Variety (Nov 1906)

8 VARIETY CINQUEVALLI PLAYING FOR RYAN. Paul Cinquevalli, the foreign juggler, is playing at the Olympic Theatre in Cin- cinnati this week for John J. Ryan, having been booked there by W. S. Cleveland through Richard Pitrot. There is a long tangle to unsnarl to reach the opening of the juggler in the Ryan house, and Mr. Cleveland was not quite certain where Cinquevalli would be this week until late last Saturday night. Around Third avenue and Fifty-eighth street where the Keith-Proctor firm owns a theatre it was prominently placarded that Mr. Cinquevalli would be the fea- ture at that house commencing last Mon- day matinee. Mr. Cleveland knew of this and also was aware that his contract called for "Chink's*' appearance in the Ohio town. He haunted the K-P neigh- borhood until the early hours on Sunday morning waiting for the arrival of the baggage to tell him another headliner would have to be procured for Mr. Ryan, but the long distance telephone ended his vigil and Mr. Cleveland sought his needed repose with a beautifying and defiant smile on his cherubic countenance. Had not Cinquevalli been brought over to this country on the last trip under contract to Hyde & Behman for a num- ber of weeks, and did not Hyde & Behman book through the Keith office, there would have been no alarm, but the billing by the uptown house caused a disturbed feeling. The Hyde A Behman concern was sup- posed to have engaged Paul to strengthen the shows of the Eastern Burlesque Wheel, and this had been followed until Richard Pitrot, who booked Cinquevalli from the other side, arranged with Cleveland through the Morris office to play Cincin- nati. Pitrot shakes his head when questioned; Cleveland is still smiling, and the disap- pointed members of the managerial end are silent and sad. RAPID TRANSIT IN BROOKLYN. Everything in Brooklyn runs along the lines of rapid transit. Only a short time ago it was announced that "Acker's Music nail," somewheres over there, would open. Now the announcement comes that it is closed. They arrive at a conclusion so quickly on the other side of the bridge that it has been suggested a few booking offices ought to move over there. LASKY & ROLFE MANAGING. Several future vaudeville productions will be made by Lasky & Rolfe other than the musical novelties they have formerly given attention to. Pilar Morin has placed herself under the management of the firm and will be the centre of a $4,000 production. Mile. Morin gave a trial of her semi-pantomimic mono- logue last Wednesday at the Hudson Theatre. Another single entertainer is Merri Os- borne, who will have her vaudeville en- gagements under the firm's direction. Benj. Chapin, who played "Lincoln" at the Liberty Theatre, will also be pre- sented under the same management in a condensed version of that piece. TOOK A CHANCE ON "BARRING." One act whose defiance' of the barring clause has not been visited by the dire consequences threatened comes up in the case of "That Quartet." The quartet was booked last week in Boston at the Will- iams house, the week following being for the Keith house in Rocnester. The sing- ers' manager was informed that he would have to cancel the Boston date. The quartet refused, played the Williams time as laid out, then stood back to wait for the blow to fall. But there were no consequences. "That Quartet" played Rochester time and has heard nothing more about the matter. ROYALTY AT COLONIAL. On Monday at the Colonial Theatre the Princess Estelle de Broglie will appear, while her husband, who is a scion of the royal family in some foreign country, will conduct the orchestra. There is an elopement concealed in the history of the couple and the newspapers gave some space this week to the priva- tions of the pair. When the press took up the matter Percy Williams "discovered"' the foreign titles and at once adopted for his circuit. Charles K. Harris returned this week from a Western trip. RUTH EVERETT AND MAIDA DUPREE In the "Restaurant Scene" from "The Jolly Grass Widow*." (SKETCHED BY MISS EVERETT.) ROCK ISLAND AFTER MORRIS' SHOWS. Rock Island, 111., Nov. 2. There will be another vaudeville house in Rock Island by December 15 having its bills booked through the Chicago office of William Morris. A ten-year lease of the building at 112- 114 Eighteenth street, has been taken by Xorman Friedenwald, who will entirely reconstruct it. The theatre will have a seating capacity of about 800. Fennell and Tyson cancelled a vaude- ville date at Poughkeepsie this week, owing to an engagement with the "Trans- Atlantics." The Golden Gate Quintet declined the opening position on the Hammerstein bill this week, giving as a reason that they had practically a new act and that posi- tion was not a proper one to show it. Fred and Bertha Gleaaon took the place. TATE BOOKS WITH UNITED. Harry Tate has entered into a tentative agreement with the United Booking Agency under which his vaudeville produc- tions next season will be booked through the agency in the St. James Building. Pressed for a verification of the above. Tate said that he had simply made an arrangement to play his "Motoring" act over the Keith circuit. It is believed, however, that the English artist is simply awaiting signed contracts before admit- ting the report. H. R. SVnith, formerly treasurer of the Family Theatre at Scranton. has been ap pointed manager in place of W. W. Ely, who has been assigned to New York by the Sullivan-Oonsidine circuit. MR. CLARKE WROTE HIS THOUGHTS. Portland, Me., Nov. 2. In the greenroom of Keith's Theatre here is a book, and artists playing the house are invited to leave their impres- sions of the theatre in the large volume. When Wilfred Clarke and Theo. Carew, with their company, played Portland Mr. Clarke spoke his mind freely by way of pen and ink anent this town and its audi- ences, and the remarks have gained pub- licity in town. The management of the theatre did not like the written truth, and it still "hurts." What Mr. Clarke said was this: "I have played for a week in Portland town In a comedy sketch of some renown To an audience somewhat mixed! Not a smile or hand did our efforts crown-r Those Puritans sat with a Puritan frown And gazed with faces transfixed! Nor acrobats, monkeys, dancing or song Seemed to have effect on that motley throng; There it sat with a look that was dumb. Monologist tried with the orchestra men 1j crack a few jokes. One laughed, but he then Hid shamefaced behind his drum. All of us gave up and cried in despair. What most of us said didn't sound like a prayer As we started to make for the street! What's that! Is it a fire? A riot? A fight? No; it's laughter—applause—the first of the night! At what are they stamping their feet? The pictures. That's what they wanted to see! Their Puritan faces lit up with glee, They laughed and they cried out aloud. That's what their teeming brain under- stood— That's what they wanted! Thil's vhat imn good ! It was "picturis" that nailed that crowd. Farewell, sweet Portland. Fare thee well! Your laughter still inthralls me. ' When I hear sounded my death knell I'll think your audience rails me! Wilfred Clarke. ALTOONA HAS OPENING. Altoona, Pa., Nov. 2. The new Lyric Theatre of J. K. BurkV opened here Monday night. The initial performance indicated that the theatre- goers of the town are interested in the new venture. The house was sold out before the doors were opened. Manager L. B. Coal rushed the completion of the house and everything was in shipshape for the opening. .Tosie Antoinette, who has been flirting with vaudeville for sonie time, will play Prootor's 125th Street Sunday. The young woman with the historic name, lately left Hanlon's "Superb*,"