Variety (Feb 1906)

1 • , 2 ' I ... - . '■■ ■ ■ » ■ " f- I f • • ■> » I VARIETY THOMPSON AND DUNDY VERSUS GATES. That it is not improl>able that. Thomp- son and Dundv will leave the sole man- agement of the Hippodrome to John W. Gates is no longer a secret. Variety gave (he first intimation of the impend ing dissolution two weeks ago, in an- nouncing at that time the internal dis- sensions caused by the raise of prices at •The Hip." The cause of the disturbance is far more deep seated than that, however. Mr. dates, with a rapaciousness born of a livid career in Wall street is not satis- fied with the net income from his amuse- ment venture, and has said that it could' l>e easily increased by cutting down the weekly expense of the production, which with the raise in admission will net the stockholder* what Mr. Oates considers a fair return. Fred Thompson is firmly of the belief that to cheapen the jnTformance will re- sult in a severe loss of patronage, and will not be restrained in the spectacular productions through a limit placed on ex- |>enditures. It is known that Gates sent tor a Chi- cago theatrical man of recognized me- chanical ability making an appointment for last Thursday when a conference was held to enable Mr. Gates to obtain a line on the future possibilities at a smaller ex- pense. As the Wall street man and Harry S. Black, of the Fuller Construction Com- pany, are in absolute control of the Hip- podrome Company. Thompson and Dundy must abide bv the ultimatum, and the many arguments l>etween the opposing sides will culminate shortly after Thomp- son return* from Europe in a few days. Messrs. Thompson and Dundy are not worrying over the prospect. Should they leave the Hippodrome, there is a propo- sition awaiting them to take hold of a large amusement scheme to be located in Manhattan Borough. The squabble over the Hippodrome will have no effect upon Luna Park. Mr. Gates is a minority stockholder in the Coney PROCTOR SHAKEUP COMING. If it has not already arrived, there is a shakeup due in the Proctor houses, and it is probable that when the quake ceases it will be found that at least two of the resident managers are no more within the fold. Humor had it that Mark Luescher will be the vaudeville head of the Proctor idea. F. K. Proctor, dr.. giving his atten- tion to the Trov and Albanv houses. SUNDAY NIGHT CONCERTS. The spasm of fright caused the theatres in town giving Sunday concerts, occasioned last week through newspaper rumors, has passed away, and to-morrow night the regu- lar bills will be given in the various houses as formerly, from the present outlook and statements of the managers interested. POLI SPREADING. It is anuouueed that S. Z. Poli, the New England manager, will build vaudeville theatres in Scrauton and Wilkes-Barre, Pa. This gives Mr. Poli a circuit of nine theatres, all booked by William Morris. Fifteen is the number of houses Mr. Poli is expected to have before the opening of next season, he now being away looking for favorable sites. Binghamton, N. Y. f will probably be one of those selected. There is no first class circuit with this number of houses that ean play the time with such short jumps. It will be the means of saving much transportation, and will make Mr. Poli a magnate of power and one to be figured with in any vaudeville dealings. YES? Monday evening F. F. Proctor and Wil- liam Morris, his booking agent, occupied a box at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, where there was being produced a version of 'The Merchant of Venice" to an audience appraised by an expert as representing not more than $500 in real money. Query —Will Mr. Proctor put vaudeville in the Fifth Avenue and transfer hi> lead ing woman to Harlem! WILMER & VINCENT'S NEW HOUSES. Harrisburg and Allentown, Pa., will be added to the Wilmer and Vincent circuit. William Morris will book the new with the present houses of that firm. ANOTHER EDWARDS ACT. Gus Edwards will shortly produce an- other new act other than "Schoolboys and Schoolgirls." The latest one is to be called '"The Western Union Hoys." with seven people. About $2,000 will have been spent before the act is shown for the first time, and several novelties for a vaudeville pro- duction are expected. LOOK OUT! In the matter of Les Renos, the for- eign act, which was cancelled bv Keith because one of the members broke his arm at Syracuse, it is reported that in the suit to be brought against the Boston man for the salary for the Lowell week, there will be added $100 which the Keith management deducted from the foreigners' salary at the expiration of the Syracuse engagement. It is costly to break an arm on the Keith circuit. FITZSIMM0NS C0RBETT "MAKE UP." Vaudeville is responsible for a great many things, and it will now be held to account for the patching up of the differ- ences existing between "Bob" Fitzsimmons and .Tames J. Corbett, two gentlemen who have both attained some reputation in their day as pugilists, but have given up that pursuit for "acting." ' Vaudeville brought the two notables together through the medium of the Will- iam Morris' booking office, where it is presumed t>oth had entered intent upon a career in the "continuous," "Fitz" for the first time and "Jim" to continue an in- terrupted tour through an hallucination that he was the ideal "Cashel Byron." Walking in on each other accidentally in the "inside office" James J. gave Robert a friendly slap on the back, saying "Come on. Bob. let's shake," extending the hand that Fitz so successfully dodged. "All right. Jim." replied the Ruby One. and the two men shook hands in a friendly spirit for the first time since the memor- able battle at Carson City. "You two had better go on and do a monologue together," remarked Hugo Mor- ris, who was standing by, and then he promptly Mushed. "Well, you book us." replied Fitzsim mons, and Hugo hasn't yet recovered from the shock. DU VRIES IN VAUDEVILLE. Henri du Vrie*. the Holland protean actor, will make his debut in vaudeville at the Colonial on Mondav. staving there two weeks, and playing one week each at the other Williams houses. The engagement Is the most notable one of tli*' season and represents a large monetary transaction, since it \va> neces- WILLIAMS WON. The trial of the action to recover ■ penalty of $600 for violation of the "Sun- day Law" instituted by The Sabbath So ciety against Percy 0. Williams, and tried before a jury in the Tenth District Mu- nicipal Court, was decided in favor of Mr. Williams, the jury remaining out four minute-. The Rev. Dr. Hubbell was the instigator of Mr. Williams' annoyance over the mat- ter, the Reverend having in May. '04, co- erced a few of his intimate friends to play The pail of spies, and Visit the Circle Theatre, which was at that, time conducted by Williams as a vaudeville theatre, giv ing Sunday performances. One of the witnesses, a vouth from some "Joshtown'' in Jersey, testified that he enjoyed the performance very much on the Sunday in question, applauding long ami often, and so enrapt was he in the bill that on the witness stand he quite forgot what he had seen. Dr. Hubbell had previously brought an action in the Supreme Court through the Sabbath Society to have the license of the Circle annulled, but this was thrown out of court by Judge Ciegerieh in jig- time. There is a bare chance that the Rev. Dr. Hubbell will now attempt to fit in hi* proper sphere permanently. BRANSBY WILLIAMS COMING. Bransby Williams, who deservedly ranks as England's best impersonator, comes to the Williams houses, opening at the Colo- nial October 1. Mr. Williams made per haps his best hit in an imitation of Mar tin Harvey in "The Only Way," but is better known for his Dickens' work. His stvle of performance is unlike that of any of our own imitators. NO "SUNDAYS" IN CONTRACTS The home body in Berlin of the Artisen l.oge has directed that members playing in or booked for America sign no con tract*. f«r their appearance here where U«« contract reads for a Sunday perform Island resort. Thompson and Dundy di- rectly controlling it. THE MANHATTAN THEATRE. Persistent rumor has it that the Man hattan Theatre will change its policy to vaudeville within a short time. Tt is now under the control of Harrison Grev Piske. sarv to first buy oil' M. II. Leavitt before terms could be made with the a<t< r. None of the parties to the engagement will even approximate the figure-. Mr. Du \ rie- will oiler "A ( use of Ar- son" in slightly modified form, the act being r| " to halt an hour. anee. Doubt as to the legality ot *uch contracts impelled the action being taken. DAN QUINLAN DENIES. Dan Quinlan. Hie minstrel man. wishes to deny the report .that .Tames H. Decker will have the management of the minstrel troupe Mr. Quinlan will be connected with next season. The present arrange- ment is that the Dan Quinlan. Kellar- Mack Minstrel Players will be 'prom- inently displayed on the bill boards. PAUL DRESSER GONE. The sudden death of Paul Dresser on Tuesday la*t came as a hhock to his legion of friend-. Mr. Dresser had not been ill. and the news of his death was scarcely credited U|>on the first reports. The inos! famous sentimental ballad writer thU country has ever known, Paul Dresser leaves a ,oid «oclally and pro- fessionally that will remain a monument to his memon . NOT FOR IDA CONQUEST. It was recently printed that Ida Con- quest, now of "Man and Superman." would take a lling at the two-a-day. Misi Conquest rises to remark that no such thought ever entered behind her pretty face. COLORED ARTISTS TO ORGANIZE. The Freeman, a publication devoted to the interests of the colored race, recentlv ■J had an extensive article urging the colored artists to organize, forming a club with headquarters in New York Citv. Messrs. Cole, Johnson. Hogan, Rogers, Sliipp. Dudley. Avery, llait. Williams and Walker are among the entertainers of note who are heading the movement* <ieo. VV. Walker, of Williams and Walker, ha* n letter in this i-<ue <>\ Varict) under "Artists' Forum" which :ji\.'- :i vert lucid explanation of the aims ii ti»l ohjeel >. of t he new soeie.! v. "MIKE" WHALEN HERE. M. R. Whalcn. who has been a long time on the other side, is visiting home with his wife, one of the MeNulty sisters. Mr. Whalen is a great-favorite in England, where his monologue and impromptu song receive uproarious applause. • ■ ' £ \ irjrinia Karl has been finoked by Wil- liam L. Lykens for twelve weeks over the I'roctor and Poli circuits. STALEY AND BIRBECK TO RETIRE Staley and liirbcck, of transformation fame, will retire from vaudeville this com ing spring. Miss Birbeck (Mrs. Staley l will permanently leave the stage, while Mr. Staley will <»o into musical cornedV. having written a piece which has been accepted for production next season by a prominent manager. The present trans formation act now used in vaudeville will be carried into the new coined v. Mr. Staley has a similar tran<forma lion act, though more extensive, now playing on the other side, which cost hint $13,000 to build. His two brothers are* giving it, with the assistance of a girl. The managers over here have informed Staley that they do not care to book the new- act, regardless of whether it is better than the present one. but as Mr. Stalex -tates he will give $10,000 to anyone who can reproduce either of his acts, there will he a shortness in the transformation market alter the present one leave- vaude ville. unless the managers reverse their ultimatum. Allie Gilbert and her "Girl.v Girl*" nil open in I'tica on the 12th.