Variety (May 1906)

VARIETY EXCITEMENT IN CHICAGO. Chicago, May 3. This has been a busy vaudeville week, caused, mainly through the appearance of William Morris, the New York agent, on Monday last. Mr. Muiris was called here by a num- ber of managers, and on Tuesday after- noon at the Auditorium Hotel met twenty- five of them by appointment. A majority were out-of-town managers who are booking through the Western Vaudeville Association, and the indica- tions are that there is much dissatisfac- tion in that Western vaudeville strong- hold. Mr. Morris spoke for an hour to the as- sembly, few of whom had ever seen him personally before. Kohl & Castle, John J. Murdock and the other members of the association have been much worried through Morris' visit. Martin Beok, in San Francisco, was tele- graphed to return to Chicago when it was learned that Morris was coming. Beck returned last night. Morris left for Minneapolis on Wednes- day. He is expected back to-day, and will probably return to New York the ,latter end of the week. A report late to-day said that E. F. Al- bee, Keith's manager, had been wired to come to Chicago immediately. CHICAGO DOESN'T BELIEVE IT. Chicago, May 3. No credence is given here to the ru- mored, combination between Keith, Klaw & Erlanger and the Western Vaudeville Association. The conditions are too well understood to admit of the feasibility of the proposed combine. The impression is that the whole ar- rangement is a scheme to force Max An- derson away from the Shuberts. WHAT E. D. STAIR SAID. In the newspaper interview of E. F. Albee's during the week, the name of E. D. Stair, of Stair & Haviland (with the Klaw & Erlanger Syndicate) was men- tioned as one of the parties to the agree- ment reported to exist among Keith, Klaw & Erlanger and the Western Vaudeville Association. It is reported that Mr. Stair when ques- tioned as to the truth, replied: "Do you think I am damn fool enough to be used to bolster up a tottering throne?" FRANK M'KEE HAS ANNA HELD. Contrary to expectation, Anna Held will not be a vaudeville feature this season. The French singer has engaged her ser- vices to Frank McKee, the theatrical manager, for next season, which will for- bid her appearing elsewhere before. THE ROGERS BROTHERS IN VAUDE- VILLE. It is now a matter of debate between the Rogers brothers (Gus and Max) whether they shall accept an offer to re- turn to vaudeville made to them by F. F. Proctor this week. The season has closed, and the contract binding the brothers to Klaw & Erlanger has expired. Some report has been spread regarding the reputed illness of brother Max. His retirement from "The Rogers Brothers in Ireland" company was owing to a difference with A. L. Erlanger. ANOTHER FOURTEENTH STREET HOUSE. Rumor said during the week that "Big Tim" Sullivan has purchased the church property at Fourteenth street and Second avenue, and would build a theatre on the spot the church now occupies. It is expected that vaudeville 'will be given, but it is possible if Mr. Sullivan se- cures the property that he will place the burlesque shows booked for the Dewey in the new house, and make a popular priced vaudeville theatre of the latter. There has been considerable talk about this piece for some time, several managers having l>een reported as the purchasers. FYNES HAS HAD OFFERS. It is not a certainty that J. Austin Fynes will continue as the manager of the Third Avenue Theatre, which he opened late this spring for a short season of vaudeville, closing the house for repairs. Mr. Fynes says that he has received KEITH GIVING UP AT LAST. The combination lock has been re- moved from the finance department of the Keith Booking Agency, and there are unbelievable happenings nowadays in the St. James Building. One example is the weekly salary of $1,750 paid the Great Lafayette during the latter's Boston engagement at Keith's there. Creatore's band, now playing the Bos- ton house for a two weeks' engagement, is receiving $2,500 each six days of their stay. Salaries of this magnitude have hither- to been unheard of in connection with a Keith bill. The Keith management real- izes the danger traveling vaudeville shows will do to their patronage, and is attempting to forestall the effect by this means. The Keith Agency is seeking large acts and novelties at the present time; also a new departure for a vaudeville concern Ruins of the Central Theatre at San Francisco. This theatre was originally built for a panorama and later converted into a theatre by Belasco & Mayer. The play being presented at the time of the disaster was "Dangers of Working Girls." (Photo by Variety's special correspondent.) several offers for the lease from theatrical and real estate men, but has not decided what he will do. Regarding the Fifth Avenue Theatre property, Mr. Fynes states that that is not on the market. His realty company is collecting the rents, and there is at present no desire on their part to dispose of the holding. Several vaudeville sites out of town are now under consideration by Mr. Fynes, and the result may shortly be made known. that previously considered $600 was the limit for any vaudeville feature in ex- istence. GRACE VAN STUDDIF0RD QUITS. Grace Van Studdiford after her fail- ure in vaudeville left town last week, going to her summer place near St. Louis for a rest. She will remain there until she goes to "The Alps," a St. Louis beer garden and restaurant, where she will be the soloist for the week of May 14. ANDREW HACK CORRALLED. Vaudeville will soon have Andrew Mack, the Irish romantic actor, in its midst. Mr. Mack has been secured by Reich, Plunkett & Wesley for a tour over the circuits. He will appear May 28 for the first time. SCHEDULE FOR EASTERN WHEEL. The members of the Eastern Wheel of burlesque, and the Columbia Amusement Company, an important part of it, will meet about Monday next in New York to route the various burlesque companies playing at the Wheel houses for the sea- son of 1906-07. NEW VAUDEVILLE SITE IN CHICAGO. Chicago, May 4.—There has been an op- tion secured on a plot of ground corner Wabash avenue and Adams street. It is an excellent location. It is understood that an Eastern vaudeville manager will be behind the company forming to erect a theatre on the eite. INTERNATIONAL IN COLUMBUS. Columbus, May 4. The Empire Theatre here has been se- cured by the International Theatre Co. of Chicago. It will be opened as a vaude- ville house at popular prices. THE NEW AGENCY LAW. i lie new law exempting the theatrical and vaudeville agents from the disagree- able exactions of the general employment agency law was signed last week by Gov- ernor Higgins and became operative on Tuesday of this week. it provides: 1. That no agent may divide commis- sion lees with an employer or manager. 2. That the decisions of the commis- sioner forfeiting the licenses of vaudeville or theatrical agents shall be subject to review by the courts. 3. That technical violations of the pro- visions shall be punishable by a fine of $25 by a police magistrate instead of by prosecution lor a misdemeanor by the Court of General Sessions. 4. That all persons, including soculled "brokers" and "contractors of labor" who secure employment for vaudeville and theatrical artists shall be considered with- in the application ol the law; that they shall be required to have offices and take out a regular license. 5. That the term "fee* (commission) shall be construed to mean not only direct commission for engagements, but also as in the case of "brokers," the excess of money paid by employers to them. 0. That for short engagements the com- missions charged by agents shall not ex- ceed 10 per cent of the salary, and for longer engagements not more than the first week's salary. Paragraph 1 is the most important. It is designed to prevent the splitting of commissions by agents and managers or employers. This phase of vaudeville practices was a potent source of abuse under the old system, by which the small- er acts of the profession were mostly vic- timized. An agent who found it impossi- ble to get engagements for his principal on a fair and equitable commission basis was frequently known to offer a consider- able bonus to managers, or others in a po- sition to secure time. The result was that the artist was required to pay the agent's commission, and the 'bonus offered to the party of the second part. The section set forth in paragraph 4 is also an important change from the old law. It is designed to crowd out those irresponsible persons, who, so to speak, carry their offices in their hats, pay no license, are not required to register them- selves, and have been free to pursue their piratical business without legal restraint. It was to this class of "agents" that Frederick L. C. Keating, former license commissioner, referred in his report last year as charging commissions running in many recorded instances to unbelievable figures. The effect of the provision described in paragraph 5 will be that the "brokers" and "contractors of labor* as they called them- selves to escape the restrictions of the old law, will be compelled to register and pay the usual license fee. The bill was drawn up by Mr. Keating at the instance of the Theatrical Agents' Society of the State of New York, of which William H. Gregory is president, Webster Cullison, secretary, and B. A. Myers, chairman of the board of directors. The clause fixing the limit of commission fees was drawn up after conference with the principal vaudeville and theatrical agents of the city.