Variety (May 1909)

VARIETY 13 OPPOSITION'S FIRST ANNIVERSARY. (Continued from page 3.) at the American, New York, turning that house from a lukewarm attraction even with a big drawing bill into a howling suc- cess with any old show at all. The leasing of the American Music Hall, Chicago, formerly the Garden, was termed a ridiculous move by his ad- versaries in the vaudeville game, but the American, Chicago, jumped into favor from its opening day. Mr. Morris' latest, The Plaza, New York, bids fair to follow the Chicago ex- ample. The handicap at each theatre is the capacity, a defect in both which will be remedied during the summer months. The Morris Circuit has to its credit for the vaudeville season ending many acts and novelties, native and foreign. Due to the size of the circuit and the limited booking scope, there has been some annoy- ance caused acts through enforced idle- ness or lengthy "jumps," but the com- plaints in the main have been made by the foreign turns. The Americans as a rule have been guided by the desire to aid and uphold "the opposition." The blacklist" maintained against the independent circuits by the Urge vaude- ville booking agency proved no hindrance to Morris. A great many people are of the impression that the "barring" procla- mation issued against Morris has been his greatest benefactor this season. It is matter of record that following the is- suance of the edict that any act work- ing for Morris would be "barred" for two seasons brought the opposition man- ager an influx of the best numbers. Many guesses and surmises have been uttered by the competing managers as to the financial sponsors for the Morris Circuit. No one seems to know. The "information" given to the large agency managers may be easily traced to its source. That part of Mr. Morris' vaude- ville enterprise being of a purely private character, he is not questioned by any- one on the subject, and no definite in- formation has leaked out. Felix Isman has been often mentioned in connection with the financial end of the Morris Circuit. It is universally ac- cepted that Mr.. Isman has invested either directly or indirectly, but the best informed say his investments are far be- low the share of the concern he receives the credit for. Another financially inter- ested party named is young Tim Sullivan, while Mortimer Schiff, son of Jacob H. Schiff, of Kuehn, Loeb A Co., the wealthy bankers, is also spoken of. Many reports have been spread regard- ing the condition of the Morris Circuit for the purpose of injuring it. These ••rumors" and "I heard" have been helped along by Mr. Morris himself. Only lately when met on Broadway by an agent he knew would repeat anything be said to his opponents, Morris replied to an in- quiry of "How are things going T" "Oh, I'm almost through. If they ask you 'down the street' how I am getting along, go as far as you like." The same after- noon, Morris signed a ten-year lease for the Greenwall Theatre, New Orleans, re- newed his lease on the Orpheum Theatre, Boston, for twenty years longer, and closed a contract to build a theatre. Among the feature acts played by the Morris Circuit this season, some appear- ing for the first time on this side or in vaudeville, are Harry 'Lauder, James J. Jeffries, Maude Odell, Severin, Laurence Irving and Mabel Hackney, Vesta Vic- toria, Amelia Bingham, Mrs. James Brown Potter, Four Mortons, Jack Lorimer, William Courtleigh, Bob fltzsimmons, Tim McMahon's "girl acts," Felix and Caire, Juliet 7, Julian Eltinge, Eddie Foy, Grace Hazard, Willie Hoppe, R. G. Knowles, Ross and Fenton, Rice and Cohen, Saharet, Harry Von Tilzer, Jos. Sheehan, Clarence Vance, Vasco, "The Wood choppers" and Daisy Lloyd. Of the importations, Mrs. James Brown Potter was a distinct failure, but more than counterbalanced by the many suc- cesses Morris brought across. Daisy Lloyd quickly became a feature on the Morris time; "The Woodchoppers" were a novelty and a success; Maude Odell proved one of the biggest draws of the season for a time; Harry Lauder gave phenomenal business to every house he' appeared in, and when touring the coun- try in a special train, a proceeding never before attempted for a vaudeville show; Laurence Irving and Mabel Hackney helped the box office, mostly through Mr. living's name, while Severin was ac- knowledged the greatest pantomimic artist who has ever played in America. Within a few days, or even sooner, it is expected the Morris Circuit will an- nounce the engagement by it for a spring tour of two very well known American legitimate stars. Chicago, April 29. More than thirty weeks outside Chi- cago are being offered by William Morris' Chicago office. These include many parks throughout the country. A partial list of theatres and parks now operating or about to open are as follows: "White City," Dayton, May 22; Chester Park, Cincinnati, May 8; "Luna Dome," Louis- ville, June 1; "Luna Dome," Memphis, June 7; "White City," New Orleans, now open; Forest Park, Little Rock, Ark., May 24; "Luna Dome," Indianapolis, June 15; Electric Park, Kansas City, May 23'; "Idle Hour," Chicopee, Kas., May 22; "Family" theatres at Moline, 111., and Clinton, Iowa. Other theatres handling Morris acts through J. C Matthews of the Chicago office, are Em- pire, Grand Forks; Krug, Omaha; Domin- ion, Winnipeg; Miles, Minneapolis; Grand, St. Paul; Bijou, Minneapolis; Bijou, Mil- waukee; also theatres in Kenosha, Wau- kesha, and Racine, Wis. At no time has the Morris office here been so busy. With an increased staff there is unusual activity in the booking department, in charge of Mr. Matthews. About twenty weeks in Chicago are now being routed. This gives the Morris Chicago branch an outlet for about fifty weeks of con- secutive booking. One of the finest of the smaller vaude- ville theatres here is the Julian, on Bel- mont Avenue and Clark Street. It opened this week, costing $60,000, and is modern in every way. Two shows a day will be given. The new out of town houses to take on the Morris acts are at Duluth and Atlanta. The first is now being built by George Marshall, manager of the Lyceum, and it will open August 1. This will be a connecting link to the other theatres in the northwest. POPULAR SONGS SOLD. The music published by the Cohan & Harris Music Publishing Co. other than the numbers written by Geo. M. Cohan for the Cohan & Harris musical comedies, l>as been disposed of by the firm, includ- ing the catalog rights to the selections. The "professional department" has been given up. Al Goldfinger will still act as the gen- eral manager of the Cohan & Harris pub- lishing concern. The remainder of the numbers left on the catalog is consider- able. "Shapiro" bought the greater portion of the numbers the firm wished to dispose of. Jerome and Schwartz's "Rose Time Rosie" and "Whitewash Man" besides others written by the couple while with Cohan & Harris for the past year were in the bargain. "Shapiro" also secures the pub- lishing rights of all the songs sung in the Cohan & Harris Minstrels for this season and next, and will control the music of "The Steeple Chasers" for next season, already partially written by Jerome and Schwartz. "Shapiro" is reported to have paid be- tween $20,000 and $25,000 for the catalog and music. He received over 200,000 printed sheets of the different numbers which were in stock at the time of sale. Included in this lot were orchestrations and band parts. The sixteen numbers in the "Little Nemo" score were purchased by Charles K. Harris for a reported consideration of $2,500. With the transfer went 65,000 sheets. Tom Kelly, formerly in Cohan & Har- ris' professional department, is now with "Shapiro." AUDITORIUM CLOSED ALL SUMMER. Chicago, April 29. The Auditorium, the former home of "Advanced Vaudeville," will probably re- main closed until fall, after grand opera has had its sway this week. It is said that next season the big theatre will be among the regular houses playing the Klaw & Erlanger attractions, and the large productions will be seen there at popular prices. The intention of the management was to move 'little Nemo" to the Auditorium for a summer run, but the idea has been abandoned. The show ended its season at the Colonial this week. It may go on the road again next fall. CORBETT SIGNED WITH MORRIS. When the present United contract signed by James J. Corbett will have been played out the ex-champion of the world will start on a trip over the Morris houses. That will commence in four or five weeks. The addition of Corbett to the Morris list gives that manager a trio of the latest best white fighters. Bob Fitzsim- mons is playing under Morris* booking direction in England, and James J. Jef- fries on this side. CHANGES TRENTON AROUND. The Taylor Opera House, Trenton, may play vaudeville commencing Monday, but the acts will not be booked by Feiber, Shea & Coutant, who operate the. $iJou Circuit. Montgomery Moses, manager of the Trent, also owned by Mr. Taylor, of the Opera House, was called to the United offices one day this week. After he left the firm heard they would not attend to the agreed upon booking. • Mr. Motet will manage the Opera House, the Trent hay- ing doted. The Trent Theatre management signed a contract a week or to ago to aoospt bookings through the United lor two years longer. Feiber, Shea & Coutant intended to "split" the Trenton week with their vaudeville house in Wilmington, whioh opposes W. L. Dockatader't Garrick in that city. Some one attempted to "pull out" The Four Stagpooles, booked for the opposi- tion in Wilmington. Had they been suc- cessful they would have been in the po- sition of supplying time for a "Morris act," the Stagpooles having appeared on the independent circuit when opening* in New York. With the growing importance of Feiber, Shea k Coutant, and their apparent In- clination to conduct their business to their own best interests, the relations b e t/ ween the firm and the United art believed to be quite strained. H. H. Feiber for years hat been a foreign booking agent for the United managers. It it reported that Wtltftm Morris has sounded Mr. Feiber on his further booking plant should be resign from the United staff. LOVING CUP FOR GENES. After the matinee in Brooklyn to-day (Saturday) "The Soul Kiss" company will present Adeline Genee with a loving cup. Genee sails for England on the Majestic May 5. She will return for the new Klaw & Erlanger production next season, In which the foreign dancer is to be starred. Her support will include Blekel and Wat- son, who are under a further contract of two yean to the K. & E. Interests. Messrs. Bickel and Watson have gone to their respective homes to recuperate over the summer. Julian Rose may have a prominent role in the Genee show as well. The members of "Miss Innocence" at the New York will likewise present a lov- ing token to Anna Held. "Miss Innocence" closes at the New York to-night. WEDDING IN "THE COUNTRY CLUB." Philadelphia, April 20. During the presence of "At the Country Club" at Keith's last week a marriage license was issued at city hall for the union of George Alfred Spink and Stella Androvna Shotwell, both principals in the Lasky act. SPENDING $35,000 FOR REPAIRS. New Orleans, April 20., Greenwall's will be renamed The Amer- ican Music Hall when it goes under the William Morris management the last Sun- day in August. Twenty-five thousand dol- lars will be spent by the independent vaudeville circuit for alterations and im- provements. Mr. Morris has a ten-year lease or agreement for the premises. Greenwall's opened last Sunday with moving pictures for the summer under the temporary management of Jack Stager, of "The Behman Show." The first days brought big attendance.