Variety (Feb 1906)

VARIETY PICTURE SHOWS ON SUNDAYS. It seems quite likely from the flurry throughout the country caused by the more strict observance of the Sunday laws that moving picture shows will be installed by numerous managers to evade any contact with the authorities. Archie L. Shepard, about the most prominent of the film producers, has twenty-two theatres now which he sup- plies with »eriea f»u a complete entertain- ment, besides six road shows of the same character. Several houses in town are availing themselves of this form of amusement on the Sabbath, notably the West End, Third Avenue and Fourteenth Street Theatres. Some difficulty has been experienced through the overolliciousness of the Gerry Society in obliging a strict adherence to the law not permitting children under six- teen to attend unless accompanied by parent or guardian. That law may be amended to specify the particular style of amusement it is intended to cover, there being no possi- bility of objection to the amusing and interesting pictures thrown on the canvas. It is illustrated knowledge to the East Siders, and more instructive than a week's schooling on the same subjects would be. WILTON IS WEARY. A. T. Wilton, the manager of the Park Theatre in Worcester, which is now booked on the Keith circuit, and is known as a Keith house, is tiring of the vaudeville proposition as exemplified in the man- agement of a vaudeville theatre in direct opposition to Poli, who is also in the same town, and has been the cause of the sput- ter in the managerial world. Mr. Wilton is kicking and doing it very hard. In fact, he threatens to kick over the traces, and take his house from the Keith management unless the latter show him where his profit is coming from. It has been understood around here that Keith was paving all deficiencies, includ- ing a bonus to Wilton, and that the weekly amount he drew a check for to "make good M in Worcester was so large that Mr. Keith called E. F. Albee, the Keith general manager, into the private office to explain the lvason why, which Mr. Albee found it very difficult to do to Keith's satisfaction. Tf Mr. Wilton persists in his deter- mination, however, it may result in Keith buying the theatre rather than to admit defeat in his content with Poli. LOVE THE COOPERS. William Morris' hooking clerks are en- deavoring to book the Empire City Quar- tet on the western time for at least a season. They declare this to be the only relief from Ihe Cooper hoy-' jokes. The Coopers say that they will have a new act llext week. That must Im> one of the jokes. Louise Montrose, with her Automobile <J iris, who have been seen in New York only at a Sunday night concert at the American Theatre, will come to the Im- perial, Brooklyn, week of April 2, for the first engagement In the metropolitan dis- trict. Week of April !> they will hold forth ;•! Flurtig and Reamon's Harlem house. SOMETHING WRONG IN NEWARK. Proctor's Newark theatre is governed by a very ambitious gentleman, bearing the name of Stewart*in the city directory of the Jersey town. He exercises general supervision of the theatre, and not satisfied to properly look after the "front" of the house, has in- vaded the "'back" to disarrange the pro- grammes and discommode the artists. The general belief has been that Proctor's Newark theatre had a capable stage man- ager, but there is no person who could an- swer that description who would have placed the Camille Trio after the moving pictures which happened this week at the Instigation of Stewart, it is understood. Through the manager's further inter- ference, the musical instruments of Mal- lory Brothers, Brooks and Halliday were endangered bv the lax manner in which they were handled. There have been several complaints, and it would be well for Mr. Proctor to define the duties of his manager so that he may understand what he is and is not to do. MATTHEWS WAS FIRED. Matthews and Ashley were among the volunteers at the Treasurers' Club Benefit at Wallack's Sunday evening. Half a dozen coaches had been placed at the dis- posal of the artists by the committee, and the doorkeeper at the stage entrance had been having trouble with the drivers who sought to evade his watchful eye and get a glimpse of the show from the stage. The doorkeeper was just congratulating himself that he had the drivers where he wanted them (on the sidewalk) when one of the performers approached the doorman and angrily asked why the coachmen were not kept off the stage. The Argus followed his questioner and there in the wings saw a man in a livery coat and plug hat watching the show. There was a brief argument, the coachman insisting that he had a right to be there, but there was small time wasted in talk and the coachman went toward the stage door on bus heels when Frank Jones came nl o nir an d ex plained that it was ftohhv Matthews, of Matthews and Ashley, in costume. HERE'S A CHANCE. Thursday night is amateur night at the Gotham, but on Friday room is made on the bill for acts of recognized standing but with new offerings. Edgar Girard, who is house manager here, originated the idea and already several good things have been developed from these trial perform- ances. Any player of standing may put his act on here before an audience and under the eye of a stage manager of cxperi ence. If the sketch or turn is good there is booking on the Williams circuit and in any event there is good advice in plen- tv from a man who knows a lot about acts good and bad. FAIR SALARY. Roy Knabenshue, the air ship pilot, will command a salary of $5,000 (five thousand dollars) weekly from each state fair he exhibits at this summer. •lac Tucker and Eva Williams are play- ing Worcester next week at the Park Theatre. KELLY AND RENO TO LONDON. Kelly and Reno have been booked bv Charles Bornhkupt for eight weeks at the Km pi re in London, opening there March 3. THE NOVELTY'S NEW MANAGER. When Percy Williams' Novelty Theatre in Brooklyn opens next Monday Harry Leonhardt, formerly stage manager at the Alhambra, will be in charge of the rejuvenated house. Mr. Leonhardt has been in the show business for seventeen years, having started in as a stage hand when a boy. During the interim he worked under the late Augustin Daly, ami was in charge of Keith's Prospect Theatre in Cleveland, when offered the manage- ment of the Alhambra stage by Mr. Will- iams, which he accepted. Mr. Leonhardt is favorably known to the entire vaudeville profession, having aided any number of artists through sug- gestions, and he has been universally con- gratulated upon the promotion. A HEAVY ACT. Sabel Johnson and Catharine Hayes, her sister, are working on a new sketch in which they will shortly appear, both having "baby" parts. They are now in the country having the moving picture machine catch them in the act of chasing butter- flies in short skirts. The pictures will be used when they open at Proctor's Troy Theatre on February 10, having been booked there through William L. Lykens. Miss Hayes has been the means of much laughter in a "baby" part, but it will be a new line for Miss Johnson. GRACE VON STUDDIFORD HERE. The comic opera star, Grace Von Stud- diford, who left the country suddenly a shOrt time ago, has returned after an en- gagement at the \\ intergarten in Berlin. Miss Von Studdiford comes back to America to fulfill a vaudeville engage- ment. After completing her contracts .she will return to Germany to appear in "Die Meistersinger" at Hamburg, singing the role of Eva. Several offers have been received by Miss Von Studdiford to accept parts in productions on this side but she has stead- fastly declined to consider even the most favorable. The prima donna was booked for six months over the continent and forwarded her manager, Alexander Steiner, a check to cover the full commissions he would have received. BAKER IN BUSINESS. Louis II. Baker, professionally known as "IiO\v" Baker, has joined the Pennsyl- vania Company as manager of the Grand Opera House at Pottstown. He was re- cently connected with the Bon Ton in Philadelphia, selling that house for Frank V. Dunn after others had failed to dispose of the property. AN EXPENSIVE PRODUCTION. On February 2(J, at Keeuey's in Brook- lyn, will be presented "The Gaiety Girls" with eleven people, three of whom (Von Klein, Gibson and Pauline Elliott) are principals. W. L. Lykens will handle the new act, which is taken from a Paris idea, and the cost up to date of public presenta- tion will be $3,500. WILL CLARICE VANCE LEAVE US? Rumor has it that Clarice Vance, the singer of Southern melodies, is considering an offer for next season in a musical comedy. Pending her final decision, no bookings are being arranged which would prevent her acceptance. Miss Vance would leave a gap in vaudeville difficult to fill should she deride to enter the legitimate. THE MORRIS JURY. There is a new jury to sit on vaudeville acts composed of Frank Jones, of the Wil- liams houses, P. Alonzo, for Poll's, Ed. Kenton, of Trenton, P. J. Casey, for him- self, and in the evenings Louis Pincus. The effect when these solemn faced i>er- sons file into a theatre would rattle even a dog set. MAURICE SHAPIRO TRAVELING. Italy has placed new time locks on the country, for .Maurice Shapiro is traveling "en suit"" through the land of the alti- tudinous Alps. Some say Maurice will return to America and engage in the music publishing business when his agree- AERIAL ACTS BARRED. Kohl and Castle will have small use for aerial arts at their handsome new house, the Majestic, in Chicago/ - Owing to the fact that balcony and gallery are brought far forward it is impossible for the occupants of 1 ho rear of the house to gee what is trying on. GIRARD IN LOS ANGELES. FJmile Girard, one of the famous Girard family, who was a familiar figure about town a few years ago. is connected with the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. Girard 1ms played in i-xcry part of the -lube and bis fund of reminiscence is vast and entertaining. ARTISTS AS LAND OWNERS. Joseph V. Yion, the former vaudeville a-jrnt. now a successful real estate broker, lias sold farm* :il New Canaan, Conn.. ii» John \V. Unison.'. Lottie Williams and Meyer Cohen. Mr. Yion sold f<>r Richard Stnley, of St ale v and liirbcck. bis farm at Hudson. X. Y. nicnt with Remick. will permit. Others say not, as Shapiro has made a connec- tion with a new corporation to float "phony" diamonds on the other side. Even if Maurice doesn't return, there will be another Presidential election or so. I. A. L. IN ENGLAND. The International Artists' Lodge of England has 3,840 member*, according to the latest report, with assets of $32,000. Ft has b«en in existence five years, and the annual expense per capita is $0.50. Mr. (\ Bart ram is president of the lodge there. $1,500 FOR R A ROBERTS. When 15. A. Rolwrt*, Ihe English pro tean artist, reappears in America during'OH, he will receive $1,500 weekly. Thai amount has been fixed ti| by contract insuring his return. DELLA FOX'S RESTING SPELL. Mis. Delhi Fox (Mrs. Jack Levy) is in Atlantic < ity taking a rest after an ex- acting tour. Two restful weeks out of eijjhty is .1 refrtrd which entitles Miss Fox to all the enjoyment possible in her rdiorl vacation,