Variety (June 1906)

VARIETY THE SITUATION. There lias been no material change in the vaudeville situation from one week ago as far as the managers are concerned. The Morris office and the Keith Agency- have neither decreased nor increased their bookings. Plenty of rumors are in circulation, mostly concerning the intention of the art- iste. One plan fathered by a prominent artist of considerable means was the gath- ering together of all influential artiste in a big stock corporation, with a paid in capital at the start sufficient to ensure confidence in the stability of the company and induce other capital. The formation to be on business lines for the purpose of sending out road com- panies to the number of fifteen at least, carrying nine acts and guaranteeing thirty weeks. The plan is regarded as visionary, for under certain conditions that much time could not be secured. The coming week will undoubtedly de- cide the attitude of the SullivaniOonsidine circuit. It is understood that John J. Ryan, the president of the company owning the cheaper circuits, has declined all over- tures made on behalf of the Keith inter- ests on the ground that an affiliation with Keith and. the Western Vaudeville Asso- ciation would not be beneficial. Some of the houses east of Chicago are capable of presenting first-class attractions. It is be- lieved that Ryan favors booking through the William Morris office and entering into active competition. It depends a great deal upon the final decision of the Sullivan-Oonsidine circuit what the immediate outcome will be. If it concludes to enter the Morris office, available time for all acts will be at hand. The talk of Keith-Proctor taking over the New York Theatre and the effect upon Hammerstein caused considerable com- ment. It is hardly to be expected that Hammerstein will be forced by this move into the Keith office for protection that can not be given there. Unless Williams went with him, Hammerstein would be far worse off than at present. The Keith peo- ple in possession of the New York will not be in a good position as Apposition to Hammerstein unless time is found for large acts after playing that house. One week will not satisfy big salaried aets, and Keith has this problem to solve. The artists are still perplexed, awaiting an announcement from either side to help toward a determination where most favor able time mav be had for next season. SULLIVAN-CONSIDINE EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING. Chicago, June 1. A meeting or conference is being held here to-day of the executive powers of the Sullivan-Oonsidinc and International Theatre circuits. John J. Ryan, the president of the com- bined companies, and John W. Considine with William O'Brien are talking matters over. Another executive board meeting will be held next week in New York City. It is possible that at that time will be de- cided the future policy as regards bookings. J. AUSTIN FYNES WITH KEITH. The upshot of the recent connection be- tween B. F. Keith, F. F. Proctor and J. Austin Fynes is that Mr. Fynes will go abroad acting as the agent for the new combination. It will be Mr. Fynes' mission to bring the foreign vaudeville managers together as a component part of the Keith circuit, giving the Keith Booking Agency an in- ternational power. Mr. Fynes has not given out his date for sailing, retaining that as a secret, but it will be shortly, and he will be accom- panied by Philip K. Mindil, who has been associated with Mr. Fynes in his many ventures. Mr. Fynes while abroad may organize the foreign office the Keith people have decided upon maintaining, but he will not assume personal charge of it. CIRCUS MEN REPORTED DEAD. Chicago, Juno 1. A cablegram revived here says that "Tom" Fitzgerald of the Great Circus, Australia, and his manager, Frank Jones, died in Burmah, India, of Bright's dis- ease. Owing to the peculiar wording of the message further word is being awaited before the announced deaths are believed. Robert Brough, an actor-manager, is also reported to have died at Darling Hurst, Now South Wales, after a short illness. FIELDS SIGNS VICTORIA. From a wireless message returned to New York by way of Liverpool it became known during the week that Lew Fields has engaged Vesta Victoria for his Herald Square Theatre company for next season. Mr. Fields and Miss Victoria left New York on the same boat ten days ago and the contract was closed during the voyage over. Miss Victoria will l>e at liberty to return here around the latter part of Oc- tober, contracts binding her up to that time. If able to secure a. release she mav return in time for the season's opening. NO K. & E. SHUBERT ALLIANCE. There is no truth in the rumors that there are negotiations under way for a combination between the Klaw & Erlanger syndicate and the Shubert-Belasco-Fiske alliance, according to a theatrical manager in a position to know\ Several attempts have periodically been made to bring the two factions together, but at the present time there is no unusual effort in that direction, according to the same authority. HUGO MORRIS GOING ABROAD. On June J) Hugo Morris, a brother of William Morris, occupying a position of close business relationship to him also in the letter's booking office, will sail for J&urope. THE NEW YORK THEATRE. There is a prevailing impression that the New York Theatre will be added to the Keith list next season as a vaudeville house. The Keith people some time ago at- tempted ineffectually to start this rumor on the rounds, believed then to be for the purpose of gaining Hammerstein's Vic- toria for their own in the matter of book- ing. William Hammerstein when asked re- garding the possibility said : "It does not concern us at all. Mr. Keith could open a theatre next door to the Victoria and not draw one of our patrons into his house. He can not give the show we do. I doubt if any patron of the Victoria ever saw a Keith bill. Tf that happened, it was once only." EASTERN WHEEL LOSES SULLIVAN & KRAUS. Sullivan & Kraus with three burlesque theatres in New York City, removed those houses (Dewey, Gotham, Circle) from the Eastern to the Western Burlesque Wheel on May 20, leaving their former associates in the Eastern WTieel with no New York City theatre. Besides the houses mentioned the trans- action takes "The Moonlight Maids," a burlesque organization travelling under the name of Dave Kraus as manager. Whether Sullivan & Kraus have actu- ally joined the Empire Circuit is not known, nor will any one in possession of the facts make a statement to this effect. The information obtainable is that the houses credited to the firm have been leased to the Empire Circuit. Under an agreement thought to be iron- clad, Messrs. Sullivan & Kraus and all members of the Fastern Burlesque Wheel were bound unto each other under a for- feiture clause for non-fulfilment of con- tract. The damages in this ea-se would amount to about $80,(M)(| if the courts (where the Eastern people will carry the matter in an effort to restrain the Sulli- van & Kraus houses from playing the Western Wheel shows) decide that the transfer is valid. The transfer may have Ikjcu made by Sullivan k Kraus on the understanding that provided the courts interfered or any action was taken by the Eastern Wheel resulting in their disadvantage the trans- action would be void ami the former state of affairs prevail. The leases and title holders for the property and houses of Sullivan & Kraus are in the names of "dummies," and this will present a point for the legal ex- perts to decide, the contract with the Eastern Wheel having having been en- tered into by Sullivan & Krau* as a firm. The Eastern Wheel members are not- cast down over the loss. A member said this week: "We have all formed now into the Columbia Amusement Company and are not in fear that another member of the Wheel will desert. We shall be guided by legal advice in the fight we in- tend to make against Sullivan & Kraus. At present we are tied up through having no official information that they have left us. We can only wait until the season opens and present our shows at their houses. We meet next week for our annual route drawing. No New York time will be lost. We shall have three houses to play our shows in as before, if we are unsuccessful in restraining Sulli- van & Kraus. It is not advisable at this time to tell which three they will be." EASTERN WHEEL CLAIMS STAIR. It is claimed by the Eastern Burlesque Wheel that F. W. Stair, now a member of the Empire Circuit (Western Bur- lesque Wheel), With a burlesque theatre in Toronto, will l)e added to the Eastern list shortly. James Lowrie of the Empire Circuit de- nies that this will eventuate, stating that it is impossible for some reason which Mr. Lowrie would not state for Stair to leave them. Mr. Lowrie also denied the truth of the report that Drew and Campbell had any intention of leaving the Western Wheel. AN.IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD OR- y GANIZATION. "The Comedy dub" formed in the past ten days will undoubtedly develop into what will be a most important move to- ward the thorough organization of the vaudeville artists of America. As the name implies, the artists be- longing to the club will be composed of the comedy acts of vaudeville, and all the standard acts of that description will be invited to join. At the present writing about fifty have been enrolled as mem- bers, but until fairly founded the names will not be announced. Will M. Cressy has been chosen presi- dent and the membership list already car- ries the most prominent comedy acts in vaudeville. The objects of the club are not ag- gressive. It has been organized to place the most essential factors in vaudeville in a body where the strength of the organiza- tion could be thrown at any future time, either collectively or individually, into a larger body if that should be ultimately formed. Believing, as the organiser! do, that comedy rules vaudeville and that the busi- ness could not be successful without it, the club was inaugurated for the purpose of protection to its members. It will act as an incentive for the various other lines of endeavor in the vaudeville field to organize, enrolling themselves in some organization formed or to be formed for the mutual protection and self-preser- vation of the vaudeville artists as steadily advocated in Variety. Mr. Cressy, the president of the society, says regarding it: "I am not to be con- sidered the founder or originator of this society. The Comedy Club is an organ ization of the comedy players of vaude- ville. It is for the benefit and protection of members. For the gaining of an equi- table contract between the manager and the artist. Also for a better railroad rate. It is not to be composed of only 'head liners,' but 'comedy acts' solely. "No 'down with the managers' or 'strikes.' It is strictly a mutual benefit scheme. For our protection and the man- agers'. "There are many sides of a social, pro- tective and fraternal nature. Vaudeville to-day is a different proposition from fif- teen years ago. The artists are of a dif- ferent calibre. They are business people now, capable of doing business with busi- ness men in a businesslike way. No 'labor union' idea prevails. Any concession that may be won by a strike may be won with- out one. "Playing six days in one. theatre and then paying carfare and baggage trans- portation to give a gratuitous perform- ance in another is not right and is going to result in trouble. Cancelling acts on Fridays and Saturdays before the follow- ing opening Monday is another wrong to right. "It can all be remedied in fifteen min- utes by proper representatives, without trouble or strike, when a reliable organ- ization is had. "The Comedy Club is here. It is mighty good and I'm 'for it.'" "Joe" Pincus is now with Jack Levy. WANTS NAT GOODWIN. A message was received this week from Ixmdon authorizing a New York agent to secure, if possible, Nat Goodwin for the \/>\\ Fields company.