Variety (Oct 1906)

VARIETY SORRY ABOUT ALCAZAR. The Western Burlesque Wheel is ex- periencing regrets over the loss of the Al- cazar Theatre in Brooklyn, formerly a spoke in the Wheel under the management of W. T. Keogh. Mr. Keogh and the Western people had some differences, aris- ing, it was said at the time, over the leas- ing of the Murray Hill Theatre in New York to the Columbia Amusement Com- pany, acting for the Eastern Wheel. Left with no Brooklyn house the West- em leased the Imperial Theatre from W. T. Qrover and its shows have played in that house since the opening of the sea- son. The lease for the Imperial, given by the City of New York to Mr. Grover, expires on December 1 next, and there is no posi- tiveness that a renewal can be secured. With no refuge in sight if obliged to cate, the Western Wheel is perplexed, so much so that it is understood that over- tures have been made to Mr. Keogh to come back into the fold, bringing his the- atre with him and a company if he so wills. ■ A WEEK LONGER FOR LA SALLE. The La Salle Theatre, Chicago, will not be turned over to the Western Burlesque Wheel next week as was expected. In all probability the exchange will not be made before this time a month. "The Time, the Place and the Girl," which is playing the house, has had such a success- ful run that the parties interested in it and the theatre are unwilling to remove it from the boards. * There was a probability that the piece could be moved over to the Grand Opera House at the end of this week, so that the La Salle would be available for burlesque. Prior bookings at the Grand, however, made this impossible and some other ar- rangement will have to be made. The La Salle is controlled by Messrs. Singer (interested in the Western Wheel) and Fehr, of Cincinnati, who have com- pleted plans for a new Chicago house and are in New York giving out the contracts. The proposed nature of the new house, while not announced, is reported to be a music hall. TWO WEEKS UNFILLED. Chicago; Oct. 5. Owing to the failure of the Western Burlesque Wheel to secure Smith's Opera House in Grand Rapids, Mich., an effort is being made by the circuit to fill in with a week of night stands in ordpr that the Wheel's shows may be kept busy preceding their entrance into Chicago. This is the second open week on its route, the other occurring between Minneapolis and Kansas City. STAIR WILL BUILD. Toronto, Oct. 5. Following the announcement that the Eastern Burlesque Wheel had a site here and would build, F. W. Stair, manager of the Western Wheel house in Toronto, comes out with a statement that he has purchased the property between the Star, his present theatre, and the Bell Telp- phone Company's building on Temperanop street for the erection of a model bur lesque theatre. Mr. Stair declines to gives the price of the plot. "Tt cost enough and too much'' is his answer. WILL ABOLISH TIPPING. London, Sept. 2A. The executive committee of the Variety Artistes' Federation has paased a resolu- tion "That letters be sent to all managers, Htating that on and after the first week in January, 1907, tipping will be abolished." These letters have already been dispatched. The financiers behind the scenes have been fiercer than wolvee of late, and the "Satur- day night hold-up" is an awful thing to pass through. . .. Resolutions to do away with "tips" were passed at seventy Federation meetings in various parte of the Kingdom, so some- thing had to be done. Of course sympathy is felt for the illy paid stage hands, many of whom only get a shilling a night ($1.50 weekly) from the managers who advertise their enormous capital in all show papers. Artists are expected to make up a de- cent wage for them, and hitherto it has been a very easy game. The Federation will, of course^ do all in its power to back up theatrical employees in their fight for better salaries. '' ' ' MRS. LANOTRY "FUSSY." There were "doings" at the Fifth Ave- nue Theatre Monday afternoon. Before quietude was restored it was necessary to call in E. P. Albee, the Keith-Proctor gen- eral manager. The rumpus was occasioned by Mrs. I^ngtry, who made it understood at once among the attaches that she was a "star." No ordinary, go-as-you-please brilliant, but a planet with tributaries. Mr. Albee soothed the famous actress down until she resembled a sane person, but before that happened he had to prom- ise the Jersey Lily the entire first tier of dressing rooms for her own; also plac- ing specially selected imported rugs upon the fioor. To further augment the troubles of the management, some dramatic reviewers who were present at the Monday matinee be- came restless at the long delay before the feature of the bill appeared, and ap- pealed to J. T. Fynes, the press representa- tive, fur a plausible reason. To appease the critics, and particularly Alan Dale, three acts were shifted for Mrs. Langtry's speedy entrance. It was then too late for the reviews to appear in the Tuesday morning editions. BURLESQUE ADDITIONS. Jack Marshall will join Whallen & Mar- IpI's "Merrymakers" in Louisville next week. Other additions to burlesque com- panies <»n the road noted in the Western f^urlesque Wheel's New York headquarters are Bessie Philips, Madge Darrell and Al- sace and Lorraine, who join the Fay Fos- ter company in Washington. The last named, a musical team, take the place of Stanley and Soanlon, who closed last week. PRINCE WANTS TO STAY. .Arthur Prince is using the cables freely these days in an endeavor to postpone the lime booked for his wife, Ida Renee, in Kurope. If he is successful a special or- jjanization will be put together featuring Prince and his wife under the direction of William Morris. Immediately Morris jre- eeives^an acceptance from Prince he will place an order for lithographs and other special paper for the use of the new travel- ling company. RYAN-CONSmiNE TALK. Chicago, Oct. ff. Reports continue to spread over the coming parting of the ways betwe<m John J. Ryan and the Sullivan-Considine cir- cuit with its affiliated International llieatre Ompany, in which Mr. Ryan is directly interested. : .. The difference of opinion held by Messrs. Ryan and C?onsidine over the pol- icy to be pursued in the vaudeville houses controlled by their companies is the cause of the coming split. Senator Timothy D. Sullivan, of New York City, Considine's partner, also en- ters into the argument. "The Big Fel- low" believes that all houses east of Chi- cago should play only first-class shows, holding with Ryan that the most money lies in that. Mr. Considine, with a long experience in the Far West only as a g^ide, is a great believer in the "ten- cent" variety of vaudeville. Both Ryan and Considine will meet here and definite action will likely be taken, Ryan having offered to either buy or sell out his own or partner's interests in the cheap circuits. , ♦ THE MORRIS-SHUBERT TIME. Rumors were plentiful during the early part of the week that trouble was brewing between William Morris and the Shubert Brothers. The stories, which seem to have been inspired, predicted a split between the agent and managers which would lead to a dissolving of the agreement under which Morris places vaudeville shows in the Shu- bert Brothers' theatres whenever open time exists. The rumors had no further foundation than a request for an increased orchestra by the manager of the Morris company playing at the Belasco Theatre in Wash- ington this week. When Mr. Morris was asked about the report his surprise bore out his statement that there was no truth whatsoever in it. An unconfirmed report has it that here- after the Morris companies will play the Shubert time on extremely favorable terms; so favorable in fact that loss can hardly be sustained by Morris. MAY HOWARD LOCATED. Chicago, Oct. 5. The Orpheum Theatre at Davenport, Iowa, which has been entirely rebuilt and beautified by Manager Raphael, will open next week with a burlesque stock com- pany. May Howard will head the organi- zation, which includes a number of ca- pable people, beside a trained chorus of pretty girls. _ This will be the first time that burlesque of the more pretentious order has been given in that city, which has a drawing population, inclusive of Moline and Rock Island. Til., of 100,000 people. CIRCLE'S OPENING SET. The Western Wheel people declare that the Circle Theatre will be ready for its opening October 22. In its present state this seems a rash promise. George Krans, however, is so much convinced that his contractors will turn the complefed house over to him at that time that he has placeii u\ oven bet of $250 with M. M. Thiese that the latter's show "Wine, Woman and Song" will be able to open on that date, as booke<l. Thicsc hopes that he loses the wager. THE VAUDEVILLS SITUATION. The vaudeville map ia changing rapidly and seems now only to have attained speed in its revolutions. In the spring wh«n the combination between B. F. Keith, F. F. Proctor and S. Z. Poll was effected, Va- riety printed at length the probable re- sult. In no instance did Variety err, although at that time few believed that the pre- dictions made would become facts. Va- riety did not foresee the league entered into between the Shuberts and William Morris, nor did it suspect the acquisition of Shubert theatres for vaudeville only. In other respects the present status of the vaudeville world as it is to-day was out. lined. ,<■. - ■■■■■";■• The Morris managers have gone forward, while the Keith people have remained sta- tionary. That is the situation now. Mor- ris and the managers booking through his oflSce are still going forward. They have the country to go into. The Keith office can not move. It has buckled onto its breastplate all the available hangers in sight, until none is left. Another house may be had by Keith in Brooklyn or New York, and that will be all. The worry of Keith is to keep his fences intact. Morris is growing too strong for the Keith whip to sting with its old ef- fect. It's results that count. Mr. Keith's general manager may assure and reassure the managers the Keith Office books for, but "facts are facts, and they are often stubborn." Morris is placing yauderiUe in all large cities, and hy so doing erecting opposition to Keith managers. They need acts to offset the imposing bills of the other side. Keith can not supply his man- agers with feature acts, for he has not enough to go around. The managers themselves, while in des- perate straits, are helpless. Even though they book an act, it is not theirs until Mr. Albee passes upon the advisability of al- lowing it to play the town. Managers of the Harry Davis-Mike Shea-J. H. Moore stamp have become mere office boys in the conduct of their business. Each has less to do with the running of his house than the head usher he pays. Denial upon denial may be made, but there is revolt in the Keith Office among the managers. No one doubts that S. Z. Poli has already wearied of his bargain. It is with the greatest trouble that Mr. Poli is aware of his own existence. He has lately declared himself, and it is common report that the New England manager would like once more to rest content in the William Morris office. Shea, Davis, Moore and others, with the continued inroads made by Morris into the opposition, fall to find that "magnificent protection** which was the grease that caused their feet to slip. William Morris is in a stronger position now as regards booking than ever before. He can give more and better time. Keith has plenty of good time also, but no acts. The scarcity of big acts is working havoc with both sections. There will be many changes in vaude- ville before the season passes. The most will occur in the Keith Office. The United Booking Agency looks very well on paper, hut the unity which should exist is grow- ing sadly less noticeable each day. Kred Kamo, the English vaudeville pro- ducer, left for home last Saturday.