The Billboard 1917-06-16: Vol 29 Iss 24 (1917-06-16)

aeuvrv wt 2 § Mwrser tracers essa SCALPERS FACE RUIN IF HEAVY TICKET TAX IS PUT INTO EFFECT Federal Plan To Assess Them 50 Per Cent Called Drastic Might Prove Big Blow to the Theaters Public Not Accustomed To Going to Box Office New York, June 11.—dAside from the self-admitted fact that the placing of a fifty per cent tax upon.the excess price of all theater or amusement tickets disposed of by them will drive the tieket speculators and scalpers out of business there is a pretty well defined belief that such action on the part of the Federal tax framers may also prove disastrous to the theaters themselves. It is pretty freely admitted along Broadway that a large per cent of the New York theater patronage depends on transients, people who have long been accustomed to procuring their theater tickets at the hotel on other ticket agencies, paying, of course, a premium of from 25 to 50 cents, and in some instances more, Only a comparatively few New York theatergoers patronize the theater boxoffice, it being quite well known that the choicest seats always are to be obtainable only at the scalpers’. The Federal revenue framers plan to tax the speculators and scalpers fifty per cent of the amount charged over and above the box-office price. This means that on a $2 ticket the speculators, to realize a premium of 50 cents, would be forced to charge $3, something which few people would be willing to pay, excepting for the very highest class of attractions. On the other hand, while the boxoffice price would remain unchanged, so few of the regular theatergoing public ar accustomed to purchasing their pasteboards at the box-office that it is feared many of them would prefer to remain away entirely rather than put up with the inconvenience of visiting the various box-offices, arguing with snippy, if not insulting treasurers (for there still are many of that gentry in New York), and running the risk of getting undesirable seats after all their trouble. The Billboard questioned a number of the ticket speculators and in each instance the statement was volunteered that the imposition of the proposed fifty per cent Federal tax would spell their ruin. While there is no doubt that some of the larger agencies would “stick it out,” there is hardly any question but that the tax would (Continued on page 79) Mr. Arlington has sold the Jess Willard-Buffalo Bill Wild West Show to Willard, heavyweight boxing champion. JESS WILLARD UFFALO BILL SHOW SOLD BY EDW. ARLINGTON Champion Heavyweight the Purchaser, Paying $105,000 Roy Archer, Secretary to Willard, Closes Deal Arlington Will Devote Entire Time to Advance Work The Jess Willard-Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, of which Edward Arlington was sole proprietor, and with which Willard, world’s heavyweight boxing champion, is featured this season, was sold at Hartford, Conn., late on Saturday by Mr. Arlington to Roy O. Archer, private secretary to Willard, who purchased the entire show and outfit complete, the title to the property bein;; transferred in toto to the champion thru a syndicate to be known as the Jess Willard Syndicate. The purchase price was $105,000. The transfer included the sale of two trains of cars and 200 horses, together with all other equipment. Starting today (Monday) at Holyoke, Mass., the Jess Willard-Buffalo Bill Show will be operated under the management of Mr. Archer for the benefit (Continued on page 75) LIBERTY LOAN IS BEING MADE IN N. ¥. THEATERS Many Notables, Including Society Women, Aiding ‘ siilahiealiianai Brief Addresses in All Types of Playhouses Motion Picture Industry Doing Yeoman Service New York, June 11.—With the time limit for subscriptions to the Liberty Loan extended until June 15 (next Friday) the theatrical world has entered upon the last five days of its drive to aid in arousing interest in the campaign. During the past week noted speakers from all walks of life spoke in the various theaters and motion picture playhouses, with the result that a great deal of enthusiasm and interest has been aroused. On Saturday the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, which has been promoting the campaign on behalf of the picture theaters, inaugurated the final drive, with the appearance at the Strand and other big picture theaters of prominent personages, Mrs. Henry ©. Havemeyer being honored with the task of launching the final whirl at the Strand. William A. Brady, president of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, is scheduled to speak this afternoon at the Strand, and this evening the patriotic appeal will be made by Hon. Marcus M. Marks, president of the Borough of Manhattan. Among those who have been asked to appear at the Strand during the week are Mrs. August Belmont, Frank A. Vanderlip, president of the National City Bank: State Senator J. Henry Walters of Syracuse, N. Y.; George W. Perkins, Gordon Knox Bell and Lieutenant-Governor Edward Schoeneck. It is not improbable that Governor Charles S. Whitman will be one of the speakers at the Strand during the week if engagements will permit. The campaign will continue until the close of the Government's books on Friday evening, June 15. The speeches will be ten-minute talks, soliciting subscriptions to the Liberty Loan showing the financial and patriotic advantages which will follow their purchase. The Strand is the first to enlist speakers for the loan, but it is likely that similar arrangements will be made at other motion picture theaters, whereby these talented advocates of universal participation may appear in this commendable form of war service. 2 FINAL DRIVE FOR! . Who made his debut successfully as an actor-manager last week with a new revue, Hitchy-Koo. HITCHY-KO0, A NEW HITCHCOCK REVUE, GIVEN FIRST SHOWING Hitchcock Makes Successful Debut as Manager While Critics Hail Premiere With Enthusiasm Well-Known Vaudeartists in Supporting Cast New York, June 9.—You've got to hand it to Raymond Hitchcock for providing blase Broadwayites with something. if not new, quite out of the ordinary in the way of entertainment. In his new revue, unfolded for the first time in New York last Thursday night, Hitchcock not only again proves his ability to entertain and amuse upon the stage, but he enters into a sort of intimacy with his auditors which, while resembling to some extent the Weber and Fields mannerisms, is quite apropos and withal highly entertaining. Hitchy-Koo is very much like what the title sounds. It is a hodgepodge of vaudeville and musical entertainment, in which the star is ably supported by a number of vaudeville’s well-known headliners. There is little if any plot to the offering—a plot (Continued on page 73) The Edition of This Issue of The Billboard is 40,000 Copies a ae