Variety (February 1909)

8 VARIETY 8-COUNT 'EM-8 BILLS TO REGULATE SUNDAY SHOWS New York Legislators Have All Sorts of Schemes to Pick From in Settling Vexed Question. There are eight different theatrical bills before the New York State Assembly awaiting a vote. In each case they pro- pose some regulation of the Sunday per- formance question. Every degree from the "wide open" to the "still" Sabbath idea is represented. Here they are: (No. 88) Introduced by Mr. Voss and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. Proposes the appointment of a commission of nine members, to conduct an investigation into the tangled legal phase of the Sunday question, such com- mission to be empowered to subpoena wit- nesses, examine public documents bearing on the matter and administer the oath. They will report their recommendations back to the Assembly, incorporating their views in suitable form. A fund of $6,000 is ordered appropriated for the purpose of the commission. The Governor will ap- point three members, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House the same number each. (No. 307) Introduced by Mr. Caughlan and referred to Committee on Codes. Im- poses strictest rules on Sunday perform- ances. It proposes to amend Section 277 of the Penal Code so that 'Vaudeville mov- ing or stationary pictures or views" may not be exhibited on Sunday "except under the direct control and supervision of edu- cational, charitable, benevolent or relig- ious institution, where no admission fee is charged or collection taken." (No. 157) Introduced by Mr. Qluck and referred to the Committee on Codes. About to the same effect as No. 367, ex- cept that the institution which handles the performance is not expressly prohib- ited from charging admission. The per- missible entertainments must be "sacred concerts," including opera singing, mon- ologs and "vaudeville acts other than laborious ones." Just what the scope of a "laborious vaudeville act" is is not specified. (No. 171) Introduced by Mr. Cuvillier snd referred to Committee on Affairs of Cities. Gives local legislative bodies such as aldermanic boards the right to pass ordinances to regulate Sunday perform- ances within their own jurisdiction, such ordinances to be considered to supersede the restrictions of the Penal Code. (No. 145) Introduced by Mr. McGrath, and No. 163, introduced by Mr. Gluck, are about to the same effect, while No. 150 (Mr. Gluck) provides for local option by amending the Greater New York Char- ter. Another, the most recently intro- duced, offers the same remedy. CLAIMS "NOT ORDERED." Peter S. Clark complains that a state- ment in a recent issue of Variety makes it appear that he was ordered to revise his "Runaway Girls" by the Columbia Amusement Co. officials. On the contrary, he declares he was dissatisfied with his first part and voluntarily arranged to re- place it with a new piece. "William Lytell," Clark says, "is not the 'official repair man 1 of the Columbia Amusement Co., and he was not engaged by them to stage my new first part. When I was in New York, I secured & book for a new piece from Gus Hill to- gether with a set of scenery. I met Mr. Lytell in Mr. Hill's office and as he was familiar with the book I engaged him to put it on. The Columbia Amusement Co. had nothing to do with the transaction." SERVED THE MILLERS. The management of "The Queen of the Moulin Rouge" served The Whirlwind Millers with papers in a legal action while the couple were watching a burlesque show at the Murray Hill Theatre this week. The exact nature of the case is withheld. At the Circle this week, where "The Moulin Rouge" show is playing, Coccia and Amato have been added to the pro- gram as a special dancing feature. They may remain with the piece. MORE KIDNAPPING. "Is it any wonder," said a burlesque manager this week, "that some of the Wheel shows have difficulty in getting good principal women. Everytime a bur- lesque manager discovers or trains a thorns girl to handle a part properly, one of the Broadway musical comedy 'snatch- cm' comes along and takes her away. "Only a week or so ago, one of the principals of 'Miss New York, Jr./ was lured Sway. The women seem to prefer a place at smaller salary in the Broadway choruses than a part in a Wheel produc- tion. I for one, do not know how we're to get over the difficulty. The so-called managerial associations appear to offer no relief." ' IRWIN FOR "THE BIO SHOW." Fred Irwin, the burlesque manager, who has been starting his contemporaries and the natives with his two productions, will devote his attention to Irwin's "Big Show" next season. Mr. Irwin says it will be larger than his present "Majesties," which will tour the Eastern Wheel once again as it is now composed, with perhaps a few minor changes in the cast. "The Big Show" will have all new scenery and be fully and newly equipped. The scenery will be built in Mr. Irwin's own studios in Philadelphia. It is said that commencing with next season. Mr. Irwin will have a special ar- rangements with the Eastern Wheel whereby he will be recompensed in the houses played proportionately to the ex- pensive outlay he makes on his shows, and the amount of business they draw above the average receipts of the theatre. The other evening in speaking of his organizations this season, Mr. Irwin said: "If I had all the money my shows have been obliged to turn away since leaving Kansas City, I could build a theatre of my own on Broadway. Mind that I say, 'turned away'; not what we have played to." Madge Dahl, an accomplished song-bird whom Mr. Irwin added to the "Majesties" while in Brooklyn, is appearing but once during the performance leading an opening chorus. When the manager was asked how long he had Miss Dahl signed for, the sen- tenous answer came: "For life." WHOLE SHOW IN HOSPITAL. Murphrysboro, 111., Feb. 18. Sixteen members of a one-night stand burlesque organization managed by Harry Hastings, are in the hospital here. The whole cast received serious injuries Tues- day in a train wreck on the Illinois Cen- tral in which four passengers were killed and thirty-six injured. None of the theatrical troupe was fatally hurt. The train was running at fifty miles an hour across a trestle when it struck a loose rail. Four cars were derailed and thrown dOwn the embankment. JACK WARD. LULU BEBSON. THE LULU BEESON TRIO. ■DDH WKBEB. MARION'S LAST SEASON. This will be the final season in bur- lesque for Dave Marion, the leading light and producer of "The Dreamlands." He is a well-known comedian as well as a stager of pieces, having been interested in many productions made by the Miners, with whom Mr. Marion has been associ- ated for some time. Rumor has been current for a couple of seasons that Mr. Marion was headed for Broadway. It is expected the an- nouncement will soon be forthcoming of his appearance there, probably in a musi- cal piece of his own construction. GRANT STRANDS AGAIN. Chicago, Feb. 18. The Chicago American received a dis- patch on Saturday that Cliff Grant, the vicarious burlesque manager had again stranded, this time at Ottawa, Kans. Grant has kept the papers busy this season mentioning his mishaps. He was formerly the manager of a reg- ular Wheel organization, but since leaving the circuit, has been "turkeying" about. John A. Flynn claims a copyright upon "The London Gaiety Girls" as a name, and also says that Grant has been billing his shows under that caption. Flynn is now with "The Cow Boy and Sweetheart" Company, playing in Kansas. DENIES SPARROW MOTION. Judge Holt, in the United States Circuit Court, this week declined to grant a new trial to the Sparrow Amusement Com- pany, of Montreal, in its action against op- position burlesque managers. The case has been tried three times, and Judge Holt expressed the conviction that the plaintiffs had had every opportunity to sustain tlieir contentions. It is presumed that this decision will close the incident. APOLLO OPENS IN WHEELING. Wheeling, W. Va., Feb. 18. The Apollo opened here Monday under the management of Harry Rogers and Edward Franzheim. It will play the shows of the Empire Circuit Company (Western Burlesque Wheel). The com- panies reach here from Pittsburg and move on to Washington. "Uncle Sam's Belles" was the opening show, and gave satisfaction. The Apollo has a seating capacity of 1,200. It is a modern theatre in all respects, special attention being given to exits. A device by which one whole side of the house can 1k> thrown open, gives egress on the main street of the city. The house staff is made up as follows: H. W. Rogers, manager; C. LeRoux, a* sistant manager; James Richardson, stage manager; Frank Warner, assistant stage manager; George A. Becker, musical di- rector: Joseph Kletezy, treasurer, and Jesse Shellcross, advertising manager. At Keith's Hippodrome, Cleveland, this week, and will open at the Olympic, Chicago, Feb. 22. preliminary to a tour of the Orphcnm Circuit. THE LULU BEBSON TRIO la thla seaeon'a aenaatlon among what are known aa "ringing and dancing acta, ' Mlaa Beeaon baring taken her offering out of the customary understanding of that category through a scenic equipment, caualng the turn to be picturesque aa well aa entertaining. $1,100 FOR MILLIE. New Orleans, Feb. 18. Millie De Leon, "The Girl in Blue," de- scribed by her husband as "the world's greatest physical culture eccentric dancer," has been engaged as an extra attraction for Mardi Gras week at the Green wall. Several weeks ago Miss De Leon oc- cupied a like position at Greenwall's, and, working on a percentage basis, drew down nearly $1,100 as her share of the receipts.