The billboard (Sept 1911)

22 Xlie Billboard SEPTEMBER 16. 1911. Amusement events of the TROUBLE IN LO NDON Strike of VaudeviOe Artists May be Declared at Any Moment. Imminent Danger of Serious Breach Between Man- agers and Artists Over Saltary QoKtion ^Eiondoii. England. Sept. 1 (Special to The BUnmaid)—Darlnc tile last week we have 1)een perUoaalr near a strike amons TaodevlUe ar- n«tSr and at the moment the chance at avert- lur aach an event to not sreat. tSta tionble arose ont of some remarks of Wal- ter de Frece. managing director of the Variety Theatres Controlling Company, that a combina- tion of managers "proposed to combat the crowing and exorbitant salaries demanded by artists, and, by fixing a maxinram, eliminate the present competition." Artists, and also the Variety Artists Feder- ation, at first refused to consider this statement ■erloosly. Bat when It became known that the Moss Empires were linking up witb the other company to bring about this change. It'beeame evident that the managers meant*- hnslness and that the great combines were In line against the artists. Furthermore. It leaked ont that the managers had met and agreed among themselves as to the salaries they wonld offer to varions artists in the fntnre. To each artist had been attached a salary limit, and it had been agrecu that more than this amonnt wonld not be paid. At first It was proposed to meet this boycott by a boycott on the part of the artists. Under It evetjr artist, wonld have been pledged to aign no emitract for any one of the balls'under the direction of> tiiese managements so long as fills nndertaking as to limiting saUkles was In existence. At a meeting, however, of the Variety Artists Federation, the fallowing resolntfon was passi-d: "TWa-meeting- betna- satisfied that the Moss Empires. Umlted. and the. Variety Theatres Controlling Company. Umtted. haTe formed e combine. Inttndncing a new and highlv danger- om factor Into mnsic ball affairs, desires to express Its deep regret at the action taken br these managements, which can only be regarded as a distinct breac of the spirit of the arbi- trator's award, whereby It ms agreed that no dlstorblng element shonid be Introdaced Into the relations then established between man- agers snd artists nntil the revision of the award In IMS. And. further, that this meeting Is Save George L. Marion detten are being received in great Dnmbers by the Pennsylranla Board of Pardons. Harrls- Inrg, Pa,. beseeiAIng that body to extend clem- ency In the case of George I>. Marion, sen- tenced to death. Among the letters that harp come to oar notice Is one written by J. J. Famswertb. one of tiie proprietors of the Lyr- ic Theatre. Fort Iisndetdale, Fla.. which we bdleve Is partlen'arly appealing and convinc- ing. Hembem of the amoaement profession Who have not already done so. should senii their |>rayer to the Board of Pardons asking that the deatta sentence l>e commnted. Mr. Psmsworth's letter Is herewith zeprodnced "ver- batlm: _ Part t.an«erdale. Fla.. Sept. 5, 1911 To the Honorable Poard of Pardons. HarrlsbntK. Pa.. Gentlemen—The writer -wishes to add his pemonal appeal to the general prayer that nas gone to yon. for clemency In the case of Geccge L, Jtarlon. Mr. Marion hns been known to the writer for many years. He conld not have been sane «rhen be committed the deed for which he has been eonvteted. The writer TOices the reonest of many people in this section who knew him In times of proa- perl tj*. tlut yonr honccable Board extend him mercy at least to the extent of a reasonable tefm of prison. saritnde^ Tt does not occur to os that his execntlon •wmtWl prost society any more than smA a term In prbion- as-yotr may see fit to give .him. Very respretfnUy. tyrlc Theatre. ■ : • , J. J- F amsworth. WARD RELE ASED. Jfew Torfe. Sept. 7 (Special to The Bmhoard). ■^-James Ward, the yonnsr Chicago a-rlator who baa been fiylng tor the Cnrtlss Bxhibltlon Com- pany for the past year, was released by them, tn Older that h» may b<Hvme a contestant In the comiior trans-continental flight. ' Ward- who Is at present giving flights at Oleaa. K, T.. nn-Ier the direction of the Cnrtlss Exhibition Co.. conelnded his engagement on Thnrsday. SeDtember 8. He then went to Hara- mondsport. N. T., tn the Cnrtlss aenplanp fac- tory, tff get a new Cir-Hss rruss-conntry biplane which waa assembled there for him. It is in this machine that Ward win endeavor to wre?* the fSO.OOO nrls» from a nnmber of other aviators wbo have signified their Intention of entering the contests Ward's msnager and backer is "Re*^ Bloom of Chicago. content to leave the matter In the hands ot the ezeentlve committee to watCb' developments very closely and to take snch action as clrcnm- stances may warrant.*' By taking this attltnde the artists have adopted a wise conrse. In relying on the award of the arbitrator, given after the last strike, they are certain to keep pnbllc sympathy with them. And this course Is far better than Imme- diately precipitating a strike. Jnst now tn are (Continned on page ST.) THE ARAB SC ORES Drama of tlie Desert Depicts Faithfully the Life and Custonis of the Rovbig Desert Tribes--Play Will Be Improved '' Before Beginning New York Engagement Plilladelphla, September 8 (Siwdal to The Billboard).—The Arab, with the author, Edgar Selwyn. in the title role, scored the heavlesi in the openings here Labor Day. The drama of the desert had Its Bastem premiere at the Wal- nut Street Theatre and received nnanlmons praise from all critics. Another new offering was The Kiss Waltz at the Lyric. The Viennese oiieretta was described by one critic as being dIsUnctly a girl show, with the girls mnning on and off the stage with tiresome monotony. CREATORE. AGNES AHERN & GO. GAGED. RE-EN- Tbe artistic electric whe^ act Introduced by Agnes Ahem & Co. proved to he snch a suc- cess at the big exhibitions recently held at Toronto. Ottawa and London. Ont., Can., that they have been already re-engaged to appear next season at tiiese places. Tills act Is a real novelty and this, as well as Its artistic beauty, attracts large crowds. One of the leading' musical attractions that will tour tlie South this winter will be SIg. Giuseppe Creatore and His Band. The tour will open In Washington, Sunday evening, September 24, and will take In the principal cities of the following States: Virginia, North Carolina, South CaroHna, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Olslabama, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentncky and Ohio. At a nomijer of the cities the hand will be presented by local Music Festival Associations in connection with a chorus and celebrated vocal artists. Sig. Czeatore is well, adapted to this kind of work, for he spares no pains or time in producing the most difficult masterpieces of both the old and new composers, and his concerts arc always consplcnons by the absence of thepopnlar rag time. The Southern tonr will be under the man- agement ot Lorenzo Van Sant, of waahingten, D, O. President Taft At Fair Hartford, Conn., Sept, 0 (Special to The Billboard).—^President Taft, Attorney General Wlcfcersham and record-breaking crowds are here In attendance at the State Fair today. Skaters Bljonre, rzUUting on their own special skating floor In front of the grand stand, are a feature act and going big. OLD THEATRE CLOSES. Des Moines, la., Sept. 8 (Special to The BlUboanl).—After a period of thirty-three years existence, Foster's Opera House In this city dosed September 2. The building will be razed and a new office building iTected In Its {dace. During all its years Foster's was the eading theatre In the city. The Universal Electric Stage Lighting Co., which establishment was gutted by fire on Aug, 29, are now established In their new quarters, 238-2-tO West iiOth Street, opposite the Winter Garden Theatre. Their present location Is mncb larger and better adapted to IhPir pur- poses. Well-known Aeronaut Killed Prof. .IVank Oawford. of Crawford Sc Craw- ford, the aeronauta, was killed at Marlon, Ind.. Angnst 30, while attempting a double parachute drop. Crawford and his partner, Vtrlan Craw- ford, bad been nunled Jnst six weeks at the time of his death. SUMMERS BUYS THEATRE. South Bend. Ind.. Sept. 9 (Special. to The Billboard).—Harry O. Summers of New Yoric, lessee snd msnsger ot the Auditorium and Oliver Oiiera Honse here, today purchssed the Audi- torium property and will tske |>os«esslon Sept. I. Mr. Summers will become a resident of South Benit and direct from bere bis theatrical Interests In Grand Baplds, Mich., LaFayette, Blkhart and <3oshen, Ind. Barrett and Eule spent last week In Cbl- cago and wonld not work although J. G. Hat' thews offered them time. They will soon start to play some of the Matthews houses and i plan to go East shortly. It will be taken to New York for a run, atwr much-needed Improvements nre made. An Oriental melodrama, accotate la Its gor- ceons local color and wondertnlly gripping, de- scribes accnrately The .Arab. As a stage pic- ture it is always Interesting and at times superb. As « romantic story It Is highly siir- cessful. As a dramatic production It Is excel- lent on many counta. The cast Is as follows^ Mahmout Azecr, au Armenian merchant.. Marcos Moriaciy Sellm, bis son Victor Benoit Kyamll Pasha, the governor. Edward B. Mawson Shelkrs, a baxaar merchant Thomas Adams A barber Joscoh Kisber A i>easaut Tran --Izoon R(d>ert Crulkshanks ........ Walter Wiisun Mary Hllbert Edna Baker Myrza, a Syrian girl Ethel von Waldrun A mendicant Charles De Forrmt Dr. Hllbert. the missionary ^ward St'f- Hossein, the goremor's aid Sam Russell Jamil AlJdnllah Asam. a dragoman.Edgar Selwyn Abdullah, a Bedooln Joseph Rawler Water-seller .....Abraham Seror Ibrahim, a servant of the mission Jnlea Dngcr Drucis ...Virginia lUnkia Bena Eileen Perry Menka .Gerard Gardner Sayeth Jack Percy .Minna Dorothy Baukin Chil<lren ot the Mission. Jazpt>r. a Bedonla .... Harry McCollum Slui'zzln -.George At.i!i« THEATRE CHANGES HANDS. Bristol. Tenn.. Sept. 9 (Speclsl to The Bill- board).—^M. L. Fowler hss sold the Barmellng Theatre, Bristol's leading playhouse, to Anson King, a local business man. the price being $50,000. Mr. King will probaMy mademln- the property after the preaent aeiasm. Showman Killed by Negro LonlsvlUe. Ky,. Sept. 6 (Special to The Bill- board).—Thomas McCormick, aged 83, a watch- man for Bamum & Bailey Clrcns. was shot and killed last night by one of tw« negroes he detected attempting to steal under the tent during the performauce. McCormick saw two colored men puU up th*' tent wall and dart under, he fmlowed sn.i ordered them out. They went without mui-li troable, but soon after he discovered them crawling under again. Ills time they refused to get out, but Mc<^rmlrk succeeded lo pushing tbem ont, but on the outside the older negro pulled a revolver and began firing. A bullet pass;>d entirely through McCormlcfc's body, piercing the right lung. Be died at the City Hospital at midnight. Following the shooting, the negroes msde their escape in the crowd. An hour later; two negroes. Will Anty and Sherman Anderson, were arrested and taken before ilcOonnIck, who- idcntifled Anty as one of the men before he lovi con8clcusn:>6B, McCormick has been employed by the Bsmom & Bailey Clrcns for many years. His home was In Xew York dty. 80RCH0 LEAVE S CONEY. New York, Sept. 6 (Special to The Billboard). —Capt. L. Sorcbo, with bia deep sea dlvinir show, departed from the Gsrden Theatre. Surf Avenue, Coney Island, on Labor Day. after hav- ing spent a sesson of satisfscUon. This vreek he Is at the Syracuse Fair- with Bochester to follow. The last selection that his calliope played Labor Dsy sight was Auld Lang Syne. Several Snrf Awnae locations have already been offered him for oext leaioii. AMUSEME NT P A^K FIRE. Philadelphia, Fa,. Sept. B (Spedel to The Bill- board).—^Flre of an unknown origin destroyed the scenic railroad and an amusement devio- Icnown as the WIssrd at Woodslde Park early this morning. . Ovring to the remote location of the park the city fire companies had dit- fimlty In reaching It and the Oamea gnthered rapid hesdway. For • ttme the entire park was threatened with destmctloa. The loss >* estimated at flS.OOO. ANOTHER P LAY FOR WOODS. New York, Sept 8 (Special to Itie Billboard). —Otto Hanerbach la finishing the new play h» Is vnitlng for A. H. Woods. Host of the book snd lyrics were written In Ostrnd In collsbora- tlou with Hugo Felix, the fVencb composer, wbo Is writing the mnslc. Mr. Felix Is well- known In France for bis recrnt vrorks. but now of bis compositions hsve been heard In tM" country, though he wrote the original score "f Madame Sherry, The Hassmans 'eft Chicago on Idibor and opened the latter part of that week << Calgary, Can., tor ■ tonr of the PaotsF''' Circuit.