San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

4 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW December 4, 1909 xNewman Foltz Company The Newman Foltz company is winning new laurels in every town it visits. In. Fresno they filled the Barton almost every night to capacity. In Porterville big houses were the rule and the company was received with enthusiasm. One in Porterville The Lambs, a dramatic club of that city, attended in a body to witness a performance of Divorcons. Miss Foltz was entertained the following day at an afternoon tea by the ladies of the club. Mr. Newman and Miss Foltz are gaining great favor in every town in which they appear. The supporting company is particularly strong and is receiving the most favorable press criticism along the line. The company now numbers ten people as follows: Walter Newman, Bertha Foltz, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Clisbu, Alice Meyer, Mildred Fitzgerald, Bert Porter, Edward Hoddell, Max Waizman, Nedriv (the mysterious) and Colonel D. P. Stoner, manager. Fortune in Fight Pictures of Jeffries-Johnson Battle Sure thing betters can back the fact that California sunshine will perpetuate the negatives of the meeting between the unbeaten white champion and the Texas tar baby ; also that a date propitious in weather conditions will be selected for the manufacture of the world-telling records of the greatest championship battle of fistania. It is generally conceded that the plumb will drop into the hands of Coffroth, Gleason or Graney. Coffroth is strong in past records and generalship. Gleason is close to Berger and Jeffries, and Graney has untold backing under the new administration, and agrees to pull the fight off within the city limits. A $100,000 bid from Mcintosh and Brady is on its way. Efforts are being made to suppress this bid, as England would be the battleground, and this definite offer, under these conditions, would be in stiff competition to the western promoters, who will try to keep below the six figures. It can be safely doped that anyone who has exceeded the six smallest figures in past statements will not be on hand with the necessary five thousand to qualify. The promoters are not sure just how to figure on the picture end of the game, and it is the biggest end from a monetary standpoint. Mcintosh is credited with surpassing the $200,000 mark with the Burns-Johnson pictures, but he had the whole pie to himself. Those pictures more nearly failed in America than elsewhere. W. A. Brady had tp hustle to break even on his $25,000 guarantee to Mcintosh. Unless the coming fight should be an awful fiasco, the fight picture rights are easily worth $200,000, and if Jeffries wins in a whirlwind battle, going over eight rounds, the picture end will exceed the $300,000 mark, if properly managed. Seventy per cent of this money will be secured inside of the first ten months following the fight, and within ten per cent of the balance during the next eight months. To get these results from the world market, 36 films will have to be in operation simultaneously. To prevent duping and theft, a trustworthy treasurer, under heavy bonds, will have to accompanying each film and sleep on them. These films will be rented, leased under a guarantee, and played on shares, but never sold, the rights always reverting to the original owners. Under these conditions the best money results are obtained and no piracy is possible. The picture rights will probably be divided into thirds, for each fighter and the promoter. It is a safe calculation that each Bidder will count on a one third interest in making his offer for the fight. All of them will specify this in their letter, which is to be accompanied by the five thousand, and two of the promoters, at least, are going to specify that they be entrusted with the sole manipulation of the fight picture end, for the good of all concerned. Jeffries will probably commence by demanding half of the picture rights, he and Johnson may have to settle their end of this argument behind closed doors, as the promoters will undoubtedly stand for a clean onethird, anyhow. Johnson, Whose suspicious nature would not permit him to trust Pierpont Morgan's auditors, will probably sell out his end for a stated figure, and not wait for it to come in gradually. The usual theatrical methods will evidently be adopted in the States and Canada, and no doubt introduced for the first time into Great Britain and the Continent. As a rule some English moving picture firm works on a percentage and leases the films to the local trade. In some cases these theatres pay as high as S500 per week, and frequently clear up a thousand or two "on their own." Gaumont & Co. placed the BurnsJohnson films in the United Kingdom on a basis of 15 per cent, guaranteeing Mcintosh's end to be at least $35,000. It exceeded this amount. There is from $60,000 to $75,000 profit in touring the "provinces" of Great Britain, as a regular theatrical attraction. Similar conditions exist in France, Germany, Norway and Sweden ( which countries would have paid big money to see the Burns-Johnson pictures, but did not get the chance), Managers!! if you don't like your Actors Actors ! ! If you don't like the Company you are in See Menzel About It Menzel's Dramatic Agency 915 Van Ness Avenue Telephones S. 2877 Franklin 4260 Novelty Theatre, San Francisco TO RENT By the day. week or month. Fine, comfortable theatre, seating 1,200 people. Large stage. SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO POLITICAL MEETINGS the Orient, Africa and Australia. There is more revenue in a vigorous campaign of the fight pictures than some of the promoters realize, and if Jeffries could be depended upon to win. then with a voice of authority, and a one-third interest in the fight picture returns, $150,000 would be a safe investment for the promoter, if the contest could not be secured for less. GEORGE MONT. George Fawcett and Florence Roberts May Star This Summer in Seattle George Fawcett, now playing on the Coast in "The Great John Ganton," met with such a cordial reception in Seattle that he remained in that city for a third week, offering "Dr. Jekyl and Mr Hyde." It is reported that Mr. Fawcett, upon the conclusion of his touj of the Shubert theatres, will next spring return to Seattle, to play a stock engagement under the management of Russel & Drew. Florence LEVY'S BIG TRUNK STORE I NCORPORATED COAST AGENTS Taylor Trunks fiS 7 Market St SF m (mm repairing UO f ITiai IXCl Ol., O.I .Kedrny Phone Dowlas 3192 Roberts, another of the Shubert stars, it is reported, will occupy a conspicuous place in the same company. Miss Roberts, by the way, will be seen under the direction of the Shuberts in December. Arthur R. Wilber Freed from Debts Arthur R. Wilber, theatrical manager, now appearing in vaudeville in a sketch called The Female Lobbyist, who filed a petition in bankruptcy on May 15, last, with liabilities of $42,445.18, has been discharged of his individual liabilities as well as those incurred by the firm of Wilber & Cory and other firms with whom Mr. Wilber was associated. SPECIAL NOTICE The Christmas Number OF The San Francisco Dramatic Review WILL BE PUBLISHED Saturday, December 18th, 1909 And will be the finest and most interesting Theatrical Paper published in the United States Have YOU reserved your space ?