The Billboard 1915-11-27: Vol 27 Iss 48 (1915-11-27)

ne = NOVEMBER 27, 1915. The Billboard 19 Is THAT 380? Like joys of winter rowing, — Like heat in the summer time, The one-night stands are showing The agents a season sublime. In days gore by the advance courier would alight in the one-night town and ask the manager of the local dramatic emporium if he still keeps that old horse with the string-halted stride, and which had only one eye and the heaves. Now, when the agent greets the manager of the small-town opera house he asks if be burns up much gasoline feeding that sixcylinder Tin Lizard car—you know, the one whieh runs either with or without the engine. Arthur Benuctt, reformed cirens and ‘‘hall” show agent, is making a big bit with his circus and race horse stories in The Saturday Evening Post. Arthur writes under the name of L. Yates, the same being the family name of his charming little niece, who resides In San Francisco. Although we read and enjoyed his latest effort, we will admit that we failed to recognize Yates as Bennett. All credit for the discovery is due Colonel W. M. Roddy, the widely known and well-liked genius of the advance trail, who is exploiting the Florence Martin “Peg’’ show to excellent advantage. Willie Wilkin, the story man with the Barnum & Bailey Show last season, is now kicking up the dust abead of Joe Weber's The Ouly Girl Willie carries his circus nerve and breezy personality to the point of ‘hogging’ nearly all the space in every town. George Donahue, manager of Halton Powell's Southern company of Henpecked Henry, was called upon to do some tall figuring the other day in a certain stand in Texas. Max Bagley. the musical director of the company, was playing the unaphone in front of the theater when a big sombreroed Texan tapped him on the sheulder and asked what rate the show would make his party. Bagley asked him how many were in bis party, end the Texan replied: ““My self and wife and two children, my brother, who has a wooden leg, and his wife, who ix deaf. Bagley told him to see Donahue, as the latter does all the hard figuring with the show. Gecrge Franklyn White, wicely known along Broadway, was buried November 12 at Thompwon Kridge, N. Y. Funeral services were held at the home of Campbell Casad in New York, at whose farm White was staying when he expired. Mr. White bad served of late years as publicity man for various companies, baving done the press work for The Spring Maid, The lkkoxe Maid and eg o° My Heart. J. W. Randolph. formerly .advance and press agent of the H. W. Campbell Shows, ix showing hix ingenuity in bandling hix own vaudeville show through Colorado. The company ineludes LeRoy Sisters, St. Claire, Sage Brush Ben, and others. And who should revisit Cincinnati but Joseph Dillon, to arrange for Joseph Weber's production of The Only Girl, which returns to the Lyric this week. The Only Girl is proving to be one of the only plays on the read this season. Dillon is having splendid opportunities to get familiar with the newspaper offices around town. And we will wager The Only Girl does Gether on the return trip than when here be‘ore. _ Walla Walla, Wash.. certainly saw some billing when Stanley Mishand landed in town and loo' ed up Bill Jessup. The populace thought a wh lwind was going through. The town looks as .{ a circus was coming, but when it is explained that Mishaud only recently departed from the advertising car of Barnum & Bailey this activity is pot surprising. Twin Beds, with Parvin and Stanley Mishaud on the advance trail, is doing well in the Northwest, thank you. The special company of H. H. Frazee’s A Pair of Sixes is fortunate in having Bert Hier in advance. Bert was seen in Jacksonville, Fla., on November 7, blazing a path through the Southern palms for the Sixes attraction. Let's have a line, Hier. History boasts of a certain prominent personage throwing a dollar across the Delaware River. We know some advance agents who can make a smile ge further than that, and yet a broad grin is not legal tender. How would you figure it out? To make up for the late birthdays which have been chronicled from week to week we have made a “seoop’’ and secnred one in advance. George Alabama Florida is going to have one on January 11, and what he wishes most as a Present is being kept a secret between himself and the seribe. Wonder how old this chap is? Some there are who remember him when he Was on the seats with the Forepangh Show. Curiosity is going to get us into trouble yet. It is said that Charles H. Wuoerz has withdrawn as manager of Lady Loxury. as has also his assistant, Carl M. Porter. Wuoerz has signed a three years’ contract for a managerial position in another branch of the profession. Forrest Huff, one of the principals of the company, sue ceeded him as manager, playing his role in the play as formerly. Sounds a little like the days when we used to ‘double in brass." R. C. Jones feels right at home now that he is handling the publicity for the Sun theaters. He is likewise managing the Sun Theater in Springfield, 0. It will be recalled that Mr. Jones was formerly manager of the Talbot hippodromes in St. Louls and Kansas City, and was ‘ast season at the New Palace in Minneapolis, William H. Brill has sneceeded A. W. Bachelder as business manager of the Lady Luxury Company. Bill has been on his farm outside of Minneapolis for the past year, with the result that his whiskers have nearly reached the waist line. Bill's voice is new in sitch perfect trim that he can sound a chord in G without the ald of an atomizer. And we will all have to admit that that is some accomplishment, whether he it or not. Edward Rowland, Jr., manager of the Crown Theater in Chieago, is another Windy City mansger who is all right in every respect. He has a private office fixed up for agents ard managers who come to his theater. Louis Stern has signed to follow the advance route for the Harry Lauder show, which opened last week in New York. H. H. Van Loan, in charge of Universal's punlicity in the New York general offices, is turming out the class of copy that finds its way into the daily papers as well as the trade journals. Effi clency is a great thing. Joe Drum, one of Broadway's best known dis pensers of publicity, who is now ahead of May Irwin, was married in Washington. D. C., a few days ago to Mrs. C. E. Browne, a Philadelphia newspaper woman. The marriage was a very quiet one, but a few intimate friends being present. Mr. Drum formerly lived in Washington and until recently was a general manager for Henry W. Savage. B. T. Fuller is advance representative for C. B. Harmeount’s Uncle Tom's Cabin Company. Fuller surely has a real ‘*Tom’’ show to herald, as the Harmount production lacks nothing which will make it one of the best. Complete scenery, including thirty-two drops and all electrical effects, is carried, and a band of fourteen pieces informs the populace that Uncle Tom has come to town. Perry J. Kelly, on Monday of last week, opened his new company in My Home Town Girl, at Syracuse, N. Y ‘ireat strides forward this Kelly is making. Nate Rosenthal and Otto Marking, of the National Theater in Chicago, are said to be two real boys. ‘They surely make it pleasant for agents and managers. David H. Wallace, formerly assistant to W. W. Aulick, with the Lieblers, and who also handled the publicity for Richard Walton Tully, has succeeded Leander Richardson as general press representative for William A. Brady. Henry A. DeMasi is no longer handling Essanay’s publicity in Chicago, having entered the publishing game. ‘Tis but a step between the two. Fred Miller. szent of the National Theater in Chicago, is an old trowper. Fred is right there as an agent. and had ocersion recently to rub elbows with some of the best advance men on the road.* Arthur E. MaciHiugh is one of our foremost guesses as a press agent who prepares and presents his material to the publications in a most acceptable way. His captions on the press sheets are business-like, but reserved, and not in truding. He is capably presiding over the press matter for the B. 8S. Moss Theatrical Enterprises, Inc., Columbia Theater Building, New York. Remember the Christmas Special. Send in your news right away for this big issue. anid we'll make it an isxsne of interest toe every manager and press and advance man in the business. WALTER DUGGAN’S NOTES There Las been a big wail all over the country this season—in fact there has been for the last couple of seasons—relative to “What Ails the One-Night Stande?" There may be many angles from which this question may be honestly debated. In fact the various debates may be extensively prolonged, with neither side willing to concede to the other. By the “‘sides’’ we mean the party of the first part and the party of the second part, the governing parties of one-night stand entertainment. The party of the second part blames the party of the first part in various ways for the conditions, existing, and vice versa. It's a long debate any old time one starts the argument, se let's pass it up te save time. But in our humble opinion the one-night stand situation ix slowly but surely coming out of the trance it has been in since the moving picture eraze gave it an uppercut. The exact facts of the discouraging situation are gradually reaching the ears of the producers—by producers we mean those producers who send out metropolitan companies and productions—and in due time the condition will be better adjusted so that the companies will get a better run for their money than they are now receiving on the majority of the one-night stands. Except to wonder whya play, presented by a high-class company, and supported by the best possible credentials in the way of long New York and Chicago runs, has to fight for gross receipts over $300.00 and sometimes much less, the producers haven’t inquired much into the one-night stand situation. But new those who follow the concern of theatrical dongs close enouzh realize there’s something in the air. Just what it is we don’t know, but the one-nighters are being studied closer than ever before by the producers, who are perfectly correct ip believing there’s nothing the matter with vne-night stands if the one-night stand manager would only stop believing he is ‘“‘licked’’ by the moving picture craze. As we have repeatedly maintained there are exceptions to every rule, and the exceptions in this case are the onenight stand managers who are always on the job and show a willingness to co-operate with the producers in fighting the greatest opposition ever registered against road siews that of the special feature film shown in every town, no matter how small, in this big country of ours. Duties in front of Cohan & Harris’ big Broadway farce hit, It Pays Yo Advertise, which is enjoying very good health, thank you, are giving us plenty of opportunities to size up the onenight stand situation. The findings deserve columns of space, which are unavailable at this writing. However, a few of them can be touched upon. The one-night stand manager who allows 1,500 heralds to gather the dust tn his billroom while the moving picture theater manager is heralding the same town has no right to complain of the business at his theater for road attractions. We have also discovered that something ails the one-nighters when the local manager doesn’t employ a system. A show, no matter how well advertised it may be elsewhere, can't go into a town and get business without a BILLING. Least of all it must be given attention by the local manager for more than twenty-four hours. It's simple to perfect a system. Don't forget there’ some heralds in the billroom. Herakis are printed and paid for by the producers to be distributed. Place the frames on the main street instead of keeping them in the lobby of a theater, where perhaps there isn’t an attraction for fully a week between the last show and the coming engagement. Simple matters but they all border on the co-operative system that any engagement needs to develop good business. There'll be many people reading this column who will say “‘Why has he written al) this stuff? Managers all know it."’ Well, if they know it; why don't they do it instead of blaming the moving picture craze for the. one-night stand situation? : Let the one-night stand manager, who is growling about his business without making an effort to improve it, go out and work a aystem, and we'll wager he'll worry the moving picture theater manager in his respective town. Even if shows are few amd far between on the road right now, one attraction per week will derive the necessary results. This isn’t intended for a jolt at the local Managers. Far be it from such. But we maintain that the shows now on the road have withstood the acid test of the prevailing hard times, s® alleged by the compilers of the nation’s happenings, and they deserve, at least, co-operation at the hands of some one-night stand managers. Yes, once more we say ‘‘some,.’’ because there are other one-night managers having a mighty hard struggle this year, despite the splendid efforts they are hurling into the local conditions. It's still snowing, and the fellow next room hasn't thumped the wall for us to stop, 60 we'll write the telegrapher’s ‘‘30°" to thie. BEESON REPLIES TO DUGGAN Uniontewn, Pa., Nov. 15. Editor The Billboard, incinnati, O.: Dear Sir—I notice under netes in your issue of The November 13, in article that ix a knock to me. Having been actively engaged in the show business iu Uniontown for the past twenty-five years, to those who knew me, Mr. Duggan’s article will carry very little weight. To those who do not, I wish to state that my honse billing consists of exactly 219 sheets, and before Mr. Duggan arrived in Uniontown there were exactly forty-five sheets of his paper posted on house boards, exclusive of the eight sheets of commercial paper poste’ that seems te stick in his ‘‘craw.”’ Mr. Duggan is mistaken when he states that I do not know what is the matter with Uniontown, as every sane man in the United States krows that this town suffered one of the biggest bank failures last January in the history of the country, involving more than thirty million Walter Puggan's Billboard, dated distinet AUSTRALIAN VARIET Y MARTIN C. BRENNAN, Publisher. The Vaudeville Weekly of the Antipodes. 250 PITT SYDN EY, e e Subscription, e . : -te« STREET, AUSTRALIA. $1.50 Per Year in Advance. You cannot keep informed upon the subject of Vaudeville in Australia and New Zealand unless you take Australian Variety. DELIVERIES For All Theatrical Merchandise QUICK Manufacturers of COSTUMES and WIGS. Send 10c for Finely Illus trated Catalogue. | TIGHTS WE CARRY IN STOCK A COMPLETE LINE OF STEIN’S MAKE-UP. CHICAGO COSTUME WORKS, Ptione Central 6292, 143 N. Dearborn St. dollars, and Mr. Duggan was given to underStand this when he was in here, as scale of Prices was arranged accordingly. In justice to myself will say that I posted over 400 sheets of paper for his attraction, covering a radius ef thirty miles, and placed over four hundred cards personally, regardless: of the fact that he carried a second man. While general business conditiens have been very bad in this section for the last eight months, will say that we are now in the midst of the biggest boom that has ever been known in the history of the Connellsville coke region, and this is rapidly discounting the failures above referred to. As Mr. Duggan has so kindly handed me a anock, I believe I am entitled to the columns of your paper ip reply to same. Yours very truly, HARRY BEESON, Owner and Manager West End Theater. MINSTREL NOTES J. C. Wodetsky, promoting events in the South, chanced to meet J. C. O'Brien's Minstrels in Kinston, N, C., recently. He says O’Brien has a minstrel show that is proving a winner in that section. The Neil O’Brien Minstrels at the Orpheum Theater, Atchison, Kan., on November 9, registered a huge success, as witness the opinion of one who viewed the performance: ‘“The per. formance was very successful, doing nearly capacity business at $1.50 top. Neil O’Brien, de ing the part of an old ‘darky,” was exceptienally clever, and Eddie Ross, with his monologue apd his African harp, was simply a scream. Lasses White, Eddie Mazier, Pete Detzel and George Peduzzi were also very clever. Everything they put over went good. One of the pleasing features was the singing of the old and popular songs in the first part.’’ The J. A. Coburn Greater Minstrels are this season deserving of the title ‘‘greater.’’ Mr. Coburn is carrying thirty people, with the best street flash he ever had, likewise best show and equipment. Charles Vermont and F. W. Decker joined at Memphis, Tenn. The Coburn street parade is recognized by the title of the ‘‘Coburn Blues,”’ and ig about the classiest thing out this season. Mrs. Coburn joined at Memphis for a two weeks’ visit. Another addition to the company is Tommy Donnelly, who joined at Bowling Green November 1, and is going big. The Black and White Revue, a minstrel act, being shown in vaudeville by Dan B. Ely, includes seven people, featuring La Chesta, ‘‘The Girl on Her Toes."’ Carroll Cassel Clucas ts interlocutor and Dan Ely bones; Raymond Call, tambo; Miss Maura Neilson, ballad singer, and the Jeannette Sisters doing duet numbers. The interlocutor and girls are doing whiteface, and the ends in blackface. Special scenery is carried, and all numbers are restricted. F. D. Oppie writes from Rutland, Vt., that the Klein Bros. and Hengler’s Minstrels closed their season November 4 in Bristol, Vt. The two Klein brothers have returned to Reme, N. Y., their home town, and expect to take the show out later in the season. Edward F. Weise, with his wife and son, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. William Layton, motored from Iren Ridge, Wis., to Watertown for a visit with the Vogel Big City Minstrels. Billy Layton says: ‘‘This is some dandy show.”’ Charles Ss. Black, of Dandy Dixie Minstrel fame, has joined George Galloway, of Omaha, and together they will establish a booking agency in Omaha for colored people exclusively. Mr. Black will continue on the read with his attraction, while Mr. Galloway will attend to the office at 1315 Dodge street. Manager Filkens and wife, of the Richards & Pringle Minstrels, were recent visitors at the orange ranch of J. M. Busby in Redlands, Cal. Mr. Busby’s show is in Oklahoma and Texas this season, and enjoying a good business. The Hippodrome Comedians have announced their intention of staying out all winter, under canvas, in the South. The show is enjoying good weather in Texas, and reports give the impression that business is good. It is said this show has not closed in twelve years. An automobile is used in billing the towns. In the company are Bessie Taber, Eugene Taber, Robert A King, Marving Rucker, Ned Barrington. Nina Barrington and Master Barrington. J. F. Jett has the canvas and the peanut privilege. The show carries its own electric light plant, and is right-ap-to-now in all respects. HAZELE BURGESS Misa Burgess is the leading lady of the Burgens Players. now making an extensive tour of the Seuth in repertoire Pa