Variety (June 1911)

8 VARIETY IFB, ANDS AND BUT8. Marie Dressier is to have a new piece next season. She will star again under the direction of Lew Fields, but there is a likelihood that the Shuberts will not be Interested in the venture. The starring venture in "Tillie's Nightmare'' was a three-cornered af- fair in which Fields, the Shuberts and Miss Dressier were financially inter- ested. Mr. Fields had the star under contract, the Shuberts owned the piece and Miss Dressier received a salary and percentage of the profits for her services. There is some discussion now, it is said, as to whether the withdrawal of the star from "Tillie's Nightmare" leaves the ownership of the piece in the hands of the Shuberts, or whether Mr. Fields and Miss Dressier still re- tain an equity in it. On the other hand it Is maintained that if they can maintain any such claim, the Shuberts would still retain an interest in the future starring ventures of Miss Dress- ier under the Fields management. "Tillie's Nightmare" will go on tour, opening in September. Ray Cox or Kitty Francis may be selected by the Shuberts to appear in the title role. MARVELOUS GRIFFITH Who was a farmer before he became "The Human Adding Machine" In vaudeville, writes from his farm In the Hooster state that he ia back on the old job for the summer, but by August will be ready to figure and eat two dozen eggs for breakfast WEBER'S FORTY INC8. During the past week there have been several important meetings held in the little office in the theatre that bears the name of Joe Weber at tne corner of 2!>th street and the "Main Stem." Naught can be learned of the meet- ings other than it is an assured fact that there' has been much legal dis- cussion involve!. The last meeting' was held on Monday of the present week. Joe Weber, the Phillips boys and Mr. Weber's legal advisor, were present. All that'the member of the legal staff would divulge was that "Joe" has forty corporations, and that there is something doing at present that has a bearing on the coining sea- ion's events." THINGS DO CHANGE. St. Louis, June 7. Charles A. Spalding in a telegram to the Times confirmed a statement that Charles Frohman and Klaw ft Er- langer had acquired control of the Cen- tury and Olympic theatres. They always have been "syndicate" houses, but with the death of Pat Short, Mr. Spalding did not care to get any closer in to the actual manage- ment of his interests, hence the lease. The Century was leased by Spalding, but he owned the Olympic property, it is said. No announcement has been made of the man or two men who will manage the houses. J. J. Brady, former manager of the Century theatre here in the 90's, has, it is reported, been appointed manager of th e Olympic and Century theatres by Klaw & Erlanger, succeeding the late Pat Short. Brady is due here to- night to assume immediate charge. The acquisition of the St. Louis theatres by Klaw ft Erlanger seems to have been in the line of a definite pol- icy outlined by the syndicate firm, that of procuring its own houses under its own control in the larger cities. In these the productions made by K. ft E. and their associate managers will be presented. The legitimate managers believe that the line-up of a personally-owned cir- cuit amounts to an admission that "The Open Door" or country managers have proven they are in command of themselves, and too powerful for either legitimate faction to ever absolutely dominate them once more, as they were dominated in the days when Klaw & Erlanger were sole monarchs. About the only difference this makes to K. ft E. is the loss of the large book- ing commission and fees, formerly charged! promiscuously, besides having taken away their "power." The out- side producing manager views the situ- ation with complacency, believing that the country manager by himself, with- out any chains or strings, permits of him putting over a show and obtaining a route on the merit of his attraction alone. It has been said that in the olden days, the producing manager did not always obtain a route through that means. THOMAS* WORD ENOUGH. Augustus Thomas has sold a play to Charles Frohman entitled "The Devil to Pay," without having read it to the manager. It Is said the emi- nent author met the equally illustri- ous manager, mentioning he had a play to offer. Mr. Frohman immedi- ately accepted it, without further ado. When Mr. Thomas asked for an ap- pointment to read it, Mr. Frohman is sa'd to have replied: "What's the use? You'd make me believe it anyway." Mr. Thomas has always had the rep- utation of exercising hypnotic powers over managers. He holds the rec- ord for never having to read a play a second time, for the reason that once allow hi«m in an office to read one of his plays, it is a foregone conclusion the manuscript is sure of acceptance. A "GOOD ROADS" SHOW. Chicago, June 7. A big spectacular extravaganza pro- duction under the general direction of R. L. Brown, a prominent theatrical man of Denver, will shortly move out of this city, headed for the Coast and playing all the principal cites of the far west. It is the plan and purpose of the management to make a tour of the country along either the Rock Island, Santa Fe or Union Pacific Railway lines and no stops will be made in cit- ies of less than 10,000 population. The production is an open air proposition. Performances will be given either in baseball parks, fair grounds or other similar enclosures with grand stand accommodations. Two days' engage- ments are to be played in the smaller places, while in the larger cities the show will be booked for a week-stand. The management will make a guar- antee arrangement with the different municipalities and communities along the line. The net receipts over and above a certain figure is to be donated for the improvements of the highways in and adjacent to the cities in which the show will appear. In this way it Is expected the enterprise will be ac- corded the support and aid of the dif- ferent Boards of Trade and local Good Roads organizations as well as the Na- tional Good Roads Association, which is Interested in Mr. Brown's movement. .In addition to the company now be- ing rehearsed here, local talent will be used extensively on the way and with that object in view a director will be sent out in advance to select the lo- cal artists and rehearse them for their part in the production. Two sixty-foot baggage cars will be used in the transportation of the scen- ery. Eddie Dunn, the chief of the Cohan publicity staff, has blossomed out as "some" poet. ADA LEWIS One of the few women of the stage with laugh producing proclivities, now playing at the Folies Bergerc. TYLER IN LONDON. George C. Tyler, general manager of Leibler ft Co., who, with Hugh Ford, the stage director of the same firm, and Edward Morange, the scenic art- ist, went to Africa to study the desert sand storms, are back in London. Mr. Tyler and Mr. Ford will sail for America immediately after the Coro- nation ceremonies are completed. SOME WESTERN SHOWS. Twenty chorus girls will be carr'ed by Tom Miner's "Bohemians" next season. The principals will be Andy Gardner, Ida Nlcolai, Hughey Bern- hardt, Mildred Valmore, Gaylor and Wiltsie, Dan McCarty, Fred E. White- house, Dan Gallagher, La Tour Twin Sisters, Sam Collins and Bob Deming. Miner's "Jardin de Paris" company, with Bert Kendricks manager, in ad- dition to carrying twenty girls, will feature Miner's "Minstrel Maids" and Cora Livingston, the wrestler. Prin- cipals will be Abe Leavitt, Hilton and Lewis, Great Rago. Marion Campbell, Adelaide Fell, Pearl Reld, William Stewart, George Marlowe, Charles Sacb.es, Carrie Young and Arthur Young. The Three Musical Stewarts, Run- away Four, Tom McRea, Lydia Jospy, Joe Madden, Mabel Leslie, Howard Davis, La Petite Marvelle, Tom Nolan, Max Brooks, Charles Tully and wife, and Ben Homer have been signed for Morris Whitstock's "New Century Girls." Mark Linder, a young comedian, act- ing* as stage manager of the stock company at Carbondale, Pa., and for- merly a "legit," has been signed by Counlhan ft Shannon for their Western Wheel show. Sim Williams this week signed Helen Almora, late prima donna of the "Red Mill" company to play a leading role with his "Ideals" next season. Mil- ton and Delmar were engaged for his "Broadway Gaiety Girls." Pat White's show is owned by the Sparrow, Walker ft Edwards Co., of Montreal, which will have out another Western Wheel show next season. D. S. Walker is getting the new organiza- tion together. STROUSE'S NEXT SHOW. Harry M. Strouse will aga'n have "The Lady Buccaneers" on the Em- pire Circuit next season. The follow- ing principals have been engaged: John C. Hanson, William P. Conley. Sid Kerner, Hoyt and Stein, Anna Goldie, Morrelli and Bradley, Frank Gorman, Tom Gresham, L. Frank Miller, director. Twenty chorus girls will be carried. DAN'S SIXTH YEAR. Daniel Guggenheim will manage the Original Billy Watson "Beef Trust" show on the Western Wheel next sea- son for the sixth consecutive year. George Barret has been engaged as musical director and Harry Clayton will be the property man. The "Beef Trust" principals will be Billy Spencer, Charles Johnson, Bos- ton Comedy Four, Marlon and Thomp- son and Ida Walling. Frank Calder, who has "The Duck- lings" on the Western Wheel, will have a new burlesque next season, re- taining only the title. He has re-en- gaged Charles H. Boyle. AUTHOR BANKRUPT. Los Angeles, June 7. Frank L. Baum, author of "The Wizard of Oz," Is a bankrupt. Lia- bilities are placed at $12,600; assets at $85, the latter consisting of two suits of clothing and an old typewriter.