Variety (October 1914)

VABIBTY 101 RANCH GETS EVEN BREAK ON LOT WITH THE RINGLINGS Shows Play Side By Side in Norfolk After Circus Jumps 408 Miles to Join Battle With Wild West and Divide Record Crowds. Norfolk, Sept. 30. "101 Ranch" was in day and date op- position here Monday with the Ring- ling Bros.' circus, the second hand to hand conflict the two enterprises have engaged in this season. Both sides appeared willing to meet the issue, al- though the Arlington outfit came off victor in the first test of strength when in Easton, Pa., it scored a turnaway at 1.40 with the Ringlings in opposi- tion. Monday's clash went to a draw. The "101 Ranch" advance secured the initial victory here by tying up all the available lots in town. Edward Arlington, declaring that he welcomed a "go" with the Baraboo firm, later rtleased a lot so that the Ringlings could show side by side with the wild west. The Ringlings accepted the challenge and jumped 408 miles from Bristol, Tenn., over Sunday for the clinch. The transportation bill was about $2,500. "101 Ranch," it was announced here, wili stay out until Nov. 21. Circus men say none of the tent shows will stay out beyond the end of October. The warring attractions fought it out to a draw after a spectacular day in which all circus records for the town were broken. The Ranch afternoon show drew 7,400 and the night perform- ance 8,100, while the Ringling figures were 8,600 and 8,500 for afternoon and night, respectively. These figures were vouched for by the agents of the two shows, each speaking for his own at- traction. Norfolk and the surrounding country to the north, west and south were lav- ishly billed by both shows, and the rivals vied with each other in elaborat- ing their parades. An expensive adver- tising campaign was conducted in the newspapers. Ideal weather contributed to the big crowds. The Arlington outfit was under a handicap by reason of the fact that the stand was its first appearance under canvas in Norfolk, but this was more or less balanced by the circumstance that the town regards the Miller enter- prise as something of a local nature, the 1907 tour having begun at the Jamestown Exposition. The Wild West was one of the few paying concessions at the Exposition, and made many friends at that time. While here, Joe Miller gave out the statement that the "101 Ranch" in Oklahoma had contracted to deliver 10,000 horses to Belgium for the use of the army, the deal, closed last Satur- day, involving $1,750,000. He said 800 horses would be shipped from Galves- ton within two weeks and other ship- ments would follow as rapidly as the stock could be assembled. —™ • Lynchburp, Va.. Sept. 30. Ringling's circus gave Lynchburg the go-by Sunday, when four trains car- ried the big tented organization over the Norfolk & Western railway from Bristol to Norfolk. The big jump of more than 400 miles was made to avoid extra license tax levied by State laws on account of conflict with agricultural fairs, the management explained. Lynchburg's only circus ground is a poor apology for a tenting place, but an ideal site exists near the Interstate Fair grounds in the Fort Hill section, and it is understood that this will be made available as s«on as the street car company opens up the neighborhood by extending its lines. MINSTRELS IN WRECK. Cincinnati, Sept. 30. The J. A. Coburn minstrel troupe was mighty near plucked from earth in a railroad wreck in the Big Four yards at Third and Baymiller streets, Sunday. After inspecting the injuries of his men, J. A. Coburn, head of the com- pany, cancelled an engagement at Lebanon, O., Monday night. The show remained here until Tuesday to. fill the engagement. The company was coming from New- ark, O., intending to transfer at Cin- cinnati. When near the entrance to the Central Union depot, its train was hit, in a head-on collision, by a Big Four switch engine. The engineer of the minstrel train is expected to die. His skull was fractured. Mike Glynn, of New Hampshire, and Charles Gano, minstrels, were badly hurt. Nearly all the minstrels in the dining car were injured. NOT FOR VAUDEVILLE. There being a decided difference in the $1,000 weekly salary requested and the amount offered Montgomery and Moore for a big time vaudeville route for this season, the couple have accept- ed an offer that will bring them before the camera in a series of one-reel comedies to be produced by a new company now being formed. It is understood the team will have a financial interest in the concern. Abduction Charge. Pittsburgh, Sept. 30. Harry Wilson and W. E. Edson, of the Hampton-Empire shows, accused of abducting Ruth Carr, 14 years old, of Mt. Pleasant, Pa., were held for a hearing. Burgess Shields testified he found the nirl in a closed wagon. Chariot to War. Word has been received at the Rose & Curtis office that Jean Chariot, for- merly manager of the Folies Marigny Paris and La Cigale, Paris, has gone to the front with the French troops. Chariot was the Paris representa- tive of th< Rose & Curtis firm, having an agency of his own in that city as well. TINNEY WITH DILLINGHAM. The new Charles B. Dillingham re- vue that started rehearsals Monday of this week is to have Frank Tinney, equally featured with the principals of the company, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle. Max Hart engineered the five-year contract Mr. Tinney signed, and which is said to call for a weekly salary of $850 for Tinney while he is play- ing. The agreement for Dillingham's "Watch Your Step" is also reported to contain a provision that Tinney's name shall always be mentioned whenever the title of the show is printed under the management's direction, and like- wise that the "Tinney" in the billing matter shall be at least one-third the size type given the name of the play. Mr. Tinney was under contract to Flo Ziegfeld, Jr., who held an option upon his services, but neglected to exercise it. The Castles are said to be receiving $1,000 weekly, flat, for the revue. Irving Berlin has written the songs tor the production. Others in the Dillingham revue are Elizabeth Brice and Charles King, Eliz- abeth Murray, Renee Gratz (English), Charles Aldrich, and Adele Rowland. T. Roy Barnes (Barnes and Craw- ford), who was to have gone with the piece, will remain with "The Passing Show of 1914." AUTHORS' SOCIETY. Some of the authors who write for vaudeville are talking about forming an authors' society. The main purpose is to have a binding contract to secure payment of royalty. REED ALBEE RETURN8. Mr. and Mrs. Reed Albee returned from Europe last Friday, after spend- ing 14 days on the water. They have been abroad since last June and were located in Switzerland shortly after the European disorder broke out. Just Like Lunnun. The grill room of the Hotel Astor at the noon hour is commencing to re- semble Cavour, London, where all the show people go for lunch. With the theatrical activities cen- tred between 42d and 49th streets, the Astor seems to be getting the call, and has been especially busy since Hebrews crossed the Claridge off their visiting list. Loew's Loaf Llne-Up. The Marcus Loew office is now booking 30 weeks in its western divis- ion, with 25 houses listed on the east- ern books. Singer's Midgets Booked. Singer's Midgets, an aggregation of 30 members from Germany, who give a general act in which a number of animals participate as well, will head- line the Hammerstein bill for two weeks, beginning Nov. 2. Suratt Wonf Split. Valeska Suratt upon discovering she was scheduled to split the headline with Joan Sawyer at the Palace, New York, next week, decided not to accept ♦he engagement, COMEDY CLUB MATTERS. Among the matters that came up this week in connection with the defunct Vaudeville Comedy Club was the question of the indebtedness of the so- ciety, and also an idea of Gene Hughes', its former president, to re- vive the club as another organization, take new quarters and make a fresh start. Mr. Hughes believes there is a chance for success, notwithstanding that several of the former Comedy Club members have joined the lately formed organization called "The Jest- ers," which has limited its professional membership to 100. The indebtedness of the Comedy Club, now estimated at about $30,000, was discussed Monday evening among members of the former Board of Gov- ernors at a meeting held in Mr. Hughes' office. Another meeting was scheduled for this Friday, in the offices of Maurice Goodman, of the United Booking Offices. The board members say that the creditors would be willing to give a long period to settle the debts, upon the promise of the players who are partly responsible, legally, for the ob- ligations, agreeing to give a benefit performance twice yearly to raise suf- ficient funds to liquidate. AND THIS IS 19141 Pittsburgh, Pa., Sept. 30. Blanche Harris, who is appearing in picture houses and small vaudeville theatres as a mind reader, was arrest- ed in Pitcairn, near here, charged with fortune telling. At a seance she was asked, "Who killed George Creighton a year ago?" She replied Creighton was murdered by a man whose initials were "G M. B." George M. Blair, who was in the audience, caused the arrest. Miss Harris was discharged by the burgess. Lew Brice Disfigured. Lew Brice is not with "The Passing Show of 1914/' and is said to have left the Winter Garden last Thursday night, carrying away a black eye with him. The discolored optic is reported to have been inflicted upon the young man by one of the management. Artie Mehlinger joined the show Monday. Brice is said to have asked for an increase of salary on the road, and to have threatened to have himself "fired" if not receiving it. The same evening he missed a couple of scenes. Someone connected with the house, believing Brice had done so intentionally, could not restrain connecting with Brlce's optic. Young Brice had the disfigurement photographed for future possible use. 40 Dogs, AH Actors. Arthur von Lipinski has 40 dogs in his act. called Lipinski's 40-Dog Come- dians. Mr. von Lipinski says everyone of his animals is an actor, and that they give a complete performance by themselves on the stage. The act has been well known in Eu- rope for the past five years. Tt opens for an initial showing over here Oct. 12, at Keith's, Philadelphia, with a sea- son's big time route to follow, secured for the act by Rose & Curtis.