Variety (October 1909)

10 VARIEfV •-T-'iy Loudon, Sept. 23. Hetty King has been engaged for America to play for Percy Williams and the United. She will sail some time in November. A story About here says that Claire Romaine was originally booked for this time, but owing to the bookings of Miss King, Miss Rom a hie has cancelled her contracts. Win ton, the ventriloquist, will sail for America Oct. C», booked by the Morris office. George Foster will sail for America with Harry Lander, leaving Oct. 2. Mr. Foster will remain in New York two weeks. R. A. Roberts returns to London to play the Hippodrome in two weeks, staying at that hall a month, after which he will sail for America. EM Lang, formerly of the Big Four, has broken in a single act and is playing this week at the Palace, Southampton. Rice and Prevost, who were to open at the Palace on Oct. 4,. have been moved forward one week and will open on Mon- day next. When all is said and done, these boys are certainly up against a hard proposition. There has been nothing bnt "copy acts" of them around during the last year. To the public this act may not look to deserve the credit due it. There has been a story going around in regard to the "copies" that sounds very true. Tn a provincial hall one night an Ameri- can playing it stood in the wings watch- ing a "copy act** of Rice and Prevost. Turning to his partner he said: 4 This is another of those 'copy acts.'" The "copy's** manager heard the remark and replied: u Yea. but this is the act that copied Rice and Prevost first." Charles Baroold, at the Empire now, will remain in that hall eight weeks. Gertrude Gebest is topping the bills along the McNaghten tour for four weeks. Rltter and Foster have booked up about three months* time on the continent for next fait 1% was a patriotic period at the Em- pire* Islington, last week. There were two girls who sang different "England-get- ready-or-you'11-get-yours" songs. After a sketch was put on to show how the enemy could be whipped. "For Love and My Country" Is the name of a dramatic affa'r that was forced on the people of Islington. They had lots of fun "kidding" some of their friends who were dressed as soldiers on the stage. George Robey returned to London thin week, putting on a new number called "The Blacken**." Helen Trlx has just started a two weeks/ engagement at the London Hippo- dronie. Mist Trix sails for South Africa 6ct. **. - W. C. Fields is playing in Manchester this week, his last appearance in Eng- land this year. He sails from Liverpool next week. LONDON NOTES VARIETY'S LONDOlf OFFICE. 411 tflATOb w. o. (Msfl far A kestsastlr and ■aropteae la ■aropa If ears VAEIwTY, as ateve, will W. Leslie Gootch is taking charge of affairs at the Metropolitan since the death of John Edgar, the former manager. Fred Ginnett and Frank Bostock are among the arrivals from New York this week. The Sunday night concerts will start at the Coliseum in about two weeks. Johnnie Summers, on the Barassfonl time for a few weeks back, was forced to cancel two weeks through going into train- ing for his coming bout with Freddie Welch. Maidie Scott will play the principal girl part in Fred Karno's London panto- mime. Al Bellman, of Bellman and Moore, has returned from the continent to start work* with Lottie Moore for a Barassford tour. Mr. Bellman states that this tour will probably be his last work on the vaude- ville stage. Mack and Marcus have left London for the continent. Uoudini will head the bill al the Hip- podrome, Woolwich, next week. The Great Lafayette will go to the Hip- podrome, Nottingham, Sept. 27 for a two weeks* stay. Juliette's Sea Lions are among the next attractions at the Palace. The Keeley Brothers, who have been playing in Paris, have a year's solid booking on the continent. Dan Fraser, the Scotch comedian, is again on tour after a week at the Palace, London. Vesta Victoria is the big attraction at the Glasgow Pavilion. Harry Leamore, a juggling act at the Empire, must have been watching Charley Aldrich closely from the Way his act looks at present. In all probability Sam Spira, a monolog fellow, will go over to America some time this season. The Aldwych skating rink has reopened for the fall and winter season. Ada Reeve, on her way back from the halls in South Africa, will appear in vaudeville here upon her arrival. The Hippodrome, Crouch End, will short- ly open again, this time under the man- agement of the directors of the Bedford Music Hall. The hall was formerly booked in conjunction with Syndicate Halls but will now become an independent. Henri Gros, the music hall proprietor, hurt lieen too ill to attend to business for a week back. Adam. Tomlinson is a new "find" from the north of England, at the Canterbury. If Adam is really a "find" he missed new material having the pick of the old ones. The Lavails will sail for America en the New York Sept. 26. The act will probably play in the west. Donavan and Arnold sail from England Sept. 26 to open at the Majestic, Chicago. The Tivoli bill shows a return of some more of the big ones to that hall. George Robey, Phil Ray and Ernest Shand are nmong the arrivals. (Jeorge Formby returned to London after a long tour in the provinces. He will be at the Empire Hackney. .lack and Evelyn are in for another run at the London Pavilion. CHANCE IN AUSTRALIA. Sydney, Aug. 0. The conditions over here just now are very favorable for foreign acts, Tlie Harry Rickards circuit has held the vaudeville of Australia in its grasp for a long time. Since about two and a half years ago the Brennan Circuit has been building up, slowly but steadily. It has been obliged to repeat the same native acts at different periods, but James C. Bain, General Man- ager for James Brennan, now sees the ad- visability of introducing new material. While Mr. Bain understands what is needed he is skeptical about the success of foreign acts over here, and says that until it is proven that at least the large, major- ity of importations can be relied upon for success, his circuit will not furnish nor prepay transportation. The popularity with which the St. Leons and Deaves' Manikins, both coming over here on speculation, met has gone far to convince Australians there are many American acts suitable for this country. Martin C Brennan and Chas. F. Jones have organized the Australian Vaudeville Bureau, an agency, and arranged with the Brennan Circuit to furnish sixteen weeks for foreign turns making good. Mr. Brennan says it is worth while for American acts ranging from $200 to $60 weekly, with confidence in themselves, to take a chance on this country. The trip is worth while. Australian audiences are enthusiastic, the climate is mild, and the hazard of success all in a foreign act's favor as the people here have seen and heard so much of the same old thing all the time. The classes of acts required are con- jurers, jugglers, male dancing teams and good short sketches containing broad humor. Chas. F. Semon opened on the Orpheum Circuit Sept. 27 at Minneapolis, through the offices of Pat Oeeey. DOING THE TURNS WITH SAM MAYO. London, Sept. 22. Sam Mayo, the fellow that caused quite some talk a few years ago by working nine balls in one night for one week steady, induced us the other night to take a trip around while he shoveled more gold into hia cellar by putting over a few shows in a night. Sum was only playing four halls thai total six shows a night for that week. As it was an easy week for him, he wanted company. We met the comedian at Edmonton with the help of Vic Monks. The Empire Edmonton is out at the end oT London, ( and then some more.. After his first show at Edmonton, Sam dined on fish and chips in his dressing room, but was forced to break up this meal, as he was also playing a first show at the Euston Palace. Some tearing along had to be done be tween those two halls and the motor stopped for nothing. It was noticed here that the police seem to recognize "pros." when they are making their turns, and trafl'c is held up for them to pass. The Euston was reached in good time. After Euston, the motor drilled toward the Strand, pulling up at the Tivoli. It was now about 8:16 with two shows up to now. Eight-thirty was the singer's time at the Tivoli. In the dressing room there were Jordan and Harvey, l>ewailing that 1 Tarry Lauder was coming next week, and was to be billed above the Hebrew fellows. From the Tivoli the Standard Music Hall was reached. Sam is topping the bill there, and in this hall he is obliged to reach the stage from the front. One fellow, waiting in line with his girl, said, "Hello" to Sam, turning proudly to his lady. He had good reason to be proud, for "the.top of the bill* spoke to him. It was not long before we were on our way back to the Euston again. This turn was over in a jiffy. Again wc were in the car, making the big journey of the even ing to Edmonton. Sam closed the show here, but thinking he had not done enough) for one evening, added a singing competi- tion out there for young amateurs who. wanted to sing his songs. After the show a supper in the man- ager's office, at which Carl Hooper, Victoria. Monks, Mrs. Mayo and Sam, also the house manager, Fred Alexander, were present, wound up an exciting evening for everyone but Mayo. It was just midnight when we were let down in Leicester Square, the full journey with Mr. Mayo, having covered: about 60 miles. STOOD BY THE DOG. Chicago, Sept. 2Xf. Mrs. Joe Roberts, of Roberts, Hayes and Roberts, was ejected from a street car one day last week by a conductor who ob- jected to her being accompanied by her dog, "Wrinkles." Mrs. Roberts had been informed that dogs were permitted on the cars if held in the lap of the owner. The conductor registered a kick. Mrs. Roberts laid down the rules to "him. He grabbed the dog and threw it off. Mrs. Roberts puckered up her lips like a whistle and the dog jumped on again. The conductor then put off both the do# and its mistress. He was not gentle with either. Mrs. Roberts states that legal pro ceedings have been instituted.