Variety (September 1908)

8 VARIETY ANONYMOUS REVIEWERS. Road managers of the Empire Circuit have been receiving numerous "sugges- tions" lately, forwarded from the Cincin- nati headquarters of the Western Bur- lesque Wheel. In addition to the reports furnished the executives of the circuit by the house managers, the "inspection" com- mittee have designated certain reviewers, the identity of whom remains secret. These deputies inspect the different shows, for- warding reports unsigned. The recom- mendations are in turn submitted to the individual managers as suggestions, there being no directions that they must be fol- lowed. This scheme is followed to offset a de- feet in the inspection system as now ap- plied. It happens, it has been claimed, that house managers are biased either in favor or disfavor of companies by personal friendships or enmities and the dislike of making enemies among the producing managers. The fact that under the "anonymous" system the writer of the report remains unknown to the owner of the show makes him free of this feeling, and the heads of the circuit have picked men upon whose candor and skill they can depend. PATERSON AND SCHENECTADY SPLIT. After four weeks' trial of Paterson (N. J.) and Schenectady (N. Y.) as week stands, the Empire Circuit last week sent out a new schedule in which both theatres (Electra in Schenectady and Jacob's in Paterson) are allotted only three days each, splitting a week between them. One explanation is that opposition was threatened. Another is to the effect that Paterson was shown conclusively to have been unable to support a full seven-day stand. The latter is accepted as being the most likely motive for the change. PUT ON NEW SHOW. Jacobs A Jermon's "Greater New York Stars" are playing in New Orleans this week at Green wall's with an entirely new show. When the "Stars" opened in Cincinnati earlier in the season adverse reports were sent in about its merit. Harry Jacobs "jumped" from New York to Cincinnati. A few days later he and his assistants had the company rehearsing two new pieces. The manager remained with the organi- zation coaching and suggesting until At- lanta. A dispatch from New Orleans Mon- day gave the receipts for the Monday performances as well above $1,000. Pat Reilly is the feature of the show. IRWIN'S LARGE COMPANY. Chicago, Sept. 24. Fred Irwin, who was in the city last week with the "MajesticH," says he doesn't know the exact number of people carried with the show. Mr. Irwin says so far fifty-eight fares every week have been paid for, and when salary day comes around he has to call the roll. The company had difficulty in finding adequate dressing-room space in one or two threatres. Several of the choruR were compelled to dress in the hallways, using their trunks for make-up tables. A new first part is being prepared by Ernest Rackett for the "Majesties." It will be produced in about two weeks. OFF ON INSPECTION TOUR. Sam A. Scribner, J. Herbert Mack and L. Lawrence Weber, after a brief trip to Philadelphia, left New York Tuesday for their three weeks' tour of the Eastern Burlesque Wheel, of which they are of- ficers. They will inspect the shows, and where they are not up to standard, will order changes and improvements. Once they have given directions to trav- elling managers, the latter will have four- teen days' grace. Then they must sub- mit programs of the new shows to head- quarters in New York. These will be compared with the reports received week- ly from house managers all along the tour, and as a final checking-up system a special agent will be sent around the circuit to report on the shows individu- ally. For the rest of the season this agent, who will remain unknown, will move from «tsnd to stand, inspecting shows and re- porting back to headquarters. While away, Messrs. Scribner, Weber and Mack will close the deals for the new Eastern houses to be operated at Minne- apolis and St. Paul next season. FLATBUSH HOUSE PROGRESSING. Shipments of structural steel, which were somewhat delayed, have begun to ar- rive and work on the new Casino in course of erection by the Empire Circuit Company in Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, is progres- sing rapidly. The contractors have agreed under a forfeiture clause to turn the theatre over to the Western burlesque bookings by February 1. PROTESTS TO MANAGERS' ASSTf. Henry Jacobs, of Jacobs A Jermon, the Eastern burlesque managers, has lodged a complaint with the Producing Managers' Association, in which he sets forth that Ed. Morton, the "coon shouter," has evad- ed the obligations of a contract entered into last January. At that time, declares Mr. Jacobs, Morton signed a contract bind- ing him to give his services to Jacobs A Jermon during the season of 1906-00 for one of their burlesque shows. Some months before the burlesque sea- son opened Morton gave to the firm a notice in writing that the contract was cancelled by virtue of a "two weeks" clause. The contest arises partly over this point, the managers declaring that Morton had no right to cancel until after the actual beginning of the season. The Managers' Association, of which Jacobs is a member, supports him in this conten- tion, while the White Rats, of which Mor- ton is a member, interpret the clause to mean that the artist may cancel the en- gagement at any time after signing the agreement. Mr. Jacobs declares that he offered Mor- ton an opportunity to buy his release when he first made known his intention of cancelling, and makes his present stand upon the point that he had had special paper printed for Morton, amounting to 3,000 sheets, valued approximately at $100. A clause in the contract provides that any act or actor cancelling shall be liable for all special paper still unused at the time of his retirement from the com- pany. Mr. Jacobs insists that the amount involved in the printing bill shall be set- tled before he will legally release Mr. Morton from the agreement. The asso- ciation has the matter under considera- tion. PIERCE'S STATEMENT. Harrie R. Pierce, former manager for "Uncle Sam's Belles" (Western Burlesque Wheel), takes exception to the charge that he attempted to hold up that organ- ization when it played Jersey City two weeks ago. "I secured an attachment against the show in Jersey City at ten o'clock Satur- day morning and had it served before noon, paying a special fee in order that bonds could be filed and the company would have no trouble in making its next stand. It is not true that I instructed the sheriff to hold back service until the scenery was loaded on trucks and started for the sta- tion. "My attachment suit was not for salary. I have a contract with Isadore Block, of Washington, under which I am entitled to an interest in the show ('Uncle Sam's Belles') and also to all my expenses in putting that show on. It is this that I sued for. My contract with Block to act as manager of the show contained a two- weeks clause, but the partnership agree- ment, which my lawyer has in writing, did not provide for any cancellation. I have in contemplation a suit for an accounting under this latter instrument. "My only desire at this time is to set myself right with the Empire Circuit peo- ple, who have been led to believe that I purposely tried to prevent the TJncle Sam's Belles' company making its jump out of Jersey City." WILLIAM BONELLI IN BURLESQUE. Thomas W. Dinkins has entered into an arrangement with J. Bolton Winpenny, of Philadelphia, whereby he will put out "The Wise Guy," played last season on the Western Burlesque Wheel by Edmund Hayes. Hayes made a contract giving Winpenny control over that piece in bur- lesque for four years, only one of which has been played. William Bonelli (husband of Rose Stahl) has been engaged by Mr. Dinkins for the company, which opens on the Western Wheel time at Scranton, Oct. 5, taking the route drawn by Campbell A Drew, and exchanged with that firm when the open- ing of Winpenny's Philadelphia theatre as well as his burlesque show were de- layed. Hayes opened the season this year in •The Wise Guy" in the "Mardi Gras Beauties" on the Eastern Wheel, but was prevented from continuing by injunction proceedings brought by Winpenny. WOMEN ATTENDANCE INCREASES. Chicago, Sept. 24. "'Censored Burlesque' and 'Clean En- tertainment for Self-Respecting People,'" are the captions employed by Manager N. H. Hen-man of the Star and Garter to attract the women theatre-goers who have heretofore thrown up their hands at the idea of visiting a burlesque theatre in this city. This season the number of women at the burlesque houses has increased. It is evident at the Star and Garter, Empire, Folly and Sid J. Euson's. The improve- ment in the shows this season is largely responsible. CHOOCEETA ON TRIAL. Chicago, Sept 24. The trial of "Ghooceeta," the "eooeh' dancer who was arrested recently while ap- pearing at a burlesque house here for "wiggling," commenced Wednesday in the Criminal Court. The dancer was brought on from Cleveland to stand trial. AdeJph Marks appeared for her. I. H. Herk, the manager, who was concerned in the mat- ter, is not connected with the present prose- cution. Much difficulty was experienced in select- ing the jury. Many clashes between coun- sel occurred, and these became sensational at times. The reform leagues furnished the main witnesses against Chooceeta. The import- ant point is of the costume worn by her. The outcome is looked upon as favorable to the dancer. REEVES LEAVES COHAN SHOW. Boston, Sept. 24. Al Reeves, one of the stars with Geo. Cohan's "American Idea," playing at the Hollis Street Theatre, gave two weeks' notice to the management last Thursday of his intention to leave the show. He will stop playing some time next week, when "Bob" Dailey will take up the part, going into New York with it. It is commonly supposed that Mr. Reeves, having been his own "boss" for something like 25 years, felt the restraint of a manager over him irksome. He is credited with having scored a hit in his role, a very good one. Al Reeves will return to "Reeves' Beauty Show," now on the Eastern Burlesque Wheel. Andy Lewis, the present feature of that organisation, will organise a new company for travel over the same circuit upon Mr. Reeves re-entering the cast. PREPARING SUIT. Rankin Jones, general attorney for the Empire Circuit Company (Western Bur- lesque Wheel), was in the city Monday morning of this week. It was presumed that the purpose of his visit was the preparation of the Empire's suit against Sullivan A Kraus for an injunction to re- strain the latter firm from playing any attractions but Western burlesque shows in the Dewey and Gotham Theatres. It is denied that Mr. Jones agreed with the opposing counsel that the plaintiffs in the matter should bring no further in- junction suits before the United States Court for this district, thus restricting themselves to an application for a com- mission to take testimony before that tribunal. "We made no agreement," said an Em- pire Circuit man this week, "that could in any way be construed as binding us to any course of conduct. If we please we may go before the same court immediately with our original suit." Hayes and Suit, with a new act, are ready to reappear around here after being away for nearly three years. Wesley A Pincus have the act. NO MINER-ADLER DEAL. The deal between the Miner Estate and Jacob Adler, the Yiddish actor, for con- trol of the .Grand Street Theatre is tem- porarily off. It is said on behalf of the Miner family that they stood ready to carry out the negotiations on their original terms, but Mr. Adler at the last minute interposed terms which were prohibitive. The matter may be settled up later, but for tfc* present all bets axe off.