igjMgjRsgjg Hie Evening Ledger Amusement Section, Saturday, October 30, 1915 Wt ft "AUTHOR! AUTHOR! WHO KNOWS THE AUTHOR?" "Author. Author, Who Knows the Author?" might be the title of the new Game of dramatic hide-and-seek. This latest pastime of hunting down a mysterious play. Wright has been oc casioned by the curt dus reticence of Wil liam Hodge con cerning the real dramatist who sup plied him with his present play. "The Itoad to Happiness." On the program it Is plainly enough stated that the author cf the comedy Is one tawrence whitman, but any tangible evidence of this particular LaW. renee Whitman In the flesh has not yet been made ocular. This Playwright if. Indeed, he really ex ists Is as mythical as Salrey-Gamp's in visible friend, Mrs. .Harris. William Hodge himself vouches in a sort of quizzical and mysti fying manner as to Whitman's reality. Many playgoers sus pect that Hodge WmBclf Is the verit able author of the play. to begin with, there Is that curious coincidence in j "ames t both the supposed author and the hero of the piece Itself. The role played by Hodge Is that of Jim Whitman. Now. folks argue, it Is scarcely the rule for a playwright to name his chief character alter himself, furthermore, it occurs to the minds of the initialed lovers of drama that Hodge's own first hit was made as Freeman Whltmarsh, the quaint village painter and gossip, in the late James A. Heme's drama. "Sag Harbor." By -writing this name of Freeman Whltmarsh and trans posing the last Billable of the first name and the first syllable of the last name one gels the name of Whitman, as fol Jows: FUEE MAN WHIT MARSH A corroborative bit of additional evi dence may also bo found in a peculiar feature of the name Whitman. In the earnest quest for the author of "The Road to Happiness." some of the In genuity which gave rise to the Bacon ian cypher in Shakespeare has been ap plied to this case In point It was no less a personage 'than Miriam Collins, the bewitching young Irish lnss who Is Mr. Hodge's present leading lady, who mado this hidden enigma solution. She found to her satisfaction that the name of Whitman is a sort of acrostic -word. The first four letters stand for "William Hodge is the," thus making the riddle work out as follows: w H IT MAN. WILLIAM HODGE IS THE MAN. That Mr. Hodge might bo "the man" is fully .possible, for It Is a matter of dramatic history that he is already the author of one play at least, in which he has stnrred-"EIghteen Miles From Home" In which he played the part or a stage struck youth, and that he has Just fin ished a new play in which he may later WILLIAM HODGE'S FIRST PART Here he is, in "Sag Harbor," playing Freeman Whitcmarsh, who 20 years later was to figure in the mystery of who wrote "The Road to Happiness." star when "The Road to Happiness" has reached that turn in the long lane of pop ularity which calls for a new production. Mr. Hodge has also written a novel, "The Guest of Honor." dealing with a poor young poet who adopts a still poorer little orphan waif of a boy. And it Is an abso lute fact that a great deal of the dia logue at least of "The Road to Happi ness" has been invented by Hodge him self, as every playgoer who hears tho quizzical sayings of Jim Whitman readily have imagined, the lines uttered by Hodge In the play being so thoroughly typical. It Is also known that Mr. Hodge has been a great admirer of that Good Gray Poet, Walt Whitman, and Horace Trau beL of tho Conservator in this city, was one of the first to hail Hodge as the coming great American actor of native types. Perhaps Whitman was thus sug gested to the mind of Mr. Hodge. "A true artist need's no audience to as sist her art." Sarah Bernhardt. 1915 ACADEMY OF MUSIC 191G Monday Evening, Nov. 1, at 8:15 BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA . (100 Musicians) Dr. KARL MUCIC. Conductor pnoartAMME Brahms' 4th Symphony; Schumann's "Man. fred"; Strauss' "Death and TranHfleura tlon"; Lint's "Lea PreUideB." Tickets at neppe'ii. Amphitheatre. 25 cents ACADEMY Stan at Heppe'n, 1118 Chestnut. Philadelphia Tonight at 8:15 Orrlirtfa I Soloist: UICBCSUa rjENni SCOTT, Bono ACADEMY OF MUSIC POSTPONED ACCOUNT OF ILLNESS TO Monday, Nov. 15 AT THREE Paderewski Benefit roit Polish Victims' Relief Fund John McCormack Will Sine at the Academy of Music TUESDAY EVE., NOV. 9 Seat fale opens next Monday at Henna's. 1110 Chestnut. Prices, $1. $1.50. J2O0. Amphitheatre, 50c and "5c, on sale nlrht ot recital. HOW TO GET SHAW AT 50c A PERFORMANCE Continued from Page Ooe demand, organizing it and satisfying It. The Little Theatre, like the New Theatre, has hitherto sought to supply a high standard of plays every night in the week, hoping for an audience at the ordinary theatre prices. Now, through the ten ancy of the Stage Society, it is going to reverse tho process. It Is finding an au dience of associate members who will pay J5 a year for seats at the dress re hearsals of eight new productions. When these have seen the first performance of each bill it will be repeated on the Fri days and Saturdays of three successive weeks, with tickets at U for the first five rows and 50 cents for the rest of the house, on sale at the boxofilce. With a reasonable popular support on these pub lic nights a remarkably interesting listot plays can be given by good amateur talent. The first bill of the Stage Society, to be given November 5. 6, 12, 13. 13 and K. in eludes "Crainquebllle." a satire on jus tice in three scenes by Anatole Krance; "Barbara," a one-act farce by Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, and "The Glittering Gate." a fantastic playlet by Lord Dun sany. Tho France play has never been acted In America; "Barbara" will have Its first production in the East, while "The Glittering Gate" has never been seen in Philadelphia. The list of plays for future production is impressive. It includes pieces by Shaw, Gilbert Cannan. Mrs. Havelock Ellis. Aus tin Dobson. W. S. Gilbert, Mascfield, Tchekhof, AndriefT, Gorky, Ludwig Thoma, Wcdekind, Schnitilcr, Ibsen, Bergsrom, Strindbcrg. Maeterlinck, Bracco, d'Annunzio and Giacosa. There will be new plays by Americans as well as original ballets. As to production the acting is on the knees of the local amateurs: it will be as good as It can be, no better. The scenic side will have the advantage, not Metropolitan Opera House ONE WEEK ONLY. BEGINNING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8 Boston Grand Opsra Co. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PAVLOWA BALLET Mon. Eg. "L'AMOKE DEI TBE RE." Vlllani. Zenatello. Ilaklanofr. Mardones. With Gluck'a "OIIFEO," with Patlowa Ballet. Tues. Eve. and Sat. Mat. "MADAMA BUTTERFLY." Tamak! Mlura. Martin. Chalmers. With "SNOWFLAKES BALLET." Patloua and Pallet Russe. Wed Mat (pop prices. 50c to $2,501 PUPPENFEE. SNOWFLAKES AND DIVER TISSEMENT. Wed Elg. "LA MLTA dl PORTICL" Pav lona. Lone. Zenatello. Chalmers. Thurs. Eg. "CARMEN," Gay. Sarora, Martin, Mardones. I'arlona and Ballet. Frf. Eg "TOSCA." Vlllani, Zenatello. Baklanotr and Pailoua Ballet Sat. Eve "OTELLO." Vlllani. Zenatello. Baktanoff. 1'atlowa and Ballet Dh ertUbemems. Seat sale now on, 1103 Chestnut at- Price'. $1.00 to $5 00. Triangle Plays This Week Ford Sterling In "His Father's Footsteps." Tully Marshall In "The Sable Lorcha." "Fickle Fatty Fall." Julia Dean In "Matrimony." CHESTNUT ST. OPERA HOUSE CHESTNUT ST. BELOW ELEVENTH Prices Matinees 25c and 50c Prices Eiga 25c and 50c. a few $1 and $2. Palace 1214 MARKET STREET ADMISSION 10c Mary Pickford in "A GIRL OF YESTERDAY" only of the best local artists, men like W. H. K. Yarrow, Morris Hall Pancoast, H. Devitt Welsh, but of a theory of stagecraft making for simplicity, sugges tion and beauty. Stage settings at the Little Theatre will strive to create the atmosphere of the plays by all the bril liance of design and color which makes the "new stagecraft." Mr. Pancoast has been good enough to give the Hveninq LEDOEn a sketch of his setting for "Tho Glittering Gate." Just how brilliant the season ot the Stago Society will be depends on the resolution of It3 executives, the quality of talent which it attracts and the desire of about 2000 Philadelphians to get the best of dramatic entertainment at 50 cents a performance. Only one thing Is cer tain. Its foundation In the amateur spirit is absolutely right. At bottom all great art Is amateur. It fights Itself free from commercial considerations, often at great sacrifice. Some day. unless the world goes to wreck on wars of races, kulturs nnd commerce, all art may be the crea tion of the leisure hours of a life full ot wholeson- balanced work. Right now, we can at least get it from ordinary, everyday people who want to take out a little mysterious energy in doing some little extra energy In doing something that otherwise won't get done. IC M. We Know Whence has none the familiar movie piano player who aUiays thumped the bass krjs during the screen cannonading, tickled the upper ivories during the ex illlnc moments, and played a popular air when the heroine and hero at last at last fell Into each other's urms. John C. Flinn. WHEN YOU TALK INFORMALLY OR LECTURE Remember that you can use Moving Pictures and Lantern Slides as Illustrations Churches and Schools Halb and Homes It is the Newest Fad We supply everything. Williams, Brown & Earle, Inc. 918 Chestnut St., Philadelphia THF MARKET ST. ABOVE 1CTH " 11 A. M. TO 11:15 P. M. Stanley Last Day Geraldlnc Farrar in "Carmen" & George Beban & ALIEN Adapted from "The Sign of the Rose" Academy of Music, Tues., Nor. 8, J r, jj RECITAL: SchumaonffeInk linen cd Sculi, 75c to $t.00. On Bale Jlon 1) at JlrpM-V, 1 1 1 Chestnut St. wiTiinitsrooN hall MONDAY APTEIINOON. NOV. 1. at 3:00 song Recital by Marcia Van Dresser Emltiont ImarlriflTi Snnrenn rillCES JL50, JL, "Be and 60c Tickets at Heppe'a, 1118 Chestnut St. ' h flf J &THE (Wl : . Lj-r PLAYS j'r -. William Llliott and Kuth Roland in "COMRADE JOHN" Adapted from the novel by Samuel Merwln and Henry W. Webster. Produced by Balboa. FAKTIAL CCIDK TO LATEST PKODCCTIONS JOHN GLAYUE'S HONOR Princess, Camden, Nov. 3 Orient. Nov. 4 Iris, 3I4B Kensington, Nov. S IlIJou Dream, Market t. Nov. S Court Square, Scranton, Nov. 4-5 VIA WIHELESS Eureka. 40th and Market, Nov. 3 New Broadway. Nov. S CLOSING NET Star, Kensington and Lehigh, Nov. 0 COMKMIE JOHN Germantonn. Nov. 4 HIJou, Atlantic City, Nov. C AITAIK 01f T1IKEE NATIONS Grand. Camden, Nov. 1 Logan Auditorium. Nov. 3 Victoria. Wilmington, Del.. Nov. C-G THE M'ENHEIl Ontario, Nov. 4 Haiti more. Nov. 4 l'ATIIE EXCHANGE. INC., 1Z33 INI THE MOVIE NUT Conllmml on next imp SrDNEVSKREEN OSCOC ALL DRESSED UP HO WHERETO GO I DOE IS BESEfl IN G-LUEBARKEK UPON BY A COUPL'A 15 THE VILLAGE BRUMMEL HUFF-KNECKSJ l ..-.ftL - fcii&s (B5 (HUMj) L00K H005 HSER.'. iif-r "' s vN--aiteato' .
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers