Variety (Feb 1906)

VARIETY Why the Vaudeville Artists of America Should Organize Ever since its initial issue Variety has urged upon the vaudeville artists the need of an organization, but while many im- portant players have fully indorsed Va- riety's point of view, each hesitates to take the initiative, holding a lively re- membrance of the White kat strike and fearing a repetition of that fiasco. It is true that there is at present an organization known as the Associated Vaudeville Artists of America, a large but quiescent body, but what is needed is a society along somewhat different lines. The White Rats was originally pat- terned after the Water Rats of London, in which George Fuller Golden claimed membership, a statement denied by the English body. The Water Rats gained their title from their water excursions on the Thames, and was in theory, if not always in prac- tice, a social and not a belligerent or- ganization. Managers have learned, somewhat to their sorrow, that a serious affront to a Rat was regarded as affecting the entire body, but the society still remains more of a social than an offensive alliance. The White Rats were also started with the idea of promoting sociability, but it soon developed into an organization to bring about certain needed reforms. To this end the qualifications for ad- mission were lowered, and any performer in good standing and possessed of the initiation fee was enlisted in the cause and put through a parody of the Masonic ritual. Then came the decision to make a show of power. A grand rally was arranged for in midsummer, and every member of the order was to be present on that occasion, leaving the manager without good attrac- tions and demonstrating his need of the Rats. A number of members actually gave up time held for that week, some of them finding it necessary to cancel their West- ern time to do so. Some other Rats stepped in and booked this canceled time and gave a black eye to this proceeding. At the same time the growing body became impatient at the inactivity of the directorate and a strike was arranged on the Keith circuit. It was a hurried affair, a man being sent out overnight to each house to notify the Rats and await a keyed telegram. One of the strike managers employed the time while waiting by booking him- self in the house where he was to man- age the strike, but he called the strike when the telegram came, and that night some of the strikers called the Rat office MARINELLI'S LETTER TRANSLATED. The letter written by H. B. Marinelli to the International Artistcn Loge in Ger-. many in answer to one previously for- warded to the same body by B. F. Keith, appears in Das Programm in French. Mr. Marinelli is said to be well satis- fied with his epistle, which created quite some talk, and report has it that the international booking agent has his pen in perfect condition for another combat. on the long distance telephone and sang the emblem song over the wire to the Big Chief. The strike of the actors was won at that time, but they did not realize that the rest was merely the arrangement of details, and they prepared for a more sweeping demonstration. The bars were let still further down and every man and woman who would join was initiated. There was a heated conference in the association office, anoth- er in the Rats' headquarters, and a strike in all houses was ordered. Everywhere the artists went out, few among the number holding back. For a time the lyceuin artists made hay while the vaudeville artists hung about the headquarters, where revival meetings were almost constantly held. There were a few houses taken by the Rats for bene- fits, including the notable affair at the Academy of Music, and then, on the mere promise of those managers whom the of- ficials had denounced as liars and thieves, the strike was broken. Already there had been serious defec- tions from the ranks, men and women dropping out because they could no longer remain without work, and because the re- lief fund did not relieve except in certain cases. Others who had had money when the strike commenced had either loaned it to the order or had spent it in their own maintenance, and they too were dropping out. The loyal ones, who did remain, re- alized that the end had come, and went away. Within three months every promise made by the managers had been broken, and the sole lasting result of the strike was that certain artists were marked as anarchists and some of them even yet feel the effects of their partisanship. Victory had been gained before the big strike was called. It was lost before the strike was called off, and all because those at the head of the organization were long on oratory and short on a sane apprecia- tion of the true state of affairs. They were carried away by the excitement of their own speechmaking and the turmoil. This is the history of attempted organi- zation in this country. The White Rats are quiescent, the Associated Vaudeville Artists are unambitious. What will come next ? Variety will from week to week con- tinue this scries, giving the reason why the vaudeville artists of America should organize, not for aggressive or dominant purposes, but for self-protection. Tts col- umns are open to all. artists and mana gen alike. Epe* W. Sargent. POSSIBLE LOSS OF $500. "The Circle of Death," said to be a European sensation, in which a man rides a "loop the loop" above a den of lions, was to have opened last Monday at Miner's Bowery Theatre. Owing to the size of the stage the act could not be shown. It will be seen on March 5 at the Eighth Avenue house. Loss said to be $500, through the oversight of the architects. BOWERY. There is a real old-timer at the Bowery this week, where they are not afraid to show their chorus girls und where tights are still considered gixnl form. They call it the Washington Society Girls, but that is but a foolish pretense. Any one would recognize the outfit as "Billy" Watson's old American Burlesquers. These mem- bers of Washington society are not of the sort that attended the Roosevelt wedding. They more nearly suggest the sort the police warned away from the gates, but they are personable, and like a well regu- lated side of pork with alternate strips of fat and lean that all tastes may be .suited. They have an imposing olio, but the sensation, the cycle whirl over a den of lions, docs not come off, as the stage is too small. Instead Ah Ling Foo does a weak copy of Ching Ling Foo's bowl trick in conjunction with some much older work. The real hit is Dave Marion, who is genuinely funny with an adaptation of some English songs. He makes use of the chorus for street scenes, but his best work is a hare-lipped person in argument with a policeman and a passer-by. There is real low comedy in this; a little too rough for the straight houses, but of wide appeal. With some toning down his act could be made to fit elsewhere. West and Williams tell some historic jokes, and West acts as kittenish as a soubrette— not a light matter for a man of his weight. They made good with the audi- ence, but they did not deserve their hit. Kldora did some good juggling with light and heavy objects. lie has dropped Nor- rine to the advantage of his act. Did he take the trouble to make the act look important he could do much better in a salary way. He has some good work, but lacks showmanship. The Lynotte sisters have two songs. They did very well with the first, but horsed up on the second and got off without a recall. They dress well, which is the best to be said for them. Elsa Leslie, said to be an imjunta- tion, did not show to very great advan- tage. She has only a fair voice, and a son£ was more of a hit than the singer. Krausmeyer's Alley, one of the old acts of Watson's, is made the afterpiece with an Irishman and German as opponents instead of a Hebrew. It moves the spirit ' and while it is not clever it is entertains the crowd. The opening is a new version of "Pinafore." If Watson imagines that he has improved upon Gilbert and Sulli- van he is in error. It is not even a good afterpiece, though it has been in use some time. There is nothing much to be said of the individual work; the chorus gives the effect. Chicot. TESTIMONIAL TO PAUL DRESSER. In order to provide a permanent resting place for the remains of the late Paul Dresser, his friends and business asso- ciates headed by George Hontaill are ar- ranging for a monster memorial testi- monial to take place at a Broadway the- atre some time in March. It is hoped also to realize a sufficient sum to make provision for an aged relative left almost destitute. One of the features of the pro- gram will be tableaux vivant review of Mr. Dresser's famous song hits. AL REEVES' EXPENSIVE DOG. St. Louis, fleb. '22. Peggy, a $J,tHN) bull-dog owned by Al Reeves, started in to •clean up" to day. A trolley car interfered for a moment, but after Peggy had sampled a passenger and the conductor the dog was given the right of way. Upon being captured it again broke loose, biting a horse. It cost Reeves about ijMMM) to keep the animal alive. Mr. Reeves says the dog wasn't mad, just showing what he thought of St. Louis. VICTOR MOORE HIGH-TONED AL- READY. "I don't think it will become neces- sary for me to return to vaudeville," said Victor Moore, who 'fell into some- thing" in "Forty -five Minutes from Broadway," the Geo. Cohan piece at the Amsterdam. Many have counted chick- ens, etc. Vaudeville did more for Moore than Moore ever did for vaudeville. MISS GEBEST ENLARGING. Gertrude Gebest, who was seen last sea- son at Keith's in her "Jockey Act"—a sort of monologue, with singing and mov- ing picture accompaniment—has added un- der herself a full grown male quartette, who dispense melody behind the moving picture drop during the progress of the picture reel that shows a horse race under full head of steam. The quartette is composed of William Schultz, Fred Reiger, Edward Rubb and Thomas Harvey. SQUELCHED THE SPECULATORS. The speculators who have gathered around the Alhambra Theatre in Harlem on each Saturday night were successfully driven away by Manager Robinson on that evening last week. Intending pur- chasers of the sidewalk operators were informed that the tickets would be re- fused at the door. This was done, and when the purchaser attempted the ruse of walking around the block and again presenting himself, the ticket was dis- honored for the second time, Mr. Robin- son having taken a mental photograph of the holder. ^ , i__ There were four of the "slight-advance- in-priee" gentry, and uj>on being offered the return of their money for the amount of tickets they held (about $30 in value), it was declined, the speculators informing the manager they would rather destroy them. No sidewalk men have since appeared in Harlem. DEATH OF ARTHUR V. COLE. Aaron Cohen, known to the profession as Arthur V. Cole, died at his residence. 121 East 108th street, February 15. He played Joe Weber's part in "Hoity Toity" for several seasons. He was a cousin of W. W. Watson of the Oriental Burlesquers. For several years he did a turn with J. Theodore Murphy. The team was known as Murphy ami Cole. Mr. Murphy is greatly affected by the news of Cohen's demise. James Thornton is playing the Colonial and Alhambra this week. "R. G.'» MAY RETURN. The monologist, R. G. Knowles, has left South Africa for Australia. From the lat- ter place he intended going to India, but may return direct to the United States on account of the liberal offers he has re- ceived to apj>ear here.