Variety (June 1910)

VARIETY WANTS ALL AGENCIES TO BECOME UNIONIZED ONES Chicago Federation of Labor Starting Off with that Idea After Settling Actors' Union Differences with Frank Q. Doyle. Chicago, June 8. Frank (^. Doyle has signed an agree- ment with the Actors' Union which for more than six months has .been urging this upon him. Its salient clauses guar- antee minimum of salaries shall be $25, 'singles" and $50 "doubles/' also that all acts booked through his agency after July 1 shall be sanctioned by the U*ipn. This is practically the same agreement Doyle refused to sign when it was last presented to him about three months ago. The salary clause is not so essential aside from the fact that it limits the minimum, for seldom have acts been asked of late to work for as low figures as the Union prescribes as the bottom limit. A cam- paign by organized labor has been waged against "Doyle houses/* The "boycott" was carried on more aggressively until, it is said, when "White City" opened, the fight became too strong for Aaron Jones, a big holder in "White City" stock, and Jones, Linick & Schaefer, who own sev- eral 10-20 theatres which Doyle books. The pressure which this firm brought to bear upon Doyle was too heavy for him to withstand. Last Friday the settlement was effected with the Chicago Federation of Labor. This is the first point gained in the move- ment which the Union has under way to unionize if possible every booking agency in Chicago. v President Nemo of the Union has stated that any agency or manager in Chicago refusing to sign an agreement which may be presented will be proceeded against with the full strength of the Federation of Labor. Earl J. Cox, another "small time" book- ing agent, was visited by President Nemo, Tuesday, and presented with an agree- ment for his signature which contained a clause stipulating that acts booked in theatres which he represents shall be in good standing with the Union. Those who have discussed matters find a difference in spirit of agreement signed by Doyle, and the one presented to Cox, n* in Doyle's case, acts playing for him must secure permit or be sanctioned by the Union, while acts which Cox shall book if he signs the agreernem^must be in good standing with the Union. Cox, on demand, refused to sign agree- ment which Nemo presented to him, and developments are awaited. It s said by Actors' Union men that the A. F. of L. intends goinfc through the country in an attempt to oblige the the- atrical business to become allied with labor organizations. It is proposed first to bring in the "small time," then the play will be gradually made until all of the variety branch is enlisted, if the several attempts leading up to that arc success- ful. In the final union all artists are at present contemplated by the labor men as their future colleagues. The final settlement of Local, No. 4's (Actors' Union) troubles with Doyle, has arrived after a period of almost a year. Last October, following the declaration of a "strike," by Local No. 4, against Doyle on the "salary scale," the then Secretary, Kiccardo, with Harry Mountford, of the White Rats, declared before an open meet- ing of the Local, that the "strike" had been settled. This statement was mode on the strength of the report of Secretary Ric- cardo that he had received a letter from Doyle stating he would use the White Hat form of contract, which had been in- sisted upon by Mr. Mountford. Mount- ford came on from New York to have local agencies adopt the form of agreement with artists known as "The White Rat" con- tract, although ostensibly it was the eon-, tract form issued from the State Labor Commission by virtue of an agency bill passing last year's legislature. The meeting wa? convened for the ex- press purpose of endorsing the action of the secretary in declaring the strike off, or more properly, as he said then (and was coincided with by Mr. Mountford) that, since Doyle had agreed to employ the pre- scribed contract form, the artists who wanted to book with him were privileged to do so. The meeting developed much opposition to the stand of Riccardo. It was stated that the secretary had been drawn away from the original stand taken by the Local against Doyle on the "salary scale," to give the White Rat leader the oppor- tunity to proclaim a victory, through his efforts in having the "strike" settled. After a session of three hours, the meeting endorsed Riccardo, and the "strike" against Doyle was declared off. Mountford left town two days afterwards. The same day he left, Local No. 4 re- scinded the action of the special meeting, and the "strike" was again on. It has remained until settled lajst Friday. Mr. Riccardo has been superseded as secretary since that open meeting. GOING WITH "OUR MISS GIBBS." The production to be made by Charles Frohman next season of "Our Miss Gibbs," which has been running at the Gaiety, London, since last season* (when "Ha- vana" left London town and the Gaiety for New York) will have Bert Leslie to strengthen up the musical comedy. Mr. Leslie last appeared in the legiti- mate as the successful comedian of the Hattie Williams show. For the past few months he has-been touring vaudeville. TALK OF A BIG ONE. There was talk in the early part of the week that William Fox, the "pop" vaude- ville manager was about to "pull off" a 'deal in New'York for a big house. The Metropolitan Opera House and Madison Square Garden for summer vaudeville were among the houses mentioned. VICTORIA BIG HIT IN FRISCO. San Francisco, June 8. Seven songs in forty minutes were Vesta Victoria's first offering to the Coast last Sunday at the Orpheum, this city. She captured the audience completely. The press accorded her an enthusiastic and unanimous approval. Monday there was a line at the box office for the ad- vance sale. Gerald Dillon, the Orpheum's publicity man, accomplished wonders in the advance work for the English singer. She re- ceived probably the biggest showing ever secured for a San Francisco attraction, and it had the city agog over her ap- pearance. Miss Victoria's most successful num- bers were "Poor John" and "Now I Have to Call Him Father." MUSICAL SHOWS NEXT SEASON. Chicago, June 8. Musical comedies will have the call when the season opens at several of the local theatres. The Studebaker is to open with "The Slim Princess," by Geo. Ade, Henry Blossom and t Leslie Stuart, with Elsie Janis the star. The Illinois has "The Dollar Princess" scheduled, and "The Balkan Princess," a London piece, opens the Grand. "The Florist Shop" will probably open the Chicago Opera House. "Mme. Sherry" may run at the Colonial until Sept. 3, then giving way to "The Follies of 1910." "The Fortune Hunter" looks good for the Olympic, until "Get-Rich-Quick Wal- lingford" introduces Clayton White as a star. "The Girl of My Dreams" will probably be produced in Chicago the first week in August at the Illinois Theatre. Lelia Mc- Intyre and Johnnie Hymans will be the stars, having for their support Ray L. Rovce, Harrv Corson Clark, Nita Allen and Henrietta Lee. Will Block announced this same production as being a coming attrac- tion at the Whitney Theatre about three months ago. K. & E. HAVE BERNHARDT. The engagement was entered this week of Sarah Bernhardt for an American tour of twenty-six weeks next season under the direction of Klaw & Erlanger. Mme. Bernhardt will open her season in Chicago, then appear at the Amsterdam, New York. There has been considerable competitive bidding for the appearance of the foreign star for this side. ANOTHER PIECE FOR CARLE. Chicago, June S. "Pro and Con" will be the next pro- duction Richard Carle will appear in, starred by Harry Frazee, who has placed the comedian under contract for a term of )ears. The piece is expected to go in the Cort towards the last of July. There will be another show there between "Billy," now playing in the house, and the new Carle vehicle. Mr. Frazee left for San Francisco Sat- urday, headed for Jeffries' camp. If the big fellow whips Johnson, Frazee expects to take a Jeffries-Gotch athletic combina- tion around the world, with Sam Berger and himself directing it en tour. FACTIONS AT VARIANCE. Albany, N. Y., June 8. The agency -bill, about which there has been so much talk, is awaiting the action of Governor Hughes. Nothing intervenes to make it a law except the executive's signature. He may delay action until June 27 (thirty days after passage by the Legislature), or he may sign it at any minute. Opposition to the measure developed at the hearing before the governor last week. Attorney H. W. Taft, brother of the Presi- dent of the United States, appeared in be* half of the United Booking Offices, and at- tacked the bill on the ground of al- leged unconstitutionality. He character- ized some of its clauses as an interference with the rights of artists, manager* and agents under both the State and national constitutions. Such legislation as the bill proposed, he said, was unwarranted ex- cept under the construction that artists were incompetent to conduct their own affairs. Maurice Goodman, also appearing in the interests of the United Booking Offices, added that the clause in the bill calling for an investigation of financial responsibility 1 was impossible of operation. The dramatic agencies were likewise represented and argued that their branch of the booking business could not properly be regulated under the new procedure. Mrs. Beaumont Packard led the dramatic division. Governor Hughes displayed lively inter- est in the proeedings, frequently asking questions when the lyceum matter was under discussion. He particularly wanted to know if lecturers ever appeared in cos- tume. On the artists' side appeared Dennis F. O'Brien, Assemblyman George Green and Harry Mountford. They made their plea for the pasage of the law on the ground that artists were frequently sent out to work for persons who were not financially responsible, and were stranded in conse- quence. Mr. O'Brien dwelt at length on alleged abuses of a so-called one-sided contract, and said that the court review and contract provisions of the bill were modeled,after the new insurance law. The Actors' Union was not represented at the hearing. Its president declared that he would like to see the bill become a law, on the general principle of advocat- ing any measure that improved the condi- tions under which the actor worked, but expressed disapproval of some of the pro- visions. One of these was the "emergency engagement" clause, and the other a pro- vision for a court review under certiorari proceedings of the contract form, which formerly was to be passed upon by "the mayor or commissioner of licenses." The agents in the city did not seem to have outlined a course should the bill be- come law. One said that the "emergency engagement" clause might be invoked to cover all theatrical bookings. Another thought that a "contract office" might be established in Jersey, and still another thought that the restrictions might be evaded by having the agent in all cases declare himself a partner in the act booked. In the latter case, it was be- lieved, all restrictions imposed on "agents" would be avoided.