Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-27
ATLANTIC CITY
SUMMER CAPITAL
OF THEATRELAND
In Spite of Good Business in New
York, Plays, Players and Man.
ayers Throng Shore

ATLANTIC CITY, May 21.-Prosperty
and peace have kept down the number Of
theatrical visitors to this resort this spring.
The theatrical season, which opened last
fall with universal bad business, changed
completely with the beginning Of 1915.
Business picked up all over the country,
and many actors and actresses who had
figured on coming down here early in May
were compelled to play out an extended sea-
son. In every branch OF the business this
happy condition existed The legitimate
drama, musical comedy. burlesque and
vaudeville ends OF the game have all made
money and many companies which were
scheduled to close their season Easter week
are still out and making profit.
Before June 1 this will all be changed
and the theatrical colony will be as big as II
has been in former years, for every day
hotel reservations are being made by theat-
rica people who have been coming here for
years.
Try-outs for new plays are now In order
and from this time until the middle OF Au-
gust entcrprislng managers use the theatres
OF this city to try new plays on the dog'
as II Ia called i'm the vernacular OF the pro-
fesslon. II is claimed that this city aitords
the best opportunity OF feeling the pulse OF
the public as regards new plays inasmuch
as the summer crowds are made up OF peo-
pie from every city in the United states
Last week Marie Dressler was seen In
Sweet Genevieve." n new comedy by James
Forbes Although the play needs a little
padding TO make II long enough for an
evenings entertainment and little
strengthening of plot 1t showed every ear
mark of ultimate success Miss Dressler
has a part that Just suits her avoirdupos
and funmaking talents, that of Geneveve
Meloney, husky nurse at William Mul.
doom health farm, where invalids are cured
by energetic treatment and lots of hard
work Frank Lalor played the part Of a
hypochondriac millionaire, pursued by an
adventures and only saved from her
clutches by Genevieve. The cast, although
a small one, was efficient, including, In ad-
ditlon to Miss Dressler and Mr. Lalor,
Isabelle Irving, Annie Mack Berlein, Vivian
Rushmore and A. r. Tilburne.
duced a farcical comedy in three acts entitled
Somebody's Luggage" at the Apollo The
atre. II is comedy of English life adapted
by Mark Swan from the novel by ]. F.
Randall The play failed to please, being
based on the threadbare topics of changed
valises mistaken identity and aphasia. or
lost memory. Mr. Powers tried to get
laughes out OF the poor material furnished
him. but It was hard work. The stage
settings were beautiful. an ocean scene In
the first act Delng vigorously applauueu.
But scenery never made farce a success
Thursday night Lew Fields and sup
porting company of unusual numbers gave
the first production on any stage of Step
This Way" 1t is a whrly-girly musical
comedy along the usual lines. really a new
version of THE Girl Behind the Counter "
brought up to date by Edgar Smith. Alice
Fischer. John Charles Thomas. Clark and
Bergman. Beth Lydy, Laura Hamilton Lew
Rrice and a score of others assisted Lew
Fields and the chorus was made up OF the
youngest, prettiest, liveliest and most agile
girls that have been gathered together In
a musical comedy for many a day.
Blanche Ring had been engaged by Lew
Fields for step This Way" special print
ing was gotten out, on which she was
heavily featured, and she rehearsed deli.
gently until one day last week. Then she