Variety (November 1907)

VARIETY VAUDEVILLE MANAGERS HOLDING MEETINGS Orpheum Heads Visit K. & E. Headquarters and Broad way is Left Guessing what it all Means. United Revives "Legitimate" Scheme. The rumors of the past week crediting an impending amalgamation between the opposing vaudeville forces had its foun- dation in the visits made to the offices of Klaw & Erlanger in the New Amsterdam Theatre building by managers attached to the United Booking Offices. These meetings sent reports fly- ing, and due to the appearance of the Orpheum men at the K. & E. offices, they took the form of insisting that the Orpheum Circuit intended to "jump" from the United side to "Advanced Vaudeville." Any information.bearing upon the terms and conditions discussed at the different meetings has not escaped. The prevailing impression was that the Western people, including the Orpheum Circuit and Kohl & Castle, of Chicago, brought pressure to bear upon the foremost managers of the United, obliging the latter to enter again into negotiations with the opposition. The success of "Advanced Vaudeville" in the West, where it has directly affected the circuits mentioned more strongly than any of the Eastern houses, caused the Western- ers to take the step. E. C. Kohl came on from Chicago last Sunday, remaining in the city for three hours, when he returned home. During his brief stay Mr. Kohl consulted with his Western confreres, and the presence in New York of Mr. Meyerfeld portended some- thing of importance when his visit length- ened beyond a week, his usual stay. Both sides admitted on Thursday that meetings had been held, but stated that > nothing was developed by them that might have at any time led to an amalga- mation. A leading manager of the United gave it as his opinion that the proceedings of the week placed the factions further apart than ever, and as far as can be learned, there was at no time any definite propo- sition submitted by either. The ending of all overtures looking to an amalgamation led the United managers to revive the legitimate scheme evolved by them last summer of placing a circuit of theatres over the country to play at- tractions in opposition to the "Syndicate." On Wednesday, after conferring for the entire afternoon, a statement was sent to the daily papers by the United Booking Of- fices giving the information that under a mutual agreement arrived at there would be a legitimate circuit of theatres operated next season by the vaudeville managers. Several houses were mentioned, the Bos- ton Theatre, Fifth Avenue (New York), Montauk (Brooklyn), Princess (San Fran- cisco), Chicago Opera Hoiks (Chicago) being among them, and the statement said thirty consecutive weeks would be offered productions. , At the Wednesday meeting, held in the St. James building, a list of available legiti- mate people, culled from among those not now playing under any of the K. & E. affiliated interests, was gotten together, and included legitimates at present in vaudeville on the United time. It was an understanding of the meeting that all managers having houses in the larger cities should furnish at least one theatre for legitimate purposes, while the larger managers should supply three each, the Orpheum Circuit being called upon for sis. Instructions were given agents booking through the United to submit names of all people they could procure froui the legiti- mate field. Two committees were appointed, one composed of Martin Beck and Percy G. Williams to take charge of the production end, and another to give all attention to vaudeville, the' managers assigned to the "legitimate" branch being practically re- lieved at their option from further atten- tion to their vaudeville house. It was said that $1,500,000 had been subscribed by the United managers for the venture. AUDITORIUM KEEPS UP BUSINESS. Chicago, Nov. 1. Immense business at Klaw & Erlanger's Auditorium keeps up. Reports emanating from Western Vaudeville Association people that Chicago is being "papered" by the Auditorium seems to have not the slightest foundation. No trace of any free passes excepting those given legitimately to persons entitled to the courtesy of the house can be discovered. The Majestic plays to capacity at both shows daily almost, while the Olympic and Chicago Opera House have light matinees but fair evening attendance, without ca- pacity in either at any time. The Hnymarket is doing a fair business daily, at both performances. MAYBELLE GILMAN'S SISTERS HERE. They're here, the Gilman Sisters- Eunice and Pearl—with their mother and a bunch of baggage. The Gilman Sisters arrived to-day and yesterday, the girls traveling apart from each other, but with escort. Mrs. Gilman is on the ground also, and Jos. Shea has the act. Mr. Shea says $1,000 will secure the attraction for which the billing will read "Maybelle Oilman's Sisters," and on the billboards somewhere room may be found for "Corey." The girls do a "sister" act. Managers say if they do not have to depend over- much on the billing matter, engagements will be forthcoming. The sisters played in the West before marching upon the East. BENTHAM HAS HAINES. When "The Rose of the Rancho" closet* at the Belasco Theatre Robert T. Haines, "f the company, will essay vaudeville with tli<' assistance of M. S. Bentham. Mr. Haines has a sketch and Mr. Ben- tham is looking out for the time. "PICTURE SHOWS" CROWD OUT VAUDEVILLE. The vaudeville venture at the Grand Theatre started some four weeks ago by Henry Pincus in Passaic, N. J., will be dis- continued this evening, and Monday the house will open with a dramatic stock com- pany headed by Hal Clarendon. The enterprise opened with big business, but attendance fell off steadily. Mr. Pin- cus attributes the failure of the vaudeville policy to the fact that upon the opening of the Grand as a variety house the moving picture establishments fought the invasion by putting in several vaudeville numbers to attract business. The innovation caught on and the picture places practically monopolized local patron- age. In addition to this competition other picture shows started up until there were seven operating within half a dozen blocks of the Pincus house. The moving picture industry has re- ceived a tremendous impetus since last spring. W. B. Pyle, formerly manager of the Parlor, in York, Pa., spent most of the summer and fall searching New York State, Connecticut, New Jersey and Penn- sylvania for an unoccupied theatre in some of the promising smaller towns, but found that all available sites and buildings and been taken up by the picture shows. FOREIGN ACTS CANCEL. Two foreign acts, both women, have cancelled their contracts over the K. & E. time. Mile. Murger, who played at the New York for a time, but was then shifted to the Montreal K. & E. theatre, found relatives in that city upon her arrival and has remained in Montreal since. La Camargo, the Spanish dancer, who did not play in New York, asked permis- sion of Louis F. Werba, Klaw & Er- langer's general vaudeville manager, to se- lect her own place on the bill for a test. The dancer informed Mr. Werba she did not wish to remain over here if her success was in doubt. The position asked for was given and La Camargo flopped over. She ttoejn announced her contract would be de- stroyed. BIGELOW POSTPONES. Charles A. Bigelow, the comedian, will not be in readiness to play vaudeville by Nov. 11 for Klaw & Erlanger. Mr. Bigelow is under contract to the Shuberts for the season. He is "fussy" over the selection of his vaudeville piece and the failure to become satisfied he has the proper material for a vaudeville entry is delaying him. MANN IN NEWARK MONDAY. Louis Mann in his comedy sketch will play Klaw & Erlanger's vaudeville for the first time next Monday at the Shubert, Newark. The Newark theatre of K. & E.'s is har- boring Blanche Walsh this week, a pre- vious booking with David Belasco through the Shuberts for the house compelling the temporary evacuation of vaudeville. HOWARD'S MUSICAL COMEDY. Chicago, Nov. 1. Next March there will be a new musical comedy produced in the New Princess Theatre here. The piece will be written by Joe Howard, Hough and Adams. Charles K. Harris will have the publica- tion rights to the musical numbers. "DIABOLO," LONDON'S RAGE. London, Oct. 19. "Diabolo," the spinning bobbin, the last variation of the antiquated "Devyll on two styx," is the current craze. It's a stick in each hand and a string between, used to whip like a top a spool with an hour glass waist that runs upon the cord. All the practice fiends are after it, and the Royal Ilolboin 'has featured Marcel Meunier, a Parisian boy of 14, with a record of throwing the spinning bobbin (5.000 times without missing. He is said to have acquired the diabolo eyebrow, while his arms have the diabolo twitch. He spins it lying on his back, on cords tied to his ankles, etc. «He also puts it through Japanese top spinning work, running it up a string, catching it on crossed sticks, etc. He was honored with a special command to perform at Marlborough House, where he gave an,exhibit ion before the Prince and Princess of Wales and the royal children. This has boomed the sportive bobbin that winds no thread, and now we have diabolo songs and jokes, while the game, rather a la tennis, had arisen to the pitch of high insanity until the record rain now falling drowned it off the fields and lawns, no doubt to be resumed again when nature ceases weeping. Meantime diabolo troupes have appeared upon the continent, and Ostoald Sfoll (Moss-Stoll tour) has Nicole^/for whom he removed the sliding roof of the Hip- podrome so he could throw the bobbin up through the opening and catch it. Down Kennington Road double somer- saulting gymnasts have ceased risking necks to whip the drivelling spool. But such things travel, and no doubt some of the hustling jugglers are doing it for you now, while Spalding and the department stores are selling the paraphernalia. MURDOCH AFTER FEATURES. Sir Charles Wyndham, the English actor- knight, is a vaudeville possibility. Alfred Courtenay, the London agent, has under- taken to represent J. J. Murdock, of the Western Vaudeville Association, in placing before Sir Charles an offer for an Amer- ican appearance. In a letter to Robt. Grau this week Mr. Courtenay declared his opin- ion that the actor-manager would entertain an offer if the consideration were sufficient- ly attractive. Mr. Murdock's offer is said to have been $2,500 a week for a stated number of weeks. These terms were contained in a cable sent to Sir Charles. He is now playing at the Haymarket, London, but closes his engagement to-night (Saturday). His present play, a new drama, will be produced in New York by one of the Froh- mnns within a short time, but the knight- ed actor will not be a member of the Amer- ican company. This explains why he is open for a vaudeville engagement. MORRIS JOINS AGENTS. The Associated Vaudeville Agents, the lately formed society of the New York commission men, received two new mem- bers at the last meeting. One was Will- iam Morris, the other Maurice Boom. At the meeting the new members wer«' elected. James J. Armstrong presided, and it was said Mr. Armstrong had been elected president, that office with William L. Lykens having been temporary only, but a member stated this week that Mr. Ly kens still remains the president.