Show World (June 1909)

June 26, 1909. THE SHOW WORLD 5 GREEKWALL CONTINUES WITH THE JYNDICATE Some Exchanges in Texas have Theaters on Their Letter Heads which can be Booked Independently, it is Asserted BIOGRAPH CO. SUES AN EXHIBITOR FOR FRAUD. Manufacturers Claim That Clark, of South Framingham, Mass., Us^ Their Trade Title to De¬ ceive Public. NEW YORK, June 21.—The fol¬ lowing bulletin has been issued from the offices of The Motion Picture Pat¬ ents Company: ■‘The film manufacturers licensed by The Motion Picture Patents Company are determined to protect their rights and trademarks, and exhibitors will do well to be honest in their advertising. “The Biograph Company * * * has begun action against Herbert L. Clark of the Gorman Theatre of South Framingham, Mass., for $25,000 damages for unlawfully advertising Biograph pictures. “It seems that Clark has been con¬ ducting the above mentioned theatre and recently advertised Biograph pic¬ tures. * * * But the pictures shown were not made by the Biograph com¬ pany; in fact, they were not made by any manufacturer who is licensed by the Motion Picture Patents Company. “Clark, an exhibitor, who is not licensed by the patents company, was using the word Biograph in his adver¬ tising to attract the people to his house. “A trade mark that has become uni¬ versally recognized as a sign of qual¬ ity, is valuable, and when it is used unlawfully as a false pretense to se¬ cure business, it'is a serious matter. “The word Biograph is a trade mark belonging to the company of that name, and of course is an asset of untold value to them, and when an exhibitor advertises that he is going to show Biograph pictures and then fails to do so, it is what is known in the legal phrase as ‘Unfair compe¬ tition in trade.’ ” LOUISVILLE BRANCH FOR GLOBE FILM SERVICE. The Globe Film Service company announces that the new office it is opening in Louisville, Ky., will, be¬ ginning next week, be in shape to handle the business of managers^ in the territory adjacent to Louisville. At present they have under considera¬ tion several locations, but the address will not be definitely announced until next week. This office will be under the man¬ agement of John H. Zimmerman, who has had wide experience both as an exhibitor and in the exchange business and all exhibitors securing their serv¬ ice from Mr. Zimmerman may rest as¬ sured of a “square” deal and courteous treatment at all times. The management of the Globe an¬ nounces that within the next ninety days they will open branches from coast to coast and from the Gulf to Canada, thereby localizing their busi¬ ness and be in a position to give their patrons quick service. At the present time they are operating three offices, which are all doing a large business. “A Husband on Salary” Didn’t Get It. SALT LAKE, Utah, June 18.—“A Husband On Salary” company, which left Frisco early in April, opening at the Clunie theater, Sacramento, April 10, has come into hard luck in this city. It appears that the Sacramento papers “roasted” the show to a frazzle and the “roast” was copied by nearly all the daily papers along the pro¬ posed route of the show. Many of the players are in sore straits. Charles J. LeMoyne played leads. One of the actors, Edward Maples, received $2.00 for his work as Leff Simmons in “Hearts of the Blue Ridge” when it was put on here at the Grand and other members are said to have received even less than that amount. Given Reception. LOUISVILLE, Ky., June 21.— Louise 'Willis, of West and Willis, be¬ longs to the T. M. A. in this city and was given quite a reception when that team played the Avenue last week. NEW ORLEANS, La., June 22.— The American Theatrical Exchange has renewed its arrangement with Klaw & Erlanger for next season and the houses which are on the Green- wall circuit will book exclusively through the syndicate booking office. It is said that many houses, which appear on the letter heads of ex¬ changes in Texas and the southwest, can be booked independently, so the arrangement does not prohibit inde¬ pendent shows from entering this sec- For a time it looked like the Green- wall circuit would go over to the Shu- berts. It took some strategic figur¬ ing on the part of the syndicate to hold control of the Greenwall the¬ aters, and it is another evidence that A. L. Erlanger’s hold on the theatri¬ cal business is not to be broken by the Ray Raymond, who appeared in the title role of “The Candy Kid” for the past two seasons, has signed with W. F. Mann and will be featured with “Dare Devil Dan” and will be given a chorus of twenty to support him. The contracts were signed last Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond (Flossie M. Bain) will arive in Chicago within a week or two. Miss Bain will be with “Dare Devil Dan.” Right on the heels of the closing of this contract Will Kilroy engaged The one-night stand time around Chicago is getting pretty well filled up, according to Harry Mack, general manager of the sixteen W. F. Mann enterprises. From the open time sheets of managers in this vicinity. Mack thinks there are almost as many shows going out as in former years. ATTLEBORO, Mass. — A new amusement company has been formed here of which Charles R. Bates, owner of the Bates’ Opera House, is treas¬ urer and Thomas C. Heywood is man¬ ager. It is the intention of the com¬ pany to control several vaudeville houses through New England and to erect a new vaudeville theater in this city. The capitalization and directors are not named. Book No Shubert Shows. In connection with his comment re¬ garding the taking over of the Grand in Brooklyn by John H. Springer, Rennold 'Wolf (believed to be spokes¬ man for A. L. Erlanger) states that none of the Shubert attractions are included in the bookings for the com¬ ing season and says it in such a way that it is made to appear that the Syn- jar of an “open door” in neighboring states. NEW YORK, June 22.—A. L. Er¬ langer is quoted as saying: “None of the parties having a real interest in the situation has been worrying about it in the least. Our relations with the American Theatrical Exchange al¬ ways have been exceedinfriv friendly. We have maintained silence, because that is a part of our policy, and one can accomplish so much more with¬ out expending energy in mere conver¬ sation. We did not wish to impede the flight of the theatrical hot-air bal¬ loons that have been circling around New York lately. What is the use of puncturing a fake story in May, when one can do it just as well and more leisurely in June? Furthermore, it should be remembered that July and August remain before the theatrical season opens.” Sam B. Wilson to succeed Raymond with “The Candy Kid.” Wilson had been considered for some time. Leo Waddell, another applicant for the title of “The Candy Kid,” is now with the Powell & Cohn musical com¬ edy company, which is at South Bend, and his work is very good. He is a fine looking chap, with a splendid wardrobe, fair singing voice and dances enough to keep himself warm if the theater is cold. Open Sunday nights are getting very few, according to Mr. Mack. He states that these choice dates are about all booked and that the routing of a show, to open in Chicago in August or early in September, is not easy if the man¬ ager wishes to play around Chicago for any length of time. dicate will under no circumstances book a Shubert show next season. Beck Secured “La Titcomb.” NEW YORK, June 21. — Martin Beck has secured “La Titcomb,” known as “The singer on horse-back” for the feature of his pet organiza¬ tion, The Orpheum Road show next season. This graceful and tuneful equestrienne has just completed a highly successful engagement at the Hammerstein Victoria Roof Garden, where the inventive Oscar billed her as “La Belle American.”—REVELL. Cancelled Return Date. HAVANA, Ill., June 24. — Ralph Emerson’s shotboat, the first up the Illinois river, had to cancel June 21, his return date here, as the Retail Clerk’s annual outing stripped the city. —MADISON. RAY RAYMOND GOES WITH D ARE D EVIL DAN Sam B. Wilson Succeeds Him in Title Role of “The Candy Kid”—Leo Waddell with Powell & Cohn ONE-NIGHT STANDS ARE W ELL B OOKED UP Harry Mack, General Manager of the Sixteen W. F. Mann Enterprises, Says Sunday Nights are getting Scarce] New Vaudeville Company. THEATORIUM ACTORS QUIT BOOKING AGENTS. Players on the Suit Case Circuit Throw Down the Gauntlet to Friendlander and the United Offices. Friendlander’s and the United Book¬ ing agencies of this city have been boycotted by the Actors’ National Protective Union, which is the name adopted by the organization of actors and actresses who are booked over the Suit Case Circuit, which embraces theatoriums and the smaller vaude¬ ville houses in and around Chicago. The fight for shorter hours has been in progress for some weeks, and it seems that the boycott is the result of the strike, for, according to an official of the actors’ organization, both Friedlander’s and the United agencies offered to supply the Royal theatorium with all the actors it needed and for as long hours as de¬ sired, after the manager of the Royal had agreed, it is alleged, to stand by the actors’ union. It is claimed by the sympathizers with the booking agencies, that neither the boycott nor the strike will amount to anything; that there is enough talent floating around Chicago, will¬ ing to work for the money paid, that the union will come down from its position. On the other hand, the union claims that it has the pick of the talent on its side of the fence and that wise managers will stand by it. The public, however, continues to patronize theatoriums and apparently has no opinion of its own upon the matter. TRIED TO ACT OUT MOVING PICTURE SCENE. ATLANTA, Ga., June 22.—As the result of an attempt by children to re¬ enact a scene witnessed in a moving picture show, Girard 'Williams, aged six years, was almost strangled to death and is still very ill from the ef¬ fects of the ordeal. Girard, an older brother and a neighbor boy were play¬ ing a hanging scene they had wit¬ nessed. Girard, being the smallest, was selected as the subject. A leather strap was fastened about his neck and he was hung from the roof of the Williams’ coal house. The lad’s strug¬ gles irightened the other two boys and they ran into the house. The parents took the youngster down. He was un¬ conscious and four physicians worked over him two hours before he was re¬ stored to consciousness.—TUCKER. “Singbad, the Sailor,” Produced. The choir of the Church of Our Saviour, Chicago, gave an “opera” last week called “Singbad, the Sailor,” written by Alfred G. Wathall, who will be remembered as having written “The Sultan of Sulu” music and sev¬ eral others. Among those who took prominent roles were Arthur Kraft as Singbad, and his clever comedy and singing should entitle him to a place among the ranks of the professionals. “Jane and Johnny,” sung by Miss Stella Palmer and Arthur Kraft, was the catch of the show. Others prominent in the cast were Earl Bordwell, Har¬ old Wright and Daisy Palmer. “Sing¬ bad, the Sailor,” is in three acts. Miss Shirley in Vaudeville. SPOKANE, Wash., June 21.—Jessie Shirley, late of the Jessie Shirley Stock, will enter upon a vaudeville career in her own playlet, “First Wo¬ man Governor.” Miss Shirley will make her vaudeville debut at the Or¬ pheum theater in Butte August 22. From Butte she will come to Spokane, and then will make the rest of the northwestern houses, appearing in her own sketch. She will make a prelimi¬ nary appearance at the Orpheum here next week, the act being gi-fren a formal “tryout” at that time. Besides being star of the sketch. Miss Shirley is author, manager and director.—• SMITH.