Variety (July 1911)

VARIETY CARRILLO'S RESIGNATION ON A CCOUNT OF VARIETY Board of Directors of White Rats Request Leo Carrillo to Resign as Member of the Board* Through Con- nection with Paper. Cartoonist Complies. The resignation of Leo Carrillo, as a member of the Board of Directors of the White Rats of America, was forwarded to the Board by Mr. Car- rillo this week. The resignation was requested by the Board, through Mr. Carrillo's connection with Varietv, as stated In a letter sent to Mr. Carrillo. The Board's letter and Mr. Carril- lo's resignation are printed herewith. In granting permission for the pub- lication of the letters, Mr. Carrillo made the following statement: "I print the above to show my brother Rats that the reason for my resigning from the Board of Direc- barrass his friends among the Rats, were an Issue made. The Board of Directors of the White Rats seems to have been tending very closely to the personal affairs of the members of the Board. Not so long ago, a Director was written to in an "official" letter (Official: i e., com- mencing with "At a meeting of the Board," and ending with the signa- ture of the "Secretary," the whole written on the letter heads of the White Rats), and asked why he had advertised in Variety It was reported that at a recent meeting of the White Rats, someone New York, Jane 22nd, 1011. Leo Carrillo, Esq., Woodcliffe, Freeport, L. I. Dear Sir and Brother:— At the meeting of the Board of Directors held June 18th, 1011, it was decided that in view of the position occupied by yon on Variety, you should be asked to resign from the Board of Directors. This decision was placed before the Lodge at the regular meeting held on the same date and it was moved and seconded that the recommenda- tion of the Board of Directors be accepted and the Secretary be Instructed to write you requesting your resignation as a member of the Board of Directors. Fraternally yours, (Signed) W. W. WATERS, Secretary-Treasurer. New York City, June 26th, 1011. Board of Directors, White Rats of America, New York City Gentlemen:— In compliance with your request of June 18th, that I resign as a di- rector of the above organization, owing to my connection with "Variety," I herewith tender you that resignation, at the same time calling to your attention that I was elected as a director at a general election, held by the order for that purpose. At that time I presumed my election was the will of the members at large, and yet I hasten to return my resigna- tion to the Board of Directors, upon their request and for the reason stated, although I am not convinced by your letter that those White Rats who may have voted for me as a director have expressed their will once more in the request made by the Board, in itself, that I resign as a member of it. Very truly, ' (Signed) LEO < A1UUIXO. tors, at their request, is because I am connected with Vahiktv, and for no other reason. I have no ill feel- ing whatsoever against any member of the Board. "(Signed) LEO. CARRILLO." Though advised to give no heed to the request of the Hoard, on the the- ory that he was elected a Director by a vote of 3,900 out of 4,000 cast at the annual election one year ago, Mr. Carrillo declined to listen, saying that since his connection with Variktv, was the cause of the request, and as he did not intend to sever the connection with this paper, he preferred to re- sign as a Director, rather than to em- connected with the order publicly stated in the meeting that the entire surplus of the order ($109,000) would be spent to discover the "leak" where- by Varietv, obtained information of the letter "officially" written by the Board to Harry DeVeaux, telling Mr. DeVeaux he had been trimmed out of a nomination In the present election. The speaker said five detectives had been engaged to discover who impart- ed this information to Varietv,. The detectives may have been instructed to ascertain how Variety, learned that Major James Doyle had addressed a letter of complaint against Harry Mountford, to the Board of Directors. BESSIE CLAYTON GONE AWAY. Following a short visit to her hus- band, Julian Mitchell, Beasie Clayton, quietly sailed for London last week, accompanied by her father, and Bert Cooper, the dancer's manager. Mr. Mitchell was very ill when his wife hurriedly left the other side to see him. Upon his recovery, Miss Clay- ton returned to fulfill foreign dates. It had been arranged that the Clay- ton party should remain over until this week, when they would have been joined in the sail across by Eva Tan- guay. It. is now probable that Miss Tanguay will leave upon any boat. She may appear in the London halls, under an old contract to Oswald Stoll, calling for a trial engagement at $1,- 500 weekly (300 pounds). Miss Tan- guay has never played on the other side. While the English managers are skeptical of her success, Mr. Stoll (a couple of years ago) was willing to take the risk. How he stands at the present time on the Tanguay question will not be known until Eva hits the big English town, although it is fairly certain that the Stoll people will not consent to her appearance first in any other London hall, unless Miss Tan- guay can buy off the agreement she entered into. Miss Tanguay may yet become a le- gitimate star. Honest! David Be- lasco had been watching her work for some time and has come to the con- clusion that Eva possesses "tempera- ment" and "talent" in more than suf- ficient quantities to create a serious dramatic role. The manager and vaudeville star have had several con- ferences to that end. Belasco says that with six months' hard work un- der his expert tutelage, he will be able to launch Miss Tanguay in a play equal In strength to "Zaza." One serious drawback prevents the consummation of the deal, 1. e., salary. Miss Tanguay commands an enormous salary in vaudeville. She naturally -hesitates about sacrificing this for a prolonged period of preparation for serious work. Belasco, on the other hand, quite naturally feels that he is entitled to the lion's share of the prof- its in the launching of a new star. Unless a compromise is effected the scheme may be abandoned. Miss Tan- guay sails Saturday on the Baltic. HOUDINI AT HOME. Harry Houdlnl is at home again, in New York. He arrived this week from the other side, where the "escape" ex- pert has been for the past three years. Contracts ha\ e already been entered into by Houdlnl to appear in the vaudeville houses of the United Book- ing Offices next season. It is under- stood his salary will be around $1,500 weekly. Next season, says Mr. Houdlnl, he will employ no handcuffs In his act, retaining from his former turn as seen over here, the "straight jacket" only. A couple of new sensational tricks have been evolved by him for his next appearance in the States, which will occur Sept. 4. Edwin Fowler, for five years with Edwin Arden, and late stage director of Schiller's players. Richmond, died June 22, in St. Joseph's Hospital. New York. DEFRECE WRONGLY QUOTED. (Special Cable to VAHwrr.) London, June 28, Variety, is asked by Walter De Frece to deny a reported interview with him in a New York weekly, wherein he was made to say that American acts are not wanted over here. Mr. De Frece is very angry over it, and says he never made the state- ment, having engaged more American acts for his tour than any other circuit over here. The interview referred to appeared In a little weekly press sheet published in New York. If Mr. De Frece had not requested a denial no one over here would have known anything about it. "PANTHER" FILM AND SKETCH. When William Harris returned to New York recently, he brought back a vivid impression of a sketch now playing abroad, called "The Panther Film." The playlet opens with a com- edy moving picture, showing a "chase" by a panther. When the animal jumps into a chimney the picture ends, and is continued on the stage by the pan- ther coming out of a fireplace, when the action proceeds, participated in with three people. The panther is a docile domestic pet, born in captivity, although train- ing has made it seemingly ferocious for the role taken. The sketch has been appearing upon the Continent. It is shortly to be presented in Lon- don. POSTPONEMENT OF OPENING. Chicago, June 28. Alfred Butt, general director of the new Victoria Palace, London, now in course of construction, has written- Neff and Starr that, owing to the in- ability of the management to have the house completed in September,.as ex- pected, it will be necessary to post- pone the engagement until later in the season. COL. J. A. PATTEE Originator nnd manaKer of "OLD SOLDI Kit FIDDLERS," composed of the Blue and tl.-> Gray, none of whom ever learned to ren-1 music. Booked ■olid by the United Book Inn OnV> s for one year. This week (June 26), Brighton Beach Music Hall. Next Week (July 3 . Henderson's, Coney Island. August 21, Q. A R. Encampment, Rochester, N. T.