The Billboard 1915-09-04: Vol 27 Iss 36 (1915-09-04)

SEPT 2MBER 4, 1915. The Billboard 19 They say this is going to be a cold winter. But it will have to be a colder day than the one upon which Elmer J. Walter's phantom agent found himself stranded in Quintana without a jitney, owing a hotel bill and with his overcoat in Chicago, before the news which circulates through the P. and A. A. column is frozen into ice cakes and put in cold storage. The four corners of the United States are separated by numerous miles, but that is only another little handicap, which should not stand between us and the news in this field. Wherever you are, advance agent, press representative or company manager, unlimber your pen for action and remit your dope to ye P. and A. A. seribe for publication. The latter will escort it into the column, providing it is printable. With last week's issue of The Billboard we | will leave “Stormy Bill’ Page, whose craft was shattered upon the stolid rocks of ill-luck in| whence he hastened upon the proceeds We have no doubt but Chicago, of his pawned sparkler. that he meal time to keep the latter's feet off the table. There we will leave him in peace for a time. ut be will return later inte the fold, mayhap as a manager, and his stormy vocabulary will again interest readers of this same ilk whe save followed his rants of late. For the imaediate future we have hopes of filling this column each week with personal mention items. Thar means we expect you to seatter a few lines of ink over the stationery once in a while and speed it upon its way to the home office of Billyboy. A little mention now and then will help the very best (or worst) of men. William Raymond Sill has started off with a rush as publicity manager of the Century. And we doubt not that the Century, this new idea of Ned Wayburn’s in New York, will prove itself an untiring proposition for a promoter of publicity. This theater will have an exceptionally capable advertising agent in the person of Peter Cavanaugh. What's that we hear about Cavanaugh and the suspenders? Frank C. Langley has been made company manager of Ned Wayburn’s production of She's in Again, which will open in Brooklyn next month and take to the road for a thirty-eight weeks’ tour of the Pacific Coast. Arthur ©. Ryan will be the man in front. Charles Emerson Cook, for the coming season, will hold down the press chair for the Punch and Judy Theater, New York. Charles Hopkins has secured a most worthy pressman in Cook. Cc. J. Meyers—Sorry we were not in when you alighted in the Queen City recently. Maybe next time will turn out better. Slip us your address or route when writing again. Since taking a week off and reading all the circulars, programs, etc., which William Jessup shipped ye scribe from Walla Walla, we are firmly convinced that any attempt at a frontier days celebration other than the “big doin’s’’ In that city is a flagrant imposture. Jessup is general agent on the advertising end of the Frontier Days’ events, and takes a slant at Billyboy each week to keep up with the times. William Jessup—-we wonder if they call him Bill—of Walla Walla, says that this Washington city has two good houses, the Keylor Grand and the Liberty, and a first-class bar. He wishes Walter Duggan to please note. Jessup further says: ‘We have been a little lonesome for the past month, as the knights of the hammer and pen have been scarce as electric lights on the kerosene circuit. Some time ago Walter Sidepocket Messenger was here, and, upon being interviewed, gave out the statement that he and George Alabama Florida were going to form a partnership and buy the First National Bank here. But since have had word that they and Eek Bunch, together with Walter Duggan ‘and Bill Bullan, are going to start a real candy shop with honest, eatable candy in it: not the kind that Duggan gave the advertising agent at the theater." Cc. J. Meyers is now doing advance duty for the Universal Shows, and is skimming along fine, with nine towns contracted ahead, and thirty more to be made. Townsend Walsh. Floyd King, Harry Leavitt, Harry Lambert, Maurice Cain, Grant Lace, Charles McClintock, J. E. Frankie, Melville Hammett, Jack Holland, Fred A. Mason, George B. Moxley, Foster Moore, C. Warde Brown, and C. C. Stumm, let us lear from you as official forecasters of what the coming season will bring —or fail to bring. When you are in Cincinnati you are welcome at the Billyboy office, 25 Opera Place, just a step from the Grand and Lyric theaters. WALTER DUGGAN’S NOTES One-night stand managers, who believe in pull ing every string to fatten gross receipts, are highly praising the system of mailing list used this season by the firm of Cohan & Harris. No item in the list of extras for an attraction play ing one-nighters contains as many leaks as the tmoviling list And there is no item in this same list whieh Is more valuable than a mailing list when it is preperly executed. This fact has been emphatically preved by the attractions whieh have been the leading one-night stand moneywinners Cohan & Harris, than whom there are ne stronger advertisers for road shows among the levding producers consider the mailing list such a valuable portion of a publicity campeign for a one-night stand engagement that they bave established a matiling department at their New York offices at big eX pense Other producers in times passed have conducted mailing Het de partments from their main offices, but never has the system been so complete and se valuable as the one now being used by the C. & HH. forces Under the eagle eye of Francis X. Hope the is still feeding the armless wonder at ! Cohan & Harris mailing department is now in full swing at the Fitzgerald Building oices in New York, covering the territory to be visited by Cohan & Harris’ attractions this season, and is so thorough that if big returns are not visible mailing lists may as well be cut off for once and for all. Manager Hope's department works direct with the manager of the theater, two months in advance of an attraction, and is so arranged that the advance agents for Cohan & Harris attractions don't have to worry over the details governing same. One-night stand managers, who are firm believers in system, are great shouters for the new Cohan & Harris system, for they see in it the best co-operation they have received in recent years to better the facilities in conducting an aggressive publicity campaign Refore another month the Cohan & Harris mailing system will have covered nearly the entire country, and those who are not versed with if at present will shortly view the benefits | to be derived from a splendid idea that Cohan & Harris have perfected, at considerable expense, yet gladly. since it demonstrates their willingness to assist in the betterment of the one-night stand polblicity campaigns Campbell B ds the re son Casad, carrying a rich coat of tan sult of his sammer’s stay at the ThompRidge Farm, suspended his haying long ereugh this week to spend a whole day on Broad way. Campbell was elected to go in advance of Seng of Senes, but voluntarily withdrew in or der to accept another position Just what the new pesition is we don't know, but the ords faver A Pair of Silk Stockings getting the berefit of Campbell s splendid advance work. | Phil Levy bas lakt in his unlimited amount of ammunition far another successful season at | the Academy of Music in Reading, Pa. *hil gave attractions visiting Reading last season so | many capacity houses that the boys stopped counting them Funny part of Phil's well knewn success is that he never removes himself from the state of modesty for the big things he accomplishes Terry J. Kelly's success as a producing manager is pleasing bundreds of his friends. if the amount ef congratulatory letters the Berkley since Prince of Pilsen was attraction for the Policemen's Benefit is a_ criterion. Perry's dashing. auto is a monument to his hard efforts in establishing success. Not as yet has Tl'erry entered the tree-climbing contest with the machine. He always did route straight. Lyceum office magnate received this week, it was announced that the to be the Charlie McClintock, with his velvet collar raincoat securely locked up, arrived on Broadway this week to linger two days, since his route ahead of On Trial called him to Atlantic City immediately. Mrs. McClintock accompanied the popular Charlie, and her smile proved that the Institution for the Welfare of the Regular Boys wasn't incorrect in enrolling Charlie in the Society of M. H. (Model Husbands). Hy Pennypacker departed this week in ad vance of Joe Weber's Only Girl Company, with Joe Vion back. Hy’s hour of departure was discovered along Broadway, which made it neces sary for the Rockefeller of 100th street to select a zigzag route to the Pennsylvania station. The chocolate cake bakeries in the vicinity of 100th street threaten to go into bankruptcy with the termination of Hy's pleasant summer spent thereabouts. Our idea of tough luck is when a fellow tries to get get-away money when his opening date is aut the Bronx, where the railroading calls for the high sum of five cents. Harry Sloan, please special delivery us immediately. “Plainfield’s Own Battery,’" Sam Cunningham and Joe Lane, get into action again this season. These two capable manipulators of road attractions were 11th hour fixtures with When Dreams Come True. The suffragettes are liable to creep into Plaintield without Sam and Joe being on guard this fall. Sam is satisfied that it will rain if the suffragettes attempt to use the airdome. Roof builder over in Vinton, Ia., attempted to put a fish roof on the top of the new theater that Brightly Dayton will manage this season. Bright immediately hooked the shortcomings, and postponed the official opening until the builders studied the rockbottom of his green colored boat so as to get a better idea of what constitutes substantial construction. The Rock away Fishery banqueted Bright one night this week, showering him with all sorts of good wishes. The banquet was conducted peacefully until Jimmy Grainger’s protege in the moving picture world essayed to illustrate the reasons why the fish were hard to catch this summer. Frank Bruner goes in advance of Song of Sengs, following his summer in the Adirondacks. Billy Hexter offers a suitable reward for the eapture of the individual who stole his vacation. Pilly has agitated the publicity for the Tuxedo Theater so extensively that Broadway parties are not complete until they pay his theater a visit. It’s absolutely incorrect to think Billy will produce a turkey burlesque show this fall. He is altogetner too busy supplying talent to Max Armstrong's Cincinnati company. John Wilstach has returned from the asparagus fields of Missouri. He is busy scrubbing off his pen, which means the adjective market will get a big play ere long. Charlie Stumm is determined to make a real theatrical town out of Bradford, Pa. He's angling for the best, and if Bradford isn’t satisfied with the line of attractions that visit the I'radford Theater no blame can be attached to Manager's Stumm’s policies. Jack Dillon, who is in Chicago managing the big success of Kick In, is disposing of his “blown up’’ automobile tires to Jim Wingfield. 100 POST CARGS 100 5x7 100 8x10 Send 10c for a set of samples and price list. remittance does not accompany order. COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC CO., DAVENPORT, IOWA, LOBBY PHOTOGRAPHS MADE FROM ANY SIZE ORIGINALS. $1.50 7.00 9.00 . O. D. and insurance added if THE “A World Wide Circulation” THE OLDEST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL THEATRICAL AND VAUDEVILLE JOURNAL BRA ESTABLISHED 1837. Published every WEDNESDAY AT 5 TAVISTOCK ST., Strand, London, W. C. 2,000 Advertisements Appear Every Week in ‘‘The Era." Professional Advertisements, £15 per Page, £3 per Column, 4s per Inch, Single Column. American Artists visiting England use THE ERA Offices as their permanent London address. ‘*The Era”’ is sold at Brentano’s, 5th Ave. and 27th St. NEW YORK CITY. Single Copies, by mail, 7 cests. Subscription Rate, with Postage, $3.20 a year. DELIVERIES For All Theatrical Merchandise QUICK CHICAGO COSTUME WORKS, Manufacturers of COSTUMES and WIGS, Send. 100 for finely illus TIGHTS WE CARRY IN STOCK A COMPLETE LINE OF STEIN’S MAKE-UP. Phone Central 6292, 143 N. Dearborn St. from citizens of Watertown, Rome and Rochester, N. $100 REWARD Will be paid for.information that will lead to the detection of the person who secured sums of money Y., representing himself as an agent in the employ of Address JAMES A. ALLEN, Harrison Bullding, Columbus, Ohio. the Al “eld Greater Minstrels ANTED For HOLLAND’ 5 BiG WHITE MINSTRELS NOTE ing houses show has had in five years, Experien: MAURY, care “eart Hawk Stock Co., Casey, Il., until August 29, afte Mr. Maury has advanced my show twenty weeks and has given entire satisfaction. Performers by all lines. Singers, Dancers, Specialty People, Man to direct; also two good End Men. must deuble band This is a one-car show, with good accommodations. Make salary low, as it is e. Tell all “rst tter-no time to dicker. Want to hear from A-1l Agent that can wild-cat, if necessary. Answer by mall, Rehearsals Qetober 1. DALHART, TEXAS. . House or ten One-night or = eed. Reliable. Join anywhere on receipt wire, FRANK r that, New Regent Hotel, St. Louis, Mo. Got best open (Signed) EARL HAWK, Manager. Jim claims Jack's thoughtfulness won't be forgotten, since a panic threatened the City Hall Square Building booking offices. Due to the Allies placing a contraband on rubber Jim's office promised to run short of rubber erasers prior to the time Jack Dillon appeared. Mentioning Jim Wingtield, must say the dean of the Middle West booking sheets has prepered for a busy season. Jim knows whereof he speaks when he claims the real attractions will not make a visit into his territory in vain. Bill Roddy and Tom Hodgeman will again be paired with one of the ‘Peg’’ shows. {t would seem strange to note this pair separating and teaming up with anyone else. Both are of the old school of capable roadsters. Ed Spellman, for several years agent for the 0. E. Wee attractions, has been engaged by Harry Myers as advertising agent of the new Strand Theater in Cedar Rapids. Jack Reed will handle one of the musical shows for the Shuberts this season. Joe Beymer, back from the wilds of Canada, is on Broadway, formulating plans that will be ready for publication shortly. Joe threatens to leave the show business, but every time he thinks of the Adele music box the fever returns ~-so don't be surprised to hear of Joe's connection with a personally-owned musical attraction. Speaking of Adele, we understand that this migniticent musical attraction, which certainly was worthy of more business than it got on the road last year, will be sent up through New England this fall under the executive care of Bob Quirk, Bert McPhail and Howard Smith. Jimmy Grainger, tanned by the sun and wind at Rockaway Beach, and incidentally minus a piece of flesh on his nose, as the result of con testing for the long-distance diving medal at tne festivities given in honor of Brightly Dayton’s departure to Vinton, Ia., comes up to Broadway once a week. Jimmy denies he received his “copper’’ color while acting as helper on Dayton’s green bottom boat. Jimmy has a new film to announce shortly. With the close of the Ringling Bros.’ Cireus Stanley Dawson will return to Jimmy Grainger’s Middle West booking offices. Kid Long, the tabloid king of the West, has started off again this season with a bang-up show that threatens to give big healfh to the Kid's bank roll. Now for the one-nighters! PLAYHOUSE NOTES The Jefferson Theater, Goshen, Ind., has been purchased from the Elkhart County Trust Co. by Charles J. Allardt, of Seuth Bend. It is thought that Mr. Allardt will present motion gu with occasional bills of U. B. 0. vaudeville. The Ten Broeck Amusement Company, operating a chain of theaters in Western New York, have purchased and will operate the Delmar Theater at Medina, N. Y. The Big Four Opera House at Canal Dover, 0., has been abandoned. The house was under the management of W. H. Cox most of the time that it was in operation. The Prince of Tonight, with a company of fifty people will open the Opera House, Winona, Minn., with Freckles, All Over Town, The Trail of the Lonesome Pine, Henpecked Henry, and Fiske O'Hara to follow. The house will again be under the management of O. F. Burlingame. The Orpheum, Quincy, Il., a W. V. M. ° house will open with a bill of five acts, August 29. Until recently the Oliver Stock Company has been holding forth at the Orpheum. The Palace, Rockford, Ill., opened August 16, under the guidance of Manager Damon. house has been thoroughly renovated. S. C. Bates has been conferring with several amusement concerns for the leasing of the Convention Hall, Springfield, Mo., to house large theatrical productions. Edward Levy will again take up his old stand as manager of the Orpheum, Salt Lake City, Utah. Levy waxes enthusiastic over the proapects of the coming season. The Columbia, Davenport, Ia., has everything in readiness for the opening. The house plays split-week engagements under Manager Blanchard. The Lyric Theater, Buffalo, N. Y.. has been taken over by a company of New York capitalists. Harold S. Franklin will act in the capacity of the house manager and is supervising the improvements. Webster-Fisher vaudeville will be booked in the Lyric Theater, Portland, Ore., this year. The house will do three a day with pictures intermingled. A number of improvements will be made a? the Orpheum, Omaha, Neb., by Manager Wm. P. Byrne; $3,700 will be spent. The Orpheum, Springfield, I1., vaudeville season August 22. The Clayton House, Wilmington, Del., is being razed to make way for the new show house to be erected on the site by the Wilmington = Company. The capacity will be opened its 000. Lee Cohn, former manager of the Airdome at Lawrence, Kan., is now engaged in the capacity of city salesman for a large Kansas City cigar house The Grand Theater, Sioux City, Ia.. has unundergone a thorough overhauling prior to the opening, and it is said the Grand is now one of the most beautiful houses in the State. Maurice Jencks will continue as manager. Fred Wonder, manager of the Opera House, Onawa, Ia., is one of the live wires in the amusement game, and his careful booking and hustling has won him a thriving business. He opened with Clint and Bessie Robbins Co. Manager C. C. Burgess at Cresco, Ia., opened the season with Mahara Tipperary and showed to good business. Fiske the next attraction, and promises big. The Hildreth O. H.. Charles City, Ia., is undergoing extensive repairs, and will seon reopen to the public Jacob Janowitz McKinley Theater, Cc. Walsh. R. E years manager of manage the house. tember the Company, O'Hara is has secured a lease on East Liverpool. 0., Brunswick, for the the Diamond Theater, will With the beginning of Sepmanagement will offer Keith vaude the from J. past two ville, with feature films. Nelson G. Trowbridge, of Toledo. 0O., has arrived in Indianapolis, where he will manace the Murat Theater. and is supervising the im provements. The Murat will open with Maid in America. Cc. C. Stemm is now manager of the Bradford Theater, Bradford, Pa. Edward Boggs has resumed his position of stage manager. Al G. Fields opens the house for the season, to he followed by Neil O'Brien's Minstrels on September 9. « or fone APOE A ars send fd ¥ { er oa Oe gn gar are eee ates: , ee 4 ala