Variety (May 1909)

8 VARIETY SCRIBNER APOLOGIZED. "When you're wrong, own up," says Sam Scribner, general manager of the Columbia Amusement Co. (Eastern Bur- lesque Wheel). "I did it yesterday (Wednesday). I got down here (Gaiety Theatre Building). It was raining a hun- dred ways from the ace. I looked out the window to see what time the building would float away, and there over at 47th Street and 7th Avenue, on the old house which is to come down for our new Co- lumbia were some billposters putting up a twenty-four stand. "You should have seen me. I was in a hurry, so didn't wait to go down stairs. Just jumped out the window, no overcoat, no bat, and I reached that spot in about one-eighth of a second. •"What in are you doing?' says I to a fellow who looks like the boss. *Who in are youf says he. *None of your business,' says I, Trot if you put up that sign, I'll go up there and throw you and your billposters off the building.' 'You will, like ,' says he, and he was a little fellow, too, but full of spunk. 1 can put up all the bills I, want to here, and no "Hey Rube" can tear me away either.' " 1 guess I'll just lick you for the fun of it/ says I, but then the little fellow says 1 guess you had better look at this first,' showing me a permit signed by the man who has agreed to take down the building. "Well, do you know, that little guy had me against the wall. I didn't know just where I wis at, so I says, 'Say, m look into this and let you hear. If you're right, Tm coming over to apologize, and if you're* wrong, I'm coming over to baste out of you.' "I called up Laski, and he tells me to keep off, so I went over. I was in wrong, but I made good, and that little fellow, John Meyers, and I were almost kissing each other before we got through. "Wheil you're in wrong, kiddo, don't hang onto it forever like Fred Irwin; come around and apologise. Never get too big for that." , BICYCLIST AT CIRCLE. Dare Devil Schreyer, the bicycle leap rider, announced this week he had com- pleted arrangements whereby he would use the site of the destroyed Durland's Riding Academy at 50th Street and Broadway, this summer for a spectacular production of his "Trailed to the Chasm" melodrama, produced during March in the Cleveland Hippodrome. The ground upon which the old Academy stood is unoccu- pied. It is a triangular parcel at the intersection of Broadway and Eighth Avenue. Schreyer proposes to engage a large company and make the production a sing- ing and dancing playlet, closing, of course, with his sensational bicycle leap into a water tank. Martin Beck left New York Tuesday for Omaha, where he met Morris Meyer- feld, Jr., president pf the Orpheum Cir- cuit. They will visit a few western towns before returning to New York. Mr. Meyerfeld sails for Europe May 15. W. Passpart, the Orpheum's European rep- resentative, may go back on the same day and boat. "COOCH" DANCER CONVICTED. Montreal, May 6. "Cooch" dancers will "clean up" for Montreal hereafter if they do not want to run foul of Recorder Dupuis, who in a scathing arraignment of Mille De Leon and the Theatre Royal, sentenced the woman to eight days in jail on Monday, without the alternative of a fine. She was arrested last Thursday for giving an indecent performance at the theatre, spending Saturday and Sunday in confinement. Weeping after the sentence, the dancer was led to a cell, but released under $200 cash bail pending an appeal from the Re- corder's judgment. That will be argued at the June term of the Court of King's Bench. THERE WITH THE WIGGLE. Philadelphia, May 6. The reign of the "cooch" dancer still prevails in our fair and quiet city, and the burlesque managers are not missing chances to gather in the stray dollars in the fag end of the season. The dancers have had a good run here all season. Last week the Trocadero sprung a new one in "Zallah." She comes from the west, and is "there" with the "wiggle." She made so good last week that she held over, something new here. "Zallah" also is some on shape, and has muscles like a 'lady athlete," which runs in the family. She would hardly be recognized by those who remember her when she held a less prominent place in burlesque. "Zal" is a good card, and none of the dancers has anything on her. SUIT FOR ACCOUNTING HALTED. The suit of the Empire Circuit Co. (Western Burlesque Wheel) for an ac- counting from Sullivan A Kraus has been halted temporarily. In the United States Court the demurrer entered by House, Grossman & Vorhaus, attorneys for Sulli- van A Kraus, was sustained. The plain- tiffs were given leave to file an amended complaint, the court holding that the original complaint did not set forth a proper ground for action. In these proceedings the Empire Co. is trying to make the Sullivan-Kraus firm account for gross receipts at the Circle Theatre during the run there of "Wine, Woman and Song," alleging an agreement between the latter firm and the circuit to pay the Empire Co. 5 per cent, on the gross receipts as compensation for the re- moval of the show from the Wheel. Sul- livan A Kraus, they allege, did not carry out their part of the agreement. George Kraus has been examined by the commission which is taking testi- mony in the damage suit brought against his firm by the Empire Co. following the withdrawal of the Dewey and Gotham Theatres from the Western Wheel. He was cross-examined by Rankin D. Jones, attorney for the burlesque managers. Next week Louise Dresser in "The Candy Shop," will interpolate Gus Ed- wards' newest song, the words and music written by Gus alone. The title is "You Stand Awfully Good With Me." The "kid" happens in the first line of the chorus, of course. SINGER BUYS "BEHMAN SHOW." "The Behman Show" is now the sole property of Jack Singer. Mr. Singer was one of the trio of proprietors for the past two seasons. His partners were Bobby North and Cliff Gordon. With Mollis Williams for his principal woman, Mr. Singer will place an entirely new show on the Eastern Wheel next sea- son, retaining only the name. "The Behman Show," one of the big burlesque box office attractions, played to $6,064 at the Star and Garter, Chi- cago, its largest receipts of the season, followed closely by the week at the Gayety, St. Louis, where Singer "got" $6,029. At the season's thirty-seventh week, 'The Behman Show" was on the right side to the tune of a little over 914,000, exceeding the profit figures at the same time last year by $4,000. Leo Edwards, who composed the music for the present pieces of the Singer show, has been assigned to take the job again for the new production. The writer of the book is unannounced. Aaron Hoffman has turned over to Cliff Gordon and Bobby North the pieces for their new burlesque show (formerly "The Casino Girls"), which they will operate next season on the Eastern Burlesque Wheel. Edward Madden contributes the lyrics and Leo Edwards will write an original musical score. The only person so far engaged for the company is James CL Morton, now "The Scarecrow" with "The Behman Show." The two comedians take "The Casino Girls" franchise for a term of five years with an option on a like period in ad- dition, Messrs. Gordon and North, who have established offices in the Gaiety Theatre Building, will change the title of 'The Casino Girls" to "The Merry Whirl." RECOGNIZES COLORED SUBSTITUTE. There is every prospect that the salary of Irving Jones will be attached at Ham- merstein's this week, if lae officials of the Knickerbocker Circuit Co. have their way. They have a claim against the colored comedian for a commission account. Thursday of last week the Knicker- bocker office exchanged contracts with Jones for this week for the Lyceum, Stamford, Conn., managed by Anthony Geronimo. Monday morning Lester Mayne, general manager of the booking agency, saw Jones billed at Hammerstein's and standing on the corner was Irving himself. To Mayne's question he declared ho would play the Stamford engagement, leaving for the Connecticut town before noon. In the forenoon Mr. Geronimo received a telegram from Jones saying he would not be able to reach Stamford in time to go on for the matinee. At 2:30' Billy Harper, another colored comedian arrived at the Lyceum. He displayed the Jones contract and announced himself as that person. Parker was recognized, however, and was prevented from appearing. A suit "may be brought against Jones for breach of contract. FRANK CARR ATTEMPTS SUICIDE. Chicago, May 6. Frank B. Carr, the Western Burlesque Wheel manager, is recovering at the Passu - vant Hospital from the attempt he made Tuesday night at the Richmond Hotel to wind up his earthly career by cutting his throat. On arriving at the hospital, Carr is said to have expressed regret he had not been successful. On Thursday the surgeons reported that the manager had a fair chance of recovering. The cause of Carr's desire to die is reported to be jealousy of his eighteen - year-old wife and financial troubles. CHARLES ROBINSON OUT OF WHEEL. Chicago, May 6. Charles Robinson, now the star of "The Night Owls," which is coupled with his name in the billing of the Eastern Bur- lesque Wheel show, may enter vaudeville as a single act next season. Mr. Robin- son has had several offers to this end. At any rate, it is asserted Robinson will not be in burlesque during '00-'10. Noth- ing is known regarding the future of "The Night Owls." ALL ORCHESTRAS TEN PIECES? The Columbia Amusement Co. (Eastern Burlesque Wheel) is considering through the company's officers whether an order shall go forth to all Eastern houses that each orchestra next season must contain not less than ten musicians. NEW GAYETY CONTRACT LET. Chicago, May tf. The contract for the new theatre and office building at Kansas City for the Col- umbia Amusement Co. (Eastern Burlesque Wheel) has been let to H. Eilenberger A Co. The location is corner Twelfth and Wyandotte Streets. The plans call for a building costing $150,000. The Kansas City Theatre Co. and the Columbia Amusement Co. are mentioned as owners, with Sam A. Scribner, president of the local corporation. The building will be three stories high and have a frontage of 130 feet, with a depth of 150 feet. INMAN "KIDNAPS" SON. On Saturday William A. Inman, with a couple of companions "kidnapped" his son, who was at the residence of ..liss Doherty's mother in New York. The child was re- taken by the police and placed with the Gerry Society. Inman was placed under arrest and his examination set down for Tuesday last in tho Tombs Police Court. The custody of the child was awarded jointly between Mr. and Mrs. Inman, the father to have the boy for the first three months, when his mother to take him for the same length of time, his companion- ship between the two alternating in like periods thereafter. Gus Dreyer appeared for Mr. Inman. David Steinhardt was counsel for the wife and mother. The Great Lester plays Hammerstein's May 31, appearing previously at the Colonial and Orpheum. John C. Rice and Sally Cohen sail June 12 for London. They will play four weeks there under bookings already arranged by the William Morris office before start- ing on a tour of the Continent. LAEMMLE'S INNOVATIONS. Chicago, May 6. One of the plans of "The Music House of Laemmle" is to advertise extensively and judiciously. An innovation will be the advertising at railroad stations, ele- vated roads, street cars and on billboards. This method is new here. The errand boys will be attired in uni- forms. A large electric sign will be placed atop the building occupied by the firm.