The Billboard 1913-03-22: Vol 25 Iss 12 (1913-03-22)

— > My ut “ * ne i» <} « _ . ee 166 The Billboard MARCH 22, 1913. ARE YOU GOING ABROAD? Walter K.{Hill, Billboard Representative, in London," Offers Suggestions to the Novice—Articles Containing Useful Information to Performers Will Appear in Subsequent Issues {Editor's Note:—This matter has not been compiled for the benetit of the traveler who has ecrost “‘The Pond,”’ but has been prepared for the guidance and information of those who have never been abroad. To those who have crost, there may be much Of interest; but the entire purpose of the story is to help the novice who may be contemplating a trip or who intends to join the scores of American artists who are now abroad. There will be printed from time to time, as space shal! permit, a completed series, which will give the American a clear idea of conditions abroad, chances for success avd causes of failures, as viewed from the standpoint of an experienct observer of theatrical conditions in America, who has now gone abroad to reflect, in these articles, as nearly as he may, the impressions an American with his eyes open receives in various places on the other side.) S. S. Minnetonka, Midocean, Feb. 22-March 4. —Washington’s Birthday as a starting date and President Wilson's Inauguration Day as a finish, lent a “kind applause’’ distinct'on to the 122nd Eastward passage of the ‘‘Minnetonka,’’ which was remarkt by many of the American passengers on board. ‘The holiday brought a_ rain, which drizzled, and a fog, which penetrated, and at the same time shut out the “‘last lingering look"’ at our nativ land. New York's muchbpictured sky-line was a blurr of mist, the statue of “‘Liberty’’ was drenched in rain, and as the ehip crept farther down the Bay, all else save th. surrounding fog bank was left to imagination. The last clear look at the shore disclosed the friendly faces at the pier-head; and whatever else may come in. life, there shall be nothing to efface the memory of those smiling wellwishers, enshrined in a special place ip our hearts. President Taft was visiting Fort Wadsworth as we passed the Narrows. The bands were laying, and, finally the guns of the two forts Sorte to bark their salutes. From the steamer deck the brass sounded like faint strains from an orchestra; the cannon-shots were reminders of a buggy whip slapped sharply across a carriage-top. There was nothing awesome about their voices; the heavy weather Dilankt the “terror’’ they were cast to inspire. As the tide tantalized a beli-buoy, it clanged its resentment; the siren at Sandy Hook whooped its penetrating warning of danger in the fog, and We passed out 'nto the ocean with the ‘‘Father fand’’ back there, somewhere, in the mist and rain. Steamship tickets are larger than an ordinary) sheet of hote! paper. There are many “‘articles of agreement’’ on the front. with lines for the @®ames anf some minor details of purchase. On the reverse side are blank forms to be filled out before the ticket is surrendered. The United States demands that certain questions be answereid. If you are foreign born, the list of answers is more detailed than if you are a mativ. The steamship company requires that you shal! give the full name of all passenvers represented on the ticket (four is the highest number), and you are required to give your last address, your temporary address, your permament address and your occupation. It is better to fill out these requirements before going on board. With your tickets you will receive tags enuf of a different color to attach to your trunks. Baggace to go in the hold and your steamer-trunk for the state-room should be sent to the pler the afternoon before you sail. Be at the boat an hour before sailing time. The porter who picks @p your hand-bagrage at the entrance to the pier will guide you te your cabin. First see that your steamer-trunk is under your bunk. If it is there, you may be sure your other trunks are safely stowed in the hold. Inquire for mail or telegrams at the saloon (dining reom) or Wbrary (reading and writing room). Some kind friend may have sent you a box of flowers, as our “‘boss’’ did, to cheer my lady's heart and decorate your table at meals for most of the voyage Once you have located your cabin, go on deck and watch America slip away from your Don't fail to be on deck when they drop the pilot. This takes place at the outer end of Ambrose Channel, due north from the tip of Sandy Hook. Dead ahead you will notice a small white steamer with a blue flag at her mast-head. When she comes in sight secure a position well for ward on the (lee) side of the boat which !s most sheltered from wind and waves. You will observe a sinall dory coming off from the pilot boat. manned by two at the oars. You may think you will run down the little cockle-shell, for ther row right into the bow of the boat; but a line is thrown and canght in the yaw! and she swings slong side withont m'‘shap 4 rone ladder ‘is dront from the side and over goes the pilot. to clamber down and finally jump, or fall, into the tossing dory With him goes the bag of mail which passengers have written coming down the Bay They are good-by notes, final greetings and the lest word to be sent to friends and loved ones until the sh'p shall have reacht the other shore The steward who hands your telegrams will sel] you stamps: there Is a mail box in plain sight and a time posted when the mail! closes. When youn aprreciate the pllot’s denarture gevers the last link which connects with the shore there ‘s a moment of special ‘‘realization."’ The course is ‘layed’? the engines are put at full sneed and the trin across ‘s hegnn In dead earnest. There is a ‘‘notice board’ at the head of one of the comnanion-way stairs upon which various important items are posted from time te time The first one is an announcement that seats In the saloon will be allotted by the dining room steward at a certa'n hour. Lunch fs served at 1 o'clock: yon take any seat at this. the first meal Renert to the steward at the an pointed time and be assigned to the seat which shall be yours for the vovrage He will have before him a nian of the ealoon with everr seat numbered. Your name is written opposit the number assicned to you, and when thie work f« completed the chert Is paced in ai conven‘ent location where all may refer to It and thne« identify hy reme every nasaenger who shows nr for meals. There ic also a nrinted list of the passengers placed at your plate the first dinner. At the assignment of seats one American “humorist’’ attempted a trial of the English sense of humor. He remarkt to the steward: “We should like seats that are good for every | meal on the voyage,’’ meaning thus to convey imperviousness to sea-sickness. The reply came: “All seats are good for all meals, sir;’’ and so the matter rested. Altho writers have referred to it ag ‘‘the trackless sea’’ one is never for a moment lost to his fellow-men. The Marconi Wireless pre vents that and this same wonderful invention gave us a shock of glad surprise after we had traveled about six hours, straight out to sea. The bed-room steward approacht with an envelope; being strange cats in the garret we wondered what it was. ‘‘Marconigram’’ was the printing and the address proved that the en velope was in the right hands. Upon opening it we read: ‘‘Walter Hill. S.S. Minnetonka: Bon voyage—Oomedy Club.”” Just that par ticular sensation is beyond our description. Ws had forgotten land; our eyes were turned toward the East—but “The Clowns’’ had not for gotten their Jay-member! Secretary Francis Morey had not taken a memorandum of our sailing in vain, On the wall in the saloon companion-way hangs a chart of Marconi information. It shows the land stations and indicates ships as they sail along the different courses East and West On pegs are hung the names of ships ‘“‘nuow in comm@unication.’’ Day by day the names of from one to five ships hung there -toassure us that beyond the circle of blue which encompast our range of sight there were friends a-plenty within electric call to aid us if we faltered. In another frame is a map of our course—a red line drawn across the ocean from New York t’ England. There is a double check on dis tance and direction at sea—the ‘“‘log’’ and tie mathematical readings with the sun as the basis of calculation. Every 24 hourg the exact position of the ship is indicated by a dot within a small circle on the red line which shows our course. Now we are due East of Philadelphia. again due North of the Burmudah’s, South of New Foundland and so on—the topografy of this side of the globe being clearly shown within the frame. The ‘‘log’’ is a metal cone of about 18 inches length which drags in the ocean from the stern of the ship, attacht to a line which usuall: measures about one and a half times the length of the boat. It is so constructed that this rope is constantly turned. or whirled, at the end which is attacht to the ship—connecting with a mechanical device which, by this process of constant, revolution, records the distance the vessel travels. The log is “‘read’’ (after the manner of looking at the figures indicated in a gas meter) every two hours, day and night: every noon the log is pulled out of water to see thet it is free from weeds, waste or other extraneous matter which may interfere with its revolutions. The sailor who reads the log tesrs the temperature of the water every four hours: this to indicate the presence of icebergs in the near vicinity, and also to meet the requirement. of navigating details, Altho the ‘‘log’’ is read every two hours, only once in 24 hours is its record posted. This record is made from noon tov noon and is posted in the smoking room and also indicated on th: coarse chart for public inspection. It is the rule to gamble a little on the ‘‘day’s run’’ and a pool is made by the smoking-reom stew ard the nearest ‘‘guesser’ walking away with the pot Om this ship the final figure of th day’s run is the winner, the holder, for in stance® of No. 3, with a recorded run of 363 miles copping the brass ring The first person to get best acquainted with vn ship-board are the bed-room steward (men) and the stewerdess (ladies). On the Minne tonka the crew and servants are extremely af fable and obliging. We find the routine of ship life varies little from the following Bath cal! at 7:39: coffee is served in your state room at 8:00; breakfast at 8:30; lunch at 1: tea ‘'s served in your state room or drank in the saloon or smoking room at 4:00; dinner at 7:00: all lights out at 11:00 p. m Filling In between are walks on deck, games of cards. deck golf bean bag. ease in steamer chairs. an afternoon ‘“‘nap.’’ reading, writing. smoking, conversation —and if you are real foolish and wish to insure a complete and perfect upsetting of your stomach there is the bar tv do its deadly work Everybody gets acquainted with everybody else the person who is ‘‘up stage’ on ship-board fs to be more pitied than censured One day at sea will take down a ‘“‘swelled head’ quicker than anything else known to the science of making one’s self disagreeable. The details incident to the actual arrival and docking. the train trip and early steps to locat ing in London will be given In next week's is ene TO ELIMINATE COURTESIES. St. Louls, Mo., March 12 (Special to The Billboard).—-Passes to the Century, Olympic, Shobert and Garrick in this city will be eliminatea after Saturday. The abolition of courtesies i» the first sweeping new policy adopted ber Klew and Erlanger and the Shuberts since their reeent agreement to do business In harmony. 8t. Louls is the first city so affected, altho the policy will be carried out in all of the important cities where these corporations operate playhouses. Billboard, railroad, hotel and window \lithograf courtesies will be cut ont. WEBER AND FIELDS CLOSE. Harrisburg, Pa., March 15 (Special to The Bil!!board).—The tour of Weber and Fields will come to an end in this city tonight. It Is likely that the partners will separate, but that the closest of personal friendship will be mainained. Weber has become interested In the tabloid form of musical entertainment. He has a number of old musical plays and Weber and Fields’ skits which he expects to present fn vanderil. The nians of Fields are as yet Indefinit, alho he intends to put out one more big production this season. OPERA HOUSE DIRECTORY Opera House and Theater Managers, Write for Special Rates in This Directory. COLORADO. WANTED "itsvcles, Steck OR REPER Managers booking for ae and > a. TOIRE COMPANY, with Population 3,500. | wardrobe and , up-to-date line; of , Plays, for, indefi nite season at leading theatre of prosperous city of new management 32,000 population, Lo not reply unless you can cater Summer season, 1915. | to the best people and make good. Address R. W. 1) RARGER. 11619 »etroit Avenue. Cleveland, Ohin SEER VIRGINIA, Opera House; seating Write for open time Population, 5,000. . ‘Manager. HARRISONBURG. Population over 5,000. Opera House; seating capacity Best show town in Northern Indiana. | First-class in every respect. special paper; salary or percentage. | Washington, D. C., or Staunton, Va. Open Septem D. P. WINE, Manager. 1,000. Wanted— The New Virginia, when completed, will seat 1,000. Short jump from either ber 1-13 Population 1,000. Manager 325: stage 16x40; WISCONSIN. WiCHIGAN WATERTOWN. Population, 10,000. H. DAVIS, Manager. Population, 1,685. Empire Opera House. Wanted—Companies of merit, BENNETT. Manager. large or small, on percentage, or will rent for $75.00 ; seating cap., 350; stage, 4 feet | per month. New, up-to-date theater; capacity, 800.. New scenery. Want Vaude| Pictures or vaudeville do good. shows. Write for time and terms WEST VIRGINIA. Population, 5,000. | LOGAN. Population, 2,000. 8, a —— orn H. R. CALLAWAY, Manager. n apacity, , 000, “and: repertaire Shows of the | , Palace Theatre: seating capacity, 550. Open time for Burlesque and Stock Companies. Write. 145 West 45th St. Tel. Bryant 8152 lf You’re Looking For Quality, You’re Looking For Us Lowest Prices Highest Quality Prompt Deliveries Send us your NEGATIVE and we will deliver the finest PRINT you ever saw 24 HOURS after receipt of same WRITE FOR PRICE LIST AND SAMPLES COMMERCIAL MOTION PICTURES C0. INC. Factory 102 West 101st St. Tel. River 8724 NEW YORK CITY Wanted--M. L. Clark & Sons Shows Performers in all branches Circus business, two Billposters, Boss Hostler, . good Camp Cook, Workmen in all departments. All must understand Wagon Show All —— H. C. LONG, GENRAL AGENT, ELLANO, TEXAS JACK McMAHON “Dinkelspiel’s Christmas.”’ | with which the well-known Keyes Sisters are featured, ~ London, in August, | has been very successful during the past three seas will star in a new | and now stands as one of the best stocks en tour sketch of his own The above is the smiling countenance of the “Happy-Go-Lucky” Chester A. Keyes, or “Chet,” & he is known to his friends. Mr. Keyes is accredited as being the youngest owner and manager upon the road today His company, The Keyes Stock Company ROLLER SKATES WANTED Ai: 500 pairs of ball-bearing Roller FEATURE FILMS FOR SALE once, from 300 to Skates; second-hand | Several very fine 1, 2 and 3-reel high-class Feature condition and at right | Films. with posters. heralds, banners; almost new. particulars and lowest price | Cheap or will trade for other show praperty Wha Avenue, Lynn, Maas have you c. 2 URPHY, Elyria, Obie »