Show World (May 1909)

'HE iShOTIT HTORjLjD. THE TWENTIETH CENTURY AMUSEMENT WEEKLY Published at 87. South Clark Street , Chicago, by The Shout IHorld Publishinoig^ entered as Second - Class Matter P June 25,190? Barren A. Patrick , GeneralVirector. «* th f L p ° st -°? ce at under the Act ot Congress of March3.1 o< Volumn IV—No. 2J CHICAGO May J5, 1909 Western Managers Get Together to Accommodate Meyerfield and Beck But Fail to Create News. A contemporary, which is printed in Cincinnati, offered a reprint of an art¬ icle which appeared in one of last Sunday’s Chicago daily papers, which lias to the effect that the western andeville managers would join lands and would thus have a circuit if houses valued at $12,000,000, which :enld include the interests of Middle-' n, Tate, Meyerfield, Kohl and Cas- : and others. This story was man- P ^red out of the whole cloth, has absolutely been no settle- of this matter, nor it there any iiihood of a settlement for some ime. The meeting of the western andeville managers was held last i rday to accommodate Messrs, erfield and Beck, who were on way to New York after witness- fhe opening of the new Orpheum n'lFrisco. The regular meeting was Scheduled for May 15, but owing to nhj presence of these gentlemen it was called on the 8th. No matters of 'any importance were decided at the lime, although a discussiQp was in- dinged in regarding the possibility of an.amalgamation of individual inter- sfs. Even if these interests should .tine into closer relation it would mjaffect the general vaudeville situ¬ ates to any great extent. There will he' no attempt to control outside hooking interests. The one topic of importance discussed at the meeting was the possible retirement of such Association managers who had grown sl^ in the service of the association, t was decided that such managers Mild now retire with perfect confi- epce that their work would be prop- rjjr taken care of. FAILS TO REACH VERDICT. The jury in the case of Herman Op- aenheimer vs. William Morris (the ticket scalping case) was discharged Wednesday night, as it was unable to jch a verdict. THREE NEW LAWS HAVE PASSED IN NEW YORK Obscene Plays Cannot Be Presented and Billboard Advertising Must Not Be Immoral. Albany, N. Y., May 10. Three new laws which will result in reform in theatrical and amusement circles, have just been created by Gov¬ ernor Hughes. The laws were intro¬ duced by Assemblyman C. F. Murphy of Kings county, and are aimed at conditions which are supposed to exist in Greater New York. The new laws are, however, applicable to all the cities of the Empire state. One of the laws makes it a mis¬ demeanor for any manager, person, director, agent or in fact any one to participate in the presentation of obscene or immoral plays. The law goes into effect on Sept 1. Assemblyman Murphy’s second bill, now a law, is directed against the dis¬ play of immoral advertising or bill posters. Violations of this law are made misdemeanors, .and the statute' goes into effect oii'Sbpt. 1 also. The third law is aimed at concert saloons and amusement places where liquor is dispensed and moving pic¬ ture exhibitions are held. The law provides that it shall be a misde¬ meanor for any one connected with such enterprises, from the ticket-seller to the proprietor, to admit children under sixteen years of age. There are still several other theatri¬ cal bills to be heard from, ail aimed at apparent laxity as to the method of conducting theatrical performances. The Voss bill, which seeks to re¬ strict the present methods of book¬ ing agencies in dealing with 'players, is still before the governor. Through the efforts of Senator Timothy D. Sullivan, himself a theatrical manager of importance, the bill was passed by both the senate and assembly. Sena¬ tor Sullivan, is of the firm of Sullivan & Considine, which does an extensive booking business. The broad-mindedness of Senator Sullivan in taking such a firm stand in favor of those whom he employs, created much favorable comment when the Voss hill was up for argu¬ ment. Few bills of the session just oyer, created so much publicity as did this bill which was prepared by the White Rats. On'the closing day of the'sessiom a delightful entertainment was given at the Ten Eyck Hotel by members of the White Rats in testimony of the good wishes expressed to them through their votes, by the members of the legislature. The bill is in the hands of the mayors of New York and Buffalo and as soon as these officials have acted upon them there will be a public hear¬ ing held by Governor Hughes in the executive chamber.—CARDOZE. PROSECUTION UNLIKELY! IN GOODWIN SHOOTING Expected That Trouble Will Be Dropped. Frame of Mind. -Kellar In a Contrite PATENTS COMPANY IN SES¬ SION. _ New York, May 13. i The Patents Company is in session h| afternoon, but from authoritative Mirces it is learned that nothing of mportance is to be discussed, lit has been filed by the Motion Jire Patents Company in the Su- ile Court of the District of Colum- against the Oklahoma National H&.. Company, whose offices in Washington, D. C. It is al¬ ii that the Mutoscene company ising a camera which is an in- fgement on the Edison patents. 4 immediate injunction will be Wjjht and heavy damages asked. „*hc Progressive Motion Picture of Ogden, Utah, has been totalized for $25,000, and is licensed " Manufacture motion pictures.— IJ manufacl WALTER. Morris to Book Racine. Racine, Wis., May 12. William Morris, Inc., has today ar- ,5™!° book the Racine theater, jta S «i ca P ac ‘ty °f 1.200. It is Xi , bills costing seven or eight dollars will be put on here. Minneapolis, Minn., May 11. It is now considered certain that Hal L. Goodwin, manager of the Northwestern vaudeville exchange, who was shot by Jasper L. Kellar when found in the company of the latter’s wife at their home last Satur¬ day morning, will recover. The bullet entered the hip, penetrated the liver and is supposed to have lodged in the lower lobe of the left lung. Kellar is now in a contrite frame of mind and says that he is sorry he al¬ lowed his temper to get away with him. His wife has visited him several times in his cell, upon his own re¬ quest, and it appears that they are again on the friendliest terms. Should Goodwin recover, he probably will not make any complaint against his assailant, which may result in the prosecution being dropped and in Kellar’s release. The shooting occurred when Kellar returned unexpectedly and on enter¬ ing his home, found the door to his wife’s bedroom locked. He became suspicious and effected an entrance to the chamber through a window and was just in time to see Goodwin make his escape through another room. Kellar, who had been away for three months, hurried back to where he had left his valise outside the door, took out a revolver and rushed in pur¬ suit. He saw Goodwin run through the front door and fired three shots at him in rapid succession, only one, however, taking effect. Goodwin took refuge in the home of a neigh¬ bor, who called a doctor and the po¬ lice. The wounded man was later removed to the city hospital, while Kellar was taken in charge by the po¬ lice. The Kellars have three children, Howard, six years old, Hazel, five years old, and Mary, four years. They have been married eight years. Patents Company Urges Each City to Appoint a Board of Film Exam¬ iners for Good of Industry. In view of the interest recently taken in the censorship of film sub¬ jects, the New York correspondent of THE SHOW WORLD was in¬ structed to obtain an exclusive inter¬ view upon the subject from the Mo¬ tion Picture Patents Company, which, since the inception of censorship, has done much to further the cause of moral films. When asked for an expression of opinion upon the present situation, an official of the company said: “The National Board of Censorship which has, since March 26, passed upon the entire output of the ten principal film manufacturers of the world, is now confronted with a situ¬ ation that threatens to hamper its future activities. “The Motion Picture Patents Com¬ pany licensing all of the American and about 90 per cent of the European film makers, has worked hand in hand with the Board of Censorship, and has not only, submitted to them all of its films, averaging 18,000 feet per week, but has equipped an exhibition room in its own offices, where the films are shown as soon as they are received from the factories. Not a single film is allowed to reach the exchanges for distribution among the 6,000 licensed theaters throughout the United States until it has been examined and offi¬ cially approved by the censorship board. “So far this arrangement has worked admirably. Complaints about undesirable pictures have almost en¬ tirely ceased, and there has been a marked improvement in the films as (Continued on page 27.) MARY BOLAND OPERATED UPON FOR APPENDICITIS. Omaha, Neb., May 11. Mary Boland, John Drew’s leading lady, playing in Jack Straw, was op¬ erated on for appendicitis at the Methodist hospital here on Saturday, May 8. She is doing very nicely and Dr. Jonas, the surgeon, expects his patient to be able to join the com¬ pany in a few weeks. Miss Boland was taken suddenly ill and the opera¬ tion was performed in quick time. Many of the theatrical profession have visited the sick lady and cheered her up.—SMYTH. “First Arrest” in Frisco. San Francisco, May 7. Robert L. Atkins, who operates a moving picture theater at 1426 Fell street, was arrested today by Detec¬ tive Bunner on a charge of violating the section of the penal code which prohibits the exhibition of an immoral picture. Atkins will be arraigned before Judge Shortall on Monday. This is the first arrest under the new ordinance.—MALLABAR. The Front Cover Picture. Upon the front cover of this issue is presented a recent photograph of J. J. Murdock and E. F. Albee. Mr. Murdock is vice-president and gener¬ al manager of the Western Vaudeville association, while Mr. Albee is gen¬ eral manager of the United Booking offices. The association of these two gentlemen is remarkable for its har¬ mony. Both men are very popular, not only with their associate officials, but with the artists who obtain their livelihood through them. Mr. Albee is noted for his geniality and fairness while Mr. Murdock has gained an en¬ viable reputation for his courtesy. Through the combination of these two managers bookings for between four and five hundred vaudeville houses are provided.