Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-29
Odd Title for
Play Seen in
Atlantic City
Coat Tales" With Tom
Wise, Well Received
at the Shore

II AtftlNlltJ OlIIs ~. D.. July Ebs--LneTe
are numerous professionals here now, all
efiioyfng themselves. "Shop-talk." which
WAS prohibited In the early part of the sea-
eon. is cropping out as the time for the cur
tains to ring up approaches Coy soubrettes
and dlgniied leading men are paying more
attention to theater talk now than to gos-
sip about conduests, big catches of fish, or
even golf scores
Az the time draws near for the long re-
hearsals, followed by big jumps from one
city to another, wretched dressing rooms
and the grind OF the seemingly endless re-
petition of set speeches, actors and actresses
are piunging into seashore pleasure with
more abandon than ever. Bathing hours
with the theatrical people now here last
from noon until three or four o'clock in the
afternoon, those hours being selected be-
cause the crush on the beach Is not so
great and the Thespians are thus enabled
20 have their amusement without being an
noyed by curious onlookers. The medicine
ball brigade is now at work every day, en-
toying the sport and getting in condition
from its strenuousness.
Many managers and performers, now
busly engaged In rehearsing In New YORK
and Philadelphia, will steal away from
their duties this afternoon and spend a
shred of the weekend in this city. Hair
baked cities are not pleasant for any one,
and are especially wearing during the time
when tangled skeirs OF plot and dialogue
are being unwound ct rehearsals, so a few
hours in this city will refresh and invigor-
ate people whose vacation ended when other
people were just starting their share OF
enioyment The Sunday midnight train
for New York, with seepers attached, viii
be jammed with theatrical people who
can leave here after happy day and reach
Tho metropolis in time for Monday re-
hearsas.
Theatrical business has been especially
rood here this summer, visitors seeming
70 have laid out their daily programs SO as
TO spend portion Of the time at the
theaters instead Of devotlng every moment
20 the beach or boardwalk. The moving
picture houses have not met with the Sue
cess OF last year and the biggest thing in
the moving picture hne. now playing
return engagement here, has fallen far
below its receipts of last year.
Arthur Hammersteln proved this week
that he is as big plunger as his father, the
irrepressibe Oscar who built many theaters
in New York with but limited capital made
puccesses of all of them and then lost them.
The younger Hammerstein not only put on
new play here without any "break-in, put
also prearranged for the opening OF the
same play in New York next Monday night.
"Coat Tales" the odd title of this new
play, first produced at the New Nixon Thea
ter last Monday night, was written by
Edward Clark formerly vaudeVllle taVor-
ite and producer of sketches and acts Tor
that branch of the theatrical business.
on its opening night it showed every evil
dence of being hit the only handicap being
O long-drawn-out talky scene at the begin
ming of the second act. Quick action threw
this mass of words into the waste basket
and although the play was brought down TO
a playing time OF but little over two hours
the knitting quckened the comedy scenes
and made the show riot Of laughter
The story of the farce revolves around
Russian sable coat, 1t being stolen, pawned,
-. 80 - oil n HiHprant
people, lost. strayed and finally returned
20 its rightful owner. all in such speedy
time that there never is a tagging or In
terest. During its wanderings the coat
gets lots OF people in trouble, nearly sepa-
rating husbands from wives, but at no
time is the action or dialogue smirched
with suggestiveness.
Since II has been speeded up it Is full
of laughs and should be one of the sue
cesses OF next season Following the lines
of two successful plays, the first act Is
really the second act, as the characters
at the opening are completing things which
they start in the second act. The mounting
OF the play was much more elaborate than
is usually used for farce, and the cast
was an exceptionally brilliant one.
Tom Wise. with his unctuous humor. was
happily cast Louise Dresser was delightful
In the comedy role and other members Of
the company helped TO launch the new play
successfully. II should please New York.
out II IL ooes not IL VIII make BOou IN
other cities. IL being a rapid-fre farce that
all ages from TO so can see and en-
Joy.
M. w. Taylor manager OF the Zimmer-
man theatres, spends most week-ends here, |
He is especially enthusiastic over the new |
theatre which will be added to the chain |
this fall, brand-new house to be erected |
In Chester. Pa. with a seating capacity |
of 2400 and all the latest appointments ]. |
Fred Zimmerman. Sr., has commissioned |
Hoffman Brothers to rush the plans for the |
now house. and bids will be asked for it's |
construction in a few days Mr.. Taylor |
will manage the house. as we'll the four |
Zimmerman theatres In Philadelphia
Thomas NJ Love, manager OF the Forrest |
Theatre and general manager OF the s. +. |
Nixon enterprises, has his family in a cot |
tage at Ocean City but he comes here /
frequently for conferences with Mr.. Nixon. |
Willard Mcclure, who managed the /
frankford Theatre last season, was here /
during the week. He was accompanied by
hrs. Mcclure and was recuperating from
q slight illness. He win be connected with
q Philadelphia theatre this fall.
Joseph Cohen, manager OF the Broadway
Theatre, is summering here and will re-
main until the set time for opening that
house, which is Labor Day.
George Metzel, manager OF the William
Penn Theatre is here for a summer outing
and is laying plans for another theatrical
enterprise IN Philadelphia this fall.
Terry connell with whom every patron
OF the Garriek Theatre has a speaking ac-
Quaintanoe. was down for day this week
and was greeted by so many friends ti4t he
snjoyed the trip as much as II he had re-
manned a month
Frank Harvey. OF the Walnut Street Thea
lrof William Godfrey, OF the Metropolitan
Opera House Frank Wolf, Jr.. the youthful
booking agent OF the Quaker City; Thomas
Doneherty OF the Nixon forces, and Allen
Nay At one time vaudeville headlinsr but
now In the moving picture business, are
lpendlng their summer vacations here and
,lioying every moment Of their idle time.
George Biczsi. OF Riekel and Watson, who
IRE 70 open at Philadelphia theatre on
Labor Day with new farce comedy entitled
Look Who's Here" has his family here for
he summer. He spends his time on the
priny deep. angling and studying out new
BITS q comedy.
Olive briscoe, 4 vaudeville headliner. a
spanding . month here after q tour OF
.igaE months In ths largest OF vaudeville
|haatara. shs Il accompanied BY her sister,
-Qtkle Briseoa. AZ one time one OF the
CHESTNUT stFsst ThsateF stock company.
.Aa q late ssars a prime faYorits In NOV
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