The Billboard 1905-04-15: Vol 17 Iss 15 (1905-04-15)

The Billboard WILL NOT DOWN There seems to be an inclination among performers not to let the western vaudeville controversy drop; in fact, there seems to be more excitement over the matter than at any previous time. Letters continue to come in and it would appear that performers who feel that they have not been treated right are becoming bolder in their statements against the western vaudeville managers. The following letters are published in the hope that they may shed more light upon the controversy, which has developed in important proportions and which gives much evidence of being more than the fancy of a few performers. The Billboard reiterates the statement that it wishes only to getat the bottom of the matter, and discover if possible the cause of the disturbance. If a conspiracy exists among performers to injure the business and the reputations of the western vaudeville managers, justice demands that the conspiracy be brought to light and its principals punished. If a cause of grievance exists, then in fairness to performers they should be warned of the unprofesional treatment to which they may be subjected. The communications are published as received: San Francisco, Cal., April 2, 1905. Editor The Billboard, Cincinnati, Ohio. Dear Sir—I see in a recent number of your paper that you dare to tell the truth in reference to the so-called vaudeville managers of the golden west. The only fault I can find is that you do not tell enough. Your paper is a recognized theatrical publication, patronized by all performers, and in justice to your readers you should not let up on these blood-suckers. The majority of these men who pose as judges of acts are ex-pawnbrokers, beer hall waiters and self defense murderers. One manager out here brings acts from the east after having seen their work, and closing them without regard to arate and distinct from each other, the Affiliated Western Vaudeville Circuit booking for itself, and Archie Levy booking independently. The Affiliated Western Vaudeville Circuit consists of the Tony Lubelski Novelty Theatre Circuit, extending from Chicago to the Pacific coast; the Loverich-Rothchild Novelty Circuit of California and the Star Circuit of the northwest. They have opened offices at the Grand Opera House, Chicago, which is their eastern headquarters; Novelty Theatre, Denver, which is headquarters for the middle states; Globe Building, Seattle, Wash., as their headquarters for the northwest, and at Fischer’s Theatre, San Francisco, for the Californian headquarters. Archie Levy retains the theatres formerly held by him and is booking his quota of performers. LAND OF NOD FOR CHICAGO Messrs. Kohl & Castle, who control the Chicago Opera House, Olympic and Haymarket theatres in Chicago, have decided to transfer the summer vaudeville shows to the Olympic, which has formerly been dark during the summer months, and will produce musical extravaganza at the Chicago Opera House, opening with The Land of Nod, by Hough and Adams, authors of His Highness The Bey and Isle of Bong Bong. Lyman B. Glover, general manager of the Kohl & Castle theatres, states that there are sixteen speaking parts, for which the best possible principles will be secured. The chorus rehearsals are scheduled to begin shortly, and the designs for costumes and scenery are well under way. The new production will be staged on a par with the Savage & Hamlin and Mitchell & where they have worked or their reputation. | Fields extravaganzas. At present he js holding trunks of people thats The New Majestic Theatre which opened at his house Monday, March 27, for the| Mesrs. Kohl & Castle have under railroad tickets he advanced after having booked course their act over in Chicago. These people, having no work to do, are helpless. and being among strangers in a strange land they are at the mercy of charity. However, a citizen took up the fight and got their trunks out. This is only an incident of hundreds that these grafters are guilty af. Loubelski and Chris. Brown are now on their way to Chicago to rope in another load of poor unsuspecting victims. Brown is a representative of 8S. Morton Cohn, who 4 short time ago ran a penny-in-the-slot machine outfit. In justice to humanity and for the love your paper should have for the profession, I beg of you to do what you can in advising performers not to cross the Mississippi river. These socalled vaudeville circuits out here are all alike. Wishing your paper all the success it deserves, Iam, Yours very truly, J. T. ROBERTS. Santa Rosa, Cal., March 30, 1905. Editor The Billboard, Cincinnati, Ohio. Dear Sir—For the protection of all performers I wish to state that the article published in The Billboard of March 11, detailing the western experiences of an eastern performer, is absolutely true, and, if possible, the situation is even worse than described. For instance, you are given a contract for so many weeks at a& very reasonable salary. You go out on the cireult and when pay-day comes round you receive a salary very much lower, and they show you a list of the people for the week all booked at a very low salary. They do not care for your contract because it is no good. There are more performers out here than any other city in the world, and many first-class acts that can hot get back east. The Orpheum Cirevit, composed of fourteen houses, with Mr. Weston as Manager, is all that is good out here. Beware of all others around San Francisco. Yours truly, F. CAIRMAN, magician. Los Angeles, Cal., March 31, 1905. Editor The Billboard, Cincinnati, Ohio. Dear Sir—I bave read several letter in your Valuable paper recently relating experiences of performers out west. I would like to add our own experience. We opened in Denver, Col., June 20, last year, for six weeks. We played the six weeks as contracted for, then opened on the Goldsmith Cireuit for six weeks and played elghteen consecutive weeks. ‘Then we opened on the Three-L Cireult for six weeks, and this is our twelfth, making in all thirty-six consecutive weeks, and we hold contracts for ten weeks tore, which will make forty-six weeks without a lay-off. I wish to state that we have been treated grand, not only by the booking agents but by the managers. I would like to mention ‘nt particular Bert Pittman, Henry Lubelski, Mose Goldsmith, Chris. Brown, Archie Levy and Sam Loverich. These are the people we have done business with, and we have never had so much aS an argument. Regarding the report of cutting salaries as soon as they get you out west, I wish to say that our salary has been False ad $15 per week above what we originally came out here for. Trusting that you will give these few lines space in your valuable paper, We beg to remain, Yours truly, RUSSELL AND O'NEIL, Irish Comedy Duo. NOW TWO CIRCUITS What was formerly known as the Three-L Cireuit, controlled by Tony Lubelski, Samuel Loverich and Archie Levy, has been dissolved and is no more. The outcome of the dissolution is the formation of two circuits, sep of construction will be ready to open in the fall, with a seating capacity of 2,200, and, in connection with the Olympic and Haymarket, should be able to take care of the vaudeville business. The indications are that the return of the Chicago Opera House to extravaganza will not affect the vaudeville situation. PANIC IN THEATRE A roll of celluloid films, used tn operating a moving picture machine at the Sipe Theatre, Kokomo, Ind., April 9, caught fire and caused a panic among the six hundred people who made up the audience. The celluloid was ignited by an electric light and the operator is said to have caused the panic by yelling that the theatre was on fire. One man jumped from the gallery window, a distance of forty feet. He is now in the hospital with both legs broken. Several people were burned severely and mny were injured in the rush. The theatre was damaged silghtly by smoke. BIJOU CIRCUIT ENTERPRISES The Bijou Amusement Co. will onen its seventh house in the circuit May 1, when the new $40,000 theatre at Manitowoe will opes. Ground has been broken for another theatre at Appleton which will open in August, and still another at Fond du Lac, May 15. A new theatre will open at Houghton, Mich., shortly, which will be affiliated with the Bijou Circuit. GETTING READY Work on the White City, Chicago, is progressing rapidly and the miniature World’s Fair will be ready to open on time, May 27. The advertising department of White City are to be congratulated on the preliminary work being done in Chicago and adjoining cities. So great is the interest evinced in the preparatory work at White City that fully twenty thousand people visited the resort last Sunday, the public being admitted to the park without charge while the building is in progress. General Manager Howse, Advertising Manager Woodward and Secretary Aaron Jones have things well in hand in their respective departments and under their direction White City is fast becoming a glittering reality. Work on the Willard Temple of Music and Blake’s Dog, Pony and Monkey circus buildings at White City is fast nearing completion. The Hines-Wil lard-Blake Syndicate wili reap a rich harvest at Chicago’s million dollar amusement park this summer. SELF-EXPLANATORY The following letter received from Mr. R. Voelckel, of Voelckel & Nolan, proprietors and managers of the Black Patti Troubadours, explains itself: New York City, April 6, 1905. Editor The Billboard, Cincinnati, Ohio. Dear Sir—To dispel the unfounded rumors existing that I am to withdraw from the firm of Voelckel & Nolan at the end of the season, because of some alleged misunderstanding with my associate, and in justice to him. I would appreciate your kindness by giving the following few lines space in your paper. Contrary to rumors that I intend to withdraw from the firm of Voelckel & Nolan, proprietors and managers of the Black Patti Troubadours, which company will (in June) end its ninth successful season, I beg to state that my relationship with Mr. Nolan has always been of the most pleasant nature and at present is more congenial than ever. Last week, while playing at Atlanta, we not only renewed our partnership contract indefinitely, but also prolonged a contract with Sissieretta Jones, the original Black Patti, our present star, for a term of years. It is our intention to have two campanies on the road next season, each taking personal charge of one. Very respectfully, R. VOELCKEL. IN SHENANDOAH A theatrical bomb was exploded in Shenandoah, Pa., last week when the announcement was made that Ferguson’s Theatre, the postoffice and bank building had been purchased by O’Hara Brothers for $38,000. The new owners are promoters of extensive livery and contracting enterprises, and are possessed of a considerable amount of “get up” and “get there.” They promise Shenandoah a theatre modern in every respect. Mr. M. O’Hara has just returned from New York where he made arrangements with M. Reis for next season’s bookings. Shenandoah is a city of 20,000, and on account of the numerous outlying villages ranging from three to five thousand the city may be considered the theatrical town of the lower anthracite coal belt. J. P. Ferguson, the retiring manager of the house, is known to every traveling theatrical man in the country, his managerial career covering a period of twentyfive years. Improvements are already under way, the first feature being the introduction of a permanent orchestra under the leadership of Prof Harry Wright, former bandmaster of the Eighth Regiment Band, N. G. P. PLAN TO COMBINE A number of theatrical managers from the smaller towns in Pennsylvania met at the Colonial hotel, Pittsburg, Monday, April 3, for the purpose of discussing a proposition upon which they could combine for their mutual protection and advancement. Managers were present from Connellsville, Morgantown, Greensburg, Monessen, Charleroi, Latrobe, Johnstown, Altoona, Dubois, Punxsutawney, Butler, Waynesburg, Washington, New Castle and Beaver Falls. Letters were read from managers at Sunbury, Pa., Fairmount, Clarksburg and Huntington, W. Va., and Canton, Zanesville and East Liverpool, Ohio, expressing their willingness to enter into a combination. A committee was appointed to get information regarding similar organizations and to draw up a constitution and by-laws. This committee consists of Harry Beeson, chairman, of Uniontown; Fred Miller, of Cumberland, and J. F. Genkinger, of New Castle. MRS. VOKES TO STAR Information is given out to the effect that Frank Burt will next season star Margaret Daly Vokes in a new production, entitled The Girl From Maine. This bit of news follows a statement that Ward and Vokes will separate next season, Ward apearing in a musical comedy, entitled The Grafter, while Vokes and Will West will produce the old Ward and Vokes’ successes. TUNIS DEAN RECOVERING Mr. Tunis F. Dean, business manager of the Grand Opera House, Pittsburg, Pa., who has been very ill with typhoid-pneumonia, is now in a sanatorium at Saegertown, Pa., and is much better. He was confined to his was at first so desperately ill that it was thought he could not recover. His good constitution, however, brought him through and he will soon be himself again. Mr. Dean was formerly one of the managers of the Academy of Music, Baltimore. BEACHT WILL MANAGE Jos. F. Beacht, the popular and efficient manager of the City Opera House. Frederick, Md., will, this coming season, have charge of the new theatre at Brunswick, Md., to be erected by the Red Men. Brunswick is a railroad town and is said to be a good theatrical town. Manager Beacht will undoubtedly make a success of the new house. TO BE A CONSPICUOUS OPENING The sale of seats for the opening performance at the New York Hippodrome prognosticates a conspicuous opening for the new Thompson & Dundy enterprise. The box office of the new amusement palace was thrown open at 5 m. Saturday, April 8, and a brisk sale followed, lasting for three hours. Persons prominent in the sporting and commercial world as well as eminent thespians crowded to get the best boxes and seats for the opening performance which takes place April 12. Th immense structure, lighted by its myriads of electric bulbs, presented a picturesque appearance to its many visitors Saturday. The place fairly swarmed with people anxious to view the innovations in this modern hippodrome, the largest and most expensive in the world. The stage and its many novel mechanical arrangements for operating the movable platforms and raising and lowering of the scenery, ete., appeared to be the center of interest. It is announced that every detail for the opening performance has been given close attention, and from the advance sale we may expect an imense crowd the opening day. CYCLIST INJURED Another of the Ancillotti Brothers of the Barnum & Bailey Show met with an acident at Madison Square Garden last week, this time it being Maurice, who loops the gap on a bicycle. The axle in the front wheel broke as the cyclist’s machine hit the incline after completing its flight through space. Maurice went over the handlebars, and alighting on his head slid down the incline at a terrific speed. When picked up he was unconscious, but examination proved that he was only bruised, having sustained no permanent injuries save a broken nose and a sprain at the knee. Several women in the audience screamed and some fainted. The other brother, Nicholas, who leaps the quadruple chasms, was doing his act at the same time his brother was injured. He was unnervéd, but succeeded in guiding his machine down the incline in sofety. COL. CUMMINS AT WHITE CITY Col. Frederick T. Cummins has altered his original plans for a road tour of his famous Wild West and Indian Congress, late the feature on the Pike at St. Louis, having recently arranged with the management of White City, Chicago’s million dollar amusement park, to exhibit his shows during the White City season, which opens May 27. Colonel Cummins will have an exhibition at White City fully in keeping with those he has had at nearly all of the great expositions, and the managers of Chicago’s new amusement resort are to be congratulated on securing Col. Cummins’ Shows, a feature which will no doubt play no small part in carrying White City to complete success. BACK TO THE CIRCUS It is announced that Frank (Slivers) Oakley has been enjoined by the Barnum & Bailey Show from appearing at the Hippodrome, the show claiming that the well-known clown signed a contract for his appearance with The Greatest Show on Earth for room in Pittsburg for eight weeks, and! the next two years. id oe ee Me et a