Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-22
Theatreland
as Seen at
Atlantic City
One play Failure and
Many Successful Actors
Arrive

week has put little crimp In the theatrical
Colony here, more than the average num-
Der Of actors and actresses being called for
duty at much earlier date than is Gus
fomnry The feminine contingent was the
hardest hit. as members OF the choruses OF
musical comedy and burlesdue companies
who had figured on remaining here for at
least two weeks more, got a hurry-up call
and are now In New York busily rehearsing
every day and signing for the delights of
resort like this. The majority of theatrical
companies will start at much earlier date
than usual this year and by Labor Day
most Of the theatrical pluhgers will have
their companies on the road and some few
OF them will even know whether they ars
TO be successes or "hlvvers' by the same
date.
Taking the place of the departing Thes-
plans are a number of new arrivals, princi-
pally vaudeville people, who had park dates
tackled on to their regular season, With at
least sve weeks vacation ahead of them
these performers are indulging in the usual
pleasures OF summer at the shore, only
about twice as strenuously as the average
visitor.
There is much discussion at present, and
especially here, as to whether the 'closed
shop" will be demanded by the white
Rats" this fall In all vaudeville theatres
In the United States. That organization
of theatrical people has had big additions
TO Its membership in the last few months,
through the work OF labor organizers and
the promise has been made that when the
strength of the order Is sufficient to make
the demands none but union vaudeville ac-
tors will be allowed to play in theatres
where labor organizations control the mus
ical and stage crews. Many Of the leading
vaudeville nagnates are fighting this at the
beginning, by Offering recognized vaudeville
stars long contracts, at a raise in salary.
Song publishers and theatrical people are
hobnobbing with each other these days, va
cation time being the period when contracts
Tor song plugging" are made. Although
not generally known by the public, popular
songs are not made famous in a night
either through the excellence of lyrics or the
beautiful melody. Most of the published
songs only sell because they are ding
donged into the ears of the. theatre.going |
public by stars and vaudeville people. Years |
fishers for professional copies of music so |
that they could learn the songs and add |
them to their stage routine. 1t is different |
nowadays, for 1t is the music publisher who
seeks the performer Weekly salaries are
paid to many artistes for the singing of one
particular song night after night. the adver.
tisement paying the music publisher, or he
wouldn't spend the money. In case of femi-
nine stars the pay is frequently in the way
of q new set of stage costumes instead OF
ready cash for the boosting of song.
During the summer season here this
booming of new songs is pursued with
unusual vigor. Paid trios of singers go from
one cabaret to another. singing the same
song in each one and either a certain cash
consideration is slipped to the manager of
those places or the patronage of the music
publisher and his friends compensates for
the privilege. At certain concerts given here
the soloist does not receive one cent for his
services from the manager Of the entertain
inent but gets his salary from the music
publisher OF the songs he sings. And this
scheme never falls to send the sales of the
oddly advertised songs up in the thousands.
OF the many feminine theatrical people
here but a very small percentage wear
dashy street raiment, and when garbed for
the surf they are invariably attired in the |
regulation bathing dress. They claim that
they are in the eyes of the public all winter
and when they come here II is to spend a
regular holiday, without desiring to be
stared at by other visitors and asked ques-
tons by aspiring amateurs.
Boosted to the sky limit as the one great
American play. Our Country First" re-
reived its initial production at the New
Nixon Theatre on Monday. July II. but II
liminary praise. 1t written by A. ",
Rance, and this feminine writer evidently
had bucollic melodrama in view when she I
started to write, and then lugged in Incl. I
ients. speeches and bits of business OF a $
patriotic trend TO catch the applause, and /
possibly the dollars of the masses. Thu :
'esult is a hodge-podge of long speeches. (
rude melodramatic situations and cIinaxes
md some feeble attemptes at comedy The '
Hot OF the supposedly patriotic portion of | /
he entertainment was about the making of
,lans OF United States fortifcations and the |
sforts OF a Filipino spy to secure them }
rhe thwarting OF this by a colored member C
Il the United States army made that part
tand out as a heroic one an oddity in dra.
natio construction. The rural portion of I
he play showed the efforts of hypocritical a
Ftllagers TO get booze on the sly. An ex- n
'ellent company tried hard TO please. but 8
hey had nothing TO offer, the pathos of the $
patriotic speeches being fire. \
Iuently laughed at instead OF being ap- r
iaudsd b
Frank Beel1man. we'll known to all thea. d
re-goers OF the Quaker City through his c
onneetion with the Grand Opera House. is
ere for his customary vacation and is en-.
Dying every moment OF his stay d
Frank Donnelly. a vaudeville agent and II
rodueer OF Philadelphia. has been down = e
requently during the week and is saneuine q
Ter the prospects for next season
Francis x Hope. general manager for
ieoTge NJ cohan, is having his first real
acation In ten years and is spending the
me roughing 1t at his cottage in Chelsea. o
lis principal amusements are bathing, play- r
lE with Frank Hope. Jr.. who is now seven cl
lonths old. and forgetting all about the "
ieatrical business. b.
Harry .Talge. treasurer OF the Garrick 8
heatre. Philadelphia. who is spending the "
ammer at his bungalow at somers Point m
.kes trolley trip over here every week In
nd Is always ready to tell OF the many Ash
be caught at that place.
Frank Abbott. Snowman OF experience +
"a enterprise, was here for one day and
ltilned the policy OF the Peoples Theatre.
hiladeIphia, which he Is 10 manage next
aaon- II win be devoted 10 burIesaue.
aging the big shows OF the Columbia Cir
at. ana Will open In August
James Laekeye. formerly a wsll-knoUn
IeatFieai star but now moving picture |
labrity, Il resting up here and states that
uill 30 back On the speaking stage next
aaon.
Prank pumont is 50 busy reorEanlzinR
1mQnfs Ainstrels. prior to their opening
august. that he can only take his yaca- |
"a hers ona day At = time. The company |
kl season sfili b a brand new one with
8 exception OF Eddie Cassidy. Bennis |
ankiin. Vie Richards ana Aft Gibson.
Charles Thropps manager OF the German
- Colonial. Is spending the summer ia |
IldHead ana incidentally managing two |
IA. Haa