The Washington times., 1907-02-10

sons. The formal transfer of the prop
erty was made on February 2.
James X -Hackett has a lease of
the playhouse which has four years to
run. If he does not renew the lease
the theater wiz probably be actively
managed by Mr.. Harris who already
is the manager of the Hudson.
Say. talking about having coin in
bundles. / liked this show shop so well.
me manager bought it," was Patricia
OBrien's explanation Of the deal con
summated between Mr.. Harris and Mr..
Hammerstein.
Miss Stahl, by the way, gives the 200th
performance of THE Chorus Lady" at
the Hackett. on Washington's Birthday.
There is very general local interest in
the benefit for Frank c. Bangs. to bs
given on the 18th at the Casino.
E H. SOtheTn. who is one Of the man
ayers, viii appear in the closet scene
from "Iiamlet," being supported by Miss
Kruger as the queen. Mr.. MawsOn as
the king. and Mr.. Bangs himself as
Polonius
And there is very general and genuine
regret at the untimely taking of OF
Elmer Dundy, who died OF pneumonia
quite unexpectedly early in the week.
skip Dundy. as he was Familiarity
called. was Fred Thompson's partner in
amusement enterprises. Together they
built Luna Park and made all sorts OF
money Then they built the Hippo
dorme and put on there some marvellous
productions Lately they have been in
terested in legitimate theatrical ven
lures.
Last week Dundy didn't feel we'll and
stayed away from the office several
days. On Sunday. though. he went au-
tomobiling in Central Park. and the cold
was too much for him. In the evening
he collapsed from congestion Of the
lungs, aggravated by a stomach trouble
that came to him in Arizona in the fall.
DR. Edward Wallace Lee, Dundy's bro
ther-in-law. and DR.. J. Glenmore
Thompson. a lung specialist. worked
over him and helped stave off pneu-
monia.
On Tuesday he was mech better. He
dictated several letters and had a long
business talk with Mr.. Thompson
Though cheerful and businesslIke as
ever ne had a premonition that his end
up when his partners came to see him,
but, lying in bed, discussed financial and
personal matters with his usual calm
judgment Mr.. Thompson said good-by
about 3 o'clock and went downtown.
The last words his friend and partner
said to him were:
"WelI. if the worst comes to the worst
take care Of the old nanny and look
out for her"
Three hours later he was dead.
The dinner that the press agents gave
Clyde Fitch last week is still topic of
conversation. A Token Worm spoke
pertinently and amusingly on Our Debt
TO Mr.. Fitch and as the playwright in
eighteen years has produced forty-four
plays, the press agents certainly do owe
him something.
Mr.. Worm declared that Mr.. Fitch is
"a good thing" and added: He ought
TO be kept alive. When a man has about
a hundred Of us throughout the country
writing for him at time we need him
in our business. He has written forty
two plays. one for each Of his years.
He is not averse to being photographed
in fur coats or automobiling with our
stars. In fact, he has played the game
as ii ought 10 be played. Tonight we
have raised our prices because he Is a
star We've Installed an orchestra.
The house is full, and now we cry 'Au-
thorI Author"" And the cry was taken
up and echoed.
Frank Wilstach. Claiming Pollock.
Whiting Allen, Wilton Lackaye. and of
course Fitch himself all made clever re-
sponses to various toasts and the "dray-
ma" was dissected, and epigrammatized,
and generally maltreated