Variety (January 1924)

Thiinday, January ^4924^^-^- VARIETY 9 ■'f^fi^v^^'^M'iyjmmmmm^u^v^. L>::.r - 11' ANNE NICHOLS'$1,000,000 HTTi (HISTORY OF. "AldlE'S IRISH ROSE") -^ TlMr« is no MW limit for auccMs. Oa th» Btace youth la so frequently •erred that It la almost axiomatic, but tb«re are notable exceptions. In business and in almost every other phase of activity ftime comes with maturity or that which Is generally termed the "prime of life." Success this side'of the footllKhts, ■aeanlng the managerial field, ap- proximates that i>eriod and quite the reverse from behind the foot- Ilghts. ^oducers who have won tame and wealth have been invari- ably of the sterner sex. Comes Anne Nichols an exception tn duplicate. She Is both author and producer of "Abie's Iriah Rose,", a <eomedy that has already attained ■uch amazing records the like is not noted in the world's annals of '± the stage. It has been running for ■i aver a year a^d a half on Broadway I With the engagement still indelt- n alte. More remarkable is "Abie's" record for runs in small stands that aeVer played any attraction for more ttian a week, three days or one' sight. Remarkable Record Runs Three weeks iij Erie, Pa.—un- heard of; 2» weeks in Pittsburgh— tfwainat every precedent; now In its ISth week In Cleveland and thesame for Toronto and still going strong; making CoIunrt>us, O., sit up with aine weeks already to its credit and •till going. Before Broadway knew what "Able" was all about It was com- piling a run that totaled 42 weeks Ip. Los Ang-clcs and something like U weeks in San Francisco where it had seven different engagements in llvo dllTerent theatres. Other rec- ords are just as "Incredible." ■ On her first attempt as a mana- T aer Miss Nichols scores with a million-dollar money maker—the goal of every ni-inatter's dream. And bl Miss Nichols Is but a girl, having passed her 28th birthday but a few weeks ago. Cinderella Anns Nichols Not on a sliver platter did fame and gold come to Anne Nichols. Her story Is like Cinderella's. Her acquaintance with the stage came from stock and vaudeville which 'iprecludes anything else but severe '~ plication and sometimes hardship. Jp.nly eight years ago she was of 'uffey, Nichols and Co., playing the ox time in a sketch called "Human- ity" which she wrote. The three p«ople turn was able to get aa high $90 weekly. It was in stock Hiss Nichols ap- i«ared principally. Bom in Qeorgla d brought up in Philadelphia, ahe in«d the Electric Park Stock at •warkn N. J., as Ingenue in 1914. 'he next season she tried vaudeville en went to Chicago for the sum- ir and formed the Nichols Stock. ifra was another brief try at udevllle, but in 1916 she was lead- jlaa' <woman in a Knoxvllle, Tenn., 'ock, appearing also at Charlotte, 'K' G. ] First Play for Fiske O'Hara Tta* aeason of 1>16-1T Flake O'Hara atarred in Mlaa NIchida' flrat play, "HU Heart's Deaira," written in. collaboration . with Adelaide Matthews. She appeared in that company and in the summer of 1917 played with the Emmett Corrtgan stock in Orand RiM>lds, which waa her last appearance on the stage. Actually "Able" ia not the flrat of her plays with more than a year'a run on Broadway. With Mias Matthews, Miaa Nlchola wrote the farce "Juat Married." which durtng its long atay aurvive^ after being switched into three different the- aitrea, one a roof house. Miaa Nichols, aHh*agh having written a number of sketches for Vaudeville, started playwright as the result of pleasantries with O'Hara and her promiseito do a play for htm. Since then she has turned out half a dozen money makers for the Irish star, including "Land o' Rot ma-nce" and "The Man From Wick- low.* She also wrote "A Little Bit Old Fashioned" for May Robson. Her Hrst work to reach Broadway was the bo^k for "Linger Longer Letty" with Charlotte Greenwood. The record shows Miss Nichols to have* almost an unlimited capac- ity for work in her comparatively short writing career, for more of her plays reached production, but for some reason did not come to New York. Among them was "Seven Miles to Arden," put on in Boston by Oliver Morosco, which play she Intends presenting on Broadway. One piece tried here, but without success, was "Love Dreams," for which she suppMed the book. It was offered at the Times Square.' The piece had originally been presented on the Coast by Morosco under the title of "The Gilded Cage." Wrote "Abie'' at 25 "Abie's Irish Rose." wlfieh had the script title of "Married in Tripli- cate," was written three years ago last October, when Miss Nichols was close to 25 years of age. Its flrst production was made in Los Angeles in February, 1921. The play was first offered to liarney Bernard as a starring vehicle, but he re- jected it with the comment, "No- body would stand for it." Inspiration for "Abie" came in a casual manner. Miss Nichols' was supping with O'Hara and others In the Buffalo theatrical cafe known as "Pop and Mamma Belsky's." A young Jewish lieutenant in the American Army Joined the party, and related his troubles after hav- ina married a gentile. A aon was born of the union, and hti father made the flrst visit to the home. For reasons he never again called, and the play ia, therefore, worked out differently from the original cir- cumstances. Miss. Nichols, however, credits the succeaa of "Abie" to the fact it Is based on truth. "Abia" Panned by Critics "Able" was opened by Miss Nich- ols at the RepubUc, New York, in May, 1922. The critic*, with one or two exceptiona treated it lightly. (Continued on page 1S9) HIGH SPOTS OF 1923 By JACK LAIT :^ MATTY WHITE PEPTIMISTIC SEASON GREETINGS M. C. H. in Dayton "Herald."— "Matty White took the Blue Ribbon when he came out aa the 'Singing Humoresque.' He appeared perfectly natural, exaggerated nothing and closed to a deafening applause. He even became intimate with the audi- ence and cast remarks si>ontane- ously which Increased hia popu- larity." A year ta a long tima when one Uvea It. but bow abort and flat it often appeara lir retrospect. Contemplate the ambitions, heart- achoi^ headaches, * reversea, sur- priaaa, promiaea, trlumpha, flops and Juat duda of 12 montha in the burly burly of the legitimate the- atrical world alone. How many hopea, schemes, dreams^ confer- ences, quarrels there must have been; how much blood and sweat spilled; how much agony, how much suspense, how muc{i despair, how much tension, how much prayer. Tet as one turns back the - rec- ord and leta it aiip by tb* caim eya of review, how little history has been marked by thia year of pulling and hauling, swearing and trying, double-crossing and earnest effort, striving, straining, rehears- ing, wrijtlng, directing, framing, planhing, creating, stealing, reviv- ing, manipulating, pleading, de- manding, threatening, raving and getting gray-haired. Let us see what high spots are left after we lay the level of aver- INCOME INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY I. R. DEFT. Variety-Clipper Bureau Evana BIdg., Washington Jan. 1 Vncle Sam sa^s that the follow- ing le "Income Tax In a Nutshell": "WHOf Single persona who had a net ihcome of tl.OOO or more or gross Income of tS.OM or more, and married couples with net income of $2,000 or moce, or gross incoifie of $5,000 or more must flle returns. "WHEN? The flllng period Is ft-on; Jan. 1 to Inarch 15, 1924. . "WHERE? Collector- of Internal revenue for the district in which the person lives or has his principal place of business. "HOW? Instructions on Form 1040A and Form 1040; also the law and regulations. "WHAT? Four per ce^t. normal tax on the flrst |4,000 of net Income in excess of the personal exemption and credits for dependents. 'Eight per cent, normal tax on balance of net income. Surtax from 1 per cent, to 50 per cent, on net Incomes over 16.000 for the year 192S.'' Thouaanda of t«xpayera make errora In their return* aacb year. Many of these are professtonaki, as shown by the fliea of tb* Internal Revenue Bureau. These mtatakea are made. In ^buv« number of casea, due to Wlk o( knowledge of the requirementa of tb* revenue act. The result ot filing aa incorrect return is frequently ta t&e detriment of the taxpayer who falla to tak« advantage of allowabla exemptions and deductlona The aalarlad man, waga aarnar, professional and bualneaa man, farmer, ia fact, ervery.daaa at tax- payer, la required to make returpa. Every single peraon whoa* net in- come for Ills waa 11,000 or mora or whoa* groaa incom* was |f,*M or mora muat fll* a return. Di- vorcees or persona aeparatad by mutual conaent ar* classed as ala- gle person^ Married penaona, liv- ing together, ar* required to fll* a return If tb* segregate net Incom* was (2,000 or more, or, if the acgra- gate groaa incom* was $i,000 or more. Husband and wife may in- clude the Income of eaoh in a single Joint return, or may file aeparat* returni(* showing tb* incom* of each. Coyne in "Tailor-Made Man" London, Jan. 2. J. L. Sacha will produce "The Tailor-Made Man," atarring Jo* Coyne, nt the Haymarket in Feb. riinry. The English version la credited to Arthur Wlmperai and Harry A'ernon. Cridcs as "Prophets'' And "Variety" In th* N*w York "Evening Sun" laat Thursday St*ph*n Rathbun, th* dramatic revi*w*r wh* eigne "The Playgoer," con- eluded hia notice of ''N*lgh- bors" by th* Equity Pla era aa fellowa: "Wa believe and hope that th* Equity Pl^y*ra have at laat a auceaaafui play. But aa that *nt*rpriaing trad* papaf Vari*t)r *njoya pointins out statistieatly almost w**klyi it is vry difficult for « dramatic critic to b* a aur* prophat. How*v*r, in thia partieuiar in- atane*, l*t ua hop* for good r*- aulta" • ag* result at the line of demarka- tlon between the commonplace and the unusual. Very few. Indeed. Among the points thus projecting will be seen: MOSCOW ART PLAYER*—An extraordinary engagement fostered by Morris Gest and found artistic- 'aliy and flnnnclally phenomenal. HELEN MENKEN—A wonderfut girl, who scored a brilliant hit In "Seventh Heaven." a play which became a classic without advance expectations. "RAIN" •>- Another hit which without more than uaual stellar attributea of any Individual, carved a nicha among the historical ^aiie- OOROTHY STONE — Th* un- known daughter of the famoua father, launched In one performance aa an eternal luminary in the the- atre of the nation. MARION DAVIE8 — Acclaimed and raeognlied aa having come Into h«r awa and Joined the great stars with har azqulsit* performance In "Knighthood" and particutaurir "Little Old New York." •nrHE COVERED WAGON"—A record-breaker, purely Amerlcaa and devoid of claptrap romance. IRVING BERLIN—Making hia third Music Box show bigger thaa ita predeceasors by aheer radianc* ot one creative personality. GEORGE M. COHAN—With a monopoly, almost, of Boston patron- age, and an incredible string of hlta. in New York, I^ndon and Chicago at the same time. FREDERICK LONSDALE—WltH two reining aucceaaea on Broad- way at once—"Aren't W* All", and "Spring Cleaning" — almSat un- heard-of for an author, tnough twa shows at once Is not uncommon) JAMES CRAIG—The newest of the New York critica, who led and still leada "Varlety'a" aclentlflcallr compiled afllclency acor* ot r*- viewera WALTER HAMPDEN—'Who, In his performance of "Cyrano d* Bergerao," astounded thoa* who had known him long, cv^n thoa* who admired him much. JANE .COWL—Dittos with her Juliet. CARL CARROLL—Who stepped in with the first rank "f ravu* producer* by putting over- hia "'Vanitiea" tor a lone run at hlch recelpta. W. 0. FIELDS—Who acored A r«. aoundlng auccaaa aa a charaetar comedian In "Poppy," and Philip Goodman who cam* In "cold" and turned Out "hot." RAYMOND HITCHCOCK—Who made a powerful succeaa in "Tha Old Soak" on tha road, hta flrat legitimate role, aod la k**ptng It prosperous Whereas th* original company waa forcsd to cloae. ANNE NiCHOLS-'Whos* astute busineaa management aatounds th* show world by bar handling ct "Able'a Irtah Rote" In entirely original waya and with unique r*- sulta. VAN and 8CHCNCK—Who put over a glittering cabarat that want Immediately Into first Broadway favor, yet who never atopped work- ing, and aometlme* played two and three engagem'entia almultaneously and drew In til. BERT and BETTY WHCCLER— Who "walked-away" with thU year's Zlegfeld "Follies." ELSIE JANiS—Who fallowed a long career of theatrical glories vfltb that ch(m«ra ofthow bualneaa, a auccaaa in tb* coaoart field. THE DUNCAN SISTERS—Who acorad ao hard on tha Pacific Coast that New York had to long diatanc* them and send one of ita bualest managers acroaa th* continent ta aee them. J. J. SHUBERT—Who, no matter by what tactlca, took "Artlata and Models," which looked tit tor tha storehouse an the road, and opened It In New York like a mUllon-dolIar (Continued on pag* lit) STAGE DANCING TAUGHT V«Y A MAN THAT CAN OANCC JACK BLUE roi Dillingham Ratuming Lomkm, Jan. 2. Cl'arles Dillingham will conclude hl.s liiief stay here this week when he xails for home. The American producer arrived Dec 21. T DANC^UfO Gm. M. Cohan, Th* ZUgMd FoIUm Dancing Maaters, Normal Schools^ Morlo Stan Professional*, Royalty and Othars. Daneinfl Maatars Cam* ta N*w Vark Every Summ*r to Study. Thay Know Wh* la Wha and What la What. AS THEY MAKE THE ROUNDS OF ALLi DIFrmKNT DAMClHO SCHOOU THEY-ALL KNOW'JACK BLUE—ASK THEM Or Aak Any Profeasional. Save ,Time and Money by Getting tha Right Advica X FEW WHO KNOW—ALL PUPILS OP JACK BLUE MsrlilrB Miller. Etrclxa Law. Msrioa DsvIm. IJIHaa WaOMr.-mddle Seattar <HlB HowlMid, Ceaat ani Coutnn Zlrhr, Feirhaek* Twiae, AnwHa Allea. White SMMMb Itetty Male, Margarat EdarardK, PriaeciM Whit* r --- llllaa WallMr.-mddle Saath Twiaa, Anwiia Allea. White DMT, Oallna Bawa, aad H COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON MARCELLE and PARTNER U. K KKITH CIFtCi;iT Direction H. B. MARINELLI. Valentines in South of Franca Paris, Jan. 2. Iltidulph Valentino and his wife .'lie spending th* holidays in the south of Franc*. Howland, Ceaat aad C<i Ratty Mala, Margaret I . , , ef Othvm toe Namrroan ta Mrntloa, Which Prevaa II U Nat Only Ose KmS al Dane* That Jack Bla* T«a«h»a, IBat AIL ^ IT TRR ABOVE 18 NOT TKJJK, I,m TRK VIBST OinS OWSttt tX Mr BIu* •tanda hrhlnil anr alatomant h» makes. U r«» ara lat*r««t^ la st*^ danrinf, want any itind of apectal aons or dtaloaue wrlltvn, rott woald 4<f well te eSat on Iha Maater— 233 West 51st Sti>eet Cirelo 61M Oppaalt* Capital