Variety (June 1924)

'*?'f f Wednesday. June 4, ItM LikGITlMAt'E f.',:.i;j; : > VV^Xirf W^ ^f»r; ^'• re :r»> »'l ! I I VARXEXr IT DRAMA LEAGUE ENLIVENED BY HOT lAIX FROM MSS ELUS (CriticUm of LittI* Theatre PUyen by Playwright Endorsed by Gilmore Brown—Omvention at Pasadena Starts Something XjM AnffelM, Jun« 1. Th« final seMlon of th* Drama iMigu* convention at Pasadena brought forth an endorsement by Ollmore Brown, director of the Community theatre at Pasadena, of the criticism heaped upon Uttle Theatre players earlier In the con- vention hy Edith Kills, the play- wright. Mr. Brown added the Little Thea- tre movement must proceed along constructive lines to develop ma- terial for the stage, that need not be especially aimed for Broadway. OPERATIC DEBUTS t The "Times Square Dally" of May » carried the following story on the Drama League convention at Pasadena: Los Angeles, May 28. The Drama League convention at Pasadena could hardly be- lieve Its ears as Edith Ellis roast- ed and toasted them whUe speak- ing on the disadvantages of the. Little Theatre movement. Miss Ellis, a playwright, said: "American professional actors and actresses are broken-hearted. "Toil are destroying them. "Furthermore, we have almost lost the art of acting. Instead of having fewer and better actors, we are having many and worse. "Anybody is an actor nowadays who gets up and speaks his lines." Miss Ellis stated she had come ' to the conference as one who "had :' seen the Temple fall," as the Llt- ^' tie Theatre destroyed all of the tradition of the sUge. The Little Theatre, said Miss XlUs, is turning out actors, or ' those calling themselves actors, who are flooding Broadway and lOrlvlng the professional actor out •f the profession. "The theatre," said Miss Ellis, "Is supposed to be an expression of the soul, but many of the ac- tors of today have not only a nasal twang, but impedlmenU of The danger of the Little Thea- tre, added the speaker, is lack of discipline, as there aro not the galleries of the old days, whose • habitues would not permit them- selves to be tored by actors of in- ■'> articulate speech. Miss Ellis said the musical comedy thought so marvellously t>eautiful is empty. "The Little Theatre Is going to have one awful mess of shattered . lives at its doors If it does not stop right now and teach young people to properly understand the '" amateur theatrical movement," •aid Miss EUU In conclusion, as ■he swept out of the hall, leaving ~ all of the delegates gasping. Several of the delegates arose to defend the Little Theatre, say- ing its teachings were for the masses and not the classes, and that its service is one of lovo and Ideallcm. Pasadena, June t. After Edith EUU had thrown a ,]olt Into the d^egates at the oon- yentiott of the Drama League of America at their opening session jthlngs quieted down considerably and not another thrill was given ^during the balance of the meeting. Theodore B. Hlnkley told the meeting that the spoken drama will triumph over motion pictures be- cause radio has restored«the spoken word to its own. He also stated that sex plays are less Immoral than those which give a wrong Impres- sion of life and that the American drama Is now at the very top of Its form. He also stated that the Little Theatre movement was build- ing up a multitude of playwrights. Norman Uell-Ceddes spoke on the history of Max lieliihardt and re- '-■quested that support be given to the Community Playhouse located here. On the second day Conrad Nagel tried to talce Issue with Miss Ellis that Little Theatres turned out large numbers of poor actresses by saying "The only price an actress pays for getting to the top is hard work." Lorado Taft declared that a failure to appreclat* art, the only Fiftoon-yMir-old Soprano in Boston Boston, Juno t. A 16-]fear-old girl, Lucretla Ood- dard Bush, of Boaton, aaid to bo tho youngest soprano to sing a grand opera leading role on a Boston stage, appeared as Marguerite In "Faust" at the Arlington last night A two nights' grand opera festi- val will be given by pui>ll«, past and present, of the Vlnello-Johnaon school of opera, of this city. To- night, "Pagllacci." Mardls A. Brown, of Wincbendon, made his debut as an opera singer In "Faust," singing Valentine, and Tonio in "Pagllacci." He is a grad- uate of WUbraham academy and Dartmouth college and served over- seas In the American army during the world war. "Cavalleria Rustlcana" also was presented last evening. Tho cast Included Lillian Smith aa lK>la, Florence Dolan as Lucia, Anna Fin- kelsteln aa Santussa, Vlncenzo Spol- xino aa Turridu and Oscar Granger as Alflo. The trio of maidens will be the Misses Olive Harris, Mar- Jorle Parsons and Vera Orlffltta. PLAY FOR DELEQATES Drama Lmioim Crowd In Barkolay QrMk Thaatr* flan Wnuctmoot Juna 9. Z>el«cataa to tba Orama lisacii* oC America oonvontlon la Puadooa at- tondod a 9«(fonnano* of ERiako- •paro'a '^TwoUtli Nlgtrt" atacad In tba Baricolar Orook tboatra In the colloga oity laat weak and wltnoasod a hlglily credltatria pertocmanoa. TlM woaither waa Idaal for tlie outdoor prodnotion. tho warmth of tha avening maltlnig naoetMary but vary Ufbt wraps. Througli an artful araaBgomant of lights tha fuU tazt oC tba play was abla to ba glvan without any delay due to changing of aoenea. Tho Ugbtinc waa partloularly fine and tho simpla yet beautiful act- tings utilised In good tasta. Tho direction of Irrlng Ftchel waa particularly commendable. He caught the spirit of license and riot in the scenes between Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Maria and Festa and contrasted this wild frollo witli the episode of Olivia's trultloas lova for the discrulsed Viola. In addltton to carrying thi burden of dtrooting the play Piohel played Malvollo. Commendable portrayals were presented by Lloyd Corrigan, K. C. Ratfetto and Dorothea Wilson. BelaMO Dubs Bndy David Balaaoo pulled a claaale lino durlnx tba Produoing Man- agers' Aaaoolatlon meeting last week, oallad to oonslder charges against the Shubert faction. W. A. Brady shooed the seoadlng managers out of tho mooting, saying somothing about "staam roller" and tba like. Thora was sUanoa on the part of tho remaining membors for a moment, Then Belasoo said: "Brady started as a mob leader, and bo's still ona" Brady and Bolasoo startad In show buslnass on the coast, both acting for a tlma 41-ACTERSINLA. Writer* on Coast Qiva Plays in Clubhaus* CONFIDENTIAL SERVICE Guild's Dopartmsnt Koops Tab on Staga Personnel "The Lamp" Stopped in Canada Florence Manclairo In "Tho Lamp" closed in Canada Saturday. John Wray Sueooads Mack John Wray suocoedod William B. Mack in "Cobra" at tho Hudson Monday night. Elisabeth Darling in "2 Stranaors" Elisabeth Darling has succeeded Edith Allenby in "Two Strangers from Nowhere" at tho Bayaa Roof. The DramaUsti' Guild, ot tho Authors' League, has opened a con- fldential senrioc, reporting on credit, character, ate., of producers of plays, aots and AIdm. Authors are asked to submit Caots to the guild for the use of members seeking Information direct, and without undue notoriety. All matters of this kind will ba treated confldonttally. Woman Defeated at Polla Washington, Juno t. Isetta Jewel-Brown, widow ot for mer Congressman William O. Brown, was defeated in the Senatorial pri- maries ot West Virginia, reports here Indicate. Mrs. Brown failed for tho same offloe In a pravlotis primary aloe- I tlon. X<oa Angoles, Jim* I. Four one-aot playd wero pra^ seated by tha Writers at their club- house on Decoration Day. "Ball and Chain," by Oada Oowaa, waa acted by Edith Lyla. Doria Lloyd. Hope Drown, WUUam J. Kailey. Joseph Bell and Josopb Oox Porcy Heath's comedy, "'Twaa Xvar Thus," waa preaootad by Iiouto* Drs e ser, Helena SulllTan, Paulina Troxel and Arthur Hoyt "Tha Hero of Santa Maria," a comedy by Bon Hecht and Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, was aetod by Ann Lock- hardt, Darid Butlar. John Stopping, Karl Stockdala, William Burress and Clarence OeMart. Frad J. But- lar diraotod and staged all of thesa offerings. The fourth was "On tha Neva," a ono-act melodrama adaptsd by Benjamin Olasar from tho Hun> gar Ian of Melchohr Longyel. In th* cast were HadoK Hopper, Kata Lester, Dorothy Davoro, Dale Fuller, Charles Morodlth. Otto Hoffman, Bertram Oraasby, Rosco* Kama, Mario Carrlllo and Joan Hersholt. AHOTHXR LOS AV0XLS8 HOUBB Loa Ao«*I*s, June I. Joseph Toplltsky announoas a theatre devoAod to tlia apokeo drama for the Carthoy C*nt*r district at Foster and Carrlllo aveausa. The housa is to b* known aa tha Carthey Cantsr Playbousa, *ad will be built atong Uia aama doslgas as the Blltmor*. It is to faavo too saats, all on on* floor. When eomplstsd tha theatr* will b* turned ovsr to Toplltsky and A. I<. Brlanger. wlio also ooatrol tb* Mason and Blltmor* h«ra. LflTLE THEATRE NOTES The Southwest Community thea- tre, under the direction of Caroline S. Abrahams, presented two one- act plays last week at the Manual Arts High School, Lios Angeles. The offerings wefo "A Pagoda Slave" and "Ruby Red," an Oriental satire. Cast for "Twelfth Night," dosing performance of th* Little Theatre Society of Indiana, to ba given June 3-4, on the lawn of Mr. and Mrs. Hartley Sherwood in Indianapolis, includes: Robert Brewer, J.' Parker Wheatley, Carl Wolfschlag, May- nard Wilson, Arthur Berlault, Ray- mond Greeg, Roilo Tallcott. Eleanor Day, Edward Oaimier, Brloa Mc- Quillan, Fred Schuls, Murray Wlck- ard and Sarah Lauter. George Somnes is director. clt on the season, the Kansas City (Mo.) Theatre has elected its of- ficers for the next year and will try It again. The offlcors are: Wil- liam Pitt, president; Arthur L. Wil- liams, first vice-president; M. H. Hudson, second vice-president; Gil- bert Faeth, third vlce-prealdent; R. P. SwoCford, treasurer. The Collegiate Players, a group of Bates College men and women at Lewlston, Me., have formed a stock company and will go *'on the road.". The organization was per- fected by Walter Vinoent Gavigan, senior, who will b* character mani The plays to ba presented have not yet been decided upon. ment ot tho production ot "Potar Ibbotson," scheduled to b* made at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, July 1-1 untU Nov. 10-lS. "The Follies of Passadena," for 11 performances at the Community Playhouse, Pasadena, Cal., begin- ning Jun* t. .^^Ifred Brand has written the book and lyrlos with Raymond Mlxsell providing tb* musical seor*. Gllmor Brown wlU do the produoing. In tho cast ara Mrs. A; H. Palmer, Samuel S. Hinds, George Rels, Belle Mitchell, Grace Fredericks. Ralph Hillla and Rob- ert Orlffln and a chorus of tO. Two of Sada Cowan's one-act plays were presented this week by two different organizations In Los Angeles. The Potboilers staged "Slntram ot Skagerrak," while the Writers' Club, Hollywood, put on "The Ball and Chain." Tambourine and Bones, the musloal comedy society at Syracus* Univer- sity, this week announced a play contest, open to Syracuse Univer- sity graduates. The society will' pay $100 in hard cash for an opus, to be used as the organization's vehlcl* next year. The contest closes Oct. 16. Th* Haverhill, Mass., Teachers' Association presented "Only S8" In the school hall last week. The teachers were aided by pu- pils of the high school In the pres- entation. The three- act musical comedy, "Brushing Up on Art," was recently presented In Southbridge, Mass., under the auspices of the South- bridge Woman's Club. There were 60 persons In the cast, coached hy Mabel Reed, supervisor of music in the Worcester, Mass., schools. The Players Guild of the Sacred Heart Church of Portland, Ma^ pre- sented the "Blaok Rob* Martyr of the Kennebec" with 60 players In tho cast "Once Upon a Time," written and directed by Roy W. Vroncb, of Orange, Mass., was rocantly pre- sented In the Gardner, Mass.. the- atre. Mr. French assumed a lead- ing role In a cast ot 16 and a chorus of «0. Extraordinary Interest Is being manifested by members ot amataur and professional musical organisa- tions of Providenc*, R. L. In the new Temple ot Music, to open In Roger Williams Park Sept tl. Rehear- sals for the Initial eonoeirt begin Juno t in the Commarcal High School and will continue until the opening, with six weeks off during the latter part of July and August Classical musio will ba featured. The Fortune Players, one ot the occasional Sunday producing socie- ties in London, after sleeping for a full year, produced two new plays May 26 at the Lyric, Ham- mersmith, "Cassandra In Troy," by John Mavrogordato, and "The Apri- cot Tree." by Clifford Bax. Rev. Jamas Cloran, for many years a director of Little Theatre made tor s*v*ral mor* to b* stagoS ?' before tho mlddl* of Jan*. For their Initial prodaotloa it Phllharmonio Auditorium, July 1-t. tho Hollywood Art Thoatr* will present a dramatisation ot Da Maurl«r's novel. "P»t*r IblMtSon." ..-, Procoods from th* portonaaaosa ;.' ar* to b* used to proour* a sits bad 'i^ build a l,00O-B*at thoatr* la Holly- -^f; wood. "Turn to th* Right" was pre- sented under th* auspleas ot tha .;; Knights ot Columbus at Saorod r! Heart Hall In Highland. K. T., r*> ^^ cently, as tho "Cassys*" aaausl <, play. The following east toc^ part:' 7 John Flnnen, as :'uggs; Anthony V Rauner, as GlUy; Andrew Borger, ■. as Joe Bascom; Josephine Bosch, as ' Ma Bascom; Iris Nelson, as B4tty. / Bascom; Louis* Rafferty as Jesala '.: Strong; Joseph Zlnt as Bam Mar* 4' tin; John Murphy as Deacon TIN ^ linger; Josephlna Orabw, as Blsla f Tiningar; William Blschoff, as li Lester Morgan, and Martin, as Tom :: . _. Callahan, the detective. James t. "■. organisations in different centers In O'Neill directed tho play; William '<; Canada, has been appointed In McOowan and James Davis acted ,^ charge of tha Redemptortst parish at St John. N. B. Father Cloran had boon director of St Peter's Little Theatre organization for five years, during which he produced two comlo operas, a biblical play, and 16 dramas. Incidentally ha or- ganised an orchestra at Ik, and acted as leader, directing the par- formers on the stage, and th* musicians from the pit of tho the- atre, all being staged In St Peter's theatre, one ot the newest Uttle theatres la Mtstera Canada. The drama, "Why She Left Him," was presented the week ot May 16, at the Opera House, St. John, N. B., by the T. W. C. A. Dramatlo Club. Not discouraged by a )5,42S defl- enduring thing, was the great de- fect in American civilization. Leo Carrlllo asserted that none of the New Tork producing managers were possessed of any ideals and said that producers of unclean plays should be put out of show businesn. He defended stage women by say- ing that most of the women de- srri)-<ed as actresses in the news • paper head lines had never stepped on the stage. He concluded by say- ing that Booth Tarklngton wrote him that he was through with the American stage and American man- .agort. "Sandro Botticelli," an original one-act pUy by Philip Plzsa, a senior of the University ot Southern California, was presented at the Touchstone theatre, on the Univer- sity Campus at Los Angeles, under the auspices of the University Ital- ian Club. The play was written in blank verse. It strives to present a picture of the Renaissance. Ells- worth Ross and Claire Kaufer played the leads. The sUgIng was the first step toward the formation of a theatre guild at the university. "Captain Kidd, Jr.," a three-act musical play, was presented at the Gamut Club, Los Angeles, by play- ers from the Abbott School of Dra- matic Art and "The JuV'^niles," an organization of child players. The play was written by Hazel M. Lln- doft. The Hollywood Art Theatre direc- tors hava. announced the postpone- as stage managers; Thomas Leahy ^ was stage oleotrlelan, and David |! Odell and Thomas Lea wore stag* ^ carpenters. ■nr. M. C. A. Scandals of 1624," at tho Waldorf; Lrna. Mass.. last week, by young aian ot th* Lynn T. M. C. A., assisted by girls. Tha production waa stagsd «ad*r th* /lIr*otlon ot Hsrotd O. Butt, who also did several oceentrlo dances. Musical arrangements wsra by Saul O. Harris. Th*r* were two acts and SS seanos. Principals In- elndsd the Miss** Vsra and Gladys Burnett, Alloo O'Rourka, Dagnoy ESngren, and Adalald* Carroll and Claranc* H*b*rt and Patrick and Waltar Cuffe, soloists; Misses Marion Ston* and BfB* Prim* and Direction was by T. H. Bird, a pro feseional. who also played th* male ^^'^^ c.'BultTTan'^,'aiuT Owan Rasparlan, George Brown, F. Jess* Clark and Robert Frary, comfdians. "Cake Eaters" and "H^umb Doras"-■ comprised the chorus. lead. ( Frances Marion Emerson, picture actress, whoso charges against Jack Kearns, manager for Jack Dempsey, recently were dismissed in Los Angeles, Is alleged to have figured In a sensational divorce suit here two years ago when Leon P. T-^nney obtained a divorce from her on the grounds of extreme cruelty. She was given the custody of her little son. Miss Emerson Is alleged to have been identified as Mrs. Tenney. In dismissing the action against Kearns th* Los Angeles district attorney's office issued a statement that they were positive, after In- vest Igntion, that Kearns did not at- tack the actress. No less than eight little theatre productions have been staged in St. John, N. B., duiing the ->ast thro* weeks. Mqf^"«j<atlon* are being The death of Count Ashburnham has removed one of th* most promi- nent little theatr* figures in east« ern Canada. The count resided for some years in Frederloton, N. B., where he married a telephone girL The count intended to endow a Uttia theatre for the use of such organU zatlons. He died suddenly, of pneu- monia, while making his final visit to his former English homa The newly organised Theatre Arta Club, San Francisoo, gav* lU first performance this we*k* at Sorosis Hall with the presentation of four one-act plays staged by Talma Zetta Wilbur, director of the club. The program Included "Tha Cheat of Pity," "Masks," "Findars-Ksap- ers" and "The Constant Lovats^- •-"''