Variety (April 1919)

sJSSh «;.-. Variety ' LOEW-PANTAGES FIGHTING LEADS TO MANY NEW ANGLES Latest Report Connects B. S. Moss' Bookings With Keith Office. Dopesters Line Up Pantages With That Combina- tion, to Offset Loew Circuit Advancement. Keith and Moss Rumored Pooling Newly Proposed Theatres in Greater New York, leum Circuit Concerned. Orphf The open breach between the Marcus Loew and Alexander Pantages circuits appears to have forced a wider wedge in the smaller vaudeville time than it generally has been credited with. The Loew-Pantages fight, while not openly expressed, has been actively pursued of late by both sides. The fight commenced at Kansas City where the Loew people are said to have ousted Pantages from that town. It extended into the south, where it is now waging, and also entered Canada. The latest story has it that the next move may be in New York City. This re- . port involves B. S. Moss and the Keith agency as factors. Both were looked upon as non-combatants. Pantages gets into the Moss-Keith rumor. It also links up whatever time Pantages or his middle-western ally, C. H. Miles, can land in Canada. Pantages and Miles are trying to persuade A. J. Small to become interested with them in building new Canadian theatres in opposition to Loew. The latter has theatres at Toronto, Montreal and Hamilton, with London (Ont.) and other Canadian towns Loew prospects. Miles figures in the Canadian deal as an experienced promoter, through his accomplishments in that line at Cleve- land and Detroit. This, together with the willingness of the Canadian people to invest in theatrical propositions, fol- lowing the success of the Loew theatre at Toronto, are being presented to Small, it is said, as arguments why he should lend his strength to the move- ment. The New York deal, the story relates, brings the 6. S. Moss bookings into the Keith agency. The rumor says this will include all of the Moss bookings. B. S. Moss books other houses than his own. His principal theatre ad- herents are Sablotsky & McGurk, the fast growing Philadelphia picture and vaudeville managers, who have become prominent figures in both fields within an incredibly brief time. A connec- tion is also traced through Sablotsky & McGurk operating Keith's Garden Pier Theatre at Atlantic City, which is shortly to reopen, playing big time vaudeville. The firm has been booking with the Keith office for some time a Philadelphia vaudeville house they ac- quired there. Other of their Pennsyl- vania holdings are booked through the Moss office. The deal, if it goes through, it is said, will see a pooling of prospective build- ing movements (theatres) between Moss and Keith. These will include the 181st street site of Moss' on upper Broadway, the upper east side house of Keith's, and another location both are after in the northern part of Man- hattan, while Moss, according to the story, will reclaim the Flushing, L. I., site from Wilmer & Vincent, when, it is said, he will cast it with the others of the contemplated pool. The pro- posed pool, if the story runs true, will include only these houses that are to be built and have been announced. If the Moss bookings go into the Keith office, the Moss houses will retain their individuality, also the associated houses with them, and be booked only. It is from this angle that the Pan- tages New York entry is figured: The Keith people, and perhaps the Orpheum Circuit directors as well, do not view with any expressed pleasure the rapid strides of the Loew Circuit. Marcus Loew appears, to them, to have no limit to his theatrical operations or field. Well advised vaudevillians say that the Loew Circuit is not alone placing itself upon the highest plane of small time, as far as its.theatre con- struction is concerned, but is balanc- ing itself so that at any moment it could turn over into a big time or two- a-day chain through announcing a change of policy. Pantages wants to come into New York. He wants to battle with his former ally, Loew. Pantages sees Loew spreading over his popular priced ter- ritory. The attempt by Loew to break into the important southern end of the Pantages time was a move that startled the manager from Seattle. It brought him from his burrow in the northwest, and was an awakening for the boss of the Pan time. The loss of Kansas City was a blow to Pantages, but when he saw his outlying fortifications threat- ened besides, it started him on a line of ramifications to offset the invader. The Pantages plan of battle, it is said, was not shoved into the waste basket by the Keith crowd. All the parties to the affair agreed that the wildness of Loew's running should be checked, with profit if possible. That brought about the proposed Moss- Keith connection, with Pantages per- haps coming into New York through them, but in their houses, although just how the Orpheum Circuit heads (affiliated with Keith) might look up- on a deal of that kind is not set forth. Pantages is a strong competitor of the Orpheum Circuit in the west, though the Orpheum does not admit it for publication. The Orpheum is big time and it calls Pantages small time. But Pantages has been doing business all of the time, and at his prices, which vaudevillians who travel out that way, say, gives Pantages more profit at the end of the season than the Orpheum secures. Besides Pantages has shown a great many large acts that the Or- pheum failed to present ahead of him. This has made its impression in Or- pheum-Pantages towns. KLEIN TO RETURN. The status of Arthur Klein, artists' representative, recently ruled off the Keith.offices floor pending an investi- gation anent his business methods, has been settled, and Klein returns to active work again Monday after three months' absence. Klein was suspended following a complaint that he had told an act certain money paid him would have to be turned into some one con- to be turned over to some one con- nected with the United Booking Offices. Temple, Camden, N. J., Vaudeville. Philadelphia, April 2. The Temple, Camden, opens with vaudeville Monday, using a seven-act bill each half, the show booked by the Nixon-Nirdlinger office. The house has been playing road attractions for many years. About $15,000 has been expended to remodel the Temple for vaudeville. Maurice Stanford is the house man- ager. BEWARE IN FRISCO! Sin Francisco, April 2. Acts coming to San Franciaco after weeks' of thirst in the dry northwest should step lightly. The temptations are great, the breath of Frisco is allur- ing, booze is plentiful and every one will treat. So beware I Too many have fallen. Vaudeville shows have been disjointed. Play coffee and waffles. Not so much conversation but safer. Loew May Miss O. H., Detroit. Detroit, April 2. Shubert bookings at the old Detroit Opera House continue into June. This may prevent Loew obtaining the the- atre for this season. E. D. Stair promised Marcus Loew the latter could have the house for vaudeville if the Shuberts fell down in booking attractions for it. At that time the Shuberts had booked it until April 1 only. MONDAY MORNING M0N0L0GS. j By Mi.. Billi. Shaw. The Agent Who Comas Down to Soft-Soap the Act That "Won't Open". :' "What's this about you people not wanting to open the show? Don't ... you know that Eddie Dearie has paid you a big, compliment in wanting you to start a bill like this? And doesn't ^ your common sense tell you that such -,: a strong show must start off with a ' ■ wallop? Folks, use your brainsl "This is advertised as an all-star week, and you're playing here, aren't " you? Well, then you're considered a star act. They're all seated in this house by 8:15, and you'll have first crack at 'em. Why, your stuff would i get over no matter what position you ? had, and I want you to sliow 'em what : an act can do in the opening spot. "It's a big chance for you—bigger'n,; you realize. It'll probably be ali;';^ around the office that you landed big at the start, and that's going to mean a lot to youl Those steps you do;":'; Johnnie, will queer every other dancer 1: that follows, though I don't want you V,' to repeat what I say. It would be the mistake of your life to take any other ffi ?Br, Starting New Orleans' New Orpheum. New Orleans, April 2. Arrangements are being completed here to commence on the foundation of posiTion.and" i" know you're "too good / th* n<»«, nrnhimtn fvaurfMnlM The a business man to figure otherwise the new Orpheum (vaudeville). The house will be ready by '20-'21. Architect Lansberg, of the Orpheum Circuit, will arrive in New Orleans this week. Palace Act Direct from Loow'a. The Four Roeders, opening the show at the Palace, New York, this week, played last week on the Loew circuit. The first half last week the Roeders were at Loew's American, New York, and the last half, at Loew's Metropol- itan, Brooklyn. Ben Fuller Expected in Frisco. San Francisco, April 2/" after you've thought it over. "Just leave it to my judgment, and do as I tell you. I have a reason for everything I do, and if you only realized it you would get down on your knees and thank me for getting you a place on the bill that'll give you such an opportunity. "Another thing: This being an all- star bill, what other act of your kind would have the class to open? Why, man, that's why you were booked here this week I Now, you see what a mis- take you'd have made if you'd walked: out? "Don't bother to thank me. - ~You y re s a good showman and you listen to Ben Fuller is again reported due tor' reason, 'that's all. So long I - Don*t^ arrive here from Australia on the next forget you play Woonsocket the first steamer, Sonoma, this month. half." £-'%"* ■ - ^M WE. rr., ;.a. . Ed iAa& ■ggH y'y' mm ■rti MM0 ■i tfv • i &m m »*i mmi ••tfisa_ 'mem. ■'-'fftV LAUREL LEE THE CHUMMY CHATTERER Someone new among women tnlkers—on the stage. Miis Lee Is small but bright in talk- ing material, and, what is more important to eastern big time vaudeville managers, KM la now creating a most favorable impression, sharing entertaining honors over the Interstate Circuit in the south. i . ,v BJg ;kl^.<r-\ : ■ I .,- Wri v : ,V: ■", £