The billboard (July 1911)

16 X It e B i 11 b o a r d JULY 15. 19H. W. H. DONALDSON, Publisher.' ISSUED WEBKIjT. and entered as Second-class UaU Hatter at Post-office. Cincinnati. O. Address all commnnlcatlons for tbe editorial or bnslness. department to THE BILLBOARD PUBLISHING CO., 416 Elm St., Cincinnati, O., U. S. A. Xonc Distance Telephone, Main 2769. Cable aililress (BeKlatered) "BUlylwr." NEW YORK. . .-Boom; Si Holland Bnlldlnir. 1440 Broadway. Tk^Iepiume 1630 Bryant. CHiCAGO. laos Sciiiller Bnildlnz. 103-109' Bandolpb St. Telepbooe Central G934. ST. LOUIS. Boom 803. Mlssoarl Tmat BoUdlo);. SAN FRANCISCO. Weatbank Bnildinff. 830 Market St., Jnnction Biartet, Xnis and Stqdctan Sts.. Bnlte e21.: LONDON, ENGLAND.. 170 Temple Cbandiets,'SL C. PARIS. FRANCE. 121 Boe Hontmartre. Telepbone 222^-61. ABVE&USISQ BAXES—Xwen^ ceati per Unar asato meaauxemestt. Whole paae, $140; haU pace, ftO; 4aarter pace, $35. Mo adver. tiaemant meaaorinar less than Ave lines accepted. Balscription. ff a 7ear; 6 months, lis 3 months. 41; parable In advanoa. . ■ . Vo «sti» cUBgD te Canadian or Xtaaisa anb- THE BHIrSOASB la for sale en all trains and aaws-stands tfaiongliont tlie United States and Canada, whiob axe snppUad by tbe Amer. lean Haws Co.. and its'branobea. It Is alio on sale at Brentano'a, 37 ATenne da I'Opera. Parlai France. When not on sale, please sotifr tUa oOoe. Remlttaneea shoold he- mads 1v 9Mt«Bea or azpresa money order, or re|gsterad^Iettar_ad. dressed or made payable to The BUIboard Fob- UsUnc Oompany. Ihs editor sannot nndeitike to zstara mso- Ueited msmisBTipt; eorrespo n d eiit s shoaU ksep 8aturd«y, July tS. 1911. A DISASTROUS THEATRICAL SEA- SON AND ITS CAUSES. Br BOBEBX eaiir. The tbeatrlcal season now drawing to a dose will go down In histoiy as the most disastrous financially since public entertaining has been re. garded aa a legltiinate calling. To blame the moving pletate fogne for this state of affairs Is natarcal,. yet the tmtb of the matter Ilea fax deeper. The moving picture has brought Into OKlstence more than ten thousand theatres with a seating capa<dty Tarying from two hundred to five thonsand. and In addition, more than one- tlUrd of tbe country's regular theatres have le- Tcrted to the camera, man; but this does no.- prove that the better class of playhonaea, vioere orcliestra seats are. sold at $2 eadi, baa been affectedL On the contrary, it is not to be doubted that cinematography has created many new: itbeatregoera^ lost as the phonograpb bas helped, to solve the problem of the Metropolitan Op«ra- Bionse Hhroiisb a. desire created from bearing the vocal records of tbe world's greatest songsters In penny arcades. '-' It: la true that melodramatie companies. have ' beoii called "off the road" altoeether, and tbe popular priced theatres where this class of play waa wont to-be presented, have nearly all become picture theatres, or else devoted_to . what^ ia called **pop" vandeTllle. Zn. the ula- trleCd known as the "one night gtanda," tbe ptctnic Uieaties have completely Obliterated the regular bouses. This Is so true that In tlte cities of ten thousand or less popnlation travel- ing* companies no longer can secure shelter. But this does not explain such conditions ais prevail today m a city like I^ew York, where eight theatres ot. the very hlffhest .class have not had a paying week in. the entire - season— where;, never less l^ian three tbeafres have been dark for want of a- compelling attraction to - |nstUy opening the .doors, and where, with the ..exD«|itioit. ;;of holldsya and Saturdays, a balt- . doKitheatres have iflayed to empty benches. .It J» ; an absolute fact that In one of the most J popular houses In the very heart of tbe .theatre Bone^'v&'play 'by an author of world-wide fame, " and: In which appeared a star of international celebrity, supported by several . dlstingnlBbed players, was presented to ' an- audience which represented ]ust t32 at the box-oSce. In another theatre daring a period of six consecutive weeks wlien the dtr is supposed to be crowded with out of town patrons.' the box: office bad not re* .-Qorded a. single performance ^where tbe gross re cetpfs hud reached $200. : In still another theatre, not a stone's throw from Herald SQOare, and 'an establishment ta- mons for manytlong runs, the season has come to a close prematurely with the record of not a single artistic success, and not one week which dill not register a heavy Joss to all concerned. Tbe very fact that such theatres as tbe Savoy, tbe Xew York, th» Circle and the Malestle should became moving picture resorts tells Its own story, -but;even tbe vaudeville maiugffrs have -foe the first time this season beon con- fronted with, problems—serious ones. A lead- ins magnate In this field, who controls a halt dozen theatres in the erestcr city, confesses to a loss of f 175.O0O in the first half of the season, when the best results are achieved, and he has threatened to , turu . -bis hguses. Into low-priced picture resorts. Another powerful firm in the same line has already turned six of their seven theatres into picture booses and have averted disaster as a result. ^e pnoducing managers, whose province it Is to provide attractions for the best theatres are fewer in number today than at any time In tbe last fifteen years. Yet two of these have withdrawn from, the field.. Another has an- nouncF d a cortallment of his op«atIons. While tbe solvency of one of the most prominent and prolific producers -Is- In such doubt that bis as- signment Is expected any day. — And yet In Mew' York City, the situation Is seen, at its best because an eifort is made to congregate in the metropolis the successes ol a- season. This Is troeto a lesser degree of Chi- cago, where the record has been sometUng 'ap- palling. 'What is. the cause? Undoubtedly the princi- pal cause is tbe scarcity of plays for which the public of today is responsive—the principal pro- vider of plays In this country la Charles Irob- man. Yet every production made by him this season of a foreign play or musical comedy has foiled absolntdy; one after the other the para- phernalia for these have gone to the store houses. It is not so long ago that a play by an Amer- ican author was ridiculed, but this season the only prosperity on "the great white way" has been with snch productions as Tlie Concert, Bebecca, Get-Bicb-Qaick 'W^alllngfoid, Nobody's Widow, Excuse Me, and Tbe Gamblers. AU the work of American ' playwrights. Moreover, three grand operas have been produced in as many opera houses—^the -score and libretto of all being by native talent. A cootrllMitini; cause to the loss of patronaee in the higher priced tSieatrea Is nuquestloniibly due to tbe tremendous competition now offered by tile low-priced vaudeville tbeatres. where the seat scale ranges ftom-ten cents to twenty- five cents, and where the level is being con- stantly raised In tbe stage otferlngs. In one of these tbeatres, recently, the program inclnded Amelia Bingham and The Four Mortons. These theatres are quite as inviting and as 'well lo- cated as any, and tbe spectacle of the family of six sitting in orchestra chairs, which cost tbe heed of the household only $1.50, Is surely an Irresistible one. Tbe leading figure in this line of endeavor Is Marcu.. Loew, who five years ago was operating a itenny arcade in Harlem. Today be Is a mnltl-mtlllanalre, owning or controlling no less than twenty theatres In tbe greater'city, and as many more In other cities- Mr. Ijoew is bulld-- Ing a two million dollar palatial theatre near the Pennsylvania Station, and bis operations in other Erections are up<m a prodigious scale. This man has been regarded with amazement by. bis colleagues. Yet be Is not alone.. Four years ago WiUIam Fox was unknown. He started a five-cent store theatre In Brook- lyn in 1907; then he took on a half dozen more of tbe same kind. .He became ambitions, with a result that In the short space of four years be has become not' only immensely rich, but is conducting on Bast 14tb Street tlnee theatres, with a total seating capacity of 7,000, and in- volving an annual, rental of $200,000. and yet the highest price for seats In an^ of these Is twenty-five cents. The extent of his prosper- ity Is best mnstiated.by the statement that recently iSr. Fox added tbe New York Theatre .on lAngacre Square to bis chain of bouses. The fixed Charges on: this property amount to $100,000 ayear. but the seat scale is the aame— no seiat in the honse costing tbe spectator more than-twenty-five cents.- Such men as Messrs. liOew and Fox are not without amtdtlou, and their enccess has been greatly due to tbe superlative- qnallty of their stage offerings In view of the admission prices. It la In ineetlng tbla competition that the'man- agers of the 'blgli«-prieed establlabments are facing petbaps the most serlooi problem -which has as yet containted them. Reader^Column Mr. Sylvester P. Smith, Box 148, Highland, Cal., -would like to know the whereabouts of W. F. Deltrlch, known in the profession as Billy Karl. He has some very Important news to communicate to talm. Mr. Walter B, Daly -wUt leam Bomethlng to bis advantage by communleatinK wlth^ A. Lefalore. Hew Y«k City. HEARD IN ADVANCE. By TOM KOBTH. Here's a George P. Murphy contribution: Benben and Bamanthy were In the city hall, bent on sectiring tbe necessary document. *1a this where ye git the marriage Ucenaes?" asked Benben. In the first office that showed the open door. '•Not exactly," smiled the man behind tbe counter. "Tbla might be called the next stop, as It were." ■■How** ttaatr' asked the muoBpeetlnB m- rallte. "■Why," snickered the smart Alec, "this Is the office of the registrar of blrtlisi" ■ : * A great miiiy go-called refoTmers, who are generally' persons of narrow views and poor judgment, are raising various objections to the cbeap moving picture shows. In several cities movements have been started to prevent chil- dren, under a certain age from 'visiting them, I and In Cleveland the discovery has been made tbat young men and Imys hannt these low-price theatres aod make appointments with young girls, thereby luring them to their ruin. It is the intention of the reformers there to ask for the appointment of special officers to watch the nickelodeons. All this indicates misdirected zeal. The agents of the various societies who are placing the picture theatres under the ban. appear to bo proceeding on the theory that the theatre it- self Is tbe evil, and that all such places are pernicious In their Infiuence. There was a time when tbe film manufactorera turned out occa- sional pictures of a suggestive or improper oliaracter. but that time has passed. The vlArs now pcolected on the canvas In nearly all the cheap theatres offer no menace to tbe morals of either child or adult. Tlur are generally- clean, wholesome and entertaining, and partic- ularly Interesting to the young. If girls are started on tbe downward path throngb tbe mpvlng picture theatres It Is not tbe fault of tbe r.'ctnres. Tbere may be some , theatres, which are not properly conducted. If ■ they exist, they sbonld be weeded out. Con- fectlonerles, cafes, drug stores, or any estab- lishment In which the youth of opposite sexes meet. If they are not properly conducted, are open to the same objections as are being urged against the motion picture houses. Tbe thing most needed is more parental suiierTlsIon and restraint. If young girls are permitted to go out alone, they are in as much danger elsewhere as they are In. the picture theatres, bnt it is wrong to-place severe restrictions' npon tbe the- atres beca's;se a few managers are careless. Go after the managers, - and If necessary pnt' them out of business, but do not take away from the people of limited '■eans one of their most popnlar forms of amusement.—Wheeling (W. Ya.) Beglater.- Stage definitions by a Chorus Girl, a really good etory carried In Chicago Tribune recently but sot credited, and It should have been: Leading Lncly—much overrated feminine person, not quite as good looking as ithe average chorus girl and with no voice to i^peak of, who has gotten her Job t-hroujrh graft. Generally possessed of a mean disposition ami doesn't know how to fix her hair. The Call—A sheet of paper stuck up In some obscure corner of the theatre, on a plecir of wood called the Call Board. Contains such love- ly news as what time the: train leaves and the prices of tbe hotels In the next town. : Tbe proper method Is to Ignore the. Oail. altogether and get information from someone who has played there before. Stage Hands—Impudent village youths whose chief duty Is to ask why you <Ion't -eave' the stage and get a real Job In a factor.v. Some- times when they haven't anything else to do tbey help with the scenery. . Dressing Booms—Small. cave-like places, somewhat resembling rooms, wMta a shelf built In at one end. Several electric lights, Christmas tree size, are sometimes visible. Proper remark on enterlnpT drcesing room; "It's a shame we girls have to get tbe worst of It every time. I'll never be able to get dressed In bcre." Hotels—Ijar^e bam-llfce stmctnrea where one spemls a few hours -waiting for train time. Hotel Clerks—Important-looklnf; men wear- ing, bright ties and 6IItter-0-So-Nice diamonds who call yon "Dearie," try to make dates and end by giving you the -worst room in the honse. Press Agents—Small, meek Individnals who are always in the act of apologizing to the star because they didnt make good on tbe last story. They can be recognized by bundles of photo- graphs of the star which are generally sticking from their overcoat pockets. . Jewels—Pictltloua articles supposed to be possessed by the star or the leading lady,' which are used as pri^ seven or eight times during the season. The real Jewelry owned by tbe L. L. consists of a wedding ring, three imitation rubles, some plated beauty pins, and a silver monogrammed belt buckle. Johns—Known to outsiders as Stage Door Johnnies. Useful Individuals who think they are doing something dreadfully wicked If they buy a couple of club sandwiches for a couple of really hungry eboms girls. Champagne Suppers—After^th'eatre' suppers consisting of some plain food and anything to drink except ■ beer. A Oentleman^A aeldom-seen Individual wbo knows bow to order a dinner and meets you in the hotel -parlor Instead of the stage door. Outsiders—The name applied In bitter sar- casm to anyone wbo -has never been "on." Tbe .outsider Is tolerated because if It wasn't for him there wouldn't be any itbcatres. Rehearsala—Intervals of time before tbe show Is ready to open. They are devoted mostly ito con- versations such as "I just took this for a couple of months. The last show I was with was a real Broadway -production." and "It seems funny to be with a bunch, of bams like this after pend- ing three years with-the Sbnberts." The Manager—A stem .man; without a sense of humor, who will say "No" to every possible question without waiting to find oat what you are going (to ask. Is useful only to draw money from and can be .located after every performance if yon are clever at detective work. Chorus Men—Masculine persons -who rank in Importance between the w^ds of the finale end the star's pet dog. Some of them look like human beings and are much admired by amall- itnwn sirls at tbe age of 17. There have been occasions when a dMnns man Has developed almost average Intelligence and dev^ped Into actors. MA RRIA GES. DENT-FLINT—Halcleb Dent, a leading mem- ber of -the Benjamin Stock Co., now playing in Pelolt. Kas.. and Miss Hazel M. Flint , of Stockton. Kas., were -married June 20. Both bride and bridegroom are very popnlar and their wedding was unite a social event In lioth Stock- ton and Belolt. DONMOYEB-BBNNET—E. D. Doninoyer, op- erator at tbe Palace Tlieatre, Mendota. 111., and'HisB Jennie Bennet of Momence. III., were married June 24, The Bev. T. J. Connor per- formed the ceremony. MACK-BBNZ—^Alonzo Mason Mack Jr., known to the profession as Billy Mack, was married June 28 to Miss Jessie Benz, of Hntcblnson, Ksn. The ceremony was performed on the stage of th^ Newton Theatre, at the close of tbe performance. Over one thousand persons wore present- to witness the ceremony. Mr Mack Is tbe comedian In the Dorothy Store Company. His wife is a very popnlar yonug woman. WEST-BISHOP—Blanca West, a well-known actress, was married a few days ago to William D. Bishop, a popnlar Yale man. Tbe wedding took place at a resort on I.ang Island. Young Bishop Is the grandson of tbe late Representa- tive w. D. Bishon. -who was for many years president of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Ballroad. BIRTHS. CANTARA—Mrs. S. J. Cantora presented her husband, SImOn J. Cantara, manager of Can- tara's Carnival Company, -with a six and one- bait pound boy Monday, June 20. Both mother and baby are doing fine. Baby's name Is Cbnrleton Oliver. SliANTS—A nine-pound baby girl nrrlvnd at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dan L. Shants of 210 Went ,<?even»h -"Street, Cincinnati. July 1. Both mother and daughter are doing well. PITTS—Mr. and Mrs. Walter H. Pitts of Plattcvlllp, Wis., .are the proud parents of a son. The stork paid his visit. June 81, Both mother, and son are- doing well, * I.EONARD—Y. Samuel Ijeonard, manager of tbe Leonard Amusement Company, is now the happy father of a daughter. The future bclr of tbe Leonard attractions first saw the light of day at Lamed, Kan. Both Mrs. Leonani and daughter are doing well and receiving congrat- ulations from many friends. DEATHS. KOBINSON—W: G. Bobinson, elgfaty years of age, tbe oldest theatrical man In the city, who managed, tbe old Academy Of Music for nany yeara, and who Introduced tbe first telepboae, died at Akron, C, July 2. Burial took place la Glendale Cemetery Monday afternoon, uolilnsoo was a brother of J. K. Bobinson, for years tressurer of the Diamond Match > Company, and waa a close friend of C- O- Barber, the match king. Four weeks ago be osed a knife in par- ring a com. Blood poisoning followed, GRKGORY—James Charles Gregory, a fam- ous citcus i>erformer, died at the age of S7 years.' at hia home In Ottawa, Canada, June 23. Tbe cause of death was paralysis. 3lr. Gregory was known to the circus profession for forty years, having traveled with the largest and best circuses In the world. It is said that some of the BIngling brotbers were at one time connected with bis band. Tbe funeral took place , from bis late residence. 114 Sherwood' Street, Ottawa, June 27. A large number of tbe I, O. O. F, Lodge attended. He leaves three daughters. CASE—^Mlss Dora E. Case, aged twenty-four .vears, died at Atlanta, Ga., June 24. Death was sudden and due to heart failure. She Is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mra. E. W. Case, and by a sister. Miss Bertha Case. Mlsa Case was the yonnget daughter of B. W. Case, who was owner of Case's Four in One Show, but Is now manager of concessions at Lake wood Park, Atlanta. Ga. JORDAN—^William Jordan (Fat), a member of tbe Leonard Amusement Company, wu drowned July 3 In the Republican Blver near Clay Center, Kan. He bad been swimming with several friends, and waa'Just getting ready to come out of tbe water when be was taken with cramps. When be was found to be In distress bis friends rushed to bis aid, but owing to his tremendous weight tbey could not get bim ashore. ' His body waa recovered two honn after tbe drowning. Jordan was one of the most popular persona with tSe Leonard Com- pany. He was an excellent piaidst, sml often called npon to help tbe musicians. His home was In Providence, B. I. Tbe funeral expenses were paid-by tbe tnembcva of -tbe company. STOCK CO MPAN Y NOTES. Bobert Sherinan la playing tbe two Sher- man Stock Companlea at Belleville and East St. Louis, IR.. where he owns the alrdomea ai well as the one at Princetm, Ind., and books for several others throughout tbe country. These alrdomea are drawmg good houses. The stock companies wlU remain lu these two town* nntU about tbe first of August, when' they will take up their winter route. Miss MarJorie'Sbrevrsbtiry of Nashville, Tenn., la one of tbe leading members of 'the Marie Nellson Stock Company, that' Is playing ia Paris, Texas. Miss Shrewsbury 'baa made quits a success In both vaudeville and stock, and ii a great favorite In tbe Lone Star State, She is ambitions and an her roles are stnOIed with care, as her work will show. The Lorch Stock Company ef Colorado Springs, Colo,, will present matinees on Sat- urday afternoons. Tola will be done for the benefit of the yoansee admltera of the drama, who find It dUtenlt to attend the night per- formances. The Bldgeway Theatre. Colfax, Wash., bit been leased by B, Q. Clenderln, who has been successful in running motion pictnres in this city. He Is going to put In snmmer stock, un- til tbe regular theatrical season opens. The Raymond Stock Company, which Is now playing Hnmboldt, Tenn., Is doing a good busi- ness, Tbe plays produced ore stsndard and take well -with the andlences, A good cummer season is looked forward to. Edwin Weever and bis associate players open up their Unlontown, Pa., engagement at the Dixie Theatre on the lOtb of Jidy. The open- ing attraction Is the Belle of BIchland, Beaamont Claxton has completea bis new play of Bneslan romance, «ntttled Tbe Ba- demption.of Olga Kastnova,' ud will shortly give It a production. Tbe Fraaer Stock Company opened its regular summer season at the Alrdome, Ft. Dodge, July 8. A large audience greeted the opening per- formance. • T. M. A. N OTES. A class of eleven candidates, all attaches of tbe Blogling Bros.' Circus, were elected mem- bers of tbe Hartford Lodge, Hp. 64, at a special meeting held June 25. The following are tbe newly elected: F. A. Leatlnl, Arthur Rlckoffi A. F, RobertI, R. A, Ohevlron, li. o> Knowlea, Fp 1 Clifford, Wm; Taylor and J- Benefick. lUe. Oosetta BIckoff, Mrs, Arthur Rlckoff and Mrs. F. A. Lentlnl, were made hoa- orary members. PLAYH OUSE NOTES. Ur. George H. Walker, manager of Hancock'' Ofiera Honse. Austin, Texas, baa closed a lease with Mr. Hancock, tbe owner of the bouse, wbcreby be will have the management of tlii> well-known theatre for a term of five yonr"- The house will be thoroughly refitted and cvi'r.v- thlng brought strictly up-to-date; over $2« will be Bpeut on tbe Improvements. Tbere wai much spirited bidding for tbe bouse, but Mr. Walker, on account of bis popularity amoniist tbe theatre-going public, ond the high rcRiira held for him. by Mr, Hancock, received the prcr- ercnce. Manager Wllllnm Wassman of tbe Crystal Theatre,. Nashrille. Tenn.. left June 28. '<>' Memphis and' Chattanooga. Term'., on business. Manager Wassman'* . house, the Oqrstal, . >• enjoying a big ran of business. A'new opera by Victor'Herberts a neW etnr la Miss Kitty Oordonr and a new' libretto bjr Freii, do Gresac and Harry'B, smith-make tbe m- Sortant combination announced by Jos. M. altes. The title of tbe new opera is The l'<a- ehantrcss snd It will have lis first produrtloa under Mr. GatlGS' dtrccttou early In October