage Hornblow, Jr., now or In the future. The younger Hornblow attracted attention last season by his adapta- tion of Brieux' "Madame Pierre" (first (;alled "Les Hanneton"). the work bringing praise from the reviewers. He is not^ assistant managing director of the Frohman office. In addition to adapting Batallle plays young Hornblow is at work on an original play. Gosh! Georgie Jessel has gone and done it I Done what? Oct a secretary! What fort To carry his cigars around for him, of course. That la the only reason Broadway attributes for the new sec Qeorgie has In tow. The sec wont say what his salary is, but he has the privilege of walking past the door at the SeAwyn theatre, where "Helen of Troy, N. Y.,** Is playing and which has Georgie's name up as one of the pro- ducers. • , : ' Carl Randall, dancer, who went abroad several weeks ago at the in- stigation of the Bohemians, Inc., to secure several European novelties for the forthcoming fifth annual edition of "Greenwich Village Follies," is said to be taking the bookies over with greater regularity thansthey en- joy. Randall has toured England and Rome and is winding up his stay in Paris. He has been attending the races at Grand Prix, and according to the report, has been cleaning up on long shots. « The "Greenwich Village Follies" has engaged Joe Brown, It is reported, under a contract for two years at $1,000 weekly, with Max Hart the agent, acting for the comedian. Brown, the report says, refused to accept an agreement at that figure for less than two years. "Ta Bouche," now in its third year in Paris, will be an entirely differ- ent show when presented here next season. The American rights were secured by Charles Dillingham. He agreed with others that In spite of the long run the piece possesses a bad book, and has commisslonod Clare Kummer to write an entirely new book. Dillingham has purchased the rights of three Parisian musical pieces In order to secure six sot^g numbers whlch<wni be used in the Broadway presentation of "Ta Bouche." Of the latter only the title and two of the songs will be retained for here. Jessie Reed of the Zlegfeld "FoFlles" contemplates bringing itbft pro* ceedlngs against a publication which printed a story declaring that shs was really Jessie Hcrzberg and that she had instituted divorce proceed- ings against Lew Reed, vaudeville actor. This story referring to Miss Reed published in addition to a story writ- ten by Dan Caswell, her former husband. In which he narrated his ex- periences with his,divorced wife. Besides the story in the magaslne a picture of Miss Reed was on the front covck of the publication. B&ADT SUQfXEDA SSUBEET (Coptinued from page It) ^ p4an greatly modified frona that originally proposed. The first plaa called for the P. IL A. having SI per cent of the stock and 41 per cent for Leblang. With the Sha- berts believjed to haro Interests with or allied with Leblang's it Is no secret that some members were not confldent of the altrulstio alBss of the proposala One of the new ideas caUs for the association not only controlling the sale of tickets at a premium and «( box oflloo prices but to also establish a cut- rate department David Belasoo, Charles Dilling- ham and Flo Zlegfeld have not favored the central office plan. Pro- ductions by those managers have always drawn heavy agency sale% and the Dillingham and 2legfeld at- tractions have Erianger interested. That that group favors regulation of the existing ticket agencies la preference to a central office Is con- ceded. Those managers are op- posed to gypping, according to their accredited sentiments, auid believe strict %lherence to a 60-cent pre- mium will clear up the ticket situ- ation, t The managerial ticket Idea now calls for a number of controlled of- fices- Instead of one big ofl&ee. It Is also proposed to taka over the hotel stand leases and operata the bootha The Erianger group is ad- verse to taking over the leases and becoming responsible for the renta Iioblang Is understood to be sat- isfied with the turn of aflEalr% wbloli will remove from his shoulders the responsibility for the many-aagled ticket situation. He reoognlsed tha difficulties of putting over the pro- posed central offloa after submitting his plan, and with objections *con- tlnuously cropping up as sadi P. IL A meeting Leblang was aulta agreeable to be out That he wW figure in thf managerial ticket ofDoe If it is accomplished is quite likalj^ During the managerial dlscusstona it was proposed to proceed wltk the central office without the Bh^• langer group, one sugfestlon being that if the office was suocessfal those managers be barred from plae- inf tickets on ssia. That was roCtA down and about the sama tlmk other managers made clear tlielr negative votes on other proposals by stating they would not consent to ba dictated to in the Qonduot of their theatrea *n-. • The producing members of tho association not possessing theatrea have voted for the central offloa wit]H>ut objection aU along. Tho , counter moves came from housO ' managers. The letter declared, the P. li. A. had no authority orer theatres, and that Is the factor which led to objections against tbo plan. I The remade ticket committee, ta addition to having Brady as chair- man. Is made up of Erianger, Lioa Shubert Sam IL Harris and J. P. Blckerton. With power to increase the committee Brady thereupon added Ben Roder, Arthur Hopkins James Riley, Winiam Harris. Jr.i Flo Zlegfeld, Charles Dillingham. Arthur Hammerstela and Brook Pemberton. \ *Yours Truly* at BIJou Aug. t "Tours Trtny,** the John Bmerson- Anlta Loos oome4y, whloh was tried out earlier this seasoa under tlio Utle of "The Whole Town*s TkOb- ing," will open Its metropolitan tvm at the Bijou, New York, Ang. t. / LITTLE THEATBE8 .V "Not So Fast" will conclude Its run at the Morosco after one week more, at that time compHetlng a run of 10 weeks on Broadway. Business lias been under an even break this month, the chief support coming from cut rates, but John Henry Mears and the author elected to continue through July to enhance the picture and story rights. The piece was first called "Mr. Blimp," playing Chicago under that name last spring. It Is rated n'^od entertainment, but its late entry in New York Is believed to have hurt its chances to land. . •■ . -.. ■>:■■:■.:■.■. .■■ •:,./'?.;',: A member of the ''Music Box Revue" is very anxious to secure her free- dom through divorce from her husband, currently sojourning in a small Pennsylvania town. The lesser half very heroically is hplding out for a buy-off price. The actre«>s will foOl him by suing for a separation which carries with it separate maintenance and counsel fees In addition to the alimony. 'XOYALTIES" ON TOUE CIiAries Dillicgham's production ^ Samuel Rj^chman. the former P.erlln theatre magnate, who was a fac- tor in estaWlHhing the United Plays, which is a part of the Trohman office and an arm of T^nmoii^ Plavers Is said to have an income of about 150.000 prZfpiJlyt^rrgh picture interests. His n.ode of living. ' Newark. N. J. Labor Day.. The en-, appear In the attraction of "Loyalties" attraction at will be the opening the Broad Street. /ire English company which ap- peared In the play at the Gaiety. New York, \/l\\ return to America from England early in August to Fifty plays from aU parts of tho country have been entered la the play contest of the Syracuse Drama League. The dinners will be an- nounced at the opening of the local Little Theatre season in the falL Florida. New Hampshire and Cali- fornia are represented by contest- ing playwrights, although the loosl league holds out no offer of cask awards. Instead, the winning three plays are presented during the sea- son on a royalty basla . 1 The Passion Play of Canlslus Col- lege at Buffalo opened this week and will continue on Mondays, Wednes- days, Fridays and Saturdays until Sept. 1. It employs over TOO, call- ing for a heavy Investment covering scenic and lighting effeota The play Is being given tn the Canlslus open-air theatre under the direction of Eric Snowden. Sheldon K. Vlele designed and supervised the building of the scenery and lighting eCCecta f , s .-■•;ii .'•^^