The Billboard 1901-11-30: Vol 13 Iss 48 (1901-11-30)

8 THE BILLBOARD THe BiILLBoarRp. Published Weelly at 420 Elm Street, Cincinnati, O., U.S. A. Address all communications for the editorial or business departments to THE BILLBOARD PUBLISHING CO. Subscription, $4.00 a year: 6 mos., $2.00; S mo. #1.00, in advance. ADVERTISING RATES. Ten cents yl line, agate measurement. Whole page, $70; half page, $85; quarter page 7.5 ‘I premium on position, . eee The Billboard is for sale on all trains and newstands throughout the United States and Canada which are supplicd by the American News Co. and its branches. When not on sale please notify this onthe Billboard is sold e OR s sold in London at Low’ change, 57 Charing Cross, and at ee roi vertising inhale td Agency, Trafalgar Buildings, Northumberland Ave., W. C. In Paris at Brentano’s, 87 Ave. de l’ Opera. The: trade supplied by the American News Co. and its branches Remittance should be made by post office or express money order, or registered letter addressed or made payable to the Billboard Pub. Co. The editor can not undertake to return unsolicited manuscript: correspondents should keep copy. When it is necessary to wire us the instructions rnd oony owe aewertenemnentn, great saving in the matter of telegraph tolls may be h y re to the Donaldson Cipher Code. a ne Entered as Second-Class Matter at Post Office at Cincinnuti, Ohio, SS Saturday.November 30.1901 GET READY TO FIGHT. “The Billboard's” editorial last week calling the attention of the municipal zuthorit‘es of Cincinnati to the danger of a war on bill boards seems to have reached home, for our information is that after reading the facts the members of the Board of Public Service agreed that the matter of declaring war on a reputable business in which Cincinnati leads the world, for the edification of a single newspaper, which never was and never will be a success, is too serious to be indulged in without weighty consideration. lor the beneiit of those outside Cincinnati who do not understand the local situation, i is only necessary to state that only one newspaper in Cincinnati is arrayed against bill board advertising. This paper has been losing ground, prestige and money for the past twenty years, and only two years ago its publisher outrageously attacked the leaders of the political party whom he now asks to come to his rescue at the expense of the biggest industry Cincinnati shelters. The Enguirer, The Times-Star, The Post and the German papers in Cincinnati have no grievance against bill board or any other kind of advertising, for the very good reason that they are successful newspapers and splendid advertising mediums, and they are forced every day to decline business. Yhe publishers and editors of these papers appreciate the fact that all the bill boards in Christendom will not injure their publications or decrease their revenues. It is only the already dead and fast decaying Commercial Tribune which hopes to inerease its scant revenue by forcing advertisers to burn up their money by using its columns. But the attempt will fail. The poster printing business in Cincinnati is not the only thing that is being considered by the municipal authorities, though goodness knows that one industry is quite sufficient to furnish food for reflection. BM ihere are thousands of pieces of unim2. 4 yvoved real estate in Cincinnati which are unfit for any purpose save bill boards, and the revenue derived from this source is ‘all the property owner can realize from his property with which to pay the taxes levied on it. A search of the records of the tax duplicate at the Hamilton County Court House shows that one of the two bill posters in Cincinnati pays taxes on 1,100 pieces of unimproved real estate which he holds by virtue of leases. The annual taxes on 1,100 pieces of real estate in Cincinnati is no small matter. Take away the bill boards, and the taxes are thrown back upon the owner of the property, for it can be used for nothing else. It is all very well to cry “the beautiful in art,”’ ‘eye sore,” ete., when it costs nothing, but as soon as it is attempted to take from'a citizen the ouly revenue he can obtain from his property, in order to inerease the revenue of an already dead newspaper, the citizen is liable to protest. The citizen has a vote at the polls, and is liable to resent at the next election the presumption of officials who seek to bolster up a newspaper at his expense. The municipal authorities in Cincinnati realize this fact, and we feel safe in predicting now that there will be no war on bill-boards in the Queen City unless soiwething more reasonable than the bellowings of the Commercial Tribune shall be uiged. In this connection, would it not be wise for the executive committee of the Associated Bill Posters and Distributors of the United States and Canada, at the coming meeting at Louisville, to inaugurate a fund to retain capable legal talent to fight just such opposition as has been raised in Cincinnati? An international body such as the Association of B.11 Posters and Distributors should have legal representatives in every city and town which is represented in the association. A few stiff fights in court directed along the right lines would soon put a stop to the uncalled for abuse to which bill board advertising is subjected. MLLE. LATINA. (See tirst page.) Mile. Latina, who in private life is the wife of T. J. Dixon, of -the firm of Dixon, Lowers & Dixon, is a contortionist of some merit. "During the regular winter season she appears in vaudeville and has had the pleasure of playing all of the principal vaudeville theaters throughout the country. During the summer season she appears with Dixon, Bowers & Dixon's Circus. Who Will Succeed “Doc” Colvin as Hagenbeck’s American Agent. It is abonvi settled that C. Lee Williams, secretary and manager of the Cincinnati Zoo, will not become Hagenbeck’s American agent. Strong intluences have been brought io bear on him to accept the appointment, but he insisted upon giving the Cincinnati Zoo first call on his services. The direc tors of the Cincinnati’ Traction Company, which recently secured a controlling interest in the Zoo, have decided that they can not get along without Williams, and he will continue as secretary and manager of the Zvo, This leaves the matter of ‘*Doc’’ Colvin’s successor as wide open as the day after his death. Sol Stephan, superintendent of the Cincinnati Zoo, could have the place if he would take it, but his services are in demand at the Cincinnati Zoo, and as long as he is wanted there he will not leave. Stephan turned down offices from James A. Bailey, and nearly every other Zoo in the country, because of his preference for Cineinnati. No matter who may be selected to succeed Colvin, it is about settled that he will have an office in Cincinnati, and that the Cincinnati Zoo will continue to be the American depot and distributing point for Hagenbeck’s animals. Mr. Mehrmann, who is a brother-in-law of Mr. Hagenbeck, aud who came to America to help straighten out Colvin’s affairs, sailed for Germany Saturday, Nov. 23. WHEEL SCHEME Of Routing Burlesque Shows To Be Given a Trial On the Empire Circuit. Pittsburg, Pa., Nov. 25.—The meeting of the directors of the Empire Circuit, held here last Thursday, was called together in ihe parlors of the Seventh Avenue Hote}, and as predicted by “The Billboard,’ the wheel scheme of routing burlesque shows over the Empire Circuit, was the principal matter under discusssion. It was resolved to give the wheel scheme a trial, since it is contended that it will save much money in transportation. The trial, however, will he contingent upon the bookings being satisfactory to the house managers. The traveling managers named a committee to get the new bookings in shape, and when ihis is done a committee representing the house managers, consisting of Messrs. Fennessy, of Cincinnati, and Ribe, of Baltimore, will go over the work and pass upon it. Meunwhile, all bookings on the Empire Circuit for next season are canceled. The two committees are expected to get together in four or five weeks and agree or disagee upon the feasibility of the scheme. The circuit declared a quarterly dividend of 15 per cent. and agreed to meet the third Thursday in February at Louisville. The spring meeting will be held in May at St. Louis. Messrs. Fennessy, Whalen and Williams were appointed to investigate the feasibility of securing additions to the Empire Cir cuit in Chicago, Detroit and Philadelphia. NEW CIRCUIT Of Pooular Priced Houses, Under Control of Haviin & Stair, is Formed. Indianapolis, Ind., Nov. 25.—Geo. A. Dickson, lessee and proprietor of the Park Theater of this city, has given out the details of the formation of the Stair-Havlin Circenit of popular-priced theaters. The comhination is one of the greatest ever formed in the theatrical business. It brings together under one management or booking system practically all of the popular-priced theaters of the country in a chain extend ing from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The chain of theaters was completed when Dickson & Talbot entered the combination with their Indianapolis house, also the High Street Theater and the Grand ’ Opera House in» Columbus, O., and the Park Theater of Dayton, O., owned by them. “The Stair-Havlin Circuit,’ said Manager Harry EK. Feicht, of the Park Theater oft this ¢ciiy, “is not in any sense a trust. ic is simply a combination of the popularpriced houses of the country for the purpose of giving patrons of such theaters the highest Glass amusement possible to obtain. Ail Companies that desire to secure ‘time’ in the theaters belonging to the chain will be required to submit their casts, subject matter of plays and truthful accounts of other details, such as scenery, ete., to the management of the combination in order ihat it may be known that the attractions booked in these houses are up to the standard. Poor attractions had as well retire from the road, for the circuit just formed will be able to prevent them from getting sufficient time to keep them ‘going.’ The result of the combination will be distinctly beneficial to the patrons of popular-priced theaters, since it will insure them better attractions than at present and fewer pour nitractions for the future.” The fact that Messrs. Dickson & Talbott have decided to put their theaters into the Stair-Haviin Circuit will in no way affect their ownership or management of the houses. The only result of the deal is to have bookings for the Park and all other popular-priced theaters in the circuit made in New York and to put the responsibility for good and bad attractions upon some certain person, who can be easily made to render an account. The theaters in the ew circuit are: New York, the Majestic; Boston, the Majestic; Chicago, the Great Northern, Acad emy of Music, Alhambra, Bijou and Criterion: Detroit, Lyceum, Whitney, Grand and Empire; St. Louis, Havlin’s, Grand Opera House and Imperial; Cleveland, Lyceum and Cleveland Theater; Cincinnati, fieucks, the Walnut and the Lyceum; Dayton, O., Park Theater; Columbus, O., High Street Theater and Grand Opera House; indianapolis, Ind., Park Theater; Kansas Cicy, the Grand and Gillis Opera House; Kaltimore, Holliday Street and Howard Acditorium; Providence, the Avenue; Washington, Academy of Music; Milwaukee, the Alhambra; Buffalo, the Lyceum; Jacob Litt’s theaters, Milwaukee, St. Paul, Minneapolis; Torouto, Canada, Grand Opera House and Toronto Opera House; Toledo, the Lyceum and Burt’s New Theater; Grand Rapids, Powers’ and the Grand; Seattle, Wash., Third Avenue Theater; Portland, Ore., Cordray’s Theater; Spokane, the Auditorium; Tacoma, Lyceum Theater; Vancouver, Theater Royal; Paterson, the Cotumbia; Hartford, New Hartford Opera flouse. J. B. Sparrow's Canadian circuit: Montreal, New Theater Francais, Theater Royal; Ottawa, Grand Opera House. DEATH BLOW Given to Ticket Speculators By This Decision of a New York Magistrate. New York, Nov. 25.—Magistrate Noumer, of this city, has dealt New York ticket speculators a death blow. He refused to grant the application of Philip Rosenbaum, a speculator, for an injunction restraining Percy G. Williams and Charles Adams, of the Orpheum Theater, this city, from interfering with his business in front of their theater. Magistrate Naumer, in rendering his decision, said: “A theater ticket Is a mere license, revokable at the will of the manager. The manager has the right to caution the pub‘Ne against buying tickets from speculators. “By so doing he revokes the license granted by any ticket in possession of any speculator. The manager has a right, by fair and proper methods, to inform the public of his refusal to accept tickets sold by speculators.”"’ It was proved that on Oct. 22 Mr. Wil liams personally approached every persou he saw in front of the Orpheum in conversation with a ticket speculator and said: “This man Is a ticket speculator. You can not enter my theater on any ticket purchased from him.” HAD THEM GUESSING. Col. Fennessy’s Peculiar Experience With the Manager of the “Phasey” Troupe. The English gentleman who handles the destinies of the “Phasey Troupe,”’ which Is part and parcel of Sam Devere’s show, Is either the King of “kidders,” or the possessor of the worst memory on _ record Col, Jim Fennessy, of the People’s Theater, Cincinnati, Is not sure which he is, but he had the Colonel in het water while the Devere show held the People’s. In addititon to his duties as manager of the Phasey Troupe the Britisher goes on the front door and at the Sunday matinee opening he stopped Colonel Fennessy and demanded his ticket. Fortunately for Fennessy one of his own door keepers was present and he was identified. During the Sunday matinee Colonel Fennessy had oceasion to go to HWeuck’s Opera House, and when he returned to the People’s he was stopped again. This time Treasurer Winterburn identified him and he got in his own house without paying. While the Phasey Troupe was on Colonel Fennessy was back on the stage giving orders as was the English manager, but half an hour later, when Fennessy walked in the front door of the People’s he was stopped again. This time Johnnie Berne bailed him in. By this time the Colonel was wondering what he was up against. He concluded to try it again and tind out, so he slipped out the side door and came back through the front door, only to be stopped again. This was the finish. He showed letters and telegrams to Identify himself and then going to his own office wrote himself a season pass to his own theater aud marked ‘‘vold"’ the conditions printed on the back, He did it more as a joke than anything, but Sunday night he was stopped again, and he had to flash his pass. ‘the thing continued throughout the week whenever Fennessy’s own doorkeeper was absent, and the Colonel is still won. dering whether the manager of the Phasey froupe was “kidding’’ him or whether he didn't know any better. TORONTO, CANADA. Toronto, Can., Nov. 24.—Princess, (O. B. Sheppard, Mgr.)—**The Bonnie Brier Bush,” as presented by the veteran artist, J. H. Stoddart, and a capable company, pleased large audiences Nov. 18 to 23. Reuben Fax, who plays one of the principal roles, is a native of this city, and he received a splendid reception. “Princess Chic,”’ Nov. 25 to Sv. Grand, (Small & Stair, Mgrs.)—The ever green Joc Murphy has been holding forth in “Shaun Rhue”™ and “Kerry Gow,” week of Noy. 18, and business has been satisfactory. “The Penitent’ Nov. 25 to 30, Toronto, (Small & Stair, Mgrs.)—Lovers of melodrama turned out in force Noy. 18 io 23 to witness “‘Human Hearts.” **When London Sleeps,’’ Nov. 25 to 30. Shea's, (J. Shea, Mgr.)—One of the best bills of the season was presented the week of Noy. 18, and drew large’ attendance Mary Norman made a strong hit with her society imitations, Others were: Adjie's lions, Josephine Sabel, Ed. Latel, Pete Baker, Montmartroi's Trio, Sager Midgely and Gertie Carlisle, and Florizel. Mr, Will Tingle is the courteous treasurer of this handsome resort, and is very popular with ihe large clientele. Massey Music Hall, (8S. Houston, Mgr.)— rhe queen of sopranos, Nordica, drew a large and fashionable audience Nov. 21 Star, (fF W. Stair, Mgr.)—The Innocent Maids were the attraction the week of Nov. 18. Business fair. French Maids Compa ny, Nov. 25 to 30. J. A. GIMSON. Our readers and subscribers in all lines are in: ” wited te avail themseloe of “ The Bi mail scheme. We have an experienced clerk in charge ef thie department. He keeps track people and forwards their mail wherever pes. the moment it is received, thus aveiding delay. Letters are only advertised when we do net know the whereabouts of the persons to whom they art addressed. Letters advertised Lr. Sour weeks and uncalled for will be returned to the post-effice, Cirewlars, postal cards and mewspapers exc Letters are forwarded without expense. GENTLEMEN'S LIST. Aimee Drametic Co. Kaljil, Heroda. mbrose, T. P, Neubert, bee V., Beg. Ash, Joe. i\lipatrick, Chas. Adkins, C. D. Lowery Students. Automobile. Lacy, Walter. Becnert. H. B. Leonard, T. A. Bonavita, Capt. Jack. La Thoma, Harry. Bremer, Michell. Lyneh, the Great. Beach & Bowers, Liles, Chas. (Minstrels). Moore, James C. Burne, A. H. Maxwell, Thos. H. Cook, Daniel. Marsh, A. C, Condon, Harry O. Moseley, W. B. Cooper & Co. Mallory, Prof, PL. W. Mavenport, W. G. Moriarty. David. Dale, Wm. M. Murry, John J. Dyer, James W. Neilson, Frank. Lunbar & Lyall. Neel, Carl Denning, James. Vutiner, John Fay. Denning, Bill. Vhilips & Belmont. Lule, Harry tt. Patrick, Warren. Deal, Neuman. Pearson, Frank. Douglas, Prof. John L. vowley, Wm. Blider & Olson's Cir's. Proper, T. L. Everton, Dr. M. I. Rice, M. EB. Karl, Albert. Rensing, Herman. Exemplar Sign Works Reed, Huey. Emmerson. Harry. Rourke, John. Vrisea, Sig. Koyer, Archie. Glasscock, Alex. Ritchie, Edward. Gentry’s Dog & Pony Simmons, T. Harry. Show No. 2, Prof. Steely, White & Grace, E, C, Toung. Gossage, Geo. Strebig, I. V., Esq. Griffith, John Stuart, C. K. Gillette Shows, Sturgis, Jim. Greene, James F. Sells & Gray. Gautier, the Great. Sharrock, Harry. Hobin, F. B. Taylor, Parson. Hare, Jas. EB. Tool, K. A. Propr. Hess, Chas. Trone Bros. Herbst, Milton. Thompson, Dana. Henuurich, Geo, Van Normans, The. livlland, John. Viberg, G. H, Hundley, W. W Williams, EF, Ideal Amusement Co. Water, Phil G. Jahn, A. Warren, F. W. Jones, John J. Watts, Geo. A. dJubool, Geo, White Clouds InJackson, Arthur. dian Village. Joues, Frank F. Yaki, Boone. King, C. €. Young Bros, Kramer, Sam. Zimmerman, Chris, Katool, Habe. LADIES’ LIST. DeConde, Pauline Trons, Mrs. W. B. Kemp Sisters Wild Travis, Mrs. Hattle West. McCall, Mathes, Clara, Terrab, Mme. Proanetin Mile Zardoa, Madame Stanley, Mrs. Geo. a eee eee ooerery,