The New York Clipper (February 1917)

February 21, 1917 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 17 BURLESQUE IS MAINSTAY OF RATJJEVY WILL GIVE BIG WEEKLY FEE Burlesque performers seem to be the mainstay of the White RatB Actors* Union in their 5 per cent levy on members Of the organization, as several hundred dol- lars have been paid in by them during the past -week. From five to eight hundred dollars will be received from them weekly, according to officials of the club. An order to members was issued from the offices of the Vaudeville Managers' Pro- tective Association shortly after the assess- ment was announced, asking them to find out what performers were making payments to the White Bats, These persons were ordered to be cancelled without notice. However, there were no cancellations made of performers who sent the fee to the dab last week. It is said a number of them stated in the presence of company managers that they had sent their assess- ment to headquarters. Many of these performers are satisfied, it is said, that they are fully protected by a season contract and that the managers will not disrupt their shows at this time through cancellations. General Manager Samuel A. Scribner some time ago stated that next season no White Rats would obtain employment with shows operated on either the Columbia or American Burlesque circuits. A. B. C. EXTENDS SEASON It has been decided to continue the sea- son of the American Burlesque Circuit for two weeks after the regular closing date, April 21. For the weeks of April 23 and 30, the shows, with but few exceptions, will continue on the route, repeating at the houses in which they played the first two weeks of the season. In cases where the theatres have made arrangements for stock, bookings will be provided elsewhere. For next season many changes are contemplated and the route as it is projected would mean a great im- provement • BURLESQUE MEN SEEK TO JOIN RUSH CIRCUIT DON'T LIKE PRESENT WHEELS "BLUTCH" COOPER RETURNS James (Blotch) Cooper, the burlesque producer, returned last Thursday from a visit to his show, "The Sightseers," at Albany. Cooper says he has booked return engagements for this attraction at most of the New Tork and Brooklyn houses during the spring. ADA LUM MARRIED Ada Lum, prima donna of the "Charm- ing Widows," has just announced that she was married August 7, 1916, to Frank J. Noonan of Cleveland, O. They will spend a belated honeymoon in San Francisco and Hawaii at the end of Miss Lara's season. BURLESQUE FOR NEBRASKA CITY Nebraska Crrr, Neb., Feb. 18.—The burlesque shows are playing this city Sat- urday night after Omaha now. This city is on the main line between Omaha and Kansas City. HELEN CLARKSON DEAD Helen Clarkson, a show girl with W. B. Watson's Burlesquers, accidentally turned on the gas when retiring in her room at 217 W. 126th Street last week and was found dead in bed the next morning. CHORUS GIRL SPRAINS ANKLE Helen Dunleavy, a chorus girl with Sam Howe's show, sprained her ankle at the Monday matinee last week in Hurtig & Seamon's and was missing from the cast for the rest of the week. WERTHEIM TO JOIN JACOBS Fred Wertheim. advance agent of Billy Watson'B "Beef Trust," has been engaged to go ahead of one of the Jacobs ft Jermon shows -next season. DES MOINES MADE WEEK STAND Das' Morses, la.. Feb. 19.—The Watson and Wrothe Show will have automobile Week in this city, and has extended its time to six days here instead of three, as played by other shows. LOUIS HURTIG ILL Louis Hurtig, manager of Hurtig ft Sea- mons, was absent from his duties at the house the early part of last week as a re- sult of an attack of grippe. He returned to his post on Thursday. POSTERS HELPED BUSINESS The Italian poster used by the Ben Welch Show "attracted a large number'of that nationality to the Columbia, New York, last week, where they enjoyed bis "wop" impersonation. BURLESQUERS REJOIN COMPANY New Obleans, Feb. 18.—Belle Costello and Tommy O'Neil rejoined the burlesque stock company at the Lyric Theatre last week, after an absence of two months from the cast. HELEN DREW IN HOSPITAL Helen Drew, a chorister with Sam Howe's "Kissing Girls," was suddenly taken ill while playing at Cohen's Theatre, Poughkeepsie, Feb. 8, and removed to the Bassett Hospital where she is at present confined. Many old producers of burlesque shows who have been aligned with the Colum- bia and American circuits will likely sever their connections with these companies and join the new "Follies" circuit, formed by Edward Rush and associates. The new type of production that Rush and bis fellow workers are sponsors for seems to be totally in accord with the ideas of a number of the more progressive burlesque producers. These men-realize that a more wholesome type and style of performance and production would be welcome. Among the burlesque producers who have consulted with Rush in the past few weeks are several who are dissatisfied with the treatment given them by the va- rious theatres playing attractions of the Columbia and American circuits. They claimed that they were compelled to pay the two circuits a substantial booking fee for their attractions and that they were not being protected by these organizations ate they should be. Instances cited were those of the Hyde ft Behman houses, in Chicago and Pitts- burgh, and Hurtig ft Seamons Theatre, in New York, where they were compelled to accept 45 per cent, of the gross receipts for their share of the business, unless their business aggregated $5,000, when an equal division of the receipts was given them. It was learned that the American Cir- cuit has already sanctioned the issuance of three or four new franchises for next season to shows which will replace attrac- tions operating on the circuit this season. LEON BERG TO RETIRE Dayton, O., Feb. 17.—Leon Berg, man- ager of the Lyric, announces that he will retire from show business at the close of the present season. PAM LAWRENCE RETURNS Pam Lawrence, soubrette of the "Puss Puss" company, has recovered from the effects of blood poisoning. She returned to the cast at Boston. WILLIAMS TO HAVE NEW SHOW Sim Williams has completed arrange- ments for a new book and equipment for his next Benson's "Girls from Joyland" Co. GAYETY OPENING SATURDAY Omaha, Feb. 9.—The Gayety is open- ing Saturday matinee this season and clos- ing Friday night. AILLS AND MYERS SPLIT A ills and Myers, of the Mollis Williams' Show, have dissolved partnership. WELCH SIGNED PRINCIPALS Ben Welch has engaged Pat Kearney as straight for next season; also Billy Wild, German comedian; Sid Gold, juvenile; Leona Earle, ingenue, and Frank P. Mur- phy, Irish comedian. MID-SEASON FROLIC TONIGHT The second annual mid-season Theatrical Frolic of the employees of Hurtig and Sea- mon's Theatre will be held at Alhambra Hall this evening. An entertainment will be furnished by acta provided from bills at the Alhambra, Harlem Opera House and Hurtig and Seamen's. Eva Tanguay and Benny Leonard will lead the grand march. MADISON TO FURNISH BOOK James Madison will equip Ben Welch with a new monologue next season. Ben has been using his present material for several years. Madison will also writs the new show. CLOWNS GO WITH CIRCUS Harry La Pearl and George Baker axe among the clowns engaged for the Vaca- tion Society Circus at Madison Square Garden, New York, March T, 8, 9, 10. THE "TOURISTS" AT GAYETY Gus Fay, Ernest Schroeder, Eddie Fox, Jack Howard and Clara Rackett compose the line-up of the "Tourists" at the Gayety, Brooklyn, this week. MABEL LEE FOR CABARET Mabel Lee will close with the "Parisian Flirts" Saturday to work in a cabaret Jerry Fleming will be the new soubrette with the "Flirts." 'HILDA ARNOT WITH WATSON Hilda Arnot, formerly a chorister with "The Sporting W'dows." is now in the "merri-merri" with Billy Watson's "Beef Trust" JERMON MARRIED 25 YEARS John G. Jermon and Mrs. Jermon cele- brated their 25th wedding anniversary Feb. 14, at iheir home in New York. LOUIS ROB1E CONVALESCING Louis Robie has been greatly benefited by his stay in the South, and reports that he is rapidly recovering his health. WELLS TO HEAD NEW SHOW "Mile a Minute Girls" will be the title of a new show on the American wheel next season, to be fathered by Billy K. Wells, general manager for Bluch Cooper's enterprises. BENDER SUCCEEDS STERLING Fred Bender has replaced Bob Sterling with the "Girls from the Follies." Joe Bush has also joined the show. MICHELENA PENNETTI MARRIED Michelena Pennetti (formerly Mrs. Frank Calder) and Wm. Hoburg were mar- ried in Philadelphia Feb. 13. STELLA WOOD SUBSTITUTES Stella Wood substituted in character roles with the "Roseland Girls" during the illness of Shirley Lawrence, who re- turned to the cast last week. DRESLM FOR COOPER SHOWS "Chubby" Drealin has been signed np for next season by "Bluch" Cooper. "TOURISTS" TO CHANGE TITLE "The Tourists" will play the Star, Brooklyn, and the Trocadero, Philadel- phia, under the title of "The Honeymoon Girls." HAZEL JOSELYN CLOSES Hazel Joselyn closed with the Watson and Wrothe show at Chicago. LILLIAN JOINS AMERICANS Lillian Sterling is now ingenue with the Americans.