Variety (Mar 1906)

VARIETY -... .. . could be considered an excellent girl act and a novelty which no doubt will make the vaudeville patrons in other houses sit up and take notice. /. M. W. Stanley and Murray. "A Little of Everything." Gloversville, N. Y. This clever duo have an act which cannot fail to be a success from the start. Miss Burle Murray, late of ''Babes and the Baron" company, not only makes a first class feeder for -Mr. Stanley, but also proves her ability as a soloist by a delicious rendition of two numbers. Dur- ing the act John Stanley gives a travesty on opera which has been done before but in a less original manner. He also im- personated Eddie Foy and George M. Cohan in a way that proves the careful *tudy he has made of these two. The act is snappy, full of vim and is a go from the word. Mil ford Moners. Frederick Hawley & Co. "The Bandit." Minneapolis, Minn. This act, originally called 'Held for Ransom," made its first appearance in a big circuit house at the Orpheum this week. It is a thirty-minute chunk out of a far Western melodrama. Mr. Hawley is Cochise Ramondo, the bandit king; Miss Frances Haight is Marie, his captive, and H. E. Rowe is Jose Trevenie, body* -ervant to Ramondo. Kamondo's band has captured Marie and holds her for ransom in revenge for injuries done their leader by Marie's uncle. There is much talk and gunplay tn the act, the finale finding Ramondo accidentally killed by his servant and Marie on her way to her own people again. The ability of the trio of players easily overcomes the superabundance of dialogue, the gunplay makes good with the gallery and with four or five minutes cut out of the act it promise* to make good all over the house. The Orpheum audiences "ate it up" at the Sunday opening. Chopin. BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER. The deep heavy rumbling that Atlan- tic City mistook for the brewing of a northeast storm early last week it would now appear was nothing more than an al- tercation on Young's Tier, where Henry Myers is holding forth as a vaudeville manager. According to the story that came to the booking offices hereabouts several days after, it happened something like this: Polk and Collins went to the Myers palace of entertainment on what they understood to be a net salary. It devel- oped upon arrival that certain commis- sions were to be deducted therefrom. Whereupon there was talk. Then it be- came discussion. Discussion grew into language, and it ended, so reports a ve- racious witness, in a clash of arms in which there were no rules and no holds barred. There's another point about this story, but don't let Theodore Kremer hear of it or he'll convert it into a play called "Brother Against Brother." Henry Myers also controls the Doric in Yonkers, while B. A. Myers, his brother, books for an op- position house in Mount Vernon. Now it is reported certain performers have come to understand that the acts that play Mount Vernon are not wanted in Yonkers. And so the bitter battle wages. ARTISTS' FORUM " The Artists' Forum " It for the artists exclusively. Any lust complaint any artist may have or considers ha has will ba printed In this department. Or any comment that an artist may desire to make. Also any artist or act that disagrees with a reviewer on Variety In his review of the artist's work or act may have his criticism of the criticism printed in this column, and it will be nswered by the reviewer. Confine your letters to 150 words and write on one side of paper only. New York, March 15. Editor Variety. Sir:—Your articles in Variety on "Why Artists Should Organize" remind me of the difficulty of showing a new act under the present system. I invested over $2,000 last summer in a new act, and when I tried to get an open- ing to show it was informed that I might get a hearing at a burlesque house for a consideration. The consideration being $HX> and the theatre not having the facili- ties to properly stage the act, I concluded to put it in storage, where it has remained. 1 cannot see my way clear to invest such an amount and then pay for the privilege of working it. Vaudeville is all right, but the system is evidently wrong. The cry for new acts cannot be sincere, as artists with the abil- ity and means get no encouragement to get up a new act, as without a "pull" it cannot get work, and those with a pull don't need a new act, so what's the use? Artist. Company, and now with the Empire Musical Four. Mr. Dunn holds the cham- pionship of Kentucky and has tried to lo- cate Montgomery for over two months. We will place a forfeit with any one he names and at any time and for any amount over $100. Hoping you may be able to help us 1 am. Arthur Wainwright 12 East 23d St., New York, N. Y. New York, March 14. Editor Variety. Sir:—I have been a constant reader of your paper Variety and see its fast grow- ing popularity in the profession. I would like to place a challenge through yoiir columns for a match on the harmon- ica with Marshall Montgomery, "champion harmonica player of America," for his title. I am speaking for George Dunn, many years with the Jolly Grass Widows I In the February 10 issue of Variety in this column appeared a letter signed "Mar tin W. Fox," commenting upon a proposed testimonial to John If. Amnions, the man- ager of a circuit of theatres in Indiana, on the occasion of his birthday. Mr. Fox at the time was correspondent for this paper at Frankfort, Ind. The letter ridi- culed the manner in which the subscrip- tion for the testimonial was being raised, and having come from an accredited corre- spondent, it was published. On informa- tion furnished us later in the matter Mr. Fox's connection with Variety was severed. Under date of March 10 Variety is in receipt of a communication from Mr. Am- nions, too lengthy to print, wherein he de- nies all statements made by Mr. Fox, adding that the Fox letter was actuated by a personal grudge. That he (Am- nions) had no knowledge of the birthday present (diamond pin) until it was re- ceived, and his standing in the theatrical profession does not allow any person knowing him to place any credence in the Fox letter.— Ed. 1 MORRIS WELL SATISFIED. J. H. Morris claims passing attention long enough to observe that his theatres in Gloversville, N. Y., and Frankford, Pa., are doing nicely, thank you, and that he is prepared to extend his holdings in two other cities in the East, exact locations not being disclosed. BUTTERFIELD IN JACKSON. W. S. Butterfield has closed a deal for a new $2."),000 theatre in Jackson, Mich. The house will have a seating capacity of one thousand and will be devoted to vaude- ville. It is expected that it will be read} to open by September. ANOTHER TREASURER'S BENEFIT. Joe Smith, treasurer of Miner's Bowery Theatre, will take a benefit Sunday even- ing, April 15. A large number of tickets have already been sold, "Skinny," the mas- todon head usher, having charge of that de- partment. STUNG AGAIN. Although but a very slight strain is put upon the child and her work is clearly within the exemptions of the Gerry so- ciety, Ida Marcereau was taken out of the Fred Walton production at the Fifty- eighth street this week. Will Archer was put in and again the Gerry man came around only to meet the old familiar re- frain of "see my eldest son about it." 11 the Gerry Society ever get Archer properly classified it is going to be a severe blow to the press agents. WILL DO DUTCH IF— Jess Dandy says that in spite of many absurdly large offers from vaudeville man agers, it is not his intention to play vaude ville dates if he can help it. In case he does decide to go in he will offer Dutch instead of Hebrew comedy. DAVIS CROSSES WATER. Harry Davis announces he has purchased a location in Allegheny for a theatre and will go ahead with the erection of the building at once. The theatre he says "will be ornate, commodious and will offer high class vaudeville attractions." It will be ready for the opening of next. season. KEITH WANTS HIM. One of the Keith people has been try- ing to induce the treasurer at the Trent Theatre, Trenton, to give up his job and take a similar position at the Keith house in Syracuse. There will be no change in Trenton for all of that. WHAT IT IS. That bulge in Henry Myers' right hand breast pocket is a blue print of the plans of a new house in Atlantic City. CORKS ON ORGANIZATION. Smiles that won't come off were on the face of the Human Corkscrew as he took his accustomed place at the table and made the high thirst sign, for word had gone forth that the bock was ripe. "I had a chuckle," he announced as he set down the empty seidl and drew imagi- nary ditto marks on the table. "I got one of those Varietys where they asked the actors to come on in and talk about or- ganization. "That was three or four weeks ago and there ain't been a letter from an actor yet. Huh? No. It's not because they don't want to, it's because they're scared. "You perambulate some and you'll hear enough hot air in a day to fill all the gas tanks in the country and help heat hell be- side*, but that's on the sidewalk; not in print. "There's about five hundred actors what would rather talk ahout that than eat, but every dod gasted one of 'em is so scared for fear Alhee'll see his letter and not book him or that Hill Morris'll get mad that he has to tie his hands behind his back for fear he might get the nerve somehow to speak up. ''It ain't because they don't want it. It's because thev want the other fellow to do the work that they're holding back, and I'll bet they'll still be holding back when the smash comes, and instead of telling what they want for a salary they will have to hold their hats in their hands while they ask the agent what the manager is willing to give. "It takes a man like George Fuller Golden, who gets so darn mad he don't (are what happens, to make the first break. Then thev flock around and tell how they did it all. "I'll bet you the seidls that the first man to come out and say he's willing to start something will have the whole crowd going as soon as they see he knows what he's about, but they are all waiting 'round to >ee who's going to make the first break because they're scared to make a jump themselves. '"I don't care a whole lot, myself, what happens, but all the same I like to act sometimes and I'd be working for Bob Grau exclusive if I spoke up big, and there ain't much profit in that sort of an en- gagement. "I know darn well that I'll never be a big man because they don't appreciate real art in this country and I can't put a slapstick in the act because it's too hard on my real Eve with only a picture suit on. if there was an organization we eould get some work. Now they won't even come to see me. You fellows was the only ones to have a look and you laughed so much that I was ashamed of you," and Corks drowned the remembrance in the seidl thoughtfully passed him by the head of the table. //. W. 8. MEERS WILL GO HOME At the expiration <»f his present hook iligs Alfred Meers will return to Eng land for the purpose of building and per- fecting a new single comedy act. Meers declares that il is so much easier to gain openings for a new act across the pond that it will more th.in repay the cost of the trip Sam Collins has been booker] for eigh teen weeks over the Orpheutri Circuit, opening in April. -^