Variety (Jan 1907)

VARIETY ^H^^^^H Clive. ''Magical Monologue." 14 Min.; Three (Interior). Novelty. Clive does not name his act, but it might Im? called a "magical monologue." He has played out of and about New York for Koine time. A few of the simpler tricks in magic are shown, Clive resorting mostly to palming, and does very well with it. With a bright line of talk and a pretty girl as- sistant Clive becomes an entertaining person. GIRGUS NEWS. Gaston and Green. Songs and Dances. 14 Min.; Full Stage (Woodland). Keeney's. The first showing in the East of the new combination between Billy Gaston and Ethel Green takes place at Keeney's this week. There nniy be a name to the talking, singing and dancing act which they present, but the program makes no mention of it. There is some inconse- quential talk at the opening, and several songs, closing with a dance by the couple. It is the evident intention from the dia- logue to have "kid" characters. If so, Gaston should change his clothes accord- ingly. Miss Green wears I sweater and she should look at a photograph of her- self in it. There is certainly something missing beneath, and its absence is un- pleasantly plain. Gaston has the better singing voice, and "Lonesome Town," used for the dance, is the best musical number. If the couple can dance more they should. No encore was received, but the act was number two on the bill Wednesday night before a very cold au- dience. Sime. out or TOWN. La Tierro. "Danse De La Revenge." "Parisian Widows" Co. Trocadero, Chicago. This latest dancing pantomime was given for the first time this week as a special feature with the "Parisian Widows." The storv concerns the love of two bullfighters for a dancer, following quite closely that of 'The Rose and the Dagger" as presented on this side by Uosario Guerrero. The act is thrilling. La Tierro is a graceful dancer and a clever pantomimist. Garcia and Dufonre as the rival lovers were expressive in action. The preciseness in stage tech- nique deserves commendation. Every de- tail was perfect. The electrical effects were worked splendidly and the incidental music added considerable intensity to t lie thrills and sensation. The act is a nov- <lty for burlesque. Frank Wicabcrg. Harry and Kate Jackson. "Cupid's Voyage" (Comedy). Jeffers' Theatre, Saginaw, Mich. Harry and Kate Jackson produced a new scenic comedy sketch entitled "Cupid's Voyage" here this week. The story and characters are new, the dialogue bright and original. There are five dis- tinct scenic effects. The act received a number of curtain calls and seems des- tined to be a big hit everywhere. M. C. (Joodman. John Ringling sailed last Wednesday on the Oceanic for Europe on his annual quest for novelties. He was in town the week before Christmas and while here had a conference with W. W. Cole, at which Cole calmly informed him that the verbal agreement between the Kinglings and Barnum & Bailey ceased with the death of James A. Bailey. That although the terms of the understanding gave the Kinglings the Eastern territory for the coming season, Cole proposed to book Buf- falo Bill in the East, but was perfectly willing to split this portion of the coun- try with the Ringlings. John Ringling is alleged to have replied that if the re- strictions had been removed from one party to the agreement they would neces- sarily cease to be binding on the other and that in future he would consider his attractions free lances. Before Mr. Ringling returns from abroad, which will be in about six weeks, some important circus news may develop. John Ringling is looked upon as the com- ing head of the circus world, I^ast season the Ringling Bros.' shows are reported to have cleared $800,000. The Barnum circus cleaned up about $100,000. This poor snowing, so shortly after the death of James A. Bailey, frightened the English stockholders literally out of their shoes. This was one reason why Mrs. Bailey went over to attend the stockholders' meeting. While on the other side Mr. Ringling will probably meet Mrs. Bailey, Jos. T. MeCaddon, her brother, who is now with her, and the English stockholders. An arrangement may be arrived at whereby the Ringlings will buy up the capital stock of the Ramuin-Bailey shows, bc- t ween $2,500,000 and $3,000,000, and place themselves as the sole arbiters of the circus business of the world. The Barnum -Bailey corporation has a surplus of between$700,000and $1,000,000. The Englishmen want this money. With the comparatively small margin of profit from last season the foreigners can not see the business sense of placing the show in another war with almost certain loss to follow. This is the point which Mr. Ringling will press. He will point out that his shows made money; that they will do it again, and that he has enough and can secure all the capital required to maintain a killing fight. The Ringlings are worth from three to four millions, and John Ringling has the respect of his adversaries. Mr. Ringling is extremely friendly with Max C. Ander- son, one of the managers of the New York Hippodrome. Anderson is a partner of Henry M. Ziegler. who is interested slightly tn the Hagenbeck show. Mr. Ziegler sent out '•Feasts and Furies" last season, losing a considerable sum of money, but he is anxious t«> bo in the circus business and is a great believer in the financial profits to be derived. Any deal that John Ringling might make Messrs. Anderson and Ziegler would un- questionably like to be declared in on; Ziegler for the money and Anderson as a sort of protection to his New York Hip- podrome. If Ringling secures the Bar- num shows that would carry with it the lease of the Madison Square Garden, but the "Hip" would give another place for a circus entertainment in New York. In any event it is quite possible that the Hippodrome will yet have a full- fiedged circus within its walls. A new Lochinvar will have to be reck- oned with in the future. It is none other than the firm of Thompson & Dundy, who are quietly making preparations to pro- ject themselves into the tent show busi- ness a year from the coming summer. Plans are already drawn for a sort of travelling Luna (Park and Hippodrome combined, including all the electrical and other effects which have been regarded heretofore as impossible of transportation. Further details arc necessarily lacking so far ahead. Thompson has served his apprenticeship in the circus world under such men as James A. Bailey, the Ring- lings, etc., since a boy and has always promised to return to it. When he does it is safe to say that he will be "in the running » Mucti has been said and written about the real reason for the retirement of George O. Starr from the position of man- aging director of the Barnum Show and replacing him with W. W. Cole. Discuss- ing the matter the other day, one of the "know-alls" said: "J. T. MeCaddon, as everybody knows, is the brother of Mrs. James A. Bailey, who is the principal owner of the Barnum & Bailey interests. When MeCaddon or- ganized a circus on his own account to tour Europe, Starr, who was in charge of the Buffalo Bill show, followed up MeCad- don relentlessly, using every weapon at his disposal to break him. That he succeeded is now history, and that MeCaddon did not forget may be readily imagined. So that, at the death of James A. Bailey, MeCaddon saw to it that Starr was dropped at the first opportunity. Owing to the overwhelming disaster which befel him in Europe MeCaddon could not even now appear as the real head of the Barnum & Bailey enterprises and W. W. Cole is acting for him. Cole is a wealthy man and had practically retired from active work. He is merely acting now in an advisory capacity and will never take to the road again. The Wallace Show is still on the mar- ket. Ben Wallace has About thirty-three cars and would charge about $150,000 for the outfit. He is not nerved up to at- tempt the road again, and it is probable that unless a buyer comes along the lay- out may be disposed of at auction. Last season removed the wind—from Wallace's sails. It has been definitely settled that Buf- falo Bill will never return to Europe with his show. The attraction has visited prac- tically every available spot an*! has ex- hausted itself as a novelty there. Fur- ther than this, foreigners display no inter- est in the organization. Walter K. Hill, New York representa- tive for "The Billboard," retires from his position on Saturday night and will be succeeded by James Hoff, vice-president of the Billboard Company, who comes on from the home office in Cincinnati. Hill will travel in advance of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show the coming summer. 'NTTturaors are still afloat to the effect that "Tody7 Hamilton has been corralled by the Ringlings, but this Hamilton denies. He says that he has served his time and does not propose to do any more travel- ling. He will not devote his entire time to any enterprise and will accept special commissions to prepare press matter for any attraction willing to pay his price. He does this simply to keep himself oc- cupied. There is considerable confusion and speculation as to the future of the circus business—at least the immediate future. Within the past year many changes have taken place. For instance, James A. Bailey is• dead; W. W. Cole is* back in harness once more; Ben Wallace wants to retire; the Ringlings have bought out the Forepaugh-Sells Show; Sells Brothers are out of the game; Walter Main and Cum- mings' Wild West doubled up last season and were an absolute frost, etc. These ♦hings have a tendency to change the en- tire circus map. The Ringlings have permitted their op- tion on the llagenbeck show to expire. It had been proposed to consolidate the Ringling, Hagenbeck and Forepaugh-Sells •howl into a holding corporation, each of them to be appraised and taken in at a fixed valuation. Each show was to come in free and clear of any indebtedness. When it came to a "showdown" the Ring- lings wanted so much more for their out- fit in valuation than they were willing to allow the Hagenbeck people that it was claimed the Ringlings would have a de- cided advantage over the others in the distribution of the earnings. John Havlin will become the active head of the Hagen- becks. JSJr. Havlin is making preparations for the coming season and announces that no show in the world will be as complete in every detail as the new Hagenbeck show. Mr. Havlin also announces that a greater portion of the acts which will be introduced will be entirely new to the American circus-going public. Mrs. James A. Bailey receives $125,000 a year from the Barnum & Bailey corpora- tion for the use of the title to the show. This is exclusive of her stock interest in the Buffalo Bill and Barnum & Bailey or- ganizations. The billposters' association ha.s had sev- eral powwows looking to the curtailing of their income from circuses by the use of banners from which the) derive no rev- enue. TPry •>!*!! probably refuse to assist the teat shgws with their posting unless banners ar^tabooed. r -