Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-19
THEATRICAL DOG DAYS
IN ATLANTIC CITY
Trying out the Drama on the
Best Audience in America.
Philadelphians in the New
"Follies" and Elsewhere.


+ ATLANTIC CITY. June 1s.-The fac
that Atlantic City is the best dog
town In America has attracted big add
tions to tho theatrical colony during tn
last two weeks Breaking In new pla
or staging new production for the frs
time is known to all theatrical people n
"trying It on the dog" and that canin
gets more attention from managers II
this town than in any other place In tn
United States. The fact that the audi
ences here are always made UP OF visitor
from all parts Of the country enables
managers to feel the pulse of the publit
and TO find out whether n new play hal
ghost OF a chance in New York city
Kalamazoo, Chicago, Painted Post Oi
even far-away San Francisco.
The big managers all fight for an oppor,
kunity to TRY OUT their new shows here
and now that there are two available
theatres, the Apollo and Cort, with the
New Nixon to break into tho game
shortly, thero will be many new produc-
tions here during tho summer months,
Selwyn & Co have arranged to put on
four new plays here; Al Woods will
try out couple: Cohan G. Harris viii
also try to pick winners by presenting
two or three new plays, and several other
managers are sparring for time to spring
oddities and novelties on the unsuspeot-
ing public
"Under Fire" "The Love Thought"
'see My Lawyer" "The Last Laugh"
''who Is sylvia? and "The Blue Para
disc" have all had their premlers here
during the last six weeks Some of these
plays will never be heard OF again, while
others are scheduled for early production
In New York or Chicago.
Next Monday two new productions are
announced. Cohnn & Harris will pro-
duce THE House OF Glass" a drama
written by Max MARGIN, whose comedy.
"6ee My Lawyer" failed TO make hit
here few weeks ago. Selwyn and COM
pany will give the first performance OF
Back Home" written by Bayard WELLER,
author of within tho Law" and Irwin
Cobb, whose brilliant stories are well
known to the readers of the Saturday
Evening Post.
Ziegfeld's "FollIes of 1915" was pre-
Bented for the first time last Tuesday
night before the largest audience that the
Apollo Theatre ever held. 1t was a reg
ular metropolitan production. with all of
the attendant features, including bunch
of New York spectators, who purchased
n block of the choicest seats and secured
as high as $40 seat from those who wero
unfortunate enough not to buy far In ad-
vance. A heavy rain, which set in about
z o'clock, hurt tho specs a little, and they
few OF the seats they had purchased, but
their net profits were very large, even
though the elements consplred against
them cleaning UP.
Philadelphia scored heavily in the cast
of the "Follles." w. G.. (Whitey) Fields
who as n boy roamed around German
town avenue and Clearfield street, and
who since has amused people in every
part of the habitable globe by his gro
tnuuIInu fntrn1Vnad uTnriuItNy
and played several comedy parts. Ed
Wynn, who broke into the profession
when he lived in Kensington, was one
of the real hits of the show, his quaint
quips, breezy manner, good acting and,
of course, the old hat of n thousand
shapes, making n distinct impression on
the first-nighters. Anna Pennington,
another former resident of the Quaker
City. pleased with her dancing and Will
liam Shrode, formerly one of the Shrode
brothers, acrobats. was the stage man
ager. and handled the intricate numbers
any many scenes so there were no stage
waits.
A. L. Erlanger. "the Big Chief" as he
fe usually called, was on the Job every
minute during the rehearsals OF the Fol
Hes" and his "say-so" had much to do
with what was cut out after the first
performance. While here he was the
guest OF Samuel II. Nixon at his Pacific
avenue cottage, and for busy man he
did manage TO get in few moments OF
enjoyment.
'seven-days-ahead" Eddie Dunn, the
man with the many hued walstcoats and
the most popular of Cohan & Harris
fleet of advance and press agents, at
tended the first performance of the
'Follles" and attracted as much atten-
tion as some of the bits on the stage.
Fred jackson, the author OF short
stories and who has a comedy meeting
with success in New York. spent week
here with his bride. The happy couple
were chaperoned by Alex Aarons. son OF
Al Aarons, who got mis- theatrical start
in Philadelphia. but who Is now one of
the big guns in the Klaw & Erlanger
offices.
j, Fred Zimmerman, 5r., motored over
from Ocean City to see the first produce
tiOn Of the ''Follies'' and as Is his praise
worthy custom, said II was the best
ever" He looks for prosperity at all of
his Philadelphia theatres next season
for the Canadian Rockies in a few days
10 spend q month.
John Clemens, the organlst, is only able
10 get down here on Sundays. as his
work as organlst at the Garrick Theatre
prevents him from putting In more time
where the fish bite. When the season
closes at the Garrick he viii take a
short vacation at Willow Grove.
Harry Keans. a native of Philadelphia, |
gho has met with unusual success as a |
vaudeville actor, is resting here prepara-
.ory TO opening In a new sketch at the |
sarden Pier on June rs. He has a long
quite booked and is therefore happy. as
,ut few vaudeville acts have received con- |
raets for next season up to the present |
lime.
Fergus Mecusker treasurer of the |
Forrest Theatre; Billy Robb, OF the |
Broad Street Theatre. and George Ashby, |
,f the Garriok Theatre, with their respec- |
i've wives, came over from the peace and |
luietness OF Ocean City on the opening |
light Of the "Follies." They came peril |
ously close to having head-on collisions |
With titneys and trolley cars. and were |
llad to get back TO the simple life on |
he last Shore Lins car.
1t Is announced that the New Nixon |
Theatre will reopen with vaudeville on |
Iune 2s, 10 be followed by a number of |
lew dramatic productions later in the |
eason.
The water has been too cool for surf |
lathing and many striking bathing suits, |
designed ana 10 be worn by soubEettes |
nd ingenues. have not yet made their
appearance.
Billie Reeves. the limber-jointed Eng |
len comedian. has been splintering the |
Boardwalk by numerous falls. He Is /
tsrring In a series OF comedies for Lubin /
nd viii remain mere for another month. /
Re was TO have pitched headlonR from tha i