Variety (December 1911)

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VARIETY ii RATS' UNION CONNECTION COMES UP IN " WALK-OUT" Striking Musicians and Stage Hands in the Fox Houses May Involve the Actors. V. M. P. A. Reported Behind Fox. Rats Silent on Matter. At the White Rats headquarters Wednesday, William J. Cooke, in charge of the actor's side of the labor troubles arising through the walk-out at the Academy of Music, Sunday, would make no statement on the course the actors' organization in- tends taking. Notwithstanding reports, the Rats Board of Directors is the sole arbiter in affairs of this nature. The Tues- day night meeting, weekly meeting, did not touch upon the subject. A report was about Wednesday that unless the differences between the Fox theatres and the union men were adjusted before, the C. F. U. at its meeting tonight (Friday) might take some positive step. Mr. Cooke had just returned from Atlanta Sunday, when the strike at the Academy occurred. Chas C. Shay, president of the stage employees union, was held at New Orleans this week, through labor troubles in that city. Sunday morning at the Academy of Music where occurs vaudeville on that day only of the week, the Fox management found they would be mi- nus their musicians and stage hands. The musicians declined to work un- less Mr. Fox agreed to reinstate the orchestra lately substituted for with piano and drums at the New York Roof. The Fox people would not consent, whereupon the musicians and stage hands walked out, after threatening to "pull out" the actors from all Fox houses Monday. Shortly after the affair occurred E. F. Albee, president of the Vaudeville Managers' Protective Association ar- rived at the Academy. He and Fox consulted, when, it was said, they de- cided if the union men went through with their threat to call out members of the White Rata Actors' Union from the Fox theatres Monday, the battle would then be taken up by the Asso- ciation. Last week at Atlanta, the musi- cians', stage hands' and actors' unions of the American Federation of Labor entered into a working agreement. Monday no signs of any undue dis- turbances among the artists on the Fox bills became manifest. It was reported at the offices of the unions affected the matter had been passed over to the Central Federated Union of New York, which would communi- cate with the White Rats. Prior to the trouble at the Acad- emy, that house, with two others of the Fox theatres (City and New York), had been Union houses. The walkout at the Academy and City placed all of the fourteen William Fox Greater New York houses in the non-union division. UNION TROUBLES SETTLED. Manchester, N. H„ Nov. 29. The difference between the man- agement of the new Park and the union stage employes and musicians, existing since last March, has been settled. In the shuffle the unions have a contract extending over a period of five years. The Mechanics has also become a union house. STOPS RUTH ST. DENIS. The tour of Ruth St. Denis has been cancelled by the managers of the houses in which she was booked. Miss St. Denis has not proved a drawing card and they do not feel that she has created sufficient of a sensa- tion in the United houses to warrant a continuance of her tour at $1,650 or more weekly. IS BOND TO BE OR NOT? Is the BOND to be or not to be, and will Eva Tanguay appear at the Alhambra, New York, next week, without having delivered, is the all absorbing question in vaudeville just now. When Percy O. Williams negoti- ated with and for Miss Tanguay through her personal representative, it was understood Eva accepted the New York dates In the Williams houses, $6,000 In cash would have to be deposited with that manager by the eccentric singer to guarantee the faithful performance of her contract- ed obligations to him. Everything has been arranged, the paper is out for Miss Tanguay's ap- pearance at the Alhambra Monday, but up to Wednesday Eva had side- stepped on the deposit. It is said Mr. Williams has the bond drawn up. It provides what shall become of the five if Eva doesn't play the week out in any of his houses. Miss Tanguay won't arrive in New York until Sunday. She has remark- ed, so they say* that no money of hers will go on deposit. On the other hand, Mr. Williams is reported as de- termined* that unless the coin is pro- duced according to the original agree- ment, Miss Tanguay won't open Mon- day. So the vaudeville world waiteth. R. ST. ELIA ENGAGED. Chicago, Nov. 29. Mrs. A. F. Billington announces the engagement of her daughter, Robbie Ctordone, to Riccado St. Ella. Both are now playing the Orpheum Circuit, Mr. St. Elia in "La Sonambule." Miss Gordone does a statute act. A HIT ANYWAY. Kendis & Paley claim that their big song hit "Billy," was only sung by two acts on the big time in New York, one week by each, and that no other two-a- day performer ever used it in the metropolis. POISONED WITH TOOTH PICK. Chicago, Nov. 29. Al. Zimmerman, who worked with Knox Wilson in vaudeville, arrived here from Cincinnati where a doctor told him that' he should return home at once, as he had developed gangrene through perforating his gum with a toothpick and could live but a few days. His wife met him at the depot. THE JOHN FORDS DIVORCED. Chicago, Nov. 29. Johnny Ford and Mayme Gehrue were divorced here last week. PERCENTAGE TIME OFF. The "percentage" time laid out for Norah Bayes and Jack Norworth In vaudeville is qu^e apt to be called off, according to report. After scor- ing at the Colonial upon their return to vaudeville, the couple Informed the managers their terms in the fu- ture, upon finishing the Williams time, would be thirty per cent, of the gross receipts during the week they headlined. M. Shea agreed to the defl for Buf- falo and Toronto. The act Is due to open at the former place Jan. 8. Chase's, Washington, and the Grand Opera House, Pittsburg, "penciled In" Bayes and Norworth for dates, but last week the team didn't equal their Colonial record at the Orpheum, Brooklyn, whereat the out of town managers contracted a dampness around their tootsies. It is also said the United Book- ing Offices, through its working heads, remarked that about $2,600 would be the limit for Norworth and Bayes or any other act, and the "30 per cent, thing" didn't go. The Ma- jestic, Chicago, date at $3,000 (price asked by the act) has been rubbed out. The couple are thinking of getting up a vaudeville road company of their own, it is said, to play one-nighters, and fill in their open time until Jan. 8. This week they are at the Al- hambra. The application for a restraining order, made by Werba & Luescher against their former stars In "Little Miss Fix-It," is up for argument to- day in the Supreme Court. The firm of managers say Bayes and Norworth when leaving the show took along some play material with them, that they have since employed In the vaudeville act. MIKE BERNARD AND AMY BUTLER. The two B's are going to be busy shortly. Immediately after the sus- pension of partnership relations be- tween Mike Bernard and Willie Wes- ton at Montreal last week, the crack pianist returned to New York, where he arranged with Miss Butler to ap- pear in vaudeville with her. Miss But- ler Is a well known character come- dienne, formerly playing alone. Mr. Bernard and Miss Butler are now rehearsing. Willie Weston will appear as a single turn, opening at the Greenpoint next week in a turn written by Vin- cent Bryan. Pat Casey is booking Mr. Weston. DAN MASON GETTING UP ACT. Chicago, Nov. 29. Dan Mason, the former star of "You and 1," is here, engaging peo- ple for a vaudeville act. EUGENE WEST. Leading man In the vaudeville version of the famous play, "THE NINETY AND NINE" at the Colonial theatre. New York, next week (Dec. 4). Mr. West recently scored heavily in "JUDY O'HARA" and Is one of the most versatile young leading men on the boards. He has often appeared In vaudeville with Catherine Henry and other artists, and is one of the few legitimate players who understands vaudeville and Its requirements. TWO DAILY AT HOllOKKN. The Gaiety, Hoboken, now harbor- ing stock, will be turned into two-a- day vaudeville house Dec. 4, when the house will open with eight acts. Milton Horschfleld, largely interest- ed in the Prudential Vaudeville Ex- change, is the lessee of the Gaiety. The theatre will be booked by the Prudential Exchange.