Variety (December 1911)

12 VARIETY DROPPING ••TEN PER CENTERS/* Chicago, Nov. 29. Earl J. Cox, the Madison street booking agent, has finally yielded to the persuasive demands of the White Rats Actors' Union and last Thurs- day signed an agreement with the Union whereby he ia to book nothing but White Rat acts and is to use only the Illinois State form of contract An interesting clause in the agree- ment is the pledge to bar ten per cent, agents from his offices and to have no booking transactions with them. In view of the fact that the Cox offices have heretofore been one of the greatest strongholds of the "ten per centers," this new policy is cal- culated to cause a consternation in their ranks. SOME SEND OFF. The Vaudeville Comedy Club re- ceived a running start for its long lease of the new home at 107 West 44th street last Saturday night, when the formal housewarming occurred. Jos. M. Schenck did a lot of the warm- ing up. A big crowd gathered, and hung around the premises until late Sun- day, securing a fresh start on the warming up process Sunday evening. Some may be there yet. Mr. Schenck left* early in the morning. It was a great old night. Joe was right in the middle of it all the time (and he had company). The club house is a dandy, and the new grill a beauty. It looked so good all over no one wanted to leave. About 460 congratulatory messages were received. Mrs. Gene Hughes was the only wife of a member to remem- ber the opening. BRINGS ANOTHER SUIT. Alleging breach of contract, Lydia Lopoukowa, through her personal manager, Joseph Mandelkern, brought suit this week against the Max Rab- inoff Enterprises (Inc.), for $6,600. This is the second suit filed against her former manager within a week. Rabinoff claims he will have noth- ing more to do with Mandelkern in any way but that if the danseuse can be brought into the Russian fold with- out Mandelkern's say so in the mat- ter, well and good. Rabinoff says managing a Russian ballet is no bed of roses, but with Mandelkern, it is a couch of thorns. ROBINSON CIRCUS SOLD. Cincinnati, Nov. 29. The Dan Robinson circus was sold here at auction. One of the principal buyers was John Robinson, who got five lions for $2,300. He also paid $1,300 for five leopards. Sixteen sleep- ers, box and flat cars brought $9,000 One llama sold for $155. Sacred cows sold from $10 to $35. High school horses averaged $250. One elephant named "Lillle" brought $500 and a baby elephant was sold for $500. Robinson put $150,000 in the circus, which was bought about a month ago by some horse dealers in New York from a receiver for $28,000. The auc- tion realized abuut $32,000. • Uet talkrd about Advertise In VARIETY. SHEA A SHAY IN ALLBNTOWN. Allentown, Pa., Nov. 29. By accepting the No-Flaw theatre here and booking in acts from New York that have been placed on a "blacklist" by Loew and Fox, the Shea ft Shay agency of New York has bucked up against a new proposition as their "two-a-day" shows here be- come out and out opposition to the Wilmer ft Vincent local vaudeville house, Orpheum, booked by the United Booking Offices. The No- Flaw's capacity is 1,600. NEW LUMBERG OPEN. Utica, Nov. 29. The Lumberg opened Monday night for its first public gathering. The house plays vaudeville supplied by the Loew Circuit. Its policy is two shows dally. Jos. M. Schenck, general book- ing manager for Loew, was here for the occasion. The house seats about 2,100. It is playing a $1,100 bill. Commencing Monday, the Lumberg will try the two-a-day policy for a full week. It is now splitting with the Lyceum, Troy. BUYS $880,000 SITE. Portland, Ore., Nov. 29. Sullivan ft Considine have closed a deal In .this city for their new the- atre site at Seventh and Yamhill streets. The consideration was $330,- 000. STEWART AND ALEXANDRIA. (From Cincinnati Commercial-Trib- une, September 19, 1911.) TOOK THEIR SKETCH FROM REAL LIFE AND CHARACTERS. There Is more or less reality in the sketch that is being presented this week at Keith's by the Misses Ro- wenna Stewart and Olady's Alexan- dria, entitled "Broadway Love." Each young lady takes the character of a chorus girl, the one assuming the guardianship of the other, giving her the benefit of her own experience by some sound advice. It develops that the younger of the two is in love with Jack, who has been wining and dining her, and she has received a proposal of marriage from him. The climax of the story is the discovery by the elder girl that this same Jack was her husband, who had deserted her. That is the thread of the tale, upon which is based a very clever comedy sketch that con- tains a tinge or two of pathos, and which is very pleasingly presented by the Misses Stewart and Alexandria. The real life story is as follows: Miss Stewart and Miss Alexandria are the daughters of old-fashioned, wealthy Vermont families, who were adjoining neighbors for generations. They were companions in childhood, went to school together and were in the same class at Lorella Acedemy. Both being talented and possesed of a longing for the stage, they had but little trouble in overcoming parental objections, and one year ago made their debut in high-class vaudeville. (Pictures of the Misses Stewart and Alexandria are on Variety's cover of this issue.) KEITH INTENDS BUILDING? Syracuse, N. Y., Nov. 29. It seems very probable B. F. Keith will build in this city after all. He has held the best site in town for that purpose some time now. The theatrical situation here not adjusting itself to the pleasure of vaudeville's King Pin, arrangements have been entered Into for the erec- tion of the theatre first proposed by Mr. Keith some time ago. He now plays his shows at the Grand Opera House, under percentage splitting terms with the Shuberts. DECATUR OPEN SUNDAYS. Chicago, Nov. 29. For the first time in the history of Decatur, 111., vaudeville theatres were open there Sunday, with the regular week-day show given. It resulted in packed houses, with- out interference by local authorities, though the church element is vigor- ously opposing the move. NEW PARAGON PARK. Boston, Nov. 29. Paragon Park, one of the largest amusement resorts, and in which thou- sands of dollars was invested, received its baptism of fire last Thursday when flames nearly cleaned out the place. Three acres of ground was swept by the flames and the damage is estimated at $100,000. The loss is fully covered by insurance. Plans are already made for rebuilding. Starting at the main gate, the flames devoured "The Temple of Mirth," con- taining the "Carousal"; Wolf ft Walker's moving picture house; two soda stands; Emerson's dance hall, which takes in the "Johnstown Flood building"; Will Hill's vaudeville house; the photograph gallery; the "Japanese Village," and the knick- knack store. "KID HAMLETS" RIGHTS. A fight over the rights to "Kid Hamlet" seems imminent. Albert Hall is advertising the piece as his property while James Leonard, who first appeared in it and is now work- ing with Richard Anderson in "When Caeser C's Her," claims Hall has no rights to the act. LEFT AFTER MATINEE. Chicago, Nov. 29. Kimberly and Hodkins opened at the Majestic Monday afternoon, but for some reason or other left the bill after the initial performance, replaced by Guerro and Carmen. Kimberly and Hodkins are routed from the New York end until next March. This was their first appearance in the west. It is understood a difference of opinion between the act and someone around the house caused the quick change. VAUDEVILLE "HONEYMOON." "A Quiet Honeymoon," a tabloid version of "The Bachelors' Honey- moon," with Robert LeSuer, Harry Horn, Forrest Seabury, Lilian Nieder and Sarah Kyle, will be given its first vaudeville presentment a week from next Monday at the 126th Street theatre. Jack Cahn is behind the piece. LIMITING LONDON LICENSES. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Nov. 29. The County Council has agreed to grant double licenses to all places of amusement where no drinks are sold. This stops the prosecution of all halls for presenting stage plays, but bars all places already selling drinks from get- ting a double 1 incense. The only halls In London where drinks are not sold are the Coliseum and Hippodrome. These will be the only two music halls where large dra- matic productions will be permitted hereafter. By the terms of the law no place where drinks are sold is permitted to present on its stage a sketch running over thirty minutes or having over six speaking parts. CURE DOES ROSE GOOD. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Nov. 29. Julian Rose, who returned from Wiesbaden recently where he had been undergoing the "cure," is an enor- mous hit at the Oxford, and has been booked for twenty weeks in the Syn- dicate halls. "SLUM ANGEL" NOT SO GOOD. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Nov. 29. Seymour Hicks and Ellaline Terriss in a sketch entitled "The Slum Angel," are at the Coliseum this week. It is a story of London poverty, but is re- garded as very poor material. The finish, however, went very big. Hicks has a good comedy role. BIRD M1LLMAN A HIT. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Nov. 29. The Bird Millman Trio opened at the Palace Monday evening and registered a substantial hit. MOLLIE WILLIAMS STARRED. According to report, "Mollie Will- iams and Her Bohemian Girls" will be the new title next season for the present "Queens of Bohemia" show of Max Splegl's. Mr. Spiegl has placed Miss Williams under contract, pending the expiration of her present contract at the ending of this season with Bob Manchester. Vaudeville offers for Miss Williams In the sketch she now plays in, "The Cracker Jacks" are said to have been declined by her, due to the Spiegl contract. INMAN ASKS FOR DIVOROE. Chicago, Nov. 29. Billy Inman commenced an action calling for a divorce from his present wife Lyda Carlisle, while in Chicago two weeks ago with the Reeves' "Beauty Show." Miss Carlisle is a professional and was formerly the wife of Maurice Jacobs, of Butler, Jacobs & Lowery. She divorced Jacobs while playing with his own company "The Cherry Blossoms" here two years ago. It Is rumored the pair have become reconciled and may remarry provided the Inman nuptials can be done away with.