The New York herald., 1922-12-26
Estimated That Over $4,000
People Attend Matinee
and Evening Shows.
1000 SEE BETTER TINES
Numbers of Stage Folk
Have Christmas Dinner
Backstage.

The theaters did a prosperous busi-
ness yesterday. Special holiday matt
nees were well attended, though not to
capacity. as Christmas dinners and the
unusually mild weather kept n number
away. II was estimated that more than
5000 attended afternoon and evening
at the first class Broadway houses.
Lee shubert said reports showed larger
receipts than for any preceding Christ
mas.
The performances OF Better Times"
were witnessed by more than 1900 per-
sons. according 10 a statement from
the Dillingham; census bureau bout a.
per cent. OF the matinee GROVE being
children OF school age. II. ~. burnside
added novelties especially prepared for
the Christmas season and distributed
souvenirs TO the juvenile patrons. a
policy which will be followed through
the week.
There were more than a score OF
Christmas dinners backstage between
performances yesterday. The largest
was given by Mrs. Eliza beth Berlo.
comedienne Of the 1ippodrome tank.
who gave dinner for her ten daugh-
tcrs and ten sons-in-law. SIX OF Mrs.
Berlo's daughters are appearing at the
Hippodrome with her. The other four.
now retired came from Boston for the
holiday. Long Tack Sam. the Chinese
comedian. ana Mrs. Long. who arrived
recently from Vienna 10 visit her hus-
band. gave an American Christmas din
ner for the members OF his troupe.
Marceline. veteran clown Of the Hippo
drome. commemorated the first Christ
mas of the big house by doing some OF
the antics at the evening performance
which were a part Of his repertoire for
the initial show.
Christmas parties were given by lead
ing players in various companies about
town. Among those entertaining friends
and relatives were Olive Tell Of "Whis-
pering Wires" Hollis DevPnny OF
"Blossom Time" Eddie Bowling OF
"Sally, Irene and Mary" who enter
tanned the members OF the company
after the night performance. and The
Lady in Ernine'' company, which cele-
brated with a Christmas tree. Walter
Woolf playing Santa Claus.
The chorus of one hundred r'ils, VINO
have beon rehcarsinC for two weeks ior
the new revue which will reopen the
Winter Garden, were given n three
DAYS vacation over Christmas.
The Palace Thcatcr sent the whole
Punch and Judy marionette snow 10
Randalrs Island to entertain the cnl-
dren in the defective ward there. Chill
a the Broad Street Hospital were enter
tanned by Keith artists. Acts and artists
we're assigned to dozens OF hospitals,
asylums and refugees throughout the
city 4: MONDAY "a free concert was
given by the Paulist Choristers under
Father Finn. In Yonkers artists on
Proctor's progrs M provided entertain
mcnt for the Jewish. Leske and Watts.
snd Catholic orphanagcs.
In akra
Christmas observance by unveilins
large tree at 125th street and Seventh
avenue at noon. distributing among poor
children of Harlem gifts and toys which
merchants OF the neighborhocd had been
riling up for this purpose Tor a fort-
night At the Royal Theater santa
Claus distributed toys and useful gifts
among the tabercuar children OF -.
Josephs hospital and the wards Cf the
Bronx Clnidrcn's Society. At the River
side Thcater Bert Levy, cartoonist and
monoioeist. started the ball rolling with
a party arranged by Manager y. w.
Dcrr for children of the West Side.
Here. also, there Was singing ny the
Peoples Community Chorus under the
direction of Camiieri. Tho Fordham
Theater sent its entire orchestra and
complete program Of Keith acts to .he
Montefiorc Hospital. and. cooperating
with the Rotary Club OF Tho Bronx, dis
tributed clothing, candy and toys TO
needy children cf the neighborhood.
At the Prospect Theater. Brooklyn,
500 poor children attended "A special per-
foEnance. 400 being chosen by tho Cath
olic Big Sisters and 100 crippled children
from the Industrial Welfare League,
under the guidance of Manager Leon
Kelmer At the Brooklyn Riviera there
was "a toy s.'nee." Two complete
shows were sent ut under the direction
of w. J. sullivan 10 entertain the sick
and wounded soldiers OF Veteran Hos
pital No. 81 and of Seton Hospital.