Variety (Nov 1906)

VARIETY I By C. C. BARTRAM. VARIETY'S London Offict, 40 UaU street, W. The Oxford has just declared a midyear interim dividend of 8 per cent, and its full annual dividend will probably beat the 13 per cent of last year. During ten years past its dividends have aggregated 114% per cent, an average of nearly ll 1 /* per cent yearly. Its capital is $500,000 in $25 shares, and its reserve fund stands at over $200,000. Like most successful show shops it has a fine situation. Kate Karney," with a company of fifty in the Brighton Promenade, was the open- ing feature at the new Putney Hippo- drome on Monday, and the up Thames house was at times so packed that you couldn't get inside. It is very beautiful, as are all the new halls that are being put up in London. The old style places, with cramped stage room and deficient accom- modations, have had their day. Direct information from Buenos Aires shows that the closed Coliseo Argentino is likely to reopen as a legitimate estab- lishment, catering to drama and the very large operatic companies that invade music-loving South America. It seems there was a rare mix-up between Manager Frank Brown and the shareholders, and during the height of the fracas the place was closed three days, but performers got all their money at the finish. The share- holders alleged plunging and over-booking on the part of Brown, and on various pre- texts got rid of some of the attractions engaged, having more features coming than could be placed. During these complica- tions the sailing concession under which artists were brought on was cancelled. Possibly Brown's story would be dif- ferent from the above, and perhaps also we should consider the hot opposition of Richard Seguin, a born millionaire as well as a born showman, who put on tre- mendous bills. Without discussing further the pros and cons, it is certain that Frank Brown, "the old clown" of circus popu- larity, shook out on top in a way. His ironclad contract required a fat salary for some years and a percentage of the profits, and they say that before he was kind enough to clear out his feelings were soothed by many thousands of pesos (dol- lars). This shows that old clowns can be foxy as well as funny. Brown is still out with his circus and in this line he thor- oughly knows the ropes. My informant in these matters says some artists were killed in the Chilean earthquake, but their names could not be ascertained. He says great municipal im- provements are on in Rio Janeiro, where the Moulin Rouge is competing with the Casino. Old buildings have been torn down for a great sea front boulevard on the Parisian style, while new drainage and modern sanitation makes the port much healthier. Rio has the finest harbor in the world, dotted with islands and circled with cloud-haunted peaks as far as the eye can see, and has been described as "the fairest scene in the paradise of na- ture." The palm-set landscape looks like a tropical drop, and the one great offset to all this native loveliness has been the possibility of fever. Tom Dare and wife are remembered as having died here, but the "yellow jack" is becoming a thing of the past under the march of progress. In addition to his establishments in Buenos Aires, Rosario, Montevideo, Rio Janeiro, Santa Paulo, Santos, Bahia, etc., Richard Seguin has eyes on Europe and is about opening a place in Paris, said to be somewhere near the Circus Medrano. He also has designs on Lisbon, the city whose earthquake had 60,000 fatalities, which rather lays over Frisco. The mayor of that last place has just left here and says a new building has gone up every forty- five minutes since the shakedown; also that the new town will be one of the finest in the world for shows. The Coliseum reconstruction scheme is the thoughtful work of Harry Thomas and pending certain alterations may be adopted. Of Lyceum schemes we will hear no more till the auctioneer's hammer falls. Following London decisions as to the Lyceum and Coliseum, the Grimsby Hippo- drome has been compelled to pay taxes during its summer closing. It seem a fur- nished unoccupied house can be taxed, and furnished theatres are put in the same class. Two English actors have fallen dead within the last few days. Frank Bateman on the stage at Bilston, and David Henry Anderson in his dressing room at Rom- ford. The current Das Programm has some in- teresting information about the methods of the London agent V. Golden, who juggled some months ago at the Empire as Golden Michalini and who would seem to have incorporated some juggling methods into his office contracts. It seems the clog dancer Walter Plimmer denies any deal with the juggler, though on his letter- heads is printed "Golden and Plimmer." The sale of the Queens, Glasgow, after being publicly advertised, was postponed to suit an appeal. Rent is in arrears for two quarters. Variety was introduced last Sunday in the marble salon of the Cri- terion restaurant, a first-class magician featuring amid elegant concert turns. Manager Walter Gibbons, who is build- ing such a beautiful chain of amusement palaces around London and whose affilia- tion with the Payne circuit is generally understood, was taken suddenly and alarmingly ill this week and an immediate operation for appendicitis was deemed necessary by two surgeons in order to .save his life. The incision was safely accomplished and Mr. Gibbons is steadily mending. Every one hopes he will be able to see the opening of his Brixton Hippo- drome December 3. Its license, as well as that of the Empire, Camber well, was opposed last Monday (licensing day), but opposed in rain. AUSTRIAN NOTES. By TOM HEARN. Dresden, Oct. 31. Dresden is a nice city, but the directors of the theatres are tough propositions. I signed three contracts for Tichy in Prague and am still as far away from playing there as I was before I signed. The first contract read for France; in this they bested me on exchange; the second had the cancellation clause after three per- formances; I pencilled that out. Then my agent guaranteed the salary in a let- ter asking that I keep it as the contract. I did so. After waiting three weeks he asked me to play a few nights over which would interfere with my future dates and I called the whole matter off. It seems a pretty bad condition where the agent must guarantee the artist's salary. The ques- tion of money exchange should be con- sidered by the artist coming over here. The trick is practiced in several points in Germany; also in Holland. The contract reads for payment in French currency, but the franc is less than the mark or krone. Contracts should specify payment in cur- rent funds. In Spain, however, money fluctuates so rapidly that no safe provision can be made. The feature at the Central Theatre here this month is Morbitz, Germany's second comedian (Otto Reutter being considered the best). Morbitz is very good and his comedy finale always scores a hit. I am second feature. We are the only two comedy acts on the bill, yet follow each other. That is the German style of put- ting a bill together. Max Waldon, the impersonator, is a terrific hit. He undoubtedly has the act for this country. The many changes of characters and costumes seem to guar- antee him a success anywhere over here. Les Trentanovis, two women gymnasts, would be a good act for America. Their finishing trick is one of the women swing- iwg the other around by her arms ten times. The Fergana Trio, two men and a girl, are one of the successes. They closed the third night, however, owing to a breach of contract three years ago. They were afraid they would not receive their salary at the end of the month. It seemed poor business policy by the management to allow a first-class act to leave when the matter could have been compromised. This act at the time of the breach was in America. The director here was written to with a request to be released from the Dresden date. He insisted upon the ful- filment. The trio answered all right if he would advance the fares home. This was refused and the management sued the act. An attachment on the salary fol- lowed last week, although the judgment was over two years old. The director here is supposed to be a good one. Some later time will write what some of the other managers here "pull off." There are two girls who play violins on the bill. They are in comedy makeup but work "straight." It is so funny you have to laugh. Another act. the Lind- stron Terzette (four women), attempt to sing. They ought to go in for wire walk- ing. There is as much chance. Neither weighs less than 200 pounds. At the Victoria Saloon Acosta, a jug- gler, and the Wolwosky Troupe are about the best on the bill MASSE AND FISCHER WRANGLING. Julius Fischer, who is acting for his brother Clifford during the latter's ab- sence in Europe, and Leo Masse, New York manager for H. B. Marinelli, are having a tempestuous time these days en- deavoring to retain the right to book Ru- tin's Monkeys over the Morris circuit of houses. Both claim the exclusive booking franchise, and both are endeavoring to col- lect commissions whenever the monkeys play a week. They have been writing each other letters, using huge German swear words, and scowl at each other when they meet in the hallway of the Hol- land Building, where both have offices. Matters finally came to such a pass that "Pat" Casey threatened to thrash both if they didn't behave. As a matter of interest, the act was in reality originally booked for America by H. H. Feiber for the Keith circuit, and he consented to permit Thompson & Dundy to play the animals at Luna Park all last summer with the understanding that they were to play for Keith with the opening of the regular season. And as a further mat- ter of record, neither Fischer nor Maase will have the handling of the future book- ings, as they will shortly play a route arranged for them by Feiber. Meanwhile both the Fischer and Mari- nelli offices claim that they are receiving from William Morris' office one-half of the 10 per cent, booking fee being deducted from the Raffin salary. One or the other of them is prevaricating, unless Miss Raf- fin is paying 15 per cent commission. STOCK AT LION PALACE. Preparations are being rapidly made for the Holland Theatre, formerly the Lion Palace, at 110th street and Broadway. It is planned to conduct the playhouse as the home of a stock company, alternating with comedy and dramatic successes. Arrangements have been entered into by which a number of the old Charles Froh man successes will be secured. A compe tent company is to be employed and the first engagement for the cast has been al- lotted to E. J. Ratcliffe. Vaudeville is to be presented on Sundays and a roof garden entertainment is planned for the summer months. "A MIRACULOUS VOICE." Un/ler the direction of Arthur Hopkins. Kdna Murray, a young woman said to possess a marvellous "freak" voice, will appear in vaudeville. The Sunday papers have devoted a large amount of space to the tale of how Miss Murray at the age of sixteen, without ever having been pre viously suspected of possessing a singing voice, suddenly discovered her accomplish ment. It has puzzled scientists who made a study of the mystery. Mr. Hopkins will give the set a set- ting which will raise it out of the straight singing class. Keith's Theatre in Philadelphia, through its manager, H. T. Jordan, presents gratis to the artists playing. 1 here a cover for orchestra music with the name of the recipients embossed upon the cover. The gift is much appreciated. The Keith house house in the Sleepy-town has grown about the most popular on the circuit through the courteous consideration always shown by Mr. Jordan and the stage manager, Guy Lafferty. ■>