Variety (Feb 1906)

VARIETY Irene Franklin was forced to cancel Reading, l'a., this week. She was playing Lowell, Mass., when she was notified of the serious illness of her younger sister and hastened to New York to find that the child was siifTorins? with a severe attack of pneumonia. Miss Franklin and little Madeline have nianv friends who of- ■ fer sympathy and hope for a quick re- covery. The professionals' ball given in Phila- delphia on Thursday night under the man- agement of Hilly Vail, advertising man- ager of the Grand Opera House, and George Kariuvagn, proprietor of the Hotel Hurley, the principal headquarters for members of the burlesque companies, proved a huge affair, and was successful in every particular. Members of all four burlesque companies and other companies appearing in the Quaker City this week attended. The Four Mortons will have a holiday this summer, taking in Paris, London, Brus- sels and Berlin, starting out again in their own company next August. Chinko and Minnie Kaufman did not sail last Wednesdny, as arranged. Three more weeks will elapse before they leave. The Five Mowatts, whose club throwing has brought them to a place close to the top of their department in the varieties, will add unto themselves a sixth member upon the close of their engagement with the Ringling Circus, and upon their re- turn to the two-a-day will be known as the Six Mowatts. The Four Bards, who do a double, ending in a handstand, will be- come the Five Bards next season. Both troupes are of the family of the Myers- Keller firm. Mrs. R. Garvin, mother of Gaynell, Blocksom, Beatrice and Mrs. Lowande, of the Jackson family, died February 8 at Boston. The news was received here when the troupe were giving their bicycle ex- hibition at Proctors Twentv-third Street * Dan Ilealy, who makes his vaudeville de- but in Keith's this week, owes bis engage- ment to the circumstance of A1 Mayer's at- tendance at the amateur night of Miner's Eighth Avenue a week or so ago. Ilealy, who is 17 years old, came to the theatre straight from work, and wearing his mes- senger boy's uniform with the cap numbered 1156. Mayer liked the youngster and grabbed him off, uniform, cap number and all. Mayer says lie has Dan hooked well abend already. Alice Fitzgibbou of the Fitsgibbon- McCoy trio had the misfortune to break her ankle on Wednesday evening while appearing at Pastor's Theatre. Ir will ren- der her unable to work for Rome time. Lewis McCord is playing the Qrpheum Circuit with "The Night Before," an adaptation of "Her Lasl Rehearsal/' dis posing of the "Romeo* \ dummy is fastened to a stepladder. and Miss Elvia Hates "makes love to it" in lieu of a regular man. The new act gives Miss St. Clair more to do than did the previous one, and McCord makes bis entrance from the back of the house, reaching the si age with a flying jump over the boxes. CHAS. PHOITE DEAD. Charles Phoite-Pinaud, who in private life was Charles E. Hunt, died at Black- pool, England, on Jan. 21 last. He was born in Hoston about sixty years ago. He organized the Three Phoites, pantomimisti and grotesque dancers, and made his first professional appearance at Woodward's Gardens, San Francisco, in August, 1S74. the other two members being Joseph 0, Phoite, now retired and living in San Francisco, and Robert D. Phoite, the lat- ter now known as Robert D. Girard. Their first Eastern appearance was at the old Academy of Music, Chicago, in November, 187"), under the management of Leonard, Grover, Sr. The Phoites played all the Eastern variety houses, including Montpelier's, at Cleveland, Dan Shelby's at Buffalo and the old Howard Atheneum at Boston, then managed by John Stetson. In April, 1876, Robert joined the Girards, his place being taken by the late John Welch, of San Francisco. The Phoites continued to plav the variety houses and Tony Pastor's road show until April, 1877, when they sailed for England. They made their first appearance there at the Metro- politan Music Hall; also played the Ox- ford Music Hall at the same time, doing two turns an evening. Meeting with in- stant success, they played all the principal cities of Europe. In 1880 Chas. Phoite severed his busi- ness relations with Joseph and John and, taking Jillson and Reed, an American song and dance team into partnership, organ- ized the Phoite-Pinauds. The new act toured Europe and in 1883 played an en- gagement here with Herrmann's Trans- atlantic Vaudeville show. Besides being a clever performer and originator, Charles was also an artist and designer. His col- lection of postal cards and cartoons from all over the world are unsurpassed, having been on exhibition at Keith's BijOU The- atre. Post on. about two years ago, and were pronounced as unrivalled by all art- ists and collectors. Mr. Phoite retired from active profes- sional work about four years ago. He was visiting England on pleasure when death overtook him. EVEN BENEFITS. Louis Pimus managed a benefit affair III the Grand Central Palace Sunday even- ing for the benefit of the Daughters of Jacob. In the belief that at a benefit the law was relaxed, a regular .show was ar- rangt'd for but the police captain sent over ;i warning and the show was very con- siderably modified. P. J. Casey made his debut as a "super," playing a thinking part in the Brownings' sketch. The audience laughed at him, so he must be good. SHUBERTS AS DEPLETERS. Frederick Bond and company have can- celled all vaudeville dates in order to take a part in a new Shubert musical cornedv to be put on at the Casino in March. In this connection it may be mentioned that Adele Ritchie as a vaudeville headliner will 1< no more. She is to have the prin- eipal female pari in the forthcoming pro- duction. Another well known artist who is to he among those present at the Casino will be Tony Pearl, who, with his harp, was aforetime of the Lew Fields organization. DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT. Last Sunday the Morning Telegraph published a signed article headed "How to obtain a New York hearing," written to the smaller and struggling acts in vaude- ville The Whole gist of the article was "to advertise, advertise, advertise." It did not say to advertise in the Morning Tele- graph, but that is the natural presump- tion. It exploded the theory, founded on practice, th.it an act to be entitled to recognition must make a name for itself \>\ work, but advised that advertising would accomplish that result. Whether the article was written in the business otrice or the editorial rooms of t he Morning Telegraph is immaterial. It i» misleading and it is preferable that the writer be given the credit for ig- norance rather than that it is the in- tention to take money for advertisements from acts who can ill afford to spend one cent for anything excepting upon themselves and their material. The article is wholly wrong in toto, and no artist or act should be deceived by it. If you are struggling, advertising will not help you. You must "have the goods," which advertising won't give you, but the money which might be spent for publicity may be of great aid if judi- ciously expended on your offering. Don't worry about a "New York open- ing." Keep "a plugging" at your act. If you have any money, spend it to im- prove yourself. If you are of merit, it will become known in New York among the leading managers and agents. Be con- tent to play the smaller houses outside New York city. If you come to town, whether for a week or a day, be perfect, or as near perfect as possible. When ready apply to Tony Pastor for a date. He is the fairy god father to American vaude- ville. The Telegraph's article mentioned Harry Houdini as an example of what advertising does for an artist. Houdini is a clever advertiser, but never created a reputation lor himself through advert is ing in theatrical newspapers. He is in a peculiar line of work, and used the daily press to exploit his jail-breaking feats. He is his own best press agent, and has not bankrupted himself through paying for advertisements. Free publicity is something never to be ignored. Advertising will never bring you fame. Yon must earn it. Vaudeville managers know too much about the business to be lieve what you pay to say. Save your money; put it in your actj it's the only way. Variety does not scorn advertising. As a new-paper it solicits it. But Variety doesn't want advertisements placed in its columns under a misapprehension. VERY BUSY ON THE 20TH. Then' will be several new acts shown at the Hippodrome on February 20, three for the first time in this country. Woodward's Sea Lions will open on that day for their reappearance over here, and the Manello-Marnitz troupe of aero bats will perform in the circus part of the show. The (laudschmidts and Borsinis, two foreign acts, also make their initial Amer- ican bow at the same time. HEARD FROM. Egbert Van Alstyne and Louise Henry, after their reconciliation, fled the town and were not heard from until one day this week, when William Grossman, their at- torney, received from them an unhusked and unwrapped cocoanut bearing a Florida postmark. They have been having honey- moon No. 2 at Palm Beach. Jerome Re- mick, Lincoln J. Carter and S. '/.. Poli are among the others who are taking surf baths while we freeze. KERN HAS SETTLED. The act known as Kern's Dogs has finally released the Keith management from all liability for further engagements upon receipt of $400. The Keith people attempted ineffectually several times to induce Kern to relinquish the contract he held, and recently called him to the St. dames Building office, displaying what was to be his route. It read ''Baltimore, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Houston, Fort Worth, New York city." Kern remarked that that route would afford him an elegant opportunity to see the country, whereupon he was asked if he wouldn't accept a cash payment rather than play. Having received other time meanwhile, Kern acceded. SHEAN AND WARREN'S NEW TRAVESTY. On February 2(1 at Atlantic Citv will be revived the travesty "Kidding the Captain/ 1 by Shean and Warren, the prin- cipals of "Quo Vadis Upside Down." The comedy sketch is a burlesque based upon the historical rencountering* of the famous hero of fiction. Captain Kidd. FEARED PRESS AGENT. A police report the other day stated that Bonnie Maie. playing at the Co- lumbia Theatre, St. Louis, had fallen a victim to "Jack, the Slasher." In all probability the papers there would have used the story had it not been for the fad that it was known she has a press agent. MORTON QUIT. .lames .1. Morton did not play the <>r- pheum this week, the billing not meeting with his approval. .lames Thornton was I mi t in in his place and scored a trenicii dons hit. HERE'S JOHNNIE JOHNS. lolinnie Johns, who lias been away from vaudeville these two years, i*> coining back, opening at the Imperial March 5. Johnnie has been in business in Baltimore in the interval since lie ceased being a blackface comedian. He has had a mono- logue written for his new flight and will work in burnt cork as of yore. The Myers Keller linn is responsible. LIEBLER STAR ON THE VERGE. Through George Tyler, of Lieblcr & Co.. Mabel Taliafero. one of the linn's stars, now out with a road company, will enter vaudeville in a sketch. W. L. Lykens will have the direction. WILL ROGERS FOR GERMANY. Will Rogers, the lariat thrower, ha* been booked through M«. Shea for the Win tergarten in Berlin, opening about April 1. Alex. Steiner completed the arrangements.