Variety (Mar 1907)

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a VARIETY K. &. E. SIGNING^ CONTRACTS Will Open Four Houses in April — William Morris Exclusive Agent On Thursday, after the printed forma of the contract gotten out by William Mor- is arrived in his office, about fifteen were filled out and signed by the artists and Klaw & Erlanger. The time given each artist ran from twenty to forty weeks. Most of the con- tracts called for next season's engage- ments. It is understood, however, that Klaw &, Erlanger will open four of their the- a tree for vaudeville during the month of April. All axe located outside New York City and Brooklyn. The Garrick in Philadelphia is scheduled, as already announced, to play vaudeville on April 22, but the opening may occur before that date. It is reasonably safe to suppose that the Academy of Music in Baltimore is another; the Boston Theatre in Boston the third, and either the Lyceum Theatre in Buffalo, or the Columbia The- atre in Washington the fourth, with the indications favoring the Washington house. William Morris refused any information as to the opening of the K. & E. theatres when seen on Thursday. Mr. Morris said that when the time arrived for a statement Messrs. Klaw ft Erlanger would issue one, and he thought that within the course of the coming week, a full announcement would be made by the firm. Mr. Morris did not deny that the houses as mentioned above had been selected but would not confirm it. He stated that the contracts had been signed by Klaw ft Er- langer, and that more would be entered into as fast as the artists' signatures could be secured. A great many acceptances, Mr. Morris said, were from artists playing out of town. Owing to the delay in procuring the new form of contract, no agreements had been entered into in writing as he did not care to use his old form. When asked to confirm the report that he had entered into a contract with Klaw ft Erlanger to represent them exclusively as booking agent for a term of years in their vaudeville ventures, Mr. Morris did so, but declined to divulge any of the terms of the contract between himself and K. ft E M or to give the length of life it had, excepting to say that he was fully satisfied with it in every way. ««1 •Exclusive Booking Agent" has only one meaning. All acts and artists playing the vaudeville time of Klaw ft Erlanger will have to book through the office of William Morris. The announcement that Mr. Mor- ris had secured a contract with this condi- tion caused considerable surprise. Without a house of his own; with not a manager of importance left in his office, it was not generally supposed that Klaw ft Erlanger would delegate Mr. Morris as their exclusive agent, but rather place them- selves in a position to accept acts from any agent or direct, with a leaning towards the Morris Office. A. L. Erlanger, of the firm, was asked for a statement for this week's issue of Variety, but replied he was not ready at the moment to give one. Mr. Erlanger said he thought that by next Saturday a full and comprehensive announcement could be made, and he considered it wiser policy to wait until he could go fully into the details. The managers connected with the United Booking Offices decline to look upon the opposition of Klaw ft Erlanger as real. The impression in public is given that the whole affair is a "deal" for K. ft E. to rid themselves of the New York Theatre, al- though they admit that if the firm obli- gates itself by thousands of dollars through signed contracts, it must mean something, but wind up all arguments by adding "Wait until the contracts are signed—if they are signed." If Klaw & Erlanger contract for fifty artists at an average of twenty weeks each, that will entail a liability of $250,000, at the very least. If contracts are entered into to any extent at all it will require few to involve the firm for $1,000,000 and upwards. The feeling grows stronger daily that Klaw ft Erlanger are in vaudeville to stay. Mnr. Erlanger'8 interview in last Sunday's "Herald" convinced many skeptics up to that time. It has been reported that Mr. Erlanger informed E. F. Albee, the general manager of the United Booking Offices, that no amount of money could dissuade him from his Vaudeville idea. The artist is watching the proceedings complacently. With Klaw ft Erlanger in vaudeville as opposition, the artist is opti- mistic over his future. MARTIN BECK RETURNING. Martin Beck, general manager of the Orpheum Circuit, and one of the Western Vaudeville Association pillars, is due to ar- rive in New York on Wednesday, March 6, fmm London. MILO ON THE ROOF. When the opening performance is given on Hammerstein's Roof this season, Milo, the female study in bronze, who has been causing talk on the other side through the generous display of her proportions, pro- tected only by a coat of bronze, will be among the attractions. Upon the foreigner proving a success, it may be expected that a flood of "Milos" under different names will spring up all over the country. LOST $i,ooo IN PROPERTY. Altoona, March 1. The Moulier Sisters, a German bar act, played the Lyric last week. They did not remove their effects from the theatre, and when it was destroyed by fire on Satur- day night, the girls' property was con- sumed at the same time, bringing about a loss of $1,000. They claim the United Booking Offices is liable. It seems they had their date for this week shifted ahead, and in con- sequence, were in no hurry to remove their effects from the theatre. After the fire, the sisnrs said that had not their tiii»e ncen shifted, they would have been working, making the "jump" immediately. On this view they are claiming the full amount from the New York offices. NO KEITH-SHUBERT DEAL. A rumor during the week had it that the United Booking Offices and the Shubert Brothers would form a one million dollar corporation for the purpose of fighting the Klaw ft Erlanger vaudeville invasion through the legitimate houses. The scheme, as talked about on the street, was to give the best attractions on the Shubert list when opposing K. ft E. houses at popular prices, and in cities where the United Booking Offices placed their vaudeville attraction, but which were devoid of Shubert theatres, the vaudeville theatre in that town would be given over to the use of the Shuberts for a week or more at intervals during the season. Other schemes were also embodied in the idea, which upon investigation seemed to have no basis. TO LEGALIZE SUNDAY SHOWS. In Albany the Legislature is awaiting the presentation of a bill by a New Y/i Assemblyman authorizing Sunday concerns, with certain restrictions. M. S. Bentham is active in support of the measure, which will be introduced, it is believed, on behalf of certain New York theatrical managers who closed their house on Sunday nights during the present season, preferring not to run the risk of a conflict with the local authorities. A manager this week in speaking of the measure said that he knew the contents, and even though it were passed by the Legislature, the benefits under it would not materially improve the present situation in its legal aspect. This manager also said what is generally known that any attempt to give liberty in the larger cities on the Sabbath will be strenuously opposed by the "hayseed" legislators. NORA BAYES GONE ABROAD. Norah Rayes, the singing comedienne, sailed 7ast Wednesday for Paris for the purpose of further cultivating her voice under the tutelage of Sara Robinson Duff, who gave Miss Bayes her early vocal training in the same city. Miss Bayes has an optional contract to appear under the management of Charles Dillingham in a musical piece next season. She says if the part allot- ted is satisfactory, she will return to ful- fill that engagement; otherwise an offer the singer has received from Geo. Edwardes in London may be accepted, and Miss Bayes remain permanently on the other side. DOROTHY RUSSELL SINGLE. Dorothy Russell, it is said, has aban- doned her latest vaudeville venture, "The Teddy Bears," because of a disagreement with her leading man, Harry Watson. She is now seeking engagements for herself in a single singing act, promising that she will put on another "girl act" as soon as it can be prepared. WALTER JONES HAS A PARTNER. With the separation of Mabel Hite and Walter Jones, Mr. Jones announces that he will hereafter appear with Madge Vin- cent in vaudeville. The nature of the offering did not accompany the announce- ment, although this is supposed to be a matter for after consideration, following a consultation with M. S. Bentham, who will book the new act. COMPLICATED IN ST. LOUIS. St. Louis, March 1. That St. L<»uis is in a big vaudeville war is apparent. The new situation will be brought about here by the entrance of the Oppenheimer Brothers, now building the "American Theatre" at Seventh and Market streets, booking through the Morris office. St. Louis has a population of sufficient size for at least two first-class vaudeville houses. There is no city in the United States of similar size with so few the- atres. T. R. Tate, of Middleton & Tate, who control the Columbia meat re and other popular price houses in St. Louis, said: "Mr. Middleton and myself are partners with Stair & Havlin in our St. Louis houses and four in Chicago, and are not in alliance with Klaw & Erlanger. We will retain the Columbia as a first-class vaudeville house, and spend considerable money in improvements for the coming season. We will run the Grand Opera House for continuous vaudeville at 10, 20 and 30 cents, and book all shows hereto- fore seen at the Grand in our new $300,- 000 theatre at Eighth and St. Charles streets, which will open next September. The new theatre will seat about 2,200. "As regards the vaudeville situation which, it is claimed, will be developed here, we are not disturbed." ZANCIGS GOING ALONE. Commencing Monday, March 4, the Zancigs, "thought transmitters" who created a great deal of discussion in Lon- don among scientists and others, will commence a road tour, playing provincial towns, under their own management. They have been well advertised through- out Great Britain, and were given con- siderable prominence by the English press after appearing twice before England's King. Mr. Zancig is of the belief that had he been properly handled when first appear- ing in this city, a similar result would have followed. The mind readers first played in New York City on Hammer- stein's Roof. They closed the show, and what remained of the audience each night had to huddle close to the "stage to hear the questions and answers. Zancig's opinion is not shared by show- men here. While it is admitted the con- ditions were unfavoiable for a sensation such as they achieved in London, the American public is not quite as gullible as the English. Over in London they refused to believe that the Zancigs were human and the brainest men in England's largest city expressed wonderment at the exhibition, believing in its genuineness. Even so eminent a newspaper man as W. T. Stead, on the other side, and Alan Dale over here have expressed absolute faith in the mental telegraphy the Zancigs claim to possess. Mr. Dale was much im- pressed by a lengthy article of a Columbia University professor in physiologic I re- search, printed as an expose of the Fays in which the learned college man cit<><l the Zancigs as the "real article." Gallagher and Barrett received an <>fYor to play "The Battle of Too Soon," their latest comedy sketch, with a burlesque company next season, a contract for forty weeks at a large salary being part of the bargain.