Variety (December 1909)

VARIETY Boston, Nov. 27. Editor Variety : Don't mind the letter in Variety aboat me. We have one Billy Hynes here, a pal of mine. You may have got the Em- pire's goat, but not Mike Scott. A lot of managers are soaking me. If they don't let you work you will hear of a change in the agent's office. I was a good friend to American performers in England twelve years ago. 1 am still alone here. Stand by me and I shall be same friend when you meet me in England before long. When I come here I had the goods. I have the same goods but not to sell at $18 a week. That is why Mike cannot be happy when you think he should. I don't say a lot but I think a lot. There must be some- thing funny about me because they are all talking about me all over America. Keep on talking while I am alive; I won't hear you when I am dead. My name is Mike Scott, (Born with it.) ARTISTS' FORUM Chicago, Nov. 28. Editor Variety: While playing Winnipeg this week we find a team called Bernard and Orth are using our title "The Crape Hair Artists." We want to say we are the originators of that title. Friend and Downing. Chicago, Nov. 30. Editor Variety: Nat LeRoy, formerly of LeRoy and Woodford, is in destitute circumstances at 2036 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburg, Pa., and would like his friends and acquaintances to help him out, as he has spent all his savings in an attempt to be cured. Geo. he Moire. (Conroy and Le Mai re.) (Subscriptions will be acknowledged through Variety.) Chicago, Nov. 24. Editor Variety: Variety (Nov. 20) reviewed Edwards and Ward's act, "At the North Pole." If these gentlemen will look through the ad- vertising columns of Variety in the May and June issues of this year they will find that we have a prior claim to the title. We played our act, "Halliday and Curley «At the North Pole/" at New Rochelle, Paterson and Passaic, long be- fore the reported discovery of the pole. When we were signed by Mr. Lew Fields for the Blanche Ring Co. we put the act in storage for future use, but have since sold it. Halliday and Curley. Memphis, Nov. 20. Editor Variety: Have heard lately that Maude S. Ryan is using one of my songs, "The Fireman's Pride." I take this means of telling her the song is my exclusive property. lla Orannon. St. Louis, Nov. 27. Editor Variety : At Hammerstein's, New York, a few weeks ago I noticed that Mable Hite had added the "Indian Maiden" as portrayed by me to her list of imitations. I was rather surprised Miss Hite neg- lected to give me the same credit given the other originals of her imitations. I have been presenting the "Indian i«st to ulwUlto toU Coming your letters ta 1M word* ul wilts ea ea* else of ▲aoayvAeas oommuaioatloas will net to yriatei. Iun ef writer in strict ooaAdeaoa, If desired. Latter* to to published is this ooluma most to written exoluaively te VARIETY. Doyllestes letters will not to printed. The writer who duplicates a letter te the Tonus, either tofore er after it appears here, will net to permitted the privilege of It agate. Maiden" exactly as Miss Hite does it for some time, and since it is strong enough for her to close the act with, I sincerely trust she will correct the error or over- sight. Theresa L. Bluford, (Carter and Blufford). Los Angeles, Cal., Nov. 10. Editor Variety: Variety (Nov. 13) said Billy Ell wood had cancelled his S.-C. time at Butte, Mont., owning to death of.his wife. My name being of the same, I have received numerous letters of condolence and sym- pathy which were not intended for me, but the other "Billy Ellwood." With due respect to my "name rival" and myself I supmit this note. I have been known as Billy Ellwood for the past seventeen years, off and on, in the profession and my newspaper career and am billed all over the country as "The Philadelphia Press cartoonist, Billy Ellwood and Co." Billy Ellwood (Cartoonist). Boston, Nov. 22. Editor Variety: In reply to Lew Williams regarding title for the sketch, "All's Fair in Love," in which it seems there is a question as to priority of use, I beg to state that this sketch written by me was originally pro- duced for a week as a "curtain raiser" for a dramatic stock company in Denver in July, 1008. It has been produced by amateurs around Boston several times and Baker and Terry now have the rights to it. If Mr. Williams will write to me direct we probably can come to an amicable ar- rangement as the sketches are absolutely different in plot and scene. Ernest L. Waitt. Chicago, Nov. 27. Editor Variety: Re the letter accusing James Neary of stealing Mike Scott's act, that of wearing dress coat, green tights, with medals on, I wish to state that I and Hi Tom Ward produced it originally at the Odeon Thea- tre, Baltimore, Md., Feb. 13, 1876. I can refer you to Steve Finn and Jack Sheehan. W. J. Malcom. Roanoke, Va., Nov. 27. Editor Variety : In today's Variety I notice a letter re- garding myself, signed by Humes and Lewis, also Manning and Frances. Humes and Lewis were booked into my house (Lyric) in Roanoke by W. W. Rey- nolds for the first three days, "splitting" with Staunton, Va. Upon learning that the stage in Staunton was too small for their acrobatic work they cancelled that engagement themselves. As they were laying off in Roanoke the manager then suggested that they come over and play the last two days of the week for me. They did not show up at Thursday's rehearsal, and I did not see anything of them until Friday morning. They worked Friday and Saturday and were paid accordingly. Not satisfied, they raised a racket in front of the theatre, and have tried to finish their work by leaving notices in other people's theatres and writing the papers. Why can't they offer to accept my proposition to settle the thing in court? In reference to Manning and Frances, will ask these people who they are? I never heard of them in my life. Joe. Fortnon. Editor Variety: We, the undersigned, opened matinee, Nov. 1, at Star, Charlotte, N. C. The Smukler Sisters were the first vic- tims of Manager Newell. After Monday matinee they were compelled to stand a $15 cut in salary or be closed. The mat- ter was adjusted satisfactorily and all went well until Thursday, when the man- ager demanded a change of acts. We all changed. After the matinee (given to about fifteen people) the managers (New- ell Bros.) came and told Oarrolton and Van he liked their first act better, and said to put the first act on again. We were in our dressing room making up for tne night show when the manager told Cariollton and Van that owing to the fact that he (Newell) didn't like our change, and as we had worked our first act three days, he couldn't use us the rest of the week. He also told Arthur H. Bell, the ven- triloquist, that he didn't like a ventrilo- quist and would have closed him, only he pitied him. (Bell thanked him for his pity.) The week before he closed a sister team after Monday matinee and closed a single on Thursday after working three days. We wish to warn artists against play- ing this house, and we wish to state we lay no bmme on Curt Wiehe, who books the house. Oarrolton and Van. Arthur H. Bell. Smukler Sister$. Galveston, Tex., Nov. 25. Editor Variety: I wish to warn artists against the Theato Theatre, Houston, Tex. While in San Antonio, Tex., I wired Frankel Bros., agents in Dallas, and a return wire in- structed me to go to Dallas and play the last four days of the week at the Theato there, manager Mr. Hennessy, the salary to be $50. At the end of the engagement Mr. Hen- nessy offered me $35, figuring it out at a rate of $70 a week and calling four days half a week. I refused to agree to this ar- rangement and turned over the matter to Ammermann & Ammermann, attorneys of Houston with instructions to accept noth- ing but a settlement in full. I understand that the Theato manage- ment takes acts from several agents. I also know that I am not the first person to be handed a short salary envelope. There are plenty of fair managers in Houston. The Whettens. New York, Nov. 20. Editor Variety: Will you kindly contradict a statement made in Variety by your Philadelphia correspondent (Geo. M. Young). While playing with "The Jolly Bache- lors" in his notice he said Al Leach took one of the girls out of the chorus and made an attempt sit the "Scarecrow" specialty taken from "The Follies of 1000." The specialty I am doing is a grotesque fainting specialty which I originated here eight years ago for Klaw & Erlanger's Rogers Bros. Oo.; also with "Chris and His Wonderful Lamp" at the Victoria. I think it is an injustice to both Mr. Leach and myself and I don't want any one to think me guilty of doing such an unprofessional thing. I am not even dressed as a "scarecrow," but in street costume. If you wish I can bring you letters to verify what I say from my managers. We are coming into New York in a few weeks. Nellie Lynch. Tessie Lawrence has retired from one of Al. H. Woods' shows following upon the death of her mother in St. Louis. She reached the latter city in time to attend the funeral and will remain there for a time. NED NORTON. NED NORTON, who will be seen with "PADS AND FOLLIES" at the MURRAY HILL THE- ATRE. NEW YORK, week DEC. 13. has been In the public eye lately owing to his much discussed availability for mimical comedy. Ilia work with "PADS AND FOLLIES" this aeaaon haa attracted wide attention. Mr. Norton la one of thoae chaps who doea not look out of place In evening dresa, and la con- sidered the bent' dreased "straight man" In bur- leaqae. His singing voice and dancing ability are praised by critics wherever he appears. Managers should look thla youngster over.