Variety (September 1908)

VARIETY 11 ARTISTS' FORUM Stt Fraadaco, Sept. 12. ville Association on the 29ta fey of 1908, by Wm. Westin, their representatlre at Denver. The terma and conditions of this contract state that we are to have eight-weeks' work commencing at the Empire Theatre, San Francisco, on July 13. This contract has been broken, as we have only received three-weeks' work. I went to Mr. Burns, the San Francisco representative, and he told me he could do nothing for us, gave no reason, and, in fact, said plainly he could do nothing further for the act. Do you think it just that after artists lay out over $130 in transportations to come thousands of miles on an eight- week contract, they should only receive three weeks? We have the assurances of the managers here that our act made more than good, and that we have given eminent satisfaction. I only desire to publish this so that others who may be unfortunate enough to get these contracts will know just where they stand and what treatment to expect. Pierca and Roslyn. [The copy of contract enclosed between the Western States Vaudeville Associa- tion and Pierce and Roslyn contains no cancellation clause. In all other respects, the letter speaks for itself.— Ed.] Watertown, S. D., Sept. 18. Editor Vabdctt: You have no doubt heard of "rube" managers, but here is one that has them all beaten. I am writing this for other artists who may play this time. This manager (t) has the Orpheum at Watertown, South Dakota. His name is Bacon. Two shows nightly and change act on Thursday. This is our last week around here, hav- ing played eleven weeks before this. We opened here Monday night to 100 people (two shows), small house but very appreciative. Bacon was on the stage during the two shows. We were talking to him. The act went good considering the small audi- ence. He did not say anything until we were leaving for the hotel. He called me back and said: "Say, I don't think I can use your act, it ain't strong enough." I said: ".What! are we closedT" He said: M I ain't said I would shut.you; but you come back in the mornin.' I am callin' up the booking agent." Saw him the next day, and he said: "I'm gittin' a team from another agent." I asked him what was wrong with our act; that I thonght the audience liked it from the way they encored and laughed. "Audience," says he; "I dont care a darn what they think. The acters that come in here air to please me; I am runnin' this show house, and I've had a hull lot of acters here. I dont think your act is funny enough fur the front end of t k» the week, so I. didn't know if you would be funnier at the hind end or not." I snowed him where we had been play- ing tfcia act for two years, and we were ■ever closet "Wett," says he, "yon said in yer let- ter you writ me that it' was a comedy, and I ain't seen yer fall once, or I ain't seen your wife doing any funny things. I know what I want." I could tell, you a great deal more re- garding this Rube's idea of running a "theatre." In conclusion will say if you want to please Manager (?) Bacon put on "Razor Jim" or something like that. I am staying here this week studying Bacon. I see a chance to get up a good comedy act by impersonating him. Harry Clifford, (Clifford and Aimes.) Boston, Sept. 19. Editor Vabdctt: We wish to inform those who donated towards the burial of the late Mrs. Ches- ter Jordan (known \o the profession as Irene Shannon) that owing to the rela- tives of Chester Jordan claiming the body at almost the last moment, the amount collected, $56.15, has been turned over to the Actors' Fund by consent of the ma- jority of contributors. It was impossible to reach each indi- vidual. So we placed the money with the Actor's Fund, where it will do some brother or sister professional good in the future. P. Francis and Mabel Joyce. Los Angeles, Sept. 10. Editor Variety: In my statement in Variety of recent date I quoted Fondft, Dell and Fonda as presenting,a copy of our act. Mr. Dell's reply was that he had used the same in 1001, naming four small Northwestern houses long since out of existence. I have hunted for over a month, but can locate no one formerly connected with them. The light effects could not possibly be used in places mentioned. Furthermore, a dark house would not be allowed, nor could these have had the facilities. Our light effects were used from '08 to '00 in the East. A few of those billed with me then are Dan Burk, Armstrong and Nolly, Nelsons, Gardner and Stoddard, Morrello Brothers, Tommy Hayes, The Chamber- lines, and others. Also used part of the light effects in Scotland and England in '06 and '07, played with Bobbie Leo (Leo and Tip), Jack Lowie (Lenhardt and Lowie), Minta and Paul, Joseph Blamphin (Blamphin and Nehr), Alf Olen, and others. (All are now in this country). There can be no doubt that Fonda, Dell and Fonda are a copy act. Will Campbell, v . ... The Tennis Trio. - ■ . ir. Lawrence, Mass., Sept. 20. Editor Variety: Regarding Mrs. Spooner's statements in Variety of current issue, would say the article in Variety Sept. 12 was absolutely correct (aside from instead of August read July). I have no desire to injure Mrs. Spooner anyone,else, but when I am wilfully mi s r e presented I am forced to reply. When I met Mrs. Spooner at the 125th Street Theatre I did not say the sketch is no way resembled mine—I purposely "held myself in," as I thought the matter better discussed by my lawyer than by myself in the foyer of a crowded theatre. When I left the MSS. in Brooklyn I was not told it was useless, but that the decision rested largely with a Broadway firm who had just phoned her relative to a tryout by the stock company of a full version of the play. Her use of lines, transposition of scenes, and entire speeches have been verified and I can prove they are not in the Hungarian version, nor in Mr. Fiske's version, nor in Mr. Savage's version, but are original with me and could have been secured no- where else but from my MSS. Had the act continued to play an in- junction would certainly have issued. If, as Mrs. Spooner says, and I wish to &c lieve, she did not read my MSS., she was woefully imposed upon by the person (whoever he may be) who adapted her "version." My play is on file at Washington. I have affidavits as to the use of the lines in question and as I am quite busy play- ing my version of "The Devil," so far as I am concerned, the matter is closed. Preston Kendall. ROCK TAKES WAYBURN'S PLACE. "Mr. Everybody," with Ed Wynn and Company, a C. L. Waterbury vaudeville production, did not open at Poli's, New Haven, Monday, as scheduled, owing, it is said, to Ned Wayburn's failure to carry out an agreement to handle the staging of the piece. "The last quarter of the act," says an announcement from C. L. Waterbury <k Co., "consists of scenic and property ef- fects which had never been rehearsed. Mr. Wayburn, who was staging the act, had worked out these effects but had never properly explained their exact use to the company. "He called a rehearsal for 11:30 Satur- day night, but failed to put in an ap- pearance until 2 o'clock. Rehearsals could not then go on. Mr. Waterbury took the work out of Wayburn's hands and William Rock was put in charge. It was found that the act could not be placed in shape in time for presentation this week. Mr. Rock is now re-staging the piece, and it will be ready for production next Monday." ANOTHER AGENCY IN CHICAGO. Chicago, Sept. 24. Another booking office has started in the city. It is conducted by J. C. Morris, and known as "The American Vaudeville As- sociation." Morris recently appeared in a Hindoo act called "Rismorc." He is booking everything from "amateurs" to vaudeville theatres in and around Chicago. COLLINS COMING EAST. John Collins, of the Western Vaude- ville Association staff, leaves Chicago next Sunday for New York. Melntyre and Heath will hold over next week at the Majestic, Chicago, not playing the St. Louis engagement. A BIG SHOW IN LONDON. What $6,000 is to New York, $2,500 is to London. A globetrotter only can tell if this ratio prevails in all things inter- national, but at least it does in vaudeville. For the week of Sept. 7 at the Tivoli, London, a neat little music hall in the English metropolis, there was a bill which read like a third alarm sensation in shows. The program was headed by Harry Lau- der. Beside him were Marie Lloyd, Bill Dillon, Wilkie Bard, Adrienne Augarde and Company, John Le Hay and Company, Will Evans, Daisy Dorner, Two Arnartos, Leonard Barry, Sam Mayo, Shand, Mar- garet Ash ton and Les Frasettis. There may have been a few other small turns on the program, but with this array of talent, and what might have been, the total cost to the management was not over $2,300 for the week, according lo "the man who knows." The Tivoli plays one show nightly, with but a single matinee weekly. Its total gross capacity ia about $5,500. A comparative bill in names and rank at Percy G. Williams' Colonial, New York City, say, would give the artists a first lien on the property, the monied capacity being insufficient to settle the contracts at the present American market quota- tions. But in England, and more especially London, the turns play two, three or four halls nightly, reducing the salary propor- tionately to each management. BIG FAIR ATTRACTIONS. The Brockton Fair, the biggest event of the sort given in the East, opens Tues- day for four days. An elaborate bill of out-of-door feature acts has been brought together for the annual occasion by J. Harry Allen. The show, to be given on the two plat- forms and arena facing the grandstand includes The Seven Grenatho Sisters, acro- bats; "Three Demons," cyclists; Six Fly- ing Banvards, aerialists; Manuel Herzog's Stallions; Eight Vorlops, whirlwind dan- cers; Kishizuma Troupe (5), Japanese; Rex Comedy Circus; Speedy, wire walker; Three Clares, gymnasts; Five Kellos, "Monkey Frolics at the Zoo"; Duffin-Red- cays, casting act; Omega, wire-walker; Four Dieke Sisters, equilibrists; Grenado and Fedora, wire artists; Manuel Herzog and Josephine Koubeck, high school horse act; Four Nelson Comiques, comedy acro- bats; Sisters Heduric, Elli and Janes, high wire, and Prof. Dewar's Performing Dogs. "SUNDAYS" RESUMED IN BOSTON. Boston, Sept. 24. Last Sabbath witnessed the general re- sumption in Boston of Sunday concerts. The authorities, who practically closed the theatres on the seventh day last spring, let it be understood that their attitude is now sufficiently modified to permit the giving of an entertainment within re- strictions. Comedy acts of all sorts arc burred, as well as "cirrus" acts, and only talking, singing and musical numbers are permit- ted. All makeup and cost unit; changes are prohibited and the ruining or lowering of a curtain forbidden. Another concession by the authorities is the granting of pei mission, withdrawn last spring, for -rnoUng in the burlesque houses. The removal of this order was announced last week.