Variety (December 1911)

10 VARIETY HOT DENVER OPPOSITION. Denver, Nov. 29. Theatrical business should get a move on here next week, when Sam Bernard and Anna Held will clash as opposition forces. Miss Held in "Miss Innocence," opens at the Broadway Monday; Mr. Bernard in "He Game From Milwau- kee" starts at the Tabor Grand Sun- day. Both have been breaking records in the respective territory traveled. Mr. Bernard (Shubert) is returning from the Goast, while Miss Held (Klaw & Erlanger), recently moved up from the south. LEDERER'S SUIT COMING UP. George W. Lederer's suit against Julius Kessler, of the Whiskey Trust, and his "superintendent of bars/' Jules Altman, for breach of contract, will be reached in the New York courts some time next month. Messrs. Kessler and Altman were the original partners with Lederer in "Madame Sherry" and reneged. Led- erer was to have had a half interest in the show. When Harry Frasee and A. H. Woods took hold he was only able to retain a one-third holding. Mr. Lederer now sues for the difference. KICKING ON THE BILLING. New Orleans, Nov. 29. Saturday evening as Robert B. Man- tell walked down Dauphine street on his way to the theatre named after it (where the Shakespearian interpre- ter appeared last week) he passed two boys "shooting craps" on the side- walk in front of the Ranson Hotel. One of the kids, looking up at see- ing his shadow, and noting the heavy clouds overhead, said to his playmate: "Hey, Willie, there are no stars out tonight." "Ye Gods!" thundered Mr. Mantell, as the remark reached him in his ab- sent-mindedness, "will that fellow Brady never bill me properly?" AIRS. GOURARD SAID NO. "Had not Mrs. Jackson Gourard said 'No'" mournfully, related Bill Lykens yesterday, "Hammerstein's would have had a feature act for one week, sure." Everything had been arranged, claims Mr. Lykens, even to William Hammerstein consenting to pay Mrs. Gourard $4,000 for seven days to de- liver a talk on society. After the pre- liminaries were completed, Mr. Bill thought of communicating with Mrs. Gourard, who replied she would not entertain any proposition for the stage. ACTS FOR HIP. There is said to be a strong dif- ference of opinion among the man- agement of the New York Hippo- drome, whether variety acts should not be made more prominent in that show. The agitation may lead to the Hip- podrome again offering the full com- plement of vaudeville, discontinued with the opening of the present pro- duction. Reach the abow people Advertise In VARIETY. It reaches. SHOWS AT THE BOX OFFICE. (Continued from page 4.) "Excuse Me** (8tudebaker). Never quite selling out, but always going strongly enough to secure an indefi- nite stay. Studebaker's first winner this season. '•The Right Princess" (Ziegfeld). A religious sect play, arousing Interest chiefly among the followers of the faith it expounds. Business has been on the increase since the opening night. "Gypsy Love** (Chicago O. H.). Went over with a rush and is playing to splendid business. Looks to be destined for a long run unless forced out to give another attraction an opening. Rumored that Valeska Su- ratt in "The Red Rose" follows it Christmas Eve. "A Lovely liar** (Olympic). Re- fused to score in spite of the perso- nal popularity here of Louise Dresser and other members of the company. Will be withdrawn Dec. 2. Succeed- ing attraction, Zelda Sears in "Stand- ing Pat." "The Master of the House** (Cort). Gross receipts opening week $4,130; week before last $5,230; and last week (ending Nov. 25) the gross ex- ceeded $6,000. The advance sales in- dicate the $10,000 mark will be pass- ed this (Thanksgiving) week, little short of phenomenal in the face of the frosty conditions prevailing here in general, and particularly at the houses holding strictly dramatic shows. SUES FOR TRAIN DELAY. Leffler ft Bratton will sue the Rock Island Railroad for damages on ac- count of the "Newly Weds" company missing the matinee in Fort Smith, Ark. The show at the night perform- ance took in a little less than $1,000. It was said by the local management the advance sale for the matinee was $100 and they were sure that $400 would be the receipts for that per- formance. That is the amount the firm will sue for. The claim made by the troupers is that the railroad com- pany made no effort to get them to Fort Smith on schedule. A freight wreck ahead held the show up. GERMAN FARCE OF HUSBANDS. "Wem Gebort Helene" ("To Whom does Helen Belong?") is the name of a three-act comedy the Shuberts hold a producing option on until Jan. 1. The author in Germany is very anx- ious to have the play produced. The optional contract was made over a year ago. If the Shuberts do not de- cide to present by New Year's, it will be produced by others almost imme- diately after. WORKING ON "DUDELSACK.** Philadelphia, Nov. 29. Max Hlrschfleld, musical director of the "Miss Dudelsack" company, hand- ed in his two weeks' notice Monday. Geo. Hobart and Ben Teal have been busily engaged on the show for ten days or more. FRISCO SHOWS THIS WEEK. San Francisco, Nov. 29. At the Columbia Montgomery ana Stone are having a tremendous suc- cess, making it necessary to play ex- tra matinees in order to accommodate the demand for seats. Business at the Cort, with "Mo- ther," is not up to the standard. San Francisco is not satisfied with "No. 2" companies of any production. Law- rence D'Orsay in "The Earl of Paw- tucket" follows. "Sis Hopkins" is doing good busi- ness at the Savoy. The Alcazar season closed Sunday night, and Kinnemacolor pictures opened Monday to capacity business. They will continue throughout the week, after which the house will be dark until it is opened with "pop" vaudeville by Harris ft Ackerman. "ORIGINAL*' NO LONGER. There's a good chance the "Origi- nal Pony Ballet" will soon stop com- peting with Kllralfy's Ballet in the memory of the oldest inhabitant around here. The "Pony Ballet" at the Herald Square, now in "The Wife Hunters" is dissolving, partly through marriage and partly because there are so many "originals" around the public is having trouble picking them. Lixsie Hawman, of the Herald Square bunch, married about a year ago, and has now left the act Bea- trice Ladell, another of the first set, is out. There remains no one In sight to promulgate the "Pony Bal- let" in its "original" form. These "ponies" first came over about thirteen or fourteen years ago, appearing in "The Man in the Moon" at the New York theatre, when Henry B. Sire was the manager there. Geo. W. Lederer had the show. The Kll- ralfy Ballet (original) antedates that a few davs. LAUDER ALL FOR MORRIS. Trenton, N. J., Nov. 29. Harry Lauder is all for William Morris. The Scotchman bo declared himself when bidding his manager and America good-by here Tuesday night. In his farewell speech, Mr. Lauder said that though the opposition had often approached him, he would never play for anyone in America but Will- iam Morris. "And, Will" said he turning to Mr. Morris who was stand- ing near, "when you quit the show business, "I'll retire too." The Morris management presented its star with a solid silver fruit ser- vice. Harry Lauder Bailed Wednesday morning on the Lusltania. He may open in England next Monday. Martin Beck sailed on the Olympic from Cherbourg this week. He is due here next Tuesday. SHUBERTS* CABARET. The restaurant adjoining the Win- ter Garden, New York, now preparing to open about New Year's, and be- longing to the Shuberts, will have a cabaret performance. It is not known whether the Shu- berts Intend to manage or lease the restaurant; neither is it known whether they will call the Cabaret opposition to their Winter Garden show. TWO NEW IN PHILADELPHIA. Philadelphia, Nov. 27. Cecil Hamilton's "Just to Get Mar- ried," with Grace George and the New York Playhouse Company, was the only new offering in the legitimate houses this week. The piece was warm- ly greeted by a large audience at the Adelphl, and press notices were favor- able. "The Wedding Trip" had its open- ing here last Thursday night and held over this week. The musical piece has met with favor. Reginald De Koven is credited with another success. "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" is still drawing big crowds to the Broad and "The Round Up" has been doing bo well at the Forrest that its stay has been lengthened two more weeks. "Miss Dudelsack," with Lulu Glaser, is doing but fairly at the Opera House. Blanche Bates 1b drawing well in "No- body's Widow" at the Garrlck. "Snobs" at the Walnut holds on to good busi- ness. "Sag Harbor" at the Chestnut and "A Child of the Regiment" at the American received good support from the stock lovers. At the American George Druary Hart has engaged as leading man and will appear next week in "Three Weeks." NO HIPS IN CANADA. Toronto, Nov. 29. The Canadian papers have been de- voting space to the plans of one, Capt. Montague Yates, who is in Canadian territory, representing himself as the emissary of an English syndicate con- trolling among other theatres over there the Hippodrome, London. Captain Yates has not been success- ful in enlisting capital for his promo- tion scheme, though he stated three- quarters of the money required would be furnished by his English princi- pals. The Captain says the idea of Hippodromes in the principal Cana- dian cities, fashioned after the Hip- podrome at Cleveland, first appeared feasible to the English theatrical men upon the repudiation of the recently proposed reciprocity plan with the U. S. This Indicated a pro-English learning on the part of the Canucks, said the Captain. The plan had been all mapped out, even to the name of the enterprise, Canadian Hippodromes, Ltd. Ten or more English companies were to cir- cle around the wheel with attractive plays. But the Captain has found out by this time all about the absence of ready cash for show propositions on this side of the St. Lawrence. The Hippodrome, London, is oper- ated by Sir Henry Mobs. Sir Henry has an English circuit of music halls, mostly named "Empire." He is in- terested in a few legitimate theatres In the London suburbs. THREE-ACT GETS OVER. (Special Cable to Variety;.) London, Nov. 29. Elsie Faye, with Miller and Weston, opened at the Tivoli Monday and are a success. Miss Faye will have to shorten her songs to conform with the time limit in vogue here.