The Billboard 1905-05-06: Vol 17 Iss 18 (1905-05-06)

f 4 8M cayenne t ; } ; ; | The Billboard Londen heatio London Playhouses and Attractions— Successful American Artists, and Bits of Gossip from the Summer Playhouses. OFFICE OF THE BILLBOARD, 23 OXENDON 8?T., PICCADILLY CIRCUS, Lonpon, 8. W. April 12, 1905. The London managers are again at their old game of follow-the-leader—Hamlet at the Adelphia, Hamlet at His Majesty’s, Hamlet: coming to the Lyric and all sorts and conditions of Othellos, Macbeths and Romeos looming ominously on the horizon. The theatrical atmosphere is thick with promises of Shakespearian productions. No wonder that the musical comedy managers tremble for their supremacy. Altogether it is a great time for the higher-drama enthusiasts, who are only too ready to be convinced that the playgoing public is being rapidiy converted from the frivolity of its ways, and that the dramatic millenium, as they conceive it, is at hand. It seems a pity to spoil the beautiful dream of a regenerate public, turning en masse from the fleshpots of musical comedy to the pure milk of Shakespearian drama. But observers of movements of the theatrical market who are not affilcted with enthusiasm are under no such illusion as to the real source and origin of the prevailing epidemic. * > * The new Desdemona, Miss. Tita Brand, proved that she could do even more than “sing the savageness out of a bear’’ at the Shaftesbury on Saturday by acting the savageness out of the critics, for the praise was unanimous on Suhday a. m.. ~ * * But a miess was made of The Officer’s Mess at Terry's on Tuesday. Mr. Cyril Hurst is the guilty party. A friend of Lady De Beaune is anxious to obtain possession of some foolish love letters which were written in former years to an actor, who has deposited them in No. 3 dressing-room at the Embankment Theatre. Lady De Beaune’s maid suggests that they should join the company and trust to fortune to get possession of the compromising documents. When, however, ber husband, Major-General De Beaune, who is also desirous of getting the letters, is ner suaded by his valet to adopt the same «ou the device begins to stale, and when his o\ Sybil, and her lover, Melville, also decided te join the company, the freshness of the idea has departed. The position, however, scpens possibilities for an amusing second act, and deftly treated would have been made funny, but the author has missed his opportunities, and lavished the chief of his attention on elaborating the worries of the manager of the theatre. From this personage he extracts much comic relief of an obvious kind, and one of the best songs of the piece is that in which he elates his woes. The third act takes place at the Embankment Restaurant, and the chief humor consists in the arrival of the principal characters in the various costumes they donned at the theatre; but why they come there and their object in doing so in costume, is decidedly vague. * * * “Top of the Bill” and “Bottom of the Bill’’ will no longer be a criterion by which to judge the amount of salary this or the other act earns—or gets—-in the theatres of at least of one of the big tours. For hereafter the names will run alphabetically. Aabe will always be a headliner (no matter if the manager does expect him to ask for an increase for his returns) and Zuxt will hover attentively over the prices of admission. The U’s and the I’s must rest content with a position somewhere in tween—or change their names. Then of course the press agent job is gone; for, if the public are to judge the merits of the individual turns without intimidation, advance notices will be, rather, will not be. We wonder the reason of this innovation. Were the acts all top-liners? and did each complain of the others pre-eminence on the bills or—? There was a similar idea in vogue one time in Paris, with a similar ulterior object. The name of the performer was not mentioned at all, or in very small type, and the act featured in letters half a foot high. It was a splendid idea, but somehow it did not last long. * * * The next addition to the “big tour,” the Liverpool Olympia, which opened on Easter Monday, will be the largest variety establishment in the United Kingdom. It will be twice the size of the London Hippodrome. It is an _ imposing building of Sicilian marble, occupying . an island site by West Derby Road, and will . have a seating capacity of 3,750. There are . thirty-six exits, each six feet wide. The arena. Stage is worked by hydraulic power, and at the pull of the lever collapses, folds up inte sections and automatically disappears—all in twenty seconds—a lake for aquatic displays containing 80,000 gallons of water taking its place. « * * A prompt reply has been made to the charge, brought by a provincial artist in the daily press, that, while the managers of London variety -theatres search the world over for American and Continental talent—and pay enormous salaries to foreign performers—they absolutely suppress any attempt on the part of an English music hall artist from the provinces who thinks he has a claim to be heard in London. Mr. Oswald Stoll, the managing director of the Moss Syndicate, accusation, and says that he will take any artist who can make good, no matter what his nationality. He is now organizing a huge matinee, to take place at the Holloway Empire on April 27, at which artists who have never had an opportunity of appearing in London before will appear. If there is any artist of special promise, Mr. Stoll is prepared immediately to give him an engagement. It is further pointed out that why American and Continental artists enjoy such a reputation in this country is because only those who have been successes elsewhere céme to England. They are, moreover—especially the Americans—far more adept at pushing and advertising themselves than their English confreres. “Lack of initiative, in fact,’’ says Mr. Stoll, ‘‘is largely responsible for the English artist’s poor success.’’ indignantly denies the | at the Alhambra just now. He does in one hour and twenty minutes twelve different turns, including juggling, card and coin manipulating, riding, risely, imitations, in fact nearly everythng in the dumb-show line. * % * Martine Bros. have bounded into popular favor at the Empire at the rate of “sixty to the second.’’ » * * Theatres and Music Hall Committees will report that they think it advisable, in the interest of public safety, to prohibit the use of the cinematograph on Sundays. They |} point out that it has become very usual to exhibit the cinematograph at concerts given on Sundays; and, as the Council’s officers do not attend the entertainments to see that the regulations of the Council are observed, they (the committee) fear that this practice may be attended with danger from fire, owing to the highly combustible nature of the films used in the lantern. c. C. BARTRAM. ARCHIE LEVY WILL DIRECT The Bell Amusement Co. will soon break ground on Market street, right in | the theatrical center of San Francisco, | Cal., for a new theatre, which will have a seating capacity of 1,500 and when finished will be one of the handsomest GRAND OPERA HOUSE, OWENSBORO, KY. Under the Management et Pedley & Burch George Gray and Frank Gerald representing the Sketch Artists’ Association had an interview with Captain Jessel, M. P., and other promoters of the new bill which is to settle the ‘“‘sketch question.’’ on Tuesday at the House of Commons. Some of the information submitted was news to the Members of Parliament. They were astonished to hear that the Theatrical Managers’ Association had renewed hostilities on the eve of the meeting proposed for the next Tuesday. The fact came out at this meeting that the existing entertainment law makes all matinees illegal, and forbids the opening of places of amusement before 5 p. m. * * * Frohman has secured Mason's new play ‘‘Morjory Strode’ for England and America. * * * Camille Clifford, “The Gibson Girl,” is progressing favorably after her recent operation for appendicitis. * * * Lou Robinson, of Robinson-Baker Trio fame, who recently produced a new scientifie act, The Crucible, at the Pavilion, will make a fiying visit to the States in a week or 80. * * + James Bard finishes a long run here this week and sails for home Tuesday. » * * Houdini is playing provincial dramatic houses with his own vaudeville company. + ” +” Sylvester Schaffer is the whole show vaudeville theatres west of Chicago. The building will be of four stories and the upper floors will contain offices. This company will also have a new house in Stockton, ground having been broken on April 17, and also in Fresno and Vallejo. Mr. Sam Harris, one of the stockholders, will go to Denver in a short time to arrange for a house there. Mr. Ed. Homan, general manager of the Bell Theatres, is now in Seattle arranging with Mr. John W. Considine for affiliations, and when this deal is consummated it will be one of the strongest combinations in the United States. Archie Levy has been appointed director general of the entire Bell Circuit of Theatres. His new offices will be in the new Bell Building, and will be the handsomest booking agents’ offices in America. During the latter part of August Messrs. Levy & Homan will make a trip east, and will make their headquarters at the office of Ed. Lang in Chicago. WYNDHAM UNDER DOCTOR'S CARE. The injuries received by Sir Charles Wyndham during his recent New York engagement seem to be giving the actor considerable trouble at present. Reports from Rome are to the effect that Sir Charles is being treated by Dr. Mazzoni, he not having recovered the use of his arm since his shoulder was dislocated. CAN’T BAR CRITICS. Senator Cullen, of Brooklyn, has introduced into the New York legislature a bill which makes it a misdemeanor for a theatrical or amusement proprietor to refuse admission to a newspaper critic or others not disorderly and possessing tickets of admission. HARRY VON TILZER, (See First Page.) page of this issue appears the likeness of Mr. Harry Von Tilzer the versatile writer and successful publisher of songs. Mr. Von Tilzer’s success as a song writer commence, with the publication of My Old New Hampshire Home, in 1802. Since that time the young writer has turned out on an average of two hits a year, thereby building up his reputation and his large financial resources until today he conducts one of the very largest music publishing houses In the United States. On the title The Harry Von Tilzer Music Publishing Co. is located in the Von Tilzer Building, 37 W. Twenty-eighth street, New York City, and it is here that the immense cern is handled by each one thoroughly incident to his line. At the time this goes to presse Mr. Harry Von Tilzer is in London establishing a London office, a branch of the New York concern. In this new venture Mr. Maurice Shapiro, formerly of Shapiro, Remick & Co., will be identified with him. It has been conceded that Mr. Von Tilzer is the pioneer of music puvlishers who popularize their songs through the medium of the stage. The possibilities of this method the young writer saw back in "82. when the publication of My Old New Hampshire Home brought him into prominence, He soon became the junior member of the firm of Shapiro. Bernstein & Von Tilzer, and was active in building up the immense business of this concern, from which each of the members successively retired with a very large profit on his investment. During these years of reputation building Mr. Von Tilser lived the life of the Bohemian. His associations outside of his domestic life were exclusively with the people of the stage, and it was then that he bullt up that extensive acquaintance among the leading performers whom all publishers are anxious to have sing their songs. It was not only acquaintance among these performers that Mr. Von Tilzer made, but sincere friends. They are his friends today as they were then. for he is an admirable acquaintance, a sympathetic friend and a congenial companion. The house of Harry Von Tilzer is on a firm foundation: in fact so securely established that the enterprising proprietor has branched out as one of the principal stockholders and chief directors of the United Amusements Construction Co., of which the business is to establish amusement features at the principal parks throughout the east. With Harry Von Tilzer’s success there has not come lethargy or diversion. He is just as strictly attentive to business today as he was during those years when the firm was in an embryo state and its success was a matter of the hardest work and the most able management. He is an indefatigable worker, and while his interests today will not permit him to write both the words and music he still composes the music for some of his writers, in this way contributing to the success of several song hits a year. . It is noticable that Mr. Von Tilzer began with descriptive ballads as My Old New Hampshire Home, and several other compositions of the same nature Later, realizing the demand for ragtime and the prospective success of this class business of the cona staff of capable clerks. conversant with the details of music, Mr. Von Tilzer devoted himself with his marked ability and the resources of his versatility, the result being a number of suc cesses from his pen following the great hit made by I'd Leave My Happr Home For You. Mr. Von Tilzer has associated with him the most able assistants, the latest and most important acquisition being Mr. Harold Gumm. who, at the earnest importunity ef his brother, Harry Von Tilzer, gave up a lucrative law practice to affiliate in the music publishing bustness, It is due to him that the business of the firm has beea systematized to such a degree of perfection. A rough estimate places the number of copies of his hits sold since the publication of My Old New Hampshire Home, in the neighborhood of 6.000.000. This includes only the hits, of which My Old New Hampshire Home, Down On The Farm, Down Where The Suwanee River Flows. The Banquet In Misery Hall, The Mansion of Aching Hearts, The Palace of Silver and Gold. I'll Be There, Mary Dear; When Kate and | Were Coming Through The Rye, Alexander, I'd Leave My Happy Home For You. In The Sweet By and By, Down Where The Wurtzburger Flows and several others of equal popularity, the sales of which run from 200,000 to 500,000 coples each. The fact that the plano industry in this country has Jncreased the number of instruments in the home at the rate of frem fifty to seventy-five percent, a year for the past ten years, according to the statistics, gives a wider field for the song hits of the present day, the number of coples sold increasing in about the same ratio with the Increase In the number of pianos placed on the market during the year. The music publishing business {s a very important one. This fact attraets many irresponsible people to the business, but it is only the reliable houses run on business principles that endure. It takes brains, energy and enterprise to run a musie publishing house. Harry Von Tilzer has all three of these, and combined with it an ability to surround himself with able peo ple, a personality that attracts to him the friendship of those performers upon whom according to present day methods the success oF failure of prospective song hits depends to a large extent. DRAMATIC, E. J. O'Brien is no longer with The Missourt Girl Co. as agent. Little Mabel Grete, soubrette with the Herald Square Stock Co., is making good, Miss Esther Rujaero will put on a stock company at the Imperial Theatre, St. Louis, Mo., beginning May 14.