Variety (May 1926)

40 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday. May 12. 1926 INSIDE STUFF 05 LEGIa Through the award of the Pulitzer prize to "Craig's Wife," George Kelly win* an honor thru It was generally believed should have been his lwo yearn ago for his "The Show-Off." At the time It was pushed aside In favor of "Hell Bent fer Heaven," not rated a success. It was written l»y Hatcher Hughes. It hnM not been unusu il for the Pulitzer prize to be given plays which are not financial successes. "Icebound" is an instance. During the winter the awards committee was reported seriously considering "A Man's Man," which flopped. "Craig's Wife" Is a success, and so was "They Knew What They Wanted," last year's winner. M. I.. Malevinsky. whose book. "The Science of Play Writing,* ex- plains his play formulae, analyzed "Craig's Wife." stating the play was perfectly written, according to his formula. Kelly had the entire play in his mind before putting it to paper. He recited it with almost complete dialog aboard ship about a year ago. Winthrop Ames' current revival of "Iolantho" Is upsetting all the Gilbert and Sullivan dope, a.s^he piece Is playing to capacity constantly and is turning in grosses of over $18,000 weekly. Experienced operetta producers claim that this la the first time "Iolanthe" ever made a dime In revival and that the Ames' production is making much more than did the first production here. The piece Itself is rated, commercially, as seventh in popularity on the G. and S. list Ames will probably continue with other Gilbert and Sullivan revivals, his tentative plans being to put on "Yeomen of the Guard," "The Gon- doliers," "Pirates of Penzance" and "Ruddigore." The Shuberts dig out of storage "The Mikado" for the Century, using last season's large production. It will replace their current "Pinafore" revival, a flop in so far as business Is concerned. When the news that Sinclair Lewis had refused the $1,000 Pultlzer Prize awarded him for his novel "Arrowsmith," the various New York dailies called up previous Pulitzer Prize winners to get their opinion on the matter, which most people construed as a publicity move on the part of Sinclair, whose previous exploit was to call upon God to strike him dead fn a Kansas City pulpit. Edna Ferber, in telling a reporter her opinion, said "I wish I'd thought Of It when I got the prize for "So Big." When the Actors' Theatre (formerly Equity Players) refused to fea- ture her in its revival of "The Impt rtance of Being Earnest/' Ruth Gor- don left the cast, a few days before opening. Patricia Collinge was rushed into Miss Gordon's role of Cecily and the play opened on schedule. Miss Gordon was engaged regularly for the cast, which included Lucille Watson, Reginald Owen, and Dudley Digges. ."Abie's Irish Rose" was the title of an article eulogizing Anne Nichols' eotrrage and foresight In putting over her comedy bonanza, running; cur- rently in "Liberty." It was showmanly presented in Miss Nicnola' quo- tations, plugging "Abie" as a national enterprise and putting it before the hinterland In a most attractive light. It was stressed that while one figured only cosmopolfan New York or Cnlcago would accept It, the bi ok wood, has likewise acclaimed It in the -smallest towns. "The Green Hat" in Philadelphia started with smash business, gross- ing $20,000 the first week and $19,000 the second. Trade dropped sharply thereafter, the third week's takings being about $12,000 and the last two weeks about $9,500 each. It opened in Boston Monday and wil! end the season In four weeks. As the "Hat" opened In Chicago, the present date will complete the major cities. Police Commissioner McLaughlin called the management of "Sex" at Daly's 413rd Street before him and talked with them concerning a taming dov/n the show's lines and business. This came instead of a police oirafe, which one official connected with the show wished for on the night it opened, for the benefit of the resultant publicity. Seats were allotted the cut rates the latter part of the week. Stanley Sharpe hustled to Chicago when Leon Errol fell off the railroad gate in the first act of "Louie the 14th" two weeks ago and he hung around the hospital with Errol. One afternoon Errol expressed the desire for a cocktail and having the stuff, it was mixed. But the potion was so strong that Stan got woozy In a minute, told Errol to move over and climbed in bed. Billiard MacDonald has a hew kind of Job. David Belasco pays him to ■It in at rehearsals of "Fanny." which willl star Fannie Brice. It seems that Willard Mack wrote dialog that would fit Senator Murphy and Mac Donald's function is to fuse the lingo Into Miss Brice's kind of stage dialect—Yiddish. As press agent for a night club, and also p. a. for the Catholic Actors' Guild and a downtown Catholic sisterhood, Nell Klngsley probably runs the extreme in his duties. In between Klngsley Is also p. a. for Carl Reed's "Creaking Chair." As occasion arises. Klngsley utilizes the cabaret talent for benefits for the religious organizations. Shows in Rehearsal (AND WHERE) White's "Scandals" (George White) Apollo. "Beyond Evil" (David Thome) Fulton. "Psy Dirt* (Oliver Morosco) Lonpacre. "Ginger Snap* of 1926" (L. M. Simmons) Hudson. "Fanny" (David Belasco) Belasco. "Taming Tony" (Richard O. Herndon) Belmont. "We Americans" (Sam H. Harris) Music Box. "I Can't Bear If (Bertram Harrison) Playhouse. "The Milk Kings" (Kathleen Klrkwood) Triangle. "Mama's Tramps" (Herman Oanvoort) Mansfield. "House of Ussher" (Geo. Brennan) Mayfalr. 3 SHOWS OUT Another trio of productions will disappear this week from Broad- way. One went down last Satur- day. It was "Friend Indeed," which played the Central Park, a little theatre, for two weeks. All three shows are flops. "Beau Strings" (first called "Storm"), produced Independently at the Mansfield, stops at the end of the third week. Having the same authorship as "At Mrs. Beam's," it attracted some attention prior to the premiere, but little thereafter. Weekly takings were under $3,000. The "pinch" of Beryl Halley, dancer, who joined "The Bunk of 1926" Monday night, while Governor Smith and his family wer* In the audi- ence, may have been an engineered publicity stunt by Capt. George H Maines, called in the same day to handle the special exploitation. Miss Halley was arrested for indecent exposure and the resultant publicity was plentiful. During the short life of the Frank Fay musical, "Smart Aleck." it played a week at Rochester, N. v ., to a total gross of $970. One of the matinees drew $8. Jeanne Greene, now of "The Bunk of 1926" marks her debut in musica comedy, being a dramatic actress and formerly with Dustiq Farnum In "The Buccaneer,'' with Leo Carrlllo, et al. AHEAD AND BACK Charles Washburn, publicity for "Not Herbert." Herman Phillips, house manager, the Kitss, now dark, is in charge of the Shubert. The latter berth was handled by Leonard Gallagher in addition to other Shubert office du- ties. Gallagher resigned. George Malnes, publicity on "Bunk of 1926" (Broadh»rst). Ashton Stevens in Russia Chicago, May 11. Ashton Stevens, dramatic critic for the Chicago "Herald and Ex- aminer," will leave for a tour of Soviet Russia, May IS. OTHERS IN ENGLISH SHOW Three players, not British, have been added to the cast of "Hello London," Albert De Courville's English revue' to be presented here in association with the Shuberts. They are Grace Hayes and Alex- ander Gray, Americans, and Eml Borea of Moscow. All were booked through Rufus LeMaire. HUGH CAMERON DISSATISFIED Hugh Cameron has withdrawn from "Song of the Flame." Although having a run of the play contract It Is said he became dissatisfied over the meagre comedy oppor tunltles. Nell Moore has replaced him. "BEAU-STRINGS" Opened April 26. Second of the Munro plays not nicely re- ceived by the critics. Wool I - cott ("World") considered it "good play," but others, Qabriel ("Sun") and ("Post") decried it, yet liked much of its writing. Gabriel, however, called, it "an astute bore." Variety (La It) said K wouldn't last six weeks. "Juno and the Paycock," also of Independent production, will shut down at the Mayfalr, a little the- atre, after trying for nine weeks. There was a change of manage- ment shortly after opening, because JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK Opened March 16. MucfTdie- cussed play was well liked by the local critics, but they panned its casting. Atkinson ("Times") called It "uneven and scattered." Variety (Lait) said, "will meet with considerable success and may rise te be a rever- berating triumph of the time." of financial difficulties, but the drama was continued because of its success abroad (three months in Dublin also a London run). Tak- ings approximated $2,000 weekly. FUTURE OPENINGS "Mise Magnolia" Colored musical with book by Alex Rogers and Eddie Hunter, lyrics by Alex Rogers and music by Lucky Roberts scheduled for summer production by Walter Campbell. It opens "cold" at a Broadway house early In June. in SHOWS CLOSING "Captain Jinks" wound up Boston last wee%. "The Cat and the Canary" closed in Port Jervls, N. Y. PLAYLET IN TOURNAMENT; ALSO FILM HOUSE SKETCH 1'nder Presentations, a dra- matic sketch, "Gang Law," by Edward II. Smith, a New York newspaperman, Is reviewed, as performed at the Criterion, Los Angeles, picture house. It is the same playlet done under the title, "Release," by tho Cellar Players of the Hud- son Guild, New York, as an entry In the Little Theatre tournament which concluded Saturday at the Bayes, New York. "Release" was one of the four playlets selected as con- testant for final honors, al- though finishing fourth in the competition. Derwent Taken Over "House of Utther" Controversy has arisen over the production rights to "The IIouso of Ussher," English play, which reopens Monday ai the Mayfalr, little the- atre in Times square. The play was originally presented at the tiny Fifth Avenue, but suddenly closed be- cause of a Are. When the show resumes it will be under the direction of Clarence Der- went, an actor who has been con- cerned with the managerial end of several productions. George H. Bren- nan was criminally Interested, but seemingly is now out. L'rennan appealed to Equity, seek- ing to establish his rights. Derwent furnished Equity with evidence of his interest in the play. It appears that Derwent has been in negotia- tions with Mrs. H. V. Esmonde, widow of the author, from whom he obtained the right to produce the play here. Communications showed that un- less Brennan made certain pay- ments to the widow by May 6, his interest would lapse. That he failed to do, according to the facts presented. Derwent claimed to have originally Invested $1,000 in the production. GEST GOING TO MOSCOW; FIRST AM. MGR. THERE Will See Moscow Art Players Do "Girl of Golden West" on Stage Sailing Saturday on the "Majes- tic," Morris Gest's direct mission abroad Is to see the Moscow Art Players do Belasco's "Girl of the Golden West" on their stage in that city. Jos. M. Schenck, Mr. Gest's pic- ture boss, will leave next month and probably also visit Moscow for the same reason. Mr. Gest will be the first Ameri- can manager to see Moscow since the war started in 1914. While that is not so important, believes Gest, still he doesn't want to go away without having someone notice that he is still thinking of his first picture production under the Schenck payroll. That will star Norma Talmadge, and pecu- liarly as it may sound, it will be "The Girl of the Golden West," to be made in Hollywood, about 4,000 miles from Moscow, but also near salt water. THRU THE YEARS" QUITS IN ARK. "Thru the Years," a road attrac- tion framed in St. Louis by Will H. Branch, Texas showman, closed at Little Rock, Ark., Saturday, after playing small stands for a few weeks. Elliott Dexter and Sara Sothern were featured in what was claimed to be a spring try-out, with a New York presentation promised in the fall. After organizing. Branch inter- ested Charles K. Gordon In the ven- ture, the latter assuming managerial responsibility. Branch had encoun- tered some difficulty with Equity because several members of the company were not members. Gor- don partially covered the matter by placing a guarantee of $1,100 in Equity's New York office. That money protected salaries of Miss Sothern, Mary Louise Walker and John Bohn. Monday, Dexter called at Equity's Chicago office claiming Gordon was indebted to him for $1,300. Part of that sum was to defray expenses of several playera Dexter had brought with him from tho coast. Equity stated Gordon's guarantee did not cover Dexter's claim. Tho engage- ment of Dexter was arranged by Branch, with Gordon now holding the bag. Judels Leaves, Too Although it was somewhat quiet around the Shubert offices over the week end, Charles Judels was known to have resigned, making the third executive to leave the firm within a week. Judels, formerly an actor, has been acting as scout for material and players for Shubert musical productions. He also Inserted bits in the revues. Judels will open a dancing school and Is said to also plan becoming Interested in a abaret, "BETSY NOBODY'S" CAST ALLOW FOR HONEYMOON Barry Townley, Producer, Married—Company Calls Off Rehearsals for Week Barry Townley's non-appearance at rehearsals of "Betsy Nobody" temporarily discouraged the people who had figured the producer had "walked out" on his obligations after they had rehearsed -fceveral days. Then a message came ex- plaining the producer'8 absence was occasioned because of a rendezvous with matrimony, which squared everything. Townley had slipped down to the Municipal building and married Beatrice Rendelman, non- profes- sional. Stage fright prevented the bride's formal appearance at the re- hearsal hall after the ceremony but felicitations were exchanged over the phone. Also the cast acquiesced to waive rehearsals for a week to permit the couple to enjoy a honeymoon In Atlantic City after which Townley will return to resume rhearsals. This Is Townley's second matri- monial venture, the author-producer having been divorced from his) previous wife, Lenora Cosnova, actress, last July in Chicago. "PATSY" IN 'FRISCO San Francisco, May 11. When Walter Catlett closes with "Honey Girl" at the Alcazar May 15 he will move his trunks over to the Curran to be a featured player In "Patsy," which comes up from Los Angeles to open in that house May 17 for four weeks. Catlett will not go into the production until the end of the second week. The backers of this Pacific Coast production are officials of the West Coast Theatres, Inc., who stepped in when the show Idoked like a flop in Los Angeles, and had it whipped into shape and supplied necessary funds to put It over right. Orville Rennie Engages With Picture Theatre Chicago, May 11. Orvllle Rennie, formerly with the Chicago "Student Prince" company where he frequently substituted for Roy Cropper in the title role, has entered Into presentation work through signing a year's contract with Ascher's new Terminal the- atre. "Pay Dirt 9 ' Rehearsing "Pay Dirt." by Ben Southard, sponsored by Oliver Morosco, went Into rehearsal this week under di- rection of Seth Arnold. It will get under way at the Rlalto, Hobokcn, N. J., May 17. The cast Includes Beatrice Moros- co, Pat Rafferty, Catherine Collins, Warren Ashe, Seth Arnold, Bennett Southard, Nan Bell and others. "MILK KINGS" AT TRIANGLE "The Milk Kings," by Claude Habberstaad, went Into rehearsal this week under direction of Kathleen Klrkwood. It will open at the Triangle, New York, May 20. The cast includes Burr Caruth, Roma Brosher, John Quiuley, Josephine Fomeroy. Franklin Waite and Vincent Strain. For Mrs. Whiffcn Boston, May 11. The congenial spirit pervad- ing the all-star cast touring in "The Two Orphans" Is empha- sized through the attention paid Mrs. Thomas Whiffcn, 86, by the other members of the company. According to one report, it has become the custom that after every performance Robert Warwick undertakes a little shaking In his own dressing room with the objective a visit to Mrs. Whiffcn, the cargo, be- sides the shaker, being two glasses. Mrs. Whiffcn is an active card player. During the Bos- ton engagement it was not un- usual for the audience to rise to its feet in paying tribute to the veteran actress.