Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
BRIGHT COMEDY
DOMINATING NEW
THEATRICAL WEEK
Increasing Influx of English
Companies Because of
War-Actors' Salaries Re-
duced.

II one is to Judge by the theatrical
attractions opening In this city next Mon
day managers have come to the con-
clusion that theatregocrs these days
want to smile. This conclusion however,
IS justified by the successes-which are
few-and the failures-whlch have been
many-aiong Broadway
At the Garrlck, where Hazel Dawn has
sung and violined to now rare. large and
aprreciatlve audiences" Potash and
Perlmutter,' that rolliclingly funny
dramatixation OF the no less laugh
provoking stories of Montague Glass.
win open Monday night. THE Queen
of the Movies will replace "sari|
at the Forrest, and High Jinlts." which
reports say bears out its name. will fol-
low the spectacular STORY of the Rosary
at tho Lyric. Both are musical comedies
and are said to be really full of comedy.
John Drew will make his annual visit
20 Philadelphia in 1.-THE Prodigal Hus-
band" which is announced as "replete
with humor. with touches of pathos.' at
the Broad. At the Walnut that delightful
hcart-ticlrling favorite. THE Old Home
ulcdut Will OCCupy Stage WIN
record of the longest run Of the season
here. "A Pair OF Skies" will continue at
the Adelphi. Not problem play. not
q tragedy. with ono exception-"Madame
X" ct the American.
While increasing audiences have indl-
Gated a passing of the depression which
has been inhlbltory to large theatre
attendances. the war has had an en-
phatic widespread effect upon theatricals
According to A. L. Erlanger. the the
atrical business has suffered no moro
than any other enterprise. Whether II
has suffered no more or less. managers
already report this as the most unproht-
able season In the history of the theatre
And OF the attractions that have made
money, all are lightly entertaining and of
the sort to bring the dancing light OF
laughter into the heart.
The depression In theatrical business"
according to the Dramatic Mirror. rs
not confined TO New York. Throughout |
the country managers are complaining |
OF poor business
This Is said to be particularly true of |
the district lying between Cleveland and |
Omaha On the other hand, the theatres |
along the Pacific coast are said to be /
crowded. and the receipts for "Dlsraelf'
the week before last in San Francisco
netted $4,000
Despite the conditions. new attractions
are under way, and. as against 40 last
year 81 plays and playlets have been put
on 80 far this season.
Just how viii the war affect actors7
Most OF the actors and actresses em-
ployed by u.s." said Mr., Erlanger, have
voluntarily met the present conditions in
a most sensible manner. The best OF our
artists have decreased their salaries ana
have thus met the circumstances that
confront them in a businessllke man.
ner." The star OF q musical COM
edy playing In New York said she had
accepted decrease from $500 to $500 a
week. (which is better" said she, than
being out of an engagement" Sweeping
have been made in vaudeville
salaries A decrease OF from 10 to 80 Der
cent. Was made IN the salaries OF ali
eaudevlllians playing United Booking
''time."
There has been, inevitably. an infux OF
English actors and English plays. Six
entire theatrical companies are said to
l9aFa arrived IN their entirety IN New
YORK Charles Frohman announced the
past week that he intended 70 close his
Duke Of YoFkE Theater IN London and
transplant the company to Chicago. Marie
zohx. Irene Vanbrpgh and Godfrey Tearls
sin head the Chicago all-star company.
George Grossmith. Jr.. and Edward
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