Variety (May 1909)

TEN CENTS VOL. XIV., NO. 9. MAY 8, 1909. PRICE TEN CENTS. TWO THEATRES AND AGENTS LEAVE UNITED T HIS WEEK The Bruggemann Houses May Not Return, Report Says. H. H. Feiber Resigns. The Empire Theatres in Hoboken and Peterson, owned and managed by A. M. Bruggemann, and almost since the opening dates on the UniXed Booking Offices' list, are playing the cheaper grade of vaude- ville, with acts secured through Feiber, Shea & Coutant (The Bijou Circuit.) While the trial of the 10-20 grade of variety shows is but temporarily over the summer, and an experiment, rumor says it i« doubtful in any event if the Brugge- mann theatres will ever return to the United columns. Mr. Bruggemann is re- ported to have secured a somewhat dif- ferent contract from other outside man- agers using the united for their base of supplies, and this contract, if report is true, has many of its clauses scratched. Another foundation for the Bruggemann report is the departure of Jo Paige Smith from the United. Smith was recognized as Broggemann's representative in the agency, although drawing a salary of $10,000 yearly as one of the United em- ployees. He was re-engaged with the United after a considerable absence through his influence in bringing the Bruggemann houses into the offices. 8mith may be out pending Bruggemann s Irittaaate decision as to the United. At the off ces it was said Mr. Smith had not resigned nor had he been discharged, but that he would not be there anyway for two or three weeks. The connection of Feiber, Shea & Cou- tant with the United houses, and the firm's activity of late in securing theatres to book, regardless of where they were located, has led to Harry H. Feiber, of the firm and for years the European rep- resentative for the Keith Circuit, resigning. The resignation, after being held in the office of the general manager of the United for nearly a month, has been accepted. Feiber's reputation among foreign acts is wonderfully strong. His long acquaint- ance and many trips abroad, with tae enormous number of foreign acts booked, have given Mr. Feiber large pres- tige on the other side. The rumor has been that Mr. Feiber was desirous -of having his resignation ac- cepted so that he might be free to nego- tiate in other directions for representation abroad. The Morril office is most often mentioned in this connection. The firm itself (Feiber, Shea & Coutant) has had no direct dealings with the United. It has operated its Bijou theatres independently, declining to accept or pay for any United "franchise." It booked other houses, and in opposition to theatres known as of the United string, but the big agency has not placed any acts in these theatres on its "blacklist," United managers playing them at will. Many vaudeville people believe they see in the movements of the past few weeks signs that what is known as "the cheaper" or "10-20" vaudeville will make great in- roads upon the smaller time of the big agencies. There is said to be no way the larger agencies can withstand or offset the flood. As the United is now constituted, with all attention seemingly concentrated upon the theatres of the very managers who alone benefit through the profits of the agency, the smaller manager in the United is commencing to look to the cheaper grade as a more profitable venture. He has examples all about him, seeing the success of the popular priced show as against the higher grade vaudeville, and even the still cheaper "picture place." "Picture shows" of late have evolved into combination vaudeville houses. BARNES MARRIES CHOOCEETA. St. Louis, May 6. Fred M. Barnes, the Chicago vaudeville agent, was reported married last Satur- day to Chooceeta, the dancer. Mr. Barnes is now in Iowa. He will re- join his bride Monday. THE BIG PARK FIGHT. . St. Louis, May 0. The local summer garden war soon will be on and will bring by far the greatest line of summer shows ever offered St. Louisans. Complete plans have just been announced by opposing managements. Del mar Garden in the musical comedy theatre will have De Wolf Hopper, Ray- mond Hitchcock, Frank Moulan, Edna Wallace Hopper and Blanche Ring in suc- cessive engagements. The season will open May 30 probably with Miss Hopper in "Florodora." Rehearsals begin in two weeks. West End Heights is already the scene of rehearsals. A company of fifty-one was brought from the east last week. The season opens May 16 with "The Roger Brothers in Washington." Rice and Cady will have the title roles, supported by Phrynette Ogden, Carrie Reynolds, Ger- trude Hutcheson, Isabel Winloche, Charles McDonald, Ralph Coleville, Harry J. Scott and the "Eight Dancing Dolls." Guido Vogel will lead the orchestra. No less pretentious will be the dramatic stars when Julie Heme, Amelia Bingham, Countess Venturini and others at Sub- urban Garden will be pitted against Mrs. Leslie Carter, Nat Goodwin, Annie Russell and James O'Neill at Delmar in the new dramatic house. GRACE REALS AWARDED $5,000. Chicago, May 6. A jury in a Chicago court this week awarded Grace Reals, the actress, damages to the amount of $5,000 in her action against a druggist. Miss Reals claimed a mistake in a prescription injured her vocal chords to the amount of $25,000. 3-HOUR SHOW AT 5-10. Baltimore, May 6. Another theatre in this city to suc- cumb to the vaudeville and moving pic- ture craze is Nixon & Zimmerman's Academy of Music. On Saturday, May 20. it will inaugurate a summer season of 1 lie above policy. The prices will be 5-10, with two shows daily. The afternoon performance is to run from 2 until 5 and the evening per- formance from 7:30 until 11. HACKETT OPSNS AT THE PLAZA. The foremost vaudeville feature of the season thus far was announced by the William Morris office last Saturday when the name of James K. Hackett was sent to the newspapers as the attraction at the Plaza for the week of May 17. Mr. Hackett hat been engaged at a sal- ary of $3,000 weekly for the Morris time. He will play four weeks or more. The billing is to read "James K. Hackett and E. M. Holland in The Bish- ops Candlesticks/ adapted by Mr. Hack ett from Victor Hugo's *Les Misera* Mr. Hacket will play the convict; Mr. Holland the bishop. The engagement of the dramatic star was accomplished for the Morris Circuit by Nate B. Spingold, Mr. Morris' private secretary. Overtures for Hackett's services in vaudeville have been made at intervals during the past two seasons. »» LA SALLE THEATRE IN COURT. Chicago, May 0. The lease of the La Salle Theatre ex- pired last week. Just prior to its ex- piration a temporary injunction was is- sued by Judge Barnes in the Superior Court, enjoining Mrs. A. S. Taft, sister- in-law of President Taft, owner of the property, Chas. W. Murphy, president of the "Cubs," and Harry Askin, manager of the Grand Opera House, from taking possession. The papers in the case ask the court to compel the owner to extend the ex- piring lease five years. The rental of the La Salle Theatre has been about $8,600 a year, and Mort Singer, who signed the lease, states at the time the lease was made he had a verbal option for five years longer. The case will be argued this week. MORE FOR THE "FOLLIES." Other engagements for "The Follies of 1009" are Bessie Clayton, the dancer; Annabelle Whit ford, who re-signed with K Zicgfeld, Jr., this week; C.raoc Ijeigh, Harry Kelly, Billy Sehrode and his brother, and Harry Kelly.., The MoN'aughtons have been negotiated with, and there may be a ladles' orchestra if Pat Casey can discover one at leisure.