Show World (August 1909)

THE TWENTIETH CENTURY AMUSEMENT WEEKLY Published at 87 South Clark Street Chicago, by The 5H0WL3ORL1? Publishing Co. Entgreda^Sccond-Cto ss Matter BARREN A .PATRICK, GENERAL P/RECTOR. ^S^SS^/SSSSA. HENDERSON BUYS MURDOCK INTEREST HAS CHARLES 0S600D GONE WITH SHUBERTS? Rumors are to the Effect that He has Deserted Klaw & Erlanger for Rival Firm. NEW YORK, August 5. —Persis¬ tent rumors have been going the rounds that Charles Osgood, for four¬ teen years with Klaw & Erlanger, has severed his connection with that firm and gone over to the Shuberts. It is even mentioned that Mr. Osgood is to. get a salary of $20,000 annually for his services. Mr. Osgood has been out of the city for some time, and it is said has been in a sanitarium recovering from an illness. At One time there was a scare story abroad that he had disappeared and that his friends were much worried over his whereabouts and condition. Later this was disproved. If Mr. Osgood goes with the Shu¬ berts he will take with him his string of 127 theaters, which will be added to the independent movement. Mr. Osgood has been the chief booking agent for Klaw & Erlanger, and is said to be'one of the hardest working and best informed men in this city in hi^ 1 particular line. It is said that when he is at work he never even takes time to eat but ploughs through his work all day long without rest or recuperation. Mr. Osgood was first identified with Klaw & Erlanger | years ago when they put out their ! first show, “A Country Circus.” It is understood that Mr. Osgood will take the place in the Shubert offices of J. H. Decker, who now takes the man- jagjment of Lew Dockstader. COMPANY CANNOT USE THE ORPHEUM NAM1 ICasto Brothers in Butte Object t Use of Title and Win a Temporary Injunction. BUTTE, Mont., Aug. 4.—Judg Hunt of the United States court, a Helena, this week issued a temporar injunction restraining the Orpheur theater company of California fror using that name for their Butte play house. Casto Brothers were the com plainants and had named their mov ing picture house the Orpheum. The claimed that their business had bee damaged by the vaudeville theate using the same name. The decisio construed here to mean that Sulli in and Considine may use the nam r - ? n y new combination of title, s 1 j s !?! * las already been changed t HNGS° rPheUm Vaudeville.”—BIL THEATRICAL COMPANY WRECKED NEAR ST. PAUI MARQUETTE, Mich., Aug. l - 1 he members of “When the Harves fays are Over” company were in nfl recently near st - Pau] . M >nn n l ft e scenery and baggage of th bvTe ny Tu Cre c °n*P letel y destroye zitinr, j ! he mem bers of the organ them every thin £ they had wit Yn n„ eXCept ninth® 3 they won -vo one was seriously hurt. Coney Island Man Gets Theater Holdings But Most Vital Chapter in Vaude- History is Yet to Be Written. “All of my interests in the Western Vaudeville Association have not yet been negotiated and until they are, it is rather difficult to make a pre¬ diction as to what will be don e,” said Mr. J. J. Murdock viewed by a Show World rep¬ resentative, at his office in the Ma¬ jestic thea¬ ter building this week. “It is a fact that I J. J. Murdock. have sold a majority of my vaudeville theater interests to Fred Henderson, as was exclusively announced in your issue of June 22. Contrary to reports, Martin Beck was not a joint purchaser. Mr. Hender¬ son is the only man concerned in the deal so far as my knowledge goes.” “What effect will the disposal of your vaudeville interests have upon the conduct of the W. V. M. A.?” was asked. “I do not think there will be any great or direct change in any of the departments of the association. There; will, naturally, be some one to re¬ place me as general manager. Who that person will be has not yet been determined by the gentleman inter¬ ested. “However, I do not think any change will be made to radically af¬ fect either clients or employes of the association.” “It has been said, Mr. Murdock, that your reason for selling some of your vaudeville holdings was to en¬ able you to devote all of your time to the moving picture business?” “That is not altogether true, as my moving picture interests have not, nor would ever take all my time. My main reason for selling my vaudeville interests was to protect my family. As you must be aware, for the past fifteen years I have worked practically day and night in building up the Western Vaudeville Association. Not only at the sacrifice of my health but of my other varied interests. All the money I have made in vaudeville has (Continued on page 21.) OPEN DOOR SLAMMED SHUT IN THE SOUTH Klaw & Erlanger Win Out and Are in Control of the Field, According to Late Reports. ATLANTA, Ga„ August 5.—Inter¬ views with Atlanta theater managers show the booking firm of Klaw & Er¬ langer in supreme control of the southern theatrical field. Managers declare that the commit¬ tee, which recently went to New York in behalf of the Southern Managers’ association, did not go there to de¬ mand an “open door” policy. It is acknowledged that the southern man¬ agers would like to play the Shubert shows. This does not result from any love they have for this firm, but as one manager expressed it, “Because we want to play all the good shows we can get, and the Shuberts have some tip-toppers this year.” Under Trust Banner. However, when it comes to an issue between the Shuberts and the Klaw & Erlanger agency, the Atlanta thea¬ ters and the southern theaters in gen¬ eral will certainly start the season under what is called “the trust ban¬ ner,” They will do this from a feel¬ ing of greater safety with Klaw & Erlanger than with the other people. Shuberts Shut Out. The Grand theater has always been a Klaw & Erlanger house, and in all probability will continue as such for several years to come. The Messrs. DeGive would like to play some Shu¬ berts shows, of course, but they rea¬ lize that Klaw & Erlanger would not allow such a thing right now, and so the only chance Atlanta will have to see any Shubert attractions at the Grand will be through some kind of arrangement between them and Klaw & Erlanger, by which the latter firm would do the booking. The plans of the new house on For¬ syth street have not yet been finally announced, but it is understood that Morris vaudeville alone will be played. Picture Combine Rumored. NEW YORK, August 5.—Bam¬ berger of London has arrived here and claims to have formed a com¬ bination of fifteen of the most promi¬ nent film manufacture^ of Europe, including Ambrosio, of Italy, and Raleigh and Roberts of Paris. REVELL. THOMAS GOES TO LAW OVER HIS PLAY “ARIZONA” Author Gets a Restraining Order Against Gus Hill, Who Claims Rights to the Piece. NEW YORK, Aug. 5.-Augustus Thomas, through his attorneys, Colby & Goldbeck, has obtained a restrain¬ ing order from Justice Bischoff against Gus Hill and the stock pro¬ ducing managers prohibiting them from producing the play “Arizona,” or making any contracts or leases with a view to its production. Gus Hill claims some rights de- rived by assignment through Mel¬ ville B. Raymond. Thomas alleges that no such assignment was ever made. It is stated that Mr. Thomas intends offering the play with a big cast and an elaborate scenic environ¬ ment with a large number of horses and soldiers some time this season ORDINANCE DOES NOT DETER BIG CIRCUSES. Stringent Laws Passed in North Carolina Town Do Not Seem to Frighten. ^ v_., /Ulg. 3 —In spite of the tax of $3,500 that the city council here voted on cir¬ cuses, this town is to have some shows after all. The Mighty Haags Shows advertising car is now here the Sells Floto Show is booked for September 29 , and Barnum & Bail¬ ey’s circus will come here October 13. AERONAUT IS DROWNED AFTER BRAVE ASCENT. GRAND RAPIDS, Wis., Aug. 1.— Earl Erhart, an aeronaut, was drowned in the Wisconsin river near this city. He made a night ascent; discharged successfully the fire works he carried with him, and then tried to descend. His parachute failed to work and he fell in the river. Al¬ though one-armed, he would have es¬ caped then, being a first class swim¬ mer, but the cords twisted about one of his feet and dragged him down to death. He was 29 years of age. His wife and a baby boy, aged 13 months, survive. CIRCUS LICENSES RAISED. MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 2.—Circuses showing here will hereafter have to pay a license of $1,500. The council last week by a vote of 14 to 8 passed the ordinance increasing to that figure from the former rate of $600. The ordinance is supposed to be a direct result of the Barnum and Bailey Show’s policy when here in June, of giving out very few passes. The aldermen and city officials were cut down in their usual allowance. The measure was championed by Alderman Peter McCoy who was one of the emphatic protesters last “circus day.”—W. C. BARNES.