New Play in Manhattan: Scotching Scalpers

Harsh and bitter expletives sullied the air of Manhattan’s theatre district last week. Fortnight ago the League of New York Theatres, Inc., six months in forming, got into motion against the Broadway ticket-speculators who annually mulct theatre-goers of thousands of dollars. Fifty theatres (80% of the leading houses) and 16 ticket brokers were on the League roster. Board Member Alfred Emanuel Smith issued a letter of benediction. Special League tickets were issued to the 13 member houses then open. Meanwhile from the offices of nonLeague producers and “outlaw” brokers issued rumblings of war. ”Blacklist . . . conspiracy!” hissed Legshowman George White (Flying High). “Half-baked . . . childish!” snorted Producer Herman Shumlin (The Last Mile). A League executive tried to conciliate Mr. White: “Forget it, old-timer . . . and help us clean up this rotten situation which has made ticket distribution a ‘racket.’ ” Producer White was adamant. He threatened to start a move among producers that would finish the League, namely, to get all tickets back where they belonged—in box offices. To Attorney General Hamilton Ward of New York went Bernard H. Sandier and William Russell Willcox,* retained as counsel by 23 nonLeague brokers, to procure an order dissolving the League. Their charge: the League constitutes a monopoly operating in restraint of trade. They illustrated the social usefulness of small “scalpers” thus: New Jersey’s Governor Morgan F. Larson last week visited Manhattan with a party of 15 to attend Earl Carroll’s Vanities, popular legshow on which the Law has frowned. Unable to obtain sufficient tickets from League brokers he resorted to “scalpers.” If “scalpers” are scotched, Attorney Sandier pointed out, last-minute theatre parties such as Governor Larson’s will be impossible. Attorney General Ward pondered, unofficially suggested that the best solution was Producer White’s, that tickets should be sold at box offices “and nowhere else.”

Ladies All. Place a wealthy wench-conscious young bachelor in an isolated studio in the purlieus of Westport, Conn. Put within grasping distance a plump French maid, an unsatisfied wife, and a beauteous blonde sculptress whom he has long and vainly loved. Have one of the three pay an incognito midnight visit to his chamber. Next morning have each vehemently deny, then reluctantly admit, his charge. The result: pleasant theatrical fare for a summer evening. Ladies All is a doctored U. S. version of Rumanian Prince Antoine Bibesco’s Who. Musicomedian Walter Woolf, in his debut as a legitimate actor, played seductively, sinfully, the rich young bachelor. His prize: Violet Heming, the blonde sculptress.

—Onetime (1016-18) chairman of the Republican National Committee, manager of Charles Iivans Hughes’ campaign for the Presidency in 1916.