The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-24

can confer reputation-and it is only a question of time when Chicago will cease to be New Yorl5's single rival in "the- atrical Warwickism."
 Just how little value may attach to a New York reputation was illustrated in a Wisconsin town a week ago. The the atre of this miniature city advertised s play that should be famous, since it ran nearly two years in Broadway theatre. The gross receipts at the box office did not amount to $10O. Three nights later an attraction that had achieved only a mild success last winter in one of the Chicago theatres, viisted the same town, and was welcomed by an audience that represented between $500 and $700 in paid admissions. The Chicago reputation over shadowed the New York indorsement Another instance of the present season is significant. A play which l happened to rehearse for production in San Fran cisco early last July was an extraordinary success there. After two weeks en- gagement that was very profitable the play was sent on tour, headed for Chicago and New York. Throughout the country west of Chicago it has played to very big houses, creating season records in the tAsatres between the Pacific coast and the Mississippi river It is true that this production has the advantage of a DODuidf Stdf $ name, but Wlltll iiilo SoIiC star visited the west few years ago with a play that had been cordially indorsed by both Chicago and New York the pat ronage was less than that of the present tour. which is supported only by Pacific coast verdict.
 There was time not so long ago-it might be called the Augustin Daily period when a London reputation was the all important thing for an American theatri-
 rpI. t1a fn1 Of New York's supremacy as an arbiter of dramatic taste. And now both New York and Chicago are the dials on which the manager sees the finger point to success or failure. Soon it will be New York, Chicago, St. Louis and San francisco. Then New Orleans will be added to the list. So I contend that with the develop ment of good taste and culture through out the country each region-east, middle west, northwest, far west, and south-will have a metropolis of it's own, governing the theatre going proclivities of the area tributary to it. And that will be the hey day for the dramatist, the star, and the producing manager.
 Mile. Florence Webber is the bright particular star of Oscar Hammerste1n tunefully melodiouS comic opera Naughty Marietta" which is the most recent DIOuQCl Ol Htidt ii'iS SiioAA 'DN satile composer Victor Herbert. The opening of the play is said to be very striking with the Place d dArmes, New Orleans, lying on the river, as It was nearly 150 years ago the old gateway with it's lamps, will be seen the great oaks and the handing moss, the palms and big fountain, the balcony and the throng of flower girls.
 The story concerns the adventures of Italian maiden of noble lineage, who, rather than remain as pupil in Parisian convent and submit to an objectionable marriage, which her parents have ar ranged for her, disguses herself as a casquitte girl and is sent to New or leans at the command of the King or France, to become the wife of some rough French colonist. How the little maiden evades this fate and develops many dramatic and humorous situa- tions.
 Mort H. Singer, the Chicago producer who counts among his attractions Henry Woodruff in the musical comedy fantasy, The Prince of Tonight soon to be secn in Birmingham, is calm in the midst of mutterings of discontent among other producers over the dis tressng shortage of chorus girls and boys. Foreseeing short yield in this seasons crop of fluffy ruffles." MT. Singer retained most of his chorus peo- pie at the close of last season, and kept them busy at half salary remuneration on most any old task his stage mana gers could think of. As result, the Singer productions all started the sea- son with their full quota of show girls, ponies" and college boys, all experi- enced and all enthusiastically trying to make good with Mort H. Singer.
 Playhouse Gossip
 It has been a long time since a star and play have been so happily united as Blanche Bates to 'Nobody's Widow" and to those who are intimately in touch with the trend of things theatri- cal, the mention that David Belasco