Variety (December 1925)

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Wednesday, December 2, 1925 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 21 THEATRE IS ACADEMICALLY DISCUSSED AT PIHSBURGH Qtto Kahn Suggests Repertory Theatre as "Road" Panacea — Conference at Carnegie Institute "Red" Grange's Discovery on College Honors ''Romany Lo?e SpeD" Cost Miss Farrar and — Backers $100,000 Pittsburgh, Dec. 1. 'Th6 country-wldo establishment of repertory theatres was named one of the solutions for present un- ■atlsfactory conditions In the Amer- ican Theatre by Otto H. Kahn, In hl« address at the opening of the conference on the Drama in Amer- ican Universities and Ijlttlo Theatres at the Carnegie Institute of Tech- nology last Friday morning. As a qualification to this statement, Mr. Kahn advised against repertory tho- fttres In New York. "The present system under which the country outside of New York looks mainly to the managers In that city to provide theatrical en- tertainment, Is not only undesirable from many points of view, but Is proving less and less successful," he ierlnrpd. "It is not only competition, so- called, of the 'movies,' nor the In- crease In expenses, which has wrought devastation to the< 'road' and has brought it about that In a number of our larger cities the theatre of the spoksn word has ceased, or almost ceased, to exist a« a popularly patronized Institu- tion. The cause lies deeper. "One of the means, the chief means. In "my opinion, of counter- acting and ultimately eliminating them is to enlist local pride, to discover and give opportunity to local talent, and to bring into con- crete existence sentiments, aspira- tions and Interests which are latent among the people throughout the country," Mr. Kahn said. The conference was held In th© theatre of th© College of Fine Arts, Friday and Saturday. It opened wlt^ "tractically all of the delegates from about 40 community and little theatres and from nearly 90 colleges present to discuss the ills affecting the drama and the solution of these Ills and the furtherance of the pro- duction of "goods plays" through- out the country. I're.sident Thomas S. Baker of Carnegie Institute of Technology; Brock Pomborton, New York pro- ducer; Dr. Rudolf Kommer, as- sistant to Max Rolnhardt in New York; Richard Boleslavsky, di- rector of the American I.^boratory Theatre of New York (formerly of the Moscow Art Theatre) and Bamuel Harden Church, president of the board of Trustees of Car- neele Institute, also spoke at the opening meeting. In his address of welcome. Dr. Baker pointed out the change that has taken place in the minds of the American people with refer- ence to Ideals In art and good flrama. As an example he men- tioned "Rod" Grange. II© referred to Grange aa "that paragon of football players. Red Grange, who *t 22, has discovered th© emptiness or collegiate honors, that scholar- •lilp la unprofitable, that it pays to give the public what It wants. He turns his back contemptuously on college courses and his college degree and la welcomed with open arms by the greater public which flreads to think, but cannot do *"thout Its amusements." He further .stated that "wo have not even a suspicion that a uni- versity theatre will ever b© a suc- cessful rival to a university •tadlum but It might b© a nucleus »r those interests which we should "Ke to believe pervade college life, "' ^^^''h w© know are unusual." The suhjoct of Mr. Kahn's .ad- Ofess was "Th© American Stage; «pnertlons of an Amateur." Mr. i-emberton t,alkod on "Broadway «nd Main Street." Dr. Kommer aescribod condUlona of "The Euro- pean St;ii:e and the American Stnge loaay." Mr Boloslav.sky outlined In M '"'''"f^^tlon and Fundamentals f|io novclopment of the Actor as » J^'-'^lHil.ian." Mr. Church dis- BMp-' "^^"^^^ ■^V'e Ilava Censor- Pemberton and Real Estata estate values and ticket or-'kors Minpe the doHliny'of tlte- neatre in Now York and unless of '"ntorland" breaks Its habit l'.;iM„g "copy cat" to the metro- Thilippa" and Miss Lawrence Since the report In Variety last week of the closing of "Back to Phllippa" and a statement Margaret Lawrence would leave the cast, denials from William Harris, ,Ir., its producer, and Henry Miller, who co-.starred with Miss Lawrence, have reached Var- Ity that Miss Lawrence's per- formance was anything but of the best. Variety's story carried no re- flection and specifically stated the reason for Miss Lawrence leaving was that she was too young to suggest th© woman needed for th© part and that someone on the order of Mrs. Carter or Mrs. Fiske would be more suitable. Mr. Harris explains the play was withdrawn because of an ineffective last act. ft "DAY lADY" OFF- JUST BOOmC JAM Rehearsals of "The Day Lady," announced for premier© at Stam- l^ord, Conn., next week, were sus- pended this week by Richard Hern- don, producer. A current booking jam in New York theatres is said to have prompted th© setback, Herndon not wishing to open and h'ave the piece on hla hands with no New York house available. Herndon held a meetini; of the company Monday morning when they reported for rehear.sal. After putting the matter iip to them, they agreed with th© producer Uiat it would b© better to suspend and re- sume later rather than open and be forced to close after a week or two because of being unable to locate a permanent domicile. According to arrangements made Monday, the entire cast will remain intact until they are recalled for rehearsal in about three weeks henca. Greek Theatre Opens Jacksonville, 111., Dec. 1. A Greek theatre has opened here with its walls forming a perfect circle. Professors from the Art In- stitute of Chicago designed it, di- rected Ita construction, and also the first performance In it, occasioned by th© Jacksonville centennial. When 500 actors had been drawn from all walks of life to play In th© centennial pageant, the neces- sity for a large pl.ayhouse presented itself. Macloon in East Oakland, Cal., Dec. 1 IjOuIs O. Macloon, coa.st producer, has gone to New York to arrange for th© presentation .at the loc-al Lurle of a new musical show. polls, th© futur© of stage art is not going iO b© very rosy, Pembcrton said. Dr. Kommer, saying that he spoke not as a foreigner, but as a student of the international stage, declared th© greatest difference between producing plays in Kurope nd in America is economic. At the Kinehart Theatre in Berlin, he ddod. 7 percent of groPS receipts went to pay theatre rent, while in New York 45 per cent was han'led ver to the landlord. Since the war, but not as a result of the war, ho said, Berlin had lost to New York its claim to being the ity for intern.itfi.ral play.*?. Friday night the Uv;legates were :iiest3 at a performanct of John ;alswoithy's "Justice," f^'ven by the department • of drama 'if the Carnegio Institute of Tochtifjlo'gy In th© theatre of th© College, Of Fine AiLs. • . ■,. .1' ji till- '', ; • , ' 1 ■• ^ • ■ ' V Something ot a mystery made of the closing of "Romany Love Spell" after the first performance at I'arson's, Hartford, on Tueslay of last week. Among th© various ex- planations there was no disclaimer of the report that the starred Ger- iMdine Farrar could not "sao" the show. Sh© waa to hav© gotten $6,000 weekly. "Jerry" Is said to have been disappointed too at the opening night's business—$2,400 at $5.50 top. The operatic atar retired to her suite at the Hotel Hublein and Wednesday afternoon the cast was informed the .«how waa oft because of Miss Farrar's Illness. The thea- tre went dark for the balance of the week. Charles J. Foley, the star's per- sonal manager, stated she had ovcr- woikcd her vocal chords at rehear- sals and was unable to app?ar for .some time. Something like $3,C(>0 was refunded on tickets sold in ad- vance. Reports are that the Farrar show production cost $100,000. with the star said to have put In $25,000 and an equal sum invested by Foley, Max Dreyfus (T. B. Harms), a Mr. Katz, reputed to be a wealthy coast slot machine man, and I^ouls Sterl- ing of th© Columbia Phonograph Company. Though Miss Farrar was accorded numerous curtain calls, inside re- ports from Hartford state the book and como'ly wore very weak. It Is also said there was little In the score which th© star considered suitable for her. The Farrar venture waa much In th© limelight early In the aeason. A. L. Erlanger was originally Inter- ested and when the show waa an- nounced by Alfred E. Aarons, the latter was forced to resign as Er- langor's general manager. Aarons al.so withdrew whatever Interest h© had. Another Mix-up Over "Cavalier of Streets" A tangle equally as perplexing as that concerning th© rights to th© French farce which Is th© basis of both "Naughty Cinderella" and "Naughty Rlquetto" confronts A. It. Woods and Guy Bolton, both of whom claim rights to the drama- tization of Michael Arlen'j "Cava- lier of the Streets." Arlen last year sold Bolton the right to uae any Incident In the book, "Cavalier of the Streets," In a drama. Bolton thereupon set to work writing a drama which is said to closely resemble th© book but he paid for th© situations, etc. Woods has recently announced h© will produce "The Cavalier of the Streets" as a play by Michael Arlen, all of which has Bolton worried. Bolton, upon buying the rights, In said to have outlined the story to a proiluclng firm, which promised to put It on when he completed the play and went so far as to annonnco it as a forth- coming production. Now they are holding off until some hint la given as to th© contents of th© Arlen play, which they are hopefully wishing to be par.illel with th© case of "These Charming People," for which Arlen used th© titi© of his well known book, but which has a story entirely Irrelevant to tlie plot of .Tny of the short stories in the book. "Vanities" on Road with Girls, Tables, 'Atmosphere' A special company of "Vanities" i.H being ro.-idled by Karl Carroll for the road and is due to open In I'hll- adelpliia around the holidays. While the out of town theatres played will not be decorated In night club fnvhion as Ik th© Carroll, Now York. th© same atmosi)here will b© at- ti mpted. Several front rows will lie rcmo\ed and tables spotted In |ilacc of rc^'ular scatM. Dancing on the stape before the sliuw and at intorniis.ilons will be attempted. That is a factor of the original presentation, aimed to ef- fect a sort of connection between th© audience and performance. "Viihitles" ia due to remain at the Carroll through the winter and pos- sibly all season. Accountant Acting To Gain Experience One of the principals in ilio Tlieatro Guild producticn of "Androclcs and tlie Lion" was Bel.a Blau, who with Jao.li Weisor has produced several jilicos on Broadway. Blau is the head of a large auditing lirm which has several ininort- ant theatri<'al accounts. Blau went in to perfect a new ac- counting system. ' He claims to have found it necfs.sary to have backstage experience to work out .a .system which would keep check on all props con- nected with a show fronj the time of their purchase to their u.sage. Having learned all ho felt necessary, he will withdraw from llie play some time this week and so ftufeit tlie chance of making two salaries. JOLSON PLAYING HLM VERSION OF "FALL GUY" Al Jolson may appear In white- face before the camera in the title role of "The Fall (!uy," now a stage hit with picture rights understood to be held by Famous IMaj-ers. In doing the piclurization, ...Ison will remove th© obligation he be- lieves he is under to execute one film for D. W. Griffith. Jolson agreed to appear In a picture for Griffith about two years ago, but departed for Europe after Griffith had started work upon It at his Mamaroneck studios. Griffith has a damage action ponding against Jol- son by reason of the alleged breach. Anthony I'aul Kelly, playwright, would examine Jolson to find out Jolson's contract with D. W. Grif- fith when the comedian was to have starred in "Mammy's Boy." Kelly is suing Jolson for $200,000 damages for th© reasonable value of his services In bringing Jolson and Griffith together for the screen. Jolson subsequently walked out on Grifllth, thus bringing two actions down on himself. Griffith's Federal Court action Is for $500,000 damages, alleging about $100,000 was spent In preparing to film Jolson's screen debut and for damages for loss of time, profits, etc. In th© Kelly suit, Jol.son was given a bill of partlcui;irs to de- tcrniln© the exact nature 6f his services. Kelly in turn is a.sking for an examination before Trial Justice Gaveg.'in Monday, reserving suit thereon In Supreme Court. CHANIN BUYS 2 B'WAY HOUSES Lyric and Wallack's Are Named—8 Houses The Chanln Construction Conv- pany has boughl the Lyric and Wal- lack's, but no Sinn has t)een men- tioned in the tr.insactiinis. Conlir- mation that Wallack's lias been pur- I'hased was unolit.-iinablp, but th© house has been on the mnrket for some time. The Lyric lease to Joe Opi)en- lieinior will continue, it is said, but the ultimate object is to tear down these houses and replace tlv-ni. This do7ie, the Chanins will bo repre- sented by el>,'ht houses in New York, ciiunting the one now operating, the one opening Dec. 5, the one opening about Feb. 1, and tlui three others tci bo luiilt on lOlghth avenue. 4 GOING OUT L. A. Will Hold Shakespearean Festival Los Angeles, Dec. 1. In keeping with the annual Shakespearean festival at Strat- ford-on-Avon, Los Angf ;o^ will ha\e a similar festival next May. W. A. Clark will head the com- mittee In charge of the c>'lebratIon. Efforts will be made to get William Faversham, Walter Hampden, John Barrymore, William Farnum, Law- son Butt, Wm. H. Crane and Flor- ence Roberts to participate In the plays presented at the festival. Joe Weber Leaving; Lew Fields* New Play On Jan. IC, aboard the "Majesti.-," Mr. and .Mrs. Joe Weber will leave for an indefinite visit to ilic other side. Wtber and I^'iclds have a< ccpied no engagement.^ for the remainder of thi.i season through the contem- plated i.leasure trip of the Webera, and Lew Fiebls' contract to produce Iv.o new play.s. In one of the plays Mr. Fields will also star. It is ".Money Busi- ness" (furrnerly known as "Wall Street" with new title subject to change). It was written by Oscar t;arter, and Carter's firm, Carter- Arkatov, will produce the piece. The other production .Mr. Fields will stage i.s the previously rejiorted musltal with Puck and While feu- turt d. Gabrielle, With Georgia Caine Henry Bellilt, who heretofore has confined his production activities to vaudeville, will shortly branch out as a legit producer. Hia initial ef- fort will he nn operetta, "(iibrl' He," with score by Frank'HaTflnir. ■ ■ I Geuiifia Cuine will be featured. Four attra<tions are announced to leave New Vork'.s'^ist at the end of tbo week, although one may b© prolonged tlirough bettered business early this week. It Is the modern clothes "Hamlet" at the Greenwich N'lilag© theatre. Th© show was moved downtown from th© Booth after two weeks and Is In Its second week In the Village. It got $5,200 last week and figures to do better this week. "Big Boy," produced by the Shu- berts, goes to th© road from ths 44th Street, after running 23 weeks. BIG BOY Opened Jan. 7. Acclaimed highly as entertainment by all reviewers. Jolson equally "raved" about. Closed after eight weeks at Winter Garden because of star's illnaea while doing big business. Reopened Aug. 24 at 44th St. Variety (Fred) called it the "big boy" of the show buainesa at the box office. - "I.,(>uic the 14th," produced by M# Ziogfeid at the Cosmopolitan, toura after a run of 40 weeks. LOUIE THE 14TH Opened March 3. Declared aucceta by four first-string critics and the others. Produc- tion's lavichness was comment- ed on. Mantel ("News") al- lowed it would remain "until next fall." while Rathbun ("Sun") believed it would stay a year. Variety (Skig) predicted long run. "Antonia," pro<luced by Charles Frf>hman, Inc., leaves after playing seven weeks. The average gross was ANTONIA Opened Oct. 20. Not con- sidered euccesa, thought bad by few and liked by others. Dale ("American") called it "stupid and noiay." Variety (Abel) thought it "in for a moderate existence, though not a tmath." $ll,r.00 to $lL'.')On, which was not enough for a star attraction of ths kind. Unfortunate Invite Lands Clayton in Hospital Los Angeles, Dec. 1. Arthur Clayton, featured player in Thomas Wilkes' "White Cargo." is not appearing with tho company on tour. InH'..cad he la nursing 8ev« oral bruises and a deep gash on hla head Inflicted wlien he Invited an employe of a coffe© shop to step outside and settle an argument. After the battle friends of Clay- ton took him to the hospital, whera eight Btltchcs were ivjcessary tO- mend the gash In his br;,d. U ii ex« peeked lie will bo out of the cast for anothfT weel:. Noel Leslie Is substituting. 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